asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will seek powers to enable her to strengthen the university appointments boards so that they can give a more effective service to students seeking jobs.

I believe it is for the universities themselves to consider how they can best help their students in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pending the publication of the White Paper on metrication, she will give guidance to educational publishers requesting them to maintain the supply of textbooks and materials for the teaching of imperial measures in primary schools.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authorities have accepted her advice that traditional as well as metric methematics shall be taught in schools; and how many are now teaching metric mathematics only, in certain schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools have discontinued the teaching of imperial measures in their mathematics curricula and: whether she will issue guidance to them not so to discontinue pending publication and consideration by Parliament of the White Paper on metrication.

The information requested is not available. The Department has already issued guidance to the effect that pupils should until further notice be given an adequate knowledge of imperial measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were attending uni- versities in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures five, 10 and 15 years previously.

Approximately 37,200 full-time students are attending universities in Scotland at the present time compared with 29,800 in 1966–67, 22,900 in 1961–62 and 17,900 in 1956–57. Figures for all four years include students at the institutions that are now Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt Universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many centres there are for the Open University in South-East London; and how many she proposes to close.

I understand that the Open University are currently reviewing the number and location of their study centres, with their 1972 intake in mind. This is entirely a matter for the University authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give consideration to extending the application of the rate support grant to those local education authorities which provide transport for school children for distances less than the statutory requirements.

Rate support grant is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment but I understand that all local authority expenditure on school transport enters into the forecast of relevant expenditure on which the total grant is based. An individual authority's share of the grant is not affected by how much it spends on school transport and the distribution formula cannot be changed during a grant period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will pay a visit to the Thomas Calton School, Dulwich.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. Officers of the Department visited the school recently and she is well aware of conditions there.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy on the size of classes in special schools.

I hope to send a draft circular for comment to the local authority and teacher associations before Christmas. I would prefer to wait for their views before making any policy announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about her policy for approving secondary school building projects in Inner London.

My right hon. Friend's policy governing the composition of local education authorities' school building programmes is the same for the I.L.E.A. as for all other authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to direct all schools to make milk available to those children whose parents are willing to pay for it.

In Circular 12/71 I expressed the hope that authorities would be prepared to make milk available wherever there was sufficient demand for it. It is not my intention to seek further powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities are continuing to provide free school milk; and if she will make a statement.

All local authorities are continuing to provide free school milk for those pupils entitled to it under the provisions of the Education Acts. No local education authorities in England are continuing to provide free milk contrary to the provisions of the Education (Milk) Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has yet received the returns showing how many children in Durham County and the Northern Region respectively are receiving medical milk under the provisions of the Education (Milk) Act, 1971; and if she will publish them.

In Durham County, none at the date of the census. I understand that arrangements are proceeding in Durham for identifying children who should have free milk on health grounds, and that a small number are now being provided with it. It is expected that more will qualify. Complete returns for all the Northern Region local education authorities are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is aware of the large number of national treasures in museums, but not exhibited; and whether she will take steps to give the public increased opportunity to see objects of general interest by putting them on show wherever space is available.

My noble Friend is well aware of the problems of the trustees in increasing the proportions of the collections in the national museums and galleries which are exhibited to the public. To this end the building programme for the museums and galleries has been increased by 50 per cent. to an average level over the next five years of £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now issue a circular reminding local authorities of the importance of achieving and maintaining a high level of expenditure on school books.

The level of expenditure on school books is a matter for individual local education authorities. However, guidance is available from the Association of Education Committees who, in July this year, issued a memorandum covering allowances for school text books. The recommendations in the memorandum have my full support.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now require local education authorities to make returns showing separately the amount spent annually on school books and other items of equipment.

Local authority returns to my Department already show expenditure on text books and library books separately from that on equipment, stationery and materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have swimming classes for all, some, and none, respectively, of the primary schoolchildren for whom they are responsible.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now introduce legislation to amend the Education Act, 1944, to enable pre-school playgroups to receive financial support from her Department.

No. Assistance to local voluntary bodies is a matter for local authorities who can and do assist playgroups under a variety of powers. My Department makes grants in respect of their headquarter expenses to two national organisations concerned with playgroups.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated number of pre-school playgroups in England and the estimated number of children attending them; and if she will now consider making direct Exchequer grants to the playgroups.

Responsibility for the registration and inspection of pre-school playgroups rests with local authority social services departments and with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. Assistance to local voluntary bodies is a matter for local authorities. I do not contemplate giving direct grants to individual playgroups.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total amount of grant for each of the last six years paid by local authorities to pre-school playgroups and the grants made for the same period from the Department of Education and Science to the Pre-School Playgroups Association; and if she will make a statement on future policy of her Department towards preschool playgroups.

Information of the total amount of grant paid to playgroups by local authorities is not available, but local authority grants to the value of about £250,000 have been approved under the Urban Programme. My Department has made grants towards the headquarters expenses of the Pre-School Playgroups Association since 1966. The amounts paid in each of the last five financial years are as follows:

	£
1966–67	200
1967–68	3,000
1969–69	3,000
1970–70	1,000
1971–71	3,500

A grant of up to £7,000 has been authorised for 1971–72.In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services I am considering what further contribution playgroups could make to the needs of the under-fives.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement on the publication of the report of the James Committee on Teacher Training; and what provision she will make for consultation with representative bodies and others about the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her latest estimate for the publication of the report of the James Committee; and if she will make a statement.

I expect to receive the report at about the end of the year. It is my intention to publish it as soon as practicable after its receipt, and to consult interested bodies about its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from members of the National Union of Teachers consequent upon the recently announced proposal to phase out uncertificated teachers, drawing her attention to the service of such persons over many years in the schools; and what replies she has sent.

None, as far as I know. My right hon. Friend has not in fact announced any such proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why female married students have not been awarded an increase of grant.

Many have received the same increases as other students. The previous rates have been retained only where the wife, while taking a full-time course, is living at home with her husband who is not himself a full-time student or incapacitated and dependent on her. In allocating the additional funds available for student grants it was considered that other claims were stronger.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of correspondence colleges has applied to the Council for accreditation.

The Council for the Accreditation of Correspondence Colleges announced on 1st September the names of the first 24 colleges to be accredited. Inquiries about other applications should be addressed to the Council which is an independent body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she is making in consultations with the trade unions and others to enable children under 16 years of age to continue to have work experience after the raising of the school leaving age.

Consultations have been concluded and I and my right hon. Friends are now considering the next steps to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to explore the possibility of holding the main school examinations in the winter rather than the summer months.

None. When such an Inquiry was made by the Department six years ago the general response was unfavourable. My right hon. Friend has no evidence of a substantial shift of opinion since then.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to empower local education authorities to compensate schoolchildren for the cancellation of half-price fares; and if she will make a statement.

Local education authorities already have the power to assist schoolchildren with the cost of travel to school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amount of money the West Riding County Council has been authorised to spend on the replacement of primary schools between 1972 and 1974; and how many schools this involves.

For the two years 1972–73 and 1973–74, about £3·1 million on 36 schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools were built or rehabilitated in the West Riding of Yorkshire between 1967 and 1970; and how many places are involved.

In the period 1967–70 major projects providing 73 primary schools were completed in the area of the West Riding local education authority involving 21,080 places. There were no major rehabilitation projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools in the West Riding of Yorkshire will have been, or will be, replaced or rehabilitated between 1971 and 1974; and what is the number of school places involved in this improvement.

Forty-seven primary schools will be replaced or rehabilitated by projects authorised in major building programmes between 1971–72 and 1973–74, providing about 11,000 places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when she expects to receive the report on dyslexia from her Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children;(2) if she will publish the report on dyslexia when it is received from the Advisory Committee;(3) if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the sub-committee who prepared the report on dyslexia, the number of times they convened, and a list of the organisations and individuals who presented written or oral evidence;(4) if she will prepare and circulate to all local education authorities a definition of dyslexia.

I received this report on 8th November, and having received the consent of the Committee propose to publish it. The report will itself show the composition of the sub-committee which the main Committee asked to study this question, and the details about the course of their inquiry for which the hon. Member asks. I need time to consider the report before deciding what further action to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the title of the research project into reading difficulties of children which her Department is sponsoring at Leeds University, the names of the people conducting the research, the total cost of the project, and the estimated date of completion;

"A Project for Operational Research on Dyslexia" under the direction of Professor P. Meredith at Leeds University received a grant of £21,000 from my Department, of which about £20,000 has so far been spent. Work on the project has been completed and the final report is now being written. No further research on this project is at present being sponsored by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that the education system will be ready in time for the raising of the school leaving age by the proposed date; and if she will make a statement.

As I informed the House on 5th November, 1971, I am satisfied, in general terms, that the resources which have been committed nationally are adequate and are being applied effectively; but I have asked all local education authorities to let me have, by 1st December, 1971, reports on their state of preparedness.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the relevant bodies have now accepted the recommendations of the Working Party on the Teachers Council; and if she will make a statement.

All the bodies represented on the working party, except the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions and the National Union of Teachers, have, in broad terms and in some cases with reservations, accepted its recommendations. My Department has circulated to each of the bodies a statement of the views expressed and has suggested that, if there is widespread feeling among teachers that the matter should be further pursued, the teachers' associations may wish to see whether they can formulate among themselves agreed proposals on which they judge that it will be possible to secure the agreement of all the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will call for a report from the security forces as to the circumstances in which a car belonging to the police of the Irish Republic crossed into Northern Ireland by means of an unapproved road which had been cratered on 2nd November; and if he will make a statement.

At 10.02 a.m. on 2nd November a blue estate car belonging to the police of the Irish Republic crossed into Northern Ireland at Aghavanny, County Fermanagh. It stopped about 270 yards across the border and one policeman got out, looked around and after five minutes got back into his car and returned to the Republic. Cratering operations were in progress at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many troops are in Northern Ireland; and what plans he has relating to future numbers.

The current total strength of Regular and U.D.R. units amounts to some 19,000 officers and men. Future force levels will depend upon the situation at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps are being taken to secure employment at the Naval Air Repair Yard, Sydenham, Northern Ireland, over the next three years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 8th July.—[Vol. 820, c. 462–464.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what foreign firms other than those from the United State of America tendered for the radar contract for multi-role combat aircraft.

Marcel Dassault and AEG Telefunken/FIAR also bid.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what method was used to invite tenders for the avionic and radar equipment for the multi-rôle combat aircraft; and what body assessed the tenders.

A list of suitable firms was agreed by the appropriate Equipment Selection Panel on which all three countries in the M.R.C.A. programme are represented. Competitive tenders were then invited and assessed by the joint airframe company, PANAVIA, before being passed to the Equipment Selection panel for decision.

asked the Minister of State for Defence which British firms tendered for the radar contract for the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

Ferranti and Elliott Automation Radar Systems Ltd. made a joint proposal.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) which American firm has succeeded in obtaining the radar contract for the multi-rôle combat aircraft;(2) on what grounds the radar contract for the multi-rôle combat aircraft was awarded to the United States of America; and in particular what factors other than price/capability and date of delivery were taken into account.

As I announced on 21st October, Texas Instruments Ltd. has been awarded this contract. Its radar was much the cheapest that would satisfactorily meet the operational needs of the three participating countries. The Equipment Selection panel took into account all relevant considerations.—[Vol. 823, c. 885 –6.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects to receive the report of the Nugent Committee on land held by his Department.

In view of the very considerable amount of work involved, the Committee is unlikely to report before the end of next year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when the Committee on Defence lands was set up; on how many occasions it has met; how many representations verbal or written it has received; how many visits it has made to defence lands; and which areas it has visited.

