asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a further statement on her consideration of the financing of student unions.

Discussions are continuing with the local authority associations and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, and I propose to arrange meetings with several other organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers in order to ensure that local education authorities give men and women an equal chance of gaining headships of comprehensive schools; and if she will make a statement.

No. I already investigate any allegation of discrimination brought to my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to encourage more day release for young people in industry for courses of further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what policies she has to improve educational opportunities for the 16–18 year age group.

My policy is that full-time and part-time education, in schools or colleges of further education, should be available for as many people in the 16–18 year age group as can be encouraged to benefit from it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware of the problems caused in the London Borough of Newham by the delay in her approval of the borough's school building programme and the consequent inflation of building costs; and what action she proposes to take to mitigate the effects and to avoid similar delays in future.

There have been no undue delays in approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to publish the report of the committee which is inquiring into the problem of dyslexia.

It was published on 8th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that universities will be able to build an adequate number of extra residential places over the next five years to house their increased number of students; and when she proposes next to review the rate of subsidy payable to Government-assisted loan-financed student residence schemes.

In allocating £27 million for the 1973–74 university building programme my right hon. Friend took special note of the need for student residence and expressed the hope that it would be possible, within the programme, to make provision for some 13,000 to 14,000 residential places. The maximum subsidy offered by the University Grants Committee is going up from £250 to £300 a place. Further developments will depend on the advice which the committee gives on the universities' requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware of the lack of facilities in most schools of secondary age level to mount useful courses for pupils between 15–16 years of age who will be completing the extra year at school after September, 1972; and what plans she has to correct this.

Building allocations totalling £125 million, at current cost limits, have been made to local education authorities to meet the need for extra places following the raising of the school leaving age. Advice on planning buildings for pupils of this age was published in 1966 in the Department's Building Bulletin No. 32. Guidance on the curriculum has been given in a number of Schools Council publications.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when she expects to come to a decision about the proposal to amalgamate the Rutherford and St. Marylebone grammar schools;(2) how long her Department has been waiting for comments by the Inner London Education Authority to the objections that were made to its proposal to amalgamate the Rutherford and St. Marylebone grammar schools.

The comments of the Inner London Education Authority were received on 18th February, the statutory period for objections to the proposals having expired on 18th August, 1971. I hope to reach my decision on the proposals shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will appoint a working party to examine the position regarding the provision of maintenance allowances for children at school after attaining the statutory school leaving age.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now take the initiative in seeking to call a conference of her Department, the local education authorities and the teachers' associations, with a view to increasing the number and scope of teachers' aides.

Not at present. Local education authorities decide how many aides to employ, in the light of the resources available and the needs of their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authority comprehensive reorganisation schemes she approved during 1971; and how many were rejected either in whole or part.

My right hon. Friend informed the House last April that she had discontinued the practice of approving non-statutory schemes for the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines. Before April, 1971, she had approved three such plans and rejected none.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultation took place with the Inner London Education Authority and teachers' representatives before she agreed to the financial cuts in the Inner London Education Authority Minor School Works Programme for the coming financial year.

Under arrangements agreed with the local authority associations and the Inner London Education Authority which were announced in March, 1970, local authorities are not consulted before minor works allocations are made. Consultation with teachers on the way in which allocations are used is a matter for local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many student places exist in university medical schools in England and Wales; and how many of such places are north of the Trent.

In the academic year 1970–71, there were 10,717 undergraduate students in the university medical schools in England and Wales; 2,562 of these were in schools north of the Trent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether her Department accepts the recommendation of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration that it should initiate further discussions with the interested parties on securing accurate information about the numbers of immigrant pupils.

I welcome the Select Committee's recommendations. Officers of the Department are meeting representatives of the local authority and teacher associations and of the Community Relations Commission on 27th March for further discussions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of boarding places provided in maintained schools, or paid for in independent schools, by local education authorities in 1965 and at the latest available date; and what is her estimate of future trends in this respect.

The information in respect of maintained schools is as follows:

	England	Wales
1965	24,178	1,076
1971	24,205	1,023

Corresponding figures for independent schools are not available. It is not possible to estimate future trends in boarding education with any degree of accuracy because these trends are influenced by factors which cannot be precisely assessed or predicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the county councils in England who have established career structures for their employees in the field of youth work.

This information is not available. Most county councils employ Youth Service officers and youth leaders and it is reasonable to assume some movement between grades.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many new primary schools, and at what total cost at 1970 constant prices, have been built in the administrative county of East Suffolk in each year since 1965; and what plans there are for new primary schools in the next five years.

