asked the Secretary of State for Air how much retired pay was received by a flight lieutenant in April, 1950, who was then retired after maximum service; how much that officer would receive today at the age of 58 years; and by how much per cent. the cost of living has risen since he was retired.

In April, 1950, the officer would have received £375 a year and this sum would not be increased until he reached the age of 60. The cost of living has gone up 63·6 per cent. in the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much pension is now received by a corporal's widow whose husband was discharged on pension after 30 years' service and died in October, 1958; and how much she would receive if her husband had been discharged and died this year.

None and £1 18s. a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the cost of constructing the Thor missile bases at Felt-well and North Pickenham in Norfolk; what was the cost of installing and maintaining the missiles; and on what date the missiles will be dismantled and moved from these bases.

These two bases cost about £1·2 million to construct. The missile installation costs were borne by the United States Government. The annual maintenance cost of the two bases was about £0·5 million. Their rundown will be completed by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the future of the Royal Air Force station at Hemswell, Lincolnshire.

We have decided that Hemswell will not be required long term and we shall be disposing of it apart from the married quarters and possibly also a few buildings which we shall continue to use. The position is being explained to the civilian employees this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether a decision has yet been taken on the further development of Blue Steel to give it additional range.

It would not be in the public interest for me to comment on the range or development of Blue Steel which will remain an important part of the deterrent for years to come.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has received from his Traffic Commissioners regarding the number of bus services that have been provided by British Railways under Section 4 of the Transport Act, 1962.

None. The Traffic Commissioners, who are independent statutory authorities, are under no obligation to report to us as to the use made (subject to their authority) by the Railways Board of its powers under the several subsections of Section 4 of the Transport Act, 1962. But I understand that the Board is not directly providing any regular bus services under these powers.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the public interest, he will give a general direction to the Railways Board to publish castings for all railway lines on which it is proposed to make closure orders.

The Railways Board has already agreed to provide Area Transport Users Consultative Committees with current information on receipts and direct costs attributable to the service in all cases where an objection is lodged to a passenger closure proposal under section 56(8) of the Transport Act 1962. The Committees for their part will make this information available to objectors.

asked the Minister of Transport what advice he has received from bus operators as to their ability to replace passenger train services with adequate alternative bus services in the event of the proposals of the Beeching Report being carried out in Scotland.

Bus operators generally have assured us of their fullest co-operation. The Transport Holding Company, who through the Scottish Omnibus Group carry nearly 90 per cent. of passengers on stage bus services outside the municipalities in Scotland, have made a detailed study of the situation and see no reason to suppose that there would be any general difficulty in providing adequate alternative bus services.

asked the Minister of Transport what alternative transport facilities will be available north and south of Accrington if the Manchester to Colne railway line is closed under the Beeching proposals.

If the Railways Board decide to give public notice of the closure to which the hon. Member refers, they must publish information about alternative services, both existing and proposed. Following any objection, the Area Transport Users Consultative Committee will report to us on any hardship involved, and may put forward proposals (including additional alternative services) for alleviating that hardship. Only at that stage, and in the light of all the information available, will my right hon. Friend be able to reach a decision on the Railways Board's proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that, before effecting the closure of railway lines in Norfolk following the Beeching proposals, he will make an additional allocation of money to the Norfolk County Council to enable them to improve roads in the county in order that they may be able to carry the additional volume of traffic.

When considering any passenger closure proposal we shall certainly wish to know whether any additional road improvements are required. But it would be necessary to determine this question before deciding whether additional money is needed by the local highway authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport how long he estimates the Beeching plan would take to implement.

The Railways Board's Report contains a large number of proposals, ranging from the closure of passenger services to the investment of substantial sums, for instance, in new freight facilities. Some of these are subject to my right hon. Friend's statutory powers, others are within the management responsibility of the Board. Implementation of the proposals will be a continuing process, and I cannot at this stage make a firm estimate of the time that it might take.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will instruct his road engineers to prepare a scheme for the conversion of the railway between Lowestoft and Ipswich into a road for fast-moving traffic and publish the cost and feasibility of such a scheme.

No. The Railways Board's proposal is to withdraw the passenger services. They have not indicated whether they intend to close the line to freight services as well. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, at present arise.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that all the railway stations between Whitehaven and Barrow are recommended for closure under the Beeching Report, what plans he has for improving the roads which will carry the extra traffic, and, in particular, for improving road communications between Whitehaven and Millom.

In considering the Railway Board's formal proposals to close these or any other stations, I shall take full account of the alternative road facilities available and any road improvements that may be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give details of the survey carried out by his divisional road engineers in so far as they affect the A.12 Yarmouth to Ipswich trunk road.

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the reports we asked divisional road engineers to make after studying the proposals of the Railways Board. In the case of A.12 the divisional road engineer concerned has not referred to any special problems in his preliminary report.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from lighting authorities regarding the inadequacy of the grants for the lighting of trunk and classified roads; and what reply he has made to them.

As my hon. Friend was told on 6th March, we are considering representations from lighting authorities that our contribution towards the cost of lighting trunk roads is insufficient. It has also been represented to us that street lighting expenditure on classified roads should be eligible for grant, but this is not within my right hon. Friend's present powers. So far he has been unable to agree but he is giving the matter more thought.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the lower accident rate at the terminals of motorways where lighting is installed, he will specify what lighting is to be used on all terminals and interchanges on all motorways.

The roundabouts at the terminals of motorways are lit to standards laid down by my right hon. Friend's Department. We do not consider that there is at present sufficient justification for the lighting of interchanges.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to speed up road works on the Jamage Road and Talke Road so that normal bus services between Red Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme and other parts of north Staffordshire can be restored as soon as possible.

I understand that repairs to Jamage Road are to be undertaken by the Kidsgrove U.D.C. as a matter of urgency. This will enable the use of Jamage Road as a diversionary route for buses to be resumed until the major reconstruction of Talke Road to carry it over the new link with M.6 is completed.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the increasing number of accidents on the A.34 road between the centre of Newcastle-under-Lyme and its northern boundary, he will re-examine the provision of safety measures on this stretch of road.

We are doing so, but the most effective remedy is to reduce the traffic load at the junctions on this road, which will be achieved when the length of M.6 which by-passes the town is completed early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport when the last traffic census was carried out on the A.12 trunk road; and whether he will publish the figures.

The last census on An was held in August, 1961. The results are available for inspection at my Ministry or at the offices of my divisional road engineer in Bedford. But I will gladly send my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport by what date he anticipates the completion of adequate by-passes for Wrentham, Wangford, Yoxford, Saxmundham, and Wickham Market, on the A.12 trunk road; and what will be the cost of their construction.

I cannot say when it will be possible to find a place for these schemes in the road programme. They are mostly in the very early stages of planning. Only at Wangford has a realistic estimate of cost been made; it is £87,000.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will reconsider his decision on improvements to the trunk roads A.10 and A.47 in Norfolk; and if he will now expedite the construction of the King's Lynn by-pass, and improvements to the A.10 in the Downham Market rural district council area.

I see no reason at present to justify reconsideration but shall review the matter in the light of any new factors which may emerge from the

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive the results of the trials of the reflectorised materials for the marking of the edge of carriageways.

Towards the end of this year. We need to have exhaustive tests under all conditions of visibility and use.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a list of schemes in the road programme costing over £100,000 which were started in the six months ended 31st December, 1962, with the present estimated completion date and total cost of each.

The list is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take in view of the fact that the British share of world shipbuilding is now the lowest it has ever been in peacetime.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member on 6th March.

asked the Minister of Transport what factors resulted in the tonnage commenced in British shipyards last quarter being the lowest for any quarter since March, 1939.

The low level of tonnage commenced in the first quarter of this year is mainly a reflection of the low level of ordering over the last few years. The world's shipbuilding capacity has greatly expanded since 1939, and this has aggravated the present situation. Many yards abroad as well as at home are having to take orders at a loss.

asked the Minister of Transport when the circular to highway authorities on the recruitment and training of staff for traffic engineering was sent to highway engineers; and whether he is satisfied with the response.

The circular has not yet been issued. I have only recently received the comments of organisations which were consulted. The circular will be issued shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Channel Link Study Group.

The Report of the Joint Anglo-French group of officials is nearing completion but I am not yet able to say when my French colleague and I will receive, and be in a position to discuss, it.

asked the Minister of Labour what apprentice training classes are held at the Felling Government Training Centre, near Newcastle; how many apprentices were enrolled, and what industrial crafts they were undertaking, at the latest available date; what assurance they have on completion of their training of finding secure employment; and whether he will make a statement.

There are three training classes for first year apprentices at the Felling Government Training Centre; on 15th April, 24 boys were being trained in engineering and 12 in basic electrical work; all the boys are sponsored by employers and at the end of the year's training in the Government Training Centre, will return to those employers to complete their apprenticeship.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the trainees at the Government Training Centre at Felling, near Newcastle, secured permanent employment in their new craft during the year 1961–62, and the year 1962–63 to date.

44 and 82 trainees obtained employment in the years ended March, 1962, and March, 1963, respectively in the trades for which they were trained.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to find new jobs for those who will be redundant following the proposed closure by Joseph Clare, Limited, and its removal to Salford, of the French Dye Works which has operated at Greenfield, Saddleworth, for more than two centuries.

I understand that all the workers have been offered employment with the firm at Salford, but my local officers will do all they can to find work for any who register with them.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes taking to alleviate the unemployment position in Brighton; and by what authority a statement was made last week by the Brighton Employment Exchange manager regarding the uncertain employment prospects of the 800 people just dismissed from Allen West & Co. and Underwood Business Machines.

My local officers are already doing all they can to help unemployed workers, and those facing redundancy, to find employment. The manager of the employment exchange made the statement on his own authority.

asked the Minister of Labour what loss of employment will result from the announced closure by the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd. of their linoleum factory in Falkland, Fife; arid what will be the proportion of unemployment in the Cupar Employment Exchange area.

I understand that 130 employees, of whom about 120 live in the Cupar Employment Exchange area, will lose their jobs at this factory.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to implement Recommendation No. 116 of the International Labour Convention, 1962, for a progressive reduction of the hours of work to a 40-hour week as a desirable social standard.

As stated in the White Paper (Cmnd. 1993) issued last month, the Government do not accept this Recommendation because a provision in it requires action inconsistent with the normal methods of determining conditions of employment in this country.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will now take steps to pay pensions to Polish ex-Service men in this country.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Written Answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) on 25th October last. The decision then announced was taken after very thorough and sympathetic consideration.

asked the Minister of Defence what agreement has now been reached on assigning Great Britain's V-bombers to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Command.

The detailed arrangements for the force of which the V-bombers will form a part are still being discussed in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement about negotiations with the Maltese Government over the sale of land required for a new power/water distillation station.

Sale of Admiralty land, purchased in 1902, required for the proposed power/water station at Malta was agreed in 1961 with the then Government of Malta at the price of £100,000, as representing the current market value of the site alone.The present Malta Government has felt doubts about this basis of payment and the matter is now under discussion with them. In these circumstances I regret that I cannot make any further statement for the present.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many soldiers, other than those educated in a public school, have been granted commissions in the Welsh Guards during the past 10 years; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what steps he is taking to broaden the basis on which selection of commissioned officers for the Welsh Guards is made.

With the exception of four officers who were granted commissions of the quartermaster category, all officers commissioned in the Welsh Guards in the last ten years were educated at public schools.The basis of selection for commissions is already broad enough to allow all candidates to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the basis on which selection is made for commissions in the Welsh Guards; and what was the educational background of the interviewing board of officers who have recommended the appointments during the past two years.

Applications for commissions in the Welsh Guards are first considered by the representative of the Brigade of Guards at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, or by the Commissioning Advisory Board at the Officer Cadet School, Mons. The final decision is made by the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel of the Welsh Guards: this is in accordance with the normal procedure by which applications for commissions in the infantry as a whole are subject to the approval of the Colonel of the Regiment or the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel concerned.Of the four officers composing the Mons Commissioning Advisory Board in the last two years, three were educated at public schools and one at a grammar school.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if he will arrange for a further inspection of the rifle range at the Quarry, Old Town, Swindon, and include in it inquiries as to the anxieties of residents in the vicinity.

This range is not owned by my Department, but is sponsored by the local branch of the National and Local Government Officers Association.When work on the range is complete, Headquarters Southern Command will arrange for a board of officers to certify whether it complies with standard safety regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now grant urgent compassionate leave to the driver, Army number 23903456, about whom he has received full information from the hon. Member for Cardiff, West.

No. My hon. Friend has written fully to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals will be closed in the foreseeable future; what are the reasons for these closures; what types of hospital are involved; and what is the location of each hospital.

It is not possible to prepare a list of hospitals which may be closed within the next few years. Some small hospitals which can no longer usefully or economically discharge their former functions will be closed when suitable alternative arrangements can be made, and as the major building programme progresses there will be further closures of smaller hospitals to obtain the maximum efficiency from the service as a whole. In all such cases decisions will be taken as occasion arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response there has been from local authorities consequent on the circulation of the Scottish Development Department Circular No. 16/1963.

I have received specific proposals from one local authority since Circular No. 16/1963 was issued on 5th April. The Circular however invited returns by 20th May and I understand that a number of local authorities in those areas most affected are preparing schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the local authorities which now provide senior occupational centres for physically handicapped and for mentally disordered persons, respectively, stating the numbers that can be accommodated at each centre.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a list of schemes in the road programme costing over £100,000 which were started in the

The following is a list of the schemes referred to:

asked the Minister of Aviation what circumstances led his Department to recognise the United States Westinghouse Company's claim to patent rights for transistors.

The Western Electric Company, to which I understand the hon. Member is referring, is the owner of a large number of United Kingdom patents covering transistors and other electronic inventions. The inventions protected by the transistor patents are being and will be used in equipment purchased by the Ministry of Aviation. In these circumstances we have a statutory obligation to inform the patentee and, if possible, to agree with him terms of use. This has been done, the terms of use covering all Western Electric patents.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the factory premises of Underwood Business Machines in Brighton when closed down, will, under his policy relating to industrial development certificates, be able to be taken over by any other factory in Sussex; and what is his policy in regard to the issue of industrial development certificates to firms wishing to transfer to other factories within the same county.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. David James) on 10th April, 1963.

asked the Minister of Agricuture, Fisheries and Food what was the acreage of winter wheat planted this season; what reports he has had of frost damage; and if he will make a statement on the prospect of higher prices for the 1963 harvest.

About 1,251,000 acres of winter wheat were planted in England and Wales; and on present evidence this crop, which has good powers of recovery, does not seem to have been seriously hit by the severe winter. Many factors could influence the market for home-grown grain next season and I could not at this stage make any useful statement on price prospects.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the number of agricultural apprentices, in each of the

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures for north Staffordshire showing the number of farms of 30 acres or less in the years 1950, 1955 and 1960, and in 1963 to date.

This information is derived from the June censuses, and for 1963 the county figures will not be available until next year. Figures for 1962 and the three earlier years are given below.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why his office does not produce an annual report; and whether he will consider the desirability of doing so.

I would refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1st May.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the duties of the Receiver-General in his office.

The Receiver-General of the Duchy of Lancaster is the chief financial officer of the Duchy. All receipts and payments are made in his name.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what were the subject and terms of the apology sent to the Queen of Greece by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs following incidents at Claridges Hotel.

The text of my noble Friend's letter has appeared in the national Press. For the convenience of the House, I am circulating it below. As to the subject, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to Questions on 2nd May.TEXT OF LORD HOME'S LETTER OF APOLOGY TO QUEEN FREDERIKA OF THE HELLENESApril 26, 1963.Your Majesty will know with what deep distress I have learned of the two incidents which occurred on the 20th and 22nd of April to mar Your Majesty's visit to this country. In my own name and that of the Home Secretary I should like to express our sincere apologies. We greatly regret that Your Majesty should have been subjected to such an experience.HOME.Her Majesty the Queen of the Hellenes.

asked the Minister of Health by what percentage medical remuneration has increased in the last five years, including the increases recently recommended by the Review Body and accepted by Her Majesty's Government.

Following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of patients registered at St. George's Hospital, Morpeth, in 1960, and 1962, and the ratio of hospital staff employed to patients during the same period.

1,200 and 0·35, 1,131 and 0·39 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will arrange for the co-operation of his Department in the placing of orders in shipyards where there is production of building components.

My Department will be co-operating with local authorities in the organisation of their enlarged house-building programmes, and to that extent will be helping to create an increased demand for building components and products. Local authorities or groups of authorities will be encouraged to adopt standard building components and, where suitable, to consider the use of industrialised building systems. General advice will also be given on the availability of systems. But I must stress that the choice of building method or of contractor lies with the local authority as client; and that local authority groups who engage in bulk purchase of components will themselves decide from whom to buy. Shipyards intending to produce building components should therefore make full use of the Enquiry Centres set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works: by this means they will be able to make contact with the local authorities and contractors who will provide the market for their products. My Department will, of course, also be in touch with the Enquiry Centres.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will introduce legislation to extend the crediting of National Insurance contributions to all full-time students at universities and other institutions of further education, in the same way as full-time students up to the age of 18 are already credited.

No. It would not be justifiable to subsidise the future benefits of such students out of contributions compulsorily paid by other contributors.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Members do not draw the salary to which they are entitled.

Two.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to declare the boundaries of the Windsor Estate for the purposes of Section 5 of the Crown Estate Act, 1961; and what other measures he has taken to preserve the amenities of the Crown Estate in this area.

Her Majesty has been pleased to declare the boundaries of the Windsor Estate, and within that estate the division between Windsor Park and Windsor Forest, by Order in Council made on 2nd May, 1963. The boundaries follow recommendations put forward by the Crown Estate Commissioners who have been very thoroughly into the question of the proper boundaries of the estate to be taken for this purpose, having regard both to the present extent of the Park and Forest and of their history since the Windsor Forest Enclosure Act a century and a half ago. The boundaries are shown on a map deposited in the Public Record Office, a copy of which on the 2-1 in. scale is available to hon. Members in the Library of the House.The Commissioners have also felt it to be important that the amenities of the Thames river frontage at Datchet opposite the Home Park should be preserved for future generations and to this end they are entering into a covenant with the National Trust.