asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy with regard to drift netting for salmon at sea.

Drift netting for salmon is permitted off the English coast within territorial waters under licence issued by the river boards. The fact that fishermen have recently been catching salmon in large numbers outside territorial waters presents a new problem to which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are giving urgent consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now state the Government's new slaughter policy in respect of swine fever, including the provision of compensation.

Consultations with outside organisations on the details of the Scheme to eradicate swine fever are now well advanced. The compensation provisions are already laid down in the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950. This campaign will be a major step forward in our animal health policy, and it does involve much detailed planning, but I hope to be able to give the House further information before the Summer Recess.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who was responsible for deciding whether or not to send a red flood warning for the River Hull, on 20th March; why a red warning was not issued, in view of the fact that it was the time of the equinoctial high tide, that all the conditions indicated an exceptionally high tide and that an unusually high tide had occurred on 18th March; and what was the height of the tide above that predicted.

I have already explained in my reply on 15th June to the hon. and gallant Member why a red warning was not issued for the River Hull on 20th March. Under the East Coast flood warning system the decision to issue such warnings is taken by a technical officer. High water at Victoria Dock, Hull, exceeded the predicted level by 3·4 feet on the night in question, and as I told the hon. and gallant Member on 15th June, the unusual circumstances of this tide are being investigated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the causes of the flooding on the east side of the River Hull, between Sculcoats Bridge and Scott Street Bridge, at the last equinoctial high water spring tide; the number of wharves in this section of the river which have been surveyed and reported to the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board for flood alleviation works; and the number of notices which are to be served on owners in this section requiring them to raise their wharves above flood level.

Flooding may have occurred from any of six sites on the east side of the River Hull between Sculcoats Bridge and Scott Street Bridge. I understand that these sites are at present being surveyed and that the survey on this stretch of the river will be completed in time for the Corporation's meeting next month when the question of serving notices on owners of defective wharves will be considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conversations he has had with the National Farmers' Union and the Milk Marketing Board regarding anti-dumping; and if he will make a statement.

My officials and I are in frequent consultation with these organisations about individual commodities. On occasion the question of dumping has naturally been raised, as it was when the President of the N.F.U. discussed the barley situation with me recently.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which titles have now been approved for his scheme of low-priced books for overseas; if he will state the numbers that are expected to be dispatched by the end of the year; and which countries are expected to receive them.

In addition to the twenty-eight university textbooks I announced earlier fifteen more titles have now been approved, and some of these are in production. Broadly speaking, the titles in this group of books come under the headings of aids to the learning of English and science for the general reader. Including four of the fifteen new titles total printing orders so far are about 600,000 volumes. The final figure for dispatches by the end of the year will of course depend on the progress which publishers can make. The fourteen countries—additional to India—to which publishers will be sending these further books are Pakistan, Ceylon, Malaya, Brunei, North Borneo, Hong Kong, Sarawak, Singapore, Afghanistan, Burma, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the plans which have been laid before him by the consortium of publishers who are assisting him in distribution and other arrangements in connection with his schemer for low-priced books for overseas.

The consortium has already given us valuable advice. It is now working on detailed plans which will come to me in due course.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state his plans to ameliorate the financial hardships of widows, in view of their increased difficulties due to the recent rise in the cost of living in the United Kingdom.

As the hon. and learned Member is no doubt aware, National Insurance widow's benefits were increased together with other benefits as recently as April to a value in real terms considerably in excess of that of any previous rates, and larger increases were given for the children of widowed mothers than for other dependent children.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total amount recovered from pensioners for treatment received while in-patients in hospitals during the last twelve months.

I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind the adjustments of National Insurance benefits which normally begin to operate after the beneficiary has been two months in hospital. The resulting reduction in the expenditure of the National Insurance Fund is of the order of £11 million a year.

asked the Minister of Aviation, in view of the recent official statement in the United States of America about the Skybolt rocket development, and the assurance that it will be ready by 1963, if he will now state when this weapon will be available to the Royal Air Force.

No assurance has been given that Skybolt will be ready by 1963; the plan to deliver the weapon to the Royal Air Force in the mid-1960s remains unchanged.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has approved British European Airways purchase of Boeing-Vertol 107 helicopters; how many are being bought; and when and on what routes he anticipates a helicopter service.

British European Airways and Sabena are discussing the possibility of introducing joint cross-Channel services. Further work needs to be done before any scheme can be approved. Progress so far gives us cause for optimism.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consideration he has given to the effect upon British Overseas Airways Corporation of the decision of the Air Transport Licensing Board to grant to Cunard Eagle Airways a 15-year licence to operate on the North Atlantic routes.

British Overseas Airways Corporation has stated publicly that it intends to appeal to my right hon. Friend against the decision of the Air Transport Licensing Board. It would be improper for him to express any opinion on matters which may come before him in the course of an appeal.

asked the Minister of Health why there is a shortage of E.C. 57/4 forms in the area of south-east Northumberland; and what steps he is taking to relieve the situation.

I am informed that the Northumberland Executive Council has stocks of the form.

asked the Minister of Health how much he has allocated for group practice loans in the current year; and whether this sum will be sufficient to meet all applications that comply with the requirements of the Group Practice Loans Sub-Committee.

I propose to enable loans to be issued this financial year in England and Wales to a total of £430,000, which I estimate will be sufficient.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients in Wales suffering from cancer, the number waiting admission to hospital, and the number who have been waiting six weeks or longer.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have emigrated from the Durham constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Bishop Auckland constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Newcastle, West, constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Whitehaven constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Blyth constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Blaydon constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Morpeth constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Wallsend constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Gateshead, East, constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Consett constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Houghton-le-Spring constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Chester-le-Street constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Gateshead, West, constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the North-West Durham constituency since the 1951 census.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Jarrow constituency since the 1951 census.

I regret that this information is only available for complete local

asked the Minister of Health how many people have migrated from the Sedgefield constituency since the 1951 census.

There is provisionally estimated to have been a total inward migration of 14,750 into the local authority areas comprised in the Sedgefield constituency.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a copy of the report officially prepared by Dr. Sheldon on the hospital services for old people in the Birmingham region; what action he proposes to take; if he will call for a similarly comprehensive report from the Manchester region; and if he will make a statement.

A report on existing hospitals for the old accompanied the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board's long-term development proposals submitted to me recently. The Manchester Board's proposals are also based on an analysis of existing hospitals. All Boards' proposals are now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health why Dr. J. H. Sheldon's official report on hospitals for old people has been recalled for alteration by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board; and if he will make the original text available to the House, together with designs of the new type of geriatric unit referred to therein.

It is not my policy to interfere with the Board's discretion in dealing with documents which are its property. I will place in the Library a copy of a report on hospital services for the old which I understand the Board is preparing to make available to the public.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what consideration he has given to the effect on the relationship of the United Kingdom with Euratom which would result from joining the Common Market, particularly in respect to full membership of Euratom, and its subsequent effects upon the United Kingdom's nuclear power programme.

As my noble Friend the Minister for Science explained in another place on 15th June. if the United Kingdom were to become a member of the European Economic Community, the question of our joining Euratom would also arise. Exploratory talks are now taking place to ascertain whether a basis for negotiations can be found with the European Economic Community. It is only when the position in this respect is clearer that it will be possible to consider the consequences for the United Kingdom's relations with Euratom and the subsequent effects on our nuclear power programme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that several seagulls and mallard ducks had to be destroyed last week as a result of a large quantity of oil being discharged into the Avon and Feeder Canal in Bristol, and that this will eventually find its way into the channel and do more damage to the beaches; if he will ascertain the cause of this; if he will take action against those responsible; and if he will take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence.

Yes. My officers are making inquiries of the Port of Bristol Authority to ascertain the precise circumstances in which the discharge of oil occurred and to see what measures can be taken to prevent a recurrence. As proceedings may be taken, it would be inappropriate for me to say anything more at this stage.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the distinction in the motor-car road tax, as between those who hold an annual licence and those whose circumstances compel them to take out a period licence; and what action he is taking to remove this difference.

The surcharge of 10 per cent. on four-monthly vehicle excise licences is a reasonable one in relation to the additional work involved in issuing three licences in a period of twelve months instead of one.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will take special steps, in conjunction with the Minister of Labour, to try to obtain alternative employment for any disabled persons now working for Admiralty departments in Pinner, when these departments are transferred to the Empress State Building in London and to Bath.

Yes. The Admiralty will endeavour to find suitable alternative employment either in its offices or in the offices of other Govern-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage increase in the total valuation of the County of Northumberland, and the percentage increase of each borough, and urban district authority, as a result of the revaluation of 1960–61 and 1961–62.

There have been no such revaluations. Work on the revaluation which is to come into effect on 1st April, 1963, is proceeding, but it is much too early to give any indication of its effects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seizures of heroin and cocaine have been made in the last ten years.

Two such seizures were reported to my Department by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, one in 1957 of 1·7/12 grains of heroin, the other in 1958 of 3/5 grains of cocaine hydrochloride. My Department does not record seizures of narcotic drugs by the police.

asked the Minister of Defence how many retired officers of the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Indian Armed Services are in receipt of retired pay; and in each case how many of these officers are over and under 60 years of age.

The following table gives the figures asked for:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new heroin and cocaine addicts have become known to his Department in each of the last three years.

The number of new cases coming to the notice of my Department was:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of Exchequer equalisation grant to the Northumberland County Council and to each borough council and urban district council in the area, for the years 1960–61 and 1961–62.

In England and Wales Exchequer equalisation grants were renamed rate-deficiency grants in 1959. The provisional amounts of the grants for 1961–62 to the authorities named are the same as those for 1960–61 because they were calculated from data for 1960–61, the latest available at the time of calculation. They will be recalculated on later data in due course. The amounts provisionally are as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements are being made to provide Her Majesty's Government's share of the expenses of the United Nations Force in the Congo for 1961.

It was not possible at the time of preparation of the main Estimate for 1961–62 to establish a firm estimate of Her Majesty's Government's share of these expenses. Token provision of £10 was therefore taken. A Budget of United States $;100 million was approved by the General Assembly at the resumed 15th Session, which is to cover the expenses of the Force for the period from 1st January to 31st October, 1961. Her Majesty's Government's share of this is $7,706,785. An advance of £2,064,317 is being requested from the Civil Contingencies Fund in order to enable the Foreign Office to make a part payment immediately to the United Nations. Parliament will be asked in due course to vote the total money payable, by means of a Supplementary Estimate, part of which will be used to reimburse the Fund.