asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will issue instructions to insemination centres that Charollais semen should not be used on heifers.

No. A limitation of this kind would unduly restrict the trials we are making with the Charollais as a crossing bull.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is aware that London Airport is the only airport in Europe which issues boarding cards

asked the Minister of Aviation what are the reasons for increasing the fees for pilots' licences.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given today to similar Questions on this subject.

asked the Minister of Aviation what were the fatal accident which do not fit into jacket breast pockets; and whether he will see that the necessary alteration is made for the convenience of passengers.

The design and size of boarding cards is decided by the various airline operators. My Department has no power to prescribe such alterations as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the anticipated number of aircraft movements at London and Gatwick airports, together with the number of passengers passing through, for 1962 and 1965, respectively.

The latest forecasts of aircraft and passenger movements for 1962 and 1965 are:statistics for travel by air within the United Kingdom during 1961.

In 1961 there were no accidents within the United Kingdom to aircraft engaged on public transport flights. Five fatal accidents occurred within the United Kingdom to aircraft on journeys other than public transport. The number of persons killed in these accidents was 11.In addition, there were seven accidents in which 12 persons were killed, on flights which included training, banner towing—now prohibited—and photography.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consultations took place with the Governments of Bermuda, the Bahamas and Jamaica before he agreed to the Cunard-British Overseas Airways Corporation merger.

None. The formation of the joint company was the result of a commercial negotiation between B.O.A.C and Cunard.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will take powers to modify the validity of a licence granted by the Air Transport Licensing Board to an air company if that company is taken over by another company.

No. It is for the Air Transport Licensing Board to decide in the first instance whether a licence should be revoked or modified and representations to this effect may be made to the Board.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the cost of abolishing the earnings rule for all widows' pensions.

£7 million a year for all widows' benefits, on the assumption that the present earnings rule would continue to be applied to a widow beneficiary on becoming a retirement pensioner.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widowed mothers are affected by the earnings rule; and if he will take steps to relieve them from the deductions at present being made from their pensions because their earnings exceed £5 a week.

There are some 150,000 widowed mothers of whom it is estimated that about 20,000 have their allowances affected by the earnings rule at any one time. As regards the second part of the Question my right hon. Friend has no proposals to make.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the number of persons who. during the past five years, have been disqualified from receiving part of their pension by reason of their failure to claim within the period of three months after attaining the age of 70 years: and whether, in deciding whether or not there is good cause for delay in making a claim, consideration is given to the physical and mental condition of the claimant, whether he is illiterate and the nature and place of his occupation.

I regret that the figure asked for in the first part of the Question is not available, but the number of such cases is not large. As the hon. and learned Member will know, decisions about right to National Insurance benefits are made by the independent adjudicating authorities appointed under the Acts, which take into account all relevant factors including such matters as those mentioned in the Question.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that advertisements offering central heating systems must include a warning to customers that installation would involve an increased rating assessment.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the Gas Council that advertisements offering central heating systems must include a warning to customers that installation would involve an increased rating assessment.

The answer to both Questions is "No".

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to prevent the permanent closure of the Bynea steelworks, Llanelly, at which 750 workmen are employed and for whom no alternative employment is available within reach of their homes.

My powers to take the steps suggested would, under Section 5 (4) of the 1953 Act, involve accepting substantial responsibility for these steelworks. I could only exercise them if it appeared to me, after consulting the Iron and Steel Board, that the production facilities in question ought to be kept in use in the national interest. This is not the case. The Iron and Steel Board tells me there is ample capacity at other British steel plants to meet the foreseeable demand for the products of the Bynea Steelworks.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the prospects of the steel, sheet and tinplate works in South Wales and Monmouthshire; and which of the older works will close and what will be the number of workers rendered redundant when the Spencer works at Llanwern comes into full production.

I am told by the Iron and Steel Board that the modern wide strip mills producing sheet and tinplate are at present working nearly to capacity, and demand remains strong. The Spencer works will add greatly to the capacity and as often happens when large new units are brought into use, demand may at first be insufficient for the available capacity. The position is difficult in the steel works which formerly supplied the old hand mills. Some of these works are bound to close but it is at present impossible to say which will do so, or to forecast how many men will be affected when the plant at Llanwern comes into full production.

asked the Minister of Power how many persons there are on the technical staff in the petroleum division of his Department; and how many of them were formerly employed by oil companies.

Six; all of whom were formerly employed by oil companies.

asked the Minister of Power if he will specify the increase in the published price of minimum bulk load of medium fuel oil, excluding tax, between 1949 and 1961, taking 1949 as a 100.

After adjustment for the tax imposed during 1961, the increase between 1949 and 1961 was about 55 per cent.

asked the Minister of Power what proposals have been put to him by the Central Electricity Generating Board, following the Board's first physical examination for a suitable site in the County of Durham for the purpose of building a new power station.

None. The Central Electricity Generating Board has told me that the present estimates of demand in this area show it would be uneconomic to build a new power station in the county. The Board has therefore postponed further consideration of such a project.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of the losses suffered by the industrial consortia in constructing nuclear power stations; and, in view of the difficulties facing this industry, if he will make a statement on the future of the nuclear power programme.

The terms of the contracts under which the consortia build nuclear power stations for the Central Electricity Generating Board are a matter for them and the Board. The Board is ordering One nuclear power station a year, as forecast in the White Paper on the Nuclear Power Programme published in June, 1960.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the consumption of home-produced round softwood for the mines in 1957 and 1960, respectively; and what is the percentage rise or fall between these two years.

I regret I do not have this information but I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the report of the sub-committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee of the Central Health Services Council appointed to advise on the future field of work of the general practitioner relative to the hospital and local authority services.

It is too early to say.

asked the Minister of Health what is the incidence of infectious diseases among immigrants already in this country; and what is being done in connection with health matters about the problem of those living in overcrowded conditions.

I regret that information about incidence is not available. The powers of local authorities to deal with living conditions in houses in multiple occupation have been greatly strengthened by the Housing Act, 1961.

asked the Minister of Health how many principals in general practice in Middlesex have employed assistants for more than five years; how many principals have been refused permission to employ assistants as a result of the review by the local executive council; when the last review was completed: and if he will make a statement.

32 and none. The current review will be completed this month. My right hon. Friend is reminding executive councils of their duty to review consents periodically.

asked the Minister of Health what special steps are being taken to prevent the importation into Great Britain of food contaminated by radioactivity as a result of recent nuclear tests.

I am advised that no special steps are necessary.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is inadequate accommodation for immigrants to be medically examined at Folkestone Harbour and that, with the coming into operation on 1st July of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, the situation will become critical in view of the greater number of persons it will be necessary to examine; and what disdiscussions he has bad with those responsible for providing the accommodation with a view to remedying this matter.

Yes, as a result of discussions I understand further accommodation will be provided shortly.

asked the Minister of Health how many dental practitioners are practising, according to the latest information, in the United Kingdom within the National Health Service; and how many of them hold a Commonwealth qualification in dentistry.

11,498 in Great Britain on 31st December, 1961. I do not know how many of these held a Commonwealth qualification in dentistry but of the 16,619 dentists currently included in the Dentists Register 875 have such a qualification.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that about half a million people in this country suffer from diabetes; whether to combat the disease he will link the mass X-ray services with the two-minute test for diabetes; and when he anticipates that drugs in pill form will be available to reduce blood sugar.

I am aware that local surveys indicate a figure of this order; it is not desirable to link the two procedures; tablets are already available for suitable cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the anxiety caused to hospital management committees in Wales by the instructions issued by the Chairman of the Welsh Regional Board concerning expenditure in 1962–63; and whether he will state the hospital services he proposes should be curtailed if the revenue restrictions are to be observed.

As the Chairman has explained in a later letter, no curtailment of the services is intended.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of the registrar vacancies in the areas of the Manchester and Sheffield Regional Hospital Boards were filled in 1961 by graduates of universities outside the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Fifty per cent.

asked the Minister of Health when it is intended to establish a burns unit in Nottingham.

The regional board propose to include a burns unit in the re-modelling of Nottingham General Hospital. This is not expected to start before 1971.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what representations have been made to him by the Royal Institute of Naval Architects about its proposal for the building of a nuclear powered submarine cargo vessel; and if he will draw this to the attention of the Atomic Energy Authority.

None. But if any are made they will receive careful consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science why the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority employs Silver City Airways to run a twice-weekly air service between Manchester, Renfrew and Wick, in view of the fact that these towns already enjoy a British European Airways' service on every day except Sundays.

This is a matter of the Authority's day-to-day administration, in regard to which my noble Friend is prohibited by Statute from intervening. The Authority tells me, however, that the arrangement does not add to its costs and is a great deal more convenient.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will now state the amount of radioactive iodine in milk in the United Kingdom on each day from 1st June to the latest convenient date.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 28th June.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress has been made in establishing the National Lending Library for Science and the National Reference Library for Science and Invention.

The National Lending Library for Science and Technology, under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, is now almost fully operational. As regards the National Reference Library of Science and Invention, which is to be administered by the British Museum, design work is proceeding for the building, which will provide more space for books than was originally planned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will now estimate the number of science graduates who have left the United Kingdom, including overseas students returning home after training, during the last five years.

The Committee on Scientific Manpower made an estimate, based on general population studies, of the total number of scientists who left

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what researches are being carried out by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research into the use of hydrofoils in ship construction.

Some design studies of hydrofoil craft are being carried out under contract by the Ship Division of the National Physical Laboratory as well as a limited programme of research into the basic characteristics of hydrofoils particularly of advanced fully-cavitating type.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the date of the most recent three tests for radioactive content of reservoirs supplying Oldham Corporation with water; and what were the results.

Oldham Corporation's reservoirs are not included in the Government's monitoring programme and my right hon. Friend has no details of the measurements made by the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Royal Air Force personnel are still waiting for married quarters at the Royal Air Force post at El Adem; when this demand is likely to be met; and whether he will make a statement.

The waiting list for married quarters at El Adem and Tobruk consists, at present, of 156 officers and airmen, of whom 39 have their families with them in private accommodation. 101 prefabricated married quarters will become available for occupation between September this year and March, 1963, and Libyan contractors plan to build 30 houses at Tobruk which we hope to rent. To ease the situation married airmen who have served unaccompanied at El Adem for at least 12 months are transferred to Cyprus for the remainder of their tour, whenever Service requirements allow, so that they can be joined by their families.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why Her Majesty's Royal Marines (Portsmouth Group) Band was engaged to play in Kensington Gardens and Regents Park on Sunday, 17th June, 1962; who engaged the band and under what conditions as regards expense and insurance; what was the cost; for what period the band was away from normal duty at Portsmouth; what period was duty time; and who was the naval authority responsible for approving the engagement.

The band was engaged by the Royal Parks Division of the Ministry of Works to provide music for the general public. It was a private engagement, approved by the Major-General, Royal Marines, Portsmouth, and undertaken in the band's off-duty time on Sunday, 17th June. The entire cost, including insurance, of £79 15s. was paid by the Ministry of Works. The band was not on duty or required for duty at Portsmouth on the day of the engagement.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why Her Majesty's Royal Marines Plymouth Band was engaged to play in the Victoria Embankment Gardens on Wednesday, 13th June, at 12.30 and 7.30; who engaged the band and under what conditions as regards expenses and insurance; what was the cost; for what period the band was away from normal duty at Plymouth; what period was duty time; and who was the naval authority responsbile for approving the engagement.

The band was engaged by the Parks Department of the London County Council to provide music for the general public. The engagement was for the week ending Saturday, 16th June, and was a private engagement approved by the Major-General, Royal Marines, Plymouth. The London County Council paid the entire cost, including insurance, of £385. The band was not on duty or required for duty at Plymouth during the week in question.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, arranged his inspection of H.M.S. "Royal Arthur", Corsham, Wiltshire, for Monday, 4th June, instead of another day, and so caused his Royal Marine Band to travel to Corsham on Sunday, 3rd June, instead of on a normal working day.

To save the time and expense of a double journey by Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, and the Royal Marine Band. Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, had already arranged to take the salute at the Wiltshire County British Legion rally on Sunday, 3rd June and the Royal Marine Band had accepted an invitation to play there.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the amount of Service material used and the cost, the number of Admiralty personnel and hours employed, in providing the replica of the State barge used by the Doges of Venice for the Bath Festival water pageant on the River Avon on Friday, 15th June, 1962.

No Service material was used and no official time was spent on this project.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when the June, 1962, edition of the Appendix to the Navy List with the new rates of pay is to be issued.

The 1962 edition of the Appendix to the Navy List containing the new rates of pay is expected to be issued in the first fortnight in September.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will now state the number of occasions during the year ended 31st March, 1962, on which the airfield of H.M.S. "Aerial", Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, was open outside the normal hours of 0800 to 1600 on Mondays to Fridays for flights of V.I.Ps. or senior officers, respectively and the numbers of each of these three categories who took off or landed, respectively.

I am unable to provide this information: the records are not in a form from which the details can be extracted accurately.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state by value Hong Kong's visible trade, with exports represented by 100 in each case and corresponding figures for imports, in total, and also with the United Kingdom, the United States of America, China, Japan, Formosa, Western Germany, and Europe, other than United Kingdom and Western Germany for each of the years from 1957 to 1961.

Visible imports by value into Hong Kong from the countries named, expressed as a percentage of exports to the same countries, are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the deductions from income in the case of a single man, a married man, and a married man with one child below the age of 10 years, respectively, earning £810 per annum in April, 1962, for National Insurance, industrial injuries, health services, graded national pensions contributions and Income Tax, respectively.

Assuming the employee is not contracted out of the National Insurance scheme, the deductions, other than Income Tax, in each case are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow machines to be brought into this country free of duty for exhibition and demonstration at the research laboratories of the United Kingdom Light Spring Association.

The Customs have already written to the Association explaining the conditions under which these importations can be allowed free of duty, and the procedure to be followed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was, at the most recent convenient date for computation, the percentage of national income expended on rents of tenanted houses and flats; and what was the corresponding percentage in 1955 and in 1948, respectively.

It is estimated that in 1961 expenditure on rents of tenanted houses and flats was about 2 per cent. of the gross national product at factor cost, and that in 1955 and 1948 the proportion was approximately the same.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many places were filled in the dental schools during 1961; how many students sat their final examination and how many obtained their licentiateship to practise dentistry.

Of the 3,047 full-time dental students in dental schools at the beginning of the academic year 1961–62, 663 had just entered on their course for the first time. At the end of the academic year 1960–61, 336 students obtained the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery, and a further 198 gained the Licentiate of Dental Surgery, making a total of 534.I regret that figures of the total numbers sitting final examinations in these studies are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent clubs in the Metropolitan Police District are prohibited from selling intoxicating liquor as a result of their failure to comply with the detailed requirements regarding registration dates of Section 25 of the Licensing Act, 1961, in the same way as is the Sheldon Sports and Social Club in Birmingham; and what action the police are taking in these cases.

I understand that, in the Metropolitan Police District, some 600 clubs in which intoxicating liquor was supplied at the beginning of the transitional period under the Act did not apply during that period for certificates of registration or justices' licences. It is not known how many of these clubs decided not to apply because they could not expect to obtain a certificate or licence and how many simply omitted to apply in the time allowed. The Commissioner of Police tells me that all such clubs have been warned that they no longer have authority to supply intoxicating liquor and will not have such authority until a certificate of registration or justices' licence is obtained.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the payment of wages by cheque has developed since the passage of the Payment of Wages Act.

The provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1960, concerning the payment of wages by cheque have not yet come into force. I am in consultation with interested bodies on the question of appointing a day for these provisions to come into force.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the provision made for vocational guidance and advice on careers.

Vocational guidance and careers advice are available for all young persons to the age of 18 (and over 18 if still at school) from the Youth Employment Service. Of the 181 education authorities in Great Britain 127 run the service in their areas under schemes approved by my Department which itself provides the service in the remaining areas. in 1961, 665,000 young people were advised in this way. I am sending the hon. Member a memorandum giving particulars of the service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the Iron and Steel Board Report which does not see any hope for improvement in the steel industry for some time, if he will use his powers under the Local Employment Act to secure alternative employment in Middlesbrough.

No. The rate of unemployment in the area is not such that it would be appropriate to make it a development district.

asked the Minister of Transport when the new Stevenage by-pass will be open to road users; and what was the original estimated date for its opening when the work on the new road was started.

The by-pass will be opened at the end of July. When work was started the estimated completion date was December, 1961, but progress was severely hampered by extremely bad weather during the winter of 1960–61 and an extension of time was granted to the contractor.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now give a starting date for the construction of the north-south inner relief road at Newbury; and when he expects the work will be completed.

I hope that work on the roundabout at the northern end of the relief road will start in the autumn and on the remainder of the road next May. The roundabout should be completed by March, 1963, and the other works by November, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport when, after considering the views of the Berkshire and Wiltshire county councils, he expects to be able to publish definite proposals for the route of the M.4 motorway.

It is too soon to say, as I have not yet received the views of all the local authorities whom I am at present consulting. I shall need to consider these very carefully before I can decide upon a line for publication for this section of the M.4 motorway between Maidenhead and Tormarton. As soon as possible thereafter I will publish a draft Scheme under the Highways Act 1959.