asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the large numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled in the hotel and catering industry is due to the lack of necessary skills by people registered as unemployed; and whether he is satisfied that there is adequate provision and publicity for retraining for this industry.

The monthly count is a spot check. Many vacancies included are open for only a short time. Others remain open for a number of reasons, including inappropriate skillsMost wages councils lay down weekly rates.The statutory minimum weekly remuneration for typical grades in eight industries, in large towns outside London, are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many notified unfilled vacancies there were in the catering industry in the South-East region at the latest available date.

At 5th July, the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in the hotel and catering industry in the South-East region was 8,136. The figure relates only to notified vacan- and immobility of registrants. While the main responsibility for training lies with the industry, the Government are rapidly expanding the training facilities available and will be publicising them under the new training opportunities scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will state the latest hourly pay for people in catering and retail food industries as agreed by wages councils.

Eight wages councils in these industries lay down a large range of rates, according to area, grade, age and sex.Following is the information:cies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further consultations he has now had with the Confederation of British Indus. try and the Trades Union Congress on possible new machinery for conciliation and arbitration.

I hope that discussions on the proposals will take place shortly between the Government, the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the proposals submitted by the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress for new joint conciliation procedures.

The Government hope shortly to discuss the proposals with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress. As has been made clear, we are ready to welcome constructive ideas for improving ways of settling disputes peacefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions he has applied to the Industrial Court under Section 138 of the Industrial Relations Act 1971, in respect of a lock-out.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance is given to officers of his Department for the payment of unemployment benefit to candidates for local government office, registered as unemployed on the day of the poll.

Local Offices are advised that a person engaged in voluntary public service should be regarded as available for work if he makes arrangements to be contacted while performing that service and is prepared to leave it at short notice should a vacancy arise requiring an immediate interview.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what special measures his Department takes to find employment for women, granted alimony by court order, but who fail to receive it.

The officers of my Department always endeavour to deal sympathetically with all those whom they know to be suffering financial or other hardship, including women who fail to receive alimony granted by court order.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the respective cost to his Department and employers of the Redundancy Payments Scheme, for each year since the scheme commenced; what representations he has received from trade unions, employers and individuals about the scheme; what replies he has given; and if he will make a statement.

The cost of the scheme is borne wholly by employers. Part of the cost is spread over employers throughout industry by means of the redundancy fund, financed by employers' contributions, from which employers who make due payments may claim rebate.A variety of representations have been received from organisations and individuals, the replies to which have depended on their nature.Following is a statement of employers' expenditure:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the outcome of his consideration of the proposals for further training measures for young people put forward to him by Birmingham Education Committee.

We have agreed a scheme with the Birmingham Education Committee for up to 100 young people to receive first-year apprentice training in engineering. The cost will be shared equally between the city and the Government. The scheme, which will be administered jointly with the Engineering Industry Training Board, will be in addition to any places allocated to Birmingham by the EITB under its own scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to permit Industrial Tribunals in appropriate cases to make interim awards of compensation and then to adjourn such cases for compensation for unfair dismissal, where the applicant satisfies the tribunal that he has sought to find reasonably suitable alternative employment but has failed to do so and is unemployed at the date of the tribunal hearing.

No. My right hon. Friend does not think that the increased burden falling on the tribunals under such an arrangement would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many part-time jobs for women there are; and how many part-time vacancies exist.

The latest available statistics derive from the 1966 Sample Census and show about 2,748,000 women working part-time, some of whom would be self-employed. My Department does not distiguish between part-time and full-time vacancies in its statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women, including those not covered by the Factories Act, 1961, work shifts and night work.

Information is available only where there is statutory control, so I cannot give a reliable estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider reviewing current legislation about conditions of work with a view to extending its provisions to cover employees working less than 21 hours a week.

No. In the Government's view, there are insufficient grounds for extending these provisions at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further provision he plans to make for women workers in the field of training within industry or in Government Training Centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, prior to the completion of his study of the problems, he will take steps to increase the incentives for training women, and to improve the training opportunities for women in industry.

Courses in Government training centres are open to men and women alike, and the expansion of training through the training opportunities scheme will increase the provision for the training of women. I shall consider whether any further measures are required in the light of the study being undertaken by my Department of the problems encountered by women in securing equal treatment with men in the employment and training fields.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give special assistance to persons made redundant in consequence of picketing by dockers of road haulage, inland container and storage firms to enable them to find alternative employment.

The full facilities of my Department, including use of "job teams" and retraining opportunities, are made available to redundant work-people, as appropriate, irrespective of the reason for the redundancy. But my Department has no knowledge of any redundancies arising from such picketing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of unemployed, by sex, at the latest date, in the Easington constituency; and how this figure compares, in percentage terms, with the national figures.

At 10th July, in the area covered by the Peterlee and Wingate employment exchanges, 1,800 males and 283 females were registered as unemployed. The male percentage rates of unemployment for this area and for Great Britain were 9·9 and 4·9, respectively. The corresponding female rates were 3·6 and 1·6.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage beer prices have increased during the past two years to the latest available date.

13·8 per cent. in the two years to April, 1972, compared with a 16–3 increase in the retail price index for all items over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances a work permit was issued to Mr. Jack Sanders, managing director of Holiday Magic in Great Britain and assistant with Leadership Dynamics Institute, to take up employment in the United Kingdom.

A work permit was not issued in respect of Mr. Sanders. He was admitted by the Home Office as a representative of a foreign firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what main industries in Midlothian have notified him of vacancies; and how many are for male adults.

At 5th July, the industries in Midlothian with the highest numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled were construction, retail distribution, hotels and catering, and medical and dental services. The numbers of vacancies for men in these industries were 127, 38, 14 and 27, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of adult male unemployment in the constituency of Midlothian, including Livingston New Town; and how it compares with the level since 1969.

In the area covered by the Livingston, West Calder, Penicuik, Loanhead, Dalkeith and Musselburgh employment exchanges, the numbers of men registered as unemployed at July, 1972, and July, 1969, were 2,598 and 1,106 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the future of the youth employment service.

I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of wholly unemployed in the North Lanarkshire employment area and the percentage of unemployed persons in relation to the insured population.

At 10th July, 15,351 people were registered as wholly unemployed in the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area. The rate of unemployment in the area was 9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to be in a position to assess the long-term effects of the working of the Industrial Relations Act; and what has been the cost to public funds, to the latest available date, of its working.

As regards the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 10th July.In reply to the second part, the estimated cost to public funds up to 30th June has been approximately £952,000.—[Vol. 840, c. 252.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the July unemployment figures for the years 1967 to 1972.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has initiated arising out of the report of the Robens Committee.

My right hon. Friend is consulting his colleagues in the Government on many aspects of the report, and he has sought the general reaction of the CBI and the TUC. As he told the House on 19th July, we hope that our consultations with the CBI, the TUC, local authorities and others concerned will be completed in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of men employed in the textile industry in the North-West Region; and what was the number so employed 10 years ago.

The estimated numbers of male employees in employment in the textiles industries in the North-West Region at June, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, and June, 1961, were 92,000 and 122,000, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals have been made to the Government by the Trades Union Congress or by individual trade unions to examine the question of threshold agreements.

The TUC raised the question of the possible use of threshold agreements at the National Economic Development Council, and we have examined the subject with the TUC and the CBI in the context of the NEDC. Individual trade unions have not made any proposals to the Government to examine threshold agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for retraining have been received in 1972 to the latest convenient date; and how this compares with the same months in 1970 and 1971.

63,627 applications were received in the six months ending 12th June, 1972, compared with 31,798 and 28,543 in the similar periods in 1971 and 1970, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the results of his review of the law on picketing are now available; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 5th July.—[Vol. 840, c. 70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the number of places at Government training centres, their potential annual output, and the actual number of trainees graduating each year has increased since June, 1970.

Since June, 1970, the number of Government training centre places has risen by more than 1,000, and the potential annual output of trainees by about 2,000. In the year ended June, 1972, about 3,600 more trainees completed courses than in the year ended June, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men, women, girls and boys were registered as unemployed at the Wombwell and Mexborough Employment Exchanges on the latest available date;

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply he has sent to the letter from Task Force, dated 14th July, concerning the heating needs of old people, and, in particular, the organisation's request for help from local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security in collecting information about applications for heating allowances made by old people.

My reply describes the Supplementary Benefits Commission's general policy on the disclosure of information to third parties, and sets out the extent to which the Commission is prepared to give information about individual cases in response to the request by Task Force. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many supplementary pensioners were awarded heating allowances between 1st October, 1971 and 31st March, 1972; and how many applications were refused;(2) how many supplementary pensioners have been awarded heating allowances since implementation of that benefit in November, 1970.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the exceptional circumstances additions made in supplementary benefit cases where there are special heating needs. I regret that this information is not available, and could not be obtained without undue expense. At November, 1971, the latest date for which figures are available, 159,000 supplementary pensioners had exceptional circumstances additions which included provision for extra heating.It has always been the Supplementary Benefits Commission's policy, under its discretionary powers, to increase benefit on account of special heating needs in appropriate cases; the changes made in November, 1970 represented a broadening of the existing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the 47 old people specifically referred to in the report, "Old and Cold in Islington", a copy of which in his possession, in respect of heating allowances, have subsequently received separate grants to assist them with improved heating by such methods as bigger fires and better insulation.

Lump-sum payments of supplementary benefit were made for more effective heating appliances in six of these cases. In five others the weekly allowance was increased to provide for greater expenditure on heating, and one payment was made to clear an outstanding fuel debt.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of male and female employees, respectively, is currently covered by occupational pension schemes.

The Government Actuary's 1967 survey showed that about 65 per cent. of male and 25 per cent. of female employees were members of occupational pension schemes. His latest survey should be published before the end of this year. The 1970 New Earnings Survey showed about 55 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively, but the results are not fully comparable as different definitions were used.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice his Department offers local authority social service departments upon ways and means of bringing travel within the reach of disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

We have given advice to authorities about services generally, which are available under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, including the provision of travel facilities. Authorities are building up services as resources allow, and we have been glad to learn of the enterprise of St. Helens County Borough Council in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will direct the Supplementary Benefits Commission to treat members of religious communities on the same basis as other members of the public for the purpose of supplementary benefits.

No. The Commission regards the requirements of members of a religious community as being provided for by that community as a whole. Supplementary benefit is payable only where the Commission considers that the Order is not in a financial position to maintain its members. Members of religious communities are, therefore, in a special position for supplementary benefit purposes, and it would not be appropriate to treat them on the same basis as other members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in order to safeguard the Reserve Scheme Fund under the Government's proposed new pension proposals from possible political manipulation by any future Government, he will ensure that a Clause whereby the Minister is given the power to direct the publicly appointed Board to take such action as he thinks fit is not included in any Bill introduced for implementing the proposals.

It is essential to our proposals that there should be no ministerial power to direct the board in its investment activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total amount paid to each of the London teaching hospitals by private patients for their medicines in the last year to a convenient date; and if he will make a statement.

The charges payable to hospitals by private patients are inclusive, and no separately identified charge is made for their medicines. Hospitals do not normally provide medicines to private out-patients other than those administered within the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number of items prescribed by general practitioners and dispensed by National Health Service pharmacists in Newcastle-under-Lyme in each year from 1964.

Information is not available in the form required. The number of prescriptions dispensed annually by chemists under the National Health Service in the area of the Stoke-on-Trent executive council, which in-cludes Newcastle-under-Lyme, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the annual cost at the latest convenient date of the petrol allowance of £5 per annum formerly made to a disabled person using a tricycle issued under the invalid vehicle scheme; and if he will reconsider the withdrawal of this allowance, in view of the comparatively small saving to the Exchequer.

The cost was £87,567 for England and Wales during the last financial year.No. Further changes in the invalid vehicle service must await the outcome of the review recently started by Lady Sharp.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reconsider the decision that disabled people with severely limited walking ability must, in future, surrender a vehicle issued to them under the invalid vehicle scheme in the event of their ceasing to be employed.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to make any further changes pending the outcome of Lady Sharp's inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to end the present arrangements whereby strikers whose claim is settled on a Thursday are encouraged to avoid working on the Friday because of the adverse effect on their social security payments.

If my hon. Friend has in mind supplementary benefit, there is at present no encouragement to avoid working on a Friday. Regulation 2 of the Supplementary Benefit (Recovery by Deductions from Earnings) Regulations 1972, SI 1972/329, provides that where, by reason of arrangements for dealing with supplementary benefit payments in connection with a stoppage of work, some claimants are paid for the terminal week before, and some after, return to work, the latter are also to qualify for benefit which is not recoverable under the provisions of Section 2 of the Social Security Act, 1971. The sole purpose of this regulation is to ensure equal treatment for all strikers, regardless of the date of payment of benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private operations were performed in National Health Service hospitals in the Leicester area in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Information in the form requested is not readily available. The total number of private in-patients treated in this area during the 12 months to 31st December, 1971, was 1,188.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are available for private use in hospitals in the Leicester area.

Thirty-five.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the architects and contractors of hospitals and hospital extensions in the Carlisle area opened during the past 10 years.

Details for the Carlisle area—West Cumberland and Garlands Hospital Management Committees—for schemes costing £10,000 or more are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount recovered in social security payments since 1948 as a result of investigations into fraudulent claims; and how much this figure represented as a proportion of total payments of benefits in each year.

