asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the number of Russian medium-range missiles targeted on Western Europe, including Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

Published estimates put the number of Soviet missiles with this capability at between 700 and 750.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the letter of the Minister for Defence for the Royal Air Force announcing the withdrawal of the Royal Air Force from land at High Ercall earlier this year, when he has arranged for the sale to take place; and whether the previous owners of the land will have the first refusal.

A public sale of most of the land will be held in the spring. The previous owners of the agricultural land will be given first refusal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Admiralty orders for new ships are pending; and if he will take steps to ensure that, in awarding new contracts, consideration is given to avoiding redundancies in shipyards located in areas of persistently high unemployment.

Tenders have been obtained for Leander Class frigates and fleet support ships. All firms with the necessary qualifications were invited to compete. In accordance with normal practice, orders would be placed with the lowest bidders who are considered capable of completing the job satisfactorily. As my right hon. Friend indicated to the House on 30th November last year, firms in areas of under-employment have equal opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is proposed to equip the Armed Forces at some future date with armoured weapon-carrying helicopters similar to those deployed by the United States forces in South Vietnam.

There are no plans to do so at present but the question of helicopter employment is being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now settle the claim for disablement benefit for case No. 239/65 which has been the subject of correspondence since April between the Navy Department and the hon. Member for Goole.

I have already written to my hon. Friend about this. The employee concerned has been awarded an allowance under the Injury Warrant which I trust will be satisfactory to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give additional support to the Armed Forces of the Government of South Vietnam, in view of the intensification of the fighting there.

We provide no military support now, and we have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many tests of components of nuclear warheads have been conducted by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Government since 15th October, 1964, and on what dates.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Prime Minister last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the approximate total cost of maintaining the British Army of the Rhine and the Royal Air Force in Germany, including the maintenance of dependants there, German civilians employed and all overheads; how much of this is in Deutsch-marks; and if in his defence review he will consider reductions in the strength of this force.

On the latest estimate, our forces in Germany will cost this year about £190 million, of which about £85 million will be in foreign currency. I am examining all aspects of defence deployment and policy in the course of the Defence Review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what length of time he estimates it will take between the placing of an order for a new aircraft-carrier and its delivery to the fleet.

From ordering to acceptance from the builder is expected to take just under six years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the kiloton range of the latest nuclear test explosion carried out by Her Majesty's Government.

The explosion was of low intermediate yield.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many unestablished civilian employees will be affected by his decision on the Joint Anti-Submarine School at Londonderry; and how many of these have less than five years' service.

As far as we can see at this stage, and in the light of our latest information, the numbers so affected will be of the order of 180. Of these, approximately 120 will have less than five years' service.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated saving as a percentage of the total defence budget, of moving the Joint-Anti-Submarine Training School at Londonderry to the South Coast.

In money, one-fortieth of 1 per cent. There are other savings, and other advantages.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has formed of the effect on civilian employment of his proposals for the Territorial Army in Northern Ireland, Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom.

It is not yet possible to make a reliable estimate.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for a motorway spur from the M.6 to the City of Liverpool.

I hope to reach conclusions soon on the proposals for a South Lancashire motorway that the Lancashire County Council have put to me.

asked the Minister of Transport what lessons have been learnt by the failure to construct the M.1 to an adequate standard in the first place; and how these lessons are being applied.

The current standard specification for motorways provides for a completely impervious surface, a stronger base, more elaborate drainage and wider and stronger hard shoulders. The need for these has been demonstrated by experience with M.1.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will reconsider his decision on the imposition of a 30 miles per hour speed limit through the village of King's Somborne.

If the Hampshire County Council feel that any changes in the restricted lengths of road in the village are necessary, I shall be glad to consider their proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will adopt the plan of the Roads Campaign Council to extend the projected M.3 motorway from Basingstoke to Exeter; and when route planning will begin.

My Department's studies of the improvements of interurban roads that will be needed in the 1970s should be ready during next year. The nature and timing of any improvement between Basingstoke and Exeter will depend on the outcome of these studies.

asked the Minister of Transport how many acres of good agricultural land are being wasted because the boundary fences are being placed at the widest possible place along the new trunk roads instead of nearer the road edge; if he will take steps to end this wastage; and if he will make a statement.

None. Grass verges must be wide enough to ensure good visibility, to provide an emergency stopping place and to accommodate statutory undertakers' apparatus. I do not acquire more land than is needed.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the London-Birmingham-Coventry motorway has been subject to any form of repair since the road was opened; what has been the total cost of repairs carried out on it; and how much of this total cost has been recovered from the original contractors.

The greater part of the £3 million spent so far is for improvements to bring the motorway up to current standards. Also, on the 55 mile asphalt section, the whole of the slow lane and parts of the middle and fast lanes are being reconstructed. Defects in the carriageways proved to be due to some features of the specification. No recovery has therefore been sought from the original contractors. About two-thirds of the repair work has been done.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate was made of the likely cost of repairs on the London-Birmingham-Coventry motorway when the motorway was initially opened.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the construction of new motorways will not be carried out in such a way that their eventual users are constantly inconvenienced by substantial maintenance works.

New motorways are built to a much more exacting specification than was used for the first section of M.1.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the names and classifications of the roads which he has selected as the access roads to Dawley New Town; on what date he informed the development corporation and the planning authority; and what improvements have been made on those roads he selected.

The principal roads leading to Dawley New Town are trunk roads A.5 and A.464 and the Class 1 road A.442.Since Dawley New Town was designated, improvements costing £300,000 have been made on A.5 east of Oaken-gates to the county boundary, on A.464 between A.5 and the county boundary and on A.442 between its junction with A.41 in the north and the Worcestershire boundary.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the increasing congestion of traffic on the A.25, when he hopes to reach a decision on the south orbital road and when he hopes to begin work on any sections he may have approved.

I hope before very long to be able to make a general statement on my plans for this road. Work is expected to start on the three sections already programmed during the years 1966–67 and 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in the provision of a pedestrian footbridge over the A.1 at Darrington.

The design of the footbridge is being prepared by the West Riding County Council, my agent authority. Provided there are no difficulties over acquiring the necessary land, construction work should start in the late spring.

asked the Minister of Transport if the survey of the A.38 between Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth has now been completed; and when work on the proposed motorway between Bristol and Exeter will commence.

No. But I expect to receive early in the new year a report giving the results of the traffic survey and recommending what form the new road between East Brent and Exeter should take. A detailed engineering survey will then be needed. Work could not start before the early 1970s.

asked the Minister of Transport when the necessary compulsory purchase order will be made so that work may commence to fence the A.30 between Launceston and Bodmin.

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources. We shall publish the required draft compulsory purchase order and notice of intention to give a certificate in connection with the common land affected by this scheme as soon as the status and extent of the land concerned have been determined.

asked the Minister of Transport what road schemes in Lancashire and Cheshire have been delayed in connection with the recent proposals for reducing immediate capital commitments; whether he will give an assurance that none of these will be delayed for more than six months; and whether he will give the revised starting date of each.

The following is a list of those new construction and major improvement schemes costing over £100,000 in Lancashire and Cheshire which had target starting dates between last August and next January and which have been deferred. The revised target starting dates are given. The deferment on account of the Government's temporary restriction on public expenditure is for six months only.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the mileage of trunk roads in England that have been reduced in status to classified roads due to the opening of motorways in the vicinity of such roads, for each year, respectively, since 1959.

The following table sets out the lengths of trunk road that have been detrunked as a result of motorway construction:

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the recent increase in heavy traffic on the A.68 at Witton-le-Wear, if he will give priority to the construction of the proposed by-pass.

I have no evidence of any exceptional increase in heavy traffic at Witton-le-Wear, but the bypass proposed by Durham County Council, as highway authority, will be considered for a future extension of the classified road programme.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether in severe fog he will temporarily close the motorways;(2) what long-term measures he has to limit crashes in fog on the motorways;(3) whether he is prepared to put a 65 miles per hour maximum speed limit on motorways.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him and my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) today and to my Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, West (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 17th November.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, with a view to avoiding traffic congestion in the central area of major cities, he will introduce legislation to provide for Christmas street illuminations to be limited to a short period and not turned on until after a reasonable hour in the evening.

No. This is essentially a matter for decision first by the local traffic authorities and traders.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have been reported to his Department in the past year of sections of prefabricated buildings falling from their transporters while on the highway.

I know about the two of which the hon. Member informed my hon. Friend, but about no others. Such occurrences are not specified in the road accident reports made to my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with the London Transport Board with a view to finding a solution of the Board's financial difficulties, so as to avoid a further increase in fares.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne, West (Mr. Popplewell) on 23rd June, we have been undertaking a thorough examination of the conditions under which the London Transport Board operate. This has involved discussions with the Board over the whole range of their present and prospective problems, financial and operational. I hope to make a statement about the outcome soon.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received to ease the traffic congestion of London during the pre-Christmas holiday period.

The Greater London Council, who are the traffic authority for London and are responsible, with the police, for considering proposals of this sort, announced their Christmas traffic arrangements on 18th November.

asked the Minister of Transport what new proposals he has for the relief of traffic congestion in London which are expected to be put in hand during the next 12 months.

Managing London's traffic is now the responsibility of the Greater London Council. So it is for them to work out and implement measures to improve traffic conditions in their area. They are also the highway authority for the roads which form the main routes.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of diesel engine vehicles stopped by his Department's examiners have been found to be emitting an unacceptable amount of noxious smoke.

This information is not available. It would have little significance, as many of the vehicles were stopped because they were seen to be smoking excessively. Of about 75,000 diesel vehicles observed during special smoke checks in 1965, nearly 8 per cent. were smoking badly enough to warrant prohibition notices. This compares with a little under 9 per cent. in special smoke checks in 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now reached a decision on future capital expenditure on traffic signs in view of the problems that the delay is causing to manufacturers.

No decision has yet been taken by the Government on the future of the arrangements for deferring public expenditure which were announced by the Chancellor in his statement to the House on 27th July last, but their working is being kept under review in the light of the prospective economic situation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to make compulsory the fitting of rear mudflaps on motor vehicles.

An investigation by the Road Research Laboratory has shown that mudflaps, with improved mudguards can reduce spray behind some commercial vehicles, but they are of little benefit on private cars, especially when travelling at speed.There is therefore no reason to make the fitting of mudflaps generally compulsory but we are seeking the co-operation of the motor industry in making improvements in commercial vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the Official Report such information about the acquisitions which have been made by the Transport Holding Company in each of the last three 12-month periods to the latest convenient date, about the degree of control held in these companies, about how many vehicles were involved in each case, and about the cost of acquisition in each case, as has already been made public.

I am informed by the Transport Holding Company that they have supplied information from time to time about the acquisitions by them of road haulage undertakings as shown in the table below. They do not normally provide information about the price paid for individual undertakings but, as I stated in the House during the debate on transport on 16th November, they have made acquisitions of private enterprise companies to the value of about £8 million. Following is the table:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to enable objectors at future Transport Users' Consultative Committee hearings to put questions relating to the finances of the particular rail service involved.

No. The Committee's statutory function, which I think is the right one, is to report to me only on the hardship resulting from a rail passenger closure and on the means of alleviating it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that existing conditions and the precautions taken at accommodation crossings on railway lines carrying fast main-line traffic are adequate to prevent the possibility of accident and to provide for the safety of railway passengers and traffic using such crossings; and if he will make a statement.

There has been no recent deterioration in the safety record at such crossings but modern conditions require greater vigilance on the part of users. There are some 16,000 of these crossings and the only means of completely eliminating all risk of accidents would be to abolish them. My Department is, however, examining with the Railways Board, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the National Farmers' Union all practicable measures of improvement, including the provision of additional safeguards.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future prospects of the Manchester-Bury railway service in respect of which the Transport Users' Consultative Committee has reported to him.

I have only recently received the reports of the Committee on the Railway Board's proposals to withdraw certain passenger services on the lines linking Manchester, Bury, Bacup, Accrington and Rochdale.I shall reach my decisions as soon as I have completed my examination of their reports and all other relevant factors, but I cannot say just when this will be.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men were made redundant as a result of the railway closures in Buchan; how many were skilled, how many were unskilled; and how many were found alternative employment.

The details asked for are essentially matters of management. The hon. Member should, therefore, approach the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Aviation what are the maximum hours at one time during which an airline pilot can be on duty under his regulations.

The Air Navigation Order prescribes maxima only for flying duty periods, although, in order to prevent accumulation of fatigue, the operator is obliged to establish reasonable limits to duty periods during which a pilot is not called upon to fly. The maximum permitted flying duty in the case of a single pilot crew is 11 hours, which must be followed by at least 11 hours rest; in the case of a two-pilot crew, 16 hours, followed by at least 16 hours rest; and in the case of a three-pilot crew, 24 hours, followed by at least 32 hours rest. There is also an overall limit of 115 hours flying duty in any period of 28 consecutive days.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he expects to receive the Report of the Plowden Committee.

I expect to have the report from Lord Plowden within a day or so, and to publish it before Christmas.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that numbers of letters, on which the postage has deliberately not been prepaid, are being sent to hon. Members; and if he will take steps to prevent the inconvenience which this causes.

I am aware that a batch of some 200 such letters was recently sent to hon. Members at the House. The matter has been taken up with the sender who now understands that postage must be prepaid on letters sent to hon. Members.

asked the Postmaster-General why there is a shortage of telephone cables and exchange equipment in the Wetherby area; and when new subscribers in this area may expect to have telephones installed.

The exchange at Wetherby is exhausted due to the rapid development of the area. The shortage of cables has been remedied and an equipment extension is in hand. I hope this will be completed by the end of the year and that we shall then be able to begin to clear the waiting list.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his discussions whilst in New Zealand and Australia on the question of the lifting of the ban on the import to those countries of pedigree sheep from this country.

Although this question did not figure in my formal discussions with Australia and New Zealand Ministers, I took a number of opportunities of re-emphasising our interest in being able to export pedigree livestock, including sheep, to Australia and New Zealand. Both those countries, however, at present maintain a total ban on the importation of sheep because of the fear of introducing animal diseases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will increase the share of United Kingdom farmers under the Bacon Sharing Agreement.

Consultations with the seven other participating countries on the tonnage required in 1966–67 and its sources are not yet complete. My right hon. Friend will make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the uncertainty as to whether the river authorities or the drainage boards are responsible for clearing the pollution from small rivers, as indicated by the correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth, if he will give a direction on this point to water undertakers; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to the hon. Member about this case. I do not think there is any uncertainty about the respective roles of river authorities, who are the responsible bodies under the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Acts, and the internal drainage boards, which have no powers under those Acts but have discretionary powers to carry out works on watercourses in their area to improve drainage of land and to prevent flooding.Pollution legislation is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual number of ewes for which the half-rate subsidy is paid for all the years from the commencement of the scheme.

The number of ewes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for which the half-rate subsidy has been paid since 1943 is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number and nature of the representations, including that of the North-Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, which he has received about the dumping of industrial waste, both solid and liquid, in the North Sea to the detriment of the North Sea fishing industry; and what steps he has taken and plans to take to protect the fishing industry from these dangers'.

Powers to safeguard fisheries against the dumping of harmful industrial wastes are vested in Sea Fisheries Committees. We have received no recent representations but we are in frequent touch with these committees including the North Eastern Committee about the exercise of their powers. My Department is expanding its research into the possible effects of industrial waste materials on fisheries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken, following the representations made to him by the hon. Member for South-West Norfolk, to investigate the causes of anthrax outbreaks in this country and reduce their number.

Circumstantial evidence indicates contaminated feeding-stuffs as a source of anthrax. We are discussing with the industry the complex problems which have to be solved before any decision on further control can be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will revise the standard costs schedule for farm improvements, which rising prices have now made out of date.

It is our practice to make fresh standard cost regulations when there is sufficient evidence to warrant a full-scale revision.We are reviewing the effect of recent cost increases on the present rates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations he has made into the advisability of discouraging the burning of after-harvest straw; and, in view of the long-term effects of this practice, if, in the national interest, he will take steps to stimulate the saving of this commodity.

With our present high cereal acreage, the burning of straw is an economical practice. It must of course be conducted safely, and I would urge observance of the code of practice drawn up this year under the auspices of the National Farmers' Union. As regards the long-term effects of burning, a great deal of research has been done on straw disposal in relation to soil fertility. This has so far yielded no evidence of risk to fertility, but the subject is one for continuing study. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply to the right hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Sir W. Anstruther-Gray) on 26th July last on uses for straw.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will introduce legislation consequent on the Hunter Committee's Report.

I am awaiting the observations of many of the organisations I invited to comment, and I shall have to consider these carefully before taking any decision on legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he now proposes to publish the economic plan for Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's Answer to the hon. Members for Banff (Mr. Baker), Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Wolrige-Gordon), Berwick and East Lothian (Sir W. Anstruther-Gray) and South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 17th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the small increase in the population of Scotland between 1951 and 1961, as revealed in the present census return, what short-term proposals Her Majesty's Government have to remedy this situation.

The smallness of the increase in the population of Scotland between 1951 and 1961 was due to the high level of net emigration which, in turn, reflected chronic problems of unemployment, under-employment and structural imbalance in the Scottish economy in that period. The remedy lies not in short-term proposals but in long-term measures which will be set out in White Papers and legislation soon to be laid before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage in value of the Scottish road projects, which were due to be started in the six months from August, 1965, to January, 1966, is being deferred, including the trunk road schemes.

The percentage of trunk road schemes due to start in 1965–66, and of classified road schemes authorised for the same period which is being deferred, is 3·4 per cent. I regret that I cannot give a comparable figure for the six-month period requested by the hon. Member because local authorities do not report to me their planned starting dates for the classified road schemes on which grant has been authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the future of civil defence in Scotland.

I cannot add to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Sir W. Anstruther-Gray) on 17th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for in-service courses of training for serving teachers in primary schools in connection with the Scottish Education Department's revised memorandum on primary education in Scotland.

The colleges of education, in collaboration with education authorities, have already undertaken an extensive programme of conferences and courses for serving teachers and have further programmes planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for the future development of trunk roads south of Aberdeen.

Thirteen trunk road orders have been made reserving the line of diversions or improvements of trunk road A.92 in the Counties of Kincardine and Angus. The most important of these is the Lower North Water Bridge diversion at the county boundary. Some additional improvements, of which the most important is the Stonehaven bypass, are shown in the county development plans.No scheme on this road costing over £100,000 is included in the road programme up to 1970 but short sections are being improved as funds permit. Work will be starting very shortly on improvements at Cortens in Kincardineshire and West Newton in Angus.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will allow the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board a rate of capital expenditure which would enable it to complete the connection of electric supplies to remote areas in the Highlands.

I am glad to say that I am authorising the acceleration of this programme. The Board is spending £550,000 a year for the purpose. It will be authorised to reach a level of expenditure of £1 million a year in 1967–68 which would enable the programme to be completed about 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportions of students admitted to Scottish universities in the current academic year were English and Scottish, respectively.

The returns made by the universities do not include this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to implement the Report of the Interdepartmental Committee, under the Chairmanship of the right hon. Lord Donovan, on the Court of Criminal Appeal; and if he will make a statement.

The Government accept the recommendations contained in the Committee's Report and intend to introduce legislation to give effect to them as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what advice he will offer to British policemen, who have committed themselves to joining the Rhodesian police force, regarding their status.

This is a matter for the personal decision of the individuals concerned, but our advice would be to discourage them from joining the police in Rhodesia since they may find themselves placed in a position where it is difficult to avoid actively furthering the causes of the rebellion.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many purported appointments have been attempted or accepted of a chief justice or judge president under Clauses 59(1) and (3) of the so-called Constitution of Rhodesia, 1965.

So far as I know, none.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that future decisions of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council relating to Rhodesia will be enforced in that country.

This issue has not arisen, but we should of course urgently consider what steps might be taken should there be any question of Privy Council decisions not being enforced.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many men and women teachers, respectively, left the teaching profession during the year ended 31st August 1965; and how many of these were normal retirements because of age.

The latest available information relates to the year 1st April, 1963, to 31st March, 1964. The estimated number of full-time teachers who left the principal sectors of the education service in England and Wales in that period is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the age limit for intending teachers in further education at colleges of technical education is 45.

The Department's regulations prescribe no upper age limit for entry to the colleges of education (technical) and though the colleges aim normally to recruit students below 45 years of age, they are in fact prepared to consider applicants who are older than this. Fifty-four such students are attending the colleges this year.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a state-

asked the Ministry of Labour (1) what is the net rise in employment figures in Scotland since 1945;(2) how many new jobs have been created by Government action in Scotland since the end of the war.

The only comprehensive information as to the net increase in

Following is the information:the number of jobs is derived from changes in the estimated number of employees in employment, and owing to the considerable extension of National Insurance in 1948, comparable estimates of employment are available only from that year. Between 1948 and 1964, there was a net increase of about 81,000 in the numbers of employees in employment in Scotland. It is not practicable to say how many of these jobs were created by Government action.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will seek to amend the earnings rule for widows to include the widows who have only been married three years but whose retirement pension is subject to the earnings rule.

The earnings rule applies to all women between 60 and 65 who are drawing retirement pensions and I do not think that I could attempt to draw distinctions. On the other hand widows' pensions are not subject to the earnings rule, whatever the duration of the recipient's marriage.

asked the Minister of Power what increase per unit of electricity for private consumption has been made in the last 12 months; and what is the percentage increase in tariffs in the area covered by each of the electricity boards.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Power if he will set out the average percentage reduction of capacity encoun- tered in November, 1952, to 1965 owing to overhaul of generating plant.

The information is not readily available for the early years of the period. The percentages for the years 1958 to 1965 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Power if he will set out the percentage growth of unit sales of electricity compared with the percentage growth of manpower within the Central Electricity Generating Board over the period 1952 to 1964.

Figures on a comparable basis are not readily available for the whole of the period, but between 1958 and 1964, sales of electricity by Electricity Boards in England and Wales increased by 66 per cent. and the manpower of the Central Electricity Generating Board increased by about 23 per cent.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the estimated extent to which the electricity supply industry may be unable to meet maximum demand during the current winter.

If the winter is no worse than average, the Central Electricity Generating Board expects to meet all demands in full except possibly for some voltage reduction for short periods at the extreme peak. In very severe weather, however, disconnection of about 3 per cent. of load may become necessary.

asked the Minister of Power if he will set out the maximum potential demand in megawatts during the half-hour ending at 9.00 hours and 17.00 hours on 15th and 16th November, respectively, from 1952 to 1965, respectively.

The information for the earlier years of the period is not readily available. The Central Electricity Generating Board estimates that the unrestricted demand at these times on 15th and 16th November for the years 1958 to 1965 was as follows:

asked the Minister of Technology what advances have been made to the National Research Develop- ment Corporation from the Consolidated Fund during the current year to the most recent convenient date.

Advances totalling £1,510,000 have been made to the National Research Development Corporation from the Consolidated Fund during the period 1st April 1965 to 19th November 1965.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase or decrease there was in the staff of the Department under his control in the period 16th October, 1964 to 15th October, 1965; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th April, 1966.

During this period the staff of the Board of Trade increased by 1,356. The bulk of the increase was due to the fact that the Board gained about 1,800 staff dealing with shipping and related matters from the Ministry of Transport whilst losing some 600 to the Diplomatic Service. Over the same period, the staff of the Export Credits Guarantee Department increased by 46. It is difficult to forecast the staff position by 15th April, 1966; but further increases of the order of 250 and 80 in the staffs of the Board of Trade and the Export Credits Guarantee Department respectively are expected.