The information is as follows:

(i) Primary School Completions

Year	Completions	Gross Value (at 1970 prices) £000
1965	3	83
1966	4	251
1967	2	118
1968	3	206
1969	3	185
1970	2	103
1971	—	—

(ii) Primary Schools under Construction

• 1 new school (first instalment) started 1970–71
• 1 new school (replacement) started 1971–72

(iii) Primary Schools Programmed

• For starts in 1971–72—
• 1 new school.
• 1 new school (first instalment).
• 3 extensions to existing schools.
• For starts in 1972–73—
• 1 new school (replacement).
• Expected to start in 1973–74—
• 2 new schools (first instalments).
• 4 new schools (replacements).
• 1 improvement to existing school.

The authority's proposals for starts in 1974–75 are at present under consideration. I cannot yet say anything about later years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the per capita figure for education expenditure authorised by her Department in Cumberland in the coming financial year.

With the exception of the capital cost of new buildings, expenditure on education in Cumberland does not require authorisation by my Department. Government support is through rate support grant, which relates to all services, including education, provided by the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what expenditure has been authorised by her Department in the current annual programme of Cumberland County Council for the building of new nursery schools; how many places will be provided in the county; and what are the proposals submitted for the coming financial year.

In January my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary approved the provision of 80 places in two nursery schools in Cumberland under the urban programme at a cost of about £34,000. This work is due to be completed by March, 1973. Local authorities will be invited shortly to propose further projects to start after that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what expenditure has been

Local Education Authority			Project			Expected year of completion
Northumberland	…	…	Cramlington County First School	…	…	1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	Amble, St. Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Primary School			1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	Amble South County Primary School	…	…	1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	Throckley County Middle School	…	…	1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	Cramlington County Middle School	…	…	1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	Ponteland County High School	…	…	1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	Tweedmouth, Springhill Secondary School	…	…	1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	South Broomhill County Secondary School	…	…	1972–73
Newcastle-upon-Tyne		…	Cambridge Street Primary School	…	…	1972–73
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	…	…	West Walker Primary School	…	…	1972–73
Northumberland	…	…	Prudhoe, Eltringham County Primary School	…	…	1973–74
Northumberland	…	…	Blythe, Tynedale Middle School	…	…	1973–74

The Department does not record details of minor projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what school buildings in the Northumberland area are considered unsatisfactory by her Department; and what action is being taken to rectify the position.

The only recent information available to the Department comprises a list of primary schools built before 1903 provided by the local education authority. All the schools on this list require replacement or major improvement and action is being taken as follows:

£194,000 and £126,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what new school buildings currently under construction are likely to be completed in the Northumberland area in each of the next three years.

Major school building projects under construction in the Northumberland area and likely to be completed in the next three years are:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nursery schools there are in Northumberland; and what new nursery schools are planned during the next three years.

There are no nursery schools in Northumberland. In January, 1971, there were three nursery classes with 66 pupils, and seven more, providing 210 places, have been approved under the urban programme in the last year. Work on these should be complete by March, 1973. Local authorities will be invited shortly to submit further proposals under the urban programme for starting after that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pre-1903 primary schools were replaced in the Upper Agbrigg Education Division in the West Riding in 1971.

Information relating to separate parts of local education authority areas is not collected by the Department. My right hon. Friend has aproved 34 projects costing over £3 million for the replacement of primary schools in the West Riding in the 1972–74 programmes compared with 16 projects costing over £1 million in the two previous programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she hopes to make a statement on Lord Rothschild's proposals on research councils.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the Question by the hon. Member for East Stirlingshire (Mr. Douglas).

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force Buccaneers and Phantoms are now capable of operating from aircraft carriers.

None.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the replacement of Honest John in the Army of the Rhine.

No decision has been taken.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state the number of civilians, by job categories, employed by his Department in the crofting counties of Scotland.

An analysis made in 1969 indicated that the number of civilian staff employed by the Ministry of Defence in the crofting counties of Scotland was approximately 500. More up-to-date figures and an analysis by job category are not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action is being taken consequent upon the finding of Judge Conaghan in Moore versus the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence that three members of the Royal Miliary Police, including an officer, had lied while giving evidence.

From the information available to me I do not consider that any discplinary action is called for.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many pounds of gelignite have been used by Republican terrorists in explosions in Northern Ireland each month since 1st January, 1971, to the latest date for which estimates are available; how many separate explosions have occurred; and how many pounds of gelignite have been captured each month over the same period by the security forces.

I regret that the precise information required is not

				Weight of Explosive (lb.)
			Incidents	Used in Explosions	In Devices Dismantled	Found in Arms Searches
1971—
January	…	…	16	110	20	20
February	…	…	17	230	70	80
March	…	…	29	170	30	30
April	…	…	29	180	70	10
May	…	…	37	310	40	20
June	…	…	39	260	160	100
July	…	…	68	950	370	90
August	…	…	101	960	270	120
September	…	…	256	1,870	420	100
October	…	…	225	1,830	440	110
November	…	…	147	1,670	280	190
December	…	…	161	1,310	600	170
1972—
January	…	…	156	1,500	830	200
February	…	…	140	1,400	575	85

I regret that the information I gave in Written Answers yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) was inaccurate. I have written to him.—[Vol. 832, c.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many incidents have been reported to the security forces in Northern Ireland of attacks upon themselves and civilians, respectively, across the Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; and in how many reported cases of Republican terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland have those responsible been seen or suspected on reasonable grounds to have crossed the border either before or after these incidents, since 1st January, 1971.

I regret that to give a full answer to this Question would involve disproportionate effort. However between 9th August, 1971, and 6th February, 1972, there have been 83 incidents in which gunmen have opened fire at the security forces from across the border and two incidents in which they have fired from across the border at civilians: on 10th October, 1971, shots were fired at Killeen Customs post; on 20th November, 1971, gunmen opened fire on a Land Rover containing a party of American readily available. The following figures show the total number of bomb incidents, including those where bombs were dismantled by Army ammunition technical officers; the estimated weights of explosive in explosions; and the weights of explosive recovered from devices dismantled and found in arms searches in circumstances indicating an intention to use it unlawfully:journalists. In addition there have been 72 incidents involving violence in the border area—including shootings, bombings, booby traps and armed robberies—where the terrorists have either been seen to cross the border before or after the attack or are believed to have done so.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many separate attacks on individuals, how many explosions, and how many other incidents in which either persons have been injured or property damaged, have been reported to Her Majesty's security forces in Northern Ireland each month since 1st August, 1969, to the latest date for which figures are available.

I regret that it is not possible without disproportionate effort to provide such detailed information, or to provide it for each month since August, 1969.In so far as the Armed Forces are concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend, for recent information on terrorist shooting incidents, to the details I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills), on 1st February and to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on 8th March.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the weekly rate of Service pension applicable to the widow with one child of a Royal Navy commander killed in the course of duty; and by what criteria is this determined.

A Service pension is based on rank and length of service and the pension payable to an entitled widow with one child of a commander in the Royal Navy would range from about £10·44 a week to about £17·43 depending on length of service. If the commander was killed on duty, however, a war widow's pension would also be payable by the Department of Health and Social Security and the combined total payable to the widow with one child would range from about £21·75 to £28·74 per week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to state how many persons were charged with murder in 1971; how many were found guilty; and by what percentage these figures are less than or exceed the comparable figures for the year before capital punishment was abolished.

The 1971 murder figures, as in previous years, will not be available until the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to ascertain, and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the number of police prosecutions in local courts brought by Welsh police authorities which have been conducted entirely in Welsh without the use of interpreters when defendants have expressed a wish to be tried in that language during the 12 months ended 31st January, 1972, or the nearest convenient date, listing the figures for each authority.

The chief constables concerned tell me that, according to their records, 35 prosecutions were conducted in Welsh in Dyfed Powys, 242 in Gwynedd and one in South Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the Northern Ireland Government and publish information as to how many people have been killed and injured each month as a result of Republican terrorist activity in Northern Ireland since 1st August, 1969, to the latest convenient date.

The information in the form requested is not available. The following figures of deaths and injuries attributable to the disorders generally in Northern Ireland since 1st August, 1969, have been provided by the Northern Ireland Government. They include members of the security forces and civilians including those involved in actions against the security forces.

Deaths
1969
August	8
September	2
October	3
1970
June	6
July	6
August	2
September	2
November	2
December	1
1971
January	1
February	12
March	6
May	4
July	4
August	35
September	19
October	32
November	23
December	39
1972
January	26
February	22
March (to 5th)	7

It is not possible to give an accurate assessment of the number of persons injured. It is estimated that 2,357 received treatment in Northern Ireland hospitals for injuries received as a result

of civil disturbances in the period 5th October, 1968, to 31st December, 1970. Since then the monthly figures for admission to hospital for this reason have been as follows:

Injuries
1971
January	70
February	135
March	30
April	64
May	124
June	57
July	145
August	409
September	356
October	303
November	312
December	371
1972
January	295
February-5th March (estimated)	440

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the newly available national details of sentences imposed on persons found guilty in 1970, other than in the Metropolitan Police District, of offences classified as fraud.

