asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the working of the farm amalgamation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.—[Vol. 846, c. 327–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the number of new factories he has been invited to open in Scotland in 1972.

Scottish Office Ministers have, so far, received 11 invitations to open factories during 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the problems created by the holy day of Easter being a variable feast day; and if he will take the necessary steps to have the Easter holiday on a fixed date.

This matter, which is primarily for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, is not one on which it is possible to act without the agreement of the Churches. As the hon. Member may be aware, the British Council of Churches has recently passed a resolution calling on the World Council of Churches to enter into further consultations on this matter with the Roman Catholic Church.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in starting the building of the health centre at Burntisland, and in authorising borrowing approval to Fife County Council.

This health centre is being provided by Fife County Council under delegated powers conveyed to it in June, 1972. Further action rests with the local authority design team, and I understand that working drawings are in course of preparation. Application for borrowing consent was made in September, and additional financial information provided on 23rd October. This is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the lack of progress of the health centre building programme in Glasgow; whether sites have now been decided upon in Maryhill and Possilpark areas; and if he will take steps to assist the general programme.

I regard the programme for the provision of health centres in Glasgow as of high priority and I regret the unavoidable delays in implementing it. My right hon. Friend's Department, in co-operation with the various authorities concerned, is doing everything possible to ensure that the programme is implemented as rapidly as the identification and acquisition of sites, and agreement with the various interests involved on the facilities to be provided in each centre, will allow.In addition to the health centre at Woodside, which has been in operation since March, 1971, the centre at Govan is now under construction and tenders have been invited for the centre at Gorbals. Sites have been agreed for the health centres to serve the Maryhill and Possilpark areas and planning is proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will put in hand a study of the possible uses of thermographic devices in the field of air-sea and mountain rescue services in Scotland.

I understand that evaluation of these devices is already in hand and that among the points being considered is their usefulness in relation to rescue services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what target he has in mind for the number of trees to be planted in Scotland in support of Tree Planting Year 1973.

I have no precise number in mind, but I hope that as many as possible will be planted. I am grateful for my hon. Friend's interest in the success of Tree Planting Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the amount of Government assistance to pre-school playgroups in Scotland under the urban aid programme.

No specific sum has been set aside for this purpose. Some increased assistance can be given to playgroups if suitable proposals are put forward by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the British Steel Corporation regarding the contributions which the steel industry will make to the Scottish economy over the next decade.

I recently had an informal discussion with the Chairman of the British Steel Corporation about the corporation's strategic plans for the next decade which are now before the Government for examination. The impact of these proposals on the Scottish economy featured in our discussions.Contrary to reports in the Press, no Government approval has yet been given to the corporation's plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current position of local authorities which have refused to implement housing legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities are not implementing all, or parts of, the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1972; what is the estimated loss of rent income arising from such decisions; and if he will make a statement.

The position of 24 local authorities on implementation of the Act has been under investigation since 1st October. Four public local inquiries, in relation to Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Kirkcaldy, are being held this week. Another four councils—Tranent, Stewarton, Lochgelly and Rutherglen—have now taken decisions to implement the Act: I welcome this and have been able to make them advance payments for 1972–73 of residual subsidy.I can make no precise estimate of the loss of rent income resulting from decisions against implementation, since this will depend on the rebates which would have been payable under the 1972 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the average increases in rents paid by council tenants since the introduction of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Alexander Wilson) on 26th October.—[Vol. 843, c. 426.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities are available to him for the evaluation of the best schemes of industrial development for land areas adjacent to deep water facilities in Scotland.

I have available advice from my officials, in consultation with other Government Departments and the Scottish Industrial Development Office, from the Scottish Economic Planning Board, local authorities and other bodies.In addition it is, of course, open to me to commission or contribute to the cost of specialist studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his talks about the demilitarisation of World War I gun emplacements on Inchgarvie under the Forth Bridge.

There have been no such discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the figures for housing completions in the public sector in each of the first three quarters of 1971 and 1972, respectively.

These figures are given in the Housing Return for Scotland, 30th September, 1972, published yesterday, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses were built in Scotland between June, 1970, and the latest convenient date and in the same period up to June, 1970.

85,680 new houses were completed between 1st July, 1970, and 30th September, 1972. In the period 1st April. 1968 to 30th June, 1970, the number was 96,896.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report from the Emslie Committee on penalties for the crime of murder.

The report of the Emslie Committee on the penalties for homicide will be published tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are regarding Cowglen Hospital being used as an assessment centre.

The Western Regional Hospital Board is planning to establish a 30-bedded assessment unit for the disabled at Cowglen Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to make an official visit to the Royal Burgh of Dunfermline.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will provide more grant assistance for the improvement and maintenance of roads in hill areas outwith the crafting counties.

Local highway authorities have complete discretion in maintaining and improving these roads, and if they spend more on them they will receive additional help through rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when a decision is expected on the new interchange on the A82 at Dumbarton West, Bellsmyre.

As soon as current technical investigations have been completed and Dumbarton Town Council has been consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the letter to the Prime Minister from the Lord Provost of Glasgow regarding the dispersal of Civil Service work from London.

The Lord Provost wrote to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and to me about the need for more Civil Service jobs for Glasgow. In reply I referred to the Hardman Committee's review and stated that no decisions had yet been reached on what Civil Service work could be moved out of London.On behalf of the Government I also assured the Lord Provost that Glasgow's claims as a receiving area for Civil Service work to be dispersed from London would be taken fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the effect of the Northern Ireland Egg Subsidy Scheme on Scottish producers; and if he will make a statement.

The Northern Ireland Egg Subsidy Scheme forms part of general measures to meet the special employment problems of Northern Ireland. I do not expect it to have any effect on Scottish producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, for the latest accounting period, the income from tolls and the cost of collecting tolls from Erskine Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, respectively.

The following are the figures for the financial year 1971–72:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior fire officers have been upgraded in rank, as distinct from promotion, in each of the Scottish fire authorities in each of the last three years.

The information is as follows:Angus Fire Brigade: One Divisional Officer III regraded to Divisional Officer II in 1972.Lanarkshire Fire Brigade: One Divisional Officer II to Divisional Office I in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of Paragraph 34 of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Environment, he will arrange that river purification boards be retained as separate authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I have carefully considered this recommendation of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, but I do not think it provides grounds for altering the decision based on the recommendations of another Royal Commission—on Local Government in Scotland—that regional authorities should be made responsible for river purification.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors are currently in general practice in Scotland; and how this compares with the last three years.

The position at 1st October in the years in question is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current policeman/population ratio and the police constable/population ratio in each police authority area in Scotland.

The ratios of population per male police officer and per male police constable—based on establishment—in each Scottish police force area at 30th September, 1972, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from medical officers on the effect of the non-fluoridation of water on decay in children's teeth; and if he will make a statement.

Fluoride is present in some degree in most water supplies. I am advised that failure to adjust the level to the optimum figure of one part per million prevents a readily attainable and substantial improvement in young children's teeth.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider appointing a working party to review musical education in both primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

On the advice of the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum, I have appointed a working party with the following terms of reference:

"To consider the place of music education in schools as a necessary part of the aesthetic experience of children, to define its aims and to explore means of implementing these aims through school life for children of varying ability."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified school pupils tried and failed to gain university entrance in 1972.

Standards of qualification for entry vary between university faculties and therefore no basis exists on which the information requested could be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received from residents in Bishopbriggs in opposition to the inclusion of Bishopbriggs in the proposed Glasgow district and in favour of it, respectively.

Since I announced on 22nd December, 1971, that I intended to adhere to the Glasgow district proposed by the Wheatley Royal Commission and in our White Paper on the reform of local government I have received 153 letters from Bishopbriggs making representations against this course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has caused delay in publishing the Bill on Scottish local government reform.

