asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what recent discussions he has had with the Post Office about future postal charges.

My most recent discussions concerned the proposals which are now before the Post Office Users' National Council.

asked the Minisster of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will permit the British Broadcasting Corporation to keep one sound broadcasting channel going all night for the benefit of long-distance drivers.

The B.B.C has not put such a proposal to me but, if it did, I would gladly consider it.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will reserve a television channel for the transmission of Parliamentary proceedings and educational services.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies earlier today to the hon. Members for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) and Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding) and my hon. Friend the Member for Conway (Mr. Wyn Roberts).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange for individual thermastatic controls to be installed in Members' and secretaries' rooms, having regard to the discomfort caused by extreme heat or extreme cold without means of regulation available in each room; and whether he will cause the occupant of each room to be in control of the temperature therein.

If my hon. Friend could give me details of particular rooms where the heating or air conditioning gives rise to special problems I will gladly investigate them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to compel bus companies to provide half fares for children up to the school-leaving age.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the call by rents tribunal chairmen, magistrates and others that publicity should be given to the recent High Court case over accommodation agencies and bureaux illegally charging rents, or fees for details of accommodation and of the information submitted to him of a case affecting an Ilford-based bureau, he will initiate a publicity campaign to advise the public that these actions are contrary to the law.

No,

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce regulations specifying minimum distances to be kept between vehicles travelling on motorways.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is giving to local planning authorities about the need to make proper provision for the future maintenance of open spaces before giving planning permission for new developments.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to issue advice. Local circumstances vary considerably and proper provision can best be made by the developer, the local authority and the local planning authority discussing-before grant of planning permission-arrangements for future maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make available to hon. Members the reports by consultants commissioned by his Department on the future treatment and cost of proposals for urban motorways.

These research studies were undertaken for the committee set up by the Minister of Transport in 1969 to advise on various problems of fitting major roads into urban areas. My right hon. Friend expects to receive the committee's report next year. It is not proposed to publish parts of the committee's material in advance of that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now take further steps designed to bring about an increase in the rate of house building in the public sector.

The proposals in the Housing Finance Bill will ensure that local authorities will now have the resources to deal with the housing problems in their areas particularly slum clearance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the development work by a team

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses have been completed and started since 18th June, 1970, and 1st January, 1971, respectively.

In Great Britain, 451,600 permanent dwellings were started and 468,300 completed in the period 1st July, 1970, to 31st October, 1971. For the period 1st January to 31st October, 1971, the corresponding figures are 285,800 and 283,600.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the figures of house building in the public sector, area by area, for the first nine months of 1971, compared with 1970, both for starts and for completions.

Following is the information.of scientists at Aston University, Birmingham, in the successful disposal of plastic containers, details of which are in his possession; and why he is not adopting this method of disposal.

I am aware of the research work being done at Aston University with the support of the Science Research Council into the modification of plastics during fabrication to achieve accelerated degradation in sunlight. Further research is necessary to ensure that plastics so manufactured will be adequate in use and will be free from risks, toxic and otherwise, to humans or animals, both while in use and during the process of degradation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will study the recent legislation placed before the Jersey Parliament, details of which have been supplied to him, to ban non-returnable glass bottles, with a view to introducing similar legislation.

I shall, of course, consider this information. But decisions on the need for legislative or other action on non-returnable containers must await the outcome of the studies to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler) on 16th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 117–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to prohibit local housing authorities from treating boys and girls aged over 18 years living with their parents in local authority accommodation as lodgers for the purpose of charging extra rent, in view of the burden that this practice places on households with children in full-time further or higher education.

There is no proposal that any local authority should charge a rent above the fair rent. The proposals as to rent rebates in Clause 20 and Schedule 3 of the Housing Finance Bill already provide that for this purpose local authorities should make allowance for resident children who are under age 16 or, if they are older, are still receiving full-time education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Minister for Housing and Construction, will receive deputations representing individual local authorities to discuss the provisions, and the implications for their local authorities, of the Housing Finance Bill.

