asked the Secretary of State for Wales if the North Wales to South Wales trunk road, number A470, is to be signed bilingually at the same time as the re-numbering of the route takes place.

I shall be publishing the Bowen Committee Report on bilingual traffic signs this week and stating what the Government's future policy will be with regard to bilingual traffic signs. I cannot comment in advance of this whether or not any particular road will be signed bilingually.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what reply he has sent to representations by local authorities in North Wales on the dumping of sewage sludge in Liverpool Bay.

I have arranged for the Chairman of the Working Party which prepared the Report on Sludge Disposal in Liverpool Bay to meet officers of all North Wales maritime authorities, County Councils and River Authorities at Prestatyn on 30th November. Officials of the Welsh Office will be present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect of the Housing Finance Act 1972 on the level of local authority rents in Wales.

It is too soon to make an accurate assessment, since fair rents are still to be determined. The average level of rents paid by local authority tenants will of course be influenced by the provisions in the Act for generous rent rebates.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, to the latest convenient date how many private tenants in Wales have qualified for a rent allowance.

This information is not available. Councils are not obliged to introduce rent allowance schemes till 1st January 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will allow Merioneth County Council to utilise capital to reconstruct the bridge over Dysynni River at Tonfannau.

I have written to the hon. Member on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what contingency measures he has taken in order to meet the recommendations of the Bevan Report in the event of the impossibility of recruiting local practitioners to work on a regular basis within the new accident unit at Haverfordwest;(2) whether he is satisfied that the proposed new accident unit at Haverfordwest will receive adequate support in paediatrics and orthopaedics and that the Hospital Management Committee and the doctors at the hospital are aware of and fully understand the arrangements; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he is satisfied that there will be sufficient beds in the hospitals at Haverfordwest to cater for the new accident unit without increasing waiting lists both before and after the completion of the new district general hospital; and if he will make a statement;(4) how he proposes to ensure that adequate cover is provided in the absence of the consultant who is to be appointed to the accident unit at Haverfordwest;(5) whether he is satisfied that when a doctor of consultant status is appointed to the accident unit at Haverfordwest he will have adequate professional support including at least one doctor of medical assistant grade, two junior doctors, and one general physician; and if lie will make a statement.

The Welsh Hospital Board is currently considering all these matters in planning the detailed working arrangements for the new unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions since the publication of the Bevan Report members and officials of the Welsh Hospital Board have met members of the hospital management committee to discuss detailed working arrangements for the new accident unit at Haverfordwest.

Representatives of the Welsh Hospital Board and the Hospital Management Committee have met on about 10 occasions to discuss the new accident unit and other matters arising from Dr. Bevan's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now intimate the arrangements for the medical staffing of the traumatic unit at Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

It has not been possible to maintain a casualty service at Morriston Hospital but there are traumatic and orthopaedic beds, which are used in part for the in-patient treatment of accident cases. Despite some medical staff vacancies a 24-hour accident service has been provided for the Swansea area at Singleton Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state, to the nearest convenient date the number of doctors engaged in general practice in Wales, as compared with the number in practice in the years 1969, 1970 and 1971.

The number of practitioners providing full general medical services is provisionally estimated to have been 1,261 at 1st April, 1972. Corresponding figures in 1969, 1970 and 1971 were 1,230, 1,245 and 1,259.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those organisations and individuals who were invited to comment on the proposal to create a Welsh Health Council under reorganisation, and list those who commented adversely.

The consultative document on the National Health Service reorganisation in Wales which contained the proposal to create a Welsh Health Council was published for general discussion and comment. In addition the following were specifically invited to comment:

• Welsh Hospital Board.
• Association of Hospital Management Committee (Wales).
• Teaching Hospitals Association.
• Association of Executive Councils (Wales).
• County Councils Association.
• Welsh Counties Committee.
• Welsh Non-County Boroughs Association.
• The Welsh Council of the British Medical Association.
• Joint Consultants Committee.
• Society of Medical Officers of Health (Wales).
• British Dental Association North Wales.
• British Dental Association South Wales.
• Welsh Committee for Dental Affairs.
• Royal College of Nursing, Welsh Board.
• Royal College of Midwives.
• Institute of Health Service Administrators (Wales).
• Pharmaceutical Society.
• Chemist Contractors Committee.
• Association of Dispensing Opticians.
• Welsh Committee of Ophthalmic Opticians.
• Staff Side of General Whitley Council.
• Association of Municipal Corporations.
• Royal College of Physicians.
• Royal College of Surgeons.
• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
• Royal College of General Practitioners.
• Royal College of Pathologists.
• University of Wales.
• Welsh Council.
• Mr. G. Prys Davies (Chairman—Welsh Hospital Board).
• Mr. M. Rosser (Chairman—Welsh Council).

