asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the level of home and overseas military expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost in, respectively, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Japan, West Germany, France and Sweden for each year since 1950.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will review the policies affecting the use of Royal Air Force and other aircraft, especially in relation to training flights, in view of the public concern regarding the need for economy of fuel.

A wide range of economy measures affecting the use of Royal Air Force and other military aircraft have already been put into effect, and we shall continue to look for further ways to save fuel, but there is a certain level of flying which must be sustained in order to maintain basic flying proficiency and safety, as well as operational capability. Our economy measures are designed to ensure that this level is maintained at the expense of reductions in fuel consumption on other, less essential activities.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what acreages of land are owned by Her Majesty's Armed Forces in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness, and Argyll, respectively.

The Ministry of Defence owns the following freehold land in these counties :

Caithness—411 acres and 14 acres of foreshore. Sutherland—2,729 acres.

Ross and Cromarty—4,177 acres.

Inverness—2,325 acres and 489 acres of foreshore.

Argyll—1,345 acres.

asked the Minister of State for Defence to what extent the action of the Arabian States in cutting off and reducing oil and petrol supplies to Great Britain and countries within NATO affects defence problems ; if he will give as much information as is consistent with security on what action he has taken or intends taking to safeguard oil supplies for defence purposes in the event of a national or international emergency ; and whether he is satisfied that Great Britain's defence can be safeguarded against such action taken by the Arabian States.

The necessary steps have been, or will be, taken to maintain essential stocks, and the operational capabilities of Her Majesty's Forces should, therefore, remain unimpaired.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if Royal Navy pilots are being used as instructors in the helicopter training programme in progress in this country for pilots of the Arab forces.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are her plans for the extension of compulsory professional training for teachers.

I have made today and shall lay before the House as soon as practicable the Schools (Qualified Teachers) Regulations 1973, further amending Regulation 16 of the Schools Regulations 1959. In pursuance of the new regulations a person who acquires an approved "special qualification", of which a degree of a university in the British Isles or of the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) is the most important, after 31st December 1973 will not be accepted as a qualified teacher unless he has also satisfactorily completed an approved course of professional training. Thus the requirement of prior professional training, which already applies in relation to teaching in maintained primary and special schools to persons who acquired a degree or other approved "special qualification" after 31st December 1969, will now be extended to teaching in maintained secondary schools with a critical date of acquisition of the "special qualification" of 1st January 1974.There is, however, a continuing and still serious shortage in the secondary schools of specialist teachers of certain subjects. The new regulations therefore allow a person who acquires an approved "special qualification" after 31st December 1973 still to be accepted as a qualified teacher in a maintained secondary school where the qualification is one for the time being recognised by the Secretary of State as one in a subject for the teachers of which there is a special need.I propose so to recognise for the time being degrees of universities in the British Isles and of the CNAA in which degree-level study of mathematics or of the physical or life sciences forms a substantial element, and the qualifications listed in section V of appendix 3 to my Department's circular 10/71. I look to employers to appoint untrained persons under the new regulations only where the supply situation makes it unavoidable ; and to make special arrangements for the induction and in-service training of teachers so appointed in order to compensate for their lack of initial training.The circular will be revised and reissued as soon as possible. My Department's office (TSQ) in Darlington will be ready to give guidance in doubtful cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the annual receipts from fees for United Kingdom postgraduate students and overseas postgraduate students, respectively.

Precise information is not available but for 1971–72 universities' income from fees for full-time postgraduate courses is estimated to have been about £3 million in respect of home students and a similar sum for overseas students. Fee income in respect of full-time postgraduate students in the non-university sector is estimated to have been about £¼ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will up-rate the student grant, abolish the means test, abolish the discretionary system and take action to change the grants for married women students.

Rates of student grants, including those for married women, parental contributions and discretionary awards, are being considered in the current review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when students' grants were last adjusted ; to what extent ; and, taking the £ sterling as then having a purchasing value of 100p, to what extent these grants have depreciated since that date due to the fall in the purchasing power of the £ sterling.

The main rates of student grants were last increased by £35–£40 per annum with effect from September 1973. The retail price index rose by 1·98 per cent. between September and October 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being undertaken, or sponsored by, her Department into the organisation of comprehensive schools, their teaching methods and the effectiveness of their buildings.

In addition to work carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research and the Schools Council, my Department is sponsoring a study of the social and academic consequences of different patterns of secondary school organisation, and is involved in development projects at comprehensive schools. Her Majesty's inspectors constantly evaluate the organisation and teaching methods of schools, including comprehensive schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will change the composition of the teachers' panel of the Burnham Committee by allowing representation to the National Union of Women Teachers.

My right hon. Friend is at present consulting the organisations represented on the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee about the application of the Union of Women Teachers for membership of that committee. When the consultation is complete, she will reach a decision on the application.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the independent schools in the London borough of Lambeth indicating those which are recognised as efficient.

The following schools are "registered" ; the schools "recognised as efficient" are marked with an asterisk.

^*Italia Conti Stage School, Stockwell, S.W.9.

John Wycliffe School, 70, Thurlow Park Road, West Dulwich, S.E.21.

^*Oakfield School, West Dulwich, S.E.21.

Rosemead Preparatory School, 126, Atkins Road, Clapham Park, S.W.12.

Somerville School, 12, Wavertree Road, Streatham Hill, S.W.2.

Sternhold College. 125 Sternhold Avenue, Streatham Hill, S.W.2.

Streatham Modern School, 508, Streatham High Road, S.W.16.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what organisations she will be consulting concerning the composition of the committee to review the education and other provisions for handicapped children and young people ;(2) if she will consult the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases, the Central Council for the Disabled and the North East London Polytechnic before coming to a decision on the composition of the committee she is appointing to review educational provision for handicapped children and young people.

Members will be appointed in a personal capacity because of their special experience and knowledge. Since members will not represent outside bodies, I do not propose formal consultations about the composition of the committee. It is, however, open to any bodies to suggest names.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether children suffering from severe dyslexia will fall within the terms of reference of the committee which she is appointing to review the educational provisions for handicapped children and young people ;(2) whether children with severe difficulties in learning to read, write or spell owing to dysfunctions in auditory processing, visual processing, haptic processing, multiple stimulus integration, disorders of short term memory or dysfunctions in symbolic operations will fall within the terms of reference of the committee which she is appointing to review the educational provisions for handicapped children and young people ;(3) whether children with severe specific reading difficulties will fall within the terms of reference of the committee which she is appointing to review the educational provisions for handicapped children and young people.

It will be for the committee to interpret its terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the full cost of educating overseas postgraduate students in the years 1970–71 and 1971–72 ; and how much of these sums was met by the fees charged.

Cost data for 1970–71 and 1971–72 are not available, but for 1972–73 the average annual recurrent costs, excluding student support, for postgraduate and undergraduate students alike were about £1,300 in universities and £1,100 in polytechnics. Information on capital costs is not available in the form requested. The fee for overseas postgraduate students is £250 per year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of contributions paid by teachers and local authorities towards teachers' superannuation and the amount paid out in pensions in each of the last 10 years.

The amounts are as follows :

	Teacher's Contributions £ million	Employers' Contributions*£ million	Benefits £ million
1963–64	27	26	33
1964–65	28	28	39
1965–66	31	31	43
1966–67	32	45	47
1967–68	36	50	53
1968–69	39	55	59
1969–70	38	53	63
1970–71	47	67	68
1971–72	56	79	73
1972–73	74	106	83
* All employers. Local authorities paid about 90 per cent. of these amounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-French nuclear policy.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear to the House on several occasions that both he and President Pompidou take the view that the time is not right for discussion of Anglo-French nuclear defence co-operation. As regards civil nuclear policy, the future of the United Kingdom nuclear industry will of course be closely linked to the future of the industry in the European Community including France.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Middle East situation in so far as the build-up of military equipment affects world peace.

A peace conference is due to open in Geneva on 18th December. We must all hope that this will bring lasting peace to the area. Clearly some form of agreement on the supply of arms would be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if it is the policy of the Government to support a negotiated settlement in the Middle East and reject any threat of oil time-tabling supplies as a condition for agreement ; and if he will make a statement ;(2) if he will protest against the Saudi Arabia declaration that there will be two timetables, an Israeli withdrawal timetable and the oil supply timetable, on the grounds that this principle is damaging to a Middle East settlement and not acceptable as a part of any United Kingdom policy towards any sovereign State similarly threatened.

It is of course our policy, and always has been, to support a negotiated settlement in the Middle East. It would be unrealistic not to recognise that, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 19th November, the only permanent answer to the problem of oil supplies is a speedy and permanent peace settlement in the Middle East.—[Vol. 364, c. 985.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of arms supplies to the Middle East countries.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson) on 19th November.—[Vol. 864, c. 336.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have, alone or in concert with Europe and the United States of America, to apply economic pressures on the Arab oil-producing countries should they persist in damaging the economies of the Western world by cutting off or restricting supplies.

None. The prime need is for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advantages are being enjoyed by the United Kingdom as a result of the favourable treatment offered by the Arab oil-producing States in response to British foreign policy.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 30th October, we attach importance to the assurances on oil supplies we have received from some Arab oil producers. The oil supply position is less precarious than it might otherwise have been.—[Vol. 863, c. 38–40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek a meeting of EEC Heads of State with Heads of State of other major oil-using countries such as Japan, the United States of America and Sweden with a view to formulating a common policy towards oil supplies, in view of the fact that the long-term problem wil remain irrespective of the immediate Middle East dispute.

The countries mentioned are all members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development whose Oil and Energy Committees meet regularly to consider energy problems, especially in the long term.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in negotiations with France over the delimitation of the Continental Shelf around the Channel Islands.

We have been in contact with the French Government for some three years with a view to settling a boundary to our Continental Shelf, in the English Channel—including the area around the Channel Islands—and in the Western Approaches. But no agreement has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has had from foreign Governments about the legal status of the island of Rockall ; and what replies he has sent.

The legal status of the island is determined by the Island of Rockall Act 1972 under which the island has been fully incorporated into the United Kingdom. No communication has been received from any foreign Government concerning this Act, though the Irish Government have questioned our right to exercise fishery jurisdictions around the island. We have replied rejecting the Irish view and reaffirming our position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instrument will be needed to ratify the Channel Tunnel Treaty signed 17th November last.

An instrument of ratification, which would be signed by Her Majesty the Queen after the Channel Tunnel Bill now before Parliament had received the Royal Assent. The treaty can only enter into force when the United Kingdom and France have exchanged instruments of ratification.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches have been made to the Zambian Government over the arrest of and assault on Mr. Donald Coles, a British subject ; and what answer has been received.

As I said in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member or Dorset, South (Mr. Evelyn King) on 28th November, we have expressed our concern to the Zambian Government and asked for an explanation. We have been told that they are carrying out an investigation. We are continuing to press the matter.—[Vol. 865, c. 369–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce the result of his negotiations with Tanzania under the Overseas Pensions Act 1973 ; and if he will make a statement.

It has not yet been possible to open negotiations with the Tanzanian Government on this matter. Considerable consultations will be necessary and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development cannot yet say when they are likely to be concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the extent of the Crown Agents' financial interest in English and Continental Property Holdings Ltd. ; and what representation the Crown Agents have had on the board of that company since 1st November 1973.

The Crown Agents have had no representation in this company since 1st November 1973. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of English and Continental Investments Ltd., on whose board the Crown Agents' representative was Mr. A. H. Challis from 1st until 11th November 1973, the latter being the effective date of his resignation from the Crown Agents. The Crown Agents have had no representation on the board of that company since that date. Their financial interest is in English and Continental Investments Ltd. where they hold 12½ per

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who invited the Saudi Arabian Minister for Oil, Mr. Zaki Yamani, to cent. of the equity plus six additional shares.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the precise dates on which the Crown Agents have bought any part of the ordinary or other stock of First National Finance Corporation, stating the number of shares bought on each occasion, the nominal value and the price paid.

I am advised that the first recorded purchase is 4th April 1967. The further detail requested is considerable and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the companies of which Mr. Alan Challis was a director or chairman while he was Director of Finance of the Crown Agents ; which of these were not wholly owned subsidiaries of the Crown Agents ; and what was the Crown Agents' financial interest in each case.

Information readily to hand covers only the directorships held at the time of Mr. Challis's resignation. These and the Crown Agents' financial interests therein are as follows :Great Britain and for what purpose ; who met him at London Airport ; and what cars were supplied, giving both numbers and types.

Arab Oil Ministers, meeting in Kuwait on 4th and 5th November, delegated the Algerian Minister of Industry and Energy, M. Belaid Abdes-selam, and the Saudi Arabian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, to visit Western capital to explain the oil resolutions adopted at their meetings. They were met at London Airport by Sir David Scott-Fox, representing my right hon. Friend.One official car—Ford Granada Estate—was provided for the use of Sir David Scott-Fox and a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official who accompanied him. Transport for Sheikh Yamani was provided by the Saudi Arabian Embassy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to make arrangements to send the prisoners known as the Belfast Ten back to Northern Ireland to serve their sentences.

Six of these prisoners have applied for such a transfer, and their applications are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of requests granted, in each of the last six years to prisoners applying for transfer to a prison nearer their home in order to facilitate visits by their families ; and what percentage these represent of the total number of requests.

I regret that this information is not available.

Session			Number of occasions on which House of Commons sat after 10.30 p.m. but rose at or before midnight	Number of occasions on which House of Commons sat after midnight
1970–71	…	…	52	80
1971–72	…	…	64	67
1972–73	…	…	47	63

Session			Number of sittings when Divisions occurred between 10.30 p.m. and midnight	Number of Divisions between 10.30 p.m. and midnight	Number of sittings when Divisions occurred after midnight	Number of Divisions after midnight
1970–71	…	…	51	69	21	164
1971–72	…	…	47	63	17	41
1972–73	…	…	26	31	11	15

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the cost of operating and maintaining the House of

asked the Secretary of State of the Home Department why convicted inmates of Her Majesty's prisons are permitted calendars other than those with a tear-off sheet for each day of the year, and why such a ruling exists.

Calendars with a tear-off sheet for each day of the year are not permitted because of the opportunities these would present for misuse and the demands which examination to prevent this would make upon staff time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timetable he proposes for the review of local government electoral boundaries.

A report by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which deals with the timetable for this review, is to be published very shortly.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of occasions on which the House of Commons sat after 10.30 p.m. and after midnight, respectively, together with the number of occasions when Divisions occurred after these times in each of the Sessions 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73.

Following is the information :Commons between 10.48 p.m. on Tuesday 23rd October 1973 and 1.47 a.m. on Wednesday 24th October.

I am afraid that no realistic costing of a period such as this is possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council what further steps he proposes to take in the present parliamentary Session to extend those parts of the premises of the House of Commons where smoking is prohibited.

None at present. But the Services Committee would always be willing to consider specific requests.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will cause to be placed in all refreshment rooms in the House of Commons saccharine, margarine and powdered milk as alternatives to sugar, butter and liquid milk.

I have been asked to reply.Yes, but in order to estimate true demand for these items there will first be a trial period in the Members' Dining Room and Members' Tea Room.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that applicants for exceptional needs grants will be visited by supplementary benefit visitors in order to assess their claim.

All applicants for exceptional needs grants are being visited.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what rules there are relating to the information a Member of Parliament is entitled to receive when inquiring about a constituent who has been arrested.

None. But it is the practice of the police to be as helpful as the circumstances permit to a Member of Parliament who inquires about a constituent who has been arrested.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Government's policy regarding the licensing of, and royalties from, oil and natural gas from offshore Northern Ireland ; and what are the functions of Northern Irish Departments in this matter.

The Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for licensing and royalty arrangements for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in seaward areas outside Northern Ireland territorial waters. The Northern Ireland Ministry of Commerce is empowered to grant licences to search for and get oil and natural gas within Northern Ireland, including its territorial waters.Steps are being taken to ensure that Northern Ireland industry and trade are fully informed of any opportunity which may arise from offshore oil activities.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) how many Crown Offices there are in Great Britain ; and what is the cost of running them ;(2) how man temporary sub-post offices there are in Great Britain ; and what is the cost of running them.

The 1972–73 Post Office Report and Accounts shows that 1,622 Crown offices and 22,510 scale payment sub-offices were in operation at 31st March 1973, and that their combined Tuning cost was some £135 million, including about £47 million for sub-postmasters' remuneration.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to ensure that there is no sex discrimination in the delivery of mail throughout the United Kingdom.

No. A general direction in this case is not necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland choose not to introduce admission charges to their institutions, whether their grants from the Government will be reduced or withdrawn.

I have no reason to believe that the trustees will not introduce the scheme of charges which has been discussed with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many occupational therapists are employed by each local authority social services department in Scotland ; how many such employees work principally in day centres for the physically handicapped ; how many are attached to social work teams for the purpose of domiciliary visits ; what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to increase their establishments for occupational therapists ; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of occupational therapists employed by local authority social work departments at 31st December 1972 are set out in the tables below. The use of occupational therapists in social work departments has increased substantially in recent years. Local authorities have been asked to draw up proposals for the development of the social work services up to 1978, including forecasts of their needs for the services of occupational therapists.

Occupational Therapists—Area Teams or Headquarters
Counties	Whole-time equivalent
Aberdeen and Kincardine	2
Argyll	1·6
Ayr	4
Banff	1
Caithness	0·25
Dunbarton	2
Fife	1
Lanark	5
Midlothian, East Lothian and Peebles	6
Moray and Nairn	1·5
Orkney	1
Perth and Kinross	2
Renfrew	2
Roxburgh	0·75
Stirling	1
West Lothian	2
Burghs
Aberdeen	1
Airdrie	1
Clydebank	–
Dunfermline	–
East Kilbride	3

Falkirk	1
Glasgow	9
Paisley	2
Perth	0·4
Occupational Therapists—Day Centres
Counties
Aberdeen and Kincardine	1
Clackmannan	1
Moray and Nairn	1
Roxburgh	1
Zetland	0·25
Burghs
Aberdeen	1
Dumbarton	1
East Kilbride	2
Glasgow	1
Greenock and Port Glasgow	3

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the rate of turnover in teacher staffing in understaffed schools ; and what is his estimate of its effects on the stability of Scottish education ;(2) what he plans to do to encourage teachers to seek employment in schools of serious teacher shortage when the present scheme for the designation of these schools terminates at the end of the 1973–74 school session.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel) on 28th and 29th November.—[Vol. 865, c. 173 and 219.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the special payment to teachers in designated schools in Scotland.

I will soon be putting proposals to the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee regarding arrangements to be made when the present scheme ends next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss with the teachers' professional associations the extent to which the acute shortage of secondary teachers in the west of Scotland would be alleviated by adjusting the school leaving age arrangements in areas where there is substantial part-time education ; and if he will make a statement.

Any change in school leaving age arrangements would require legislation and is not, therefore, a measure which could be adopted to alleviate present staffing shortages. It would not in any case be desirable to make arrangements that would differ from one area to another. As I indicated on 6th November in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel)—[Vol. 863, c. 139]—I have decided to review the present system of fixed school leaving dates in a year or so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the secondary schools in Scotland in which, at 31st October 1973, the attendance of pupils was 90 per cent. or less, 80 per cent. or less, and 70 per cent. or less, respectively.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 27th November to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel).—[Vol. 865, c. 119.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what he estimates

				Secretary of State	Forestry Commission	Nature Conservancy	Highlands and Islands Development Board	Total County Acreage
Caithness	…	…	…	15,800	5,826	—	2	21,628
Sutherland	…	…	…	78,600	85,631	—	—	164,231
Ross and Cromarty		…	…	5,500	118,624	10,982	19	135,125
Inverness	…	…	…	219,186	351,981	39,483	5,817	616,467
Argyll	…	…	…	68,680	421,240	1,044	23	490,987
				387,766	983,302	51,509	5,861	1,428,438

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing the housing completions of each Scottish large burgh in each of the past four years to the nearest available date ; and if he will show against each authority the numbers of two, three, four and five apartment houses.

Figures for house completions by numbers of apartments are not kept centrally. Numbers of houses completed in each local authority

This information is not available centrally and could not be extracted from local records without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what acreage of land is owned by him, by the Forestry Commission, by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, and the Nature Conservancy in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness and Argyll, respectively.

The acreage of land held by me for hospital or other health service purposes is not readily available. The remainder of the information is as follows (figures in acres) :area are given in Appendix I to the Housing Return for Scotland—for the full year in the returns for 31st December each year ; and for the first nine months of this year in the return for 30th September 1973 published today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, referred to children's hearings in the last 12 months for which figures are available, the grounds for referral were not accepted by the child and his parent and application was made to the sheriff for a finding as to whether the grounds for referral were established ; what percentages of the total referrals these applications represented ; and in how many cases in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, the sheriff decided that the grounds of referral had not been established.

The figures available for Scotland for 1972 cover the acceptance or establishment of the main offence, where an offence was among the grounds for referral for a child aged 8–15 appearing before a hearing. In 8,226 cases, 839 per cent., of the total number of such referrals to hearings, the main offence was accepted by the child and his parent ; in 629 cases, 6·4 per cent., it was established before the sheriff ; and in 947 cases, 9·7 per cent., it was neither accepted nor established. The last figure includes cases which were not proceeded with by the hearing in addition to cases where the main offence was not established before the sheriff.Separate figures for Glasgow are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reports were received by reporters under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 in Glasgow and Scotland, respectively, over the last 12-months period for which figures are available ; in how many of these cases the grounds of referral related to alleged offences ; and in how many of these latter cases reference was made to a children's hearing.

The figures for 1972 are as follows :

	Scotland	Glasgow
Reports to reporter	23,144	6,423
Reports in which grounds for referral included alleged offences	20,669	5,801
Reports referred to hearings in which grounds for referral include alleged offences	10,060	2,264

Where two or more reports were made concerning the same child, these were dealt with as a single report in statistical returns from Glasgow but not from other areas. If all reports concerning the same child were counted separately, the figures above, both for Scotland and for Glasgow, for reports made to the reporter and for reports referred to hearings would be increased, possibly by as much as 2,500 and 1,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, prosecuted in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, over the last 12-months period for which figures are available, were charged along with adults.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details for Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, for the last 12-month period for which figures are available, of the decisions of children's hearings, showing figures for cases where no supervision requirements were made, cases where supervision requirements without residential provision were made and cases where supervision requirements with residential provision were made.

The figures for 1972 for initial decisions by hearings were as follows :

	Scotland	Glasgow
No supervision requirement	4,132	1,049
Non-residential supervision requirement	5,931	1,233
Residential supervision requirement	1,773	433

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, in the last 12 months for which figures are available, appeals were made to the sheriff in respect of decisions of children's hearings ; what percentages of total decisions made the appeals represented ; and in how many cases the appeals were allowed in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively.

Seventeen appeals were made to the sheriff against decisions of children's hearings in Scotland in 1972. This represented 0T per cent. of all decisions. In 10 cases the decision by the hearing was confirmed, in two cases the child was discharged, and five cases were remitted to the hearing for reconsideration. There were eight appeals in Glasgow, representing 0·3 per cent. of all decisions ; in five cases the decision was confirmed, in one case the child was discharged and two cases were remitted to the hearing for reconsideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the categories of offence for which children, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, are prosecuted.

I have been asked to reply.Chief constables are directed to report to the procurator fiscal for consideration of the Lord Advocate's discretion cases in the following categories, viz. :

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, over the last 12-month period for which figures are available, a child, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, has been prosecuted and found guilty of an offence ; and in how many such cases the court has remitted the case to a children's hearing for disposal.

I am obtaining this information and shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, have been prosecuted in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, over the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Information is readily available only in respect of children aged under 16 years of age. In the year 1972, 2,390 such children were proceeded against in the criminal courts in Scotland, 990 in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a breakdown by age and sex of the children, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, prosecuted in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, over the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Information is readily available only in respect of children aged under 16 years of age. The following table gives the information requested in respect of such children for the year 1972 :

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the last 12-month period for which figures are available for Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, the number of cases in which a child, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, has been sentenced by the court to a period of residential training ; and if he will give details as to the numbers allocated by him to the various types of residential establishment.

The following table indicates the allocation of children for residential training under Section 58A of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 during the year ending 31st August 1973 :

	Scotland	Glasgow
List D Schools	161	101
Penal establishments	15	3
Assessment centres	12	3
Hostels	6	1
Hospital	1	1
Total	195	109

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, over a convenient recent period, how many kidneys for transplant were sent into Northern Ireland ; and how many kidneys for use elsewhere came from Northern Ireland.

During the period from 1st January to 31st October 1973, 12 kidneys were sent to Northern Ireland of which 11 were used for transplantation ; 17 kidneys from Northern Ireland were offered for use elsewhere and 12 were actually used.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners benefit from the meals on wheels service ; and how many of them receive the service seven days a week.

The figures available do not differentiate between retirement pensioners and others in receipt of the meals on wheels service, but it is known that the vast majority of recipients are elderly people.In a sample week in November 1972 a total of 135,564 people in England benefited from the service, and 2,343 of these received the service on seven days.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide funds to enable local executive councils of the National Health Service to establish an emergency dental service at weekends.

The Working Party on the Dental Services, jointly representing the British Dental Association and the Health Departments of Great Britain, has sent to my right hon. Friends and me an interim report about emergency dental services which is to be published shortly. We are considering the working party's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he anticipates receiving the report of the Lane Commission.

We hope to receive the report of the Committee on the Working of the Abortion Act before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take following the report in the bulletin of the National Radiological Protection Board, Harwell, that a high proportion of dental examinations using X-rays is being carried out in many surgeries to the risk of patients, dentists and staff.

This statement appeared in a brief newspaper report of an article in the board's October quarterly bulletin which made reservations about the information quoted, particularly the nature of the samples from which it was obtained, and was mainly intended to describe a new service provided by the board to enable dental practitioners to test the safety of their X-ray equipment. I am aware of the need for radiological protection in dentistry as in other fields, and have sent to all practitioners in the general dental services of the National Health Service a circular drawing their attention to dental aspects of the Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiations arising from Medical and Dental Use. My Standing Dental Advisory Committee has also set up a sub-committee to prepare a booklet specifically for dental practitioners on dental radiological protection.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the National Health Service costs attributable directly to road accidents.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price) on 21st February 1973.—[Vol. 851, c. 130.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are at present awaiting admission to National Health Service hospitals in Nottinghamshire ; and what action he is taking to speed up admission.

The total number of people awaiting admission to hospitals in Nottinghamshire at 30th September 1973 was 11,849.My statement to the House on 6th July—[Vol. 859, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the research projects being considered by his Department

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting period for patients suffering from non-acute conditions for surgical treatment in National Health Service hospitals in Nottinghamshire ; and how many people are waiting to see a consultant in each of the specialties.

Waiting periods for admission for non-acute conditions vary with specialty, patients' condition, availability of beds and emergency case-load. Thus averages are not meaningful. The following tables illustrate the position in Nottinghamshire at the 30th September 1973:connected with non-accidental injury to children ;(2) if he will institute research into the circumstances of ill-treated children's birth and, in particular, how many mothers charged with baby battering were refused a termination of pregnancy and how many had ever been offered information about contraception.

I am considering a number of proposals for research in these areas, but I do not think it would be right or helpful to publish a list at this stage. Some of them are still at an early stage of discussion. I will gladly make a further statement, however, when more progress has been made in establishing the co-ordinated programme to which I referred in my answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 22nd November.—[Vol. 864, c. 497–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress being made by Professor Graham Rees's study into transport

		Total Number of Occupational Therapists employed in Social Services Departments	Number working principally in day centres	Number attached to social work teams for domiciliary visits
County Councils :
Anglesey	…	1	—	1
Breconshire	…	—	—	—
Cardiganshire	…	2	—	2
Carmarthenshire	…	1	—	1
Caernarvonshire	…	—	—	—
Denbighshire	…	7	2	5
Flintshire	…	1	—	1
Glamorgan	…	—	—	—
Merioneth	…	—	—	—
Monmouthshire	…	6	1	5
Montgomeryshire	…	1	—	1
Pembrokeshire	…	2	1	1
Radnorshire	…	—	—	—
County Borough Councils :
Cardiff	…	1	—	1
Merthyr	…	1	—	1
Newport	…	1	—	1
Swansea	…	—	—	—

The general question of the employment of occupational therapists by local authorities is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult with the farming unions in Wales to discover the extent of abuses by landlords of their rights to require agricultural tenants to carry out repairs to farm buildings and fixed equipment, with a view to introducing legislation on this subject.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) on 6th November.—[Vol. 863, c. 116.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many occupational therapists are employed by each local authority social services department in Wales ; how many such employees work principally in day centres for the physically handicapped ; how many are attached to social work teams for the purpose of domiciliary visits ; what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to increase their establishments for occupational therapists ; and if he will make a statement.

The position on 28th November 1973 was as follows :

I have no evidence for believing that the safeguards provided by the agricultural holdings legislation are inadequate to protect tenants in Wales but if the farming unions in Wales have any details of the cases in which abuse is alleged I should be glad to look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in his recent appointment of members to the Welsh Language Council how many members are men and how many women ; and what were his criteria in selection of members of each sex.

Twelve—including the chairman—are men and two are women. Members were appointed for the personal contribution which they could make from a wide range of relevant experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will conduct a study of the feasibility of creating a substantial number of new administrative jobs in Cardiganshire by way of dispersal of Government offices.

The possibility of dispersal of Government offices to all parts of Wales is kept under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what capital expenditure is proposed on schools in the Pontypridd and Llantrisant areas in each of the next five years ; and what effect the cuts in education expenditure will have upon such proposals.

The proposed capital expenditure included in major building programmes is as follows :

	£
1973–74	147,424
1974–75	nil
1975–76	701,640

Programmes for 1976–77 and 1977–78 have not yet been announced. It is Government policy that no final approval for the 1973–74 projects can now be given until 1st January 1974. I expect to announce the arrangements for the resumption of approvals in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schoolchildren were at school in Cowbridge and Llantwit Major at the latest date in secondary education, primary education and nursery education ; and what were the corresponding figures for 10 and five years ago.

In January 1973 there were 1,680 secondary and 1,566 primary pupils in the maintained schools of Cowbridge and Llantwit Major. Corresponding numbers in January 1968 were 1,430 and 1,166 respectively. The information is not available for 1963. There are no maintained nursery schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schoolchildren there are in schools in the Pontypridd and Llantrisant Divisional Education Executive area at the latest date for which figures are available in secondary education, primary education and nursery education ; and what were the corresponding figures for 10 and five years ago, respectively.

My Department does not collect statistics on the basis of divisional executive areas. This information can be obtained from the local education authority.