asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to overcome obstacles to the exchange of television programmes between countries due to the different technical standards used; what consideration has been given to the adoption in the United Kingdom of a dual standard television system for the transmission and reception of the European 625 line 50 fields system, as well as the United States 525 line 60 fields system; and if he will make a statement.

A major step has already been taken in the decision to adopt the 625-line 50 fields standard which is in use in so many European countries and in many other parts of the world. The adoption of a dual standard comprising both the European standard and the United States 525-line 60 fields standard—if the many problems this would present to the receiver manufacturing industry could be overcome satisfactorily—would be a development of this decision. As I told my hon. Friend on 25th February, I have referred the question to my Television Advisory Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received about the difficulties experienced in conveying parcels in diesel units on British Railways.

Very few. Because of the relatively limited accommodation for goods and mails, the use of diesel units has thrown up some problems but we have generally been able to solve these in co-operation with the railways.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the number of boys of school-leaving age recruited into the Post Office as youths in training on the engineering side in Scotland in each of the past three years; and what propor- tion of total such recruitment for Great Britain these numbers represent.

Youths in training are normally recruited between the ages of 16 and 18. The numbers recruited in Scotland were: 78 in 1960; 109 in 1961; and 224 in 1962. These numbers represent 7–8 per cent., 5·5 per cent. and 9·9 per cent. respectively of the total of such recruitment for Great Britain.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated expenditure on the purchase of Post Office vans during the current financial year; and what proportion of this will be spent in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend expects to spend about £2½ million on the purchase of motor vehicles in the current financial year. About 12 per cent. of this amount will be spent on components manufactured in Scotland.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of capital expenditure on major capital schemes in each of the past three years was spent in Scotland.

In each of the three years from 1960–61 to 1962–63 Scotland's share of total capital expenditure by the Post Office has been about 9 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated annual expenditure by the Post Office on printing and paper; and what proportion of this expenditure is incurred in Scotland.

Expenditure on printing and paper is running at about £5 million a year, most of which is covered by contracts placed by the Stationery Office. In the current year the Post Office has itself placed orders totalling about £800,000, but no Scottish firm has successfully tendered for any of this.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to improve the Bowes Park telephone service, in view of the difficulties which are being caused to business, professional and other subscribers in the exchange area.

I am sorry about these difficulties, which are partly due to the rapid increase in traffic during recent months. Extra equipment has now been brought into service and this should improve the service. I will, however, keep the position under review.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the increasing delays that are caused to subscribers on the Canonbury exchange in obtaining provincial calls; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the service.

I am very sorry about these delays. As a result of the recent extremely heavy growth of trunk traffic, there is a shortage of switchboard positions at the Canonbury exchange, which serves Canonbury and Clissold subscribers. To relieve this shortage, I propose to transfer the Clissold traffic to the nearby Amherst exchange where there are now spare positions. I am sure that this transfer, which should be complete by the middle of the year, will improve the service at Canonbury exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones in the Dumbarton, Alexandria and Helensburgh areas are still outstanding; and how this compares with the position a year ago.

Leaving aside orders under inquiry or being met, there were 17 applications outstanding at the beginning of the year, 3 at Dumbarton, 13 at Alexandria and 1 at Helensburgh. A year ago the total figure was 37.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people are on the Brighton telephone exchange waiting list for telephones; how many have to use shared lines; what has been the improvement in the situation in the last six months; and how many subscribers gave up their telephones in Brighton in the year 1962.

The number of people on the Brighton telephone exchange waiting list is 51 and the number of sharing subscribers 4,895. In the last six months the waiting list has fallen by 77. During 1962 about 1,500 subscribers gave up their telephones: this figure consists mainly of subscribers removing to another address.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet concluded his investigations about the differential charge of £3 for a white telephone as against a black one.

Not yet, but I hope to do so soon.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what steps are being taken to ensure that the scientific efforts of the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are not duplicated by the newly-created research organisation of the Ministry of Public Building and Works.

There is a very great need for research and development work on the problems of the construction industries. There will be close day-to-day consultation between the Building Research Station and the new Director-General, to ensure that there is no duplication or wasted effort. All the efforts of both organisations are urgently needed and their functions are complementary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what subjects were discussed at the meeting of the British Commonwealth Scientific Committee held in India at the end of last year; and if he will make a statement.

The work of the British Commonwealth Scientific Committee is of a continuing nature. This meeting enabled further discussions to take place on technical aid schemes, scientific and technical co-operation, the dissemination of technical information and the application of the results of research. There was, in addition, a useful exchange of ideas on the organisation and management of research in Commonwealth countries, and a preliminary study was made of possible Commonwealth co-operation on technical problems of increasing food supplies and the associated problems of water resources.My noble Friend would like to take this opportunity of thanking the Government of India for acting as hosts for this meeting.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what efforts are being made to create sufficient senior posts to foster young scientists of promise as they emerge.

In Government Research Establishments there has been a steady overall increase in posts for many years and this trend is likely to continue. The hon. Member will also recollect that the Government have recently made available an annual sum of £44,000 to the Royal Society for five new research professorships. University and industrial appointments generally are not within my noble Friend's responsibility.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what initiative he is taking in establishing a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Institute for Science and Technology, in conjunction with the working party set up by the Council of the National Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

In the view of Her Majesty's Government a single unitary international institute of this kind is undesirable, and any international institute should be more broadly based than on the N.A.T.O. Alliance. Her Majesty's Government put forward alternative proposals for discussion last May and arranged informal meetings between British, French and American scientists in London thereafter. These discussions did not: produce an alternative scheme which could be put forward, with the support of the three Governments as a basis for wider discussion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what steps he is taking to encourage the use of operational research methods in Government Departments.

Operational research methods are widely, and increasingly, used among the agencies for which my noble Friend is responsible and among the institutions receiving grants from them. In addition, the Industrial Operations Unit of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has assisted or advised several Government Departments and my noble Friend and I take every opportunity to encourage the extension of these methods.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of Science what proposals he has for the establishment of an institute for theoretical astronomy; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend agrees with the recently published Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy (Cmnd. 1920) commending the proposal that an Institute for Theoretical Astronomy should be established at the University of Sussex. I understand that the university authorities at present have this proposal under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he is aware that the ad hoc Biological Research Committee of the Royal Scoiety recommended that there was need for a new institute to deal with economic microbiology; and what action he is taking to implement this recommendation.

The Report to which the hon. Member refers was made to the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, which has said in its own Report for 1961–62 (Cmnd. 1920) that it does not necessarily accept the views expressed at every point. The council deferred consideration of institutional changes, pending the completion of the work of its Committee on Research into Natural Resources, under Sir William Slater.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he will give an estimate of the amounts of money which have been received from American charitable and other sources for the support of officially-employed British scientists and official research in Great Britain during each of the past five years.

For those organisations which are the responsibility of my noble Friend, the approximate figures are as follows:in the financial year

1958–59	£20,800
1959–60	£42,700
1960–61	£103,900
1961–62	£72,600
and for the present year	£94,100

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether the terms of reference of the Committee set up under Sir Burke Trend to review the existing organisation for the promotion of civil science by Government agencies include Government research in Scotland; and whether evidence will be taken from Scottish sources.

The terms of reference of this Committee were made public in my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) on 28th May last. In addition to taking evidence from the appropriate Scottish Departments, the Committee is hearing the views of many bodies whose responsibilities embrace Scottish interests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many school leavers were employed by the Atomic Energy Authority as apprentices during each of the past three years; and what proportion of these was employed in Scotland.

The Authority recruited 222 school leavers as apprentices in 1960, 260 in 1961, and 253 in 1962. Of these totals, 30, 34 and 30 respectively were recruited to establishments in Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make a statement on the report which he has received from the Chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority regarding nuclear-powered ships.

The responsibility for advising the Government on these matters rests with the Working Group on Marine Reactor Research which reports jointly to the Minister for Science and the Minister of Transport. There has therefore been no occasion for a formal report to my noble Friend from the Chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether the Medical Research Council is studying the effect on the human body of possible intakes of D.D.T. and dieldrin.

The Medical Research Council has been carrying out studies of D.D.T. and dieldrin in animals with a view to understanding their possible effects on man. Results have shown that, at levels much greater than those normally found in man, these substances have no effect on the metabolism of the animal's fat, which is where they are stored. The need for further research will be reviewed in the light of the results of a survey, now being carried out in collaboration by several organisations at the request of the Government's Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage, into the levels of D.D.T. and dieldrin in human fat and milk.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what initiatives he is taking in further research in marine and fresh water biology.

Support for these subjects from within my noble Friend's responsibilities is provided by research grants from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. These have been increasing substantially in recent years and currently total about £130,000. My noble Friend has also kept in close touch with the development plans of the National Institute of Oceanography which is jointly and equally supported by Votes from the Admiralty and the Development Fund. The N.I.O. budget for 1963–64 amounts to approximately £360,000 of which a proportion is devoted to researches into marine and fresh water biology, compared with £290,000 which is the corresponding figure for the current year.The independent institutions concerned with research in marine and fresh water biology are supported by grants from the Treasury, made on the advice of the Development Commissioners: in the past two years these have provided for a substantial extension of facilities. The Fisheries Ministers are responsible for applied fisheries research and are developing this work considerably, as announced in the White Paper on the Fishing Industry (Cmnd. 1453).

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (CONTROL OF ADVERTISEMENTS) REGULATIONS
APPEALS—ENGLAND AND WALES
OUTDOOR POSTER SITES, OF AND ABOVE 16-SHEET POSTER SIZE, WHICH HAVE BEEN SUBJECT OF LOCAL INQUIRY
Period		Number of local inquiries*	Appeals allowed outright	Appeals allowed subject to conditions	Appeals dismissed
1959	…	7	—	2	23
1960	…	3	1	1	2
1961	…	5	9	1	26
1st January, 1962 to 30th June, 1962	…	2	—	1	1
1st July, 1962 to 31st December, 1962	…	2	1	1	22
* Each of these may cover several linked appeals. Two such appeals await the Minister's decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the Hampshire County Council, by raising its rate, have failed to comply with his recent advice to local authorities; and what action he will take.

My right hon. Friend has urged local authorities to pay as much regard to the need for economy in framing their estimates for next year as in previous years and he has no reason to suppose that the council has not done

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local inquiries were held under the provisions of the advertisement regulations under the Town and Country Planning Acts in each of the years 1959, 1960, 1961, from 1st January to 30th June, 1962, and from 1st July to 31st December, 1962, in respect of appeals concerning outdoor poster sites of and above 16-sheet poster size; how many appeals were allowed outright; how many were allowed subject to conditions imposed by the Minister; how many were dismissed; and how many still await his decision.

The following is the information:so. He has no power to interfere in the fixing of the rate; but in any event, in view of the expansion of improvement of local government services and of increasing costs, it was never expected that local authorities generally would be able to avoid increased expenditure, part of which would fall on the rates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to give his decision on the request of the Middlesex County Council to build an estate read on its factory site at Green Lane, Hounslow which is the pre-requisite to the transfer of the firm of United Retaining Services Limited from the residential area of Willesden.

Detailed estimates of the cost of the estate road were submitted to my right hon. Friend by the council on 6th March and a decision on its application will be issued as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will ask local authorities in the Don Valley to survey their respective areas with a view to ascertaining what practical schemes could be undertaken to improve urban and rural amenities, the estimated cost of such schemes, when work upon them could commence, and the number of jobs which would become available as a result of the work being done.

My right hon. Friend does not think it is necessary to invite local authorities to carry out special surveys for this purpose; he is always ready to consider schemes for the improvement of amenity which any local authority may wish to put forward.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if the development plan for Piccadilly Circus has now been finalised and when work will commence.

The principles of Sir William Holford's comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of Piccadilly Circus were accepted by the London County Council last October, subject to discussions with the Minister of Transport and myself, particularly regarding the financial implications. Discussions are proceeding.It is not possible at this stage to say when work is likely to commence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the continued decline in the building of houses in Cardiff from 1,341 in 1952–53 to 767 in 1961–62, what proposals he has for helping the local authority to increase the number of council houses.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Council on 23rd November, 1962, and urged on them the need, to increase their output of houses. He has agreed that they can negotiate long-term contracts for 1,200 houses with national contractors and I understand that the council is now doing so. We are also keen that the council should make full use of local building resources.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when be expects to receive the Report of the Council for Wales on the state of the Welsh language.

