asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will undertake to complete her review of the method by which cost limits for school building are fixed and adjusted with a view to increasing these cost limits for 1973–74.

I know that a number of local education authorities are facing serious difficulties, and I am watching carefully the present level of cost limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to stop the loss through export of rare historic documents.

My noble Friend is much concerned about the export of important documents. The Government have extended the export control of documents, manuscripts and archives to cover all such material over 70 years old as from 6th November 1972. The effectiveness of the control depends upon the co-operation of the owners and the trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has had with teachers' organisations concerning the setting up of a national council to advise her on the education and supply of teachers; and if she will make a statement.

I intend shortly to consult the interested parties about the proposal set out in paragraph 97 of the White Paper "Education: A Framework for Expansion", Cmnd. 5174, published on 6th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has had with Portsmouth City Council about financial assistance from the urban aid programme for the exten- sion of nursery school facilities in the city, particularly in redevelopment areas like Buckland, what action she is taking to ensure that any agreed priorities are protected from the impact of the freeze; and whether she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has recently approved the provision of 40 new nursery places in the Paulsgrove area under phase 7 of the urban programme. A proposal for an additional nursery unit in the Buckland area was given a lower priority by the local education authority, and it was not possible to approve it within the resources available. The payment of Exchequer grant on approved projects is not affected by the Government's statutory control of prices and incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information she has received from the competent authorities about a special allocation of tickets for Members for the Fanfare for Europe service in Westminster Abbey on 7th January.

I understand that tickets are not required for the service in Westminster Abbey which will take place at 10.30 a.m. on 7th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish the results of the exploratory survey by the Schools Council of the arrangements made by local education authorities for the teaching of gifted children.

I understand that the results of the survey the hon. Member has in mind will be published by the Schools Council early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she is sending to local education authorities, in the light of the departmental report, pointing out the dangers of isolating pupils who have been discovered being involved with drugs into small drug-orientated groups, aloof from the rest of the school.

The recent pamphlet "Drugs and the Schools" issued by my Department contains general advice on the ways schools might approach the problems of drug taking. I have no plans to follow this up with additional guidance to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will report on the progress of the Science Research Council's negotiations with the Institut Max von Laue-Paul Langevin, Grenoble.

I am glad to report that the Science Research Council has concluded an agreement which will give it a de facto partnership in the Institut from 1st January 1973 on equal terms with the existing French and German partners, thus giving British scientists immediate access to facilities for using high flux neutron techniques for research purposes.The terms of the agreement have been endorsed in an exchange of letters between the three Governments and provide for modification of the instruments governing the Institut to give formal effect to the agreement. In the meantime, the Science Research Council will play a full part in the management and work of the Institut.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of the importance of the portrait of Jane Duchess of Gordon with her son, the Marquess of Huntly, by George Romney, sold at Messrs. Sotheby on Wednesday 13th December, whether she will ensure that this painting is acquired for the nation.

I have been asked to reply.I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Member that this picture has been acquired for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. A total of £60,000, of which £50,000 is a special purchase grant, has been made available as an advance from the Contingencies Fund in the first instance. Parliamentary approval will be sought in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the reasons for the hold-up of London's traffic on the evening of Wednesday 29th November.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not set up a committee to inquire into the relationships between the police and the Press, and in particular to consider the proposition that no information or comment should be supplied to the Press by the police or anyone acting on their behalf if there is likelihood of a prosecution, until such time as the summons has been issued or a decision taken that no legal enforcement will be initiated.

Because my right hon. Friend is not persuaded of the need to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the report from the chief constable of Liverpool on how and why information to the Press was revealed by the head of the Liverpool Police of a prejudicial nature, before any notification of a prosecution had been made and before police investigations had been completed.

In accordance with accepted practice, the report from the Chief Constable of Liverpool and Bootle will not be published but I shall write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to receive the report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System on the sentencing and treatment of young offenders;(2) why he is not prepared to introduce legislation amending Section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 forthwith in advance of receipt of the report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System on the sentencing and treatment of young offenders.

I understand that the Advisory Council on the Penal System expects to be able to present its report in the summer of 1973. One of the principal matters which the advisory council has been asked to consider is what should be the sentencing provisions for young offenders. Legislation now to amend Section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 would, therefore, prejudge an important issue which the council is considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent represenations he has received asking for action on the brewers' tied house system; and what replies he has sent.

We have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is proposing to take to prevent the mailing of obscene advertisements and publications to citizens of the United Kingdom from countries abroad, and particularly from Denmark.

Approaches have been made through diplomatic channels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made for the authorising of telephone tapping.

The arrangements are in accordance with the criteria and procedures set out in the Report of the Committee of Privy Councillors appointed to inquire into the interception of communications (1957: Cmnd. 283).

asked the Secretary el State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the Consumer Protection Act 1971 in respect of the importation of toys which pose a fire or health risk; and if he will make a statement.

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1967, made under the Consumer Protection Act 1961, forbid the use of celluloid in toys and impose restrictions on the amount of lead and other toxic substances which may be present in the paint on toys. The regulations, which apply to all toys offered for sale in this country, including imported toys, are actively enforced by local authorities. Further regulations are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek the views of local authorities in respect of the adequacy of current regulations concerning the importation of dangerous toys.

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1967, which apply to the sale in this country of all toys, including imported toys, are kept under review in periodic discussions between the local authority associations and the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the number of telephone lines of his immigration and nationality department, in view of its increasing work.

I have taken steps to enable additional lines to be manned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that the provisions of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 have now been brought into force so far as hotels are concerned, if he will seek powers to ensure that there will be no conflict between national and local legislation with regard to fire precautions in hotel premises.

Section 30 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 provides that, where a fire certificate under the Act is in force, any provision of a local Act in respect of a requirement imposed by the fire certificate shall not apply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to meet the Ugandan Asian Resettlement Board.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to his Question on 7th December. My right hon. Friend has no plans for a further meeting with the board at present.—[Vol. 847, c. 476.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the exceptional grounds upon which 60 Ugandan Asians have been readmitted to the Uganda Resettlement Board's centres.

They were readmitted on compassionate grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total price obtained for the sale of state-owned licensed premises in Carlisle, in Gretna, and in the Scottish district, respectively; and how many premises have yet to be sold in each district.

129 licensed properties have yet to be sold in the Carlisle district and one in the Gretna district. A full report, including information about the price obtained, will be made to Parliament when sale is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North wrote to him on 1st November enclosing a letter from a constituent who made charges and allegations of irregularities against the police, and that on 24th November 1972 a police officer from the same station as the officers against whom these charges were made called upon the complainant on another matter and displayed the communication sent to him by the hon. Member; and what was the reason for this;

The investigation of complaints against the police is governed by Section 49 of the Police Act 1964. When such a complaint is made to my right hon. Friend he refers it to the chief officer of the force concerned for investigation in accordance with that section. I have asked the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for a report on the specific matters raised in these Questions and shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement regarding the recent theft of cartons containing the dangerous drug Aldomet from a container lorry at Ipswich Dock; and what steps have been taken with regard to safeguarding children against such part of the consignment as may have been jettisoned.

The Chief Constable of Suffolk informs me that inquiries into the theft are proceeding and that steps have been taken through the Press and television to publicise the possible danger.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the provisions of the Adoption Act 1968 relating to the recognition of overseas adoptions are to be brought into force.

My right hon. Friend intends shortly to make an order bringing in force that part of the Act which relates to the recognition of overseas adoption orders, together with a further order specifying some 50 countries whose adoption orders will be recognised under the Act. Examination of the adoption laws of other countries, with a view to their specification in later orders, is in progress. The provision in Section 4 of the Act which applies Section 19(1) of the Adoption Act 1958 to overseas adoptions will not, however, be brought into force. The effect will be that, where a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies adopts a child overseas in a specified country, the adoption will not confer citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies on the child. My right hon. Friend has arranged that, where the adopters and the child become resident in this country, no fee will be payable for the registration of the child as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the regional director's report on the recent incidents at Gartree prison; and whether he will make a statement.

The regional director's report contains a full account of the attempted escapes and of the subsequent riot at Gartree prison on 26th-27th November.Fourteen prisoners were involved in the escape attempt. Of these, nine failed to get beyond the inner security fence of the prison; one was recaptured between the two fences; and four succeeded in breaking through both fences but were recaptured before they had gone more than a few yards from the perimeter fence by staff deployed to meet the emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is now intended to set up a Scottish Assembly.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 13th December to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).— [Vol. 848, c. 435–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of subsidy will be lost in Glasgow because the local authority refuses to accept the new slum clearance subsidy introduced under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what amount of subsidy will be lost in Falkirk because the local authority is refusing to accept the new slum clearance subsidy introduced under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972;(2) what amount of subsidy will be lost in Dundee because the local authority is refusing to accept the new slum clearance subsidy introduced under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he expects to be paid in slum clearance subsidy to December 1972 to local authorities in the area covered by the South Angus constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of subsidy will be lost in Dunfermline because the local authority is refusing to accept the new slum clearance subsidy introduced under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of subsidy will be lost in Kilmarnock because the local authority is refusing to accept the new slum clearance subsidy introduced under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) on 14th December, I cannot calculate a local authority's entitlement to slum clearance subsidy until I receive a claim based on the relevant expenditure actually incurred, and, local authorities have until 31st March 1973 to submit claims relating to the financial year 1971–72.—[Vol. 848, c. 226–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what reports he has received from the auditors of the Whitburn local authority about the failure of the authority to observe the law concerning their housing revenue account income;(2) what report he has received from the auditors of the Whitburn local authority concerning alleged illegal expenditure by the authority in connection with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

The appointed auditor gave me preliminary intimation on 11th October that Whitburn Town Council was not implementing the provisions of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 regarding rents. He has not submitted an interim report in terms of Section 201 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the extra cost to ratepayers in Whitburn which has been incurred by the failure of the local authority to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Failure by Whitburn Town Council to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 could cost ratepayers the equivalent of a rate of at least 15p in the £.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what at present is the average waiting period for a local authority house in the area covered by the South Angus constituency; what was the average waiting period in each of the last five years; and how this figure compares with the average for Scotland over the same period.

I understand that, depending on the size of house required, the area concerned, and other factors, the waiting period in the local authority areas which make up the South Angus constituency is currently likely to vary from a few weeks to more than two years. Information about average waiting periods in the last five years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in improving A9 on those sections which do not require dual-carriageways immediately, he will include the necessary earthworks for a second carriageway in view of the small extra cost compared with the substantially greater expenditure if carried out at a later stage.

The urgent task is to reconstruct A9 between Perth and Inverness on a new line where it now follows a winding route with poor visibility. This will give traffic the improved road it needs in the shortest possible time. The design of the new road will be such as to permit the provision of dual carriageway later as required. It would not be advisable to incur the substantial additional cost of earthworks at this stage at the expense of deferring other urgent schemes in the Scottish road programme.

Physical Education

Home Economics

Technical Subjects

Music

Drama

Art

M

W

M

W

M

W

M

W

M

W

M

W

Glasgow

…

0·2

3·7

—

4·1

—

—

—

0·8

—

—

—

2·6

Edinburgh

…

—

1·0

—

1·5

1·5

—

—

0·1

—

0·5

—

1·0

Dundee

…

0·2

0·4

—

0·8

0·5

—

—

—

—

—

—

1·0

Aberdeen Burgh

…

—

0·5

—

0·4

0·4

—

—

0·2

—

0·1

—

0·4

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fully registered teachers, showing men and women separately, and excluding head teachers, employed on a permanent basis in the secondary departments of special schools administered by the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen Education Authorities, respectively, have a main qualifica-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that the numbers of pupils and the numbers and qualifications of full-time and part-time teachers in the secondary departments of special schools administered by the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee Education Authorities are brought into line with the requirements of the Schools (Scotland) Code.

I have no reason to suppose that the qualifications of teachers employed in these schools do not satisfy the requirements of the Schools (Scotland) Code, and I am sure that any classes temporarily above the maximum size will be reduced as soon as the authorities can recruit the additional teachers required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will express the numbers of teachers, showing men and women separately, in terms of their full-time equivalence, who are employed less than whole-time in the secondary departments of special schools administered by the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee Education Authorities, respectively, and who have a main qualification in physical education, home economics, technical subjects such as woodwork or metalwork, music, drama, and art, respectively.

The information is as follows:tion other than a qualification in one of the practical and aesthetic subjects.

The information is as follows:

	Men	Women
Glasgow	11	29
Edinburgh	5	6
Dundee	5	7
Aberdeen Burgh	3	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mentally handicapped boys and how many mentally handicapped girls are being taught in the secondary departments of special schools administered by Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen Education Authorities, respectively.

In January 1972 the numbers were:

	Boys	Girls
Glasgow	657	500
Edinburgh	91	70
Dundee	61	49
Aberdeen	57	51

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he intends to consider the outstanding application by Chevron Oil (UK) for planning permission for an oil refinery at Hunterston at the same time as he considers the outstanding application by ORSI Limited for an oil refinery at Hunterston.(2) if he will give an assurance that if the ORSI application for an oil refinery at Hunterston is granted the Chevron application for similar purposes will also be granted.

The proposals put forward by Chevron Oil (UK) were fully considered at the Hunterston public inquiry into the Ayrshire development plan amendment, and I announced my decisions, on the basis of the inquiry evidence, in letters of 9th December 1970 and 24th May 1971. Without new evidence there is no ground for further consideration of the Chevron application.The ORSI application is different from that of Chevron in scale, purpose and siting, and any decision on the ORSI proposals would not necessarily be relevant to the Chevron application.

				Unfilled vacancies		Unemployed
				November 1972	June 1970	November 1972	June 1970
Leek	…	…	…	187	239	233	148
Cheadle	…	…	…	25	110	214	134
Biddulph	…	…	…	20	63	238	163
Kidegrove	…	…	…	93	143	459	305

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many wage claims were notified to him during the weeks ended 2nd, 9th and 16th December respectively; and if he will indicate the total number of workers covered by such claims.

In the week ending 2nd December, three claims affecting 25,000 workers. In the week ending 9th December, five claims affecting 90,000. In the week ending 16th December, five claims affecting 250,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he can now say when he will make a statement on unlawful and irresponsible conduct during picketing and industrial disputes, which he has under review.

I appreciate my hon. Friend's concern about these matters, but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the total number of vacancies for employment as notified to him from the employment exchanges in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and what was the number of vacancies in June 1970;(2) how many people were unemployed at the most recent count in the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and how these figures compare with those obtaining in June 1970.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will reorganise his Department's arrangements for the employment of thalidomide victims and other handicapped children; if he is aware that consultations with his Department and education establishments may take place too late for long-term planning to take place and that parents are not fully consulted; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the resources of my Department and of the local education authorities which provide the youth employment service in most areas are sufficient to deal with thalidomide victims and other handicapped young people. Careers officers of the youth employment service give advice and vocational guidance to handicapped young people at various stages in their education, and parents are encouraged to be present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will be in a position to make a further statement about the accident on 24th October at Woodley, near Reading, in which a span of the viaduct under construction fell into the River Loddon.

Further tests are crucial to the determination of cause. They are being made at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory but have taken longer than expected, so the report by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate will not be ready for about six weeks. I shall make a further statement as soon as the report is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will recommend to rent assessment panel presidents that not more than half the members of boards should be estate agents, chartered surveyors or lawyers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current number of inspectors appointed by him to conduct planning appeal cases under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971; what was the figure two years previously; and if he will make a statement including the anticipated figure in the future.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 11th December 1972 to my hon. Friend the Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) in answer to a similar Question. We plan to recruit up to 50 more inspectors within the next few months.—[Vol. 848, c. 37.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider reducing the 10 metres (34 feet) carriageway width requirement before consideration can be given to the provision of a central refuge or island in a busy road.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what rôle he intends to assign to the Greater London Council in any reorganisation of water, sewage and river undertakings.

I am aware of the Greater London Council's views on the Government's reorganisation proposals. They are, of course, being taken fully into account, together with all the other representations I have received, in connection with the impending Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking, following the findings of the River Pollution Survey, reported in Circular 64/72, that the greater part of industrial process water is discharged direct to rivers and canals, to increase the proportion which is directed through local authority sewage treatment works.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no proposals in this respect. River authorities control all discharges to rivers and canals, whether from sewage disposal works or from industry, and in general we think it right to leave the industrialist to decide, within the river authorities' consents, whether to discharge process water to the public sewers for treatment at sewage disposal works, or to treat it himself before discharging it direct to river or canal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will determine the appeals of Mr. Shaw of the Country House Hotel, Whimple, Devon, upon which some local employment depends and concerning which the hon. Member for Tiverton wrote to him last September.

As soon as possible after the Devon County Council's written statement on the appeals is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will upgrade the priority of a bypass for Faringdon in the light of complaints of noise and congestion in the town forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Abingdon.

Consideration of a bypass for Faringdon is receiving high priority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what dates the special study by his Department and Berkshire County Council into traffic conditions in Faringdon took place; what have been the results; and what consultations were held with Faringdon Rural District and Faringdon Parish Councils.

A report prepared by Berkshire County Council was received by my Department in July. It is being considered in the context of the study into a new route Swindon-Oxford-Milton Keynes. The views of Faringdon Rural District and Faringdon Parish Councils are being taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the electorate and population of the 10 largest and the 10 smallest English non-metropolitan districts, as proposed in the Draft English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972.

The information requested is as follows:—

10 LARGEST NEW DISTRICTS
	Population	Electorate
Avon, No. 2	425,203	312,148
Nottinghamshire, No. 6	299,758	211,750
Humberside, No. 4	285,472	204,575
Leicestershire, No. 5	283,549	199,827
Staffordshire, No. 3	265,153	196,838
Devon, No. 8	239,314	167,414
Derbyshire, No. 7	219,348	158,790
Hampshire, No. 8	214,826	155,879
Hampshire, No. 12	196,973	142,921
East Sussex, No. 4	166,081	126,007

10 SMALLEST NEW DISTRICTS
	Population	Electorate
Durham, No. 6	24,532	18,307
Northumberland, No. 1	25,769	20,731
Leicestershire, No. 9	27,463	17,955
Northumberland, No. 2	27,923	21,037
Somerset, No. 3	29,743	22,502
Salop, No. 1	30,320	22,034
Salop, No. 5	32,331	24,690
Hereford and Worcester, No. 4	33,178	24,965
Dorset, No. 8	33,463	27,444
Dorset, No. 5	36,626	26,184

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria used in determining whether or not the construction of either a bridge or underpass is justified, primarily for the purpose of providing access to farmers and other persons employed in similar occupations, in rural areas where road improvement schemes divide or interfere with their particular economic activities.

Each case is considered on its merits, taking into account any alternative means of access, the cost of paying compensation to those affected where appropriate, road safety and the national agricultural interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state for each year since 1960 the number of bridges and underpasses that have been constructed primarily for the purpose of facilitating continued effective working of existing farm units, and other similar economic activities, following disturbance resulting from motorway development and major trunk road improvement schemes, and the cost involved of providing these bridges and underpasses.

The precise answer to this Question would involve extensive effort, and cost well in excess of £50 to prepare. On a sampling basis, approximate figures for motorways are given in the table.

Year	Estimated number of over- and under- bridges for farm access	Estimated Cost
		£
1960	20	336,000
1961	11	185,000
1962	26	436,000
1963	50	880,000
1964	4	70,000
1965	39	694,000
1966	26	494,000
1967	39	765,000
1968	17	345,000
1969	21	452,000
1970	50	1,160,000
1971	109	2,720,000
1972	17	456,000
	429	8,993,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of the members, together with their designations, of his Department's advisory committee on the landscaping, including tree-planting, of motorways, and other major trunk roads; what was the number of occasions on which this committee met in each year since 1970; and what have been their principal recommendations during this period.

The Advisory Committee on Landscaping Treatment of Trunk Roads meets, on average, 10 times a year; in addition, 113 inspections of proposed routes were carried out in the period 1970–72. The membership of the committee is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals relating to cases within the greater London area were awaiting decision by him on 1st December 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively.

802 as at 1st December 1972. Corresponding numbers for the earlier years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time which elapsed between the lodging of an appeal against a local authority's refusal of a planning application within the Greater London area and its determination by him for the period ended 1st December 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Averages for the greater London area alone are not available. The average times calculated by reference to appeals decided by my right hon. and learned Friend in the greater London and the East Anglia areas during the 12 months ended 1st December 1970, 1st December 1971 and 1st December 1972 were 35 weeks, 39 weeks and 46 weeks respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce his decision on the scheme submitted to him by the British Waterways Board for the improvement of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Canal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his decision in respect of the scheme submitted by the British Waterways Board for improvement of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to him regarding the future use and development of the South Yorkshire canal system; to what extent he is prepared to assist its commercial development; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department has made of the potential commercial use of the South Yorkshire canal system in considering the application of the British Waterways Board for finance towards its development; and if he will make a statement on his decision on the application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has studied the British Waterways Board's feasibility study of the commercial potential of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire canal system; and what reply he has given them.

As I said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wainwright) on 25th October, the Department had studied the improvement scheme submitted by the board and was awaiting further information from it. This has now been received. A decision will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total interest charges on capital paid by British Rail in 1971.

The British Railway Board's accounts for 1971 show the following interest charges:—

	£000s
Interest payable to Secretary of State for the Environment	24,583
Other interest charges:
On provision for retirement benefits	9,988
On savings bank deposits	1,528
On superannuation funds deposits	8,431
On loans	205
Other charges (less interest received)	852
	£45,587

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure on roads in 1971.

Total expenditure on roads, including lighting and car parking, during the financial year 1971–72 was:

	£ million
England	696
Great Britain	836

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into all matters pertaining to the speed-up of road traffic in general, and London and the major cities, in particular.

The problems are local. They can more appropriately be dealt with by the responsible traffic and transport planning authorities than by a Royal Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference and powers given to the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Council in respect of the SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive.

Those laid down in Sections 9(3), 13 and 15 of the Transport Act 1968 as amended and supplemented by Schedule 24 to the Local Government Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to inform the public of the new structure of local government.

There is a substantial task ahead in informing the public about the new organisation of local government. This task is one which will be undertaken by local government and central Government in co-operation, and the first consultations between the Government Departments concerned and the local authority associations started earlier this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many spoil heaps became classified as derelict

		Acreage of spoil heaps justifying restoration
Region		1967	1968	1969	1970	1971
Northern	…	4,778	4,970	4,983	4,935	4,579
North West	…	3,839	3,969	4,195	4,216	4,248
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	2,090	2,184	2,341	2,678	3,130
East Midlands	…	1,282	1,749	2,262	2,328	2,241
West Midlands	…	4,124	4,424	4,521	4,241	4,221
South West	…	2,023	2,016	2,007	1,949	1,941
East Anglia	…	—	—	—	—	—
South East	…	186	143	163	185	170

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average cost of treating an acre of spoil heap in each of the regions in 1971.

Information about cost of reclaiming spoil heaps is not available separately. Information is, however, available about the average gross cost per acre of all local authority derelict land reclamation schemes in England approved by the Department, including land acquisition.Following is the information for the financial year ended 31st March 1972:

Region	Average gross cost per acre
Northern	1,563
North-West	1,954
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,909
East Midlands	1,459
West Midlands	1,711
South-West	2,938
East Anglia	—
South-East	362

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now announce the membership of the Advisory Committee on Aggregates.

I am pleased to be able to say that, in addition to the chairman, Mr. Ralph Verney, whose appointment has already been announced, 12 individuals with a wide knowledge of the problems arising from the need for aggregates have agreed to serve on the Advisory Committee on Aggregates.

I regret that the information about numbers of spoil heaps is not available. The acreage of spoil heaps in England classified as derelict and justifying treatment at the end of each of the last five years was as follows:The names of the committee are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, for all those cases where direct Government assistance was provided, he will set out the amount of public investment in the major steel plants dealt with separately, and an analysis of the profit and loss on each project year by year from 1948 to the nearest convenient date.

I regret that the information sought by my hon. Friend is either not available or, to the extent that it is, would require a disproportionate amount of effort to collect.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the approximate periods in 1972 during which runway 05/27 at Heathrow airport was used for landing aircraft.

It is not possible in the time available to provide the required information, but I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the minimum height at which aircraft landing on runway 05/27 at Heathrow fly when passing over Wembley; and if he will give details of the glide path to this runway.

Aircraft descending to land on the cross runway at Heathrow towards the southwest will be at a minimum height of 2,000 feet when passing over Wembley. The glide path serving this runway is 3 degrees.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many aircraft have been allowed to land at night at Heathrow during the summer and winter periods of 1972, respectively.

The details, based on a night period of 2330–0600, local time, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the envisaged annual reduction in the milling labour force as a result of the Coal Industry Bill.

As I said on 11th December, I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the review of performance of individual collieries to be undertaken jointly by the NCB and the unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many nuclear power stations could be provided and made operational on the basis that the same amount of money were invested in this form of power as is proposed for the coal industry; and what percentage of the overall electricity needs of the United Kingdom could be provided in this way.

Estimates cannot be given with any reasonable degree of precision. The Coal Industry Bill sets limits to expenditure in support of the coal industry but does not determine the actual amounts to be spent within those limits. The answers would depend also on the size and type of the power stations and the demand for electricity during their lifetime.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will show how absenteeism has changed since the miners' strike by comparing absenteeism for as many months as figures are available since the 1972 strike with the same period in 1971.

The Department's latest weekly statistical statement shows that in the first 37 weeks of the National Coal Board's current accounting year the absence percentage was 16·38 compared with 17·61 during the similar period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of absenteeism in the coal industry, stating the number of miners engaged and the absentee days lost, and also show the latter as a percentage of total working days for each of the last 10 years.

Table 11 of the National Coal Board Report and Accounts for 1971–72 gives the following information which is readily available:

Year ended March	Average manpower (thousands)	Absence Percentage
1963	544·3	15·4
1964	517·0	15·9
1965	491·0	16·0
1966	455·7	18·0
1967	419·4	17·3
1968	391·9	18·2
1969	336·3	18·1
1970	305·1	18·3
1971	287·2	19·2
1972	281·5	17·7

The number of days lost through absenteeism is not readily available. The absence percentage covers both voluntary and involuntary non-appearances, and these are expressed as percentages of possible appearances during the normal working week. Involuntary non-appearances are limited to absence due to sickness, industrial disease and injury or for other authorised reasons. In 1971–72 the voluntary absence was 4·3 per cent., the involuntary 13·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mines which are still open are non-productive; and how many miners are engaged in such mines.

I understand from the National Coal Board that at 2nd December 1972 there were 261 men employed at four mines where coal winding ceased recently. In addition, there is one colliery—Thorne, in the Doncaster area, employing three men—which is currently being held in reserve on a care and maintenance basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will tabulate the capital assets of the National Coal Board outside mining activities.

Schedule 1(b) on pages 16 and 17 of Volume II of the Board's Report and Accounts for 1971–72 gives the following information:

Activity	Fixed assets less provision for depreciation 25th March 1972 £ million
Coke ovens	13·8
Carbonisation secondary by-products	1·1
Processed fuel	10·2
NCB Exploration	7·3
Distribution of solid fuel	6·3
Manufacture and supply of bricks and other building materials	1·3
Houses	48·1
Estates and farms	4·0
Other activities	2·4

The board's interests in joint enterprises and trade investments were valued at £17·2 million. The details will be found on pages 20 to 23 of the accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now able to make a statement about Government support to the microelectronics industry.

Yes. I am pleased to be able to say that we have agreed to make available substantial funds over the next six or seven years to encourage the development of integrated circuits specially designed for particular applications by British semiconductor manufacturers. Expenditure up to £10 million over the period is envisaged subject to the normal processes of review. Discussions with the industry are well advanced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for assistance to the ship repairing industry; and if he will make a statement.

We intend to commission a study by consultants of the United Kingdom ship repairing industry, and I am having discussions with representatives of the employers and trade unions about it. The purpose will be to examine the current state and future prospects of the industry in the light of world markets and competition; to investigate what action is needed to improve the industry's performance and prospects; and to seek to indentify any major obstacles in the way of the industry's future success.The study will be complementary to that of the shipbuilding industry. It will also help us within the Government to consider individual applications for selective assistance in the context of the needs of the industry as a whole.

asked the Lord President of the Council what percentage of calls made on the new House of Commons telephone system at off-peak hours are abortive; and what improvements he intends to make to the equipment.

No figures are available relating specifically to off-peak hours but records taken over 24 periods show that about one call in 5,000 fails due to an automatic fault. I am sure that hon. Members would regard these figures as acceptable but the Post Office will continue monitoring the performance of the new equipment in the House in order to achieve maximum efficiency.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will publish as much detailed information as may be readily available, giving for the longest period of time the number of Members of both Houses of Parliament who have claimed and received more than one expense for living away from home when engaged on parliamentary affairs.

Of the 89 Members who have, since 1st April 1972, claimed sub- sistence allowances as members of Select Committees or the United Kingdom delegations to the Council of Europe, Western European Union and North Atlantic Assemblies, 75 have submitted claims for the additional cost of living away from home.

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) by what statutory authority Members of both Houses of Parliament are allowed to claim more than one expense allowance when engaged on work connected with their parliamentary duties;(2) whether he will take steps to ensure that Members of Parliament are enabled to claim only one daily expense allowance.

As I explained to the hon. Member in reply to a Question on 7th December, Members are not entitled to draw more than one allowance to cover the same expenses, and the possibility of their claiming more than one daily expense allowance for the same costs and the same period of time does not therefore arise.Allowances payable from the House of Commons Vote on account of expenses Members incur in carrying out their Parliamentary duties are authorised, and defined, by Resolutions of the House.

asked the Lord President of the Council what methods are adopted for deciding the order in which hon. Members' Questions appear in the Order Paper.

Questions are arranged in random order, in accordance with the system described in paragraph 3 of the Fifth Report from the Select Committee on Procedure in Session 1966–67 (HC410).

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for the House of Commons envelopes to be self-stick, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the gummed envelopes.

I shall certainly look into the hon. Member's suggestion and inform him of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the person who decided to destroy the thoracic organs of the deceased person, about whom the hon. Member for Don Valley wrote to him on 22nd November, was acting on behalf of his Department.

No, Sir. As I have already informed the hon. Member, the thoracic organs were destroyed in error due to confusion over two similar cases with the same surname.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has concluded price fixing arrangements under his voluntary price regulation scheme for the two acne creams made by the same company which are identical except that the one with a small additive of 0·25 per cent. hexachlorophane retails at 20p less per tube than the one that is allowed to advertise, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

The price of the ethical medicine referred to was agreed by my Department in the course of this year's negotiations with the company under the voluntary price regulation scheme. The price of the other product, which is advertised and sold directly to the public, is not covered by the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the annual figures for the last 10 years of the number of reported cases of battered babies.

There is no central notification of these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will provide an alcoholism-drug dependency unit in Bedford, the more effectively to deal with the requirements of the county.

The provision of additional hospital facilities for drug addicts in the Bedford area is at present under consideration, but I am not aware of any similar need for a specialised alcoholism unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons were admitted to hospital in a hypothermic condition during the winter of 1971–72; what reduction he expects in the figure for the winter 1972–73; what further action he has taken; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not centrally available on the numbers admitted to hospital in a hypothermic condition, but I would expect that the attention given to the problem will tend to reduce the number of cases arising.A circular letter was sent to all local authorities in August last about helping old people with their heating problems, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 14th November. I am sending out a further letter to local authorities reminding medical and nursing staff of the recurring risk of accidental hypothermia among some elderly people and very young children and of the need for measures to identify and deal with the problem whenever it occurs.— [Vol. 846, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can now announce his detailed proposals for increasing the prescribed amounts for family income supplement.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary regulations, I propose, with effect from 3rd April 1973, to raise the prescribed amounts in the following way:

One child family	From £20 to £21
Two child family	From £22 to £23·50
Three child family	From £24 to £26
Four child family	From £26 to £28·50
Five child family	From £28 to £30·50
Six child family	From £30 to £32·50

And so on, for larger families, by £2 steps. The maximum weekly payment will remain unchanged at £5.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy has yet reported; if he will give a summary of its findings on the effects of children of seven to 11 years of age being without milk at school; and if he will make a statement.

I expect very shortly to receive the Report of the Sub-Committee on Nutritional Surveillance of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. As regards the monitoring study recommended by the sub-committee for the age group in question and already initiated, I can add nothing to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 10th and 16th March 1972.—[Vol. 832, c. 413; Vol. 833, c. 179.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the estimated cost to the Exchequer of pensions on the basis that the retiring age of men was reduced to 64 years;(2) what would be the estimated increase in contributions needed to pay pensions to men at 64 years.

On the assumption that men retired a year earlier than at present, the cost to the National Insurance Fund in extra expenditure and loss of contributions would be about £140 million a year. If the cost were met by higher graduated contributions on earnings between £9 and £48 a week, with the Exchequer also providing 18 per cent. of the amount so contributed, the contributions of employees and employers would each have to be increased by about 0·3 per cent. of earnings. For employees earning £48 or more a week, both employee and employer would have to pay 12p extra per week. The cost to the Exchequer, including supplementary benefit, would be about £25 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent on Press advertisements by Her Majesty's Government to publicise the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.