asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on his policy regarding the pay pause.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to what was said on this subject in last Thursday's debate by my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his present policy in regard to the rôle of the National Economic Development Council in planning the economy of the nation; and if he will make a statement.

The Council has already commissioned a programme of work by the Director-General and his staff. I am sure that the right thing is for it to go ahead as it has arranged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the percentage annual contribution, expressed as a percentage of wages and salaries, required from serving civil servants to pay for the cost of raising all Civil Service pensions to the level of those being currently awarded for comparable grades and service.

At present, about 4 per cent. of the wages and salaries of established staff, tending to increase as the proportion of pensioners to serving staff rises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer What is the present practice of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in regard to instituting criminal proceedings for alleged fraudulent claims to Income Tax personal allowances and to expenses deductions, particularly where the taxpayer has made a voluntary disclosure of his offence.

Criminal proceedings are normally instituted against a person who had evaded tax by making a fraudulent claim to Income Tax personal allowances or to an expenses deduction. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue have power under the Income Tax Acts however to make a monetary settlement with such a person, and in such a case criminal proceedings are not taken against him.In all cases including cases of voluntary disclosure the Commissioners reserve to themselves complete discretion as to their course of action; they can give no undertaking that criminal proceedings will not be taken. Nevertheless, if a person who has made a false claim comes forward voluntarily, without having been challenged with his offence, and makes a full and complete confession, these facts have great influence on the decision as to whether or not he should be prosecuted.Any person who has made a false claim should therefore consider whether it is in his or her interest immediately to make a disclosure of it to the Inland Revenue.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what assistance he proposes to give to the Royal College of Music to enable it to build an extension to its existing buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Royal College of Music, which has for many years been in receipt of an Exchequer grant in aid towards its expenses, needs additional accommodation. The redevelopment of the site of the Commonwealth Institute in South Kensington presents a unique opportunity for an extension of the Royal College of Music to be provided as part of the new buildings to be erected on the site by the Imperial College of Science.The Royal College of Music has issued a public appeal for £200,000 to finance this project. The Government propose, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make a contribution of £50,000 from the Exchequer. The money will be payable over the years 1963–64 and 1964–65.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make a statement about Exchequer assistance to the British Institute of Recorded Sound.

Yes. The Government have been considering a case put forward by this body which was founded in 1948 with the aim of forming a national archive of sound recordings. We are satisfied that this work is worthy of financial recognition and it is proposed, subject to the approval of Parliament, that a grant in aid should be made to the Institute for an experimental period of three years at the rate of £10,000 in 1963–64, £12,500 in 1964–65 and £15,000 in 1965–66. At the end of this period the position will be reviewed in the light of the situation at that time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much in money terms, before the deduction of tax, wages and salaries increased in the twelve months to the last convenient date; what percentage increase was involved; and if he will give the corresponding figures for dividends and for company profits over the same period.

It is estimated that wages and salaries paid in the first quarter of 1962 were £172 million, or 4¾ per cent. higher than in the corresponding quarter of 1961. Gross trading profits of companies are estimated to have fallen by £43 million, or 5¼ per cent., over the same period. Comparable figures for payments of dividends are not available but the summaries of the accounts of public companies compiled by the Financial Times show that companies reporting in the first quarter of 1962 had increased their ordinary dividends by nearly 2½ per cent. compared with the previous year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will exempt from Income Tax the Meritorious Service Award.

I am afraid that the answer must be: No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer Whether he is satisfied that the reward offered by the Customs and Excise to an individual whose name has been communicated to him by the hon. Member for Belfast, North, is in accordance with rewards offered in similar cases; and what proposals he has to increase the sum.

I am satisfied that the amount of the reward offered in this case by the Customs and Excise is adequate and in line with rewards offered in similar cases. I have no proposals to increase the sum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women students are being admitted to medical schools as first-year students in October, 1962; what percentage this will be of the current intake of medical students; and how this percentage compares with 1961 and 1960.

Of 2,020 students admitted to pre-clinical courses in the year ended 31st July, 1961, 492 (or 24 per cent.) were women. Figures for the year ended 31st July, 1962, and for admissions in October, 1962, are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now announce the membership of the proposed National Theatre Board and the proposed South Bank Theatre and Opera House Board.

Yes. The following have accepted invitations to serve on the National Theatre Board:

• Lord Chandos (Chairman).
• Mr. Hugh Beaumont.
• Sir Kenneth Clark.
• Sir Ashley Clarke.
• Mr. W. J. Keswick.
• Sir Douglas Logan.
• Mr. Henry Moore.
• Mr. Derek Salberg.
• Lord Wilmot.

Nominated by L.C.C.:Chairman of General Purposes Committee

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange to publish revenue and expenditure figures in Scotland as recommended by the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs.

A return based on the Catto Committee's finding was published for 1952–53. This was analysed by the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs, which however made no recommendation that further returns should be prepared. It has not been thought worth while to prepare a further return, which would be of very limited value to students of the Scottish economy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether persons under sentence of death are given the opportunity of taking pre-operative sedative drugs in the hours immediately preceding their execution.

Where such drugs are needed they may be prescribed. The matter is within the discretion of the medical officer and he exercises this discretion humanely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place under the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, since it passed into law.

From 27tb November, 1960, when the Act came into force, up to the end of 1961, 375 persons were prosecuted in England and Wales. Of these, 357 were convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is being given by the Metropolitan Police to installing closed circuit television cameras at selected busy road junctions in London and easing traffic flow through a central control acting on television pictures of such junctions.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that he is considering the possibility of introducing pilot schemes of traffic control using television and other electronic devices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to how many police forces in England and Wales a grant is made for the use of closed-circuit television for the purpose of traffic control in conjunction with traffic signals.

I am only aware of one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will have a study made by the Metropolitan Police of foreign systems of phased traffic signal control and closed circuit television traffic control.

The Metropolitan Police are aware of the systems of traffic control of this kind in use in several foreign and Commonwealth countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regulations under the Consumer Protection Act to provide safety standards for life-jackets, especially for the use of persons sailing in small boats.

I understand that the British Standards Institution is preparing a standard specification for such life-jackets. It would not be practicable to make regulations under the Act until a suitable specification is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many betting shops have been established as the result of recent legislation legalising such establishments.

I regret that comprehensive information, beyond that in the report already laid before Parliament in respect of the licensing period ended 30th May, 1961, is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that public reference to previous offences shall not be made in magistrates' courts when a person is before the court on a minor charge, save in exceptional and clearly defined cases.

I do not consider that this is a matter which could appropriately be dealt with by legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the study of the problems of introducing a scheme for compensating the victims of crimes of violence; and whether he will introduce legislation on this matter in the next Session of Parliament.

I am studying this question: I am not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were committed to prison during the year 1961 for civil debts; how many of these were offences committed in connection with defalcations on hire-purchase payments; and what was the average period of sentence.

8,734 men and 207 women were committed to prison in England and Wales in 1961 for nonpayment of debt. Hire-purchase cases would be included in the committals from county courts, totalling 5,506 men and 7 women; but the records do not distinguish such cases. I regret that the other information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been committed to prison for debt at the present time; and how many were committed for this cause in 1959–60 and 1961.

7,837 were committed during 1959, 7,788 during 1960, and 8,941 during 1961. The figures include committals for non-payment of rates, Income Tax and wife maintenance orders, as we'll as commercial debts.The number of those so committed during the present year is not immediately available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the evidence, contained in the anunual report of the Chief Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, that violence on television contributes largely to increased criminal activity, if he will ask the committee, which he has appointed to inquire into the impact of television on society, to expedite its report.

My predecessor arranged for a conference of experts to be held to consider possible lines of research in this field. The conference made recommendations about the scope of such research and how it might be organised. These are now being studied, and are to be discussed with the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has made to the representations sent to him on 7th July by Football League Limited, Lytham St. Annes, on the subject of legislation regarding foot ball pools; what action he is taking in the matter; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to give assistance to football similar to that given to the racing industry under the Betting Levy Act, 1961.

I would refer the hon. Members to the Answer given to a Question by the hon. Member for East Ham, South (Mr. Oram) on 26th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of aliens who have been deported for offences of simple larceny in the last five years; how many were first offenders; and how many had been given conditional discharge on conviction.

53; of whom 46 were first offenders, and one had been given a conditional discharge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens have been deported from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, and for the period to date in 1962.

For the five years 1957 to 1961, the number of aliens deported was 83, 122, 85, 106 and 87 respectively. The number this year up to the end of July was 90.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the Prison Commissioners have sanctioned a radio programme about a man now serving a seven-year sentence for arson; and why this sanction was given.

