asked the Minister of Education why the education authorities refused Mrs. E. L. M. Price, The School House, Ellerdine, Shropshire, a maintenance allowance for her two children at the Wolverhampton Royal Independent School.

These children are both of primary school age. I understand that the Shropshire local education authority sees no sufficient grounds for giving assistance at this stage towards the boy's boarding education and has received no application on behalf of the girl. This is a matter within its discretion.

asked the Minister of Education how many children in Cardiff are now receiving necessitous school meals; and what was the number in 1959.

The number of children receiving free dinners at Cardiff schools on a selected day this autumn was 1,727. In 1959 the figure was 1,897.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish details of the intended programme of new technical colleges in England and Wales, showing the locality in which each college will be erected, and the dates of commencement and completion of each project.

I am not yet in a position to announce the next further education major building programme, which will be in respect of projects to be started in 1964–65, but I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now make a statement in regard to the Knightsbridge development scheme.

I regret that owing to a procedural complication that has arisen at a late stage in my right hon. Friend's consideration of this scheme he is not yet in a position to announce his decision as he had hoped.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what has been the cost to public funds of schemes for central redevelopment so far approved; and what is the estimated cost to public funds of schemes at present under consideration by his Department.

Local authorities are at present spending about £12½ million a year on acquiring and clearing land in central redevelopment areas and on carrying out preliminary development.My right hon. Friend cannot say what has already been spent on approved schemes or how much is likely to be spent on schemes now under consideration. But much of the expenditure should be recouped as the land is sold or let for new development.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will discuss with the building societies what assistance can be given in providing mortgages for boarding houses and small business premises in seaside resorts.

This is not a matter in which my right hon. Friend has any responsibility. Building societies are free to decide their own priorities in giving mortgages.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to reach a decision on whether to make the facilities of the Local Employment Act available for Merseyside.

I have nothing to add to the Answers which were given on 13th November to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Bingham), and on 20th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Kirkdale (Mr. N. Pannell).

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much capital has been invested in the United Kingdom by industrialists from within the countries comprising the European Economic Community during each of the last three years, up to the latest convenient date.

Figures of direct investment (other than in oil and insurance) in the United Kingdom by countries in the European Economic Community during the years 1959 to 1961 are given below. Information is not yet available for 1962.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assistance under the Local Employment Act, by firms contemplating removal to the Isle of Sheppey, have been received since Her Majesty's Dockyard closed; how many were approved; what number of jobs was provided; and what is the total sum granted or loaned.

Between April, 1960, when the Local Employment Act came into force, and the 29th June, 1961, when Sheerness was removed from the list of development districts, 25 firms applied for assistance under the Act. This includes nine firms which withdrew their applications. A total of £458,500 was offered to four firms for projects which are expected to give rise to over 870 jobs. One offer was declined.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what consideration he is giving to the placing of contracts or sub-contracts where practicable in the Hull area in view of the unemployment situation in the area:(2) what steps his Department are taking to direct the attention of firms wishing to expand to the facilities in the Hull area and the number of unemployed available for new industries.

As I told the hon and gallant Member on 13th November, my right hon. Friend has not taken any special steps to recommend firms to Hull, in view of the priority which must be given to steering new industrial developments to development districts. The benefits of the contracts preference schemes are also confined to development districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now received the delegation representing the Town Council of Whitburn, West Lothian; and what action he proposes to take in order to create more employment in the area.

The delegation was received at the Board of Trade on Wednesday, 14th November. As my right hon. Friend announced on 8th November, an advance factory is to be built in West Lothian to provide more employment in the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what industries, in terms of the Standard Industrial Classification, together with the amount of factory space involved in each case, have applied for industrial development certificates during 1962.

A breakdown by industries of applications for industrial development certificates on which a decision was made (excluding those for existing premises coming into industrial use) is a major task undertaken annually in respect of the previous calendar year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many university students there were in 1951 and 1961, respectively.

The number of full-time students in the academic year 1951–52 was 83,458 and the provisional total for 1961–62 is 113,143.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in detail the basis of the Treasury's estimate that the proportion of those able to undertake courses of higher education in the current quinquennium will increase by at least 1 per cent.

In this, the first year of the new university quinquennium, the entry into the three main types of higher education institution—universities,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available to the House of Commons documents approved by the National Economic Development Council, such as the Director General's outline of the economy in 1966 and the report which is to be issued at the end of the year on the feasibility of the growth rate and the methods needed to secure faster growth.

It is for the Council to decide whether documents which it has before it should be published. The outline to which the hon. Member refers was a working paper designed to assist the Council in its work on the end-of-year report. If the Council decides to publish that report I will certainly see that it is available to the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the academic staff-student ratio at universities in this country.

The provisional estimate by the University Grants Committee for the academic year 1961–62 is 10·4:1. This figure excludes Oxford and Cambridge for the reason stated in paragraph 39 of Cmnd. 1855.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that three of the members of the Royal Commission on the Police expressed the opinion that a Commissioner of Rights should be appointed to review the decisions of chief officers of police in dealing with complaints from the public; and what action he proposes to take in this respect.

The majority view of the Royal Commission was that there is no need for new machinery to deal with complaints against the police, but the Commission made a number of proposals for the improvement of the existing machinery. I am in consultation with the representative bodies concerned about these questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the increasing violence and assaults on Post Office workers and hank officials in armed robbery for wages and other monies, if he will reintroduce flogging as a punishment for such crimes; and if he will make a statement.

Any increase in this type of crime is a matter of serious concern for all those responsible for the preservation of law and order. But I do not believe that the reintroduction of corporal punishment as a judicial penalty would be the right remedy: the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders concluded in 1960 that corporal punishment was not an especially effective deterrent, either to crime in general or to robbery with violence in particular, and the House accepted this conclusion in the debates last year on the Criminal Justice Bill. A person convicted of robbery with violence may, under the present law, be sentenced to life imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the circumstances, details of which have been sent to him, under which Mr. C. P. Reidy, of Bristol, was detained in prison for eight weeks awaiting sentence after his conviction by the Newcastle-undeLyme magistrates; if he will reimburse the extra expenses this man has had to incur in travelling to the extra court hearing that has been ordered; and if he will order an inquiry into all aspects of this case.

This man was convicted on 18th October, at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Magistrates' Court, of certain offences, to which he had pleaded guilty, and was committed in custody to the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions for sentence. On 15th November, when he appeared before the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions, the court decided that it had no jurisdiction to deal with the case, as the committal for sentence to a court other than the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Quarter Sessions was invalid. I understand that the justices committed Mr. Reidy to the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions because the Newcastle-under-Lyme Quarter Sessions was not expected to be held until January next and they wished to save him an unduly long time in custody before sentence; in doing so, they overlooked the fact that Section 15 of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1962, which would have permitted them to do this, is not yet in force.In the afternoon of 15th November, Mr. Reidy was again brought before the Borough Magistrates' Court, which granted him legal aid and remanded him on bail for one week to enable him to instruct solicitors. He finally appeared before the magistrates' court on 22nd November, when they decided to impose sentence themselves, as they had power to do, and he was placed on probation for two years.I have no reason to believe that Mr. Reidy has suffered any hardship which would justify payment from public funds of any expenses which he may have incurred in travelling to and from Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates' Court on 22nd November, and I do not think that the circumstances of the case call for any further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions he has reached on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Police as regards the appointment of a Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

I accept the recommendation of the Royal Commission that a Chief Inspector of Constabulary should be appointed, and Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector for England and Wales, as from 1st December, of Sir William Johnson, C.M.G., C.B.E. It is not proposed that the responsibilities of the new Chief Inspector should extend to Scotland. In coming to this conclusion the Government took into account in particular the reservations expressed by two Scottish members of the Commission.Sir William Johnson, after distinguished service as a chief constable, has been one of Her Majesty's Inspectors since 1945; and I am indebted to him for agreeing to put his great knowledge and experience at my disposal for an initial period in the new office.Sir William Johnson will retire at the end of 1963. It is my intention then to recommend to Her Majesty the appointment, as his successor, of Mr. E. J. Dodd, C.B.E., the Chief Constable of Birmingham; and I am grateful to the Birmingham Watch Committee for agreeing to make his services available in the meantime, on a part-time basis, so that he may co-operate with Sir William Johnson in the work of organising the responsibilities of the new post and studying the further recommendations relating to the Inspectorate made by the Royal Commission. In view of the extent and importance of that work, I propose to recommend to Her Majesty, as soon as possible, the appointment of an additional Inspector, and also to appoint senior police officers to act as staff officers to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector and to each of Her Majesty's Inspectors.I am following up the further recommendation of the Royal Commission that a central police research and planning unit should be established in the Home Office under the general direction of the Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of instances of corporal punishment inflicted during the past available 12 months on those detained in remand homes and approved schools; in how many instances more than four strokes were inflicted; and what increase or decrease this indicates over previous years.

The following table gives the information asked for in respect of England and Wales:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mental Health Review Tribunals, which advise him on applications for discharge made by patients in the special hospitals and others detained with restrictions on discharge, are not informed whether their advice has been accepted or rejected; and if he will arrange fox Tribunals to be so informed in future whenever a decision is reached.

This is already done.

asked the First Secretary of State if he will make a statement on his official talks with Dr. Banda.

I do not think I can add anything to the Report of the Nyasaland Constitutional Conference which was published as Cmnd. 1887 on 27th November.

asked the First Secretary of State if he will now begin negotiating for constitutional advance in Northern Rhodesia.

I do not think it is appropriate to raise this question at this stage.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he will take to ensure that a boy who stays at a secondary modern school until he is 16 years and 10 months old shall not be debarred front being accepted as an apprentice by reason of his being over 16 years old.

The normal age of entry to apprenticeship is 16, but there are usually provisions enabling later entry to be allowed. I have urged the main apprentice-employing industries to review their arrangements in order that among other things, suitable boys should not risk failing to be accepted as apprentices because they have stayed on at school beyond 16.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish the latest figures of those unemployed in Fraserhurgh and Peterhead, specifying the total numbers of men and of women.

On 12th November, 234 men 12 boys, 143 women and 5 girls were registered as unemployed at Fraserburgh and 409 men, 27 boys, 183 women and 10 girls at Peterhead.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish the latest available figures of those in employment in Fraserburgh and Peterhead, distinguishing between men and women.

There are no figures available later than those I gave the hon. Member on 30th July, 1962

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made to assist those Tristan da Cunha islanders wishing to return home to do so; and whether the canning factory there is to be reopened.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes) on 27th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of Hong Kong exports to the United Kingdom in the period January to September, 1962, was represented by the group of cotton yarns, fabrics and made-up goods; and what were the corresponding percentages for 1961, 1960 and 1959.

Domestic exports of textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles and related products (excluding clothing) exported from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom during the period January to September, 1962, represented 31 per cent. of total exports to the United Kingdom. The corresponding percentages for the full years 1959, 1960 and 1961 were 37 per cent., 33 per cent. and 34 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of visible trade between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong was represented by United Kingdom exports to Hong Kong for the period January to September, 1962; and what were the comparable percentages for 1961, 1960, and 1959.

In the period January to September, 1962, United Kingdom exports to Hong Kong represented 45 per cent. of the total visible trade between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The corresponding percentages for the full years 1959, 1960 and 1961 were 51 per cent., 48 per cent. and 49 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sentences were passed at Francistown Court, Bechuanaland, on 24th August on 13 men and 25 women charged under the Unlawful Assemblies Proclamation with failing to disperse on 22nd August after an order to disperse had been given.

Five accused were fined £59 or 12 months imprisonment in default of payment, 27 were fined £16 10s. 0d. or two months imprisonment and six were discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Kenneth Shange, a refugee from the Republic of South Africa, was deported from Swaziland to South Africa on 10th September, 1962.

Mr. K. A. Shange was deported after the rejection by the District and Central Immigration Boards of his application for permanent residence. Their advice was accepted by the Paramount Chief.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the public concern, he will make a statement with regard to the negotiations taking place for the exchange of some territory in Swaziland for territory in South Africa.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 22nd November.

asked the Minister of Health what consultations he has had concerning the proposed experiments in teacher training for the mentally subnormal, following the recommendations of the Scott Report.

My right hon. Friend has consulted the Association of Municipal Corporations, the County Councils Association, the London County Council, the British Medical Association, the Royal Medico-Psychological Association, the Society of Medical Officers of Health, and the National Association for Mental Health.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of open areas in which a general practitioner is free to practise under the National Health Service; and if he will state the present number of these areas.

I am sending my hon. Friend the list of all practice areas as classified by the Medical Practices Committee.

asked the Minister of Health how many people die each year from accessible cancers; and what is being done to encourage earlier medical consultation.

Just under 20,000 in England and Wales. On the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) on 9th November.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will re-establish the Joint Services School of Languages so as to enable regular Service personnel to study Chinese.

Adequate facilities already exist for regular Service personnel to study Chinese.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the response of Scottish schools to the questionnaire, sent out by the Annan Committee, regarding the teaching of Russian; and how many of the schools that replied were non-fee-paying.

The questionnaire and the replies to it were not handled by my Department, but of the 39 secondary departments which in 1960 were teaching Russian, 23 were non-fee-paying.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what action he has taken to sponsor research into the teaching of Russian in schools, as recommended by the Annan Report, with particular reference to paragraph 109 of the Report;(2) what proposals he has, following the publication of the Hayter and Annan Reports, for the establishment of language institutes for the teaching of Russian;

These and other specific recommendations of the Annan Committee are under consideration with the educational interests concerned, but I am not yet in a position to make a detailed statement on the various practical steps involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools offer Russian courses; how many have abandoned such courses; and how many pupils in their third, fourth, fifth and sixth years, respectively, are studying Russian.

Last session Russian was taught in 40 schools. Two schools which had previously provided courses were no longer doing so. The numbers of pupils in each year were as follows: third year 197, fourth year 144, fifth year 93, and sixth year 112 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has reconsidered the advisability of publishing any further documents concerning the Kuwait operation other than the two letters he has promised to lay before the House.

I have now laid these two letters before the House. I certainly accept the hon. Member's assurance that the newspaper articles which gave rise to them were not published with his authority. I am satisfied that, as a result of last Friday's debate, the questions raised about the Kuwait operation have been put in their proper perspective and that no further action in this respect is required.