asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many highly flammable liquids covered by the Transport of Inflammable Liquids (Conveyance by Roads) Regulations are not subject to regulations for storage in factories.

There are no regulations at present in force which apply generally to the storage in factories of the liquids to which the Question refers. However, any of these liquids may be subject to the Cellulose Solutions Regulations, 1934, if they are stored in factories, and are used as a solvent for cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate or celluloid.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current numbers employed in the transport industry in Scotland, compared with the previous three years.

At June, 1970, the latest date for which figures are available, the estimated number of employees in employment in Scotland in the transport and communication group of industries was 142,700. The corresponding figures for 1969, 1968 and 1967 were 144,900, 150,000 and 153,700, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the current number of unfilled vacancies on the professional register in Scotland, compared with the previous year.

On 8th September, 1971, the latest date for which statistics are available, there were 298 unfilled vacancies notified to the offices of the Professional and Executive Register in Scotland compared with 560 on 9th September, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the current number of unfilled vacancies listed by his Department's offices in Scotland.

At 3rd November, 7,255 notified vacancies remained unfilled in Scotland. Of these, 2,698 were for men, 734 for boys, 2,740 for women and 1,083 for girls. As there is no obligation on employers to notify their vacancies to my Department, the figures do not purport to measure the total number of vacancies in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's estimates of the effect of the measures announced on 23rd November, 1971, on employment in the Scottish steel industry.

Many of the projects announced in the Government measures to stimulate the economy will lead to an increased demand for steel, and I would expect the Scottish steel industry to share in the benefits this will bring.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what amounts were paid in unemployment benefit in Scotland in the first nine months of 1971; and how this compares with 1969 and 1970.

The amount of national insurance unemployment benefit paid in Scotland in the first nine months of 1971 was £22,133,306. In the same nine months of the previous two years the amounts paid were:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now unemployed in the City of Leicester; and how many were unemployed in June, 1970.

In the area covered by the Leicester Employment Exchange, the number registered as unemployed at November, 1971, was 5,658 of whom 942 were temporarily stopped. The corresponding figures for June, 1970, were 3,151 and 675.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce regional retail price indices.

The Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee recommended that indices should be introduced for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Greater London Council area and my right hon. Friend is considering this in consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the future employment prospects in the Woolwich employment exchange area, including Thames-mead; and what action he is taking to ensure a return to full employment in the area.

While it is not my Department's practice to give detailed assessments of the future employment situation in particular areas, I would expect Woolwich to benefit from the many measures we have taken to expand the economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of unemployed, men and women, respectively, in the Woolwich Employment Exchange area at the latest available date, and the corresponding figures for 1965; what proportion of these had been out of work for six weeks or more; and how these figures compare with the national average.

At November, 1971, the numbers registered as unemployed in the Woolwich Employment Exchange area were 1,743 males and 277 females, a total of 2,020. The corresponding figures for November, 1965, were 418, 142 and 560. For the numbers registered as wholly unemployed, a detailed analysis based on the length of their current spell on the register was last made for October, 1971, and at that date the percentages registered for more than six weeks were 47·6 for Woolwich and 63·9 for Great Britain. The earliest October for which comparable information is available for Woolwich is October, 1966, when the percentages unemployed for more than six weeks were 32·9 for Wolwich and 47·5 for Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the increase in the number of unemployed since 18th June, 1970.

Between June, 1970, and November, 1971, the numbers registered as unemployed in Great Britain, including the temporarily stopped and school-leavers, increased by 379,518. The rise in the seasonally adjusted figure for those wholly unemployed was 293,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that all those registered as unemployed are seeking unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

Except for doubtful cases which are referred to the independent adjudicating authorities, I am satisfied that all those registering as unemployed are seeking employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in which occupations unemployment is most severe: in which there are the highest ratios of persons seeking employment to the number of jobs available; and whether he will give the relevant figures, and state what he proposes to do about the situation revealed by them.

There is no obligation on employers to notify their vacancies to my Department. Since the proportions of vacancies which are notified are very variable between the different occupations, the comparison suggested between ratios of the registered unemployed to notified vacancies remaining unfilled is only of limited value. However, for men, the highest ratios in September, 1971 were obtained for labourers, with 326,486 wholly unemployed and 7,140 vacancies, and for clerical workers, with 58,721 wholly unemployed and 4,224 vacancies.Summaries of the Government's measures to deal with unemployment were given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend in the debate on 23rd November. My right hon. Friend will also be issuing shortly proposals on training and manpower services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes he proposes to make in the arrangements for issue of the monthly unemployment figures.

From January my right hon. Friend intends to synchronise the issue of the monthly local, regional and national unemployment figures (hitherto issued on different dates) in order to provide a clear picture of the total situation against which the local figures should be interpreted. In future, therefore, these figures will be issued simultaneously, normally on the Thursday, 10 days after the count. In January this will be on Thursday, 20th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present number of those unemployed in Bristol and the corresponding figure in June, 1970.

In the Bristol travel-to-work area, the numbers registered as unemployed at November, 1971, and June, 1970, were 9,614 and 6,160 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many deputations he has received during 1971 on the question of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for Dorset for men and women, respectively, in percentage terms, and the total figure of unfilled vacancies, skilled and unskilled.

At November, 1971, the rates of unemployment for Dorset, excluding Poole, were 5·6 for males and 2·2 for females. There were 514 notified vacancies remaining unfilled, but this figure does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour in the county. Unemployment and vacancy figures cannot be split precisely into the two groups of skilled and unskilled but the following is the available information for September, the date of the last detailed occupational analysis:

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State and I have received a total of eight deputations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skilled craftsmen in the building industry in Scotland are now unemployed; and what was the comparable figure in 1969.

In Scotland, in November, 1971, and November, 1969, the number of wholly unemployed men from the construction industry who were registered for employment in occupations generally regarded as skilled were 7,207 and 3,426 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in the number of males unemployed in Scotland since November, 1969.

Between November, 1969, and November, 1971, the numbers of males registered as unemployed in Scotland increased by 72 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate his Department has made of the number of new jobs, excluding the shipbuilding industry, which have arisen in the Greenock-Port Glasgow area in the period June, 1970, to the nearest convenient date.

My Department has no way of estimating the total number of jobs created in an area. All that we can do is measure net changes in employment by comparing the figures for particular dates. The latest date for which local employment estimates are available is mid-1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for youth unemployment in Scotland.

On 8th November, 1971, there were 10,631 young persons registered as unemployed in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed persons there were in the administrative, professional and technical categories, respectively, in North Lanarkshire for each month from August, 1970, to date; and what action he proposes to reduce the number.

The following are the available figures. The various measures to stimulate the economy which the Government have introduced in recent months will, it is hoped, alleviate the present unemployment situation in Lanarkshire as elsewhere.In March, June, September and December, an analysis is made of the occupations for which wholly unemployed men and women aged 18 years and over are registered for employment. The analysis identifies those registered for administrative, professional and technical occupations but does not provide information for these three categories separately.The following table shows the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the increase in staff in his Department to deal with redundancies in Scotland since June, 1970.

Between 1st July, 1970, and 1st October, 1971, there was an increase of 509 staff in employment exchanges in Scotland (including casual staff) mainly to deal with work arising from higher unemployment. It is not possible to distinguish that part of the increase resulting solely from notified redundancy situations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the current estimates for unemployment and unfilled vacancies for the Scottish Economic Planning Sub-regions

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what redundancies have been declared in the Greenock-Port Glasgow area since June, 1970.

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 redundancies involving about 900 people were declared in the Greenock and Port Glasgow employment exchange areas in the period 1st June, 1970 to 30th November, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the consequences for employment and for wage agreements of the activation on 1st January, 1972, of Section 3(1) of the National Insurance Act, 1966.

My right hon. Friend is looking into these matters in the light of the representations that have been made about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many married women, and others, he estimates are at present unemployed but have not signed on at an employment exchange.

There is no accepted way of defining or measuring the number of unemployed persons who are not registered as unemployed. Practices vary from country to country. In the United Kingdom, the Censuses of Population provide information about the numbers who are seeking work or waiting

Following is the information:to take up a job, but the results for 1971 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the total population of Great Britain is currently in employment of all types and in manufacturing employment, respectively.

For March, 1971, the estimated proportion of the total population of Great Britain aged 15 and over, as estimated at June, 1970, was 58·2 per cent. in employment, and for manufacturing industries was 20·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the annual rate of increase of output per man hour in manufacturing industry in 1970–71 as against 1969–70 and 1968–69.

Figures published by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research show that output per man hour in the manufacturing industries rose by 3·0 per cent. between 1968 and 1969, and by 1·4 per cent. between 1969 and 1970. The latest figures available show that in the first half of 1971 output per man hour in these industries was 5·8 per cent. higher than it had been a year earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment for the County Borough of Dudley and the Borough of Stourbridge, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the total employed population; and when the comparable figures were last higher than those figures.

At 8th November, the numbers registered as unemployed in the Dudley and Stourbridge Employment Exchange areas were 1,682 and 1,407, respectively. The figures were higher for Dudley in March, 1963, and for Stourbridge in February, 1963. Percentage rates of unemployment can be calculated only for the whole of the Dudley travelto-work area, which includes Stourbridge, and at November, 1971, March, 1963, and February, 1963, were 3·9, 3·3 and 4·7 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what expansion he is planning of the Medway Government Training Centre.

The Centre will be expanded from 265 places at present to 309 places by March, 1973. No further expansion is possible within the existing site.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to maintain the number of apprentices in industry.

Craft training is primarily the responsibility of industry and of the Industrial Training Boards. My right hon. Friend has urged employers to maintain their recruitment of apprentices. With his encouragement, several training boards have introduced special schemes to enable up to 3,800 more young people to start apprentice training and a further 500 or so opportunities will be created in the New Year. The Government is meeting half the cost of these schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will enlist the help of technical colleges in his drive to increase training opportunities.

We have already done so. In July my right hon. Friend announced his intention of promoting more extensive training in such colleges. As a result the number of trainees in them under the Vocational Training Scheme has risen from 413 in July to 1,541 in November.—[Vol. 821, c. 249–50.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to increase the number of persons receiving industrial training through industrial training boards; and whether he will now make an announcement on their future.

The Government's proposals for the future will be in the consultative document which we hope to publish shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect he estimates the Confederation of British Industry initiative has had on the level of prices.

I regret that it is not possible to measure the effect on retail prices of the C.B.I. initiative, but it is encouraging that the rate of increase in the Retail Price Index has slowed down considerably since July. The rise in the Index between 20th July and 19th October was 0·8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he now intends to publish his proposals for the future of the industrial training boards.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to obtain a wider use of the Occupational Guidance Service.

The use made of the Occupational Guidance Service increases steadily year by year. In the past 12 months the number of clients dealt with rose by 8,000 to almost 45,000. This upward trend in demand is expected to continue for some time to come.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of disabled persons employed throughout the United Kingdom; and if he will express this as a percentage of all those in employment and give statistics indicating how this figure varies for each employment office throughout the United Kingdom.

Since registration under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts is voluntary, it is not possible to give the number of disabled persons employed in the United Kingdom, nor is it possible to calculate the percentage of disabled persons employed nationally or in employment exchange areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will include Sunderland in the six places to be included in the National Association of Youth Clubs' experimental schemes for special work groups.

My right hon. Friend has asked the National Association of Youth Clubs, who will be running the scheme, to put proposals to him as to the six places to be chosen for the experiment. Representations over Sunderland have been passed on to them and will be taken into account in reaching a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unemployment rate in the Weymouth and Portland area, in the South-West Region and nationally, respectively, for October, 1971.

The figures were 4·5, 3·6 and 3·9 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the number of unemployed persons in the North West area since June, 1970, and during October and November, 1971.

The total numbers registered as unemployed in the North West region, including temporarily stopped workers and school-leavers, increased from June, 1970, to November, 1971, by 62,949 and between October and November, 1971, by 6,234. The corresponding rises in the seasonally adjusted figures for those wholly unemployed were 53,600 and 3,100, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of unemployed workers in Merseyside in the construction industry; which trades or groups are involved; and what steps are being taken to improve the employment position.

At 8th November, 9,249 people who last worked in the construction industry were registered as unemployed in the Merseyside Development Area. The following is an occupational analysis of the numbers of men registered as wholly unemployed who were included in that figure at that date. The Government have recently introduced a number of measures which are designed to provide more construction jobs on Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what amount has been paid in redundancy payments in Scotland for each month since June, 1970.

I regret that separate figures are not available for statutory redundancy payments to employees in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the current estimates of redundancy payments for the Scottish economic sub-regions compared with the previous year.

I regret that separate figures of redundancy payments are not available for the Scottish economic sub-regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of unemployment among skilled and trained workers brought about by the introduction of pay and productivity schemes over the last five years; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such workers are reabsorbed into productive employment.

No estimates are available of the effect of productivity and pay schemes on employment levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what improvements he intends to make in the Equal Pay Act, 1970, in order to bring it into line with the policies of the European Economic Community.

As far as can be seen at the moment, none will be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in what five occupations the rate of unemployment is now highest.

Number of registered unemployed in the various occupations are published regularly, but I regret these cannot be expressed as to percentage rates in the absence of corresponding detailed estimates of numbers employed in these occupations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of blind persons unemployed at the latest available date in Scotland, and in England and Wales, respectively; and what percentage this is of the total of blind people employed at the present time.

At the latest available date the number of blind persons unemployed in Scotland was 105, and in England and Wales 809. This is 9 per cent. of the blind people in employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of blind people registered for employment at the latest available date.

Blind people who are registered for employment include 914 who are unemployed and a small number, for whom separate figures are not readily available, of those who are sick but will be ready for work in the near future, and those who though working wish to change their employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons classified by his Department as suitable for work in blind workshops.

Of the 10,204 blind people who are at work, 3,380 are employed under special conditions; 2,653 in workshops for the blind and 727 in homeworker schemes. Of the 914 unemployed blind people, 481 are classified as being in need of employment under special conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of blind persons classified by his Department as suitable for work in open industry.

Of the 10,204 blind people who are at work, 6,824 are employed in open industry. Classification of suitability for open or sheltered employment is made only when a blind person registers as unemployed. Of the 914 unemployed, 433 are considered to have the skills and ability for open employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the figures for the unemployed in the Liverpool travel-to-work area, for the Walton division of Liverpool, and for the Merseyside development area, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

At 8th November the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the Liverpool travel-to-work area, the Walton Employment Exchange area and the Merseyside Development Area were 47,782; 5,634 and 52,592, respectively. The numbers of temporarily stopped workers included in these figures were 1,991; 1,546 and 2,011, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average percentage rise in earnings in the electricity supply industry since the implementation of the Wilberforce Report's recommendations.

The results of the October, 1971, earnings survey are not yet available. The Electricity Council's own estimate of the increase in average earnings

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage the number of wholly unemployed males has risen or fallen in the Northern Region since October, 1970; and by what percentage notified vacancies have risen or fallen in the same period.

Between October, 1970, and November, 1971, the number

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give by industry and year the figures for the five industries in the Northern Region employing most employees for the last 10 years.

Following is the information:of registered wholly unemployed makes in the Northern Region rose by 39·4 per cent. and the number of notified vacancies for males remaining unfilled fell by 48·1 per cent. The vacancy statistics relate only to those vacancies which were notified to my Department and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what contribution his Department has made to the review of dispersal policy currently being undertaken by the Civil Service Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department on 8th December.—[Vol. 827, c. 327–28.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of unfilled vacancies registered at employment exchanges in the East Midlands Region on 1st December, 1971; and what was the number registered in the month of December in each of the last 10 years.

The East Midlands Region was introduced in April, 1965. The following table shows the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled each December from 1965 to 1970 and at November, 1971, the latest date for which information is available:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate, from figures available to him, the number of men over 18 years of age employed in a full-time occupation with gross earnings of less than £20 a week; and how many and what percentage of these were employed in the public sector.

The available estimates from the New Earnings Survey relate to April, 1971. About 12 million men aged 21 and over had gross weekly earnings of less than £20 at that date, and of these about one-third were employed in the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what basis his Department decides that an industrial dispute no longer constitutes a stoppage of work; what evidence it takes before reaching a decision; whether both sides in the dispute are given the opportunity to provide evidence; and why the reasons for the decision cannot be disclosed to the Member of Parliament in whose constituency the dispute takes place.

I have been asked to reply.For the purposes of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit this is decided by independent determining authorities on evidence from any source which they consider relevant. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I would be glad to look into it and write to him.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Air Force have been killed or injured in flying accidents in each of the past 10 years.

The following are the numbers of Royal Air Force personnel who have been killed or seriously injured in accidents to Royal Air Force aircraft over the ten years 1962 to 1971. Statistics of minor injuries are not readily available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force aircraft have been destroyed or seriously damaged in flying accidents in each of the past 10 years.

Over the 10 years 1962 to 1971 the numbers of Royal Air Force aircraft destroyed in flying accidents or sustaining damage not repairable on the unit have been as follows:

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many official boards of inquiry have been set up to investigate flying accidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft in each of the past 10 years.

The numbers of Boards of Inquiry which have been set up to investigate flying accidents to Royal Air Force aircraft over the 10 years 1962 to 1971 have been as follows:

asked the Minister of State for Defence what D-notices have been issued by Her Majesty's Government since 29th July concerning the operations of the Army in Northern Ireland.

D Notices are not issued by the Government but by the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee on which both the Government and the Press and broadcasting organisations are represented. No D Notices concerning the operations of the Army in Northern Ireland have been issued since 29th July, 1971.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many times in the last three months school buses have been searched by the Army in Fermanagh and South Tyrone; from what schools the buses were coming; and what were the results of the searches.

I regret that this information cannot be provided without disproportionate effort. During the last three months the Army has searched some 300,000 vehicles in Northern Ireland and full records are maintained only when items of security significance are discovered.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why soldiers are asking the religious denomination of occupants of houses which they are visiting in the course of their duties in Fermanagh and South Tyrone; and if he will instruct them to cease so doing.

It is not the policy for soldiers to ask the religious denominations of the occupants of houses which they visit in the course of their duties. Instructions to this effect have recently been reissued. I have received no specific complaint of such questions being asked in Fermanagh or South Tyrone.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many British troops are currently engaged in Northern Ireland; what is the strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment; and whether he will make a statement.

The current total strength of Regular units amounts to some 14,500 and U.D.R. units to some 5,800 officers and men. Sufficient troops will continue to be made available to meet requirements.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what head in the Defence Vote for 1971–72 the costs of the Interrogation Training Centre appear; and what is the cost of the establishment.

The costs of the establishment at which, amongst other things, training in the use of methods of interrogation is given, are borne on various Defence Votes, as are the costs of all other Defence establishments. The annual running costs are about £50,000.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether it is his intention to place orders within the Hawker Siddeley Aviation Manchester factories in the near future.

No new orders have been approved.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when the Short Skyvan aircraft was last evaluated by his Department.

The handling and performance characteristics of the Sky-van were evaluated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment in 1969.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action his Department has taken to evaluate the Britten-Norman Defender aircraft.

The handling and performance characteristics of the Islander—the civil version of the Defender—were evaluated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment in 1970.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what changes are being made to the arrangements for the entry and training of naval officers.

Officers joining the Royal Navy as university cadets in future will be able if they so desire to undertake between four and 12 months naval training before starting their degree studies. We shall also be allowing some engineer officers to start degree courses at R.N.E.C. Manadon directly from school.Those engineers who do their naval training first will in future undertake only one such year before starting their degree courses, instead of two as at present; and academic studies undertaken by non-degree seaman and supply and secretariat general list officers during initial training will be reduced for future entrants from one year to two terms.Those officers who have hitherto entered the Royal Navy as cadets will in future do so as midshipmen, though this will not affect their rates of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to advise the hon. Member on what action he has taken or intends taking in connection with the substance of 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 dangerous loads on the road.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 7th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the figures for the longest stated period during the present calendar year of prosecutions by the Metropolitan Police for offences relating to overloaded or dangerously loaded vehicles.

141 in the three months ended 31st March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of public concern over the Pauline Jones-Denise Weller case, he will consider instigating an inquiry into the likely effects on women offenders who are known to be pregnant or suffering from post-natal depression when remanded in custody or subjected to long prison sentences.

The medical and nursing staff at women's prisons are skilled in treating women who are pregnant or suffering from post-natal depression. Some limited research into the effect of custody on these women has been carried out and my right hon. Friend is considering whether it might usefully be extended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will obtain a report from the Chief Constable on the circumstances in which police questioned girls under 16 years of age from Monkton Wyld School, Dorset, about sexual activities, without the permission of their parents; and whether he will order an inquiry.

A report from the Chief Constable has been called for and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to enable bookmakers to obtain betting shop licences without the licensing magistrates having power to refuse applications for want of local need, and to ensure that all forms of application from betting shop licensees are placed upon the same basis for granting and refusal, irrespective of who makes the application.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many individuals and families have so far had their benefits reduced under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) 1971 (Northern Ireland) Act; and what have been the total reductions by range of amount for each type of benefit;(2) of the 16 types of benefit subject to reduction under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Act, 1971, which have so far been reduced; when it is proposed that persons receiving any of the remaining benefits should have their benefits reduced; and which of the benefits it is proposed not to reduce.

Administration of the Act is the responsibility of the Government of Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the proposed inter-party talks at Westminster in relation to Northern Ireland, in particular indicating whether the proceedings will be formal or informal, how many Members of this House will be involved, how they will be selected, and which parties will be invited to participate;(2) who will be the chairman of the forthcoming inter-party talks on Northern Ireland; whether the proceedings will be open to the Press and public; whether it is intended to call witnesses; what the agenda will be; whether the talks will include discussions on the question of a United Ireland; and whether it is intended prior to that to seek the views of the people of Northern Ireland.

I am not yet in a position to add to why my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I said in the debate on 29th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange that council housing estates in the metropolitan area are regularly policed, even though some of the roads in these estates are not public highways.

This is a matter for the Commissioner of Police. He has authorised patrols on dedicated roads, on roads open to through traffic, on other through roads to which there is unrestricted access and on other roads which give access to specially vulnerable property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Pauline Jones, now convicted of a child stealing charge, is in an open prison; whether she is in receipt of psychiatric treatment; and when her case will be reviewed by the parole board.

Miss Jones is at present in the hospital at Holloway. She is being seen daily by the medical officer but does not at present require specific psychiatric treatment. She will be considered for transfer to an open prison in due course. She becomes eligible for parole on 19th October, 1972, and her case will be reviewed shortly before that date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Criminal Law Review Committee has considered the offence of infanticide; and whether, in view of public concern over sentences passed upon women convicted of offences committed shortly following childbirth, he will request the committee to complete a review of the offence of infanticide and of related offences, such as child stealing.

The Criminal Law Revision Committee is considering infanticide and child stealing as part of its current review of offences against the person. It is not my right hon. Friend's intention to ask for an interim report on these subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now abolish the death sentence for offences under the Piracy Act, 1837.

The point has been noted for legislation when a suitable opportunity occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what years the prisons at Nottingham and Lincoln were built; how many prisoners are confined in each as compared with capacity; how many are more than one to a cell; how much has been spent on improvements and modernisation in the past five years and are planned for the next five years; and what proposals there are to reduce or abolish the use of chamber pots and slopping out in these prisons.

Nottingham Prison was first occupied in 1890. On 30th November it contained 287 prisoners against a normal capacity of 204. 162 prisoners were sleeping two to a cell. In the financial years 1966–67 to 1970–71, £107,500 was spent on maintenance, modernisation and improvements. About £35,000 will be spent in the current financial year including the start of work on a new trade training workshop.Lincoln Prison was first occupied in 1869. On 30th November it contained 566 prisoners against a normal capacity of 320. 412 prisoners were sleeping two or three to a cell. In the financial years 1966–67 to 1970–71, £139,000 was spent on maintenance, modernisation and improvements. About £75,000 will be spent in the current financial year including the start of work on an extension to the hospital. Work on a new boiler house, engineers' workshop and stores should start in 1972–73.My right hon. Friend hopes that further improvements will be made to both prisons in the next few years, and is considering the possibility of providing additional accommodation for prisoners in which slopping out would not be necessary. I cannot yet say when further schemes can be fitted into the building programme or what the total expenditure at these prisons over the next five years will be. There is no prospect of abolishing slopping out in the existing cell blocks in that period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been confined in Holloway Prison in the past year; and how many have been imprisoned there compared with the places available.

About 2,100 women and girls were received into Holloway in the twelve months ended 30th November. During that time the average population was 346 and the highest number in custody was 389. The number of places available has varied with the progress of the redevelopment programme, but is at present about 280 without some women having to share accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to plans for non-custodial alternatives to the imprisonment of women in Holloway Prison; and if, in the light of these plans and further alternatives, he will now revise the proposals for replacing the prison.

Agreement has been reached on proposals for providing an approved probation hostel for adult women in London; and discussions are taking place with a view to the provision of similar accommodation elsewhere. The Criminal Justice Bill now before Parliament provides a number of alternatives to imprisonment which could have an application to women offenders. But the need for up-to-date custodial facilities for women offenders will remain and my right hon. Friend sees no need to revise the proposals for replacing Holloway Prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to test the safety of a toy chemistry set, the name of which is in his possession; and if he will recommend the same to be withdrawn from sale.

The spirit burner in the chemistry set in question has been tested by the Home Office and found to be unsafe for use in the home. The manufacturers have readily agreed to withdraw the sets from sale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has of the extent to which passports of Commonwealth citizens are reproduced by photo-copying firms; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that some Commonwealth citizens seek to have parts of their passports reproduced by photocopying firms. This may be done by heads of households in support of applications by their dependants for entry certificates to join them here; but entry certificate officers are well aware that photocopies are an unreliable form of evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which High Commissions in the United Kingdom require to be furnished with photo-copies or other copies of the passports of Commonwealth citizens; and for what purposes.

I have been asked to reply.This information is not available to Her Majesty's Government and I do not consider that an approach to all the Commonwealth High Commissions in London would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution his Department has made to the review of dispersal policy currently being undertaken by the Civil Service Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his Question on 8th December by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department.—[Vol. 827, c. 327–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis, and by which section of his Department, decisions are made to commit men in default of maintenance payments to estranged wives to particular prisons; and why such offenders have been sent to Durham jail.

Under Section 12(2) of the Prison Act, 1952, prisoners are committed to such prisons as my right hon. Friend may from time to time direct. Courts in the geographical counties of Northumber land and Durham and parts of Cumberland, Westmorland and the North Riding of Yorkshire commit to Durham prison or to Low Newton remand centre. These are the nearest establishments which receive prisoners direct from court. If the hon. Member has a particular difficulty in mind, perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men in Great Britain are currently expected to pay maintenance to estranged wives whilst unemployed; what percentage of them are defaulting; and whether unemployment is accepted by magistrates as grounds for a review of the maintenance order.

The information asked for in the first two parts of the Question is not available. Under the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates' Courts) Act, 1960, a magistrates' court may order the payment of such weekly sum as they consider reasonable in all the circumstances of the case and on application may vary an order already made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given to magistrates by his Department about the amount of money a separated or divorced man should pay as maintenance, and concerning whether this amount is to be reconsidered if the man, through no fault of his own, becomes unemployed.

As this is a matter for the exercise of judicial discretion, it would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to issue advice. It is open to either party to apply to the court for variation of an order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men in the Whitehaven Magistrates' Court area are currently defaulting on maintenance payments to separated or divorced wives and children; what is the average amount of arrears; and how many of the men have served periods in jail because of non-payment of maintenance.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the registration of electors form and the designation of jurors; and why a woman is not designated as juror when the husband is entitled householder.

These matters are governed by the Representation of the Peoples Regulations, 1969, and the Juries Acts, 1825 and 1922, respectively. The second part of the Question cannot be answered shortly. I shall write to the hon. Member.