asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the percentage annual rise or fall in the cost of a £2,000, £3,000, £5,000 and £10,000 house since 1951, taking that year as being equal to 100.

I regret that I am unable to construct such a table.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that during the past five years the average price of new houses has risen by £910, representing a 39 per cent. rise, that general property costs have risen by 60 per cent. in London and the South-East during this period, and that for last year alone the average price rise of houses in London was 13 per cent.; and, as these rising prices are making it difficult for those on small and limited incomes to obtain houses, what action he proposes to take to reduce these prices.

The rise in house prices reflects the demand. The long-term planning measures necessary to relieve pressure in London and the South-East will be considered in the light of the South-East study.Earnings have also increased and the proportion of families owning their homes is going up every year. Some of those who cannot shoulder the cost of house-purchase, however reasonably spread, will benefit from the provisions in the Housing Bill for encouraging cost-rent and co-ownership housing societies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give the area in square feet of the houses built by or on behalf of local authorities for the years 1962 and 1963, respectively.

According to tenders approved in the years in question, the average size of each type of local authority house except that with 4 bed- rooms or more has increased. The following are detailed figures. Comparable figures for flats are not available.

Type of House	1962 (Square Feet)	1963 (Square Feet)
1-bedroom bungalow	479	486
2-bedroom bungalow	603	618
2-bedroom house	781	784
3-bedroom house	907	917
4 or more bedroom house	1,136	1,127

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give the number of houses built in 1963, and the estimated number for 1964 and 1965, respectively.

298,872 houses were completed in Great Britain in 1963 of which 270,655 were in England and Wales. I estimate that in 1964 at least 350,000 will be completed in Great Britain, 315,000 of them in England and Wales. It is too early to put a figure to 1965 but I expect the present high rate of activity to be maintained.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what reply he has sent to the request of the Slough Borough Council to authorise the construction of 1,819 houses between the years 1964 and 1969.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today on the Slough Borough Council's housing programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were improved with the assistance of the standard and discretionary grants in the area covered by the Colne Valley constituency in 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively, according to local authority district.

The numbers of houses are as follows:

Local Authority District		1961		1962		1963
		Standard Grant	Discretionary Grant	Standard Grant	Discretionary Grant	Standard Grant	Discretionary Grant
Colne Valley Urban District	…	104	29	50	10	78	18
Denby Dale Urban District	…	65	7	29	36	19	23
Holmfirth Urban District	…	38	10	47	9	53	1
Maltham Urban District	…	21	3	14	7	30	2
Saddleworth Urban District	…	81	17	82	5	80	3

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps are being taken to preserve Poole House, Poole, Dorset.

Poole House is listed under Section 32 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, as a building of special architectural or historic interest. I understand that it was recently found to be in a dangerous condition, but I am glad to say that in response to local representations the owners have decided to try to restore it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many comprehensive town centre redevelopment schemes he has received in the last three years; how many he has approved; and how many are still waiting to be dealt with.

In the three years 1961 to 1963, 92 town centre redevelopment schemes were submitted for approval. During that period 47 schemes were approved, 4 rejected and 3 withdrawn—54 in all—though 30 of these were submitted in earlier years.Seventy-two schemes are still being dealt with, 33 of which were submitted during the last year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he pro-

My right hon. Friend hopes to do so within the next two weeks. Copies of the report may then be purchased from the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to publish the final recommendations of the Local Government Commission for England on the West Yorkshire Special Review Area and the associated York and North Midlands General Review Area.

The Commission's report on the West Yorkshire Special Review Area should be published on Wednesday, 11th March. I will see that copies are available that day in the Vote Office. As regards the York and North Midlands General Review Area, the Commission has informed me that its report is not quite ready, but I expect to publish it this summer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will tabulate, in respect of the past year, details of applications for compulsory purchase orders in the London County Council area, indicating those applications which were confirmed, with the dates of application and confirmation, those applications which were rejected with the dates of application and rejection, and the properties and local authorities involved in each case.

Over 170 orders, made under five separate Acts, have been submitted to me in this period, and the work of obtaining and tabulating all the details requested would be very considerable. If the hon. Member could narrow the field of his inquiry I will see what information is readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local housing authorities, following the issue of Circular 42/62, have indicated that they do not propose to undertake improvement schemes for streets or larger areas.

