asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the average number of low flying aircraft exercises that take place over Carmarthenshire per month.

On average, about 560 individual low-level military training flights per month are made over central and south-west Wales as a whole. It is not possible without disproportionate effort to determine how many of these are conducted wholly or partly over Carmarthenshire.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the countries of origin of the rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers and small arms in use by IRA terrorists in Northern Ireland or the route by which they have been brought into Northern Ireland.

Weapons seized by security forces in Northern Ireland and believed to have been in IRA hands include several types which appear to have been manufactured in Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, West Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the USA and the USSR.The place of manufacture is not necessarily the place where the terrorists obtained the weapons, and there are many routes by which they could have been brought into Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many of Her Majesty's ships have been scrapped since 1970; and how many have been sold to other countries.

During the period 1st January 1970 to 31st January 1973 approval was granted for the disposal of 36 of Her Majesty's Ships by scrapping. Some of these are being retained as a source of spares for other ships while others are available for sale in a demilitarised state. Three Ton class minesweepers and one Daring class destroyer have been sold to other countries during the same period.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is his policy in regard to recruiting further employees for Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devon-port; and in which categories all these vacancies exist, both for industrial and non-industrial personnel.

At present the total non-industrial strength at Devonport Dockyard is up to the approved ceiling. We are currently examining our detailed requirements for staff during 1973–74, including those needed for expansion of nuclear submarine support facilites. The trade unions and staff associations will be fully consulted in the usual way if any recruitment from non-dockyard sources is necessary.On the industrial side, recruitment is mainly through the local employment exchange, and there are at present vacancies for fitter turners, electrical fitters, coppersmiths, plumbers, founders and certain non-craft grades.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is satisfied that the location of the Polaris missile-firing range does not constitute a danger to Cuba.

Yes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) whether the missile which had to be destroyed after firing from HMS "Repulse" was a Polaris or a Poseidon missile;(2) what were the special features of the Polaris test-firing which had to be destroyed.

As I told the House on 16th February, this was a routine firing of a standard A3 Polaris missile without its nuclear warhead. It was destroyed because of a failure during the first stage of powered flight.—[Vol. 850, c. 435.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the cost of a test-firing from a Polaris submarine.

About £1¼ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people and vacancies have been registered with the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service since 1st January; and how this compares with the same period in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

During the period 1st to 31st January 1973, 11,778 applications for enrolment were accepted and 6,153 vacancies were notified. Monthly totals are not available for previous years but the relevant quarterly figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to make an announcement regarding the future of the youth employment service.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Huddersfield, East (Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu) on 13th February.— [Vol. 850, c. 291–292.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of school leavers who were granted apprenticeships in Scotland in each of the following years: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 to the latest available date.

The number of young people under 18 years of age who entered apprenticeships as their first permanent employment following cessation of full-time education in Scotland was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under the age of 18 years entered their first employment in 1972.

487,084 young people entered their first permanent employment in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Departmental Committee on Picketing has now reported; and if it is his Department's intention to publish the report or a summary of its findings.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of unemployment in England and Wales.

At 8th January 1973 there were 655,186 people unemployed, and the rate of unemployment was 3·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of males unemployed within the employment exchange area of Glasgow have been unemployed for over six months but less than 12 months; and what percentage have been unemployed for over 12 months up to the latest available date.

On 8th January 1973, 17·8 per cent. of males unemployed in the Glasgow travel-to-work area had been unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks and 28·1 per cent. for over 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of male unemployment in the employment exchange area of Glasgow in the years 1970 to 1971; and what are the figures at the latest available date.

Following is the nearest available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfilled vacancies are registered in the Macclesfield employment area; and what was the comparable figure a year ago.

In the Macclesfield employment exchange area there were 302 on 3rd January 1973 and 104 on 5th January 1972. The 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 what was the retail price index on 1st January 1960, 1965, 1970, 1971 and 1972, taking the figure for 1st January 1960 as 100.

The retail prices index relates to a Tuesday near the middle of each month. The indices for mid-January 1960, 1965, 1970, 1971 and 1972, taking the figure for mid-January 1960 as 100, were 100, 117·1, 144·9, 157·1 and 170·0, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentage figures for unemployment in the Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and Minehead employment areas at the latest available date.

Following is the information for 8th January 1973:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any inquiries have been made into the financing of undergraduate or postgraduate students by means of loans; and, if so, with what result.

My Department is looking into the implications of loans for postgraduate students. No conclusions have been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the percentage increase of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in Leicestershire in the latest available year; and what was the national percentage increase in the same year.

Between January 1971 and January 1972, 4·2 per cent. in Leicestershire and 2·4 per cent. in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decisions she has reached regarding proposals submitted by the Staffordshire local education authority concerning secondary modern education from the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.Mr. St. John-Stevas: Certain of these proposals have been withdrawn following a review by the local education authority and the school governors; my right hon. Friend will now proceed to reach a decision on the remaining proposals as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has received the memoranda from the National Union of Students' executive on awards to students; and when she expects to be able to reply.

My right hon. Friend has received two memoranda on this subject from the National Union of Students, and I shall be meeting representatives of the union on 27th February to discuss the issues raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now announce her policy regarding charging for admission during the period of price restraint.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Money) on 15th February.—[Vol. 850, c. 413.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has now received any information concerning the proposed French atomic tests in the Pacific Ocean.

We have no authoritative confirmation that a French test series will take place in the Pacific in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently received from the Spanish Government on the future of Gibraltar; and what reply he has sent.

There have been no such representations recently. As the House is aware, my right hon. Friend and the Spanish Foreign Minister held exploratory discussions about the question of Gibraltar last November. They expect to meet again shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the provisions of international law governing the vesting in the Crown of the minerals below the seabed on the continental shelf beyond national territorial jurisdiction.

Rights over the minerals in question are vested in the Crown, not directly by international law, but by our own Continental Shelf Act 1964. Rights in relation to coal are not vested in the Crown by the Act of 1964, but are dealt with by seperate legislation. The Act of 1964 gave effect to the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, of which the most relevant provisions are that the coastal State exercises over the continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring it and exploiting its natural resources. The continental shelf was defined in the convention as being the sea bed and subsoil of the sub-marine areas adjacent to the coast, including those of islands, but outside the area of the territorial sea, to a depth of 200 metres or, beyond that limit, to where the depth of the superjacent waters admits of the exploitation of the natural resources of the said areas. Natural resources are defined in the convention as meaning mineral resources and sedentary species of fish.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance was given by the British High Commission in Zambia to British subjects working for Mitchell Construction on the Kariba power project.

The British High Commission in Lusaka maintained regular contacts with the staff of the Mitchell Construction Company during the period the company was engaged on the Kariba project, including periodical visits by the High Commissioner and senior members of his staff.When the receiver took over the responsibility for Mitchells, and consequently for the repatriation of staff, the High Commission helped, in liaison with the receiver to ensure that Mitchell's employees were able to leave for their homes with the minimum of delay and inconvenience.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any information about the whereabouts and state of health of Mr Hawksworth, a British subject captured by African guerrilla fighters.

We have always made it clear to British subjects travelling to Rhodesia that we cannot offer them consular protection in Rhodesia. Nevertheless, we asked our posts in neighbouring countries to try to obtain any information they could about Mr. Hawksworth's whereabouts. They have not so far succeeded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to inform the European Assembly about United Kingdom policies in relation to the EEC.

It is not the practice in the European Communities for individual member Governments to make their views known to the European Parliament directly on a regular basis. But I hope to arrange to attend one of the forthcoming plenary sessions of the European Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will revise the rules under which the British Government make sales to countries hitherto associated with the Co-ordinating Committee for Export Control—COCOM.

Restrictions on exports to certain countries are applied for reasons of national security. These restrictions are determined and applied collectively among the countries participating in the co-ordinating committee, and are subject to regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to enable the 200 Asian students from Uganda at universities and technical colleges already studying in this country, who do not come within the terms of reference of the Uganda Resettlement Board, but whose studies are being disrupted by financial hardship, to complete their course of study.

A number of awards under the overseas students fees awards scheme will be allocated to Ugandan Asian students. As in previous comparable circumstances, the Supplementary Benefits Commission has agreed that, exceptionally, those on first degree or equivalent courses need not be required to register for work during term-time for the remainder of the current academic year, so that they will be able to claim supplementary benefit to provide for maintenance. Approximately 60 of the students, including some on O and A level courses and a few doing postgraduate work, will not be eligible for consideration under the above arrangements, but I believe that the private organisations concerned may be able to help them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the movement in the price per ton of beef for the years 1960, 1970 and the latest convenient date in 1973, taking the price in 1950 as 100.

A series of figures showing the movements of average first hand prices per ton of beef between 1960 and 1973 are not available owing to changes in market and import price quotas, but movements in the retail price of selected cuts of beef expressed as an index between January 1950 and January 1973 are shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what levies are now payable on imports of Swedish and Polish bacon, respectively.

I have been asked to reply. A levy of approximately £106 per ton is at present payable on imports of Swedish and Polish green bacon sides into the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to introduce a system of fall-back guarantees for livestock and pigs.

Such arrangements already exist.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what safeguards exist to protect British producers from the effects of a Common Market pig cycle.(2) if he is satisfied that the abolition of the flexible guarantee arrangements for pigs will not lead to a worsening of the pig cycle.

The EEC's arrangements for pigmeat are intended to discourage the production of structural surpluses. At the same time they provide for market intervention if prices are seriously depressed. The immediate need is however for more rather than fewer pigs, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that his recent decisions on the flexible guarantee can only help in this respect.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will provide an analysis of Civil Service staff in post on 1st January 1973 on the same basis as the analysis published on 10th November 1972.

The analysis is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the quantity of radioactive waste available from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority establishments and nuclear power stations on an annual basis; and how it is disposed of.

Details of radioactive wastes disposed of from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority establishments are summarised annually by the authority. The disposals from nuclear power stations are included in environmental monitoring reports which are issued to members of the local liaison committee for each power station. I am sending to my hon. Friend extracts from these two sources for the year 1971, which can be taken as typical. The processing of figures for 1972 is not yet complete.All these radioactive wastes are disposed of in accordance with authorisations granted by Ministers.Gaseous discharges, after treatment where necessary, are released to the atmosphere. Low-activity liquid wastes are normally discharged direct to watercourses or the sea. In both cases considerable dilution occurs after release to the environment. Depending on their nature and activity, solid wastes are stored, disposed of by burial on special sites which are monitored, or dumped at sea under internationally agreed conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is considering setting up a special agency to dispose of nuclear waste, in view of health and environmental requirements.

United Kingdom policy for the control of radioactive waste disposal is based on the recommendations stated in a White Paper (Cmnd. 884) presented to Parliament in 1959, which were given effect in the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.The 1960 Act controls, operated by central Government, ensure that disposals of radioactive waste neither add significantly to radioactivity in the general environment nor give rise to a public health hazard, and there does not appear to be any need to change them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many reported road accidents on the A1 trunk road at Fairburn in Yorkshire during the last three years have been attributed in any way to the effects of high winds.

There were two such accidents in 1972. Information for 1970 and 1971 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of representations made to him on behalf of local authorities, he will take steps to postpone the new rate revaluation; and if he will make a statement.

No. The local authority associations have not asked for the revaluation to be postponed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of railway lines were closed between October 1959 and October 1964, between November 1964 and June 1970, and since July 1970.

The only information readily available is in calendar year terms, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the action taken to check the loads on foreign vehicles on return journeys after delivering goods in the United Kingdom, including the number found to be overweight, since 1st September 1972.

Foreign vehicles travelling to ports on return journeys are subject to the same enforcement checks as British vehicles. Separate figures of offending vehicles caught in this way are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the recommendation contained in the report of the Expenditure Committee that, as an urgent priority, all trunk and principal road schemes of urban road building which have not reached the exchange of contract stage shall be re-examined ab initio he will give urgent consideration to the representations recently conveyed to him by the hon. Member for Watford relating to this matter; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question from the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. David Stoddart) on 5th February 1973.—(Vol. 850, c. 38–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has agreed to a public inquiry into the merits or demerits of the proposed Eastern Way Relief Road at Sevenoaks; and whether he can yet state the date of this inquiry.

I understand that the Kent County Council is preparing revised proposals for this road. My right hon. and learned Friend has asked to be kept informed, and will decide whether a planning inquiry is necessary when the result of the council's reconsideration is known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a progress report on the negotiations relating to the size and length of lorries presently allowed on the roads.

The current negotiations in EEC on lorry weights and dimensions are on standards to be applied in 1980 or later. There have been no developments since the Council meeting last December, when the Six agreed to leave the matter open for continued discussion in the enlarged Community this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider increasing the maximum limit payable by local authorities as improvement grants after 1st April, to take into account the increased cost of the work undertaken following the introduction of VAT.

No. Improvements will be zero rated. Although repairs and maintenance will be subject to VAT, there will be an off-setting saving resulting from the abolition of SET which applies to both improvements and repairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what current regulations govern the sale, purchase and ownership of air guns; when these regulations came into force; and if he is satisfied that they provide sufficient protection to the public.

The current regulations are contained in the Firearms Act 1968, which consolidated statutory provisions on air guns originally enacted between 1934 and 1965, and in rules under the Act made in 1969. I have sent the hon. Member a summary of these provisions. We are at present considering the whole of the law on firearms, including the adequacy of the provisions on air weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of grant in aid has been allocated to local authorities for home defence emergency planning for each of the next two years.

It is estimated that local authorities will spend £1·8 million in 1973–74 and £2·2 million in 1974–75 on civil defence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 35,000 non-patrial United Kingdom citizens in Kenya qualify for settlement in the United Kingdom under the provisions in the immigration rules for entry for settlement to those whose grandparents were born in the United Kingdom.

Anyone in Kenya who is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies—as opposed to a citizen of an independent Commonwealth country—and who has a grandparent born in the United Kingdom is patrial under Section 2 of the Immigration Act 1971. Such a person would not therefore need the benefit of the new provision in the immigration rules.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many rooms there are in the Norman Shaw Building, New Scotland Yard; and if he will make arrangements for these to be allocated to Members of Parliament.