asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what was the price paid and what outstanding liabilities were accepted by the purchasers of S. G. Brown Limited.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what was the price paid and what outstanding liabilities were accepted by the purchasers of S. G. Brown Limited.

The price to be paid to the Admiralty for S. G. Brown, Limited is £775,000. This is payable in cash on 30th June, and includes repayment in full of outstanding Admiralty loans amounting to £215,000.The purchasers will also assume responsibility for a bank overdraft standing at £440,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of additives to foods which may be regarded as safe from a health point of view; and if he will take steps to authorise only these additives and to ban all others.

It is not possible to give a comprehensive list. In the light of reports by the Food Standards Committee, regulations have been made to ban the use of preservatives, antioxidants and colouring matters in food except those specifically permitted, and similar regulations about emulsifying and stabilising agents are under consideration. The whole field of food additives is kept under review by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he last checked the problem of noise from aircraft over the borough of Willesden; and if he will make a statement.

The current survey programme is designed to embrace districts within 10 miles from London Airport and does not, therefore, embrace Willesden, which lies just outside that area. However, it may be possible to enlarge the area of survey later.

asked the Minister of Aviation if there is a special post in his Department of a senior officer responsible for all matters in connection with noise from aircraft.

The Controller of Aviation Ground Services is responsible for all matters connected with the noise of aircraft operating from civil aerodromes. The Chief Scientist and the Controller of Aircraft are responsible for the research and development programme aimed at reducing noise in new and existing types of aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he has further considered increasing the angle of the glide-path at London Airport, in order to minimise the nuisance caused by noise to residents in the vicinity.

I have considered this and regret there is no possibility of increasing the angle of the glide-path at London Airport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will initiate an inquiry into the regulations regarding beer-drinking in Northern Rhodesia with a view to establishing how far they are a contributory factor to recent acts of violence, with a view to making recommendations for the amendment of those regulations.

The whole question of the brewing and selling of beer is being debated in the current session of the Northern Rhodesia Legislative Council. The Government of Northern Rhodesia will, of course, be influenced in considering future policy by the views expressed in this debate. I consider this procedure preferable to the institution of an independent inquiry.

asked the Minister of Education when the 8,000 new training college places, already approved in principle, will be built.

The curent training college expansion programme of 16,000 places is planned for completion by 1963. The new places will follow immediately after—3,000 to be completed by 1964 and 2,500 in each of the years 196:5 and 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of salaries and wages paid annually; what was the total amount of dividends paid by all companies: and what percentage this amount is of the total wages and salaries paid, for the years 1954 to 1959, in each case.

The figures are:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the forthcoming independence of the Somaliland Protectorate, or her proposed union with Somalia, will affect her membership of the sterling area.

Yes. The Somaliland Protectorate is at present a member of the sterling area by virtue of her Pro tectorate status, and will therefore automatically cease to be a member of the area on 26th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the number of claims for relief from tax in any single recent year under Section 341 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, as extended by Section 15 (3) of the Finance Act, 1953, in respect of maintenance, repair and racing of motor vehicles.

This figure is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the number of claims for relief from tax in any single recent year under Section 341 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, as extended by Section 15 (3) of the Finance Act, 1953, in respect of publishing of printed matter, including manufacture thereof if combined therewith.

This figure is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the number of claims for relief from tax in any single recent year under Section 341 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, as extended by Section 15 (3) of the Finance Act, 1953, in respect of cafés, teashops, and places of refreshment.

It is not the practice of the Inland Revenue to disclose figures relating to trades that form only part of one of the main groups for which publication of aggregate figures has been agreed with the representatives of the business community.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the number of claims for relief from tax in any single recent year under Section 341 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, as extended by Section 15 (3) of the Finance Act, 1953, in respect of exhibitions, theatres and public shows.

This figure is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will recommend to the 10-Power Disarmament Committee that, in the first stage of disarmament, there shall be some form of international control over the launching of rockets to ensure that such launching shall be carried out solely for peaceful purposes and in accordance with internationally agreed criteria and measures of verification, including inspection on the launching sites of such rockets.

Proposals on these lines already appear in the first two stages of the Western Disarmament Plan (Cmnd. 981) which was introduced at the Ten-Power Disarmament Conference on 16th March by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the numbers awaiting admission to mental deficiency hospitals, and the number of available beds, in each region at the latest date for which figures are available, and the comparable figures for the three previous years.

The information is as follows:

Irvine asked the Minister of Labour how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bex

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drinking clubs were closed in the North Kensington area during the year ended 31st May, 1960; and how many are still open.

I am informed that 36 registered clubs were closed in this area in the year ended 31st May, 1960, and that 49 clubs remain on the register.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce legislation to provide for greater control over the licensing, siting and conduct of drinking clubs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 20th June to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Gurden).

asked the Minister of Transport if le is aware of the urgent need for the development of the Morpeth bypass in the county of Northumberland

The table below gives the information desired:on the A1 road; if this project is included in the 1960 programme; if he will now give it priority; and whether he will make a statement.

I am aware of the need for this by-pass. Preparatory work is continuing, but there is still much to be done and it may be some years before construction can be authorised.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give details of the amounts of loans, grants, and other forms of economic assistance made available by Her Majesty's Government to Ceylon since she became an independent member of the Commonwealth.

In 1959 the Ceylon Government accepted the offer by the United Kingdom Government of a credit of £2½ million under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act for the purchase of telephone equipment from the United Kingdom. A credit agreement in respect of this loan has not yet been signed.Between 1951 and 31st March, 1960, technical assistance to Ceylon cost about £996,000.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what information he has received from the Governments of Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, the Federation of Malaya, Ghana, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Ceylon, and East Africa, respectively, regarding the progress of their plans for the award of scholarships under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.

I understand from the Association of Universities of the British Commonwealth, which is responsible for recording the progress of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, that the position is as follows. (Except where otherwise stated the number of awards quoted means the number offered for the first year.)

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give details of the amounts of loans, grants, and other forms of economic assistance made available by Her Majesty's Government to Ghana since she became an independent member of the Commonwealth.

The assistance given to Ghana since her independence consists of

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give details of the amounts of loans, grants, and other forms of economic assistance made available by Her Majesty's Government to Pakistan since she became an independent member of the Commonwealth.

The following are the particulars:A. Loans made under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act, tied to United Kingdom goods and services

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give details of the amounts of loans, grants, and other forms of economic assistance made available to the Federation of Malaya since she became an independent member of the Commonwealth.

Grants have been made in aid of:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the worsening condition of pollution on beaches of seaside resorts, and the increasing danger to health at holiday time, if he will reconsider his previous decision and take the initiative in this matter by giving a greater degree of financial encouragement to these few coastal local authorities who submit proposals for dealing with the problem.

As my hon. Friend knows, a recent report published by the Medical Research Council concluded that the risk to health from this source can for all practical purposes be ignored. But polluted beaches can be disgusting nevertheless, and in such cases it is important that remedies be adopted quickly. Responsibility for this rests directly with the local authorities concerned. I have no reason to think that these authorities cannot from their own resources do whatever is needed to remedy the situation. I drew the attention of local authorities round the coasts to the whole matter in Circular 66/59, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.