asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what instructions have been given to the Medical Research Council in regard to research projects for which it has given grants in the past but which the universities are not able to take over.

No such instructions have been given. This is a matter for the Council itself to handle in consultation with the University Grants Committee and the individual universities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what steps the Medical Research Council are taking to attract more research workers into the field of research into mental illness.

The Medical Research Council has in the past three years established four new research units and one new research group, in addition to the four units already existing, which are concerned with aspects of this problem. In addition to this extension of the openings for research workers in this field, the development of psychiatric research is encouraged by the Council's schemes of research grants and training awards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what research the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is undertaking into means of producing maps more quickly; and when the Geological Survey and Museum will be able to expedite the present rate of map publication.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has recently awarded a development contract to a Scottish firm for the application of automatic data processing methods to mapping. This, if successful, should accelerate map production. The Geological Survey and Museum will take all possible advantage of this, as of any other, method of speeding the publication of its maps. It is not possible to say whether and when the publication of maps can be expedited.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what recommendations have been made by the Committee on Hydrological Research; and what action has been taken on them.

On the recommendation of the Committee a research unit was set up last year to study the water balance of catchment areas especially in relation to land management. The Committee has reviewed the whole field of hydrology and agreed on demarcation of functions between the many different interests working in this field.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress is being made with the construction of buildings and the drawing up of a plan of research for the Meat Research Institute.

A site has been chosen and architects' drawings prepared. The Director of the new Institute is preparing a research programme which is expected to be a development and extension of the meat research programme of the Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science on what basis the decisions to concentrate research and development on the integral boiling reactor and the Vulcain reactor were arrived at; and if he will make a statement.

Both the Vulcain and the Integral Boiling Reactor system are compact designs which yield a number of economic advantages compared with others considered. They require a smaller space in the ship, can be built in workshops on land and installed in a ship as a packaged unit. This should simplify the building of the vessel and enable a quicker turn-round for refuelling. Both systems are thought to have potentially lower running costs than the other systems examined so far.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what consultations he has had with colleges of London University regarding the hourly rates paid to student demonstrators holding Department of Scientific and Industrial Research postgraduate research fellowships or studentships.

None.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what recent figures he has for the emigration of scientists from Scotland; and what investigations are being made into the causes.

None. But this is an aspect of the general problem of reinvigorating the Scottish economy now being examined by the Scottish Development Group.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress has been made with the operation of the advanced gas-cooled reactor; and if he will make a statement.

Since I replied to the Question of the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 26th February, the advanced gas-cooled reactor at Wind-scale has continued to operate satisfactorily at a net output of 28 MW(E).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many civil development contracts have been awarded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; how many applications have been refused; and how many are awaiting decisions.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has awarded three civil development contracts. Three firm applications have been refused and twelve firm applications are under examination. A number of inquiries are also under consideration, some of which may lead to development contracts in due course.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what proposals he has received from the Director or Council of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research for another and more powerful particle accelerator; and if he will make a statement.

No such proposals have yet been received, but it is understood that the Organisation is studying such a project.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what proportion of the expenditure of the Atomic Energy Authority and the four research councils is spent on fundamental research in nuclear physics; and by what method this figure was calculated.

In 1962–63 the estimated expenditure on fundamental nuclear physics of the D.S.I.R., and by the Atomic Energy Authority, mainly through the National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science, amounts to about 10 per cent. of the total Civil expenditure (capital and current) of the Atomic Energy Authority and the Research Councils. This calculation excludes the Authority's expenditure on applied and objective basic research.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he is aware of the evidence of the relationship between lung cancer and the methods of processing tobacco, details of which have been sent to him; and whether he will ask the Medical Research Council to examine this relationship and report upon it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he is aware of fresh evidence, details of which have been sent to him, that the way the tobacco plant is processed, rather than the tobacco itself, is the cause of lung cancer; and if he will ask the Medical Research Council to examine this evidence.

The Medical Research Council considered some years ago the hypothesis that lung cancer is associated with the smoking of cigarettes made from tobacco which has not been fully fermented. The available evidence, however, did not support that hypothesis. I have not received any fresh evidence on the subject, although I have naturally studied the Press report which the hon. Lady sent me.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science when work on the Dragon project at Winfrith Heath will be complete; and what will be the likely benefits from the investment there by the Atomic Energy Authority.

