asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will set up an Agricultural College for Wales.

The arrangements under which an Agricultural College for Wales might be established are at present under consideration by the Welsh Joint Education Committee. They have not yet put detailed proposals to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his proposals for enabling teachers to study the internal organisation and administration of comprehensive schools in the nation-wide reorganisation now being carried through.

This is a matter for local education authorities in the first place; discussions and visits to existing comprehensive schools are taking place in many areas. My Department is organising a conference next summer for heads and deputy heads of second schools and officers of local education authorities about organisation and curriculum in a comprehensive system. An extensive programme of research into comprehensive education is also being sponsored by my Department and the results will in due course be made available to the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions public inquiries have been held into the objections lodged by electors to the establishment of comprehensive schools before he has given his approval.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in considering the hearing of the Goodman Report on orchestras outside London, he will take account of the needs of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, in view of the growing demand for live music for educational purposes in the South-West Region.

I share the hon. Member's concern to maintain the high standards of orchestras outside London; but the level of the grant to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is a matter for the Arts Council. I understand that the orchestra is also seeking financial support from local education authorities related to the cost of extending its educational activities, and I am delighted to know that it is responding to the growing demand for live music in the South-West.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make an announcement regarding the Government's plans for the implementation of the Parry Committee Report on Latin American studies.

I am not yet ready to make a statement, but I hope to make provision in the coming financial year for the development of Latin American studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much more money he proposes to spend on teaching machines next year than the £19 spent this year.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 9th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had in connection with the setting up of a college of education in central Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from local authorities in Brecon and Radnorshire respecting the establishment of a training college in Llandrindod Wells; and what action he is taking.

The Radnorshire Local Education Authority has put to my Department a proposal for the establishment of a College of Education in Llandrindod Wells. The Education Office for Wales is trying to arrange an early meeting with the authority's representatives to discuss this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will issue his circular to local education authorities asking them to aim at a minimum provision of one television set in each school and college.

My right hon. Friend does not for the present propose to send out any circular on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to implement the recommendation of the Robbins Committee for the establishment of a national information service about opportunities in full-time higher education.

The need is to bring information already available to the attention of school children, their parents and teachers, in a readily comprehensible form, at the time when they need it most and in a way which is relevant to their individual circumstances. Steps recently taken by my Department to this end include the issue of advice to schools on careers guidance and improved publicity on opportunities in higher and further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to assist the University of Strathclyde in the purchase of a new computer for teaching and research.

I hope to make a statement on university computer provision next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what annual grant was made to the Council for Education in World Citizenship over each of the last five years.

In 1964–65 and 1965–66 the Department of Education and Science made grants of £950 and the Scottish Education Department grants of £130. In each of the three preceding years the grants made by the Departments were £500 and £69 respectively. In addition, local education authorities can contribute and their expenditure is assisted by the Exchequer through the general grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give, respectively, the estimated cost of raising the school leaving age, reducing over-sized classes, implementing the Newsom Report, and the expansion of universities and other places of higher education; and whether he will state his order of priorities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Education Chapter of the National Plan, where the planned growth of expenditure on education is shown and the Government's intentions explained.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when a new primary school was last built in Dukinfield, Cheshire; and how many of the eight primary schools in the borough were built in the last century.

One school was built in 1941 and the other seven before 1900.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many General Certificate of Education O level passes were obtained by pupils attending secondary modern schools, nationally, and in Berkshire, respectively, in each of the years 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1965.

The General Certificate of Education examination was held for the first time in 1951. Not all the later figures asked for are available, but I am informed that the numbers of subject passes obtained by secondary modern school pupils in the Berkshire local education authority's area were 96 in 1955, 640 in 1960 and 1,495 in 1964. A sample survey shows that the pupils who left secondary modern and all-age schools in England and Wales in 1960–61 had obtained about 43,000 subject passes, and the same category of pupil in 1963–64 had obtained about 104,000 subject passes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science of how many current Latin American newspapers copies are now available in the British Museum Newspaper Library compared with a year ago; and if he will list the additional newspapers.

