asked the Minister of State for Defence what further avionics contracts for the multi-rôle combat aircraft have been awarded to British firms.

Subject to satisfactory arrangements on contracts, collaboration and worksharing with the partner countries, Ferranti has been selected as prime contractor for the MRCA laser equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skilled men he has been notified will be made unemployed in the Ipswich area as a result of the proposal by Newton Chambers and Company to close Ransomes and Rapier.

The latest information available suggests that of a possible 700 redundancies up to 200 could be skilled men; but final decisions as to timing, numbers and people involved have not been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of vacancies of skilled craftsmen in the building trade in the Northern Region at the end of June 1972.

Following is the information for 8th May, the latest date for which figures are available:

OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBER OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES FOR MEN REMAINING UNFILLED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN REGION AT 8TH MAY, 1972
Carpenter, joiner, shutterer	138
Bricklayer	209
Mason, stone carver	5
Slater, tiler, thatcher, etc	2
Plasterer	89
Floor and wall tiler, etc.	3
Painter, decorator, signwriter	53
Plumber, gas fitter, etc	32
Glazier	4
Paviour, road, etc., surface layer	3
Steel erector, sheeter	—
Electrician, cable jointer, linesman	9
Mechanical handling plant, etc. operator	31
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter	4
All other occupations	196
Total, all occupations	778

The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS
					12th June, 1972		10th January, 1972
					Total	Temporarily stopped included in total	Total	Temporarily stopped included in total
Leek	…	…	…	…	326	—	387	21
Cheadle	…	…	…	…	200	—	244	—
Biddulph	…	…	…	…	264	—	302	8
Kidsgrove	…	…	…	…	478	2	543	23

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Ayrshire are currently unemployed; and what percentage increase or decrease this figure represents when compared with that of June, 1970.

At 12th June the provisional number of young people registered as unemployed in Ayrshire was 464. This was 109 per cent. more than at June, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of vacancies for employment as notified to him from the employment exchanges in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and what was the number of vacancies in January, 1972.

Following is the information:

NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS
			7th June, 1972	5th January 1972
Leek	…	…	155	99
Cheadle	…	…	45	28
Biddulph	…	…	17	13
Kidsgrove	…	…	114	50

The figures relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were unemployed at the most recent count in the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and how these figures compared with those obtaining in January, 1972.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussion is taking place between the management of Masson Scott Thrissell, Summerstown, London, S.W.I7, its employees and his Department regarding the payment of pensions and superannuation benefits to workers affected by the closure of this company; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.No discussion is taking place but I have no reason to suppose that the employers will not comply with their obligations under the National Insurance Acts when they arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to ensure that any headquarters offices of the European Economic Community in the United Kingdom are sited within the intermediate areas to the east of Manchester airport and within easy access of the M62.

The siting of the offices of Community institutions is a matter for agreement between the member states, but we should in appropriate cases be glad to consider locations anywhere in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of providing blinds and curtains, respectively, for the office accommodation in the new Ministry of Environment; and why both were necessary.

The appropriate cost of supplying and fixing blinds and curtains was £10,900 and £17,800, respectively. Curtains are supplied only for the rooms of entitled senior officers and other special areas as part of the interior furnishing treatment. Blinds are supplied to rooms where the sun can be a nuisance whether or not curtains are fitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have the lower walls of the new Ministry of Environment in Marsham Street cleared and completed.

I am considering proposals for treating the uncompleted walls at Marsham Street and for improving the general appearance of the site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will expedite progress on the study of the strategic route from Swindon to Milton Keynes.

Terms of reference for this important study have been discussed between the Department and independent consultants. The formal appointment of consultants should be announced shortly.The Department will do everything possible to expedite the study, but it is unlikely to be concluded in the less than two years. However, priority within the study will be given to the bypass needs of some towns and villages in the study corridor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that the Commons part of the Palace of Westminster conforms to the Fire Precautions Act.

The use of the Commons part of the Palace of Westminster for parliamentary purposes is already covered by a fire certificate issued under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963. In these circumstances the Fire Precautions Act does not apply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why existing vehicles have not been subjected to BSAU141A standard; if he will publish in the Official Report what methods he has in mind for improving the enforcement of controls over smoke emission from vehicles in use; and if he will make a statement.

BSAU141A is a standard to be reached at the manufacturing stage; it is not applicable to vehicles in use. I am considering the possibility of replacing the present visual smoke check in the annual test of heavy goods vehicles by an instrumented check.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the time taken in publishing the result of the inquiry into the rail accident at Morpeth, Northumberland, on 7th May, 1969; whether he can now state when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. As a result of his inquiry into this derailment, the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways requested the Railways Board to install special warning arrangements on high speed lines to give drivers early warning on the approach to heavy speed restrictions. Agreeing the details of the arrangements and identifying the precise locations where they would be required has taken a considerable time. The report will be published before the end of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the effect on the cost of living of his decision to float the £ sterling.

The precise effect on the cost of living will depend mainly on movements in the parity over the coming period. The main factor affecting the rate of price increase will continue to be the size of wage settlements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the effect on the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling of instituting a floating rate of exchange.

The effect of floating on the internal purchasing power of the £ is not expected to be large. Its precise effect will depend on a number of factors, in particular movements in the parity over the coming period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the effect on the growth rate of the economy of floating the exchange rate of the £ sterling.

The indications are that the economy is growing in line with the Budget forecast of a 5 per cent. growth rate over the 18 months to the first half of next year. It is not anticipated that the floating of the £ will affect this forecast

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will arrange for the translation of "The Terror and The Tears" into a number of foreign languages for distribution to those countries.

No

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications under what circumstances refunds on broadcast receiving licences are made; and whether he will introduce a more generous code of practice, particularly for old people

Successive Governments have allowed refunds when the licence holder's need for a licence has not exceeded 28 days. With nearly 17 million licences in force, it would add too greatly to the difficulties and cost of administering the licence fee system if claims for refunds in a wider range of circumstances were admitted. They would have to be verified; and the cost of doing so would fall on other licence holders. Nor would it be right to single out any particular class of people for special treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for improving road communications between Gumnock, the Doon Valley, Maybole, Girvan, and the Hunterston area in order that South Ayrshire may have the opportunity to benefit from developments arising out of a decision to start industrial projects at Hunterston which can have a jobs spin-off effect in other parts of Scotland's West Coast.

The areas to which the hon. Member refers will benefit from the improvements described by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Development in reply to the debate on the Adjournment on 22nd June, as well as from specific schemes such as the completion of the Ayr bypass and those now being undertaken by Ayr County Council between Ayr and Dalmellington. Further schemes will be programmed as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce his decision concerning the future of the five school camps operated by the Scottish National Camps Association in Scotland following his discussions with the Association.

I have agreed with the association that, provided the demand for accommodation is sufficient and no major capital expenditure is required, all five camps should continue until after local government reorganisation. Their future will then be looked at again in consultation with the association and with the new education authorities. In the meantime I shall continue annual grant to the association but the association has agreed that in 1973 and subsequent years it should take the form of a grant of up to £20,000 at 1972 prices to meet its headquarters expenses. I shall be prepared to discuss with the association limited assistance for minor capital expenditure should this be required. Other expenditure will be met by the charges to users.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make an estimate of the numbers of retired persons receiving supplementary benefit who live on their own, and the cost of paying on their behalf, through the supplementary benefit system, for the television licence.

It is estimated that about 1,100,000 supplementary pensioners live alone, including about 600,000 pensioners who either sublet part of their accommodation or take boarders on a commercial basis. The expenditure involved in meeting the full cost of a non-colour television licence for all these pensioners through the supplementary benefits scheme would be about £7¾ million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated number of deaths of former coal miners from pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases in Northumberland, North Durham and South Durham areas of the National Coal Board for each of the last three years; and what are the numbers for the whole of Great Britain's coalfields for the same period.

The statistics available relate to cases for which death benefit for pneumoconiosis was awarded under the Industrial Injuries Act and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme, and to cases certified for workmen's compensation purposes. Figures are not available for particular areas but those for the whole of Great Britain for the years 1968, 1969 and 1970 are 675,669 and 700, respectively. The figure for 1971 is not yet available and that for 1970 is provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Service what study, in view of the fact that the Americans are examining the use of acupuncture, his Department is making into the use of such treatment in the United Kingdom.

While I am aware of the increasing interest in acupuncture, my Department is not making any special study of its use.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will now review the exemptions from licensing under the Medicines Act, 1968, in the light of the wide area which has emerged in practice;(2) if he is satisfied that the patient is adequately protected when a doctor or dentist procures the manufacture of a product for the purpose of clinical trial, without obtaining a clinical trial certificate, under the exemptions permitted by Sections 13, 15 and 36(8) of the Medicines Act, 1968; and if he will make a statement.

As the licensing provision of the Act are not yet fully in operation we do not think that any general review of exemptions is yet appropriate. The exemptions made by order and the proposals which are at present under consultation about further such exemptions are unlikely to affect any substantial proportion of medicinal products. The present exemption from obtaining a clinical trial certificate where a doctor procures the manufacture of a product for his own patient is of a very limited character; in these circumstances the responsibility lies on the doctor to safeguard his patient's interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to publish the data sheet regulations under the Medicines Act, 1968; and why implementation has already awaited four years.

The first regulations relating to data sheets—The Medicines (Data Sheet) (Transitional) Regulations, 1971, Statutory Instrument No. 1971/ 1466—were made on 27th August, 1971. The implementation of the provisions of Section 96 of the Medicines Act, 1968, relating to the issue of data sheets is proceeding according to the timetable laid down in the Act. Since 1st September, 1971, the appointed day for the introduction of the statutory licensing system under Part II of the Act the provisions of Section 96 have had effect in respect of medicinal products that came on the market on or after that date.It is proposed that the transitional period during which existing products are exempt from licensing should end on 31st August, 1972; six months after that date Section 96 will apply to all medicinal products which are the subject of direct promotion to practitioners. The statutory process of consultation with the interested bodies about the provision of permanent regulations under Section 96 is proceeding and the regulations will be made when this is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will implement all the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Report of the British Medical Association Panel on Pharmaceutical Products; and if he will make a statement.

These conclusions and recommendations relate to a number of different matters in connection with the packaging, labelling, distribution and supply of particular types of medicines. They are being studied but clearly need to be discussed with the professions and industry before any conclusions as to the extent of implementation could be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has now received concerning the possible division of greater London in accordance with the restructuring of National Health Service administration; and if he will take into account comprehensive community hospital needs and resist any proposals to base this administration on areas which suit the convenience of and are dominated by teaching hospitals.

A consultation paper on the proposed boundaries of the new health authorities in greater London was circulated to all health service bodies in London at the end of March. Their comments showed a wide divergence of views and pointed to the need for a longer period of local consideration and discussion. I have therefore extended the period for comment to 30th September. When reaching conclusions, I shall take into account overall health service needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the average net yearly remuneration for general medical practitioners and general dental practitioners which will result from the implementation of the Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, 1972.

The fees and allowances recommended by the Review Body are intended to provide an average net yearly remuneration for general medical practitioners of £5,575. The Review Body recommend a target average net yearly income of £5,050 for general dental practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of annual remuneration which will result from the implementation of the Report on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, 1972, for doctors in the hospital service in the grades of consultant with A merit award and those with B, C and D awards, consultant on minimum, and the maximum and minimum for senior hospital medical officers, medical assistants, senior registrar, registrars, senior house officers and house officers.

The annual salaries recommended by the Review Body are as follows:

	£
Consultant on maximum with A plus merit award	14,700
Consultant on maximum with A merit award	12,927
Consultant on maximum with B merit award	10,623
Consultant on maximum with C merit award	8,742
Consultant on maximum of basic scale	7,350
Consultant on minimum of basic scale	4,836
Senior Hospital Medical Officer—
on maximum	5,313
on minimum	3,765
Medical Assistant—
on maximum	5,313
on minimum	2,925
Senior Registrar—
on maximum	4,146
on minimum	3,120
Registrar—
on maximum	3,282
on minimum	2,634
Senior House Officer—
on maximum	2,634
on minimum	2,280
House Officer—
on maximum	2,025
on minimum	1,749

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time between a woman reporting loss of her family allowance book to her local office of the Department and payments being recommenced.

