asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will amend the regulations to ensure that rising fives in primary schools are treated in the same way as children attending nursery schools in relation to staffing and general facilities.

The requirements about staffing and accommodation imposed by the Schools Regulations and Standards for School Premises Regulations which are applicable to pupils in nursery schools are similar to those for rising fives in other primary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions she has had with representatives of local education authorities and the teaching profession about road safety education.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further research she will undertake into the problem of illiteracy.

This is one aspect of the teaching of reading in schools, which, as I have already announced, is to be the subject of an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is now in a position to announce her decision on the proposed primary school for St. Gabriel's Parish, Islington, N.19.

A project to build a new Roman Catholic primary school in Upper Holloway was included in the Inner London Education Authority's preliminary list sent to the authority on 27th March, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number and average size of new primary schools provided, or expected to be provided, in the West Riding of Yorkshire for each year from 1966 to 1975.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many additional primary school places have been provided in Northamptonshire since 1st July, 1970.

Two thousand three hundred up to 31st December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is now the average cost for a student at a university.

£1,251 in 1970–71, including grants to students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students were recorded by the University Grants Committee as attending each university on 31st October. 1971.

The provisional numbers of full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in universities in October, 1971, as recorded by the Uni-

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the report of the National Commission on Venereal Disease which recommends that programmes should be given in co-educational schools beginning with children aged 11 years in regard to the national epidemic of syphilis and gonorrhœa, what action she is taking to include this subject in the curriculum of schools in the near future.

The situation in this country is not comparable with that described in the Report of the United States National Commission. The curriculum of secondary schools is a matter for the governors, but my Department has published general guidance on health education and I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to consider how the school medical service can help in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, after consultation with the appropriate religious bodies, she will seek powers to enable her to prohibit the use of unsuitable hymnals in schools; and if she will make a statement.

No. I think it would be unwise to seek such powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now increase the grant to married women students in the light of recent representations from the National Union of Students.

Student grants, including those for some married women, are being increased by stages over the academic years 1971–72 to 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue a circular to local education authorities requesting them to make places available to children under the age of five years whenever the parents so wish.

No, Sir. But a number of local education authorities which have spare accommodation and existing staff are already admitting children at the beginning of the school year in which they reach the age of five.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to remedy the decline in standards of reading ability disclosed by the recent report of the National Foundation for Educational Research, a copy of which is in her possession.

As I announced recently, I intend to set up a small committee to inquire into the teaching of reading and the use of the English language in schools. I hope to be able to announce the membership and terms of reference shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the importance of knowledge of foreign languages in order to improve understanding between peoples, what action she is taking to improve the teaching of foreign languages in the primary, secondary, comprehensive and aided schools.

Responsibility for teaching in schools lies with local education authorities and the individual schools. The Department does, however, provide advice and training to teachers, mainly through H.M.I., and sponsors research into teaching methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has studied the request of the Northumberland County Council submitted to her by the hon. Member for Tynemouth asking that the Railways Records at present at York shall not be transferred to London; and what action she now proposes to take.

Yes. The original proposal to concentrate all the Railway Historical Records at York provoked serious opposition resulting in a deputation to the former Minister for the Arts. The deputation included representatives of the British Records Association, the Historical Association, the Economic History Society, the Society of Archivists and the Business Archives Council. My noble Friend is satisfied that the interests of the users of these records make it essential to keep them together in the care of the Public Record Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations have been held, or are to be held, by her Department with historians and universities in the north of England concerning the proposed removal of British Railway Archives.

Consultations have taken place on a national basis with representatives of the British Records Association, the Economic History Society, the Historical Association, the Society of Archivists, the Science Museum and the Public Record Office. There has also been correspondence with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of York.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now institute an inquiry to determine the number of children now eating school meals and publish its findings.

The census of school meals is normally taken annually in the autumn. My right hon. Friend sees no need for a special census this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that she considers Corsbie Hall School, Fife, unsuitable for the placement of handicapped pupils, she will now advise the local education authorities in England who still have pupils there to withdraw them.

All the English local education authorities which sent children to this school have accepted the advice I have already given to withdraw them, except one. Further visits by H.M. Inspectorate of Schools in Scotland have recently been made to the school. My right hon. Friend is now urgently con- sidering the question of final registration of this school and I will consider what further action is necessary immediately he has reached his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the exercise of her powers and duties under the Charities Act, 1960.

The exercise of these powers and duties and those of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales was included in the review of departmental responsibilities announced in the White Paper on the Reorganisation of Central Government. The Government have concluded that they are not appropriate to be exercised by Ministers of the Crown and that they should be transferred to the Charity Commissioners, who already exercise concurrent powers under the Charities Act. Legislation will be required to confer exclusive jurisdiction on the Commissioners, and this will be introduced when a suitable opportunity occurs.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will take steps to standardise in the three Services the regulations dealing with character assessment.

The procedures of the three Services are being brought more closely into line.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will take steps to ascertain the number of people still living who were awarded the Military Medal during the 1914–18 war.

About 116,000 Military Medals were awarded in the First World War and it is estimated that about 25,000 holders are still surviving.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the different rating between Military Medals awarded during the First World War and those awarded in the 1939–45 war.

A Military Medal awarded during the First World War does not rate any monetary award. Those medals awarded in the 1939–45 war rate a gratuity of £20 or an addition of 2½ a day to pension.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many explosions have been caused by Republican terrorists in Northern Ireland each week since 1st January, 1972, to the latest available date; and how many pounds of explosive it is estimated by the Army was used each week over the same period in these incidents.

Following is the available information. I regret that it is not possible without disproportionate effort to provide weekly figures starting at 1st January.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances and on what orders two British soldiers were made to leave their safe positions after being warned of an Irish Republican Army bomb in Londonderry on Monday night, 10th April, with the result that they were killed; and if he will make a statement.

A foot patrol of the 5th Light Regiment (Royal Artillery) was despatched to investigate the area of the Bowling Green Pavilion, Brooke Street, Londonderry, after an anonymous phone call had been received that a bomb had been planted in the pavilion. The patrol located the bomb at 7.28 p.m. It immediately cleared the area and withdrew to safe positions. Army bomb disposal experts were notified. Several youths, however, who were attacking the patrol with stones, refused to leave the area. The patrol commander, acting on his own initiative, together with five other members of the patrol, therefore tried to clear the youths from the area of the bomb. Whilst they were doing so the bomb exploded and the patrol commander and one other member of the patrol were killed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he is now able to give the actual or estimated costs involved in withdrawing the military personnel and equipment from Malta and returning them after settlement of the financial discussions with Mr. Mintoff.

The present estimate is about £6 million.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will ensure that provision is made for the care of memorials when any Army or Royal Air Force site is evacuated or abandoned by his Department.

I am writing to my hon. and gallant Friend today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to control the sale of aerosol paint sprays to prevent their misuse by vandals.

No. Aerosol paint sprays are widely sold for legitimate purposes and any form of control would be impracticable. Misuse of such sprays for defacing buildings is an offence of damaging property under the Criminal Damage Act, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the Greater London Council area in the speed with which most fires are dealt with.

In the three years ended 31st December, 1969, the average time between the arrival of the fire brigade at a fire in a building in the Greater London area and its bringing the fire under control decreased from 7·2 minutes to 6·5 minutes. I regret that information for later years has not yet been tabulated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been revealed by his watching the position about the manufacture in or import to this country of horror toys; and what steps he now proposes to take to ensure that toys such as guillotines are not on sale to the public.

My right hon. Friend has seen no evidence of any developments in this problem which suggest to him that Government action is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take upon the report he has now received from the Inspectors of Constabulary he appointed to examine and investigate the administration and discipline of the Leeds City Police Force; and if he will make a statement thereon.

I am considering the report, but I am not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his present proposals are for the amalgamation of existing police forces to correspond with the new boundaries under the Local Government Bill; and which forces will be affected.

When the Local Government Bill comes into operation, police areas in England and Wales will be reorganised in accordance with the new county areas. Some of the existing police areas will remain unchanged; comparatively minor boundary changes will be made to others, while others again will be more substantially affected. I am writing to the hon. Member to describe the effects of the reorganisation on individual forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amalgamate the proposed Lancashire county police force with the proposed forces for Merseyside and greater Manchester.

No. So far as possible, each new county should have its own police force. Some amalgamations will be necessary, but there are no grounds on which my right hon. Friend would be justified in proposing the combination for police purposes of the new counties of Lancashire, Merseyside and greater Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 26th March, regarding matters connected with the rights of immigrants; and on the nature of his reply;

I cannot usefully add to the comprehensive reply I sent to the hon. Member on 10th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 27th March, regarding illegality upon the part of the police and the need for action by him; and what action he proposes to take in connection with it.

I have received the hon. Member's letter. The matter to which it relates has been referred for investigation as the Statute requires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the number of police officers on duty on Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 11.0 a.m. and 2.0 p.m. in the vicinity of Leather Lane, London, E.C.I.

I am informed that two officers on foot normally patrol the beat that includes Leather Lane.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to make himself responsible for the operational deployment of the Metropolitan Police force.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations the Metropolitan Police have had with local authorities over the need to increase security for the collection of rent and rates by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

None; but the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis has had consultations on the subject with representatives of local authorities and their employees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the general practice of the police with regard to notifying the Press of impending prosecutions against notable persons for motoring offences.

No announcement is normally made where a summons is issued. But information already in the hands of the Press may be confirmed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any change is contemplated in the chairmanship of the Horserace Totalisator Board.

Yes. The present chairman, Mr. Taylor, has told me that now that the Horserace Totalisator and Betting Levy Boards Bill has received its Second Reading in the House he would consider it an appropriate time for him to relinquish the chairmanship of the board. I am pleased to be able to announce that my noble Friend Lord Mancroft has accepted my invitation to succeed him and will shortly take up this appointment. In order that Mr. Taylor's experience may be at the disposal of his successor, he has agreed to continue to serve for a period as deputy chairman in a part-time capacity. I should like to express my appreciation of the valuable services he has rendered as chairman of the board in circumstances of exceptional difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what relief and reinforcement have been given from Great Britain to the medical and nursing services in Northern Ireland, and particularly in Belfast.

None. No such help has been sought. Should help be needed from Great Britain at any time in the future I am sure it will be readily forthcoming.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is now the composition of the Community Relations Commission.

The Community Relations Commission comprises:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will give details of how and on what subjects he expects to implement the Government's policy of referenda on matters connected with Northern Ireland.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement on Friday, 24th March, we consider that the introduction of regular plebiscites in Northern Ireland on the maintenance of its constitutional position as a part of the United Kingdom would be a means of promoting greater stability in its political life.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what requests he has received to conciliate in the threatened work-to-rule by British European Airways pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Following a recommendation by the National Joint Council for Civil Air Transport, my Department invited representatives of British European Airways and British Airline Pilots Association to discuss their differences under the Department's chairmanship on 29th March. B.A.L.P.A. was prepared to meet B.E.A. only if the corporation first improved its pay offer. B.E.A. could not accept this precondition, but was willing jointly to explore any possibility or to refer the issue to arbitration. I regret that no basis could be found for joint discussions. B.A.L.P.A. would not agree to arbitration and began a restriction of co-operation on 1st April.My Department remains ready to give further help and is keeping in touch with the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department has taken on the application of employees of Associated Electrical Industries/General Electric Company, Openshaw, and other engineering firms in the Manchester area for unemployment benefit consequent upon the firm's decision to cease payment of certain wages.

Claims to unemployment benefit made by employees of Associated Electrical Industries/General Electric Company, Openshaw, and other engineering firms in the Manchester area have been referred to the independent statutory authorities in the normal way for a decision on entitlement and in particular a decision as to whether the trade dispute disqualification in the National Insurance Act, Section 22(1), applies to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the employment situation in Manchester engineering works as a result of bans by employees on piecework and overtime.

I understand that some 13,000 engineering workers in the Manchester area are involved in stoppages of work as a result of bans on piecework and overtime and other industrial action short of a strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will investigate his Department's instruction to men and women employed at Associated Electrical Industries-General Electric Company, Openshaw, and who are shortly due for retirement, that they must make themselves available for work; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has no knowledge of impending premature retirements at the firm concerned and no instruction has been issued to the employees. Regulations made under the National Insurance Act provide that a day shall not be treated as a day of unemployment for unemployment benefit purposes if it is a day in respect of which a person fails to prove that he is unemployed and capable of work and available for employment in an employed contributor's employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department intends to take to help resolve the industrial dispute affecting the Associated Electrical Industries-General Electric Company factory at Openshaw, Manchester.

Intervention by my Department in this dispute would not in my right hon. Friend's view be helpful at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to intervene in the industrial dispute affecting L. Scott (Electromotors) Limited of Clayton, Manchester.

Intervention by my Department in this dispute would not in my right hon. Friend's view be helpful at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assurances were given by the Government to the British Medical Association before it applied for admission to the Special Register under the Industrial Relations Act and for rights as sole bargaining agency under that Act.

The Government confirmed with the Association that, in common with other organisations seeking entry on the special register, the content of its memorandum and articles of association did not determine its eligibility for registration, nor would the Department of Trade and Industry regard entry upon the special register as itself prejudicing the association's status as a registered company licensed under Section 19 of the Companies Act, 1948, to dispense with the term "limited" in its title.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Organisation to press for the establishment of a committee of experts on conditions of health services, and immediately afterwards of an experts' committee to deal with the social problems of postal, telegraph and telephone workers.

No. In the present circumstances my right hon. Friend is anxious not to press for anything that would add to the financial commitments of the International Labour Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Office to press for an early meeting of the International Labour Organisation joint committee on the public services.

No. This committee met in March-April, 1971, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason for according it priority over industrial and analogous committees which have met less recently and whose next meetings have had to be postponed sine die because of the organisation's financial difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Organisation to press for an international convention on public servants' trade union rights.

No. My right hon. Friend would not favour a convention restricted to the trade union rights of any one class of employed persons. International Convention No. 87 which the United Kingdom has ratified already covers public servants except for the Armed Forces and police, where special considerations apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Organisation to press for a study of the social repercussions and other effects on workers of automation in the postal services and telecommunications.

The labour and social repercussions of automation are to be discussed at this year's International Labour Conference, which will no doubt pay appropriate attention to any special problems of particular groups of workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will give details showing to what extent the 40 offices opened in existing buildings in his Department which have been opened since 1st June, 1970, were for the purpose of dealing with the increased number of unemployed since that date; and what was the total cost of these offices;

In no case was the level of unemployment the sole reason for the opening of a new office. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that the information about costs could only be provided at a disproportionate cost to public funds. Five offices were formally opened by a Minister at an approximate cost of £65.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the footwear manufacturing industries in Great Britain in the years 1951, 1961, 1971, and 1972; and how he estimates Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community will affect these figures.

The mid-year estimated numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain in the footwear manufacturing industry for 1951, 1961 and 1971 were 123,500, 118,100 and 95,300 respectively. The latest provisional estimate is 94,700 at January, 1972. The figures, however, are not strictly comparable because of some discontinuities during the period.I would hope that Britain's entry into the E.E.C. will result in an increase in our exports of footwear to other member countries and will therefore be beneficial to employment in the industry.Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware that the Retail Price Index rose by 8 per cent. from January to 22nd February, 1972, and that for the six months to February, 1972, the index rose by 2·9 per cent. compared with 2·4 per cent. in the July, 1971, to January, 1972, period; and what was the reason for these increases.

The increase in the Retail Price Index between January and February was not 8 per cent. as stated in the hon. Member's Question, but 0·8 points, or around ½ per cent., which is in line with the general level of increases over the last few months. The change in the percentage increase over the six-month period ending in February, 1972, compared with that ending in January, is a reflection of the fact that the six-monthly rate no longer includes the seasonally low rate of increase last July

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about his meeting with the Industrial Health Advisory Committee on 14th March, 1972, with particular reference to his proposal for a code of practice for reducing the exposure of employed persons to noise.

I am pleased to say the committee approved the code of practice. It is to be published on Monday, 17th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what regions the four-week rule under the limited awards system is now operating; at what date the rule was reactivated in each of these regions; and how many persons have been subject to limited awards of supplementary benefit after, respectively, four weeks and three months in each of these regions.

So far, in seven areas of London West Region from 10th April. No returns of the numbers affected are yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many former Far Eastern prisoners-of-war are currently in receipt of benefit or pension; and how many applications for benefit or pension he has received.

I regret that no separate statistics are available of war pension claims and awards to Far Eastern prisoners of war. However we estimate that about 7,000 war disablement pensions and 2,700 war widows' or dependants' pensions are in payment to Far Eastern prisoners of war or their dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to modify the over-seven years rule in the light of the recent publication of studies into the health of former far Eastern prisoners-of-war in Australia, the United States of America and Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, which are in his possession.

This is one of the matters I will be discussing on 18th April when I receive a deputation from the National Federation of Far East Prisoners of War Clubs and Associations. I would prefer to await the outcome of those discussions before deciding whether any change is necessary in the standards by which we consider war pension claims from Far Eastern prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many area medical boards of his Department contain experts in tropical diseases among their qualified personnel.

There are no tropical diseases specialists sitting regularly as members of the Departments medical boards. These boards are composed of general practitioners but the services of specialists in tropical diseases are always available to the Department and the boards when required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the shortage of consultant surgeons, beds, and facilities and on the waiting list of patients needing minor surgery in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wainwright) on 11th April, 1972.—[Vol. 834, c. 145.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time in Retford and Worksop for hospital beds for the following complaints, and how this compares with the national average, namely, tonsils and adenoids, hernia operations, tuberculosis of respiratory systems, non-malignant growths, diabetes, diseases of circulatory system, diseases of breast and genital systems, prolapse of womb, skin diseases and adverse effect of chemical substances.

Information about the number of patients on waiting lists is not recorded by diagnosis or condition and is not therefore separately available for the conditions specified. The following information for the Retford and Worksop hospitals shows the main relevant specialities which include, generally as a

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to reduce the waiting time for admission to hospital in Worksop and Retford, and also in the area of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board generally.

Apart from the long-term improvement in resources for the Sheffield Regional generally to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wain-wright) on 11th April, 1972, I understand that work is expected to start in the autumn on a building scheme to increase the number of beds at the Victoria Hospital.—[Vol. 834, c. 145.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of people in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area are now being admitted as private patients for common surgery; and how this number compares with 10 years ago.

The number of private patients admitted for general surgery is not separately known. 1·7 per cent. of all patients admitted to non-physiatric hospitals in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Area in 1971 were treated under private arrangements compared with 1·8 per cent. in 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he

The supply of new private dwellings is rising fast. Home ownership continues to go up and first-time mortgagors become more numerous. We welcome the present strength of demand and have taken a number of steps to ensure that enough land is made available everywhere to keep up with the rising volume of building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report, nationally and region by region, the average increase in the cost of private houses in the first three months of this year and the same period of the preceding two years.

Reliable information on private house prices is not available in the form requested. The information collected by the Department on quarterly average national prices of dwellings mortgaged with building societies, and on annual average prices of three-bedroom semi-detached houses sold in England and Wales, by regions has been published regularly in Housing Statistics. The figures for the first quarter of this year are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will establish a committee of inquiry into ways and means of ensuring that all cars and vehicles using the public highways are taxed, insured, road-tested and registered in accordance with the laws; and what action needs to be taken to enforce these laws.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement regarding his plans for the future of Somerset House.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider reassembling the paintings exhibited at the original opening for the reopening of the public rooms of Somerset House.

My Department has no readily available information about the pictures that were shown at the first Royal Academy exhibition in Somerset House, nor of their present whereabouts and ownership. If the hon. Member has the necessary information I will gladly consider his suggestion, but I suspect that the reassembly of an exhibition mounted nearly 200 years ago would be a monumental task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what public consultations he has had with individuals and groups as to the future use of the sections of Somerset House he intends to free from Civil Service occupancy.

I have had no public consultations, but I have received a very large number of suggestions from Members of Parliament, organisations, and private individuals. The Evening Standard has also passed on to me the suggestions it received during the course of its campaign. My colleagues and I are taking these ideas into our consideration of the future use of the fine rooms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received the results of the recent plebiscites held in Grimsby and that part of the County of Lindsey which it is proposed in the Local Government Bill be included in the new County of Humberside; and whether he will publish them in the Official Report.

Many plebiscites, referenda and other tests of public opinion have been conducted with regard to local government boundary proposals on reorganisation. We shall, of course, take full note of local opinion, expressed through people's elected representatives and in other ways. But many other factors must be taken into account connected, for example, with the administration and expansion of services, the location of shopping and employment centres, the main lines of communication and the siting and extent of likely developments in the future.My right hon. Friend does not believe that the extent of the new Humberside county can or should be decided solely by a plebiscite. As the data emerging from referenda—held in connection with Humberside or elsewhere—can relate to only one factor for consideration, he is not proposing to publish plebiscite figures in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of signatures to petitions that have been received from residents in the Boroughs of Bacup, Haslingden and Rawtenstall together with the Urban District of Rams-bottom objecting to his proposals for local government reorganisation.

About 22,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters he has received from residents of the Boroughs of Bacup, Haslingden, and Rawtenstall together with the Urban District of Ramsbottom objecting to his proposals for local government reorganisation.

Eight—one from a Haslingden resident and seven from Ramsbottom residents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the combined totals of letters and petitions he has received from residents in the Boroughs of Bacup, Haslingden and Rawtenstall together with the Urban District of Rams-bottom supporting his proposals for local government reorganisation.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the average level of rent charged in respect of council houses by the York City Council in the current year;(2) what is the average increase in rent required to balance the housing revenue account of the York City Council if all Government subsidies axe withdrawn.

According to the statistics provided by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants, the average unrebated rent for council houses owned by the York City Council was £1·70 per week on 1st April, 1971. I cannot estimate the average increase in rent required to balance the council's housing revenue account at some future date without subsidy, as many other factors are involved. These include, for example, the future levels of expenditure in the account and the number and amount of rebates granted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes will be needed in the exhaust emission systems of British commercial vehicles to meet other European countries' legislation.

None.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to make a ministerial television broadcast.

Unless and until I make a statement to the contrary the House should assume that I have no plans to make a ministerial broadcast.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to make an official visit to Brussels.

I have at present no plans to make a further visit to Brussels, but I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium to London on 2nd May.

asked the Prime Minister how many official engagements he undertook during the Easter Recess.

I had a number of meetings with Ministers and officials, and entertained the deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and his wife during their visit to London.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now pay an official visit to Northern Ireland.

I have at present no plans to pay a further official visit. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has spent much of the time since his appointment in Northern Ireland: he will continue to do so, and also intends that a Minister of his Department should be present there at all times.

asked the Prime Minister what replies he has sent to the tenants of 1–10 Elthorne Mansions, Elthorne Road, N.I9, regarding the proposed rent increases by Her Majesty's Government; and what action he intends to take in relation to these increases.

I cannot trace correspondence by reference only to the address of the writer.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to raise the question of the future of the European Parliament at the forthcoming summit conference of European Economic Community member countries and applicants on the basis that such a European Parliament shall be democratically elected and have powers not less favourable than those of the British Parliament in Westminster.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave earlier today to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement of the Government's intentions with regard to the Boyle Committee's proposals to increase the salaries of the higher-paid civil servants, judiciary and nationalised boards by amounts up to £4,000 per annum.

I hope to make an announcement soon; but the figure to which the hon. Member refers appears to be based on Press speculation.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will state the latest convenient figures for the numbers of non-industrial civil servants as compared to 1969 and 1971.

The number of non-industrial staff in post on 1st January, 1972, was 504,445 on the basis set out in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Fowler) on 9th February, 1972. The numbers on 1st January, 1969, and 1st January, 1971, were 470,580 and 499,690 respectively, but direct comparison is complicated by transfers in and out of the Civil Service such as the transfer in of 15,000 Post Office staff during 1969. A more informative comparison of the changes in the staffing of individual departments between January, 1971, and January, 1972, was given in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Ralph Howell) on 18th February, 1972.—[Vol. 830, c. 383–392: Vol. 831, c. 171–2.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the report of the National Economic Development Council on agriculture dealing with prospects for the pig industry in the European Economic Community has been completed; and when he intends to publish it.

I understand that the Economic Development Committee for Agriculture has recently received a draft report on pigs and pigmeat which is not yet approved. Whether the report is to be published or not is a matter for that committee.

asked the Chairman of the Expenditure Committee how many Members of his Committee have travelled abroad on Committee business in the past six months; which countries they have visited; and what this has cost.

Two Sub-Committees, involving 14 hon. Members, have travelled abroad in the past six months. One visited Germany and the other Italy. The estimated total cost is £1,843.

asked the Chairman of the Expenditure Committee how many visits abroad have been planned for members of the Committee for the next six months; which countries are to be visited; and what these visits will cost.

Three sub-Committees, involving 22 hon. Members, are planning visits abroad in the next six months. One will visit Cyprus and Italy, another will visit France and Germany and the third will visit Sweden. The estimated total cost is £4,492.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs if he will set out in detail the technical assistance provided in Chile.

Our technical assistance programme to Chile began in 1963 and has since expanded to a total of £231,000 last year. The programme includes the provision of experts, consultancies and feasibility studies, equipment and training for Chileans at British universities and institutions.The number of study fellows accepted for training has steadily increased. In 1971 31 Chileans were placed, mainly at postgraduate level or the equivalent, on courses including administration, agriculture, finance and economics, broadcasting, physics, co-operatives, technical education, industry, transport, health, nuclear power, social welfare, statistics and veterinary science.Current projects include:A. AGRICULTURE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Smith régime in Rhodesia about its use of Israeli advisers to establish border defences and to train women in the use of small arms.

No. My information is that no Israeli advisers are present in Rhodesia.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it the practice of his administration to place contracts and sub-contracts with firms in development areas even where such firms are not normally able to compete favourably with similar firms outside the development areas.

Government Departments already give preference in the award of contracts to firms in the development areas within the limits of the primary policy of obtaining best value for money. Where such firms are not fully competitive, they are given the opportunity to revise their bid for a portion of the requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the house building submissions made by local authorities to meet the 1st December, 1971, deadline have now been approved; how many are awaiting approval; and when he expects to complete the task.

About 530 schemes, covering about 31,200 houses, were submitted by public authorities shortly before 1st December, 1971. Of these about 430 schemes covering 23,000 houses, have been approved. I hope that the remainder will be dealt with in the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates have been made for the conversion of additional coal-fired power stations to oil; what are the stations; and what is the estimated individual cost of each station.

I am aware of only one firm estimate which, as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs (Mr. Adam Hunter) on 28th March, 1972, relates to Portobello power station and amounts to £2·1 million.—[Vol. 834, c. 60.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total yearly output of individual Scottish electricity generating boards in the period 1965 to 1971; what was the cost of each unit of electricity generated in each year during this period by each board; and by how much the expected 1978 output is estimated to exceed the 1965 figures.

I have asked the chairmen of the Scottish electricity boards to write to the hon. Member.