asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Act 1949 so that those on the current Register of Electors as Y voters may be entitled to vote in June instead of having to wait until October.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 27th February to a Question by the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of persons who will be unable to vote in the General Election, 1964, if the election is held before 2nd October, because they are listed as Y voters.

I regret that this figure is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an assurance that, in considering the representations made to him to extend the opening times of licensed betting shops, he will take into account the views of those who are opposed to this suggestion, including the representatives of the churches, and horseracing and greyhound racing interests.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a committee to inquire into the extent of drug addiction in Great Britain, especially among young persons, and to reassess the validity of official statistics in the light of recent experience of the courts.

The Interdepartmental Committee on Drug Addiction, under the chairmanship of Lord Brain, which reported in November, 1960, expressed the opinion that there was no cause to fear that any real increase in addiction was occurring at that time. There is, however, evidence of some recent increase in addiction, and I am consulting my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Health about this development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are being given to the Metropolitan Police about the enforcement of regulations made under Section 49 of the Public Health Act, 1961, which will make it an offence to use, in connection with the maintenance of footpaths, any vehicles weighing more than one ton, unless it has special exemption from the Ministry of Power.

The Commissioner informs me that the Metropolitan Police already have instructions to consider proceedings in cases of vehicles unlawfully using footpaths. The Vehicles (Conditions of Use on Footpaths) Regulations, 1963, which prescribe the conditions under which local authorities may lawfully use vehicles on footpaths for cleansing and maintenance, are being brought to the notice of the force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants from the Republic of Eire and the Commonwealth, respectively, have been convicted of living on immoral earnings in the Metropolitan Police district since the, Commonwealth Immigrants Act came in to force; and in how many cases, respectively, recommendation for deportation could not be made because the persons convicted had been resident in the United Kingdom for five years or more.

Since Part TI of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act came into force on 31st May, 1962, 25 persons from the Irish Republic and 139 from Commonwealth countries have been convicted of living on immoral earnings in the Metropolitan Police District. Of these, 18 persons from the Irish Republic and 92 from Commonwealth countries had, at the time of conviction, been resident in the United Kingdom for five years or more.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases during the past year and past five years, respectively, young persons have been charged with homicidal offences against a parent or guardian; and in how many instances the charge has been changed to manslaughter and the accused sentenced to imprisonment or detention, or has been discharged.

During 1963 one person aged 16 was indicted for the murder of a parent. He was found guilty of manslaughter and ordered to be detained for 12 months.During the fours years 1959 to 1962, one person aged 12 and another aged 15 were indicted for the murder of parents. They were both found guilty of manslaughter. The first was placed in the care of a fit person, and the second was ordered to be detained in hospital with a restriction without limit of time on his discharge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now implement the recommendation of the Tucker Committee on Proceedings before Examining Justices.

As I have previously informed the House, I have asked a number of interested persons and organisations to assist me by giving their views in answer to a detailed questionnaire. I have now received replies from most but not all of them, and they disclose much divergence of views. A full study of the views so far received is in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks have been reported in the last 12 months on bank officials, wages clerks, and other carriers of money; in view of this increasing violence and the brutal treatment of ordinary citizens whilst engaged on their lawful work, if he will introduce legislation to impose flogging as a punishment for such crimes; and if he will make a statement.

In 1963 in the Metropolitan Police District, for which alone I have comprehensive information, 284 offences of robbery and assault with intent to rob were committed against post office and bank officials and other persons carrying cash to and from banks or collecting money or goods on behalf of their employers. On the reintroduction of corporal punishment I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 30th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he is contemplating for integrating the Criminal Investigation Department with the uniformed police in the Metropolitan Police area.

The Commissioner informs me that he has no current plans for the interchange of C.I.D. and uniformed officers in the Metropolitan Police, but that this is something which he proposes to keep under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now grant a remission of 42 days to the prisoner in Horfield Prison, Bristol, who had this period of time added to his sentence because he made an appeal which was disallowed, particulars of which case has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central.

The Court of Criminal Appeal in fact ordered that this prisoner should lose 63 days of the time during which he was specially treated as an appellant. I would not be justified in recommending remission of part of the prisoner's sentence so as to restore this time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the population of the Metropolitan Police area in 1938 and 1963; what were the number of indictable offences known to the Metropolitan Police in 1938 and 1963; and what was the numerical strength of the Metropolitan Police in 1938 and 1963; (2) what the numerical strength of the Metropolitan Police should have been in 1963 in order to preserve the same ratio of police officers to the number of indictable offences as in 1938.

In 1938 the population of the Metropolitan Police District was about 8·7 million, and 95,280 indictable offences were known to the Metropolitan police, whose male strength stood at 18,511. In 1963 the population was just under 8·2 million, the number of indictable offences was about 229,000 and the Metropolitan police strength stood at 18,022 men. If the 1938 ratio between police strength and indictable offences were to be preserved, the male strength of the Metropolitan police would need to be of the order of 44,500. But although the incidence of crime is naturally a relevant factor in determining the desirable strength of a police force, it is not the only one. My right hon. Friend accepts the assessment of the Commissioner of Police in his Annual Report for 1962 that the strength of the force is 5,000 or 6,000 below the minimum number required to give adequate patrol coverage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forms a solicitor is required to sign before he is allowed to interview a client detained in one of Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will place copies of such form or forms in the Library of the House.

