asked the President of the Board of Trade what criteria he takes into account when deciding where new industrial estates are to be sited.

The employment needs of an area and its attractiveness to growing industry; also good communications and the availability of suitable building land.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in which areas jobs are being provided for the unemployed men and women of the villages to the east, north, and west of Coatbridge and Airdrie.

The various developments taking place in North Lanarkshire are estimated to be likely to provide about 6,500 jobs. I cannot say from which towns and villages the firms concerned will recruit their employees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the new jobs promised to Coatbridge and Airdrie will be provided; and at which firms they will be.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 29th January. I cannot give the names of the individual firms concerned, since the details of their projects are provided in confidence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates have been refused to industries in the West Riding of Yorkshire since 1960.

In the three years ended December, 1962, eleven applications were refused.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he gives, in stimulating exports, to the import content of various export lines; and what special encouragement Her Majesty's Government gives to exports of low import content.

Our need is to increase exports of every kind since they all contribute to our overseas earnings. The Government's services are therefore available to all exporters alike. Even if it were practicable it would not be useful to differentiate between them according to the import-content of their products.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the failure of the negotiations for entering the European Economic Community he will now agree to abandon annual quotas and fix import quotas of from three to five years, with provision for a substantial annual increase under the trade treaties with various Eastern European States.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to the hon. Member for East Ham, South on 19th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will allow half this country's annual increase in the consumption of oil to be obtained from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, provided the oil is sold through a British distributing agency, in order to make possible a substantial increase in Soviet orders for British ships and other goods.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he had during his recent visit to the United States of America on methods of reducing or eliminating the United Kingdom's adverse balance of trade with that country; and whether he will make a statement.

My discussions with the United States Administration were concerned with the reduction of tariffs and other barriers to international trade, including trade between this country and the United States. We do not aim to balance our trade country by country, but to achieve a satisfactory position in our total external balance of payments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in line with the recommendations of the Council of Representatives of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, he will now revise the list of open general licence items with a view to the adoption of a single list applicable to imports from the Eastern bloc countries and from other non-Commonwealth countries.

Experience has shown that the present arrangements satisfy our requirements in our commercial relations with these countries and I see no reason to make a change.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many development districts in Scotland have as yet received no benefit from the operation of the Local Employment Act; and what steps he will take to enable them to secure industrial development.

The answer to the first part of the Question is five. On the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton) on 7th March by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many development districts in Scotland have been removed from the list since the operation of the Local Employment Act; and how many of these have been subsequently added again to the list.

None. Two areas have been placed on the stop list, of which one was subsequently restored to the active list.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in Scotland in the programme of site clearance and improvement works on Board of Trade industrial estates in development districts; and what is the estimated total cost of such work.

Detailed schemes and estimates for thirteen estates are now being drawn up and work is expected to start within the next six weeks; the total estimated cost is about £300,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs have been provided, and how much money spent, in development districts in Scotland in each six-monthly period since the passing of the Local Employment Act in April 1960.

Total expenditures under the Local Employment Act in Scotland by six-monthly periods to 30th September, 1962, and for the five months ended February, 1963, have been £1·1 million, £2·3 million, £8·8 million, £9·7 million, £5·3 million and £5·8 million, respectively. I cannot give the number of jobs actually provided in these periods, and in any event the jobs arising in any period would be the result of expenditure in an earlier period. I am, however, circulating below a table setting out total assistance offered by six-monthly periods, and jobs estimated to arise from that assistance.The following table sets out total assistance offered for projects in Scotland under Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Local Employment Act (excluding offers declined) by six-monthly periods since 1st April, 1960:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many development districts in Scotland have a current rate of unemployment of more than 7 per cent.; and whether he is satisfied that the provisions of the Local Employment Act are adequate to deal with the problem.

Twenty-three development districts in Scotland had a rate of wholly unemployed exceeding 7 per cent. at the February count. The Local Employment Act remains the main instrument of our policy to encourage the introduction and expansion of industry in Scotland, but the Government have taken steps to increase the general rate of expansion in the economy and thus reduce the level of unemployment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated number of new jobs expected to be provided in the Glasgow group of employment exchange offices in 1962–63; and what percentage of the unemployed in Glasgow will be so provided with jobs.

There are now 3,000 jobs in prospect in the Glasgow Group from new building and other developments known to the Board of Trade. Board of Trade Estimates cover less than half the whole field of civil employment; but the 1,000 jobs expected to arise from projects which should mature by the end of 1963 represent 4·2 per cent. of the average number of wholly unemployed in Glasgow in 1962.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the administrative class officials in his Department are working exclusively on distribution of industry policy.

Seventeen administrative class officials are concerned exclusively or almost so with this work. In addition, my Controllers for Scotland and for Wales together with seven Regional Controllers in England devote a major part of their time to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimate of expenditure in Scotland under the terms of the Local Employment Act in 1963–64; and how this compares with 1960–61, 1961–62, and 1962–63, respectively.

Estimates of expenditure under the Local Employment Act are not prepared separately by country, but the amounts spent in Scotland were £3·4 million in 1960–61, £18·5 million in 1961–62 and £11·1 million in 1962–63 (eleven months ended 28th February), representing 29, 56 and 60 per cent. respectively of total expenditure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason for the marked increase in imports of cotton cloth in January, 1963; and if he will express these January, 1963, imports as a percentage of imports in January, 1962, and of the monthly average for 1962.

Imports of cotton cloth in January, 1963, were 24 per cent. above imports in January, 1962, and 36 per cent. above the monthly average for 1962. The increase, which follows on exceptionally low imports in December, 1962, was due mainly to higher imports from the Commonwealth countries whose exports to Britain are subject to annual ceilings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion by quantity of cotton cloth imports in January, 1963, was duty-free; and what proportion of home production was represented by total imports in that month.

About 65 per cent. of total imports of cotton cloth during January, 1963, were admitted duty-free. Total imports from all sources were approximately 55 per cent. of domestic production. These, however, included substantial imports for re-export after processing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories are currently being built in Scotland; what is their total floor space; and how many inquiries have been made for them by prospective tenants.

Twelve advance factories of a total area of 401,000 sq. ft. are in course of preparation in Scotland. So far eighty-nine industrial concerns have been given particulars of these factories and there have been twenty-five visits to sites.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the creation of an invisible earnings council to promote an increase in invisible earnings, in the same way as the various export councils have promoted an increase in visible exports.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to protect British agriculture from the import of subsidised farm products from Common Market countries.

British producers can always apply for duties under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957, if they can show that dumped or subsidised imports from any source are causing or threatening them with material injury.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to redress Great Britain's adverse balance of trade with Venezuela, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Government's services for exporters are available for these countries, as are also those of the respective Export Councils. It is not, however, an objective of our policy to try to balance our trade country by country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask the Cinematograph Films Council to hasten their consideration of the memorandum on monopolistic power in the film industry, submitted by the Federation of British Film Makers, and to report to him thereupon.

I know that the Cinematograph Films Council is aware of the importance of completing as speedily as possible its consideration of the representations that have been made to it by the authors of this memorandum and by others.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the 1,000 jobs now in process of being produced in Cornwall under the Local Employment Act will come to the Falmouth area and the Camborne-Redruth area, respectively.

About 800 are in prospect in the Camborne-Redruth area. There are no new industrial jobs in prospect at present in the Falmouth area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the present high level of unemployment in Bacup; and what steps he is taking to introduce new industries into the town.

I am aware that total unemployment, including a large proportion of workers temporarily stopped, has been at a high level during January and February. I am willing to give sympatheic consideration to applications for industrial development certificates for suitable projects which could not go to a development district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will treat those areas which are suffering from losses of population in the same way as areas suffering from unemployment.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what procedure is followed by his Department when industrialists make inquiries as to establishing industries in development areas.

When the scope of the industrialist's requirements has been established, my Department encourages him to visit the development areas of his choice, and any others which can offer the facilities he is seeking. These visits are planned by the Board of Trade Regional Offices with the object of enabling the industrialist to obtain all the information necessary to reach a commercial judgment on the best location for his project.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider taking over as a site for new industry the Thor missile base which will be dismantled later this year at North Pickenham, Norfolk.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans for new industry for the Dereham, Downham and Swaffham areas of Norfolk.

I am prepared to consider applications for industrial development certificates for suitable small projects which could not go to development districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the main lines the Government are taking in the preparatory committee which is making preparations for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to be held not later than early 1964; whether Her Majesty's Government will support proposals for a large-scale expansion of trade and economic world co-operation; and whether consideration has been given to the desirability of an agreed Commonwealth policy at this conference.

Her Majesty's Government is giving full support to the important work of the preparatory committee in preparing the ground for the conference. It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to work for the expansion of trade and for international economic co-operation. They will keep in touch with the other Commonwealth Governments regarding the conference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the activities of pools clubs, details of which have been sent to him.

No. I think the public are fully aware that these pools are in the nature of a gamble. If there is fraud the criminal law provides the remedy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual cost of removing Purchase Tax on typewriters.

Purchase Tax has not been chargeable on typewriters since 10th April, 1946.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority he collects duty on football pools when the matches appertaining thereto are not played.

By Section 1 of the Betting Duties Act, 1963, Pool Betting Duty is charged on certain bets, including those made on football pools. If the bet stands, so does the duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to introduce legislation to extend the lending powers of the Public Works Loan Board.

Legislation will be introduced in good time before the exhaustion of the Public Works Loan Board's existing lending powers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Robbins Committee to make its Report on Higher Education.

I hope this summer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he will not introduce legislation to make Scottish banknotes legal tender.

In view of the number of different Scottish bank notes (there are at least 20 different types) I do not think that such legislation would be welcomed by the majority of the residents of Great Britain. In principle, there is much to be said for one set of notes circulating as legal tender as at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from Purchase Tax sweets and chocolate for diabetic patients.

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget decisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to the proposal that depreciation allowances should be allowed for commercial buildings as for industrial buildings as a charge for tax purposes.

My hon. Friend will not, I am sure, expect me to do more at this date than to say that this like all other representations in respect of taxation will be borne in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on which dates in 1962 the Pool Promoters Association gave information to the Treasury regarding the possibility of further reduction of staff in the pools industry on Merseyside unless steps were taken regarding betting taxation; what reply he gave; and what action was taken.

Deputations from the Association were received by Treasury Ministers on 16th March, 1962, and 11th December, 1962, when this question, among others, was raised. Treasury Ministers agreed to consider the various possibilities of taxation of betting and gaming, but the hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the amount of tax obtained, in each group, in a full financial year if a tax on personal wealth were introduced in the following categories, namely, ½ per cent. on all personal wealth from £20,000 to £50,000. 1 per cent. from £50,000 to £100,000, 2 per cent. from £100,000 to £200,000, 3 per cent. from £200,000 to £300,000, 4 per cent. from £300,000 to £400,000, and 5 per cent. on over £400,000, respectively.

I am arranging to obtain the best information that I can and will then write to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the new rating valuations are a cause of special hardship to those living on fixed incomes, and to owners of bungalows; and if he will give consideration to measures to alleviate these hardships.

I have noted what my hon. Friend says, but he will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to replace the assessment form now in use for notifying taxpayers of their tax liability on supplementary income not charged on Pay As You Earn codings by one which contains sufficient information to enable the taxpayer to judge whether he has been lawfully assessed to pay tax on the amounts and at the rates shown on the form.

In this relatively uncommon type of case the notice of assessment should be read along with the taxpayer's P.A.Y.E. Coding Notice, which shows how his allowances have been given. A new form is, however, under consideration, for use where the supplementary income assessed is a pension, which will enable the position as regards the amount of allowances given in the coding to be made clearer than on the present form. As regards the rate of tax, the hon. Member will appreciate that the amounts charged at the various rates under P.A.Y.E. cannot be known until after the end of the year. If a taxpayer is in any doubt as to the position the tax office will supply a full explanation of the assessment, on request.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the standard rate of Income Tax would have to be increased if rates were abolished and the cost of charges now borne by the rates was transferred to the Exchequer.

The required increase in the standard rate of Income Tax would be about 2s. (assuming proportionate increases in the reduced rates). This takes account of the fact that the abolition of rates on business premises would involve an increase in the taxable profits of trade and industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual cost to the Exchequer of the removal of Purchase Tax on soft drinks.

Over £10 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with regard to the growth target set up by the National Economic Development Council, what measures are contemplated to prevent excess of imports resulting from economic expansion.

The Government's policy for sound expansion is based on making the economy fully competitive. This will limit the growth of imports and increase exports. The implications of the growth objective for the balance of payments are among the matters under discussion by the National Economic Development Council, who have already stressed the need to increase exports substantially.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give special attention in his Budget to the claims of those living on small fixed incomes.

My right hon. Friend will certainly bear in mind the claims of this section of the community, but I cannot anticipate his Budget statement.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is taking to stop the decline in the manpower of the coal mining industry.

I announced last July certain measures for improving the efficiency of the industry. These will help to maintain the markets for coal, on which the size of the labour force in the long run depends.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the estimated amount of liquefied natural gas that the Gas Council will be allowed to import into this country for the years 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively.

There will be no imports this year. The Gas Council's scheme provides for about 300, 330 and 350 million therms, respectively, in the three following years.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will issue a direction to the Central Electricity Generating Board to spend the large sums allowed to them for capital expenditure primarily on conventional power stations generating maximum power at an economic cost, in view of the experience of the last month.

No. The Board is acting in accordance with the programme of capital development the general lines of which I have approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to investigate the need for a review of shop hours.

I have no such investigation in mind at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to seek legislative authority to enable local authorities to control the means of escape from unlicensed clubs in the case of fire.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to add to the reply given on 4th February by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Mr. R. W. Elliott).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Commonwealth citizens are grouped at London Airport with aliens for immigration purposes; and whether he will take steps either to treat them as a separate group, or to group them with United Kingdom citizens, and thus enable stricter control of alien immigrants.

Since the Commonwealth immigration control came into operation on 1st July last distinctively-marked interview desks have been available at London Airport for the use of Commonwealth citizens subject to control. At No. 3 Building they can now approach the control as a separate group, and similar arrangements will be made at No. 1 Building when structural alterations are complete in a few weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend the remission of the sentences of imprisonment now being served by Mr. Brendan Mulholland and Mr. Reginald Foster.

I have carefully considered the circumstances of these cases and the representations which have been made to me, but on the information at present before me I regret to say that I can find no grounds to justify my recommending the exercise of the Royal Prerogative to remit these sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent, under his regulations made under Section 9 of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1951, unregistered individual pharmacists and unregistered proprietor pharmacists employing a registered pharmacist, respectively, can continue to dispense dangerous drugs after the removal of their names from the Pharmaceutical Register; and how many there have been in those categories since 1st January, 1963.

Dangerous drugs can be supplied to the public only by a duly registered pharmaceutical chemist carrying on a business of retailing drugs, or by a body corporate carrying on such a busi- ness and employing a registered pharmacist as a manager of registered premises. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who have attempted to enter the United Kingdom since the enforcement of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act have now been refused entry under the provisions of that Act; and how many of these came from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 140; of this number, 31 were citizens of Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of persons who enter the country illegally in the course of a year.

There is no basis on which I could make a reliable estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached a decision in the case of Chief Enahoro; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made in the House this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached a decision on the representations made to him that the age limit for collectors in street and house to house collections in the London area should be reduced from 18 to 16 years.

Yes. I have decided to make this change as regards the Metropolitan Police District, and the Police Authority of the City of London have agreed that it should extend to their area. Amending regulations will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made in the negotiations for a settlement between the Maldivian Government and Suvadive Republic; and if he will now make a statement.

Since my answer of 7th February we have received assurances from the Maldivian Government that British lives and property are no longer in danger. In consequence, the Royal Naval vessel to which reference was made in an answer given by the Civil Lord of the Admiralty on 28th November has been withdrawn. Otherwise I have nothing to add to my reply of 7th February.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now give permission for a new primary school in Llandaff to replace the Llandaff Church in Wales School; and why this new school was not included in his 1964–65 building programme.

This project was considered for the 1964–65 Schools Building Programme, but a place could not be found for it as there were more urgent needs to be met.

asked the Minister of Education what provision has been made for new primary schools in Cardiff in his school building programme for 1964–65.

None.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects to come to a decision on the salaries of teachers in colleges of advanced technology.

Very soon.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the number and capacity of day-teachers' training colleges in England and Wales for the years 1962 and 1963, respectively; and what will be the estimated number of such colleges for the years 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively.

Eight day colleges had nearly 1,200 students in 1961–62 and nearly 1,700 in 1962–63. There will be at least twelve day colleges in 1963–64, excluding the newly established day units associated with mainly residential colleges. I do not exclude the possibility of some further development on these lines in the succeeding years, but the main increase in day students will come from intensive use of their facilities by the training colleges generally.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers will be produced by the Swinton Day Training College for the years 1963, 1964 and 1965.

I estimate that 115, 70 and 75 students at Swinton Day Training College will complete the course in December 1963, 1964 and 1965, respectively. When the College opened in January 1961, it was decided to begin with an exceptionally large entry, followed by correspondingly smaller entries in the next two years, since this would benefit the schools more rapidly than intakes divided evenly over three years. The College expects another exceptionally large entry to training in January, 1964.

asked the Minister of Education how many vacancies exist for teachers in the Dearne Valley constituency area, up to the latest available date.

The local education authority informs me that, in the six urban district areas forming the Dearne Valley parliamentary constituency, 15 additional teachers in the primary schools and one additional teacher in a secondary school are required to bring the staffing up to the establishment permitted by the local education authority.

asked the Minister of Education why he has approved school-building projects for the Nottinghamshire Education Authority in 1964–65 representing less than 15 per cent. of the value of the projects submitted to him by the authority, compared with 22·6 per cent. for England and Wales as a whole.

In compiling the programme I examined the merits of individual projects and approved those for Nottingham that I considered to be most urgent, having regard to the needs of other areas.

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the school-building projects submitted to him for 1964–65 by the Nottingham Education Authority, showing separately those which he has approved and those not approved.

The following projects were approved:

• Fernwood Infants' School (instalment).
• Padstow Secondary School (extensions).
• Bilborough Grammar School (extensions).

asked the Minister of Education how many school classes in the area of Nottinghamshire Education Authority are now oversize; and how many children are in those classes, showing separately in each case the figures for primary and secondary schools.

The following is the information;

asked the Minister of Education why new premises for the Burford Primary School, Nottingham, have not been included in the school building programme since 1955, when a mining subsidence report frustrated building plans.

The 1955 project was mainly intended for pupils from the Best-wood Park Estate, for whom provision has since been made on the estate itself. Later proposals for new buildings at the Burford School have been mainly intended for the improvement of conditions, and more urgent projects have had to be preferred. No proposal at Burford was made for the 1964–65 programme.

asked the Minister of Education when he received a communication from Mr. J. Bruce of Granby House, Wingate, County Durham, on whether an employee of the Durham County Council can sit as a member of the Easington Rural District Council in view of the latter authority having become an Excepted District for Education; and what decision he has reached on the matter.

In reply to his letter received on 11th March, I have informed the writer that when the Scheme of Divisional Administration becomes law he will, in my view of the law, no longer be eligible to be a Councillor of the Easington Rural District Council.

asked the Minister of Education what school building he has authorised the Bournemouth Education Authority to start in 1964–65; and what projects are already under way.

I have not been able to include any project from Bournemouth in the 1964–65 major school building programme. St. Katherine's Church of England Primary School was included in the programme for 1962–63 but has not yet started.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the urgent need for an extension to the Bournemouth School for Boys; and whether, in view of the fact that he has been unable to authorise a building programme in 1964–65 to the extent of £965,000, he has any alternative proposals for meeting this need.

I know that the accommodation at this school falls short of requirements. But I have had to balance its needs against those of other schools elsewhere, and I have decided that other projects are more urgent.

asked the Minister of Education how many private fee-paying and grant-assisted schools, recognised by him as efficient, are available for boys and girls in the area covered by the Bournemouth Education Authority.

Four boys' and four girls' independent schools and one direct-grant grammar school for girls.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the French Government have recently given a subsidy of £900,000 to a French shipbuilding company to take a contract from British shipbuilders for a 21,000 tons Norwegian passenger liner by undertendering by £500,000; in view of the unemployment in the North-East shipbuilding yards, what help he proposes to give to British builders to meet this competition, and find work for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

I know that a subsidy helped a French shipyard to get this order last summer. We take every opportunity of bringing home to Governments which subsidise their shipyards the harmful consequences of their policies, and we left the French in no doubt about our strong feelings on this occasion.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that difficulties arise from the present distinction between reversible and non- reversible three-wheeled vehicles in his Regulations about driving licences and driving tests; and what action he will take to remedy this.

Yes. I propose making new Regulations which will remove the distinction by placing all three-wheeled vehicles (except motor cycle combinations) in a separate driving licence group. This means, however, that new stocks of driving licences are having to be printed and it will be three or four months before I can make the change. When the new Regulations come into force, any driver holding a substantive driving licence covering either the present Group A or Group G will be able to drive any such three-wheeled vehicles without having to pass a further driving test.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what action he is taking to ensure that Article XV of the International Convention for regulating the fisheries in the North Sea is observed.

None of the incidents investigated during 1962 warranted action for contravention of this Article. It is one of the duties of the Fishery Protection Squadron to enforce Article XV of the 1882 North Sea Convention.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that 22,971 persons were registered in February as unemployed at five exchanges in the inner London area, what steps he is taking to reduce this number.

The numbers unemployed were affected by the severe weather and we can expect a reduction. My local officers are trying to help those who are seeking other work by submitting them to suitable vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average weekly cost of maintaining the guard at Windsor Castle; and what proposals he has for reducing it.

The cost to the Army of maintaining the guard at Windsor Castle is the cost of transporting it from Pirbright: this is about £80 a week. In a few months time I expect the guard to be provided once again from a unit stationed in Victoria Barracks, Windsor. There will then be no extra cost in maintaining the guard.

asked the Secretary of of State for War why he decided to release ex-Sergeant M. Ellingham, who has now indicated that he will not stand for election in the Rotherham by-election; how many applications for release in this connection are now outstanding; and why a spokesman of his Department issued a statement to the Daily Herald to the effect that the Advisory Committee would no doubt take Ellingham's action into account when considering future applications.

I released Sergeant Ellingham from the Army after the Advisory Committee, set up as a result of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Elections, had found that his application for release for the purpose of contesting a Parliamentary Election was a bona fide application. One application from a soldier who wishes to leave the Army to contest a by-election is still to be considered by the Advisory Committee. I regret that the spokesman for my Department was inaccurately reported, and did not say what was attributed to him in the Daily Herald of the 8th March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what report he has received from his scientific advisers with regard to increases in radioactive fallout above the Atlantic Ocean; and what action he proposes to take.

The amount of fallout activity in the air and deposited on the ground in the United Kingdom shows a seasonal fluctuation which usually reaches a peak in the late spring and early summer. There are indications that radioactivity above the Atlantic Ocean has recently increased, probably in accordance with the seasonal fluctuation which is likely to be manifested later in this country. I note that B.O.A.C. have stated that the amount of radioactivity they have measured is still infinitesimally small and that there is no danger to passengers, crew or ground staff.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether the Medical Research Council is studying all reported cases of food poisoning in this country to establish whether or not chemical spray residues in food carry any responsibility for such poisoning.

No. The investigation of cases of food poisoning is a matter for the local authorities in association with the Public Health Laboratory Service and the public analysts, but the Council investigate relevant problems of a fundamental nature. They are also carrying out a continuing programme of basic research into problems bearing on the toxicity of agricultural chemicals to human beings. The Research Study Group on Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture and Food Storage stated in their Report published in 1961 that they could find no evidence of chronic effects from the ingestion of traces of pesticides in food.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the accuracy of the American long-range weather forecasts, which rely on computing machinery for their results, if he will employ similar methods using computing equipment, in order to produce more reliable results in this country.

I do not think the United States Weather Bureau would claim that their long range weather forecasts are consistently better than those of the Meteorological Office.I understand the Weather Bureau uses an electronic computer in the preparation of its 30 day "Outlooks" to calculate the trend of the weather over the first few days only. This does not appear to have any very significant effect on the success of the forecast for the period as a whole.The present need in the problem of long range forecasting is for a better understanding of the dynamics of large-scale weather processes rather than for advanced computing equipment.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will temporarily postpone the date of 1st January, 1964, mentioned in paragraph 51 of the White Paper on Aviation Safety, Command Paper No. 1695, by which candidates for the commercial pilot's licence must have attended approved courses.

Yes. My right hon. Friend recognises that this date will not now give adequate time to consider and act on any recommendations from the Committee on Pilot Training now sitting under the Chairmanship of the Duke of Hamilton. The requirement will therefore be postponed for not less than twelve months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the means of communication between the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and the outside world; and whether the possibility of air communication has been examined.

At present shipping of the British Phosphate Commissioners provides the main physical link with the outside world. Occasional flights are arranged by courtesy of the Royal New Zealand Air Force which has a flying-boat base in Fiji. However agreement has recently been reached with Fiji Air- ways to start, probably in the autumn, a fortnightly air service from Fiji to Funafuti in the Ellice Islands and Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. A Colonial Development and Welfare grant of £37,440 (90 per cent. of the total cost) has been made for the renovation of the two war-time airfields and the provision of certain other aviation facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of Hong Kong's visible external trade with all countries for the four-year period 1959–62 was represented by imports; what proportion of Hong Kong's trade with the United Kingdom for the same period was imports; and if he will give corresponding figures for the 1955–58 period.

Hong Kong imports and exports on a comparable valuation are not available but, on the basis of imports valued c.i.f. and exports valued f.o.b., in the period 1959–62 the proportions were 60·1 and 53·3. The corresponding proportions in the period 1955–58 were 60·5 and 62·6.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the abduction of a group of Cuban-American fishermen off the Bahamas by a Cuban commando on 21st February.

A Bahamas police party and a unit of the Royal Navy investigated the islands from which the abduction is alleged to have taken place. They found no evidence in support of the allegation; and no other convincing evidence has been furnished which could form a basis for action by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Health what are the names of the members serving on the independent committee of inquiry established by the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to look into matters concerning Hurstwood Park Hospital; what are their terms of reference; and if he will make a statement.

I understand the Committee's terms of reference are not finally settled. The members are Mr. H. E. Park, Q.C., Dame Elizabeth Cockayne, D.B.E., and the Hon. W. S. Maclay, C.B., O.B.E., M.A., M.D., M.R.C.S., F.R.C.P.

asked the Postmaster-General why he did not use his powers under Section 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement Act to prohibit a broadcast in the national interest in the case of the British Broadcasting Corporation's telerecorded interview with M. Bidault.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer on 12th March to the Questions of the hon. Members for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Webster) and Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling).

asked the Postmaster-General what instructions he issued to the post offices in Northern Ireland regarding the latest posting times for shamrock to reach exiles in the Commonwealth and the United States of America in time for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

None. Information about the approximate times taken by surface and air mail to get to overseas countries can be obtained from any post office or from the Post Office Guide and Air Mail Leaflet. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any difficulty which may have arisen I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Postmaster-General how many sub-postmasters receive remuneration of under £4 per week, £5 per week, £6 per week and £7 per week, respectively; and if he will take steps to raise their minimum remuneration.

The approximate numbers are: Under £4 nil; £4–5 5,800; £5–6 1,600 and £6–7 1,000. The remuneration of sub-postmasters is at present under discussion with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that multures no longer have any relation to the facts, since in many cases the mills to which they refer no longer exist; and whether he will introduce legislation to rationalise this situation.

Multures have become traditional ground burdens in certain areas of Scotland and I have no proposals for amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further plans he has for increasing capital investment in Scotland.

In addition to established programmes of capital investment, supplementary investment totalling over £20 million has now been authorised. The Prime Minister's reply to the hon. Member for Battersea, North, on 5th March gave details of some £10 million of this; since then I have authorised further items of £6 million by the South of Scotland Electricity Board to strengthen their transmission and distribution network, £½million by the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board for the same purpose, £2½ million for additional road works, and £1 million for the construction of a new reservoir by Glasgow Corporation. The great bulk of this is for work to be done in the next two years, and is an earnest of the Government's determination to stimulate the Scottish economy while longer-term measures are being deployed.