asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will take steps to help the London Borough of Havering to improve its pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools.

My right hon. Friend has increased the authority's quota for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking in consultation with the local education authority to provide extra nursery schools in the central area of Bristol.

My right hon. Friend will be ready to consider any proposals for additional nursery provision in Bristol which may be put forward by the local authority in response to Urban Programme Circular No. 7 issued on 10th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals have been submitted to her for the extension of Portsmouth Polytechnic; and whether she will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member on 12th June.—[Vol. 838, c. 216.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether she will issue a circular requesting all heads of schools to make reports to her of the number of their pupils aged eight years or above who have suffered from poisoning by pills or drugs during each of the years from 1965 to 1971 inclusive; how many of them died; and how many of them were treated as cases of suicide or attempted suicide;(2) whether she will issue a circular requesting all heads of schools in future to make periodical reports to her of the number of pupils aged eight years or above who suffer from poisoning by pills or drugs; how many of them died; and how many of them are treated as cases of suicide or attempted suicide.

This is not information which head teachers or the school medical service would be expected to have or to collect, but relevant figures were provided by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 13th June.—[Vol. 838, c. 237–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why disturbance allowance for heads taking up new appointments is available to married men and not to married women.

These payments are not made under any requirements, or powers, contained in the Education Acts but are wholly at the discretion of the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study is being carried out in her Department to assist those local education authorities with specific problems in reorganising secondary education on comprehensive lines; and if she will make a statement.

As local education authorities know, my Department's officers are always available to discuss any specific problems which may arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to enable her to meet the fees of persons attending local authority lip-reading classes; and if she will make a statement.

Local education authorities already have discretionary power to waive or reduce fees for persons attending their classes, or to assist with fees at classes elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Paymaster-General pro poses to initiate discussions with interests affected on the Report on Public Lending Right; and what is the anticipated time table for the progress and conclusion of these discussions.

My noble Friend has already invited interested organisations to send him their views on the report by 15th September.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will issue a circular to local authorities advising them on policies to wards organisations such as Schools Action Union.

No. I do not think a circular is either necessary or advisable.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions she is having about metrication and school textbooks.

My Department's general advice on the impact of metrication on school examinations and curricula is being revised. I hope that those responsible for the provision of textbooks will continue to be guided by that advice. If there are any special problems, my Department is, of course, prepared to discuss them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to require local education authorities to pay a minimum fee of £4 per head towards the needs of student unions in all colleges of further and higher education.

My right hon. Friend would not consider it appropriate to take any steps of this kind while the general question of student union finance is still the subject of consultations with the interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to enable her to remove the present discrepancy between the provision of union facilities in universities and polytechnics and other colleges of further education.

My right hon. Friend announced last year new standards of accommodation for polytechnics and other colleges of further education, including recommended areas for recreational and social use by staffs and students. These new standards are being taken into account in capital allocations starting with the 1973–74 building programme. The wider questions of student union finance are currently under review in consultation with the bodies most closely concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her latest estimate of the value of orders placed with the United Kingdom machine tool industry by educational institutions under her control coming within the scope of the current temporary scheme for 100 per cent. Exchequer grants; and what has been the average cost per machine ordered.

At 6th June, 1972, 300 applications, involving some 2,500 items of equipment for polytechnics and other further education colleges in England and Wales, were being processed by my Department. The average cost per item applied for is around £3,000. In addition, the UGC has made an allocation of £1 million to universities in Great Britain, but detailed information about how this is being spent is not currently available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many museums and galleries under her control satisfy the provisions of Section 4(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and how many do not.

Section 4(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, applies to buildings provided after that section came into force. All buildings provided for the national museums and galleries will, so far as practicable and reasonable, be provided with facilities for the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what protests she has now received from the National Association of Schoolmasters about the proposal of Her Majesty's Government to increase teachers' salary contributions to their superannuation scheme; and if she will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 25th May.—[Vol. 837, c. 445–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek to modify the regulations governing the teachers' pension scheme so as to enable years of relevant industrial experience to count as years of reckonable service in the case of those teachers in further and higher education for whom such experience is a necessary qualification for obtaining their posts.

A teacher may already buy in periods of employment which provide experience of value to a teacher in a secondary school or a college. An extension of this rule to cover any previous employment has now been agreed by the working party which has been reviewing all aspects of the Teachers Superannuation Scheme and which will report shortly to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to halt the sale of bogus degrees by unauthorised associations or persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will hold an investigation into the matter of the selling of degree qualifications.

There would be difficulties over legislation but I am considering whether there are alternative means of protection against such activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will agree to meet the chair man of the education committee of the Surrey County Council, the deputy chair man of the Council, the clerk of the council and the chief education officer to discuss the council's requests for the approval to its plans for a policy of comprehensive education.

I have received no request.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the teachers supply quota.

The same arrangements will continue for 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in the light of the recent teachers' pay award, if she will state the average salary in 1960, 1964 and 1972; and if she will further state these figures in real terms.

Estimated average salary rates at 1st April, 1960, 1964 and 1972 are £920, £1,211 and £2,050, respectively: in real terms, at 1972 values, £1,565, £1,833 and £2,050.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she intends to take to ensure that all lecturers and teachers in institutions of higher and further education have some training in teaching methods.

Universities, with which the responsibility rests, have for some time been paying special attention to the training of their staff and a considerable amount of work is going on. So far as concerns other institutions, my right hon. Friend is considering the recommendations of Lord James' committee of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the budget of the Medical Research Councilin each of the last 10 years; how much was spent on cancer research; and how

					Total parliamentary grant-in-aid	Estimated expenditure directly on cancer research	United Kingdom subscription to the International Agency for Research on Cancer
					(£ million)	(£ million)	(£ million)
1962–63	…	…	…	…	5·859	0·750	—
1963–64	…	…	…	…	7·033	0·957	—
1964–65	…	…	…	…	8·753	1·029	—
1965–66	…	…	…	…	10·088	1·178	0·054
1966–67	…	…	…	…	11·825	1·270	0·054
1967–68	…	…	…	…	13·758	1·433	0·058
1968–69	…	…	…	…	15·230	1·465	0·063
1969–70	…	…	…	…	17·591	1·574	0·063
1970–71	…	…	…	…	21·055	2·166	0·080
1971–72	…	…	…	…	23·469	2·546	0·100*
* A special payment of £45,000, towards the cost of equipping the Agency's new building at Lyons was also made in 1971–72.

In addition, a considerable amount of fundamental research not directly connected with work on cancer may well be relevant in this field.A notable part of the research on the connection between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, which has led to the recognition of a relationship of direct cause and effect, has been carried out under MRC auspices. Relevant studies, including investigations into the causes and control of cigarette smoking, are continuing, but it is not possible to isolate the expenditure devoted to this or earlier work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the increase in secondary school pupils in the administrative County of Hampshire, the County Borough of Southampton and the County Borough of Portsmouth, respectively, which will result from the raising of the school-leaving age.

In January, 1974, 5,000, 1,200 and 1,100, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funds she has allocated for raising of the school leaving age capital requirements in the administrative County of Hampshire, the County Borough of Southampton

The details are as follows:and the County Borough of Portsmouth, respectively.

The information is as follows:

£000s
	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	Total
Hampshire	578	914	1,201	2,693
Portsmouth	—	314	242	556
Southampton	154	151	221	526

The 1970–71 allocation for Portsmouth was added into the 1971–72 programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of sites of special scientific interest which have been selected by the Nature Conservancy and the numbers of such sites in England, in Wales and in Scotland.

In Great Britain 3,401, of which 2,174 are in England, 315 in Wales and 552 in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration she is giving to the effect of the James Report on the rest of the higher education system; and if she will make a statement.

The possible implications of the James Report for the universities, polytechnics and other further education colleges will be considered by my right hon. Friend as carefully as those for the colleges of education. They are among the questions now being discussed in consultation with those most closely concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of national nature reserves, the acreage covered, and the proportion which is publicly owned in England, in Wales and in Scotland.

The information is as set out in the following table:

NATIONAL NATURE RESERVES
	Number of Nature Reserves	Total acreage	Acreage publicly owned	Proportional acreage publicly owned Per cent.
England	64	63,494	37,602	59·4
Wales	29	22,487	13,697	60·8
Scotland	38	185,423	59,292	31·9
	131	271,404	110,591	40·6

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will initiate a series of surveys on the nutritional value of school meals, in view of the recent findings of a team of nutritionists from Queen Elizabeth College, London.

No. My Department makes regular inquiries of all local education authorities about the nutritional content of school meals, and I see no reason to initiate any special surveys.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will undertake a study into the fire risks of modern naval uniforms made from synthetic fibres as compared with the older uniforms made from wool and of using synthetic materials in the fitting out of warships, respectively; and whether he will make a statement.

No. Studies of the fire risks of synthetic materials which it is proposed to use in naval clothing or in fitting out of warships are already undertaken as part of the normal business of development and warship design.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under which section of Queen's Regulations disciplinary action was taken against senior Army officers for making unauthorised statements to The Times newspaper on Tuesday, 23rd May.

No disciplinary action was necessary.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Hunter aircraft are being recalled to the Royal Air Force so that first-line pilots can keep in flying practice.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the delay in providing Rolls-Royce Spey engines for Phantom aircraft.

There has been delay in meeting the Royal Air Force's requirements for spare engines for the Phantom aircraft. Action has been taken and the supply position has improved.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the delay in providing Buccaneer aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

Deliveries of Buccaneer aircraft were affected by an industrial dispute at the Hawker Siddeley Aviation Limited factory at Brough. This has now been resolved and deliveries have recommenced

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) how many persons have been shot dead by the security forces in Northern Ireland since August, 1969;

I regret it is not possible to provide this information in the form requested, nor to provide it from August, 1969.Reports available to me indicate that between 1st January, 1971, and 13th June, 1972, a total of 89 people suspected of being terrorists were known to have been killed, 62 known to have been wounded and 420 believed to have been killed or wounded.Such casualties arose from a number of causes, including military gunfire, police gunfire and also various terrorist activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the arrangements at airports and other points of entry for determining whether incoming overseas passengers seek entry for holiday or work purposes, as applied in the case of Miss Pirkko Anelli Pentti at Gatwick Airport on 24th May, allow sufficient flexibility to avoid unnecessary hardship; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that in general the arrangements work well. Miss Pentti was refused admission because she was coming to take specified employment for which she had no work permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many deportation orders were made by magistrates in the latest year for which statistics are available; and how many of these orders resulted in deportation;(2) what were the reasons in each case why he did not confirm deportation orders made by magistrates in the latest year for which statistics are available: and the number of cases involved.

In 1971, 793 recommendations for deportation were made by courts. Five hundred deportation orders were made. In 99 other cases the person concerned left the country without an order being made. The grounds for not giving effect to a recommendation range from technical invalidity to exceptional compassionate circumstances which were not known to the court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the survey of 134 persons who had appealed to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, he will now review the provision for access to a solicitor when persons are subject to investigation in police stations.

Present arrangements will be reviewed in the light of the Criminal Law Revision Committee's report on the law relating to evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Metropolitan Police in the last convenient period against mini cab drivers for driving around with their vehicles carrying printed and illuminated signs indicating that they were cabs and taxi-cabs for hire.

In 1971, 12 summonses were issued for the display of unlawful signs and 17 were for unlawful plying for hire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that under Article 227(4) of the Rome Treaty Gibraltarians have full rights of movement throughout the European Economic Community, why they do not enjoy the same rights in the United Kingdom.

People from Gibraltar will have the same rights of free movement here as in other member States of the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his Department's grant to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is being spent in conjunction with the Showman's Guild of Great Britain on fairground safety.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Showman's Guild of Great Britain about their joint code of fairground safety; and what reply he has sent.

None. I have received some representations from the Showman's Guild, but not directly on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a further statement about his Department's future proposals for the introduction of legislation on increased standards of fairground safety.

The present law must first be reviewed to determine whether and in what way it needs to be strenghened. The review will be completed as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount of annual grant by his Department to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in respect of home safety.

£13,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a detailed statement on the present position regarding the sale of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme.

:Tender documents, now being printed, should be ready for issue in six to eight weeks, and the basis on which tenders are being invited will be announced before the Summer Recess. I expect properties to change hands in six to eight months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have been based on total permanent disablement.

This information is not available. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not classify cases on this basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have been based on the death of the claimant.

:The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not keep statistics of applications on this basis. From the establishment of the scheme on 1st August, 1964, until the end of the financial year 1971–72 the number of cases in which an application was made following the death of the victim as a consequence of the injury and a final decision was made by the board and accepted by the applicant was 725.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims have been made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; how many claims have been accepted; and how many claims rejected.

From the establishment of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme on 1st August, 1964, until the end of the financial year 1971–72, 42,613 applications were received by the board. In 30,849 cases an award was made and in 5,386 cases either no award was made or the application was withdrawn or abandoned; the remaining 6,378 applications were pending.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount of money paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the most recent convenient date.

By 31st March, 1972, £11,710,073.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish the total amounts paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in the City of Liverpool, year by year, to the most convenient date;(2) what are the highest awards made to date by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in the City of Liverpool and the area administered by the Liver pool and Bootle Police Authority, respectively;(3) how many claims have been made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in the City of Liverpool to the most recent convenient date; and how many have been accepted, and how many have been rejected, respectively.

:This information is not available. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not classify information about claims or awards by the area in which the incident occurred or in which the applicant resides.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the highest amount awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to date.

£51,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to deal with applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was established experimentally on 1st August, 1964, on a non-statutory basis to enable ex-gratiapayments of compensation to be made to victims of crimes of violence. In general, it is working satisfactorily, but I hope soon to begin a review of the scheme with a view to appropriate legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost to date of the administration of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

The cost of the administration of the CriminalInjuries Compensation Scheme from its establishment on 1st August, 1964, until the end of the financial year 1971–72 is estimated to be £1,250,033.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the date of the report of the interdepartmental committee which inquired into cruelty to wild animals, including badgers, some years ago; and if he will set up a fresh committee to investigate this question in view of the lapse of time since the last one.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "April, 1951"and to the second "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has received during the past year complaining about the cruelty involved in badger digging and stressing the need to protect the species.

About 45.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why advertisements for immigration officers specify men only.

Vacancies for women immigration officers are at present being filled from within the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the outcome of his review of the law of residence in relation to the right of electoral registration.

Subject to the usual consultations, I propose that this matter should be included in the terms of reference of the forthcoming Speaker's Conference on electoral law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the Report presented to him by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis under Command Paper No. 4986.

The Commissioner's report covers a great deal of ground and will no doubt be widely read. My right hon. Friend sees no occasion for making any general statement on it himself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he proposes to take to initiate a stronger deterrent against the offence of attempted murder and threats thereof;(2) whether he is aware that in the Metropolitan Police district during 1971 as compared with 1970 there was a rise of between 10 per cent. and 51 per cent. of offences against the person, wounding and assault, manslaughter and murder; what were the figures nationally; and what action he now proposes to take to stop this increase in offences against the person;(3) whether he is aware that since 1969 there has been an increase of 26 cases of murder within the Metropolitan Police area in both 1970 and 1971; what were the national figures; and what action he has taken or proposes to take to introduce suitable legislation to act as a deterrent against persons committing murder.

:The latest corrected figures for offences of murder known to the police in England and Wales in 1969 and 1970 are, respectively, 119 and 136. My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to announce the latest corrected figure for 1971.The number of indictable offences against the person known to the police in England and Wales was 65,251 in 1970 and 70,657 in 1971, an increase of 8·3 per cent. over the 1970 figure.My right hon. Friend has on many occasions expressed his concern about the increase in violence of all kinds. The best deterrent in his view remains the likelihood of detection and conviction. Plans to strengthen and modernise the police force are going ahead with considerable success. The Criminal Law Revision Committee is engaged on a review of the law, including penalties, relating to offences against the person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the new information which has been made available by the ex-Detective Chief Superintendent of the Scotland Yard Murder Squad since the trial of Patrick Murphy, of Ilford, in connection with the Luton Post Office murder, he will arrange an independent investigation into all aspects of this case.

I am not aware of any material new information having been given since the trial of Patrick Murphy by the former police officer referred to by the hon. Member. However, my right hon. Friend has under consideration at present representations made to him by Murphy's solicitors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department since, as a result of the London Weekend Television programme "Police 5", out of 301 cases referred to, the public successfully responded to the appeals in 132 cases from which direct assistance to the police was offered in 122 of these instances, whether he will give assistance in encouraging this method of combating crime; and whether he will make a statement.

Chief officers of police are well aware of the value of publicity of this kind and need no encouragement to make use of television facilities where they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will impose tighter controls at crossing-points on approved routes across the border from the Republic of Ireland.

Within the limits of the available manpower, the tightest possible control is being exercised over cross-border traffic by selective checks. As with all other aspects of security, the matter is kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many security incidents in Ulster have taken place in to to and in categories, of deaths, personal injuries and damage to property during the 11 weeks and up to the present date, since Her Majesty's Government's political initiative on 24th March, as compared with the same period of time prior to that date.

Between 2nd January, 1972, and 23rd March, 1972, there was a total of 2,137 security incidents resulting in 80 deaths and 1,250 injuries involving hospital treatment. From 24th March, 1972, until 13th June, 1972, there were 2,361 security incidents resulting in 85 deaths and 1,291 injuries involving hospital treatment. During the first period specified there were 535 incidents which resulted in damage to property while in the second period there were 600, but it is not possible to say how many properties were damaged as a result of these incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish figures of civilian casualties in Northern Ireland since the start of direct rule on a month by month basis.

The following are the most recent figures available:

	Civilians who have died	Civilians who have required hospital treatment
April	14	208
May	31	583
June (up to 13th June)	8	233

These figures include people killed or injured while engaged in action against the security forces, in so far as such casualties are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the bail money liable to forfeiture, amounting to £12,435, between the period 24th March and 6th May 1972, has now been collected; and what steps are being taken to collect the balance.

None. In some cases applications to estreat the recognisances are at present being prepared for submission to the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons have failed to answer bail since 24th March up to 2nd June, 1972; and what sum has been forfeited and what sum has been collected.

46 persons failed to answer bail during the period 24th March to 2nd June, 1972. The total amount of recognisances liable to be forfeited in respect of these cases is £15,735; the amount so far collected in respect of these cases is nil.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of brucellosis infection have been notified in Northern Ireland in the first five months of 1972.

146 cases of brucellosis infection were detected in previously clean herds of cattle in Northern Ireland in the first five months of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the co-operation given to the security forces by the staff of the Mater Hospital, Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

The police are investigating the circumstances of the escape which my hon. Friend has in mind and my righthon. Friend will consider the matter further in the light of the outcome of these investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances Robert Campbell, a convicted Irish Republican Army robber, allegedly weak after a 20-day hunger strike, was transferred to the Mater Hospital, Belfast; and how he was able to escape from the Mater Hospital within a short time of his arrival there.

At 12.45 a.m. on 6th June, 1972, Robert John Campbell, a long-term prisoner serving 11 years for armed robbery, who had been on hunger strike since 15th May was transferred on medical advice from Crumlin Road prison to the intensive care unit of the Mater Hospital. A joint Army and police guard was set up outside the ward. At 8.12 a.m. on 7th June a nursing sister reported that Campbell was missing from the ward. It is believed he escaped through the window. Search and check procedures were put into operation immediately without success. The police are inquiring into the circumstances of the escape.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will institute a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the escape of a convicted Irish Republican Army prisoner, Robert Campbell, who had been sentenced to 11 years for armed robbery, from the Mater Hospital, Belfast, on 7th June, 1972.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware of the efforts of the Fermanagh Voluntary Health Association to establish a rehabilitation centre at Enniskillen; and what assistance he is prepared to offer.

Yes. Officers of the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland have recently taken part in discussions with the Fermanagh Voluntary Association of the Handicapped, and as a result it is the Ministry's intention to make available to the association an extensive site convenient to Enniskillen for the establishment of a rehabilitation centre and connected outdoor activities. The association is aware that as this is a local venture the questiton of financial assistance is one for the local welfare authority, which would however receive a 50 per cent. grant from the Ministry on any sum approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being made to obtain estimates of expenditure for purposes of rate support grant in 1974–75 by the new metropolitan districts.

Under the present rate support grant system my right hon. Friend is required to forecast the total relevant expenditure of all local authorities in England and Wales, but not to forecast separately for any particular authority or class of authorities. We are still considering with the local authorities associations possible changes to the grant system in 1974, but there is no proposal to alter the forecasting procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total estimated commitments outstanding on 31st March last and the total estimated new commitments in 1972–73 in respect of new construction and major improvements for trunk roads and for principal roads and loans to highway authorities, respectively.

The provisional total for England of commitments outstanding on 31st March, 1972, is as follows:

	£ million
Trunk, roads (including Motorways)	440
Principal roads (Grants)	204
Loans	1
	645

The estimated new commitments in 1972–73 are:

	£ million
Trunk roads (including Motorways)	302
Principal roads (Grants)	130
Loans	20
	452

Figures for the rest of Great Britain are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take immediate steps to prevent the Manchester Corporation proceeding with a scheme of landscaping the central reservation of the Eastern Bypass, Openshaw, Manchester, which envisages the provision of a third access for heavy vehicular traffic along the central reservation of an existing dual-carriageway, and thereby creating an additional road hazard.

The landscaping scheme proposed by Manchester City Council would remove an existing access for heavy vehicles over the central reservation of the Eastern Bypass. It would not provide a third access. Work on the scheme is temporarily suspended by reason of a claim to aright of access along the reservation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the objects of the tyre noise experiments which have been in progress on certain Hertfordshire sections of motorway M1 for the last four or five years; when he expects their objects to be achieved; how much longer the experiments are to continue; and if he will make a statement.

			Club					Estimated cost of project	Grant offer	Date of offer
								£	£
COUNTY
Kent	…	…	Ashford (Kent) RFC		…	…	…	11,000	4,375	18.6.71
			Herne Bay Amateur Rowing Club				…	8,000	3,225	13.3.72
			Gore Court Cricket Club		…	…	…	9,700	4,207	16.6.71
			Wingham Recreation Ground			…	…	6,000	2,090	6.4.71
			Whitstable Yacht Club		…	…	…	9,130	3,228	29.2.72
			Hythe Cricket Club	…	…	…	…	10,700	5,000	29.2.72
			Borstal Cricket Club		…	…	…	2,500	1,250	12.5.71
			East Peckham PF	…	…	…	…	8,570	4,240	1.4.71
			Broadstairs Sailing Club		…	…	…	2,800	1,089	28.4.71
			Stockbury Memorial PF		…	…	…	4,006	2,003	14.6.71
			Plaxtol-Shipbourne Tennis Club			…	…	1,081	520	10.6.71
			Bowles Rocks Trust Ski Slope			…	…	2,000	950	10.6.71
			Knockholt Village Tennis Club			…	…	2,453	1,150	4.6.71
Surrey	…	…	Reigate Heath Cricket and FC			…	…	4,645	2,322	10.9.71
			Banstead Cricket Club		…	…	…	5,000	1,930	15.10.71
			Oxted and District Bowling Club			…	…	5,652	1,326	10.6.71
			Merstham Cricket Club		…	…	…	12,700	4,661	10.6.71
			Albury Cricket Club		…	…	…	9,000	2,455	7.3.72
			Shamley Green, Wonersh, Bramley and District Angling Association.					1,400	700	17.12.71
			Old Reedonians Sports Club			…	…	10,537	5,000	23.3.72
			Ewhurst Youth and Sports Council				…	12,094	4,254	10.6.71
			Whyteleafe Football Club		…	…	…	12,000	6,000	13.5.71
			Alfold Sports Council		…	…	…	10,220	3,091	26.5.71
			Brockham Green Recreation Ground				…	1,488	744	18.6.71
			Farleigh Rovers FC	…	…	…	…	2,100	1,050	1.7.71
			Horley Football Club (1898)			…	…	525	215	3.5.71
			Horsley Sports ClubM		…	…	…	1,000	300	4.6.71
			Limpsfield Blues FC		…	…	…	5,100	2,035	10.6.71
			Lightwater PFA	…	…	…	…	5,050	1,520	4.6.71
			Guildford Waterside Centre			…	…	13,099	6,141	16.6.71
			Chilworth Sports Club		…	…	…	5,330	2,665	26.5.71
			Blechingley Sports Association			…	…	4,871	2,000	13.4.71

Grooves were cut in the concrete carriageway on sections of the M1 in order to assess their effect on the resistance of the surface to skidding. The initial objects of the experiment have been achieved. The technique has proved effective in raising the skidding resistance but at high cost. A machine is under development which should cheapen the treatment. The longer-term effects are being monitored.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of capital grants to sports clubs in the South-East area during 1971.

In the financial year 1971–72 the following offers of grant were made to sports clubs in the Greater London and South East Sports Council area:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the sites formerly owned by the Land Commission in the West Riding of Yorkshire which are still owned by his Department; and when he expects to have disposed of them.

In the West Riding of Yorkshire one site at Asket Hill, Leeds, remains and this is expected to be disposed of by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he ex- pects to complete his reconsideration of the criteria for the marking of double white lines on roads; and whether in considering the guidance criterion relating to blind crests he will give urgent and particular consideration to such configurations as the Denham dip on A412 in view of the consequences of the absence of such lines there pending reconsideration.

:The effect on accidents on the trial length has so far been inconclusive. I have already advised the Buckinghamshire County Council that in the special circumstances of the A412 I would not object to its laying double white lines at the Denham dip.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vehicles classified under each category were involved in fatal accidents with pedestrians for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

Following are the figures for fatal accidents involving one vehicle and a pedestrian in 1971:

Pedal cycles	12
Mopeds	1
Motor cycles and scooters	109
Cars and taxis	1,823
Buses and coaches	164
Goods vehicles	558
Other vehicles	69
All vehicles	2,736

Data for pedestrian accidents involving more than one vehicle are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussion is now taking place between his Department, the Greater London Council and Wandsworth Council on road safety pedestrian crossings in the London Borough of Wandsworth; and if he will make a statement.

No such discussion is at present taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total financial expenditure planned by his Department for the next five years on major road construction or improvement in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Major road schemes in Wandsworth estimated to cost about £15 million are being planned by the Greater London Council for the next five years. The Government expect to contribute about £11 million towards their cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that all vehicles entering the courtyard of the Government offices between King Charles Street and Great George Street do so via King Charles Street, with a view to relieving the traffic congestion in Great George Street.