asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if facilities are available to local authorities for the training of inspectors appointed by them to enforce animal welfare legislation.

Local authorities make their own arrangements for the appointment and training of such staff. However, the veterinary officers of my Department maintain a close liaison with local authorities and are available to advise them as to welfare requirements in general and on possible action in individual cases.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate of an effective rate of Community tax per cent. paid by an official or servant of the European Communities in respect of an income of £5,000, £8,000 and £15,000, respectively, on the assumption that each official or servant received no allowances other than a head of household allowance and an allowance for two dependent children.

Officials and servants of the European Communities would normally receive other allowances as well as those referred to, but I estimate that the effective rates of tax in the family circumstances stated, expressed as percentages of basic salary plus family allowances, are 4·3 per cent., 8·38 per cent. and 19·6 per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for extending military installations in the Western Isles.

There are no plans for extending military installations in the Western Isles, apart from the continuing development of the Royal Artillery range at North Uist, Benbecula, and South Uist about which I wrote to the hon. Member on 7th April; and some additional married quarters at RAF Benbecula.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action was taken by the army to apprehend the Irish Republican Army gunmen who fired shots in salute as the funeral cortège of Daniel McAreavey passed the junction of Falls Road and Whiterock Road on 9th October, 1972.

As the funeral procession made its way down Falls Road at about 2.35 p.m., four men emerged from Rockdale Street, fired a salvo of shots over the coffin and made off down St. James's Parade.The local Army Commander did not intervene, for reasons described by my hon. Friend in his answer on 23rd October.—[Vol. 843, c.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many units recruit primarily from Northern Ireland; what are the names of those units; and what is their present strength.

Five Army units recruit primarily from Northern Ireland; 5th Royal Iniskilling Dragoon Guards, The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, Irish Guards and 1st and 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rangers. It is not the general practice to publish the strengths of Army units; all five units are, however, well up to establishments.No units in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are recruited on a geographical basis.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many square miles of inland water, estuarial water and territorial water in and around Scotland have restricted public access as a consequence of military requirements.

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the necessary information has been collated.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what proportion Scots-domiciled persons form of recruits to each branch of the Armed Services;

Royal Navy and Royal Marine	Army	Royal Air Force	Total for the three Services
12·2 per cent	13·4 per cent.	10·4 per cent.	12·6 per cent.

The information requested in the second part of the hon. Member's Question is not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the total number of deaths of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment since it was first formed.

Thirty-three from all causes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many weapons issued to the Ulster Defence Regiment have been lost since the regiment was formed; how many of these were lost as a result of raids upon arsenals; and how many as a result of negligence on the part of the individual members of the regiment.

One hundred and seventy five weapons issued to the Ulster Defence Regiment have been stolen or lost since the Regiment was formed, of which 76 have been subsequently recovered.Ninety-six UDR weapons have been lost as a result of raids on armouries of which 68 were subsequently recovered.In 27 cases carelessness or inattention on the part of the soldiers concerned was sufficient to justify disciplinary action being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will obtain and publish information as to the annual expenditure incurred by local authorities on books for libraries con-

In answer to the first part of the hon. Members' Question, following are the percentages of those male other rank recruits who enlisted between April, 1970 and March, 1972 inclusive who are domiciled in Scotland:trolled, respectively, by their education, public libraries, and amenities committees.

No, Sir. Figures relating to the expenditure incurred by all public library authorities on books are already collected by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants and the Society of County Treasurers and are published annually in Public Library Statistics. The question of what kind of committee structure should he adopted for the control of public library services is entirely a matter for local authorities and the wide variety of forms adopted cannot readily be classified in the way requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why the recent advertisement for a Chief Executive of the British Library has not restricted applicants to professional qualified librarians;

(2) what bodies and organisations she consulted before deciding on the form of the advertisement for the Chief Executive of the British Library;

(3) if it is her intention to alter the title of Chief Executive of the British Library to the customary title of Librarian of the British Library; and to what extent she intends to call other librarians by the title of Chief Executive;

(4) if she will appoint a professional librarian to the post of Chief Executive of the British Library in order to maintain the morale of the library profession

The successful applicant will be the person best qualified to discharge the responsibilities of the post, which will include membership of the British Library Board with its wide-ranging statutory duties for the control and management of the library. As the advertisement makes clear, experience in the field of libraries and information science will be an advantage, though substantial administrative experience will be needed. The form of the advertisement is in line with the views of the British Library Organising Committee, which reflects library and other interests concerned, as to the qualities and experience needed for the post. The title to be attached to it will be for the board to determine.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what pre-service training and in-service training, respectively, is considered necessary for teachers in all institutions of higher education.

There is no statutory training requirement for teachers in higher education education institutions. It is for the institution concerned to determine in each case what training a teacher should have, whether pre-service, on appointment or during service, in the light of his qualifications and experience and of the nature of his teaching duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to publish the Russell Report and its recommendations.

My latest information is that the Report will be presented before the end of the year. It will depend on its length how long it takes to get it printed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce the line of Ringway Three from the Thames to Brentwood, Essex, and beyond.

From the A13 north of Dartford Tunnel to the A12 next month and from the A12 to the M11 during the later half of 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protest has been made to the Eire Government about the Provisional Irish Republican Army conference which was held recently in Dublin and about the failure of the Eire Government to have arrested the Chief of Staff of the Provisional Irish Republican Army who addressed the conference; and whether he will make a statement.

Although the Provisional Sinn Fein, which held the conference, is known to be the political counterpart of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and includes in its membership known members of the Provisional IRA, it is not an illegal organisation in the Republic. Action against John Stephenson and other IRA leaders attending the conference or operating in any way from the territory of the Republic is for the Government of the Republic to decide. That Government have repeatedly expressed their disapproval of violence. We have left them in no doubt of our view that more forthright action by them is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his instruction to units of the Royal Navy to keep outside the 50 mile limit means that he recognises the Icelandic Government's claim to such a limit.

No. We have made it clear from the start that we do not accept Iceland's purported extension of jurisdiction over the high seas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing unfilled notified vacancies as a percentage of total employees in Scotland, Northern Region, North-Western Region, Yorkshire and Humberside, Wales, East Midlands, West Midlands, South-Western, Eastern and Southern, London and South-Eastern, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain, for the years 1960 to the nearest available date.

Following is the information available for Great Britain:

NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED AT OCTOBER AS PERCENTAGES OF MID-YEAR ESTIMATES OF THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES

Scotland

Northern

North West

Yorkshire and Humberside

Wales

East Midlands

West Midlands

South West

Eastern and Southern

London and South Eastern

Grew Britain

1960

…

…

0·7

0·6

1·3

—

1·4

—

—

1·5

1·7

1·7

1·5

1961

…

…

0·7

0·6

1·1

—

1·4

—

—

1·3

1·5

1·5

1·3

1962

…

…

0·4

0·4

0·6

—

0·7

—

—

0·9

1·1

0·9

0·8

1963

…

…

0·5

0·4

0·7

—

0·7

—

—

1·1

1·3

1·2

0·9

1964

…

…

0·8

0·6

1·1

—

0·9

—

—

1·3

1·9

1·8

1·4

1965

…

…

0·9

0·9

1·4

1·5

1·1

1·7

1·8

1·4

2·1

1·9

1·6

1966

…

…

0·8

0·8

1·2

1·3

0·9

1·5

1·3

1·0

1·6

1·5

1·3

1967

…

…

0·7

0·7

0·9

1·0

0·7

1·1

0·9

1·1

1·4

1·3

1·0

1968

…

…

0·8

0·8

1·1

1·1

0·8

1·3

1·1

1·1

1·5

1·3

1·2

1969

…

…

0·8

0·8

1·1

1·1

0·9

1·3

1·1

1·1

1·5

1·4

1·2

1970

…

…

0·6

0·8

0·9

1·0

0·9

1·0

0·9

1·2

1·4

1·3

1·1

1971

…

…

0·4

0·5

0·6

0·6

0·6

0·7

0·5

0·9

0·9

0·9

0·7

1972

…

…

0·5

0·6

0·5

0·8

0·7

1·0

0·7

1·3

1·5

1·2

0·9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing unfilled vacancies per 100 wholly unemployed in Scotland, Northern region, North-Western region, Yorkshire and Humberside, Wales, East Midlands, West Midlands, South-Western, Eastern and Southern, London and South-Eastern, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain, for the years 1960 to the nearest available date.

Following is the information available for Great Britain:

NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED PER HUNDRED PEOPLE REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED, EXCEPT TEMPORARILY STOPPED WORKERS
	Scotland	Northern	North West	Yorkshire and Humberside	Wales	East Midlands	West Midlands	South West	Eastern and Southern	London and South Eastern	Grew Britain
October, 1960	22·0	25·1	78·7	—	58·9	—	—	98·1	161·2	196·6	103·6
October, 1961	23·1	25·3	73·2	—	58·5	—	—	88·2	136·8	156·0	89·7
October· 1962	12·3	9·2	23·1	—	19·8	—	—	50·8	74·4	71·3	37·6
October, 1963	12·4	9·0	26·8	—	24·8	—	—	57·5	100·5	101·9	46·6
October, 1964	24·2	21·0	60·1	—	37·6	—	—	86·3	187·2	203·5	95·5
October, 1965	35·0	36·4	91·9	144·8	39·8	194·5	268·1	85·7	227·7	225·9	120·5
October, 1966	29·8	28·3	72·9	103·0	28·0	123·0	129·8	49·6	125·1	143·2	80·4
October, 1967	18·3	16·3	37·7	48·0	17·9	65·2	44·9	44·7	80·9	79·1	45·3
October, 1968	23·1	16·3	47·3	43·6	19·8	67·9	56·8	43·0	92·3	86·6	49·7
October, 1969	23·1	17·0	43·1	43·0	21·8	67·0	60·4	40·3	89·5	94·0	50·1
October, 1970	14·3	17·9	33·3	36·5	24·4	46·5	41·5	41·1	77·8	88·8	42·4
October, 1971	5·8	8·5	13·2	14·6	12·9	23·7	14·8	25·1	36·8	45·4	19·4
October, 1972	7·7	10·1	11·6	20·1	14·5	35·3	19·7	40·3	67·4	65·6	26·8

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the wholly unemployed as a per-

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the current number of unfilled vacancies per 100 wholly unemployed, in Scotland and Great Britain, respectively, for the following employment categories, electrical and electronics, engineering and allied trades and construction.

Following is the information:centage of total employees in Scotland, Northern region, North-Western region, Yorkshire and Humberside, Wales, East Midlands, West Midlands, South-Western, Eastern and Southern London and South-Eastern, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain, for the years 1960 to the nearest available date.

Following is the information available for Great Britain:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT BASED ON THE NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED EXCEPT TEMPORARILY STOPPED WORKERS
	Scotland	Northern	North West	Yorkshire and Humberside	Wales	East Midlands	West Midlands	South West	Eastern and Southern	London and South Eastern	Great Britain
October, 1960	3·0	2·5	1·7	—	2·3	—	—	1·5	1·1	0·9	1·4
October, 1961	2·9	2·4	1·6	—	2·4	—	—	1·5	1·1	1·0	1·4
October, 1962	3·7	3·9	2·6	—	3·3	—	—	1·9	1·5	1·3	2·0
October, 1963	4·0	4·3	2·6	—	2·9	—	—	1·8	1·3	1·2	2·0
October, 1964	3·1	3·0	1·8	—	2·5	—	—	1·5	1·0	0·9	1·5
October, 1965	2·7	2·4	1·5	1·0	2·6	0·9	0·7	1·6	0·9	0·9	1·3
October, 1966	2·8	2·8	1·6	1·3	3·2	1·2	1·0	2·1	1·3	1·1	1·6
October, 1967	3·7	4·1	2·4	2·1	4·0	1·6	2·0	2·4	1·7	1·6	2·3
October, 1968	3·6	4·8	2·4	2·5	3·9	1·9	1·9	2·5	1·7	1·5	2·3
October, 1969	3·6	4·7	2·5	2·6	4·1	1·9	1·8	2·8	1·7	1·5	2·4
October, 1970	4·3	4·5	2·7	2·8	3·7	2·2	2·0	2·8	1·8	1·5	2·5
October, 1971	6·2	6·1	4·3	4·2	4·9	3·0	3·4	3·6	2·5	2·0	3·6
October, 1972	6·1	6·1	4·6	3·9	4·9	2·8	3·3	3·2	2·2	1·9	3·5

The Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands and West Midlands regions were formed in April, 1965, and information for October, 1964, and earlier dates is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employent if he will state the October figures of wholly unemployed

NUMBERS OF PEOPLE REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED, EXCEPT TEMPORARILY STOPPED WORKERS, AND OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED
					Unemployed		Unfilled vacancies
					Males	Females	Males	Females
West Midlands
May, 1972	…	…	…	…	70,110	12,400	6,482	5,549
June, 1972	…	…	…	…	65,074	11,518	7,117	6,134
July, 1972	…	…	…	…	66,006	12,688	8,679	6,565
August, 1972	…	…	…	…	70,349	15,962	8,439	5,851
September, 1972		…	…	…	68,586	14,985	7,441	5,969
October, 1972		…	…	…	62,168	13,117	8,225	6,592
East Midlands
May, 1972	…	…	…	…	36,544	5,971	5,979	5,404
June, 1972	…	…	…	…	33,893	5,689	6,711	6,047
July, 1972	…	…	…	…	35,037	6,231	7,164	6,190
August, 1972		…	…	…	36,643	7,337	7,310	5,521
September, 1972		…	…	…	35,792	6,926	7,182	5,732
October, 1972		…	…	…	33,102	6,345	7,953	5,984
Scotland
May, 1972	…	…	…	…	104,839	27,700	4,405	5,153
June, 1972	…	…	…	…	100,578	26,025	4,836	5,687
July, 1972	…	…	…	…	107,425	29,084	4,604	5,401
August, 1972		…	…	…	108,952	29,959	4,861	5,063
September, 1972		…	…	…	109,717	29,260	4,333	4,986
October, 1972		…	…	…	102,035	28,075	5,042	5,013

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the un-

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE SOUTH WEST PLANNING REGION OF SCOTLAND
						Males	Females	Total
October, 1970	…	…	…	…	…	1,981	617	2,598
October, 1971	…	…	…	…	…	2,765	696	3,461
October, 1972	…	…	…	…	…	2,278	726	3,004

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the effective rate of tax per cent. paid by a resident of the United Kingdom in respect of a total income, all earned, of £5,000, £8,000, and £15,000, respectively, received in the financial year 1973–74, assuming no allowances except an allowance in respect of two dependent children.

Following is the information:employment figures, male and female, for the South-West Scotland planning region for the latest available date; and how these figures compare with those for a similar period in 1971 and 1970.

Following is the information:

The figures for a married man with two dependent children are given on pages 31–33 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1972–73. The figures are based upon the provisional rates and allowances in the Finance Act, 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates his current growth rate target of 5 per cent. will exceed the underlying increase of productive potential in the economy.

There is a considerable degree of undercapacity in the economy at the present time. The underlying growth in productive potential is difficult to identify precisely but is estimated at about 3 per cent. per annum, over a period of time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the decision of the Government of Malaysia to diversify the pattern of their currency reserves, their sterling holdings continue to enjoy the Basle guarantee of their dollar exchange value.

No. The guarantee under the Sterling Agreement with Malaysia became inoperative when Malaysian sterling holdings were reduced below the required minimum sterling proportion.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what percentage of the people of Merioneth is able to receive full television and radio services on their sets, i.e., BBC 1 and 2, colour, and one channel of Independent Television; and what percentage of the people of London receives a comparable service.

The information requested is not readily available and I have asked the BBC and IBA to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what proportion of the population of the Highlands and Islands can now receive all three television channels.

Twenty per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the loss through migration to the Borders area in the years 1966 to the nearest available date.

It is estimated that the net loss by migration from the Borders planning region in the period 1st July, 1966, to 30th June, 1971, was 2,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what progress has been made towards providing insurance cover for nurses and other staff while undertaking ambulance journeys.

Improved allowances in respect of nurses and others who may be killed or permanently injured while engaged on National Health Service duties are still under consideration by the Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee. When the arrangements are finalised there will be a measure of retrospection to ensure that no one will be adversely affected by the time taken to reach agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the net annual increase in the population of Great Britain over each of the next three decades.

On the basis of the assumptions set out in the Registrar-General's Quarterly Return for England and Wales, No. 493 (Appendix F), the estimate of the annual population increase in Great Britain in the decades ending mid-1981, mid-1991 and mid-2001 are, respectively, 199,000, 240,000, 266,000. These increases represent annual growth rates of respectively 0·36, 0·42 and 0·46 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider cancelling the North Sea production licences of companies or groups of companies which make statements calculated to deceive the Scottish public as to the extent of oil discoveries.

I know of no evidence to suggest that such statements have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what were the total advances made to the National Coal Board between 1946–1965 and the amount repaid prior to the capital reconstruction in 1965; the total advances made

						£m	NCB Accounts reference
1946–1964–65
Total advances	…	…	…	…	…	807	1964–65, Schedule I
Total repayments	…	…	…	…	…	181	1964–65, Schedule I
1965–66–1971–72
Total advances	…	…	…	…	…	356	1971–72, Schedule IV
Total repayments	…	…	…	…	…	66	1971–72, Schedule IV
Loans extinguished by 1965 Capital reconstruction					…	415	1965–66, Schedule V and Note

I cannot anticipate how much might be written off in any future capital reconstruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons are employed in research by his Department; and how many are domiciled in Scotland.

The number of persons employed by the Department on industrial research is 3,688, of whom there are 969 in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, taking 1960 as base year, what has been the percentage rise in the retail cost of coal, oil and gas up to the most convenient date for which figures are available.

Between 1960 and September, 1972 the indices for coal and gas prices used in compiling the Retail Prices Index rose by 111 and 58 per cent. respectively. Over the same period the published prices of standard grade burning oil and gas oil for domestic heating purposes rose by 57 per cent. and 55 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the total coal production in 1977 from British collieries existing now.

This information—which is readily available in the NCB's Annual Reports and Accounts—is as follows:

It is impossible to give a meaningful estimate of the level of coal production in 1977 from existing pits, because some will exhaust their workable reserves and because other factors affecting productivity and the cost of competitive fuels will have a major effect on total production.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of industrial development certificates applied for and granted in the Dartford and Gravesend areas during 1970, 1971 and 1972.

IDCs approved for the Gravesend travel-to-work area—which covers Dartford and Gravesend—in 1970, 1971 and the first nine months of 1972 were as follows—

1970	16
1971	21
1972	5
(to Sept.)

No applications were refused in this period.Note: The exemption limit was raised in December, 1970 from 3,000 sq. ft. to 5,000 sq. ft., and in July, 1972 to 10,000 sq. ft.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Government factories remain unlet in Wales; how long they have been empty; and whether he will make a statement.

22 remain unlet; five for more than two years, eight for between one and two years and nine for less than a year. The Department is either seeking tenants, or currently negotiating with prospective tenants, for all the factories.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the recent collisions involving shipping in the Bristol Channel; and what steps are being taken to improve the safety regulations.

Collisions took place in Barry Roads on 20th October between the mv "Arcadia Wien" and the mv "Welsh Herald" and on 26th October between the mv "British Dart" and the mv "Daghestan". Damage was slight and there were no injuries. I have ordered inquiries to be made into these casualties and when I receive the reports will decide what action may be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what agreement was reached at the European Economic Community summit conference held in Paris on 19th–20th October, 1972, as to whether the proposed regional development fund should operate on the scale of tens or hundreds of millions of pounds per annum.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the Leader of the Opposition on this point on 23rd October.—[Vol. 843, c. 796–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how soon he expects to be able to state whether the whole of Wales or parts thereof are to be regarded as a peripheral area for purposes of regional development policy in the Common Market.

Under Article 154 of the Treaty of Accession this issue is to be settled by 1st July, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further consultations he has had with local authorities in Wales about empowering them to grant concessionary fares to mentally handicapped persons; what decisions have been reached; and if he will make a statement.

Two local authorities in Wales have made representations to me about extending the scope of concessionary travel arrangements to include mentally handicapped persons. Representations have also been made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Whilst there is at present no indication of a general desire for wider powers, Newport CBC has extended its welfare arrangements to cover concessionary fares for mentally handicapped persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are currently awaiting admission to hospitals under the control of the Welsh Hospital Board.

31,962 as at 30th September, 1972. Waiting time depends on the urgency of the case and the speciality concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount to date paid to McKinsey and Company Incorporated for its work on health services reorganisation in Wales; and what is the estimated total amount to be paid to this firm.

To date, £69,756, representing work from August, 1971 to the end of August, 1972. While a close estimate of total cost is not yet possible, I expect the services of the firm to be used on a declining scale over the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified medical practitioners and qualified nurses, respectively, were on the staff of Llanelli General Hospital, West Wales General Hospital, Glangwili, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, and Morriston Hospital at 31st December, 1971.

							Medical Practitioners	Qualified Nurses
Llanelli General Hospital	…	…	…	…	…	…	34	83
West Wales General Hospital, Glangwili			…	…	…	…	76	185
Singleton Hospital, Swansea	…	…	…	…	…	…	85	191
Morriston Hospital, Swansea	…	…	…	…	…	…	73	210
Included in the medical practitioners are a number of consultants who have sessional commitments at more than one hospital and general practitioners undertaking sessional work.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will institute a study of the potential of railway lines to be used primarily for excursion trains including dining cars, prior to taking a decision over closure of any railway line in Wales.

A separate study is not required. No passenger line may be closed without the consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, which would not be given without the most careful consideration of all relevant matters, including the potential of the line for the development of different kinds of traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what strategic advice has been

On 30th September 1971, the nearest date for which information is available, the figures are as follows:received by the Welsh Office from the Welsh Council to date; and if he will list the dates upon which such advice was received.

I am in continuous touch with the Council and receive its views, both formally and informally, on a wide range of issues affecting Wales. Reports on the following major issues have been published on the dates given.

Cambrian Coast Railway Passenger Service	September, 1971
Income and Expenditure Accounts for Wales 1965–68	September, 1971
Wales and the Common Market	October, 1971
Wales: Employment and the Economy	March, 1972
Glamorgan (Rhoose) Airport	March, 1972
The Deeside Proposals	March, 1972
Industrial Development Policy	July, 1972