asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now decided to give authority for the building of a university college for Cumberland and Westmorland.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made it clear in his statement of 18th May last that it was the Government's view, following the advice of the U.G.C., that the establishment of any further new universities apart from the four then authorised must await the report of the Committee on Higher Education under Lord Robbins. One of the four new universities authorised last year is to be at Lancaster.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are employed in Government Departments in London; and what proportion of the number is directly concerned in the day-to-day work of Parliament.

There are about 212,000 civil servants employed in the London area. Of these about 80,000 are in headquarters offices, excluding the Post Office, and are from time to time as part of their duties concerned with the day-to-day work of Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Ministers and Government Departments are currently engaged in negotiating with the German Government about the cost of British forces in Germany; who is co-ordinating these negotiations; and when they are likely to be completed.

My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary is in charge of the British delegation and he is assisted by officials of the Treasury, Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence and Bank of England. I cannot yet say when the talks with the German Government will be completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has sent to spending Departments, in the present financial year, as to the extent to which a reduction in expenditure in Votes corresponding to their Supplementary Estimates must be made.

My right hon. Friend's instructions to Departments regarding Supplementary Estimates require that every effort should be made to keep inescapable increases to a minimum and to secure off-setting economies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 2½ per cent. limit to annual increases in Government estimates which he announced last July is inclusive or exclusive of Supplementary Estimates.

My right hon. Friend's statement last July was exclusive of Supplementary Estimates. I remind the House that, as then made clear, the comparison between the Estimates of the two years would have to be in real terms. In other words, allowances has to be made for differences in the level of pay and prices used in drawing up the Estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take, having regard to the contents of the White Paper, Command No. 1626, Incomes Policy: the Next Step, to ensure that wage increase offers by the heads of nationalised boards, are in consonance with and commensurate to the guiding lights in the White Paper as to maximum average wage advances, notably in the context of nationalised railways and coal mines, in view of heavy losses forward in these industries at the taxpayers' expense.

The chairman and boards of the various nationalised industries are well aware of the policy set out in the White Paper. The responsibility for reflecting that policy in particular cases must rest primarily with those who run the industries. But in exercising this, as other, aspects of their responsibilities the chairmen naturally work in close contact with the Ministers concerned.Where, as in the case of the railways, a nationalised undertaking is incurring a continuing deficit, which is met from Parliamentary grants, the Government is bound to interest itself more directly than would be appropriate in other cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to ensure the application of Her Majesty's Government's policy on incomes and wage restraint, he will introduce legislation preventing directors from increasing their salaries during a period to be determined by him.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent prices and the cost of living have risen or fallen since the introduction of the Government's wage pause policy.

The retail price index has gone up by 1·7 per cent. since July, 1961.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the approximate cost of extending the measure of relief from Income Tax allowed to widowers and widows who employ resident housekeepers, other than for the purpose of having the charge and care of children, to widowers and widows who employ non-resident housekeepers.

I regret that I cannot give an estimate of the cost of this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the latest economic review published by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research forecasts a fall of 4 per cent. in investment in private manufacturing industry during 1962; and what steps he proposes to take to correct this trend in the light of the need for long-term economic growth.

I am aware that there are indications that the rate of fixed investment in manufacturing industry may be somewhat reduced during the course of 1962. The rate of investment in this sector was extremely high last year, and on any view of the prospects of 1962 it seems likely at the end of the year to be running above the level of every year before 1961. The Government's policies are directed towards maintaining a high level of investment, but is would be impossible to seek to prevent all fluctuations in the rate from year to year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the estimated annual cost to public funds of the preparation of the Honours List.

I regret that estimating the annual cost would involve a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider assisting by a capital grant the maintenance of an opera company serving provincial interests.

That is a question for the Arts Council.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that complimentary tickets are issued for Covent Garden under the auspices of the Royal Opera House General Administration in connection with first night performances of the Royal Ballet, and that for the financial year 1960–61 a sum of £503,737 was provided out of Government funds for all purposes, if he will make it a condition of future grants to the Arts Council that the amount of grant for the Royal Opera House should take into account the extent to which public money is being used for the issue of such free tickets.

No. It is I understand necessary and customary in the theatre world for a number of complimentary tickets for first nights to be issued to the Press and others associated with the performance. The Arts Council assure me that in their opinion the numbers issued are effectively scrutinised by Covent Garden and are kept to a reasonable minimum.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that during the period 1st April, 1960, up to the end of the winter season in Great Britain 1961, 183 performances of the Royal Ballet were performed overseas and 160 in the United Kingdom, whether he will make it a condition of future grants to the Arts Council that Government assistance to the company should be assessed on the basis of the number of performances to be given in this country.

No. I would prefer to leave the question of the amount of overseas touring done by Covent Garden to them and to the Arts Council. I should add that the hon. Member's facts are wrong. The figure of 160 is for United Kingdom provincial tours only. When London performances are taken into account the number of performances in the United Kingdom becomes 272.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the evidence of the toxic effect of tobacco smoking and its injury to health, he will remove the taxation from tobacco so that the nation will cease to profit from its sale.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements will be made for ensuring that adequate scientific advice will be available to the National Economic Development Council; and whether he proposes to invite representatives of science to take part in its meetings.

These are questions which the Council itself will have to consider, and which I already have in mind to put to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department started to spend money on the National Economic Development Council; how much has been spent on that Council to date; what amount of this has been spent on office furniture and equipment for No. 1 New Bridge Street; and whether he will make a statement.

The accommodation at No. 1, Bridge Street was already in course of preparation for a Government Department when the decision was taken early in January to put the National Economic Development Council and its staff there instead. The cost of adaptation to this new use is estimated at £550. and the cost of office furniture and equipment to date at about £5,000. Provision for expenditure on staff costs in the current year has been made in the Supplementary Estimate for the Vote for Royal Commissions etc. (Class I, Vote 19) now before the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the 11 per cent. Pool Betting Duty on totalisators at greyhound racing tracks is not also imposed upon the same totalisators at horse racing tracks; and whether he will make this duty equally applicable on all forms of betting in his forthcoming Budget.

As this is a Budgetary matter which I cannot anticipate, it is not possible to enter into the merits of the incidence of the duty at this time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as a means of increasing the revenue at present derived from the 11 per cent. Pools Betting Duty now levied solely on totalisators at greyhound racing tracks, he will remove this duty and institute a 5 per cent. Pools Betting Duty on all forms of betting, including totalisators at horse racing tracks.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the Treasury receipts from Pool Betting Duty collected on greyhound totalisators for the months of September to December, 1961, divided as between the normal 10 per cent. duty and the 1 per cent. surcharge imposed since the 26th July, 1961, and similar figures for book

NET RECEIPTS OF POOL BETTING DUTY (TOTALISATORS) AND BOOKMAKERS' LICENCE DUTY—SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER, 1961
			Pool Betting Duty						Bookmakers' Licence Duty
Month			Duty			Surcharge			Duty			Surcharge
			£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
September	…	…	511,426	3	5	51,142	12	4	127,925	3	10	12,792	10	4
October	…	…	476,928	19	8	47,692	18	0	122,849	5	4	12,284	18	7
November	…	…	497,500	6	1	49,750	0	7	133,394	16	9	13,339	9	8
December	…	…	339,021	17	9	33,902	3	9	98,493	10	11	9,849	7	1
Net Receipts	…	…	1,824,877	6	11	182,487	14	8	482,662	16	10	48,266	5	8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the product of Schedule A Income Tax on owner-occupiers for the last five years.

The yield of Schedule A on owner-occupiers for the five years 1956–57 to 1960–61 is now estimated as £49 million, £51 million, £52 million, £50 million and £52 million respectively. These figures include Surtax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the first £15 of net annual value for owner-occupiers had been exempted, by what amount the product of Schedule A would have been reduced for each of the past five years.

About £20–£25 million in each year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the statutory repairs allowance for owner-occupiers had been double, by what amount the product of Schedule A would have been reduced for each of the past five years.

About £12 million each year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the plans of the new Bank of England building to be erected on the Wine Street site in Bristol to be published before construction begins.

The following are the figures:

I understand that a photograph of a scale model of the building was reproduced in the Bristol Evening Post on Saturday, 10th February. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that, for security reasons, the plans, which were prepared by a distinguished architect, in full consultation with the Bristol Corporation, cannot be published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that in the first four years of Mr. Diefenbaker's Government Canada has increased her imports from the United Kingdom by 29 per cent. over the previous four years, he will approach the Federal Government in order to arrange for a ministerial conference to discuss methods of further increasing Anglo-Canadian trade.

Anglo-Canadian trade has shown a welcome increase recently. We are constantly seeking further improvement. My right hon. Friend does not think it necessary to propose a ministerial conference at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a statement giving the effects of the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community upon our existing Monopolies and Restrictive Practices legislation in order that British industrialists may find out whether or not our entry will result in the existing legislation becoming ineffective.

I cannot add at this stage to the answer which I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East on 28th November. We are studying the Regulations governing competition agreed in December by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community; but the subject is complex and it will take a little time to assess the possible effects on our domestic legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what have been the percentage increases in United Kingdom exports to the Common Market for the latest period for which figures are available; and what are the comparative figures of the Common Market countries exports to other Common Market countries on the basis of information supplied to him in the course of Her Majesty's Government's current negotiations for entry into the Common Market.

Details of the United Kingdom's exports to the Common Market are available from the Trade and Navigation Accounts and are summarised in the Report on Overseas Trade. Details of intra-Common Market trade are available from Foreign Trade Monthly Statistics published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has now received in the course of Her Majesty's negotiations with the Common Market countries of their manufacturing prices, their wage rates, and their food costs, respectively; how these compare with the corresponding British prices, wages and costs; and what estimate he now makes, on the basis of the known factors, of the effect on the British industrial workers' standard of living of British entry into the Common Market.

Such comparisons have not been made during the negotiations. Prices and wage rates in different countries are published. The Government believe that membership on mutually satisfactory terms offers every prospect of our sharing fully in a generally rising standard of living.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what limitation he intends to place on cotton imports from Pakistan, India and Hong Kong for the year 1963.

Imports of cotton textiles from Pakistan, India and Hong Kong are at present limited by inter-industry agreements which expire at the end of 1962. I am not yet able to say what arrangements will be made for subsequent periods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new jobs will be available in Cleveland in the near future.

About 3,000 new jobs are expected in the next few years in the employment exchange areas of Loftus, Guisborough, Saltburn, Redcar and South Bank, which broadly correspond with my hon. Friend's constituency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of his responsibility for furthering British export trade, what consultations he had with the United Kingdom/River Plate Conference shipping companies before they decided to make permanent the temporary 23s. a ton surcharge on exports to the River Plate ports.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional steps are being taken under his powers to deal with local unemployment, in view of the rise in unemployment recently.

My right hon. Friend closely watches the trend of unemployment figures, including seasonal movements, and is always prepared to add to the list of development districts any area in which it appears to him that persistently high unemployment exists or is to be expected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the most recent figures available to him of the sales of cigarettes and tobacco in the United Kingdom by Imperial Tobacco, Gallaher, and the independent manufacturers, respectively.

The most recent figures are those for 1959 set out in paragraph 261 of the Report of the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a detailed list of goods intended for Indonesia for which licences have been withdrawn.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action is taken by his Department, in the interests of consumer protection, to bring to the attention of manufacturers reports submitted to his Department by recognised consumer organisations of defects in, and misleading information concerning, goods supplied by such manufacturers; what action is taken to ensure that such practices are discontinued; and if he will make a statement.

The reports to which the hon. Member refers are not prepared for my right hon. Friend's Department, and he is not responsible for them, though he reads them with great interest. I have no doubt, however, that they are carefully studied by the manufacturers concerned with a view to the removal of genuine defects and to the correction of mis-statements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade from what Commonwealth countries goods imported into this country are normally marked as Empire made, or with some similar description, as opposed to a specific indication of their country of origin; and to what extent goods imported from non-Commonwealth countries are not marked with accurate indications of the country of origin.

There are no statistics separately distinguishing imports of goods marked "Empire" or "Foreign", as the case may be, from those marked with some more specific indication of origin, nor is it possible to generalise as to the countries whose goods are normally marked with the name of the country of origin rather than "Empire" or "foreign", where such marking is required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many registered agreements between Japanese and United Kingdom companies exist covering manufacturing processes and technological data; and whether he is satisfied that the United Kingdom is securing an adequate share of this form of overseas trade.

There were 51 such agreements at the end of September last year. I am sure that more British firms could with advantage pay attention to this source of overseas income, and recently there have been signs of increasing interest. My right hon. Friend welcomes this, and would recommend any firm wishing to investigate the possibilities to seek advice from his Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet found a tenant for the industrial site available at Donibristle, Fife; and, in view of the future prospects of the mining industry in the area, whether he will take steps to expedite the occupation of the site.

My right hon. Friend is considering with the Admiralty what more can be done to encourage industry to go to this site. One firm is showing interest in it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he proposes to accept the recommendation by his Advisory Council on Scientific Policy that the present organisation for dealing 'with civil science requires to be overhauled.

The Government are at present considering the views of the Advisory Council on this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to preserve local community interests in his proposals for the reorganisation of local government in Greater London.

I see no reason why the reorganisation of the structure of local government should adversely affect the vigour of local communities in the London area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what arrangements he is making to ensure that new council offices are easily accessible to the public in his plans for the reorganisation of London local government.

The new borough councils will be responsible for making office arrangements. Most of them are likely to have more than one office at their disposal. In deciding on the immediate use of these, or in making long-term arrangements, the councils will, I am sure, have in mind the point made by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent, in considering appeals against refusal of planning permission for outdoor advertising sites, he gives consideration to the amount of space nationally already occupied by outdoor poster advertising, other than cinema and theatre posters on cinemas or theatres, and to the amount of such space occupied before the war, and 10 years ago, respectively.

The Control of Advertisements Regulations, 1960, provide that the powers to grant or refuse consent for the display of advertisements shall be exercisable only in the interests of amenity and public safety, and my right hon. Friend does not give consideration to the matters to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what support he is giving to the London County Council in finding accommodation for homeless families.

It is for the London County Council, whether as housing or as welfare authority, to find accommodation for homeless families. If in any case they needed compulsory powers I would see that an application was dealt with very quickly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give an estimate of the amount of office accommodation available in the Greater London area in 1959, 1960, and 1961, respectively; what is the estimated amount available for 1962–63; and how this compares with the amount available in 1952–53.

This information is not available, but the estimates for central London are:

Year					Central London Estimated Amount of Office Floor Space Available million square feet
1952	…	…	…	…	81·7
1953	…	…	…	…	84·2
1959	…	…	…	…	101·5
1960	…	…	…	…	104·2

Figures are not yet available for 1961; but it is thought that 3 million square feet have been added in that year, and that the increase during 1962 will be similar. "Central London" means the area within the main line stations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what applications he has now received for the development of the Caledonian Market site.

I understand that the City Corporation has agreed in principle with the London County Council that the Caledonian Market site shall be used for housing, schools and open space, subject to a decision on the future of the slaughterhouse. I am informed that the Corporation is discussing this matter with the trade and hopes to make proposals to Parliament in the next session for enabling legislation. Any application for development would, of course, be made to the London County Council, as local planning authority, and I understand that the Council is anxious that the whole area should be redeveloped in accordance with the new zoning as soon as the future of the slaughterhouse is settled.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what information he has about the number of local authorities who have exercised their right to provide for musical and other cultural activities under Section 132 of the 1948 Local Government Act which empowers a levy of up to 6d. in the £ for such purposes.

My information is not complete because I learn of proposals under Section 132 of the Local Government Act, 1948, only when loan sanction is required. Since 31st March, 1959, nineteen local authorities in England and Wales have received loan sanction in respect of their functions under the Section.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) whether he is aware of the burden which will be placed on the finances of some local authorities in the financial years 1962–63 and 1963–64 as a result of the two successive changes in his Department's calculation of transitional receipts; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that some of this burden is borne by central Government funds;(2) whether he is aware that £104,000 is due to be repaid by the county borough of East Ham to his Department as a result of the discrepancy in the Department's successive calculations of transitional receipts; whether he is aware that this burden follows other adverse consequences of the general grant system as applicable to East Ham; and what proposals he has for ensuring that central Governments funds shall bear some portion of the burden resulting from the transitional receipts discrepancies in this case.

I would refer the hen. Member to my statement in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Chester (Mr. Temple) on 18th December. The change in the amount to which the county borough council is entitled was for the greater part due to changes in the data supplied by the council. There were no errors in the Department's calculations, the latest of which indicates that the financial changes made by the Act of 1958 were not nearly as disadvantageous to the council as was originally believed.As my right hon. Friend, now Chief Secretary to the Treasury, stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) on 17th February last, the contributions and receipts of local authorities must be based on the best information available; and there is no justification, or statutory provision, for Exchequer assistance to those authorities which have hitherto received too much.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) whether Her Majesty's Government will accept all or part of the financial responsibility for the loss to certain local authorities arising from the fact that his Department have now revised, for the second time, the transitional receipts in connection with the Local Government Act, 1958;(2) whether he is aware that the latest revision of transitional receipts under the Local Government Act, 1958, impose a burden of over £104,000 on the ratepayers of East Ham; whether he will revise the proposal that the equivalent of a 6d. rate be paid by the borough to his Department during 1962–63 and again 1963–64; and whether Her Majesty's Government will assume all or part of the responsibility in this case.

As my right hon. Friend, now Chief Secretary to the Treasury, stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 17th February last, the contributions and receipts of local authorities must be based on the best information available; and there is no justification, or statutory provision, for Exchequer assistance to those authorities which have hitherto received too much. The latest calculation showed that the county borough council had received £104,000 too much under the transitional scheme as compared with £75,300 too much on the second calculation a year ago. The arrangements which I announced in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Chester (Mr. Temple) on 18th December for adjusting contributions for past years seems to me to be fair as between those who owe money and those entitled to it, and I do not propose to change them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the Chief Alkali Inspector is now in a position to report on the effect of a new hot blast cupola in cutting down air pollution in Hull, details of which are contained in correspondence between the Parliamentary Secretary and the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, North, dated 14th June, 1961; and if he will make a statement.

There has unfortunately been delay in delivery of the electrical precipitator for installation on the cupola my hon. Friend has in mind. The precipitator is not now expected to come into operation until the spring. It will then be some months before its effectiveness can be assessed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now given consideration to the petition calling for leasehold reform presented to him in November, 1961; and what reply he has sent.

I have, of course, noted what the Petition says. Incidentally it was addressed to the House, and not to me. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to reply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will introduce legislation to enable grants to be paid to householders for installing special grates to burn smokeless fuels in advance of that area being scheduled as part of a clean air scheme, where a smokeless grate is required on health grounds.

No. The interests of people suffering from air pollution are best served by vigorous action to establish smoke control areas. These are a far more effective way of cleaning the air than action by individual householders.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how much of the proposed 10 years slum clearance plan will be carried out in the next two years; and if he will give an estimate of the proportion of the total 10 years' expenditure that this represents.

Although it is not practicable now to express it in terms of proportions or money, my intention is to secure year by year the maximum amount of clearance that the resources available and the capacity of the authorities concerned will allow.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister of Welsh Affairs what steps he intends to take to restrict rent increases to landlords to 2½ per cent. in the current year.

None.

asked the Minister of Works what economic steps he proposes to take to promote the further growth in output of the construction industry.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government is to promote a steady rate of economic growth in the construction industries. When some restraint of demand was required last summer care was taken to avoid any violent dislocation of work. The Government are satisfied that this policy has won the confidence of the construction industries.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to reach a decision on the possible introduction of the giro system in the Post Office.

I regret that I cannot yet add to my Answer of 28th November to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations he has had with the Government of the United States of America regarding British participation, by either his Department or telecommunication firms, in the corporation proposed by President Kennedy for the financing of a satellite communications system.

No proposal for discussion has yet been made by the United States Government. My hon. Friend will appreciate that President Kennedy's recent message to Congress related to proposals for legislation in the United States.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) to what extent he has been informed of the proposed international communications system by satellites as outlined by President Kennedy; whether the United Kingdom's communications satellite experiments will be dovetailed into this scheme; and if he will make a statement;(2) to what extent the United Kingdom's experiment of building ground receiving stations and satellite equipment will be affected by the recently announced American plans to develop an international satellite communication system; and whether Her Majesty's Government will purchase shares and participate in its ownership.

The new ground station in the United Kingdom will be used for experiments in satellite communications across the North Atlantic. These experiments have been planned jointly with the United States and are designed to give technical and other information essential for further examination of the possibilities of developing a commercial satellite communication system.The experiments are in no way affected by President Kennedy's recent statement which related to proposed legislation in the United States for the development and operation of a commercial system. No approach has been made to the United Kingdom regarding possible British participation in the ownership and operation of any commercial system which may be developed on the lines proposed in the President's message.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken since 30th January, 1962, to resolve the dispute with the Post Office Engineering Union which has led to working to rule.

On 9th February I received from the union a letter which I am studying, and I shall be replying as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General in how many telephone areas he has suspended one or more provisions of engineering instructions as a result of the working to rule.

I have suspended, or partly suspended, a very limited number of rules in six areas. The changes so far affect the work of just over 100 men, out of a total of 70,000.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now permit the Independent Television Authority to transmit an adult educational programme for three hours every Saturday morning, without advertising breaks.

It is for the I.T.A. to decide whether to transmit such a programme within the present permitted hours of broadcasting. I am sorry I cannot consider a regular extension of the hours of broadcasting beyond the present limits until the Committee on Broadcasting has reported and the Government have had the opportunity to consider its recommendations.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the reasons for the delay in installing telephones in certain areas of the Blyth constituency; why installation date promises are not being kept: and when he expects installations to keep pace with demand.

The delay in installing telephones in some parts of the Blyth constituency is mainly due to a shortage of plant. More exchange equipment is being provided at Shiremoor and new cables are being laid or planned in other parts of the constituency. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind where a firm promise has been given to an applicant, but not kept, I shall be glad to look into it. I am sorry I cannot forecast when installations will keep pace with demand; this will depend upon the future level of demand and the resources available to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a comprehensive statement on the steps he is taking to study the habits of dogfish, porbeagle sharks, seals and other fish which adversely affect the British fishing industry; and how successful they have been.

Research work in the Government's Fishery Laboratories includes a study of the influence which predatory and competing species may have on stocks of commercial species. This is not thought to be great. The effect of seals on fisheries is being studied jointly by the Scottish Department and by the Nature Conservancy.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will introduce legislation so that in future a bonus will be granted to retirement pensioners to the extent of an additional week's pension during Christmas week.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport how many orders were lost to the shipbuilding industry as a result of the one-day engineering strike recently; and what estimate he has made of the amount of money this represented.

I do not know of any lost shipbuilding orders, but a Sunderland firm has reported the loss to Holland of an order for repairing a Norwegian tanker. I have no information about the amount of money involved.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of the recent publication during the news service of the British Broadcasting Corporation of statements in relation to a criminal trial in progress; and if he will take such steps as will secure that such reports are not given in such a fashion as to arouse any prejudice with regard to the trial.

My attention has been drawn by a number of hon. Members to the publication in television broadcasts of statements relating to a criminal trial in progress. It is obviously most desirable that nothing should be published on television or elsewhere which either by way of comment or by emphasis would tend to prejudice a fair trial. I have no evidence which would justify the institution of proceedings for contempt.

asked the Minister of Education what steps have been taken to improve the school dental service in the Hickley area during the last year.

The local education authority have advertised for full-time school dental officers and have asked dentists practising in Hinckley to work part time in the school dental service, but so far without success

asked the Minister of Health what has been the weekly pay, including overtime pay and any other additions, of each of the ancillary trades employed at Oakwell Hospital. Birstall, while smallpox cases have been isolated and treated; and how these wages compare with the salaries paid to the nursing staff.

The gross weekly pay of the ancillary grades has ranged from £30 15s. 5d. to £51 1 s. 6d. For the nursing staff salaries I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 5th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received an application from the Durham County Police for sanction to acquire a new headquarters in Durham City; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Durham police authority are at present considering plans for the erection of new headquarters at Aykley Heads, Durham, but I have not yet received details of their proposals.

asked the Minister of Labour how many allowances were awarded during 1961 under the Training Allowances Scheme to young people who have to live away from home in order to train for a skilled occupation

Allowances were awarded to 859 boys and 73 girls.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken by his Department to relate the allowances paid under the Training Allowances Scheme to the current costs of board and lodging for young people living away from home.

The rates of allowances are kept regularly under review with particular reference to current costs of board and lodging.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the steps taken to publicise the Training Allowances Scheme; and whether he will increase such publicity so that the scheme may make a greater contribution to the training of young workers.

The Youth Employment Service already brings the Scheme to the notice of young people, parents, schools and employers through posters, leaflets, talks and interviews. I doubt whether further publicity would be effective.

asked the Minister of Labour what studies have been carried out in his Department into the needs of young workers living away from home to determine whether Her Majesty's Government should assist religious and other bodies to provide more hostels.

The policy under the Training Allowances Scheme is to assist individuals directly and not institutions. The financial needs of young workers are studied in determining these allowances.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the one-day engineering strike resulted in the Norwegian tanker "Butgana" being taken away from the Sunderland yards to Rotterdam for repairs; if, in order to prevent similar loss of export orders, he will invite the union leaders and the employers' representatives to meet him; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen reports that because of the one-day strike on 5th February and a ban on overtime for one week in north-east coast shipyards, a Sunderland firm could not undertake to complete repair work on the "Butgana" within the prescribed time limit, and that the ship was moved to Rotterdam. I do not think it would be helpful for me to intervene in this dispute. I have already made clear in recent joint talks my views on the urgent need for improved competitiveness in the industry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the economic rent of an average three-bedroom house built by a local authority from a loan repayable over 60 years at 6¾ per cent. interest; and what would be the economic rent if interest rates were 2¾ per cent. and zero, respectively, assuming in each case a fixed average charge for maintenance, management and insurance.

Taking the average cost of a three-bedroom house as £2,250, and allowing £15 per annum for maintenance, management and insurance, the figures would be 65s. 3d., 35s. 4d. and 20s. 2d. respectively. The cost in the market of borrowing money has of course to be met by somebody. If it were provided to local authorities below cost that would simply represent additional subsidy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pro vide a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the ratio of the number of school children to each full-time dental officer in each local authority area at the nearest convenient date.

The following table shows (to the nearest hundred) the number of school children to each dental officer^*, in each local authority area in Scotland at 31st July, 1960.

	Number of Children to each Dental Officer (To nearest 100)
Cities
Aberdeen	7,500
Dundee	5,400
Edinburgh	4,000
Glasgow	10,100
Counties
Aberdeen	8,100
Angus	3,800
Argyll	4,400
Ayr	7,400
Banff	2,900
Berwick	3,700
Bute	6,000
Caithness	3,400
Clackmannan	3,700
Dumfries	3,700
Dunbarton	3,500
East Lothian	4,300
Fife	6,600
Inverness	2,900
Kincardine	3,400
Kirkcudbright	2,400
Lanark	8,500
Midlothian and Peebles	3,100
Moray and Nairn	5,100
Orkney	3,100
Perth and Kinross	4,100
Renfrew	5,100
Ross and Cromarty	2,600
Roxburgh and Selkirk	3,200
Stirling	5,500
Sutherland	2,300
West Lothian	3,400
Wigtown	1,800
Zetland	1,500
* Two part-timers each working half his time in the school dental service are reckoned as one.