The proposals of the Bill were discussed at length with the local authority associations before it was introduced. Now that the Bill is being considered in Parliament it would be inappropriate and impracticable to receive deputations from individual authorities to discuss its provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those feasibility studies for road schemes in respect of which he has not yet made a decision, giving in each case the date when the study was commissioned and, where appropriate, the date the result of the study was received by him.

The situation on the major feasibility studies is as follows:

• South of Leeds to North-East—the corn-mission was placed in October, 1968 and the Final Report was received in August, 1970—some further work has been commissioned.
• Strensham-Solihull—the commission was placed in May, 1968 and an interim report received in April, 1970.
• Oxford-Birmingham—the commission was placed in May, 1968 and a series of reports have been submitted up to recent months. Further studies are proceeding.
• Ringway 3 South—the commission was placed in August, 1969 and the study is continuing.
• Sheffield-Manchester—the commission was placed in November, 1968 and a Final Report received in March, 1970.
• North Devon Link—the commission was placed in July, 1970 and the Final Report has lust been received.
• A.3 Peterstield-Guildford—the commission was placed in July, 1968 and the Final Report received in June, 1971.
• Chichester to East of Worthing—the commission was placed in April, 1967 and the Final Report received in March, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends that the Greater London Council shall remain responsible for sewerage in the London Excluded Area marked in the map published with Circular 92/71.

We propose that the new Regional Water Authorities should be responsible for sewage disposal throughout their areas. Local authorities would continue to have local sewerage functions. The application of this distinction, in Greater London and elsewhere, will be the subject of consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost to the Exchequer of subsidies received by council tenants.

The current estimate of the total sum payable to local authorities and new towns in England and Wales for 1970–71 in respect of housing accommodation provided or improved by them is about £168 million. This figure excludes payments made by the Supplementary Benefits Commission towards the rent of council and new town tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now received the comments of interested parties on the report of the working party on street nameplates and house numbering; and if he will make a statement.

Comments from interested parties on a draft circular giving advice to local authorities have been received and are being analysed. It is hoped to issue the circular during the next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he now intends to take to assess the nature and extent of the demand for accommodation in Greater London.

I have nothing to add to the answer given in reply to the hon. Member on 22nd November, 1971.—[Vol. 826, c. 283–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider erecting a metal safety barrier to divide the traffic lanes on the A13 between Dovers Corner and the Tilbury turn-off.

No. It would not be possible to provide a barrier along the existing narrow carriageway. A scheme is being prepared to provide dual carriageways between Dovers Corner and the G.L.C. boundary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken or intends taking on the progress statement of the Backsyphonage Committee report issued in April; and whether he will make a statement.

The purpose of the statement was to provide a background against which interested bodies might make their views known to the Committee. Forty-one bodies have submitted comments which the committee are considering and I understand that they now expect to report in about a year's time.

asked the Lord President of the Council what increase in the number of parliamentary draftsmen will be required for purposes arising out of the harmonisation of British legislation with that of the European Economic Community; whether such increase can be met out of the resources available; and what will be the cost thereof.

It is too early to say whether any additional load will be imposed on the parliamentary draftsmen for the purposes mentioned.

asked the Lord President of the Council what length of period he proposes between the making available in the Vote Office of the English texts of Community Instruments and the introduction of harmonisation legislation consequent upon accession to the European Economic Community; and if he will satisfy himself that the period is long enough to allow full scrutiny by hon. Members.

There will be a reason able period, although I cannot say precisely how long this will be. Hon. Members will have adequate time to scrutinise the legislation before decisions are taken in the House.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will arrange for an on-line terminal to the Central Statistical Office macro-economic data bank described in the November, 1971, issue of Statistical News to be made available in the House of Commons for the use of Members and Library research staff.

The Central Statistical Office data bank is held on a small computer which cannot be equipped with on-line terminal facilities.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will now implement the recommendation of the Select Committee on Procedure in their Third Report Session 1966–67 that Tellers in a Division should be appointed as soon as their names are handed in and be permitted to begin counting before the two minutes has elapsed.

I am afraid that the objections raised to this proposal in 1967 still apply.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will ensure that in future Recesses at least one place of refreshment will be open in the middle part of the day for use by the staff of the Palace of Westminster.

I have been asked to reply.The Catering Sub-Committee intends to open the staff canteen in Westminster Hall throughout the coming Summer Recess.

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) what the normal procedure is for recruiting staff to the Vote Office;(2) what the normal procedure is for recruiting staff to the Clerk's Department.

The normal procedure for recruiting staff to any of the offices of the House of Commons is for the department concerned to put in an application to the Clerk/Administrator who will refer it to the Staff Board for detailed consideration. The Staff Board, if it agrees that the application is justified, will recommend accordingly to the Accounting Officer. If the Accounting Officer agrees with the recommendation of the Staff Board, the department will then proceed to recruit the additional staff required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current total full-time membership of the Highlands and Islands Development Board, the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board, the Scottish Special Housing Association, and the New Town Development Corporations, respectively; and how many in each case are women.

The only full-time members of these bodies are four men on the Highlands and Islands Development Board and one man on the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to amend the Criminal Appeal (Scotland) Act, 1926, to enable a re-trial to be ordered when fresh defence evidence becomes available.

The Thomson Committee on Criminal Procedure are considering this and related questions about the 1926 Act with a view to an interim report. I propose to await the outcome of their examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the letter he has sent to members of education authorities which are continuing to issue free milk in schools.

1 am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of a letter which was sent on my behalf on 18th November to 25 members of Midlothian County Council, and described in my speech in the House of that date, together with the text of the letter to the County Clerk a copy of which accompanied it.In addition, as Section 201 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947, requires, interim reports by the appointed auditors were formally intimated to members of Dundee Corporation and the County Council of Ayr, with requests for observations within 14 days.Following are the texts of the letters:Sir,I am directed by the Secretary of State to enclose for your information a copy of the letter he has addressed today to the Midlothian County Council Clerk, for the County Council, on the questions raised by the Auditor in his interim report of 30th September, 1971 on school milk.I am Sir,Your obedient Servant,A. C. COWAN.Sir,EDUCATION (MILK) ACT 1971INTERIM REPORT—LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 19471. I am directed by the Secretary of State to refer to the interim report dated 30th September, 1971 submitted by the appointed auditor, Mr. H. Forbes Murphy, O.B.E.. C.A., on the accounts of the County Council for the year ending 15th May, 1972.2. The Secretary of State has considered the question raised by Mr. Murphy's report in the light of the statement in writing submitted by the County Council on 15th October, 1971, and the statements made by others affected by the report in response to the enquiries he was required by the statutory procedure to initiate. It appears to him that the payments referred to in the report amounting to £164·90 were ultra vires of the County Council and therefore contrary to law; and he proposes to decide accordingly. He also proposes to decide that the payments were made in pursuance of an order of the Finance Committee at their meeting on 22nd September, 1971, under authority of the decision of the County Council at their special meeting on 18th August, 1971, and that accordingly the 25 members of the Council who voted at that special meeting to supply free milk to all pupils of primary school age in schools under the Council's management were the persons responsible for authorising the payments to be made.3. The statute requires the Secretary of State to disallow any illegal payments and to surcharge the amount thereof upon any person authorising them to be made. Before making a surcharge, the Secretary of State is however required to look at the circumstances in which the illegal payments took place to decide whether he would be justified, in terms of proviso (e) to Section 201(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947, in regarding the act of authorising the payments as having taken place "in such circumstances as to make it fair and equitable that a disallowance or surcharge should not be made".4. One such circumstance that he would take into consideration is whether or not illegal payments were intended to continue indefinitely. If the County Council were to give an assurance that such payments would now cease, the Secretary of State would give favourable consideration to the exercise of his powers under proviso (e). He would be glad to know therefore, within 3 weeks from the receipt of this letter, whether the County Council are prepared to give such an assurance.I am Sir,Your obedient Servant,A. C. COWAN.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment the trustees of the national galleries in Scotland have given him of the additional expenditure they expect to incur as a result of the introduction of museum charges.

The additional staff necessary to administer the collection of charges at the Scottish Museums and Galleries is estimated to cost about £11,000 in 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which jobs within his Department are not regarded as being suitable employment for women, and for men, respectively.

Scottish Office posts which are not regarded as offering suitable employment for women fall broadly into the following categories:marine staff appointments, mainly because of accommodation difficulties;jobs involving heavy manual work or work in rigorous conditions, for example portering and bridge maintenance;most appointments for wholly or predominantly male establishments, for example male prisons.In common with other Government Departments the Scottish Office recruits only women to posts of Drawing Office Assistant and Tracer. Recruitment to inspectorial and other posts related specifically to work carried out by women is similarly restricted.These arrangement will be reviewed when the National Whitley Council completes consideration of the recently published report of the Committee on Women in the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of architects, engineers, doctors, and lawyers, respectively, employed within his Department; and how many of each category are women.

The Scottish Office employs 52 architects, 125 engineers, 49 doctors and 36 lawyers. These totals include, respectively, 3, nil, 4 and 5 women.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of administrative class civil servants in his Department; and how many of them are women.

The Administrative Class was merged with the Executive and Clerical Classes on 1st January, 1971, to form a single Group.There are 244 officers, including 23 women, currently employed in the Scottish Office in grades broadly corresponding with the former Administrative Class grades.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of consultants employed by each regional hospital board; and how many are women in each area.

The figures as at 30th September, 1970, the latest date for which details are available, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled workers are unemployed in Wales at the latest available date; and how the figure compares with that for the equivalent dates in 1969 and 1970.

On 11th October, 1971, 6,786 registered disabled people were registered as unemployed in Wales. The figures for the corresponding dates in 1969 and 1970 were 6,092 and 5,994 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount of unemployment benefit paid in Wales from 1st January, 1971, up to the latest available date; and what was the proportionate amount paid to male workers.

The amount of National Insurance unemployment benefit paid in Wales from 1st January to 31st October, 1971, was £8,415,877. Information about the proportionate amount paid to male workers is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment exchange areas in intermediate areas had a lower rate of unemployment than the Blackpool employment exchange area in June, 1970, November, 1970, June, 1971, and November, 1971.

There are 32 employment exchange or travel-to-work areas within the intermediate areas for which separate rates of unemployment can be calculated. Of these the numbers whose rates were below the rate for the Blackpool travel-to-work area at the dates specified were:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the building of additional employment exchanges.

Additional and replacement employment exchanges are provided as needs arise. The Department of the Environment, which is responsible for Government Departments' accommodation, has a continuous programme of work for replacing and improving Department of Employment local offices. In the past five years some 305 rehousing and extension schemes have been completed and at present a further 250 are at the planning stage. My right hon. Friend expects shortly to announce his plans for the future of the public employment service and his announcement will also deal with premises questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners there are at Walton, Liverpool, Prison at the moment; how this figure compares with that for June, 1971; and whether he will ensure that the numbers do not reach the level they were when the disturbances took place earlier in the year.

1,769 on 30th November—143 fewer than at the end of June. Every effort will be made to keep a balance of overcrowding between establishments while the building programme is proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the working of Home Office circulars numbers 188/1968 and 189/1968; and what plans he has to make rules under Section 57 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.

In 1969 probation officers in England and Wales made 200,674 full social inquiry reports, of which 129,134 were for courts of assize or quarter sessions or in respect of persons aged 17 and over appearing at magistrates' courts. The corresponding figures for 1968 were 173,679 and 101,731. Statistics for 1970 are not yet available, but are expected to show a further increase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of suspended imprisonment on women aged 17 years or over were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.

The numbers of such sentences imposed by magistrates' courts and higher courts respectively were 1,798 and 264 in 1969 and 2,015 and 345 in 1970. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of immediate imprisonment on women were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.

The numbers of such sentences imposed by magistrates' courts and higher courts respectively were 695 and 317 in 1969 and 824 and 377 in 1970. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders in 1969 and 1970 were committed by magistrates' courts to quarter sessions for sentence under Section 28 or 29 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.

13,738 offenders in 1969 and 15,778 offenders in 1970 were committed by magistrates' courts to quarter sessions for sentence. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of suspended imprisonment of two years or less, where the offender had not received a previous sentence if imprisonment or borstal training, were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of immediate imprisonment of two years or less, where the offender had not received a previous sentence of imprisonment or borstal training, were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.

I am obtaining information about this and shall write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of detention in a detention centre were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts, separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.

The numbers of such sentences imposed by magistrates' courts and higher courts respectively were 5,703 and 1,775 in 1969 and 6,194 and 2,189 in 1970. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of Borstal training were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.

The numbers of such sentences imposed by all courts were 5,620 in 1969 and 6,502 in 1970. Of these, 9 and 3 respectively were imposed by magistrates' courts on offenders who were subject to an approved school order. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research he has done into the characteristics and type of offences of persons subject to suspended sentences; and with what results;(2) what research he has done into the effect of the introduction of suspended sentences on sentencing policy; and with what results.

The Home Office has recently made an analysis, by age, sex and type of offence, of persons given suspended sentences during 1968 to 1970, but has not yet completed its study of this material. It is, however, clear that considerable use has been made of the suspended sentence by the courts, and suggests that the suspended sentence, as well as partially replacing sentences of immediate imprisonment, has been used to some extent in place of fines and probation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates or facts are available as to previous convictions of, and previous sentences of imprisonment served by, people given suspended sentences in 1968, 1969 and 1970.

The Home Office Research Unit has recently completed a study of a sample of 1,000 men given suspended sentences in 1968. The analysis includes information on their previous convictions and previous custodial sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the fact that a recent survey carried out by the International Association Against Painful Experiments on Animals, a copy of which has been sent to him, shows that few countries have legislation comparable with the British Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, governing experiments on live animals, whether he will seek powers to ensure that no animals are exported from the United Kingdom to countries without legislation similar to that operating in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend is not persuaded that such a course is necessary or desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements he imposes regarding the completion of non-departmental research projects which he finances, whether he is satisfied these requirements are adhered to; whether there is non-productive expenditure; and how much.

Each non-departmental research project is the subject of a negotiated contract or agreement, including requirements in regard to completion. Reports are required on all projects. I am satisfied that these conditions are fulfilled; and, although the results of research vary in value, I do not regard any of the expenditure incurred as nonproductive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further guidance he has issued to chief constables for the prevention of illegal landings by light aircraft in England and Wales.

The police already have all the necessary guidance, but if my hon. Friend has in mind any specific point I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of prosecutions made against licensees of licensed premises or clubs for the most recent available period of a year in the last three years, for permitting consumption of alcohol on their premises after hours.

In 1970, 480 licensees in England and Wales were proceeded against for supplying intoxicating liquor outside permitted hours for consumption on or off the premises. Separate figures relating to consumption on the premises are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he consulted persons and organisations in the horse-race and greyhound racing business and others connected with the betting industry before he decided to introduce his Horserace Totalisator and Betting Levy Boards Bill; and whether these consultations included discussions with representatives of the punters.

My right hon. Friend consulted such persons and organisations as seemed to be necessary for the purpose of preparing the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the proposed merger between Beechams and Glaxo to the Monopolies Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Any decision on the question of a reference to the Monopolies Commission will be announced as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the gas explosion at No. 2 High Street, Westoning, Bedfordshire, on Tuesday, 23rd November, 1971, and on the extent of danger from leakage of natural gas in general.

While I much regret the explosion to which my hon. Friend refers, I have no special statement to make about it. The conclusion that was reached by Professor Morton in his inquiry into the safety of natural gas was that the preparation of the distribution system for conversion to natural gas should lead to reduced danger of gas leakage. I believe this opinion still holds true.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions were initiated and how many convictions have been obtained under the Trading Stamps Act, 1964, for each of the years ended 31st December, 1968, 1969 and 1970, under Sections 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively.

None, so far as I am aware.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North regarding the need for the ending of the practice known as gazumping; and whether he will introduce legislation to register estate agents in order to bring the practice under control.

I have seen the communication referred to but have nothing at present to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 2nd December by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.—[Vol. 827, c. 172.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is now the outcome of his consideration of the need for further action in relation to the cotton textile industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made today.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations have been carried out recently by his Department into allegations of dumping of prefabricated aluminium; and with what results.

In June this year we completed an anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of certain aluminium semi-manufactures from Austria, Belgium, Italy, Norway and Sweden. We found that these imports were not being dumped at the time of our investigations in early-1971. We made it clear, however, that it would be open to the British industry to make a further application if at any time they had reason to believe that dumping was taking place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requirements he imposes regarding the completion of non-departmental research projects which he finances; whether he is satisfied that these requirements are adhered to; whether there is non-productive expenditure; and how much.

Non-departmental research projects or programmes financed by my Department fall mainly into two categories; those commissioned and paid for directly by the Ministry and those commissioned by grant-aided authorities receiving financial contributions from it.Research falling into the first category is commissioned subject to conditions on completion dates, progress monitoring by the Ministry, and termination clauses in the event of unsatisfactory progress. Those projects or programmes commissioned by grant-aided authorities are treated according to individual circumstances. In most cases no special conditions are imposed by the Department once the authority's programme has been approved, but in some the Ministry monitor progress and make payments by instalment.I believe that these arrangements balance the risk of non-productive expenditure against the needs and nature of research, and that very little non-productive expenditure is incurred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to make an advance cereal deficiency payment.

The rates per acre for advance cereals deficiency payments in the 1971–72 cereal year were announced yesterday. They are £9.29 for wheat, £3.06 for barley and £8 for oats and mixed corn.Advances for wheat and barley will be subject to deductions of £0.29 and £0.31 per acre respectively to meet the levy payable to the Home Grown Cereals Authority.The payments will be started immediately and completed as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) which Government Departments have been included in the current review of dispersal policy;(2) when he expects to publish the results of the review on the dispersal of Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what was the number of Administrative Class, Executive Class and Clerical Class civil servants, respectively employed in each of the following geographical areas at a convenient date in each of the years 1966 to 1971, namely, Great Britain, London and South-East England, Scotland, and West-Central Scotland;(2) what was the number of clerical officers and temporary clerical officers recruited to the Civil Service in each of the following geographical areas in each of the years 1966 to 1971, namely, Great

The review involves studies of the communications patterns of the London headquarters offices of all major Departments and most minor Departments. These studies are being conducted by small teams in each Department, assisted by a central team in the Civil Service Department. The Government's intention is to complete the review of all the Departments involved by the end of 1972; decisions will be announced when the Government have studied the evidence produced by the review.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the number of non-industrial civil servants employed in each of the following geographical areas at a convenient date in each of the years 1966 to 1971, namely, Great Britain, London and South-East England, Scotland, and West-Central Scotland.

The information is as follows:Britain, London and South-East England, Scotland, and West-Central Scotland;(3) what was the number of clerical officers and temporary clerical officers in each of the following geographical areas who resigned from the Civil Service, respectively, in each of the years 1966 to 1970, namely, Great Britain, London and South-East England, Scotland, and West-Central Scotland;(4) what was the number of executive officers recruited by open and limited examination in each of the following geographical area in each of the years 1966 to 1970, namely, Great Britain, London and South-East England, Scotland, and West-Central Scotland;(5) what was the number of executive officers who resigned from the Civil Service in each of the following geographical areas in each of the years 1966 to 1970, namely, Great Britain, London and South-East England, Scotland, and West-Central Scotland.

The required information is not readily available and to obtain it would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what was the number of executive officers recruited by open and limited examination to London and South-East England from Scotland and West-Central Scotland, respectively, in each of the years 1966 to 1970;(2) what was the number of candidates from Scotland and West-Central Scotland, respectively, successful in open and limited executive examinations in each of the years 1966 to 1970 who were offered vacancies in London and South-East England but did not accept them.

I regret that this information is not available and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what technical assistance his Department can give to enable local authorities to plan for staff and accommodation requirements over the next two decades.

I have been asked to reply.Local authorities are, and after re-organisation will remain, responsible for meeting such requirements; and local government has its own central advisory bodies. I would willingly consider any request made to me for assistance in these matters.As I announced to the House during the debate on the Local Government White Paper, advice is being prepared, in agreement with the local authority associations, on the best management structures for the new authorities.—[Vol. 817, c. 1291–2.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence in which country an electronic noise torture machine was first used in 1963.

The imputation by the hon. Member that a noise machine was used to torture interrogatees in 1963 is without foundation.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in which countries the Army has used electronic noise machines in the course of interrogating prisoners.

Noise has been used in the course of interrogation in Brunei, Aden, the Gulf and Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on what date he first heard the noise made by the Army's electronic noise machine used in interrogating prisoners.

28th October, 1971.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the rank and title of the Army's most senior adviser on psychological medicine; and whether use is made of civilian consultants.

Major-General; his title is the Director of Army Psychiatry. The Army does make use of civilian consultants.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the rank and title of the Army's most senior medical officer in Northern Ireland.

Colonel. Assistant Director of Medical Services, Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many young persons below 15 years of age have been arrested in Northern Ireland by the Army; what were their ages; on what grounds they were arrested; and for how long they were detained.

Twenty-nine since 1st August, 1971, of whom 18 were aged 14, six aged 13, two aged 12, two aged 11 and one aged 10. They were suspected of offences relating to riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, breach of the peace or malicious damage. They were transferred as quickly as possible to the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Their subsequent detention and the preferring of charges were matters for the civil authorities although I understand that every effort is made to ensure that young persons are not held at police stations for any longer than is necessary.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many of the Armed Forces personnel trained in the use of the interrogation techniques described in the Compton Report were officers, and how many other ranks.

Of the 69 members of the Armed Forces mentioned in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 30th November, 1971, 43 were officers and 26 other ranks.—[Vol. 827, c. 77.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the full text of the instructions on the rules to be followed in interrogations referred to in Paragraph 46 of the Compton Report, Command Paper No. 4823, and the text as it stood before the 1967 Amendment.

No.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of evidence submitted by the hon. Member for West Ham, North and others that the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has refused to implement the Companies Acts in relation to a number of companies, including Dollar Land, he will institute proceedings against him for aiding and abetting a felony.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will increase the money made available by her Department to educational priority areas.

Further support will be given through the urban programme to the four local authorities' projects initiated under the original action research programme in educational priority areas. The Social Science Research Council has also offered a grant, of which my Department will pay half, for some additional research in this field by Dr. A. H. Halsey.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish, for each university in receipt of grant from the University Grants Committee, the amount of provisional recurrent grant for 1972–73 and the student members' target for 1972–73 to which the grant is related.

I understand that the University Grants Committee has not yet completed the provisional allocations to individual universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now release a full list of passengers who embarked on VC10 Flight BA045 from Valletta on 22nd July, 1971.

It is for the airline concerned to decide whether to release a passenger list. It is not a matter for Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, on entering the European Economic Community, the United Kingdom would be free to decide on the socialisation of the means of production and distribution.

Yes, if the Government of the day so wish and provided that the undertakings are formed in a way in which they would conform with relevant Community legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Eire Government about the protection of British subjects living in the Republic from Irish Republican Army menaces.

We have asked the Government of the Republic of Ireland for an immediate investigation into the death of Colonel Walker. The Government of the Republic are, I am sure, as concerned as we are for the safety of British subjects living in the Republic without the need for formal representations arising at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of wage stop families and their dependants for November, 1971.

I regret that the number of claimants wage-stopped in November, 1971, will not be known until later this month and the information about their dependants will not be available until March of next year. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures relating to the need for qualified and student nurses in each category of the hospital services; if he will encourage hospital authorities to adjust their requirements in order that more qualified married women are encouraged to return to the service; and if he will undertake a study of further steps that could be taken to attract qualified married nurses into hospital service.

Meaningful estimates cannot be made because there is no generally accepted yardstick for determining nursing staff needs; but the numbers of both qualified and student nurses increased in the year March, 1970, to March, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will encourage local hospital boards to enter into discussion with local authorities as to the possibility of developing joint housing projects which could be used for the rehabilitation of elderly patients.

Special housing for the elderly has mainly a preventive and supportive rôle. Hospital and local authorities have been advised to include local authority housing departments in their joint planning of services for the elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consult with local authorities with a view to introducing legislation for the establishment of a sitter-in service for the elderly, sick and incapacitated.

Local authorities already have powers to provide or arrange such a service where this is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes are to be made in the organisation of central advisory bodies for the social services in the light of the Seebohm Report and the Local Authority Social Services Act, 1970.

The Government have decided, after consultations with the interests concerned, to set up an advisory body for England and Wales to be known as the Personal Social Services Council. This will replace the Advisory Committee on the Health and Welfare of Handicapped Persons and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I propose to appoint the chairman and members of the new council to be our Advisory Council on Child Care.As the council's field will be a wide one it will need to operate extensively by means of committees, on which it is envisaged that the many interests concerned will have opportunities to be represented. The council itself will be a managing body, comprising a chairman and 28 members, who will be appointed by Ministers as follows: 4 each on the nomination of the Association of Municipal Corporations and the County Councils Association, 2 each on the nomination of the British Association of Social Workers and the Association of Directors of Social Services, 1 each on the nomination of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and the Central Health Services Council—on which there will be the reciprocal membership of a social worker and of a representative of the Personal Social Services Council—5 after consultation with voluntary social services organisations, 3 after consultation with organisations representing social workers, 3 after consultation with education, training and research interests, 1 after consultation with the medical profession and 2 at Ministers' discretion.The Advisory Council for Probation and After-Care, the Central Housing Advisory Committee, the National Advisory Council on the Employment of the Disabled and the Scottish Advisory Council on Social Work will be invited to appoint observers.It is hoped to bring the Council into being early in 1972. It will be financed by central Government until 1st April, 1973, and thereafter jointly by central Government and the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will revise the prescription exemption list so that it includes those with chronic bronchial asthma.

This is not practicable, for the reasons mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 25th May. But anyone who is not otherwise exempt and who cannot afford to pay prescription charges is entitled to exemption or a refund; and where exemption cannot be claimed the prepayment certificate is available for those who need frequent prescriptions.—[Vol. 818, c. 69–70.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables showing the effect on the weekly payments and receipts, each type of payment or receipt to be shown separately, of a rise in weekly gross income from full-time employment from £15 to £16 and so on for increments of £1 up to a weekly gross income of £25 for the types of family and on the assumptions set out in the letter from the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian.

No. The assumptions set out in the hon. Member's letter are arbitrary and, as I said in my answer to the hon. Member on 19th November, to base benefit tables on arbitrary assumptions could well he misleading for those in different circumstances. I am writing to the hon. Member in reply to his letter.—[Vol. 826, c. 236.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Government will provide a capital grant towards the building of the National Coastal Rescue Training Centre and its further development.

I have noted the resolution recently adopted by the Water Safety Conference about financial support for the centre and am considering it in consultation with the other Departments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the formation of the Welsh Advisory Council for Beach and Water Safety; and what replies he has given.

I have been informed by the Director of the National Coastal Rescue Training Centre of the resolution by the Water Safety Conference held in Port Talbot in November to set up a Welsh Advisory Council on Beach and Water Safety. In my reply I have offered the attendance of one of my officials as an observer at the first meeting of the new council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average income of the head of a household living in private, furnished and rented accommodation; and what percentage is paid in rent.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the population in Wales live in private, furnished and rented accommodation; and what the figures are for Cardiff and Swansea, respectively.

Information from the 1966 Census indicated that the percentage of the population in Wales living in households renting their accommodation furnished from a private person or a company was 1·3. For Cardiff the figure was 2·2 and for Swansea 1·2.