asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to introduce universal metering as the method of charging for water supplies in order to deal with water requirements which, according to the first statutory survey carried out by the East Suffolk and Norfolk River Authority, are forecast to increase by 124 per cent. between 1971 and 2001 compared with a projected population growth of 39 per cent. over the same period.

The Government propose that after the reorganisation of water services the new water authorities should be able to introduce metering wherever they consider that the benefits will outweigh the costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what extensive survey of water charging principles and methods has been undertaken and published since the report of the Sub-Committee on Water Charges published in 1963.

None, but my Department intends to put in hand a study of these matters in the context of water reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that some furnished rent tribunals do not normally grant more than one period of six months' security of tenure to tenants who are not at fault; and if he will introduce legislation to clarify the powers of rent tribunals to grant successive periods of security of tenure.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to his similar question on 15th May, 1972. There is no need for legislation—[Vol. 837, c. 26–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will intro- duce regulations requiring restricted vehicles which are allowed on motorways to be equipped with tyres of a minimum speed rating of 25 miles per hour.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met officially representatives of the Association of Municipal Corporations to discuss matters within his responsibility.

On 12th June last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had about creating a nationwide pattern of heavy lorry routes; and if he will make a statement.

I am having discussions, but am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the current position as regards stocks of building supplies.

To judge from discussions I have had with the main industry associations brick supplies are already slightly easier. My inquiries suggest that shortages of other materials are not widespread. I have this morning been in contact with the National Federation of Building Trades Employers which confirms that this was the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect of the shortage of building materials and components on the current public and private house-building programmes.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to a similar question from the hon. Member for Basset law (Mr. Ashton).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to announce the line of the probable route to be followed by the A38 spine road between Trerulefoot and the Tamar Bridge, Saltash; and if he will make a statement.

Consultants were recently appointed and I must await their report. I hope that an announcement can be made about the probable route by the spring of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be notified of the full details and final decisions of the Greater London Council's recently announced heavy vehicle parking and control plans.

I have just received an advance copy of the Council's proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his latest discussions with the European Economic Community concerning lorry sizes and weights.

Consultations with the Community have not yet begun.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make arrangements for the installation of permanent weighbridges at the Port of Dover.

This is the responsibility of the Dover Harbour Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the representations made to him regarding the development of port facilities at Maplin.

Kent County Council and Malden RDC have asked for information about the seaport, and I have provided it. There have been other references in some other approaches made to me on the project as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for the removal of unexploded shells from the Maplin Sands.

My noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is forming an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron of the Royal Engineers to supervise the clearance operation. It will be carried out by specially recruited civilian labour.Preliminary tests have shown that clearance by tried methods will be practicable.Further tests will be carried out shortly to see how far vibrations might penetrate through the Sands and might activate any deeply buried ordnance. The tests involve no risk to the public, but to ensure complete safety, East Beach, Shoeburyness, will need to be closed to swimmers for short periods on successive days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what agreement was reached at Stockholm in matters of pollution control that would require those countries which so far had been gaining a competitive advantage through absence of effluent treatment costs to raise their standards.

I will place in the Library the provisional text of the action programme adopted by the Conference and I would refer my hon. Friend to the recommendations in the text, which should lead towards higher standards of industrial pollution control and will write to my hon. Friend about the specific recommendations referred to in his Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if arrangements between the various interests concerned with the effective use of the amenities of the Welsh Harp which has banks upon two London borough areas have yet been completed; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the British Waterways Board and the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further consideration was given to influences on future traffic patterns as recommended in paragraph 9.09 of the 1971 report and paragraph 7.03 of the 1972 report of the inspector who held the inquiry regarding Huntingdon and God Manchester bypass before he made his decision.

My right hon. Friend's decision to make this compulsory purchase order took into account all the evidence given at the inquiry and the views expressed in his reports by the Inspector who recommended that the order be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now publish in the Official Report area by area detailed estimates of the percentage of those eligible tenants living in local authority accommodation, where local authorities have already taken action to implement the provisions of the Housing Finance Bill, who have applied for rebates; and whether he will make a statement.

