asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has considered the case, reference M.C. 46758, submitted to him by the hon. Member for Oldham, West, in which the birth of an additional child has resulted in a reduction of social service benefits; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, but I cannot usefully add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 25th November or the explanation in the letter I sent him the following day.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the estimated cost per annum of abolishing the earnings rule on widows and old age pensioners, respectively; if he will give such a policy high priority; and if he will make a statement.

In the immediate future it would cost £6½ million and £107 million, which would make substantial increases in contributions necessary; and the money would mainly be used to supplement normal earnings from full-time work. I am sure that this would not be the right thing to do.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many unemployed men in England are in receipt of a National Assistance allowance below the scale because of the wage stop.

About 15,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give the number of persons receiving National Assistance grants towards the payment of their rents at the latest convenient date; what was the average payment made to each recipient; and what was the total payment made in the 12 months up to the latest convenient date.

In October. 1963, the number of recipients of weekly national assistance allowances who were householders for whom an allowance for rent and rates would be added to the appropriate scale rates was 1,523,000. For reasons explained to the House on previous occasions, it is not possible to state a sum representing the part of expenditure on national assistance which is attributable to rent and rates, but the average amount paid by householders at the end of 1962 was 23s. 7d. a week.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will increase the pensions of retired and disabled pensioners.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave today to the hon. Members for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton), Blyth (Mr. Milne) and Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the estimated annual cost to his Department in raising all welfare payments by 5s. per week; and whether he will do this before the end of the current financial year.

About £160 million by way of war pensions, national insurance benefits and family allowances, if beneficiaries obtained such an increase under each scheme. I have nothing further to add to answers I have given to Questions today.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will treat the hospital pharmacy service as part of the scientific side of the health service, rather than the administrative side, when discussions on salary scales take place;(2) whether he is aware that hospital pharmacists are concerned at their present salary levels; and what action he is taking to increase the general scale of remuneration.

:The remuneration of pharmacists employed in National Health Service hospitals is a matter for Committee C of the Pharmaceutical Whitley Council. I understand that a claim for substantially increased salaries will be heard by the Industrial Court on 11th of this month.

asked the Minister of Health what alterations he intends to make in regard to the Hospital Plan for England and Wales arising from the recently issued White Paper on the North-East.

The Hospital Plan is kept under review and changes will be made as they are found to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of all births to mothers resident in Nottingham take place in hospital; and what percentage of mothers who have given birth in hospital are subject to an early discharge to their homes because of the closure of lying-in beds caused by the shortage of trained midwives.

About 46 per cent, in 1962;it is not possible to isolate this as a particular reason for early discharge.

asked the Minister of Health in what hospitals in the North-East Metropolitan Region there is a shortage of trained nursing staff; how many beds are not used in consequence; and what progress has been made in recent years in overcoming the deficiency.

Most hospitals in the Region would like to employ more, but it is not possible to distinguish beds closed for lack of trained staff; between September, 1958, and September, 1963, the number of whole-time trained nurses rose from 3,189 to 3,453 and of part-time from 857 to 1,293.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will increase the salaries, pay and allowances, and pensions of hospital workers.

The pay of hospital workers is a matter for negotiation on the Whitley Councils. Pensions are payable in accordance with the National Health Service Superannuation Regulations. I think that the general arrangements for determining these matters are satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received requesting amendment of Section 14 of the Pharmacy Act 1954 from pharmaceutical chemists who, by reason of their religious beliefs, refuse to become members of the Pharmaceutical Society, and in consequence have had their names removed from the register and been deprived of their means of livelihood; and if he will make a statement.

In March my right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) was asked by two pharmacists, on behalf of others similarly affected, to introduce legislation to amend this provision. They were told in reply that it was thought that the most appropriate way in which their difficulties might be considered by Parliament was by way of a Private Member's Bill.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that research has been carried out at Oxford into the effect of sodium fluoride on human cells; and, in view of the results of this research, if he will carry out further investigation in this field before proceeding with the policy of fluoridation of water.

I am aware of this research, and am advised that, in view of the known facts about fluorides in the body, it provides no reason to doubt the safety of the fluoridation of water supplies.

asked the Minister of Health what answer he has sent to the Royal College of Nursing on their recent views on the labelling of prescriptions, which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Tynemouth.

I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of my reply.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the provision of a free service of sterile syringes for use in the general medical service.

My right hon. Friend has authorised hospitals to provide sterile syringes free of charge to general practitioners for taking specimens for examination in hospital laboratories.

asked the Minister of Health what further consideration he has given to setting up a comprehensive early diagnostic and treatment service for cervical cancer.

I have asked hospital boards to expand cytology services. Before screening for cervical cancer can be offered to all women in the age groups at risk more trained staff are needed and I have invited five hospital boards to set up special training centres.

asked the Minister of Health what further reports he has received in respect of the efficiency and any deleterious side-effects of oral contraceptives.

None.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take action to abolish all charges under the National Health Service, and to operate such changes as from January, 1964.

No. The loss of revenue would mean that urgent improvements to the National Health Service would have to be deferred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he will seek to call a conference of the world's major food exporting and importing countries to formulate a world food and agricultural development through the agency of the United Nations.

:Questions of world food and agricultural development policy will be fully covered in forthcoming conferences and trade negotiations for which preparations have already begun. These matters are already being discussed at the F.A.O. Conference; talks on commodity problems have begun in the G.A.T.T., and world trade in agricultural products will come within the scope of the Kennedy Round negotiations. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development takes place next Spring.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will designate suitable selected areas, with considerable agricultural potential, as rural development areas eligible for special Government financial help.

:Agriculture already receives considerable financial assistance from the price guarantees and from a wide range of grants and subsidies, and the Development Commission, through the Rural Industries Bureau, provides special help for certain industries in rural areas. Any proposal to stimulate industrial growth in these areas by designating them as development districts would be primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent research has been carried out by his Department or under its auspices on the technique of storing undried grain in sealed silos; what funds have been devoted to this research; what grants have been paid to research institutes; what types of equipment have been used; and what results have been obtained so far.

:The National Agricultural Advisory Service has been undertaking investigations on, two experimental husbandry farms with pairs of sealed silos. Experience gained so far shows that the grain can be satisfactorily stored and that it can be fed successfully to beef cattle and poultry. Further feeding tests on a wide range of stock will be carried out this winter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now consider extending the fisheries limit to at least six miles.

:As my right hon. Friend the then Lord Privy Seal told the House on 29th April last, we have given notice to withdraw from the relevant treaty obligations in order to free ourselves to extend our limits. Their future breadth will be decided in the light of the European Fisheries Conference which will start tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to control the price of sugar.

No. That is quite unnecessary. Existing legislation and arrangements already ensure that the price of sugar is kept within bounds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the findings of the Verdon-Smith Committee on meat marketing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Verdon-Smith Committee on Meat Marketing set up in 1962 will report.

I understand that the Committee hope to complete their Report by about the end of the year. It will be published as soon as possible after it is received.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet received, a further opinion from the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agri- culture and Food Storage on the effect of the use of pesticides on human and on wild life; and if he will make a statement.

Not yet, but I am hoping that the Committee may be able to complete their review of the chlorinated hydrocarbons fairly early in the New Year. I propose to publish the Committee's report and to make a statement on it at that time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average length of time between the submission of a scheme for flood prevention by a river board and its approval or rejection by his Department.

Since 1st June 111 schemes have been approved and four rejected. The average time between the application and approval has been just over four months. The average time for the consideration of the four rejected schemes was nine months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when it is expected to complete the work on Part III of the Great Ouse flood protection scheme.

The excavation of the Cut-off-Channel, which comprises Part III of the Great Ouse Flood Protection Scheme, is now complete. Sections of the embankments still have to be finished off and this should be done by mid-1964. Some local drainage remodelling remains to be done.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the increased sugar beet production in Northumberland, he will now sanction the establishment of a sugar beet factory in the county.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen), on 25th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of bacon consumed Was home produced in the years 1960, 1961, and 1962; what percentage in 1963 will be home produced; and at what percent age he expects home-produced bacon will be of consumption in future years.

Home production of bacon in 1960, 1961 and 1962 was 308 per cent., 339 per cent, and 35'7 per cent., respectively of total commercial supplies on the U.K. market. The provisional figure for the corresponding percentage for the first three quarters of 1963 is 358 per cent. In 1964. the percentage will depend on the final level of total supplies on the market, but should be of the order of 36–25 per cent. I cannot, of course, forecast what the pattern of supplies to the U.K. market will be in future years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Milk Marketing Board about the introduction of a new grade of milk; and if he will make a statement.

The Milk Marketing Board proposed to market a new grade of milk at a higher price than ordinary milk. The new grade of milk would come from farms classified as Class A (premium quality) under the compositional quality scheme, and would have an absolute minimum total solids content.I have sympathy with the proposal, but I regret that I have been forced to the conclusion that I cannot approve it at the present time. I should need to be assured beyond reasonable doubt that in the result the average quality of the remaining milk supply would not be lower than I could accept as sufficient in the light of the Report of the Cook Committee on milk composition, and in present: circumstances this is not so.The way forward lies in raising the quality of milk generally through the Board's compositional quality scheme. To ensure this, I propose making for a limited period special financial arrangements to enable the Board to maintain reasonable premiums under the compositional quality scheme. These arrangements will be made at the time of the Annual Review without prejudice to whatever guaranteed price may be determined at the Review for milk as a whole. The circumstances of the Scot- tish and Northern Ireland Boards are somewhat different but they will receive the same measure of assistance. These arrangements will, I trust, enable a new quality grade of milk to be put on the market in the not too distant future while keeping the quality of the general milk supply at an adequate level.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage of apprenticeship facilities in North-West Wales.

33 per cent, of boys in North-West Wales have entered apprenticeships so far this year compared with 25 per cent, in Wales as a whole and 34 per cent, in Great Britain. I hope that employers in the area will continually bear in mind the importance of offering as many training opportunities as they can.

asked the Minister of Labour in which employment exchange districts in Scotland the number of insured workers has declined in the last 12 years; and what are the causes of such decline.

:The reductions in the number of employees have in the main been due to the lessening demand for labour in agriculture, and in the coalmining, metal manufacturing, ship building and textile industries.Following are the areas:—

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the terms of reference of the Court of Inquiry into the problems of London Transport will enable them to include a full examination of the management, operational techniques, and summer and winter schedules of that undertaking; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the terms of reference allow the Committee to consider a wide range of matters, including operational conditions in London traffic and the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of London Transport's road services, in so far as these matters relate to the review of pay and conditions which the Committee has been set up to carry out.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the unemployment which will result from the closing down of the Yorkshire Evening News: and what jobs there are for the specialised workpeople involved in the Doncaster. area.

I am aware that redundancies are to occur and that between 50 and 60 workers are likely to lose their employment in the Doncaster area. Opportunities locally for journalists and skilled printing workers in the industry are very limited, but I understand that the trade unions concerned are already receiving offers of employment in other areas for their members.

asked the Minister of Labour how many recent school-leavers in Sunderland remain unemployed.

On 11th November, out of 1,458 summer school leavers, 97 were still registered for employment at the Sunderland County Borough Youth Employment Office.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have registered as unemployed as a result of the amalgamation of the Edinburgh Evening News and the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch.

None. I understand that the extent of any redundancy has not yet been determined, but that workers are already being found other employment with the assistance of their trade unions.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the numbers employed in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries in Sunderland at the last available date, and the corresponding figures for 1959, 1960. 1961 and 1962.

The figures given below relate to Sunderland, Pallion and Southwick-on-Wear. I regret that separate figures are not available for Sunderland.

Employees in Employment in the Shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries in Sunderland, Pallion and Southwick-on-Wear Employment Exchange areas
Mid-year	…	…	…	…	Number
1959	…	…	…	…	9,900
1960	…	…	…	…	8,700
1961	…	…	…	…	9,000
1962	…	…	…	…	8,500

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the situation in Cambodia and Viet-Nam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has given to the communication addressed to him as Co-Chairman of the Geneva Agreement by the Foreign Minister of Cambodia, proposing a nine-nation conference with the object of maintaining the neutrality of Cambodia.

I have received a message from the Cambodian Government proposing an International Conference to secure the neutrality of that country. This is being given careful and sympathetic consideration. There has not yet been time to complete the necessary detailed study of this proposal but the right hon. Gentleman may expect an early reply.As regards Viet-Nam, I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies) on 27th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Committee of Eighteen Nations will re-assemble; who will represent Her Majesty's Government; and what new proposals concerning the reduction of the means of delivering nuclear weapons Her Majesty's Government's delegate will put forward.

