asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the highest and lowest weekly average market prices for pigs received by

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the highest and lowest weekly average market prices for wheat received by United Kingdom producers in each year from 1965–66 onwards; and what were the highest and lowest weekly average total returns received by United Kingdom producers in each of those years.

Information on a weekly basis is not readily available and could not be produced without disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the highest and lowest weekly average market prices for barley received by United Kingdom producers in each

Following is the information:year from 1965–66 onwards; and what were the highest and lowest weekly average total returns received by United Kingdom producers in each of those years.

Information on a weekly basis is not readily available and could not be produced without disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will announce the selection of a new trainer aircraft for basic navigational air electronics and air signaller training in the Royal Air Force.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 16th March.—[Vol. 833, c. 142.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of the formation of new Hunter squadrons in the Royal Air Force, he will now initiate studies to examine the extent to which such close-support aircraft of intermediate performance would be more economically maintained and flown by auxiliary or reservist personnel.

As I said in the Defence Estimate 1972–73 (Air) Debate on 2nd March, our limited resources make it impractical to maintain a flying reserve.—[Vol. 832, c. 780.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the development and rôle of new units of Hunter aircraft in the Royal Air Force.

I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if members of the Armed Forces who have civilian jobs in addition to their service duties are permitted to be members of appropriate trade unions and take part in trade union activities.

Members of the Armed Forces may join trade unions but are not permitted to take part in trade union activities beyond payment of their subscriptions.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Army personnel are equipped with 1937 web equipment; and how many sets of 1937 web equipment are held in stock.

90,000 men of the Regular Army are equipped with 1937 pattern web equipment. This equipment is also issued to most members of the TAVR, and all members of the UDR, and to Army Sections of the CCF and the Army Cadet Force. Adequate stocks of the component parts are held to maintain this equipment in service during the rest of its anticipated life.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has received about the kangaroo courts held by British Leyland workers at Long-bridge, Birmingham; and if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the matter.

No complaints have reached the Department about such incidents. A worker is not obliged to comply with unauthorised disciplinary action, and in cases where some form of intimidation is involved this might afford grounds for proceedings in the ordinary courts. Where, however, a trade union openly or implicitly supports the action of its representatives in disciplining members in breach of its rules or the "guiding principles" laid down in the Industrial Relations Act, those members now have the right to seek redress through the complaints procedure instituted by that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation making it a specific offence to dump or otherwise dispose of, in a place to which the public have access, a refrigerator from which the door has not been removed.

Such dumping may be caught by Section 19 of the Civic Amenities Act, 1967. Under that Act the maximum penalty for a first offence is £100 and for a subsequent offence £200 or imprisonment for up to three months or both. A circular was issued to local authorities in October, 1970, asking them to publicise the need for particular care in disposing of certain types of disused refrigerators, and also to assist the public in arrangements for disposal of such articles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Water Resources Board about its future in the new arrangements for water supply and management; and what proposals he has for ensuring continuity of research and related planning activities.

The board has given us its views on the best arrangements for continuing the work of its staff, and my right hon. Friend has discussed these with the chairman. There is a substantial measure of agreement and more detailed discussions are now taking place. A consultation paper will be circulated shortly about the National Water Council, which is to replace the board under the Government's proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to provide for the wider publication of information on pollution collected by the Alkali Inspectorate and local authorities.

As I recently told the House, I am discussing with representatives of industry what further information can be released. I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.The Chief Alkali Inspector's annual reports are on sale to the public, while Warren Spring's surveys of smoke and sulphur dioxide levels in selected local authority areas are available on demand from the Laboratory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses and how many private houses were built in Cheadle rural district, Staffordshire, in each of the past 10 years.

Dwellings completed in Cheadle rural district in each of the years 1966 to 1970 inclusive, appear in Local Housing Statistics No. 1, 5, 9, 13 and 17, copies of which are in the Library. Figures for the other years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement regarding an incident at Ipswich station on Saturday, 15th April, involving potential danger from seepage from a tanker truck carrying an inflammable derivative of North Sea gas.

The incident occurred when an oil tank train was stopped at Ipswich to allow a passenger train to pass. The guard noticed a leakage of North Sea gas condensate from the top manhole cover of a wagon owned by Shell Mex-BP and called for the fire services. These, together with representatives of the oil company, were quickly on the scene and the defect, which was found to be a faulty gasket in the manhole cover, was rectified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in house improvement in development and intermediate areas since the introduction of the increased grants under the Housing Act, 1971.

The total number of grants approved in England and Wales for the second half of last year showed an increase of nearly 75 per cent. over the total approved for the first half. This compares with an increase of 32 per cent. for England and Wales as a whole.Nevertheless, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State forWales and I recognise that the pressure to get works done by June, 1973, has overloaded the local authority administration and, in some areas, the capacity of the building industry, resulting in some sharp increases in tender prices.We have, therefore, decided to introduce legislation at the appropriate time to extend by a year the date before which works must be completed in order to qualify for the higher rates of grant under the Housing Act, 1971. This will now run until 23rd June, 1974.Local authorities, house owners, builders and others concerned in house improvement in the assisted areas can therefore proceed on this basis. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I would, however stress that this is a once-for-all extension and would therefore emphasise the necessity for all concerned to press ahead as fast as possible if the maximum advantage is to be derived from the increased grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution Her Majesty's Government proposes to make towards the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control.

We propose to contribute £50,000 to the fund in 1972. Parliament will be asked to approve the necessary Supplementary Estimate in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the names and official positions of the Government's delegates to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Santiago, Chile, and in each case the period they have been, or expect to be, in attendance at the conference.

The information required is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will draw to the attention of the Erroll Committee the recent conference decision of the National Association of Licensed House Managers, details of which are in his possession, seeking to establish a six-day week in the industry to enable an adequate rest period to be taken by employees.

The association has submitted evidence to the committee on this point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will recommend to the International Monetary Fund that a special issue of Special Drawing Rights be allocated to developing States to offset the losses sustained by depletions to their reserves consequent upon changes in exchange rates by major industrial states.

No.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when the Conway transmitter will be brought into operation; and what additional services it will provide.

The BBC, which is primarily responsible for the coverage

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications by when he hopes to have the percentage of homes in Wales which can receive radio and television programmes raised to the United Kingdom average.

Whilst every effort is being made to extend television coverage in Wales, the percentage of Welsh homes able to receive television is unlikely to reach the United Kingdom average, because of the mountainous nature of much of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of the property and land in the Highlands sold by his Department to private individuals or groups, giving the price obtained in each case, in each year between 1959 and 1971, inclusive.

Some 300 transactions took place in this period, and details could not be assembled without excessive labour and expense. If the hon. Member can let me know of some particular group of transactions in which he is interested I shall be glad to consider whether I can help him.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for agricultural subsidies he has rejected during the last year on the grounds of the lateness of their submission; and what further steps he will take to ensure that the consequences of untimely application are made known to farmers and crofters.

In the year ended 31st March, 1972, 200 late claims were rejected, which is a very small proportion of the total claims received. Closing dates are prominently featured on the claim forms; where a fixed date applies to all claims under a subsidy scheme general press reminders are issued and individual reminders are sent to farmers who have obtained but not returned claim forms. Additionally, the first late claim from a farmer is accepted on a once-for-all basis; thus any farmer whose late claim is refused will have received previously a letter explaining the need to observe closing dates and the consequences of any further failure to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Highlands and Islands Development Board regarding the economic and social benefit of Caithness and Sutherland of a bridge over the Dornoch Firth.

The Highlands and Islands Development Board has told me that it regards the Dornoch Firth bridge as a project of high priority which should be considered as early as possible. The board is not suggesting that it should have priority over the schemes for bridging the Beauly and Cromarty Firths, which I have promoted and which are complementary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the effect of the Housing Act, 1971, in increasing the volume of housing improvement work; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The higher grants made available under the Housing Act, 1971, have stimulated a substantial increase in the volume of improvement work. In the six months to 31st March, 1972, the first two full quarters during which the provisions of the 1971 Act applied, improvement grants were approved for over 25,000 houses—owned by local authorities, housing associations and private owners. This is well over twice the figure for the corresponding six month period a year earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to decide what action to take following his examination of the bid by Grand Metropolitan Hotels Limited for Watney Mann Limited; and if he will take into account the fact that a successful bid will have the effect of tying a substantial number of outlets, which are at the moment not tied to any brewer.

I shall take this and other relevant factors into account in reaching my decision, which I hope to announce shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps under Section 30 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1967, to ensure that fair treatment is accorded to the complainants about the supply by the British Steel Corporation to private concerns of billets for re-rolling.

I am considering the complaint made by the British Independent Steel Producers' Association to which my hon. Friend refers, and will take all the steps open to me in conformity with the Act to ensure that it or any other properly constituted complaint is fully investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many gas-making plants have been sold abroad during the last three years; at what costs; and to what countries.

I am sorry but I cannot help because if the hon. Member is referring to the sale of redundant gas-making plant by the nationalised gas industry, this is a matter for the industry. If he is referring to the sale of plant by the private sector, this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industy how many weeks coal stocks are now available.

The available information is published by the Department in its Weekly Statistical Statement, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take urgent action to protect the Lancashire textile industry from the effects of the importation of cotton yarn, which will take place free from duty or quantitative restriction if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community.

From accession, we would not be able to maintain quantitative restrictions on cotton yarn imports, but duty-free entry will not be accorded to imports from our partners in the Community or from the Mediterranean countries having preferential agreements with the Community until the end of the transitional period. Imports from outside the Community will in general become subject to the full Common External Tariff. Pending the conclusion of negotiations for the renewal of the Yaounde Convention, the United Kingdom will retain its present tariff on imports from the countries covered by Article 109 of the Treaty of Accession. The question of the treatment to be accorded to imports of cotton yarn in the enlarged Community's Generalised Scheme of Preferences will be a matter for discussion after entry. Article 135 of the Treaty of Accession allows the EEC Commission to authorise emergency action during the transitional period to deal with serious and persistent difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to publish the contents of the Vinter Report.

No, for the reason given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Aerospace to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 22nd February and because it is not customary to publish internal confidential reports to Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what rate oil demand grew in Great Britain during 1970 and 1971; and what are the most recent available figures for the current year and 1973.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for epidural an aesthetics to be provided for National Health Service patients who request them in North Staffordshire hospitals.

The anaesthetic procedure to be used is a matter for decision by the clinician in charge of the patient.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will collect statistics to show over the next 12 months how many epidural anaesthetisations were performed on National Health Service and private patients, respectively, in North Staffordshire hospitals.

No, but I understand that a statistical clinical survey into obstetric an aesthetics is under consideration in the Birmingham region which, though not primarily designed for this purpose, may elicit the kind of information the hon. Member seeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amend the regulations to ensure that coverage is given under the Industrial Injuries Acts to Post Office Engineering Union members working as volunteers on the installation of telephones for the chronically sick and disabled.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wands worth, Central (Mr. Thomas Cox) on 17th January, 1972. The discussions with the Post Office are still proceeding and I hope that the position will be resolved soon.—[Vol. 829, c. 92.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of those who graduated from universities in 1971 have still not found permanent employment.

According to figures supplied by the University Grants Committee 3,830 university students who obtained first degrees in 1970–71 were still seeking permanent employment in December, 1971. Of this number 1,499 were known to be in temporary employment while awaiting permanent employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what sum per head of the population in the latest available year education expenditure in England and Wales amounted; and what was the sum five, ten, and 15 years ago.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what per- centage of teachers in local authority schools has been in the same schools for less than three years; and what were the figures five, ten and 15 years ago, respectively, in England and Wales.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will send a circular to local education authorities giving guidance on the amount of time which schools should give to sports training, particularly on soccer, with a view to avoiding danger to the health of pupils.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why, inasmuch as it is proposed, under the provisions of the Local Government Bill, that substantial portions of the local authority areas of the Aled and Hiraethog Rural District Councils should be transferred to the new county of Gwynedd, neither of those authorities have been consulted by his Department with regard to the recent change of plan by the Government as to the number of districts to be included within that county.

They have both been consulted. Because of a clerical error the consultation letters to the three county district councils in Denbighshire were dispatched two days later than to the other authorities. All three have sent me replies.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure on housing in Wales in 1970–71; and what is the estimated expenditure for 1971–72.

1970–71: £48·3 million. 1971–72:£59·1 million.