asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the junk refugees who were arrested in Hong Kong territorial waters last November were aware of Taiwan's offer to pay the costs of their transfer to that island; and what arrangements were made by the Hong Kong Government for them to meet the Press to ensure that all reasonable doubts were removed of their own wishes before they were returned to the Chinese mainland.

The Hong Kong Government received no such offer from Formosa. No arrangements are made for illegal immigrants to meet the Press.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the schooling of children in the Ongar parishes of the Chigwell division of Essex has been interrupted by the failure of Eastern National bus services due to a dispute over working conditions; and what representations have been made and action taken to enable such children to get to and from school.

I know that the schooling of some children was interrupted for two days in this way. The interruption was both sudden and short, and it was not always possible to arrange special transport. When bus services are curtailed rather than stopped, the local education authority arranges as far as possible for some other means of transport to be available, and for school time-tables to be adjusted to fit in with the services available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now make arrangements to enable members of the Diplomatic Corps in London to obtain domestically produced spirits free of duty.

Yes. Arrangements are being made whereby, as from 1st April, 1964, Heads of foreign and Commonwealth Missions in London, and Heads of the London offices of International Organisations having equivalent privileges, will be able to obtain from the Foreign Office or the Commonwealth Relations Office (as the case may be) a refund of the amount of Excise Duty paid on purchases of British produced spirits for themselves and their diplomatic staff for official entertaining. The operation of these arrangements will naturally be carefully supervised.This concession, which is in line with those made by the majority of other countries which are major producers of spirits, will place British manufacturers on the same footing as their foreign competitors, whose products the Diplomatic Corps can already import free of duty.

asked the the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made in the proposed camp for gypsies and other travellers in the Eastry rural district area; and if it will be available this autumn;(2) what progress has been made in the proposed camp for gypsies and other travellers located in the Sevenoaks urban district area; and if it will be available this autumn;(3) what progress has been made in the proposed camp for gypsies and other travellers in the Malling rural district area; and if it will be available this autumn;(4) what progress has been made in the proposed camp for gypsies and other travellers in the Maidstone rural district area; and if it will be ready by this autumn;(5) what progress has been made in the proposed camp for gypsies and other travellers in the Orpington urban district area; and if it will be available this autumn;(6) what progress has been made in the proposal for two camps for gypsies and other travellers in the Dartford rural district area; and if they will be available this autumn;(7) what progress has been made in the proposed camp for gypsies and other travellers in the Sittingbourne and Milton urban districts area; and if it will be available this autumn;(8) what progress has been made in the proposal for two camps for gypsies and other travellers in the Hollingbourne rural district council area; and if they will be available this autumn.

Planning permission has been granted for a caravan site for gypsies and other travellers in the Maidstone Rural District and another in the Hollingbourne Rural District. Both sites are likely to be available this autumn.Orpington Urban District Council's application for planning permission is before the Minister now. Kent County Council is considering applications for planning permission for one site each from Sevenoaks and Dartford Rural District Councils. Eastry and Malling Rural District Councils are still looking for suitable land for sites. I cannot say when these sites will be ready for occupation, but am satisfied that the councils concerned are aware of the need to have them in operation as soon as possible.I understand that Sittingbourne and Milton Urban District Council has recently decided not to provide a site, but I hope that it will reconsider this.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science whether, in view of the fact that under the present system universities select students for admission by a method which favours applicants from public schools, he will introduce legislation to ensure that admission into universities is given to all applicants with the necessary qualifications.

In paragraph 4 of Cmnd. 2165 the Government have already accepted the principle that courses of higher education should be available for all those who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so. This principle is to be achieved by the expansion targets set by the Robbins Report and not by legislation interfering with the freedom of autonomous academic bodies. I reject the imputation as to the university selection procedures contained in the Question as inaccurate and unfair to the bodies concerned.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if, so as to enhance public awareness of pesticide benefits and hazards, he will initiate programmes of public education describing the use and the toxic nature of pesticides.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture publishes pamphlets advising farmers, growers and gardeners about the use of pesticides and any precautions which need to be taken in their application. There are many other publications, both official and unofficial, which also deal with these subjects.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science whether he will make a statement on the work of the Frazer Committee on research on toxic chemicals.

