asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many of the plants under supervision by the Alkali Inspectorate because of scheduling under the Alkali, etc., Works Regulation Act, 1906, are situated in the counties of Kent and Essex, respectively; and how many of these are cement plants.

In Kent 56 works, including 10 cement works, and in Essex 65 works, including 4 cement works, are registered under the Alkali Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many processes are scheduled under the Alkali, etc., Works Regulation Act, 1906, for supervision by the Alkali Inspectorate.

In England and Wales 3,180 processes at 2,047 works are registered under the Alkali Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT

The following table shows the number of trawlers built in England and Wales and Scotland separately and the total cost of these vessels including the owners' payments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table setting out for each port the number of vessels built, the amount of grant and loan, and the repayment and arrears to date authorised by the White Fish Authority under the grant and loan scheme.

The following table shows for each port the number of trawlers built and the amount of grant and loan payments. A total figure for loan repayments and for arrears of capital and interest is included.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish the estimated national average of weekly earnings for men in the top quartile of the returns set out in the June 1961 issue of the

The following is the answer:

asked the Lord Privy Seal what assistance Her Majesty's Government propose to give the Government of Togo in their efforts to alleviate distress caused by the serious famine in that country.

Her Majesty's Government propose to make a gift of four Landrovers to be delivered at Lome at a cost not exceeding £3,000 to assist in the distribution of foodstuffs. It is proposed to meet the expenditure from Sub-Head N of the Foreign Grants and Loans Vote 1962–63. If payment has to be made before these funds are made available by Parliament, an advance will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Ltd. first built houses at Craigiebank, Dundee; what was the capital cost then; and if he will give an estimate of the aggregate amount received in rent since that time.

The company's scheme of 300 houses at Craigiebank, Dundee, was built during 1927 and 1928 at an inclusive capital cost of about £150,000. Since that time the aggregate amount received in rent has been about £250,000. The company's income from rent has not been sufficient year by year to cover the outgoings on loan charges and maintenance and management costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what conversations the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Ltd. had with their tenants in Dundee before announcing their proposed rent increases.

There were no prior conversations with the tenants of the Company's 300 houses in Dundee. Letters were sent to the tenants, however, on 3rd April, explaining that it was proposed to increase the rents of their houses with effect from 28th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage increase in rents being proposed by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Ltd., in respect of their houses in Dundee.

The average weekly increase of 5s. 9d. (without allowing for rebates) represents a 44 per cent. increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, before approving any rent increases for houses belonging to the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Ltd., he will consult the Dundee Corporation in order to achieve uniformity with local authority houses.

The Housing Company's decision to increase the rents of their houses in Dundee already has my approval. Prior to this increase the rents of the houses were not uniform with those of Dundee Corporation (which are considerably lower) and it did not seem to me to be useful to consult with the Corporation who do not in any event nominate tenants to these houses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what consideration he has given to the recent findings of Dr. Walter G. Smith, of Sunderland Technical College, on the subject of asthma, a copy of which has been sent to him by the honourable Member for Dunfermline; and whether he will now consult medical research units to secure the provision, as quickly as possible, of a new cure for asthma.

I have not yet received the report to which the hon. Member refers, but I will certainly consider it when it is sent to me. The Medical Research Council is already studying the problem of asthma and is always ready to consider new proposals for research on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will investigate the present practice of vehicle examination by his examiners with a view to expanding its scope and applying it more strictly, with particular reference to the control of diesel fumes.

Ways of increasing the scope and effectiveness of vehicle examinations by my technical officers are continually under review. One result is the proposed series of nationwide checks on dark smoke in the early summer.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will appoint a small committee to inquire into means of strengthening co-operation between Ministry of Transport vehicle examiners and the police in controlling road vehicle pollution.

While the arrangements as to the division of responsibilities vary from area to area, there is already close co-operation throughout the country. I do not think a committee on the lines proposed by the hon. Member is required.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to encourage the regular and systematic servicing of all diesel vehicles.

In addition to the steps taken by manufacturers' servicing organisations, my technical staff already do much to educate operators, drivers and maintenance staff in the importance of correct maintenance and adjustment of the engine. The possibility of further efforts is under investigation.

asked the Minister of Education what action he proposes to take on the recommendation contained in the report on transport education in the region of the London and Home Counties Regional Advisory Council for Technological Education, details of which have been sent to him, that more courses should be provided in traffic engineering at the University of London and Technical College and more full-time staff should be appointed and provided with opportunities for research and the writing of text books.

I understand that at London University traffic engineering is available as an option in some of the civil engineering courses and that there is a post-graduate course in the subject at Imperial College. Among the institutions with which the London and Home Counties Regional Advisory Council for Technological Education is directly concerned, specialised courses in traffic engineering are available at seven colleges and an eighth intends to provide a course in the near future. The Brighton Technical College has appointed a full-time lecturer in the subject.As the universities, the colleges of advanced technology and a number of leading technical colleges draw their students from the country as a whole, my hon. Friend may care to know that traffic engineering is available as an optional subject in civil engineering courses in some universities outside London and it is open to colleges of advanced technology and technical colleges to propose similar provision in both full-time and part-time courses. I understand that there are post-graduate courses at King's College, Newcastle, and in the graduate School of Highway Engineering at Birmingham University, and that at Oxford research is being conducted in traffic engineering with the support of the Institute of Transport.As regards the colleges which come within the purview of my Department the provision of opportunities for research and similar work is a matter for the colleges and local education authorities concerned. As they are aware, I am anxious to encourage work of this kind.