asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in HANSARD, in two columns, the cost of living index and the average wage of a male industrial worker, for each year since 1947.

The following is the table:

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers are still without employment in Nantyglo and Blaina and Abertillery, respectively.

26 on 10th June in the Abertillery Youth Employment Office area, which also includes Nantyglo, Blaina and Ebbw Vale. Separate figures are not available for these places.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals were made by the French Government within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation before they decided to withdraw their naval forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation command in the Atlantic.

Details of such discussions within the North Atlantic Council are confidential.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what assistance the United Nations' are giving to relieve unemployment and provide food and seed for the people of Katanga; and what new measures are being taken to preserve law and order.

I know of no United Nations scheme for providing food and seed in Katanga. Unemployment is regarded by the United Nations as the responsibility of the Central and Provincial Governments, to whom, however, United Nations advice is always available.As regards law and order, the United Nations recently instituted mobile patrols on the main roads. A decision has also been taken to arm Elisabethville police taking part in mixed patrols at night.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the dangers and difficulties arising along the frontier area of the Aden Protectorates and the Yemen, what further consideration has been given to the necessity of according diplomatic recognition to the Yemen Government at an early date; and if Her Majesty's Government now consider the Taiz Yemen Government as stabilised and possessing authority over the majority of the Yemenis.

This question is kept under continuous consideration, but Her Majesty's Government are still not satisfied that the Yemeni republican régime fulfils their criteria for recognition.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the differences which have arisen between the British and Soviet Foreign Ministers as co-chairmen of the Geneva Agreement on Laos.

My noble Friend the Foreign Secretary maintains continuous contact through Her Majesty's Embassy at Moscow with Mr. Gromyko and has made many attempts to enlist Soviet support in defence of the Geneva Settlement. On 1st July, we took the initiative for the first time in publishing certain documents, copies of which were placed in the Vote Office. We did this because it was obvious that no agreement was likely with the Russians on the reports from the International Control Commission under discussion, and because we felt obliged under the Geneva Protocol to circulate to members of the Conference the valuable and important information which they contained.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations he has received from, or consultations he has had with, the Government of the United States of America in respect of aid given or desired to be given by their nationals for the relief of distress caused by the present conditions in British Guiana.

None.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what cash compensation was paid out of public funds to Mr. Philby when he was requested to resign from Her Majesty's Foreign Service.

I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to him on this subject on 21st November, 1955, which stated that no officials were dismissed or transferred as a result of the inquiries into the Maclean and Burgess affair but that one was asked to resign in consequence and received a financial settlement in accordance with the terms of his engagement. As my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, Mr. Philby had already been named in the House as the person who was asked to resign.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what orders were given to British Embassy personnel in Beirut regarding their contacts with Mr. Philby following his admission that he was the man who warned Maclean and Burgess of the proposed action of the security services against them; and if these orders were in force on 23rd January.

All members of the Foreign Service are regularly reminded of the security regulations which are designed to prevent the disclosure of official information to unauthorised persons. These orders were of course in force on 23rd January, 1963.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total Government expenditure on woodland establishment and management techniques.

Virtually the whole of the Forestry Commission's expenditure on research and the study of management problems, which in the last forest year amounted to £446,000, is a fair charge to these objects. To this should be added its expenditure on work study which was in the region of £27,000. The results of nearly all this work are equally applicable to private woodlands as well as to the Forestry Commission's own forests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the approximate losses of sheep and lambs arising from the severe weather conditions of last winter in Brecon and Radnor; what representations he has had about financial losses; and whether he will make a statement.

Some special inquiries made in the first quarter of the year suggested that, in Brecon and Radnor as elsewhere, ewe losses among hill flocks had been rather above average, and that lamb losses almost certainly would be; but the extent cannot be assessed until we have the results of the 4th June census in about a month's time. Even so, it is not feasible to provide really reliable estimates, particularly for ewes, on a county basis. My right hon. Friend has received no individual representations about financial losses, but he took account of the effects of the exceptionally hard winter when announcing on 3rd April an interim payment of the Hill Sheep Subsidy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had about the proposed seismic survey off the Yorkshire coast.

My right hon. Friend consulted the North-Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, as the body statutorily responsible for the regulation of fishing off the Yorkshire coast.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he refused a request from the Spanish authorities to extend the importation period for new potatoes on plant health grounds but has acceded to an identical request from the French Government.

Restrictions on the importation of new potatoes are imposed under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts in order to prevent the introduction of Colorado Beetle. We judge the period during which we can import potatoes safely on past experience of imports from the country concerned, on our knowledge of the seasonal incidence of the pest and on the measures taken to control it. On the basis of this knowledge, we considered it safe to extend the importation period this year for French new potatoes but not for Spanish.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what administrative control his Department has retained over payments from the Northern Ireland Grass Seed Marketing Fund.

None, if as I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the Northern Ireland Herbage Seeds Fund. This fund was set up and is operated by the Northern Ireland Government under the Herbage Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1955, and my right hen. Friend has no responsibility in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now give the names of the British representatives who will attend the forthcoming international fisheries conference.

No. It is too early to say what representation will be needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the further rise in sugar prices on 4th July and the recent price fluctuations; and what further action he is taking to protect the consumer from such fluctuations.

The ex-refinery price of granulated sugar on 3rd July was 44s. 7½d. per cwt., the lowest price since the end of war-time controls. On 4th July it was 45s. 9d. These low prices in recent weeks have compensated consumers for the high prices in May. As a result of the reduction in distribution payments on 5th July we are now back to a more normal level, similar to that from October last to March this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the increasing supplies of home-grown timber which will became available shortly, what is the total Government expenditure on attempts to improve conversion standards, grading and seasoning and on advice to consumers on the benefits of using home grown timber.

Precise figures are not available, either in total or for the specific objects my hon. Friend has mentioned, but it is estimated that the total expenditure by the Forestry Commission and the Forest Products Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on promotion and research in the field of home grown timber as a whole is in the region of £67,000 annually.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what communications he has received from the National Federation of Old Age Pensioners Associations, asking him to change old-age pensions to a national salary; and what reply he has sent.

The answer to the first part of the Question is none. The second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will take steps to make a special grant to old-age pensioners to cover the cost of rent and charges for telephones.

No.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance which of the prescribed diseases which qualify for industrial injury payment or pension are by their nature categorised by his Department as being injury by process.

None. The question does not arise when a disease is prescribed under Section 55(2) of the National Insurant (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 32 principals in general practice in Middlesex who had had assistants for more than five years in July, 1962, were refused permission to continue this employment as a result of the review then taking place; and if a further review is now in progress.

None; review is continuous.

asked the Minister of Health why, in view of the facts that the National Health Insurance Acts provide for comprehensive medical treatment for everybody in need of treatment, that in many instances National Health Service doctors are unable to prescribe treatment, that people have to go to clinics and other organisations for treatment and that old-age pensioners and those on National Assistance are unable to recover payments made for certificates, medicines and treatment, he will not seek powers to amend the Acts to deal with these anomalies.

I do not accept that National Health Service doctors are unable to prescribe necessary treatment.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 88 senior registrars, who in July, 1962, were more than six years time expired, have since received promotion; and what is the present total number of time expired registrars.

Twenty-five during the year ending 30th September, 1962: 113 at 30th September, 1962, including 12 who also held higher posts.

asked the Minister of Health when he received the Report of the Lycett Greene Committee on the training of hospital administrative staff; and when it will be published.

On 18th June; as soon as printed, in about two months' time.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the new St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley.

I have nothing to add to my letter of 4th March to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present waiting list for hospital beds in Barnsley and district; and what progress is being made to reduce it.

1,661 at 31st March; this represents a reduction of about 300 in three months and over 430 in 12 months.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent patients from Barnsley and district in need of hospital treatment are being sent out of the Barnsley area for treatment, specifying the hospitals to which they are sent and the number of beds available in such hospitals to Barnsley patients.

Beds are not generally allocated to patients from specific areas; I regret the other information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent his reappraisal of the bed capacity and facilities at Wathwood Hospital is now complete; and what effect this will have upon the waiting list in Barnsley and district.

The upgrading at Wathwood should be completed this month and about 10 more Barnsley patients will then be treated there.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients from Barnsley and district in need of mental treatment are treated within the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area; how many are treated within the Leeds regional area and, in particular, at Storthes Hall, Huddersfield; and to what extent patients are treated elsewhere.

So far as I know, two; about 370 (including about 330 at Storthes Hall); very few.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients in Barnsley and district in need of mental treatment are awaiting admission to hospital.

Four.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that some general hospitals are refusing to admit aged people for treatment if they are mentally confused; that mental hospitals refuse admittance to such people unless they are violent, and that this situation is causing distress in many homes; if he will cause an inquiry to be made into this social problem; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence that hospitals are so acting, but will investigate any cases of difficulty which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent, when fixing the imports of foreign new potatoes, he takes into consideration the position of Scottish growers.

There are no quantitative restrictions on the import of new potatoes.

asked the Minister of Education how soon he expects to make his promised statement on the additional resources that may enable him to review more favourably the curtailed school building programme for 1964–65; and if he will in any case make this statement orally before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 5th July in which an increase of £5 million in authorised starts of major school building projects in 1964–65 was announced. Details of the additional projects will be available shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science (1) what was the average strontium level in fresh milk in the United Kingdom in 1959; and what was the average strontium level in fresh milk at the latest convenient date this year;(2) what increases in strontium levels have been recorded in the United Kingdom during the present year, following the 1962 series of nuclear tests.

The average level in milk for 1959 was 9·8 units (picocuries of strontium 90 per gram of calcium). The corresponding figure for the 12 months to the end of September, 1962, was 9·6 units. More recent figures will be published in detail in about two months. They are likely to show that the 12-month average increased by about one-third between September, 1962, and March, 1963.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many pupils from Scottish schools were awarded commissions in the period 1952 to 1962; and what percentage this constitutes of the total number of commissions granted.

Scottish schools provided 126 or 6·5 per cent. of the general and supplementary lists and Royal Marines commissions in the period 1952–1962.Details of the schools of entrants to the special duties list and to the instructor, medical and dental branches are not held centrally and cannot be readily provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many pupils from Scottish schools were awarded commissions in the period 1952 to 1962; and what percentage this constitutes of the total number of commissions granted.

As I explained to the hon. Member in a Written Answer on 1st July I cannot provide this type of information because it could be obtained only by examining the personal records of each of the 17,932 officers who were awarded commissions in the period. However, figures for officer cadetships for the period 1954 to 1962 show that, out of a total of 1,214 cadetships, 71 or 5·8 per cent. were awarded to boys from Scottish schools.

asked the Minister of Aviation what reply he has sent to Ayr County Council's letter to him, dated 28th June, 1963, regarding Prestwick Airport and the new airport at Abbotsinch.

I have sent the hon. Member a copy of the reply which my private secretary sent to the county council on 5th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of premium bonds sold, and the amount withdrawn, at the latest convenient date; and what has been the value of the prizes distributed since the scheme started.

Up to the end of June, 1963, total sales since the scheme started were £532 million, withdrawals £129 million and prizes distributed £65 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what have been the increases since 1951 in the average cost of the various types of local authority housing units approved by his Department; and what has been the corresponding increase in the cost of building index.

Figures are not available for all the various types of local authority housing units approved by my Department. The following table shows changes in the average cost of a two-storey three-bedroom house for each year since 1951 compared with the cost of construction index. The figures of housing costs are based on tender prices, excluding land and services, and have been adjusted to a standard area of 900 square feet.The cost of construction index is based on the cost of all new construction, including civil engineering as well as every form of building, and is therefore not necessarily a fair comparison.The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take in connection with the Report of the Committee on the Teaching Profession in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have invited the various interests concerned to let me have their comments, on the Report not later than 30th January, 1964, and I shall then consider the action I should take in the light of the views they express.

asked the Minister of Transport where driving licence testing stations are situated in Wales; and how many Welsh-speaking examiners are available at each one.

I give below a list of the 25 driving test centres in Wales and Monmouthshire, at three of which—Carmarthen, Lampeter and Bangor—there is a Welsh-speaking examinee. Of the 63 Driving Examiners in Wales 44 lived there at the time of their appointment.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the names and places of residence of the assistant traffic commissioners for South Wales for the past 10 years; what proportion are paid, and what are their salaries.

The following were appointed as deputy traffic commissioners:

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have occurred at the junction of the Wakefield-Goole and Castleford roads at Leather-stone in the West Riding of Yorkshire over the past 10 years; how many of these have resulted in loss of life; and if he will, in view of the recent fatalities at this spot, set up an inquiry as a means of increasing safety standards.

In the 10 years from June, 1953, to June, 1963, there were 82 accidents at this junction, three of which were fatal.The traffic conditions at this junction are constantly reviewed between my Department and the West Riding County Council, which is the responsible highway authority. As a result, a number of safety measures have been introduced in recent years and others will be tried if necessary. I do not consider that to set up an inquiry would either add to our knowledge of the causes of the accidents or help in finding the best solution.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the success of the experimental one-way traffic in Pontypridd town centre largely depends upon the implementation of the Sardis Road—Mill Street road bridge scheme together with the Bridge Street and Cross-brook Street widenings; and, in view of the occasional traffic congestion now occurring, if he will take action to accelerate the execution of these schemes.

I understand that the experimental one-way system in Pontypridd has been a success even without the road improvements mentioned by the hon. Member.Everything is being done to expedite the bridge scheme but the layout depends on the results of a recent traffic survey. I shall also consider the highway authority's proposals for the widening of Bridge Street and Crossbrook Street, but I cannot say when I shall be able to find a place for them in my programme.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many pupils from Scottish schools were awarded commissioners in the period 1952 to 1962, and what percentage this constitutes of the total number of commissions granted.

I regret that records are not maintained in such a way as to enable all the information asked for to be provided. However of the 4,728 officer cadets who have entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the past 10 years 194 or 4·1 per cent. came from Scottish schools