asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the salary for his office was first fixed at its present rate; and what would be the value of this amount today after allowing for the change in the value of the £ sterling.

The salary of £5,000 was fixed in 1831. The value today would be about £20,000. This figure relates to gross salary, and disregards changes in taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reach a decision about the rate of Purchase Tax on space storage heaters in sufficient time for it to take effect during the coming winter.

My right hon. Friend is now considering this question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is his policy on the granting of Treasury consent to the building of hotels and houses by British firms in foreign countries.

Subject to examination of each application, it is the practice to give consent to experienced property development companies to undertake development projects outside the sterling area on condition that the property is sold when development is completed and the capital and profits repatriated. In addition, hotel companies may receive consent for the erection and operation of hotels. In both cases the projects normally have to be financed through the switch market or by borrowing abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the unestablished service of civil servants who volunteered during the 1914 to 1918 war is not recognised for pension purposes; whether he is aware of this anomaly as compared with the 1939 to 1945 war; and whether he will review the position.

Because unestablished service in the Civil Service prior to 1st January, 1919, is not normally reckon-able for pension purposes, and no case exists for giving preferential treatment to those who served in the Forces during the 1914 to 1918 war. This conclusion has been accepted on a number of occasions when the subject has been debated in the House, and I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by a further review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he is making in the tax regulations governing the sale of blackcurrant juice.

My right hon. Friend has considered this proposal with great care, but is not proposing to make any changes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make an announcement about the future membership of the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency.

Yes. Three members of the Agency will be retiring when their present appointments expire on 9th August. To fill their places I have invited Mr. P. C. Allen, a Deputy Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., and Mr. Michael Milne-Watson, C.B.E., Chairman of the North Thames Gas Board, to accept appointment as members of the Agency. The retiring members are Mr. A. C. Bull and Sir Thomas Chadwick, K.C.V.O., C.B.E., both of whom have served with the Agency since its inception in 1953, and Sir Thomas Frazer, C.B.E., who has been a member of the Agency since 1955. I should like to take this opportunity of recording the Government's appreciation of the great value of the services which the retiring members have given to the Government during their time with the Agency.

asked the First Secretary of State what proposals he has made, in the course of discussions on Southern Rhodesian independence to the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia for a lowering of qualifications for African voters and an increase in African Parliamentary seats; and what reply he has received.

asked the First Secretary of State whether he has discussed definite terms for Southern Rhodesia's independence with the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Thorpe) on 25th July.

asked the First Secretary of State what representations he has received requesting him to ask the Heyworth Committee to consider the need for a social research unit to be attached to various Government Departments; and what reply he has sent.

I have received a letter on this point signed by the hon. Members for Stoke-on-Trent (Dr. Stross), Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt), Lanark (Mrs. Hart) and Edmonton (Mr. Albu). I have referred this letter to Lord Heyworth and I have informed the hon. Members concerned.

asked the First Secretary of State when he expects that the report of the commission of inquiry into the disturbances in the western Province of Northern Rhodesia will be available; and if he will publish it as a White Paper.

I expect the report in about three or four weeks. As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 25th July, I will make the Commission's findings available at the appropriate time.

asked the First Secretary of State if police investigations into the incident at Blantyre, Nyasaland, when three Europeans, including two children, were assaulted by eight Malawi police, members of Dr. Banda's bodyguard, have been completed; and with what result.

I understand that the persons concerned have failed to identify the culprits and have decided to drop the case. I have asked the Governor to keep me informed of further developments.

asked the First Secretary of State when he expects to have further constitutional talks with the Government of the Litunga of Barotseland.

As was stated in the agreed communiqué which I circulated in the Official Report on 29th July, talks are to be arranged between the Northern Rhodesia Government and the Barotse Native Government. These will take place under the auspices of Her Majesty's Government. The date and place of these talks have still to be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of offences against boys reported to the police in the last available year and the number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted; and if he will give the corresponding figures for 1950.

3,278 indictable homosexual offences against boys aged under 16 were known to the police in England and Wales in 1962; of these, 2,245 were dealt with by prosecution, and the number of persons prosecuted was 1,303. Corresponding figures for 1950 are not available. In addition, 164 persons were prosecuted in 1962 under the Indecency with Children Act, 1960, for offences with boys aged under 14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the results of the action taken by the Metropolitan Police against protection rackets in London.

The Metropolitan Police have recently investigated a number of cases in which it was alleged that money for protection had been demanded from proprietors of various premises, and several convictions have been obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by whose authority the Governor of Brixton Prison refused to allow Dr. Stephen Ward to identify his pictures.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) on 26th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation requiting magistrates to grant automatically applications for bail which are not opposed by the prosecution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation requiring magistrates to grant bail to all those whose applications are not opposed by the prosectuion.

No. My right hon. Friend does not think that it would be right to make the prosecution the arbiter in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give figures of the total number of licensed betting shops registered in England, Wales and Scotland as at 1st June this year.

I regret that the complete figures are not yet available. They will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for the families of those remanded in custody or convicted and sent to prison to be informed.

All prisoners on remand are allowed immediate and ample facilities for communicating by letter with their family and friends. All convicted and sentenced prisoners are allowed to write and receive a letter on reception into prison after sentence. When a person under the age of 21 years is received under sentence the Governor or Warden at once informs the next of kin in writing of the conviction and sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the plant Morning Glory, Ipomoea purpurea, growing in Great Britain, possesses as a property of its seeds a mental poison which is a potential drug of addiction; and whether he will make an investigation, with a view to taking steps to prevent the use of this drug.

I am aware that reports have appeared in the Press that the seeds of Morning Glory grown in North America have been found to contain a hallucinogenic drug. There is no evidence that seeds of this plant sold in this country contain the drug, but I am making further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the request made to him by the Sheffield Trades and Labour Council for an official inquiry into the Sheffield Police Force; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

The Sheffield Trades and Labour Council informed me in a letter dated 13th June that it wished to add its support to the demand for an official inquiry. Their letter was acknowledged. I have accepted notice of appeal under the Police (Appeals) Act from two ex-constables in the Sheffield Constabulary, and any question of a further inquiry must be deferred until these two appeals have been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there were seven traffic wardens in a one hundred yards stretch of Charlotte Street at 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 17th July; how many traffic wardens there are in London; what is their average weekly take-home wage; and whether he will reduce the number of wardens by 50 per cent., and provide them all with bicycles.

In Charlotte Street there are four traffic warden beats. The wardens work in two shifts and there is a period of overlap in the middle of the day when two wardens may be seen on each beat. In the Metropolitan Police District there are at present 420 traffic wardens. Their average take-home pay for a typical week in July was £11 13s.2d. (£13 1s. 10d. gross). The Commissioner of Police sees no advantage, in the congested central area of London, in providing wardens with bicycles, and no scope for any reduction in numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to halt the increase of crimes of armed violence to which his attention has been drawn by the Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police in his report.

The increase to which the Commissioner drew attention was in armed robbery, for which the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. I think there is no doubt, therefore, that the courts have ample powers to deal with those who are convicted of this offence. I am satisfied also that the Commissioner is doing everything he can to counter the increase, which must cause serious concern to all who have to do with the preservation of law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a teenage boy and girl were found unconscious on a bus at Finsbury Park having taken Drinamyl tablets; what information he has about drug-peddling in North London; and whether the Metropolitan Police have been able to track down the source of supply.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is gravely concerned about the abuse of this and other similar drugs. He has no reason to think that the situation in North London differs from that in other parts of the Metropolitan area. The drugs taken by the boy and girl in question were obtained from casual acquaintances whom it has not been possible to identify.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes took place from Her Majesty's prisons during 1962; what cost was involved in recapture; and what pro portions of the cost were borne by his department and by local authorities, respectively.