Following is the information:

Sentences imposed on persons found guilty in 1970 in England and Wales other than in the Metropolitan Police District of offences classified as fraud:
Absolute discharge	59
Conditional discharge	813
Probation	952
Fine	4,274
Imprisonment (immediate)	1,116
Otherwise dealt with	1,748
Total persons found guilty	8,962

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Metropolitan Police received a message from a motorist that his car was cutup dangerously in Russell Square on 14th February by the driver of a car whose number was given; what action was taken to apprehend the driver; and what is the practice of the Metropolitan Police when requested by the public to enforce the law in general in such cases.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that any allegation that an offence has been com- milted is carefully considered and, if appropriate, investigated. From the particulars given, he has not been able to identify the message to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the concern felt by the police at the present position whereby allegations of neglect, malpractice and maladministration made against police officers are investigated by the police and the fact that this affects promotion and security of employment, he will now seek powers to appoint an appeal and investigating committee under a judge.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the last two years for which figures are available, what has been the estimated extra cost in administrative and overhead expenses to public funds of the performance by clerks to magistrates' courts and Crown Courts of their duties under Part IV of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.

I regret that this information is not available. These duties are not separately costed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will establish a committee of inquiry into the earnings of company directors.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment among stockbrokers.

Separate figures for this specific occupation are not available. The number of registered unemployed in the broader occupational group which includes stockbrokers, other brokers and similar occupations, was 28 at 1st December, 1971, the latest date for which statistics are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice is given by his Department to children leaving school who are unable to find a job.

Careers officers co-operate closely with the schools in giving careers advice to young people before they decide to leave school. The advice given to those for whom no jobs are immediately available will vary according to the personal circumstances, interests and abilities of each individual and according to employment prospects in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has been consulted about the West German Government's proposal that the European Commission should prepare draft proposals for a European Community-wide prices and incomes policy; and what representations he will make to the Commission on the subject when they consult him about such draft proposals.

My right hon. Friend knows of no such proposal. During the period preceding accession, the Government will be informed of any proposal from the Commission of the European Economic Communities which might lead to decisions by the Council of Ministers, and have a right to seek consultations. If such proposals are made for a Community-wide prices and incomes policy, the Government will consider their reaction at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of disputes in coal mining and other industries separately, and the ratio of each to the other, for every year since 1945.

Following is the information:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES UNITED KINGDOM
	Number of stoppages beginning in the year
Year	Coat Mining (1)	All other industries and services (2)	Ratio Col. (1) to Col. (2)
1945	1,306	987	1·3 : 1
1946	1,329	876	1·5 : 1
1947	1,053	668	1·6 : 1
1948	1,116	643	1·7 : 1
1949	874	552	1·6 : 1
1950	860	479	1·8 : 1
1951	1,058	661	1·6 : 1
1952	1,221	493	2·5 : 1
1953	1,307	439	3·0 : 1
1954	1,464	525	2·8 : 1
1955	1,783	636	2·8 : 1
1956	2,076	572	3·6 : 1
1957	2,224	635	3·5 : 1
1958	1,963	666	2·9 : 1
1959	1,307	786	1·7 : 1
1960	1,666	1,166	1·4 : 1
1961	1,458	1,228	1·2 : 1
1962	1,205	1,244	1·0 : 1
1963	987	1,081	0·9 : 1
1964	1,058	1,466	0·7 : 1
1965	740	1,614	0·5 : 1
1966	553	1,384	0·4 : 1
1967	394	1,722	0·2 : 1
1968	221	2,157	0·1 : 1
1969	186	2,930	0·1 : 1
1970	160	3,746	0·04: 1
1971*	135	2,088	0·06: 1
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further action he proposes to take concerning the dismissal of a constituent of the hon. Member for Easington by a firm in Peterlee, details of which are in his possession, in a manner at variance with the Department's recommendations in "Dealing with Redundancies" and the Code of Industrial Relations Practice; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the information I have already given to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will break down into employment categories the unfilled male vacancies in February in the County of Kent.

