asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, what formal request he has received from the British Broadcasting Corporation for an early increase in licence fees; and what reply he has sent.

None, and I know of no reason to suppose that any such increase could be justified.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office that it investigate the possibility of improving the telephone facilities provided by them in conjunction with British Rail.

No. I understand that the Post Office is already giving attention to the improvement of facilities.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many disabled persons living alone are awaiting the installation of telephones in their homes.

These are matters for the Post Office, but I understand it does not keep a statistical record of the domestic circumstances of applicants for telephones.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what values and parameters have to be met for a road to be described by his Department as being of near motorway standard.

This term has been used somewhat loosely to describe high-standard all-purpose dual carriageway roads, but it is not Departmental practice now to use the term.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the continuing high level of unemployment, he will now give approval for the immediate building of new hospitals where required in areas of high unemployment; and if he will also seek powers to compel local authorities in these areas to speed up the clearing away of slum property, to increase the number of houses being built, and to provide recreation grounds, thus improving the economic and environmental circumstances in these districts.

No. Local authorities are best placed to assess the local need for housing and for recreational facilities, but my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction has written to 92 local authorities with slum problems urging them to speed up clearance programmes in the light of the new subsidies that will be available under our reform of housing finance.Hospital building is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions have been reached by his Department about the need for a controlled junction at the intersection of London Road, Marsh Lane and Stanmore Broadway, Stanmore, following discussions with the Greater London Council.

I am awaiting details of the proposal from the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of the non-statutory bodies to which he sent a copy of the Department's draft manual on pedestrian safety; when this draft was issued for consultation; and if he will explain the delay in its publication.

A short paper was sent to the G.L.C. and local authority associations in June, 1969, but the manual now being prepared is more comprehensive. I hope that it will be published this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, when introducing legislation to make the wearing of hard hats compulsory for those riding motor-cycles, he will extend the provision to those riding horses and ponies also.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the Calder Valley highway.

At present, I have nothing further to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 27th October, 1971, although I understand that the local authorities are considering the relative priorities of the stages of the route.—[Vol. 823, c. 1725.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will order an experiment with rumble roads, as developed by the Road Research Laboratory, to call the attention of drivers to the speed limit through Bramdean Village, Hampshire.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what delays there have been in the delivery of equipment for motorways; and what have been the causes and consequences of that delay.

Delays have occurred in the delivery and commissioning of the computer systems to control the national motorway signalling network. Highly technical problems have been encountered which require considerable time for their resolution, and a number of modifications both to the equipment and on requirements arose during this development. Hazard warning signals operated by the police have been provided on all motorways as an interim measure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the speed at which caravans may be towed by private motor cars; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friend proposes to increase to 50 m.p.h. the speed limit for caravans and other trailers towed by private cars, light vans and dual-purpose vehicles which comply with a prescribed weight ratio and other associated requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he proposes to take, following his announcement about blood-lead levels amongst children on the Isle of Dogs, to allay the concern which it has caused.

The Chief Medical Officer advises me that there is no evidence of damage to the health of the children concerned: those taken to hospital as a precaution have now been discharged. I have arranged for immediate steps to be taken to trace and minimise the escape of lead from the works on the Isle of Dogs. A number of other works using similar processes are being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now publish detailed proposals for the route of the Bromsgrove section of the M42 motorway between the M5 and the A34.

No. The necessary investigations and consultations are not yet completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why a mini-cab company was provided with a contract to take home members of the catering staff at the House of Commons, when the House is still sitting after 11.15 p.m., instead of his endeavouring to negotiate a contract with the licensed taxi trade.

The arrangement was first made in 1965 because a hire-car service was cheaper than that obtainable from a taxi-cab service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the preparation of a regional strategy providing a framework for regional development, transportation and laid-on planning in the Northern Region.

A joint preparatory group has been set up by the Northern Economic Planning Board and the Local Authorities' North Regional Planning Committee to prepare a specification for a regional strategy. If their proposals are acceptable, it is hoped that the main study team might start work by the middle of this year, and complete it by 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bodies at present have powers to precept on Bolton rates; and how many, and which, will have the power to do so after the reform of local government.

I understand that seven authorities at present issue precepts to the County Borough of Bolton. The number precepting on metropolitan district (b) of the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County after local government reorganisation will be less because the new councils will take over certain functions exercised by separate bodies at present. There may be a further reduction as a result of the proposed reorganisation of water services, but as consultations are still in process it is impossible to say to what extent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider making a regulation awarding to the tenant of a property any portion of any increase which may accrue to him under a fair rent assessment which can be regarded as part of the value of the property, arising out of any care and/or expense for which the tenant has been solely responsible.

No. Under the Rent Act, 1968, any improvement made by a tenant outside the terms of his tenancy is disregarded in the fair rent assessment. The more responsibility for maintenance and repair is placed on a tenant by a contract, the less any fair rent will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the draft Orders relating to the route of the Bexhill bypass; and if he is yet able to give a date for the start of the work.

Draft Orders are being prepared for publication this summer. If the Orders are made, it should be possible for work to start on the bypass in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to the request by the London Borough of Brent to receive a deputation to discuss the effect of the Housing Finance Bill upon its citizens.

No such request has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the recent public expenditure proposals set out in Command Paper No. 4829, what is the estimated expenditure of his Department in Lancashire, including the county boroughs, for each of the years to 1975–76; how this compares with other regions; and if he will make a statement.

The projections are made on a national basis: in general, no ready and reasonably accurate break-down between particular geographical areas is feasible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to prevent ships using British ports from polluting the water by sewage and oil and also seek powers to widen the scope of the Clean Air Act, 1956 to prevent such vessels from polluting the atmosphere; and if he will make a statement.

As regards the discharge of sewage from ships in port, I expect to announce shortly the Government's conclusions on the main recommendations of the Working Party on Sewage Disposal, which considered this matter, among others. The Oil in Navigable Waters Acts confer upon harbour authorities adequate powers to prevent pollution of their waters by oil. Under the Clean Air Act, 1956, it is an offence to emit dark smoke from vessels in ports. This provision does not need widening, but I have recently received representations about difficulties arising over enforcement in certain cases, and these I am considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests he has received from the Manchester Ship Canal Company for an Order in Council to be relieved of their responsibilities in relation to the breach in the Bridgwater Canal; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received no such request. I understand that the company is still discussing repair of the Canal with local authorities and other bodies in the region.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet able to announce, in the context of the Government's strategy for the South-East, a timetable for those local planning authorities not yet in the structure plan programme.

A commencement order has already been made for South Hampshire, and another will shortly be made for the Brighton area. Other areas are currently the subject of discussions with the local planning authorities, and priority is being given in this to growth areas identified by the Strategic Plan for the region.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Questions sponsored by his Department he has answered since 10th May, 1971.

If the hon. Member is referring to Questions answered by me personally, the position is that in the period 10th May to 23rd December, 1971, I answered no Question put down for oral answer that had been prepared by my Department. Apart from those Questions referred to in my statement of 13th December, only one Question prepared by my Department was put down for oral answer in the period concerned. In that case a written answer was given by one of my right hon. Friends in order to provide information to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North giving prime facie evidence that some property companies are using a legal loophole in the law regarding the obtaining of improvement grants; and whether he will introduce legislation to deal with this anomaly.

My right hon. Friend has received the extract from a local newspaper sent to him by the hon. Member which implies a defect in the present legislation. The restrictive conditions referred to were, however, omitted as a matter of policy from the 1969 legislation. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for their reintroduction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek powers to enable all local borough councillors, county councillors and other public representatives to claim an £8·50p daily tax-free allowance when attending at meetings or carrying out their public duties.

No. My right hon. Friend is seeking powers by Clause 167 of the Local Government Bill now before the House to enable all councillors, on reorganisation, to claim a flat-rate attendance allowance in place of the present financial loss allowance. The maximum amount of the allowance will be determined nearer to the time it becomes payable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take the necessary steps to enable persons who are compulsorily removed from clearance areas to reclaim their telephone installation charge where it can be established that a telephone was in existence at their clearance area address six months or more before the area was so declared.

Acquiring authorities already have powers to make such payments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange in future, when collating figures and details concerning road accidents, to collect information which will enable him to ascertain the number and types of vehicles involved in accidents in general, and accidents where personal injuries and fatalities occur, where such vehicles are unlicensed, uninsured, and without road test certificates and where the driver is without a driving licence.

