asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office requiring it to adhere to the Confederation of British Industry's extended policy of price restraint.

In common with other nationalised industries, the Post Office last year agreed to abide by the CBIs proposals.I understand that the CBI is meeting today to consider the possibility of an extension.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the total cost of collection and delivery of mail; how many people are employed in these two operations; and what proportion of mail-handling costs their pay represents.

These are matters for the Post Office, which has published information showing that collection and delivery accounts for about 45 per cent. of handling costs for letters and 34 per cent. for parcels. About three-quarters of the total costs are labour costs.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will exercise his powers under Section 11(4) of the Post Office Act, 1969, to secure the cessation of the undue discrimination exercised against Rainham, Essex, by the downgrading of its Crown post office.

No. I have no evidence of discrimination.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications from what sources future investment in the Post Office will be financed.

Internal sources supplemented by borrowings in accordance with Section 35 of the Post Office Act, 1969.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what number of households in Derbyshire cannot receive 625–line transmissions, or any signal from an Independent Television company, respectively, at the present time.

The BBC tells me that 45,000 households, 15 per cent. of those in Derbyshire, cannot receive 625–line transmissions at present. The IBA tells me that 1,700 households, 0·55 per cent., cannot get a satisfactory signal from any IBA transmitter.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what payment minicab owners and organisations make to the Exchequer through his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The only payment made is in respect of licence fees for mobile radio services.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is yet able to state the number of non- industrial civil servants employed on 1st July, 1972.

No. The figures for 1st July are being collected and I shall publish them early next month.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the total number of non-industrial civil servants in his Department is to increase from 2,254 in 1971–72 to 2,326 in 1972–73, as indicated in the Revised Estimates 1972–73, Command Paper No. 313.

The increase of 72 staff, which includes six industrials, is due mainly to the need to administer the staff of the Central Computer Agency and the Chessington Computer Centre, both of which became my Department's responsibility on 1st April, 1972. The Chessington Computer Centre is taking on more payroll work for 1972–73 and I am ensuring that increases there will be matched by savings in other departments.

the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a progress report on negotiating for an improved basic wage structure for industrial civil servants.

The Government are awaiting the considered reaction of the unions involved to its offer.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is aware of the concern felt by the Civil Service Union at the delay in their pay negotiations; and whether he will give a guarantee that arrears of pay will be back dated for six months or longer if the pay negotiations continue beyond this period.

The Civil Service Union has been engaged in several separate and distinct pay negotiations which, under the terms of the Civil Service Pay Agreement, should have been completed by 30th June. In all but one of these a negotiated settlement had been reached, or a decision to arbitrate taken, by that date. In the case of the one exception I am pleased to say that agreement has now been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the terms of reference of the National Parks Policies Committee to include the problem of mining in the national parks.

The implications of mineral working in the national parks come within the Committee's terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to repeal the Small Tenements Act, 1838.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make the necessary Order under Section 35 of the Rent Act, 1965, before Parliament rises for the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what bodies have sent comments to him on his consultation paper on public participation in water management; what comments he has received from the Sports Council, the Central Council for Physical Recreation and regional sports councils; and what replies he has sent.

Comments have been received from 30 national and regional bodies, including, five local authority associations, and from 100 individual water and sewerage authorities; of the bodies which the hon. Member specifically mentions, the Yorkshire and Humberside Sports Council alone has submitted comments; no replies are called for, but all the comments received are being carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue his consultation papers on the future of the British Waterways Board and the Water Resources Board; and what arrangements he has made for consultation concerning the future of these organisations.

The consultation paper on the amenity use of water space, which will deal with the British Waterways Board, and another on the National Water Council, which will deal with the Water Resources Board, will be issued shortly. These papers will receive the normal wide distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to establish a permanent commission to advise on and approve the design, materials, utilisation and services of all new building, when requested to do so by interested parties.

These matters must remain the primary responsibility of the local planning authorities to whom the advice of the Royal Fine Art Commission is available on request. The Commission can also themselves intervene to draw attention to any project. I consider this arrangement preferable to the establishment of a body with executive powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of how much of the increase in the average price of new houses sold in the first quarter of 1972, compared with the first quarter of 1970, was due to higher wages; and how much was due to other factors, including land prices and profits.

The market for new dwellings is highly complex and it is not possible to isolate with reliability or precision the factors that the hon. Gentleman has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average price of new private dwellings mortgaged with building societies in the second quarter of 1972; and what was the equivalent figure for the second quarter of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average monthly repayment on mortgage on modern houses in June, 1970, and June, 1972, respectively.

Information so far received from building societies suggest an average price in the second quarter of 1972 of about £7,000 on which the monthly mortgage instalment payment after tax relief on the most typical building society loan was about £32 in the first year of the loan. The corresponding figures for 1970 were £5,082 and about £24 per month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have now indicated that they will comply with the circular urging the sale of council houses; how many have not yet replied; and how many have said they will not follow the Minister's advice.

The impact of the circular will best be judged by the figures of sales in the coming months. As I said in my Written Answer to my Hon. Friend's similar Question on 5th July, the circular was issued on 13th June. It is too soon to assess the response to it.—[Vol. 840, c. 136.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his intention to alter the regulations governing the position of emission of exhaust pipes on large vehicles.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce his appointments to membership of rent scrutiny boards; whether these will include a substantial proportion of council tenants; and what proportion of the membership of these boards will consist of persons involved in estate agency, valuation and surveying or of members of the legal profession.

It is for the Presidents of the Rent Assessment Panels to nominate, from their panel membership, the members to serve on Rent Scrutiny Boards. No nomination can be made before the Housing Finance Bill comes into force. I am not therefore able to give a detailed answer about the future composition of these boards. I expect a panel member who is a council tenant to be free to serve on any board other than one dealing with an authority in the general locality of his home.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average net rent of council dwellings in England and Wales in the year 1971–72 and the percentage increase he expects to apply in the current year.

Figures are not yet available for average net rents of council dwellings in 1971–72. It is not possible to make meaningful estimates of the increase in the current year, since the net rents payable will depend on the rate of progression to fair rents for each authority and on the rebates granted to tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the concern felt at the absence of a fog warning system on the Wormley stretch of the projected Hoddesdon/Ware Bypass; and if he will introduce such a system into the design.

It is not my policy to prescribe emergency warning system on roads other than motorways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask his Housing Action Group to initiate a planning study of the housing and related services potential for decking over 100 acres of railway tracks lying between North Circular Road, Neasden, and Wembley Park Station.

Whilst the Action Group is interested in the potential for housing development of railway land it is not one of its functions to initiate detailed planning studies of particular sites.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which British ports possess facilities to store toxic chemicals and render them harmless; and what are the current plans to extend these facilities.

This information is not easily available in any precise form. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make funds available to the London Borough of Brent to proceed with the housing and related urban replanning projects proposed by it for the Neasden—River Brent area.

The Borough Council has been granted special loan scanction to allow it to transfer its depot from this area to Alperton, and it is for the council now to make a formal application for the necessary financial approvals for the housing development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations have been held with his Department regarding the proposal to site a Yorkshire regional airport at Balne Moor, near Doncaster.

The local authorities concerned are in touch with my Department which has undertaken to obtain the views of other government bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will send a circular to all metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties requesting them to form local advisory committees of the environment to aid the main committees in combating all forms of pollution.

I do not think a circular is necessary. Local authorities have the powers to set up such committees, and it is for them to judge how useful they would be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government have conducted a social economic cost benefit analysis of the Channel Tunnel project; and when he will publish the report.

Some work has been done on this but wider studies are needed before worthwhile results can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the estimated total cost for British Rail to build the proposed high speed rail link between London and the Channel Tunnel terminal and what will be the estimated time of the journey between London and the tunnel and London and Paris;

I cannot yet provide the detailed information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost to the Government of the Channel Tunnel feasibility studies; and whether it must be paid if the tunnel is not built.

The total cost of the preliminary studies was approximately £900,000. The share falling on the British and French Governments if the tunnel were not built would depend upon the circumstances in which abandonment took place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the proposed financing of the Channel Tunnel; what is the proportion to be borne by private interests; whether this will include those costs necessary to improve essential road and rail approaches; and how much is their estimated cost.

Not yet. Discussions are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimated total cost for the building of the Channel Tunnel; and how this compares with the estimated cost in the 1963 White Paper Command Paper No. 2137.

£366 million in 1972 prices without interest. Cmnd. 2137 estimated £143 million in 1962 prices without interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expected decline in traffic through the country's eastern ports due to the redirection of traffic through the proposed Channel Tunnel.

Not significant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to prevent landlords from allowing flats and houses to remain unoccoupied for long periods of time.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the numbers of Second Permanent Secretaries and personal staff to be employed in the organisation of the Property Services Agency in 1972–73; at what costs; and how this compares with 1971–72.

The Chief Executive of the Property Services Agency which will form part of my Department when it is set up on 1st September, will have the rank of Second Permanent Secretary. It is estimated that his salary, and those of his personal staff, will cost about £22,000 in a full year.The number of Second Permanent Secretaries in my Department will remain unchanged, at two, when the Agency is set up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will enumerate the requests for change of use from residential to social purposes which have received planning permission in Derby during 1971 and 1972 to date.

Changes of this kind are for the local planning authority; such information is not held in the Department. However, I understand that during this period permission was given in two such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the representations of the Derby Corporation Highways Department, he will authorise the replacement of the double white lines on the A38 at Pastures Hill, Derby, recently obliterated on the instructions of his Department.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a detailed breakdown of the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in further development of his planning for the inter-urban trunk road system announced on 23rd June, 1971, he will extend the trunk road preparation pool; and if he will make a statement.

We have today included in the trunk road preparation pool 65 schemes estimated to cost a total of some £60 million. These schemes include many bypass and relief road proposals which will bring significant environmental benefits to a number of towns and villages. The full list is:List of Schemes

Following is the information:A69 Scarrow Hill to Low Row.A595 Thursby to Carlisle.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentage the number of crimes increased during each of the latest annual school holidays for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures 10 years ago.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentage, at the latest available date, was a three- bedroom, semi-detached, two-storey house, or any other common house type for which figures are available, more expensive in Scotland than in England.

The cost of houses varies substantially, both in Scotland and in England, according to locality, type of house and other factors such as the form of development and the design of the house. A house of three bedrooms, built for a Scottish local authority, at present probably costs on average much the same as in England and Wales. Prices have recently been moving ahead faster in England than in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the net cost to public funds of providing legal aid in criminal cases in Scotland in the years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, and 1971–72.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the contracts for the building of the new teaching hospital at Ninewells, Dundee, were put out to open competitive tender; and what considerations governed the decision on this matter.

Tenders for the new hospital and medical school at Ninewells were invited by the Eastern Regional Hospital Board in 1963 on a selective basis. This is normal practice for public sector building schemes, but in the case of the Ninewells hospital there was the additional consideration that a form of contract procedure was decided upon, with the concurrence of the Treasury and my Department, to enable the contractor to be nominated at an early stage to participate in design and planning. After preliminary interviews of 13 firms, five were invited to tender, and of the four tenders submitted the lowest, by Messrs. Crudens Ltd., was accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of the total contracts awarded in the building of the Ninewells hospital; how much has been paid to date: and by how much this exceeds the original estimate.

The lowest tender for the main contract for the construction of the new hospital and medical school at Ninewells was submitted by Messrs. Crudens Ltd. and its value, as accepted by the Eastern Regional Hospital Board in November, 1963, was £10·2 million. Payments to the contractor up to the end of June, 1972, totalled £12·7 million, taking into account subsequent additions to the scheme and the operation of the fluctuations clause normal in building contracts for periods of more than two years. The 1961 estimate of the building cost of the scheme was £9 million, compared with the current estimate of total construction costs of £14·5 million (or £18·2 million including fees and moveable equipment).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Government financial assistance has been granted to date to the Aviemore Centre.

Assistance from Government sources for the Aviemore Centre and other tourist developments associated with it, including hotels, amounts so far to £805,568.The payments have been made at various dates since February, 1965, mainly from the Board of Trade—now the Department of Trade and Industry—with a considerable element from the Scottish Tourist Board, and a smaller sum from the Highlands and Islands Development Board. Further payments will fall due for some time ahead under existing commitments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Mr. W. G. Pottinger, a civil servant, sought permission before accepting gifts from persons or organisations with whom he was brought into contact by reason of his official duties; and whether permission was granted.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the ratio of boys to girls who take up further education after the age of 18 years.

Of new entrants over 18 years of age to courses of Further Education in Scotland in 1971–72 about 41 per cent. were female.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate a public inquiry into Corsbie Hall School, Fife.

I do not think an inquiry would serve any useful purpose. I can deal with the situation on the information I already have and can obtain through visits by H.M. Inspectors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government Departments are now making use of Giro services; and if he will make a statement.

It is a matter for individual Departments to decide, according to their needs, what services of this nature to use. I do not have the information requested but it is likely that most Departments make some use of Giro services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total amount of the Returning Officers' expenses for the 1970 General Election.

About £2,670,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made with his inquiries into irregularities involving forgeries relating to premium bonds.

As a result of inquiries carried out by the police and the Post Office Investigation Division, assisted by staff of the Premium Savings Bond Office, four men, including a Post Office employee, were arrested, prosecuted to conviction and sentenced on 29th June to terms of imprisonment ranging from 4½ to 12 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why imported beef has been deleted from the list of items comprising the General Index of Retail Prices.

Imported beef has not been deleted from the list of items included in the General Index of Retail Prices although certain cuts of imported beef which are no longer sold in significant quantities have been removed from the list.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the industrial training boards employing public relations consultants, the precise nature of their duties and the expenditure incurred by each industrial training board in each of the last four years;(2) if he will list the industrial training boards which have contractual arrangements with public relations consultants and the dates upon which any such arrangements terminate.

Arrangements and expenditure of this kind are detailed matters within boards' own responsibility and my Department does not have information about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list of redundancies in the Northern Region that have been notified to his department in each month from 1st January, 1972, to the latest available date.

Information supplied by individual employers is often provided in confidence and I should not feel justified in publishing it. However, our records show the following numbers of redundancies notified in the Northern Region this year: January, 1,210; February, 1,770; March, 1,850; April, 1,080; May, 1,630; and June, 1,800. This represents 61 per cent. of total redundancies for the equivalent period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skilled workers are unemployed in North Staffordshire.

In the North Staffordshire sub-division of the West Midlands region, at 12th June the number of wholly unemployed men and women registered for employment in certain engineering, construction, vehicle building, woodworking and printing occupations which are generally regarded as skilled was 520.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in his review of the future policy in industrial training and the phasing out of the levy/grant system, he will consider providing funds from central sources for two-year off-the-job sandwich courses in craft skills for 16– to 18–year-olds.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the importance of initial off-the-job training of apprentices and technicians, but a decision on financial support for this training must await decisions on the main proposals in "Training for the Future".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many individuals have so far received supplementary benefit in respect of themselves and/or their families because of their involvement in the Jaguar strike; and in how many of these cases holiday pay had been paid by the company.

Up to 14th July, 1972, 107 claimants had received payments of supplementary benefit, for their families' requirements in all cases. Ninety of them had no holiday pay and the remaining 17 had insufficient holiday pay for their families' requirements between the beginning of the dispute and 14th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the dentist/patient ratio in Mid-Bedfordshire; if he is satisfied that the emergency dentist service in that area is working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1965 the dentist/patient ratio in Bedfordshire has got worse except for a sharp improvement in 1971. I am therefore not satisfied with the dentist/patient ratio in Bedfordshire—nor indeed with the geographical distribution of dentists in the country as a whole.There is no formal emergency service out of normal hours in mid-Bedfordshire and I have no power to compel dentists to provide such a service.I am much concerned about both these longstanding problems of the National Health Service general dental services and this was one of the main reasons for my invitation to the British Dental Association to join a working party with my Department to consider the future of the dental services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the work in progress on collecting valid scientific data on drug abuse and dependence; and if he will make a statement.

The Medical Research Council, the Home Office and my Department are collecting data on a number of studies of drug problems which are now taking place in hospitals, universities and elsewhere. We shall also carefully examine the proceedings of two international conferences hi which we are taking part.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether night fire drills are practised in institutions for the mentally handicapped for which he is responsible; how often; and how often they are practised with heavily sedated patients.

All hospitals are required to carry out fire drills at least twice a year and staff receive instruction in the movement of non-ambulant patients. The detailed arrangements are a matter for the hospital authorities, but regional hospital boards are asked to report to me annually on the application of these requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many out-breaks of fire have occurred in institutions for the mentally handicapped for which he is responsible in the past 10 years.

Thirty-three—some of a minor nature—since March, 1969, when detailed records began.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases of fire in institutions for the mentally handicapped for which he is responsible the ward doors were locked at night.

Since regular reports of hospital fires began in 1969, none has referred to locked ward doors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in considering the question of Napsbury Mental Hospital, he has yet reached a conclusion as to whether to institute an official inquiry into conditions there.

I hope to write to the hon. Member within a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people, respectively, who were involuntarily committed and who voluntarily committed themselves to mental health institutions in each of the years from 1966 to 1971; and the percentage of these people who were released in each of these years.

The numbers of admissions to psychiatric hospitals and units, including the special hospitals, in England and Wales in the years 1966 to 1971 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of architects and quantity surveyors, engineering staff and non-industrial civil servants, other than medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and nursing staff, respectively, employed by his Department on 18th June, 1970; and how many were so employed on 18th June, 1972.

The nearest dates for which details of staff numbers are available are 1st July, 1970, and 1st April, 1972. On these dates staff employed in my Department were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the numbers of disabled passengers of working age who would be able to obtain outside employment if suitable mobility assistance were to be provided.

No estimate is possible. It is to be hoped that the interested persons invited to present views to Lady Sharp will draw to her attention any instances where employment can be shown to have been prevented by the absence of mobility assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the numbers of disabled passengers of working age who are home-bound, and who could benefit from mobility assistance for business, domestic or social reasons, if it were to be provided.

No precise estimate is possible but it would be unwise to assume that the number would be other than quite a large one.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of vehicle excise duty exemption certificates Form MHS 330 issued in respect of disabled passengers whose cars have been suitably adapted.

My right hon. Friend has no standing in relation to adaptations undertaken by recipients of Form MHS 330;the number of certificates issued is not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications have been received for the new £100 car maintenance allowance for disabled drivers in England and Wales; and how many have been successful.

By the end of May, 829 applications for a private car allowance had been received from those who had not previously sought any assistance from the Invalid Vehicle Service; of these, 556 were successful. In addition, some 4,000 allowances are now being paid in lieu of various other former benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications have been received for the issue of adapted four-wheeled cars for disabled mothers who have sole charge of young children in England and Wales; and how many have been successful.

Between February, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced more flexible arrangements for the provision of cars for disabled parents with young children and the end of May, 120 applications for an adapted four-wheeled car were received from disabled parents with young children; of these 111 were successful.—[Vol. 831, c. 213–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications have been received for the issue of adapted four-wheeled cars for disabled haemophiliacs in England/Wales; and how many have been successful.

Forty-eight to the end of May, all of which were successful.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of invalid tricycles at present on issue to disabled drivers under the National Health Service in England and Wales.

There are 19,192.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of invalid tricycles at present on issue to disabled war pensioners in lieu of adapted four-wheel motor cars in England and Wales.

Two hundred and sixty-nine are on issue to war pensioners who have not opted for the cars, to be driven by themselves or nominated drivers, which they might otherwise have chosen.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of adapted four-wheeled cars at present on issue to disabled drivers under the National Health Service in England and Wales.

There are 1,112.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of adapted four-wheeled cars at present on issue to disabled war pensioners in England and Wales.

There are 6,295.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what progress he has made in his consideration of whether hospital kitchens should continue to enjoy Crown exemption from food hygiene legislation;(2) if he will make a statement about the standard of hygiene in hospital kitchens, following the publication of Towards Cleaner Food, issued by the Association of Public Health Inspectors, a copy of which is in his possession.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler), Hudders field, West (Mr. Lomas) and Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 12th June, 1972.The Association of Public Health Inspectors has undertaken to reply to the letter from my Department when its General Council has studied the report of its working party on food hygiene. I shall reconsider the question of Crown immunity in the light of the information then available.—[Vol. 838, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to stimulate export sales of British manufactured electrostatic powder coating equipment.

The resources of the Department are available to any manufacturer anxious to increase his export sales and if the hon. Member has a particular firm in mind he should advise them to get in touch with Export Services Division at 50, Ludgate Hill.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons were employed in the Office of the Government Chemist of his Department on 18th June, 1970; and how many were so employed on 18th June, 1972.

The numbers of non-industrial staff employed at the Laboratory of Government Chemist on 1st July, 1970, and 1st April, 1972, the nearest convenient dates to those requested, were 383 and 386 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of non-industrial civil servants employed in those departments that now comprise the Department of Trade and Industry in the Research Establishments of the Ministry of Technology, the Civil Aviation Divisions of the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Technology in total and the Board of Trade in total, respectively, on 18th June, 1970; and how many were so employed in his Department on 18th June, 1972.

The nearest convenient dates for which the information is available are 1st July, 1970, and 1st April, 1972, when the position was: Non-industrial staff in post on 1st July, 1970, in departments now part of the Department of Trade and Industry:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why there is to be an increase in the number of staff at the Department of Trade and Industry from 5,218 in 1971–72 to 6,725 in 1972–73 as shown in the Revised Estimates, Command Paper No. 313.

The staff referred to are those seconded to the Civil Aviation Authority. The 1972–73 figures overstate the increase because they include staff who appeared elsewhere in the 1971–72 Estimates. The actual increase is 243.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how soon he expects to receive replies to his representations to the Japanese ball-bearing exporters; and how soon he expects to be able to announce his conclusions.

Discussions are currently taking place between the British and Japanese ball- and roller-bearing industries. Progress made in these discussions will be taken into account in the review which British and Japanese are to undertake in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to promote the building of plant to convert polyester fibres and film to moulding compounds, the end product of which can be sold as pellets to plastic fabricators.

The National Research Development Corporation is supporting the development of a process for the fabrication of products from plastics waste. Under the Industry Bill Government assistance will be available towards the capital cost of new plants, especially in the Assisted Areas. However, the physical characteristics of polyester render it generally less suitable than other materials—for example, polyolefins—for use in plastics moulding and thus for recycling.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the inspectors investigating the affairs of the Vehicle and General Insurance Company have completed their report; and whether the report will be published.

I have recently received the report, a copy of which has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Police inquiries are being made and these inquiries will, inevitably, take a considerable time. Meanwhile, the report will not be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the Docksey Review.

Mr. Pat Docksey was appointed to advise on the exploitation of inventions resulting from public research and on the support by NRDC for the development and exploitation of inventions from other sources. Mr. Docksey submitted his advice by the end of 1971. The views expressed by Mr. Docksey were personal and his report contains information which he received in confidence during the course of his inquiry. It is not, therefore, intended to publish the text of his advice.Mr. Docksey's major recommendation was based on the thesis that different types of judgment were required for decision-making on research and decision-making on development. It was important that projects passing from the research stage to the development stage should be subjected to renewed review and decision. He therefore recommended a Development Council, which could be set up around the existing NRDC, to control such decision-making on all projects other than those commissioned by Departments for their own use. He also made a number of recommendations aimed at clarifying the respective roles of Government Departments, their Research Establishments and the NRDC in the development and exploitation of both public and private sector inventions.The Government accept that projects should be subjected to continuous appraisal at all stages, and under the machinery for implementing the customer/contractor approach which has been developed since Mr. Docksey conducted his review this is being catered for. It is not considered necessary to set up a separate Development Council as recommended.The National Research Development Corporation will continue to fulfil a role under the Development of Inventions Act, 1967, subject to further consideration, in the light of Mr. Docksey's recommendations, of the scope of its relationship with the various Government Departments and other bodies concerned.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will publish in the Official Report a full and comprehensive list of Members of Parliament who have visited countries overseas, where Government funds towards the costs of such travel have been expended, for the longest period of time, other than under the auspices of the Council of Europe and the Western European Union.

This information is not readily available and it will take a very considerable amount of time and effort to obtain it. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I am able to do so, giving him as much of this information as can be obtained without undue expense.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement when his forthcoming discussions with the European Economic Community about cereal intervention centres have been concluded.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made yesterday.—[Vol. 841, c. 408–15.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department undertakes regular checks on United Kingdom lairages in respect of livestock for export, to ensure that the facilities provided are adequate.

The hon. Member will now have seen the reply I gave on 12th July about conditions in United Kingdom lairages. I have nothing further to add—[Vol. 840, c. 379.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the annual storage of cereals by the Home Grown Cereals Authority during each of the last five years; and by how much he expects this to be increased following entry to the Common Market.

The Home Grown Cereals Authority has not stored any cereals in the past. Under EEC conditions it is envisaged that from 1st February onwards the authority as agents for the Intervention Board for agricultural produce will negotiate contracts for the purchase and storage of grain offered into intervention. It is not at present possible to forecast precisely the extent of this activity, but the availability of storage is not expected to present difficulties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inquiries he has made about recently developed systems of airtight grain storage; and what type these are.

Our scientists have studied the storage of moist and dry grain, using the principal systems of airtight storage which are at present available. These are, first, purpose-built metal silos; secondly, standard bolted metal silos that have been subsequently sealed; and, finally, butyl rubber or PVC silos supported by a welded metal mesh, which can be very effective provided that the difficulties of keeping a silo airtight under farm conditions can be overcome.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if his Department has completed the review of 50 research establishments in the United Kingdom; and whether he will now make a statement.

Good progress is being made, but the review is not yet complete.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has regarding the security and continuity of employment of the 1,500 technicians, operatives and staff at the Royal Aeronautical Establishment, Thurleigh.

There are no present plans which would significantly affect the level of employment at RAE Thurleigh. I cannot, of course, at this time, anticipate the outcome of the wider rationalisation studies on Research and Development establishments.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the state of construction reached with the second set of wind tunnels at Farnborough, Hampshire; when tenders were invited; and how this set compares with those already operating at Thurleigh.

One new five-metre wind tunnel is being built at Farnborough for which the main contract was negotiated in early 1970. Nearly a quarter of the construction has been completed. The new wind tunnel will complement the existing wind tunnel complex which is located at Farnborough and Bedford.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the general character of work now being undertaken at the Royal Aeronautical Establishments at Thurleigh and Cardington, and the number of people employed thereon.

RAE Bedford is engaged on aerospace research and development including the all-weather operation of aircraft, studies into the flying characteristics of advanced shapes, and also novel flight and naval aircraft catapult and arrest systems. RAE Cardington is engaged on fabric engineering and operates balloons for various purposes. It is not the practice to give details of staff numbers.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will specify the cost of maintaining the establishment at Thurleigh, the value of work at present being undertaken for private companies and the total value of work or orders on hand.

It is not the practice to give information on the costs of maintaining individual establishments. The value of work undertaken in the current year for private companies, including receipts for the use of airfield facilities for airline training, is expected to total about £200,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will state the reasons for the delay in making allocations for youth service projects, community centres and village halls in Hampshire, under the revised arrangements for grants to be made to local education authorities for this purpose.

Bids from some authorities were received late and in total exceeded the resources available after provision had been made for backlog projects accepted under the old arrangements. In the circumstances the allocation of the resources took some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will state the reason for the apparent overall reduction in the allocations so far made to Hampshire County Council for youth service projects, community centres and village halls, since the introduction of the revised system of payment on 31st March, 1971.

Hampshire local education authority was allocated £31,100 for voluntary youth service projects starting in 1972–73. Comparative figures for 1969–70 and 1970–71 were £23,000 and £8,300, respectively; there was no programme in 1971–72.The authority was allocated £15,900 for voluntary village halls and community centre projects starting in 1972–73 in addition to which the Department expects to offer grant of £8,700 towards the cost of three Hampshire projects accepted under the old arrangements which will also start in 1972–73. The total of £26,800 compares with grants averaging £23,500 annually over the last three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what applications have been received for financial aid for village hall schemes in Nottinghamshire; and if she will list the villages, the amount of the application and the amount being granted by her Department and the local authority.

The Nottinghamshire Education Authority's bid for village halls was made up of two major projects at Farndon and Sherwood and seven minor projects, at Beckingham, Attenborough, Weston, Orston, Maple-beck, Car Colston and Granby. The aggregate cost of these projects was estimated at nearly £60,000 of which the authority and other authorities in the area proposed to meet nearly £15,000. The Department's grant allocation was almost £11,000. In addition, the Department has offered grant totalling £3,800 in respect of two projects accepted under the old arrangements which are expected to start this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the net cost of training a graduate at an English polytechnic, an English university, a Welsh university, and a Welsh college of advanced technology, respectively.

Information is not available in the form requested. The average annual net costs per student—undergraduates and postgraduates—in universities and polytechnics for 1970–71 were calculated to be £975 and £660 respectively, using the same method as in the Department's Planning Paper No. 2. No separate figures are collected for Wales. Even if an equitable basis of comparison between England and Wales could be established, the production of separate figures for the two countries would be a lengthy and laborious task.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Government intend to publish their decisions on Government Research and Development following the Green Paper, Command Paper No. 4814, and the reports of the Select Committee on Science and Technology.

My noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal has presented a White Paper on this subject to Parliament today.