asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received an account of the investigations by the Medical Research Council into the health of the Tristan islanders.

No. I understand that investigations are still continuing, and my right hon. Friend's medical advisers are, of course, being kept closely informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the arrangements made locally and elsewhere for surgical attention, including amputations, required by persons injured in the recent bus accident in St. Helena.

The senior medical officer, later assisted by a doctor with surgical experience from the United Kingdom, was able to provide all the surgical attention required in the island's modern hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will request the Governor of Aden to give an assurance to the Aden Trades Union Congress that under the terms of the Registration of Societies Bill, he will be ready to approve its exemption from registration under Clause 6, subsections (1) and (3), and will not regard it as prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare or good order in the Colony, in the terms of subsection (6) of Clause 6 of the Bill;(2) if he is aware of the limitations upon the freedom of political and trade union associations which are proposed in the Aden Government's Bill for the Registration of Societies; and if, in order to ensure that freedom should be extended, rather than curtailed, in British Colonial Territories, he will take steps to secure the removal of these limitations.

It is for the Aden Council of Ministers, with whom the primary responsibility now rests, to decide whether and in what form this Bill is to be introduced into the Aden Legislature. I cannot answer a hypothetical question about the action which my right hon. Friend might be willing to take if it becomes law, but I can give an assurance that the views already expressed in this House have been brought to the attention of Aden Ministers by the High Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about Brunei as a result of the further representations made to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the Indonesian Foreign Secretary.

I understand from my right hon. Friend that no such representations have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that for the period January-October, 1961, United Kingdom statistics show the United Kingdom to have an adverse trade balance with Hong Kong of £3·8 million, whereas the Hong Kong statistics show the United Kingdom to have a favourable balance of £7·3 million, and that similar figures for January-October 1962 are given as £7·6 million in favour of the United Kingdom by United Kingdom statistics and £0·3 million by Hong Kong statistics; how much of these discrepancies is accounted for by the fact that in both cases the valuation of imports includes insurance and freight, whereas the valuation of exports covers costs only to the point of shipment; and what other factors make for these discrepancies.

I cannot accept the figures quoted in the Question. In any case no useful comparisons of trade balances can be made for such short periods as ten months. I understand that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is writing to the hon. Member explaining the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total amount of crude oil and petroleum products imported into Colonial and Dependent Territories from the Soviet bloc in the last three years.

Imports into the territories of crude oil and petroleum products were valued at £7,000 in 1959, £5,000 in 1960 and £7,000 in 1961. Figures for 1962 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has studied the possibilities for increased trade and prosperity which would result from the building of an airport in the Seychelles; and what conclusions he has reached.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Oral Reply I gave him earlier today about the cost of building and maintaining an airport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the projects, costing over £76,000, to improve the conditions of people on St. Helena.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward).

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what savings the best way to meet this hardship. Department of responsibility for building for the Services.

I expect savings to result from the integration of four existing separate Works organisations into one. It is, however, too early to make an estimate.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will give consideration to carpeting the steps leading into the Members' Lobby from the cloakroom, in view of their slippery nature.

This suggestion has been investigated with the Authorities of the House, but it is not considered that carpeting is called for.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the total profit or loss on the telephone service during the last period for which figures are available.

The profit on the telephone service in 1961–62 was approximately £14 million.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that some of the hardship endured by elderly people during the recent weather conditions would have been mitigated if they had had telephones; and if he is prepared to make concessionary charges to help them in this respect.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has completed his review regarding the reduction of telephone rentals for elderly people who are housebound and who have limited means; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is sympathetic to elderly people of limited means who are housebound and live alone. After full consideration, however, he has reluctantly concluded that social assistance by means of concessionary charges by the Post Office would not be are expected from the transfer to his

asked the Postmaster-General how many people have been found to be using broadcast receiving sets for sound and for television without licences during the year 1962, or the year to the latest available date.

Our records do not show the precise information asked for by my hon. Friend, but more than 50,000 sound licences and 130,000 combined television and sound licences were taken out as a direct result of licence enquiries carried out during 1961. I will give my hon Friend the figures for 1962 when they are ready.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) in which areas experiments in pay television will be carried out in accordance with paragraph 46 of the White Paper (Command 1893);(2) whether wire networks will be established for pay television experiments by the Post Office or by private enterprise;(3) what cost will fall on his Department in connection with the pay television experiments.

The areas will be decided after I have received and considered applications from organisations interested in taking part. It is not my present intention that wire networks should be established by the Post Office for the purpose of an experiment. The cost to my Department will be the costs of administration. I cannot yet assess these, but they will be reflected in the licence fees chargeable to the operators.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) for what purpose it is intended to impose controlling conditions on pay television experiments; what form such conditions will take; and how he intends to select the commercial companies to whom the conduct of pay television experiments will be allocated;(2) what conditions he proposes to impose on pay television experiments to safeguard the interests of other entertainment proprietors in the selected areas;

Television services in this country are under the control of public organisations. I do not think it would be appropriate to set up any permanent organisation for an experiment and the necessary supervision will be effected through conditions in the licence issued to operators. I am considering the conditions. The selection of operators must await receipt of applications following an announcement which we shall shortly be making. I shall look for expertise, suitability for the job, and financial soundness.

asked the Postmaster General if he will name the members of the Advisory Group which will control pay television experiments; and whether he has received any request for representation on the Group.

I have received one request to participate in any representative committee appointed. I intend the Group to be a normal departmental one which might include one or two outside experts in say market research.

asked the Postmaster General, whether he has received any evidence of public demand for pay television from persons who are not directly or indirectly interested in its promotion.

Newspaper comment has indicated some interest, but I should not expect a direct demand from the public to manifest itself. The service is one for offer to subscribers, and I hope that the experiment will show if there is a significant demand.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he has taken, or proposes to take, in response to the appeal of the World Health Organisation to support the struggle against malaria by issuing special stamps.

None; but my right hon. Friend authorised a special postmark slogan during August last which we esti- mate was used on some 200 million items of mail.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now able to make a statement on the development of a British space satellite communications system.

I am sorry that I cannot at present add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Eden) on 19th February.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that football pool promoters are sending illegal lottery coupons through the post; and if he will give instructions that this type of mail shall not be accepted.

No. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 25th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent his Department, in liaison with the National Research Development Corporation and the Medical Research Council, is furthering research into the development of an anti-common cold vaccine; what has so far been achieved; at what cost; what is the current expenditure on this research; whether all effort is being canalised in one research programme; and if he will give an estimate of the prospects of success.

The Medical Research Council, for which my noble Friend is responsible, has entered into an agreement with the National Research Development Corporation and three pharmaceutical firms for a programme of collaborative research on the production of a common cold vaccine. Recent experiments at the Common Cold Research Unit, which is maintained by the Medical Research Council and the Ministry of Health, have shown that antibody production can be stimulated by the injection of particular cold viruses. Further work will be necessary to discover whether such injections will actually give protection against colds. It is not possible to estimate expenditure on this work since it forms part of a broader programme of virological research supported by the Council. I cannot estimate the prospects of success but would like to say that progress is dependent on an adequate supply of volunteers at the Common Cold Research Unit to test the efficacy of the vaccine.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science why the Hammersmith Hospital made a public appeal for funds for work in connection with the development of kidney grafting.

I understand that the Hammersmith Hospital made no such appeal. An appeal was made on 28th December by Mr. W. J. Dempster, who is Reader in Experimental Surgery at the hospital's Postgraduate Medical School, which evoked a generous response. Mr. Dempster has received continuous support from the Medical Research Council since 1950 for his work at the Royal College of Surgeon's Buckston Browne Research Farm at Downe, at University College, London, at the Royal Veterinary College and, since May 1959, at the Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith.In accordance with arrangements agreed between the Research Councils and the University Grants Committee in 1959, the M.R.C. wrote to all universities in November 1960 enquiring whether they would be willing to include in their estimates for the 1962–67 quinquennium provision for the support of certain research projects hitherto financed by the Council. In the event, while this project was among those listed for support from funds provided on the advice of the University Grants Committee, it was not accorded sufficient priority by the Medical School to qualify for support within the funds available.This did not necessarily mean that the M.R.C. would not renew Mr. Dempster's grant when renewal became due for the Postgraduate Medical School had been informed by the Council that if they received insufficient funds for the 1962–67 quinquennium to maintain all the useful projects which they wished to take over, the Council would be glad to discuss any such cases with them. The Council normally makes grants for specific periods, and some three months before expiry the holder is always asked whether he wishes to seek further support. This practice has been followed in previous years as Mr. Dempster's earlier grants approached the date for renewal. As Mr. Dempster's grant was due to expire on 31st March 1963, a reminder was in fact sent to him on 27th December 1962, inviting him, if he so wished, to submit a report in application for a renewal of grant by 5th February 1963.As Mr. Dempster made his public appeal on the day after the Council's reminder was posted, although he may not have received it, and has since replied to the effect that he does not require further support from the Council, there would appear to be no further action the Council should take.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress has been made in the development of the advanced gas-cooled reactor; to what extent this type is likely to be adopted; and what is the latest estimate of electricity costs per unit.

The advanced gas-cooled reactor is now exporting electricity to the grid at a net power output of 28 MW (E), the design output. A statement on the economic prospects of this system appeared in paragraphs 72 and 73 of the Eighth Annual Report of the Atomic Energy Authority, and represents their current view. The extent to which the system, in which the Authority and my noble Friend retain full confidence, is

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make a statement on the progress being made at Dounreay; whether the problems confronting the Atomic Energy Authority in this experiment are being overcome; and what estimate he has made of its potential development.

The problems of running the Dounreay Fast Reactor at power levels up to 30 MW thermal were overcome last year. The reactor has been operating at this level since October, 1962. During this period the performance characteristics have been established. In particularly, the stability of the reactor during operation has been shown to be satisfactory. Preparatory work is in hand towards raising the power level later this year.Much work remains to be done on developing large power producing fast reactors, particularly in the field of fuel elements, and it is too early to be able to give estimates of generating costs from this system.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will list the Atomic Energy Authority's joint nuclear reactor research programmes with other organisations and nations, giving the total cost to date of each joint effort and the current annual expenditure, respectively.

The Atomic Energy Authority take part in the following joint projects:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether any British nuclear power stations are still producing fissile material for bomb production; and what fresh consideration is being given to this matter, in view of the Nassau agreement.

It is not in the public interest to reveal the sources of fissile material used for weapons production. Allocations of fissile material for defence requirements are programmed on the basis of defence demands, as estimated by the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how much Her Majesty's Government have spent to date on the Dragon reactor project; how this compares with other European countries' expenditure on this joint development; and what progress is being made.

Contributions up to 31st December, 1962, were about £4½ million from the United Kingdom and £5½ million from the other participants. Construction of the Dragon reactor is well advanced and the fuel should be loaded within the next twelve months. The international team has already carried out extensive research and development work, the results of which will be available to the participating countries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Central Area Comprehensive Development of Sunderland Inquiry.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting his Inspector's report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he is taking to expedite the consideration of slum clearance compulsory purchase orders affecting slum clearance in Sunderland.

Only one such order is at present before me and a decision on it will be issued within the next few days.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were occupied by the owner and how many by tenants of the total of 500 receiving improvement grants in Gateshead up to 31st January, 1963.

Information about the occupation of houses for which improvement grants have been approved has been kept only since 1st January, 1960. Figures for Gateshead for the period 1st January, 1960, to 31st January, 1963, are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, whereas Purchase Tax on sweets and confectionery is 15 per cent., the value of the glucose and sugar content in 12 toffee apples, excluding natural juices in the apples, is sixpence and that fivepence Purchase Tax is being charged on this sum, representing an effective rate of Purchase Tax on 83⅓ per cent.; why toffee apples have been selected for this rate of Purchase Tax at more than five times the sweets and confectionery rate of 15 per cent.; what is his estimate of revenue from Purchase Tax on toffee apples in 1962–63; why apples are being taxed as toffee apples; and whether he will make a statement.

The tax on sweets and similar confectionery is charged at the uniform rate of 15 per cent. of the wholesale value, irrespective of their glucose or sugar content. This applies to toffee apples just as it does to other confectionery. It is not possible to make a separate estimate of the revenue from toffee apples.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Purchase Tax levied under Customs and Excise Notice 78A on slacks, shorts, trousers, jeans, riding breeches and jodhpurs varies according to the nature of the material used, particularly with regard to the extent to which it can be stretched and that this causes confusion in the trade and loss to the revenue; and if he will take steps to ensure uniformity in this matter.

There is a problem here, arising out of the exemption from tax of young children's clothing. The Customs and Excise have just put to the trade new proposals designed to clarify and improve the lines of demarcation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he anticipates the study of temporary borrowing by local authorities will be completed.

I am not yet able to say when it will be possible to make a statement on this subject, which is, of course, only one of the points being covered by the current review of local authority borrowing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what ad valorem percentage duty would have to be charged on imported solutions of alkyd resins in order to produce the same revenue as if 2s. 9d. per gallon duty were charged on the white spirit content alone, taking the average hydrocarbon oil content of imported consignments as 36·2 per cent. by weight, the specific gravity of the oil as 0·79, and the declared value of the solutions as £132 per ton; what loss of revenue has resulted from the difference between this rate and the 5·5 per cent. actually charged, since the introduction of the 5·5 per cent. rate; and what proposals he has for equalising the rate of recovery as between British and foreign producers of alkyd resins.

I do not accept the implication of the first two parts of the hon. Member's Question that the 5½ per cent. rate of duty has been wrongly charged hitherto. An increase in the 5½ per cent. rate has been agreed in principle, but its implementation has been deferred, with the agreement of the trade association concerned, pending determination of an allied application relating to the protective duty on the goods in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage increase in imports of pit-wood in 1962 over the previous year; and what steps he intends to take to encourage more use of home-grown pitwood.

The percentage increase in imports of pitwood, as recorded in the Trade and Navigation Accounts, in 1962 over the previous year was 20 per cent. by quantity and 19 per cent. by value. The sources from which the National Coat Board draws its supplies are entirely a matter for its own commercial judgment. It is understood, however, that the National Coal Board and the Forestry Commission are working closely together with a view to increased use of home-grown timber.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases up to the last convenient date the terms and conditions laid down by the Advisory Committee in recommending that a loan or grant should be made under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, have included a provision that the firm concerned should appoint a Government-nominated director, additional to existing directors, or in replacement of an existing director, respectively.

The precise number cannot be ascertained without looking individually at over 200 cases. But the great majority contained the provision to which the hon. Member refers. The power to appoint a director has been exercised in two cases. The power to remove one has never been exercised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish, or otherwise make available to hon. Members, the directives he has issued under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, to the Advisory Committee on the terms and conditions under which loans and grants may be made under the Act.

The following statement lists the directions which the Board of Trade have given to the Advisory Committee under Section 4 (2) of the Local Employment Act.The Board of Trade (hereinafter referred to as "the Board") in pursuance of the powers conferred upon them by subsection (2) of Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, and with the consent of the Treasury hereby give the following directions:—1. The advisory committee appointed by the Board in pursuance of section 3 of the said Act (hereinafter referred to as "the committee") shall in recommending the terms and conditions on which a loan or grant should be made act in accordance with the following provisions of these directions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the difficulties which have to be overcome in order to negotiate co-production film treaties with other countries.

The nature of the difficulties was explained in the reply to the hon. Member on 13th November. I am glad to say that my right hon. Friend has now been able to ask the British film producers for their views on a model agreement which he proposes to offer to the other countries concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new jobs were created in Scotland in 1962.

9,000 new jobs were estimated as likely to arise in Scotland from schemes for which industrial development certificates were issued in 1962.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total tonnage and value of ships over 2,000 tons deadweight ordered by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and East European countries in the United Kingdom between 1946 and the present date.

I have been asked to reply.25,000 d.w.t. I regret that the value of these is not readily available. Exports of newly built vessels over 250 g.r.t. to these countries in that period were about £9½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is his estamate of the margin of error introduced into his migration statistics as a result of refusal of the airlines to adopt accurate methods of recording movements on their long air routes.

The margin of error in Table I (b) of the Oversea Migration Board's Statistics for 1961, published as Cmnd. 1905 last December, is believed to be small. While full British statistics are only available for the long sea-routes, immigration figures received from the Commonwealth receiving countries relate to all routes. The Board is therefore able to arrive at a reasonably accurate estimate of the total, after taking into account variations in the statistical procedures used by Commonwealth countries.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the rate of unemployment for each of the exchange areas in the counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan on the counting day in February.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to enable inshore fishermen to have the right to fish beyond the three-mile limit from 1st February onwards.

Orders controlling fishing for salmon and migratory trout in specified areas were introduced to protect traditional fisheries, and it is not, at present, proposed to revoke them. In general British fishermen may fish freely for all other species.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what was the capital cost of replacing single-seater tricycles by two-seater cars to the 1,463 disabled Service men who have so benefited;(2) what is the estimated cost of providing two-seater cars for the 35 disabled service men who now await issue.

It is contrary to Government practice to disclose contract prices.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the quantities of orange juice, cod liver oil and vitamin pills taken up in the last two quarters for which figures are available, and the corresponding figures for the previous year.

The figures are:

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that cigar smoking is probably less injurious to health than cigarette smoking, what steps he is taking to encourage habitual smokers to smoke cigars rather than cigarettes.

None. The aim is to discourage smoking. It has been made widely known that cigarette smoking is particularly dangerous to health.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the appointment of the departmental committee which is to inquire into the working of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876; and what qualifications he would regard as suitable for members of this committee.

I am glad to be able to inform the House that Sir Sydney Little-wood has accepted my invitation to serve as Chairman of the Committee. I have in mind to appoint to the Committee some members with expert knowledge of the problems involved, and others with general qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the large and growing number of deaths caused by clothing catching fire, he will now issue regulations under the Consumer Protection Act to restrict the sale of children's nightwear, and the sale of cloth sold as being suitable for nightwear, to cloth that has been treated to produce a lasting flame-resistant finish.

The Committee on Consumer Protection, in its Final Report, came to the conclusion that the making of regulations would not be justified. There has been a decrease in the number of deaths due to burns by clothing, which suggests that, as the Committee hoped, the public conscience has been stirred and parents are being more careful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now issue regulations under the Consumer Protection Act for marine lifejackets, based on the British Standards Institution's safety specifications.

The British Standard was issued only on 19th February and it is stated in the foreword that it is not final. It would be premature to take any action under the Consumer Protection Act until there has been more practical experience of the new design.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to open an attendance centre in Bradford; and whether such a centre would serve the Keighley area.

An attendance centre was opened in Bradford on 26th January last. I had previously offered to make it available to the magistrates' courts in Keighley, and I hope to hear soon whether the justices wish me to do so.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his study of experimental schemes of contract catering and contract cleaning in hospitals; and what conclusions he has reached with regard to the relative efficiency and economy of such services compared with direct labour services.

Yes, though I am continuing to watch the experience of hospital authorities. No general conclusions can be drawn.

asked the Minister of Health how many Section 4 and Sec- tion 5 beds were designated at the latest date for which figures are available; what proportions of total hospital beds they represented; and what was the average percentage occupancy by paying patients.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total number of ships under construction and on order in British shipyards over 2,000 tons deadweight, specifying the number of oil tankers as a percentage of the whole and their value.

At the end of January, 1963, there were 115 merchant ships over 2,000 tons deadweight on order and under construction in United Kingdom shipyards. Thirty-six of these were tankers representing about 65 per cent. of the total tonnage. The estimated total value of all these vessels was about £210 million, of which tankers made up about £120 million.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the closing of gaps in the central reservation in Eastern Avenue, Ilford, to the west of Gants Hill, with special reference to existing bus routes.

I am in consultation with the local authorities and the police about the possibility of closing a number of gaps in the central reservation in Eastern Avenue between Preston Drive and Gants Hill. Thereafter I shall advertise proposals in the local press. I shall invite representations and consider them carefully before I decide what to do. Existing bus routes will not be affected as I do not intend to close the gap opposite The Drive.