The following commented adversely on the proposal to create a Welsh Health Council:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with progress in setting-up a community hospital at Barry, and what steps he will take to ensure its success.

The general practitioner hospital at Barry has been functioning as planned since August. I understand it has been working successfully.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance or encouragement his Department is giving to the development of underwater test facilities in Scottish waters.

Underwater Engineering Group Trials Limited recently opened a new facility for underwater trials and systems evaluation on Loch Linnhe. My Department has encouraged and supported this development since discussions first began over a year ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the prospects for German investment in the United Kingdom in the next 12 months.

Our entry into the EEC and our improving economic performance should increase the attractions of the United Kingdom for German investors, and I hope they will be influenced also by the benefits offered under the Industry Act and by the availability of skilled labour here.I will be attending early next year in Germany two conferences to promote German investment in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what restrictions, other than tariffs and quotas, apply to the import of foreign-produced cars;(2) what restrictions, other than tariffs and quotas, apply to the imports of foreign-produced commercial vehicles.

There are no such restrictions. But all imported vehicles must comply with United Kingdom Construction and Use Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representation he has on a United Nations working group, currently studying the problems arising from remote sensing on the earth by satellite; when he expects a report from it; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is represented on the working group by a senior technical member of the Space Division. The working group's report is scheduled to be presented to the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in May, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the prospects for coal exports to the European Economic Community following accession to the Community on 1st January, 1973; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board, but I am sure it will take advantage of every opportunity to increase exports after accession to the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Marshall Report on the future of the aircraft industry.

Announcements on specific policy developments have been made as they have arisen. I have at present nothing further to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much gas was used for electricity generation in 1971–72; and how much is likely to be so used in the current year.

In 1971–72 about 300 million therms of natural gas were used for electricity generation. So far this year consumption has been running at an annual rate of about twice that level.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries there have been in Scotland for selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972; and in how many cases assistance has been offered.

As at 21st November the Scottish Industrial Development Office had received over 500 general inquiries about selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972. There have so far been 53 firm applications and another 50 or so are in prospect. Most of the applications already made are still under consideration but offers have been made in four cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the appointment of the new chairman of the South Western Gas Consultative and Consumers' Council.

General Sir Peter Hellings has been appointed Chairman of the South Western Gas Consumers' Council as from 1st January, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will conduct an investigation into the activities of organisations seeking to enrol students for typewriting courses by methods of postal and personal canvassing.

No. I have no evidence that such an investigation would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to attract new industry to the Consett and Stanley special development areas of County Durham, in view of the current levels of unemployment.

There is evidence that the measures under the Industry Act are beginning to have an impact on the Northern Region. The Department will continue to do everything possible to foster interest being shown in industrial development in the Consett travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement following his meeting on 9th November with representatives of the Scottish Trade Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Lambie) on 13th November.—[Vol. 846, c. 6–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the production and capacity of the steel industry over each of the past four years; and what is the planned production capacity over each of the next four years.

Total capacity figures, past and present, depend on a number of variables, and any particular figures quoted for these can be misleading. Following is the information:

	Crude Steel Production million tons
1969	26·8
1970	27·8*
1971	24·2
1972	25·3
* 53-week period reduced to 52-week basis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to pay an official visit to Scotland.

I expect to include places in Scotland in the regional visits I shall be making in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to amend the Trade Descriptions Act or otherwise take action to outlaw the inducement to purchase or receive on approval by the circulation of numbers or imitation bank books to recipients who are stated to have been personally selected in circumstances where they are entitled to a prize only if they purchase or order specific articles on approval.

No. I am not aware that any such restriction is imposed on eligibility for a prize.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will investigate the method of inducement to purchase books employed by a company, details of which have been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley.

No. In the case to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention, no investigation is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the method of inducement to purchase articles in postal communications of the type forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley.

I have received representations from about half a dozen people, who consider that, in various respects, such communications are misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further progress his Department has to report on efforts to supply tenants for the empty advance factories in the Larkhall Industrial Estate.

A factory of 5,000 sq. ft. has been occupied this month and is expected to provide about 50 jobs. A further large factory is unlet as is a smaller one of 5,100 sq. ft. An application for the smaller factory is being considered. Efforts to let the larger factory will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further progress he can report on his Department's efforts to obtain a tenant for the advance factory at Mosshill industrial estate.

