asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state, in respect of the development districts in the North-East from 1st April, 1961, to 31st March, 1962, the number of factories provided for rent or sale, giving the area, the cost, the estimated employment, the number of building grants given and their total amount, the average grant in relation to the estimated cost and the estimated employment, the number of applications for loans and grants, giving how many are approved, the amount offered and the estimated employment, the figure of capital outlay per job created by the assistance under this Act and the number of industrial development certificates applied for and granted, giving the area and estimated additional employment.

During the year ended 31st March, 1962, loans and grants amounting to over £420,000 were offered to 12 projects in the North-East for the additional employment of 700 people; 18 applications were rejected, and 16 were under consideration at the end of the period. The rest of the information asked for by the hon. Member is in the Answer my hon. Friend gave on 23rd July to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he permitted an increase in imports of sterilised cream from Denmark from 745 tons in 1958 to 7,872 tons in 1961.

Control was removed from imports of sterilised cream from Denmark and most other sources in June, 1959.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many suggestions for references to the Monopolies Commission have been noted in the annual reports on the work of the Commission; how many have been referred; what estimate he makes of the time which would be needed by the Commission to investigate all the suggestions on the basis of the past rate of progress; and if, in future annual reports, in addition to recording a list of the subjects suggested to him, he will also give reasons for not referring those subjects to the Commission.

A total of 196 suggestions have been noted since 1948 of which 80 appear to be within the present purview of the Monopolies Commission. After consideration of the merits of these suggestions from the point of view of the public interest, references have been made in 31 cases, including 23 which would now be outside the Commission's scope. The remainder vary considerably in complexity and I am not prepared to make an estimate of the kind asked for in the third part of the question. I doubt if the suggestion made in the last part of the Question would be practicable, but I am reviewing the form of this part of the Annual Report and will bear the hon. Member's proposal in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken, in furtherance of the British export drive,with regard to the Czecho-slovakian Industrial Exhibition at Earl's Court; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State and I took the opportunity afforded by the visit of the Czechoslovak Minister of Foreign Trade, who opened the Exhibition, to have discussions with him about the general development of trade between our two countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department gave to the Federation of British Horticultural Exporters at the Floralies exhibition held at Valenciennes in May of this year; and to what extent his Department benefited as a result of the success of the British exhibit.

The Board of Trade spent approximately £11,500 on space rent, stand construction and other incidental costs. I am glad to say that the main floral exhibit won a Grand Prix d'Honneur, that several other exhibits won awards, and that most of the exhibitors of equipment and sundries have reported themselves satisfied with the effect of participation on their sales in France.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make the necessary arrangements to send an observer to the forthcoming September Leipzig Tirade Fair.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has reached a decision on the proposed increase in the relief accorded to smaller cinema exhibitors in respect of their liability to contribute to the Cinematograph Films Levy.

Yes. I have accepted the recommendation made to me by the Cinematograph Films Council to raise the limit of exemption so that exhibitors' liability to pay the levy will commence when their box office takings in any week exceed £300 as compared with the current limit of £250. I will bring the necessary amending Regulations before the House at the first practicable opportunity, which I expect to be in November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking, having regard to the increase in the number of unemployed in the Gloucester area and the need to make the fullest use of all physical resources, to introduce new employers for the purpose of occupying the vacant factory space there.

None. The vacant factory space is privately owned and I understand that it has been advertised in the normal way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's present policy towards the importation of coal into this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now state the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the importation of coal into the United Kingdom.

The Government have decided to maintain for the time being the policy of not allowing imports of coal from non-sterling sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the annual import of toys from the Soviet bloc amounts to nearly £750,000, he will take steps to increase the annual export quota of toys from Great Britain to the Soviet bloc.

Imports of toys in 1961 from the Soviet bloc countries amounted to £342,000. Our objectives in negotiating trade arrangements with these countries is to achieve the maximum overall trade rather than to strike a particular balance in the import and export quotas for individual commodities. I shall, of course, continue to bear in mind the desire of the toy industry for increased export quotas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement on the Donibristle site in Fife; and how soon it will be available for industrial occupation.

Surveying and planning work on the Donibristle industrial estate is well in hand. I hope that the main building which is to be converted as an advance factory will be ready for occupation by the middle of next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the preferential tariffs accorded by Her Majesty's Government to knitwear and woollen gloves from Hong Kong is threatening to damage those industries in Aberdeen and to create unemployment there; and if he will set up an official inquiry into this situation with a view to mitigating the loss thereby occasioned to the Scottish industry in general and to the four factories in Aberdeen in particular.

I am aware of the concern of the Scottish knitwear industry about imports from Hong Kong. I see no purpose in setting up an official inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the building of further advance factories.

Preparations are now being made for converting the Admiralty repair shop at Donibristle for industrial use. In addition, I have decided to build one advance factory in each of the following areas:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide the University Grants Committee with extra funds to enable it to recompense universities for increases in rate payments arising out of the provisions of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1961.

Yes.

asked Mr. Chancellor of of the Exchequer if he has received the report of the University Grants Committee and the universities with medical schools concerning the expansion of medical schools during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Government accept the Committee's recommendations, made after consultation with the universities concerned, for raising by 10 per cent. the intake of medical students. Grants for the capital and recurrent expenditure required, as estimated by the Committee, will be issued, and will be additional to the capital and recurrent grants to universities already authorised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why safety shoes are subject to Purchase Tax when safety boots are exempt; and whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly.

It is not possible to work out a definition which would enable protective clothing and footwear as a class to be exempted from tax and, this being so, my right hon. Friend considers it would not be right to deal with particular articles, such as safety shoes, in isolation.Miners' and similar protective boots have, however, been exempt ever since the beginning of the tax in 1940; and, following the 1958 Budget, hon. Members on all sides of the House indicated their view that this exemption should remain, notwithstanding the anomaly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to announce a decision on the facilities being made available to enable trustee savings banks to issue cheques.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the calendar of Government publications for May, 1962, was only available to hon. Members on 11th July.

I am sorry that there was some delay on this occasion. I hope that normal publication dates, i.e. towards the end of the month following the month concerned will soon be resumed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the official definition for Customs purposes of a steel offcut.

The term "offcut" is not used in any classification of goods for Customs purposes and there is accordingly no occasion for it to be officially defined.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a contribution to the Leonardo appeal on the basis of a £ sterling for each £ sterling subscribed by the public, but not exceeding the balance required to meet the target figure of £800,000.

I have no statement to make on this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's present policy in regard to incomes.

My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be referring to this subject in the course of today's debate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of 'the increasing demands on the Arts Council for financial assistance, he will make an additional allocation to it.

In view of the substantial increase made in this grant this year, I very much doubt whether such an increase, which in fairness I should say the Council has not asked for, could be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to announce the membership of the committees set up to build and to administer the National Theatre.

Not yet, but I hope to be able to make an announcement before very long.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in full the report, recently made to him by the chairman of regional boards for industry, concerning unemployment and the industrial outlook.

No. It is of the essence of these reports that they are confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to determine the effect on prices and trading on the London Stock Exchange since April 1962, of the speculative gains tax provisions of the Finance Bill, 1962; and what estimate he has now made of the yield of this tax during tthe current financial year.

It is too early to estimate the effect on the London Stock Exchange of the speculative gains tax. There can be no yield from the tax during the current financial year because taxpayers' returns in respect of this year will not be made until after 5th April. 1963.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the amount of tax obtained in a full financial year if a tax on personal wealth were to be introduced in the fallowing categories, namely, ½ per cent tax on all personal wealth of £20,000 to £50,000, 1 per cent. tax on all personal wealth of over £50,000 to £100,000, 2 per cent. tax an all personal wealth of £100,000 to £200,000, 3 per cent. tax on all personal wealth of £200,000 to £300,000, 4 per cent. tax on all personal wealth of £300,000 to £400,000, and five per cent. tax on all personal wealth of over £400,000.

About £300 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the present economic policy of Her Majesty's Government.

No. I would prefer not to anticipate this afternoon's debate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for increasing the financial grants to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; and whether he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to repeal the Town Police Clauses Act of 1847 since this Act is specifically aimed at horse-drawn hackney carriages.

No. The provisions of this Act which apply to hackney carriages are not in general confined to horse-drawn vehicles. They apply to wheeled carriages irrespective of their means of propulsion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the increase in offences and incidents involving the use of knives, particularly in the London area; and if he will consider legislation to increase the penalties for such offences.

I am not aware of any evidence that there has been a recent increase in offences and incidents involving the use of knives. The penalties provided by existing legislation are already severe.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increased prison accommodation has been provided during the past three years; and when he expects to be able to provide a cell for each prison inmate.

Since February, 1959, about 1,300 new places have been provided in England and Wales for adult male prisoners; and 1,000 new places in other establishments for males under 21 have afforded indirect relief to the prisons. New establishments are expected to provide another 5,300 places for males in the next five years. If the prison population does not increase, this will be enough to provide a cell for each inmate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the circumstances which led to the release of a man, whose name has been sent to him, from Broadmoor after nine years' confinement; whether this man appeared before a mental health review tribunal; whether he was released contrary to the recommendation of the hospital authorities; whether he is aware this man was convicted of a further sexual offence six weeks after his release; and whether, in the interests of this man and the public of South Wales, he will direct a psychiatric examination to take place before his pending release from prison.

This man was conditionally discharged from Broadmoor Hospital in April last because, after careful consideration in the light of the advice of the mental health review tribunal and of reports from the hospital authorities, it was not thought that he was a danger to the public or that his continued detention could be justified. He has since been convicted of an offence, which did not however involve violence or corruption of the young; he has now been released from prison, having served his sentence. While awaiting trial he was examined by the prison medical officer and a consultant psychiatrist. I have received their reports, but on my present information I do not think that special action on my part is required. I shall keep the case under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Miss Lutchee Atchanna, who was disfigured by burns and sought plastic surgery treatment in this country, was refused permission at Southampton to enter Great Britain and was sent back to South Africa on the Union Castle liner, Cape Town Castle.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of my hon. and learned Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State in the debate on the Adjournment on Friday last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take powers to authorise medical practitioners to terminate pregnancies of women who have taken, as prescribed, the drug distaval;(2) whether, in view of the number of deformed children now being born as a result of the prescribing of the drug distaval, he will introduce legislation whereby in future cases of extreme deformity medical practitioners may be authorised to apply euthanasia.

Although it may be lawful to terminate a pregnancy in order to preserve the mother's life or mental or physical health, it is an offence to do so in any other circumstances. On the information at present before me, including the consideration that this drug was withdrawn last November, I should not feel justified in introducing legislation to amend the law in this respect or to make it lawful to take the life of a child already born.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many recommendations by magistrates for the deportation of Commonwealth citizens have been made since 1st June, 1962, when Part II of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, came into force;(2) how many Commonwealth citizens, in respect of whom recommendations for deportation have been made, are now in prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations for deportation under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act have been made; what were the countries of origin of the offenders; how many recommendations he has confirmed; and what were the countries of origin of those in regard to whom he has confirmed the recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth citizens are at present subject to deportation recommendations; how many of these are in prison; and for how long each has been in prison.

The position, up to the evening of 24th July, is as follows. One hundred and nine recommendations for deportation have been notified to the Home Office. All except 9 are from magistrates' courts.Fifty-six of those recommended are citizens of the Republic of Ireland. There are 18 from Jamaica, 10 from British Guiana, 8 from Trinidad and Tobago, 7 from the Leeward and Windward Islands, 2 each from Australia and Barbados, and 1 each from Canada, New Zealand, Malta, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Tanganyika.Five persons have been deported, and I have signed deportation orders in 5 further oases. These 10 comprise 5 citizens of the Republic of Ireland, 1 Australian, 1 Barbadian, 1 Jamaican, 1 Maltese and 1 holder of a Hong Kong passport.Of the remaining 99, 77 are serving sentences of imprisonment imposed by a court. It is my aim to reach my decision in each case before the offender's sentence is completed. Three persons are detained in mental hospitals under orders made under Section 60 of the Mental Health Act, 1959, by the court which also recommended deportation. In 6 cases the offender is not detained because the court directed release pending consideration of the recommendation. In 3 cases I have decided not to act on the court's recommendation. In 1 case I have released the offender on a restriction order.Nine persons are detained in accordance with the provisions of the Second Schedule of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act. Four of these have been detained for less than a week, 4 for between eight and fourteen days, and 1 (an appellant) for sixteen day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth immigrants arrived in the United Kingdom during the six months ended 30th June, 1962; what were the countries from which they principally came; and how the figures for the respective countries compare with the same period in 1961.

The following are the figures:

	1st January-30th June
Estimated net inward movement from	1961	1962
West Indies	29,850	31,800
East African territories	850	1,980
West African territories	1,210	6,630
Cyprus	2,320	3,160
Gibraltar	–240	–170
Malta	200	630
Aden	120	–30
Hong Kong	850	2,160
Malaya	10	720
Singapore	340	630
India	8,850	19,050
Pakistan	7,840	25,080
Ceylon	150	990
Other territories	170	2,270
	52,520	94,900

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding his decision to make rules increasing the salaries of probation officers by 2½ per cent.

A resolution was received from the National Association of Probation Officers when the proposal to make the rules was announced. There have since been a number of similar representations, mainly from individual probation officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what conditions permission was granted to Mr. James Taylor, junior, of New York, to visit finis country; for how long such permission was granted; and whether he is satisfied that these conditions have been observed.

Mr. Taylor was admitted to this country on 3rd July as a visitor for a period not exceeding three months. Apart from the limitation of time, no other condition was expressly attached to his stay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instituted in the borough of Wembly for offences under the Litter Act, 1958, since the Act came into force; and how many have been instituted in England and Wales as a whole.

For the period from 7th August, 1958, to 31st December, 1961, proceedings were taken against one person (who was convicted) in Wembly and against 7,712 persons (of whom 7,481 were convicted) in England and Wales as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that copies of form I.M.2 for the admission of wives, families, etc., to the United Kingdom cannot be obtained at the Cardiff Immigration Office; and if he will ensure that adequate supplies are available there and in other immigration offices as soon as possible.

This form, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, is an application for a United Kingdom entry certificate. It is not intended for use within the United Kingdom; it is designed for presentation by the applicant to the entry certificate issuing officer abroad. Adequate supplies of the form have been made available in the oversea territories; but I am considering whether arrangements should also be made to make supplies available here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all people who use Footbal League fixture lists for the purposes of their betting business or for the promotion of football pools shall be required to make a financial contribution for the benefit of Association Football.

No. I understand that the reproduction of the Football League's fixture lists is covered by copyright law. I do not consider that a compulsory levy for the benefit of football would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the new evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding contravention by the National Socialist Movement of the Public Order Act, 1936, he will now investigate the matter further.

The investigation of possible criminal offences is a matter for the police. I have passed to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis the information which the hon. Member has sent to me.

asked the First Secretary of State to what extent among the projects for African education being financed by United Kingdom loans or grants in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland there are included specific projects for the education of girls, such as domestic science colleges, and projects of community development.

The following is the information:In Northern Rhodesia the following Colonial Development and Welfare Grants have been made for Girls' Schools:

(a) Chipembi Girls' Secondary School	£20,000
(b) Maramba Girls' Secondary School	£10,000
(c) Mindolo Girls' Technical College (providing Domestic Science training for Students and Teachers)	£22,400
(d) Mpika Girls✶ Secondary School	£16,000
	£68,400

Colonial Development and Welfare Grants have also assisted in the establishment of Chalimbana Teacher Training College and David Livingstone Teacher Training College, which cater for both men and women teachers, in the building of two co-educational secondary schools, and in the building of rural co-educational primary schools in all provinces.

asked the First Secretary of State if the Southern Rhodesian Government has accepted Her Majesty's Government's offer of a loan for the development of African education; what projects have been decided upon; and to what extent African organisations have been consulted.

This matter is still under consideration with the Southern Rhodesian Government.

asked the First Secretary of State what steps he is taking to train Africans in Northern Rhodesia for public administration.

asked the First Secretary of State what plans he has for educating and training Africans to enable them to take over as administrators and teachers in Northern Rhodesia.

Under its current Four Year Development Plan the Government of Northern Rhodesia intends to spend nearly a million pounds on the training of locally born staff, and a substantial proportion of this expenditure will be for training Africans in the fields of administration and education.The plan provides for the completion of the Chalmbana, Charles Lwanga and David Livingstone Teacher Training Colleges and it is intended to establish an Institute of Public Administration.

asked the Minister of Education how many married women were appointed to teaching between 1st February and 1st June this year.

Reports from the authorities show that 2,485 married women were appointed during this period compared with 2,184 in the corresponding period last year. Of this total, 1,610 were appointed to full-time posts and 875 to part-time posts. 318 were graduates and 2,167 were non-graduates.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of the gross national product was devoted to education in the years 1951 and 1961, respectively; how the resources involved were apportioned; and what changes he will make in these dispositions in the future.

The proportion of the gross national product spent by public authorities on education rose from 3·1 per cent. in the financial year 1951–52 to an estimated 4·4 per cent. in 1961–62. (Excluded from these percentages is expenditure on school milk and meals, public libraries and museums, the educational expenditure by the Service Departments and from private sources.)The apportionment of the public expenditure on education has been published for each year since 1953–54 in the May issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics (Tables B, D and E). Strictly comparable statistics for 1951–52 are not readily available. Government decisions so far announced will not lead in the immediate future to any major change in the pattern of expenditure within the total devoted to education, though the trend at the present time continues slightly upward.

asked the Minister of Education What was his reply to the petition forwarded to him in connection with the reorganisation of the Brewood Grammar School; and whether he will make a statement.

I shall carefully consider these and any other objections that I receive to the proposed reorganisation of this school, but I cannot reach a decision until the statutory period of two months for the submission of objections has expired. It would not be right for me to comment further at this stage.

asked the Minister of Education what reply he has made to the petition sent to him by 80 per cent. of the primary and secondary school teachers in Huddersfield protesting against his refusal to allocate any new building to Huddersfield in the 1963–64 school building programme.

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

asked the Minister of Education what proposals he has received from the Cardiff education authority for the provision of new schools in Splott and Adamsdown, in view of the concern felt by parents about the absence of proper buildings for secondary education.

The Cardiff local education authority has included, in the proposals it has submitted to me for the 1964–65 school building programme, provision for a new secondary school to serve the Splott and Adamsdown areas, at an estimated cost of £318,000. This proposal, together with the others submitted, will be considered on its merits when I come to draw up the programme.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of additional teacher training places recently recommended by the National Advisory Council; and by what date he expects to be able to meet this recommendation.

The chairman of the council has now reported to me the council's recommendation for an additional 10,000 teacher training places and I am considering it carefully.

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether he will make a further statement on the recommendations of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers about the immediate steps which might have to be taken to alleviate the shortage of teachers; and what action he proposes to take before the next academic year;(2) what recommendations have been made by the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers about the use of auxiliaries in schools.

The council has recently recommended the further expansion of the training colleges, but it has not yet concluded its study of more immediate measures to help the schools, including the use of auxiliaries. The chairman has assured me that the council is working urgently on these matters and will report as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education, to what extent organised overseas visits by schoolchildren are financed from public funds; what is his policy with regard to such visits; and if he will advise local education authorities to ensure that visits to bullfights are excluded from all such tours, in view of the cruelty involved and the fact that bull-fighting is illegal in the United Kingdom.

Parents normally pay for holiday visits themselves, though local education authorities have power to help in cases of need. In the case which the hon. Member has in mind, I understand that there was no charge on public funds. Details of these visits are best left to the good sense of the schools and the parents.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in studying the possibility of giving young workers a statutory right to day release; and when he expects to be able to make a statement of Government policy on the matter.

I discussed this proposal last week with representatives of national industrial organisations—including the Trades Union Congress—the local edu- cation authorities and technical college staffs. The conclusion was reached that it would involve additional claims on resources which ware potentially so heavy in terms of buildings, staff and current rates of expenditure that it could not be proceeded with for the present without holding back other urgent educational developments. There was also general agreement that despite the encouraging increase in the number of young people under 18 receiving day release from 209,000 in 1959–60 to 250,000 in 1961–62, everything possible should be done Do bring about a further substantial improvement. With the full support of the meeting I undertook to arrange for an inquiry into the best ways of securing this objective.I am sanding the hon. Member a copy of the Press notice which was issued after the meeting.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to ensure that local technical colleges and similar institutions will provide enough extra places this autumn to provide the large number of school leavers with comparable opportunities to those who have left school in recent years.

In making their plans for the coming session the local education authorities have, I know, had the hon. Member's point well in mind. This year major building projects to the value of £17 million are Likely to be completed and these will be supplemented by a good number of minor projects and, where necessary, emergency provision by, for example, the renting of premises.

asked the Minister of Education how many new projects for swimming baths and swimming pools have been approved since 19th April; and whether he will take steps to increase the provision of swimming facilities for schoolchildren more rapidly.

Five covered and heated swimming baths. Open air swimming pools do not normally require my approval.Nearly three times as many baths are under construction as there were three years ago. The increased investment allocation now available for sports provision should permit this improvement to be maintained; but swimming baths are costly and school swimming will often have to take place in public baths.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and

Authority				Date of approval	Extent
ENGLAND
City of Winchester	…	…	…	17.6.50	Parts of city
Barrow in Furness	…	…	…	11.12.50	Coastal strip and inland agricultural area
Blackburn	…	…	…	24.1.51	Parts of built-up area and outlying areas
Westmorland	…	…	…	28.4.51	500,000 acres
City of Durham	…	…	…	28.5.51	Larger part of city
Gloucestershire	…	…	…	4.7.51	200,000 acres
Isle of Wight	…	…	…	16.7.51	90,000 acres
Hertfordshire	…	…	…	23.8.51	350,000 acres
Cheltenham	…	…	…	1.9.51	Larger part of borough
Lake District Planning Board	…	…	…	l8.3.52	National Park
				and
				27. 2.53
Lancashire	…	…	…	4.7.52	350,000 acres
Cornwall	…	…	…	29.8.52	700,000 acres
Yorkshire (North Riding)	…	…	…	21.7.53	600,000 acres
Cumberland	…	…	…	31.12.53	950,000 acres
City of Leeds	…	…	…	23.2.54	Parts of city
				and
				6. 2.58
Cambridgeshire	…	…	…	20.4.54	300,000 acres
Somerset	…	…	…	8.2.55	250,000 acres
Cheshire	…	…	…	21.12.56	550,000 acres
Isle of Ely	…	…	…	12. 8.57	Parts of City of Ely and of Wisbech and Thorney
City of Salisbury	…	…	…	4.10.57	Cathedral and castle areas
Wiltshire	…	…	…	4.10.57	850,000 acres
Peak Park Planning Board	…	…	…	27.3.58	National Park
Kent	…	…	…	25. 7.58	250,000 acres
Yorkshire (West Riding)	…	…	…	22.9.58	National Park
Buckinghamshire	…	…	…	22.1.60	450,000 acres
City of Wells	…	…	…	10.3.61	Parts of City
Isles of Scilly	…	…	…	17.10.61	4,000 acres
Norfolk	…	…	…	1.3.62	1,100,000 acres
WALES
Glamorgan	…	…	…	30.12.52	48,600 acres
Montgomeryshire	…	…	…	27.2.53	508,300 acres
Pembrokeshire	…	…	…	31.7.58	385,100 acres
Monmouthshire	…	…	…	23.4.59	308,100 acres
Flintshire	…	…	…	9.9.60	144,600 acres
Caernarvonshire	…	…	…	10.3.61	171,200 acres
Merionethshire	…	…	…	14. 3.61	327,000 acres
Carmarthenshire	…	…	…	2.11.61	80,730 acres
Denbighshire	…	…	…	20.12.61	20,140 acres

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many visits in connection with the cement dust nuisance have been made to the North-West Kent area by alkali inspectors

The information is as follows:since 1st January, 1962, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., respectively.

Information in exactly this form is not available. This year 26 visits, including four by the Chief Alkali Inspector, have been paid to individual cement works in North-West Kent between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. No visits have been paid between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the widespread anxiety in North-West Kent at tone worsening nuisance of cement dust, what action he now proposes to take to protect the public.

Clay with a high alkali content has recently been interfering with the operation of the precipitators at cement works in North-West Kent. The company concerned is making arrangements to obtain clay free from this defect, and meanwhile emergency measures to reduce dust emission have been taken The Chief Alkali Inspector is discussing urgently with the industry further long-term improvements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the possibility of a new town being established in mid-Wales is still actively under consideration by his Department, in view of the announcement in early June that a new town is to be built at Dawley in Shropshire.

This possibility is being kept in mind, but does not appear practicable at the moment.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will set up an interdepartmental committee to study the structure of the British Government's representation in Europe and in Commonwealth countries with particular reference to the European Economic Community in the next five and the next ten years.

Our representation in foreign and Commonwealth countries is continually under review and is from time to time adjusted to meet changing requirements. If the decision is taken to join the European Communities we shall of course give most careful con- sideration, well in advance of our entry, to the implications both for our representation abroad and for the organisation of inter-departmental work in London.

asked the Minister of Defence if it is now his policy to reduce the number of United States bomber bases in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

The deployment of American forces in this country is a matter for the United States Government who naturally consult us as necessary.The changes announced by the Third Air Force on 23rd March and 20th July are being put into effect.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, on the basis of the first motion detection technique improved by recordings in deeper bore holes, it will be ultimately possible to detect all nuclear explosions and detect the difference between nuclear tests and earthquake tremors; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th July in reply to Questions by the hon. Member and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) and by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 23rd July.

asked the Minister of Defence in view of the collaboration between the Atomic Energy Authority and the United States Atomic Energy Commission in studying the recent Russian series of nuclear tests, if he will now make a statement on their evaluation of these tests.

I have nothing to add to the remarks made by President Kennedy on 2nd March, of which a copy is in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the precise route of the Bewdley by-pass trunk road, the estimated cost, and the projected commencement and completion dates.

Bewdley is not on a trunk road and there is at present no povision in my classified road programme for a by-pass of the town.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of concern about proposals for a one-way lorry route up Highgate Hill and the fact that such a scheme would disrupt the life of the whole community, if he will now give an assurance that he will first try the alternative experiment of the Hornsey Borough Council.

No. The proposal by Hornsey Borough Council is only one of many that I am considering.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that he will not introduce the scheme for a one-way lorry route up Highgate Hill before or during the Recess, even as an experiment.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the number of fatal accidents caused to non-swimmers through wearing life-jackets

Per cent.
—			1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961
Machinery Non-electrical	…	…	42·1	34·0	42·3	49·8	30·4	19·7	32·9
Machinery Electrical	…	…	63·7	59·9	55·7	52·7	50·1	45·2	45·2

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportions of the

The life-jackets approved by my Department are for use by passengers and crews on merchant ships. Other types may be suitable for use, for example, by yachtsmen and my Department is associated with a British Standards Institution Committee which is preparing a suitable specification for such jackets.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent official conversations with the President of the Royal Academy about the public appeal for funds to purchase the Leonardo da Vinci cartoon.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Colonies what percentage of total imports into Hong Kong of non-electrical machinery and electrical machinery were from the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1955 to 1961.

Imports of non-electrical and electrical machinery from the United Kingdom into Hong Kong, expressed as a percentage of the total imports of these items into the Colony, were as follows:populations of North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei, respectively, have declared their support for the Malaysia proposals; and what proportions have indicated their opposition.

No precise statistics are available but I hope to make a general statement on this matter shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the Report of the Cobbold Commission of Inquiry before any announcement is made of Government policy on the proposal for a federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he proposes to publish the Cobbold Commission's Report on Greater Malaysia.

The Commission's Report was addressed jointly to the British and Malayan Governments. The question of its publication will be decided in the course of the talks now proceeding between the two Governments in London.

asked the Minister of Labour what response he has had from the British Employers Confederation to his request for information about restrictive practices in industry.

The question of restrictive practices was discussed at the meeting of my National Joint Advisory Council last October. The British Employers' Confederation then wrote to its member associations and, at yesterday's meeting of the Council, informed me that it would continue to encourage managements to identify and deal with un-economic practices in consultation, as necessary, with the appropriate trade unions. It would report progress to the Council.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the persistent and growing unemployment and under-employment, what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the issue of work permits to intending immigrants; what is his estimate of the level to which unemployment can grow before further immigration will need to be stopped; and if he will make a statement.

The policy of the Government is to issue employment vouchers to intending immigrants at the rate which they consider to be right at the time, having regard to our capacity to absorb them into our national life. I cannot speculate about the volume of immigration which might be compatible with a particular level of unemployment. Other factors have also to be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) when the Oldham widowed mother, whose name has been supplied to him, who was asked to hand over her pension book for inquiry in April of this year, will have the pension book returned, and a ruling as to the amount due to her;(2) whether he is aware that the Old-ham widowed mother, whose name has been supplied to him, and who is entitled to a pension in respect of her son who is an apprentice, is no longer allowed to draw the whole pension for each week in which her son earns a small sum over the stipulated limit of earnings; and if he will investigate this case with a view to enabling her pension to remain un-diminished.

I am looking into this case, and I will write to the hon. Member further as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether he will make available, on request, to applicants for a war disability pension any medical certificates they have received from any member of the medical staff of a hospital in which the applicant has been under treatment;(2) whether he will arrange that, where the Ministry has been supplied by the doctor of an applicant for disability pension with a medical certificate on his condition, a copy of such medical certificate shall be forthwith supplied to the applicant.

Medical certificates are normally confidential, but when a claimant appeals to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal there is statutory provision for all such evidence to be disclosed to the appellant or his representative.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will give instructions that no application is to be made to the private doctor of an applicant for a war disability pension asking for evidence as to his state of health without the applicant's consent.

Such instructions have been in force for many years.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many contributors to the Graduated Pension Scheme, upon retirement, are not entitled to any benefit because their contributions have been less than half a unit;(2) if he will state the amount transferred to the National Insurance Fund from the contributions to the Graduated Pension Scheme of those who have less than half a unit to their credit on retirement.

Detailed figures are not available. All graduated contributions are paid into the National Insurance Fund and any advantage the Fund may gain from odd amounts of graduated contributions of this kind is more than offset by the cost of rounding up amounts of half a unit or more to a whole unit.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether he is aware that the Chadderton man, whose name had been supplied to him, and who is 82 years of age, confined to the house by illness following a stroke, and suffering from cataracts on the eyes, has had a reclaim for alleged overpayment of benefit on the ground that the insurance officer is not satisfied that he used due care and diligence to avoid overpayment; and if he will investigate this case with a view to appropriate action;(2) whether he is aware that the Chadderton man, whose name has been supplied to him, who is 82 years of age and in very poor health, has been informed that he will forfeit 35s. per week as dependant's allowance on the grounds that his wife, who is working for a few hours a week as a home help, has had a rise of approximately 3s. a week; and if he will investigate this case with a view to enabling the allowance to continue undiminished.

I am aware of the circumstances of this case in which the insurance officer, the first of the independent authorities appointed to decide claims under the National Insurance Acts, has decided that there has been an over-payment of increase of benefit for the claimant's wife and that repayment is required. I cannot interfere with this decision, but the claimant has, of course, a right of appeal to the local tribunal against it. I am writing to the hon. Member fully about the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress is being made by the Atomic Energy Authority in solidifying radioactive wastes for easier and safer disposal.

A pilot plant for the development of the process for the fixation of radioactive wastes in glass-like solids was recently commissioned. Reports on the progress of this work will be published by the Authority later this year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will produce a simplified pamphlet illustrating the uses to which radioactive isotopes can be put in industry, and particularly showing examples of how efficiency can be increased.

The Atomic Energy Authority already publishes a wide range of pamphlets for this purpose which it makes freely available. These pamphlets supplement other ways in which the Authority brings the uses of radioisotopes to the attention of industry, some of which were detailed in my reply to the hon. Member on 23rd July. I will send the hon. Member a selection.