asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association concerning elections to the Assembly.

In March the association asked whether Republican clubs and Sinn Fein would be permitted to contest the local government and Assembly elections.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in the price of food since June 1970.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage food prices have risen since June 1970.

Between 16th June 1970 and 20th March 1973, the latest date for which information is available, the food index rose by 32·1 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of a pound of imported butter and of home-produced butter, respectively, in June 1970; and what it is now.

The Department of Employment's General Index of Retail Prices shows that the average retail prices of New Zealand and Danish butter were 16·8p and 20·0p per 1b. respectively in June 1970 and 22·4p and 25·lp per lb. on 20th March this year, the latest date for which figures are available. Prices of home-produced butter were not collected for the purpose of the index until 1973. On 20th March, the average was 24·0p per lb.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage increase in the retail price of beef sold in the United Kingdom since June 1970.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the effect of the Icelandic limits dispute on the British fishing industry.

There has been no significant change in the position since the reply given to my hon. Friend's Question on this subject on 14th November. Catches continue at a satisfactory level.— [Vol. 846, c. 78.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present consumption of home-produced venison.

There are no official figures for the consumption of home-produced venison in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend the establishment of a Royal Commission on the administration of all organisations designated as charities.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the total value of fines due to courts of law in England and Wales and not yet collected.

The total amount of fines outstanding on 31st December 1972 in England and Wales outside inner London was £8,207,064. This figure included fines in respect of which the time allowed for payment had not expired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to representations made to him to amend the Shops Act 1950 to permit the holding of Sunday markets at the discretion of local authorities; when a decision is likely to be made in the matter; and if he will make a statement.

Only one such representation has been made. This was received on 1st May and is being carefully considered. In reply to other more general representations on the Sunday trading laws, my right hon. Friend has said that he does not foresee a place in the programme in the near future for legislation on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish up-to-date tables for 1969–70 and 1970–71 to show amounts of Members' expenses allowed for income tax purposes against

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national output was devoted to investment in 1964, 1966, 1970 and 1972.

The table below brings up to date the 1969–70 and 1970–71 figures published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 18th January 1972.—[Vol. 829, c. 113– 114].

Since the nation's total investment is equal to its savings, the information requested will be found in the answer to the Question from my hon. Friend on 4th April.—[Vol. 854, c. 114.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date ministerial salaries were last increased; and, taking the £ sterling as then having a purchasing value of 100p, what was the purchasing value of these salaries, at the latest most convenient stated date, allowing for the depreciation in the £ and the rise in the official cost of living index figures, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the proposed closure of Ilford Limited's works at Ilford, with special reference to employment prospects for technical staff with special experience and qualifications.

I understand that the proposed closure of the Ilford works is part of a long-term rationalisation plan for the company's existing sites in Essex, which is expected to include the transfer of research activities to new laboratories at Warley. Significant redundancies are not foreseen. It is still too early to comment on employment prospects for those who may become redundant, but when the time comes all the resources of my Department's employment services, including the professional and executive recruitment service, will be made available as necessary to assist them.

Ministerial salaries were last last increased on 1st April 1972. Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in April 1972, its value in March 1973, the latest available date, is estimated to be 92½p. This estimate is based on movements in the General Index of Retail Prices and includes the effects on internal purchasing power of the effective depreciation of the £ sterling over the period. On this basis, ignoring the effects of tax, the relative values of ministerial salaries is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons were registered as unemployed in the Greater London area at the latest available date; how many are in employment; and how these figures compare with the same period in 1972.

On 10th April 1973 there were 71,781 registered disabled people in the Greater London area of whom 5,730 were known to be unemployed. The comparable figures for April 1972 were 77,769 and 6,589 respectively. It is not however possible to state how many registered disabled people were actually in employment at these dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfilled vacancies at present exist in the employment areas of Cardiganshire; and how this compares with the figure a year ago.

There were 245 on 4th April 1973 and 157 on 5th April 1972. The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

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

In the Biddulph employment exchange area, there were 56 on 4th April 1973 and 21 on 5th April 1972. The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are registered as unemployed in Cardiganshire; and what percentage of the insured working population this represents.

On 9th April 1973 there were 1,042 people unemployed and the rate of unemployment—the number unemployed expressed as a percentage of the total number of employees, employed and unemployed—was 7·0 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial accidents there were in the Leek rural district in each of the past five years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions there were for negligence causing an industrial accident in Kidsgrove urban district in each of the past 10 years.

In the area of Kidsgrove urban district during the period 1963–1972, there were no prosecutions for contraventions of the Factories Act 1961, or regulations made under the Act, associated with accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories were inspected under the Factories Acts in Biddulph urban district in each of the past five years.

The number of factories in the area of the Biddulph urban district which received a general inspection under the Factories Act 1971 in the period 1968–1972 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of working days lost in each of the last 10 years due to industrial injury and disease.

I have been asked to reply.The following table gives the information available:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the report by the Industrial Training Service, "Safety Training Needs and Facilities in One Industry", has been considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

This report is being published today. Although it relates specifically to paper mills, it contains a great deal of material that is relevant to industry generally. The practical steps which are recommended are primarily matters for which industry is responsible, and I hope that companies will review their safety training policies in the light of these. In particular, I commend to them the section dealing with what is needed to equip managers to discharge their responsibilites for health and safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the travel-to-work areas, excluding seaside areas, which have intermediate area assistance status, whose

Following is the information for 9th April 1973:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those travel-to-work areas which have a lower rate of unemployment than the Wigan travel-to-work area but which receive either special development or development area assistance, giving in each case the total number and categories of the unemployed, and the total expressed as a percentage, and the type of assistance granted.

Following is the information for 9th April 1973:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is prepared to take to ensure the adequate supply of steel for construction of agricultural buildings in Northern Ireland.

This is a matter for the steel industry, and particular problems over supplies should be taken up direct with the suppliers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to have the Bible accepted by the Czechoslovak Government as a permitted export from the United Kingdom.

This is not necessary as the import of Bibles into Czechoslovakia is already permitted subject to compliance with the usual import formalities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were granted in Staffordshire in 1972; and how this figure compares with the figure for 1970.

In the employment exchange areas most closely approximating to Staffordshire, 188 industrial development certificates were issued in 1972 and 458 in 1970. The figures are not comparable because the exemption limit was raised in December 1970 and July 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates were refused for Kidsgrove urban district council in 1972; and how this figure compares with the figures for 1970 and 1971.

None in 1970, 1971 and 1972 for the Kidsgrove employment exchange area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has decided the level of quota of British films to be shown by exhibitors during the year beginning 1st January 1974.

The Cinematograph Films Council has recommended that there should be no change in the level of exhibitors quota at 30 per cent. for first feature films and 25 per cent. for supporting programme for the year beginning 1st January 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of imports into Great Britain from New Zealand in 1960, 1965, 1970 and the most recent year for which figures are available.

Information for 1960 is given in Table 270 of the 1969 Annual Abstract of Statistics, for 1965 and 1970 in Table 285 of the 1972 Annual Abstract of Statistics, and for 1972 in Table II of the December 1972 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom's imports came from the Commonwealth in 1964, 1970 and 1972.

29, 23 and 19 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what profit target he has set the British Airports Authority; what representations he has received from British airlines on this subject; and what replies he has given.

No target was set for the year 1972⤓73. The future target is under consideration. I have received no recent representations from airlines on the level of the authority's profits but I am aware of recent press release by the British Airways Board on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to encourage safety amongst those participating in leisure sailing and boating activities.

Following discussions which I have held with interested bodies and the yachting press, July has been designated a "small craft safety month" when my Department with Her Majesty's Coastguard, local and harbour authorities, voluntary bodies and the Press will co-operate to encourage safe practices. A new book, "Safety on Small Craft", will be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in June. This will give fuller advice than the leaflets and posters which have previously been distributed in very large numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to introduce a new Companies Bill in Parliament.

I hope to introduce a Companies Bill as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the overpressure measured at St. David's Cathedral on each of Concorde's supersonic flights down the West Coast route.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals the Government are considering for the amendment of the Hire Purchase Acts 1964 to 1972 (Sale of Goods (Implied Terms)) and the Moneylenders Acts 1900 to 1927.

The consumer credit Bill which I am preparing will replace the Hire Purchase Acts 1965 and the Moneylenders Acts 1900 and 1927 as well as the Pawnbrokers Acts 1872 and 1960. It will not require any amendment of the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to building advance factories in the Wigan travel-to-work area as a means of reducing unemployment in that area.

Advance factories play an important part in the Government's regional policies and the contribution which this form of assistance can make in meeting the employment needs of the Wigan travel-to-work area will continue to be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest information as to the known world reserves of iron ore and as to the annual world consumption, respectively.

A United Nations survey published in 1970 gave the following estimate of world resources of iron ore (in million tonnes):

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to give a substantive reply to the letter of 8th January from the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames about an illegal price increase.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 7th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to protect British investors, in particular retired persons, insurance companies, friendly societies and trade unions, against threats to seize certain of their investments without compensation.

Her Majesty's Government cannot bind their successors, but all fair-minded people deplore confiscation threats. Fortunately, those who make such threats diminish, by doing so, such chances as they may have of being elected to form a Government in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will study the possibility of setting up a training centre in west Wales to train local people needed for the Celtic Sea oil discovery programme.

I have been asked to reply.My Department will keep under review the provision of training facilities to meet identified training needs arising from the Celtic Sea oil discovery programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an assurance that he will meet any additional cost of the reopened inquiry connected with the Kielder pro- ject, so that the cost will not fall on the water consumers of the North East.

The normal rule is that the parties to the inquiry bear their own costs and I see no reason why this should not apply in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the Government's policy of encouraging the sale of council houses to sitting tenants is specifically designed to decrease the proportion of rented accommodation in the national housing stock.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 21 of the White Paper "Widening the Choice: The Next Steps in Housing" (Cmnd. 5280).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the number of boards which show distances from places ahead on motorway M4, especially on the westbound carriageway.

Route confirmatory signs, giving this information, are provided after every junction. More signs would be costly and could be distracting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fatalities there were in road accidents in England in each of the past 10 years.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to create traffic-free pedestrian precincts in town and city centres.

A substantial amount of advice and encouragement has been given to local authorities. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the advisory document.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has done into the cost of delays in the operation of one-man buses and the possible financial savings which could result from speeding up their operation.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has published a report on "Bus Boarding and Alighting Times", TRRL Report LR 521, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the need to build a mid-Lancashire motorway linking the M6 at Orrell to the M61 at Westhoughton.

These proposals are still under study. The Department is at present awaiting further information from the local authorities and it is too soon to say when decisions can be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the fact that a limited number of local authorities in England and Wales have not published their provisional assessment of fair rents in accordance with the statutory requirements of Section 53(1) of the Housing Finance Act 1972, if he will declare that the existing rents within these authorities be deemed "fair" and that these councils be so informed.

No. The determination of fair rents is a matter for local authorities and the rent scrutiny boards, and my right hon. and learned Friend has no power to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she proposes to ratify the decision of the International Convention at Washington, United States of America, on the preservation of rare animals.

As my right hon. Friend said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy), on 18th April, the question of formal ratification will be considered after the Government have closely examined all the implications of implementing the convention. The text is meanwhile being printed as a Command Paper in preparation for its being laid down before the House for the customary 21 sitting days. A copy of the convention has already been placed in hte Library of the House for the information of Members.—[Vol. 855, c. 130–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average number of courses of treatment completed per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in 1971 and 1972; and what the comparable figure was for the county of Staffordshire.

In the following figures, some allowance is made for staff- ing fluctuations during the year. The work of dental auxiliaries is included.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will tabulate the local education authorities where the proportion of schoolchildren having free school meals is highest, down to and including the county borough of Bradford, and also including other county boroughs of comparable size for which the proportion is lower than Bradford.

The following table shows the local education authorities in England and Wales which have a higher proportion of pupils receiving free school meals than Bradford and the county borough local education authorities of comparable size to Bradford which have a lower proportion of pupils receiving free school meals. The figures of take-up of free school meals relate to October 1972, the latest available:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of schools which have showers installed in the county of Lancashire, giving the type of school and the number on the roll in each case.

The Department of Education and Science does not collect this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the secondary school projects submitted by local education authorities as a result of the additional allocation of £20 million; and what the total cost of these projects is.

Each local education Authority in England was invited to submit its one most urgent project. Thirty-three Authorities made no proposals and three submitted more than one project. Details of the first or only projects submitted by 113 authorities are given below. The total cost was about £39 million at 1972 prices. Fifty-one projects marked with an asterisk have been approved for starting in 1975–77 at a cost of about £18 million, leaving £2 million for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision will be made for the under-fives in Newcastle-under-Lyme in each of the coming two years.

My right hon. Friend has asked all local education authorities to submit by 18th May proposals for capital investment in nursery education in 1974–76 and will announce their allocations during the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average time for which proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education have been considered within her Department.

Because the scope and complexity of such proposals falling to be considered by my right hon. Friend vary, it could be misleading to give an average time for their consideration, and this information is not readily available.