All relevant topics will be considered for inclusion on the road accident report form when it is next revised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give further detailed information on his decision to give a £27 million subsidy to British Rail and £7 million to the National Bus Company.

I have at present nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Fox) on 22nd December.—[Vol. 828, c. 355.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the financial difficulties that have been encountered in the prototype freeze-process desalination plant on the Deben Estuary.

In March, 1971, I authorised the Water Resources Board to spend £1·5 million on this project, the balance of some £¾ million being contributed by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and Simon Engineering Ltd. In November, 1971, Simon Engineering decided to withdraw from the financial participation in the project.As Simon Engineering no longer considered the process commercially viable and as the estimated cost of the project had risen by about £1 million, I decided, in agreement with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, that it would not be right to continue the project with the whole cost falling on public funds. The amount actually spent on the project by the Water Resources Board was £60,000.I am, however, supporting further work on this process in order to get the maximum value out of the development already done; and I would always be prepared to consider assistance to the development of other desalination processes that are potentially efficient and economic. I am considering the possibility of working with European countries to obtain a breakthrough in desalination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the extra local government staff and civil servants necessary to operate the rebate system proposed in the Housing Finance Bill.

Some increase in the staff of local authorities, development corporations and the Commission for the New Towns is expected to be needed for the administration of the proposed rent rebate and allowance schemes, particularly in areas where there have been only limited schemes or none at all. Any increase is expected to be offset to some extent by reductions of staff employed in connection with the present subsidy system. About 100 additional staff may be required for the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment from which bodies, and from how many individuals, he has received representations, respectively, for and against the transfer of part of Essex to Suffolk.

The following bodies have submitted representations about the proposals for N.E. Essex.A.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in which regions he has requested local planning authorities to produce regional plans, and by what date.

It is the Government's intention that future regional strategies should be prepared on a tripartite basis in collaboration between the regional economic planning councils, the local planning authorities, and central Government. Ultimately, it is hoped to cover all the English regions in this way, but detailed arrangements and timing will vary from region to region. The present position in each region is as follows:

South-East: Strategy approved in principle by Government in October, 1971. My Department has already begun work on monitoring in association with the Planning Council and Standing Conference.

North-West: Tripartite planning team at work; strategy expected mid-1973.

Northern: Joint preparatory study group preparing specification for regional strategy. Main study team expected to commence work by the middle of this year and to complete strategy in 1974.

West Midlands: A proposed strategy commissioned by the West Midlands Planning Authorities' Conference was published for comment in September, 1971. The Conference intends to submit its proposals to the Government after review in the light of consultations with individual local authorities, the Planning Council and other interested bodies.

Yorkshire and Humberside: A strategy to 1981 prepared by the Planning Council was generally endorsed by the Government in July 1971. Further area studies are being carried out jointly with the local authorities leading ultimately to a longer-term tripartite strategy.

East Anglia: Tripartite planning team recently set up: strategy expected late 1973.

South-West: The Planning Council is working on a revised strategy and will be consulting the local planning authorities later this year when this has reached the draft stage.

East Midlands: Following its earlier studies, the Planning Council are now discussing with the local authorities concerned the setting up of joint studies to examine individual sub-regions in greater depth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by local authorities in establishing caravan sites for gipsies.

Forty-two sites have been established in England. Others are at various stages of consideration and preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will provide information concerning the proportions of accidents on dual-carriageway roads with two-lane and three-lane carriageways involving stationary vehicles for the latest available period.

This information is not immediately available, but I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now reconsider, after consultation with the Official Opposition, the recommendations of the Select Committee Report on Members' outside financial interests, with a view to establishing a compulsory public register of such interests.

As I said in the House on 6th December last, I remain prepared to consider this Report again, if it were the general wish of the House. I would, however, remind the hon. Gentleman that a principal conclusion of this Select Committee was that there was no effective way of compiling such a register.—[Vol. 827, c. 954.]

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to end the sex discrimination practised in the use of the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery in the House of Commons.

The Distinguished Strangers' Gallery is under the control of Mr. Speaker and he has asked that the Services Committee should examine the existing rules for the use of this Gallery.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish a list, with their position, of telephones available in the House of Commons with amplifying headsets, and with additional receivers for the use of those Members with hearing difficulties.

Three telephones with amplifying headsets are available in the Members' Telephone Room, one on the Members' Telephone Room Switchboard, one behind the Letter Board in the Members' Lobby, one opposite Room 13 in the Committee Corridor and one in the official corridor. Two telephones with additional receivers are situated in the Members' Telephone Room, one on the Members' Telephone Room Switchboard and one behind the Letter Board in the Members' Lobby.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the amount paid for the year ended December, 1971, to J. Lyons and Company Limited for assistance in operating the Refreshment Department of the House of Commons.

I have been asked to reply.During 1971 we have paid to Versa Serve Limited the sum of £6,301.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the recent increases in prices throughout the Refreshment Department of the House of Commons.

I have been asked to reply.The increase in prices a year ago failed to make good the rise in costs during 1970–71 and the 10 per cent. increase in wages.Prices have now been increased at an average rate of 15 per cent., but with particular application to those items which are most uneconomic at present. These new prices are intended to make good the extra costs of materials and to provide for an increase in wages for the staff and a shortening of their working week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received from Glasgow Corporation regarding a reorganisation of primary and secondary education in the city, with particular reference to the future of selective schools; and what representations he has received from members of the public on this subject.

I have received no proposals; I have, however, received about 40 letters from members of the public concerned about the future of the selective schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce a target date for the beginning of the construction of Phase II of the Caithness Central Hospital.

This scheme is in band 3 of the programme of major hospital building for the period after March, 1972, and planning is in hand. It is too early to say when construction will begin and the starting date will be allocated later when the preliminary work is well advanced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were charged with murder and how many were found guilty in Scottish courts in 1971; and what the comparable figures were in each of the previous 14 years.

For each of the years from 1957 to 1971, the number of persons charged with murder in the High Court of Justiciary, and the number of persons convicted of murder is as shown in the following table:

	Number of persons charged with murder	Number of persons convicted of murder
1957	7	2
1958	18	5
1959	13	5
1960	27	5
1961	15	4
1962	27	8
1963	13	3
1964	21	9
1965	33	15
1966	50	21
1967	43	26
1968	46	26
1969	52	22
1970	43	22
1971	58	40

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the deterrent effect of the existing penalties for murder; and if he will make a statement.

The Emslie Committee was set up in November, 1970, to consider the penalties for homicide in the light of the abolition of capital punishment. I propose to await its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many murders were reported to the police in 1971; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

The information for 1971 is not yet available. I shall write to my hon. Friend when it is.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been made available to local authorities in Scotland for the purpose of house purchase in 1970–71 compared with each year since 1965.

Precise information is not available, but I estimate that in Central Scotland, where shortage of land for this purpose is most likely to occur, about 2,500 acres were approved for private housing in the two years to October, 1969, about 1,500 acres in the following year, and about 500 acres between November, 1970, and October, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make payment of grant to local authorities during the current and next financial years on projects brought forward under the accelerated public works programme and not eligible for specific grant.

Under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1966, the amount of Rate Support Grant, once fixed, can be increased only on account of unforeseen increases in prices, costs or remuneration. Expenditure on additional projects, which will usually be reflected in loan repayments over periods of years, cannot therefore be brought into the calculation of Rate Support Grant until the next grant period begins in 1973–74, and I made this clear to local authorities when I invited them to submit proposals. However, in Scotland special capital grants are being paid for road works and in the two years in question these will be worth more to the local authorities than additional Rate Support Grant on their accelerated works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about future financial assistance to the Scottish National Camps Association.

Since the Association's school camps, built as temporary accommodation in 1939, can now have only a very limited life and, since needs for outdoor education are changing, I have asked the Association's member bodies for their views on the future of the camps generally. In the meantime, it seems appropriate that the running costs of the camps should be met by the education authorities and other bodies using them. I therefore decided last year, after consultation with the Association, that the annual Exchequer grant towards these costs should be reduced from £30,000 in 1971 to a maximum of £20,000 in 1972 and £10,000 in 1973 and discontinued altogether in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average payment per dwelling house paid to private owners and housing associations in respect of the discretionary conversion grant, the discretionary improvement grant and the standard grant, respectively, at the most recent available date.

