asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the unemployment position in the shipbuilding industry at Lowestoft, he will take steps to direct Admiralty contracts to the area.

It is the Admiralty's policy to place orders for naval new construction as far as possible on the basis of competitive tendering. The shipbuilding firms at Lowestoft will be given every oportunity to tender for naval work for which their facilities are considered suitable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take regarding the membership of the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I were hoping to be able to announce our intentions in this matter before the end of this year when all but one of the existing appointments expire. However, we had not completed our plans for the future before the recent illness of the Chairman of the White Fish Authority, which we much regret and we wish to discuss the matter with him before reaching our decisions. We have therefore invited the present members of these two bodies and of the Authority's Committee for Scotland and Northern Ireland to continue in office for a further period of six months until 30th June, and I am pleased to say that they have agreed.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that doubt exists as to whether a consumer of water is legally entitled to refuse to pay his water rates in cases where the local authority or water supply company adulterates the water with fluoride without his express permission; and if he will introduce amending legislation to clarify the matter.

I am not aware that any doubt exists about the duty of a consumer of water to continue to pay his water rates in the event of fluorides being added to any supply of water to the public.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he now expects to announce his decision on the aircraft to be ordered in fulfilment of Operational Requirement 351.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. McMaster) on 26th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will instruct the new Governor of Kenya that his first duty is to ensure the safety of Britons who were induced to settle in Kenya by successive British Governments and to render to them every assistance, particularly to the aged and infirm, to leave the country before independence if they desire to do so.

As stated in the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 11th December he is already in consultation with the present Governor of Kenya on this subject. It is one of the many matters which is being brought to the notice of the new Governor and I have no doubt that Mr. MacDonald will give it his early attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the latest position regarding the report of the Commission to consider future arrangements for the Northern Frontier District of Kenya.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport and Fareham (Dr. Bennett) on 20th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the recent failure of the potato crop in St. Helena has affected the diet of the islanders; and what steps have been taken to make good the deficiency.

The islanders' diet has not been materially affected. The failure of the potato crop, due to bad weather, was only partial and, except at the end of October when, owing to late arrival of the supply ship, stocks of essential foods were low and there was some hoarding, supplies of potatoes have been sufficient. There have been ample rice supplies to cover any minor shortages.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many civil servants in his Department over the past 10 years, giving the ranks, went within two years of retirement or resignation to other jobs and sought permission within the ruling of paragraph 5 of Command Paper No. 5517, specifying which subsection of that paragraph was involved and the firms involved in each case.

Four; one Permanent Under-Secretary of State and three High Commissioners. The appointments in question do not appear to have fallen within any particular subsection of paragraph 5 of Command No. 5517. Approval was sought, and granted, purely as a matter of general propriety. The firms involved were:

• Rio Tinto Co. Ltd.,
• W. J. Fraser & Co. Ltd.,
• Automatic Telephone and Electric Co. Ltd.,
• Inchcape & Co. Ltd.,
• Power Securities Corporation Ltd.,
• Guest, Keen & Nettlefolds (Pakistan) Ltd.,
• Biddle Sawyer & Co. Ltd.,
• Bank of Adelaide.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will state the result of the latest discussions with the Government of the Maldives regarding arrangements for the British base there.

Discussions with the Maldivian Government are continuing. Arrangements for the British staging post are not affected.

asked the Minister of Education how many first appointments of teachers who had completed nursing training were appointed to nursery schools in each of the years 1955 to 1962 inclusive.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education Which teacher training colleges are also recognised as colleges of universities.

All the recognised teacher training colleges are members of Institutes or Schools of Education, of which all but one are university bodies. A number are also associated with universities in various other special ways.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer if depletion allowances were granted on the cost of acquisition of mineral rights in the United Kingdom.

The information necessary to make this estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer, if the mineral rights duty were abolished.

About £150,000 in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer it legislation were introduced for the purpose of extending the industrial building allowance to all buildings used exclusively for the purpose of a trade, profession or vocation.

About £45 million in a full year assuming that annual allowances of 2 per cent. would be given for the residue of a 50 year life on all expenditure incurred less than 50 years ago and that the investment and initial allowances for expenditure on new buildings would be 15 per cent. and 5 per cent. respectively (as for new industrial buildings after 5th November, 1962). The cost would increase over the years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer, if Sections 23–27 of the Finance Act, 1961. were amended to exclude cars used exclusively outside the United Kingdom in the course of a trade or profession carried on by a United Kingdom resident.