In about a month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken in connection with paragraphs 49 and 50 of chapter 10 of the Zuckerman Report on the organisation of Government science.

These recommendations have been fully considered in the Interdepartmental Scientific Panel.There are already well over 500 posts in the scientific officer class established at the headquarters of the employing Departments for scientific and general administration, and the use of scientists on this type of work is being extended. The Committee's recommendations are acceptable, though experience tends to produce little evidence that any significant number of scientists employed in the Civil Service who have a marked capacity for administrative work wish to be employed in this way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a White Paper embodying details of all the proposals announced by Her Majesty's Government for the expansion of the economy, for housing development, and for the increase of spending power by the various measures announced by him, including the estimated total cost and duration of the programmes.

No. My right hon. Friends and I, when announcing our proposals, have given such details as were necessary and possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the rosette denoting a bar on a Military Cross ribbon is subject to Purchase Tax and similarly on other decorations and awards, including Mention in Dispatches, and the Territorial Decoration, whereas the medal and ribbon are exempt; why this anomaly exists in terms of Commissioners of Customs and Excise Notice 78, Group 4, Page 14, January, 1963; and whether he will make a statement.

Medal ribbon emblems are taxable only when they are sold separately, and the reason why the statutory exemption from tax for the insignia of orders and decorations does not extend to medal ribbon emblems as such is that they are not necessarily distinguishable from other accessories to wearing apparel.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that by sending printed literature abroad for posting back to this country, Purchase Tax is avoided on printing and stationery; that British firms, by having their printing and stationery executed overseas also avoid Purchase Tax by individual reposting by mail order; and that such practices, largely to avoid Purchase Tax, are causing diversion from British paper and print, loss of revenue to the Treasury, loss of postage revenue, inconvenience to the printing and allied trades, and added costs for printing and stationery Purchase Tax on export and associated printing and paper work; and whether he will take action to prevent this loss to the revenue and to encourage exports.

I am aware of the situation to which my hon. Friend refers but I cannot accept that the Purchase Tax alone has led to these developments. Nevertheless I will bear his representations in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Leeds City Waterworks undertaking has increased in valuation by 83 per cent., and that the apportionment of the increase is 16 per cent. on the property in the Wharfedale Rural District Council area, whilst it is 235 per cent. in the City of Leeds; and if he will state upon what principles and formula; such apportionment is made.

The increases are 83·7 per cent., 15·0 per cent. and 190·3 per cent. respectively. On the second part of his Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers given to him on 5th and 12th February and to the letter I sent to him on 20th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the setting up of regional planning authorities, covering the whole of the United Kingdom, to be responsible for regional planning and development within an overall target for growth laid down by Her Majesty's Government.

All regions must play their full part if the overall growth target is to be achieved, and the Government are giving special attention to those regions which have exceptional structural problems. But I have no proposals for delegating responsibility to a network of regional planning authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the capital gains tax has produced during the first 12 months of operation; and how much revenue Stamp Duty has produced during the same period and during the previous 12 months.

Assessments on short-term gains will not in general be made until the Income Tax year 1963–64 and the yield in 1962–63 will be nil. The net receipt from all Stamp Duties in the calendar year 1962, which is the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available, was £96·3 million, compared with £95·5 million in 1961.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the National Debt in 1900, 1920, 1945, 1950, and 1962, giving the amount per head of the population for each of those years.

The figures are:

—	Debt outstanding 31st March*	Amount per head of population†
	£'000	£
1900	628,979	15
1920	6,846,663	147
1945	21,365,891	434
1950	25,802,287	512
1962	28,674,425	538
Notes
* Excluding external debts arising out of the war of 1914–18.
† Based on estimated population.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new jobs have been provided in the development districts of Kirkcaldy and Burntisland, respectively, since they were scheduled under the Local Employment Act; and what further action he intends taking to reduce the rising unemployment in those areas.

Assistance has been offered under the Local Employment Act to projects in the Dunfermline group of employment exchange areas, of which Burntisland forms part, estimated to create over 1,200 new jobs. I cannot give the figure for the Kirkcaldy development district, since to do so would reveal details of individual companies' business. My right hon. Friend will continue to make full use of his powers under the Act to encourage the introduction and expansion of industry in these areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the consultations he has had with the Guest. Keen and Nettlefold Group, following its take-over of Ambrose Shardlow and Co., Ltd. regarding the effects of the change of ownership on industrial production and employment in the Sheffield area; and what assurances he has been given in this regard.

It is my right hon. Friend's understanding that, should such a take-over take place, the existing works of Ambrose Shardlow and Co. will be run as production units as before, and under the same management.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the trade agreement with Yugoslavia, any quantitative control is placed on imports of beef.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about his visit to Zanzibar.

I have already told the House of my talks with His Highness and his Ministers about the Coastal Strip of Kenya.During my visit I also discussed Zanzibar's constitutional progress with his Ministers and with representatives of the Opposition. I made it clear that we wished to see Zanzibar as soon as possible take her place among the free and sovereign nations of East Africa but that it was our duty, after our long and friendly connection with the territory, to make sure that as far as possible the transfer of power was effected smoothly.I reviewed with them the plans already in hand for holding elections in Zanzibar and was able to secure agreement on simplification of the arrangements for registration. I also obtained through the Governor of Kenya the services of additional expatriat officers to supervise the registration of electors. All this should make it possible from the administrative standpoint to hold elections at an earlier date than had previously been contemplated.I announced on leaving Zanzibar that as soon as the Government of Zanzibar have informed me when the elections can be held the British Government will take its decision on the date of internal self-government and the final preparations for independence which, if peace and good order are preserved, should follow soon thereafter.In addition I had talks with the Government of Zanzibar about the future of the Kenya coastal strip. Our conclusions are set out in a joint statement which I am publishing today as a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the cancellation of the appointment of General Sir Geoffrey Bourne as Chairman of the Kenya Central Land Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the future of the Central Land Board in Kenya and the safeguards to ensure impartiality and a fair deal for Europeans and for Africans of all tribes under its administration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the abolition of the post of full-time Chairman of the Kenya Central Land Board.

I am circulating below the text of a statement published on 2nd March which describes the revised arrangements for the purchase of land in the Scheduled Areas and the resettlement of African farmers on such land.The Central Land Board under these arrangements will be responsible for the selection of land to be purchased, for the arrangements for its valuation and for the payment of the agreed price to the owner. These comprise all the matters of direct interest to the European farming community which will also now be directly represented on the Board.The interests of African tribes are safeguarded by the fact that the regional authorities will be responsible for allocating the land purchased among the new settlers. The regional authorities will also share with the central government the task of preparing detailed settlement schemes and of helping the new farmers to develop their land.I should like to take this opportunity to thank General Bourne for having been prepared to take on the duties of Chairman of the Central Land Board at some personal inconvenience; and to express my regret that changed circumstances should have made it necessary for the post as offered to him to lapse.Following is the statement:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will make a statement about the standing order for troops in Kenya.

This precautionary measure was taken by the Governor, in case there should be disorders in any part of the country following the announcement of the Government's decisions on the new Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his visit to Kenya and the programme for constitutional advance planned for that country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is now the total number of persons arrested in Singapore on or since 2nd February on the authority of the Singapore Security Council; and what information he has received from the United Kingdom representatives on the Council about the number of those so far charged with offences, the number deported and the number still in detention.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 119. Seventeen of these persons, who are of Federation origin, have been sent back to the Federation of Malaya. The remainder are being detained in Singapore under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made by the Government of Aden in collating, preserving and photographing the early papers and documents, held in the Secretariat, concerning the history and development of Aden.

Preparatory work on the preservation of the archives has begun and protective boxes have been obtained for the safe keeping of the most valuable papers and documents. This week the Aden Legislative Council will consider financial provisions for housing the archives in the new museum.A decision on the procedure for photographing the documents has still to be taken.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works which Government Departments will be housed in the new building being constructed in Accrington; and to what extent this will result in more offices being withdrawn from outlying districts.

The new building will provide offices for the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, and National Assistance Board, and possibly for the Inland Revenue. No withdrawal of offices from outlying districts is involved.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what proposals he has for the provision of new government offices in Dumbarton.

Plans are being prepared for a Crown building to be erected on a site to be made available by Dumbarton Town Council. It will accommodate all Government Departments in Dumbarton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prevent public corporations paying fees which might reasonably be expected to be used to finance terrorist activities by nationals of friendly foreign States against their own Government.

I see no need to do as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the British Broadcasting Corporation first informed Her Majesty's Government that they had interviewed M. Bidault in this country; and what information they gave regarding the place of interview.

On 25th January my Department was told informally on behalf of the Corporation that an interview with M. Bidault had taken place and had been recorded in a television studio, the address of which was not disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent any Further illegal entry of M. Bidault or his associates into the United Kingdom, and to prevent the possibility of this country being used as a base for O.A.S. activities against the French State.

Appropriate instructions have been given to immigration officers as regards persons who have been identified as involved in O.A.S. activities; and all practicable steps are taken to prevent any illegal entry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the representations of the French Government, it is at present permissible for M. Bidault to enter the United Kingdom legally.

Not without my special permission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the Report of the Vassall Tribunal; and when the public version of the Report will be available.

I understand the Tribunal hopes to submit its Report within the next few weeks. The Government will then consider immediately the extent to which it can be published, but I cannot say yet when publication will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of service by a prison officer before he is promoted to principal prison officer.

The average length of established service of prison officers (other than specialist officers) promoted to principal officer since 1st January, 1961, was 14 years 11 months. Any prison officer who has completed 10 years' established service and is successful in the qualifying examination for promotion to principal officer becomes entitled to an allowance, the present rate of which is 23s. 6d. a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average salary of prison chaplains at the end of 7 and 11 years service, respectively; and what gratuity is paid to chaplains when they leave full-time prison service.

Full-time chaplains in the prison service are normally appointed for seven years only, with occasional extensions to a maximum of 12 years. They at present receive a flat rate salary of £1,128 a year, together with a free house. They are eligible on retirement for a gratuity on the normal scale for unestablished civil servants. This varies according to the officer's length of service. I am sending my hon. Friend more detailed particulars.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, following the Hall Report, he will arrange for a further study and report on the feasibility and economics of moving commuters and air passengers to and from the centre of large cities by monorail.

Monorail research and development is a matter for prospective promoters and operators. I have so far seen no proposals with sufficient evidence of the potentialities of this form of transport to justify a more general study by my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to ensure that all road vehicles transporting coal are sheeted down, thus avoiding danger to motorists by the discharge of dust.

I have no evidence that the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations governing danger from loads carried by vehicles are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will move for a Select Committee to examine the evidence on which the decisions taken so far on the choice of a nuclear reactor for a merchant ship were made.

No. The government's decision of last November to concentrate its research effort on two types of reactor was taken, as the House was informed at the time, on the advice of the Working Group on Marine Reactor Research. This group was in turn advised by a technical panel it set up to make detailed assessments of the various types of reactor which the government was currently examining. I have every confidence in the judgment of the Panel and of the Working Group.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will refuse the application made by Lloyds British Testing Co. Ltd. for an increase in the statutory charges for testing chain cables under the Anchors and Chain Cable Act, 1899.

I am considering the application made by Lloyds British Testing Company Ltd. and Lloyds South Wales Testing House Company Ltd. I will write to the hon. Member when I have made my decision.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement concerning his official talks with the Minister of Home Affairs for Northern Ireland about railway services.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I recently had a general discussion with Mr. Faulkner about a number of transport matters, on which we have agreed to keep in touch. Where railway services are concerned I explained the background against which the British Railways Board were preparing proposals for the future railway system here. I described also the arangements, under the Transport Act, 1962, for dealing with railway closures.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to relieve the traffic bottleneck on A.27 at Portchester, Hampshire, in view of the fact that congestion during the evening rush hour now regularly extends up to the neighbourhood of the roundabout at Cosham, a mile away.

I know that there is congestion there in the evenings. I intend, however, to by-pass Portchester by constructing the Paulsgrove to Windhover section of the South Coast Road. There is a division of opinion about the line to be followed, but I shall advertise a draft as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will obtain from the Road Research Laboratory and publish an assessment of the recent test carried out by the American Association of State Highway Officials on the respective merits of asphalt and concrete road surfaces, whether reinforced or without reinforcement, on various thicknesses of bases.

This test has been closely followed by my Department and the Road Research Laboratory. The Laboratory is studying the results. I am advised that it is extremely doubtful whether any clear conclusions can be drawn from these results in relation to road surfaces in Great Britain where traffic and climatic conditions are different from those of the test. It is unlikely, therefore, that any modification of the specification now used in Great Britain for concrete and asphalt surfaces wilt be called for.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will publish a White Paper dealing with the proposed reorganisation of the Ministry of Defence and the three Service Departments.

Yes, as soon as the reorganisation has been worked out in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what use is being made of Royal Air Force, Mona, Anglesey.

It is used as a relief landing ground for the flying training school at Valley.

asked the Minister of Education if he will name the new schools in Cornwall on which building operations were begun in each of the past three financial years, those on which building has begun in the current financial year, and those which are expected to begin in the financial year 1963–64.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour how many fires have occurred on the premises of the paper and cardboard recovery factory adjoining Furness Road School, N.W.10 since 1st January, 1963; and if he is satisfied that the method of heating conforms to fire regulations.

I have written to the hon. Member giving full particulars about this case.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many people in the Bridgeton area of Glasgow made application for assistance other than monetary assistance, in the years 1960, 1961 and 1962, and, having been refused, had their application granted after an appeal to a tribunal;(2) how many people in the Bridgeton area of Glasgow made application for assistance, other than monetary assistance, in the years 1960, 1961 and 1962; and how many were refused.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the grants which the National Assistance Board makes, mainly for clothing or bedding, under the provision of the Determination of Need Regulations of 1948 relating to grants "by way of a single payment to meet an exceptional need."In the area served by the Board's Glasgow (Bridgeton) and Glasgow

—					Trained		Untrained
					Whole-time	Part-time	Whole-time	Part-time
Employed in hospitals (at 30th September, 1962)	…	…	…	…	9,586	3,165	15,071	4,404
Employed by local health authorities (at 31st December, 1961)	…	…	…	…	2,555	235	68	2

The figures for trained staff include registered and enrolled nurses, certified midwives and certificated nursery nurses. Those for "untrained" staff include 9,258 staff in training.There are no establishments determined centrally or on a uniform basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details showing the total number of junior secondary school pupils who left school during the years 1960, 1961, and 1962, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the numbers of trained and untrained nurses in the National Health Service; and by how many the number of trained nurses falls short of establishment.

The numbers in Scotland at the latest available dates were as follows:

The total numbers of pupils leaving school from junior secondary courses in the years ended 7th June, 1960, 1961 and 1962 were 49,414, 44,646, and 56,703 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland bow many children and young persons in approved schools have not been allowed out on licence because of home conditions in the years 1960, 1961 and 1962.

No approved school pupil was denied licence in 1960, 1961 or 1962 purely because of home conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children and young persons found to be mentally handicapped have been sent to approved schools because of lack of suitable accommodation in the years 1960, 1961 and 1962.

It is not possible to say to what extent courts may send mentally handicapped children and young persons to approved schools because other more suitable accommodation is not available. Of the children and young persons sent to approved schools in 1960, 1961 and 1962, four, six and four respectively were subsequently transferred to mental deficiency hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken and are being taken to provide suitable accommodation for mentally handicapped children and young persons who have appeared before the courts and have been convicted of offences.

Children and young persons against whom charges have been proved and who require psychiatric inpatient care may be admitted to hospital either subject to detention, if they are convicted of an offence for which they might otherwise be detained, or informally under the requirements of a probation order. I am aware that there is a shortage of suitable hospital accommodation for mental defectives in certain areas. This will be relieved by the building programme now in hand.