asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest information on the condition of the Biharis in Bangladesh; and whether he will make a statement.

Reports received from the High Commission in Dacca last week indicate that the security and freedom of movement of the Biharis continue to improve. Their living conditions and food, although poor, are no worse than those of many Bangalees. The Biharis' main problem is in finding work, but in this field also some improvements are taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by foreign and Commonwealth Governments consequent upon the interim injunction against nuclear testing, granted by the International Court against France on 22nd June; and if he will make a statement.

The New Zealand Prime Minister has sent a message to all Heads of Government of States members of the United Nations, including my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, requesting their support for New Zealand in its opposition to French nuclear tests. No other representations have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what criteria Her Majesty's Government decide upon the de jure recognition of foreign ré gimes.

For de jure recognition a Government must be held to enjoy, with a reasonable prospect of permanency, the obedience of the mass of the population and the effective control of much the greater part of the national territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as during the first four months of 1973 members of the Nigerian High Commission have been guilty of 1,276 parking offences for which the High Commissioner has claimed diplomatic immunity, and as this figure is 779 more than that for any other embassy or high commission, what requests he has made to the High Commissioner of Nigeria that his staff should conform to the parking regulations in the United Kingdom.

We have written to the High Commissioner twice during the last few months and are now in touch with him again in an effort to resolve this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy as to the individual responsibility of members of the Southern Rhodesian regime regarding illegal executions of members of the Zimbabwe Liberation Movement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 28th March.—[Vol. 853, c. 340.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that certain supplies of educational equipment, namely, training manuals and badges, for St. John Ambulance Brigade in Rhodesia, are being held up because of the sanctions; whether he will take steps to release this equipment because of its educational character; and whether he will say when the equipment will be sent out.

I understand that a licence to export St. John Ambulance Brigade badges, etc., to Rhodesia was issued by the Department of Trade and Industry to the brigade on 5th March. There are no outstanding applications. Training manuals may be exported to Rhodesia without restriction although Bank of England approval is necessary if their value exceeds £10. This was explained to the brigade last year. If my hon. Friend will let me have the details of the problem in this case, I will look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any further information on the whereabouts of Mr. Gerald Hawkesworth, and what steps he is taking to obtain his release.

We have been in touch with the authorities in countries neighbouring Rhodesia about Mr. Hawkesworth, but have not yet been able to establish his whereabouts. The position thus remains as set out in the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 15th May.—[Vol. 856, c. 296.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the fact that in a recent week over 100 EEC directives, proposals, draft Council decisions, Official Journals, working documents, draft regulations and explanatory statements on draft instruments were issued in a wide range of subjects, if he will press for action to make such publications more readily available for the public, in view of the fact that ignorance of the law is no reason for not complying with it.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 5th February.—[Vol. 850, c. 75.]I welcome the growing interest in the acquisition of Community documentation by institutions such as public libraries, universities, polytechnics, professional associations and the legal professions. Her Majesty's Government continue to encourage this interest.I would also draw the hon. Member's attention to the fact that legally binding instruments constitute only a small proportion of the material to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Govern- ment will now institute discussions with local authorities in the North East about the working of the housing cost yardstick system.

My Department is already in close touch with the local authority associations on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local housing authorities in England and Wales have made representations to him asking for a review of the unit cost yardstick.

Representations on this matter have come to me mainly through the local authority associations with which discussions are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the steps now being taken to improve procedures and to avoid delay in the approval and payment of grants towards the cost of providing services for new industrial development.

The grants for which I am responsible under the Local Employment Act 1972 contribute towards the cost of providing water and sewerage services and roads for new industrial development. There are many applications for these grants, some of them raise difficult issues and each one has to be considered on its merits. The Departments concerned have been carrying out a review of the need for clearer and more uniform grant procedures. The review should be completed in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, after he has received and published all reports on the tunnel project carried out on both sides of the Channel including the Monopolies Commission report on cross-Channel ferry services, what period will be allowed for hon. Members to study and evaluate these reports before any final decision or commitment to the French is made.

The full report of the joint studies with all its appendices has been placed in the Library. I have nothing to add to what I said on timing on 15 th June. The economic, financial and cost-benefit studies were based on the costs of the sea ferries, not current fares, so the report of the Monopolies Commission will not affect their results.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average mortgage for the latest convenient date; and what was the minimum weekly wage necessary to obtain such a mortgage.

