asked the Minister of Power how the pit-head price of British coal compares, quality for quality, with the price of coal mined in Western Europe.

Information on which precise comparisons can be based is not available, but there is reason to believe that the general level of British pit-head prices is rather lower than in Western Europe.

asked the Minister of Power what proportion of coal output is now cut and loaded by machinery compared with the same time last year; and what progress the National Coal Board

asked the Minister of Power what type of appliances for use with smokeless fuel his scientific and economic advisers are recommending to householders included, or likely to be included, in designated smokeless zones in order of efficiency and economic use.

Details of solid fuel appliances are given in the list approved by the Domestic Solid Fuel Appliances Approved Council, on which my Department is represented. The list, which is published jointly by the Coal Utilisation Council and the Solid Smokeless Fuels

63 per cent. in December, 1962, compared with 54 per cent. in December, 1961. I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend about the Board's plans for the future.

asked the Minister of Power what types or brands of smokeless fuel are now being processed; and what increase of production there has been in each type or brand each year since the passing of the Clean Air Act, 1956.

The main varieties of solid smokeless fuel and the quantities supplied to the domestic market each year since 1956 are as follows:Federation, indicates the approximate order of efficiency of various types.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made in research to produce a smokeless fuel suitable for use in open fire-grates.

A considerable range of smokeless solid fuels suitable for open grates is already available, including gas cokes produced to British Standard Specification. The progress of research by the National Coal Board into new processes for smokeless fuels is described in paragraphs 91–93 of the Board's last Annual Report, and I gave further information in reply to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mr. Matthews) on 23rd January.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made in the National Coal Board's Birch Coppice smokeless fuel process.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mr. Matthews) on 23rd January.

asked the Minister of Power if his Department have considered the installation of portable iron lungs in the coal mines of Great Britain.

Yes, but I am advised that it would not add to the effectiveness of existing arrangements for giving artificial respiration in mines.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of Recommendation 3 of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Mines and Quarries in his report on the Hapton Valley Explosion, what general instructions have been issued to colliery managers to review current shot-firing practice both as to efficiency and safety; and what changes in shot-firing technique and safety regulations the Hapton Valley management have instituted since the disaster.

The Report on the Hapton Valley Colliery Explosion did not show any need to revise the statutory regulations which govern shot-firing. The National Coal Board is responsible for issuing instructions to colliery managers. I am informed that, while the Board has not issued general instructions, Production Directors of all divisions have undertaken to ensure that managers of collieries carry out the terms of Recommendation 3 of the Report. Her Majesty's Inspector in charge of the Division in which Hapton Valley is situated is satisfied that the management at the colliery has taken steps to eliminate irregularities in the use of explosives.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that they should make provision for the sale of coal from Coal Board stocks direct to the public while the present inclement weather lasts.

No. This is a matter for the Board, which thinks that arrangements of this kind would delay the movement of coal to consumers generally.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the increased output per manshift in the Scottish coal field, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to review pit categories in relation to closures.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the increase of almost 10 per cent. in output per manshift in the Scottish coal-mines during 1962, he will direct the National Coal Board to discontinue the selective coal price increases introduced in 1961.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the high rate of unemployment in Scotland and the need to take all reasonable steps to stimulate employment in coal-mining and coal-consuming industries generally, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to discontinue the selective coal price increase in Scotland imposed in December, 1961.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the improved financial out-turn of the Scottish Division of the National Coal Board in 1962, he will now give a general direction to the National Coal Board to discontinue the selective price increases imposed more than 12 months ago.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what was the number of miners who left the industry in 1962; and if he will make a statement on the prospects of the coal industry in 1963.

About 61,000. After allowing for recruitment there was a net reduction in the labour force of about 25,000. The Board expects the progress achieved in 1962 to continue in 1963. There should be a further improvement in productivity, and the Board is confident that it will achieve financial results in accordance with the objective my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 23rd July, 1962.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board not to proceed with the closure of collieries in areas where other collieries are to be re-opened until such re-opening makes alternative employment available for the miners affected.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will institute an official inquiry into the overall system of coal distribution, especially the problems of the recent cold spell, with a view to ascertaining whether the present system is adequate; whether legislation is required to give the Government more control; whether he will take steps to control retail coal prices so that individual coal merchants will not exploit customers during periods of great demand; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think these steps are necessary. Future arrangements for the supply of house coal are being discussed by the Coal Board, the trade and the railways, and I shall ask everyone who is concerned in these discussions to pay special attention to the experience of the last few weeks.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement about the research experiments involving the injection of coal into blast furnaces now being carried out by the National Coal Board.

Trials on a full-scale coal-injection unit at Stanton Ironworks were begun in August, 1962. I understand that it has already been proved that the technique can be used with British coals. It is necessary to continue the trials in order to obtain the best operating conditions for a variety of coals. These should be completed well before the end of 1963.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that 28 lb. packets of coal are being sold for 3s. 9d. compared with 2s. 6d. in other shops; and if he will introduce legislation to stop this overcharging.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to ensure that where, at the behest of the National Parks Committee, electricity supply lines are placed underground, the consequent additional burden of cost should not fall on the consumer.

No.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that the steel industry's total capacity for 1963 will be 30¼ million tons, and production is likely to be only 21 million tons, what action he proposes to take to help the industry, especially regarding the import of low-priced billets, which have risen from a monthly average of 1,200 tons in the first half of 1962, to 20,100 tons for October, and which come free of import duty, mostly from Commonwealth sources; and if he will make a statement.

The measures taken by Her Majesty's Government to assist the expansion of the economy are expected to increase the demand for steel. The British Iron and Steel Federation has had preliminary discussions with the Board of Trade about alleged dumped imports of billets, but no formal application for anti-dumping action has been made.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that he has loaned £70 million to Richard Thomas & Baldwins Ltd., whose profit before taxation for 1962 is £82,000 against £4 million for 1961 on a turnover of £87 million, whose total loans have increased from 81 million to £135 million and which has failed to pay any dividend, and in view of the statement by the chairman of the company that 1963 is expected to be the worst year in the company's history, what steps he now proposes to take to safeguard the investment of those sums in this industry and to safeguard employment; and if he will make a statement.

The company's prospects will be improved by the general growth of industrial activity which the Government is taking active steps to bring about. I am confident that the company will be able to meet its obligations to the Government and to maintain employment.

asked the Minister of Power what emergency measures are proposed to maintain an adequate supply of gas for essential purposes in South Wales; and whether he is aware of the industrial consequences in the area caused by the present fuel crisis.

I am very sorry that the Board had to suspend supplies to industry; pressures are now back to normal. The Wales Gas Board has arranged for emergency deliveries of butane to many of its works, and it is being helped by extra supplies of gas from steel industry coke ovens. Additional gas making plant will be working by next winter, and a further large plant will be commissioned during the following winter.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the inadequacy of power supplies during the current spell of wintry weather, if he will set up an independent commission of experts to investigate the causes and report on the expansion of capacity needed.

No.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will draw the attention of the Central Electricity Generating Board to the decision of the National Economic Development Council to set a target of a 4 per cent. per annum increase in national production, with a view to a revision of its estimate of likely demand for electricity in the coming years and agreement on the need for a new power station in County Durham.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he proposes to take to maintain an electricity supply adequate for an annual growth of 4 per cent. in the gross national product, in view of the fact that the National Economic Development Council have now agreed a target growth rate of this value.

asked the Minister of Power if he is satisfied that the current investment programmes of the electricity industry are adequate to meet the increasing demands which are likely over the next few years; and if he will make a statement.

The objective of growth which has been agreed by the National Economic Development Council will be one of the subjects I shall discuss with the Electricity Council and boards in the course of the 1963 Review of their capital development programmes. I would refer the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees to the answer I have given today to the right, hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), and to the hon. Members for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Pentland) and Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough).

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of the dismay caused by the failure of the electricity supply in many parts of Lancashire on Christmas Day; what steps he is taking under Section 60 (1) of the Electricity Act, 1947, to prevent such breakdowns in future; and if, in considering plans for major capital development in the electricity industry he will give priority to installing new plant in smokeless zones where householders are dependent on electricity for heating, cooking and lighting.

Section 60 of the 1947 Electricity Act, retained the 1937 Regulations which had been made under previous legislation and which governed the maintenance of supplies. I do not think it necessary to extend them. The Boards submit each year general programmes of capital development, which allow for expected increases in demand, including that which results from Smoke Control Orders. In recent years, these have been approved in full.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give general directions to the gas and electricity boards to ensure the build-up of adequate coal stocks during the summer to provide against the possibility of severe winters.

No. Coal stocks and supplies for gas works and power stations have been well maintained during the present severe weather.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the Central Electricity Generating Board to delay the proposed increased charges for electricity until January, 1965.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the percentage by which gas prices would be higher if sufficient margin of excess capacity had been provided to supply all needs during January, 1963.

This would be a very difficult estimate to make, but the annual review of capital investment which area gas boards are now preparing will certainly take account of experience during this winter.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will issue general directions to the chairman of the relevant nationalised industries to give consumers of gas and electricity an extended period of time to pay the unusually large bills incurred during the recent period of exceptionally cold weather.

No. This is a matter of day-to-day management on which a general direction would be inappropriate, but I am sure the boards will give sympathetic consideration to cases of exceptional hardship.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is yet ready to introduce legislation for the underground storage of gas.

My right hon. Friend is anxious to introduce legislation as early as possible, but I regret that I am not in a position to add to the answers which I gave to the hon. Member on 3rd December.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement about the position of supply and demand in electricity.

The highest demand met by the public electricity supply system during the prolonged cold spell this winter was 29,500 MW, 9 per cent. higher than last year. The highest potential demand on the Generating Board's system was estimated at about 32,000 MW. The gap between supply and demand was accentuated by the work-to-rule in the first three weeks of January. The difficulties at the end of last week were caused mainly by failures on the transmission system. The industry plans to speed up the installation of new plant, to strengthen the transmission and distribution networks, and to instal peak load gas turbine generators, which can be built more quickly than large generating stations.

asked the Minister of Power if he will issue general directions to the gas and electricity boards to stop all further publicity persuading the public to buy more electrical or gas appliances until such time as the Boards are confident that they can meet all the demands made on them during prolonged periods of cold weather.

No. Much of the advertising of appliances is done by private manufacturers and traders. I do not think the recent weather conditions are a reason for imposing any special restrictions on advertising by the gas and electricity supply industries.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement about the effect on steel-making capacity and employment in the industry of the disposal of a number of companies by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency to a consortium of privately-owned steel companies.

I have no reason to expect that the recent sale of three companies to Iron and Steel Investments Limited will affect the commercial basis on which the companies operate.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he proposes to take to maintain an adequate gas supply in the area of the South-Western Gas Board.

There will be new plant in operation by next winter and a further large plant by the following winter. These should give the board adequate capacity to meet all foreseeable demands for gas.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the lack of supplies of all forms of fuel and power to both industrial and domestic users caused by the recent severe wintry weather, if he will now set up a committee to examine the whole problem of a national fuel and power policy.

No.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the rapid deterioration of the employment situation in the mining areas, he will give a general direction for the future building of coal-fired electric generating stations in such areas.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to make coal available at an economic price for additional coal-fired power stations as recommended by the Mackenzie Committee.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he had with the Electricity Council about the substantial increase in tariffs proposed by the Yorkshire Electricity Board.

The Electricity Council kept me informed of what the Yorkshire Electricity Board proposed, but the decision was one for the Board itself to take.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is now taking to obviate voltage-shedding and power cuts at peak hours in cold weather.

The Central Electricity Generating Board is doing all it reasonably can to prevent load-shedding in the future. Its power station programme provides for increased generating capacity to meet a revised and faster rate of load growth, but because of the time it takes to build a power station the full benefit of this cannot accrue for several years. The Board meanwhile plans to instal a number of peak load gas turbine generators and hopes to commission the first in 1964. The Generating Board and area boards also plan to strengthen the transmission and distribution systems to reduce the likelihood of breakdowns.

asked the Minister of Power what are the latest reports he has received from studies made of the Lurgi project, and of the enrichment processes; and if he will make a statement.

I have been informed that the Joint Study Group of the National Coal Board and the Gas Council received by last October the design studies for a large-scale Lurgi plant which three contracting firms were commissioned to prepare, and that appraisal of the studies will take several months. In conjunction with that appraisal, the Group is considering alternative enrichment processes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to using his powers under the Consumer Protection Act, 1961, to deal with the possible health risk arising from the use of lacquer hair sprays in hairdressing establishments.

My right hon. Friend is informed that the Medical Research Council is conducting an investigation into the possible risk to health resulting from the use of these sprays in hairdressing establishments. The need for any action to protect the public will be considered further in the light of the Council's findings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing practice of vehicle owners in the London area failing to re-licence their road vehicles at the appropriate time and driving such vehicles on the road un-licensed and thereby being un-insured against third party risks; and whether he will instruct the Metropolitan Police to take action against those committing these offences.

My right hon. Friend has no evidence that this is in fact a growing practice, nor that it would normally have the effect of rendering a vehicle-owner un-insured against third party risks. The institution of proceedings in respect of an unlicensed vehicle is a matter for the local taxation authority, but so far as their other duties permit the police give every assistance to the local taxation authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, having regard to the recently published statistics regarding the increase in crime throughout the country, if he will consult the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and standing joint committees or watch committees, with a view to authorising the employment in a consultant capacity of high ranking police officers who, owing to their age, are now in enforced retirement.

I do not think that any general arrangement of calling back retired police officers in a consultative capacity would serve to reduce crime. There is already provision, in cases where it is considered necessary, for high-ranking officers to be retained for up to five years after reaching the normal compulsory retirement age.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures of immigration into this country for the period since the implementation of the 1962 Act, and figures for the corresponding period in 1961.

If, as I assume, my hon. Friend is thinking of immigration from Commonwealth countries, I would refer him to the answer my right hon. Friend gave on 24th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne). As my right hon. Friend then explained, the figures available for periods before and after 1st July, 1962, are not comparable, but it is estimated that in the second half of 1961 there was a net inward movement of nearly 84,000 immigrants from the Commonwealth countries listed in the latter part of that answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving, for the latest convenient stated date, the municipal and parliamentary electorates for the constituencies of West Ham, North, West Ham, South, East Ham, North, and East Ham, South, and that part of Barking west of Barking Creek and that part of Woolwich north of the River Thames as is proposed to form the new London Borough No. 17.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the municipal and parliamentary electorate for each of the boroughs in the proposed Greater London Council area, and the similar figures for the various groupings of these councils as proposed in the London Government Bill.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted for living on immoral earnings in the Metropolitan Police District since 1st July, 1962; how many of these were Commonwealth or Irish immigrants; and how many of these latter were not liable to be recommended for deportation because they had been resident in the United Kingdom for at least five years.

In the Metropolitan Police District between 1st July, 1962, and 19th January, 1963, 101 persons were convicted of living on immoral earnings. 44 came from Commonwealth countries and 12 from the Irish Republic. Of these 56, 44 were not liable under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act for deportation because they had been resident in the United Kingdom for at least five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the services rendered recently by helicopters to cattle and to people stranded owing to the severe weather, and to wrecks around the coast; and if he will consider establishing a permanent helicopter rescue service in which training could be given on how to effect rescues with these machines in varying circumstances and conditions of weather.

I am sure we are all grateful for what has been done by crews of helicopters, and indeed all members of the armed and civilian services, to relieve distress during the recent cold weather. While the experience of the recent severe weather is of course being reviewed my right hon. Friend thinks that the practice under which helicopters belonging to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force are made available to help civilians in emergencies is satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether up-to-date advice is given to, and consultation held with, local authorities, police and other services on the clearing of snow and ice and relief of dislocation and distress resulting there-from, and from ensuing flooding; what elected person or official has been designated in administrative counties or other areas to initiate and co-ordinate the work and request the aid of the Armed Forces and Civil Defence; whether he is satisfied with present arrangements; and whether he will make a statement.

Government Departments are in close and continuous touch with local authorities, and are always ready to give advice and assistance. It is for each authority to make its own arrangements for co-ordinating the efforts of the various services. The local authorities have liaison with units of the Armed Forces, and themselves directly control civil defence. Throughout the icy spell local authorities generally have done a good job in the face of quite exceptional difficulties. The arrangements to cope with severe conditions will, of course, be reviewed by the Government in the light of this winter's experience, to see whether further improvements are practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the Report of the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders on Preventive Detention; and if he will make a statement.

I have received this Report, and it is being published today. Copies will be available in the Vote Office. I am grateful to the Council for the careful consideration which they have given to this matter.The Council recommend that preventive detention should be abolished, but that, with a view to the continued protection of the public against the persistent criminal—a matter which the Council emphasise that they have kept in the forefront of their deliberations—the powers of the courts to deal with persistent offenders by long sentences of ordinary imprisonment should be strengthened. I shall give careful consideration to these recommendations. Legislation would be required to implement them.Meanwhile I accept the Advisory Council's interim recommendation that in future all preventive detainees should, subject to good conduct, be eligible for release after serving two-thirds of their sentence, and I propose to give effect to it by an amendment of the Prison Rules, a draft of which I am laying before Parliament today. It is proposed that these Rules, which are required to lie in draft for forty days, shall come into force on 20th March. Those prisoners who will have already served at least two-thirds of their sentence by that date will then become eligible, subject to good conduct, for immediate discharge.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his official conversations with the Vice-President of Tanganyika.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the Prime Minister of Uganda and the Vice-President of Tanganyika.

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer which was given this afternoon by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Denis Healey).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Jamaica and Trinidad.

With regard to my visit to Jamaica, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North Dorset (Sir Richard Glyn) on 23rd January. I was not able to include in my tour a visit to Trinidad.

asked the Minister of Education if he will review the size and character of the school building programme as soon as he has received the results of the recent survey of school buildings.

School building policy up to and including the 1964–65 programme is as set out in the 1958 White Paper. The results of the survey will be of great assistance to the Government in formulating their policy for the next succeeding years.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish the results of the recent survey of school buildings when the material has been assembled and analysed.

Yes, I hope to publish the results of the survey is a suitable form.

asked the Minister of Education what he estimates will be the total number of places in training colleges in 1963–64.

It is too early to make such an estimate, but I am sure that, with the completion of more expansion programme projects, the opening of temporary day training units and fresh efforts by the colleges to use their facilities more intensively, the total number of students in training in 1963–64 will be appreciably higher than this year's record figure of about 48,000.

asked the Minister of Education how many children of 11 years and over were attending all-age schools on the latest available date.

In January, 1962, the latest date for which figures are at present available, there were 74,438 pupils aged 11 and over in all-age schools compared with 97,924 in the previous year.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now approve the recommendation of the Secondary School Examination Council for an earlier date for the General Certificate of Education examination to meet the difficulties of parents who prefer earlier and off-peak holiday arrangements.

The Council's advice was given as a contribution to the general problem of the holiday season and did not contemplate separate action on examinations alone.

asked the Minister of Education which local education authorities do not have audiometers; and which neither have audiometers nor have reported special arrangements for referring schoolchildren to hospital audiometric services.

The counties of Flint-shire, Lincolnshire (Kesteven), Radnor and Rutland, and the county boroughs of Gloucester and Northampton. All except Radnor, which uses the audiometer at Llandrindod Wells School for the Deaf, have special arrangements with hospital audiology clinics. The Flintshire and Rutland education authorities are buying audiometers.

asked the Minister of Education how many unqualified teachers obtained qualified status in April, 1950, on the grounds of 20 years' teaching service; and how many unqualified teachers who were not recognised in 1950, because at that time they did not fulfil the 20 years' experience stipulation, are still serving as full time teachers.

This precise information is not available. On 31st March, 1950, however, 11,000 former uncertificated teachers who had been granted qualified teacher status on the strength of twenty years' service were employed full-time in maintained schools. The number of former uncertificated teachers without qualified teacher status employed full-time in maintained schools on 31st March, 1962, was 2,523.

asked the Minister of Education what is the programme of work being undertaken by his new Curriculum Study Group; when he expects them to report; whether such reports will be published; and in what form.

The current work of the Group includes the preparation of suggestions for teachers about their part in the new Certificate of Secondary Education examination, collaboration with the Nuffield Foundation in their projects for the improvement of science, mathematics and foreign language teaching, independent studies designed to complement the work of the Nuffield teams, and an inquiry into the present content of the curriculum. The Department's Annual Report will contain a general account of the Group's activities: the suggestions for teachers about the new Certificate of Secondary Education will be published in pamphlet form: the inquiry into the content of the curriculum is designed to extend the scope of the published Statistics of Education. The results of other studies will be published from time to time by a variety of means, or will inform the publications of other agencies concerned with the curriculum and examinations whose work the Group has assisted.

asked the Minister of Education what special projects are being undertaken by his Department's new Research and Intelligence Branch.

The branch does not itself engage in research. Its main functions are to foster developments in educational research generally and to use my research fund to commission and support research in the universities and elsewhere. It is concerned also with the dissemination of intelligence on educational matters and provides, for internal use, services of co-ordination for policy on certain subjects affecting the department as a whole.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the total number of children in maintained schools in this country on 1st April, 1962, or the nearest convenient date, showing separately those in county schools, Church of England schools, Roman Catholic schools and non-county schools not included in Church of England and Roman Catholic, and the percentage the numbers in each of these categories are of the total.

The following table shows the number of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in England and Wales, in January, 1962, by status and denomination of school:

asked the Minister of Education how many women teachers in recent years have left the profession after three, five and 10 years' work, respectively.

Exact information is not available in the form asked for. An estimate can, however, be made from the figures of wastage for 1960–61 given in Table 40 of Statistics of Education, 1961, Part I, that, of every 100 qualified women teachers aged 21 in service on a given date, about 32, 55 and 88 would have left service within 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education what is the average cost of education in the local rate; and what percentage of the total cost of education is borne by the local rate.

Since grants to local authorities from the Central Government under the present system are general, and not apportioned to specific services, it is not possible to say what proportion of educational expenditure falls on local rates.

asked the Minister of Education in what circumstances his Department makes a four-year grant in respect of a teachers' training course.

No four-year grants are paid directly by my Department for teacher training. Students taking a three-year degree course followed by training at a university department of education normally receive awards from their local education authority during the degree course and grants from my Department during the year of training. Four colleges in London which are grant-aided by my Department provide a combined degree and professional training course lasting four years; students attending these are assisted partly by the colleges and partly by their local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will consider means of assisting local authorities who have prematurely to replace temporary aluminium bungalows which have not lasted their expected life.

I do not think it can fairly be said that these temporary bungalows have not lasted their expected life. They were given a minimum life of ten years and none was supplied after 1949. Houses built to meet the needs of families rehoused from these bungalows attract the same subsidy as houses built for slum clearance and other priority needs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the cost of Treasury funds, under the terms of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, of firm orders already placed for new machinery.

Just over £4 million has now been paid out against claims for re-equipment grants. I have no record of the value of firm orders placed for new machinery but for which no claim has yet been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the cost to Treasury funds if all the applications for re-equipment grant go ahead, under the terms of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959.

If all applications were approved and carried out within the terms of the Act the figure would be about £29 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to restrict short-term borrowing by local authorities.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has stated the subject of local authority temporary borrowing is under study, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of Purchase Tax paid in the last financial year on motor cars.

Purchase Tax receipts in 1961–62 from motor cars were £159·9 million, inclusive of surcharge.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of Purchase Tax paid in the last financial year on motor bicycles, and other two-wheeler products.

Purchase Tax receipts in 1961–62 from motor cycles, mopeds, scooters, three-wheelers and pedal cycles were £8·1 million, inclusive of surcharge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make immediate inquiries into conditions of living on the island of St. Helena with a view to bringing them up to modern standards.