The conference of the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament will reconvene at Geneva on 21st January, 1964. The British delegation will be led by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, the Foreign Office Minister responsible for disarmament matters. I shall myself keep closely in touch with the developing situation. We are considering with our allies whether there are any new proposals for reduction of nuclear delivery vehicles, which could usefully be put forward when the conference reconvenes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protest he has made to the United States of America concerning that country's decision to use only American ships in the transport of necessary wheat to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer he has received from the Government of the United States of America to the representations he has sent regarding their discrimination against international shipping by the use of American bottoms for their export trade.

Her Majesty's Government joined in representations made to the United States Government on 8th November on behalf of the European Governments and also Japan, all of which have shipping interests. The joint note delivered by the Netherlands Ambassador made clear the view of the eleven Governments that the decision of the United States Government, to ship the wheat in American ships as far as possible, represented a reversal of the declared policy of the United States to encourage freedom of opportunity for ships of all nations to compete in world trade. The note expressed serious concern at the preferential shipping conditions attached by the United States Government to what are admitted to be private sales. A formal reply to the note has not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that an increasing number of Britons report themselves stranded and ask British consuls abroad to get them home; what was the figure during each of the past three years; how many loans granted to them were repaid; and what action he proposes to stop abuses in this respect.

:During the past two financial years and the first eight months of the current financial year cases in which British subjects, either travelling or residing abroad, were repatriated totalled:

1961–62	1962–63	1963–64 (April-Nov.)
2,434	2,730	2,507

Homeward passages are arranged only against signed undertakings to repay the cost. As some repayments are made by instalments, the answer to the third part of the Question is not readily available. I can say, however, that expenditure on repatriation was £62,000 in 1961-62 and £61,000 in 1962–3, and that during each of these years sums recovered in respect of outstanding repatriation debts were of the order of £40,000. The estimates for this year provide for the repayment of a similar sum.The increase in the number of repatriations is directly related to the greatly increased number of British subjects travelling abroad. Cases of refusal to repay repatriation expenses are referred to the Treasury Solicitor.Facilities for repatriation can be given by Her Majesty's Consular Officers only in the last resort, where no alternative exists. All applicants for passports are given a pamphlet urging them to take practical precautions against the difficulties and risks of foreign travel.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that river pollution in the West Country caused by discharges from factories and communities where scientific treatment has not been adopted is increasing, thus becoming a danger to health and causing the death of fish; and if he will take steps to remove this danger.

:The condition of some rivers in the West Country, as elsewhere, needs improvement, but I have no evidence that pollution there is increasing. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1961, which came into force on 1st June, 1963, has extended the powers of river boards to improve our rivers and a great deal of work to this end is in hand in this part of the country.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will seek powers to give tenant farmers a right of appeal to an independent tribunal or arbitrator for extra-statutory compensation, based upon such factors as the period of reasonable expectation of occupancy and the likely cost of finding and occupying another farm of the same productive value, where their land is compulsorily acquired.

:No. Section 22 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963, empowers authorities possessing compulsory powers of acquisition to make discretionary allowances in respect of loss through disturbance, and in estimating such loss they are required to have regard to a tenant's expectation of occupancy and the availability of other land suitable for his farming operations.In view of this recent amendment of the law, my right hon. Friend does not consider that any further amendment is necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that heavy mortgage payments, high interest rates and high ground rents are deterring young people from purchasing homes; and if he will take steps to relieve them of at least a part of these burdens.

In fact more people than ever before are buying their own homes and such figures as are available suggest that, within that growing num- ber, the proportion of young people doing so is also increasing. The Housing Bill will further increase opportunities for young people to participate in home ownership through co-ownership societies.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the latest date for posting surface mails to reach Israel before 25th December; and what is the latest date for air mails.

:The latest dates for posting surface mail to Israel were 25th November for parcels, and 28th November for letters and cards. For air mail the latest dates will be the 14th December for parcels, and the 18th December for letters and cards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Gillian Healan of Splott, Cardiff, was not informed that her appeal against committal to an approved school was to be heard on23rd September, that neither she nor her father were informed of the result of the appeal, that on a voluntary visit to the probation office in Cardiff she was taken in charge and sent off summarily to an approved school, that she was not allowed to visit her home to collect necessary drugs, and that she is partially paralysed following an attack of tubercular meningitis; and if he will conduct a full inquiry into all the circumstances of this case, and meanwhile release her from the approved school to which she has been taken.

:We are making urgent inquiries and will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are completed. Meanwhile this girl has been released from the approved school; she returned home on 30th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received from the Committee of Her Majesty's Justices their proposals for amendment of the Judges' Rules relating to the arrest, detention and interrogation of suspected persons.

:The revised Rules in final form have not yet been submitted to me. When they are, I shall communicate them to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the report of the public hearing regarding ward boundaries in Willesden and Wembley.

Copies of the report will be sent to the Wembley and Willesden Borough Councils and to other interested parties when my right hon. Friend's decision on the warding arrangements for the new London borough is conveyed to them. This is expected to be within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for training additional social workers to enable local authorities to carry out their obligations under the Children and Young Persons Act.

The Central Training Council in Child Care has been actively engaged in expanding the training facilities for child care officers. It is expected that about 190 students will qualify in 1964 as compared with 68 in 1961, and arrangements are being made for further increases.

asked the Prime Minister what proposals he has for implementing the recommendations of the Shawcross Report concerning the formation of a Press Amalgamation Court.

The Government are still considering this recommendation. It presents serious difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the cost in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available of the housing and maintenance of obsolete aircraft retained for historical or similar purposes by the Royal Air Force.

Certain obsolete aircraft are retained by the Royal Air Force for historical, educational and display purposes; other such aircraft in Air Ministry ownership are loaned to museums. No extra cost is involved in housing the aircraft retained by the R.A.F. Service stores and workshop facilities are used when necessary to prevent deterioration but no separate record is kept of the cost of these items.

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the new schools completed in the week ending 26th October, 1963, with the cost of each school, the time taken to build, the date when the local education authority first submitted the school for inclusion in a building programme, and the number of times the application to build was resubmitted.

The information requested by the hon. Member is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate work. My Department do not receive details of the schools completed each week; the most recent quarterly return from local education authorities shows that during the three months ending 30th September, 1963, 184 new schools were completed in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Power whether adequate supplies of coal, coke and smokeless fuels are assured in the Greater London area to meet the winter demand; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 21st November to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis).

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the increasing importance of coke as a smokeless fuel, he will now discuss with distributors the need to find some practicable means of moving and storing coke under cover.

:It does not appear that the substantial additional cost of covering coke at all times during movement and storage would be justified.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made with the plans for centralised fuel distribution centres in the London and Greater London area; and whether he will make a statement.

Some progress is being made. Plans for the establishment of centralised fuel depots are a matter for the National Coal Board, working with the trade and the Railways, I am accordingly asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the quantities of malt whisky and grain whisky, respectively, distilled in Scotland during the year to September, 1963;and what were the quantities of both distilled in the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

:The quantities of malt spirit and of grain spirit distilled in Scotland and in the United Kingdom as a whole in the year ended 30th September, 1963, were as follows:

—	Proof gallons
	United Kingdom	Scotland
Production by distilleries using malt only (malt spirit)	28,880,926	28,826,638
Production by distilleries using malt and other materials (grain spirit)	65,199,497	62,037,863

asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury how many members of the staff of research associations for which the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are responsible were asked to seek other employment during the year ended 31st March, 1963; how many have been asked to do so since 31st March, 1963;and by which associations they were employed, in each case.

:Research associations are autonomous bodies set up by industry, which are partly supported by grants from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Statistics relating to their internal administration are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish his development plan for north-east Scotland.

:My intention is that the Scottish Development Group should complete their surveys of the remaining regions of Scotland within the next year or 18 months. I cannot, however, at this stage forecast dates by which it will be possible to publish programmes based on any particular survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will instruct the Central Office of Information to make a film showing the advantages of Central Scotland for industrial development.

:As I informed the House last week, discussions about publicity for Central Scotland are now being held with the Scottish Council. It would not be appropriate at this stage to try to decide which instruments of publicity should be used.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures of herring imports for the last two weeks, and comparable figures for the same two weeks in 1961 and 1962.

Information about herring imports in general falls to the Board of Trade for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development is responsible, but I am advised by my right hon. Friend that weekly figures covering all imports of herring are not available. I am, however, able to say that in the fortnight to 23rd November of this year 1,326 crans of fresh herring of foreign origin were landed at Scottish ports. This compares with 672 crans and 48 crans landed in the corresponding fortnights of 1962 and 1961 respectively. There were no landings of foreign caught fresh herring at Scottish ports in the week to 30th November. I regret that I am unable to give comparable figures for England and Wales.