asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the expected shipments of chilled and frozen beef due to reach this country in June, and how the weekly average compares with June. 1962.

The shipping schedules showing arrivals of meat from Australia, New Zealand and South America do not differentiate between types of meat. But the figures for chilled meat normally cover beef only and for June this figure is 22,400 tons. The weekly average is 5,600 tons compared with 3,500 tons in June last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what alteration he proposes to make in the commencing date of the agreement with the Argentine Government for the import of Argentine meat, in view of the confusion the present date will cause in the distribution trade.

None. The situation in the market called for immediate action to restore stability and our aim therefore was to limit shipments for the remainder of the current year. The agreement reached was that the Argentine would send 203,500 tons during the calendar year 1963.

asked the Minister of Africulture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now give an assurance that the allocation of supplies to various meat traders under the agreement with the Argentine will be done by British and not Argentine authorities.

The Argentine Government have given us assurances that arrangements for limiting these exports will he on an equitable basis and will not give rise to any unfavourable discrimination against the rights of the British companies. I see no reason why the allocation of supplies for export should not be made by the Argentine authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the widespread increase in the numbers of myxomatosis-free surface rabbits, he will now authorise the general provision of shot-gun cartridges, at reduced prices, to recognised shots, to combat these and other pests.

No. There is no evidence of a widespread increase in rabbits living above ground, or that surface-living rabbits are immune to the myxoma virus. Grants on expenditure on cartridges for shooting rabbits and wood-pigeons are already available to rabbit clearance societies, who may engage recognised shots if they wish.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, he has now settled the conditions on which milk can in future be supplied through vending machines.

My right hon. Friend and I are seeking a solution which will take account of the interests of both the dairy industry and the consumer. My right hon. Friend is considering an amendment to the Weights and Measures Bill, to be laid in another place later this week, but details are still being worked out.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will public the results of the investigation into the presence of penicillin and other antibiotics in milk; and what action he proposes to take.

The report by the Milk and Milk Products Technical Advisory Committee on antibiotics in milk in Great Britain is published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office.Antibiotics, which provide the most effective treatment for mastitis in dairy cows, are normally passed into the milk for a period after treatment. The sale of such milk for human consumption is considered by medical experts to be undesirable because of the possibility that it could have ill-effects on the health of a few people who may be, or may become, particularly sensitive to antibiotics.The Milk Marketing Board fox England and Wales in its contract with producers already requires them to withhold from sale milk from cows recently treated with antibiotics, and the three Scottish Boards also require or advise producers to do this. But my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Health and I are concerned about the proportion of milk samples taken at the dairies which have been found to contain traces of antibiotics, and at my request dairies in England and Wales have already begun to carry out and will be extending tests on incoming milk for antibiotics. Producers whose milk is found to contain antibiotics will be reported to the Milk Marketing Board and will be liable to disciplinary action. The Scottish Milk Marketing Board also has a testing scheme in operation, and my right hon. Friend is asking the other two Milk Marketing Boards in Scotland to make similar arrangements.The British Veterinary Association and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry have been asked to co-operate with the Government in implementing those recommendations which affect them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what his proposals are for the disposal of the former Forestry Training School, Lynford Hall, Norfolk; and if he will make a statement;(2) if, in order to ensure that all those who are interested in acquiring Lynford Hall, Norfolk, are given an equal opportunity of doing so, he will arrange for this property to be advertised for sale, either by tender or by public auction.

A satisfactory offer has been received for this property. In these circumstances, I cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by arranging for the property to be advertised for sale.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the future of statutory smallholdings.

The present policy on smallholdings was laid down 16 years ago under Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947. It is time that an independent body should take a look at the working of this policy, and I have therefore decided to set up a Committee of Inquiry to review the working of existing legislation relating to statutory smallholdings in England and Wales, to investigate their economic position and current management problems, and to advise me on the future provision that should be made for small-holdings and related financial and administrative matters. The Committee's Terms of Reference are set out below.Professor Michael Wise, M.C., Ph.D., F.R.G.S., of the London School of Economics has kindly agreed to serve as Chairman. I will make a further announcement when the Committee is appointed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the Sugar Board is now selling sugar at double the negotiated price quota of a year ago; and if he will use his powers under the Sugar Act to ensure that the surplus will be used to reduce the price to the housewife after the Board has cleared the deficits made in previous transactions.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave at the end of Question Time today.

asked the Minister of Defence what conditions Her Majesty's Government have requested for the assignment of the British V-bomber force to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Though the terms of any assignment to N.A.T.O. are confidential I can say that satisfactory arrangements have been made which, while contributing this powerful deterrent force to our N.A.T.O. allies, enable us to meet our other obligations—nuclear or conventional, for the use of V-bombers.

asked the Minister of Defence what categories of arms have been recently supplied, or are to be supplied, to the Union of South Africa under the terms of the Simonstown Agreement.

