asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what level the respective costs of the guarantee payments for fat cattle, sheep and pigs are currently running; and how the costs compare with those of the corresponding period of last year.

The weekly figures for the four weeks ending 8th March this year and the corresponding period last year averaged: for cattle, £750,000 compared with £370,000; for sheep, £240,000 compared with £194,000; for pigs. £570.000 compared with £940,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now give an assurance that the final Anglo-Irish Sugar Agreement will be so drafted that it cannot continue in effect beyond 30th June, 1967, at the latest, and that if it is decided to modify it or renew it for a further term such renewal or modifications will be subject to approval by Parliament.

As the hon. Member knows, it is proposed that the Sugar Agreement with the Irish Republic shall expire on 30th June, 1967. The House would certainly be informed of any proposals to modify or extend the agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the unemployment likely to be caused in certain coastal areas owing to the effect of the cold winter on oyster laying; and if he will use his powers under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1962, to assist the restoration of this industry.

We are aware that the recent cold weather has caused heavy losses of oysters. But the powers given by the Sea Fisheries Act, 1962, are limited to areas affected by pests and diseases. When the precise extent of the losses can be seen my right hon. Friend will consider whether there is anything that can be done.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price of wheat per ton at the farm in January, 1962, and January, 1963, respectively; and what was the price of bread on the same dates.

In January, 1962, the average ex-farm price for wheat was £23 13s. 4d. per ton and the price of the 1¾ lb. standard loaf was 1s. In January, 1963, the prices were £17 3s. 4d. per ton for home-grown wheat and 1s. 0½d. for the loaf. It is however difficult to draw any conclusions from these figures since home-grown wheat accounts for less than 10 per cent. of the cost of the loaf.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the voluntary restrictions on the use of poisonous seed dressings and other pesticides and insecticides are working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement.

We are satisfied that the voluntary restrictions are being well observed and that, in consequence, there has been a marked reduction in the number of bird deaths caused by toxic seed dressings. The Agricultural Departments continue to investigate all cases of suspected poisoning. The Nature Conservancy is engaged on long-term ecological research and the experimental work of this Ministry continues. We shall be reviewing the position again this summer with the organisations who have an interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he authorised a Press announcement on 1st November, 1962, in which it was stated that the Irish Sugar Company will with certain exceptions buy at ordinary commercial prices from the British Sugar Board whatever imported raw sugar it requires for refining in the Republic, whereas from the draft agreement

—	lb. per head per annum
	1960	1961	1962 (provisional)
Beef—bone in (dressed carcase weight)	45·6	47·5	48·6
bone out (dressed carcase weight)	2·0	1·5	2·0
Mutton and lamb (dressed carcase weight)	24·6	25·0	24·2
Pork (dressed carcase weight)	19·4	19·2	22·2
Offal (product weight)	9·1	9·6	10·0
Canned meat (imported-product weight)	8·6	8·7	8·3
Bacon and Ham (side weight)	26·0	26·1	27·1
Total meat and bacon (edible weight)	114·8	116·6	120·7
Poultry (plucked and drawn weight)	12·5	14·0	14·6
Game and Rabbits (product weight)	0·6	0·6	0·6
Total meat, bacon, game and poultry (edible weight)	124·0	126·9	131·4

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual volume of fish imports into Great Britain from European Free Trade Area countries.

British imports of fish from the European Free Trade Area amounted in 1962 to 65·7 thousand metric tons.

The draft Agreement does not provide for the Minister to specify the price at which the Sugar Board is to sell raw sugar to the Irish Sugar Company under Article 7, but only the minimum annual quantity. These sales will therefore be subject to Section 1 (6) of the Sugar Act, 1956, which lays upon the Sugar Board the duty to secure the best price it can reasonably obtain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated amount of meat and poultry, calculated as carcase weight, consumed per head of the United Kingdom population in 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the sum of imports of fish into Great Britain in the last two years under the European Free Trade Area treaty; what they are likely to become in the next 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the proportion which will be landed in Scotland.

British imports of fish covered by the European Free Trade Association Convention in 1961 and 1962 amounted in total to 52·1 thousand metric tons. This figure excludes fish listed in Annex E to the Convention. No worthwhile estimate can be made either of the total for 1963 or of the proportion which will be landed in Scotland.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what assurances he has received from the firms selected to build Polaris submarines that they will be able to complete the submarines without delay caused by labour difficulties.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the announcement I made when introducing the Navy Estimates debate on 11th March.—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 673, c. 983.] Discussions with the firms on all aspects of the Polaris programme are still being pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many infantry units in the British Army, which are stationed in the United Kingdom, are below establishment strength; what extra duties devolve upon personnel because of manpower shortages; and if he will issue a general instruction that military duties should be related to the number of bodies which are available.

When brigades are not fully recruited much of the shortage has to fall on battalions in the United Kingdom which do not form part of the Strategic Reserve and have no immediate operational rôle. Two-thirds of the infantry battalions in this country are 50 or more men below establishment and all save two are in this category. The strength of units is taken into account in allotting duties to them.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many infantry battalions, based in the United Kingdom, are capable of carrying out the full duties, so far as personnel is concerned, which have been assigned to them by their command;(2) how many infantry battalions, stationed in the United Kingdom, are below strength so far as their military commitments are concerned.

All of the infantry battalions in this country are capable of carrying out the duties placed on them.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many guard duties have been assigned to personnel in the Scots Guards at Pirbright in recent 28-day periods; and how many duties would have been necessary had the battalion been at full strength.

Since the 1st September, guardsmen of the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards have been on guard on average for twenty-four hours every four days. If the battalion were at full strength, it would undertake a variety of duties, other than guards, which at its present low strength it is not able to do. The frequency of guard duties would therefore not decrease in direct proportion to an increase in the strength of the battalion. However, taking the Brigade of Guards as a whole, at the moment guardsmen are on guard on average for one day in five.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated area of derelict sites in the central industrial belt; and what proportion of the area is currently being improved with the aid of grants under the terms of the Local Employment Act.

The extent of derelict land of all kinds in the central industrial belt is thought to be about 15,000 acres. Approximately 100 acres are currently being improved with the aid of grant under the Local Employment Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much derelict land he estimates there is in Scotland; how much land has been cleared by local authorities with financial assistance under the Local Employment Act; and how much has been paid in grants under the Act for this kind of work.

The extent of derelict land in the central industrial belt is thought to be about 15,000 acres. Under the Local Employment Act, local authorities have cleared 11·5 acres and are in process of clearing a further 100 acres. To date £14,950 has been paid in grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, having regard to the appearance of what seems to be a new disease affecting principally potatoes of the variety Redskin, he will take steps to ensure that during the coming season all growers in Scotland shall notify the planting of all potatoes of this variety to his Department with a view to inspection either before planting or before removal of the crop;(2) whether, having regard to the outbreak of a disease similar to the North American disease spindle tuber, he will give an assurance that no potatoes infected or thought to be affected with this disease will be planted in the present season.

For practical reason, including particularly the nature of the disease itself, it is not possible to give a comprehensive assurance of the kind which my hon. Friend seeks. I have placed restrictions on the movement of existing stocks of certified Scottish seed of this variety and have made arrangements to ensure that these will be inspected before any are released for planting. Further measures are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the names of the engineering firms whom he in conjunction with Aberdeen Harbour Board have consulted on the proposed further development of Aberdeen port.

I have consulted no engineering firms about further development of Aberdeen port, but I understand that the Harbour Board has employed a firm of engineering consultants to undertake a long-term survey of the harbour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Mackenzie Committee reported a considerable difference of opinion between the Scottish electricity boards on the proper calculation of the cost of electricity supplied by one board to another; and if he will, in the public interest, issue a general direction to the boards that the price paid should be published.

The difference of opinion referred to by the Mackenzie Committee related to a calculation of the result of supplying the power imported by the South Board by means other than hydroelectricity. It did not relate to the calculation of the price to be paid for the electricity which is now interchanged between the two Boards. This is governed by statute and the price paid by each Board is published in the Boards' Annual Reports.In 1962 the South Board, which takes supplies from the North Board at peak periods, paid 1·547d. per unit; while the North Board, which takes supplies from the South Board at off-peak periods, paid 0·648d. per unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Circular 33/1962 issued by the Scottish Development Department relating to certain additional capital works by Scottish local authorities does not apply to Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my Reply on 13th February about this circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation to rationalise the water resources of Scotland.

Measures to rationalise public water supplies in Central Scotland, where distribution has caused problems, are being studied by the Scottish Water Advisory Committee, whose report I expect very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses have been built each year in East Kilbride since the development corporation was set up; and what has been the rate of interest in each year.

The following is the information:

Year			Number of houses completed	Interest rate*
				per cent.
1949	…	…	60	3
1950	…	…	158	3
1951	…	…	102	3–3¾
1952	…	…	282	3¾–4¼
1953	…	…	882	4–4¼
1954	…	…	1,120	3¾–4
1955	…	…	1,053	3¾–5
1956	…	…	754	5–5¾
1957	…	…	669	5½–6
1958	…	…	964	5⅜–6
1959	…	…	997	5⅛–5⅜
1960	…	…	982	5⅛–6
1961	…	…	481	6–6½
1962	…	…	676	5½–6⅜
*A range has been given for each year during which the rate varied.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take about the recent decision of Kirkcaldy Town Council to reduce the rents of their houses.

So that I may consider whether action on my part is necessary, I have asked the town council to tell me the grounds on which they reached their decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the teaching of modern languages.

There has recently been a welcome growth of interest in the possibilities of a new approach to modern language teaching in both schools and further education centres. My Department is in close touch with a number of important experiments now being undertaken in various parts of the country, involving the introduction of a modern language in the primary school, the inclusion of a language in the secondary course of non-academic pupils, and the use of language laboratories and other teaching aids. I am anxious to encourage these developments in every practicable way. I am considering in particular, as an alternative to the present examination in modern languages on the Ordinary grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education, a new form of examination, largely concerned with proficiency in the use and understanding of the spoken word. On completion of preliminary studies now in hand, I intend to appoint a representative working party to frame detailed proposals for such an examination in the light of various pilot experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is making to meet the costs of emergency flights of fodder for livestock in Scotland isolated by the recent snow storms.

The cost of emergency flights of fodder by Service helicopters made on the authority of my Department will be met from the Vote of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will consult the United States, Russian and other appropriate Governments on the need for a joint research project to ascertain the effects of nuclear test explosions on air currents in the upper atmosphere, and to inquire into the extent to which the protracted spell of arctic weather over the Northern Hemisphere is due to the diversion of air currents over the Pacific Ocean from their normal course.

No. I am advised that an investigation of this kind would not be merited because so far nuclear explosions have had no discernible long term effects on the major atmospheric circulations. In any case, a conclusive result could not be guaranteed because it would be very difficult to decide whether deviations from the climatic average were simply natural occurrences or had been induced artificially. There were comparable cold spells in 17th and 18th centuries before the discovery of nuclear fission.To put the matter in perspective, it should be borne in mind that local releases of energy greater than that of manmade explosions are always taking place in the atmosphere. For example, in the tropics, there are between 1,000 and 2,000 thunderstorms in progress at any time each of them releasing the same energy as a megaton bomb.The Meteorological Office is engaged in a continuous study of the upper winds and their effects on weather and are in touch with the work of scientists in the same field in other countries.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a full report of the road accidents, resulting in the loss of life, which have occurred at the B6273 /A635 crossroads at Darfield, since the removal of the "Halt" sign in August 1958.

I understand from the West Riding County Council that there have been only two fatal accidents. The following are the details:

Time and Date	Vehicles involved and direction travelling before the accident	Persons Injured
4.55 p.m. 22nd March, 1961.	Motor car from Great Houghton towards Brampton. Motor car from Doncaster towards Barnsley.	Driver of second car—fatal. Driver of first car—slight.
6.15 p.m. 19th April, 1962.	Moped from Great Houghton towards Brampton. Motor car from Barnsley towards Doncaster.	Rider of moped—fatal.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to improve safety at the junction of Hever Road and the A20 at West Kingsdown.

I am investigating the possibility of improving the layout of this junction.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the fatal accident to an eight year old child at a school road crossing in Walkden, Lancashire, on 13th March.

I much regret that this accident resulted in the death of a young child and I extend my deepest sympathy to the relatives in their tragic loss. I understand that an inquest has been held, which recorded a verdict of "accidental death". Arrangements for the patrolling of school crossings are a matter for the appropriate local authority, except in the case of the Metropolitan Police District, where the appropriate authority is the Commissioner of Police. On this aspect of the accident, therefore, I do not think it would be appropriate for me to make any comment.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether, despite the widespread opposition to his proposed lorry route through Islington, he intends to direct the Islington Borough Council to carry out the necessary road widening, erection of signs, and other works; and what grant he is proposing to make towards the cost of such works.

The Islington Borough Council has not yet told me whether, as highway authority, it is prepared to do the work necessary for the scheme to be tried. The possible use, therefore, of my powers of direction has not arisen. But I do regard it as important that this scheme should be introduced soon. It will be of great value to traffic generally and in its revised form takes account of much of the criticism of the original proposals. The amount of grant will depend upon the classification of the roads concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport how many passengers and drivers were killed on the section of the A.5 and A.45 which M.1 was intended to relieve, during the 12 months prior to the opening of the M.1; and how many were killed and injured on M.1, A.5 and A.45 during the last 12 months.

Not all the information is immediately available. I am obtaining it from the police forces concerned and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what amount was spent on the road programme from 1954 to 1959; and what amounts were spent or will be spent from 1959 to 1964.

In the five years 1954–55 to 1958–59, the Exchequer paid £105 million for new construction and major improvement of motorways, trunk roads and classified roads in Great Britain. We expect to pay £431 million in the five years 1959–60 to 1963–64. The corresponding figures for the local authorities' expenditure on classified roads from their own resources are £24 million and £62 million.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he intends to take to ensure more research, both theoretical and on particular projects, into investment planning in transport in the light of the views expressed in the Hall Report.

My Department has been improving its method for examining transport investment projects. We are also in close touch with others working on this subject. I intend to commission further research studies, particularly into the development and application of cost benefit techniques.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the view expressed in the Hall Report that unless there is a further increase in the funds available for highway developments in urban areas traffic congestion will grow worse; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this.

Yes, I am certainly aware of the Hall Group's views. In my judgment the growth of urban traffic presents one of the most difficult and important problems of our time. That is why an increasing share of our rapidly expanding road programme is going into urban road works. But these, even when combined with traffic management techniques to get the maximum use of our roads, are not enough. A great deal of thought is being given to other possibilities.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that all reasonable formulae for the provision of a Channel link have been examined by the inter-governmental committee; and if he will make a statement.

The Anglo-French Official Group, set up in November, 1961, were asked to assess two specific projects—the rail tunnel proposed by the Channel Tunnel Study Group and the road and rail bridge proposed by the Channel Bridge Study Group. My French colleague and I will need to consider the officials' report on these projects, and their comparison with continued reliance on existing means of Cross-Channel transport, before deciding what further action is required.

asked the Minister of Transport what appointments he has made to the Nationalised Transport Advisory Council under Section 55 of the Transport Act, 1962; and who are to be its chairman and members.

I propose, for the present, to preside over the Council myself. I have appointed Sir Geoffrey Crowther to be Vice-Chairman and the Earl of Halsbury, Sir Robert Hall and Mr. E. G. Whitaker to be Members. Other Members, as the Act provides, will be the Chairmen of the British Railways Board, the London Transport Board, the British Transport Docks Board, the British Waterways Board and the Transport Holding Company. I expect to make further appointments in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has completed his consultations with the manufacturers and operators of mobile shops; and whether he will make a statement on safeguards to be devised to deal with the prevention of accidents to children.

Accidents to children involving mobile shops or delivery vehicles come about in many different ways. Special designs of bodywork and the provision of such features as transparent panels, warning horns and guard rails can help the driver to be sure that all is clear before he moves off; but there is no simple general solution to the problem of these accidents. My Department is in touch with those who operate and manufacture special vehicles, and also encourages measures to warn children against the risks. If any practicable safeguards which would be generally effective can be devised, I shall not hesitate to propose regulations.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements have been made for co-operation between the British Railways Board and the London Transport Board in accordance with Sections 3 (2) and 7 (2) of the Transport Act, 1962.

After consultation with me, the two Boards have agreed the following arrangements for consultation and co-operation, which should contribute materially to the efficiency of passenger services in the London Passenger Transport Area:

1. The Chairmen of the Railways and London Boards will consult together from time to time as necessary.

2. A Passenger Transport Committee for London will be established. Its members will be the Vice-Chairman of the London Board and a member of the Railways Board. Other members and officers of these Boards may be co-opted from time to time as required by the business under discussion.

3. The terms of reference of the Committee will be as follows:

(a) with particular reference to the requirements of the Transport Act, 1962, to advise the British Railways Board and the London Transport Board as necessary on matters of common concern to both in relation to the provision of passenger transport services in the London area; and to report with recommendations on such matters as may be remitted to them by the Chairmen of the two Boards as may be required by the two Chairmen jointly or as the Committee itself may deem necessary;

(b) to keep under review, and advise the two Boards on, the machinery required to secure proper co-operation at all levels between the two Boards.

4. The Committee will also set up subcommittees to deal with special aspects of co-operation, including both long-term planning and day-to-day problems, affecting both Boards.

asked the Minister of Transport how many ships, giving the tonnage, are now being constructed in foreign shipyards for British owners.

I understand that at the 31st December, 1962, 27 vessels amounting to about 432,000 gross tons were under construction in foreign shipyards for registration in the United Kingdom. Of these, 23 vessels, amounting to about 268,000 gross tons, were for owners resident in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Transport if the advisory panel of the National Ports Council will visit all the ports referred to in the Rochdale Report; whether its terms of reference include the power to vary any of the recommendations made; and to what extent local authorities, dock companies and other bodies directly affected by the changes suggested will be invited to give evidence before legislation is introduced.

The Council itself will decide what inquiries it makes, and by what means, but I have no doubt that before it makes considered recommendations about major matters affecting particular ports, some of the members of the Council will have visited the ports concerned and appropriate bodies will have been consulted.The Rochdale Committee recommended that the National Port Authority (or Council, as the Government has decided to call it) should examine the future of all major ports. The Government having accepted this recommendation, the passages about individual ports in the Rochdale Report should now be regarded as a preliminary contribution to this examination, and the Council is in no way bound by them. The legislation at present contemplated will be of a general nature, and will not be directed towards individual ports or harbours.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to announce his decision on the future of the Woodside-Sanderstead line.

I shall first have to study the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee. I do not expect to receive this before next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many elected and non-elected members there are in the Legislatures of North Borneo and Sarawak; how the elected members are returned; and what is the basis of enfranchisement.

In the North Borneo Legislature there have been 18 unofficial members nominated by the Governor after consultation with town councils and other local authorities as representatives of public opinion, and seven official members. Local government elections based on full adult suffrage have recently been held. All 18 unofficial members of the Legislature will now be elected through an electoral college system.In the Sarawak Legislature there are 24 elected and 19 non-elected members. The elected members were elected by an electoral college system based on adult householder suffrage. Full adult suffrage is being introduced for the elections to be held in June, when the membership of the Legislature will also be altered to 36 elected members and not more than 7 non-elected members.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state in monetary value the school building projects submitted to him by the Nottinghamshire County Council, for the area covered by the West Nottinghamshire Divisional Executive Committee, for 1964–65; and if he will state the amount for which he has given his approval.

The estimated cost of the projects submitted totalled £932,000 excluding one project for which no estimate was supplied. Those approved totalled £160,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1963–64 and in a full year, respectively, at the present rate of Income Tax, of an increase in the income limit for full relief to persons over 65 years of age with small incomes to £450 for single persons and to £750 joint income for married persons.

The estimated cost of allowing age exemption up to the limits suggested is about £15 million in 1963–64 and £25 million in a full year.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the preparation for the rebuilding of the Graig Hospital, Pontypridd.

Final sketch plans and cost limit and a revised engineering report are under consideration by the Welsh Board of Health.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the other circumstances mentioned in Part I, Table I, of Command Paper No. 1876 in which 10,072 children out of a total of 47,471 in England and Wales were taken into care during the 12 months preceding 31st March, 1962.

The details are as follows:

Reasons for coming into care (described in main table as other circumstances)	Number of children
Tuberculosis contact	86
Child illegitimate (mother unable to provide)	1,804
Parent or guardian in prison or remanded in custody	666
Family homeless because of eviction	2,604
Family homeless through cause other than eviction	1,354
Unsatisfactory home conditions	1,149
Other reasons	2,304
Under Section 3 (4), Children Act 1948	37
Under Section 6 (4), Children Act, 1948	68
Total of other circumstances	10,072

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special conditions operate in London and Liverpool to produce figures of 12·1 and 4·6 respectively, being the number of children in care per 1,000 of population on 31st March, 1962, compared with a national average of 5·1.

The Liverpool figure is not far from the national average. The information available to me does not point to any outstanding specific reason for the high proportion of children in the care of the London County Council. Various reasons have been suggested; these include the shifting population in the area, the number of unsettled families coming to London from other areas, shortage of accommodation and the probability that relatives and others able to look after children in need are less readily available in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors operate in London to cause a sharp rise in the number of children taken into care during the months of June, July and August, with the corresponding fall at Christmas time; and whether this is general throughout England and Wales.

I understand from the London County Council that apart from some reduction, the reason for which is not clear, towards the end of the year, they have found no consistent seasonal trend in the numbers of children received into their care. Local authorities do not furnish me with regular returns of monthly admissions of children to their care, and I am not aware of any significant seasonal pattern over the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses have been demolished under slum clearance schemes since October, 1959.

Between 1st October, 1959, and 31st December, 1962, 203,751 houses were demolished or closed through slum clearance action in England and Wales. The detailed figures for each local authority area are published in the Appendix to the Housing Return.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of youths unemployed in the Central London area at the end of January 1963; what proportion of these are school leavers aged 15 years; and what were the similar figures in January 1962, 1961, and 1960, respectively.

The figure for mid-February in each of the four years are:

—			Number of boys unemployed in the L.C.C. area	Proportion of school leavers in this total
				per cent.
1963	…	…	1,356	5·5
1962	…	…	800	4·7
1961	…	…	413	3·6
1960	…	…	439	2·3

The school leaver percentage relate to school leavers of all ages, as separate figures are not available of 15 year-old leavers alone. Statistics are not available for mid-January.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of firms from which boys and girls are on short-time and registered at the Gateshead Youth Employment Bureau; how many of such boys and girls are so registered; how many boys and girls are unemployed; what are the future prospects of full-time employment for them; and what action he proposes to take on these matters.

During the week commencing 10th March, 19 boys and 3 girls on short-time from 12 firms were registered at the Gateshead Youth Employment Bureau. On 11th March, 235 boys and 53 girls were registered for employment. I am informed that the prospects of those on short-time resuming full-time working are fair. The Youth Employment Service is making every effort to find suitable employment for the unemployed young people.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls are registered as unemployed at the Bridgend Youth Employment Office; and how many of these were recent school-leavers.

101 boys and 190 girls on 11th March: of these 16 boys and 25 girls were school-leavers.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women,

Type of advertisement		Total number of Appeals decided	Dealt with by Hearing				Dealt with by Correspondence (a)
			Dismissed		Allowed		Dismissed	Allowed
Posters:
16 sheets and above	…	918 (b)	23	25	3	3	717(b)	173(b)
Others	…		2		0
Public Information Panels	…	76	0		0		45	31
Trade Signs (c)	…	605 (42)	6 (0)		5 (0)		377 (32)	217 (10)
Totals	…	1,599	31		8		1,139	421

NOTES:(

The following is the information required:

Numbers of men and women registered as unemployed at the Bridgend, Maesteg, Pontycymmer and Ogmore Vale Employment Exchanges on 11th March, 1963.
			Men	Women
Bridgend	…	…	416	136
Maesteg	…	…	220	108
Pontycymmer		…	67	30
Ogmore Vale	…	…	48	46

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many appeals under the Control of Advertisements Regulations, 1960, were dealt with during 1962 at public hearings and by correspondence, respectively; how many in each group referred to posters of 16 sheets and above, including bulletin boards but excluding trade signs, public information panels, and trade signs on the premises of the occupiers concerned; and how many of each category were rejected or allowed.

The number of appeals decided during 1962 under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations was 1,599. Details are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he will publish the analyses showing for each county, county borough and metropolitan borough the distribution of rateable value among the main classes of property in the old and new lists; and if he will publish at a later date similar analyses covering all other local authorities.

The answer to the first part of the Question is that I hope to publish the analyses for these 175 authorities within the next two weeks. As regards the second part, I do not think that the cost of preparing and publishing

ASSISTANCE UNDER THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ACT: 1ST APRIL, 1960 TO 28TH FEBRUARY, 1963
TABLE 1
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, OFFERS AND REJECTIONS
Place		Applications received	Applications rejected	Offers made	Under consideration
Lanarkshire of which—	…	75	16	33	26
Coatbridge and Airdrie	…	15	4	7	4
7 of the offers (including 1 for Coatbridge and Airdrie) were declined by the applicants.

TABLE 2
ASSISTANCE OFFERED (EXCLUDING OFFERS DECLINED)
Place		Loans	Grants	Total
		£	£	£
Lanarkshire of which—	…	987,500	219,218	1,206,718
Coatbridge and Airdrie	…	320,000	34,300	354,300
Separate figures for grants cannot be given in Table 1 since applicants do not always specify the form of assistance required.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is hoped to introduce Subscriber Trunk Dialling to the Republic of Ireland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of applications for grants by firms in Coatbridge and Airdrie and Lanarkshire, respectively, since the introduction of the Local Employment Act; what was the financial sum involved; how many were successful; and what was the total value of grants given.

The following tables set out the information requested so far as it is available:

I am having discussions with the Irish Republic authorities on the introduction of STD between the two countries, but it is not yet possible to say when the service will start.