Jones asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the primary school building programme for Wales.

I have announced allocation of over £24 million for the five-year period up to 1976–77, for the improvement or replacement of substandard, pre-1903, primary schools. During the same period a further £12 million is likely to be allocated for additional primary school places in areas where the school population is increasing.

Jones asked the Secretary of State for Wales what most recent discussions he has had with farming representatives in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I undertake the day-to-day handling of agricultural matters and maintain close contact with representatives of the agricultural industry in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for permitting an increase in the number of nursery schools in Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Government's proposals for the expansion of nursery education are outlined in the recent White Paper (Command Paper 5174).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings have taken place of the Committee on Animal Trespass; how many were held outside Cardiff; if he proposes to issue an interim report; and if he will make a statement.

The Working Party on Straying Animals has held 17 meet- ings, 11 of which were outside Cardiff. An announcement will be made when the report has been completed and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how long the Committee on Sheep Trespass in Wales has been sitting; and when its report will be published.

The Working Party on Straying Animals held its first meeting on 30th July 1971. It is expected to report soon and an announcement will be made about its recommendations when they have been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what studies are at present being undertaken by his Department with regard to roads in Monmouthshire; when they will be completed; and what action he intends to take.

The trunk road system is kept under continuous review by my Department and a working party is considering the need for a second bypass of Newport. A land use/transportation study commissioned by Monmouthshire County Council for the county has recently been completed and I understand the consultants' final report is expected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent Wales is involved in the programme for Tree Planting Year.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State issued a joint circular to local authorities on 6th October relating to the arrangements for the year. Publicity material is available on demand from the Welsh Office, and my right hon. and learned Friend hopes to send a personal message in the New Year to all mayors and local authority chairmen.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what study he has made of the effect on industrialists contemplating moving to Wales of expected gas supplies in 1975, 1976 and 1977; and whether he will make a statement.

No special study has been made. The industrial marketing policy of the Wales Gas Board has so far been highly successful but I am advised that further expansion will depend—as in the rest of the country—on how much gas becomes available from new discoveries.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department will undertake a publicity campaign in the Common Market countries to persuade European industries to invest in Wales.

I think it preferable to concentrate on the continuing promotional work undertaken by firms, Government Departments and by the Development Corporation for Wales. I have every expectation that this will continue to be successful in bringing European firms to Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will ask the Welsh Council to include in its study of transport in Wales an examination of means whereby more heavy goods and freight can be carried by the railways.

The Welsh Council's research project is concerned with the passenger transport needs of Wales. It is for the council itself to decide whether to undertake any additional study of freight transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many council houses, specially adapted for the needs of the aged, have been built by local authorities in Wales this year.

Local authority tenders approved during 1972 make pro- vision for 543 dwelling specially adapted for the aged.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to encourage and advise local authorities in connection with providing sheltered accommodation for the aged.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18th May.—[Vol. 837, c. 206.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a Ministerial broadcast explaining the consequences for Wales of the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community.

No. Sufficient information is already available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total mileage of dual carriageways other than motorways on trunk roads on 30th September last.

Fifty-three.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a further statement on the future of the Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association, following the reorganisation of local government in Wales.

As I told the hon. Member earlier this year, the future of the association is for the five Mid-Wales county councils to decide. I would welcome their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number and kind of schools he has visited in an official capacity this year.

One county primary school, one voluntary controlled school and one special school.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Minister of Justice of Uganda is to be invited to the Conference of Law Ministers of the Commonwealth in January 1973.

The Law Ministers' meeting has been organised by the Commonwealth Secretary General. I understand that he has invited the Minister of Justice of Uganda.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases have been before the National Industrial Relations Court since 29th June 1972; and what are the names of the unions involved.

Forty-seven cases were outstanding at the beginning of the period 29th June to 13th December 1972 and 193 cases were received by the court during that period. Of these, 139 have been disposed of and 101 are still outstanding.Twenty-three trade unions have been concerned in proceedings in the court commenced since 29th June. Their names are as follows:

Trade Unions and other Organisations of Workers, as parties to cases originating in the National Industrial Relations Court—30th June—13th December:

asked the Attorney-General what is the total number of High Court judges; what is their average age; how many are in each division of the High Court; how many have been appointed since January 1965; and how many were appointed in the previous seven-year period.

