asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of council homes built during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Public sector completions in Great Britain between 1st April 1972 and 31st March 1973 numbered 111,400.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussion he has had with the London Boroughs Association and the Greater London Council regarding London's housing shortage; and if he will make a statement.

On 16th April I had a meeting with representatives of the Greater London Council, of the London Boroughs Association and of the Inner London boroughs about the problems of housing stress areas, including ways of making fuller use of empty properties and securing the improvement of private tenanted properties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has read the report of the London Council of Social Services, entitled "London's Housing Needs", concerning housing in the stress areas of London, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take thereon.

Yes. The report is being given very careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the work on strengthening the Tinsley Viaduct to be complete.

Due to the uniquely difficult technical problems encountered in strengthening this bridge, I regret that I am not yet able to give a firm estimate of when the work will be completed. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has received from the council of the London borough of Waltham Forest to his letters concerning rate demands.

The council has decided to take no action in response to my right hon. and learned Friend's invitation to it to make a substantial reduction in the level of expenditure budgeted for 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he intends to hold with the GLC on the future of the London motorway plan.

As I said in my statement published on 19th February, the Government will be developing detailed proposals for modifying the Greater London Development Plan in consultation with the Greater London Council and other bodies as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will be involved in the preparation of schemes for the use of any defence land released by the Ministry of Defence as superfluous to requirements.

Surplus defence land is offered for sale under standard procedures to other Departments, former owners and local authorities. If not disposed of by these means it is sold on the open market. The decision as to the future use of the land is for the new owner and is of course subject to planning control in the usual way. The Department of the Environment would normally be involved only as developer for other Departments or where normal planning procedures require a reference to my right hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to receive from Brian Colquhoun and Partners the report on the feasibility study for Ringway 3 from Sunbury/ Feltham to Swanley.

It is too soon to say. I will be writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations he has initiated since 1971 into the feasibility and cost of the Maplin reclamation project for land he plans to reclaim up to 1978–79.

The Roskill Commission established the feasibility of reclamation at Maplin. There is no need for further basic studies. But we have initiated a wide range of investigations since 1971 into the technical requirements and the detailed costs of reclamation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents involving personal injury have occurred on the Al in Yorkshire during the last three years; how many persons have been killed or died from injuries on this stretch of trunk road; and what steps he is taking to improve standards of safety.

There have been 831 accidents with 61 fatal casualties. In addition to the works I mentioned in my reply to my right hon. Friend on 18th April, grade separated junctions are to be provided at Redhouse, Barnsdale Bar, Darrington, Dishforth, Baldersby, Catterick North and Catterick South. Improvements at the A58 and Walton Lane junctions at Wetherby and a number of smaller slip road, acceleration and deceleration lane, gap closure and layby schemes are being planned.—[Vol. 855, c. 111.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the continuation of Operation Eyesore in the North West.

I received representations from a number of local authorities and from other organisations in the North West, and also from many hon. Members representing constituencies in that area. I took account of all views expressed before deciding the future of Operation Eyesore, which I announced on 10th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about heavy goods vehicle drivers' hours offences committed by drivers hired through private employment agencies.

In the past year two cases involving drivers' hours offences committed by agency-supplied drivers were successfully prosecuted. Two more prosecutions are pending.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the increase in private sector housing land prices per plot in 1972.

The estimated average increase for England and Wales between the second half of 1971 and the first half of 1972 was 31 per cent. That between the first and second halves of 1972 was 22 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate how the costs are borne between his Department and local authorities when purchasing premises for judges' lodgings in each of the judges' circuits in England and Wales; and whether such property is purchased on the open market, or on district valuation officers' estimates.

Under the Courts Act 1971, the responsibility placed on local authorities for ensuring that judges' lodgings were available in each assize town was transferred to my Department which has until 31st December 1974 to complete the transfer arrangements. Since 1st January 1972, the cost of purchasing premises for judges' lodgings in England and Wales has been borne on the votes of my Department. Such purchases of property have been and will continue to be made wherever and whenever possible at their open market value as assessed by the district valuer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the requirements that are likely to be imposed by the EEC in regard to regular medical checks of drivers and psychological character tests of new drivers.

The draft EEC Directive does not define the scope or nature of these checks and tests. I have already made clear that I have considerable reservations about these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that officers of his Department's area offices both issue directions to local planning authorities to refuse planning applications and deter mine appeals against those directions; and whether he will take action to separate such functions.

My right hon. and learned Friend is responsible for both highways and planning. His powers of direction concerning proposed development affecting a trunk road are exercised through the Regional Controller (Roads and Transportation). His decision upon planning appeals arising from such directions is given through the Regional Controller (Housing and Planning). The Department's procedures separate the highways and planning functions and ensure that decisions on planning appeals are reached with fairness, openness and impartiality.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what experiments have been conducted by his Department in the use of liquid gas as a replacement for petrol in the powering of motor vehicles.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has refused to permit Doncaster Corporation to build 53 retired person's bungalows at Hexthorpe, Doncaster: and if he will make a statement.

I should welcome the provision of more homes for the elderly, but unfortunately the council has not yet succeeded in obtaining a tender for this scheme at a reasonable price.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide for a separate section on Wales in the forthcoming report on railways policy.

I cannot anticipate my report to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to make a statement about the recent review of British Railways; and if he will publish a Green Paper outlining the alternative plans, and their viability, which he will have to consider.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield) on 18th April.—[Vol. 855, c. 479.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made in dealing with the problems caused by itinerant tinkers on the A41 where it runs through the district of the Bushey Urban District Council in the constituency of South West Hertfordshire.

The Department is pursuing its discussions with Hertfordshire County Council with a view to the provision of an alternative site and to the clearance of this stretch of the A41.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what plans he has to improve the model standards for residential caravan sites and to make them mandatory; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has consulted the bodies concerned on proposals for improving the model standards in so far as they relate to fire precautions. The Caravan Sites Act 1960 does not enable the model standards to be mandatory and I am not aware of a need for this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to local authorities in respect of policy towards squatters in homes owned by local authorities.

None. I am not convinced that local authorities need any guidance on the use of the powers already available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps designed to improve the standard of heat insulation in both old and new housing in view of the waste of heat and discomfort experienced under present standards.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mrs. Doris Fisher) on 9th May.—[Vol. 856, c. 704.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will suspend all work by his Department on the realignment of the A19 at Billingham until the Teesside County Borough Council has submitted to him the final draft of the Teesside Structure Plan.

No. Delay would be contrary to the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the number of multiple accidents caused by vehicles traveling too close together at high speeds, whether he will seek powers to make this practice illegal.

Those who ignore the advice on separation distances in the Highway Code may be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to authorise construction of a road of motorway standard to link the A102(M) and the A2(M).

There are proposals in the Greater London Development Plan to link the East Cross Route of Ring-way 1 with the improved A2 at Falcon-wood, but the Layfield Report has recommended further study of routes in this area, and these are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete the studies designed to formulate a total approach to the problems of the urban inner areas; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Cockeram) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek powers to control and speed up the collection and disposal of derelict cars in view of their danger to the public, especially children.

I see no need for any further powers for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will continue support for the 1973 "Learn to Swim" campaign, in view of the latest statistics of drowning, by encouraging the appropriate authorities to make their facilities available.

As in 1972, all local authorities have been told of the Government's strong endorsement of the campaign, details of which have been sent to them by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Local councils have been invited by the Home Office to support the campaign. The campaign will also be publicised on television.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the increasing world shortage of petroleum products; what the implications of this are for national transport policy; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot usefully add to my reply of 15th November last to the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes).—[Vol. 846, c. 412–13.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has been able to trace the letter sent to him by the hon. and learned Member for Ruislip-Northwood on 26th January 1973, relating to regulations about driving tests, following United Kingdom membership of the EEC and when the hon. and learned Member may expect a reply.

I have written to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the capital cost of building a Channel bridge as denned on page 27 of Command Paper No. 5256 of March 1973.

I have no reason to believe that the cost would be less than the estimates of double or more the cost of a bored tunnel put forward by the promoters of the various schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will describe the type and scale of freight services which he expects British Rail to provide under paragraph 4.12 of Command Paper No. 5256 of March 1973.

It will be for the British Railways Board and Freightliners Ltd. to formulate precise proposals but an indication of the possible scope for such services may be found on page 14 of the statement just issued by the British Channel Tunnel Company.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities were invited to make provision for computer-controlled traffic signal systems in May 1970; what replies were received from those who have not so far expressed an active interest; and if he will take further steps to interest these.

All highway authorities in England were invited to consider the provision of computer-controlled traffic signal systems. Some which appeared to satisfy the criteria are not, for a variety of reasons, taking this matter further at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have so far expressed an active interest in computer-controlled traffic signal systems; and what progress has been made towards the installation of systems in these areas.

The schedule below shows those local authorities which have expressed an active interest, and the progress made to date:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to correct delays of up to four weeks in issuing provisional driving licences following his decision to handle applications centrally and what delays he expects in the future.

The great majority of applications which were delayed as a result of the March strikes have now been cleared and the remainder should be cleared very shortly. Current applications for provisional licences are normally being cleared within 10 days. I expect this to be reduced to five days once the system is fully run in.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach agreement with the Institute of Trading Standards Administration concerning the accuracy of the mobile weighbridges recently purchased by the Department.

Three mobile weighbridges have been purchased. These are pilot production models which have already demonstrated an accuracy of ± 28 lb. in 16 tons. A revised specification which should meet the approval of weights and measures inspectors will be issued in June. Existing machines will be converted to the new specification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he had with British Rail before expressing the view in paragraph 4.4 in Command Paper No. 5256 of March 1973 that incoming vehicles on a Channel Tunnel ferry train could be loaded and unloaded in the average time of 10 minutes.

The tests were carried out on the basis of the specially designed wagons, of which there is no operational experience. British Railways accept the 10-minute estimate as reasonable but in current discussions are allowing for each train to stand at the platform for about 15 minutes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to publish the results of the present studies into the alternative proposals for a Channel Tunnel as described in paragraph 2.7 of Command Paper No. 5256 of March 1973.

I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind page 27 of the Green Paper. The further checking referred to in paragraph l(b) is about to be put in hand; the results will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the capital cost of building a Channel Tunnel as described in Command Paper No. 5256 of March 1973.

The British and French Channel Tunnel Companies have estimated the capital cost at £468 million in 1973 prices including an element for starting up costs but without interest during construction. £17 million of the increase over the 1972 cost is due to net changes in the scope and specifications of the works as the design has been completed, and almost all the rest to inflation and the adjustment of exchange parities. The United Kingdom share would be about one-half.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now raise the cost yardstick for council housing.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth (Mr. Sydney Chapman) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 10 United Kingdom ports which in 1972 had the largest turnover in roll-on/roll-off traffic; and what plans he has to link those 10 ports to the United Kingdom motorway system.

Figures for 1972 are not yet available. In 1971 the 10 United Kingdom ports which handled the largest tonnage of roll-on-/roll-off traffic were London, Dover, Southampton, Liverpool, Preston, Clyde, Hull, Immingham, Felix-stowe and Harwich. All these ports are expected to be connected by high-quality links to the national strategic trunk road network by 1978, and in most cases well before then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received an application for a provisional driving licence from Mrs. Jean Hill of 85 Bury New Road, Ramsbottom, Lancashire; on what date it was received; why it was necessary for her to send two further letters to expedite its issue; why two replies from Swansea were required to advise on non-issue; and when this provisional driving licence will now be issued.

Mrs. Hill's application was received on 5th March; her licence was issued on 9th May, the delay being due to a strike at the driver and vehicle licensing centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the allocation of grants for the extension of uneconomic lines by the Hydro-Electric Board in Northern Scotland.

The provision of supplies of electricity to rural and Island communities in its district is a matter for the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, and the cost of its rural electrification programme is met in the same way as its other capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary school pupils and how many secondary school pupils are suspended from school in Scotland because of unruly behaviour; what are the numbers for Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow; what advice he is giving to education committees; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available centrally. I am aware of the problem and am considering whether there is any action which I could usefully take with a view to offering advice to education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken, or intends to take, to safeguard the environment in Scotland consequent on the exploitation of North Sea oil.

Existing planning procedures enable environmental considerations to be fully taken into account in relation to particular proposals, and the advice of the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy is available to local planning authorities. More generally I have commissioned a number of studies of special environmental problems, and I intend to commission others when they are needed to guide decision making. In exercising his new responsibility my noble Friend the Minister of State will be able to advise on any further measures that may be needed to achieve a proper balance between development and conservation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider issuing a quarterly economic bulletin on the effect of North Sea oil on the Scottish economy.

The Scottish Economic Bulletin is normally published twice yearly. The effect of North Sea oil developments upon the Scottish economy will be covered in it as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were injured in road accidents in Scotland in each of the past five years.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms of consulting engineers are available in connection with new water schemes for Scotland; and whether the water boards, where Scottish engineers appear incapable of carrying out their undertakings, can seek help in England.

Information is not available centrally as to the number of firms which undertake work of this kind. 11—including two based in England—are regularly engaged on water supply schemes in Scotland. The choice of consultants is a matter for the water board concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to reduce tax avoidance or evasion, he will seek power to require companies registered in the United Kingdom to publish details of all directors' emoluments paid in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere outside the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is already considering the question of the disclosure of directors' emoluments. As far as tax avoidance and evasion is concerned, the Inland Revenue as a matter of course makes full investigations into the possible use of artificial devices to minimise tax liability. I am considering whether further action may be necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the accumulated losses of State corporations since 1946.

I take my hon. Friend's reference to the State corporations to mean the nationalised industries as listed in Table 2.8 of last year's Public Expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 5778, and their predecessor bodies.The annual accounts of these bodies to the end of 1971–72—end-December 1971 for transport industries—as pre- sented to Parliament, show that over the whole period since 1946, after excluding grants from the Government to meet deficits incurred on current account, they made a total surplus of £1,750 million, offset by total deficits of £2,430 million, giving a net deficit of £680 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publicise the way ratepayers can appeal against assessment of rateable value, and state whether such an appeal will put them to further expense; and whether the appeal is heard by a court or a panel and the extent to which such proceedings are rigid and final.

This information is published in a pamphlet "Your Rates in 1973" prepared by the Department of the Environment in conjunction with the Inland Revenue Valuation Office, and is available free from any local valuation office or rating authority. A dispute about a rating assessment which cannot be settled by agreement will go in the first instance to the local valuation court which charges no fees and awards no costs. From there it may go to the Lands Tribunal or, on a point of law, to the Court of Appeal and House of Lords.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) assuming corporation tax on the basis and at the rate proposed for 1974–75, what would be the net cost to employers in the aggregate of an increase in their pension contributions of £40 million a year gross;(2) assuming total contributions from employers and employees to the proposed reserve pension scheme of £320 million a year in respect of 7 million employees of whom 5½ million pay tax at the basic rate, what is the net cost to employees in the aggregate of contributions at the rate of 2 per cent. with tax relief and 1½ per cent. without tax relief, respectively; and what is his estimate of the total gain to the revenue by changing from the first to the second arrangement.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual surplus or deficit on the current account of the balance of payments in the periods 1965–66, 1967–70 and 1971–72.

The requisite information is published in Table 2 of the article on the United Kingdom balance of payments in Economic Trends of March 1973.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage and money value changes in the average retail prices of the 80 important items of food collected for the purpose of the retail food prices index between July 1970 and the latest date for which prices are available.

The following table shows the percentage and money value changes in the average retail prices of about 80 important items of food, as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, between 21st July 1970 and 20th March 1973, the latest date for which information is available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the cost of the Civil Service, excluding the Post Office, in each of the past five years.

The provision for Civil Service wages and salaries in annual Supply Estimates, including Supplementary Estimates, was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 15,487 children awaiting admission to special schools in England and Wales as at 1st January 1972 will be accommodated as a result of the improved allocation for special school buildings announced in the White Paper, "A Framework for Expansion".

The new places provided in the accelerated building programmes for special schools should substantially exceed that total. There is, however, no direct correlation between the present waiting list and the future demand for special school places. The balance of provision between handicaps will be related to need.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that the present categories of SSN and ESN schools cater most effectively for the variety of children who qualify for admission to them.

Provision for severely mentally handicapped children, now known as the ESN (Severe), is at present almost always in separate schools. A few special schools however exist or are being planned for both groups of ESN children in two departments. The educational needs of the two groups tend to differ, and a range of experiments is desirable to determine how far provision for them can be integrated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the criteria for determining that a child is in need of special education; and whether she is satisfied that they are sufficiently all-embracing.

It is for local education authorities to determine which children in their areas are in need of special education. They generally do so on the basis of special examinations. The Department, in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Security, intends in due course to issue guidance to authorities on the assessment of handicapped children. This will draw attention to the need for a broadly-based appraisal of medical, psychological, educational and social factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action, if any, she intends to take on the Ralphs Report about the functions and training of education welfare officers; and if she will make a statement.

I understand that this is a report made by a working party set up by the Local Government Training Board, and that its recommendations are being considered by that board.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, with a view to exercising her powers to enforce trusts, she will investigate the European Educational Research Trust, Registered No. U3060Z, to determine whether it is in breach of its objects; and if she will inform the House of the outcome of such investigations.

I assume that the Question relates to newspaper reports that the trust has guaranteed to pay £35,000 of the expenses of the Congress of Europe held at the Guildhall. I am informed that no such guarantee has been given and no question therefore arises of any breach of trust.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons, by sex, were unemployed in the Easington constituency; what percentage this represents; and what is the national percentage of unemployed disabled people, at the latest available date.

On 10th April 1973 there were 425 registered disabled people, 393 men and 32 women, unemployed in the Easington constituency; they represented 18·7 per cent. of the total register, compared with a national unemployment rate among registered disabled people of 13·0 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions Southern Rhodesian citizens are now admitted to the United Kingdom.

Citizens of Southern Rhodesia are dealt with in accordance with the immigration rules and the Southern Rhodesia (Immigration Act 1971) Order 1972, and in the light of all the relevant circumstances of their case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, upon what basis Mr. Peter Niesewand was admitted to the United Kingdom; and whether he is subject to immigration control.

On arrival on 4th May Mr. Niesewand was given leave to enter the United Kingdom for 12 months as a self-employed person. He did not claim to be patrial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for dangerous driving in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.

Following are the figures for England and Wales:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for dangerous driving in Cheadle rural district in each of the past five years.

There were no convictions of dangerous driving at the Cheadle Magistrates' Court in 1970, and two in 1971. Figures for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, and the 1972 figure is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that recruitment to the Metropolitan Police is being inhibited by the inadequate rent allowance for London; and if he will take steps to remove this disincentive.

The maximum limit of rent allowance for the Metropolitan Police is under review at the present time in accordance with principles established in a Police Council agreement; detailed negotiations with the Metropolitan Joint Branch Board of the Police Federation are necessary and have already begun.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to prevent private security organisations from issuing their employees with uniforms that are almost identical to those issued to police officers; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) yesterday.—[Vol. 856 c. 288.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the fact that the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is advertising for experienced detective constables in England and Wales to take up temporary engagements of six months with the RUC under Section 2 of the Police Act 1969, what arrangements exist for the protection of the pension and other rights of such police officers in their normal places of employment; and if he will make a statement.

Section 2 of the Police Act 1969 confers an entitlement to revert to the home police force and preserves promotion rights. While serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, an officer is entitled to benefit under the Royal Ulster Constabulary pension scheme and arrangements are made by the payment of a transfer value, for service in the home police force to be reckonable. Similarly, on return to a home police force all previous service, including that in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, is reckonable. I understand that amendments are to be made to the Royal Ulster Constabulary pension scheme, similar to those recently made to the Great Britain scheme, and that they will be retrospective to 1st April 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details known to him of British journalists arrested, interrogated, detained, restricted, convicted of offences, imprisoned and set at liberty, respectively, in Rhodesia since UDI.

Among United Kingdom citizens working primarily as journalists in Rhodesia we know of three arrests, three interrogations by the security forces, one detention, no restrictions, one conviction upheld on appeal, one imprisonment and one release since UDI. But our information is not necessarily comprehensive. We also know that a number of other journalists who have been working for the British media in Rhodesia or are British subjects by virtue of their Rho-desian citizenship have undergone some of these experiences since UDI, but we do not have authoritative information about their cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent talks with representatives of the Spanish Government on the future of Gibraltar.

My talks with the Spanish Foreign Minister on 8th and 9th May marked a further stage in the series of conversations we have been holding. Sr. Lopez Bravo also called on my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.On Gibraltar, the Spanish Foreign Minister and I recognised that we had been unable to make progress as we would have wished towards a resolution of our differences. We have agreed to continue to examine the problem patiently and constructively. To this end I shall in due course be getting in touch with Sr. Lopez Bravo again.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average price for new and old houses in Northern Ireland in June 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively.

An overall average price is not available, but the following table sets out the average prices of new and old houses in Northern Ireland mortgaged to a leading building society in the second quarters of 1970, 1971 and 1972:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations either oral or written he has received from individuals and organisations in Northern Ireland since March 1972 advocating the abolition of the death penalty for capital murder.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested by my hon. and gallant Friend. Since 1st January 1973, representations have been received from at least seven organisations and from a number of individuals, seeking the abolition of the death penalty for capital murder.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been convicted of capital murder in Northern Ireland; how many of these have been reprieved; and how many executed in each year since 1945.

Since 1945, 10 people have been convicted in Northern Ireland on a charge of murder for which a capital sentence was imposed. Two were executed, both in 1961, and eight reprieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of medical graduates who have left Northern Ireland in each of the past three years to take up appointments in other parts of the United Kingdom or abroad.

I regret that this information cannot be provided without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) under what terms and conditions of employment police officers are recruited from constabularies in England and Wales for temporary engagements with the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and in what respect these terms and conditions of employment differ from those of permanent officers of the RUC;(2) if the status of police officers from constabularies in England and Wales taking up temporary engagements in the Royal Ulster Constabulary is that of members of the RUC or of the forces from which they were recruited.

The arrangements for the employment of police officers from constabularies in England and Wales for a period of service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary are made under the provisions of the Police Act 1969. Whilst they are serving with the Royal Ulster Constabulary their terms and conditions of employment are the same as those of permanent officers of that force.