asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is now in a position to make a further statement on British representation on the European Court.

The European Court at present includes nationals of each of the member States among the judges. I am confident that, on enlargement, there will be a British judge on the court, and that this country will be represented proportionately among the staff of the court.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Chargé ďAffaires' official talks in Peking with Mr. Ch'iao Kuan-hua.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on this subject on 13th March.—[Vol. 833, c. 31.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on aid to Tanzania.

As I told the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 6th March, during this financial year British aid to Tanzania is expected to amount to £66,000, all technical assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest figures for British aid to Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make a statement on further aid to Bangladesh.

Her Majesty's Government signed two interest-free loan agreements with the Government of Bangladesh on 26th February. These together provided £4·835 million. We have also promised £3 million of relief aid. Out of this, we have paid £1 million in cash to the United Nations and £200,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and we spent £300,000 on various vessels, aircraft charters and Bailey bridges. We have also made a special contribution of £100,000 to U.N.I.C.E.F. for relief in Bangladesh. I am not in a position to announce further aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations were made last year by the European Economic Community Commission without reference either to the Council of Ministers or to the European Parliament.

In 1971 approximately 2,500 regulations were made by the commission mainly making detailed provision of a routine nature for giving effect to instruments already made by the Council of Ministers. These regulations, the majority of which are in the field of agriculture, are not referred to the Council of Ministers or to the European Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to arrange to visit France during the period between the last week in April and the first week in May for the purposes of discussing matters of topical interest concerning Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.

Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary nor I have any plans to make such a visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he received the communication dated 22nd March from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding the European Economic Community directive proposed to the Council of Ministers by the Commission on 24th June, 1970, Journal Official No. C.105/14, dated 15th August, 1970; why an English translation of this directive is not available; and when it will be made available.

The hon. Member's letter of 22nd March addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was received on 23rd March.The instrument in question is a draft. If it is adopted by the Council of Ministers it will be translated and published in English.After accession the Official Journal will of course be published in English as well as in the existing Community languages.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he now expects to visit Commonwealth countries in West Africa;(2) what invitations he has received to pay official visits to Commonwealth countries in West Africa; and what replies he has made.

As I told my hon. Friend on 15th November, I should like to go to West Africa and will do so when a convenient date can be arranged.—[Vol. 826, c. 33.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he now intends to discuss the findings of the Pearce Commission with the leaders of the Commonwealth African Governments.

We must first await the report of the Pearce Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been made by Israel for the purchase of submarines from the United Kingdom; and what was the nature of his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what representations he has received from Arab Governments concerning the decision to permit Israel to be supplied with two submarines; and if he will make a statement.

It is not out practice to comment on particular arms transactions or reports about them. Nor can I comment on representations which may have been made by foreign Governments about such reports. There has been no change in British policy over the Arab /Israel dispute which remains as set out in my speech at Harrogate on 31st October, 1970, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Nor, I would emphasize, has there been any change in our policy on the sale of arms to countries in the Middle East. Requests for arms from countries in the region are considered on their merits: there is no embargo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in resolving problems relating to the ownership and control of British oil assets in Libya.

I have nothing to add at this stage to what I and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary told the House in answer to Questions on 24th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 316–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what United Nations personnel are now concerned with South-West Africa; what are their stated functions and emoluments; what visits they have made to the territory, for what purpose, and with what result; what is the total expenditure to date in connection with South-West Africa; and what retrenchment is contemplated as part of the United Nations economy campaign.

In New York there is an Acting Commissioner for Namibia with a staff of 10 who carries out such tasks as the Council for Namibia give him; the cost since 1967 to the end of this year is estimated at $1·325 million; the new Secretary-General visited the territory 7th to 9th March. Following are the details:

Under the terms of General Assembly Resolution No. 2248 of 19th May, 1967, an Acting Commissioner for Namibia, with a staff of 10, maintains an office in New York. The stated functions of the Acting Commissioner are responsibility for such executive and administrative tasks as the Council for Namibia may entrust to him, which have included: participation in the negotiations and the conclusion of agreements with Governments regarding travel and identity documents issued to Namibians; arrangements for the issuence of these documents; contacts and consultations with the specialised agencies in connexion with technical and financial assistance to Namibians; and the preparation of special studies and reports. Salaries and wages of the Acting Commissioner and his staff for 1972 are given in U.N. estimates as $230,000. The Council for Namibia has so far been unable to visit the territory. As required by Security Council Resolution 309, however, the U.N. Secretary General visited South-West Africa from 7th–9th March, accompanied by three members of the U.N. Secretariat, for talks with the parties concerned. Total provision of expenditure on South-West Africa since 1967 to 31st December, 1972, as reflected in the U.N. budget estimates, amounts to $1,325,000. The estimate for 1972 shows a saving of $13,700 over the comparable figure for 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking and what reports he is calling for, arising from the dumping of radioactive material at the Lliswerry Quarry, Glamorgan.

No radioactive waste has been dumped at the Lliswerry Quarry. Following allegations that such dumping had taken place a Government radio chemical inspector visited the quarry on 21st March. He found no trace whatsoever of any radioactive material.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will, by an investigation, seek to determine the source of radioactive material which has been found at Lliswerry Quarry.

No trace of any radioactive material has been found at the quarry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he can now say when his decision on the Welshpool Bypass proposals is to be published.

My right hon. and learned Friend is at present considering the inspector's report on the public inquiry. He will announce his decision as soon as he can.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to take action to straighten out the dangerous bend on the A5 trunk road at Rhysgog, near Llangollen.

Work will start as soon as the necessary land is available. Negotiations to this end are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to take action to straighten out the dangerous bend on the A5 trunk road in the vicinity of the Llangollen golk links.

Subject to the necessary land becoming available, work should start in 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is aware of the public demand for a pedestrian crossing over the A5 trunk road at Froncysyllte, Denbighshire; and when he proposes to take action to establish one at a suitable point in the area.

I am considering this matter, and am awaiting certain details from the Denbighshire County Council about the possible special needs of elderly pedestrians in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware that there are a total of 48 men and three women on the Welsh rent assessment panels; whether this, ratio represents his assessment of the qualifications and suitability of Welsh women for this task; and if he will consider appointing more women.

:Two-thirds of the members of the panel need to be lawyers and valuers of standing. In most of Wales there are proportionately few women in these professions. Within this limitation I shall continue to select the man or women best qualified and available for appointment, irrespective of any other consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what studies he has made of the results achieved by the Scottish Highlands and Islands Development Board; and whether he has considered the establishment of a body in Wales exercising some of those functions.

I am familiar with the work of this board, but I am satisfied that the Government's present policies and organisation are wholly suited to the needs of Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from workers' organisation concerning workers' shares in the old Rolls-Royce Company.

:The Rolls-Royce Employees and Ex-Employees Derby Group Shareholders Action Association discussed this with me on two occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the memorandum on acceptance of standards of competence for dispensers of hearing aids which is now being considered in the countries of the Common Market in preparation of a directive on this subject.

I did so on 24th March, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for. Trade and Industry what is the agreed rate at which well head royalties will be levied on production of North Sea oil.

The rate is 12½ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation he has had with North Sea oil licensees to co-ordinate their plans for laying pipes on the ocean bed with the fishing industry.

All proposals for submarine pipelines are referred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food so that fishing interests may be properly safeguarded, and to obtain a consent under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, the pipeline must normally be buried.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an urgent investigation into possible oil seepage from the wreck of the Liberian oil tanker "Torrey Canyon" off the Seven Stones Reef.

I am satisfied from inquiries already made that it is very unlikely that oil recently reported off the Cornish coast came from the "Torrey Canyon".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to visit Commonwealth countries in West Africa.

I have no such plans at present, but I hope that it may prove possible for a D.T.I. Minister to pay a visit to some of the Commonwealth countries in Africa in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will give details of the notices he has issued under Section 29(3) of the Civil Aviation Act, 1971, limiting take-off and landing at designated airports;

The following notices have been published in the manner prescribed by the Civil Aviation (Notices) Regulations, 1971:

Under Section 29(1) of the Civil Aviation Act, 1971, four amendments to the United Kingdom Air Pilot, as Notams 139, 140, 141 and 142 of 1972, setting out noise abatement requirements for Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Prestwick airports respectively.

Under Section 29(3) of the same Act notices governing night flying restrictions at Gatwick and Heathrow during the summer period of 1972, as Notams 157 and 158.

No occasion for the issue of notices under Sections 29(2), 29(5) and 29(7) of the same Act has yet arisen.

Copies of all these notices are being placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement before the Easter Recess about the result of his investigation into the disposal by the liquidator for the Vehicle and General Insurance Company of tapes of confidential and personal information to the London and Edinburgh General Insurance Company, and its use by others.

I understand that in the course of our review of policy towards the insurance industry a letter had been sent to my Department of which I was not aware when I answered the hon. Member's Question on 20th March.I am now informed that a copy of a tape belonging to The Vehicle and General Insurance Company Limited (in liquidation) and containing names and addresses of policy holders and particulars of insurance cover has been sold, on terms, to the London and Edinburgh General Insurance Company Limited; and that the liquidators may sell the information to other interested parties also.The disposal of the assets of the company in liquidation is in the hands of the joint liquidators who have powers under the Companies Act to sell them. Any person aggrieved by an act or decision of the joint liquidators may apply to the court and the court may confirm, reverse or modify the act or decision complained of, and make such order in the premises as it thinks just.The Committee on Privacy has for the past two years been considering issues of principle raised in the handling of personal information. I can well understand the basis for the hon. Member's concern, but I suggest he waits and sees what the report may have to say about such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts in each year since the introduction of the Government General Contracts Preference Scheme for Development Areas were awarded to firms located in development area; what percentage this figure represents of the total issued by his Department; and on how many occasions the Special Preference Scheme has been implemented in each year.

