asked the Minister of Power why smokeless fuel briquettes are not yet available for the consumers' needs; and on what date sufficient smokeless fuel will be available to meet consumers' needs regarding both quality and price.

The National Coal Board is developing a new smokeless briquette made by the fluidised carbonisation process which will be suitable for open fires and which it expects to be in commercial production by 1965. There is a considerable range of smokeless solid fuels available now at varying prices. These include gas cokes produced to British Standard specification and Phurnacite.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a list of the pits and mines which have been closed in Greengairs, Plains, Salsburgh, Cleland, Harthill and Shotts since January, 1947; and how many men were employed in each of them six months before they were closed.

I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state for the first six months of 1962 and for the corresponding period of 1961 the output per man-shift at the coal face.

89·8 cwts. in 1962 and 82·4 cwts. in 1961.

asked the Minister of Power how much money has been spent on research and development of electrical equipment for the mines; and to what extent there is close co-operation between his Department and the National Coal Board in this research.

Research and development work directed to ensuring the safety of electrical equipment used in mines has been carried on by the Safety in Mines Research Establishment for many years. The current annual cost is £25,000. The National Coal Board's large expenditure on research and development on mining equipment contains a substantial electrical element, but it is not costed separately. There is close contact at all levels between the Establishment and the Board.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what are the results of the investigation into pneumoconiosis being carried out in co-operation with the National Coal Board, the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and the Medical Research Council; to what extent miners' sickness and accident incapacity compare with other industries; and what action in the matter is proposed;(2) what lessons have been learned from the field research on pneumoconiosis undertaken by the National Coal Board; and what action it is proposed to take in the matter.

Investigations into pneumoconiosis are being carried out by the National Coal Board, the Medical Research Council and the Safety in Mines Research Establishment. These three bodies are respectively responsible for field research, which is primarily aimed at defining safe levels of airborne dust; for fundamental research into the medical and allied aspects of pneumoconiosis; and for research into problems of dust physics and mineralogy having a bearing on medical research. The work of the three bodies is closely co-ordinated and is reviewed from time to time by the National Joint Pneumoconiosis Committee under my chairmanship. Government Departments and other organisations concerned with coal-miners' pneumocoiosis are represented on that Committee.Recent results of the National Coal Board's field research support the view that the type of coal, as well as the amount of dust in the air, may have some connection with the disease. New gravimetric dust-sampling instruments should help further research to make it possible to measure dust exposure more effectively.Experience in the years 1957–60 indicates that incapacity due to industrial accidents is ten times as frequent in mining as in other industries. The Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance is making a special inquiry into the incidence of incapacity for work in different occupations in the year 1961-62. The National Coal Board is co-operating in this inquiry, which will show how absence due to sickness in coal mining compares with that in other industries.The National Coal Board is constantly seeking ways of making the mines safer and healthier to work in. My Department gives the Board all the support it can in its efforts to that end.

asked the Minister of Power what has been the cost of investigating and assessing the relative merits of conveyor belting; and why large orders were given for conveyor belting before the relative merits were assessed.

The assessment of the relative merits of conveyor belting is the responsibility of the National Coal Board, which has devoted great effort to the subject over many years. Some £5,000 has been spent by the Safety in Mines Research Establishment on work related solely to the first hazard.Continued improvement in belting has been achieved. I am advised that the Board places orders for the best quality available. If the hon. Member will let me have details of the orders to which he refers, I shall be glad to ask the Chairman of the Board to look into them and write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power what studies are being made to ascertain the safest method of removing an atomic power station after it has served its productive life.

Safety difficulties in the removal of an atomic power station would only arise in connection with a small part of the total structure, and it is not considered that a specific programme of research into this problem would be justified now. But the results of some current research and development may have application when the time comes to consider whether new reactors should be built alongside the existing ones, or whether the removal of the old reactors would be practicable and justify the effort involved.

asked the Minister of Power what consideration is being given to the eventual siting of nuclear power stations underground, both for safety and eventual removal purposes.

The cost of placing nuclear power stations underground would be prohibitive.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the percentage of the rural population whose homes are without mains electricity supply, and of the percentage of farms which are unconnected with mains electricity.

About 5 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction to the boards of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible that the 24-hour clock is to be used wherever it will reduce confusion in publications by them.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in certain hospitals nursing sisters have, contrary to their contract of employment, to look after two wards while receiving the salary of sisters looking after only one ward; and if, in view of the fact that this is a breach of contract of employment, he will take steps to stop the practice.

I am not aware of contracts to which this would be contrary.

asked the Minister of Health if he will hold an inquiry into the reasons why nurses are leaving the National Health Service for private practice; and what steps he proposes to take to halt this movement.

No. There is no movement on any significant scale.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the existing salary scale for nursing staff has now had an adverse effect on the recruitment and retention of nurses for mental patients.

Nursing staff in psychiatric hospitals at March, 1962, was larger than ever before.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average net pay of male state registered nurses employed at Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury.

About £700 per annum after deductions for uniform, meals, Income Tax, superannuation and insurance contributions.

asked the Minister of Health for how many additional maternity cases per year the 100 additional beds in maternity hospitals in the Greater London area are expected to provide.

Over 2,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the commencing date for the building of the new Wythenshawe Hospital; and when the first phase, the maternity unit, will be available for use.

I am communicating with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health what is the established practice of hospital boards and management committees for ensuring that specialists fulfil their terms of contract; and what disciplinary machinery is provided for dealing with specialists who repeatedly fail to attend their sessions.

There is no uniform practice. The ordinary disciplinary machinery applies. I am sending the hon. Member the memorandum setting it out.

asked the Minister of Health if he will ensure that doctors are supplied with adequate information about the safety of new drugs before prescribing them through the National Health Service.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) and other hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the prevailing uncertainty over the effects of drugs on pregnant women, he will appoint a small committee to consider the desirability of taking powers to enable him to issue early restrictions on the prescription of sedatives and anti-sickness drugs for such people.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he took to draw the attention of the medical profession to the probable neurotoxic effects of thalidomide which were disclosed as a result of clinical (research, the results of which ware published on 30th September, 1961.

The makers brought these to the profession's attention from December, 1960.

asked the Minister of Health what further steps are being taken to warn the public of the dangers of smoking; how much has been spent on his advertising campaign since the publication of (the report by the Royal College of Physicians; and how that figure compares with the sum spent in the comparable period immediately before the publication of the Report.

Further publicity and educational material is in preparation. Expenditure of about £25,000 has been incurred, compared with none previously.

asked the Minister of Health whether reciprocal arrangements exist between the health services of England and of Northern Ireland so that citizens in both can receive equal medical and hospital service and the supply of similar bearing aids, spectacles and surgical appliances.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health how many anti-smoking clinics are being or have been established; where these axe situated; and whether additional funds will be made available to hospital authorities for this purpose.

Three so far; at the Central Middlesex Hospital and at Salford and Huddersfield; others will be considered; this development will be taken into account with the rest in financial allocations to hospitals.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that many accidents take place in factories because of infrequent inspection; how many factory workers there are to each inspector; if he is satisfied that the number of inspectors is sufficient to meet the rapid developments in industry; and what steps are being taken to increase the inspectorate.

While inspection of factories has an important part to play in accident prevention, the primary responsibility for reducing accidents clearly rests with management. A review of accident prevention organisation is in progress in many industries in consultation with my Department. For every inspector in post there are about 19,000 factory workers subject to the Factories Act. My right hon. Friend keeps the strength of the inspectorate under review and as he told the House last December, the establishment was then increased by 34. The establishment has been increased by one-quarter since 1956.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) when he intends to authorise another industrial health survey, comparable to that concerning the pottery industry in 1959; and if he will consider selecting the shipbuilding industry;(2) when he intends to authorise another industrial health survey comparable to that concerning the town of Halifax in 1958; and if he will consider selecting the burgh of Greenock.

My right hon. Friend has decided, after consulting his Industrial Health and Advisory Committee, that research and investigation for the time toeing should concentrate on fundamental inquiry into specific industrial health problems rather than on general surveys as in 1958 and 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a further statement on the Government's proposal to introduce legislation next Session to deal with the health, welfare and safety of those who work in shops and offices; and whether he will extend the scope of the Bill as originally drafted to include places of entertainment, transport premises and coal depots.

asked the Minister of Labour what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the implementation of the Gowers Committee report on shops and offices.

Legislation on this subject will be introduced in the next Session of Parliament, but my right hon. Friend does not propose to extend the scope of the Bill beyond offices, shops and railway premises.

asked the Minister of Labour when he received a questionnaire from the International Labour Office on hygiene in shops and offices; if he will place a copy of both the questionnaire and his replies in the Library; and when he intends to follow up this subject by legislation.

The questionnaire is at present being considered. Copies of the questionnaire and the replies will be placed in the Library. Legislation will be introduced in the next Session of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Labour how many textile workers in Scotland are presently unemployed.

3,398 at 18th June.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, for the latest available date, the number of registered unemployed at the Kilmarnock and Newmilns employment exchanges respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for the same date in 1951.

On 16th July, 1962, there were 820 registered as unemployed at Kilmarnock and 145 at Newmilns. The comparable figures for July, 1951, were 242 and 32 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will hold an inquiry among workpeople engaged in the use of all forms of diesel oil for the purpose of ascertaining to what extent there has been an increase of lung cancer since the introduction of diesel engines.

No. I am advised that studies already made, including some by the Medical Research Council, have shown no evidence of any higher incidence of lung cancer among workers heavily exposed to diesel exhaust fumes than among the general population.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons engaged in industry, agriculture and distribution over the age of 18 years whose basic wage is less than £10 weekly.

I regret that comprehensive figures are not available. In October, 1960, my Department held an inquiry into the distribution of earnings of 5,914,000 full-time adult manual workers in the productive industries and certain services. Of the 4,872,000 men included in the inquiry 468,000 or 9·6 per cent. earned less than £10 in the week of the inquiry; of the 1,042,000 women concerned 908,000 or 87·1 per cant. earned less than £10. In the year ending March, 1961, the average weekly earnings of 138,000 hired regular whole-time men in agriculture, i.e. 48 per cent. of all such workers, were less than £10 per week. Information about the distribution of earnings in distributive trades is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what provision is made to reserve light jobs in industry for those who are disabled.

Under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, all employers having 20 or more workers are required to employ a quota of registered disabled persons equal to 3 per cent. of their total number of employees. This requirement helps to secure suitable jobs of all kinds for the disabled. In addition, the two occupations of car-park attendant and passenger electric lift attendant are specially reserved for registered disabled persons.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science (1) why laboratory technicians employed by the Medical Research Council have not received any increase in pay following their claim, whereas similar workers employed in the hospital service have received an increase dated back to 1st April, 1962; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what reply he has given to the Medical Research Council following the representation of the claim to increased pay for laboratory technicians; when the claim was submitted; and what was the date of his reply.

The salary claim on behalf of laboratory technicians employed by the Medical Research Council, which was submitted on 10th April, 1962, is at present being considered. I hope that the Council will be in a position to announce a decision very shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if the con- tract for the building by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of the new nuclear reactor for the Impartial Defence College will be put out for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement.

Competitive tendering will not be employed for the supply of a nuclear reactor to London University, to be operated by the Imperial College of Science and Technology. The decision to depart from the normal practice has been based on advice by two advisory committees on the ability of an existing specification to meet economically the requirements of the university. In these circumstances, having regard to the specialised nature of the product and to the fact that design and development work has been carried out jointly between the proposed manufacturer and the university, I am satisfied that competitive tendering would not be justified. The manufacturer was selected on the basis of competitive estimates supplied to the original specification.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent research has been undertaken on the subject of migraine; and what it has cost.

The Medical Research Council's programme of fundamental biological research includes studies which may yield valuable leads on the subject of migraine. Research into the cause and treatment of this condition continues to be undertaken in university and hospital departments. It is not possible, however, to estimate the cost of this work as much of it forms part of general programmes, including studies of headaches, hormone disturbances, eye disorders, and psychosomatic illness.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he is satisfied with the extent of British industry's interests in the use of radioactive isotopes; and what steps he is taking, in conjunction with the Atomic Energy Authority, to widen industry's knowledge of their uses.

Although sales of radioisotopes in 1961 increased by about 20 per cent. over the previous year, I believe there is still room for greater industrial use of radioactive isotopes. The Authority takes every opportunity of bringing potential uses to the attention of industry. For example, it has an isotope information bureau at its London Office, it runs an isotope school, and arranges exhibitions at home and overseas, films, lectures and visits to firms. The Authority and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research have jointly made special arrangements to bring the potential of isotope techniques to the knowledge of industrial research associations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what percentage of the annual total output of radioactive isotopes is being used by British industry, agriculture, medicine and universities, respectively.

The Atomic Energy Authority tells me that British industry, medicine and research including agricultural research, each take about 15 per cent. by value of the annual output of radioactive isotopes. The remainder are exported.It is not feasible to give separate figures for research at universities, some of which is agricultural, and agricultural research as a whole.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent it will be possible after the Windscale advanced gas-cooled reactor has gone critical in the next few months to assess more precisely the cost of generated electricity from this type of station.

The Atomic Energy Authority tells me that about one year of full-power operation of the Windscale A.G.R. will be needed to confirm the behaviour of this reactor system. No more precise estimates of generating costs than those already given by the Atomic Energy Authority will be available until the consortia have submitted tenders for the construction of a station using this system.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what assurances he has now received from the member Governments of Euratom that the governing Treaty will be so amended as to ensure that British fissile materials earmarked for defence purposes will not become the property of the Community in accordance with Title Two, Chapter VIII, of the Treaty.

Our understanding, which was set out in my opinion statement, is that no amendment to the Treaty will be required for this purpose.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the reply of the Soviet Government to the British Notes of 14th and 23rd June on the International Control Commission's Special Report on Vietnam.

Yes.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the violations of the Geneva Agreements recorded in the Special Report of the International Commission on Vietnam, he will propose to the Russian Co-Chairman a re-summoning of the 1954 Geneva Conference, with special reference to the need to ensure the observance by all parties of the terms of the Geneva Agreements.

No. The present dangerous situation in Vietnam is caused by the fact that the Government of North Vietnam is attempting to overthrow the Government of the South by armed interference and subversion. The problem would be solved if the Government of the North would cease this campaign.

asked the Lord Privy Seal on how many occasions, since the Geneva Agreements were signed, Her Majesty's Government have requested the Soviet Co-Chairman to participate in a joint condemnation of the failure of one or the other party in Vietnam to comply with the Agreements, and made a request for steps to be taken to ensure a return to observance of the Agreements; and which was the party concerned on each occasion.

On 3rd November, 1961, Her Majesty's Government appealed to the Soviet Co-Chairman to join with us in sending a message to the North Vietnamese authorities calling upon them to desist from further subversive activities in South Vietnam, and on 14th June of this year Her Majesty's Government asked the Soviet Government to join with us in calling upon both North and South to return to a policy of co-operation with the International Control Commission. The Soviet Government did not respond to either of these approaches.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish a summary of the findings of the International Commission for Vietnam, as reported from time to time, listing, in regard to the North and South Vietnamese authorities, respectively, the number of instances in which one party or the other has failed to comply with the provisions of the Geneva Agreements, or has not accorded the Commission full co-operation, or the necessary information or facilities to enable it to execute its tasks under the Agreements.

No. Copies of the reports are freely available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal following the official Anglo-American London discussion on detecting underground tests, if he will now press for agreement to end all nuclear test explosions with monitoring by means at present available.

These discussions were informal exchanges between scientists, and the significance of new information about seismic techniques is still being determined. It would be premature to say what effect this might have on the requirements for a nuclear tests ban treaty.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements have now been made for Malta to take part in the current European Economic Community negotiations.

As soon as the consultations with Malta ate completed, proposals will be made in Brussels for an appropriate solution to Malta's problems.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can now anticipate what levelling out of wage scales and social benefits for workers in this country will result from joining the Common Market.

There are no specific provisions about wage rates in the Treaty of Rome apart from Article 119, which provides for equal pay for the same work as between men and women. Article 117 envisages that the operation of the Common Market will favour the harmonisation of social systems and is likely to bring about an improvement of the living and working conditions of workers, but it imposes no specific obligation to harmonise.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when and where forms enabling South African citizens to opt for British nationality will be available in South Africa; and if he will give details of the steps he is taking to advertise in South Africa the opportunity which the South Africa Act provides for citizens to remain British.

The forms are available now at Her Majesty's Embassy and all consular offices in South Africa. Public attention was drawn both in the United Kingdom and in South Africa, at the time of the readings of the South Africa Bill and its enactment, to the provisions under which South African citizens may be able to acquire United Kingdom citizenship by registration. Since then Her Majesty's Embassy have obtained wide publicity for the implications of the change in South Africa's status resulting from the Bill. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for having given further publicity to this matter by his Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the continued high wholesale price of potatoes; and what steps he is taking, by legislation or otherwise, to get the price reduced.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right han. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Cooper) on 18th July. Since then both wholesale and retail prices have been steadily falling and I do not think that any action on my part is called for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up a committee to investigate and report to him what steps should be taken to improve the efficiency of British methods, in view of the fact that the cost of converting wheat into flour is 28·6 per cent. in Holland, 29·6 per cent. in Germany, 35·6 per cent. in France and 41·1 per cent. in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

I do not think that my hon. Friend's comparison of milling costs is a valid one in view of the various differences among the countries selected. Milling in this country is a highly competitive industry which receives no protection apart from the 10 per cent. duty on foreign flour. I therefor see no reason to appoint a committee to inquire into its efficiency.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that in the making of bread French bakers operate on a margin of 11·4 per cent. of the price they pay for flour, the Dutch on 45·8 per cent., and the English on 118 per cent.; if he will take steps to reduce this margin so as to give the farmers and faun workers a better reward for producing the wheat or the housewife cheaper bread; and if he will make a statement.

It is very difficult to make valid comparisons on baking costs in the United Kingdom and those on the Continent because of the various differences in the type of product and conditions in the baking industry. I do not know how the figures quoted by my hon. Friend were arrived at; but I have no information which would justify taking powers to control prices and margins.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the numbers of fishery protection vessels now operating at any one time off the English and Welsh coasts; and whether he will discuss with the Admiralty means of increasing their numbers and radius of action.

There are six vessels in the Fishery Protection Squadron of the Royal Navy available for duties in home waters but the actual number engaged at any given time on fishery protection tasks off the English and Welsh coasts varies. The provision of the ships is a matter for the First Lord of the Admiralty with Whom I maintain close contact about the scale of fishery protection.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has yet come to a decision on the future of Scotland's airports; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's proposals for the future of Scottish airports were set out in the White Paper on aerodromes policy published last August. I am meeting a number of bodies representative of Scottish opinion tomorrow to discuss these proposals with them, and my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate the outcome of this discussion.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is Caking to satisfy himself that the proposal of the Central Electricity Generating Board to build two chimneys at the Leys power station site to a height of 650 feet above sea level, will not endanger flying at the Cardiff, Rhoose, Airport.

Consultations are being held with the Central Electricity Generating Board in order to ensure that the requirements of the Board are reconciled with those needed to safeguard aircraft flying in the vicinity of Cardiff (Rhoose) Airport.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to how many applicants for National Assistance in Newcastle-under-Lyme the National Assistance Board is at present paying less than the full amount of rent; what is considered to be the average rent in the locality; and what changes in assessment in this respect have recently been made.

I regret that the figures asked for are not available. Information about the rents paid by recipients of National Assistance allowances is obtained from a sample inquiry on a national basis, and details for the country as a whole, which are given in the Annual Report of the National Assistance Board for 1961, show that at the end of that year the rent was being allowed in full in nearly 99 per cent. of cases. There has been no recent change of practice and none is proposed.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the average rent allowance, for each respective region, paid to applicants for supplementary pensions; and what change of policy is envisaged in regard to the discretionary powers of area officers regarding the level of this type of allowance.

At the end of 1961 the average weekly amount of rent and rates paid by supplemented retirement pensioners in each of the administrative regions of the National Assistance Board, the areas of which are shown in a map in the Board's Report for 1961, were as follows:

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking to ensure the use of slates in public buildings projects.

Slates are used for public buildings whenever this material is most suitable, having regard to all the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware of the studies that have been made in the United States of America of the use made by public authorities of new building materials and of new designs and methods of construction; if he will institute a special study of new building techniques applicable to public buildings in this country; and, in order to improve the appearance of public buildings by the use of brighter colours, if he will consult the British Plastics Federation with a view to drawing the attention of public authorities to the advantages of glass fibre reinforced materials.

We receive regular reports of new building techniques carried out in the United States. If the hon. Member will communicate with me I will gladly look into the studies he has in mind.Research into new building techniques and materials is regularly carried out in this country at the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and elsewhere. I am considering how best to secure the application of new building materials and techniques to Public Building.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will encourage local authorities to use slates in building council houses.

Although slates are long lasting and require little expenditure or maintenance, they are relatively expensive in initial cost. Local authorities must, therefore, be left free to decide the balance of advantage for themselves.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state, for the 12 months ended 31st March 1962, in respect of development districts in the counties of Northumberland, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire, the number of factories provided for rent or sale giving the area cost and estimated employment, the number of building grants giving the amount, the average grant in relation to the estimated cost and the estimated employment, the figure of capital outlay per job created by the assistance given under the Local Employment Act, and the number of industrial development certificates applied for and granted, giving the area and estimated additional employment.

Approval was given in the period for the building of 14 factories or extensions by the Board of Trade with a total area of nearly 363,000 sq. ft., at an estimated cost of over £1,220,000 to provide 3,200 jobs; five building grants averaging 132 per cent. of total building costs were offered to provide 160 jobs. The capital outlay per job created by assistance under Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Local Employment Act was £450. Industrial development certificates were issued for 41 projects with a total area of just under 1·2 million sq. ft. and an estimated employment of nearly 5,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in the interests of the export trade, he will advise motor car manufacturers on the desirability of printing instruction books and other documents in the languages of the countries in which they sell and service their products.

This is a matter which has come up in discussion with the industry. I am sure that manufacturers are conscious of the desirability of the practice and it is, I am informed, already widely followed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of imparts into the United Kingdom of

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assistance under the Local Employment Act, 1960 have now been granted, rejected or are under consideration in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively; what were the total amounts of money involved in each country; and what was the number or people provided with work in each country as a result.

The following is the information:

The following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many existing undertakings in Caernarvonshire have been assisted under the Local Employment Act, 1960; how many new industries have been introduced to the county under the Act; what is their location; and how many people have found employment under such schemes.

Excluding one offer which was declined three projects in Caernarvonshire have been offered assistance under the Local Employment Act for an estimated additional employment of about 1,050. One of the firms involved was new to the area. I cannot give further details without revealing confidential information about individual firms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the names of the deputy-chairmen of the Boundary Commissions for England and for Wales.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has recently appointed the Hon. Mr. Justice Thesiger, M.B.E., to be Deputy-Chairman of the Boundary Commission for England and the Hon. Mr. Justice Lloyd-Jones to be Deputy-Chairman of the Boundary Commission for Wales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the Treasury receipts from Pool Betting Duty collected on greyhound totalisators for the months of April, May and June, 1962, and similar figures for bookmakers' licence duty for the same months.

The following are the figures for April and May. It is regretted that those for June are not yet available.

asked the Postmaster-General how many technical officer posts are at present unfilled in London and in each of the provincial regions of the Post Office.

In London 506. The other figures are:

asked the Postmaster-General when Teledu Cymry will begin commercial television broadcasting in Wales; what areas of the Principality will be served by it; and approximately how many viewers will receive it.

The I.T.A. tells me that the company will begin broadcasting in the middle of September this year, covering an area west of the line from Port Talbot in the South to Barmouth in the North. The population in this area is 595,000, some 15,000 of whom will also be within reach of the Lleyn station which will open later this year. The Lleyn station will cover most of Caernarvonshire and Anglesey, a population of 143,000. Finally the Moel-y-Parc station will open at the end of this year or early next year. It will cover Flint and Denbighshire with a population of 334,000.