asked the Minister of State for Defence, what help he is giving towards the preservation of the destroyer HMS "Cavalier" for historical purposes

We have been informed that a trust is being set up with the object of preserving HMS "Cavalier" as a floating museum and its tentative proposals are being considered. Meanwhile disposal action has been suspended and the ship is being kept for the time being in as near an operational condition as possible.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for the exhibition of a naval vessel in Scotland.

The hon. Member presumably has in mind the permanent exhibition of an historic naval vessel. The frigate HMS "Unicorn" was handed over in 1968 to the city of Dundee for this purpose. There are no plans for the exhibition of any other vessel in Scotland

asked the Minister of State for Defence on how many occasions the Department has been asked to move kidneys for patients in need: on how many occasions they have done so; and on how many occasions they have refused.

No records of this are maintained. But I understand that the need for service assistance rarely arises as comprehensive arrangements for the transport of kidneys have been developed by the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what proportion of the Defence Estimates is devoted to expenditure on health and social security and education services for members of the forces and their families; and what is the amount of money involved.

The figures are not readily available in the form requested. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of disabled persons in England and Wales who received financial assistance from his Department during 1970 and 1971, respectively, towards the cost of travelling to and from their place of employment; and what was the total cost to public funds.

The number of disabled people being helped in this way at any one time was about 160 during the financial year ending 31st March, 1971, and about 170 during the financial year ending 31st March, 1972. The total cost to public funds during these financial

				South East	East Anglia	South West	West Mids.	East Mids.
Wholly unemployed (excluding school-leavers and adult students) seasonally adjusted
Actual change ('000)	…	…	…	+33·4	+4·3	+9·8	+34·0	+9·5
Percentage change	…	…	…	+27%	+32%	+27%	+78%	+30%
Unemployed School-leavers
Actual change ('000)	…	…	…	+0·5	0	+0·3	+0·8	+0·3
Percentage change	…	…	…	+104%	-1%	+148%	+268%	+60%
Total notified vacancies remaining unfilled
Actual change ('000)	…	…	…	-25·1	-1·3	-2·6	-13·0	-4·6
Percentage change	…	…	…	-20%	-16%	-13%	-46%	-25%

			Y & H	North West	North	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
Wholly unemployed ( excluding school-leavers and adult students ) seasonally adjusted
Actual change ('000)		…	+21·2	+55·1	+17·1	+11·7	+39·7	+235·9
Percentage change	…	…	+38%	+72%	+29%	+33%	+45%	+42%
Unemployed School-leavers
Actual change ('000)		…	+0·8	+2·1	+0·8	+0·4	+4·1	+10·2
Percentage change	…	…	+97%	+327%	+65%	+65%	+102%	+113%
Total notified vacancies remaining unfilled
Actual change ('000)		…	-9·9	-16·7	-4·7	-2·3	-7·1	-87·1
Percentage change	…	…	-38%	-53%	-34%	-23%	-42%	-29%

I regret that figures for jobs in prospect are available only for individual development areas, not on a regional basis. Moreover, the exemption limits for industrial development certificates have been changed since July, 1970, so that these figures for the two periods are not comparable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of disabled persons in England and Wales currently receiving financial assistance from his Department towards the cost of travelling to and from their place of employment.

The number of disabled people being helped at any one time in this way during the current financial year is about 190.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what, for each region of the country, has been the percentage increase in seasonally adjusted unemployment comparing the latest available figures with those for the corresponding month in 1970, the equivalent change in unemployment amongst school leavers, the change in vacancies available, and the change in jobs in prospect, respectively.

The following is the available information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he is seeing the four main local authority associations to discuss the reorganisation of water and sewage disposal services; what discussions he has had with the National Farmers' Union on this subject; and if, in view of the amount of consultation held and the criticisms that have been made of his proposals, he will postpone this reorganisation until there is a greater measure of agreement.

No. The timetable is determined by the timetable for local government reorganisation and the principle of all-purpose regional water authorities, which was put forward after full consideration of the Central Advisory Water Committee's report, has met with widespread agreement. The extensive consultations we have held have been about the detailed application of that principle and they have included discussions at official level with the National Farmers' Union. A number of matters are under review in the light of those consultations. It would be unrealistic, however, to expect agreement on all aspects of the proposals among the many interests concerned.I would also refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 26th July, 1972 to my hon. Friend the Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine).—[Vol. 841, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now ratify on behalf of Great Britain in its entirety without derogation there from the European Convention on Human Rights, or take such steps as will enable him so to do.

The United Kingdom has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights. The convention itself authorises States to take measures derogating from certain provisions in time of grave public emergency to the extent strictly required by the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the sum of £15,000 was calculated for a grant to Europa Nostra; and if he will explain the purpose of this organisation.

Her Majesty's Government believe that a grant of £15,000 is an appropriate amount to assist British amenity societies to increase their contacts with their Western European counterparts through Europa Nostra. Europa Nostra is an international federation embracing all the principal nongovernmental organisations working for urban and natural conservation in Western Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European countries belong to the Council of European Municipalities; and if he will give details of the joint programme for which £10,000 has been allocated to the British section.

National sections of the Council of European Municipalities are established in Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The joint programme covers activities of concern to local authorities, including provision for increased British participation in European conferences and seminars, the organisation of conferences in the United Kingdom, and the commissioning of studies related to the rôle of local authorities in the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the programme of conferences on European affairs for which £10,000 has been given to the Federal Trust for Education and Research.

Conferences have so far been held on "The regional policy implications of European Monetary Union", on "Parliamentary aspects of the EEC" and "European Broadcasting". Further activities are at an early stage of planning, but the programme as a whole has not yet been finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in Europe will be the subject of discussions at the Conference Centre, Wilton House; and if he will publish the programme.

The European Discussion Centre at Wiston House will be open to participants from the countries of the enlarged European Communities. The programme has not yet been finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the programme of conferences to be held by the British section of the European League for Economic Co-operation for which £10,000 has been granted.

A conference on monetary questions has already been held. Further conferences on regional policy, and Europe and the third world are planned, but the programme as a whole has not yet been finalised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek powers to exempt from taxation all bounties paid to volunteer firemen after completion of defined periods of service as such.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am afraid that my right hon. Friend could not justify exempting this form of earnings from tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax concessions are available in the United Kingdom to encourage mineral exploration.

Capital expenditure by the mineral extraction industry on plant and machinery and on buildings qualifies for tax relief under the general provisions of the capital allowances code. In addition, capital expenditure, such as the cost of abortive or successful exploration and the acquisition of mineral rights, benefits from a complex of allowances which are special to the mining industry and are contained in Chapter III, Part I of the Capital Allowances Act 1968. A joint Working Party of officials and representatives from the industry is at present looking at these special provisions with particular regard to the simplification and timing of the allowances.Under Section 29 of the Finance Act 1970, one-half of mineral royalties receivable after 5th April 1970 are taxed as capital gains rather than as income.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the changes made in instructions to the Army during the recent Irish Republican Army ceasefire.

During the ceasefire it continued to be an objective of Her Majesty's Forces to apprehend people responsible for criminal offences. It is not the practice to publish detailed operational instructions to Her Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is now in a position to define the latest rôle which has been assigned to the Army in the current situation.

Her Majesty's Forces continue to assist the civil authorities to preserve order and enforce the law. They have recently intensified their operations against the Provisional IRA and I gave details of their operations to the House on 24th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will state the Government's policy with regard to future meetings with representatives of the Irish Republican Army.

I have nothing to add to what I said in the debate on Northern Ireland in the House on 24th July in response to an inquiry by my hon. and gallant Friend.—[Vol. 841, c. 1373.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Presbytery of Ayr expressing concern about the inadequacy of present regulations governing the transportation of volatile loads by road; and what reply he has sent.

The presbytery wrote to me inquiring about the regulations governing the transportation of volatile loads by road. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, who is considering the presbytery's representations. The presbytery has been so informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ask local authorities to undertake grant-aided schemes in relation to environmental improvements with a view to providing employment among school leavers.

I have already asked local planning authorities to submit proposals for grant-aided environmental improvement schemes which will improve amenity and help to relieve local unemployment, and I am glad to say that they have responded well.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses, private

						1969		1970
						Males	Females	Males	Females
Suicidal	…	…	…	…	…	6(20–24: 1)	1(65+)	1(25–44)	—
						(25–44: 2)
						(45–64: 3)
Accidental	…	…	…	…	…	1(45–64)	1(1–4)	1(46–64)	1(65+)
Open verdicts		…	…	…	…	1(25–44)	1(25–44)	—	—

Information is not available centrally about cases successfully treated.Most of the accidents have occurred because the chemical has not been stored in its original container. The Government do not intend to impose a ban on the sale of paraquat because the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals has advised them that if the precautions which it has recommended— including that on storage—and which appear prominently on the label of every original container are followed there should be no danger to anyone.

The numbers of houses under construction at 30th June were as follows:

	Public Sector	Private Sector	Total
1969	46,266	11,121	57,387
1970	39,128	10,317	49,445
1971	32,930	10,719	43,649
1972	26,673	11,750	38,423

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths have been recorded from poisoning by paraquat weed-killers; in how many cases victims have been successfully treated; what were the ages of those who died; if he will impose a complete ban upon its sale; and if he will make a statement.

In 1969 and 1970, the deaths in England and Wales where paraquat was mentioned, with age-groups shown in brackets, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish a working party to examine the findings of the World Health Organisation technical report series No. 495, with a view to securing the substitution of other compounds to replace opium, morphine and codeine in National Health Service prescribing.

No. The report shows that the available synthetic alternates have not been demonstrated to be clearly superior to the opiates in some conditions, and I think it is right that doctors should be free to decide which drug to use in the treatment of individual patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when his Department expects to reach a decision regarding grants in relation to the research by Dr. Skorecki, of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, into projects for helping severely disabled people, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

The proposals for development and research which have been mad; by Dr. Skorecki and which incorporate a request for financial support are being studied by my professional advisers. In the light of their advice it will be necessary to assess the relative claims of the proposals against other demands on research and development funds and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department is supporting into the development and utilisation of renewable sources of energy.

The economics of wind energy, thermo-gradients, tidal power and solar energy do not appear to justify development of these areas at the present time although they are kept under review. Hydro-electric generation is already in use at several sites in the United Kingdom, and support for this will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what con- sultations he has had with the General Electric Company and its directors concerning the future of nuclear power supplies; whether similar consultations have taken place with Clarke Chapman and Reynolds Parsons; what decisions for future developments have been reached; how far the needs of development areas have been taken into consideration: and whether he will make a statement.

All the main firms involved in the nuclear industry are being consulted in the course of the Government's review of the industry's structure, including those mentioned by the hon. Member. The needs of the development areas are, of course, being taken into account. No decisions have yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons work in the Petroleum Division of his Department.

The number employed on 1st July, 1972, was 91.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he proposes to reconcile Great Britain's commitments under trade agreements with the Commonwealth preference area with Great Britain's obligations under the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

The Treaty of Accession requires us to begin to implement the Common Agricultural Policy on 1st February, 1973. As this step will conflict with certain of our commitments under the trade agreements which we have with some countries of the Commonwealth preference area, action to free us from those commitments by that date, which will in some cases include shortening the period of notice, is being taken with the Governments of the countries concerned.