asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the present estimated annual cost of maintaining the armed forces in Northern Ireland.

There are no meaningful figures of the cost of maintaining forces in particular areas of the British Isles. In reply to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) on 22nd October, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Army gave an estimate of £;11·6 million for the extra cost of Northern Ireland military operations in the current financial year.—[Vol. 823, c. 204.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many people were arrested by the security forces in Northern Ireland during the last four weeks; how many of these were in Belfast and Londonderry; and how the numbers compare with those arersted in each of the previous four months.

I regret that it is impracticable without disproportionate effort to provide the information in the precise form required by my hon. Friend, in particular to give figures by districts. The available information is as follows:

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many incidents of tarring and feathering have been reported to the security forces in Northern Ireland; how many of these involved women; and how many of these incidents involved members of the Bog-side Women's Vengeance Committee.

Since 1st November, I have received reports of four people being tarred and feathered. Two of these were women. I have no definite evidence as to who was responsible. However, R.U.C. enquiries are proceeding.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the incident in Kilrea, County Londonderry, in which a telephone exchange was wrecked.

At approximately 10.30 p.m. on 14th November the automatic telephone exchange at Kilrea was wrecked by a bomb, estimated to have contained five to 10 lb. of explosive, which had been placed against the outside wooden wall. There were no casualties.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will give details of arms found by the security forces in Northern Ireland during the last four weeks; and how this compares with quantities found in the previous four months.

I regret that the information cannot be provided in the precise form requested without disproportionate effort. Arms finds over the last 16 weeks have included the following:

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the activities of the security forces near Kilrea, County Londonderry, on 21st and 22nd November, 1971.

The Army was not involved in any security operation near Kilrea on 21st November. During an operation on 22nd November the security forces arrested four men and found the following items in a quarry near Kilrea:

asked the Minister of State for Defence how much explosive has been used by the Army in the cratering of border roads in Northern Ireland.

Up to 22nd November, 18,000 lb. of explosive had been used by the Army in cratering border roads.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many times mechanical diggers and bulldozers have been used by the Army in the cratering of border roads in Northern Ireland.

Up to 22nd November, mechanical diggers and bulldozers had been employed 51 times in the blocking of border roads.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give an estimate of the cost of cratering border roads in Northern Ireland, and the cost of guarding these roads when cratered.

It has cost about £;10,000 to make the holes and nothing to guard them.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements have been made to compensate border dwellers whose land and property have been destroyed or damaged as a result of the cratering of roads in Northern Ireland by the Army.

Any claims should be addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in how many road accidents the Army have been involved in Northern Ireland since August, 1969; and how many of these accidents have resulted in civilian deaths.

Between 1st August, 1969, and 31st October, 1971, there were 3,612 accidents involving Army vehicles in Northern Ireland. Twelve of these accidents resulted in civilian deaths.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has to use the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve in Northern Ireland in order to assist with security operations in the province.

None. The T.A.V.R. is a reserve force for the Army as a whole and is subject to legislation which allows it to be called out in certain circumstances for operational duties on a full-time basis only.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the vetting procedures for recruits to the Ulster Defence Regiment.

There has been no change in the general policy on the vetting of these recruits as it was described to the House during the debates on the Ulster Defence Regiment Bill.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the provision of medium/heavy lift helicopters for the Royal Air Force.

We have decided not to pursue the question of purchasing a medium lift helicopter for the time being.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, in view of the fact that his Department stated that it was necessary to put H.M.S. "Otter" out to a private yard because Her Majesty's Royal Dockyards were unable to undertake this refit, why his Department has announced that the personnel in Her Majesty's Royal Dockyard, Devonport, are to be reduced by 500 next year and for several years ahead.

The decision to refit H.M.S. "Otter" by contract was taken because of a temporary overload of the specialised capacity needed for this task. Meanwhile no statement has been made about reductions in Devonport's labour force next year, although manpower targets designed to achieve the correct balance of trades are being discussed with the trade unions.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, in view of the level of unemployment in the South-West, why he has not given a contract to Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, to build a new ship, in view of that yard's record in recent years in designing and building ships with agreed delivery periods.

The aim of the Government in allocating the recent naval orders was so far as possible to help to relieve the current difficulties of the shipbuilding industry, especially in those areas like Clydeside and Tyneside which are suffering from very high unemployment and which are particularly dependent on the industry.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he plans to order more Harrier and Nimrod aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

Existing plans do not at present include additional Harrier or Nimrod aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans are now being made to equip the Fleet with vertical and short take-off and landing aircraft.

The Harrier trials in H.M.S. "Ark Royal" last May went smoothly, and confirmed that VSTOL aircraft can be safely and effectively operated from a deck; and that there are no technical or logistic reasons why VSTOL aircraft should not be considered suitable for deployment at sea. These trials enabled proposals to be made for the development of the Harrier's operational capability for such purposes These are now being studied in relation to timing and cost, and to other priorities. We are pressing ahead with this study but a good deal still remains to be done before any decision can be taken about equipping the Fleet with VSTOL aircraft.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects to be in a position to make a decision about the replacement of Varsity and Chipmunk aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

For the Varsity, no decision will be taken before next year. Subject to satisfactory contractual arrangements, however, we have decided to replace the Chipmunk in certain rôles by the Bulldog.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what new arrangements have been made to assist the defence of Zambia.

None. But of course we continue to assist the Zambian Government with training courses in the United Kingdom and in the supply of equipment.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Australia with regard to increasing the frequency and duration of exercises and visits by British warships in the Indian Ocean.

We keep in close touch with the Australian authorities over the deployment of our naval forces East of Suez. Every opportunity will be taken to co-ordinate naval deployments and exercises with the Royal Australian Navy.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give details of the talks that have taken place between his Department and the United States Air Force and other Services in regard to the elimination of noise from low flying aircraft in the County of Northumberland.

As I informed the hon. Member in my letter of 9th November, we have recently completed a review with the United States Air Force authorities of the routes flown by their aircraft when approaching the Otterburn range in Northumberland. This should result in a marked reduction in the noise nuisance in the heavily built-up areas between Morpeth, Ashington and Blyth.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action he proposes to take to lessen the incidence of Low-Flying aircraft activity in Carmarthen-shire.

I regret that I cannot promise any lessening of the incidence of Low-Flying aircraft activity in Carmarthen-shire. As I am sure the hon. Member understands, low-level flying training is essential to a modern air force, but no more is done than is necessary, and any general reduction would jeopardise the operational efficiency of the Royal Air Force. Most of Carmarthenshire, in common with other sparsely populated areas of the country, bears its fair share of this low-level training, which unfortunately is bound to cause some disturbance to those on the ground.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what the policy of Her Majesty's Government is towards the establishment of an exclusively Western European defence organisation.

I do not know of any proposal to establish such an organisation.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the multi-rôle combat aircraft programme.

Work on the first phase of the development programme for the multi-rôle combat aircraft continues to make satisfactory progress.

asked the Minister of State for Defence upon what grounds he has refused to allow the hon. Member for Islington, South-West to see and hear one of the three electronic noise torture machines whose operation was condemned by the Compton Report.

As has been explained to the hon. Member, and whilst not accepting the imputation in his Question, the machines which are used in support of the process of interrogation are in secure establishments access to which is granted only to those who need to visit them. The Committee of Privy Councillors under Lord Parker's chairmanship will have full access to all the information which they need in the course of their inquiry and they will be able to see and hear one of these machines if they wish to do so.

asked the Minister of State for Defence to what uses the three electronic noise torture machines in the possession of the armed forces are currently being put.

The only use to which any of the machines is being put is training.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what representation he has received from organisations and authorities in Carmarthenshire following his Department's decision not to close the Pembrey Bombing Range in 1972 as previously announced.

My Department has received letters from two local authorities, which have been given full replies. I have in addition received a letter from the hon. Gentleman to which I shall shortly be replying.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the review of the law relating to lotteries to be completed.

In the course of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received from his committee on drug addiction on the restriction of the manufacture and distribution of amphetamines, in accordance with the recommendation of the World Medical Assembly.

None. But my right hon. Friend expects that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will consider the controls to be applied to amphetamines in the course of their general consideration of the advice to be given to him on the regulations to be made under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the threat posed by recent acts of sabotage in Great Britain, whether he will reactivate the Civil Defence Corps for peacetime emergencies.

My right hon. Friend does not think that this would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to introduce a code of practice for the welfare of animals in zoos in the light of the observations made by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare in their Report for 1970–71, a copy of which is in his possession.

My right hon. Friend is not persuaded that Government initiative in this matter is necessary at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people lost their lives because of lack of fire escapes in their homes in 1969 and 1970, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the requests for action on the law of obscenity contained in a proclamation issued by the Festival of Light Movement, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Macclesfield; and if he will make a statement.