There are 70 High Court judges; their average age is 61; 10 are assigned to the Chancery Division, 43 to the Queen's Bench Division and 17 to the Family Division. Fifty-four appointments to the High Court Bench have been made since January 1965, and 40 in the previous seven years, of whom 26 are still in post.

asked the Attorney-General what is the total number of circuit judges; what is their average age; whether there is a minimum age for appointment as a circuit judge; and how many circuit judges are solicitors.

The total number of circuit judges is 234; their average age is 58·2; there is no minimum age on appointment, the qualification being 10 years' standing as a barrister or five years as a recorder; no solicitor is, or is yet available for appointment as, a circuit judge under the Courts Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions he has had discussions with the officials of the National Union of Mineworkers during this past 12 months on the future of the coal mining industry.

The union has had eight such meetings with the Ministers of this Department in this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the capital cost of new machinery for increasing productivity installed in the mines in the years 1948 to 1958, 1959 to 1965, and 1965 to the nearest practical date.

Expenditure on colliery plant and machinery between 1965 and March 1972 was £367 million. The earlier figures are not available and I have asked the Coal Board to supply them to my hon. Friend. Since 1948 mechanised output rose from 2·5 per cent. to 92·2 per cent. of the total: productivity from 22·3 to 41·9 cwt. per man shift.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the total sums, subsidising and invested, in the coal industry over the years since nationalisation, including the £475 million just announced, and including any amounts of the original investment written off.

At 30th November 1972 Government grants totalled £168 million. Government investment net of repayments amounted to £1,197 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, apart from direct investment and subsidy, what is the estimated value to the coal industry of indirect subsidies, including all taxes or tariffs on alternative fuels, since nationalisation.

I regret the complexity of the issues makes it impossible, within a reasonable financial consideration, to estimate the figure for which my hon. Friend asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of pit closures and the number of redundancies in the British coalmining industry for each year since, and including, 1947.

The figures are:

	Pit closures (number)	Redundancies (thousands)
1947	*	*
1948	*	*
1949	28	4·7
1950	11	4·1
1951	5	1·8
1952	16	1·3
1953	5	1·4
1954	8	1·2
1955	17	1·7
1956	10	1·6
1957	18	0·9
1958	29	1·0
1959	56	6·0
1960	35	1·7
1961	29	0·4
1962	51	3·9
1963	33	4·3
1964	34	2·2
1965	44	1·8
1966	61	3·2
1967	29	7·2
1968	70	25·2
1969	26	9·6
1970	10	6·1
1971	4	4·2
1972	7†	6·6†
*Not available.
† To end of November.

During this period there has been a net reduction in manpower of 426,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he anticipates that the amounts of money now announced in subsidy and investment for the coal industry, after allowing for the £475 million related to past commitments although not yet fully paid, will result in a self-sufficient and self-financing industry without further future subsidy after the period when these new commitments have been fully met.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 11th December, the Government's proposals are designed to give the coal industry the opportunity to re-establish itself as the supplier of a competitive fuel without being a permanent burden on the taxpayer.—[Vol. 848, c. 31–40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on his latest talks with European Economic Community Governments on British participation in the post-Apollo programme.

Discussions are still continuing with our partners in the European Space Conference. A formal meeting of the Conference is planned for 20th December 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is now taking with regard to post-Apollo collaboration with the United States of America and with Europe.

Possible European co-operation with the United States in the post-Apollo programme is primarily a matter for the European Space Conference as the Americans have expressed a preference for a collective European response. Discussions are still continuing with our European partners and a formal meeting of the Conference is planned for 20th December 1972. My hon. Friend the Minister for Aerospace and Shipping will be leading the United Kingdom delegation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long he estimates the journey between central central London and central Paris will take via Foulness.