The construction of the reactor at Winfrith Heath should be completed early in 1964; the programme of work extends for eight years in all, that is, until 1967. The Authority will share in the results of all work on the Dragon high temperature gas-cooled reactor system including that in the other participating countries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will instruct the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to move the Tropical Products Institute from the Gray's Inn Road to the North-East.

No. The Tropical Products Institute was sited at its present specially adapted and equipped premises in 1957 because it requires close contact with a number of institutions in the London area and to be readily accessible to overseas visitors passing through London.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the expenditure on research into the dangers of cigarette smoking by the Medical Research Council since the publication of the report on this subject by the Royal College of Physicians last March; how this expenditure compares with that of the preceding year; and if he will give particulars of that research.

It is not possible to to estimate such expenditure separately, because research into the effects of cigarette smoking on health forms part of larger programmes of work carried out by the Council in relation to cancer, bronchitis and cardiovascular disease. Summaries of this work are given in the Council's Annual Reports.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether a decision has yet been made on the provision of a linear accelerator for Glasgow University.

Yes. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is offering very substantial grants to Glasgow University for Professor P. I. Dee's electron linear accelerator programme. These will total up to £1,087,000 for the capital cost of the machine and its buildings and the running costs of the programme until 31st July, 1967.A grant of £748,000 for the accelerator and its associated buildings is being offered now to Glasgow University and further grants of over £300,000 will be offered shortly for equipment and the recurrent costs of the programme up to 31st July, 1967.Tenders for the machine can be invited immediately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what proposals be has had from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research/National Research Development Corporation Joint Development Committee for the establishing of additional science-based industries in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

It is not the function of this Committee to make recommendations for the setting up of new industries, but to consider specific proposals for research and development projects. It is for industry to put forward projects for assistance through the civil development contracts procedure but to qualify these must be technologically advanced.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the number of boys engaged as apprentices by the Atomic Energy Authority in each of the past three years; and what proportion of them was engaged in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 12th March to the hon. Member far Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel). These recruits were all boys.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the number of young men and women engaged as technologists by the Atomic Energy Authority in each of the past three years; and what proportion of them was engaged to work in Scotland.

The number of recruits to the Engineering and analogous classes in the Authority was 314 in 1960, 169 in 1961 and 54 in 1962; of there totals, approximately 5 per cent., 8 per cent. and 20 per cent. were recruited respectively in each year for work in Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the number of scientists recruited by the Atomic Energy Authority in each of the past three years; and what proportion of them was recruited to work in Scotland.

The number of recruits to the Scientific Officer and Experimental Officer classes in the Authority was 384 in 1960, 305 in 1961, and 192 in 1962; of these totals, approximately 5 per cent., 15 per cent. and 114 per cent. were recruited, respectively, in each year for work in Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what is the cost of scientific research and development being carried out by private enterprise firms on behalf of the Government; and what proportion of this is being spent in Scotland.

The Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, in Table V on page 34 of their Report for 1961.62 (Cmnd. 1920), estimate total Government expenditure on research and development in private industry at £177 million. The proportion of this which is being spent in Scotland is not known.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what is the Medical Research Council's expenditure from public funds on cancer research in the current financial year.

It is estimated that the Council will spend about £750,000 from public funds in 1962–63 on research directly related to cancer. This figure is slightly lower than that for 1961–62 because some of the activities previously supported by the Council have reached the stage of development where it has been appropriate for responsibility for them to be taken over by the universities and hospitals.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he will take immediate steps to guide to the North-East the expansions to the electronics industry, following the decision to launch a British space satellite, in order to create in this region a new growth point of modern scientific application.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the third satellite in the Anglo-American cooperative programme of scientific space research. No contracts in respect of the construction of this satellite have been placed by the Minister of Aviation, but he will no doubt bear in mind the contribution which might be made by the North-East, subject to the overriding need to meet the rigorous requirements of technical reliability and the launching timetable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what proposals he has had from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research/National Research Development Corporation Joint Development Committee for the further development of the machine tool industry in Scotland.

It is not the function of this Committee to make recommendations for the setting up of new industries, but to consider specific proposals for research and development projects. It is for industry to put forward projects for assistance through the civil development contracts procedure but to qualify these must be technologically advanced.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what information is being collected and disseminated by his Department regarding places available in the public and private sectors of industry for the practical training of Commonwealth students.

My Department is responsible for meeting requests for training made through overseas Governments and I appreciate the response of public and private industry in this country. I do not think it will be practicable to draw up and circulate lists of training places which might be available irrespective of expressed demands from Governments.However, with the full support of my own and other Departments, the Federation of British Industries is convening a private conference in April, which will be attended by representatives of a number of British firms, to consider various aspects of the problem of placing overseas students for practical training in industrial concerns in this country.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether he will now make a further statement on the Report of the Working Party on Medical Aid to the Developing Countries.

Yes. A paper setting out the Government's decisions and observations on the Report is being published today, and copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether his Department has yet been able to begin providing technical assistance to Latin-American countries; and what his plans are for expansion there.

My noble Friend the Foreign Secretary and I are anxious to play an effective part in the provision of technical assistance to Latin-American countries, and the foundations have now been laid. So far we have established a mission to advise on tropical and subtropical agriculture in Bolivia, we have sent or are sending experts to Venezuela and Brazil; and are receiving trainees from Brazil and Argentina.During the forthcoming financial year we are planning to operate on a substantially larger scale in an increasing number of Latin-American countries. The officer in charge of this work in my Department is at present on an extended tour of Latin-America in this connection.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation to what extent his Department is able to meet this country's obligations under the Colombo Plan to provide technical assistance; and what conclusions he has reached about the kind of assistance needed in that area.

Our technical assistance under the Colombo Plan will increase by 20 per cent. next year. The emphasis in the Colombo Plan is on economic and social development. While it is for the countries of the area to say what they most need for this purpose, we have indicated the kind of assistance likely to be most effective.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made in persuading the Essex County Council to deal with the unsatisfactory situation of gypsies and other travellers, particularly during the winter months; and what proposals there are for dealing with this problem in that county.

Discussions have been held with the Essex County Council, who, I understand, have been making their own investigations and are now considering the provision of sites.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how much of the increase in the rate levy for the County Borough of Bournemouth is attributable solely to revaluation.

None. What the revaluation does in Bournemouth is to redistribute the rate burden, not to increase it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what discussions he has had with manufacturers to restrict the production of foaming detergents which cannot be destroyed at sewage farms.

Methods of reducing the difficulties, including foaming, caused by synthetic detergents, are being studied by a Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents, which includes representatives of all the major manufacturers and of my Department. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Committee's last report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, pending the amalgamation of Greater London boroughs, he will encourage those boroughs that are to be amalgamated to institute within their prospective amalgamated areas joint committees for common action in meeting the housing needs of applicants on their present' respective housing lists.

Yes, indeed. My right hon. Friend wrote in January to all the authorities in Greater London pointing out that some of the proposed borough groups had already set up ad hoc joint committees and commending this arrangement to the remainder. He welcomes this opportunity of saying that if such committees care to put to him an agreed housing programme to carry them over the next three years he will be glad to consider their proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make it an obligation that, if and when any portion of the present green belt around London is used for building purposes, other land is added to it at least equivalent in area to the area used for those purposes.

This is not necessary; the additions which will certainly be made to the green belt will be far larger than any areas which may be taken out for development.

asked the Minister of 'Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to receive the Report of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire on the holiday industry.

I have received the Report and it is being published tomorrow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the agreement made by both sides of the electrical contracting industry at its joint negotiating committee was referred to the National Incomes Commission; and if Her Majesty's Government intend to refer future agreements of national joint committees to the same body and to make the committees recommending and not responsible negotiating bodies.

The purpose was to provide an independent examination of the full facts about the agreement which can show whether or not it can be reconciled with the public interest and, in particular, with plans for economic growth which depend on greater efficiency, competitive costs and growing exports. This action in no way diminishes the responsibilities of joint negotiating bodies, which are moreover themselves also free to seek the Commission's advice on considerations of the public interest before agreements are reached.

asked Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the periods for repayment of the loans made by the Treasury to each of the nationalised industries; and whether they vary having regard to the life of the project for which these loans or parts of them were requested.

Exchequer loans to the nationalised industries are repaid over a period related to the average life of the assets of the industries concerned. This varies from industry to industry and the repayment periods are shown below:

British Overseas Airways Corporation	7 years
British European Airways Corporation
National Coal Board	15 years
Electricity Council	25 years
Gas Council
South of Scotland Electricity Board
British Railways Board
London Transport Board
British Transport Docks Board
British Waterways Board
Transport Holding Company
Post Office
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	30 years

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases he is examining individual schemes for capital expenditure by nationalised industries; what is the nature of his examination; and what is the nature of each scheme.

Insofar as consultation between the nationalised industries and the Government is necessary on individual capital schemes, this is primarily a matter for the Ministers concerned with the industries. It would be contrary to established practice to give details of any discussion between those Ministers and their colleagues, including myself.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to make a statement about university building programmes for the years 1964 and 1965.

Under the programme announced on the 25th January, 1961, for the four years 1962–65, authority was given for the universities to make Exchequer-financed building plans on a basis of starts of £30 million in each of the years 1964 and 1965, but the figures were not finally settled, though they were not to be less than £25 million. I have already announced an increase of £5 million in the building starts programme for 1963 to meet increases in building costs.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make a statement about the recently completed Report of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries on their survey of provincial museums.

Yes. The Report is to be published tomorrow. Her Majesty's Government are most grateful to Lord Rosse and his colleagues on the Standing Commission for undertaking this invaluable survey.The Report makes a considerable number of recommendations covering a wide field. It is our intention to consult the various other authorities and interests concerned about those recommendations which directly affect Her Majesty's Government. In these consultations we shall continue to bear in mind the principle, which was the basis on which the survey was undertaken at the invitation of Lord Amory when Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the upkeep of local museums and galleries in terms of normal capital and revenue expenditure is and should remain the responsibility of local bodies.Meanwhile we have felt able, in advance of detailed consideration of the Report as a whole, to accept in principle, subject to the approval of Parliament, the Standing Commission's recommendation that the Exchequer should give financial assistance, not exceeding the amount subscribed locally, towards the initial and continuing expense of schemes for mutual help and co-operation between museums in the same area in matters such as conservation. Provision of £10,000 for this purpose has been made in the Estimate for Grants to the Arts for 1963–64. The manner in which this money can be made available and the precise purposes to which it should be put will be the subject of consultation with those concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a Darlington firm was promised an order to supply British rails to the Sudan, but the Rail Makers International Cartel ruled that it was Japan's turn to supply these, with the result that the British firm lost the order; and what action he is taking to break this restrictive practice, which takes work from Great Britain, and also hampers the export trade.

No. So far as my right hon. Friend is aware, no order for rails has yet been placed. The second part of the hon. Member's Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the effects the rundown of the three Services in Malta will have upon the unemployment problem on the island; and if he will arrange that the introduction of new industries to absorb the redundant personnel will keep pace with the rundown of the services and thus prevent an extension of the prevailing difficulties.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 5th February to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to establish a British Council branch in Zanzibar.

The British Council intends this year to second to the Government of Zanzibar a British Council librarian, to assist with the development of a national library service, who will also be in charge of a small British Council Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what discussions he had with the European landowners in the Nandi Salient during his recent visit to Kenya; and what settlement of this problem is now proposed.

I discussed this question with a representative of the Nandi Salient farmers. This is one of the questions to be discussed with Kenya Ministers when they come to London later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much money has been made available from the United Kingdom for the purpose of land resettlement in Kenya since the Lancaster House Conference; and what additional sums have been given to balance Kenya's budget or for other development projects.

The British Government have agreed to make available over five years loans of up to nearly £12 million and grants of up to approximately £9 million towards land resettlement schemes in Kenya. Of this it is expected that about £4½ million will have been disbursed by the end of June, 1963. In addition the Colonial Development Corporation has agreed to provide a loan of £1½ million towards certain settlement schemes in which the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is also participating. Total disbursements of United Kingdom budgetary and development aid (including

UNITED KINGDOM AID TO KENYA
(Kenya Financial Years—July-June)
£ million
—	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63 (Estimate)
Recurrent Aid:
(a) Grant-in-aid of expenses of administration	—	2·0	0·2
(b) Famine and Flood Relief Assistance	—	1·5*	1·3
(c) Cost of Military Forces	1·0	1·9	2·2
(d) Payments under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme	—	1·5	2·3
Development Aid†:
(a) Grants	1·6	2·4	4·1
(b) Loans	4·3	4·4	5·9
Investments by the Colonial Development Corporation (gross)	—	0·3	0·2
*Including £260,000 paid direct to British Service Departments.
† Including land settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when and by what means he proposes to allow the people of the new region to the eastern side of the northern frontier district of Kenya to declare for or against their union with Somalia.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on 12th March.

asked the Postmaster-General what would be the estimated annual cost of giving retirement pensioners a television licence at the reduced rate of £2 per year.

I do not know how many retirement pensioners have television sets or how many households include retirement pensioners who would be eligible, but I estimate the cost of the concession the hon. Member has in mind at about £5 million.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now implement the recommendation of the Radcliffe Committee on Monetary Reform 1959 by introducing a Postal Giro system in the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the Adjournment debate on 4th March.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Crown post offices are situated in the Birmingham 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, and 23 postal districts; and what proposals for the installation of such offices in these postal districts are envisaged in the near future.

One—the Erdington Branch Office in Postal District No. 23. There are at present no proposals for providing additional Crown Post Offices. There are 22 Sub-Post Offices in the districts in question.

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the 1,500 Brighton telephone subscribers who gave up their telephones in 1962 did so while remaining in the same residence; how many gave as their reason for giving up the telephones that this was due to inability to meet increased costs; and how many stated that they were single or elderly people.

I am sorry that records giving this information are not available; and my right hon. Friend does not think a special enquiry to extract the information would be justified.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones in the city of Aberdeen and district are still outstanding; how many have been fulfilled; and how these figures compare, respectively, with the corresponding figures during each of the last live years.

At present 16 applications are on the waiting list and 264 are under enquiry or being met. 1,241 applications have been fulfilled since 1st April last year. The following are the corresponding figures for each of the previous five years.

—	Applications on the waiting list	Applications under enquiry or in course of being met	Applications fulfilled during the previous 12 months
31st March, 1958	71	178	1,384
31st March, 1959	42	200	1,083
31st March, 1960	79	275	1,153
31st March, 1961	88	343	1,519
31st March, 1962	90	190	1,379

asked the Postmaster-General how many shared telephones are now in existence; and what are his plans for reducing the number of shared lines.

On the 31st December last there were 1,100,000 shared telephones. During the past five years the number has been reduced by 100,000, and the cable system is being progressively expanded, but I cannot say when it will be possible to relax the condition under which residential subscribers have to share their lines when necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are on the waiting list for telephones in the Macclesfield and Congleton areas; and how many have been on the waiting list for more than six months.

There are 12 applications on the waiting list at Macclesfield and 149 are under inquiry or being met. There are none on the waiting list at Congleton where 47 are under inquiry or being met. Six applications at Macclesfield have been on the waiting list for more than six months.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks have been installed in the past five years in the Birmingham 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, and 23 postal districts; how many are to be installed in the near future; and where they will be situated.

Twenty-one telephone kiosks have been installed in these districts in the past five years. Two more are to be installed in the near future, at Beechmont Drive and at Court Lane, both in Erdington, Birmingham 23.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephones were installed in each of the last five years in the postal districts of Birmingham, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, and 23; how many are expected to be installed this year; and how many will be on the waiting list for each postal district.

The information is not available by postal districts. The five postal districts mentioned are, in the main, served by the Great Barr, Erdington, and Birchfield Telephone Exchanges. For these exchanges the figures are:—

Telephones installed
1958	…	…	…	1,487
1959	…	…	…	1,133
1960	…	…	…	1,161
1961	…	…	…	986
1962	…	…	…	1,023

I hope to install about 1,700 telephones this year.Leaving aside applications under inquiry or being met, the present waiting list numbers, 715, and I hope to reduce this by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's Government will amend the terms of reference of the departmental Committee inquiring into the law and practice in England and Wales relating to jury service, so to make it an interdepartmental Committee with an order of reference including Scotland within the scope of its inquiry.

No. The Scottish law relating to jury service differs in many respects from that in England and Wales, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I feel that it would be better not to complicate the Committee's work by extending their terms of reference to include Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the Solicitor-General of Nigeria, now in this country, over allegations of the intimidation of witnesses in the Nigerian treason trial, contained in evidence submitted to him on behalf of Chief Anthony Enahoro, which has a material bearing on whether or not Enahoro should be extradited.

The Solicitor-General of Nigeria is, I understand, no longer in this country. I have studied with care the statements referred to by my hon. Friend, but I cannot find that on the basis of this material, much of which has been placed before a court of law in Nigeria, there are sufficient grounds for not returning Chief Enahoro to stand trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring in early legislation to amend the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881, so that Commonwealth citizens are not less favourably treated than aliens in extradition cases.

Any question of making changes in the Fugitive Offenders Act has wide implications which would require detailed consultation with other Commonwealth governments. I can therefore give no undertaking of early legislation but, as a first step, I am proposing in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and for the Colonies to examine the Act afresh in its relationship to the future pattern of the Commonwealth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a study has now been made of the further evidence submitted by the hon. Member for Easington in regard to the sources of Mr. Mulholland's information based on a statement by the spy Vassall while in prison; and, in view of this indication of the source, if formal advice will now be given for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy in the case of Mr. Mulholland.

Mr. Mulholland was sentenced in consequence of a certificate by the Tribunal presided over by Lord Radcliffe that he had refused to give the Tribunal certain information that it was necessary for the Tribunal to have for the purposes of its inquiry. It was made clear by the court in passing sentence that should the information reach the Tribunal from some other source this would change the situation and might provide grounds for reviewing the sentence of the court. I am authorised by Lord Radcliffe to say that the information received by the Tribunal from Vassall since he gave evidence in public is not such as to alter the situation in this respect.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when the design for the new aircraft carrier to take the place of H.M.S. "Victorious" will be completed; and when it is proposed to commence the building of the new carrier.

Design should complete about the end of 1964. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence explained in the House on 4th March, the Government have not yet decided whether in fact to order a replacement for H.M.S. "Victorious".

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what steps are being taken to recruit and train electricians essential to a modern navy.

Current recruiting targets, which we are at present meeting, have been fixed to meet foreseen requirements and to make up a shortfall in earlier years. Sufficient facilities exist to enable all new entries to be properly trained, but it will necessarily take some time before the effect of our successful recruiting is felt in the Fleet.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the decision of Her Majesty's Government to place the future deterrent in a submarine, what action will be taken to give special training to employees in Her Majesty's Dockyards so that they are able to maintain and repair these vessels.

As I announced when introducing the Navy Estimates on 11th March, we have decided to develop Rosyth Dockyard for nuclear submarine work. We shall embark on schemes of special training for the workers concerned in step with the time table which I was able to indicate in broad terms, during the course of my remarks.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the fact that the average wage in the South-West of England is 25s. 6d. below the national average, and that the wage of the average worker in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, is 25s. below that of workers in private yards in Great Britain, what action is being taken to give the unskilled worker a living wage.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made concerning negotiations in progress on dockyard wages during the course of the recent debate on the Navy Estimates. It will be remembered that not long ago we introduced for the lowest paid workers a supplementary "time workers' allowance" of 6s. per week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the amount of moneys made available to the Pwllpeirian Experimental Station for agriculture and forestry purposes during the last five years.

The amount spent during the last five years is as follows:

£
Capital expenditure	36,000
Current expenditure	60,000
N.A.A.S. and other salaries	25,000
Total for the five years	121,000

Receipts from sale of produce etc. amounted to £51,000, giving a net expenditure during the last five years of £70,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the total acreage of Air Ministry land at present subject to agricultural use; and what proportion of this land is still held under requisitioning powers.

About 80,000 acres, none of which is requisitioned.

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the amount spent by each local education authority on the assistance to teachers in school meals supervision; and what proportion of expenditure per meal this represents for each local education authority.

This information cannot readily be made available. In any case the figures for individual authorities are not strictly comparable with each other and would therefore be misleading if published. The overall cost of providing midday supervisory assistance during 1961–62 (the latest year for which the actual cost is known) was £2·1 million, representing 2·8 per cent. of the gross expenditure on dinners in maintained schools.

asked the Minister of Education what would be the cost of raising the standard of assistance to teachers in school meals supervision in all schools to that under the local education authorities which attain the highest standards.

To provide mid-day supervisory assistance to the full standard allowed by Ministry Circular 349, which indicates the limits within which assistance may be provided at present, would cost approximately £500,000. I am discussing the revision of the present arrangements with the associations of local authorities and teachers.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is able to announce building programmes for the colleges of advanced technology for 1964–65 and 1965–66.

In 1964–65, I shall be authorising starts of major and minor building projects in the colleges of advanced technology to the value of £4 million. Subject to review in the light of the economic situation, I shall authorise starts to the same value in 1965–66. This is double the amount of work authorised to start in 1962–63 and 1963–64, and should enable the colleges to make effective progress with their expansion plans.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of the total for England and Wales, was the total school population of Leicestershire in each of the last 10 years; and, in each of the same years, what percentage of the total expenditure on primary and secondary school major building programmes was allocated to that county.

The information is as follows:

Financial Year (i)		Leicestershire as a percentage of England and Wales
			Number on registers in maintained primary and secondary schools (ii)	Major primary and secondary school building programme (iii)
1953–54	…	0·83	1·62
1954–55	…	0·83	0·70
1955–56	…	0·84	0·66
1956–57	…	0·86	0·89
1957–58	…	0·87	2·27
1958–59	…	0·89	0·64
1959–60	…	0·90	0·84
1960–61	…	0·92	0·48
1961–62	…	0·93	0·40
1962–63	…	0·95	0·70
		(estimated)

NOTE: Column (iii) is based on the value of the major programmes announced for each of the years and not on actual starts or capital expenditure.

asked the Minister of Education what has been the percentage increase in the number of school children since the war in Leicestershire, and in England and Wales.

Between 1946 and 1962, numbers in maintained primary and secondary schools rose as follows:

Per cent.
England and Wales	39
Leicestershire (geographical county)	43
Leicestershire (administrative county)	58
Leicester C.B.	26

asked the Minister of Education how many vacancies for teachers there were in primary, secondary modern, and grammar schools, and technical training colleges erected in the county of Northumberland at the end of February, 1963.

I understand from the Northumberland local education authority that, at the end of February, 1963, they were up to their quota of full-time qualified teachers and, on the basis of their current staffing establishment, had no vacancies in their primary or secondary schools. As commonly occurs, however, some posts were filled on a temporary basis pending a permanent appointment. There were five vacancies for teachers among the authority's major establishments of further education.

asked the Minister of Education how many school-leavers elected to remain at school for a further period in the county of Northumberland, at the end of February, 1963; what kind of instruction is available for them; and whether adequate teaching staff is available.

I understand from the local education authority that in January, 1963, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 4,319 children over 15 in all types of secondary school of whom 1,314 are in secondary modern schools. They were taking a variety of courses designed to suit their needs. On

—	1937	1946	1949	1950	1952	1954	1957	1959	1960	1962
1. Number of Questions on Order Paper	85	128	108	124	148	109	104	131	93	89
2. Number of Questions answered orally	61	61	42	51	42	44	46	41	46	38
3. Number of supplementaries	70	73	86	76	70	67	64	52	65	63
4. Average number of supplementaries allowed per Question	1·15	1·20	2·04	1·49	1·66	1·52	1·39	1·27	1·42	1·66
5. Average length of supplementary*	5	5·1	6·5	6·4	8·3	8·5	8·9	10	9	9·9
6. Average length of Ministerial reply to original Question*	10	8·2	8·6	8·2	6·8	6·2	6·4	7·1	5·5	5·5
7. Average length of ministerial reply per supplementary*	3	3	4	5·6	5	4·7	6·1	7·8	7	6·5
*Figures refer to number of lines in Hansard.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons in Walsall were registered as totally unemployed at the end of February, 1963; and what were the comparable figures for the end of February, 1962, and 1953, respectively.

One thousand, seven hundred and fifty-two workers were registered as wholly unemployed at Walsall Employment Exchange on 11th February, 1963, compared with 1,102 on 12th February, 1962, and 536 on 16th February, 1953. On 16th February, 1953, 279 workers also were registered as wholly unemployed at Bloxwich Employment Exchange part of whose area is now included in that of Walsall Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were registered as unemployed at the Ashington, Morpeth, and Amble employment exchanges in the County of Northumberland, at the nearest convenient date.

Six hundred and fifteen, 394, and 241, respectively, on 11th March.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls were registered as unemployed at the Ashington, Morpeth and Amble employment exchanges in the County of Northumberland, at the nearest convenient date.

The numbers registered on 11th March were as follows:

			Boys	Girls
Ashington	…	…	55	85
Morpeth	…	…	23	34
Amble	…	…	21	36

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people are receiving public assistance in the area covered by his offices at Government Buildings, Ashington, Northumberland.

At 26th February last, 5,215 weekly National Assistance allowances were current in the area served by the Ashington office of the National Assistance Board, which covers the urban districts of Ashington, Newbiggin-by-Sea, Amble and Alnwick; a small part of the urban district of Bedlingtonshire; the municipal boroughs of Berwick-on-Tweed and Morpeth; the rural districts of Glendale, Belfort, Alnwick, Rothbury, Morpeth and Norham and Islandshire and part of the rural districts of Castleward.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people are receiving old-age pensions in the area covered by his offices at Government Buildings, Ashington, Northumberland.

I regret that statistics relating to the numbers of pensioners are not available for particular areas.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people are drawing National Health benefits in the area covered by his offices at Government Buildings, Ashington, Northumberland, at the nearest convenient date.

It is estimated that in the week ended 12th March, 1963, about 2,000 people were drawing sickness benefit from the National Insurance office in Ashington.

asked the Minister of Power why, in setting targets of performance with the nationalised industries, he requires electricity boards to produce a gross yield of 12½ per cent. on net capital employed, whereas gas boards are required to produce 10 per cent.

The financial objectives set for the gas and electricity boards were determined in the light of each board's particular circumstances, needs and capabilities in relation to the financial criteria laid down in the White Paper Cmnd. 1337. They took into account the fact that undertakings which are expanding fast and which have relatively large capital needs are expected to make a substantial contribution towards the cost of their capital development out of their own earnings.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give the names, situation, and full financial details, of all office buildings rented by his Department on behalf of the Government.

4,660 buildings, or parts of buildings, in the United Kingdom are leased by my Ministry to provide offices for Government Departments. I could not, therefore, undertake to publish a complete list. It would in any case be contrary to precedent to publish financial details of individual commercial transactions such as leases. Total expenditure on rents for offices in 1962–63 is about £8½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail each major and minor educational project he has approved for Coatbridge and Airdrie during the next five years; what will be the estimated cost of each project; and what will be the respective starting dates.

I have approved the following proposals for Coatbridge and Airdrie in the education authority's current programme which covers the period only until 1965–66:

(a) plans for Kirkshaws Roman Catholic Primary School, a new school estimated to cost £160,000 and to start in April 1965,

(b) plans for the extension and reconstruction of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Secondary School estimated to cost £125,000 and to start in May 1965,

(c) accommodation proposals for St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Primary School, a new school estimated to cost £160,000 and to start in April 1964.

(d) accommodation proposals for the reconstruction and extension of St. Patrick's High School, estimated to cost £500,000 and to start in May. 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will arrange for a preliminary technical study to ascertain whether the route of the Bridgewater canal south of Stretford into Cheshire, now very lightly used for carrying purposes, can be adapted to road requirements and to link up with the new proposed motorway north of Knutsford;(2) if he will arrange for a preliminary technical study to ascertain whether the routes, wholly or in part, of the non-carrying British waterways canals radiating north, east and south-east of Manchester can be adapted to the future road requirements of the area.

In general canal routes are not suitable for roads because they are too narrow and circuitous. Proposals for a comprehensive programme of road improvements for the South East Lancashire and North East Cheshire conurbation are being drawn up jointly by the local highway authorities concerned. I hope to receive their recommendations within a few months. If there were any canal routes in the area suitable for adaptation as roads I should expect them to take account of the possibilities. In the meantime I do not think it would be appropriate or worth while for me to arrange the studies suggested.