asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now make a statement about the future of the National Giro.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will now make a statement about the future of the Post Office Giro service.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what estimate he has made of the amount the Post Office Giro will have lost by 31st December, 1971 ; and whether he will seek powers to close the Giro by that date.

I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave on 20th October to the hon. Members for Bootle (Mr. Simon Mahon), Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and Islington, East (Mr. John D. Grant).—[Vol. 823, c. 711.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to increase the installation of public telephones in shops, garages, cafes and restaurants, in order to offset vandalism in telephone kiosks.

The Post Office tells me that it subscribers on business premises to rent coin-box equipment to enable them to offer telephone facilities to customers, employees or members of the public.

asked the Minister of Post and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Offical that concessions in postal charges should be gives to non-commercial and non-profit-making organisations.

No. This is essentially a matter for the Post Office and a direction would not be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement giving details of the proposals by the Post Office, which he described on Tuesday, 2nd November, 1971, to the Law Society for streamlining postal services which will be put before the Post Office Users' Council ; why this statement was not made to the House of Commons and whether such proposals will ensure the maintenance of the same number of postal collections and deliveries at the same costs to post office users.

I arranged for full details of the Post Office proposals to be placed in the Library on 3rd November immediately after the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maude).In my speech to the Law Society I gave no information about the Post Office's views on prices and services which I had not given on previous occasions to the House.—[Vol. 825, c.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) on what evidence he stated that some people think that there are too many postal collections and deliveries;(2) if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of the report of the research on which he based his conclusion that some people feel that postal services are becoming too sophisticated.

Some people have told me so. The Post Office Users' National Council are now investigating public reaction to the Post Office's proposals.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will cause an investigation to be made into how and why full and complete details of his announcement concerning postal charges and delivery times were divulged before his official statement was made to the House of Commons, details of which have been supplied to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North.

The details promised by the hon. Member have not reached me, but I have no evidence that the reply I gave on 3rd November was released before it was given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maude) in the usual way.—[Vol. 825, c. 2 and 3.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will seek to amend the Post Office Act so as to create a category of parliamentary mail, comprising letters both to and from Members of Parliament, which will receive priority treatment in delivery.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 28th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 481.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will ascertain from the Independent Television Authority what action it has decided to take under Section 11(4) of the Television Act, 1964, in relation to the shareholding in Thames Television of a company whose name has been sent to him.

No. This matter is solely the responsibility of the authority.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when work will commence on the construction of the television relay mast, which he informed the hon. Member for Neath would be constructed to improve television reception in the Neath and Dulais Valleys; and where the mast will be sited.

My answer to the hon. Member's question on 24th July, 1970, referred only to the Upper Neath Valley. The B.B.C. and I.T.A., which are primarily responsible for the extension of coverage of their services, tell me that they cannot yet say when the projected relay station which would serve this valley, but not the Dulais Valley, will be built.—[Vol. 804, c. 270.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement about his relationship with the Post Office Board, in particular specifying those matters about which he has asked it to consult him when it is not required by statute so to do.

My relationship with the Post Office is that of sponsoring Minister. Consultation takes place on a wide range of matters of mutual interest.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are being trained for work as European civil servants in preparation for possible entry into the European Economic Community.

None can yet be trained specifically for this purpose because the question of British staff for Community institutions has yet to be considered with the Commission. Appropriate training will be given to all staff likely to be concerned with Community matters, whether in London or in Brussels.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what reduction has taken place in the manpower of the Civil Service ; and what is the related annual saving, ad valorem, in respect of the 15 months, July, 1970, to September, 1971, inclusive, both in respect of industrial and non-industrial civil servants.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair) yesterday. There was a very small increase between 1st July, 1970, and 1st July, 1971—about 125 civil servants. Figures are to be published quarterly in future; those for 1st October will be given shortly.—[Vol. 825, c. 130-40.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to enable adequate compensation to be paid to tenants of premises adversely affected by environmental disturbance, as a result of works carried out by local and public authorities.

As I said in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd) on 9th November, I shall make a statement when our comprehensive review of the compensation code is completed.— [Vol. 825, c. 123.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation or regulations to make mud flaps over the rear wheels of all vehicles compulsory.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how it is proposed that the procedures for dealing with environmental questions will differ under the new county councils and district councils from the existing arrangements.

The Local Government Bill allocates to the new district councils immediate responsibility for control of the local environment. They will possess a coherent range of functions not now generally exercised at district level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the water being supplied to consumers in the West Pennine Water Board area is pure and wholesome, and that the level of chlorination is not so high as to affect the health of consumers, both private and industrial, especially, in the later case, breweries in the area.

It is the statutory duty of the water board to provide a water supply that is wholesome and the statutory duty of each local authority in its area to ascertain whether it is. I am advised that the concentration of chlorine in this water was increased as a temporary measure following unsatisfactory bacteriological reports. This is a recogised precaution in such circumstances which will not affect the health of consumers. The board and the Oldham M.O.H. are keeping a careful watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to institute a compulsory insurance scheme against damage by flooding for householders financed by local authorities, in view of the hardship suffered by householders through frequent floodings caused by inadequate provision for drainage by public authorities.

No. Damage to private property from flooding can, like that caused by fire and the more generally accepted household perils, be covered by insurance at very little extra cost. It is the Government's view that the cost of insuring their property should be met by householders themselves and not by the taxpayers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to prevent hazard to life and property arising from the failure of individuals to deal with the problem of subsidence.

It is for local planning authorities to consider the risks of subsidence, to refuse planning permission or to impose conditions were appropriate.The N.H.B.R.C.'s guarantee provides full cover for major structural defects caused by subsidence or settlement for a 10-year period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which have commenced work on general improvement areas in the last 12 months, and the numbers of houses involved.

The list is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will advise soft drink manufacturers of the threat to the environment posed by non-returnable glass containers.

Any threat to the environment posed by non-returnable glass containers can be minimised if such containers are properly disposed of to dustbins and litter bins. However, I am reviewing all the relevant facts with the help of the industries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of the British Railways Board investment programme 1971–75; and how much of the cost will be borne by Her Majesty's Government.

About £600 million. Grant contributions to the board's investment are expected to be of the order of £200 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on the future of Richmond Terrace and New Scotland Yard.

I shall make an announcement as soon as a decision has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to the letter dated 25th September addressed to him by Mr. J. A. L. Neyrond of the Manor House, Compton, a constituent of the hon. and gallant Member for Winchester, regarding the route to be followed by the M3 motorway through the village of Compton.

The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a general direction to the British Railways Board to intensify their efforts to obtain export orders for rolling stock and locomotives.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional financial assistance he intends to make available to the British Railways Board to enable them to utilise to the full the present railway workshop facilities for building and maintaining, in advance of immediate requirements, rolling stock and locomotives that will be needed to handle future increases in the rail traffic.

I have asked the board what scope there may be for action of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the assurance that no general direction will be issued to the British Railways Board to adhere to the Confederation of British Industry's price initiative in such a way as to cause reduced service and danger to consumers, due to inadequate financial provision for maintenance, repair and inspection of locomotives, rolling stock and track.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of his Department concerning legislation to regulate the spacing of heavy duty vehicles whilst in motion.

This is not a suitable subject for legislation. Advice to all drivers is given in Rule 35 of the Highway Code and in the official manual "Driving ".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will carry out a review of the penalties for all driving offences.

These matters are regularly reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now considered the recommendations made to him by the working party on the parking of lorries; and whether, in view of the public concern about the loss of amenity caused by the excessive parking of large lorries in residential areas, he can give some indication of the timetable in connection with the provision of adequate lorry parks outside these areas.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South-West (Mr. George Cunningham) on 5th November. —[Vol. 825. c. 35.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when it is expected that the proposed code of practice relating to the securing of loads on commercial vehicles will be completed; and what arrangements are being made to advise owners and users of commercial vehicles to comply with the code.

The text of this code should be completed by the spring of 1972 and printed copies available by the autumn. Publicity and distribution of the code will be discussed with the industry shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of the Government relating to the harmonisation of transport regulations with the Common Market countries, particularly relating to the size of vehicles and drivers' hours and the timing of such harmonisation; and if he will make a statement.

It is our policy to seek satisfactory arrangements for the harmonisation of transport regulations with the European Community. The Commission's draft directive on vehicle weights and dimensions is under discussion in the Community. We have made our views known. We are seeking an adequate transitional period before applying, in the United Kingdom, the regulation on drivers' hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses at the latest available date in Huddersfield do not have an inside toilet and/or bath, and what action he is taking to alleviate the situation.

