Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 5th July, 1968
National Finance
War Loan
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will provide as accurate an estimate as possible of the proportion of 3½ per cent. War Loan held by non-residents at the latest date for which the information is available; and what the trend has been over the past 10 years;(2) what proportion of 3½ per cent. War Loan has changed hands in each year since its original issue;(3) how much of 3½ per cent. War Loan remains in the hands of the original purchaser or beneficiary; and what percentage this represents of the whole.
I regret that this information is not available. There are more than a million holders and any attempt to extract the information would be a lengthy and disproportionately expensive operation.
Gross National Product
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest available figures to compare with the figure for the gross national product in 1966 of £32,603 million with consumer expenditure of £24,144 million in that year and with the gross fixed capital formation in the private sector of £3,560 million and of £3,112 million in the public sector for the same year.
Comparable figures for the calendar year 1967 are given in Tables 1, 2 and 7 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics. Figures for the first quarter of 1968 are now in course of preparation and will be published later this month.
Balance Of Payments
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average price increase of imports and exports, respectively, since devaluation; and by how much per annum he estimates this will increase the adverse balance of payments.
The unit value of imports increased (in sterling terms) by 11 per cent. between October, 1967 and April, 1968, and the unit value of exports increased by 5 per cent. The change in our terms of trade has inevitably had a short-term adverse effect on the balance of payments. But the fall in the price of United Kingdom products relative to foreign products will, over the longer term, encourage import substitution and lead to a large increase in the volume of our exports. As the House knows, it was a principal object of devaluation to make United Kingdom goods more competitive in this way.
Greece (British Capital)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing, for 1966, 1967 and for the first half of 1968, the approvals given for the export of capital to Greece from the United Kingdom, distinguishing between premium and non-premium capital.
Approvals were given for United Kingdom direct investment in Greece of £1,105,000 in 1966, £188,000 in 1967 and £196,500 between January and end-June, 1968. Within these totals investment currency accounted for £374,000 in 1966, £140,000 in 1967 and £92,000 to end-June 1968. Finance for the balance of these projects was approved on the basis of exports free of payment, foreign currency borrowing and a small amount of official exchange. Investment in quoted foreign currency securities can be freely undertaken by United Kingdom residents with investment currency: no specific permission is in general required.
Taxpayer Groups (Information)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if, in view of the practice not to divulge information about narrow groups of taxpayers, he will cease to divulge such information about general medical practitioners under contract to executive councils;(2) if, in view of the practice not to divulge information about narrow groups of taxpayers, he will now cease to divulge such information about civil servants of different grades;(3) if, in view of the practice not to divulge information about narrow groups of taxpayers, he will cease to divulge such information about dental practitioners under contract to executive councils;(4) if he will define and list the narrow groups of taxpayers concerning whom it is not the practice to divulge information in answers to Parliamentary Questions.
It is not the practice of the Inland Revenue to divulge information about narrow groups of taxpayers without the consent of their representatives. The information about doctors and dentists that is given to the Ministry of Health, with the agreement of the representatives of the profession in each case, does not reveal details about separate individuals or partnerships. The information divulged about civil servants, e.g. under the heading "Public Departments (Civilian)" in Table 137 of the Department's 110th Report (Cmnd. 3508), does not distinguish the different grades.
Electricity
Public Inquiries
asked the Minister of Power in how many cases during the last five years he has accepted the recommendations of his inspector at public inquiries into proposals by the area and generating electricity boards; and in how many cases and on what grounds such recommendations have been rejected.
In the last five years inspectors' recommendations have been accepted in 51 cases, and rejected, wholly or partly, in four. In three cases the Minister considered that a proposed overhead line should be put wholly or partly underground, and in one case that the further exploration of varying routes would not produce better results.
Palace Of Westminster (Air Conditioning)
asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will provide air conditioning in all parts of the Palace of Westminster used by the Commons.
As discomfort due to high temperatures and humidity is nor- mally experienced at most on a comparatively few days each year while the House is sitting, I do not consider that an extension of air conditioning to all parts of the House of Commons would be justified.
Home Department
James Earl Ray
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he gave an answer to a request by James Earl Ray, a prisoner in Wands-worth Prison, for permission to be visited by an American attorney.
This prisoner asked on 24th June to receive a visit from a United States citizen who is an attorney. He was advised to submit a petition to me, which he did on 25th June. On the same day, on my authorisation, he was told that an ordinary visit would be allowed. The intended visitor did not qualify for the special conditions applicable to legal advisers under the statutory Prison Rules.
Board Of Trade
Overseas Subsidiaries (Advertising)
asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the amount spent by overseas subsidiaries of British companies on advertising the sale of their goods.
No official estimate has been made, but a very rough estimate of £130 million a year was given in the report of a survey carried out by the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, published in April, 1968.
Education And Science
Bristol Royal School For The Blind
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the closure of the Bristol Royal School for the Blind; how many children are affected by the proposed closure; what alternative accommodation is available for them in Bristol; and when the parents of the children will be consulted.
Because of falling numbers and unsatisfactory premises, the governors of the Bristol Royal School for the Blind are closing the school at the end of the autumn term. Of the pupils at present at the school, a number would be transferring in any case and less than 30 will need alternative placement as a result of the closure: four of these come from Bristol. The local education authorities concerned are consulting parents about arrangements for the continued education of their children at other schools outside Bristol.
Sport (Grants)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average delay between the receipt of an application for grant for sport and the determination as to whether to make a grant or not, particularly in relation to applications for grants to enable angling clubs to purchase fishing rights.
Applicants are normally advised within three months whether an offer of grant can be made. The Department is prepared to deal specially with cases such as those involving the purchase of fishing rights where delay might mean a loss of facilities.
School Building (Indigenous Materials)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now taken steps to investigate to what extent indigenous
| Budgetary Aid | Cost of Technical Assistance | Other Aid for Development Purposes | Total | |
| 1965–66 | 1·5 | 0·3 | 1·3 | 3·1 |
| 1966–67 | 1·2 | 0·3 | 1·4 | 3·0* |
| 1967–68 (provisional) | 0·9 | 0·3 | 2·1 | 3·3 |
| The estimated disbursements for the coming year are:— | ||||
| 1968–69 | 1·9 | 0·3 | 0·7 | 2·9 |
| * Total does not agree with individual items due to rounding. | ||||
materials are being used wherever possible in the new school building programme; and whether he will now issue specific guidance to local authorities in this matter, in view of the increasing importance of achieving a satisfactory balance of payments position.
It is not practicable to obtain detailed information. Local education authorities can be relied upon to use home produced materials where these are competitive.
Members' Expenditure
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will move to appoint a Select Committee to consider the present level of expenditure wholly, necessarily and exclusively incurred in the performance of their Parliamentary duties by Members of Parliament.
No.
Overseas Development
Swaziland
asked the Minister for Overseas Development what finance has been made available for budget support or development purposes in Swaziland for the years 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68; and what is now projected.
Excluding investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation and any benefit accruing to Swaziland from grants to the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, disbursements of British bilateral economic aid have been in £ millions:
Ministry Of Defence
Junior Tradesmen's Regiment (Discharge)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will inquire into the cause and reasons for the discharge of P. Glynn, 20 Clayton Avenue, Upton, Pontefract, from the Junior Tradesmen's Regiment, Troon, Ayrshire; if he is satisfied that the rules of the Service were observed in the case of this young man; and if he will make a statement.
I am looking into this case and I will write to my hon. Friend when my enquiries are complete.
Malta Servicemen (Cost)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to Great Britain of the Regiment of the Royal Malta Artillery stationed in Germany, the Regiment of the Royal Malta Artillery in Malta and the Malta Royal Engineers and Signals units also stationed in Malta.
£1·5 million per annum.
Expenditure
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures giving the actual expenditure on defence for each of the years 1964 to the latest convenient complete year; what has been the expenditure in the current year; and what is his estimate of total expenditure.
Defence Budget expenditure figures, whether actual or forecast, are readily available only for complete financial years. For figures relating to 1965–66 and earlier years I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Merton and Morden (Mr. Humphrey Atkins) on 20th March 1967. The figures for later years are:
| £ million | ||||
| 1966–67 | … | … | … | 2,138 |
| 1967–68 | … | … | … | 2,237 |
| (forecast outturn) | ||||
| 1968–69 | … | … | … | 2,271 |
| (estimate) |
British Army Of The Rhine
asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the present issue of identity cards to officers serving with the British Army of the Rhine were produced in the United States of America; and why they were not produced in Great Britain.
Identity cards for officers serving in B.A.O.R. are produced at H.Q. B.O.A.R. The plastic material used in their production is at present imported from the U.S.A. but the possibility of obtaining it from the United Kingdom is being investigated.
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now make a statement on the proposed increases in local overseas allowances to officers and men serving with the British Army of the Rhine, in view of the effect they have suffered through devaluation.
A full review of the local overseas allowances for officers and men serving with the British Army of the Rhine took place in May last and the Headquarters, B.A.O.R. were told of the new rates resulting from the review at the end of June. The rates for some ranks, mainly officers, showed slight decreases on the interim rates in force following devaluation, while the rates for other ranks, mainly the married accompanied soldiers, showed slight increases. The increases will be retrospective to the beginning of March.
Officer Recruitment
asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the officer redundancies at present occurring in the Army, what is the purpose of the current officer recruiting campaign; what has been the cost and the total number of officer recruits in the last six months; how many short service commission officers have been turned down for regular commissions during the same period; and for what reasons.
The purpose is to recruit a large number of young men whom the Army still needs to fill junior officer posts and thereby to ensure that the Army has officers of the right ages in the future. Redundancies are occurring mainly in the rank of major and above. In the first six months of this year:
Commonwealth Affairs
Tanzania
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the resumption of diplomatic relations with Tanzania.
I am happy to say that diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Britain were resumed on 4th July. Her Majesty's Government warmly welcome the resumption of relations and look forward to the opportunities this will provide for full and frank discussions on matters of mutual interest. It is expected that High Commissioners will take up residence in the respective capitals; shortly. In the interim, the respective Heads of Interests Sections will become Acting High Commissioners.
Transport
Travel Concessions
asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that some local authorities are reducing the concessions to elderly people made under the Travel Concessions Act, 1964; and if he will therefore seek powers to make the full concessions mandatory.
The use of the powers available to local authorities under the Travel Concessions Acts has always been a matter for their discretion and I think it would be their wish that it should remain so.
Roads
Lowestoft Swing Bridge
asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will now give a commencement date for the start of the new Lowestoft swing bridge;(2) whether he is now satisfied with the assurances given to him by Lowestoft Corporation on the cost of widening the waterway in preparation for a new swing bridge:, when he will appoint consultants to produce firm plans; and when the necessary orders will be laid.
We have reached an understanding with the Lowestoft Borough Council about the proposals to increase the width and depth of the channel which will enable us to proceed with the statutory processes and to negotiate a formal agreement with the consulting engineers.We expect to announce a decision as to the making of the necessary Orders in the middle of this month and at about the same time to conclude the agreement with the consultants. I shall write to the hon. Member then and give him the best indication I can of the date when work on the bridge will start.
A697 (Cornhill-On-Tweed)
asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to have a Give Way sign erected on road A697 where it enters the south side of the roundabout at Cornhill-on-Tweed, in view of the fact that the broken white line across the carriageway is not visible far enough away to give adequate warning.
No. The Northumberland County Council, as highway authority for the A697 at Cornhill-on-Tweed is responsible for the traffic signs on this road. I understand that they have recently erected a roundabout warning sign, and intend shortly to erect a roundabout advance direction sign on this approach to the roundabout. These two signs should give ample warning. The broken white line across the carriageway is not intended as a warning but as an indication of the point where a driver should give way to traffic in the roundabout in accordance with the advisory rule.
Ports
West Dock, Bristol
asked the Minister of Transport if he is now able to announce his decision on the application by the Port of Bristol Authority for his authorisation under Section 9 of the Harbours Act, 1964 to construct the new West Dock.
Yes. After carefully considering all the evidence the Government have decided that the case for this development, given its high cost, the pressure on national resources and the need for a planned allocation of port investment has not been proved. I have placed in the Library a copy of my letter to the Authority, conveying my refusal to authorise the project and outling the reasons for the Government's decision.
Employment And Productivity
Welsh Manufacture (Wages)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the average hourly wage in manufacturing industries in Wales; and how this compares with the United Kingdom comparable figure as a whole and with the figure in Scotland.
In October, 1967, the latest date for which information is available, the average hourly earnings of adult male manual workers in manufacturing industries in Wales, in the United Kingdom as a whole and in Scotland were 121·3d., 116d., and l11·7d., respectively.
Scotland
Hospital Building
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the progress of the programme of hospital building in Scotland up to the most recent convenient date.
During the year from 1st April, 1967, to 31st March, 1968, it is
| (a) SCHEMES COSTING OVER £50,000 COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1968 | ||
| Estimated Cost | ||
| North-Eastern Region | ||
| £ | ||
| Ladysbridge Hospital, Banff | Development—30 bed villa | 91,000 |
| Eastern Region | ||
| Royal Dundee Liff Hospital | New occupational therapy department | 99,000 |
| King's Cross Hospital, Dundee | New cubicle block, Phase II | 91,000 |
| Dundee Royal Infirmary and Maryfield Hospital, Dundee. | Upgrading—interim works | 138,000 (1) |
| Bridge of Earn Hospital | New X-ray department | 101,000 |
| South-Eastern Region | ||
| Western General Hospital, Edin burgh. | Scheme for maintenance of services during reconstruction (including temporary dining room). | 135,000 |
| Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh. | New out-patient department, child psychiatric Unit. | 151,000 |
| Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh | Extension—184 beds and supporting facilities | 881,000 (2) |
| Scottish Hospital Catering School, Edinburgh. | — | 66,000 |
| Milesmark Hospital, Dunfermline. | Developments—60 bed ward block, out-patient department, boilerhouse, administrative block, etc. | 452,000 |
| Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy | Second extension containing 240 beds, out-patient department and other facilities. | 2,336,000 |
| Cameron Hospital, Windygates | 60-bed geriatric unit and supporting facilities | 208,000 |
| Stratheden Hospital, Cupar, Fife | Adolescent unit—18 beds | 99,000 |
estimated that work to the value of £13·6 million was carried out on hospital building in Scotland at the expense of the National Health Service (Scotland) Vote: this figure compares with £9·9 million in 1965–66 and £12 million in 1966–67.
The units provided during the year in new or converted buildings include 1,225 beds, seven operating theatres and a variety of other hospital facilities. The value of these completed schemes was £10,452,000.
The total cost of all schemes in progress on 31st March, 1968, by type of development, is made up as follows:
Estimated Cost
| |
| £ | |
| New hospitals | 24,868,000 |
| Additional beds in existing hospitals | 7,005,000 |
| Other ward improvements | 1,280,000 |
| Operating theatres | 899,000 |
| X-ray and radiotherapy departments | 536,000 |
| Out-patient and casualty departments | 776,000 |
| Other medical departments | 3,618,000 |
| Laundries, kitchen and engineering works | 5,739,000 |
| Other departments | 2,159,000 |
| £46,880,000 |
Further particulars of schemes costing over £50,000 ( a) completed during the year and ( b) in progress at 31st March, 1968, are as follows:
Estimated Cost
| ||
| £ | ||
Western Region
| ||
| Royal Hospital for Sick Children Glasgow. | Alterations to bio-chemistry laboratory | 52,000(3) |
| Royal Infirmary, Glasgow | Conversion of accommodation for pulmonary function unit. | 112,000 |
| Renal dialysis unit—10 beds | 56,000 | |
| Upgrading of heating | 54,000 | |
| Canniesburn Hospital, Glasgow | New plastic surgery unit—138 beds, theatre suite, etc. | 1,010,000 (4) |
| Geriatric unit—120 beds | 427,000 | |
| Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow | Phase II of upgrading | 206,000 |
| Geriatric unit—120 beds | 337,000 | |
| Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow | Nurse training school | 82,000 |
| Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow | New laundry | 291,000 |
| Foresthall Hospital, Glasgow | Upgrading two geriatric blocks | 150,000 |
| Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. | New pharmacy | 106,000 |
| Shieldhall Hospital, Glasgow | Geriatric unit—60-beds | 150,000 |
| Gartloch Hospital, Glasgow | Phase II of upgrading hospital block | 61,000 |
| Blawarthill Hospital, Glasgow | Upgrading geriatric wards | 54,000 |
| Cleland Hospital, Lanarkshire | Upgrading 56-bed ward unit | 55,000 |
| Law Hospital, Carluke | Casualty department | 137,000 |
| Birkwood Hospital, Lesmahagow. | New kitchen premises | 76,000 |
| Rankin Memorial Hospital, Greenock. | General practitioner maternity unit—12 beds | 84,000 |
| Royal Scottish National Hospital Larbert. | Phase III of extension—152 beds | 271,000 |
| (1) Includes £12,000 from University Grants Committee. | ||
| (2) Includes £137,400 from Endowment Funds. | ||
| (3) Includes £26,000 from University Grants Committee. | ||
| (4) Includes £6.000 from University Giants Committee. | ||
| (b) SCHEMES COSTING OVER £50,000 IN PROGRESS AT 31ST MARCH, 1968 | ||
* Indicates scheme started in 1967–68 | ||
Estimated Cost
| ||
| £ | ||
Northern Region
| ||
| Central Hospital, Inverness | Phase I of new hospital comprising out-patient, accident, and diagnostic departments, central laboratory, boilerhouse and engineering services. | 1,730,000 |
| Craig Phadrig Hospital, Inverness. | New mental deficiency hospital, Phase I—229 beds and supporting facilities. | 1,533,009 |
*Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie. | New out-patient and physiotherapy department | 73,000 |
North-Eastern Region
| ||
| Foresterhill, Aberdeen | Medical school extension and refectory | 336,000(1) |
*Kingseat Hospital, Newmachar | Geriatric assessment unit | 100,000 |
| Fraserburgh Hospital | General hospital—72 beds and supporting facilities. | 504,000(2) |
*Ladysbridge Hospital, Banff | Alterations to main block—47 beds | 216,000 |
| Dr. Gray's and Bilbohall Hospitals, Elgin. | Modernisation | 374,000(3) |
Eastern Region
| ||
| Minewells Hospital | New teaching hospital and medical school— 760 beds and supporting facilities | 15,367,000(4) |
*King's Cross Hospital, Dundee | General developments | 350,000 (5) |
| Ashludie Hospital, Monifieth | Geriatric pavilion—70 beds | 160,000 (6) |
| Dundee Dental Hospital and School. | Extension | 946,000(7) |
*Murray Royal Hospital, Perth | Central services—Phase I | 108,000 |
| Sunnyside Royal Hospital Montrose | Electrical rewiring | 65,000 |
| Stracathro Hospital | General developments and improvements | 478,000 |
Estimated Cost
| ||
£
| ||
South-Eastern Region
| ||
| Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh | Eye department—72 beds, etc | 704,000(8) |
*Intermittent renal dialysis unit | 194,000 (9) | |
| Western General Hospital Edinburgh | New out-patient department | 1,755,000(10) |
*Central laundry and boilerhouse | 1,390,000 | |
*Temporary laboratory | 177,000(11) | |
*Additional linear accelerator | 82,000 | |
*Inter-project services and related development | 280,000 | |
| Nuffield transplantation surgery unit | 244,000(12) | |
| Eastern General Hospital, Edinburgh | Replacement of boiler | 74,000 |
| City Hospital, Edinburgh | Nurses' home development | 59,000 |
*New kitchen and dining room | 183,000 | |
*Engineering services: boilerhouse | 194,000 | |
| Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh | Geriatric unit, Phase I—60 beds | 492,000 |
| Central Laundry, Kirkcaldy | 306,000 | |
*Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy | Residential accommodation for married medical staff | 65,000 |
| Lynebank Hospital. Dunfermline | New mental deficiency hospital—420 beds and supporting facilities | 2,182,000 |
*Stratheden Hospital, Cupar | Upgrading of ward accommodation | 50,000 |
| Glenlomond Hospital, Kinross | Renewal of boiler plant | 69,000 |
| Bangour Hospital. West Lothian | Upgrading ward and other accommodation | 189,000 |
| Burns unit—12 beds | 66,000 | |
*Gogarburn Hospital, Edinburgh | Alterations to kitchen block | 63,000 |
*RoodlandsHospital, Haddington | Replacement of boiler and ancillary plant | 53,000 |
Western Region
| ||
| Regional Physics Department Glasgow. | Extension | 286,000 |
| Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow. | Reconstruction of hospital, Stage I—residentialaccommodation and preliminary works. | 550,000 (13) |
| Drumchapel Hospital, Glasgow | Geriatric unit—120 beds etc. | 406,000 |
| Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow. | Replacement of lifts | 55,000 |
| Belvidere Hospital, Glasgow | Alterations for linear accelerator | 84,000 |
| Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow | Pathology laboratories | 71,000 |
*Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow | New operating theatre suite | 578,000(14) |
| Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow | Renewal of distribution mains | 163,000 |
| Boiler plant | 103,000 | |
| Glasgow Dental Hospital and School. | Extension | 2,062,000(15) |
*Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow | Replacement of lifts | 88,000 |
*Conversion of Wards D and E | 60,000 | |
| Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. | New kitchen and dining rooms | 380,000 |
| Maternity unit—139 beds | 1,460,000 | |
*Neurosurgical unit—114 beds | 1,801,000(16) | |
| Cresswell Maternity Hospital, Dumfries. | Phase III extension (residential accommodation, kitchen and dining room). | 114,000 |
| Garrick Hospital, Stranraer | Ward unit | 81,000 |
| Vale of Leven Hospital, Alexandria | New maternity unit and extensions to the existing hospital—81 beds | 1,209,000 |
| Hartwood Hospital, Shotts. | Upgrading of heating system | 77,000 |
*Paisley | New maternity unit—100 beds | 1,153,000 |
*Stirling Royal Infirmary | Residential accommodation | 256,000 |
*Maternity unit—81 beds | 844,000 | |
*Kitchen and dining room | 219,000 | |
| Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert | Six ward blocks—360 replacement beds | 814,000(17) |
| (1) Hospital Board share of University scheme. | ||
| (2) Includes £2,000 from Endowment Funds. | ||
| (3) Includes £5,000 from Endowment Funds. | ||
| (4) Includes £3,235,000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (5) Includes £30,000 from Endowment Funds. | ||
| (6) Financed wholly from Endowment Funds. | ||
| (7) Includes £342,000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (8) Includes £68,000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (9) Includes £57 000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (10) Includes £203,000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (11) Includes £44,000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (12) Includes £190,000 from the Nuffield Foundation. | ||
| (13) Includes £34,100 from the University Grants Committee | ||
| (14) Includes £7,000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (15) Includes £687,000 from the University Grants Committee. | ||
| (16) Includes £180,000 from the University Grants Committee | ||
| (17) Five of the ward blocks have been opened |
Post Office
Posting Boxes
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the provision of a post office and pillar boxes on the Spring Cottage Estate, Hull, in view of the number of elderly people and mothers with young children who now have to walk considerable distances to a post office, and the fact that two 23-storey blocks of flats are being erected on the nearby Ings Road.
A posting box will be erected on the estate as soon as its location is approved by the local authority. Consideration is also being given to opening a post office there.
asked the Postmaster-General if he will replace the postbox which was recently removed from Derry Downs, St. Mary Cray, Orpington.
A new posting box will be installed shortly.
Social Security
Sickness Benefit (Scotland)
asked the Minister of Social Security what is the average time taken by offices of her Department in Scotland to pay out claims for sickness benefit.
Provided claims are made promptly the first payment of benefit will normally be made in the week following that in which the incapacity began. If incapacity continues, payments are made regularly on the same day each week. However, there may be delay at any point if inquiries have to be made to establish entitlement to benefit. If the hon. Gentleman has any case of difficulty in mind, I shall be pleased to look into it for him.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Antibiotics In Animal Husbandry
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about the proposed Committee on the Use of Antibiotics in Animal Husbandry.
It is now possible to announce the membership of the Committee which, in addition to the Chairman, Professor Swann, will be made up of experts in agriculture, public health and veterinary medicine. They will be:Dr. K. L. Blaxter, Ph.D., D.Sc, F.R.S., F.R.S.E., Director of the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen.Mr. H. I. Field, M.Sc, M.R.C.V.S., F.C. Path., F.R.S.A., Director of Veterinary Laboratories and Veterinary Investigation Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Weybridge.Dr. J. W. Howie, M.D.(Aberd.), F.R.C.P. (Lond. and Glasg.), P.C.Path., Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service, London.Professor I. A. M. Lucas, M.Sc, B.Sc, Professor of Animal Nutrition, University of North Wales, Bangor.Dr. E. L. M. Millar, M.Sc., M.D.(Sheff.), M.B.Ch.B., D.P.H.(Lond.), Medical Officer of Health, Birmingham.Professor J. C. Murdoch, B.Sc, Ph.D., Professor of Farm Management and Animal Husbandry, Director of the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland.Mr. J. H. Parsons, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Practitioner, Trowbridge, Wilts.Professor E. G. White, D.Sc, Ph.D., B.Sc.(Vet Sci.), B.Sc.(Physiol), F.R.C.V.S., Professor of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, University of Liverpool.The Secretary of the Committee will be Mr. D. C. Todd of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, and a technical secretariat will be provided jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Ministry of Health.
It is hoped that it will prove possible to bring members together for a meeting of the Committee early in July.
Cereal Imports (Levies)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of the levies imposed on imports of cereals under the Minimum Import Price Arrangements made under the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964; and if he will give details of the volume and value of imports which have had a levy imposed on them and details of receipts by the Exchequer from each of these levies, for each of the years that they have been in force.
A list of the levies imposed on imports of cereals, cereal products and by-products since the start of the Minimum Import Price Arrangements in 1964 is given in the table appended.
| TABLE | ||||||
| LIST OF LEVIES IMPOSED UNDER THE MINIMUM IMPORT PRICE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CEREALS | ||||||
| Commodity | ||||||
| Tariff Heading | Description | Type of Levy | Rate of Levy (per ton) | Duration of levy | ||
| £ | s. | d. | ||||
| 11.02 | Cereal meal—of barley | General | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.7.64–10.3.66 |
| 11.02 | Cereal meal—of maize | General | 10 | 0 | 8.7.64–4.2.65 | |
| 10.01 | Wheat | General | 5 | 0 | 23. 7.64— 1. 9.64 | |
| 10.01 | Wheat | Country | 5 | 0 | 31. 7.64–27. 8.64 | |
| 10.01 | Wheat | General | 1 | 10 | 0 | 2. 9.64–26.11.64 |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of wheat | General | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14.10.64–28.10.64 |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of wheat | General | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29.10.64–26.11.64 |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked crushed or bruised cereals— of wheat | General | 3 | 10 | 0 | 27.11.64–4.2.65 |
| 10.01 | Wheat | General | 10 | 0 | 27.11.64— 2. 6.65 | |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of wheat | General | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5.2.65–2.6.65 |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of sorghum | General | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.5.65–2.6.65 |
| 10.01 | Wheat | General | 5 | 0 | 3. 6.65–10. 3.66 | |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of grain sorghum | General | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.6.65–18.8.65 |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of wheat | General | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.6.65–18.8.65 |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of wheat | General | 3 | 10 | 0 | 19.8.65–10.3.66 |
| 11.02 | Rolled, flaked, crushed or bruised cereals— of grain sorghum | General | 3 | 10 | 0 | 19.8.65–10.3.66 |
| 11.02 | Cereal meal—of maize | General | 15 | 0 | 3.5.66–4.4.68 | |
The gross tonnages of imports of wheat and of cereal products subject to levy, and the nett receipts from the levies in each financial year were as follows (approximate figures):
Gross Tonnage
| Nett Receipts
| ||
| £ | |||
| 1964–65 | |||
| Wheat | … | 22,500 | 8,800 |
| Cereal Products | … | 29,000 | 75,500 |
| 1965–66 | |||
| Wheat | … | 39,000 | 8,000 |
| Cereal Products | … | 23,000 | 13,100 |
| 1966–67 | |||
| Wheat | … | Nil | —3,400 |
| Cereal Products | … | 47,500 | 34,800 |
| 1967–68 | |||
| Wheat | … | Nil | Nil |
| Cereal Products | … | 63,000 | 45,000 |
I regret that records of the value of the imports which had levies imposed on them are not immediately available, but I will write to the right hon. Member when this information has been obtained.