asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what plans are being or have been made to protect the health and safety of personnel who will be engaged on the refitting and refuelling work of nuclear submarines at Rosyth.

Detailed instructions have been issued to the Dockyard authorities at Rosyth covering radiological protection and other essential safety precautions. Monitoring facilities have been provided and a qualified health physicist has been appointed to the Dockyard.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many free leave warrants were issued to Royal Air Force personnel for travel by air between Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the 12 months ended 30th September, 1963.

None were issued for travel between the mainland of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Thirty-eight, however, were issued for travel between the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is aware that limitations are imposed on the growth of civil aviation in Wales by the fact that there is no airport in the Principality capable of use by the larger modern aircraft; and if he will extend the runways at Rhoose Airport, and create a second major airport in Wales.

Government policy on civil aerodromes is set out in the White Paper, Cmnd. 1457. I do not think this limits the growth of civil aviation in Wales. As my hon. Friend has been told on a previous occasion, we are satisfied that the runways at Rhoose are adequate for the aircraft at present using this airport and for those likely to do so in the next few years. It is for local interests, in the first instance, to assess the need for additional airports.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many summonses for contravening the car park regulations at London Airport have been issued in each month this year.

The numbers of summonses issued in each month of this year for exceeding permitted waiting times, parking in "no waiting" areas, and causing obstructions or allied offences, at London (Heathrow) Airport are shown in the following table:

Month	Exceeding permitted waiting times	Parking in No Waiting Areas	Causing obstruction
January	Nil	4	3
February	1	4	2
March	9	10	4
April	8	2	Nil
May	19	7	1
June	13	2	Nil
July	6	2	Nil
August	106	28	10
September	39	1	2
October	57	1	4
November	126	1	6
December	105	6	5
Totals for the year 1963	489	68	37

asked the Attorney-General why proceedings were never taken against Mr. Bernales in respect of the affairs of the Bernales group of companies, in view of the fact that his predecessor decided in 1948 that police inquiries disclosed a prima faciecase that a criminal offence had been committed; and whether this case is now closed.

Proceedings were never taken against Mr. de Bernales because he was unfit to stand trial. As he has died, the matter is now closed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where the common rights in Bulphan Fen, Essex, were quashed; how long these common rights had existed before they were quashed; when this common land was first sold or leased to private individuals; and what action he is taking to restore the common rights.

An area of 226 acres of Bulphan Fen was requisitioned in 1942 under the Defence Regulations for food production. After the war it was decided to retain possession of it in the interests of food production and, in accordance with special Parliamentary procedure, a compulsory purchase order was made in 1951. The soil was purchased from the Lord of the Manor in February, 1956 and the common rights were extinguished in June, 1956, under the powers vested in the Minister by Section 85 of the Agriculture Act, 1947. Compensation was agreed with, and paid to, both the Lord of the Manor and the common right holders. On completion of these transactions the land became unencumbered freehold land. All of it has since been sold in six lots, the first being in March, 1960, and the last in May, 1963. The last part of the Question does not therefore arise.I have no information as to how long common rights existed on Bulphan Fen before they were extinguished.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of his decision to permit the dumping of French beef in this country, what is his policy regarding the levels of imports of meat from traditional suppliers in New Zealand, Australia and the Argentine.

My decision was to lift a prohibition imposed on animal health grounds for which there had ceased to be any justification. The question whether any resulting imports were dumped would fall to be considered in relation to the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957. I told the House on 22nd May, 1963 of the Government's policy regarding meat from all suppliers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent to the Basuto National Party about its request to set up a commission of inquiry on the livestock model by-law which has now been made effective in five districts.

None. The request will shortly be considered by the Basutoland Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the report of the Constitutional Commission of the Basutoland National Council as a White Paper; and what arrangements are being made for discussions with Her Majesty's Government of the Commission's constitutional proposals.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave to the right hon. Member for Middles rough. East (Mr. Bottomley) on the 19th November and to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on the 21st November. Her Majesty's Government have not yet been asked to discuss the proposals which were addressed to the Paramount Chief for the consideration of the Basutoland National Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give a list of those countries or territories having a seaboard or islands, other than the British Isles, for which Her Majesty's Government has responsibility.

The following is the list of countries or territories having a seaboard or islands for which Her Majesty's Government exercise responsibility through the Colonial Office:

• Aden and the Protectorate of South Arabia, with Kamaran.
• Antigua.

• Bahamas.
• Barbados.
• Bermuda.
• British Antarctic Territory.
• British Guiana.
• British Honduras.
• British Virgin Islands.
• Cayman Islands.
• Dominica.
• Falkland Islands (including dependencies of South Georgia and South Sandwich).
• Fiji.
• Gambia.
• Gibraltar.
• Grenada.
• Hong Kong.
• Malta, State of.
• Mauritius.
• Montserrat.
• Pitcairn Islands Group.
• St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla.
• St. Helena (including dependencies of Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha).
• St. Lucia.
• St. Vincent.
• Seychelles.
• Tonga.
• Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Western Pacific High Commission (British Solomon Islands Protectorate, Gilbert and Ellice Island Colony, Central and Southern Line Islands and (jointly with France) New Hebrides Condominium).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he has taken under Section 56(2) and (3) of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956; and if he will make a statement with regard to the application of the Act to those parts of the world for which Her Majesty's Government has responsibility.

The following Orders in Council have been made under Section 56(2) of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956:The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Gibraltar) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2031)—24th October, 1961;The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Seychelles) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2032)—24th October, 1961;The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Virgin Islands) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2033)—24th October, 1961;The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Mauritius) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/167)—25th January, 1962;The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Fiji) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/398)—26th February, 1962;

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further information he has about the situation in Aden; and if he will make a statement.

Since my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 12th December, the Government of the Federation of South Arabia has announced the appearance in Aden, since the grenade outrage on 10th December, of leaflets which indicate that a group is conspiring to incite violence and unrest. One describes the perpetrator of the outrage as a hero: another urges workers to continue to struggle for the unification of what are described as the "Yemeni lands". In addition, the High Commissioner has reported that on the day of the outrage a commentary broadcast by the Yemeni Sana Radio threatened that there would be others to follow. Earlier Sana Radio had urged "our free workers in Aden" to "go ahead strike, destroy and carry arms, your rights should be obtained by force".Fifty-five people are now detained of whom three are being questioned in connection with the throwing of the grenade. Two hundred and seventy-seven Yemenis have been returned to their own country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the damage done to Colonial Territories in the West Indies in the recent hurricane; and what help has been given to relieve public hardship.

Three hurricanes struck the West Indies between the 25th September and the 28th October, 1963. Hurricanes "Edith" and "Flora", on the 25th September and 1st October, affected mainly the Windward Islands. Hurricane "Flora" also caused damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands. On the 26th–28th October, hurricane "Helena" hit Montserrat and Dominica.There was no loss of life but major damage in the Windward Islands was done to the Banana crops, which are the main export crop of those islands. Other crops, including citrus, coconuts and cocoa, were damaged but not uprooted. In Dominica, which suffered from all three hurricanes, there was also considerable damage to roads, sea walls and buildings. The chief damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands was to food crops. Montserrat sustained damage to roads and a river bridge, and to bananas and other agricultural crops.An assessment of the extent of damage in each territory, given by the respective Governments, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the financial arrangements agreed with Her Majesty's Government in connection with the census conducted in the Eastern Caribbean and centred on Trinidad in 1960 and subsequent years.

It was agreed between the West Indian Governments concerned that, apart from an initial grant from the former Federal Government of the West Indies (which was duly made), expenditure should be shared between the participating governments on the basis of the population of each territory.The British Government have agreed that the contributions from the dependent territories should be met from CD. & W. funds as and when they are required, but there is also a sum of £13,542 due to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago which, as a result of the independence of that country in 1962, can only be met from the Commonwealth Grants and Loans Vote.Payment of this sum will be made in the first place from the Civil Contingencies Fund and a Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the High Commission for Swaziland has investigated reports of the caning of three Swazi children by South African police and the arrest of three Swazi women who had crossed into the Republic of South Africa for drawing water from the Ncuku River; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. Affidavits regarding this incident, which occurred on 18th October, have been made by three Swazi children, three Swazi women involved and three other Swazi witnesses. The children were returned across the border on the day of the incident and subsequently examined by a Government Medical Officer. The three women were sentenced in the Republic on 23rd October to pay a fine of £15 or to undergo imprisonment of 60 days in default, and were committed to prison. They were released on 28th October. The South African authorities have been asked to hold an inquiry into the treatment of the women and children involved. The result of this inquiry is not yet available but the South African authorities have been asked to expedite it.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps are being taken to continue British aid to Kenya and Zanzibar for the remainder of the current financial year.

Financial talks with the Governments of Kenya and Zanzibar are continuing. In the meantime, the balance of aid already promised by the British Government before independence will be made available on the Commonwealth Relations Office Vote or the Commonwealth Grants and Loans Vote as appropriate. The sums likely to be required in the year ending 31st March,1964, amount to £4·21 million, as set out below. The House will be asked in due course to approve the necessary Supplementary Estimates. In the meantime, advances for urgent expenditure as required will be drawn from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Education how many children of 11 years of age and over were attending all-age schools on the latest date for which figures are available.

In January, 1963, there were 55,226 pupils aged 11 and over in all-age schools compared with 74,438 in the previous year. Building programmes up to and including 1964–65 will result in the elimination of all such schools.

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of junior pupils in maintained and assisted schools in classes of over 40 at the latest date for which figures are available.

787,335 in January, 1963.

asked the Minister of Education how many additional teachers would be required to eliminate oversize classes in maintained and assisted schools by 1970, for junior pupils and for senior pupils, respectively.

I estimate that an additional 50,000 teachers of juniors and an additional 40,000 teachers of seniors would be required to eliminate oversize classes in maintained schools by 1970: there are no longer any assisted schools.

asked the Minister of Education by what authority the post of principal lecturer in mathematics at Bishop Otter Teachers Training College, Chichester, is being advertised when the present occupant has requested an extension of his appointment to the age of 65 years.

The authority was that of the Executive Committee of the College Council, following the Council's decision not to extend the appointment of the present occupant beyond the age of 60. I understand that the Principal Lecturer concerned has asked the Council to reconsider its decision, that this request will be considered at a special meeting of the Council in January and that no new appointment will be made before then.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many lecturers in teacher training colleges are at present being compulsorily retired at 60 years of age;(2) in how many of the 119 training colleges, classified by his Department as general colleges, the appointments of lecturers are subject to agreements specifying 65 as the retiring age; and how many continue to use the old form of agreement specifying 60 as the retiring age, with possible extension to 65 years.

I regret that this information is not available and that it could not be obtained without elaborate inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will set up a passport office in Wales in view of the increase in the number of passports issued to persons resident in the Principality.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Foreign Secretary on 27th April, 1953, and by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 1st May, 1957. While there has certainly been a considerable increase in the volume of passport work throughout the United Kingdom, I am satisfied that persons resident in Wales continue to obtain passports as conveniently as residents elsewhere in the United Kingdom. This they may do by personal application to any local office of the Ministry of Labour, through which quite a large percentage of applications are submitted, by application through a travel agency, or by postal application to the Branch Passport Office, Liverpool. In these circumstances, I do not consider that the expense and manpower involved in opening another Branch Passport Office would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many passports were issued during the last 12 months to persons resident in England, Scotland, Wales and Ulster respectively.

Separate records of ordinary passport issue according to the places of residence of applicants are not available.In the twelve months ended 30th November, 1963, the totals of ordinary passports issued from the three Passport Offices were:—

London	489,824
Liverpool	145,607
Glasgow	51,390

During the same twelve month period, approximately 457,000 British Visitor's Passports were issued by Employment Exchanges throughout the United Kingdom. Of these, over 390,000 were issued in England, over 40,000 in Scotland, over 21,000 in Wales and over 5,000 in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what nations are now in arrears in their contributions to the United Nations budget, to the United Nations technical and economic aid programmes, and to the United Nations peace-keeping operations; and by how much in each case.

The most recent information regarding the state of contributions to the United Nations Budget and to the United Nations peace-keeping operations on the Middle East and the Congo (UNEF and ONUC) is contained in the United Nations Secretariat document ST/ADM/SER.B/181, dated 6th December, 1963, which sets out the position as at 30th November. At that date, arrears to the Regular Budget and to the UNEF and ONUC Special Accounts were as follows:

(i) Regular Budget:

• £10,873,980 (58 countries in arrears).

(ii) UNEF Special Account:

• £11,932,158 (76 countries in arrears).

(iii) ONUC Special Account:

• £34,502,768 (85 countries in arrears).

The United Nations economic and technical assistance programmes are financed partly from the Regular Budgets of the Organisation and the Associated specialised agencies, to which all member states make a duly assessed contribution, and partly from the Special Account for the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance (E.P.T.A.), and from the United Nations Special Fund, to both of which member states contribute on a voluntary basis. Contributions are pledged annually; statements of contributions to the Special Fund and to EPTA, pledged and paid for the year 1963, as at 30th September, 1963, are contained in, respectively, United Nations Special Fund document SF/L.77/Rev. 9, dated 25th October, 1963, and United Nations Economic and Social Council document E/TAC/REP/249, dated 15th October, 1963.Copies of these three publications are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to meet the request of the Government of the Republic of Niger for assistance in developing water supplies in Eastern Niger.

Her Majesty's Government have allocated the sum of £12,000 for the drilling of artesian wells by a British firm to supply additional water to the towns of N'Guigmi and Maine Soroa. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote that amount by means of a supplementary estimate. In the meantime an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to agree to any settlement of the German question which does not make specific provision for the holding of free elections in East Germany.

A peace settlement for the whole of Germany, freely negotiated with an all-German Government created by means of free elections, remains an essential aim of Her Majesty's Government's policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to assist the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in their health campaign.

The Mauritanian Minister of Health, when he was in this country in February, 1963, spoke of the need for transport for use in the extensive health campaign he is organising among the nomadic population of the interior. In response to this need, Her Majesty's Government have allocated the sum of £25,000 for the provision of a fleet of some twenty-six Land Rovers, two of which would be equipped as mobile dispensaries and two as ambulance conversions. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote that amount by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.

asked the Minister of Health how many poliomyelitis victims requiring constant attendance are now on the waiting list for hospital admission; how many were on the waiting list on the same date in 1962; and what domiciliary service is being provided for them before admission.

I regret that this information is not available centrally.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give, for each of the years since 1951, the number of student and pupil nurses entering training in the general and psychiatric hospitals, respectively, and the corresponding figures for the numbers completing their training two and three years later, up to the most recent date for which this information is available.

The following are the figures:

(a) Student nurses in hospitals other than psychiatric hospitals.
Year	Number entered training	Number completed training and eligible for registration
1951	16,917
1952	15,651
1953	15,058
1954	16,482	10,485
1955	17,390	10,583
1956	17,266	10,636
1957	16,928	11,055
1958	17,007	11,875
1959	16,234	11,859
1960	16,331	12,271
1961	16,852	11,989
1962	17,334	11,315

(b) Student nurses in psychiatric hospitals.
Year	Number entered training	Number completed training and eligible for registration
1951	1,994
1952	2,137
1953	2,196
1954	1,986	778
1955	1,933	787
1956	2,505	889
1957	2,817	821
1958	3,018	974
1959	3,451	1,124
1960	2,887	1,558
1961	2,610	1,617
1962	3,093	1,720

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many consultant specialists were awarded cash merit awards in 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively; and if he will list the various categories of award and the sum of public money paid out in respect of each of them;(2) what was the total sum of public money awarded to consultants in 1962, 1961 and 1960, respectively, under the merit awards scheme; and how many provincial consultants received an award.

The number of awards in each year was 2,473 in England and Wales, comprising 88 "A+" awards, 265 "A", 707 "B" and 1,413 "C". Awards to consultants holding contracts with provincial hospital boards totalled 1,321, 1,308 and 1,303. I regret that detailed information about these costs is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage of maternity beds in the Brentwood area and that only 45 per cent. of births can be dealt with in hospital; and what steps he proposes to take in order to improve the situation.

The percentage of confinements in hospital in this area is 60, not 45. Additional maternity beds in the area are being provided.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will authorise immediately the expenditure of £10,000 for the erection of a prefabricated extension to the Brentwood maternity home in order to provide an additional 10 beds to the existing 14 beds.

The regional hospital board has already authorised the expenditure for this purpose. It is hoped to complete the work by next summer.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish a list of major hospital projects now under construction costing over £250,000 each, other than the 65 new and substantially remodelled hospitals of which details have already been announced.

The following major schemes are at present under construction in England and Wales:St. James' Hospital, Leeds—new operating theatres and physiotherapy department.Bradford Royal Infirmary—new unit to replace Royal Eye and Ear Hospital.Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford—expansion to 200 beds.Little Plumstead Hospital—4 new villas.Fulbourn Hospital—new admission villa.Willesden General Hospital—outpatient and accident departments.St. James', Balham—new block containing operating theatres etc.Old church Hospital, Romford—out-patient department.Runwell Hospital, Wickford—upgrading and improvements.Coldeast Hospital, Southampton—extensions and improvements.Bristol Children's Hospital—new out-patient department.Coney Hill Hospital, Bristol—engineering services.Bristol Dental Hospital—extensions.Corbett Hospital, Stansbridge—out-patient department.Lea Castle Hospital, Kidderminster—extensions Phase II—extensions Phase III.North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary—outpatient department—accident department and operating theatres.Rubery Hill Hospital, Birmingham—rehabilitation unit—outpatient department and admission unit.Birmingham Region Blood Transfusion Centre.Tone Vale Hospital, Taunton—engineering services.Hope Hospital, Salford—new materity unit.Blackpool Victoria Hospital—ward block, outpatient department etc.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to set up routine medical investigation teams to assist old people.

I am not clear what type of service my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. Medical investigation is a matter for the general practitioner, supported by the hospital and specialist and local authority services.

asked the Minister of Health if he will name the members of the committee who make payments of public money under the Merit Awards Scheme.

The members of the Standing Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards are:

The Lord Brain of Eynsham, D.M., F.R.C.P. (Chairman).

Sir John Macpherson, G.C.M.G., (Vice-Chairman).

Sir Robert S. Aitken, D.Phil., M.D., F.R.C.P.

Sir Russell Brock, M.S., P.R.C.S.

Sir John Bruce, C.B.E., T.D., F.R.C.S.Ed.

Sir Charles Dodds, M.V.O., D.Sc, Ph.D., M.D., P.R.C.P., F.R.S.

H. C. Edwards, Esq., C.B.E., M.S., F.R.C.S.

C. J. Fuller, Esq., D.M., F.R.C.P.

A. R. Gilchrist, Esq., C.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P.

H. R. MacLennan, Esq., M.D., F.R.F.P.S., P.R.C.O.G.

A. B. Monro, Esq., Ph.D., M.D., D.P.M.

Professor R. M. Walker, M.S., F.R.C.S.

Sir Brian W. Windeyer, F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., F.F.R., D.M.R.E.

J. H. Wright, Esq., C.B.E., M.D., P.R.F.P.S.G.

A. J. Wrigley, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.O.G.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the acute shortage of midwives in the Brentwood area; and if he will ensure that an adequate staff of midwives is made available.

My information is that the present numbers employed in the hospital and domiciliary services are adequate for the needs of the area, but I would be happy to consider any particular point which my hon. and learned Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken under Section 56(1) of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956; and if he will make a statement with regard to the application of the Act in the Isle of Man and in each of the Channel Islands, respectively.

The authorities in all three islands have agreed to the making of Orders in Council applying to their areas so much of Part I of the Act as is necessary to enable certain international conventions on maritime law to be extended to them. The drafting of the Orders is receiving attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received in recent months from representatives of London's taxicab proprietors, regarding authorisation to charge increased fares; and what reply he has given;(2) whether he will now introduce legislation to abolish or expand the six-mile limit as applied to London taxicabs.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Sir H. Lucas-Tooth) yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many London taxicabs are today licensed to ply for hire; how many were so licensed on the same date last year; and how many were licensed in 1933.

The number of cabs in the Metropolitan Police District licensed on 30th November, 1963, was 6,876. The corresponding figure for 30th November, 1962, was 6,691.The comparable figure for 1933 is not available but during that year 8,055 licences were issued for cabs—including 30 horse cabs. A number of cabs are licensed twice within a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of public anxiety over the increase in vandalism; and whether he will instruct the police research and planning branch to inquire into the extent of the damage caused, to what extent vandalism is increasing, and what steps can be taken to prevent it.

I share the general concern at the increase in the amount of vandalism. I know that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is taking most active steps to combat it, and I understand that chief constables all over the country are doing the same. I doubt whether a special study of the statistics of the problem would add to our knowledge of the means of dealing with it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigrants Advisory Council received representations from the British Caribbean Association on the subject of racial discrimination among school leavers; and what recommendations have been made by the Council on this matter.

The British Caribbean Association sent in on 16th July a memorandum on the subject of racial discrimination among school leavers and others, for consideration by the Commonwealth Immigrants Advisory Council. The Council has not, up to the present, made any recommendations on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what requests he has received from the National Research Development Corporation for financial backing for development of a 150-ton hovercraft; and if he will make a statement on the prospects of developing such a craft by the Corporation.

I have received no requests from the National Research Development Corporation for financial assistance towards the development of a 150-ton hovercraft. The question whether such a craft should be developed by the National Research Development Corporation is a matter for the Corporation to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is satisfied with the basis on which the figures for the level of industrial stocks for the third quarter of 1963, indicated in the Board of Trade Journal No. 3482 of 13th December were calculated; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The provisional figures of stock changes in the third quarter are subject to amendment as later returns from contributing companies are received, but I am satisfied that they provide a reliable indication of some considerable fall in the volume of stocks after allowing for seasonal factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will recommend to the National Economic Development Council that the changes in the level of industrial stocks for the third quarter of 1963, indicated in the Board of Trade Journal No. 3482 of 13th December should be taken into account when assessing likely import trends in 1964, their consequential effect on the balance of payments and the general economic conditions in which an incomes policy will be expected to operate.

The estimates of the changes in stocks are, like other important economic series, available to the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will state in figures related to the £ sterling, the value of non-electric typewriters of less than 22 lb. in weight, which will be permitted to be imported into this country during the current year, from Czechoslovakia, East Germany, West Germany, and Japan, giving figures for each country separately.

There is no restriction on imports of typewriters from West Germany and Japan. Imports from Czechoslovakia and East Germany are restricted by quotas which in 1963 amount to £60,000 and £120,000, respectively, for typewriters of all kinds.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what reply he has made to the request of the British insurance interests to make representations on their behalf as a result of the proposal of the Government of Ceylon to make non-life insurance a monopoly of the Ceylon Insurance Corporation from 1st January next.

I have informed the British insurance interests of the steps which Her Majesty's Government have taken in this matter. When he was in Ceylon in September last my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations discussed this proposal with the Prime Minister of Ceylon and with the Minister of Finance. He made it clear that he greatly regretted that the Ceylon Government should wish to pursue a policy which would bring to an end over 100 years of British insurance services to the island, services which had worked to the manifest advantage of the economy of Ceylon. At the same time my right hon. Friend emphasised his concern at the possibility that compensation for the loss of their business prospects might not be paid to these important British interests. During his visit to Colombo in October these representations were pressed further by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations with Ceylon Ministers. Further representations have been made by correspondence.Her Majesty's Government regret that these approaches have not so far evoked any recognition of the justice of the case which has been made. It is the earnest hope of Her Majesty's Government that an amicable settlement will be reached on the basis of a memorandum by the British insurers concerned setting out their claim. This memorandum is being submitted by the British High Commissioner to the Ceylon Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on the steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to support the Colombian Ten-Year Development Plan.

Her Majesty's Government have offered the Colombian Government a £2 million loan under Section 3 of the Export Guarantee Act to be spent on British goods and services. The Colombian Government have accepted in principle. Her Majesty's Government welcome this opportunity to support the Colombian Ten-Year Development Plan and to make a contribution towards the objectives of the Alliance for Progress which they warmly support.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of apprentices who have participated in the Middlesex Group Apprenticeship Scheme to date.

101.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-December in the years 1961, 1962 and 1963; and what is the number of school-leavers registered for first employment at December, 1963, and the estimated number of summer school-leavers who have taken up full-time further educational courses and who are not included in the number of registered unemployed for December, 1963.

The numbers of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-December in the years 1961, 1962 and 1963 were 53, 143 and 194 respectively. The December, 1963 total included 45 school-leavers registered for first employment. About

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED AT GATESHEAD AND FELLING
		Men	Boys	Women	Girls
9th December, 1963	…	2,116	170	641	24
10th December, 1962	…	2,213	119	363	24
11th December, 1961	…	1,367	39	216	14
Percentage change between 1961 and 1963	…	+55	+336	+197	+71
Percentage change between 1962 and 1963	…	-4	+43	+77	Nil
There were on 4th December, 194 unfilled vacancies notified to the Gateshead and Felling Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered disabled people were on the register at St. Helens, Lancashire, on the latest convenient date; for how long they have been without a job; and what new legislation will be necessary before jobs will be available for them.

335 on 11th November, 1963. On 15th July, 1963, the latest date for which figures of the duration of unemployment are available, 326 registered disabled persons had then been wholly unemployed for the periods shown in the table below. No new legislation is contemplated.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, and persons under 18 years of age, male and female, respectively, were registered as unemployed at the December, 1963 count in the Gateshead employment area; what were the comparable figures for 1961 and 1962; what percentage increase or decrease the 1963 figures show over the 1961 figures, and the 1963 figures over the 1962 figures; and what was the number of unfilled vacancies at the latest convenient date.

The following is the information:

Number Unemployed	Weeks of Unemployment
7	1 or less
10	Over 1 and up to 2
7	Over 2 and up to 3
7	Over 3 and up to 4
6	Over 4 and up to 5
8	Over 5 and up to 6
2	Over 6 and up to 7
3	Over 7 and up to 8
13	Over 8 and up to 9
19	Over 9 and up to 13
29	Over 13 and up to 26
25	Over 26 and up to 39
29	Over 39 and up to 52
161	Over 52
Total 326

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of equipment ordered by his Department during the last five years was manufactured in Wales; and what steps he will take to increase this proportion.

I am compiling some figures and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of domestic telephone subscribers in England and Wales, respectively, now have shared lines; and what further steps he will take to reduce the number of shared lines.

About 30 per cent. in each case. As I said in the White Paper on the Inland Telephone Service, shared service must continue in the short term, if my aim to abolish the waiting list for telephones by March 1966 is to be achieved. My ultimate aim is to remove compulsory sharing and to give exclusive service to all who want it, but I cannot yet say when this will be possible.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many public telephones are in the area of the Doncaster rural district; and what is the ratio of public telephones to population;

The figures are:

	Number of Public Telephones	Ratio of public telephones to 1,000 population
United Kingdom	74,665	1·4
Doncaster Rural District	73	1·1
Adwick Urban District	9	0·49
Bentley with Arksey Urban District	12	0·52

asked the Postmaster-General what is the ratio of public telephones to population within the urban districts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the ratio of public telephones to population within the rural districts of the United Kingdom.

I am sorry that full information is not available, but for England and Wales the best estimates I can make are:Rural districts: about 2 public telephones per 1,000 population;Urban districts: about 1 public telephone per 1,000 population.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the need for a public telephone kiosk in the neighbourhood of the old people's dwellings off Armadale Drive, Nether Hall Estate. Leicester; and when he will provide a kiosk.

There are two telephone kiosks in the neighbourhood; one is 250 yards and the other 350 yards from the old people's dwellings off Armadale Drive. I think that these kiosks meet the reasonable needs of the residents, and I could not justify a third one, on the amount of call office business in the area.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the ratio of telephones to population in the county borough and non-county borough areas of the United Kingdom.

I am sorry that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the control he exercises over minimum and maximum pithead prices of coal sold for domestic use in the British Isles.

My right hon. Friend is consulted by the National Coal Board about changes in coal prices, but he does not have any power to control them.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make an approach to President Johnson to the effect that proposals for an agreement on the control of chemical and bacteriological warfare should be placed on the agenda of their February meeting.

I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport what increases have been made in the pensions of British Railways super annuitants since 1955.

Three schemes for supplementing the pensions of British Railway super annuitants have been introduced since 1955; the most recent was introduced by the British Railways Board with effect from 1st January of this year. It is not possible to give details of percentage or representative increases granted, because the supplements made under the schemes vary widely according to a variety of factors, including the amount of pension, the superannuation fund from which the pension is paid, the amount of any previous supplements, and year of retirement.

asked the Minister of Transport what general direction he has given, or intends to give, in the public interest, to the Railways Board to halt or to limit the closure of stations and withdrawals of rail passenger services in Scotland.

None. But if in any particular case it appears to me to be in the public interest that a service should be retained, I shall withhold my consent, without which no opposed passenger closure can take place.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether he has reviewed the position of pension able overseas officers who were appointed to the service of one of the Nigerian Governments after the respective qualifying date for entitlement under the compensation scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

I am glad to inform the House that arrangements are being made to pay resettlement grants to these officers, of whom there are under 100. The total estimated cost is £110,000, of which approximately £47,000 will be required during the current year. A sum of this amount will be advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund for this purpose; provision for repayment to this fund will be sought from Parliament by means of a Supplementary Estimate to my Department's Vote.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide details of the total expenditure by his Department on road construction and improvement schemes in Wales during each of the last three years, including grants to local authorities; and what expenditure is planned during the next year.

Payments from central Government funds towards major improvements, in Wales and Monmouth shire for 1961–62 amounted to £3,309,447 and for 1962–63 to £6,503,355. Expenditure on maintenance and minor improvements in these years was £4,114,304 and £4,476,448. Comparable figures for expenditure on major improvements in 1963–64 and 1964–65 are likely to be of the order of £7·5 million and £10 million. Expenditure on maintenance and minor improvements during the current year is expected to be some £5,250,000. It is not yet possible to give a corresponding figure for 1964–65.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the expenditure during the last 12 months or a similar convenient period on A.38 between Gloucester and Bristol.

Total expenditure on this section of road in the financial year 1962–63 was about £298,000, of which £259,000 was for major improvements and new construction and £39,000 for maintenance and minor improvements.

asked the Minister of Transport when the road works designed to make A.38 a three-carriage highway will be completed.

It is hoped that the schemes to provide a three-lane carriageway on the section of the A.38 between Bristol and Gloucester will be completed by the spring of 1965. All but three miles will be completed by the summer of 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has for the further improvement of A.38 which, despite recent work, remains dangerous and unsatisfactory in planning.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the section of this road between Bristol and Gloucester. Where a three-lane carriageway has already been provided, the accident rate has been substantially reduced. I see no reason to improve the road to any higher standard since, as my hon. Friend knows, my motorway programme includes the extension of M.5 on a line roughly parallel to A.38 from Twyning to beyond Bristol. This motorway, when completed, will take most of the traffic from this section of A.38.

asked the Minister of Transport what is now the opening date for the first section of the M.1 extension; and what will be the new terminal point.

The first section between Crick and the Lutterworth junction with A.4114 is expected to be brought into use in Autumn, 1964. The whole of the 39 mile length at present under construction—up to the Lockington junction with A.6—is expected to be completed by autumn, 1965.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to stop the sale to the public of recut and retread tyres, for use on motor vehicles, unless they are guaranteed to be safe when used onordinary roads at speeds of up to 70 miles an hour, for 5,000 miles.

I am considering the desirability and practicability of introducing measures to regulate the sale of recut tyres for use on road vehicles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the revenue from Pool Betting Duty on greyhound totalisators fell during the three years 1960 to 1963 compared with the average in the three years 1949 to 1952; and by what percentage the general revenue from taxes of Customs and Excise rose or fell during the same periods.

The revenue from Pool Betting Duty on totalisators at greyhound racing tracks in the three financial years 1960–61, 1961–62 and 1962–63 was, respectively, 12·1 per cent., 9·8 per cent. and 22·1 per cent. less than the average of the three financial years 1949–50 to 1951–52. (From 26th July, 1961, to 9th April, 1962, the duty of 10 per cent. was subject to the special surcharge of one-tenth of the amount of the duty.) The net receipts of all Customs and Excise duties and taxes in the same three financial years rose, respectively, by 46·2 per cent., 58·1 per cent. and 63·5 per cent. above the average of the financial years 1949–50 to 1951–52.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that during the three years ended April, 1963, the turnover on greyhound totalisators and the Treasury revenue there from fell, and turnover of totalisators at horse race-

DOG RACECOURSES
Year ended 31st March			Total stakes at totalisators (£000)	Percentage change in total stakes a totalisators (1960/61=100)	Net receipts of pool betting duty from totalisators (£000)
1961	…	…	63,472	—	6,347
1962	…	…	61,380	-3%	6,511*
1963	…	…	56,016	-12%	5,623
* From 26th July, 1961 to 9th April, 1962, the duty of 10% was subject to the special surcharge of one-tenth of the amount of the duty.

HORSE RACECOURSES
Year ended 31st March					Total stakes at totalisators	Percentage change in total stakes at totalisators (1960/61=100)
1961	…	…	…	…	31,007	—
1962	…	…	…	…	32,912	+6%
1963	…	…	…	…	29,695	-4%

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the hon. Member for Dundee, East, can expect to have a final reply to his letter asking the Government to accept the recommendations of the Scottish Council committee regarding an air service between Dundee and the south.

These recommendations, which involve a major departure from the Government's established policy on the finance of air services, are still under consideration. It is, of course, open to any airline to apply to the Air Transport Licensing Board for permission to run a service to Dundee, My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Aviation, informs me that an application has already been made to the Board for a licence courses rose; and if he will give the percentage rise and fall of both.

The statistics do not wholly bear out the hon. Member's contentions. The following are the figures:to operate a charter feeder service to Edinburgh from Dundee, for the convenience of business men and others.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he is aware that Mr. William Smith of 59 Holmfauldhead Road, in the division of the hon. Member for Govan, is presently detained in Barlinnie Prison for an indefinite period though no charge is preferred against him; and if he will inquire into the reasons for this.

I am investigating the circumstances of the case referred to, and, as I expect to complete my inquiries during the Christmas Adjournment, I shall communicate with the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) by letter.