asked the Minister of Education why students under 16 years of age, taking technical examinations, have to pay the examination fee, when students taking the General Certificate of Education examination have the examination fee paid; and if he will make a statement.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular 326, which sets out present policy on this matter.

asked the Minister of Education the number of students expected to leave schools in the County of Northumberland, during the years 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961, if possible giving the numbers of boys and girls, respectively.

The number of pupils leaving schools maintained by the Northumberland Local Education Authority is likely to be approximately as follows:

asked the Minister of Education how many secondary schools and technical colleges are included in the building programme for the year 1957–58; and if he will make a statement on future policy.

370 secondary school and 75 further education projects are expected to start in 1957–58. In 1958–59 the number of schools will be about the same: rather fewer further education projects are likely to start but their total cost will probably be higher than this year. I cannot say anything yet about schools to be started in 1959–60, but we shall continue to carry out the policy of the White Paper on Technical Education.

asked the Minister of Education if he will furnish a table showing for the year 1957 the estimated intake to the teaching profession from training colleges, universities and other sources, respectively; and the estimated outflow by reason of death, retirement, marriage and other causes, respectively.

The estimated numbers for 1957 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Willis Jackson Committee concerning the recruitment of teachers for technical colleges.

I fully support these recommendations. Since most of them are the concern of local education authorities in the first instance, I have just issued a circular drawing their attention particularly to those designed to make technical teaching more attractive. The circular also describes certain changes which will make it easier for teachers to improve their qualifications or refresh their industrial experience. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation to amend the arrangements whereby the Capital Issues Committee adjudicates on scrip issues where no raising of capital is involved.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what correspondence he has had with the Staff Side over the deteriorating position of public and local government servants covered by the Pensions (Increases) Act; and what consideration he has given to their proposals.

The Secretary of the Staff Side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council has written to the Official Side and his letter is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that another British company has been sold to American interests; why he granted permission under the Exchange Control Act, 1947, for this transaction; and what action he proposes to take to safeguard British assets from being liquidated to the Americans.

My right hon. Friend is aware that British companies are from time to time acquired by non-residents in accordance with the policy described in Command paper 9790 of June, 1956; and he is satisfied that this policy continues to serve the real interests of the sterling area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the amount of currency and revenue lost to Her Majesty's Treasury through the sale of Trinidad Leasehold Petroleum Company to the United States, from the date of the sale to the latest stated date.

No. Any calculation of losses to be set against the very considerable gains would be entirely hypothetical.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the yield from import duties upon foreign horticultural produce for the years 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957, respectively.

The yield for 1954, 1955 and 1956 was about £4,243,000, £5,094,000 and £5,614,000 respectively. The figure for 1957 is not yet available, but the yield for the first eight months of the year was about £3,447,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the difficulty caused to university teachers and others, and the consequent detriment to research work of all kinds, by the early closing of the Reading Room in the British Museum; and if he will make arrangements for the resources of the library to be available in the evenings for those unable to use it during the day.

Late opening of the Reading Room would involve a substantial increase in staff costs, which I could not sanction at the present time even if the Trustees were to recommend me to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much would have been left in the taxpayer's pocket in 1956–57 if Schedule A Income Tax had been abolished; and what is his estimate of the yield of this tax in 1957–58.

Assuming that rents would be charged to tax under Schedule D the answer is about £40 million, including Surtax, in 1956–57. The corresponding figure for 1957–58 is about £41 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the sum made available to the universities in the quinquennial review is insufficient to allow them to expand their work properly; and if he will, therefore, include a supplementary grant for this purpose in his forthcoming Estimates.

No. The quinquennial settlement provides for grants which are 8 per cent. higher in the current academic year than in 1956–57, and which rise by a further 30 per cent. over the next four years. In addition, the universities are receiving supplementary grants in respect of the cost of the salary award which took effect last August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate for the year 1957–58 of the total number of incomes up to and including £1,000 and over £1,000, respectively, and of the total tax likely to be paid by each category.

The following estimates are provisional:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total working population is exempt from income tax; and what percentage pays an effective rate of 2s. or less on each £ of income.

About 25 per cent. pay no tax because their incomes are covered by allowances and a further 55 per cent, pay at an effective rate of 2s. or less on each £ of income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he publishes figures of gold and dollar reserves of the sterling area which omit the dollar securities owned by individuals and the reserve held by other sterling countries.

The published figures represent the gold and United States and Canadian dollar holdings of the Exchange Equalisation Account. They are intended to show only the liquid resources in gold and dollars at the immediate disposal of the United Kingdom authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated revenue for 1957 from Wales in respect of fuel oil; what proportion was obtained from the operators of Welsh omnibus services and what were the comparable figures for 1955.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the £170,000 to be saved in salaries in Ordnance Survey in 1958 will be saved by making unestablished people redundant, and how much by not filling vacancies.

The £170,000 mentioned in the reply given to the hon. Member for Itchen (Dr. King) on 3rd February was the estimated saving from a possible reduction during 1958 in the non-industrial staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food excluding the Ordnance Survey. As stated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 10th February, it is estimated that in the Ordnance Survey about £25,000 in salaries will be saved in 1958–59 by the discharge of temporary draughtsmen and surveyors and their replacement by younger established staff. This, added to the reduction of 200 in the non-industrial complement of Ordnance Survey, is expected to result in a total saving in salaries of about £105,000 in 1958–59. Any vacancies in the authorised complement will be filled.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money his Department has spent during each of the last five years on measures to protect the North Sea from over-fishing and from poaching by foreign vessels, indicating the estimated value of these beneficial measures in money and weight of fish to the British fishing industry and to the British public and indicating also his plans in these matters for the next twelve months by way of research and otherwise.

The hon. and learned Member presumably has in mind expenditure by my Department on fisheries research and by the Admiralty on fishery protection. Fisheries research covers a very wide field and it is impracticable to evaluate and apportion costs and benefits in the manner asked for.Fisheries research brings substantial benefits, both direct and indirect. I shall continue to give it full support this year and afterwards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Her Majesty's Government still adhere fully to the findings and recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease, 1952–54, Command Paper No. 9214.

The Government's views remain as stated by my noble Friend in another place on 20th April, 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the re-oathing that is now taking place amongst the Meru Tribe of Kenya.

In late December, 1957, the Kenya police discovered that a number of Africans living in a remote area of Meru district had recently taken oaths similar to first grade Mau Mau oaths; some had been induced to do so by intimidation. Subsequent investigations led to 343 Meru being charged with illegal oath-taking. Of these, 239 pleaded guilty in court and were placed on probation for a year, four were discharged on account of their youth and the remainder are still to be tried. Thirty-one Meru have been charged with administering the oaths, of whom two have already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentence. The offences were confined to this small area which is only about 12 square miles in extent and there is no evidence of any connection with Kiama Kia Muingi. Investigations are continuing, and I am satisfied that the situation is under control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for each year of the Mau Mau emergency the amount expended on the emergency and the contribution of Her Majesty's Government, and the amount which will be granted to the Government of Kenya for the coming financial year by Her Majesty's Government.

A table showing total annual emergency expenditure and the amount of Her Majesty's Government's contribution each year is set out below. I hope to make a statement on financial assistance for the year 1958–59 before long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which colonial and protected territories the Supreme Court, or its equivalent, has the right to review the decisions of inferior colonial courts and native courts, respectively, stating in respect of each territory if such revision is automatic, or can be claimed by prosecution and/or defence, and what fees are payable.

It will take some time to collect the information for which the hon. and learned Member asks. I will therefore circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to encourage the closer association of Sarawak, Brunei and British North Borneo; and whether the recent broadcast statement of the Governor of Sarawak represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government in this matter.