The latest information is that provided by the 1966 Sample Census. This showed 9,700 households without an inside water closet and 10,800 without a fixed bath. Everything possible is done to publicise, nationally and locally, the generous grants available towards the costs of house improvement. As the hon. Member will know, Huddersfield County Borough Council, at the invitation of my right hon. Friend, held a local house improvement month campaign as recently as last June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress has been made in his discussions concerning the alcohol safety interlock system referred to in his answer on 23rd July, 1971.

I am waiting for a prototype to be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the number of lorries and heavy lorries which were among the 399,865 vehicles reported in 1970 for failing to have a Road Fund licence; and what was the estimated loss to the Revenue of this evasion.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question could be obtained only from a detailed scrutiny of individual reports. The loss of revenue cannot be estimated but the courts are, of course, required on conviction to re- cover arrears of duty in respect of periods of unlicensed use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that during 1970 there were 399,865 cases of reports of road vehicles on the roads without a valid licence, that only 157,866 were prosecuted for this offence; to what extent to date the total amount of £1,785,710 total fines and arrears of duty imposed by the courts has been paid; and if he will take steps to prevent this growing evasion of the law.

As I have previously explained, information about how much of the fines and back duty have been paid off at any particular date is not available. I am determined to do everything I can to reduce evasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that although 399,865 cases were reported during 1970 of vehicles without current Road Fund licences this was only about one-third of the total number of vehicles which are on the roads illegally; and what action he intends taking to ensure that the sums being lost to the Treasury by road-users committing this offence are not lost in future.

I know of no evidence for the hon. Member's estimate. There is no quick answer to the problem of evasion but enforcement activity is steadily increasing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give a further breakdown of the 399,865 cases of reports of failure to have a valid Excise licence during 1970 to show to what extent of the 157,866 cases where prosecution ensued this was for arrears of a quarter-year, a half-year, three-quarters of a year and one year or more, and the number which were for vehicles other than private cars; and to what extent the mitigated penalties imposed on 88,046 offset the arrears of licence fees due.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question could be obtained only from a detailed scrutiny of individual records. Arrears of duty are always taken into account in fixing mitigated penalties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the 157,866 prosecutions for failure to have a current Road Fund licence resulting in £1,785,710 in fines and arrears of duty offset or compensated for the loss to the Revenue of the 399,865 cases reported for this offence.

The total of £1,785,710 can be related only to the 157,866 prosecutions. As the hon. Member recognises, it includes arrears of duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that in 1967 there were 348,053 officially reported cases of vehicles being observed on the roads without a valid Excise licence contrary to the law, and that by 1970 this figure had grown to 399,865; what action he has taken since 1967 to prevent this; and whether in view of the failure of these actions he will initiate a new system of combating this method of tax evasion.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member reflect increased enforcement activity, which itself is the best method of tackling evasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the setting up of an action group on his initiative announced at the recent conference of London housing authorities.

I have now appointed the members of this group under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State. The terms of reference and details of membership are given below. The first meeting of the group took place today. Further meetings of the group will be held at regular intervals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what preparations he is making for proposing a European or wider international agreement for minimum standards of control of quality of water in rivers and streams; and whether he expects to make any such proposal at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at Stockholm next year; (2) what discussions or communication he has had with member States of the European Free Trade Association concerning desirable standards for regulating the quality of water in rivers and streams.

The question of international standards for controlling pollution of air, land and water is under consideration in a number of international bodies. I am discussing with Ministers of

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of discretionary improvement grants, and the total amount involved, made during each of the last 12 month periods for which figures are available by the Bude Urban District Council, the Stratton Rural District Council, the Launceston Borough Council, the Launceston Rural District Council, the Camelford Rural District Council, Wade- bridge and Padstow Rural District Council, the St. Austell Rural District Council and the Newquay Urban District Council.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, when agreeing to the closure of the Mid-Hampshire railway line, he satisfied himself that the figures of future earning power advanced by British Rail were accurate.

Consideration of possible trends of future earnings showed that even on the most optimistic assumptions, these would not be likely to meet a very much higher proportion of cost than at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in deciding to agree to the closure of the Mid-Hampshire railway line, what figures he took into account for the cost of future expenditure on the line.

As indicated in my Department's decision letter, a longterm average of £135,000 a year, which takes account of £245,000 on renewals of track and telecommunication equipment in the years 1972-75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he consulted the London Borough of Wandsworth relative to the use he intends for Cedars Lodge, Cedars Road, London, S.W.4, which is owned by his Department.

