asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will encourage national museums and art galleries unable to exhibit all the treasures in their possession to make arrangements for them to be lent to local museums or private exhibitors.

My noble Friend strongly supports making loans of reserve material from the national collections to local museums which can provide a suitable standard of care and security. The powers of some museums and galleries are defined by Statute. The problems of finance and security are becoming more difficult in respect of loans whether to museums or to other exhibitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she made of increased staff costs in arriving at her estimate of the net yield from entrance charges to museums and galleries.

The current estimate for a full year is £165,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what changes she has made concerning the commencing date on which national museums and galleries are to impose entrance charges.

As my noble Friend announced on 9th December, the Government have decided to postpone the date for the general introduction of charges. They will be introduced as soon as convenient after the Museums and Galleries (Admission Charges) Bill has passed through all its stages.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue a circular to local education authorities to allow children in primary schools not entitled to free milk to take their own milk to school.

I am reluctant to issue another circular. I hope that parents will make their views on this point known to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have now given instructions to schools within their areas that milk should be available for sale at both primary and secondary schools to those children whose parents wish them to buy it.

In October milk was being provided for sale in both primary and secondary schools in the areas of seven local education authorities, in a total of 274 primary and 36 secondary schools. I have no later information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for improving library' provision in the polytechnics.

My right hon. Friend has recently issued guidance to local education authorities on area standards for polytechnic libraries. The Department is consulting authorities about seven polytechnic library projects to start in 1973–74 at an estimated cost of about £1¾ million. Further provision for libraries will be included in the programmes for 1974–75 and 1975–76 on which the Department intends to begin consultation with polytechnic authorities early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total primary and secondary school building programme in constant prices, including the raising of the school-leaving age programme, for 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, and 1973–74, respectively.

£192 million, £218 million, £216 million and £173 million in England and Wales. Of the total of some £800 million, £250 million has been allocated to major primary projects, £410 million to major secondary projects and the rest, £140 million, to minor works.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will pay an early official visit to Southampton.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research into the causes of behavioural problems in schools is being carried out by her Department.

A number of projects undertaken within the past few years and three current projects supported by my Department bear on these problems. The following is a list:RESEARCH RELEVANT TO CAUSES OF BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLS, SUPPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENTA.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what objections she has received to her consultative document on the financing of student unions; and if she will now withdraw these proposals in favour of one of the two alternative solutions referred to in the document but not discussed there.

I have received comments from a large number of organisations and individuals. Preliminary discussions have begun and it would be premature to take decisions on any of the solutions in the document.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when it is her intention to reply to the letter sent to her by Mr. J. H. Barton, Union Administrator, Hull University Union, concerning student union finances.

A reply has now been sent through the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) with a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give as much information as is in her possession concerning the proportion of working-class children entering, respectively, primary schools, secondary modern schools, grammar schools, comprehensive schools, direct-grant schools, private independent schools, technical colleges, colleges of further education, colleges of advanced technology and universities.

My Department does not itself collect information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities have applied for an additional allocation of teachers in order to make better provision for slow-learning children since her speech on 13th April; and how many additional teachers have been allocated.

Six—Barking, Bolton, Kingston-upon-Thames, Sheffield, Wakefield and Waltham Forest. I expect further applications. Seventy-seven teachers have so far been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest figure for the reduction in the number of those taking free school meals in London since the introduction of the increased price by this Government.

There has in fact been an increase of 7,365 in the number taking free school meals in London. On a day in October, 1971, 65,190 pupils in maintained schools in the Inner London Education Authority area received free school meals compared with 57,825 in September, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of school children receiving free school meals in Oldham; and how this compares with the figure for a year ago.

3,425 compared with 2,479 a year ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to enable her to ensure that the financing of university expansion is in no way paid for by an increase in the cost of hall fees to the students.

No. The charges for board and lodging in university halls of residence are matters for decision by the university authorities. However the provision of loan-financed residence raises special considerations which are being discussed with the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many major improvements of primary schools have been included in the 1972–73 programme for Northamptonshire; and how this compares with the previous three years.

None in 1969–70, two both in 1970–71 and in 1971–72 (including one in each year justified partly because of the need for additional places) and three in 1972–73. I have approved four in the Design List for projects to be started in 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now authorise a further increase in the minor works programmes for schools and colleges.

All local education authorities were informed on 2nd December that I hoped that they would start in 1972–73 up to half of their minor works allocations for 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will authorise local authority schemes for the improvement or replacement of maintained secondary schools in the development areas, and in particular in South Shields.

My right hon. Friend has already told local education authorities that she hopes that they will bring forward to 1972–73 up to half of their minor works allocations for 1973–74 as a means of stimulating investment in areas of high unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total sum of public money spent annually in support of the Tate Gallery.

The net Parliamentary Vote for the Tate Gallery for 1971–72 is £634,000. Additional expenditure in connection with the Gallery carried on other Votes is estimated to be £312,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement on maintenance allowances paid to pupils attending maintained schools beyond school-leaving age.

I have no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy regarding allowing viable schemes for comprehensive education to go ahead in one part of a local education authority area when there are no immediate workable schemes for a whole local education area.

It is open to a local education authority to submit statutory proposals under Section 13 of the Education Act relating to the introduction of a comprehensive scheme for any part of its area and I will consider them on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT all the proposals for comprehensive reorganisation which are waiting for her approval; the dates on which the period for objections expired; how many objections were received; and the dates on which the local education authorities have suggested that their proposals should come into effect.

This information could not be provided without disproportionate expenditure of money and manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received with regard to the Nottinghamshire County Council's scheme for Sherwood Hall Boys and Sherwood Hall Girls Schools, Mansfield, to become bi-lateral next year; and what reply she has sent.

The Authority submitted a statutory proposal to this effect on 18th November. The period for statutory objections does not expire until 18th January. My right hon. Friend will make her decision in the light of all the objections which are received.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why married women research students receive grants which are £200 per annum less than the grants payable to married men and other post graduate students.

The lower rate applies to married women students only when they are living at home with a husband able to follow employment. If they live away from home during their course, they get the same as other students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost per student per annum in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, respectively.

The latest figures which are still provisional are for 1970–71 they are £975, £660 and £445 respectively using the same method of calculation as in the Department's Planning Paper No. 2. The notes and comments in the Planning Paper still apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now announce the capital allocations for the universities for 1973–74.

Yes. I have authorised a building programme of £27 million of starts in 1973–74 for allocation by the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will have discussions with the University Grants Committee and local education authorities to ensure that the expansion of student numbers in higher education planned for 1972–73 is matched by an equivalent expansion in student accommodation.

Building programmes to provide new residential places in 1972–73 have already been settled after such consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been made for training teachers of the mentally handicapped since the passage of the Education (Handicapped Children) Act, 1970.

Twelve three-year courses of initial teacher training with special emphasis on mental handicap are now established. These provide for some 300 students annually and a further 80 will be accommodated by four more courses starting in 1972–73. 120 Holders of the Diploma of the Training Council are attending one year courses leading to qualified teacher status.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes she is considering in the present methods of financing polytechnics and colleges of education.

None, at present. So far as the colleges of education are concerned, I must await the recommendations of Lord James' Committee of Inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will arrange for extra financial resources for nursery education in areas of high immigration concentration.

Extra resources have been made available since 1969 under the Urban Programme and this is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated total public expenditure on education in Great Britain in 1971–72 at current prices.

£2,895 million at 1971 Survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the share of the gross national product of the United Kingdom taken by expenditure on education.

I estimate 6·5 per cent. in 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of primary and secondary schools in the city of Birmingham; what are the total numbers of teaching staff, children and classes, respectively; and what are the comparative figures for two years previously.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has had with local education authorities over the future structure of the Careers Advisory Service.

None. However, the proposals for the future of the Employment Service, announced recently by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, provide for further consultation with local government on the future of the Youth Employment Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the polytechnics have their own careers officers either on their staff or available through the local education authority.

The information available to my Department indicates that careers guidance services are available to students in about two thirds of the polytechnics.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) how many official regimental bands and their equivalents in the other services exist in the armed forces; and to what extent they are used for public entertainment;(2) whether he will encourage the development of wider repertoires, not confined to martial music, by military bands.

There are at present 96 military bands. The extent to which they are used for public entertainment varies a good deal, depending largely on where the band is stationed. Repertoires already include a wide range of music, including orchestral, church and dance music.

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

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25th November.—[Vol 826, c. 413.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence if any special arrangements have been made for the relief from duty over the Christmas period for troops in Northern Ireland.

All who can be spared from the requirements of the security situation will be relieved from duty.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will provide for British soldiers in Northern Ireland to be treated as on active service so that widows and dependants of those killed will become eligible for war pensions.

The award of a war pension depends on whether death or injury is attributable to military duty and is not affected by a declaration of active service. Widows and dependants of Servicemen killed on military duty in Northern Ireland are therefore already eligible for war pensions.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps are being taken to secure employment at the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, Sydenham, Northern Ireland.

As has already been announced, the current Buccaneer conversion programme and other work should provide employment at or approaching its present level until about April, 1973. The position thereafter has been reviewed in consultation with the Northern Ireland Government and I am glad to say that it has been decided that the Buccaneer major servicing task shall be undertaken at Sydenham as the current conversion programme comes to an end. Work on Buccaneer and Phantom mechanical component repair will also be carried out at the Yard. These tasks should secure the future of the Yard for some time to come and will provide employment for about 650 employees as from the beginning of 1974.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that Scottish troops on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation visits to Greece will not be used in a manner that suggests approval of the Greek régime.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 4th November.—[Vol. 825. c. 8.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what Royal Air Force aircraft stationed at Sharjah in the Trucial States have been sold to the Government of Abu Dhabi; what were the financial arrangements concerning the sale; and whether Royal Force personnel have been, or will be, seconded for the maintenance and flying of these aircraft.

No Royal Air Force aircraft have been sold to the Government of Abu Dhabi.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the number of aircrews flying aeroplanes of the Sultan of Oman's Air Force who are Royal Air Force seconded officers; and how many of them have been engaged in overflights of or attacks on the territory of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.

Nineteen Royal Air Force aircrew are on loan to the Sultan of Oman's Air Force. I am not aware that the Sultan of Oman's Air Force has engaged in any overflights of or attacks on the territory of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about recruitment to the new Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve units formed on 1st April, 1971.

At 30th October, 1971, these units had reached a strength of about 5,300 which is about 50 per cent. of their establishment. This response is most encouraging and represents a faster rate of build up than had been expected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the number of drugs raids that took place on Thursday, 2nd December; where these took place and the names of those question; what action has been taken or is intended in each case; and whether he will make a statement.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, at the latest most convenient stated date, was the asset value of the Horserace Totalisator Board; to what extent he estimates the Exchequer funds would benefit if these were sold off by public auction; and if he will take action to sell the Totalisator Board.

The Board's Consolidated Balance Sheet recently published showed that at 31st March, 1971, the Board's fixed and current assets totalled £1,966,205, and that the total net assets were £822,312. Proceeds of a sale of these assets would not accrue to the Exchequer. My right hon. Friend has no power to order such a sale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 2nd December, 1971, together with a letter from his constituent Mr. M. J. Coughlan of Forest Gate, E.1, making complaints against his Department for unfairness in dealing with the horserace and betting industry; what action he has taken or intends taking to deal with these problems; and whether he will make a statement.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, Yes. As regards the remainder of the Question, my right hon. Friend will give due consideration to all representations which are made to him concerning the provisions of the Horserace Totalisator and Betting Levy Boards Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will give a detailed list of the persons and organisations whom he interviewed before preparing his Horse-race Totalisator and Betting Levy Boards Bill; whether these included representatives of the local authorities or their associations; and what organisation or body of persons requested him to increase the number of betting shops even where need has not been proven;(2) whether he will give a detailed list of the persons and organisations whom he deemed necessary to be consulted for the purpose of preparing his Horserace Totalisator and Betting Levy Boards Bill.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a similar Question from the hon. Member on 8th December.ߞ[Vol. 827, c. 324.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint an independent inquiry into all aspects of the financing and taxation of the horserace and betting industry and, in particular, into the profits and tax payments of bookmakers and the Horserace Totalisator Board.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in the year 1970–71, the Totalisator Board was relieved of paying its dues to the Horserace Levy Board.

The contribution determined by my right hon. Friend's predecessor was made subject to the board's ability to pay, and was consequently remitted by my right hon. Friend when the board's accounts for the year showed a deficit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will appoint as members of the Horserace Totalisator Board representatives of practising bookmakers in order to improve the administration of the board.

My right hon. Friend will continue to appoint as members of the Horserace Totalisator Board, persons with knowledge and experience of the horse-racing and financial worlds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the concern felt at the proliferation of betting shops; and whether he will list the powers of licensing magistrates to refuse licences for betting shops for want of local need.

The number of betting offices has been declining annually since 1st June, 1968. The powers of the licensing authorities to refuse licences for such offices on grounds of insufficient demand are contained in paragraph 19(b)(ii) of Schedule 1 to the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not introduce legislation to enable bookmakers to obtain betting-shop licences without the licensing magistrates having powers 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.

Because this could lead to an uncontrolled proliferation of betting offices; whereas all that the public interest requires is that the Horserace Totalisator Board should be given an opportunity of competing with the bookmakers in a field in which they have now established what amounts to an exclusive position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce regulations to avert the present indiscriminate killing of badgers.

My right hon. Friend has no present reason to think that this is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which prisons prisoners may apply to become students at the Open University; how many prisoners have been accepted for the coming year from each of these prisons; and whether full facilities for study will be made available for these students.

Albany, Gartree and Wakefield prisons. Respectively eight, eight and 21 applications from each prison are under consideration by the Open University, with whom the facilities to be provided have been agreed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he sends to people who write to him about blood sports.

The letters my right hon. Friend receives say different things and in consequence the replies vary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to a further inquiry into the case of Patrick Colin Murphy, in view of the availability of further evidence.

My right hon. Friend is considering representations made to him about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the Home Office circular recommending the use of detention centres for first offenders; and if he will make a statement on the considerations which he took into account in deciding to issue the circular.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the current Home Office circular on detention centres. There is also a copy in the Library. It does not contain such a recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the further report of the Houghton Committee on the adoption of children.

The Committee hopes to submit its report before the summer Recess. This will not be a "further" report. The Committee has so far published only a working paper containing provisional proposals for comment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions transcripts of Metropolitan Police disciplinary hearings have been made available to a Member of Parliament over the last 15 years.

No record has been found of a transcript having been provided for an hon. Member from official sources during the past 15 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees in Northern Ireland have been released; and what proportion this is of the total detained.

I understand that of 1,576 arrested in Northern Ireland under the Special Powers Act between 9th August and 14th December, 934 have been released, i.e., about three-fifths.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained in Risley Remand Centre during January to November, 1971, as compared to the previous year; and what were the average periods.

I regret that this information is not readily available but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable him to ban toys depicting acts of violence which may have a detrimental effect on children, in view of the letter to him on this point from the hon. Member for Islington, East.

My right hon. Friend does not think that this is a matter for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the position of the Commonwealth citizens who have been admitted to the United Kingdom for settlement will be in relation to free movement provisions to and from the member States of the European communities following the definition of United Kingdom national given to the European Economic Community on 29th November.

Citizens of an independent Commonwealth country will not be eligible to benefit from the free movement of labour provisions until they have registered as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies. Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who are settled here will be eligible when they have completed five years' residence in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to change the law to enable a court to deport any person at any time with or without their consent.

Under the Immigration Act, 1971, anyone other than a Commonwealth citizen or citizen of the Irish Republic ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom when the Act comes into force will be liable to deportation on the recommendation of a court while he remains subject to immigration control. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for further amendment of the law. If the hon. Member has some particular problem in mind, perhaps he would write to me about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to require shops to institute procedures which will reduce the risks of the wrongful prosecution of innocent shoppers for shoplifting.

My right hon. Friend has no present intention of doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why an alien, Rafig Ashour, was given back his passport by the Immigration Branch of the Home Office on Monday, 29th November, when he was wanted by the police in their inquiries into the illegal landing of immigrants the previous day at Easton, near Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire.