In December, 1965, the British Museum received 17 Latin-American papers. Eight of these were dailies. This compares with 19 papers —(10 of which were dailies)—in December, 1964. Since then the Museum has ceased to receive one newspaper each from Argentine, Cuba and Guatemala but now subscribes to a daily paper in Brazil. This is the Estado de Sāo Paolo.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of his staff are concerned with external relations; and whether he is satisfied, in view of the large number of persons from overseas in this country, that the fullest use is being made of their presence in this country by the education service.

Fourteen full time. The education service takes advantage in various ways of the presence here of persons from overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he give, in list form, the ratio of teaching staff to students in all the medical schools and teaching hospitals throughout England and Wales;(2) if he will give the cost of annual training of an individual medical student at each of the medical schools in England and Wales, and the national average of such annual costings;(3) why the annual cost of training a medical student in Leeds is over £1,400 whereas in Liverpool it is approximately £750 and in some other medical schools even less; why these variations arise; and why they are permitted to continue.

The latest available figures for staff-student ratios and the crude recurrent costs per student for the medical faculties of universities in England and Wales are given in Table A of Appendix E to the Fifth Report from the Estimates Committee, Session 1964–65, on Grants to Universities and Colleges (House of Commons Paper No. 283). The average cost per student for England and Wales on this basis is £1,099. The figures for the London medical schools are not shown separately in the Table, and I shall be writing to the hon. Member to provide him with these.As the Appendix referred to explains, these figures must be treated with caution as a means of comparing costs between universities: these depend on the way in which medical education is organised in each university and the weight of postgraduate work. The whole question of the organisation and cost of medical education is under examination by the Royal Commission on Medical Education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Department made representations about the showing of "The War Game" on British Broadcasting Corporation television; and what was the nature of these representations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers which I gave on 2nd December to Questions by my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Mr. Philip Noel-Baker) and my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables in order to discover what is the present shortage of motor bicycles and other vehicles and of signals equipment required by chief officers of police; and what steps are being taken, and funds provided, to make this shortage good.

It is for the police authority to provide and maintain such vehicles and equipment as may be required for police purposes in their area. H.M. Inspectors of Constabulary report to my right hon. and learned Friend any deficiencies they find in the course of their inspections, and he brings these to the attention of the police authority. In addition, chief constables who obtain their wireless equipment through my Department already provide regular reports of their requirements, for which £815,000 has been provided in this financial year. Expenditure on vehicles and other equipment is defrayed from the local police fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has vet concluded the discussions with chief officers of police, which he informed the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire on 3rd August last that he was holding, with a view to examining whether it would be appropriate to relieve the police of the duty of removing cars which have been parked illegally and entrusting it to a separate corps especially trained for the purpose.

No. Consultations are still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the Minister of Transport about the repositioning of "No Waiting" signs on the A.20 road to Kent within the Metropolitan area, with a view, after these signs have been rationalised, to instructing the Metropolitan Police to see that the law is enforced especially during rush-hours.

My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that the police do their best to enforce restrictions on waiting, having regard to the calls made upon them. The positioning of the signs in question is a matter for the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now ready, following consultations with the Commonwealth, to bring forward proposals for amending the Fugitive Offenders Act.

We are in continuing consultation with Commonwealth Governments on this subject and I hope that we will be able to have in the near future further discussions following on the Canberra Conference of Commonwealth Ministers last September. If we can reach agreement on the complex issues involved it will then be possible to proceed with amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to authorise the police to fine an offender who pleads guilty to minor motoring and other offences by ticket on the spot, while preserving the right of appeal in all cases.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no proposals to make at present for legislation to extend the list of offences to which the fixed penalty or "ticket" procedure is applicable under Section 1 of the Road Traffic and Roads Improvement Act 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now the policy of his Department in regard to the use of dogs by police in industrial disputes and in police dealings with the public; and if he will make a statement.

It would be contrary to practice for police dogs to be used in connection with industrial disputes. I am satisfied that chief officers of police exercise proper discretion in the use of police dogs, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the general guidance that has been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he accepts the recommendation of his Departmental committee on licensing planning that there is no longer a need for the existing licensing planning machinery provided by Part VII of the Licensing Act 1964 in respect of war-damaged areas; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he accepts the recommendation of his Departmental committee on licensing planning that any new machinery for licensing planning in areas of redevelopment should not apply to off-licences; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has sought the views of the organisations affected by the Committee's recommendations, but he is not yet in a position to announce his conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to continue the policy of recent years of revoking licensing planning in areas where it is no longer required; and in how many and what areas this action has been taken during 1965.

