asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of telegrams is now delivered by post in Great Britain; and what reduction in charge is made in such cases.

Overnight telegrams, which are charged at half rate, are delivered by post as a standard arrangement. Exceptionally, about 2 per cent. of full rate inland telegrams are also delivered in this way. These are mainly messages presented too late for same day delivery which could be got to their destinations most quickly by using the following morning's post. The senders are always notified that this may happen but choose nevertheless to use the full rate in preference to the overnight service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue next year a commemorative stamp to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the United Nations Organisation.

I commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations, in conjunction with International Co-operation Year, by the issue of two special stamps on 25th October this year and I do not think another issue so soon would be appropriate.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will publish the terms of reference of the consultants examining the organisation of the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General, when he expects to receive the report on the Post Office of McKinseys, the management consultants.

There are no formal terms of reference. McKinsey and Company were asked to carry out a fundamental and far-reaching examination of the problem of improving the productivity and profitability of the postal services; this involves their examining Post Office management structure. They are not expected to produce a formal report in the sense suggested. But they will probably complete their work in the early summer of next year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his Department will now give employment as a postman to Mr. James Pelan of Belfast which was offered to him in writing by leter dated 31st August, 1965, and then subsequently withdrawn as it was alleged that the letter was mistakely sent by an inexperienced member of the Belfast Head Post Office staff.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will investigate the complaint of Mr. Deakin of Mansfield, who has written to him respecting the poor service provided by the Post Office between the Eastern Counties and the East Midlands.

I have done so and am writing to Mr. Deakin.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he has yet sought designs for a Northern Ireland regional 4d. postage stamp; and when he expects such a regional postage stamp to be issued.

It is not my right hon. Friend's intention to seek new designs for regional stamps until his plans for a new general series are more advanced. However, in order to meet the current demand for 4d. regional postage stamps we shall be putting on sale on 7th February next year, 4d. stamps of the same design as the current equivalent 3d. regional stamps and printed in blue.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will issue postage stamps during 1966 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

As I told the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Mr. Pounder) on 8th December, I have unfortunately not been able to accede to this request.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he has completed his inquiries into the possibility of varying the present limits of the size and weight of parcels to bring them into line with Continental practice; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has been in touch with a number of organisations representing exporting interests about what might be needed by way of an increase in the weight and size limits for overseas parcels, and he is now considering their replies. He hopes to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will now initiate a series of stamps commemorating British air pioneers, including the flights of Alcock and Brown and the R34 across the Atlantic in 1919.

I shall certainly bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when considering future issues of stamps.

asked the Postmaster-General w hat steps he is taking to ensure that parcel delivery at Christmas will be expedited, especially of goods marked "Perishable".

As usual, our Christmas preparations include engaging thousands of extra staff, hiring motor vehicles and extra accommodation, some for relief offices. British Railways are putting on extra mail trains. Perishable goods get special treatment but inevitably the vast increase of parcels leads to some delay.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the nature, operation and useful- ness of the recent automatic and other improvements in Aberdeen City post office service.

The parcel sorting machine and the various types of mechanical handling equipment installed in the new post office at Aberdeen are working well, and are helping the speedy treatment of mail in the Aberdeen district. Within the next two years we plan to install in the new sorting office additional machines which will separate letters from packets, automatically arrange the letters all the same way and postmark them ready for sorting.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the cost of the advertising campaigns, Kitty's Keen on Cars, and, Kitty at the Horse Show; and how much his Department benefited from them.

Each campaign cost £4,200 and was spread over two weeks. Recruitment of telephonists in the year ended last October was 2,620. The Kitty campaign, planned in the summer of 1964 led to a 15 per cent. increase over previous campaigns.

asked the Postmaster-General what reply he has given to a letter sent to him by Messrs. Kyle Stewart Limited, complaining of the misdelivery of letters in Ardshiel House and Kelvin House, Empire Way. Wembley.

I have sent the hon. Member a copy of my reply to Messrs. Kyle Stewart Limited.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the concern felt in north-west Devon regarding the running-down of Post Office services in this area; and if he will give an undertaking that full weight will be given to local convenience before any further curtailment of these services is considered.

Changes in Post Office services in north-west Devon are in line with those taking place in the country generally. They are part of the effort we are making to cope with rising costs and manpower problems and they must go on; but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that, in making changes, we shall give fullest practicable weight to local convenience.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to ensure the safe and speedy delivery of mail, in view of the delay and non-delivery of a number of letters, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Newbury; and if he will make a statement.

In the main, letters and parcels are delivered safely and speedily. Inevitably there are occasional delays, especially to parcels, due largely to the continuing staff shortage in some of our key offices. We are doing all we can to overcome this difficulty. I shall be writing to the hon. Member about the particular cases to which he has drawn my attention.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will ensure that sealed and correctly stamped letters are given priority delivery during the pre-Christmas pressure on the service.

We shall certainly do all we can to achieve this.

asked the Posmaster-General what steps he has taken during the past 12 months to improve postal facilities in Ruislip and Northwood.

Our main problem in the Ruislip and Northwood area is a shortage of staff. Intensive efforts have been made to get more staff there and the position is somewhat better now than it was a year ago.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will restore the second postal delivery on Saturdays.

Unfortunately this is not practicable owing to the cost.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to decide on the future location of the Post Office Central Training School, now at Yarnfield in Staffordshire.

I am not yet ready to announce a decision, but will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the deterioration in the parcel post service between Manchester and London, and Manchester and Birmingham, and of the effect of this upon the business community; and what are his plans for restoring the parcel service of the Post Office to its former level of efficiency.

I am sorry that parcels between Manchester and London, and Manchester and Birmingham have been delayed on occasions. The delays have been mainly caused by staff shortages and recent heavy postings. The staffing position is improving and as soon as the Christmas pressure period is over we will see what more can be done to speed up the transit of parcel mails.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of dissatisfaction with the quality of a number of commemorative stamps lately issued; what are his plans for further pictorial issues; whether he will reduce their number to prevent further debasement of the national philatelic reputation; and if he will seek advice from fresh sources in this matter.

Opinions about individual designs inevitably differ. However, the general quality of our recent designs have produced a marked increase in interest in our stamps and hence in the subjects they have commemorated.As regard further pictorial issues I have nothing further to add to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Sir E. Bullus), on 27th October.I should be very pleased to hear the hon. Member's advice on this subject.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue a direction to the British Broadcasting Corporation instructing them to refrain from broadcasting television programmes containing unwarranted reflections against the repute of Her Majesty's Prison Service.

No. But I understand the B.B.C. has broadcast an apology for a recent programme which the hon. Gentleman may have in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General he will use his powers under the Licence and Agreement to direct the British Broadcasting Corporation not to send out programmes of a low moral value.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will direct the British Broadcasting Corporation under the Licence and Agreement not to broadcast other programmes at a time when weather forecasts for shipping are being broadcast, especially during bad weather.

As I have already said in reply to earlier Questions, programme content is a matter for the B.B.C. Successive Governments have upheld the principle that they do not intervene in matters of programme content.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will use his power under the Licence and Agreement to direct the British Broadcasting Corporation not to send programmes about Rhodesia containing other than factual information.

The content of programmes broadcast in the external services, as in the home services, is the responsibility of the B.B.C.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will announce the findings of the Government review of broadcasting.

I cannot yet say when the review will be completed; but I will, of course, report to the House as soon as it is.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied that he has sufficient powers available to limit the sale or use of electronic devices designed, or capable of being used, to intrude into personal privacy; and if he will make a statement.

As I have already told the House, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Exchange (Mr. Will Griffiths) on 8th December, I am considering whether I should be justified in seeking wider powers of control than I have at present over the use of radio apparatus.

asked the Postmaster-General why there is a delay in completing the television satellite stations at Portrush and Ballycastle.

The construction time-table for the B.B.C.'s stations is the Corporation's responsibility. They tell me, however, that the delay, which is not confined to the stations at Portrush and Ballycastle, is due to staff shortages, and to the fact that technical problems posed by the need to operate a large number of stations on a limited number of frequency channels are proving to be greater than expected.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to stop cigarette advertising by pirate broadcasting stations.

Unfortunately, I have no powers over advertising by pirate radio stations, but the impending legislation will meet this point.

asked the Postmaster-General, if, in his further talks with the British Broadcasting Corporation Governors on finance, he will discuss the amount spent on producing programmes which were not eventually broadcast.

No. It is inevitable that, in the production of many thousand hours of programme material, a proportion of it will be unusable. I have no reason to believe that the amount of money involved is significant in the context of programme expenditure generally.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to ensure that the British Broadcasting Corporation makes available to individuals who believe that they have been slandered the transcripts of the relevant programmes.

No. But the B.B.C. will, on request, supply scripts to Members of Parliament or make copies available in the Library of the House.

asked the Post master-General what steps he proposes to take to avoid the loss of £8,000,000 a year in television and radio licences, and thus to avoid a further increase in licence fees; and if he will seek to require shops to ask to see a licence receipt when selling a set.

Inquiries of households not recorded as licensed with be intensified, and the number of detector cars is being increased from nine to eighteen. I am also studying various ways in which dealers might be able to help.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that micro-bug transmitters are on sale at radio shops in London and that they are being deployed by private detectives on divorce inquiries; whether he has licensed the use of any such micro-bug devices; and whether he will take steps to amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, to make the manufacture, sale or ownership of such a device a punishable offence.

I am aware that very small radio transmitters can now be obtained, and I have seen reports that some are being used by private detectives. I do not license the use of the type of transmitter which I think my hon. Friend has in mind. I am considering whether I should be justified in seeking any further statutory powers such as my hon. Friend mentions.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement concerning the use of unlicensed walkie-talkies on channels in the 27 megacycles citizens band.

There is no "citizens band" in this country and no walkie-talkies have been licensed to operate in the 27 megacycle band because they are liable to interfere with authorised services in this and in other bands. There have been several prosecutions recently for unlicensed use of walkie-talkie apparatus; and dealers who advertise the apparatus are told that licences to use it in this country are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions danger to shipping has been caused by pirate radio stations during the past three months; and if he will identify the pirate radio stations and the occasions on which such interference has taken place.

There is a constant danger of interference from these stations to communications between ships and shore, because there is no way of ensuring that the pirates take the precautions necessary to prevent their transmissions from spilling over on to maritime frequencies, as they have many times in the past. In all 29 specific cases of interference have been reported to my Department. Following are the details:

asked the Postmaster-General which of the commercial radio stations are incorporated in the United Kingdom and subject to United Kingdom Income Tax.

I assume that the hon. Member's Question relates to pirate broadcasting stations. Several companies incorporated in this country appear to be associated with these stations in various ways, but none of them, so far as I am aware, is incorporated for the express purpose of operating a pirate broadcasting station.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements he has made with the publishers of classified telephone directories; and if he is aware that in some cases the charge for an entry identical with that for last year has been increased by 300 per cent.

The contractor sells advertisements and special entries in classified telephone directories on behalf of the Post Office, and retains an agreed percentage of the revenue as his commission. He also has discretion to decide the rate structure, in the light of his experience of the market. I am told that no rates have been increased by 300 per cent. in the last year, but I will readily look into the case mentioned if the right hon. Member will let me have further details.

asked the Postmaster-General what considerations led him to decide to withdraw the telephone from the cab rank in Aberconway Road, Morden.

The telephone is one of a number of free cab rank telephones that have existed for many years. There is no reason why the Post Office—in effect other telephone subscribers—should subsidise the cab trade and existing ones are gradually being withdrawn and replaced when required by rented telephones.

asked the Postmaster-General what authorisation he gives for the interruption and recording of telephone conversations; and in what cir- cumstances, and by whom, he permits such interruption and recording.

There is no general prohibition on one of the parties to a telephone conversation recording it in whole or in part and it would not be practicable to stop it anyway. My concern is to prevent apparatus used for this purpose from interfering technically with the functioning of the telephone service, and the Telephone Regulations forbid the attachment to a telephone installation of any equipment—for recording or any other purpose—which has not been approved technically by the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on his plans and time scale for increasing further the trunk telephone lines between Belfast and Great Britain, with particular reference to the Midlands and to London.

We shall shortly be adding about 70 more trunk lines between Belfast and Great Britain. We are making arrangements to add a further 100 more lines next summer; and in 1967 the provision of entirely new radio equipment will enable a further batch of 100 more lines to be added. These successive additions should ensure that there are enough lines to keep pace with the growth in traffic. The Midlands and London will have their full share of the added lines.

asked the Postmaster-General what forward studies he is making of the adequacy of the telecommunications system for servicing a national computer grid.

The Post Office Datel Services already provide facilities for transmitting data for computer processing. The characteristics required for a network catering specially for high speed computer communication requirements are being studied.

asked the Postmaster-General by what date he now estimates the waiting list for subscribers telephone lines will he eliminated.

Although in many places the waiting list will have been cleared by next spring, I cannot yet forecast when it will be eliminated everywhere. We have provided many more connections than were promised when my predecessor forecast complete clearance by March, 1966. But, with a large backlog of under-investment to overtake and soaring demand, the waiting list must be expected to rise in some places during the next few years.

asked the Postmaster-General how many miles of overhead telephone lines have been changed to underground lines in the last 12 months.

I am sorry this information is not readily available. I should, however, be happy to make inquiries if the hon. Member is interested in any particular locality.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that subscribers endeavouring to obtain a number which is out of action are consistently informed that the number is engaged; and if he will take steps to correct this misleading practice.

This is not correct. When a fault on a subscriber's line is reported, the "Number Unobtainable" tone is connected to the line concerned. There may, however, be some delay in doing this if a fault occurs at smaller exchanges where enginering staff are not present continuously, or at certain larger exchanges outside the normal hours of engineering attendance.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the total number of telephone calls made to subscribers within the United Kingdom in the last full year originated from outside the United Kingdom.

About one in every thousand calls received by our telephone subscribers in the year ended 31st March, 1965, originated outside the United Kingdom. For trunk calls, the ratio was about one to every hundred.

asked the Postmaster-General whether all subscribers on the Uplands, Downlands, Caterham and Upper Warlingham telephone exchanges can now have thir own individual telephone lines, or whether shared lines are still obligatory in any of these telephone areas.

I am sorry that my right hon. Friend must continue to ask some subscribers on these exchanges, and elsewhere, to share where this is necessary in order to give service to others. Our aim is to remove compulsory sharing and provide exclusive service for all who want it but this involves a heavy programme of work which will take time to complete.

asked the Postmaster-General 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.

No charge is made for fitting on a new installation. The normal change of instrument charge of 30s., payable when a special visit is necessary, does not cover costs and I am sorry I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the name of the contractor employed by the Post Office to equip the automatic telephone exchange at Ascot, whose failures have meant the delay in opening the exchange until the spring of 1966, to the inconvenience of local subscribers.

No. I do not think it would be fair to publicise the name of the contractor in question.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of telephone subscribers and the number of telephone kiosks; and what percentage of telephone calls is made by private subscribers and what percentage from telephone kiosks.

There are at present about 4 million residential subscribers and 75,000 telephone kiosks. 27 per cent. of telephone calls are made by residential subscribers and 12 per cent. from telephone kiosks.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects an adequate telephone communication system to be installed for J. L. Keir and Company Limited at Tempsford Hall, Bedfordshire.

Discussions have taken place between the company and the telephone manager since I wrote to the hon. Member in September, and I will write to him again shortly. Meanwhile I can assure him that I will keep a close personal watch on the problem.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made by the White Fish Authority in the setting up of a training board for the fishing industry.

The White Fish Authority is playing an active part in discussions between the Ministry of Labour and the industry about the setting up of an Industrial Training Board. My right hon. Friend has indicated his intention to set up such a Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has now given to the representations submitted by the various interests concerned in respect of the 72 recommendations made in the Report by the Food Standards Committee, published on 10th September 1964, reviewing the provisions of the Labelling of Food Order 1953; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for new regulations on food labelling were issued to interested parties and announced by Press notice on 27th September last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, after studying the report of the Brambell Committee, he will announce a system of factory-farm controls.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his examination of the views of the organisations concerned, and whether he now intends to implement the recommendations of the technical committee on the welfare of animals kept under intensive livestock husbandry systems.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Brambell Committee.

I cannot say what action may be necessary until our study of the report, together with the views being submitted on it, is complete.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the nation's food requirements will be home produced in 1966 and 1967 compared with 1965.

About half our food is now home produced, or about two thirds of all that can be grown in our climate. No precise forecasts of the percentage of home-produced food are possible but the demand for food is increasing and we expect our farmers to increase their share of our market by meeting a major part of the additional demand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the national consumption is represented by the standard quantities of cereals in each of the last three years.

Standard quantities for wheat and barley were introduced at the beginning of the 1964–65 cereal year and represent just over 47 per cent. of total estimated United Kingdom consumption of all cereals in that year. The present forecast for the current cereal is about the same.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that Yorkshire Egg Producers Limited has paid producers regularly each week since the end of the war and is prepared to continue to do so without incurring any additional cost, and that the British Egg Marketing Board has given instructions that payments are now to be made fortnightly; and if he will direct the Committee of Investigation to report to him on the complaints made about the Marketing Board's new arrangements, with a view to retaining the Yorkshire Egg Producers system.

I am aware that under present arrangements packing stations—including Yorkshire Egg Producers Ltd.—make payments direct to producers, normally at weekly intervals, for the eggs they purchase on behalf of the Board, and that under the new contracts scheme the Egg Board will itself pay producers at fortnightly intervals.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 if he will take steps to raise the standards for bull licensing in England and Wales to those obtaining in Scotland.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in suggesting that standards for bull licences in England and Wales are lower than those obtaining in Scotland. There are however differences between the licensing systems of the two countries, and my right hon. Friends are reviewing the situation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average yield per acre of the United Kingdom ware potato crop, and the average acreage contracted for per farmer, in each of the last three years.

The yield for the ware potato crop as such is not known, but the average United Kingdom yields of all potatoes in 1963, 1964 and 1965 were 8·6, 8·9 and 10·1 tons per acre respectively. This last figure is provisional. Potatoes are not usually grown under contract, but the average acreages planted per farmer registered with the Potato Marketing Board in Great Britain were 9·8, 10·9 and 11·2 in 1963, 1964 and 1965 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the effect that the seismograph surveys conducted in the North Sea may have had on fishing, in view of the adverse autumn herring voyage.

There is no evidence that these surveys have had any effect on fishing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the anxiety expressed by farmers in Wales about the negotiations for an Anglo-Irish free trade agreement; and what conclusions he has reached on this matter.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House yesterday, an Agreement for a free trade area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland has now been reached. The Agreement applies to agricultural products as well as industrial goods, though there are a number of special provisions in relation to agriculture. I have no reason to believe that Welsh farmers will be adversely affected by the Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the increased economic problems which will arise in Fife consequent on the expedited closure of pits, he will now announce his intention of abolishing tolls on the Forth Road Bridge.

No. Other measures are being taken to deal with economic problems in Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new steps he is taking to improve the public relations of the Scottish Office.

I am concerned to ensure that the Scottish public is kept fully informed the Government's activities and if my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make I shall be willing to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many options have been exercised under the Temperance (Scotland) Act, 1913; how many have been for the same area; and how many have been in Glasgow.

1,131 temperance polls have been held in Scotland since the 1913 Act provisions, now contained in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1959, came into force in 1920; 1,079 polls—95 in Glasgow—were held before 1930. Because of boundary changes it is not possible to say exactly how many were for the same area, but it is estimated that about 525 of these polls were for areas which had already had polls. The figures for Glasgow are 104 and 65.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has reduced the sum to be spent on building the new Govan High School by £36,000, in view of the need for providing better accommodation and amenities for both staff and pupils to meet the increasing requirements of modern education.

The initial tender cost of this project greatly exceeded the estimate I had approved as a maximum cost. The accommodation and amenities planned for the school have not been affected by the reductions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Scotland are classified as slums or houses which it is not possible or practicable to improve; and what percentage of these is within the Glasgow boundary.

In submitting this year the slum clearance programmes for which I had called, the Scottish local authorities estimated that about 90,000 houses, 11,000 of them in Glasgow, should be replaced as soon as possible. In the absence of a specific standard on which to base them, the figures given by local authorities clearly cover, by and large, only the worst of the houses. As my recent White Paper indicated, the number of slums and old houses incapable of improvement may be as many as half a million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of prepayment electric meters being forced were reported to the police in Glasgow in 1964; and what are the comparable figures for the previous three years.

The 8,250 cases involving the forcing of prepayment gas or electricity meters were reported to the police in Glasgow in 1964 and 8,215 cases in 1963. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what circumstances it is the practice to handcuff persons being brought to court in custody.

This is a matter for the discretion of the police, who are responsible for the safe custody of prisoners. But my Department has advised chief constables that handcuffs should, in general, not be used unless there are reasonable grounds for supposing that violence may be expected, or that an escape or a rescue will be attempted, or unless the nature of the offence is such as to render handcuffing clearly desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the functions envisaged for the Lord Advocate's Law Reform Committee; and whether remits on questions of law reform will be made to this Committee.

My right hon. and learned Friend envisages that the Scottish Law Commission will from time to time wish to consult a cross-section of expert legal opinion on topics which it is considering and that the Law Reform Committee would be a convenient body for this purpose. Remits to the Committee would be made by the Lord Advocate on the suggestion of the Commission. This procedure has been agreed with both bodies.The Committee will remain free to discharge its present function of bringing to the Lord Advocate's attention aspects of the law of Scotland which seems to it to require consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many hospitals in Scotland women are employed as chaplain's whole-time assistants, and in how many as part-time assistants.

There is no grade of chaplain's assistant in the National Health Service. Hospital authorities may provide secretarial assistance for chaplains and many lay persons support chaplains in their work in various ways. If the hon. Member will let me know the kind of assistance he has in mind, I will try to provide the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, further to the letter dated 15th November from the hon. Member for East Aberdeenshire, he will announce his policy on the export of Shetland ponies under one year old.

As the hon. Member was informed in the reply to his letter, proposals to amend the present regulations governing the export of horses and ponies have been circulated to interested bodies for comments. I cannot say what changes may be made in the regulations until my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and I have completed our consideration of the comments which have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that those fishing boats banned from drift-netting for salmon in 1962 will now either have the chance of compensation for their gear, or be allowed to apply again for licence to fish beyond the three-mile limit for salmon.

No. I propose to continue the ban on drift-net fishing for salmon meantime until I have completed consideration of the Report of the Hunter Committee on all methods of salmon fishing. The Committee examined the case for compensation and concluded that there was no strong grounds for this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will permit Scottish fishing boats to use drift-nets under licence to catch salmon over the three-mile limit in the open sea.

I propose to continue the ban on drift-net fishing for salmon until I have completed consideration of the Hunter Committee Report and the observations being made to me by the various organisations interested in salmon and trout fisheries. I have therefore laid an Order before Parliament to extend for a further period of one year from 15th February, 1966 the ban on drift-net fishing for salmon in the sea off Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the gross earnings of a student nurse per month, and her net earnings after deduction of Income Tax, superannuation, National Insurance, board, &c., assuming the nurse to be single and 20 years of age; and what would be the net rate of pay per hour.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland What proportion of student nurses who enrolled in each of the last five years left before completing their training; and what proportion of each annual figure left to get married.

Figures are not available in the form requested as the index of student nurses kept by the General Nursing Council for Scotland was begun on 1st January, 1963. By 31st October, 1965, 7,383 student nurses had been indexed and 1,551 (21 per cent.) of these students had been withdrawn from the index before completion of training. 192 (12·4 per cent.) of those withdrawn from the index gave marriage as the reason for giving up training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect the expenditure involved in rebuilding the Sick Children's Hospital, Yorkhill, will have on the proposed redevelopment of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

The scale of the rebuilding operation needed will be known only after the children's hospital has been evacuated and fully examined. It will then be for the Western Regional Hospital Board to decide how the remainder of its programme is to be adjusted to accommodate this scheme. It is not possible at present to say definitely which other project or projects may be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the proposals for the redevelopment of the Royal Infirmary on its existing site will be examined by the Royal Commission on Medical Education, with particular reference to location of the institutions providing medical education.

Whether or not particular proposals should be examined is for the Royal Commission itself to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the number and location of all salmon fishings under his control; and what is the total yearly rental received from them.

Forty-seven salmon fishings, yielding an estimated total annual rental of £3,000, are let by me in various parts of Scotland. Particulars are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the proportion of engineering students at Scottish universities in each of the last five years; and what was the total number graduating in 1964–65.

Figures for engineering students alone are not available. Tables 5 and 6 of Returns from Universities and University Colleges published by the University Grants Committee show for 1960–61 to 1963–64 the proportion of students in Faculties of Applied Science and the numbers graduating. The provisional figures for 1964–65 show that 15–8 per cent. of students in Scottish universities were in faculties of applied science and that the number graduating was 779.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many overseas students undertook full-time study in Scottish universities in each of the last five years; and how many were Commonwealth students.

Table 1 of returns from Universities and University Colleges published by the University Grants Committee gives information about the home residence of students for the years 1960–61 to 1963–64. The provisional figure for overseas students in Scottish universities in 1964–65 is 2,105 of whom 1,250 were from Commonwealth countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has studied the Second Report by the Hunter Committee on Scottish Salmon and Trout Fisheries; and what plans he has for introducing legislation on this subject.

I have been studying the Report and the comments I have received on it from a number of organisations. I am still awaiting the observations of some of the organisations who were invited to write to me and I should like to consider these carefully before taking any decision on legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the building of another new town in the vicinity of East Kilbride.

None at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated cost given by Glasgow Corporation for the construction of the Clyde Tunnel, excluding fees paid to the consulting engineers.

There have been various estimates since 1947 when the Corporation obtained powers to build this tunnel. When work started the estimated cost, based on the successful tender, was £9,886,000 excluding the fees and expenses of consulting engineers which were then estimated at £287,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the original estimated cost for the modernisation of the Dalmarnock Sewage Works, Glasgow; and what is the revised estimated cost.

I have been informed by Glasgow Coporation that the estimate in the consulting engineers' report dated May, 1960, was £3 million; and that the latest available estimated cost of the scheme is £3·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British personnel, and of which ranks and arms, have served in Thailand during the past year; and on what duties they have been engaged.

62 officers and 670 other ranks have served in Thailand since 1st January, 1965, the majority-32 officers and 565 other ranks—being there for the construction of the airfield at Loeng Nok Tha which, as announced in 1963, is to be handed over to the Government of Thailand when complete. Six officers and eight other ranks of all three Services have been attached to the embassy for Service attache duties. Twenty officers, including a major-general, and nine other ranks have served at the S.E.A.T.O. headquarters, more than half of them on temporary attachment for the planning of a S.E.A.T.O. exercise. The balance is made up of army signallers operating the Commonwealth communications link between Bangkok and Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of Service pensioners to be temporarily deprived of their Service pensions by reason of their residence in Rhodesia; and what is the total annual sum involved.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British personnel, and of which ranks and arms, have served in Vietnam during the past year; and on what duties they have been engaged.

The only British Service personne are on the Ambassador's staff. They are exclusively engaged on normal attaché, administrative and guard duties. A total of six officers—including a colonel and a group captain—and 14 other ranks have served in Vietnam since 1st January, 1965, 11 of this total being from the Army and 9 from the R.A.F.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of section A Regular Reservists who have been recalled to the Colours in each calendar year since the war ended.

Regular Reservists were called out in 1950, 1956 and 1957. The numbers for section A were 1,320, 18,415 and 108 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current delay in the checking of records and the issuing of medals now being claimed from the Army Medal Office for service from 1939 to 1945 and subsequently.

The length of time taken to deal with these claims depends on the individual circumstances of each application and it would not be practicable to give any general answer. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I will gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an assurance that the Defence Review will be completed in time for the incorporation of its main conclusions, with an outline of substantial economies in defence expenditure, in the 1966 White Paper on Defence.

I have nothing to add to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to Questions on this following his statement on 13th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of troops of the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, respectively, at present stationed in the United Kingdom.

93,000, 50,000, and 87,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the savings in costs across the exchanges and in total if a brigade returned from Germany to the United Kingdom.

In terms of personnel costs, some £4 million a year across the exchanges, and about £1 million on the defence budget. Considerable capital expenditure would, however, be necessary in order to accommodate the units in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual costs of the maintenance of the British Forces radio network in Germany; and what is the estimated average listening public.

About £200,000: the potential audience of Service men and their families is about 130,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average annual cost currently of maintaining a V-bomber in full service.

About £240,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make public the case he will present to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for an increase in pay for men and women serving in the armed forces.

The Board must decide how much of the evidence given to it is reflected in its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware of the help which the existence of a Territorial Army has given to Regular Army recruiting; and what steps he is taking to recover the loss of recruits as a result of the disbandment of the Territorial Army.

Yes. The Territorial Army has helped recruiting in a number of ways, and I have no doubt that the new force will continue to do so. I am considering what measures may be needed to help recruiting, including changes in the size and deployment of the recruiting organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the extent to which the Army Cadet Force depends on the Territorial Army, what future plans he has for the Army Cadet Force after the disbandment of the Territorial Army.

The implications for the Army Cadet Force of the reorganisation of the Army Reserves are being examined in consultation with the Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations and the Army Cadet Force Association.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make arrangements to distribute transparencies of the new international road and traffic signs for sticking on vehicle windscreens; and whether he will issue these, either on request or otherwise, to applicants renewing either vehicle or driving licences.

No. This would tend to obscure the driver's vision. A satisfactory alternative—a sixpenny booklet called "The New Traffic Signs"—is already available.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to inform motorists of the meaning of the new international traffic signs which are being incorporated into Great Britain's road system.

A continuing education campaign to coincide with the period of changeover from old to new road signs was started more than a year ago and is increasing in volume.More than 200,000 visitors have so far seen the Ministry's mobile exhibition touring the main towns of England and Wales. The Ministry's official booklet illustrating the signs and road markings has been bought by about 3 million road users, while another 1½ million copies of the booklet have been distributed free to learner drivers, cycle and motor cycle trainees and overseas visitors. 200,000 copies a month are being distributed free in this way. A reprint of a further 2 million copies of the booklet is planned. More than 75,000 posters illustrating the signs and advertising the booklet have been displayed and a reprint of 40,000 is in hand.The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has distributed more than 3 million copies of a leaflet illustrating a selection of the signs; and half a million copies of a new smaller version, designed to fit into driving licence envelopes and pay packets, are being distributed. The Society has also sold 65,000 copies of a large wall chart for use in schools, garages, hotels, libraries etc., and nearly 15,000 copies of a smaller wall chart suitable for young children.Manufacturers, trade associations and motoring organisations are co-operating generously. An oil company has financed and produced a series of television films which are now being shown by B.B.C. and I.T.A. in "public service time". New road maps, diaries and calendars include the signs. Many advertisers are featuring the signs in their television and Press advertisements, literature and packaging material. Other publicity outlets range from tea towels and serviettes incorporating the signs to games and toys marketed by manufacturers.All this, together with the very generous coverage given—and still being given—by the Press, radio and television, adds up to a very considerable effort to educate the road-using public.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take further steps to inform the public of the meaning of the new road signs.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my Answer to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Sir G. Wills) on 10th December.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive the report of the survey recently made on the proposed route of the Channel Link; and what further work requires to be done before a decision on this project can be taken.

I expect to receive the report on the survey early in 1966. The British and French Governments will want to assess together both that report and the joint report officials are to prepare on organisational, juridical and financial matters, before reaching further decisions on the project.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the Channel Tunnel survey is now satisfactorily completed and that private enterprise capital for the construction of the tunnel can be made available in Great Britain, France and other interested countries in whatever proportion is permitted by the two Governments, he will now take steps to accelerate the remaining decisions about the structure and the organisation required to complete the project at the earliest possible date.

Progress towards the completion of the survey is being satisfactorily maintained and officials are pursuing their joint discussions on organisational, juridical and financial matters, including a consideration of the possible availability of private capital and the conditions attaching to it. Subsequent stages of the project must await a detailed joint assessment by the British and French Governments of the results of the work now in hand.