asked the Minister of Education what research and experimental work has been undertaken by his Department on teaching machines.

I am currently supporting from my research fund investigations into various aspects of programmed learning at the Universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Sheffield. The investigations cover variations in methods of programming; the effectiveness of programmed methods for younger children; the use of automated techniques in teaching mathematics in the secondary school; and the evaluation of programmes in physical chemistry at G.C.E. A level.

Could my right hon. Friend indicate the volume of work that is being supported from these funds?

The total contribution from the research funds for these projects will be just over £25,000. I will gladly send my hon. Friend further details.

Does the Minister recognise that this is inadequate on the part of his Department and that a good deal of work is being done of great significance to education? Would the right hon. Gentleman consider not only financing the experiments but conveying and demonstrating the results to the teaching profession?

There is a later Question on the Notice Paper on conveying the results, which is certainly most important, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that as we can get them we will make every effort, or my successors will, to see that these results are conveyed.

asked the Minister of Education if he is satisfied that the teaching of English grammar and English literature are receiving sufficient priority in primary and secondary modern schools; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir, though I am sure that all teachers of English regard constant improvement of the content and methods of their work as one of their most important professional responsibilities. I greatly welcome their recent initiative in establishing a National Association for the Teaching of English.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that there is a growing feeling in many directions that the teaching of science and mathematics has been promoted in recent years rather at the expense of teaching English and also that employers are finding some young people at the present time, while well equipped in many directions, rather woefully inadequate in grammar, spelling and general syntax? Could my right hon. Friend say if the study group is going into the question, and, if not, would he encourage it to do so?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the valuable advice given in the Secondary School Examinations Council's Bulletin No. 1 on the new C.S.E. examination in English. I think that reading and spelling ability has measurably risen but examinations have tended to emphasise those elements in the teaching of English which could be more easily tested and examined.

Is the Minister aware that the criticism of his hon. Friend has been made about the teaching of English over the last one hundred years, that the most significant feature of the Newsom Report calls attention to the tremendous improvement in the reading of our children, and that the teaching profession will welcome his Answer?

It is true, as I say, that reading and spelling ability has demonstrably risen and that the emphasis on grammar may have been overdone. It is important to secure a better balance between the three main elements of teaching English, speaking, reading and writing.

asked the Minister of Education how many secondary schools have no careers teachers.

I regret that this information is not available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this very unfortunate lack of information is really critical in the context of our present educational studies, and will he take steps to acquire information as quickly as possible and let us have it?

I do not like putting too much of a burden on the authorities for the collection of information, but I agree that there is considerable room for improvement in spreading this practice to many types of school and training and for helping teachers who are given these responsibilities.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider siting a college of advanced technology in the Weymouth area.

It is not the Government's intention to establish any new colleges of advanced technology as such. At the Government's request the University Grants Committee is considering, in the context of a 10-year programme of university development, the recommendation of the Robbins Committee for the foundation of new universities, but I cannot anticipate what advice it will give.

Will the Minister please bear in mind the possibility of this area in view of the fact that the nearest universities, Bristol, Southampton and Exeter, are all in the region of 60 miles away that this is an area of growing population and also of developing industry, both engineering and atomic energy, and that these industries would benefit enormously from the existence of a university or college of this kind with a bent towards engineering and, perhaps, scientific research?

I will draw the attention of the University Grants Committee to the hon. Gentleman's supplementary Question.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the 40 per cent. failure rate, representing over 3,000 failed candidates in part one of the mechanical enegineering craft practice course of the City and Guilds of London Institute examination held in 1963, if he will discuss with the examining body the type of examinaton best suited to current requirements.

I share the hon. Member's concern, and discussions are already taking place with the City and Guilds of London Institute about possible modifications in this examination.

I am glad that the Minister is it last showing anxiety about this. Does he recollect that in the recent education debate he was very happy about the result of Cmnd. 1254? Is he aware that out of 24,000 candidates for this type of examination, as well as the one I have referred to, there were 10,000 failures. Will he say more specifically what he will do to see that there are better opportunities in technical education?

The hon. Gentleman has rather widened the question. I still believe that the 1961 White Paper has proved important. There is a particularly high failure rate in this examination, and the Advisory Committee is considering altering the method of certification in order to give a broader picture of the performance of the candidates. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman further about this matter.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in investigating the use of a computer for central library cataloguing as recommended by the Baker Working Party on Inter-Library Co-operation in paragraph 37 of its Report.

It has been established that it would be technically possible to use a computer for much of the work of handling applications for inter-library loans, including the recording of library book stocks; but without further investigation I cannot yet say whether it would be the most economical method, which of various ways of using it would be best, what effect it would have on arrangements for dealing with categories of books not handled on the computer, or whether the bodies concerned would be ready to co-operate. These questions are all being pursued.

In this state of uncertainty, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that if he gets the Public Libraries Bill fairly soon, he will not use this computer delay as an excuse for not getting on with the cataloguing?

I can tell the hon. Gentleman that it will take about six months to clear up the technical points that I have mentioned, and I hope that we shall have the Public Libraries Bill well before then.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that any person may open a private school without inquiry as to his qualifications or background; and whether he will seek to amend the law in this respect.

Under the provisions of Part III of the Education Act, 1944, all independent schools must be registered with the Registrar of Independent Schools. Registration is refused if the person seeking to open such a school is already disqualified by an unconditional Order from being the proprietor of an independent school or from being a teacher in any school. I have, moreover, powers to disqualify, subject to appeal, any person who I am satisfied is not a proper person to be the proprietor of an independent school from so acting. I do not think that the law needs amendment in the way suggested.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply. Is he aware that quite recently there was a case in which a person, who had posed as a priest and who had been sent to prison for 12 months, opened a school without any of the parents having this knowledge, and that he had to close the school when this was found out? Can the right hon. Gentleman say how such an occasion could arise without the intervention of the Ministry of Education?

If the hon. Gentleman will send me details of that case, I shall certainly look into it. Section 71, which was put into effect when my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council was Minister in 1957, is an effective Section, and I believe that on the whole it operates efficiently in the public interest.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say, if such a case did arise, as I am assured it did, how this was possible? Is it due to the fact that proper investigation was not made into the background of the individual who applied to open the school?

I must ask to be excused from commenting on a particular case when I have not the details before me.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider reducing the limit of two miles before the school bus system operates in remote rural areas, where there is no form of public transport.

Local education authorities have power to provide, or assist with, school transport for children who live within statutory walking distance if they consider that the circumstances justify it. This must remain a matter for their discretion.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, which I think we all know. Would it not be very helpful if he would give a further directive to local authorities, particularly now that the older children cannot take the 5 or 6-year-olds as they go to the secondary modern or grammar schools? Nearly all these mothers, who live just under two miles away, take their children on bicycles, often with a younger child as well, and it is a very difficult task for them.

The present arrangements are sufficiently flexible to allow local authorities to deal with the matter, but I will certainly consider the point that my hon. and gallant Friend has made.

Would the right hon. Gentleman look very carefully at what his hon. and gallant Friend has said? It may well be that local education authorities have not recently surveyed the traffic problems in some of the rural areas, and the anxiety to which many parents are being subjected is becoming very serious indeed.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made with the consideration of negotiating machinery for the remuneration of teachers.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made with his discussions with the parties concerned on the negotiating machinery for teachers' salaries.

I hope, by the end of this month, to put proposals to the local authority and teacher associations concerned so that joint discussions can be resumed.

Is the Minister aware that this will be welcomed? Would not he agree that a very long time has elapsed since what is called the first round of discussions, which I think was concluded by midsummer last year? There has been a growing feeling within the profession that, if it is to obtain the fundamental review of salary structures which has been agreed upon, this matter of negotiating machinery must be concluded very rapidly indeed, and there is a growing impression that the Minister has been running away from it.

I can assure the hon. Lady and the House that it remains the Government's firm intention that new arrangements for settling teachers' salaries shall be introduced in time to negotiate salary scales to replace the present scales which are operative to March, 1965.

Does the Minister recognise that if there is to be this fundamental review, which the Burnham Committee would have undertaken, much more time will be necessary and that normally, in order to make a salary increase effective in 1965, discussion should start at Easter this year, and that it is therefore very important that this new negotiating machinery should be set up at once? Is it not true that the Minister has not seen representatives of the teachers since last July, and is he satisfied that adequate evidence has been taken from them as to the form of this new negotiating machinery?

I did not complete what is called the first round quite as soon as last July. During the first round no basic pattern emerged which promised to be acceptable at once to all the interests, and that is why it has taken some time to consider how best to present the issues for the second round.

Will it be the responsibility of the Minister to bring to the notice of any new negotiating body the Newsom recommendation concerning special allowances to bring about staffing stability in certain areas?

I think it would be making a very big assumption to say at this stage what will be my responsibility in any new arrangements.

asked the Minister of Education if he will seek power to require independent schools, where appropriate, to accept the same quota for teachers as is imposed on maintained schools.

No, Sir. The quota system applies to areas, not to individual schools, and it does not aim to reduce staffing ratios but to restrain increases in schools in the more fortunate areas until the worse off areas have improved their position. In 1960 my predecessor appealed to the independent schools to restrain their demands for teachers and since then their staffing standards have not materially changed.

Would not the Minister recognise that there is a grave sense of injustice among those local authorities who feel that they are restrained in their recruitment of teachers when they know that within their own area—for example, the London County Council—there are many independent schools which are not so restrained at a time when the shortage of teachers is very acute?

The hon. Lady is asking now about a more general point, to which I would gladly reply that we are very ready to consider whether it may be useful for me to approach the independent schools again, as my predecessor did in 1960. I was making the point that we cannot apply the quota system to the independent schools, because the quota system applies to areas and not to individual schools.

Should not the right hon. Gentleman try to raise the standard of the maintained schools to that of the independent schools, rather than bring the standard of the independent schools down to his own?

I welcome what the hon. Gentleman has said. It has been precisely with that aim in view that I have made a number of speeches on this subject. It was clearly reasonable in 1960, when we were anticipating the year of intermission, for my predecessor to take the initiative which he did. I have said that I am prepared to consider whether a similar approach might be useful again.

asked the Minister of Education how much money will be allocated to the West Riding County Council for school building purposes for the years 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, and 1967–68, respectively.

The authority's major building programme for 1964–65 will amount to approximately £1·6 million. I am now considering the authority's proposals for the three following years, and I expect to be able to make an announcement within the next month or two.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the fact that the present allocation to the West Riding County Council is grossly insufficient, and that if no greater amount of money is allocated to it there will be an abandonment of many building projects in the West Riding, which will be detrimental to the children there? Will he when he gives the new estimates take into account subsidence, and building cost increases which, I understand, have been 20 per cent. or more during the last four years or so?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the West Riding allocation for 1965–66, for example, will be greater than it was in 1964–65. In fact over the five years, the West Riding has had £13 million and 44 major improvement projects, which, I think, is not too bad. I think that one must judge this over a term of years and not by just one particular year.

asked the Minister of Education what decision he has now reached on whether to introduce legislation whereby parents of handicapped children are able to apply for a maintenance grant when the child has reached the age of 15 years.

I have nothing at present to add to the Answer I gave the hon. Gentleman on 19th December last.

That is a very poor Answer. Has the Minister no compassion for the parents and these children? Does not he agree that handicapped schoolchildren must have at least the same consideration as normal children? In fact, should not they have greater consideration because of their handicap?

I assure the hon. Member that handicapped children, who are a most important category, now receive a greater share of the national resources in real terms than they did five or ten years ago. This is rising all the time. I do not see any likelihood of being able to introduce legislation on this subject during the present Session.

Is the Minister aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland, in reply to a Question of mine on this subject about a year ago, seemed to indicate the possibility of introducing legislation? He said that this question would be looked at when a suitable opportunity for amending legislation presented itself and that this would require to be on a United Kingdom basis? Surely the Minister appreciates that there is a discrimination against these children, who are required to attend school until 16 years of age and receive no grant, whereas ordinary children receive grant after the statutory school leaving age of 15 if the circumstances of the home justify it? Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter again? It is a small one, but it has very great human import.

If the hon. Member will look at my Answer and the answer which I gave to the first supplementary question, he will see that I was careful to use the words "at present" and "during the present Session". There is no difference between the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself on this subject. It is just a question of timing.

Would not the Minister agree that there is a very powerful case for reviewing the whole question of maintenance allowances? Will he give an assurance that this will be done?

Authorities have had complete freedom on maintenance allowances generally since the general grant was introduced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that every education authority, and indeed himself, have declared that this is an anomaly and an injustice? Will he consider bringing in a simple, single-Clause Bill, which would have the support of the whole House and would be passed very quickly?

As I said when I last answered Questions on this subject, I thought that pupils in special schools benefited in other ways. I doubt whether serious hardship occurs, but I will naturally take into account the strong views which have been expressed this afternoon.

In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent attention is drawn in schools to the danger of smoking and the personal and social liabilities arising from the early consumption of alcoholic drinks.

I do not prescribe what is to be taught in schools; but my Department's pamphlet on "Health Education" is widely used in teacher training colleges and schools, and chapter 13 deals with the use and abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Is the Minister aware that, while much is being done, very rightly, to dissuade school children from smoking, nevertheless the whole emphasis recently seems to have been on the danger of smoking, with the result that many children are growing up assuming that smoking is far more perilous than drink, whereas the social damage of excessive drinking is far greater?

I do not want in any way to weaken the force of public feeling about smoking in view of the evidence recently published. However, if the hon. Member reads the pamphlet "Health Education", he will see that a considerable amount of space is devoted to alcohol.

Will the Minister look with favour on the possibility of propaganda or at least education by outstanding athletes, because this positive way of keeping healthy is, perhaps, much more successful than the negative way of simply saying. "Don't". Children would respond to appeals from athletes to keep their bodies healthy.

asked the Minister of Education how many children in the county of Essex qualified for grammar school education but are attending independent schools for this purpose; what is the number of pupils in those schools whose fees are being paid from public funds; and what are the regulations determining the entrance of those children into those schools.

The authority's records do not show how many children qualified for selective education are attending independent schools, but 2,019 are at present receiving help with fees, in whole or in part. Under the authority's regulations a little under two-thirds of these children have places which make good deficiences in the authority's own provision, while the remainder are helped on an income scale to go to independent schools of their parents' choice.

Is the number increasing or decreasing? Have parents the option in certain circumstances of sending their children to a more convenient independent school than to a grammar school? Is the whole question of the relationship between State schools and independent schools now open for revision?

I have not the precise figures, but the authority is taking up only a small number of what one might call new "deficiency places", because it now generally has adequate provision of its own, although this does not affect holders of existing places. I should not feel justified in criticising the Essex local authority for the arrangement which it makes.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now give authority for the expenditure required for the building of premises for a county youth centre and gymnasium at the Littleover County Secondary School, Derby, the construction of which has been required since 1951 and which has been constantly postponed by the reduction of money allowed for the Derbyshire authority's capital minor works programme.

I will consider the youth wing at this school along with the other proposals put to me by the authority for its 1965–66 youth service building programme, but I must have regard to the authority's own order of priorities. As to the gymnasium, it is for the authority to decide what projects it wishes to undertake within the annual allocation allowed it for minor works.

With so small an allocation, it is impossible for the authorities to make this gymnasium. If the gymnasium is not made, the school will be seriously handicapped and the future of an important youth centre will be in danger. Is the Minister aware that in this very Conservative part of my constituency there is keen resentment against the Government which I am doing my best to fan?

The right hon. Member's idealistic sympathies are well known in the House. Even if I did allocate minor works projects from the centre, I should not be influenced by his last point. However, local authorities have had £2 million more for minor works this year compared with last year. I have had to give priority to the authorities with the biggest population problems. Derbyshire's population has in fact been falling slightly.

In view of the nature of the reply, I will do my best to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to establish a closer integration between teacher training and the practice of teaching.

Educational theory and subject study are already closely integrated with teaching practice which occupies about one-seventh of the three-year course of training. Links between colleges and schools in all sorts of ways are increasing.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the considerable volume of criticism by recently trained teachers that too few of the instructors at their teacher-training colleges had any experience of practical teaching? Will a closer integration on that level be considered?

I should not accept too easily generalisations on this subject. Clearly, the burden of teaching practice will grow and that is why I have asked the institutes of education to survey the likely position in their own areas for the years to come as the training colleges continue to grow so rapidly.

I recognise that there is close co-operation between many colleges and schools, but will the Minister consider encouraging the establishment of experimental schools attached to training colleges and institutes of education which could be used for this purpose and a wide range of other purposes in the work of these colleges?

I should like to see that question on the Order Paper. However, clearly there is room for experiments. For example, 11 training colleges have been invited to experiment with the use of closed circuit television to enable students to observe classes of school children and the practices of the best teachers.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in the improved methods of teaching English and in the discussions with the United States on the co-ordination of the development of the language.

The British Council, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Cooperation, is installing about 30 language laboratories and is preparing special material for them. The Council is also helping research projects being undertaken at the Universities of Birmingham and Sheffield and by the National Foundation for Educational Research, and is collaborating with the British Broadcasting Corporation in the production of films for beginners and for teacher training. New courses in the teaching of English as a foreign language have been established at the University College of Bangor and at Manchester University. There is continuing liaison between the British Council and the Center of Applied Linguistics in Washington.

I appreciate the steps which have been taken already, but will the Minister look further into the possibility of simplifying English even a little, both for the sake of our own children and for the sake of people abroad trying to learn English? I have received quite a number of letters from people in Germany and other countries who are trying to simplify English in teaching their pupils. Surely if people abroad and in the Colonies want to make English a universal language, this country should do something to help them and make it easier for them to learn it.

The right hon. Member will realise that much work is being done in the co-ordination of the development of out language. I should not like to give my views on the simplification of English, which is a difficult subject, least of all at Question Time.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that it would be a great help to the development of English if people could learn to read it with greater ease and pleasure? If so, can he say when he will be ready to give his views on the initial teaching methods of my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Sir J. Pitman)?

That is another question. I hope, however, soon to have something to say to the House on this subject.

Is it not a tragic reflection on our language that probably not one Member of Parliament could win a spelling bee in his own language? [HON. MEMBERS: "Shame."]

asked the Minister of Education how many swimming pools have been built by each of the education authorities in England and Wales, respectively; and what encouragement is given by his Department to the further provision of swimming pools in State-aided schools.

The information is not available. I welcome the increase which is taking place in facilities for teaching swimming but it is a matter for individual local education authorities to decide whether a swimming pool should be provided within the cost limits for a new school.

Why is not the information available? If the swimming pools are there, surely the information should be available. Secondly, what kind of encouragement is the Minister giving to the various authorities to build these important amenities in their schools? Is he taking any steps in this direction?

I collect information on the number of covered and heated swimming baths which are built, but not on the number of outdoor pools. There has been some encouragement as, since 1958, 56 covered and heated swimming baths have been built as part of major projects at maintained schools in England and Wales and another 51 are under construction or approved.

Does not the Minister realise that swimming is important for the young boys and girls and that the approaching summer is likely to bring serious loss of life because children cannot swim? Will the Minister give further consideration to the suggestion that all secondary modern schools should have swimming pools attached?

I agree that it is important that children should be taught to swim. It is not always necessary, however, to build a conventional swimming bath. Many successful experiments have been carried out in the smaller prefabricated type of bath.

asked the Minister of Education what further increases he will now make in school building in London.

I am now considering the London County Council's proposals for the school building programmes 1965–68 and expect to make an announcement within the next month or two.

Is the Minister aware that, thanks to inadequate Government provision in past years, there are still quite a number of slum schools in the London area, dismal, decrepit and disheartening for pupils and teachers alike? Does it not smack a little too much of electioneering now to say that a few days before the General Election the Minister will announce a vast new increase in the provision of schools in London?

It smacks not of electioneering, but merely of sensible administration, to give sufficient warning of the schools for the 1965–66 programme. I was going to suggest a word about the total, but in view of what the hon. Member has asked I will not.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are taken to bring to the notice of practising teachers the results of the research work of all kinds sponsored by his Department.

The first projects financed from my Research Fund did not start until 1962 and none has yet been completed. I shall certainly take steps, by periodical bulletins, by short courses and through Her Majesty's Inspectorate to see that the results of research are brought to the attention of serving teachers and to local authorities as soon as they are available.

Will the Minister consider publishing a quarterly synopsis of research information on the lines of that done by D.S.I.R. and circulating it to the relevant schools? May I suggest broadening it to include the results of research in schools and institutes of education, because there is a problem of the results of a great deal of the research which is done not percolating through to those who have to use it?

The hon. Member, who has raised a valuable point, may be glad to know that the March edition of my Department's "Reports on Education" will be devoted to the subject of educational research and will include a description of current projects.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he has taken, since he decided to raise the school-leaving age, to set in motion a study of the detailed recommendations of the Newsom Committee and their policy implications.

The recommendations and their policy implications have been under study in my Department since the Report was published. Particular attention is now being given to those recommendations which relate to the implications for the curriculum of the decision to raise the school leaving age. In the expectation that a Schools Council for the Curriculum and Examinations will be set up later this year, proposals for its consideration are now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the circumstances in which four Royal Air Force policemen in Nicosia were ordered to enter the city unarmed and with no senior noncommissioned officer in charge on Christmas Eve, 1963.

These men, who were corporals, were sent in to try to evacuate the wife and six children of an airman who had been wounded earlier in the day. The rescue attempt was delayed as long as possible in the hope of a cease-fire coming into force. The party came under fire before it could find the family and was immediately recalled by radio. On the way back, the party came under fire again and three members were wounded. The civil police and hospital authorities were unable to help and they were rescued by a Royal Air Force ambulance under escort.

In thanking the Under Secretary for that statement, which will go some way towards reassuring the parents and families of the airmen concerned, may I ask him to look further into the question of why this Land Rover went with no arms and, therefore, the airmen concerned were unable to defend themselves? Secondly, they were sent after dark, and thirdly, why was no senior n.c.o. or officer in control of the party?

It is easy to be wise after these events. This happened at the beginning of the troubles. The arming of policemen is a matter for decision by the local Royal Air Force authorities, but I think that the carriage of arms would undoubtedly have aggravated the incident, which occurred in the no-man's-land between the Greek and Turkish lines. The announcement of a cease-fire had been expected and the operation was delayed for this reason. Manpower resources were fully extended at the time and it was not surprising in the circumstances for a junior n.c.o. to be put in charge of the party.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why he has allowed the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute to install a petrol filling station at Leeming Aerodrome where there are a number of local garages giving similar service within easy access to the station and offering a 24-hour service.

Because there was a demand from the Royal Air Force personnel there for petrol supplies to be more readily accessible. At present, the nearest local garage is some four miles away and the journey involves two right hand turns across A.1, which is a clearway at this point.

Will my hon. Friend go to the place in question and correct the information given in that reply? Is he aware that there are two petrol stations without crossing A.1 and that there are four petrol stations in the near vicinity? Rill my hon. Friend reconsider this decision in view of the fact that four tradesmen are doing this trade and he is subjecting them to State-subsidised competition, which is extremely unfair to them?

I assure my right hon. Friend that I have examined the position on the map. I am sure that my right hon. Friend would wish to bear in mind the welfare interests of the 450 Royal Air Force men at Leeming, that N.A.A.F.I. sales are restricted to personnel and their families on the station and there is, therefore, no question of competing with normal civil trade in the area.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy in the case of Miss Pat Arrowsmith, who was fined on grounds of obstruction for holding a meeting near Liverpool docks and is refusing to pay the fine and the £25 costs awarded against her.

Miss Arrowsmith's conviction was upheld by the Divisional Court on Appeal. On present information I can see no ground for recommending the exercise of the Prerogative of Mercy.

Is the Home Secretary aware that the fine has been paid since my Question was originally tabled, and paid by an anonymous source? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the more serious matter that the legal costs which remain unpaid were awarded personally against Miss Arrowsmith by the Lord Chief Justice although she had been granted legal aid with a nil contribution? Is this in order?

Decisions of the courts are not a matter for me. The question of enforcement of costs is a matter for the local authority.

If a series of decisions in the courts appeared to show an unexplained discrimination—unless the discrimination were on political grounds—would there not be a case for the Home Secretary to intervene?

No. It is most important that the Home Secretary should not intervene in decisions taken by a court after hearing all the evidence in the case.

Yes, but is the Home Secretary aware that there happens to be a similar case, again involving an instruction of a nil contribution certificate, where the legal costs have been personally awarded against the prosecuted person?

These are not matters for me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are being given to enable police officers of British nationality, now being declared redundant by new African States, to continue their career in this country.

Under an amendment recently made to the Police Regulations, former colonial police officers are enabled to count their overseas service to obtain enhanced starting pay on appointment as a constable in a home police force, subject to the service being certified by the Secretary for Technical Co-operation.

Would my right hon. Friend also give opportunity for officers to serve in the Prison Service? Sometimes it is difficult for an officer who has been in a certain rank to get any similar position or higher in the police force.

If my hon. Friend would like to put down a Question about the Prison Service I shall be very glad to answer it.

In principle, would the right hon. Gentleman say that he will provide every possible facility for these people to have useful employment when they come back to this country?

Yes. I have answered this question, but service in a colonial police force may be very different from the kind of experience required for service in a police force in this country, and I do not think that one can take it for granted that the one is a natural qualification for the other.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will amend the Act relating to political expenditure for election purposes so as to prevent business undertakings circulating literature for Members of Parliament, the administrative postal casts of which are not included as an election expense.

The Representation of the People Act, 1949, already applies to expenditure incurred by or on behalf of a candidate on the issue of advertisements, circulars or publications with a view to promoting his election. I am not aware of any defect in the existing law in this respect, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of what he has in mind I will consider them.

Is the Home Secretary aware that I have in my hand a letter signed by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) addressed to thousands of new electors in his constituency the postal cost and administration of which was the responsibility of a local firm? The envelope bears the frank of a firm in Wolverhampton, along with an advertisement "Fulwood for tyres". Is this not a hidden political subsidy, and if it is general throughout the country should not such industrial expenditure be included in electoral costs?

The hon. Member has not stated what is in this communication, which I have not seen. We are all at liberty to do our work as Members of Parliament, but the law says that if expenditure is incurred with a view to promoting one's election at a future election that has to be included in electoral expenses. It is, of course, for a court to decide whether any particular expenditure is caught by that or not.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, whilst some expenditure may be legal, nevertheless it is making a mockery of the election law if we have a maximum legal amount which candidates can spend and the law can be bent in this way? Does he not realise that at the last General Election a mockery was made of this law by the fact that hundreds of thousands of pounds were spent by business firms throughout this country?

I cannot accept that, and there is a remedy with the courts, and it must be for a court to determine election law, when there comes down at some point a chopper which decides what is expenditure incurred by somebody or other with a view to promoting his election. Quite obviously I am not in a position to pass any judgment on this particular document which I have not seen.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been in touch with the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer to see whether this expenditure is allowed for business expenses?

That, unquestionably, is not a matter for me. Neither my right hon. Friend the Chancellor nor I have seen this document yet.

On a point of order. Is it not the usual practice, Mr. Speaker, to give notice to a right hon. Member whose actions are to be called to account? Would you ask the hon. Member for Bilston (Mr. R. Edwards) whether any such notice was given to the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell)?

However that may be, it raises no point of order for me.

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg leave to raise the matter on the Adjournment.