asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the difference in cost to the Admiralty of issuing a free leave warrant for air travel between Stornoway and the mainland and of issuing one by the surface route; and whether cost is the deciding factor in issuing or not issuing free leave warrants for air travel by officers and other ranks of the Royal Navy within the United Kingdom.

The difference in cost between issuing a free leave warrant for air travel for the only direct route to the mainland, that is Stornoway to Inverness, and that for the same surface journey would be between £1 and £3, depending on the class of travel.As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the full explanations which I and other Ministers have already given my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Aviation what decision he has reached about the operation of night jet services at London (Heathrow) Airport this summer.

A maximum of 5,500 movements by jet aircraft at Heathrow between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. has been authorised from 1st April to 31st October, 1964. This compares with 4,800 such movements over the corresponding period last year. This increase has been authorised subject to the number of movements during the same period of Super Constellations and D.C.7s—the noisiest of the non-jet types—being reduced by at least 700 compared with the figure for the summer of 1963.We shall continue to ensure that the airlines maintain their present good record in keeping noise within the level permitted and to encourage research into methods of reducing aircraft noise.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to inform people living in the vicinity of London (Heathrow) Airport about the measures taken to minimise disturbance from aircraft noise.

I have arranged, with the collaboration of the Central Office of Information, for a mobile exhibition to visit during the coming summer the main areas affected by aircraft noise. I am in touch with the local authorities concerned about the detailed arrangements. A pamphlet, entitled "Quietening the Jet", has been prepared by the Ministry of Aviation to describe the measures taken to minimise jet aircraft noise, and copies have been sent to local interests.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the concern felt by parents generally and Roman Catholics in particular at firms supplying contraceptives and literature about them to households by using the unaddressed envelope delivery service; and, in view of the fact that they are liable to fall into the hands of children and give offence to their parents, what action he proposes to take to ensure that this does not happen.

I do not propose to accept such matter in the household delivery service.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Shakespearian stamps are to be issued on 23rd April; who designed them; in how many colours they are printed; how many of each denomination will be issued; and how long they will be on sale.

Five Shakespeare stamps will be issued on 23rd April. Four of the stamps have been designed by David Gentleman, the fifth by Christopher and Robin Ironside. Three of the stamps will be printed in four colours, one in three colours and one in a single colour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the mileage of public roads at 15th May, 1963, divided into trunk, class I, class II, class III and unclassified.

At 15th May, 1963, the figures were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give the expenditure on roads for 1962–63, as given in Table 5 of Appendix 17 to the Scottish Development Department Report for 1962, divided into new construction and major improvement, maintenance and minor improvement, and other expenditure, by local authorities and the Exchequer, respectively, including payments made by the department to other than local authorities in respect of work on trunk roads.

I am sending the hon. Member an advance copy of the table which will appear in the 1963 report.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many firm commitments have been made by industrialists to develop in the central West Fife growth area in the last nine months; and how many jobs are likely to result for males and females, respectively.

Since 1st May, 1963, industrialists have indicated their intention to proceed with 18 projects in the area. These are estimated to provide over 1,800 jobs, of which well over half the expected to be for males.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware of dissatisfaction expressed in Yorkshire at his declared policy of concentrating on the planning problems of other parts of the country, in view of the drift away of population because of the bad housing conditions and lack of industrial prospects of a long-term nature; and if he will now expedite the preparation of a White Paper for this and neighbouring areas.

I do not share the hon. Member's pessimistic view of the prospects for Yorkshire but as I told him in answer to a Question on January 30th I am considering the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the number of staff employed by his Department in 1934 and 1964.

In 1934, 1,595 staff were employed by the Foreign Office in this country and abroad. Now the figure is 7,784.Both totals exclude locally-engaged staff abroad. The 1934 figure included the staff of the Commercial Diplomatic Service of the Department of Overseas Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what economic assistance has recently been given by Her Majesty's Government to Morocco.

There is no regular programme of economic aid to Morocco, but Her Majesty's Government operate a modest technical assistance programme. In addition to this, they have recently made to the Moroccan Government a gift of vehicles to a value of £25,000. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote the necessary funds for this gift by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has sent to the letter about the status of audiological technicians in the National Health Service, dated 12th December, 1963, which he received from the Honorary Secretary of the British Association of Otolaryngologists and the Deputy Secretary of the British Medical Association.

My right hon. Friend's Deputy Chief Medical Officer has written to the Honorary Secretary of the British Association of Otolaryngologists suggesting a meeting to discuss the proposals which have been made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the percentage rise or fall in National Health Service charges for each year since October, 1961, taking that year to be equal to 100.

The yield from charges in 1962–63 was 3·4 per cent. higher, and the estimated yield in 1963–64 is 7 per cent. higher, than the yield in the financial year 1961–62. The figures include charges made by local health authorities but exclude charges for welfare foods.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average annual percentage of increase in the remuneration of the average general practitioner for the period 1951 to 1964.

The average income from official sources of general practitioners taking part in the General Medical Service has risen between 1951 and 1964 by 40 per cent. representing about 3 per cent. (or about 2·7 per cent. compound) for each year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual percentage rise or fall in unemployment since October, 1951, taking that year as being equal to 100.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the United States Government suggesting that the United Kingdom Government should permit increased imports of beef; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations from the United States Government to permit increased imports of beef.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now completed his negotiations with other Departments about increasing from £200 the sum which may be transferred on death by a Government Department without extracting probate.

Yes. The scope of the necessary legislation is now being considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the total number of civil servants employed

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what were the total sums spent in 1951 and in the latest convenient year on grants to persons, education, and health and welfare, respectively; and what was the percentage of the gross national product in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his forthcoming Budget he will so arrange per-

The numbers of civil servants employed were as follows:

The categories mentioned in the Question involve some duplication since part of total expenditure on education, health and welfare consist of grants to persons. The extent of the duplication is therefore shown separately in the table below. The figures cover total expenditure, current and capital, by both central and local government and include expenditure in Northern Ireland.sonal Income Tax as to ensure that no person will be called upon to pay Income Tax if his or her total sources of income fall below the national average minimum wage level as recorded by the Ministry of Labour during the present financial year.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion but I do not think it is a good idea.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual percentage rise or fall in the £ sterling and cost of living since October, 1951, taking that date as representing 100 per cent. in both instances.

The information is given below. The purchasing power of the £ has been estimated from the movements in the consumers' price index. The figures for the Index of Retail Prices have been obtained by linking series with different weighting systems and different base dates and the movements over the whole period are therefore only approximate.

asked the Minister of Transport what porportion of the money spent on roads in the last year was spent on the provision of new roads; and what proportion was spent on improvements to existing roads.

In the financial year 1962–63 the total public expenditure on roads in England and Wales was £235,408,000 (£127,876,000 from central funds). £66,723,000, or 28 per cent., was spent on new construction (£61,023,000 from central funds); £33,948,000, or 14 per cent., on major improvements (£20,587,000 from central funds); £87,428,000, or 37 per cent., on maintenance and minor improvements (£36,533,000 from central funds). The remainder was spent on cleansing, watering, snow-clearing and administrative expenses. These figures are partly based on estimates provided by the local authorities concerned and are provisional.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to implement the Convention of the Co-ordinating Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution of the Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Following the passing of the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1963, Her Majesty's Government have accepted the amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954, adopted by an international conference in 1962. But under Article XVI of the Convention the amendments cannot become effective until 12 months after the date on which two-thirds of the Convention countries have deposited acceptances with the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation. I understand that 10 countries out of 27 have accepted so far.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the growing practice of former Ministers of the Crown taking appointments with companies with which they placed contracts during their period of Ministerial appointment; and whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit an ex-Minister of the Crown accepting such an appointment during the lifetime of the Parliament in which he held Ministerial office.

For the reasons which I have indicated in reply to previous Questions, I do not think that legislation would be wise or necessary.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science how much is being spent from public funds on telecommunications research; and whether he will name the organisations undertaking the research.

Government expenditure on civil research into telecommunications was just over £1 million in 1962–63, and is running at about the same level in 1963–64. This research is undertaken by the General Post Office and by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual percentage rise or fall in the construction of local authority houses since October, 1951, taking that date as being equal to 100.

Figures can most conveniently be given for calendar years. The

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will give the percentage rise or fall in National Insurance contributions for each year since October, 1951, taking that year as being equal to 100.

The following table shows the flat-rate contributions payable in respect of an employed man at 1st October, 1951, and from each of the dates of subsequent increases, together with the percentage index figure in each case, taking the October, 1951, rates as 100.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what pension a married man would actuarially be entitled to receive on retirement in 1963, assuming that he and his employers had contributed to the National Insurance Fund the contributions which in fact each has contributed since 1948.

The maximum amount that could have been contributed for retirement pensions since 5th July, 1948, by an insured man and his employer would, if accumulated with interest at 3½ per cent. per annum to 31st December, 1963, be equal in value to a joint pension of 14s. a week for a man aged 65 with a wife aged 60.