Cedars Lodge is held on lease by my Department for use by the Department of Health and Social Security. The property is in Lambeth. The borough council was told of the proposed use and agreed that no formal consultation was necessary under the Circular 100 procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost, by region, of building a twobedroomed and a three-bedroomed council house, respectively.

Figures are not available for houses with two and three bedrooms; but for the broadly corresponding classes of houses built for four and five persons, the average cost of construc- tion in tenders approved for local authorities in each region in 1970 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will add a code of Hospital Obligations to Patients to the Practitioners' Terms of Service in Statutory Instrument No. 2248 and issue it in a form readily available to the general public.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to improve the safety precautions on Great Britain's beaches and holiday resorts; and if he will make a statement on lifesaving training and operations.

It is primarily for local authorities to decide on, and to keep under review, the particular measures necessary to prevent drowning accidents in their areas, but the Home Office encourages general publicity about water safety. Training in lifesaving is widely available through schools, swimming clubs and in other ways. The extent to which trained lifesavers are used on beaches is for the local authorities concerned to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the recent official statistics prepared by his Department during the week commencing 9th October on matters connected with murders and punishment, what plans he has to re-introduce capital punishment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his Question on 21st October.—[Vol. 823, c. 166.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why no information is available as to the number of prosecutions which have been instituted pursuant to the Theft Act, 1968. and as to the number of convictions which resulted in 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively, in respect of the improper use of schedules of dilapidations.

Because statistics are not kept in a way which enables such prosecutions and offences to be identified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention to introduce a Bill in regard to the guardianship of infants this Session.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the parties and groups with whom he has held talks about the situation in Northern Ireland during the last two months.

Within the framework of the programme of talks announced on 7th September, I have met the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions, the Northern Ireland Labour Party, the Alliance Party, the New Ulster Movement, the Ulster Liberal Party, and the Chairman of the Community Relations Commission and a group of university staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for increasing the allowances payable to justices of the peace.

My right hon. Friend proposes to increase the maximum rates of financial loss allowances to justices of the peace so as to bring them into line with the rates recently proposed for members of local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tanzanian citizens were refused entry into the United Kingdom in each month from June to October, 1971.

44, 14, 16, 11 and 3.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many British troops have been killed and how many injured, in Northern Ireland in each of the last eight three month periods and during October, 1971.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of State for Defence what will be the total cost of the symposium to be held next June to promote arms sales and the Defence Sales Organisation; and on which Vote it will be borne.

An Army engineer equipment symposium is to be held in June to discuss the roles and organisation of military engineers. It will include a display of British military engineering equipment available for sale overseas, the cost of which will be met by the manufacturers of the equipment.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what evaluation of overseas sales potential was made of the HS1182 before it was chosen as the new jet trainer for the Royal Air Force; and what is his numerical assessment of that potential.

The overseas sales potential of a new jet trainer was a factor which was carefully studied, and it is estimated that there is a considerable world market for an aircraft of this type. An order for the HS1182 by the Royal Air Force should enable us to obtain a good share of this market.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what engine has been chosen by his Department to power the HS1182 new jet trainer for the Royal Air Force.

The engine has not yet been chosen; a decision will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the HS1182 new jet trainer for the Royal Air Force is to enter service with No. 4 Flying Training School; and when and what is the proposed location for the Advanced Flying Training School equipped with this aircraft.

It is intended that No. 4 Flying Training School will be reequipped with HS1182 aircraft during the second half of this decade. Current plans envisage that the school will remain at Royal Air Force Valley, its present location.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to provide for automatic co-ownership of a matrimonial home, for the grant of a legal right to a surviving spouse to inherit part of an estate irrespective of the contents of any will, and a system of community of property which would lead to an equal distribution of property at the end of a marriage, in accordance with a working paper submitted by the Law Commission on 26th October, 1971.

The Law Commission has asked for comments on its published working paper on Family Property Law by 30th June, 1972, to assist it in preparing a final report. Until that has been considered legislation would be premature.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what medical evidence it was decided that children between 7 and 11 years of age did not need free milk; if she will publish the evidence in the OFFICIAL REPORT; if she will seek powers to enable a non-education authority to use the product of a penny rate to supply free milk for these children; and if she will make a statement.

The Chief Medical Officer was consulted about the Government's proposals and subsequently his Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy endorsed his advice that it was not possible to predict whether or not the withdrawal of free school milk would have a prejudicial effect on the health of the age group generally, but that careful monitoring should detect effects, if any, at a stage when they were still mild and reversible. The new milk-in-school arrangements include provision for the continued supply of free milk to children aged 7–11 who are certified by a school medical officer to need it on health grounds. A sub-committee of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy is currently formulating proposals on monitoring the nutritional state of children, including children in the age group in question.With regard to the last part of the Question local authorities, including those which are not education authorities, are empowered by Section 6 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act, 1963, to spend up to the product of a pre-decimal penny rate for any purpose which in their opinion is in the interests of their area or its inhabitants, excluding purposes for which they are authorised or required by any other enactment to make any payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the sum allocated for minor works for each of the six years 1967–68 to 1972–73 and the proposed allocation for 1973-74.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy on the employment of teachers' aides; whether she will take the initiative with the local education authorities and the teachers' associations in seeking to employ more teachers' aides; and if she will make a statement.

It is for the local education authority to decide on the employment of teachers' aides in the light of the resources available and the needs of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schemes for secondary reorganisation submitted by local education authorities contain, respectively, full provision, partial provision and no provision for comprehensive education; and if she will list the names of those local education authorities which have not yet submitted plans for secondary reorganisation.

Since the issue of Circular 10/70 local education authorities are under no obligation to submit plans for the reorganisation of secondary education in their areas, and therefore the last part of the hon. Member's Question does not arise. Of 146 authorities in England, 107 have plans which provide for comprehensive schools in the whole or greater part of their area; 13 have plans which provide for comprehensive schools in part of their area; two have plans which do not provide for comprehensive schools in any part of their area; and 24 do not have plans officially lodged with my Department.Information in respect of secondary education in Wales should be sought from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has read the report of America's Institute of International Education in New York, a copy of which is in her possession, which states that nearly 1,600 teachers from Great Britain have taken up appointments in schools and colleges for better salaries and conditions; and if she will take urgent measures to improve the salary scales of teachers in Wales and England; and if she will make a statement.

Traditionally, many English and Welsh teachers take appointments in the United States and many United States teachers come here This is a desirable interchange.Teachers' salaries are a matter for the Burnham Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes in Section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act she plans in order to permit young people over the age of 15 years to take part in work experience and similar schemes organised by schools and other bodies in industrial areas, in view of the raising of the school-leaving age.

Following consultations with the local authority and teacher associations and both sides of industry and in the light of their views, I am considering with my right hon. and hon. Friends the possibility of amendment of the law to enable children to take part in work experience in their last year of compulsory education.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, taking 1st November, 1969, as 100, what was the percentage increase in the cost of living to 1st May, 1970; and what has been the increase in each subsequent period of six months using 100 as the base point for 1st May, 1970, 1st November, 1970, and 1st May, 1971.

The information is not available precisely in the form requested. The percentage increases in the General Index of Retail Prices were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many race relations employment advisers are employed by his Department; what their duties are and where they are employed.

Ten advisers are employed; one in Scotland, one in Wales, one in each of my Department's seven English regions and one in Headquarters. Their main duties are to encourage the wider adoption by industry and com-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average conditions of contract of those medical staff employed on part-time con- tracts in each grade and specialty of each regional hospital board in 1970.

The only statistical information available on the merce of effective policies to promote equal employment opportunities for all, regardless of race or colour; and to advise my Department's regional staff on matters concerned with race relations in employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations took place with engineering and architectural staff in regional hospital boards prior to his publication on the reform of the National Health Service; and if, as a result, the staff are satisfied with career prospects.

Regional hospital board engineers and architects were consulted through their professional associations, as were other professional groups in the health service. The comments received do not enable me to say what effect staff expect the changes to have on their career prospects, but I see no reason to assume that these will be any less satisfactory than at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the charge to each regional hospital board relating to engineering and architectural works on hospital developments in the years 1965 to 1970 inclusive for employees directly in the employ of the regional boards.

The figures are as follows: average conditions of contract of medical staff employed on part-time contracts is in the form of the average time spent on National Health Service work per part-time doctor expressed as a fraction of a whole-time contract. This information for staff in post at 30th September, 1969, is included in the tables published in the OFFICIAL REPORT in reply to another question by the hon. Member today. The information for 1970 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to amend the cause of the conflict between himself and leading Scottish education authorities over the issue of free milk to primary school children.

I wrote in the middle of September to the civic heads of all the Scottish education authorities drawing attention to the serious implications for local government and for the community as a whole of any failure on their part to observe the provisions of an Act of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of pay beds under Part I, Section 1, of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, in each regional hospital board, and the number of such beds reserved for a particular specialty of medicine in 1970.

Authorisations given under Section 1 of the 1968 Act relate to the numbers of private patients who may be accommodated, at any one time, in particular hospitals ; they do not relate to particular beds or particular specialties of medicine. The figures by regions are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a White Paper on the effects of the North Sea oil discoveries on the Scottish economy.

A White Paper would not be appropriate. The effects on the Scottish economy of the discovery of oil in the North Sea require continuous study. The Government and Scottish industry can together ensure that the opportunities offered are grasped.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the social consequences resulting from the proposal of British Rail Engineering Limited to close its railway workshops at Barassie, Troon.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses, public and private respectively, he expects to be completed in 1971 ; how many were started in the second quarter of the year ; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last five years.

To 30th September, 28,110 houses had been completed this year, 20,804 in the public sector and 7,306 for private owners. I am not prepared to forecast how many may be completed in the last quarter.In the second quarter 10,252 houses were started, 7,130 in the public sector and 3.122 for private owners. The figures for each of the past five years are published in the last Housing Return for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received proposals from the six counties in the West of Scotland about an alternative local government structure to that recommended by his White Paper ; what consideration is being given to the six counties' plan ; and if he will make a statement.

I shall be discussing this proposal, and other structural matters, with the local authority associations on 19th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give the details of his plans for additional public expenditure this winter to alleviate the unemployment problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the reason for the delay in his Department's reply, which was promised at an early date several months ago, to the request made to it by Mr. M. J. G. Moir in 1970 that it institute a random sample survey to

The following table gives details by city or county area —except in the case of expenditure by water boards—of the £54 million of work so far approved, and an indication of the further work likely to be approved, having regard to the schemes still under consideration.obtain an estimate of the number of contraventions by public and private companies respectively of each Section of each Act administered by his Department, capable of being contravened.

I apologise for the delay in replying but the hon. Member is mistaken no such promise was given. The making of a survey of the kind proposed presents a number of administrative problems and involves a substantial expenditure of time and money, and I have decided that the potential value of the result does not justify the expenditure of any public money involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to implement the Jenkins Committee's recommendations regarding prospectuses.

These recommendations are being considered in our current review of company law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he will not introduce legislation to provide that his Department's companies annual reports be audited by independent experts, with the duty of stating whether in their opinion such reports represent a true and fair view of the matters they must by statute cover, and also whether the conduct of his Department's responsibilities revealed in such reports has been reasonable having regard to the provisions of the relevant statutes.

I do not accept the false analogy, which is implied, with company accounts. I hope that the hon. Member is not suggesting that statutory reports made to Parliament are either biassed or untrue. Parliament must be the judge whether the companies annual reports show that the Department has satisfactorily discharged its responsibilities in this context.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he considers disclosure of his Department's conduct of its duties to Parliament and the public under Section 451 of the Companies Act, 1948, to be less important than disclosure by public companies of their affairs to their shareholders and the public.

I reject both the implication that the companies annual report can be compared with the various documents which companies are by law required to make public and the implication that the report is inadequately informative.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken in respect of public companies to protect the investing public from managerial negligence.

We use the powers under the Companies Acts to seek to prevent breaches of those Acts and to pursue those responsible; managerial negligence does not necessarily entail such a breach.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department took in the Dollar Land case to protect the investing public from managerial negligence.

We have put pressure on this company to secure publication of its accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes he proposes in the future use by his Department of its investigatory powers, following the statement about Rolls-Royce Limited's financial difficulties being known to the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation but unknown to his Department, as disclosed in evidence recently given to the Expenditure Committee.

I am aware of the evidence given by the former Chairman of the I.R.C. to the Expenditure Committee. His view as to the state of Rolls-Royce's finances as expressed to that Committee does not in all respects concur with that contained in I.R.C.'s official reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he accepts the finding of his inspectors in the case of Pergamon Press Limited that shareholders in public companies are not given all the information they may reasonably expect pursuant to Section l65(b)(iii) of the Companies Act, 1948, unless such information is physically sent to all shareholders.

I do not accept the hon. Member's premise that one of the findings of the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Pergamon Press Ltd. was as stated in the Question.