asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the British Steel Corporation concerning job opportunities in Newport, Monmouthshire; and if he will make a statement.

My discussions with the British Steel Corporation have included employment prospects in Newport.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by how much council house rents have increased in Wales in the last year.

The latest available figures relate to the year ending 31st March, 1971, in the course of which weekly rents rose by an average of 26½p.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of nursery places and new day nurseries provided annually in Wales in the years 1966 to date; and what is the current programme.

The following is the information:

Year	Number of full time nursery places provided	Number of day nurseries provided
1966	None	None
1967	80	None
1968	None	None
1969	320	None
1970	280	1*
1971	2,440	1*
* Each of these provides for 32 places.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many nursery school places were made available in the local education authority sector in Wales in the year 1971.

2,440 full-time places.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call a conference of representatives of management, trade unions, local authorities and other interested bodies to consider ways to alleviate the unemployment situation in Wales.

No. I am already in close touch with these bodies, and with the Welsh Council whose membership is fully representative of the wide range of concern with this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what new initiative he will take to provide new job opportunities in Swansea.

New job opportunities should arise from the many measures which the Government have taken to stimulate investment and production.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will announce the continuance of housing improvement grants in Blaenavon beyond 23rd June, 1973.

Housing improvement grants will continue to be available after June, 1973, but to qualify for the additional financial assistance provided under the Housing Act, 1971, work must be completed before 23rd June, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies likely to arise amongst senior local government officials as a result of local government reorganisation in Wales.

It is impossible to make any realistic estimates at present, but the number is not likely to be great.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will arrange meetings with local education authorities and teacher/organisations to discuss the implication of the James Report for Wales.

This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science who has already promised to initiate the necessary consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether the Welsh Hospital Board, as recommended by its working party, is taking full account of population fluctuations, travelling times and distances, when considering the appointment of paediatricians and the development of children's departments. particularly those in West Wales;(2) what action has been taken by the Welsh Hospital Board to carry out, in accordance with the interim recommendations of its working party, an urgent upgrading of children's wards which lack specialist staff and appropriate facilities.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Welsh Hospital Board has received the final report of the working party on Children in Hospital in Wales; and what action it now proposes to take.

The Welsh Hospital Board is waiting for the final report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the future of the Lake Vyrnwy Reservoir and the surrounding estate under his proposals for the reorganisation of water authorities.

This reservoir and the surrounding estate will come under the proposed Severn/Trent Regional Water Authority. That authority, in relation to any matters of substance affecting that part of the Upper Severn Basin in. side Wales, will be obliged to act in consultation with the Welsh National Water Development Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement of his policy regarding the future development of Mid-Wales.

I outlined the Government's policy to the Welsh Grand Committee last year. I have recently announced my willingness to assist the development of the growth towns by considering applications from the authorities concerned for grants under Section 7 of the Local Employment Act on a wider basis than hitherto.

asked the Attorney-General having regard to police inquiries following the report by Mr. Stable. Q.C., to the Charity Commissioners, after a statutory inquiry into the affairs of the Edward Elgar Birthplace Trust, and alleged defalcations and deficiencies by the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South, what advice he is giving to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

The police are continuing their enquiries in certain matters arising from the report which the Charity Commissioners sent to me. No decision can be taken until those enquiries are completed. The report was made by Mr. C. A. Settle, Q.C.

asked the Attorney-General what progress he is making in his consultation on fees charged by solicitors for buying and selling a house.

The Law Society's detailed comments on the proposals made to them by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor for amending the Solicitors' Remuneration Orders have not yet been received but are expected shortly.

asked the Attorney-General when the Legal Advice and Assistance £25 Scheme is to be introduced.

I cannot yet inform the right hon. and learned Gentleman of the date, but legislation for this purpose will be introduced shortly.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will institute proceedings against the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment for breaking the speed limit in the course of the performance of his duties immediately after opening the motorway M4 on 22nd December, 1971.

