asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science as representing the Lord President of the Council, what reasons the Lord President has discovered in his examination of the problems of the North-East for the rise in unemployment figures over the last few years.

Unemployment in the North-East showed a downward trend from 1959 to mid-1961 but has been rising sharply since then. This is partly due to general slackness in the economy which has affected the demand for labour over the whole country. Special factors in the North-East have been reduced activity in the basic industries such as shipbuilding and ship-repairing, heavy engineering and iron and steel, the contraction of the coal-mining industry and a falling-off in construction work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what estimate the Lord President, in his study of the North-East, has made of the value of private investment in industry in the past 10 years in ensuring the area's future prosperity.

My noble Friend has made no specific estimate, nor is one practicable in those terms, but he does of course have very much in mind the importance to the region of adequate industrial investment both private and public—and in existing enterprises as well as in new ones.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps he proposes to take to improve co-ordination between the work of Government Departments in the North-East, in order to speed up the comprehensive development of the area.

My noble Friend is being assisted in his investigations by an interdepartmental team of officials to facilitate a co-ordinated approach by Departments to the region's problems.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he is aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction among the staff who will have to work at the proposed Road Research Laboratory at Crowthorne about the accommodation to be provided there, as regards the ceiling height of laboratories and corridors, the lack of covered ways between buildings, the insufficient size of office rooms, the absence of separate rooms for office work, the lack of any hall for meetings and conferences, the insufficiency of space for the indoor storage of experimental material, and the lack of accommodation for the computer or the Bridges Group; and whether, before work is begun on the proposed buildings, the Minister of Science will receive a deputation to consider improvement in accommodation.

I am aware that representatives of the staff of the Road Research Laboratory have expressed dissatisfaction at certain aspects of the accommodation to be provided at Crowthorne. The points mentioned by the hon. and learned Member were also included in a letter which requested my noble Friend to receive a deputation from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants. As he was advised that the normal processes of general discussion have not been completed and, particularly as the immediate responsibility rests with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research my noble Friend replied that the Institution should discuss the matter with the Secretary to the Council. He added that, if thereafter the Institution was still dissatisfied and felt that the matter was of sufficient consequence, he would then be prepared to receive a deputation. I understand that subsequently the Institution wrote to the Secretary to the Council, who has expressed his willingness to discuss these matters with the Institution but has pointed out that the Ministry of Public Building and Works have placed the contract for the buildings immediately in question and that only in exceptional circumstances would there be justification for amending at this advanced stage the specifications agreed by the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he has yet taken a decision on the future of the aviation factory premises at Christchurch; and if he will make a statement.

Negotiations are now proceeding for the sale of the western section of the Christchurch factory to an industrial concern.I am continuing my efforts to find suitable buyers for the rest of the factory.If no buyers appear within the next few months I am prepared to consider leasing the factory to the local authority for operation as a trading estate.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in how many cases has the presence of pneumoconiosis been established after death in insured persons who had, since 5th July, 1948, been examined by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel and found to be not suffering from the disease.

The information requested is only available in respect of deaths in 1962. In that year a total of 2,103 post-mortem examinations were carried out in which pneumoconiosis was mentioned as being present at death and in which it was ascertained that the deceased had been examined, in life, by the Pneumoconiosis or Silicosis Medical Boards since 5th July, 1948. In 34 of these, although pneumoconiosis had not been diagnosed by the Medical Board, post-mortem examination revealed it to have been a factor contributing to the death. In a further 58 the post-mortem examination revealed insignificant traces of pneumoconiosis which could have played no part in the death. On the other hand, there were 57 cases in which although pneumoconiosis had been diagnosed in life no traces of it were found at post-mortem examination.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the size of the establishment for nurses and for female domestic staff, and the numbers actually employed, for each of the past three years, at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and Llandough Hospital, respectively.

There are no recognised establishments. Staff in post were as follows:

(Whole-time Equivalents)
Cardiff Royal Infirmary	Nursing (including William Nichols Convalescent Home) In Post	Domestic In Post
30th September, 1960	320	80¾
30th September, 1961	334	96½
30th September, 1962	373	84¼

Llandough Hospital	Nursing In Post	Domestic In Post
30th September, 1960	239	68
30th September, 1961	236	60
30th September, 1962	234	70

asked the Minister of Health when he received a letter from the South-West Regional Hospital Board about the inadequacy of the money provided for capital expenditure; and what was his reply.

It is not the practice to disclose communications with individual hospital authorities on allocations.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of nursing staff on roll in each of the last three years at each of the following hospitals in the Dartford constituency: West Hill, Joyce Green, Bow Arrow,

Hospital			Nursing Staff at 30th September
			1960	1961	1962
West Hill (including midwifery staff).	Whole-time	…	199	198	208
	Part-time	…	68	62	79
Joyce Green	Whole-time	…	262	223	232
	Part-time	…	55	125	136
Bow Arrow	Whole-time	…	27	25	22
	Part-time	…	28	32	36
Bexley	Whole-time	…	430	443	459
	Part-time	…	35	46	45
Mabledon	Whole-time	…	26	27	30
	Part-time	…	7	7	10
Stone House	Whole-time	…	87	84	91
	Part-time	…	64	74	79
Darenth Park	Whole-time	…	206	198	203
	Part-time	…	53	76	86

asked the Minister of Health why no decision has been made upon the Leeds Regional Board's recommendation, which it has twice made, that a new general hospital should be built at Menstone in Wharfedale; and when a decision will be made.

A decision is not yet required for planning purposes. It will be wiser to take it when needs can be assessed more closely.

asked the Minister of Health what allocation for expenditure on minor works and maintenance, respectively, has been made for the coming financial year to the group management committee in respect of hospitals in Cardiff; and how this compares with the allocation for the previous financial year.

Separate allocations are not made for individual items of revenue expenditure. On capital works costing less than £1,000 the Welsh Hospital Board has so far approved expenditure of £1,000 for next year, compared with £1,195 this year.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health why the 4 per cent. award by the Industrial Court for administrative and clerical staffs of the Health Service which was made in December, 1962, has not yet been implemented; when it will be put into effect; if it will be retrospective to June, 1962, when deadlock was reached between the negotiating parties, or to the earlier date when the application was made; and why the award has not been implemented as rapidly by his Department as that of the nursing staffs who received their increased payments and back pay within one month of their award.

The award, retrospective to 1st July last, was adopted by the Whitley Council on 9th January; the Circular implementing it is about to issue; nursing staffs did not receive the increases or back pay within a month.

asked the Minister of Health on what date the Industrial Court awarded a 4 per cent. increase of salary to administrative and clerical staffs of the health service; on what date he accepted this award; on what date his circular authorising the increases was issued; on what date the increase will commence; and when the staff concerned will receive the actual payment.

18th December, 1962; accepted by the Whitley Council on 9th January, 25th February; as from 1st July, 1962; as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of severely physically deformed babies born in this country in 1962.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what were the numbers of cases of poliomyelitis and paralytic poliomyelitis, respectively, in 1962; and what were the states of their previous vaccination.

270, of which 211 were paralytic. This information is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 65,147 applications for employment vouchers he had received under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act up to 8th February. 1963, he expects to approve; based on past experience, how many successful applicants he expects to arrive in the next three months; and what considerations guide him in the issue of vouchers.

The issue of vouchers to persons who have made valid applications is controlled, and they numbered 30,053 up to 15th February. The main consideration governing the issue of vouchers to the remaining applicants will be that immigrants should not come here faster than they can be absorbed into our national life. Up to now the number of voucher holders arriving has averaged less than 1,000 a month.

asked the Minister of Labour what the unemployment figures at the Hinckley Employment Exchange were for November, 1962, December, 1962, and January, 1963, respectively; and what they are at present.

544 on 12th November, 1962, 538 on 10th December, 1962, 1,062 on 14th January, 1963, and 1,394 on 11th February, 1963.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is dissatisfaction concerning the inadequate arrangements made for dealing with those unemployed in Hinckley; and what steps he will take to overcome the difficulties.

Urgent steps have been taken to provide a more convenient service to those concerned and an examination is being made to see if anything further can be done.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the ratio of wholly unemployed boys of 18 years and under to the number of notified unfilled vacancies for boys in Glasgow and Birmingham, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

At mid-February for every 100 wholly unemployed boys under 18 there were 7 unfilled vacancies in Glasgow and 84 in Birmingham.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the ratio of wholly unemployed boys of 18 years and under to the number of notified unfilled vacancies for boys in Scotland and the Midlands, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

At mid-February for every 100 wholly unemployed boys under 18 there were 9 unfilled vacancies in Scotland and 80 in the Midlands.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the estimated loss of jobs in Scotland during 1962.

The only reliable and comprehensive figures are those derived from changes in the numbers employed and relate to the middle of the year. Between mid-1961 and mid-1962 falls of 12,300 in manufacturing industries and of 9,800 in agriculture, mining and quarrying were more than off-set by increases of 32,700 in other industries. In the second half of 1962 it is estimated that manufacturing industries in Scotland fell by a further 11,000; it is not possible to estimate changes in employment in other industries during this period, as these figures are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ration books he is having published; what is the cost of printing and storing these books; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for their preparation.

Ration documents will be printed in sufficient quantity to meet the needs of the country in a war emergency, and will be held by the Ministry as part of our defence planning for issue if and when it is considered necessary to introduce rationing. The estimated cost of these documents is £240,000.The reason for taking this step is that food defence plans cannot be operated without some form of rationing document to share out equitably the food available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider afresh the possibility of facilitating the retailing of milk, in other places than London, in bottles of less capacity than one pint, without the consequence of an extra financial burden upon retailers; and whether he is prepared to introduce the necessary legislation to this end.

I am now considering the Thorold Committee's recommendations that a higher price should be prescribed for milk in small containers, and hope to reach a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will state the number of deaths arising from poisoning by towns' gas, recorded in each of the years during the last 10 calender years, and the aggregation of such deaths; and what steps he is taking to diminish the number of deaths, and accidents generally, from this cause.

The Gas Council estimates that there were 9,116 accidental deaths from coal gas poisoning in Great Britain in the last 10 calender years. I circulate below the figures for each year.In reply to the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 31st January, 1963.

TABLE
Year		No. of accidental gas poisoning fatalities in Great Britain
1953	…	751
1954	…	774
1955	…	909
1956	…	811
1957	…	813
1958	…	903
1959	…	970
1960	…	989
1961	…	1,060
1962	…	(l,136)subject to verification
Total for 10 years	…	9,116

asked the Minister of Power what estimates he has made of the extent to which the construction of new power stations to deal with peak loads could be reduced if all domestic and industrial premises using electricity for heating purposes conformed to proper standards of thermal insulation and made greater use of heating appliances which consumed electricity during non-peak load hours; and whether he will formulate a plan to take account of such factors and take steps during the next 12 months towards its implementation.

It is impossible to estimate the effect on peak electricity demand of extending or raising the standards of thermal insulation. Standards in new houses are at present contained in the model by-laws, and will be made compulsory by building regulations, to be laid down by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government. Standards for roof insulation in new industrial buildings are prescribed by the Thermal Insulation (Industrial Buildings) Regulations, 1958, made under the 1957 Act. They are designed to secure worthwhile fuel savings at reasonable capital cost. Electric storage heating can help to move demand from peak times, and Electricity Boards are continuing their efforts to extend this form of heating.

asked the Minister of Power what steps are being taken to maintain and improve coal supplies during this winter; and whether he will make a statement.

After two months of very cold weather, stocks and supplies of coal for our industries, including power stations and gas works, are still being well maintained and the prospects are satisfactory. There are continuing difficulties over house coal in many parts of the country. In recent weeks, much more house coal has gone from pits to merchants and from merchants to consumers than is normal at this time of year. Merchants' stocks in many places have consequently been exhausted. The substantial pithead stocks of large coal with which the Coal Board started the winter are nearly depleted, and supplies now depend largely on current output. The Board is adopting special measures to maintatin the highest possible level of deliveries to merchants. With the agreement of the National Union of Mineworkers, it has arranged for Saturday working from 23rd February at selected pits producing a high proportion of large coal. The necessary Order in Council has been made under the Coalmines Act, 1908. Other measures include the extention of opencast working, the diversion of large coal from industry to the domestic market, and the supplementing of supplies of large coal with suitable smaller coal. The Coal Board and the distributive trade are working closely together on this problem. The distribution of coke is also difficult, particularly in Southern England, and additional supplies are being brought in from other areas. The merchants are doing all they can fairly to distribute the available coal and coke with regard particularly to the needs of old people and others with special claims.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will make a statement on defence policy further to that contained in the Statement of Defence, Command Paper No. 1936.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will issue a further White Paper giving the policy of Her Majesty's Government on defence in greater detail.

No.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will arrange for the information of hon. Members an exhibition of models and photographs to illustrate the present-day equipment of the Royal Navy.

Yes. I have arranged for an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall from 28th February to 8th March.

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of primary school classes over 40 in size, and the number of secondary school classes over 30, at the latest available date.

In January, 1962, there were 17,445 (13·9 per cent.) junior classes with more than 40 pupils and 47,328 (47·4 per cent.) senior classes with more than 30 pupils.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reconsider the 15 per cent. duty on blackcurrant juice, in view of the beneficial effect this product has on young children and the extra financial burden the duty places on the horticultural industry; and what were the reasons for imposing this duty.

The reasons why a wide range of soft drinks and fruit juice drinks—including those made from blackcurrant juice—were brought within the scope of the Purchase Tax in the last Budget were explained by my right hon. Friend's predecessor at the time.I have taken note of my hon. Friend's points, but he will not expect me to anticipate Budget decisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the carrying out of its functions outside London; and if he will make a statement.

It is the policy of the Government to disperse Government offices from London to the full extent possible without serious loss of efficiency or in the service given to this House and to the public. Some 20 per cent. of the headquarters staff of Government Departments already work out of London, and in all three-quarters of the Civil Service work in regional and local offices, the great majority of which are, of course, out of London. The Government have, however, asked Sir Gilbert Flemming, a former Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education, to undertake in co-operation with all the Departments concerned, a comprehensive review of the work of Departments located in London, and to make recommendations as to which of them might be transferred from London in whole or in part.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of Post Office telephonic equipment is manufactured in Scotland.

About 1 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated cost of telephone cables for the current financial years: and how much of this will be spent in Scotland.

£14½ million, of which £200,000 will be spent in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will put in hand a road improvement scheme for that stretch of the Carlisle-Stirling trunk road, immediately south of Airdrie Old Car Terminus, which is below standard; and if he will make a statement.

Within the burgh of Airdrie, A.73 is a classified road and thus the responsibility of the town council. I have received no proposal from the council for improving this part of it.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what requests his Department has received, since its inception, from Commonwealth Governments for practical training facilities for their students in this country; to what extent such requests are being met; and by what methods.

Requests from Commonwealth Governments for practical training in industry form only a small proportion of the total requests for training which reach my Department. Two important examples are 30 trainees from the Durgapur Steel Works in India and about 120 trainees studying nuclear energy who have been found places here since the inception of my Department. In the great majority of cases it is possible to meet Commonwealth requests, through the generous co-operation given by British industrial associations and individual firms. The methods by which the training is arranged include the placing facilities of the Ministry of Labour and the British Council as well as help from industry itself.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation why Her Majesty's Government contributed only £335,000 and 4 per cent. of the total budget to the United Nations Children's Fund in 1962, compared with an average contribution to world agencies of about 10 per cent.

Her Majesty's Government see no particular merit in comparing their contributions to the many international agencies with one another as a percentage of the total of contributions to each agency. The British contribution to the United Nations Children's Fund has been multiplied by more than six over the last 10 years and stands at a reasonable level.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service he has in his patronage; what is the nature of each appointment; and what salary is payable in each case.

I make the following appointments of this kind:

Monopolies Commission
	£
Chairman	4,700
Up to 9 members	1,000
Industrial Estates Management Corporations England
Chairman (full time)	4,850
4 Members	400
Scotland
Chairman	1,500
4 Members	400
Wales
Chairman	1,500
4 Members	400
National Research Development Corporation
Chairman	1,000
Managing Director	7,000
10 other members	500
National Film Finance Corporation
Managing Director	5,500
3 to 5 other members	500
British Film Fund Agency
Chairman	1,000
Up to 4 other members	500
Cinematograph Films Council
Chairman	600
Cotton Board
Chairman	2,000
Deputy Chairman	1,250

Only the salaries of the Chairman and Members of the Monopolies Commission and of the Chairman of the Cinematograph Films Council are paid by the Board of Trade: the other salaries are paid by the organisations concerned.In addition I appoint the Chairman and three members of the Merchandise Marks Standing Committee and up to four members of the Performing Right Tribunal who are paid fees related to their attendances: the Secretary to the Performing Right Tribunal is paid £1,317 per annum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the other foreign countries from which, according to the Trade and Navigation Returns, 131,926 cwt. of butter was imported in 1962, showing the quantities imported from each country.

United Kingdom imports of butter from

			Cwts.
South Africa	…	…	40,021
Hungary	…	…	33,035
France	…	…	28,949
Belgium	…	…	13,699
Roumania	…	…	7,517
Bulgaria	…	…	4,034
Luxembourg	…	…	3,540
West Germany	…	…	960
Chad	…	…	144
Spain	…	…	20
French Somaliland	…	…	7
			131,926

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the import of butter into the United Kingdom after the current import quotas expire on 31st March.

Imports of butter are at present subject to the quota restrictions which we introduced, as an exceptional measure, for a period of 12 months from 1st April, 1962. We have now concluded that, if import control were not continued, butter prices in our market could collapse and seriously damage our traditional suppliers. We have, therefore, decided to extend the control for a further period of 12 months to 31st March, 1964. Because of various changes in the situation, particularly a reduction in stocks in the United Kingdom, we shall provide for the import of 410,000 long tons, as compared with 390,000 long tons during the current period, and increase the country quotas pro rata, that is, by 5 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the proportion of home-grown timber to imported timber used in 1960, 1961 and 1962; and what was the relative value of the two.

Figures of timber usage are not available. The proportions of home grown output to imports of timber by quantity, with corresponding estimates by value were as follows:

Year			Percentages
			Quantity	Value
1960	…	…	15·0	10
1961	…	…	15·6	10
1962	…	…	16·3	11

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the importance to employment in Darlington of the proposed extension at Winnersh, near Wokingham, of the works of Easton and Sons, Joinery, Limited; and whether he will issue an industrial development certificate to this firm.

An industrial development certificate for Winnersh was issued to this company on 3rd January, 1963.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he had with Berkshire County Council before granting an industrial development certificate to Easton and Sons, Joinery, Limited for the extension of their works at Winnersh, near Wokingham.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of imports of manufactures from each of the six other members of the European Free Trade Association, and the value of exports of manufactures to them in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962.

The following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF MANUFACTURES*
(£'000)
—		1959	1960	1961	1962
From:
Sweden	…	41,735	56,306	62,781	68,830
Norway (including Spitzbe, gen)	…	29,400	40,791	40,244	35,059
Denmark (including Greenland)	…	7,454	10,593	11,539	13,354
Switzerland (including Liechtenstein)	…	38,273	43,437	45,800	49,942
Portugal (including Azores and Madeira)	…	6,442	7,909	8,433	8,229
Austria	…	7,647	9,200	11,792	12,046

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURES*
(£'000)
—		1959	1960	1961	1962
To:
Sweden	…	84,858	97,961	111,731	119,855
Norway (including Spitzbergen)	…	42,764	51,476	65,817	64,454
Denmark (including Greenland)	…	58,700	57,983	65,261	76,944
Switzerland (including Liechtenstein)	…	44,150	38,609	45,777	55,353
Portugal (including Azores and Madeira)	…	19,123	20,413	32,587	26,874
Austria	…	13,168	17,894	18,243	21,166
* Class "D" of the 1962 Trade and Navigation Accounts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to the Railways Board to retain wagon sheet production and repairs.

No. I am awaiting the proposals for the exercise of its powers to manufacture which the Railways Board is required, under Section 13 (4) of the Transport Act 1962, to submit to me for my approval. Repairs are a matter for the Railways Board and are not covered by Section 13 (4) of the Act.