asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent it is the Government's policy to seek to relate the future flow of Commonwealth migration to the increases in the population of the United Kingdom forecast by the Registrar-General; and what consultations have been held with other Commonwealth Governments with the aim of a better distribution throughout the Commonwealth of British population of all ages and occupations.

No. Emigration from this country is a voluntary movement. It must be left to individuals to decide whether, in all the circumstances, they wish to move. Consultations with other Commonwealth Governments take place as the opportunity arises. Thus my right hon. Friend was glad to meet Mr. Downer, the Australian Minister for Immigration, when he visited this country last summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what specific proposals for schemes of emigration from the United Kingdom to other Commonwealth countries he has received from the Overseas Migration Board or elsewhere during the last year; and whether he will make a statement.

The Australian Government proposed a renewal of the Assisted Passage Agreement with this country, and this was signed in London on 28th May last. New agreements covering child migration schemes were negotiated with seven voluntary societies in this country and these came into force on 1st June. If my hon. Friend will study the terms of reference of the Oversea Migration Board, he will see that it is not the Board's task to propose emigration schemes.

asked the Minister of Education how much finance he has made available to encourage research in education through his Research and Intelligence Branch.

I have made available £20,000 in the financial year 1962–63 for the promotion of educational research, in addition to my annual grant of £7,000 to the National Foundation for Educational Research.

asked the Minister of Education what machinery he has for deciding the priority and value of potential educational research projects; and what advice he gets from those actively engaged in the field of educational research.

I am advised by H.M. Inspectors and by members of staff at the National Foundation for Educational Research and other institutions engaged in educational research. In deciding the priority of an individual project I take full account both of this advice and of its relevance to current educational problems.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the percentage of the national income which was spent on education for the years 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively; and what is the estimated figure for 1963.

The expenditure on education of public authorities in the United Kingdom as a percentage of the Gross National Product has been as follows:—

Financial Year				Percentage
1957–58	…	…	…	3·8
1958–59	…	…	…	4·0
1959–60	…	…	…	4·1
1960–61	…	…	…	4·2
1961–62		…	…	4·4

I estimate that the proportion in the current financial year will be 4·7 per cent., and in 1963–64 4·9 per cent.The figures in the Answer exclude expenditure on:—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take to assist the Rombalds Water Board, in view of the shortage of water in Baildon and other towns served by them, with regard to the River Wharfe extraction scheme and the proposed Raw Trunk main, respectively.

My right hon. Friend hopes to issue his decision on the board's proposals shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representation he has received from a conference convened by Eccles Town Council regarding a review of housing subsidies; and whether he will make a statement.

I have as yet had no representations from the latest conference of local authorities at Eccles.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now announce his policy for making more rented accommodation available at economic or realistic rents; and whether he will make a statement.

I hope that the Government scheme for advances to housing associations will lead the way in getting more houses built for letting at economic rents without subsidy. In the areas where there is an urgent need for more housing let at less than economic rents the local authorities have been told they can build as many houses as they can manage. Realistic rents for these houses means charging economic rents or as near as possible to those who can afford them, and applying the subsidy mainly to those who need most help.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses in Sunderland were improved with the assistance of the standard and discretionary grants up to the most recent date for which figures are available; and whether the figure for the last 12 months reveals improvement on the previous 12 months.

Grants for improvement of houses in Sunderland have been approved as follows:

—	Standard	Discretionary	Total
Total to 31st January, 1963	229	943	1,172
12 months to 31st January, 1962	49	122	171
12 months to 31st January, 1963	43	137	180

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Her Majesty's Government have entered into any international commitments which would prevent the import of Russian crude oil into the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is any provision in the loan agreement entered into with the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock Company which allows a variation in the terms of the agreement if his Department is of the opinion that any action taken by the company is not in accord with the public interest.

No. Nor would a provision on the lines suggested be appropriate in an agreement of this kind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to amend Section 25 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act in order to prevent the enforcement of minimum retail prices.

I have not yet completed my study of resale price maintenance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider granting the Russian Government an import quota for oil products calculated on the basis of a fixed proportion of ally future increase in the British market, provided that equivalent concessions are obtained to allow for the freer import of British goods into Russia.

No, I have nothing to add to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) and other hon. Members on 19th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the January trade figures should a further increase of £50 million deficit in the balance of overseas trade; what was the reason for this; what action he is taking to balance the overseas trading account; and whether he will make a statement.

I pay very close attention to the trade figures month by month and experience has taught me not to read too much into any one month's figures, whether favourable or unfavourable. Allowing for seasonal factors, the trade gap has continued to fall over the past few months. As to the last part of the Question, it continues to be the Government's policy to promote the increase in exports to all markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what official help he gave the recent delegation of businessmen to Moscow, led by Mr. Roy Thomson, in their efforts to improve trade between Great Britain and Russia; and what results he anticipates will follow the contacts made.

I understand that the programme afforded little opportunity for detailed business discussions. My Department, however, answered one inquiry, and the Commercial Department of the Embassy made themselves available for consultation throughout the visit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations he has had with the Canadian Government for the reduction of tariffs against British exports which amount to 40 per cent. in some cases; since over the last 12 years Canada has sold goods worth £1,700 million more to Great Britain than she has bought from Great Britain, what new steps he proposes to take to get British exports a larger share of the Canadian market; and if he will make a statement.

We are always in touch with the Canadian Government about problems affecting our trade. I am glad to learn that the Canadian Government have just announced the relaxation or removal of a number of tariff surcharges. This measure will benefit our trade and I hope that it will be followed soon by the removal of those which remain.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that Great Britain now buys less than 20 per cent. of Australian exports as compared with 40 per cent. a few years ago, and British exports to Australia have also declined, if he will consult the Australian Government on methods of restoring this trade; and if he will make a statement.

We are in constant touch with the Australian Government on trade matters and we expect to discuss with them in the course of this year the revision of the 1957 Trade Agreement, negotiations about which were due to take place in 1961 but were postponed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the three new industrial projects in the Gateshead group of employment exchange areas, on which construction will be started during 1963, are expected to be completed, occupied and in production.

This depends on the progress made by the private firms concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many civil engineering projects were submitted to him recently by the Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation; and whether he will list the industrial estates, with the amounts proposed for each project;(2) if he will give a list of the industrial estates in Scotland where the Scottish Controller has amended the proposals submitted for civil engineering projects by the Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation.(3) if he will state the amounts approved in principle for civil engineering projects proposed by the Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation; and why some projects will not receive any grant whilst others are to receive amounts inadequate to carry out the plans as orginally submitted.

It would be contrary to practice to give details of discussions that take place between the Board of Trade and their management corporations. The civil engineering work referred to was originally proposed by the Board of Trade, not as these questions imply, by the Industrial Estates Management Corporation for Scotland. The Board's aim is to carry out immediately all the site work that can usefully be done on Board of Trade estates in Scotland provided it can be completed within six months and will be of benefit within a reasonably short time. All the specific schemes in this category have already been approved; some other longer term schemes will be approved in due course.The expenditure so far approved under this programme amounts in total to about £300,000 and covers work on the following estates:—

Blantyre.	Port Glasgow.
Carntyne.	Queenslie.
Coatbridge.	Vale of Leven.
Donibristle.	Dundee.
Kilwinning.	Newhouse.
Larkhall.	Carfin.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimated revenue in a full year from, respectively, the 10 per cent., 15 per cent., and 25 per cent. rates of Purchase Tax and the total, based on the current level and pattern of consumption.

£170 million from the 10 per cent. rate, £50 million from the 15 per cent. rate and £315 million from the 25 per cent. rate; a total of £535 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the revenue to be derived in a full year from a 16⅔ per cent. or 2d. in the shilling comprehensive betting, gaming and gambling tax levied on pools, horse and greyhound racing, bets in shops, chemin-de-fer, fixed-odds betting, bingo and other such activities; and how such revenue would compare with the yield 1962–63 of £42½ million of betting duty, currently confined to football pools and greyhound racing only.

No. There are no sufficiently firm figures of the total turnover on all forms of gambling on which to base a reliable estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of Customs revenue lost because persons enjoying diplomatic immunity in Great Britain can import foreign-produced whisky and other spirits free of such duty; and whether, in view of the fact that if such persons were able to obtain Scotch whisky free of Excise Duty, any resulting loss in Excise Duty revenue would be offset by an approximately similar reduction in the loss of Customs revenue, he will re-examine this matter.

About £290,000 a year. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No." The immediate cost is not the main consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the intimation mentioned in paragraph 30 of Command Paper No. 1920, that over the next quinquennium there are no prospects of a more rapid expansion of university research, financed through general university income, than have existed previously, represents Government policy.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present Purchase Tax position of fur-trimmed garments sold with detachable fur collars.

A fur-trimmed coat is taxed at 10 per cent. of the wholesale value, if neither the size nor the value of the trimming exceed the statutory limits set out in Group 1 of the tax Schedule. If these limits are exceeded, the tax rate is 25 per cent., as for a fur coat. A coat with a detachable fur collar, sold as a single transaction, is taxed in the same way as a coat with an attached collar, provided that the collar is specially shaped for wear with the coat, and has provision for fastening to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Robbins Committee reviewing the pattern of full-time higher education in Great Britain will present its report.

I hope this summer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October 1951, it had declined to 18s. in June 1954, and to 15s. 11d. in June 1959; and what was the comparable figure for January 1963.

Yes, on the basis of changes in the Index of Retail Prices. The comparable figure for January 1963 is 13s. 11d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why £2,279,802 of Income Tax, £331,508 of Surtax and £124,930 of death duties were written off as irrecoverable; what steps he is taking to prevent this form of tax evasion; and if he will make a statement.

These amounts were remitted or written off as irrecoverable for the reasons given in paragraph 22 of the 105th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 1906). I am sure that I do not need to assure the House that the Inland Revenue do all they can to keep this or any loss of tax to a minimum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the simplification of the taxation system in order to reduce the £55½ million which it costs annually to collect the Inland Revenue duties; and if he will make a statement.

The trouble is that many proposals for simplification of the tax system would involve unfairnesses. But we are just as anxious as my hon. Friend to find fair and effective methods of reducing its cost and complexity and would be happy to consider any suggestions he may care to put forward. My hon. Friend may however be interested to know that the total cost of collection is 1·37 per cent. of the tax collected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a minority interest in a syndicate owning the betting shops which started operating 18 months ago has just been sold for £260,000; what steps he is taking to tax this kind of business; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the report of a recent offer of shares in a betting shop business. The profits of running a betting shop are chargeable to Income Tax and Profits Tax in the same way as the profits of any other business. I cannot make any statement at present as to the possibilities of further betting taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that to aid the World Refugee organisation a number of international stars have, without payment, made a recording entitled "All Star Festival" and that the dealers and record companies have agreed to forgo their profits on this record; and whether he will therefore forgo the 3s. 3d. tax on this record.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will in the exercise of his discretion grant political asylum to Chief Enahoro of Nigeria.

My right hon. hon. Friend is considering this case in the light of the various representations which have been made to him and of all revelant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received a request for political asylum in the United Kingdom from Chief Anthony Enahoro of Nigeria; and when he expect to reach a decision on the matter.

On 15th February, 1963; shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he

Offences		Recommendations received	Orders made	Successful Appeals	Decisions not to deport	Not yet decided
A. Against the person
Assaults	…	23	7	1	9	6
Buggery	…	1	1	—	—	—
Cruelty to children	…	1	—	—	1	—
Murder	…	1	—	—	—.	1
Offences against females	…	6	1	1	2	2
Violence against the person	…	36	5	6	12	13
Sub-totals	…	68	14	8	24	22
B. Against property
Breaking and entering	…	112	38	4	28	42
Frauds, false pretences, forgery	…	19	6	2	1	10
Larceny, aggravated	…	10	—	—	—	10
Larceny, simple	…	91	37	13	32	9
Larceny, other	…	69	30	5	17	17
Malicious damage	…	4	1	1	2	—
Receiving	…	8	1	2	5	—
Taking motor vehicle, etc.	…	12	2	2	3	5
Sub-totals	…	325	115	29	88	93
C. Others
Brothel-keeping or managing	…	1	1	—	—	—
Commonwealth Immigrants Act offences	…	2	1	—	—	1
Gross indecency with children	…	2	—	—	1	1
Immoral earnings	…	12	5	—	1	6
Indecent exposure or importuning	…	6	2	—	3	1
Loitering with intent	…	34	16	3	8	7
Merchant Shipping Act offences	…	11	—	—	11	—
Possessing dangerous drugs	…	17	6	3	4	4
Possessing offensive weapon	…	17	9	1	4	3
Prostitution and soliciting	…	3	2	—	1	—
Vagrancy Act offences	…	9	2	1	6	—
Miscellaneous	…	9	2	—	3	4
Sub-totals	…	123	46	8	42	27
TOTALS	…	516	175	45	154	142

