asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of young people of both sexes in the agricultural apprenticeship scheme at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for each year since the inception of the scheme.

I understand from the Agricultural Apprenticeship Council, who are responsible for the scheme, that on 31st October, 1960, the number of boys and girls in the scheme was 723.The numbers of apprentices (boys and girls) in the Agricultural Apprenticeship Scheme at the 31st October in each year were as follows:

Year	Number of Apprentices
1954	303
1955	522
1956	609
1957	540
1958	567
1959	626
1960	723

Separate figures for each sex are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make regulations to enable Russian horses to enter the United Kingdom in order to compete in the Grand National.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave at Question Time today to the hon. Members for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) and Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in implementing the recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission on Common Land.

I am not yet in a position to add to the answer given on 15th December last to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden).

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what dates licences were issued for the export of Vampire aeroplanes to Guatemala in the past twelve months: how many aeroplanes have been exported; and by whom they have been purchased.

No licences have been issued for the export of Vampire aircraft to Guatemala in the last twelve months, and none has been exported; the third part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when building is likely to start on the advance factory to be built in Jarrow.

Preliminary work on the advance factory for the North-East is in hand. I expect that building work will start by the early summer and that the factory of 38,000 sq. ft. will be completed in the spring of 1962.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which towns he will be visiting on his forthcoming tour in the north-east.

I hope to meet the Lord Mayor and other representatives of Newcastle and the Mayors and other representatives of Sunderland, Jarrow and South Shields. I shall also be visiting firms in Newcastle and Gateshead.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement about university development in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's statement of 25th January about the new and substantially increased building programmes which he has now authorised for universities in Great Britain. I am advised that, so far as can be foreseen at this time, these programmes should allow the Scottish universities and the Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow, to accommodate the increased numbers of students who will be coming forward in this decade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will give the monthly Treasury receipts from all greyhound racing totalisators for the calendar years of 1959 and 1960;(2) whether he will give the monthly bookmakers' licence duty collected for the calendar years 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960.

—				1956	1957	1958	1959	1960
January	…	…	…	109,687	133,124	128,316	115,499	101,749
February	…	…	…	103,056	104,296	103,905	100,122	104,080
March	…	…	…	137,306	124,839	120,833	119,096	142,057
April	…	…	…	132,888	131,009	143,005	151,016	129,308
May	…	…	…	164,390	161,128	146,924	139,394	135,390
June	…	…	…	140,996	138,982	140,150	135,171	161,300
July	…	…	…	140,561	148,409	164,062	166,992	133,433
August	…	…	…	170,833	156,485	143,328	143,494	158,232
September	…	…	…	131,405	135,074	135,968	144,185	138,934
October	…	…	…	138,458	151,233	151,912	141,356	123,808
November	…	…	…	143,264	129,993	122,968	118,621	132,757
December	…	…	…	111,847	122,071	124,882	132,576	120,750
				1,624,691	1,636,643	1,626,253	1,607,522	1,581,798

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims were made in 1960 for maintenance relief, to be set against Schedule A Income Tax assessments, in respect of premiums paid on fire, storm, tempest and flood insurance policies covering domestic hereditaments.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the widespread difficulties of owner-occupiers of dwelling houses in comprehending the state of the law concerning the five years' average when making Income Tax Schedule A maintenance claims; whether he will now allow a single year basis. with surplus expendi-

The monthly receipts of Pool Betting Duty on greyhound totalisator bets for 1959 and 1960 were:

—	1959	1960
	£	£
January	389,195	365,228
February	342,303	382,340
March	415,057	517,476
April	570,879	504,051
May	547,132	551,416
June	536,280	694,431
July	668,639	577,647
August	605,404	724,052
September	556,488	552,916
October	515,767	467,418
November	391,260	473,130
December	464,078	436,166
	6,002,482	6,246,271

The monthly receipts of bookmakers' Licence Duty for the calendar years 1956 to 1960 were:ture carried to credit of claims in succeeding years as a simplified method; what would be the cost of such reform in terms of revenue yield or otherwise; and whether he will make a statement concerning simplification of the five years' average.

I have no evidence that the five years' average is not understood. I regret that it is impossible to estimate the cost of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the internal purchasing power of the £ today, as compared with September 1956 and September 1939, respectively; and what assurance was given by the then Chancellor regarding the stability of sterling to the American Treasury during the 1956 financial crisis.

The figures for the internal purchasing power of the £ are 18s. 6d. now as compared with September 1956 and 7s. 2d. as compared with average of the year 1939. A comparison with September of that year is not available.As regards the external value of the £, the then Chancellor, in the course of a Statement on the gold and dollar reserves and the economic situation on 4th December, 1956, declared to this House our intention to maintain the rate for the £ sterling at its present parity; but there were no undertakings given to the United States Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make further inquiry into the nature of the information supplied by his Department to the Special Commissioners regarding Mr. A. Sowinger; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has written to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the fixed interest bearing stocks in the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency could be sold at higher prices if the Bank Rate were reduced, whether his consent to the sale of these securities, in the immediate future, means that there is no likelihood of the Bank Rate being further reduced; and if he will make a statement.

I can make no comment on these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many miners working underground are now paying Surtax.

This information is not available..

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement on the proposal to build the National Theatre on the South Bank.

My right hon. and learned Friend is not yet ready to make a statement on this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the Income Tax Act so as to enable a divorced person to be granted a housekeeper allowance

My right hon. and learned Friend has noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister what new proposals he has for co-ordinating technical and other assistance to Commonwealth and foreign countries.

I am studying this question. I hope that it will be possible to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the granting of General Service Medals to members of the forces who have been engaged in the Arabian Peninsula.

Yes. Her Majesty has approved proposals for the grant of General Service Medals for specified service in operations in the Arabian Peninsula between 1st January, 1957, and 30th June, 1960, in resistance to border raids and against bands of dissidents. A short Command Paper on the subject is available in the Vote Office.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the importance to British prestige of the forthcoming British Trade Fair in Moscow; what support the Government are giving to the Fair; and which Minister is responsible.

The British Trade Fair in Moscow is directed towards the promotion of our exports, and I am confident that it will also enhance British prestige by demonstrating the range and skill of British industry. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has accepted the organisers' invitation to open the Fair. His Department will be one of the exhibitors and will supplement the efforts of industry by a display illustrating British scientific and technical achievement. In addition, the Foreign Office are providing a Government Information Stand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons elected for trial at quarter sessions on charges of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, in England and Wales during the 12 months ended 30th September, 1960; and how many were acquitted.

The statistics do not distinguish between persons who elect for trial and those who are otherwise committed, and no figures are available for 1960. In 1959, 481 persons, of whom 204 were acquitted, were dealt with at quarter sessions for the offence of driving when under the influence of drink or a drug. These figures do not include persons who were originally charged with that offence but dealt with for some other offence, nor those who were dealt with at the same time for a more serious offence (unless they were acquitted of that offence).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the public concern caused by the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Director of Public Prosecutions versus Smith, Her Majesty's Government will cause an inquiry to be held into the problems created by that decision, with a view to introducing such amending legislation as may be recommended.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave on 24th November to a Question by the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to decide the basis of compensation to be paid for removal of air-raid shelters from derequisitioned land.

The principles of compensation in such cases have been reviewed by Parliament on a number of occasions over a considerable period of years and I do not consider that a case has been established for further amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for alternative employment for people serving as welfare officers; and whether he will announce, at an early date, his intentions with regard to these public servants.

As I told the House on the Second Reading of the Criminal Justice Bill, I am asking the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders to review the arrangements for the aftercare of those released from training. For the present, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to make any statement about the future of the Welfare Officer Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making to reduce the delays and formalities experienced by foreigners entering this country.

The immigration control does not involve any appreciable delay for bona fide foreign tourists and business visitors, and I have no proposals to make at the moment for changes in the control arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimated net immigration from Cyprus to the United Kingdom for the year ended 31st December, 1960, as compared with the previous year.

In 1960 the estimated net inward movement was 3,200, as compared with 400 in 1959. The net average annual intake for the years 1955–60, was some 2,300.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the new evidence available, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Pontypool, he will now direct a further inquiry, to be held in public, to ascertain whether there was a miscarriage of justice in the conviction of Timothy John Evans for murder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new evidence he has received in the case of Timothy Evans; and whether he intends to order a new inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now advise Her Majesty The Queen to grant posthumously a free pardon to Timothy John Evans on the ground that his conviction and execution have been shown to be a miscarriage of justice.

As at present advised, I am not convinced of the value of a fresh inquiry. I am, however, examining carefully the recently published book by Mr. Ludovic Kennedy and all other relevant information available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in applying the Admiralty jurisdiction contained in the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, to the Courts of the Channels Islands and Isle of Man, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

The Guernsey authorities have agreed to the making of an Order in Council under Section 56 of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, applying to the Bailiwick of Guernsey so much of Part I of the Act as is necessary to enable the three International Conventions on Maritime Law, which were concluded in Brussels in 1952, to be extended to the Bailiwick. The authorities in Jersey and the Isle of Man still have the matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of felonious homicides which are known to have been committed in England and Wales between 1st January, 1960, and 31st December, 1960, and between 1st January, 1961, and the most recent convenient date.

The number of offences of murder reported as known to the police in 1960 was 152. Returns of cases of manslaughter and infanticide are still incomplete, but the known figures are 102 and 18, respectively; these relate to police districts covering about 95 per cent. of the population. Figures for 1961 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in applying the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, to the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

The Act has been extended to the Isle of Man, with exceptions, adaptations and modifications, by the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958 (Isle of Man) Order, 1960, which was laid before Parliament on 9th August and came into operation on 15th August, 1960. The authorities in Jersey and Guernsey have agreed to the making of similar Orders in Council for their territories, and I am in consultation with them about the terms of these Orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances 17 students at the London School of Economics were arrested outside South Africa House on 1st December when protesting against military operations in Pondoland.

About 250 students demonstrated outside South Africa House and a crowd gathered. When disorder threatened the police ordered the demonstrators to disperse. Most of them did so, but others continued to demonstrate despite repeated warnings and 17 of them were arrested and charged with wilfully obstructing the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why no action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure the release of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and British-protected persons who have been arrested in Southern Rhodesia under the Vagrancy Act.

Representations to another Government for the release of United Kingdom citizens are normally only made if there is reason to suppose that the action taken against them is illegal or that they are being held for an unduly long period pending trial.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations he has had with the Governments of India and Pakistan about the India Office Library.

My right hon. Friend has had no formal discussions with the Governments of India and Pakistan about the India Office Library, though the subject was raised with him informally during his recent visit to Delhi.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has yet received a copy of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sharpeville shooting in which five British protected persons were killed and 17 injured by the South African police; and what communications he has had with the South African Government concerning the Report.

I understand that the Report was laid before the South African Parliament on 23rd January, in the form of a typewritten document in Afrikaans, which has not so far been translated into English. The United Kingdom High Commissioner has been given access to one of the limited number of copies, which is now being studied. My right hon. Friend has had no communication with the South African Government about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what support will be given by Her Majesty's Government to the proposed Commonwealth Arts Festival in 1964.

The Sponsoring Commit. tee has recently sent my right hon. Friend a memorandum setting out new proposals for a Commonwealth Arts Festival in 1964. This memorandum is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what payments have been made for the benefit of the Turkish community in Cyprus under the arrangements relating to financial assistance to the community contained in the Treaties and Exchange of Notes on the Independence of Cyprus, Command Paper No. 1093.

A payment of £500,000 was made by the Colonial Office before Independence for the purposes defined in the Exchange of Notes. A further amount of £500,000 was paid by the Commonwealth Relations Office on 28th September, 1960, to the Turkish Communal Chamber to be utilised at their request for the development of cooperatives in Cyprus which is regarded as falling within the purposes for which assistance was promised. The House will be asked in due course to vote the necessary Supplementary Estimates. In the meantime advances to cover these payments have been obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Education what progress he is making in implementing the recommendations of the Albemarle Report.

Considerable progress has been made, details of which I gave in reply to the hon. Member for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) on 15th December last.

asked the Minister of Education what measures he proposes to encourage the development of voluntary day releases.

I hope that the pattern of new courses announced in the White Paper "Better Opportunities in Technical Education" will encourage the schools, the technical colleges and employers to co-operate more closely and fruitfully. For the future, I am exploring with industry and with the local authorities the possibility of giving workers under 18 a right to claim day-release.

asked the Minister of Education what conclusions he has reached as a result of the meeting on 23rd January between his officers and the authorities of St. Illtyd's College, Cardiff, about the early rebuilding of the school.

The college authorities were informed that there is every prospect that the rebuilding of the college will be included in the 1963–64 building programme. They have been advised to proceed with the preparation of plans for the new school as far as tender stage, when the possibility of an earlier start will be considered.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is yet in a position to publish the revised scales of parental contribution in connection with grants to students.

The consultations which the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have been having with the local authority associations about this and related points are not yet complete, but we hope to make an early announcement

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, whether he has received the report on the management and control of research and development.

No. The Committee has not yet completed its report, but I understand that the Committee is well advanced with its preparation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total of the grants which have now been made by Her Majesty's Government for the relief of famine in the Congo; and through which organisations this has been done.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement on the measures now being taken by Her Majesty's Government to relieve famine in the Congo; and whether it is proposed to increase the scale of aid from this country.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the full statement on this matter I made to the House yesterday.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will instruct the United Kingdom delegate to the Standing Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to propose that when the Council considers the United States offer of nuclear-powered submarines equipped with Polaris missiles the Council shall also give consideration to the proposals for the total abolition of nuclear weapons, and of the missiles, aircraft.

Disarmament is a matter for constant consideration by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation who have already examined the two comprehensive disarmament plans put forward by the Soviet and United States Delegates to the Ten-Power Disarmament Conference on 7th June and 27th June, respectively.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the hardship caused by the delay in extending legal aid to matrimonial proceedings in magistrates' courts and quarter sessions; and whether he will now announce the date when such legal aid will become available.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is well aware of the need for legal aid for these proceedings and is making preparations for the extension of the Scheme, but he is not ready to announce the date when legal aid will become available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the introduction of a Ministerial system in Aden.

By amendment to the Royal Instructions, approved by Her Majesty on 17th January, the title of "Member-in-Charge", borne since January, 1959, by the five unofficial Members of the Executive Council with responsibilities for certain departments of Government, was changed to "Minister". Before this change of title the Governor had, in December, 1960, transferred additional responsibilities to the Members-in-Charge. The change reflects the success of the Member-in-Charge system introduced in January, 1959, and the title "Minister" will more faithfully represent the actual powers and responsibilities carried by the unofficial Members.