From its formation in October, 1970, until the end of February, 1972, the Department has placed a total of 3,878 contracts to the value of £2,608,216. Of these, 276, valued at £180,757, have been awarded to firms in the development areas and Northern Ireland. Without undue expenditure it is not possible to say which were placed under the provisions of the Contracts Preference Scheme; none has been placed under the Special Preference Scheme by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the objectives of the study of existing Government support of export promotion amounting to £28 million, he will include ways in which women may be allowed to make a more substantial contribution to exports by the removal of existing restrictions on their participation in trade and industry.

I will draw the hon. Member's point to the attention of the British Overseas Trade Board, which is conducting the study to which he refers. The study is, however, confined to consideration of how the resources of the Government's export promotion programme can most effectively be allocated so as to encourage and assist British companies to maintain and increase their overseas earnings. The services provided under this programme are available without discrimination by sex. Questions on the employment of women in trade and industry are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has now completed his examination of the proposed acquisition of Watney Mann by Grand Metropolitan Hotels, as to whether it will give rise to monopoly considerations; and if he will make a statement.

No; I am still considering the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will make a statement on the studies undertaken by his Department into the impact on British workers of British know-how being applied to the production of electronic components which are produced in low-cost-labour countries and which are subsequently imported to the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement on Government policy towards such workers;(2) whether he will make a statement on the studies undertaken by his Department into therôle played by Great Britain in the electronics industry, with particular reference to the development of component production techniques, and to the significance of this rôle for British workers in terms of their employment prospects.

We have made a study of the important sector of the electronics industry concerned with integrated circuits, and we are taking account of the results of the study in our actions. If the hon. Member has any further points in mind, perhaps he will write to me about them. However, it has been the consistent policy of successive British Governments to encourage the export of British capital and British know-how to developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of concern being expressed by ornithologists and bird and animal welfare workers about the increased number of oil-pollution casualties amongst sea birds off the Cornish coast, if we will institute an urgent investigation into the source and treatment of the cause of this pollution.

Inquiries already made have not revealed the origin of the oil responsible for these incidents but indications are that it originated from passing vessels. Increased surveillance is now being maintained in the area, and facilities are available to treat oil threatening serious harm to vulnerable sea birds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what invitations he has received to pay official visits to Commonwealth countries in West Africa; and what replies he has made.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report the names of the antibiotics and other drugs in developing countries, together with the countries of origin, which will be admitted to the United Kingdom duty free under the scheme which came into operation on 1st January.

Under the generalised tariff preference scheme all drugs directly consigned to the United Kingdom from the countries listed in Schedule 1 of the Import Duties (Developing Countries) Order 1971—S.I. 1971 No. 1882—may be admitted into the United Kingdom duty-free if they meet the required origin rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which airports have been designated for noise regulation unde Section 29 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1971.

Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Prestwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs are in prospect in Wales, at the latest available date; and how this figure compares with that at 1st July, 1970.

Based on estimates by the firms concerned, some 19,100 factory jobs are now in prospect in Wales. This does not include additional jobs which may arise in the non-manufacturing service sector. The figure for mid-1970 was 30,900.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the interest of conservation of endangered species, he will now control imports of the skins of the tiger, leopard, including the snow and clouded leopard, and the cheetah.

With effect from midnight 27th March, imports of furs, skins, rugs, and coverlets obtained from the tiger and the snow and clouded leopards will be prohibited. Imports of such goods obtained from all other leopards and the cheetah will continue to be permitted but only where we are satisfied that they have been legally exported from the countries of origin in accordance with local conservation requirements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he is making to the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community concerning the minimum price of £146 per ton imposed by regulation on 1st August, 1971, on the import of tomato paste for manufacture from third countries; and if he will make a statement.

These regulations expire on 30th June, 1972. We shall be consulted about any proposals to continue a minimum import price system for tomato paste thereafter. My right hon. Friend is fully aware of the food industry's interest in supplies of tomato paste, and my Department is in close touch with the Food Manufacturers' Federation on this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the percentages of milk sold which is raw, that is to say, untreated, in the United Kingdom and in Yorkshire, respectively.

About 5 per cent. of the milk sold for liquid consumption in the United Kingdom has not been heat treated. Figures for Yorkshire are not separately available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many contracts in each year since the introduction of the Government General Contracts Preference Scheme for Development Areas were awarded to firms located in development areas; what percentage this figure represents of the total issued by his Department; and on how many occasions the Special Preference Scheme has been implemented in each year.

In the main the Ministry's central purchases are obtained through contracts placed by the Ministry of Defence. Records are not kept of other contracts, but the Ministry's departmental instructions require the observance of the General and Special Preference Contract Schemes for them. It would require disproportionate effort to ascertain the total number placed, to distinguish the number awarded to firms located in development areas, and to distinguish contracts awarded under the Special Preference Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what phase-out rights have been obtained for British fishing vessels within the new Canadian fishery limits.

Agreement has been reached which will give British fishing vessels rights to fish for demersal species in the outer nine miles of the Canadian 12-mile fishery zone off most of the east coast until 1st January, 1978, and within a specified area of the Gulf of St. Lawrence beyond the 12-mile limit until 1st January, 1973. Notes to this effect are being exchanged in Ottawa today, and I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House in due course. Details will shortly be given to the fishing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the hospitals in the London Borough of Wandsworth which will receive financial help from his Department as a result of the financial assistance programme announced by him last November.

Additional funds from the extra money have been allocated by the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board for 1972–73 at St. Benedict's, Tooting Bee, and Springfield hospitals. The board has also allocated funds to increase from 1st April the number of contractual beds at the Royal Home and Hospital, Putney, for use by younger chronic sick patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations he is encouraging to take place between local hospital boards and local authorities to discuss the use of the additional financial help announced by him last November, to ensure that any projects introduced will be used for the benefit of local residents.

Hospital boards and local authorities were asked, following the announcement of the extra money, to consult each other about co-ordinating hospital plans with plans for the development of associated community services.—[Vol. 826, c. 957–64.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the income breakdown among recipients of the family income supplement, according to the recent survey.

The survey carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in September, 1971, covered by about 300 low-income families and included both families receiving and not receiving family income supplement. It did not therefore contain a sufficiently large sample to provide the income breakdown requested by the hon. Member. The following information is based on statistical tables compiled by my Department from a sample of awards made up to the end of October, 1971.

FAMILIES IN RECEIPT OF FAMILY INCOME SUPPLEMENT—OCTOBER, 1971
Weekly income of family, exclusive of Family Income Supplement	Percentage of total families
Under £9	1·7
£9 to £9·99	1·4
£10 to £10·99	2·5
£11 to £11·99	2·9
£12 to £12·99	4·4
£13 to £13·99	5·6
£14 to £14·99	7·2
£15 to £15·99	9·5
£16 to £16·99	11·3
£17 to £17·99	11·2
£18 to £18·99	8·8
£19 to £19·99	8·3
£20 to £20·99	5·9
£21 to £21·99	5·5
£22 to £22·99	3·9
£23 to £23·99	3·8
£24 to £24·99	1·9
£25 to £25·99	1·8
£26 to £26·99	0·9
£27 to £27·99	0·6
£28 to £28·99	0·3
£29 to £29·99	0·3
£30 to £30·99	0·1
£31 to £31·99	0·1
£32 or more	0·1

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what new instructions have been issued concerning the administration of the four-week rule; and whether he will place a copy of them in the Library.

Some consolidated instructions which amplify existing guidance have recently been issued as part of the normal process for keeping local office guidance in a form which is convenient for the staff. Such departmental instructions are for internal use, and the answer to the second part of the Question is, therefore, "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the waiting lists in the Mansfield hospitals for hernia, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, rheumatism, arthritis, tonsils/adenoids, congenital heart disease, and slipped disc, respectively.

The figures as at 23rd March. 1972, are as follows:

Hernia	104
Varicose Veins	112
Haemorrhoids	11
Rheumatism	3
Arthritis	202*
Tonsils/adenoids	374
Congenital heart disease	Nil
Slipped disc	1
*Because of the special centre for orthopaedic treatment, this includes living ouside the Mansfield area. 163 patients

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private consultations have taken place in hospitals covered by Grimsby Hospital Management Committee, Leicester No. 1 Hospital Management Committee, Leicester No. 2 Hospital Management Committee, Lincoln No. 1 Hospital Management Committee, Lincoln Heath Hospital Management Committee, and Mansfield Hospital Management Committee, respectively, during the past five years.

Figures for 1970 and 1971—including both out-patients and day patients—are as follows. Figures for earlier years are not available.

Hospital Management Committee	1970	1971
Grimsby	414	372
Leicester No. 1	449	431
Leicester No. 2	165	118
Lincoln No. 1	54	69
Lincoln Heath	17	48
Mansfield	5,348	6,272

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Bournemouth and Christ-church area are now receiving the new sliding-scale pension for women widowed between the ages of 40 and 50 years.

I regret that the information is not available on a local basis. The estimate which I gave in my reply to my hon. Friend on 3rd August, 1971, was made possible only because local records of claims were kept for an initial period of three months.—[Vol. 822, c. 251.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to take steps to comply with the proposed European Economic Community directive concerning colouring matter which can be added to proprietary pharmaceutical products.

This directive is still in draft and it is not possible to forecast when and in what form it will be adopted. In accordance with the agreed interim procedure, we shall be consulted by the Six before the directive is finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the powers under which he has banned the use of Trafalgar Square for demonstrations concerning trouble in Northern Ireland.

The Trafalgar Square Regulations,1952, made in exercise of the powers conferred by the Trafalgar Square Act, 1844.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when was the last time that Trafalgar Square was closed to demonstrators; and for what reason.

Permission was last refused in respect of an application from Sinn Fein for a meeting on 26th September, 1971. The reason for the refusal was the situation in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons he has banned the use of Trafalgar Square for demonstrations concerning Northern Ireland.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 22nd March.—[Vol. 833, c. 1497–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents on motorways in the last five years have been attributable to "fog-walls"; and if he will give details of

						Casualties
				Injury accidents	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
1969
M1	…	…	…	40	8	57	39	104
M4	…	…	…	8	1	12	12	25
M6	…	…	…	24	4	18	21	43
Other motorways			…	16	0	15	30	45
Total		…	…	88	13	102	102	217
1970
M1	…	…	…	27	10	31	41	82
M4	…	…	…	3	0	1	2	3
M6	…	…	…	9	0	7	22	29
Other motorways			…	14	0	10	18	28
Total		…	…	53	10	49	83	142
Details were not collected in 1967 and 1968; details for 1971 are not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the guidance issued to local authorities about the need to maintain confidentiality of information in conducting means tests in connection with the introduction of the Housing Finance Bill's provisions; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to the maintenance of confidentiality and will see to it that the point is emphasised to local authorities at the proper time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the people serving on the Yorkshire rent assessment panels who reside in the areas covered by the Pontefract Borough, Castleford Borough and Featherstone urban district councils, respectively.

No. It is not the practice to give information about the residence of members of rent assessment panels. As the hon. Member may be aware, a list of members of the Yorkshire panel, and of each other panel in place, date, numbers killed and injured and numbers of vehicles involved.

Accident statistics do not distinguish between "fog-walls" and other degrees of fog. Following are the figures for motorway accidents occurring in fog during 1969 and 1970:England, is now available in the Library of the House of Commons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the 44 persons serving on the East Midlands Rent Assessment Panel live in council houses or in houses with controlled and regulated tenancies.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in his appointment of a new directorate to come into being on 1st April concerning the related fields of ancient monuments, historic buildings and conservation areas, he will have regard to the particular contribution which can be made by women.

If the hon. Member will let me know what particular contribution he has in mind, I will look at it. In my experience women do not preserve any better than men.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the fact that of the 57 members of the Yorkshire rent assessment panels only 10 are women, if he will consider appointing more women.

:The Lord Chancellor and I will continue to appoint those best qualified for this work. Not only lay members but also qualified valuersand lawyers of standing have to be appointed. The imbalance of the sexes in these professions restricts the number of women candidates available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers and the sex of members of each of the area rent assessment panels; and what is the percentage of women members on each panel.

The following is the information:

Rent Assessment Panel	Membership		Percentage of women members
	Male	Female
London	99	23	18·85
Liverpool	36	2	5·26
Manchester	53	3	5·35
West Midland	53	7	11·66
Northern	25	8	24·24
Yorkshire	47	10	17·54
East Midland	40	4	9·09
Eastern	36	4	10
Luton	23	4	14·81
Thames Valley	22	—	—
Kent	15	4	21·05
Surrey and Sussex	24	3	11·11
Southern	17	3	15
Bristol	40	1	2·43
Devon and Cornwall	27	4	12·25

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received from local authorities in Hampshire for grants towards the maintenance of rural bus services in that county; and what grants are currently being paid in respect of such services.

The Hampshire County Council is not required to notify me of proposals for aiding rural bus services in the county but I understand that seven operators are currently receiving grants totalling some £52,000 per annum to which the Exchequer contributes half.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Colne Valley can expect a substantive reply to his letter of 14th January in connection with the withdrawal of licences for motor cyclists.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reduction he estimates will take place in the Index of Retail Prices as a result of the reductions in purchase tax announced in his Budget on 21st March, 1972.

About two-thirds of a point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the £15 exemption from tax in the case of interest on ordinary deposits was originally fixed; and what would such a sum with the same real value be today;(2) why the £15 interest tax exemption is confined to ordinary low interest rate accounts, such as Post Office savings and Trustee ordinary accounts.

The £15 exemption was introduced in 1956, and was confined to savings deposits which earned a relatively low rate of interest and which was wholly lent to the Government. At current prices, the equivalent amount would be £25. The exemption was raised to £21 last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will include micro-film reproductions of books, booklets, brochures, pamphlets and leaflets under Group 3 of Schedule 4 of the proposed Clauses of the Finance Bill dealing with value-added tax.

There will be opportunity during the debates on the Finance Bill to discuss the value-added tax schedules.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those categories of goods or services which currently are not subject to purchase tax but which are proposed to be subject to the 10 per cent., value-added tax; and a list of goods and services which would be subject to a higher rate of tax with a 10 per cent. value-added tax than they are at present.

Purchase tax does not apply to any services, or to industrial goods and raw materials generally, or to certain consumer goods. It would require an excessive expenditure of effort to prepare an itemised list of all such goods and services which it is proposed to subject to value-added tax. As to the second part of the Question, the 11¼ per cent. rate of purchase tax—which applies to clothing, footwear and certain other personal and domestic goods—is equivalent to a rate of value-added tax of less than 10 per cent., but such goods will

INCREASE IN NATIONAL ASSISTANCE/SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT SCALE RATE PLUS AVERAGE HOUSING COST
£ per annum
				Married		Single
					November, 1960		November, 1960
				£	=100	£	=100
November
1960	…	…	…	276	100	177	100
1961	…	…	…	293	106	189	107
1962	…	…	…	310	112	203	115
1963	…	…	…	340	123	223	126
1964	…	…	…	343	124	228	129
1965	…	…	…	406	147	266	150
1966	…	…	…	Not available		Not available
1967	…	…	…	458	166	304	172
1968	…	…	…	487	176	323	182
1969	…	…	…	514	186	343	194
1970	…	…	…	556	201	374	211
1971	…	…	…	Not yet available		Not yet available
Notes:
1. No information is available for 1966 as the annual survey carried out into the requirements of supplementary benefit recipients was not carried out in 1966 on account of the establishment of the Supplementary Benefit Commission.
2. Average housing costs include rates and are the average of those incurred by supplementary benefit recipients.
3. The results of the 1971 Survey are not yet available

INCREASE IN THE STATUTORY INCOME LIMITS FOR AGE EXEMPTION AND MARGINAL AGE EXEMPTION
				Statutory Age Exemption Income Limits		Statutory Marginal Age Exemption Income Limits
				Single	Married	Single	Married
				£(1960–61=100)	£ (1960–61=100)	£(1960–61=100)	£(1960–61=100)
1960–61	…	…	…	275 (100)	440(100)	330 (100)	495 (100)
1961–62	…	…	…	275 (100)	440(100)	330 (100)	495 (100)
1962–63	…	…	…	300 (109)	480 (109)	375(114)	555(112)
1963–64	…	…	…	325(118)	520(118)	400(121)	595 (120)
1964–65	…	…	…	360(131)	575 (131)	490 (148)	705 (142)
1965–66	…	…	…	390 (142)	625 (142)	550(167)	785 (159)
1966–67	…	…	…	390 (142)	625 (142)	550(167)	785 (159)
1967–68	…	…	…	401 (146)	643 (146)	581 (176)	823 (166)
1968–69	…	…	…	415(151)	665 (151)	645 (195)	895 (181)
1969–70	…	…	…	425 (155)	680(155)	690 (209)	945(191)
1970–71	…	…	…	475 (173)	740(168)	730 (221)	995 (201)
1971–72	…	…	…	504 (184)	786(179)	834 (253)	1,116(225)
1972–73 (proposed)		…	…	634(231)	929(211)	879 (266)	1,174 (237)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase each year since 1960 over the level in that year of supplementary benefit rates plus average rent for, respectively, a married couple and a single person, and also of the marginal age exemption reliefs for, respectively, a married couple and a single person.

Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employed persons there are in Cardiganshire whose earnings are so low that they do not pay any income tax.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish the names of those local education authorities in Wales who are below the quota for the pupil-teacher ratio by more than one per cent.; if she will indicate by what amount they fall below that level; and if she will make a statement.

:At 31st January, 1972, the following local education authorities in Wales were more than one per cent, below quota:—

	Per cent
Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Pembrokeshire}	1–2
Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire}	2–3
Anglesey	3–4
Breconshire, Caernarvonshire	4–5
Swansea, Cardiganshire	5–6

These figures do not provide an accurate indication of comparative staffing standards because (

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many more secondary school teachers are expected to be employed in Wales when the school leaving age is raised to 16 years.

I estimate that a little over 1,000 more teachers will be employed in maintained schools in Wales in the school year 1973–74 than in 1972–73. It is for the local education authority to allocate them between primary and secondary schools but the majority are likely to go to secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the teachers' salary negotiations procedure, in view of the fact that the management side by breaking off negotiations can bring the issue to arbitration; if she will reconsider the procedure in the light of the teachers' protests; and if she will make a statement.

The arrangements for arbitration are neutral as between the two sides of a Burnham Committee. It is open to either to suggest reference to arbitration. If the other side does not agree, the reference is made only if the independent chairman is satisfied that both sides have tabled all the proposals that they wish to have considered and that full opportunity for discussion and negotiation has been allowed.These arrangements have existed since 1965. I am ready to consider on their merits any constructive proposals for changes in the procedures which command broad support among the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she can now make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a teachers' general council.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the Question by the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 18th November last.—[Vol. 826, cols. 180–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the numbers of university places in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years, and the school population from which the university places were drawn for the same period.

:The number of full-time students in universities in the United Kingdom from 1967–68 to 1971–72 was as follows:—

1967–68	205,195
1968–69	217,363
1969–70	226,069
1970–71	235,256
1971–72	241,373 (Provisional)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children aged between seven and 11 years are in receipt of free milk on health grounds in each of the divisional education districts of the West Riding County Council at the latest available date; and what is this as a percentage of the whole age group.

The information is not available in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost per annum of a child attending a nursery school.

In 1970–71 the cost was £211.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the average cost per annum of an undergraduate at a polytechnic in arts, social science and science, respectively;(2) what is the average cost per annum of a Doctorate of Philosophy student at a polytechnic in arts, social science and science, respectively.

The information is not available. The average cost for all students in polytechnics was included in the reply given to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Cormack) on 16th December, 1971.—[Vol. 828, col. 156.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstance the Army was called to the centre of Carrickfergus on Thursday, 23rdMarch, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; what injuries resulted; what weight of explosives was used; how and where the bomb was planted; how was it detonated; and what arrests were made.

I understand that at 8.35 a.m. the Royal Ulster Constabulary received an anonymous telephone call warning that a bomb had been left in a green van parked in West Street, Carrickfergus. That area was promptly cleared but at 9.5 a.m. a bomb exploded in a red car in North Street. Seventeen people, including four members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, were injured and extensive damage was caused to shops and other property in the area.Army ammunition technical officers assessed that the bomb had contained 100 to 150 lbs. of explosive and that it had been detonated by a timing device. I understand that police inquiries are continuing although no arrests have yet been made in connection with this incident.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many contracts in each year since the introduction of the Government General Contracts Preference Scheme for Development Areas were awarded to firms located in development areas; what percentage this figure represents of the total issued by his Department; and on how many occasions the Special Preference Scheme has been implemented in each year.

Available figures are as follows:

	Approximate Number of Contracts awarded in Development Areas	Approximate Total Number of Ministry of Defence Contracts	Percentage
1966–67	7,100	85,500	8·3
1967–68	8,000	83,100	9·6
1968–69	6,700	75,600	8·9
1969–70	8,500	72,100	11·8
1970–71	7,200	73,100	9·8

About 200 and 120 contracts respectively were placed in 1969–70 and 1970–71 under the Special Preference Scheme. Information on contracts offered but declined is not readily available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what evidence he currently has of foreign support for the Irish Republican Army other than from the Republic of Ireland.

The bulk of foreign support for the I.R.A. consists in furthering its propaganda. There are some indications of direct assistance from abroad chiefly in terms of financial contributions from individuals and in the supply of arms and ammunition, but there is no evidence that this amounts to any significant support to the I.R.A.'s activities.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what progress has been made in the review of Service pensions; and if he will make a statement.

We have now completed the first part of our review of Service pension arrangements, leading to the introduction of a new pension code for men and women serving on or after 31st March, 1972. This will establish a more coherent link between pay and pensions at a level which takes account of good modern practice and of the special circumstances of the Services, with their relatively short careers.Pensions will continue to be related to rank and length of service and will also be related to common representative pay rates for each rank. At the full career point, normally at age 55, pensions will be broadly half the average pay rate over the last year of service. At the minimum retiring ages which qualify for pension, the rates will lie between one-quarter and one-third of the pay rates. Terminal grants will continue to be payable at three times the annual rate of pension. No change in length of service to qualify for pension is involved.The main effect of these new arrangements is to bring about significant improvements in pensions for other ranks, especially at the minimum length of service—22 years—which qualifies for pension, where the increase will be not less than 50 per cent. on present rates and in many cases rather more. The size of the improvements will become progressively smaller towards the full career point—after 37 years'service—where the existing rates are already fairly close to half pay. The major improvement will therefore be made where it is most needed to assist other ranks who are required to leave the Services at about the age of 40. The changes in pensions for officers will be relatively small.The publication of the new pensions code will be delayed so that it may also take account of changes in Service pay which may result from recommendations by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the problems for disabled professional persons in bridging the gap between hospital and returning home; if he will consider taking steps to provide additional special rehabilitation centres to make it possible for such people to work; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the problems in bridging the gap between hospital and returning home, and so, consequently, to work. I have at present no evidence, however, which suggests that the number of professional people needing the services of a special rehabilitation centre would justify its provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to provide machinery for analysing the work potential of disabled persons and for assisting them to progress from part-time to full-time work; and if he will make a statement.

Facilities are available at 25 industrial rehabilitation units for assessing the working capacity and aptitudes of disabled persons. Occupational guidance units attached to 44 employment offices can also provide help in appropriate cases.Part-time workers can be assisted to become fit for full-time work through a course at an industrial rehabilitation unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that the compilers of the professional and executive register give full information to disablement rehabilitation officers; and if he will make a statement.

The staff of the Professional and Executive Register co-operate fully with disablement resettlement officers in the placing of disabled persons who are seeking employment at the levels covered by the register.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what axe the figures for unemployed school-leavers in the Petersfield constituency to the nearest convenient date, compared with the same figure in October last.

At March, 1972, the provisional number of school-leavers registered as unemployed at the Basing-stoke Careers Office was 4 (3 boys and 1 girl). The corresponding figure for October, 1971, was 20 (13 boys and 7 girls). Information is available only for the whole of the Basingstoke Careers Office area, part of which is in the Petersfield constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the figures for adult wholly unemployed in the Petersfield constituency, for males and females, both numerically and as a percentage, to the nearest convenient date, compared with the same figure in October last.

In the area covered by the Petersfield and Alton employment exchanges, at March, 1972, the provisional numbers of men and women aged 18 years and over registered as wholly unemployed were 408 and 65, respectively, and the percentage rates of unemployment for the wholly unemployed were 3·9 males and 1·1 for females. The corresponding figures for October, 1971, were 339, 53, 3·3 and 0·9.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentage rates of male and female unemployment in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in January, February and March, 1972; and what were the corresponding rates in 1970 and 1971.

Following is the information:

PPERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE EDINBURGH TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA BASED ON THE TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED, INCLUDING WORKERS WHO WERE TEMPORARILY STOPPED
1970	Males	Females	Total
January	5·6	1·0	3·6
February	5·4	1·0	3·5
March	5·4	1·0	3·5
1971
January	6·7	1·3	4·4
February	6·7	1·4	4·4
March	6·8	1·5	4·5
1972
January	8·2	1·8	5·5
February	9·1	2·5	6·2
March (provisional)	8·4	1·8	5·6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women, respectively, were wholly unemployed in each of the Edinburgh and Lothian employment exchange areas in

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS
					January, 1970		February, 1970		March,1970
					Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Edinburgh	…	…	…	…	3,825	533	3,639	538	3,700	517
Leith	…	…	…	…	1,467	128	1,377	123	1,343	125
Portobello	…	…	…	…	643	79	652	79	670	82
Dalkeith	…	…	…	…	575	61	586	86	593	87
Loanhead	…	…	…	…	433	140	443	114	416	120
Musselburgh		…	…	…	657	70	645	80	615	76
Tranent	…	…	…	…	216	61	215	65	215	61
Bathgate	…	…	…	…	728	120	706	120	705	108
Livingston	…	…	…	…	135	27	134	21	128	25
West Calder		…	…	…	101	19	92	17	99	16
Broxburn	…	…	…	…	139	16	135	18	122	17
Bo'ness	…	…	…	…	152	107	132	106	135	111
Linlithgow	…	…	…	…	38	24	33	21	36	27
Haddington		…	…	…	181	51	182	50	198	48

					January, 1971		February, 1971		March, 1971
					Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Edinburgh	…	…	…	…	4,739	620	4,772	672	4,679	652
Leith	…	…	…	…	1,766	211	1,752	210	1,784	236
Portobello	…	…	…	…	801	105	850	137	840	135
Dalkeith	…	…	…	…	673	110	655	118	660	118
Loanhead	…	…	…	…	481	166	498	135	488	128
Musselburgh		…	…	…	666	112	635	136	775	155
Tranent	…	…	…	…	246	77	229	85	249	82
Bathgate	…	…	…	…	1,145	173	1,207	175	1,228	204
Livingston	…	…	…	…	237	66	257	70	310	78
West Calder		…	…	…	135	38	141	30	142	33
Broxburn	…	…	…	…	246	41	262	40	284	40
Bo'ness	…	…	…	…	243	111	226	104	257	104
Linlithgow	…	…	…	…	58	40	72	42	76	41
Haddington		…	…	…	205	61	223	57	219	45

					January, 1972		February, 1972		March, 1972(Provisional)
					Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Edinburgh	…	…	…	…	5,718	842	5,615	879	5,713	903
Leith	…	…	…	…	2,078	277	2,175	265	2,146	267
Portobello	…	…	…	…	1,044	171	1,064	172	1,045	163
Dalkeith	…	…	…	…	1,021	175	1,047	174	1,013	155
Loanhead (including penicuik)				…	576	131	620	150	600	139
Musselburgh		…	…	…	843	174	761	170	754	146
Tranent	…	…	…	…	279	90	288	91	251	90
Bathgate	…	…	…	…	1,383	410	1,438	375	1,481	337
Livingston	…	…	…	…	453	148	446	146	481	127
West Calder		…	…	…	406	117	406	117	407	113
Broxburn	…	…	…	…	354	100	344	106	334	105
Bo'ness	…	…	…	…	311	148	324	149	325	141
Linlithgow	…	…	…	…	100	54	112	59	96	56
Haddington		…	…	…	219	46	201	49	230	61