The proclamation Makes a number of proposals for legislation, not all of which concern the law of obscenity. Those which relate to obscenity require elucidation and my right hon. Friend is informing the chairman of this organisation that he would be glad to arrange for its representatives to be received at the Home Office for this purpose. There is nothing further that I can say meanwhile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases in magistrates' courts in England and Wales where a prisoner was remanded in custody for reports, and such reports were completed prior to the date fixed for the hearing, the court has advanced the hearing date;(2) in how many cases in magistrates' courts in the Greater London area where a prisoner was remanded in custody for reports, and such reports were completed prior to the date fixed for the hearing, the court has advanced the hearing date;(3) if he will make a statement as to the implementation of the circular issued by his Department in May 1971 indicating that governors and medical officers of prisons or remand centres were to inform the clerk of the court, by whom a prisoner has been remanded for reports, as soon as the report in question has been completed.

During the month following the issue of the circular the date of hearing was advanced in 29 cases at magistrates' courts in England and Wales, eight of which involved persons appearing in courts in the Greater London area. The effect of these arrangements is under review and I will write to the hon. Member when this has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases where bail has been granted to an accused person subject to the provision of a suitable surety, and where the police are required to make an inquiry regarding the surety, a record is made of the details of the surety, the officer carrying out the inquiry and the result in accordance with the procedure currently followed in the Metropolitan Police area.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the facilities available for legal advice on questions of bail and legal aid at prisons and remand centres; and if he will make a statement.

Every prison service establishment has a special team of experienced prison officers to advise prisoners on matters relating to legal aid and, where necessary, to help them with their applications. Advice is also available on matters relating to bail. Every prisoner eligible to apply for legal aid or bail is advised on these matters during the morning following his arrival in the prison, and he is given every facility to find or consult a solicitor if he wishes to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the efficiency of appeals by unrepresented persons from a refusal of bail as administered by the Official Solicitor's department; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.At present the arrangements for representation by the Official Solicitor enable these applications by persons who would otherwise be unrepresented to be dealt with speedily and effectively. After the Courts Act, 1971, comes into operation on 1st January next, a person committed in custody to the Crown Court will also be able to apply for bail to a Circuit Judge and legal aid will be available for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the substance of his recent letter to the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton. South-West on the subject of the prison population of England and Wales.

Slightly over 5 per cent. of prisoners now serving sentences of imprisonment in England and Wales were born in the Irish Republic, slightly over 5 per cent. were born in the "new Commonwealth" and just under 2 per cent. were born elsewhere outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent local contractors will be employed in the construction and fitting out of the new remand and training centre for young offenders at Glen Parva, Leicestershire.

A number of contractors in the Midlands have been invited to submit quotations for work in the first of the two phases of the Glen Parva project. Additionally, contractors in the area have been, and will continue to be, invited to quote for the materials and products which will be used by inmate labour in work on the project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis to make a study of the traffic delays in London experienced on days when afternoon garden parties were held at Buckingham Palace last summer and on comparable days when garden parties were not held; and if he will publish the results of the study.

There are too many imponderables for valid comparisons to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the danger and suffering caused to blind persons with guide dogs where the banger type of fireworks are let off, he will secure powers to ban the manufacture and sale of this type of firework.

While my right hon. Friend sympathises with those who are alarmed or annoyed by the discharge of such fireworks, he is not persuaded that a case has been made out for amendment of the law on the lines proposed by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places at Government training centres in the Northern Region were unfilled on the latest available date and if he will make a statement are

214 on 15th November, representing 14 per cent. of the places available. The occupancy rate has improved considerably following the measures announced in July and is expected to rise still further.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will invite the Trades Union Congress to urge members of trade unions to check their place of work against possible loss of their equipment by fire.

Matters relating to fire prevention in places of employment

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of unfilled vacancies registered at employment exchanges in the Greater London area on 8th November, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, by industry and year, the figures for the five industries in the South-West employing most labour for the last ten years.

The following table shows for each mid-year from 1961 to 1970 the numbers employed in the five industries in the South-West region with the greatest numbers of employees at June, 1970, the latest date for which information is available:

At 3rd November, 33,177 vacancies (25,079 for men and women and 8,098 for boys and girls) notified to employment exchanges and careers offices in Greater London remained unfilled. The figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of people employed in the tourist industry in the South-West Region for the last five years for which figures are available.

Information is not available for the tourist industry as a whole, and the following table shows figures for the hotel and catering industries:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give the unemployment figure for Birkenhead in November, 1971, and for each previous year as far back as records go.

Figures on a comparable basis are available from 1948. In the following table information is shown for November of each year from that date:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of wholly unemployed persons registered at employment exchanges in the Greater London area on 8th November, 1971; how this compares with the same period last year; if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers for each employment exchange; and if he will give similar details regarding the number of unemployed school-leavers.

The total numbers of people registered as wholly unemployed in Greater London at November, 1971, and November, 1970, were 79,051 and 58,863, respectively. The numbers of school-leavers included in these figures were 569 and 236. The following tables show the numbers registered at separate Employment Exchanges and Careers Offices: