asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that families living in one household are being classified as two families so as to save payment of family allowances and as one family so as to save National Assistance; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this anomaly.

:No. My right hon. Friend is unable to accept the implications which the hon. Member appears to have drawn from an exceptional case, about which I am writing to him.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that since April bacon prices have risen by 5s. in the £, ham by 3s. in the £, butter Is. 6d. in the £, sugar 4s. in the £, jams and syrups Is. 6d. in the £, canned fruits l0d. in the £ and cheese by 5d. in the £ and, as these increases have affected retirement pensioners and those in receipt of welfare benefits, what action he proposes to take to safeguard them from this inflationary process.

What I am aware of is that, taking into account reductions in the price of some foods as well as increases in the price of others, there has been a fall of over 2 per cent, in the Ministry of Labour's Index of Retail Food Prices since April. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health how much of the cost of drugs sold by private companies to the National Health Service was attributable to sales promotion to doctors, including the cost of samples and advertising literature, during each of the last three years.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested, but, as the hon. Member will already know, in 1961 the total cost of sales promotion by pharmaceutical manufacturers amounted to rather less than 10 per cent, of their total sales.

asked the Minister of Health how much is spent annually on checking and advising general practitioners on their prescriptions; and how much is spent on checking and advising hospital doctors.

About £100,000 for general practitioners. The cost for hospitals is not separately identifiable.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to the negotiation of further reciprocal agreements between Britain and other countries with comparable registration standards to those established in Britain by the General Medical Council, to allow the automatic registration of each other's doctors.

I am informed that the General Medical Council has no such proposals before it.

asked the Minister of Health what routine chest X-ray facilities are available for immigrants at London Airport and other airports; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient machines are installed to prevent the spread of tuberculosis and other similar illnesses.

Commonwealth citizens subject to control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, and aliens coming here to work, are liable to medical examination at the port of entry. The question of providing chest X-ray facilities is being considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to prevent large numbers of foreign fishing vessels causing damage to the nets of British vessels when fishing within the three-mile limit, as occurred off the Yorkshire coast in August and September.

:No cases have been reported to me of foreign vessels having damaged the nets of British vessels within the 3-mile limit. There have been 18 incidents I know of so far this year involving English and Welsh vessels leading to claims against foreign vessels, all of them outside the 3-mile limit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) to what extent and under what conditions he is at present making farm improvement grants available for the installation of sealed silos;(2) what further evidence he requires to enable him to make a decision on the availability of farm improvement grants for the installation of sealed silos for storing undried grain.

:Until now my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have hitherto been approving for grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme only such installations as can be justified for the storage of dried grain on the holding concerned. Before approving silos for damp grain storage the Act requires us to be satisfied that a prudent landlord would provide this type of improvement or pay compensation to a tenant for it.After consulting an Advisory Committee representative of all sections of the industry, we now believe that the prudent landlord of the Scheme would agree to install airtight silos in certain circumstances where feeding of damp grain to livestock is appropriate for the farm and sufficient grain is grown on the farm to warrant the expenditure.We will, therefore, in future be prepared to consider any grain silo for farm improvement grant on this basis, and subject to all the usual tests of the Scheme in individual cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made with the testing scheme for antibiotics in milk; and if he will make a statement.

The regular testing of milk for antibiotics is continuing at some of the larger dairies. I have asked the Joint Committee, representing the Milk Marketing Board and the buyers of milk, to arrange for testing to be done on a wider scale. Thai Committee is anxious to co-operate fully, and is examining the technical and other issues involved. The Chairman of the Milk Marketing Board has personally assured me of his concern.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to make regulations governing the provision of humane conditions for intensive methods of animal husbandry.

:No. It is already an offence under the Protection of Animals Act, 1911,to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. Action would thus already be possible if cruelty were present in any system of husbandry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken to encourage an extension of sugar beet production in Northumberland as part of a national production expansion; and whether he will consider the development of a sugar beet factory in the county.

The British Sugar Corporation is responsible for making contracts for sugar beet growing and I am sure it will give fair consideration to the claims of all counties, including Northumberland, to share in the increase of 20,000 acres in England and Wales in 1964. The existing factories have sufficient capacity to handle the additional production of beet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of sugar beet was produced in the county of Northumberland in 1961 and 1962; and where it was sent for processing.

10,200 tons in 1961 and 9,456 tons in 1962. All of this was sent for processing to the factory at Cupar, Fife.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that several dairy companies which previously supplied half-pint bottles of milk now propose to discontinue this practice and use only pint bottles, and that this will inflict a hardship, particularly on old-age pensioners; and if he will introduce legislation requiring milk suppliers to supply half-pint bottles where they are required.

:My right hon. Friend feels he would not be justified in imposing a requirement of the kind suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance now that the scale of guarantees for pigs will be amended at the 1964 Price Review to countenance the increase in numbers required to satisfy in the coming year a continuing strong demand for pork while meeting in full the 36 per cent, allocation of the bacon market accepted for United Kingdom producers.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that I cannot give an answer which would anticipate the Annual Review. Certainly the demand for pig-meat is strong at the moment. I have every hope that this demand will continue to grow and that our producers will be able to take advantage of this. If these conditions obtain, they could be taken into account in determining, for example, the appropriate level of the "middle band". Generally speaking, it will, of course, be possible at successive Annual Reviews to take such steps as may prove necessary to encourage producers to match domestic pig production to the needs of the market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the review of hill cow land.

In July, last year, I announced that there was to be a review of the eligibility of certain land for hill cow subsidy. This subsidy is paid only to farmers whose land satisfied two conditions:First, that it is within an area consisting predominantly of mountains, hills or heath; andSecond, that it is suitable only for livestock rearing and not to any material extent for dairying, fattening or cash cropping.The classification of farms that qualified was carried out in 1951 on a county basis. In the course of the last few years anomalies have come to light and J decided that the right thing to do was to have a country-wide survey, with the object of establishing consistent standards of assessment throughout the country. This review has now been completed. Two points have emerged.First, it is now considered that some land undoubtedly lying within an area of mountains, hills or heath is, in fact, too good to meet the quality test. Secondly, some entire districts, according to the advice I have received, must now be considered to lie outside the true hill areas. In these districts there is, however, some land which is suitable only for livestock rearing. I think it would be wrong to disqualify all farms in these districts automatically. Past decisions to treat them as hill areas were fairly reached at the time and those farmers whose land is and has remained suitable only for livestock rearing have adjusted their scale of operations on the assumption that they would continue to draw this subsidy.I therefore propose for these districts under the new Scheme I will be laying before the House that we will pay subsidy on land which qualifies at present and which after inspection is found to be materially unsuitable for any use other than livestock rearing. All the farms hitherto eligible in these areas will now be inspected individually to establish whether or not they will remain eligible.Individual farmers will be informed as soon as possible of any change in the status of any of their land. Those who wish to appeal against the decision will have the opportunity of making representations to their Agricultural Executive Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the decline in the manufacture of butter in Cornwall.

:There has been a general decrease in butter production over the country as a whole this year, due mainly to the effects of the severe winter and cold late spring on milk production. Production in Cornwall during the first ten months of 1963 is estimated at about 4,000 tons, compared with about 5,000 tons and 4,500 tons in the comparable periods of 1962 and 1961. However, Cornwall's share of total production in England and Wales has increased from about 12 per cent, in 1962 to nearly 13 per cent, in 1963.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the prospects of marketing the broccoli crop of Cornwall this winter.

This year's Cornish broccoli crop, which promises to be a good one, is a fortnight to three weeks earlier than usual, and the first of the Cornish supplies are having to compete with the last of the heavy autumn crop from other areas. I have no reason to expect that, when the autumn crop is over, Cornish growers will not be able to market their broccoli as usual, always provided that we do not have an abnormally hard winter.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to ensure continuity of employment for those craftsmen who are threatened with eventual redundancy resulting from the decision by British Railways to close down part of the carriage and wagon department at Ranskill, Nottinghamshire.

My local officers are in close touch with the management of the railway workshops. As soon as the names of the workpeople to be declared redundant are known, my local officers will make available to them the full facilities of my Department, including training where appropriate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, and persons under 18 years of

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed in the Erith district at the latest convenient date; and if he will give the comparable figures for 1961 and 1962.

On 11th November, 1963, 227 were unemployed in the Erith Employment Exchange area compared with 244 in November, 1962, and 177 in November, 1961.

asked the Minister of Labour how many wages inspectors are employed in the field covered by the Wholesale Mantle and Costume Wages Council; if he is satisfied that they are sufficient to meet the service desired; and whether he will make a statement.

There are 144 wages inspectors. Their duties cover the whole range of Wages Council trades. In 1962 they inspected 11.3 per cent, of establishments covered by the Wholesale

Following is the information:Mantle and Costume Wages Council. I am satisfied from their reports that the relevant Wages Regulation Orders in this industry are adequately enforced.

Gourlay asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of insured male and female workers, respectively, in Scotland in 1950,and for each year thereafter to the latest available date.

As the reply consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report. Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, as a result of recent dealings in the control of provincial newspapers in Scotland and in England, redundancy among the journalists concerned is likely to occur; what representations he has received on the matter; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware that redundancy may occur and my Department will, of course, assist any journalists who seek our help to find other employment. I have not received any representations on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the Official Report a tabular statement showing the relative rates of weekly wages for adult male workers, including the level of wages and the level of wages expressed as percentage rates, for 1914, 1932, 1938, 1948,1958 and on the latest available date, for engineering fitters, labourers, patternmakers, skilled iron moulders, railway engine drivers, porters, dock workers, passenger road transport workers, and journalists.

The following tables contain the required information:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now publish a time-table indicating when the various provisions of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 are to come into operation; and what steps have so far been taken to draft the various Regula- tions which will have to be made under the Act, and in particular Regulations dealing with fire prevention.

The dates when the various provisions of the Act come into operation will depend on progress made in consultations with representatives of the enforcing authorities and other interested organisations on administrative procedures and on drafts of regulations and orders to be made under the Act. My aim is to bring into operation certain administrative provisions, including the registration of premises under Section 49, in the early summer of 1964 and most of the remaining provisions a few months later.Drafts of regulations about the provision of sanitary conveniences and washing facilities and of an order prescribing dangerous machines at which persons are not to work without training or supervision have already been circulated for comment. Other regulations and orders are in course of preparation, including regulations under Section 29 concerning the certification of premises as to means of escape in case of fire.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies suitable for disabled persons are available in the North-East of England; and if he will indicate the nature of the work offered.

:Separate figures for vacancies available for disabled persons are not maintained. There is a wide range of jobs which they are capable of doing and it is the practice of my Disablement Resettlement Officers to scrutinise all vacancies notified by employers to see if any of them are suitable for unemployed disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at November for the years 1961, 1962 and 1963,the number of school leavers at November, 1963, without a first job, and the estimated number of summer school leavers at November 1963, without a first job, and the estimated number of summer school leavers who have taken up full-time further educational courses and are not included in the numbers of registered unemployed for November, 1963.

The numbers of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-November in the years 1961, 1962 and 1963 were 62,169 and 240 respectively. The November, 1963,total included 63 school leavers registered for first employment. It is estimated by the Youth Employment Service that about 150 summer school leavers have taken up full-time further educational courses; they are not included in the number of registered unemployed for November, 1963.

asked the Minister of Labour how many summer school leavers in the northern region have taken up full-time further educational courses and are not included in the numbers of unemployed for November 1963.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education that the information for the northern region as a whole is not readily available and could be produced only at a heavy expense of time and manpower.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the figures of unemployment in each region at November, 1963, compared with 1951;and what percentage increase or decrease they represent of the 1951 figures.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the figures and percentage of unemployment in the northern region for November 1963, together with the figures and percentages

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the northern region at September, October and November for the years 1961, 1962 and

asked the Minister the Labour if he will state the number of unemployed in the Southampton employment area for the latest available date.

2,941 on 11th November. 1963.

asked the Minister of Labour what information he has received regarding the number of men to be made redundant at Briggs, Ford, factory at Swaythling, Southampton.

Following is the information:1963; and what was, for those three months, the number of school leavers without a first job.

Figures for the northern region are as follows:

The Ford Motor Company announced in September that 500 employees at this factory would become redundant. I understand however, that the company is offering alternative employment elsewhere to some of those affected.

asked the Minister of Labour how many doctors are engaged full time in factories;how many are part time; and what is the number of appointed factory doctors.

My Department has no very recent figures of the numbers of doctors employed in factories. In February, 1963, our records showed that 339 factories employed doctors full-time and 3,722 factories employed doctors part-time. There are at present 1,542 appointed factory doctors for districts and 1,475 doctors appointed for specific purposes.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers enrolled at

asked the Minister of Labour how many juniors were on the books of the employment exchanges in Morpeth and Ashington in November, 1961, November, 1962, and November, 1963, giving the totals for boys and girls.

26 boys and 28 girls in November, 1961; 52 boys and 79 girls in November, 1962; and 95 boys and 120 girls in November, 1963.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has received from the Public Service Pensioners' Council for the adjustment of pensions on 1st January, 1964; and if he will make a statement.

I am going to see a deputation from this body tomorrow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to enable local authorities to accept postwar credits as a contribution towards the initial deposit when arranging to make advances to house purchasers.

No.

I regret that the information is not available in the form it is asked for. Following is a table showing the average number registered as unemployed for the years in question.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consultations he has had with the trade unions concerned in the talks he is having about a link-up between British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways.

:There are no talks about a link up between B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. My only proposal for a link-up is that the Chairman of each Corporation should be a part-time member of the Board of the other. This has not called for special consultations.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he will take to improve the car parking facilities at the civil airport at Aldergrove, County Antrim; and what steps he will take to protect passengers from the weather on their way between the car park and the air terminal building.

The laying of additional hard surfaces on both the passengers' and the spectators' car parks has been authorised and will be completed soon. There is only a short walk from these car parks to the terminal building. It would not be economically justifiable to provide cover between them.

asked the Minister of Aviation on how many occasions in the past twelve months London Airport has been unusable for several hours in any day on account of fog; and by what date he anticipates it will be possible for aircraft to take off and make landings at London Airport whatever the weather.

During the last twelve months there were ten days on which London (Heathrow) Airport was unusable on account of fog for more than two hours at a time.As regards the second part of the Question, by 1969 aircraft equipped with fully automatic landing systems should be able to operate from London Airport in all conditions of visability.

asked the Minister of Aviation on how many occasions in the past twelve months British European Airways services to or from Paris have been seriously delayed or cancelled altogether on account of bad weather conditions.

This is a matter of day-to-day management of the Corporation and I have no information on the subject.

asked the Minister of Education in how many teacher training colleges sociology is a recognised subject of study; and in how many of these the subject is taught by lectures with a degree qualification in one of the social sciences.

Since the Question needs a lengthy answer, I will write to the hon. Lady. I regret that my information about graduate lecturers does not show how many have degree qualifications in one of the social sciences.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what new openings the Government is providing for employment of men made redundant by the shrinkage of employment in the docks, ship-repair factories and railways in the Southampton area.

Employment in Southampton has shown considerable improvement during the past seven months. The rate of wholly unemployed in November was lower than a year ago, and equivalent to the average for the country as a whole.In view of the needs of other parts of the country, where unemployment is much higher, I consider that there is no need for special action to be taken at this time to introduce new industry to Southampton.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the cost of land, interest and loan charges on the houses which are to be built by the borough council on the Tower House site, Slough.

The land cost £88,000. Since the council has not yet prepared a scheme for the use of the land my right hon. Friend is unable to calculate the other figures for which the hon. Member has asked.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the discovery of substantial reserves of natural gas at Calow, Derbyshire,if he will indicate the extent of the accumulation and what development work he proposes to undertake in the near future.

The company which has found the gas is making tests to estimate the size of the reserves, and future development will depend upon the results obtained.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the anxiety expressed by the Eastern Gas Consultative Council about the long-term plans for smokeless fuel, if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals thereon and the part the gas industry is expected to play in producing them.

My right hon. Friend has recently reviewed, in conjunction with the fuel and power industries, the outlook for smokeless fuel supplies and hopes to be able to publish his findings in a few weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Power how many pit closures were effected in the United Kingdom between nationalisation and the latest date available, giving details by region and the redundancy arising there from; and how many closures are anticipated during the next three years.

The total number of collieries, closed in Great Britain between 1947 and the end of 1962 was 419. I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend as regards the more detailed parts of his Question.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make arrangements to co-ordinate governmental activity on soundproofing research and construction which is at present the responsibility of the Ministry of Aviation, the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

Ministers concerned with different aspects of research on soundproofing and its practical application already maintain close consultation with each other and I do not think that any alteration of the existing arrangements is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many teacher training colleges sociology is a recognised subject of study; and in how many of these the subject is taught by lecturers with' a degree qualification in one of the social sciences.

A course in educational sociology is offered at one college and the lecturer has a degree in a social science. Elsewhere, although sociology is not an independent subject of study, sociological aspects are stressed in the course of lectures in such subjects as education and psychology. Most of the lecturers hold a B.Ed, degree.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the hazards being experienced by children travelling out with Shawhead, Coatbridge, to other schools, and the potential increase in the school population in this area, he will now authorise an early starting date for the new Shawhead Protestant Primary School; and if he will make a statement.

It is primarily for the education authority to decide whether, in the light of other needs, priority should be given to the erection of a new primary school for Protestant pupils in Shawhead. I understand that the authority is satisfied that sufficient places for such pupils are available in the vicinity; and that traffic hazards are guarded against by the employment of school crossing patrols.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that pupils attending All Saints School, Airdrie, enter and leave by the same three storey staircase; and if he will take steps to provide an emergency exit staircase in view of fire hazards.

Responsibility for ensuring adequate precautions against fire rests with the education authority, but I am in touch with them on the matter and shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to upgrade the ward which has been vacant for several years at Western Moffat Hospital, Airdrie, into a maternity unit; how many beds will be provided; and at what date he expects it to come into operation.

The Western Regional Hospital Board's present plans are to use this ward at Western Moffat Hospital, Airdrie, to provide a 24 bed general practitioner maternity unit during the period 1966/71.

asked the Minister of Transport why there has been a delay in producing the new continental style road signs as recommended by the Worboys Committee; and when he anticipates that the signs will be available for installation.

I am proceeding as quickly as possible with the production of the necessary Regulations prescribing the signs and, as required by the Road Traffic Act, 1960, I will shortly be consulting representative organisations about them.I hope that it will be possible to lay the new Regulations before the House in July and general introduction of the signs will follow.

asked the Minister of Transport what authorities are planning to introduce parking disc schemes; and to what extent it is his policy further to encourage experiments in towns and resorts.

The only local authority which has informed me of such plans is the Cheltenham Borough Council. It is my policy to encourage the development of effective systems of parking control, appropriate to the needs of each particular place.

asked the Minister of Transport when he intends to authorise the construction of a footbridge over the Stour on the Merley-Wimborne road, Dorset.

I have invited the Dorset County Council, as highway authority, to submit to me a scheme with a view to the immediate issue of grant.

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions in the last 12 months cross-Channel shipping services have been held up or seriously delayed on account of bad weather in the Channel.

I regret that I cannot provide the precise information asked for, but I understand from British Railways that in 1962 their cross-Channel services to the Continent were delayed for periods of 6 hours or more, or were otherwise disrupted by bad weather, on 13 occasions. No figures are available for the services of other operators.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will increase the total number of British officers commissioned for service in the Gurkha Brigade.

:The Brigade of Gurkhas is receiving its normal allocation of British officers commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; the customary arrangements for the second ment of officers from other British regiments to the Gurkha Brigade are continuing; and short-service commissioned officers are also being commissioned into the Brigade. These three sources provide enough officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War what reductions have been made in the strength of British officers for the Gurkha Brigade.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to reduce the long delays which take place, and the pilfering which occurs, in sending stores and clothing to the British recruiting depot in Nepal.

There have been delays in the transit of goods through India to Nepal, including goods for the British Recruiting Depot at Dahran: and we have had conversations with the appropriate authorities.I understand that the Governments of India and Nepal have recently agreed on fresh arrangements designed to reduce these delays while safeguarding their respective interests. These are due to come into effect very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will increase the pensions of pensioners of the Gurkha Brigade in Nepal.

The pensions of pensioners of the Gurkha Brigade in Nepal are adjusted from time to time so that they approximate to the rates payable under Indian Army Regulations. The rates for Queen's Gurkha officers and other ranks were last increased in July of this year with retrospective effect to 1st April, 1961.Increases are being considered for Gurkha, commissioned officers follow- ing the more recent announcement by the Indian Army of increases for their corresponding ranks.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on what dates Her Majesty's Government gave consideration during the last two years to the need to stop the supplies of fresh milk to children because of the danger of inducing cases of thyroid cancer due to radio-iodine concentration following atmospheric tests of nuclear explosives.

:Statements regarding plans to deal with possible high levels of iodine 131 in fresh milk were made in this House on 24th and 31st October, 1961, and on 23rd November, 1961 [OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 748/750,cols. 30/31 and cols. 168/172 respectively]. The plans provided for the issue of processed milk to infants under one year old.In the event, the content of iodine 131 in milk, which is monitored regularly, has at no time approached the level at which any precautionary action would be necessary.