asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will provide further facilities for the medical training in the United Kingdom of students from the Commonwealth and British overseas territories.

I have been asked to reply.A reasonable number of the available places is allocated to students from overseas. For example, in 1961 about 11 per cent. of the places went to overseas students.A distinguished Working Party of the medical profession, on which the Department of Technical Co-operation as well as the Ministry of Health and British Council have observers, is considering the way in which British medicine can contribute to the development of medical science and the medical services in the developing countries and it is taking into consideration the facilities available for students from overseas in medical schools in this country.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what arrangements were made at the Commonwealth Education Conference at Delhi for the effective co-ordination of inter-Commonwealth schemes of educational aid; and what rôle the Commonwealth Education Liaison Unit is to play in seeking this co-ordination.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his Oral Question and those by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden) today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that, in his consideration of methods of reducing expenditure, he will not take any steps to reintroduce building controls on new office building in London.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now abolish Purchase Tax on car safety belts when sold as part of the fittings of a car.

Purchase tax would be charged only if the safety belts were fitted in the factory, before the point at which the legal liability to tax arises on the completed cars. British manufacturers are designing their cars so that safety belts can be properly fitted at a later stage, in order to accord with the customer's choice, and in these circumstances, no liability to tax on the safety belt arises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue he received during the last financial year from the 11 per cent. tax on totalisators at greyhound racing tracks; and by how much he estimates this 11 per cent. would be reduced if a tax were levied on both horse-racing and greyhound racing so as to to ensure the same revenue return to the Treasury.

Receipts of Pool Betting Duty from totalisators on dog racecourses in the last financial year, when only the basic 10 per cent. pool betting duty was chargeable, were £6,347,193. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not prepared to give estimates relating to hypothetical propositions of this nature.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the fixed and other capital assets connected with the companies and corporations trading in the United Kingdom as mentioned in Table 3 of the National Income and Expenditure for the year 1960; how much these capital assets have risen in value since 1954; what return the trading profit gives in this combined capital as a percentage; by what amount dividends and interest payments have increased in this period; and what has been the rise of wages, excluding salaries, from 1954 to 1960.

Information on the capital employed by companies and public corporations as a whole is not available. Summaries of the balance sheets of public companies engaged in manufacturing, distribution and certain other industries are compiled and published by the Board of Trade, however, and corresponding figures are available in the balance sheets published by the main public corporations. These two groups together account for about two-thirds of the total trading profits and surpluses shown in Table 3 of the National Income Blue Book. Their published balance sheets showed total net assets of about £19,400 million in 1960, compared with about £11,800 million in 1954. These figures are, of course, book values and are not based on any uniform method of valuation. They include some assets held abroad and there have been some changes in coverage during the period in the case of the public companies. The gross trading profits of these groups rose by £1,000 million between 1954 and 1960 but showed a yield of only just over 15 per cent. of net assets in 1960, compared with about 16½ per cent. in 1954. The gross dividend and interest payments of all companies and corporations included in Table 3 of the Blue Book increased from £962 million in 1954 to £1,745 million in 1960. Total wages rose from £6,160 million in 1954 to £8,630 million in 1960; separate figures for the wages paid by companies and public corporations are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the offer of a 4 per cent. wage increase made to the miners by the National Coal Board in spite of the request of Her Majesty's Government that wage increases in 1962–63 should not exceed 2½ per cent., if he will make a further statement on his pay pause policy, with particular reference to wages in the nationalised industries.

The Government's policy following the ending of the pay pause on 31st March was stated in the White Paper presented to Parliament last Friday. This applies to the nationalised industries as well as to other sectors of the economy. I do not accept that the offer of the National Coal Board involves a 4 per cent. wage increase for the industry. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power said yesterday, the offer is not inconsistent with Government policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that at various bingo clubs a new form of horse race betting is being introduced, based upon a totalisator number; and if he will introduce legislation to ensure that this betting is subjected to a totalisator tax similar to that in operation at greyhound racing stadiums.

If the competitions axe pool betting they are already liable at the basic rate of 30 per cent. If they are lawful lotteries and are not dutiable I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has now considered the recommendations of the Committee on the Management and Control of Research and Development submitted to the Minister for Science on 5th July, 1961; which of those relating to problems of staff management and summarised in Chapter X at the end of the Report he accepts; and what steps are being taken to implement them.

The recommendations on staff management in Chaper X of the Report are under active consideration. I cannot say yet how far they can be accepted but they form the subject of current Inter-Departmental discussions.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now introduce amending legislation to allow scales of tobacco from registered goods vehicles.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, this subject was debated on the Report stage of last year's Finance Bill and I can assure my hon. Friend that the various considerations raised are being kept well in mind. I cannot go beyond that at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list, by Departments concerned, the instances where, since the beginning of the Government's pay pause policy, there have been wage increases sanctioned by or under the authority of the Government, and the reasons therefor, in order that public opinion may be reassured that there is no discrimination against any particular section of the community for whom there is Government responsibility.

The following is the reply:

The following wage and salary increases have been authorised since 25th July, 1961, for implementation before 1st April, 1962:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total amount expended by all Government Departments on Government hospitality in 1961.

In the financial year 1960–61 expenditure from the Government Hospitality Fund was £115,000; and expenditure from the entertainment funds of the main Civil Departments totalled £47,500.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate has been made of the loss of orders for vehicles and other exports due to the embargo against Portugal and her overseas provinces.

It is not possible to estimate what orders have been lost as a result of the restrictions imposed on the export of military equipment to Portugal and her overseas territories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the trade negotiations with Japan which have resulted in an increase in the quotas of manufactured goods to be imported from Japan; what were the names of the representatives of the pottery, cotton, synthetic fibres and engineering industries whom he consulted; what were the names of the Commonwealth representatives he consulted, and the countries they came from; what changes are to be made in the quotas to be allowed into the colonial territories; and what the effect of these changes will be.

These negotiations ended on 22nd December, 1961, when an Anglo-Japanese trade arrangement was signed for the period of 12 months ending, 30th September, 1962. Japan has made considerable progress in relaxing her import restrictions and under the arrangement British exporters will share fully in the benefit of her recent liberalisation measures and in increased quotas for goods still subject to control. In return, we have further relaxed some of the restrictions on our side. The Board of Trade are constantly in touch with trade associations and individual businesses in the industries mentioned by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South and in many others, and their views on imports from Japan were taken fully into account. All the Colonial Governments were also consulted. No changes are made in the arrangements relating to imports of Japanese goods into the Colonies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the import quotas of pottery manufactured in Japan have been increased; and what other quotas have been increased.

Nearly all our import quotas for Japanese goods have been increased as part of a bargain which will enable British exporters to benefit from substantial relaxations in Japanese import restrictions, and will I hope lead to an increase in trade all round.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position of the negotiations for a long term commercial treaty between the United Kingdom and Japan; and whether he will include a clause in that treaty which will give the United Kingdom the right to restrict imports of specific items in cases where imports of these items show a sudden sharp increase.

These negotiations were resumed last November and good progress is being made. I am not able to make any further statement at present but the hon. Member may rest assured that we intend to obtain adequate safeguards against disruptive competition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reschedule the Isle of Sheppey for inclusion in the list of areas eligible for assistance within the provisions of the Local Employment Act.

No. My right hon. Friend does not consider that a high rate of unemployment is likely to persist in the Isle of Sheppey.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the need for special machinery to promote exports to other parts of the sterling area, having regard to the achievements of the export councils for the western hemisphere and for Europe.

My right hon. Friend will lose no opportunity of doing all be can to promote exports to the sterling area, but he does not think that it would be appropriate to set up more export councils for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were his reasons for rejecting the recommendation of the Monopolies Commission that the Imperial Tobacco Company Limited should sell its shareholding in Gallahers.

The Monopolies Commission considered that Imperial's shareholding in Gallaher might lead to some weakening of the incentive on Imperial to be competitive. They referred in particular to the possibility that a conflict of interests might cause Imperial to depart from its undertaking not to intervene in the management of Gallaher. To meet their view that this possible danger should be guarded against, my right hon. Friend asked Imperial to confirm formally to H.M. Government the undertaking not to intervene which they had previously given to Gallaher alone. Imperial have given that undertaking. My right hon. Friend has made it clear to Imperial that the matter will be re-opened if at any time the Government decide that owing to changed circumstances the present arrangements are no longer adequate to safeguard the public interest.In my right hon. Friend's opinion these arrangements will satisfactorily achieve the objective which the Comission had in mind, and in the circumstances as they now exist it did not seem necessary on this account to go so far as to require Imperial to divest themselves of their shareholding.In general, my right hon. Friend does not believe that Imperial's shareholding in Gallaher will reduce their incentive to be competitive. Imperial could have no assurance that trade lost by them would be gained by Gallaher, and even if Gallaher gained as much as Imperial lost, there would be a severe loss of profit to Imperial that could not be offset by any increase in the amount received by Imperial as dividends on their Gallaher shareholding. The Commission themselves acknowledged that the competition experienced by Imperial was intense; it has grown even more intense since the report. There is no evidence that Imperial are not combating it as strongly as they can; indeed, all the evidence goes the other way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer the manufacture and distribution of boots and shoes to the Monopolies Commission.

No. On the information before him it does not appear to my right hon. Friend that the conditions to which the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948, applies prevail in respect of either the manufacture or the distribution of boots and shoes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider an amendment to the law to safeguard consumers in view of the increasing tendency towards monopoly in British industry.

As my right hon. Friend told the House in his statement on 30th. January, he has put in hand a general review of policy on monopolies and restrictive practices. The review will take account of the interests of consumers in the widest sense.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what tariffs on film imports are at present maintained by the countries of the Common Market; what common external tariff in this respect is being proposed; and how this compares with the present level of British tariffs on film imports.

The following is the information:

For most 35 mm. developed film the present rates of duty on imports from outside the Common Market are, per 100 metres:

• Benelux: 12·71 florins;
• France: 7·66–8·73 new francs;
• Germany: 18 Deutschemarks; and
• Italy: 4–5·23 dollars.

The Common External Tariff is 5 units of account per 100 metres, which is equivalent to about 1 2/7d. per foot, as compared with the present full rate in the British tariff of 1d. per foot.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, on the basis of 1960 imports into the United Kingdom from the European Economic Community, and the current rates of protective duties, what estimate he has made of the loss to the revenue from the total removal of these duties if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community.

About £40 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what conclusions he has come to on the report of his departmental fact-finding inquiry into resale price maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is still studying the results of this inquiry and is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has accepted the view of the Monopolies Commission that resale price maintenance in the tobacco trade has no undesirable effects; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the existing resale price maintenance in that industry.

In forming his conclusions on the departmental inquiry my right hon. Friend will naturally take into account both the majority and the minority view of the Monopolies Commission on resale price maintenance in the tobacco industry, but meantime he is not in a position to comment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the recurring anxieties of the cotton industry and the present substantial increase in short-time working whether, in addition to re-examining the short-term problem, he will initiate with the industry discussions directed towards reorganisation of management and a vertical structure of the industry.

My right hon. Friend has already drawn the industry's attention to the importance of keeping its structure and management practices in line with present-day needs. This is essentially a matter which firms must solve for themselves, but I am glad to know that the Cotton Board and other organisations connected with the industry are very active in disseminating information and stimulating discussion on it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why an article entitled "United Kingdom Trade in 1961," covering 12 pages of the Board of Trade Journal of 26th January, 1962, and containing more than 20 statistical tables and diagrams, gives no statistics relating to trade with the Commonwealth as a trading area, nor makes any reference to it in the text, contrary to the usual policy pursued in the monthly Trade and Navigation Accounts, and in the Annual Statement of Trade, both of which are prepared in his Department.

The grouping of countries used in this analysis distinguishes our trade with sterling countries from our trade with other countries. This distinction is important when we are considering our balance of payments position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the leaders of the motor industry and the National Advisory Council for the motor manufacturing industry on the remission of Purchase Tax on Formula I racing-cars during the next financial year.

The decision to end the arrangements for the remission of Purchase Tax was taken on general grounds, and has not been the subject of consultations with leaders of the motor industry or the National Advisory Council. In reaching the decision, account was taken of the considerations which have since been the subject of representations received on behalf of the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why it is necessary to maintain a 25 per cent. duty on imported harps.

Reductions in the tariff are normally made only as a result of international agreement or after detailed inquiry into applications for reduction made by organisations representative of users of the articles concerned. An application for suspension or abolition of this duty has now been received and is being considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consultation he had with the Minister of Education in formulating his proposals for education in the reorganisation of local government in Greater London.

The recent White Paper sets out the collective proposals of the Government to which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education and I both belong.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if Her Majesty's Government propose, in the reorganisation of London government stated in the White Paper, to permit building in the green belt area around London.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he has discussed with the local government associations to prevent the drift of key local government officers into private industry and other work.

None. This is a matter for the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he intends to introduce legislation to amend the law relating to the disability of members of local authorities for taking part in the consideration or discussion of, or voting on, matters in which they have a pecuniary interest.

I hope to make a statement on this subject soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will withdraw the recommendations made to local authorities that steel construction should not be used for buildings where alternative methods of construction are available.

The recommendations to which I assume the hon. Member refers were issued in 1952, when steel was in short supply and subject to allocation. In the completely changed conditions of recent years they have long been a dead letter and are recognised by local authorities as such. To say so in a fresh circular now is unnecessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will introduce in housing standards some measure designed to eliminate the frozen pipes prevalent in cold spells in this country.

Very full advice was given to local authorities about their own houses, both new and existing, by circular 57/56, and water undertakers were asked in the same circular to strengthen the provisions of their bye-laws against frost damage to water pipes. There is nothing more I can usefully do.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has completed his investigations into the proposed housing development at Ellington, Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has now authorised the Northumberland County Council to grant planning permission for this development of roughly 65 acres. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter to the Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received from residents in St. Augustine's Road and St. John Street, Penarth, about the subsidence caused by land excavation for new housing; and if he will revoke planning permission so as to suspend further work on this site until danger of subsidence has been overcome by the planning authorities.

I have received a copy of a petition sent by residents of St. Augustine's Road and St. John Street, Penarth, to the Penarth Urban District Council. The council are looking into the complaints. I am in touch with them and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as I have further information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the first instalment of compensation for loss of career due to expatriate civil servants in East Africa on 9th December, 1961, has not yet been paid.

The compensation scheme for overseas officers of the East African Common Services Organisation came into force on the 9th December, 1961, but it was made clear to the officers' representatives in the talks preceding the scheme that, for administrative reasons, the first payments could not be made until about 3 months after the scheme was made. The Common Services Organisation is responsible for payment, but half the cost is reimbursed by Her Majesty's Government under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme. Her Majesty's Government are considering a request from the Common Services Organisation for help to meet their share of the cost.

asked the Minister of Works when work will be completed on the reconstruction of Nos. 10 and 12, Downing Street and of the Treasury, respectively.

Owing to the discovery of additional structural defects and to labour difficulties it seems unlikely that the work will be completed as soon as had been expected. I cannot yet give a revised date for completion.

asked the Minister of Works on how many occasions during their last period of non-occupation the premises of 1A Kensington Palace were examined by his Department as to their state of disrepair; and how much was spent during that period to preserve the fabric.

The various inspections of the premises and the works undertaken to preserve the fabric were all part of routine inspections and maintenance of the Palace as a whole and were not separately recorded. The full extent of damage or deterioration in buildings of this nature can be determined only by opening up the structure, panelling, etc., which is less costly if it can be deferred to be combined with the work necessary for reoccupation. In this as in other unoccupied buildings in the care of my Department, any malignant deterioration visible on routine inspection is immediately dealt with.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to ensure that during the excavation needed for the Hyde Park underground garage anything of archaeological interest will be preserved.

Regular inspections of the site are being made by representatives of the London Museum, and the contractors are fully aware of the need to report anything of archaeological interest. Arrangements for preservation will depend on what is found. So far nothing of interest has been discovered.

asked the Minister of Works when the work on Marlborough House will be completed.

Work to the centre block of Marlborough House will be substantially complete by March this year. The east and west wings are already occupied by Commonwealth organisations.

asked the Minister of Works what action has been taken to accommodate the National Assistance Board's staff in Oldham on ground floor premises nearer the centre of the town.

My staff are keeping closely in touch with developments in Oldham in the hope of obtaining better offices for the National Assistance Board.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will arrange to have a sub-post office at Newton Village, Midlothian, in view of the fact that old- age pensioners and persons receiving National Insurance benefit now travel a distance of about 1½ miles along a country road, where the bus service is infrequent and costs them 7d. for a return ticket, to receive their allowances.

My right hon. Friend is sorry that he should not be justified in doing as the hon. Member asks. The Postmaster at Danderhall—the nearest post office to Newton Village—will be glad to tell any old-age pensioner or recipient of National Insurance benefit who finds it difficult to collect his pension, etc., from that office how he can arrange for a relative or friend to collect it for him.

asked the Postmaster-General whether posts from the United Kingdom to Katanga are still being examined by United Nations officials at Elisabethville airport; and what representations have been made.

Our information is that there is no examination of mails from the United Kingdom by United Nations officials at Elisabethville. Under normal international postal procedure our mails for abroad are due to be delivered by the carrier to the postal administration of the country of destination and we understand that this is being done in this case.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the deterioration of programmes due to the dispute between the Independent Television Authority and its artistes, he will consider reducing the cost of the television licence fee.

No part of the television licence revenue is passed to the Independent Television Authority. Under the Television Act it is the duty of the I.T.A. to satisfy itself so far as possible that its programmes maintain a proper balance in their subject matter and are of a high general standard of quality. The Authority tells my right hon. Friend that the provisions of the Television Act are being complied with.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated amount of meat and poultry, calculated as carcase weight, consumed per head of the United Kingdom population during 1960 and 1961, respectively.

The following table gives the detailed estimates for 1960 and 1961, together with revised estimates for 1959:

asked the Minister of Defence what quantities of the four groups of drugs now supplied by the Minister of Health to the hospitals as a service of the Crown were used in the Services for 12 months to the last convenient date.

It is assumed that the Question refers to the four principal groups of drugs which are now being purchased by the Ministry of Health from abroad. The quantities of these four groups of drugs used by the Services during the period 1st January, 1961, to 31st December, 1961, are as follows:

asked the Minister of Defence on what date he will publish the Defence White Paper.

On Tuesday, 20th February.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the categories of National Health Service staff in respect of whom pay increases have been agreed by Whitley Councils or determined by arbitration, but not yet implemented; if he will indicate in each case the approximate percentage increase and, where this has been announced, the operative date; and which awards still await his approval.

Whitley Councils have reached agreement on pay increases for medical photographers (approximately 23 per cent.), medical laboratory technicians (14 per cent. upwards), and regional hospital board works staff (4 per cent. upwards). Effect will be given to these increases from 1st April, 1962. No increases have been determined by arbitration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has studied the letter from the National Council of Women, sent him by the hon. Member for Tynemouth, regarding the liability of women for jury service under the present law; and what reply he has made regarding his legislative intentions with particular reference to the possibility of enabling English women to enjoy the same rights in this respect as women enjoy in Scotland.

I have noted the observations of the National Council of Women. As regards possible legislation, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner) on 1st February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be in a position to make a statement on the report of the Hall Committee on the economy of Northern Ireland.

I understand that the Working Party's study is well advanced, but I cannot yet say when I shall be in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table giving the names of all children's homes, the area in which they are situated, the names of the respective organisations responsible for their management, the number of children and staff in each and the weekly cost per child.

As the information requested involves a lengthy reply which is taking time to collate, I shall send details to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many un-certificated teachers are employed by Midlothian Education Authority; and how many of these are regarded by his departments as below standard;(2) in which schools in Midlothian un-certificated teachers are employed; and what is the number in each school.

On 2nd October, 1961, the latest date for which figures are available, 16 un-certificated teachers were employed by Midlothian Education Authority, four of them with qualifications below standard. I am sending to the hon. Member a list of the individual schools concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many un-certificated teachers are employed by Glasgow Education Authority; in what schools they are employed; and how many are considered by his Department to be below standard.

On 2nd October, 1961, the latest date for which figures are available, 219 un-certificated teachers were employed by Glasgow Education Authority, 32 of them with qualifications below standard. I am sending to the hon. Member a list of the individual schools concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the strength of the Civil Defence Corps in Scotland at the end of 1961; and how this compares with previous years.

Although many more recruits are still needed in the Civil Defence Corps, the recruiting figures have been climbing steadily upwards since the Corps was established in 1949. In 1961 the figures increased by 2,419 to a total of 39,001 at the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the figures of unemployed in the Bridgeton area in the years 1959, 1960, and 1961; and what proportion during these years were young people.

The average numbers of unemployed in these years were 3,505, 2,901 and 2,284, respectively; the corresponding numbers of young people unemployed were 92, 58, and 29.