The average discretionary improvement grants paid by local authorities in the third quarter of 1971 were about £840 for conversion work and £560 for other work. The average standard grant was about £175. Separate figures for private owners and for housing associations are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of families in Scotland who are living in furnished accommodation and the median rent being charged for such accommodation.

It is estimated that in 1966 there were about 21,000 families living in furnished accommodation. Later figures will become available from the 1971 Census. The information sought in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken on the eight proposals recently submitted to him by representatives of local authorities in Scotland to deal with the unemployment position.

The representatives of local authorities have had discussions with me and with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The proposals made are being fully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland sought his permission to donate money to the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders fighting fund; and if he will make a statement.

Sixteen authorities sought my approval to make contributions under Section 339 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947. One subsequently withdrew its application. I informed the others that I was not prepared to give approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of certificated married women teachers presently employed in nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, respectively, in Scotland to the nearest convenient date.

Figures for certificated teachers are not collected. The latest figures for registered teachers relate to December, 1970, and are set out in Table 51 of "Scottish Educational Statistics 1970".

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of dwelling houses in each housing authority area, showing separately the numbers that are owner-occupied, rented from public authorities, and rented unfurnished from private owners, respectively.

The latest available information is published in the County Reports containing the 1966 Sample Census figures. Information from the 1971 Census will become available in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the proportion of dwelling-house owner-occupiers currently engaged in purchasing their dwelling and those who now own their dwelling outright.

About 43 per cent. and 57 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning a review of minimum prices for white fish in Scotland; and what reply he has sent.

One representation favouring an increase has been received from the Scottish Trawlers Federation, who have been informed that a decision on proposals submitted by the White Fish Authority will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated installation cost of the new trunk road lighting scheme in Lybster, Caithness, which he has refused to authorise for the current financial year; and what estimate he has made of its operating and maintenance cost.

At present prices, the lighting proposed by the County Council at Lybster would cost about £1,500 to install and about £100 a year to operate and maintain.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many schemes for the installation of new trunk road lighting he has refused to authorise during the current financial year;(2) how many new trunk road lighting schemes he has approved for the current financial year; what expenditure he has authorised for the purpose; what precise criteria relating to accident records he applied in determining the priority of the schemes approved; and what limit of expenditure he has placed on new installations for the current financial year.

During 1971–72 I have so far authorised 23 schemes for new trunk road lighting and have rejected or deferred 22. The estimated capital cost of the approved schemes is £96,000, towards which Parliament has approved the expenditure of £75,000 in the current financial year.In assessing the claims of schemes for inclusion in the annual programme, I take account of the accident record on the length of road concerned during the previous three years, and of the saving in personal injury accidents which a scheme might be expected to achieve in relation to its capital cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many industrial accidents occurred in National Health Service hospitals during 1971; how much compensation was paid by employing authorities; and how this compares with the previous five years.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on fire prevention work in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland during 1971, and how this compares with the previous five years.

Expenditure on fire prevention works in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland since 1966–67, so far as this can be separately identified, has been as follows:

	£
1966–67	25,200
1967–68	63,700
1968–69	63,600
1969–70	217,800
1970–71	223,000
1971–72 (estimate)	353,700

These figures do not include expenditure on fire prevention included in contracts for general schemes of new construction or structural alterations. Administrative expenditure, such as on training, cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers were assaulted when on duty in 1971; what were the figures for each of the previous 10 years; and whether the criteria used by police authorities to determine what constitutes a police assault in submitting such figures over the past 10 years has altered.

The figure for 1971 is not yet available but I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is known. For the figures for the previous 10 years, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 19th October. The criteria used in compiling these figures have remained unchanged over the past 10 years.—[Vol. 823, c. 115–116.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were found guilty in Scottish courts in 1971 of charges which related to the killing of a person; how many of the total related to motoring offences; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years.

The information for 1971 is not yet available. I shall write to my hon. Friend when it is.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the extent of reorganisation of primary and secondary education which will be required when regions are established under local government reform; and if he will have regard to the extent of these changes in considering any proposals in the interim from Scottish education authorities designed to make significant changes in their pattern of primary and secondary education.

The implications for school organisation of the proposals for local government reform are primarily a matter for education authorities, but where schemes for reorganisation are submitted for my approval I will naturally keep any such implications in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in allocating advance factories in Sunderland.

