asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if packages of demerara and soft brown sugar will be required, under the new labelling of food regulations, to indicate any artificial colouring they may contain.

From 1st January, 1973, under the Labelling of Food Regulations, 1970, most prepacked foods will, if they contain a permitted colouring matter, have to indicate the fact on the label in the manner prescribed. There are similar provisions in the Labelling of Food Order, 1953, which is to be revoked on 1st January by the 1970 regulations.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on how many occasions during 1972 the army or police have been fired on from the Southern Irish side of the Border.

Between 1st January and 15th November, 1972 the army and police have been fired at on 135 occa- sions from south of the Border with the Irish Republic.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list the total number of guns, ammunition and explosives found by the security forces in each month during 1972.

The following items have been found by the army in circumstances indicating an intention to use them unlawfully:

	Firearms	Ammunition (rounds)	Explosives (lb.)
1972
January	98	14,800	1,000
February	102	18,300	600
March	78	15,300	1,100
April	74	12,300	1,400
May	52	10,200	800
June	58	1,700	5,000
July	101	13,900	3,300
August	253	44,200	10,200
September	116	17,300	4,900
October	145	13,000	2,100

The figures given for explosives include amounts recovered from dismantled devices as well as those discovered in searches.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) what proportion of total defence spending, including items outwith the defence budget, was incurred in Scotland in each of the last five years;(2) what proportion of the military research expenditure of his Department was incurred in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

The percentages of defence expenditure as a whole spent in Scotland over the last five years are as follows:

1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
6¾	6	6¼	7	6½

I regret that it is not possible to break these figures down so as to identify research separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of schools, maintained and private, respectively, catering for maladjusted children, and the number of places in each.

As at January, 1972, there were 127 maintained special schools for maladjusted pupils in England, with 4,476 pupils, and 18 non-maintained special schools, with 720 pupils. In addition, LEA returns in January, 1972, showed that 3,225 maladjusted children attended a variety of independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of children with all types of handicaps presently diagnosed as requiring special education and the total number of school places available.

In January, 1972, 118,328 handicapped children in England attended special schools, including hospital special schools, and 14,901 were notified by LEAs as awaiting admission to these schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of physically handicapped children awaiting for a special school place at the latest available date.

					Schools in England		Pupils on register in January
					Maintained	Non-maintained	Maintained	Non-maintained
1970	…	…	…	…	443	15	50,492	1,456
1971	…	…	…	…	471	15	53,568	1,482
1972	…	…	…	…	896*	14	83,056*	1,308
* 406 schools for the severely mentally handicapped and 26,351 pupils became the responsibility of local education authorities on 1st April, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on the basis of applications from the local authority, and consents given, how many schools in Huddersfield are over 70 years old, how many are over 50 years old, how many still lack inside toilets and running water; and what are the present plans for school building in the Huddersfield area.

Of the 12 primary schools with buildings dating from before 1903, seven will be wholly or partly replaced by projects included in the major building programmes for 1971–75. My

In January, 1972, 691.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of specially qualified teachers employed in schools for the educationally sub-normal; and what percentage this represents of the total number of teachers employed in such schools.

In January, 1972, 1,040 teachers, just under 22 per cent. of the total, had additional qualifications for teaching handicapped pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of educationally sub-normal children waiting for a special school place at the latest available date.

In January, 1972, 10,761.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of places available in maintained and non-maintained schools, respectively, for each of the last three years for educationally sub-normal children.

Following is the information:right hon. Friend is awaiting the Huddersfield local authority's proposals for the 1975–76 programme. The rest of the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available in the Department, but may be obtained from the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of students, constituting what percentage of the whole, who do not receive the parental contribution to which they are entitled.

This information is not available to the Department, and I have no basis upon which an estimate could be founded.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children receive free school meals in the city of Birmingham; what this is as a percentage of total meals taken; and how this compares with each of the previous five years.

In October, 1972, 26,722, and 26.2 per cent. Corresponding figures for the five previous years were:

	Children receiving free meals	Free meals as percentage of total
1971	22,283	23·9
1970	16,096	15·8
1969	14,294	14·2
1968	20,990	20·2
1967	9,571	9·6

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grants are available from central Government funds to local authorities to help the rebuilding, modernisation or similar improvement of village halls, community centres, and so forth in rural areas, and to the management committees or trustees of such institutions.

Within the limit of the resources available, my Department makes grants to village hall and community centre committees equal to twice the grants offered by local authorities, subject to a limit of 50 per cent. of the total cost of each project or £25,000, whichever is the less. My Department does not make specific grants to local authorities for this purpose.

Negotiating Group					Estimated number of workers affected
Hosiery Manufacture NJIC	…	…	…	…	81,000
National Health Service—
(a) Administrative and Clerical	…	…	…	…	68,000
(b) Ancillary Workers	…	…	…	…	230,000
(c) Medical Laboratory Technicians	…	…	…	…	11,500
(d) Professional and Technical Staff "B" Group	…	…	…	…	24,700
Paper Making and Paper Board	…	…	…	…	71 000
Post Office—Non-Engineering Grades above Clerical Officer	…	…	…	…	31,000
Retail Multiple Grocery (E & W)	…	…	…	…	100,000
Retail Pharmacy NJIC	…	…	…	…	55,000
Road Haulage (GB) (WC)	…	…	…	…	300,000
Sawmilling (E & W)	…	…	…	…	27,000
Scottish Banks	…	…	…	…	15,000
Teachers (E & W)	…	…	…	…	384,000

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will publish a table showing how her allocation of funds for the improvement and so on of village halls and community centres compares with funds made available over the past five years to the latest convenient date for the same purposes;(2) if she will publish the sum of money made available for the improvement of village halls, community centres and the like in the administrative county of Hampshire over the past five years.

Grants offered by my Department over the last five years are as follows:

Year	England and Wales	Hampshire
	£	£
1968–69	421,000	18,000
1969–70	536,000	25,000
1970–71	798,000	21,500
1971–72	911,000	25,000
1972–73 (to 15th November, 1972)	1,172,000	33,600

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the wage and salary claims made but suspended by the freeze, the percentage demanded and the number of people involved and similar details covering claims that have succeeded during the past two weeks.

The following major wage and salary claims are known to have been made before 6th November, 1972, but no settlement had been reached by that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details of wage and salary increases awarded to different occupation groups since 1st October to the nearest available date; and which of these will not be paid

Agreement			Estimated Number of Workers	Percentage Increase‡	Operative Date
National Health Service—Building Operatives	…	…	10,000	10·8	1st January, 1972
Government Industrial Establishments	…	…	200,000	13·8+	1st July, 1972
Post Office—Assistant Executive	…	…	11,500	9·2+	1st July, 1972
Engineers		…	…	0·7+	1st January, 1973* (Restructuring increase).
Retail Multiple Footwear (G.B.)	…	…	42,000	—	14th August, 1972
				—	1st October, 1972
				—	1st January, 1973*
Police			100,000	15·0+	1st September, 1972
Fletton Brick Manufacture	…	…	8,000	—	18th September, 1972
Local Authority—Building and Civil	…	…	82,000	30·0	18th September, 1972 (Stage 1).
Engineering Workers		…	…	1·9	6th November, 1972 (Stage 2).
Electricity Supply—Manuals	…	…	120,000	9·5+	18th September, 1972
				1·0+	19th March, 1972†
Civil Engineering Construction	…	…	175,000	—	18th September, 1972
					25th June, 1973
					10th June, 1974
University Technicians	…	…	15,000	8·0+	1st October, 1972
Atomic Energy Authority (United Kingdom)	…	…	7,300	Under 10·0+	1st October, 1972
British Nuclear Fuels Ltd	…	…	5,600	Under 10·0+	1st October, 1972
London Clearing Banks	…	…	110,000	—	1st October, 1972 (Restructuring increase).

The following major wage and salary settlements or wages council orders have been recorded by the Department of Employment since 1st October, 1972. Those affected by the prices and incomes standstill are indicated on the list.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the totals of moneys or other benefits paid to firms in Skelmersdale new town by his Department or its predecessors by way of regional employment premiums, grants or material aid of any kind towards the establishment and operation of plants in the new town for each of the seven years to 30th June, 1972, or the latest accounting date.

Separate records of these payments are not kept. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the cost of obtaining the information would be considerable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those groups of workers who are covered by the Wages Council and Wages Board, who had a wage increase recommended before 6th November, and who will be prevented from receiving it at the recommended time owing to the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Bill; and if he will state the number of workers involved in each category.

In the light of the provisions of the White Paper, the following are affected:

Wages Board/Council	Estimated Number of Workers
Agriculture (England and Wales)	350,000
Agriculture (Scotland)	48,000
Hollow-ware	4,000
Milk Distributive (England and Wales)	80,000
Unlicensed Place of Refreshment	160,000

Several other wages councils, which reached settlements before 6th November, 1972, may also be affected but, unlike the three wages councils listed above, they have not yet submitted their proposals to the Secretary of State for the making of a wages regulation order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to exercise his power of veto withtin the Common Market on the subject of the admission to the United Kingdom of lorries which exceed the present United Kingdom permitted maximum weight.

As an acceding State we have full rights of consultation on proposals for decision by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the temporary hut and railings erected in the environment of the Natural History Museum for the purpose of collecting admission charges; and what is the estimated cost of their removal.

The cost of erecting the hut and railings was £2,500 and the estimated cost of removing them is £150.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, having regard to the fact that the season for bedding roses is nearly over, he will expedite the replanting of the rosebed in the courtyard of the Royal Observatory following the removal of the hut erected for the purpose of collecting admission charges at the National Maritime Museum.

The bed will be replanted with red roses by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the totals of moneys or other benefits paid to firms in Skelmersdale new town by his Department or its predecessors by way of grants, premiums, loans or material aid of any kind towards the establishment or opera- tion of plant in the new town for each of the seven years to 30th June, 1972, or the latest accounting date.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to lay before Parliament the Report of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and its proposals for the pattern of districts in the non-metropolitan counties.

On Tuesday, 21st November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the present policy of the Government concerning official development aid to Uganda.

My right hon. Friend has very much in mind the need for a statement on this subject at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions Her Majesty's Government have raised with the Irish Republic Government instances where the courts in the Republic have classified an extradition offence as being of a political nature; and if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT in each instance the date of the court hearing and the nature of the charge.

In the Irish Republic, as in the United Kingdom, the Executive has no power to interfere in the actions of the judiciary. For this reason, it would serve no useful purpose to raise officially with the Government of the Irish Republic decisions made by the courts of that country. On certain occasions, however, there have been puzzling features about such decisions in extradition cases, for example, refusal to accept apparently conclusive identification evidence, and we have asked the authorities of the Irish Republic to explain them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Pakistan is regarded by Her Majesty's Government as a Commonwealth country.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many diplomats accredited to the Court of St. James's and resident in the United Kingdom are on lists entitling them to claim diplomatic immunity; how many such diplomats are accredited from European countries, the United States of America, South America, Africa, excluding Commonwealth countries and Arab States, Commonwealth countries, Arab States, Japan, Israel and Asian countries, other than Commonwealth countries; and how many such diplomats were so protected in 1932, 1942, 1952, and 1962, respectively;(2) how many representatives of the European Economic Community have claimed diplomatic immunity in respect of claims for debts allegedly owed by them to individuals, firms or companies in the United Kingdom, in each of the last 10 years;(3) how many European, Commonwealth, United States, Soviet, Arab, African, Israeli, South American, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese and Asian diplomats, respectively, accredited to the Court of St. James's have claimed diplomatic immunity in respect of claims for debts allegedly owed by them to individuals, firms or companies in the United Kingdom, in each of the last 10 years;(4) how many representatives of the United Nations and of other international organisations have claimed diplomatic immunity in respect of claims for debts allegedly owed by them to individuals, firms or companies in the United Kingdom, in each of the last 10 years.

As the hon. and learned Member will appreciate, considerable research is involved in providing the information he seeks and, with permission, I shall, therefore, be in touch with him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider introducing legislation to prevent the collection of money in the United Kingdom for the purpose of assisting terrorist activities either in the United Kingdom or abroad.

I have no plans to introduce legislation of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an immediate inquiry into the allegations, details of which have been sent to him, that cannabis, whisky and tobacco have been smuggled into Albany Prison; and if he will make a statement.

Allegations contained in a statement made recently to a Sunday newspaper by a prisoner from Albany, who had failed to return from home leave, are being investigated by the governor. Now that the prisoner has been returned to custody he will be interrogated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the state of security in closed prisons; and what proposals he has to deal with breaches of security.

Arrangements for security at closed prisons are kept constantly under review. If a breach of security occurs, improvements are made in the light of the particular circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of attachment orders which have been terminated, in the year 1972 to date, due to the person against whom the order was granted having changed his employment.

An attachment order is not terminated by a change of employment, though it lapses whilst the person concerned is unemployed or self-employed. No statistics of changes of employment by such persons are kept.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Uganda Resettlement Board has reversed its previous policy of allowing Ugandan Asian refugees to re-enter the settlement camps, and has now decided that these refugees will not be permitted to re-enter camps once they have been dispersed from them.

It has been made clear from the beginning that the resettlement centres were only intended to provide temporary accommodation. The board has taken the view that it would not normally be desirable for families who have joined the general community to return to the centres, although it has made it clear always that exceptional circumstances will always be considered on compassionate grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate what proportion of the Uganda Asian heads of families admitted in the present emergency were born in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he has taken since receiving the report of the Foster inquiry into Scientology;(2) if he has now decided on the action he proposes to take following the report of the Foster inquiry into Scientology.

I am awaiting the outcome of the consultations undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services with the relevant professional organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of stateless persons admitted into the United Kingdom since August, 1972, up to Monday, 13th November; how many of these were Ugandan Asians; and how many from other stated countries; of the Ugandan Asians how many of these voluntarily relinquished their former British citizenship and acquired Ugandan nationality before becoming stateless; and what estimate he has made of the number of these who purposely made themselves stateless by this action.

During the first nine months of 1972, 32,941 stateless aliens and aliens of doubtful nationality were given leave to land. Nearly all came as visitors or for other temporary purposes, or as returning residents. Up to 13th November just over 1,000 persons of undetermined nationality were admitted as dependants of United Kingdom passport holders from Uganda. I regret that the other information asked for is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will postpone the imposition of value added tax on works of art, bearing in mind that as the detailed procedure for administering this tax has not yet been published insufficient time remains for the necessary preparations to be made.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the assumption that about 20 per cent. of the finance for the State pension derives from tax and the balance from contributions, what increases in weekly contributions would be needed to finance a pension of £10 per week for a single person and £16 per week for a married couple.

I have been asked to reply.The cost of increasing retirement pensions to this level would be £1,200 million a year without allowing for accompanying changes in other benefits. If this were met by higher graduated contributions on earnings from £9 to £48 a week, with the Exchequer providing, as at present, 18 per cent, of the amount so contributed, the contributions of employers and employees would each have to be increased by about 2½ per cent, of earnings, on top of the present figure of 4¾ per cent. For employees earning over £48 a week, both employer and employee would have to pay nearly £1 extra.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage increase in the cost of living index would be caused on the basis of fixing the parity of the £ at $2·40, $2·30 and $2·20, respectively, compared with the previous fixed rate.

The effect on the cost of living of changes in the exchange rate depends on a number of factors and cannot be estimated precisely.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer from what source regional policy within the European Economic Community will be financed.

A regional development fund will be set up before the end of 1973 to be financed from the Community's own resources. In addition to national funds, the funds of a number of existing Community institutions can be used for regional purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is his intention to consult with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Eire when considering the constitutional arrangements for the future government of Northern Ireland.

I said in the debate on 13th November that the sole and ultimate responsibility for any constitutional proposals must rest with the United Kingdom Government and Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why a member of the Belfast Harbour Police, who was shot by an Irish Republican Army gunman in the Belfast Harbour area, had his pay stopped by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners while in hospital, and in lieu of pay had to apply for a loan from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, which he had to promise in writing that he would repay when he received compensation.

The Belfast Harbour Commissioners are an independent statutory body, but I have obtained the following information from them. A Belfast Harbour constable was wounded on duty on 2nd December, 1971. Throughout his absence of 16 weeks, he received full pay less a deduction for the national insurance benefit which he was receiving. Purely for technical reasons connected with his compensation claim, 12 weeks' pay was treated as a loan from the Harbour Commissioners. Had his compensation claim failed, repayment of the loan would not have been required. In the event, his claim, in which he was entitled to include a claim for loss of earnings, was successful and the loan was repaid.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on advance factories and their siting.

A periodical review of the advance factory programme was concluded last June, when my right hon. Friend announced its increase to a total of 30 factories to be located in the key and growth centres designated in the Development Programme 1970–75. The present state of the programme is given in the table below.In addition, it has recently been decided to provide in West Belfast two advance factories of some 640 and 1,600 square metres respectively. Twelve small advance factories are also being built for the Local Enterprise Development Unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of persons under 18 years who have died as a result of strife in Northern Ireland in each of the years from 1969 to 1971 and to the latest available date in 1972.

The information is as follows:

1969	2
1970	—
1971	15
1972 (till 16th November)	45

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many television licence fees in Northern Ireland were more than three months outstanding at the latest convenient date; and what steps are being taken to collect such moneys.

The number of television licences outstanding more than three months at 1st October, 1972 was 7,245. Visits are being made to as many of these people as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to introduce legislation in the present Session of Parliament to amend the licensing laws in Scotland.

No, except to the limited extent that some amendment of the law is required to take account of proposed changes in local authorities and their areas in local government reform.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representatives from his Department have been appointed to a working party on pollution formed by Bristol City Council; how many meetings of this working party have been held and on what dates; and what is the attendance record of his representatives.

A senior medical officer of my Department attended all but one of the meetings of the working party to which he was invited. The working party met on 10th November, 1970; 27th January, 1971; 11th March, 1971; 7th July, 1971; 13th October, 1971; 2nd March, 1972 and 12th May, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the additional cost of raising retirement pensions for a single person to £10 a week, and for a married couple to £16 a week.

The cost of increasing retirement pensions to this level would be £1,200 million a year, without allowing for accompanying changes in other benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the findings of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the provisions relating to pneumoconiosis, and on whether special provision should be made for other respiratory conditions, including emphysema, found in the presence of pneumoconiosis, for disablement benefit.

The pneumoconiosis review undertaken by the Council is a fundamental one, and because of the very great weight of both written and oral evidence that has had to be considered, I understand that it will be some months yet before its report to my right hon. Friend will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many miners' families received supplementary benefit during 1972; and how this figure compares with the number of miners on strike.

Of the 308,500 people directly involved in the mining dispute in January and February, 1972, 138,921 successfully claimed supplementary benefit for their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many builders' families received supplementary benefit during 1972; and how this figure compares with the number of building workers on strike.

More than 147,100 people are provisionally estimated to have been directly involved in the building dispute between June and September this year. Of this number, 37,326 successfully claimed supplementary benefit for their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the £5,523,480 paid in supplementary benefits to miners and their dependants during the miners' strike was paid wholly to persons in genuine need.

Supplementary benefit is payable to any person of 16 years and over in Great Britain whose resources are insufficient to meet his requirements.During the coal miners' strike, normal steps were taken, in accordance with the Supplementary Benefits Commission's rules, to ensure that payments were made only to persons satisfying this criterion. Strikers themselves are not entitled to supplementary benefit for their own requirements, and discretionary payments to single strikers were made only on proof of urgent need.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the additional occupancy of hospital beds which may arise from insurance policies which pay benefits contingent upon the number of days spent in hospital.

I have no reason to believe that clinical decisions about admission and discharge of patients are affected by the existence of these policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what will be the efficacy of the industrial development certificate system after Great Britain enters the Common Market on 1st January, 1973, in view of the fact that the system does not operate in the Community and that planning procedures in France may grant substantial advantages to migrating companies.

Experience shows that in deciding whether to establish a project in one country or another firms are primarily motivated by the location of the market they wish to serve. Other factors, of course, enter into the calculation but physical controls such as our industrial development certificate, the analogous system operating in the Paris region and the proposed controls in Holland tend to influence location within a national territory rather than between countries. I would not, therefore, expect entry to the Common Market of itself significantly to affect the efficacy of our IDC control.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the totals of moneys or other benefits paid to firms in Skelmersdale new town by his Department or its predecessors by way of grants, loans, premiums or other material aid of any kind towards the establishment or operation of plants in the new town for each of the seven years to 30th June, 1972, or the latest accounting date.

I regret that this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (1) on the basis that the present differential rates in favour of the private domestic consumer remained, what percentage price rises would be required to make the electrical industry viable;(2) on the basis that industrial, commercial and private consumers bore an equal share of the cost burdens of the electrical industry, what percentage increases in charges would be required in industrial, commercial and private tariffs to make the industry viable.

I think that my hon. Friend will realise that these are matters for the Electricity Council, and I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the grants to the North East Development Council for the years 1971–72, 1972–73, and 1973–74.

The North East Development Council received a grant of £20,000 in 1971–72, and under present arrangements is to receive up to £15,000 in 1972–73, and up to £10,000 in 1973–74, subject to the Council raising prescribed amounts of qualifying non-Government contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is currently being made by the British steel Corporation in carrying out the restructuring activities in regard to its interests as set out in his statement of 28th June, 1971.

The British Steel Corporation has reached agreement in principle for the sale, subject to contract. of its high carbon and mild steel wire interests to a company jointly owned by British Ropes Ltd. and Tinsley Wire Industries Ltd. The terms of the transaction are being announced by the parties today.Consent has been given under Section 2(2) of the Iron and Steel Act, 1967, to the acquisition of securities in British Ropes Ltd. by the Corporation as part of the consideration for the purchase. The proposal was examined in the usual way in the context of the Monopolies and Mergers Act, 1965, but reference to the Monopolies Commission was not considered necessary.The parties have given assurance of stability of employment, and the transaction fulfils the aim referred to by my right hon. Friend in his statement of establishing a wire group likely to exploit more effectively our opportunities in Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list the special environmental assistance schemes already completed within the area of the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit; how many schemes are under way or proposed; and how many of the latter will be completed by June, 1973.

Information concerning completed schemes is not readily available. There have been 294 schemes approved in the area covered by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Reclamation Joint Committee, and, in order to attract grant aid, work on these should be completed by June, 1973. Most of these schemes are under way, and a further 164 are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current contribution from his Department towards the cost of schemes prepared by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit; and what is his Department's estimated contribution for the financial year 1973–74.

The Welsh Office is currently contributing approximately £700,000 towards the cost of schemes prepared by the Joint Committee. Plans for 1973–74 are to be discussed with the Committee at a meeting on 27th November. 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated acreage of derelict land yet to be treated within the local authority areas covered by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit.

The latest available information from local authorities indicated that, at 31st December, 1969, there were 3,984 acres of derelict land justifying reclamation within the area now covered by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Reclamation Joint Committee. Since that date 1,100 acres have been reclaimed leaving a balance of 2,884 acres still to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list all the compulsory purchase orders served since June, 1970, involving derelict land for reclamation within the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit and in each case indicate whether a public inquiry was held, and the time taken between the serving of the purchase order and the hearing of the inquiry and between the inquiry and his decision, respectively.

Three compulsory purchase orders concerning derelict land proposed for reclamation have been submitted since June, 1970. The areas involved are situated at Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil, Tafarnau Bach, Tredegar, and in the Nantyglo and Blaina District. No public inquiry has yet been held. Inquiries have been arranged in the two latter cases, and the time between the submission to me and the inquiry date is 11 months and 8 months respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many hill farming schemes are uncompleted in Brecon and Radnor; and how many of these are uncompleted because of financial difficulties.

The figures for comprehensive hill farming schemes approved for improvement grants under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts, 1946–59, on 30th September were as follows:

	Schemes Approved	Schemes Uncompleted
Brecknockshire	745	162
Radnorshire	521	144

Schemes remain uncompleted for a variety of reasons. There is no information on the number of cases where the main reason was financial difficulty.