asked the Minister of Aviation under what arrangements Government financial assistance is to be provided for Short Brothers and Harland.

The Government have decided, in conjunction with the Government of Northern Ireland, to provide Short Bros. and Harland with the financial help which they need while they are completing orders for Belfast aircraft and Seacat missiles. The total aid may be as much as 10 million, of which up to £7½ million would be provided by the United Kingdom Government and up to £2½ million by the Government of Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Defence how many retired officers of the three Armed Services, including the Indian Armed Services, received no terminal grants because they retired before 1st September, 1950; and how many of them have commuted part of their retired pay.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt), on Wednesday.

asked the Minister of Defence how many professionally qualified individuals are at present employed in defence research work in the United Kingdom or on behalf of his Department abroad.

There are rather more than 10,000 professionally qualified scientists and technologists at present in Government and private employment in defence research and development work, nearly all of them in the United Kingdom. Figures for other professionally qualified individuals are not readily available, but the numbers are comparatively small.

asked the Minister of Education how many of present first-year students in each subject for the Diploma in Technology qualified for entry by the General Certificate ofThe details are given in the following table:

Of the 2,697 first-year students, 2,097 qualified by the General Certificate of Education, 538 by the Ordinary National Certificate and the remaining 62 students had other equivalent qualifications.

asked the Minister of Education how many students in each of the subjects for the Diploma in Technology in each year are works based

The National Council for Technological Awards has given me the following information:

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of students in each of the years on the courses for the Diploma in Technology, distinguish-

The National Council for Technological Awards has given me the following information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will so amend his regulations as to enable new purpose-built surgeries, erected under the medical profession Group Practice Loans Scheme, to be brought into line with new factory buildings or farm buildings, and so qualify for similar Income Tax reliefs for the whole cost of the works.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state separately the revenue accruing in 1961–62 from prescription charges, charges for dentures, for spectacles, for other appliances, and for dental treatment; and what are the corresponding estimates for the current financial year.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Health (1) when he intends to extend the provisions of the medical Group Practice Loans Scheme to two-handed partnerships, so as to improve the services afforded in general practice.(2) When he intends to extend the provisions of the medical Group Practice Loans Scheme to assist single-handed partnerships, so as to improve the services afforded in general practice.

The scope of the present scheme is agreed with the profession. No proposals for its amendment are before me.

asked the Minister of Health what provision he makes under the National Health Service for patients who are both deaf and mentally afflicted; and if such facilities are available for adults and children of both sexes separately.

The normal facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of deafness are available to such patients. In addition there is a special unit for the assessment of deaf mentally disordered children of both sexes.

asked the Minister of Health how many practising midwives were employed by the Manchester Regional Board at 1st January, 1963; what is the estimated optimum requirement; and what additional number will be required in the event of shorter hours and longer holidays being authorised.

The latest available figures are 543 whole-time and 174 part-time at 30th September, 1962; there is no general approved standard; this would depend on the amount of any reductions.

asked the Minister of Health how many mothers were discharged from Manchester maternity hospitals during 1962, within five days and within eight days of childbirth, respectively.

2,198 and 4,464.

asked the Minister of Health what is the maximum number of flats which will be available for married doctors at any one time in the two blocks adjacent to the 51 single flats in the rebuilt St. Thomas's hospital.

It is not yet possible to say.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that, for rating purposes, new purpose-built surgeries erected by doctors under the Group Practice Loans Scheme are regarded as commercial buildings and rated at commercial rates; and if he will arrange for a special reassessment of such medical premises to bring them within lower average domestic rates.

I have no power to arrange for other types of property to be valued on the same basis as dwelling-houses in the current valuation lists. In the new lists which come into force next April all property has been valued on the common basis of current rental values.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to improve the parcel sorting section of the post office at Yardley, Birmingham.

I understand that the existing accommodation is adequate for the present needs of both the letter and parcel services. In considering future developments, we shall need to have regard to the effect of current plans for changing the lay-out of the roads in the neighbourhood.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what are the sources of advice available to him in selecting staff for the senior professional posts in the new organisation in his Department and, in view of concern among the professional staff of the three Service Departments as to their chances of being selected, if he will set up a selection committee including the directors general of works of the four existing directorates, to choose staff for posts above the superintending grade;(2) what action is being taken to ensure that, in the process of merging the three Services works organisation with that of his Department, the benefit of experience acquired in any of them is not lost, and that the best techniques and methods evolved in each organisation will be applied to them all; what consultations have been held with the professional heads of the four organisations; whether there have been joint consultations; and whether they have included the professional head of the War Office organisation which was formed within the last five years following the report of the Weeks Committee.

I have no fixed source of advice, but I can say that I consult as widely as I think fit. I do not propose to set up special machinery of the nature suggested, but I will certainly expect to have the assistance in these matters of the senior officers who will be coming from the Service Ministries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state separately the revenue accruing in 1961–62 from prescription charges, charges for dentures, for spectacles, for other appliances, and for dental treatment; and what are the corresponding estimates for the current financial year.

The information is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will reduce to nil the 20 per cent. tariff on fans and hand screens, non-mechanical, of any material, frames and handles therefor, and parts of such frames and handles of any material;(2) if he will reduce to nil the 30 per cent. tariff on granite flagstones;(3) if he will reduce to nil the 25 per cent. tariff on wash stand utensils and chamber pots;(4) if he will reduce to nil the 25 per cent. tariff on sinks, wash basins, bidets, water closets, urinals and like sanitary fittings;(5) if he will reduce to nil the 10 per cent. tariff on broken glass, cullet;(6) if he will reduce to nil the 33⅓ per cent. tariff on laboratory glassware and glass ampoules;(7) if he will reduce to nil the 15 per cent. tariff on glass eyes for toys;(8) if he will reduce to nil the 15 per cent. tariff on gramophone records;(9) if he will reduce to nil the 25 per cent. tariff on harmoniums;(10) if he will reduce to nil the 20 per cent. tariff on harps;(11) if he will reduce to nil the 33½ per cent. tariff on piano strings;(12) if he will reduce to nil the 40 per cent. tariff on film-viewing magnifiers;(13) if he will reduce to nil the 42½ per cent. tariff on image projectors;(14) if he will reduce to nil the 18 per cent. tariff on balloons and airships.(15) if he will reduce to nil the 16 per cent. tariff on steam railway locomotives and tenders;(16) if he will reduce to nil the 24 per cent. tariff on car radios;(17) if he will reduce to nil the 17½ per cent. tariff on hair driers;(18) if he will reduce to nil the 15 per cent. tariff on vacuum cleaners;(19) if he will reduce to nil the 14 per cent. tariff on letter opening machines;(20) if he will reduce to nil the 10 per cent. tariff on cash registers;

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange for specimens of defective parts found in vehicles submitted for tests to be shown to honourable Members of this House.

Yes. With the agreement of the House Authorities, I have arranged for a small exhibition of defective vehicle parts to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall from 11th to 15th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the shortage of land for housing in the county of Surrey, he will release a major portion of the 20,000 acres held by the War Department freehold or on lease, or for which the Department has training licences; and whether he will consider transferring the training activities of the Army to the Yorkshire moors or to other areas of the country where land is not in such short supply as it is in Surrey.

I regret this is impossible. Most of the 17,000 acres owned, leased or licensed by my Department in Surrey are near the military centres of Aldershot and Camberley, where land is needed for essential training. I cannot move these training activities to another part of the country.I doubt whether under the policies now regulating the use of land much of the land used for training in Surrey could in any event be given over to housing development.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why he has raised the rent of the naval married quarters of Steward Eric Mason, R.N., at 24 Bell Davies Road, Littlehampton, Sussex, from 30s. to £4 14s. 6d.; under what regulation he has done so; and whether any other married quarters at Littlehampton have been similarly treated.

There has been no general imposition of higher rents for married quarters in Littlehampton. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware. Steward Mason's entitlement to occupy 24, Bell Davies Road, Littlehampton, Sussex, expired on 7th January, 1963, after two extensions of one month each had been granted. The normal married quarters regulations, which are promulgated in Admiralty Fleet Orders and are well known to all occupants of married quarters, lay clown that those who retain quarters when no longer entitled to them are liable to a claim for damage amounting to the full economic rent of the quarter—in this case £4 14s. 6d.—instead of the standard married quarters' charge. Steward Mason has not yet been charged the economic rent for his married quarter, though he has acknowledged his liability for this from the 7th January.Steward Mason has now been granted a further extension until the 7th March, 1963, and the question of the economic charge will not arise if his family leave the quarter before then.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the amount allowed to Baileys, Malta Limited for their overhead expenditure in respect of repair work carried out for the Admiralty in the year 1962; and to what extent any allowance for the Company's overhead expenditure is made payable for the period during which no ships, vessels or small craft are sent in by the Admiralty for repair in the Malta dockyard.

It is not customary to give details of contractual settlements with firms. Overheads are paid proportionately to the permissible direct labour costs involved.