asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions took place under the Litter Act, 1958, in 1970, 1971, and up till the lastest convenient date in 1972; and what average fines were imposed.

The number of persons found guilty in 1970 in England and Wales under the Litter Act, 1958, was 1,777, of whom 1,727 were fined; the corresponding figures for 1971 are 1,855 and 1,793. The average fine in 1970 was £5·20 and in 1971 about £5·50. Statistics for 1972 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the patriality aspects of the Immigration Act, 1971, are expected to come into effect.

My right hon. Friend proposes to bring the Act into full operation on 1st January, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has now received arising from the Eleventh Report of the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

By the end of last week 19 communications had been received about the report from individuals and four from organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to receive the Erroll Committee report.

Before the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what action he has so far taken to test public reactions to the recently published Report of the Younger Committee on Privacy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has so far taken to test public reaction since receipt of the Younger Committee Report on Privacy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with his test of public opinion on the report of the committee on privacy.

The Government are studying the views already expressed both publicly in the Press and other media, and in the correspondence received, in the short period since the report was published. We are looking forward to receiving a wide range of further comment on the important issues involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to provide for the registration of window cleaners, as proposed by the National Federation of Master Window Cleaners, details of which have been sent to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement in respect of the proposal for registration of window cleaners sent to him by the National Federation of Master Window Cleaners.

No. The right of an individual to carry on a lawful occupation ought not to be subject to a requirement to register unless it is essential in the public interest. On the information before me I cannot see that any such considerations apply to window cleaners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and in what percentage of cases in which shoppers were acquitted of shoplifting charges brought by self-service stores or supermarkets in the last year for which figures are available were the acquitted persons awarded costs against the prosecutors.

I regret that no statistical information is available to relate the outcome of cases to orders for costs made on acquittal or conviction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of total expenditure on the urban programme in the period 1972 to 1976; and whether he will make a statement on the progress of the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the progress of the Urban Programme; and whether he will make a statement in the light of experience so far.

In the period 1972 to 1976 expenditure on the Urban Programme is estimated at some £48 million at 1971 prices.Over 2,000 projects have so far been approved in some 188 different local authority areas. The programme makes a worth-while contribution towards meeting the special needs of areas with acute social problems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the present legislation so as to permit a coroner to bring in a factual verdict in battered baby cases.

There is no need for amending legislation. A coroner's jury is free to bring in any verdict it thinks appropriate to the death on which the inquest is being held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the committee of inquiry on probation officers' salaries under Professor Butterworth to publish its report.

I understand that Mr. Butterworth hopes that it will be possible for his report to be published on 10th August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the employment of female immigration officers.

The employment of women immigration officers started last year. Eleven are in post. Further recruiting from within the Civil Service is now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further research he plans to sponsor into the problem of drug addiction and abuse.

The matter is being studied in consultation with other interested Departments, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the chief constable, and publish, the number of people who are currently serving in the special constabulary in Staffordshire.

707–625 men and 82 women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in the case of the investigation of Detective Inspector Ronald Larby of the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Joint Constabulary, the investigation into his cohabiting with a serving prisoner's wife whilst on police duties was carried out by a chief superintendent of the same force; whether the investigation as carried out dealt with the charge of his forcibly entering and breaking into the home of the woman in question; and why he will not make a copy of the report available to the hon. Member for West Ham. North.

The chief constable tells me that it was not considered necessary to arrange for the investigation to be carried out by an officer from another force. The investigation dealt with all aspects of the complaints. It is a longstanding principle that the reports of such investigations are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the offences of which Detective Inspector Ronald Larby was found guilty as a result of the inquiry into his conduct of cohabiting with a prisoner's wife whilst on police duties; when the result of the inquiry was concluded; and what action was taken against him.

On charges under the police discipline code Mr. Larby was found guilty of offences of discreditable conduct and disobedience to orders and was dealt with at a hearing on 25th May, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will call for a report on why, in the case of the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Joint Constabulary, the chief constable gave permission for some of his police officers to be interviewed and statements taken in the case of Detective Inspector Ronald Larby;(2) why the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis refuses to allow his officers to be questioned or make statements in connection with the case of Detective Inspector Ronald Larby.

These are matters of criminal investigation and are for the chief officer of police. I understand that the chief constable saw no reason to decline the request. Copies of statements made by the Metropolitan officers were supplied to the solicitors concerned, and the Commissioner of Police considered that interviews with the officers would not have assisted further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the letter sent to Mrs. K. Bruce of Brentwood, under date of 17th June, 1972, signed by Deputy Chief Constable A. Goodson, regarding the charge of Detective Inspector Ronald Larby cohabiting with a serving prisoner's wife.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the investigation into charges and allegations against Detective Inspector Ronald Larby commenced; and who attended the discipline hearing.

The investigation began immediately after the complaint was received on 3rd January, 1972. The complainant and a number of other civilians and police officers gave evidence at the discipline hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the memorandum from the Daily Mail newspaper on the undesirable activities of Leadership Dynamics Institute in the United Kingdom; whether he will require its executive members to leave the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

On 18th July. My right hon. Friend will consider what action to take when he has a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the number of offences known to have been committed by persons on bail, the number of persons who have absconded while on bail for the latest available period and the total number of persons granted bail for that period, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT or place in the Library a copy of his circular on future policy for Emergency (War) Planning; and what changes are envisaged in his circular.

A copy has been placed in the Library. The circular seeks to help local authorities to prepare improved plans against emergencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine the authorised establishment of police forces.

The nature, extent and population of the area; the incidence of crime; the density of traffic; and any special problems of policing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable as to when he expects, on present trends, that the shortfall on the authorised establishment of the Suffolk Constabulary will be eliminated.

At the end of last month there were vacancies for 21 men and three women. The chief constable expects to fill these within the next few months. A few days ago my right hon. Friend approved an increase in the authorised establishment and agreed in principle to further increases in each of the next three years. The chief constable hopes to be able to recruit enough men and women to fill the resultant vacancies in the course of the year in which they are approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make rules under Section 57 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now seek powers to restrict the dissemination of anti-British and Republican propaganda by organisations at present engaged in terrorist activities against the British Army, police and United Kingdom citizens through news media, which publish material within the United Kingdom.

Under existing law it may be an offence to disseminate material which is held to be seditious or to be threatening, abusive or insulting. If any hon. Member has evidence that the law has been broken he should send it to the appropriate prosecuting authority. It would be contrary to our traditions to use the criminal law to deal with propaganda which, offensive though it may be, does not fall within these categories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to extend the provision of compensation for death and injuries arising from criminal acts, that apply in Northern Ireland, to cover the whole of the United Kingdom.

Such provision, in respect of personal injury or death, is already made in Great Britain by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about his inquiries into his Department's circulars to chief constables about reports to professional bodies on their members.

My predecessor said in the House on 29th June that the arrangements would be reviewed. When the review is complete I shall make a statement.—[Vol. 839, c. 1640–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prison contracts involving the use of prison labour, which have been tendered for, and granted to the Prison Department during each of the last three years.

Information is readily available only for the past two years and for major contracts placed centrally with Prison Industries. In 1970–71 450 and in 1971–72 369 such contracts were successfully tendered for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will extend the Legal Aid and Advice Scheme to provide for legal aid to applicants for awards from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave to a question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Havers) on 14th July.—[Vol. 841, c. 462–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many owners of guard dogs which savaged children were prosecuted in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Information is available only for 1970. Police records in England and Wales show that proceedings were taken against 11 owners of guard dogs which bit children under 14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct an investigation to ascertain the extent of cruelty to baby seals in recently approvel culls; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a detailed report from the Natural Environment Research Council which makes clear that the culling operations have been conducted humanely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ascertain and publish the cause of the fire at the Independent Television studios in Wembley during the night of 24th–25th July; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the cause of the fire has not yet been determined and that investigations by the London Fire Brigade are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that Alderney citizens have unrestricted rights to live in the United Kingdom, he will enter into negotiations with the Alderney authorities to grant reciprocal and equivalent rights to United Kingdom citizens to live in Alderney.

I think that the hon. Member must have in mind a proposal by the States of Alderney that the employment of non-residents should be subject to control. It seems to me a prospect we can face with equanimity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the Chief Constable of Kent the number of convictions there have been for speeding offences on the A2 Dart ford Diversion since its opening in 1971, and the range of speeds involved in these offences.

Statistics of motoring offences on particular roads could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the recent practice of excluding Roman Catholics from jury service in cases involving abortion.

One case of the kind mentioned has been reported, but I am satisfied that there is no general practice of excluding Roman Catholics from jury service in cases involving abortion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that foreign nationals seeking admission to this country have not been engaged in acts of violence in Middle Eastern countries.

All proper precautions are taken, but it would not be in the national interest to give details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals who are members of organisations linked to the Palestine Liberation Organisation have been admitted to this country since 1st January, 1972.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not make a statement on the acquisition by Mr. Maxwell Joseph of the City Tote Offices from the Horserace Totalisator Board.

Because the Totalisator Board is free to operate commercially within the framework set by the law, and its transactions do not require my right hon. Friend's approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the concern felt by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents at the illegal activities of mini-cab proprietors plying for hire and having unsafe vehicles without insurance on the roads, whether he will seek further powers to prevent this dangerous evasion of the law.

The need for closer control over the activities of private hire cars is being considered in the light of the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the London Taxicab Trade (Cmnd. 4483). It is an offence under existing legislation to take on the road an unsafe or inadequately insured vehicle, or, in any area in which taxicabs are licensed, for an unlicensed vehicle to ply for hire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, during the period since 1945 that the strength of the Metropolitan Police Force has increased from 12,395 to 21,449, what has been the increase in the mechanical and electronic aids, cars and vehicles used to assist the police.

Since 1945, the number of cars has increased from 803 to 1,871; motor cycles from 282 to 529; and other vehicles from 219 to 862. The force now has 2,342 mobile radio sets and 6,000 personal radio sets, compared with 164 mobile sets in 1945. There have been substantial increases in the holdings of other forms of police equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Metropolitan Police were requested to investigate the affairs of the Real Estate Fund of America; when they commenced their investigations; whom they interviewed; on what dates these interviews took place; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is sending me a report. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will revoke his decision to demolish the old Portland prison gate with its stone-built Victorian coat of arms, which has stood since 1849, in view of its architectural value.

The local planning authority raised no objection to this proposal, but in view of the interest which has since been shown they are being consulted again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further plans he has for an official visit to Holloway prison.

None, at present. But my noble Friend the Minister of State hopes to visit Holloway in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list his reponsibilities for the police forces in Northern Ireland.

My right hon. Friend's main functions in relation to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve in Northern Ireland are to be found in the Police Act (Northern Ireland), 1970, as applied by Section 1(1) of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1972. They are as follows:

1. appointment and termination of Membership of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland;

2. the making of regulations in relation to property transferred to the Police Authority;

3. approval of the maximum number of each rank of the police force;

4. approval of the appointment of officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to a rank higher than chief superintendent;

5. approval of a decision to call upon a senior officer—that is, higher than chief super-intendent—to retire in the interests of efficiency;

6. requiring the chief constable where necessary to refer a complaint by a member of the public against a member of the police force to a tribunal;

7. the appointment of an inspector or inspectors of constabulary;

8. determining the constitution of the Police Advisory Board for Northern Ireland;

9. the making of regulations for the Police Association for Northern Ireland;

10. the making of regulations on the government, administration and conditions of service of the police force;

11. the approval of estimates of the receipts and payments of the Police Authority;

12. the payment to the Police Authority of such sums as are necessary to defray approved expenditure.

He has no functions in relation to other police forces in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the development of tourism and indicate the scope of the intended legislation.

The development of tourism in Northern Ireland has been adversely affected by present troubles but there is no doubt that in more favourable circumstances tourism can make a growing contribution to the Northern Ireland economy. The proposed legislation which will be published at an early date will provide inter alia for a scheme of capital grants for hotel development.

asked the Secret; of State for Northern Ireland how many unsolved murders have taken place each month in 1972.

The following figures of suspected unlawful killings which no one has vet been charged.

January	14
February	13
March	27
April	10
May	27
June	29
1st–20th July	50

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the car bomb explosion in Alliance Parade on 14th July; if he will indicate what measures are being taken to protect residents in the area against similar attacks; and what steps have been taken to rehouse people whose dwellings were destroyed and to provide money on account for the purchase of domestic essentials.

At 1.33 p.m. on 14th July an anonymous telephone call was received by the police stating that there was a bomb in Alliance Parade. Before this residents had seen two cars stop in the parade. One car was abandoned and as the other car moved off its occupants told passers-by that the abandoned car contained a 2001b. bomb. The immediate area was evacuated and at 1.47 p.m. the bomb exploded, slightly injuring two persons, causing serious damage to 30 houses and less severe damage to a further 60. There is now an increased military presence in the area and all traffic entering it is being controlled. Two new Army observation posts have been set up in the area.Immediate steps were taken by officers of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to deal with the rehousing of people whose houses were destroyed or uninhabitable. Some of the families made their own arrangements; others are occupying Housing Executive dwellings at Ballysillan and are being offered tenancies, with the benefit of the rent assistance scheme for families made homeless by the emergency. The balance, who so wish, will be given priority by the Housing Executive for rehousing from the emergency list.Nine claims for the purchase of domestic essentials have been lodged in the emergency payments office of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Payments have been made in three cases and the others are being investigated urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what wages or expenses have been paid to the individual members of the Advisory Commission since its establishment; and what is expected to be the total cost in a year of the wages and of the expenses of the members of the commission.

Fees and travelling expenses totalling £1,445 have been paid so far to members of the Advisory Commission. Total cost for the year is expected to be about £11,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any persons have been arrested since 24th March, 1972, in the Falls area of Belfast or in any other Republican area in Northern Ireland, wearing emblems, badges or scarves which would result in their being wrongly mistaken for loyalists.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now announce the new date for the next Northern Ireland local government elections.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on his most recent negotiations with the Irish Republican Army Provisionals.

I have had no meeting with the Provisional IRA since the one upon which I reported to the House on 10th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will state the number of deaths which have taken place in Northern Ireland as a result of the current terrorist campaign up to 24th March, 1972, and from 25th March, 1972 to date, respectively.

The estimated figures are as follows:

August, 1969–24th March, 1972	256
25th March—25th July, 1972	183

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the total unemployed figure in July each year for the last 10 years in Northern Ireland was formed by school leavers and adult students, respectively.

School leavers and adult students represented 7·4 per cent. and 5·1 per cent., respectively, of the total number registered as unemployed in July, 1972. The figures for school leavers in July in previous years were 8·0 per cent. in 1971, 8·2 per cent. in 1970 and 9·3 per cent. in 1969. Comparable figures for school leavers in earlier years are not available. Statistics on unemployed adult students were not collected separately before June, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the total number of persons registered as employed, both on a full-time and part-time basis in Northern Ireland, at the latest available date, were women; and what was the comparable figure five, 10 and 15 years ago.

People are not required to register as employed. The number of employees in employment is estimated from the quarterly exchange of national insurance cards, which does not distinguish between full-time and part-time employees. In June, 1971, 35·7 per cent. of employees in employment were women—aged 18 years and over. The comparable figures five, 10 and 15 years ago were 34·3 per cent., 32·9 per cent. and 32·3 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will consult the trustees of the Ulster Museum before proceeding with the Bill to amend the Museums Act (Northern Ireland), 1961.

There has been frequent contact with the trustees of the Ulster Museum about forthcoming legislation. This consultation will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new measures he proposes to deal with the economic problems of Northern Ireland, with particular regard to the need to create more employment.

The following is a summary of new Government measures designed to support existing activity, to encourage new investment, and to create more jobs quickly. In manufacturing industry, rates of capital grant for plant and buildings are being revised from today. In general, tax allowances will be computed on the gross cost of assets purchased on or after 22nd March, 1972. The new arrangements represent a substantial increase in help and ensure that assistance to industry in Northern Ireland will compare favourably with that in the special development areas. There will be a further expansion of schemes of industrial training, in particular for workers who might otherwise become redundant and for the young unemployed. Substantial grants will be available towards the cost of employing full-time security staff in commercial and industrial premises which are large enough to warrant full time security measures. Employers in the service industries, including construction, will receive refunds of all payments of SET until the ending of the tax next year. There will be a six months' extension of the rate relief scheme for certain city centre businesses covering the second half of 1972–73.In order to create employment quickly, particularly for the unskilled, it is proposed to step up the activity of the urban and rural improvement campaign and enterprise Young Ulster, and to create by an Order in Council in the next session a new statutory board to undertake direct labour works concerned with amenity and other projects.For a limited period grants will be available for environmental improvement work by industry and commerce, and at enhanced rates for similar improvements on land and property in the countryside. Local authorities will be reimbursed in full if they engage additional labour on cleansing and eyesore removal work.Certain building projects will be advanced to start in the next two years, including new proposals for community and sports centres in the needy areas.In agriculture, a valuable contribution to the relief of the current unemployment problem can be made by helping to create and maintain employment on farms and in industries ancillary to farming through improved viability and efficiency. Details of proposed help will be given by the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland as soon as possible.The bulk of the expenditure on these measures will fall between now and March, 1974, and will involve an additional sum estimated to be about £30 million in this period over and above existing expenditure plans. However, a number of these measures will also involve further expenditure after March, 1974. Details are being announced in Belfast today.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if procedural rules for the disposal by Northern Ireland Departments of land compulsorily acquired and found to be surplus to requirements are similar to those which apply in the United Kingdom.

The existing rules in Northern Ireland have recently been reviewed and steps are being taken to see that the procedure is brought more closely into line with practice in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he now expects to receive the final report from the Royal Ulster Constabulary on allegations of assaults on prisoners sent to the General Officer Commanding by the Minister of State for Defence on 17th January.

I have been asked to reply.The papers in six of the cases have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his directions. The remaining cases are still under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has now concluded her discussion with the trustees of the museums and galleries which have decided to have one free day; and whether she will make a statement.

Not yet.

ENGLAND AND WALES
				Maintained Full-time pupils	nursery schools Part-time pupils	Maintained full time pupils excluding rising fives)	primary schools Part-time pupils	Total
1967	…	…	…	18,727	10,342	61,562	13,876	104,507
1968	…	…	…	17,634	12,701	69,254	16,857	116,446
1969	…	…	…	16,866	15,070	69,984	22,778	124,698
1970	…	…	…	16,138	17,779	77,847	28,520	140,284
1971	…	…	…	15,288	20,718	91,371	37,453	164,830
Figures for 1972 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what further use he intends making of the Larzac military camp in the south of France for the training of British troops; and if, in view of expressed opposition amongst farmers in the area to the use of this land for military purposes, he will not proceed with training British troops there.

Larzac is a military training area which the French authorities offer to United Kingdom forces on an annual basis. In recent years the British Army has been allocated this range for about two months each summer and it is intended to continue to make use of this facility when

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research her Department is supporting into the development and utilisation of renewable sources of energy.

The basic science of these sources of energy is already understood. Their development and utilisation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish details showing the number of children under five attending nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools in each of the past five years.

The information is as follows:it is offered to us. When using the range, troops conform to the French regulations for the area.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state the total amounts of compensation paid to relatives of British Servicemen killed while on duty in Northern Ireland, and to British Servicemen seriously injured or disabled while on duty in Northern Ireland, to the nearest convenient date.

The source of compensation for the dependants of soldiers killed whilst on duty in Northern Ireland and soldiers who are injured whilst on duty there may vary according to the circumstances. I regret that I cannot provide a figure for the total amount of compensation paid so far, but I am writing to the hon. Member to explain the arrangements in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the decision of the Disablement Advisory Committee in the case of Mr. Walter Morrison.

I regret that I must treat the report of the Glasgow and District Disablement Advisory Committee on this case, which I am currently considering, as confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will keep a separate

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED, AND NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED, IN THE WEST MIDLANDS REGION
				Wholly Unemployed		Unfilled Vacancies
				Males	Females	Males	Females
June, 1952	…	…	…	8,370	6,772	29,292	10,447
June, 1953	…	…	…	10,378	6,823	18,850	10,290
June, 1954	…	…	…	6,223	3,759	26,121	16,666
June, 1955	…	…	…	5,405	2,903	35,144	20,177
June, 1956	…	…	…	7,909	4,343	26,750	12,838
June, 1957	…	…	…	13,631	7,568	14,614	8,333
June, 1958	…	…	…	19,144	8,427	11,582	7,800
June, 1959	…	…	…	16,752	8,243	14,039	10,234
June, 1960	…	…	…	9,492	4,780	26,359	18,058
June, 1961	…	…	…	11,524	5,772	23,303	15,124
June, 1962	…	…	…	22,951	8,566	11,719	9,337
June, 1963	…	…	…	25,959	8,399	10,353	9,190
June, 1964	…	…	…	12,843	4,544	25,600	18,349
June, 1965	…	…	…	10,223	3,467	33,499	22,690
June, 1966	…	…	…	10,314	3,289	30,762	20,395
June, 1967	…	…	…	31,589	7,493	16,543	11,471
June, 1968	…	…	…	37,662	6,486	15,444	13,791
June, 1969	…	…	…	31,417	5,128	18,395	15,472
June, 1970	…	…	…	34,280	6,153	16,079	12,377
June, 1971	…	…	…	52,762	8,298	7,357	7,446
June, 1972	…	…	…	65,074	11,518	7,117	6,134

The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and

No. When an individual's ability to speak English affects employment prospects, my Department's officers advise him, if appropriate, of local language training facilities. In addition, special language classes have been arranged in areas where there are sufficient numbers of unemployed non-English speaking workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the June figures of wholly unemployed males and females in the West Midlands, indicating the number of notified unfilled vacancies for each; and how this compares with the same period over the previous 20 years.

Following is the information:do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the June figures of wholly unemployed males and females in Scotland, indicating the num-

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AND NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED IN SCOTLAND
				Wholly Unemployed		Unfilled Vacancies
				Males	Females	Males	Females
June, 1952	…	…	…	32,381	22,964	16,193	7,582
June, 1953	…	…	…	33,327	19,209	11,473	10,346
June, 1954	…	…	…	30,559	17,863	10,812	9,869
June, 1955	…	…	…	27,017	15,621	11,301	12,097
June, 1956	…	…	…	25,999	15,233	11,843	11,067
June, 1957	…	…	…	30,027	15,613	9,344	11,048
June, 1958	…	…	…	46,327	20,671	6,327	7,974
June, 1959	…	…	…	57,246	22,723	4,916	7,996
June, 1960	…	…	…	47,840	18,884	6,533	10,355
June, 1961	…	…	…	39,519	16,447	8,891	10,957
June, 1962	…	…	…	49,359	18,614	5,396	9,242
June, 1963	…	…	…	65,725	25,030	4,778	7,493
June, 1964	…	…	…	49,317	19,951	7,344	10,244
June, 1965	…	…	…	39,135	15,548	11,168	13,041
June, 1966	…	…	…	36,990	13,283	12,116	13,319
June, 1967	…	…	…	55,198	18,905	8,626	9,525
June, 1968	…	…	…	58,248	16,322	8,531	11,106
June, 1969	…	…	…	57,297	14,022	9,529	11,866
June, 1970	…	…	…	66,558	15,128	8,773	9,856
June, 1971	…	…	…	94,366	21,157	5,636	6,387
June, 1972	…	…	…	100,578	26,025	4,836	5,687

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the redundancies notified to his Department since June, 1970, in Scotland, giving the numbers of jobs lost in each of the main industrial groups.

Information supplied by individual employers is often provided in confidence and my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in publishing it. However, our records show the following numbers of jobs lost in each of the main industry groups from reduncies and closures notified to my Department in Scotland during the period 9th June, 1970 to 10th July, 1972, inclusive:

Industry Group	Jobs Lost
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing	40
Mining and Quarrying	1,670
Food, Drink and Tobacco	7,150
Chemicals and Allied Industries	1,190
Metal Manufacture	3,240

Following is the information:

Industry Group	Jobs Lost
Mechanical Engineering	19,540
Instrument Engineering	1,410
Electrical Engineering	5,550
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering	4,460
Vehicles	3,850
Other Metal Goods	2,440
Textiles	8,310
Leather, Leather Goods and Fur	70
Clothing and Footwear	2,950
Bricks, Pottery, Glass, Cement, etc.	1,820
Timber, Furniture, etc.	1,530
Paper, Printing and Publishing	3,250
Other Manufacturing Industries	1,320
Construction	4,070
Gas, Electricity and Water	480
Transport and Communication	1,370
Distributive Trades	2,720
Insurance, Banking, Finance and Business Services	90
Professional and Scientific Services	450
Miscellaneous Services	1,310
Public Administration and Defence	630
Total	80,910

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what the current total of registered unemployed in the Macclesfield constituency now is at the most convenient date for men and women, respectively, among school leavers and for boys and girls. respec-

NUMBERS OF PEOPLE REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE MACCLESFIELD AND CONGLETON EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
				Total registered unemployed				School leavers (included in total figures)
				Men	Women	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls
July, 1972 (provisional)			…	861	141	35	25	5	3
July, 1971	…	…	…	710	120	18	13	2	1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what percentage of the total unemployed in England and Wales in each July for the last 10 years was formed by school leavers and adult students respectively;(2) what percentage of the total unemployed figure in July each year for the last 10 years was formed by school leavers and adult students respectively, in Scotland.

The following is the information requested:

	England and Wales		Scotland
	School leavers	Adult students	School leavers	Adult students
	(as percentages of Total Registered Unemployment in the area)
July, 1972	1·6	3·6	5·9	3·0
July, 1971	1·2	3·4	5·0	1·9
July, 1970	1·1	(4·4)	4·3	(2·4)
July, 1969	1·5	(3·2)	4·4	(3·6)
July, 1968	1·0	(1·1)	4·3	(0·6)
July, 1967	1·0	(0·5)	4·8	(0)
July, 1966	1·5		5·2
July, 1965	3·4		5·3
July, 1964	2·1		6·1
July, 1963	2·0		5·6

Adult students registered for temporary vacation employment were not separately identified in counts of the unemployed before July 1971, though estimates of their numbers have been made between 1967 and 1971. Figures in the table based upon these estimates are shown in brackets.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what plans he has for improving the employment prospects for school-leavers on Tees-side who are at present unemployed;(2) how many school leavers who left school in 1970 and 1971 are still unemployed on Tees-side.

Following is the information:

311 school leavers were registered as unemployed in July; I regret that the statistics do not distinguish these separately by year of leaving. Various short-term measures have already been taken to improve employment and training opportunities in the area. In the longer term job opportunities should increase as the Government's general economic and regional measures take effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what percentage of the total number of persons registered as employed, both on a full-time and part-time basis, in Scotland are women at the latest available date; and what were the figures for the corresponding period, five, 10 and 15 years ago;(2) what percentage of the total number of persons registered as employed, both on a full-time or part-time basis, in England and Wales, at the latest available date, are women; and what was the figure in the comparable period, five, 10 and 15 years ago.

Following is the available information:

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT AS PERCENTAGES OF ALL EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN SCOTLAND AND IN ENGLAND AND WALES
	Scotland (per cent.)	England and Wales (per cent.)
June, 1956	35·1	35·1
June, 1961	36·1	35·7
June, 1966	37·8	36·8
June, 1971	40·2	38·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit who reside in the village of Oakley, near Dunfermline, giving the number of males and females, respectively.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. Records of unemployment are not kept for parts of employment exchange areas, but a recent special count showed that the total unemployed register at Dunfermline employment exchange included 62 men and 13 women living at Oakley.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the number of men employed in the aircraft industry, giving separate figures for air-frames, engines, avionics and equipment.

Estimates are available only for the whole of the aerospace equipment manufacturing and repairing industry—Minimum List Heading 383 of the Standard Industrial Classification. The provisional estimate for this industry of the number of men employed in Great Britain at May, 1972, was 179,200.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the three industries which contributed most in invisible foreign currency earnings to the United Kingdom economy for the last five years, expressed both in cash terms and as a percentage of total invisible foreign currency earnings.

Omitting the oil industry, for which comparable figures are not available, the following were the industries with the largest invisible earnings overseas:

	Invisible earnings, 1967–1971
		Percentage of total invisible
	£million	earnings
Shipping*	3,158	15
Tourist industries	1,801	8
Insurance	1,292	6
* Gross earnings of United Kingdom ships, omitting ships chartered abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the three industries which contributed most in invisible dollar earnings to the United Kingdom economy for the last five years, expressed both in cash terms, and as a percentage of total invisible dollar earnings.

Invisible earnings in dollars are not known. The industries with the largest invisible earnings from the United States where shipping, the tourist industries and insurance, which together accounted for about one-quarter of all invisible earnings there from 1967 to 1971

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the five industries which contributed most in foreign earnings to the United Kingdom economy for the last five years, expressed as a percentage of total foreign currency earnings.

Omitting the oil industry, for which comparable figures are not available, the following were the industries with the largest overseas earnings as recorded in the trade statistics or elsewhere:

Minimum List Heading of Standard Industrial Classification. 1968		Percentage of total overseas earnings, 1967–1971
381	Motor vehicle manufacturing	6
705	Shipping	6*
	Tourist industries	3
383	Aerospace	3
339	"Other non-electrical machinery"	3
*Gross earnings of United Kingdom ships omitting ships; chartered abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the five industries which contributed most in dollar earnings for the United Kingdom economy for the last five years; expressed as a percentage of total dollar earnings.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what have been the foreign currency earnings of the following industries for the past five years, namely, aerospace, tourism, shipbuilding,

						1967	1968	1969		1970	1971
Export earnings (£million)
Aerospace*		…	…	…	…	205	299	316		247	303
Tourism		…	…	…	…	236	282	359		433	491
Shipbuilding*			…	…	…	74	84	67		61	58
Steel*		…	…	…	…	208	239	255		306	365
Number of employees in employment in United Kingdom in June (thousands)
								†	‡
Aerospace		…	…	…	…	254	249	247	246	235	219
Shipbuilding			…	…	…	159	156	150	159	163	166
Steel	…	…	…	…	…	337	327	331	329	331	310
* As recorded in the trade statistics.
†Before reclassification.
‡After reclassification.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average price paid by the Gas Council for natural gas; and what is the average price charged to the domestic consumer.

The Gas Council Report for 1970–71 shows that the council paid an average l·30p per therm for natural gas in 1970–71. Separate averages for selling prices of natural gas are not shown: for town and natural gas combined, the average domestic price was 10·58p.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will increase Government aid to the machine tool industry to a sum at least three times the £16 million recently announced, in view of the expressed dissatisfaction of the industry with the proposed amount.

No. The sum of £16 million is within the limits suggested by the Machine Tool EDC, and we understand that the industry has expressed satisfaction at the increase from between £9 million and £10 million to £16 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated annual cost of timber and timber-allied products imported into the United Kingdom.

Following is the information:

Imports, including pulp, paper and paperboard, were valued at £713 million cif in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he can now state the estimated additional cost, resulting from the floating of the £, of timber and timber-allied products imported into the United Kingdom.

No; it is too early to assess any effect.