asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he has noted the inadequate provision of bins or larger receptacles for litter disposal in many urban and rural areas in parts of Wales; and if he will seek powers to remedy these deficiencies;(2) how many Welsh local authorities, who institute proceedings under the Litter Acts, have provided adequate numbers of bins or larger receptacles for litter disposal throughout their areas.

I have received no recent representations about inadequate provision of litter bins. Local authorities and highway authorities are responsible for such provision and must judge whether it is adequate to meet local needs. I have advised local authorities of the need to make adequate provision, and I trust that they will give full consideration to this need.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the main sources of pollution of the River Taff.

The main sources are from industrial wastes, and to a lesser degree from unsatisfactory discharges from local authority sewage treatment plants.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount of land in the area of the Heads of the Valley authorities which can be prepared and made available for industrial development; and what is his estimate of the number of jobs that can be created by such development.

I understand that the total area of sites fully prepared is of the order of 100 acres in theory capable of supporting some 4,000 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a further statement on the proposed Dee crossing scheme.

I have nothing to add at this stage to my reply on 1st May to my hon. Friend the Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer).—[Vol. 836, c. 3–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will sanction the building of a health centre at Buckley in East Flintshire; and if he will make a statement.

Approval in principle was given to the county council's proposals for a health centre at Buckley on 15th December, 1971. Officials of the Welsh Office will shortly be discussing the implementation of this proposal with the executive council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the wage structure and unemployment prevailing among tenants in Cwmbran New Town, he will arrest further rent increases by inviting the Cwmbran Development Corporation to prepare an application to him in anticipation of Section 63(6) of the Housing Finance Bill.

It will be for the development corporation to decide if such an application is warranted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many rent determinations have been made by rent officers in Pontypool, Blaenavon and Cwmbran; and whether, in view of the paucity of such comparative determinations, he will direct the Cwbran Development Corporation to avoid excessive increases of rent by making comparisons with dissimilar areas.

The available figures relate to registration areas and not to local authority areas. Nine hundred and ninety-three fair rents have been determined in Monmouthshire. It will be for the development corporation in the first instance to consider how far these determinations are relevant to fair rent levels in Cwmbran.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the reduction in the numbers of rabbit clearance societies and of field operators in Wales since the withdrawal of Government grant aid for their work and bearing in mind the slight increase in rabbit infestation during the last 12 months' period, he will give consideration to the reintroduction of a grant-aided scheme for rabbit clearance in Wales.

No. As will be apparent from my reply to the hon. and learned Members for Montogomery (Mr. Hooson) on 16th December, 1971, a a scheme of this kind would be contrary to the Government's policy for rabbit control.—[Vol. 828, c. 184.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will direct the Forestry Commission not to plant around the Taf Fechan Water Board's reservoir.

No; the Board wishes the area to be planted in order to prevent water pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans there are for the expansion of the Craig Goch reservoir.

The possibility of enlarging the Craig Goch reservoir is being considered by the statutory authorities concerned, namely the Severn and the Wye River Authorities and Birmingham Corporation, which owns the reservoir. Consulting engineers have been appointed to undertake feasibility studies and have already started work.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans there are for further reservoirs in the Mid-Wales area which are likely to reach fruition during the course of the next five years.

The Water Resources Board's report on Water Resources in Wales and the Midlands indicated that a further source to regulate the River Severn would be needed by 1978. The options being investigated by the statutory authorities concerned include the enlargement of the Nant y Moch and Craig Goch reservoirs and the building of new reservoirs on the Afon Gam and at Marton Pool in Shropshire. I have ruled out the possible development of a reservoir on the Dulas. I must stress that at this stage the various possibilities are simply being considered and no firm decisions have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he estimates that all nineteenth century primary schools, in the areas covered by the Heads of the Valley authorities, will either be replaced or modernised.

I hope that in about five years' time we shall be within sight of the programmed replacement or improvement of all the sub-standard pre-1903 primary schools, for which there is a continuing need, in these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has now received the report of his viability unit on the A5 road junction at Whitehurst Forge in Denbighshire; and whether he will publish the report.

This junction will come within the scope of the feasibility study report on the proposed Ruabon and Chirk bypasses which I expect to receive shortly. I do not publish technical reports prepared by my consultants but after considering this report I will publish my proposals as draft orders under the Highways Acts, 1959 to 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department have carried out investigations of the social and economic implications of bypassing Welsh villages and towns which depend heavily upon the tourist trade; and what conclusions have been reached.

No specific study in these terms has been carried out, but when any major road improvement scheme is being planned account is taken of social and economic factors in addition to the directly measurable benefits of improved travel time and reduction of accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average delay in his Department before the hearing of an inquiry concerning a bypass and the publication of his decision.

Over the last five years the interval between the holding of a local inquiry and the announcement of the decision has been about five months.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases have been brought before the courts against defendants accused of photographing witnesses entering the precincts of a court of law; and whether he will make a statement concerning public policy in this regard.

I am informed that there have been no prosecutions for this offence since 1966. The purpose of the Section which created the offence was to prevent any interference with parties or witnesses which might affect the administration of justice. It is for the prosecuting authorities to consider whether there should be proceedings in any specific case.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give instructions in prosecutions on his behalf in lower courts in Wales, where defendants ask and courts agree that the proceedings be in Welsh, that prosecuting lawyers should prosecute in that language.

Prosecutions in lower courts in Wales are usually brought by the police. In any proceedings brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions or myself in such courts, subject to the wishes of the court consideration will always be given to meeting any request from a defendant that the prosecution should be conducted in Welsh.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the recurrence of delay in land charge searches from Kidbrooke.

The current average number of working days taken to process official searches is eight days. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 22nd May to the hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Peter Archer).—[Vol. 837, c. 998.]

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions the firm of Deansgate Domestic Services, 35 Little Peter Street, Manchester, for the unlawful possession of the washing machine of a Salford 74-year-old pensioner which it has retained for eight months despite the repeated requests of the pensioner and his Member of Parliament to return the machine, and despite repeated promises by the manager to do so.

If the hon. Member will forward to me details of this case, I will consider whether there are grounds for investigating any breach of the criminal law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from the motor industry about the effect of United States exhaust pollution reduction proposals on British car manufacturers and their exports;(2) what study has been undertaken by his Department into the use and efficacy of anti-pollution regulations as imposed by other countries, in view of their effects on British car exports.

My Department keeps in touch with developments in relation to such regulations, but I have received no representations from the motor industry about the effect of proposals in the United States for the reduction of pollution from vehicle exhausts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the British Steel Corporation and representative steel users' bodies, respectively, concerning prices for steel in the United Kingdom during the period 1972–73;(2) whether he will now make a statement concerning his conversations with the European Coal and Steel Community concerning future prices, 1972–73, for British steel.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take to stabilise steel prices.

The price increases which came into effect on 2nd April, 1972, were discussed with the Iron and Steel Consumers' Council and with the British Steel Corporation in the context of the CBI's policy of price restraint. No decisions have yet been reached about the general policy to follow the present period of price restraint; but for the corporation the aim is to move into profitability and some increases will be necessary. This is regardless of our entry into Europe, though from 1st January, 1973, steel prices will be subject to the provisions of the Treaty of Paris. My right hon. Friend has not discussed future price increases of British steel with the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the size of Great Britain's trade both ways with Taiwan for the years 1969–70 and 1970–71, compared with the corresponding trade with the Chinese main land.

Figures for the calendar years are given in the appropriate December issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics. In 1971 imports cif from and exports fob to Taiwan were £13 million and £10million, respectively; the corresponding figures for the People's Republic of China were £32 million and £28 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the Government's trade policy towards developing countries, following the relevant discussions at the Third United Nations Con- ference on Trade and Development in Santiago.

We shall continue to work for measures to promote the trade of developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he hopes to make a statement on British participation in the post-Apollo programme.

The question of participation in the post-Apollo programme is under consideration jointly with our European Space Conference partners. A meeting of the conference is being planned for July and my hon. Friend the Minister for Aerospace is considering how best to keep the House informed of developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in order to reach a decision on participation before the main contractors are chosen by the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration he will expedite the Government's and its European partners' joint decision over whether or not to participate in the post-Apollo project, and not wait until July.

A meeting of the European Space Conference, which is the proper forum for joint European decisions on post-Apollo, has been proposed for 11th–12th July to fit in with the NASA timetable on space shuttle contracts. An earlier meeting would be impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to Japan.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Billericay (Mr. McCrindle) and Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 5th June.—[Vol. 838, c. 1–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, during the negotiations for setting up a European Patent Office, he will suggest the establishment of its headquarters in London.

As I told the House on 20th March, in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman), we agreed in 1969 to support a Dutch proposal that the European Patent Office headquarters should be in The Hague, but we were telling the other countries concerned that, should the Dutch bid be unsuccessful or withdrawn, we would propose that the institution be sited in this country. This conditional offer, which was communicated to the 19 countries concerned, proposed London as the location in this country. The Dutch having withdrawn, the proposal for London is now unconditional.—[Vol. 833, c. 230.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his discussions with the Governments of the Netherlands and West Germany on the location of the European Patents Office have reached a conclusion; and if he will make a statement.

These countries have jointly proposed that the European Patent Office be in Munich with a branch in The Hague which we had originally supported as the site for the headquarters. We have therefore now told the negotiating countries that our bid for London as the site of the Office, which up to now has been conditional on an earlier bid for The Hague being withdrawn or defeated, is now unconditional.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further consideration he has given to strategic planning in the steel industry.

As I said in my statement on 8th May, the BSC is carrying out its strategic evaluation with all urgency and expects to make recommendations to the Government later in the year.—[Vol. 836, c. 909–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the Government Working Party report "Nuisance or Nemesis", submitted to the Stockholm Conference on Pollution, he will leave all matters relating to the type of future power stations only to the Central Electricity Generating Board.

No. The CEGB's proposals for new power stations require statutory approval in respect of capital investment, siting and environment, and, as necessary, nuclear safety. I have no plans for changing this situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish the measures taken by the present Government which specifically help small firms; whether he is satisfied with such measures; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 15th May and to my hon. Friend's speech in the debate on small businesses on 12th June. These show that very satisfactory progress has already been made with measures to help small firms.—[Vol. 836, c. 252: Vol. 838, c. 1058–65.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to classify water as goods for the purposes of the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968; and if he will make a statement.

I have at present no reason to think this would be justified. The question of the supply of water is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the effects of the Commercial Policy Decision No. 71/395 dated November, 1971 of the Secondary Legislation so far as British interests are concerned.

This decision will have no effect on British interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a detailed statement on the way in which Great Britain will have to modify quota arrangements on imports of cotton textiles on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and to what extent he estimates these modifications will affect employment in the textile industry generally and Lancashire in particular.

Details of the necessary modifications are still under discussion with the EEC Commission. As I told the hon. Member on 12th June, this is only one of the wide range of factors affecting future employment in the textile industry.—[Vol. 838, c. 233–34.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the share, in percentage terms, of the European Economic Community Market accounted for by imports from developing countries in 1960 and 1970, respectively.

The developing countries' share of the total imports into the European Economic Community, which thus excludes inter-community trading, was 38·5 per cent. in 1960 and 35·3 per cent. in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints he has received during the past two years about packaged holidays, in view of his responsibility for the Trade Descriptions Act.

One hundred and six in 1970, 86 in 1971 and 19 so far this year. Complaints are also made direct to the local weights and measures authorities which have the statutory duty to enforce the Trade Descriptions Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish as a White Paper the comments of the Central Electricity Generating Board on the recommendations of the Vinter Committee on nuclear reactor policy.

No. The House is aware that the report is confidential. The CEGBs comments on it must be equally so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received to the effect that there should be a public hearing of the arguments put to the independent expert who is to decide the price to be paid by Rolls-Royce (1971), Limited for the assets taken over from the old company; and what reply he has given.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the Trade Descriptions Act as applied to the marking of goods put up as special offers with their original selling price; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to doubt the effectiveness of the present provisions in dealing with the types of abuses in this field which they were designed to catch. When the time comes to review the working of the Act I shall be prepared to consider any practical suggestions for improvement which might be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the members he has appointed to the Industrial Development Board and the Scottish, Welsh and Regional Industrial Development Boards.

The appointments of Mr. Gordon Richardson, M.B.E., as Chairman of the Industrial Development Advisory Board and of Mr. Robert Fairbairn as Chairman of the Scottish Industrial Development Board were announced on 22nd March and 1st May, respectively. I hope to announce the names of the other chairmen and of the members of the boards shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what forms of regional assistance will be available in special development areas, in addition to that available in development areas, under the Government's new proposals for regional policy, as compared to the immediately preceding position.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industrial Development made such a comparison in reply to a Question on 19th April from my hon. Friend the Member for the Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Tugendhat). It is not possible to make a valid comparison of the selective assistance now proposed with the corresponding measures previously in force since the circumstances of every application vary.—[Vol. 835, c. 107–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the impending heavy redundancies in the Stanton and Staveley Ironworks at Ilkeston, he will review the boundaries of the Erewash Valley intermediate area and include Ilkeston in it.

No, I am not convinced that such a change is justified at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at which level of local government are the appropriate local authorities for formulating proposals for a new regional airport for Yorkshire and Humberside.

Any local authority may, with the consent of the Minister, provide an aerodrome. I understand the Leeds, Bradford and West Riding authorities are considering the question of air transport facilities in Yorkshire in consultation with the Humberside and Yorkshire local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will impose tariff barriers and other restrictions on the import of Japanese-made motor vehicles into the United Kingdom, identical with those imposed by the Japanese Government on British-made motor vehicles.

No. Japanese duties on motor vehicles are broadly at lower rates than our own and there are no import restrictions other than conformity with local safety specifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the recent developments in regard to the slaughter of dogs to make fur coats and other fashionable wear, he will consider the introduction of a ban on imports of all dog skins into the United Kingdom.

I would not be justified in banning imports of dog skins in the absence of a similar ban on the supply of dog skins within the United Kingdom. It would not be in accordance with our obligations under the GATT to discriminate against imports in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to implement the introduction and enactment of mineral rights legislation.

I am considering what form new legislation might take when the parliamentary timetable permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the British Airports Authority about further measures to combat hijacking; and if he will make a statement.

I visited Heathrow on 8th June to inspect the security measures at the airport and to discuss the precautions being taken with the British Airports Authority, airline security experts and senior officers of the British Airports Authority Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to propose the amendments to Schedule 4 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, which were suggested in proposals circulated by the Board of Trade in January, 1970, including the proposal to bring sherry and other wines within the requirements for marking capacity on the bottles.

The United Kingdom has been invited to comment on EEC proposals for measuring container bottles and the prepackaging of wine and other beverages which were submitted to the Council of Ministers on 29th February, 1972. While discussions are in progress I consider that it would be premature to proceed with the proposed amendment on bottled wine.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to make membership of the chambers of commerce compulsory in line with the recent recommendation of Mr. Robin Brook, President of the London Chamber of Commerce, a copy of which is in his possession.

All aspects of industrial representation in the United Kingdom are currently under review by an independent commission sponsored jointly by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and the Confederation of British Industry. I intend to await the outcome of this review before considering the question of additional powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present weekly wage or its equivalent in British currency of a policeman in Hong Kong.

A Hong Kong police constable on completion of six months' initial training is paid $680 a month, approximately £10 sterling a week. This rises by an incremental scale to $950 a month, approximately £16 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what governmental restrictions are in force in regard to the supply of arms and defence equipment to India and Pakistan from the United Kingdom.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's Statement to the House on 13th December, 1971.—[Vol. 828, c. 43–5.]

asked the Secretary of Stale for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are taking place between the Commission of the European Economic Community and South Africa regarding a commercial trade agreement for South Africa and the European Economic Community; what is the policy of the Commission; and if he will make a statement.

No discussions about a commercial trade agreement are taking place between the European Economic Community and South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is now able to state what action the Treasury Solicitor has taken, or intends taking, to obtain the £169·08p and legal costs due to the Government from Mr. Leonard Crickmar.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 7th June. When I have any further information I will write to him.—[Vol. 838, c. 99.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, and when, he proposes to publish English translations of those instruments of European Communities Secondary Legislation which had not been published by 6th June, 1972.

Forty-two volumes of pre-accession English texts were published on 13th January, 1972. English texts of 83 instruments made since 10th November, 1971, have also now been published and, as I have made clear to the House, a continuing flow of such texts will be published as they become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that Libya has admitted supplying arms to the Irish Republican Army; what action he has taken, either by protest or otherwise, to the Government of Libya; and whether he will cause an investigation to ascertain to what extent other Arabian States have supplied, or are supplying arms to the Irish Republican Army.

As I told the right hon. Member for Kettering (Sir G. de Freitas) on 14th June, strong protests about Colonel Qadhafi's claims to be supplying arms to Irish revolutionaries were made to the Libyan authorities on 12th June. The close and constant watch maintained on arms supplies to the Irish Republican Army has not disclosed any evidence implicating other Arab States.—[Vol. 838, c. 343–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries into the Kowloon minibus extortion affair have been made; and what was the outcome.

All allegations about corruption or extortion are carefully investigated. If the hon. Member provides details of a particular allegation, I will let him have further information about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to amend the Overseas Resources Development Act, 1959, to enable him to exercise control over the salaries of the staff of the Commonwealth Development Corporation, in view of the rate at which these have been increased in recent years.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the undertaking, given to the deputation including representatives of the Somerset County Council, the Taunton Borough Council and the Parish of Milverton, led by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Taunton, to his Department on 28th February, to the effect that a decision would be taken regarding the authorisation of funds for the proposed Milverton bypass, has not been kept.

The schemes for inclusion in the extension of the trunk road preparation pool will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters have been received in his Department from residents of Somerset objecting in any way to his proposals to change the county boundaries.

About 600.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money he has provided directly to wards the participation of athletes in the forthcoming Olympic Games.

£121,000 not counting a further £330,000 provided over the previous three years towards competition in other international events which help to build up performance, or such funds as the Sports Council may have provided since it became an executive body last 1st April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek powers to control increases in water rates; and whether he will make a statement.

No. Water undertakings are already subject to a wide range of controls. My right hon. Friend considers that they are sufficient to prevent unnecessary increases in water rates and sees no reason to add to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to state the intended publication date of the Ministry of Transport Survey on cost/benefit of railway services in Cornwall which was carried out during the summer of 1970.

I do not propose to publish the survey referred to. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order to combat and deter late night hooliganism on public transport by enabling bus crews to call the police in case of emergency, he will consider grant aiding the installation of two-way radio in buses already in service just as he now grant aids the installation of such radios in new buses.

Grants are currently available for installing two-way radio in buses already in service if it forms part of a bus control system designed to improve the reliability of services This equipment would no doubt be of value in the circumstances the hon. Member describes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the code of practice for district and private auditors which he proposes to introduce will include guidance on the audit of local authority direct labour departments; and when he proposes to introduce it.

The code of practice, which was published on 12th April, 1972, sets out general guidance about the audit of all accounts of local authorities. Its provisions will be effective from the operative date of the audit provisions in Part VIII of the Local Government Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimates of increases in road freight traffic to Europe over each of the five years from 1st January, 1973, both for National Freight Corporation traffic and for private hauliers' traffic; and whether he will make a statement on the effect these figures will have upon the delay in completing a motorway to Dover.

Such estimates are not available. On the second part of the Question, I cannot add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Crouch) on 26th May.—[Vol. 837, c. 511–12.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage of derelict land has been cleared in Warwickshire during the past five years.

According to the annual surveys made by local authorities, the total amount of derelict land restored by all agencies in the administrative County of Warwickshire during the five years 1967–71 was 160 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of housing improvement grants given during the last 12 months in the London Borough of Wandsworth, the total value of the grants, and the number of applications which were made for grants by owner-occupiers.

This information should be obtained direct from the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the total amount of funds made available by his Department for grant on principal road schemes costing less than £250,000 during each of the five years 1968 to 1973 and similar figures for such schemes in the administrative County of Hampshire.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in regard to the traffic flow on the A127/A12 trunk roads, he will consider abolishing the Fortune of War roundabout at Laindon, Essex, and introduce temporary flyovers at the junctions with Whalebone Lane, Dagenham, and Barley Lane, Ilford.

A junction with restricted access to the trunk road is planned to replace the Fortune of War roundabout, Laindon, as part of the scheme now in preparation to provide A127 in Essex with dual three-lane carriageways. Provision of temporary flyovers at the A12 junctions would not be justified because signal controls are to replace the roundabouts at Barley Lane later this year and at Whalebone Lane in 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Travel Concession Acts, 1955 and 1964, so as to make mentally handicapped persons eligible to be granted concessionary fares by local authorities.

I am prepared to consider this provided that there is evidence of general support for doing so among local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the conflict of judicial opinion in the case of Knuller (Publishing, Printing and Promotions) Limited and the Director of Public Prosecutions; and whether he will consider legislation to clarify the law relating to conspiracy to corrupt public morals and conspiracy to outrage public decency.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this case. The law of conspiracy is under review by the Law Commission, and consideration of legislation in this field must await their report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of his Department's working party on the observations made by a Sunday newspaper of 28th May on the provisions and operation of the Vagrants Act, 1824; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has been unable to identify the observations referred to. The review of the law on vagrancy and street offences has not yet been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from professional groups and organisations representing public servants about his Department's instructions to chief constables to pass on information about their members; and what reply he has sent.

I have not received any such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by his Department under Circular 77/19 in indemnifying the police against liabilities incurred by them as a result of the submission of reports to professional bodies and organisations representing public servants.

Nothing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for making public the instructions and procedures whereby chief constables are instructed by his Department to pass on information regarding members of professional groups and public servants.

I see no purpose in giving publicity to the existing arrangements, which have applied for a number of years. I am glad, however, to take this opportunity of explaining that chief officers of police are asked—there is no power to instruct them—to bring to the notice of the responsible professional and other bodies certain types of convictions of persons engaged in medicine, the law, the public services, and teaching and the care of children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been brought against the police regarding the instructions given to them in his Department's circulars to pass on information regarding members of professional groups and public servants.

None to my knowledge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now withdraw all circulars from his Department to chief constables instructing them to pass on information regarding members of professional groups and public servants.

No. In any event, they do not contain instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that many licensed taxi drivers in the Metropolis are having fixed penalty notices imposed on them when they are legitimately assisting the public either by delivering parcels or letters or responding to telephoned requests to cab ranks; and if he will direct the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police to instruct his officers not to be over-zealous in the execution of this part of their duties.

Responsibility for enforcing the law in the Metropolitan Police District rests with the Commissioner of Police. I understand that he does not accept the view that fixed penalty notices are issued unreasonably.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the disregard of cab rank regulations by private cars that is taking place within the area of central London; and if he will instruct the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police to enforce these regulations more rigidly.

Enforcement of the law is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police. I understand that he considers that these regulations are adequately enforced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now bring into force Section 3 of the London Cab Act, 1968, to ensure some relaxation of the restrictions on the parking of licensed taxicabs.

This Section came into force on 15th February, 1968, when the London Cab Act received the Royal Assent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police to take firmer steps to implement Section 4 of the London Cab Act, 1968, to prevent private cars from using illuminated telephone signs and cards on windscreens which suggest that they are available for hire on the same terms as licensed taxicabs.

Enforcement of the law is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police. He is satisfied that action is taken whenever there is sufficient evidence to support a prosecution, within the existing law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to amend the London Cab Act, 1968, to eliminate the increasing exploitation of the public by alleged private hire operators.

My right hon. Friend has undertaken to consider representations from the licensed taxi trade on this matter and to look carefully at any proposals for legislation which may be put to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the authorised establishments, the actual strengths and the number of vacancies in the Manchester, Salford and Birmingham police forces, respectively, at the latest date for which figures are available.

The figures at 31st May were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of convictions under the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, the number of people sentenced

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to ban the practice of journalists and broadcasting authorities arranging interviews with persons involved in cases of rail accidents and publishing statements which can be damaging to the persons concerned pending public inquiries.

No. My right hon. Friend does not think that this is appropriate for legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of beef were exported to the Continent in the most recent month for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous six months and in the same month in 1970 and 1971.

1,523 tons were exported in April, 1972. The following table gives comparable figures for earlier months:

Following is the information for England and Wales:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has regarding the current wholesale and retail price of beef; and what the comparable figures were in each of the previous 12 weeks, and one and two years previously

Wholesale prices on Smith-field for Scottish killed sides, Argentine rumps and Eire hinds are as given below. Information on retail prices, collected for the purposes of the General Index of Retail Prices, is not available on a weekly basis, but the following table shows average retail prices on 22nd February, 21st March and 18th April, 1972, the latest date for which information is available, and for comparable dates in 1970 and 1971.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Anglo-Norwegian talks with the Danes, on the refusal of Denmark to cease fishing for Atlantic salmon off the Norwegian coast, in spite of an international ban on salmon fishing areas of the North-East Atlantic.

At its meeting in May, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission considered proposals which included a complete ban on salmon fishing in the convention area outside national fishing limits, as from 1st January, 1976. This is the date on which, in accordance with an agreement reached this month at the meeting of the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, salmon fishing by Danish, including Faroese, and Norwegian fishermen off West Greenland will cease, after progressive reductions in their catches in the intervening years.The North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission decided to postpone until next year consideration of the ban from 1st January, 1976, but to continue in force in the meantime the existing measures for the regulation of the fishery by a system of closed areas, closed seasons and gear restrictions, supplemented by the addition of a new closed area round Iceland.