The average building society mortgage advance in the United Kingdom was £5,997 in the first quarter of 1973. The minimum income necessary to obtain a mortgage of this size depends upon the lending policies of the individual building society concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has considered the Report and Accounts 1972 of the British Railways Board; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am considering these in the course of the rail policy review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the working of the fixed price contract system in local authority housing.

The firm price policy is kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding the elimination of lead from petrol used by motor vehicles in the light of the recommendations in the environmental action programme of the Commission of the EEC.

To achieve by the end of 1975 the reductions in the lead content of petrol already announced for the United Kingdom and to review by that date what further steps are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to transfer his power to decide the provision of zebra crossings and speed limits (except on motorways) to local highway authorities.

No. Local authorities already have considerable powers in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the criteria for pelican pedestrian crossings set out in Appendix 1 to circular Roads No. 20/68.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his most recent assessment as to the relative safety merits of zebra crossings and pelican crossings.

Studies show that at 28 sites where pelicans replaced zebras, accidents have fallen on average by 60 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be examining the responsibilities and functions of the Forestry Commission and of planning authorities in regard to the environmental aspects of private forestry.

I am already considering with my colleagues the best way of dealing with the environmental aspects of private forestry and we shall be discussing the matter further with the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not approve building for sale schemes if they are to be carried out by local authority direct labour organisations.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend to a similar Question by the right hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 23rd May.—[Vol. 857, c. 461–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the shortage of plaster and plasterboard products for the building industry; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this.

I am aware that there are shortages of plaster and plasterboard. The manufacturers have increased production and are bringing new capacity into operation shortly. They are hopeful that shortages will not long continue if, as expected, demand stays at the present level. I am keeping the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions are taking place between his Department and interested parties on the possible effect of a world oil shortage, on the formulation of transport policies for the United Kingdom, bearing in mind current developments in the United States of America.

The implications of a possible world oil shortage are amongst the more important considerations in any current discussions on transport policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, where planning consents for the exploitation of sand and gravel and the reinstatement of the land make no provision for a time limit, he will seek powers to enable him to impose one in the interests of the environment.

The Committee on Minerals Planning Control, under the chairmanship of Sir Roger Stevens, is currently examining the operation of planning control over surface mineral working. My right hon. and learned Friend proposes to await its report before considering whether changes are desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authori- ties encouraging the sale on a co-ownership or condominium basis of blocks of council flats to their tenants, together with a model scheme of operation.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his suggestion, which I shall take into account in considering whether further advice to local authorities on the sale of council dwellings should be issued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the current average weekly net unrebated council house rent in England and Wales.

About £3–40.

asked the Secretary oi State for the Environment under what circumstances a canvas tent has to be classed as a "building" for building regulation purposes.

The application of the Building Regulations in any particular case is a matter for the local authority concerned. The Secretary of State's powers of interpretation are limited to matters referred to him for formal determination under Section 67 of the Public Health Act 1936 and no application referring to a canvas tent has ever been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department has taken to encourage the export of "Airdomes" in response to inquiries from overseas authorities and others in the United States of America, Australia and South Africa about the safety and fireproof characteristics of these devices.

My Department has had no inquiries from overseas authorities about the safety and fireproof characteristics of "Airdomes". I understand that the Department of Trade and Industry has received inquiries from overseas purchasers on other aspects of inflatable buildings and has referred them to the manufacturers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the increase in the index of retail housing prices for new and second-hand houses for the years 1964 to June 1970, and from June 1970 to date.

An index of new house prices between 1964 and 1972 is contained in Table 3 of Housing and Construction Statistics No. 4. No index is published for second-hand houses but prices for such houses between 1966 and 1972 can be found in Table 44 of Housing Statistics No. 24 and Table 38 of Housing and Construction Statistics No. 4. Copies of these documents are in the Library. Information on new and second-hand house prices in the first quarter of 1973 was given in my reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 20th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with housing committee chairmen his policy on using compulsory purchase orders in Inner London boroughs.

The Government have already explained, in their White Paper on "Better Homes—-The Next Priorities"(Cmnd. 5339), the circumstances in which they are prepared to look sympathetically on the use of compulsory purchase powers. But, since my right hon. and learned Friend has to decide individual applications on the merits of each case, it would not be appropriate for him to engage in any detailed discussions which might be held to prejudice his decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now completed his consultations with the Home Office, the joint fire prevention committee councils and the local authority associations on model standards for fire safety on residential caravan sites; and if he will make a statement.

The views of the local authority associations and other interested organisations on draft model standards under die Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 in relation to fire precautions are being considered. My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to specify model standards on this aspect shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities now classify non-rigid transparent plastic air-pressure supported covers as a "building" for building regulation purposes.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the form of a table any information available to him which shows, for the county of Hampshire as a whole, the number of cases in which the actual rate demands made on domestic ratepayers have increased by 0–9-9 per cent., 10–19–9 per cent., 20–29–9 per cent., 30–39–9 per cent., 40–49–9 per cent. and over 50 per cent., by comparison with comparable figures for the rest of England and Wales.

This information is not available centrally. Records of individual rate demands are retained by the rating authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to permit his Department to exercise supervision over the expenditure of taxpayers' money by local authorities in carrying out modernisation of council houses.

Under already existing powers it is a condition, when a Government contribution in respect of improvements to council dwellings is claimed, that the records and dwellings concerned shall be open to inspection, if required, by an officer of the Department. This power is, however, held in reserve. Local authorities are responsible bodies which can be relied upon to ensure that improvement works are properly carried out and must, in fact, certify to that effect in making a claim for a Government contribution. I would accordingly be reluctant to intervene further unless there are wholly exceptional features in any particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage starts in the building of council houses have changed between the year ended 31st May 1973 and the previous 12 months.

Local authority dwellings started in Great Britain during the year ended 31st May 1973 were 13 per cent. fewer than in the previous 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask the Motor Insurers' Bureau to expedite the settlement of compensation claims dealt with by it in the light of the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Smethwick.

I am studying the hon. Member's evidence and will write to him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the Government have taken to see that the accepted recommendations of the final report on non-scheme ports and wharves are implemented.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has written to the 46 undertakings mentioned in the report and is hopeful that local negotiations will result in implementation of the recommendations for elimination of casual labour and for improvements in the terms and conditions of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding building society mortgage interest rates.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have met representatives of the Building Societies Association to review with them the current position and the longer-term arrangements now under discussion between the Government Departments concerned and the association. The Government are keeping in touch with the association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what efforts have been made by his Department to inform the residents of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire in the new county of Avon that the new Bristol District Council will not have the same resources as the present Bristol City Council;(2) what money was spent by his Department in publicising the formation and functions of the new county of Avon;(3) how much money was spent by his Department in publicising the reorganisation of local government generally and for the county, metropolitan and county district elections, respectively.

The local authority associations and my Department have agreed that the main measures for informing the public about local government reorganisation should be undertaken locally by the individual local authority itself, backed by the resources of the local Government information office, my Department contributing a national programme of Press advertising. Under this arrangement my Department has so far spent £75,000: £38,470 at the time of the county elections; £12,660 at the time of the metropolitan district elections; and £24,370 at the time of the non-metropolitan district elections.My Department's advertising was not specifically related to reorganisation in individual local authority areas. This is a matter for the local authorities themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the change in method of numbering telephone points on the Ml motorway, from a chronological sequence to four-figured identification, being a difference of 16 between the final two digits on most occasions but 17 on random occasions; what views were sought from the recovery service before the change was made; and why it was made.

The change is being made to enable the telephone facilities to be improved at a later date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the number of driving test examiners employed at Paisley and Renfrew and the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

	Paisley	Renfrew
June 1973	4	—
June 1972	4	—
June 1971	4	—
June 1970	2	2
June 1969	3	2
June 1968	3	3

Renfrew became an "occasional" centre in May 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the provisions of the Highways (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1961 in so far as they concern the right of members of the public to sue highway authorities for injury or damage to property.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of the extent to which individuals are deterred from pursuing claims against highway authorities for injury or damage under the Highways Acts by virtue of the fact that such claims are often handled by highway authority insurers.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice he has given to water undertakers with water orders pending;

I assume that the Questions relate to applications for orders under Section 40 of the Water Act 1945 relating to water rates and charges.Ten applications are outstanding, eight from water undertakers and two from groups of consumers. Six water undertakers have been told that, as they do not appear to intend to change their charges before 1st April 1974, from which date under the Water Bill now before Parliament the section is proposed to be repealed, the Secretary of State will formally reject their applications if the Bill reaches the statute book without amendment in any relevant particular. The six are Tees Valley and Cleveland, Higham Ferrers and Rushden, Rugby, Lune Valley, Calder and North Lindsey Water Boards.One of the groups of consumers, whose application relates to the North West Leicestershire Water Board, has also been told that, if the Bill is enacted without amendment, any order would be nugatory.No water undertaker has withdrawn an application in the past 12 months. Formal applications have been received within the past few days from the city of Liverpool and the Bristol Water Works Company.The remaining application, from the second group of consumers, affects the Dorset Water Board, and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the construction and use regulations to permit the new no-burst tyres to be fitted to motor vehicles.

The regulations would only need amendment to permit the use of such tyres in a deflated condition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were completed in the public and private sector in the parliamentary constituency of South Bedfordshire excluding the county borough of Luton in 1972; and what were the figures for 1970.

In 1972 there were 153 reported dwelling completions in the public sector and 761 for the private sector. Corresponding figures for 1970 were 147 and 701.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in detail how the £600 million cut in expenditure on roads will affect road schemes in the parliamentary constituency of South Bedfordshire, excluding the county borough of Luton.

As my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn) on Tuesday 3rd July made clear, the recently announced cuts in expenditure will not affect trunk road schemes in this area.I am still reviewing the implications for the principal road programme. It will be for local authorities to decide how to find the necessary savings on other road expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to enable voluntary organisations which help battered wives and children to become housing associations.

Any organisation, including one of the sort described in the hon. Member's Question and which complies with the definition in the Housing Act 1957, can readily become a housing association and the Housing Corporation is ready to advise on any procedural steps needed. Since there are, however, already a great many housing associations catering for a wide variety of persons, organisations contemplating housing provision may prefer to obtain the assistance of an existing housing association with an established structure for housing management.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the future for the prevention of oil pollution on the beaches.

An effective early warning system already is in operation, whereby ships and aircraft report oil seen floating on the sea. These messages are relayed through the Coastguard network to all the relevant authorities in the area likely to be affected. Detailed arrangements also provide for the treatment of substantial spillages of oil while still on the sea to prevent this reaching the beaches so far as this is practicable having regard to the amount of warning received, weather conditions and the hours of daylight remaining. Sea-going tugs are ready at 30 selected ports round the coast for this purpose and are fitted with special oil dispersal equipment. Local authorities are responsible for inshore waters up to about a mile from shore.Research into new methods of prevention continue such as in the development of a suitable, easily manoeuvrable boom for containing oil in open sea conditions and in trials on a chemical suitable for spraying on the sea and also on the beaches to prevent the incoming oil from settling on the beach material. Local authorities are advised when new equipment and materials become available which will result in more effective prevention and disposal methods for dealing with oil pollution.In the international context an international marine pollution conference is to be held in London in October to consider strengthening the existing provisions relating to accidental and operational discharge of oil at sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he proposes to make for compensation in respect of the present oil slick affecting the beaches on North Lincolnshire.

A claim will be made for reimbursement of local authority costs under the Tanker Owners Voluntary Agreement concerning Liability for Oil Pollution (TOVALOP). This agreement provides that participating tanker owners will reimburse national Governments—including local authorities—for expenses reasonably incurred in clearing oil pollution as a result of negligent discharge of oil from one of their tankers. In the absence of reimbursement from the oil industry in any particular case local authority expenditure would fall to be dealt with under the 50 per cent. grant arrangements set out in Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular No. 34/68 (Welsh Office Circular No. 29/68).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what comments he received on the recent public exhibition of the proposals for the redevelopment of Wellington Barracks; and whether he will make a statement.

The exhibition which was arranged by the Property Services Agency was seen by nearly 5,000 people including members of the planning committee of Westminster City Council and of various amenity groups for which two special evening sessions were arranged. Westminster City Council has received

					Tests conducted		Waiting period (weeks)
					Paisley	Renfrew	Paisley	Renfrew
Year ending 31st May
1969	…	…	…	…	4,107	4, 399	4	6
1970	…	…	…	…	4,934	3, 886	8	7
1971	…	…	…	…	4,751	3, 464	7	4
1972	…	…	…	…	4,348	2, 935	4	4
1973	…	…	…	…	5,077	3, 136	9	9

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, following representations made to him, if he will exempt from VAT the National Federation of Eighteen Plus Groups of Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles) on 22nd May.—[Vol. 857, c. 66.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been received for VAT registration from people proposing to build their own house, or extensions to an existing house: and how many of such applications have been accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many driving tests have been conducted from the test centres at Paisley and Renfrew over each of the last five years; what is the present waiting time; and what was the comparable waiting time at the same date over each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of VAT on those building their own house, or extensions to an existing house.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies on 1st February and 19th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Loveridge).—[Vol. 849, c. 433; Vol. 851, c. 9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to supply the information asked for on 16th April 1973 on United Kingdom investment in the original six countries of the EEC and their investment in the United Kingdom during the calendar year 1972.

It is impossible to give precise figures. Reasonably accurate figures for direct investment—excluding oil—will not be available until April 1974, though some rough estimates can be made now. Moreover, inward portfolio investment includes a very large element—£142 million in 1972—for company issues abroad which cannot be analysed by country of investor. Consequently it is possible to give orders of magnitude only. Thus outward investment, excluding oil, may have been of the order of £450 million, and inward investment, excluding oil, will have been somewhere in the range of £40 million to £190 million. Most of the outward investment was financed either from reinvested profits or from foreign currency borrowing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances interest obtained from investment in a building society is subject to taxation.

Interest from investment in a building society is, like other forms of income, liable to tax. The investor, however, does not himself have to pay any basic rate tax; instead the society accounts for the tax direct to the Inland Revenue at, for the most part, a special composite rate calculated to yield as nearly as possible the same amount as if tax had been deducted from the interest at the basic rate and those investors not liable to tax had claimed refunds. Investors liable at the higher rates of tax are required to pay tax at those rates on the gross equivalent of the interest they receive, but are given credit for the corresponding basic rate tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the proposed amended EEC directive withdrawing relief from turnover taxes and excise duties from goods supplied to travellers between EEC States.

The Government consider it premature at this stage to lay down a timetable for the withdrawal of duty- and tax-free facilities from travellers between EEC countries, which must depend on progress towards harmonisation of the levels of indirect taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the money supply, according to the Ml and M3 definitions, respectively, in the latest period of three months for which the information is available, measured at an annual rate; which of these two definitions is currently preferred by Her Majesty's Government; and whether this increase conformed to the monetary policy of Her Majesty's Government.

In the three months to mid-May, Ml grew at an annual rate of 19 per cent. and M3 at an annual rate of 12 per cent. It is necessary to look at both measures of money supply rather than one alone, and indeed at the whole range of monetary indicators. Both Ml and M3 have fluctuated widely in recent months; nevertheless, after making allowance for these short-term fluctuations my right hon. Friend is at present broadly satisfied with the development of the monetary aggregates.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce the arrangements for regional economic aid agreed between Her Majesty's Government and the EEC.

The Regional Development Fund is to be set up by the end of this year but I cannot forecast when it will be possible to announce details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of recoverable reserves of natural gas from the Scottish sector of the North Sea Continental Shelf.

As I said in my recent report to Parliament on production and reserves of oil and gas on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, the scale of future gas finds in the offshore areas of Scotland cannot at present be predicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish

		1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	'000sq.ft. Total
Planning Region:
England	…	1,032	757	1,095	661	416	3,961
Northern	…	942	637	742	525	239	3,085
North West	…	53	82	353	85	18	591
South West	…	37	38	Nil	51	56	182
East Midlands	…	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	18	18
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	85	85
Wales	…	964	728	715	508	383	3,298
Scotland	…	515	513	507	793	376	2,704

The details given relate to Department of Trade and Industry factory building completed. Information about other factory building is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value, respectively, of food imports into Scotland and food exports from Scotland.

The information is not available. The overseas trade statistics are compiled for the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average annual number of firms that have come into Wales in the period 1970 to 1973; and what was the annual average in 1966 to 1969.

For 1970–72 the annual average was 35. Complete information for 1973 is not available. For 1966–69 the average was 41. For some months now unemployment has been falling in Wales and the number of unfilled vacancies has been increasing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to implement the EEC directive on the fibre content labelling.

Legislation is being prepared to implement the directive which I hope to present to the House later this year. Consultations on detailed provisions are currently taking place with a table showing the amount of new and modernised factory space constructed in each United Kingdom planning region in each of the past five years.

Following is the information.interested organisations in the United Kingdom and in Brussels. The Government are concerned that the textile industry and the public should have ample notice of the new labelling requirements, and there will be a transitional period before they are brought fully into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make provisions to protect and compensate the small investor in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.

I have been asked to reply.No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sums of Government finance in the categories which it is the practice to disclose are involved in Marwin Machine Tools Limited; whether he is aware that this company is in the process of being taken over; and what plans the company has disclosed to the Government to safeguard the interests of employees.

A £1–5 million investment in the form of loans to Marwin (Holdings) Ltd., the parent company of Marwin Machine Tools Ltd., originally advanced in 1970 by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation is vested in the Secretary of State. I am aware that the company is in the process of being acquired by Kearney & Trecker Ltd. The companies have undertaken to hold the fullest consultations with employee representatives and unions on the consequences of this rationalisation and reconstruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the itemised figures of Government support and assistance, whether in the form of loans, subsidies or grants made available to the 50 leading defence contractors, for the last three years for which figures are available.

Defence contractors are eligible on the same basis as other firms for investment grants under

Contractor		1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd.	…	£7,500,000	£2,500,000	—
		(IRC Loan)	(Loan—IRC commitment)
Laird Group	…	£2,595,000	—	—
		(IRC Loan)
		£1,225,000
		(IRC Share purchase)
		£1,500,001
		(Grant)
Rolls Royce and RR (71) Ltd.	…	£30,000,000	£20,000,000	—
		(Purchase of assets)	(Share purchase)
		£50,000	£5,000,000
		(Loan)	(Loan)
		£10,000,000
		(IRC Loan)
Short Bros, and Harland Ltd.	…	£1,300,000	—	—
		(Loan)
Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd.	…	£552,000	£1,055,000	—
		(SIB Grant)	(SIB Grant)
Vickers Ltd	…	£140,000	£27,457	—
		(Grant)	(Grant)
Vosper Ltd	…	£89,000	—	—
		(SIB Grant)
Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Ltd.	…	£96,344	£153,179	—
		(SIB Grant)	(SIB Grant)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the latest steps he is taking to overcome the newsprint shortage, which is affecting industry in general and causing hardship in a number of companies.

I am continuing to watch the situation closely. I understand that the arrangements made by the newspaper industry are working satisfactorily. As I indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) on 15th June, any newspaper which is experiencing real difficulties should con- the Industrial Development Act 1966 and, if they are located in the assisted areas, for assistance under the Local Employment Acts and Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 and for regional development grants. Details of assistance under these schemes to individual firms are not readily available and would also raise issues of commercial confidence.Details of other assistance made available over the three financial years to 31st March 1973 to the contractors listed in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence today are as follows:tact the United Kingdom Newsprint Users Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much aid the United Kingdom expects to receive for retraining and improving the conditions of migrant workers under the EEC Social Affairs Budget in the year 1973–74.

The Government have made an initial application for approximately £31 million. Of this total roughly £2 million is for assistance to workers who transfer to employment away from their homes in the United Kingdom. A further £23 million is for retraining schemes in assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the insured male and female labour force in United Kingdom

	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
Males								'000
South-East	4,962	4,999	5,007	4,929	4,841	4,742	4,681	4,695
East Anglia	404	406	404	406	411	418	388	391
South-West	866	865	854	847	838	827	845	841
West Midlands	1,523	1,522	1,492	1,487	1,481	1,462	1,442	1,447
East Midlands	928	923	925	910	904	910	885	909
Yorkshire and Humberside	1, 358	1, 363	1, 348	1,326	1,314	1,301	1,279	1,275
North-West	1,891	1,883	1,858	1,833	1,834	1,805	1,783	1,781
North	891	886	878	875	859	863	836	841
Wales	690	679	678	665	656	642	629	642
Scotland	1,385	1,383	1,374	1,341	1,344	1,345	1,303	1,296
Northern Ireland	315	319	321	322	323	321	322	326
Females
South-East	3,013	3,094	3,042	3,048	3,019	3,019	2,984	3,046
East Anglia	212	211	219	221	230	230	228	244
South-West	481	484	478	472	484	488	499	517
West Midlands	850	833	830	828	838	844	836	851
East Midlands	506	518	506	513	523	525	524	524
Yorkshire and Humberside	749	767	757	750	749	747	735	753
North-West	1,174	1,171	1,150	1,138	1,153	1,140	1,120	1,124
North	452	467	461	457	470	480	473	480
Wales	327	331	323	324	341	335	341	355
Scotland	839	852	836	857	860	853	858	870
Northern Ireland	191	197	198	201	201	205	201	209

The estimates from September 1969 contain improved information about the location of employees in distributive trades and are not strictly comparable with those for September 1968 and earlier dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the study of discrimination against women being carried out in his Department will cover professional as well as industrial and commercial employment.

My Department's study covers all types and aspects of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what decision he has made following representations about the establishment of a community industry team in the area of Greenock and district.

A community industry team to provide places for 50 young people is to be set up to serve the Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock areas in the near future. This will increase the number of places provided under the scheme in Scotland to 450.

The following table shows the estimated number of employees, employed and unemployed, in September each year:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish a local office of the Department in the Northolt—Greenford area of Middlesex to meet the needs of that area.

My Department is already seeking suitable premises in Northolt and Greenford with a view to opening a job centre in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits in industry and commerce for unskilled and semi-skilled alien men from all countries, other than the European Economic Community, Norway and Denmark, were issued during 1972; if he will list the categories for which they were issued; how many permits for skilled work were issued for aliens from those countries during the same period; and if he will list the categories of work for which they were issued.

A total of 21,962 permits were issued for foreigners—other than those from the EEC, Norway and Denmark—to take work in industry and commerce in 1972. An estimate of the division into the categories required is set out below:

	Semi-skilled and unskilled men	Skilled men and women
Hotel and catering industry	2,566	1,721
Entertainments industry	—	5,002
Remainder of industry and commerce	—	5,400
Total	2,566	12,123

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers are employed in the wool textile industry in the West Riding; and what were the corresponding figures in June 1972, 1971 and 1970, respectively.

The latest date for which figures are available is June 1971 when there were 83,000 people employed in the wool textile industry. The comparable figure for June 1970 was 98,100.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what, after adjusting for the general index of purchasing prices, is the purchasing power of the national average weekly wage, taking it as equivalent to 100 on 18th June 1970.

The purchasing power of wages is affected by many factors, such as taxation, which vary with individual circumstances. Between June 1970 and April 1973, the latest date for which information is available, the index of average earnings rose by 37–8 per cent. and the general index of retail prices by 26–3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give instructions that the teaching of discipline is to be included in the curricula of teacher training colleges.

No, Sir. The content of the curriculum is a matter for the colleges and area training organisations. In so far as discipline can be taught it is dealt with in the education course, which is an essential part of initial training in all colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what resources she is making available in the next five years for the study of the climate.

The Natural Environment Research Council supports research in the atmospheric sciences, providing the background understanding to a study of the climate and climatic change. Expenditure already envisaged for the five years 1973–74 to 1977–78 totals £174,000 and it is expected that this sum will be very considerably increased by the award of further grants during those years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to reduce the outflow of trained teachers from colleges of education.

Colleges and polytechnic departments of education have been asked to reduce the intake of non-graduate students to courses of initial training from an estimated 36,000 in 1973–74 to 32,000 in 1974–75. Further adjustments will be required in subsequent years to meet the teacher supply policy announced in the recent White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has received as to the suitability of the Science Theatre at David Salomon's House, Tunbridge Wells, for use as a site for the display of Frank Holland's piano collection.

I have received no information or advice about the Science Theatre at David Salomon's House apart from a note submitted by two departmental keepers at the Science Museum. With regard to this document, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his Question on 11th June—[Vol. 857, c. 244.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the schools in the Lancashire education authority area which do not have a room available for the exclusive use of the head teacher and a common room for the exclusive use of the teaching staff.

This information is not collected by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list all schools in Lancashire, the date of construction of each school, the date upon which the last major extension to any of these schools was completed and the date by which all primary schools exceeding 75 years of age will have been replaced.

The number of schools involved is about 1,500 and I regret that we have not all the information available in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that all schools in the Ramsbottom urban district comply with the recommendations of current fire prevention legislation.

I understand that all county schools in Lancashire have recently been inspected by the County Fire Officer. It is a condition of the Department's approval that all new maintained schools are designed and built in accordance with the detailed recommendations of Building Bulletin 7, "Fire and the Design of Schools", which has been in force, with periodic revisions, for more than 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the initial teaching alphabet in the prevention and treatment of disabilities in reading and writing; and if she will make a statement.

The initial teaching alphabet is one of a number of schemes whose introduction has been accompanied by improvements in the acquisition of reading skills. A report of an assessment carried out by the late Professor F. W. Warburton and Mrs. Vera Southgate for the Schools Council is published under the title "ita—an independent evaluation". Evidence on this subject has been presented to the Bullock Committee and my right hon. Friend will await the committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish quarterly the number and nature of traffic offences committed by the members of embassy and high commission staffs where prosecution has been waived because of a claim of diplomatic immunity.

I do not think that the work involved in publication of regular returns of this nature would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that many people who would like to make representations to him about the proposals in his consultative document "The Control of Firearms in Great Britain" are unable to obtain copies of it, and that the further reprint required has not been made available in time for representations to be made to him by 30th June; and whether he will therefore extend the time in which representations may be made.

I would refer my right hon. and learned Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for The High Peak (Mr. Le Marchant) on 22nd June and the extension of the period of consultation until the end of July. Copies of the Green Paper have at all times been available and continue to be available at all Government bookshops, and no reprint has been necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusion he has reached on the application for entry into the United Kingdom of Mr. Carl Clifford of Calcutta, following the recent submissions made by the hon. Member for Harrow, East.

I regret that, after further careful consideration, we have been obliged to refuse this application. I have written to my hon. Friend explaining the reasons and reminding him of Mr. Clifford's right of appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many blind prisoners have a radio, tape recorder, a braille typewriter, or radiogram; and how many such prisoners have been refused such devices;(2) how many blind or partially sighted persons are at present in prison; and how many have become blind or partially sighted while in prison, over the past five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mr. Anthony John Seaward was segregated under Rule 43; and, if so, what arrangements were made for him to take part in work and leisure activities while in prison.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what opportunity was given to Mr. Anthony John Seaward to say whether he was willing to be transferred to Sudbury open prison before this transfer was refused; and why it was refused.

Mr. Seaward asked to be transferred to more open conditions, but it was decided that such a transfer would not be appropriate. The reasons included access to specialist medical advice, his previous record and the hazards that building operations at Sudbury would have presented for a man with his disability.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Anthony John Seaward was not transferred to an outside hospital, as is possible under prison regulations.

Mr. Seaward was transferred to St. James's Hospital, Balham, for treatment on 7th July 1972 and returned to prison on 11th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date Mr. Anthony John Seaward was assaulted by fellow prisoners while on remand at Brixton prison; on what date his parents were informed; on what date police investigations commenced; what was the outcome of the police investigation; what action was taken against the assailants; and what compensation has been provided for the victim.

Mr. Sea ward's first formal statement that he had been assaulted was made on 6th June 1972. The date on which he said the assault took place was 30th April. He was in correspondence with and being visited by his family during this period, but we have no record of the date on which he informed them of the alleged assault. Police investigations began on 23rd June 1972 and a report was made to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who advised that no charges should be preferred. Mr. Seaward is now taking legal action against the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that Mr. Anthony John Seaward was given adequate medical supervision and treatment during his transportation in a prison van while suffering from serious eye disorders from Brixton prison to Lincoln prison, and then to Wandsworth prison.

Mr. Seaward did not complain of trouble with his eyes until after his arrival at Leicester prison from Brixton, which took place on 3rd May 1972. On his subsequent journeys to Wandsworth prison on 24th May and 4th July he was accompanied by a hospital officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what period of time elapsed between the blinding of Mr. Anthony John Seaward and the commencement of instruction in braille; why he was deprived of braille material while at Lincoln; and why no adequate training or rehabilitation training was provided.

Mr. Seaward returned to Wandsworth prison from hospital on 11th July 1972, after his left eye had been removed. He was first visited by a teacher in braille on 18th July and his instruction began on 25th July. Mr. Seaward has been provided with braille material whilst at Lincoln prison although the prison authorities were unfortunately unable to obtain this for the first three months of his stay there. We are satisfied that, within the restrictions which imprisonment must inevitably impose, prison staff have done all that they could to help Mr. Seaward.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now order an official public inquiry into the case of Mr. Anthony John Seaward, who was assaulted in prison by other prisoners, blinded, and subsequently retained in prison.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has studied the report of the medical officer of Lincoln prison, which recommended

			Gross personal violence to inmates	Attempted gross personal violence to inmates	Assault on inmates	Attempted assault on inmates	Total
Males
1970	…	…	29	4	360	18	411
1971	…	…	18	3	386	19	426
1972*	…	…	18	1	427	12	458
Females
1970	…	…	—	—	8	—	8
1971	…	…	—	—	9	—	9
1972*	…	…	—	—	14	1	15
Equivalent figures for earlier years are not available.
* Provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers to the Home Office in January 1973 that Mr. Anthony John Seaward should receive training; and why no action was taken.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for Mr. Seaward to receive specialist training at the Royal Institute for the Blind Training Centre at Torquay shortly after his release.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if "he has studied the statement by the judge at the hearing in the Kingston Crown Court, recommending that Mr. Anthony John Seaward should be granted facilities inside prison to learn braille and to receive other facilities; and why the judge's recommendations were not implemented.