Following is the information:

Industrial analysis of the number of notified vacancies for males remaining unfilled in Kent at 9th February, 1972
Agrciulture, Forestry and Fishing	73
Mining and Quarrying	2
Food, Drink and Tobacco	39
Coal and Petroleum Products	2
Chemicals and Allied Industries	29
Metal Manufacture	26
Mechanical Engineering	247
Instrument Engineering	26
Electrical Engineering	138
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering	23
Vehicles	30
Metal Goods not elsewhere specified	85
Textiles	7
Leather, Leather Goods, and Fur	7
Clothing and Footwear	9
Bricks, Pottery, Glass, Cement, etc.	46
Timber, Furniture, etc.	115
Paper, Printing and Publishing	113
Other Manufacturing Industries	81
Construction	497
Gas, Electricity and Water	30
Transport and Communication	178
Distributive Trades	423
Insurance, Banking, Finance and Business Services	107
Professional and Scientific Services	183
Miscellaneous Services	347
Public Administration and Defence	107
Total, all industries and services	2,980

The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the balance of payments receipts arising from foreign diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom.

The figure was probably of the order of £58 million in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make a statement on the requests he has received from the North East Development Council to assist in the creation of employment in the North East.

The representations made by the North East Development Council are being given full consideration in our work on regional policy. I cannot say when a statement will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to seek further discussions with other Governments, through the International Civil Aviation Organisation, with a view to reducing the present maximum noise levels contained in the Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order, 1970, of January, 1971.

The levels specified in the order are those at present internationally accepted. The I.C.A.O. Committee on Aircraft Noise, of which the United Kingdom is a member, is considering the possibility of a progressive reduction in those levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a further statement about the sale of the Rolls-Royce motor car company.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Kenneth Baker) on 7th February, 1972.—[Vol. 830, c. 238.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the future of the Rolls-Royce 20 per cent. holding in the British Aircraft Corporation.

Disposal of this shareholding is a matter for the Receiver and Joint Liquidators of Rolls-Royce Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet reached a decision on the recommendations made by the Rochdale Committee on Inquiry into Shipping that the responsibility for formulating and enforcing safety regulations should be delegated to a statutory marine authority.

We have decided that the balance of advantage lies against setting up a statutory marine authority. In present circumstances we believe that Ministers should continue to exercise direct responsibility to Parliament for the related questions of safety at sea and marine pollution and for the establishment of appropriate international and national standards of ship construction equipment and operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the import arrangements for butter for the period beginning 1st April, 1972.

Because of the supply situation the quota arrangements for imports of butter have been supplemented throughout the current year by open individual licensing from all sources except Southern Rhodesia. After consultation with our major suppliers the Government have decided that these arrangements should continue from 1st April, 1972, individual country quota allocations being written in at the same rate as for 1971–72. These arrangements would be superseded on 1st February, 1973, by the application of the common agricultural policy of the enlarged European Economic Community. Similarly for near butters and substances containing butter fat, and for ghee, specific licences supplementary to the annual global quotas will continue to be issued. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will keep the market situation under review. Notices to importers giving details of the arrangements for butter, near butters and ghee will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department gave to the Rishton Urban District Council with regard to the finding of cyanide drums on a tip in Rishton.

The Department made inquiries of the council about the finding of drums which had contained cyanide on a site called Star Delph Quarry but was told that no help or advice was needed. The council, the Lancashire River Authority and the police have all taken prompt and responsible action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider in his forthcoming legislation making the disposal of toxic chemical waste materials the responsibility of those companies initially supplying such chemicals.

My right hon. Friend has already made known the broad outlines of his proposals for dealing with the problem of toxic waste disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many instances of cyanide dumping on refuse tips, public and private, have come to his notice to date; and if he will make a statement.

The number of recent cases involving the possible dumping of cyanide waste which have come to my Department's notice to date is 29, of which 18 involve private tips and seven involve local authority tips. Four related to other land. In 19 of these cases local authorities consulted or informed my Department, which learned of the remainder from private individuals and from Press reports. My Department is always ready to give advice where it is required, and such advice was given to the 12 authorities which requested it. Reports of the dumping of cyanide waste proved in some instances to be unfounded.In some cases cyanide waste has been dumped on refuse tips over a period of years. Wherever there was reason for concern, local authorities and river authorities have taken steps to discover whether there is any physical danger to the public or risk of contamination of water supplies.A refuse tip has some capacity for detoxifying cyanide wastes. It is known that oxidation of cyanide occurs in certain bacteriological processes, and it is to be expected that a similar action may take place on industrial tips under aerobic conditions. In the interior of a tip, anaerobic conditions obtain where other chemical reactions may occur.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have investigated the possible use of Primary Support Structures and Housing Assembly Kits, a flexible housing scheme; and which have used this concept in any pilot housing schemes.

