asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action is being taken, under Section 31 of the Southern Rhodesian constitution, by Her Majesty's Government in respect of the Inter-Territorial Movement of Persons (Control) (Amendment) Act of the Parliament of Southern Rhodesia, which seeks powers to declare certain persons from Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia as prohibited immigrants.

None.

asked the Minister of Education whether arrangements can be made for Dagenham Education Committee to be represented on the governing body of Rush Green College of Further Education, situated in Dagenham.

The governing body has not yet been set up. I understand that the governing bodies of similar colleges in Essex include representatives of the borough authorities concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the new duty imposed on fuel oil will be paid by industrial and agricultural users.

It is expected that about £44 million of the yield of the new duty on heavy hydrocarbon oils will be in respect of oils used in industry and agriculture.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a list of the main articles which will be covered by his proposal to increase or reduce at any time by a maximum of 10 per cent. certain Customs and Excise duties.

The following is the list:—

• Spirits duty.
• Beer duty.
• Wine duty.
• British wines duty.
• Tobacco duty.
• Purchase tax.
• Hydrocarbon oil duty.
• Pool betting duty.
• Bookmakers' licence duty.
• Sugar, molasses, glucose and saccharin duty.
• Matches duty.
• Mechanical lighter duty.
• Tea duty.
• Cocoa duty.
• Coffee duty.
• Chicory duty.
• Hops duty.
• Television Advertisement duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is proposed that television programme contractors will be able to pass on to their clients the 10 per cent. duty to be charged on television advertisements.

Yes: any supplier of goods or services on which an indirect tax is imposed is able, so far as supply and demand permit, to pass on the tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing the present rateable values, the estimated rateable values as a result of the revaluation, and the percentage increases of each rateable valuation authority area in Scotland.

This information is given in the following table. The estimated figures of rateable valuations for 1961–62 are those submitted by assessors under section 15 (7) of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956 (except where marked); they refer to valuation areas each of which (other than the four cities) include a number of rating authorities. The figures are subject to revision

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of trees the Forestry Commission planted in the Highland counties during 1960.

Twelve thousand, four hundred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire brigades are now below the required standard of efficiency; what steps are being taken to improve this service; when the joint working committee of the fire services invited him to hold an inquiry into the fire services; and what was his reply.

Although a number of fire brigades in England and Wales have been unable to recruit up to establishment, no brigade has failed to maintain an acceptable standard of efficiency. Improvements are constantly sought by all concerned with the fire service, including the local fire authorities, the members of brigades, the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council and the Home Office. My right hon. Friend has received no request for an independent inquiry from the National Joint Council of Local Authorities Fire Brigades, which is responsible for pay and hours of duty in the service. He has, however, this afternoon received a letter from the National Association of Fire Officers and the Fire Brigades Union.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now completed his consideration of the report of the Working Party on the question of compensating victims of crimes of violence; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 20th April to Questions by the hon. Members for Stepney (Mr. W. Edwards) and East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the figures for crimes of violence against the person for 1960 in the same form as set out in Appendix C of the Barry Report on Corporal Punishment.

The provisional number of offences, of the kinds included in Appendix C, known to the police in 1960 was 15,759. I regret that figures for the numbers of persons found guilty of such offences are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he is taking to prevent payroll and bank robberies on Fridays and weekends in the Metropolitan area.

While it is primarily the responsibility of the banks and other firms to decide what security measures are appropriate, the Metropolitan police keep in close touch with the banks, and frequently advise other firms, about their security arrangements. It would not be in the public interest to give details of the steps taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases he has refused to grant visas for entering the United Kingdom in the last six months; what were the nationalities of the applicants concerned; and what were the reasons for denying entry.

Statistics of refusals of visa applications are kept on an annual basis and do not show either the nationalities of the applicants or the reasons for refusal. Complete figures for 1960 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation to equate the position of peers of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom with that held by Irish peers after the union with Ireland in 1801, who could opt to stand for election to the House of Commons or as a representative peer for Ireland;(2) whether he will take steps to raise the fees granted to peers who attend the House of Lords, so that they may equal at least what was allowed to Members of the House of Commons until recently, for the sitting days of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-if he will introduce legislation to abolish the House of Lords.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of adventure projects provided by the London Police Court Mission for boys from approved schools.

Within the past six months the London Police Court Mission have arranged two pilot adventure courses in North Wales in preparation, it is understood, for a wider scheme which they have in mind. Fifty approved school boys have taken part in these courses. I welcome the interest which the Mission is taking in the problem of delinquency, and the information provided about the reactions of approved school boys to courses of this kind has been of value.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet concluded his discussions with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders about the provision of adequate anchorages for safety harness in new cars.

Yes, I am glad to say that the Society have agreed that motor manufacturers will recommend types of safety harness which can safely be fitted to specified anchorage points in each vehicle, and to supply purchasers with complete anchorage kits and fitting instructions. This agreement has been confirmed by an exchange of letters in the following terms:My dear Minister,ANCHORAGE FOR SAFETY BELTS AND HARNESSI would confirm our recent conversation when I explained to you the views of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on this matter. You will remember I said that the Motor Industry is most anxious to co-

operate on this question, but that we did not consider it practicable at this juncture for vehicle manufacturers to equip their vehicles during production with anchorage points for safety belts. The reasons for this are as follows:—

asked the Minister of Transport what additional cost will be incurred by British Railways during the 12 months 1961–62 as a result of the imposition of the 2d. per gallon duty on hydrocarbon oils.

I understand that the British Transport Commission estimate that the additional cost will be rather over £1 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is now the total amount of Government money which has been expended on supporting forestry in this country; and what plans exist for the utilisation of the resulting forestry products including thinnings that will give the maximum economic return to the country.

From 1919, when the Forestry Commission was set up, until 30th September, 1960, the taxpayer had spent about £118,500,000 on forestry in Great Britain, including about £8 million on private forestry. Both the Forestry Commission and the private interests concerned are all the time exploring possible new markets and encouraging the growth of new timber-using industries, particularly those for thinnings.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that the enumerators appointed to deliver and collect census papers were not connected with the district which they covered.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall).