asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements have been made to secure the enforcement of the provisions of Section 5 of the Contracts of Employment Act, 1963; and who will prosecute employers 'n breach of the provisions of the Act.

In England and Wales, a prosecution may be instituted by anyone on his own initiative; in Scotland, by the Procurator Fiscal of the Sheriff Court, to whom anyone may report an alleged offence.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed in Hull; what steps he is taking to reduce this number by finding alternative employment, by training and by other measures; and if he will make a statement.

:Four thousand three hundred and sixty-nine on 11th November. Our local officers are making every effort to find suitable jobs for the unemployed by submitting them to notified vacancies. Training will start at the new Government Training Centre at Hull before the end of the year. In the meantime training facilities are available at other G.T.C.s.

asked the Minister of Labour how many 1963 school leavers are still without jobs in Hull; what percentage this represents; and what further action is being taken to improve the position.

On 11th November, 4 or 0.3 per cent, of the 1,336 Easter leavers, and 85 or 2.7 per cent, of the 3,133 Summer leavers were still registered for first employment. Unemployment among young people in Hull fell substantially between October and November,while vacancies increased. The Youth Employment Service is doing all it can to help the unemployed find suitable jobs as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of boys and girls who left school in August, 1962, and August, 1963, who have not yet found work.

On 11th November, out of 550 summer 1963 school leavers known to the Youth Employment Service in Whitehaven and Cleator Moor 33 were registered for first employment. None of the summer 1962 leavers was registered.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his intention for providing employment for boys and girls registered at the employment exchange for Whitehaven and Cleator Moor.

The area is scheduled as a development district, and the Youth Employment Service will continue to do all it can to help the unemployed boys and girls find suitable jobs.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers of boys and girls who left school in August, 1962, and August, 1963, who found employment of their own accord, and found employment outside the area, respectively.

:I presume that the question refers to the Whitehaven and Cleator Moor area. 550 boys and girls are known to the Youth Employment Service to have left school this summer compared with 432 last year. The other information asked for is not available, but between 1st June and 30th September, 1963,the Youth Employment Service placed 230 boys and girls (some of whom were school leavers) in employment,58 of them outside the area. In the same period last year 166 boys and girls were placed, 30 outside the area.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest figures of unemployment among boys and girls, respectively, in Scotland, the Midlands, and London and South-Eastern regions; and what are the comparable figures for each of the last 12 years.

Date			Scotland		Midlands Region		London and South Eastern Region
			Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls
14th October, 1963	…	…	3,925	2,253	2,079	1,603	2,917	1,876
15th October, 1962	…	…	3,414	2,189	2,172	1,594	3,398	2,093
16th October, 1961	…	…	1,781	1,241	1,119	875	1,937	1,180
10th October, 1960	…	…	2,072	1,145	852	700	1,590	1,085
12th October, 1959	…	…	3,389	1,555	1,276	993	1,958	1,144
13th October, 1958	…	…	2,807	1,698	1,497	1,364	2,426	1,422
14th October, 1957	…	…	1,032	914	677	700	1,501	872
15th October, 1956	…	…	1,044	958	553	585	1,098	894
10th October, 1955	…	…	1,246	963	328	401	1,203	884
11th October, 1954	…	…	1,299	1,116	326	666	1,238	1,050
12th October, 1953	…	…	1,207	1,171	520	628	1,588	1,367
13th October, 1952	…	…	1,183	1,811	554	1,064	1,742	1,691
15th October, 1951	…	…	971	1,217	440	935	1,388	1,460
NOTE: The figures for the Midlands Region include Lincolnshire for the years 1951 to 1961. Since 1961 Lincolnshire has been in another Region.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers and percentages of school leavers between 1st January, 1963, and 31st October, 1963, or the nearest convenient dates, who entered employment in each of the following categories, namely, apprenticeship to skilled occupations, employment

Class of Employment	Boys		Girls
	Number entering	Percentage of total entrants	Number entering	Percentage of total entrants
1. Apprenticeship	97,651	33·6	14,712	5·5
2. Employment leading to recognised professional qualifications	3,997	1·4	3,646	1·4
3. Clerical employment	31,618	10·8	101,505	37·9
4. (a) Employmentwith training not covered in 1–3 above lasting at least 12 months	25,790	8·8	10,580	3·9
5. (b) Employment with training not covered in 1–3 above lasting between 8 weeks and 12 months	15,433	5·4	20,164	7·5
Other employment	116,272	40·0	117,435	43·8
TOTALS	290,761		268,042

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed persons in Batley and in Morley, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

179 and 118 respectively on 11th November, 1963.

The figures are as follows:leading to professional qualifications, clerical employment, employment with training not covered by the preceding categories, and other employment.

:The following are the provisional figures of new entrants into employment between 1st January and 31st October, 1963.

asked the Minister of Labour how many training development officers are now working under the auspices of the Industrial Training Council; and how they are deployed throughout the country.

The Council has appointed 11 officers who are deployed as follows:

Headquarters	1
Scotland	1
Wales	1
North of England	3
Midlands	2
South West England	1
London and the South East	2

In addition the Council has supported financially the appointment of 14 officers by industrial organisations.

Trade Group			11th November, 1963				10th December, 1962
			Disabled	Able-bodied		Totals	Disabled	Able-bodied		Totals
				ex-Regulars	Others			ex-Regulars	Others
Building Trades	…	…	96	9	122	227	79	1	9	89
Engineering Trades		…	248	91	579	918	268	103	392	763
Other Trades	…	…	513	231	428	1,172	520	228	321	1,069
TOTALS	…	…	857	331	1,129	2,317	867	332	722	1,921

Of 18 new centres being provided, 3 were opened in September, a fourth opened last month and two more are expected to open before the end of the year. Expansion is also proceeding at most existing centres. All being well, the remainder of the new Centres should come into operation, at intervals, during the coming year.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of the Scottish males unemployed have been out of work for over 8 weeks or more; and what are the comparable figures for each of the other regions.

The proportion of males unemployed for over 8 weeks to the total number of wholly unemployed males in each region on 14th October was:

London and South Eastern	45.9
Eastern and Southern	47.9
South Western	51.7
Midlands	56.4
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire	53.5
North Western	58.1
Northern	64.2
Scotland	64.2
Wales	56.5
Great Britain	56.3

asked the Minister of Labour how many trainees are now in Government Training Centres and in what categories; how many there were a year ago; and if he will make a statement on the rate of expansion.

The information requested in the first two parts of the Question is given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Labour how many development districts have a rate of unemployment of 6 per cent, or over; how many of these are in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively; and what is the total unemployment which these figures represent in each country.

The information required is set out in the following table:

NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS WHERE THE RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT WAS 6 PER CENT. OR OVER ON 14TH OCTOBER, 1963, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER UNEMPLOYED IN THOSE DISTRICTS:
—	Development districts with 6 per cent. or more unemployed	Number of unemployed
(1)	(2)	(3)
England	12	16,667
Wales	2	1,519
Scotland	15	26,356
Great Britain	29	44,542

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of boys and girls who have recently signed on at the juvenile employment offices covering the North-West Durham constituency; and what training facilities are available to them.

Separate figures are not available for the constituency area alone. The greater part of the area is covered by the Crook Youth Employment Office, where on 11th November 54 boys and girls were registered for employment, including 9 who had signed on during the previous two weeks. A variety of training courses for young people is available at technical colleges in Bishop Auckland, Consett and Durham. Further first-year apprenticeship courses in engineering for boys will be available early next year at Tursdale Government Training Centre.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give on a constituency basis for North-West Durham the adults registered as unemployed at Crook sub-

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED CITIZENS OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC REGI STERED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
Month of Count			Wholly unemployed	Temporarily Stopped	Total of unemployed and temporarily stopped	(c) expressed as a percentage of total adult unemployment in Great Britain
			(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
						Per cent
May, 1962	…	…	2,137	18	2,155	0·5
August, 1962	…	…	1,894	39	1,933	0·5
November, 1962	…	…	1,872	56	1,928	0·4
February, 1963	…	…	4,842	2,312	7,154	0·8
May, 1963	…	…	2,089	21	2,110	0·4
August, 1963	…	…	1,483	1	1,484	0·3

The information relates to citizens of the Irish Republic who have come to this country at any time since 1st January, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour how many industrial training officers were interviewed for the post of technical adviser on industrial training advertised in April.

Seven.

On 11th November, 1963, 720 adults were registered as unemployed at Crook employment exchange,169 at Lanchester employment exchange, and 748 at Durham employment exchange, which includes Brandon and Byshottles. The North-West Durham constituency includes also part of the area of the Consett employment exchange, where 498 were unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of immigrants from the Irish Republic registered as unemployed in each quarter since the beginning of 1962, and express the totals as a percentage of the total number of persons unemployed.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour in what professional and specialist training journals advertisements for the post of technical adviser on industrial training were placed.

The advertisement for the post appeared in The Engineer and Engineering.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of unemployed in Scotland on the latest date for which figures are available, and the comparable figures for each of the last 12 years.

Following is the information:

Date	Number Unemployed in Scotland
14th October, 1963	90,752
15th October, 1962	84,797
16th October, 1961	65,284
10th October, 1960	72,509
12th October, 1959	86,617
13th October, 1958	85,817
14th October, 1957	48,445
15th October, 1956	48,852
10th October, 1955	45,779
11th October, 1954	52,584
12th October, 1953	57,117
13th October, 1952	68,138
15th October, 1951	51,081

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now propose a non-aggression treaty between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Warsaw Alliance powers; and if he will initiate negotiations for a zone in Europe free of nuclear weapons, foreign forces, and military alliances,including both West and East Germany and some of Germany's neighbours,with the armed forces of the States concerned reduced, limited and placed under international supervision.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Yemen, and on the relationship of Her Majesty's Government with the Yemeni Government.

:The situation in the Yemen has changed little in recent months. A large part of the country remains under royalist control. Fighting has died down a little but still continues. We welcome the news that the duration of the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission has been extended until January, and that the Secretary-General of the United Nations has sent Signor Spinelli to the Yemen as his personal representative.Her Majesty's Government maintain relations with the Government of the Imam and do not consider that the Yemeni republican régime fulfils their criteria for recognition.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will now initiate discussions with all interested Governments on the organisation of internationally-guaranteed nuclear-free zones in areas of tension and where territorial Governments have expressed support for them.

Her Majesty's Government are prepared to support nuclear-free zones in certain areas, if the conditions are satisfactory, but they consider that the initiative must rest with the countries concerned.

Hughes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he first refused permission for the aircraft carrying Colonel Yuri Gagarin to Mexico to land for the purpose of refuelling at Prestwick Airport; and why he changed his decision.

:Permission was at first refused because the Soviet Union is not a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and has not so far been prepared to grant us reciprocityin the exercise of civil aviation transit rights. After it had been represented to Her Majesty's Embassy in Moscow that a refusal of staging facilities at Prestwick would prevent Colonel Gagarin and Miss Tereshkova from arriving in Mexico in time for the opening of the International Aviation Federation, it was decided exceptionally to grant the requested facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent representations he has received from or made to the Governments of the Republic of Indonesia and of the Philippines in respect of relationship between those respective countries and this country.

Relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Philippines are normal and have not recently been the subject of any special representations on either side. On the other hand, the unsatisfactory state of Anglo-Indonesian relations has compelled us to make frequent representations on a variety of questions affecting British interests. The Indonesian Government have made no recent representations to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many people resident in Great Britain are accorded diplomatic immunity; and if he will give details of the number attached to each foreign embassy or consulate, United Nations committees and delegations, and any other bodies.

6,235 persons in Foreign and Commonwealth Missions, resident in the United Kingdom, including 1,873 wives, are accorded full diplomatic immunity. 386 persons in foreign missions are accorded immunities restricted to their official acts only. 709 consular officers and employees are accorded immunity which is restricted to their official acts only. I am sending my hon. Friend particulars according to countries.In addition, four persons connected with various international organisations are entitled to full immunity; nineteen are entitled to immunity from legal process in respect of their official acts and from detention and arrest in respect of acts done in their general capacities; and 217 are entitled to immunity from legal process in respect of official acts only. I am also sending my hon. Friend particulars of these.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what prior information was available to the intelligence and security personnel of Her Majesty's Embassy, Jakarta, indicating the impending sacking of the Embassy in September; why the secret files in the Embassy strongroom were not destroyed before the building was finally evacuated by Her Majesty's Ambassador and his staff; and under what form of British guard the strongroom was put between the time of the evacuation of the Embassy and 23rd September, when Indonesians attempted to break into the strongroom.

No prior information was available. The attack on 18th September was mounted with great speed. Because all the windows in the Embassy building had been smashed by rioters two days earlier,there was few obstacles to entry. There was no time to destroy documents; all that could be done before the staff were evacuated by the Indonesian military was to ensure that the strongrooms were properly closed.From the moment of this attack, Her Majesty's Ambassador made continuous and strenuous efforts to obtain renewed access to the building and to have a guard placed on it; but the Indonesian authorities refused to allow this. These efforts had, therefore, not yet borne fruit when, on September 23rd, Mr. Gilchrist learnt that attempts were being made to enter the strongrooms. He was able to persuade other members of the Diplomatic Corps that a serious breach of international practice was being committed and that they should accompany him to the building, which they were fortunately able to enter. As a result of this and later efforts, Her Majesty's Ambassador re-established control until the papers in the strongrooms had been destroyed under supervision.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to propose a meeting of First Ministers or Foreign Secretaries to discuss the renunciation of the use of espionage.

I regret, no.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the considerations which led Her Majesty's Government to recognise the new authorities in South Vietnam; and what is the status of British diplomatic relations with those authorities.

It is the practice of Her Majesty's Government to recognise a revolutionary Government as soon as it may fairly be said to enjoy, with a reasonable prospect of permanency, the obedience of the mass of the population and the effective control of the greater part of the national territory. On this basis, recognition by Her Majesty's Government was accorded on the 8th of November.Normal diplomatic relations are thus maintained between Her Majesty's Government and the Republic of Vietnam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which countries have so far adhered to the nuclear test ban treaty, including those which have notified their adhesion in Washington or Moscow; and which countries have not yet notified their adhesion.

The following Governments have signed or acceded to the Treaty banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water in one or more of the capitals of the three depository Governments, namely London, Washington and Moscow:

United Kingdom, United States of America, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon Republic, Canada, Ceylon, Chad, Chile, Columbia, Congo (Leopoldville), Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Dahomey, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Germany, Finland, Gabon Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Irish Republic, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Malagasy Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Ruanda, Salvador, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanganyika, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Republic, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yugoslavia.

Naturally many of the signatories have not yet ratified the Treaty, but ratification will no doubt take place in due course when any necessary constitutional procedures have taken place. I should add that, although in the view of Her Majesty's Government, Byelorussia and Ukraine were covered by the signature of the Soviet Union, the Treaty was signed separately in Moscow on their behalf.The following Governments are those which, according to the latest information available, have not yet signed or acceded to the Treaty:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government took in the United Nations Security Council on the resolution calling on Britain not to transfer political and military power to the Government of Southern Rhodesia.

The United Kingdom voted against the draft resolution in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the statement of the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 4th March, 1953, Official Report, Volume 512, column 389,as to the Bonn Convention and Allied High Commission Law No. 27 remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Council of Europe publications are posted under On Her Majesty's Service official paid seal to persons in the United Kingdom by the Central Office of Information; how many people receive these publications in this manner; and what was the cost to the British taxpayer during 1962.

I have been asked to reply. The circulation of Council of Europe publications by this Central Office of Information is in accordance with Her Majesty's Government's wish to publicise the works and achievements of the Council of Europe, of which Britain is a founder member. The bimonthly "Council of Europe News" and "Forward in Europe" are sent to a mailing list of 7,137 addresses composed of individuals and organisations having a special interest in international, and in particular, European affairs. The cost is about £2,500 a year inclusive of postage charges.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the Central Office of Information to discontinue posting to the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham, under On Her Majesty's Service paid seal, the publications of the Council of Europe, in view of the fact that he has never asked for them and has no wish to read them.

I have been asked to reply. Yes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will carry out an investigation into conditions in St. George's Hospital, Hornchurch.

:No. I am already aware of the difficulties there, which the hospital authorities are trying to remedy.Hospital Rebuilding Scheme, Bromley (Ravenscroft Hotel)

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to incorporate the 16th century Ravenscroft Hotel at Bromley, Kent, as the offices in the adjacent hospital rebuilding scheme.

:My right hon. Friend can give no such undertaking.

asked the Minister of Health, following his predecessor's visit to the Wrekin Hospital and in view of the fact that a new town has been designated at Dawley, what decision has been taken concerning the provision of a new maternity wing to the Wrekin Hospital together with other improvements including the provision of lifts; and if he will make a statement.

A detailed scheme for improvements is in preparation by the regional board, and will be submitted to my right hon. Friend after local discussions are completed.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he proposes to continue the restriction on hospital estimates to the 2 per cent, increase instituted at the time of the Government's pay pause policy;(2) if he will give an extra grant to hospitals for furniture and fixtures, medical and surgical instruments and appliances, and building maintenance.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the forthcoming Estimates.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to expedite the implementation of the recommendations made in the Tyler Report on the Work, Grading, Training and Qualifications of Hospital Engineers, published in February, 1962.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health when facilities will be available to allow every woman to have her first confinement in hospital within easy reach of her home.

Well over 80 per cent, of these confinements in England and Wales are in National Health Service hospitals and the proportion is rising. The Hospital Plan provides for a large and continuous increase in maternity services.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has given to the proposal of the Health Service Executive Council of Cardiff for the provision of an emergency service by dentists at the weekend as an extension of the dental service now provided.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that the road journey between Shropshire and Birmingham can last two or three hours in good weather and traffic conditions, what provision he has made for emergency incubator units to be available on county ambulances carrying premature babies from the Wrekin area to Birmingham hospitals.

The Shropshire County Council as ambulance authority has arranged to convey premature babies to hospital in heated cots.

asked the Minister of Health (1) in view of the shortage of medical manpower in the country, if he has initiated an inquiry into the extent of this shortage and the number of medical schools that will be required to remedy it;(2) what proposals he has, following the Robbins Report, to remedy the shortage of medical doctors in the country.

:I am reviewing medical manpower needs in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate medical care is available to the residents of New Wortley, Leeds, in the practice of the late Dr. O. A. Mackenzie.

I understand that the Executive Council recently advertised the vacancy for a second time, after those who replied to a previous advertisement had withdrawn. I am making further inquiries, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to establish the post of old people's officer to co-ordinate and administer all geriatric services within each local authority boundary.

:A very wide range of statutory and voluntary services is provided for old people, but I doubt whether it would be appropriate to administer them as the hon. Member suggests. There are arrangements for co-ordination which are constantly being improved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reintroduce the Is. bonus payment for grey squirrel tails.

No. Means of concentrating the attack on grey squirrels in areas where they cause most damage continue to be examined,but I think landowners have every encouragement to keep numbers down without a cash incentive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishermen are licensed to net fish in the River Test estuary; from which ports these fishermen operate; and what regulations are applied to the issue of licences.

None. Licensing would only apply to netting for salmon and migratory trout. No such licences have been granted by the river board for netting in the Test estuary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the level of imports of beef from Yugoslavia for the years 1960, 1961 and 1962; what tonnage he expects to be imported in 1963; and at what level he expects to keep these imports in the future.

Imports in 1960, 1961 and 1962 were, respectively, 777, 17,028 and 39,130 tons. The provisional figure for the first nine months of 1963 is 10,800 tons and I expect the total for the year to be very much lower than the 30,000 tons which the Yugoslav Government estimated as their probable maximum. Arrangements for future imports are still under discussion, but the Yugoslav Government expect their exports to us between now and the end of March, 1964 to be about 2,000 tons per month, but not in any case above 2,500 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of subsidy paid to farmers with an acreage of more than 150 acres for each calf, each ton of barley, each animal reared mainly on barley; and what are the total amounts of subsidy paid to farmers with an acreage of 500 acres to 1,000 acres, 1,000 to 2,000 acres and 2,000 acres or more, respectively.

Such information about subsidy payments could not be obtained from the Ministry's records without an undue expenditure of time and labour. I can, however, tell the hon. Member that the present calf subsidy is £7 10s. per head for heifers and £9 5s. for steers; the average barley deficiency payment in the year ending 30th June, 1963, was the equivalent of £7 18s. 4d. per ton; there is no special subsidy for animals reared mainly on barley.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he consulted the meat trade before introducing the Meat Inspection Regulations in July, 1963, which provided for 100 per cent, inspection of slaughterhouses.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has received that weed-killers, used for spraying hedges, kill bird life; and what action he proposes to take to prevent this.

My right hon. Friend has received no evidence that weed-killers used in controlling roadside vegetation have caused any serious harm to bird life. The Ministry of Transport, after consultation with the Nature Conservancy and with this Department, issued a circular to Highway Authorities about the use of sprays for this purpose, including a warning of the need to avoid spraying the hedge and immediate vicinity.

the Attorney-General (1) whether he is aware that since August, 1963,there has been a deterioration in the service given by the Land Registry to solicitors and that search certificates which were formerly dealt with by return of post are now taking up to 10 days; and what steps are being taken to remedy the position;(2) whether he will ensure that until the arrears in the department of the Chief Registrar of the Land Registry are brought up to date, this department will be required to work on Saturday mornings; what period of time will elapse before a normal service is resumed by the Chief Registrar; and what steps are being taken to hasten this result.

The delays in issuing certificates of the results of official searches in the Land Charges Department of the Land Registry, to which I assume that my hon. Friend refers, have, since August, been reduced to periods ranging from three to five days. There has, therefore, been a welcome improvement and not a deterioration in the service provided.This improvement has been brought about in a number of ways: by the Chief Land Registrar recruiting and training additional staff immediately the remarkable and quite unexpected increase in the department's work became apparent; by the commendable efforts of the staff, many of whom have worked during evenings and, for many weeks, on Saturdays and even on Sundays; by the employment of temporary and part-time staff; and by increased efficiency in the department resulting from organisational and other changes. I hope that the normal position will be restored next month without the resumption of work on Saturdays, which is not desirable as many members of the staff are married women.

asked the Attorney-General what proposals he has for initiating prosecutions in connection with the City of Sheffield Police.

None. Proceedings were taken against two officers and they have been dealt with by the court. I consider that on the information at present available to me the public interest does not require that any further proceedings should be taken.

asked the Attorney-General whether in the light of the lack of co-ordination between Departments concerned with security which is revealed by the Denning Report, he will now give further consideration to the appointment of a Parliamentary Commissioner to supervise the administration of the State.

No. Lord Denning's Report did not reveal any lack of co-ordination between Departments concerned with security, but in any event interdepartmental co-ordination would not be a suitable subject for the supervision of a Parliamentary Commissioner.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the cost and complicated procedures involved make it impracticable for any individual music user to seek the protection of the Performing Right Tribunal without expensive legal aid; and whether he will seek to amend the Performing Right Tribunal rules to facilitate its use by music users of modest means.

The procedure of this Tribunal is designed to be as simple as the nature of the proceedings will allow and I do not think it places any undue burden on applicants of modest means. If, however, my hon. Friend has any suggestions as to the way in which the procedure can be improved I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to issue warrants for arrest of people who escape the service of summonses for wife maintenance and similar matters by continually changing their addresses.

I appreciate the difficulty which arises in these cases, but I do not think that the hon. Member's suggestion would solve the problem of ascertaining the person's whereabouts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, while recognising that courts must have means of bringing before them people who neglect summonses for motor offences, if he will introduce legislation to prevent motorists being locked up for nonappearance in court on parking and similar offences of a relatively minor character.

I am considering the law relating to the issue of process in such cases, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals have been submitted to him for permitting the sale of marijuana to the general public; and what replies he has sent.

No such proposals have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to applying the provisions of shops legislation to mobile shops.

I have no such legislation in view at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments have been carried out on living dogs during the past year, or other convenient statistical period.

The latest figure available is that for 1962, when 8,077 such experiments were performed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the results of the special survey of Irish traffic carried out on behalf of his Department.

A sample survey of passengers travelling on air and sea routes between Great Britain and Ireland was carried out by the Social Survey Divi-

CITIZENS OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC (EXCLUDING CHILDREN UNDER 16) NOT PREVIOUSLYM
RESIDENT∗ IN GREAT BRITAIN ENTERING TO TAKE OR SEEK EMPLOYMENT
(Figures in thousands)
(a) Classified by proposed duration of stay
0–13 weeks		14–52 weeks		Uncertain		Permanently		Total
Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women
8·4	2·5	11·1	4·5	8·5	4·8	10·9	7·9	38·9	19·7
(b) Classified by age and sex
		16–25	26–35	367–45	46–55	56–65	Over 65	Not answered	Total
Men	…	22·7	8·3	4·4	2·7	·5	·2	·1	38·9
Women	…	15·7	1·9	1·2	·7	·2	—	—	19·7
Total	…	38·4	10·2	5·6	3·4	·7	·2	·1	58·6

CITIZENS OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC (EXCLUDING CHILDREN UNDER 16) LEAVING GREAT BRITAIN AFTER A PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT OF LESS THAN 52 WEEKS
(Figures in thousands)
(a) Classified by duration of stay
		0–13 weeks		14–52 weeks		Total
		Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women
		10·7	3·3	9·4	3·9	20 1	7·2
(b) Classified by age and sex
		16–25	26–35	36–45	46–55	56–65	Over 65	Not answered	Total
Men	…	11 ·1	4·5	2·6	1·5	·4	—	—	20·1
Women	…	4·4	1·2	·9	·4	·1	·1	·1	7·2
Total	…	15·5	5·7	3·5	1·9	·5	·1	·1	27·3
In addition, 11,900 citizens of the Irish Republic who had been resident* and employed in Great Britain left for the Irish Republic with the intention of staying there permanently.
*For the purpose of the survey a resident was defined as someone who had lived in Great Britain for the preceding fifty-two weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made to date of members of the "Spies for Peace" groups in connection with the publication last Spring of their "Danger, Official Secret RSG 6" document, and the breaches of the Official Secrets Act

No arrests have been made in connection with the "Spies for Peace" leaflets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to establish a fully-staffed and adequate parole and aftercare service for all discharged prisoners.

I am giving careful consideration to the report on the Organisation of After-Care recently made to me by my Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders, and I hope to make a statement before long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that no one will be called for jury service who has not been domiciled in this country for at least 12 years.

I will bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the attention of the Departmental Committee which, under the Chairmanship of Lord Morris of Borth-y-Gest, is now considering whether any changes are desirable in the qualifications for and exemptions from jury service.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new jobs have been provided in the Falmouth employment district in each of the last four years.

:As a result of industrial development certificates issued for the Falmouth employment exchange area in the four years ended 31st October, 1963, one new project has been proceeded with; I cannot state the employment expected to accrue since this would involve disclosure of confidential information.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications for 25 per cent, building grants have been received from the North-East since 1st April, 1963; how many of these have been approved; and what is the total sum of the grants made.

156 applications for building grants have been received from the North-East since 1st April, 1963 and 111 of these have been approved in principle. No grants have yet been made as the amount depends in each case on the actual cost incurred: the applications so approved are for grants estimated to amount to about £2½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a list of the non-secret items on the embargo of trade with members of the Sino-Soviet bloc, and a list of the territories to which the embargo applies.

This information is already available in the House of Commons Library.The embargo list was published in the Board of Trade Journal for 28th September, 1962,with a small amendment on 26th October, 1962. The list of countries to which the embargo applies was also given in the Board of Trade Journal for 28th September, 1962. I am sending copies to the hon. Member.In addition, it is not the present practice to licence exports of strategic goods to Cuba.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will particularise bagpipes as a separate item in the Trade and Navigation Accounts.

This will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the average period which has elapsed between receipt of an application for a standard building grant and it approval for application received since 4th April, 1963.

The lapse of time between the receipt of an application and its approval in principle has varied from several months in the case of applications made before the Local Employment Act, 1963, came into force on 10th July, and two or three weeks in the case of applications now being considered. The average over the whole period is about eight weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proportion of applications for standard building grants received since 4th April, 1963,have been passed to the Board of Trade Advisory Committee for scrutiny and approval.

Sixty-three per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the average period which has elapsed between receipt of an application for a standard equipment grant and its approval for application received since 4th April, 1963.

:The lapse of time between the receipt of an application and its approval in principle has varied from several months in the case of applications made before the Local Employment Act, 1963. came into force on 10th July, and two or three weeks in the case of applications now being considered. The average over the whole period is about eight weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proportion of applications for standard equipment grants received since 4th April, 1963,have been passed to the Board of Trade Advisory Committee for scrutiny and approval.

None. The Board of Trade is not required to consult the Board of Trade Advisory Committee on applications for the plant and machinery grant.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury how much money has been allocated for research into combating disseminated sclerosis in the years 1961, 1962, and 1963 up to the latest convenient date.

Research into multiple or disseminated sclerosis is being supported from public funds by the Medical Research Council and by university and hospital departments. A valuable contribution is also being made by independent organisations such as the Nuffield Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society and in addition, there is a great deal of fundamental research which may prove relevant to the understanding of the demyelinating diseases. It is therefore impossible to make a realistic estimate of the expenditure specifically and solely related to combating this disease. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that any promising lines of research into this painful and distressing disease will be vigorously pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the number of officers serving in the Army on 1st November, 1963.

19,200 male officers and 978 officers of the Q.A.R.A.N.C. and W.R.A.C.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is satisfied that the civil airport at Aldergrove, County Antrim, will be capable of handling the passenger traffic during 1964; and if he will make a statement with regard to the plans for enlarging the civil terminal building.

The airport terminal building as it stands will cater for traffic up to 1968, when 930,000 passengers are expected to pass through at 625 an hour in the peak periods. The traffic expected in 1964 is 675,000 at 455 an hour in the peak periods. The building is designed so as to allow expansion to meet higher traffic after 1968.

asked the Minister of Aviation, having regard to the fact that the airport building at Nutts' Corner was on one level, what steps he will take to assist elderly passengers departing from the civil airport at Aldergrove, County Antrim, who are forced to mount stairs to the first floor in order to reach the passenger exits.

Arrangements can be made for elderly or infirm persons, who cannot mount the stairs to the first floor, to be specially conducted at ground level to their aircraft. Seats will be available at ground floor level in case they have to wait. There is a wheelchair at the airport and if necessary elderly or infirm persons can be wheeled to their aircraft or to the restaurant.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will arrange for the provision of a place at the civil airport at Aldergrove, County Antrim, where passengers can leave their luggage.

Yes. There is not yet much demand for this service at Aldergrove but arrangements are being made to install a suitable luggage locker system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when further talks on the status of Barotseland will take place.

It has been arranged for talks between the Barotse Native Government and the Northern Rhodesia Government to proceed on a working-party basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that no change in the status of Barotseland will be made without the agreement of the Litunga and his council.

The Litunga has already been assured that no constitutional changes affecting the position of Barotseland will be made without the agreement of himself and his Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many radiographers emigrated to Colonial Territories in 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the total number of comprehensive schools in England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; and what are the number of projects for comprehensive schools he has approved and the number he has rejected in the last three years.

In January, 1963, there were 175 such schools, compared with 130 three years earlier. Five proposals have been rejected during the last three years.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will arrange that drafts covering retirement pensions, which are now paid into banks every quarter, should be paid at shorter intervals of a fortnight or a month.

The ordinary pension order book can be presented for payment at the post office at any interval up to 13 weeks. There is an alternative arrangement under which pensions can be paid in arrears by quarterly draft. I should not feel justified in adding to the cost of these arrangements in the way proposed.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number of persons unemployed by reason of illness and injury in Batley and in Morley, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

On 12th November, about 900 insured persons were recorded at the Batley National Insurance Office as incapable of work from all causes; the corresponding figure for the office at Morley was about 1,100.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, consequent upon the undertaking given to the House on 6th February, 1962, he is in a position to give any information about the number of immigrants from the Irish Republic in receipt of National Assistance.

A special sample survey in November, 1962, showed that out of nearly 2,000,000 persons then receiving National Assistance, only some 3,000 or 4,000 appeared to be citizens of the Irish Republic who had come here at any time during the previous six years.

(1) ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARRIVED FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC IN 1960 AND 1961 AND ENTERED INSURANCE IN GREAT BRITAIN, ANALYSED BY SEX AND, FOR WOMEN, MARITAL STATUS
—		All Persons	Men	Married Women	Other Women
1960
Total	…	67,020	44,700	3,880	18,440
New registrations	…	51,260	33,460	2,950	14,850
Re-registrations	…	15,760	11,240	930	3,590
1961
Total	…	62,290	40,480	2,870	18,940
New registrations	…	47,330	30,190	2,340	15,430
Re-registrations	…	14,330	10,290	530	3,510

(2) ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PERSONS(a) FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC WHO ENTERED GREAT BRITAIN TN 1960 AND IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1961 AND REGISTERED FOR NATIONAL INSURANCE ANALYSED ACCORDING TO THEIR LOCATION ABOUT ONE YEAR AND, WHERE KNOWN, TWO YEARS(b) AFTER ENTRY
—			All persons	Position about one year after entry,with position about two years after entry, where known, in brackets(b)
				In Great Britain(c)	Known to have returned to Irish Republic(d)	Presumed to have returned to Irish Republic(e)
				Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
1960	…	…	67,020	57·6	11·8	30·6
1st quarter	…	…	15,490	61·2	10·6	28·2
				(53·7)	(8·4)	(37·8)
2nd quarter	…	…	16,130	56·5	13·6	29·9
				(47·7)	(10·4)	(41·8)
3rd quarter	…	…	23,030	55·9	13·1	31 0
4th quarter	…	…	12,370	57·8	8·6	33·6
1961
1st quarter	…	…	15,190	59·5	11·3	29·2
2nd quarter	…	…	17,150	55·1	11·5	33·4
(a) First arrivals and re-entrants.
(b) The period is one year (two years) plus or minus up to 7 weeks.
(c) Contribution paid or credited for last week of relevant period after arrival or at some time in the succeeding 15 weeks.
(d) Return to Irish Republic noted on insurance records. Some persons noted as returning in the first year came back to Great Britain during the second year. Such persons are counted once only in this table.
(e) No stamp or credit for last week of relevant period after arrival, or at any time in the following 15 weeks.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether information has now been obtained from the records of his Department about the number of persons from the Irish Republic coming to this country for employment, and the length of their stay in Great Britain.

A detailed analysis has been made of 10 per cent. of the National Insurance records of persons who arrived in this country from the Irish Republic in 1960 and 1961. The results so far available are summarised in the following tables:

asked the Postmaster-General who are the parties to the 1963 Bulk Supply Agreements; and what are the terms of these two Agreements.

:The two Bulk Supply Agreements currently in force relate to telephone apparatus and telephone exchange equipment. The following are the parties:

asked the Postmaster-General what orders for cable and loading coils have been given under the new competitive tender arrangements; and whether the prices paid have been lower than they were under the Bulk Supply Agreement.

Orders for cable and loading coils so far placed this year amount to about £9 million. The general level of prices for items formerly bought under bulk supply agreements is not lower.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what was the size of the order list for telephones in each telephone area in the United Kingdom at 30th September, 1963;(2) what was the size of the waiting list for telephones in each area in the United Kingdom at 30th September, 1963; and what proportion this bore in each case to the total number of subscribers in the area.

The figures are as follows: the difference between the order and waiting lists represents applications under inquiry or being met

Telephone Area	Order List 30th September 1963	Waiting list 30th September 1963	Waiting list as a percentage of total number of subscribers
Aberdeen	1,008	57	0.09
Bedford	3,992	1,624	2.7
Belfast	2,242	308	0.3
Birmingham	7,905	3,926	2.6
Blackburn	2,433	919	1.3
Bournemouth	1,687	251	0.3
Bradford	1,659	171	0.2
Brighton	4,566	984	0.8
Bristol	3,030	690	0.6
Cambridge	3,811	1,675	2.5
Canterbury	4,159	2,293	2.9
Cardiff	3,435	982	1.2
Chester	1,695	449	0.8
Colchester	1,920	494	0.9
Coventry	5,165	2,419	3.4
Dundee	654	50	0.1
Edinburgh	1,148	120	0.1
Exeter	1,302	28	0.04
Glasgow	3,732	750	0.4
Gloucester	1,636	489	0.9
Guildford	4,385	2,073	2.9
Lancaster	1,245	361	0.8
Leeds	2,885	861	0.9
Leicester	2,354	614	0.7
Lincoln	2,377	995	1.8
Liverpool	4,000	790	0.4
London—
Centre	4,261	Nil	Nil
City	2,445	Nil	Nil
East	3,023	409	0.2
North	5,514	569	0.3
North-West	4,755	59	0.03