asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to people travelling to and from the Ford Motor Company and other Thames-side industrial plants in Dagenham by the failure of the new electric trains from Southend to stop at Dagenham East station; and if he will refer this matter to the appropriate Transport Users' Consultative Committee for their consideration.

This is primarily a matter for the British Transport Commission. I understand that the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for London is in fact considering representations which have been made on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the availability of the new Hartridge-B.P. smokemeter, which provides a prompt and accurate measurement of smoke emission, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs, he will draft new regulations to deal with diesel fumes, defining an offence in terms of the density of smoke emitted, whether or not a specific injury can be proved.

We are advised that none of the meters at present available is wholly suitable for roadside enforcement of limits on diesel smoke emission. We will consider the possibility of amending the regulations in the way suggested as soon as the limitations of any mater have been overcome.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish figures showing how many fatal road accidents occurred in each of the last 10 years in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, respectively, as a result of which drivers were convicted who were under the influence of drink at the time of the accident.

I regret that separate figures for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are not available. The available statistics are given in the table below; they are for Great Britain as a whole and, up to 1958, show the total number of accidents in which intoxicated drivers and riders were reported by the police to be a contributory factor. For 1959 and 1960, as a result of a change in the accident report system, the figures relate only to the number of fatal and serious injury accidents as a result of which a driver or rider was charged with a drink offence under the Road Traffic Acts, or would have been so charged but for the death or serious injury of the person concerned. It is not possible to provide comparable figures showing the number of convictions obtained.

ACCIDENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN IN WHICH INTOXICATED DRIVERS AND RIDERS WERE INVOLVED 1951–1960
Year		Number of fatal, serious and slight accidents in which intoxicated drivers or riders were reported by the police as contributing to the accident	Number of fatal and serious accidents in which a driver or rider was reported as being intoxicated
1951	…	1,013	—
1952	…	870	—
1953	…	795	—
1954	…	826	—
1955	…	934	—
1956	…	994	—
1957	…	1,096	—
1958	…	1,102	—
1959	…	—	423
1960	…	—	432

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the total of estimated new commitments in respect of new construction and major improvement of trunk and classified roads given in Civil Estimates for 1960–61 was £66·85 million and has now been announced to be £98 million, what additional schemes, with their cost, were authorised in that period.

The most important schemes were the main Cheshire section of the Birmingham-Preston motorway and the Severn Bridge, which are estimated at £11·8 million and £15·8 million, respectively. Additional grants totalling £5·5 million were also authorised for a large number of schemes on classified roads. The Estimates figure included sums for the purchase of land and preliminary expenses for trunk road and motorway schemes. These did not appear in the £98 million, which covered schemes authorisations only.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the official statement on 27th October, 1960, that the provisional total of authorisations for the years 1961–62 and 1962–63 of schemes under the road programme was £190 million, what is the estimated total cost of schemes originally making up that figure that will remain for authorisation in 1962–63.

About £110 million.

asked the Minister of Transport when he estimates that it will be possible to open the Ferriby by-pass to road traffic.

I expect this by-pass to be opened next September.

asked the Minister of Transport when work on the North-South inner relief road at Newbury will start; and if it will be in use by the summer of 1962.

I cannot yet say when work on the relief road will start. It will not be this year. The design of the junctions has been agreed and detailed plans for the side roads Order are being prepared. The design of the bridge is still under discussion.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position with regard to the inquiry he is conducting in connection with the proposed clearway in Cromwell Road; and whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements have now been made to enable foreign visitors and other guests to be set down and picked up by motor vehicles at the large number of residential hotels in that road at all times of the day and night.

I am still considering the representations made to me about this scheme. I hope to let those concerned know the outcome very shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport when work will begin upon the proposed Bristol-Penzance motorway.

We have no plans for a motorway between Bristol and Penzance.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to introduce legislation relating to fishermen's articles of agreement, so as to bring United Kingdom law fully into line with Convention 114 of the International Labour Organisation.

As stated in the White Paper, Cmnd. 1318, presented to Parliament on 23rd March, law and practice in the United Kingdom conform with the provisions of Convention 114 except in one respect. Legislation to enable the Convention to be ratified will be introduced when a suitable opportunity arises.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone subscribers in Acton have availed themselves of the telephone credit card service; and what percentage of the total number of subscribers this figure represents.