The following table shows, for the period up to 15th February, 1963, the numbers of recommendations received and orders made, classified according to the principal offence of which the person recommended for deportation was convicted. In considering a recommendation my right hon. Friend, of course, takes into account any other offences or previous convictions.Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received the expected comments of local authorities on the report of the Royal Commission on the Police; and whether he will now announce his conclusions on any more of the Report's main recommendations, particularly concerning parliamentary discussion of provincial police force matters.

My right hon. Friend has received the comments of the local authority associations and he has had a preliminary discussion with them of some of the main recommendations. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary. My right hon. Friend will keep the House informed of any action taken on the Report; but on some matters, including the question mentioned particularly by the hon. Member, my right hon. Friend would like, before taking final decisions, to hear the views of hon. Members as soon as time can be found for a debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement about the proposed increase in the number of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary for England and Wales.

Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment as Inspectors of Constabulary of Mr. B. N. Bebbington, O.B.E., Chief Constable of Cambridge, Mr. A. U. R. Scroggie, O.B.E., Chief Constable of Northumberland, and Mr. J. T. Manuel, Commander, Metropolitan Police.Mr. Bebbington and Mr. Scroggie will take up their duties shortly. Mr. Manuel will do so on 1st October next, when Mr. S. Lawrence, C.B.E., one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, will be seconded for duty as Commandant of the Police College in succession to Major-General R. W. Jelf, C.B.E. Major-General Jelf is being appointed, with effect from the same date, as Regional Director of Civil Defence, Southern Region, in place of Rear-Admiral Adams, C.B., O.B.E., who is retiring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of women medical officers in the Colony of Hong Kong come under the provisions of the regulations for equal pay with male medical officers.

Of 83 women medical and health officers employed in the Government of Hong Kong 29 are serving on the pensionable establishment or on agreement and therefore come under equal pay arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what settlement has now been agreed for designated and non-designated staff wishing to return to the United Kingdom from Kenya.

Limited Schemes of retirement benefits for designated officers, and for non-designated officers serving on overseas leave terms, are in operation and copies of both schemes have been placed in the Library. On return to Britain, designated officers will be able to register with the Overseas Services Resettlement Bureau. Special arrangements will be made to help any non-designated officers on overseas leave terms who come here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the Africanisation of administrative and other jobs, including jobs in East African railways and shipping, in Kenya.

There are about 10,000 posts in the public service in Kenya in grades above the clerical level. There were 637 Africans in these posts in July, 1960. By last month the figure had increased to 1,564. In addition, 22 assistant secretary posts were filled by Africans, of whom 4 have since been promoted to senior assistant secretaries. Six appointments to under-secretary are being made shortly. African officers are in charge of above one-third of the districts, as district or senior district commissioners. Fifteen district officers are at present attending Devonshire Courses "B" in the United Kingdom and more district commissioner appointments are expected to be made after they return to Kenya in July. By April, 1963, the total number of African junior administrative officers (district officers and district assistants) will be 220 out of an establishment of 400.Posts localised by the East Africa Railways and Harbours Administration numbered 1,820 on the 31st December, 1962. This number is expected to increase by a further 899 during 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement on the present state of security in Singapore.

The recent security operation has been received calmly in Singapore and the situation is quiet.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what help is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Uganda to replace the expatriate civil servants who are retiring under the independence arrangements.

At the request of the Uganda Government, my Department is continuing to recruit candidates from this country under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme. In addition my Department will this year be paying for the training in this country of about 120 Ugandans, many of whom will on their return occupy posts formerly held by expatriate officers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the failure of the Brussels negotiations will have on any further attempts by this country to export beef and lamb to the Continent of Europe; and what plans he has to encourage this trade.

The Six have, as yet, no common policy for these commodities and the export situation remains unchanged. Exports are essentially a matter for the trade itself, but as the trade knows the services of this Ministry and the Board of Trade are fully available to exporters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the River Ffraw improvement scheme, presented by the Gwynedd River Board, has been rejected by his Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the River Dwyryd improvement scheme, presented by the Gwynedd River Board, has been rejected by his Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Pwllheli sewerage syphon improvement scheme, presented by the Gwynedd River Board, has been rejected by his Department.

We examined these three schemes in detail and concluded that, as submitted by the Gwynedd River Board, their cost would not be justified by the benefits to be obtained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the effect on barley and feed prices in this county consequent to Great Britain's exclusion from the European Common Market.

It is not possible to make an accurate forecast of the possible effects, if any, of recent development on future market prices of barley and cereal feedingstuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many cases grants have been approved for the amalgamation of agricultural holdings in England and Wales; and what is the total acreage covered.

At 15th February, 1963, 43 schemes had been formally approved in England and Wales for grant towards certain costs involved in the amalgamation of agricultural holdings. The total acreage covered by these amalgamations is 10,272. A further 31 schemes of amalgamation are under consideration covering 3,544 acres.

asked the First Secretary of State if he will give details of the plans for setting up a new agricultural college and new agricultural institutes in Northern Rhodesia; and what help is being proposed from Her Majesty's Government.

Northern Rhodesia is planning to build a Natural Resources Development College, at a cost of about £500,000, to train staff to diploma standard in agriculture and allied subjects.Plans have been completed for the reconstruction of the Monze Agricultural Training Centre in the Southern Province, which provides initial training for Government agricultural extension staff at sub-diploma level; and for the establishment of Farm Institutes to give training to farmers. Four will be completed by the end of 1963 and a further four to six, subject to availability of funds, by June, 1965.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the sum of £45,863,000, representing the increase of the 1963–64 net estimate for Vote 14 (Class VI) over the original net estimate for 1962–63, is accounted for by salary and wage increases agreed or applied since the beginning of the current financial year; what proportion is accounted for by price increases; and what proportion represents increased capital expenditure.

About 36½ per cent., 18½ per cent. and 27 per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage the expenditure on drugs represented of the total cost of the National Health Service in each of the last five years.

In England and Wales, about 12 per cent. in each of the financial years 1957–58 to 1961–62.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed in the Northern Region at the February 1963 count; and what percentage increase this represents compared with the February 1962 figure.

92,298 on 11th February, 1963, compared with 46,326 on 12th February, 1962, an increase of 99·2 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Commonwealth trainees are at present receiving instruction in Government training centres; and what plans his Department has for increasing the available places.

Five—sponsored under Technical Assistance schemes; very few applications for training in Government training centres are made for Commonwealth citizens under these schemes. My Department is considering the position in consultation with the Department of Technical Co-operation.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average length of time a person is on a waiting list for a telephone in the Cleveland parliamentary division.

The composition of the waiting list of applications held up because of shortage of plant is not constant, and I am sorry that I cannot give a reliable average waiting time. At present, however, 6 per cent. of the applications on the waiting list in the Cleveland division have been held up for more than twelve months. When plant is available service is usually given in about four weeks from the date of application.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people are on the waiting list for telephones in the Cleveland parliamentary division.

Forty-eight people are on the waiting list. There are also 95 applications under inquiry or in course of being met.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the explanation for the rich sprat harvest that is now being caught off the north-east coast of Aberdeenshire; and whether this can be expected to recur each year.

These relatively large catches of sprats can be attributed partly to the effect of a good year class on the stocks and partly to the fact that changes in environmental conditions have caused unusually heavy shoaling in inshore waters. I cannot say whether these phenomena will recur in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make any forecast about the possible success or failure of herring fishing off the Buchan, Aberdeenshire, coast next summer.

The annual forecast will be published in April. I am advised, however, that the Buchan fishery this coming summer should be up to the aver- age of the last ten years and better than the very poor fishing of 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland where the main spawning grounds are for the herring which can be expected to come to the fishing grounds off the coast of Aberdeenshire in the summer; and what proportion of these grounds lies within a 12 mile fishing limit.

The spawning grounds in question range over a wide area from the Shetlands through the North Sea to the Channel. The major grounds are off Clyth Ness and on the Turbot, Aberdeen and Dogger Banks. Only the Clyth Ness grounds would be within a 12 mile limit.