asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which department at the Treasury is responsible for regional planning and development.

Regional planning and development in its different aspects is the concern of a number of Government Departments. Within the Treasury, the Public Sector Group has prime responsibility, under my general authority, for this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now completed his investigations into the problems associated with the continuance of privately-owned tax-free toll bridges; and whether he will make a statement.

Consideration of this matter is not yet completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will curtail the continuing rise in the numbers of non-industrial civil servants.

Yes, but only in so far as it is possible to do so consistently with proper discharge of the duties conferred on the Government by Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of direct entries into the administrative Civil Service and the scientific Civil Service, respectively, in 1936, 1950, and 1963 to date; and what was the number of such people with 1st class honours degrees under each head.

The number of entrants to the grade of assistant principal in the administrative class in 1936 was 54 of whom 45 had 1st class honours degrees; in 1950 it was 61, including 19 firsts, and in 1962 43, with 14 firsts. The scientific officer class was introduced after the war, so there are no figures for it for 1936. In 1950 there were 194 entrants to the class of whom 82 had 1st class honours degrees and in 1962, 204 including 50 firsts. As recruitment for 1963 is not complete, any figures for this year would be misleading.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make an estimate of the total expenditure by local authorities up to the year 1970.

Estimates of total public expenditure (including local authority expenditure) for a period of years ahead are made in order to provide a perspective for Government decisions. The need for this was brought out in the report of the Plowden Committee on the Control of Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 1432), which also accepted that it would be difficult for the Government to publish the results. The Government nevertheless recognise the public interest in these long-term surveys of expenditure and, as my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary said in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. W. Clark), on 15th February, we shall review the question of publication in relation to this summer's revision of the forecasts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in the current year if the reliefs for elderly taxpayers were available for those who attained the age of 65 years or more before 6th April, 1964; and what would be the cost in a full year at current rates of tax.

My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that the special Income Tax reliefs for 1963–64 for elderly taxpayers who satisfy prescribed income conditions (the age exemption and the age relief) will apply to taxpayers who are 65 or over at any time in the Income Tax year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the revenue received from Pay As You Earn in the borough of Slough during the first week of March, 1963, and the first week of March, 1962, respectively; and how far the difference was due to a change in the incidence of taxation.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the rates of interest of the Public Works Loan Board are adjusted more rapidly to changes in the Bank Rate.

Changes in Bank Rate have no direct effect on the Public Works Loan Board rates of interest; these reflect the rates at which local authorities can borrow in the market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms were recommended by his Department to go to Hull to build new factories in 1962; and how many firms in Hull received approval for extension of their premises in that year, and in the last three months, respectively.

The answer to the first part is "None". For the Hull, Hessle and Beverley areas, 15 industrial development certificates were granted in 1962 and five in the first three months of 1963.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what factors he takes into consideration when advising firms to go to Hull to build factories, in view of the special feature of the 6,000 unemployed, in particular in the ship-repairing industry and among boiler-makers.

My right hon. Friend's first responsibility is to encourage industry to set up new projects in the development districts where the need for more jobs is overriding. But if he is satisfied that a project could not reasonably go to one of these areas he would be prepared to consider it for Hull.

asked the President of of the Board of Trade what was the total of imports and the value of canned hams and shoulders from Europe in 1958 and in 1962.

United Kingdom imports of bacon and hams in airtight containers from Europe were 22·4 thousand tons valued at £10·3 million in 1958 and 30·9 thousand tons valued at £13·9 million in 1962.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the facts that Argentine exports to Britain for January 1963 were £10 million and imports from Britain only £2 million, and that Argentine beef exports have increased, if he will take steps to limit those imports to reasonable proportions; and if he will make a statement.

I have at present nothing to add to the statement made on 27th March by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture in reply to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir A. Hurd) and the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with the Ford Motor Company on the future of their factories; to what extent these discussions covered the future of the factory at Langley, Slough; and if in consequence he will give an assurance that the factory will not be closed.

Our discussions with the company over the last few years have been primarily concerned with their expansion proposals. My right hon. Friend has no information on the future of their factory at Langley.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he was aware, when permission was granted to the Ford Motor Company for their development at Halewood, Cheshire, that it was the company's intention to transfer a large number of workers from their Doncaster factory.

No. My right hon. Friend is not aware that it is now, or ever was, the company's intention to transfer workers from their Doncaster factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that exporters and foreign customers are not being caused unnecessary work by rigid technicalities in the procedure of the Export Credit Guarantees Department; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that E.C.G.D. operates on a commercial basis and gives a very good service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the Cinematograph Films Council's report on monopolistic practices in the film industry and cinema trade; and if he will publish the report.

My right hon. Friend understands that the Cinematograph Films Council expect to receive during June a report from the sub-committee of their independent members which is examining the industry's structure and trading practices. What action he and the Council will then take can be decided only when the report exists.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make representations to the Government of the United States of America in favour of a substantial relaxation of strategic controls on East-West trade, in the interests of a general expansion of international trade.

The United States Government are fully informed of our views on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has now been made with the negotiations for selling British ships to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in return for purchases of Soviet oil.

My right hon. Friend understands that several British shipyards have submitted tenders and at least one group has opened detailed negotiations with the Soviet authorities in Moscow. I stated the Government's position on 12th February, but the Russians have made no firm proposal that the United Kingdom should import a limited quantity of fuel oil as a condition for placing substantial orders with British shipyards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Russian Government have now specifically declared that they are prepared to purchase British ships; and, in view of the unemployment in the shipbuilding industry, if he will conclude at an early date a mutual trading agreement in this field.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such specific Soviet Government statement, though he knows that the Soviet Authorities are negotiating with a number of British shipyards. He hopes that these negotiations will lead to orders which can be placed within the framework of the Anglo-Soviet Five Year Trade Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what specific inquiries have now been received from the Soviet Union for the purchase of British capital goods, for example, ships, machinery and tractors; what terms have been asked; and what encouragement Her Majesty's Government are giving to such negotiations.

The first and second pants of the Question concern business matters which are handled directly between the Russian authorities and the manufacturers. All the facilities of the Board of Trade, and of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, are available to assist exports of non-strategic goods to the Soviet Union.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is now anxious to purchase plant for the manufacture of synthetic fibres and for other machinery; and if he will increase the credit facilities available for such purchases, so as to facilitate such trade.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the Soviet purchasing agency are making inquiries about such plant and equipment. The services which the Export Credits Guarantee Department already offer, and which take full account of officially backed credit from other countries, should enable British exporters to offer competitive terms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any firm offer has been made by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the purchase of British ships in exchange for Russian oil in the last three years; what was the outcome of such offers; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend knows of no such offer; the second and third parts of the Question do not there-fore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will include St. Helens, Lancashire, in the Merseyside Development Area.

The unemployment position in St. Helens is not such that my right hon. Friend would be justified in listing it as a development district. But he will continue to watch the position there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of National Research Development Corporation current expenditure on development projects by private industry is being spent in Scotland.

The National Research Development Corporation is responsible for managing its own affairs, including the placing of contracts. My right hon. Friend is informed that the proportion in the year ending 30th June, 1962, was very small but will increase substantially over the next few years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made, since the passing of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, towards a more vertical structure of the Lancashire textile industry; and to what extent the amalgamations now taking place will result in a more horizontal stratification.

Though progress in strengthening the organisation of the cotton textile industry has not so far been very great, my right hon. Friend is aware that some amalgamations have taken place and that much thought has been given to the subject both by industry itself and by the Cotton Board. My right hon. Friend will welcome any measures which will improve the efficiency and competitive position of the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will designate the urban district of Newton-le-Willows as a development district.

No. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the prospects of this area would justify his adding it to the list of development districts. He is keeping a watch on the position in view of the forthcoming closure of the British Railways workshops.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what provision he is making to extend the nationwide advisory service of the Consumer Council to areas where there are no Citizens' Advice Bureaux, and to areas where the bureaux cannot take on extra work.

As my right hon. Friend announced on 26th March, a grant of £27,000 for the year 1963–64 has been provided to assist the National Committee of Citizens' Advice Bureaux to expand its consumer advisory work in the way envisaged by the Molony Committee. It will be for the Consumer Council to consider, in the light of experience, whether further provision in this field is necessary and, if so, to make appropriate recommendations to the Government or other bodies concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the names of the members of the Consumer Council.

As my right hon. Friend announced on 26th March, when he published the Council's terms of reference, Baroness Elliot of Harwood has accepted an invitation to be its first Chairman. With Lady Elliot's agreement, Miss Elizabeth Ackroyd has been appointed Director of the Council. She will also be a member. My right hon. Friend will announce the names of the remaining members as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the terms of reference of the Consumer Council will enable the Council to watch and protect consumer interests in respect of advertising.

The terms of reference of the Consumer Council have been drawn sufficiently widely to enable the Council, should it so wish, to concern itself with any matter affecting the consumer's interests, including advertising.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet completed his review of the Merchandise Marks Acts, with a view to introducing amending legislation as recommended by the Committee on Consumer Protection.

No. The recommendations of the Committee on Consumer Protection about these Acts were complex and far-reaching and require careful consideration which will take some time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that cheese imported from Holland is not subsidised by Holland; by what proportion imports of cheese from Holland have increased in the last 12 months; and what the prospects are of any further increase.

My right hon. Friend inquires into the question of subsidisation only when an application for the imposition of countervailing duties has been made. No such application has been received in respect of imports of Dutch cheese. Imports in 1961 amount to 7,600 tons and in 1962 to 8,800 tons. This was an increase of 16 per cent., but the 1962 figure was no higher than that for 1960, and represented only 3½ per cent. of estimated total consumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Hire Purchase Acts.

My right hon. Friend is pressing ahead with the preparation of comprehensive legislation on hire purchase, but he cannot yet say when it will be possible to introduce it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he hopes to complete his inquiries into resale price maintenance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Holt) on 21st February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve export credit facilities and liberalise restrictions on imports from the Eastern bloc, as a result of his discussions with the representatives of the Steel Works Plant Association on 1st March; and if he will make a statement on the meeting and on his policy in this regard.

It was agreed at my right hon. Friend's meeting with representatives of the Steel Works Plant Association on 1st March that the discussions should be treated as confidential. E.C.G.D. credit insurance facilities are available to exporters to these countries on the same basis as for other markets. Our present trade agreements provide a satisfactory framework for the development of trade with these countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister of State to the City of Stoke-on-Trent and other places in North Staffordshire, on the prospects of industrial expansion within the area, and on the possibility of increasing pottery exports.

My hon. Friend welcomed the opportunity provided by his visit to Stoke-on-Trent to meet leaders of industry and commerce in North Staffordshire. My right, hon. Friend is confident that industry in the area, as in the country as a whole, will respond to the measures recently outlined in the Budget.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the development of persistent unemployment, especially in the hosiery industry, in the North and East Midlands, and in the light of the special financial inducements now available to firms which expand in the scheduled development districts, he will abandon the practice of refusing industrial development certificates to firms which wish to expand their activities on available land in the North and East Midlands.

We do not refuse industrial development certificates for expansion in this area unless we are satisfied that the expansion could be carried out in a development district. My right hon. Friend will continue to give priority to the development districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the persistence of a high rate of unemployment amongst workers registered at the Sutton-in-Ashfield Employment Exchange, as shown by the March figures, he will schedule this area as a development district, with regard to the needs of the district generally, and to the particular needs of redundant hosiery workers.

No. Unemployment in Sutton-in-Ashfield is below the national average.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will schedule Kilmarnock and the Irvine Valley areas of Ayrshire under the Local Employment Act.

No. Although unemployment in the Kilmarnock Group of Employment Exchanges has risen significantly in recent months the average of wholly unemployed for the past 12 months was only 2·9 per cent. This is well below the figure prevailing in the development districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reconsider his decision on the request from the Cairngorm Winter Sports Development Board for a loan.

The Board of Trade Advisory Committee was not able to recommend assistance for the Development Board's project. In these circumstances my right hon. Friend has no power to offer assistance. The Committee has, however, discussed the case with the Development Board, which is now considering whether to submit a revised application.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his recent trade talks with representatives of the People's Republic of China.

The representatives of the People's Republic of China are here on a trade goodwill visit and, though this provides opportunities for informal discussion of trade matters, no formal negotiations or talks are involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if elections under a new constitution permitting an elected majority will be held in Brunei before that territory is incorporated in the Malaysian Federation.

This is a matter for the Sultan and the Government of Brunei, and I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 19th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present position in respect of the proposed inclusion of the Sultanate of Brunei in the Malaysian Federation.

Detailed proposals are at present being discussed between the Government of Brunei and the Government of the Federation of Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to assist in reducing unemployment in British Guiana; and whether he will make a statement about recent disturbances in Georgetown.

Responsibility for labour matters, including unemployment, rests with British Guiana Ministers. But our contribution, in grants and loans, of some 60 per cent. of the Development Budget this year plays a significant part in maintaining employment.The recent disturbances are also primarily a matter for the British Guiana Government, but I have received a report upon these events from the Governor. The outbreak of violence last Friday originated in labour troubles on the water front, but extended to some looting in other parts of the town. The police were able to bring the situation under control without calling on military aid, but unfortunately one man was killed in addition to other casualties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the proposed disbandment of the Kenya Regiment and the cuts in the establishment of the Kenya Police.

These proposals are among the recommendations of the Economy Commission set up to recommend economies in Government expenditure. The Commission recommended among other things that the Kenya Regiment should be disbanded and that the strength of the Police should be reduced by approximately 10 per cent. over a three-year period. The Kenya Government has announced that the Kenya Regiment will be suspended this year and is considering the Commission's other recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish a White Paper following the recommendations contained in the Report of the Economic Survey Mission to Kenya by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development submitted the report of the Economic Survey Mission to Kenya to the Kenya Government. I understand that a Sessional Paper will be issued by that Government in due course. I do not propose to issue a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) when he expects to receive the report from Dr. Carleen O'Loughlin on the future economic needs and prospects of the Leeward and Windward Islands; and whether this document will be circulated before the forthcoming constitutional conference;(2) whether he will announce the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the proposals of Dr. Arthur Lewis, as set out in paragraph 32 of Command Paper No. 1746, about future economic assistance for the Leeward and Windward Islands; and whether, in any case, the decision will be set out in full detail before the forthcoming constitutional conference.

The questions discussed in paragraph 32 of Cmnd. No. 1746 will be further considered with the federating Governments at the forthcoming Conference in the light of the Reports of the Fiscal and Civil Service Commissions and of the Economic Survey. Dr. O'Loughlin has undertaken to despatch a copy of her survey to me and the other Governments concerned on 11th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, under Section 34(b) of Statutory Instrument, 1962, No. 2177, Aden (Constitution) Order in Council, women are to be prevented from qualifying as members of the Aden Legislative Council; and if women are to be specifically excluded from enfranchisement.

The question of whether women should be given the vote is one for decision by the Aden Legislature when the franchise is reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if elections will be held in Singapore before the Malaysian Federation is introduced.

The holding of elections in Singapore is a matter within the responsibility of the Government of Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why approval has been delayed for the reconstruction of the airport at Yundum, Gambia, for which a decision was promised by 14th March.

Subject to the provision of funds by Parliament, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to provide a grant of up to £146,000 to meet the cost of the reconstruction of the airport at Yundum. The Gambia Government have expressed their satisfaction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what period he has undertaken to pay the Sultan of Zanzibar £10 million a year for the lease of the Coastal Strip following upon Kenya's independence.

There is no such undertaking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on constitutional development in Zanzibar.

During my recent visit to Zanzibar I undertook that, as soon as His Highness's Government fixed the date of the forthcoming general election, the British Government would fix the date for internal self-government.2. I have now been informed by the Government of Zanzibar that, provided the new electoral register can be completed in time, it hopes to be able to arrange for polling to begin early in July.3. In the light of this, I have informed His Highness's Government that, subject to the passing of the necessary decree by the Legislative Council, internal self-government will be introduced two weeks before the date of the commencement of polling. It will thus be made clear to the electors that they will be choosing the Government which is to take Zanzibar into independence.4. The constitution for internal self-government will be on the lines agreed at the Conference in London in 1962 which provided, among other things, for the establishment of a code of human rights.5. Provided that peace and good order are maintained, the British Government will, after the elections, consult with the Government of Zanzibar with a view to convening an early conference to complete the arrangements for the final transfer of power and to fix a date for independence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in the light of the rapid development of co-operative societies in North Borneo in recent years and of the potential for future development, if he will now establish a separate Department of Co-operatives in the Colony.

When the Federation of Malaysia is established co-operative societies will be a Federal subject. The future organisation is now under discussion in a Committee on which the Malayan and North Borneo Governments are represented.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will ensure that in new county and magisterial courts, constructed under the auspices of his Department, there is proper provision for the Press.

So far as I can discover the accommodation provided for the Press at new county courts is generally accepted as adequate. An improvement is being made to facilitate writing in the Press accommodation in the new court at Brentford. Accommodation in magistrates' courts is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration he has given to the report of his committee investigating the potentialities of shipyards for the building of prefabricated frames for housing, especially as regards the North-East; and if he will make a statement.

My study of the report is not yet complete, but I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give details of the proposed expenditure of £72,000 on the reconstruction of the stable yard at St. James's Palace as offices for the Lord Chamberlain.

The sum of £72,000 in the 1963–64 Estimates is a provisional figure for the cost of reconstructing a block of accommodation in Stable Yard, which is part of the historic buildings of St. James's Palace, in order to provide offices for Departments of the Royal Household under the control of the Lord Chamberlain. The existing accommodation is structurally unsound.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the original estimate of £50,000 for re-occupation services at 1A Kensington Palace has been exceeded by £17,000; and if he will provide details of this increase.

The original figure of £50,000 was a preliminary estimate which was increased to £65,000 before the contract was let in January, 1962, and shown accordingly in the printed Estimates for 1962–63. Details of the estimate of £65,000 were given in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 10th April, 1962. Of the further £2,000, £1,300 is for making good structural defects which came to light during the course of the work, and £700 for increases in wages and materials costs.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) why the original estimate of £250,000 for the modernisation of sanitary and engineering services at Windsor Castle is now to be £400,000; and if he will detail the expenditure;(2) if he will give details of the expenditure of £396,000 at Windsor Castle up to 31st March, 1963.

The expenditure of £396,000 has been incurred since 1956 on the modernisation of sanitary and engineering services at Windsor Castle. The cost of this work was provisionally estimated at £250,000 in 1956. The increase is due primarily to substantial rises in wages and materials costs since the work started, and to the structural and technical difficulties inherent in the repair and modernisation of old services in a 14th century building. The full extent of these could not be foreseen and became apparent only as work progressed. A general description of the work was given in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 15th May, 1962.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give a detailed breakdown of the £505,000 required in 1963–64 for building and engineering services in the Royal Palaces, with particular reference to 1A Kensington Palace.

This expenditure is for the internal and external maintenance of the structure of all the Royal Palaces and for their heating, lighting, water, plumbing, sanitary and lift services.It comprises:

	£
St. James's Palace	53,000
Buckingham Palace	108,000
Windsor Castle	126,000
Kensington Palace	31,000
Hampton Court Palace	127,000
Palace of Holyroodhouse	42,000
Other Palaces and properties (e.g. Kew Palace and Marlborough House Mews)	5,000
Miscellaneous building items for Palaces generally	13,000

None of the expenditure on Kensington Palace relates to Apartment 1A.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the allowances and expenses of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Yeomen of the Guard at the Royal Palaces are being increased to £11,200 in 1963–64.

The increase over the provision in 1962–63 is £200. This is due to increased employer's National

Palace	Fuel	Gas	Electricity	Water	Household Articles	Total
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Buckingham Palace	11,300	6,950	9,800	1,100	5	29,155
St. James's Palace	2,000	4,000	4,100	200	10	10,310
Marlborough House Garage Block	500	170	200	100	5	975
Windsor Castle	21,300	2,250	6,800	—	5	30,355
Frogmore	300	300	300	—	—	900
Kensington Palace	2,300	800	645	100	5	3,850
Hampton Court Palace	3,600	230	6,700	425	50	11,005
Sandringham and Balmoral	2,900	—	1,000	—	—	3,900
Kew Palace	—	—	20	—	10	30
Palace of Holyrood House	2,800	1,300	2,100	75	25	6,300
Totals	47,000	16,000	31,665	2,000	115	96,780
Miscellaneous Payments for Easements, etc.
	£
Kew Palace	3
Windsor Castle (New Inn Site)	15
Manor Farm Sewer	10
Palace of Holyrood House	192
						£220
						£97,000

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give details of the £38,000 required in 1963–64 for works and other services at Buckingham Palace and other places.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the expenditure on furniture in the Royal Palaces is to be increased from £3,000 in 1962–63 to £5,000 in 1963–64.

This expenditure is for furnishings and furniture at Royal Palaces other than Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace. Most of the additional £2,000 is for barrier posts, matting and showcases in parts of Hampton Court Palace which are open to the public. The balance is for a variety of small repairs and replacements.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, if he will give a breakdown of the figure of £97,000, being the 1962–63 total of the cost of fuel, gas, electricity, etc. in the Royal Palaces, as shown in the Civil Estimates Class IX. Vote 8.

The details are as follows:

This sum is primarily provided as a Grant-in-Aid for works and services for the Sovereign at such Royal residences as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and is made available to the Sovereign for these purposes.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the rise in the overseas printed papers, bulk, post from 8½d. per lb. to 1s. 0½d. per lb. which he proposes to introduce will be a serious handicap to book publishers in their export markets; and whether he will reconsider his decision in this respect.

Printed papers sent overseas at the reduced rate are currently being subsidised to the tune of £1·7 million a year by other users of our services, and my right hon. Friend does not think it fair for this measure of subsidy to continue. Even with the increases that we are introducing the subsidy will still be £700,000 a year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will rescind the recent increase in the postage rates on parcels sent overseas, which have resulted in a rise of nearly 50 per cent. in the carriage cost of each small book sent overseas by printed paper parcel post, in view of the effect this will have on book exports.

The overseas printed paper (reduced rate) service, which is most commonly used for the export of books, is at present losing £1·7 million a year, and my right hon. Friend does not think that users of other Post Office services should be expected to continue to subsidise it at so heavy a rate. Even with the increase we are introducing on 1st July, the subsidy will still be £700,000 a year.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that urgent messages to would-be subscribers awaiting the installation of telephones often have to be sent by telegram, and that, because of the delays in installing telephones, such messages already cost at least 3s. instead of 3d. or 4d.; and if, in view of the current reduction of the waiting-list of delayed applications, he will postpone the increases in telegram charges at least until telephones have been supplied to all those now on the waiting list.

No. The increased charges are necessary to reduce the loss on the telegraph service. It is, of course, misleading to compare the uniform charge for a telegram to any place in the country with the charge for a local telephone call.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the results of the co-operation between the city council of Stoke-on-Trent and British Railways in the construction and lay out of the Stoke Station area and the post office facilities; when it is expected that the new post office building will be in service; and what will be the facilities for the public.

Work on this new post office is well ahead and, in spite of delay due to the recent bad weather, I still expect the building to be opened in the autumn of this year. The plans were drawn up in agreement with the city council and British Transport Commission. The office will contain a public office, a sorting office with a conveyor, and a postal garage and workshop. The public office will have four counter positions with all-purpose working, and one parcel position.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is intended to provide improved postal services and a new building in the Mere district, and in the Springfields area, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent.

In general, postal facilities in both these areas are up to the standard in other similar districts and the provision of new buildings is not contemplated.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the reasons for the alteration in hours of business of the Bilston post office by the closing of counters half-an-hour earlier on weekdays and one hour earlier on Saturdays; and what consultations he had with the Bilston Borough Council before the decision to curtail this public service was taken.

The amount of business transacted at Bilston Post Office after 6 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on Saturdays was not sufficient to justify the cost of keeping the office open later. The Bilston Borough Council was fully informed before the new closing hours were introduced, and my right hon. Friend is ready to consider any further representations the council may wish to make. But we are not aware that the earlier closing times have caused any real inconvenience.

asked the Postmaster-General how many rural telephone kiosks

			Kiosks				Expenditure allocated
			1958/59	1959/60	1960/61	1961/63	1958/59	1959/60	1960/61	1961/63
							£	£	£	£
Anglesey	…	…	3	3	2	4	650	440	350	570
Brecknock	…	…	5	4	1	7	1,670	1,070	650	950
Cardigan	…	…	5	3	2	5	1,000	640	525	825
Caernarvon	…	…	3	3	2	3	650	580	350	495
Carmarthen	…	…	5	4	4	6	1,350	900	750	1,140
Denbigh	…	…	6	4	2	6	1,150	540	450	720
Flint	…	…	2	3	2	3	500	490	275	425
Glamorgan	…	…	3	2	3	3	800	530	450	700
Merioneth	…	…	3	9	2	4	1,340	1,630	525	675
Montgomery	…	…	3	2	4	4	1,200	1,435	650	900
Pembroke	…	…	5	2	3	4	900	600	500	660
Radnor	…	…	2	1	2	5	700	805	500	900
Monmouth	…	…	5	4	3	4	900	600	500	760

Since 1961, the allocation has been on a two-year basis. Discussions are proceeding with the Rural District Councils' Association about the programme for the further kiosks to be provided during the two-year period for 1963–65.

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

Yes. As coloured telephones cost no more than black ones of the same type, I propose to abolish the present 30s. colour charge. But it costs the Post Office more to buy telephones of the new type, whether coloured or black, than to continue using instruments of the older types, of which only black ones are now available. I therefore propose to charge £1 for modern telephones. At the same time, modern black instruments, which have so far have been erected within each of the counties in Wales and Monmouthshire in the last five years; what was the cost for each county for each year; how many kiosks are required at the present time; and whether he will allocate additional sums to meet the unsatisfied demand.

The number of telephone kiosks erected and planned, together with the expenditure allocated during the past five financial years under the rural allocation scheme for these kiosks, were as follows:been supplied only when necessary for technical reasons, will become generally available at the new charge on the same basis as coloured telephones. Where existing telephones are changed at the customer's request the change-of-apparatus charge will be payable as at present. The new charges will come into force on the 1st May, and I am arranging for an amendment to the Telephone Regulations to be laid before the House as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many council-owned plots of land suitable for building are no available to the Bristol council within the city area; if this land is sufficient for their housing programme in view of the further slum demolition that is contemplated; and what are the sizes of the largest and the smallest plot.

I understand that the corporation owns sufficient housing land within the city to continue building at its present rate for the next four or five years. I am informed that this land ranges from plots suitable for two dwellings to one large site for 500 flats.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many days' water supply Leeds City has in hand; and what is the full capacity of their storage reservoirs.

I understand they have about 134 days' supply in storage at present. The reservoirs when full hold enough for 148 days.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that 50 million gallons of water a day are escaping from the Leeds City reservoirs at Leighton and Caries-moor Beck; how long these waters have been allowed to run to waste; why this has been allowed; and if he will take this substantial waste of water into consideration before he grants Leeds Corporation a Drought Order.

I know that because of essential works now completed, water which might otherwise have passed into the Leeds supply system had to overflow into the river. But the loss to Leeds was only a fraction of the amount suggested. The corporation's figure is 6 million gallons per day. My hon. Friend can rely on me to take all the relevant facts into account in considering the corporation's application.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that many organisations concerned with the advancement of science are not aware of the precise procedure they should follow with regard to applications to their rating authority to reduce or remit their rates under Section 11(4) of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1961; and whether he will issue guidance to rating authorities on this subject.

There is no set procedure and, as different rating authorities may require different information to enable them to reach a decision in a particular case, I do not think that I could usefully offer guidance on the form which applications should take. I suggest that the organisations should ask each rating authority concerned what information they require in support of an application.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the total amount of interest charges paid by local authorities in England and Wales in 1961–62; and what are the estimated amounts in 1962–63 and 1963–64.

The latest estimates for 1961–62 and 1962–63 are £297 million and £330 million respectively. It is impossible to make a firm estimate of the amount in 1963–64 because this will depend on the levels of interest rates during that year. If they continue as at present the figure for 1963–64 might be about 10 per cent. higher than that for 1962–63.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what claims have recently been made by the Guatemalan Government to territory in British Honduras; and what answer has been given.

The most recent public reiteration of Guatemala's claim to British Honduras was made by the former Guatemalan President at the meeting of Central American Presidents with President Kennedy in March. My noble Friend the Minister of State subsequently re-affirmed to the Guatemalan Ambassador that Her Majesty's Government had no doubts as to their sovereignty over British Honduras and that the future of the territory must be worked out in agreement with the people of British Honduras.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the total cost to date to the British taxpayer of United Nations operations in the Congo; and for what further period this expenditure by the United Kingdom will continue.

The United Kingdom assessed contributions from 1st July, 1960, until 30th June, 1962, amounted to 18·1 million dollars. In addition the United Kingdom has made voluntary contributions to the Congo operation amounting to 3·16 million dollars and has purchased bonds to the value of 12 million dollars from which the Congo operation has also been financed. The scale and cost of the United Nations operations are being progressively reduced, but I cannot predict what our financial obligation will be.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government impose restrictions when giving aid to the Republic of Somalia on their purchase of equipment from Communist countries.

No.

asked the Minister of Education what is the estimated number of Easter school-leavers in Port Talbot and Glyncorrwg, and at Porthcawl.

About 135 from the 10 secondary schools in Port Talbot

WORKERS EMPLOYED ON AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS—ENGLAND AND WALES, JUNE, 1962*
—	Agricultural Holdings†	Regular Wholetime male workers (aged 20–64 years)	All Workers (male and female, regular, seasonal temporary)‡
	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Agricultural holdings with:—
No workers	53·8	—	—
No regular whole-time workers	7·4	—	7·9
No regular whole-time males (20–64 years) but one or more other regular whole-time workers	6·9	—	8·0
1 regular whole-time male worker (20–64 years)	15·9	19·8	19·2
2 regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)	7·4	18·4	15·1
3 regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)	3·3	12·14	9·9
4 regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)	1·7	8·7	6·9
5 and over regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)	3·6	40·7	33·0
Totals (per cent.)	100·0	100·0	100·0
Totals (Number of holdings or workers)	(340,498)	(272,774)	(512,721)
* Excluding the occupier, his wife, domestic servants and children still at school.
† Exceeding one acre in extent.
‡ Including 55,382 regular whole-time male workers under 20 years old and 13,156 aged 65 years and over.

asked the Minister of Education what effect the reduction in school building will have on each school in the Clapham constituency.

The London County Council included two Clapham schools among the projects they submitted for inclusion in their building programme and I have written to the hon. Member about these.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the percentage of agricultural holdings in England and Wales with no workers, with no regular whole-time workers, with no whole-time male workers, but one or more other regular workers, and with one regular whole-time male worker, two or four whole-time males and five or more regular whole-time male workers, respectively; and what proportion each of these groups represents of all regular whole-time male workers, and of all workers in the industry.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to improve the present difficult market for all sizes of oak, other than veneer tops.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to his Question yesterday. In addition, marketing problems of this type can be very usefully put to the regional Liaison Committees for the timber trade and the growers which the Commission has set up to study market problems.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the increasing claims on the Exchequer through Forestry Commission deficits and from grants to private woodland owners due to the depressed prices for British timber; and what plans he has in mind to improve the market and so reduce the burden on the Exchequer.

The effect on the Forestry Commission's grant-in-aid for 1962–63 of the lower prices for homegrown softwoods was not appreciable; the shortfall in receipts was only 3 per cent. of the £3½ million total estimate, or less than 1 per cent. of the total grant-in-aid. Increases in the level of individual grants to private woodland owners have been entirely due to rises in costs. The total sum spent in grants

UNEMPLOYMENT AT 11TH MARCH, 1963
Employment Exchange and associated Youth employment Office				Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Per cent.
Airdrie	…	…	…	1,189	125	510	75	1,899	9·7
Bellshill	…	…	…	643	66	233	26	968
Blantyre	…	…	…	573	44	176	34	827
Cambuslang	…	…	…	623	34	154	18	829
Carluke	…	…	…	143	15	55	11	224
Coatbridge	…	…	…	1,579	144	703	65	2,491
East Kilbride	…	…	…	411	—	108	—	519
Hamilton	…	…	…	1,495	129	527	70	2,221
Larkhall	…	…	…	365	15	116	14	510
Motherwell	…	…	…	1,124	142	459	56	1,781
Uddingston	…	…	…	431	41	211	19	702
Wishaw	…	…	…	1,129	104	441	39	1,713
Lanark	…	…	…	350	26	144	19	539	5·6
Lesmahagow	…	…	…	283	23	48	9	363	11·4
Shotts	…	…	…	434	44	192	27	697	10·7
Lanarkshire	…	…	…	10,772	952	4,077	482	16,283	9·5
The estimated number of employees in Lanarkshire in mid-1961 was 170,984.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish detailed proposals of redundancy schemes within the next four months.

My hon. Friend will have noted from the statements made by both my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself during the Budget debate that the Government intend to tackle this problem vigorously with a view to the publication of proposals and, if necessary, the introduction of legislation in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of males and females, respectively, over and under 18 years of age, registering at employment exchanges in Lanarkshire, the total insurable population of the county, and the percentage of that total which these figures represent, at the latest convenient date.

The figures for March are given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers who left in June 1962 and December 1962, respectively, are still without employment, in Scotland and the United Kingdom, respectively; what percentage these figures are of the insurable populations of Scotland and the United Kingdom, respectively; and what is the number of young persons, male and female, registering at employment exchanges in Scotland and the United Kingdom, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

On 11th March, 1963, 193 out of 33,904 summer term leavers and 855 out of 20,093, Christmas term leavers were unemployed in Scotland; and 895 (out of 365,338) and 5,634 (out of 150,739) respectively in Great Britain. The unemployed leavers represent 0·05 per cent, in Scotland and 0·03 per cent. in Great Britain of the total insured population. 5,823 boys and 3,592 girls were registered in Scotland on 11th March and 29,626 boys and 19,647 girls in Great Britain.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister to be in charge of development in Scotland, and place under him the development unit in the Scottish Office and the development functions of the Board of Trade.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State whether, before giving the African leaders of Northern Rhodesia the right to secede unilaterally from the Federation, he had consultations with the heads of the mining companies, with a view to safeguarding British imports of copper and other strategic minerals.

No. The safeguarding of British interests in the territory depend primarily on securing stable political conditions, which is Her Majesty's Government's objective.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a full transcript of the proceedings in the Old Bailey during the recent trial of Mr. John Edgecombe.

I do not know of any reason for taking this exceptional course in the case referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Vassall case; and if he will make a statement.

I have just received the report and it is being urgently considered. A further statement will be made as soon as possible after the Recess.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction in the national interest to the Central Electricity Generating Board to arrange wherever possible, for the delivery of coal to power stations by rail or water, in order to reduce the congestion and accident danger resulting from carriage of coal by road.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school leavers who left school in June 1962 and December 1962, respectively, returned to school.

This information could be obtained only by asking education authorities to make enquiries of individual schools, and I should not feel justified in asking them to do so.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing all social service benefits for which he was responsible on 1st November, 1951, and the same benefits on 1st June, 1963; by how much the latter exceed or fall below the amount needed to offset exactly the rise in the cost of living during the same period, assuming

SOCIAL SERVICE BENEFITS WHICH ARE NOW THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MINISTER OF PENSIONS AND NATIONAL INSURANCE
	November, 1951
—	Standard Rate			Equivalent value in June, 1963 (a)			Standard Rate in June, 1963			Excess of amount in col. (3) over amount in col. (2)
	(1)			(2)			(3)			(4)
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
NATIONAL INSURANCE ACTS:
Unemployment and sickness benefits:
Single person	1	6	0	1	17	8	3	7	6	1	9	10
Married couple	2	2	0	3	0	11	5	9	0	2	8	1
Increase for first child		10	0		14	6	1	0	0		5	6
Increase for each other child		2	6		3	7		12	0		8	5
Maternity benefit:
Maternity grant (and attendance allowance, in 1951)	8	0	0	11	12	0	16	0	0	4	8	0
Maternity allowance (b)	1	16	0	2	12	2	3	7	6		15	4
Increase for adult dependant		—			—		2	1	6	2	1	6
Increase for first child		—			—		1	0	0	1	0	0
Increase for each other child		—			—			12	0		12	0
Home confinement grant		—			—		6	0	0	6	0	0
Widow's benefit:
Widow's allowance	1	16	0	2	12	2	4	15	0	2	2	10
Increase for first child		10	0		14	6	1	10	0		15	6
Increase for each other child		2	6		3	7	1	2	0		18	5
Widowed mother's allowance	2	0	0	2	18	0	4	17	6	1	19	6
Increase for each child after the first		2	6		3	7	1	2	0		18	5
Widow's pension	1	6	0	1	17	8	3	7	6	1	9	10
10s. widow's pension or contributory old age pension		10	0		14	6		10	0	—	4	6*
Guardian's allowance (payable for each child)		13	6		19	7	1	17	6		17	11
Child's special allowance		—			—		1	10	0	1	10	0
Increase for each additional child		—			—		1	2	0	1	2	0
Retirement pension:
Single person	1	10	0	2	3	6	3	7	6	1	4	0
Married couple	2	10	0	3	12	6	5	9	0	1	16	6
Death grant	20	0	0		(c)		25	0	0		(c)
NATIONAL INSURANCE (INDUSTRIAL INJURIES) ACTS (d):
Injury benefit:
Single person	2	5	0	3	5	3	5	15	0	2	9	9
Married couple	3	1	0	4	8	5	7	16	6	3	8	1
Increase for first child		10	0		14	6	1	0	0		5	6
Increase for each other child		2	6		3	7		12	0		8	5
Disablement benefit:
Disablement pension at 100 per cent, rate	2	5	0	3	5	3	5	15	0	2	9	9
Disablement gratuity (maximum)	150	0	0	217	8	7	380	0	0	162	11	5
Unemployability supplement	1	0	0	1	9	0	3	7	6	1	18	6
Constant attendance allowance:
(i) Normal maximum	1	0	0	1	9	0	2	10	0	1	1	0
(ii) Exceptional maximum in cases of very severe disablement	2	0	0	2	18	0	5	0	0	2	2	0
Special hardship allowance (maximum)	1	0	0	1	9	0	2	6	0		17	0