There has been no delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state a starting date for the provision of geriatric and psycho-geriatric beds in Kirkcaldy, which are listed in Band III of the hospital building programme.

Planning of the project is not sufficiently far advanced to give a firm starting date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the work of the Hunterston Development Company.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Lambie).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities have made representations against his plans to upgrade the A9 from Perth to Inverness on the grounds that they do not provide for sufficient dual-carriageway.

Since I announced my latest plans on 28th September I have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received protesting against the proposed reduction to 16 years of the legal age for the consumption of alcoholic liquor.

I understand that the Clayson Committee on the Licensing Laws has received evidence from organisations and individuals opposing any reduction in the minimum age of 18.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been received by his Department in the last three week concerning price increases; and what action he has taken on them.

Since 6th November the public have notified my Department of 210 apparent increases in food prices. These reports are followed up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since ministerial responsibility for this rests with my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will bring in legislation to harmonise the divorce law in Scotland with that of England and Wales.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that water supplies in the Edinburgh and Lothians area are now adequate to meet consumer need; and if he will make a statement.

Under normal recent unsually long spell of dry weather has reduced supplies stored for the Edinburgh and Midlothian area substantially below the levels expected at this time of year. The water board has taken steps to reduce consumption and has plans for further measures to be taken if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if grants normally made by the Scottish Education Department to public bodies engaged in youth work will be increased to take account of value added tax.

When considering future grants to national voluntary youth organisations in respect of their expenditure on headquarters administration and on training I shall have regard both to the incidence of value added tax and to the removal of purchase tax.

asked the Lord President of the Council what committee he intends to propose to set up to consider the changes needed in parliamentary procedure to facilitate relations with the institutions of the Common Market; and when he expects that it will start work.

I very much hope that it will soon be possible to get agreement to appoint the proposed ad hoc Select Committee with appropriate terms of refence. Discussions about this are taking place through the usual channels.

asked the Lord President of the Council what action he proposes to take upon the recommendations contained in the Report of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Questions, published last session.

I am afraid I am not yet able to inform the House of the Government's conclusions on this report, but I expect to be able to do so very shortly.

asked the Lord President of the Council what steps have been taken to screen letters addressed to hon. Members at the House of Commons against the risk of explosive devices.

I do not think it would be in the best interests of the House to publicise details of the security precautions that have already been taken or which are under the most urgent consideration.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now make a statement concerning the proposal to make available on loan copies of Bills and amendment sheets to the Strangers Gallery.

This proposal has been initially considered by the Services Committee and was felt to be too complicated and expensive. I am, however, proposing to raise again with the committee the possibility of a new parliamentary bookstall and I will look at this suggestion again in that context.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will consider making arrangements to enable visitors leaving the Strangers Gallery to order, for a fee not exceeding 25p, copies of the OFFICIAL REPORT Of the proceedings they have witnessed, which would be forwarded to them by post on the following day.

Order forms are available for visitors to the Strangers Gallery who wish to receive a copy of the OFFICIAL REPORT of the debate to which they have listened. This form should be completed and sent to HMSO as directed, together with a postal order for 23½p.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what representations he has received from the National Federation of Old Age Pensioners Associations about concessionary television licences; and what reply he has sent.

A resolution passed at the National Federation of Old Age Pensioners Associations conference in May asking for a concessionary television licence fee for all retirement pensioners was forwarded to me. The reply given was similar to my answer to the hon. Member and the hon. Members for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) and Islington, East (Mr. John D. Grant) on 8th November.—[Vol. 845, c. 983–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give for the latest stated date his estimate of the total number of persons or families who have been evicted for non-payment or arrears of rent and/or rates; how many of these are now accommodated in half-way houses or council resettlement camps; and whether they receive such accommodation rent free.

There are no overall statistics available on which to base estimates of the number of people evicted for the non-payment of rent. There is no power of eviction for the non-payment of rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the communication dated 12th November from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, relating to corruption and evasion of planning rules and regulations; and whether he will investigate it with a view to prosecution.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes"; to the second "No".

asked the Secretark of State for the Environment to what extent proposals for the development or curtailment of the railway system in the United Kingdom will be subject to conditions imposed by the European Economic Community.

At present not at all; in future so far as EEC legislation requires as part of common transport policies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the growth or decline of jobs in the railway industry in Scotland over the next five years; and how any such workforce changes will be distributed between white collar and manual workers.

The Railways Board does not expect any significant change. The breakdown for which the hon. Member asks is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been submitted to him by the Railways Board to electrify the east coast main line from London, King's Cross to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an assurance that no closure of the Aberystwyth-Shrewsbury line will be sanctioned by him before the report of Professor Graham Rees on Transport Services in Wales.

No such closure has been proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had concerning the proposals for the reduction in railway track mileage in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have not made any such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been submitted to him by the Railways Board to electrify the main line from Bristol to York via Birmingham, Derby and Sheffield, and to rebuild it on the sections where required to make it suitable throughout for high-speed running.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he expects to announce the result of the public inquiry into the proposed expansion of Luton Airport.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Solent Protection Society requesting that the Solent be controlled by a single authority with special responsibility for pollution control; what replies he has sent; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received such representations and I am sending the hon. Member and the Solent Protection Society copies of the relevant consultation papers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping relate to the right to approach a ship of another country suspected of illegal dumping at sea.

Article VII of the draft convention requires each contracting party to implement the provisions of the convention in relation to ships registered in its territory or flying its flag, loading in its territory or territorial seas, or believed to be engaged in dumping under its jurisdiction. The parties are required to take appropriate measures in their territories to prevent and punish conduct in contravention of the convention. Article VII also provides that the parties shall develop procedures for the reporting of ships observed dumping in contravention of the convention. Both this article and Article XIII of the draft convention make it clear that nothing in the convention prejudices the codification and development of the law of the sea by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research he is sponsoring into the problem of the shattering of windscreens in motor cars;(2) what steps he is taking to reduce the number of traffic accidents caused by the shattering of windscreens.

There is no evidence to suggest that accidents in significant numbers are occurring as a result of the shattering of windscreens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, under Section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, he will designate the County of Lancashire as an area to which Section 10 of that Act applies.

A designation order under Section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, cannot be made in respect of the area of Lancashire County Council before adequate provision has been made in the area for the accommodation of gipsies who reside in or resort to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and which local authorities in England and Wales have been designated under Section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968.

Designation orders under Section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, have been made in respect of the areas of three local authorities, namely, the Plymouth, St. Helens and Stoke-on-Trent county borough councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites are provided by Lancashire County Council under Section 6 of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968; where these sites are located; and how many caravans are provided for on each of these sites.

Lancashire County Council has not yet provided any gipsy caravan sites under Section 6 of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968. I understand that proposals for five sites with 15 pitches each are under consideration by the county council, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many caravan sites are provided in the North-West Region under the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, and where these sites are located.

Five gipsy caravan sites have been provided under the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, in the North-West Region. They are at Blackburn, Chester, Manchester, St. Helens and Stockport; those at Blackburn, Chester and Stockport are temporary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to clean the outside of the Law Courts in the Strand.

I hope to start in mid-1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Alkali Inspectorate will investigate the emission of a cloud of poisonous dust from the premises of a firm of iron and steel merchants in Bilston, whose name has been sent to him, which affected the Station Road area and caused hazards and suffering to the residents of this area.

Since these premises are not registrable under the Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act, 1906, supervision of their atmospheric emissions is the statutory responsibility of the local authority for the area, which, I understand, decided that it did not need the help of the district alkali inspector on this occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances he is prepared to grant appeals against refusal of planning permission for residential development in areas within an approved or designated Green Belt.

It is not possible to specify the circumstances in which appeals against refusal of planning permission for residential development in green belts would be approved. Each case has to be considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning his consultations with organisations representing the police, ambulance and fire services consequent upon the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Buckoke versus the Greater London Council.

Discussions are still continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list derelict land clearance schemes completed in Cornwall since 1970, those at present

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the implications of the judgment of the Appeal Court in the case of Rawson and others versus Peters relating to interference with fishing rights by canoe; and if he will seek powers designed to safeguard the rights of all interests to enjoy the amenities of the waterways.

It is the Government's policy that the recreational potential of our water space should be fully utilised. I recognise that the interests of various users are not always compatible but such problems are best resolved locally in a spirit of "give and take". The water recreation committees of the regional sports council are always glad to help.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been

The information is as follows:the average increase in prices of council houses offered for sale, taking the latest available figure compared with the same period in 1970 and 1971.

This information is not available, although certain annual statistics for 1970 and 1971 are given in Housing Statistics (England and Wales) (Part 2) published in March last by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the Government's intentions with regard to granting financial aid to historic churches.

Discussions on financial aid for historic churches are proceeding between my Department and the working party set up by General Synod of the Church of England to consider this question. The working party has also recently had a meeting with my noble Friend, the Under-Secretary of State at which it took stock of the situation. It was agreed that the working party should complete its current study of the estimated cost of repairs to churches in sample areas and the resources available to their congregations to meet them. When the results are available the Government will consider the scale and nature of the problem and the implications for Church and State regarding public expenditure, and the extent to which ecclesiastical exemption might require to be removed or adapted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been brought during the past 12 months for infringement of the Alkali and Clean Air Act.

Five, between 1st November, 1971, and 31st October, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many industries have infringed pollution con-

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Post Office buildings have been built in the last two years; how many of these were late in completion; and what has been the average length of delay.

In England, Scotland and Wales the number of Post Office buildings completed by my Department in the last two years is 627. I regret that information about delays is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is trol regulations under the Alkali and Clean Air Act in the past 12 months.

The figure for 1971, which is given in the report of the Chief Alkali and Clean Air Inspector, is 10. The figure for 1972 is not yet available, but will be included in the next report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of accidents involving death or serious injury suffered by drivers and passengers in motor cars and heavy lorries, respectively, in the United Kingdom during each of the years 1970, 1971 and to date in 1972.

The information is not available in the exact form requested. Following are the figures of vehicles involved in accidents and the number of casualties amongst drivers and passengers:aware of the hardship and difficulties caused by building regulations which hamper access for disabled people to multi-storey developments; if he will reconsider the regulations on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend appreciates that some of the provisions in the building regulations designed to safeguard people in the event of fire may make access for the disabled more difficult, but he must have regard to the safety of all those using a building. There is provision for the requirements of the building regulations to be relaxed if they can be shown to operate unreasonably in a particular case, and if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of transportation studies approved by his Department for financial assistance but which have not yet commenced.

Formal approval of financial assistance follows the acceptance by the Department of a study project report. Project reports have just been completed for studies for the Bristol area and for South Hampshire. A number of other studies are at earlier stages of discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of transportation studies currently being undertaken by local authorities with financial assistance from his Department.

Bedworth/Nuneaton, Blackpool, Brighton/Hove, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Coventry, Doncaster, Greater Gloucester, Great Yarmouth/ Lowestoft, Herne Bay/Whitstable, Mid Hertfordshire, South West Hertfordshire, West Hertfordshire, High Wycombe, Horley, Ipswich, Leicester, Lincoln, Luton, Macclesfield, Medway Towns, Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield/Rotherham, Warwick/Leamington, Wigan, Woking, Worthing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many transportation studies have been approved for financial support by his Department in England and Wales; what is the average cost, and median cost and what are the average and median contributions from the Department.

The Department is supporting 28 studies in England; 15 studies have been completed since 1st January, 1971. The estimated average cost is £105,000 and the median cost £55,000. The Department's contribution is approximately half.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current fee or payment which is to be made to the chairmen and members of rent scrutiny boards.

