asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state his reasons for appointing Mr. Kenneth Keith as part-time Deputy Chairman of British European Airways.

Because I think Mr. Keith's outstanding business abilities make him a most suitable replacement for Sir John Keeling, who retired as Deputy Chairman of B.E.A. in September.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to maintain air services between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and prevent the disruption of such services by one-day strikes; if he will consider the use in such circumstances of other airfields in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement about the progress that is being made to settle the wages dispute at Aldergrove civil airport.

I deeply regret the serious inconvenience caused to the public by the unofficial strike on 12th November at Aldergrove and some other Ministry Airports.Services quickly returned to normal and the men agreed to resume normal work whilst negotiations were in progress. Such negotiations are proceeding.I hope that further strikes will not occur but if they should do so I will certainly consider any proposals put to me by airlines for the use of other airfields.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to safeguard the payment of pensions to Rhodesian Government pensioners resident in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.The British Government have taken no action which would interfere with the payment of pensions to Rhodesians resident in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of Her Majesty's Government's assumption of lawful responsibility for Southern Rhodesia, if Her Majesty's Government will now assume responsibility for the servicing and redemption of all outstanding loans incurred by former Governments of Southern Rhodesia.

No. Her Majesty's Government have assumed no additional responsibility for Southern Rhodesia. The servicing and redemption of all outstanding loans lawfully incurred by the legal Government of Southern Rhodesia, and its predecessors, remain the responsibility of that Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Durham on the use he makes of police dogs to intimidate or attack persons already in custody.

My hon. Friend has been good enough to send me the Press cutting on which he has based his Question. It relates to an altogether exceptional case. I understand from the Chief Constable of Durham that on medical advice it was necessary to remove to hospital from a police cell a very violent prisoner who had armed himself with a length of timber ripped from the fittings of the cell. In the confined space it was found impossible for police officers to approach him and disarm him without the risk of serious injury. A police dog was able to wrest the wood from the prisoner and confine him in one corner of the cell, when police officers were able, although not without great difficulty, to remove him to hospital. The dog was at all times under control, and at no stage did he attack the prisoner. I understand that when the case was dealt with at Durham Quarter Sessions the Deputy Chairman expressed the view that the use of the dog in these circumstances had been justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received the report of the Standing Committee on Dangerous Substances relating to the carriage by road of dangerous substances; if he will now advise local authorities and other interested bodies on matters relating to the control of dangerous substances in the interests of public safety; and if he will make a statement.

The Committee held its first meeting on 13th September, 1965, and decided to set up technical subcommittees to deal, respectively, with the packaging, loading and labelling of dangerous substances, with the operation of vehicles conveying them, and with the construction of such vehicles. The Committee, whose field includes many hundreds of dangerous substances, has decided to concentrate first on the control of the carriage by road of some 70 inflammable liquids. As soon as the technical sub-committees have made sufficient progress my right hon. and learned Friend expects the Committee to recommend what action should then be taken. The local authorities and industry, as well as the Government Departments concerned, are represented on this advisory body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those countries whose citizens have automatically become citizens of their new country, as described in his booklet, British Nationality and Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, when their citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies has been withdrawn following the grant of independence to a British territory.

Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies was withdrawn by Acts of Parliament from persons automatically becoming citizens of the following countries:

• Ghana.
• Nigeria.
• Cyprus.
• Sierra Leone.
• Tanganyika.
• Jamaica.
• Trinidad and Tobago.
• Uganda.
• The Federation of Malaysia.
• Zanzibar.
• Kenya.
• Malawi.
• Zambia.
• Malta.
• The Gambia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what classes of people have, by reason of a special connection with the United Kingdom, as described in his booklet, British Nationality and Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, retained citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies, instead of becoming citizens of their new country, when the country concerned has achieved independence.

Independence Acts have usually included a provision to the effect that a person who would otherwise cease to be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies on becoming a citizen of the newly independent colony shall not cease to be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies if he, his father, or his father's father, was born, naturalised or registered in the United Kingdom or in a remaining colony, and that a woman who is the wife of a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies shall not cease to be such a citizen in this way unless her husband does so.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of public telephone kiosks damaged and out of service owing to vandalism in the area covered by the county borough of Stockport; what percentage this represents of the total number; and what steps he is taking to put them in order and thus provide a full public service.

40, which represents 30 per cent., but all can be used for emergency calls.In view of the general amount of damage which affects areas in various parts of the country, some equipment is unfortunately in short supply and it is necessary to consider priorities of need. In determining these, we take account of the availability of other kiosks in the vicinity, but, in general, we try to put kiosks back in full working order as soon as we can.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total value, at the latest convenient date, of capital works in progress of the Central Electricity Generating Board.

On 31st March, 1965, the figure was £775 million.

asked the Minister of Transport if, so as to avoid the additional expenditure which would be incurred by

I am at present considering the whole problem of fog accidents on motorways and I shall make a statement as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many classes were in excess of 40 students in primary schools in the West Riding of Yorkshire and the Wakefield City education authority areas, respectively, in 1961 to 1965, respectively;(2) how many classes were in excess of 30 students in secondary schools in the West Riding and in the Wakefield City education authority areas, respectively, in 1961 to 1965, respectively;(3) what was the national average number of students per class in primary and secondary schools, respectively, in 1961 to 1965, respectively;(4) how many classes were in excess of 40 in primary schools and in excess of 30 in secondary schools, respectively, in 1961 to 1965, respectively.

The Table below gives the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will review the regulations for the transport of schoolchildren, and particularly for those living in rural areas.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of grammar school places available at the beginning of the 1965 school year in the county of Nottingham; and what percentage this represented in relation to the number of children involved in the 11-plus selection.

The statistics collected by my Department do not enable me to provide this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what research he is pursuing into the use of the drug lysergic acid diethylamide as an agent in chemical

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the national average percentage of successful candidates in the 11-plus type of selection for the years 1961 to 1965, respectively;(2) what was the percentage of successful candidates in the 11-plus type of selection in the West Riding education authority area and in Wakefield City education authority area in the years 1961 to 1965, respectively.

The statistics collected by my Department do not enable me to provide the information. The table below, however, shows the distribution of 13year-old pupils, between different types of schools, in the last five years:warfare; and what stocks of this drug he is holding for this purpose.

An important aspect of our Research and Development effort is the study of means of defence against chemical agents which might be used against our forces. Lysergic acid diethylamide is one of a number of substances which are being looked at from this point of view. It would not be in the public interest to say what stocks are held.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has in regard to the stockpiling and threat of the use of the drug lysergic acid diethylamide as an agent of chemical warfare by other countries.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose such information.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware of the uncertainty felt by members of the Territorial Army regarding Government policy; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

Government policy for the Territorial Army was explained by my right hon. Friend in his statement on 29th July. Since then discussions have proceeded with the Territorial Army Council, and my right hon. Friend will shortly be presenting a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what starting date he has approved for the new secondary school urgently needed to replace Airdrie High School, which is obsolete and overcrowded.

The education authority is reviewing its earlier proposals for this school in the light of its decision to reorganise secondary education in the Airdrie area on comprehensive lines. Firm forecasts about the building work involved are not yet possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers over the age of fifty-five years are teaching in primary and secondary schools, respectively; and what these figures represent as a percentage of the actual approved teaching establishment.

The following table shows the position in relation to teachers in public and grant-aided schools in October, 1964, the latest date for which figures are available:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what starting date he has now approved for the replacement of the road bridge at Calder Street, Whifflet, which is sub-standard and a hazard to road users; and what is the estimated cost of the project.

The town council has been told that this scheme may go ahead in 1966 at an estimated cost of £40,000, and that it may appoint a firm of consultant engineers for the detailed preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students he estimates will leave colleges of education in Scotland at the next leaving date; and how this number compares with the estimated number of vacancies.

Some 3,500 students are likely to complete their courses of training at the Scottish colleges of education by the end of the current session. The number of vacancies cannot be estimated at this stage but the need for teachers will still be much in excess of the supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many honours graduates and ordinary graduates left Glasgow University in each of the last five years; and how many entered colleges of education.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will take steps to abolish the earnings rule for the considerable volume of married women who have been deserted by their husbands.

The earnings rule only applies to such women if they are between the ages of 60 and 65 and are drawing retirement pensions. The conditions are the same for all retirement pensioners and I do not think I could attempt to draw distinctions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the number of 100 per cent. new assessments of disability for byssinosis under the Industrial Injuries Acts, for men and women workers, respectively, made in the years ended 30th September 1963, 1964 and 1965, respectively.

For men, the numbers were 4, 1 and 0, and for women, 1, 1, and 0.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the percentage of contributions to the National Insurance Fund borne by the Exchequer in the years 1949, 1964 and 1965, respectively.

About 27 per cent. and 15 per cent. in 1949–50 and 1964–65 respectively, and an estimated 16 per cent. in 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the value of the investments representing the National Insurance Fund at the most recent convenient date for computation; and what was the original cost of such investments.

As at 31st March, 1965, about £170 million in each case; and for the Reserve Fund about £866 million and £1,168 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people on average are affected yearly by the reduction in benefits of patients after a long stay in hospital as set out in leaflet N.I. 9; what is the total amount of benefits withheld; what is the cost involved in administering the reductions; and whether the amounts withheld are paid over to the hospitals concerned.

I regret that the precise information asked for is not available. It is estimated that the number of persons whose National Insurance benefit is reduced under these provisions at any point of time is of the order of 130,000 and that the amount involved in a year is about £17 million. It is not possible to isolate the cost of administering the reductions.As regards the last part of the Question, the hospital expenses fall on public funds and no adjustment is made on account of the reductions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of raising the widows' proportion of public service pensions from one-third to one-half.

About £7 million in the first year, rising rapidly thereafter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would have been the yield of Corporation Tax at 35 per cent., 36 per cent., 37 per cent., 38 per cent., 39 per cent., and 40 per cent. and the yield of Income Tax at standard rates of 7s., 7s. 3d., 7s. 6d., 7s. 9d., 8s. and 8s. 3d., all for the financial years 1964–65 and 1965–66.

Any calculations would be unrealistic unless they made assumptions about the likely effect of Corporation Tax and Income Tax at various levels on such variables as the level of dividends and of capital investment by companies. As these assumptions would be highly speculative and as the calculations would involve a disproportionate amount of work, I regret that I cannot give the information asked for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of Command Paper No. 2764, The National Plan, and of the popular version have been sold; how many copies of each of the issues still remain in stock; and what is the total of cash receipts compared with cost of production.

The Answer is as follows: