asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what local education authority areas in England and Wales and in how many schools the number of immigrant children exceeds 30 per cent. of the total number of children attending; and whether, in calculating these figures, the children of immigrants who have been in this country for more than 10 years have been included.

In Janary, 1972, there were 699 schools in England and Wales in which the number of immigrant pupils exceeded 30 per cent. The answer to the second part of his question is "No".Following are the figures for local education authority areas:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the present overall standards of management and organisation in comprehensive schools; and if she will make a statement.

Problems of management and organisation vary widely according to size of school and the local pattern of secondary education. I believe that, as the experience of authorities and teachers increases, progress is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice her Department gives to local education authorities to encourage or help pregnant schoolgirls to return to school or to pursue their studies after childbirth, in view of their need to obtain qualifications necessary to provide support for themselves and their child.

Local education authorities which seek the Department's advice are advised that the best arrangements possible should be made in the light of the circumstances of the individual concerned, whose own long-term interests should be considered as paramount.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has to issue guidance to county authorities on ways in which participation of district councils in library service matters can be secured; and if she will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the question by the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Kenneth Lomas).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students are studying at Scottish universities in the current session; and what were the comparable figures three, six and 10 years previously.

The latest figure I have is for 1971–72 which is 37,200. Figures for 1962–63, 1966–67 and 1969–70 are 24,000, 29,800 and 32,500 respectively.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent his Department have got, in addition to the accommodation allocated to the Ugandan Asians, oher units of housing which can be made available to the homeless and those in poor housing conditions; and whether he will take action along these lines.

No. Accommodation is kept under constant review and surpluses notified as they arise to the Property Services Agency who take the appropriate disposal action.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what further progress he has made in providing married quarters for the British Army of the Rhine.

Good progress has been made. More than 75 per cent. of the families requiring married accommodation in the long term are already housed in permanent quarters or multiple hirings near to military facilities. Under the present programme, 3,000 additional long-term hirings are being acquired and a further 4,000 have been approved. This will eliminate the waiting list for married quarters and also allow a substantial number of the more dispersed and uneconomical hirings to be disposed of.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the value to date of orders placed for machine tools by the Royal Ordnance factories under the terms of the £16 million Department of Trade and Industry scheme for assisting the machine tool industry.

The value of orders placed up to 17th October was about £1·3 million.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a study of the agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Governments, details of which are in his possession, to lessen the danger of collisions or other incidents at sea when United States. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ships are being shadowed by the Russians; and whether he will take steps to conclude a similar agreement covering British ships.

In consultation with our NATO allies we are studying the Agreement and its implementation closely, and are considering whether such arrangements would benefit us.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the recent official visit to Athens by the Secretary of State for Defence.

My right hon. and noble Friend took the opportunity to pay a short unofficial visit to Athens at the end of his recent holiday in the Aegean. During this visit he paid calls on the Greek Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the then alternate Foreign Minister and had useful discussions with them on matters of common interest.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on operations in Northern Ireland.

The Army's task, as always, is to assist the civil authorities and to help keep the peace. It continues to counter terrorism and prevent inter-communal clashes.There are currently 21 major units in the infantry rôle deployed in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether a decision has been made on how HMS "Albion" is to be disposed of.

Following the decision, announced in the House on 29th June, to withdraw "Albion" from service at the end of 1972, it has been decided that the ship will be disposed of by scrapping or by sale for non-warlike use.—[Vol. 839, c. 416–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has agreed to pay a salary increase in retrospect to the acting Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board; how much this increase will be; how many such increases have been made at the stated periods since this Chairman was appointed; and whether he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member is referring to the Chairman-designate of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, he will take office on 16th November, 1972, and no salary in respect of this appointment is payable to him for any period before that date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the persons sentenced by magistrates' courts to unsuspended imprisonment, in the most recent year for which figures are available, had previously served a sentence of imprisonment;(2) how many persons sentenced to unsuspended imprisonment, in the most recent year for which figures are available, had previously served a sentence of imprisonment.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the normal length of time for segregating a prisoner under Prison Rule 43; what special appeal procedure there is under Rule 43; and if he will make a statement.

Removal from association under this rule for more than 24 hours must be authorised by a member of the board of visitors or by the Secretary of State. Removal for longer than a month requires further authority. The period of removal varies. The prisoner is seen daily by the governor and medical officer, and may at any time make representations against his removal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have been granted aid from public funds in the year 1971–72 for repatriation under the Immigration Act.

This part of the Act did not come into force until 28th October, 1971, and there followed a period preparing and mounting the scheme. The first family was granted aid shortly before the end of the financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the provision of assistance through the International Service of Great Britain in connection with the voluntary repatriation from the United Kingdom to their original countries of origin of citizens of British Protectorates, pursuant to Section 29 of the Immigration Act, 1971; and if he will make a statement.

Section 29 of the Immigration Act, 1971, enables travel assistance to be given to families who wish to settle elsewhere provided that the head of the household is not patrial. The section extends to British protected persons. The Act provides that citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies become patrial after five years' residence in this country. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the result of the review of the scheme for the repatriation of Commonwealth immigrants.

My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds in 1971–72 of providing air transport for East African Asians who were initially refused entry into Great Britain but who were then flown to various destinations before being eventually permitted to enter this country.

I cannot find that any such expenditure was incurred from public funds in the financial year 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the improvement of security from terrorism, bombing and hi-jacking.

As regards measures at airports, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aerospace gave to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Greville Janner) on 17th October.Other measures against terrorism have been comprehensively reviewed following recent tragedies, and appropriate steps will continue to be taken.—[Vol. 843. c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to police authorities for the combined use of existing communication, photographic, recording, forensic, training and other services after the implementation of the Local Government Act.

My right hon. Friend is arranging for a survey to be carried out of police telecommunications systems in order to settle, in consultation with the forces concerned, the adjustments that will be needed by 1st April, 1974, and the likely future requirements. Forensic science laboratories (except the Metropolitan Police laboratory) and police training centres are Home Office establishments provided under the common police services arrangements.He has invited police authorities to arrange for local discussion of the fair allocation of existing resources between the police authorities for the new counties, where the boundaries of the new counties differ from the boundaries of existing police areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number of raids and smash and grabs &c., in the Metropolitan area where security firms were involved and the amount of money and other valuables stolen for this period.

Information relating to 1971 was given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 20th January last. During the first six months of this year, there were nine robberies in the Metropolitan police district in which it was known to the police that security guards were attacked. A total of £75,163 was stolen.—[Vol 829, c. 221.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many citizens of British Protectorates are now resident in the United Kingdom;(2) how many citizens of St. Lucia and Montserrat, respectively, are now resident in the United Kingdom.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why Myra Hyndley was allowed out of Holloway Prison; and on whose authority this action was taken;(2) what action he has taken or proposes to take against those responsible for allowing Myra Hyndley out of prison to walk in a North London public park.

The governor of the prison, in her discretion, took the prisoner out for a short time. I made it clear at the time that in my view it would have been better if she had not done this. I subsequently asked governors of women's prisons to seek Departmental advice before authorising the temporary release of life sentence, former Category A or certain other prisoners. No further action is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, by Monday, 18th September, the hon. Member for West Ham, North, had not received a reply or acknowledgment of receipt of his letter of 5th September regarding the Ugandan Asians; and whether he will reply in detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT to this letter and the subsequent one of 18th September.

The hon. Member's letters were both acknowledged upon receipt, and I replied in detail on 29th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent unauthorised collection of Ugandan Asians by private persons who are taking them to areas where no proper reception facilities exist, which causes distress to both immigrants and British people.

I have received a report on an incident in which a private person took 23 refugees from the Stradishall resettlement centre to Bolton without arranging for their reception or accommodation. I deplore this irresponsible action. Staff of the Uganda Resettlement Board did their utmost to dissuade the refugees from leaving Stradishall. But in the last resort there is no power to compel a refugee to remain in a resettlement centre, and we must continue to rely on persuasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of British citizens expelled from Uganda now housed in Government centres; and whether he will take urgent action, together with local authorities and voluntary organisations and individuals, to provide accommodation for those in this position.

As at 15th October, 8,520 of those who had been admitted to this country were accommodated by the Uganda Resettlement Board in resettlement centres. As my right hon. Friend explained in his statement to the House yesterday, the Government and the Board are taking urgent steps to provide the refugees with accommodation within the community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the fees obtained by Mr. Michael Moriarty of his Department when describing his normal Civil Service duties on radio programmes are payable to his Department; and on what authority Civil Servants from his Department are entitled to earn such moneys in addition to their salaries.

This Question is based on entirely false assumptions. Mr. Moriarty together with my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State and a number of other hon. Members took part in a radio programme to inform listeners about the legislative process. No fee was offered or requested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the police took with regard to investigating IIG (London) Services and International Investors Group (Sales) Limited; when their investigations took place; whether all directors of the companies were requested to make statements; when the police report was received; when it will be published; and what action will be taken in connection with same.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his Questions of 3rd August. Police reports on certain matters are with counsel but further inquiries are being made. It will be for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider what action may be necessary.—[Vol. 842 c. 184–5].

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why Mr. Walter Smith, serving five years' imprisonment for a £67,000 robbery, was allowed out of prison to marry Margaret Stonehill of Stratford; and whether he will make a statement;(2) how many guests who attended the wedding of Prisoner Walter Smith, at Wandsworth Town Hall on Wednesday, 2nd September, 1972, used police Panda cars; how many cars in addition to the Panda cars, the Rover and the police van were used; what petrol and at what costs of public funds and how many police officers were involved, at what costs; and who will meet the costs.

This case fell within the categories for which it is the practice to consider temporary release of a prisoner, under escort if necessary. The time away from prison involved was 35 minutes. My noble Friend has written to the hon. Member to explain the general background.I am not prepared to disclose details of police deployment. No civilians were carried in police vehicles. The only additional cost falling on police funds was 18p for petrol.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give the total costs of the four-day trial of Mr. Maurice O'Regan, accused of stealing cheques belonging to Lady Peek, and the cost to public funds.

£840·63 all of which falls to be met from public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the case of the prosecution of Mr. Maurice O'Regan for allegedly stealing Lady Peek's cheques, he is now able to give the expenses of the three prosecution witnesses; and what amounts have been claimed or paid.

I understand that five witnesses were called by the prosecution. Expenses totalling £206·93 have been claimed and paid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now state his intentions in respect of the Report of the Committee on Criminal Evidence, in view of subsequent criticism among practitioners, legal publications and commentators.

My right hon. Friend is still awaiting the views of a number of organisations which have been consulted. As he said in the House on 8th August, all views received will be fully considered and the Government does not intend to proceed without the fullest consultation and debate.—[Vol. 842, c. 1573–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in restoring effective maintenance of law and order to the civil police in Northern Ireland.

There are no areas in Northern Ireland in which the police are unable to operate. But in some difficult areas they still require the support of the Armed Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the promised referendum on the border issue in Northern Ireland and give the reasons why he has now postponed the same until after the announced date of the local elections there; and if he is aware of the resentment that this decision has caused.

I would refer my hon. Friend to what my right hon. Friend said in reply to his supplementary question on Tuesday.—[Vol. 843, c. 30–31.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received in regard to the announcement of the date of the proposed local elections; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received representations to the effect that the local elections, fixed for 6th December, should not be held during the winter because of lack of light and of the security situation. He is aware, as he told the House on Tuesday, of the feeling in many quarters that the local elections should not be held until after the plebiscite on the border.—[Vol. 843, c. 31.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the work of his Commission; and what has been its cost to public funds to date.

The Northern Ireland Commission, which is an important part of the present arrangements for the government of Northern Ireland, carries out functions laid down under Article 1 of the Schedule of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1972, and in particular advises me on any matters referred to it which are connected with the discharge of my functions. The total cost of the Commission to public funds to date is £6,328.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to public funds of the Darlington Conference; and how this compares with the estimated cost of holding the same conference at Stormont or elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

Approximately £16,800. No estimates were made of the cost of holding the conference in Northern Ireland as there was no intention of holding it there.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on his political discussions with Northern Ireland leaders.

The Darlington conference provided me with a valuable opportunity to discuss with the leaders of three of the political parties in Northern Ireland their views and proposals for the future. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I also met leaders of the Social Democratic and Labour Party shortly before the conference and I am also in touch with other political leaders. I shall continue these consultations which are an essential part of the Government's declared objective of a settlement which will lead to peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about arrangements for local defence and security in Northern Ireland.

Security in Northern Ireland has been and will continue to be the responsibility of the security forces under the operational direction of the General Officer Commanding.There is ample opportunity in the Ulster Defence Regiment, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve for all who wish to contribute to defence and security in Northern Ireland, and I hope that more and more people will come forward to help the security forces in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of persons unemployed for one year or more in the United Kingdom at each month since January, 1960.

The unemployment statistics are analysed each quarter to show the length of time for which people have been on the Register and are published regularly.Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons in Reading he estimates would benefit from attending a sheltered workshop; and what plans he has for providing one.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of unemployed in Newark and district and the percentage of the registered labour force for males and females, respectively, and the total for August, 1972, and each of the previous five years.

Following is the information:

A recent survey has indicated that between 30 and 40 severely disabled people in Reading are likely to be suitable and available for sheltered employment. My Department will shortly be discussing with the two local authorities concerned the possibility of their providing a sheltered workshop of this size.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will prevent the closure of any more lodging houses for which he is responsible where the total number of beds cannot be replaced.

My right hon. Friend has no direct responsibility for providing lodging houses and has no powers to prevent closures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the additional costs of pollution control being built into development projects.

Pollution controls are imposed in this country wherever the interests of environmental protection require them. It is seldom possible to identify their specific costs in development or other projects but if my hon. Friend has some particular project in mind, I will be glad to make further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider reissuing roads circular 71/13 drawing attention to the note to making special application for all orange badge holders to obtain full benefit from parking restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

No. I do not think a reissue of Circular 13/71 is needed to remind authorities of the advice recently given in Circular 25/71.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the acreage of land planned for, respectively, commercial development and residential development owned by the Government and at present standing idle in both the Greater London area and other parts of the country.

Government policy is to dispose of land as soon as possible after it becomes surplus to foreseeable needs. Generally the future use or development cannot properly be considered until there is some prospect that the land will be released. I am therefore unable to give any meaningful figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the fact that retirement pensioners in poor housing conditions and awaiting re-housing in the London Borough of Newham would be pleased to move to the accommodation in Suffolk allocated to the Ugandan Asians, whether he will take action to assist these pensioners along these lines.

In common with other former service camps, the RAF Station at Stradishall in West Suffolk is being used by the Uganda Asians solely as a reception centre. It is earmarked for other uses as soon as its temporary occupation ends and would not therefore be suitable for the purpose the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be delegating responsibility for the authorisation of pedestrian crossings in London to the Greater London Council.

I have recently approved arrangements allowing for a maximum of 3,690 pedestrian crossings on non-trunk roads in Greater London and for a minimum number of 2,400. Within these wide limits the Greater London Council is free to establish or remove crossings on roads other than trunk road without reference to me. The signals element of "Pelican" crossings will still require my approval for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the South-West Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the South-East Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the North-West Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the West Midlands Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the Northern Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the East Midland Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the membership of the East Anglia Economic Planning Council.

As is customary each year. I have recently reviewed the membership of all the Economic Planning Councils in England. There are some changes, and I have made a particular point of bringing in some younger members. I am glad to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the excellent work done by those members who have served hitherto.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware of the damage caused to property in Alma Road, Windsor, from material dropped by aircraft; and if he will institute an inquiry into the safety of those living in the town and Castle of Windsor.

