asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the maximum sum of money anyone who retired on 1st January this year can have contributed to his own retirement pension; with the pension at the present level, how much in total he may expect to draw by way of pension, assuming the current expectation of life; alternatively, what is the capital value of his pension, assuming interest throughout the contribution period at 3½ per cent.; and what are the relevant figures for a married pensioner.

The accumulated value of the maximum contributions a man, whether married or single, could have paid for retirement pension since 1926 would at 3½ per cent. interest be nearly £270, with a similar amount paid by his employer. A single man who retires at 65 would receive about £2,200 in retirement pension on an average expectation of life. Similarly a married man of 65 and his wife of 60 would receive about £4,800. The capital value of these pensions, again assuming 3½ per cent. interest, would be £1,700 for a single man and £3,500 for a married couple.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many men during 1963 were refused a National Assistance Board allowance during the first week of resumption of work and told to approach their employers for part wages.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in how many instances during the past five years men were accepted by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board as suffering from pneumoconiosis who had previously had their claim rejected by the Board.

The numbers of men first diagnosed as suffer- ing from pneumoconiosis on the second or a later occasion on which they were examined by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board were as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the number of widows receiving the 20s. per week pension under the Industrial Injuries Act; and what would he the cost to the fund of increasing the pension by 20s. per week.

There are about 2,300 such widows; the current cost would be about £125,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be tie initial extra cost to the National Insurance Scheme if all widows at the age of 50 years or over now disqualified from receiving a widow's pension because they have no dependent children were to be paid such a pension.

About £12 million a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether those men laid off from the herring drift-net fleet, through their boats switch-over to the seine net, are eligible for unemployment benefit under his Regulations.

Each claim must be decided in the light of the particular circumstances by the independent adjudicating authorities appointed under the National. Insurance Acts.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now authorise the improvement scheme for the accident and emergency department at the Oldham Royal Infirmary.

The Board expects to include this scheme in its programme next year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to investigate the possibility of establishing a health centre in Wednesbury.

Staffordshire County Council, as the local health authority for the area, is considering the establishment of such a centre.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to compel tobacco manufacturers to limit the advertising of cigarettes and to increase the advertising of pipe tobacco and cigars.

No.

asked the Minister of Health how many fewer newly-born children would have died within a week of birth during 1961 and 1962 if the perinatal mortality rates of England had been achieved in Wales; whether he is aware of increasing public concern at the failure to close the gap between the perinatal mortality rate of England and that of Wales; how long the inquiry into infantile mortality by the Welsh Board of Health has now been proceeding; how many doctors and officials of the Department are engaged in the industry; whether he is satisfied that sufficient personnel are so engaged; whether an interim report is now available; and when it is anticipated the inquiry will be concluded and its results published.

The number is estimated to be 486. The perinatal mortality rate in Wales has fallen but my right hon. Friend sharks the concern that the gap should be further reduced. The inquiry began three years ago and should be completed by the end of this year; the main conclusions will then be published. In the interests of uniformity of assessment the field work is being done by one medical officer, with clerical assistance. Then is no interim report but suggestions for improvements in services are being immediately followed up as the inquiry progresses.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average perinatal mortality rate suffered by all new towns, excluding Cwmbran, in 1961 and 1962; what was the perinatal mortality rate in 1961 and 1962 of Cwmbran; whether he is aware of the concern of hospital staffs and the public with the existing and projected maternity services provided for Cwmbran; what action he is taking to remedy the failures that led to an underestimate of the obstetric needs of this area within the 10-year plan; and, in view of the fact that the existing plan does not provide by 1975 for Cwmbran to have sufficient obstetric beds to reach the standards recommended in tie Cranbrooke Report, he will increase and bring forward the number of beds intended to be provided in the Newport and East Monmouthshire area.

The rates for new towns are not avail dole prior to 1962; in that year the rate for Cwmbran was 47 per 1,000 total births and for 11 other new towns it was 30; my right hon. Friend is aware of the concern regarding the maternity services in the area; the proposals for this area in the Hospital Plan include 84 new obstetric beds and were based on the requirements recommended by the Cranbrook Committee.

asked the Minister of Health what research is being undertaken into the best methods of construction and use of general practitioners' practice premises.

There are a number of published studies. The profession has now set up an independent General Practice Advisory Service which will conduct research as well as give advice on these problems.

asked the Minister of Health what grants have been made to organisations to publicise the personal and social ill-effects of the excessive consumption of alcohol; and in what other manner public funds have been used for such purposes.

No grants are made by the Ministry specifically for this purpose. Local health and education authorities include this subject, as appropriate, in their health education programmes, the cost of which is relevant expenditure for general grant. They also co-operate with the voluntary organisations concerned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the effect of the recent outbreak of fluoroacetamide poisoning in Kent on the health of human beings.

I am not aware of any effect.

asked the Minister of Health when he will announce his proposals for redesignating the areas of executive councils in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement of the progress he has made to date in this matter.

With regard to the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's Answer to the hon. Member on the 20th January. With regard to the second part I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter of consultation that we have written to the bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of perinatal deaths in each of the regional hospital board areas during the last full year for which figures are available; and what is the perinatal mortality in each area as a percentage of the total number of births.

I regret that the figures are not immediately available in the form asked for but I will have them extracted and write to my noble Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average market price for cattle in January, 1964; and what was the average rate of subsidy.

In January, 1964, the average market price for cattle was 144s. 8d. per live cwt. and the average rate of subsidy 25s. 6d. per live cwt.

asked the Minister of. Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of Exchequer subsidies paid on pigmeat exported from the United Kingdom in 1963; and what effect recent increases in exports have had on home supplies and prices.

The amount of subsidy cannot be calculated since not all the pigmeat exported is derived from certified animals which have had the subsidy, and the rate of subsidy payment varies from week to week. Exports in 1963 were 5,276 tons of pork and 1,342 tons of bacon; this compares with total supplies on the United Kingdom market of 532,800 tons of pork and 602,200 tons of bacon and ham. 15,541 live pigs were exported, compared with 12·2 million slaughterings in the United Kingdom. It is reasonable to assume that such marginal quantities could not have had a significant effect in raising prices at home, but to the extent that they did have an effect, there would have been a consequential overall reduction in the Exchequer subsidy. Exports have recently increased, but are still small in relation to total supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average c.i.f. value of imported wheat in January, 1964; and what was the cost of Exchequer support.

Figures of imports during January are not yet available. The most recent comparable information about home-grown and imported wheat relates to the period 1st October to 30th November, 1963. The average c.i.f. value of imported wheat in that period was about £26 10s. per ton compared with an average ex-farm price for home-grown wheat of about £22 per ton. The cost of Exchequer support during the same accounting period of 2 months was about £2·8 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will authorise the immediate testing, in suitable areas under proper supervision, of fowl pest vaccines, both live and dead, other than that at present in use.

No. Inactivated vaccines from four different makers are already in use, and experience has shown that they can achieve a reasonable control of fowl pest when properly and widely used. Live fowl pest vaccines have serious disadvantages, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to authorise their use in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a factual account of the causes and events surrounding the poisoning of animals at Smarden and Merthyr Tydfil involving the chemical fluoroacetamide.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full statements about these incidents made after Questions on 3rd February and in reply to the debate on the Adjournment on 11th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the Milk Marketing Board concerning the effect on the price of milk of the abolition of Resale Price Maintenance.

None. The retail price of milk is controlled by the Government, not by the Board, and is a maximum price. There is nothing to prevent dairymen from selling milk below this price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value of exports during 1963 of breeding cattle, pigs, and other livestock to East European countries.

So far as breeding cattle are concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Hendry) on 30th January. As my right hon. Friend indicated, separate figures are not recorded of exports of other pedigree livestock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements, his Department makes for screening all chemicals used in agriculture and horticulture before marketing is permitted; what new arrangements he intends to make to ensure no repetition of the Smarden incident; and if he will make a statement.

Under the voluntary Notification of Pesticides Scheme manufacturers undertake not to market a new pesticide for use in agriculture or food storage until the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances has examined it and Government Departments have issued official recommendations for its safe use. The incident at Smarden did not arise from the agricultural use of a chemical but from its manufacture, and the lessons to be learned from it are being studied by the Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether bee-keeping is treated as an agricultural or a horticultural activity; and what assistance he proposes to give to commercial bee-keepers.

Bee-keeping, as a form of livestock keeping, comes under agriculture. The Government already help bee-keepers, mainly by controlling bee diseases, through research and with advice which is freely given by the National Agricultural Advisory Service. I am sending full details to my hon. Friend. My right hon. Friend has no additional forms of assistance in mind for bee-keepers at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigation is being made by his Department of the electro-magnetic radiation method of controlling field crop insects.

None, I understand that the use of radiation to control pests in stored grain has been explored by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in collaboration with the Pest Infestation Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Council but that, although the method was found to be technically feasible, its application appeared to be limited economically owing to the high capital cost of the equipment required. Irradiation has also been used to sterilise laboratory bred insects which are then released in large numbers to swamp the wild population; but this method of eradication is only possible in very special circumstances and so far no species in suitable conditions has been found in Britain. There is little prospect of a practicable method being developed for using radiation directly to control pests in standing crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep were exported to Algiers for slaughter in 1962, 1963, and to the latest convenient date in 1964; and what action he takes to ensure that they are adequately cared for and humanely treated throughout the journey.

No sheep were exported to Algiers during 1962 or 1963. Some 10,000 sheep have so far been sold this year to a French merchant and I understand that their final destination is Algiers. Most of the consignments have been seen by my veterinary staff and the conditions of travel to France are satisfactory. By arrangement with the French authorities one of my veterinary officers has gone to France to see the conditions of transport in France and from there to North Africa, and I will consider whether any further action is required when I have received his report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a decision has yet been reached on the new location for Covent Garden Market; and if he will make a statement.

I am waiting for the Govent Garden Market Authority to give me its views on the future location of the market. The detailed study which it is making of possible sites in the Nine Elms area is well advanced and I understand that the Authority hopes to be able to reach a conclusion by the end of next month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many eggs have been imported into this country since 1st January, 1964, giving the countries and quantities, respectively.

Official figures are not yet available. The following figures are estimates based on information from trade sources of shell eggs imported during the six weeks ended 8th February, 1964:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is intended to ratify the International Convention for the introduction of copyrights concerned with the breeding of plants and seeds as soon as the Plant Varieties and Seeds Bill has been placed on the Statute Book; and what steps will be taken to encourage other countries to ratify so that the Convention can come into operation without further delay.

Her Majesty's Government propose to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants when schemes have been made under the Plant Varieties and Seeds Bill for the minimum number of species required by the Convention. Her Majesty's Government will encourage other signatories to ratify the Convention with a view to bringing it into force as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many deaths among cattle took place in 1963 in England and Wales for which no cause of death was established.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will appoint an independent committee to inquire into the effects of chemical pesticides and weed-killers on human, animal, bird and insect life.

There is already in being the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage, which make recommendations jointly to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister of Health and myself. The Committee has an independent chairman and five independent members. The names of the members are set out below. The hon. Member will see that they are eminently qualified to give the necessary scientific and professional advice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many regular whole-time agricultural workers ceased to be employed on agricultural holdings in England and Wales in 1963.

I regret that I am unable to say how many ceased to be employed, but on 4th December, 1963, there were about 13,400 fewer regular whole-time workers on agricultural holdings in England and Wales than on 4th December, 1962.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that from October, 1951, until October, 1963, there was an 80 per cent. rise in the level of unemployment; and what new action he proposes to take to arrest this increase.

I cannot accept the implication in the hon. Member's Question. While unemployment has fluctuated considerably over this period, the numbers in employment have shown a steady upward trend and rose by about 2 million between mid-1951 and mid-1963. Although the figures were high a year ago the underlying trend in unemployment during recent months has been firmly downwards and this is likely to continue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the annual salary paid to a qualified St. Helenian teacher and a qualified British teacher serving in St. Helena, respectively.

In the grades regarded locally as qualified assistant teachers are on an annual salary scale of £116 to £160 and St. Helenian teachers above that grade are on salaries ranging to £390 per annum.An additional £10 to £30 per annum is paid to certain teachers with special responsibilities. Any St. Helenian teacher possessing a teaching qualification recognised by the British Ministry of Education is given the rank of senior teacher on a scale between £200 and £250 per annum plus a fixed certificate allowance of £100.No expatriates are employed as teachers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the cost of the National Health Service was met by National Health Insurance contributions in 1951 and 1963, respectively.

The proportions of the cost of the National Health Service, excluding local authority expenditure, met from the National Health element in National Insurance contributions in the financial year 1951–52 and from the separate National Health Service contributions in 1963–64—budget estimate—were 9·2 per cent. and 16·9 per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he proposes to open his Budget.

On Tuesday 14th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether, in the light of the latest information available on illicit traffic in amphetamine derivatives, he will, in advance of comprehensive legislation, seek emergency powers to control and inspect the distribution of scheduled poisons by wholesalers;

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave on 30th January to Questions on this subject by the hon. Member and the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson).

asked the Minister of Power what arrangements he has authorised for a seismic survey off the Yorkshire coast.

I have licensed two companies under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1934, to search for petroleum off the Yorkshire coast by seismic or other means.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the Report of the Committee on Depopulation in Mid-Wales is to be published.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if the series of maps needed for the Beacham Report on Mid-Wales have now been printed; and if he is now able to announce a definite publication date.

It is not yet possible to announce a definite publication date. This will largely depend on the time taken to reproduce the accompanying maps, a type of work which is subject to considerable delay; but I hope that the report will be available by the early summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the value of British exports of textile machinery to China, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern Europe, respectively, in 1963; and what proportion this represented of total exports of this type of machinery.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry. Trade and Regional Development (1) what permission has been given by his Department in the last three years for the transfer of rifles to Belgium for repair; and whether he will state the dates and the names of the firms concerned;(2) what licences have been granted for the export of rifles to Belgium in the last three years; and if he will state the dates on which the licences were granted and the firms involved;(3) what licences have been granted for the export of rifles to Saudi Arabia in the last three years; and if he will state the dates on which the licences were granted and the firms involved.

It is not the practice to disclose information about licences issued for the export of military equipment.

asked the Postmaster-General what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take on Recommendation 379, dealing with postage rates in member countries of the Council of Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council on 13th January, 1964.

My right hon. Friend sees no prospect at present of our postal finances being able to stand the very high cost of the reduced rates recommended. Our overseas surface rates are already among the lowest in Europe and all letters and postcards go by air for Europe without surcharge if this secures earlier delivery.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what estimate he has made of the number of scientists who have left Great Britain to take up posts in the United States of America during the last six months.

Thirteen scientists employed by the agencies for which I am responsible, are recorded as having left this country during the last six months to take up posts in the United States of America. Information on which to base a more general estimate for this period is not available.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether his experimental importation of Canadian timber houses is intended to lead to a scheme under which the forest products of the United Kingdom will be used to a greater extent for house construction; and whether he will take note of the present high expenditure on imported timber before encouraging its greater use in the building programme.

The erection of three pairs of Canadian houses is primarily intended to demonstrate Canadian techniques, standards and amenities. If this leads to these techniques being more widely used in this country normal commercial considerations will govern the selection of materials. The Government have the cost of imports constantly in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what other markets for herring there are in Stornoway in addition to fish and oil.

There is normally a small demand in Stornoway for fresh herring and there are facilities for various forms of processing. In 1963 2,993 craps of herring were bought at Stornoway for freshing and kippering, 833 crans for curing, 1,180 crans for freezing, and 357 crans for marinating; in addition 5,387 were bought for meal and oil.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the bus services of Mid-Wales Motorways, Ltd. in the Welsh border region are to be reduced from 1st March on the ground that they are no longer economic; and whether, in view of this, he will now announce proposals on the lines of the recommendations of the Jack Committee for the maintenance of essential transport services in rural areas.

The Traffic Commissioners have before them applications from Mid-Wales Motorways (1963) Ltd. for new licences to operate eight of their services on a reduced basis. The applications will be heard at a public sitting. Under the terms of its current licences, the company is at liberty to introduce these reductions in the meantime if it wishes.On the general rural transport question, I cant of at present add to my reply of 27th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Speir).