Seven Government advance factories, including one terraced version, have been built since 1962. Five factories have been allocated—two provisionally—together with one terrace unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his talks with trade union officials following his visit to Breaksea Tankships Incorporated in Texas, to obtain the support of that company for making a bid for the Clydebank Shipyard for the construction of vessels for the oil and natural gas industries; and whether it is the policy of the Government to interest overseas buyers in acquiring the assets and facilities of the former Upper Clyde Shipbuilders.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 17th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 30–33.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants have been paid over the last 12 years to the College of Air Training, Hamble; for what purpose such grants have been made; and for how long it is proposed to continue them.

The College was set up under the joint sponsorship of the then Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. to provide advanced education and training for intending pilots.The following sums have been contributed to it by the Government.

	£
1960–61	85,188
1961–62	118,938
1962–63	52,249
1963–64	48,875
1964–65	109,375
1965–66	118,500
1966–67	152,160
1967–68	199,293
1968–69	211,065
1969–70	145,388
1970–71	145,297
1971–72 (to date)	75,000

These contributions were originally related to the number of students undergoing training at the College. The basis of the grant was, however, changed in 1970 and after existing commitments have been met it will run at £100,000 per annum until 1973 when it will be reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a review of regional policies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Kenneth Baker) on 17th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the European Coal and Steel Community on the future shape, size, development and production of the British Steel Corporation.

None: except when the Community made it clear during the course of the negotiations that they had no intention of calling into question the size or status of the British Steel Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries have signed the amendments to the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1969; which signatories have ratified the agreement to date; and how many ratifications are required before the amendments can come into force.

The 1969 amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954, as amended in 1962, were adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation in accordance with Article XVI(2) of the Convention. They will come into force 12 months after they have been accepted by 29 of the Contracting Governments. So far they have been accepted by Iceland, the Malagasy Republic, Denmark, Japan, United Kingdom, Norway and the U.S.S.R.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many reports of oil at sea or on beaches were recorded by the Coastguard Service during 1971; and how this compares with the number recorded in 1970.

The Department recorded 275 reports of oil at sea or on beaches during 1971, compared with 337 such reports during 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will inquire into the employment prospects of 450 staff presently employed with the British Steel Corporation Tubes Division at 41 Oswald Street, Glasgow, which is soon to be transferred to Corby, with a view to promoting alternative employment in Glasgow.

I understand that the majority of the staff at present employed by the British Steel Corporation at 41, Oswald Street are being offered jobs in other Corporation establishments, including some in Glasgow and Lanarkshire.Until the outcome of these offers is known, together with details of those, if any, being made redundant, I am not in a position to make a statement on employment prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what, for the Newcastle section of the Newcastle-under-Lyme, and North-West Staffordshire Local Employment Committee, were the number of outstanding vacancies in each category at the latest possible date and the number of unemployed.

At December, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in the area covered by the Newcastle-under-Lyme employment exchange was 329 (82 for men, 13 for boys, 154 for women and 80 for girls) and the number of people registered as wholly unemployed was 1,326 (1083 men, 45 boys, 172 women and 26 girls). The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and boys were unemployed in January in the area covered by Thorne employment exchange; and what percentage this represents of the total male adult working population in that area.

Information for January is not yet available, but at 6th December, 1971, there were 1,131 males (1,059 men and 72 boys) registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Thorne employment exchange. Rates of unemployment cannot be calculated for Thorne alone, but in the Doncaster, Askern and Thorne travel-to-work area the rate for males was 7·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many employment exchange areas in England was the percentage of male adult unemployment in January worse than in the Thorne employment exchange area; and how many of these are in development areas.

Rates of unemployment can be calculated in some cases for single employment exchange areas and in other cases for groups of these areas which comprise travel-to-work areas. There are 330 areas in England for which rates can be calculated. Information for January, 1972, is not yet available, but at December, 1971, when the rate of unemployment for males in the Doncaster, Askern and Thorne travel-to-work area was 7·9 per cent., there were 77 areas in England where the male rate was higher. Of these, 33 were in the development areas. Rates of unemployment can be calculated for males of all ages, but not separately for adult males.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many industrial accidents occurred in local government employment during 1971, and how this compares with the previous five years;(2) how many industrial accidents occurred in English local government employment during 1971; and how this compares with the previous five years;(3) how many industrial accidents occurred in Welsh local government employment during 1971; and how this compares with the previous five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentages of people unemployed in the Huddersfield area in July 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, and the percentage unemployed in January. 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and if he will make a statement on these figures.

