asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement on the progress of his consideration of an independent broadcasting council to handle complaints from the public.

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend on 19th April, I would not dismiss this idea out of hand; but such a council would affect many of the constitutional aspects of broadcasting and might better be considered in the context of a more general review.—[Vol. 835, c. 490.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list of the Secondary Legislation of the Rules, Regulations and Decisions of the European Economic Community which will affect his Department and its ministerial responsibilities; in what way each such piece of legislation will affect his Departmental activities; and to what extent he has met, or intends to meet, persons concerned to discuss the effects of such legislation on matters falling within his ministerial responsibilities.

There is none.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to insert on telephone accounts a warning that the telephone subscribed should carefully check his account in view of the number of errors which have been discovered.

As my predecessor explained to my hon. Friend on 22nd December, 1971, accounting for telephone charges is a matter for the Post Office.—[Vol. 828, c. 347.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give the number of staff in this Department who will be affected by the Boyle proposals to increase salaries by 20 per cent. to 25 per cent.; what salaries they now receive; and to what extent these will be raised on the implementation of the Boyle Report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the report of the Top Salaries Review Body (Cmnd. 5001) and to the Prime Minister's reply of 23rd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. William Clark). There are four staff at Under-Secretary level and above in my Department whose pay is affected by the recommendations of the Review Body.—[Vol. 839, c. 183.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the present level of British investment in Intelstat, as a proportion of the whole; and how these figures compare with 1968, 1969, and 1970, respectively.

The current level is approximately 7·23 per cent. The figures for 1968, 1969 and 1970 are 7·3 per cent., 7·27 per cent. and 7·24 per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give for the latest most convenient stated date the number of male and female registered blind workers employed in his Department; and whether he will take whatever action may be open to him to increase this number as and when convenient and suitable vacancies become available.

At present, one woman. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes". The Civil Service Department, in consultation with establishment officers of all major Departments, is actively considering what further action can be taken to increase the numbers of registered disabled people, including blind persons, employed in the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will state the loss due to licence evasion in the year ended 31st March, 1972, being a convenient assessable period; and how much decline in loss has occurred in that year, compared with

Date		Estimated revenue lost £m.	Estimated number of evaders	Notes
31st March, 1964	…	5·8	1·45	Licence fee £4 (monochrome).
31st March, 1965	…	7·2	1·80	Licence fee £4 (monochrome).
31st March, 1966	…	10·25	2·05	Licence fee £5 (monochrome).
31st March, 1967	…	8·75	1·75	Licence fee £5 (monochrome).
31st March, 1968	…	6·75	1·35	Licence fee—
				£5 (monochrome).
				£10 (colour).
				Introduction of Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 on 1st January, 1968.
31st March, 1969	…	7·5	1·25	Licence fee—
				£6 (monochrome).
				£11 (colour).
31st March, 1970	…	6·3	1·05	Licence fee—
				£6 (monochrome).
				£11 (colour).
31st March, 1971	…	7·8	l·30	Licence fee—
				£6 (monochrome).
				£11 (colour).
				Temporary rise in evasion due to Post Office strike.
31st March, 1972	…	7·15	0·95	Licence fee—
				£7 (monochrome).
				£12 (colour).

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement on the progress of his researches into the cost of special relief of the price of television licences for the elderly to be interpreted as all persons receiving State retirement pensions, excluding those in old people's homes, for whom benefits are already received.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate)and others on 7th June.—[Vol. 838, c. 423–4.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what would be the cost to the General Licence Fund of the British Broadcasting Corporation of reducing the television licence for state pensioners not in old people's homes to a nominal fee of £1 per annum only.

About £22 million a year.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications each of 10 preceding years, for comparable losses.

We estimate that at 31st March, 1972, we were losing £7·2 million in revenue through evasion.

:This is not a matter for a general direction; I have no doubt that the Post Office does its best to give prompt attention to all complaints.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will report on progress in the implementation of the Sound Broadcasting Act.

As I announced on 19th June in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr. Critchley) the tentative selection of the first 26 localities for radio stations has now been made, and the technical planning of the frequencies, locations and specifications of the stations is going on. My hon. Friend will also know from Press notices that the ITA is giving preliminary thought to the policy planning of the new service.—[Vol. 839, c. 39.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether fresh proposals for the trunk road link between the A18 at Edenthorpe and the West Moor interchange on the Ml8 route already approved have now been made.

Not yet, but the new proposals will be published early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what programme he has for the environmental improvement of land in the ownership of the British Railways Board adjacent to railway lines.

My right hon. Friend has drawn the board's attention to the special assistance for the improvement of unsightly land under "Operation Eyesore", and has invited its participation in Tree Planting Year. The board is co-operating in the "Keep Britain Tidy" campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received to date in respect of his consultation paper on public participation in water management; and what steps he intends to take to publicise his conclusions in this matter other than publication of a Bill in Parliament.

Comments have been received from a large number of individual local authorities and water boards but I am still waiting for comments from most of the national bodies which were consulted. When these have been fully reviewed, my right hon. Friend and I will consider what publicity is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average price of new houses sold in the first quarter of 1972 and the increase this represents since 1970.

