asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what financial assistance he proposes to give to local authorities in Wales to meet the cost of the Sunday Opening Poll, under the provisions of the Licensing Act, 1961.

Local authorities who qualify will get rate-deficiency grant on their expenditure for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the figures for loans outstanding by local authorities in the United Kingdom for the years 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961.

The figures for Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government and the answer is therefore confined to those for Scotland, which are the concern of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, and for England and Wales. The following are the figures:

£ million
Financial Year	Loan debts of local authorities in
	England and Wales (a)	Scotland (b)	Great Britain
1956–57	4,615·0	637·7	5,252·7
1957–58	4,962·4	685·1	5,647·5
1958–59	5,294·1	736·7	6,030·8
1959–60	5,656·7	787·4	6,444·1
1960–61 (c)	5,750·3	807·1	6,557·4
(a) Source (except for 1960–61): "Local Government Financial Statistics, England and Wales"—Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
(b) Source (except for 1960–61): "Local Financial Returns (Scotland)"—Scottish Home Department.
(c) 1960–61: Figures are obtained from the Treasury survey of local government authority loan debt, and are not precisely comparable with those for previous years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many sites have been traditional camping places for gypsies and other similar travellers in England and Wales since 1945; how many new sites have been opened to them during this period; and what steps have been taken since 1st December to provide a place so that they will no longer be required to move from place to place.

Information about the number of sites is not available, but in reply to the last part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the circular my right hon. Friend sent to local authorities on this subject on 8th February.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has been taken since 1st December to deal with the worsening situation of gypsies and other travellers in England and Wales, arising from the closing down of long-established camping sites, which has caused suffering, interference with school attendance, and friction with house-dwellers, because of the absence of amenities for these people.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his earlier Question about gypsies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made towards studying and consequently ameliorating the conditions of gypsies and other travellers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to the Question by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what support he has given to the action taken by the London County Council to deal with the problem of homeless families.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) on 13th February.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the original estimate for the construction of the building occupied by the firm of Tudor Crisps in Peterlee, and the actual cost.

The preliminary estimate was £225,800 excluding the office block. This was increased to £306,000 when the firm's revised requirements, mainly on heating and air conditioning, were made known. Further modifications have since been asked for and the final cost is expected to be about £314,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the extent of land available in Peterlee for industrial development; how much has been used for such a purpose; and whether, when transactions in land in Peterlee are arranged, his Department is consulted.

Thirty-five acres, of which nearly twenty acres are taken, leaving fifteen immediately available. An additional area of twenty-seven acres can also be made available. My consent is required to proposals by development corporations to buy or sell land.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he anticipates that he will complete his review of the investment programmes which the local authorities have supplied to him in response to Circular 37/61.

I hope to do so within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the lack of sewerage facilities in rural areas, he will institute an inquiry with a view to ascertaining the best and quickest method of expediting additional sewage works in these areas.

My right hon. Friend does not think this necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, having regard to his duties under the Water Act, 1945, what steps he is taking to ensure that there is no shortage of water in the North-West of England.

My right hon. Friend is working to secure the creation through-out the country of larger water undertakings, better able to provide for a growing demand The process has gone well in the north-west though it is not yet complete. If the hon. Member has in mind recent proposals by Manchester Corporation, I would refer him to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Snow) on 27th February last.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he has not yet been able to announce the day on which the Radioactive Substances Act, passed by this House in early 1960, is to come into operation.

A series of orders have to be made to exempt many minor uses of radioactive substances which are within the scope of the Act but which need not be controlled. The drafting of these orders presents great technical and legal difficulty and has not yet proceeded quite far enough for a decision to be taken as to when the Act can be brought into operation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many appeals under Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1957, were heard by inspectors appointed by him during 1961 in England and Wales, Hampshire, and Southampton, respectively; how many of these appeals were dismissed; and how many appeals decided in favour of the appellant by the inspector were subsequently reversed by the Minister.

The only comparative figures we have relate to total appeals decided, whether following an inquiry or written representations. In 1961, the number of appeals decided was 7,566 in England and Wales, 286 in Hampshire and 15 in Southampton; of these, 5,650, 224 and 14, respectively, were dismissed. During the year my right hon. Friend did not accept his inspector's recommendation in 182 cases, but I could not, without examining all the files, say how these are distributed geographically, nor in how many cases he dismissed the appeal against his Inspector's recommendation to allow.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to receive the deputation from the Stepney Borough Council, as requested in the letter from that body, dated 12th October, 1961.

I have suggested to the council that my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary should receive the deputation; and a date is being arranged.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the general encouragement which has been given by Her Majesty's Government to local authorities to embark upon twinning arrangements with towns in France and other European countries, he will take steps to ensure that reasonable expenditure incurred by such authorities in connection with these arrangements can be treated as permissible by district auditors.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Local Authorities (Expenses) Act, 1956, which authorises payments on official and courtesy visits such as he mentions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that the provisional proposal for the amalgamation of the boroughs of Leyton, Walthamstow, Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford and part of Chigwell envisages a new borough with a large population; if he has consulted the boroughs concerned in respect of this particular aspect of the proposal; and whether it is proposed that the determination of wards for new boroughs shall be his responsibility or that of a new borough.

I am consulting all the local authorities concerned about the future pattern of the London boroughs and no doubt shall soon be hearing from the councils mentioned by the Hon. Member. The methods of settling the wards is being considered by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to conclude his further consultations with various bodies involved in the proposed London local government reorganisation, and to formulate his final proposals, particularly with regard to the amalgamation of boroughs; if meanwhile he is requiring contiguous boroughs to confer with a view to submitting to him agreements which are reached among themselves; and if he is consulting town clerks in the affected boroughs in respect of problems arising from staffing rearrangements subsequent to amalgamation.

There will be consultations on many matters and I cannot forecast when they will be completed. Consultations on borough groupings will be held in the spring. I have suggested, but not required, that local authorities should discuss possible groupings with their neighbours. Consultations on staffing problems will be held with the bodies representing employers and staff.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that, although the expenditure of local authorities increased considerably during the past year, the block grant was reduced as a result of the methods adopted in calculating it, and that this system places an increasing burden on the ratepayers and operates to the disadvantage of local authorities; and if he will take steps to review the block grant system.

Far from being reduced, the aggregate of the general grants for 1961–62 was £25 million more than that for 1960–61. The aggregate for 1962–63 is £18 million more than that for 1961–62. The House will shortly be asked to approve orders increasing the aggregate for each year. I shall be consulting the local authority associations later this year about amounts and method of distributing the aggregates for the next grant period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will consider drawing the attention of local authorities to Section 11 of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1961, in respect of reduction or remission of rates payable by voluntary youth organisations run on a charitable basis; and how many of those authorities exercise this discretion.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Circular No. 49/61 which was sent to all local authorities last November asking them to give sympathetic consideration to applications for discretionary rate relief under Section 11. As the provision has no effect until 1st April, 1963, the last part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent he has prepared a scheme for dispersing mothers and children and other people in priority classes from London in the event of war; and to what parts of the country he proposes to disperse them.

Arrangements for planning in detail the dispersal, if the need arises, of people in priority classes from major centres of population must be worked out with the help of local authorities. My right hon. Friend has already had consultations with the associations of local authorities about the broad issues, and he intends now to consult with them about the detailed planning.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that lack of water to supply all needs is becoming a limiting factor in town and country planning; and what action he is taking in relation to this problem.

In many parts of the country it is the cost of water, rather than any absolute lack of it, which is a matter of concern. In some areas the cost is likely to increase as it becomes necessary to bring water from a distance. A sub-committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee has just recommended a new approach to the problem of water conservations. My right hon. Friend is considering the sub-committee's report and hopes to announce the Government's conclusions in due course.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will take every possible step to see that the forthcoming conference of local authorities and organisations on water supplies for Manchester is a success and agreement reached on the proposed legislation so that the urgent requirements of 47 local authorities for a greater supply of water in the North-West of England shall be provided; and if he will ensure that action is taken to assist the local authorities to make up for the time lost in the preparation of the Manchester Water Works Scheme.

My right hon. Friend is anxious for the success of these consultations, as is my noble Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, who is to preside over them. It is hoped that it will be possible to have a thorough investigation of the various points in dispute.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what assistance under the Local Employment Act he is prepared to give local authorities for the clearing of pit heaps and for other improvements to the amenities of their districts.

For schemes qualifying under Section 5 of the Act my right hon. Friend is normally prepared to pay grant at the rate of 50 per cent. of the approved cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the disadvantageous basis of rates of assessment in comparison with the basis of taxation; and whether, in view of the heavy additional burdens now being imposed on ratepayers, he will take steps to postpone the proposed re assessments of rates due in 1963 until further consideration has been given to this matter.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the borough and county borough authorities on whose behalf he has sanctioned compulsory purchase orders for schemes of central development which have subsequently been carried out by private development corporations; and if he will state the year of such sanctions.

The information is not available in the form requested. The following boroughs and county boroughs, however, have approved comprehensive redevelopment schemes under the Town and Country Planning Acts. There have been several hundred compulsory purchase orders in these areas, some dealing with single properties. Private developers have played a part in many of these schemes but the balance between local authority and private enterprise development varies from scheme to scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the approval of the revised town map for Bletchley can be expected; and what are the main reasons why approval has been delayed for more than three years.

My right hon. Friend hopes to approve the amendments to the Bletchley Town Map shortly. As the purpose of the amendments is to provide further land for the expansion of the town under the Town Development Act, 1952, approval could not be given until it was clear that the district council intended to continue with town development.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he did not hold a formal inquiry into the recent planning appeal of Mr. N. S. Bolton, of Bordesley Green, Birmingham; and why this appeal has been rejected.

The parties to the appeal agreed that my right hon. Friend should decide it in the light of their written representations and of a report upon a visit to the site by one of our officers. The appeal was dismissed because the advertisement would have added to clutter on business premises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, in view of the fact that 244 of the 251 areas where the statutory lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest are incomplete are rural districts, he will take steps to provide such authorities with financial and technical assistance to enable them to complete the physical surveys.

By 31st January, 1962, our investigators of historic buildings had surveyed 1,318 out of the 1,474 local authority areas in England and Wales. My right hon. Friend does not think it would be right to ask the local authorities concerned to assume responsibility for what remains of this task.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what proposals he has to alleviate the increased burden caused to ratepayers by the transitional and rate deficiency grant system and by the effect of the Government's policy of high interest rates.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the Question by the hon. Member for St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will give the percentage rise in cost of local authority house building since 1951, taking that year as being equal to 100; why, in view of the rise in the cost of houses and house building since 1951, the expenditure by local authorities on house building has fallen by 15 per cent. from 1951–60; when he expects to get the figure for 1961; and what action he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

Provisional figures for 1961–62 should be available by June this year. For the rest I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to his Questions on 27th February.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that all house builders include in their contracts a defects clause concerning the first twelve months of occupation.

To do this would require legislation, and my right hon. Friend has no evidence that abuses are common enough to warrant this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, if he is aware that from 1955 until 1960 income from rents, after deducting the cost of repairs and other expenses, rose by 73 per cent., what was the increase in 1961; what was the reason for this increase; and what action he proposes to take to reduce rents.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the statistics given him on 22nd February by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. These show that income from rents in 1960 was 50·7 per cent. higher than in 1955. As the figures include rents of all types of property, including offices and shops, and including also notional figures for owner-occupied property, I do not think any very useful conclusion can be drawn except the one we all know—that for years after the end of the war rents stayed too low in relation both to costs and to incomes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, in view of threats to some of the Nash terraces in Regent's Park which are contrary to assurances given by the Crown Commissioners as recently as 1957 and to the recommendations of the Gorell Committee, he will initiate special consultations with the Crown Commissioners and the London County Council with a view to the preservation of all these terraces.

My right hon. Friend understands that appeals may be lodged against the recent decisions by the London County Council. In these circumstances it would not be proper for him at this stage to initiate consultations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the increasing number of homeless families in Birmingham, if he will consider giving special assistance to enable the city to solve this problem without delay.

I have received no request from the city council for special assistance to deal with homeless families, though if one is received I shall give all the help I properly can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the deteriorating housing situation in Birmingham, whether he will now announce his proposals for a new town for the city.

As the House is aware an investigation into the possibility of constructing a new town at Dawley, Shropshire, has been undertaken at my request. This is now almost complete, and the report will be considered with all possible speed as soon as it is received.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will authorise house building programmes to be submitted by local authorities on a five-year basis in order to further economy, efficiency and planning.

I will gladly consider forward programmes where there seems to be a good case for this, though five years would be a lot further than most housing authorities could look with any precision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that the overcrowding of houses let in lodgings continues to get worse and that local authorities can only deal with the problems which arise by having the powers to compel the registration of these houses before they are let in lodgings, and the right to en force standards regarding the numbers of lodgers and the amount of sanitary provisions in respect of each such house; and if he will therefore introduce amending legislation to implement, with out delay, legislation already on the Statute Book but not due to be implemented before 1965.

This was very thoroughly discussed in last year's debates on the Housing Act of 1961. The urgent need is to tackle the bad cases already known, not to draw up lists.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has yet come to a decision about building a new town for 60,000 people near Dawley in Shropshire; and if he will now make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the average time taken by his Department to confirm a clearance area order after an inquiry has been held.

Excluding a very few cases where exceptional difficulties arise, the average time taken between inquiry and decision for orders made under slum clearance powers is just over three months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish a list of the local authorities with the worst slum problems with whom he proposes to start discussions for forward programmes for the replacement of slums on an increasing scale.

A list of 50 authorities with a long slum clearance task was published in the White Paper "Housing in England and Wales" (Cmnd. 1290) in February, 1961. I cannot yet say with which authorities I shall have discussions for the position is now being examined to see where these seem to be most needed. In any case discussions between authorities and the Department go on all the time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many improvement grants have been made in England and in Wales, respectively, up to the latest convenient date.

Up to 31st January, 1962, grants had been approved in respect of 477,444 dwellings in England, and 28,054 in Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many Welsh local authorities at present advance money to assist house purchasers; how many local authorities in Wales have ceased to make such advances; and if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the local authorities in each category.

Of the 168 housing authorities in Wales, 149 have participated in the scheme for advances to assist house purchases. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of local authorities which have never operated this scheme. I have no up-to-date information about authorities now operating the scheme: authorities are not required to tell me when they stop lending.

List of non-participating authorities
Abergele U.D.C.	Maelor R.D.C.
Aled R.D.C.	Nant Conway R.D.C.
Ammonford U.D.C.	Narberth U.D.C.
Bettws-Y-Coed U.D.C.	Ogwen R.D.C.
Buckley U.D.C.	Pembroke R.D.C
Cemaes R.D.C.	Rhymney U.D.C
Conway B.C.	Ruthin B.C.
Llandovery B.C.	Ruthin R.D.C.
Llangollen U.D.C.	Tregaron R.D.C.
Lleyn R.D.C.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he recently authorised council tenant councillors on the Manchester City Council to vote on the subject of municipal rents and thus placed them in a position to secure that the Manchester Corporation retain council rents at their present heavily subsidised level.

These dispensations were given because there was a possibility of the adoption of a policy to which the majority of the council was opposed. It has been the declared policy of successive Ministers to give sympathetic consideration to applications for dispensations in these circumstances. In considering such applications, it would be quite wrong for my right hon. Friend to concern himself with the merits of the matters in issue.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he will take to alleviate the Birmingham housing problem arising from his decision to reject the proposals, originating in his Department, for overspill development in Wythall; when he intends to take action to provide housing accommodation in new towns and new town development in the Midlands; and when Birmingham can expect to obtain the benefit of such accommodation.

I intend to take all possible steps in conjunction with Birmingham and the other local authorities concerned, to encourage expansion of selected towns beyond the green belt to receive overspill population. With regard to the possibility of a new town, I shall make an announcement as soon as possible, when the results of investigations now proceeding are available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were built by private enterprise in 1960, and in 1961; and how many of these were built for sale and how many for renting purposes.

162,100 houses were built privately in England and Wales in 1960 and 170,366 in 1961. I cannot say how many were built for sale and how many for renting.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the amount of subsidy paid to local authorities in 1960 and in 1961; and what was the amount received in repayments for housing from local authorities for the same years.

Housing subsidy payments to local authorities in England and Wales in 1959–60 and 1960–61 respectively amounted to £59,445,699 and £60,264,644. I understand that repayments to the Public Works Loan Board in the same years of loans for housing were £30,941,410 and £30,780,282.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement or issue a report on the progress of the Welsh Books Scheme to date.

My predecessor published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 28th March, 1961, a full statement on the working of the scheme from its inception in 1956. The answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aberavon (Mr. Morris) on 2nd March, 1962, contained information about progress in the current year and I cannot usefully add anything at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the Kenya Constitutional Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress of the Kenya Constitutional Conference.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. P. Wall) and the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. J. Stonehouse) on 22nd February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to safeguard markets in the United States of America for the West Indian sugar industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Somerset, North (Mr. Leather) and to the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs (Dr. A. Thompson) on 22nd February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his conversations with the Chief Minister of Uganda regarding the financial arrangements for compensation of expatriate civil servants.

The following is the statement which was issued at the conclusion of my talks with the Chief Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that five-and-a-half acres of Crown Land near Aberdeen Village, Hong Kong, have been leased for 21 years to a private company for the erection of a country club; what are the terms of this lease; and why it was sanctioned, in view of the fact that this land is one of the few hitherto unoccupied accessible building areas on this island.

5·2 acres of land were granted to the Hong Kong Country Club under a 21-year, non-renewable, recreational lease at an annual rent of $10 per acre. The site forms part of 21 acres reserved for various recreational purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how frequently the Hong Kong Governor's Advisory Committee on Corruption met during 1961.

Sixteen times.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Hong Kong Government have yet made a decision on the main recommendation of the Hong Kong Electricity Supply Commission's Report, dated January, 1960, to take into public ownership the two electricity supply companies in the Colony; and whether an alternative arrangement has been concluded.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of the 23rd November, 1961.

asked the Minister of Works if he will arrange for technical inquiries to be made and a report prepared on the need for the replacement of the annunciators in the House of Commons and the installation required for televising the names and times by wire into every large room where hon. Members assemble, including the Westminster Hall Committee Room, so that a larger number of people can see and hear the proceedings of the House of Commons when the numbers of people applying for admission require it.

The existing annunciators will need to be replaced in a year or two and I have already considered preliminary technical reports on alternative systems to provide the same service. I propose to arrange immediately after the Easter Recess a demonstration of a closed circuit television system, so that hon. Members can compare the two systems working simultaneously.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet replied to the letter of 9th February, 1962, from the Post Office Engineering Union, which contained proposals about the way in which the dispute between the union and his Department could be brought to an end.

Yes.

asked the Postmaster-General if, under Section 9 (4) of the Television Act, 1954, he will direct the Independent Television Authority to build television booster stations in areas where reception is bad, particularly in Sheffield, Bradford and other northern towns, which will then eliminate the need for large outside television aerials and consequently reduce the hazard from strong winds and gales.

The I.T.A. are within sight of completing their main station network and are now preparing plans for satellite stations to improve and extend their coverage. They have told my right hon. Friend that they are aware of the reception difficulties in Sheffield and will bear its needs in mind in future planning. The I.T.A. say that reception in Bradford is generally satisfactory. If the hon. Member has any other particular place in mind my right hon. Friend will gladly look into the matter. My right hon. Friend does not think that any direction from him is necessary.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether the services of the Overseas Services Resettlement Bureau are extended to officers who have worked on contract for local government bodies in Colonial and ex-Colonial Territories, and who lose their jobs because of policies of localisation.

No. The Bureau supplements the Ministry of Labour employment

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN THE KIRKCALDY, BUCKHAVEN AND METHIL, AND BURNTISLAND AREAS
—		12th February, 1962		13th February, 1961
		Males	Females	Males	Females
Kirkcaldy E.E. and Y.E.O.	…	469	498	383	443
Leven and Methil E.E. and Buckhaven Y.E.O.	…	474	392	384	391
Burntisland E.E.	…	40	53	54	38

asked the Minister of Labour why the number of unemployed registered at the Brixton Employment Exchange has risen from 2,085 to 2,773 during the past year.

Over a third of the increase was in construction and most of the remainder in distributive trades and amongst workers without recent industrial experience.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of students admitted to first degree courses in October, 1961; and what was the number from overseas.

Thirty-one thousand six hundred and seventy-one. The proportion of overseas students in this number was between 10 and 11 per cent. Not all the overseas students entered direct from overseas.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the male and female unemployment figures for the Kirkcaldy, Buckhaven and Methil, and Burntisland areas at the latest convenient date, and the corresponding figures for the same date last year.

The reply is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, since the wage pause and the variations made in the awards of some joint industrial committees, there has been reduced confidence in such tribunals; and if he will give an assurance that all such tribunals will now be free to decide on the merits of any case made out by the parties concerned.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to arbitration tribunals. Arbitration tribunals are completely independent. As the Government have made clear in the White Paper on Incomes Policy, they attach great importance to the maintenance of arbitration and the continued independence of arbitrators in making their awards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industries and extensions to existing industries are expected in the Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Washington areas during 1962.

I cannot foretell.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of cameras, based on selling price, sold in the United Kingdom during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1961; and what was the value of cameras assembled in this country and made from British manufactured components.

The information asked for is not available, but manufacturers' sales of cameras, other than cinematograph cameras, to the home market in the 12 months ended September, 1961, at manufacturers' selling prices were £1,699,000. In the same period imports at c.i.f. prices were £2,891,000.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will now state what investigations he has carried out in order to ascertain the extent of constitutional change that will be necessary in the United Kingdom, in the event of Her Majesty's Government's application for full membership of the European Economic Community reaching a satisfactory conclusion.

This question is under consideration. Much will, of course, depend on the exact terms of the Agreement governing our accession.

asked the Prime Minister what further consideration he has given to the petition of Daphne H. English and others on the matter of nuclear tests; and what reply he has sent.

I have today sent a reply to the petition to which the hon. Gentleman refers. If the organisers wish to publish my reply when they receive it, I for my part would certainly have no objection.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many boys and men offered themselves for service in each of the branches of the lower deck during 1961; and how many were accepted.

16,933 applied for entry as R.N. ratings during 1961, of whom 6,070 were accepted. Many applicants are not sure which branch they wish to enter and the total cannot therefore be subdivided by branch. The following is the allocation of the acceptances by branch:

—	Allocation of R.N. Rating Recruits, 1961, by Branch
	Juniors (U)	Adults and Juniors (O)
Seaman	1,210	503
T.C.O.	—	28
R.C.O.	—	122
M.(E)	595	826
N. Airman	—	52
N.A.M.	103	136
Electrical	447	666
Writers	—	102
Stores	34	110
Cooks	136	242
Stewards	—	145
Sick Berth	—	61
Artificers (D.E.)	—	10
Mechanicians (D.E.)	—	2
Artificer Apprentices	—	476
Mechanician Apprentices	—	64
	2,525	3,545
Total	6,070

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of Her Majesty's ships in commission and the number of men serving in them at the latest convenient date.

202 ships, excluding auxiliaries, and 37,103 naval personnel as at 1st March, 1962. The latter figure does not include operational units of the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Marine Commandos not actually embarked.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when the frigate H.M.S. "Porlock Bay" is to be sold to Finland; and what amount has been paid by the Finnish Government for this ship.

The proposed sale of H.M.S. "Porlock Bay" to the Finnish Government is still under discussion. If a sale is concluded the price would be confidential, in accordance with normal practice.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what was the original cost of H.M.S. "Porlock Bay"; what was the cost of her refits in 1949, 1953 and 1956; and how much was spent in maintaining her in reserve from 1949 to 1961.

The original cost of H.M.S. "Porlock Bay" was £354,685 and the cost of her subsequent refits were:

1949	…	…	£28,000
1953	…	…	£56,571
1956	…	…	£450,678

Excluding refitting costs, the cost of maintaining her since she was placed in Reserve in 1953 was £143,000.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty for how long H.M.S. "Porlock Bay" was in active commission with the Royal Navy.

H.M.S. "Porlock Bay" was in active commission with the Royal Navy for over seven years.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many of Her Majesty's ships are not shown in the strength of the fleet table in the 1962–63 Explanatory Statement to the Navy Estimates; and which are in reserve awaiting disposal.

Apart from a few non-operational ships which are used for experimental or other special purposes, the strength of the fleet tables in the Explanatory Statement show all of Her Majesty's ships.It is contrary to practice to reveal the number of ships in reserve awaiting disposal.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what approach has been made to his Department by the Portuguese Government recently for the purchase of either H.M. Frigate "St. Brides Bay" or "Cardigan Bay".

None.

asked the Minister of Education how many swimming pools have been provided in new school buildings in the last five years; and what were the types of schools involved.

Twenty-six covered and heated swimming pools have been completed in new maintained schools, all secondary; 37 more are under construction. Many open-air pools have been provided in both primary and secondary schools but details are not available.

asked the Minister of Education what were the total numbers of students admitted to courses equivalent to first degree courses at Loughborough College of Technology in October, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961, respectively; and, for each year, what number came from overseas.

The number of first-year students at the beginning of each academic year is shown below. The number of overseas students in their first-year is not known, but the table shows the number of overseas students in all years compared with the total number of students in the college. The figures for 1957–58 include a small number taking courses below degree level.

		(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
—		1st year students	All students	Overseas students included in (b)	(c) as a percentage of (b)
1957–58	…	378	930*	348	37·4
1958–59	…	288	879	290	33·0
1959–60	…	245	908	227	25·0
1960–61	…	267	867	170	19·6
1961–62	…	349	943	147	15·6
* Includes 105 taking courses below degree level.

The college's policy is understood to be to hold the percentage at about the present figure, which is above the average for the colleges of advanced technology as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total amount deducted from general practitioners' remuneration in the Middlesex area for medical services defence funds for each of the last three years.

These are voluntary deductions made at the request of the practitioners and I do not consider myself at liberty to disclose the amounts.

SCHOOL SWIMMING POOLS IN SCOTLAND PROVISION SINCE 1ST JANUARY, 1957
Education Authority	Completed				Under Construction
	In new schools		In extensions		In new schools		In extensions
	Senior Secondary	Junior Secondary	Senior Secondary	Junior Secondary	Senior Secondary	Junior Secondary	Senior Secondary	Junior Secondary
Fife	3	1	—	1	1	2	—	—
Caithness	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Midlothian	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Stirling	1	—	1	—	2	—	—	—
Sutherland	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Aberdeen Burgh	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—
Dundee	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Edinburgh	—	1	—	—	2	—	—	—
Glasgow	1	1	—	1	1	1	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Glasgow solicitors, as from 1st March, have elected not to give legal aid to first

asked the Minister of Health, upon what date he approved the building of a new hospital at Wythenshawe, Manchester; what was then the estimated cost; how many changes of plan have occurred since his original approval; and what is now the estimated cost of the completed project.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on 30th January and 6th February, 1961. The present total estimated cost is about £3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of the number of swimming pools which have been incorporated in new school buildings during the last five years, the types of schools involved, and the local education authority in each case.

The following table gives the required information. In addition to school swimming pools listed, 23 more are at various stages of planning.offenders appearing in court on a criminal charge who have not been admitted to the benefits of the Sheriff Court (Scotland) Act, 1907; and if he will now take steps to introduce at an early date a legal aid scheme which will provide for such offenders.

I understand that the agents for the poor in the Glasgow Sheriff Court have decided to satisfy themselves as to the circumstances of applicants for their services. As regards the second part of the Question, I refer the hon. Member to my Reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Stodart) on 19th December. I am afraid that there is no prospect of legislation for this purpose in the current session of Parliament.

Station		1959		1960		1961
		(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Aden and Bahrein	…	14	—	30	—	16	1
Australia	…	2	—	—	—	1	—
Belgium	…	3	—	1	1	—	—
Canada see North America	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Caribbean	…	—	—	4	1	—	—
Ceylon	…	1	—	—	—	—	—
Christmas Island	…	1	—	—	—	—	—
Congo	…	—	—	—	—	2	—
Cyprus see Near East	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Denmark	…	—	—	1	—	1	1
East Africa	…	7	—	8	—	15	—
Eire	…	—	—	1	—	—	—
Far East	…	56	1	51	5	57	1
France	…	1	—	1	—	3	—
Germany	…	87	14	95	20	75	18
Gibraltar	…	3	—	—	—	4	—
Holland	…	1	—	3	—	—	—
Malta see Near East	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Mediterranean	…	15	—	16	—	7	—
Near East	…	37	4	44	2	42	1
Nepal	…	—	—	1	—	—	—
New Zealand	…	—	—	1	—	—	—
North Africa	…	3	1	3	—	2	—
North America	…	—	—	2	—	1	—
Norway	…	1	1	1	—	4	—
Pakistan	…	—	—	—	—	1	—
Sardinia	…	—	—	—	—	1	—
South Africa	…	—	—	2	—	—	—
South Atlantic	…	1	—	5	—	2	—
Spain	…	—	—	1	—	—	—
Sudan	…	5	—	—	—	—	—
Sweden	…	1	—	—	—	—	—
Switzerland	…	—	—	1	—	—	—
U.S.A. see North America	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
U.S.S.R.	…	—	—	1	1	—	—
West Africa	…	—	—	2	—	1	—
West Europe	…	5	1	3	1	4	—
West Indies	…	—	—	2	—	2	—
TOTALS	…	244	22	280	31	241	22
(a) Deaths.
(b) Remains repatriated.

asked the Minister of Defence how many members of the three Services were killed or died in stations outside the United Kingdom in the years 1959, 1960 and 1961, respectively, stating in what stations the deaths occurred and in how many cases the remains were repatriated.

The information is below.