No. I have no reason to believe that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has committed this, or any other, offence.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he is aware that the European Economic Community Court of Justice has ruled that the Rome Treaty and regulations prevail over the national laws of the countries within the Community, and that Community decisions, and directives are open to question as to their legal enforcement; to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, British laws will have to conform to the Court of Justice rulings on these and related matters; and whether he will make a statement;(2) to what extent the Community Court of Justice, in its rulings in case 33/70 of 17th December, 1970, case 6/67, case 29/69 of 12th November, 1969, and case 11/70 of December, 1970, will affect Great Britain on this country's entry into the European Economic Community;(3) whether he will make a statement on the effects of the Community Court of Justice rulings under Article 177 of the Rome Treaty of cases 26/62 Van Gend and Loos judgment of 2nd February, 1963, case 6/64, case 13/68, case 34/67, and under Article 189 of the European Economic Community Treaty in case 9/70 of 7th October, 1970, case 20/70 and 23/70 on 21st October, 1970; and to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, these rulings will affect Grew Britain

In the cases mentioned by the hon. Member the European Court has enunciated certain principles of Community law, including the direct application of some provisions of Community law as law in the member States. The principles evolved by the decisions of the European Court require that in the event of conflict Community law is to prevail over inconsistent national laws. The Treaties further contain provisions about testing the validity or operation of certain Community decisions and other instruments both in the national courts and before the European Court. The legislation at present before Parliament is designed to ensure that on the accession of the United Kingdom to the Communities, United Kingdom courts would apply the provisions of the Treaties and the principles evolved by the European Court in dealing with issues concerning Community law.

asked the Attorney-General on what date he received two communications from Mr. F. McAllen, posted under date of 16th January, 1972, regarding several matters connected with his official judicial power and authority; what was the gist of the questions posed by Mr. McAllen; and what was the nature of his reply.

I received the communications on 18th January. The questions concerned the legal profession and court proceedings. Most of them related to matters for which there is no Ministerial responsibility. In so far as there was responsibility, my Department replied on my behalf to the effect that the information was not available in the case of the question falling within my responsibilities and that the remaining questions had been referred to the appropriate Departments.

asked the Attorney-General on what date last March the Mortlake magistrates committed for trial at the South Western London Sessions a solicitor, whose name has been supplied to him, for an offence involving a four-figure sum; when this trial took place and with what results.

The Mortlake magistrates committed the solicitor in question for trial on 5th March, 1971. He pleaded guilty at the South Western London Sessions on 7th May, 1971, when he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended for three years. No client or other member of the public suffered loss by reason of these offences.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to determine what overland routes will be available for Concorde.

I have nothing to add to the replies my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) on 17th January and to the right hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 18th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 132]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the economic importance to the British avaiation industry of the Concorde aircraft, he will grant whatever subsidy is necessary to the British Overseas Airways Corporation to ensure their use of this aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

No. B.O.A.C. has said that it wants to operate Concorde and is currently evaluating the best way of doing so. It has not requested a subsidy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has held with the National Coal Board in respect of the wage claim by the National Union of Mineworkers.

I meet the Chairman of the National Coal Board regularly to discuss the affairs of the industry. He has reported to me fully on the wage claim and the Board's offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he now proposes to safeguard the future of the ship-building and ship-repairing industries in Great Britain.

The Government's aim is to promote competitive and prosperous ship-building and ship-repairing industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been received by the Gas Boards since conversions to natural gas began.

This is a matter for the gas industry and I am asking the Chairman of the Gas Council to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now in a position to refer the question of mortgage interest rates to the Monopolies Commission.

No. I do not consider that such a reference to the Monopolies Commission would be justified at present, although I shall continue to keep the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now in a position to make a statement on workers' shares in the old Rolls-Royce Company.

I have written today to the Chairman of the Derby Group Rolls-Royce Shareholders Action Association to inform him that the Government have reluctantly concluded that no special treatment can be afforded to the holders of Rolls-Royce Ltd. workers' shares. I will, with permission, circulate a copy of this letter in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has now examined the proposals put to him by the Reclamation Industries Council and the Vehicle Dismantlers Association for the stockpiling of steel ingots in order to reduce the present increasing quantities of unusable scrap, maintain employment, and enable steel producers to meet orders without recourse to imports when demand improves; and if he will make a statement.

Yes; it has been suggested to the council that it and the scrap industry should consult the steel industry. But I doubt whether this could be regarded as an appropriate matter for Government financial support.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reply he has now sent to the representations of the Chamber of Shipping that investment grants in ships should be restored.

The Chamber of Shipping has not asked for the restoration of investment grants for ships. Its proposals, which concern other kinds of investment incentives, are still being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will ban the import of sword-sticks other than genuine antiques.