Until it has been decided whether licensing planning should continue in a modified form, as recommended by the Departmental committee, it would be imprudent to discard the present machinery, under which most of the 18 extant licensing planning committees foresee work for several years ahead. No revocation was made in 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens were deported from the United Kingdom on security grounds in 1964; and what is the number for the current year to the nearest convenient date.

One deportation order was made on security grounds in 1964, but the alien concerned left the country in 1965 without being deported. No order has been made on security grounds so far in 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the observations of Professor Camps, a copy of which has been sent to him, on the possibility of crimes involving carbon monoxide or barbiturate poisoning remaining unsus- pected, he will take steps to improve the medico-legal qualifications of those who perform autopsies.

This is a matter which comes within the terms of reference of the Committee on Death Certification and Coroners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for reports from chief constables throughout the country on the increased numbers of police being used to deal with crowd disturbance inside football grounds.

If the services of the police are called upon, it is for the chief officer of police to decide how many men are required, and my right hon. and learned Friend has no reason to think that these arrangements are not working satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refused to grant permits to Madame Bui Thi Cam, M.P., Madame Ha Giang, M.P., Madame Phan Tsi An and Madame Boi Anh, who were in Paris at the time of application, to enter this country for a short visit at the invitation of a group of British women, including women Members of Parliament; and why he decided that the visit of these North Vietnamese women, who have many friends among British Members of Parliament, would be used for war propaganda purposes.

In view of the known activities and associations of this delegation it was reasonable to suppose that the visit would be used for North Vietnamese war propaganda purposes and would not help us towards our objective of promoting negotiations to end the conflict in Vietnam.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will convene a conference of all the security organisations with a view to setting up a permanent body to assist the police in fighting crime.

In view of the numbers and variety of these organisations there might well be value in a representative body which could speak for them. I understand that the formation of such a body is now being considered, and I think it preferable to await the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the present arrangements for au pair girls in this country as a basis for revised regulations.

My Department is inviting representatives of the Employment Agents Federation and the British Vigilance Association to join it in a further study of measures designed to make clear to both parties to an au pair arrangement, before they enter into it, precisely what it involves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the concern of the Dorchester branch of the Prison Officers' Association at the recent death of a warder at Portland Borstal Institution after an attack by inmates; and what action he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to protect prison officers from attacks such as took place at Portland.

My right hon. and learned Friend and I share the concern and deep regret felt by the entire Prison Service at the tragic incident on 24th November in which an officer of Portland borstal lost his life. An inmate has been charged with murder. My right hon. and learned Friend will consider urgently, in the light of investigations which have been made and of the evidence at the trial, whether any fresh precautions to prevent attacks on officers are practicable and desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are serving as traffic wardens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to encourage the appointment of women as traffic wardens.

On 31st October, 1965, 215 women were employed as traffic wardens. This is an increase of 147 in the last 12 months. No special steps appear to be necessary to encourage police authorities to appoint women as traffic warns; but I am glad to take the opportunity of saying that my right hon. and learned Friend welcomes this development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Thomas Wisbey, a prisoner in the maximum security wing at Durham gaol, who is locked in his cell from 3 p.m. daily until 9 a.m. the next morning, is not allowed to have a radio set.

Wisbey is not locked in his cell from 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. He works from 9 a.m. until 4.55 p.m. on five weekdays, with a break of about an hour and three quarters, when he takes his midday meal in his cell, and he has association —including television and other recreations—on two weekdays from 5.50 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.Like all prisoners in the early stages of a long sentence he is not entitled to a personal radio but my right hon. and learned Friend is reconsidering the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on the establishment of a system of parole for prisoners.

A White Paper outlining the Government's proposals was published on 9th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to add the badger to the list of protected animals included in the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

No. This would not in my right hon. and learned Friend's view be appropriate since the Act is designed to give protection to domestic and captive animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ban the sport known as badger digging.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no such proposals in mind at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered the representations made to him by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, regarding the case of Mr. Jeffrey Williams, of Birmingham, who has been unable to appeal against a conviction because exhibits produced at the trial, which were essential to an appeal, had been removed from the Court of Quarter Sessions, Birmingham, and cannot be traced; if he has examined the further evidence sent to him, which indicates that the exhibits have subsequently been seen; and in view of the responsibility of the police under the Criminal Appeal Act 1907, which regulates the custody and production of exhibits, if he will cause an inquiry to be held into this matter.

My right hon. and learned Friend has considered the further evidence which my hon. Friend has forwarded. The exhibits have not been seen since the trial at Birmingham Quarter Sessions, when they were in the custody of the court. I am writing to my hon. Friend in greater detail about the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the widows of prison officers whose husbands lose their lives after attacks by prisoners are adequately compensated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has recently received on the subject of pensions for the widows and dependants of prison officers killed on duty; and if he will make a statement.

Apart from the operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, an award to the widow of a prison officer killed as the result of an attack by inmates in the course of the officer's duty is governed by the provisions of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1965, and the Superannuation Act, 1965, including the Injury Warrants 1952–1965. The Prison Officers' Association has recently submitted proposals for a review of certain aspects of these arrangements and these are receiving careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why troops of the Lancashire Regiment have been posted in Durham Prison.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 25th November to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) and the right hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Sir W. Anstruther-Gray).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the result of his review of Civil Defence.

The review is still in progress and I cannot yet say when I shall be able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the participation of children under 18 years of age in bingo clubs and similar gambling clubs.

Section 32(3) of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1963, already prohibits any gambling in which a person under 18 years of age participates except in a private dwelling house or in the presence of his parent or guardian, and in either case with the consent of his parent or guardian.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the need for a police council to examine and deal with public complaints; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

Section 49 of the Police Act 1964, which came into effect on 1st August, 1964, requires a chief officer of police to record and cause to be investigated any complaint against a member of his force. It provides that the investigation may be undertaken by an officer from another force and that, unless the chief officer is satisfied that no criminal offence has been committed, he must send the report of the investigation to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I am keeping the operation of these arrangements under close review, but I do not at present contemplate any further change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average weekly cost of keeping and maintaining a person in prison, including the cost of food and the apportionment of the salaries of prison staff, for the years ended 31st March, 1964 and 31st March, 1965, respectively.

The average weekly cost of maintaining a person in prison during the year ended 31st March, 1964, was estimated to have been £11 4s. 7d. I regret that the figures for 1964–65 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet reached a decision on the proposal that a security expert should be appointed to his Prison Department, to make an independent check on the security arrangements in Her Majesty's Prisons.

I have decided to appoint Mr. R. C. Lewis to be adviser on prison security. He is at present a chief superintendent in the Metropolitan Police and will be seconded to the Home Office on promotion to the rank of deputy commander.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the value of the work done by the Institute of Race Relations in the study and improvement of race relations in Great Britain and elsewhere; and if he will make a grant to the Institute to enable it to carry on its work.

I am glad of this opportunity of paying tribute to the Institute's excellent work as a pioneer body in a field largely unexplored. Considerable use has been made, of recent years, by Government Departments and others of the information and services which the Institute has built up. The Institute has hitherto subsisted on grants from nonofficial sources and expects to be able to do so in the future but is in immediate need for assistance towards its ordinary expenses and of a grant for the completion of an important research project. The Government have therefore decided to make a once-for-all contribution to the Institute's expenses in the current year in the form of a grant-in-aid of £25,000 consisting of £15,000 towards current expenses and £10,000 for research. A Supplementary Estimate for this purpose will be presented to Parliament in due course. In the meantime, the necessary funds are being advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what his plans are for the co-ordinated economic development of the South Arabian Federation.

It is for the Federal Government in the first instance to put to me their proposals for development. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development and I are of course always ready to help with advice if that is sought, and we shall shortly be taking up with Federal Ministers the use of available resources in the new development period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what requests he has had from the Government of Gibraltar for further financial assistance; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 18th November. No new requests for assistance have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Development Plan for Gibraltar will be completed; if it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the prospect of British financial support.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Report of the Gibraltar Study Group. I understand that a summary of its recommendations is expected to be submitted to the Gibraltar Government in the next few days. Whether these recommendations will be published is a matter for the Gibraltar Government to consider.As regards development assistance I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 4th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms of reference of Mr. A. G. H. Gardner-Brown, C.M.G., who has been appointed to investigate salaries in the Western Pacific High Commission.

Mr. Gardner-Brown has been asked to report confidentially to the High Commissioner and myself on anomalies existing in pay scales, grading or other conditions of service within the structure of the Civil Service in the Western Pacific High Commission Territories.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what consideration he has given, in his Review of the South-East Study, to the need to improve commuter transport services, in view of the growing anxiety about these services generally and their importance in planning future population distribution.

The review has important implications for the transport services in the South-East including the commuter services and these are being given the fullest consideration.

asked the First Secrtary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will publish his Review of the South-East Study.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 26th October.

asked the First Secreof State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what were the percentage increases, in the last 12 months, in wages and salaries, prices, and in the gross national product.

In the first half of 1965 the total wage and salary bill was nearly 8 per cent. higher than a year previously. Over the same period the retail price index rose by nearly 5 per cent. The gross national product at factor cost increased by 6½ per cent., or by 2½ per cent. at constant prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken in answer to the Indian Government's default on its undertaking to release a cargo of goatskins on the "Ocean Enterprise" on proof of British ownership.

The Indian Government have confirmed their undertaking to release cargoes detained during the recent conflict with Pakistan where neutral ownership can be established.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what talks he has had with the Travel Trade Association and the Association of British Travel Agents in connection with their methods of dealing with complaints from holidaymakers.

When I receive complaints about unsatisfactory holidays which appear to deserve investigation, I refer them to the British Travel Association, the body sponsored by the Government to represent the tourist trades.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to terminate the Commonwealth preference granted on Indian goatskins.

We have a contractual obligation to certain countries in the Commonwealth Preference area to maintain this Preference and, therefore, cannot terminate it without their agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will examine the possibilities of siting a major car production plant in the North-East, in view of forthcoming pit closures and the contraction of the mining industry in Northumberland.

I shall certainly bear in mind the needs of areas which will be affected by colliery closures, including the North-East, when considering expansion plans for the motor industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to correct the imbalance of trade between the United Kingdom and the United States of America and Canada.

In a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 25th November I described the actions being taken to increase our exports to the U.S.A. We are similarly taking energetic steps to increase our exports to Canada.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effect of the proposed pit closures in the North-East, and of the number of new jobs that will be required in the region in the next three years.

The number of new jobs required in the North-East will depend, among other factors, on the extent to which skilled mineworkers from the pits which will be closed accept the offers of the National Coal Board for further employment in the industry. My right hon. Friend will continue to make full use of his powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage the provision of more employment generally in the North-East.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will outline the plans of Her Majesty's Government for encouraging closer British industrial participation in the benefits of the European Free Trade Association.

My right hon. Friend has taken special steps to bring to the notice of British exporters the opportunities provided by the progressive elimination of industrial tariffs in E.F.T.A., and the services which the Board of Trade can offer them. The Export Council for Europe is working closely with the Board of Trade on this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the offers of free installation of central heating, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West; and if he will take steps to stop this form of misleading advertisement.

I have studied the advertisement but without further evidence I cannot judge whether it is misleading.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the timing of import quotas on apples, on his future policy in this regard, and on the proposed increased import of apples in exchange for machinery and other equipment.

My right hon. Friend will shortly announce arrangements for the import of apples in the first half of 1966 and I cannot anticipate this announcement. The arrangements would not be affected by any exchange which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will provide an analysis of the return on British overseas industrial investment by industry and by area.

The next such analysis will be published in the Board of Trade Journal early next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on his conclusions after studying the report of the official inquiry into the loss of the Aberdeen trawler "Blue Crusader".

I have nothing yet to add to what I told my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 9th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent Geneva Conference discussions on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade long-term arrangements for cotton textiles.

The meeting of the Cotton Textiles Committee of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was engaged on a major review of the operation of the Long Term Arrangement on Cotton Textiles which was negotiated in 1962 and expires in 1967. Whether and on what terms the Arrangement may be renewed will be discussed by the Committee next year. Proposals by the United Kingdom for the regulation of our cotton textile imports after 31st December were also considered by the Committee, and will be further considered at a meeting in the early months of 1966. In the meantime, we shall have bilateral discussions with countries which wish to elaborate the views they ex- pressed in the Committee. An interim scheme for the regulation of imports during these discussions will come into effect on 1st January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action will be taken by the Government to indemnify the Export Credits Guarantee Department against losses on Rhodesian trade following from the illegal declaration of independence.

None. For those insured with it, E.C.G.D. covers such losses in the ordinary course of business.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the Association of Chartered Patent Agents and others against moving the Patent Office out of London; and what reply he has made.

The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents and other interests have made known their objections to the removal of the Patent Office from London. They have been assured that their arguments will be carefully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the survey carried out by the Scottish Council, Development and Industry, a copy of which has been sent to him, into the Scottish castings industry; and if he will take steps to encourage the local production of castings to meet the needs of new industries.

I am aware that this survey indicates that just under half the total consumption of castings in Scotland is from Scottish production. The decision whether or not to expand in Scotland is, of course, primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of the firms concerned. We are always glad to welcome new projects or expansions in development districts and these would be eligible for consideration for assistance under the Local Employment Acts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he accepts the recommendations of the Buchanan Report in regard to the development of urban areas; what steps he is taking to implement them; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The new generation of new towns, large expansions of existing towns, re-development, slum clearance, and a large housing programme will all present opportunities to improve urban environment on the lines indicated in the Report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for encouraging landowners to restore the land on which disused railway lines have run.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any need to take special steps for this purpose. Where disused railway land becomes derelict or unsightly local authorities have adequate powers for dealing with it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the inadequacy of the Palace of Westminster exchange is due to undermanning, inadequate equipment or some other cause; and what steps he proposes to take to improve efficiency to the highest level.

I am sorry that the staff of the switchboard in the Palace of Westminster are not always able to deal with calls as promptly as I would wish. This is due to increases in the demand for calls to and from the House, especially at peak periods.Space has not hitherto been available to extend the switchboard, but an extension is now possible and will be completed by March, 1966. For the longer term, I have arranged for a specialist study of the telecommunications requirements of the Palace of Westminster.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of persons on the waiting list for domestic telephone installations in Belfast; arid what is the approximate period of delay between application and installation.

At 31st October 437 applications for residential telephones were under inquiry or being met: there was no waiting list. The average period between application and installation is two weeks.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks were erected in the Coleraine rural area during 1965; and how many requests are still outstanding.

The answer to the first part of the Question is none, and to the second, two.

asked the Postmaster-General how many international telephone circuits will be available to meet the heavy traffic expected from the International Air Exhibition at Farnborough next year to France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Sweden, respectively.

pursuant to his answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th December, 1965; Vol. 722, c. 1258] supplied the following details:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied with the results of the special arrangements made during the summer to improve the standard of maintenance of telephone call offices at London railway stations; and if he will make a statement.

As a result of the measures which have been taken, fewer call offices at London railway stations are out of use because of faults, and there have been improvements in the state of directories and in the general cleanliness of these call offices. We are continuing our efforts.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to institute proceedings against the pirate broadcasting station operating within territorial waters on Knock John Tower.

I cannot make any statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated total weekly cost of the Royal Air Force presence in Zambia; and who is meeting this cost.

Exact figures are not available, but we estimate that it costs about £20,000 more a week to maintain the R.A.F. units in Zambia than at their normal stations. No decision has been made on the ultimate responsibility for these costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if pirate broadcasting stations are being established on Sunk Head Tower and Roughs Tower with his permission; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

I have no definite information about pirate broadcasting stations being established on the Towers: my permission for this to be done has not been sought and it would not be granted.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take on paragraph 41 of the report of the interdepartmental committee presided over by Lord Brain.

The study recommended in this paragraph falls within the terms of reference of the standing advisory committee proposed in paragraph 42; the recommendation is accordingly being examined in the course of the consultations referred to in my reply of 25th November to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop).

asked the Minister of Health what analysis has been made of water in areas containing a high level of calcium fluoride to determine what other chemicals or trace elements are also present which may modify the toxic effects of the fluoride.

Routine chemical analyses are made by water undertakers; but I am advised that a special investigation of the type suggested would be unrewarding, since no toxic effects—apart from increased dental mottling where the amounts of fluoride are excessive—have been observed as a result of fluoride in water in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, whether Her Majesty's Government have asked the Government of Zambia for support costs for the Royal Air Force units now stationed in that country.

Decisions have yet to be reached on the apportionment of the costs involved in our overall assistance to Zambia.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require all meat sold from knackers' yards to be sterilised in order to prevent any risk to health.

In conjunction with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, I propose to review the Meat (Staining and Sterilisation) Regulations, 1960, to see what changes, if any, are necessary in the interests of public health.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the studies which have been commissioned by her Department since October, 1964, with their authors.

The list is as follows:

"Factors that influence teachers for and against a period of service overseas" —Commissioned from Central Office of Information.

"Some comments on the African contribution" (a study in the field of Community Development)—Mr. H. Mason, O.B.E., B.A.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will take steps to complete a national survey of industrial archaeology.

Since 1963 the Ministry has been co-operating with the Council for British Archaeology in a national survey of industrial monuments. The survey will continue under the auspices of the Council with the help of a grant from the Department.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, in view of the Government's decision to approve the broad concept of the Martin-Buchanan plan for the redevelopment of Whitehall without committing themselves to accept all its proposals, whether, while not delaying the erection on the Bridge Street site of a Parliamentary Annexe and Government offices, he will hold a public inquiry to examine the longer-term aspects of the plan, including the proposals to demolish the Treasury Building in Great George Street, to construct a bridge across Parliament Street, to build a block of flats extending across Embankment Gardens, to demolish the Middlesex Guildhall, to create an exhibition centre in Parliament Square, and to accommodate several thousand more civil servants in Whitehall; and whether he will now formally consult the Greater London Council and the Westminster City Council regarding those parts of the plan which affect their responsibilities.

Statements I made on 19th July and 3rd November represent firm decisions, but I have always said that I would not rule out inquiries into certain longer-term aspects of the plan and I hope to announce one such inquiry during the next few days.The Government will take full account of the planning responsibilities of the Greater London Council and the Westminster City Council and will consult them on all appropriate occasions. The Greater London Council have already been asked to consider the road proposals. It is not proposed in the foreseeable future to demolish the Middlesex Guildhall.

asked the Minister of Transport what diminution of the Metropolitan Green Belt would result from the construction of the proposed M.11 on the Roding Valley line favoured by his Department.

That would depend on the detailed design of the motorway, including side road connections.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date he received from the Chigwell Urban District Council a request for the statistical basis for his preference of the Roding Valley over the Lea Valley route for the proposed M.11; when he will provide this information; and whether he will give an assurance that no final decision will be made until the Chigwell Urban District Council and others affected have had proper opportunity to study this information and to make representations to him.

I am not aware of any such outstanding request following discussion of my draft proposals with officials of the council last month.I hope to publish a draft scheme early next year. There will be ample opportunity for representations to be made and considered before a final decision is taken.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the recent accidents on the A.38 between Bristol and Gloucester, he will now set up a Departmental inquiry to investigate as a matter of urgency what special safety measures ought to be applied to this stretch of highway.

Much as I regret the recent fatal accident near Falfield, I see no advantage in a special inquiry. My divisional road engineer regularly reviews with the county surveyor the safety measures on this road, such as lane markings and junction layouts, and this he will continue to do.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received for the maximum utilisation of the already existing dock facilities of Swansea, and other South Wales ports, in the light of proposals for new ship berth construction in the Bristol Channel.

The British Transport Docks Board has had considerable success in attracting new traffics through the South Wales ports to replace the declining coal trade. So far as development schemes are concerned, I have received from the Board an application under Section 9 of the Harbours Act, 1964, for the authorisation of the improvement of the South Dock at Newport. Other improvement schemes for the South Wales ports, including Swansea, are being considered by the Board.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will now introduce legislation relating to drink and driving and the safety of goods vehicles.

I hope to introduce a Bill immediately after the Christmas Recess. Meanwhile, to assist Parliamentary and public discussion of the important issues raised by the Bill, I shall publish next Tuesday, 21st December, a White Paper explaining the background to the Government's proposals. Copies will be available at the Vote Office at 2.30 p.m. on that day.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up a Welsh Water Board, to control and develop Welsh water resources.

As Secretary of State, I now have executive responsibility for water supply and river management in Wales. A Welsh Water Committee, composed of the two Welsh members of the Water Resources Board and the chairmen of the river authorities concerned has been established to advise me directly on the control and development of Welsh water resources. Any further development must await consideration of the future of the water industry as a whole.