The daily fee is £27 for chairmen, £25 for lawyer and valuer members, and £15 for lay members. Half-day fees are paid as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the review of the arrangements for the repair and maintenance of traffic light signals initiated in November, 1970, has now been completed; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. After discussion with the local authority associations we are hoping shortly to issue a circular setting out the proposed new arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is aware that the Registrar of Births and Deaths in the London Borough of Newham has published his official report showing that the number of babies of immigrants is more than double that of the national average and that this is causing difficulties with regard to housing both at the present and for the future; and whether he will now have discussions with the local authority to see to what extent his Department can assist the council in overcoming these problems.(2) in view of the Simon Community Trust Report on the homelessness problems in the Greater London area, a copy of which is in his possession, and its findings that Newham has a particular problem in this respect, whether he will consider giving some special aid and assistance to this Borough to overcome its housing problem, including special grants to deal with its immigration problems.

The housing problems of the borough, to which the hon. Member refers, are caused by a number of factors, only one of which relates to immigrants. The Action Group on London Housing, of which I am chairman, is considering what needs to be done to deal with these problems in individual boroughs and in London as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of new jobs associated with North Sea oil accruing to areas covered by Aberdeen employment exchange; and which companies are providing this employment.

Any estimate of the additional jobs which will arise from North Sea oil must be subject to appreciable margins of error. However, we are aware of various expansions which are expected to increase employment on such activities in the Aberdeen employment exchange area from its present total of around 1,400 to about 2,600 within the next two years. In addition, a substantial number of jobs are being created by infrastructure investment in support of North Sea oil activities. Information about individual employers is often supplied in confidence and I would not feel justified in publishing it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will issue a circular to local authorities requesting them to review their by-laws in respect of the conduct of employment agencies.

No; for the reasons I gave in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 7th November.—[Vol. 845, c. 810.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list cases submitted for arbitration but not heard by 6th November with agreed operative dates not later than 1st January, 1972.

There were five such cases, all concerned with the salary scales of Post Office employees; viz. traffic grades; telecommunication management entrants; bands 5 to 10 of the Post Office senior salary structure; assistant postal controllers Class II; and photographic grades.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest twelve-month figures for the rate of increase in average earnings of all employees in the six present members of the European Economic Community.

I regret that information about salary earners is not readily available. The following table gives the percentage rise in the hourly earnings of wage earners over the latest 12-month period:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest 12-month figures for the rate of increase of weekly rates of wages of manual employees in the six countries of the European Economic Community.

I regret that information about weekly rates of wages is not readily available. The following table gives the percentage rise in the hourly rates of wages earners in manufacturing industry over the last 12-month period:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the British delegates to the International Labour Conference in June of this year; and if he will state the total costs to public funds of having British representation at this conference.

My right hon. Friend, Mr. A. M. Morgan, CMG, and Miss B. Green representing Her Majesty's Government, Mr. C. A. Heniker-Heaton, CBE, representing employers and Mr. C. H. Plant, OBE, representing workers. There were in addition 20 advisers. It is estimated that the total cost of the United Kingdom delegation and supporting staff was £10,450.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now give a lead on equal pay by providing the same allowances for men and women undertaking Government vocational training courses.

Training allowances were increased on 9th October, 1972. The allowances for men aged 20 and over were raised by 75p a week and those for women aged 20 and over by £1·25 a week as a further step towards equality of allowances for men and women. The rates paid to younger men and women are already equal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which sections of the Immigration Act have already come into force, and which are due to come into force within the next six months; and what effect they will have on Commonwealth citizens with more and with less than five years' residence in the United Kingdom, respectively, on Commonwealth citizens wishing to enter to take up employment, and on those wishing to enter as dependants and as visitors, respectively.

Section 25 of the Act in so far as it creates a new offence of assisting illegal entry, Section 28 in so far as it extends the time limit on summary proceedings for that offence and for certain offences of unauthorised entry, and Part IV are in force. The remainder of the Act will come into force on 1st January, 1973.A Commonwealth citizen who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on 1st January, 1973, will not be liable to be deported for breach of conditions or on conviction when he has completed five years ordinary residence, and will not be liable to be deported on conducive grounds at any time: but these exemptions from liability to deportion will not apply to Commonwealth citizens arriving in the United Kingdom on or after 1st January, 1973.A Commonwealth citizen wishing to enter for employment will need a work permit which will be issued for a particular job with a particular employer and for an initial period not exceeding 12 months. The wife and children under 18 of a Commonwealth citizen admitted for a limited period will be admitted for the same period; and the wife and children under 18 of a person accepted for settlement will also be admitted for settlement, as may his elderly dependent parents and in certain circumstances other dependent relatives.Visitors will normally be admitted for six months if they have sufficient means of support for the period of the visit and intend to leave at the end of the visit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what differences of treatment there will be from 1st January regarding citizenship, employment, length and conditions of stay, and other relevant matters, between citizens of Common Market countries and, respectively, Commonwealth citizens resident in the United Kingdom for more and for less than five years, those wishing to enter to take up employment, and those wishing to enter as dependants and as visitors.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 21st November to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).—[Vol. 846, c. 376–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representatives of organisations expressing views sympathetic to immigration have been received by Home Office Ministers in the last 12 months; and how many representatives of organisations expressing views opposed to immigration have been received by Ministers in the same period.

Our records do not categorise visitors in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the setting up of a national lottery, the proceeds of which could be devoted to preserving and enhancing the nation's heritage.

The whole body of law on lotteries is currently under review, and the arguments for and against a national lottery will fall to be considered in that context.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of prison officers who have resigned from the prison service during the last 12 months, and the average length of service of the officers who have resigned.

In England and Wales, 200; and two years four months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what wage negotiations are now taking place regarding prison officers.

In England and Wales, none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement about the future manpower needs of the Probation and Aftercare Service in England and Wales.

I have reviewed, in consultation with my Advisory Council for Probation and After-Care, the staffing needs of the probation and after-care service for the period to the end of 1976. The revised estimate, which takes account of new tasks placed on the service by the Criminal Justice Act, 1972, is that up to 5,000 whole-time officers might be needed by the end of 1975 (compared with the previous estimate of 4,700) and up to 5,350 by the end of 1976. The Government accepts this estimate, and the training implications of the new targets are being discussed with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The service's present strength is just on 4,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions he has drawn following the increase in the number of murders committed in Great Britain with the use of firearms since the abolition of capital punishment; and what proposals he has to amend the law.

It is difficult to draw useful inferences from the figures of murder by shooting before and since the abolition of capital punishment. The increasing use of firearms in all crimes of violence is a matter of serious concern to the Government. The Criminal Justice Act has increased maximum penalties for a number of the firearms offences, and I am studying the report of a review conducted by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary of the law relating to firearms. The Criminal Law Revision Committee is considering the law relating to offences against the person, including the penalties, and pending receipt of its report I have no proposals for amending the law relating to murder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders in borstal institutions derives from the new Commonwealth; and what percentage of prisoners in ordinary prisons derives from the new Commonwealth.

In November, 1971, between 4 per cent. and 5 per cent. of borstal trainees then in custody in England and Wales, and slightly over 5 per cent. of prisoners then serving sentences of imprisonment, were born in the new Commonwealth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken during the past year to reduce or end the practice of slopping-out in prison establishments and to improve toilet facilities.

Provision is being made in all newly designed prisons and cell blocks for sanitary facilities which make slopping out unnecessary. Improvements to sanitary and washing facilities are being made at a number of existing establishments and will be undertaken elsewhere as resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon he expects to publish the report of the Erroll Committee.

In about a fortnight.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far below total establishment strength are police forces in England and Wales, respectively.

The position on 31st October was: