asked the Minister without Portfolio what publicity he is giving to the rôle being played by this country in world affairs.

Explaining the rôle of this country in world affairs is the responsibility of the Government as a whole, above all in Parliament which must always be the principal forum for the presentation of policy. The Central Office of Information produce material for distribution, mainly overseas, on aspects of foreign and Commonwealth affairs. At home I think there is no batter way of conveying what we say than through free institutions such as the Press and broadcasting.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to require chemists providing drugs and medicines through the National Health Service to ensure that the names and formulæ are always clearly stated on the container.

No.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the cold and smoggy weather that is prevailing almost throughout the country, and of the effect it has on the health of the people, especially the elderly, if he will take powers to make arrangements for the immediate suspension of the prescription charges for all retired pensioners.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the need for knowing not only the number of deformed children born annually in the country, but also the cause of the deformities; and if he will arrange to have inquiries made and statistics prepared with special reference to the effect of radioactivity on mothers and children, and make a periodic report to the House.

Research into the cause of congenital deformities and assessment of the effect of radioactivity on health are matters within the sphere of the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Health if he will withhold consent to any schemes by local authorities to arrange for the addition of sodium fluoride to the water supply unless and until the local authority concerned has secured the approval of the electors in its area for the proposal.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to making fluoride in liquid and in tablet form available at welfare food centres.

I have concluded that this would not be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Health which organisations are responsible for recruiting distinguished research psychiatrists for mental health research in the United Kingdom; and what is the cost of official support for these organisations.

The Medical Research Council and the universities. The second part of the Question is not for me.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the existing precautions under the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations make adequate provision in all respects for turbulator type milk vending machines in the light of their development since 1959; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to mitigate the effects on health of the recent fog in London and elsewhere.

Advice and treatment under the National Health Service for those affected.

asked the Minister of Health when the new accommodation for mentally handicapped children at Aston Hall and Balderton Hospitals will be available.

Building is complete; admissions have started at Balderton and will start shortly at Aston Hall.

asked the Minister of Health how long Janet Susan Mills, of Derby, has been on the regional hospital board's waiting list for permanent admission to a hospital for mentally handicapped children.

About 10 years.

asked the Minister of Health what response he has had to his plan for longer and more flexible visiting 'hours in hospitals.

The response has been good; all but a few hospitals now have daily visiting; many long-stay hospitals allow visiting by arrangement at any reasonable time; and more general hospitals are experimenting with unrestricted visiting. My inquiries continue where restrictions still seem unreasonable.

asked the Minister of Health which regional hospital boards pay or authorise payment of private nursing home fees for chronic incurables for whom no hospital beds are available.

All except the Welsh Hospital Board.

asked the Minister of Health which regional hospital boards provide beds for chronic incurables; how many such beds are available on average per 1,000 of the population; and how many are available per 1,000 of the population within the area of the South East Metropolitan Hospital Board.

All; there are 1·3 geriatric or chronic sick beds per thousand population in England and Wales and 1·4 per thousand in the South East Metropolitan Region.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the estimated number of hospital beds which are not in use because the hospital authorities are unable to supply the food for the patients, and the fuel for the heating of the premises, as a result of the limit in Government grants.

None.

asked the Minister of Health what are the current regulations regarding permission for girls under 21 to be allowed out on parole from Friern Barnet Mental Hospital.

The approval of the responsible medical officer must be obtained.

asked the Minister of Health how many vacancies for student nurses and qualified nurses there were at the most recent date for which figures are available.

For nurses and midwives together I understand that 6,632 vacancies for students and pupils and 9,060 for trained staff were current at local offices of the Ministry of Labour in mid-November. These figures were all fields of employment, not only the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will state the percentage increase or decrease during the 12 months ending 30th September, 1962, in the numbers of whole-time and part-time nursing staff for each of the regional hospital board areas;(2) whether he will give the number of whole-time and part-time nursing staff, respectively, in each of the regional

Region	Whole-time Nursing Staff			Part-time Nursing Staff
	At 30th September, 1961	At 30th September, 1962	Percentage increase at 30th September, 1962	At 30th September, 1961	At 30th September, 1962	Percentage increase at 30th September, 1962
			per cent.			per cent.
Non-Teaching Hospitals
Newcastle	8,880	9,253	4	2,716	3,099	14
Leeds	8,827	9,098	3	3,291	3,803	16
Sheffield	9,731	10,254	5	3,869	4,609	19
East Anglian	3,268	3,323	2	1,739	1,963	13
North-West Metropolitan	11,013	11,366	3	2,825	3,175	12
North-East Metropolitan	9,924	10,067	1	3,154	3,605	14
South-East Metropolitan	10,613	10,787	2	4,210	4,862	15
South-West Metropolitan	11,561	11,942	3	3,292	3,716	13
Oxford	3,997	4,160	4	2,116	2,361	12
South Western	9,317	9,500	2	4,154	4,709	13
Welsh	8,795	9,011	2	2,372	2,737	15
Birmingham	11,174	11,795	6	4,505	4,930	9
Manchester	12,292	12,764	4	4,243	5,150	21
Liverpool	7,442	7,838	5	2,238	2,718	21
Wessex	5,468	5,570	2	1,867	2,391	28
Total all Regions (excluding teaching hospitals)	132,302	136,728	3	46,591	53,828	16
London Teaching Hospitals	12,307	12,620	3	619	846	37
Provincial Teaching Hospitals	7,712	7,943	3	927	1,173	27
Total all Regions and Teaching Hospitals	152,321	157,291	3	48,137	55,847	16

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of student nurses recruited during the first nine months of 1962; and what were the comparable figures for 1959, 1960 and 1961.

I am informed by the General Nursing Council that the figures for England and Wales are as follows:

Nine months ended 30th September	Numbers admitted
1959	13,941
1960	13,738
1961	13,935
1962	14,514

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of the hospitals in the North-West Durham constituency for the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation for the previous financial year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of the hospitals in the Durham constituency for the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation for the previous financial year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of hospitals in the North Staffordshire area for the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocations for the two previous financial years.

Following are the figures:

Hospital Management Committee	Initial allocation 1962–63	Percentage increase in money terms over initial allocation for 1961–62
	£
Durham	944,000	6·4
North Staffordshire North Staffordshire (Mental A)	430,000	3·6 (6·2)
North Staffordshire (Mental B)	277,000	6·5 (22·6)
Stoke-on-Trent	2,650,000	6·8 (13·9)
North-West Durham	920,000	6·0

NOTES:1. Revised allocations for 1962–63 have not yet been settled.2. Increases at constant pay and prices are not separately calculated for each hospital authority.3. Figures in brackets represent percentage increase in money terms over initial allocations for 1960–61.4. Allocations to hospital management committees are the responsibility of regional hospital boards. I do not propose to ask boards to disclose the draft estimates of individual hospital authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the maintenance allocation to the group management committee in respect of the hospitals in Deptford and Greenwich for the current year, the amount requested when estimates were prepared, and the percentage increases in monetary and real terms over the allocation for the previous financial year.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Marsh) and others.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking, under Part III of Schedule 3 to the National Health Service Act, 1946, to appoint an adequate number of general practitioners to the boards of London teaching hospitals.

I keep this objective in mind when considering appointments.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has made any decision about the future of general practitioner hospitals in the Bath area so far as Chippenham and Malmesbury are concerned; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot yet add to the statement in Cmnd. 1604, page 193.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the total and percentage figures of unemployment in Wolverhampton on 1st November, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, and 1962, respectively.

Following is the information required:

NUMBER REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN WOLVERHAMPTON
Date*	Total	Percentage
17th November, 1958	2,739	2·4
16th November, 1959	1,090	1·0
14th November, 1960	1,073	1·0
13th November, 1961	1,449	1·3
12th November, 1962	2,645	2·4
* Monthly figures are available only at the statistical dates.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, up to the latest convenient date, the number of persons in employment in the United Kingdom; what is the figure expressed as a percentage of the total working population; and if he will give comparable percentage figures for the same date in 1961, 1956, 1951, and 1946, respectively.

The provisional estimate for the total number of persons in civil employment in mid-1962 is 24,535,000, or 96·7 per cent. of the total working population. The corresponding percentages for 1961, 1956, 1951 and 1948 were 97·0, 96·0, 95·6, and 94·7 respectively. Comparable figures for earlier dates are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the registered unemployed figures for Kilmarnock and Newmilns exchanges, respectively, at the latest available date, and the corresponding figures for 1961.

On 10th December, there were 1,173 registered as unemployed at Kilmarnock and 156 at Newmilns. The figures for December, 1961, were 812 and 162 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour why the latest figures available to him of unemployment in the North-East of Scotland should be dated mid-1961; and if he will propose new measures to alleviate the decline in employment there when the mid-1962 figures become available to him.

I think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Figures for insured employees are compiled annually, but unemployment figures are available every month; these enable me to keep a continuous watch on the local employment situation. As regards new measures, I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to his Question on 12th December.

asked the Minister of Labour how many rehabilitation centres in Lancashire are operated by his Department.

There are two industrial rehabilitation units in Lancashire, one at Aintree and the other at Denton (Manchester).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the arrangements for supplying Charollais semen to Northern Ireland and Eire.

The Northern Ireland Government Artificial Insemination Centre is obtaining Charollais semen from artificial insemination centres in England and Wales for the purpose of cross-breeding trials similar to those being conducted here. There are no arrangements for supplying Charollais semen to Eire, since its export to destinations outside the United Kingdom is prohibited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any reduction is contemplated in the intensity of the archæological work carried out by the Ordnance Survey.

The Ordnance Survey awaits guidance on this matter from the new Standing Committee on Recording of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings which will shortly be convened under the Chairmanship of the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that the future of British European Airways freight and passenger air services to the north of Scotland are in jeopardy owing to Her Majesty's Government's recently announced financial policy; and what financial assistance he is giving in order to maintain these services.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No". As regards the second part, I am studying British European Airways' application for a subsidy on Scottish services but I am not able to make a statement yet.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, in order to prevent the recurrence of air disasters such as the recent one above Reading, he will prohibit aircraft flying in or near United Kingdom airports unless they are under ground control.

My chief inspector of accidents has not yet completed his investigation into the cause of the air collision near Reading on 4th November last. I am therefore unable to comment on the cause of the accident or on any measures which may be considered necessary and feasible to prevent a recurrence.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will invite the Wilson Committee on Noise to include in its consideration of the subject the probable effect upon people living within a 20-mile radius of Heathrow of the introduction of a civil supersonic airliner.

I understand that this Committee is already considering the effects of the noise which would be caused by supersonic airliners in the vicinity of Heathrow, and elsewhere in this country.

asked the Minister of Aviation when Her Majesty's Government expects to ratify the Convention establishing a European Launcher Development Organisation.

Before the middle of 1963.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has now reached a final decision on the location of an airport for Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

As my predecessor stated on 14th November, 1960, Abbotsinch is the most convenient location for Glasgow's airport. Planning of the necessary development work is proceeding.In the White Paper published in August, 1961, Glasgow was included among those airports which in the Government's view should become a local responsibility. I am still discussing with representatives of Scottish local authorities the implementation of the White Paper policy in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the number of unemployed persons in receipt of National Assistance in the Motherwell area whose allowance is reduced by the operation of the wages stop; and what proportion this represents of the total number of unemployed recipients of National Assistance in that area.

Up-to-date figures about National Assistance allowances restricted by reference to earning capacity in accordance with Regulation 5 of the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Regulations 1948 (S.I. 1948 No. 1334) are not available, and such information is normally obtained on a sample basis for the country as a whole. Some information recently collated for other purposes, however, makes it possible to estimate that about 18 per cent. of the weekly National Assistance allowances payable to persons registering as unemployed in the area served by the National Assistance Board's Motherwell office are so restricted. The latest available figure for current authorisations of weekly allowances to persons registering as unemployed in this area is 982 at 27th November last.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the number of unemployed persons in receipt of National Assistance in the Walthamstow area whose allowance is reduced by the operation of the wages stop; and what proportion this represents of the total number of unemployed recipients of National Assistance in that area.

Up-to-date figures about National Assistance allowances restricted by reference to earning capacity in accordance with Regulation 5 of the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Regulations 1948 (S.I. 1948 No. 1334) are not available, and such information is normally obtained on a sample basis for the country as a whole. Some information recently collated for other purposes, however, makes it possible to estimate that about 2 per cent. of the weekly National Assistance allowances payable to persons registering as unemployed in the area served by the National Assistance Board's Waltham-stow office are so restricted. The latest available figure for current authorisations of weekly allowances to persons registering as unemployed in this area is 208 at 27th November last.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when a man enters the graduated pension fund at age 20 and dies at age 50, what, under his regulations, happens to the contributions paid by the worker and the employer; and what is received by his widow or dependants apart from death grant.

There is no graduated pension fund. All National Insurance contributions, whether graduated or flat-rate, are paid into the National Insurance Fund, from which the widow of such a contributor would become entitled to the normal widows' benefits including, in due course, one-half of any graduated retirement pension for which the husband would have qualified on his contributions if he had lived to receive it.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reasons he has refused consent to any form of traffic control in Eynsham Drive, Abbey Wood, S.E.2; and if he will reconsider his decision.

I declined to authorise the pedestrian crossings applied for because the volumes of pedestrians and road traffic are insufficient to justify them. The Commissioner of Police agrees with my view.

asked the Minister of Education which colleges of further education are now running two-year whole-time training courses in social work; and how many places are made available in each of these courses.

Below is a list of the seven colleges of further education which are running two year full-time courses of general training in social work in England and Wales. For the 1962–63 session fifteen places were available at each of five colleges, and twelve at each of the other two.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation which Government Departments send confidential papers on secret matters to the Central Office of Information for background news purposes.

All three Overseas Departments provide the C.O.I. with classified material necessary for the guidance of senior officers who prepare the Press and reference services sent to British representatives overseas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which industrial projects in the north-east of Scotland development district have been materially assisted by the Government under the Local Employment Act since its inception.

Under the Local Employment Act a total of nearly £290,000 has been offered for projects in development districts in the north-east of Scotland, estimated to give rise to about 400 additional jobs. I cannot give the names of the firms concerned, since the fact that assistance has been given is confidential.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent he discussed with Mr. McNamara the question of substituting Polaris for Skybolt; and what estimates he has been given of the price the British Government would be charged for an fleet of Polaris submarines for the independent nuclear deterrent.

On the first part of this Question I have nothing to add to the statement that I have already made to the House. As regards costs, discussions with the U.S. Government have not reached the stage at which the detailed discussion of alternatives to Skybolt would be appropriate.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will publish a list of the administrative, executive and technical officers of his Department with salaries of more than £1,500 per annum who on resigning or retiring during 1946–51 took up posts with industrial firms, signifying which of these did so within two years of leaving the Civil Service in cases requiring the approval of his Department, and also naming the firms they joined; and if he will indicate how many of those so affected were specially kept on until the end of the war period.

From records now available two such cases have been identified although others may well exist. The first was a Director of Operational Research who was given permission to join Tube Investments Limited in 1949; the second was a Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs who in 1950 was given permission to join the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. Neither was specially retained.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the basic weekly wages of labourers in the Government service and in the flax industry in St. Helena.

General labourers in Government service receive 50s. a week. Flax mill operators receive 45s. basic pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why supplies of rice and flour are in short supply in St. Helena.

For just over a week at the end of October certain foodstuffs were in short supply as a result of a combination of the failure of the island's potato crop and the delayed arrival of a cargo vessel bringing supplies. Supplies are at present adequate and a reserve stock is to be built up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the administrative, executive and technical officers of his Department with salaries of more than £1,500 per annum who on resigning or retiring during 1946–51 took up posts with industrial firms, signifying which of these did so within two years of leaving the Civil Service in cases requiring the approval of his Department, and also naming the firms they joined; and if he will indicate how many of those so affected were specially kept on until the end of the war period.

There are no such cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present shortages of teaching staff in the dental teaching hospitals.

The staff-student ratio in the dentistry faculties of universities was 1:13 in 1961–62, which compares with 1:48 in 1938–39 and 1:15 in 1954–55. The universities have, however, no fixed establishment of teaching posts and they appoint such members of staff as their funds permit. For this reason and because a substantial contribution to teaching is made by the staff of the hospital boards, there are no figures for unfilled vacancies which might measure any shortage of teaching staff in dental schools.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister far Welsh Affairs from what source sodium fluoride was obtained for addition to the water supply in the experimental schemes conducted in this country; and what sources will be available to local health authorities intending to add sodium fluoride to their water supplies.

Sodium fluoride was obtained for the study areas through normal commercial channels. There is no reason to suppose that ample supplies of this substance, of a suitable grade, will not be available for general use.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will appoint a committee including representatives of his Department, the local authorities concerned with overcrowding problems in conurbations on rivers, and ship owners, to explore the possibilities of subsidising temporary accommodation in obsolete liners for those waiting for a house of their own, with a view to introducing legislation.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to stop tenant evictions until alternative accommodation can be found, thus avoiding hardship to families.

No. This is a matter for the Board. In several coalfields it has an urgent need for miners' houses. Men who leave the industry voluntarily know they may not be able to occupy the Board's houses indefinitely, but each case is examined individually and possible hardships are taken into account.

asked the Minister of Power by what percentage the cost of nuclear-powered electricity generating plant per kilowatt output capacity has fallen since the first tender for this type of plant was accepted; and to what extent this fall has been offset by the increase in interest rates during the same period.

The estimated capital cost a kilowatt of Oldbury, the last station ordered, is just over a third less than the present estimated cost of Bradwell and Berkeley, the first two stations. The interest rate assumed in 1955, at the time of the original nuclear power programme, was 4 per cent. compared with the present rate of 6 per cent. This increase has offset by about a third the reduction in annual capital charges which would otherwise have occurred.

asked the Minister of Power by what percentage the cost of conventional electricity generating plant per kilowatt output capacity has fallen since 1955; and to what extent this fall has been offset by the increase in interest rates during the same period.

The estimated average cost a kilowatt of conventional plant which is being ordered now is about 30 per cent. less than the cost of stations ordered in about 1955. The increase in the interest rate from 4 per cent. to 6 per cent. has offset the reduction in annual capital charges by about two thirds.

asked the Minister of Power how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None, so far as I know.

asked the Postmaster General if he will publish a list of the administrative, executive and technical officers of his Department with salaries of more than £1,500 per annum who on resigning or retiring during 1946–51 took up posts with industrial firms, signifying which of these did so within two years of leaving the Civil Service in cases requiring the approval of his Department, and also naming the firms they joined; and if he will indicate how many of those so affected were specially kept on until the end of the war period.

We would have information only of those cases in which the approval of my Department was required. There were none during 1946–1951.

asked the Postmaster General how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will, before 11th January, set up a committee to decide what practical measures can be taken in Scottish schools to further the teaching of Russian, in the light of the Annan Report.

No. I am in consultation with the educational interests concerned and do not think that the appointment of a committee would advance matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the population of Eriskay, Scarp, Harris, Scalpay, Harris, Bernera, Lewis, Vatersay, Barra, and Berneray, Harris, respectively, in 1931, 1951, and 1961;(2) what was the average loss of population, stated as a percentage, of the island of Eriskay, Scarp, Scalpay, Bernera, Lewis, Vatersay, and Berneray, Harris, between 1931 and 1961; and the total loss for all those islands in the same period.

The population figures are as follows, those for 1961 being estimates by the Registrar General:

	Population
Island	1931	1951	1961
Eriskay	420	330	231
Scarp (Harris)	95	74	46
Scalpay (Harris)	636	541	470
Bernera (Lewis)	514	384	317
Vatersay (Barra)	240	151	95
Berneray (Harris)	331	246	201

The population of the six islands was 2,236 in 1931, and fell by 876 to 1,360 in 1961. The average loss of population over this period was 39·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will state the total number of children attending schools in the Isle of Barra and in Vatersay, respectively, in each of the years from 1931 to 1962, inclusive;(2) if he will state the total number of children attending schools in the Isle of Harris in each of the years 1931 to 1962, inclusive, and in Scalpay and Scarp, respectively;(3) if he will state the total number of children attending schools in the Isle of Lewis and in Bernera, Lewis, respectively, in each of the years 1931 to 1962, inclusive;(4) if he will state the total number of children attending schools in the Isle of North Uist and in Grimsay, respectively, in each of the years 1931 to 1962, inclusive;(5) if he will state the total number of children attending schools in the Isle of South Uist, Benbecula and Eriskay, respectively, in each of the years from 1931 to 1962, inclusive;(6) if he will state the number of children attending school in the Isle of Grimsay, North Uist, in each of the years 1931 to 1962, inclusive.

I am having the figures extracted and shall let the hon. Member have them as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science when Her Majesty's Government expects to ratify the Convention establishing a European Space Research Organisation.

About the middle of 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will institute an inquiry into the state of the messing facilities at the Royal Air Force Station at Melksham; to what extent Royal Air Force personnel are using the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes facilities in preference to the station mess at additional personal cost; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no complaints about the messing facilities at Royal Air Force, Melksham. About 20 per cent. of the airmen living on the station buy a snack or a supper meal in the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes Club. This is a fairly common practice in the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects the dispersal of the Forester Brigade to take place.

Arrangements for the dispersal of this brigade have already been put in hand. Adaptations have to be made to the depots of the three brigades which are receiving a regiment from the Forester Brigade, but I hope that the dispersal will be completed by the autumn of 1963.In paying tribute to the loyal way in which this decision has been accepted, I wish to make it clear that the only reason that the choice fell on the Forester Brigade was that its dispersal could be effected with the least disturbance to the Infantry as a whole: the efficiency of the brigade has been of a high order and I much regret that its existence is to end.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many civil servants in his Department during the past 10 years have waived any part of their pension rights when accepting posts in industrial firms within two years of their retirement from the Civil Service.

None.