When Rafig Ashour called at the Public Inquiry Office it was not known in that office that the police wished to interview him and his passport was returned to him in the normal course of business.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 7th December, 1971, to advise the hon. Member for West Ham, North on what action he took in connection with the substance of the communication from the hon. Member enclosing a communication from Mr. Bert Reeves, of Stratford, regarding the need for and proposals to improve the dangerous loads on the road; and whether he will expedite his replies in the future.

The hon. Member's letter was received on 15th November. There was no undue delay in replying.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the urban aid programme for each year since it was established; how much is planned for this programme in immediate future years; and what has been the general breakdown each year of the total expenditure as between different types of project.

Total local authority expenditure in Great Britain during the last three complete financial years has been approximately £100,000; £2 million and £7,600,000. Current estimates for the next three years are £8,700,000; £14,300,000 and £10,400,000. The estimates for 1971–72 and 1972–73 include a special additional element of grant-aided capital spending in development and intermediate areas authorised as part of the Government's policy of encouraging improvements to the economic and social infrastructure in areas of high unemployment.The range of work aided under the programme cannot conveniently be expressed in terms of annual expenditure per type of project. But taking the expected total expenditure in England and Wales over the six years mentioned, about one-sixth relates to community centres and advice centres of various kinds, about one-sixth to miscellaneous social service projects, about one-sixth to day nurseries, about one-sixth to children's homes, play schemes and language teaching projects, and about one-third to nursery schools and nursery classes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many riders or their horses have been killed or injured, respectively, through colliding with vehicles on the roads in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.This information is not immediately available but I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men over 50 years of age are on the unemployed register in Flintshire, and in those exchanges which serve the constituency of East Flintshire.

At July, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, 528 men aged 50 years and over were registered as wholly unemployed in Flintshire. Of these, 261 were registered at the Flint, Holywell, Mold and Shotton Employment Exchanges in whose areas the greater part of the East Flintshire constituency falls.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men have undergone training at Government training centres for each year since 1945.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the General Index of Retail Prices for each year since 1945.

The general retail prices index figures for the years 1948 to 1971, with the average level at 17th June, 1947, taken as 100, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will implement the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, 1971, which confer new rights on workers in relation to unfair dismissal and trade union membership.

I propose shortly to lay before Parliament a Commencement Order bringing into force Part II and Schedule 2 of the Act on Monday, 28th February. Certain other parts of the Act will come into force at the same time. The full list of provisions brought into effect by the Commencement Order will be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will intervene in the threatened lock-out of provincial journalists by the Newspaper Society;(2) if he will seek to discuss with the Newspaper Society its threat to dismiss journalists in its employ unless they give a non-strike pledge;(3) if the action of the Newspaper Society in requiring journalists in its employ to sign a non-strike pledge under the threat of dismissal is compatible with the principles of the Code of Industrial Relations Practice.

The National Union of Journalists gave notice to the Newspaper Society on 29th November that all its members in provincial local newspaper offices would withdraw their labour from 29th December. The Newspaper Society has formally accepted this notice and has told the journalists in its employ that employment will be regarded as having terminated on that date, except in cases where individuals sign a statement signifying that they do not intend to withdraw their labour and will work normally.I shall continue to keep the situation under review, but I do not judge it would be helpful to intervene at this time or to comment on the actions of either party.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set up an interdepartmental inquiry into ways of reducing the level of unemployment.

Close contact is maintained between all Departments concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the publication of an up-to-date version of the Central Office of Information pamphlet No. 67, Women in Britain, last issued in April, 1964.

A new edition of this pamphlet has recently been issued on behalf of the overseas information services and I have arranged for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member. The question of sales in the United Kingdom is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has replied to the memorandum addressed to him by the textile trade unions on 16th November about the state of the cotton industry, and in what terms.

My Department has replied to this correspondence referring to my statement of 8th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those motor insurance companies that have gone into liquidation for the period January, 1960, to December, 1971, on what dates, together with the number of policyholders involved in each case.

As I stated on 17th June, the number of policy-holders is not recorded, but the total for the companies listed is estimated at about two million.Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the names of the countries which combined with India, the United Arab Republic and Yugoslavia in submitting a preferential trade treaty to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade for approval on 17th November last; and whether aproval has been given.

The other countries are Brazil, Chile, Greece, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay. The Contracting Parties to G.A.T.T. decided on 26th November to allow the participating countries to exchange certain tariff concessions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what report he has received from the Director of Public Prosecutions about the International Investors Group or any of its subsidiaries; and whether he will institute proceedings against the company or companies under the Companies Act.

No report has been received from the Director of Public Prosecutions, but he is ware of the inquiries being made by the Department which are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to establish an insurance fund to operate in the United Kingdom, similar to that operated by the Export Credits Guarantee Department, so that companies placing contracts in this country can be insured against the bankruptcy of suppliers, particularly where sub-contracts are concerned.

No. Facilities for this purpose already exist in the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many schemes for major investment involving construction enlargement or re-equipment of industrial premises for his Department he has under consideration; what is the total value of such schemes at present held up owing to procedures relating to planning permissions; and in view of the employment opportunities consequent on these buildings, what steps he is taking to eliminate unnecessary delays.

The Department's industrial premises are those provided under the Local Employment Acts. Schemes considered for individual premises are normally relatively small and none is held up for planning permission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will keep separate figures of industrial development certificates granted and refused to small firms, as defined in the Bolton Reports.

I am considering what information we shall need about small firms and will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the membership of the Marshall Committee and define its terms of reference; and if he will estimate how soon it will make a report.

No. It is not customary to give details of internal committees. I shall consider whether a statement might be made on the outcome of the review in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of the report from the liquidator on Thomas Galloways Paper Mills, Balerno, a copy of which is in his possession, what steps he is taking to retain a paper industry in Balerno.

I have received no such report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the availability and attractions of the empty Government-built factory in Penygroes, Caernarvonshire, are brought to the attention of potential tenants by the regional offices of his Department; and to what extent the assistance of the Welsh Development Corporation is sought for this purpose.

The regional offices of the Department lose no opportunity of bringing details of vacant Government-owned factories in the assisted areas to the attention of suitable industrialists. The Development Corporation for Wales is notified of all such vacant factory space in the Principality and has published details of the Penygroes factory in "Progress Wales".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to publish the report of the interdepartmental committee which he appointed on smoking and health hazards; and if he will make a statement.

It is not usual for the advice which officials give to Ministers to be made public but at the appropriate time I will consider whether there is any information resulting from the interdepartmental study which it would be helpful to publish.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total sum paid to applicants from Wales for family income supplement; and what is the average payment per claim.

Payments of family income supplement to families in Wales currently amount to about £5,000 a week. The average weekly payment to these families is £1·70.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of notices of assessment issued to claimants last year who requested information on how their benefit is calculated; and what plans he has to give supplementary benefit claimants wage slips setting out how their benefit is computed.

The information requested in the first part of the Question could not be obtained without disproportionate effort. Claimants may have a written explanation of how their benefit is computed on request; notices giving the Commission's decisions make this clear. A notice explaining the assessment is always issued in certain specific types of cases; for example where wage-stop is involved, and in others where the assessment is complex. But considerable staff costs would be incurred if explanations were issued automatically in all cases and the Commission consider that other improvements in administration should have priority for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the year in which special investigators were first appointed, and the number of special investigators operating in the supplementary benefit system for each subsequent year.

Special investigators were first appointed in November, 1954. The following table shows the number of officers in post for each year from 1954 to 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases the Supplementary Benefits Commission has given help to claimants with installation of a telephone and payment of telephone bills, respectively, for each year since 1945.

I regret that there are no figures earlier than those for the twelve months ending August, 1970. The Commission helped with installation and rental in 99 new cases in that period, and with 42 during the twelve months end- ing August, 1971. An unknown number of people continue to receive help from which they qualified in earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the year in which unemployment review officers were first appointed and the number of unemployment review officers operating in each subsequent year.

Unemployment review officers were first appointed on 11th January, 1961. The following table shows the number of officers in post at that date and on 1st December each year from 1961 to 1971.