asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what wireless transmitting equipment has been exported to Zambia, with the sanction of Her Majesty's Government, since 11th November, 1965; what agreements have been made with the Zambian authorities about its installation and purpose; and if he will make a statement;(2) to what extent wireless transmitting equipment installed in Zambia since 11th November, 1965 has been paid for by Her Majesty's Government; and whether it is operated by British engineers and technicians under the control of Her Majesty's Government.

Despite Rhodesian assertions to the contrary since the Parliamentary Answer I gave on this subject on 24th May, Her Majesty's Government has given no financial assistance for the installation of civil wireless transmitting equipment in Zambia since 11th November, 1965. There are at present no British engineers and technicians under the control of Her Majesty's Government operating wireless transmitting equipment in Zambia, other than those serving with R.A.F. units now stationed in that country. The export of civil wireless transmitting equipment to Zambia by private British manufacturers is not subject to control by Her Majesty's Government, but I am glad to say that Zambia does purchase a substantial share of her requirements in this field from suppliers in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what discussions he has had with the Zambian Government regarding arrangements to secure the United Kingdom's imports of copper from Zambia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Faulds).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what proposals he has for compensating those members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service who, before the formation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, were in the employment of the Government of Nyasaland and who, when the Federation was formed, became the employees of the Federal Government.

The terminal arrangements for all members of the Federal Public Service were settled by all the Governments concerned when the Federation was dissolved, and my right hon. Friend has no proposals for amending them.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in view of the uneasy truce between India and Pakistan following the Tashkent Agreement, he will take the initiative in bringing these countries together to settle outstanding problems and to promote peace and disarmament.

In the view of Her Majesty's Government the improvement of relations between the Governments of India and Pakistan is primarily a matter for those Governments. It is Her Majesty's Government's hope that the two Governments will be able to hold further meetings for this purpose as envisaged in the Tashkent Declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations for what reasons and on what date it was decided to move Commonwealth Day; and what was done to make the change known to the public.

It was felt that it would be more appropriate in the context of the modern Commonwealth that in future Commonwealth Day should be celebrated in this country on Her Majesty's Official Birthday instead of on 24th May, the date of Queen Victoria's birth.The announcement of the change of date was made on 24th January, 1966, and was widely published in the press. All the appropriate educational authorities and unofficial bodies were also informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when broadcasts inciting disorder in Rhodesia were resumed in Zambia; and what representations have been made concerning these.

I understand that with the exception of a very limited number of broadcasts some weeks ago, recent programmes directed to Rhodesia have been quite objective and composed largely of news items. I have made no representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent he is now in communication with the Government of Rhodesia.

We remain closely in touch with the Governor of Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what additional assistance he intends to give to those Rhodesian officers who remained loyal to the Crown after the unilateral declaration of independence who now find themselves without financial support following the expiry of the initial six months help already provided by Her Majesty's Government.

I am glad to have this opportunity of informing the House of the further assistance which Her Majesty's Government intend to make available to such officers.The Government will continue to extend the assistance to those officers who have the firm intention of returning to duty to Rhodesia upon the restoration of constitutional Government. Those officers who do not find temporary employment will be eligible to receive full salary advances for a further three months, making nine months in all; thereafter they will receive advances of half salary. If they should find temporary employment in this country, assistance will be in the form of a "topping up" allowance, this being the difference between their income from such employment and the amount of any higher advances related to their normal Rhodesian salaries, which they would otherwise receive from Her Majesty's Government. This assistance will be maintained until these officers resume their posts in Rhodesia.I understand that some officers foresee particular difficulty about returning to their duties in Rhodesia and that they are therefore thinking in terms of starting a new career. Such officers will not be eligible for further advances in salary after the initial period of six months. Their rate of pension or other terminal benefit will be safeguarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement on his policy for the future of the Oversea Migration Board.

The Oversea Migration Board was set up as a non-statutory Board in 1953 primarily to consider proposals for schemes of emigration to other Commonwealth countries which might be referred to it. In fact, since the Board was appointed no Commonwealth Government or any other body has produced any new schemes for reference to the Board. In its early years the Board also carried out a number of studies of emigration from Britain which were published in a series of Annual Reports. But since 1962, with the agreement of the members, the Board has met only once a year to consider and approve its Annual Report, which has been confined to statistics.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give details of the directions he has given to the nationalised fuel industries on the need to co-ordinate their advertising.

No such directions have been given.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement about the future of aid for overseas development, arising out of the recent conference at Fitchley Park of senior officials representing the chief donor countries.

I understand that the conference resulted in a very valuable exchange of views between the officials and ethers who attended it, but since it was organised by the Overseas Development Institute and not by my Department it would not be appropriate for me to make any statement about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost, including materials, of minting a penny.

The Mint are very successful exporters and it is not the practice to give details of production costs as this would give information of commercial value to the Mint's competitors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what views were expressed in the letter he received from the chairman of the Economic Development Council for Distribution concerning the proposals for a payroll tax; and if he will place a copy of the correspondence in the Library.

The Chairman of the Economic Development Council for Distribution made a number of constructive criticisms of the Selective Employment Tax on behalf of the distributive trades. I am placing a copy of his letter and my reply in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what criteria he formed the estimate that, depending on the extent to which the Selective Employment Tax were passed on, the effect on retail prices would vary between nothing and one-half of one per cent.

I have estimated the tax payable in respect of employees in the retail trades—and wholesale trades where appropriate—deducted the premium payable to manufacturers of consumer goods, and expressed the result as a percentage of estimated retail sales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the representations which have been made to him and the views expressed by hon. Members in a Motion on the Order Paper, he will now relieve charities from the burden of the Selective Employment Tax.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Ministry of Labour Bill tomorrow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that school caretakers and others supplied with residential accommodation as part of their employment rights have these premises assessed as an emolument for tax purposes, if he will introduce legislation to provide that the accommodation and furniture supplied to Ministers shall be assessed as emoluments for tax purposes.

School caretakers and other employees who fall to be treated as representative occupiers of the accommodation provided for them are not taxed on its value. Ministers of the Crown are dealt with under the same rule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why farmers are allowed to deduct hunting expenses for Income Tax purposes.

These expenses are not allowable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take, in view of the fall of 10 per cent. in volume of home sales of Scotch whisky in 1965–66 compared with the previous year, to compensate for the negligible amount of extra duty paid.

The comparison is misleading because of heavy pre-Budget forestalling in March, 1965, but my right hon. Friend is keeping the position under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the usual time which elapses between the submission of a repayment claim of an elderly person with a small income and the issue of the cheque in discharge of the amount repayable.

It depends on the circumstances of the case. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I will gladly look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he anticipates the yield from Surtax will be increased by the proposal in Clause 22 of the Finance Bill, 1966, to exclude Surtax relief under Section 238 of the Finance Act, 1952.

I refer the hon. Member to Table 2 of the Financial Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will refuse Treasury consent to the proposed take-over bid by Consolidated Foods, the American food group, of Fortes Holdings, and so prevent further American control of the British economy.

No application for such consent has been received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has accrued to the Crown, the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duke of Cornwall, respectively, by way of bona vacantia in each of the last five years.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Crown's Nominee Accounts, the Ultimus Haeres Accounts and the Duchy of Cornwall Accounts which are presented annually to the House.The Treasury are not responsible for the sums devolving on the Duchy of Lancaster, but I am informed that the gross receipts from bona vacantia were:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he proposes to take, in response to the request of the hon. Member for Solihull, to protect the interests of the residents of the Greswolde caravan site at Knowle, Solihull, who have received notice to quit.

There are no steps which my right hon. Friend can take. This is a privately owned site which I understand the owners intend to close down. I hope they will give the residents on the site time to make other arrangements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what experience in local government the Chairman of the Royal Commission on Local Government, Sir John Maud, has had; and in what capacity he has served in local government.

Sir John Maud served as a member of Oxford City Council from 1930–1936; he was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education from 19451952; and has been Chairman of the Committee on Management in Local Government since 1964. With this experience and as the author of a standard work on local government he is uniquely equipped for the chairmanship of the Royal Commission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to reform the rating system.

I refer the hon. Member to the Rating Act, 1966, and the Local Government Bill now before the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he now expects the report of the consultants appointed to advise on the feasibility of extending the designated area of Dawley New Town to include the Wellington-Oakengates district; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive in the autumn the consultants' report on an area appropriate for further development founded on Wellington-Oakengates. This will not involve any delay in continuing development by the Dawley Development Corporation over the next few years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to rectify the anomaly in the rate rebate scheme whereby a person receiving interest income once yearly is not eligible for a rebate during the half year he receives his interest income, despite the fact that his total income for a full year would normally qualify for a rebate.

A departure from the basis in the Rating Act 1966 would produce its own difficulties and anomalies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now given further consideration to the possibility of disregarding service disablement pensions when assessing the income of ratepayers for the purpose of deciding whether an applicant qualifies for rebate under the Rating Act; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply on 24th May to a Question by the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to give security of tenure to licensees of caravan sites.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Murray) on 24th May, 1966.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he is aware of the concern in the hon. Member's constituency and throughout the country caused by the destruction by the owner, Mr. Ross, of Silhill Hall, an Elizabethan house which was the subject of a preservation order; and what proposals he has for preventing similar cases in the future;

I would refer to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 20th May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now received the interim report of the Maud Committee concerning loss of earnings payments to members of local authorities; when this report will be published; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the interim report of the Maud Committee which will be published next week. The Committee was appointed at the instance of the local authority associations and my first step will be to seek their opinion on its recommendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the average time taken for the construction of houses for owner-occupation in 1965.

At the end of 1965 the average construction time for private houses and flats in England and Wales was 11·5 months. Most of them will have been built for owner-occupation.Separate figures for houses only are not available but in the private sector flats constitute only a very small proportion of the total.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish the statistics upon which he estimates that the cost per square foot of local authority houses is less by direct labour than by contractor; and what percentage in these figures is added to costs of direct labour construction in order to cover overheads.

In 1965, the average price per square foot of local authority 2-storey 3-bedroom houses built by contractors was about 55s. 7d. compared with 54s. 2½d.—for those built by direct labour. I have no information about the percentage added for overheads either by contractors or direct labour organisations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will state the average time taken for the construction of local authority houses in 1965 by direct labour;(2) if he will state the average time taken for the construction of local authority houses in 1965 by private contractors.

The information is not available in the form requested.At the end of 1965 the average construction time for local authority and new town houses in England and Wales, whether built by direct labour or by private contractors, was 13·2 months. The corresponding figure for all dwellings (flats as well as houses) was 15·8 months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses he now expects to be completed in 1966, giving the expected total, and figures for the private and public sectors, respectively.

My right hon. Friend is not prepared at this stage to forecast the number of completions this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses he expects to be completed in each of the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970, giving in each case the total number and the figures for both public and private sectors, respectively.

The Government intend that by 1970 the rate of housebuilding should reach half a million a year in the United Kingdom. It is too soon to predict the rate of annual increase and the division between the different components of the private and public sectors. The Government have concluded however that by 1970 public authorities should be building somewhere near 250,000 houses a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to ensure the cost effectiveness of the British nuclear deterrent.

In view of the small proportion of the defence budget represented by current expenditure on the nuclear deterrent and the even smaller proportion which will be spent when the Polaris construction programme has been completed. I have no doubt about the cost-effectiveness of our strategic nuclear forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will state the total amounts of the grants made by the Exchequer over the whole country to the school meals service during the years 1963, 1964 and 1965, respectively.

£64 million, £70 million and £80 million, for Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made regarding the proposed Oxbow River power and irrigation scheme for Basutoland; whether feasibility studies are to be begun; and what finances have been earmarked for this project following the recommendations of the Morse Commission.

The project has been investigated by consultants and an outline scheme prepared. Colonial Development and Welfare grants totalling £88,632 were made available up to March, 1963, for hydrological investigation of the Oxbow Scheme. A further grant of £83,190 was made up to the end of 1965–66 in order to evaluate the water resources of Basutoland generally including continuation of the Oxbow investigations. An application for a grant to enable the first stage of a project report to be completed is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusion he has reached on the suggestion made by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its recent report on the brewing industry for an inquiry into how best to maintain control over the sale of alcoholic liquor without at he same time impeding the entry of new competitors into the industry.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has today announced that he is referring to the Monopolies Commission the supply of beer to licensed premises. In the circumstances. the Government have decided to defer consideration of an inquiry as recommended by the National Board for Prices and Incomes until the Commission has submitted its report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what special training is being given to members of the National Agricultural Advisory Service and other officials, both provincial and in London, of his Department in matters concerning the Selective Employment Tax; and how many civil servants it is estimated will be employed giving advice to farmers and growers on the tax and its repayment.

No special training is being given. Detailed instructions will be issued to staff in the Ministry's Regional and Divisional Offices, and these, together with explanatory leaflets which will be available to farmers and growers, should enable advice to be given without the need for staff to be employed specifically for this purpose. Some additional staff will, however, be required to deal with the payment of refunds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers and horticultural growers are estimated to be employers of labour and will be subject to Selective Employment Tax.

About 156,000 in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now announce a firm date for the start of construction of the proposed new hospital at Frimley Park, Camberley.

No. The Hospital Building Programme (Cmnd. 3000) is intended to be flexible, but it includes a new district general hospital at Frimley in the first list of schemes at present expected to start after 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Health what are the nearest available maternity unit facilities for women in the Kingstanding and Perry Barr areas of Birmingham.

Heathfield Road Maternity Hospital, the Maternity Hospital in Loveday Street and the Maternity unit at Dudley Road Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available for cervical cancer testing by general practitioners and the public health authority in the Kingstanding and Perry Barr areas of Birmingham.

Some facilities for cervical cancer testing of women in this area who present symptoms are available at Dudley Road Hospital. It is hoped that examination of smears taken by general practitioners and at local health authority clinics will begin later this year.

asked the Minister of Health what are the nearest available hospital facilities for dealing with accidents which occur in the Kingstanding and Perry Barr areas of Birmingham.

For both areas, the accident department of the General Hospital; for the Kingstanding area, additionally the Birmingham Accident Hospital and at present for a few cases the newly opened accident department at Good Hope Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what action is being taken by his Department to publicise smear tests for cancer of the cervix in the Basildon and Brentwood Urban District Council areas.

None, as this is a matter for local arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health how many smear tests for cancer of the cervix have been made in the Basildon and Brentwood Urban District Council areas in 1965 and in the first six months of 1966.

Information for local authority areas is not available, but at the two hospitals which largely serve these areas the figures are:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a further statement about developments at King Hill Hostel, West Mailing.

I have discussed the situation fully with the Chairman of Kent County Council and other County Members. The County Council entirely accept the view that families ought not to be separated if this can be avoided. They are actively engaged in seeking premises where whole families (including husbands) who are likely to need temporary accommodation for more than a few days can be suitably accommodated. The Council adhere to the view that King Hill Hostel, which was acquired to meet short-term needs, is at present suitable only for use by mothers and children, but consideration of its future use will include the practicability of alterations to enable husbands to be accommodated in future.

asked the Minister of Health what further steps the Government are taking to increase the number of doctors.

The University Grants Committee has now made building allocations for work on medical schools expansion starting in 1968–69 and 1969–70 which will add a further 115 to the annual entry of medical students. The effect of these, and of the allocations already announced for earlier years, will be to enable the medical schools to increase the annual entry of British-based students, which has already risen from 1,788 in 1960–61 to the present figure of 2,283, to about 2,650. I shall be arranging for the provision of the necessary clinical facilities for the later part of the course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many betting shops there were in Great Britain in the year 1965, stating the number in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively.

On 1st June, 1965, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 15,638 betting office licences in force in Great Britain, of which 2,810 were in England, 1,512 in Scotland and 1,316 in Wales and Monmouthshire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the provision of central training facilities for the fire service in Great Britain.

I am glad to be able to announce that a new institution to be called the Fire Service Technical College will be established on the site of the existing Fire Service Training Centre at Moreton-in-Marsh. It will provide operational and other special training for men in the middle ranks of the Fire Service in Great Britain. This training will include new facilities for practical fireground work, improved facilities for training in fire prevention and courses for instruction in technical matters such as the use of breathing apparatus. Provision will continue to be made for emergency fire service training.The College will accommodate 470 students. Building work will start towards the end of this year or early in 1.967 and will proceed as quickly as practicable. The estimated capital cost will be of the order of £4 million.The present Fire Service College at Dorking will provide higher training facilities for the Service and will be renamed the Fire Service Staff College.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made for the protection of firemen and policemen against the inhalation of smoke containing radio-active particles in the vicinity of fires involving radio-active material.

In 1958 respirators for this purpose were supplied to the fire service and the police for use where breathing apparatus was not available. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have now decided that because of their age these respirators should be replaced. Suitable respirators are being purchased from the Ministry of Defence and will be issued free on indefinite loan to fire and police authorities in England, Wales and Scotland. Supplementary Estimates for £63,000 for this purpose will be presented to Parliament in due course.The provision of this new equipment will not reduce the need for breathing apparatus when dealing with ordinary fires.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the effect of the Selective Employment Tax in terms of the percentage increase in wages costs borne by the retail destributive trades.

It has been estimated that the effect of the Selective Employment Tax will be to add approximately 5 per cent.-6 per cent. to the wages costs borne by the distributive trades as a whole. It is not possible to make such an estimate in respect of the retail distributive trades alone.

asked the Postmaster-General what complaints he has received that mail posted in this country to citizens of the Turkish or any other community in Cyprus is being interfered with en route or not reaching its destination; and what evidence he has of such interference or non-arrival of mail.

I have received no complaints recently. If the hon. Gentleman will let me have particulars of any cases that he has in mind I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many gaming machines were manufactured in this country in 1965; how many of these were exported; what was the value thereof; how many were imported in the same period; from what countries; and what was the value of such imports.

The only information available relates to the import of all types of coin or disc-operated amusement

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for further investigations by the Monopolies Commission.

I propose to ask the Monopolies Commission to investigate the supply of beer to licensed premises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the report of the Monopolies Commission on the Supply of Electrical Wiring Harnesses for Motor Vehicles.

The Report was published this morning. The Monopolies Commission found that uneconomic prices were not quoted in this trade and that, therefore, no question as to the public interest arose.I accept the Commission's conclusions.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if she will now give the estimates of capital expenditure for each of the five years from 1966 for London Transport;(2) if she will give the estimates of capital expenditure for each of the five years from 1966 for the British Waterways Board;(3) if she will give the estimates of capital expenditure for each of the five years from 1966 for the Transport Holding Company.

The investment proposals of all the nationalised transport undertakings for the period up to 1970 are under examination in the course of the normal investment review procedures, which will not be completed for some time.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now announce the date when her White Paper will be published.

I have nothing to add at present to my Answer to the hon. Member's Question on 25th May.

asked the Minister of Transport when Her Majesty's Government expect to be able to make a decision on the Channel Tunnel.

The Channel Tunnel is a joint project with the French Government and I cannot anticipate the results of the discussions between the two sides, which are likely to take place soon.

asked the Minister of Transport how many vehicles were owned by the Transport Holding Company's road haulage subsidiaries on 1st February, 1966.

In the Answer I gave the hon. Member on 27th May it should have been made clear that the figures of numbers of vehicles related to he 31st December in each of the years 1948 to 1965. The hon. Member, therefore, has the figure for 31st December, [965. I am informed by the Transport Holding Company that they could not, without disproportionate effort, produce h figure for 1st February, 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now announce her decision on the city of Manchester's request for a financial contribution by the Government towards the cost of the monorail feasibility study.

I have decided, with the Manchester City Council, to commission a comparative study of the costs and environmental aspects of several forms of rapid transit, including a monorail. It will be undertaken by consultants, and the Exchequer will contribute 75 per cent. of the cost. The study will add to our knowledge of new systems of rapid transit, and make possible a comparison with conventional rail and bus systems.The study will also show the particular costs and environmental considerations of some of the possible ways of meeting demand on a particular route in Manchester, between Ringway Airport, Wythenshawe, the City centre, and the northern suburb of Langley. More generally, the need for a rapid transit system to serve these areas, and the ways in which this need might be met, is under consideration by a Joint Working Party which Manchester has formed with my Department and British Railways.