A firm application is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now announce the letting of the factory erected on the industrial estate at Morriston, Swansea; and how many more factories will be erected there as a result of inquiries from industrialists.

Although interest continues to be shown in this factory, no firm application has yet been received for its occupation or for the construction of further factories.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether he will now publish the Marshall Report on the Future of the British Aerospace Industry.

No. This is an internal document which was never intended for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of export credits made available to Uganda in the last 10 years; what is the total amount of such debt outstanding to date; and how much of it is due to be repaid in the next three years.

No statistics covering total export credits are available. To give figures only for businesses insured with the Export Credits Guarantee Department would risk damaging the commercial interests of British exporters. Details of such guarantees are matters of commercial confidence between the department and exporters concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many marking orders have been made to date to ensure that imported textiles are marked with the country of origin.

None, but the Trade Descriptions Act 1972—which comes into force on 29th December—will require any United Kingdom name or mark applied to imported textiles to be accompanied by a conspicuous indication of the country of origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has carried out into the effects of a bullet fired from a revolver or pistol inside aircraft carrying civil passengers at different heights and the safety factors involved if aircrew shoot at hijackers.

There has been research into the effects of both shooting and explosions in aircraft but it would not be in the public interest to state the results. However, in the case of shooting there would clearly be a risk, particularly if there were a reaction from the hijacker, that other aircrew members or innocent passengers might be hit or that a bullet might damage essential systems in the aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a decision on implementing the recommendation of the Committee on Consumer Credit that all consumer credit agreements should by law contain provisions for a rebate for early settlement, calculated according to a statutory formula.

The Government have now decided that proposed legislation to implement recommendations of the Committee on Consumer Credit should include provision for a rebate of charges, calculated according to a statutory formula, for early settlements of consumer credit loans for more than a minimum sum or repayable over more than a minimum period of time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the names of members of the National Aviation Security Committee; when the committee was set up; what are the terms of reference; and how many times it has met in 1972.

The National Aviation Security Committee, which met for the first time on 25th May 1971, has the following terms of reference:

"To advise Her Majesty's Government and the civil aviation industry including the airport authorities regarding security measures to meet threats of violence to civil aviation; to recommend appropriate security measures; and to keep such measures and their effectiveness under review."

The chairman of the committee is Mr. D. F. Hubback, a deputy secretary in my Department, and its membership comprises representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, Home Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence; Metropolitan and other police forces; Civil Aviation Authority; British Airports Authority, Joint Airports Committee of Local Authorities and Aerodrome Owners Association; British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, British Caledonian Airways and Monarch Airlines Ltd.; British Air Line Pilots Association, Transport and General Workers Union and Electrical Electronic and Telecommunications Union / Plumbing Trade Union. The committee has met formally on five occasions in 1972 and there are, of course, close and regular contacts about these matters between all those concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation to make a public company's return of accident figures to Her Majesty's inspectors of factories a compulsory part of its annual report.

The Committee on Safety and Health at Work has recommended that directors' reports should be required to include prescribed information about the company's safety and health performance. The committee's recommendations are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take action to prevent sudden price increases being passed on to the consumer by means of special Christmas packages.

The general principle is that a minor modification to a product does not remove it from the operation of the prices standstill. My Department will scrutinise particular cases closely in the light of this principle.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made in the plans for regional development at the recent South Pacific Conference; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The conference recommended, and the session adopted, a work programme and budget for 1973 which provide for continuation of the South Pacific Commission's economic and social development work. The conference also directed its planning committee to prepare a long-term plan for the future activities of the commission, concentrating on practical projects of significance to the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Great Britain has been invited to become a member of the Parific Forum; and if he will make a statement.

No. The South Pacific Forum is a regional organisation established by the independent States of the South Pacific. We welcome its formation, which reflects a growing sense of regional solidarity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when, in view of the statement of French policy made by M. Pierre Messmer last May, he expects to make a similar statement on British policy for the New Hebrides.

As I told the South Pacific Conference in Western Samoa in September, the New Hebrideans have the right that their hopes and their problems shall be considered not only in economic, not only in social, but also in constitutional and political terms. We are discussing these matters with the French Government. I have nothing to add to this at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the acreage of Crown land in Hong Kong; how many acres in total are leased to private individuals or corporate bodies; and if he will name the 10 major leaseholders and state the date when they first took the lease.

The latest available figures show a total area of Crown land of 255,040 acres, of which 46,295·86 acres are leased to private individuals or corporate bodies. The land records are not kept in a form which makes it possible to identify the ten major leaseholders without many weeks of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government of Hong Kong leases land through one of its own departments dealing directly with applicants, or through private property companies.

The Government of Hong Kong leases land through the Crown Lands and Survey Office of the Public Works Department in conjunction with Registrar General's Department, dealing directly with applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many leases for land are under current issue by the Government of Hong Kong; what will be the income from these in the current financial year; and how many leases will come up for renewal in 1973.

There is a total of 105,106 leases in Kowloon and the New Territories. It is estimated that the revenue from these leases in the current year will be 10 million Hong Kong dollars. About 5,000 leases will come up for renewal in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the total income of the Government of Hong Kong in the last financial year, showing under the neces- sary headings how this income was derived; if he will state the Government's expenditure in total and under various headings for the same period; and how this compares with the past 10 years.

The total income of the Government of Hong Kong in the financial year 1971–72 was Hong Kong dollars 3,541 million or about £253 million. I am writing to the hon. Member about the detailed statistics which are available in the published Hong Kong annual reports, and are too long to be printed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legislation has been enacted in Hong Kong for the purpose of regulating the affairs of stock exchanges in the colony; and if he will make a statement on future Government action in this matter.

At present stock exchanges in Hong Kong are required to be registered under the Companies Ordinance and there is provision for "recognition" by the Governor in Council if they comply with certain requirements. New legislation is however now in the course of preparation to provide greater legal control over the operations of exchanges and of other bodies which cater for the investing public. One Bill, dealing with prospectuses, is already before the Legislative Council, and others which will cover respectively dealings in securities, unit trusts, mutual funds and takeover bids are expected to be introduced in the course of the coming months. The Securities Bill will effectively provide for the restriction of the numbers of exchanges to those already operating.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current or projected capital projects to solve the water supply problem in Hong Kong.

The following are the major approved projects already under construction:

Project	Cost Hong Kong Dollars Million	Increase to yield of system in million gallons per day
Raising Plover Cove Dams	200	17
Desalters	460	42
High Island	1,348	72

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many trade unionists are presently serving on legislative bodies within Hong Kong; and if he will list the bodies concerned, and the total number of members of each, indicating the trade unionists serving on each.

No trade unionists presently serve on the Executive, Legislative or urban councils, the three main legislative bodies in Hong Kong. However, Hong Kong is run by a complex pattern of boards, councils and committees. Those concerned with industrial employees have trade unionist members as well as representatives of Government, management, academic and professional interest. Details of these bodies are as follows:

	Total Membership	Trade Unionists
Labour Advisory Board	9	4
Industrial Training Advisory Committee	22	4
Hong Kong Productivity Council	19	4

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of suicide were reported in Hong Kong in each of the past 12 years; and how many suicides were from the Chinese population in each of the stated years.

Following are the figures of reported cases for each year from 1961 onwards. The last figure is for the period from January to end-September, 1972: 336, 362, 370, 363, 301, 351, 388, 455, 330, 540, 388, 232. Statistics by race are not maintained, but very few would be other than Chinese.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of murder, robbery with violence, and rape have been committed in Hong Kong in each year in the period 1960 to 1971 and in the first nine months of this year.

Following are the figures of reported cases for each year from 1960 onwards. The last figure under each heading is for the period from January to the end of September, 1972:

• Murder (including manslaughter)—30, 25, 20, 25, 42, 33, 40, 73, 50, 55, 71, 98, 99, 89.
• Robbery with violence—89, 114, 130, 153, 230, 380, 520, 1,224, 1,801 2,327, 3,006, 5,146, 5,059.
• Rape—2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 5, 12, 13, 10, 31, 28, 45, 49.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Crown colonies, showing the respective populations, gross national product, and per capita income in each of the last 10 years.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 12th June, 1972, when he gave the names and populations of each of the British dependent territories.Figures for the gross national product and

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to make available an increased allocation for entry into the United Kingdom to Kenyan Asians, in place of the allocation no longer required by Ugandan Asians.