Local authorities were asked what action they proposed in order to obtain better progress with improvements. Of the reports received, about 3 per cent. indicated positive resistance to doing anything to stimulate the rate of improvement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will receive in person a deputation from Thurrock Urban District Council to discuss the cement dust nuisance in Thurrock.

I am afraid that owing to heavy Parliamentary and other commitments I cannot undertake to receive the deputation myself. But I am suggesting to the council that the deputation should be received by one of my Joint Parliamentary Secretaries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to publish the study made by his Department of population and expansion in South-East England.

I hope before the Easter Recess. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development and President of the Board of Trade expects to make a further statement on this very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to the proposal to seal off that portion of land at Smarden which appears to be the source of the fluoroacetamide poison as an alternative to removing the soil and dumping it in the sea.

I know about the suggestion for an underground concrete wall round the affected area, but I could not say how effective it would be without a good deal of study and experiment. The arrangements agreed upon for disposal at sea can take place with the minimum delay and there is no doubt about their efficacy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up an inquiry, with a view to introducing legislation to eliminate anomalies of taxation in respect of dividends paid by companies in receipt of investment allowances.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to place on an institutional basis the informal arrangements that now exist between the central banks for developing currency swaps arrangements as a means of overcoming outbursts of speculation.

None. Swaps and other short-term assistance between central banks under the arrangements that already exist are speedy, flexible and confidential and as such constitute a useful complement to the facilities of the International Monetary Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the stand-by credit of $1,000 million expires; and whether he proposes to apply for a renewal.

Our stand-by agreement with the I.M.F. expires on 8th August, 1964. I shall decide much nearer the time in the light of conditions then prevailing whether or not to apply for a renewal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects to receive a report of the Richardson inquiry sufficiently in advance of the Budget date to enable him to decide whether to adopt a turnover tax; and whether, pending a decision on this report, he will simplify and reduce the average rates of Purchase Tax with the ultimate object of a Purchase Tax over a wide field at a single low rate.

The Report of the Richardson Committee was presented to my right hon. Friend on 21st February. It will be presented to Parliament as a Command Paper, and will be available well in advance of Budget Day. I can make no comment now on either the Report or the Budget.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the practice by which business establishments circulate letters and literature on behalf of Members of Parliament; and whether it is the practice of his Department to allow such expenditure to be deducted for Income Tax purposes and not to be included as normal business expenditure subject to tax relief.

The answer to both parts of the Question is no.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of the sums advanced by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency to facilitate disposals of its subsidiaries; how much is still outstanding; and what commitments to make additional loans remain.

The Agency's Accounts for 1962–63 show that to 30th September, 1963, the total of investments by the Agency to facilitate disposals was £149·4 million. These investments were subscribed partly by way of conversion of existing loans, some of which had been advanced by the Iron and Steel Corporation in the first place, and partly in cash. The Agency no longer hold any of the securities created in this way, apart from the Second Debenture Stock of John Summers Ltd., which is repayable on 1st October, 1964. In addition the Agency also made advances by way of loan for capital development and other purposes to a number of companies now denationalised. None of these loans is now outstanding and the Agency have no commitments to provide further finance for any former subsidiary companies. As at 30th September, 1963, the total of advances to the Agency's one remaining subsidiary, Richard Thomas and Baldwins Ltd., was £105 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 22,719 clubs which have registered their gaming activities are in the new towns.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to allow the cost of railway season tickets to be a charge against income for tax purposes.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the comparative percentage annual rise or fall in Bank Rate for each year since 1951, taking that year as equalling 100.

In the following table, the first column gives the average level of Bank Rate (per cent.) for each year, the second expresses the figure for each year as an index, with 1951 taken as 100, and the third shows the change from the previous year, expressed as a percentage.

				Average Rate	Index (1951=100)	Percentage Change on Previous Year
1951	…	…	…	2·154	100	—
1952	…	…	…	3·711	172·3	+ 72·3
1953	…	…	…	3·849	178·7	+ 3·7
1954	…	…	…	3·173	147·3	- 17·6
1955	…	…	…	4·337	201·3	+ 36·7
1956	…	…	…	5·385	250·0	+ 24·2
1957	…	…	…	5·625	261·1	+ 4·5
1958	…	…	…	5·385	250·0	- 4·3
1959	…	…	…	4·0	185·7	- 25·7
1960	…	…	…	5·365	249·1	+ 34·1
1961	…	…	…	5·673	263·4	+ 5·7
1962	…	…	…	4·846	225 0	- 14·6
1963	…	…	…	4·0	185·7	- 17·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis he decided that the merits of the case were such as not to allow him to accept the principle that all unestablished service with the Civil Service should count for pension rights; what were the merits or otherwise which received his consideration; and whether he will give an estimate of the costs involved if this principle were adopted by the Treasury.

When this service was rendered there was no expectation that it would be allowed to count and I am not convinced that it would be right to improve these conditions of service retrospectively. The total cost would be in the region of £300 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the annual calendar year percentage rise or fall of the proportion of the cost of the National Health Service which was met by National Health Insurance contribution since 1951, taking that year as equalling 100.

Year	…	…	1958–59	1959–60	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63
£ million	…	…	6·2	6·3	6·5	7·2	8·0

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he received a request from Dunfermline Town Coun-

The proportions of the cost of the National Health Service—excluding local authority expenditure—met by National Insurance contributions for calendar years since 1951, taking the year 1951 as equalling 100, were approximately as follows:

1951	100
1952	88
1953	88
1954	86
1955	82
1956	73
1957	92
1958	155
1959	165
1960	154
1961	173
1962	191

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures showing the amount of fuel tax paid by local authority transport departments for each of the last five years.

No precise figures are available but the approximate amounts involved for each of the last five financial years are estimated to be as follows:cil to consider reducing the fuel tax imposed upon omnibus undertakings; and what re ply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend received this request on 12th February; and a reply was sent to the council on the same day, saying that he had taken note of its views.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has decided to open his Budget on 14th April.

It is an appropriate day for the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that from 1951 until 1963 general taxation rose by 67 per cent. and motor vehicle licence duties by 184 per cent., and that from 1951 until 1962 personal Income Tax rose by 113 per cent. and Purchase Tax by 69 per cent.; and when he anticipates reducing all these forms of taxation.

Yes, my right hon. Friend is aware of these figures. The increase in tax receipts is mainly the result of rising incomes and consumers' expenditure and the progressive nature of the income tax. Since 1951 personal incomes have risen by almost 100 per cent. and consumers expenditure by over 80 per cent. During the same period rates of personal Income Tax and Purchase Tax have been substantially reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about his talks with the Prime Minister of Malta.

My consultations with the Prime Minister of Malta and other party leaders are still going on. I will make a statement when they are concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the question asked in the recent referendum in Swazi- land for which those in favour voted for the lion and those against for the reindeer.

As my hon. Friend stated in reply to the hon. Member on 11th February, the ballot paper contained no questions. However it was generally understood that a vote for the lion was a vote of confidence for the Ngwenyama. It is not clear what was the precise significance of a vote for the reindeer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will approach the Government of Aden and the Protectorate of South Arabia with Kamaran and ask whether they wish the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, to be extended to Aden and the Protectorate of South Arabia with Kamaran by an Order in Council.

An approach has already been made and a reply is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with compensation and pension arrangements for non-designated officers in the service of the Northern Rhodesia Government; and if he will give details.

A scheme for these officers came into effect on 10th January. If they retire voluntarily within two years they will receive the pensions earned by their length of service. If they continue to serve for a further two years, or if they are required to retire to facilitate localisation, they will qualify for an additional pension. Part of an officer's pension can be commuted, at a higher rate than has hitherto applied, in accordance with tables prepared by actuaries.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what arrangements are being made for access to Henry VIII's wine cellar, in view of the Ministry of Defence security arrangements.

Consideration is being given to whether acceptable arrangements for public access are possible in view of the security considerations involved.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works for what reason the recently-formed National Building Agency contains at least two Scotsmen; and why no person from Wales and no person from Ulster is included.

As the Board of the Agency must be manageable in size I have not been able to include in it directors drawn from all parts of the United Kingdom. I have appointed two directors from Scotland because of differences in the relevant law and practice, and in the organisation both of local government and of the building industry.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking to preserve panelling and other woodwork from damage by excessive control-heating temperatures in buildings under his control, particularly 10 Downing Street and 7 Old Palace Yard.

The controlled temperature is such that there is no risk of damage to panelling and woodwork from excessive heat.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when work on restoration of the Cumberland Suite at Hampton Court is to be completed; and when it is to be opened to the public.

Work should be completed by the end of October 1964 and the rooms will then be opened to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he has studied the declaration by the Engineering Industries Association representing over 3,000 firms, a copy of which has been sent to him, regarding the need for the engineering industry to accept the financial burden incurred by automation, if it is to achieve the productivity gain which automation brings; what action he is taking following this declaration to bring about faster modernisation of industry; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a recent article in the Engineering Industries Journal. The passage in question seems to me to be addressed primarily to the engineering industry itself but, as my hon. Friend knows, my right hon. Friend is at present considering what the Government might do to promote the application of automation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications for industrial development certificates have been received and granted by his Department in 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively, by industry, type and local authority district.

In the area covered by the Colne Valley constituency five industrial development certificates were issued in 1961; three in 1962 and four in 1963. Over half the certificates were for textile industries; the remainder were for engineering, wood products and chemicals. It is not possible to give details by local authority areas without disclosing confidential information on individual projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether, in considering the recommendation made by the Molony Committee on Consumer Protection that the Board of Trade should have power to prohibit consumer trade in designated goods unless they bear a label or are accompanied by a written statement conveying prescribed information, he will take steps to ensure that written and broadcast advertisements of the goods in question contain the necessary prescribed information.

The Molony Committee in paragraph 758 of its Final Report described this suggestion as impracticable. My right hon. Friend is of course, giving due weight to this carefully considered conclusion in reaching his own view on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preliminary steps he will now take with a view to introducing legislation, in time for its enactment this Session, to combat amphetamine derivative addiction.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his Question on 17th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information the Metropolitan police have had from the territories adjoining their area about the extent to which teenagers have attracted the attention or the assistance of the police through being unable to find their way home on Sunday evenings because they appear to be under the influence of amphetamine derivative drugs.

None. If the hon. Member has any relevant information and would like to send it to me, I will have it inquired into.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prohibit live hare-coursing.

The Committee on Cruelty to Wild Animals, in its Report presented in 1951, did not recommend legislative action for this purpose. In view of its conclusion, the introduction by the Government of legislation to prohibit coursing is not contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether confidential information regarding the criminal history of convicted persons is to be made available to retired Metropolitan police officers who are to be employed in the Post Office Investigation Branch in a new Civil Service grade; and what amendments to Police Regulations he envisages in this connection.

The disclosure of information from police records is a matter for the chief officer of the police force concerned. This is not a matter covered by Police Regulations, and the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether President Johnson, in agreeing to support the peaceful national independence of Malaysia, agreed also to give full United States support to the territorial integrity of the present Malaysian Federation.

Peaceful national independence and territorial integrity seem to me to be the same thing. I did not need any specific assurance that President Johnson's reaffirmation of United States support for the first also covered the second. I am quite confident that the United States Government have the same interest in the territorial integrity of Malaysia as they do in that of any other full member of the United Nations.

asked the Prime Minister what agreement has been reached between himself and President Johnson as regards British representation at a summit conference.

There are no plans that I know of for a summit conference. The President and I did not discuss hypothetical questions.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make available in the House of Commons Library the full text of his television broadcast in Canada on llth February, 1964, concerning the relations between the United Kingdom and the United States of America in regard to African territories and the Suez war.

No official transcript of this broadcast is available.

asked the Prime Minister if he will designate by office the Ministers. in each of the relevant periods involved, responsible for the co-ordination of contract negotiations with Messrs. Ferranti, Limited.

There is co-ordination of the principles and procedures of Government contracting, but the negotiating and placing of particular contracts is a matter for the Department concerned in each individual case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the number of farms in active production compares with the number 10 years ago, and in 1945.

In June, 1963, there were 335,684 holdings in England and Wales with more than one acre of land used for agriculture, compared with 386,861 in June, 1953, and 370,258 in June, 1945. I regret I cannot distinguish those in active production, if by that term my hon. Friend means full-time farms, or holdings with a certain minimum production.Part of the reduction since 1945 is attributable to temporary war-time entrants subsequently leaving the industry, and part to changes over the last 18 years in the system of enumeration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to introduce a subsidy for the transport of fodder from lowland to hill farms as a supplement to the winter keep scheme introduced under the provisions of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963.

Along with other forms of financial assistance to agriculture, the winter keep scheme falls to be considered at the current annual review. My hon. Friend will not expect me to comment upon his suggestion while the discussions are still in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Finnish eggs have been imported into the United Kingdom since 1st January, 1964.

Official figures are not yet available. But it is estimated, from information from trade sources, that 53,000 boxes each of 360 shell eggs, were imported from Finland during the seven weeks ended 15th February, 1964.

asked the Minister of Defence what percentage would be needed of the total sum allocated for the pay increase of serving officers and men in order to increase the pensions of Armed Service pensioners of 65 years of age and of over by the same percentage as the recently announced pay increase for officers and men still serving.

About 7.

asked the Minister of Education how many adolescent girls with behaviour difficulties have been committed to approved schools due to the shortage of suitable boarding schools.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many adolescent girls with behaviour difficulties have been placed in suitable boarding schools during the past 12 months.

Information about new placements is not available in this form. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education how many new places in suitable boarding schools for adolescent girls with behaviour difficulties will be provided in the next 12 months.

About 30. Proposals which will provide some 200 places have been submitted for the major building programmes 1965–68. I am aware of the need for places for these girls, and will include in the programmes as many of the projects as possible.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in the establishment of a Council for National Academic Awards.

The consultations with the universities and other interests about the proposal to establish a Council for National Academic Awards on the lines recommended in the Report of the Committee on Higher Education have now been completed. There has been a general welcome for the proposal, and I am glad to be able to inform the House that Sir Harold Roxbee Cox has accepted appointment as Chairman of the Council. Sir Harold is the Chairman of the existing National Council for Technological Awards whose responsibilities will be taken over by the new Council. The other members of the Council will be appointed as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education how many children attend special schools compulsorily until they have attained 16 years of age.

In January, 1963, the latest date for which returns are available, there were 68,846 pupils under 16 years of age attending special schools—including hospital special schools—in England and Wales. 6,919 of these children were between the ages of 15 and 16.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the estimated annual cost of paying bursaries to children compulsorily attending special schools under 16 years of age, similar to those bursaries paid to normal children who continue at school after the statutory age of 15 years.

I cannot give a precise estimate, but the figure may be between £10,000 and £15,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual percentage rise or fall in the number of unemployed since 1951 in the County Borough of West Ham, taking that year as equalling 100.

The following is the information in respect of the area covered by Canning Town and Stratford Employment Exchanges and West Ham Youth Employment Office:

	Unemployment level (February, 1951=100)
February, 1951	100
February, 1952	162
February, 1953	178
February, 1954	164
February, 1955	92
February, 1956	92
February, 1957	161
February, 1958	184
February, 1959	248
February, 1960	179
February, 1961	150
February, 1962	230
February, 1963	370
February, 1964	184

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed were registered at the Petersfield Employment Exchange at the beginning of February; what were their trades; and what percentage of the total labour force this figure represents.

On 10th February, 189, or 1·9 per cent. of the employees in the area. An occupational analysis of the unemployed is made quarterly. The next analysis will be for March.

asked the Minister of Labour how many married women have applied for either part-time or full-time employment through the Petersfield Employment Exchange since 1st January this year.

Thirty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sum he has made available to the Sahara reclamation programme in their campaign to co-ordinate the international efforts to

INCREASE SINCE 1951 IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT, NATIONAL INCOME, RETIREMENT PENSIONS AND AVERAGE EARNINGS; (a)
					Retirement Pensions
			Gross National Product	National Income	Total expenditure	Rate for a single person (b)	Men's average earnings (c)
1951	…	…	100	100	100	100	100
1952	…	…	108	108	116	108	108
1953	…	…	116	116	127	108	114
1954	…	…	123	123	130	108	123
1955	…	…	131	131	154	133	134
1956	…	…	143	142	167	133	143
1957	…	…	150	150	174	133	152
1958	…	…	157	157	225	167	155
1959	…	…	164	164	246	167	163
1960	…	…	174	174	253	167	175
1961	…	…	186	186	286	192	185
1962	…	…	193	192	304	192	191
1963	…	…	(d)	(d)	(d)	225	202
(a) All figures are for the United Kingdom.
(b) Figures relate to October in each year. The figure of 30s. (not 26s.) has been taken for October, 1951.
(c) Average earnings of male manual wage earners in manufacturing and some of the principal non-manufacturing industries covered by the Ministry of Labour's half-yearly enquiry into earnings. Figures relate to October in each year.
(d) Figures not yet available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance

No sum has been made available by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, taking the gross national product and income as being equal to 100 in 1951 and the average wage level in industry then as 100, what has been the annual percentage rise in retirement pensions compared with the percentage rise in the gross national product, gross national income and the average wage level to date.

The following table gives the information:whether, taking 1951 as equalling 100, he will give the annual percentage rise or fall in numbers drawing National Assistance benefit.

The figures for December of each year are as follows:

1951	100
1952	114
1953	121
1954	123
1955	110
1956	113
1957	117
1958	113
1959	121
1960	127
1961	126
1962	137
1963	135

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the continued increase in the number of cases of vandalism to telephone kiosks, what plans he has to reduce their number.

The most important of my plans will be to extend the new preventative measures to areas where wilful damage is heavy. Despite these, I shall still be grateful for the help of the public in detecting vandalism.

asked the Postmaster-General by what percentages the price for equipment purchased under the Bulk Supply Agreements has been varied since 1st January, 1963, and 1st April, 1963, respectively, to take account of increases in wages and in the price of materials.

The prices of equipment have been varied as follows to take account of changes in wage rates and in prices of materials up to 30th November 1963.

	per cent.
1.1.63–30.11.63
Telephone exchange equipment	nil
Telephone apparatus	-0·6
1.4.63–30.11.63
Telephone exchange equipment	+0·1
Telephone apparatus	-0·2

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the companies invited to tender under the reservation clause for receiver insets type 4T and telephone instruments are subsidiaries of, controlled by, or associated with companies who are parties to the Bulk Supply Agreements.

Four for receiver insets and six for telephone instruments.

asked the Postmaster-General what criteria he uses in selecting firms who are invited to tender under the reservation clauses of the Bulk Purchase Agreements.

All firms in Post Office trade lists which are considered to be capable of meeting requirements as to quality of product, delivery date etc. are invited to tender.

asked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions since 1957 a contractor has failed to fulfil an order given under the Bulk Supply Agreements within the time quoted by the Post Office.

Statistics are not maintained. Not infrequently orders are completed in greater or less time than was originally specified. Relevant considerations may be not only the performance of the contractor but changes in the requirements of the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General what effect increased prices, allowed under the variation of price clauses of the Bulk Supply Agreements, have on the average profit margins of the companies supplying telephone apparatus and telephone exchange equipment.

The effect of the clauses is that if costs of manufacture go up because of an increase in wage rates or prices of materials the price payable is increased by an equal amount. The profit margin expressed in money terms will therefore be unchanged; expressed as a percentage of cost it will decrease.

asked the Postmaster-General in how many cases materials used in the manufacture of exchange equipment and telephone apparatus are bought by one party from another party to the Bulk Supply Agreements; and whether, in such cases, a variation of price due to change in the price of materials has been or would be permitted.

I am afraid the information is not available at present. In such cases a variation of price would be allowed in order to reflect any changes in the market prices of the raw materials and in the wage rates applicable to their processing.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the annual expenditure on research and development in telecommunications since 1958 on Post Office contracts by each of the companies who are parties to the Bulk Supply Agreements.

I have no detailed information but I would estimate that the prices paid by the Post Office for items purchased under Bulk Supply Agreements reflect expenditure by the companies in question on research and development of the order of £2 million a year.

asked the Postmaster-General what consideration his Department has given to the part-time employment of married women to ease staff shortage in telephone exchanges in areas where recruiting is difficult.

It is our practice to employ part-time telephonists in telephone exchanges in areas where there is a shortage of full-time staff because of recruitment difficulties. Marriage does not debar women from such employment.

asked the Postmaster-General how the Post Office investment programme for each of the years 1963–64 to 1967–68 will be financed as between depreciation provision, loans and profit; and what he estimates the interest charges will be for each of these years.

Capital requirements in 1963–64 are estimated at £169 million, of which £69 million will be financed from depreciation provisions, £72 million by borrowing, and £28 million from profits. Over the next four years capital requirements are estimated at about £900 million, and, if the Post Office exactly achieves its financial target, this will be financed as follows: depreciation £330 million, borrowing £380 million, profit £190 million. The effect in particular years depends on circumstances which cannot be foreseen precisely. The interest to be paid will depend on the borrowing rate in force at the time: currently the rate is 5¾ per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give the number of remittances, and their total value, sent from the United Kingdom to East and West Pakistan through the Post Office during the financial years 1961, 1962 and 1963.

The number and value of money orders sent from the United Kingdom to Pakistan was as follows:

EAST PAKISTAN
—	Number	Value
		£
1960–61	74,000	1,471,000
1961–62	64,000	1,242,000
1962–63	46,000	594,000

WEST PAKISTAN
—	Number	Value
		£
1960–61	49,000	977,000
1961–62	76,000	1,136,000
1962–63	77,000	830,000

In addition about 300,000 United Kingdom postal orders—approximate value £900,000—were cashed in Pakistan during this period: this figure includes some United Kingdom postal orders issued in other Commonwealth countries.

asked the Postmaster-General what special educational and law examinations Post Office civil servants are required to take before appointment to his Investigation Branch; and what Home Office and other courses they are required to attend.

None. Staff appointed to the Investigation Branch are established Civil Servants specially selected for their personal qualities and Post Office experience, and they are trained within the Branch.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will appoint a business efficiency organisation-and-methods consultant to inquire into and report upon the workings of his Investigation Branch, including its Metropolitan Police section, with especial reference to his proposed arrangements for the reorganisation of the branch.

No. The proposed reorganisation of the Investigation Branch has been agreed in principle with the Home Office and Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis; and other important aspects of the Branch's procedure and relations with police forces are being reviewed in consultation with those authorities.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the respective salary scales for all grades of civil employees and ranks of Metropolitan police officers serving in his Investigation Branch.

The salary scales of Civil Service grades employed in my Investigation Branch are:

Post-Office Departmental Grades	£ per annum (except where stated)
Controller	3475
Deputy Controller	2618–3050
Assistant Controller	2172–2507
Senior Investigation Officer	1615–2061
Investigation Officer	936–1532
Head Assistant	913–954
Assistant	562–792
General Civil-Service Grades
Executive Officer	490–1236
Clerical Officer	315–879
Clerical Assistant	£4 10s. 0.-£12 12s. 6d.
	per week

These scales are subject to the addition of the standard Civil Service London weighting, amounting to between £30 and £65 per annum in Inner London, according to salary.The scales of pay of Metropolitan Police Officers are not a matter for me, but I understand that the current scales for the ranks seconded to my Investigation Branch (exclusive of allowances) are:

	£ per annum
Superintendent Grade I	2,025–2,140*
Chief Inspector	1,455–1,550*
Inspector	1,325–1,410*
Station Sergeant	1,215–1,255†
Sergeant	1,090–1,170†
Constable	635–l,030†
* No London allowance payable.
† London allowance of £20 per annum payable in addition.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of Post Office Savings Bank docket cases, and of other docket cases, which passed through his Investigation Branch in 1963; how many of these were dealt with by his civilian Post Office employees and by the police section of the Investigation Branch, respectively; and how many convictions were obtained.

The number of docket cases for the financial year 1962–63 were: Savings Bank 7,063, Other 4,037. There is no close relationship between the number of dockets and number of offenders. Most of the inquiry work is shared by civilian staff, seconded police and local police but it is not possible to say what proportion is done by each. There were approximately 3,300 convictions.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will in future publish the Annual Report of the Controller of his Investigation Branch.

No. The Report is a confidential one for internal use only.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what recent requests have been made by the University Grants Committee to medical schools to increase their intake of students, and by what proportion; and how many medical students he anticipates will be admitted at the beginning of the next academic year to the medical schools of England and Wales, and of Scotland.

The University Grants Committee asked the universities last month to consider what growth in the annual entry of medical students they would be prepared to contemplate for the next 5 to 10 years and to indicate the additional capital and recurrent expenditure which would be required. Their replies are now being received and examined. It is not yet possible to assess what increase in entry is likely at the beginning of the next academic year.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science when the decision will be taken as to the siting and student capacity of the new medical school recently announced.

The complicated questions which need to be settled before deciding the location and size of a medical school and the associated teaching hospital are being actively pursued but I do not yet know when I shall be able to announce a decision.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will give the names of the local authorities in Yorkshire which have made application for the building of new universities within their boundaries.

I understand from the University Grants Committee that proposals have been put forward by a

—						Education Staff	Other Staff	Total
						£	£	£
East Africa	…	…	…	…	…	709,500	3,511,100	4,220,600
Central Africa		…	…	…	…	48,400	707,900	756,300
West Africa	…	…	…	…	…	6,600	81,400	88,000
Southern Africa		…	…	…	…	5,100	64,200	69,300
Totals	…	…	…	…	…	769,600	4,364,600	5,134,200
These figures do not include expenditure on compensation for loss of career
The Overseas Service Aid Scheme does not extend to Nigeria, Ghana or Sierra Leone; the West Africa figures therefore relate only to the Gambia.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will provide a breakdown of bilateral technical assistance expenditure in 1962–63 in Commonwealth East Africa, Commonwealth Central Africa, Commonwealth West Africa and the South African Protectorates, in respect of the Special Commonwealth Assistance to Africa Plan,

—		Experts	Consultancies and Surveys	Training	Equipment	Totals
		£	£	£	£	£
East Africa	…	25,000	239,000	134,000	—	398,000
West Africa	…	350,000	262,000	193,000	59,000	864,000
Central Africa	…	—	112,000	21,000	—	133,000
Basutoland	…	—	110,000	15,000	—	125,000
Bechuanaland	…
Swaziland	…
Totals	…	375,000	723,000	363,000	59,000	1,520,000

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will provide a breakdown of bilateral technical assistance expenditure in 1962–63 in Commonwealth East Africa, Commonwealth Central Africa, Commonwealth West Africa, and the South African Protectorates, it respect of the Overseas Service Aid Scheme for teachers and for other categories of personnel.

I cannot give the exact cost of teat hers as distinct from other officers designated under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, but on the basis of the proport on of educational to other staff the following is the breakdown of expenditure in 1962–63:for experts, advisory and consultancy services, training in the United Kingdom and equipment.

The breakdown in bilateral technical assistance expenditure from the subhead of my Department's Vote for the Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan in 1962–63 was as follows:

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will provide a breakdown of bilateral technical assistance expenditure in 1962–63 in Commonwealth East Africa, Commonwealth Central Africa, Commonwealth West Africa and the South African Pro-

			Commonwealth Teacher Training Bursaries	Commonwealth Scholarships	Supply of Teachers (a)	Other	Total
			£	£	£	£	£
West Africa	…	…	97,377	36,283	14,474	38,024	186,158
East Africa	…	…	44,010	15,273	1,517	52	60,852
Central Africa	…	…	16,652	8,242	2,384	—	27,278
Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland	…	…	3,497	2,556	1,045	—	7,098
Totals	…	…	161,536	62,354	19,420	38,076	281,386
(a) Includes Volunteer Teachers.
Administrative charges are not included.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will provide a breakdown of bilateral technical assistance expenditure in 1962–63 in Commonwealth East Africa, Commonwealth Central Africa, Commonwealth West Africa and the South African Protectorates, in respect of research.

Expenditure incurred in 1962-63 in support of the activities in Commonwealth countries in Africa financed from the Research subhead of my Department's Vote was:

	£
Commonwealth East Africa	436,888
Commonwealth Central Africa	87,013
Commonwealth West Africa	7,066
South Africa protectorates	43,412

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by the clergy and parishioners of St. Dunstan's, Cranford, due to the construction of the M.4; and what steps he is taking to prevent the church from being separated from the parish.

It has been necessary to provide temporary access to the church during construction. The permanent subway access is now open: its opening

The breakdown of expenditure in 1962–63 was as follows:was delayed by acts of vandalism and theft. The temporary lighting in the subway and the temporary surfaces on the paths on either side will be replaced by permanent lighting and surfaces as soon as possible. Parishioners from north of the motorway should have no difficulty in getting to the church.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet received a report from his traffic engineers about a proposal, brought to his notice by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 14th December, 1963, to derestrict a length of Tank Hill Road, A.1090, at Purfleet, Essex.

Yes, and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has now written to the hon. Member explaining my decision to shorten the length of road to be derestricted.

asked the Secretary of State for War what sales of surplus weapons have taken place in Weedon, Northants, in the last three years.

In the last three years there have been 12 sales from this depot, from which 132,758 non-automatic rifles and small arms have been sold to dealers registered under the Firearms Act.

asked the Secretary of State for War how large he expects the run out to be from the Regular Army during 1964; and how this figure compares with 1963.

The 1964 run-out depends largely on how many of those men who enlisted in 1958 on the then new engagement for six years with the colours and six with the reserve, opt to leave the colours this year. The best estimate which I can give of the total run-out is about 9,000 men. In 1963 when very few men serving for six years with the colours reached the end of their engagement, the run-out was just under 6,200 men.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce new legislation to secure the preservation of the Scottish countryside, access to land and water for recreation and sport, and the provision of communications, including footpaths; and whether he will establish a national commission for this purpose whose activities will be financed by Her Majesty's Government.

I have invited local planning authorities to survey areas of great landscape value which should be considered for preservation, and to make tourist development proposals. I will review the situation in the light of these plans when they are available.