We have no power to sanction or forbid such a programme. The Commissioners, when consulted about the proposed programme, informed the British Broadcasting Corporation that from their point of view publicity about an individual prisoner was undesirable. The Corporation nevertheless decided to go ahead with the programme, but agreed to put it in a regional broadcast which would not be heard in the prison concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters or petitions he has received from Commonwealth citizens in respect of whom recommendations for deportation have been made.

Twelve.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to ensure that before making an order for deportation of a Commonwealth citizen based upon a recommendation of a magistrates' court, he will obtain the fullest possible information from the probation officer with regard to the background and home surroundings of the offender, and the conditions under which he or she has been living.

A probation officer is an officer of the court, and I cannot order the deportation of a Commonwealth citizen except on the recommendation of a court, to which a report by a probation officer is available if the court so wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations for deportation of Commonwealth immigrants convicted of living on immoral earnings have been made to him since 1st June, 1962; and how many such recommendations he has confirmed.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of persons who would be killed in the United Kingdom in the event of war in which an enemy adopted a strategy of unlimited attack.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18th July to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions policemen in the Metropolitan area are required to wear their No. I uniform; and what are the approximate number of days on which this uniform is worn in a year.

Metropolitan Police officers are required to wear No. 1 dress when performing duty in connection with major ceremonial events. The number of occasions on which considerable numbers of police wore this dress during the past three years was four in 1959, ten in 1960, and three in 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Lord Morris of Borth-y-Gest has yet reported on the official inquiry he has been asked to make into cruelty to animals.

No. The Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Morris of Borth-y-Gest met recently and gave preliminary consideration to the questions referred to them. It is expected that a further meeting of the Committee will be arranged at a later date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the present system of dealing with breaches of prison discipline so as to allow legal representation to the prisoner.

This matter was fully considered by a Departmental Committee appointed to review the system of punishments in prisons and other institutions, whose Report was presented to Parliament in 1951. This Committee recommended that prisoners charged with offences against prison discipline should not be allowed legal representation; and the reasons for the Committee's recommendation remain valid today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to give prisoners from the Channel Islands, accommodated in English prisons, the same right of appeal regarding prison discipline as English prisoners.

They already have this right, which is exercisable by petition to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for living on immoral earnings there have been in the Metropolitan Police district since 1st June, 1962; what were the countries of origin of the offenders; and how many recommendations for deportation were made and confirmed, respectively, in this respect.

Between 1st June and 28th July twenty-eight persons were convicted in the Metropolitan Police District of living on immoral earnings. None was liable for deportation. The following table shows the countries of origin:

Countries of origin of persons convicted between 1st June and 28th July in the Metropolitan Police District of living on immoral earnings.
United Kingdom	…	…	14
Malta	…	…	7
Cyprus	…	…	2
West Indies	…	…	2
West Africa	…	…	1
Irish Republic	…	…	1
Foreign countries	…	…	1
			28

NOTE.—The citizens of Commonwealth countries and of the Irish Republic concerned were not liable for deportation either because the offence occurred before 1st June, 1962, or because of residential qualifications. The offender who originally came from a foreign country is a British subject by naturalisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that the powers conferred on local authorities by the Riding Establishments Act, 1939, are not being sufficiently exercised, he will introduce legislation to give him the power to control riding establishments.

No. I have no evidence that local authorities are not prepared to exercise their powers under the Act when suitable cases are brought to their notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants arrived during the month of June; from which countries they came; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the last two years.

Following is the information:

Estimated net inward movement in June from	1960	1961	1962
West Indies	4,720	3,840	8,290
East African territories	Nil	180	860
West African territories	—70	290	2,290
Cyprus	240	550	2,260
Gibraltar	—20	—70	Nil
Malta	—90	—30	120
Aden	Nil	50	Nil
Hong Kong	80	230	600
Malaya	—40	Nil	270
Singapore	—10	60	200
India	410	2,140	5,400
Pakistan	220	1,850	6,030
Ceylon	—90	40	270
Others	—170	—70	800
	5,180	9,060	27,390

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to the Metropolitan Police regarding the enforcement of the Litter Act, with particular reference to the problem arising from the volume of litter deposited in the streets of the Borough of Wembley.

If an offender persists in committing an offence under the Litter Act, the facts are ordinarily brought to the attention of the local authority for any action it may consider necessary. No special instructions have been given about the enforcement of the Litter Act in Wembley.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the local government bodies concerned, and what decisions he has arrived at, on the ratio he intends to recommend between councillors and electors for the new London boroughs, on the holding of elections in the new London boroughs annually or tri-annually, on (the holding of elections in the new London boroughs in October November or in May of each year, and on the procedures to be adopted for determining ward boundaries in the new London boroughs.

Meetings have been held with representatives of the associations of the local authorities concerned, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate consultations with interested parties, both nationally and internationally, with a view to taking steps to establish Easter on a fixed date.

No. I have no reason to think that such consultations would be fruitful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that some local authorities are having difficulty in obtaining licences for the sale of liquor in town halls and assembly halls, as provided for by the Licensing Act, 1961; and if he will introduce amending legislation to clarify the law in this respect.

The hon. Member has informed my right hon. Friend of two cases in which local authorities have been unable to obtain justices' licences, but no other such case has been brought to his notice. It is for the licensing justices to decide whether or not to grant a licence in any particular case, and the only change made by the Licensing Act, 1961 in the law governing this matter was the introduction of a right of appeal to quarter sessions against a decision of the justices My right hon Friend has no reason to think that the law needs to be clarified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to lay the order giving effect to a 2½ per cent. increase in the salaries of probation officers.

The rules for this purpose do not have to be laid. I expect to make them shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the communication from the hon. Member or Swindon about Thornbury House Remand Home at Kidlington, Oxford, and what action he will take to deal with Roman Catholic boys detained in this home.

The difficulties at this remand home are mainly due to the shortage of places in approved schools, particularly in those for Roman Catholic boys. Vigorous action is being taken to provide more places in existing schools and to establish new schools. I am writing to the hon. Member giving my detailed comments on the points raised in the letter which he forwarded to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will initiate, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Scotland, action to implement Paragraphs 342-352 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Probation Service on the establishment of a negotiating body for Great Britain; and when he expects that such a negotiating body will begin to decide the new scales of salaries for the Probation Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent Her Majesty's Government will implement the recommendation of the Morison Committee for the establishment of a negotiating body for the whole of Great Britain to deal with the salaries of probation officers; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretaiy of State for Scotland gave to Questions by the hon. Members for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton) and Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) yesterday. I cannot say when such a body, if established, would begin to function.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many puppies were bred by the ten alsatians imported by the Metropolitan Police in 1960; how many of these puppies were trained for police work and with what results; and how many rejects were disposed of and at what price.

42 puppies have been bred from nine of the ten alsatians imported by the Metropolitan Police from Germany in 1960. The other dog had to be destroyed. Eleven of the puppies have recently completed their training, and I am informed that their temperament is very satisfactory, although it is too early to give detailed results. Four of the puppies have been disposed of for ten guineas each; the remainder are still under training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the more extended use of open prisons for selected prisoners, in order to relieve overcrowding in the closed prisons.

The number of places in open prisons is being increased, and I have been reviewing the arrangements for selecting prisoners for transfer to an open prison. At present no prisoner convicted of any offence against the person, other than common assault, may be so transferred. I think that it would be reasonable, in the light of experience, to relax this rule to the extent of allowing the transfer of such prisoners if they arc serving sentences of not more than six months and provided that they are found, after careful study of their record and behaviour in prison, to be otherwise suitable for open conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons found under the Homicide Act to be of diminished responsibility have been committed to hospital since the inception of the Act; and how many of these were diagnosed as suffering from psychopathic disorder.

The figures up to 31st May, 1962, are 39 and 5 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to curtail the sale of fireworks to young persons to a limited period before 5th November, in order to reduce accidents.

It is already am offence to sell fireworks at any time to persons under the age of 13. I apprehend that if the age were raised the prohibition would be even more difficult to enforce than it is now. There are also practical reasons against a complete ban on the sale of fireworks outside a short period before 5th November. In any event I think that the adoption of this suggestion, even if it were feasible, would make little difference to the number of accidents from fireworks, because the majority of these occur on or about Guy Fawkes Day itself.

asked the First Secretary of State why Nyasa-born Africans now resident in Northern Rhodesia have been refused the right to register for a vote in the Northern Rhodesian elections unless they take out Federal citizenship.

Because it is a general qualification for all voters that they must be either citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, or Federal citizens, or British Protected Persons by virtue of connection with Northern Rhodesia.

asked the First Secretary of State whether the advice of his Department is sought by the Film Censorship Board of Northern Rhodesia when deciding whether to ban the distribution of newsreel films.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State when he expects to receive the report of the demarcation Commission which is now working in Northern Rhodesia.

The Commission is required to report to the Governor by 12th September.

asked the First Secretary of State what steps he is taking to prevent the military training of Northern Rhodesians in Katanga.

I have received no evidence in support of reports that Northern Rhodesian Africans are being sent to Katanga for military training, but I am, however, making further inquiries.

asked the First Secretary of State what requests for financial assistance have been made in the past twelve months by the Governments of Nyasaland and Southern Rhodesia, respectively, and to what degree these requests have been, or are being, met.

There has been continuing consultation with the Nyasaland Government regarding their recurrent budget and development requirements. As a result, Nyasaland's Colonial Development and Welfare Allocation was increased in 1961 by £500,000 to finance certain major development projects. Her Majesty's Government have now agreed to provide grant-aid assistance of up to £1·5 million towards the 1962–63 recurrent budget, and to make available up to 31st March, 1964, a further £1 million by way of Colonial Development and Welfare Grants and up to £1·9 million by way of Exchequer Loans towards the 1962–65 Development Plan.In the case of Southern Rhodesia, I have already announced that Her Majesty's Government have offered a loan of £355,000 to assist in maintaining the development of African education. A request has since been received for further assistance towards the cost of Southern Rhodesia's development programme during the financial year 1962–63. This is being considered urgently, but I am not in a position to make a statement today.

asked the First Secretary of State what changes have been made in the sphere of mission education in Nyasaland in the past twelve months.

No fundamental changes have been initiated in the past year. The policy of devolving responsibility on local churches and congregations has continued and Government grants to assisted mission schools have continued to be paid on the existing basis.

asked the First Secretary of State whether the United National Independence Party will meet his advisers now in Central Africa; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that the Leaders of the United National Independence Party are unwilling to meet my advisers since they are of opinion that a decision has already been taken as to the nature of a future association between Northern and Southern Rhodesia. I would like however to make clear as I have on a number of occasions that no conclusions will be reached as to possible forms of future association between the territories until I have received and considered my advisers' report. The position of Her Majesty's Government remains as I stated it in the debate on 8th May. I sincerely hope therefore that all points of view will be fully and freely expressed to my advisers before they report to me.

asked the First Secretary of State whether he has considered the protest made by the African Warders Association that their members are being instructed not to vote for United National Independence Party candidates at the forthcoming elections; and whether these instructions were issued with his authority.

I am not aware of any such instructions nor have the Governor or myself received any protest from the Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations he has made to the Federal Government of Nigeria following allegations made formally on behalf of that Government to an official commission of inquiry in that country that Her Majesty's Government had interfered in the internal politics of Nigeria; and what reply he has received.

The allegations were not made by the Nigerian Government, but by counsel appointed by the Commission to assist in its deliberations. However, the Acting British High Commissioner in Lagos has, on instructions, assured the Nigerian Federal Prime Minister that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has at no time expressed the views attributed to him about Nigerian political leaders. This was also made clear in a statement issued on 27th July by the Acting British High Commissioner. I circulate below the text of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the discussions regarding the possible creation of a Malaysian Federation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House yesterday by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the estimated number of school leavers in The Hartlepools at the end of the summer term.

About 500 boys and 460 girls.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that marriage guidance lectures are now being given in some schools; and what is his policy with regard to instruction of this nature.

Many schools are concerned by various methods to help their older pupils prepare for family responsibilities. I would commend the suggestions for treating this topic made in Chapter 6 of my Ministry's Pamphlet on Health Education.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the number of children in Wales and Monmouth shire who are in classes of more than the limits of 40 in primary schools and 30 in secondary schools; and whether he will make a statement.

Table 5 of "Statistics of Education 1961, Part One" shows that in Wales in January, 1961, 17,949 pupils (or 7 per cent.) were in primary school classes with more than 40 pupils and 105,463 pupils (or 60 per cent.) were in secondary classes with more than 30 pupils. The corresponding figures for England were 20 per cent. and 62 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the progress made by the Lead better Committee on the Technical Implications of the Recommendations on the Basic Requirements for an Efficient Library Service of the Baker Committee on Inter-Library Co-operation and on the action taken or being taken.

The working party on inter-library co-operation has already reported, and the other working party expects to report in the autumn. When I have received both reports I shall, of course, consider what action I should take.

asked the Minister of Education what were the percentages of junior and senior pupils in maintained schools in oversize classes at January, 1962, in the areas of the local education authorities in County Durham.

The figures are as follows:

Local Education Authority		Percentage of pupils in oversize classes
		Junior	Senior
Durham	…	21·2	65·0
Darlington C.B.	…	31·5	62·1
Gateshead C.B.	…	19·8	57·4
South Shields C.B.	…	35·6	54·0
Sunderland C.B.	…	23·8	54·0
West Hartlepool C.B.	…	19·1	61·7

asked the Minister of Education what factors have caused the substantial reduction in the increase in mathematics and science graduates during 1960-61 compared with the increase for the previous year.

The main reasons why the number of mathematics and science graduates in service rose more slowly in 1960–61 than in the previous year were the ending of the National Service deferment arrangements for men graduates, and the increase in the number of young women graduates leaving for domestic reasons.

asked the Minister of Education if he will advise local education authorities to provide for colleges of further education and elsewhere to train widows for commercial, industrial, professional and public service occupations.

Many colleges already provide courses which would be suitable for women wishing to enter or return to employment outside their homes. I welcome this, and I am sure that, without any advice from me, local education authorities and colleges will always be ready to make additional provision where there is a sufficient demand.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that in moorland and remote districts such as those in some parts of the Leek division, the rules for transporting children in country areas to school place an unfair burden on the parents, and often bring risks and hazards upon the children in winter time; and if he will now change the regulations.

Local education authorities have power to provide or assist with school transport for children who live within statutory walking distance if they consider that the circumstances justify it. This must remain a matter for their discretion.

asked the Minister of Education what is the proportion of school children who have been fitted with dentures by the time they leave school.

I regret that information is not available in this form. In addition to any children who obtained dentures through the general dental service, an average of about 14,000 children have been supplied with dentures through the school dental service in each of the past five years.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of students enrolled in traffic engineering courses at the technical colleges during the session 1961–62.

Traffic engineering is taught in technical colleges both in courses which do not lead to recognised qualifications and as a component subject of a wider syllabus. College returns of student numbers are, however, not detailed enough to allow the identification of the students concerned.

asked the Minister of Education, at which universities courses in traffic engineering will be available during the 1962–63 academic year; and at which technical collages short courses in traffic engineering will be available during the session 1962–63.

The University Grants Committee informs me that its latest information is as stated in the Answer to my hon. Friend on 13th April. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not included in the returns made by colleges to my Department.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that there is no school dental service operating in the Hinckley area and that school children in that area receive no routine conservation treatment; what steps he has taken in the last six months to improve the school dental service in the area; and when he now expects a school dental service to be operating there.

I am concerned about these deficiencies. The Leicestershire local education authority is continuing its intensive efforts to appoint a school dental officer for the area. At the same time general guidance will shortly be given to local education authorities on ways of improving the school dental service.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many objections he has so far received to the proposed next stage of Bournemouth's development plan; in what way he will safeguard the owners of private property included within the proposals against the erosion of its value; and what action he now proposes to take.

Just over 1,000 objections have been received; and my right hon. Friend proposes to hold a public local inquiry. If and in so far as the proposals are approved, owners of property which has to be acquired will be entitled to compensation based on market value. In certain circumstances owner-occupiers will be entitled to require the council to buy their proper- ties, once a decision affecting them has been given. I am writing to my hon. Friend in greater detail.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affair whether he is aware that the Coal Exchange building is to be demolished this week; and why, in view of the fact that it is an irreplaceable example of nineteenth century English architecture, it was never placed on his statutory list.

As regards the impending demolition of the Coal Exchange, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 6th March by the then Parliamentary Secretary.When the Corporation of London were informed in 1958 that the Coal Exchange was to be listed, they pointed out that it would have to be demolished to make way for the widening of Lower Thames Street, as part of the approved scheme to carry traffic from Blackfriars to the East End. Subsequently the Corporation considered in conjunction with the London County Council and others, many suggested ways of saving the building. There was no purpose to be served by completing the legal formalities of listing pending the outcome of that reconsideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consultations he has had with the local government bodies concerned, and what decisions he has arrived at, regarding the ratio between aldermen and councillors which he intends to propose in the new London boroughs, and the number of councillors to be allocated to the proposed Greater London Authority.

Discussions have taken place with the local authority associations on a number of matters connected with the constitution of the new authorities. I shall embody my conclusions in the legislation now being prepared.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now announce the borough groupings for the proposed re-organisation of local government in the Greater London area.

I have now received the report of the four town clerks who were invited by my predecessor to consult with the local authorities and to make recommendations for the future pattern of the London boroughs.The report will be published as soon as possible. Meanwhile a list of the groupings recommended by the clerks, illustrated by a map, has been sent to the local authorities concerned; and copies are available in the Vote Office.The Government accept the recommendations contained in the report, and provision for new boroughs grouped as there proposed will be included in the legislation on London government.I would like to express my gratitude to the four town clerks who have ably discharged a difficult and most important task.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress he has made in his study of possible arrangements for the future of staff affected by the proposals for local government re-organisation in Greater London, to allay the present anxiety of the staffs concerned.

I know that some local authority staffs in London feel worried about what the future holds for them. I would like them to be assured that there is no real ground for anxiety. The new authorities will need all the skill and experience which is available. The continued development of local government services in London will provide ample opportunities for making good careers.At the same time we must have the best possible arrangements for safeguarding the interests of the existing staffs during the transition and for securing continuity of employment wherever possible. My Department is engaged in consultation with representatives of the local authorities and of their staffs about this. One possibility which is being explored is the setting up of an independent body to watch over the interests of staff during the period when transfers and appointments to the new authorities are taking place.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) what were the amounts spent in interest charges by Bridgend Urban District Council, Ogmore and Garw Urban District Council, Maesteg Urban District Council, and Penybont Rural District Council, respectively, for each of the years 1951 to 1961:(2) what were the amounts spent in interest charges by the Glamorgan County Council for each of the years 1951 to 1961.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. A. Pearson) on 5th June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what plans he has for the future use of the Agricultural Department of the Middlesex County Council in the context of the reorganisation of local government in the Greater London area.

Discussions on the future responsibility for smallholdings are now proceeding between the Middlesex County Council and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The arrangements for the ultimate management of these smallholdings will depend upon the outcome of the discussions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what conclusions he has reached on the representations made to his Department on 8th December, 1961, by the Glamorgan Boroughs and Urban District Councils' Association on the question of financing houses to replace the obsolete aluminium bungalows referred to in Circular No. 45/61.

I am afraid that I have not yet reached a conclusion, but I hope to do so soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in order to prevent landlords from leaving house property empty indefinitely with a view to enhancing the capital profit on an ultimate sale, if he will take steps to ensure that no residential property may remain derated for more than three months.

No. There are a variety of good reasons why residential property may be vacant for long periods, reconstruction, conversion and improvement among them, and my right hon. Friend would not wish to discourage work of that kind. In any case he doubts whether, where the reason is that mentioned by my hon. Friend, a liability for rates after three months would prevent any owner from waiting longer for what he considered to be a proper price.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consult the Cotton Board about the improvements which are necessary in the structure of the textile industry in order that the re-equipment plans shall be matched with organisational efficiency.

As my hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on 31st July, I have invited the Cotton Board to meet me in the early autumn. I will accordingly bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to set a limit on the amount, appropriate to the services rendered, charged by undertakers for funeral expenses in England and Wales.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for the publication of the names of those who submitted written evidence to the Jenkins Committee on Company Law.

No. Nearly 400 persons and institutions submitted written evidence varying from a comment on a post-card to lengthy memoranda. I do not think that publication of the names of all these contributors would be justified. The Committee placed on record in their report their indebtedness to all who gave evidence, whether written or oral.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the countries from which linseed was imported in 1961, together with the quantities obtained from each.

The following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS IN 1961—FLAX SEED OR LINSEED
—		Quantity	Value
		Tons	£
Cyprus	…	51	3,850
Canada	…	150,431	7,899,928
Western Germany	…	20	950
Netherlands	…	250	13,560
Belgium	…	117	6,397
Argentine Republic	…	—	1
TOTAL	…	150,869	7,924,686

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of growing complaints about the poor quality of children's shoes; and what steps he is taking, by legislation or otherwise, to protect the consumer in this respect.

I am aware that there is disappointment at the inability of the industry to agree upon a new British standard for children's footwear, but I do not think that complaints have been growing or that standards can be imposed by legislation. In my opinion a sufficiently wide selection of children's shoes are now available on the market to afford buyers a reasonable choice of price and quality.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the reasons for the recent grant of an industrial development certificate to a company associated with John Heathcote and Company to build a new factory in Tiverton.

The industrial development certificate was granted because we were satisfied that the development in question could not go to a development district and could be carried out with advantage at Tiverton without putting undue strain on labour and other resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress of the Aden constitutional talks.

The talks are still in progress and I regret that my right hon. Friend is still not in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will transmit to the Prime Minister, and through him to the people, of Trinidad and Tobago, a reassurance that, following on the grant of independence the United Kingdom will continue to take a warm and friendly interest in Trinidad and Tobago and to co-operate with them in every way appropriate to independent nations of the Commonwealth.

I am glad to take this opportunity to confirm that Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will continue to take a warm and friendly interest in Trinidad and Tobago after it becomes independent and to co-operate to the fullest possible extent with its Government and people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Sudanese nationals have been extradited from Uganda since 1955; and for what reason they were returned to the Sudan.

The Governor reports that in the short time available he has not been able to make an exhaustive check of the records; but that he is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that only three Sudanese have been extradited from Uganda since 1955. All three were extradited at the request of the Sudanese authorities to stand trial for murder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Lachaka Lomiyang was extradited from Uganda to the Sudan in 1958; what proceedings were taken against him in the Sudan; and with what result.

Lachaka Lomiyang was extradited at the request of the Sudanese authorities to stand his trial on a charge of murder. I have no reliable information about the proceedings taken against him on the Sudan, or about the result.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why immigrants to Kenya have to state their race on the immigration form when entering that territory.

The information so obtained is used by the statistical authorities to keep the estimates of population up to date. I have asked the Governor to consider whether it is necessary for this purpose to impose this particular requirement on travellers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he will direct the Atomic Energy Authority to devote itself less exclusively to the problems of the Central Electricity Generating Board and more to the development of reactors suitable for other purposes, including ship propulsion.

No. My noble Friend has approved the Authority's present civil research and development programme which is a balanced one, reflecting the importance of the various civil applications of atomic energy. The programme is, however, kept under continual review and the balance of effort between projects is adjusted as necessary in the light of progress and experience.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how much of the £3,000,000, the allocation of which to research into reactors for merchant ships was announced last December, has now been spent.

The Atomic Energy Authority tells me that the expenditure for the first seven months of the research programme is approximately £300,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will now make a financial grant to Manchester and Liverpool universities so that these two universities jointly can immediately commence building the low-power nuclear reactor which has already been approved in principle.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a further statement on this matter but in the meantime discussions of the details of the proposed grant are proceeding.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what changes have been made in the arrangements for administering the scientific space research programme.

A Space Research Management Group was set up under the Office of the Minister for Science with effect from 1st May, 1962. It has assumed the responsibilities for management of the programme of experiments in rockets and satellites, previously dischargd, under ad hoc arrangements, by two scientists and one engineer on loan to the Royal Society from the public service. The new group will comprise these three officers, five additional officers, and supporting staff.This is again an

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he will make a statement about the scientific information so far received from the satellite Ariel and about its behaviour.

There has been a massive flow of coded data which it will take time to process and analyse. The experimenters are therefore not yet ready to express considered views but have already indicated that much interesting and valuable information about the structure of the ionosphere and the constitution of the high atmosphere is now available.Ariel at first behaved almost perfectly but recently transmission of data has been interrupted irregularly. The reason is not known but is being investigated.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now reached a decision on the improvements to be made in the interests of road safety on the Bath Road, A.4, between Padworth and Beenham.

I am preparing an improvement scheme for the construction of a dual carriageway about 400 yards long on this part of A.4.I shall fit this into my programme as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he will take to strengthen the arrangements for consultation between the shipping industry and his Department about the industry's problems.

I have set up a Shipping Advisory Panel under my own chairmanship to advise me on commercial and economic matters affecting the future prosperity of British shipping. The members of the Panel are drawn from the employers and the trades unions in the shipping industry, from other industry and from Government Departments. My hon. and gallant Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, will be the vice-chairman. A list of the members is given below.SHIPPING ADVISORY PANEL

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what assistance he is now giving the Government of Nyasaland in regard to the supply of British teachers to assist in their educational development programme.