asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what proportion of the work of the Atomic Energy Authority is for the Central Electricity Generating Board; and what proportion is for marine nuclear propulsion.

About 90 per cent. of the Authority's research and development into reactor systems relates to reactors for electricity generation, and about 10 per cent, relates to marine applications.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a further statement on the composition of the committee set up by the Secretary of State for Scotland and himself to assess the impact of rates on households in different income groups and in different parts of Great Britain.

The full Committee will be:

Chairman

Professor R. G. D, Allen (Professor of Statistics at the London School of Economics).

Members

Professor E. Grebenik (Professor of Social Studies—University of Leeds).

Professor A. T. Peacock (Professor of Economics—University of York).

Mr. J. McBoyle (lately County Clerk of Midlothian).

Sir Herbert Pollard (lately Treasurer to the City of Hull).

Mrs. Barbara Shentield (Lecturer in Department of Sociology and Social Studies, Bedford College, London; Member of the National Old People's Welfare Council).

The Secretary of the Committee will be Mr. P. F. Grant of the Department, assisted by Mr. D. W. Wilson of the Scottish Development Department, and letters may be addressed to the Committee at either Office.My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Housing and Local Government would, however, like to emphasise once again that the purpose of the inquiry is purely factual, to assess the impact of rates on households in different income groups and in different parts of the country. The Committee's first task must be to survey the information already available and to decide what more they need and how it may best be obtained. Until that has been done letters may be rather an embarrassment than an assistance in their work.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will ask local authorities in the London area to submit to him reports on how the 1957 Rent Act is operating with regard to assisting in rehousing; and whether he will ask London borough councils to supply him with a list of all evictions from houses under their control which have taken place since the passing of the 1957 Act.

No. To do this would not help local authorities to deal with their housing problems: it would simply add to their burden of work which is already heavy. The hon. Member will, however, remember that the Government are arranging for a survey of housing to be carried out in London.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what figures he has obtained, through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or other international body, that can give a comparison in £ sterling to show how the output per man employed in the United Kingdom compared with France, West Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States of America in 1961 and 1962, respectively.

The figures obtainable from recent publications of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in respect of 1961, the latest year for which they are available, are given below. Since comparable data about manpower employed are not available, the figures relate to output per head of total population. Corresponding estimates for Japan are not available. The figures for output per head have not been converted into sterling throughout, because conversion at the official rate of exchange has been shown by authorities of the Organisation itself to be inappropriate and misleading.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the percentage increase or decrease of trade between the United Kingdom and South Africa during the last 12 months; and how the balance of trade has been affected.

In the 12 months ending April, 1963, compared with the previous 12 months, our imports from South Africa rose by about¼ a per cent. while our total exports to that country rose by 23 per cent. The favourable balance of visible trade, namely, the difference between exports valued on an f.o.b. basis and imports valued on a c.i.f. basis, was £63·8 million compared with £32·2 million in the previous 12 months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is expected that the factory which has stood empty for a long time on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate will be let; and why it has not been occupied for so long.

Negotiations with a prospective tenant for this factory have been going on for many months but I am not yet able to say when agreement is likely to be reached.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new industries have established themselves in the North-East in the three years ended April 1963; and how many work-people they now employ.

In the three years ended April 1963 eighteen firms from outside the Region have established themselves in the North-East and at present employ 2,288 people.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to secure new industries for the areas of Ammanford and Garnant.

My right hon. Friend will continue to do all he can to draw the attention of industrialists to the facilities available in this development district. The additional inducements for development districts which will become available under the provisions of the Finance Bill and the Local Employment Bill should be an added encouragement to new industrial development.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek power, in particular cases for particular products from development districts, to act as a buying agent for resale overseas to under-developed countries with whom the United Kingdom has contracted some form of trade agreement.

No. The Government provide a range of services and facilities to help our exporters and I do not consider it necessary or advantageous to try to supplement the normal channels of trade by a form of state trading such as my hon. Friend seems to have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent estimate he has made of the number of Africans from British dependent territories who are employed in South Africa.

The latest estimate of African labour recruited annually for the Republic of South Africa is: Basutoland —135,000, Bechuanaland—26,000, and Swaziland—13,500; or 174,000 in all from the High Commission territories. In addition, very many Africans from the territories have taken up permanent residence in the Republic. The numbers of Kenya Africans employed in the Republic are believed to be negligible. Estimates in respect of Africans from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to resolve the situation in British Guiana.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the present situation in British Guiana.

A general strike has been in progress since 20th April. On the advice of his Ministers, the Governor declared a state of emergency on the 8th May. Responsibility for labour matters rests with British Guiana Ministers. I have asked my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, who is in the Caribbean for other reasons, to visit Georgetown and to report to me on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what sums have now been given to the Kenya Government to finance the resettlement schemes; and what other proposals he has to assist the economic development of farming in Kenya;(2) whether he will make a statement about measures he proposes to assist Europeans in Kenya who are financially unable to assist themselves or are elderly and live in areas of high security risk.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now state the measures which Her Majesty's Government propose to take to assist those elderley British citizens in Kenya and other hardship and security risk cases who wish to return to Great Britain and will need financial assistance.

In the light of consultations with the Kenya Government, I am now able to announce the financial assistance which the British Government will provide to Kenya for land settlement and general development in its financial year July 1963—June 1964.2. The Land Settlement Scheme which my hon. Friend announced to Parliament on 18th December last, provided for the purchase of about one million acres of mixed farm land owned by Europeans for resettlement by Africans. This operation, which is to be spread over a five-year period, envisaged the provision by the British Government of £3·8 million during the coming financial year. However, in view of representations made to us by the Kenya Government, it has been decided to accelerate somewhat the implementation of this scheme. As a result, the area to be purchased next year will be increased; and the amount to be provided by the British Government will be raised to about £4·6 million.3. In addition, we propose to provide up to £700,000 for the purchase and resettlement of farms, mostly outside the areas at present included in the scheme, whose occupants for reasons such as age, infirmity or remoteness of the property are exposed to special risks.4. I have received representations on behalf of other property owners who, for the same reasons, are looking to us for special help, but who, because of the nature of their properties, cannot be brought within the Land Settlement Scheme. This raises certain difficult implications, which I am still considering.5. We have also considered the working capital required by the Kenya Land Bank for the financing of land purchase outside the ambit of the Settlement Scheme. The number of applications to the Bank for loans for land purchase has of late appreciably increased, due in part to the desire of some European farmers, whose properties have been bought out in the settlement area, to remain in Kenya. We recognise the importance in these circumstances of increasing the resources of the Land Bank and have accordingly decided to make a further loan of up to £1 million to the Kenya Government for this purpose.6. In addition, the British Government are providing £4·1 million for general development in Kenya in 1963–64. The projects to which this money will be devoted include agricultural development outside the settlement schemes, new roads and schools, and other basic services.7. Thus, it will be seen that, for the financial year 1963–64, the British Government will be providing up to £10·4 million for land settlement and other development. Of this, £5·1 million will be a gift and £5.3 million will be in the form of a loan. This does not include the substantial aid that we are giving to Kenya for various other purposes.8. I have also been giving attention to cases of elderly or infirm British people who wish to return to Britain but are without means. The British Government are prepared, in appropriate cases, to pay the cost of their passages and to assist with other incidental costs. Since this matter is urgent. a sum of £26,000 will be advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund for this purpose and provision for repayment to the Fund will be sought from Parliament by means of a Summer Supplementary Estimate.9. Persons returning from Kenya will be eligible for grants from the National Assistance Board under the same conditions as residents in Britain. The Women's Voluntary Service, in co-operation with other voluntary organisations, has undertaken the task of co-ordinating arrangements for the repatriation of these persons to Britain and, where necessary, for their reception and care on arrival.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, following the announcement of the name of the chairman of the Kenya Land Board, he will now make a statement regarding the further composition of the Board.

In addition to the Chairman, the Central Land Board will consist of a Deputy Chairman, a Central Government representative, a representative of each Region and a representative of the farming community of the Scheduled Areas. Appointments to these posts cannot be made until the new Constitution for Kenya comes into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many beds are currently available for the treatment of mental illness in British Honduras; where they are situated; and what is the percentage by which the provision falls short of that recommended by the World Health Organisation in relation to total population.

There are 141 beds of which 88 are for males and 53 are for females. All these are in the Mental Hospital, Belize. This provision falls short by about 5 per cent. (five per cent.) of the provision recommended by the World Health Organisation in relation to the total population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present state of the Mental Hospital, Belize, as regards type of accommodation, sanitation, water supply, and diet of the patients.

Accommodation is provided in concrete buildings, which have been partially rehabilitated since the 1961 hurricane. It consists of five open type multiple wards, 3 for males and 2 for females, 20 individual rooms for acute and dangerous cases, of which there are 10 for each sex, and 10 single rooms for isolation cases, of which there are 4 for males and 6 for females.Further information is being sought on the remainder of this question and I will write to the hon. Member when I have it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent in the Mental Hospital, Belize, beds are provided for patients; whether mechanical restraint is still in use: and what is the average cost per patient per year in terms of food and clothing.

As regards provision of beds, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his previous Question. No mechanical restraint is used. The cost of food per annum per patient is $160, which is supplemented by free gifts by the organisation knowns as the Cooperative for American Remittances to Everywhere, Inc. The cost of clothing is $120 which is also supplemented by charitable agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether electroconvulsive therapy apparatus is available, and whether tranquillising and antidepressant drugs are provided at the Belize Mental Hospital.

The electro-convulsive therapy apparatus was destroyed in the hurricane in 1961, but it is being replaced. Tranquillising and anti-convulsive drugs are in use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what allocation of funds has been provided for psychiatric care in British Honduras in 1962–63, and in 1963–64.

In 1962 $75,000 was allocated for psychiatric care and in 1963 $77,500. These are approximate figures.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why no firms in The Hartlepools have been asked to tender for the decoration of the new telephone exchange at West Hartlepool.

Tenders for the construction of this new telephone exchange have been invited and are now under consideration and the contract will include decoration work. The successful tenderer will be free to decide whether to carry out the decoration work himself or to sublet it.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is his estimate of the number of motor vehicles parked on the Outer Circle of Regent's Park between the Charlbert Bridge and Chester Gate entrances at 3 p.m. on 12th, 19th and 26th May, respectively.

On the northern part of the Outer Circle between these points —480, 650 and 675, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people in Rochester and Chatham are on the waiting list for telephones; and how many new telephones have been installed in the area since 1951.

Apart from applications under inquiry or being met, there are 216 people on the waiting list for telephones in Rochester and Chatham. I am sorry that separate statistics are not available for the years 1951 to 1957. Since 1957, 5,214 new telephones have been installed in this district.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new telephones have been provided in the Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay areas of Kent during the past 10 years.

Since 1957, 5,470 new telephones have been installed in the Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay areas of Kent. I am sorry that figures for the earlier years are not now available.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to convert the present manual telephone exchange at Herne Bay to automatic.

I plan to convert the manual telephone exchange at Herne Bay to automatic working, with STD facilities, during 1966.

asked the Postmaster-General when he received the letter sent to him recently by the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce urging him to extend the existing night air mail service between London, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen; if he is aware that such an extension is necessary in the interest of Scottish and English trade, industry and commerce; and what reply he has sent.

I received the letter on 17th May. My inquiries into the matter are not yet complete; but I will write to the hon. and learned Member, and see that a reply is sent to the Chamber of Commerce, as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the area of land covered by the Dollis Hill Research Station, together with appurtenances and undeveloped land; what has been the expenditure incurred in the past five years on buildings, plant and equipment; what is the total of salaries paid to technicians and staff per annum; and what is the nature of research currently being conducted at the station.

The area of the site at Dollis Hill is 10 acres. During the past five years expenditure on buildings, apart from routine maintenance, was £140,000, and on plant and equipment £1,500,000. The total salaries amount to about £1,500,000 per annum. The work carried out at the Research Station is largely applied research concerned with developing new and improving existing techniques connected with the postal and telecommunication services. The range of activities is very wide, and includes methods of transmitting speech, television, data and telegraph signals over land line, submarine cable, radio, radio-relay and communication-satellite systems electronic switching systems; electromechanical methods of handling and sorting letters, packets and parcels.

asked the Postmaster-General how many electricity boards in England and Wales use facilities at post offices for payment of accounts; what boards have recently given up these facilities; and what boards have recently adopted them.

The Post Office does not provide these facilities, but I understand that some sub-postmasters do so in their private capacity. I have no details of the extent to which they do this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are to be taken to implement the Report of the Royal Commission on Common Land; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that pressure on Parliamentary time has, so far, prevented our introducing legislation on the lines which my right hon. Friend indicated on 6th November, 1961. It remains our firm intention to legislate for commons registration broadly on the lines of the Royal Commission's Report just as soon as Parliamentary time will allow.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a large percentage of sugar imports into Great Britain is coming in Russian ships, because the United States Government have taken measures against all British ships that trade with Cuba, and that the first Soviet ship "Sovetskaya Gavan" has just arrived at Dagenham Docks with 10,000 tons; if he will make representations to the United States Government about the diversion of traditional British shipping trade into Soviet vessels; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that some Cuban sugar is coming here in Russian ships. It would not, however, be justifiable to attribute this primarily to the action taken by the United States Government, which has been to deny Aid cargoes to ships trading with Cuba. The United States Government already knows our views in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated volume of traffic flow at the crossing of the A.452 and A.45 trunk roads at Stonebridge, distinguishing between local traffic, long-distance goods vehicles and private holiday makers.

Traffic figures are not available in this form. At the most recent count in October, 1961, the traffic on one day on each of the four approach roads to this junction was as follows:

—	Cars and light lorries	Heavy Commercial vehicles
A.45 from Coventry	6,454	3,989
A.45 from Birmingham	4,909	2,116
Bromwich	5,137	3,088
A.452 from Kenilworth	2,834	1,238

asked the Minister of Transport how many fatal street accidents occurred in the county borough of Croydon in 1962; and how this total compares with those of other towns having a population of 250,000 or more over the same period.

The following table gives the number of deaths from road accidents reported in 1962; the number of fatal accidents is not readily available.

DEATHS FROM ROAD ACCIDENTS IN 1962 IN TOWNS OF POPULATION OVER 250,000
—	Population* 1961	Fatal 1961 casualties in 1962
Croydon C.B.	252,387	23
Birmingham C.B.	1,105,651	112
Glasgow	1,054,913	122
Liverpool C.B.	747,490	78
Manchester C.B.	661,041	94
Leeds C.B.	510,597	56
Sheffield C.B.	493,954	53
Edinburgh	468,378	51
Bristol C.B.	436,440	52
Wandsworth Met. B.	347,209	48
Nottingham C.B.	311,645	34
Coventry C.B.	305,060	45
Kingston-upon-Hull C.B.	303,268	31
Bradford C.B.	295,768	40
Leicester C.B.	273,298	32
Newcastle-upon-Tyne C.B.	269,389	23
Stoke-on-Trent C.B.	265,506	29
Cardiff C.D.	256,270	33
*Preliminary results of Census 1961.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the concern of the employees at the Treforest Industrial Estate at the degree of risk entailed in negotiating crossings of the main road; and what steps he is taking to allay this concern by instituting either over-bridges, under-passes, warning signs or a speed limit.

I am aware that there is some concern about conditions in peak traffic hours at this Estate. I have instructed my divisional road engineer to consider means of improving those conditions. It is unlikely that pedestrian over-bridges or under-passes or additional wearning signs or speed limits would be effective. Pedestrians cross at so many points that over-bridges or under-passes for them would probably be little used, and the road is already subject to a speed limit.

asked the Minister of Labour what recent action he has taken to provide employment for school-leavers in Gateshead and what immediate prospect there is of reducing the high figures of unemployment among persons under 18 years of age.

Gateshead is included in the Tyneside area recently scheduled as a development district. School leavers and other young persons, like older workers, should benefit from the measures being taken to assist these areas. Unemployment amongst young people fell from 507 in April to 275 in May. The Youth Employment Service will continue to do all it can to find suitable jobs for the young people.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new jobs have been provided in Buckhaven and Methil since it was scheduled as a development district; and what prospects there are for the 150 redundant miners from Wellesley Colliery.

Of the 2,000 jobs estimated for Fife from projects assisted under the Act, about 450 have already arisen. I cannot give the separate figure for the Kirkcaldy development district (which includes Buckhaven and Methil) since to do so would reveal details of individual companies' business. My right hon. Friend understands that about 140 men will be affected by the concentration at Wellesley Colliery, but that the N.C.B. expect that most of these will be placed within the six month period of redundancy compensation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the proposed run-down of employment in Portsmouth Dockyard, he will now give an assurance that he will not refuse industrial development certificates to firms that wish to establish new factories in Portsmouth.

I regret that I cannot give such an assurance since applications have to be considered on their merits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new jobs have been provided in the Tees-side area since it was scheduled as a development area.

No project has been confirmed since the Tees-side Group was listed as a development district on the 26th February last; but fourteen applications for assistance under the Local Employment Act, 1960 are under consideration. The Board of Trade are also building an advance factory at Stockton-on-Tees.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will increase the allocation of Government funds for the dissemination of information in the United Kingdom about the aspirations and achievements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Her Majesty's Government contribute to the budget of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Information Committee and also to the British Atlantic Committee and to the N.A.T.O. Parliamentarians' Conference. All these provide publicity in the United Kingdom for N.A.T.O. The British Press, television and the British Broadcasting Corporation give a wide coverage to its achievements and aims.

asked the Prime Minister what report he has received from the Lord President of the Council on long term planning for the North-East of England; and when he expects it will be presented to Parliament.

My noble Friend expects to make a comprehensive report to his colleagues within the next few weeks. When this has been considered we shall announce our long-term plans for the region in whatever form seems most appropriate. Meanwhile, a large number of immediate measures have been taken.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now announce the composition of the reconstituted Council for Wales and Monmouthshire.

The following have accepted my invitation to serve on the Council for Wales and Monmouth-shire for the period ending 30th April. 1966. I am grateful to them for undertaking this important public service.

• Councillor G. R. Beeston, M.B.E., M.A., J.P.
• The Venerable the Archdeacon of Carmarthen (The Venerable W. Ungoed Jacob)
• Gwilym Davies, Esq., J.P.
• Mrs. Jennie Eirian Davies.
• Major J. E. M. Dugdale, T.D.
• Councillor D. Joshua Evans, J.P.
• Councillor Nigel L. Gibbs, D.F.M., J.P. Arthur G. Gilbertson, Esq.
• R. E. Griffith, Esq.. O.B.E., M.A.
• S. T. Ithell, Esq.. J.P.
• Councillor A. Hughes Jones, F.C.A.
• Alderman C. M. Jones, M.B.E., J.P.
• Professor F. Llewellyn-Jones, M.A., D.Phil., D.Sc.
• J. H. Jones, Esq., J.P.
• Mrs. Rachel M. Jones.
• The Reverend M. R. Mainwaring, M.A. B.D.
• Councillor J. E. H. Martin, J.P.
• R. C. Mathias, Esq., M.B.E.
• Councillor E. B. Miller.
• Mrs. Janet I. Morgan.
• Mrs. Mary Priddle-Higson.
• Mrs. H. M. Ramage, M.A.
• S. G. Rees, Esq.
• G. A. S. Turnbull, Esq.
• Councillor Tudor Watkins.

asked the Minister of Education which education authorities in England and Wales pay allowances to teachers over and above the Burnham salary scales; what is the amount in each case; and what are the reasons for such payments.

Local education authorities are precluded by Remuneration of Teachers orders from paying salaries otherwise than in accordance with the scales of salaries laid down in the Burnham Reports. These reports provide that an additional payment be made to teachers serving in the London area (broadly the Metropolitan Police District) of £45 per annum, or £60 per annum after they have attained the age of 37 years or have completed 16 years of full-time service, whichever is the earlier. The local education authorities who pay this allowance are Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Middlesex and Surrey County Councils and Croydon, East Ham and West Ham County Boroughs.I understand that the Burnham Committee introduced the allowance to compensate for the high cost of living in the London area.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the average size of a general practitioner's list for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The following is the information:

1958	2267
1959	2282
1960	2287
1961	2292
1962	2304
NOTE.—The figures include an annually increasing number of patients on more than one list, left the country, or deceased.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent funds available to the Levy Board under the Betting Levy Act 1961 for asssisting horse breeding societies, veterinary education and the improvement of horse racing are greater than those available to the Race-course Betting Control Board under the 1928 Act; what specific arrangements are being made by the Levy Board to provide funds; and how the allocation is made for each of the approved societies concerned with light horse and pony breeding, and heavy horse breeding, respectively.

The amount available for distribution as a result of totalisator operations in 1961 (the last complete year before the levy on bookmakers came into force) was £613,000. The amount available for distribution as a result of totalisator operations and the levy on bookmakers during the present levy period ending on 31st March, 1964, is estimated at £2,350,000.In the previous levy period ended on 31st March, 1963, the Board was considering its long-term scheme for the improvement of horse racing and meanwhile grants for this purpose were made at much the same rates as in previous years. In consequence, a reserve was created of £1,400,000 and carried forward into the present levy period. The total sum to be distributed is allocated as follows:

	£
(a) the improvement of breeds of horses	35,800
(b) the advancement or encouragement of veterinary science or veterinary education	81,000
(c) the improvement of horse racing (including the reserve of £1,400.000)	3,393,000

The detailed allocations under (a) are as follows:

	£
Thoroughbred Breeders Association	5,000
Arab Horse Society	550
The Hunters Improvement and National Light Horse Breeding Society	23,000
Highland Pony Society	350
National Pony Society	3,500
Shetland Pony Stud Book Society	200
Welsh Pony and Cob Society	500
British Percheron Horse Society	500
Cleveland Bay Horse Society	500
Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland	500
Hackney Horse Society	250
Shire Horse Society	500
Suffolk Horse Society	450

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the Interim Report on Legal Aid of the Committee on Criminal Appeals set up by Justice, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take upon it.

The Report dealt with a number of matters which have also been reviewed in the final Report of the Working Party on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings, recently presented to my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and me and published on 3rd May. The Working Party suggested that there was a need for a broadly based examination of the whole machinery for providing legal aid in criminal proceedings, including the facilities for legal aid and advice in connection with appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeal. I am considering this Report, and I shall also bear in mind the proposals made by "Justice".

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements have been made since the Somali Government broke off diplomatic relations with Her Majesty's Government for the payment of pensions to retired overseas civil servants of the former Somaliland Protectorate now resident outside the Somali Republic.

These pensions are the liability of the Somali Government. An agreement was reached between that Government and Her Majesty's Government in 1961 that payment should be made on behalf of the Somali Government by the Crown Agents from a special account set up with them by the Somali Government. That account would be funded by the payment into it of an appropriate part of the grant-in-aid that Her Majesty's Government had agreed to make to the Somali Government. When the Republic broke off diplomatic relations and requested that payment of the grant-in-aid should cease, Her Majesty's Government asked them what arrangements they proposed to make to meet the pensions liability. No reply has yet been received. The Crown Agents have in the meantime been instructed by the Somali Ministry of Finance to make no further pension payments from Somali Republic Funds and no other arrangements appear to have been made for these payments. Her Majesty's Government however consider that the pensioners concerned should continue to receive the sums to which they are entitled without interruption. They propose to ensure this by making ex gratia loan advances recoverable solely from arrears of pension when such are eventually paid. Pensioners will thus continue to receive the same amount as they would have received had the Somali authorities paid the pension. The situation will be reviewed when arrangements for paying the pensions by the Somali Government become known. Meanwhile a Supplementary Estimate up to an amount of about £46,000 will be laid before the House in due course. An advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.In making this arrangement Her Majesty's Government do not agree to relieve the Somali Government of their liability in this matter.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) to what extent and in relation to what matters the rules of the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation provide for the taking of decision., other than by unanimous vote; and to what extent such decisions are binding, respectively, on members who vote for or against the decision, or who abstain or are absent from the vote;(2) to what extent and in relation to what matters the rules of the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation provide for the making of recommendations; to what extent such recommendations can be made other than by unanimous vote; and to what extent such recommendations are treated as carrying an obligation to comply with the recommendation in the case, respectively, of members who vote for or against the recommendation, or who abstain or are absent from the vote.

As the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is composed of sovereign states of equal status, its practice has been to operate by unanimity. There have been occasions when a member or members have found themselves unable to agree with the consensus of opinion upon a particular question, but have not wished to oppose it formally; they have therefore made their acquiescence in decisions or recommendations of the Council subject to explicit reservations concerning their freedom of action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult the Lanarkshire Education Authority with a view to having specialist assistants, academic and non-academic, appointed in 0 level and junior secondary schools.

At present, under the Schools (Scotland) Code, special assistants may be appointed only in secondary departments providing courses extending over not less than five years. I am, however, at present considering the matter as part of a review of the provisions regarding posts of responsibility generally and propose to consult the education authorities and teachers' organisations in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will extend the inducement payment of £50 intended for teachers in the city of Glasgow to teachers in the surrounding counties, with a view to preventing any further deterioration in the teaching shortage position in these areas; if he will amend Regulation 31 accordingly; and if he will make a statement.

The proposal included in the draft Regulations for a special allowance for teachers in Glasgow was based on a recommendation of the National Joint Council which referred only to teachers in that city. I shall, of course, consider very carefully any representations which I may receive on this proposal before deciding what provision, if any, should be included in the final Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Her Majesty's Government will now set up a single negotiating body for the Probation Service; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I intend to consult the interested parts about the Morison Committees recommendation on this subject as a settlement has been reached of Salaries of Scottish probation officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has studied the circular issued by the Educational Institute of Scotland, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie, which concerns his failure to implement in full the findings of the independent tribunal of arbiters; if he will now incorporate those findings in the final draft regulations; and if he will make a statement.

I shall consider most carefully the circular referred to, along with any other representations which I may receive before 23rd June on the draft Salaries Regulations, which I published after complying fully with statutory requirements. Until I have considered all the representations, I cannot say what the final decisions will be.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, on what experience or actual trials he has reached the conclusion that basic English has so far proved a disappointing means of communication; and in what countries these trials were carried out.

Basic English was considered or tried in many different countries in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, particularly during the early nineteen forties, but generally aroused little interest. An extensive trial in Cyprus in 1950 led to its rejection there.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation from what source he obtains his advice on the best means of spreading a knowledge of English in the countries aided by his Department.

I receive advice from the British Council and from my Educational Advisers. The Council's Advisory Panel, on which my Department is represented, includes experts from the universities and the Ministry of Education. In responding to requests for help from countries abroad my Department is able to make use of information received from British Council staff and others engaged in English teaching in developing countries.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation (1) what steps have be taken by his Department during the past three years to recruit medical staff for the psychiatric services in British Honduras and with what success.(2) what was his policy, during the period 1961-63, concerning the appointment of a suitably qualified and experienced psychiatrist at Belize Mental Hospital.

Efforts to recruit a suitable candidate for the post of Pyschiatrist and Superintendent of the Belize Mental Hospital began in September, 1960. As a result of advertisement a candidate was selected, and an offer of appointment made in June, 1961. The candidate raised many detailed questions, some of which necessitated reference to British Honduras, and owing to the hurricane disaster there was a considerable delay before a reply was received. There followed protracted correspondence with the candidate about the terms of appointment offered. At the end of January, 1963 the offer of appointment was withdrawn as the candidate was unable to give a firm acceptance. It was of course not possible to consider other candidates for the post during the period June, 1961 to January, 1963.A further advertisement has now appeared in the medical journals and the response is awaited.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what provision he will now make for the payment and recruitment of a psychiatrist for British Honduras.

The post has been re-advertised at a salary of £2,400 plus an allowance of £175 a year in lieu of private practice. The salary includes an increased inducement allowance payable under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme by my Department. Appropriately qualified applicants will be interviewed as soon as possible.