asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further progress he has made with regard to achieving a political settlement in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to Questions by the hon. Members for Southall (Mr. Bidwell), Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy) and Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings he has had with the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

It is not customary to publish such details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made between the prison services and day centres for the treatment of drug addiction to ensure that known addicts can be put in touch with the means of cure.

There is close liaison between prison service staff and treatment centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the deputation he has recently received from representatives of the probation service, he is now prepared to vary his previous decision not to apply a London weighting allowance of £144 a year to probation officers working in all 12 of the Inner London Boroughs.

My right hon. Friend has not yet completed his consideration of the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation creating an offence of criminal trespass.

The Government have no present plans for such legislation, but my right hon. Friend has agreed with my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor that the Statutes of Forcible Entry should be referred to the Law Commission for examination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give an assurance that there will be no further increase in immigration.

It is Government policy that there is to be no more permanent large-scale immigration. Within that policy there will no doubt be some variation from year to year in the numbers coming here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will study ways of restricting the right of citizens of the Republic of Ireland to vote at United Kingdom elections.

I do not think this would be advantageous.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow Mr. and Mrs. Charles James Walkinshaw to remain in the United Kingdom, despite the fact that Mr. Walkinshaw is a Canadian citizen, so that Mrs. Walkinshaw, who is a United Kingdom citizen, can pursue her career as an opera singer for which she has been trained at the expense of the British tax payer.

Mr. Walkinshaw has exercised his right of appeal under the Immigration Appeals Act, 1969. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the case at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the existing newly reorganised structure of the police in England; and if he will maintain it for at least five years in the present form.

When the Local Government Bill comes into operation, police areas will be reorganised in accordance with the new local government areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth citizens were repatriated at public expense in 1971 and in each month in 1972 for which figures are available.

In 1971, 86 Commonwealth family groups were repatriated under Supplementary Benefits Commission arrangements. The figures for January and February, 1972, were five and 11, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to bring to the notice of Commonwealth citizens in the United Kingdom the fact that they can be repatriated if they qualify; and whether he will make a statement on his policy with regard thereto.

All organisations from which immigrants are likely to seek advice have been informed of the arrangements for assistance under Section 29 of the Immigration Act, 1971. These arrangements, which were announced when the Bill was before Parliament, were widely reported in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest progress made in the official examination of United Kingdom public house licensing laws governing opening times.

The Departmental Committee on Liquor Licensing in England and Wales has almost completed its initial consideration of evidence. It hopes to report this year, but it is too early yet to say when.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has had during February, 1972, from women concerning non-payment of alimony awarded by court order; and if he will make a statement.

Seven letters were received during February from women complaining about the enforcement of maintenance orders in magistrates' courts in England and Wales. The Government have taken measures, including improvements in the attachment of earnings system, to improve enforcement, but some men will remain unable to pay or determined not to pay whatever measures are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation for the eventual expunging of criminal records as a mark of rehabilitation.

I am studying a report on this subject recently published by Justice and other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to set up a study or working group, consisting of persons with practical experience in and of industry, to advise him on the working of the Industrial Relations Act, 1971.

My right hon. Friend is making arrangements within the Department for monitoring the working and results of the Industrial Relations Act and Code of Practice, and he will certainly be seeking the advice and assistance of people with practical experience in industry wherever he thinks this could usefully supplement our knowledge. He does not at this stage think it will be necessary to set up a special working group.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area, who last worked in the construction industry.

At 14th February 4,579 people who last worked in the construction industry were registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the proportion of persons registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act who were unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date.

On 14th February, 1972, 26·8 per cent. of people registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act at Sunderland employment exchanges were unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the proportion of persons registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act who were unemployed in the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges at the latest available date.

On 14th February 19·6 per cent. of those people registered under the Act at Mexborough employment exchange, and 20·9 per cent. of those at Wombwell, were unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give for the latest or the most convenient stated date the number of trade unions, with their memberships, which have given notice of their intentions to register under the Industrial Relations Act.

I am informed by the Registrar that on 17th March 148 organisations of workers, with a total membership of about 1¾ million, were registered as trade unions, and that a further 126 organisations of workers, with a total membership of about 1¾ million, were entered in the provisional register.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list, to the most recent convenient date, the number of trade unions, together with their membership, which have applied to deregister under the Industrial Relations Act; and what proportions these figures represent of the number of trade unions and their membership.

As at 17th March 140 organisations of workers with total membership of approximately 6,783,500 had been cancelled from the provisional register at their request; applications for cancellation were outstanding from a further six trade unions on the full and provisional registers with approximately 18,500 members.Taken together, these figures yield a total of 146 organisations of workers with a membership of 6,802,000 which have applied to be removed from the provisional register since it was established on 1st October, 1971. The latest figures for comparison of the total number of organisations of workers, and their membership, are for December, 1970. At that date there were 481 organisations of workers with a membership of about 11 million. The number of organisations of workers which have applied to be removed from the provisional register represents 30 per cent., and their membership 62 per cent., of the total figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males are unemployed in the County of Monmouthshire; and how many male vacancies existed at the latest available date.

At 13th March the provisional number of males registered as wholly unemployed in the County of Monmouthshire was 8,318. In addition, 17 temporarily stopped male workers were registered as unemployed. At 8th March, 251 notified vacancies for males remained unfilled. The vacancy figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons were unemployed in Monmouthshire; and how many vacancies existed at the latest available date.

Provisional figures for March, 1972, show that there were 876 unemployed young people and 110 unfilled vacancies in the County of Monmouthshire. The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males are unemployed in the Newport, Monmouthshire, employment exchange area; and how many male vacancies existed at the latest available date.

At 13th March the provisional number of males registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Newport and Newport Docks employment exchanges was 2,695. At 8th March 90 notified vacancies for males remained unfilled. The vacancy figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in providing employment for young people in the Newport-Pontypool-Cwmbran, Monmouthshire areas under the Government sponsored scheme organised by the National Association of Youth Clubs; how many are employed; what projects have been undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

The team which is to run the scheme in the area took up post on 6th March. It is making preparations with a view to recruiting young people next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is now the average hours per week worked in industry.

In October, 1971, the latest available date, the average weekly hours worked in manufacturing industry by full-time manual workers were 43·6 for men, 21 years and over, and 37·5 for women, 18 years and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many training places there were in construction trades in Government training centres in the County of Kent at the last count, broken down by skills; and how many were occupied.

Following is the information at 11th February:

Trade	Number of Places Available	Number of Places Occupied
Bricklaying	16	16
Carpentry and Joinery	32	32
Contractors' Plant—Repair and Maintenance	12	12
Electrical Installation and Maintenance	12	7
Plumbing	16	16
Total	88	83

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the changes he intends to make in the Resettlement Transfer Scheme.

I have decided to make some major improvements in the Resettlement Transfer Scheme under which my Department gives financial assistance to unemployed workers who have to move their homes in order to obtain work. These are intended to benefit particularly those who live in development and intermediate areas and those, wherever they live, who are prepared to improve their employment prospects by taking a course of vocational training.For moves originating in development or intermediate areas, whether to places inside or outside those areas, I propose to introduce some new benefits and to relax the eligibility conditions. Present benefits under the scheme include free fares and reimbursement of the cost of moving household effects. There is also a grant of £100 to help with the incidental expenses of moving house. This will be replaced by a rehousing grant of £400. I hope that this will be specially helpful to people moving to areas where family accommodation is expensive or difficult to get. For the first time, people without dependants who move away from home may be paid a weekly allowance of £2 per week for up to one year. The rules about non-availability of employment in the home area and of local labour in the area to which the worker is transferring will be relaxed. Because people may not wish to leave their home area permanently, the emphasis will no longer be on resettlement in the new area. Lodging allowances will be paid to eligible workers for temporary moves lasting up to two years.Workers with dependants who have completed a substantial course of training under the Government's Vocational Training Scheme, whether or not they live in an assisted area, may receive a rehousing grant of £600 if they leave their home area to take up employment in their training trade within six months of completing the course.Whether moves originate in assisted areas or not, the lodging allowance, which is paid to workers with dependants until they move their homes, will be increased by approximately £2 per week. This will also apply to the Key Workers and Nucleus Labour Force Schemes. The upper limit on the amount which can be reimbursed on legal, etc., expenses incurred in house sale or purchase will be increased to £145 or £240 where both are involved. The income limit above which people cannot benefit under the scheme will be raised to £2,650.In view of the substantial nature of the changes in the scheme, its old name is no longer apt and it will be known in future as the Employment Transfer Scheme. The new scheme will come into force on 5th April, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amounts have been approved, at constant prices, for minor works for the Sunderland Education Authority for 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73, respectively.

The allocations, at 1971 prices, are £75,000, £125,000 and £205,000, including £50,000 to be brought forward from 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science Whether she is satisfied with the current reports from local education authorities on their state of preparedness for the raising of the school leaving age in 1972; and if she will make a statement.

I am satisfied in general terms that preparations nationally are well in hand and I hope to make a fuller statement to the House later today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware that there are no nursery schools in the Borough of Barking, Essex, and only one nursery class in a denominational school in the parliamentary constituency of Barking; and if she will consider the letter dated 3rd March from the Chief Education Officer of Barking asking her approval of the provision of further nursery classes in the Borough.

My right hon. Friend recognises that the facilities available for nursery education in Barking are limited to six nursery classes attached to primary schools. Because at present the improvement of primary schools for children of compulsory school age and the provision of nursery places in areas of multiple social deprivation under the urban programme take priority in the allocation of resources, the Barking local education authority has been asked to defer its proposal to provide additional nursery places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are due to leave school in July this year.

The estimated number of children due to leave schools in England and Wales this summer is 532,000.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the new instructions on interrogation techniques will prohibit armed forces personnel from training the Royal Ulster Constabulary to apply techniques of sensory deprivation on prisoners.

There is no intention that Service personnel should in the future train the R.U.C. in methods of interrogation.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects to table the text of the revised joint directive to military forces on the techniques to be used in interrogating prisoners.

Work on a revised text of the joint directive on military interrogation is in hand. I cannot say at this stage when it will be completed. As to publication I would refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's reply following his statement on 2nd March.—[Vol. 832, c. 747.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many cases are currently before the Northern Ireland courts in which British troops or other British authorities are accused of, or are being sued in respect of, offences involving the interrogation techniques covered by the Parker Report.

The Ministry of Defence is a defendant in three civil actions for damages.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what would be the total annual pension including all State benefits, and the gratuity payable under current regulations to the widow with no children of a recently promoted squadron leader with nine years' reckonable service killed on duty today in a flying accident.

A widow in the circumstances described would not be entitled to an occupation widow's pension as the minimum service requirement for pension is at present 10 years. A childless widow of a squadron leader whose death was attributable to military service would receive from the Department of Health and Social Security a pension of £170 a year if under 40 or £497 if aged 40 or more. I understand that for the first 26 weeks of widowhood either of these pensions would be replaced by the more favourable earnings-related widow's allowance at a rate of just over £800 a year. Under present regulations she would also receive gratuities amounting to £1,720.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the cost to public funds, in terms both of material and man-hours, of the development of the man-powered aircraft which flew at Royal Air Force, Benson, on 19th March; and what benefits are expected to be gained from this method of flight.

There has been no cost to public funds and no benefits are expected to be gained from this method of flight.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances the Army was called to the centre of Banbridge after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion on the early morning of Tuesday, 21st March; what weight of explosives was used; how and where the bomb was planted; how it was detonated; what injuries resulted; and what arrests were made.

At about 11.45 p.m. on 20th March an explosion in a car in Bridge Street, Banbridge, caused extensive damage to nearby property but no casualties. Army ammunition technical officers estimated that the bomb had contained 20 to 50 lb. of explosive and that it had been detonated by a timing device. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances Rifleman John Taylor, 2nd Battalion the Royal Green Jackets, was murdered by Irish Republican Army terrorists in the City of Londonderry on Monday, 20th March; what sort of gun was used; whether the fire was returned by the troops; and what arrests were made.

At about 5.15 p.m. a single high velocity shot was fired at a foot patrol in Lower Road, Londonderry. Rifleman Taylor was hit in the chest, and died on the way to hospital. The gunman did not present a clear target and so troops did not return fire. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances the Army was called to Donegall Street, Belfast, on Monday, 20th March, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; what time the bomb exploded; what time the Army arrived; what deaths and injuries resulted; what weight the bomb was; how it was detonated; and what arrests were made.

I understand that at 11.52 a.m. a telephone warning was received by the Royal Ulster Constabulary that a large bomb had been placed in Church Street, Belfast. Troops and police quickly proceeded to clear the area. Many people had thus moved out of Castle Street into Donegall Street when, at 11.55 a.m., a further telephone warning stated that a bomb was due to explode in Donegall Street in 15 minutes' time. Three minutes later an explosion in a car outside 45–47 Donegall Street killed six people, injured 154 others and caused extensive damage to nearby property. Army ammunition technical officers estimated that the bomb had contained 50 to 100 lb. of explosive and that it had been detonated by a timing device. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances the Army was called to investigate a series of Irish Republican Army bomb explosions in the City of Londonderry on Tuesday, 21st March; how and where these bombs were planted; what weight of explosives were used; how the bombs were detonated; and how many arrests were made.

The information is as follows.A bomb, estimated to have contained 20 to 50 lb. of explosive and fitted with a timing device, exploded in a suitcase in the Waterside Railway Station. It caused extensive damage but no casualties.A bomb, estimated to have contained 50 to 100 lb. of explosive and fitted with a timing device, exploded in a car in Carlisle Street. It caused damage to nearby property but no casualties.A bomb, estimated to have contained 50 to 100 lb. of explosive and fitted with a timing device, exploded in a car in Shipquay Street. It caused minor injuries to 23 people and considerable damage to nearby property.A bomb, estimated to have contained 50 to 100 lb. of explosive and fitted with a timing device, exploded in a car in Strand Road. One person suffered shock and extensive damage was caused to nearby property.No arrests were made by the Army at the time of these incidents.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the present duties and establishment of the Royal Observer Corps; how far below establishment is the present strength; and what steps he is taking to encourage volunteers to come forward and fill the gap.

The Royal Observer Corps is the field force of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation for which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is operationally responsible. It is required to be ready to report the position and power of nuclear weapons' bursts over the United Kingdom and to record and report the intensity of the radioactive fallout. The information gathered would be transmitted to both military and civil authorities, and would be fed in from the underground posts which the Royal Observer Corps maintains throughout the whole of the British Isles.The establishment is 12,537 and the present strength 11,100, all part-time volunteers save for a small nucleus of whole-time Royal Observer Corps officers.Efforts are constantly being made to encourage recruitment to the corps, but publicity tends to be local rather than national.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to meet the national leaders of all the railway trade unions at 10 Downing Street in order to finalise the current pay talks.

It is in everyone's interest that the present pay talks should result in a reasonable settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many road accidents have been reported, in each of the last five years, as having occurred on the A18 trunk road in the village of Hatfield, Yorkshire; how many of these accidents involved heavy goods vehicles; and how many people were injured or killed.

This information is not immediately available but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain from local authorities, and publish, the names of all those authorities which are empowered to give discretionary grants but do not do so.

No. Attitudes, I am glad to say, change and the information would quickly become out of date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average fair rent for council dwellings which he estimates will apply in each region of England and Wales on the basis provided by officers of the rent service, local authorities, and from within his Department.

No up-to-date estimate of average fair rents for council dwellings has been formed on this basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what remuneration will be allowed for service on proposed rent scrutiny boards.

Fees for panel members from which members of rent scrutiny boards will be drawn will be: chairmen £27 per day, professional members £25 per day and lay members £15 per day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the proportion of council tenants who are retired but have another adult occupant in their home, and of the wives or husbands of tenants who are in employment; and what note his Department has taken of these categories in their estimates of the number of tenants who are likely to qualify for rent rebate.

The Department's overall estimates of the number of council tenants likely to qualify for rent rebate are derived from statistical samples indicating the age grouping, income and household structure of people living in council houses. Subdivisions into the categories cited by the hon. Member would be too speculative to have much meaning.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give approval for local authority members to claim the actual cost of meals on trains when carrying out approved duties, particularly when travelling to London.

The current rates of subsistence allowances for local authority members are due for review. I will certainly consider the hon. Member's suggestion with the local authority associations in that context.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to announce the membership and constitution of the proposed Advisory Committee on Fair Rents.

I have no statement to make on this as yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake not to overrule the recommendations contained in reports of his inspectors in relation to appeals against refusal of planning consent in the village of Oakley, near Basingstoke, until a thorough review of the open space and other service and recreational facilities required by the village has been completed.

I do not think it would be right to give an undertaking of that kind, but I will write to my hon. Friend when a decision has been reached on the current appeal in which the question of facilities for this village has arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that Great Britain has 13 miles of motorway per million population and that of the 10 leading European countries Great Britain has the lowest mileage by this method of comparison; and what action he proposes to take to redress the position.

On 1st March, 1972, Great Britain had approximately 19 miles of motorway per million population. The size of a country's total population is only one of the many factors and by no means necessarily the mast important which have to be taken into account in planning a national motorway and trunk road network.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have so far neither claimed exemption from the provision of gipsy caravan sites under the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, provided any such sites, nor declared an intention to do so; and which local authorities they are.

In areas where gipsies do not reside and to which they do not resort there is no obligation either to claim exemption or to provide sites. I am not aware of any local authority elsewhere, other than those which have applied for exemption, which does not intend to make provision for gipsies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, excluding those local authorities which have gained exemption from the requirements of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, how many of the remainder which had not provided any such sites by a year ago but declared an intention to do so have not yet done so; and which local authorities they are.

Of the authorities concerned, the following have not given notice to the Secretary of State under Section 9(1) of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, that they have provided sites. In some cases, sites are in the course of construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the position in respect of the scheme currently under consideration by him proposed by the West Riding County Council for a southern bypass of Goole.

The county council has not yet submitted its proposals for consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will place in the Library for the confidential use of Members details of the contracts awarded for the disposal of waste paper in the Palace of Westminster.

I have been asked to reply.In the Palace of Westminster confidential waste is destroyed on the premises by D.O.E. personnel under the supervision of House authorities. Non-confidential waste paper is disposed of by Her Majesty's Stationery Office under normal contractual arrangements. Details of these contracts are never disclosed for commercial reasons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will announce the result of his review of the level of minimum import prices for eggs.

The Government have reviewed the minimum import price levels and arrangements for eggs and egg products, in consultation with the United Kingdom industry and trade and with the overseas suppliers to our market, and have decided that the present minimum import prices for shell eggs and liquid, frozen and dried whole egg should continue unchanged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the arrangements for the stabilisation of the bacon curing industry in 1972–73.

The detailed changes in the bacon stabilisation arrangements to operate in 1972–73 which I announced yesterday are designed to ensure in the coming year a satisfactory balance in our pig and bacon markets. Home pigmeat supplies in 1972–73 are expected to be rather lower than in 1971–72 and United Kingdom bacon production in 1972–73 needs to be more in line with the figure of 265,000 tons allowed for in the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding. It is essential that United Kingdom curers should plan their production and marketing taking proper account of market conditions. They should regard the B.M.S.U. figure of 265,000 tons as the expected level of bacon production to be achieved, provided that this level of production can be marketed successfully, bearing in mind in particular the stabiliser arrangements which will be operating. I have announced these arrangements so as to allow curers good time to lay their plans in the fullest possible knowledge of the conditions in which they will be operating next year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is yet able to announce the future organisation of central computer functions for Government Departments.

The Government take the view that computing in Govern- ment requires an increasingly close association between policy, planning, and execution as recognised in the recent report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology. Many computer projects involve important Government policies as well as major questions of administration and organisation. The Government have therefore decided to draw together into a single organisation those central computer functions at present spread between the Civil Service Department (policy, planning, and operational support); the Department of Trade and Industry (the Technical Support Unit); and Her Majesty's Stationery Office (purchasing, contracts, and the Central Computer Bureau). Sponsorship of the computer industry will remain with the Department of Trade and Industry.The Government welcome this opportunity of paying tribute to the work done by computer staffs within the present organisations but are convinced that a single central organisation will be more effective and offer greater opportunities to the staff concerned. The new body, to be known as the Central Computer Agency, will be established as from 1st April, 1972. It will form part of the Civil Service Department. There will, of course, be consultation with the appropriate staff interests. Central computing functions only are concerned: Departments will continue to be responsible for their own computer operations, subject to financial approval of new A.D.P. projects by the agency.In future, the Government as a major computer user should be able to speak more clearly with a single central voice. The agency itself will offer greater scope for increased professionalism and for computer careers in Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the level of official aid to Zambia in 1968, 1969 and 1970; how much of this was spent by the Zambian public sector authorities; and if he will make a statement of the expenditure of this aid in the light of the First Report of the Zambian Auditor-General, a copy of which is in his possession.

Disbursements of British official development assistance to Zambia during the period 1968–70 were:

Year			Total	Of which spent by Zambian Public Service Authorities
			£000	£000
1968	…	…	6,086	2,999
1969	…	…	5,667	3,478
1970	…	…	2,569	—
			14,322	6,477

Of the amounts spent by the Zambian public service authorities, a total of £285,000 was issued by Her Majesty's Government on a "proof of need". This was subsequently acquitted by audited statements certified by the Zambian Auditor-General, who also certified accounts for the balance. Nothing has appeared in the audited accounts, signed by the Auditor-General or his department for the years in question, to show that our official development assistance funds have been used for purposes other than those for which they were intended. In addition to the above, in 1968 Zambia received contingency aid amounting to £4,708,000 which was expended on projects agreed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made for Rhodesians resident in Great Britain to attend public and private hearings of the Pearce Commission.

I understand that the arrangements made for Rhodesian residents in the United Kingdom by the Pearce Commission included opportunities, where appropriate, for the submission of views on the acceptability of the proposals orally as well as in writing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where public meetings of the Pearce Commission for Rhodesians resident in this country are currently being advertised.

I understand that the Pearce Commission has completed its hearings in this country. The question of advertisement does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his discussions during the week commencing Monday, 20th March, with the Foreign Ministers of the Six and the other three applicants for membership of the Common Market; and to what extent he has discussed the green card system on the insurance of motor vehicles within the Six and the proposed Ten.

My discussions on 20th March with the Foreign Ministers of the Six and the other applicants for membership of the European Communities were concerned with arrangements for the meeting of Heads of Government of the Ten that will take place later in the year. I did not discuss other topics.Under the arrangements we have agreed with the Community for consultation on draft measures during the interim period between signature and accession, we have transmitted our views on the Community's draft directive on motor vehicle insurance to the Community, and are currently consulting with it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the progress made in advancing the Auchinleck health centre project.

A further meeting was held locally in December at which agreement was reached on the schedule of accommodation and the services to be provided in the health centre. The architect has been appointed and sketch plans will be completed and discussed with local interests as soon as some outstanding points about the site have been resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Lanarkshire general practitioners are in receipt of merit awards; and what is the annual expenditure involved.

None. There is no system of merit awards for general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made on the construction of the new secondary school in Larkhall; and if he will make a statement about the expected completion date.

I am asking Lanarkshire Education Authority to provide this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the parental concern being expressed about drug-taking in schools, he will appoint a working party to examine what contribution Government and other public bodies can make to the eradication of this problem.

I do not think a further inquiry is necessary at this stage. A report by a sub-committee of the Consultative Committee of Medical Officers of Health on the misuse of drugs in Scotland, including drug-taking by schoolchildren, is due to be published next week. In addition there should be available later this year the report of the Working Party on Health Education set up in 1969 on the recommendation of the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum. The available evidence indicates that the problem, though serious, is a limited one; it will be kept under close study.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has given to Glasgow Education Authority about the proposals it has put to him for the reorganisation of the selective schools in the city.

The education authority has put outline proposals to me but has not yet submitted formal amendments to its educational provision and transfer schemes for my approval. Fol- lowing is the text of the reply which was sent by my Department today:"I refer to your letter of 6 March, 1972, conveying your Education Authority's proposals for revised arrangements at the High School of Glasgow, Glasgow High School for Girls, Hill head High School, Allan Glen's School, Notre Dame R.C. High School for Girls, St. Mungo's Academy, Hill head Primary School, Notre Dame Primary School, and the High School of Glasgow Primary Department. The Secretary of State notes that draft revised schemes under Sections 7 and 30 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1962, will be submitted as soon as possible.The Secretary of State feels that he should not consider reorganisation of these selective schools in isolation and he would wish to relate the Authority's proposals to the context of the intended total pattern of primary and secondary provision in the City and to take account, in particular, of the other selective secondary schools (i.e., both junior and senior secondary) which are not included in the present proposals. These other selective schools are for the most part so located that their potential catchment areas as area comprehensive schools are bound to be in close proximity to, if they do not actually encroach on, those of the schools which are the subject of the present proposals. I am to inquire, therefore, about the Authority's intentions as regards the other selective schools, both junior and senior secondary, and to ask for a note showing the effect reorganisation of the six secondary schools in question and of these other selective schools would have on the present and future catchment areas, rolls, accommodation and staffing of (1) these other selective schools and (2) the existing comprehensive schools; and similarly the effect which the proposed reorganisation of the three primary schools will have on the present and future catchment areas and rolls of the Authority's other primary schools.The Secretary of State notes that a subcommittee of the Education Committee heard representatives of the pupils of five of the schools concerned and of a number of interested bodies, and that the sub-committee also considered letters received from the Glasgow Local Association of the Educational Institute of Scotland and the Scottish Association of Labour Teachers. In his view, however, these measures fall short of the degree of consultation with parents and staff of the selective schools which he indicated, in Circular No. 760 of 2nd July, 1970, he would expect education authorities to carry out before submitting reorganisation proposals. The Secretary of State also considers that those consulted in terms of that Circular should include the staff and parents of pupils at other schools substantially affected by the proposals, for example by the redrawing of catchment areas. I am therefore to ask for a note of what further consultations the Authority propose to carry out, and in due course for a note of the results of these consultations.As it will clearly take some time for the Authority to submit this further information and for the substance of the proposals subsequently to be considered by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State regrets very much that the Authority have put forward so late in the 1971–72 session proposals some aspects of which are planned to come into effect at the beginning of the 1972–73 session, and which have still to be submitted in the form of revised educational provision and transfer schemes. While the matter will of course be dealt with as quickly as possible, the Secretary of State cannot at this stage be certain that he will be able to reach definitive decisions either about the proposed amendments to the Authority's schemes, which have still to be submitted to him, or about any proposed closures of schools or parts of schools, in time for any revised arrangements at the schools to be effective from session 1972–73. In the circumstances, therefore, the Secretary of State assumes that the Authority will proceed in accordance with their currently approved schemes and usual practice until such time as he has approved amendments to the schemes.Since it seems important to avoid uncertainty that might be harmful to the education of the present pupils or those who might normally expect to be candidates for admission to the selective schools in August, 1972, the Secretary of State would like the Authority to make a public announcement about their arrangements for these schools for next session at the earliest possible date."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet approved Glasgow Education Authority's proposals for a new building for St. Mungo's Academy, Glasgow.

The education authority has submitted site proposals and sketch plans on the basis that St. Mungo's Academy will be a selective secondary school. I have told the authority that I cannot consider this project further until I have reached a decision on the authority's revised arrangements for its selective and former fee-paying schools, which envisaged St. Mungo's Academy becoming a comprehensive school.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to give further encouragement to the improvement of the housing in environmental improvement areas.

To encourage more work of this kind, which is complementary to the improvement of houses themselves, I have today laid before the House an order increasing the limit of expenditure qualifying for Government grant, in respect of each house in an environmental improvement area, from £100 to £200.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the present-day value of the long-term addition paid to certain recipients of supplementary benefits in relation to its 1968 level of 50p.

Forty pence; but I have announced that the long-term addition will be increased by l0p in October.—[Vol. 833, c. 1503.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time that patients, who have had non-urgent surgical operations performed at the Leicester Royal Infirmary in the last six months for which figures are available, had been waiting for such operations.

Information relating to the first quarter of this year is expected to become available in June and I will send it to my hon. Friend. Such statistics are readily obtainable only from hospital activity analysis which was not introduced at the Leicester Royal Infirmary until 1st January, 1972, and information prior to that date is not therefore available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long a delay he anticipates in installing telephones for the disabled in Swansea as a result of his Department's refusal to allow the Post Office staff doing the work to qualify for industrial injuries benefit; and how many disabled people are awaiting telephones in Swansea, in Wales and in the whole country, respectively.

It does not seem that the work performed under this voluntary scheme—which I assume the hon. Member has in mind—is covered by the provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act, and my right hon. Friend has no power to pay benefit under the Act unless the statutory conditions are satisfied. I am advised that the Post Office Board is willing to operate the scheme for an experimental period pending the outcome of its examination of the whole problem, but that the branch of the Post Office Engineering Union concerned has suspended voluntary work until the position is clarified.The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to tighten up the controls applicable to hire-purchase agreements, or similar contracts, in relation to door-to-door sales.

The Government are considering very sympathetically the recommendation of the Crowther Committee on Consumer Credit that the present protections for the customer entering into hire-purchase agreements with door-to-door salesmen should be extended to all types of consumer credit agreements. However, it would not be appropriate to legislate on this single point in advance of more radical reform in the consumer credit field generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what firms or companies in Great Britain have complained to him of unfair competition caused by the operation of Supplementary Financing and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, within the current framework of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; and if he will name such firms or companies.

As the grounds for taking safeguard action under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences are that imports under it are causing or threatening serious injury to a British industry, complaints need to be put forward on behalf of an industry as a whole. This will normally be done by a trade association. Complaints have been made, or general apprehensions expressed, by the British Non-Ferrous Metals Federation, the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation and the British Leather Federation. "Unfair competition" by way of dumped or subsidised imports falls to be dealt with under the provisions of the Customs Duties (Dumping & Subsidies) Act, 1969. The proposal that aid should be provided for supplementary financing is unlikely to be put into effect in the foreseeable future.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, following the Budget proposals, he will request the Welsh Economic Council to study and report upon the effectiveness or otherwise of Government policy in relation to the special development areas in Wales and the possibility of extending their boundaries.

I have no doubt that the Welsh Council will be considering all aspects of the Government's recent announcements on regional policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he accepts the conclusions of the Central Water Advisory Committee's Report on Water Supplies in Wales and the Midlands that a reservoir in the Senni Valley is unnecessary.

This is in the first place a matter for the ask River Authority, which will no doubt have full regard to the view of the Water Resources Board, in its report on Water Resources in Wales and the Midlands, that the objections to the development of a reservoir in the Senni Valley outweighed its advantages.