asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the machinery he has set up to implements his plan to match the need for aid by the developing nations of the Commonwealth with the need for jobs in the development districts of the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend has not found it necessary to create any special machinery for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further grant to the Arts Council, making it a condition of such grant that more money shall be earmarked for the North-Eastern Association for the Arts.

No. The distribution of the Arts Council's grant, which has been and is being greatly increased, must remain a matter for the Arts Council.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will require the South Bank Theatre and Opera House Board to select the architect for the National Theatre and Opera House by open competition.

No. This is a matter for the South Bank Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is now taking to stimulate trade within the Commonwealth.

The communiqué issued after the meeting of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council last month indicated the direction sin which the Governments of the Commonwealth were looking for action to develop trade in the Commonwealth and in the world as a whole. At the subsequent meeting of the G.A.T.T., my right hon. Friend supported proposals for expanding the trade of less-developed countries and reducing barriers to trade in agricultural and industrial products. We shall play our full part over the coming months in the negotiations to put these proposals into effect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet succeeded in letting the factory built by his Department for Tecalemit Ltd. at Camborne-Redruth.

Not yet; several industrialists are showing an interest in this factory but so far no firm application has been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are now the prospects of new industries being guided to the Falmouth-Penryn area of Cornwall.

There have been a number of industrial inquiries lately, but there are few definite jobs in prospect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms have shown interest in moving to development districts in the North-East since the Budget.

Since the Budget, the Board of Trade has received over 40 new inquiries from companies outside the region which have expressed interest in moving to development districts in the North-East, and a number of other companies have shown a renewed interest in these development districts. Representatives of 28 companies have visited the area in the period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he received a letter from the United Nations Special Committee on Colonialism asking for the earliest possible date for the independence of Malta and the arranging of a conference with the Maltese leaders on the island to discuss the subject; and what was his reply.

A copy of a resolution on Malta adopted by the United Nations Special Committee was transmitted to the United Kingdom Permanent Representative by the Secretary-General on 14th May and its receipt was acknowledged on 15th May.I am convening a conference in London next month to discuss the question of Malta's independence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the proposed conference to extend independence to Malta.

I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the Answer I gave on 18th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the contract between the Council of Administration of the Malta Dockyard and the English firm which has taken over the yard has been completed; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

The contract has been completed. It is between two commercial concerns. It would not therefore be appropriate to lay a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the decision of the East African Court of Appeal to quash the convictions and sentences imposed on Abdullah al Asnag, the General Secretary of the Aden Trades Union Congress, Idris Hanbala, the Organising Officer of the Trades Union Congress, and Abdullah Ali Obaid al Wahti; and whether he will consider the payment of compensation to these three persons, who served sentences varying from eight months to six months.

If the three persons named make a claim for compensation, it will be a matter for consideration by the Aden Government; but I understand that it is doubtful whether any ex gratia payment would be considered justified if a claim in similar circumstances were made in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Kenya regarding modifications to the Constitution and a date for independence.

I had satisfactory talks with Mr. Mboya, Minister for Constitutional Affairs in the Kenya Government, on the subject of independence for Kenya. Our conclusions are being considered by the British and Kenya Governments and a statement will be made next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made by the Hong Kong Government towards implementing an alternative arrangement to the nationalisation of the two privately-owned electricity supply companies, recommended by the Hong Kong Electricity Supply Commission in January, 1960; and if he will make a statement.

None. I cannot yet add to the reply given on the 4th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies at what date the Conference on Malaysian Federation will begin, and how long it is expected to last; what proposals concerning defence Her Majesty's Government will submit to that Conference; if he is satisfied that the people of Brunei endorse the prospective Federation; and what is the approximate number of adult Brunei nationals.

I expect to have consultations in London this week with Malayan and Singapore Ministers.In regard to defence matters, I would refer the hon. Member to the agreement reached between the British and Malayan Governments in November, 1961.Negotiations between the Governments of Brunei and Malaya have not yet been concluded.Figures for the number of adult subjects of the Sultan are not available. At the 1960 Census there were some 38,000 persons aged 20 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the monthly wages of the sugar plantation and asbestos workers in Swaziland who went on strike for an increase of £1 a month.

The minimum wage for a month of 26 working days for unskilled labour at the Ubombo Sugar Plantation is £4 10s., plus an attendance bonus which averages over £3 monthly for cane cutters; in addition the value of free rations is roughly £2 per month. Free quarters are also supplied.At the Havelock Asbestos Mine the minimum unskilled cash wage for a working month of 26 shifts was raised from £4 16s. to £6 18s. just before the strike which began on 20th May. The company's estimate of the average African monthly cash wage in February, 1963, was £6 10s. Free rations, in addition to the basic wage, are valued at £2 10s. for single men and £3 10s. for married men per month. The monthly value of free quarters is 30s. for single and 50s. for married men. The demand of the strikers was for a territorial minimum wage of £1 per day without free rations or quarters. This would have amounted to a monthly minimum wage of £26.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the future of Pius XII University College, Roma, in Basutoland.

Agreement has been reached between the High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland and the Oblates of the Order of Mary Immaculate, who are responsible for Pius XII college at Roma in Basutoland, by which with the concurrence of the Paramount Chief of Basutoland the grounds and buildings of the college have, with certain exceptions, passed into the trusteeship of the High Commissioner, who will in due course transfer them to an independent university, intended primarily but not exclusively to serve the needs of Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland. The university which it is hoped will be established by Royal Charter, is expected to come into being on 1st January, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Mr. Patrick Duncan has been declared a prohibited immigrant into the High Commission Territories.

I would refer the hon. Member to the full explanation I gave on 18th June to the hon. and learned Member for Ipswich (Mr. D. Foot) and the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).

asked the Postmaster-General why a parcel posted in London on 7th June was not delivered in Cleethorpes until the 12th; in view of repeated complaints to him about the slowness of delivery, if he will have a special investigation made; and if he will make a statement.

Our inquiries indicate that there is some doubt about the date on which the parcel to which my hon. Friend refers was posted: but I regret that it is the case that parcels from London for Cleethorpes are not always getting through as quickly as they should. In collaboration with British Railways we are making further inquiries into the reasons for these delays: and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as these are complete.

asked the Postmaster-General what complaints he has had in the past two months from Lancashire about bad reception of British Broadcasting Corporation television programmes there; and what action he is taking to provide a more satisfactory service.

I have received a number of complaints recently about bad reception of B.B.C. television in Lancashire. The trouble is that reception of the lower Band I channels is liable to periodic interference from foreign stations during the summer. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 18th June, I hope very soon to make a statement about the possibility of providing additional television stations operating in Band III in order to improve reception in certain parts of the country. I can assure the hon. Member that the needs of Lancashire are very much in my mind.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the new unmanned repeater television station at Folkestone has resulted in a marked improvement in the reception for the British Broadcasting Corporation channel in Folkestone, but that reception in Hythe and the Romney Marsh area has shown no improvement, although the station which the Independent Television Authority erected at Dover gives satisfactory viewing in these areas; and what steps he proposes taking to rectify this position.

Yes. The B.B.C. plans to raise the power transmitted by its Folkestone station before the end of the summer: it hopes this will improve reception in Hythe. In the longer term, this area is one of the places listed by the B.B.C. for consideration when it comes to plan further satellite stations to improve reception.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the hardship that has been imposed on some householders by the concurrent increases in water charges and rating valuation on their properties; and whether he will review the system of water charges to ensure that they bear a closer relationship to the amount of water consumed.

My right hon. Friend is aware that for some householders the increase in water charges following revaluation has been substantial. The system of water charges has recently been reviewed by a sub-committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee. Its report, which has been published, is under consideration. I am sending a copy to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the cost of replacing aluminium bungalows, which was referred to in Circular No. 45/61and which was the subject of a deputation of Glamorgan local authorities to the Welsh Office on 8th December, 1961.

My right hon. Friend has already made it clear that the terms set out in the Circular will be improved, but there are still a few outstanding points to be settled before he can make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will set up an expert inquiry to ascertain the causes of the drift of contracts and work away from British to foreign shipyards; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many contracts by British industry for the building of ships, which could have been awarded to British shipbuilding firms, have been given to foreign shipyards in the 12 months to the latest convenient date.

I am in close and constant touch with our shipbuilders on questions of foreign competition and I see no need for a special inquiry. I understand that, in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1963, British owners ordered overseas four ships of over 1,000 gross tons and seven smaller ships.

asked the Minister of Labour how many apprentices remained unemployed in The Hartlepools at the latest convenient date.

Eleven. Seven of these are under submission to employers beyond daily travelling distance. The other four do not wish to leave home and we shall continue our efforts to find work for them locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what information he has received in connection with the negotiations, to which Her Majesty's Government are a party, for a Malaysian Federation respecting the agreement reached between the Tunku Abdul Rahman and the Governments of Indonesia and the Philippines particularly in respect of a referendum on the subject of the Federation; when it is proposed that this shall take place; and whether the Governments of Singapore, Sarawak, Brunei and North Borneo previously or recently have agreed to that proposed referendum.

The British Government were not, of course, a party to the talks at Manila to which the hon. Member refers, but I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of the communiqué and the report and recommendations of the Conference. It will be seen that these make no mention of a referendum on Malaysia.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for each of the years from 1956–57 to 1962–63 inclusive, the names of the firms with which contracts were placed by the Technical Illustration Department of the Admiralty, and the value of the contracts placed with each firm.

During the period from 1956 to March, 1962, contract illustration work was carried out by the following firms:Chamberlain Studios Ltd.Cole and Sharp Ltd.W. C. Ives (Perspectives)Studio Irwin Ltd.B.S.P. Industries Ltd.Technical Designs Ltd.G. Alexander and Partners.Irwin Technical Ltd.Technivision Ltd.It is not the practice to disclose details of individual contracts, but the total amount of contract work, year by year, during the period was as follows:

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now make a statement on his plans for the development of London, Gatwick, Airport.

In the debate on London's airports on 28th May last year my predecessor emphasised the importance of Gatwick to London's increasing air traffic, for which Heathrow is already inadequate. He told the House that expenditure of some £4½ million was planned to improve London's second main airport.Much of the work is already under way. The construction of a second pier and apron extension was slowed up by the severe winter but will be completed this summer. The contract for extending the main building to more than double its present size with a third pier and ancillary buildings at a cost of about £2½ million was let last month. The contractor is now on the site. This work is due for completion by the summer of 1965.Plans for an extension of the runway are under discussion with a view to the work starting this year and being completed at the end of next year. Another major improvement which is contemplated is the construction of a five-storey office block above the terminal building.A decision about a second runway is not yet necessary but a site survey is being carried out in anticipation of the possibility.I am arranging for a model showing the proposed developments to be available for inspection in the House.

asked the Minister of Education what arrangements are made for attention to be called to Commonwealth Day in the schools of this country.

This is primarily a matter for the local education authorities and the schools. Some 30,000 copies of a Commonwealth Day message are distributed to schools by the Joint Commonwealth Societies' Council each year.

asked the Minister of Education how many children are at present attending special schools or special classes intended for children officially classified as educationally sub-normal.

About 38,000 children were attending special schools for the educationally sub-normal in January, 1963. Statistics of those attending special classes for such children are not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers have attended courses for the teaching of educationally sub-normal children.

A total of 1,187 teachers have attended or are attending one year supplementary or special advanced courses in the teaching of handicapped pupils (other than blind, deaf or partially hearing). Some of these teachers have since undertaken other work or left the profession. There are also shorter courses organised by the Ministry and by Institutes of Education and local education authorities, but the number of teachers who have attended these is not known.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science when he anticipates that the Slater Committee considering the implications of establishing a Natural Resources Research Council will report.

The Slater Committee on Natural Resources has submitted its report to the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy. The report is under consideration by the Council and by the

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make it a condition before a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research award is made tenable at a university that that university pays all postgraduate students

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make a statement in detail of the qualifications and present employment of the 518 persons engaged on geological research, and the methods by which geologists are recruited for such work.

The figure quoted by the hon. Member relates to the total number of geological staff employed in the Geological Survey and other official bodies in this country and not to the Research Councils alone, as I regret I stated inaccurately to the hon. Member on 28th May. The following table shows details of qualifications and present employment.engaged in undergraduate teaching work an hourly rate similar to that paid by local education authorities for evening institute classes.

No. This is a matter to be decided by each university or college in the light of its own particular circumstances.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether the free use of the Outer Circle of Regent's Park for long-term kerbside parking is permanently permitted.

We hope to end parking on the Outer Circle at some time, but this must wait until adequate alternative parking facilities are available in the vicinity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the disturbance at Dumfries Borstal Institution on Friday, 3rd May.

The disturbance was caused by 21 inmates of the institution who refused to return to their cells after the evening recreation period, threw crockery, broken furniture and other articles at the staff, and subsequently barricaded themselves into the dining-recreation room. They were dislodged with the help of the local police. One officer of the institution was seriously injured and others were slightly injured; three police officers received minor injuries. The damage was estimated at over £600.There appears to have been no specific reason for the disturbance. Dumfries is a high-security borstal institution, and its inmates are young men who, under the classification procedure or by their subsequent behaviour in borstal, have been found to need security of detention. There has recently been a high proportion of disturbed inmates who have had a harmful influence on the others, and the general tensions of a long period of confinement in high-security conditions seem to have built up into this demonstration. When seen after the disturbance all the inmates involved said that they had no complaint against the staff or any particular member of it and none complained about his treatment in the institution.The 21 inmates involved appeared before the Visiting Committee on 27th–29th May. All of them were awarded reductions in grade (i.e., in effect deferment of release) for periods ranging from four to twelve months, together with loss of privileges for varying periods. The Committee also recommended that eight ringleaders should have their borstal sentences commuted to terms of imprisonment under Section 32(2) of the Prison (Scotland) Act, 1952, and application is being made to the sheriff for this purpose.The staff-inmate ratio at Dumfries is being increased and the training programme of the institution is being examined with the object of increasing variety and improving discipline. I am also reviewing, in the light of recommendations made by the Visiting Committee, the arrangements for the assignment of inmates to Dumfries.I am grateful to the Visiting Committee for the action it has taken since the disturbance. I should like to express my appreciation of the prompt and effective help of the local police.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what is the reason fox the transfer of responsibility for welfare of colonial students from the Department previously dealing with such matters and for integrating it within the work of the Colonial Office Students Branch.

No change is contemplated in the existing arrangements whereby my Department, to which Students Branch was transferred from the Colonial Office in July, 1961, continues to have the overall welfare responsibility for Colonial students in Britain. All Colonial students continue to be eligible for the British Council's general welfare services