asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent, for the last five years, hotels in the United Kingdom have benefited from direct Government grants; what has been the amount each year of these grants; and which hotels specifically have been built or enlarged through the assistance of such funds.

The powers to give assistance to hotels in areas of high unemployment have been available only since July, 1958. In the period up to 31st March, 1960, loans totalling £55,750 were offered in nine oases, and two grants totalling £5,200 were also offered. From 1st April, 1960, loans totalling £41,000 in six cases have so far been offered.It is contrary to practice to give any information about particular cases, since this information is confidential between the Board of Trade and the applicant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what applications are at present before his Department for abolition or reduction of import duties.

The Board of Trade has at present thirteen such applications under consideration. These have been announced at various dates in the Board of Trade Journal in order to give interested parties an opportunity to express their views.The applications in question relate to the following products:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation in the present Session regulating the solicitation of money deposits from members of the public by companies.

Her Majesty's Government hope to introduce legislation on this subject in due course, but are still considering its scope and content.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage British exporters to cultivate the Japanese market.

We have obtained wider openings for our exporters in this year's trade arrangements with Japan. We make the full range of Government export services available for this market and we use our frequent contacts with industry to remind exporters of its importance. The Japanese economy is rapidly expanding, Japan is moving towards a more liberal import policy and, provided our treatment of Japanese exports to this country is also liberal, we should have the opportunity of greatly increasing our sales there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations are taking place between Great Britain and the United States of America with regard to the tariff on British woollen piece goods; and if he will again press for an easement of conditions which at present work against exports of such goods to the United States of America.

As I told my hon. Friend, the Member for Shipley (Mr. Hirst), today in an Oral Answer, the United States Administration announced yesterday that as from 1st January, 1961, the tariff quota system will be abolished and new rates of duty will apply throughout the year. The new tariff for most wool fabrics will be 38 per cent. ad valorem—in addition to the existing specific duty—though a higher rate will apply to cheap cloths costing less than $2 a 1b. and a lower rate to certain speciality fabrics, including handwoven cloth.These changes are the outcome of our request to the United States Administration that they should renegotiate the wool tariff arrangements under which the quota was imposed. They are not, however, the result of negotiations in the true sense, since the United States proposals were offered as a package to be accepted or rejected as a whole and no negotiation either generally or on any of the details was possible. I regard the 38 per cent. rate as unjustifiably high and I am greatly disappointed that it was not possible to secure rates more favourable to British exporters, particularly those whose chief business is in the more expensive cloths. But I consider the new arrangements a lesser evil than the continuation of the tariff quota which has so damaged our exports over the past four years, and I believe that industry will agree with this judgment. We cannot, however, be satisfied with these arrangements and we shall seek to improve them in further negotiations at the earliest appropriate opportunity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the value of the £ today, taking the as 20s. in January. 1948.

Thirteen shillings and four pence in September, 1960, the latest month available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the starting point for Surtax would now be if it had been adjusted to compensate for the fall in the value of money since it was first fixed at £2,000.

About £3,500.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing his Budget earlier in the Parliamentary year than is currently the practice so that this House may have an opportunity to consider revenue at the same time as expenditure.

No. I think that the customary arrangement is probably the most satisfactory.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in the administrative branch of the service are permanently established; and how many of these started their Civil Service career in the scientific branch of the service.

There are 2,342 established members of the Administrative Class. Of these 20 began their Civil Service careers in the scientific Civil Service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent action Her Majesty's Government have taken, either unilaterally or in consultation with the Government of the United States of America, to ask the West German Government to discuss the question of defence support costs; and with what results.

There has been no discussion of the specific matter of support costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increasing trade with eastern European countries, further discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Hungarian and Roumanian Governments in order to come to a settlement of their bonded debts to this country; and what steps the Council of Foreign Bondholders and Her Majesty's Government are going to take to settle this matter.

No. As yet, neither Government is prepared to make any offer acceptable to the Council of Foreign Bondholders. We have, therefore, reserved the rights of the bondholders with a view to the negotiation of settlements at a later date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his latest figures of the total number of university places in the United Kingdom, and the ratio per 1,000 of population; and if he will, from information sugplied to him by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, make a comparison between these figures and those for the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The full-time university student population in the United Kingdom was some 106,000 during the academic year 1959–60. This figure represented 2 per 1,000 of the total population in June, 1959. A comparison between different countries, based on present information, could be most misleading.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the continued inflow of hot money to London, and the danger this represents in the case of its sudden withdrawal, and in view of the fact that it masks the balance of payments position, if he will consider recommending that very low rates of interest should be paid on it as is done in Switzerland; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think it would be wise to place further restrictions on the functioning of London as an international financial centre. The inflow of funds in recent months—by no means all of it to be regarded as hot money—has supported the reserves during a period of some weakness in the overseas trading position, and we have taken the opportunity to repay our debt to the International Monetary Fund. It is certainly necessary to improve our balance of trade and the Government is doing all it can to stress the importance of exports

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the effect of high interest rates on coal prices, if he will make loans at low rates of interest to the National Coal Board.

No. In any case reducing interest rates would not make a substantial difference to coal prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to introduce a Pensions (Increase) Bill to enable beneficiaries to share in the rising prosperity of the country.

The last Pensions (Increase) Act came into effect only 15 months ago. Under it public service pensions were increased, at the maximum by 12 per cent. My right hon. and learned Friend has no intention at present to introduce another such Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the original estimate of the amount of revenue to be derived from Purchase Tax on washing machines, dish washing machines, vacuum cleaners and other domestic labour saving appliances for the current financial year; and what is his present estimate.

The 1960 Budget estimate for Purchase Tax included about £36 million in respect of domestic gas and electric appliances, including heaters. It is not the practice to publish revised revenue estimates in the course of the financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the University Grants Committee in its annual return to the Treasury has painted out the need for several new universities in Great Britain; and whether he will ensure that one of them will be situated in Scotland.

No decision has yet been taken on whether there is a need for new university institutions, in addition to those which we are encouraging at Norwich and York, but the University Grants Committee, which advises my right hon. Friend on these matters, would be ready to consider applications from localities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what amount of Income Tax would be payable in respect of a retirement pension of £4 12s. 6d. a week for a married couple and £2 17s. 6d. for a single person in cases where the recipient has an additional occupational pension of £3, £4, £5 and £10 a week, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken, either unilaterally, or in conjunction with the Government of the United States of America during the recent World Bank Conference, in Washington, to secure a bigger West German contribution towards Western aid for under-developed countries; and with what success.

At the meetings in Washington last month all the leading Western countries made statements about what they are doing and what they plan to do as regards aid for the less-developed countries. The Federal German Government stated that they had important new measures at an advanced stage of consideration. There was a general feeling, of which the German Government could have been in no doubt, that in present conditions a larger contribution from Germany would be appropriate.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with Dr. Adenauer and the United States Gov-

The following are the figures—based on current tax rates and allowances—for the liability of a taxpayer who is 65 years of age:ernment on the requests being made by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to Western Germany to make some contribution to support costs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in Germany, at present borne by the Government of the United States of America.

I am not aware of any such request from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to the Federal German Government.

asked the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition and terms of reference of the Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education

I will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement made by the Minister of Defence at Devizes on 4th November that existing conventional forces on the ground are sufficient to meet the United Kingdom's responsibilities represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence was merely re-stating the policy set out in the 1959 White Paper on Defence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for investigating the recent fire at the aircraft factory of A. V. Roe at Chadderton; what form these investigations will take; and whether he will include in them the six previous outbreaks of fire which have occurred at this factory during the last year.

I understand that an investigation into the circumstances of this fire is being conducted by the Chief Constable of Lancashire in association with the Chief Fire Officer. The previous outbreaks of fire at this factory are being taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to remove swans from the list of protected birds.

I have asked the Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds for advice on a recent request by the Norfolk and East Suffolk County Councils that the mute swan should be deprived of protection in their areas. Meanwhile I have no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil prisoners, on any convenient date in 1960, had been committed to prison from county courts as a result of failure to pay instalments due under the terms of hire-purchase agreements.

On 4th November, 1960, there were 141 civil prisoners in England and Wales committed from county courts. It is believed that about 80 of these were committed for failure to pay instalments due under a hire-purchase agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reached a decision on the extension of Summer Time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now come to a decision on the extension of Summer Time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the extension of Summer Time.

The weight of opinion is clearly in favour of an extension of Summer Time. After careful consideration of all points of view, Her Majesty's Government have decided to lay before Parliament the draft of an Order-in-Council under the Summer Time Act, 1947, extending the period next year by three weeks in both spring and autumn, so that it will run from 26th March to 29th October.

asked the Secretary of Sate for the Home Department if it is his intention to introduce legislation during the present Session to reform the law of suicide and attempted suicide: and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I hope to do so during this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when other borstal accommodation will be provided to replace that which now exists in Durham Prison.

The new secure borstal for girls which is being built at Bullwood, Essex, is expected to be ready about the end of next year and is intended to replace the temporary girls' borstal accommodation in local prisons such as Durham.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the fact that eleven years have elapsed since the Royal Commission on the Press expressed concern at the trend towards Press monopoly in Great Britain and that this trend continues as is evidenced by the recent cessation of the News Chronicle, the Star, and the Empire News, what steps he now plans to remedy this situation in respect of the publication of news and opinion in Great Britan.

As I said in answer to the Question put by the hon. and learned Member on 27th October, the intervention of the Government in the affairs of the Press is not a thing to be undertaken lightly, and I am not convinced that action on my part is called for at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Russian tourists, apart from members of official delegations, visited the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

One thousand two hundred and eighty-two visas were authorised for Russian tourists in the first nine months of 1960. The figures for the years 1956–59 inclusive were: nil, 214, 213 and 377.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that proposals have been made for staging a bullfight in an indoor stadium in England next year, if he will now take steps to prohibit such spectacles.

Bullfighting is already prohibited by the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, and the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1912.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to give his decision on the siting of the new prison to replace the present prison on Dartmoor.

Very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the findings of the jury that inquired into the causes of the fire on 22nd June, 1960, at Henderson's Store in Liverpool; and if he will take powers to control fire precautions in shops.

I am aware of the findings of the jury, and am bringing them to the notice of my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour, who will be responsible for the forthcoming Government legislation on health, safety and welfare of persons employed in shops and offices. In the meantime, I propose to consider with the Fire Brigades Advisory Council whether any further guidance could usefully be given to fire authorities in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of immigrants from the West Indies to the United Kingdom for the nine months ended 30th September, 1960, as compared with the similar period of the previous year.

The estimated net inward movement is 38,100, as compared with 11,300 in the corresponding period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of a recent decision of the courts, he will introduce legislation to repeal the Obscene Publications Act, 1959.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the first Interim Report of the Royal Commission on the Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered the Royal Commission Report on the Police; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Royal Commission intends to sign a Report on pay next week, and that it is hoped to publish it about the end of the month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement about the possibility of setting up a committee or commission to examine and report on legislation dealing with Sunday observance in this country.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Metropolitan Police permit cars carrying CD plates to be parked in restricted areas.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that unless it is known that the person leaving the vehicle is enitled to diplomatic privilege a vehicle bearing CD plates is reported or otherwise dealt with for traffic offences in the same way as any other vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the increasing danger of fire resulting from the indiscriminate use of powerful fireworks, such as rockets, by children and persons other than adults; and whether he will restrict the use and sale of these types of fireworks to organised firework displays in the control of responsible persons.

Steps are already taken to ensure that fireworks sold to the public are not intrinsically dangerous. Under these circumstances I doubt whether restrictions of the kind which the hon. Member suggests are suitable or practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many motorists have ben imprisoned in the last five years under Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, for failing to produce their driving licences to the court for endorsement or disqualification; and what action has been taken to prevent them driving with clean licences after serving their sentences;(2) what action he is taking to deal with motorists in the Metropolitan Police area, who, having failed to produce their licences for endorsement or disqualification, continue to drive with a clean licence.

Section 111 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, provides that it shall be an offence to fail to produce a licence to a court for endorsement within the time required by the court and that the licence shall be suspended and be of no effect from the expiration of that time until it is produced for endorsement I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that local police officers are informed when it is known that a particular individual is in possession of a suspended licence.In the years 1955–1959 one person was sentenced in the Metropolitan Police District to imprisonment for failing to produce a licence for endorsement. I regret that figures for the rest of the country are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the Federal Constitutional Review Conference will commence; and what will be the basis of representation at the conference.

Consultations with the Governments in the Federation about the date have not yet been completed. It will be announced as soon as possible. Article 99 of the Federal Constitution provides that the delegations to the Conference shall be chosen by the respective Governments. The other Governments concerned are being consulted.In this connection I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement I made on this subject in the debate on the Address on 3rd November, 1960 (HANSARD, col. 372).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what medical and other aid has been provided, or offered, by the United Kingdom to the Government of Pakistan to relieve suffering from the recent disaster in the Chittagong Division of East Pakistan.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Partridge) on 27th October, Her Majesty's Government made a donation of a lakh of rupees towards the relief of distress caused by the first cyclone and tidal wave which occurred on 10th October.As the House will know, further grievous loss of life and material destruction was caused by another cyclone on 31st October. Her Majesty's Government accordingly decided to donate an additional two lakhs of rupees to the Government of Pakistan for the relief of distress.The House will be asked in due course to vote the necessary Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance to cover this, as well as the previous donation, is being obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will advise the disallowance of the Vagrancy Act of Southern Rhodesia in view of its discriminatory character.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many British protected persons from Basutoland or Bechuanaland were killed or injured in the course of the shootings at Sharpeville in March, 1960; and what steps are being taken to secure compensation for them, in view of the decision of the South African Government to seek legislative indemnity against claims for damages resulting from those shootings.

Five Basuto died from wounds received at Sharpeville and seventeen were injured. The Basutoland Government arranged for counsel to represent those of the injured and the dependants of those killed who had not made their own arrangements to be so represented. The counsel engaged by the Basutoland Government have given notice of claims for compensation totalling £9,650 against the South African Minister of Justice. I do not think it would be wise for me to prejudge the situation which would be created if legislation of the kind envisaged in the Question is passed.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what percentage of children of school age are attending schools in Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively;(2) what are the number of doctors per thousand of population serving the indigenous peoples in Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland.

Information on this subject was given to the House in reply to Questions on 14th April last. I have asked the High Commissioner for the latest figures and will send them to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the minimum monthly wage in Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

The level of wages is comparable with that prevailing in the Union of South Africa. It has not been the practice for the Administrations in the High Commission Territories to fix minimum wage rates, but I am consulting the High Commissioner and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider including a "Keep Britain Tidy" lesson in the syllabus of kindergarten and infant schools so that very small children can be trained from an early age in preserving the beauty of the countryside and the cleanliness of towns.

A good deal is already done in the schools with my full support to help achieve the objects that the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Education what further progress has been made into the possibility of setting up a day training college in the Gateshead district.

I have this week approved a proposal by the Newcastle Local Education Authority, agreed by the Durham Area Training Organisation, to establish a day training college to

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that there is a large number of people who are partially or completely disabled as a result of poliomyelitis and other incurable diseases; and if he will take steps to bring them into a pension scheme on a similar basis to that of ex-Service men.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish a table showing the geographical distribution, in January, 1960, of the 3,710 senior classes and the 20,066 junior classes with more than 40 pupils per class.

The following table shows the distribution in January, 1960, of classes with more than 40 pupils per class:

My right hon. Friend has, of course, the greatest sympathy with the people mentioned in the hon. Member's Question. Provision is, of course, made for them, as for other casualties of civilian life, under the National Insurance schemes, supplemented, if necessary, through the National Assistance Board. There would be from the point of view both of principle and of practice grave objection to treating such disabilities as if they were attributable to service for the purposes of the War Pensions Warrants.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what discussions have taken place within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the problem which will arise in May, 1961, when the German contribution to support costs of British troops in Western Germany expires.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation to apply the provisions of the Obscene Publications Act, 1959, to Scotland.

No.

asked the Lord Advocate what action he proposes to take with regard to the sale in Scotland of the book Lady Chatterley's Lover and what advice he proposes to offer to Procurators Fiscal.

I am considering whether any action is called for in regard to the sale in Scotland of the book referred to, but no decision has yet been taken. I have instructed Procurators Fiscal of the Sheriff Court that any complaint which they receive about the book should be reported to me.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will give an assurance that he will not prosecute booksellers in Scotland who sell copies of Lady Chatterley's Lover.

I am considering this matter but I am not yet in a position to say whether or not such a prosecution will be instructed.

asked the Lord Advocate whether it is his intention to instruct criminal proceedings against persons offering Lady Chatterley's Lover for sale.

I am considering this matter but no decision has yet been taken.

asked the Lord Advocate if he is aware of the concern in Scotland as to the sale and distribution there of the book called Lady Chatterley's Lover; and if he proposes to take legal proceedings in the matter.

I have received no complaints regarding the sale and distribution in Scotland of the book referred to. No decision has yet been taken as to the institution of legal proceedings.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the present estimates of the completion date and final cost of the Western Avenue under-pass at Hanger Lane.

The two vehicular tunnels were opened on 1st September and 25th October respectively. According to the most recent reports the date for final completion of the scheme which I gave my hon. Friend in my reply on 27th July seems unlikely to be met. I have called for a special report. The most recent estimates of cost are still being examined by my Department but they appear to show some increase

asked the Minister of Transport when he will make an Order under Section 2 (5) of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, to bring into force Section 2 (2) (a) of the said Act; and if he will make a statement

Before I could do as my hon. Friend suggests I would have to make an Order under Section 2 (6) of the Act, setting up a fund to compensate harbour or conservancy authorities. But I do not propose to do so unless the provisions for such a fund can be made acceptable to both harbour authorities and shipowners. Hitherto this has not been possible.