The Department does not keep comprehensive records of examples of innovation by local housing authorities. It is, however, closely in touch with the many experiments involving flexible housing that are being carried out by these authorities, and is aware of the collaboration between the Greater London Council and the developers of Primary Systems Support Housing and Assembly Kits. The Department does not know of any examples of pilot housing schemes yet built which incorporate the Primary Systems Support Housing and Assembly Kits concept.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the Government's decisions to establish a new County of Humberside, and to include the boroughs of Scunthorpe and Cleethorpes within that county; and what replies he has sent.

I have very little to add to what my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State said during the Standing Committee's debate on the Amendment, proposed by my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Kimball), affecting the southern boundary of Humberside. Since then most representations have been received from local authorities south of the Humber setting out their views in the light of that Amendment, and these are being analysed. The replies sent confirm that all views will be borne in mind during the later stages of the Bill's progress through Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to encourage the East Riding and Lindsey County Councils to participate in arrangements to facilitate the establishment of the new county authority for Humberside.

The Government have announced their firm view that a new County of Humberside should be established, to include territory on both sides of the estuary. The precise boundaries are open to further consideration, but the Government's intention to bring this new county into existence substantially as proposed in the Bill is not in doubt. In these circumstances I very much hope that the existing authorities will come together at the earliest possible moment to discuss future arrangements, in the interests both of the residents of their areas and of their own employees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average cost per acre of land acquired by local authorities in the Inner London area in each of the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and this far in 1972.

This information could not be obtained without undue cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many acres of derelict land are scheduled to be restored by Bolton, Farnworth, Turton, Little Lever, West Houghton, Kearsley, Blackrod and Horwich in 1972, and how much will be spent by each authority;(2) how many acres of derelict land are scheduled to be reclaimed in the North West Region during 1972; and what is the total sum of money involved.

Estimates of the acreage of derelict land likely to be reclaimed by all agencies in 1972 are at present being collected as part of the 1971 survey and are not yet available. It is not possible to indicate how much money is spent in any given period by all agencies. The Department's information relates only to local authority grant-aided schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his consideration of what further studies should be made into public transport.

It will take some months to complete the survey of bus industry research but individual projects are being added to the existing research work as needs are identified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of rent-rebate officers and assisting staff who will need to be appointed to implement the rent-rebate provisions in the Housing Finance Bill; and what is the estimated annual cost of operating the provision.

Some local authorities already have rent rebate arrangements comparable with the scheme scheduled to the Housing Finance Bill. They can switch to the new statutory arrangements without appreciable trouble or expense. Others give no rent rebates, or inadequate ones; for them, the cost of adopting enlightened practices will be greater. Without examining the individual adminstrative systems of well over 1,000 authorities there is no way of amplifying the general statement in the final paragraph of the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total cost of the proposed reorganisation of local government, and of the cost to his Department.

It is impossible to calculate the long-term benefits which the community will derive from a stronger and more rationally organised system of local government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will enlarge the terms of reference of the rent tribunal to take in rents of mobile home parks; and if he will make a statement.

Caravans let with the land they stand on have been held by the courts to come within the jurisdiction of rent tribunals.Rent tribunals, whose task is to assess rents for dwellings, are not equipped to assess charges for pitches occupied by, and services provided to, caravans owned by their occupiers. As my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Development told the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding) on 18th October, 1971, legislation in this field could well injure the long-term interests of caravan dwellers by diminishing the supply of pitches.—[Vol. 823, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were started in England and Wales in 1969, 1970 and 1971; and how many houses he expects to be started in England and Wales in 1972 and 1973.

The figures for 1969, 1970 and 1971 are 303,700, 282,400, and 309,900, respectively. It has not been my right hon. Friend's practice to make forecasts of housing starts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were completed in England and Wales in 1969. 1970 and 1971; and how many houses he expects to be completed in England and Wales in 1972 and 1973.

The figures for 1969, 1970 and 1971 are 324,200, 307,300 and 309,800, respectively. I am not prepared to make forecasts for 1972 and 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now repeal the Small Tenements Recovery Act, 1838; and whether, in the meantime, he will take steps to ensure that no local authority will evict tenants under the Act pending its repeal.

The Government announced their intention to repeal the Small Tenements Recovery Act, 1838, in the White Paper "Fair Deal for Housing". My right hon. Friend will shortly make an order under Section 35 of the Rent Act, 1965. In the meantime it would not be appropriate to ask local authorities to make no further use of the existing legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many road

				1968	1969	1970	1971
Drivers involved in:
Fatal or serious accidents	…	…	…	1,403	1,993	2,752	3,451
All injury accidents	…	…	…	*	5,171	6,993	9,210
* Not available.

The rise in the number of drivers shown in the table reflects the increase in the number of breath tests required by the police and is not evidence that there has been an increase in drunken driving. No comparable information is available for the period prior to the introduction of breath tests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Development Commission, the qualifications of the chairman, the salary and expenses received and similar details for each of the commissioners, stating how many meetings were held during the past 12 months; and what is the duty and work of this commission.

The Development Commissioners are:—

• The Countess of Albemarle, D.B.E., D.Litt., D.C.L., LL.D. (Chairman).
• Mr. G. N. Bowman-Shaw.
• Mrs. Gwyneth Evans.
• Mr. J. P. R. Glyn.
• Sir Jack Longland, M.A.
• Mr. W. Scholes.
• Mr. W. B. Swan, C.B.E., T.D., J.P.
• Dr. R. C. Tress, C.B.E.

All are unpaid with the exception of the Chairman, who receives an honorarium of £1,000 per annum. Normal Government rules apply for the payment of their expenses. The commissioners have held five meetings during the past 12 months. Their main concern is to strengthen the economy of rural areas with the aid of assistance from the Development Fund. accidents during the last five years has there been found to be a connection with alcohol on the part of one or more of those involved.

The information is not available in the form requested but the numbers of drivers involved in injury accidents in the years 1968 to 1971 whose breath tests gave positive results were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the provisions of legislation, sponsored by his Department and now under consideration by Parliament, that will require some kind of amendment if the European Communities Bill is enacted.

The European Communities Bill itself contains such repeals and amendments as will be required on or immediately after United Kingdom entry into the European Community. The Bill includes amendments to the Road Traffic Bill, a consolidation Measure, and the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will agree to invite the Prime Minister of Malta to visit Great Britain or seek to arrange a visit to Malta so that he may discuss problems which now confront the two countries.

The Prime Minister of Malta had talks with my right hon. and noble Friend the Defence Secretary in London on 5th, 6th March. These were attended by the Secretary-General of N.A.T.O. and representatives of the Italian Government. On the afternoon of 6th March I myself had a long discussion with Mr. Mintoff, which my right hon. and noble Friend attended.In these two days I believe we achieved the basis for a mutually satisfactory agreement on the important questions of our civilian employees in Malta and our Maltese uniformed personnel.

asked the Prime Minister how many members of the National Union of Mineworkers he met on the night of Friday, 18th February.

The three national officers and two officials of the union

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his decision to reallocate responsibilities within the Government for the supply of power to industries and domestic consumers.

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the new responsibilities of the Lord Privy Seal for fuel supply matters.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 29th February to a Question from the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis), except to say that my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal has now successfully completed his task.—[Vol. 832, c. 98–9.]

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Departments of Education and Science and Health and Social Services with regard to the nutrition of schoolchildren, especially in those areas of the country where unemployment is increasing.

Yes. Close co-ordination is effected through the Chief Medical Officer, who acts in that capacity for both Departments. Two out of three of the areas covered by the current nutritional survey of schoolchildren between 7 and 11 are ones with high unemployment rates and other indices of poverty.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his talks with M. Pierre Werner, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg on his recent official visit to London.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7th March to a Question from the hon. Member for Dudley (Dr. Gilbert).—[Vol. 832, c. 1231–2.]

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for a further meeting with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

Mr. Faulkner and I remain in close touch, but we have at present no specific plans for a further meeting.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet arranged a new date for his meeting with President Pompidou.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7th March to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas).—[Vol. 832, c. 305–6.]

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, during his forthcoming meeting with President Pompidou, he will raise with him the question of offering the French Government's support to ensure that the European Parliament is elected on a similar basis to the British House of Commons;

I expect my talks with President Pompidou to range over a wide field. I am not prepared to predict which individual subjects will be discussed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet had time to consider the proposals sent to him by the employment advisory committee of the Liverpool City Council regarding assistance to reduce the high level of unemployment on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

Detailed studies of the specific proposals put to me by the committee are still continuing: but I hope to reply to them before long.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the Engineering Employers' Association on 23rd February on the subject of economic policy.

As I indicated in the reply I gave last Tuesday to Questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman) and Bolton, West (Mr. Redmond), I did so on 24th February.—[Vol. 832, c. 306.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give the number of occasions when he has been requested to recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate all aspects of the mining industry; and what action he took in these cases.

The only representations to this effect of which I am aware were those made by the hon. Members for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and Blyth (Mr. Milne). The problems of the coal industry are already receiving urgent consideration, and I see no reason to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT full and complete details of the actual dates since June, 1970, and the terms upon which he extended an invitation to the Trades Union Congress General Council to visit him at No. 10 Downing Street to discuss current national problems.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave last Tuesday to a Question from the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. John D. Grant).—[Vol. 832, c. 303.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the arrangements for imports of cheddar and cheddar-type cheese from 1st April next.

Imports of cheddar and cheddar-type cheese will continue without quantitative restriction from 1st April. By agreement with the principal overseas suppliers to the United Kingdom market, the voluntary restraint arrangement will remain in being but will continue suspended. The market situation will be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have been detained in, or expelled from Singapore because of the length of their hair.

As far as I am aware no United Kingdom nationals have been detained in or expelled from Singapore because of the length of their hair. I understand however that some intending visitors with long hair have been invited to have their hair cut or be denied entry to Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a protest to the Republic of Ireland Government about their declared intention to provide funds for political operations inside a part of the United Kingdom.

We are in touch wih the Irish authorities, who have not as yet made any funds available. We are given to understand that the donation may be used for charitable purposes for individuals in need in Northern Ireland. No decision on formal representations will be taken until the exact purposes for which the money is to be used, and the channels through which it is to be given, have been made clear.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number of prosecutions in Scotland under the present Act for homosexual offences involving persons over 21 years of age; and if he can state the numbers involving persons under 21 years of age for the years 1970 and 1971.

The information is not available.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the increasing commitments of the Scottish Law Commission, he will take steps to reinforce the membership of the Commission.

The Secretary of State and I are glad to be able to announce that the Scottish Law Commission is to be strengthened by the appointment of a third full-time commissioner with effect from 1st October of this year and that Professor T. B. Smith, Q.C., who has been a part-time member of the commission since it was formed in 1965, has accepted the new full-time appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is yet able to make an announcement on the regrading of administrative staff in the National Health Service.

Such matters are kept under review by the Administrative and Clerical Staffs Whitley Council. I understand that the next meeting of the council is due to be held on 15th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide financial assistance out of the surplus on the Industrial Injuries Fund for persons who have been disabled and are not represented by trade unions to consult an independent physician of their own choice on the degree or origin of their disablement.

No. My Department obtains necessary medical evidence on an impartial basis and the independent adjudicating authorities may and do ask for additional evidence, including opinions and assistance as assessors from specialists where they consider this will help in reaching a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if in the assessment of percentage disablement for industrial injury benefit he will require that pain, emotional discomfort and social handicap should all be taken into account, based if necessary on reports by social workers as well as doctors.

Disablement benefit is paid for disablement which is the result of a relevant loss of faculty, that is the loss of physical or mental capacity to lead a normally occupied life. A normally occupied life includes household and social activities and leisure pursuits as well as work. Assessments, which take account of disfigurement, discomfort or, on occasion, pain, are made by independent medical authorities. In certain circumstances an additional allowance is paid for loss of earnings. We are satisfied that compensation for industrial disablement is adequately measured in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a committee of inquiry into the structure and functioning of the industrial injuries insurance system, in view of the disqualifications from full benefit that are applied to many disabled individuals as a result of the existing criteria for benefit.

No. I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the provision which applies where some or all of a claimant's disablement arises from a congenital defect or pre-existing injury or disease, to the effect that disablement must be excluded from his assessment to the extent that he would have been so disabled had the accident never happened. Such a provision is necessary to ensure that the industrial injuries scheme does not provide compensation for conditions which have no industrial causation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the £350 million surplus in the Industrial Injuries Fund, he will extend benefit to persons injured by industrial process and to persons who settled for a lump sum under the Workmen's Compensation Act whose condition due to their industrial injury has since worsened.

No. Conditions due to injury not caused by accident arising out of and in the course of insurable employment can be considered for prescription under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965, where the requirements of Section 56(2) of the Act are met, namely that the condition is an occupational rather than a general risk, and that attributability to employment can be established with reasonable certainty. We have no proposals in mind to extend the payment of benefit to persons who received lump sum payments in full and final settlement of their claims under the Workmen's Compensation Acts.