asked the Minister of Health by what percentage the death rate from all causes in South-East Wales was higher than in the country as a whole in 1958, 1961, and 1962, respectively; and, in view of the limited hospital services at present in this area, if he will review and bring forward present plans for future hospital accommodation with a view to lowering mortality rates of the region.

3·0, 4·0 and 3·1; the number of hospital beds is not a main factor in mortality rates, but the Hospital Plan is under review continuously and developments are put in hand as rapidly as planning, funds and the needs of other areas permit.

asked the Minister of Health why the proposed date of July, 1964, for the commencement of the building of the proposed new hospital at Abergavenny has been postponed; whether he is aware that in the north Monmouthshire areas there is no provision in the specialities of paediatrics, infectious diseases, diseases of the chest, dermatology, geriatrics, special-care babies and acute psychiatry, that there is a deficiency of more than 140 acute beds in the area, and that the facilities that are available are disposed among six hospitals; and when the construction of this hospital will now commence.

The Hospital Plan stated that this scheme was expected to start before 1966–67. Planning is well advanced, but I cannot yet give a firm starting date. I am aware of the difficulties of this area.

asked the Minister of Health how many subnormal children living in the County Borough of Derby are now on the waiting list for permanent hospital accommodation; and how many of them have been on the waiting list for more than five years.

Six and two

asked the Minister of Health what is the allocation of funds for merit awards in each of the hospital regions; and what is the division of the grand total between teaching hospital consultants and others.

These awards are not rationed between regions by financial allocations. For particulars of their distribution I would refer the hon. Member to the tables on pages 207 and 210 of my Department's Annual Report for 1962.

asked the Minister of Health when his Works Study department last carried out an investigation into the staffing of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board's headquarters; and what its findings were.

There has been no such investigation.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total emoluments, including bonuses, paid to State enrolled nurses and unqualified nurses, respectively, during the three-year training period of registered mental nurses.

£1,638 for a State enrolled nurse and from £1,290 to £1,644, according to age, for an unqualified nurse.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number and percentage of Irish nurses and trainees now employed in British hospitals; how many are recruited annually in Eire and Northern Ireland; how many return home or leave the hospital service; and approximately how many hospital beds are kept open by the employment of Commonwealth, Irish and foreign nurses and student nurses employed in British hospitals.

At 31st December, 1962, 4,164 or about 6½ per cent. of student and pupil nurses in England and Wales were from Eire. Otherwise the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health why his Department have refused to approve the interim measures to be taken at the Ipswich and East Suffolk hospitals regarding the emergency surgical and casualty service put forward by the Ipswich Hospital Management Committee.

It has not; they are still under discussion locally.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the danger to pedestrians crossing trunk road A.449 at its junction with Hospital Lane in Powick, Worcestershire; and if he will arrange for responsible adult escorts to accompany patients from the nearby mental hospital when they cross the road at that point.

Yes; patients who are not thought able to look after themselves are suitably escorted in groups.

asked the Minister of Health when building will now commence on a new hospital to replace the present Montagu Hospital at Mexborough.

The revision of the Hospital Plan published in April, 1963, provided for up-grading of this hospital; but it cannot start yet.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet reached a decision about the size and scope of the proposed new hospital at King's Lynn; and in which year of the hospital building programme he intends to make a start on the building.

No, nor can I say when it will start.

asked the Minister of Health how many members of the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board have served for more than three years; and what is the length of service of each of such members.

Sixteen, whose periods of service are as follows in completed years:

Name	No. of complete years
The Lord Moynihan, O.B.E., T.D. (Chairman)	3
Mrs. Ann S Blofeld, M.A.	14
Dame Barbara Brooke, D.B.E.	9
Mr. Walter J. Dymott, M.B.E., F.C.A	3
Mr. John D. S. Flew, M.D., B.S., F.R.C.O.G.	3
Mr. A. Staveley Gough, F.R.C.S.	16
Mr. Maurice Hackett, O.B.E.	14
Sir Charles R. Harington, K.B.E., Sc.D., F.R.S	7
Mr. W. A. Hill, J.P., F.R.I.C.S.	3
Mr. G. D. Hitchcock	6
Alderman Sir Frederick Lawrence, O.B.E., J.P., L.C.C.	12
Dr. J. B. S. Lewis, M.A., M.D., D.P.M.	11
Miss M. Marriott, O.B.E., S.R.N., S.C.M.	15
Miss E. Rickards, M.S., F.R.C.S.	16
Mr. Kenneth Robinson, M.P.	12
Mr. Norman E. Wiggins, M.A., LL.B.	3

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to improve facilities for maternity cases at Lowestoft Hospital.

The East Anglian Regional Hospital Board is at present considering the improvement of facilities in the Lowestoft and Yarmouth area.

asked the Minister of Health, how much a year has been saved since the prices of children's welfare foods were increased in June, 1961; and what has been the decline in the use by children of orange juice, cod liver oil and vitamin tablets since the charges were raised by the Government in June, 1961.

An estimated £1·2 million annually; 54 per cent. for orange juice issued to mothers and young children and 64 per cent. for cod liver oil for children under the Welfare Foods Scheme in 1963 compared with 1960; vitamin tablets are not supplied for children.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is still his policy to enable doctors to establish a group practice by authorising a loan for building construction under the terms of which a reasonable, as opposed to an economic, rent becomes payable; to what extent his Department and the health authorities bear the cost of the difference; and what rules he applies in these cases.

The terms on which facilities for general practice are made available in a local authority health centre are for negotiation between the local health authority and the local executive council. The charges made by the authority are recovered from the doctors by the executive council. The difference is borne by the authority where the charges do not cover the full economic cost to them.

asked the Minister of Health if he will establish a Central Planning Division in his Department so that forward planning may comprehensively cover all three sectors of the National Health Service.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will supply in confidence to the Drugs Division of Scotland Yard an estimate based on information available in his Department of the quantities of drinamyl and other amphetamine derivatives supplied annually through medical prescriptions.

Yes, if asked.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will direct his Department to investigate the new discovery in cancer research, with a view to providing full information to the public of its value; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the results of this research have not yet been published. When they are, it will be for the medical profession and other research workers in this field to assess the value of the research.

asked the Minister of Health, what steps are required for the establishment of a group medical practice in conjunction with a health centre; and whether his Department is assisting in the establishment of such a centre in Wednesbury.

The provision of facilities for general practice in a health centre is a matter for consultation between the local health authority and the local executive council. The Ministry is always ready to advise. Staffordshire County Council has not so far asked my right hon. Friend to approve a specific proposal to provide a health centre at Wednesbury.

asked the Minister of Health how many meetings have been held with representatives of the drug industry on the renewal of the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme; when he expects to conclude his negotiations; and when he expects to make his decision.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson).

asked the Minister of Health whether he will provide facilities for establishing a children's welfare centre for the Allesley district of Coventry.

I understand that Coventry City Council intends to provide a clinic in Allesley as soon as it can get suitable premises.

asked the Minister of Health when the Central Office of Information will complete the film warnings about the dangers of cigarette smoking which are to be shown on television; by what date these films will be available for showing by the British Broadcasting Corporation and commercial television contractors; how often it is intended that they shall be shown; and how long they are.

Final scripts have yet to be approved and it is not possible to give dates for completion or showings. These small films will probably run for one minute and are intended to be shown by both the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television companies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to introduce legislation to extend the White Fish Industry (Grants for Fishing Vessels and Engines) Order to bring freezer trawlers within its scope.

An amending Order was laid before the House on the 4th February, which will, if it receives approval, extend the scope of grant aid to freezer trawlers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has recently received on the subject of milk prices; and what replies he has sent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on the subject of milk prices; and what reply he has sent.

At this time of the year it is customary for me to receive numerous representations about milk prices and this year is no exception. In general my reply must be that I cannot anticipate the outcome of the Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of farm animals which have died so far as a result of the recent outbreak of fluoroacetamide poisoning in Kent.

I can comment only upon cases where my officers have received direct information or where they carried out their own examinations. Seventeen cows, including two belonging to the Ministry used as controls, and possibly seven sheep are known to us or believed by us to have died as a result of this outbreak, but other deaths have been reported from the district. Most of these deaths occurred in the early part of the summer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the testing scheme for antibiotics in milk is now effective in preventing the distribution of contaminated milk; and if he will make a statement.

The testing of milk for antibiotics by dairies in England and Wales has been extended and a further substantial extension is expected soon. Producers are being warned when their milk fails a dairy test and the Milk Marketing Board has announced its intention to pay producers a substantially reduced price for any consignment of milk found to contain antibiotic. It will introduce these arrangements for reducing the price as soon as it is satisfied that information about the periods for which milk from treated cows should be withheld can be made available to all veterinary surgeons and producers.I expect these steps being taken by the dairy industry to make a substantial contribution towards a solution of the problem of antibiotics in milk.In addition, a number of food and drugs authorities are testing milk for antibiotics aid I propose, in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, to issue a circular of guidance on this to all authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek an agreement with the Governments of Cyprus and Malta to secure the phased marketing of early potato imports in June and July.

We shall keep in touch with the Cyprus Government about the prospects for the season; and commercial factors themselves should encourage growers there to send us potatoes when they are most required. Imports of early potatoes from Malta are small and mostly arrive in.May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why innovators of improved agricultural systems like tower silos for undried barley have been refused grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme, in view of the fact that later applicants for grant have received it.

New agricultural systems often require a period of research and experiment to enable them to be proved in conditions in this country. Until they are, my right hon. Friend cannot rightly regard them as improvements which, as the 1957 Agriculture Act requires, are such that a prudent landlord would be willing to make them himself or compensate a tenant for making them. Such decisions cannot be applied retrospectively because my right hon. Friend has no power under the Act to pay grant on work started before it is approved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the British Trawlers Federation Limited and other authoritative bodies representing the British fishing industry have expressed by letter and otherwise their concern at the results so far as Britain is concerned of the recent International Fisheries Conference in London, and have submitted to him proposals for rectifying the loss and inconveniences to the British fishing industry by the findings of that conference; and what steps he will take on those proposals.

I am aware of these representations but would point out that the Conference has not yet concluded its deliberations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the approximate prices received in the open market by East Anglian growers of blackcurrants in each of the four past seasons, together with details of the estimated acreage in East Anglia devoted to the commercial growing of this fruit.

I have no information relating specifically to East Anglian growers, but the following are average seasonal prices per ton received by growers for blackcurrants in Covent Garden, Birmingham and Nottingham markets (the three markets nearest to East Anglia for which information about prices is available):

1960	£233
1961	£244
1962	£229
1963	£130

The following are acreages of blackcurrants in Norfolk and Suffolk as returned in the June Censuses :

—	1960	1961	1962	1963
Norfolk	2,526	2,492	2,806	3,103
Suffolk	1,179	1,109	1,188	1,306

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make vaccination of poultry compulsory in Norfolk and Suffolk in view of the amount of fowl pest.

As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Hilton) on 20th January, compulsory vaccination is impracticable because there is no way of telling whether birds have been vaccinated or not.Vaccination against fowl pest is in poultry keepers' own interests, and in Norfolk and Suffolk at least they have recognised this, and have made good use of the vaccine. As a result of this, and of restrictions on the movement and marketing of poultry, the disease position in these counties is far from unsatisfactory and compares favourably with past years. There were 195 outbreaks in Norfolk and Suffolk during the last quarter of 1963, which is well below the average for the previous four years; in January there were 16 outbreaks compared with an average of 150 for the previous 4 years and in the first 23 days of February there were 8 outbreaks. There have been no infected area restrictions in these counties since 18th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether in the amending soft drinks regulations which he has at present under consideration, he will amend the present labelling regulations to ensure that the consumer is informed when crushed citrus peel is incorporated in a drink, and when a drink is composed only of citrus juice and sugar.

It is proposed that the new regulations should in this respect embody the provisions of the Soft Drinks Regulations, 1963.These provisions require a drink made by the comminution of the whole fruit-say, an orange, which incorporates the crushed peel as well as the juice-to be called an orange drink. Where orange juice is the only fruit constituent, the prescribed title is "Orange Crush" for the drink which is ready to drink, and "Orange Squash" for the drink requiring dilution before consumption.The minimum fruit, or fruit juice, content is prescribed for each kind of drink.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total numbers of milking cows in Great Britain in 1961, 1962, and 1963; what were the numbers of milking cows in Shropshire in the same years; what was the total production of milk in Great Britain and in Shropshire in those years; and what is the estimated production of milk in 1964.

The numbers of milking cows in Great Britain, as recorded in the June Census Returns, were 3,035,000 in 1961, 3,089,000 in 1962, and 3,052,000 in 1963. Corresponding figures for the county of Shropshire were 106,000, 108,000 and 108,000 respectively.Total sales of milk through the marketing schemes of Great Britain during the calendar years 1961, 1962 and 1963 were, in million gallons 2,270, 2,335 and 2,264; corresponding figures for the county of Shropshire were 85, 88 and 86 million gallons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action he is taking to ensure that, whatever hill sheep subsidy payment is made in 1964, those hill farmers who sustained serious losses during the early part of 1963 are not denied full benefit because their flock numbers as at 4th December, 1963, were depleted;(2) in view of the severity of losses on some hill farms last winter, whether he will consider making provision for the payment of hill sheep subsidy in 1964 to be based on either the December, 1962, flock numbers or the December, 1963, numbers, at the owner's discretion.

Divisional offices of this Ministry have already made allowance for ewe losses since December, 1962, when paying the 1963 subsidy and any further, financial loses due to a reduction in lamb crop, wool clip and total income are being taken into account in the discussions now taking place between officials and the National Farmers' Union on the scale of the hill sheep subsidy for 1964. But it is a principle, from which I would not be justified in departing in this instance, that the Government does not guarantee farmers against the hazards of severe weather.The only occasion on which we have departed from that principle was following the disastrous winter of 1947, when legislation was introduced to waive the provisions of the Hill Farming Act, 1946, that subsidy payments in any year must be based on the number of ewes in the flock in the immediately preceding December. While there were pockets of heavy ewe losses in some places and lambing figures were much reduced, the overall losses have been only slightly higher than normal. Much as I sympathise with the individual farmers whose flocks suffered badly in 1963, the effects of the winter were not so disastrous or widespread that I would feel justified in recommending similar action to the House today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he does not keep records of the prices paid by farmers for diesel tractors; and what redress farmers have in respect of unpredictable and sudden increases of such prices in the light of computation of the Annual Price Review.

Information about the average ex-works value of new tractors is available to my Department, and the effect of changes in the cost of purchased machinery are taken into account at the Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is his policy to encourage sugar beet production in the West Midlands either on the grounds of agricultural economy or of good husbandry, or a combination of both; and whether he is satisfied with the return to West Midland farmers on this crop.

It is our policy to provide opportunities for farmers to grow sugar beet in all parts of the country suitable for this crop, up to the limit of the total permitted acreage. About 30,000 acres are grown in the West Midlands. I have no detailed information as to the return given by this crop to West Midland farmers, but over the country as a whole the average return is such as to bring forward offers of contracts for a greater acreage than is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in the County of Derbyshire have been in receipt of Small Farm Business Grants or aid under the Small Farmers' Scheme; and how many at the moment are carrying out schemes in each category.

865 small farmers in Derbyshire have so far received assistance under the main Small Farmer Scheme. 685 of them are still working towards completion of their farm business plans, including 27 who were admitted under the recent extension of the scheme to farms where the annual labour requirement is 450–500 standard man days. A further 24 small farmers received help under the supplementary scheme which expired in 1962.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he now has had information as to the losses of sheep during the winter months of early 1963; what figures he has of such losses for the Counties of Brecon and Radnor; and what reply he has made to the representations made to him for some financial assistance towards such losses, as was done in 1947.

The additional loss of ewes attributable to the severe weather early in 1963 for England and Wales as a whole, including lowland sheep, is estimated at little more than 50,000 or ½ per cent. of the flock. The additional loss of lambs, including any arising from the death of ewes prior to lambing, was of the order of 450,000. Estimates cannot be made with any precision for individual counties, since no allowance can be made on a county basis for slaughterings or for drafting out of the county, and marketings of ewe lambs are not available by counties. These losses, although severe in some small districts, were in no way comparable to the national disaster of 1947, and my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in recommending the House to provide financial assistance towards meeting them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to help commercial honey producers to improve their businesses.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 17th February. But I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the note I referred to in that reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value of agricultural exports from this country during the last complete 12 months; and what was the total subsidy paid to producers in respect of such exports.

The value of agricultural exports considered to be of United Kingdom origin was £60 million in 1963. The amount of the guarantee payments to producers in respect of these exports cannot be calculated, although on a substantial proportion of the commodities concerned there is no payment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a breakdown of agricultural subsidies, showing the totals paid to the farmers and the manufacturers of fertilisers for the years 1959–60, 1960–61, and 1961–62.

Subsidies paid for fertilisers delivered to farms in the United Kingdom between 1st July, 1959, and 30th June, 1960, totalled £33·9 million. The corresponding figures for 1960–61 and 1961–62 were £32·7 million and £34·3 million respectively. The subsidy is payable to the farmer or, at his request, to the merchant from whom he obtained the fertiliser. There are no subsidy payments to fertiliser manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Labour what regulations cover the manufacture of poisonous substances used in agriculture; when such regulations were made; and if he is satisfied that inspection of the premises concerned is adequate to prevent industrial accidents.

The manufacture of poisonous substances used in agriculture is not subject to special regulations but is covered by health and safety provisions in the Factories Act and Regulations made under the Act which are of more general application. Cases of accident and poisoning to persons employed in the manufacture of these substances are very infrequent, and I am satisfied that the normal inspection arrangements are adequate to ensure compliance with the law.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of Easter school leavers in Gateshead this year; and how many jobs will be available for them.

About 400 boys and girls are expected to leave school in Gateshead at Easter. It is not possible to forecast how many jobs will be available for them, but there has been some increase in vacancies in recent weeks, and the Youth Employment Service is canvassing employers in the area to provide further openings for young people.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys and girls, respectively, under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead youth employment office at mid-February in the years 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964; what is the number of school leavers registered for first employment at February 1964; and what is the estimated number of school leavers who have taken up full-time further educational courses and who are not included in the number of registered unemployed for February, 1964.

The numbers of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-February in the years 1961 to 1964 were as follows:

Date	Boys	Girls
February, 1961	24	12
February, 1962	122	17
February, 1963	271	75
February, 1964	137	26

The February, 1964, totals included 29 boys and 3 girls registered for first employment It is estimated that since September, 1963, about 150 school leavers have taken up full-time further educational courses; they are not included in the registered unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to deal with the redundancies arising at the firm of S. G. Brown, Limited at Watford; and if he will make a statement.

The Watford Employment Exchange has already offered to help those employees of the firm who become redundant. I understand that the names of the redundant workers and the date when the redundancies will occur are not yet known.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest figure of unemployed registered disabled, male and female, respectively, in Sections 1 and 2 in each of the Rhondda employment exchanges.

The following table contains the information requested:

REGISTERED DISABLED PERSON UNEMPLOYED ON 13TH JANUARY, 1964
Employment Exchange	Section I		Section II
	Males	Females	Males	Females
Ferndale	63	7	24	3
Tonypandy	160	17	32	2
Treorchy	88	10	29	1

asked the Minister of Labour how many employees of British Railways will become redundant as a result of the proposed closure of the Porth to Maerdy branch line for passenger traffic; and what steps are being taken to provide alternative employment for those affected.

I understand that the Railways Board estimates that 24 workers will be affected by this closure but that it hopes to offer all of them alternative employment. Should any need help in finding other work the full facilities of my Department, including training where appropriate, will be available to them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many youths and girls below the age of 20 years are registered as unemployed in each of the Rhondda employment exchanges.

On 13th January, 1964, the numbers of young persons under 20 years of age wholly unemployed were as follows:

	Youths	Girls
Aged 18–19 years
Registered at—
Tonypandy E.E.	29	15
Ferndale E.E.	5	6
Treorchy E.E.	13	6
Under 18 years
Registered at—
Tonypandy Y.E.O. (including Ferndale, Porth and Treorchy)	68	33

asked the Minister of Labour how many factories are manufacturing fluoroacetamide; where such factories are situated; and what precautions have been taken to prevent contamination by industrial accidents or in other ways.

Factory occupiers are not required to supply my Ministry with regular information about their products or the materials used in their manufacture. From the inquiries I have made, I have information of only one factory in Manchester in addition to the Smarden factory where fluoroacetamide was, until recently, manufactured. Precautionary measures for the protection of work-people in factories against health hazards arising in the course of their employment are required by the Factories Act and Regulations under the Act and are enforced by my Factory Inspectorate.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th February, 1964; Vol. 689, col. 49] supplied the following information:The average annual percentage rates of unemployment for Denmark. Belgium, Italy, Canada and the United States of America are set out in the table below. These figures are based on information received through the International Labour Office.Owing to differences in coverage, in definition of both "employment" and "unemployment", in methods of collecting statistics, and in the source of the data, these figures are not comparable either internationally or, necessarily, within a country over the period. For example in Denmark the percentages relate to unemployment amongst insured members of trade union funds and are taken from trade union statistics; in the United States of America the percentages are based on Labour Force Sample Sur-

Year			Annual average percentage rate of unemployment
			Denmark	Belgium	Italy	Canada	United States of America
1951	…	…	9·7	9·8	8·8	4·9	3·0
1952	…	…	12·5	8·3	9·5	6·1	2·7
1953	…	…	9·2	11·8	10·0	7·0	2·4
1954	…	…	8·0	10·9	10·0	9·7	5·0
1955	…	…	9·7	8·4	9·8	9·3	4·2
1956	…	…	11·1	7·0	9·9	7·4	4·2
1957	…	…	10·2	5·5	9·0	9·5	4·3
1958	…	…	9·6	8·5	9·0	13·1	6·8
1959	…	…	6·1	9·5	8·7	6·0*	5·5
1960	…	…	4·3	7·5	7·9	7·0	5·6
1961	…	…	3·9	6·0	3·4*	7·2	6·7
1962	…	…	3·3	5·1	3·0	5·9	5·6
1963	…	…	January-June only	January-June only	January and May only	January-June only	January-June only
			5·2	6·7	3·5	7·0	6·2
* Method of calculation changed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken, as co-chairman of the Geneva Conference, to bring to the notice of the present successors to the Diem regime in South Vietnam the violation of the Geneva Agreements by the introduction into South Vietnam of large quantities of United States arms and large numbers of United States military personnel, as recorded by the International Control Commission in its Special Report of June, 1962.

None. United States assistance was provided at the request of the Vietnamese Government of the day, because the North Vietnamese campaign of terrorism and subversion which was condemned in the Special Report had already assumed menacing proportions. In acceding to the request, President Kennedy made it clear that, if the Communists stopped trying to destroy the Republic of Vietnam, United States aid would no longer be necessary. This is still the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date he accorded official recognition to the

The 1st of February, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the need to co-ordinate international action to overcome the shortage of food in some countries, he will take steps to be represented at the forthcoming conference in Morocco, arranged by the Sahara reclamation programme, with the objective of considering immediate action to restore food-producing properties to the desert.

Her Majesty's Government have not received any invitation to be represented at such a conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Recommendation 366 of the Assembly of the Council of Europe, relating to a pilot project for the preservation and development of a historic quarter of Venice, has now been officially communicated to Her Majesty's Government.

No. The Recommendation is still under consideration by the Committee of Ministers' Deputies at Strasbourg.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the Supplementary Convention between the member States of Euratom and with the participation of other members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development which was concluded on 31st January, 1963, Her Majesty's Government will now ratify the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Convention on third party liability in the field of nuclear energy as proposed in Council of Europe Resolution 233, adopted by the Assembly on 22nd September, 1962.

Amending legislation will be needed before the United Kingdom can ratify the Conventions referred to by the hon. Gentleman, although many of their provisions are already covered by the Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance) Act, 1959.Following the conclusion in May, 1963, of the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, which covers the same subject but has worldwide rather than regional application, the signatories to the two earlier Conventions have prepared Additional Protocols of amendment in order to make the three Conventions compatible. These Additional Protocols were signed in Paris on 28th January last. Legislation to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the three Conventions is now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made by the Committee of Ministers in its consideration of the proposals contained in Recommendation 376 of the Assembly of the Council of Europe, relating to the tasks of the Assembly in the present situation of European affairs; and what action is being taken by Her Majesty's Government.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave on 20th February to a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke). Her Majesty's Government concurred in the action taken on this Recommendation by the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of long delays in the settlement of some industrial injury appeals; and if he will cause a survey to be made to ascertain the extent and causes of this problem, with a view to avoiding the hardship which can result from serious delay.

I assume that the hon. Member's Question is directed to the time taken for litigation arising out of an industrial injury claim to be finally determined. The time taken is almost wholly within the control of the parties to the litigation. A considerable period often elapses between the date of the accident and the issue of the writ. Although Rules of Court provide time limits within which the various steps in an action are required to be taken, the parties can waive those limits by agreement or the time can be extended by order of the court. The problem has often been examined and the varying circumstances are well understood. I do not think that a special survey would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows in the area of the Accrington National Insurance office are receiving pension at the rate of 10s. per week; and how many of them are paying 9s. 8d., 13s 2d., or 10s. per week for their National Insurance stamps.

I regret that the information is not available, but I would remind the hon. Member that the 10s. widow paying National Insurance contributions still has 10s. a week more than the widow with no pension, since the liability for contributions applies equally to both.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what arrangements have been made to pay the graduated pension to foreign nationals living abroad who worked temporarily in Great Britain and from whose earnings contributions were deducted to an amount which qualified for 6d. or 1s. per week pension.

There are no special arrangements for people living abroad, whether they are British or foreign. Where a flat-rate pension is payable, any graduated benefit is added to the pension and paid in the usual way. Where there is no flat-rate pension and the weekly graduated benefit amounts to 2s. 6d. or less, the insured person can receive a lump sum.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in which of his Department's publications devoted to explaining the graduated pension scheme it is made clear that contributors who pay a total amount which is less than one unit do not qualify for an addition to their basic pension and thus forfeit their contributions.

In fact, any odd half unit or more of graduated contributions counts as a whole unit, and this is explained in the leaflets issued by my Department about graduated pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he now intends to introduce legislation to implement a wage-related unemployment payment scheme; and what discussions he is currently having with the trade unions on the problem.

I am having discussions with the two sides of industry about the problems involved in relating unemployment benefit to earnings. I have nothing further to say at present.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit and also in receipt of National Assistance at Gateshead at the latest convenient date and at the corresponding dates in 1961 and 1962, respectively.

The County Borough of Gateshe ad is served by two offices of the National Assistance Board, which between them also serve a considerable area extending beyond it including the Urban Districts of Felling and Washington. The numbers of recipients of unemployment benefit with supplementary assistance grants authorised by these offices were as follows:

December, 1961	269
December, 1962	600
December, 1963	526

asked the Minister of Aviatior whether the control systems developed by Short Bros. and Harland are to be used in the new vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft to be built by Dornier of Germany, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce; and what part Short Bros. will play in this development work.

The present proposal is for a feasibility study of the technical and financial implications of this project. I cannot yet say what detailed proposals will emerge from the study but the nature of the control systems will be one of the aspects considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent British recognition of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has been affected by the withdrawal of the Turkish element from that Government.

The British Government continue to recognise the Government of the Republic of Cyprus as established under its Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, before he secured the support of the then Greek Government for the British proposals for an international force in Cyprus, he informed that Government that the nations invited to contribute would include the German Federal Republic.

The Greek Government accepted the original proposal that the international force for Cyprus should be composed of contingents from N.A.T.O. countries. The precise composition was left over for decision later.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when he first became aware that the Government of Nigeria had recognised the new Government of Zanzibar.

The Government of Nigeria have not yet made any statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether, in view of continuing concern, he will make a further statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's latest proposals with regard to resale price maintenance before a Bill is presented to Parliament.

As the Bill will be presented very shortly I am not proposing to make another statement on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will give further details of the balance of trade with Czechoslovakia for the year 1963, showing how the figures are arrived at.

The following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM TRADE WITH CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1963
£ thousand
Statistical Classification	Imports (c.i.f.)	United Kingdom Exports (f.o.b.)
Food and live animals	3,335	65
Of which: Sugar, sugar preparations and honey	2,631	—
Beverages and tobacco	7	6
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels	3,859	1,227
Of which: Wood, lumber and cork	3,039	—
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials	299	9
Animal and vegetable oils and fats	8	—
Chemicals	430	1,839
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material	3,438	1,398
Of which: Textile yarns, fabrics, made-up articles and related products	922	—
Machinery and Transport equipment	1,851	6,322
Of which: Transport equipment	1,033	—
Miscellaneous manufactured articles	3,068	460
Commodities and transactions not classified according to kind	24	138
TOTAL	16,319	11,464
RE-EXPORTS	—	496
BALANCE OF TRADE	-4,359

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of the criticism contained in the judgments of the court in Regina v. Commissioner of Metropolitan Police ex parte Hammond, he will take steps to revise the procedure by magistrates on applications to endorse warrants as in this case.

The Commissioner of Police has informed me that he is considering whether to apply to the House of Lords for leave to appeal against the judgment of the Divisional Court in this case. In these circumstances it would not be advisable for me to make any comment.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will arrange, for the information of hon. Members, an exhibition of models and photographs, to illustrate the ships and equipment of the Royal Navy.

Yes. I have arranged for an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall from 26th February to 4th March.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will name the establishments closed down during 1963 as stated in Command Paper No. 2270, paragraph 82.

The establishments referred to are :

asked the Minister of Defence how many retired officers of the three Armed Services, including the Indian Armed Services, are in receipt of retired pay under each of the seven retired pay codes; how many of those officers retired under the 1919 code had their retired pay re-assessed because of war service and, in each case, how many of these officers are over 60 and 70 years of age, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Education what was the ratio of school dental officers to schoolchildren in each of the Welsh counties at the last available date; and if he will give the corresponding figures for each of the previous five years.

The ratio at 31st December, 1962, is shown on pages 31 and 32 of the Ministry's List 71 "Selected Statistics relating to Local Education Authorities in England and Wales", of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. I am sending him the figures for the previous five years in a separate statement.

asked the Minister of Education when, as recommended in the Newsom Report, he will set up an experimental school run in co-operation with a teachers' training college, with staff specially strengthened for the purpose, as a part of research in teaching, designed to help people whose abilities are artifically depressed by environmental and linguistic handicaps.

I am considering whether this is the best way of achieving

Project	Amount of financial support	Estimated completion date
	£
(1) A study by the Institute of Education of London University of the relationship between language, social class and learning ability	32,000	1968
(2) A study by the Institute of Education and Department of Sociology of Liverpool University of the relationship between educational achievement and environmental factors	14,000	1967
(3) A study by the National Foundation for Educational Research of the effects of ability streaming in primary schools, with reference to socio-economic variables, achievement and attitudes	58,000	1968
(4) A study by Durham University of the relationship between the behavioural, emotional and cognitive components of morality, with special reference to the influence of socio-economic factors on moral development	5,000	1965–66
(5) A study by Manchester University, commissioned at the request of the Central Advisory Council for Education (England), of attainment in primary schools in the Manchester area, related to school and socio-economic variables	2,500	1965

In addition, the Central Advisory Council for Education (England) has asked the Social Survey of the Central Office of Information to study the rela-

asked the Minister of Education when he will set up, as recommended in the Newsom Report, an inter-departmental working party to deal with general social problems, including education in slum areas and, in particular, with the need for stability of staffing and the design and function of school buildings as part of the general community provision.

I am considering this recommendation in consultation with my right hon. Friends responsible for the other Departments concerned. There is general agreement on the need for closer inter-departmental co-operation; the precise form it should take is now being studied, and I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the research projects directly relevant to the Newsom Report and sponsored by the research fund of his Department, together with the estimated cost of each separate project and date of completion.

The list is as follows:tionship between the home and the school, with special reference to socioeconomic factors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will state the names of the museums under his control; and if he will take steps to improve the explanatory matter describing the exhibits in the museums;(2) under what circumstances it is permissible for non-official persons to take people either singly or in parties around the museums under his control, explaining the exhibits in return for money.

With the exception of the Victoria and Albert, Science and Royal Scottish Museums, which are the direct responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Minister of Education and the Secretary of State for Scotland, the national museums and galleries are all under the control of their own trustee bodies. Treasury Ministers are responsible to Parliament only for the extent of Parliamentary finance for the trustee governed museums and not for their management. It follows that my replies to the rest of the hon. Gentleman's questions will be qualified by this limited responsibility.As regards explanatory matter for exhibits, if the hon. Gentleman has in mind any particular museum or museums, I will gladly convey his suggestions to the trustee body concerned, or to whichever of my right hon. Friends is directly responsible. As regards guides, nearly all the museums and galleries employ regular guide-lecturers, but I am informed that the general practice is to allow non-official persons to act as guides provided that they do not cause any obstruction or annoyance to other visitors and that they do not tout for custom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the present excess of imports over exports will cause an adverse balance of payments figure of £250 million in 1964, and £600 million in 1965; and what action he proposes to take to redress this imbalance.

I do not follow the hon. Member's calculations. They appear to be mainly derived from the trade figures for a few recent months, which do not by themselves afford a reliable basis either for forecasting the balance of payments up to the end of next year or for policy action.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give a preliminary estimate of the grant which will be received by each receiving local authority in Wales in terms of the provisions of he Rating (Interim Relief) Bill.

I cannot estimate how much any local authority will receive in total as a result of the Bill, because this will depend in part on the use which they make of their powers to remit rates on grounds of hardship.Following are preliminary estimates of the amounts which will be payable under Clause 1 of the Bill to rating authorities in Wales and Monmouth. The figures are based on 1961 data and are subject to correction in the light of later information.

County Boroughs
Cardiff	11,870
Merthyr Tydfil	4,815
Newport	4,415
Swansea	13,540
Anglesey
Beaumaris B.	625
Amlwch U.D.	825
Holyhead U.D.	1,685
Llangefni U.D.	245
Menai Bridge U.D.	355
Aethwy R.D.	2,380
Twrcelyn R.D.	2,715
Valley R.D.	1,100
Brecon
Brecknock B	805
Brynmawr U.D.	955
Builth Wells U.D.	615
Hay U.D.	660
Llanwrtyd Wells U.D.	390
Brecknock R.D.	620
Builth R.D.	520
Crickhowell R.D.	1,150
Hay R.D.	1,235
Vaynor and Penderyn R.D.	190
Ystradgynlais R.D.	420
Caernarvon
Bangor B.	995
Caernarvon B.	1,905
Conway B.	5,305
Pwllheli B.	1,330
Bethesda U.D.	690
Betws-y-coed U.D.	225
Criccieth U.D.	870
Llandudno U.D.	11,975