asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what plans he now has for the final disposal of the Reserve Fleet at West Hartlepool.

I hope that negotiations for the disposal of the six R.N. ships still remaining at West Hartlepool will be completed soon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps will be taken to ensure that, under the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, all exports of refined sugar or sugar-containing goods from Eire to Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom will have their source in Commonwealth raw sugar.

Foreign sugar imports into the Irish Republic may not, under the Agreement, exceed the quantity exported as sugar or in sugar-containing goods to countries other than the United Kingdom. It follows therefore that consumption in the Irish Republic and exports to this country will be covered by sugar produced in the Irish Republic and imports of Commonwealth sugar.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the price at which he resold the 10,000 tons of refined beet sugar to the Irish Sugar Company in accordance with Article 5 of the Irish Sugar Agreement, and the total cost of this transaction to the Irish Sugar Company or the United Kingdom consumer.

The price was £56·209486 per ton, making total receipts of £562,094 17s. 3d. Since the Sugar Board bought the sugar at £50 a ton, the Board receive a net £62,094 17s. 3d. on the transaction. The Irish Sugar Company has, in accordance with the Agreement, resold the sugar to manufacturers in the Republic of Ireland of sugar-containing goods for use in products to be exported to the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount paid in Hill Sheep Subsidy in each of the last five years; what were the number of application forms arriving late on which payment was refused; and what sum was involved on this account in each of the respective years.

The total amount paid in Hill Sheep Subsidy for the last five years in the United Kingdom is as follows:

Financial Year			Subsidy Paid
			£
1958–59	…	…	91
1959–60	…	…	58
1960–61	…	…	695,575
1961–62	…	…	820,119
1962–63	…	…	1,433,454

No subsidy was payable in 1958–59 and 1959–60; the payments shown relate to back payments made for previous years. No records are kept of the number of application forms arriving late on which payment was refused or of the sums involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to increase the fishing capacity of the port of Hartlepool.

None. I am not aware that there is any need to increase the fishing capacity of the port of Hartlepool. If my hon. and gallant Friend is thinking of the number of vessels fishing from the port, this is a matter in the first place for the owners concerned. Grants and loans for fishing vessels are a matter for the White Fish Authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the cost of the Ministry's advisory services was during each of the last five years.

The salaries and travelling and subsistence expenses of the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the Agricultural Land Service for the last two financial years and the associated net expenditure on experimental centres, laboratories, etc., are as follows:

		1961–62	1962–63
N.A.A.S.	…	£3,000,000	£3,312,000
A.L.S.	…	£695,000	£718,000

The figures for previous years for these two services and those of other services are not readily available and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the result has been of the representations made to the French Government about their barley exports to this country; and if he will make a statement.

As the result of recent talks with the French authorities it has been agreed that the following communiqué shall be issued today:"The British Government have drawn the attention of the principal countries exporting barley to the U.K. market to their anxiety at the undue fluctuations of world prices and have made clear their desire to stabilise import prices for barley entering their market at a level which would not be less than £20 per long ton c.i.f. duty paid. As a result of discussions conducted with the French authorities, the latter have said that they are ready to take appropriate temporary measures today with a view to contributing to a stabilisation of the barley market prices."

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that no action has been taken against those responsible for instituting bribery in professional football; if he will instruct the Director of Public Prosecutions to commence proceedings against them; and if he will make a statement.

Proceedings have already been taken against those persons in respect of whom there was evidence to justify prosecution. If the hon. Member has evidence that would justify the prosecution of other persons I will gladly consider it.

asked the Attorney-General what instructions were given by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Aloysius Gordon appeal as to the publication of the evidence on the basis of which the appeal was not opposed.

None. The Court of Criminal Appeal did not hear any evidence, but dealt with the appeal on the basis of statements which had been made available to the court.

asked the Minister of Aviation which civil transport aircraft and aero-engine projects his Department has contracted to assist financially since February 1960; and what are the total sums of money to which Her Majesty's Government is committed in each case.

Contractual agreements have been entered into in respect of the following civil projects:

Assistance to development and production
Project	Total Government Commitment
	£m.
Trident Mark 1 aircraft	5·0
V.C.10 and Super V.C.10 aircraft	10·25
B.A.C. one-eleven aircraft	9·75
Spey 1 engine	3·0
Concord aircraft and Olympus 593 engine (interim contracts)	5·3

Assistance to proving Project
Herald aircraft	1·11
Argosy aircraft	0·153

In addition contract negotiations are in progress in respect of Government contributions towards the Trident Marks 1E and 1F aircraft and towards development of other variants of the Spey engine. Further contracts are also being negotiated for the Concord aircraft and the Olympus 593 engine.Thus, since the Government's present policy was announced in February 1960, about £35 million has been committed. Much of our expenditure on the aeronautical research programme is, of course, also of direct benefit to the civil side of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the coming conference on Kenya will be able to discuss or amend the basic constitutional framework already agreed by all parties and incorporated into the present constitution.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Torquay (Mr. F. M. Bennett) on 1st August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to ensure that there is the fullest possible consultation with all interested parties on the subject of the northern frontier district of Kenya.

The right hon. Member can be assured that the British Government are maintaining close and regular contact with all interested parties with a view to ensuring that they have the fullest opportunity of expressing their views before final decisions are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now accede to the proposals of the Ngwanyama of Swaziland to clarify the position regarding the protection of Swaziland by Her Majesty's Government, to prevent the legislature overruling the Ngwanyama-in-Council on issues affecting the administration of Swazi national lands under Swazi law and custom, and not to disenfranchise anyone at present having the right to vote.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the light of the further representations made to him regarding the future constitution of Swaziland, he will reconsider his decision not to reopen negotiations on the proposals set out in the White Paper.