Anti-submarine frigates, coastal minesweepers and seaward defence boats.

asked the Minister of Defence what discussions took place at the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting on the advisory representation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation at the United States Strategic Command Headquarters; and what decisions were taken on the composition of this group and its access to nuclear secrets.

Ministers approved arrangements for broader participation by officers of member countries in the co-ordination of operational planning at Omaha.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of growing dissatisfaction with the principle of immutability as applied to retirement pensions, he will now bring the system to an end, thus avoiding the present discrimination against some pensioners.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what are the future employment prospects for Chatham and the other Royal Naval Dockyards.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made today in reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mr. Critchley).

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if, when it is decided to build a new ship to replace the ice patrol ship H.M.S. "Protector", he will consider giving the work to Chatham Dockyard;(2) if, when it is decided to build a new ship to replace the mine-layer H.M.S. "Plover", he will consider giving the work to Chatham Dockyard;(3) if, when it is decided to build a new ship to replace the survey ship H.M.S. "Shackleton", he will consider giving the work to Chatham Dockyard.

We have already decided that the next survey ship will be designed and built to commercial standards. This work will not be suitable for Chatham Dockyard and invitations to private shipbuilders to tender for the order will be issued shortly. If it is decided to replace H.M.S. "Protector" and H.M.S. "Plover" the question of building in a Royal Dockyard will be borne in mind.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many British personnel are at present stationed at the Simonstown naval base in South Africa; and in what capacity they are serving.

The following Naval and U.K. based civilian staff are at present serving at the Naval Base Simonstown:

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what has been the cost to date to Her Majesty's Government of re-providing accommodation for naval personnel at the Simonstown naval base, under subsection (2) of Annex E of the agreement relating to the transfer of the Simonstown naval base, set out in Command Paper 9520.

About £100,000, less the sums recovered from the occupants.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what has been the cost to date to Her Majesty's Government of accommodation leased by the South African Government under subsection 4 of Annex E of the Simonstown Agreement.

The only accommodation so leased consists of married quarters for ratings. The rent paid to the South African Government is recovered from the tenants.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what delay has been caused in the completion of H.M.S. "Mohawk" and H.M. Submarine "Valiant", respectively, as a result of demarcation and other labour disputes at Messrs. Vickers Armstrongs' shipyard.

Progress on "Mohawk" has inevitably been affected by demarcation and other disputes which have taken place in the shipyard. In assessing delay in completion of the ship it is difficult to say what proportion to ascribe to labour troubles but they have contributed to a probable delay of several months. Vickers Armstrongs have undertaken to make every effort to maintain the current completion date.As far as "Valiant" is concerned the electrical disputes have not affected this ship to the same extent and the firm are currently working to meet their contract completion date.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many grammar school boys have been commissioned into the Corps of Royal Marines; and how many have attained field, or higher, rank.

Thirty-one former grammar school boys have been commissioned in the Royal Marines during the last five years. It is not possible without lengthy research to give a figure for the Corps as a whole or to state the number of officers of field or higher rank who were educated at grammar schools. The nature of an officer's school is of course not a factor in his promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men are still serving an extended period owing to detention for offences against the military code; and how many have been in the Army for five, four and three years, respectively, since the date of their call-up.

There are at present nine men in military penal or corrective establishments whose sentences will not have been completed by the 30th May, 1963. Most of them have already been discharged from the Army. Of these men, two who are serving sentences for desertion were originally called up more than five years ago. Four others who are serving sentences for various serious offences were called up more than three years ago. I regret that I cannot estimate the number of National Service men who will still be serving sentences in their units or awaiting disciplinary action on the 30th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many married service men stationed at Aden are now without married quarters; and when there will be sufficient married quarters to accommodate service men's families.

Excluding service men on one-year tours and those who have not applied for official accommodation, there are 1,177 entitled married Army service men in Aden. Of these, 801 are in married quarters or hirings, 170 have their families with them in private accommodation and the remaining 206 are separated. The ultimate extent of the married accommodation to be provided in Aden is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the standard conditions of Government contracts for stores purchases apply to commercial firms tendering to his Department for the supply of spring interior mattresses: and whether he is satisfied with the particulars of costings from recent tenders.

Yes, the appropriate standard conditions apply. I am satisfied with the prices obtained from competitive tendering for recent contracts for these mattresses.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will rescind the decision to reduce the intake of apprentices this year at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Bishopton, from twelve to six.

As a result of a recent review of the size of the intake of apprentices at Royal Ordnance Factory, Bishopton, I have decided that it should remain at twelve.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers, non-commissioned officers and men form the Bank of England picket.

One officer, three noncommissioned officers and eight men.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the size of the contribution to be made annually by the Bank of England towards the provision of the picket.

About £13,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had concerning the piping of the Monkland Canal at Coatbridge; what grant he has approved for the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the necessity for local authorities to increase their expenditure on mental health in order to implement the Mental Health

I understand that Coat-bridge Town Council's scheme for piping the canal is nearly and that a grant application will shortly be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total paid in health charges within the National Health Service in each of the last 10 years; and whether he will give a break-down of the figures.

The following is the Answer:(Scotland) Act, 1960, was taken into account in fixing the General Grant for 1961–62, 1962–63 and 1963–64.

The estimates of relevant local expenditure, as agreed for grant purposes in discussion with the local authority associations, took this need fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Victoria Hospital extension; and what is the estimated date of completion.

Work to the value of £200,000 has been completed despite a setback of a few weeks caused by the exceptionally severe weather in the early part of the year and good progress is now being made. The project should be completed in 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when additional beds will be available in Rankin Memorial Hospital, Greenock.

I cannot yet say. The Western Regional Hospital Board will determine the starting date when progress of its building programme permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement about which type of fuel it is proposed to use in the electricity generating station to be constructed in Fife.

I have nothing yet to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton), on 15th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received opposing the proposed merger of the North and South of Scotland electricity boards; by whom they were sent; and if, before he takes a decision, he will appoint an authoritative inquiry into these proposals.

Fifteen local authorities, eleven other bodies and two individuals have made representations to me on the subject. The Mackenzie Committee investigated this matter fully and I see no reason to set up a further committee to consider their recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Alexander Adamson, of Wick, was charged on 15th May before a Scottish Court with fishing within the three-mile limit of the East coast of Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the consequences of that prosecution on the Scottish fishing industry.

Skipper Adamson was charged with using a seine net within the exclusive fishery limits in contravention of Byelaw No. 17 and at the hearing on 15th May he pleaded guilty. He was, however, admonished because, I understand, of mitigating circumstances. I am not aware of any special consequences for the Scottish fishing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received concerning his policy providing that three-year trained teachers in Scotland are paid £100 per annum less than their English colleagues of equal training, duties and responsibilities; what replies he has sent; and what steps he is taking to remove this disparity.

Ten. These letters have been acknowledged and will be treated as representations on the draft Salaries Regulations. They will be considered along with any other representations received before 23rd June, that is within 40 days of the publication of the draft. Until all the representations have been considered, I cannot say what the final decision will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the completion dates of the present technical colleges building programme will be realised; and if he will provide a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the progress of each project.

The following tables give the required information. The estimates

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many computers and automatic data processing systems are either installed or about to be installed at aircraft equipment depots: and how many of these are imported from abroad.

Each aircraft equipment depot has an automatic data processing system which uses punched-card machinery and electronic calculators. These are British machines; none have been imported. There are no computers at the depots.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the accident which occurred on 15th May when Cadet Pilot G. A. W. Ewing, aged 20, was sent up on a solo training flight from Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, in a Chipmunk training plane which crashed; and what steps are taken to ensure that such cadets are sufficiently trained and capable of managing the planes in which they are sent up alone.

While on a solo training flight a Royal Air Force Chipmunk aircraft of the Aberdeen University Air Squadron crashed at Cornhill Farm near Loch Skene at about 11.30 a.m. on 15th May. The pilot, Cadet Pilot Ewing, who had 30 hours solo flying to his credit, was killed. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my deepest sympathy with his relatives. The cause of the accident is being investigated by a board of inquiry. No cadet is allowed to fly solo until a qualified flying instructor is satisfied that he is competent.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the concern of county councils that the Transport Users' Consultative Committee, in considering objections to rail closures, are limited to hardship; and whether he will take steps to enable them to apply the factors set out under Section 135 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960.

I have received representations on this subject from certain county councils in the west of England. Under Section 56(9) of the Transport Act, 1962, the function of an Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee is to consider objections to a proposed passenger closure and report to me on the hardship (if any) which it may cause. The report may contain proposals for alleviating that hardship. I am not in a position to vary this statutory function so as to bring within the scope of the Committee's consideration any matters set out in Section 135 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, which they cannot already consider as part of that function.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction in the national interest to the Railways Board to raise the age at which children may travel at half fare on the railways.

No. The conditions on which fares concessions are given are a matter for the Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will refer to the appropriate Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee the matter of the train service between Maidstone and London, in view of the increasing population of Maidstone and the slowness of the present service.

No, but it is open to dissatisfied users of the service to make representations to the appropriate committee.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction in the national interest to the Railways Board to act in concert with local authorities in the matter of improving houses in the posession of the Board and in the light of national policy.

No. I understand, however, that it is the policy of the British Railways Board to modernise, where practicable, houses in their possession that are to be retained for essential staff, and that last year 3,066 railway-owned houses were improved at a total cost of £127,750. This figure includes grants in aid from local authorities totalling £21,700.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent it will be necessary to expedite the present road programme in order to achieve his target of providing 1,000 miles of motorway by 1970.

Already we have 997½ miles of motorway in use, under construction, in the planning stages or under consideration. Exact completion dates will depend on the funds made available by Parliament and on the fulfilment of the statutory procedures laid down by Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport, in respect of land previously forming part of an abandoned railway line, what price was paid to the British Transport Commission in total, per acre, and as an average per mile of road, for such land used in schemes on trunk road A.465, in providing a flyunder junction on A.1 in Huntingdonshire, and on the Durham motorway, respectively.

No price has yet been settled for any of this land.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of the A.30 road to the West Country are now double tracked; and what plans he has for dual carriageways on further lengths.

6·84 miles of the A.30 are already dual carriageway, 4·28 miles are being reconstructed as dual carriageway, and a further 2·79 miles of dual carriageway are in the programme for construction within the next three years. The London-Basingstoke motorway will supersede the A.30 as far as its junction with the A.303 at Popham Corner. The trunk road from a point near Andover to a point near Honiton is the A.303 and not the A.30. 1·6 miles of this road have been made dual carriageways and a further 4 miles are programmed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now received an application from the Warwickshire County Council for consent to impose a 40 miles-per-hour speed limit on the Kenilworth-Stonebridge, A.452, road through the built-up area of Balsall Common.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have been reported at the crossing of the Lichfield-Stonebridge road, A.446, and the Coles-hill-Water Orton road, B.4417, in each of the three years prior to the removal of the traffic island at Beggars Well, and in the period since then.

The small roundabout at Beggars Well was removed to permit the dual carriageways on A.446 to be carried through this intersection. Although the junction was given excellent visibility, the number of accidents causing injury at this point has increased from one in the three-year period before the works were carried out to ten in the last three years. A close study of the situation, including an analysis of the accidents, is being made to try to establish both the cause of the increase and what effective and practical remedy might be applied.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for over-coming the problem of hold-ups in traffic at the crossing of the A.452 and A.45 trunk roads at Stonebridge, Warwickshire, due to the large volume of traffic which has to turn right in the face of oncoming traffic.

A large roundabout is being constructed at this junction. Work started on this in December, 1962, and will be completed by December, 1964. Provision is being made now for a flyover to be built later if traffic flows in the future require it.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the construction of the section of M.1 from Markfield to Kegworth will be speeded up so as to ensure that the whole of the extension from Crick to the junction with A.6 for traffic to Derby, Nottingham and the North can be opened on one date.

The M.1 extension is already under construction as far as Markfield and is programmed for completion in autumn 1964. The MarkfieldTrent section, including the A.6 junction at Kegworth, is programmed for completion in summer 1965 and the tenders are now being considered. On constructional grounds, it is not desirable to shorten the periods of about two years adopted for the contracts on this motorway. Traffic for Derby, Nottingham, and the North, will be able to use the A.50 junction at Markfield for the short period until the motorway is extended to Keg-worth.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to state the total claims of road authorities for additional expenditure due to the exceptionally severe weather last winter; and whether he has authorised payment on all these claims.

The local authorities receiving Exchequer grants for maintenance of classified roads estimate that during the abnormal conditions of last winter they incurred net additional expenditure of about £6 million on the maintenance of those roads. I am authorising payment of grants at the usual rates towards this expenditure and on the evidence available these may amount to just over £3·5 million.

asked the Minister of Transport when he intends to publish the names of those appointed to serve on the National Ports Council; and if he will ensure that among those appointed, with wide and varied experience of port operation, shipping, commerce, industry, finance, and labour relations, one at least will have firsthand knowledge of the South Wales ports.

I expect to make an announcement about the position of the National, Ports Council shortly after the Whitsun Recess. It is my object to secure that the members of the Council have between them a wide knowledge of the factors bearing on the development and operation of ports and of their implications for the economy of the country, rather than to choose them on the basis of their knowledge of particular areas.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the contract for the conversion of the former Bibby Line troopship "Oxfordshire" of 20,000 tons has been awarded to a Dutch yard at a value of £2,300,000; if he will take steps to assist the British shipbuilding industry to secure such contracts and thus safeguard the livelihood of British shipworkers; and if he will make a statement.

"Oxfordshire" was returned to her owners last December when trooping by sea ended, and contracts for work now to be done on the ship are entirely a matter for them. I understand that yards in this country were invited to tender for this work but that the contract was awarded to a Dutch yard because of a combination of technical and commercial factors. According to Press reports these included willingness to accept substantial penalty clauses for late delivery. In these circumstances there does not seem to be any action which the Government could appropriately have taken to retain the contract for a yard in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport, in his consideration of ways in which to help the British shipbuilding industry, what information he has on Government subsidisation of Japanese shipbuilding, in relation to the competition with British shipyards.

I understand that the Japanese Government help with finance for the export of ships at interest rates well below the high market rate at present prevailing in Japan.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present size of the lorry fleet now registered in Aberdeenshire; what are the categories of licences into which they are divided; and what total volume of freight they can handle.

About 8,300 goods vehicles hold excise licences issued in Aberdeenshire. Of these 4,600 weigh unladen 2 tons or less and 3,700 more than 2 tons. A division between the various categories of carrier's licences is not readily available. The total volume of freight these vehicles can carry must depend on the nature of freight and the journeys undertaken, but if national averages for past operations are taken as a basis, the road goods vehicles registered in Aberdeenshire may be carrying about 10 million tons of freight a year.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the present in-adequate communications between North-East Scotland and England and the need for expansion of trade and industry in North-East Scotland, he will now take steps to provide improved and coordinated transport services to serve that area.

If the hon. and learned Member has any evidence that communications with North-East Scotland are inadequate, I will see that it is considered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a statement on the Birmingham dipped headlamp experiment.

The Road Research Laboratory is studying the results of the experiment and hopes to let me have its comments by the end of June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the breakdown by countries of origin of the 262,000 Commonwealth citizens admitted into the United Kingdom in accordance with the provision; of Part I of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, in the period 1st July, 1962, to 30th April. 1963;(2) what is the breakdown by countries of origin of the 242,000 Common-

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that six policemen were injured on 26th March in dealing with a demonstration outside the House of Commons; and what action has been taken against those responsible for these Injuries.

Yes. but I am informed that fortunately none of the injuries was serious. Three men were arrested and fined.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest unemployment percentage in Thorne, near Doncaster; and how this compares with the national average.

:6·6 in Thorne and 2·4 in Great Britain on 13th May.

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the book stocks at present available in the libraries of each voluntary training college, the funds now available for building up those stocks and the qualified staff administering each library with their clerical support.

The following table shows the book stocks in 1962, the funds authorized for building up these stocks over a period of years, the normal annual expenditure on maintenance of the library and the current library staffing. Details of books stocks in 1963 are not avaible.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that a school playing field of some 4½ acres is now being laid out by the East Sussex Education Authority at Valley Road, Ports-lade; what is the estimated cost of this project; and whether he will suspend the construction pending further investigation into the loss of amenity and property value caused to the local residents,

The East Sussex Authority did not require my specific approval to the laying out of this playing field, nor could I seek now, even if I wished, to prevent the work being completed. The estimated cost is £6,491, and is therefore covered by the block allocation which I made available to the authority as their share of the minor works programme.

asked the Minister of Education which recommendations of the Estimates Committee on the School Dental Service he has accepted.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are jointly considering these recommendations and we hope shortly to reply to the Estimates Committee.

asked the Minister of Education what proposals he has for a new schools council concerned with the curriculum and examinations; and if he will make a statement.

A year ago. my predecessor announced the setting up within the Ministry of Education of a new unit known as the Curriculum Study Group. His object was to extend the advisory service traditionally offered by H.M. Inspectors, and so help the schools undertake the task of constantly adjusting curriculum and examinations to meet changing general and individual needs.During the past year the Group has worked in close collaboration with teachers and local education authorities on a number of projects. In the main, however, this collaboration has been informal and the necessary arrangements have been made on an

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will exercise his powers under the Town and Country Planning Acts to prevent the development of a school playing field of some 4½ acres between Valley Road and North Lane, Portslade, East Sussex, which is now under construction by the local education authority and which will seriously prejudice the adjoining occupiers by being built up to a height above their roof tops.