asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what is his estimate of the net yield of the betterment levy on the transactions in law of the kind set out in Cases A to E of the Land Commission Bill.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will now make a statement setting out his calculations as to the expected net yield in a full year of the levy proposed in last Session's Land Commission Bill.

I estimate the gross yield of the betterment levy at 40 per cent. in a full year to be about £80 million. The levy will affect the amount which would otherwise be collected under existing taxes, but information is not available upon which to base an estimate of its extent because these taxes are assessed on quite a different basis and are subject to different exemptions.

Is it not extraordinary that the Minister should seek to levy a tax when he has no idea at all of its net yield? Is the position that he does not know—in which case will he undertake to give the Committee some indication of the position—or is it simply that he dare not say what the yield will be because it might be thought to be derisory in comparison with the complexities of collecting it?

I can allay the right hon. and learned Gentleman's anxieties. The net yield will be substantial. That is quite clear. But we cannot go further than this and make a detailed estimate for the reasons that I have given.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give the House even an approximate figure of the net yield, how does he know that it is substantial enough to justify the very high cost of collecting it?

I have said that it is substantial—one can reach that conclusion—but one cannot go further and particularise because of the different bases of Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax and the different exemptions.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent more farm land from being flooded to make reservoirs for public water supply.

No, Sir. Other means of storing water will be investigated wherever they exist, but unavoidably some farm land will have to be taken for reservoirs. Wherever possible the less good farm land will be used in preference to the better.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour, wherever possible, to adopt the large-scale and modern solution to this problem, rather than the old-fashioned solution which involves nibbling away at ever-increasing quantities of good agricultural land?

As the right hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate, we are vigorously examining the possibilities of large-scale water supply. This is a long-term policy, but meanwhile, unavoidably, we shall have to depend upon some water being supplied from reservoirs.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what correspondence he has received from the Ramblers Association, Yorkshire, East Riding Area, about the ploughing up of Millington Pastures, common land near Pocklington, and the protest ramble of this organisation in November, 1965; and what action he has taken.

The Department has not been approached. Two years the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the previous administration, who was then responsible for commons, declined a request from the local Ramblers Association to intervene because, as my hon. Friend will realise, the Minister has no power to settle disputes. However, if the status of the land is in question, those interested should apply—in due course—for the land to be registered under the Commons Registration Act, 1965.

That appears to be a helpful Answer. Can the hon. Gentleman tell me what person or persons can take action in this matter?

Any person can apply to the local registration authorities for the status of the common to be determined. Such a person does not have to have a legal interest in the land.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources why another committee is being set up to consider changes in the establishment of the Ordnance Survey; and if he will make a statement.

The interdepartmental committee which reported last year examined which posts could be filled by civilians. The present body is working out the best ways of recruitment, arrangements for training and career structures.

Is it not a fact that this will be the fourth committee which has investigated this problem? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a certain officer of a professional association has said that the general position is now absurd?

I am not aware of the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. I suppose that it is true that if one takes the period since the last war, may be even an earlier period, there have been more than the two Committees referred to. But there are only two Committees dealing with this, and their objective is to get as many civilians as possible into the service in the best and most appropriate way.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what is the reason for the upper limit of rateable value of £200 for houses outside the London area qualifying for leasehold enfranchisement under the proposals in the White Paper on Leasehold Reform.

It seems appropriate that this legislation, one of the main purposes of which is to improve the security of tenure of leaseholders, should apply to the same class of property as do the Rent Acts.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there are certain areas in the country, including my own constituency of Oxford, where a very large proportion—in some cases about half—of the leaseholders are excluded from the privileges of enfranchisement by the present regulations, and that it is very difficult to explain to those people why it is just for one class of leaseholder to be enfranchised and not just for another class?

Overall, rather less than 1 per cent. would appear to be excluded outside London. I will certainly look at cases such as those my hon. Friend has mentioned.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when he will introduce the Bill to implement the proposals of the White Paper on leasehold enfranchisement.

During the present Session.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that brief Answer—it was very much to the point—may I press on him the urgency of this legislation—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] May I ask my right hon. Friend to bear in mind that there is a great deal of urgency in this matter, remembering that, as in the case of my constituency, both the folk concerned and many of the leases concerned are moving towards the end of their span? Would he see that the formula decided on to settle the purchase price—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."]I—am nearly there—of the freehold should be as low as possible, realising, as he must do—

Order. The hon. Gentleman must get there more quickly.

As my hon. Friend is aware, we have taken steps to protect leaseholders whose leases expire before the Bill becomes law. I am well aware of the urgent need for this Bill. My hon. Friend will be comforted to know that we are making good progress.

While protecting the leaseholders, would the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what will happen in the case of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges? If they lose a great deal of revenue, will the Government find an alternative source of income for them?

We have considered the position of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges. We are quite sure that the steps which we are taking are fair to both parties.

What is the Minister doing about the situation which is arising particularly in London where the announcement of the Government's policy has simply resulted in putting up the prices of leaseholds?

That is not the case at all. Our experience is to the contrary.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some landlords are asking exorbitant sums of money for initial repairs before agreeing to statutory tenancies being given to tenants whose leases have fallen in since 8th December, 1964? Is he further aware that these tenants will be unable to take advantage of the Leasehold Reform Bill unless quick action is taken?

My hon. Friend should call the attention of his constituents to the provisions of the 1954 Act and to the assurance given, to which I have already referred.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what views were expressed to him by the Council on Tribunals relative to Clause 8 and the Second Schedule of the Land Commission Bill now before Parliament.

None, Sir.

Did the right hon. Gentleman consult the Council? If so, did it give him any advice?

The Council, on its own initiative, asked for some information which we gave it.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what plans he has to apply common rates and conditions to road haulage workers employed as industrial civil servants irrespective of their employment before 1963 with service works organisations.

Discussions with the unions on rationalisation will be resumed after the report of the Prices and Incomes Board is received.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this anomaly causes very considerable irritation to those involved? Can he give an undertaking that the Government will take very speedy action when the Report of the Prices and Incomes Board is received?

Until depots were integrated there was only irritation, and it was not particularly serious. But I give an undertaking that once the Report has been received negotiations will be resumed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will reconsider the granting of future permission for the holding of May Day meetings in Hyde Park, in view of the public nuisance and disturbance created.

No, Sir. It is not the Government's policy to trample on democratic traditions.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this year hundreds of people trying to rest and relax had their afternoons completely ruined by the amplified inanities booming across Hyde Park? Why cannot these May Day meetings be confined to the area of Speakers' Corner or the people concerned asked to manage without their extremely powerful loudspeaker equipment?

It has been a tradition for a very long time for May Day rallies to take place in Hyde Park. Although I can understand hon. Members opposite getting worried about the popularity of Left-wing ideas these days, I should not have thought that they would propose these methods for suppressing them.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the Opposition are worried not about the May Day meetings but because the views expressed are anathema to them?

Yes. It is always open to them to try to organise May Day meetings of their own.

While successive Governments have allowed these meetings freedom of speech, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will address himself to the point about the use of amplifiers? That is what causes so much complaint.

I think that amplifiers are necessary and usual at meetings of this sort. If what was said was too loud and carried too far, I should like to have details of it, because it might well be suggested, reasonably, to those concerned, whoever they might be, that they have the meeting elsewhere.

Did any Ministers of the present Government take part in any of these May Day meetings?

I would need notice of that question. I believe so. Certainly I have had the pleasure of taking part in them in the hon. Member's constituency.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what approach he has made to the Greater London Authority for the transfer of the Middlesex Guildhall to the control of his Department.

Exploratory discussions have taken place at official level.

May we have an assurance that finality will be reached in this matter before next May Day? When is it likely to be?

I cannot give a date. I have said that the discussions are exploratory, and they may take a little time.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will enumerate those building materials included in the early warning system; and if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the rising prices in this sphere.

Bricks, cement, sand and gravel, flat glass and plasterboard are included in the early warning system. I do not consider any reference to the Board necessary at present. I shall consider any proposed price increases as they are notified to me.

Can my right hon. Friend say on what basis these commodities were chosen for reference to the Board? Does he recall the information from Fife County Council which I sent to him indicating that electrical wiring cables, which are not in the list he has given, have gone up by rather more than 50 per cent. in the last year? Does not he think that that is a case for reference to the Board?

The commodities were chosen in relation to construction, as they were in relation to other industries, because of their strategic importance and because these were commodities over which there is domestic control and in which imports do not play a large part. A number of items listed by my hon. Friend when he wrote to us were items in which the price of imported raw materials played a very large part indeed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider referring to the 13oard the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on the cost of construction?

No.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works ',why he is proposing to demolish the houses built into the west front of Bury St. Edmunds Abbey; and on whose advice he judges the merits of these houses.

To show the abbey to the best advantage. On expert advice.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is very strong feeling in Bury St. Edmunds about this proposal? Does he realise that those who live in these houses do not accept the Ministry's description of them as being ugly and lacking in facilities? So long as there is a housing shortage, will not he realise that it is better to leave people where they are in their homes and not knock their houses down in order to show off the ruins around them?

The aesthetics are a matter of opinion. The buildings are owned by the borough council. We have asked that the council should mitigate any hardship in taking the buildings down. But no representations have been made to us that there is an outcry.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to specify the expert advice, because in my view experts give opinions both ways?

The Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments in my Ministry is very well esteemed internationally. It is the Inspectorate's opinion which we have sought in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health how many artificial kidney machines are available within the National Health Service; and what is the price per machine.

There are at present about 100 patients suffering from chronic renal failure being treated on kidney machines. There will be a substantial increase in facilities for this form of treatment in the next twelve months. Adequate facilities already exist for treating acute renal failure. The cost of machines and their associated equipment varies from about £2,000 to about £3,500 according to type.

But has the Minister's attention been called to a B.B.C. programme in which it was said that over 2,000 people died every year through the absence of these machines? Would not the resources of the National Health Service be better employed on providing machines to keep people alive rather than providing for the abolition of prescription charges in order that people can get aspirins without paying for them?

Ignoring the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question—because I think that this is a very serious matter—may I tell him that there is no reliable means of assessing how many patients might benefit from intermittent dialysis. The limiting factors in the development of the facility are the provision of accommodation for trained staff and equipment, although at the moment we have sufficient equipment to meet all orders from hospitals. Development is not at present limited by shortage of money.

When bringing in these new machines, which we are all very pleased to hear about, will my right hon. Friend see that they are more evenly distributed throughout the country so that it is no longer necessary for desperately ill patients to be transported considerable distances to be given this life-saving treatment?

That is certainly one of the ideas of establishing wider facilities. I have made funds available for the establishment or extension of these dialysis units at 15 hospitals and other units are being considered by hospital authorities. Each of these units will have at least ten beds.

Does the Minister consider that patients with chronic renal failure can be treated in their own homes? What steps is he taking to ensure that the necessary machines will be provided by local authorities as well as by the hospitals?

This must be a matter for hospital authorities. Home dialysis presents special problems. It is important to evaluate them before commending any widespread extension of this practice. A pilot study is in progress in London and a further pilot trial is planned in the North of England. We must see what results these trials produce before moving too fast in home dialysis.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now announce the composition and terms of reference of the advisory committee on drug addiction.

I hope an announcement will be made soon.

Can the Minister say why there has been such a long delay between the presentation of the Report of the Brain Committee and any action by his Ministry?

Yes, Sir. A great deal of preparatory study and consultation between Government Departments and the professional and other bodies concerned is involved. I am pressing ahead in conjuction with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Home Secretary, and I am anxious that the committee should be set up and should start work as soon as possible.

Will my right hon. Friend consider including in the terms of reference the over-prescription of drugs by medical practitioners to registered addicts? The amounts of these which are reaching the market are increasing. They are much cheaper on the black market to young people than they have been hitherto. More and more are becoming addicted, and this is becoming a graver social problem.

I am sure that this problem will be within the ambit of the work of the committee when it is set up.

Is drug addiction in this country as great as it has been made out to be in certain recent sensational Press articles?

Without knowing the articles to which the hon. Member refers it is difficult to say. It is a serious problem and there is evidence that it has been increasing.

asked the Minister of Health when the supply of disposable syringe needles for the daughter of a constituent of the hon. Member for Stockport, South, asked for in November 1965 and promised in February 1966, will be made available.

I am informed that disposable needles have been supplied on several occasions.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he has been wrongly informed and that he should make further inquiries? I have letters from my constituents saying that these disposable needles were provided only when this Question appeared on the Order Paper.

Because there is a conflict of evidence it does not necessarily follow that I have been misinformed. I am told that 50 needles were sent by post to the child's home address on 4th June, which is the occasion to which my hon. Friend has referred, and also that on two previous occasions sets of 30 needles were given to the child's parents.

asked the Minister of Health when he intends to start the proposed postgraduate hospital development in Chelsea.

The Hospital Building Programme (Cmnd. 3000) envisages a start on building of the Chelsea Postgraduate Medical Centre in the period after 1969–70.

Is the right hon. Gentleman sure that this is the right site for this development? Is he aware that Chelsea is a residential area in the heart of London and that there has been so much loss of residential accommodation in the heart of London that it is important that the Government should not take a lead in reducing it even further?

As I think the hon. Member knows, because he was connected with the Department at the time, the concept of this group of postgraduate teaching hospitals was first announced in June, 1961, and provision was made in the first Hospital Plan produced in January, 1962. As at present advised, I do not see any better site available for the scheme.

asked the Minister A Health whether he will give an undertaking that the proposed postgraduate hospital development in Chelsea will not involve any demolition of housing.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware hat this will cause great concern and that, for the reasons which I have already given, there is an absolute urgency that the amount of residential accommodation in Chelsea should not be reduced, and that failure to give this undertaking will, therefore, cause concern in my constituency?

I could not give that undertaking and proceed with the scheme. The first phase of the scheme will involve demolition of 20 houses, but not of course before 1970.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital authorities within the National Health Service have informed him of the results of the review of the arrangements of Section 4 beds as requested in his Circular HM(66)26; and if he will place examples of hospital leaflets which publicise the facilities of amenity beds in the Library.

I shall be calling for reports later in the year. Meanwhile I will arrange for sample leaflets to be placed in the Library.

How many of the regional hospitals boards have not yet replied? Will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity of reviewing the whole system of bed allocation by consultants?

I think I am right in saying that the replies from hospital authorities are not yet due. Certainly, I will consider any further steps that need to be taken in connection with pay beds in the light of the replies which I receive.

asked the Minister of Health what encouragement he gives to regional hospital boards to second their personnel for a tour in overseas countries of the Commonwealth; and whether those volunteering to go will lose or gain promotion in their home-based jobs.

I have asked boards to assist senior hospital medical and dental staff to accept short-term appointments overseas and to agree to second the more junior staff to overseas posts arranged by the Ministry of Overseas Development. New appointments in the hospital service are filled by competition, and any overseas experience of a doctor seeking a higher appointment on return would be taken into account.

Did the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the boards to the agreement between the Greater London Council and the Government of Nigeria whereby teachers who volunteer for three years get accelerated promotion?

I will look into this. I assure the hon. Member that regional boards have for a very long time been encouraging their doctors to go overseas, certainly since 1952. As for arrangements within the Commonwealth, the hon. Member might be interested in the proceedings of the Commonwealth Medical Conference, which was held last autumn.

asked the Minister of Health the reason for the closing of the diabetic clinic at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stock port.

The clinic facilities for diabetic patients at Stepping Hill Hospital have not been discontinued.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that my constituents have been advised that they must in future attend at Macclesfield and that the clinic at Stepping Hill has been closed down? They have further been advised that transport will be provided, but they have to go with sandwiches because they cannot be returned home until after 4 o'clock, which means a whole day in order to attend the clinic.

I will certainly make further inquiries and write to my hon. Friend about some of the specific points which he has made. My information, however, is that there never has been a diabetic clinic at this hospital. The clinic for the area is at Stockport Infirmary. To supplement this service, some diabetic patients are received by the same consultant at his medical clinic at Stepping Hill.

Will the Minister look carefully at this matter, because the general hospital at Macclesfield is an ex-workhouse built in 1842 and, under the new Hospital Plan, the time before rebuilding takes places has been put back six or seven years? Will the Minister consider the whole area, because Stockport and Macclesfield are very badly served in all respects?

I am sure that conditions in the area have been considered very carefully by the regional board in drawing up its plans, but if the hon. Member has any particular question to raise I hope that he will put it on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry into the seamen's strike.

I ask my hon. and learned Friend to await the statement which my right hon. Friend will be making later this afternoon.

While thanking the Minister for the letter he wrote to me last Friday, may I ask my hon. Friend whether she realises that it is of the utmost import- ante to the national economy as well as to the seamen to expedite the settlement of the dispute?

My right hon. Friend is, I repeat, making a statement this afternoon and will be glad to follow up any points that my hon. and learned Friend would like to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what medical and welfare assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving in Vietnam; and if he will extend this assistance.

A British paediatric team of about ten members will arrive shortly in Saigon to work at the Children's Hospital there for a period of five years. Her Majesty's Government have already send 20 mobile anaesthetic machines to Vietnam and are supplying 20 more. In addition we shall be sending equipment to the Children's Hospital where our team will work. We shall consider other opportunities for helping in the medical field as they arise.

While thanking the Minister for that encouraging Answer, may I ask him whether he does not agree that it was unfortunate—when an international welfare organisation provides beds in Europe for child victims of this war and appeals for air transport help—that, according to a letter sent to me last week, it was left to a private airline to provide help? If beds for treatment are available in Europe for child victims, may we have an assurance that the Government will provide air transport?

No request was made to the British Government for assistance. Needless to say we should consider any requests made. It is true that a request was made to the American Government, but in the light of the correspondence between the hon. Member and myself, I hope that he realises that the Americans have made very substantial contributions to the relief of suffering and to medical aid in Vietnam.

Will my hon. Friend assure us that the team which has gone to Saigon will give medical aid to all victims of the Vietnam war whether they come from North or from South Vietnam?

Of course that is so. It is sited in Saigon and the casualties inflicted on the Vietcong equally with others will receive humanitarian assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present individual membership of the Commonwealth Mission on Vietnam.

The Commonwealth Prime Ministers meeting last year appointed my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the President of Ghana and the Prime Ministers of Nigeria and of Trinidad and Tobago to be the members of the Mission. Any variation of membership would be a matter for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers collectively to consider.

Does that mean that ex-President Nkrumah is still a member of the Mission and that there is only one other member besides the Prime Minister of Britain? Since the need for a fair and honourable settlement in Vietnam is as great now as it was a year ago when the Mission was announced, may I ask whether the Government have any purposive plan to bring this about?

The hon. Member knows that the Commonwealth Mission is only one of many attempts which the Government have made to get a conference on Vietnam, but the Question refers to this particular method, which would require the collective decision of Commonwealth Prime Ministers.

What about Nkrumah.

Mr. Gordon Campbell—next Question.

asked the hon. and learned Member for Brigg, as Second Church Estates Commissioner, what arrangements the Church Commissioners have made with the East Croydon Development Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wates, the builders, to evict the International Language Club from their present premises in Croydon; and whether he will make a statement.

The Church Commissioners have made no arrangements for evictions. The East Croydon Estate Company, which is jointly owned by the Commissioners and Wates Ltd., own a number of properties occupied by the International Language Club. Most of the leases expired in 1964 and the sites are required for an approved residential redevelopment. Three-year extensions of leases were granted in respect of some properties and two-year extensions to 24th June, 1966, in the case of six. A further year's extension has already been arranged for three of these six properties and an extension until the end of the year has been offered for the other three.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that the International Language Club is a remarkably successful piece of international government, that it has rendered great service over nearly 30 years to thousands of students from overseas, that in recent times it has been a victim of Rachmanism at its worst, that its founder Mr. Driscoll was nearly beaten to death in his bed two or three years ago and that there have been mysterious fires in the club's properties? Will he consult Mr. Driscoll and myself about what can be done to help this club to carry on its work?

My right hon. Friend can be assured that everything I can do to assist such international work as he says has been carried out by this club will be done, and that I will most certainly consult him.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that, in consultation with the Church Commissioners, I have arranged for a six months' extension to the end of the year? Is he aware that while there is much gratitude on the part of the students that they are not to be thrown out, there is still a very strong feeling that the Church Commissioners, with all their money, could try to build a new hostel for the students? Would he use his considerable persuasion on the Church Commissioners to try to get this new hostel built in the near future?

The Church Commissioners will, of course, consider any proposal which is put to them, but their main object is to provide funds for the payment of stipends for the clergy of the Church of England.

rose—

Order. Even the Church Commissioners must be brief.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on the outcome of the further meeting on 9th June in Paris regarding the future of the European Launcher Development Organisation.

I will, with permission, make a statement at the end of Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in the light of Government policy set out in the Defence White Paper with regard to the agreement offsetting the foreign exchange cost of British purchases of United States aircraft, what representations he has made to the Government of the United States of America regarding the rejection of a British tender to build harbour tugs for the United States Navy.

None, Sir. There are no grounds for such representations.

Why not? How does the Secretary of State for Defence think that he will get fulfilment of the undertakings in the White Paper about recovery of the cost of the F111A aircraft and other American purchases if these tenders cannot go through?

We have no intention of asking the American Government to subsidise British exports. Under the offset agreement, we are allowed to compete without discrimination against American firms. This was a small order which altogether would have totalled less than £1 million, and factors such as transport costs and lower productivity in British yards prevented us from beating American prices.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman now realise how misleading it was for the Government to talk about ensuring that the costs of the F111A would be offset? Is it not a fact that further invitations to tender have now been withdrawn?

There was nothing whatever misleading. As I told the House the other day, we have already been invited to provide assault tracking to twice the value of the tugs mentioned in the Question. Invitations to bid for two other kinds of ships are now coming in. One invitation to bid for ships was withdrawn because the American specification was about to be changed, but that bid will he renewed in a few weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are currently engaged in the training in Malaysia of South Vietnamese troops; what plans he has to increase this and other assistance by Britain to the United States war effort in Vietnam; and whether he will make a statement.

South Vietnamese soldiers have, since 1961, been attending courses at training centres designed primarily for our own and Commonwealth use. The total number of British Service men operating these centres is 55, of whom only three are concerned exclusively with courses for the South Vietnamese. We have no plans to increase this or to give other assistance to Vietnamese forces or to American forces in Vietnam.

Can my right hon. Friend inform the House how he reconciles his Answer with the Government's professed policy of non-intervention in the disastrous war in Vietnam?

Yes, Sir. We have made it clear that we have no intention of participating ourselves in the fighting in Vietnam or supplying weapons to Vietnam. This remains our policy, but the training of Vietnamese service men started as far back as 1961 under the previous Government and we see no reason why we should not assist in the training of a free country to defend its freedom.

Irrespective of the year in which this facility was first offered, is it not a very odd way for a co-Chairman to exercise his neutrality?

I do not know how odd it is, but I must remind the hon. Gentleman that the Soviet co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference is supplying arms on a large scale for the fighting in Vietnam.

In view of the appalling events which are now taking place in South Vietnam in particular, as revealed by the actions of the Buddhists in protest, will my right hon. Friend reconsider and withdraw his statement that the Government of South Vietnam is a free Government? Will he also give immediate orders for stopping even this meagre support for South Vietnam which is now being provided by this method, in view of the barbarous methods of war now being employed by our American allies in Vietnam?

I would have thought that if my hon. Friend regarded some of the methods used in Vietnam as barbarous he would welcome our participation in training the soldiers of South Vietnam to fight in the way which has enabled us to bring confrontation to an end at a minimum loss of blood and treasure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish children are receiving part-time education; and what percentage of these is in Glasgow.

2,126 at the end of May—all in Glasgow.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that this reveals a very alarming situation which could well get worse as a result of his right hon. Friend's disgraceful handling of the salary claim of the Scottish teachers? What specific steps will he take to ensure that Glasgow bears only its fair share of the teacher shortage instead of the present situation in which, with only one-fifth of the population of Scotland, we have all of the children who are receiving part-time education?

The hon. Gentleman must know that the situation at the end of May was much better than it was under the Conservative Government in 1964, and that the number has been more than halved since March, 1965. As for the steps we shall take, the Roberts Report will be received next month and we hope and desire that my right hon. Friend will be able to take appropriate steps then in addition to what he has already done.