asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take regarding the incident on Saturday in which two Aberdeen trawlers were ordered by a Danish gunboat to cease fishing outside the 12-mile limit off the Faroe Islands; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said yesterday in answer to the Question from the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes).—[Vol. 851, c. 413.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost of research into salmon fish diseases as against research concerning coarse fish for the years 1970–71 and 1972.

The total cost of the Department's research on salmon and freshwater fisheries was £102,000 in 1970–71, £114,000 in 1971–72 and is expected to be £144,000 in 1972–73. About one-third of this expenditure was

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of fishery representa-

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are currently employed in his Press and publicity department; and what was the number in June 1970.

Ninety-one staff were employed in the Ministry's information division, excluding the Library, on 1st February 1973 and on 1st June 1970.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of fishery representatives serving each river authority where no salmon exist: and the number of licences issued by each authority.

The information for 1971, the latest period for which published details of licences are available, is as follows:tives serving each river authority where salmon fishing exists; and the number of licences issued by each authority.

The information for 1971, the latest period for which pub-

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the prices of Swedish and Polish bacon at wholesale and retail levels have changed since 1st January 1973.

Prices of bacon by nationality of origin are not collected by the Ministry except for London Provision Exchange quotations for first-hand sales. The latter show that between 4th January and 1st March 1973 Polish bacon rose in price by £65 and £73 per ton and Swedish by £65 and £68 per ton for grades A1 and A respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why, in view of his statement that the Government allowed food manufacturers to increase their prices because they were making losses, he agreed to price increases in bread and beer when the firms concerned were announcing profits over their previous year of activity.

My right hon. Friend has not agreed to increases in the price of either bread or beer since 6th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which mem-

Germany is implementing this subsidy and the Irish Republic has announced its intention of doing so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the decision to postpone the fixing of common agricultural policy prices will affect prices in the United Kingdom.

Now that the Council has decided to defer the fixing of Community agricultural prices for 1973–74 by one month, it would be logical to defer the start of the marketing year for beef and milk products from 1st April to 1st May. I would expect this to be proposed. Under the provisions of the Treaty of Accession, the first adjustment in United Kingdom guide prices for cattle and calves and in the United Kingdom intervention price for butter will be similarly deferred.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many established members of the administrative class of the Civil Service were dismissed on grounds other than ill-health during the year prior to the Fulton reorganisation of that class; what was the corresponding figure for the scientific officer class; and what are the figures for the comparable grades for the latest available 12 months.

In 1969 one member of the administrative class was prematurely retired on grounds of redundancy. In 1972 four members of grades that had formed part of the former administrative class were retired on grounds of redundancy and four on grounds of limited efficiency.No members of the scientific officer class were discharged during either year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many established members of the principal grade of the administrative group of the Civil Service were dismissed on grounds other than ill-health during the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available.

In 1972 three principals were retired on grounds of limited efficiency.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in view of the use of computers in foreign countries for indexing statute law, he will provide the necessary information to commercial firms that wish to provide such a service.

I informed the hon. Member, in my answer to his Question on 29th January 1973, that with certain limited exceptions, the whole of the United Kingdom statute law will in due course be available in magnetic tape form and that copies of the tapes will be on sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Alternatively, it would be open to any commercial organisation to prepare a data base from published copies of statutes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will issue instructions that in the preparation of the confidential reports used in considering promotions no mention should be made of membership or activities in connection with the Civil and Public Services Association or any other organisation.

There is no provision for recording details of membership of, or activities in connection with, staff associations in the annual confidential reports.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will now invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the civil servants.

No.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants were on strike on 27th February; and what proportion they were of the total.

About 140,000; this is just over 25 per cent. of the non-industrial Civil Service and just over 50 per cent. of the grades whose unions called the strike.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the Human Resources Centre of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations on the human aspects of dispersing Government offices from London.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Educaion and Science whether, through her inspectorate, she will take steps to encourage local education authorities to maintain regional dialects by allowing children in school to use regional forms of speech rather than exhorting them to speak standard English.

The Education Acts place responsibility for the curriculum on local education auhorities and on the governors of schools. I think it better for decisions of this sort to rest with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the teachers in general and the London teachers in particular.

This would not be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is her policy for ensuring choice of primary schools on new housing estates when the authority's proposal is only for the building of a church school;(2) in cases where there is no choice of primary schools on new housing estates, and the proposal is for the building of a church school which is to do double duty as a church with living quarters attached, what grant from her Department is paid for the school building as distinct from that part of it that is to serve as a church;(3) whether she is satisfied with the use of public funds to subsidise a church which also serves as a school on new housing estates; and if she will make a statement;(4) what provision she proposes to make on estates where the only primary school is a church school for those parents of other religions or of no religion who are forced to send their children there;(5) if she will approach the Church Commissioners for a contribution to cover the cost of a church from the proceeds of the sale of redundant churches in cases where a primary school is to be built to serve as a church by the local education authority.

These Questions raise a number of complex issues arising from a particular local situation. It is necessary first to establish the facts. I will write fully to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the Channel Tunnel.

I hope to publish a Green Paper later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will survey, record and photograph all ancient milestones, and schedule all ancient mileposts under the Ancient Monuments Acts.

It is already my right hon. and learned Friend's policy to seek out appropriate milestones for scheduling under the Ancient Monuments Acts. Although recording and photography are not his responsibility he is also considering whether he can encourage action along these lines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to ensure the conservation of milestones along the lines of the Council of British Archaeology's Code of Practice on milestones.

Milestones can already be protected under existing legislation and my right hon. and learned Friend is not satisfied that any further powers are needed. However, he is in sympathy with the general objectives of the Council for British Archaeology's Code of Practice and is considering whether he can help to further these.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what statutory authority water undertakings have been requested to freeze their present levels of rates; what is the estimated effect on the finances of water undertakings of such a freeze; what compensation is being offered from Exchequer sources for lost revenues; and if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text and purport of the order he has made relieving water undertakings of certain statutory obligations to enable them to freeze rates.

Water rates and charges are prices or charges within the meaning of the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972. Water rates chargeable from 1st April would begin to be payable within the standstill period and, like prices in general, ought to comply with the standstill. Because water rates have to be made for fixed periods, the minimum convenient period for which the standstill could run, in this case, was six months. The effect on the finances of water undertakings will differ from area to area. No Government grant is available to make up the loss of revenue. A copy of the Counter-Inflation (Water Charges Enactments Modification) Order 1973, with an accompanying explanatory note, is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now able to make a further statement on the Dockland Study: to what extent he has proposals for the establishment of a new town development corporation to develop the area covered by the study; what discussions have taken place with the authorities concerned and the elected representatives of the people; and whether he will give assurances that no action will be taken pending the outcome of these discussions.

The Docklands Study Report will be published on 5th March. Details of a four-month programme of public involvement in planning the future of the docklands area were announced by the Greater London Council on 28th February. No decisions have yet been taken as to the form of machinery which may be necessary to carry out the redevelopment of the area. My right hon. and learned Friend will be consulting the Greater London Council and the other local authorities concerned about this in the near future. No decisions on implementation machinery will be taken until these consultations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the hundred traffic intersections which have been examined by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory during the last three years are in greater London.

Eight.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the rates and conditions of allowances which will be payable to members of the new local authorities in respect of attendance, subsistence and travelling.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to similar Questions from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Tope) on 23rd February 1973.—[Vol. 851, c. 226.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which institutions, other than the Probate Office, would be involved by the raising of the exemption from filing details with the Probate Office of an estate from £500 to £5,000.

The principal institutions, other than the Probate Office, that would be involved are the National Savings Bank, the trustee savings banks, the friendly societies, the building societies and those departments in central and local government concerned with the payment of pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedure should be followed in the event of a dispute arising as to the value of the individual items in a group purchase for which a total price has been agreed, where the purchaser is operating within the special scheme contained in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise VAT Notice No. 712.

I would refer the hon. Member to Notice No. 700 (VAT: General Guide) paragraph 78, and the leaflet published by the President of the value added tax tribunals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what liability for VAT arises in the event of a British artist resident in the United Kingdom creating a work of art overseas if he sells the work (a) abroad or (b) within the United Kingdom.

A work of art created overseas is liable to VAT if it is imported into the United Kingdom, but not if it is not so imported.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the procedure for adjusting the sale price of a work of art or antique sold to an overseas buyer for which an export licence is subsequently refused, bearing in mind that no VAT would have been chargeable if the export had been proceeded with.

Any adjustment of the sale price is a matter of negotiation between the seller and buyer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what liability for VAT arises in the event of a non-taxable person acquiring an antique from a registered dealer which has been sold under the special scheme contained in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise VAT Notice No. 712 which subsequently transpires to be ineligible for the special scheme.

The registered dealer will be liable to account for any VAT underpaid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a work of art or antique purchased by an overseas resident from a taxable person in the United Kingdom for presentation to a British public gallery or museum will bear VAT, bearing in mind that liability for this tax would not arise if the object were to be exported and reimported.

A work of art or antique purchased by an overseas resident from a taxable person in the United Kingdom for presentation to a British public gallery or museum will bear VAT on the full value or margin as appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, on average or on actual basis, is the daily return to the Treasury for Customs duty paid at airports and ports within Great Britain for any convenient stated period of time; and what it was on Tuesday 27th February on the occasion of the Civil Service strike.

The daily remittance of revenue to the Treasury does not distinguish Customs from Excise duties. For Customs and Excise duties together, the average daily remittance is currently about £18 million; on 27th February it was £24 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households have been on rent strike each month since the strike began; and how much had been repaid by each month and how much remained outstanding.

Information is not available in the form requested. The number of households on rent strike has fallen from approximately 25,000 in August 1971 to 18,000 now. Approximately £35,000 has been repaid each month by allocating social security benefits. The outstanding debt is £1·3 million.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the net profit or loss to the Post Office Corporation occasioned by the design, printing, distributing and sale of special issues of stamps compared with retaining existing designs.

This is a matter for the Post Office, and I suggest that my hon. Friend should write to the chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the working group on screening for breast cancer to complete its work.

The Joint Working Group on Breast Cancer Screening was set up by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee to report on ways in which trial services for population screening might be put into effect. It has already recommended setting up a number of trials and three of them are now under way. The joint working group is at present considering proposals for additional trials in other areas. It will continue in being to review the progress of these trials and to make recommendations through the Standing Medical Advisory Committee in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of the public called to make inquiries at the office of the Department of Health and Social Security at the Old Town Hall, Knottingley, during each of the last four weeks for which figures are available; and how many of these called in the mornings and afternoons, respectively.

During the weeks ending 30th January, 6th, 13th and 20th February 1973 there were 79, 75, 81 and 63 calls respectively. Records do not show precisely what time of day the calls were made, but it is known that the majority were in the mornings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet decided on any course of action following the Foster Report into scientology which was submitted to him in December 1971.

I have at present nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price) on 29th January.—[Vol. 849, c. 313.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the psychological benefits from the use of cosmetic brassieres following cancer of the breast operations, if he will consider including brassiere prosthetics on prescription under the National Health Service for patients who have had this operation; and if he will make a statement.

Surgical brassieres are already available on prescription under the National Health Service to hospital patients. Subject to exemption arrangements, a charge of £2 is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the hospital workers and the ancillary staffs.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many occupational pension schemes now have rules as to the priority claims on a winding up which will enable them to take advantage of Clause 56(3) of the Social Security Bill; and how many would under their present rules have to rely on Clause 56(5).

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons once contracted out of the graduated pension scheme have been put back into it in each year since 1961 as a result of the failure of their occupational pension scheme to provide or guarantee equivalent pension benefit; and in respect of how many employees the amount of back payment of contributions fell short of the amount due.

I presume that the right hon. Gentleman wants to know the number of persons who, having been contracted out of the State graduated pension scheme, subsequently ceased to be in the employment in which they were contracted out before pension age and for whom pensions were not preserved in the private scheme so that payments in lieu of contributions to the State scheme were made in respect of the period during which they were contracted out. The numbers for the financial years since April 1961 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how under the Social Security Bill the entitlement to widows' pension of a woman married when her husband is 35 years of age and widowed after she and her husband have reached pensionable age, will compare where her husband's total pension consists of (a) a preserved occupational pension up to age 34 years and an occupational pension thereafter, and (b) a reserve scheme pension up to age 34 years and an occupational pension thereafter.

I regret that too many unknown factors and assumptions are

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assumptions are made in Table 2 of Appendix E of the Explanatory Memorandum on the Social Security Bill 1972 regarding month of birth and frequency of increases in earnings; and what would be the rates of reserve pension shown in the table if expressed to the nearest 0·01 per cent.

At the commencement of the scheme, entry to the reserve pension scheme will be from the beginning of a tax year, and thereafter the youngest entrants will start paying reserve scheme contributions from the beginning of the tax year following their 21st birthday. Liability for reserve scheme contributions ceases at the end of the tax year preceding the attainment of pensionable age. The amount of pension shown in the table accordingly depends only on the age in the tax year of entry and not on the month of birth. The earnings shown at the head of each column of the table have been assumed to apply to the tax year of entry and increase by 3 per cent. at the beginning of each tax year thereafter. The proportions shown in the last column of the table have been calculated to relate to the earnings in the last complete tax year before the attainment of pensionable age. Table 2 revised to give figures to two places of decimals is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what would be the minimum weekly pensions provided by recognised occupational schemes, comparable to those shown for the reserve scheme in Table 2 of Appendix E of the Explanatory Memorandum on the Social Security Bill 1972, in money terms and as percentages of earnings at retirement, assuming that prices increase at 3 per cent. per annum; and what would be

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimates the British Steel Corporation has submitted to his Department about the average savings per ton for steelworks operating at 1 million tons capacity, at 3 million tons capacity, at 6 million tons capacity and at 12 million tons capacity, respectively;(2) what estimates McKinsey and Company have submitted to his Department about the average savings per ton for steelworks operating at 1 million tons capacity, at 3 million tons capacity, at 6 million tons capacity, and at 12 million tons capacity, respectively.

The British Steel Corporation estimated that average costs

The figures set out below are based on the assumption that prices rise at 6 per cent. per annum. For figures based on a 3 per cent. per annum rise in prices, I would refer the hon. Member to Table 2 in my reply to a similar question from the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Dell) on 1st March.—[Vil 851, c. 425–8.]per product ton at an 11½ million ton BOS plant would be about £4 per ton lower than at a plant half that size and £7 per ton lower than at a plant of a quarter that size. Other estimates available to the Department are in general agreement with these figures, and show that the differentials are even greater for BOS and open hearth plants of one million tons although in certain circumstances electric are plants of this capacity or less can be economically attractive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has agreed to apply the EEC system of generalised preferences from 1st January 1974; and what changes will be necessary in the present United Kingdom system of generalised preferences.

The United Kingdom will align its generalised system of preference with that of the rest of the enlarged EEC on 1st January 1974. We are having discussions with our Community partners about the details of the scheme to be applied from that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are taken to ensure safe navigation by foreign ships in British waters; and what sanctions are taken in British ports against foreign ships that are known to have disobeyed international conventions of navigation and seamanship in such waters.

Foreign ships in British territorial waters are subject to the same statutory navigational requirements as British ships, and proceedings may be taken in British courts for failure to comply with them. Foreign ships in British ports are subject to inspection and may be detained if they do not meet international convention standards relating to such matters as construction, carriage of safety equipment and radio.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were authorised in England and Wales in 1972; and what were the figures for 1970 and 1971.

Following is the information for schemes of 15,000 sq. ft. and over:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in relation to the 39 trade associations and federations to which he gave permission to raise their prices by amounts varying from 3 per cent. to 100 per cent. of raw material price increases, what are the number of firms and companies which these associations represented which will be able to increase prices or have done so under this arrangement.

The information required is not readily available. I should make clear that I have not given permission to the trade associations and firms named in my reply to the hon. Member of 22nd February to raise prices by amounts varying from 3 per cent. to 100 per cent. of their increased raw materials costs. What I have done is to insist that they absorb a proportion of the increases. The figures given in my answer represent the minimum percentage of those increases which they must absorb.—[Vol. 851, c. 164.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the circumstances in which the free export of British stainless steel and nickel alloy scrap will be permitted within the European Economic Community; and if he will now make a statement on the plans he has for permitting the full free export of such scrap.

Stainless steel and other alloy steel scrap may be exported under licence within the European Community provided the scrap contains 35 per cent. or more of alloying elements. During this year and next it is intended to harmonise scrap export arrangements with the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate has been made of the number of jobs directly and indirectly dependent on the Concorde project.

It is currently estimated that Concorde provides about 23,700 jobs in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what are the known fossil fuel reserves in each individual country of the EEC; and what is the estimated rate annually of their use;(2) what is the proportion of energy requirements generated by nuclear power in the EEC individual countries; what is projected to the end of 1973; and how this compares with world generation of the same source;(3) how many coal-fired power stations are in generation in the individual countries of the EEC; how many others are projected; and if any new ones will be ready in 1973.

My right hon. Friend has responsibility in these matters only in relation to the United Kingdom. Such information as is readily available on these matters may be found in publications held in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if preferential trade agreements will be officially discussed at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade talks later this year.

The precise scope of the multilateral trade negotiations in the GATT has still to be determined. It is likely to include all aspects of trade liberalisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the GATT has now completed its examination of the overall trade effects of EEC enlargement; and if he will make a statement.

The working party which has been set up by the GATT Council to report on enlargement of the EEC is still examining the general trade effects. Bilateral negotiations between the EEC and third countries with claims to compensation under the GATT rules arising from enlargement are due to begin on 12th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research work is being undertaken by the Royal Aircraft Establishment in conjunction with the aerospace industry into developing vertical take-off or short take-off and landing systems for use with civil aircraft.

An extensive programme of research is being carried out on behalf of my Department, both at the Royal Aircraft Establishment and in collaboration with the United Kingdom aviation industry aimed at establishing on a sound basis the technology required for future civil aircraft. A significant proportion of this work is directed towards the achievement of the landing and take-off characteristics which such aircraft will have to possess if commercial success is to be obtained. It is not yet clearly established how short the take-off and landing distances should be in the range down towards STOL and VTOL if any are to meet this criterion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to lift the embargo on the export of scrap, bearing in mind the effect this could have upon steel prices.

I have nothing to add at present to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Dr. Stuttaford) on 20th February—[Vol. 851, c. 91.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply and export of machinery for the manufacture of footwear; and when it will be available to the House.

Yes. The report will be laid before Parliament and published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial accidents there were in Biddulph Urban District in each of the past five years.

The numbers of industrial accidents occurring in the Biddulph Urban District which have been notified to Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate during the last five years are:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for his conciliation department to examine the official dispute between Empire Pools, Blackpool, and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, in view of the company's breaking of a recognition agreement aranged at a meeting held under the auspices of a conciliation officer.

My officials conciliated in a joint meeting between representatives of Empire Pools Ltd. and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers on 24th November 1972, when the company agreed to recognise USDAW as the appropriate union for employees of Empire Pools and agreed to discuss with the union certain dismissals.My officials have since approached the company and the union and offered to assist in the present dispute. The company has indicated that it feels that no useful purpose would be served by a meeting at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average weekly wage in Scotland at the latest available date; and what it was in June 1970, or the nearest available date.

The latest information available is derived from the regular October inquiry into the earnings and hours of manual workers.Average weekly earnings in Scotland of men, aged 21 and over, in the industries covered by the inquiry were £34·93 in October 1972 and £27·04 in October 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage the average weekly wage in Scotland is greater or less than that in England and Wales at the latest available date; and what were the comparable figures for June 1970, or the nearest available date.

The latest information available is derived from the regular October inquiry into the earnings and hours of manual workers.In the industries covered by the inquiry, average weekly earnings of men, aged 21 and over, in Scotland were 2·8 per cent. less than those in England and Wales in October 1972 and 4·2 per cent. less in October 1970.Comparisons of average earnings for different areas are affected by influences such as variation in the pattern of industry and they may not therefore give a precise indication of differences in earnings for comparable work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of males and femals, respectively, in employment in the county of Pembroke in June 1971 and June 1972.

The latest estimates are for June 1971 when there were 16,500 males and 7,800 females in employment in Pembrokeshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many youths who participated in the employment industrial training board award schemes in Lanarkshire have entered Government Departments;(2) how many youths in Scotland who participated in employment industrial training board award schemes have entered employment in Government Departments;(3) how many youths who participated in the employment industrial training board award schemes have entered employment with Government Departments.

The primary purpose of the award schemes is to increase the number of apprentices in industry and this is the reason why the training boards concerned are sharing the cost of the scheme with the Government. The placing of award holders in employment outside the industries covered by the boards is therefore exceptional. However, eight youths who received awards under the schemes run in 1971–72 by a number of industrial training boards entered the employment of Government Departments. None of these was in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will now invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the mineworkers;(2) whether he will now invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the railway workers;(3) whether he will now invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the Ford workers.

Such action would not be appropriate at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list giving the dates and particulars of the cases when he or the Government have taken action under the Industrial Relations Act for resolving industrial disputes and with what results, in each case, indicating which actions took place after the start of the freeze in November 1972

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to cases initiated by the Secretary of State in the National Industrial Relations Court. There have been three such cases: the

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the special accommodation provided for the homeless in Wales by authorities, and the number of beds available in each.

Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. Returns are received annually showing the number of persons and families living in local authority family and communal accommodation respectively on 31st March. The position on 31st March 1972 is given in Tables 1 and 2 following:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make representations to the Government of India concerning the holding by that country of over 90,000 Pakistan prisoners of war in defiance of the Geneva Convention.

We have been in touch with the Governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh about all the outstanding problems of reaching a settlement in the subcontinent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ascertain the number of Indian persons detained or imprisoned by the Pakistan Government as a result of the war which ended in December 1971.

No. This is a matter for the Indian and Pakistan Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of political prisoners at present held in detention in Southern Rhodesia by the illegal régime; and if he will publish the names.

I believe that the total number of detainees in Southern Rhodesia at present may be approximately 90. But I do not have detailed information as to their names or the reasons for their detention.