asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to delay the purchase of electronic toll equipment for the Forth Road Bridge until he has consulted local authorities in the surrounding area on the matter.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he had with the South of Scotland Electricity Board before they announced their new scale of electricity charges; and whether he will direct them to await the Report of the Mackenzie Committee on Electricity in Scotland before taking any further steps.

While I have agreed with the Board their financial objective in terms of the White Paper on the Financial and Economic Obligations of the Nationalised Industries (Cmnd. 1337), the price to be charged for electricity is entirely a matter for them and 1 have no power to issue a direction on the subject.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will give details of the educational assistance offered to Nyasaland following the recent visit of Mr. Kanyamo Chiume, the Minister of Education.

Mr. Chiume took the opportunity of his recent visit to this country as the guest of the British Council to discuss in detail with my Department and others Nyasaland's needs in respect of educational development, including the supply of teachers, training, technical education and advice on school building. Plans to help Nyasaland in each of these fields and some others have been or are being worked out and we are in close touch with Mr. Chiume. With regard to technical education we have arranged for Mr. R. E. Ward, the Principal of the Leicester College of Technology and Commerce, to make a short visit to Nyasaland to explore further the possibilities of our helping in this field.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Covent Garden Market Authority will take over the market.

An Order has been made appointing 25th March as vesting day. This date is acceptable to both the Authority and to Covent Garden Market Ltd., who are the present owners of the market.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans he now has for further constitutional advance in Basutoland.

In accordance with the terms of a motion passed unanimously by the Basutoland National Council, the High Commissioner asked the Paramount Chief to appoint, after consultations with leaders of political parties, a Commission to review the working of the 1959 constitution in the light of experience gained and to formulate proposals for its improvement. The Paramount Chief acted accordingly and the Commission has now begun its work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans he has for proposing to Canada and the United States of America some form of association on their part with the economic development of Basutoland following his recent discussions with Motlotlehi Mashoeshoe II, the Paramount Chief of Basutoland.

We were already discussing with the appropriate Canadian and United States authorities the possibility of assistance by those Governments in the economic development of Basutoiland. I was glad to learn that during his recent visit to those countries, the Paramount Chief was able to have discussions with the officials concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the rates of pension increases awarded by Singapore to former members of the Colonial Service and to Service widows; when these awards were made; how they compare

COMPARISON OF PENSIONS INCREASES OF SINGAPORE AND UNITED KINGDOM
Basic Pension	£100	£200	£300	£400	£500	£600	£700	£800	£900	£1,000
A. Retirement before 1.8.47
U.K	97	143	166	189	212	236	259	282	306	329
Singapore	118	155	130	135	150	154	154	154	154	154
(with dependent)	118	180	194	156	152	154	154	154	154	154
Widows	30	45	45	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
(with dependent)	40	60	60	50	—	—	—	—	—	—
B. Retirement between 1.8.47 and 1.1.52
U.K	52	76	98	122	145	168	192	215	238	261
Singapore	87	114	106	95	110	119	119	119	119	119
Widows	No increase payable
C. Retirement between 1.1.52 and 1.1.55
U.K.*	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80
Singapore	62	76	71	29	21	21	21	21	21	21
Widows	No increase payable
* For purposes of comparison a rate of increase of 8 per cent. under the U.K. Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959 has been used.

asked the Minister of Health when and why it was decided to site the public entrance to the proposed Wythenshawe Hospital at South-moor Road; what representions were previously made to his department that this should be done; by whom they were made; and why they were then rejected.

The regional hospital board is considering the provision of

The table attached compares the rates of pensions increases awarded on pensions granted in respect of service under the Government of Singapore and those awarded under the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Acts. These Singapore rates have been in operation since the 1st January, 1955, which was the effective date of the last general revision of salaries by the Singapore Government. The oldest and smallest service pensions are increased at rates in excess of those under the United Kingdom Acts but in other respects the position is much less satisfactory.access from Southmoor Road in addition to the main access from Floats Road, but no decision has been taken and no representations have been made to my Department.

asked the Minister of Defence what overseas bases have been closed or handed over since 1947; how much capital expenditure there had been on each since the last war; and how much compensation was received in each case.

In paragraph 5 of the Statement on Defence 1962 (Cmnd. 1639) a base is defined as a place where troops, ships, aircraft, heavy equipment, supplies and facilities for maintenance and repair can be kept for military operations elsewhere. On this definition the following is the information:

Overseas bases closed or handed over since 1947	Post-war capital expenditure	Compensation received
	£ million
Bases in:
(i) Egypt	13·5	See note (a)
(ii) Iraq	0·5	See note (b)
(iii) South Africa	0·28	£0·75 million (See Cmnd. 9520)
(iv) Ceylon	2·08	£1·32 million (See note (c))

Notes:(

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hospital orders restricting discharge under Section 65 of the Mental Health Act, 1959, have been made since the Act came into force; how many were of indefinite duration; what periods of restriction were imposed in respect of the remainder; how many of these restriction orders have been subsequently waived; and in how many instances the patient has been discharged.

According to the latest information, 185 orders restricting discharge have been made by courts under Section 65 of the Mental Health Act, 1959; 108 of these were made without limit of time and in 77 orders the following periods of restriction were specified:

Period of restriction				No. of orders
6 months	…	…	…	1
12 months	…	…	…	10
18 months	…	…	…	2
2 years	…	…	…	18
3 years	…	…	…	11
5 years	…	…	…	20
6 years	…	…	…	1
7 years	…	…	…	3
10 years	…	…	…	4
12 years	…	…	…	1
15 years	…	…	…	3
25 years	…	…	…	1
30 years	…	…	…	1
40 years	…	…	…	1

Of the patients subject to these orders, three have been freed from restrictions and nine have been discharged while the restrictions were in force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many home accidents, due to faulty domestic appliances, occurred in 1961; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1st February to a Question by the hon. Member for St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make rules, as provided for under the Firearms Act, 1937, declaring that airguns, air-rifles, and air-pistols are dangerous, and that no person may possess such weapons without a certificate from a chief officer of police; and whether he will make a statement.

No. Leaving aside the merits, I am advised that the powers in the Act are not wide enough to enable me to make rules to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the departmental committee on the probation service for increases in the salaries of probation officers.

The Committee's recommendations involve a fundamental reassessment of the salaries of the Probation Service and will require careful study in the light not only of the considerations set out in the Report, but also of those set out in Cmd. Paper 1626. As a first step, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I propose to refer the matter to the Joint Negotiating Committee for the Probation Service in England and Wales and the Probation Officers' Committee of the National Joint Industrial Council for Local Authority Services in Scotland. Meanwhile, the Government cannot enter into any commitment as to the implementation of the recommendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the total expenditure of local authorities in 1961–62; and what is the estimate for 1962–63.

I estimate that the total expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales in 1961–62 was about £2,190 million on revenue account and £710 million on capital account. The forecast for 1962–63 is at present tentative but the increase may be of the order of 7 per cent. and 3½ per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now announce a decision upon measures proposed to relieve traffic congestion in Oxford.

I have studied with great care, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, Sir Frederick Armer's report on the Oxford roads inquiry. I have accepted in principle his recommendation for a relief road across Christ Church Meadow, under St. Aldate's and on through St. Ebbe's northward as proposed by the City Council; but I have suggested that the road should be extended further north than they proposed to secure the maximum value.I regret the necessity for a road across the Meadow, but there is no doubt that this is the most effective way to provide the relief so badly needed in the centre of the City and the University. Much time has been spent on examining the possibilities of an alternative route further south, but it is plain that that could not provide anything like so effective a solution unless the public were compelled to use it. That I do not think acceptable. My right hon. Friend and I think it may well be right that the road should be sunk where it crosses the Meadow except where it must rise to cross the Cherwell. We are ready to consider any measures which will reduce the impact of the road on the Meadow.A letter setting out my conclusions in full has been sent to the Oxford City Council and I have invited them to submit proposals for altering their development plan accordingly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science when he expects to receive the report of the Wilson Committee on Noise.

My noble Friend expects to receive the report of the committee on the Problem of Noise during the latter part of this year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether, in future, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research will issue its Register of Research in the Human Sciences annually; whether he is satisfied with the field of human sciences covered by the 1960–61 Report; and whether he will make a statement.

The Register of Research in the Human Sciences, 1960–61, compiled by the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, is published today by H.M. Stationery Office and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. It is the intention to publish such Registers from time to time but the frequency of publication has not yet been decided.The compilers of the Register have tried to make it as complete as possible: the Preface invites all who have suggestions for improving any future editions to write to the Director of the Laboratory.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, for the last convenient year, the proportions of central government funds which are represented respectively by direct taxation, indirect taxation, employees' social insurance contributions and employers' social insurance contributions; and, in

PERCENTAGES OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT CURRENT REVENUE
—				Direct taxes	Social* security contributions	Indirect taxes	Other†
Belgium	…	…	…	28	28	40	4
France	…	…	…	19	28	51	2
W. Germany	…	…	…	27	26	39	8
Italy	…	…	…	45		42	13
Netherlands	…	…	…	38	24	31	7
United Kingdom	…	…	…	35	11	43	11
* Comparable figures for employees' and employers' contributions are not available.
† Property income and current transfers from abroad. In accordance with international practice death duties are treated as capital transfers and excluded from current revenue.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has not yet taken steps to improve the visibility at the

The percentage contributions in 1960 to the total revenue of the Central Government (including the National Insurance Funds) were as follows:

	Per cent.
Direct Taxes on income	39
Indirect taxes	37
Employees' National Insurance and Health contributions	7
Employers' National Insurance and Health contributions	6
Other revenue	11

The figure for employee's contributions includes the contributions of self-employed and non-employed persons. Other revenue includes death duties, trading income and rents, dividends and interest. International comparisons of this type are usually made for central and local governments combined in order to minimise the effect of constitutional differences. The 1960 figures on that basis for the member countries of the European Economic Community (except Luxembourg) with comparable figures for the United Kingdom are given in the table below:corner at Roch Gate on the Haverfordwest to St. David's road.

This is the responsibility of the county council as highway authority. It is for them to determine what priority should be given to this scheme in comparison with other small schemes in their area.

asked the Minister of Transport how many A and B licences have been issued in Stirlingshire since 1945.

1 regret that this information is not available in the form asked for and could not be obtained even in part except at a disproportionate cost in time and labour. If the hon. Member would care to let me know what he has in mind, however, I will see if I can help him.