42 men and three women escaped from closed prisons during 1962, and 127 men and one woman from open prisons. 80 men and four women absconded from outside working parties or from parole. I regret that figures for the cost of recapture are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police's report for 1962 that cases of wounding have shown a steady increase for the past seven years, numbering 2,991 against only 769 in 1938. and that total offences against the person have risen from 1,679 to 5,325 in the same years, what are the reasons for this steady in crease in crime; and if he will re-introduce corporal punishment for crimes of violence for an experimental five-year period.

The figures which my hon. Friend gives for "wounding" are those for "wounding and assault". The reasons for the increase of crime are complex, and cannot be adequately summarised in reply to a Question. On the subject of corporal punishment there is nothing I can add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 4th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that it took his Department eight months to arrive at a decision on a petition by a prisoner, of whose identity he has been informed, seeking legal aid in the preparation of an appeal, and that the decision was communicated to the prisoner four months after the appeal had been disposed of; and if he will expedite sympathetic consideration of the same prisoner's present petition for legal aid in the preparation and issue of a writ of habeas corpus.

The petition referred to in the first part of the Question sought my aid in obtaining from the Court of Criminal Appeal a copy of the transcript of this prisoner's trial. A free copy of the transcript was granted to him by the court two months after the date of his petition and before his appeal had been disposed of. The prisoner's wish thus having been met in good time, I much regret that a formal reply to the petition was not sent until nearly five months later. The prisoner's recent application for permission to seek legal aid has been granted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps it is proposed to take to implement the recommendations of the Working Party on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings.

The last of the immediate amendments to Regulations arising from the two reports of the Working Party have been made and will be published shortly. The suggestions on practice have been brought to the notice of those concerned. I am considering the recommendation that there should be a general review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child care officers are at present employed by the local authorities; to what extent there is a shortage of trained persons for these posts; how many local authorities have schemes for training child care officers; and which they are.

There are about 1,600 child care officers in post and about half of these have no formal qualifications. Courses for the training of child care officers are provided by universities in co-operation with the Central Training Council in Child-Care, and the majority of local authorities provide facilities for the practical training of students on these courses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Committee of High Courts judges appointed to review the Judges' Rules has yet reported; and when the contents of the report will be made public.

As I informed the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. Fletcher) on 23rd May, I understand that it is hoped that the review now being carried out by the judges will be completed by the end of the year. Any revision of the Rules will no doubt receive the same measure of publicity as the existing Rules have done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that there is uniformity in the interpretation of Standing Order No. 5 (c) (1) governing communications by prisoners with Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

It is certainly my belief that the Order is administered consistently. If the hon. Member has any information to the contrary I will at once investigate it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the annual official statistics on drunkenness; and if he will make a statement.

The White Paper on Offences of Drunkenness for 1962 in England and Wales is being published today (Cmnd. 2102). The number of offences proved was 83,992, an increase of 12½ per cent. over 1961. This continues an upward trend over the last eleven years. There is, fortunately, a fall of 8 per cent. in the number of convictions of persons under 18.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to enable the police in the Metropolitan area to be more actively concerned with the protection of private citizens and their property.

One of the main purposes of the Metropolitan police is to protect citizens and their property, and the Commissioner of Police is most actively concerned with this. Crime prevention measures have been much extended in recent years, and the most effective use of police manpower is constantly under review. Civilians are being employed in increasing numbers to release police officers for other duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the new evidence contained in the memorandum submitted to him by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough, he will authorise a public inquiry into matters relating to the execution of James Hanratty for the murder of Michael Gregston.

I understand that the House is to debate this matter tomorrow. In these circumstances I would ask the hon. Member to await the debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of burglary in the Metropolitan Police area in the last six months the culprits have been caught; what per- centage of the total number of reported cases this represents; and in how many instances the stolen goods have been recovered and subsequently returned to their owners.

From 1st January to 30th June, 1963, 200 persons were arrested for burglary in the Metropolitan Police District, which represents 32.5 per cent. of reported cases. Property was stolen in 471 cases; in 106 of these, all or part of the property was recovered.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in the public interest, he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board requiring the right of concessionary coal to employees to be withdrawn and a suitable adjustment in wage rates to be negotiated in lieu.

No, sir. This is a matter for agreement between the National Coal Board and the unions.

asked the Minister of Power what action he proposes to take following the report of the overcharging on packed fuel in the Annual Report of the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council.

I am considering the Council's suggestion that the gas boards and other packers should mark their bags with the recommended retail price and other information.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of local anxiety regarding the proposal of the Central Electricity Generating Board to erect a sub-station in Potman's Lane, Catsfield, of which notice was not given at the recent planning inquiry; and if he will order an inquiry under Section 34(3) of the Electricity Act, 1957, into this proposal.

The Board said at the inquiry that a sub-station would be needed in this area if a route south of Battle were chosen for the overhead lines. Any inquiry would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will consider schemes for Commonwealth migration submitted direct or through the Oversea Migration Board by Commonwealth authorities and private bodies.

I have powers under the Commonwealth Settlement Acts to co operate with Commonwealth authorities and private bodies, among others, in the formulation and carrying out of emigration schemes. The Oversea Migration Board was appointed to advise me on proposals put forward for such schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether the speech made on 11th July in his official capacity by the Permanent Under-Secretary of State of his Department to the Women's Migration and Overseas Appointments Society was made with his authority.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what financial support will be given by Her Majesty's Government to the 1965 Commonwealth Arts Festival.

I am considering with my colleagues the request which I have received for financial support from those concerned and hope to let them have the Government's view on the matter in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans he has for extending to other Commonwealth countries the grants for building educational institutions at present being made to Nigeria.

None. A number of other newly independent Commonwealth countries are still receiving gifts for higher education as part of their independence settlements.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the recent discussions with the Government of Sierra Leone on development projects in Sierra Leone.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations had discussions between 8th and 10th July with the Sierra Leone Ministers of Finance and Development. Views were exchanged on a number of development projects. The Ministers are reporting to their colleagues proposals made to them by the British Government, and I am awaiting the Sierra Leone Government's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when Her Majesty's Government propose to introduce legislation consequent on the declared state of the Federal Government of Nigeria to become a Republic with the Commonwealth.

The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Nigeria has stated that it is the intention of his Government that Nigeria shall become a Republic on or about 1st October, 1963. It will, in the circumstances, be necessary for legislation to be enacted here to secure that the operation of United Kingdom law in relation to Nigeria will not be affected once the Republic ceases to be part of Her Majesty's dominions. But the Nigerian Federal Government have not yet informed Her Majesty's Government of the precise form which the republican constitution will take. Her Majesty's Government have therefore decided that it will be necessary to defer the proposed legislation until the next session of Parliament, and then to introduce it in retro-active form. This would be in line with the procedure followed in respect of the Ireland Act, 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what financial help Her Majesty's Government are giving to encourage the establishment of an International School in Dar-es-Salaam.

I am impressed by the efforts which have been made to raise the capital required to launch this scheme. Subject to the approval of Parliament, Her Majesty's Government propose to assist the project by making a once for all grant of £6,000 as a contribution to the initial capital expenses. Parliament will be asked in due course to vote the necessary Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime, an advance is being sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Education what progress is being made by the Curriculum Study Group; and if he will make a statement.

During the past year the Group have been assisting the Secondary School Examinations Council to establish the new Certificate of Secondary Education examinations. Some of the results of this collaboration will be made generally available in the autumn, when my right hon. Friend expects to publish on the Council's behalf their Seventh Report, on the scope and standards of the Certificate of Secondary Education examinations, and the first of a new series of Examinations Bulletins containing suggestions for teachers and Certificate of Secondary Education examiners. The Group are also collaborating with the Nuffield Foundation in their projects for the improvement of science and mathematics teaching, are helping to organise the pilot scheme for foreign language teaching in the primary schools for which the Foundation are sponsoring the preparation of teaching materials, and are planning an inquiry into the content of the secondary school curriculum. They are also concerned with the proposal now under discussion to form an advisory body concerned with schools' curriculum and examinations, and will be providing professional assistance to the reconstituted Central Advisory Council in their study of primary education under the chairmanship of Lady Plowden.

asked the Minister of Education if he is satisfied that the teaching facilities of the Llandaff Technical College will permit the entry of all those prospective students who are qualified for enrolment; and what steps he pro poses to take to improve them.

Teaching facilities at this college are likely to be taxed in the coming session, but, with the use of some temporary accommodation, it is anticipated that all suitably qualified students can be enrolled. Work on the first instalment valued at £85,000 of a new college of Further Education to serve the eastern part of the city and to remove these pressures is due to start in the current financial year. The second, and main, instalment, valued at £238,000, has been included in the building programme for 1964–65.

asked the Minister of Education of he will publish in HANSARD a table showing how many educational psychologists are employed by each local education authority; how many local education authorities have schemes for the training of educational psychologists; and which they are.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of educationalpsychologists, expressed as a full-time equivalent, who were employed in the school health services of local education authorities in January, 1963.Training in educational psychology is given at approved centres in universities and hospitals to which local education authorities may second suitably qualified teachers. For most authorities regular schemes of secondment would be impracticable, but I understand that the Lancashire authority has such a scheme.Following is the table:

asked the Minister of Education whether it was with his authority that the principal medical officer to his Department made a statement on 29th July at Cambridge concerning pre-marital relations.

asked the Minister of Education whether the statement on pre-marital sexual promiscuity made by his principal medical officer in a speech at Selwyn College, Cambridge, on 29th July was made with his authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether the statement about sexual promiscuity made by the principal medical officer of his Department, Dr. Henderson, at Selwyn College, Cambridge, on 29th July, was made with his authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether the speech of the principal medical officer to the Ministry of Education, made in his official capacity at Cambridge on 29th July, 1963, was made with his authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether it was with his authority that the principal medical officer to his Department made a public speech at Cambridge on 29th July on the subject of pre-marital relationships.

asked the Minister of Education if the speech by the principal medical officer to the Ministry of Education, at a conference on 29th July on health education at Cambridge, was made with his authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether he authorised the speech of his principal school medical officer to a conference of teachers on 29th July, 1963, on the subject of fornication.

asked the Minister of Education whether the speech of the principal medical officer to the Ministry of Education, made in his official capacity at Cambridge on 29th July, on the subject of pre-marital relations, was made with his authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether the speech of his principal medical officer to the Central Health Council at Cambridge on 29th July, on the subject of pre-marital sexual relations, was made with his authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether the speech of the principal medical officer to the Ministry of Education, on 29th July, 1963, at Cambridge, on the subject of pre-marital relationships, was made with his authority.

At the close of a mainly factual address at a seminar on health education on 29th July my Principal Medical Officer said that promiscuity either before or during wedlock could not be condoned but drew a distinction between promiscuity and pre-marital relations between engaged couples. These statements expressed his personal view.I am sending the hon. Members a copy of the relevant portion of the address.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of pupils in non-state schools inspected by his Department; and what was the number five years ago.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Education why the United Kingdom is refusing to participate in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Fellowship Scheme for university teachers from Africa.

A number of fellowship schemes are already available to teachers, or potential teachers, in African universities who wish to study in this country, and Her Majesty's Government thought it best not to diversify the United Kingdom effort.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that a large proportion of the schoolchildren of Nottingham is not receiving regular dental inspection and treatment; and what steps he is taking to deal with this situation.

Yes. One of my dental officers visited the city in April. He reported that more dentists are needed and that the authority had been trying for some time to recruit them.

asked the Minister of Education what advice he has given to schools on the subject of teaching about pre-marital sexual relationships.

I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of Ministry of Education pamphlet No. 31, entitled Health Education, Chapter 6 of which deals with sex education.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he will make a statement about the official inquiry into the population, planning and industrial requirements of South-East England.

Work on the Regional Study for South-East England is proceeding in the Department, and I hope that the results will become available later this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take to implement the Report of the Sub-Committee on Water Charges.

The report is under consideration. My right hon. Friend regrets that he has not been able to make a statement on it before the Recess. He will do so as soon as he can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now make a further statement about the Government's intention to limit the Exchequer's liability for rate deficiency grant.

The increase in rate deficiency grants due to the revaluation has, as my hon. Friend knows, turned out to be considerably smaller than had been estimated and I can now tell him that the Government have no proposals for legislation to deal with this.It remains the Government's view that the amount distributed by way of these grants should not be subject to sudden variations, upwards or down wards, on account of changes in rate resources such as occur on a general revaluation. I intend to discuss with representatives of local authorities ways of limiting future variations in the total of the grants due to such changes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will take steps to require water boards to publish their annual accounts in such a way as to be available for public inspection.

Water boards subject to district audit are required to make their accounts available for public inspection at the annual audit. Most boards are required to send an annual abstract of accounts to each of the constituent councils. My right hon. Friend is considering whether anything more is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the powers given to local authorities under the Public Health Act, 1961, and the Litter Act, 1958, are in sufficient to enable them to remove all kinds of refuse, including car bodies and scrap metal, which are being dumped in increasing quantities all over the country; and what proposals he has to remedy this situation.

In addition to the powers mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend there is Section 74 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which enables local authorities to dispose of refuse on request; I am advised that this provision is wide enough to include car bodies and scrap metal. If my hon. and gallant Friend cares to submit any evidence that the present provisions are inadequate my right hon. Friend will gladly consider it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what proposals he has for holding a planning inquiry to enable local opinion to be expressed about the site for the proposed sub-station to be erected by the Central Electricity Generating Board in Potman's Lane, Catsfield.

None, I understand that the Battle Rural District Council decided on 25th July that, subject to agreement on the widening of Potman's Lane, it would be prepared to grant permission for this proposal. Before reaching this decision the council took into account objections by local residents and it intends to attach conditions to the permission designed to safeguard the amenities of the area. The decision to allow this development is well within the competence of the council and my right hon. Friend sees no ground for taking the matter out of its hands.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a statement on the future of the county of Rutland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made after Questions today.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the honourable Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme may expect a reply to his letter of 8th April about sewage disposal at Onneley, stating what action is being taken as a result of the inspector's visit to Onneley on 22nd May.

I replied on 2nd May to the hon. Member's letter telling him of the inspector's visit to Onneley. At that visit proposals emerged which are now under examination, and I hope to be able to inform the hon. Member of the result shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what regulations he has made to govern the disposal of waste sodium fluoride from the aluminium industry.

My right hon. Friend has no power to make such regulations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he is taking to ensure that the corporation of Sunderland have sufficient land to continue their housing programme at its present rate.

I am at present considering various planning proposals to give Sunderland enough land for its future housing programme and hope to announce my decision in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the taking over by a tenant of the advance factory in Crook, County Durham, now nearing completion.

A tenant has not yet been found for this factory but we are continuing to bring it to the attention of suitable firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has sent to the Ayr Chamber of Commerce in response to its letter of 11th July regarding the unemployment situation in Ayr and district.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply sent to the Ayr Chamber of Commerce in response to their letter of 11th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of computers during the past 12 months.

This information is available from page 293 of the July, 1963, issue of the Trade and Navigation Accounts which is a document returned to the Order of the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's proposals for the jute industry.

No. I am not in a position to make a statement today, but I hope to make one shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the average cost to the Exchequer per head is estimated to be in respect of those employed in new industry commenced under the Local Employment Act in development districts in Scotland, Wales and the north-east coast, respectively.

The average cost was £1,277 in Scotland, £854 in Wales and £595 in the North-East.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs have been created in each of the past three years, and how many are in prospect, as a result of special measures which Her Majesty's Government has taken to reduce unemployment in development districts in Scotland, Wales and on the North-East coast, respectively.

The following table sets out the number of jobs estimated to arise in projects assisted under that Act in each of the three full financial years for which the Local Employment Act has been in force. I cannot say how many of these jobs have already arisen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further changes he will make in the list of development districts in the North-East of England.

Yes. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister hasindicated in his statement about the North-East of England, I am adding to the list of development districts the employment exchange areas of Durham, Birtley and Washington Station. In view of the way the travel-to-work patterns have been developing, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has come to the conclusion that Birtley should now be regarded as part of a group with the existing development districts of Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring and Washington Station be regarded as part of the Sunderland group.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further changes he will make in the list of development districts in Scotland.

Yes. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has indicated in his statement about Central Scotland, I am adding to the list of development districts the Falkirk Group (which comprises the employment exchange areas of Bonnybridge, Falkirk and Grangemouth) and the employment exchange areas of Linlithgow and Bo'ness. In view of the way the travel-to-work patterns have been developing in those areas my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has come to the conclusion that these areas should now be regarded as one for the purposes of calculating a realistic unemployment percentage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has studied the representations made to him by Barnsley Corporation concerning W. Fraser and Company Limited at Monk Bretton, Barnsley, who are planning to cease activities; and what reply he has sent.

The Barnsley Corporation has made certain representations about this factory to the Board of Trade Controller at Leeds. He has told the Town Clerk that, subject to the overriding needs of the development districts, the Board of Trade will do what it can to assist the Ministry of Aviation, which owns the factory, to find a new tenant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will take action in conjunction with the Departments and authorities concerned to formulate definite proposals for legislation on bank holiday changes and earlier summer and General Certificate of Education exami- nation times as outlined in the White Paper on Staggered Holidays;(2) if he will make recommendations for action on staggered holidays, after he has taken into consideration not only public reaction to Command Paper No. 2105, but also the latest reports for 1963 of traffic and other holiday congestion, especially in the holiday areas in south-west England; and by when he expects to be able to announce such recommendations.

If public reaction to the White Paper continues to be favourable, I would propose to arrange in the autumn for consultations with the organisations concerned about how the White Paper could most effectively be followed up. I would expect that these consultations would cover all the remedial measures discussed in the White Paper. Most of these measures would not require legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the request of the cotton industry for the categorisation of low-priced imports; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Government are satisfied that a reasonable measure of categorisation is desirable and justified to prevent price disruption in the home market for cotton textiles. I do not believe that the present state of affairs is satisfactory either for our own industry or for the exporting countries whose need to earn sterling I recognise as of the highest importance. I am accordingly very glad to welcome the expressed intention of the Indian cotton textile industry to enter into early discussions with their British opposite numbers about the categorisation of imports. Officials from both Governments will be present at these talks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the brochure, "Room to Expand", will be ready for publication.

The revision version of the brochure "Room to Expand" which has been prepared by my Department and the Central Office of Information will be published on 27th August. It describes the financial assistance available to companies setting up in any of the development districts, and separate sections deal with the facilities available in each of the areas of high unemployment. It is a substantial publication, containing maps of the areas, and photographs illustrating a wide range of industry, services and amenities of all kinds.The publication of "Room to Expand" is part of the Government's efforts to encourage industry to establish projects in the areas of high unemployment, and I am sure that companies will find the information in this brochure helpful in their planning. Copies will be available free of charge from the Board of Trade in London, or from any of the Board's Regional Offices and Offices for Scotland and Wales.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he has now received the advice of the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee as to the development of the Skyvan light freighter; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has been informed of the views of the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee. He is also considering the other factors which have a bearing on the future of this project. He expects to reach a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware of the intention of W. Fraser and Company Limited of Monk Bretton, Barnsley, to vacate the premises rented to them by his department, and that the rental charged has been subject to criticism by the Barnsley Council's Trade and Commerce Development Committee; and if he will take steps to review this factory space with the object of lowering the rental and thereby giving encouragement to potential industrialists.

W. Fraser and Co., Ltd. have intimated that they intend to vacate the factory at Monk Bretton which is leased to them by my Department, but they have not yet given formal notice to do so. As soon as their intentions are clear we shall endeavour to sell the factory, or failing this, to lease it. The present rental was negotiated freely in 1957 and was presumably considered by the firm at that time to be fair and reasonable. If the premises are leased, the rental will also be determined by negotiation and the District Valuer will have regard to prevailing conditions in the area.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the total value of contracts so far placed for the Hobart radio equipment, specifying the percentage gained by the Plessey Company compared to the other contractors.

The estimated value of the contracts mentioned in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 2nd July is £474,000. It is not the practice to give the value of contracts placed with individual firms.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether the Hobart radio system will be compatible with systems being developed by the United States of America or within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Alliance.

This is our aim.

asked the Minister of Aviation what reply he has sent to the Ayr County Council in response to their suggestions sent to him about the future of Prestwick Airport and civil aerodromes generally.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the County Council's letter of 28th June, 1963. A copy of my private secretary's reply was sent to him on 5th July, but in case it has gone astray I am sending him a further copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the general concern in regard to medical experimentation on human beings; and what consultations he is now having with professional bodies with a view to formulating a code of guidance on this matter for doctors working in the National Health Service.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North on 5th November last.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the Ophthalmic Services Committee for Middlesex has sufficient staff for its operational requirements; and what is the average time it takes to deal with prescriptions.

Normally, yes; about 8 working days.

asked the Minister of Health how many psychiatric social workers are at present employed by the local health authorities; to what extent there is a shortage of trained people; how many local health authorities have schemes for training psychiatric social workers; and which they are.

About 80 in England and Wales at the end of 1962; as regards requirements, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 155 of Command Paper 1973; training is provided by universities, not local health authorities.

asked the Minister of Health when the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme may expect a reply to his letter of 10th June about certain housing matters affecting members of the staff of the Cheshire Joint Sanatorium.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the cause of the collapse of one of the newly-erected mechanised Army build- ings in Aldershot; and what steps he is taking to prevent a repetition of such an occurrence.

The partly-completed structure of an officers mess building at Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, collapsed at about 10.30 p.m. on 21st July. I have asked for a full report from the firm of architects commissioned to design and supervise the scheme, and from the Building Research Station. When I have considered these reports I will take the action necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about his recent talks with the Sultan of Brunei.

I have had a general exchange of views with the Sultan. Further discussions are taking place at official level. I hope to pay a short visit to Brunei towards the end of August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement on the Maltese Constitutional Conference.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the recent and continuing assertions by Ministers of the Kenya African National Union party in the present Kenya Government that alterations will have to be made to the Lancaster House agreement, he will now reaffirm Her Majesty's Government's determination to maintain intact all the constitutional safeguards embodied in it with the agreement of all parties, at the forthcoming constitutional conference in September.

The British Government's position is that the independence Constitution for Kenya must contain effective safeguards to ensure that a proper balance between the centre and the regions is maintained. At the same time we shall be prepared to discuss such reasonable arguments as may be put forward which are consistent with our position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th July, 1963; Vol. 680, c. 1027], supplied the following information:The conditions of service for married and unmarried women doctors employed in the public service in Hong Kong are as follows: