asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to appoint a chief pharmacist to the Welsh Hospital Board in accordance with the Noel Hall Report.

The appointment of a chief pharmacist to the Welsh Hospital Board is a matter for the Board itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has receivd asking him to institute a planning study of South Wales.

Representations about the need for further studies were made by certain local authorities following the publication of the draft Llantrisant New Town Designation Order.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make an official tour of local authority youth employment offices in autumn 1972.

I will bear the suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult the British Railways Board and the British Steel Corporation about assistance to control environmental pollution arising from the transit of iron ore.

The British Railways Board and the British Steel Corporation are already actively engaged in work to prevent such pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what outstanding applications he has under consideration from Newport Corporation for assistance in its housing programme and to meet the needs of redevelopment.

There are no such applications before my right hon. and learned Friend, but the authority are having preliminary discussions with the Welsh Office about three new housing schemes. It is too early to say whether these will be used to meet the needs of redevelopment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has received to plan the route of the M4 to the east of the Merthyr-Cardiff trunk road along a line north of Caerphilly Mountain.

Various proposals have been received including three from objectors to the Capel Llaniltern-Pencoed section of theM4. They will be considered at the resumed public inquiry, the date of which I hope to announce shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of major road scheme proposals for Carmarthenshire.

Work is proceeding as rapidly as possible on a substantial number of major schemes in the county. If the hon. Member has any particular scheme in mind I will be glad to let him know the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what study is being undertaken in his Department of the Industry Bill.

My Department has been and remains closely involved in all aspects of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake a review of forestry policy and agricultural policy in Wales, especially in relation to tax and death duty concessions and publish the findings.

The Welsh implications of forestry and agricultural policy are taken fully into account when decisions are made jointly by Ministers and I do not consider it necessary to undertake a review of policy in Wales alone. As the hon. and learned Member will know, a consultative document on future forestry policy in Great Britain was published on 28th June. This states that the Government have no proposals for the present for changes in the tax arrangements for forestry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total amount paid out in the last five financial years in, respectively, grants in aid to the Forestry Commission, grants in aid channelled through the Forestry Commission to private woodland owners, and the total of tax concessions to private woodland owners over the same period.

From 1st October, 1966 to 31st March, 1972 grants in aid of the Forestry Commission's forestry enterprise in Great Britain as a whole totalled £66·9 million. Grants paid by the Commission to private woodland owners in the same period totalled £9·1 million.The information on which to base estimates of tax concessions to private woodland owners is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the acreage of land in Wales purchased for private woodland development during the course of the past 20 years.

Detailed statistics of land acquired for private afforestation are not available but from October, 1953, to March, 1972, about 72,000 acres of land in Wales was brought within the scope of the Commission's grant schemes for management but it is not possible readily to say how much of this was land for new planting—that is, new "development"—or how much was old woodland. In the same period about 56,000 acres were planted or replanted in Wales by private owners.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what decision he has reached about the route for the new Chester-Bangor A55 between St. Asaph and Aber; and if he will make a statement.

My preference is for a coastal route between Llanfairfechan and Abergele except for the crossing of the River Conway, which I consider should be in the vicinity of the existing bridges. Full details of this route are contained in a general report, copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library and which will be on sale to the public today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for improvements at the Rookwood Hospital, Cardiff; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Member to the oral reply that I gave him earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what improvements he will authorise to meet the new circumstances due to hospital closures in Barry.

The reorganisation which I have approved is designed to make better hospital services available for the people of Barry. These will include the establishment in Barry of a general practitioner hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what special advice or guidance he has given to local education authorities in Wales concerning those children who are leaving school in Wales this summer.

There has been no special advice. Careers teachers have given guidance to those who left school this summer and the Youth Employment Service will continue to give them all possible help and advice.

asked the Attorney-General why he will not take the necessary action to change the name of the Official Solicitor.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider changing the title of the Official Solicitor in order to avoid confusion about his duties and to emphasise his independent status.