No. I can see no justification for this in the absence of any controls on their manufacture and sale in the United Kingdom, on which I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given him on 26th January by my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has yet received the report of the joint steering group on the steel industry; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane) on 17th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the proved reserves of oil and natural gas available to the United Kingdom from discoveries on the Continental Shelf; and how the production from these sources is likely to impinge on the market for coal.

It is too early to give a figure for oil as first discoveries are still being tested. The current estimate of proved natural gas reserves is 32 trillion cubic feet. The future balance between North Sea fuels, imported oil and coal is uncertain.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what visits he has made to the North East in the past 12 months; and what action he has taken.

My right hon. Friend has made one official visit to the region and other Ministers in the Department have made seven. If the hon. Member wishes to have a list of the many measures the Government have taken to stimulate the economy, I should be happy to send him one.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage more non-industrial employment in the North East.

The Department is making every effort to encourage firms to locate projects in the North East, including those providing non-industrial employment. Also the creation of new industrial jobs in turn creates employment opportunities in supporting services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will direct the Civil Aviation Authority to make sure that a substantial proportion of the executive officers of the Authority are persons with a distinct and practical knowledge of the aviation industry; and if he will make a statement.

No. I have no power to give such a direction, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the initial staff will be drawn almost entirely from the Civil Aviation Division of my Department, the National Air Traffic Services and from the staffs of the Air Registration Board and the Air Transport Licensing Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has concerning the probable survival time of passengers and crew of an aircraft ditched in the North Sea in winter conditions and at night; and what estimate he has made of the cost of providing, at the proposed Foulness airport, air/sea rescue facilities adequate to deal with such an emergency involving a Boeing 747.

I have no evidence resulting from such a civil aircraft accident but understand that the probable time of survival could vary between a few minutes and several days depending on the particular circumstances. The Roskill Commission's Research Team estimated that the capital cost of providing rescue facilities would be £350,000 with a recurring annual cost of about £75,000. The scale of these facilities and their estimated cost will, however, need to be revised nearer to the date of the opening of the airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the amount spent by his Department on advertisements in Yorkshire newspapers designed to encourage industrialists in the county to move their interests to, or effect development in, other parts of the United Kingdom.

£623 has been spent on advertisements about the assisted areas in Yorkshire newspapers since 1st January, 1971. They were primarily intended to bring to the notice of Yorkshire industrialists the incentives available in the Yorkshire development and intermediate areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the estimated cost of developing and producing the Rolls-Royce RB 211 engine has now exceeded the original estimates.

Since my statement to the House on 10th May 1971, a full re-estimate has shown the need to include development costs for the first two years after entry into service and a higher figure for the loss on production, totalling together about £20 million, as well as a £20 million contingency. The United States dollar devaluation will also reduce sterling receipts by £20–£25 million in the engines for which a price formula in dollars was fixed last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, following the recent increase in the rate of unemployment in the Yorkshire coal-mining intermediate area, if he will now take steps to have it scheduled as a development district.

Assisted area boundaries are kept under continuing review but I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to prevent the use of different labels and brand names being used by retailers in the selling of beers of the same brew.

No. I have seen as yet no evidence that this practice is contrary to the consumer's interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation to require the weight to be stated on all packets of biscuit cereals.

No. Regulations require packages of all cereal breakfast biscuits weighing individually a third of an ounce or more to be marked with the number of biscuits. I consider that this information is more helpful to the buyer than the total net weight.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people attended Trade and Industry fishery courses in Aberdeen in 1971.

In 1971, the Department's Torry Research Station in Aberdeen ran two courses on the Technology of fish handling and processing and these were attended by a total of 102 people.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petrol suppliers' sales exceed 10 million gallons per annum; and how many of these make more than 15 per cent. of their sales through their own stations, contrary to the recommendations of the Monopolies Commission.

I am not able to give information of the kind requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petrol suppliers have kept their original undertaking not to increase their ownership of petrol stations if total petrol sales are 50 million gallons and 15 per cent. of these sales are through their own stations; and why this undertaking is no longer demanded.

Petrol suppliers were released from this undertaking in 1968 by the previous administration. I would not wish to reimpose it because I believe a restriction on the acquisition of petrol stations by petrol companies would frustrate new entrants to the market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure freedom of consumer choice in petrol brands, lubricants and accessories at petrol stations.

I do not believe that consumers have any undue difficulty in obtaining the petrol of their choice. As regards lubricants and accessories, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of 18th October, 1971.—[Vol. 823, c. 27.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will set up an inquiry into restrictive pressures upon tenants and licensees of petrol supplier-owned stations which result in the limitation of consumer choice of lubricants and accessories.

The undertakings which the petrol companies gave following the Monopolies Commission report to end these restrictions are still in force. If the hon. Member has evidence that the undertakings are being broken, I am ready to investigate it.

		Output per manshift	Manpower Change (000)	Pit Closures	Coal Production (million tons)	Fatal accidents	Fatal accidents as percentage of work force
1947	…	21·85	+26·3	*	197·2	618	0·085
1948	…	22·56	-7·9	*	209·1	468	0·062
1949	…	23·70	-17·4	28	214·9	460	0·062
1950	…	24·45	-20·4	11	216·0	493	0·068
1951	…	24·77	+9·2	5	221·1	487	0·067
1952	…	24·46	+21·9	16	224·6	420	0·056
1953	…	24·86	-13·2	5	223·3	392	0·053
1954	…	24·89	-0·4	8	223·6	371	0·050
1955	…	24·72	-5·6	17	221·6	425	0·058
1956	…	24·84	+3·1	10	222·0	330	0·045
1957	…	24·86	+6·1	18	223·6	396	0·054
1958	…	25·58	-22·6	29	215·8	327	0·045
1959	…	26·93	-47·1	56	206·1	348	0·051
1960	…	28·03	-51·0	35	193·6	317	0·051
1961	…	28·94	-21·8	29	190·5	235	0·040
1962	…	31·20	-25·0	51	197·4	257	0·045
1963	…	32·96	-25·6	33	195·8	254	0·047
1964	…	34·35	-26·0	34	193·6	198	0·038
1965	…	35·90	-37·7	44	187·5	216	0·045
1966	…	36·35	-32·4	61	174·6	160	0·036
1967	…	38·18	-32·0	29	172·1	151	0·036
1968	…	41·73	-57·3	70	164·1	115	0·031
1969	…	43·45	-24·9	26	150·5	100	0·031
1970	…	44·10	-16·5	10	144·7	91	0·030
1971	…	43·94	-4·3	4	142·3	72	0·025
* Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration his Department is giving to the problems caused for disabled persons by the conversion of an increasing number of petrol stations to self-service; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the great majority of self-service petrol stations have some staff in attendance able to give service to disabled persons

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the output per man shift in the coal industry for each of the years from 1947 to 1971, inclusive; what was the annual rundown in the labour force during this period; how many pits were closed; what was the total coal produced annually; how many fatal accidents occurred annually; and what percentage of the work force this represented.

The figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for promoting industrial development in the Hamilton, Lanarkshire, constituency.

Besides giving Hamilton special development area status in February, 1971, the hon. Member will be aware of the unprecedented series of measures which the Government have taken to encourage faster growth in the economy from which Hamilton, along with other areas, will benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many advance factories have been approved for Wales in the period 1st July, 1970, to 14th January, 1972; and where these factories are, or will be, located.

Three have been authorised by the Department and two by the Development Commission. The D.T.I. factories are intended to be located at Abercarn, Ebbw Vale and Merthyr Tydfil: those for the Development Commission will be at Brecon and Cardigan.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new industries have been attracted to Wales since 1st July, 1970; and where they are located.

The Department knows of 46 establishments with origins outside the Principality or entirely new to manufacturing which have opened in Wales since 1st July, 1970. These are located in the following employment exchange areas:

Ammanford (2), Morriston (2). Swansea (1), Aberdare (2), Bargoed (1), Blackwood (1), Caerphilly (4), Cymmer (2), Ebbw Vale (1), Newbridge (2), Pontlottyn (1), Pontypool (1), Risca (1), Ystrad Mynach (1), Barry (1), Cardiff (1), Chepstow (1), Cefn Mawr (1), Rhos (2), Wrexham (2), Amlwch (1) Corwen (I), Denbigh (2), Holyhead (I), Llangefni (1), Llangollen (1), Penmaenmawr (1), Pwllheli (1), Brecon (2), Llandrindod Wells (3), Newtown (1), Pembroke Dock (1).

In addition, firm decisions are known to have been made to locate in Wales another 22 manufacturing projects new to the Principality. These are yet to open.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reach a decision about the plans submitted for his approval to extend Little-brook Power Station, Dartford, by adding 1,500 MW of oil-fired plant.

The Government still have the Central Electricity Generating Board's application for the Littlebrook D power station under consideration, and I cannot make any announcement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Central Council for the Disabled concerning the representation of disabled people on the consultative councils and committees representing the consumers of the nationalised industries; what reply he has made; what action he is taking to increase such representation as envisaged by the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and if he will make a statement.

I have explained to the Central Council for the Disabled that the requirements of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act are taken fully into account in appointments to the Consumer and Consultative Councils for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, and that the membership of these bodies already includes persons with experience of work among, and knowledge of, the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what practical and financial assistance his Department is giving to encourage the use of rust-resistant paint and painting processes to preserve motor vehicles and other consumer durables; if he will take powers to make mandatory the use of anti-corrosive treatment on metals; and if he will make a statement.

Work on the general problems of corrosion, some of it directly related to motor vehicles, is being carried out at the National Physical Laboratory, which also offers an information and advisory service on the subject. Other work in the development of corrosion-resistant materials and protective treatments is being supported by the Department through its grants to a number of research associations. The importance of the protection of metals against corrosion varies widely according to the nature of the product and is a matter best left to industry itself to judge in accordance with normal economic and commercial criteria. However, the Department is conscious of the need to encourage industry and consumers alike to become more aware of the economic benefits to be obtained from a better appreciation of the importance of the subject and is at present considering how best to focus attention on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the Commission of the European Economic Community has framed a regulation, approved by the European Parliament, which will make it compulsory for all member countries to hold 90 days' stock of oil and oil products; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this does not adversely affect British energy producers, in particular the coal industry.

The Commission's proposed directive has not yet been approved by the Council, but the target of 90 days' stocks has our full support. I cannot see that it would in any way adversely affect the interests of our energy producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry of the 14 advance factories authorised since 18th' June, 1970, how many have been completed; how many are now occupied; and how many new jobs have been provided.

Four have been completed; none is yet occupied, but one has been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances two different positions were given as the loss-point of m.v. "Germania"; and what distances from the nearest point of the coastline of Cornwall, were, respectively, involved.

I know of only one position, at latitude 49 10 N, and longitude 03 53 W, published in Lloyd's List, given for the point at which the vessel sank, although this has been described colloquially in a number of different ways. The point is 69 miles from Black Head, Cornwall.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimated quantity and nature of chemicals carried aboard m.v. "Germania" remained unidentified as at 22nd January, 1972.

By 22nd January, the nature of all chemical cargoes on "Germania" had been positively established with the sole exception of seven drums of a substance described in the manifest as "catalyseur". More detailed information since received from Antwerp indicates that this is a harmless substance used in foundry work.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what dates, respectively, the translation of the cargo manifest of m.v. "Germania" showed 1,000 and 3,000 drums, respectively, of potentially hazardous cargo; and under what circumstances this difference was discovered.

; The figure of 1,000 drums did not derive from the cargo manifest. It was provided on 14th January by Union Carbide representatives and related only to the quantity of that company's products which it was able to confirm were on board "Germania" before it sank. Details of the vessel's full manifest began to arrive on 17th January when it became evident that the full cargo of chemicals (including Union Carbide products) was approximately approximately 3,000 drums.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where the m.v. "Germania" now lies, and at what disstance from the nearest utilised section of the Hurd Deep.

I understand that the vessel lies at latitude 49 10 N and longitude 03 53 W. This point is some 11 miles from the nearest part of Hurd Deep.

asked the Secretary for Trade and Industry (1) if he will now write to the Chairman of the Domestic Coal Consumers Council replying to her letter of 23rd August, 1971, concerning his plans for the future of the council, explaining why he has not written before and outlining what his plans now are;(2) if he will now announce the proposals of the Government for the future of the Domestic Coal Consumers Council.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 25th January. The Council will continue with its duties modified as proposed in the European Communities Bill. We have been in touch with the Chairman of the Council and further consultations will follow.—[Vol. 829, c. 400.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued in the county of Lanark in 1971; and how this compares with the years 1968, 1969, and 1970, respectively.

12, estimated by the applicants to provide 1,900 additional jobs when the projects are complete and fully manned. The corresponding figures for 1968, 1969 and 1970 are 42 with 2,660 jobs, 38 with 2,100 jobs and 31 with 1,370 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1971; and how this compares with the years 1968, 1969, and 1970, respectively.

162 certificates were issued in 1971, 332 in 1970, 410 in 1969 and 370 in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued in the areas covered by the Pontefract and Castleford Borough Councils and the Featherstone Urban District Council in 1971; and how this compares with the years 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

Following is the information:

I.D.C.s ISSUED
	1968	1969	1970	1971
Pontefract Municipal Borough	2	4	—	1
Castleford Municipal Borough	5	11	4	2
Featherstone U.D C.	2	2	5	—

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued in the area covered by the Yorkshire and Humberside Planning Council in 1971; and how this compares with the years 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

For projects of 10,000 sq. ft. and over, 180 were issued in 1971. The figures for 1968, 1969 and 1970 are 261, 291 and 234 respectively

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued for the years 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 in each of the regions, other than Yorkshire and Humberside.

Following is the information:

I.D.C.s APPROVED FOR SCHEMES OF 10,000 SQ. FT. AND OVER
Region	1968	1969	1970	1971
North	188	177	174	108
East Midlands	210	217	216	161
East Anglia	154	178	120	96
South East	674	786	730	591
South West	192	183	174	103
Wales	179	203	166	83
West Midlands	298	311	285	206
North West	418	373	371	212
Scotland	210	242	170	150

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were granted in Scotland in 1971; and how many in 1968, 1969 and 1970. respectively.

For projects of 10,000 sq. ft. and over, 150 industrial development certificates were granted in 1971; 210 in 1968, 242 in 1969 and 170 in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will extend special development status to the area of Risca Urban District Council and those parts of the Mynyddislwyn Urban District Council area which do not at present enjoy this status.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes) on 19th November, 1971.—[Vol. 826, c. 242.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by the Monopolies Commission in its inquiry into connection charges for gas and electricity supplies to new dwellings; and when its report will be completed

The Commission has made good progress with its inquiry, and I expect to receive the report before long.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those articles and annexes of the Treaty of Rome which have been or are to be amended in order to accommodate the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community.

Following the outcome of the negotiations for the enlargement of the Communities, the European Economic Community Treaty which was signed on 25th March, 1957, and subsequently modified, requires the adjustments listed in Part Two of the Act Concerning the Conditions of Accession and the Adjustments to the Treaties annexed to the Treaty of Accession, Cmnd. 4862-I.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he is making for the publication and distribution of secondary legislation of the European Economic Community which is operative after 10th November, 1971, and not part of the H.M.S.O. series of 42 volumes published on 13th January, 1972.

For instruments adopted by the European Communities after 10th November, 1971, but before our accession Her Majesty's Government have agreed with the Communities an interim procedure by which we have the right of full consultation. Official English texts of instruments passed during this interim period will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the pre-accession series of English texts of the secondary legislation of the European Communities, published on 13th January, are not the authentic texts which will apply if accession takes place.

Article 155 of the Act concerning the Conditions of Accession and the Adjustments to the Treaties (Cmnd. 4862-I) provides that English language texts of secondary legislation of the European Communities do not become authentic until accession.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Eire Government following the terrorist attack from the Eire side of the Border on soldiers at Forkhill, Northern Ireland, on 27th January; what reason has been given for the long delay of about 2½ hours before Eire soldiers and police intervened to stop the terrorists from firing across the Border; and how many terrorists have been charged in Eire for the attack on British soldiers.

Her Majesty's Ambassador in Dublin has protested to the Government of the Irish Republic about the incident. I understand that the Irish authorities are undertaking a full investigation into the circumstances and that so far seven men have been remanded in custody on charges of possessing fire arms with intent endanger life.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to bring about a closer correlation between the minimum penalty for fraud and the value of the amount involved in the fraud.

There is no minimum penalty for fraud. The penalty to be imposed in each case is a matter for the court, within the maximum limits prescribed by law: in reaching a decision, it is open to the court to take into account all the circumstances of the offence and the offender.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain details of resignations of senior police officers in the Metropolitan Police Force and in other police forces in England during the last 18 months.

During the 18 months up to 31st December, 1971, there were 27 retirements or resignations above the rank of chief superintendent, 14 of them from the Metropolitan Police. All the Metropolitan officers retired on age grounds. Of the 13 others, 11 retired on age grounds, one resigned on being appointed chief constable of a force in Scotland and one on grounds of ill-health.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to pay compensation to persons mistakenly or wrongfully interned in Northern Ireland.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ascertain from the Northern Ireland Government how many internees have escaped from camps, prisons or prison ships in Northern Ireland.

I understand from the Northern Ireland authorities that while no one against whom an internment order has been made has escaped in Northern Ireland, there have been 21 escapes by those who were being held under Regulations 10 or 11 of the Special Powers Act or were on remand in custody for criminal offences connected with civil disturbances. Two were recaptured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will obtain from the Northern Ireland Government the latest number of persons interned, the latest number released and the current number held in internment in Northern Ireland.

The following information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Government:At 26th January, 578 persons had been served with internment orders. Thirty had been released from internment and 548 remained interned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilian and military casualties have occurred since the policy of internment was introduced in Northern Ireland.

I understand that at 27th January the number of casualties attributed to the civil disorders in Northern Ireland since 9th August, 1971, was as follows:

	Deaths	Woundings
R.U.C	11	101*
R.U.C. Reserve	1
Army	34	168†
U.D.R	7
Others (including known casualties among those involved in actions against the security forces)	105	1,547
* Figures are given from 1st August, 1971, and relate to persons who received hospital treatment for injuries attributed to the civil disturbances.
† Figures are given from 9th August, 1971, and relate to military personnel admitted to hospital as a result of terrorist activity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what official representations he has received concerning Her Majesty's Government's policy on internment from the official spokesmen of the British and Northern Ireland Labour Parties.

A deputation of the Northern Ireland Labour Party told me of its views on a number of matters, including internment, when it came to see me on 15th September, 1971; and a resolution of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party which dealt, among other things, with internment, was conveyed to me in a letter from the Secretary on 22nd December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when contingency plans for large scale internment were first brought to the attention of Her Majesty's Government in respect of Northern Ireland.

The Government have at all times been in continuous consultation with the Northern Ireland Government on questions of security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has received about his responsibility for Miss Pauline Jones.

349, including 13 petitions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the reasons advanced by his Department for the expulsion of a senior representative of Balkan Tours from Great Britain.

Mr. Gotzev was required to leave the United Kingdom because I had reason to believe that his continued presence here would be contrary to national security.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the expenditure figures on classroom books and library books per primary and secondary pupil in Scotland.

The information is not available in the form required. Figures from 27 out of 35 education authorities show an average annual expenditure on books for all types of school of a little under £3 per pupil in 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if official observers from his Department will attend the Scottish Assembly being convened by the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

If an invitation is received I shall certainly arrange, in consultation with those of my colleagues whose interests are also involved, for an official observer to attend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the shortage of doctors in Wales and the fact that there is only one medical school in Cardiff, whether she will give urgent consideration to the establishment of a second teaching hospital at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, where a suitable site already exists.

Current planning is based on a maximum of 4,100 pre-clinical entry places by the later 1970s, and this can be achieved without establishing a medical school at Swansea. Decisions on any additional medical schools must await further determination of the national need for doctors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she had, and with whom, between 14th January, 1972, and 18th January, 1972, regarding legislation to amend the law to allow work experience schemes for children under statutory school leaving age.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. John E. B. Hill) on 18th November last, my consultations were concluded last year. The answer is therefore "None".—[Vol. 826, c. 177–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she proposes to take on the recommendations in the Standing Commission's Report published on 14th December, 1971, on the preservation of technological material, in so far as her Department's responsibility arises.

My noble Friend is completing his consultations on the implications of those recommendations which concern the Science Museum and the preservation of technological records.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the posts and responsibilities held in the past and during his membership by each member of the James Committee on teacher education, relevant to its terms of reference.

The information is as follows. With the exception of Lord James and Sir Cyril English, who continued part-time in their present appointments, the members of the Committee were released by their employers full-time for the year 1971.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate the desirability of introducing regulations to ensure that pre-packed perishable food should be clearly marked, and not merely coded, with the last date on which it can be safely consumed.

As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer) on 7th December, 1971, the Food Standards Committee is already engaged in a review of the date marking of food. In its interim report of May, 1971, the Committee said that there is no evidence of any significant health hazard arising from the absence of a compulsory date marking system.—[Vol. 827, c. 1113–14.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider the amount of compensation to be payable by the Government in respect of dairy cows rejected under the brucellosis eradication scheme.

We shall in the next few weeks be reviewing the experience of owners with heavily infected herds in the initial eradication areas. We recognise that these herds may present a special problem but we do not have it in mind to review the terms for herd owners in general.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from bodies outside his Department on the nutritional value of prepacked foods as compared with the nutritional value of fresh foods of the same type.

Advice is normally obtained through bodies such as the Committee on Food Composition, the Food Standards Committee and the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, on which people eminent in nutrition and allied sciences are invited to sit. In general, the nutritional value of pre-packed foods is comparable with that of fresh foods of the same type.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to require the minimum fish content of fish fingers sold to the consumer to be stated on the package.

As stated in another place on 27th January it is not proposed to introduce legislation about the fish content of fish fingers at present.—[House of Lords, Vol. 327, c. 488–90.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to determine the amount of water than can be added to fresh meat before sale to the consumer.

No. Under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, fresh meat to which water has been added would have or has to be described accordingly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek powers to reconstitute and redesignate sea fisheries committees to be answerable to the Minister and to have control of all deposits or discharges of polluted contents into coastal waters, with the statutory duty of only granting consent for such discharge after considering the effects on biological resources, recreation and public health.

The future arrangements for control of pollution within territorial waters was amongst the subjects considered by the Working Party on Sewage Disposal. Its recommendations and other views expressed on this issue including those on the lines now suggested by my hon. Friend are under consideration.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of non-industrial civil servants not employed by Government Departments but deemed to be civil servants for superannuation purposes.

On 1st October there were 4,745 non-industrial and 95 industrial staff who were omitted from the Civil Service manpower count on the basis explained in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair) on 9th November, 1971.—[Vol. 825, c. 130–40.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT the result of his consideration of his correspondence with the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North concerning the form of the constitutional guarantee, contained in Section 1 of the Ireland Act, 1949, and the desirability of removing from the Parliament of Northern Ireland the power to control that guarantee, and transferring that power to the people of Northern Ireland by means of periodic referenda.

I do not think that this would be an appropriate use of the OFFICIAL REPORT, but the hon. Member is welcome, if he wishes, to disclose the contents of my letters to him on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment regarding notification of the loss of hazardous cargoes and the casting-up of potentially hazardous cargoes on the seashore and of such notification being passed to local authorities likely to be affected by expected wind and tide-flows; and if, in the light of events of the m.v. "Germania" incident, he will review these notification procedures.

Yes. Notification arrangements have worked well at local level where action has to be initiated to deal with incidents when they occur. Nevertheless, my right hon. Friends are re-examining the procedures with a view to improving them further if possible, particularly when international co-operation is required.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many young persons under the age of 15 years have been arrested in Northern Ireland by members of the British Army for offences other than offences under the Special Powers Act; for how long they were detained; what sentences were imposed; and what were the shortest and the longest times before their parents or legal guardians of the young people involved were informed

Between 1st August, 1971, and 28th January, 1972, 39 such arrests of children and young persons were made. Those arrested were handed over as quickly as possible to the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Their subsequent detention, the informing of their parents or legal guardians and any court proceedings are matters for the Northern Ireland authorities.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many persons have been arrested, stopped in the streets and searched, respectively, by the Army in the last three months in Newry.

I regret that the information cannot be supplied in the detail requested without disproportionate effort.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the duration of the clash between soldiers at Forkhill, Northern Ireland and terrorists operating from the Eire side of the Border on 27th January, 1972; how many rounds of ammunition were fired; and how many terrorists were believed to have been hit.

Between 8.35 a.m. and 11.10 a.m., when they withdrew, terrorists within the territory of the Republic of Ireland fired about 500 rounds of automatic and rifle fire at an Army ammunition technical officer (who was attempting to defuse a large explosive device) and escorting troops. Soldiers returned 3,704 rounds. Two terrorists were believed to have been hit. There were no casualties among the security forces.