asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give the amounts of unemployment and National Assistance payments to the registered unemployed and to those on short time for each of the weeks during January and February, 1963.

Figures are compiled on a monthly basis. During January slightly over £8 million was paid in unemployment benefit, and payments of National Assistance at employment exchanges were about £3¼ million. The corresponding figure for February are £9¼ million and £3½ million. The figures do not distinguish payments to workers on short time.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give the number of persons suffering from emphysema in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, and at the latest available date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the 105,000 new cases of cancer which were recorded for the year 1960, and the present incidence of this disease, whether he will make a statement on his further investigations relating to the track and kill cancer treatment which is being pursued at the Royal Northern Hospital, London; and what steps he proposes to take in this regard.

I have nothing to add to my replies to the hon. Member on 10th December and 28th January.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make the necessary arrangements to provide con- stant attendance in their homes for poliomyelitis victims who depend on an iron lung for survival.

This is beyond the scope of the domiliciary services.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total number of principals providing general medical services, the number of assistants, and the number of trainee assistants, respectively, working in the National Health Service on 1st July, 1960, and 1st October, 1961, respectively; what increase in each category has taken place between the two dates; and what was the increase in the total number of general practitioners of all types providing general medical services.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Table on page 187 of my Department's Annual Report for 1961.

asked the Minister of Health, what was the total amount added to the general practitioners' central pool in respect of expenses in each of the past three years.

£29,341,000 (including £145,000 in respect of 1959–60) in 1960–61. Figures for subsequent years are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health how many additional maternity beds have been provided in the Greater London area in the last six months.

Twenty, which will be in use next month, and nine already open.

asked the Minister of Health what work is to be carried out in the first phase of the Hospital Plan at the West Hill and Joyce Green Hospitals, Dartford; what will be the cost; and what is the timetable.

At West Hill, ante-natal and children's beds, and accident and emergency department with full supporting services; £625,000; by 1967. At Joyce Green, new operating theatres and upgrading of certain wards, already completed; covered corridors and lifts, this year; further works, being planned; £225,900.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the average number of occupied beds in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area has been reduced by 776 since 1958; and what are his plans to reduce the waiting list of adults awaiting hospital treatment.

Yes, but the number of patients treated annually has risen by over 20,000. Steps to reduce waiting lists are recommended in a hospital memorandum just issued, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people became unemployed as a result of the partial closure of the Scottish factory of Remington Rand.

649 workers registered as unemployed. The number still unemployed at 11th March was 501.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls who left school in Birmingham in December last have failed to find employment; how many boys and girls will be leaving school in Birmingham at Easter; and how many jobs are expected to be available for these school leavers.

71 out of 3,900 boys and girls who left school at Christmas were registered for employment in mid-February. About 3,400 are expected to leave school at Easter. I cannot forecast how many jobs will be available, but I am hopeful that there will be no undue difficulty in finding them suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of persons engaged in the hosiery and knitwear industry registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in the Midlands region on the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures one month and 12 months earlier, respectively.

At 11th February, 1963, 2,686 people whose last employment was in the hosiery and other knitted goods industry were unemployed in the Midlands region. The comparable figures for one month and 12 months earlier are 2,179 and 916 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons whose last employment was in the hosiery and knitwear industry have been accepted for industrial retraining at the Leicester and Birmingham centres, respectively, during the past 12 months; how many of these have been accepted through employment exchanges in Nottinghamshire; how many have completed the course; for which trades they are being retrained; how many have obtained employment; and in which trades they have found jobs.

Nine such persons, of whom one applied through an employment exchange in Nottinghamshire, were accepted for retraining at the Leicester centre and none at the Birmingham centre during the past twelve months. Five have completed their training, three in milling machine setting/operating, one in capstan setting/operating and one in motor repairing: all five have been placed in the trades for which they were trained. The remaining four are still undergoing training.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of hosiery workers registered as unemployed at the Sutton-in-Ashfield employment exchange on 11th March, 1963; and what were the comparable figures one month and 12 months earlier, respectively.

One hundred and ninety-one, 166 and 63 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies for hosiery and knitwear workers, male and female, respectively, were notified at the Sutton-in-Ashfield employment exchange on 6th March, 1963; and what were the comparable figures one month and 12 months earlier, respectively.

The following is the information required:

SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE HOSIERY AND OTHER KNITTED GOODS: VACANCIES OUTSTANDING
	Males	Females	Total
6th March, 1963	1	33	34
6th February, 1963	Nil	11	11
7th March, 1962	5	58	63

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed persons registered at the Sutton-in-Ashfield employment exchange on 11th March, 1963; what was the number of vacancies notified on the nearest date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures one month and 12 months earlier, respectively.

The following is the information required:

Sutton-in-Ashfield Employment Exchange.
		Numbers unemployed	Outstanding vacancies
March, 1963	…	800	193
February, 1963	…	1,056	141
March, 1962	…	427	494

BRANCH A OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS, 1952–62
(NORMAL OPEN COMPETITION)
—	Number successful	Independent public schools	Direct grant schools	State schools	Not classified(a)
1. Total	207	143 (70%)	17 (8%)	42 (20%)	5
2. 1st class degree (b)	66 (32%)	41(29%)	8 (47%)	17 (40%)	—
3. 2nd class degree (b)	125 (60%)	94 (66%)	9 (53%)	22 (52%)	—
4. Others (including unclassified).	16	8	—	3	5

NOTES:(

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls, since they left school, have not been found employment, at the latest available date; and how many of them have applied for National Assistance.

10,642 out of the 149,600 Christmas leavers and 1,453 out of 542,000 Summer and Easter leavers were still registered on 11th February. Figures are not available of those who have applied for National Assistance, but the number is likely to be small.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the export of animals destined for slaughter by the Moslem ritual involving the use of the knife without previous stunning.

No. Moslems are forbidden to eat meat from animals which have not been ritually slaughtered, and the practice is lawful in this country for those of the Moslem faith.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that Air France, a French State-run Corporation, is requiring other European airlines, as a condition of the creation of Air Union, to purchase only French aircraft and engines in future; and whether he will make representations to the French Government to protect the legitimate trading interests of the British aircraft industry.

As negotiations for the creation of Air Union are, I understand, still in progress I cannot say what conditions, if any, will be imposed on the subject of a common equipment policy. I am however aware of the point which my hon. Friend makes and the matter is being watched.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consideration he is giving to the possibilities of developing Prestwick Airport as an alternative to Renfrew Airport.

The possibility of developing Prestwick as the airport for Glasgow to take the place of Renfrew has been considered more than once. While there might be some economic advantages in having a single airport to serve South-West Scotland, Abbotsinch is clearly a more convenient location for the traffic now using Renfrew.

asked the Minister of Education what has been the total expenditure by his Department on publicity about the danger to health of cigarette smoking since the publication of the report of the Royal College of Physicians last March; and if he will give the expenditure during the preceding 12 months.

None, since the cost of the national campaign is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. The cost of local campaigns is being met by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Education what use has been made by his Department of television programmes, television advertisements, sound radio programmes, Press advertisements and commercial poster sites for publicity about the dangers to health of cigarette smoking since the publication of the report of the Royal College of Physicians last March; and what has been the respective expenditure on publicity by his Department in each of these five media.

None, by my Department. Local education authorities have been informed about posters, recordings, films, booklets and other aids which are available to bring home the facts to pupils in schools and other educational establishments.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools are at present under construction in Leicestershire; how many school places they will provide; and how these figures compare with the rest of the country.

Two new schools were under construction in Leicestershire at 31st December, 1962, together with four second instalments of post-war schools and one remodelling project, which will provide in all 2,480 places. At the same date the total number of places under construction in all major school building projects in England and Wales was 364,000.

asked the Minister of Education what estimates for school building were presented by the Leicestershire Education Authority for the years 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64 and 1964–65; and what amounts he authorised for those years.

The figures are as follows:

—		Estimated cost of projects proposed	Estimated cost of projects approved
		£000	£000
1960–61	…	437	279
1961–62	…	424	228
1962–63	…	785	392
1963–64	…	1,465	429
1964–65	…	1,824*	431
*Subsequently increased to £2,224,000.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the programme of work for the Royal Naval Dockyard, Devonport, for the next five years.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the programmes of work for Her Majesty's Dockyards so far ahead as to do so would reflect fleet plans.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when the reorganisation and civilianisation of the Royal Naval Dockyard, Devonport, is to commence on the lines of that already in operation at the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham.

The reorganisation of the professional departments of Devonport Dockyard is not planned to commence before 1965 but we shall be reviewing the position in 1964. In the meantime a series of improvements in the detailed planning and control of work have already been put into effect, and will continue at a rate depending largely upon the speed at which staff trained in the new procedures can be made available.The principle underlying the reorganisation is that it shall be on a functional basis but professionally qualified naval officers will continue to be employed in dockyard posts as heretofore, except that as the Admiralty Engineering Service develops it is hoped to employ also some professionally qualified civilian mechanical engineers.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many workshops are being modernised in Her Majesty's Dockyards; and what is the total cost of new plant, machinery and equipment.

The number of workshops in the Royal Dockyards at home and abroad affected by the currently planned modernisation programme is 19. Total cost of replacement and modernisation of machinery, plant and equipment in these workshops and elsewhere in the Royal Dockyards in each of the four financial years from 1st April, 1960, to 31st March, 1964, is:

1960–61	…	£1,929,356 (actual).
1961–62	…	£2,108,314 (actual).
1962–63	…	£2,108,000 (expected out-turn)
1963–64	…	£2,279,000 (estimated).

The bulk of this expenditure is for new machinery, plant and equipment.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why there is to be a cut of £12,000 in the marriage allowances for 1963–64.

This small reduction in a total of over £8 million is the net effect of several small fluctuations, in particular of a slight reduction in the average age of ratings as the result of increased recruiting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applicants recommended for appointment by the Civil Service Commission to Branch A of the Foreign Office and the administra-

ADMINISTRATIVE CLASS RECRUITMENT
SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES, 1952–62
(NORMAL OPEN COMPETITIONS)
Year				Number successful	1st class degree	2nd class degree	Others
1952	…	…	…	66 (3)	22	41 (3)	3
1953	…	…	…	65 (9)	25 (3)	37 (4)	3 (2)
1954	…	…	…	63 (7)	22 (2)	36 (4)	5 (1)
1955	…	…	…	39 (6)	19 (4)	18 (2)	2
1956	…	…	…	45 (5)	20 (3)	23 (2)	2
1957	…	…	…	46 (3)	14 (1)	30 (2)	2
1958	…	…	…	46 (7)	10 (3)	35 (4)	1
1959	…	…	…	60 (12)	19 (5)	38 (7)	3
1960	…	…	…	74 (20)	23 (7)	49 (12)	2 (1)
1961	…	…	…	85 (23)	25 (6)	58 (15)	2 (2)
1962	…	…	…	69 (15)	25 (6)	41 (8)	3 (1)
Total		…	…	658 (110)	224 (40)	406 (63)	28 (7)
Percentage of total successes					34·0 per cent.	61·7 per cent.

NOTE: Figures in brackets represent candidates successful for both administrative class and Foreign Service who may have gone into either service. They are included in the totals.The information asked for in respect of Branch A of the Foreign Service was given by my right hon. Friend, the Lord Privy Seal in reply to the hon. Member on 18th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express as percentages of total Government expenditure the proportions taken by the defence services, the social services, and interest on the National Debt, respectively, in 1952–53 and 1962–63.

As the out-turn for 1962–63 is not yet available the table below gives the information for the calendar years 1952 and 1962. The figures relate to current expenditure only and are expressed as percentages of total Central Government current expenditure, including expenditure from the National Insurance Funds, as shown in Table 36 of the Blue Book, National Income and Expenditure, 1962. The figures for social

The following is the information asked for in respect of entry to the administrative class of the Home Civil Service through the Open Competition:services cover education, child care, school meals, milk and welfare foods, the National Health Service, National Insurance, pensions and assistance, but relate only to direct expenditure. In addition, a large part of the grants made to local authorities is devoted to expenditure on the social services, but since this element cannot be isolated for 1962, the total grants for both years have been shown separately in the table.

Percentages
—	1952	1962
Proportion of total Central Government current expenditure devoted to:
Defence	32·1	23·6
Social services	29·1	35·3
Grants to local authorities	8·8	12·6
Debt interest	13·2	11·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total revenue received on the Purchase Tax paid on the compulsory 12½ per cent. uplift on stationery when a printer sells stationery to himself.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what approach he has received from the Corporation of the City of Carlisle in regard to redevelopment plans for the city centre.

No formal submission has been made but I understand the Council is considering a scheme for the redevelopment of an area near the town hall. The Department's officers have advised the Corporation on matters of form and procedure.

APPEALS UNDER 1947 ACT
—		1961			1962
			Allowed without time limit	Allowed with time limit	Dismissed	Allowed without time limit	Allowed with time limit	Dismissed
Residential caravan sites	…	—	3	3	1	1	5
Holiday caravan sites	…	—	—	1	—	—	—

ENFORCEMENT NOTICES DEALT WITH ON APPEAL UNDER THE 1960 ACT
—		1961			1962
			Confirmed	Varied	Quashed	Confirmed	Varied	Quashed
Residential caravan sites	…	—	2	2	1	2	1
Holiday caravan sites	…	—	—	—	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make regulations under the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act to prohibit

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the shortage of caravan sites in Warwickshire, and of the congested state of the present sites; how many appeals have been made to him, under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, or the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960, in respect of caravan sites in the county; what was their nature; and what action he has taken in this matter.

My right hon. Friend has has had no representations about shortage of caravan sites in Warwickshire. The responsibility for taking any necessary action rests on the local authorities concerned in the first instance.The available statistics relate only to decided appeals, not lo appeals as they are made. During 1961 and 1962 my right hon. Friend decided appeals concerning caravan sites in the administrative county of Warwickshire as follows:the use of red squill, phosphorus, arsenic, barium carbonate, strychnine, except for moles, brucine, fluorine compounds, thallium sulphate, sulphur dioxide and ANTU.

I am considering, in the light of the views submitted to me by the various interested bodies I have consulted, the poisons to be included in regulations under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the local feeling and the number of recent escapes of prisoners from Wakefield Prison, what steps are being taken to tighten security and make it more effective at the prison.

Inquiries are still proceeding into the two recent incidents at Wakefield Prison, in the course of which five prisoners escaped; I will write to the right hon. Member as soon as these inquiries have been completed.

asked the Postmaster-General how many faults in the telephone service were reported during January and February; what percentage of these were attributable to the severe weather conditions; how these compared with the figures for the same period last year; and whether he has been able to assess the additional cost of work which has had to be undertaken because of the bad weather.

I am sorry that the precise information the hon. Member asks for is not available without special inquiry. Telephone fault reports during the severe weather were, however, about 30 per cent. above the normal figure. No cost figures for the additional work are yet available.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the time needed to carry out detailed investigations of possible sites for gas underground storage, when he will recommend the introduction of a comprehensive Bill on gas underground storage; if he will state the total sums so far expended on exploration, drilling, and research; how much will have to be spent prior to the completion of detailed investigation; and in which areas exploration is being conducted.

I cannot yet say when it will be possible to introduce legislation. The Gas Council has spent about £1·3 million on the combined search for natural gas and underground storage formations, but it is not possible to make any precise allocation of the costs between the two. The amount necessary to complete the detailed investigation of potential sites depends on the results of the exploration programme and the number of formations identified as suitable for such investigation. Exploration is at present taking place within a broad belt of country between Stow-on-the-Wold and the Wash.

asked the Minister of Power, in respect of the two applications received under Section 1 of the Pipelines Act, 1962, if he will state in each case what is intended to be carried, the proposed diameter of the pipes, the total length of the pipelines, and the points between which they are to be laid.

One application is for a pipeline linking the Thames Estuary, Birmingham and Merseyside, with spurs to Nottingham and Northampton, to convey light petroleum products. The total length is 317 miles and the diameter of the pipes will vary between 8 and 14 inches. The other application is for a pipeline to convey chalk slurry between a quarry at Kensworth near Dunstable and a cement works at Rugby. The proposed diameter of the pipeline is about 10 inches and the length approximately 53 miles.Information about the two schemes has appeared in the newspapers and the

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will state the actual capital cost of every nuclear power station built in the United Kingdom and compare these figures with the original estimated costs; and what are the estimated costs of nuclear power stations scheduled to be built in the United Kingdom;

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision Her Majesty's Government have taken to reduce the breeding potential of grey

This information for England and Wales is given in the tables below. I have asked my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland to write to my hon. Friend about the Scottish position.seals on the Orkney and Farne Islands; and by what amount.

The Consultative Committee on Grey Seals and Fisheries, whose report was published on 5th March, recommended that, with a view to reducing the breeding stock of grey seals in Orkney by one quarter over a period of five years, 750 should be shot in the first year and thereafter a number to be determined in the light of experience. In accordance with these recommendations in the 1962 close season, permits were issued to seal hunters in Orkney to kill seals in certain islands and 746 were shot. I shall consider what arrangements should be made for next season in the light of advice contained in the report and of any further advice which may be given by the Consultative Committee. Action in relation to the Fame Islands is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many remand centres have been set up in Scotland under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act, 1949; where they are situated; and what is the total number of remand centres at present planned.

Two units have been opened, at Longriggend (near Airdrie) and Polmont, to take young men under 21 on remand before trial or sentence who would otherwise be detained in Barlinnie Prison. It is intended to provide as soon as possible remand centres for the detention of all persons between 14 and 21 who are remanded or committed in custody for trial or sentence, and the search for further premises or sites for this purpose is proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many detention centres there are in Scotland; and where they are situated.

One: at South Inch House, Perth. It is hoped to open a second detention centre at Friarton, Perth, next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action is taken to help improve home conditions, where that is necessary, when a child is committed to an approved school; and by whom it is taken.

An approved school welfare officer visits children's homes soon after their committal and subsequently as necessary. Where the home conditions make it desirable, the welfare officer gives guidance and advice and on occasion material help, and in appropriate cases he enlists the assistance of social and charitable services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent social case-workers are attached to approved schools; and whether he intends to appoint such personnel to schools not at present employing them.

Most approved schools already employ internal social welfare staff and managers of other schools are being strongly encouraged to do so. In addition, all the schools are served by psychologists and by external welfare officers, who carry out after-care.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for assisting British participation in international trade fairs and in trade weeks and similar promotion activities during the next 12 months.

The main event of the year so far as British industry is concerned will be the British Industrial Fair and Fortnight organised by the Federation of British Industries at Zurich in September. The Board will he making a substantial contribution towards the costs of the Fortnight. The Board of Trade is itself organising British Pavilions at the International Trade Fairs at Poznan, Salonika and Lima. The official programme also includes collaboration with trade associations at 19 specialised trade fairs mainly in Europe, in both E.F.T.A. and E.E.C. countries, and commercial inquiry stands at six major fairs.The main trade week events besides Zurich will be the British Weeks in Munich in June, Adelaide in September and Hobart in March, 1964. A particular feature in the U.S.A. is the organisation of British store promotions in various cities.

asked the Minister of Transport what improvements are to be made this year to the A.63 trunk road between Selby and Hull.

The dual carriageways between Hull and the North Ferriby bypass are being continued westwards as far as Welton. Work will be completed by the late summer of this year. Preparatory work is in hand for a by-pass of Elloughton which is also in my current programme.As I announced last November, I have appointed consulting engineers to carry out a survey to determine the future trunk road pattern between Hull and the Great North Road. Further major improvements to A.63 will depend on the results of this survey.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of a recent decision in the Scottish courts, he will amend Section 232 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, so as to enable any police officer to ask an owner of a motor vehicle the name of the person driving it at any material time, without the necessity of having written authority from the chief officer of the police; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the implications of the recent decision to which the hon. Member refers.