The information is not available in the exact form requested, but the following figures relate to recoveries of overpayments of supplementary benefit. Comparable figures are not available for other benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether Mr. George Braithwaite, a civil servant, adopted the normal rules of the Service in obtaining the advice and permission of his superior officer before accepting money from private business firms.

Mr. Braithwaite, secretary of the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, is not a civil servant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the White Paper on National Health Service re-organisation in England will be published.

I am publishing it today. Copies are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors have been fined for giving free prescriptions to private patients in the past year; and what was the total of the fines collected.

I assume the hon. Member to be referring to withholdings of remuneration directed following investigations under the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations of whether a general medical practitioner is in breach of the statutory requirement that NHS prescription forms shall not be used for persons other than his NHS patients.If so, the answer to the first part of the Question is, "one". The total withholding directed was £655·39, but this took account of an estimated £367 in wrongfully claimed maternity fees and the £63·39 cost to the NHS of the prescriptions involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the increasing health hazards to farm workers through handling chemical additives to animal feeds; and if he will take the necessary action to ensure that such workers have periodical health checks.

My right hon. Friend has no knowledge of any health hazard to farm workers from the handling of feed additives. Statutory controls already apply to medicinal additives and will be extended to other additives from mid-1973. In the circumstances he sees no need to institute periodical health checks for the workers to whom the hon. Member refers.If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I should be glad to have details.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the position of poultry keepers in that flock sizes of 30,000 to 45,000 birds are now going out of production; and if he will make a statement.

Heavy production of eggs in recent months has resulted in very low prices. There is evidence that producers are now taking steps to reduce or suspend production and this should bring the market into better balance.I am very conscious of the difficulties which many producers face in the present situation but I am confident that the industry is fully capable of solving the problems inevitably posed by a free market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the lead the European Economic Community has in organised marketing, he will take steps to rectify this position.

Although the premise of my hon. Friend does not apply equally to all commodities, I recognise the scope for improvement in organised marketing so as to exploit fully our productive competitiveness as future members of the EEC. The National Farmers' Union has had some preliminary discussion of the problem with me. It is actively considering ways of improving marketing and is keeping me closely informed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the control over the sale and manufacture of products containing dichlorvos in the United Kingdom, and whether he will refer such products to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and other Toxic Chemicals with a view to bringing the United Kingdom labelling requirements up to the standards enforced in the United States of America.

These products have all along been subject to stringent scrutiny under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme; and the prescribed labelling requirements have recently been reviewed by the Advisory Committee in the light of the corresponding provisions in the USA. My right hon. Friend accepts the Committee's conclusion that no additional safeguards are needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will strengthen the regulations for the sale of cereal seeds to help control the increasing spread of wild oats.

Yes. Proposals for revised Seeds Regulations imposing a stricter control of wild oats in cereal seed have been issued by the agricultural Departments and my right hon. Friend is awaiting the industry's observations on them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the intervention price differentials for cereals across the country from the east to the west coast originally proposed by the Commission in Brussels; and how these compared with what was announced as an acceptable compromise on 18th July.

While we are anxious to inform the House as early as possible of the details of any agreements reached with the Council of the European Communities, it is not the practice to reveal the details of any proposals that have been made, whether by the Commission or otherwise, in the course of the confidential negotiations preceding those agreements. But, as I said, in reply to the right hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart) on 18th July, the agreement that we accepted involved a fair compromise in terms of our opening position.—[Vol. 841, c. 411.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the £ sterling now as compared to June, 1970 based on the General Index of Retail Prices.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a similar question from the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 25th July.—[Vol. 841, c. 247.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has to combat unemployment.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 25th July.—[Vol. 841, c. 1516.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in percentage terms of real disposable income during the period 1969 and the first six months of 1970, compared with that during the period of second six months of 1970 and the year 1971.

Between the fourth quarter of 1968 and the second quarter of 1970, real personal disposable income increased by 3·6 per cent. Between the second quarter of 1970 and the fourth quarter of 1971 it increased by 4·5 per cent. These figures have not been adjusted for changes in the population.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when national museum entry charges are imposed, free entry to members of the National Art Collection Fund will attract value added tax on their membership subscriptions.

Subscriptions to associations providing facilities to their members will be subject to value added tax under Clause 45 of the Finance Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department take to ensure the payment of Pay-As-You-Earn on the due dates; and if he will review the system under which firms are given long credit so that, in cases of their going into liquidation, the prior claims of the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of tax fraud cases uncovered each year since 1948, indicating how much tax was recovered in each year as a consequence.

Information showing the number of cases of fraud is not separately available. Figures showing the number of cases of fraud, wilful default or neglect are published annually in the Report of the Board of Inland Revenue from which the following table has been compiled:Inland Revenue bear adversely on other unsecured creditors.

Employers are made aware of their obligation to make payment on or before 19th of each month and if payment is overdue the matter is followed up immediately. It is not the practice for the Inland Revenue to give long credit to firms accounting for tax deducted under PAYE.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total investment in National Savings for the first three quarters of this year, compared with the same period during the past five years.

Figures for the first three quarters of this year will not be available until late October. The figures for the first half of the year in each of the past six years are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the movement of the retail price index between May and June, 1972, shows a rate of inflation of 0·7 per cent. in each month compared with 0·4 per cent. in April, what action he proposes to take to prevent the continuation of this rate.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member are incorrect and the average rise in the Retail Price Index in May and June of 0·6 per cent. was less than the rise of 0·9 per cent. in April. Our policies are designed to reduce the rate of inflation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of wage claims, and consequently on inflation, of the wages trap, whereby small pay awards may reduce a family's entitlement to social security benefits; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the European Economic Community Commission regarding regional development; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what special steps he proposes to take to help overcome the persistent and growing rate of unemployment in Clacton-on-Sea; and whether he will take steps to declare it an area which should qualify for help similar to that given to towns in intermediate and development areas.

The measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and set out in the Government's recent White Paper "Industrial and Regional Development" (Cmnd. 4942) are designed to encourage investment and reduce unemployment. I do not consider that the extension of assisted area status to Clacton is justified in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries his Department is currently handling from firms interested in locating new factories in the Borough of Rhondda and in Wales, respectively.

This year to date 26 inquiries have been made about sites in the Rhondda and 256 in respect of Wales as a whole. These inquiries have been followed up by the Department and in many cases visits have been made by the firms concerned to particular localities. It is not possible to say at any one time how many firms may remain actively interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the projected labour force for the ship-repair industry in the United Kingdom for 1975.

No estimates are available of the level of employment in the ship-repair Industry for 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ascertain and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of jet aircraft which took off to the east from London Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, 19th July along the Mole Valley route, the Dover Two route and the transatlantic route.

It is not possible to provide this information in the time available. Steps are being taken to obtain the relevant details and I will let my hon. Friend have them as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the projected labour force for the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom for the year 1975.

No estimates are available of the level of employment in the shipbuilding industry in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number and value of live farm food animals exported in the first six months of 1972; and what were the comparable figures for the first six months of 1971.

486,000 animals (including 285,000 poultry) valued at £8,827,000 were exported in January to June, 1972; corresponding figures for January to June, 1971, were 614,000 animals (including 501,000 poultry) valued at £5,073,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the weight and value of meat and meat preparations imported in the first six months of 1972; and what were the figures for the comparative period of 1971;(2) what was the value and weight of meat and meat preparations exported in the first six months of 1972; and what were the figures for the comparative period of 1971.

Information is given under headings 011, 012 and 013 in Table III (imports) and Table VI (exports) of the June, 1971, and June, 1972, issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, for each year from 1966–1971, the number of industrial development certificates applied for in the Greater London area related to expansion of existing activity, the numbers granted and refused, and the approximate number of additional jobs concerned with each category.

The information in the form requested is not immediately available but I am examining what can be put together and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the present position of recruitment of personnel to the United Kingdom shipping industry, with particular regard to electrical and marine engineers.

While this is primarily a matter for the industry itself, I understand that there is a considerable shortage of certificated engineer officers and some demand for well-qualified electrical engineers with experience of heavy installations, well-qualified junior engineer officers, junior deck officers and able seamen.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of employed young men is currently receiving day-release training; and what is the corresponding percentage for young women.

In 1971 about 36 per cent. of male employees in England and Wales aged under 18 were released by employers to take part-time day courses at grant-aided further education establishments; the corresponding percentage of female employees was about 10.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the amount of grant payable to mature students undertaking teacher-training courses; and if she will make a statement.

Following a general review of student grants, supplementary payments to mature students, including dependants' grants, were increased for the years 1971–72 to 1973–74 by the full amounts suggested in a factual enquiry in which student representatives participated. No further increases are proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why graduates on a PhD course are awarded a grant for a year at a time only; and why a grant for the third year in the course is difficult to obtain.

It is the normal practice for award-making bodies to call for periodical reports on a student's progress before continuing his award. A student should not have difficulty in obtaining a grant for a third year of postgraduate study if his academic progress is satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to authorise the London Borough of Brent to proceed with the construction of a new purpose-designed building to replace the present five buildings occupied by Brondesbury and Kilburn High School.

The Government's first priority is the replacement of old primary schools and I cannot say when it will be possible to include this secondary school project in the major school building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what government or authority will control the permanent airstrip in the Falkland Islands when it is built;(2) who will appoint the traffic controller and other staff to man the permanent airstrip in the Falkland Islands; what will be the nationality of such staff; and if he will make a statement.

The Falkland Islands Government will control the permanent airfield when it is built. We expect that the Traffic Controller and other staff will be appointed by the Falkland Islands Government and will be British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out details of how the figure of £78,500 was arrived at for European exchanges 1972–73 giving a list of the countries with which it is proposed to make exchanges.

Her Majesty's Government have made available a total amount of £189,000 to assist non-governmental organisations with their programmes of visits, exchanges and conferences with Western Europe. It is considered that this is an appropriate level of assistance for this purpose.The sum of £78,500 is the balance of this sum remaining after account has been taken of grants in aid and funds for exchanges with Western Europe already included in the 1972–73 estimates, and will be used to assist organisations not receiving grants in aid.It is our intention to be flexible. While concentrating on exchanges with Community countries we do not wish to exclude other Western European countries, particularly those which are members of the Council of Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations took place with the Government of India before six United Kingdom passport holders, who had been detained in the United Kingdom since the beginning of June, were sent back to India for the first time; why the immigration authorities in India refused to admit them; and why they were deported to India for a second time on 25th July.

The Indian Government were informed of Her Majesty's Government's view that the six United Kingdom passport holders, who had arrived here without special entry vouchers, should not be permitted to gain an advantage over their compatriots in the queue for vouchers, and were notified of the intention to return the group to India.The six were not re-admitted to India on 19th July because they told the Indian authorities that they were unwilling to enter India. This was clearly to enable them to jump the voucher queue and on the group's return to the United Kingdom they were sent back again.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make arrangements for United Kingdom passport holders of East African origin to make application for entry vouchers to Great Britain at any of Her Majesty's Government's embassies in Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the number of hotel beds available in the Seychelles; and if he is satisfied that this is adequate for the scheduled air services which are now operating into the colony.

By the end of 1972 there will be approximately 640 hotel beds available in the Seychelles with provision for substantial increases thereafter in the years up to 1976. The rate of hotel building is, however, limited by the availability of manpower for construction and the Seychelles Government take full account of this in their development plans. In this situation airlines must clearly take account of the availability of hotel accommodation in planning the frequency of their services to the Seychelles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps lie is taking to assist tourism in the Seychelles.

Construction of the Seychelles Airport to make the Seychelles easily accessible to visitors, was financed from United Kingdom funds. The necessary infrastructure for tourism—

Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, who are subject to control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1968, may apply to any of Her Majesty's Missions for a special voucher.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish a table showing the number of applicants for entry vouchers awaiting consideration, analysed according to their country of origin for each of the last 12 months.

The number of processed applications outstanding at quarterly intervals since 1st June, 1971 is as follows:e.g. water, sewerage, electricity, roads and port development—is being implemented by the Seychelles Government with very substantial assistance from United Kingdom Aid funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the increase in the number of tourists visiting the Seychelles at any convenient periods from the start of the scheduled air services.

Since the introduction of scheduled services in 1971, there has been a steady increase in the number of tourists visiting Seychelles. In October, 1971, January and April, 1972 there were 348, 630 and 976 visitors respectively. The monthly average for 1970, the last complete year before the opening of the airport, was 135.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where the equipment for running the permanent airstrip in the Falkland Islands will be purchased.

It would be normal practice for the airfield equipment to be purchased in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what authority will control the temporary airstrip in the Falkland Islands.

Governmental control will be exercised by the Falkland Islands Government, acting through its Director of Civil Aviation. Under our Exchange of Notes with the Argentine Government of 2nd May, 1972, the temporary aerodrome will be operated and maintained by personnel from the Argentine mainland with the participation of local personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give a breakdown of the figure of 1·14 per cent. of gross national product representing Great Britain's total flow of resources in overseas aid last year into categories of private and Government assistance and that which is in the form of non-returnable grants, and that which is in the form of investment, loans, and so forth.

The figures for the calendar year 1971 are as follows: