asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether any agreement has been reached on the future of the University of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

This matter is still the subject of negotiation between the Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will state the total contribution made by the United Kingdom to the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

The total financial allocation is £2,875,000 from colonial development and welfare funds, of which £2,360,000 has so far been expended.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will prepare a further draft Order in Council, in relation to the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, requiring the proposed Liquidating Agency to determine its own procedure by majority vote.

No. The provision in question in the Order now before the House has been agreed by the Territorial Governments whose officers will constitute the Liquidating Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will publish in HANSARD the text of the agreement on defense forces in Rhodesia and Nyasaland reached at Victoria Falls in June, 1963, together with the names of the signatories thereto.

The views of the Victoria Falls Conference on the defense forces are set out in Chapter VII of Command 2093. If the hon. Member has in mind the agreement reached on the allocation of the forces at the inter-governmental meeting on defense held in Salisbury in September, I am prepared, if the hon. Member so wishes, to arrange for the publication in HANSARD of the text of the agreed statement by Governments which was issued, following that meeting, on 11th October, 1963.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works to what extent the services of the National Building Agency will be available to those bodies in Northern Ireland who wish to make use of such services; and if he will make a statement.

The services of the National Building Agency will, if desired, be available to bodies in Northern Ireland.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the shortage of public telephone call boxes in the area of Emmanuel Road, London, S.W.12; and if he will install an additional call box.

Yes. A telephone kiosk will be installed in the Emmanuel Road area as soon as permission to use a suitable site has been obtained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking on present restrictions on imports of French beef to this country; and if he will make a statement.

Following representations by the French Government that the foot-and-mouth disease position in France had greatly improved, and after thorough investigation of the animal and public health aspects, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are satisfied that the present total prohibition on health grounds of imports of uncooked beef and beef offals from France should now be lifted. Arrangements to give effect to this decision are being announced today. The French Government are seized of the importance we attach to our market not being disrupted. The amount to be imported on an experimental basis during the period to 31st March, 1964, will be up to 500 tons. Total supplies of beef and veal on the United Kingdom market, including home production and imports from all sources, in the first quarter of the year have averaged about 310,000 tons over the last three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what information he has been given by the independent film producers regarding the types and classifications of the British first feature films which have been awaiting a circuit booking for some time; and what is the average delay between completion of the finished prints of these films and the date on which they are offered to one of the circuits.

The independent film producers have not given me any list of the types and classification of British first feature films which have been or are awaiting a circuit booking. The Cinematograph Films Council has, however, sought information on the number of unreleased first feature films made or in process of production to enable it to consider a proposal that it should advise an increase in the film quota. As to the second part of the Question, the Cinematograph Films Council will doubtless seek this information if they consider it relevant to their present review of the industry's difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will make a statement on the present supplies of herring to the European market; and what estimate he has made regarding demand in that market for further supplies from Great Britain in the near future.

I understand that continental markets are at present amply supplied from sources which are much closer than the Minch, where United Kingdom fishing is taking place. There are also very considerable stocks of herring on the continent from the late summer North Sea fishing. Nevertheless 300 tons of frozen herring were despatched last week and there are contracts for further quantities if herring of suitable quality is available

asked the Minister of Labour what further progress has been made by the officers of his Department in Ipswich in finding employment for the 375 workers who have been declared redundant by Messrs. Ransomes and Rapier.

I understand that the firm now expect that the number of workers redundant will be about 300 and not 375. So far160 workpeople are known to have found other work. Our local officers are continuing with their efforts to help those who still require alternative employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to secure the implementation of the recommendations contained in the first report of the Joint Standing Committee for the Pottery Industry dealing with methods of reducing the risk of pneumoconiosis.

The Committee's recommendations which are concerned mainly with dust control in potters' shops are aimed at encouraging the industry to adopt important preventive measures and call attention to the need for improved local exhaust systems and general ventilation, a new design of protective clothing and better selection and training of works inspectors. These recommendations are addressed primarily to the industry and action to further them has already been taken by the Committee, which sits under the chairmanship of one of my Superintending Inspectors. I look to continued action on these lines, together with more frequent inspection by the Factory Inspectorate, to bring about a reduction of the hazard of pneumoconiosis in this industry.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to secure the implementation in this country of the International Labour Office recommendation dealing with the termination of employment, which was supported by the United Kingdom delegates and was carried at the International Conference this year; and if he will make a statement on the implications of this recommendation for industry in this country.

I am considering the application of this Recommendation in this country and a White Paper stating the Government's attitude to the instruments adopted at the International Labour Conference this summer will be published next year.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of staff and employees in the nationalised industries, Post Office, naval dockyards and Royal Ordnance factories, respectively; and what proportion of the total national gainfully employed population these figures represent.

The figures for Great Britain are:

	Thousands
Nationalised industries	1,653
Post Office	375
Naval dockyards	53
Royal Ordnance factories	25
Total	2,106

This represents 9 per cent. of the total number of persons in civil employment.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is satisfied with the adequacy of welfare arrangements for Service personnel in Borneo; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am satisfied that the welfare needs of the Servicemen in Borneo are being met—as far as conditions allow. The following are examples of the facilities that have been provided.N.A.A.F.I. opened a bulk issue store at Labuan and a club in temporary premises in Brunei, in December,1962. Since then a further two bulk issue stores and seven junior ranks clubs have been opened; of these clubs two are in permanent town buildings in Kuching and Brunei and the others in unit locations in local structures. A beach refreshment service is also provided for the Brunei Town Club.To help in organising local welfare three members of the Women's Voluntary Service are working in Borneo and a fourth will shortly join them.Since January this year three live entertainment parties have gone to Borneo from the United Kingdom and one or two further parties will be sent between now and March 1964. Cinema shows are provided by the Army Kinema Corporation as far as conditions allow and the A.K.C. operate one mobile cinema in Borneo. Films are provided by both A.K.C. and the Royal Air Force Cinema Corporation for showing on local unit 16 mm. projectors. Films are also shown during the transport of troops from Singapore to Borneo. Transistor radio sets, 2 minibuses, boats and aqua-sport equipment and electric fans for living accommodation are being provided through Nuffield Trust Funds.Duty free cigarettes are available from N.A.A.F.I. sources and a free issue of cigarettes and tobacco has been made.Sunday newspapers at U.K. prices are provided from Singapore and arrangements are also made to provide local daily papers in English.A Forces Post Office has been established in Borneo to serve the Forces and normal Forces Concessional Postal Rates apply.The tours of both British and Gurkha battalions in Borneo are limited to not more than about six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Air for what journeys during the 12 months ended 30th September, 1963, other than those between the Scottish islands and the mainland, he issued free leave warrants for travel by air by officers and other ranks of the Royal Air Force.

Fifteen officers and thirty-one airmen flew from the Isle of Man to either Belfast or Dublin. There is no direct boat service.

asked the Minister of Power how many agreements have been concluded between oil companies in the United Kingdom and area gas boards providing for the supply of petroleum distillates or other petroleum fractions for conversion into town gas; and what estimates have been supplied to him, to enable him to exercise his responsibilities regarding sanction of capital expenditure, regarding the percentage of domestic gas likely to be produced from petroleum or methane base by 1965, 1970 and 1975, respectively.

Contracts for raw material supplies are the commercial responsibility of individual gas boards. I am told that there are at present some forty major contracts between the boards and oil companies for the supply of petroleum feedstocks. The gas industry's development programme envisages that by 1965–66 about half of total gas supplies will be based on oil and natural gas, compared with about one-quarter in 1962–63. No estimates have been made for 1970 or 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider the possibility of subsidising the transition of dual-purpose fishing boats from herring to white fish and vice versa.

No. Whether they are fishing for herring or for white fish the owners of these vessels are eligible for the appropriate operational subsidies; and they can apply to the White Fish Authority or the Herring Industry Board, as the case may be, for a loan for the purchase of gear. I do not think, therefore, that any additional forms of subsidy would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement on the steps he is taking to encourage routine cervical smear examination of women aged 25 to 60 years and to provide the necessary cytological facilities.

I have asked the Standing Cancer Committee of the Scottish Health Services Council to advise me on the stages by which existing facilities for cervical cytology in Scotland should be expanded. I expect to receive the Committee's advice early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he intends to take to provide improved hospital services for the Dunfermline area in the light of information given to the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland during his recent visit to the Northern Hospital, Dunfermline.

Some minor improvements are now in progress at the Northern Hospital, and it will be possible to provide additional geriatric accommodation there, to reduce overcrowding and to withdraw existing unsatisfactory accommodation from use, when the new medical unit becomes available at Milesmark Hospital in about two years' time. At the same time improved out-patient facilities will be provided at the Dunfermline and West Fife and Milesmark Hospitals.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the quota system for teachers.

During last summer I undertook a general review of the quota system to assess how far it had improved the distribution of teachers, to consider certain criticisms directed against it, and to decide on my future policy. I discussed the results of this review with a conference of representatives of local authorities and teachers in October and, in the light of the views they expressed, against the background of a continuing shortage of teachers, I have decided that the quota system will need to continue for several years, as the only practicable and effective way of ensuring a fair distribution of teachers and safeguarding the schools in areas which have particular difficulty in recruiting. I am at present consulting the local authority and teachers' associations about the detailed arrangements for next year, which will be announced in a circular before the end of this month. The main change I have suggested is an extension of the period of exemption from the quota of married women returning to the schools after a break in service.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to improve staff consultation at all levels at the St. Francis and Hurstwood Park hospitals.

Guidance has been given to hospital authorities on machinery for staff consultation. The working of this machinery is a matter for the individual authority.

asked the Minister of Health how many nurses have been employed during the last six months at the Hurstwood Park and St. Francis hospitals by contract with private nursing associations; what was the total amount paid to these associations; and if he will make a statement.

Sixeen at various times; £358.

asked the Minister of Health why the Hurstwood Park Hospital has recently been re-designated; and if this change affects the proposal to transfer the hospital completely to Brighton.

The changes in administration were recommended by the committee of enquiry set up by the regional hospital board; no.

asked the Minister of Health when the report of the committee of inquiry into the situation arising at Hurstwood Park Hospital under the chairmanship of Mr. H. E. Park, Q.C., is to be published.

The regional hospital board published the recommendations of the committee on 5th September and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the statement then made. It is not intended to publish the report.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish in HANSARD details of each of the new hospitals commenced since October 1963; when they started; what is their size; where they are situated; and what is the estimated date of completion.

Details of the new and substantially remodelled hospitals started since 31st October, 1963, are as follows: —

asked the Minister of Heath how many beds were occupied by mentally ill patients at 31st December, 1960, 1961, and 1962; and how these figures compare with the statistical projections of the Tooth-Brooke paper upon which psychiatric developments within the Hospital Plan were based.

The numbers of patients resident in mental hospitals and in other hospital units for the mentally ill were as follows:

31st December, 1960	136,162
31st December, 1961	133,560
31st December, 1962	131,500
	(provisional)

These figures (which represent respectively 2·975, 2·89 and 2·82 occupied beds per 1,000 population) do not suggest that the estimate of bed needs for mental illness in 1975 used in Command 1604 needs revision.

asked the Minister of Health which boards of governors have not yet submitted to him their reviews of hospital medical staff; when he expects to receive them; and when he will announce his general conclusions.

The boards of governors of the Hospitals for Diseases of the Chest, of St. Peter's, St. Paul's and St. Philip's Hospitals, and of the National Heart Hospital. I expect to receive the last of these reports by the end of March. Meantime I am considering the results of the reviews which I have received and will announce my general conclusions as soon as possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a continuation of Tables 4 and 22 and Appendices 3 and 6 of the Agricultural Research Council Radiobiological Laboratory's Annual Report for 1962–63, to show values for the six-month period to the end of September, 1963.

No. Reports on radioactivity in milk and other foodstuffs will continue to be published regularly by the Agricultural Research Council. The next report in the series, which will include results to the end of September, 1963, is expected towards the end of February, 1964.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why unemployment benefit has been withheld from Mr. Leslie Brayford of 20, Wesley Street, Wood Lane, Bignall End, Stoke-on-Trent, in view of the fact that he has received compensation for wrongful dismissal in lieu of reinstatement.

Mr. Brayford was disqualified for unemployment benefit for six weeks from 26th September, 1963, by the decision of the insurance officer. He has appealed to the local tribunal against that decision. I have no power to intervene in the decisions of the independent statutory authorities, but I am writing to the hon. Member about the general issues involved.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the length of highways started in the west of Durham since October, 1959; when they were completed; and what is their total cost.

Since October, 1959, the improvement of about 75 miles of local highway authority roads in Durham west of the Great North Road has been started. All this work should be completed by the spring of next year. The total cost will be about £1,600,000. In addition work on the Darlington bypass motorway, rather more than half of which is in Durham west of the Great North Road, started in April of this year. The total cost of the project is more than £5 million and work is due to be completed in the spring of 1965.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether, before accepting recommendations by the appropriate transport users' consultative committee regarding the proposed rail closures in the Stoke-on-Trent industrial area, he will consult local authorities, trade unions and manufacturers;(2) if he will inform hon. Members and the Press by circular of the recommendations regarding the proposed withdrawal of passenger services, and in particular those in the industrial area of North Staffordshire, made to him by transport users' consultative committees.

Transport users consultative committees do not make recommendations about rail closures. Their function is to report to me on hardship and to make proposals, if they wish, for its alleviation. Under Section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962, local authorities, trade unions and manufacturers may, in so far as they represent users, lodge objections to passenger closure proposals with the committees. Where they do so I consider what the committees have to say in their reports to me. I have also made arrangements to enable local authorities and other bodies to make representations direct to me on issues other than hardship. These general arrangements are applicable to the proposed rail closures in the Stoke-on-Trent industrial area