asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the shortage of school accommodation in the burgh of Kirkintilloch; what steps he is taking to overcome this shortage; and what representations he has received on this matter.

:My right hon. Friend is aware that new school accommodation will be needed in Kirkintilloch, and has recently authorised the erection of temporary buildings at two schools. The authority will no doubt be considering the needs of the burgh in preparing their building programme which they are due to submit next month.In addition to the hon. Member's representations, my right hon. Friend had communications earlier this year from the Town Council, the Dunbartonshire Local Association of the Educational Institute of Scotland and the St. Ninian's Parents' Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new factory buildings are planned for the new town of Cumbernauld in the year 1964.

The Development Corporation's programme of advance building will proceed with the completion of four more standard factories, and a start on ten smaller ones. In addition, three firms already in the new town have announced extensions to their premises. The Corporation is handling inquiries from 12 firms, some of which will it is hoped lead to further building next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress made in appointing public inquiries into projected hydro-electric schemes in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hydro-electric construction schemes are at present awaiting ratification from his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delays in appointing public inquiries into new proposed hydro-electric schemes in Scotland.

:As a result of progress with discussions about comparative costs to which I referred in my statement of 10th July, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board recently asked me to arrange an early inquiry into the Fada-Fionn scheme. It has been announced that this inquiry will start on 6th January. The Board has asked that this should be followed by inquiries into the other three schemes at present before me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will instruct the chief architect of the Livingston New Town Development Corporation publicly to invite all firms interested in tendering for work at Livingston to send him, in writing, a short account of the work they do.

The Corporation published notices to this effect in June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the technical staff of the Livingston New Town Development Corporation was not up to strength in the spring of 1963; and in what respects it was deficient.

:The Chief Architect took up post only in January, and it takes time to build up a working team. At the end of March, six architects and planners, two engineers, and two quantity surveyors were in post; the numbers are now 18, nine and six respectively, and further appointments are being made as the work to be done increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state as a daily average the number of houses built in Scotland in 1962 by all agencies and by the local authorities, respectively, and the number of houses demolished for slum clearance by local authorities.

The numbers, stated as daily averages, were 73 houses built by all agencies, 45 by local authorities, and 37 houses (including six temporary houses) demolished or closed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been built for Glasgow overspill by the new town corporations and receiving authorities together since May, 1957.

At 30th September, 8,239 houses had been built, 5,065 in the new towns and 3,174 in the other receiving areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future programme of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Board.

The future power programme of the Scottish Electricity Boards is set out in a brochure, "Plans for the Future 1963–1970", copies of which are in the Vote Office. The brochure lists the stations which will be commissioned up to 1969. The brochure also explains that the decision on the type and location of new plant will depend on the economic merits of the alternatives available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with central Scottish local authorities with regard to the work to be carried out in their areas, and in particular concerning the work to be carried out by them under the Central Scotland Plan.

:Many individual proposals in the White Paper have been the subject of consultation with local authorities at different times. We are now proceeding to consultations with local authorities on the details of the development programme and the means to be adopted for putting it into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the aggregate area of land required for the public developments mentioned in the White Paper, Development and Growth in Central Scotland; and what estimate he has made of the cost of these land needs.

This cannot be done until plans for the various elements of the programme have been worked up in detail by the local authorities and other agencies, with whom discussions are now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many boats have been built for the Scottish inshore fishing fleet in the last year.

:The only recent statistics relate to boats built with grant-aid from the Herring Industry Board or the White Fish Authority. In the year to 22nd November, 23 such boats were completed and 15 boats were under construction or had been approved for grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now reconsider his decision not to meet the late claim for cereals deficiency payment submitted by Mr. James McDonald, of Backhill, Seggat, Turriff.

No. Mr. McDonald's claim for his 1962 cereal crops, which should have been lodged by 31st July, 1962, was not received until 15th May, 1963. The circumstances of the case do not justify acceptance of this claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) who were the professional consultants engaged to advise on publicity in connection with the White Paper on Central Scotland, Command Paper No. 2188; and what was the amount of the fees paid;

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the recommendations made by the professional consultants engaged by him to advise on publicity in connection with the White Paper on Central Scotland, Command Paper No. 2188.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when his proposed discussions will start with the Scottish Council on the offer by the Government of a finnacial contribution to the Council to help them in the work of publicising Scotland.

As regards the scope of the report by Messrs. S. H. Benson Ltd. and the decision not to publish it, I would refer hon. Members to the replies given on 20th May and 24th October last by my right hon. Friend, the Minister without Portfolio. The Scottish Information Office has a total staff for all purposes of 22, but this special review covering all the development districts clearly required, in the Government's judgment, an independent investigation. Discussions have already begun with the Scottish Council on the Government's offer of financial assistance to help them in publicising Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland at what date it is intended to complete the reconstruction of the Polmont and Falkirk by-pass as a motorway.

If, as I hope, work can start in 1965, the project should be complete in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional financial assistance is to be given to local authorities in the Central Scotland growth point areas so as to enable them to increase the house building rate in those areas from the present rate of 2,000 per annum to the 9,000 per annum promised in the recent White Paper, Command Paper No. 2188.

As stated in paragraph 25 of the White Paper, provision of houses to support industrial development in the growth areas will be largely undertaken by the new towns and the Scottish Special Housing Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the capital cost to the local authorities concerned of the works mentioned in the recent White Paper on Central Scotland; and what additional financial assistance in the carrying out of these works will be given by Her Majesty's Government.

The total public service investment in Central Scotland referred to in paragraph 143 of the White Paper is estimated at £130 million for 1963–64 and £140 million for 1964–65. The share to be met directly by the Government and public bodies is estimated at £35 million and £40 million, respectively. The balance of £95 million and £100 million, which includes their existing programmes, will be met by local authorities with assistance from the Exchequer through the normal grant and subsidy machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the fact that the Edinburgh suburban passenger rail services have been closed, he will take steps to improve the roads covering the area formerly served by those trains.

The improvement of roads in Edinburgh is a matter for the Corporation who are the responsible highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the exclusions from the Winter Keep Scheme of upland farms mainly engaged in dairying will be considered at the February Price Review.

The matter can certainly be considered at the annual review which is the appropriate occasion for considering the conditions and prospects of sections of the agricultural industry as well as those of the industry as a whole.I would like to emphasise that it is only where the return from sales of milk exceeds about 40 per cent. of the total that an otherwise eligible farm will be denied the Winter Keep grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consult the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development with a view to a joint visit to the Western Isles, in view of the high and persistent unemployment, in order to speed up improvement of the basic services necessary to attract manufacturing industry, provide insurable, continuous employment and stem the loss of population.

The serious problems of the Western Isles are of long standing and as such they have had regular Ministerial visits, the most recent being the visit to Lewis by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade. As the recent Central Scotland White Paper makes clear the Government are pressing forward with their examination of other areas of Scotland including the highlands and islands and in the consideration of these matters I am, of course, in close regular consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State forIndustry, Trade and Regional Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is now taking to ensure that National Health Service patients in the Western Isles, who have to make long and, in many cases, repeated journeys to distant hospitals by air, sea and rail, do not have to pay the cost of those journeys for themselves and necessary escorts.

Under existing arrangements payment of travelling expenses including those of an escort where necessary can be made where hardship is shown. Transport by ambulance, including the air ambulance service, is already provided at no cost to the patient or escort where it is required on medical grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the Report of the Review Committee on Medical Staffing Structure in Scottish hospitals.

Early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how rents for municipal houses in Dumfriesshire compare with rents for similar houses in Ayrshire.

My latest information is contained in the rent return for 1962, published last January as Command Paper 1923.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the terms of negotiated contracts concluded by new town development corporations are minuted for public inspection, in the same way as similar agreements, concluded by local authorities, are minuted.

:I do not think this would be appropriate. Local authorities, as locally elected bodies, are required by statute to make minutes of their proceedings available for inspection by local government electors. Development corporations operate under a different statutory system, without any corresponding local accountability.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the amounts of grant paid over the last year by the Government to church organisations for youth work in Scotland and in Glasgow, respectively.

In the year to 31st October, 1963, £2,900 was paid in grants to the national headquarters of church organisations towards expenditure on general youth work. £1,830 was also paid to local units, none of which were in Glasgow, under a temporary scheme for central grants for capital projects to supplement grants from education authorities. This sum represented the first instalments of capital grants to church organisations approved during the year, amounting to £15,150, including £7,000 for two projects in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the disparity which exists between the maternity fees payable under the National Health Service in Scotland and England, respectively; and if he will take steps to raise those payable in Scotland to the English level.

:I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the replies given today to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin), Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele) and West Stirlingshire (Mr. W. Baxter) and the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) by my hon Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the higher standards laid down in the Revised British Standard Code of Practice for Street Lighting, he will increase grants for the lighting of trunk roads from 50 to 100 per cent. and take the necessary steps to make lighting expenditure on classified roads eligible for grant.

The code is unlikely to make any significant difference to the cost of street lighting on traffic routes. A change in the present financial arrangements would depend upon other considerations.

asked the Minister of Transport on what lengths of motorway reflectorised edge marking has been laid; and whether it is now his policy to extend this practice to all motorways.

:On 76 miles. But trials with other forms of marking are still in progress and a decision as to future use will not be reached until these and existing markings have been observed throughout the coming winter.

asked the Minister of Transport what valid objections have been received to the draft order for the M.5 motorway; and when he will publish the draft Section 13 order for this road.

I have received 28 objections so far, mostly from farming interests. The statutory objection period expires at the end of this month. I cannot make the scheme fixing the line of the road until I have considered all the objections which may be received. Preparatory surveys for the Section 13 side roads order depend on that line and I cannot therefore say when it will be published. I will make sure there is no unnecessary delay.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will now approve the Lichfield Road Improvement Scheme in Willenhall;(2) why he declined to receive a deputation from the Willenhall Urban District Council with regard to the Lichfield Road Improvement Scheme.

I have approved the U.D.C.'s proposals for improving this road to dual carriageway standards, but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to find a place for it in my classified roads programme.My reasons for not receiving a deputation from the Council were given in my letter to the hon. Member, of 7th November.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what consideration he is giving to relieving the pressure on the heavily-used and narrow road A.25 between Guildford and Seven-oaks so as to avoid congestion through towns and villages on that route;(2) when he will give a decision on the proposal to build a south orbital road round the South of London to allow freedom of movement for east-west traffic between Kent and Surrey and vice versa.

:I have explained my present plans for the South Orbital Road to the Kent and Surrey County Councils On the basis of these plans, and also of the results of their recent traffic survey, I have asked the councils for their proposals for the improvement of the A.25 road for which they are the highway authorities.I cannot say definitely when the first sections of the South Orbital Road will be included in my road programme but I have told the two councils that they can assume for planning purposes that construction will begin in 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken by his divisional road engineers to prepare for the eventuality of another hard winter.

I have just announced a £6 million programme, to be phased over a number of years, for the improvement of winter maintenance arrangements on the most important 4,000 miles of trunk roads. The programme, which takes account of advice from my divisional road engineers following discussions they had had with local highway authorities, provides for the supply to agent authorities of new salting, gritting and snow clearingvehicles, and for assistance to them in providing depot facilities.I have also issued a circular to all local authorities on ways and means of improving the techniques and organisation of snow and ice clearance. I have no doubt that they will ensure that the standard of service will be as high as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the concern felt by parents in Menelaus Street, Splott, Cardiff, at the danger caused to their children by heavy traffic from the docks using the street; and if he will either divert this traffic or have signs put up warning drivers at the entrance to the street.

I have received no report to this effect. It would be for the Cardiff County Borough Council, as the responsible highway authority, to initiate any action.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the development of the M.1 road; and what precautions he is taking to avoid the necessity of repairs similar to those which have occurred on that road.

:Thirty-nine miles of the extension of this motorway are now under construction. Tenders will be invited for the remaining sections as soon as the statutory processes and the engineering preparations are complete.The M.1. extension is being built to improved standards of construction which take into account the experience gained on the existing section of the motorway. The new standards cost a great deal more.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider including the extension of M.5 to Exeter in his new motorway proposals.

Yes. But as this will be only one of many projects competing for a place in the next phase of my motorways programme, it is too early to decide the matter now.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the use of antidazzle and crash barriers on sections of motorways; and what further experiments are being carried out.

:I am having a full study made in conjunction with the Road Research Laboratory of safety measures on motorway central reserves.Experiments with the metal mesh antidazzle screen on M.1are continuing. The evidence so far of its effect on accidents is however insufficient to warrant the extension of the screen or its installation on other motorways. A further experiment making use of hessian screens to test the anti-dazzle value of central reserve planting is being conducted by my Department on M.1.To test the value of crash barriers two nine-mile experimental lengths of double steel rail stafety fence are shortly to be installed on M.1. The Road Research Laboratory is also continuing tests of the cable type safety fence.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the reconstruction of A.1between Hatfield and Stevenage by-pass; and when the work of reconstruction is likely to begin.

:I have already announced that work will start shortly on a second carriageway between new or improved roundabouts at Green Lanes, Hatfield, and the junction with the A.405. A draft Order has been published for the improvement of a further 1½miles to Brickwall Hill. Work on this is expected to start early in 1965. Planning of the remainder of the route to the Stevenage By-pass is being pushed ahead as quickly as possible but I cannot say when draft Orders are likely to be published.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made towards starting the south coast trunk road in the area of Portchester and Fareham.

My engineers hope to let me have firm proposals early next year. The preparatory work has been complicated by difficulties which have been met in determining the line of the route immediately to the east, between Broadmarsh and Portsbridge. These difficulties have lain primarily in reconciling the needs of traffic and navigation.

asked the Minister of Transport why there has been delay in the erection of notices informing the public of the presence of the subway under Park Lane, near Alford Street; and when it will be erected.

:I understand that the Westminster City Council which became responsible as highway authority on 30th September, 1963, is preparing a plan for the erection of signs for this and other nearby subways, which it expects to submit for my approval shortly. Previously, the London County Council had proposed the erection of signs to a new design. But it was decided that, until a design conforming to the principles recommended by the Worboys Committee had been prepared and promulgated, the existing standard design should be used.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, with a view to encouraging the public to use the underground Hyde Park garage, he will arrange for a notice giving the minimum charge to be erected at the entrance to the garage.

Notices stating the minimum and other charges have been erected at both entrances. The one at the North Carriage Drive entrance has been temporarily removed, but it will be replaced shortly.The operators consider that the present arrangements are satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Transport when the proposed scheme for the reconstruction of the A.19 road between Sheraton Road End and Cold Hesledon will begin; and when it will be completed.

:Acquisition of land for the Sheraton and Shotton diversion schemes has proved to be more complicated than expected and I am having to use compulsory purchase powers. Draft compulsory purchase orders will be published by the end of this month and I am still hopeful that we will have completed the processes required in time for a start of works in the current financial year. The works will take about 18 months to complete.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has completed his inquiry into the fraudulent disposal of motor vehicles subject to hire-purchase agreements; and what is the outcome of the inquiry.

:Yes. My solution involves fresh legislation and it is proposed to include suitable provisions in the Hire Purchase Bill announced by my right hon. Friend on 14th November.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the Buchanan report; and to what extent the Government accept the proposals contained in this report

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made at the end of Questions today.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the development of a nuclear reactor for merchant ships; and when the launching of the first British nuclear propelled merchant ship can be expected.

:My right hon. Friend the Minister for Science and I do not now expect to be able to announce a decision before the Christmas Recess. The technical and economic assessment is taking longer than expected, partly because it has been thought right to consider further systems about which fresh information has become available in recent months. The most recent indications of the prospects of nuclear propulsion for ships in comparison with the latest systems using oil fuel seem to be more favourable to the latter, but longer technical study of this and other points is needed before comprehensive material is available as a basis for decision. It would be wrong to take a hasty decision on this important matter.

asked the Minister of Transport when he now expects to receive the result of the autumn review of the respective merits of the Vulcain and IBR marine reactors.

I cannot yet say.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have so far been taken to implement those sections of the Rochdale Report which do not involve legislation; what consultation there has been with the authorities of the ports concerned; and, in view of the changes which have taken place in some of the ports since the report was published, whether it is his intention to review the position.

:Most of the recommendations of the Rochdale Report which do not involve legislation are primarily matters for the initiative of the industry itself, in consultation with the National Ports Council. I have been glad to note that steps have already been taken by a number of the ports to implement certain recommendations of the Report. There is regular consultation between my Department and the ports, either individually or through the Dock and Harbour Authorities Association. The National Ports Council will take into account changes in the circumstances of individual ports and will advise me of their implications.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to prevent the sale of British ships abroad for use in competition with British flag ships.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has for the employment of the 300 British seamen who will lose their jobs by the sale of the "Reina Del Mar" to a Greek company, which intends then to charter the ship back to the same company from which it was bought.

I am sure that the Merchant Navy Establishment Administration will try to find alternative employment at sea for those concerned. In addition of course the employment exchanges of the Ministry of Labour will do their best to help if required.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give general directions, in the public interest to the British Railways Board and the London Transport Board to relate half-fare privileges for children more nearly to the school-leaving age.

No. The conditions on which fares concessions are given are a matter for the Boards.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements he has made with local authorities to enable them to make representations on aspects of rail passenger closure proposals other than hardship.

:The present arrangements are that authorities should send their representations direct to me, after the statutory notice of closure has been given, with copies to the Departments who normally deal with the subjects concerned.This will make it easier for authorities which want to make representations on a lumber of different aspects, and should enable me to get their comprehensive views and the comments of my colleagues as early as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in his consideration of the proposals submitted for the closure of railway lines north and west of Inverness, he is satisfied that adequate alternative means of transport are available; and if he will make a statement.

:Statutory notice of these proposals is being published only today. They have now to go through the normal statutory procedure. I therefore cannot comment on them in advance. But I can repeat two assurances I have given on passenger closures generally. First, if I decide to consent to a closure I shall see that, where necessary, adequate alternative services are available. Secondly, I will consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, on all proposals in Scotland before giving my decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he is giving to the conversion of main railway routes, as they are closed, into roads or motorways to ease the increase in road traffic which will result from the closures.

As I explained to the hon. Member for Barkston Ash (Sir L. Ropner) on 13th March, we examine the possibility of converting any railway line which ceases to be used into a road. But most of these lines are being closed because they carry little traffic, so that there should in fact be little increase in road traffic as a result. For technical reasons the scope for such conversions is in any case bound to be limited.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to commence the building of the new Crown post office at Newton Aycliffe.

It will not be possible to give a date until the Development Corporation has revised its plans to meet the new conditions proposed in the White Paper on the North-East.In the meantime we are providing an additional sub-office.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has with regard to the postage rate for ordinary inland letters.

None.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants for telephones in the urban district of Merton and Morden have been connected in each of the last five years; how many applications are now outstanding; and what approximate delay may be expected before a new applicant is connected.

The numbers of telephones connected to the exchanges serving the urban district of Merton and Morden in each of the last five years are:

Year ended 30th September, 1959	…	1,710
Year ended 30th September, 1960	…	2,199
Year ended 30th September, 1961	…	2,496
Year ended 30th September, 1962	…	1,949
Year ended 30th September, 1963	…	2,201

There are 97 people waiting for telephones and a further 621 orders under inquiry or being met. It is not possible to give an average period of delay because the composition of the waiting list is constantly changing: but most people get telephones within a matter of weeks.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will place a telephone kiosk in Portmanmoor Road, in the vicinity of Bridgend Street, in view of the need for these facilities.

Yes, if I can secure a suitable site. This I am trying to do.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects that subscribers on the Liberty, Derwent and Cherrywood exchanges will be connected to the subscriber trunk dialling system.

I expect to introduce S.T.D. at Derwent exchange in February next and at Liberty and Cherrywood exchanges during 1967.

asked the Postmaster-General when the subscriber trunk dialling system will be available to the people of Pontefract, Featherstone and Castleford, in the Leeds section.

I expect to introduce S.T.D. at Pontefract at the beginning of 1965, at Castleford towards the end of 1966 and at Featherstone during 1969.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will provide those telephone subscribers living on the border of a telephone area with a free issue of the telephone directory for the neighbouring area; and if he will make a statement.

:A telephone subscriber is supplied, on request, with a free issue of the directory for a neighbouring area within the United Kingdom if there is an important exchange in that area within ten miles of his own exchange. In some areas we also supply local directories serving districts with a strong community of interest which overlap the borders of two or more main directory areas.

asked the Postmaster-General how many companies have applied for independent television licences, giving their names and the regions for which they applied; what mergers he has agreed upon;whether it is his intention to suggest to the successful licensees that a re-zoning of independent television coverage is desirable; and if he will make a statement.

:The hon. Member will no doubt have seen the information published by the I.T.A. about the number of applications in respect of each of their contracts. But all these are matters for the Authority under the Television Acts of 1954 and 1963.

asked the Minister of Aviation for what purpose he has decided to take over Abbotsinch Airport from the Royal Navy.

To develop it as the civil airport for the Clyde Valley and as a replacement for Renfrew Airport which it is planned to close in 1966.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether the chairman, managing director and members of the British Overseas Airways Corporation Board received copies of the Corbett Report.

:No. But the subsidiary reports by consultants on organisation and management aspects have been made available to the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he intends issuing orders for the prototype of the AW681; and how he proposes that allocations of the work should be made.

Preliminary design and development work is going ahead and a decision on full development will be taken shortly. While the contract would be placed with the Hawker Siddeley Group which would undertake the work in Coventry and Manchester, I would arrange that a substantial part of the manufacturing work should be subcontracted to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. in Belfast.

asked the Minister of Aviation what measures he has taken to encourage further orders for the Argosy aircraft, either in its military or civil version, in order to maintain employment at Avro-Whitworth, Coventry, Limited.

:In anticipation of further orders, my Department is underwriting part of the cost of a number of Argosies which are being built. We are also contributing towards the introductory costs of all-freight services operated with this aircraft by B.E.A.

asked the Minister of Aviation what are his plans

Acres of crops and grass				Numbers of holdings (at June Census)
				1958	1959	1960	1961	1962
Cornwall:
¼-19¼	…	…	…	6,371	6,193	5,944	5,767	5,614
20-49¾	…	…	…	2,956	2,913	2,851	2,812	2,751
Devon:
¼-19¾	…	…	…	5,820	5,774	5,557	5,550	5,440
20-49¾	…	…	…	3,220	3,210	3,172	3,090	2,994
Dorset:
¼-19¾	…	…	…	2,030	1,987	1,941	1,878	1,849
20-49¾	…	…	…	744	751	720	707	708
Somerset:
¼-19¾	…	…	…	4,983	4,937	4,778	4,752	4,719
20-49¾	…	…	…	2,251	2,238	2,237	2,113	2,113

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost, to the latest available date, of the voluntary vaccination policy to combat fowl pest.

From 5th November, 1962, when subsidised vaccine was for the use in 1964 of the buildings at present under Royal Air Force control at Aldergrove airfield in County Antrim.

Detailed plans have not yet been completed. I expect that my Department will take over the air traffic control tower, fire station, telecommunications maintenance buildings and certain ancillary buildings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the numbers of small farms are declining in each of the south-western counties.

I regret that this information is not available for small full-time farms, but only for agricultural holdings, many of which may be worked only part time or may form part of a larger agricultural unit. The following table gives the numbers of agricultural holdings under 50 acres—not counting rough grazings—from 1958 to 1962. Much of the decrease is due to the disappearance of part-time farm units.first made available, to 15th November, 1963, the cost to the Exchequer of fowl pest vaccine, and of its transport and storage, less the sale price, has been approximately £682,000. This includes stocks of vaccine on hand which are expected to realise approximately £90,000 on sale at the subsidised price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on milk production in each of the south-western counties.

Milk sold off farms in the South-West has remained at about the same level for the past two years as the following figures show:

Milk sold off farms
million gallons
		1st Oct., 1962 to 30th Sept., 1963	1st Oct., 1961 to 30th Sept., 1962
		Provisional
Cornwall	…	67	67
Devon	…	117	115
Dorset	…	73	73
Somerset	…	136	136

asked the Secretary of State for Air what buildings on the former Royal Air Force depot at Stanmore, Shropshire, can be judged, having regard to their age and condition, still to have a useful life; and whether he will take immediate action to exclude such buildings and their fittings and equipment from the proposed sale fixed for Thursday, 28th November.

I have already excluded from the sale all those buildings for which we hope to obtain suitable planning permission.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what approach he has received from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago regarding the aircraft which have been on hire to British West Indian Airways from British Overseas Airways Corporation.

:I am glad to inform the House that we are implementing our earlier offer, which has been accepted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, to finance the cost of transferring four Viscount aircraft to B.W.I.A. These have been on hire to that airline from B.O.A.C. for some years. The transfer will take effect from the date of Trinidad's independence, 31st August, 1962, and will relieve the airline of a considerable sum in hire charges. The cost of the transfer is £630,000 which will be paid to B.O.A.C. It will be met by an advance from the Civil Contingencies Fund. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to the House in due course.

asked the Minister of Education what reply he has sent to a petition forwarded to him by parents of children attending the Dunkirk County Primary School, complaining about the unhygienic and unsatisfactory toilet accommodation at the school; and what action he is taking to remedy the lack of essential toilet facilities.

:I have brought the petition to the notice of the Kent local education authority who were already looking into the practicability of carrying out a small minor project to improve the sanitary provision. I am writing to the petitioners to this effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the Treasury receipts from pool betting duty collected on totalisators at greyhound racing tracks for the months of July, August, September and October, 1963, and similar figures for bookmakers' licence duty for the same months.

The following are the figures:

1963		Pool betting duty receipts from greyhound totalisators	Receipts of Bookmakers' Licence duty
		£	£
July	…	531,785	132,405
August	…	633,630	150,608
September	…	454,742	120,445
October	…	488,951	135,774

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult the Secretary of State for Scotland and the President of the Board of Trade with a view to establishing a tax-free zone at Prestwick Airport.

:There has already been the fullest possible consultation between all the Departments concerned and the local authority.

asked the hon. Member for Dover, as Second Church Estates Commissioner, what investigations have been made regarding recent letters sent by solicitors acting for the Church Commissioners of England; what action has been taken; and if he will publish in HANSARD a summary of a code of practice to be observed by solicitors and managers acting for the Church Estates Commissioners, particularly in regard to security of tenure and the offering of alternative accommodation.

:The Commissioners have investigated fully the circumstances in which formal letters were sent by solicitors acting for them to sub-tenants of two houses in Maida Vale.The problem arises when the absentee head-lessee has to be evicted for breaches of his covenant and/or failure adequately to look after the property. The law provides that all lower tenancies are thereby destroyed with his lease, unless protected by Statute or granted relief by the Court.It was in these circumstances that the letters in question were written. They should have been accompanied by informal covering letters, offering to discuss how best the sub-tenants' personal problems could be met. For this omission the Commissioners have already apologised to the sub-tenants and offered to pay their legal costs where incurred.It is never the Commissioners' policy to evict sub-tenants who fulfill their obligations. No such sub-tenant is turned out, against his will when hardship would be involved, without the offer of alternative accommodation. This represents the policy of the Church Commissioners of which those acting for them are fully aware.The Commissioners are grateful to the hon. Member for Paddington, North for drawing attention to a shortcoming in this instance in their administration, and welcome the opportunity of re-stating their policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, as Co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference, he will make a statement on the situation in South Viet-Nam; and what consultations there have been with other Governments with a view to implementing the terms of the 1954 Geneva Treaty in regard to the unity of Viet-Nam.

There was a coup d'état in Saigon on 1st November, and the Provisional Government subsequently set up was recognised by Her Majesty's Government on 8th November. The new Government has declared that it will uphold the Treaties and Agreements signed by Viet-Nam. In this connection, it must be remembered that the previous Viet-Namese Government considered itself bound to honour the Geneva Agreements (although it was not a signatory) to the extent of refraining from the use of force to alter the cease-fire arrangements. The insurgent threat organised from North Viet-Nam does not appear to have substantially diminished since the Special Report of the International Control Commission of June, 1962. At this stage it would appear fruitless to consult other Governments, as suggested by the hon. Gentleman, in view of the lack of any constructive response from the Soviet Co-Chairman to the Notes addressed to him in June and July, 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's decision to withdraw Reservation VI from the United Kingdom Declaration of Acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have decided to withdraw the Declaration, which was made on 26th November, 1958, and to enter a new Declaration. The purpose is to revoke the "no-retroactivity" clause concerning national security contained in the existing Declaration. In taking this step, Her Majesty's Government are showing in a practical way the support which they have always given to the maintenance of the rule of law in international affairs through the International Court of Justice.So far as is essential, British interests will continue to be protected by the reservations in the new Declaration and by the requirement of reciprocity which is being fully maintained.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the building of St. Thomas' Hospital to be completed; and if he will make a statement about the progress of the work.

Hospital		Average Number of Occupied Beds	Nursing Staff		Ratio of Night-Duty Nursing Staff to Patients
			Qualified	Students and Pupils
All Saints, Birmingham	…	1,033	138	56	1:60·8
Central Hospital, Hatton	…	1,327	101	49	1: 102·1
Dudley Road, Birmingham	…	678	159	259	1:10·6
Birmingham General	…	304	126	239	1:7·2
Hollymoor, Birmingham	…	639	77	42	1:79·9
Little Bromwich, Birmingham	…	463	124	160	1:17·8
Queen Elizabeth, Birmingham	…	559	160	346	1:8·6
Rubery, Birmingham	…	809	101	40	1:57·8
St. Margaret's, Birmingham	…	1,420	85	30	1:109·2
Selly Oak, Birmingham	…	799	211	232	1:9·9
Shelton, Shrewsbury	…	858	64	17	1: 61·3
Summerfield, Birmingham	…	949	167	115	1:43·1
Warwick Hospital	…	182	79	50	1:12·1
Guy's Hospital	…	783	265	728	1:6·0
St. Mary's	…	431	199	306	1:4·3
St. Thomas'	…	828	325	600	1:4·8
Westminster	…	865	379	609	1:3·9
Notes
1. Nursing staff figures include part-time staff.
2. Night-duty nursing staff exclude nursing auxiliaries and nursing assistants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that in London and other large

It is too early to say; the first stage is under construction and I am awaiting detailed proposals from the Board of Governors for the sub-sequent stages.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of patient beds at present in occupation, the number of qualified and student nursing staff and the ratio of trained and student nursing staff to patients on night duty at each of the following hospitals, that is to say, All Saints, Birmingham, Central Hutton, Coventry, Dudley Road, Birmingham, General, Birmingham, Hollymow, Birmingham, Little Bromwich, Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth, Birmingham, Rubery, Birmingham, St. Margaret's Birmingham, Selly Oak, Birmingham, Shalton, Shrewsbury, Summerfield, Birmingham, Warwick, Guy's Hospital, St. Mary's St. Thomas's, and Westminster.

The information is as follows:industrial cities local authority house building is hampered by Her Majesty's Government's policy of high interest rates and reduced subsidies, whether he will review this situation; and what action he proposes to take to remedy it.

:My information is that both in London and in the large industrial cities with serious housing problems substantially more houses have been started or approved this year than last. The Government have said they will be prepared to see that local authorities receive whatever subsidy they need to carry through their housing responsibilities; and they have begun a review of the whole field of housing subsidies with the local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the average basic wage for unskilled Government dockworkers is 192s. per week, for semi-skilled workers 202s. per week and for skilled workers 257s. 6d. per week; and what proposals he has for increasing local authority house building in the areas where there are Government dockyards to enable these workers to have adequate housing conditions.

:It is a matter for the local authorities to assess the housing needs of their areas and to plan their programmes accordingly. But I am not aware of any special demand on the part of these authorities to build houses for dockyard workers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish in Hansard the cost of a local authority three-bedroom house in October, 1951, and the cost then of repaying the whole of such cost, as a loan spread over 60 years at the then interest rates, and similar details for October, 1963, for a house of the same type and size.

The average cost of a local authority two-storey, three-bedroomed house was £1,279 in October, 1951, and £2,133 in October, 1963. Taking the rates of interest payable on loans from the Public Works Loan Board, the cost of repayment over 60 years would be £2,706 and £7,609, respectively.Much house building by local authorities is, however, now financed by bor- rowing on the open market for much shorter periods than 60 years and the figure of £7,609 is not in any way representative of the cost of building to local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what representations he has received from British film producers concerning the delays and difficulties in marketing their films.

:I have received representations from the Federation of British Film Makers. Similar representations are being considered as a matter of urgency by the Cinematograph Films Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what representations he has made to the Australian Government as a result of the recent doubling of import duty on British drums, coupled with a reduction in the British preferential margin.

I have asked the British industry whether it can furnish me with evidence showing that the new duties are inconsistent with our rights under the United Kingdom-Australia Trade Agreement. In the light of this I will consider making representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what number of industrial developments are in prospect for the new town of Peterlee in the next twelve months; and what is the number of persons, male and female, respectively, who are likely to be employed.

:We know of six projects expected to give rise to over 300 jobs during the next twelve months. More than one-third of these are expected to be for men.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed benefit payments and National Assistance payments for the Northern Region paid to unemployed boys and girls for the three months ended 31st August, 1963, together with the total amounts paid; and what were the comparable figures for the period in the year 1961.

During the three months ended 31st August, 1963, 27,905 payments of unemployment benefit and 25,417 payments of National Assistance

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE SOUTH WESTERN COUNTIES
—	April, 1963	May, 1963	June, 1963	July, 1963	August, 1963	September, 1963	October, 1963	November, 1963
Cornwall	4·5	5·0	3·6	2·3	2·7	3·0	4·8	5·9
Devonshire	2·9	2·4	1·9	1·8	2·1	2·2	2·7	3·0
Somerset	1·8	1·6	1·3	1·2	1·4	1·4	1·5	1·6
Gloucestershire	1·8	1·7	1·5	1·4	1·6	1·5	1·5	1·5
Wiltshire	1·3	1·1	1·0	1·0	1·2	1·1	1·1	1· 1
Dorset (excluding Poole)	1·6	1·5	1·2	1·1	1·3	1·3	1·7	1·7

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have been registered as unemployed at each of the employment exchanges in the St.

—		Penzance	St. Ives	St. Mary's (Isles of Stilly) Branch Employment Office	Penzance, St. Ives, St. Mary's Group	Helston
		Number	Number	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
8th April, 1963	…	626	244	3	6·5	263	6·0
13th May, 1963	…	593	165	2	5·7	213	4·9
10th June, 1963	…	290	51	—	2·5	165	3·8
15th July, 1963	…	336	39	1	2·8	125	2·9
12th August, 1963	…	398	27	4	3·2	130	3·0
9th September, 1963	…	432	79	2	3·8	133	3·0
14th October, 1963	…	604	279	10	6·7	211	4·8
11th November, 1963	…	754	295	15	7·9	257	5·9

asked the Minister of Labour what were the percentages of unemployed persons in each of the southwestern counties at each monthly count since April, 1963.

Following is the information required:Ives constituency of Cornwall, respectively, at each monthly count since April, 1963;and what percentages these were of the numbers of insured persons.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at each of the employment exchanges in the Falmouth

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED, 11TH NOVEMBER, 1963
Falmouth		Camborne	Redruth	*Redruth Camborne Group
Number	Per cent.	Number	Number	Per cent.
1,174	12·3	414	481	6·0
* It is not possible to give separate percentages for Camborne and Redruth Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of persons were registered as seeking employment in the North-East region at the latest date.

53,955 on 11th November.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of young persons who have just left school signing on at the employment exchanges in the North-East region at the latest date.

:On 11th November out of 21,656 young persons who left school at the end of the summer term, 1,276 were registered for employment at youth employment offices in the North-East.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of mine-workers registering for employment in the North-East region.

2,486 on 11th November.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of mine-workers employed in the County of Durham in January, 1952; and what is the number now employed.

I understand that at end-January, 1952 107,400 mineworkers were on colliery books in the Durham

Following is the information:Division of the National Coal Board. The corresponding figure for the week ended 9th November, 1963, was 72,700.

asked the Minister of Labour what building labour is available in the North-East region for the construction of housing, schools and hospitals; and what plans he has made for training unemployed persons, in the event of a shortage.

In mid-1962, the last date for which I have information, the construction industry in the North-East employed 75,100 males. On 11th November, 1963, 8,401 males last employed in the industry were unemployed. There are training classes in building trades at the Tursdale G.T.C. and I am setting up classes at the centre at Felling (Newcastle) and at the new centre to be established at Billingham. When all training is under way, about 300 men a year will be trained in building trades in these centres.

asked the Minister of Labour when he will bring the Contracts of Employment Act, 1963, into force.

I have today made an Order appointing 6th July, 1964, as the date on which the whole of the Act will come into force