The Report of the Committee under Professor Frazer, which was set up by the Agricultural Research Council to keep under continuing review research on toxic chemicals used in agriculture and food storage, is being published today and is on sale at H.M. Stationery Office. This Report reviews the research so far carried out; it concludes that there are no major gaps in the research effort but draws the attention of the research councils to the need for further research on certain aspects. I have asked the research councils for their views on the Frazer Committee's recommendations. I wish to express, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, our thanks to Professor Frazer and the members of the Committee for this valuable Report, to the preparation of which they have devoted much time and effort.

asked the Postmaster-General whether Post Office employees in his Investigation Branch are entitled to access to confidential information regarding the criminal history of convicted persons; or whether such information is limited to police officers serving in the Branch.

Such information about the criminal history of convicted persons as becomes available to the Post Office Investigation Branch is not necessarily confined to police officers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give details of the improvements to the A.30 and A.38 trunk roads west of Exeter which he announced on 24th February.

I intend to put in hand some £2 million worth of work in 1964–65 to provide a further seven miles of dual carriageway on the A.38 between Exeter and Plymouth, and also some improvements to A.38 and A.30 in Cornwall. Among the sections proposed for improvement in Devon are the following:

• Lee Mill to Ivybridge (Westover).
• Drybridge to Lower Dean.
• Chudleigh Knighton Bridge to Drum-bridges.
• Red Cross to Trehill Lodge.
• Blue Linhay Hill, Ashburton to 500 yards north of Caton Cross.

Cornish schemes included in the programme are sections of the A.38 from Maudlin to Cartuther and at Menheniot Hill, and on A.30 at Penhale Fork (west of Fraddon) and Rosehill, Lanivet.I am also asking the Devon County Council to put in hand surveys to establish the line of the A.38 between Exeter and Plymouth where further bypasses will be needed, notably at Chudleigh and Ivybridge.

asked the Minister of Transport whether applications for grant are approved and authorised when reflectorised materials for the marking of the edges of carriageways are included in the specifications for new and improved classified roads.

Approved reflectorised markings for the edges of the carriageways of classified roads are eligible for grant. I shall soon be giving guidance to local highway authorities on their use.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of trunk roads have been experimented upon in the use of reflectorised paint for marking the edges of the carriageway; and if he will make greater use of this aid to road safety.

Trials of reflectorised edge of carriageway markings are being carried out on sections of the A.23 trunk road at Gatwick and the A.1 trunk road at Wetherby; the total length of the markings is about 1 mile. In addition, lengths of motorways totalling about 88 miles, and Class I roads totalling nearly 8 miles are the subject of experiments with this material. It is proposed to prescribe an edge of carriageway marking in the new traffic signs Regulations and the Traffic Signs Manual will encourage highway authorities to use reflectorised material where traffic conditions warrant it.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has given to the desirability of introducing legislation to permit the agents of occupiers of blocks of flats, such as commissionaires and others, who have been individually delegated persons in this respect, to pay parking meter charges on behalf of such occupiers.

Legislation is not necessary for this purpose. The driver who parks a vehicle at a meter is responsible for the payment of the charge but he is not required to put the coins in the meter himself. Payment can be made only at the time the vehicle is parked except in the case of a vehicle parked overnight, when the payment becomes due at the time the meters come into operation again.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will order a study to be made of the green wave traffic control system operating in Cologne, with a view to introducing a similar system in London, to ease the London traffic problem.

I have studied the Cologne system. Systems employing the "green wave" system in a more flexible way have been in operation on many routes in London for some years, and further systems will be introduced as necessary. As I have already announced, I am planning to try out even more sophisticated methods using computer control over the whole of an area of West London.

asked the Minister of Transport on what international bodies concerned with safety at sea he is represented; what reports he has received of international studies comparing the efficiency of civilian and naval safety methods; and whether he will suggest such investigations to the international agencies concerned.

The principal international body concerned with safety at sea is the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) which was set up by the United Nations. The United Kingdom is a member of this Organisation and my Department plays a full part in all its work.I know of no international studies specifically directed to comparing the efficiency of civilian and naval safety methods. But my Department is in close touch with the Admiralty in this field and I know that similar co-operation exists in other countries.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent civilian shipping authorities are in touch with new life-saving techniques and equipment used by the Royal Navy; and what research and study takes place as to the applicability of naval methods to civilian ships.

My Department is represented on the Naval Life Saving Committee and is thus in close touch with naval life saving appliances and techniques. Any new equipment which appears to be suitable for use in merchant ships with or without modifications, is subjected to joint testing by the Admiralty and the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will study the possibility of using the Shat davit for lifeboats on civilian ships.

Shat davits have been used on British merchant ships for a number of years. Various designs have been approved by my Department and many ships are fitted with one or other of these.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that civilian ships at present carry a sufficient number of inflatable life-rafts; and if he will make a statement.

The position is complicated, because a number of different classes of ship are involved. My Department's current rules and recommendations about the carriage of inflatable life-rafts by various classes of merchant ship are contained in the Merchant Shipping (Life-saving Appliances) Rules, 1958, and Merchant Shipping Notice No. M.419, of which I am sending the hon. Member copies. The situation will wholly be covered by mandatory rules when the 1960 Safety Convention comes into force

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state, for each of the last five years, the number of people killed and seriously injured in the United Kingdom on railways and on roads, respectively, and for this year up to the latest convenient date.

Following are the latest available figures. They relate to Great Britain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a list of all forms of taxation which have been reduced between 1951 and 1963 and which now remain below the level of 1951.

The rates of the following taxes were lower in 1963 than in 1951: the Income Tax—which includes the Surtax; the Stamp Duties; the Purchase Tax; the Beer Duty; the duties on heavy wines and wines in bottle; the duties on sugar, cocoa and coffee; the Vehicle Excise Duty on hackney carriages; and certain of the protective duties. During the same period the incidence of Estate Duty on small estates was reduced and the following taxes which had been in operation in 1951 were abolished: the Corporation Duty, the Land Tax, the Entertainments Duty and certain minor Excise duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that from 1951 until 1962 general taxation rose by 67 per cent. and personal Income Tax rose by 113 per cent., whereas company taxation rose by only 27 per cent.; what was the reason for this; and what action he proposes to take to redress this imbalance.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is aware of these figures which relate to tax payments falling on persons and on the reserves of companies in the years quoted. I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on 25th February. I would also point out that during the period personal incomes doubled whereas the incomes of companies, after deduction of capital allowances, increased by only one-third and at the same time the foreign tax paid by companies, most of which is relieved as a credit against the United Kingdom tax, doubled. I have noted the last part of his Question but the hon. Member will not expect any statement at this time of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that from 1951 until 1963 Purchase Tax rose by 65 per cent., and duties on wines, spirits and tobacco rose by 38 per cent., 82 per cent. and 44 per cent., respectively; and what action he proposes to take to reduce these forms of taxation.

Yes, my right hon. Friend is aware of these figures. They relate to tax receipts and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a similar Question on 25th February. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend cannot anticipate his Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the receipts from pool betting duty collected on greyhound totalisators for the months of November and December, 1963, and similar figures for the bookmakers' licence duty.

The figures are:

—	Net receipts of pool betting duty (greyhound totalisators)	Net receipts of Bookmakers' licence duty
	£	£
November, 1963	393,044	111,881
December, 1963	325,319	98,506

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since the introduction of the television licence duty in 1957 it has yielded £67 million; and, in view of the fact that much of this has been collected from old-age pensioners and those on small and limited incomes, if he will introduce a method whereby these persons can be exempt from paying this form of taxation.

This duty was repealed with effect from 1st October, 1963, by the Finance Act, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will give examples of the nature of the £1,038,253 worth of books and booklets imported from the Netherlands in 1963, and of the £401,798 worth imported from Czechslovakia.

I regret that this information is not available from our trade statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what arrangements he will be making for the import of butter during the year beginning 1st April, 1964.

Her Majesty's Government have decided to extend the control of butter imports by quota for a further period of 12 months from 1st April, 1964, to 31st March, 1965. During the coming quota year basic quotas totalling 420,000 tons will be allocated. This compares with a basic total of 410,000 tons during the current year; the country quotas for the coming year will be increased proportionately. In the light of this year's experience it is expected that further imports will be required during the quota year over and above the basic quotas. During the first half, these further imports may amount to 20,000 tons. Supplying countries will be asked for estimates of availability and, in the light of these, announcements will be made of the additional quantities to be admitted.