No such estimate has been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer if legislation were introduced to provide that goods taken from trading stock for private use be valued at cost.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer if legislation were introduced to exempt from United Kingdom tax bank interest receivable in the United Kingdom by non-residents.

No estimate has been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer, if the allowance contained in Section 9 of the Finance Act, 1962, were extended to all cases of incapacity involving the use of special transport facilities.

I regret that I cannot give an estimate of the cost of this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take further financial measures to stimulate increased activity in the steel industry with a view to reducing the possibilities of takeover of individual companies at figures far below the net asset values of their ordinary shares.

I expect that the fiscal changes and increased public investment which my right hon. Friend announced recently will have a beneficial effect on industry generally, including the steel industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 217,249 transistor radio receivers imported from Hong Kong between January and September, 1962, entered duty free under Commonwealth Preference arrangements; how many were subject to the normal rate of duty; and what was the total amount of duty paid on these radio sets.

I regret that figures are not available in the form required by the hon. Member but I will write to him shortly giving what information I can.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the treatment far United Kingdom taxation purposes of pensions increases and supplements paid under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1962, to pensioners receiving pensions in respect of services overseas to Governments other than Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

In general these pensions increases and supplements will be liable to United Kingdom tax, except in the ease of a pensioner who is a resident, not of the United Kingdom, but of a country with which the United Kingdom has a double taxation agreement providing for the exemption from United Kingdom tax of such pensions.There are, however, some non-resident civilian pensioners who will receive increases which in principle ought to be subject to United Kingdom tax but would escape liability on a technicality if the law is not amended. Section 40 (1), Finance Act, 1956, exempts from United Kingdom tax pensions paid under the authority of the Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Act, 1955 to non-residents of the United Kingdom, but excludes from this special exemption any part of the pension arising from the application of Pensions (Increase) Acts up to and including that of 1956. I propose to introduce legislation in next year's Finance Bill which will similarly exclude from exemption's from the Income Tax year 1963–64 any increases in these pensions arising from Pensions (Increase) Acts after the Act of 1956.Consideration of this matter has shown that increases payable under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959, on civilian pensions paid under the authority of the Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Act, 1955, have been treated as liable to Income Tax in the hands of certain pensioners who are not resident in the United Kingdom although there is no statutory authority for this treatment. As I have already stated, I propose that next year's Finance Bill shall bring those pensions increases within the scope of the United Kingdom tax charge as from the year 1963–64 but the Inland Revenue will repay tax which has been collected without statutory authority on pensions increases payable under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959, in the cases concerned for years up to and including the year 1962–63.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the categories of secret, con- fidential and restricted documents supplied to the Central Office of Information; and whether he will now review the supply of such documents.

As regards categories I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. K. Lewis) on 17th and 20th December.Documents are made available to the C.O.I. only to the extent necessary for the proper performance of its work.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the expenditure of each Government Department on advertising on hoardings during the present financial year to the nearest convenient date.

I regret that it has not been possible to give an Answer in the time available. I will publish the available information as soon as possible after the Recess.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the expenditure on advertising for each respective Government Department, measured both in the cost and in the number of column inches used, during the present financial year to the latest convenient date, in The Times, Guardian, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, Daily Sketch, Morning Advertiser, New Daily, and Daily Worker, respectively.

I regret that it has not been possible to give an Answer in the time available. I will publish the available information as soon as possible after the Recess.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the expenditure by 'each Government Department on advertising on commercial television during the present financial year to the nearest convenient date.

Expenditure in the present financial year on advertisements appearing on commercial television up to and including 31st December, 1962, will be as follows:

National Savings Committee	£47,095
Central Office of Information (on behalf of the War Office)	£354,242

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the expenditure on advertising for each respective Government Department calculated in pounds sterling and in column inches in the London and provincial evening papers during the present financial year to the latest convenient date.

I regret that it has not been possible to give an Answer in the time available. I will publish the available information as soon as possible after the Recess.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will make a statement on road travel expenses for Members.

To enable Members to recoup the cost of petrol used where they travel by the fastest route, e.g. by motorways or bypasses, instead of by the shortest mileage, it has been decided to allow additional mileage up to a maximum of 25 per cent. over the standard shortest route. This is, of course, subject to the maximum payment of the normal first class single rail fare for the direct journey.Claims should be made to the Fees Office for any such additions for journeys made after today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the per capita expenditure on public works by the Government and local authorities in each of the last 12 years in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England Wales, and Development Act areas, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available in the detail requested by my hon. Friend. In particular, complete figures for Wales and the development districts cannot be separately identified. The following table shows Government and local authority capital expenditure per head in the years 1950 to 1961 in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales. An amount, varying from year to year, of between 5 per cent. and 20 per cent. of the total expenditure cannot be allocated by country. It has been assumed that this expenditure was at the same per capita rate in each country.

	Northern Ireland	Scotland	England and Wales
	£	£	£
1950	8	10	8
1951	11	13	11
1952	14	17	13
1953	16	18	15
1954	14	16	13
1955	14	16	12
1956	18	17	13
1957	18	17	13
1958	17	15	13
1959	17	16	14
1960	19	18	14
1961	19	19	16

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the ratio of women students to men students entering medical schools during the year 1951, and each year to date;(2) if he will state the number of medical students entering medical schools during 1951, and in each year to date.

Information before 1953 is not available. According to the statistics collected by the University Grants Committee, the number of students entering a medical faculty of a university institution in Great Britain for the first time—though not necessarily entering upon medical studies for the first time—in each year since 1953, and the ratio of women to men students is as follows:

	No. of students	Ratio of women to men 1:
1953–54	2,581	3·0
1954–55	2,674	3·1
1955–56	2,741	3·1
1956–57	2,472	3·1
1957–58	2,564	3·5
1958–59	2,504	3·0
1959–60	2,526	2·9
1960–61	2,591	2·8
1961–62 (provisional)	2,552	2·8
1962 (October)	2,717	2·8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of stamp duty received during the last financial year from the private sale of houses and flats.

The yield of stamp duties on conveyances of land and houses on sale was £16,690,000 in 1961–62. I regret that it is not possible to divide this figure between different types of property.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of doctors who graduated in 1951, and for each year to date, and the ratio of women doctors to men in each group.

The following table gives the total number of first degrees awarded in university medical faculties for each year since 1951, together with the ratio between degrees awarded to men and t:) women from 1953 onwards, the first year for which this particular informat on is available from University Grants Committee records.

	No. of first degrees awarded	Ratio of awards women to men 1:
1951–52	1,922	not available
1952–53	1,882	not available
1953–54	1,953	3·9
1954–55	2,041	3·6
1955–56	2,032	4·0
1956–57	1,955	3·8
1957–58	1,832	4·0
1958–59	1,939	3·9
1959–60	1,968	3·7
1960–61	1,935	3·3
1961–62 (provisional)	1,864	3·4

The award of a single first degree does not necessarily lead to medical registration while some doctors qualify by reason of a registrable qualification other than a British university degree, so that the above figures do not relate directly to the output of doctors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the disparity between the earnings of university teachers and public servants on the one hand and those of people employed in industry and members of the National Incomes Commission on the other, and of the fact that the Chairman of the National Incomes Commission is to receive a higher income than himself, he will order a general review of professional and public service remuneration.

No. I do not think that a general review of this sort would be useful, even if it were within the terms of reference of the National Incomes Commission as set out in Cmnd. 1844.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions have been issued by hospital authorities regarding the recruitment of nurses and the replacement of nurses who leave during the current financial year; and whether any hospital authorities have been instructed or issued instructions not to recruit more nurses during the current financial year.

Comprehensive information is not available centrally; certain hospital authorities have imposed partial and temporary limitations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give instructions to the police in the Metropolitan Police district that accused persons and convicted first offenders of 50 years of age and over are not to be manacled on their way to and from courts and prisons.

The Metropolitan Police are authorised to handcuff prisoners only in certain prescribed circumstances, for example, when the prisoner is likely to attempt to escape, or is charged with a very serious offence. I see no ground for modifying these instructions in the case of prisoners of 50 years of age or over. The use of handcuffs is in fact infrequent.

asked the Minister of [lousing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects the Local Government Boundary Commission to consider the future shape of local government in South-East Hampshire.

The Local Government Commission for England is engaged on five major reviews which will take them some time to complete. In addition it has just begun its reviews of the North-West. Having regard to the amount of work involved in all this I do not expect that the Commission will be able to start any new reviews before 1964.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has yet received from the Fareham Urban District Council a second scheme for the redevelopment of the central area of Fareham; if he is aware that this new scheme has been prepared without consultation with interested bodies locally, such as the Chamber of Trade; and if he will ensure that local interests are fully considered before he reaches any decision on this matter.