No policy decision has been taken by Her Majesty's Government on this matter. The broadcast speeches by the Governors of Sarawak and North Borneo were intended to stimulate public discussion with a view to ascertaining the wishes of the people, on which any concrete proposals for closer association of the three territories must necessarily be based.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he approved the establishment of military bases in Tawau, British North Borneo, near the border of Indonesia; how many British and Dutch soldiers are stationed there; under what arrangement Dutch troops are in that area; and what representations from the Indonesian Government have been made to the North Borneo Government or Her Majesty's Government.

No military bases have been established at Tawau or anywhere else in British North Borneo. There are no British or Dutch soldiers stationed in North Borneo. No representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government nor, so far as I know, by the Government of North Borneo from the Indonesian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the result of the discussions between the University College of the West Indies and the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture on the question of providing a first degree in agriculture in the Caribbean.

My understanding is that discussions between the two bodies are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if more land will be allocated to Africans in the Fort Jameson district of Northern Rhodesia, in view of the decline in European tobacco farming.

No. The 1941 Government bought 3¾ million acres in this district from the North Charterland Company for African re-settlement—now Native Trust land—and since then it has bought four farms comprising 26,000 acres for use for African farming while remaining Crown land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ask the Government of Northern Rhodesia to consider the appointment of an African to the Trades Licensing Appeal Board, either under Section 10 (3) of Trades and Business Ordinance, Cap. 199, to represent African traders, or under Section 10 (1, e), or under both these subsections.

The Trades and Businesses Ordinance, Chapter 199, was repealed and replaced with effect from 2nd January, 1958, by the Business Ordinance, No. 64 of 1957, which provides for a new Appeal Tribunal. The members represent various interests in the community, but are not specified by race. The Ordinance is being given a year's trial during which the operation of the Appeal Tribunal will be watched with particular reference to any appeals which may be submitted by Africans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there have been long delays in bringing into effect in Aden the new salary scales and conditions of service as recommended by the Sutherland Commission and the Aden Government; and whether he is satisfied that these scales are generally adequate and, in particular, that those on local scales A and B are receiving percentage increases equal to those on lower scales and on super scale; and if he will make a statement.

Having regard to the need to co-ordinate the revised salary conditions approved for officers in Aden Colony with those approved for civilian staffs and local security forces serving in the Protectorate, which is grant-aided, I do not think that there has been undue delay in bringing the new scales into effect. All revised salaries were back-dated to 1st July, 1956, although the Salaries Commissioner's Report was not published until November, 1956. The percentage increases varied considerably as between scales A and B, lower scales and the super-scale, in order to restore differentials and provide special incentives where necessary.There has been some unrest among expatriate staff over the revised terms of service, though all opted for them. At the Governor's request, the staff associations submitted, on 16th January, specific proposals for further increases in pay and allowances and these are under consideration. Until the matter has been fully examined it would be wrong for me to express any opinion on the adequacy of the scales, but I hope a satisfactory settlement will be the outcome.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is that air mail letters of up to ½ ounce from Aden to the United Kingdom cost 1s. and 25 cents while similar letters from the United Kingdom to Aden cost only 9d.; and, in view of the fact that this bears hardly on the people of Aden, if he will take early steps to effect a reduction of the charge from Aden.

I have been asked to reply.The Governments of the United Kingdom and of the Colonial Territories are by their international obligations under a duty not to make any overall profit from surcharged air mail. Postal charges are therefore closely related to total air mail conveyance and handling costs.Air mail rates from the United Kingdom are calculated on a zonal basis and Aden has the good fortune to be situated near the limit of the 9d. zone.The inward rates from Aden are fixed by the Aden Government at a level which covers the costs and any lower rate would be uneconomic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans hold appointments as assistant district officers in Tanganyika; and how many of these have passed the necessary examinations qualifying them to become magistrates.

Twenty-nine of the present 30 Assistant District Officers are Africans and a further eight Africans are being appointed. Eight African Assistant District Officers have passed their law examinations and have been appointed magistrates. Seventeen officers took their law examinations recently but the results are not yet known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a grant of £584,000 has been made to assist the advancement of education facilities in Lagos by contributing to the capital cost of certain projects there; if he will make a detailed statement of the increase in educational facilities which this grant will afford; and how this increase compares with the actual educational needs there.

Yes. It gave me pleasure to approve this grant from Colonial Development and Welfare funds. It will make a substantial contribution to the building of:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions unskilled Colonial women are permitted to enter and reside in this country with their illegitimate children.

British subjects are free to enter and reside in the United Kingdom without restriction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of probation officers employed, the number of unfilled vacancies in the present establishment, and the desirable optimum number needed if a progressive policy of penal reform is to be implemented.

There are at present employed in the Probation Service in England and Wales 1,388 officers, of whom 33 are temporary and 54 work part-time only. I estimate the number of vacancies at between 70 and 80: some of these are filled by temporary officers, a few of whom are to be trained in due course for established posts. When these vacancies are filled, as I hope they may be within the next year or two, the Service should be well equipped to meet the demands made upon it by a progressive policy of penal reform. Meanwhile, I am glad to say that probation officers are doing devoted service, although in some parts of the country they are working under considerable pressure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not accepted the arbitration recommendations regarding the pay of probation officers; and what is the amount per annum saved by his rejection of the recommended increase.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to Questions and supplementary questions on this subject on 6th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the hardship and public expense occasioned by the decision in regard to Eloise Carbajo, whether he will undertake an urgent review of the principles by which his Department is guided in considering requests by aliens to remain in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to cases where such aliens have children who are British subjects and are able and willing to support them.

The circumstances in which aliens apply for extension of their permitted period of stay vary widely. Each case is considered on its merits; and I do not think that a general review of policy is called for. I shall, however, be glad to consider any further representations my hon. Friend may care to make to me in regard to the special class of case to which he refers in the latter part of his Question. In the meantime the making of a deportation order in the case referred to is being deferred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police on warrants issued in the Republic of Ireland in each of the last two 12-month periods for which figures are available; and in how many instances the charges were connected with failure to comply with maintenance orders.

In 1956 20 persons, and in 1957 42 persons, were arrested by the Metropolitan police in pursuance of warrants issued in the Irish Republic and endorsed by magistrates in this country. None of the persons concerned was arrested for failing to comply with a maintenance order, which would not be within the terms of the Statutes governing this matter. Nine of the arrests made in 1956, and 20 of those made in 1957, were made on warrants charging neglect of children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the figures given in Table 15, pages 23 to 25 in Road Statistics, 1956, issued by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, relating to casualties to road users on Saturdays and Sundays, he will consider issuing a circular to magistrates' courts drawing attention to the increase in the number occurring between the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight as compared with the number between the hours of noon and 2 p.m.

No. I do not think that it would be proper for me to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials of his Department are employed on the enforcement of regulations concerning animals used for experiments; and what are their qualifications

There are five inspectors under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, all of whom are medically qualified. Their names and qualifications are:Chief Inspector: Dr. P. L. C. Carrier. C.B.E., M.D., B.S., M.R.C.S., M.R.C.P., D.P.H.Inspectors: Dr. F. Elliott, M.B., B.S., T.D., Dr. E. H. Hall, O.B.E., M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., D.P.H.; Group Captain G. Struan Marshall. O.B.E., F.R.S.E., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., L.D.S., R.C.S., D.P.H., D.T.M. and H.; and Dr. B. Walker, M.A., M.R.C.S., M.R.C.P., M.B., B.S.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the order was issued to the Metropolitan Police in 1957 that fingerprints should be taken of all Irishmen charged with minor offences.

As I explained on 23rd May last in reply to the hon. Members for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher) and Willesden, East (Mr. Orbach) the instructions to which the right hon. Member refers made it clear that the fingerprints were to be taken only with the consent of the persons concerned. No specific authority is required for the issue of such an instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to implement the provisions of Section 21 of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949.

I recognise the importance of bringing this Section of the Legal Aid and Advice Act into operation as soon as our financial circumstances permit. I am not yet, however, in a position to say when this will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to police in the metropolitan area with regard to the habit of some occupiers of leaving their vehicles outside their homes in residential districts.

It would not be proper for me to publish detail of operational instructions issued to the Metropolitan police. The general nature of the action which the police are taking with regard to long-term parking was indicated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Cooper) on 6th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present manpower problems of the Metropolitan Police and the extent to which these problems are affected by road traffic duties, with special reference to duties in connection with the parking of vehicles in residential districts outside the owners' homes.

The performance of their duties in connection with road traffic places a heavy burden on the Metropolitan Police, who are still well below establishment; but there is no up-to-date assessment of the proportion, of the time spent on these duties.The parking of vehicles in residential districts outside the owners' homes is dealt with, as necessary, by police officers on beat and patrol duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average sentences of those imprisoned during the latest five-year period after conviction for attempted suicide.

The average length of the sentences imposed on conviction of attempted suicide during the five years 1952–56 inclusive was 3·9 months. As this figure may by itself give a misleading impression I am circulating below a table giving fuller particulars of the sentences of imprisonment imposed and showing the other means by which the court dealt with the persons convicted before them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in accordance with Section 33 of the Fire Services Act, 1947, he will set up a public inquiry into the circumstances of the recent fire at Smithfield.

I propose to await the result of the coroner's inquest before considering, in accordance with normal practice in the case of serious fires, whether there are any grounds for further public inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent to which local authorities and voluntary bodies keep in touch with adoptive parents.

The obligations of the local authority and the registered adoption society cease when the adoption order, which places the adoptive parents in the same position as natural parents, is granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the number of schoolchildren who were, on the first Thursday in each month or some such convenient day, in receipt of school meals and school milk in the Parliamentary constituency of Kelvingrove, for each of the months from October, 1951, and the amounts charged for these services on the dates quoted.

The information required by the hon. Member is not on record in my Department, but Glasgow Education Authority has supplied such information as it has, which is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland his plans for extending the teaching, composition and exhibition of the art of painting in the cities of Scotland.

In all four cities the art colleges are expanding or planning the expansion of their teaching facilities. I have no responsibility for local art exhibitions but the Scottish Committee of the Arts Council is always ready to co-operate with and assist local authorities and other bodies in arranging art exhibitions.

asked the Paymaster-General if he is aware of the many serious gas explosions which have taken place recently; and if he will have an inquiry made into the causes of these, the growing danger from corroded and decayed mains, some of which are half a century old, and also the suitability of the mains now used; and what precautionary measures are being taken.

My noble Friend has received full reports of the gas accidents to which the hon. Member refers and the Gas Council is urgently examining all means of reducing gas escapes from mains. The available evidence does not however suggest that age or corrosion of the pipe is the major cause of gas accidents or that this was a contributory factor in any of the recent cases. As regards precautionary measures it is the function of the emergency services of the gas boards to deal immediately with any escapes.

asked the Paymaster-General what percentage of the coal produced in this country is used domestically, industrially, and for export purposes, respectively.

In 1957, domestic consumers used about 30 per cent. of total disposals of home-produced coal, either directly or in the form of electricity, gas, coke, etc. Industry took about 45 per cent. and exports—including ships' bunkers—about 5 per cent. The remaining 20 per cent. was used by the railways, the collieries, commercial premises, public buildings etc.

asked the Minister of Works when he expects that Scunthorpe will have its own tax office so that it will no longer be necessary for its inhabitants to go to Gainsborough to see the officials of the Scunthorpe Area Inland Revenue Office.

I hope that it will be possible to provide Scunthorpe with its own tax office by 1961, in the new building projected for Government offices.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the number of Africans in Basutoland who have applied during the years 1956 to 1958, inclusive, for training as engineers and technicians, and the number who have attained matriculation certificates during the same period.

During the years 1956, 1957 and 1958 to date, two Africans from Basutoland have applied for university training as engineers and technicians.As regards the second part of the Question, the 1958 examination has not yet taken place. During the three years 1955–57, 17 Basuto obtained full matriculation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement about the Welfare Agreement between the United Kingdom and Australia due to come into operation on 1st April.

Yes. On 29th January a new Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom was signed in Canberra by Mr. Menzies, the Prime Minister of Australia, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The text of the Agreement, which was negotiated by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, with the Australian Minister for Social Services, will be laid before Parliament at an early date.The Agreement covers family allowances, retirement pensions, widows' benefit, unemployment benefit and sickness benefit in the United Kingdom, and the corresponding benefits of the Australian Social Services scheme, and it extends and simplifies the existing agreement of 8th June, 1953.The principal change is that persons going from the United Kingdom to Australia will qualify for Australian benefits by virtue of their residence in this country, and not as at present, by virtue of their National Insurance contributions.The new Agreement can be extended to cover any British Colony with a scheme of social insurance which is linked by a reciprocal agreement with the National Insurance scheme of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Defence what further progress has now been made towards the production of an anti-missile missile in this country.

We are working on this difficult problem in collaboration with the United States Government.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now able to announce his decision on the proposal to set up a separate regional board for the western area of the South-West Metropolitan Hospital Region.

Yes. Consultation of the bodies concerned has shown that the great majority of opinion supports the proposal of the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board for a separate hospital region and board for this area, and I have decided to accept it in principle. But in the present financial circumstances I do not consider it justifiable to incur the additional costs of administration which would inevitably be involved in the creation of a new board, and I am therefore deferring action until a more appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the number of eviction notices given since December, under the Rent Act, 1957, whether he will take the necessary legislative action to ensure that evicted tenants will not have to leave their houses until alternative accommodation is proved available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Members for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) and lichen (Dr. King) on 11th February.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the capital value of a retirement pension for an insured spinster of normal health who reached the age of 60 years on 1st February, 1958.

£1,800.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to include Brentwood within the 3d. London telephone area.

The 3d. charge applies to calls within the London group itself, and calls between London and the groups immediately adjoining. The Brentwood group is outside these limits, and I could not agree to its inclusion without departing from the principles of the group charging system, which have been applied uniformly throughout the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he publishes monthly figures of United Kingdom exports without including therein income earned from the provision of shipping and insurance facilities, whereas figures of United Kingdom imports include such items.

The Trade Accounts figures of exports and imports measure the value of merchandise at the point of entry into, or departure from this country. This basis is the most readily available and most useful. The half-yearly White Paper on the Balance of Payments sets out the relationship between these figures and the figures for the United Kingdom balance of payments which record payments for all goods and services, including shipping and insurance.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will authorise a speeding up of the Capital programme for the modernisation of British Railways services in the County of Kent.

It is for the British Transport Commission to determine the details of its capital programme within the limits set by the Government. I understand that the Commission hopes to be able to maintain the present programme of railway electrification in Kent.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now considered the request placed before him by the Ferry Users Committee in connection with the freeing of the Blyth Harbour Commission Ferry from tolls, in view of the fact that it connects classified roads; and if he will make a statement.

I have told the Committee that this is a matter for the County Council or the Blyth Borough Council in the first place I appreciate that the ferry connects classified roads but I am afraid that in present circumstances I should not feel able to give a high priority to any application made to me for a grant towards the cost of redemption of privately-owned toll rights.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give information as regards Her Majesty's Government's plans for giving up part of the Fylingdale range; and if he will give an assurance that the land given up will be cleared of unexploded missiles.

As part of the release of training land announced last March, about 11,000 acres of the Fylingdale range will be released. The land will be searched for unexploded missiles before it is handed over.The requirement for the rest of the range is under consideration as part of the further review of training land announced at the same time.