This answer should be obtained from the authorities concerned. They are not required to report to my Department on the take-up of rent rebates under existing discretionary schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to prevent transport authorities from surcharging night bus services, in view of the hardship this causes to users.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements his Department has made for co-ordination with the Man- Chester County Borough Council in respect of procedures to be followed after the designation of areas of the city for compulsory acquisition for slum clearance and redevelopment purposes.

Manchester City Council have an exceptionally heavy slum clearance programme. It notifies the Department, in advance, of the compulsory purchase orders which it intends to submit to us. This helps the Department and the Council to arrange inquiries and forecast the announcement of decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to ensure greater safeguards over speleological activities.

No. I do not think this is necessary. But the question of publicity to promote mountain safety is to be examined by the three national sports councils and I will ask them to consider pot-holing and caving as well.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who is responsible for deciding which of the four traffic lanes on the Severn Bridge should be closed down during periods of peak traffic movement; and what action is taken to warn traffic of delays so they can take alternative routes.

Traffic control measures during emergencies or when high winds prevail are the responsibility of the police. "High Wind" notices are displayed at interchanges at both ends and motoring organisations and the BBC are notified as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the recent tunnel railway accident in France, he will give a general direction to British Railways that express trains should only be permitted to pass through tunnels singly and so avoid any possibility of collision between trains passing through tunnels in opposite directions, either by touching each other or in a single accident due to roof fall or any other emergency obstacle.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in negotiations with the Spanish Government concerning the abolition of the need for international driving permits to be obtained before British motorists visit Spain.

The Spanish authorities will not agree to recognise our driving licences for touring purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his participation in the Stockholm conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the results of the United Nations Conference on the Environment in Stockholm; and what action he proposes to take to make the proceedings better known in this country.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply given earlier today to similar Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the average price of building land sold in the North-West in the last five years.

Separate regional figures are not available, but as I told the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 26th May, I am inquiring into the possibility of providing regional figures without undue additional staff effort.—[Vol. 837, c. 518.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of available land for housing purposes, per acre, in the Inner London Area; and how the cost compares with the rest of the country.

Land costs vary so widely both within Inner London and over the rest of the country that estimates of aver- age costs would give little indication of the real situation as it affects individual families.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals for capital expenditure have been submitted to him for the improvement of London Transport Executive bus services.

This is a matter for the Greater London Council. My role is to consider applications for grant aid, which I am continually doing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, as a means of assisting the essential public services engaged in saving life and limb, he will issue an appeal to all road users to give way and facilitate the passage of vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines so that they have the right of way at all times, whether or not such vehicles are known to be engaged on life saving, so as to expedite their travel to and from their depots.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the operation of the law on the subject of the qualified privilege of councillors, in view of the case brought to his attention by the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton whereby Heywood councillors were warned of the danger of being sued for personal damages if they criticised the quality of work carried out by council contractors; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence that the law as it stands inhibits responsible debate by councillors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue details of the Government's backing for the reclamation industry; and what financial assistance will be given for the installation of reclamation plant at the local authority tips.

The Government recognise the importance of the reclamation industry in helping to conserve raw materials and reduce problems of waste disposal. Regional development grants may be available under the Industry Bill in connection with some of the industry's activities in the assisted areas. Many local authorities salvage materials, without financial loss, but limiting factor is often lack of demand for the materials they could salvage from refuse at an economic cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the situation created by the decreasing employment of gipsies in hop and fruit picking, their concentration in urban conurbations and their involvement in stripping down cars and electrical appliances thus creating dumps of metal and rubbish detrimental to the environment, dangerous to children and an expense on the rates; and what action he proposes.

Is my right hon. Friend's view that gipsy families should be provided with proper facilities as soon as possible and local authorities were last month reminded of the need to provide sites in accordance with their duty under the Caravan Sites Act, 1968. Authorities have power to provide working space in connection with sites.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider applying the proposed measures relating to vacant office space to newly developed vacant retail premises.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests he has received for grants for the expansion of recreational facilities on Merseyside; and whether he will grant extra help for the City of Liverpool to take over the recreation grounds of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company which are now up for sale for other purposes.

There were six applications last year from organisations on Merseyside for grant towards the cost of sports facilities. Future decisions about such grants will be for the Sports Council to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the latest studies by the consultants regarding the technical feasibility, the commercial uncertainty, the environmental effect, the growing relative importance of sea and air ferries and the decision to site the third London airport in the Thames Estuary, he will now set up a commission to study the whole question of the need for a Channel Tunnel.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can yet announce the date when the re view of the machinery of compensation will be completed to ensure adequate compensation for house-owners whose property is compulsorily purchased; and whether he will make a statement.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the review of standards of thermal insulation being carried out by his Department is yet complete.

Work is continuing on this review, and is well advanced. It is not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in considering the extent to which building regulations should be modified and improved in the field of thermal insulation, he will give consideration to the forecast made by scientists of the Orsted Institute of Copenhagen and the Engineering Laboratory of the United States Army, details of which have been supplied to him, that Great Britain's climate is likely to become colder in a trend that will continue until about 1985.

Yes, together with any other evidence having a bearing on health and safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what part Great Britain will play in the world information referral system on the environment agreed at Stockholm.

Following the Stockholm conference decision to set up an international referral service for sources of environmental information, a meeting of experts is to carry the proposals further. My right hon. Friend welcomes this decision not least because the idea arose largely from work done by British and US experts. We have offered to hold the experts' meeting in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what rules of access and confidentiality govern his Department's computer staff at Swansea in their handling of personal confidential information.

After centralisation rules about access and disclosure will be no less strict than they are now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have appointed committees to deal with the needs of the chronically sick and disabled under Section 15 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and if he will give the names of those who have not.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Woodhouse) on 15th December last.—[Vol. 828, c. 99]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for preventing theatres in the West End of London from being destroyed in order that their sites can be put to more profitable commercial uses.

Thirty-one theatres in London are included in the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, including 17 which were added to the list last week. They cannot therefore be demolished or altered in a way that would affect their character without consent. Following is a list of all listed London theatres:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT lists of those bodies who made representations in favour of and against the changes outlined in Clause 3 of the Administration of Justice (Scotland) Bill, respectively.

Clause 3, as it appeared in the Bill when the Bill was originally published, was objected to by a large number of organisations. In that form it was supported by the official Opposition.The Government introduced Amendments to the Clause allowing parties to contract out of recourse to the courts and the amended Clause was accepted by the Committee without a Division.Representations against the amended Clause have been received from the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Office of the Confederation of British Industry, the Scottish branch of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Scottish section of the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, the Institute of Arbitrators and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.The Scottish Law Commission has intimated that it is content with the amended Clause, and the principle of recourse to the courts on questions of law in arbitrations is advocated in the leading textbooks on the law of arbitration in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the police practice in regard to the fingerprinting of children in Scotland, on the basis of information derived from chief constables.

Following a review in 1970 my Department suggested to chief constables that fingerprints should be taken primarily for the more serious offences; that there should be a substantial chance of detection; that the practice should generally be avoided for younger children; and that, where time allows, parents should be invited to attend at the police station before a child's fingerprints are taken. It is the practice of the police to destroy fingerprints taken from children unless it is established or not contested that the child has committed an offence.I believe these recommendations are generally followed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about a new power station in North-East Scotland.

As I stated in the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes) and Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 21st June, there will be a need for additional generating capacity in the area of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Board in 1978. This will be met by a new power station. It will be either nuclear or oil/gas fired.—[Vol. 839, c. 93–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish a list of trained members of children's panels and a breakdown in percentage of their background classifications.

Lists of panel members are already published by local authorities. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a report on the initial selection of panel members which contains information on their background.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are taken by veterinary surgeons employed by his Department to carry out inspections of animals in intensive fanning units; and if he will make a statement.

My veterinary responsibilities in Scotland are by arrangement exercised by veterinary staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and routine visits of inspection are made by these officers to intensive farming units in Scotland. Intensive systems of animal management are also kept under constant review by the Farm Animals Welfare Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the up-to-date costs of the Tweed bank project, the likely starting date and the division of costs between central and local government.

I cannot do so yet, but Roxburgh County Council is preparing a report on these matters, with help as necessary from my officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give details of the salaries now being paid to the 34 members of his staff who will receive increases retrospective to January in these salaries under the Boyle Report; and what these new salaries will be on implementation of this report.

The 34 officers in question comprise one of Permanent Secretary rank, five of Deputy Secretary rank, and 27 of Under-Secretary rank, whose former and whose new salary rates are given in the Report; and one officer intermediate in rank between Deputy Secretary and Under-Secretary whose salary increase will be in keeping with the others.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now take whatever action may be necessary to ensure an increase in the wages and salaries of all staff and employees coming within his ministerial control, retrospective to 1st January, 1972.

I have been asked to reply.Agreed procedures already exist for the regular review of Civil Service wages and salaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are currently in care because of homelessness; and how many came into care for this reason during the last 12 months.

I regret that figures later than those which I gave the hon. Member in my reply to her on 22nd February are not yet available.—[Vol. 831, c. 249–50.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in the last two years who have been diagnosed as psychiatrically ill have been refused admission to a psychiatric hospital for whatever reason.

Only a small proportion of patients diagnosed as suffering from mental illness require in-patient treatment. No detailed information is available about the number of patients for whom in-patient treatment has been considered desirable and for whom a suitable place has not been found; but I have no reason to suppose that such a situation occurs more than rarely.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a direction to the Medicines Commission that anti-dandruff preparations and shampoos, especially those containing Selenium, shall be subject to safety procedures, in view of poisonous content and the risk of dermatitis.

There is no provision under which my right hon. Friend can issue directions to the Medicines Commission on such matters nor do we see any reason for any special action in relation to the preparations mentioned which are subject to the provisions of the Medicines Act if marketed for use for medicinal purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent accession to the European Community will alter the present system of financing the National Health Service.

Accession to the European Economic Community will not involve any alteration in the present system of financing the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the concern expressed by the Association of Public Health Inspectors in its most recent report, he will seek powers to increase penalties for breaches of hygiene in public restaurants.

I have no reason to suppose that the present penalties in the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1970 which provide for a fine of up to £100 and three months' imprisonment for each offence and a further fine of up to £5 a day if the offence continues after conviction, are inadequate. The recently published report of the Association of Public Health Inspectors' Working Party on Food Hygiene did not question the level of these penalties.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for someone from his Department to address the Huddersfield Mentally Handicapped Society in connection with the constant attendance allowance regulations, in view of the uncertainty and misgivings of the Society.

The conditions for entitlement to the attendance allowance, including the medical requirements, are set out in leaflets available from the Department's local offices. The application of those medical requirements to individual cases is a matter for the Attendance Allowance Board and, if a claimant is dissatisfied with a decision of the Board, his best course is to apply to the Board for a review. But if there are any general points of difficulty I should be glad if the hon. Member would write to me about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has seen the film "Like Other People", which relates to his official responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the action he proposes in this field.

I have seen the film and read the related report, both of which are useful contributions to the discussion of this neglected subject. I have asked my officers to explore how best to bring these ideas to the attention of the authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the provision of hospital services for residents in the Easington constituency; what proposals he has for new hospitals or extension to existing hospitals covering the area; and if he will make a statement.

The Newcastle Regional Hospital Board plan to improve the hospital services by the development of new district general hospitals at Sunderland and Hartlepool and, in the longer term, at Ryhope. The first main phases of the new hospitals at Sunderland and Hartlepool are expected to start by the mid 1970s. New in-patient accommodation has been built at Ryhope Hospital to replace that at Leeholme Hospital closed because of mining subsidence; gynaecology out-patient services have been provided at Thorpe Maternity Hospital; and Peterlee Health Centre is being extended to provide out-patient facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent draft regulations or other European Economic Community instruments have a bearing on methods of paying for the social services.

Nothing in draft regulations or other European Economic Community instruments has any bearing on methods of paying for the social services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the prescribed amount of pocket money for residents of residential homes for old people under the supplementary benefit system; when this figure was laid down; and what increase would be needed to compensate for the reduction in purchasing power since that level was first prescribed.

The current amount of £1·20 per week came into operation on 20th September, 1971. The increase needed to compensate for the change in the general index of retail prices between September, 1971 and May, 1972 (the latest date for which figures are available) would be 5½p.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the report of the Foods Standards Committee on date stamping of foodstuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the report of the Food Standards Committee on the date stamping of perishable foods.

The Food Standards Committee Report on the Date Marking of Food is published today and copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library. The Committee's main recommendation is that a system of open date marking for prepacked foods should be introduced by regulations to be made under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955 and corresponding legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland.This is an important subject of much interest both to consumers and the food trade. I am sure that the detailed and clear analysis of the issue in the Food Standards Committee's Report will provoke an informed debate over the coming months in the light of which my colleagues and I will reach decisions. In accordance with the usual practice, I have invited comments from interested parties on the Committee's Report to reach me by 31st October, 1972.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will make a statement on Part 37 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 430/72 of 29th February, 1972, dealing with rice; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation;(2) whether he will make a statement on Part 37 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 363/72 of 21st February, 1972 dealing with rice; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation.

These Regulations make minor changes in the Community's arrangements for rice and broken rice imported from former French territories. They are unlikely to have any significant effect on British industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 28 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 534/72 of 15th March, 1972 dealing with fruit and vegetables; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation.

This Regulation specifies a new variety of outdoor table grape being grown in France as a small berry variety for the purpose of the common quality standards. It will not affect British industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 28 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 758/72 of 2nd March, 1972 dealing with fruit and vegetables; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests in this Regulation.

Regulation 758/72 does not fall within Part 28. It fixes levies for olive oil.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 22 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 609/72 or 23rd March,1972 dealing with certain processed agricultural products, i.e., goods not covered by Annex 11 of the European Economic Community Treaty; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation.

This regulation empowers the Commission when Community supplies of a basic agricultural product have to be safeguarded, to take exceptional measures to prevent the large-scale export of certain processed foods which contain a high content of that product. The Commission must consult Member States before taking such action and take account of the interests of the processing industries. We would consult the appropriate British trade interests on any specific proposals which would be in force at our accession.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 16 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 280/72 of 8th February, 1972 dealing with certificates, levies, restitution, etc; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation.

The principal effect of this regulation is to restrict to 30 days the period of validity of a licence to import cereals or (from certain areas) rice. If still operative at the date of accession, it may affect our importers' ability to enter into forward contacts. The views of United Kingdom importers on this matter are known to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 24 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 457/72 of 2nd March, 1972 dealing with fisheries; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had or intends to have with British interests on this Regulation.

Aids given by Member States to encourage the formation and facilitate the operation of producers' organisations of the type envisaged by the common fisheries policy may not exceed prescribed percentages of administrative expenses. Regulation 457/72, which defines the expenses to be taken into account for this purpose, will fall to be applied as and when such organisations are formed and recognised in the United Kingdom, and it is being borne in mind in our continuing discussions of future arrangements with representatives of British producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 41 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 2647/71 of 14th December, 1971 dealing with wine; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation.

The effect of this regulation was to prohibit the making of storages contracts in respect of certain wines after 15th December, 1971. Storage aid is related to excess production of wine of fresh grapes, which is not a situation expected to arise for English wine producers and there have therefore been no discussions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 41 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 2830/71 of 24th December, 1971, dealing with wine; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation.

The Regulation to which the hon. Member refers had the effect of postponing from 1st January, 1972 to 1st April, 1972 the operative date of European Economic Community Regulation 1599 of 1971 which fixed additional conditions with which imported wines for direct human consumption have to comply.Since the only effect of this Regulation was to delay for three months the date upon which Regulation 1599 was to come into force, no discussions took place in view of the negligible effect on United Kingdom interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on Part 41 of the Secondary Legislation of the European Economic Community Regulation No. 245/72 of 2nd February, 1972 dealing with wine; to what extent this will affect British industry; and what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with British interests on this Regulation.

Under the terms of this regulation Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey will observe the EEC reference prices when exporting wines to the Community. The regulation will apply in the United Kingdom as from 1st January, 1973. Any effect will depend on the level of reference prices then operating but the effect for importers is likely to be negligible and there have, therefore, been no discussions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect on food prices in Great Britain of floating the exchange rate of the £ sterling.

Any attempt at this stage to make such an estimate would be premature and hypothetical.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the retail price of butter per lb. in Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, Holland and France on Saturday, 24th June, 1972; whether he can now say to what extent on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market the price of butter is expected to rise or fall to the consumer; and whether he will make a statement.

Retail prices of butter in Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, Holland and France on Saturday, 24th June, 1972 are not available. In view of differences in quality and definition, precise comparisons can not be made, but the following official quotations are the latest available for some broadly similar types of butter.

	Type	Pence per lb.	1972
United Kingdom	New Zealand	29·7	May
Belgium	Dairy	44	May
West Germany	Not specified	43	March
Netherlands	Dairy	41½	April
France	Slab dairy	45½	April

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a detailed list of the 33 staff in his Department who will receive increased salaries of up to 18 per cent., retrospective to January, 1972 under the Boyle proposals; what their present salaries are; and what they will be on implementation of this report.

There is one Permanent Secretary in my Department who will have his salary increased from £14,000 to £15,750: five Deputy Secretaries who will have their salaries increased from £9,000 to £10,500: 24 Under Secretaries who will have their salaries increased from £6,750 to £8,250. In addition, there are three staff on intermediate salary rates which will be increased by comparable amounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his preparations for an international agreement which would eliminate deliberate pollution from ships.

The 1969 Amendments to the 1954 Oil Pollution Convention, if enforced internationally, would largely eliminate such pollution. We are making two of the nine expert studies for the international Conference on Marine Pollution which will be held in London next year, and which should secure further agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the present total capacity of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry.

No estimate is available as there is no recognised method of measuring capacity in the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the present capacity of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry which may be suitable for the construction of naval vessels, either for the United Kingdom Government or for foreign customers.

There are currently six United Kingdom shipbuilders with a capacity for naval work but the proportion of capacity which they might wish to devote to, or retain for, this type of work fluctuates and depends on the available orders and the commercial judgment of individual firms. It would not therefore be meaningful to give an estimate of total capacity but the yards concerned are capable of taking all the home and overseas orders now foreseen.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will invite the representatives of the European Launcher and Development Organisation to meet to consider the United Kingdom's re-entry into the European Launcher and Development Organisation, and its participation in further development of a European launcher.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the date on which European nations, including the United Kingdom, were invited to consider joining the United States of America in their post-Apollo space programme; and whether he can now give the date upon which the reply of the United Kingdom will be given.

The invitation was received in September, 1969. The European Space Conference has since spent £2 million on studying the programme and had many discussions with the United States authorities. The United Kingdom together with other European countries is expected to decide whether to participate in the programme at a meeting in Brussels on 11th–12th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry having regard to the decision to eliminate the Black Arrow Launcher programme in favour of joining the post-Apollo space programme, what steps he is taking to recommence work on a United Kingdom launcher programme.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money out of public funds was spent on regional development in Wales in 1964, 1970 and 1971; and what were the per head of population figures in each case for Wales, Scotland and England.

On the basis of financial years, the information is as follows:—Government preferential assistance to industry in Wales

1964–65	1969–70	1970–71
£ million	£ million	£ million
1·0	44·3	50·4

Government preferential assistance to industry per head of population

		1964–65	1969–70	1970–71
		£	£	£
Wales	…	0·37	16·26	18·44
Scotland	…	1·79	19·03	18·82
England	…	0·38	3·27	3·31

Notes: (i) The figures exclude the following payments for which a breakdown is not available: free depreciation (£3 million in 1964–65); Development Commission loans to small hotels in development areas (£0·8 million in 1969–70 and £0·4 million in 1970–71); and refund of SET to certain rural parts of development areas (£1·8 million in 1969–70 and £2 million in 1970–71).Similarly, it is not possible to give a regional breakdown of the differential element in investment grants for computers and plant and machinery used in the construction and civil engineering industries. (£5 million in 1969–70 and £4·5 million in 1970–71).(ii) Calculations per head of population are derived from the 1966 census (England and Wales); and from the preliminary results of the 1971 census (Scotland only).(iii) The tables do not reflect Government expenditure on other forms of regional assistance, e.g. increased public expenditure on infrastructure; grants for housing improvements, clearance of slums, and clearance of derelict land.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been issued in the Cheadle rural district in each of the past 10 years.

Following is the information:—

• 2 in 1962.
• 2 in 1963.
• 1 in 1964.
• 7 in 1965.
• 8 in 1966.
• 7 in 1967.
• 7 in 1968.
• 9 in 1969.
• 6 in 1970.
• 1 in 1971.

Note:(1) Up to August, 1965, the exemption limit for IDCs was 5,000 sq. ft. A lower limit of 1,000 sq. ft. was then introduced. This was raised in August, 1966 to 3,000 sq. ft. and in December, 1970 to 5,000 sq. ft.(2) The area of industrial building has, since the introduction of the Industrial Development Act in August, 1966, been extended to include all ancillary space for storage, canteens, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been issued in the Kidsgrove urban district in each of the past 10 years.

Following is the information:

• 1 in 1962.
• None in 1963.
• 2 in 1964.
• 4 in 1965.
• 2 in 1966.
• 2 in 1967.
• 3 in 1968.
• 4 in 1969.
• 2 in 1970.
• None in 1971.

Notes:(1) Up to August, 1965 the exemption limit for IDCs was 5,000 sq. ft. A lower limit of 1,000 sq. ft. was then introduced. This was raised in August, 1966 to 3,000 sq. ft. and in December, 1970 to 5,000 sq. ft.(2) The area of industrial building has, since the introduction of the Industrial Development Act in August, 1966 been extended to include all ancillary space for storage, canteens, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the grants paid by the central Government to bodies involved wholly or partly in giving advice to consumers, other than the citizens' advice bureaux, weights and measures inspectors and offices operated under the Legal Aid Acts, specifying the amount of such grants and the bodies to whom they are paid.

There are no other grants related to the giving of advice in specific cases. But the activities of many grant-aided bodies such as the Design Council may include the provision of information which is of use to consumers generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he remains satisfied that the figure of nearly 9,000 tons of explosive cargo in the wreck of the ss "Richard Montgomery" of which almost half was salvaged in 1944 given in his Department's Press notice of 12th November, 1971, is correct; whether his views in respect of the size and nature of this danger to shipping in the Thames side communities are accurate and complete; and if he will make a statement.

The original cargo amounted to nearly 7,000 short tons, not 9,000, but the other information given in the Press notice was accurate. My assessment of the risks of trying to remove or leaving undisturbed the explosives remains as previously stated, but I will review the position after the forthcoming diving survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what instructions he has given to officials of his Department presently attending discussions within the Groupe D'Etudes des Comptables de la CEE.

The members of the Groupe d?Etudes are members of the recognised accountancy bodies of the ten countries which are, or expect to be, members of the EEC. Officials of the Deartment do not atten the Groupe's discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the current numbers for wholly unemployed and for short-time working in Walsall and the measures he proposes to take to reduce these figures.

At 12th June, 3,171 people were registered as wholly unemployed and 451 as temporarily stopped in the Walsall employment exchange area. The best employment prospects for Walsall lie in the sustained expansion of the national economy which the Budget and other measures we have introduced are designed to achieve.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his programme for the expansion of Government training centres in the North-west Region; what are their dispositions; what courses will become available at each centre; and what number of trainees can be accepted for each course.

Two new Government Training Centres are planned in the North-West Region. One will open at Trafford Park by the Spring of 1974 and the other is planned to open in South-East Lancashire by 1975. Each Centre will have about 200 places but the range of courses to be provided has not yet been finalised.A further 310 places will be provided in the Region by early 1973. Following are the details:

Centre	Course	Number of places available
Hindley GTC	Bricklaying	16
	Carpentry and Joinery	16
	Plumbing	16
	Street Masonry and Paving	12
	Welding—Electric Arc	24
	Heavy Vehicle Repair and Maintenance	12
	Motor Vehicle Repair and Maintenance	24
	Radio, TV and Electronic Servicing	12
	Miscellaneous Engineering	10
St. Helens GTC	Carpentry and Joinery	16
	Welding—Electric Arc	60
	Heavy Vehicle Repair and Maintenance	24
	Motor Vehicle Repair and Maintenance	24
Liverpool GTC	Welding—Electric Arc	12
Blackburn GTC	Welding—Electric Arc	8
Runcorn GTC	Motor Vehicle—Body Repairing	12
	Heavy Vehicle Repair and Maintenance	12

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the number of apprentices who have been recruited into the building and construction industry over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for ensuring an adequate intake of apprentices rests primarily with the industry. Recruitment of apprentices during the last 12 months has shown an increase on the low levels of the two previous years and this improvement has been particularly evident in recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many persons were employed in Carmarthenshire and in Wales, respectively, on 30th June in each year from 1962 to 1972 in the service industries;(2) how many persons were employed in Carmarthenshire and in Wales, respectively, on 30th June in each year from 1962 to 1972 in the following industries, manufacturing, metal manufacturing,

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN CARMARTHENSHIRE, AND IN WALES, IN CERTAIN INDUSTRY GROUPS
		Service industries	All manufacturing industries	Metal manufacture	Mechanical engineering	Electrical engineering
CARMARTHENSHIRE
June, 1962	…	26·9	14·9	4·8	1·6	—
June, 1963	…	26·5	15·2	4·1	1·6	—
June, 1964	…	26·4	16·0	4·3	1·9	—
June, 1965	…	26·7	16·2	4·4	1·9	—
June, 1966	…	26·5	16·6	4·4	2·1	0·1
June, 1967	…	26·2	16·8	4·8	2·3	0·2
June, 1968	…	25·5	17·5	4·6	2·9	0·2
June, 1969(a)	…	24·7	19·2	4·8	2·9	0·3
(b)	…	24·7	19·3	4·8	2·9	0·3
June, 1970	…	23·0	20·1	4·9	3·0	0·2
WALES
June, 1962	…	548·6	302·4	88·3	21·9	24·4
June, 1963	…	552·3	308·1	91·5	22·0	25·3
June, 1964(a)	…	557·0	316·7	95·6	22·3	26·5
(b)	…	558·3	318·0	95·8	22·3	26·7
June, 1965	…	567·9	323·5	95·0	24·1	26·4
June, 1966(a)	…	573·4	330·8	94·1	25·6	28·0
(b)	…	569·2	335·5	94·6	26·7	28·4
June, 1967	…	559·8	329·9	93·2	28·2	27·2
June, 1968	…	562·1	335·5	92·9	30·8	28·8
June, 1969(a)	…	547·3	343·3	94·5	31·1	28·8
(b)	…	552·4	344·0	94·6	30·9	29·4
June, 1970	…	537·7	355·5	92·2	33·5	32·8
June, 1971	…	541·0	351·8	88·2	32·8	31·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the proportion of the employed population in each economic planning region engaged under Order XXIV and XXV of the Standard Industrial Classification in 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1971 for every region.

Employment estimates for June are available for Carmarthenshire up to June, 1970 and for Wales up to June, 1971. Following is the available information:

The following table shows estimates of the numbers of employees in Insurance, Banking, Finance and Business Services, and Professional and Scientific Services (Orders XXIV and XXV of the 1968 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification and XXI and XXII of the 1958 edition) expressed as percentages of employees in all industries and services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has now received a reply from the Egyptian Government to his representations for an extension of the Tutankhamun Exhibition; and if he will make a statement.

We raised this matter with the Egyptian authorities again on 3rd July, but are still awaiting a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision of the Pakistani Government to permit dual nationality for Pakistani nationals resident in the United Kingdom.

I understand that under the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated on 30th June, citizens of Pakistan may now acquire citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies without losing Pakistan citizenship as was previously the case. It is too early to say what effect this change in Pakistan's citizenship law might have on the number of Pakistanis in this country applying for registration as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that there have been further cases of owners of mini-buses in Hong Kong being beaten up by gangs extorting protection money and having their buses smashed while the

I am unaware of the police condoning thuggery of the kind described but will make further inquiries if details of a particular allegation are provided.