The appointment of the Committee was announced in Parliament on 14th January, 1971. The Committee has met 12 times in London; and on a further three occasions to visit Ministry of Defence sites. A total of 370 written representations have been received and, so far, 22 supporting oral representations have been made. The Committee has visited the R.A.F. Stations at Brize Norton and Abingdon, the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose and Predannack, the R.A.C. Centre at Bovington and the R.A.C. Gunnery School and Ranges at Lulworth.—[Vol. 809, c. 244–7.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will institute a review of all cadet training to make sure that young cadets do not drive whilst unduly fatigued, thus endangering both their own and other people's safety.

I see no need for such a review.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will arrange to take out insurances providing for compensation in cases of death or injury for young cadets training with the Army.

It is not the practice of the Crown to insure.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will institute a review of the procedure adopted following fatal accidents of Army or other cadets in relation to the next of kin.

It see no need for such a review..

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will increase the amounts available from public funds to help the funeral arrangements for those killed whilst serving in the Armed Forces; and if he will also increase the grants to the family and next of kin of the deceased.

I see whether the grant which is made by my Department can be increased.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will issue instructions that drivers and passengers of Army vehicles should wear seat belts, or where these are not appropriate, that they should be equipped with some form of safety devices, particularly to prevent passengers from being thrown out from the backs of open vehicles.

Such instructions are already in force in regard to all vehicles fitted with safety harness; in some classes of vehicle, such as tanks, such equipment is not appropriate. No special devices are fitted to prevent passengers from being thrown out from the backs of open vehicles, but there are particular instructions for the safety of such passengers and accidents of this kind are in fact rare.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why he will not take action to introduce a system for British Servicemen and Servicewomen to join a public service trade union.

Mainly because active participation in trade union matters would be in conflict with Service discipline, and because the Armed Forces Pay Review Body exists to establish independently the appropriate pay and allowances of the Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the findings of the Cairncross Committee.

My right hon. Friend understands that the committee expects to report later this months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his report into the working of the Firearms Act, 1968; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot yet say when the review will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of known offences in which a firearm was used against a police officer, during each of the previous three years.

The number of police officers on duty in England and Wales fired at or threatened with a firearm was 44 in 1969 and 50 in 1970. Corresponding figures for 1968 are being obtained, and I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of convicted offences in which a firearm was used and the present maximum prison sentence was imposed in each of the last five years;(2) what was the number of convictions for the unlawful use of firearms during each of the last three years.

This information is not available, but the following table gives the number of indictable offences known to the police in England and Wales in which a firearm was used or presented:

1967	792
1968	878
1969	1,308
1970	1,359

Corresponding figures for 1966 are not available.It is thought that improved reporting partly accounts for the increase between 1968 and 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the number of indictable offences involving firearms known to the police in England and Wales in 1970.

The number of indictable offences involving firearms known to the police in England and Wales in 1970 was 3,486, as compared with 3,298 in 1969. In 1,359 of these offences a firearm was fired or presented, in 104 a firearm was carried but not used and in the remaining 2,023 a firearm was involved only by being misappropriated. The corresponding figures for 1969 were 1,308, 109 and 1,881.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the effect of Section 39(3) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, on the size of the prison population and the duration of sentences of imprisonment served.

This subsection requires prison sentences of six months or less to be suspended unless one of a number of conditions is satisfied. The available statistical information does not separately identify offenders to whom any of these conditions apply or those cases where a court suspends a sentence of imprisonment only because of the requirements of the subsection. No estimate can therefore be made of the effect of this provisison on the size of the prison population or the duration of prison sentences served.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the operation of the system of suspended sentences.

The use made by the courts of the power to suspend a prison sentence shows that they have found this a useful addition to the means of disposal available to them. There is reason to believe, however, that suspended sentence has sometimes been imposed where previously a fine would have been imposed or a probation order made. The provision which requires the courts to suspend short prison sentences except in certain categories has not proved satisfactory, and its repeal is proposed in the Criminal Justice Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people given suspended sentences where immediate imprisonment is prohibited under Section 39(3) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, who would have received sentences of immediate imprisonment before 1968;(2) what is the actual or estimated number of suspended sentences that have been imposed since 1st January, 1968: and in how many of these cases immediate imprisonment was prohibited by virtue of Section 39(3) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967:(3) how many persons who were given suspended sentences of six months or less where immediately imprisonment was prohibited by Section 39(3) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, were subsequently reconvicted;(4) what estimates he has made of the number of people given suspended sentences where immediate imprisonment is prohibited under Section 39(3) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, who would not have received suspended sentences, or would not have had their sentences of imprisonment suspended, had it not been for the provisions of Section 39(3).

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my replies to other Questions which he has asked on this subject.

SENTENCE TO TAKE EFFECT
			Term of imprisonment unaltered (s. 40(1)(a))	Term of imprisonment less than originally imposed (s. 40(1)(b))	Period suspension varied (s.40(1)(c))	No order (s. 40(1)(d))
Males	…	…	21,325	827	665	3,567
Females	…	…	1,096	31	54	325

Persons whose further offences result in absolute or conditional discharge, probation or borstal are not required to be dealt with under Section 40 of the Act. No figures of such cases are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the effect suspended sentences have had on the size of the prison population and the duration of sentences of imprisonment served.

It was explained in paragraph 12 of the Report on the Work of the Prison Department 1970, Cmnd. 4724, that at that time the prison population was at much the same level at would have been expected if suspended

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of people given suspended sentences who would have received sentences of immediate imprisonment before 1968.

Between two-fifths and three-fifths of those given suspended sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, for the longest convenient period of time, are the numbers of persons, male and female, who received suspended sentences; in how many of these cases a subsequent offence or offences took place; and with what result.

From 1st January, 1968, to 31st December, 1970, in England and Wales, 91,498 males and 6,582 females received a suspended sentence of imprisonment. Up to 31st December, 1970, 26,384 males and 1,506 females who were convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment committed during the operational period of the suspended sentence were dealt with under Section 40 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, as follows:sentences had not been introduced. There is some reason to believe that, although the reconviction rate has not fallen, there has recently been some reduction in the proportion of cases in which suspended sentences are later enforced with a corresponding effect on the size of the prison population. It is not possible to calculate the effect of suspended sentences on the duration of prison sentences served.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has studied the recently published book by David Yallop concerning Derek Bentley, entitled "To Encourage the Others", a copy of which is in his possession; and, in view of the evidence it contains, whether he will now institute an inquiry with a view to a posthumous pardon being granted to this educationally sub-normal young man.

My right hon. Friend has been sent a copy of the book. He is having it studied. He is not yet ready to reach any conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the Metropolitan Police, and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, their assessment of the effects on traffic conditions in London of afternoon garden parties held at Buckingham Palace.

In the light of experience the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has worked out standing arrangements for coping with increased traffic pressure. But it is always difficult to isolate the effect of one event from the effects of other factors which from day to day influence traffic conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly cost of keeping a person in Her Majesty's prisons.

The cost was £23.07 in England and Wales in the financial year 1969–70, the latest year for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not established the Advisory Committee on Drug Abuse; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to announce the names of the members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs early next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to be able to bring the main provisions of the Drugs Act, 1971, into operation.

My right hon. Friend intends shortly to make an Order to bring into operation with effect from 1st January, 1972, the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971, which relate to the setting up of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, and to research. The commencement of the remaining provisions of the Act depends upon the preparation of regulations. Consultation with the interested organisations is to start soon, but a great deal of detailed work remains to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of murder, in England and Wales, were known to the police each year since 1964, and what was the rate per million population.

The figures are as follows:

	Offences of murder known to the police	Number of offences of murder per million of home population
1964	135	2·8
1965	135	2·8
1966	122	2·5
1967	154	3·2
1968	148	3·0
1969	119	2·4
1970	137	2·8

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why two detectives from the Metropolitan Police travelled 13,000 miles to investigate the validity of the will of Clive Raphael; what has been the costs of these investigations to date; on how many similar occasions such action has been taken; and with what results.

