asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his consultations with the Prime Minister of India concerning economic assistance for India's development plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what money has been given or lent to the Government of India from the United Kingdom during the last two years; and whether loans or gifts are contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his talks with the Finance Minister of India.

My recent visit to Delhi and the subsequent visit of the Indian Finance Minister to London provided a useful opportunity to review Britain's economic assistance to India's development plans and to discuss the safeguards to be sought for Indian trade in our negotiations for entry into the European Common Market. Since July, 1960, we have signed loan agreements with the Government of India totalling £92 million, and a further loan of £13 million is under negotiation. In addition we have provided technical assistance costing about £¾ million.

Can the Secretary of State give an assurance to the House that Her Majesty's Government will take the initiative in getting the consortium discussing aid proposals to India together very quickly, and will he consider giving the most generous possible aid for the current five-year plan?

Arrangements for aid to India, as the hon. Gentleman has indicated, are normally conducted through the consortium. It had a meeting in May. A further meeting is due shortly, but the date has not yet been fixed. I am sure that the House will not expect me to anticipate now in public the line we shall take at the next meeting.

I recognise the extreme poverty of India and the great financial difficulties of that member of the Commonwealth, but does not my right hon. Friend agree that £92 million is a very large sum of money considering that the supply of capital is limited? Is he not a little surprised that the representatives of India in the United Nations and elsewhere have taken up an attitude hardly friendly to the policies of the United Kingdom? Will he take this into account in considering further grants to India?

It is not our practice to attach political conditions to aid. On the other hand, it is obvious that the attitude of other countries towards us is inevitably bound to affect to some extent our enthusiasm to strain our resources to help them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we on this side regard the success of India's five-year-plan as vital to the future of the Commonwealth and the survival of democracy in Asia—and possibly to the maintenance of peace in the Far East? Given that fact, does he really feel that £92 million is an adequate contribution by Her Majesty's Government, bearing in mind the fact that the United States Government, which have far smaller direct political commitments in India than we have, are giving four times as much? Will not he use his influence with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to try to increase the British contribution or, at least, to accelerate its payment?

That is rather a comprehensive supplementary question. I fully share the hon. Gentleman's view about the importance of the progress of India's economy and the progress of the political institutions in India as a very important element of stability for the whole free world.

But can the right hon. Gentleman answer my first question about the Common Market, namely, are the Indian Government now satisfied, as they were not before, that Her Majesty's Government's proposals to the Six would, if accepted, meet India's legitimate needs in an enlarged Common Market?

I do not know of any Commonwealth Government who are satisfied—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—with the proposals that are now under discussion, but I think that that is what one would expect at this stage of the negotiations. We are in the very closest touch with the Indian Government, and we have explained to them— and I think that this is the main difference between us—that these negotiations are not an occasion on which we can reasonably ask for an improvement in their present position. What we can ask, and are seeking to obtain, is a safeguard of the trade that they at present enjoy and are at present carrying on with Britain and with Europe.

While I do not object to some of the views expressed by the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey), may I ask whether my right hon. Friend, having regard to the extreme limitation of capital in Great Britain today, will bear in mind the demands of our friends as well?

I am not prepared to say that India is not one of our friends.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many copies of his departmental booklet, "The Modern Commonwealth", have been distributed or bought in Great Britain, the Commonwealth and other countries, respectively.

This booklet was designed primarily for free distribution. Some 55,000 copies have been distributed overseas through the British Information Services and some 20,000 to schools and interested bodies in Britain. In addition, several thousand copies have been sold through Her Majesty's Stationery Office. A reprint of another 14,000 has been ordered to meet further requirements for distribution and sale.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, I am not given to flattering Ministers—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]— but will my right hon. Friend appreciate that those of us who have read the pamphlet find it fascinating and extremely enlightening and illuminating? Will he, therefore, take all possible steps to have it distributed, or get it known, not only throughout the Commonwealth, but in those countries like the United States and others which have such a distorted view of our so-called British colonialism?

I am glad that my hon. Friend found the pamphlet agreeable reading.

May I, as a fellow author, congratulate the Secretary of State on his sales—I hope that he receives the due royalties on them; and on the opportunities for spreading this very useful pamphlet?

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in granting the recent loan to Sierra Leone, the position of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service pensioners who served during their active life in Sierra Leone was taken into account.

No, Sir.

Is that not very surprising, considering that I am told that only £3,300 a year would be needed to bring the pensions of our Overseas Civil Service pensioners to the level of the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959? Is he not aware that 80 out of 170 pensioners are below that limit? Is not that a very bad advertisement for those who wish to serve the Crown overseas, and will it not induce them to remain at home?

This loan is not a new development. It was part of the financial settlement made before independence and was announced to the House nearly eighteen months ago. I understand my hon. Friend's feelings and views on the subject, but we do not feel that to attach conditions to loans of this kind would necessarily be the best way to deal with the matter.

I sympathise with the motives behind the Question asked by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney), but would not the Secretary of State agree that the hon. Gentleman's approach is quite wrong? Should not Her Majesty's Government take another look at this matter and consider taking over responsibility for pensions increases to people who have served the British Crown, whether in Sierra Leone or in other parts of the Commonwealth?

As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Co-operation told the House just the other day that the whole matter of the arrangements for pensions for those who have been serving overseas is at present being reviewed.

asked the Minister of Education if he will increase the amount of £310,000 allocated for the 1963–64 school building programme of the Leicestershire County Council, in view of the rising numbers of the school population in the county.

Yes, Sir. After considering representations, I have increased the sum by £71,000 and have promised to add a further project costing about £50,000 when details are settled.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, may I ask whether he is really aware of the burst in population that has occurred in Leicestershire in the last few years? Moreover, is he aware that a recent survey showed that of eleven large local education authorities, Leicestershire was the only one in which the number of pupils on the roll has increased by more than the number of school places that will be available?

I am aware of the needs of Leicestershire, and I am awaiting its proposals for the 1964–65 programme.

asked the Minister of Education what are the numbers of unfilled vacancies in science and mathematics in grammar, technical and other State schools

My Department is working out better methods of estimating the future needs of schools for teachers of particular subjects. The information about unfilled vacancies that I have obtained hitherto has understated the real needs of the schools.

Is the Minister aware that it was stated at a recent conference that the shortage of science teachers alone amounts to 4,000 graduates and 2,500 non-graduates; and that opinions were expressed that if we are to match the demand for science and mathematics teachers we shall have to double the numbers? Will the right hon. Gentleman face up to the fact that dramatic action by him is called for if we are to provide the teaching demanded today?

I quite agree that the schools need a large number of science teachers, but I must try to find some method by which I can calculate what the needs really are. I hope that we shall soon have that method.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the raising of the school leaving age.

I am not yet ready to name a date for raising the school leaving age.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that for years he has declared himself unable to face up to that position because there is a shortage of teachers? Is he aware that in the meantime the shortage of teachers has become worse and that what we want is some policy of Her Majesty's Government to deal with the acute crisis of teacher supply and also a favourable reply on the Crowther Report?

I am indeed aware that the shortage of teachers has got worse because of circumstances over which we have no control. We are therefore reconsidering the question of teacher supply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that for years we have been aware of this shortage of teachers, which will get far worse in the next few years, and what is he doing about it? What is the Council's advice on this? How many more places have we to provide in the training colleges and the universities?

If the hon. Gentleman has been aware for years that the birth rate was going up and that women teachers were leaving the schools in great numbers, he is more perspicacious than we have been. We are reconsidering the whole problem of teacher supply.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he were to accede to the request of the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) he might well prejudice the position of primary schools, which is causing great anxiety to some of us, because of expense?

All these matters have to be taken into consideration.

asked the Minister of Education if he will amend the regulations concerning grants for recognised students at training colleges so that students who get married whilst at college can receive the same amount of support for their wives and families which is paid to students who are married before commencing training; and what is the estimated wastage of students who leave these courses before completion because they are unable to support their families on the normal student allowance.

No Sir: The wastage from this cause is believed to be very small. I do not think it desirable to subsidise marriage during the course.

Does not that most lamentable reply show a gross interference with the personal liberties of students, and is it not rather lunatic that the student who marries before he embarks on training can get support for his wife and family whereas if he does not he has to remain in a state of assumed celibacy for three years, and is this right? Does not the Minister realise that people who are marrying younger and having children should not be put in this position for three years during their training? Will he look at this matter again?

The Anderson Committee looked at this problem and advised that we should adhere to the present policy in the case of university students. It also set great store on uniformity between one kind of student and another, and I think that their advice was right.

Rather than rely on the advice of some nebulous body like the Anderson Committee, would it not be better to apply the normal rules of common sense to this important matter? I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter again as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will request education authorities to regard teaching experience as essential in all appointments to the office of principal in teacher training colleges.

Such appointments are within the discretion of training college authorities, and I am sure they can be relied on to exercise that discretion suitably.

The Minister has not answered my question. I asked him whether he would request the education authorities, or those responsible, to regard teaching experience as essential. Is he aware that when a vacancy for the principal-ship at the Barry Training College was recently advertised teaching experience was regarded as desirable? This is causing a great deal of offence to those who believe that in training colleges we ought to have people with much experience of teaching.

As a general rule, I would agree with the hon. Gentleman, but there may be exceptions to the rule, as Oxford and Cambridge have long recognised in the appointment of heads of colleges.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the increase of university awards, he now proposes to ask local education authorities to increase maintenance grants to sixth form students in grammar and comprehensive schools.

No, Sir. Local education authorities have the responsibility of fixing their own rates of maintenance allowances for school pupils.

Does not this work out very unfairly as between areas? If the right hon. Gentleman will not consider raising, or asking local authorities to raise, maintenance allowances generally, will he consider asking those which pay lower allowances to bring them up to the level of the higher ones?

I shall look into that.

asked the Minister of Education how many adjustment classes for backward readers were held in 1961; and how many of these classes were taken by part-time married women teachers.

Local education authorities are not asked to show classes of this kind separately in their statistical returns. The reason for this is that arrangements for helping backward readers vary a great deal and it would be difficult to put them into a small number of categories.

Will the right hon Gentleman do something to see that local authorities which do not carry out this work do something about it? Is he aware that this is one of the best ways of eliminating backwardness, which ultimately will be very much more expensive when these children find themselves in special schools?

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman about the importance of taking backward readers in small classes, and Her Majesty's inspectors are continually trying to get authorities to put this into practice.

Has the Minister had any report from Walsall and Oldham concerning remedial teaching, and can he assure the House that he is looking carefully into the possibility that a change in medium is just as important as staffing ratios and the method of teaching, and that he is watching the situation?

Yes, Sir. The first reports from Walsall and Oldham are very encouraging, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I shall watch this matter with care.

As considerable publicity has already been given to these very successful reports, could they not be made available in the Library?

I shall consider that.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to facilitate the development of English as an international language.

In a speech on 13th June I outlined a three-point programme. This is in essence to establish standards of English; to develop mass media for use in teaching it; and to train and send overseas experts who will train others to teach it. Bodies which could plan or carry out research on standards and mass media already exist in this country, and following the recent Commonwealth Education Conference at Delhi we are providing 30 expert teacher-trainers. But the scale of our effort is quite inadequate. A combined drive by all the English-speaking peoples is needed, and I am considering how best to set about this.

I welcome that reply so far as it goes. Has the Minister's attention been called to the recent report of the Federation of British Industries on the necessity of setting up a National Institute of English, that this is in the Report of the Commonwealth Conference to which he has referred, and that statistics show that English is winning the race as a European and an international language? Is he prepared to take any steps to help these people, both children and adults abroad and in the Colonies, by producing some sort of basic English, rather more extensive than the wartime method, to facilitate the learning of English and get rid of some of the stupidities which make it almost impossible for foreigners to understand it.

We are considering all these matters, but it is necessary to bring the Americans into this, as it is their language as well as ours.

Is this not a rather important paint, seeing that so far the Europeans' combined knowledge of English has not been able to produce a legal translation of the Treaty of Rome, and would it not be a good thing to take some advice from the right hon. Gentleman who proposed this?

While welcoming very much the speech of the Minister in Rome, may I ask him how it has bean received in other parts, particularly in America and the Commonwealth, and when he thinks that we may be in a position to get on from potential action to the prospect that he has pointed out?

I think that I can say that it has been well received and that some charitable foundations are interested in it. I hope that in the autumn I shall be able to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Education what new provision for maladjusted children has been made, or has been planned, by local education authorities consequent upon the issue of his Circular 348.

Four hundred and twenty-eight new school places have been provided since the circular was issued; a further 560 will be provided by major building projects already approved. We are considering proposals for an additional 880 places. A small proportion of the total consists of accommodation to be provided by voluntary bodies. In addition, local education authorities provide 54 special day classes, mostly recently established, attended by 675 maladjusted pupils.

asked the Minister of Education if he will issue a circular to all education authorities asking them to refrain from retaining in their employment teachers whose publicly expressed views make it clear that they regard the children of some races and religion as inferior to others.

No, Sir. Authorities are aware that it rests primarily with them to decide whether there are grounds for terminating a teacher's engagement. The House will be aware that the Coventry Authority yesterday decided to suspend Mr. Jordan.

Is the right hon. Gentleman seriously suggesting that Fascism in British schools is not a matter for this House or for his Ministry? Is he not aware that this gentleman is engaged under the Ministry of Education in teaching civics to children? Would he not agree that one of the most important principles of civics is that an attack on Jews and coloured people is an attack on civilised people?

I sympathise with the political views the hon. Member has expressed in this matter. But a teacher's position depends on whether his politics are conducted in the school or not. I am the final court of appeal. If this case comes to me, I shall consider it with great care.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the extreme anxiety of parents in Coventry? Will he also tell us how checks are made from time to time to see that extreme and obnoxious views are not circulated in the classroom?

It is the business of the head teacher to know what is happening in his school, and it is because of that, I imagine, that the Coventry authority has acted.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that even in a democracy one can stretch tolerance so far as to endanger democracy itself? Will he therefore make it abundantly clear that these are abhorrent views for anyone in the teaching profession to express?

I must make it clear that my authority in regard to teachers is concerned with what they do inside school. If an employing authority sees fit to suspend a teacher, and the teacher anneals to me, I must decide the case on its merits.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, while everybody in Coventry abhors the views expressed, some of us have a great respect for the local education authority, which is determined, at all costs, not to act unless it has overwhelming proof against a teacher? Is he further aware that this teacher was carefully watched year after year and that no evidence, up till recently, was adduced against him? We should bear in mind that this is a problem not only of abhorrence of a doctrine but of respect for an education authority which believes in the freedom of a teacher.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his helpful intervention.

asked the Minister of Education what reply he has sent to the representations made to him by local education authorities regarding the inadequacy of the proposed grants for university students.

The London County Council is the only authority which has told me that it considers the increases inadequate. I am considering my reply.

I am greatly relieved by the comforting nature of my right hon. Friend's reply, which seems to indicate that my information is limited. Will he bear in mind that quite a number of professors and senior students have indicated that, in their opinion, the grants are still inadequate? Will he do what he can to allay their fears, doubts or suspicions?

Yes, Sir.

What is the cost of the increases my right hon. Friend has announced?

I hope I have the figure right. I think it is £5½ million.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are to be taken to implement the main proposals in the Annan Report.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I accept the Report's main conclusion that more Russian should be taught in schools and technical colleges. The immediate need is to provide more teachers and, as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Surrey (Mr. A. Royle) on 6th June, I have already arranged for a pilot course to be started in the autumn. We are studying the other recommendations in the Report in the light of comments now being made by teachers and others.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that, as there are fewer than 250 pupils in the United Kingdom taking Russian at A level, urgent action is required if we are to keep pace with Russian advances in technology and science?

I agree, but the problem goes back to getting enough Russian teachers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the principal reasons for the reduction in council-house building last year to 93,000 houses and flats in England and Wales; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this continued fall.

The number of completions last year was mainly limited by the slowing down in building caused by the overload on the industry. There has already been some improvement as a result of the measures taken by the Government.

Is the hon. Member aware that this is the lowest number of council houses built since 1947, and that the main reason is not the one he has given but the exorbitant interest rates which councils have to pay? Many of the councils visited recently by his right hon. Friend have stated that the Minister's proposals are no good unless interest rates are reduced.

The hon. Member is quite wrong. The main reason is the one I have given. The trouble last year lay in the slowness of building, which was shown by the fact that only 79 council houses were completed for every 100 under construction at the beginning of the year. That was the reason for the Government telling local authorities to concentrate on completions if they wanted to get good results.

Is the hon. Member aware that the decline last year as compared with 1960 was only the last stage of a steady decline which has been going on many years? If he studies the matter he will not be able to avoid the conclusion that interest rates are one of the major causes. Does he regard this decline over the years as desirable, or does he want to get back to something like the figure we had 12 or 15 years ago?

No one suggests that the figure of 93,000 is anything like sufficient to meet the accepted priorities. That is why we have been urging local authorities to have realistic programmes. I have answered the Question put to me by the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun). Interest rates are another matter.

Granted that 93,000 is unsatisfactory, has the hon. Gentleman any idea of what ought to be the figure of building?

One has to look at the programme of each authority and determine it on its merits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister of Welsh Affairs if he will take powers to grant financial assistance to building societies, to enable them to make loans to cover half the cost of installing baths, hot water and inside toilets in older houses where improvement grants are applicable.

My right hon. Friend sees no case for taking new powers. Building societies already can and do make advances for improvement works. In addition, local authorities are empowered to make loans for the improvement of houses and there has been a steady rise in recent years in the amounts advanced by them for this purpose.

Is the hon. Member aware that the excuse for the miserable lack of progress in improving older houses is that some landlords cannot afford to lay out their half of the capital, even though they can recoup it in higher rents? Will he have another look at this idea, since the building societies in 1959 were enabled—rightly so—to provide buyers of older houses with money because the Government gave them low interest loans? Could not local authorities be helped similarly with low interest loans for this purpose?

I do not want to go into the question of interest rates. We have no evidence that owners or anyone wishing to improve their property are having difficulty in borrowing money. Local authorities are lending more money than ever before for this and other purposes. Last year they lent £99 million compared with £66 million the year before.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will introduce legislation to prevent residential property which is in reasonable condition and let to tenants being re-developed for industrial or other purposes which would result in tenants being rendered homeless.

No, Sir. Shortage of housing is a factor for the local planning authority to take into account before granting permission for redevelopment. If it is not itself the housing authority for its area, it is obliged under the law as it stands to consult that authority before reaching a decision. In the event of disagreement the case has to be referred to my right hon. Friend.

I thank the hon. Member for that reply, but unfortunately the blueprint he has just related to the House is not the one that operates in practice. Now that we have had the Rent Act in operation for five years there is sufficient evidence to prove that there exists widespread human misery caused by insecurity of tenure, by landlords demanding exorbitant rents from properties which are sub-standard, although tenants have spent literally hundreds of pounds on their homes and then been given notice to quit——

Order. I hope that the hon. Member will now ask a question It is beginning to sound rather like a speech.

Can I ask what the Minister is prepared to do about it? Thousands of letters must have gone to the Ministry, and letters and protests are going there now. I have received a letter from the Ministry in reply to the same question, but it is in such vague terms that it tells me nothing and I thought that this would be an opportunity of getting a reply.

The hon. Gentleman may be referring to a letter Which I wrote to him in connection with the next Question. I do not think that there is any difficulty about powers. This Question simply relates to the redevelopment of residential property for other purposes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has studied the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Shore-ditch and Finsbury, relating to the concern felt by the Shore-ditch Metropolitan Borough Council, following the acquisition of the flats known as Hamilton Buildings, Shore-ditch, by an investment company regarding the shortage of residential accommodation in Shore-ditch; and what action he is taking in the matter.

Yes, Sir, and a reply was sent to the hon. Member on 26th June. I can now confirm that the Shore-ditch Borough Council has resolved to make a compulsory purchase order on the property. My right hon. Friend cannot therefore make any further comment on the case.

May I have your Ruling on that, Mr. Speaker? May I make no comments at all, although this letter was written three weeks ago?

This is Question Time. It is not a time for making comments. If the hon. Member likes to ask a supplementary question, I will gladly allow it.

Is the Minister aware that the block of flats which he now knows as Hamilton Buildings was recently bought by an investment company which then proceeded within a matter of two weeks of the purchase to give notice to quit to 17 decontrolled tenants and that —[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—it had seven vacant flats which would provide reasonable accommodation, and that when its agent was approached—[HON. MEMBERS: Speech."]—and asked to provide this accommodation, he said that the company intended to empty this site, to demolish the building and develop the site for commercial purposes? Surely that is not the intention of the Government.

No doubt the facts, such as they were, induced the council to make the compulsory purchase order.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary ask his right hon. Friend to bear in mind when considering this compulsory purchase order that there have been a good many events in East London lately obliging anyone who observes them to come to the conclusion that it is only by the increasing purchase of property by the municipality that we shall be able to provide people with accommodation at reasonable rents?

I do not think that that generalisation follows from this case. I can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend will deal with it, as always, on its merits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what reply he has now sent to the letters from the Oldham Borough Corporation, initiated in 1960, asking for consideration of special local grants for increasing and improving the local water supply.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the suggestion that local authorities should be empowered to contribute towards the cost of installing separate service pipes in place of pipes common to several dwellings. My right hon. Friend has told the Corporation that he would consider this but that he could not say when an opportunity for legislation would occur.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that apparently the Minister has been considering it for eighteen months? This is an important matter, and this town has a terrible backlog of improvements which are essential in the public interest. When he considers the matter, will he also consider the question of the present situation of the Oldham water in respect of which he told me the other day that he did not know whether it was radioactive or not? In view of some public apprehension caused by the question of radioactivity having been referred to a private meeting of the corporation, would he obtain and publish the information?

The radioactivity of the water is another matter. We may be able to deal with the subject mentioned in the Question in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, but I must point out that the local authority associations themselves are not altogether convinced of the necessity for legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that another factory is shortly to close in Leslie, Fife; and, in view of the fact that this is an electrical industry of the type needed in the area, whether he will take steps to offer the firm the necessary assistance to enable its continued existence.

The factory to which the hon. Member refers is being closed down for commercial reasons and no question of Board of Trade assistance arises. The parent company propose, however, to go ahead with another project in Dunfermline which will provide some 400 jobs.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is to happen to the premises which will be available in Leslie? Is no attempt being made by his Department to get another tenant? Is he aware that the psychological effect of this plus the fact that the Rothes colliery is in the same area are causing very great concern to constituents in that part of my constituency?

Yes, I am aware of the genuine concern and I am looking into the subject of the Leslie factory.