The average price of new private dwellings mortgaged with building societies was £6,425 in the first quarter of 1972. This represents a rise of 29 per cent. over the corresponding period of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the amenity aspects of the countryside are sufficiently considered when water is extracted from rivers by statutory undertakings for water supply; and if he will make a statement.

The Water Resources Act, 1963, specifically requires the character of an inland water and its surroundings, and any natural beauty they may possess, to be taken into account in considering the grant of a licence for abstraction. The administration of the Act is a matter in the first instance for the river authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will use his powers under Section 104(3) of the Transport Act, 1968 to reschedule the city basin of the Regents Canal as a cruising waterway, in view of the regular use of the basin by the Islington Boat Club and others for leisure purposes.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member on 25th May.—[Vol. 837, c. 472.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider designating priority areas for relief where industrial pollution is heavy and causes serious problems for residents.

The Government already give high priority to measures for controlling pollution in areas with special problems, but I shall be glad to look into any particular problems where my right hon. Friend has power to help.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange to obtain copies of correspondence between the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton and the Department of Trade and Industry on the water supply in the Milnrow area of Lancashire for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen the correspondence to which the hon. Member refers. The West Pennine Water Board is aware of the difficulties being experienced in this part of its area. It has recently taken steps to clear the mains of debris, improve the filter plant and increase manning, particularly at weekends. Since these measures were put into effect a month ago, there have been no further complaints.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the difficulties confronting young couples who want to buy older houses in Islington, he will arrange for his Committee on London Housing to examine the situation.

The Action Group on London Housing, of which I am Chairman, is looking at all aspects of the supply and demand situation relating to housing in the London area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present state of British Rail's advanced passenger train project; and if he will make a statement.

Development is proceeding as quickly as possible. An experimental train is ready for testing on track and experience from these tests will be used in the design of prototype trains for entry into commercial service in the mid-1970s. Production trains should be taking over the main inter-city services by the late 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which officials of his Department visited Expo, 1972; and what new propsals he now has for handling commuter traffic into major British cities in future.

I myself visited Transpo 1972 in Washington together with officials from my Department. My main purpose was to support the British effort at the Third International Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles, but I took the opportunity to examine the new mass passenger transit systems on display at Transpo, and discussed their application with the United States Secretary for Transportation. These and other methods of improving commuter services into large cities are being carefully considered, and as and when announcements are appropriate, my right hon. Friend will make them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time taken by rent officers to process applications for fair rent following the submission of a qualification certificate both in Inner London and in Outer London; and what are the comparable average times in cases which go on appeal to Rent Assessment Panels.

We do not keep records of the time taken by rent officers and rent assessment committees to process applications, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I shall look at it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to speed up commencement of work on the Duston-on- Tyne sewage plant, in view of its importance to developments on Tyneside.

The Tyneside Joint Sewerage Board has been told that the construction of the proposed Dunston sewage disposal works may proceed. It is for the board to decide what priority the works should be given in the main programme of works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will use his powers, under the Town and Country Planning Act, to intervene and revoke the decision of the Birmingham Planning Authority to give planning permission for a 96-bedroom hotel at the corner of Huston Hill and Gravelly Hill North in Birmingham, in view of the fact that this is a residential area and this construction will cause inconvenience to to the residents and increase of traffic congestion.

No. As the hon. Member knows, such action is quite exceptional and my right hon. Friend does not think its use would be justified in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the progress of his review of direct labour building by local authorities.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Idris Owen) on 24th May.—[Vol. 837, c. 382.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the sale of disused railway lines for recreational and amenity uses, following the Report on Disused Railways by the Countryside Commission.

Circular 72/71, issued by my Department in September, 1971, provides a new procedure whereby local planning authorities can take the initiative as regards the best use of disused railway lines in the countryside. Local authorities are under these arrangements at present considering about seven miles of closed line for possible recreational and amenity uses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the figures of council houses built in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 in the North West; if he will indicate the steps being taken to increase production; and if he will make a statement.

The information is in table 3(b) of Housing Statistics, Great Britain, No. 24, February, 1972, of which a copy is in the Library. The Housing Finance Bill will be of considerable help to the authorities with acute needs and the present Government, unlike the last one, place no restriction on the total amount that local authorities may borrow to build houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many one-, two-, three- and four-bedroomed council houses have been sold in Stoke-on-Trent.

The hon. Member should seek this information from the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have now been taken to prevent public access to polluted land at Ropers and Trumpions Farm, Barking Magna, Essex, pending final assessment of the risk to public health, to avoid further pollution of the land by improved methods of sewage treatment, and to remove existing pollution to ensure restoration of the land to full agricultural use.

These farms cover some 145 acres and I am not aware of any general risk to health which would warrant special precautions; South end Corporation are acting on medical advice and if soil tests show patches where restrictions on access would be advisable, I am assured that they will at once take appropriate measures.Improved methods of sewage disposal have been under consideration for some time, but new or extended works have to take into account the sewerage requirements for new development in the area. These are likely to be affected by the Third London Airport.Remedial measures for agricultural purposes will be decided as soon as the results of the present tests are known. This, however, must await the harvesting and analysis of crops at present being grown there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated number of houses in the Borough of Brighouse, the Borough of Spenborough and the Urban District of Heckmondwike in the West Riding of Yorkshire which are without a bathroom, inside lavatory and a hot water system.

The 1966 Sample Census which provides the latest available information, shows the following estimates of households who lacked each of the amenities:

	Number of households without
	Fixed bath	Inside water closet	Hot water tap
Brighouse M.B.	3,020	3,120	1,810
Spenborough M.B.	3,230	3,400	1,860
Heckmondwike U.D.	760	830	490

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that, in connection with his review of the compensation code, investigations are carried out to determine whether the environmental pollution caused by the M1 motorway passing within close proximity to Gilda court is harmful to the health of the inhabitants, and that consideration is given to ways of compensating them so as to enable them to move to other suitable private accommodation.

I shall be considering the whole question of the adverse environmental effects of motorways in the light of the detailed investigations made by the Urban Motorways Committee before reaching final decisions on my review of the Compensation Code.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates his Department has made, in connection with his review of the compensation code, of the value of the compensation which would need to be paid to the inhabitants of Gilda Court whose property has been blighted by the building of the M1 motorway; and what steps are being taken to pay such compensation.

Compensation can be paid only if claims qualify under the present rules; and payments are in fact being made to those whose claims are valid. Estimates on any other basis would be hypothetical and have not been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measurements have been made of the noise and atmospheric pollution caused by the close proximity of M1 traffic passing Gilda Court.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what contact he has had with Huddersfield Corporation Waterworks Department in connection with the effect on the environment from the extraction of water from the cloughs in Colne Valley urban district.

In that connection—none. The Corporation must observe such conditions—including any for the protection of the environment—attached to the grant of rights to take water and to any abstraction licence granted to them by the River Authority. But they themselves are not responsible for fixing or reviewing such conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the number of vehicles in the Metropolitan Police area out of the 300,131 cases reported by police and traffic wardens for suspected evasion of the payment of Road Fund licences which were found to have been licensed; and how many were found to have been unlicensed.

Of all the reports, 319,134 in total, received by the Greater London Council in 1971 from the Metropolitan Police and other sources, 229,181 related to unlicensed vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the French Government on matters pertaining to the difficulties being experienced over European Economic Community Regulations Nos. 11 and 12 of 1968 on the E Mark qualification of cars;(2) to what extent the problems connected with the E Marks regulation under European Economic Community Regulations Nos. 11 and 12 of 1968 relate to the Merchandising Marks Act, the Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations and the Trade Descriptions Act; and when he expects to reach an agreement on these discussions;(3) whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding a number of problems resulting from the attitude of the French Government to European Economic Community Regulations Nos. 11 and 12 of 1968; and whether he will make a statement.

:The Construction and Use Regulations require vehicles first used after 1st July to carry E marks to show that they comply with Regulations 11 and 12 annexed to the United Nations Geneva Agreement of 1958. Some manufacturers who sought to obtain E Marks in France have not been allocated approval numbers in good time. Appropriate action is being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list of the Secondary Legislation of the Rules, Regulations and Decisions of the European Economic Community which will affect his Department and its ministerial responsibilities; in what way each such piece of legislation will affect his Departmental activities; and to what extent he has met, or intends to meet, employers, trade unions, industrial representatives and trade associations to discuss the effects of such legislation on matters falling within his ministerial responsibilities.

I would refer the hon. Member to Parts 4, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of the European Communities Secondary Legislation as published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Interested organisations and persons have been, and will continue to be, consulted as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give for the latest most convenient stated date the number of male and female registered blind workers employed in his Department; and whether he will take whatever action may be open to him to increase this number as and when convenient and suitable vacancies become available.

26 male and 6 female. Yes. The Civil Service Department, in consultation with establishment officers of all major departments, is actively considering what further action can be taken to increase the numbers of registered disabled people—including blind persons—employed in the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the number of the staff in his Department who will be affected by the Boyle proposals to increase salaries by 20 per cent. to 25 per cent.; what salaries they now receive; and to what extent these will be raised on the implementation of the Boyle Report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the report of the Top Salaries Review Body (Cmnd. 5001) which was published on 23rd June, and to the Prime Minister's reply of 23rd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. William Clark). There are 92 staff at Under-Secretary level and above in my Department whose pay is affected by the recommendations of the Review Body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to road lighting in historic towns and villages and in other high amenity areas which has been the subject of correspondence with the hon. Member for Banbury.

The first requirement of road lighting is that it should enhance safety but, consistent with this, I accept that lighting schemes should have particular regard to the character of historic towns and villages. My Department has today issued advice to local authorities on how this might be effected and has agreed to contribute towards the additional costs of achieving this objective. I am sending a copy of the circular to my hon. Friend

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for reports from chief constables as to what is the police practice in Scotland in regard to the finger printing of children; and what proposals he has for change.

Police practice in this matter was thoroughly examined in 1970 and I see no need to initiate another review at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take about the medical manpower turnover in Muirkirk's general practitioner service.

