asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the current targetting programme of Royal Air Force Bomber Command.

These are secret military plans and I cannot discuss them in any detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the annual cost of the Meteorological Office.

About £5½ million of which some £1¼ million is recovered from other Government Departments and outside bodies for meteorological services.

asked the Minister of Transport what general directions he has given to the British Transport Commission as to changes in their accounting system designed to improve their ability to assess the profitability, or otherwise, of different parts of the railway system.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what stage of the planning of the Kingsway Subway has been reached; and what progress can be expected in the near future.

The planning of the scheme is complete. Tenders for the constructional work have been received and are under consideration by the London County Council.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have now to be taken by Her Majesty's Government to ratify the Final Act of the International Conference for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1962.

Some amendment of the existing legislation will be necessary. The decisions made by the International Conference are at present being reviewed with this in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the reason for the layer of petroleum covering the approaches to Portsmouth at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 13th June, which appeared to be flowing down-wind round Gilkicker Point and settling on Southsea beach; and what action has been taken against the offenders.

Neither my local officers nor the Queen's Harbour Master at Portsmouth have any knowledge of this pollution. If my hon. Friend would send me details of the incident, I will arrange for further inquiries to be made.

asked the Minister of Transport what action has now been taken about the report of the sub committee of the Shipbuilding Advisory Committee.

Since I replied to a similar question by the hon. Member on 14th December last the joint working party which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has set up with both sides of the industry to consider practical measures for improving industrial relations has begun work. Also a further improvement in credit facilities for exports was announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in January.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a further statement of the Government's policy towards British shipping.

The Government continues the policy of vigorous support for and partnership with the shipping industry that the Parliamentary Secretary and I described fully in the debate on 15th February last.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements have been made to ensure that conditions of sea worthiness are complied with on fishing vessels attracting grants under the Sea Fish Industries Bill and built in foreign shipyards.

Any ship, wherever built, Which operates from a United Kingdom port can be inspected by our surveyors to ensure that she is seaworthy.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent lack of public funds is a limiting factor in new road and motorway construction.

So far, the funds available have enabled us to undertake all the important schemes as they were ready to start. For the future, the size and progress of the programme will depend on what proportion of our total economic resources can be devoted to roads. The programme is in fact expanding rapidly, and at a faster rate than total public expenditure.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has asked the Berkshire County Council to treat as a secret document the map showing alternative routes for the M.4 motorway; and if the district councils now being consulted are also bound to secrecy.

Preliminary surveys have suggested several possible lines of route. Before my right hon. Friend can make a scheme he is required by the Highways Act to give due consideration to the requirements of local as well as national planning. We are therefore consulting the local authorities to see which route would command the greatest measure of acceptance among them. Unless we can have confidential discussions of this nature before we publish firm proposals, we cannot avoid causing unnecessary alarm to many who will not in fact be affected by whatever route is finally chosen. If the county council is consulting district councils, my right hon. Friend would expect those consultations to be confidential.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, on the extension of M.l to be constructed, he will ensure that the hard shoulders on each section will have the same appearance.

The hard shoulders throughout this motorway will comply with the Department's standard specification. This requires a paved hard shoulder 10 feet wide with a surface dressing of light-coloured chippings. The appearance may vary according to the type of local stone used for the chippings.

asked the Minister of Labour how many industrial workers left Aberdeen and obtained work in England during the last twelve months; and how many of these have since returned to work in Aberdeen.

I have no information about the total number of industrial workers who left Aberdeen to obtain work in England during the last twelve months, but during the year ended 13th June, 1962, the Aberdeen Employment Exchange placed 478 men and 3 women in jobs in England. I cannot say how many have since returned to work in Aberdeen, but during the year the Exchange placed 6,475 men and women in local jobs.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will revise his table of figures giving the rise in earnings since 1951 of workers employed in the 20 major industries, using as the basis the actual fall in the £ sterling since that date in place of the Index of Retail Prices.

No. The fall in the purchasing power of the £ sterling is not ascertained independently but by reference to the level of prices. In this context the appropriate measure is the Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that an association, the name of which has been submitted to him, has refused to employ any wrestler who joins the Variety Artistes' Federation, what further steps he is taking to prevent this victimisation by requiring consultations.

Our officers have discussed this matter with Joint Promotions Limited who have told them that the practice to which the hon. Member refers has been discontinued. The Secretary of the Variety Artistes' Federation has been informed accordingly.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people are working short-time or part-time, in addition to those unemployed, and how many have ceased to work overtime in the last twelve months.

At the end of April, 102,300 operatives in manufacturing industry were working short-time. I regret that comparable figures are not available for part-time workers. At the same date the number of operatives working overtime in manufacturing industry was 1,613,500, or 210,000 less than in May, 1961. Figures for April, 1961, are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement regarding the arrangements made with the Minister of Development, Trade, Industry and Labour in Barbados, and the London Transport Executive, about the employment of Barbadians in Great Britain.

The London Transport Executive has co-operated for some years with the Barbadian authorities in the recruitment of men for employment on the London Transport system. Employment vouchers will be necessary, and will be issued by the Ministry, in respect of men recruited under these arrangements who arrive here on or after 1st July.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further progress has been made in his negotiations with the member states of the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement.

; My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal is now in Brussels. He hopes to make a statement next week.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the situation in Laos and the intentions of Her Majesty's Government regarding the retention of a token military force in Thailand

A Government of National Union has now taken office and the cessation of hostilities throughout the Kingdom has been proclaimed. My noble Friend and Mr. Gromyko, as Co-Chairmen of the Geneva Conference on Laos, have now invited all the Governments represented at that Conference to resume discussions in Geneva on 2nd July for the completion of an international agreement.Our token force was sent into Thailand at the invitation of the Government of that country because Thailand considered itself menaced by events on its border. Although I am happy to report such good progress in Laos, we have not yet reached the point where Thai fears have been fully dissipated.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will state the number of long service pension schemes in force for other ranks of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, respectively, and the total number of such schemes; what were the original weekly basic rates for able seamen, privates and aircraftmen, respectively, when the schemes were first introduced; what increases have been made in these basic rates; when the increases were made; and what are the present weekly amounts of each pension.

The following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Defence if he will state the number of non-attributable pension schemes in force for the widows of other ranks of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, respectively, and the total number of such schemes; what were the original weekly basic rates for widows of able seamen, privates and aircraft

asked the Minister of Defence what recent consultations he has had with the United States Secretary for Defence about the maintenance of nuclear deterrents by individual members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

I discussed the nuclear problems of the N.A.T.O. Alliance with Mr. McNamara last month. We were in complete agreement on the general issues involved. Our views are men, respectively; when the schemes were first introduced; what increases have been made in these basic rates; when the increases were made; and what are the present weekly amounts of each pension.

The following is the information:reflected in the communiqué following the meeting of N.A.T.O. Ministers at Athens.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what reply has been given by the Government of the Republic of South Africa to representations made for compensation to Mr. Ganyile and his two companions who were kidnapped by South African police from Basutoland and imprisoned in South Africa.

I told the House on 29th January that we understood Mr. Ganyile was making a claim for compensation from the South African Government. Our Ambassador in Pretoria has confirmed that Mr. Ganyile has instituted such proceedings.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what request for help in dealing with an invasion of locusts has been received from the Iranian Government; and what action has been taken.

In response to an urgent request from the Iranian Government, Her Majesty's Government have undertaken the transport by air of nearly 19 tons of anti-locust insecticide ordered by the Iranian Government from this country. The locust invasion in Southern Iran has been particularly severe this summer; and since prompt counter measures against the locusts are essential, the airlift was arranged without delay during the Whitsun Recess. The cost of chartering civil aircraft was £9,900. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote that amount by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further plans he has to assist in the repair and maintenance of agricultural roads.

The powers exercised by the Ministry under the Agriculture Act, 1957, empower us to pay Farm Improvement Scheme grant only on the making and improvement of roads. The same is broadly true of the legislation governing grants for roads in livestock rearing areas. I do not think it would be appropriate to extend these powers to include grants for ordinary repair and maintenance work.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have now received intimation of deferred release; how many have appealed; and what proportion of appeals so far investigated have been allowed by the Hardship Advisory Committee.

9,912 National Service men have been given notice of retention for an additional six months' service under the provisions of the Army Reserve Act, 1962. 1,195 of these men have so far submitted appeals against such retention. Not all of these appeals have yet been investigated in full, but of those which have 18 per cent. have been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give directions to ensure that Queen's Regulation 792A is observed in all courts-martial taking place in the British Army of the Rhine.

Queen's Regulation 792A which incorporates the provisions of a 1961 Army Council Instruction, has only recently been issued. I am satisfied that it will be observed without need of special directions from me.

So far as possible Army medical officers do vaccinate and inoculate families of civil servants in my Department who are posted overseas. Where there is no military medical establishment within reasonable distance of a family's home, the necessary services may be obtained under the National Health Scheme. I have arranged that the charge for the certificate required is recovered by the doctor from my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War why a charge of 5s. per crate for household effects is made to civil servants of his Department who are posted overseas; and why the charge is not refunded when the crates are returned at the destination.

This charge is made towards the cost of delivery of the empty crate. A refund may be claimed when the civil servant arrives at his overseas station. I am, however, examining the necessity for this charge.

asked the Secretary of State for war why the hon. Member for Solihull has received no more than an interim reply to his letter of 9th May in regard to the discharge of Sapper Cole.

My inquiries suggested that the best course would be for Sapper Cole to discuss the question of his discharge with his family, and he has been sent on leave to do this. I will let my hon. Friend know the outcome as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the hon. Member for Solihull has received no more than interim replies to his urgent letter of 14th May in regard to Driver Fookes' discharge.

I am sorry that my hon. Friend should not have had a reply to his letter of 14th May before now. When this soldier first appealed against retention, he produced no evidence in support, and his commanding officer wrote to a building society to obtain evidence on his behalf. The unit were away on exercise when the reply arrived, but the appeal was submitted immediately on their return, and is now under consideration. I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the honourable Member for Solihull has received no more than an acknowledgment to his letter of 8th May in regard to the Territorial Army.

The hon. Gentleman raised a number of far-reaching points in his letter which required detailed study. My hon. Friend has, however replied to him today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far the plans have advanced for the building in Aberdeen of a new commercial college.

Approval has been given to the accommodation to be provided and to the acquisition of part of the site. The local authority are engaged in negotiations for the remainder of the site and are working on the preparation of sketch plans and estimated costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 1d. in June, 1954, and to 15s. l1d. in June, 1957; and what was the comparable figure for May, 1962.

Yes, on the basis of the retail price index. The comparable figure for May, 1962, was 14s.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether sufficient supplies of enriched uranium are available to meet United Kingdom needs.

Supplies of enriched uranium available for the United Kingdom programme are now such that some reduction can be made in the output of the Atomic Energy Authority's diffusion plant at Capenhurst and Her Majesty's Government have decided on this course. The Capenhurst plant, which is in Cheshire, started operations in 1953 and produces enriched uranium for military purposes and for civil research and development. I must make it plain that supplies are fully adequate for the current nuclear deterrent policy which has not changed.

asked the Minister of Education what was the net increase in 1961 in the number of graduate teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools.

The number of graduates in maintained schools increased during the year ended March, 1961, by just over 2,000. The numbers of graduates in service in each of the years 1952–61 are given in Statistics of Education, 1961, Part I, Table 37. Information relating to the period up to 31st March, 1962, will be available at about the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of full-time teachers who discontinued teaching during the latest 12-month period; and how this compares with each of the previous four years.

I would refer the hon. Member to the detailed information on this subject for 1958–61 published in Table 40 of Statistics of Education, 1961, Part I. Further statistics up to 31st March, 1962, wild be available about the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what is his general intention concerning the 153 hospitals in the Birmingham Region in regard to which better provision will be made for their present work under the schemes elaborated in his Hospital Plan for England and Wales, Command Paper No. 1604:

When such provision has been made, they will be disposed of, if no longer required for the hospital service; but I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 49 of the Command Paper.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now studied the report of the inquiry in regard to the case of Mrs. Watson, a patient at Boundary Park Hospital, Oldham; and what recommendations he has to make on the report and as to its publication.

I have received the report. I accept its conclusions and recommendations and have asked the regional hospital board to inform me by 31st July of the action taken. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library; I am sending the hon. Member a copy which omits the clinical details and personal particulars about the patient. In this form the report is also being made available to the Press by the Board.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what were the amounts spent in interest charges by the county borough council of Sunderland, for each of the years 1951 to 1961.

The figures^* are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the cost to Treasury funds of applications received to date for re-equipment grants under the terms of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959.

Up to 22nd June the Cotton Board received applications covering expenditure, incurred or proposed, to the amount of £62 million; assuming all these projects go ahead, the Government's contribution towards them will be about £15½ million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what his latest estimate is of the cost to Treasury funds for the scrapping of machinery under the terms of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959.

My estimate is £11·8 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the loan being made to Sierra Leone.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have agreed to make a loan of £35 million to the Government of Sierra Leone under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act, 1949, and the Agreement is expected to be signed in Freetown today.This is in fulfilment of an undertaking given by Her Majesty's Government in May, 1960, in connection with Sierra Leone's independence.This loan will be used to pay for goods and services from Britain. In the usual way, some transactions financed under the loan will be for the account of the Sierra Leone Government for developing their economy. Exceptionally, the loan will also be used to finance purchases from the United Kingdom which are required by private importers and the Sierra Leone Government will consequently receive an equivalent sum which it can use to meet its own local expenditure.