There are 19 subscribers on the Acorn exchange, which serves the Acton area, who hold 36 credit cards. This number represents 0·3 per cent. of the total subscribers on the exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with the telephone credit card service.

More than 38,000 cards have been issued and about 150,000 credit card calls are being made every month. The cards can now be used for inland and overseas telephone calls and for inland and overseas telegrams dictated over the telephone. They can also be used abroad for telephone calls to this country from no less than 51 other countries, including Canada and the United States of America.

asked the Postmaster-General how many protests he has received against the charging of local calls at 2d. for three minutes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of the 1st February to the hon. and learned Member for Ipswich (Mr. D. Foot). Since that time I have received about 190 letters.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects the subscriber trunk dialling system to be introduced in the Kirkcaldy telephone exchange area; and whether he will make a statement.

The present exchange at Kirkcaldy is not suitable for subscriber trunk dialling and I am planning to install a new one. This will need a new building which I expect to start next year. I hope to have subscriber trunk dialling in Kirkcaldy in 1965.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of telephone subscribers resulting from the introduction of the automatic dialling system between London and north-west Kent, in view of the fact that the engaged signal is frequently received when the number required is not engaged, details of which have been supplied by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford; and what action he proposes to take.

I am sorry about these difficulties. They are due to the unexpectedly heavy growth of traffic and the shortage of circuits to and from London. I am providing extra circuits as quickly as possible, and I hope to have the service greatly improved by the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department What was the number of immigrants from the West Indies, India, Pakistan and Cyprus, respectively, for the three months ended 31st March, 1961, as compared with the similar period of 1960.

The following are the figures:

ESTIMATED NET INWARD MOVEMENT FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS OF:
—		1960	1961
West Indies	…	5,200	10,200
India	…	500	3,500
Pakistan	…	- 250*	3,100
Cyprus	…	350	1,400
* Net outward movement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Alsatians were bought in Great Britain for police work by the Metropolitan Police in 1960, and at what average cost per Alsatian; and if he will give similar figures for purchases so made of dogs of other breeds.

Ten, at an average cost of £15 5s. In addition, one Labrador was purchased for £15 15s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Alsatians ware imported by the Metropolitan Police in 1960, and from what countries; what was the average cost for purchase and transport; and what has been the cost of maintaining each 'imported Alsatian in quarantine for the statutory six months' period.

Ten, from Germany. The average cost of purchase and transport was £85. No precise calculation of the cost of maintaining these dogs in quarantine can be made; but one police constable was wholly employed in looking after them, and expenditure on food and veterinary fees amounted to an average of about £47 a dog for the six months' period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to enable South African citizens, who can satisfy Her Majesty's authorities that they intend to reside permanently in Great Britain, to become British subjects before 31st May, 1961, the day on which South Africa becomes a republic, so as to enable them to maintain an unbroken tie with the Crown as subjects of the monarchy.

Under Section 6 (1) of the British Nationality Act, 1948, any citizen of South Africa is entitled to be registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies on satisfying the Secretary of State that he is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and has been so resident throughout the 12 months immediately preceding his application. Section 12 (6) of that Act, as revived and extended by Section 3 (1) of the British Nationality Act, 1958, empowers the Secretary of State to register a citizen of South Africa who satisfies the Secretary of State that he is descended in the male line from a person born or naturalised in the United Kingdom and Colonies or born within what is now the Republic of Ireland, and that he intends to make his ordinary place of residence within the United Kingdom and Colonies, if it seems to the Secretary of State fitting that that person should by reason of his close connection with the United Kingdom and Colonies become a citizen thereof.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of sentence served by those persons who have been sentenced to life imprisonment since the end of World War II.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) and Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 16th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been sentenced to be detained during the Sovereign's Pleasure since the end of World War II; how many have subsequently been released; and what is the average length of the terms they served.

During the period from 1946 to 1960 24 persons were sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure, having been found guilty of an offence of murder committed when they were under the age of 18. Thirteen of them have since been released on licence. The period of detention varied, according to the circumstances of the case, from 5 years to 10 years. The average was a little over 8 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment since 1st January, 1951; and how many of that number have been released to date.

During the period from 1951 to 1960 159 persons were sentenced to life imprisonment; 3 of them have been released on licence. In addition, 99 persons who were sentenced to death had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment; 19 of them have been released on licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, sentenced to life imprisonment, or to be detained during the Sovereign's Pleasure since the end of World War II, have subsequently been convicted of other criminal offences.

Seven, including three convicted of offences not involving violence for which no prison sentence was imposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a fresh agreement with the Government of the Isle of Man on financial questions; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am presenting to Parliament today a White Paper dealing with pool betting and other matters.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many shares Spain has taken in the Eurochemic Company, an agency of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, which is to treat irradiated fuel chemically to produce plutonium; and whether Great Britain, as a member of the Organisation, agreed to Spain's entry into this company.

The Nuclear Energy Commission of Madrid, which is the official body in charge of atomic energy development in Spain, was allotted thirty shares in the Eurochemic Company on 28th July, 1959, by a decision of the General Assembly of the Company, which is composed of all the shareholders. Her Majesty's Government have no shares in this Company and cannot say what changes in shareholding have taken place since then.The Convention on the Constitution of Eurochemic provides that any member or associate member of the organisation for European Economic Co-operation may accede to it by notification to the Secretary-General, provided that it becomes a party to the Convention on the Establishment of a Security Control in the Field of Nuclear Energy. Spain has been a full member of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation since the 20th of July, 1959, and has signed the Security Control Convention.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he authorised the official statement issued from the British Embassy in Israel stating that an official British observer would not be included amongst the observers attending the Eichmann trial on behalf of foreign governments.

No statement on this subject has been issued by Her Majesty's Embassy at Tel Aviv.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what would be the cost of increasing the pensions now being paid to ex-Sudan civil servants up to the same level as those at present being paid under the Pensions Increase Act of 1959.

An estimate of the cost of these increases cannot be made because we have not the detailed information on which to base such a calculation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the purpose of the economic aid to be granted to the Kingdom of Nepal; and for what projects it will be used.

The aim of our aid programme is to help the Nepalese, with whom we have a long and cordial association, to make progress with the modernisation of their country. This financial year we expect to spend up to £210,000 mainly on electrical projects, road works and technical aid.

asked the Lord Privy Seal for what purposes a grant in aid of £1 million and arms and other equipment to the value of £400,000 are to be made available to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.

This assistance is being extended for a civil development programme and a strengthening of the Sultan's Armed Forces, as described by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Foreign Secretary on 31st July, 1958, and by myself on 16th November, 1960.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further requests he has received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for help with the relief programme for the refugees from Algeria; what assistance has been promised the High Commissioner for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

On 28th February the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees sent a circular to the Governments represented on his Executive Committee asking for contributions in cash or kind towards the relief programme for the refugees from Algeria in Morocco and Tunisia. I discussed this matter with the High Commissioner when he was in London two days ago and told him that the question of Her Majesty's Government's response to the appeal was being carefully considered.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement about the claim put forward by the Icelandic Finance Minister to control the fishing rights up to the Continental Shelf, in view of its effect on British fishing interests.

I have nothing to add to the Written Reply of 17th April by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to my hon. Friend's previous Question on this matter.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will, in conjunction with his colleagues concerned with fisheries, seek to convene a meeting in London of the North Sea fishing nations, with a view to the conservation of 175 fishing grounds stretching from North Shetland to the English Channel.

All the North Sea fishing nations adhere to the Convention of 1946 against over-fishing in the North-East Atlantic. Under this agreement conservation measures are in force for the waters mentioned by the hon. Gentleman and are reviewed at periodic meetings by a Permanent Commission set up under the Convention. The next meeting of this Commission is to take place in Copenhagen in May. A special conference is not, therefore, necessary.

the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of organisations and individuals for whom immunities and privileges orders are now in force.

The following list contains the names of the organisations on which immunities and privileges are conferred by Orders in Council (the reference number is quoted in brackets after each Order).

(1)The International Monetary Fund and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (No. 36, 1946).

(2)The United Nations and International Court of Justice (No. 1,772, 1947, as amended by No. 1,428, 1949).

(3)The International Labour Organisation (No. 133, 1949, as amended by No. 1,049, 1949).

(4)The International Civil Aviation Organisation (No. 134, 1949, as amended by No. 1,465, 1954).

(5)The World Health Organisation (No. 136, 1949, as amended by No. 1,048, 1949, and No. 1,210, 1955).

(6)The Food and Agriculture Organisation (No. 834, 1949).

(7) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (No. 835, 1949).

(8)The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (No. 1,831, 1949).

(9)The Universal Postal Union (No. 1,466, 1954).

(10) The International Telecommunication Union (No. 1,467, 1954).

(11)The World Meteorological Organisation (No. 1,469, 1954).

(12)The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (No. 1,471, 1954).

(13)Western European Union (No. 1,209, 1955).

(14)The International Tin Council (No. 1,214, 1956, as amended by No. 1,365, 1957).

(15)The International Sugar Council (No. 2,191, 1958).

(16)The Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (No. 1,296, 1959).

(17)The Council of Europe (No. 442, 1960).

(18)The Customs Co-operation Council (No. 63, 1961).

There are frequent changes in the personnel of these organisations, so that a list of names would hardly remain accurate for more than a day or two. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to inquire about any particular name, I shall be glad to give him the information he requires.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many persons in the United Kingdom today enjoy full or partial diplomatic immunity; how many of these are on the strength of an embassy or legation; and how many are members of High Commissions or non-sovereign international organisations and delegations.

A total of 3,188 persons (including 930 wives) are at present officially regarded as entitled to claim diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom as Heads of foreign diplomatic Missions accredited to the Court of St. James's or as members of the respective staffs of such missions.In addition, 560 persons (including 126 wives) being members of the staffs of foreign diplomatic Missions, enjoy immunity of a restricted kind under the provisions of the Diplomatic Immunities Restriction Act, 1955 (4 Eliz, 2, Ch. 21).Immunities of the kind prescribed in the Diplomatic Immunities (Commonwealth Countries and the Republic of Ireland) Act, 1952 (15 and 16 Geo. 6 and 1 Eliz. 2, Ch. 18) are also enjoyed by 2,568 persons (including 870 wives) as High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries in London and the Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland or as members of their respective staffs.Immunity from suit and legal process such as is accorded to the Head of a foreign diplomatic Mission is currently enjoyed in the United Kingdom by the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of the Western European Union and by the Secretary-General of the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation upon whom it has been conferred by Orders in Council made under the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act, 1950 (14 Geo. 6, Ch. 14): and by the Chief Representative in the United Kingdom of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, in accordance with the provisions of the European Coal and Steel (Community Act, 1955 (4 Eliz. 2, Ch. 4).Immunity from suit and legal process in respect of things done or omitted to be done in the course of the performance of official duties is at present enjoyed in the United Kingdom by 249 persons connected with international organisations and by six members of the staff of the Delegation of the European Coal and Steel Community.

asked the Lord Privy Seal for what reasons and by what authority the Government decided upon the invalidation of the passports of British subjects serving in the Katanga forces and other forces in the former Belgian Congo.

Her Majesty's Government have consistently made it clear that in their view all military assistance which may, for the time being, be required by the Republic of the Congo should be furnished through the United Nations. In conformity with this policy, our representative on the Security Council voted for a resolution, on 21st February, which inter alia urged the withdrawal from the Congo of all foreign military and para-military personnel not under United Nations command, and mercenaries. The decision to which my hon. Friend's Question refers was taken in order to carry out the requirements of that resolution.The grant of passports is a Royal Prerogative exercised through Her Majesty's Ministers. The grant and refusal of United Kingdom passports lies wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and passport facilities are refused only on the most substantial grounds of public interest.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what British subjects and Commonwealth citizens are held captive by Ethiopian or other troops under United Nations command; and what has been done to obtain their release.

The United Nations authorities have informed us that, amongst a party of thirty mercenaries held in custody at Kamina in the Congo there are eleven citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, seven South Africans and five Rhodesians. Arrangements for the release and repatriation of these people are in hand.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will ensure that the Report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for the Congo is made available to Parliament and the nation and that the fullest publicity is given to the details, contained in the Report, of Monsieur Patrice Lumumba's orders to murder President Kasavubu, President Tshombe and other leaders and to commit other atrocities and indecencies, and of the military pact and other dealings of the Lumumba régime with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

A copy of this report is in the Library of the House. The report is a published document and copies are available to the Press. Some of the details to which my hon. Friend refers have already been published in the Press.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proportion of the cost of the forthcoming visit of the National Youth Orchestra to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will be payable by members of the orchestra and their parents.

This tour is being undertaken with the full support of Her Majesty's Government and the British Council, but they are not responsible for the detailed financial arrangements. It is not yet known what the total cost will be nor how the orchestra authorities propose to meet it. The orchestra has, however, accepted the offer of a contribution of £2,000 from the British Council towards the cost of the visit.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1) if he will state the names and other details of the Royal Navy's latest and biggest submarines which, with newly developed navigational equipment on board, have started experimental missions beneath the Arctic ice-cap; how far these missions have now extended; and with what results;(2) if he will state the details of the supervision by Royal Air Force aircraft of the Royal Navy's submarines which recently carried out experimental missions beneath the Arctic ice-cap, indicating the extent to which those aircraft succeeded in contacting these submarines while submerged under the ice, and the extent to which they discovered permanent or transient air-holes in the polar ice which such submarines could use to take in fresh air and for other purposes.

It would not be in the national interest to add to the answer I gave the hon. and learned Gentleman on 12th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will purchase the United States GAM 70 Quail decoy vehicle to be fitted to the V-bombers so as to improve their credibility.

No. The V-force is already equipped with a variety of countermeasures for confusing the enemy defences.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what would be the cost of maintaining a standing air alert consisting of 10 per cent. of the V-bomber force.

Because of its capacity for quick reaction to warning of attack, the V-bomber force provides an effective deterrent without recourse to air alert. To maintain a standing air alert with 10 per cent. of the Force would involve not only an increase in flying maintenance costs but also substantial changes in the present organisation of Bomber Command. I am not in a position to say precisely what the cost would be.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied with the rate of progress made in the construction of the radar missile early warning station at Fylingdales.

Yes. Construction work is up to date and we expect the buildings will be ready to receive the equipment on the dates planned

asked the Minister of Defence how many retired officers of the three Armed Services, including the Indian Armed Services, are in receipt of retired pay under each of the six retired pay codes; how many of those officers retired under the 1919 code had their retired pay re-assessed because of war

—		1960	1956	1950	1945	1919 reassessed on account of 1939–45 war service	1919	Pre-1919
Under 60	…	3,180	10,730	5,190	10,400	130	1,070*	—
Over 60	…	10	600	1,820	7,890	4,190	5,270	22*
TOTALS	…	3,190	11,330	7,010*	18,290	4,320	6,340	22
* Increases in these figures over those given to my hon. Friend on 30th March, 1960, are due to a more detailed scrutiny of War Office cases.

asked the Minister of Defence on what evidence he reached his conclusion, as stated in the 1961 Defence White Paper, that the threat to this country is mainly from manned aircraft.

There is no such statement in the Defence White Paper, but my hon. Friend may have in mind the statement in the Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air accompanying the Air Estimates that "the threat today is mainly from manned bombers". This is a carefully considered view of the present situation based on a careful examination of all the evidence available. The hon. Member will not expect me to say more.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the agreement recently concluded between Great Britain and Iceland about fishing limits and territorial waters makes essential more and larger fishing vessels for the British fleets; and if he will now state his plans for financial assistance to the fishing industry to carry out the necessary shipbuilding.

I know that some reorganisation and re-equipment of the fleet is needed. While it is for the industry itself to decide what types of vessel

The following are the estimated figures:will be needed, I hope the Advisory Group will be able to help. The question of long-term financial assistance is being considered in the light of the Fleck Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in recent years with the South Pacific Commission; what financial provision has been made for its work; whether consideration is being given to the improvement of its health services; and whether substantial aid can be given for the extension of the health section of the Commission's Research Council.

The South Pacific Commission has developed as a valuable international agency for scientific research, technical assistance and extension work over a very wide area of the Pacific. The work programme now covers health, including health education, particularly in nutritional problems and those of certain mosquito borne diseases; economic development, with special emphasis on the coconut industry, boat-building, fishing and tourism and social development, including the production of literature, libraries, the publication of technical information of many kinds and training in literacy. Seminars, conferences and study groups are organised on many subjects of general interest and the periodical South Pacific Conferences are of considerable educational and cultural value to the people of the Region.Financial provision by members' contributions, was fixed by agreement in 1957 at £199,000 per annum but a 10 per cent. increase has been authorised for 1961. The work of the Commission is assisted by other international agencies and by private foundations.The health services of the Commission were especially reviewed by the Research Council at its Eleventh Meeting in July, 1960, and the resolutions of the Council, including proposals for many improvements, were adopted by the Commission at its Twenty-First Session in October. The approved estimates for 1961 provide for expenditure of £22,735 on health services as against £18,165 for 1960.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in excess of £200 million per annum the oil industry of the United Kingdom contributes to the public revenue; how much is produced by other industries in the form of various contributions to the public revenue; and if he will take steps to ensure the continuance of this source of national income, notwithstanding considerations affecting other sources of energy.

It is not the practice to disclose the tax liabilities of individual industries. The Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure shows that the total amount of direct United Kingdom taxation falling on company reserves in 1959 was £956 million, but this, of course, covers a substantially wider field than manufacturing industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total number of staff employed by the Civil Service, both industrial and non-industrial, in 1937–38, 1949–50, 1957–58, and 1960–61; what were the total costs of superannuation benefits, including those under the Pensions (Increase) Acts and schemes for widows and their dependents, in the same years; and what is his estimate of the emerging costs in 1970 and 1990.

The following is the information required in respect of past years:

Year		Total staff employed at 1st April	Cost of superannuation benefits of retired staff
			£
1937–38	…	512,000	9,830,000
1949–50	…	1,112,000	23,139,000
1957–58	…	1,048,000	49,703,000
1960–61	…	996,000	68,909,000

The emerging costs in 1970 and 1990, based on current salary levels, are estimated at about £90 million and £125 million, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts of tax foregone in 1937–38 and 1959–60 on life assurance premiums paid for by employers for employees and their dependants.

I assume the hon. Gentleman is referring to employers' contributions to approved superannuation schemes covered by policies of assurance. Such contributions rank as a business expense in computing trading profits; if, however, trading profits were computed before such deductions, the additional tax payable is estimated at about £50 million. I regret that corresponding figures for 1938–39 are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement regarding the future availability of stocks of oral vaccine for emergency use in communities or areas where poliomyelitis becomes, or shows signs of becoming prevalent.

An adequate quantity is available for immediate use if this situation arises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the amount of compensation paid under the Town and Country Planning Acts in each year up to 1960–61; and what proportion of this compensation ranked as in-

Financial year	Compensation under the 1954 Acts		Amount of interest included in payments in col. (2) (before deduction of tax)
	Payments which include interest (Parts I and V)	Payments which do not include interest (Parts II and IV)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
	£	£	£
1st January, 1955 to 31st March, 1955	7,302,267	—	1,383,066
1955–56	48,116,418	1,913,006	9,360,663
1956–57	17,483,739	8,034,032	3,453,470
1957–58	2,512,607	10,105,960	492,017
1958–59	901,271	7,995,246	183,340
1959–60	317,343	4,681,459	62,295
1960–61	116,722	3,540,710	21,977
TOTALS	76,750,367	36,270,413	14,956,828

The recipient of interest from which tax has been deducted may be entitled to reclaim some or all of the tax deducted if he is not liable at the standard rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the system of combined appointment operating in further education establishments requires an increasing number of teachers, thus worsening the existing teaching shortage, and is in conflict with the wishes of the teachers; and what action he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

My recommendation to education authorities to appoint whole-time staff to teach partly during the day and partly in the evening was made for the sound educational reasons adduced in paragraphs 189–190 of the Advisory Council's Report on Further

The compensation paid under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1954 and the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1954, in each year up to 1960–61, and the proportion thereof which was in respect of interest and from which Income Tax at the standard rate was deducted at the time of payment, are as set out below.Education published in 1952 and endorsed by the Working Party on the Structure of Further Education Salaries in paragraph 6 of their Report published in 1955. This arrangement may on occasion require the employment of additional staff, but the numbers involved are not such as to make it an important factor in the overall shortage of teachers. For these reasons, and since the arrangement is taken into account in fixing salary scales, I remain of the opinion that the practice is in the best interests of technical education.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish figures showing the total capacity for the employment of apprentices in the engineering, shipbuilding, and building industries in Scotland, respectively, and the actual numbers so employed.

It is not possible to say what the capacity for the employment of apprentices in any industry is: but I would refer the hon. Member to answers given by my hon. Friend and myself on 20th March, 1961 (OFFICIAL REPORT, Cols. 8–10) and on 27th March, 1961 (OFFICIAL REPORT, Cols. 948–950).

asked the Minister of Labour why he proposes to spend £44,000 less on direct grants to Remploy Limited in the financial year 1961–62 than in the preceding year.

The estimated grant to Remploy during 1961–62 represents, in effect, an increase on the corresponding figure for 1960–61 because the latter includes £62,000 to meet the cost of wages on a 53rd pay day in that year and a supplementary provision of £100,000 required to meet increased costs, some of which are not expected to recur in 1961–62.