asked the Secretary of State for War if he will facilitate the comprehensive redevelopment of the Woolwich Arsenal site by suspending the normal practice of offering land surplus to War Department needs to other Government Departments.

:The object of the review to which my right hon. Friend referred in his statement of 4th December, 1963, is to facilitate the comprehensive development of the Woolwich Arsenal site, and I trust that this aim will be achieved. Every aspect of redevelopment must be examined, and the normal procedure for considering the requirements of all Government Departments must form part of this examination. There is no need to suspend this procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the strength of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve at the last convenient date; and if he will make a statement.

The strength of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve is now 4,587. This is not unsatisfactory, bearing in mind the high standards upon which we insist, and the limited numbers which have hitherto been available to match the vacancies produced by its rank and trade structure, but I would like to see the numbers grow.I am now ready to propose two changes which should assist recruiting and enhance the value of this reserve. Some of the best men in the T.A. quickly become N.C.O.s and are thus precluded from volunteering for the T.A.E.R. because it has limited N.C.O. vacancies. In future a T.A. corporal or lance corporal will, subject to the consent of his commanding officer, be allowed to volunteer for the T.A.E.R. if he is prepared to give up his rank on call-out. Such temporary reversion would not affect his normal T.A. rank or career.Secondly, increased emphasis will be given to the formation of sub-units within the T.A.E.R. On call-out these will be posted and will travel whenever possible together, as a sub-unit, to other units within their arm or service. On arrival they would of course be used at the discretion of the receiving unit, as reinforcements normally are.Finally, I must emphasise yet again how indispensable is the co-operation and encouragement of employers to men who wish to join this reserve, which could be of great value to the country, for example as a reinforcement to Regular units involved in overseas emergencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities provide a laundry service for incontinent old people in order to enable them to avoid entering hospital.

Only four authorities in Scotland—Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley and Arbroath—at present use their statutory powers to provide special laundry services for incontinent old people, but a number of other authorities have made arrangements with private or hospital laundries to meet the needs of old people in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Joint Working Party of the Whitley Council on salary scales for clinical psychologists will be sending him its report.

My right hon. Friend understands that the Working Party has reported lo the Whitley Council that it has failed to reach agreement. My right hon. Friend is in consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health about the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has been given by chief constables regarding the number of police cadets recruited by police authorities in Scotland during each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what was the percentage of wastage each year.

The chief constables' monthly returns show that in 1963 the authorised cadet strength was 268 and the actual strength 261; corresponding figures for 1962 were 243 and 219 and for 1961, 235 and 199. But my right hon. Friend does not require chief constables to provide information about recruitment and wastage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Wishaw is included in the growth area of North Lanarkshire as designated in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 2188.

:No. But Wishaw is in a development district and is, therefore, eligible for all the benefits which come from that. Moreover being on the edge of a growth area it is likely to receive benefits from the additional investment allocated for regional services and for the growth area since these are not tied geographically to its boundaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what authority Mr. Alexander Love, of Shaw Avenue, Armadale, was given permission to sit examination papers for endorsements to the ordinary national certificate in mechanical engineering in June 1963, at the Technical College, Coatbridge.

Those in charge of the examination permitted him to sit because it is not a condition of entry that a student should have been accepted as a candidate for a national certificate. Mr. Love had already been told that he could not expect to be considered for the award of a certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing his estimate, at rates currently proposed, of the assistance available to each grade of eligible farm unit under the proposed Winter Keep Scheme as compared with the amount paid in the last year of the Marginal Agricultural Production (Scotland) Scheme, with the number of recipients in each case.

Expenditure under the Winter Keep Scheme cannot be fully assessed until all outstanding appeals in respect of eligibility have been considered. I am, however, publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the best estimate I can make, together with actual expenditure under the Marginal Agricultural Production Scheme in 1962. Actual expenditure in 1963 is not yet known, but it will not differ significantly from the 1962 figures.In making a comparison my hon. Friend would need to take into account that in 1964 the £5 per acre Ploughing Grant in hill and upland areas will be withdrawn except as an option.The following is the table:

WINTER KEEP (Estimated Payments 1964)
	Number of Farm Units	Estimated Expenditure
		£
Grade A (£1 10s. per acre)	3,340	405,000
Grade B (£2 10s. per acre)	4,100	400,000
Grade C (£4 per acre)	7,500	400,000
Total	14,940	£1,205,000
M.A.P. (Actual Payments 1962)
	Number of Claims	Expenditure
Total Assistance	7,900	£ 706,173
Cropping Grants (included above)	7,456	666,140

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expenditure on roads per head of population in Scotland as compared with England and Wales.

Expenditure by the Exchequer and local authorities on new construction and maintenance in 1962–63 amounted to £5 5s. 3d. per head of population in Scotland and £4 in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available land owned by his Department at Terregles as a site for a new university for Dumfries.

Comment on this would be premature until a decision is announced on whether there is to be a new university in Scotland and, if so, where is it to be.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken, and will take, to assist financially or otherwise the establishment and operation of the ferry service proposed to be operated by Mr. Charles Alexander and others between Stornoway and Ullapool; and what help he proposes to offer towards the cost of necessary port installations.

I am aware of Mr. Alexander's proposal and I have sought the advice of the Highland Transport Board on it. I have not received any application for such financial assistance. Should an application be made I would consider it in relation to the existing sea services to Lewis supplemented as they will shortly be by the introduction of the new MacBrayne car ferries and in the light of the advice of the Highland Transport Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the damage to fishing and to tourist amenity and of the pollution of the inshore water and beach at Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis, arising from discharge of effluent at a point within the bay from where it is washed back shore-wards on the tide; and whether he will advise and assist the county council in providing equipment for its discharge behind the bay in purified condition.

:I understand that the sewer in question is not yet in use, and that the effluent is likely to be so diluted and dispersed by the strong seas at the chosen point of discharge that there is little chance of pollution affecting fishing or the beach. Ross and Cromarty County Council has, however, under- taken to consider remedial measures if occasion arises. Any measures agreed to be necessary would rank for grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths took place in ambulances on their way to hospitals during 1963.

This information could not be made available without undue labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the memoranda of guidance he has supplied to those conducting the inquiry into the Laidon Hydro-Electric Scheme.

The texts are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to authorise the A.77 Kilmarnock bypass.

:My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to give a firm date for this scheme, but he hopes to authorise it within the next five years.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the present position in regard to the erection of a new hotel at Prestwick Airport.

Sheraton Motels Ltd., with whom the Ministry of Aviation had a provisional agreement, did not take up their option. Negotiations are now proceeding with two other concerns interested in building an hotel at Prestwick.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is satisfied with the credit facilities available to the British aircraft industry in comparison with those available to their competitors in the export markets; and if he will make a statement.

As the hon. Gentleman will know, this subject has been examined recently by the Estimates Committee. In its Report published a few days ago, the Committee recommended that after consultation with the Treasury, the Board of Trade and the aircraft manufacturers, the Ministry of Aviation should take steps to obtain for the aircraft industry an improved range of credit facilities. We are considering this recommendation.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement about his policy on the Short Skyvan project.

:Following recent discussions with Short Bros, about their revised estimates of the cost of this project, my right hon. Friend hopes that, in consultation with his colleagues, he will be able to reach a decision very soon.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the number of feet for one foot vertical rise in the shape of the ramp leading from the passenger entrances on the ground level to the first floor at the United Kingdom arrival area of the terminal building at London Airport.

Seven.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the light of the Buchanan Report, he will reconsider the grant basis for various types of roads.

:I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. W. T. Rodgers) on 18th December last.

Irving asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the accident figures, including the numbers of deaths, and injuries, which have occurred in each of the last three years on the A.2 within the Dartford Constituency; and if he will indicate the black spots, stating the relevant accident figures.

:In 1963, 155 accidents, resulting in 3 deaths and 202 injuries were reported. In 1962 the comparable figures were: 109, 3 and 154 and in 1961, 144, 6 and 205. These accidents were fairly evenly distributed along this length of road except that at the Low-field Street junction there were 16 accidents, no deaths and 21 injuries in 1963, compared with 13, nil and 16 in 1962 and 20, 2 and 28 in 1961.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the strong recommendation by the Cleethorpes Borough Council, supported by the Humberston Parish Council, that a speed limit of 30 miles per hour should be imposed along the whole length of the Humberston Road and North Sea Lane, and of the high accident rate along this road, if he will now impose a 30 miles per hour speed limit; and if he will make a statement.

North Sea Lane is already subject to a speed limit of 30 miles per hour. The Cleethorpes Borough Council has, at my suggestion, given notice of intention to impose a 40 m.p.h, speed limit on a length of 1,050 yards of Humberston Road. The objections to this proposal are at present under consideration. Part of Humberston Road does not lie in a built-up area; a speed limit would not be appropriate to it and has not been applied for by the borough council.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the total deaths resulting from road accidents involving motor vehicles for the five years up to the last date in which records are complete in France, Germany, Holland, Italy and Sweden and the United Kingdom, respectively; and what percentage these figures represent of the total vehicles registered and of the total populations in each of the countries in each year.

The following is the information:

DEATHS FROM ROAD ACCIDENTS*
—				Number
				1957	1958	1959	1960	1961
France†	…	…	…	8,517	8,126	8,409	8,295	9,140
Federal Republic of Germany				12,687	11,703	13,539	14,109	14,220
Italy†	…	…	…	6,936	7,137	7,160	8,107	8,987
Netherlands	…	…	…	1,701	1,604	1,718	1,926	1,997
Sweden†	…	…	…	946	942	1,000	1,036	1,004
Great Britain	…	…	…	5,550	5,970	6,520	6,970	6,908
—				Per 10,000 vehicles licensed
				1957	1958	1959	1960	1961
France†	…	…	…	8·5	7·1	7·2	6·8	7·1
Federal Republic of Germany				17·1	15·3	16·2	15·5	14·6
Italy†	…	…	…	14·5	13·4	12·6	12·8	12·8
Netherlands	…	…	…	11·9	10·1	9·8	9·9	9·3
Sweden†	…	…	…	7·7	7·1	7·1	6·9	6·3
Great Britain	…	…	…	7·9	8·0	8·0	7·8	7·3
—				Per 10,000 population
				1957	1958	1959	1960	1961
France†	…	…	…	1·9	1·8	1·9	1·8	2·0
Federal Republic of Germany				2·5	2·3	2·6	2·6	2·6
Italy†	…	…	…	1·5	1·5	1·5	1·6	1·8
Netherlands	…	…	…	1·5	1·5	1·5	1·7	1·7
Sweden†	…	…	…	1·3	1·3	1·3	1·4	1·3
Great Britain	…	…	…	1·1	1·2	1·3	1·4	1·3
Sources: Road Accidents (H.M.S.O.); United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
* Including accidents involving pedal cycles and other non-motor vehicles.
† The rates for France and Italy are believed to be understated. On the basis used for Great Britain, the rates for France might be increased by some 15 per cent. and those for Italy possibly doubled. For Sweden the rates per 10,000 vehicles licensed are possibly slightly overstated

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total number of deaths caused by road accidents involving motor vehicles during the six months ended31st December, 1963, on the M.1 and on the corresponding stretch of road it was designed to replace.

On M.1 (including M.10 and M.45) there were 18 deaths. On the relevant sections of A.5 and A.45 there were two deaths.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the mileage of new roads built since 1951; what was the initial cost; and what was the cost of repairing and maintaining these roads for each of the above years to the latest convenient date.

:The total mileage of new roads built in England and Wales between 1951 and 1963 was 11,920 miles. The cost to the central government and to local authorities was £250 million. Both figures exclude roads that have been improved; the cost figure also excludes the substantial but unknown expenditure by private developers. Separate figures of the cost of repairing and maintaining these new roads are not available and cannot be readily obtained.

asked the Minister of Transport how many civil servants of the administrative and executive grades serving in his Department are primarily concerned with road safety.

:The whole of the Highways side of my Department is engaged on work which contributes to road safety. This applies in particular to the Traffic and Vehicle Regulation Divisions. The total number of the administrative and executive staff engaged specifically on road safety is 28, i.e. the Road Safety Division and the Area Road Safety Units. In addition there are the Driving and Motor Licences Branch and the Driving Test Organisation numbering 1,507.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Preston-Lancaster section of the M.6 will be open to traffic.

Spring 1965.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a definite date for the start of work on the construction of a pedestrian tunnel under the railway bridge in Wickford High Street.

:Essex County Council is the highway authority. I understand that it is discussing a starting date with British Railways.

asked the Minister of Transport how many houses are to be demolished in the process of road reconstruction and deviation in the pre sent borough of Leyton; and what in formation he has given to the local authority, who need such information for purposes of assessing their future housing requirements.

:The trunk road schemes affecting the Borough of Leyton are firstly the Eastern Avenue Extension which will ultimately involve the demolition of some 300 houses, and secondly the improvement of the Green Man junction for which the demolition of one house is required. The Borough Council is aware of both these needs. The line of the Bishops Stortford Motorway is still being considered and it is too soon to assess its likely effects. Any improvements of classified roads in the Borough are, of course, a matter for the Council themselves.

asked the Minister of Transport what sums of public money have been spent on roads in Dorset during the five years to the latest convenient date.

£6,149,000 for the five years ended 31st March, 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in providing a reliefroad to by-pass Newhaven in order to reduce accidents on the A.259 swingbridge; and whether, as a temporary measure, he will set up speed limit signs on the approach roads at a distance of 25 yards on each side of the bridge.

I understand that East Sussex County Council, the responsible highway authority, and Newhaven Urban District Council, are considering a scheme for a road which would bypass the swingbridge.The provision of speed limit signs relating to the bridge is the responsibility of the British Railways Board and the highway authority.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange for the speed restriction on the dual carriageway section of the A.19 road between Billingham and Wolviston in County Durham to be abolished or to be increased to 40 miles per hour.

Yes, I am considering which would be more appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost to local authorities of new roads in each of the last five years; and what was the cost of repair and maintenance of these roads for the same period to the latest convenient date.

The cost to local authorities of constructing new roads in each of the last five years was:

	£
1958–59	3·1 million
1959–60	2·9 million
1960–61	3·6 million
1961–62	4·5 million
1962–63	5·7 million

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to complete the new road links between the Cromwell Road Air Terminal and Heathrow airport; and what plans he has to create a link either by underground or monorail.

I expect the motorway link from Chiswick Flyover to London Airport to be completed next winter. The question of improved access to Heathrow by railway or tube is being considered by a Committee of interested Departments and authorities set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation. If any comprehensive proposals for monorails are put forward, no doubt these will also be considered.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in negotiations for a Channel tunnel.

The Government's study of the Anglo-French report on a fixed Channel link, and of its implications for this country, is not yet finished. But we hope soon to be ready for a further exchange of views with the French Government, with a view to a joint announcement of policy.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with proposals to reduce risks of accidents to children in connection with mobile shops; and whether the number of such accidents is proportionately bigger in the North-East than in other regions.

:Arrangements have been made for engineers concerned with the design of mobile shops to receive special reports about accidents to children in which these vehicle are involved. We hope that the information thus obtained will lead to the development of new safety features for mobile shops. In addition to better vehicle design, better control of young children is essential for their safety and my Department arranges for propaganda to be directed at the parents. As to the second part of the Question, the use of mobile shops is understood to have been increasing in the north-east region during recent years but there is no evidence to show whether the number of accidents attributed to them is proportionately higher there than elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that only certain forms of public transport are capable of carrying invalid chairs and prams; and if he will give an undertaking that, when considering whether to allow the closure of passenger railway services, he will take this fact into account.

:We know that buses can carry folding push chairs, although many cannot accommodate prams or rigid invalid chairs. My right hon. Friend already takes this into account when he considers railway passenger closure proposals. In addition, we hope soon to make it possible for buses to tow luggage trailers where it is safe and suitable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the form DL1 issued by his Department, being an application for a licence to drive a vehicle, requires the applicant, under Question 15, to read notes concerning the ascertaining or certification of a condition of mental sickness which since recent legislation are no longer applicable; and whether he will recast the questionnaire so as to provide that patients receiving treatment either as mental hospital inpatients or outpatients who as part of their therapy are encouraged to resume their former work involving driving should be able to do so without being compelled to provide details of their illness to clerks employed by the licensing authority.

The answer to the first part of the Question is Yes. A revision of the note has been made in the current printing demand for this form which will become available shortly. As to the second part of the Question, the Answer is No. The information asked for in the Notes is necessary to assist licensing authorities in carrying out their duty to decide whether the driving of a motor vehicle by an applicant is likely to be a source of danger to the public.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to withhold their ser-

FINANCIAL RESULTS OF BRITISH RAILWAYS FROM 1948 TO 1962
		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
		Gross Revenue	Operating Results	Central Charges*	Net Surplus or Deficit
		£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.
1948	…	346·3	+ 23·8	32	8·2 (Deficit)
1949	…	335·7	+ 10·6	34	23·4 (Deficit)
1950	…	351·3	+ 25·2	36	10·8 (Deficit)
1951	…	384·9	+ 33·3	34	0·7 (Deficit)
1952	…	416·3	+ 38·7	35	3·7 (Surplus)
1953	…	434·7	+ 34·6	37	2·4 (Deficit)
1954	…	449·3	+ 16·4	38	21·6 (Deficit)
1955	…	453·9	+ 1·8	40	38·2 (Deficit)
1956	…	481·0	- 16·5	41	57·5 (Deficit)
1957	…	501·4	- 27·1	41	68·1 (Deficit)
1958	…	471·6	- 48·1	42	90·1 (Deficit)
1959	…	457·4	- 42·0	42	84·0 (Deficit)
1960	…	478·6	- 67·7	45	112·7 (Deficit)
1961	…	474·7	- 86·9	49	135·9 (Deficit)
1962	…	465·1	-104·0	55	159·0 (Deficit)
*Central Charges are mainly interest charges; but they do not include interest charged to the Special Account in the years 1956 to 1962 (totalling £158.1m. for the seven years). Prior to 1956 Central Charges were not allocated in the British Transport Commission's accounts; the allocation used in this table for the years 1948 to 1955 represents approximately 70 per cent. of the total Central Charges.

asked the Minister of Transport how many countries have signed the Convention on Maritime Safety drawn up in London in 1960; how many of them are major shipping nations; and if Her Majesty's Government has signed.

:The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960 has so far been accepted by 15 countries including six having over

No. This is a matter for the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the gross revenue, operating results, central charges and net surplus or deficit of British Railways, for each of the years 1948 to 1962 excluding interest charged to the special account.

The figures are as follows:one million tons of shipping. Her Majesty's Government has not yet accepted it, but intends to do so as soon as Parliament passes the necessary legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that the transfer of the municipal ownership of Bristol Docks will not be made effective until it has been discussed in the House of Commons; what negotiations have taken place with the port authority; and what was the result.

:We have asked the National Ports Council for its considered views on the future of the Bristol Channel ports. No transfer of ownership could take place without reference to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport when he now expects that the Greek inquiry into the loss of the liner "Lakonia" will be concluded.

I understand that, as part of the Greek inquiry, a preliminary investigation has already started in Athens As part of this preliminary investigation an Officer of the Greek Coast Guard is now at Holborn Town Hall in order to take statements from anyone wishing to give evidence in the United Kingdom. Obviously this will all take time. I cannot say when the inquiry will be concluded.

asked the Minister of Defence what progress has been made in deciding upon a replacement for the Sea Vixen strike aircraft in service with the Royal Navy.

I have nothing to add at present to what I said on this subject on 11th December last.

asked the Minister of Defence in view of the unilateral undertakings of Mr. Khrushchev and President Johnson to reduce military budgets in 1964, what steps he is taking to enable Her Majesty's Government to make a similar gesture to improve the climate of international relations.

In his reply to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 16th January (HANSARD cols. 407–408) my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister quoted the percentages of gross national product which Russia, America and this country spend on defence. Our defence expenditure is related to our commitments and, in the light of these figures, there is no reason for such a gesture as the hon. Member proposes.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement about the light helicopter requirement of the Army.

I am urgently considering the requirement of the Army for a light helicopter for reconnaissance, command and control, liaison, air supply of isolated patrols, and other specialist tasks.

asked the Minister of Defence what plans he has to build up Great Britain's strategic air transport force over the next decade.

In the next few years, 10 Belfasts and 11 VC.1Os will join Transport Command. The Britannias and some Comets will still be in service in the early 1970s.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will arrange for the provision of a posting box to cover the needs of the new communities living in the multi-storey flats on Holbeck Moor, Leeds, 11, despite the existence of two posting boxes within a quarter of a mile.

Yes. A new box will be provided as quickly as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what is his estimate of the additional work-load which will result from the Household Delivery Service at the sorting and delivery office at Willesden;(2) what increase in establishment will be needed at the Willesden sorting and delivery office to cope with the proposed Household Delivery Service.

Until we see how use of the new Household Delivery Service develops it is not possible to give any useful estimate of the additional work which will have to be handled at Willesden, or the staffing required to deal with it.

asked the Postmaster-General who is designing the five Shakespeare Commemorative Stamps; if they are to be designed by the same artist; what instructions he has given as to the extent to which each design will take account of the others; in how many colours they will be printed; and how many of each denomination are to be printed.

I am not yet ready to make an announcement on the matters raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has now reached a decision concerning the request from the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce for an improved letter mail service between London and Aberdeen.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has now reached a decision concerning the request from the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce for an improved letter mail service between London and Aberdeen.

Yes. I am sorry that the high cost rules out extension of the London-Scottish night air mail services on the lines the Chamber of Commerce suggested. But when the new Forth Road Bridge is open later this year I shall improve the postal service between London and Aberdeen by running special road services from Aberdeen to connect with the London-Edinburgh night air services. I am writing in greater detail to hon. Members who have raised the matter and I am arranging for the position to be explained to the Chamber of Commerce.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the number of cases of vandalism to telephone kiosks in Great Britain during 1961 and 1962; and whether there was an increase during 1963.

In 1961 there were 43,000 cases of wilful damage. In 1962 there were 55,000, and in 1963 there were 63,000.

asked the Postmaster-General if a new policy has been introduced in the telephone service resulting in the withdrawal of telephone kiosks from isolated villages in South Wales.

:No, there has been no change in policy. I always have regard both to public amenity and to public finance when considering the provision or withdrawal of telephone kiosks. No kiosk has been withdrawn from rural areas in South Wales, but one which was seldom used was withdrawn from Cwmheldeg in 1962.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now received the report of the Committee of Inquiry into Meat Marketing; and whether he will be publishing it in the near future.

My right hon. Friend received the report on 16th January and it is at present being printed. It will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will in future refuse to appoint members of the general council of the National Economic Development Council who are either executives of companies affiliated to employers' associations, officers of trade unions, or executives in nationalised industries, that have concluded wage settlements in excess of 3½ per cent. during the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

While I share my hon. Friend's view about the damage which too rapid an increase in incomes could inflict upon our economic prosperity, I think that members of the National Economic Development Council must continue to be selected according to the contribution which they can make to its work. It would be inappropriate to lay down rigid qualifications or disqualifications.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Government's proposed capital expenditure programme is dependent on an accepted incomes policy of general increases of 3–3½ per cent. annually; and to what extent recent wage awards necessitate a revision of that programme.

The White Paper "Public Expenditure in 1963–64 and 1967–68", (Cmnd. 2235) makes it clear that public expenditure—both capital and current—must be related to national resources. The growth of

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED AT GATESHEAD AND FELLING
					Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
13th January 1964	…	…	…	…	2,146	162	386	28	2,722
14th January 1963	…	…	…	…	3,264	291	391	97	4,043
15th January, 1962	…	…	…	…	1,600	195	255	49	2,099
16th January, 1961	…	…	…	…	1,468	92	292	15	1,867
Percentage change between 1961 and 1962					+9	+112	-13	+227	+12
Percentage change between 1962 and 1963					+104	+49	+53	+98	+93
Percentage change between 1963 and 1964					-34	-44	-1	-71	-33
There were on 8th January, 252 unfilled vacancies notified to the Gateshead and Felling Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys and girls, respectively, under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-January in the years 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964; what is the number of school leavers registered for first employment at January 1964; and what is the estimated number of school leavers who have taken up full-time further educational courses and who are not included in the number of registered unemployed for January, 1964.

The numbers of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-January in the years 1961 to 1964 were as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, and persons under 18 years of age, male and female, respectively, together with the total number, were registered as unemployed at the January 1964 count in the Gateshead employment area; what were the comparable figures for 1961, 1962, and 1964; what was the percentage increase or decrease between the years 1961 and 1962, 1962 and 1963 and 1963 and 1964; and what was the number of unfilled vacancies at the latest convenient date.

The following is the information:

Date	Boys	Girls
January, 1961	92	15
January, 1962	195	49
January, 1963	291	97
January, 1964	162	28

The January 1964 totals included 49 boys and 5 girls registered for first employment. It is estimated that since September 1963, about 150 school leavers have taken up full-time further educational courses; they are not included in the registered unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, for each region and for Great Britain, respectively, the number of vacancies remaining unfilled in January, 1964, for every 100 persons wholly unemployed, arranging the table in order starting with regions with the least number of vacancies in ratio to numbers of unemployed.

:I will send the hon. Member the information for January, 1964, when that month's unemployment figures become available. The following is the information for December, 1963:

Region	Unfilled vacancies at 4th December to every100 wholly unemployed at 9th December
Northern	8·9
Scotland	13·0
Wales	24·9
North Western	29·3
South Western	50·9
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire	52·1
Midlands	82·6
Eastern and Southern	98·6
London and South Eastern	102·2
Great Britain	47·3

asked the Minister of Labour what was the rate and number of unemployed for each of the exchange areas in the counties of Mon-mouth and Glamorgan at the January count.

The following is the information:

NUMBERS AND RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS IN GLAMORGAN AND MONMOUTHSHIRE ON 13TH JANUARY, 1964
—	Number unemployed	Percentage
Glamorgan Area
Aberdare	350	2·4
Mountain Ash	241
Bargoed	458	4·2
Blackwood	332
Pontlottyn	158
Ystrad Mynach	193
Bridgend	924	4·6
Ogmore Vale	59
Pontycymmer	116
Caerphilly	463	6·3
Senghenydd	168
Cardiff	2,814	2·7
Barry	742
Bute Docks	340
Llantwit Major	63
Penarth	153
Gorseinon	724	7·3*
Pontardulais	324
Maesteg	770	11·2
Cymmer	312
Merthyr Tydfil	561	3·3
Dowlais	164
Treharris	91

asked the Minister of Labour why the number of workers being retrained in Government training establishments is highest in areas of relatively full employment.

The siting of Government training centres is related to placing opportunities as well as to unemployment. Over 60 per cent. of the training places in new centres now being established will be in areas of relatively higher unemployment.

asked the Minister of Health when the report of the Cohen Committee on Health Education will be published.

About the end of April.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds are reserved for private patients in the hospitals under the control of the Blackburn Hospital Management Committee; and what charges are made for use of those beds.

Twelve; £2 17s. to £4 7s. per day.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of wallpaper will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The Report is being published today. The Commission found that monopoly conditions prevailed in the supply of wallpaper. They also found that certain activities of the monopoly supplier had operated or were operating against the public interest, but they concluded that another activity which they had been asked to consider did not.I am studying the Report and the Commission's recommendations.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what facilities have been provided by the United Kingdom Government since the recommendation of the Commonwealth Education Conference published in paragraph 39 of the report, for the training of technologists, technicians, and craftsmen and persons of similar standards in commerce, accountancy, and agriculture, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

In the United Kingdom the facilities provided for technological and technical training are the provision of places for students in universities, teacher training colleges, colleges of technology and technical colleges, and the award of scholarships and bursaries. The principal development since the Delhi Conference, as announced there, is the award of up to 45 bursaries a year to Commonwealth students who pursue a specially designed course of training as technical teachers. There has also been a steady expansion in the total numbers of students from Commonwealth countries receiving training in the United Kingdom, as may be seen in the following tables:

	All students, including university	Students at Technical Colleges
1959–60	30,880	7,660
1962–63	42,095	9,462

Details are given in the supplement to the British Council's publication,

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what steps have been taken to implement the suggestions in paragraph 49 of the report of the Commonwealth Education Conference 1962 with particular reference to the supply of printing paper for textbooks; what facilities are being provided for training overseas students in the writing, preparation, and publication of textbooks; and what bursaries are being offered in this field.

:No special arrangements have been made or requested for the supply of printing paper from Britain. As regards the second part of the Question, in addition to facilities already provided in literature bureaux overseas, a number of which have been aided by British Government funds in the past, a special course in the writing, production and distribution of textbooks opened in October 1963 at the Department of Education in Tropical Areas of the University of London Institute of Education. The course is being run with the fullest co-operation of the Publishers Association, especially those publishers with experience of educational publishing for overseas. Twelve Commonwealth bursaries, the cost of which is met by my Department, were offered and accepted. A further number of up to twelve will shortly be offered for a similar course to commence this October.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what progress has been made in increasing the number of places for practical training in industry, commerce, and banking, for Commonwealth students in the United Kingdom during the years 1962–64; and at what level of academic attainment these places are available.

The estimated total of Commonwealth students following courses of practical training in industry and with professional firms in the U.K. has increased from about 5,100 in 1961–62 to about 5,400 in 1962–63. The 1963–64 figures are not yet available The level of academic attainment varies from the graduate to the holder of an Ordinary National Certificate or Diploma.The possibility of making more training places available for overseas students in industry was considered at a conference convened by the Federation of British Industries last year, in which my Department participated. The broad conclusions readied at this conference are being followed up with the F.B.I. by the appropriate Government Departments.