No change is necessary. The full title, which has existed since 1875, is "Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Judicature". I think this title is appropriate both to indicate his duties as a servant of the Court and to emphasise his independence of the Government.

asked the Attorney-General what is the total cost of the salaries of staff employed in the Department of the Official Solicitor.

The cost is £385,000 per annum.

asked the Attorney-General what costs were recovered by the Department of the Official Solicitor in the year 1971–72.

The provisional figure is £164,969. The final figure will be available shortly.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the prima facie evidence in his possession, he will initiate proceedings for perjury against Detective Inspector Ronald Larby.

No, I have received no evidence to support this allegation.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions will institute proceedings for misprison of treason and felony against any persons who consorted with one Arthur Stevenson, calling himself Sean McStoifain and others, well knowing that such persons had been guilty of murder and treason, and failing to take any adequate steps to secure their arrest.

Any evidence submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland of a possible criminal offence will be considered by him.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the judicial posts and previous geographical location of the professional activities of Sir John Clayden prior to his appointment of as Chairman of an Industrial Tribunal, having lived in England for less than one year;(2) whether he will detail the experience of industrial or social problems in Great Britain possessed by Sir John Clayden at the time of his appointment to the Chairmanship of an Industrial Tribunal.

Prior to 1st March, 1967, when he was appointed on the recommendation of Lord Gardiner, Sir John Clayden had no experience of industrial and social problems in Great Britain. He has served with great distinction since that date.The details for which the hon. Member asks are as follows:

asked the Attorney-General how many of the defended cases specially fixed for hearing in the Family Division of the High Court of Justice at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand were determined in each of the six weeks up to 22nd July; how many such cases were not heard and determined in those periods; and how many have been re-fixed for hearing in November and December next.

One hundred and fifty-eight defended divorce causes were given fixed dates for hearing in the period in question. One hundred and forty-four of these cases were heard, at an average rate of 24 a week. Of the 14 cases not heard, three have already been re-fixed for hearing later, one in October and two in November and December.

asked the Attorney-General what was the average number of full-time High Court judges sitting each day in the Family Division of the High Court of Justice at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand in the six weeks ended 22nd July; and on how many days or parts of days in the same periods three such judges were switched to sitting as a Divisional Court.

An average of seven High Court judges of the Family Division sat at the Royal Courts of Justice each day during the period referred to. Three judges of the Division sat in the Divisional Court for 16 days.

asked the Attorney-General when, following the Law Commission's review of the landlord and tenant code, legislation will be introduced to make it obligatory for a tenant to identify himself to his tenants.

The Law Commission intends to submit, in advance of their proposed code, an interim report on obligations of landlords and tenants. This is expected by the end of the year and will deal with my hon. Friend's point. At this stage I can give no forecast about possible legislation.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement concerning the Government's proposals for building and modernising county courts between 1973 and 1975.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to his Question No. 33 for oral answer on today's Order Paper.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is now able to give details of the settlement of moneys and legal costs owed to the Government by Leonard J. Crickmar; and when these moneys are to be paid.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 12th July.—[Vol. 840, c. 380.]

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he has received the communication dated Monday, 24th July, 1972 from the hon. Member for West Ham, North regarding the need for an investigation into matters pertaining to the Real Estate Fund of America; and in view of the information as contained therein if he will cause an investigation to be made into these matters, with a view to prosecution for fraud;(2) to what extent he has held discussions with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the Report submitted to him by Scotland Yard on the activities of the Real Estate Fund of America; and what action he proposes to take in connection with these matters.

I have received the hon. Member's letter. A police report of their investigation into the Real Estate Fund of America has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions and to the Department of Trade and Industry; the papers have now been submitted to counsel for his advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Newspaper Proprietors Association on the subject of financial advertising.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in respect of which of the schemes of grants or other forms of subsidyhe administers is the subsidy discretionary, yet the unsuccessful applicant not entitled to a statement of the grounds on which his application was unsuccessful.

In no scheme does the statute provide such an entitlement but the Department tries to help applicants where possible. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I will look into it if he sends me the details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requests he has received from the owners of the Priestley's factory in Barnsley Road, Wombwell, which has been vacant for the past several weeks, to find a suitable occupier, and what action he has taken.

I have not yet received any such request. But if asked to do so by the owners, the Department's regional office will place the factory on its list of premises known to be available and it will be brought to the attention of industrialists.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is yet able to announce that his Department has secured a tenant for the advance factory at Denaby Main in the Dearne Valley constituency.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 10th July.—[Vol. 840, col. 235.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies his Department has made of Swedish counter-cyclical policy in the machine tool industry, details of which have been sent to him.

Investment reserve schemes were studied in 1966 by the Working Party on the Problems arising from the Cyclical Pattern of Machine Tool Orders (Bullock Report) and were considered in 1970 by the Machine Tool Expert Committee (Way Report). Both reports were published.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refuse to extend the length of patent coverage on any drug used extensively by the National Health Service when it reaches its due expiry date.

Extension of the term of a patent is not a matter for my right hon. Friend. It is decided by the High Court except in the now very rare case when application for extension is made to the Comptroller-General of Patents on the ground of war loss.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by the National Coal Board during the last five years in order to make disused mineshafts secure.

About £2½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage the expansion of the British film industry.

Film production companies benefit from quota legislation and payments out of the British Film Fund and the National Film Finance Corporation has with our support recently joined with private investors to set up a consortium to encourage film production.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy in relation to the diversification of ownership of film studios with a view to the encouragement of competition.

I am satisfied that studio facilities are available on a competitive basis to anyone who wishes to produce a film in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider introducing legislation whereby ship owners have to repair a percentage of ships registered in Great Britain in British yards.

No, I do not think this would be practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for those in the ship-repairing industry on Merseyside at present on stand-by.

I hope that the measures proposed in the Industry Bill, for example regional development grant for which ship repair will be eligible, will assist the industry's competitive position.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his most recent estimate of the total cost of the Concorde project, specifying the most recent figures of the United Kingdom share of research, development and production costs.

The latest estimate of research and development costs was given to the House on 4th May, 1972.The House agreed on 21st July, that up to £125 million could be advanced to finance production as an interim measure while we are assessing the full amount likely to be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the recent estimate of the number of Concorde aircraft that will have to be sold to cover the research and development costs;(2) what is his estimate of the research and development losses involved in the Concorde aircraft by stated scale of sales.

It has been recognised for some time that we could expect to recover only part of the research and development costs. The precise amount of recovery will depend upon a wide range of factors including the number of aircraft sold and their price.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he is currently having about supersonic flying rights for Concorde.

The Department is in touch with BOAC on its route plans. Types of aircraft and speeds of flights are not usually specified in international rights for air services.As planning for Concorde services progresses, if it appears that States' regulations affect intended paths for flight at supersonic speeds, any necessary discussions will be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest position on orders for Concorde.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he still expects his estimate of Concorde sales by the end of 1972 of 30 to 40 Concorde aircraft will be realised; and if he will now, in the light of present sales and prospects, bring his estimates up to date.

BOAC and Air France have signed contracts for five and four Concordes respectively. The Chinese have signed a preliminary purchase agreement for two aircraft and are considering increasing it to three. Iran Air have said that they will purchase three aircraft. Discussions are in progress with other potential purchasers but it is too early to forecast the number of orders that will be received.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the nature of the contract he has approved between the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British Aircraft Corporation for the sale of five Concorde aircraft to the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

The contract signed on 28th July for the sale of five Concorde aircraft was a matter settled between the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British Aircraft Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why Concorde production expenditure in France has already reached £75 million and in the United Kingdom £30 million.

Expenditure on production in France is running at a comparable level to that in this country. The total commitment in the United Kingdom is £75 million which includes orders placed on French suppliers. The total commitment on the French side is of the same order.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what technical progress is being achieved to make Concorde production aircraft less noisy on take-off, landing and flyover; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish a report upon the quietening of the Concorde aircraft engines.

The development work already in progress will ensure that the production aircraft will be substantially quieter than the prototypes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to inform Parliament of the permanent financing arrangements he has in mind for the financing of Concorde production aircraft.

Early in the next session.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ascertain the reasons why Air France has not yet ordered any Concorde Aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Air France signed a contract for four aircraft on 28th July, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ascertain the reasons why Air Canada has cancelled its options of the purchases of Concorde aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Air Canada has informed the manufacturers that it does not wish to renew its option agreement for four aircraft with deliveries in 1977–78. The Chairman of Air Canada explained in a statement on 5th July that at the present time Concorde was not suitable for Air Canada's type of operation but that the airline intended to watch closely all developments in supersonic technology and the evolution of the travel market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will obtain an estimate from the manufacturers of the extent to which the ban on sonic boom over the United States of America is proving a deterrent in the sales of Concorde aircraft to American airlines; and if he will make a statement.

The US Government's intention to restrict supersonic flying overland has been known for some years. But many of the US airlines have international routes which are ideally suited for Concorde operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the departmental checks upon the development costs of Concorde.

The Department's procedures for monitoring the development programme and expenditure were explained to the Standing Committee of Public Accounts, and are described in the reports for session 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his latest estimates as to the number of passengers which Concorde will be able to carry in commercial flights.

The manufacturers are confident that the target payload on entry into service of 20,000 lbs. between Paris and New York in summer conditions, which is equivalent to about 24,000 lbs. between London and New York, will be achieved. The actual numbers of passengers on specific routes will depend upon the individual airline's policy towards seat layout, optional equipment, and operating procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has now received from the United States of America regarding the rôle the United Kingdom may play in the development of post-Apollo and space shuttle projects.

None. The question of participation in the space shuttle and other components of the post-Apollo programme is one for consideration jointly by the European Space Conference countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give consideration to moving the British Patent Office to Coventry, as part of the general policy of decentralising Government Departments and locating

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take with regard to Government assistance to aerospace projects, following the Report of the Expenditure Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will implement the recommendations of paragraph 91 of the Sixth Report of the Expenditure Committee; and if he will make a statement.

The report is being studied and a reply will be given in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the numbers of live tortoises imported into the United Kingdom in 1969, 1970, 1971 and the first six months of 1972, and the countries from which they were imported, giving the totals from each.

Following is the information:them in areas appropriate to their functions.

No. The Government have already accepted the recommendation of the Banks Committee for rehousing the Patent Office near the National Reference Library of Science and Invention in London. This meets the requirement for ready access to the foreign patents collection, which will be of growing importance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts have been made by his Department to inform the Royal Navy of the Sealbeaver project's potential in the defence field.

Arrangements for interdepartmental liaison in the marine technology field have ensured that the Ministry of Defence (Navy) has been kept fully informed about the objective and progress of the Sealbeaver project since its inception. The Ministry of Defence has thus had an opportunity to make its own assessment of the sea-bed vehicle's potential.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts have been made by the National Research Development Council to interest other British companies in the Seal-beaver project.

The National Research Development Corporation has made many attempts to interest a number of British companies in continuing development of the Sealbeaver. I understand, however, that its attempts have so far been unsuccessful.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to ascertain and publish the proportion of United Kingdom exports of pharmaceutical products during 1971 which were produced by foreign-owned or foreign-controlled companies.

The latest estimate that can be made is for 1970, when the proportion was close on one-half.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange for statistics on the balance of patents payments for pharmaceutical products to be collated in future.

No. The value of this additional information is not thought to justify the trouble and cost its collection would entail.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will investigate irregularities in the Real Estate Fund of America and its evasion of the Companies Acts.

No: the Real Estate Fund of America is incorporated in Liberia. Certain activities in connection with the sale of its securities, carried out in this country by associated companies, have been investigated by the Department of Trade and Industry and by the police, and reports are now being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish the report of the Monopolies Commission on gas and electricity connection charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish the report of the Monopolies Commission on gas and electricity connection charges.