As I told the House on 20th November in answer to a similar Question from the hon. Member, the Government have no plans for altering the rate at which United Kingdom passport holders from Kenya are admitted with special vouchers.—[Vol. 846, c. 265–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it remains the practice of Her Majesty's Government to hold regular consultations with the Govern-

COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCES SINCE JUNE, 1970
1970
17th-31st July	London	…	…	Quinquennial Review Conference of Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.
14th-15th September	Nicosia	…	…	Aid Officials met from Commonwealth countries to review working of Commonwealth programme for technical co-operation.
17th-18th September 1971	Nicosia	…	…	Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting.
6th-l3th January	New Delhi	…	…	4th Commonwealth Law Conference.
8th January	New Delhi	…	…	Commonwealth Ministers of Law/Justices and Attorneys-General.
14th-22nd January	Singapore	…	…	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
3rd-17th February	Canberra	…	…	5th Commonwealth Education Conference.
31st March-8th April	Port of Spain	…	…	7th Meeting of Commonwealth Telecommunications Council.
3rd May	Geneva	…	…	Meeting of Commonwealth Health Ministers.
8th-9thJune	London	…	…	Commonwealth Export Market Development.
23rd-24th September	Nassau	…	…	Meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers.
4th-15th October	Nairobi	…	…	8th Meeting of Commonwealth Telecommunications Council.
11th-19th October	London	…	…	1st Conference of Commonwealth Postal Administrations.
3rd-12th November 1972	Port Louis	…	…	3rd Commonwealth Medical Conference.
15th March	London	…	…	Meeting of representatives of most of the developing Commonwealth countries invited to enter into association or trade agreements with the enlarged EEC.
5th-6th April	London	…	…	Representatives of 30 Commonwealth countries met to discuss issues relating to association and trade agreements with the enlarged EEC.
13th April-17th May	Santiago	…	…	3rd Session of the United Nation's Conference on Trade and Development. Meetings of Commonwealth representatives were held during first week of session.
8th May	Geneva	…	…	Meeting of Health Ministers and senior health administrators of 27 Commonwealth countries.
16th-19th November	London	…	…	Conference on Consular relations within the Commonwealth.
30th May-13th June	Kingston, Ontario	…	…	10th Commonwealth Defence Conference on Operational Clothing and Combat Equipment.
27th June-14th July	London	…	…	9th Commonwealth Telecommunictaions Council meeting.
19th June and 29th June (Two one day Sessions).	London	…	…	Meeting of Commonwealth Sanctions Committee.
25th-27th July	London	…	…	2nd meeting of Officials of Commonwealth countries to discuss future relationships with the European Community.
29th August-8th September	London	…	…	8th Meeting Commonwealth Air Transport Council.
18th-22nd September	London	…	…	8th Conference of Commonwealth Auditors General.
21st-22nd September	London	…	…	Meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers.
16th-19th October	Ottawa	…	…	Meeting of Senior Commonwealth Officials.
23rd October-5th November	Canberra	…	…	7th Biennial Meeting of Commonwealth Scientific Committee.
14th November-4th December	Ottawa	…	…	Commonwealth Telecommunications Conference.

Yes. The details requested in the last part of the hon. Member's Question are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is now able to make a further statement on his approaches to the United Nations Organisation regarding the responsibility of members of the United Nations, in addition to Great Britain, to assist in rehabilitating stateless persons in general and the stateless Ugandan Asians in particular; and whether such discussions included the problem of the dependants of these stateless persons.

Her Majesty's Government's views on the general problem of refugees and statelessness have been made clear in the regular discussions in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' Executive Committee and elsewhere. We have urged other members of the United Nations to play their part in dealing with the problem of stateless Asians from Uganda. We are in touch with the UNHCR about various aspects of that problem which are of direct concern to Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place in the last 12 months of men who have failed to pay alimony granted by court order to their wives and ex-wives.

None, since failure to make such payments is not a criminal offence. Magistrates' courts may, however, impose imprisonment if they consider after inquiry that the failure to comply with the court order is due to wilful refusal or culpable neglect. In 1971, 2,790 men were committed to prison in these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in the last six months the courts have remanded for medical and mental reports defendants who insist on their right to give evidence in the Welsh language.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent all holders of British passports are allowed to enter and remain in Great Britain; and whether such automatic right of entry applies irrespective of where the passport holders may now be domiciled.

United Kingdom passport holders are free to enter and remain in the United Kingdom, irrespective of their place of domicile, if they are exempt from control under Section 1 of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 as amended by the Act of 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main criteria that he takes into account in allocating grants under the urban aid programme.

Aid under the urban programme is concentrated on urban areas with particularly acute social problems such as poor housing, overcrowding, high unemployment and inadequate educational and other social facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the projects approved for Bradford under the urban aid programme for the financial year 1972–73.

Non-capital projects approved for 1972–73 are as follows:

	£
Multi-racial community project (Summer 1972).	1,500	(This year only). Recurrent for:
Two part-time nurses for family planning work.	2,000	2 years
Grant to Bradford Diocesan Council for Social Responsibility (Family Welfare Committee).	2,500	5 years
Grant to Bradford Family Service Unit.	1,621	5 years
Grant for playmobile	129	3 years
Grant to establish playgroup	905	3 years
Grant to YWCA Community Relations project, Manningham.	3,460	4 years

The following capital projects to start in 1973–74 have also been approved: 7 Adventure Playgrounds—£3,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it is planned to spend on grants under Section 11 of the Local Government Act, 1966, in the present financial year and in each of the next four years.

I estimate, on the basis of local authority estimates of expenditure, that £7,010,000 will be paid in grant in 1972–73. I regret that I cannot give the information requested in respect of subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about recent breaches of security at Albany prison; and what action he has taken to make improvements in the light of the particular circumstances.

The governor has completed his investigation and is now satisfied that there is no truth in the alleged claim to have smuggled contraband into Albany prison, reported as having been made to a national newspaper by a prisoner now returned to custody. The prisoner concerned has since denied having made this claim. The other claim by the prisoner to have contrived unauthorised meetings with his wife while working in the officers' mess does not involve the security of the prison itself, as the mess is outside the perimeter. The governor has, however, taken a number of steps to tighten the supervision of prisoners on this outside work party.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange a meeting with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Divisional Commanders to discuss how recruitment into the Metropolitan Police can be encouraged; and if he will make a statement.

I have myself discussed recruitment problems with the commissioner and there is regular and frequent consultation on them between my officials and the commissioner and his staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what survey has been undertaken by his Department to establish why 506 police officers resigned from the Metropolitan Police Force during the last 12 months.

In the interests of good management the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis maintains a continuous watch on premature wastage and, as part of this process, the reasons given by officers who resign are recorded and studied. The main reasons given over recent months have been: to take other employment or to emigrate; unsuitability for police work; dissatisfaction with duties or conditions of service; and domestic reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is yet in a position to publish his survey into the causes and nature of unemployment.

Some of the information in this study is now being revised to take account of changes within the last year. When this has been completed my right hon. Friend will publish an article in the Department of Employment Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to complete his investigations into the geographical mobility of labour.

We are learning as we go along from the practical operation of the employment transfer scheme, which has been considerably extended since the hon. Gentleman last put down his question. In addition information will become available in coming months from the new earnings survey and the census. I want to consider how far these sources taken together provide an adequate basis for policy guidance before deciding whether major research is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans the Government has for extending industrial training facilities throughout Wales.

Training facilities in Wales will develop in line with the general expansion of industrial training throughout the country following the introduction of the training opportunities scheme. In particular, an additional 96 places are being made available at the Government training centre in Cardiff from today. Plans are well advanced for a new centre in the Newport area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men from South Ayrshire are now on the waiting list for entry to the Irvine Retraining Centre.

20 men from South Ayrshire were awaiting entry to Irvine Government training centre on 13th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will seek to ascertain and list the social service departments in England and Wales visited personally by Mr. J. B. Butterworth in the undertaking of his inquiry into the work and pay of probation officers and social workers; how many area officers, senior social workers, social workers, social work assistants and trainee social workers Mr. Butterworth interviewed; and how many interviews he had with clerks, directors of education, and medical officers of health of local authorities about the present rôle and responsibilities of social service officers;(2) whether he will seek to ascertain and make public the lists of duties and responsibilities of probation officers and local authority social workers used by the Butterworth Inquiry in undertaking the job evaluation of probation officers and social workers;(3) whether he will conduct a survey of probation officers now employed in social work departments in Scotland so as to establish how they evaluate their present work and responsibilities as compared with those when they were employed as probation officers in a separate probation service;(4) whether he will make public the evidence submitted by the Department of Health and Social Security to the Butterworth Inquiry into the work and pay of probation officers and social workers.

The Report of the Butterworth Inquiry (Cmnd. 5076) published in August made pay proposals, generally endorsed by Ministers in accordance with Government policy of accepting whenever possible the recommendations of independent review bodies appointed by Ministers to consider the pay of particular groups. The report was comprehensive and covered Scotland as well as England and Wales.Full information about the extent of the inquiry is contained in the published report.Sixty-four jobs in the three services were described and analysed and these descriptions were approved by job holders. Examples of job descriptions are provided in Appendix VI to the Butterworth Report and further information about the job evaluation exercise is contained in the body of the report.Mr. Butterworth gave in his report such details of the evidence received—which included oral evidence from the Department of Health and Social Security—as he thought necessary to elucidate his conclusions.I see no need therefore for any further such inquiries, surveys or publications so soon after the completion of the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will take further steps to encourage the registration of employment vacancies.

