asked the Minister of Aviation, if he will take steps to provide cheaper garage facilities at London Airport.

No. There is not sufficient space at London Airport for all those who wish to park there. The charges are, therefore, designed to give priority to short-term parking, but to help travellers who wish to park their cars for longer periods my Department has arranged with concessionaires for those cars to be parked at garages off the airport, for about 8s. 6d. a day.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make arrangements for the use of London Airport, Heathrow, by British air taxi services and business aircraft operators, on the lines of the facilities available at major Continental airports.

Arrangements at major Continental airports vary considerably. At Heathrow arrangements must be conditioned by the amount of scheduled airline traffic there, its safety and regularity and the complexity of the traffic patterns in the London Terminal Area.Outside the busy periods, however, Heathrow is available to properly equipped and crewed aircraft of the types described. The regulations for the use of Heathrow are set out in the U.K. Air Pilot.

asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent it is practicable to convert existing Comet aircraft into the Maritime version; what would be the average cost of such conversion; and when it is intended to place an order for the production model of the Maritime Comet to replace the Shackleton.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Hendon, North (Sir Ian Orr-Ewing) and Mid Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) in reply to similar Questions.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress has been made in the implementation of his undertakings in support of British light aviation; if he is aware of the steadily increasing cost of private flying; and if he will make a statement.

I am ready to give effect, from 1st April, 1966, to the new measures which I announced in reply to the hon. and gallant Gentleman on 4th August. The private flying organisations have been given details of the arrangements under which my Department will contribute to the cost of training sponsored flying instructors and will make grants to flying clubs which employ professionally qualified Chief Flying Instructors.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to obtain international agreement for raising the angle of the glide path into London Airport.

Approach angles greater than 3 degrees lead to handling difficulties with modern jet aircraft and I am therefore satisfied that no change should be made to the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation that glide paths should only be set above 3 degrees when it would otherwise be impracticable to meet the obstruction clearance requirements.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress is being made with the inquiry into the air disaster at London Airport on 27th October.

The technical investigation is proceeding and the Treasury Solicitor is gathering evidence for presentation to the public inquiry. In view of the amount of preparatory work involved, it will be some time before the public inquiry opens.

asked the Minister of Aviation, what is the present position with regard to British equipment in the C.130 and the F.111.

We have not yet decided whether to purchase the F.111 and decisions have not, therefore, been taken about the extent of possible British equipment fit.The list of British equipment to be installed in the C.130K is as follows:

asked the Minister of Aviation, whether he will now publish the agreement which was entered into between the British Overseas Airways Corporation and Cunard on the formation of B.O.A.C./Cunard Limited.

Yes. In view of the unusual public interest in this Agreement, in Parliament and elsewhere, and the questions of Government policy which it raises, the Chairman of B.O.A.C. and the Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd. have both consented to make an exception to the general and accepted rule, that commercial agreements should be treated as confidential, and agreed to its publication. I have accordingly placed a copy of the Agreement, together with some associated documents, in the Library of the House.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to enable a broadcast receiving licence to remain valid after the decease of the licence holder, with respect to apparatus owned by the deceased.

I am grateful to the hon. Member for raising this point in correspondence. I am having the departmental instructions amended to make it clear that a widow or widower is not to be asked to take out a new licence before the old one expires.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a reduction in television and radio licence fees for retirement pensioners living alone.

As I said in answer on 30th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, East (Mr. Freeson), I have considered this suggestion very carefully. Unfortunately it would create serious anomalies, and would involve administrative costs out of all proportion to its benefits.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to refund part of the television licence fee when the licence is cancelled for any reason after a period of less than six months or after a period of less than three months.

No. With 16 million licences in force it would add substantially to the cost of collection if I were to vary the fee according to the extent to which the licence was used. The increased cost and the loss of revenue would have to be made good by an increase in licence fees.

asked the Postmaster-General how many times in the last year he has used the powers given to him under Section 14(4) of the Licence and Agreement of the British Broadcasting Corporation, requiring the Corporation to refrain from sending certain matters on either television or radio.

None.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to deal with proposed pirate television.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will introduce legislation to prohibit pirate radio and television; and what steps other European countries have taken in this respect.

Legislation against pirate radio and television will be introduced as soon as practicable. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Belgium have already enacted such legislation. France, Greece, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, as signatories of the European Agreement, also intend to introduce legislation.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will reduce the additional charge of 10s. per quarter for transistorised hand-sets to persons who have qualified for a hearing aid from the Ministry of Heatlh;(2) if he will reduce the charge for installing a transistorised hand-set in the case of persons who have qualified for a hearing aid from the Ministry of Health.

The rental was reduced by 33⅓ per cent. last year and I cannot now reduce it further.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an electronic transmitting device which is known as a Micro Bug is being sold, and that the operation of this transmitter is on offence against the existing law; and what action he proposes to take to prevent its use by those who have purchased this transmitter.

I am aware that very small radio-microphones can now be obtained. I have not and will not license the version to which my hon. Friends refer and its use is therefore illegal. There are other forms of radio-microphone which I do license and I have already informed the House, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury and Radcliffe on the 3rd December, of the measures which I am taking to guard against their improper use. I am also seeing whether anything more can be done to prevent unlicensed use of transmitting apparatus and whether I should be justified in seeking wider powers of control.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will require the British Broadcasting Corporation, under Section 14(4) of their Licence and Agreement, to refrain from any use of obscene words in broadcast programmes.

No. Successive Governments have reaffirmed as fundamental the principle that the broadcasting authorities are independent in matters of programme content.

asked the Postmaster-General when reception of B.B.C.2 will be available to Huddersfield; and what progress has been made with the erection of a temporary aerial on the present Independent Television Authority mast at Emley Moor.

The extension of B.B.C.2 coverage is a matter, in the first place, for the Corporation. A temporary B.B.C.2 aerial at Emley Moor has already been installed. Test transmissions at low power began on 29th November; the service is available only to a small part of Huddersfield. B.B.C.2 will be available to the town as a whole when the permanent aerial is brought into service. This, the B.B.C. expect, will be in the spring.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received from the new town of Cumbernauld respecting the establishment of sub-post offices.

The Cumbernauld Development Corporation wrote to the Head Postmaster, Glasgow, earlier this year. In subsequent discussions with the Corporation, we agreed to provide an additional Sub-Post Office in the Abronhill district as soon as building was sufficiently advanced and suitable premises were available. We shall, of course, continue to keep in close touch with the Corporation.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to improve the parcel service between Scotland and the South of England.

I am sorry that parcels between Scotland and the South of England have been delayed on occasions. The delays have been mainly cause by staff shortages at some of our key offices and we are meeting this by an intensive recruitment drive for postmen and by the employment of more women and part-timers. We are working with British Railways to see what more can be done to speed up the transit of parcel mails.

asked the Postmaster-General what slowing down in the rate of expenditure on capital projects and equipment in the telecommunication services there has been since the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on 27th July.

The rate of expenditure on capital projects for the operational development and modernisation of the services for public use is not being retarded. Other telecommunications expenditure is, however, being postponed by £½ million this year and £5 million next year. These postponements will affect mainly nonoperational buildings, stores purchases and promotional publicity.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he intends to take to improve the postal service between Chippenham and Bristol.

I have no reason to think that the general quality of the postal service between Chippenham and Bristol is not satisfactory. But if the hon. Member will let me have details of any delays I will gladly look into them.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to increase the efficiency of the General Post Office Philatelic Bureau, and, in particular to ensure that orders from stamp dealers for newly issued stamps are promptly delivered on the day of issue.

We aim to give priority to orders from dealers so that they get prompt delivery.I am sorry that there has recently been undue delay in meeting these owing to staffing difficulties. We have, however, now been able to recruit more staff, we have made extensive use of overtime, and we have concentrated our efforts on dealing with outstanding orders at the expense of other work. I expect the backlog to be completely cleared within the next few days.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average time taken for delivery of letters and parcels from Fakenham, Norfolk, to London; and what steps he proposes to take to improve these deliveries.

Letters posted in Fakenham for London should normally be delivered on the following weekday. Parcels take about two days. On occasions a few items may take longer, largely because of staff shortages in our London offices. We are doing all we can to recruit more staff.

asked the Postmaster-General how many unstamped postal packets have been received in the Members' Post Office of the Palace of Westminster bearing the address of the African Manganese Company Limited of 103 Mount Street, London, W.1; and what action he is taking in the matter.

About 90. The company disclaims any responsibility for sending the packets; the leaflets which they contained bear the name and address of a political organisation, but they also deny having sent the packets. There is reason to think that the envelopes in question were stolen from the company and I understand that the matter has been referred to the police.

asked the Postmaster-General how many separate General Post Office recruiting advertisements were inserted in the two London evening newspapers during November, 1965; and what was the total cost of such advertisements.

Seventy-three in each newspaper, at a cost of £38,355 altogether.

asked the Postmaster-General when the last review was undertaken of postal services in Stockport, Cheshire.

We are keeping a close watch on the postal services in Stockport, where a large increase in traffic in November coincided with the move of our parcels office to new premises and caused delays.Diversions are taking place while staffing is under review and the service is now functioning almost normally.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average time it now takes a postal packet to travel from Market Harborough to Leicester.

Letters and parcels posted at Market Harborough should be delivered in Leicester on the following weekday.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the issue of a special postage stamp during 1966 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

I considered this very carefully before announcing my special stamp programme for 1966, but I am sorry that with so many other suggestions before me I was unable to include it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the reason for the delay in repaying the postal draft for £35 to Mr. Oliver Bandy of 46 Braemore Road, Seven Kings, Ilford; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bandy asked for repayment of an overseas money order (not a postal draft) for £35 which he sent to his daughter in the U.S.A.The Post Office does not repay uncashed overseas money orders sent abroad until confirmation is received from the Overseas Administration that the order has not been paid. As soon as Mr. Bandy asked for repayment, we wrote to the U.S. Post Office on 13th August 1965 but despite reminders they did not reply until 1st December. A repayment money order was sent immediately to Mr. Bandy.

asked the Postmaster-General what is now the average time taken for letters posted in London to arrive at Sherborne, Dorset; and what it was a year ago.

Letters posted in London for Sherborne, Dorset should normally be delivered on the following weekday. This service is given for the great majority of letters, I am glad to say that this service has improved over the last year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consult the chairman of the reconstituted Forestry Commission with a view to exploring an increased use of home-grown timber for telegraph poles above the present level of 10 per cent.

We keep in close touch with the Forestry Commission with the aim of getting more home-grown poles. Recent tests have enabled us to accept further species of home-grown timber, but it is too early to say how many poles these species are likely to give us.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to develop the telephone services in the new town of Cumbernauld in keeping with the rapid population growth of the town.

A new exchange with Subscriber Trunk Dialling is being opened in Cumbernauld on 20th December.

asked the Postmaster-General what provision is made for telephone subscribers to appeal against the compulsory sharing of lines.

Telephone subscribers may have to share lines in order to allow others to have service. We try to arrange sharing by agreement, but where this is not possible, telephone managers consider, in the general interest, any representations which have been made against the obligation to share.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the policy of his Department with regard to the provision of telephone kiosks in remote areas; and to what extent profitability is the main guide.

Proposals for more kiosks in remote areas are considered on the basis of need, the aim being to provide at least one kiosk within reasonable distance of every sizeable community. The loss on public telephones of £4¼ million last year is in effect a post office subsidy to meet the needs of all kiosk users.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are on the waiting list for connection to the Mitcham telephone exchange; hat was the comparable figure a year ago; what is the delay in making a residential connection; and when he expects to satisfy the demand.

322 applicants are waiting for residential service from Mitcham exchange; there was none a year ago. I am sorry that we shall not be able to provide connections for about 12 months.

asked the Postmaster-General by what date the new automatic telephone exchange will be installed and operating at Wallington in the Borough of Sutton.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen) on 25th November.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the number of persons on the waiting list for a subscribers' telephone in the Leicester area on the latest available date, and one year earlier.

The waiting list has been cut by half during this year.Excluding orders in hand or under inquiry, the numbers are: 419 at 30th September, 1965 and 887 one year earlier. During these 12 months the number of connections increased by about 8,500.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the value of the latest computer usage in connection with a telephone exchange; and whether savings in staff will be achieved.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the use of a computer by the Post Office Engineering Department in connection with the design of electronic exchanges. The purpose of such scientific usage of computers is to enable the maximum use to be made of the skills of professional staff and to achieve material and equipment savings by more accurate design work.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the number of outstanding applications for telephone installations within the area of the Reading telephone exchange at the latest convenient date, and one year previously.

At 30th September there were 1,095 orders in hand or under inquiry and 741 on the waiting list for the Reading group of exchanges. The figures a year previously were 1,292 and 463 respectively. During the year the number of connections increased by 2,458.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated value, in terms of financial assistance, to each participating Commonwealth developing country of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement in each year since the Agreement was signed; and why this assistance is not shown in the official aid figures.

The Commonwealth Sugar Agreement is basically a long-term contract between Her Majesty's Government and the sugar industries of certain exporting territories in the Commonwealth. Although the prices paid are normally considerably above world prices, no cost falls on the Exchequer. Payment is not made to Governments, and it would not be appropriate to include in the official aid figures any calculations of financial value.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will extend his pilot scheme on farm business recording to other counties.

We intend to extend the Scheme to cover the whole country as quickly as possible, making any changes needed in the light of our experience in the pilot areas. It is still too early to fix a date, but we shall be discussing the arrangements for extending the Scheme with the Farmers' Unions during the forthcoming Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from the Chairman of Home Grown Fruits on the subject of changing the regulations concerning the import of apples and pears; and when he expects to have examined these proposals.

We have received and examined a suggestion from the Chairman of Home Grown Fruits Limited that the quota arrangements for apples should be changed to give increased protection to domestic growers between August and February. All representations by interested parties are taken into account when the quota arrangements are reviewed periodically.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the increasing practice of dairies in discontinuing selling in half-pint bottles, and that this is causing hardship and inconvenience, particularly to old people; and what action he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

I am aware that some dairies are discontinuing the sale of milk in half-pint bottles because they find it an uneconomic proposition, but I must emphasise that my right hon. Friend has no power to require dairymen to sell milk at all, let alone in particular quantities or containers. I appreciate the position of old people, particularly those living on their own, but would not agree that the absence of half-pint bottles need necessarily cause hardship or inconvenience. Food and drugs authorities are responsible for enforcing a legal requirement that pasteurised milk should satisfy a keeping quality test the morning after delivery and this, I am advised, should normally ensure that the milk will keep for two days.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many complaints have now been received about the future arrangements for egg payment accounts and producer payments when the contract scheme comes into operation next year; and whether he will direct the appropriate committee of investigation to report to him on these arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will set up a committee of investigation to consider the objections raised by egg producers to the proposed centralised payment scheme.

Ministers have discretion under Section 19 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1958, to refer to the Committee of Investigation complaints about the operation of marketing schemes. While I have received a number of representations from interested parties about the Board's arrangements I have not received any specific request which Ministers can properly consider referring to the Committee of Investigation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions he has reached on the total minimum quantity and the shares allotted to participants in the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding next year; and if he will make a statement.

After consultation with the Bacon Market Council, the Government have determined that the total minimum quantity within the Understanding for the year beginning 1st April, 1966, shall be 632,500 tons. This compares with 620,600 tons for the current year. The reserve quantity will remain unchanged at 35,000 tons.With regard to the shares of individual countries, supplies from the Netherlands and Yugoslavia are falling well short of their present allocations. After consultation with these countries we have therefore decided that the share of the Netherlands shall be reduced next year from 13,000 to 5,000 tons, and that of Yugoslavia from 5,000 to 1,500 tons. The quantities drawn from these two countries, totalling 11,500 tons, will be divided between the other participants in proportion to their existing shares, which is the only course compatible with the Understanding.So far as the United Kingdom is concerned, the effect of these two changes will be as follows. First, our share will be slightly increased, from 36·17 per cent. to 36·88 per cent. Secondly, the minimum quantity of bacon that our industry will be entitled to supply will be increased by 8,740 tons or nearly 4 per cent.We should have wished to be able to claim a larger increase in our share. Within the terms of the Understanding, however, we could not do so without evidence of a significant change in market conditions in favour of United Kingdom bacon compared with imported supplies. Only the industry itself could bring about such a change, and although we considered carefully the evidence before us, we had to conclude that no such claim could be established.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will set up an inquiry into educational policy in the West Highlands and its effect on future Highland development.

No. The means already at my disposal for ascertaining the special problems faced by education authorities and the inter-relationship of educational and economic factors in the West Highlands give me all the necessary information to enable me to consider educational policy in that region.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give priority to the expansion of existing burghs in the Borders rather than establishing a new town in that area.

I cannot anticipate the announcement of the Government's proposals for the Borders in the forthcoming White Paper on the Scottish Economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of capital expenditure of an educational nature for which the Corporation of Glasgow originally sought approval in the year 1965–66; and what was the amount of expenditure finally approved by his Department.

In November, 1964 the education authority had in mind school-building starts to the value of some £6 million in 1965–66, but their current programme is based on the approved capital investment allocation of £3 million. Similar allocation arrangements do not apply to further education, in which it is expected that the authority will start projects to the value of just under £1·5 million in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work will proceed on the new secondary school in Castlemilk.

I understand from Glasgow Education Authority that site preparation has now started and that building work will be put in hand thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the failure rate among students at each Scottish university in the academic years 1963–64 and 1964–65.

The factors affecting student failure are complex and make it inappropriate to publish figures for individual universities. The latest information for Great Britain universities as a whole is given in paragraphs 80–85 of the Report on University Development 1957–62 (Cmnd. 2267).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations have taken place in the last six months with the University Grants Committee on the disparity of the student-teacher ratio between English and Scottish universities; and what were the results.

For an effective relationship to exist between the Secretary of State and the University Grants Committee it is essential that discussions between them should be confidential, and it would not normally be desirable to announce the nature and details of consultations between Ministers and the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils residing outwith Glasgow are attending schools in the city; and how many such pupils are at State-aided schools, education authority fee paying and ordinary schools, respectively.

There are 1,287 pupils in Glasgow Education Authority's schools living outwith the city; of these, 864 attend fee paying schools and 423 attend other authority schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish lists of all appointments made by him to public authorities, boards, advisory committees, etc., showing details of salaries or allowances payable where applicable, and the dates and length of such appointments.

Such appointments are normally published when they are made. The complete list would be too long for inclusion in the OFFICIAL REPORT but if the hon. Member wishes to have information about the appointments in particular fields I shall be glad to provide it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage of herds afflicted with brucellosis in Scotland; and what is the average number of reactors per herd.

Brucellosis is not a notifiable disease and complete statistics are not available. A sample survey of brucellosis in dairy cattle in Great Britain for the year ended 30th September 1961, indicates that infection may exist in about 23 per cent. of dairy herds in North Scotland and in about 17 per cent. of dairy herds in South Scotland. The real incidence of infection amongst dairy cows in Scotland is estimated to be on average between 1 per cent. and 2 per cent. per infected herd, but the number of animals that would react to diagnostic tests would be much greater than that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of undulant fever in humans were reported in 1964; and how far this disease is endemic in rural areas.

This is not a notifiable disease, and the only available indication of incidence is the number of people treated for it in hospital. In 1964 this was 41. On these figures, the disease can only be described as of sporadic occurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions now exist in Renfrewshire for cervical smear tests for women at risk.

Facilities for the examination of smears for the detection of cervical cancer are provided for Renfrew-shire by the hospital authorities in Paisley. This service commenced nine months ago, and is now available not only for women attending as gynaecological in-patients and out-patients but also for women attending ante-natal clinics and family planning clinics in Paisley. A phased extension of this service to all women in the county in the age groups at risk is now being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many uncertificated persons are teaching in Renfrew-shire.

On 8th October, 207 full-time and 49 part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which schools in Renfrewshire more than 25 per cent. of the teaching staff are uncertificated.

In October, 1965 more than 25 per cent. of the teaching staff in the following education authority schools in Renfrewshire were uncertificated:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the total sum paid by Glasgow Corporation for the construction of the Clyde Tunnel, including the fees and expenses to the consulting engineers.

I am informed that the Corporation has so far paid £10,137,772 for the construction of the Clyde Tunnel, including £333,092 for the services of Sir William Halcrow & Partners. Some further payments have still to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for increasing the number of students who obtain day-release from employment to attend further education courses in Scotland.

The Scottish Technical Education Consultative Council has carried out a review at my request. I have accepted its recommendation that a new campaign should be undertaken to promote the progress of part-time day education and that a target of 100,000 day-release students should be set for Scotland for 1970. Each education authority is being asked to consider in consultation with other interests, targets appropriate for its area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for increased experimentation in the establishment of health centres especially in new towns.

Within the limits of our resources, I am anxious to encourage the establishment of health centres wherever the local conditions are favourable. There is already a health centre at Cumbernauld and the development of the health services there and at Livingston is to be based on centres which will be associated with the new hospitals to be built there. It is planned to provide health centres in Glasgow as the redevelopment of the city proceeds. I understand that proposals for association between general practitioners and local authority services are under discussion in East Kilbride, and I shall be glad to consider any proposals which may be put forward in respect of Glenrothes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average strength of British infantry battalions in the British Army of the Rhine and of those serving on the Strategic Reserve.

589 and 592; these figures exclude bandsmen and attached personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men at present serving on the Reserve of the Regular Army are subject to recall without proclamation.

All sections of the Regular Reserve, for which I gave my hon. Friend figures in my Answer of 23rd November, are at present liable for recall without proclamation in defence of the United Kingdom. The Government intend to present legislation which will in due course render all Regular Reservists available for service overseas without a proclamation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what logistical or other facilities are made available at Hong Kong-Kowloon to United States vessels, aircraft and combat units engaged in military operations in the South China Sea.

No logistical facilities are made available at Hong Kong-Kowloon to the United States armed services. United States ships and aircraft visit Hong Kong bringing personnel for purposes of recreation. The only facilities they receive are those normally available in any major port.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a list of the military tasks which are being performed during the current financial year in pursuance of Great Britain's obligations to Central Treaty Organisation and South-East Asia Treaty Organisation, respectively.

No military tasks have been required of us this year. We do, of course, co-operate with both Organisations in many ways such as training, planning and technical consultation, but these activities cannot readily or meaningfully be listed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what forecast the Meteorological Office has made of the severity of the present winter.

None for the winter as a whole. The latest long-range forecast for the month of December indicates that the mean temperature this month is expected to be much below average.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the Royal Navy establishment at Antrim; if he will take into consideration its importance for civilian employment in the constituency of Antrim, South; and if he will make a statement.

So far as can be foreseen at present, the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Antrim will be required for some years to come. I fully appreciate the contribution which this establishment makes to the local economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an assurance that the nuclear test conducted on 10th September, 1965, is the only test of a nuclear warhead or component of a nuclear warhead conducted by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Government since 15th October, 1964.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reply was given by his Department between 11th September, 1965, and 18th November, 1965, to inquiries whether a British nuclear test had recently taken place.

Inquirers were told that the Prime Minister would be telling the House of Commons when Parliament reassembled of any development which might have taken place since his last statement on the subject on 20th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will re-negotiate the present closing date of 1st January of the option to buy 10 F111As, so as to have more time to consider the merits of the Anglo-French Mirage 4/Spey aircraft.

I am well aware of the timetable to which the hon. Member refers, but have no statement to make at present on the Canberra replacement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he will not order the 10 F111A's until he has a firm assurance from the United States Government that they will develop and fit to later marks the advanced avionics of the type developed for the TSR2.

As I assured the hon. Member on 3rd November, the aircraft we buy as the Canberra replacement will be fully capable of carrying out all the tasks for which it was intended the TSR2 should be responsible, provided that in the course of the defence review we decide to retain the capability for carrying out those tasks. Naturally this applies to all aspects of the aircraft's performance, including avionics.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the number of accidents caused by the failure of the breaking system on heavy goods vehicles, he will introduce regulations requiring manufacturers of these vehicles to fit two power braking systems, in addition to a hand brake.

The proposals I have circulated will require goods vehicles generally to have two means of braking of specified efficiencies. The braking systems of most heavy vehicles will need power assistance to meet these efficiencies but I think it unnecessary to insist on this or to rule out a hand brake as one of the two means of braking provided it attains the required efficiency. Hand brakes as well as foot brakes can, of course, have power assistance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce a regulation to make the fitting of standardized bumpers compulsory on all motor vehicles.

Because of the many different sizes of vehicles produced in this country it would be impracticable to make regulations laying down standards for all bumpers.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with regard to plans for the fitting of a standard size of rear fender or guard rail to prevent accidents caused by vehicles or cyclists running under the backs of large vehicles and being wedged there.

I have asked the National Road Safety Advisory Council to consider this problem.

asked the Minister of Transport what machinery he will devise so that public and transport operators can be made aware of the various steps in, and results of, the administrative procedure for appeals to him against decisions of area mechanical engineers in respect of certificates of fitness for public service vehicles.

I have had no representations from the bus industry to alter the present arrangements for these appeals. I will, however, consider the point raised by the hon. Member and write to him.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation whereby the registration books of cars which have been severely damaged in accidents, and have not been written off, must be marked in such a manner as to ensure that a future purchaser of the vehicle may know of its accident record.

There are existing provisions against the sale of unroadworthy vehicles, and additional legislation on the lines proposed would not be justifiable or practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to restrict the movement of exceptionally heavy loads.

Restrictions are imposed on the movement of these loads by road under the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order, 1963. These restrictions strive to maintain a balance between the needs of industry and the interests of other road users.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will bring up to date Tables 1, 2(i), 3(i) and 4(i), published in "the Transport Needs of Great Britain in the Next Twenty Years" 1963.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd December, 1965; Vol. 721, c. 274] states as follows:I regret that the figures in the last column of each of the tables 2(i), 3(i), and 4(i) are incorrect. Amended versions of the tables follow:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider a system of colour coding road signs for the major trunk roads through London so that they can be more easily distinguished.

Distinctive green background directional signs for primary routes are being introduced in London, and elsewhere, as recommended by the Worboys Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will list the schemes of road improvement costing more than £25,000 now in progress in the East Riding of Yorkshire and the county borough of Hull; and when he expects each of these to be completed.

The information is:—

• East Riding—A.166, Bracey Bridge Diversion: January, 1967.
• East Riding—A.164. Anlaby By-pass: June, 1966.
• Hull—B.1237, Cleveland Street, Stage I: February, 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to give further grant assistance to local authorities who have to incur additional expenditure on road works as a direct result of railway closures.

There are no special or additional grant funds for such road-works, but, where appropriate, I am always ready to expedite the issue of grant under the classified road programme for any road improvement which appears to me to be necessary before a rail passenger closure can take place.

asked the Minister of Transport, what plans he has for accelerating motorway construction as soon as Government spending restrictions end; and whether he will give renewed consideration to toll roads to speed the provision of motorways.

The road programme already provides for a rapid rise in expenditure between now and 1969–70 and the effects of the current deferment measures on it are small. Construction of motorways will accelerate as part of this programme and to build them as toll roads would not further speed their completion.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that it is not his policy to finance new road construction by means of tolls except in the case of very costly bridges.

Yes. My policy is that tolls should be charged only on expensive new river crossings, whether bridges or tunnels.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the shortage of professional staff in the construction and allied industries; and what steps are being taken to increase the educational and training facilities for surveyors, quantity surveyors, valuers and others in co-operation with the relevant professional bodies.

Between 1961 and 1964 the number of students following full-time courses in surveying and related subjects at grant-aided establishments of further education more than doubled, from 653 to 1,445. At the same time the number attending part-time day courses also increased substantially. So far as I am aware, the facilities in these colleges are adequate to accommodate all those who seek to take courses in these subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the estimates of expenditure in 1969–70 that are contained in Table 21.2 of the National Plan in respect of schools, further education, teacher training and universities, respectively, take account of the cost and additional public expenditure involved in securing for the persons employed in such services additional personal spending power of the real value that is expected to be generally available in accordance with paragraph 73 of chapter 1 of the National Plan.

As stated in paragraph 7 of Chapter 18 of the National Plan, estimates derived from the public expenditure survey are at constant pay and prices. In the case of persons employed in the public sector, including Education, this means that the estimates reflect changes in their numbers, not changes in their spending power. It is to be expected, however, that there will be changes in wages and salary rates, and that with the rise in output in the economy, real earnings will rise in both the public and private sectors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent and by what authority he operates a marriage bar within the Civil Service.

In the Home Civil Service the marriage bar was abolished in 1946. I am, however, informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that under a regulation made under the Diplomatic Service Order in Council, 1964, he may call for the resignation from the Diplomatic Service of a woman on marriage or attach conditions to her continuation as a member of that Service or arrange for her transfer to the Home Civil Service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the extension of sanctions against Rhodesia has had the effect that the arrangement through Inter-Flora of sending flowers to mark bereavements, weddings and anniversaries is no longer possible; and if he will consider making an exception to cover this.

I am not prepared to make an exception for this.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps are being taken to acquaint the universities, colleges of technology and colleges of education in the area of the Yorkshire and Humberside Planning Region with his plans for research into regional planning and the part that these institutions together with those working in the field might play in this research.

The universities and institutions of higher education in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region will be kept informed through a regional academic advisory committee which the Economic Planning Council have invited them to form, with the council, to assemble data about university research relevant to regional planning and to advise on research projects.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has received the final report of the consultants appointed to survey the affairs of Short Brothers and Harland; and if he will make a statement.

No. Messrs. Arthur D. Little have undertaken to submit the final report before the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take to relieve the cinema industry of the Sunday levy and other burdens imposed by the Sunday Observance Laws.

The Departmental Committee on the Law on Sunday Observance, which reported last year, recommended inter alia, the repeal of the provisions of the Sunday Entertainments Act 1932 relating to the Sunday opening of cinemas, including the abolition of the levy. As I have previously informed the House, the Government believes that proposals to relax the laws governing Sunday entertainment and sport, since they raise questions so closely affecting the conscience of individual members, could best be discussed on a Bill introduced in Private Members' time, on which all decisions would be left to a free vote of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to implement the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1965 dealing with racial discrimination.

Under Section 2 of the Act the first duty that devolves on me is to appoint a Race Relations Board, which will be responsible for setting up the local conciliation committees by whom complaints of discrimination in contravention of the Act are to be considered. I hope shortly to be able to announce the full composition of the Board.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the marriage bar is still practised in commercial and industrial employment both in the public and private sector; and if he will publish details.

In the public sector married women are not employed by the Scottish Police Forces and they are not recruited by the British Transport Police. The nationalised and the main independent airlines employ only single women as air hostesses, and in Scotland the banks usually retain married women only in a non-pensionable capacity. Over most of the private sector, policy is determined by individual employers, who are in no way bound to report their practice to me, but the employment service rarely encounters a marriage bar, and then only in places where there is a surplus of women workers, In general, employers encourage married women to remain at work and many are prepared to adjust conditions of service to make it easier for them to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has made with establishment of the Furniture and Timber Training Board.

I have laid an Order today establishing this Board to take effect from 9th December. The following have accepted my invitation to become members of the Board:

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources (1) what procedure will be carried out by the Land Commission in disposing of land for private-house development;(2) if he will specify the restrictions which will be imposed upon an individual purchaser of a dwellinghouse under the terms of a 999-year lease granted by the Land Commission;(3) if he will specify the restrictions which will be imposed upon an individual purchaser of a dwellinghouse under the terms of Crownhold;(4) what formula will be applied in calculating the value of the concession to be deducted from the market price on resale to the Land Commission of a dwellinghouse held under Crownhold.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Bill which will contain full provisions for the disposal of land by the Commission in Crownhold and other cases.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many of the 281,000 people receiving National Assistance in December 1964 and incapable of work because of chronic sickness or disability had been receiving it for six months or more.

Of the 281,000 people under pensionable age who in December 1964 were receiving National Assistance on account of temporary or chronic sickness or disability, approximately 235,000 (nearly 85 per cent.) had been receiving assistance for six months or more.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board not to dispose of surplus equipment sold consequent upon pit closures at less than an economic price.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 3rd August.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, if he will publish large scale plans of the Palace of Westminster.

I have arranged for a set of plans to be placed permanently in the Library. I hope also to make available a small plan sufficient to be of some day-to-day help to Members.