Only one scheme for the redevelopment of the central area of Fareham has been submitted for my right hon. Friend's comments. The Fareham Urban District Council has asked for an interview with the Department's officers and the question of local consultation will be one of the subjects then to be discussed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that in July, 1960, the town map of Kettering was submitted for modification or approval and that in June, 1962, the information required for that purpose was almost complete; and when he now expects to publish his proposed modifications and to give his final decision.

My proposed modifications were sent in draft to the Northamptonshire County Council last August and were discussed in October with its officers. I expect shortly to receive detailed drawings of the areas involved and my proposed modifications will then be published at once. There may then be objections, which may have to go to further public inquiry and I cannot therefore say when I shall be able to give my final decision.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men in the building trades are at present unemployed in Sunderland.

At 10th December, 1962, 1,161 men whose last employment was in the construction industry were registered as unemployed in the Sunderland area.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the numbers employed in the shipbuilding industry in Lowestoft on each 1st December, 1953, to 1962.

The available figures relate to mid-year and do not yet include 1962.They are as follows:

Lowestoft
Estimated numbers of employees in employment in the Shipbuilding and Shiprepairing Industries
Mid 1953	990
Mid 1954	1,300
Mid 1955	1,810
Mid 1956	1,890
Mid 1957	1,790
Mid 1958	1,720
Mid 1959	1,530
Mid 1960	1,170
Mid 1961	1,350

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the numbers of unemployed in the Borough of Lowestoft on 1st December, 1959, 1960, 1961, and 1962; how many of the unemployed were over 50 years of age; what was the number of employed persons on the same dates; and what proportion the unemployed represented of the employed.

LOWESTOFT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREA
Date*		Number Unemployed		Number of Employees in Employment	Unemployment Percentage Rate (Total unemployed as a percentage of allemployees—employed and unemployed)
		Total	Wholly unemployed aged 50 and over included in total
7th December 1959	…	720	250	20,100	3·5
12th December 1960	…	603	245	20,500	2·9
11th December 1961	…	564	221	21,100	2·6
10th December 1962	…	865	Not available†	Not available‡	4·0
* Monthly unemployment figures are available only at the statistical date.
† From 1962, analyses by age are collected in July and January.
‡ Figures of employees in employment relate to the mid-yearly count of insurance cards; those or 1962 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give in tabular form, for each of the years 1951 to 1961 inclusive, the average tender prices and average floor area for three-bedroom houses built by local authorities, the total cost of interest and repayment charges in respect of those houses, assuming the loan was raised over 60 years at the long-term rate of interest being charged by the Public Works Loan Board at 31st December in each year, and, on this basis, the average economic rents of these houses.

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to announce his decision on the compulsory purchase order made by the Slough Borough Council in respect of No. 181. Blumfield Crescent, Slough.

The council has now withdrawn the order as the owners offered the tenant a new agreement on terms which the council considered reasonable.

Following is the information required:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will introduce amending regulations to allow workers on a five-day week to receive unemployment benefit for short-time working at the rate of a daily payment of one-fifth of the full rate of benefit.

No. Such a change would require legislation. It would involve having different daily rates of both unemployment and sickness benefit for different claimants according to their previous employment and would seriously complicate the payment of both benefits.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many workers receiving unemployment benefit in respect of short-time working during the most recent twelve-month period were 5-day-week workers; and what proportion they were of the total number of workers receiving unemployment benefit.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how much it will cost to increase from £3 10s. to £4 5s. weekly the amount which a widow can earn without reduction of pension;(2) how much it will cost to abolish the earnings rule for all widows earning more than £4 5s. weekly.

The increase stated, which I have proposed for consideration by the National Insurance Advisory Committee, would cost some £700,000 and abolishing the earnings rule for widow pensioners about a further £41 million on the assumption that abolition could be restricted to them.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how much it will cost to increase from £5 to £6 weekly the amount which a widowed mother can earn without reduction of pension;(2) how much it will cost to abolish the earnings rule for all widowed mothers earning more than £6 weekly.

The increase stated, which I have proposed for consideration by the National Insurance Advisory Committee, would cost some £400,000, and abolishing the earnings rule for widowed mothers about a further £11 million on the assumption that abolition could be restricted to them.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows and widowed mothers, respectively, will benefit financially by the raising of the earnings limit to £4 5s. and £6, respectively; and how many will not so benefit.

It is estimated that at any given date the benefits of about 30,000 widows and 15,000 widowed mothers would be increased and those of 325,000 and 130,000 respectively would not be affected by this change.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows are receiving widow's pension of 10s. as a reserved right from the old contributory pension scheme; and what was the figure 10 years ago.

About 85.000 and 190,000 respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a post-card addressed to the hon. Member for Barking to the Table Office of the House of Commons, posted at 7.50 p.m. on 17th December in a pillar box in Holborn, W.C.1, on which is advertised a collection at 9 p.m., was not delivered at the Table Office until 3.50 p.m. on 18th December, and was postmarked 18th December; why this communication was not collected on 17th December or was wrongly postmarked and if he will seek to ensure that mail sent On Her Majesty's Service to the authorities of the House is handled promptly even at seasons when some delay is customary.

I am having inquiry made into the matter and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements he has made to appoint a chairman of the Independent Television Authority.

The Government have decided to defer the appointment of a new Chairman until consideration of the Television Bill by Parliament is further advanced. Meanwhile the Deputy-Chairman of the Authority, Sir John Carmichael, will continue to act as Chairman for the next few months, and I am very grateful to him for his willingness to undertake this responsibility.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking to preserve Roman remains at Irchester disturbed by the diversion of the A.45.

At our request the traffic authorities have considerably modified the original proposal which would have involved the destruction of the southern defences, including the gateway, of the site of a Roman Station. In return we have accepted, subject to prior archaeological examination and recording, a modified scheme which affects only a very small portion of this buried site. Arrangements are being made for the preservation of any archaeological finds.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what architectural advice he is obtaining on the development proposed between Bridge Street and Richmond Terrace.

I am appointing Sir William Holford as consulting architect to prepare an outline plan for this important development.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware that northbound traffic often has difficulty in emerging from Spur Road, St. James's Park, owing to the constant stream of traffic from The Mall to Buckingham Palace Road, and that sometimes a stationary column of traffic blocks the exit; and what plans he has for removing these difficulties.

We are aware that there is some congestion at this point, mainly at the rush hours, and we are consulting the Ministry of Transport about methods of easing the congestion without detriment to the amenities of the Park.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) if he will open Queen's Gate, Kensington Gardens, to motor traffic from Kensington Road intending to travel northwards along The Ring, so that it can enter Hyde Park at the junction North of Alexandra Gate and turn left thus relieving some of the congestion at the junction in Kensington Road outside Alexandra Gate;(2) if he will have a few feet taken off the pavement on the East side of The Ring, Hyde Park, London, W.1, just North of its junction with the South Carriage Road at Alexandra Gate, so as to allow room for three lanes of traffic to be properly marked in the roadway, in conformity with the Government's normal practice in such matters.

We have recently agreed that certain right hand turns in this area should be banned so as to facilitate the flow of traffic and we would prefer to await the outcome of this experiment before considering other proposals, particularly any which would involve some loss of Park amenity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will reconsider financing Belgian nuclear research and use the money for research in this country.

No. I am satisfied that the joint research arrangements described in the Answer I gave my hon. and gallant Friend on 12th December are of mutual benefit.Brigadier Clarke asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what money from public funds has been paid out to date to British firms in connection with the nuclear research programme; and how his choice of British firms was made.

It is not possible to answer the first part of the Question, which covers the whole period from the beginning of the atomic energy programme. If my hon. and gallant Friend will specify his interest more narrowly I will do my best to provide the information he desires.As regards the second part of the Question, the main consideration must always be the technical competence of the firms concerned, in relation to the particular tasks involved, and the facilities they are able to employ. Subject to this, contracts are placed by the Atomic Energy Authority in accordance with normal financial considerations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science why he is spending public funds on research into integral boiling reactors when such reactors are already available from British firms.

I am informed that there are no integral boiling reactors already developed and available from British firms. Research on such reactors is being done by British firms under contract to the Atomic Energy Authority as part of the Government's research programme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make available the price of fuel for nuclear marine reactors to British firms endeavouring to secure orders, both in this country and overseas.

I am advised by the Atomic Energy Authority that they are ready to quote prices to British firms, against detailed specifications and drawings, for supply of fuel for marine reactors.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what is the estimated delivery time required from date of order far either two Vulcain or two integral boiling nuclear reactors of 15,000 shaft horsepower each, with associated machinery, for marine propulsion purposes.

Research has not yet reached a stage at which a definite answer can be given to this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each road scheme, other than Crofter County Scheme works, now proceeding on the mainland of Inverness-shire, giving the estimated cost of each; and if he will give the same information for the islands of Harris, North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula, and Barna respectively.

Most of the road schemes in Inverness-shire are in the Crofter Counties Programme works to a total cost of £1,440,000 are in progress or authorised on the mainland (including Skye) and £208,000 on the islands named

Location in Inverness-shire		Scheme				Class of road		Estimated Cost
		(a) In progress—						£
Mainland	…	A.82 Provision of layby at Urauhart Castle			…	Trunk	…	1,000
South Uist	…	East Gerinish	…	…	…	Township	…	50,000
Skye	…	Balmeanach Road	…	…	…	Township	…	21,136
Skye	…	Bornesketaig Road	…	…	…	Township	…	15,453
		(b) Approved for grant and awaiting start of work—
Mainland	…	Footpaths at Boat of Garten	…	…	…	Class III	…	20,000
Mainland	…	Bridge at Locharkaigside	…	…	…	Class III	…	5,500
North Uist	…	Lochportain link road	…	…	…	Township	…	108,000
South Uist	…	Access road, Kildonan	…	…	…	Township	…	22,700

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost of a four-apartment council house; and what is the annual average rent and rates, respectively, paid at the latest convenient date.

The estimated average total cost of typical four-apartment council houses for which tenders were approved in 1961 was £2,226. The average rent (before rebates) of all four-apartment permanent local authority houses in Scotland at 28th November, 1961, was £29 8s. 1d. per annum. Figures of rates payable by tenants of various sizes of council houses are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement before 29th January on his consultations with the educational interests concerned about the Annan Report on the teaching of Russian.

I cannot add at present to my previous replies to the hon. Member's Questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to prevent fishing for salmon by foreign drift netters in areas now prohibited to British fishermen.

I am not aware of any drift net fishing by foreigners in areas in the hon. Member's Question. The schemes outside the Crofter Counties Programme are as follows:prohibited to British fishermen but if it arises Her Majesty's Government will consider what action they can take.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what arrangements he proposes to make to assist developing countries in the promotion of scientific research, having regard particularly to the fact that monies available for this purpose under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act cannot be used for the benefit of independent countries.

I recognise the need, which has been emphasised to me by the Overseas Research Council, to sponsor research into the problems which impede the economic and social progress of developing countries, both independent and dependent, as part of our technical assistance effort. It has been the practice under successive Colonial Development and Welfare Acts for the Secretary of State for the Colonies to allocate a specific proportion of the funds available to the support of colonial research. This assurance of ear-marked funds has enabled the advice of British scientists to be brought to bear on the assessment of priorities and the review of results and many of them have acquired, over the years, valuable knowledge and experience of the research problems of overseas countries, particularly in the tropics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further consideration he has given since 1st May to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Hallmarking; and when he proposes to introduce legislation to implement these recommendations.

As I told the hon. Member last May, I accept that there should be new legislation, but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to introduce it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now authorise the construction of the advance factory at Stranraer to commence immediately; and when he expects the factory to be completed.

Yes. I propose to go ahead with the factory provisionally announced on 26th July. Provided no unexpected difficulties arise it should be completed by the end of next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what has been the area of factory space made available for new jobs in each of the regions since October, 1959;(2) how many new jobs have been created in each of the regions since October, 1959.

The area of industrial building approved and jobs estimated by the firms concerned to be likely to arise under industrial development certificates issue from 1st October, 1959, to the 30th September, 1962, are as follows. I have no information as to jobs that have arisen otherwise than in approved industrial building.

Standard region	Million sq. ft.	Estimated Additional Employment (thousands)
Northern	12·8	26·8
East and West Ridings	14·4	15·0
North Midland	14·9	22·8
Eastern	20·2	39·5
London and South Eastern	30·3	37·6
Southern	15·0	29·7
South Western	11·7	23·6
Wales	10·2	26·6
Midland	21·4	22·0
North Western	32·0	71·9
Scotland	17·0	44·2
Great Britain	199·9	359·7

asked the Minister of Transport when the hon. Member for Rye may expect a reply to his letter of 27th October, enclosing a letter from his constituent, Mr. W. P. W. Holland, of Cowbeech, near Hailsham, Sussex.

A reply to the hon. Member's letter of 27th November to my Parliamentary Secretary is being sent immediately.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the possibility of erecting Bailey bridges at certain junctions of the North Circular road with radial roads leading out of London, especially at Harrow Road, pending the construction of a flyover or underpass.

My Department is at present studying the general question of the design and use of temporary flyovers. A number of junctions on the North Circular Road, including that at Harrow Road, have been examined in detail, but have been found to be unsuitable for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that southbound traffic usually has difficulty in emerging from Great Cumberland Place, W.I, because of the almost constant stream of traffic travelling eastwards at that point, and that pedestrians have difficulty in knowing when to cross Great Cumberland Place; and what are the final plans for traffic control at this junction.

The difficulties of traffic and pedestrians here are at present aggravated by Christmas shopping. Traffic conditions in the Marble Arch area are under review with the L.C.C. in connection with the Park Lane improvement scheme, and the installation of traffic control signals is under consideration. Meanwhile, the police are giving what assistance they can to pedestrians and traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has now made towards a decision on the line of the proposed south coast trunk road west of Portsmouth.

My divisional road engineer is discussing with the local authorities in the area the alternative lines for this route. I expect to receive his report before long, but it is a very controversial problem.

asked the Minister of Transport whether tenders have yet been invited for the construction of M.1 from north of markfield, the Darlington bypass, the Penrith bypass, and the remainder of the Port Talbot bypass, respectively.

Tenders for the construction of the M.1 motorway north of Markfield have not been invited; tenders for the construction of the Trent Bridge structures in advance of the road-works will be invited very shortly, Tenders for Darlington bypass were invited on the 12th December and those for the remainder of the Port Talbot bypass on the 13th November. The line of the Penrith bypass has not yet been fixed.

asked the Minister of Transport how much money was spent by Her Majesty's Government on new road construction and major improvements in the county of Lancashire for the year 1961–62 ending 31st March; what proportion this represented of the national expenditure in the same category; and what are the estimated figures for the years 1962–63 and 1963–64.

It will take a day or two to produce the information that the hon. Member has asked for. I will send it to him as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport why he does not take advantage of British nuclear marine reactor systems already available in this country to expedite the building of the first British commercial nuclear ship.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to his Question on 20th December on the same subject.There is no reactor system at present available in this country which has any prospect of becoming economically attractive for marine propulsion. That is why research is being concentrated on two other systems, the integral boiling reactor and vulcain.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the design of a prototype nuclear-powered merchant ship will be affected by the choice of either the Vulcain or the integral boiling type of reactor, assuming equivalent shaft horsepower for each.

The design of the ship would not be significantly affected whichever was chosen.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the importance of nuclear propulsion to the future of British shipping and shipbuilding and of the transfer of Sir James Dunnett to the Ministry of Labour, he will ensure that the new chairman of the committee on marine nuclear propulsion is a man of equivalent marine experience and technical background.

The chairman of the Working Group on Marine Reactor Research is the Permanent Secretary to my Ministry, and Sir Thomas Padmore has succeeded Sir James Dunnett in this appointment. Most of the members of the Working Group are experts in their particular fields.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that twice in the past five weeks ships have been in distress off the Hartland Point area in severe gales, and that one ship went aground with danger to the lives of those on board; and if he will consult the interests concerned with a view to building a harbour in this area as a refuge for shipping and thus avoid the risks run by the lifeboatmen and coastguards.

I am aware of the incidents mentioned. As regards the second part of the Question, I will consider the matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will institute an inquiry into the conditions prevailing in the reception centres, hostels, and private hotels run by his Department temporarily to cater for new Service men and their families in this country before they are allocated Service housing accommodation.

Military families hostels in the United Kingdom are intended to provide temporary accommodation for families in transit from one quarter to another. I am at present reviewing the requirement for hostels in the United Kingdom. I am fully informed of all aspects of their administration, so that an inquiry would serve no useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries of the various regiments to find out how many Service men have been granted compassionate discharge because of the lack of suitable Service accommodation for their families in this country.

Such soldiers who wish to leave the Army because they have family commitments which they cannot reconcile with a Service life may be influenced by their failure to secure married quarters, but in my experience this is rarely their main reason.I am fully aware of the need for married accommodation, and additional quarters are being built as fast as possible. I do not believe, therefore, that it would be useful to make the inquiry suggested by the hon. Gentleman.