asked the Minister of Labour what was the ratio of wholly unemployed boys of 18 years and under to the number of notified unfilled vacancies for boys in Glasgow and Birmingham, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

At mid-April for every 100 unemployed boys, there were 74 vacancies in Glasgow and 322 in Birmingham.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the ratio of wholly unemployed boys of 18 years and under to the number of notified unfilled vacancies for boys in Scotland and the Midlands, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

At mid-April, 1962, for every 100 wholly unemployed boys there were 66 unfilled vacancies in Scotland and 762 in the Midlands.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the increase or decrease in the number of boys under 18 years of age in employment in Scotland between 1957 and the latest available date.

There was a decrease of 2,000 between 1957 and end-May, 1961.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the reduction in the number of persons employed in the mining industry of Scotland between 1948 and the latest available date.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to coal mining; between 1948 and 1961 the numbers employed in the industry fell by 8,300. Tribute should be paid to the National Coal Board for their success in finding alternative employment for displaced miners.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply he has sent to the Town Clerk of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in reply to his letter regarding contracts for workshops for the blind.

I have sent the hon. Member a copy of my reply.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the doubts which have arisen in the minds of work-people, whose wages and conditions are governed by Whitley Councils and other conciliatory machinery, arising out of the action of the Government in regard to the decisions of these bodies during the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the powers and functions of these councils in order to remove any misunderstanding.

The powers and functions of Whitley Councils and similiar bodies are set out in their constitutions. They vary according to the circumstances of each case and the wishes of the parties concerned. In addition to the discussion of remuneration and other conditions of employment, their constitutions frequently provide for consideration of a variety of other subjects such as machinery for settling disputes, recruitment and training, further education and the promotion of greater working efficiency. No action has been taken by the Government in any way inconsistent with the exercise by these bodies of the functions provided in the constitutions by which they are governed.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the average weekly earnings of dockers at the present time: and how they compare with 1951 and 1939, respectively.

The average weekly earnings of registered daily workers in the last quarter of 1961 were £15 8s. 11d. In the last quarter of 1951 they were £9 15s. 3d., and in the last quarter of 1942, which is the earliest comparable period available £6 7s. 7d.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers of school leavers between December, 1961, and the latest available date who entered em- ployment in the North-East region of England in each of the following categories, namely, apprenticeship to skilled occupation, employment leading to professional qualifications, clerical employment, employment with training not

The figures for the period 1st December, 1961, to 30th April, 1962, are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the drift of people away from the Crook area in search of employment; and what action he proposes to take in relation to their position.

I am aware that their has been some decline in the population. The Government are already doing all they can to encourage industrial development in Crook and the surrounding area.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the estimated loss of jobs in Scotland in each of the last five years; and what was the number of new jobs created in each of those years.

Following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to announce his conclusions, resulting from the study which has been carried out in his Department, of the differential training levy imposed on industrial firms in France, and the possibility of introducing a similar levy in this country to stimulate industrial training and to spread its costs more equitably.

My studies of the French scheme make it clear that it depends for its success, among other things, on the substantially different arrangements for industrial training and taxation there and I am not proposing, in present circumstances, to take these studies further.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what estimate he has made of the cost per unit of electricity which would be produced by a power station employing the latest advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactor as compared with the cost per unit of electricity produced by the latest conventional coal-fired power station.

Assuming a 20-year life, 75 per cent. load factor and 6 per cent. interest charge, the Atomic Energy Authority estimates that an advanced gas-cooled reactor station of two 500 mw. reactors would produce electricity at rather less than ·5d. per unit, excluding the recovery of development expenditure. This should fall to ·45d. per unit and probably lower as the reactor system is developed further and larger reactors built. If the load factor was taken as 85 per cent the unit cost would be reduced by about 0·04d. If in addition the station life was taken to be 30 years a further reduction of 0·03d. would result.These estimates assume that the overheads of industry and the A.E.A. in connection with advanced gas-cooled reactors are spread over a series of stations.For estimates of the current cost per unit of electricity from coal-fired stations, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) on 19th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science when it is proposed to move the National Chemical Laboratory.

The provision of additional accommodation for the National Chemical Laboratory is under consideration. No decision has been made regarding the possibility of moving it to a new site.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made by his Department towards development of a satisfactory means of destroying wood pigeons.

Organised shooting and systematic nest destruction remain the more effective methods if carried out on a wide enough scale. Experiments by the Ministry's scientists show that wood pigeons can be successfully narcotised but this involves risks to protected and game birds. Experiments are continuing to see how far these risks can be reduced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the reasons for the present slack demand for home-killed beef which results in the rates of guaranteed payment to producers rising again to over 9d. a pound deadweight; to what extent imports of beef from Yugoslavia and other new sources have affected the market; and whether butchers are passing on the benefit of current buying prices to consumers.

Wholesale prices of home-killed beef in recent weeks have been at about the same level as last year in spite of a slightly higher level of marketings. Imports of Yugoslavian beef have been on a small scale only in relation to total marketing and it is impossible to say to what extent these imports have influenced demand for the home product; but in recent weeks Yugoslavian beef has been commanding a higher price than a year ago. There are no supplies of any significance from other new sources. For the first three months of this year, imports from all sources totalled 71,000 tons compared with 70,000 in the same period last year. Home supplies have totalled 235,000 tons compared with 216,000 tons last year. My information on retail prices is that these are generally slightly lower than a year ago, particularly for forequarter cuts.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps are being taken to provide light transport aircraft for the Royal Air Force; and on what date Operational Requirement 351 was issued to certain aircraft manufacturers.

An order is being placed for a military version of the Avro 748 to meet the requirement for a light cargo aircraft.As to Operational Requirement 351, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) on 26th February, 1962.

asked the Minister of Aviation if Her Majesty's Government will investigate the source of the two major explosions which shook a number of houses in Cardiff at about 3.45 p.m. on Wednesday, 9th May.

It seems probable that they were caused by an aircraft flying through the sound barrier over South Wales for research and development purposes.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what action has been taken by his Department during the past two years to ensure sympathetic treatment for those in North Staffordshire who suffer from pneumoconiosis; to what extent, during examinations, the benefit of doubt is given to the sufferer; and what further action he intends to take.

The determination of individual claims under the Industries Injuries Acts has been placed by Parliament with the independent statutory authorities. I have no reason to suppose that claimants on account of pneumoconiosis, in common with all other claimants, do not receive sympathetic treatment in the application of the law to their claims.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether the National Insurance Advisory Committee has yet reported on his proposed Regulations relaxing the conditions for credits for seasonal workers during off-season unemployment.

Yes. The Committee has approved the draft Regulations, which have now been made. They were laid before Parliament as the National Insurance (Contributions) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations, 1962, together with the Committee's Report, on Friday last, and come into operation today.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the total amount of interest paid by the National Coal Board since 1st January, 1947; and how much of this has been paid to the former coal owners.

Between 1st January, 1947, and 31st March, 1962, the National Coal Board paid £278 million interest on capital liabilities to the Exchequer, of which £137 million was in respect of vesting liabilities. The Board also paid £63 million in reimbursement of interim income paid by the Exchequer to former colliery owners.

asked the Minister of Power (1) whether the survey of Yorkshire by the Opencast Division of the National Coal Board, conducted to ascertain coal reserves near the surface, has now been completed; and what it has revealed;(2) whether surveys of other county coalfields have been conducted recently by the Opencast Division of the National Coal Board; and with what results.

I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power (1) in view of the fact that no anthracite deposits are available in Yorkshire to be mined by opencast mining methods and that there is no general shortage of coals of the type produced by opencast mining, he will now issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to slow down production from opencast sites in Yorkshire and halt the procedure for seeking authorisations;(2) when he intends to make a fresh review of the need for maintaining opencast coal output at its present level;(3) if he will refuse to authorise further extensions of opencast coal mining pending a conclusion to the problem of pit closures.

The National Coal Board keeps under regular review the likely balance between the demand for particular coals and their supply from both deep-mined and opencast production. This balance is among the considerations taken into account before any new site is authorised for opencast working. I have already told the House that opencast production in 1962 is now expected to be less than in 1961. It is still too soon to determine the level of opencast production in 1963 but, if the present trends in demand for coal and in deep-mined production continue, it is probable that the Board will be able next year further to reduce the level of opencast production. It is also probable that during the remainer of 1962 only a limited number of applications for new sites will be necessary, and that these will mostly relate to sites containing coals for which there is a particular need or to which other special circumstances apply.

asked the Minister of Power when it is estimated that the seven opencast sites now in operation in York- shire will cease production if worked to exhaustion.

I am told by the National Coal Board that three sites will cease production this year. The others will continue for varying periods, the longest being about five years.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that it is the policy of the National Union of Mineworkers to restrict opencast coal output, whether he will give an assurance that he will consult them before granting authorisation for new opencast sites.

The Opencast Coal Act, 1958, gives to all interested organisations the opportunity to make representations before opencast working is authorised at any site.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to increase the supply of gamma globulin for use during early pregnancy as a precaution against German measles with the risk of congenital abnormalities, so that the full dose may be generally available on medical advice.

My right hon. Friend has asked the Medical Research Council to assess the national requirement of gamma globulin for protection against rubella and other purposes. Meanwhile supplies are being imported.

asked the Minister of Health what superannuation benefits will be available, under the proposals to deal with redundancy contained in Circular H.M.(62)12, to National Health Service staff made redundant under the age of 55 years, who have had twenty or more years of contributory service.

None, apart from existing arrangements for return of contributions.

asked the Minister of Health whether the working party in his Department which has been examining the working of the law relating to poisons and medicines has completed its work; whether he has received its report; and when he proposes to publish it.

This is a study by officials, which is not for publication.

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has to amend the terms of service of general practitioners providing maternity medical services.

In presenting consolidating regulations shortly I propose to take the opportunity to eliminate the specification of certain detailed clinical requirements. The change will not affect the doctor's obligation to provide all necessary services.

asked the Minister of Health if he is seeking information on whether or not the presence of stannous fluoride in toothpaste gives additional protection against dental decay.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if it will be possible to use the material prepared but never used to alert the public of the dangers to young children from milk following the Russian nuclear tests should dangerous levels be reached following the present tests.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total of stocks of processed milk available for issue to babies under 1 year old if the level of risk from the United States nuclear test fall-out is reached; how soon after notification distribution could be operated; and how long these stocks would last.

About three weeks' stocks could be distributed immediately.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths occurred within one month of smallpox vaccination in the recent outbreak; and how many of these deaths were attributed to complications caused by vaccination.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. Of the 17 deaths mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Pontefract (Mr. Harper) on 11th May six have so far been ascertained to have occurred within one month of vaccination.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of physiotherapists in the West Ham hospitals and of the suffering this is causing to patients; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.

I am aware that numbers in post have been at a lower level since 1960 than previously. My right hon. Friend proposes to study with the board the needs of this group and the best means of meeting them.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to publish the report of the inquiry held by the regional hospital board in regard to Mrs. Watson, an in-patient of the Oldham Boundary Park Hospital; and what recommendations he proposes as a result of the report.

The board has not yet sent me the report.

asked the Minister of Health what guidance or advice he has now given to the management side of the Nurses' and Midwives' Whitley Council in connection with their study of the nurses' salary structure.

I have nothing to add to my statement in last Monday's debate.

asked the Minister of Health if he will agree to the request of the Liverpool Corporation to acquire the site and buildings of the Royal Liverpool Babies' Hospital at Woolton in view of the great need for aged persons' and children's accommodation in the city, details of which were sent to him on 10th May, 1962.

My right hon. Friend has not completed his consideration of this case.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the intimidation of a medical witness at the Hollymoor and Rubery Hospital Group following the recent inquiry into affairs at that group, even though the tribunal has not yet reported its findings; if he will bring this development to the attention of the tribunal, and take steps to protect all witnesses at the hospital who gave evidence; and if he will make a statement.

I am bringing the alleged circumstances to the notice of the Committee of Inquiry, so that it may have the opportunity to take them into consideration before completing its report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what policy he has adopted to ensure a substantial augmentation of the technical staff, building labour and materials essential for any increased speed of slum clearance in Oldham.

I have arranged for one of my senior officials to visit the council to discuss the obstacles to be overcome to secure an acceleration of its slum clearance programme. I shall consider what the next steps should be in the light of these discussions, which will cover the points mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the nature of his pre-Easter communication to Oldham local authority in regard to the slum clearance problem; and what are the reasons for the delay in the visit by his officials to ascertain the local difficulties.

My Department wrote to the clerk of the council on 13th April to say that I wanted to get a clear picture of the obstacles to securing an acceleration of its slum clearance programme, to see how they can be overcome, and to assess what consequent measure of expansion will be possible. It was suggested that the most useful first step would be for one of my senior officials to visit the council to discuss these matters. The clerk of the council acknowledged this letter, and another letter was sent on 17th May to say that I had appointed an officer to conduct these discussions on my behalf and that he would be getting in touch with the clerk to arrange a convenient date for a visit to take place shortly after Whitsun.Oldham is one of a number of authorities to be visited, and there has been and will be no unnecessary delay in carrying out the programme of visits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that land being used for the stocking of opencast and deep-mined coals conforms to his standards of good planning; and what requirements he makes regarding the restoration of such land when the coal has been lifted.

Proposals to use land for stocking coal are subject to development control under the Planning Acts. It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to impose such conditions as they think fit when giving planning permission, including conditions to secure the proper restoration of the land. Advice on conditions, some of which may be appropriate for coal stocking sites, is given in my Department's memorandum on The Control of Mineral Working.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent his Department is consulted on the layout of coal stocking sites, and on the subsequent layout after lifting and clearance of the site.

The layout of coal stocking sites, and their restoration for agricultural or other uses afterwards, are primarily matters for the developer and the local planning authority when dealing with applications for planning permission. My Department is thus not normally consulted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what objections he has received from farmers, local authorities, or other bodies, about the planning aspects of the stocking of coal.

I have received no objections recently. Since the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, came into force objections, mostly based on damage to amenity have been made on seven applications which have come before the Minister.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many now jobs have been provided in the Lesmahagow and Carluke areas of Lanarkshire in the last six months; and how many are expected to arise during the next six months.

No projects in Lesmahagow or Carluke for which industrial development certificates are required have created new jobs in the last six months or are expected to do so in the next six months. The areas will, however, benefit from developments in the North Lanarkshire group of employment exchange areas, where there are now over 7,500 jobs in prospect from new building and other developments reported to the Board of Trade. About 3,000 of these are likely to arise within the next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving to the method of financing the National Research and Development Corporation.

My right hon. Friend has at present no proposals for altering the method of financing the Corporation as provided for in the Development of Inventions Acts, 1948 to 1958.

asked the Minister of Education what financial contribution will be made for the financial year 1962–63 for each of the colleges of advanced technology by industry by way of industry-based students and industrial contribution to research, respectively.

The total amount of tuition and residential fees receivable in 1962–63 from students at the colleges of advanced technology is estimated to be £660,000. Without asking the colleges for a good deal of detailed information I cannot say what proportion of this sum will be paid by industry, but since the majority of the students are industry based, the proportion is certainly high. Industrial firms make a further contribution by supporting the industry-based students during the whole of their course, and by paying wages to the college-based students during their training periods in industry. I am collecting information about the contributions made by industry towards research, and will send it to the hon. Member when it is available.

asked the Minister of Education what are the estimated total costs for each of the colleges of advanced technology for 1962–63.

The table below shows the estimated net recurrent expenditure at each of the colleges of advanced technology in 1962–63, after allowing for income receivable from fees and sources other than Ministry grant. In addition, capital expenditure will be incurred on new buildings and equipment, of which the share borne by grant from my Department is estimated to be about £2 million.

asked the Minister of Education what were the pupil-teacher ratios in maintained schools, for juniors and for seniors, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for independent schools at the latest available date.

The latest date for which the information requested by the hon. Member is available refers to January, 1961. It is set out in Table 1 of "Statistics of Education 1961, Part I", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of students at present taking sandwich courses in England and Wales

In November, 1961, 12,907 students were enrolled in sandwich courses leading to recognised qualifications in grant-aided establishments of further education in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people are in approved schools because of truancy.

Of the 1,520 pupils in approved schools on 30th April last, 55 boys and 26 girls had been committed for truancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people, after examination and investigation in approved schools, have been found to be mentally defective.

During the twelve months ended 30th April last, seven approved school pupils were certified, after due examination, as mentally defective.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a direction to the British Transport Commission to include in its annual report details concerning the annual production of castings in foundries owned or controlled by it, from 1950 to 1962, showing the figures for the various types of castings produced.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the names of the firms situate in the Republic of Ireland who have manufactured British Army battledress for his Department during the last ten years; and if he will detail the annual value to each firm indicating the type of battle-dress produced during such period.

It would be contrary to practice to disclose the names of the firms to whom contracts have been awarded or their details. Apart from contracts placed during 1961–62, no British Army battledress has been manufactured in the Republic of Ireland during the past ten years.