asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent Government finance is involved in the development and production of helicopters; and whether the construction and use of heliports in London will make production more economic.

There are several military helicopters under development and in production for Service requirements. The Government are not at present contributing towards the financing of any civil helicopter project.The provision of heliports in London would no doubt stimulate demand for British helicopters, and thus improve the prospects for production.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to acquaint those sections of the public in London which are most likely to be affected by the siting of heliports of the degrees of noise to which they will be subjected; and to what extent his policy for the development of helicopter traffic takes account of the desirability of securing for private citizens the quiet enjoyment of their homes.

Information is set out in the Report of the Committee on the Planning of Helicopter Stations in the London Area which is on sale to the public.I intend to ensure that, if a helicopter station is constructed, the disturbance to the London population will be kept to the minimum practicable.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensioners in Scotland are in receipt of National Assistance supplements.

At 25th September last, the latest date for which such figures are available, the number of National Assistance supplements to retirement pensions payable in Scotland was 84,229. Some of the supplements provided for a household with more than one pensioner.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the estimated National Insurance contributions income from graduated contributions for the year 1962–63.

About £185 million

asked the Minister of Power how many atomic power stations have been built or have been started; what the total cost will be; and whether any of them will be economic as compared with power stations using conventional fuel.

Seven nuclear power stations have been built or started by the Central Electricity Generating Board in England and Wales; their total cost, including the initial fuel charge, is expected to be about £500 million. On the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the figures in the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. A. Roberts) on 16th July.

asked the Minister of Power when the inquiry into the recent disaster at Hapton Valley Colliery will be made public.

Next Thursday.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, in countries where statistics have been kept on the testing of high-altitude nuclear weapons it is reported that the number of deformed births have increased from 0·5 per cent. to 1·41 per cent. and that radioactivity from these tests might have been the cause; and if he will make an investigation in this country on similar lines and make public the results.

I have seen a statement to this effect reported to have been made by a Canadian doctor. As already announced, I am arranging for returns of children born with defective limbs to continue to be made.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that signature of the Treaty of Rome will result in the General Medical Council being required, by Statute to be enacted, to admit to the United Kingdom Medical Register doctors who are nationals of states in the community holding recognised qualifications whether or not the General Medical Council is satisfied with those qualifications; and whether he proposes to accept this provision without reservation.

Not necessarily. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to announce his decision upon the third recommendation of the sub-committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee on the testing of new drugs; and when he expects the sub-committee to issue a further report.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 6th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Dr. D. Johnson).

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to restrict drug manufacturers from circulating advertising literature direct to industrial managements, with the exception of those managements having a qualified medical practitioner in full-time employment.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what were the statistics regarding the number of people on the waiting lists for hospitals serving the Blyth constituency area, analysed by specialty, on which he has based his proposals for a change in the function of these hospitals.

The provisional long-term proposals are not based on present waiting lists but on the standards of hospital provision set out in Command 1604.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding in psychiatric hospitals.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 17, 18 and 27 of Command 1604.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of senior hospital medical officers currently employed in the National Health Service; how many are doing consultant work and receiving consultant pay; and if their association is a body recognised as competent to give evidence direct to the remuneration review body.

One thousand, nine hundred and twenty-two at 30th September, 1961; 748 were doing consultant work and in receipt of the special allowance. On the last Question I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to him on 16th November.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in his memorandum to regional hospital boards on the subject of hospitals not exceeding their annual agreed expenditure, he has made proposals with regard to the increased fuel costs incurred over the estimated expenditure owing to the inclement summer.

No

asked the Minister of Health how many nurses are required by the Northern Regional Hospital Board to meet the requirements of the service; and what steps are being taken to recruit them.

The hospital authorities in the Newcastle Region aim at recruiting about 600 more nurses. Direct publicity is reinforced by cadet schemes, refresher courses, and organised visits to hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage the number of hospital confinements was of the total number of confinements in the Dearne Valley constituency area for the years 1959, 1960, 1961, and up to the latest available date in 1962.

I regret statistics cannot be analysed by constituency areas.

asked the Minister of Health what support he will give to the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board in its efforts to recruit the 2,000 nurses required to ensure that the hospitals in the Board's area are fully staffed.

Over 1,000 additional nurses have been recruited by this Board in the past year. Their allocations will continue to provide for expansion of the service, in this and other respects.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys entered apprenticeships in Cardiff and Glamorgan, respectively, during the last 12 months; and how the percentages compare with the percentage of apprenticeships in England and Wales generally.

734 boys, or 37·3 per cent., in Cardiff, and 2,036, or 24·2 per cent., in Glamorgan entered apprenticeships between November, 1961, and October, 1962. The percentage in England and Wales was 36·2 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the average weekly earnings in the woollen and worsted industries for men and women.

In April, 1962, the latest date for which information is available, 272s. 5d. for men and 153s. 6d. for women.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the average weekly earnings in the manufacturing industries as a whole for men and women.

In April, 1962, the latest date for which information is available, 323s. 10d. for men and 157s. 1d. for women.

asked the Minister of Labour when the last Report of the Committee on the Employment of Older Men and Women was published; and when the Committee last met.

The second Report of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Older Men and Women was published in December, 1955. The Committee held its final meeting in November, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls are registered as unemployed at the Bridgend Youth Employment Office; and how many of these were summer school-leavers.

89 boys and 157 girls on 12th November, 1962. Of these 19 boys and 23 girls were summer school leavers.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women respectively, were registered as unemployed at the Bridgend, Maesteg, Pontycymmer, and Ogmore Vale employment exchanges at the latest convenient dates; and what were the comparable figures for each of the years 1958 to 1961.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers of male, female and juvenile labour, registered as unemployed in the Rhondda on

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the total number of boys and girls who registered for employment in the Port Talbot and Glyncorrwg area throughout August and September, 1962, the number who are now in employment, and the number who returned to school.

On 13th August 78 boys and 105 girls were so registered and on 10th September, 110 boys and 102 girls. These figures include both school leavers and other unemployed young people. It is not possible to say how many of those are now in employment nor how many have returned to school.

The following is the information required:31st January, 1961, and 31st January, 1962, and in each month of 1962 to the latest convenient date.

The following is the information required:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the dangers to health by poison- ing through the use of insectidies on crops and additives for colouring and improving the taste of food; and if he will hold an inquiry into this subject.

The use of pesticides in agriculture was investigated recently by the Research Study Group whose Report is in the Library, and I do not consider that any further inquiry is necessary at the present time. The Food Standards Committee is reviewing the use of additives for colouring and is investigating the use of additives for flavouring food. I expect to receive its reports on these subjects next year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what percentage of guaranteed prices received by farmers for all cereals taken together was accounted for by deficiency payments in the guarantee years 1959–60, 1960–61, and 1961–62; and what was the average percentage for those years taken together;(2) what percentage of the total guaranteed prices received by farmers was accounted for by total deficiency payments in the guarantee years 1959–60, 1960–61, and 1961–62; and what was the average percentage for those three years taken together.

The cereal deficiency payments in the crop years July-June, 1959–60 to 1961–62 were 26 per cent., 31 per cent., and 26 per cent. of the estimated value of the guaranteed prices for cereals in the same years. The weighted average percentage for the three years taken together was 27 per cent.Total deficiency payments for guaranteed commodities in the financial years 1959–60 to 1961–62 were 13 per cent., 13 per cent., and 18 per cent. of the total value of guaranteed prices in the corresponding three farming years beginning the 1st June, 1959. The weighted average percentage for the three years taken together was 15 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many employees of the Forestry Commission in Wales are to be declared redundant; in what units they are now employed; whether employment in other units is being offered; and why they are considered redundant.

Seventeen employees of the Forestry Commission in Wales were warned on 13th November, 1962, that their jobs would become redundant early in 1963. Twelve of these men are employed at Radnor Forest and five at Bechan Forest. The Commission hopes to reduce the number involved at Radnor to eight; employment at other forests in Wales is being offered to all the men concerned. The redundancy is caused mainly by the need to reduce planting programmes owing to the shortage of plantable land in these two areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of his Department regarding the sale of land held by the Forestry Commission for its future use, in the County of Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

Land held by the Forestry Commission for future planting, either in the County of Northumberland or elsewhere, is not normally sold; agricultural land not required for forestry purposes is sold in accordance with the Government's policy for the disposal of agricultural land which is surplus to its requirements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date Lord Kilmuir notified his intention to waive the pension to which he was entitled as a former Lord Chancellor; and from what date such waiver has operated.

5th September, 1962, and 1st September, 1962, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how early next year he expects the Robbins Committee on Higher Education to report.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary and Paymaster-General gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Sydney Irving) on 15th November last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total of Government expenditure above the line, and the percentage of the gross national product which this represents, for the years 1952–53 to 1962–63.

The following are the figures asked for. Those for 1962–63 relate to the Budget Estimates. It is not customary to publish a forecast of the gross national product for the current year.

asked the Minister of Education what is the cost of providing school places in primary and secondary schools today compared with 1950.

At actual prices, average net costs of £173 for a primary school place and £306 for a secondary school place for the first six months of this year compared with £158 and £276 respectively for the year 1950.

asked the Minister of Education what is the basic salary for teachers when first qualifying, after three years' experience, and after five years, respectively.

On the lowest scale, which applies to two-year trained non-graduate teachers, the figures are £570, £660 and £750 respectively. These figures are increased by £30 or £60 for each year of education or training beyond two, by £100 for the possession of a degree and by a further £100, if the degree is of Good Honours standard. Thus the corresponding figures for Good Honours Graduate with four years of study or training are £830, £950 and £1,040 respectively. For further details of the scales, I would refer the hon. Member to Section B of the 1961 Report of the Burnham Committee on Scales of Salaries for Teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools.

asked the First Secretary of State, what representations he has had from Sir Mwanawina Lewanika, invoking the formal Anglo-Barotse Treaty of 1900, and indicating that Barotseland wishes to remain a British Protectorate; and what steps he is taking to ensure that full British protection will be provided for the Barotse people, in view of the deteriorating situation in Northern Rhodesia.

When I visited Northern Rhodesia last May, a delegation representing the Litunga and National Council of Barotseland handed me a memorandum which affirmed their continued wish to remain under British protection. I have since set in hand a special study of the issues bearing upon the future relations between Her Majesty's Government and Barotseland.

asked the First Secretary of State if he will order an inquiry into illegal pressures which were brought to bear upon tribal chiefs during the Northern Rhodesia elections, and particularly the extent to which threats of withdrawing protection from the Litunga of Barotseland were made if he actively intervened in the elections.

My information does not show that any such pressures were brought to bear on the tribal chiefs, or that there were any such threats to withdraw protection from the Litunga should he intervene in the elections.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on the approaches made to his Department with a view to flooding the Cwm Twrch and Cwm Nant Yr Eira Valleys in Montgomeryshire; and what reply he has made.

No approaches have been made to my Department concerning reservoir proposals far either of these valleys.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to start the erection of the satellite television transmitter for the Machynlleth area.

The B.B.C. tells me that there are several outstanding matters in connection with this station, but it hopes it will be operating in 1964.

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter posted in Piccadilly at about 6 p.m. on Friday, 16th November, was not delivered in Portchester, Hampshire, until the morning of Monday, 19th November.

The letter should have been delivered on Saturday, 17th November, and I am sorry this did not happen. If my hon. Friend will let me have the envelope I will have inquiry made and write to him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount in the latest convenient year of the expenditure of each county council in Scotland for the landward area of the county ranking for Exchequer Equalisation Grant; the estimated amount of such grant, and the proportion of such expenditure relating to special district services.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will ascertain the cause of the accident in which the Beachley-Aust Ferry was involved on Sunday, 18th November; and if he will make a statement.

My surveyors have investigated the cause of this accident. While the ship was manœuvring to depart, a sudden gust of wind caught the

The required information is given in the following table for 1959–60, the latest year for which it is available.ship and blew her on to the submerged portion of Aust Pier where she remained until she could be floated off on the incoming tide. I am satisfied that no blame attaches to the master.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will call for an inquiry under Section 250 of the Companies Act, 1948, into the liquidation of the Waterhead Funeral Benefit Society in respect of which the winding up order was made on 12th December, 1955, and in respect of which no distribution has yet been made.

No. The joint liquidators had considerable difficulty in compiling a statement of the members of the society and of their contributions. It is now expected that an application will shortly be made to the court for leave to make a distribution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of capital invested by British industrialists in Common Market coun tries in the years 1960, 1961, and to the latest convenient date in 1962.

Figures of direct investment (other than in oil and insurance) by United Kingdom companies in the countries of the European Economic Community during 1960 and 1961 are given below. Information is not yet available for 1962.