The detectives travelled at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions to interview a witness whose evidence was needed. The additional cost of the visit to police funds was about £1,300. The total cost of the investigations to date could not be ascertained without disproportionate effort. Police inquiries are carried out overseas when these are necessary in the opinion of those conducting the case. No central record is kept of the total number of visits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the fact that the hon. Member for West Ham, North, wrote to him on 22nd September concerning the sending through the mail of obscene publications by the Earldene Press, by 10th November no reply had been sent to the hon. Member; and whether he will take the necessary action to hasten the various Departments connected with the judicial system within his responsibility in dealing with all matters connected therewith.

The hon. Member wrote on 9th September. He was told on 22nd September that the Director of Public Prosecutions had been asked for advice. He was told on 22nd October that the Director's decision had not yet been received. I understand that the Director's inquiries have not yet been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent, when women prisoners have to take off all their clothing in Holloway Prison, male staff at the prison are allowed to be present; and whether he will take action to prevent this in the future.

There are no circumstances in which women prisoners at any prison service establishment are required to undress in the presence of male staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to make a statement on Sir Edmund Compton's investigations into alleged irregularities in the treatment of internees in Northern Ireland by the British military authorities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on 16th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 215–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the representa- tions he has received from the Northern Ireland Police Authority on the guarding of police stations, in particular stating on what date the representations were received and what action is now being taken in response to them.

I discussed the protection of police stations with the Northern Ireland Police Authority on 6th October. I issued the following statement on 12th November:

"Attacks on police stations are a major feature of current I.R.A. activity.

A number of stations (including all those jointly occupied by the Army and the R.U.C.) are at present guarded by the Regular Army or the U.D.R.; the remainder are protected only to the extent that police manpower and existing police-type arms permit. The Army (including the U.D.R.) will maintain its existing guards on police stations and will aim to increase the number of stations that it can protect to the extent that the operational situation and the available Regular and U.D.R. manpower resources permit. It will also make automatic weapons available at the request of the Police Authority solely for the protection of those stations which are not at present provided with a 24 hour military guard.

The G.O.C. Northern Ireland as Director of Operations will provide such training in the use of these weapons as may be necessary and will agree with the Chief Constable operational orders governing their control and use.

These arrangements will be kept under regular review."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to bring the remaining provisions of the Children Act, 1969, into operation.

Implementation of the remaining provisions of the Act which the Government intend to bring into force must be related to the further development of the relevant local authority services. My right hon. Friend is in touch with his right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales about this, but I think it unlikely that further implementation will be possible in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ascertain from the Royal Commission on the Constitution when it expects to present its report.

I understand that the Commission hopes to report in the course of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to institute a campaign of control and report of dangerous loads on lorries in the interests of road safety.

The Commissioner informs me that the police do what they can to enforce the law in this respect, and that he would not feel justified in diverting resources to a special campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North enclosing a communication from Mr. Bert Reeves, of Stratford, regarding the need for and proposals to improve the carrying of dangerous loads on the roads; and what action he has taken or intends taking in connection with this matter.

The hon. Member's letter was received on 15th November, and a reply will be sent as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the number of redundancies in the area of the Harlesden Employment Exchange in each of the last five years.

Not all redundancies are notified to my Department, and it is not the practice to keep records of every minor redundancy. However, our records show that in the Willesden Employment Exchange area there were 2,330 redundancies in 1967; 1,570 in 1968; 1,940 in 1969; 1,980 in 1970; and 1,680 up to the end of October this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the num- ber of school-leavers in summer 1971 in the area of the Harlesdent Employment Exchange for whom jobs were not available.

In the area covered by the Willesden and Wembley Careers Offices, about 1,200 young people left school for employment at the end of the summer term. Of these, 38 were still registered as unemployed on 8th November, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the number of jobs vacant notified to the Harlesden Employment Exchange at the end of October in each of the last five years.

The following table shows the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in the area covered by the Willesden Employment Exchange, which covers Harlesden:

Notified vacancies remaining unfilled
6th October, 1971	549
7th October, 1970	1,060
8th October, 1969	1,163
9th October, 1968	796
4th October, 1967	847

The figures relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled, and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what sums were paid in unemployment benefit on Merseyside so far during 1971 and the equivalent periods of 1970, 1969 and 1968.

Following were the amounts of National Insurance unemployment benefit paid:

To end September	Amount
	£
1971	7,338,369
1970	5,631,949
1969	4,494,539
1968	4,152,787

These figures do not include National Insurance unemployment benefit paid by certain local education authorities to persons under 18. The amount of such benefit paid in 1971, was £167,413 and in 1970, £92,834. Comparable figures are not available for earlier years.None of these totals includes payments made to claimants who qualified for payment by post. These figures could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether allowances made to persons undergoing full-time training at Government training centres equal to the level of income below which they would be entitled to family income supplement if in full-time remunerative employment.

Precise comparisons are not possible. Training allowances are tax-free and are supplemented by free mid-day meals and daily travel allowances. Trainees do not pay National Insurance Contributions. They are also eligible for earnings-related supplements of up to £7.00 per week. Taking these factors into account, training allowances are broadly comparable with the maximum earnings level below which family incomes supplements are payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many appointments have been made, and how many appointments will be made, to industrial tribunals, as a result of new jurisdiction conferred upon them by reason of the Industrial Relations Act, 1971.

There are at present a full-time President of the Industrial Tribunals in England and Wales, 12 full-time chairmen and a number of

			Registered unemployed					Temporarily stopped included in total	Percentage rates
			Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total		Males	Females	Total
November, 1971 (provisional)
Ashford	…	…	529	23	83	34	669	23	4·0	1·5	3·1
Troon (including Barassie)		…	119	3	23	4	149	—	6·5	2·7	5·1
Crewe	…	…	834	53	210	49	1,146	6	3·9	2·1	3·3
Derby	…	…	3,392	141	652	80	4,265	—	4·4	1·9	3·6
Doncaster		…	3,554	352	698	266	4,870	9	7·6	3·5	6·3
Eastleigh	…	…	329	39	67	23	458	—	4·8	1·6	3·7
Glasgow	…	…	27,973	1,965	4,029	885	34,852	216	10·7	2·6	7·5
Horwich	…	…	193	3	42	2	240	1	6·6	1·5	4·5
Shildon	…	…	228	—	29	—	257	4	9·8	2·8	7·3
Swindon	…	…	2,425	118	295	73	2,911	449	5·9	1·5	4·3
Stratford (including Temple Mills)		…	1,046	—	65	—	1,111	15	2·6	0·6	1·8
Wolverton		…	143	—	40	—	183	—	1·8	1·0	1·5
York	…	…	1,807	62	276	40	2,185	1	4·4	1·1	3·0
Worcester		…	1,886	44	192	25	2,147	797	6·7	1·1	4·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures, and as a percentage, of wholly and temporarily unemployed men, women, boys and girls, respectively, in each of the last two years for which he has complete information, in the following areas, Ashford. Barassie, Crewe, Derby, Concaster, Eastleigh, Glasgow, Horwich, Shildon, Swindon, Temple Mills, Wolverton, York and Worcester.

Following is the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many local employment committees cover the areas of more than one employment exchange; and how many of these cover areas which are contained in travel-to-work areas.

Two hundred and sixteen local employment committees, that is almost 70 per cent. of the total, cover the areas of more than one employment exchange. In 92 cases, the area covered by the committee is the same as or smaller than a travel to work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment exchange areas included in larger travel-to-work areas have their own separate local employment committees.

Sixty-three employment exchanges, the area of each of which is within a larger travel-to-work area, have their own separate local employment committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfilled vacancies exist within the area of the Thorne Employment Exchange; and how many of these are for unskilled labour.

At 3rd November, the provisional number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in the area covered by the Thorne Employment Exchange was 66.The last comprehensive occupational analysis of unfilled vacancies for men and women was for 8th September. Out of 33 notified vacancies for men and women which were unfilled at that date, one was within the group of labouring and certain analogous occupations.The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.