asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make available special funds for an intensified effort to destroy the warfarin-resistant rats at present infesting farms in the Midlands and mid-Wales;(2) what special grants he has allocated to the pest division of his Department and to societies concerned with rat clearance to enable them to deal with warfarin-resistant rats.

Owners and occupiers of land are responsible for controlling rats. Funds are available to our Infestation Control Laboratory for research into the nature of warfarin resistance and new techniques for dealing with it. In addition, we have made special funds available for the task of attempting, in association with the research effort, to slow down the rate at which warfarin-resistant rats are spreading. No special grants have been made to societies concerned with rat clearance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farms and smallholdings are now known to be inhabited by warfarin-resistant rats;(2) what is the extent of the area in the Midlands and mid-Wales at present infested by warfarin-resistant rats; and what are the geographical limits of the area.

Warfarin-resistant rats are found in an area of about 400 square miles containing all or part of the areas of the following local authorities—Newtown and Llanidloes, Llanfyllin, Forden, Clun, Atcham, and Ludlow Rural Districts; Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Urban District; and Welshpool and Montgomery Municipal Boroughs.The probable presence of warfarin-resistant rats has been reported on 345 agricultural holdings. A recent sample survey indicates that fewer than one in eight of all holdings in the area have these rats.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the damage caused over the past few years by warfarin-resistant rats on farms in mid-Wales and the Midlands.

None. Rats of any kind cause damage and should be destroyed if possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department have taken to prevent the carriage of warfarin-resistant rats from farms and warehouses in the Midlands and mid-Wales by means of stock or feed lorries or otherwise to other parts of the country.

None are considered practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department first received intimation from a pest officer that a species of warfarin-resistant rats had been found in mid-Wales or the Midlands; and what steps were then taken to deal with the matter.

First indications of possible resistance to warfarin were reported in February, 1960. Once the condition was identified, a concentrated effort was made by a team of our research officers to exterminate all resistant rats in a small experimental area using acute poisons. The attempt proved unsuccessful but from this and other field work, we found that it might be possible to slow down the rate of spread beyond the edges of the affected area. This we are now trying to do as an extension of our search for an alternative method of control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether intensive agricultural enterprises which are already rated will receive the premium under the Selective Employment Tax.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 20th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations he has had with the Nigerian Government about the Nigerian agreement with the European Economic Community under which Nigeria will discriminate in favour of the European Economic Community in the case of 26 products which she imports; and what effect this proposed discrimination is now expected to have on British exports to Nigeria.

We have been in touch with the Nigerian Government on a number of occasions since they first entered into exploratory discussion with the European Economic Community Commission in November, 1963, and I myself had talks with Nigerian Ministers when I was in Lagos in August, 1965. The agreement has not yet been signed nor have details been published. It is not possible therefore to estimate the effect on our exports to Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if a date has yet been fixed for the meeting of Commonwealth Trade Ministers.

Commonwealth Trade Ministers will meet in London on 13th June.

asked the Minister of Aviation what was the outcome of the recent negotiations with the United States of America regarding routes exchanged under the Civil Air Services Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Agreement was reached on a number of important new route rights and amendments to existing routes for both sides. Full details of this comprehensive revision of the routes available under the Bermuda Agreement are set out in the Notes exchanged today between the British Ambassador in Washington and the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in the American State Department, which are today being published as a Command Paper.We achieved our main objective in the negotiation which was to secure rights for a westabout route for B.O.A.C. through New York across the United States to Australia and New Zealand. This will provide valuable strengthening of our Commonwealth links and I understand that B.O.A.C. are planning to introduce services on the route next year. The United Kingdom has gained other rights in the United States, particularly to Chicago on the U.K. direct route to the U.S. West Coast, rights to serve several Commonwealth and Colonial territories in the Eastern Caribbean through New York, and, as well, local route rights in the Caribbean and in the Far East.In return the United States have been granted additional routes to Hong Kong through Europe and the Pacific, and routes providing greater operational flexibility and wider openings in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda, and additional flexibility on routes to Europe.This exchange of rights will give additional scope to the activities of the airlines of both countries and will enable the overseas territories to enjoy improved services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what figures he has for recruiting to the Fleet Air Arm for the period since the Defence Review; and how these compare with figures for comparable periods in 1965 and 1964.

25 officers and 140 ratings, compared with 27 and 166 for 1965, and 21 and 176 for 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reintroduce the naval frock coat as an alternative to the full dress coat, as being a more useful rig as well as a cheaper one, in view of the fact that the full dress without the appropriate epaulettes looks incomplete.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many separate pieces of man-made equipment now circling the earth outside the atmosphere have been detected by tracking stations under his control.

Over 400 were observed during May.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many reports of unidentified flying objects were received by his Department throughout Great Britain during 1964 and 1965; and of these how many have since not been satisfactorily explained.

The following are the figures:

			Total Number of Reports	Number not Explained
1964	…	…	74	5
1965	…	…	56	14

In the cases that have not been satisfactorily explained the information given has generally been too imprecise or inadequate to support any further investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study he has made of the working paper on Student Sport Within the Binary System, sent to him by the National Union of Students; and what reply he has sent them.

I am actively studying this complicated problem in consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in rapidly growing areas like Bedfordshire, he will increase grants to the Workers Educational Association, in view of the contribution the Association is to make to such Government projects as the University of the Air.

The financial arrangements between the "Open University" and agencies working with it have still to be worked out, but this point will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will encourage local education authorities to permit the use of school buildings and playing fields outside normal school hours by young people and adults seeking facilities for study and recreation.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for this opportunity to remind local education authorities and school governors that I encourage the dual use of school premises where this is a practicable and economical arrangement. The Department has given guidance in Circular 11/64, issued in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, and in its Building Bulletins and I have drawn attention to this question on many occasions. I expect the Regional Sports Councils to examine the situation in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that drug trafficking among young people is increasing, if he will introduce legislation to empower local authorities to exercise control over coffee bars and similar places to prevent this.

My right hon. Friend does not have such a proposal in mind a t present, but he is studying the adequacy of the existing controls on the supply of drugs, and if my hon. Friend has detailed suggestions to make for curbing illicit traffic my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place the headquarters of the new police force for Devon, Cornwall and Plymouth in the City of Plymouth.

This will be a matter for the new combined police authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that long-stay patients ill mental hospitals are not permitted to vote; and if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Act 1949 tc allow those in residence for two years or more to vote.

This is a matter which is within the terms of reference of the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an Order under Section 3 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act 1907 declaring Section 94 of part 5 of the Act to be in force in the Borough of Tewkesbury.

At the request of the Tewkesbury Borough Council an Order has now been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable minor offenders who cannot appear in court to submit a written plea of not guilty, together with their reason for this plea.

If an accused person wishes to dispute the facts alleged against him, I doubt whether a court could reach a satisfactory decision without hearing oral evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average fine for a licensing offence imposed by courts in the Greater London area from April, 1965 to September, 1965.

There are many different kinds of offence in relation to road traffic or other licences, and an average figure for fines for all these offences could not be provided without disproportionate cost. If my hon. Friend will indicate whether he desires information about a particular licensing offence, I will see whether the information can be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Civil Defence training ground at Warley in Essex is now available for development.

The use to be made of the site at Warley is in the first place a matter for the Essex County Council, but I have asked local authorities to defer proposals for expenditure on Civil Defence training grounds until a decision about the functions, organisation and size of the Civil Defence Corps has been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the increasing organised violence on bank officials, Post Office workers, and those in charge of large sums of money, if he will introduce legislation to authorise bank guards to be armed, with instructions to shoot, for an experimental period of two years, to see if this will stop the criminal war against society; and if he will make a statement.

The issue of firearms certificates is a matter for chief officers of police. Home Office advice to chief officers has been that only in very exceptional cases should a firearm be held for protection purposes; and that remains my right hon. Friend's view.

asked the Minister of Health what improvements have resulted, or will result, in the matters within his responsibility, from the letter of 2nd November, 1965 to local authorities and local hospital authorities concerning access to public buildings for the disabled; and if he will make a statement.

I am confident that local authorities and hospital boards and committees for whose services I am responsible will co-operate in attending to these detailed but important points of building design, now that these have been brought to their attention.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are being arranged in Brentwood and Basildon Urban District Council areas for smear tests for cancer of the cervix.

The hospital laboratories at Harold Wood and St. Andrew's Hospitals are now able to deal with the smears sent from clinics organised in both areas by the local health authorities or other sources.

asked the Minister of Health what Government Departments, other than the Home Office, have expressed an interest in using the Pinewood Hospital buildings, near Woking-ham.

No Department, other than the Home Office, has expressed an interest in this property for a Government use, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has written to me about possible use for an educational purpose.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement concerning the appointment of a principal tutor at the Camborne-Redruth Hospital, applications for which post were invited in November, 1965, stating whether an appointment has yet been made, and the number of applications received.

No appointment has yet been made. I understand that two applications have been received so far.

asked the Minister of Health how many women doctors have been appointed as registrars in hospitals under the National Health Service.

At 30th September, 1965, there were 588 women doctors holding registrar appointments.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will give a list of computers on order for local authorities, showing the date the order was placed, the estimated dates of delivery, name of manufacturer, type of computer and function for which it is to be used, respectively;(2) if he will give a list of local authorities using computers, showing the date of installation, name of manufacturer, type

Authority	Computer		I-Installed O-On Order S-Service Basis	Date Installed or Operational on Service Basis	Date for New or Complete Installation
COUNTIES
Berkshire	De la Rue Bull Gamma 10	…	I	Feb., 1965	—
Buckingham	ICT 1903	…	I	Mar., 1966	Jan., 1967
Cheshire	IBM 1401	…	I	Jun., 1962	—
	IBM 360/30	…	O	—	Jun., 1966
Cornwall	ICT 1902	…	I	Mar., 1966	Dec., 1966
Cumberland	ICT 1300	…	I	Sept., 1964	—
Derbyshire	IBM 360/30	…	I	Jan., 1966	—
Devon	IBM 360/30	…	O	—	July, 1967
Dorset	ICT 1301	…	I	Sept., 1963	—
	ICT 1902	…	O	—	Nov., 1960-Feb., 1967
Durham	IBM 360/30 Honeywell Controls Ltd.	…	I	Apr., 1966	—
Essex	H 400	…	I	Apr., 1965	—
Gloucester	ICT 1301	…	I	Apr., 1964-Mar., 1965	—
Hampshire	NCR 315	…	I	Jan., 1964	—
Hertford	NCR 315	…	I	Jun., 1963	—
Huntingdon and Peterborough	ICT 1901	…	O	—	Jun., 1967
Kent	ICT 1903	…	I	Apr., 1966	Jan., 1967
Lancashire	ICT 1301	…	I	Jun., 1963	—
	ICT 1301	…	I	Feb., 1965	—
	ICT 1904	…	O	—	May., 1966-July 1967
Lincoln, Lindsey	ICT 1902	…	O	—	Jan., 1967
Norfolk/Norwich Joint Computer Dept.	EELM 4/30	…	O	—	Early, 1968
Northampton	NCR N/E 803B	…	I	July, 1962-May, 1964	—
Northumberland	IBM 1401	…	S	Apr., 1964
	IBM 360/20	…	I	Apr., 1966
Nottingham	ICT 1301 Monro International (UK) Ltd.	…	I	Jan., 1964	Apr., 1966
Oxford	2 × Monrobot XI	…	I	Nov., 1962-Dec., 1964	—
Shropshire	IBM 360/30	…	I	Mar., 1966	—
Somerset	ICT 1902	…	O	—	Nov., 1966
Stafford	IBM 1401	…	I	Mar., 1963/May, 1965	—
	IBM 360/30	…	O	—	July, 1967
Suffolk, West	ICT 1901	…	O	—	Apr., 1967
Surrey	ICT 1903	…	O	—	Oct., 1966
Sussex, East	ICT 1301	…	I	Aug., 1964	—
	ICT 1902	…	O	—	Oct., 1967
Sussex, West	IBM 1401	…	I	Oct., 1962	—
	ICT 1904	…	I	Mar., 1966	Mar., 1967

The details of computers in use and on order by local authorities are as shown in the following list, together with the name of the manufacturer type of computer and actual or estimated dates of installation. All are used for general, clerical and financial purposes: some are used on specialist tasks in engineering, architectural and traffic survey work. Precise details of the computers engaged on specialist tasks are not known, nor are the dates of the placing of orders.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what improvements have resulted, or seem likely to result, from the letter of 2nd November, 1965, to local authorities and local hospital authorities concerning access to public buildings for the disabled; and if he will make a statement.

It is not yet possible to assess the full effects of the circular because few new local authority buildings have been started since it was issued.The circular asked authorities to bring the detailed advice on the planning of buildings to the notice of private developers in appropriate cases, and they will no doubt have done so. I am glad, however, to take this further opportunity of commending the detailed recommendations sent with the circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why local authorities have been advised by his Department to tell applicants for rate rebates who are receiving allowances from the National Assistance Board that there is no point in pursuing their application.

Because if a rebate were afforded to them their National Assistance allowance would generally be reduced.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that Coventry Corporation has recently increased the fees payable to the local land registry for local searches; whether he is satisfied that such increases are justified; and if he will make a statement.

The increases referred to by my hon. Friend affect all registries of local land charges in England and Wales arid have been prescribed with effect from 1st June next by Statutory Instrument made by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. He is satisfied that the 5s. increase in the standard fee for an official search, which has remained unchanged since 1927, is fully justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the setting up of the Royal Commissions to inquire into local government reorganisation, he will now take steps to suspend the work of the inquiry which is proceeding to consider local government reorganisation on Tyneside.

No. To suspend the work of the inquiry would not be in the interests of the area. I intend to consult the Commission when I have received the Inspector's report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to introduce a special housing subsidy for areas which have a high proportion of caravan dwellers.

If a local authority considers that there is a need to provide permanent housing for caravan dwellers, and can build the necessary houses within their approved housing programme, basic subsidy and supplementary subsidies where appropriate would' be payable under the proposed Housing Subsidies Bill.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the contribution system-built dwellings can make to the housing drive, he will extend Government investment in this field.

My right hon. Friend attaches the highest importance to the contribution of industrialised building and Circular No. 76/65 sets out his policy and the measures to achieve it. But he sees no reason at present for Government investment in this field.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the rates of the pay of able-bodied seamen, cooks and stewards on ocean-going liners on the week previous to the strike.

The rates vary according to length of service and other circumstances. The monthly consolidated basic rates after five years' service for able seamen holding an A.B.'s certificate and assistant stewards are £59 7s. 6d. and £57 2s. 6d. respectively. For cooks on cargo liners (excluding those with accommodation for six or more passengers) and general trading vessels after five years' service, rates range from £57 15s. od. for an assistant cook to £72 for a ship's cook, according to occupational classification and to classification of the ship's complement. The above mentioned rates include compensatory payments for week-end work.Centrally determined rates of pay were not laid down for chefs, specialist cooks, confectioners or pastry cooks.

asked the Minister of Labour where he is building the industrial training centre for Lanarkshire; what are the starting date, the finishing date, and the number of persons who will be trained; and if he will make a statement.

There are two Government Training Centres in Glasgow (at Hillington and Queenslie) and one in Motherwell, which together can train about 800 people a year. No further centres are at present planned for Lanarkshire. As announced last November, however, we plan to establish a new industrial rehabilitation unit in North Lanarkshire. Although the precise site is not yet settled, construction is expected to start this year and it is hoped that the unit, which will have a capacity of about 650 people a year, will open before the end of 1967. Meanwhile the existing industrial rehabilitation unit at Hillington takes some 1,250 people annually.

asked the Minister of Labour how many joiners are being trained in the Felling Government training centre for the Sunderland district; if he will give details of his consultations with the Sunderland branch of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers on the employment prospects of joiners so trained; and if he will make a statement as to the Government's policy in this field locally.

Two men from the Sunderland district are training as joiners at the Felling Government Training Centre. I will write to my hon. Friend about the consultations which have taken place between our local officers and local representatives of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that as a result of the seamen's strike 65,000 dock workers will soon be able to work and will be drawing £9 a week; if he is satisfied that the National Dock Labour Board have sufficient funds at their disposal to pay this money; what funds they are able to call upon; and if he will make a statement.

The Board's Levy Stabilisation Fund, which can be drawn on to meet the cost of payments to dock workers, stands at a level which should be adequate to meet any increase in the Board's commitments in the immediate future.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when the Government will appoint consulting engineers for the proposed Dee Crossing Scheme; and what will be their terms of reference.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he is aware that the Canadian Government is offering a 50-year interest-free loan with a 10-year moratorium to Trinidad for the purchase of Canadian equipment; if he will give a similar loan to Trinidad in order to help British exporters; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen reports of a loan at ¾ per cent. interest, mainly tied to Canadian goods. When my right hon. Friend the present Minister of Transport announced the policy of interest free loans in June, 1965, she made it clear that we cannot extend these very liberal terms to all developing countries. There s no current proposal for such a loan to Trinidad, but we are helping Trinidad in other ways, for example by the provision of interest-bearing loan money and technical assistance.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will arrange for firms with less than 200 and more than 20 employees to pay insurance stamp costs direct by cheque.

Irrespective of size, a firm can pay by cheque if authorised to use a machine for impressing stamps on insurance cards. Other arrangements for paying contributions by cheque rely on systems of accountancy more elaborate than those usually found among the smaller firms, but I am considering whether some limited extension is practicable and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether inshore fishermen who are paid by receiving a share of the proceeds of each catch will be treated as self-employed persons for the purposes of the Selective Employment Tax.

Share fishermen are in general classified as employed persons under the National Insurance Acts. The White Paper on the Selective Employment Tax envisaged that the tax would be refunded in respect of fishing vessels.

asked the Postmaster-General if he intends to proceed with the 625 ultra high frequency system for colour and black and white television; and what percentage of the country it is possible to cover with the ultra high frequency system.

B.B.C. ultra high frequency transmissions on the 625 line standard at present cover large areas in the country and are available to 44 per cent. of the households.The B.B.C. plans to extend the coverage of these transmissions but it is not possible at this stage to say exactly what percentage of the country it is possible to cover with the ultra high frequency system. But it is intended to be a national network.

asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate of the amount of coal and oil, respectively, that will be used in gasworks in the year 1970, expressed in millions of tons of coal equivalent.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 17th May.—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th May, 1966; Vol. 728, c. 221.]

asked the Minister of Power approximately what proportion of the steel pipes and tubes needed by the natural gas industry during the next five years he expects to be supplied by Stewarts and Lloyds and other British manufacturers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 19th May to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock).

asked the Minister of Power how many miners are expected to lose their jobs as a result of the North Sea and mainland gas discoveries; how soon this will happen; which pits will be affected first; what profits or losses they have made in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to what I said about this in the Adjournment Debate on 20th May.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware that twice in the last 20 months the premises occupied by the Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance in Gosford Street, Coventry, have suffered serious fires; whether he has established the cause of these fires; and what action he is taking to prevent further outbreaks of fire.

Yes. In neither case has the cause yet been established, but investigations are continuing. I am arranging for a more intensive periodical review of buildings involving special fire hazards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, at the next Price Review, he will commence negotiations from a base line which takes account of the total cost of the Selective Employment Tax.

All changes in the level of costs of relevant items will continue to be taken into account at the Annual Review and will include any increases which may result from the Selective Employment Tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an approximate estimate of the increased indirect costs to agriculture of the Selective Employment Tax.

No estimate is available at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for alleviating the effects of the Selective Employment Tax on the tourist industry in Scotland.

The object of the tax is to contribute to the strengthening of the economy as a whole; and the achievement of a strong national economy is basic to the prosperity of every industry.The particular problems of the tourist industry in Scotland are being kept under constant review in consultation with the Scottish Tourist Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that tourist information centres in the Highlands are in financial difficulty; and if he will take steps to give them financial assistance.

I know that some voluntary local tourist associations in the Highlands find it difficult to raise adequate funds.The Highlands and Islands Development Board has initiated discussions with local authorities, the Scottish Tourist Board and other voluntary bodies concerned in order to evolve satisfactory arrangements for tourist information in the Highlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken by the Scottish Home and Health Department to assist general practitioners in single practices to obtain locums during periods of absence.

General practitioners in contract with the National Health Service are required to find and pay their own locums and this is recognised in their remuneration. Where possible, executive councils arrange assistance for general practitioners in emergencies and they may also appoint a deputy in the event of a doctor's incapacity. I hope shortly to give them guidance on the improvement of these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of lenders approved, and their value, under the crofter counties road programme in each of the last three years.

The following table gives this information:

Year			Number	Value (£'000)
1963–64	…	…	8	1,686
1964–65	…	…	5	646
1965–66	…	…	8	1,688

At 1st April, 1966, there were 9 schemes not out to tender and costing £2·2 million which had been authorised or in respect of which the necessary grants had been earmarked.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total mileage and value of motorways and dual carriageways built in Scotland in each of the years from 1959 to 1964.

The information requested is as follows for trunk roads:

Year			Mileage	Cost £'000
1959	…	…	1·56	173
1960	…	…	6·78	1,872
1961	…	…	10·94	2,406
1962	…	…	25·42	5,166
1963	…	…	12·9	3,888
1964	…	…	6·52	2,519

Year by year figures for classified roads are not available, but the total for the period is about 26·5 miles.