It was made clearin the course of the constitutional talks in London earlier this year that Swaziland was a protectorate in which Her Majesty possessed full jurisdiction. This still remains the position.There is at present no Legislative Council in Swaziland. The franchise proposals in Command 2052 do not therefore disenfranchise anyone.As regards Swazi lands, I am satisfied that paragraph 51 of the Command Paper sets out the arrangements which amount to a continuance, subject to the ultimate authority of the legislature, of the present control by the Ngwanyama in Council. Any future legislative action will, of course, have to comply with fundamental rights provisions which are to be included in the Constitution.I made it clear in my reply to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling) on 30th July that I did not feel able to reopen negotiations on the White Paper decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations he has had with the various interests in Swaziland since the publication of his proposed constitution for the territory; when the new constitution is expected to come into effect; and whether the various interests in Swaziland will co-operate in operating it.

Since the publication of the White Paper on the Swaziland Constitution I have received representations from a number of interests in the territory, including a delegation of three members of the Swazi National Council, the leader of the Swaziland Democratic Party and the Chairman of the elected members of the European Advisory Council. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling) on 30th July, my decisions were reached after most exhaustive consultation with all shades of opinion in Swaziland over a period of three years, and, though I am naturally conscious that in the absence of general agreement, some interests are bound to be disappointed, I do not think it right, in the interests of Swaziland, that I should reopen negotiations.The Constitution Order-in-Council will, I hope, be made in November; this will allow registration of voters to take place in the last months of this year and elections at a convenient date early in 1964.I am hopeful that all interests will recognise that the constitution has been devised as a first step towards self-government and do everything in their power to see that it serves the best interest of their country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are detained in prison in connection with the recent strikes in Swaziland; and, of these, how many have applied for and have been granted bail.

Ten persons have been sentenced to imprisonment for public violence and two for offences under the Industrial Conciliation and Settlement Proclamation. 184 persons are detained in custody awaiting trial. 39 applied for bail. Bail was granted to 3.One person appealed unsuccessfully to the High Court against refusal of bail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the effect of the law on sedition proposed by the Government of the Federation of South Arabia, in relation to problems concerned in law and order in Aden.

As internal security is a Federal responsibility, the Sedition Law, 1963, has effect in Aden as in the rest of the Federation, subject to the High Commissioner's overriding legislative powers in regard to public order in Aden.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) whether he will give an early answer to communications addressed to him relating to a petition, presented on 29th April, 1963, and referred to him, which makes representations as to the plight of those Indian Tamils in Ceylon who are United Kingdom citizens, in that they have been arrested illegally and imprisoned without trial;(2) what action he is taking in regard to a petition presented on 29th April, 1963, on behalf of 800,000 Indian Tamils, natives of Ceylon who have not been accorded Ceylonese citizenship and consequently became United Kingdom citizens in 1948, in respect of the allegations in the petition as to the disregard with reference to the petitioners of the normal safeguards of freedom from arrest, and as to repressive acts of punishment by the army in Ceylon.

I will answer this Question and Question 102 together. I am considering the matters referred to in this Petition, and I hope to be in a position to give an answer shortly.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will authorise the payment of the pensions of naval ratings and other ranks into their private bank accounts when so desired rather than invariably through post offices.

I am looking into my hon. Friend's proposals and will write to him.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the advice he has given the Hertfordshire County Council relating to the building of the St. John's Youth Club in Hatfield, as to how they can obtain grant aid, has proved impracticable; and whether he will now ensure that this project, which has top priority in Hertfordshire, can proceed with the help of grant aid, without prejudicing other youth centre projects in the county.

The building of St. John's Youth Club, Hatfield, is being considered for inclusion in the 1964–65 youth service building programme. Recent discussions between officers of the local education authority and my Department will, I hope, lead to the settlement of outstanding difficulties. Any instalment of the proposal which features in the Ministry building programme will certainly be considered for grant aid without prejudicing other youth service projects in the county.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the regulations concerning grant-aid for building youth clubs, discourage voluntary efforts to raise money for these projects; whether he has taken note of the situation which has arisen over the building of St. John's Youth Club, Hatfield; and whether he will review the existing regulations so as to encourage voluntary money raising projects.

Sponsors of building proposals for voluntary youth clubs that are eligible for grant aid under the Social and Physical Training Grant Regulations, 1939, normally receive a contribution of 50 per cent. of the total cost from Exchequer funds, provided the total cost features in the Ministry's Building programme. I am aware of the difficulties facing St. John's Youth Club, Hatfield, as a result of the local education authority's decision to limit the cost of voluntary proposals for inclusion in their building programme submissions, but I hope that as a result of recent discussions between officers of the authority and my Department the problems that faced this club a short time ago will be solved. I do not consider that there is any need to review the existing grant regulations.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the lack of adequate studies undertaken by many university students as revealed in the Hale Interim Report of the University Grants Committee on the use of vacations by students, he will advise local education authorities as to methods of improving their financial incentives for vacation studies.

As their Interim Report recognises, I had already moved in the direction the Hale Committee advocate in the new regulations which I introduced for England and Wales at the beginning of the present academic year. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of these regulations and of the explanatory circular which I sent to local education authorities and would invite his attention particularly to regulation 11 and paragraph 31. I propose to review these new arrangements with the local authority associations in the autumn, after we have had a full year's experience of their operation.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of Welsh language schools and the number of pupils attending them in each county of Wales.

The latest available particulars about Welsh language schools or departments in areas which are mainly English-speaking are as follows:

Local Education Authority		Number of Schools/Departments	Number of Pupils
Breconshire	…	3	222
Caernarvonshire	…	2	211
Cardiganshire	…	1	214
Carmarthenshire	…	4*	878
Denbighshire	…	5	418
Flintshire	…	7†	1,043
Glamorgan	…	13*	1,120
Cardiff	…	1	157
Swansea	…	2	258
	…	38	4,521
* Includes one secondary school
†Includes two secondary schools. The total excludes four Flintshire schools included in previous returns, as these schools are now considered to be located in mainly Welsh-speaking areas.

asked the Minister of Education (1) why the total of ordinary national certificates in technology awarded in 1962 was lower than in 1959;(2) why the number of ordinary national certificates awarded in mechanical engineering in 1962 was lower than in 1959.

It is not possible to isolate the factors causing a reduction in numbers in 1962 in ordinary national certificates in mechanical engineering and other technologies as compared with previous years. One of the major factors is almost certainly the increasing extent to which boys and girls are remaining at school to take the G.C.E. at advanced level in preparation for entry to courses leading to technological and other qualifications; for example, between 1959 and 1962 the number of passes in G.C.E. "A" level in mathematics, physics and chemistry increased from 56,412 to 76,215.

asked the Minister of Education when the interest in subjects at ordinary national certificate level such as mining, naval architecture and textiles continues to decline, what steps he takes to arrange for the transfer of scarce staff at technical colleges teaching these subjects to colleges where other subjects may be expanding.

Except in textiles the decline in the number of students taking ordinary national certificate courses in the subjects mentioned by the hon. Member has been relatively small. As most of the teaching at this level is in basic subjects, such as mathematics and science, there is usually no difficulty in using any surplus staff to meet expanding needs in other directions.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he will take to encourage the staggering of the dates of school holidays.

School holidays cannot be considered in isolation. The Government propose to consider the whole subject when there has been sufficient public discussion of the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 2105).

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that over the past ten years more than 10,000 children have been intensively coached for the 11-plus examination by means of commercial correspondence courses; and what action he proposes to take to deal with this situation.

I have stated publicly that I deplore coaching for selection tests and local education authorities do all they can to discourage it. I do not think there is any action that I can usefully take at present, but I am sure the matter will be considered by the Central Advisory Council for Education which is to consider primary education in all its aspects and the transition to secondary education.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the shortage of technologists and the small number of women taking diplomas in technology. namely 17 out of 917 in 1962, what measures he is proposing to recruit more women students to courses in technology.

Courses in technology areopen to suitably qualified students of either sex without discrimination. This was made clear in the recent booklet Further Education for School Leavers published by the Ministry. In fact, the number of girls taking courses for the diploma in technology, though small, has steadily increased since 1956.

asked the Minister of Education (1) why the number of pure science first degrees of London University obtained by students in further education establishments in England and Wales decreased in 1961–62 compared with 1959–60;(2) why the number of pure science higher degrees of London University obtained by students in further educational establishment in England and Wales was lower in 1961–62 than in 1957–58.

The fluctuations in these figures are relatively small, and I doubt whether the year to year variations are of much significance. Among the factors affecting the volume of this work in the technical colleges are, of course, the development of other work at the same level and the growth in the number of university places for science students.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is now taking to persuade firms to give day release courses to boys and girls under 18 years of age in those industries where the amount of day release is substantially below the national average.

I take all possible opportunities of impressing upon employers the importance of granting young people day and other forms of release from employment to enable them to pursue courses of further education, and, as the hon. Member knows, the Committee which I set up last year under the chairmanship of Mr. C. Henniker-Heaton is considering what steps can be taken to bring about the maximum practicable increase in day release. I also look forward to a substantial increase in day release as a result of the Government's industrial training proposals.

asked the Minister of Education on what date the school building survey will be published.

Work on the preparation of the publication is now approaching its final stages, but I cannot yet give a precise date.

asked the Minister of Education what progress he has now made in establishing departments of education in colleges of advanced technology.

A number of the colleges of advanced technology have included in their plans for future development the establishment of departments of education, and my Department have made it clear in talks with representatives of the colleges that such proposals deserve careful and sympathetic study. They raise however many problems concerning, for example, the organisation of such departments, the type of courses they would provide, and their relationship with other institutions which provide professional training for teachers. A preliminary examination of these problems took place at a meeting held at the Ministry on 22nd July between some of the principals of the colleges of advanced technology and individuals with considerable experience in the teacher training field. It was agreed that study and consultation should continue.

asked the Minister of Education whether the five school building projects submitted by the Essex Local Education authority as most urgently necessary were listed in what the Authority considers the correct order of priority; and what considerations led him to select only the first and third of these projects for inclusion in the 1964–65 programme.

The projects were not listed in order of priority but the deputation from the Essex local educa- tion authority which I received on 24th June made a special plea for the addition of the Halstead project to their programme, The Canvey Island project was added because it was needed to keep pace with new housing and was therefore in a category to which I always give priority. The resources at my disposal did not allow the inclusion of any other Essex projects.

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the local education authorities which have been given no major building project in the 1964–65 school building programme, together with the value of the projects each authority asked to be allowed to build in that year.

The following are the local education authorities in whose areas no major project has been included in the 1964–65 school building programme:

Local Education Authority			Estimated cost of projects proposed £000s.
Isle of Wight	…	…	217
Isles of Scilly	…	…	—
Lincolnshire—Holland	…	…	189
Rutland	…	…	169
Westmorland	…	…	130
Bath	…	…	258
Bournemouth	…	…	965
Brighton	…	…	533
Burnley	…	…	75
Burton-on-Trent	…	…	295
Canterbury	…	…	114
Carlisle	…	…	800
Dewsbury	…	…	245
Eastbourne	…	…	44
Exeter	…	…	42
Gateshead	…	…	340
Great Yarmouth	…	…	181
Halifax	…	…	120
Hastings	…	…	488
Huddersfield	…	…	910
Norwich	…	…	—
Portsmouth	…	…	689
Reading	…	…	325
Smethwick	…	…	436
Southampton	…	…	489
Southport	…	…	278
Wakefield	…	…	305
West Ham	…	…	536
Worcester	…	…	400
York	…	…	245
Anglesey	…	…	424
Brecon	…	…	374
Cardiganshire	…	…	137
Flintshire	…	…	403
Montgomeryshire	…	…	179
Radnorshire	…	…	73

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the local education authorities whose building programme submission for 1964–65 has been reduced by half or more, and give both the value of the authority's submission and the amount he has approved; and how many of them were incapable of building the number of schools they asked for in 1964–65.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is given in the fallowing table. Experience of previous programmes shows that authorities are frequently unable to start within the normal period those projects included in their programmes. I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28th February, 1963, to the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Fitch) in connection with the 1961–62 programme; and I will let the hon. Member have the equivalent figures for 1962–63 as soon as they are available. It is of course not possible to predict with accuracy which authorities will frail to start projects in 1964–65.

Local Education Authority	Estimated cost of projects proposed £'000	Estimated cost of projects approved £'000
Bedfordshire	3,277	832
Berkshire	3,763	549
Buckinghamshire	3,522	875
Cambridgeshire	577	71
Cheshire	8,000	1,592
Cornwall	724	129
Cumberland	1,000	360
Derbyshire	2,474	446
Devon	902	63
Dorset	841	372
Durham	9,350	2,356
Essex	3,683	1,478
Gloucestershire	1,789	549
Hampshire	4,844	1,788
Herefordshire	846	156
Huntingdonshire	846	300
Isle of Wight	217	—
Isles of Scilly	—	—
Kent	4,634	1,595
Leicestershire	1,824	431
Lincolnshire—
Holland	189	—
Kesteven	547	225
Lindsey	808	357
Middlesex	3,050	682
Norfolk	4,054	332
Northamptonshire	1,205	241
Northumberland	4,400	1,009
Nottinghamshire	3,168	468
Oxfordshire	549	212
Peterborough Joint Education Board	456	203
Rutland	169	—
Shropshire	1,459	328
Somerset	969	204
Staffordshire	6,294	1,473
Suffolk, East	746	148
Suffolk, West	686	226
Surrey	6,168	774
Sussex, East	587	196
Sussex, West	680	63
Warwickshire	2,337	954

Local Education Authority	Estimated cost of projects proposed £'000	Estimated cost of projects approved £'000
Westmorland	130	—
Wiltshire	1,484	35
Worcestershire	791	333
Yorkshire—
East Riding	700	184
West Riding	14,000	1,109
London	3,101	1,084
Barnsley	360	59
Barrow-in-Furness	275	127
Bath	258	—
Birkenhead	402	56
Birmingham	2,920	1,068
Blackburn	741	181
Blackpool	1,324	112
Bournemouth	965	—
Bradford	1,100	333
Brighton	533	—
Bristol	919	444
Burnley	75	—
Burton-upon-Trent	295	—
Bury	412	63
Canterbury	114	—
Carlisle	800	—
Chester	482	240
Coventry	1,067	435
Croydon	1,023	35
Darlington	710	290
Derby	811	133
Dewsbury	245	—
Doncaster	970	184
Dudley	436	33
Eastbourne	44	—
East Ham	350	53
Exeter	42	—
Gateshead	340	—
Gloucester	378	27
Great Yarmouth	181	—
Grimsby	1,030	220
Halifax	120	—
Hastings	488	—
Huddersfleld	910	—
Ipswich	871	268
Leeds	1,400	582
Leicester	485	224
Lincoln	1,068	250
Manchester	3,700	1,001
Middlesbrough	960	254
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	1,120	228
Northampton	251	33
Norwich	—	—
Nottingham	974	80
Oxford	286	33
Plymouth	327	56
Portsmouth	689	—
Preston	488	50
Reading	325	—
Rotherham	460	49
St. Helens	1,000	108
Salford	407	221
Sheffield	1,000	383
Smethwick	436	—
Southampton	489	—
Southend-on-Sea	469	182
Southport	278	—
Stockport	447	125
Stoke-on-Trent	2,082	104
Sunderland	2,270	320
Tynemouth	305	145
Wakefield	305	—

Local Education Authority	Estimated cost of projects proposed £'000	Estimated cost of projects approved £'000
Wallasey	375	50
Walsall	631	50
Warrington	207	38
West Bromwich	312	35
West Ham	536	—
West Hartlepool	430	189
Wolverhampton	850	91
Worcester	400	—
York	245	—
Anglesey	424	—
Breconshire	374	—
Cardiganshire	137	—
Carmarthenshire	909	241
Denbighshire	641	211
Flintshire	403	—
Glamorgan	2,176	677
Merioneth	177	36
Montgomeryshire	179	—
Pembrokeshire	140	27
Radnorshire	73	—
Merthyr Tydfil	830	152
Newport (Mon.)	348	112

asked the Minister of Education how many deputations to his Department were requested by local education authorities during 1962 on the subject of cuts in their building programmes.

Discussions about building programmes and other matters frequently take place, with varying degrees of formality, between representatives of local education authorities and of my Department. I keep no record of the number of such meetings.

asked the Minister of Education how many protests he has so far received from local education authorities over their building allocations for 1964–65.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 2nd May.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has been able to authorise additional starts for further education, special schools and the youth service in the 1964–65 major building programme.

Yes. I have authorised additions to the further education building programme amounting to £1·2 million for technical colleges other than colleges of advanced technology. Taken together with the programmes already announced, including £4 million for C.A.T.S., this will mean a total programme of £20 million for further education.I have also increased the building programme for special schools from £2·6 million to £3 million, and have made an allocation for Youth Service projects of £4·5 million in 1964–65, representing an increase of £0·5 million over the total for 1963–64. Details of projects will be sent to local education authorities and other organisations concerned as soon as possible. The Youth Service will also benefit substantially from the allocation for sports projects announced by my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council on 22nd May, which is to be trebled from £½ million in 1963–64 to £1½ million in 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the small number of students taking full-time and sandwich courses in building and the urgent needs of the industry, what measures he is taking to encourage building firms to release their employees for these courses.

The National Federation of Building Trades Employers and the Institute of Builders already encourage building firms to release their employees for full-time and sandwich courses leading to professional qualifications, and there has been a marked increase in numbers on these courses in the past three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms in the Hartlepools have made application for investment allowances for new buildings and plant under the recent Budget proposals.

I am not sure what my hon. Friend has in mind. If he is referring to the proposals for free depreciation for tax purposes in development districts I would point out that this does not in general extend to buildings. Claims in respect of plant and machinery will not normally be made until the relative accounts are received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that no Order will be laid during the Parliamentary Recess exempting from Purchase Tax any particular categories of chocolate biscuits unless full agreement has been reached with the trade as to what is a fair and equitable definition of such biscuits for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with chocolate biscuit manufacturers about the proposed exemption of such biscuits from Purchase Tax applicable to confectionery; and whether he will give an assurance that there will be no discrimination with regard to this product and that there will be no fiscal discouragement of the continued wrapping of these biscuits in paper for hygienic purposes.

The present dividing line between chocolate biscuits and other sweet biscuits has been criticised as causing a distortion of trade, and the two trade associations concerned, the Cake and Biscuit Alliance and Cocoa, Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance have therefore been consulted to see whether it is possible to draw up a more satisfactory dividing line. This is inevitably a matter in which there are both advantages and disadvantages and as with any other re-drawing of a difficult boundary line I could not accept that complete unanimity among interests concerned is essential to any change; but I shall, of course, require to be satisfied that there is a sufficient balance of advantage for the trade as a whole before any change from the present position is made.

asked the First Secretary of State what detailed proposals he will make to ensure that Barotseland shall retain a special status which will take proper account of Barotseland's cultural and political identity.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the agreed communiqué which I circulated in the Official Report on 29th July, from which it will be seen that talks are to be arranged between the three Governments concerned. I have nothing to add at this stage.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that100 doctors who had been trained in medical schools in Great Britain and Northern Ireland were examined for medical licensure in the United States during 1962; and if he will take steps to estimate the number of doctors who are annually leaving Great Britain to establish themselves permanently in practice overseas.

Yes. Studies are in progress.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of dentists in Nottingham; and what steps he is taking to deal with this position.

Yes; my right hon. Friend has no power to direct dentists to particular areas, but the volume of treatment given continues to increase.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he gave, before approving the scheme for the fluoridation of water supplies, to the difficulties of homœopathic doctors in treating their patients with infinitesimal drug doses in areas where fluoridation of the water supply is undertaken.

None; fluoride is present naturally in most water.

asked the Minister of Health what action he is taking in response to the representations of Professor McLaren, on the need to apply the findings of the Birmingham University research into cancer of the cervix; if he will make available to the Birmingham United Hospitals funds to establish a special experimental clinic for this purpose; what estimate he has made of the cost of setting up such a clinic as part of the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

I have not had representations from Professor McLaren. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to similar Questions on 1st July.

asked the Minister of Health what reports he has received concerning the harmful after-effects of treatment of patients in mental hospitals by electro-convulsant therapy; and whether he has made an investigation into such reports.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will order a further inquiry into the case of Mr. Harley Ebbs of Acaster Malbis, York.

No. I have written to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent it is his policy to receive representations regarding the state of the law from ad hoc tenants' associations formed to defend the interests of tenants in any area where these may appear to be threatened by change of ownership of properties or change of policy by existing owners.

I am prepared to receive representations about the state of the law from anyone, but I cannot undertake invariably to see deputations from individual tenants' associations personally.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish the precise terms in which he has recommended to local authorities the importance of giving sympathetic consideration to applications from bodies eligible under Section 11(4) of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1961, for a reduction or remission of rates; and whether he has made any specific recommendations so far as grant-aided research associations are concerned.

The relevant passage from the Department's Circular No. 49/61 addressed to local authorities on 20th November, 1961, was as follows:

"4. Section 11 of the Act (i.e. the Rating and Valuation Act 1961) gives mandatory relief for certain hereditaments with effect from 1st April, 1963, where the notice required by the section has been duly given to the rating authority. In general terms these are hereditaments occupied by charities (or trustees for charities) and wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes. They include all almshouses (subsection (1)(b)) and official residences of full-time ministers of religion (subsection(9)); they exclude the charities, specified in the First Schedule, being universities and colleges assisted by grant from the University Grants Committee. No other hereditament will have mandatory relief under the Act. Indeed section 12 ends a number of general statutory exemptions and empowers the Minister to end exemptions under local Acts (subsection (5))."

"5. With this curtailment of the field of ratepayers entitled to mandatory relief it will be increasingly important for rating authorities to give sympathetic consideration to application from bodies which do not qualify for mandatory relief but are eligible under subsection (4) of section 11 for a reduction or remission of rates at the discretion of the council. While the Minister does not wish to urge the needs of one group of hereditaments as against another, he thinks it necessary to draw particular attention to the concern expressed in Parliament about the effect upon amateur sports clubs of a liability for substantial amounts in rates."

I have made no specific recommendations about relief for grant-aided research associations.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number in insured employment and the number un-

NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE COUNTIES AND COUNTY BOROUGHS OF WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE
County		Number of unemployed on 15th July, 1963	Number of unemployed on 16th July, 1962	Estimated number of employees in employment at mid-1962
Anglesey	…	895	857	11,600
Brecknockshire	…	270	272	9,300
Caernarvonshire	…	1,240	1,329	35,900
Cardiganshire	…	364	316	14,600
Carmarthenshire	…	1,999	2,491	49,000
Denbighshire	…	1,667	1,905	56,900
Flintshire	…	954	868	50,000
Glamorganshire	…	14,584	12,555	470,600
Merionethshire	…	211	202	11,200
Monmouthshire	…	4,045	4,142	168,900
Montgomeryshire	…	268	321	11,400
Pembrokeshire	…	931	1,206	23,100
Radnorshire	…	96	72	4,400
The estimated number of employees in employment at mid-1963 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour why the Resettlement Transfer Scheme for unemployed workers does not apply to persons engaged as postmen; and if he will take steps to include this category of worker.

Postmen have not been covered by the Resettlement Transfer Scheme since its inception in 1946. I am, however, looking further into the coverage of the Scheme and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what directions are given with regard to the flying of the Union Jack on Embassy and Consular buildings and on Her Majesty's Government's information offices in the Republic of South Africa.

The standing instruction to Her Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular representatives throughout the world is to fly the distinguishing diplomatic or consular flag, as the case may be, on the premises of their Missions in countries where the flying of national

The following is the information:flags by foreign representatives is customary. Flags are flown on the days appointed for the flying of flags on public buildings in the United Kingdom and, at discretion, on any other occasions in accordance with local usage. No special instructions are issued concerning information offices.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in a White Paper, or other suitable form, the text of his reply to the request of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for information regarding the views of Her Majesty's Government on the desirability and feasibility of establishing a Peace Fund, open to contributions from individuals and organisations as well as from member States.

The reply in question has not yet been sent to the Secretary-General. When it has been, I shall be glad to provide the hon. Member with a copy: but I do not think that its publication, either as a White Paper, or in any other form, would be warranted.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take, in accordance with Article 25 of the United Nations Charter, to carry out the decision of the Security Council regarding the banning of the supply of arms to Portugal.

Her Majesty's Government will continue to adhere to the policy described by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to Questions on 27th June, 1961, when he said:

"In deciding whether to negotiate a sale or to grant a licence for the export of military equipment to Portugal, we have to consider her reasonable military requirements as a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally. But supplies of equipment to Portuguese overseas territories are in a different category and applications in these cases are for the time being in suspense."—[Official Report, 27th June, 1961; Vol. 643, c. 20.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether a report has yet been received from the United Nations observer teams in the Yemen with regard to the alleged bombardment of villages by Egyptian aeroplanes; and if he will make a statement.

No. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) on 31st July, we hope to see in the next few days a report on the work of the observers.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on recommendation No. 348 on the association of the Resettlement Fund of the Council of Europe with the work of assistance to newly-developing European countries which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 17th January, 1963; and what action Her Majesty's Government has taken or contemplates taking on it.

Her Majesty's Government concurred in the decision taken by Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe in February to the effect that recommendation No. 348 should be transmitted to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in view of the functions of the Organisation's Technical Co-operation Committee. Her Majesty's Government do not contemplate further action in respect of the recommendation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has any further information from the Government of the United Arab Republic regarding the payment of compensation for, or the value of, the property of the 40 to 50 British nationals whose property was re-sequestrated in October, 1961.

Since the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, to my hon. Friend on 29th May, further representations have been made to the United Arab Republic Government about this matter. It is hoped that a reply will be received soon.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will provide easier terms for loans which Her Majesty's Government have agreed to make to Turkey.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government are members of the consortium which was set up by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development last year to assist the implementation of the Turkish Five Year Plan (1963–67). The consortium has been considering aid for 1963. On 1st May, 1963, Her Majesty's Government signed an agreement with the Turkish Government for a loan of £2,857,000, and more recently have agreed to make available an additional loan of £1,000,000 for Turkey.Both loans are being made available under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act, 1949. They will be repayable over a period of 25 years, including a grace period of 7 years in which no repayments of principal will be required.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the cost in the last 12 months, to the latest convenient date, of unemployment benefit and National Assistance, respectively, in The Hartlepools.

In the year ended 4th May, 1963, payments at the Hartlepool and West Hartlepool employment exchanges of unemployment benefit and national assistance, respectively, to people registered for employment, totalled £489,939 and £221,686.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list all submarine cable projects at present being laid, and the cable-laying projects planned over the next five years, specifying all countries to be benefited by cable contact and the cost to his department of each operation.

The Post Office is providing its share of the following cables at the estimated cost shown:

		£m.
To Germany (2cables)	…	0·6
To Denmark	…	0·4
To U.S.A. (TAT 3)	…	8·0

We are also planning to provide our share of further cables to the Continent of Europe which may cost approximately £3 million. These cables will improve communication both with the countries where they terminate and with all other countries which can be reached through them.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated number of people to be employed in the dispersal unit of the Accountant General's department which is moving to Chesterfield from London.

About 1,600.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated number of people to be employed in the dispersal unit of the Savings Certificate Division which is being transferred from London to Durham.

About 2,000.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list the areas that are to receive the new parcel-sorting machine; how many have been ordered; and what firms are responsible for their production.

Our current plans provide for installation of parcel sorting machines of the type now in use at Preston and Worcester, in the sorting offices at Aberdeen, Croydon, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Southampton and the North Western Parcels Office in London. Other offices will get them in due course but plans are not yet firm. The machines are currently on order: and tenders for others will be invited at the appropriate stage. The Preston and Worcester machines were made by Sovex Ltd. of Erith, Kent: the two machines now on order will be made by New Conveyors Ltd. of Smethwick, Birmingham.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent his Department is working on detailed design studies for communications satellites; what other Departments are giving assistance; and what progress has so far been made.

My Department is working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation in the design study of a British communications satellite announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation in the debate on 29th March last. My Department is placing study contracts for certain elements of the telecommunications equipment in such a satellite with British industry with which close contact has been maintained throughout the study.

asked the Postmaster-General what part his Department will be playing by 1970 in the development of a world-wide system of satellite communications.

It is yet too early to say. The Post Office, with the other Departments concerned, is taking a full part in the series of international discussions, now in progress regarding the development of satellite communications systems.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will specify the orders he has given for newprototype letter coding and sorting equipment; and which firms have been given the contracts.

Current contracts for new prototype letter coding and sorting equipment are as follows:

(1) One contract with Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd. covering three items—a high-speed letter sorting machine, a single position letter sorting machine and a letter coding desk.

(2) Two contracts with the Thrissell Engineering Company Ltd., one for a letter coding desk and one for a 144 selection automatic sorting machine.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the increased charges on inland telegrams have affected demand from 29th April, 1963, to the most recent date; and how this compares with the three previous three-month periods.

Figures for July are not yet available. Figures for each of the twelve months ending with June are as follows:

Month		Number of inland telegrams sent
July, 1962	…	1,146,000
August, 1962	…	1,209,000
September, 1962	…	1,148,000
October, 1962	…	1,078,000
November, 1962	…	903,000
December, 1962	…	1,165,000
January, 1963	…	987,000
February. 1963	…	875,000
March, 1963	…	1,050,000
April, 1963	…	882,000
May, 1903	…	866,000
June, 1963	…	917,000

It is too early to estimate how far increased charges alone have affected demand.

asked the Postmaster-General by what amount he estimates he will reduce the £8·2 million loss on the inland parcel post with the increased parcel charges.

Allowing for increased charges and other factors, I expect the loss in 1963–64 to be between £1 and £2 million less than in 1962–63.

asked the Postmaster-General when he estimates that all Crown post offices will have an all-purpose service system.

Current plans provide for introduction of all-purpose service at all offices where the system can be shown to offer the best service to the public, generally at offices with up to 9 serving positions (excluding parcels). One thousand four hundred and eighty of the 1,640 Crown offices in this category now have the system: extension to the other 160 awaits rebuilding or modernisation schemes. Trials of the system at the larger offices, of which there are about 160, will start shortly, I cannot say, at this stage, whether and when all our 1,800 Crown offices will have all purpose service: there may be some whose size, or the exceptional character of the business transacted, make it desirable to have another system of working.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated cost of a modern standardised-style post office; and what areas he has in mind for their introduction.

We do not expect the cost of the new house-style to be very different from that of existing styles. The intention is to use the new style in all new public offices and certain modernisation schemes. It will not be restricted to particular areas.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the estimated costs of developments of laying submarine cables, development of micro-wave networks in the United Kingdom and to Europe, and research and developments in satellite communications, respectively, over the next five years.

Over the next 5 years I expect, on present plans, to incur capital expenditure of about £4½ million on development of the submarine cable system and about £12 million on development of the microwave network. In the field of satellite communications I cannot make firm estimates over so long a period, but capital and revenue expenditure planned for 1963–64 and 1964–65 amount in total to about £2 million.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to reduce the £4·6 million loss on local telephone calls without an increase in telephone charges.

I hope that the current advertising campaign will encourage people to use their telephones more often for local calls and thereby reduce the deficit.

asked the Postmaster-General how many rural telephone kiosks have been erected in the last 12 months; how this compares with new installations in the previous four years; and how much has been spent on maintenance of rural telephone kiosks in each of the past five years.

The figures are as follows:

Year ended	New kiosks provided	Cost of maintaining rural kiosk service
		£
31st March 1963	254	1,045,000
31st March 1962	195	973,000
31st March 1961	278	896,000
31st March 1960	394	868,000
31st March 1959	623	860,000

asked the Postmaster-General from experience gained by his new detector cars, what estimate he makes of the number of television receivers still operating without licences.

No reliable estimate can be given of the number of television receivers operating without licences; but the new television detector cars are certainly helping to reduce the number.

asked the Minister of Power if in the interests of good commercial practice, he will give general directions to those nationalised industries under his control not to depart from the general proposals contained in letters of intent when letting contracts.

No.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how, when the crane on the top of the new Post Office tower has fulfilled its purpose, he proposes to remove it.

This is a matter for the contractors. The problem does not have to be solved for about a year but there appears to be no danger of the crane having to be left in situ.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has studied a letter from the Scottish Old Age Pensioners' Association, forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs, requesting his views on the question of increased retirement pensions; and whether he will make a statement.

I have sent the letter to which the hon. Member refers to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance and asked him to reply to the hon. Member on my behalf.

asked the Prime Minister what proposals he has for the presentation of gifts by the Government and by this House to mark the inauguration of the Federation of Malaysia on 31st August.

The whole House will, I feel sure, wish to send hearty congratulations to Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak on the forth-coming inauguration of the Federation of Malaysia, with best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of all their peoples. Her Majesty's Government will propose that the House should offer a gift to the legislatures of Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak, to be decided in consultation with the authorities there. Her Majesty's Government for their part have decided to offer a gift of a silver table centre-piece to the Government of the Federation of Malaysia.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent it is the practice of his Department to obtain information about the accounts of all grant-aided research associations, in- cluding information as to the amount which they are obliged to pay in rates, together with the basis of such assessments; and whether he will in due course publish information as to which research associations receive rating concessions under Section 11(4) of the Rating and Valuation Act 1961.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research requires grant-aided Research Associations to submit annual accounts, but not in such detail as to show the amount of rates payable, the basis of assessment or any concession which may be negotiated. As research associations are autonomous organisations, it is not for me to publish details of their accounts such as information about any rating concessions which might be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the concern among Scottish large burghs at the suggestions in the recent White Paper on the Reorganisation of Scottish Local Government that such burghs will lose control of a number of their existing services; and if he will agree to meet representatives from the large burghs, as well as the deputation from the Convention of Royal Burghs, when considering the views of all the authorities concerned with such reorganisation.

I have arranged to meet the local authority associations on 25th October to discuss the White Paper on the Modernisation of Local Government in Scotland, and representatives from large burghs will be among those present. Detailed proposals for further consultation will be considered at this meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that among the members of the Highland Transport Board there is a representative familiar with and expert on travel problems to Orkney, Shetland and other islands.

I shall bear the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation why the Hebrew service of the British Broadcasting Corporation has not been accorded similar facilities of relay to Israel via Cyprus on medium wave as other services of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and whether he will take steps to deal with the position.

There are difficulties about this, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the likely employment figures for men and women of the seven projects which his Department has recently approved in The Hartlepools.

According to the estimates of the firms concerned, the seven projects in The Hartlepools for which the Board of Trade has offered assistance under the Local Employment Act have provided or will provide about 1,000 jobs for men and 200 for women.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the application by Grey (Tees) Limited for financial assistance for the second graving-dock has been successful.

The Board of Trade Advisory Committee is in correspondence with the company about its application. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has written to the hon. and gallant Member on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the proposals made by the Domestic Coal Consumers Council to protect purchasers of coal from short weight on delivery were rejected by him.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the question of the power of weights and measures inspectors to stop coal vehicles on the highway. This matter was fully debated during the passage of the Weights and Measures Bill. I am satisfied that the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, provides adequate powers to give effective protection to consumers against short weight.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to prevent bicyclists riding two abreast on roads other than dual carriageways.

I do not think that this would be a suitable matter for legislation. The Highway Code advises cyclists to ride in single file when road or traffic conditions require it and never more than two abreast.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now consider the introduction of a tax on bicycles as some contribution to the cost of roads and road maintenance.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if, when he reviews the conditions to be met before he authorises the conveyance of heavy and cumbersome loads by road, he will consider that such vehicles will only be permitted to travel on roads other than motorways between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., especially during the peak traffic months of May to September, inclusive.

Article 24 of the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order, 1962, gives the police power to control the time of movement of abnormal loads on all roads. I consider that this is the best arrangement. In the case of very large loads, that is loads over 20 ft. wide, over 90 ft. long or over 150 tons gross weight, I impose a condition prohibiting movement over Bank Holiday periods and during summer week-ends.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make the fitting of suppressors compulsory for all new cars.

The Wireless Telegraphy (Control of Interference from Ignition Apparatus) Regulations, 1952, made by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General already require motor vehicles manufactured in or imported into this country since July, 1953, to be fitted with suppressors.

asked the Minister of Transport if, before reaching a decision on the Channel tunnel, he will cause an independent investigation to be made into the minimum charges for cars that could operate on cross-Channel boat services, given the most efficient ships and cutting costs, including terminal harbour dues, to the minimum consistent with safety.

The answer to my hon. Friend's Question must await further consideration of the Anglo-French Official Group's Report, on which I am in consultation with my French colleagues.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about the progress of the Shipbuilding Scheme.

After considering recommendations made to me by the Shipbuilding Credit Advisory Committee I have authorised the offer of loans totalling £22,708,100. If all these are taken up by the borrowers, new buildings arising out of the Scheme should total approximately 400,000 deadweight tons and work will start by early 1964. This is made up as follows:

Type of Vessel	No.	Amount of loan	Approximate Deadweight Tonnage
		£
Tankers	3	6,280,000	175,000
Bulk Carriers and Tramps	8	6,558,000	176,000
Cargo Liners	7	9,404,000	65,000
Others	6	466,100	3,000