asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase in costs incurred by Scottish milk producers in the last year expressed in pence per gallon; and how he proposes such costs shall be recouped.

This is a matter for consideration at the annual review. I cannot anticipate the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the working of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act.

Now that the Act is being implemented by all Scottish local authorities, I am sure that its benefits to tenants, to ratepayers, and to the authorities themselves will be increasingly appreciated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for replacing burgh courts in Scotland.

As I have indicated in replies to my hon. Friend the Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), on 6th March and to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. William Hannan) on 23rd November last, I hope to make a staement on this subject but am not yet ready to do so.—[Vol. 846, c. 494–5; Vol 852, c. 86.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for reducing unemployment in the Western Isles.

I recognise the special difficulties of the problem in the Western Isles and every effort continues to be made to encourage the expansion of existing industries and to attract new industries to the area.The agency best equipped for fostering such developments continues to be the Highlands and Islands Development Board which is always at pains, with the help of the islanders themselves, to identify worthwhile projects. Our faith in the potential for development was illustrated recently by the board's decision, which I approved, to build a nest of small advance factories in Stornoway. Building is nearing completion and the board expects to find tenants for early occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average charge to Scottish domestic ratepayers in rate payments in each of the last four years.

The Scottish average domestic rate payments, excluding domestic water rate for the years 1972–73, 1971–72, 1970–71 and 1969–70 are estimated to have been £61·09, £58·33, £49·30 and £43·95 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the average cost of building a three-apartment and four-apartment local authority house in each of the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 and also at the latest convenient date.

The average erection costs for three-apartment and four-apartment local authority houses approved in these years in Scotland were as follows:

	3-Apartment	4-Apartment
	£	£
1969	3,558	3,653
1970	3,767	4,099
1971	4,072	4,426
1972 (Provisional)	4,360	4,741

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland over which inland waters including rivers and lochs he owns the fishing rights as riparian owner in Caithness and Sutherland; if it is his intention to seek to sell these rights; and if he will make a statement about his intention regarding the development of these fishings and ensuring public access to them.

There are fishing rights on the following crofting estates in Caithness and Sutherland in my ownership:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the present procedures for inspecting assessment centres and approved schools.

Officers of my Department have power under Section 6 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to examine conditions in any residential or other establishment provided for the purposes of the Act. They frequently visit List D schools and assessment centres and give such advice as appears to be necessary to the local authority or voluntary organisation concerned. But the primary responsibility for supervision of the children in any establishment which a local authority provides or makes use of rests with the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the building of further assessment centres and approved schools.

The responsibility for providing residential and other facilities in the social work field rests on local authorities. In September 1972 my Department issued guidance to local authorities on the development of assessment services and asked them to consider the adequacy of their arrangements. A new assessment centre will shortly be opening in Aberdeen and I have approved the building of a new centre in Fife. In examining the development plans which local authorities are at present submitting to me I shall pay particular regard to proposals for the assessment and residential care of children. The current building programme includes expenditure of about £700,000 per annum on the extension and improvement of the List D schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take further steps to urge implementation by local authorities of Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; how many local authorities have made provisions for meeting the special housing needs of persons covered by the Act; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 13th February to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Gorbals (Mr. McElhone). Local authorities were reminded a year ago of the requirement placed on them by the Act to have regard to the special housing needs of the disabled; and I have recently asked them to supply me with details of the arrangements in their areas for providing housing suitable for disabled persons so that I may consider whether further action on my part is necessary.—[Vol. 850, c. 323.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the arrangements for supply of death certificates to next-of-kin of British subjects dying abroad.

Yes. Local authorities in foreign countries supply death certificates in most cases in a satisfactory manner. On the basis of such a certificate, a death can be registered in the consular registers and a copy of the registration supplied.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further co-ordinated action he intends to take with the West German Government over the Icelandic fishing dispute.

Throughout the present fisheries dispute with Iceland, consultation between Her Majesty's Government and the Federal German Government has been close and cordial. During February the Federal German Government made new proposals to the Icelandic Government for the resumption of negotiations. As the House will be aware, my right hon. Friend sent a message to the Icelandic Foreign Minister on 22nd January proposing a resumption of negotiations. On 8th March he sent a further such message asking the Icelandic Government to set a date for this.I understand that the Federal German Government are at present in discussion with the Icelandic Government on the resumption of their negotiations with Iceland, and I am hopeful that a relatively early resumption of our own negotiations with Iceland will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sum has been allocated for projects put forward by United Kingdom women's organisations for the promotion of closer links with women in the EEC; who administers the grant; and if he will re- view the amount in view of the need for greater liaison on the various subjects included in reviews taking place regarding the status of women in Europe.

A grant in aid of £10,000 has been made in the current year to the National Council of Social Service to assist the Women's Group on Public Welfare to promote exchanges between British and European women's organisations. The grant is administered by the European Committee of the Women's Group on Public Welfare and the National Council of Women, within guidelines approved by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.I have reviewed the amount of the grant. In the light of the effective use of which it has been put and the scope for exchanges in this field, a grant in aid of £15,000 will, subject to the approval of Parliament, be made in 1973–74. Provision for this amount has been made in the Estimates for the coming year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the conferences and negotiations which he anticipates will be held in 1973 and 1974 and which will have a direct effect upon the aid relationship between developing countries on the one hand and the member countries of the European Economic Community, as a group, on the other, stating the dates and places in so far as these have already been fixed.

A number of discussions could have an effect on this aid relationship. Three appear to be the most important. These are:

(i) The negotiations for a Convention to succeed the present Yaounde and Arusha Conventions, and to give effect to Protocol 22 of the Treaty of Accession. These are expected to begin on 1st August 1973;

(ii) The negotiation by the Community of new or revised agreements with the Maghreb countries, with Malta, and with some other developing countries in the Mediterranean area, which may include sections on economic and financial co-operation;

(iii) The meeting in London of the Food Aid Convention's Food Aid Committee on Thursday 22nd March, at which our accession and the Community's present programme will be discussed. The present convention ends in the middle of next year, by which time it will be necessary to negotiate a successor convention if there is to be one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the absence of detailed alignment of Ring-way 1 in Willesden West but in the knowledge provided by the Layfield Report, he will estimate the minimum and maximum number of houses which will need to be demolished in that constituency.

As my right hon. and learned Friend stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 7th March, until the detailed alignment of Ringway 1 is known it is not possible to give the number of houses that would need to be demolished. Neither is it possible to give maximum and minimum figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent local government expenditure would be reduced by the removal of expenditure on education, school meals and milk, sewerage and water services, and on those matters to be controlled by the new regional health authorities; and assuming the continuance of the present level of Exchequer contribution, what approximate percentage effect this reduction would have on the level of rates.

By 60 per cent. namely, approximately £3,000 million and, assuming the Exchequer contribu-

		1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
		000's	000's	000's	000's	000's
1" series (189 sheets in series)	…	1,170	1,360	1,357	1,364	1,260
¼" series (17 sheets in series)	…	82	119	143	146	124
1:25,000 series (about 2,020 sheets in series)	…	305	333	402	399	398

		1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
		000's	000's	000's	000's	000's
1" series (189 sheets in series)	…	1,271	1,400	1,472	1,219	1,781
¼" series (17 sheets in series)	…	126	122	136	138	178
1:25,000 series (about 2,020 sheets in series)	…	357	374	378	307	459

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement regarding his investigations into the alcohol safety interlock system as developed by a Croydon firm and referred to in his written answer of 23rd July 1971.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of 1 in., 2½ in. and ¼ in. Ordnance Survey maps sold in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The number of maps issued are as follows. They include sales to Government Departments since 1st April 1968 and issues to Government Departments before that date. Until 1st April 1968 issues to Government Departments were made free of charge. Separate figures for sales to the public are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many building society mortgages were granted for house purchase to people with total weekly incomes of £30, £40, £50 and over £50, respectively, in the years 1971 and 1972, respectively.

The estimated numbers are as follows:

BUILDING SOCIETY MORTGAGE ADVANCES, UNITED KINGDOM
Thousands
Mortgagors' recorded weekly incomes	1971	1972
Under £30	189	123
£30, under £40	186	179
£40, under £50	125	154
£50 and more	153	225
All	653	681

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of mortgages granted by building societies for house

£ million
		Tobacco			Alcoholic Drinks
Year		Cigarettes*	Other*	Total	Spirits	Beer	Imported Wine	British Wine	Total
1959–60	…	686·0	102·5	788·5	145·5	218·9	20·3	3·8	388·5
1960–61	…	717·9	107·3	825·2	162·9	222·2	17·8	4·2	407·0
1961–62	…	756·6	113·0	869·6	172·5	246·8	20·0	4·1	443·5
1962–63	…	764·0	114·2	878·2	185·8	254·2	21·3	4·5	465·8
1963–64	…	776·1	116·0	892·1	206·5	263·3	24·5	4·8	499·2
1964–65	…	855·8	127·9	983·7	240·6	299·1	28·9	6·2	574·7
1965–66	…	882·4	131·8	1,014·2	245·4	340·2	34·4	7·6	627·5
1966–67	…	891·4	133·2	1,024·6	268·5	373·8	37·7	8·3	688·2
1967–68	…	907·8	135·6	1,043·4	300·8	390·2	46·9	10·0	747·9
1968–69	…	960·2	143·5	1,103·7	304·3	405·9	54·5	13·0	777·6
1969–70	…	993·1	148·4	1,141·5	332·1	450·5	64·9	15·7	863·2
1970–71	…	994·0	148·5	1,142·5	371·5	467·0	74·9	17·9	931·3
1971–72	…	979·0	146·3	1,125·3	409·3	482·8	87·3	19·1	998·5
1972–73†	…	1,026·6	153·4	1,180·0	450·0	500·0	100·0	20·0	1,070·0
*These are estimates and assume that over the relevant period the proportion of tobacco consumed in the form of manufactured cigarettes has remained constant at 87 per cent. Almost all tobacco duty is charged on raw imported leaf, and not on the end product.
† Estimated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact of control of profit margins in phase 2 of the counter-inflation policy on the level of private investment.

The profit margin limit, which will back up the price controls set out in the Green Paper, is only one part

The numbers of mortgage advances by building societies in the United Kingdom are as follows:

1969	460,000
1970	540,000
1971	653,000
1972	681,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from all alcoholic beverages, analysed under various types, and revenue from tobacco duty, divided as to revenue from cigarettes and from all remaining tobacco products, and also the total revenue from tobacco and alcoholic beverages, in 1972–73, as estimated, and the actual revenue collected from these sources during each of the preceding 13 years.

Following is the information:of the programme for controlling inflation. The success of this programme as a whole is the key element in generating the confidence on which investment depends.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of according to married women the right to have their investment incomes separately assessed and taxed, without being aggregated with the incomes of their husbands, in the same way that they may now claim such a right in respect of their earned income.

No precise estimate can be given, but the cost is unlikely to be less than £100 million, if it is assumed that married couples arranged their investments between them to their best advantage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a Bill to nationalise joint stock banks.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that lorries carrying fresh foods, such as lettuces, are given fast clearance without undue documentation during the period of the Customs and Excise go slow at Dover and other ports so that these foods are not spoiled by delay on the way to market.

I understand that the clearance of perishable goods at Dover, for which there are standard procedures, is proceeding without undue delay. But if my hon. Friend will send me full details of any particular case he has in mind I will look into it.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the number of civil servants in Government Departments who were on strike in Scotland on 27th February.

About 14,000 out of a total of some 24,000 staff in grades represented by the unions who called the strike.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which of the countries of the Common Market there are restrictions on the right of companies to own agricultural land.

I regret that my Department has no precise information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce interim arrangements for the approval of schemes for the dedication of woodlands and planting grants to cover the period from 28th June 1972 until the effective date of introduction of a new system of grants.

The Forestry Committee of Great Britain has already been assured of the Government's desire to avoid any break in the grant provision for approved planting; and I hope shortly to announce arrangements to cover the period to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the progress being made by the inter-departmental study of ways of reforming the common agricultural policy.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) on 13th March 1973.

asked the Attorney-General when it is hoped to have facilities in Cardiganshire which would enable a Crown Court to be situated permanently there in order to provide a more adequate high courts service for Mid-Wales.

This must depend on the workload. There is no evidence at present to justify the establishment in Cardiganshire of a separate Crown court.

asked the Attorney-General how many committals for trial there were in 1972 to the Crown court from (a) Merionethshire and (b) Cardiganshire.

Statistics are not available of the number of committals

			Cardiganshire Class of case					Merionethshire Class of case
Crown Court Centre			1	2	3	4	Total	1	2	3	4	Total
Carmarthen	…	…	—	—	—	17	17	—	—	—	—	—
Caernarvon	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1
Dolgellau	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	4
Mold	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	4	5
Welshpool	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	…	…	—	—	—	17	17	—	—	2	8	10

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) whether the soldiers responsible for the shooting of John and Gerald Conway on 15th April 1972 have been disciplined; whether investigations by the police into this case have been completed, and if the details have been sent to the Department of Public Proescutions;(2) whether the soldiers responsible for the shooting of Daniel Rooney on 29th September 1972 have been disciplined; whether police investigations into this case have been completed; and details been sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions.

The usual investigations by the civil authorities have not yet been completed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the soldiers responsible for the fatal shooting of Patrick McVeigh on 12th May 1972 have been disciplined; whether investigations into this case have been completed, and if details have been sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions.

The usual investigations by the civil authorities have been completed. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed no prosecution on the evidence at present before him.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether investigations into the fatal shooting of Michael Hayes, on 30th September 1972 have been completed; whether he can now state which

The usual investigations by the Civil Authorities have not yet been completed. Only one statement was released to the press by Headquarters Northern Ireland; it was subsequently amended on a point of detail.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of Army involvement in the deaths of Patrick McVeigh and Daniel Rooney both shot from passing cars, now known to be plain clothes patrols, he can now make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply by my right hon. and noble Friend to her Question on 20th October 1972.—[Vol. 843, c. 145–6.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the total complement, officers, airmen and juniors, of the Royal Air Force at 1st January 1973, excluding women and any locally recruited abroad; and at the same date what were the numbers of warrant officers, flight sergeants and chief technicians, respectively.

The total strength of the Royal Air Force at 1st January 1973, excluding women and any locally recruited abroad was 101,630. The numbers of warrant officers, flight sergeants and chief technicians included in this total were 2,142, 2,562 and 7,411, respectively.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the total complement officers, other ranks and juniors, in the Army at 1st January 1973, excluding women and locally recruited forces abroad; and at the same date what were the numbers of warrant officers I, warrant officers II, and staff sergeants, respectively.

The total strength of officers, other ranks and juniors in the Army at 1st January 1973, excluding women and locally recruited forces abroad was:

Officers (including 613 officers designate)	17,930
Other Ranks	142,430
Juniors	15,132

The strengths of warrant officers and staff sergeants at the same date were as follows:

Warrant Officers Class I	2,229
Warrant Officers Class II	5,363
Staff Sergeants	7,076

asked the Minister of State for Defence what would be the cost of including in the Armed Forces Occupational Pension Scheme provision for the payment retrospectively to all surviving widows of Servicemen who have died since 1st January 1973 and who married or remarried after their discharge or retirement.

The information could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what would be the cost of including in the Armed Forces Occupational Pension Scheme provision for the payment of pensions to the widows of those Servicemen who marry or remarry after their discharge or retirement.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 14th June 1971.—[Vol. 819, c. 22–3.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will include in the Armd Forces Occupational Pension Scheme now under consideration provision for the payment of pensions to the widows of Servicemen who marry or remarry after their discharge or retirement.

I am not yet ready to make a statement about the items included in the second stage of our general review of Armed Forces occupational pensions.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will consider removing the cut-off date of 1st September 1950 from the forces family pension scheme to entitle those elderly Service widows who still survive to a Service widow's pension.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing by 1980–81 part-time nursery places for 75 per cent. of three-year-olds, 90 per cent. of four-year-olds and full-time places for 20 per cent. of three- and four-year-olds; and how these costs compare with those for providing the number of nursery places proposed in the recent White Paper.

While forecasts as far ahead as 1981 are bound to be tentative for the reasons explained in the White Paper, I estimate that to make provision for 75 per cent. of three-year-olds and 90 per cent. of four-year-olds in 1981–82, including full-time places for 20 per cent. of both age groups, would cost about £140 million in recurrent expenditure in that year. The corresponding figure for the provision proposed in the White Paper would be about £120 million. Extra capital expenditure of about £70 million spread over the years up to 1981–82 would be needed to reach the higher target.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average number of general anaesthetics administered per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in 1971; and what was the comparable figure for the county of Staffordshire.

Sixty-seven and 14 respectively. Some allowance has been made in these figures for staffing fluctuations during the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make extra financial assistance available to national and regional museums towards the setting up of conservation centres for material raised from underwater in view of the anticipated increase in the amount of such material following the passage of the Protection of Wrecks Bill.

Underwater finds include both ships and their contents. A department is being developed at the National Maritime Museum for the study of the structure of ancient boats and

University or College		Undergraduates	Postgraduates	Total Undergraduates and Postgraduates
Aston	…	3,228	660	3,888
Bath	…	2,433	377	2,810
Birmingham	…	5,407	1,727	7,134
Bradford	…	2,932	628	3,560
Bristol	…	5,266	935	6,201
Brunel	…	1,725	329	2,054
Cambridge	…	8,794	2,212	11,006
City	…	1,917	249	2,166
Durham	…	3,089	609	3,698
East Anglia	…	2,723	321	3,044
Essex	…	1,597	388	1,985
Exeter	…	3,042	529	3,571
Hull	…	3,351	508	3,859
Keele	…	1,684	257	1,941
Kent	…	2,239	344	2,583
Lancaster	…	2,468	561	3,029
Leeds	…	7,589	1,986	9,575
Leicester	…	2,911	709	3,620
Liverpool	…	5,933	1,026	6,959
London Graduate School of Business Studies	…	—	187	187
London University	…	25,023	9,461	34,484
Loughborough	…	2,580	393	2,973
Manchester School of Business Studies	…	—	149	149
Manchester	…	7,400	1,747	9,147
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology	…	2,455	906	3,361
Newcastle	…	5,092	926	6,018

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish for each university the number of full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students for the academic year 1972–73 as recorded in the preliminary returns made to the University Grants Committee in October 1972.

The provisional numbers of full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in universities in October 1972 as recorded by the University Grants Committee were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students entered into higher education establishments last year; and if she will give the numbers of males and females, respectively.

Provisional figures of students entering higher education establishments in 1972 indicate that 68,300 students—45,100 men and 23,200 women—entered universities in the United Kingdom and 37,300 students—10,500 men and 26,800 women—entered non-graduate courses of initial teacher training at colleges of education in England and Wales. The latter figures exclude students entering teacher training after having taken other courses of higher education. Figures for students on advanced courses in higher education establishments are still being collected by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many four-year-old children at present attend nursery school in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency; how this compares with the figures for Cheshire as a whole; and what proportion these figures are of all four-year-old children in their respective areas.

The Department does not collect statistics by reference to parliamentary constituencies. In Cheshire in January 1972 there were 36 full-time and part-time pupils aged four in maintained nursery schools and 6,908 in other maintained primary schools. Together these numbers were equivalent to 37·8 per cent. of births in 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she can now give a precise date when Her Majesty's Stationery Office will publish the Russell Report on Adult Education.

No, but I expect it to be before the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is able to announce the establishment of the Technician Education Council recommended in the Haslegrave Report.

I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Technician Education Council. The negotiations between my Department and the City and Guilds of London Institute about the administrative servicing of the council have been successfully completed, and other valuable discussions have been held with professional and other interests involved in joint committees for national certificate and diploma awards. I am satisfied that the new council will be able to count on the broad support of these several interests in its work.The council will be concerned in the development of policies for schemes of technical education for persons at all levels of technician occupations in industry and elsewhere. To this end it will, as proposed in the Haslegrave Report, plan, administer and keep under review the development of a unified national system of courses for such people; and will devise or approve suitable courses, establish and assess standards of performance, and award certificates and diplomas as appropriate. I shall want the council to be associated with the courses and examinations administered by joint committees for national certificates and diplomas and with the technician level examinations of the CGLI until all of these are replaced. In all its work I see the council proceeding with the fullest possible involvement and co-operation of industry, the professional bodies, and the education service, both centrally and at local and regional level. I have appointed Mr. A. L. Burton, the present Chairman of the Furniture and Timber Industrial Training Board and a former Lord Mayor of Westminster, as part-time chairman of the council and the following persons as members:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of coal miners unemployed in the mid-Northumberland local employment area; and what is the number aged 55 years and over.

On 12th February, 945 men who last worked in coalmining were registered as unemployed in the mid-Northumberland area. There is no age analysis of this figure but a special quarterly return in December 1972 of colliery workers unemployed in the area through the contraction of the coalmining industry showed that of 847 such workers 803 were aged 55 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled men who qualify for sheltered employment are out of work in the mid-Northumberland local employment area; and what proposals he has to reduce this number.

126 registered severely disabled men are unemployed in the area, of whom 47 are both suitable for and willing to take the type of work provided by the two Remploy factories serving the area. Ten of these 47 have been accepted for the waiting list and should shortly be given jobs. The remaining 37 will be interviewed as vacancies become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average time a job is held in Scotland at the latest available date, and 10 years ago.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the trades or industries in which homeworkers are engaged and which are covered by the Wages Council Act 1959; and if he will ensure that these occupations and the requirements affecting those concerned are given wider publicity.

Homeworkers are employed in the following wages council industries:

• Corset.
• Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing.
• Fur.
• Hat, Cap and Millinery.
• Made-up Textiles.
• Retail Bespoke Tailoring.
• Ready-made and Wholesale Bespoke Tailoring.
• Rubber-proofed Garment Making.
• Shirtmaking.
• Wholesale Mantle and Costume.
• Boot and Shoe Repairing.
• Brush and Broom.
• Button Manufacture.
• Lace Finishing.
• Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods.
• Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower.
• Paper Box.
• Pin, Hook and Eye, and Snap Fastener.
• Rope, Twine and Net.
• Toy Manufacture.

Publicity is given to the rates by means of a statutory notice to all employers covered by a wages council, which must be posted up where it can be conveniently read by all workers concerned. There is no other practicable way of informing the workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to obtain and publish the pattern of worker participation in public companies in the Federal Republic of Germany and the Netherlands.

I am sending the information to the hon. Member and will also arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the practice of his Department in administrative matters, regarding the definition of the term "head of the household" or an equivalent term; and what benefits or allowances are available when the requirements of that status are met.

A United Kingdom passport holder subject to immigration control has to be a "head of household" to obtain a special voucher for settlement in the United Kingdom; dependants are then also admissible. The expression means the head of a family or, where appropriate, a single man or woman.The householder has a duty under the Representation of the People Regulations to supply information as to others in the household, in the annual canvass for the register of electors. For this purpose the term means the occupier of the premises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for certificates of naturalisation are pending; what is the average length of time between the receipt of an application and the announcement of a decision; and what proposals he has to ensure that applications are dealt with more promptly.

2,375 applications are currently being dealt with. Cases take from seven to 13 months. Full inquiries have to be made and these are bound to take a substantial time, but we are hoping to reduce the period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offices of the Immigrants Advisory Service have been established abroad; how many are likely to be opened during the next 12 months; and whether it is in accordance with the charter of the IAS that it should be granted the privilege of using the diplomatic bag for communications.

The activities of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service outside the United Kingdom are not assisted from public funds, and my right hon. Friend has no ministerial responsibility for them. I suggest that my hon. Friend asks the director of the service for the information sought in the first and second parts of his Question.I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that there is no question of allowing the service to make use of the diplomatic bag.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent some 500,000 Pakistanis entitled under the present law to enter the United Kingdom from doing so; how many applications have been placed with the British embassy in Islamabad for entry certificates enabling successful applicants to come to the United Kingdom; what was the size of the immigration section of Her Majesty's Embassy in Islamabad two years ago; what is it now; and how many additional staff are likely to be recruited during the next 12 months.

Applications by citizens of Pakistan who wish to enter this country are considered under the Immigration Rules (HC 79): I have no reason to suppose that 500,000, or anything like that number, are entitled to enter. In 1972, 12,250 applications for entry certificates were made to the British Embassy in Islamabad and, in the same period, 5,388 entry certificates were issued. These figures include entry certificates for those coming for settlement and those coming for temporary purposes, for example, as students or visitors. The staffing of diplomatic posts overseas is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now seek powers to introduce an identity card system for citizens from Eire and Northern Ireland in order to have some greater control of immigration of dangerous and undesirable people.

I am reviewing carefully all our protective measures. In this context I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many Statutory Instruments were made and laid before Parliament in 1972 and what were the numbers subject to affirmative and negative procedures, respectively; and what estimate he has made of the number which will result from EEC membership in the current year.

In the Session 1971–72, a total of 105 affirmative and 678 negative instruments were made and laid before Parliament. It is estimated that 60 Statutory Instruments in the current year will result from EEC membership.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his future policy about handling IRA suspects or prisoners who need hospital treatment.

Subject to medical considerations, high security prisoners requiring hospital treatment will in future be admitted only to secure hospital accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have now been made to guarantee the custody of IRA suspects or prisoners who require hospitalisation.

Arrangements to ensure the safe custody of high security prisoners attending hospital include the provision of additional secure hospital accommodation and the introduction of stricter procedures for escorting prisoners to and from hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of those prisoners designated as special category prisoners, together with the particular offences for which they are serving sentences.

It is not the practice to publish the names of prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what immediate action he is considering to remedy the shortage of dentists operating in the National Health Service.

The Working Party on Dental Services is currently considering, among other questions, problems of dental manpower. Meanwhile the number of dentists practising in the general dental services in England continues to increase. In the year ended 30th September 1972 numbers rose by 223 to 10,750, the highest on record. I am hopeful that this trend will continue as I understand that in recent years dental schools in Great Britain have been able to fill nearly all available student places; plans to increase the capacity of schools by a further 74 places are in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about his talks with the American aviation authorities on air fares on the North Atlantic route after 1st April 1973.

I regret that we have not reached agreement with the United States aviation authorities on the new cheap air fares which our airlines wish to apply on scheduled services across the North Atlantic from 1st April 1973. We and our European Civil Aviation Conference colleagues consider therefore that the sensible course is to continue with the existing fares for this summer, and we have urged our airlines now meeting in the International Air Transport Association to seek agreement on this basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to ban the export of scrap metal from the United Kingdom.

No, but export control arrangements are kept under review. Over 90 per cent. of ferrous scrap is banned from export.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if, in view of the nuisance already suffered by people living in the area on account of military aircraft training, he will rearrange the Concorde's flight path for future training runs so as to avoid any part of West Wales;(2) if he will give an undertaking that future Concorde tests will not involve supersonic flying over Cardigan Bay.

No. The west coast route was chosen for a limited number of special test flights because it offered the best combination of the essential technical and safety requirements with the need to minimise disturbance to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local education authority Welsh language nursery schools and how many local education authority monoglot English language nursery schools, respectively, there are in Wales.

In January 1973 there were 47 nursery schools in Wales. These are not classified on the basis of the language of instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what progress has been made in the survey being conducted by the Welsh Office of all schools with physically handicapped school leavers;(2) who are the members of the working party set up by the Welsh Office to look into the provisions for handicapped school leavers; and what positions they hold;(3) what are the terms of reference of the working party set up by the Welsh Office to look into the provisions for handicapped school leavers.

My Department has not set up a special working party as such to review the provision for handicapped school leavers but these matters are kept under constant interdepartmental review. A questionnaire was sent some time ago to all local education authorities in Wales asking for further information and replies are expected by 2nd April.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give the number of private sector housing starts in the period 1967 to 1972, stating the number year by year; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will give the number of local authority housing starts in the period 1967 to 1972, stating the number year by year; and if he will make a statement.

Housing starts in the public and private sectors are:—

	Local Authorities	Other Public Sector Bodies	Private Sector	Total
1967	9,067	747	10,396	20,210
1968	7,425	171	10,208	17,804
1969	6,484	544	9,316	16,344
1970	4,849	284	8,612	13,745
1971	4,423	897	10,435	15,755
1972	2,760	599	13,600	16,959

I welcome the continuing upward trend in the total number of starts.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the effect of the Budget proposals, as a whole, on the Welsh economy.

Wales will benefit from the measures proposed which continue the policies adopted by the Government, since taking office, of stimulating growth and employment throughout the United Kingdom. The Budget strategy is for an annual rate of growth of around 5 per cent. over the 18 months to the first half of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent he estimates that the imposition of value added tax will affect the annual income from tourism in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

No significant effect is anticipated on the revenue or competitive position of the Welsh tourist industry as a result of the introduction of value added tax throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many mortgages he estimates were made available by building societies operating in Wales in the years 1971 and 1972 where Welsh applicants for such mortgages were earning £25 to £30 per week.

The information is not available in this form but I estimate that in 1972 about 5,500 building society mortgages in Wales were granted to mortgagors with weekly earnings of less than £31. The equivalent figure for 1971 was about 7,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now make a statement about the future of the 75 per cent. home improvement grant scheme.

The period during which 75 per cent grants are available has now been extended to 23rd June 1974 by the Housing (Amendment) Act 1972.