asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what will, according to present plans, be the height of the new buildings of Knightsbridge Barracks; and whether he is satisfied that they will not injure the amenity of the Park.

The plans include a tower 280 ft. high. The accommodation required on this site cannot be provided without some high building. I think the House will agree that the balance of Sir Basil Spence's plan is admirably judged and should provide a fine addition to the London scene from all viewpoints, including the Park.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what will be the greatest height reached by any part of the new Post Office Headquarters in the vicinity of St. Martin's le Grand; and what the approximate horizontal distance will be from this highest part to the nearest point of St. Paul's Cathedral.

No decision has yet been reached regarding the new Post Office Headquarters. A scheme with a maximum height not greater than 100 feet is at present under consideration. In this scheme the approximate horizontal distance from the highest part to the nearest point of St. Paul's Cathedral would be about 700 feet.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether, before any further buildings are erected or demolished in that part of the city of Westminster which is included within the rectangle bounded on the north and south by St. James's Park and the river and on the east and west by Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square, he will appoint a qualified architect or group of architects to advise him on the future development of the whole of that area; and if he will submit their report to the House before any action is taken upon it.

I am considering the appointment of a planning consultant to look at proposals which are under consideration for redevelopment in the Whitehall area.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the approximate amount of fire loss in Government office building in the United Kingdom in 1963.

£30,000.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration is being given to the furnishing of the Wolsey Rooms at Hampton Court with suitable furniture of the period.

This is a matter for the Lord Chamberlain, who is giving it consideration.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration is being given to the better labelling of exhibits in Hampton Court and to the use of recorded commentaries giving a description of the rooms through which the public pass.

The better labelling of exhibits in the State Apartments at Hampton Court Palace is being considered by the Lord Chamberlain, whose responsibility this is. I am looking into the possibility of having recorded commentaries at more historic buildings in my charge, including Hampton Court Palace.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many former colonial service officers are affected by the withholding of tax imposed by the Government of Ghana; what further steps are being taken with the Government of Ghana to get the tax removed; and what are the intentions of Her Majesty's Government towards these pensioners.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on this subject on 11th February. The number of pensioners affected by the Ghana tax measure is approximately 1,500.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) whether all turnstiles have been removed as required under the Public Lavatories (Turnstiles) Act, 1963;(2) what action he proposes to take to ensure that the Public Lavatories (Turnstiles) Act, 1963, is fully implemented where such turnstiles are still in use.

Of 87 authorities who earlier refused to remove their turnstiles or had not reached a decision, 61 have now removed them and 12 expect to do so within the next few weeks. Two more have not yet removed all of theirs but are doing so. Most of the authorities who are late have been waiting for delivery of coin locks. The Act provides for enforcement by mandamus and my right hon. Friend will use this provision if necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, if, in view of the length of time the present use of the garage premises at West Terrace, Penarth, by Valley Carriers has been the source of complaint by local residents, he will arrange for the hearing at an early date of the appeal by Valley Carriers against the enforcement notice issued by the Penarth Urban District Council under section 46 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962.

I have not received an appeal against this enforcement notice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now give further information concerning the completion of the Riverside Works, Dagenham.

In reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 9th December, I said that the extensions being carried out to the Riverside Works at Dagenham were expected to be completed in autumn 1966. I now understand that the extensions are not in fact expected to be completed until late 1967 and I apologise for having misled my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities in England and Wales, respectively, have completed swimming pools; and what encouragement is given by his Department to the further development of swimming pools programmes by such authorities.

My information may not be complete, but so far as I know at least 342 English and 19 Welsh authorities have swimming pools open to the general public. 44 authorities, 2 being in Wales, are constructing or considering the construction of pools at the present time.My right hon. Friend is ready to consider applications for loan sanction from local authorities wishing to provide pools. A Design Bulletin on Swimming Pools published in 1962 gives advice on sizes and design.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the Stevenage Development Corporation has recommended to him that raising the population target for the New Town to 130/140,000, by expansion westwards of the A.1 M, would be desirable or advantageous.

What the corporation said was that expansion to 130,000 to 140,000 would be technically feasible, not too late to he successful, and economical. It added that, in its view, there would be a number of advantages in expansion to that size, but that expansion much beyond those figures would be detrimental.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his department has, since the publication of the Stevenage Development Corporation Technical Appraisal in February, 1963, which suggested that expansion of the New Town should be kept eastwards of the A.600, considered expansion reaching westwards of this road.

Officers of the Department concerned have looked at the possibilities of expansion in several directions around Stevenage as part of the examination of the report, and this included the land westwards of A.600:but I can assure my hon. Friend that if I do propose any expansion of the designated area—on which I have still not decided—it is most improbable that I shall propose taking it westwards of that road.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will reject all appeals against refusal of planning permission for development on land fronting unadopted roads in Biggin Hill until the making-up programme has been completed.

I can give no general assurance. My right hon. Friend must consider every appeal on its merits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is satisfied that the legislation governing the operation of permanent residential caravan sites is adequate and is enforced by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to think that the present legislation is inadequate. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and will send me details, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many towns in England and Wales discharge untreated sewage into the sea; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this practice.

Most coastal towns discharge untreated sewage to the sea. Given properly designed and sited out-falls, this is normally a harmless and inoffensive means of sewage disposal. Local conditions vary, and where there is evidence that the discharge of untreated sewage is not satisfactory the advice of the technical experts of my Department on the treatment required is always available to local authorities and loan sanction is readily given for the necessary expenditure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local housing authorities about whom he has information were operating rent rebate, or differential rent, schemes at the nearest convenient date; and how many were not.

Out of 1,091 authorities who made returns to the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants for the year ended 31st March, 1963, 455 (or 42 per cent.) were operating some form of rent rebate or differential rent scheme. I am glad to see that this shows that the number of authorities operating such schemes is continuing to rise steadily.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that since October 1951 there has been a reduction of 31 per cent. in the numbers of council and local authority houses completed in England and Wales, what action he proposes to take to arrest this decline and restore the position to its former level.

During the period since 1951 there has been considerable variation in the number of houses built year by year by local authorities. It is the Government's policy to secure that within the rapidly rising total house-building programme the share taken by local authorities continues to be related to local needs and capacity.

asked the Minister of Housing and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that since October, 1951, there has been a 72 per cent. rise in the cost of building a 900 square foot three-bedroom council house, what estimate he has made of the number of council houses that could have been built in each calendar year to date for the same expenditure of money, assuming that prices had been controlled at the 1951 level.

So many other things have changed since 1951—including an increase of more than 75 per cent. in building wage rates—that I do not think such estimates would be worth making.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware flat since 1951 there has been a 31 per cent. decrease in council house building, which has caused many persons to seek to purchase private houses; that private houses have risen in price by 100 per cent. to 200 per cent., and that this increase, together with the increased rates, bank and mortgage interest charges and the increased costs of repair and decoration, means that they are unable to afford private purchase; and what further action he proposes to take to help potential home purchasers.

The total housing programme in 1963 was over 50 per cent. greater than in 1951 and nearly eight times as many houses were built for owner-occupation. Lending by building societies and local authorities has kept pace with this great expansion in building, with the result that the proportion of families owning their homes has increased steadily from 28 per cent. in 1951 to 42 per cent. today. There is no evidence that house prices generally have risen by anything like as much as the Question suggests. Meanwhile the level of wages and salaries has more than doubled since 1951. All the indications are that the rise in home ownership will continue even more rapidly this year I am sure that the lending agencies are doing their best to spread the benefits of home ownership as widely as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, if he will introduce legislation to provide that for any dwelling-house which has been unoccupied for a period of six consecutive months the owner shall pay from the end of that period the normal rates as if the house were occupied.

As I told the hon. Gentleman he Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 21st January, the rating of empty properties will be considered as part of the general review of the rating system, though I do not believe that it would have any significant effect on the period for which houses remain vacant, and there are considerable practical difficulties.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science how many scientists qualifying in English universities have left this country for positions in the United States of America during the last 10 years.

I regret that accurate figures are not available in this form.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what action is taken by his Department to encourage British scientists and technicians to take up positions with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; and if he is satisfied that sufficient is being done by his Department to further this objective.

The Atomic Energy Authority recruits its own staff and, in general, obtains sufficient recruits to meet its needs. The steps it takes include advertisement in the Press and in technical journals and, more particularly, maintaining contact with the universities and technical colleges.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will state the number of British scientists and technicians, previously engaged by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, who have taken up positions in the United States of America during the years 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963.

The numbers known to the Authority are as follows:

	Scientists and Professional Engineers	Technicians
1960	9	1
1961	8	Nil
1962	13	3
1963	10	5

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science why the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research sited the new radio-telescope in Hampshire.

The site, on part of the disused air field at Chilbolton in Hampshire, was chosen because it fulfills several stringent technical requirements and is within a convenient working distance of the parent Radio Research Station at Slough.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet completed his inquiries into the feasibility of a comprehensive tax on gambling; and whether he will make a statement.

Information which has been compiled on this subject under Section 2 of the Finance Act, 1963, was published in a White Paper on 11th February. I cannot comment on the conclusions to be drawn from this information in advance of my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the double taxation agreement between Great Britain and New Zealand, under New Zealand taxation laws interest accrued on National Savings Certificates bought in Great Britain by persons who subsequently emigrate to New Zealand is taxable; and if he will make representations to the New Zealand Government with a view to remedying this.

I understand that this is so and I do not think I could reasonably ask the New Zealand Government to grant exemption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what countries, Commonwealth or foreign, in addition to New Zealand, assess to taxation the interest accrued on National Savings Certificates bought interest tax free in Great Britain by persons subsequently emigrating; and why buyers of National Savings Certificates in Great Britain are not forewarned of this on propaganda and literature for the 11th and earlier issues of National Savings Certificates.

The only specific exemption for such interest that I am aware of is in Jersey, though some countries do not tax income from any overseas source. In official National Savings literature references to tax exemption are specifically to United Kingdom Income Tax or Surtax. It would be difficult to deal in general literature with all the problems that may arise in special cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider, in the case of salaries involving Surtax, the pay-as-you-earn collection of both Income and Surtax.

I have noted the right hon. Member's suggestion, but it involves difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General that certain companies in receipt of large capital allowances for Income Tax purposes have paid gross dividends of £228 million which have been treated in the hands of the recipients as having borne Income Tax, but have been assessed for Income Tax on profits and other income of only £127 million; if he will state the number of companies involved in, and the period covered by, these figures; if he will give an estimate for the same period of the sums involved for all companies whose gross dividends exceeded their taxable profits; and if he will introduce legislation to provide that in the circumstances described Income Tax deducted from excess dividends paid shall be paid over to the Inland Revenue.

I should await the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report. I cannot give an estimate of the total sums involved, but I cannot in any case accept the implication that dividends paid by companies which have borne the proper tax on their profits can be "excess".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General that dividend payments made by certain subsidiary companies to parent companies exceeded by £32 million the profits on which the subsidiary companies were assessable to Income Tax, thus allowing the parent companies to reclaim £12 million tax which was never in fact paid, if he will state the number of companies involved in, and the period covered by, these figures; if he will give an estimate for the same period of the total sums of tax reclaimed in the circumstances described; and if he will introduce legislation to provide that parent companies will not be allowed to reclaim tax in these circumstances.

I understand that these figures refer to five subsidiary companies and cover various periods up to 27 years. I am afraid that I cannot give an estimate of the total sums involved over any period and I cannot comment on suggestions for legislation in a future Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many toll bridges in the United Kingdom the proceeds are tax free; what was the total amount of income from these tolls in the year 1962–63; and what was the estimated loss to the revenue thereon.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer of today's date. For the rest, I regret that I am unable to give the information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the toll bridges in the United Kingdom the proceeds of which are tax free, indicating, in each care, the date from which such tax immunity commenced.

The private toll bridges which are the subject of statutory exemption are:

(1) Aldwark Bridge	1772
(2) Selby Bridge	1791
(3) Swinford Bridge	1767
(4) Whitchurch Bridge	1792
(5) Whitney Bridge	1780

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table shoving the total numerical strength of the administrative class of the Civil Service in each of the last 10 years, and showing how many had science degrees in each year.

The total strength of the Administrative Class of the Civil Service, January, 1955, to January, 1964, is as follows:

Administrative Class
Year	Total Numbers
January, 1955	2,576
January, 1956	2,525
January, 1957	2,504
January, 1958	2,476
January, 1959	2,428
January, 1960	2,386
January, 1961	2,381
January, 1962	2,435
January, 1963	2,444
January, 1964	2,461

The number who had science degrees (including mathematics) were 200 in 1961 and 230 in 1964; figures for the other years are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the circulation figures of the Bulletin for Industry aril the Looking Ahead series of broadsheets, a broad classification of the type of recipients of the documents, and an appreciation of their effectiveness.

The numbers distributed are 22,195 and 192,000 respectively. Bulletin for Industry goes to employers' and management associations, to trade unions, Industrialists, chambers of commerce, lecturers and teachers and to newspapers and periodicals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking 1951 as being equal to 100, he will give the percentage rise or fall in the proportion of the national product spent on council house building for each calendar year to date since 1951.

The figures are given in the following table:

Expenditure on local authority houses as a proportion of gross national product at factor cost
(1951 = 100)
1952	113
1953	121
1954	104
1955	83
1956	72
1957	66
1958	53
1959	51
1960	49
1961	48
1962	54
1963 (first 9 months)	54

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since 1951 the cost of council-house building has risen by 72 per cent.; and whether in his forthcoming Budget he will take steps to make further financial grants to local authorities for house-building and to reduce these rising costs.

I am aware of the information which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government gave to the hon. Member in answer to his Question about local authority building costs on 5th February. On the rest of his Question, housing subsidies are not dealt with as part of the Budget. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is reviewing those subsidies in consultation with the Local Authority Associations. This review will take into account the cost of house building and also the rent paying capacity of tenants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that since 1951 there has been a progressive rise each year in the average level of retail prices, and that by 1963 these had risen by 45 per cent.; and what action he proposes to take to reverse this increase in retail prices;(2) whether he is aware that since October, 1951, there has been a 25 per cent. fall in the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling; and what new action he proposes to take to arrest this continual fall in the purchasing value of the £ and restore it to a purchasing value of 20s.

As the hon. Member knows, it is one of the main objectives of our policy to secure greater stability of costs and prices in the future, but success in this will largely depend on acceptance by all sections of the community of an incomes policy designed to keep increases in money incomes of all kinds in line with increases in productivity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of cases of persons dying since 1951 and leaving estates entailing death duties at or above £100,000 in which such duties had not been paid by January, 1964.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without divulging details to identify the persons concerned, he will state why death duties, totalling £365,000, due on an estate where the owner died in 1951, full details of which have been supplied by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, had not been collected by January, 1964.

The hon. Member knows that I cannot ordinarily discuss details of individual cases, but as he has made it clear elsewhere that he is referring to the estate left by the 13th Earl of Home I have been authorised by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to say that the duty has been met in full and that the final payment was made over eight and a half years ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the changed circumstances since his predecessor declined to accept the principle that all unestablished service with the Civil Service should count for pension rights, he will not review this question.

I am not persuaded of the merits of the case and the cost of a change would be very great.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what time limit the Hong Kong Government allow immigrants from the Chinese mainland to prove that they are escaping from Chinese territory for political or humanitarian reasons; whether they consult Her Majesty's Government in London before making a decision to return them as illegal immigrants; and what steps they take under the Human Rights Declaration of 1948 to see if other countries, including Formosa, will take these people in if Hong Kong cannot accommodate them.

There is no specific time limit: immigrants intercepted while attempting illegal entry are not returned until inquiries have been made. The decision whether or not to admit a person is within the competence of the local authorities. They would consult me on general policy and on individual cases if special considerations arose. Admission has never been refused to a person seeking entry in circumstances covered by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the numbers of the Swazis, Europeans and Eurafricans, respectively, who voted for and against the proposed constitution in the recent referendum in Swaziland; and what percentage each vote represents of the total adult population of each race in Swaziland.

The results of the referendum were announced by the Swazi National Council as follows:

	For the Lion	For the Reindeer
Swazis	122,055	154
Europeans	1,400	8
Eurafricans	300	0

The latest estimates of the adult population (i.e. persons over 21) available to me relate to 1962. On the basis of these estimates, the figures above would represent the following percentages of the adult population of each race:—

	For the Lion Percent.	For the Reindeer Per cent.
Africans	102	0·13
Europeans	30	0·17
Eurafricans	42	0

I understand, however, that persons under the age of 21 took part in the referendum.

asked the Secretary of State for tie Colonies if he will give details of the salaries paid to the chief officials in the colonial service in St. Helena, including the Governor.

The salaries are:

	£
Governor	2,000
	plus 400 duty allowance
Government Secretary	2,000
Colonial Treasurer	1,750
Senior Medical Officer	2,500
Agricultural and Forestry Officer	1,650
Dental Officer	1,550
Superintendent of Works	1,550
Education Officer	1,550
Superintendent of Police and Gaol	1,550
Medical Officer	1,550
Electrical Engineer	1,450

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many qualified teachers there are in St. Helena.

Six, including one voluntary part-time teacher, have recognised United Kingdom teaching qualifications. Forty-two teachers possess local certificates of teaching.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now examine the position of local authority representatives who are debarred from determining policies from which they may derive pecuniary gain, with particular reference to members of such local authorities who may be council house tenants; and if he will make a statement.

It is a well established principle in local government that councillors should not speak or vote on matters in which they have a financial interest, whether the interest derives from tenancy of a council house or arises in some other way. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government may remove that disability whenever so many members would be disabled that the transaction of business would be impeded, or for any other reason he thinks that it is in the interests of the inhabitants of the area to do so.

asked the Prime Minister, taking into account the Report of the Robbins Committee and Her Majesty's Government's policy on ministerial responsibility for university science, and bearing in mind the responsibility of the Minister of Housing and Local Government for the master plan of Dawley New Town, which Minister will be responsible for answering Questions and for decisions on the New Town Scientific University of Dawley.

The location of new universities, including the possibility of one at Dawley, is a matter on which the University Grants Committee, in accordance with my recent statement, will advise the Secretary of State for Education and Science. Appropriate interdepartmental arrangements exist for ensuring that planning considerations, such as those referred to by my hon. Friend, are fully taken into account.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of recent events in Tanganyika, Kenya and Uganda, when British troops were invited by the Governments concerned to restore order, if he will make new proposals to the United Nations designed to further the creation of a long-term peace-keeping force for use in similar circumstances in the future.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 4th February.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that six daily newspapers and three evening newspapers ceased publication in 1963, Her Majesty's Government will now give effect to the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Press that a Press Amalgamation Court be established to scrutinise mergers between financially successful undertakings and consent to them only if it were shown to be in the public interest in the accurate presentation of news and the free expression of opinion.

I have nothing to add to what I told the House in answer to Questions on 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister why he will not take the necessary action to ensure that all political parties contesting the forthcoming General Election should declare to the Registrar-General all information concerning their membership, income, donations and investments.

Apart from other considerations I do not think that this duty could properly be laid on the Registrar-General whose functions mainly relate to the registration of births, deaths and marriages and the preparation of demographic statistics.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the general desire for the publication of an annual White Paper on aid to developing countries, and of the diffusion of responsibility for such aid among several Departments, what steps he proposes to take to co-ordinate action for the production of such a White Paper.

A comprehensive White Paper on Aid to Developing Countries was published last September, and further White Papers can be published as occasion requires. The production of such Papers would be co-ordinated through the normal inter-Departmental machinery.

asked the Prime Minister what modification he has made in the British Government's proposals for the introduction of an international military force into Cyprus, following his disc fissions with Mr. Lester Pearson and President Johnson.

I have nothing to add on the Cyprus problem to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary made in the House yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the change of command of the British forces in the Republic of Cyprus.

The Commander of all British forces in Cyprus is Air Chief Marshal Barnett. Under him, the command of British Army units in the Sovereign Base Areas is exercised by Major-General Young, General Officer Commanding Cyprus District.

asked the Prime Minister what official business he undertook on his recent visit to Lancashire; and what official services were used by him and the staff who accompanied him on this visit.

The Prime Minister continues to transact official business when he is out of London. In addition, or my visit to Lancashire I paid an official call on the Lord Mayor of Manchester and made official visits to certain factories. For official work during the time of my visit I used official transport and telephones and the services of the official staff who accompanied me.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he had with President Johnson about Cuba.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to similar Questions today.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement as to the fine ash which fell overnight on H.M.S. "Implacable" some time between 6th and 10th August, 1945, while serving in the area of Japan; and whether this fine ash was examined for radioactivity.

No reference can be found in Admiralty records to any fine ash having fallen on H.M.S. "Implacable" between 6th and 10th August, 1945.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why his Department has no records of persons who served in the area of Japan in 1945, and also who served on H.M.S. "Implacable" in the area of Japan in 1945, and who have contracted leukaemia following their discharge from the Royal Navy; and if he will seek to obtain partial information from pension applications, and other similar sources.

There is no reason why the Admiralty should continue to maintain medical records of naval personnel after they have left the Royal Navy, nor would it be practicable to do so. Such persons receive any necessary treatment from civilian medical practitioners.The award of disability pensions and gratuities in respect of disabilities directly attributable to service after 2nd September, 1939, is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance. I understand, however, that only one application has been received for a disability pension on account of leukaemia alleged to have been contracted as a result of service in the area of Japan in 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how much of the £196,998,000 loaned to Commonwealth and Colonial Territories by Her Majesty's Government during the period 1945–46 to 1962–63 has been repaid to date; and what Governments have made repayments.

Of the £196,998,000, £74,292,000 represent advances by the British Government to the Commonwealth Development Corporation for investment in the territories listed in my answer of the 31st January, of which £15,071,000 has been repaid to the Corporation.Of the remaining £122,706,000 lent direct to Governments, repayments to 31st March, 1963 total £16,375,000 made up as follows:

Territory	Amount Repaid
Windward Islands	£'000
Dominica	Nil
Grenada	49
St Lucia	17
St. Vincent	33
Western Pacific High Commission New Hebrides	Nil
Uganda	92
Trinidad	Nil
Tanganyika	3,112
Southern Africa
Basutoland	2
Bechuanaland Protectorate	1
Swaziland	15
Somaliland	102
Singapore	82
Sierra Leone	350
Seychelles	Nil
Nyasaland	620
Northern Rhodesia	Nil
North Borneo	416
Nigeria	4,950
Mauritius	884
Malta	1
Malaya	932
Leeward Islands
Antigua	31
Montserrat	Nil
St. Kitts	Nil
Kenya	404
Jamaica	1,794
Hong Kong	444
Gibraltar	163
Ghana	Nil
Gambia	Nil
Fiji	8
Falkland Islands	Nil
East African Railways and Harbours	191
Cyprus	91
Ceylon	Nil
British Honduras	72
British Guiana	723
Barbados	Nil
Bahamas	Nil
Aden	796

In the case of those Governments which are shown as having made no repayments the explanation is either that no repayments fell due by the 31st March, 1963, or that the loans in question were investments by the Commonwealth Development Corporation and therefore not included in the itemised figures for separate territories given above.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Report of the Verdon-Smith Committee on Fatstock and Meat Marketing and Distribution will be published; and whether he will make a statement.

The Report will be published on Thursday, 20th February. My right hon. Friends and I are extremely grateful to Sir Reginald Verdon-Smith and the members of his Committee for the thorough way in which they have carried cut their inquiry. Their Report contains important proposals which will need to be examined by the Government and on which we shall wish to consult the organisations representing the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the fishing industry on the proposed dumping of fluoroacetamide beyond the continental shelf.

None. The British Trawlers Federation has asked my Department for certain assurances and these have been given.

asked the Minister of Education if he will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report of the Educational Planning Mission to Tanganyika, submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 1963.

I am consulting the appropriate authorities to see if this can be arranged, and I will keep the hon. Member informed.

asked the Minister of Education what is his intention in regard to the closure of voluntary-aided primary schools in the City of Carlisle and the transfer of their pupils to proposed new schools, in view of the fact that one such school was built in 1871 and originally scheduled for closure in September, 1955.

The Carlisle Local Education Authority has included projects for the replacement of two aided primary schools in its proposals for the school building programme for 1965 to 1968. I shall, of course, bear these projects in mind; but I must also have regard, when deciding which projects can be included, to the Authority's own order of priority.

asked the Minister of Education what facilities are offered for suitably qualified teachers to obtain the Trainer's Diploma of the Froebel National Foundation; and whether, in view of the fact that the only course for this Diploma in 1964 is in London, there is any arrangement for the reimbursement of travelling expenses for teachers attending a is from other parts of the country.

I understand that the Foundation holds an annual written examination in London in December and that in addition candidates have to submit a thesis and undergo practical tests. Candidates prepare for the Diploma in their own time, but the Foundation conducts a series of optional seminars in London to help them. It is open to those who wish to take the examination or attend the seminars to apply to their employers for assistance with travelling expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1) what is the present position with regard to the trade agreements between Great Britain, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Russia; what is the currency of the present trade agreements with these countries and what arrangements are being made to initiate fresh agreements when they expire:(2) what has been the trade balance between Great Britain and Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Russia, respectively, during the past four years during which trade agreements have been in operation between Great Britain and those countries; to what extent the balance of trade with them is unfavourable to this country; and what steps will be taken when the new agreements are negotiated to try and obtain a more favourable balance.

The information asked for is as follows:

£'000
—			1960	1961	1962	1963
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
U.K. Imports	…	…	11,216	13,578	13,248	16,319
U.K. Exports and re-exports	…	…	8,881	11,212	14,163	11,960
U.K. Trade Surplus (+) or Deficit (-)			-2,335	-2,366	+915	-4,359
HUNGARY
U.K. Exports and re-exports	…	…	4,552	5,873	6,985	7,484
U.K. Imports	…	…	4,311	4,259	4,773	5,783
U.K. Trade Surplus	…	…	+241	+1,614	+2,212	+1,701
POLAND
U.K. Imports	…	…	35,842	36,839	38,370	40,191
U.K. Exports and re-exports	…	…	14,858	23,263	32,968	28,067
U.K. Trade Deficit	…	…	-20,984	-13,576	-5,402	-12,124
U.S.S.R.
U.K. Imports	…	…	74,937	85,033	84,154	90,961
U.K. Exports and re-exports	…	…	53,339	69,482	57,485	63,781
U.K. Trade Deficit	…	…	-21,598	-15,551	-26,669	-27,090
NOTE: Imports are c.i.f.; Exports and re-exports f.o.b.

As regards future arrangements for trade with Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland, I refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Hocking) on 28th January, 1964. In the case of the U.S.S.R. we shall be negotiating a new Trade Agreement during the next few months and we shall of course at that time seek increased outlets for British exporters.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, whether he will give an assurance that in any future

In considering the possibility of increased imports from these countries I have regard to all relevant circumstances, including the state of the British industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications for industrial development certificates have been received by his Department from the area covered by the Sudbury and Woodbridge constituency in 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively, by industry, type and local authority district; and what numbers have been turned down, expressed on the basis of a similar classification.

Four industrial development certificates were approved in the area covered by the Sudbury and Woodbridge constituency in 1961; six in 1962 and seven in 1963. Two applications were refused, both in 1962. It is not possible to give details by industry or local authority area without disclosing confidential information on individual projects. Industries for which industrial development certificates have been issued include chemicals, engineering and electrical goods, plastics, textiles, timber and furniture, and vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what information he has obtained while preparing legislation on resale price maintenance regarding the number of organisations engaged in retailing, including the activities of their subsidiaries and associated companies, which it is estimated at the latest convenient date controlled totally one-third or more of consumer sales in England of, respectively, bakery products, other foodstuffs and groceries generally, beer, wines and spirits through retail shops, radios, television sets, washing machines and electrical domestic appliances generally, men's clothing, women's clothing, boots and shoes, furnishings of all types, pharmaceuticals and chemists' sundries, motor-car accessories and replacement parts, gramophone records, and books, periodicals and newspapers.

Information is available for Great Britain from the Censuses of Distribution for 1957 and 1961 about the numbers and sales of organisations and enterprises engaged in all kinds of business, including those selling the products named with the exception of motor car accessories and replacement parts. Information for the motor trades was collected for 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Cremation Regulations so that in the case of deaths occurring in a hospital administered under the National Health Service, or in accommodation provided under Part III of the National Assistance Act 1948, only one death certificate is required.

No. The purpose of the two medical certificates required by the Cremation Regulations before a body can be cremated is to ensure that a proper examination of the remains has been made in order to exclude the possibility a the destruction of evidence of serious crime or negligence. The place of death is irrelevant to this requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Cremation Act, 1952, so as to provide that the State shall pay the fee in respect of one death certificate in every case.

No. My right hon. Friend has Dower to prescribe the maximum fee payable in respect of the two medical certificates required under the Cremation Regulations and he is considering the desirability of exercising this power in connection with the present review of the Regulations. The payment of such fees, however, is a matter for private arrangement between the personal representatives of the deceased and the medical practitioners giving the certificates. It would not be right for any payment over and above the normal death grant to be made out of public funds for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as a means of assisting those workers who find it difficult, because of the nature of their employment, to cast their votes, he will take the necessary action to declare the 1964 General Election polling day a national public holiday.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of industrial, commercial and similar establishments within the Sudbury and Woodbridge constituency employing at any time within a 12 months period 100 persons or more, together with details of their location by reference to local authority boundaries, on a comparative basis as between a recent convenient date and three years previously.

The following is the information:

NUMBERS OF INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING 100 PERSONS OR MORE
Local Authority Area	October, 1960	October, 1963
Sudbury Municipal Borough	4	6
Woodbridge Urban District	1	2
Hadleigh Urban District	—	1
Felixstowe Urban District	6	5
Cosford Rural District	—	1
Melford Rural District	4	4
Stamford Rural District	3	3
Deben Rural District (part)	1	1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the representations which he has received about the Countryside and Tourist Amenities (Scotland) Bill; what replies he has sent; and whether he will make a statement.

The central proposal in the Bill, that a tourist fund should be raised by those who provide tourist accommodation, was introduced in the light of the recommendations which had been put forward on this question over the last few years. In particular, the Scottish Tourist Board, in the proposals which it published in April, 1962, following discussions with the hoteliers' organisations, concluded that there was a strong case for setting up a tourist fund by means of contributions and that there was no practicable alternative. This view was later endorsed by an informal study group of Scottish Members from both sides of the House. Since the Bill was introduced, however, the Tourist Board has recommended that there should be further consultations to find another method of raising the fund. It has also become clear that the hotel industry is opposed to raising the money by a levy on tourist accommodation alone. In these circumstances the Government have decided not to proceed with the Bill in its present form.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the problem of emigration from, and depopulation in, Scotland.

No. Emigration and depopulation are not so much problems in themselves, as symptoms of local or regional economic malaise which the Government's whole policy of regional development is designed to cure.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will impose a tonnage restriction on vehicles using the roads giving access to unadopted roads in Biggin Hill.

If the hon. Member will tell me why he thinks this should be done, I will willingly consider it, in consultation with the local authority and the police.