We would expect the journey time, using rail access to Maplin from the proposed town terminal at Kings Cross, to be little different from the time now taken in travelling via Heathrow. Using road access it will probably take longer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government will support the proposals presented by the American Government to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade for the abolition of industrial tariffs over a ten-year period by members of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The United States have made no proposal in these terms. Their representative did say at the recent GATT session that the time might soon be at hand when programmes for the phased elimination of tariffs could seriously be contemplated. We are willing to consider this among other possibilities with our EEC partners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of imports from and exports to Japan in each of the first three quarters of 1972; and what steps he is taking to increase exports to Japan in 1973.

Imports from Japan in the first three quarters of 1972 were valued at £66 million, £61 million and £81 millon respectively (cif). Exports in the same period were valued at £37 million, £49 million, and £35 million for each quarter (fob). Figures for the third quarter were distorted by the effects of the United Kingdom dock strike and the Japanese shipping strike.The British Overseas Trade Board has recently approved a major programme of activities designed to help British industry to export more to this high priority market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to conclude his investigations of the nine companies concerned with pyramid selling.

Nine investigations under Section 109 of the Companies Act 1967 have been carried out by the Department and one further investigation is now in progress. Further action is being considered in the light of the information obtained under the investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration is being given to possible changes in air transport policy as a result of joining the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

The transport provisions of the EEC Treaty have not been activated for air transport: to do so would depend upon a unanimous decision by the Council of Ministers under Article 84 of the Treaty of Rome. The commission has advanced a proposal for study of air transport, which is under examination by my Department with the British interests concerned and internationally. There is already close collaboration on air transport in Europe, bilaterally and through the European Civil Aviation Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to persuade the European Economic Community to accept that cotton yarn is not a raw material; and if he will make a statement.

Imports of cotton yarn from those Mediterranean countries which have agreements with the European Economic Community will, no later than 1st April 1973, enter the United Kingdom free of quota restrictions.As I stated on 23rd November, the European Commission has sought from the council a mandate which would pro-

MEMBERS OF NORTH THAMES GAS BOARD
		Name	Profession		Date of appointment	Salary £
Chairman	…	Mr. G. E. Cooper	Accountant	…	20th May 1970	13,000
Deputy Chairman		Mr. L. W. Smith	Chartered Accountant	…	1st April 1967	10,000
Chief Executive	…	Mr. R. P. Rhodes	Chartered Engineer	…	7th May 1970	8,910

PART-TIME MEMBERS
Name and Profession	Date of appointment	Salary £
The Rt. Hon. Lord Collison, C.B.E., Chairman—Supplementary Benefits Commission	15th May 1961	1,000
Dr. K. G. Denbigh, Principal—Queen Elizabeth College, University of London	19th May 1966	1,000
The Rt. Hon. Earl of Halsbury, Chemist and Chartered Engineer	1st March 1962	1,000
Mr. W. Hyde, Accountant	17th March 1971	1,000
EX OFFICIO PART-TIME MEMBER (Chairman, North Thames Gas Consultative Council).
Mr. C. T. Higgins, Former Company Director, Chairman Peterborough Development Corporation	12th May 1969	2,100

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry within how many days from receipt he anticipates answering the 21 outstanding requests for price increases from the paper and paper processing industry under the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act to provide for cover against Scandinavian raw material price increases due to the floating of the £ sterling and other causes.

I shall announce my decisions as soon as I have considered fully the merits of the cases put to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the names and professions of all persons appointed as members of the North Thames Gas Board, the dates of appointment and salaries paid.

Following is the information:make a statement on his discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority and others on the problem of air crew fatigue.

The Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed to me that the committee which the authority set up last month to review the provisions governing the avoidance of excessive fatigue in aircrew has already started work and will report as soon as possible having regard to the importance and complexity of this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, from the point of view of safety, he is satisfied with the hours worked by pilots in the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways; and if he will hold discussions with the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority designed to ensure that adequate rest periods are provided between flights so that pilots are alert and able to perform all their flying duties at any time.

This is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the authority has set up a committee under the chairmanship of Group Captain Douglas Bader to consider whether any amendment is required to the existing provisions on flight time limitations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the interests of safety, he will impose a minimum age limit of 25 years for those flying crew of the British Overseas Airways Corporation or British European Airways who may be asked to fly as second or third pilot.

No. The Civil Aviation Authority, whose responsibility it is to consider such matters, has made no proposal to amend the Air Navigation Order to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the interests of safety, he will have discussions with the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority about revising and up-dating the medical examinations undergone by pilots in the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways.

I have already asked the chairman of the authority to consider as

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF STEEL

Million tonnes

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

Imports

…

…

0·8

1·2

1·6

0·6

0·9

1·6

2·2

2·3

2·2

2·0

Exports

…

…

2·9

3·2

3·5

3·6

3·3

3·7

4·1

3·7

3·8

4·7

The figures cover ingots and other primary forms, bars, rods, angles, shapes and sections; universals, plates and sheets (excluding lacquered tinplate); hoop and strip; certain rails and railway track material; tubes and pipes; castings and forgings, unworked; and railway locomotive axles, tyres and wheels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the value and volume of imports of white

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on the future investment plans of the Steel Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement about the long-term strategy for the steel industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on the Government's investment programme for the steel industry.

No. The Government are urgently studying the British Steel Corporation's long-term development strategy and I will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretaory of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the amounts in tons of imported steel for each of the past 10 years, and the comparable figures of steel exported.

The figures show that both imports and exports were rising over the period and that exports reached a record total of 4·7 million tons in 1971.Following is the information:veal over the period 1965 to 1971, and for the latest available period of 1972; and what information he has on the extent to which such imports result from methods of animal husbandry and considerations for animal welfare not permitted by United Kingdom domestic law and practice.

For the year 1971 and the 10 months January to October 1972 imports of fresh, chilled and frozen veal were 871 tons valued at £582,000 cif and 2,190 tons valued at £1,873,000 cif respectively. Earlier figures are published in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade for the relevant years.A convention on the protection of animals in intensive rearing is under consideration by a Council of Europe expert committee on which the United Kingdom is represented. We shall seek to encourage the international adoption of animal welfare standards acceptable to us.

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS OF LIVE ANIMALS
Number of Animals
					Western Germany	Netherlands	Belgium	France	Italy
Cattle:
For breeding or dairy purposes*
1967	…	…	…	…	—	—	2	34	180
1968	…	…	…	…	—	—	4	140	—
1969	…	…	…	…	4	1	26	38	—
1970	…	…	…	…	15	9	201	15	—
1971	…	…	…	…	10	16	381	42	10
For other purposes
1967	…	…	…	…	4,320	29,928	63,328	90	4
1968	…	…	…	…	—	531	12,514	4,713	—
1969	…	…	…	…	1,562	22,629	26,328	14,071	—
1970	…	…	…	…	10,911	21,428	25,736	10,858	—
1971	…	…	…	…	418	1,430	7,124	8,767	—
Sheep:
For breeding (including goats)
1967	…	…	…	…	—	20	45	154	63
1968	…	…	…	…	22	—	106	397	—
1969	…	…	…	…	—	20	—	1,796	16
1970	…	…	…	…	—	22	325	451	12
1971	…	…	…	…	17	—	931	361	39
For other purposes
1967	…	…	…	…	—	4,756	35,267	3	—
1968	…	…	…	…	—	1,828	59,819	—	—
1969	…	…	…	…	—	4,435	254,459	484	—
1970	…	…	…	…	—	967	124,106	—	—
1971	…	…	…	…	—	200	42,680	—	232
Swine*:
1967	…	…	…	…	5	—	—	159	258
1968	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	469	10
1969	…	…	…	…	5,009	56	16,462	50,824	90
1970	…	…	…	…	2,473	441	29,722	15,191	141
1971	…	…	…	…	3,663	237	584	5,513	1,080
Horses*†:
1967	…	…	…	…	235	3,256	346	882	146
1968	…	…	…	…	488	1,836	528	929	222
1969	…	…	…	…	483	816	341	979	223
1970	…	…	…	…	584	483	264	1,119	295
1971	…	…	…	…	857	841	268	1,080	217
*Animals for breeding are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics.
† Including horses temporarily exported for breeding or racing purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further information he has received from the Southern Gas Board concerning the recent gas emergency in Portsmouth affecting a number of citizens; whether he will arrange for a full report to be published; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the figures for the export of live horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs for breeding and for other purposes to Belgium, Holland, Italy, West Germany and France for each of the last five years.

Following is the information:

A detailed technical report has been submitted. From this it is clear that a mechanical failure which allowed air to enter the mains arose from a combination of unusual circumstances. The Southern Gas Board acted quickly to safeguard tie public, correct the failure, restore supply, and take the necessary steps to avoid such mishaps in future. What happened has already been fully explained to the Southern Gas Consultative Council, and I do not think it necessary to publish a more detailed report, which would be of largely technical nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has concerning the results of tests made for establishing the presence of gas and mineral deposits in Cardigan Bay in the last three years.

Since 1970, the Institute of Geological Sciences has carried out drilling operations in Cardigan Bay directed to a fundamental understanding of the geology of the area rather than gas and mineral prospects specifically. The drilling, undertaken in three summer periods, was confined to holes of a maximum depth of 100 metres. A report by the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth incorporating the results of the drilling is to be published by the Institute of Geological Sciences next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by reference number the blocks in the North Sea which have been explored for oil and the number of successful and unsuccessful wells drilled in each; and if he will also list the blocks in which no exploration has yet taken place.

Information supplied by licensees shows that detailed geophysical surveys have been carried out over 797 blocks licensed for exploration and production and that 442 wells have been drilled on 163 of these blocks. I intend to publish further details within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now able to set a date for the next allocation of licences for North Sea oil exploration.

No. As my hon. Friend said in the Scottish Grand Committee debate on 5th December, there will not be another allocation of licences for production in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will indicate by economic planning regions where the United Kingdom purchased 60 per cent. of equipment will be drawn from the Forties Oil Field.

It would not be possible to provide this information without undue cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the estimate of Scotland's oil consumption this year, or for the nearest convenient full year; and if he will give a breakdown of the figure by product.

Details of inland deliveries of petroleum products for consumption in Scotland in recent years are given in Table 37 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1972. Copies of the digest are available in the Library of the House.Final consumption in 1972 will depend on a number of uncertain factors, but the figures will be published in due course as they become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage increase in oil prices charged by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in each round of increases in the last 15 years; and if he will indicate the effect of the increases on Great Britain's balance of payments.

My right hon. Friend is not responsible for the price of OPEC oil. According to unofficial published sources the average Middle East Government receipts per barrel of crude oil increased from 82·3 cents in 1956 to 124·5 cents in 1971. Over the same period, the total cost of our oil imports from the Middle East rose from £191 million to £572 million, and the average cost per ton from £8·22 to £8·55.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how soon he expects to be able to announce his policy for aerospace in the light of the Marshall Report.

Announcements on specific policy developments have been made as they have arisen. A further statement will be made as soon as it is appropriate to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement about the use of industrial liaison centres, following that made on 3rd October.

In my discussion with the Smaller Firms Council of the CBI I was referring to the hard core of manufacturers who were believed to make recurring use of this service without being stimulated by approaches from industrial liaison officers. When I announced on 9th August that we had decided to end financial support for it next year I paid tribute to the work done by these officers and I gladly do so again.As was made clear in the Bolton Report (Cmnd. 4811) they have recently been making more than 13,000 visits to smaller firms and handling more than 26,000 inquiries between them each year. I repeat that I hope very much that as part of their normal relations with industry and business in general colleges and universities will be able to continue to help these firms; and I extended our support to mid-1973 to give the authorities concerned more time to consider the future employment of their present industrial liaison officers in a new capacity.—[Vol. 842, c. 462–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the acquisition of Rolls Royce Limited's assets by Rolls Royce (1971) Limited.

The Government and the other parties to the heads of agreement for the transfer of certain of Rolls-Royce Limited's assets to Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited have, at the request of the Receiver of Rolls-Royce Limited, agreed that the document should no longer remain confidential. Copies of the agreement have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British policy in the Pacific area in the light of the results of the recent New Zealand and Australian general elections.

Our policy in the Pacific area has not changed following the elections in Australia and New Zealand. We shall continue to maintain our traditionally close relations with those countries and to foster stability and development in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in his talks with General Franco, he discussed relations between Great Britain, Spain and the European Economic Community.

I paid a courtesy call on General Franco. Our conversation was, of course, confidential but I can say that there was no substantive discussion of the topic mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the future of the British Volunteer Programme, with particular reference to the established procedure of negotiating with the individual volunteer agencies through the British Volunteer Programme committee and secretariat structure.

A review committee is now examining the functions, structure and membership of the programme, and I would prefer to await its findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the inter-governmental talks between Her Majesty's Government and the People's Republic of China on an air services agreement; and when he expects to make an announcement.

We have now transmitted to Her Majesty's Embassy, Peking, the draft of an agreement which will be handed to the Chinese as a basis for discussion within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he now plans to seek to pay official visits to Australia and New Zealand.

My right hon. Friend visited Australia and New Zealand in June and July of this year. He has at present no plans for further visits there.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the prohibition on the holding of company directorships by the Crown Agents was ended.

The rules of the Civil Service on this matter are applied to the Crown Agents. There has therefore been no specific prohibition on the holding of company directorships. Both Crown Agents and their staff hold ex officio directorships in subsidiary companies of the Crown Agents and in companies in which the Crown Agents have a substantial interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans he has to seek to pay official visits to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and the Gambia;(2) if he will seek to pay an official visit to Liberia in the near future.

My right hon. Friend plans to visit Nigeria, Senegal and Liberia in February 1973. Other Ministers also hope to visit countries in the area around the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what moneys have been made available and to which countries under the Empire and Commonwealth Settlement Act, for the years 1960, 1965 and 1970 or the most recent convenient date.

During the financial year 1960–61 £150,000 was paid by Her Majesty's Government as a contribution to the assisted passage scheme to Australia. The same contribution was made to the scheme in the financial years 1965–66 and 1971–72.Additionally, in the financial year 1960–61 provision was made to assist the settlement of emigrant children from the United Kingdom in Australia, Canada and Southern Rhodesia. Details of the expenditure of £14,267 in that year are not available. In 1965–66 provision was made for expenditure of £11,000. In 1971–72 the sum of £2,502 was expended in assisting the settlement of children in Australia. No expenditure in relation to Rhodesia was incurred.Additionally, in the same year loans previously made under the Act totalling £49,700 to voluntary societies concerned with the settlement of children in Australia were converted to grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom voted against the General Assembly Resolution in favour of the United Towns Organisation at the last General Assembly of the United Nations.

Since the success of twinning partnerships depends on the enthusiasm of local authorities Her Majesty's Government considered that their promotion should be in the hands of the people concerned and not subject to direction by an international organisation. There were in our view more important projects requiring the use of limited United Nations development funds.Twenty-seven countries abstained from voting and the United States, Canada and New Zealand voted against it in addition to ourselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the proposed new airstrip on Vava'u in Tonga; and when it is expected to be completed.

This airstrip has now been completed and is in regular use for flights by Britten Norman Islander aircraft to and from Nukualofa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made to meet the costs of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration in connection with Asian United Kingdom passport holders expelled from Uganda going to Latin America.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to meet the costs incurred by the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration on the selection, maintenance, transport and reception of United Kingdom passport holders going to Latin America, in so far as these costs are not met by contributions from other Governments. An advance of £41,000 for initial expenses has been obtained from the Contingencies Fund. Parliament will be asked later to approve the necessary supplementary expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to respond to the appeal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for funds for relief work in the Southern Sudan.

Yes, I now propose to make a contribution of £250,000 to this appeal in addition to the grant of £200,000 which was made available earlier this year to the Government of the Sudan. A supplementary estimate will be laid before Parliament in due course. Meanwhile, I am confident that this pledge will increase

		1970		1971		1972 (up to 31st October)
Traffic Area		Operator	Driver	Operator	Driver	Operator	Driver
Northern	…	261	3	294	20	125	7
Yorkshire	…	153	98	100	44	72	97
North Western	…	36	—	5	—	56	29
West Midland	…	213	34	295	91	201	122
East Midland	…	747	277	819	336	483	407
Eastern	…	77	—	98	5	244	8
South Wales	…	121	14	59	10	98	64
Western	…	79	21	95	33	87	71
South Eastern	…	264	—	250	35	264	88
Metropolitan	…	630	22	469	15	338	49
Scotland, South	…	78	36	168	91	154	135
Scotland, North	…	105	22	117	48	70	79

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite Major-General Gowon, Head of State in Nigeria, to make an official visit to the United Kingdom in 1973.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 14th December we very much hope that General Gowon will visit this country in 1973.—[Vol. 848, c. 206–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the European Economic Community on the question of heavy lorries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) on 15th November 1972, in answer to a similar Question.—[Vol. 846, c. 404–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of convictions for overloading of heavy goods vehicles by county in 1970, 1971 and 1972 to the latest date.

The information is not available by county. The table below shows successful summonses by DOE only by traffic areas:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of convictions for drivers' hours offences for heavy goods vehicles by county in 1970, 1971 and 1972 to the latest date.

		1970		1971		1972 (up to 31st October)
Traffic Area		Operator	Driver	Operator	Driver	Operator	Driver
Northern	…	26	135	23	47	23	26
Yorkshire	…	167	348	278	401	75	137
North Western	…	36	136	43	122	123	162
West Midland	…	134	225	106	229	137	239
East Midland	…	374	444	332	509	238	358
Eastern	…	102	160	49	112	31	76
South Wales	…	26	170	18	35	21	84
Western	…	21	108	67	140	45	67
South Eastern	…	97	145	115	241	28	93
Metropolitan	…	158	278	83	207	78	139
Scotland, South	…	1	4	11	1	14	11
Scotland, North	…	9	10	4	2	5	9

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek powers to require warning notices to be posted at every angle of approach to a pedestrian crossing which has been ripped up during the course of road works.

No, but I am issuing advice to local authorities on such notices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present policy toward car parking in the London Royal Parks; and what estimate he has made of the effect that parking facilities, including seasonal arrangement's, have on traffic congestion in central London.

My policy is to provide parking for genuine visitors to the Royal Parks, while deterring the all-day commuter; and I am reviewing the controls on parking in the Royal Parks with this in mind. However, Horse Guards Parade is made available in December after 6 p.m. to Christmas shoppers at the request of the Greater London Council and the police, though the desirability of providing this facility is reviewed each year. It is difficult to estimate the precise effect of the controls on parking but they must deter some all-day commuters from bringing their cars into central London; and I intend to deter more.

The information is not available by county. The table below gives the totals of successful summonses by DOE only by traffic areas:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inspectors are employed by his Department in each county for vehicle checks and drivers' log sheet rules enforcement.

The following are the totals by traffic areas on 1st December 1972:

Northern	11
Yorkshire	21
North Western	24
West Midland	20
East Midland	19
Eastern	15
South Wales	11
Western	11
South Eastern	15
Metropolitan	27
Scotland South	13
Scotland North	7

I have recently authorised a total increase of 50 additional posts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply has been sent to the letter from Mr. C. V. Winter-Baker, of Wraysbury House, Long Copse Lane, Emsworth, Hampshire, dated 22nd October, sent to the Department on the subject of development in Hollybank Lane, Emsworth, Hampshire.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply which has been sent to Mr. Winter-Baker. The matters which he raised are for Havant and Waterloo Urban District Council, the local highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his consultations with Essex authorities on the route of Ringway 3.

A number of local authorities, including six in Essex, have been consulted in accordance with existing procedures on the proposed line of the A10 to M11 section of Ringway 3.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will, by providing figures for 1971, bring up to date the statistics for the volume of parcels traffic handled in the public sector given in Table E of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 162.

The volume of parcels handled in the public section in 1971 was as follows:

Undertaking	Packages (million)
BRS Parcels Ltd.	77·5
National Carriers Ltd·	100·0*
British Rail Express Parcels Service	73·5
Post Office Corporation	158·1†
Total	409·1
*As before this is an estimate mainly based on tonnage.
† Total affected by the postal strike.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to make a ministerial broadcast on road safety before Christmas.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the importance to United Kingdom exports and invisible earnings of having modern exhibition facilities in the London area as well as Birmingham, he will now grant outline planning consent for the proposed exhibition centre adjoining Northolt Airport.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the report of the inquiry held last June and will issue his decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the application for infrastructure grant for the Tyneside Rapid Transit system.

I have today informed the Chairman of the Tyneside Passenger Transport Authority that the Government will pay grant at 75 per cent. on the total estimated cost of £65·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now order an inquiry into conditions in lead refineries, bearing in mind recent surveys of the high lead levels in the blood of children living around such works.

No. The Windeyer Committee made a number of suggestions for improving conditions in the industry at large and these are already being followed up.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment bureaux now provide services specifically for elderly people; where they are located; and how many jobs they found for elderly persons in each case in each of the last five years.

Private employment agencies are not required to identify themselves to my Department and in many areas of the country are not required to be licensed by local authorities. Comprehensive information about their activities is therefore not available, although my Department is aware of a number of organisations that deal specifically with older workers at professional and executive level.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the Industrial Training Board covering the tailor and garment industry, about the need to attract and train school-leavers into this industry, and to initiate retraining schemes for older workers, in view of the shortage in some areas of skilled labour in this industry.Mr. Chichester-Clark: There are known shortages of skilled workers in tailoring and garment making principally in the London area and mainly for machinists. The Clothing and Allied Products Industry Training Board is taking steps through its working parties and committees and in discussion with group training associations to stimulate interest in the industry and improve recruitment. Adequate training facilities are available in many companies in the area for any suitable entrants who may become available.In addition, the Youth Employment Service keeps school leavers informed about employment opportunities and prospects in the clothing trades, and I hope that the expansion in training and retraining which my Department has launched will increase the supply of adult skilled workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is the practice for all persons registering as unemployed to be asked to disclose the income they received in their previous employment, and whether these figures are collated or the persons registered as unemployed classified according to their previous earnings.

To assist in matching registrants with vacancies, it is normal practice to ascertain the level of previous earnings. Information so obtained is neither collated nor used to classify the unemployed. The earnings level is used, however, in determining whether a sales representative should be assisted by the Professional and Executive Recruitment or the General Employment Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make daily travelling grants available to young persons unable to find employment in their own locality.

No. My Department operates transfer schemes to enable young people who are unable to find suitable employment in their own locality to move to other areas and we think this preferable to assisting them to undertake excessively long and tiring daily journeys.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of foreign student employees; and what is the number from the nine countries of the enlarged European Economic Community who have been admitted as student employees, under the conditions laid down in paragraphs 8 and 9 of his Department's circular AR 100.

The total number of foreign student employees admitted is not known. The number of work permits issued for student employment in the last three years is as follows:

	Total	EEC
1970	6,747	3,367
1971	5,918	2,692
1972 (January-November)	5,120	2,399

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes will be made in the regulations regarding foreign student employees, laid down in circular AR 100, as a result of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.

There will be no change in the regulations for nationals of countries outside the European Economic Community. After 1st January 1973 the regulations will not apply to nationals of member States and they will not require work permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, industry by industry, the number of men and women, respectively, who have been killed at work this year; and how this compares with the previous five years.

The numbers relating to employees in employment notified to, or coming to the notice of, the various authorities are: