asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated nominal value of the capital invested today in Government securities, corporation stocks, public works stocks, overseas Government and corporation stocks, bank deposits, building society loans and deposits, Trustee Savings Bank deposits, and National Savings, respectively, and in any other fixed interest savings.

The following figures are as at or about the end of 1960 except where otherwise indicated. Quoted securities are shown at nominal values.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in his examination of the proposals submitted to him by the Civil Service Clerical Association concerning economies and reorganisation in the Civil Service; and what action he now proposes.

After examining these proposals thoroughly we have found no evidence that they would produce the economies which have been claimed for them by the Civil Service Clerical Association. We have nevertheless offered to arrange further discussions between the Association and certain Departments in order to give the Association an opportunity to develop their case further.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was invested in National Savings in 1939, 1945, 1951 and 1961, respectively; and how many savers there were in each of these years.

I regret that information on the number of savers in each year is not available. The net changes in the total National Savings remaining invested in the respective financial years were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the expected total annual yield of National Insurance and Health Service contributions after the increase in health contributions after July, and the comparable figures for the financial year 1951–52.

The estimated annual yield of the existing National Insurance and the Health Service contributions (after July), compared with the yield in 1951–52 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the number of prosecutions instituted under the Obscene Publications Act, 1959, and the number of convictions thereunder.

Eighty-five prosecutions have been brought, of which 82 resulted in convictions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the progress made in each of the 17 projects undertaken by the Home Office Research Unit listed in Appendix B, Current Research on Crime, to Command Paper No. 645, Penal Practice in a Changing Society, and indicate in each case how he proposes to make the reports available to students and the general public.

The following is the reply:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a statement showing the progress made in each of the 15 studies and research projects undertaken with the assistance of Government grants listed in Appendix B to Command Paper No. 645, Penal Practice in a Changing Society, and indicate in each case how the reports are being made available to students and the general public.

The following is the reply:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a statement showing progress made in each of the 39 studies and research projects being undertaken independently, as listed in Appendix B to Command Paper No. 645, Penal Practice in a Changing Society, and indicate in each case how the reports are being made available to students and the general public.

The Home Office is not kept systematically in touch with the progress of research work in universities unless the research is supported by a Government grant. If my hon. Friend would care to communicate with me I shall be glad to give him whatever information I may have about any particular research study in which he may be interested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement showing the number of boys from approved schools and borstals who have attended Outward Bound courses and who have taken part in exercises in connection with the Duke of Edinburgh's award; and how these boys have acquitted themselves.

To date 48 borstal boys have attended Outward Bound courses, all of them successfully. I am glad to say that two achieved honours awards and the remainder merit awards. No borstal boys have taken part in exercises for the Duke of Edinburgh's award. Forty-eight approved school boys have attended Outward Bound courses, of whom almost all have successfully completed a full course: one gained an honours award and 19 have had merit awards. In addition, parties of boys have assisted in preparatory or maintenance work at Outward Bound centres and some of these have taken part in a shortened course.Over 850 approved school boys in 26 schools have taken part in exercises in connection with the Duke of Edinburgh's award. Ninety-five boys have gained silver awards and 82 boys bronze awards, and many others have successfully completed sectional tests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who were serving sentences of imprisonment and are suffering from psychopathic disorder, not including sub-normality of intelligence, are detained in hospital by virtue of transfer directions under Section 72 of the Mental Health Act, 1959; and if he will name the hospitals concerned.

The medical reports submitted to me do not necessarily show whether a person suffering from psychopathic disorder is also of subnormal intelligence. Ten persons who have not been reported to be of subnormal intelligence have been transferred to hospital from prisons, borstals or approved schools under Section 72 of the Mental Health Act as suffering from psychopathic disorder; four are detained in Broadmoor Hospital, four in Rampton Hospital, one in Stanley Royd Hospital and one in Harperbury Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of attacks on people and damage to railway trains, respectively, by young persons are known to the police, in respect of the Easter holiday period; and how many young persons have been charged with such offences.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements Her Majesty's Government now make to assist High Court judges, County Court judges, and Recorders, in making first-hand study of the aims and methods of the Prison Commissioners and the bodies responsible for the aftercare of discharged persons; and to what extent, in reviewing sentences, he takes these matters into account.

A revised edition of the booklet "Prisons and Borstals" was produced last year. Visits by judges to penal institutions are welcomed and facilities are readily granted. Recommendations made by the Inter-departmental Committee on the Business of the Criminal Courts, of which Mr. Justice Streatfeild was Chairman, about means of acquainting judges more fully with the work of the Prison Commission are at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will give an estimate of the number of pupils in the secondary departments of direct grant schools at present receiving tuition in science subjects; and what percentage this is of the total;(2) If he will give an estimate of the numbers of pupils in secondary modern, technical and grammar courses of maintained schools who are receiving tuition in science subjects; and what percentages these are of the number of children in each case.

I do not collect from the schools comprehensive statistics of the numbers of pupils studying different subjects, but I am advised that almost all pupils are taught science subjects. This would not apply generally to sixth form pupils specialising in arts subjects.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will give an estimate of the average number of hours per week allocated to mathematics and science subjects, respectively, in secondary modern, technical and grammar courses in maintained secondary schools;(2) if he will give an estimate of the average number of hours per week allocated to mathematics and science subjects, respectively, in direct grant schools.

I cannot give a useful estimate of the time given on average to these subjects within the kinds of school named since this will vary

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the total amount of contributions received by the teachers superannuation account during the years 1958–59, and 1959–60, respectively, and the expenditure on pensons and repayment of contributions during those years; and whether he will make a statement on these accounts.

The total amount of contributions received from teachers and employers under the Teachers Superannuation Acts was £31·4 million in 1958–59 and £34·4 million in 1959–60. Expenditure on pensons for teachers and repayments of contributions amounted to £27·1 million in 1958–59 and £29·8 million in 1959–60. The state of the account has to be judged by its ability to meet future commitments as assessed by an actuarial valuation.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the number of teachers who died in service leaving dependants in each year from 1950 to 1960, respectively; and whether he will make a statement about his Department's contribution for the maintenance of the dependants concerned.

My records do not show how many teachers who died in service left dependants, but the following is the number of teachers in respect of whom death gratuities were paid or contributions returned to legal personal representatives in the years 1950 to 1960.

asked the Minister of Education what authorities he has consulted in accordance with paragraph 16 of Command Paper 1032, Commonwealth Educational Co-operation, about additional places for Commonwealth students in technical colleges and expanded training facilities for Commonwealth students in United Kingdom industry.

My Department consulted the associations representing local education authorities and teachers in further education. In the current session the number of Commonwealth students in colleges of further education in England and Wales is 7,203, as compared with 6,493 in 1959–60. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 11th April.

asked the Minister of Education by what numbers, and in what colleges, training college places available to Commonwealth students of technical subjects have been increased, or will next session be increased, in accordance with paragraph 51 of Command Paper 841, Report of the Commonwealth Education Conference; how many of these places have so far been taken up; from what territories the students have come; and in what technical subjects they have qualified.

A total of 75 places a year was offered under this scheme by Bolton, Huddersfield and Garnett Technical Training Colleges and the Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow, and in the current year 39 bursaries have been taken by students from Ceylon, Malta, Nigeria, Nyasaland, Pakistan, Rhodesia, Sierra Leone, Tanganyika, Trinidad and Uganda. They are taking courses in electrical installation, motor engineering, handicraft, welding, telecommunications, commercial subjects, printing, metalwork, carpentry, bricklaying and workshop practice.There are, in addition some Commonwealth students who have entered the colleges under private arrangements.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has yet received the promised further report of the Advisory Sub-Committee on Agricultural Education; and whether it will be published.

The Advisory Sub-Committee, of which Alderman Lampard Vachell is the Chairman, has now completed its review and I am issuing the Report tomorrow with a covering circular commending it to local education authorities. The Report covers a number of topics not dealt with in the First Report—notably the supply and training of teachers of agricultural subjects, agricultural education for women, and education for horticulture, poultry and forestry.My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and I would like to take this opportunity of commending the Report, whose recommendations we have accepted, to all those concerned with these aspects of the industry.

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech by the Secretary of State for Scotland, on 4th April, to the convention of Royal Burghs in Scotland, concerning future opportunities for young people, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes. The two references to this subject in the speech made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland certainly represent Government policy.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the purpose of the latest United Nations military activities in Katanga; and what instructions have been given to the United Nations forces stationed there.

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to the incident which occurred at Kabalo in North Katanga on 7th April. The Security Council resolution of 21st February instructed the United Nations to take measures to prevent civil war and halt all military operations in the Congo. At Kabalo the action taken by the United Nations force was intended to prevent clashes between rival forces in Katanga.We are not informed of the details of the instructions issued to the United Nations troops in the area, but the Security Council resolution empowers the use of force only in the last resort to prevent armed clashes.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement about military assistance by Her Majesty's Government to the Sudan Government.

My hon. Friend will have seen the announcement in the Press on 6th April. The Sudan has made a good recovery from the economic crisis through which it passed two years ago. But the country has still a long way to go along the path to full development, and the Government have many calls on their financial resources, in particular for economic development and essential defence requirements. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the United States Government have given much help in development, and we who have for long had such close and friendly ties with the Sudan are anxious to play our part. The Sudanese army is largely modelled on British lines in its equipment and organisation and it was natural therefore that the Sudan Government should turn to us for help on the military side.This subject was discussed with Major-General Hassan Beshir Nasr, the Sudanese Chief of Staff and Minister for Cabinet Affairs, during his recent visit to this country. The gift which, as a result of those discussions, we are proposing to make consists of four armed jet Provost aircraft, six Saladin armoured cars and twelve Ferret Scout Cars, together with some pilot training. The proportion of armoured cars to scout cars can be varied, if required, within the same total value. Some of the equipment is needed at once by the Sudan and we propose to begin shipping certain items as soon as they are available.The total cost of the gift will be not more than £600,000 and the House will in due course be asked to approve the necessary financial provision for reimbursement to the Service Departments by way of a Supplementary Estimate for Foreign Office Grants and Services.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement about the incident in Regent's Park on Wednesday, 15th March, when a policewoman and police constable ordered an 84-years-old woman who had hailed a taxicab to leave the cab and insisted upon this order being carried out despite an explanation that she was recovering from an illness and needed the transport, with the result that she had to walk a considerable distance to find a taxicab outside the park.

No first hand report of this incident is available, and it has not been possible to establish the facts or to identify any of the parties said to be involved. The regulations prohibit active plying for hire by standing or coasting, but acceptance of a fare when hailed is permitted and is general practice. I am, however, arranging for all concerned to be reminded of this distinction. I am also considering an amending regulation.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why it is taking such a long time to build the "Dreadnought" nuclear-powered submarine; and whether he will hold an inquiry to find out how best this type of construction can be speeded up.

H.M.S. "Dreadnought" was laid down in June 1959 and launched by Her Majesty on 21st October 1960; good progress is being made and her construction is only very little behind schedule. The nuclear submarine is very much larger in size, power and diving capability and is altogether more complex than conventional submarines. The Board of Admiralty are naturally anxious to see building time reduced but we do not believe that an inquiry would show what further steps could usefully be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendation in paragraph 53 of Command Paper 841, Report of the Commonwealth Education Conference, concerning co-operation to establish regional training colleges for technical teachers; and what aid has been given or promised to schemes for this purpose.

The initiative in making proposals for setting up regional technical teacher-training colleges rests with the Governments of the countries in those regions where the colleges would be established. The United Kingdom Government have informed the Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee that they are prepared to give favourable consideration to requests for assistance in the provision of staff equipment and/or training facilities for any regional technical teacher-training colleges which other Commonwealth Governments may decide to set up.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what amount of financial assitsance, and for what general or specific purposes, has been given, in each financial year, by Her Majesty's Government to the Federal Government of Rhodesia and Nyasaland since the Federation came into being.

The following Colonial Development and Welfare allocations to the Federal Government have been approved since the Federation was set up:

asked the Minister of Defence whether, following on the arrangements recently entered into by Fighter Command, he is now prepared to consider placing Bomber Command under the control of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Alliance.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General what profit margin is allowed at the present time on Post Office contracts.

Generally speaking, the Post Office follows the standard Government practice in regard to costed contracts of aiming to allow a return on capital employed of about 7½ per cent., subject to some addition if justified by the circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what reasons there are for the fall in the value of exports from the United Kingdom of telegraph and telephone equipment and line apparatus for long distance communication from £21,889,122 in 1959 to £19,449,849 in 1960;(2) what reasons there are for the fall in the value of exports from the United Kingdom of telegraph and telephone equipment and line apparatus for long distance communication from £3,943,672 in the first two months of 1960 to £3,255,567 in the first two months of 1961.

I understand that the hon. Member is quoting figures published in the Monthly Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom. It is true that exports of telegraph and telephone equipment and line apparatus for long distance communication which ran at a very high level for several years are now tending to decline. The manufacturers are greatly concerned at this trend and are doing their utmost to improve their export performance in the face of increasingly severe international competition. They are also having to face growing competition from local manufacture in many Commonwealth countries.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the establishment of a Telecommunication Export Board.

The industry is well aware of the need to increase exports of telecommunications equipment. About 40 per cent. of the total output of the industry was exported in 1960 and the major firms in the industry have a wide coverage in the export field. Both my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and my self are always very happy to discuss with them ways and means of maintaining and increasing the level of export. These channels of communication are open to the whole of the industry and in my view, which is shared by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, it is doubtful whether the setting up of a Telecommunications Export Board would improve the position.

asked the Minister of Health which of his regulations cover the use of newspaper by retailers for wrapping foodstuffs.

Regulation 10 of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, of which I am sending the hon. Lady a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport if, because of the many diversions and late arrivals of main line trains on Sundays, he will issue a general direction to the British Transport Commission to consider a cheaper single fare ticket for Sunday use.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount by way of grant and of loan, respectively, which has been paid to date to applicants for assistance under the Local Employment Act in Great Britain, in Scotland and in the seven Highlands and Islands counties, respectively.

The amounts offered and paid to 31st March, 1961, under the Local Employment Act are:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications from the Western Isles for grants and loans, respectively, have been received, approved and rejected, respectively, under the Local Employment Act, to date.

Up to 31st March, 1961, six applications had been received for loans under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, of which four have been approved, one has been rejected and one is still under consideration. No applications have been received for building grants under Section 3 of the Act.