Following is the available information:

Rates of unemployment in the area covered by the Huddersfield Employment Exchange
	Per cent.
July, 1964	0·5
January, 1965	0·6
July, 1965	0·5
January, 1966	0·5
July, 1966	0·4
January, 1967	0·8
July, 1967	0·8
January, 1968	1·4
July, 1968	1·0
January, 1969	1·0
July, 1969	0·9
January, 1970	1·3
July, 1970	1·4
January, 1971	2·2
July, 1971	2·6
December, 1971	3·4

Information for January, 1972 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why unemployment in Huddersfield in December, 1971 was twice as high as December, 1970 and three times as high as December, 1969.

The following table gives unemployment figures for the Huddersfield employment exchange area for each December from 1969 to 1971.

	Wholly unemployed	Total register
December, 1969	1,054	1,095
December, 1970	1,244	3,354
December, 1971	2,527	3,083

The main reasons for the increase in the numbers wholly unemployed are the national economic situation and redundancies from textiles.As the many measures we have taken to expand the economy take effect, unemployment in Huddersfield, where the December, 1971, rate of 3·4 per cent. was somewhat below the national average, should come down.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those agricultural matters which have still to be settled in the Common Market negotiations.

I am glad to say that all outstanding matters have now been settled.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which parts of the Civil Service will expand, and to what extent, and what off-setting economies will be effected, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

There will be some expansion, mainly in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, H.M. Customs and Excise, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of the Environment. The total number of additional staff required throughout the Civil Service in the period before entry into the Communities is estimated at about 500, plus a further 1,000 spread over several years after entry. Manpower economies will be achieved in any area in which such economies are possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are currently employed in connection with matters pertaining to Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community.

Such matters affect the work of many civil servants but only a small number are employed full time on them. The total effort is estimated to represent the equivalent of about 300 staff employed full time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has to order more Nimrod aircraft for the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

We intend, subject to agreement of satisfactory terms and conditions, to order sufficient additional Nimrods for an extra squadron.As production builds up, this will create extra jobs or preserve existing jobs for about 2,000 people in the North West and elsewhere, and will also provide an important addition to our maritime reconnaissance force.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will ask the Medical Research Council to investigate the success of the treatment of paraplegia by methods of acupuncture, and make a report.

No. The M.R.C. point out that there is no reason to suppose that acupuncture would be of benefit in the treatment of paraplegia, since this is a condition in which in many cases the spinal cord has been irreversibly damaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he now expects an official version of the Treaty of Rome to be published in the English language.

The official and authentic English language version of the European Economic Community Treaty will be laid before the House at the same time as the Treaty of Accession.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official versions of the Treaty of Rome there will be in the event of the four applicant countries becoming members of the Community.

In the event of the four applicant countries becoming members of the Community, there will be eight official and authentic language versions of the European Economic Community Treaty. These will be in Danish, Dutch. English, French, German, Irish, Italian and Norwegian.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will negotiate for the Treaty of Rome to be officially translated into the language of minority nations within the member States of an enlarged Community.

No. Community practice is that authentic versions of the European Economic Community Treaty are published only in the official languages of the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received reports of intimidation of Africans, meeting to discuss the White Paper, in the Belingwe district of Rhodesia by the Rhodesian Police on 5th January, 1972; and if he will make a statement.

Various allegations have been made as to events in the Belingwe area, but I have no means of judging their accuracy. It will of course be for the Pearce Commission to satisfy themselves whether normal political activities, provided they are peaceful and democratic, are being permitted throughout Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Africans in the Belingwe area of Rhodesia have been arrested since the announcement of the Anglo-Rhodesian proposals.

I am not in a position to answer this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Lutheran pastor, the Rev. Isaiah Gumbo, a headmaster, Mr. Lot Dewa, and a student on vacation from the University of Rhodesia, Mr. Mbonisi Moyo, were taken into custody by the illegal Smith régime; what charges have been preferred against these men; and what representations he has made in connection therewith to the illegal régime.