I am not aware of any ground for action on my part. While there have been a number of

	Persons appointed since June, 1970	Persons not re-appointed since June, 1970
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.	Mr. D. D. S. Craib	Lord Tayside, O.B.E
	Mr. Angus Wallace	Mrs. A. S. Holway
	Mr. S. L. Henderson
South of Scotland Electricity Board.	Mr. C. H. Martineau	Mr. T. Fulton
	Mr. L. M. Turpie	Mr. J. Kane, O.B.E.
	Mr. W. G. P. Fraser, T.D.
Scottish Transport Group	*Mr. P. M. Thomas, D.S.O., T.D (Chairman)	Mr. W. Alexander
		Mr. T. W. H. Gailey, C.B.E.
	*Professor K. J. W. Alexander	Mr. J. Johnston
	Mr. R. B. Dick
	*Mr. A. N. Donnet
	*Mr. W. M. Little, C.B.E.
	Mr. J. MacDonald
	Mr. S. J. B. Skyrme
	*Mr. P. C. Somerville
	Mr. D. K. Thomson. C.B.E., T.D.
	Mr. R. Young
Highlands and Islands Development Board.	Sir Andrew Gilchrist K.C.M.G. (Chairman)	Sir Robert Grieve
		Mr. J. M. Rollo, O.B.E.
	*Sir James Mackay, K.B.E., C.B.(Deputy Chairman)	Mr. W. Scholes
	Mr. A. Forsyth
	†The Rt. Hon. Tom Fraser
	Mr. J. S. Grant, C.B.E.
	Colonel H. A. C. Mackenzie. O.B.E., T.D.
	Mr. J. M. Raffan
	*Mr. Prophet Smith
Scottish Tourist Board	*Mr. W. A. Nicholson, O.B.E.
	*Mrs. E. Murray Usher
	*Sir William Slimmings, C.B.E.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of the persons he has appointed to public bodies since coming to office; and if he will also publish a list of persons whose tenure of office on public bodies came to an end during the last two years and who were not reappointed.

The main executive bodies to which I make paid appointments are the two Scottish Electricity Boards, the Scottish Transport Group, the Highlands and Islands Development Board, the Scottish Tourist Board, the Scottish Special Housing Association and the five New Town Development Corporations. Information relating to these bodies is given below.Altogether I make a total of approximately 3,350 appointments to some 408 bodies, some of these jointly with other Ministers, and if there is any further category in which the hon. Member is particularly interested, I shall be happy to give him what help I can if he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the state-owned licensed premises in the Highland area which have now been disposed of.

Seventeen of the 18 State-owned licensed premises in the Cromarty Firth area have now been sold as separate lots to various purchasers. The remaining one, an off-sales shop in Cromarty, was leased and has now been closed down. The following is a list of the premises which were sold:Invergordon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on the basis of applications made to him, what future expansion is planned for pre-school education; what type of provision is planned; and in what education authority areas.

Authority		Project	Places provided (on a full-time basis)
Ayrshire	…	Nursery School, Kilmarnock	60
Dunbartonshire	…	Nursery School, Meiklehill, Kirkintilloch	60
Dunbartonshire	…	Nursery School, Ladyton Bonhill	60
Dundee	…	Nursery School, Fintrie	80
Dundee	…	Nursery School, Kirkton	80
Dundee	…	Nursery Classes—Dens Road Primary School	60
Fife	…	Nursery School Unit (combined with a day nursery)	40
Fife	…	Nursery Class, Methil (part of combined day nursery/community/ nursery class project—Sailors'Rest)	20
Edinburgh	…	Nursery School, Craigmillar Glasgow	60
Glasgow	…	Nursery Classes, St. George's School	80
Glasgow	…	Nursery Classes, Lambhill	80
Glasgow	…	Nursery Classes, Easterhouse	80
Glasgow	…	Nursery Classes, Trondra Place	80
Glasgow	…	Nursery Classes, Glenlora	80
Glasgow	…	Nursery Classes, Milton Bank	80
Renfrewshire	…	Nursery School, Barrhead	60
Renfrewshire	…	Nursery School, Port Glasgow	60

A further eight nursery projects in Glasgow, four in Edinburgh, one in Ayrshire and two in Dunbartonshire are under consideration.Education authorities do not require my approval to adapt existing accommodation for nursery class use, provided the cost can be contained within the minor works programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated population of children of three years and four years of age in Scotland; and what percentage of these groups is receiving preschool education, excluding the rising fives who are in primary school.

At January, 1971, it is estimated that there were 91,200 three-year-old and 90,600 four-year-old children in Scotland, 4·2 per cent. of the three-year-olds and 8·9 per cent. of the four-year-olds receiving nursery education in education authority and grant-aided schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the school population in separate nursery schools and nursery classes attached to primary schools; what is the pupil/teacher ratio; and if he will give the figures for each education authority area.

At January, 1971, there were 12,539 children attend-

The following projects have been approved under the urban programme during the past 12 months.ing education authority and grant-aided schools and classes. The pupil/teacher ratio—full-time and equivalent puipls to full-time and equivalent teachers—was 36·3:1. Information by education authority area is given below.