I am aware of this incident and I regret any inconvenience caused to the householder. It was, however, an exceptional occurrence and I am satisfied, having regard to the full information available on the incident, that no further inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on the discussions that have taken place between the National Film Finance Corporation and British Lion regarding the future of Shepperton Studios, particularly the recommendations of the National Film Finance Corporation which were submitted to his department in early September; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement issued by the National Film Finance Corporation on 30th September last.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that no part of Shepperton Film Studios will be disposed of by Barclay Securities Limited until agreement has been reached through consultation with the film trade unions and after parliamentary debate.

It is for the National Film Finance Corporation, as holder of the Special Preference Share in British Lion, created in 1964 for this pur-purpose, to decide whether British Lion is entitled to dispose of the whole or part of the assets at Shepperton.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial aid is proposed to be paid to the ball-bearing industry under the Industry Act; and for what projects.

As in the case of other industries, this will depend on applications received and the decisions reached on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether British Rail have now reported to him on their deficit for the current year and as to what portion of that sum is due directly to the wages settlement, reached during the year, unrelated to productivity.

I have been asked to reply. The Board currently estimates that its deficit for 1972 will be about £40 million. It is impossible to say how much of this can be attributed to its wage settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the financial aid loans, grants, &c., provided to private companies in the aircraft, shipbuilding, electronics and other industries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider proposing the amendment of Section 9 of the Copyright Act, 1956, to draw a distinction between mechanical drawings and models as artistic works and the assertion of rights more extensive than those attributed to them as registered designs under the Design Copyright Act, 1968.

The information for the last two financial years is as follows:

I am considering whether industrial designs, such as three dimensional reproductions of mechanical drawings, for which no protection is available under the Registered Designs Act, 1949, should enjoy more extensive protection under the Copyright Act, 1956, as amended by the Design Copyright Act, 1968, than they would have enjoyed had they been registrable under the Registered Designs Act. I propose in the immediate future, to obtain the views of bodies representing industry on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is still the policy of the Government to dispose of the brick-making facilities of the National Coal Board; and how many offers have been received for particular works.

It is the Board's policy, with which I concur, to dispose of its brickworks provided offers are made which in its judgment are acceptable. I understand that the Board has received offers for some of its brickworks and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in what is essentially a commercial matter for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is the intention of the Government to invite the British Steel Corporation to subscribe to the 5 per cent. ceiling on prices or whether the corporation will be permitted a free hand pursuant to the Treaties of Paris.

I am sure that the British Steel Corporation itself will want to make as full a contribution as is consistent with our Treaty obligations to a policy of price restraint accepted by the rest of industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with security at London Airport; and if he will make a statement.

There can be no absolute guarantee of security at airports and it is important therefore that the security precautions should be kept closely and regularly under review. To this end, comprehensive security surveys of our major airports, including Heathrow, have recently been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now announce the date of the opening of the final stretch of roadworks linking the Midlands with Newport, Monmouthshire.

It is hoped to open this road for traffic on 8th December, 1972.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will seek powers to establish official citizen advice offices throughout the country to assist individuals to secure their rights from Government and local authority departments.

No. I believe it would be quicker and more economical to develop existing facilities and encourage their wider use.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Minister for the Civil Service and the Secretary of State for Social Services in respect of the need to provide additional staff at Social Security offices throughout the country; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Yes, 4,000 extra permanent posts have been authorised and are being added to the complement of local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security. This follows a comprehensive agreement with the staff side which also covers a review of the Department's staffing procedures, improvements in training arrangements and in the physical conditions of local offices, as well as a study aimed at simplifying and improving work methods.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the progress of preparations to signalise Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Miss Joan Hall) on 17th October, Lord Goodman and Lord Mancroft propose to hold a joint Press conference on 24th October to describe their plans.

asked the Prime Minister whether he remains satisfied with the co-ordination of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Employment to increase employment in the regions; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Redmond) on 6th July, the Government's incentives to stimulate the industrial regeneration of the regions are complemented by improvements in training facilities and the employment services.—[Vol. 840, c. 744–6.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement upon the effect the extension of Icelandic fishing limits is having in the British deep sea fishing industry, and in particular upon his discussions with the leaders of the industry during the past weeks.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 17th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara). The incidents off Iceland since that date, on which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has made a full statement this afternoon, will have had no significant effect on supplies or prices. My right hon. Friend has already discussed the situation arising with the chairman of the industry's Joint Action Committee on Iceland, and will be meeting the full committee very shortly.—[Vol. 843, c. 10–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what acreage was transferred under the 1966–70 Kenya land transfer programme

The programme provided for up to 100,000 acres to be purchased annually during the four-year period. 300,539 acres were transferred, but there remains a balance of approximately £700,000 under the UK/Kenya Loan 1966–70. At the request of the Kenya Government, this is to be used to supplement the funds available for the present programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made by Her Majesty's Government in preparation for World Population Year, 1974.

The central feature of World Population Year will be the World Population Conference to be held in New York in August. Her Majesty's Government are playing a prominent part in the preparation for that conference in the United Nations Population Commission and elsewhere and intend to participate fully in the conference itself. We are in close touch with the Executive Director of the United Nations Fund for Population activities who is responsible for the preparations for the year. We are considering what detailed arrangements might be made in the United Kingdom such as, for example, the issue of special publications.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government expects to ratify the Convention on International Liability for Damage caused by Space Objects.

Her Majesty's Government expect to ratify this Convention when the necessary international consultations have been completed, which should be soon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent charitable organisations concerned with the disabled now pay purchase tax and selective employment tax; whether such bodies will be exempt from value added tax; or what rate of tax will be payable;(2) to what extent charitable organisations concerned with the mentally handicapped now pay purchase tax and selective employment tax; whether such bodies will be exempt from the value added tax; or what rate of tax will be payable.

Charities concerned with the disabled and mentally handicapped bear purchase tax on their purchases of chargeable goods in the same way as non-charitable organisations. SET also enters into the price of purchased goods and services. They also pay selective employment tax for their employees but these payments can be refunded.Many of these charities will be exempt from value added tax because their activities are among those specifically exempted or because their turnover from taxable activities does not exceed £5,000 a year. Others will be liable for the standard rate of VAT on certain of their activities.

asked the Secretary of State if he will name the senior officials in the Scottish Office who have been directly responsible for new towns in Scotland, between the beginning of the new town of East Kilbride and the present day, giving dates.

Responsibility for matters affecting the new towns in Scotland, so far as concerns the Scottish Office, rests with my predecessors in office and myself. Considerable numbers of officials in various grades, in the Department of Health for Scotland up to 1962 and in the Scottish Development Department thereafter, have been concerned with the affairs of the new towns. Individuals holding the more senior posts can be identified, as regards any particular period, by consulting the appropriate issues of the Imperial Calendar.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to arrive at a decision on possible ways of providing some help for the preservation of churches of outstanding merit, whose congregations have insufficient resources to undertake the tasks themselves; and if he will make a statement.

I am inviting the Churches in Scotland to take part in a pilot scheme by submitting to me applications in respect of three or four churches for assistance by means of grants awarded on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland. The scheme will be confined to relatively small buildings of outstanding merit, probably pre-Reformation churches, where the congregations cannot afford to undertake preservation work. I will require an assurance, through a binding agreement, that the assisted building will not be demolished or altered without my consent; and the congregation will be expected to contribute as much as it can to the cost of repairs.I will consider later what more can and should be done in the light of experience gained from this pilot scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to extend further the arrangements whereby war pensioners can receive regular visits through the War Pensioners' Welfare Service.

The regular visiting scheme for war pensioners which is at present available to:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated amount lost to the National Insurance Fund or written off through non-payment of national insurance contributions by employers and the self-employed; what is the estimated total of such payments in arrears by, respectively, six and 12 months at 31st December, 1971; and how many prosecutions have been undertaken in each of the last five years regarding failure to make due payments and with what results.

No reliable estimate can be made of the amount. About £900,000 was recorded as written-off in 1971–72 but the central records of such amounts are limited to contributions due from employers and exclude small amounts waived locally. Details of the periods for which arrears are due are not available. The number of prosecutions under Section 8(2) of the National Insurance Act, 1965, and the results, are as follows: