asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the importance of the judgment delivered by Her Majesty's Court of Appeal in Malta in the Human Rights case, dealing with freedom of conscience and expression under the constitution, if he will place a copy in the Library of the House; what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the offence and preserve human rights on British democratic principles in the new constitution of the island; and if he will make a statement.

A copy of the judgment will be placed in the Library as soon as an English translation is available. With regard to the other parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to Question No. 9.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will introduce measures to ensure fair elections in Malta before that country becomes independent on 31st May.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will approach the Government of the British Virgin Islands and ask whether they wish the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, to be extended to the British Virgin Islands by an Order in Council.

The enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956 was extended to the British Virgin Islands (the Supreme Court of which is the Supreme Court of the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands) by the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Virgin Islands) Order in Council, 1961 of the 24th October, 1961 (S.I. 1961 No. 2033). This Order in Council was one of those listed in my Answer to the hon. and learned Member circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT Of the 20th December, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about plans for further constitutional progress in Basutoland.

The position remains as stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on the 20th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the result of police investigations into the murder of Mr. G. Pondepande, of the Nyasaland Opposition Mbadwa Party.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 4th February.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many officers under the various technical assistance schemes hold appointments in Commonwealth countries; how many new appointments in Commonwealth countries were made in 1962 and 1963, respectively; and how many retirements took effect in each of those years.

On 1st January, this year, about 14,500 such officers, supported by my Department, held such appointments in Commonwealth Countries. This does not include young volunteers and some other categories with which my Department is concerned.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, what aid he is proposing to give to the Universities of Barbados and British Guiana.

No assistance has been sought in respect of the University of Guyana. A sum of £450,000 for the period 1963–66 has been earmarked for the University of the West Indies, of which the new College of Arts and Science in Barbados is a constituent part.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Minister for Welsh Affairs when he intends to implement the proposals of the Wilson Committee with regard to the registration of specially noisy industrial processes.

My right hon. Friend is considering these proposals, but further investigations and consultations will be necessary before he can reach any conclusions. They could not be implemented without legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the present strength of the Welsh Economic Intelligence Unit at Cardiff; what are the qualifications of its personnel; and what proposals he has for strengthening or enlarging the unit in the course of the next three months.

The Survey and Development Division, as it is now called, is made up of eight people, including fully qualified planning and research officers. It is also able to draw on the wider resources of the Welsh Office and on the specialist advice of the other Government Departments which are co-operating in the Welsh Survey. My right hon. Friend will appoint additional staff if he finds that necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further consultations will take place with building interests before the new building regulations for England and Wales are laid; and by what dates he anticipates they will be brought into operation.

The Building Regulations Advisory Committee submitted their report on the draft regulations jointly to my right hon. Friends the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, and the Minister of Public Building and Works on 31st January. It is a little too early for a statement on the points raised by the, hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to re-examine the question of smoke control, in view of the difficulties experienced by consumers in securing supplies of smokeless fuels.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued to local authorities on this matter in December.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) when he expects to publish the South-East Regional Planning Study;(2) whether he will give the statistical basis on which his Department estimates that the population of Hertfordshire will increase by 330,000 by 1981; whether he will give the figures showing how this estimated growth will be distributed within Hertfordshire; how much of it will be caused by migration; and how much will be caused by natural increase.

I hope that it will be possible for the date of publication of the Study to be announced shortly. It will include provisional estimates of the population growth that needs to be provided for by local planning authorities in the South-East, and I think it would be best not to anticipate these.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that there are no chemical tests for determining toxic quantities of fluoroacetates to cattle and dogs when the amounts present in drinking water are less than one part in 10 millions, what is a safe dilution for fluoroacetate or sodium fluoroacetate which may be present at the outfall from a sewerage treatment works.

The maximum concentration which would not kill dogs if present in their drinking water is not known with any precision; it is believed to be of the order of 0·2 parts per million, but it may prove to be somewhat lower. Since sewage effluents are normally diluted upon entering a stream, it seems most unlikely that the amount of fluoroacetamide or fluoroacetate finding its way into sewers can present any danger at all, even in the most unfavourable circumstances. There is no reason to believe that cattle are more sensitive than dogs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs by what means the toxic waste material from the fluoroacetamide factory at Smarden was disposed of prior to the industrial accident there.

I understand that certain waste material from the factory was deposited on land at the back of the factory. According to the firm, the material deposited in this way did not include waste from the manufacture of fluoroacetamide. Nevertheless, certain fields, ditches and ponds nearby were contaminated by an organo-fluorine compound, probably fluoroacetamide, which appears to have come from the waste material deposited at the back of the factory.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs in what way manufacturers of rodenticide, based on fluoroacetamide, dispose of their waste material; and whether, in the light of the incident at Smarden, he is satisfied with the safety precautions and method of disposal.

Power to take action where disposal of waste may prejudice health or pollute a stream rests with local authorities and river boards, and I have no comprehensive information about what is done. But in the light of the Smarden incident my right hon. Friend is considering whether any action on his part is called for.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he will state the nine points contained in the observations made by the local planning authority to his planning inspector regarding the need to preserve the beauty of Ash Green village, Trentham;(2) if he is satisfied that the whole of the facts were before the inquiry held by his inspector into the proposed erection of another petrol station in the Ash Green village, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent; what was the price paid for the site; what price was being asked for the same site in 1958 and 1960, respectively; what is the size of the site; how many garages there are in the village what is the distance between each garage and the proposed new petrol filling station; and if he will hold a further inquiry into how the proposals were approved;(3) if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information available to him, for the purpose of exercising his planning responsibilities, regarding the number of petrol filling stations within five miles and within three miles, respectively, of Ash Green village, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, the full contents of the preamble to the petition sent to him by the residents of the village concerning the proposed building of a new petrol station, and the opinions of other petrol filling stations and the Motor Traders Association as supplied to his inspector.

By agreement with the appellant and the local planning authority, my right hon. Friend's decision on this appeal, given in April, 1963, was reached after consideration of their written statements which they disclosed to each other, and a description of the site and its surroundings by an officer of the Department. The local planning authority's statement indicated the objections by local residents including the operators of other filling stations. In such cases where the parties to the appeal have themselves agreed to dispense with a local inquiry it is not my right hon. Friend's practice to publish the evidence on which his decision is based, but I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the decision letter. My right hon. Friend has no power to reopen an appeal once it has been determined.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will hold a public inquiry before giving permission to build another petrol filling station in Trentham, within the city of Stoke-on-Trent.

That will depend on the circumstances of the particular case. For reasons of economy and speed my right hon. Friend encourages the use of the written representation procedure, which dispenses with a public inquiry, where this is convenient to the parties to the appeal and where, by the nature of the case, it appears suitable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will, through his officers, give every assistance to the planning authority of Stoke-on-Trent to enable it to preserve the beauties and historical buildings in Penkhull and Trentham.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs by what means the water from the recently dug drainage ditch round the contaminated land at Smarden is disposed of, and where.

The water is being taken in tankers and discharged to the tidal chamber of the canal outfall belonging to the Kent River Board at Dymchurch. I am advised that this means of disposal is entirely safe.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the estimated tonnage of soil to be removed from Smarden because of its extreme toxicity.

Two thousand tons.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why planning permission was not given for the development of, and building of, more than 100 dwellings on land at Podmore, Scarning, Norfolk; and, in view of the shortage of houses in the area, if he will reconsider his decision and allow these houses to be built.

The proposal was rejected by the Norfolk County Council because it did not comply with their policy for development in rural areas. The applicants appealed but my right hon. Friend could not accept the appeal because they had not complied with a statutory requirement. They are, of course, free to make a fresh application and appeal to him if permission is again refused.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give the total amount of grants and subsidies paid to local authorities for housing in the calendar year 1951; and, taking that year as being 100 per cent., what has been the percentage rise or fall in such grants for each of the calendar years to date.

Figures can most conveniently be given for financial years. The total amount of Exchequer subsidies and grants paid to local authorities in England and Wales in respect of permanent housing in 1951–52 was £25,396,661. Following are the total payments in each subsequent financial year expressed as a percentage of the amount in 1951–52:

1951–52	100
1952–52	118
1953–54	140
1954–55	166
1955–56	190
1956–57	198
1957–58	209
1958–59	227
1959–60	237
1960–61	240
1961–62	251
1962–63	253

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that since 1951 the tender price of a 900 square foot three-bedroomed house built by local authorities had risen by 72 per cent. as at the end of 1963; and what action he proposes to take to reverse this rise in the cost of building council houses.

In the same period the wage rates of building workers have gone up by more than 75 per cent. The remedy lies in increased productivity and the Government are helping the building industry to achieve this in several ways. My right hon. Friend is encouraging housing authorities to form groups for placing large and continuing orders, which will enable the building industry to plan ahead and to make fuller use of labour-saving techniques in producing both house components and houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make arrangements for Mr. Arthur Bertram Waters to be invited to give evidence in person to the Milner Holland Committee investigating the housing situation in London.

That must be left to the Committee. I have no doubt that if they think Mr. Waters can assist them in their inquiries they will invite him to give evidence.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will give details of the qualifications required for the post of speech writer recently advertised by his Department.

The post referred to is for a principal information officer and not a speech writer. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the advertisement which states the qualifications required. These are normal requirements for such posts, except that special experience of technological and scientific subjects is specified.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science how many research projects inquiring into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of perceptive deafness have been supported by the Medical Research Council in the last 10 years; what was the total expenditure on such projects; and if he will make a statement.

The Council have two Research Units concerned entirely with otological problems, although their work is not confined to perceptive deafness. The Council also support, through the award of research grants, relevant work carried out at other institutions. Summaries of this work are published in the Council's annual reports to Parliament. I regret that it is not possible to estimate separately the expenditure on work related to perceptive as distinct from conductive deafness and other related problems.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to co-ordinate and strengthen the supervision of the buying activities of Government Departments, to avoid overpayments such as that illustrated in the case of the Bloodhound missile project referred to in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The machinery for coordinating the procurement policy of Government Departments was reviewed about twelve months ago, and improved arrangements instituted. On the question whether any further action is necessary in the light of the case of the Bloodhound missile project to which the hon. Member refers, I should prefer to await Sir John Lang's Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual percentage rise or fall in the expenditure of each of the Government Departments since October 1951, taking that year as being equal to 100.

Figures of expenditure by Government Departments on Votes over the previous 10 years are published annually in the Financial Secretary's Memorandum on the Estimates. I am afraid that to provide the hon. Member with all the additional information he asks for would entail a disproportionate amount of time and labour, but I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing total expenditure on Votes year by year since 1951–52 and how each year compares with 1951–52.Following is the table:

TOTAL EXPENDITURE FROM DEFENCE AND CIVIL VOTES (EXCLUDING THE POST OFFICE)
Year	Actual Expenditure	Index (1951–52=100)
	£ million
1951–52	3,528·4	100
1952–53	3,670·2	104·0
1953–54	3,613·5	102·4
1954–55	3,664·7	103·9
1955–56	3,747·4	106·2
1956–57	4,046·3	114·7
1957–58	4,156·7	117·8
1958–59	4,301·5	121·9
1959–60	4,530·2	128·4
1960–61	4,986·1	141·3
1961–62	5,364·1	152·0
1962–63	5,674·0	160·8
1963–64	6,269·3 (a)	177·7

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in view of the fact that when the Trades Union Congress were co-operating with the Government of 1945–51 on wage restraint the issues were discussed at every level of the trade union movement, if he will adopt this as the policy of Her Majesty's Government and recommend it to the Council during the present talks in the National Economic Development Council; and if he will make a statement;(2) what conditions the Trades Union Congress representatives at the National Economic Development Council laid down for joining in an agreed incomes policy; what was his reply; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's declared policy is to co-operate with the trades unions and with management in discussion of policies favourable to faster economic growth. This we have been doing in the National Economic Development Council and incomes policy is one of the most important subjects being considered. The Council has not yet reached agreement on this very difficult problem, but it has accepted from the start that this is a necessary part of its task. It would not be right for me to add to the account of the discussion which has been given on the authority of the Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss in Excise duty to the Revenue that would result from the introduction of the proposed camera impart duty cuts.

I have not made any such estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether members of the Civil Service are debarred from the privilege of writing to their Members of Parliament in cases of difficulty; and whether disciplinary action is taken in such cases.

Members of the Civil Service are not debarred from writing to Members of Parliament about matters of general interest (including any general matter affecting the Civil Service so long as it is a problem affecting others besides the writer) or about a personal matter which is not connected with his job or his Department. Civil servants are not allowed to introduce outside influence to obtain personal advantage over other members of the Civil Service; attempts to do so would be treated as breaches of discipline, and the action taken on it by the Department would depend on how seriously they regarded the case in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the changed circumstances since his predecessor declined to accept the principle that all unestablished service in the Civil Service should count for pension rights, he will now review this question.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now authorise the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to proceed with the borrowing necessary to enable them to complete the scheme for extending electricity to the remote areas which the Board has submitted to Her Majesty's Government as an alternative to the Mackenzie Committee's proposals.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply given on 22nd January to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm MacMillan).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of the subsidy of 25s. a cran for herring landed for fishmeal and oil reduction during the month of January.

The cost of the subsidy of 25s. a cran for herring landed by U.K. registered vessels at Scottish ports during the month of January and sold for reduction to oil and meal is, in round figures, £7,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has completed his estimates of the costs and earnings of the Scottish herring drifter fleet for 1963; and if he will make a statement.

No. The returns of costs and earnings for 1963 for the Scottish herring drifter fleet which the fishermen have been asked, in accordance with normal practice, to send to my Department, are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present difference in price being paid by the factories in Fraserburgh and Stornoway for herring to be converted to fishmeal; what factors govern this difference; and whether he will make a statement.

I am told that the price offered by the commercial firm at Fraserburgh is 33s. 6d. per cran delivered to the factory. Out of that sum the fishermen have to pay the Herring Industry Board's levy of 3s. 6d. per cran as well as harbour dues at the port of landing and the cost of transport to the factory. The price paid by the Board for herring bought for reduction at their Stornoway factory is 15s. per cran at the quayside in Stornoway, inclusive of the Board's levy and only harbour dues have to be deducted to give the net price. The Board tell me that the lower price at Stornoway is the most they feel able to pay having regard to the very small and irregular quantities of surplus herring offered at Stornoway; if they could be assured of a larger and regular throughput they might well be able to offer a higher price.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further markets he has secured for the present catch of the herring drift net fleet.

The marketing of the herring catch by the drift net fleet is a matter for the fishermen themselves. The Herring Industry Board, however, assist the fishermen in arranging sales of herring—particularly exports—whenever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many herring drifters have had to leave the herring drift net fleet from the northeast of Scotland since the end of November last year.

The number of vessels registered at north-east of Scotland ports engaged in drift net fishing for herring at the end of November was 81 and on the 7th February was 30; most of the boats in the drift net fleet can be used for catching other kinds of fish with other gear, and I understand that over 40 are so employed at present out of the balance of the fleet which was drift netting in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress is being made in Kenya with the settlement of landless Africans on mixed farming land acquired from Europeans under the million acre scheme with subsequent extensions; how many European farms are being purchased; whether the selection has now been completed; what is his estimate of the number of European farmers outside the present purchase area who would surrender their farms and stock on a fair basis of valuation; and when he expects to receive the review of the impact of these measures on the land problem in Kenya, including the purchase of further European farms by the Government and the settlement of landless Africans.

About 11,500 African families have so far been settled under approved Land Settlement Schemes and about 600 Europeans' farms purchased. It is expected that approximately 1,000 farms in all will be bought under the existing schemes, but the purchasing programme for the final years has not yet been decided. I regret that no estimate is available of the number of European farmers outside the settlement areas who wish to sell their farms. The proposed review has not yet taken place. I am in touch with the Kenya Government about the timing of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what agreement has been made between the British and Southern Rhodesian Governments regarding Southern Rhodesia no longer being regarded as a Colony, as stated by Mr. Winston Field on 6th February; what this constitutional change implies; and what legislation he proposes to introduce to give this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations in view of the policy of the Southern Rhodesian Government, as declared by the statement of its Prime Minister, that the country is no longer to be called a Colony, if he will make a statement on the constitutional position of that country.

We usually try to avoid, as far as possible, the use of the term "Colony" when referring to territories which have, reached an advance stage of internal self-government. There is no constitutional significance in this. Mr. Field drew my attention to the fact that we hail on some occasions departed from this Practice in respect of Southern Rhodesia. I assured him that if that was so, it was unintentional.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish in the United Kingdom the Report of the Educational Planning Mission for Tanganyika submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 1963.

No. Any question of publication is a matter for the Government of Tanganyika.

asked the Minister of Education if he will set up an inquiry into the special problems of early school leavers whose subsequent training is jeopardised by amphetamine addiction and other symptoms of teenage insecurity, and make proposals for the guidance and advice of the national educational service to be available in continuity throughout their occupational training.

No. Machinery already exists through the Youth Employment Service to help all young people leaving school and entering employment with problems related to their training and further education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, among evidence from Government sources presented to the Advisory Committee on Juvenile Delinquency, he will include the latest information available on amphetamine addiction, both as a contributory factor in and a symptom of the insecurity of early school leavers in their first occupations.

I will certainly provide the Committee with all available information, if it wishes to consider this subject.

asked the Prime Minister what services provided at public expense he uses during his visits to different parts of the country to address political party meetings; and whether he made use of such services during his recent visit to Lancashire.

The answer to the first part of the Question is that services are provided for the conduct of official business; and to the second part is yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will conduct an inquiry into the use of General Post Office facilities for the distribution of political pamphlets by private organisations, bearing in mind the concern expressed by hon. Members and his predecessor on 12th November, 1958, on the use of mailing lists, and in view of Establishment Circular No. 36/58, which was sent to all Government Departments as a result; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of farms in North Staffordshire; how many are owner-occupied; and on how many the tenant pays rent.

I regret that this information is not available for North Staffordshire. In the county as a whole there were 8,090 holdings in June 1963. As for the second part of the Question, our best estimate based upon a survey carried out in 1961, is that just under half the land in the county is owner-occupied and just over half is tenanted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the result of his recent discussions with the principal overseas suppliers of cereals to this country; and if he will make a statement.

Following exchanges over recent months, agreement in principle has been reached between the United Kingdom Government and the Governments of Canada, Australia, the United States and Argentina on arrangements for co-operation in connection with the proposed minimum import price system for cereals, cereal products and by-products imported into the United Kingdom. Further details remain to be worked out, and the final conclusion of the arrangements will not take place until the United Kingdom Government have decided on the arrangements for home grown cereals in 1964–65 after consultations with the Farmers' Unions have been completed in the forthcoming Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the latest estimates he has made of the agricultural subsidies for the United Kingdom for 1963–64, together with comparable figures for the previous year.

I. FARMING GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES	1963–64	1962–63
	£ million
1. General Fertilisers Subsidy	32·3	33·9
2. Lime Subsidy	7·8	10·0
3. Grants for Ploughing up Grassland	1·0	11·3
4. Field Drainage and Water Supply Grants	8·3	3·8
5. Grants for Improvement of Livestock Rearing Land	1·5	1·5
6. Marginal Production Assistance Grants	0·7	0·7
7. Bonus Payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme	8·3	5·2
8. Calf Subsidy	18·9	17·7
9. Hill Cattle and Hill Sheep	7·9	6·8
10. Silo Subsidies	0·3	0·6
11. Grants for Farm Improvements	0·3	10·3
12. Grants to Rabbit Clearance Societies	0·4	0·3
13. Grants to Small Farmers	6·0	7·2
14. Other grants	0·1	0·1
Total I	102·8	109·4

II. IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRICE GUARANTEES
1. Cereals:
Wheat and Rye	…	…	…	30·5		16·6
Barley	…	…	…	36·5		36·3
Oats and mixed corn		…	…	10·0		11·0
					77·0		63·9
2. Fatstock
Cattle	…	…	…	43·9		30·5
Sheep	…	…	…	13·9		18·9
Pigs	…	…	…	29·9		51·7
	…	…	…		87·7		101·1
3. Eggs	…	…	…		21·0	21·5
4. Milk (excluding school and welfare milk					—*		—*
5. Wool	…	…	…		0·6		3·2
6. Potatoes	…	…	…		0·5		0·4
TOTAL.II		…	…		186·8		190·1
III. OTHER SERVICES
Payment to the Exchequer of Northern Ireland					1·5		1·1
TOTALS I, II AND III			…		291·1		300·6
IV ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES Applicable to I and II only			…		9·4		9·0
TOTAL EXTIMATED COST OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT					300·5		309·6
Details of the original estimates of the cost of agricultural support were included in Table V of the Memorandum by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the Estimates 1963–64 (Cmnd. 1965).
* Following the 1962 Annual Review the retail price was arranged so that neither a deficiency nor a surplus will arise, taking one year with another, from the implementation of the price guarantee.

The following are particulars of the latest estimates of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1963–64 for which provisions have been made in the Civil Estimates, Class V, Votes 3, 4, 5 and 6, as amended by the Supplementary Estimates, published yesterday, with comparable figures for the financial year 1962–63.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what precautions are being taken to ensure against primary poisoning to fish and secondary poisoning to man in the disposal of chemical residues in contaminated soil and sludge at sea.

I am advised that fluoroacetamide, while stable, is extremely soluble in water, and that the dumping of the soil and sludge from Smarden beyond the continental shelf would obviate any risk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that the manufacturers of Tritox, used at the rate of 10 parts per million of fluoroacetamide, advised against using their product on edible plants, why his department advised the use of Megatox at the strength of 250 parts per million on edible crops such as sugar beet, brassicas, broad beans and strawberries; and what tests were carried out before the time interval of four weeks between spraying and harvesting was advised, in view of the fact that fluoroacetamide is now known to remain stable in soil and water for a number of years.

On the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage, the Government Departments concerned agreed to the use of Magatox on four out of the seven edible crops requested by the manufacturers, subject to recommendations for its safe use which stipulated the maximum rate and frequency of application for each crop and laid down a minimum interval of four weeks between spraying and harvest. These recommendations were based on the results of a series of studies carried out by the manufacturers, a consultant research centre and my Department which showed that the amount of fluoroacetamide in the crops four weeks after spraying was nil or barely detectable. While fluoroacetamide is very stable in pure water, in soil it is broken down by micro-organisms and soon loses its activity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total value of agricultural exports produced and exported from Great Britain in each of the years 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and to the latest convenient comparable date; if he will list the principal items; and if he will make a statement.

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend the information for which he asks and am also making it available in the Library of the House. Over this five-year period, exports of agricultural and horticultural produce increased from £42 million to £60 million.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent, in deciding whether to authorise the closure of the Stroud General Hospital, he will take into consideration the extra cost of the ambulance services, the number of man-hours lost to production and the loss of wages which will result in the Stroud area by reason of casualties being taken to Gloucester or Bristol.

No proposal to close Stroud General Hospital is before me. When the time comes to consider its future the primary consideration must be to ensure that patients get the best medical treatment available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many employees of British Railways will become redundant in the Aberdare and Mountain Ash employment exchange areas when the passenger train services on the Abercynon to Aberdare and the Neath-Aberdare-Pontypool lines are withdrawn.

I understand that the Railways Board estimate that 59 workers in the Aberdare and Mountain Ash Employment Exchange areas will be affected by these closures but that they hope to offer them alternative employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to provide alternative employment for those employees who will become redundant by the decision to withdraw the passenger train services from the AvercynonAberda re and the Neath-Aberdare-Pontypool lines.

I understand that the Railways Board hope to offer alternative employment to all the workers affected by these closures. Should, however, arty of them need to seek other employment the full facilities of our Department, including training where appropriate, will be available to them.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the average unemployment figures for Scotland from 1951 to 1963, inclusive, shown as a percentage of the working population; and what Information he has received through the International Labour Office of the corresponding figures for Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Canada, and the United States of America.

The following is the information:

Year	Annual average percentage rate of unemployment—Scotland
1951	2·5
1952	3·3
1953	3·0
1954	2·8
1955	2·4
1956	2·4
1957	2·6
1958	3·8
1959	4·4
1960	3·7
1961	3·2
1962	3·8
1963	4·8

Some research will be necessary before the corresponding figures for Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Canada and the United States of America can be compiled. I am having the information prepared and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the average monthly unemployment rates in Scotland for the following periods: 1929–31 and 1945–47 under the Unemployment Insurance Schemes, and 1952–62 under the National Insurance Acts.

The following is the information:

Period	Average percentage rate of unemployment: Scotland
1929–31	19·1
1945–47	3·7
1952–62	3·2

asked the Minister of Labour if he will review the working of the Youth Employment Service and introduce means by which early school-leavers who leave their first occupations can obtain further special help from his Department, particularly in cases where a contributory factor has been amphetamine addiction or other symptoms of teenage insecurity.

The Youth Employment Service already offers vocational guidance and placing help to all young people under 18, whether in first employment or not. Boys and girls are encouraged to keep in touch with the Service after they have started work. The Service is not responsible for dealing with problems of drug addiction as such, but Youth Employment Officers will help young people seeking special aid to make contact with the appropriate local health and social welfare services.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development in view of the decision of West Germany to stop all imports of eggs from Common Market countries and elsewhere, what consideration he has given to the need for measures to save the British market from being flooded with eggs offered at uneconomically low prices at a time when production is exceptionally high here and on the Continent.

I understand that this decision is to be considered by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community. At this stage there can be no certainty that the import of eggs into the United Kingdom will be abnormal. The Government are watching the position carefully and I hope that our suppliers will have regard to the desirability of exercising restraint in the sale of eggs to this market.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new jobs he expects will be provided in Sunderland in 1964.

Jobs in prospect in the Sunderland, Pallion and Southwick employment exchange areas amount to approximately 3,550; but I cannot say how many will actually materialise in 1964. Of this number, at least 1,550 jobs will be provided by projects which are expected to be completed during this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1) how many advance factories have been built by the Government in Scotland during the last five years; how many of these are now occupied; and how many jobs they have provided;(2) how many advance factories completed or under construction by the Government in Scotland are still awaiting occupation by industry; and what further plans he has for additional advance factories.

In the last five years eighteen advance factories have been approved in Scotland. One factory is occupied. Five more have been allocated and should be occupied soon. These six factories together should in time provide about 2,200 jobs. Two other factories are now available for occupation; seven are under construction; and three are in earlier stages of preparation. I am presently considering what further advance factories may be required.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he is making for the relief of hardship caused to passengers by the withdrawal of the Abercynon-Aberdare and the Neath-Aberdare-Pontypool passenger services.

Existing alternative services will provide adequately for the bulk of the present rail users, and my consent to these closures is subject to notification of any proposal to withdraw or substantially reduce any of them. It is also conditional on the provision of the following additional services to meet particular needs:1. A through bus service once a day each way between Cwmbach and Hirwaun Trading Estate to accommodate workers at present using the morning and evening trains.2. A through bus service between Aberdare and Ystrad Mynach in each direction at times corresponding to the existing early morning trains and in each direction in the evening to accommodate travellers now using the corresponding return trains.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) in view of the inadequate roads in the Cynon Valley and the consequent hazards to the residents, if he will delay the withdrawal of the passenger services from the Abercynon-Aberdare and the Neath-AberdarePontypool lines until improvements are made to these roads;(2) in consequence of his decision to withdraw passenger services from the Abercynon-Aberdare and the Neath-Aberdare-Pontypool lines, what steps he is taking to improve the roads in the Cynon Valley.

I am satisfied that these two closures will have a negligible effect on the traffic on the two main roads serving the Cynon Valley. The Glamorgan County Council is the highway authority for both roads. Improvements under the road programme are already in progress at Cynon Star and any further proposals from the council will be considered on their merits.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for the publication of an illustration and of other details of the proposed new buses and the new bus-trailers which are intended to carry luggage, prams and similar objects after the closure of branch railway lines.

My proposed new requirements for bus trailers and their towing vehicles have already been circulated to interested parties and to the Press. The necessary changes in Regulations will be laid before the House. Illustrations of one prototype luggage trailer demonstrated three weeks ago have already been published. A new design of bus is not required, because existing types can be modified to draw trailers. The requirements will give operators scope to use a variety of trailers according to their particular needs, wherever these may arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Regular soldiers enlisted in the Regular Army in Scotland in 1963; and in which counties and cities they enlisted.

The following is the information:

Enlistments in 1963—Scottish Command
Place of Enlistment	Recruits
Aberdeen	140
Dumfries (and outstation Ayr)	178
Dundee (and outstation Kirkcaldy)	348
Edinburgh	502
Glasgow (and outstations Hamilton and Stirling)	809
Inverness (and outstation Elgin)	80
	2,057

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the percentage of disabled men at present employed by his Department.

4·3

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for hon. Members to have an opportunity of seeing the designs for the Shakespeare stamps.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for the designs to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall for one week from tomorrow.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1) what is the number of persons who served in the Royal Navy in the area of Japan in 1945 who have since contracted leukaemia; and if he will state the date of diagnosis and the arrangements made for pensions in each case;(2) what is the number of persons who served on HM.S. "Implacable" in the area of Japan in 1945 who have since contracted leukaemia; and if he will state the date of diagnosis and the arrangements made for pensions in each case.

I regret that the information, which can only be extracted from individual case records going back over a number of years, is not readily available.A search of the records is being made and I will send the results to my hon. Friend as soon as possible. Naval records do not, however, include details of men who have been discharged from the Service medically fit and have contracted leukaemia later.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how far away from the two atomic explosions in Japan in 1945 H.M.S. "Implacable" was; and how close the ship, and aeroplanes from the ship, subsequently went to the area of contamination.

On 6th August 1945 H.M.S. "Implacable" was 740 miles from Hiroshima; bad weather precluded operational flying. She did not move any closer during, the next few days, and on 9th August, 1945, the ship was 800 miles and her aircraft 660 miles from Nagasaki. During the following week H.M.S. "Implacable" proceeded to Manus, her course taking her even further away from the area of the explosions.