asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that Bank Rate has been reduced from 7 per cent. to 4½ per cent. following improvements in the nation's financial position, if he will now take steps to reduce the long-term interest rates for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible; and if he will make a statement.

There is no direct or invariable relationship between Bank Rate and long-term interest rates. In fact, the yield on long-term Government securities has fallen since July, 1961, by nearly 1 per cent. The rates charged by the Public Works Loan Board, and those of other Government lending have been reduced in step.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of the £ sterling in 1938, 1941, 1951, and 1962 as compared with 1914.

Taking the £ sterling as 20s. 0d. in 1914, the value was 12s. 10d. in 1938, 9s. 2d. in 1941, 5s. 9d. in 1951 and 4s. 2d. in September 1962. These figures are based on changes in the consumer price index and, for the period up to 1938, the cost of living index.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the estimated cost to the Treasury in a financial year of exempting all State retirement pensions from Income Tax.

The estimated cost of exempting National Insurance retirement pensions and those of the Armed Forces, the home civil service and the foreign and overseas services is about £65 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to implement the suggestion made by the Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association in their annual report to build, at Government expense, a number of small factories in the Mid-Wales area, if necessary in advance of specific requirements.

I take it that the hon. Member has in mind the building of factories with money from the Development Fund. The Development Commissioners will certainly consider on their merits any applications for assistance from firms wishing to move into the Mid-Wales area. They will also consider the suggestion, which does, of course, give rise to certain practical difficulties, that factories should be built in advance of a specific requirement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the estimated total number of places which will be available for students at the universities and colleges of technology for the years 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966.

The objective is to provide 150,000 university places by 1966–67 and 15,000 places in colleges of advanced technology by the same date. I should prefer not to give specific estimates for intervening years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to the abolition of Schedule A Tax as already promised by Her Majesty's Government.

I am glad to repeat the undertaking given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Wirral (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd) that provision for ending the charge to tax under Schedule A on owner-occupiers of residential property will be included in next year's Finance Bill. As my hon. Friend said, it will depend on revenue considerations whether this can be done in a single operation in one year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the recent concessions regarding investment and initial allowances apply to the hotel and catering industries.

The proposed increase in the investment allowances for capital expenditure on new plant and machinery incurred after 5th November will apply to such expenditure incurred for the purposes of any trade, including the hotel and catering industries. The proposed increase in the investment allowance for new industrial buildings will not affect these industries. My right hon. Friend has not proposed any change in the initial allowances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what safeguards he has been able to include in the terms of the proposed Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty to protect the wool textile industry of the United Kingdom from the effects of the dual pricing system and other discriminatory practices used by Japan.

During the Adjournment debate on 31st October, I indicated the nature of the safeguards which were to be included in the proposed Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty. While the Treaty is under negotiation, I am not in a position to amplify what I said then. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that the safeguards I described would protect the wool textiles industry against serious injury due to disruptive imports from Japan.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will submit to Parliament an outline of the terms of the proposed Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty before the Treaty is signed.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what approaches Her Majesty's Government have so far received from European countries to enter into treaties to enable co-production films to be made jointly with film producers in Great Britain, as provided for in the Films Act, 1960; and on what date he expects the first co-production treaty to be signed.

Informal approaches have been received from the French and Italian Governments. The problems involved have been discussed with the Cinematograph Films Council and some matters remain to be clarified before decisions can be taken. Meanwhile, no negotiations for a co-production treaty are in progress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what help will be given to local authorities and industries within the parliamentary constituency of Accrington, in view of rising unemployment in that area.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to approve further suitable industrial development in areas in the cotton belt wherever the firms concerned cannot be steered to development districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a site has been selected for the advance factory at Lesmahagow.

A suitable site has been found at Blackwood and negotiations for acquiring it are now at an advanced stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to resume negotiations with the Rumanian Government for the purpose of fixing quotas and making general agreements for 1963 to the direction of Anglo-Rumanian trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what date has been fixed for a resumption of trade talks with Rumania.

I hope that the quota negotiations will be continued shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continuing decline in the textile industry, he will appoint a working party to consider the efficiency of the industry as a whole and to recommend what action may be necessary to bring it into line with modern requirements.

No. The basic facts are known and the necessary decisions must be taken by individual firms in the industry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, if he will state the estimated costs to be incurred by the Atomic Energy Authority due to the transferring of the Capenhurst reactor technology laboratories from Capenhurst to Risley.

I am informed by the Atomic Energy Authority that the total cost of the transfer and the provision of improved facilities at Risley was about £850,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry for Science whether the Atomic Energy Authority has considered plans for further development of atomic installations in the North of Scotland; and whether he will make a statement.

The Atomic Energy Authority informs me that it has no immediate plans for further development of atomic installations in the North of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that Wales has a higher proportion of households without baths than any other region, he will ensure that the sections of the 1961 census dealing with households without baths in Wales be given priority in the census publications commencing this autumn.

I regret this would not be practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give the latest figures for slum clearance of the local authorities listed in Written Answer No. 51 of 22nd November, 1960; and if he will give the reasons for the slower clearance of those authorities whose pace of clearance is below the average.

The list of authorities referred to by the hon. Member is repeated below, with the addition of a further column giving the cumulative

Name of authority Houses estimated to be unfit in 1955 Houses cleared between 1st January, 1955 and 30th June, 1960 Houses cleared between 1st January, 1955 and 30th June, 1962 (1) (2) (3) Ashton-under-Lyne B. … … 1,950 328 719 Bacup B … … 2,400 218 365 Batley B … … 4,796 414 960 Bilston B. … … 1,798 734 892 Birmingham C.B. … … 50,250 6,219 10,342 Bishop Auckland U.D. … … 2,290 310 456 Bolton C.B. … … 5,500 1,336 2,134 Bootle C.B. … … 3,081 747 915 Bradford C.B. … … 11,148 3,077 5,768 Brighouse B. … … 1,440 230 413 Castleford B. … … 2,216 818 1,192 Chester C.B. … … 2,532 398 751 Colne Valley U.D. … … 1,153 138 198 Congleton B. … … 804 142 218 Coseley U.D. … … 2,040 517 818 Crook and Willington U.D. … … 2,000 347 428 Dukinfield B.C. … … 1,281 225 401 Ennerdale R.D. … … 1,898 279 508 Freebridge Lynn R.D. … … 1,421 66 89 Gateshead C.B. … … 4,023 1,233 1,653 Halifax C.B. … … 3,036 441 876 Hartlepool B. … … 1,384 531 819 Heywood B. … … 1,266 484 834 Hyde B. … … 1,689 525 745 Kerrier R.D. … … 2,000 83 207 Kidsgrove U.D. … … 1,438 320 470 Kingston-upon-Hull C.B. … … 14,768 1,388 2,654 Leeds C.B. … … 22,500 5,386 11,843 Liverpool C.B. … … 88,235 5,078 7,748 Manchester C.B. … … 68,000 7,028 9,587 Merthyr Tydfil C.B. … … 2,847 388 525 Morley B. … … 2,661 480 803 Oldham C.B. … … 11,169 1,285 1,846 Portsmouth C.B. … … 7,000 506 1,350 Preston C.B. … … 6,153 1,058 2,014 Rawtenstall B. … … 1,418 242 493 Rochdale C.B. … … 5,000 854 1,155 St. Helens C.B. … … 3,794 368 713 Salford C.B. … … 12,026 2,565 3,637 Sheffield C.B. … … 13,500 3,348 5,996 Spenborough B. … … 2,084 641 1,055 Stalybridge B. … … 1,949 316 633 Stockport C.B. … … 6,000 1,067 1,705 Stockton-on-Tees B. … … 3,075 1,199 1,841 Stoke-on-Trent C.B. … … 12,000 4,081 4,749 Tredegar U.D. … … 1,068 197 217 West Bromwich C.B. … … 4,000 1,159 2,294 Wolverhampton C.B. … … 5,600 2,351 3,528 Wrexham R.D. … … 2,646 500 909 York C.B. … … 4,381 727 1,324 TOTAL (50) … … 416,706 62,372 101,890

In the past two years nearly all these authorities have maintained or improved their previous average rates of slum clearance. The majority have been asked to review their proposals for the next five years and the difficulties revealed by this re-examination will be discussed individually with the authorities.

totals of houses cleared up to 30th June. 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement concerning the findings of the committee of inquiry set up concerning Bailey's of Malta Ltd.

In accordance with the agreement between the Government and the company, my right hon. Friend's predecessor appointed an accountant, Mr. J. R. Muirie, to examine the books of the company and its operations. My right hon. Friend is considering his report, and he will make a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the election will be held in Kenya; and why it has been so long delayed.

As stated by my right hon. Friend's predecessor in July, the three elections which are involved will take place so soon as the constitutional preparations have been completed. There has been no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what report he has now received from the men who went to Tristan da Cunha; if they found the island habitable; if the people who were evacuated from it are to return; and what assistance is to be given to them by the Government to enable them to rehabilitate themselves in their old homes.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Bullus) on 2nd November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ensure when negotiating the new Constitution for Swaziland that provision is made for educated and Christian Swazis to elect at least some representatives by secret ballot.

The House will not expect me to commit myself on specific points in advance of the conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he will arrange for a group of hon. Members of this House to observe the forthcoming elections in the Bahamas, in view of allegations of electoral malpractices there.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to improve the telephone service to the Republic of Ireland.

My right hon. Friend is sorry that this service is not as good as we should like. We are trying to improve the reliability of the submarine cables, and are also providing more circuits.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will provide a public telephone booth on the new estate at Alvechurch, near Birmingham, to serve the residents of Branden Road and nearby roads.

As my hon. Friend knows, there is a telephone kiosk within 300 yards of Branden Road and another about a quarter mile away. My right hon. Friend would not feel justified in providing a third in the district.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that inconvenience is caused to the business and travelling public by 3d. being required in some public call boxes and 4d. in others; and when he expects all public call boxes to be identical in this respect.

My right hon. Friend regrets the inconvenience due to the replacement of the old coinbox by the new pay-on-answer type. The new box is associated with Subscriber Trunk Dialling, and I am afraid, therefore, that the two types of box will have to remain in use for several years.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to find alternative accommodation for the Post Office services which now occupy buildings in Markeaton Park, Derby.

Alternative accommodation has been found at Alvaston, and the Post Office will vacate the buildings in Markeaton Park by the end of next March.

asked the Postmaster-General what reply he has sent to the letter from the Town Clerk of Derby, dated 21st September, 1962, about the tenancy of the Post Office of buildings in Markeaton Park, Derby.

The Town Clerk has been told that the Post Office will vacate the buildings in Markeaton Park by the end of next March.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider the provision of an additional post office at Rubery, Rednal, Birmingham, in view of the increasing population of the area.

I have looked into this question again; but I am sorry that we still should not be justified in providing an additional Post Office in Rubery.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received from the Cunard Company regarding Government assistance for the buildings of a new trans-Atlantic passenger liner.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport approximately how many tons of traffic are carried in a year on all railway lines carrying less than 5,000 tons in a normal week; and how many tons of traffic are carried in a year on the railway lines carrying 5,000 to 10,000 tons in a normal week.

I regret that the information asked for is not available. The British Transport Commission tells me that its study of freight carryings, which was summarised in maps showing routes which carried less than 5,000 tons and from 5,000 to 10,000 tons of freight per week, was based on studies of the flows of traffic during a normal week over individual sections of the railway system. Most consignments of freight pass over more than one section and the figures for the separate sections cannot, therefore, without duplication be added to obtain a total tonnage carried on all those sections.

asked the First Secretary of State what steps he is taking to give administrative training to Africans from Northern Rhodesia.

Three Africans from Northern Rhodesia are attending the current administrative training course in Britain. I hope that nine others will attend the course next year. Other Africans are in training at the University College in Salisbury and a considerable programme of African staff training and education is being carried out in Northern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of authorities and the number of houses of each authority approved for subsidy purposes under the provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1962, to the latest available date; and if he will state the number of houses which it is estimated will qualify for the £12 and £32 subsidies, respectively.

In the year to 31st October, 1962, proposals by 125 authorities for the provision of 22,975 houses were approved for subsidy purposes under the 1962 Act. I am sending the hon. Member particulars. As explained in reply to the hon. Member on 7th March last, the individual authorities are in a better position than I am to estimate the rate of subsidy for which their houses will qualify under section 3 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for legislation this Session to amend the law relating to intestacy.

I cannot undertake to introduce a Bill on intestate succession during the present Session of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that 18 months elapsed between the first reports of the deleterious effects of the drug thalidomide appearing in the medical press and its eventual establishment as a highly dangerous drug and consequent withdrawal from the market; and what progress he is making towards the establishment of a form of surveillance over new drugs to ensure that there is no repetition of avoidable incidents such as have been associated with this compound.

I am informed that thalidomide was withdrawn by the manufacturers within a week of their being advised from abroad of possible teratogenic effects. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT interim advice which has just been received from the Joint Sub-Committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committees for England and Wales and for Scotland. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I accept the first two recommendations and await the further advice to follow on the third.

Following is the Report:

STANDING MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

( England and Wales and Scotland )

Joint Sub-Committee on Safety of Drugs Interim advice to Ministers 1. The Minister of Health announced in the House of Commons on 23rd July, 1962, that he was proposing to seek advice through his Standing Medical Advisory Committee on the question of the testing of new drugs generally. 2. Since this was a matter which concerned the Standing Medical Advisory Committees for both England and Wales and Scotland it was decided to appoint a Joint Sub-Committee of both Advisory Committees with the following membership:— Lord Cohen of Birkenhead, J.P., M.D., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.C.P. (Chairman), Professor S. Alstead, C.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.F.P.S., A. B. Davies, Esq., B.Sc., M.B., Ch.B., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Professor Sir Charles Dodds, M.V.O., M.D., D.Sc., F.R.C.P., F.R.S., J. B. Grosset, Esq., M.P.S., D.B.A., Sir Hugh Linstead, 0.B.E., LL.D., F.P.S., M.P., Professor E. J. Wayne, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.F.P.S., Professor G. M. Wilson, M.D., F.R.C.P. 3. The Joint Sub-Committee was set up in August, 1962, "to advise the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland on what measures are needed:— (i) to secure adequate pharmacological and safety testing and clinical trials of new drugs before their release for general use; (ii) to secure early detection of adverse effects arising after their release for general use; and (iii) to keep doctors informed of the experience of such drugs in clinical practice." 4. The Joint Sub-Committee have been considering the present arrangements for testing new drugs for toxicity before they are used in clinical trials. They have had an opportunity of exchanging views with the Medical Research Council's Committee on the methods of testing for toxicity, and have also had some preliminary discussions, which will be continued, with representatives of the industry.

Recommendation 5. At present the responsibility for the experimental laboratory testing of new drugs before they are used in clinical trials rests upon the individual pharmaceutical manufacturer and the Sub-Committee advise that it should so remain, for the industry, as a whole, discharges this responsibility effectively within the limits of contemporary knowledge of methods of testing. This knowledge however is being constantly extended by research and we understand it is the intention of the Medical Research Council to give advice and guidance on this subject from time to time.

Recommendation 6. The Sub-Committee have carefully considered but firmly rejected as neither desirable nor practicable the suggestion that at this stage of their evaluation the responsibility for testing drugs should be transferred to a central authority. 7. Before recording their third recommendation the Sub-Committee wish to make it clear that, although laboratory tests may reveal toxic effects which would in no circumstances justify proceeding to clinical trial, in considering the question of the "safety" of a drug used in the treatment of disease, laboratory testing of the drug is not the only consideration. (i) A drug may show no toxic effects in laboratory animals, however complete the 53 experimental testing, and yet in some persons ( a ) prove toxic e.g. chloramphenicol after short-term use; ( b ) show adverse reactions when used over longer periods, e.g. thalidomide and peripheral neuropathy, or in special circumstances, e g. thalidomide and pregnancy. (ii) A drug may prove toxic for some species of experimental animal, e.g. pencillin for guinea-pigs, and yet prove of inestimable value in the treatment of disease. (iii) Every drug however innocuous to the vast majority of persons, may give adverse reactions in the few when administered in therapeutic doses, e g. aspirin which can cause gastric haemorrhage or, very rarely, an asthmatic attack. The frequency of such adverse reactions is one of the factors to be considered in assessing the therapeutic worth of a drug. (iv) Drugs which carry a recognised hazard in therapeutic doses may yet be justifiably used in the treatment of disease. But the risk must he related to the benefit which the drug may confer, e.g. whereas a high incidence of adverse reactions can be tolerated if a drug may cure or stay the progress of a grave disease such as cancer or leukaemia, no significant toxicity can be allowed in a new hypnotic for which there are many less toxic equivalents. Again, drugs which may give rise to serious adverse reactions may be justly prescribed for a potentially grave illness in which they produce a specific beneficial response, e.g. chloramphenicol in typhoid fever, but should not be given where specific indications for their use are absent. 8. The "safety" of a drug must thus be recognised as relative, not absolute. It depends on (i) its toxicity as revealed in laboratory tests and in its clinical use and (ii) the diseases for which it is being used.

Recommendation 9. The Sub-Committee believe that one safeguard (though in view of the facts recounted above only one of many safeguards which may be needed) is that there should be an expert body to review the evidence and offer advice on the toxicity of new drugs whether manufactured in Great Britain or abroad before they are used in clinical trials. 10. In the light of further considerations and consultations the Sub-Committee hope to formulate detailed advice on the composition and terms of reference of this advisory body. 11. The Sub-Committee will continue their consideration of the general problems of drug safety and of the provisions for testing therapeutic efficiency.

COHEN OF BIRKENHEAD ( Chairman ) (on behalf of the Joint Sub-Committee). E. L. MAYSTON ( Secretary ). 2nd November, 1962.

asked the Minister of Health what the cost would be of substituting two-seater motor cars, suitably modified for the present single-seater invalid cars issued by his Department, to disabled persons.

The cost would vary within wide limits depending on the period over which substitution took place and the number of eligible persons who applied.

asked the Minister of Health why no provision is made under the hospital plan for a new hospital to serve the towns of Leek and Cheadle and the surrounding hill country.

The area will be served by the major district general hospital being developed at Stoke-on-Trent.

Q 7 asked the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Committee of Inquiry which he has set up to ascertain whether any form of employers' reference was given on behalf of John Vassall through official channels to enable him to obtain the tenancy of an expensive flat with an income of £700 per annum.

I have no doubt that the Committee of Inquiry will include this among the matters to be examined.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will discuss with the Japanese Prime Minister, when he visits this country, the export incentives given to the Japanese wool industry and other industries, which are contrary to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

I am glad to say that we have had an assurance from the Japanese Government to the effect that they intend to allow their legislation providing tax remission on export income to lapse when it expires on 31st March, 1964, and to sign the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Declaration about export subsidies by that date.

asked the Prime Minister what new proposals he had in mind for submission to the resumed Disarmament Conference when he wrote to Mr. Khrushchev on 28th October, 1962.

Her Majesty's Government are urgently considering how best to make further progress towards agreement on the first stage of disarmament and the banning of nuclear tests, the two subjects mentioned in my message of 28th October to Mr. Khrushchev. We also hope to make progress on measures against surprise attack. We are consulting Allied Governments on these questions.

asked the Prime Minister what communication he has received from President Nkrumah regarding the supply of arms to India; and what is the nature of the reply that he has sent.

President Nkrumah sent me a message on 31st October, to which I replied on the same day; both messages were published. I received a further message from him on 1st November (which was published) and replied to this in a personal and confidential message on 2nd November. I am circulating the texts of the published messages in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

1. Following is the text of the message of 31st October from Dr. Nkrumah, President of Ghana, to the Prime Minister: I was gravely distressed and saddened to hear the report of your statement to the British House of Commons that the British Government will give India every support in her fight against China. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the present struggle between India and China I am sure that we can all serve the cause of peace best by refraining from any action that may aggravate the unfortunate situation. Are you sure that by giving support whatever this is to one side against the other you will be able to increase the chances of bringing an end to hostilities? Assistance by way of arms and equipment to any country engaged in a conflict with another in my view is likely merely to occasion a counter offer of assistance to the other party to the dispute. The balance of military strength therefore remains the same but dispute is made much more difficult of solution through the involvement of outside Powers. Experience has shown that resort to arms and the employment of power politics have been the main cause of mounting tensions in the world. Let us therefore look at the problems that confront the world today with new eyes and in a new spirit of conciliation, mutual understanding and unflinching respect for the preservation of peace. I have been in touch with Mr. Chou-en-lai and Mr. Nehru in an effort to find a basis acceptable to both sides for terminating the present conflict. Let us pursue these moves in the hope that the two sides can reach a settlement leading to the restoration of peace between them. 2. Following is the text of the message of 31st October from the Prime Minister to the President of Ghana: I have just received your message about my statement in the House of Commons on the hostilities between China and India. I find it difficult to understand your objection to what I said. When the territory of a Commonwealth people is invaded, it is surely only right and natural that we should express to them our sympathy and support in their anxiety and danger. Since you published your message to me, I am likewise publishing this reply. 3. Following is the text of the message of 1st November from Dr. Nkrumah, President of Ghana, to the Prime Minister: Thank you for your prompt reply to my letter of yesterday. I am sorry, however, that you should suggest that I am objecting to the expression of British sympathy towards another Commonwealth country. What distressed me was your statement that the British Government would give India every support. This appeared to me to be dangerously prejudging the issue and shutting the door in the face of any possible mediation or negotiation. The Commonwealth is not a military alliance, and it would be most detrimental to its progress if the impression were created that Commonwealth members did not judge each issue independently on its merits but instead automatically sided with a fellow Commonwealth country when that country was engaged in a dispute with an outside Power. Examination of the voting records of India and Ghana in the United Nations shows that on all leading issues such as the need for non-alignment, the ending of colonialism and racial discrimination and the peaceful settlement of disputes, both countries have almost always independently come to the same conclusions. I should have thought therefore that the friendship between Ghana and India was a matter of record and clearly the cordial relationship between India and Ghana is beyond dispute. But this is not the issue. The present serious and critical situation between India and China could constitute a dangerous threat to world peace. In this circumstance it is surely our duty to do nothing to aggravate or prolong the conflict, but to do everything which in our power lies to secure a speedy settlement of the dispute. Normally this could be achieved through the machinery of the United Nations. Unhappily, China is excluded from her rightful place in that organisation. For this reason any dispute involving China is much more difficult of solution. If China is excluded from the world forum where her side of the dispute might he examined, then surely all of us have a particular obligation to refrain from doing anything which shows that we are condemning her unheard. On the contrary, it is necessary to devise new machinery outside the United Nations which can perform the same function as the United Nations is performing in the Cuban issue. In my view a particular responsibility devolves on those countries who have diplomatic relations with both India and the Chinese People's Republic. These countries could take the initiative in seeking a peaceful and honourable solution to the present dispute. The effectiveness of their action, however, is prejudiced if any among their number prejudge the issue by making public announcements in favour of one or other side to the dispute. Britain is one of the most important of the great powers which recognises both sides and she could in my view play an important role in securing a solution which is agreeable to both India and China. I myself am doing what I con in this matter, but obviously any efforts which I can make would be most powerfully assisted if a group of nations determined not to prejudge the issue, were to come forward and offer their good offices in seeking a settlement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps he is taking to encourage recruitment to the senior branch of the Foreign Service from Scottish universities.

The Foreign Office is anxious to encourage good candidates from the Scottish universities to try for the senior branch of the Foreign Service. A member of the Personnel Department visited all four Scottish universities last year and another is at this moment in Scotland visiting Scottish universities to explain what the Foreign Service does and what opportunities it offers. The Civil Service Commissioners, who are responsible for recruitment to the Foreign Service, keep appointment officers at Scottish universities fully informed of the opportunities available and send them all the appropriate literature.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action Her Majesty's Government intend to take following the request of the Argentine Government for financial assistance.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed, subject to the approval of Parliament, to co-operate with other European creditors in giving assistance to the Argentine Government, designed to reduce the burden of Argentine external debts to Europe. It has been agreed in principle that, subject to the approval of Argentina's economic programme by the International Monetary Fund, assistance will be given in the years 1963 and 1964 by the principal European creditor countries. This assistance will be equal to 50 per cent. of the amount of the principal of certain debts falling due during those years and owing to those countries on account of commercial suppliers' credits. The probable amount of assistance to be provided by the United Kingdom, calculated on the basis of such figures as are at present available, lies somewhere between £8 million and £10 million, to be advanced over the next two years. The exact terms of the agreement are to be the subject of bilateral negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

As an additional measure of assistance by the principal European creditors, 15 million dollars of the next payments due to them on account of debts consolidated under Agreements made in 1957 and 1961 will be deferred from 1963 to 1966. The United Kingdom share of this sum is about £875,000.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps are being taken to devise alternative plans for Great Britain's economic relations with the Commonwealth, the European Free Trade Association countries and the rest of the world in the event of Great Britain not joining the European Economic Community.

We are making every effort to ensure that our negotiations with the European Economic Community succeed and it would be a mistake to divert our energies at this time to other matters.

asked the Lord Privy Seal why the British Information Centre at Addis Ababa was closed; what is the annual saving in foreign exchange; and whether he will now reconsider his decision.

The closing of the Information Centre at Addis Ababa was one of the economies made to meet the call by my right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Exchequer in July, 1961, for a 10 per cent. reduction in foreign exchange expenditure. The saving was about £7,000 a year. Some of the information work in Ethiopia has been taken over by other members of the Embassy staff and the work of the British Council has been expanded. In the circumstances, I see no reason to reconsider the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the percentage increase or decrease in crimes committed in the West Riding of Yorkshire since 1955 up to the most convenient date.

The number of indictable offences known to the police in the West Riding of Yorkshire (including the county boroughs in the West Riding) was 35,116 in 1955 and 62,401 in 1961—an increase of 77.7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of crimes committed in the West Riding of Yorkshire on which no criminal charges have been made since 1955 up to the most convenient date.

Information in the form requested could not readily be obtained, but in the seven years 1955–1961, 331,972 indictable offences were known to the police in the West Riding of Yorkshire (including the county boroughs in the West Riding) and 168,027, or 50.6 per cent., were cleared up. The latter figure includes offences cleared up in other ways than by bringing a charge: for example, offences taken into consideration by a court when the offender is found guilty on another charge.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retired teachers in Scotland are at present in receipt of grants from the National Assistance Boards.

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that this information is not available in their records.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many full-bore rifle ranges under War Department and/or Territorial Army control existed in 1950; how many have since been closed as part of a Government economy measure; how many others have been closed because they provided an insufficient safety-zone to meet the needs of 7.62 mm. ammunition; and how many that do meet the needs of that ammunition remain.

My Department and the Territorial Army controlled 259 full bore open classification ranges in the United Kingdom in 1950. 81 ranges have since been given up, but none because of the requirements of 7.62 mm. ammunition. There remain 178 ranges, all of which meet the needs of 7.62 mm. ammunition.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the manufacture of .303 ammunition was discontinued, and the machinery for its manufacture scrapped; how much .303 ammunition remains in stock; what is the present function of .303 service rifles, other than for drill purposes; and how many such rifles are still in stock today.

A little .303 ammunition is still manufactured, but large-scale production ceased in 1959 when stocks were adequate for foreseeable purposes. Most of the machinery for its manufacture is still used for making other types of small arms ammunition. Except for a few for special purposes, .303 rifles are no longer used by the Regular Army; they are being increasingly replaced by the 7.62 rifle in the Reserve Army as re-equipment takes place. It is not the practice to make public details of stocks of weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that British land mines are being used by the terrorists invading Angola from the Congo; and why permission was granted for their export.

I am aware of reports that British-made land mines are said to have been used by terrorists in Angola. No permission has been granted for the export of mines from the United Kingdom to this area.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that there are many reservists who have never handled the current self-loading rifle, he is satisfied that, in the event of full mobilisation, adequate supplies of this arm and facilities for training, in its use will be immediately available.

The number of reservists untrained in the use of this rifle, which came into general issue to the Regular Army in 1959, is steadily diminishing. It would, however, be necessary, on full mobilisation, to train some reservists who left the Regular Army before 1959, and so had not used the rifle. I am confident that this could be done quickly since it would be a question of familiarising skilled men with a new weapon, rather than training from scratch.