The average interval between a report to the Department of the loss of a family allowances order book and the issue of a replacement book is 17 working days.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has issued so that the mother of a large family who has lost her family allowance book may receive immediate help in meeting her family commitments

My Department's local social security offices have instructions in these circumstances to make urgent payments of supplementary benefit, as may be appropriate in the individual mother's circumstances, and to offset them against payments of family allowance which would otherwise have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue, in simple form, advice to mothers of large families so that in the event of loss of the family allowance book they may not be put at a financial disadvantage through inability to draw family allowances.

Advice appropriate to the individual mother's circumstances is always available on request at my Department's local social security offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet received a further report from the working party on homelessness in London; and whether he will make a statement.

I have now received the final report of the working party and have placed a copy in the Library. The report makes recommendations for dealing with the problems of homeless adult families without children and single persons; for obtaining early warning of eviction from the courts and rent tribunals; for organising social work with the homeless; and for further studies. I have sent the report to all London boroughs and the Greater London Council and invited them to discuss its recommendations with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction and myself as soon as they are ready to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ascertain and publish the number of passengers passing through each of the local authority airports in Great Britain in 1971.

Such statistics are collected and published for all United Kingdom airports licensed for public use, except a few that have relatively little passenger traffic. Figures for the year 1971 were given in Business Monitor, Civil Aviation Series, CA2, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in March this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been issued in the Leek Rural District in each of the past 10 years.

One, in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been issued in the Biddulph Urban District in each of the past 10 years.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE APPROVALS: 1ST APRIL, 1971–31ST MARCH, 1972 FOR SCHEMES OF 10,000 sq. FT. AND OVER
				Estimated Additional Employment†
		Number	Area ('000 sq. ft.)	Male	Total
Development Areas
Northern	…	108	3,984	3,420	4,790
Merseyside	…	62	3,066	2,350	2,840
South West	…	20	868	1,190	1,640
Scotland	…	152	8,808	7,460	11,670
Wales	…	65	2,674	2,990	4,420
Intermediate Areas
Scotland	…	2	79	*	*
Wales	…	13	1,056	500	930
Yorkshire Coalfield	…	50	2,119	1,850	3,640
North Humberside	…	26	759	420	540
Notts/Derby Coalfield	…	24	806	1,130	2,030
South West	…	8	374	300	510
North East Lancashire	…	31	828	780	1,010
West Midlands	…	1	*	*	*
Filey/Bridlington	…	2	42	*	*
* Details cannot be given because of the risk of disclosing information given by firms in confidence
† Jobs estimated by the applicants to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned.

Following is the information:

Year			Number of IDCs Approved
1962	…	…	Nil
1963	…	…	Nil
1964	…	…	Nil
1965	…	…	2
1966	…	…	1
1967	…	…	1
1968	…	…	Nil
1969	…	…	3
1970	…	…	2
1971	…	…	Nil
1972 (January-May)	…	…	1

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details, by area and estimated additional employment, of the industrial development certificates issued in each of the development and intermediate areas in the year to 31st March, 1972.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will give details, by region, of the industrial development certificates refused in the year to 31st March, 1972.

Following is the information:

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES REFUSED FOR SCHEMES OF 10,000 SQ. FT. AND OVER 1ST APRIL, 1971–31ST MARCH. 1972
Region	Number	Area ('000 sq ft.)
North	Nil	—
Yorkshire and Humberside	1	*
East Midlands	10	477
East Anglia	2	259
South East	45	2,294
South West	4	134
Wales	Nil	—
West Midlands	16	563
North West	Nil	—
Scotland	Nil	—
* Details cannot be provided because of the risk of disclosing information given by firms in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state for the year to 31st March, 1972, the total area represented by industrial development certificates issued, and the percentages of the total figure attributable to special development areas, development areas, intermediate areas and non-assisted areas, respectively.

For schemes of 10,000 square feet and over the area totalled 63,779,000 square feet. Some 13·7 per cent. were for schemes in the special development areas, 16·7 per cent, for the development areas, 9·7 per cent, for the intermediate areas and 59·9 per cent. for the non-assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Welsh Advisory Committee for Civil Aviation regarding the provision of an instrument landing system at Glamorgan airport; and what action he proposes to take on such representations.

The advisory committee, which ceased to exist on 1st April this year, supported Glamorgan County Council's request for an instrument landing system at the airport. This is now a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken by his Department in accordance with the recommendation contained in the study "Pollution: Nuisance or Nemesis" that the nuclear power programme should be slowed down until the waste disposal problem is solved.

The Government keep a very close watch on the vital problem of the disposal and storage of radioactive waste, but in their view it does not justify deferment of projects for the development of nuclear power.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he is giving to conservation, pollution and other ecological factors in his review of energy policy.

These important factors are given the fullest consideration in the Government's regular reviews of energy questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the need to suppress pollution and to conserve non-renewable resources, he will examine again the merits of tidal power generation.

The situation is unchanged from that indicated in the reply given to my hon. Friend by the then Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 10th November, 1970. Therefore no new examination is necessary.—[Vol. 806, c. 113–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the mineral resources of the archipelago of Spitsbergen; and what encouragement he is giving to British nationals to explore and exploit them.

None, but the National Environment Research Council is supporting basic research into the structure and geology of Spitsbergen and the adjacent area of the Barents Sea. No special encouragement has been given.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to compel the publication in company accounts of the number of disabled people employed at each location and their individual remuneration.

I shall bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind in the course of the Department's review of company law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on Govan Shipbuilders Limited.

I am now able to confirm the arrangements foreshadowed in my speech on 28th February, in relation to Govan Shipbuilders Limited, when I announced that support would be given to the company on certain conditions, among them the conclusion of an agreement on working practices accepetable to the Government. These conditions have now been met. The Government will therefore provide adequate financial support for the company for a period of five years or until the company attains commercial viability, whichever is less, provided that, first, the agreement on working practices continues to be respected by both sides and, secondly, that the financial provision is related to contracts for ships on terms acceptable to the Government.The company is to begin trading with effect from 1st July, and the Government will advance the necessary working capital to it. Until approval by Parliament of Supplementary Estimates to be presented in due course, recourse may have to be made to the Contingencies Fund.The company has received a number of firm enquiries for ships and, to avoid any disruption in employment, it is embarking shortly on the building of two vessels in anticipation of orders being confirmed. The company will find the costs from the working capital made available by the Government.The transfer and sale of the three yards concerned to the new company cannot be completed before September and the Government have agreed to make a further short-term loan of £800,000 available to the UCS liquidator for additional working capital to cover the interim period. I am meeting the board of Govan Shipbuilders Limited today to review the progress made so far.—[Vol. 832, c. 49–55.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Governments of member countries of the International Civil Aviation Authority about enforcing The Hague Convention of 1970 against hijacking; and if he will make a statement.

On 19th June our representative on the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation supported a proposal, which was adopted, to work on the preparation of an international agreement to provide a framework for concerted international action, and urging all States to become parties to The Hague and other relevant conventions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those works in the Engineering Division of the British Steel Corporation which are to be established as Companies Acts companies with a view to the introduction of private capital.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Constructional Engineering Division which the British Steel Corporation announced on 6th April has been established as a single Companies Acts company—renamed Red-path Dorman Long Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary—with a view to the eventual introduction of private capital. No part of the engineering activities of the new company is to be established as a separate company and I am asking the chairman to provide the hon. Member with a list of the works it comprises.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount spent on the National Health Service in Wales in 1965, 1970 and the latest available year; and what amount per head of population in Wales this was in each case, with the corresponding figure for England.

The expenditure and per capita figures for health and personal social services in Wales based on gross costs for 1965–66, 1970–71 and 1971–72 were as follows:

		1965–66	1970–71	1971–72
Expenditure	…	£73m.	£123m.	£137m.
Per Capita	…	£27·1	£45·0	£50·3

The corresponding figures for England were:

Expenditure	…	£l,168m.	£l,988m.	£2,255m.
Per Capita	…	£26·0	£43·0	£48·9

Expenditure for 1970–71 includes full year costs of child care services responsibility for which was transferred to health departments from 1st January, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of people receiving rate rebates every year from 1965–66 to date; what was the total amount of rebates

Year		Number opened	place		Date opened
1965	…	1	Risca	…	August, 1965
1966	…	1	Butetown	…	1st July, 1966
1967	…	2	Glyncorrwg	…	1st May, 1967
			Llwynhendy	…	2nd October, 1967
1968	…	4	Talbot Green	…	1st January, 1968
			Rogerstone	…	10th June, 1968
			Trowbridge Road	…	7th October, 1968
			Cwm	…	16th December, 1968
1969	…	5	Beaumaris	…	1st January, 1969
			Resolven	…	1st April, 1969
			Welshpool	…	1st April, 1969
			Kenfig Hill	…	15th May, 1969
			Gorseinon	…	2nd September, 1969
1970	…	8	Fforestfach	…	6th April, 1970
			Dowlais	…	1st August, 1970
			Clydach	…	5th August, 1970
			Llanedeyrn	…	1st September, 1970
			Hirwaun	…	7th September, 1970
			Haverfordwest	…	12th October, 1970
			Taffs Well	…	9th November, 1970
			Radyr	…	23rd November, 1970
1971	…	9	Betws	…	14th April, 1971
			Blaenavon	…	30th April, 1971
			Tywyn	…	1st May, 1971
			Dinas Powis	…	21st June, 1971
			Tonypandy	…	5th July, 1971
			Cymmer	…	19th July, 1971
			Llanfair Caereinion	…	1st September, 1971
			Merthyr Tydfil	…	16th August, 1971
			St. Asaph	…	1st October, 1971
1972 (to 31st May, 1972)	…	5	Abertillery	…	1st March, 1972
			Grangetown	…	15th March, 1972
			Cwmavon	…	20th March, 1972
			Cardigan	…	27th March, 1972
			Plasmawr Road, Cardiff	…	24th April, 1972

The figures for Wales from the inception of rate rebates to 1970–71, the latest year for which information is available, are as follows:

Year		Number of recipients	Total amount of rebate	Average amount of rebate
			£	£
1966–67	…	61,752	775,111	12·55
1967–68	…	53,948	716,031	13·27
1968–69	…	55,017	776,045	14·11
1969–70	…	54,714	825,258	15·08
1970–71	…	54,021	867,164	16·05

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of health centres allocated to Wales in each year since 1960 and the date of opening; how many were under construction by June, 1970; how many had plans approved; and how many were in the planning stage.

Responsibility for providing health centres rests with county and county borough councils. Since 1960 the following health centres have been opened:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory condition and location of infant and junior schools at Llangollen, Denbighshire; what applications he has received for money for a new and more suitably situated building to accommodate these two departments; and what reply he has sent.

I am aware of the condition of the Llangollen primary schools and I am considering a proposal from the Denbighshire Local Education Authority for a new school to be included in the 1972–73 preliminary list of the school building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria his office uses to assess the amount of new office space required in town centre redevelopment schemes in Wales.

It is for each planning authority to make its own assessment of the future office space requirements in formulating town centre redevelopment schemes. I consider on its merits each submission made to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive a report arising from the joint investigations of his Department and the Agricultural Research Council into the problems of farm waste disposal.

The investigations are part of a continuing programme carried out at a large number of different centres. Results are passed to the Department as soon as they are available and form an important basis of ADAS advice to farmers. They are published from time to time in the scientific and technical Press and the Ministry issues its own advisory leaflet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of fishery resources off the archipelago of Spitsbergen; and what encouragement he is giving to British nationals to exploit them.

The fishing grounds in this area have been the subject of intensive and continuing research by scientists from the United Kingdom and other countries for many years, and we are party to internationally co-ordinated surveys which are conducted annually. The grounds are well known to British fishermen.No special encouragement is given to the industry to exploit particular areas, but forecasts of prospects for each ground based on our research are published regularly.