I am convinced that increased notification of vacancies will flow from the provision of a more effective employment service. Plans for modernisation are moving ahead. Early next year a re-styled computer assisted service will be introduced at professional and executive level. In subsequent months a number of new style employment offices will be opened, incorporating self-service facilities which will lead to an increased flow of vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider preparation of a cost of living index specially geared to the needs of retirement pensioners.

My Department already compiles and publishes at quarterly intervals retail prices indices (excluding housing costs) for one-person and two-person pensioner households in which the major source of household income is a national insurance retirement pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the Gas Industry Training Board.

Because of the changed situation which will be brought about by the establishment of the British Gas Corporation and the dissolution of the present area gas boards, my right hon. Friend is proposing to wind up the

Year ended January			Coal and coke	Gas	Electricity	Road and rail passenger fares	Postage, telephones, etc.	Retail prices index
1963	…	…	9	4	5	5	Nil	2·7
1964	…	…	2	3	6	4	3	1·9
1965	…	…	6	2	5	6	Nil	4·6
1966	…	…	2	2	9	8	11	4·4
1967	…	…	10	3	Nil	2	7	3·7
1968	…	…	2	Nil	14	4	Nil	2·6
1969	…	…	6	11	Nil	5	11	6·2
1970	…	…	14	Nil	Nil	5	Nil	5·0
1971	…	…	10	2	1	22	10	8·5
1972	…	…	10	8	13	13	16	8·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the numbers and the percentage rate of registered unemployed persons in the Northern Region at the time of the 1971 Census;(2) what were the numbers of registered unemployed males and females, respectively, at the Consett employment exchange at the time of the 1971 Census;(3) what were the numbers of registered unemployed males and females, respectively, at the Stanley employment exchange at the time of the 1971 Census.

At April, 1971, there were 70,704 people registered as unemployed in the Northern Region and the rate of unemployment was 5·4 per cent. At that date, the numbers registered as unemployed in the Consett training board and is at present consulting the appropriate organisations on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage price increases implemented by each of the nationalised industries in each of the last 10 years, together with the increases in the retail price index for those years.

Following are the percentage increases, in the 12 months ended mid-January in each of the years 1963 to 1972, in the retail prices of goods and services for households mainly produced by nationalised industries, together with the percentage increases in the retail prices index as a whole during the same periods:Employment Exchange area were 767 (607 males and 160 females) and in the Stanley area were 1,078 (985 males and 93 females).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the working of the Disabled Persons Register with a view to ensuring that firms employing 20 persons or more offer employment to the required percentage of disabled persons.

As I said in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 3rd August, a discussion paper dealing with the workings of the quota system for the employment of disabled people is in course of preparation. My right hon. Friend will consider the need for measures to ensure that employers fulfil their quota obligation in the light of the views and comments of the National Advisory Council for the Employment of the Disabled and other interested bodies in response to the discussion paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in north-west Kent employing 20 or more people fail to recruit 3 per cent. disabled people.

The number of firms in North-West Kent employing 20 or more people which fail to satisfy their 3 per cent. quota is 420 out of a total of 861 firms with a quota obligation (for the purposes of the question, North-West Kent is regarded as comprising the areas of the following local offices of this Department: Beckenham and Penge, Bexley, Bromley, Chatham, Dartford, Erith, Gravesend, Maidstone, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Sidcup.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures showing the cost of living in London at the latest convenient date and the cost of living outside London.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of industrial accidents reported to the Factory Inspectorate in the Ipswich area in the last full year for which figures are available.

During 1971, 2,523 accidents—including eight fatalities—were notified to Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate by occupiers or employers in the Ipswich district of the inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories' experiment in inspection of priority factories, where risk to health and safety is considered great or conditions have deteriorated, as outlined in the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector for 1971, Cmnd. Paper No. 5098.

The trial period for the inspection of priority factories referred to in the 1971 Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories has produced some valuable information which it has not yet been possible to evaluate fully.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will make the proposed change in the occupational classification of unemployment.

As from December 1972, unemployment will be analysed under the new List of Key Occupations for Statistical Purposes. It is hoped to publish the results in the February 1973 issue of the Department of Employment Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to widen the M5 motorway to the north of Lydiate Ash in order to provide three lanes in each direction.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many lorries examined by his inspectors in roadside checks were found to have faulty exhaust systems resulting in their emitting excess smoke.

Between 1st July and 30th September this year 1,931 vehicles were prohibited from being used on roads until they stopped emitting excessive smoke.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many foreign lorries have been prohibited from leaving the docks under the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act 1972 as a result of being overloaded.

Ninety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to send official confirmation to the Greenwich Borough Council of his decision that their average rent increase, required under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, will be reduced to 75p.

My right hon. and learned Friend's direction under Section 62(4) of the Housing Finance Act 1972 was sent to the council yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of central barrier have been erected on motorways since June, 1970; what was the average cost per mile; and how many miles of motorway do not have a central barrier.

Approximately 600 at an average estimated cost per mile of £11,000. At present 347 miles of motor-way do not have a central barrier.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Scandinavian Governments concerning atmospheric pollution allegedly emanating from modern power stations; and what reply he has sent.

None. But Her Majesty's Government are participating

		Casualties				Accidents
		Monday to Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total	Breathalyser Used	Breathalyser Reading Positive
12 a.m.-6 a.m.	…	40	32	19	91	13	11
6 a.m.-8 a.m.	…	985	49	23	1,057	10	1
8 a.m.-10 a.m.	…	595	260	135	990	11	1
10 a.m.-12 p.m.	…	1,124	480	327	1,931	39	1
12 p.m.-2 p.m.	…	1,216	574	378	2,168	97	18
2 p.m.-4 p.m.	…	3,395	505	435	4,335	148	49
4 p.m.-6 p.m.	…	2,839	427	271	3,537	120	33
6 p.m.-8 p.m.	…	1,189	205	174	1,568	98	20
8 p.m.-10 p.m.	…	309	136	47	492	106	40
10 p.m-12 p.m	…	63	38	16	117	57	26
Unknown	…	19	7	9	35	6	5
Total	…	11,774	2,713	1,834	16,321	705	205

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give in a study under Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development auspices designed to determine the facts about the relationships between sulphur dioxide emissions in Western Europe and the acidity of rainfall in Scandinavia.

asked the Secretary of of State for the Environment what has been the number of road accidents per mile on motorways in each year since 1964.

Following are the figures:

1965	3·08
1966	2·76
1967	2·71
1968	2·56
1969	2·55
1970	2·49
1971	2·62

Comparable information for 1964 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many children were killed or seriously injured on the roads, by hours of the day Monday to Friday, Saturday and Sunday and in how many accidents in which children were killed or seriously injured the breathalyser was used, and in how many was a positive reading recorded, during the most recent 12-month period for which the information is available.

Following are the figures for September 1971-August 1972:the road expenditure in Great Britain by the Exchequer and by local authorities, respectively, for the financial year 1971–72.

Total road expenditure including light and car parking in Great Britain, was as follows:

	£ million
From central funds	407
From local authority funds	428

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of central Government financial assistance to public transport in the last three years.

Assistance during the three financial years ended 31st March 1972 totalled £349 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the reasons for the delay in the improvement of the A33 Reading-M4 link road; and when work on the improvement is likely to commence.

There is no delay. This principal road scheme was included in the preparation list in March 1972 and a decision on programming is expected about mid-1973. This would permit a start of works towards the end of 1973, subject to the availability of funds and compliance with statutory requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he is to hold with local authorities with a view to limiting rate increases in 1973.

My right hon. and learned Friend, together with the Secretary of State for Education and Science and other Ministers, met representatives of the local authority associations and the Greater London Council on 17th November. It was agreed that the Government and local authorities must work together to ensure that essential local services can be maintained at a reasonable cost to the ratepayer. The Government for their part agreed to bear a higher proportion of expenditure than ever before and the local authorities accepted the need to continue to exercise restraint on their expenditure and on the level of rates they fix for next year. This joint action aims at keeping the average rise of rates to a level compatible with the Government's prices and incomes policies, although it is recognised that local variations will be inevitable. A rate support grant order, together with a report by the Secretary of State, will be laid shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the inter-Departmental committee which is considering the problem of motor vehicles which have been involved in accidents and written off as a total loss by insurance companies, but subsequently repaired and put on the road.

Studies indicate that this is only a minor factor in road safety. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to ban the interment of still-born babies in a common grave.

I have no plans to introduce such legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants will be available for planting by private forestry interests in future.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on Tuesday, 21st November in reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell).—[Vol. 846, c. 326.]