Education Authority		Nursery Population	Pupil/Teacher ratio (full-time and equivalent pupils to full-time and equivalent teachers)*
Cities
Aberdeen	…	1,010	23.4:1
Dundee	…	742	20.9:1
Edinburgh	…	2,969	35.8:1
Glasgow	…	4,133	46.1:1
Counties
Aberdeen	…	53	53.0:1
Ayr	…	614	57.4:1
Banff	…	22	22.0:1
Clackmannan	…	50	26.0:1
Dumfries	…	82	41.0:1
Dunbarton	…	83	44.5:1
Fife	…	1,548	43.1:1
Lanark	…	139	46.3:1
Moray and Nairn	…	80	40.0:1
Perth and Kinross	…	86	73.0:1
Renfrew	…	439	26.8:1
Stirling	…	142	29.7:1
West Lothian	…	347	29.9:1
Total (Scotland)	…	12,539	36.3:1
* Nursery Schools and classes are staffed by teachers and Nursery nurses: the figures given are for teachers only.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many separate nursery schools there are in Scotland administered by the local authorities; and if he will identify them in each education authority area.

At January, 1972, 119 in the following education authority areas:

Education Authority			Nursery Schools
Cities
Aberdeen	…	…	4
Dundee	…	…	9
Edinburgh	…	…	16
Glasgow	…	…	56
Counties
Aberdeen	…	…	1
Ayr	…	…	7
Banff	…	…	1
Clackmannan	…	…	1
Dumfries	…	…	2
Dunbarton	…	…	5
Fife	…	…	7
Lanark	…	…	2
Moray and Nairn	…	…	1
Perth and Kinross	…	…	1
Renfrew	…	…	3
Stirling	…	…	1
West Lothian	…	…	2
			119

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many under fives there are in classes at primary schools; and if he will identify them in each education authority area.

At January, 1971, there were 2,051 children under five in classes at education authority and grant-aided primary schools. The following table gives the numbers by each education authority area.

Education Authority		Children under five in Primary Clauses
Cities
Aberdeen	…	28	(including 4 at grant-aided schools)
Dundee	…	23	(including 3 at grant-aided schools)
Edinburgh	…	30
Glasgow	…	46	(including 2 at grant-aided schools)
Counties
Aberdeen	…	57
Angus	…	2
Argyll	…	7
Ayr	…	186
Banff	…	26
Berwick	…	4
Bute	…	29
Caithness	…	33
Clackmannan	…	6	(including 3 at grant-aided schools)
Dunfries	…	4
Dunbarton	…	538	(including 7 at grant-aided schools)

East Lothian	32
Fife	140
Inverness	35
Kincardine	2
Kirkcudbright	—
Lanark	12
Midlothian	1
Moray and Nairn	95
Orkney	1
Peebles	14
Perth and Kinross	5
Renfrew	482	(including 7 at grant-aided schools)
Ross and Cromarty	35
Roxburgh	5
Selkirk	1
Stirling	16
Sutherland	17
West Lothian	39
Wigtown	92
Zetland	8
	2,051	(including 26 at grant-aided schools)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursery classes there are in Scotland attached to primary schools; and of he will identify them in each education authority area.

At January, 1972, 113 nursery classes were attached to education authority and grant-aided primary schools, in the following education authority areas:

Education Authority		Nursery Classes
Cities
Aberdeen	…	21	(including classes at 2 grant-aided schools)
Dundee	…	6	(including classes attached to one grant-aided school)
Edinburgh	…	29
Glasgow	…	2
Counties
Ayr	…	4
Banff	…	2
Clackmannan	…	1
Dunbarton	…	1
File	…	26
Lanark	…	1
Peebles	…	1
Perth and Kinross	…	1
Renfrew	…	7
Selkirk	…	1
Stirling	…	4
West Lothian	…	6
		113

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made on the number of pre-school playgroups in Scotland; how many children attend such groups; and if he will identify them in education authority areas.

At the end of 1970 there were 957 playgroups attended by about 18,000 children. The number of playgroups in each area was as follows:

County
Aberdeen and Kincardine*	…	…	53
Angus	…	…	19
Argyll	…	…	12
Ayr	…	…	89
Banff	…	…	8
Berwick	…	…	3
Bute	…	…	4
Caithness	…	…	4
Clackmannan	…	…	7
Dumfries	…	…	14
Dunbarton	…	…	53
East Lothian	…	…	17
Fife	…	…	50
Inverness	…	…	20
Kirkcudbright	…	…	3
Lanark	…	…	70
Midlothian	…	…	56
Moray and Nairn	…	…	12
Orkney	…	…	5
Peebles	…	…	7
Perth and Kinross	…	…	24
Renfrew	…	…	61
Ross and Cromarty	…	…	12
Roxburgh	…	…	5
Selkirk	…	…	8
Stirling	…	…	60
Sutherland	…	…	2
West Lothian	…	…	15
Wigtown	…	…	4
Zetland	…	…	5
County of City
Aberdeen Burgh	…	…	41
Dundee	…	…	—
Edinburgh	…	…	148
Glasgow	…	…	66
* Returns are made by counties and large burghs which are responsible under the Social Work (Scotland) Act, 1968, for the registration of playgroups. Aberdeen and Kincardine have a joint social work committee and separate figures for the two county areas are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the number of the staff in his Department who will be affected by the Boyle proposals to increase salaries by 20 per cent. to 25 per cent.; what salaries they now receive; and to what extent these will be raised on the implementation of the Boyle Report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the report of the Top Salaries Review Body (Cmnd. 5001) which was published on 23rd June and to the Prime Minister's reply of 23rd June to my hon. Friend, the Member for Sur- rey, East (Mr. William Clark). There are 34 staff at Under Secretary level and above in my Department whose pay is affected by the recommendations of the Review Body.—[Vol. 839, c. 183.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give for the latest most convenient stated date the number of male and female registered blind workers employed in his Department; and whether he will take whatever action may be open to him to increase this number as and when convenient and suitable vacancies become available.

There are at present six male and three female registered blind workers employed in my Department. With the Civil Service Department and other Departments consideration is being given to what further action can be taken to increase the numbers of registered disabled people—including blind persons—employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the Secondary Legislation of the Rules, Regulations and Decisions of the European Economic Community which will affect his Department and its ministerial responsibilities; in what way each such piece of legislation will affect his Departmental activities; and to what extent he has met, or intends to meet, employers, trade unions, industrial representatives and trade associations to discuss the effects of such legislation on industry in general and matters falling within his ministerial responsibilities.

I would refer the hon. Member to parts 7–9 and 14–41 of the European Communities Secondary Legislation as published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Interested organisations and persons have been and will continue to be consulted as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new job opportunities have been notified to him in the Newport, Monmouthshire, employment exchange area in 1972; and if he will list the firms involved and their exact location.

I regret information on individual schemes cannot be disclosed, but applicants for industrial development certificates granted this year have estimated they will provide 300 new jobs in manufacturing industry. This figure takes no account of jobs arising in the service sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the control of night jet flights at Gatwick for the summer season 1973.

After full discussion with the Consultative Committee for Gatwick Airport and with representatives of the airlines, I have decided that the number of night movements by jet aircraft at Gatwick during the 1973 summer season will be limited to 3,950; this compares with a figure of 4,950 in 1972. The planned overslabbing of the runway may result in the actual number of night jet movements in 1973 being substantially less than the permitted maximum.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs in prospect there were for each of the economic planning regions at June 1970; and what are the latest figures.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Alan Williams) on 6th June, 1972—[Vol. 838, c. 74.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he intends to exercise his responsibilities under Section 161 of the Companies Act, 1948, following entry into the European Economic Community.

It is too early to say. The EEC has not yet adopted any directive or promulgated any draft directive relating to auditors' qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, following recent exchanges within the Groupe D'Etudes des Experts Comptables de la CEE, he will make a statement regarding reciprocal recognition and acceptance of accountancy qualifications within the European Economic Community.

I am aware that the Groupe ďEtudes, which is not a formal Governmental body, is currently studying reciprocal recognition of accounting and auditing qualifications; it would be premature for me to make any statement on the subject

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of industrial inquiries for sites in Wales from January to June and July to September, 1965 and every year thereafter until 1972.

The inquiries were as follows:

			January/June	July/September
1965	…	…	141	79
1966	…	…	198	68
1967	…	…	175	98
1968	…	…	297	148
1969	…	…	266	88
1970	…	…	216	77
1971	…	…	142	77
1972	…	…	208*	—
* To 23rd June, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many advance factories he has allocated to Wales since June, 1970; and if he will list them.

The five advance factories authorised for Wales since June, 1970 are:

• Abercarn No. 3.
• Brecon No. 2.
• Cardigan (Nest Units).
• Ebbw Vale.
• Merthyr Tydfil No. 4.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs are expected in Wales as a result of industrial development certificate approvals since June, 1970.

From industrial development certificates approved for schemes of 10,000 sq. ft. and over, 14,100 jobs were estimated by the applicants to arise in manufacturing industry when the projects were complete and fully manned. No estimate is available for the service industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the export earnings obtained from Scotch whisky in each of the last 10 years.

Exports of whisky were valued at £227 million in 1971. The figure relates to Scotch and Northern Irish whisky; figures for the earlier years are published in the Annual Statement of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will recognise for the purposes of Section 161 of the Companies Act, 1948 a body consisting entirely of individuals authorised under Section 161(1)(b) of the same Act.

No. I would have to satisfy myself among other things that future as well as present members of such a body would have qualifications sufficient to warrant their auditing the accounts of companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the review by his Department of the London (Heathrow) Airport Noise Insulation Grants Scheme.

After full consultation with the British Airports Authority, and taking into account representations made by local authorities and others concerned I have decided to revise the Scheme on the following lines. The terminating dates are being extended for two years. The maximum basic grant payable will be raised from the present 60 per cent. of £250 to 75 per cent. of £275, an increase of over 37 per cent. Additionally, a limited number of dwellings in areas very close to the airport will be eligible for 100 per cent. grant up to a maximum of £360. The revised terms will be defined in an Order to be laid before Parliament at an early date.I am grateful to the British Airports Authority for their ready co-operation in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what limitations have been placed on night jet movements at Manchester Airport for the summer season of 1973.

Following upon Departmental discussions with the airport Consultative Committee and the Manchester Corporation, the Corporation, with the concurrence of the Consultative Committee, has limited night jet movements between 2330 and 0600 from 1st April to 31st October, 1973 to a total of 3,250 movements of which not more than half are to be take-offs. This compares with a limit of 4,000 movements this year, and I am much encouraged by the Corporation's constructive approach to the problem of controlling aircraft noise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to strengthen his Department's insurance division by bringing in expert knowledge and experience from the insurance industry.

I am pleased to say that Mr. R. E. Beard, at present General Manager of the Pearl Assurance Company, will be joining my Department at the beginning of September in a new part-time post as Adviser to the Insurance Division on the development and implementation of policy in the field of insurance supervision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will now announce the results of the review of forestry policy.

A consultative document is being published today setting out the results of the Government's review of forestry policy. A supporting cost/benefit analysis is also being made available. Copies are being placed in the Vote Office and the Library.These documents examine in some depth both the economic and social costs and benefits of forestry for the nation and for the rural communities most affected by it. Apart from their immediate relevance to forestry, the Government see these documents as an important contribution to further studies of the economy of rural areas and of some of the problems, notably depopulation, which they can present.The Government have concluded that the main justification for Forestry Commission planting is to be found in the part which it can play in sustaining the rural economy, especially in areas which might otherwise be threatened by depopulation. They consider that the Commission should develop a new planting and restocking programme totalling up to 55,000 acres a year, thus broadly maintaining its contribution to the wellbeing of country areas where employment opportunities are limited. This would also ensure a continuing increase in the total acreage of forests in the country and a continuing expansion of home-grown wood production for industry. The programme would be reviewed every three years. At the same time, the Government are introducing a target rate of return on capital of 3 per cent. per annum in real terms, although where necessary allowance will be made for planting which is undertaken primarily for social reasons; and the Commission's accounts are being recast to reflect this.The Government consider that, in the management of the Commission's commercial forests, there should be a marked increase of emphasis both on visual amenity and on realising their potential for recreation. Further consideration will be given as to how such aims can best be further promoted especially in the areas maintained primarily for amenity or recreational purposes.The consultative document recognises the rôle of private forestry in the national economy; and one of the main objects of the forthcoming consultations will be to resolve how private woodland owners can at the same time play an effective part in meeting contemporary social and environmental needs. The Government believe that grant aid should be directed essentially to encouraging private planting to make its own distinctive contribution to meeting these needs. Accordingly, there are to be discussions aimed at harnessing the grant system to social and amenity objectives rather than to the post-war problems of woodland restocking and rehabilitation upon which the original schemes were founded. While these consultations are in progress, and pending any decisions that may be reached, the Forestry Commission will not be entertaining any further applications under the Dedication and other existing grant schemes, although existing commitments will naturally be honoured and applications already received up to 28th June will be considered in the usual way. There will also be discussions on the environmental aspects of private forestry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the Report of the Working Party on the Monitoring of Foods for Heavy Metals on lead in food; and if he will make a statement.

I have now received this report, which is being published today and copies are being placed in the Library and in the Vote Office. The Report has been submitted to the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee, and to the Pharmacology Sub-Committee of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Their advice is published in appendices to the report. The committee's conclusion is that there is no evidence of harm to health from present levels of lead in food comprising the diet of the average consumer. The committee has made two recommendations—that a further study of a particular local problem be commissioned, and that a change in the present regulations should be made. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I have accepted these recommendations.The study which is being put in hand will investigate the body burden of lead of consumers of shell fish taken from waters where lead concentrations are higher than average. The Government's medical advisers will assess the significance of the results obtained.The change in regulations concerns baby foods. The Government's expert advisers consider that for this particular group it is desirable that the safety margin should be as large as possible and have recommended, therefore, that efforts be made to bring down the average lead content of baby foods to the average level, or preferably below the average level, found in the national diet as a whole. The monitoring has indicated that the average level of lead in these foods when in cans is above the average in the national diet as a whole, although there is no evidence that this has resulted in any risk to health, and in the case of every individual sample of baby foods tested the level of lead found was well below the present statutory limit. Measures already taken are reducing the average for canned baby foods, which is expected to fall during the year to the lower level considered desirable. To support this change, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I have accepted the recommendation that there should be a separate category for baby foods in the Lead in Food Regulations which it is proposed to bring into effect at a level of 0·5ppm. Similar action is being taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland.A general periodical review of the Lead in Food Regulations was due to be undertaken by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee, and this is now to be put in hand taking account of the data obtained from the monitoring.I shall continue the monitoring for lead on the revised basis recommended by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee and proceed with the monitoring for other heavy metals, particularly cadmium. I hope that the working party's report on cadmium in food will be published later this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce the result of the review of Forestry Commission grants to private owners; and if he will make a statement.

A review of the level of grants to private woodland owners was held by the Forestry Commission last year. My right hon. Friends and I are now considering representations on the review which have been made by the Forestry Committee of Great Britain.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the Secondary Legislation of the Rules, Regulations and Decisions of the European Economic Community which will affect his Department and its ministerial responsibilities; in what way each such piece of legislation will affect his departmental activities; and to what extent he has met, or intends to meet, employers, trade unions, industrial representatives and trade associations to discuss the effects of such legislation on British industry in general and matters falling within his ministerial responsibilities.

I would refer the hon. Member to Part 3 of the European Communities Secondary Legislation as published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Interested organisations and persons have been, and will continue to be, consulted as necessary.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the number of the staff in his Department who will be affected by the Boyle proposals to increase salaries by 20 per cent. to 25 per cent.; what salaries they now receive; and to what extent these will be raised on the implementation of the Boyle Report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the report of the Top Salaries Review Body (Cmnd. 5001) which was published on 23rd June and to the Prime Minister's reply of 23rd June to my hon. Friend, the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. William Clark). There are 26 staff at Under Secretary level and above in the Civil Service Department whose pay is affected by the recommendations of the Review Body.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give for the latest most convenient stated date the number of male and female registered blind workers employed in his Department; and whether he will take whatever action may be open to him to increase this number as and when convenient and suitable vacancies become available.

Five male and four female at 23rd June, 1972. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes". We are considering with Departments what further action can be taken to increase the numbers of registered disabled people (including blind persons) employed in the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many of the applications made under the Industrial Relations Act for compensation for unfair dismissal in the first three months of its application such applications succeeded; how many applicants were awarded compensation of £100 or less; and how many in each successive band of £100 to £500, £500 to £1,000, £1,001 to £2,000, £2,000 to £3,000, £3,001 to £4,000, and how many of over £4,000, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available at present. Arrangements are however in hand for the regular statistical analysis by computer of complaints of unfair dismissal under the Industrial Relations Act and their outcome. The first such analysis is expected to become available towards the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the Secondary Legislation of the Rules, Regulations and Decisions of the European Economic Community which will affect his Department and its ministerial responsibilities; in what way each such pieces of legislation will affect his Departmental activities; to what extent he has met, or intends to meet employers, trade unions, industrial representatives and trade associations to discuss the effects of such legislation on British industry in general and matters falling within his ministerial responsibilities.

I would refer the hon. Member to parts 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of the European Communities Secondary Legislation, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Consultation as necessary with interested organisations has taken place and will continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now state the total jobs loss in Wales from 1st July, 1970, to 31st May, 1972.

Precise information about job gains and job losses is not available, but an indication of net changes can be obtained by comparing levels of employment at different dates. Based on quarterly estimates, the number of employees in employment in Wales decreased by 6,000 between June, 1970, and September, 1971, the latest date for which provisional estimates are available.

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

Following is the information:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE EDINBURGH TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA
		Males	Females
1970
April	…	5·5	1·1
May	…	5·3	1·0
June	…	5·3	1·0
1971
April	…	7·2	1·5
May	…	6·9	1·3
June	…	6·8	1·3
1972
April	…	8·4	1·9
May	…	7·3	1·6
June (provisional)	…	6·9	1·5

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women, respectively, were wholly unemployed in each of the Edinburgh and Lothian employment exchange areas in April, May and June 1972; and what were the corresponding figures in 1970 and 1971.

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED IN CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS
		June, 1970		June, 1971		June, 1972 (provisional)
		Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Edinburgh	…	3,698	492	4,764	566	4,848	741
Leith	…	1,337	125	1,777	176	1,740	195
Portobello	…	615	73	887	113	821	151
Dalkeith	…	546	113	638	119	883	117
Loanhead	…	405	92	485	129	340	90
Musselburgh	…	543	73	687	139	627	116
Tranent	…	188	65	231	56	262	94
Penicuik*	…	—	—	—	—	128	32
Bathgate	…	665	130	1,292	275	1,186	276
Livingston	…	123	37	344	62	315	92
West Calder	…	82	16	144	45	345	94
Broxburn	…	121	16	266	49	269	74
Bo'ness	…	146	106	268	131	243	123
Linlithgow	…	33	32	86	44	85	44
Haddington	…	160	25	225	28	124	20
* Opened September, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men were wholly unemployed in each of the Edinburgh and Lothian employment exchange areas in March, April and May, 1972, who last worked in the construction industry; how many were registered as bricklayers, plumbers and pipe fitters, painters, plasterers, slaters, joiners and

OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS OF MEN AGED 18 YEARS AND OVER REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES WHO LAST WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
		Brick-layer	Plumber, pipe fitter	Painter, decorator, sign-writer	Plasterer	Slater, tiler, etc.	Carpenter, joiner	Electrician	All other occupations	Total all occupations
May, 1970
Edinburgh	…	55	16	18	7	21	74	28	695	914
Leith	…	6	14	12	1	10	19	12	337	411
Portobello	…	2	2	6	3	7	14	6	155	195
Dalkeith	…	9	2	—	10	3	9	3	101	137
Loanhead	…	10	4	4	2	1	13	1	68	103
Musselburgh	…	4	4	3	5	3	27	2	131	179
Tranent	…	3	—	3	—	1	5	1	63	76
Bathgate	…	12	5	5	3	—	5	—	161	191
Livingston	…	6	—	—	—	—	4	—	59	69
West Calder	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	25	25
Broxburn	…	3	1	3	—	—	7	4	49	67
Bo'ness	…	—	—	1	1	—	5	1	43	51
Linlithgow	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	6	7
Haddington	…	7	3	—	1	—	6	—	51	68
May, 1971
Edinburgh	…	60	82	70	8	24	82	86	944	1,356
Leith	…	11	30	27	3	11	41	27	416	566
Portobello	…	6	10	16	2	7	18	8	214	281
Dalkeith	…	10		8	2	—	5	4	111	140