The report is being published today. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry is asking the electricity boards in England and Wales to implement the conclusions of the majority of the Commission that there should be a uniform charge within each Board's area for electricity connection in normal cost cases. This implies an average charge of £35, or possibly a little more, since the Commission's calculations were based on 1970 costs. My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and for Scotland, are making similar requests of their respective electricity authorities. The Commission saw no need to suggest any change in the gas industry's general practice of making no charge for connection in normal cost cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how soon Her Majesty's Government expect to make known their proposals following receipt of the Marshall Report.

I hope to make a satement shortly on some of the major issues now confronting the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish a White Paper on the application of sanctions against Rhodesia, indicating the contribution made by all the countries bound by the relevant United Nations resolutions.

No. The best information available can be found in the reports of the United Nations Sanctions Supervisory Committee which is responsible for the supervision of the implementation of sanctions by members of the United Nations. Copies of these reports are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his talks with the Maltese Prime Minister.

The Maltese Prime Minister paid an official visit to Britain from 27th to 29th July at the invitation of Her Majesty's Government. He had talks with my right lion. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and myself.Mr. Mintoff and I had a wide-ranging and useful exchange of views on international problems, special attention being given to the Mediterranean area. We also reviewed bilateral relations between our two countries.The visit also provided an opportunity for both sides to take stock of the arrangements for the use of military facilities in Malta in accordance with the agreement signed in London on 26th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) at what date and to what distance from their coast what countries have unilaterally claimed rights over their continental shelf, over exclusive or restricted fishing zones beyond three miles, and to prevent pollution arising more than three miles out, respectively; and at what date each of these claims was recognised by the United Kingdom;(2) what proportion of all coastal states now claim right of any sort over the waters of the sea more than three and twelve miles off their coasts, respectively.

Much of this information is conveniently assembled in a document—A/AC 138/50—of 6th August, 1971 prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. A copy has been placed in the Library. It is not normally necessary expressly to recognise a maritime claim if in the view of Her Majesty's Government the claim is well founded in international law.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from figures available from international sources, what proportion of their gross national product is accounted for by sea fisheries in Iceland, the United Kingdom and West Germany, respectively.

These figures are not available for comparison in any international publication. For the United Kingdom, this information is not published separately, but is available as a comprehensive figure for agriculture, forestry and fishing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Soviet authorities about raising the altitude limits in the air corridors to West Berlin for civil airlines from the present ceiling of 10,000 feet, bearing in mind that that height was set more than 25 years ago when jet airliners were non-existent and that it is a height at which atmospheric turbulence causes discomfort to passengers.

The quadripartite agreements establishing the air corridors did not impose any height limitation. The Soviet authorities have, however, sought to assert that there is a 10,000 feet ceiling. The Three Powers have never accepted that this is so, but in the interests of air safety Allied aircraft have generally flown below this height. There have been no recent discussions between the Allies and the Soviet authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the British sector of the International Union of Local Authorities in 1972–73 by £5,500; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities.Its purpose is to assist the British section of the International Union of Local Authorities with a joint programme of activities with the Council of European Municipalities aimed at increasing contacts between local government in the United Kingdom and in Western Europe.The International Union of Local Authorities is a non-political professional organisation, covering 65 countries, which aims to promote the cause of local autonomy, to raise standards of local administration, to study all questions concerning local government and to foster the participation of people in local government activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the European League for Economic Co-operation (British sector) in 1972–73 by £10,000; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities. Its purpose it to assist the British section of the European League for Economic Co-operation to participate in the actitives of the League and to organise a programme of visits, exchanges and conferences concerned with economic co-operation in Western Europe. The British section of the European League for Economic Co-operation exists to promote economic co-operation in Europe, particularly in the fields of monetary, economic and agricultural policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the British sector of Europa Nostra for 1972–73 by £15,000; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities. Its purpose is to assist the British section of Europa Nostra to develop exchanges of views and visits between amenity societies in Britain and Europe through the medium of Europa Nostra. Europa Nostra is an international federation embracing all the principal non-governmental organisations working for urban and natural conservation in Western Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the British sector of the Council of European Municipalities for 1972–73 by £10,000; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities.Its purpose to to assist the British section of the Council of European Municipalities with a joint programme with the International Union of Local Authorities in fostering closer links with European organisations concerned with local government affairs.The Council of European Municipalities is an association of municipalities and regional bodies in Western European countries which exists

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken or intends taking to protest to the West German Government at the shooting of Mr. Jain Macleod, a British businessman, by a West German policeman on 25th June, 1972 in Stuttgart; and whether he will demand compensation from the West German Government for Mr. Macleod's next of kin.

Soon after Mr. Macleod's death we expressed our concern to the Federal German authorities and asked for a report as soon as possible. We have been kept fully informed by the German authorities on the course of their inquiries, the latest state of which show no basis for suspicion against Mr. Macleod. But the case is still under investigation and until this has been completed, it is not possible to say what action Her Majesty's Government intend to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will Rive further details about the offer of fellowships to post-graduate students from other European countries.

Yes. I drew the attention of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 15th May to the statement that Her Majesty's Government would make available 50 such fellowships in 1973–74, under a scheme to be administered by the British Council. I expressed the hope that offers of similar awards by other European Governments might enable the scheme to develop as a multilateral initiative under the auspices of the Council of Europe in which case Her Majesty's Government would be willing to consider increasing the number of their own awards in subsequent years.This proposal is now for consideration by other Governments. It is the view of Her Majesty's Government that a multilateral scheme, if it comes into being, should be seen against the background of existing schemes and should consist essentially of a network of bilateral arrangements, with the minimum of central machinery. The Council of Europe would nevertheless play an essential rôle in keeping the scheme under review and making recommendations for its future progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government are prepared to give to the Malawi Government towards the construction of an army barracks in the new capital of Malawi.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to meet a request from the Government of Malawi for a grant of up to £1·15 million towards the cost of building barracks for a second battalion of the Malawi rifles in Lilongwe, which is to become the new capital of Malawi, on the understanding that the Malawi Government will buy military equipment of equivalent value in Britain from Malawi's own resources. Parliament will be asked to approve the necessary Supplementary Estimate for expenditure in the current financial year in due course. In the meantime, an advance will, if necessary, be sought from the contingencies fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Parliament is to be consulted about the first stage of the European Economic Community economic and monetary union in cases where specific proposals have been made.

I have been asked to reply.Hon. Members will have their usual opportunities to raise questions about specific proposals as they think fit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request the Commission on the Constitution, before coming to a final conclusion upon its recommendations for Wales, to make a survey of public opinion concerning the broad measure of constitutional development which is generally desired by people in Wales.

No. It is for the Commission to decide what evidence it requires to perform its task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him concerning the introduction of legislation which would enable courts to determine the appropriateness of granting bail in accordance with a points system on the lines of the Vera System, details of which are in his possession, which is applied in Manhattan, whereby an accused person would be rated in accordance with his reliability, family ties, length of residence in the community, employment and criminal record; and if he will make a statement as to the policy of the Government.

Support for such a system has been expressed by a number of organisations and individuals. My right hon. Friend is awaiting the views of the Working Party on bail procedures in magistrates' courts, which is considering the suggestions made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the Government's policy in respect of a memorandum which has been submitted to him by the Law Society recommending that police prosecutions should be conducted by legally qualified advocates.

Recommendations to that general effect were made as long ago as 1962 by the Royal Commission on the Police. They had the support of my right hon. Friend's predecessors, and have his; but it is for police authorities and chief constables to decide how far they should be adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police prosecutions were conducted by police officers in magistrates' courts in England and Wales in each of the years 1969, 1970 and 1971.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men in custody in Camp Hill Prison received Pay-As-You-Earn repayments in each of the years ended 5th April, 1969, 1970 and 1971; and what was the total repayment in each year.

The following payments were made to prisoners in Camp Hill Prison by the Inland Revenue:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority six United Kingdom passport holders who were detained in the United Kingdom since the beginning of June were made to board an aircraft belonging to an Australian airline; and under what circumstances the pilot of the aircraft refused to carry them to India.

Directions for removal were given under paragraph 3(2) of the First Schedule to the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962. I understand that the commander of the aircraft gave no reason for his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost to the Exchequer of transporting six United Kingdom passport holders to and from India on two separate occasions in the last fortnight.

This information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that since the Totalisator Board forecast a loss of £350,000 in January during the financial year ended March, 1972 and its accounts now show a profit of £1¼ million, he will withdraw the Horserace Totalisator and Betting Levy Boards Bill which was based upon the financial difficulties of the Totalisator Board.

The improvement in the financial position of the Tote, though welcome, is a good deal less than has been made to appear in certain Press accounts and has been amply recognised in the latest Government Amendments tabled to the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his attention has been drawn to the accident on the M1 on Friday, 14th July, when three people burned to death when their car collided with a lorry laden with hot asphalt; and what proposals he has for improving the standards of safety to be applied to lorries carrying dangerous loads.

I understand that the police and fire service found no evidence suggesting that the asphalt load contributed to the accident or the ensuing fire. Safety standards of lorries are continually being improved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the rate-borne per capita expenditure on education, for the last five years, in Somerset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Dorset. Hampshire and Wiltshire.

The following table shows the per capita expenditure on education of the county councils concerned for the years 1967–68 to 1970–71. Figures for 1971–72 are not yet available: —

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of the M6 are now fitted with safety barriers; and what proportion of the total length is fitted.

When the present contract is complete in October of this year, 140 miles of M6 will have been equipped with central reserve safety barriers. This represents approximately 63 per cent. of the total length.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the M1 is now fitted with safety barriers.

Approximately 40 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the whole of the M6 to be fitted with safety barriers; and what steps he is taking to expedite the work.

The M6 from the M1 to Penrith will, as a result of recent rescheduling, be equipped with central reserve safety barrier by March, 1974. It is not at present proposed to provide barriers on the remaining length.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will encourage the fitting of reflective rear markings on light goods vehicles on a permissive basis in the interests of road safety, in view of the number of organisations who operate light goods vehicles which by nature of their occupation have to travel at different speeds from the rest of the traffic and park in exposed places.

No. But I shall be requiring new light goods vehicles to be fitted with reflective number plates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the average delay for England and Wales between the hearing of a planning appeal by one of the inspectors, and his own final decision over the past 10 years; and what is the same figure in respect of hearings proceeding from the Peters-field constituency.

Information in the form requested is not available. The average time between inquiry and decision in the case of appeals decided by the Secretary of State in 1969, 1970 and 1971 was 14 weeks, 16 weeks and 18 weeks, comparable figures for appeals within the Petersfield constituency being 14 weeks, 18 weeks and 16 weeks.For appeals decided by Inspectors the corresponding times were four, six and eight weeks and five, five and seven weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against decisions of planning authorities he has received each year for the past 10 years, indicating whether these were from individual applicants or firms, and his decision.

The numbers of appeals under Section 36 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has concluded his examination of the recommendation of British Rail that York should be the territorial headquarters for territory No. 4; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made in the House last week.—[Vol. 841, c. 2068–2079.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the Greater London Council's estimate of 9 million square feet of unoccupied office space in London, and of the fact that 5·2 million square feet are under construction and planning permission has been given for a further 9·5 million square feet not yet started, he will suspend the issue of any further office development certificates in the London area.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how often in the past 10 years land tribunals have varied compulsory purchase compensation arising from compulsory purchase orders made in the Petersfield constituency, and how; and what has been the average waiting time in each case.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that this information is not available.