I am aware of reports of this nature and have drawn them to the attention of the Rhodesian authorities. I have however made no representations. Any interference with normal political activities would be primarily for the Pearce Commission to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total quantity and value of oil imported from Venezuela in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971.

I have been asked to reply.Information for 1967 to 1970 is published in table 122 of the Digest of Energy Statistics, 1971 and for January to November, 1971, the latest period available, under SITC(R) numbers 331.01 and 331.02 in table III of the November issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total amount of meat imported from Argentina since 1967, including the latest figures for 1971.

I have been asked to reply.Information is published under SITC(R) Division 01 for 1967 to 1969 in Volume II and for 1970 in Volume I of the Annual Statement of Trade for those years, and for January to November, 1971 in Table II of the November issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vouchers have been allocated to East Africa Asians to enter the United Kingdom in 1972 and 1973; how many of these are expected to live in the London Borough of Brent; and how many dependants are expected in addition.

As my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 26th May last, vouchers are being issued to heads of households at the rate of 3,000 a year. I regret that the further information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable concerned about the discrepancy between the description by one of his officers of the treatment of prisoners in a police station in an article in the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him, and the subsequent comment by the deputy chief constable; and if he will lay the report before the House;(2) if he will appoint a Home Office investigator to examine the custodial and interrogation procedures described in Inspector Robinson's article in the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him, and to advise on their legality.

A report has been called for, and I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice of the police to refuse to allow a prisoner in a police station to keep his watch.

Police practice depends on the circumstances. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind. I shall look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held in Metropolitan police stations for more than one night from time of arrest to release or transfer to a remand centre or prison during 1970; and if he will call for a report from chief constables giving similar information in respect of police stations elsewhere, and lay the information before the House.

I regret that the information is not readily available. My right hon. Friend is not persuaded of the need to make the general inquiry which is suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from all chief constables as to the number of police stations in which prisoners are subjected to the isolation techniques described in an article by Inspector J. Robinson in the current issue of the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him; and if he will publish this information.

On present information, my right hon. Friend does not feel justified in doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend Home Office Circular Number 34 of 1964 to make clear to police authorities that they should not place prisoners in isolation with a view to inducing them to provide information.

This Circular has no relevance to this issue. I think that the hon. Member must have in mind Circular No. 31/1964 with which chief officers of police were sent the Judges' Rules and Administrative Directions to the Police. My right hon. Friend has no reason for thinking that there is any need to alter it in the sense suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of Inspector J. Robinson's article in the current issue of the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him, whether he is satisfied that prisoners in police stations are given access to a telephone and to a legal adviser; and if he will make a statement.

I am sure that the Judges' Rule and Administrative Directions to the Police are well observed. They provide for a person in custody to be allowed to speak on the telephone to his solicitor or to his friends provided that no hindrance is reasonably likely to be caused to the processes of investigation or the administration of justice by his doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a grant to the National Voluntary Civil Aid Service.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain the costs and benefits of the establishment of a special television channel to be used by the police and other

	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963
Persons committed for trial for murder	117	114	122	164	144	150	158
Found:
Insane on arraignment/unfit to plead	14	13	11	14	13	8	10
Guilty but insane/not guilty by reason of insanity	6	6	14	8	7	7	2
Convicted of:
Murder	36	25	44	49	40	44	37
Manslaughter ("section 2")*	19	28	20	30	28	38	52
Manslaughter (other)	29	27	21	31	38	31	35
Lesser offence	—	1	2	1	2	2	2
Acquitted	13	14	10	31	16	20	20

	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970
Persons committed for trial for murder	165	188	241	236	271	270	292
Found:
Insane on arraignment/unfit to plead	8	8	4	8	3	10	2
Guilty but insane/not guilty by reason of insanity	2	—	1	1	2	—	2
Convicted of:
Murder	52	51	69	65	76	80	100
Manslaughter ("section 2")*	35	46	60	47	49	57	65
Manslaughter (other)	38	47	75	85	89	80	80
Lesser offence	1	5	1	1	4	3	8
Acquitted	29	31	31	29	48	40	35
*Verdict of diminished responsibility under Section 2 of Homicide Act, 1957.
Note: The above figures relate to the year in which the offence was recorded by the police.