A solicitor is required to sign a form by which he undertakes that the interview and any subsequent interviews with the prisoner shall be used solely for the purpose of the professional business stated in the form and that any information obtained as a result shall not be communicated either directly or indirectly to the Press or to any person other than those to whom it may be his duty to communicate information for the purpose of the legal proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions have been recorded in each of the last five years for the buying of intoxicating liquor by persons under 18 years of age; and how many have been recorded in that period for the selling to these persons of such liquor.

The figures for England and Wales are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his plans are for putting into operation the recommendations of the Advisory Council, contained in The Organisation of Work for Prisoners.

As I said on 26th February in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Curran) I welcome the Report and accept the Council's recommendations. Prison industries are already being modernised in accordance with several of the Council's recommendations. Discussions are taking place with other Government departments with a view to providing work for an enlarged industrial capacity. Arrangements are being made for the appointment of an industrial expert who will be responsible for the major industrial developments recommended by the Council. High priority is being given to plans for increasing the working hours of prisoners in closed local prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what discussions he has now had with the Governments of Northern and Southern Rhodesia on the future of the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; and what has been the result.

Consultations are continuing, but further discussions must now take account of the recent decision by the Northern Rhodesia Government not to support new students wishing to enter the college.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if, in view of the unanimous condemnation by the Constitutional Council set up by the Sandys-Whitehead 1961 Constitution of the Land Apportionment Act as the main instrument of racial segregation and discrimination in Southern Rhodesia, he will make its repeal a condition of the grant of sovereignty to the territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will now publish as a White Paper the terms for the granting of independence to Southern Rhodesia which have been conveyed to the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia.

Her Majesty's Government have not sought to lay down specific conditions for the granting of independence to Southern Rhodesia, but as the House will be aware from the correspondence with the Southern Rhodesia Government, published as a White Paper last year, the future development of that Government's policy on non-discrimination has been one of the matters discussed with them in this context.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has yet completed the negotiation of a Public Officers' Agreement as provided for in the Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Dissolution) Order in Council 1963.

The inter-Governmental consultations on this subject should soon be completed. When the Agreement has been concluded, it will be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will give an assurance that the right of holders of four per cent. stock 1972–1974 of the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to sue the Liquidating Agency under Section 10(3) of the Dissolution Order in Council will not be nullified by the exercise of the power conferred upon the Governors of the three territories of the former Federation under Section 2(3) of the said Order in Council.

Section 2(3) of the Order in Council could not be applied in such a way as to alter the provisions of the Order itself. I do not however understand the hon. Member's reference to Section 10(3) of the Order, since the stock mentioned was not vested in the Liquidating Agency but directly apportioned amongst and transferred to the Territories under Section 16 of the Order.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will now make a statement about a Commonwealth reserve force in Africa.

As the House knows my right hon. Friend is at present in East Africa. During his visit he intends to discuss with the Commonwealth Governments concerned defence problems of mutual interest. I cannot anticipate the outcome of these discussions or the bearing they may have on a suggested Commonwealth Reserve Force for Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has completed the review of the Million Acre scheme in Kenya; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir A. Hurd) on 11th February. A statement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement has been reached in the official discussions with representatives of the political parties in Mauritius for the implementation of self-government during March, 1964.

The following statement has been issued by the Mauritius Government."The Governor, the Chief Minister, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and the leaders of the Independent Forward Block, the Muslim Committee of Action and the Parti Mauricien have discussed informally with the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs in London the question of forming an all-party government.The Mauritius (Constitution) Order 1964, which was made on 26th February and will come into force shortly on a day to be appointed by His Excellency, enables up to 13 unofficial Ministers to be appointed in addition to the Chief Minister (who becomes the Premier). It also provides for the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries, the number of whom it is intended shall be limited to 3.All the party leaders have agreed to join the new government which will be formed when the Order in Council comes into force. His Excellency has agreed with them that he will appoint 6 Ministers (including the Premier) from the Labour Party, 3 from the Parti Mauricien, 2 each from the Independent Forward Block and the Muslim Committee of Action, and 1 Independent. In addition he will appoint 2 Parliamentary Secretaries from the Labour Party and 1 from the Independent Forward Block.It is His Excellency's intention to appoint as Premier the present Chief Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, Dr. the Honourable S. Ramgoolam. The names of the Ministers and the Parliamentary Secretaries, and the allocation of portfolios, will be announced in due course."The new constitution introduces a further measure of self-government on the lines recommended at the constitutional review conference of 1961 and the political parties have agreed that discussions on full internal self-government should be held at a convenient date during the year beginning October, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will refuse any suggestions for modifying the electoral system of Malta which would reduce the rights of minorities.

The talks which my right hon. Friend has been having on the Malta Constitution have been temporarily suspended until after his return from Africa. In these circumstances, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to go into this question now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving the Malta Government towards the cost of emigration from Malta in the current financial year.

Up to a thither £100,000 is being made available from the general financial aid already provided, making a total of up to £400,000 in 1963–64 towards the cost of emigration.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will seek power to act on the recommendations of the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements.

I believe that the hon. Member has particularly in mind the Registrar's suggestion that information agreements between firms might be made registrable under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956. The Government's proposals for dealing with this matter are set out in a White Paper published today.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will schedule St. Helens as part of the Merseyside Development Area.

Unemployment in St. Helens, whether present or prospective, would not justify my right hon. Friend in listing it now as a Development District.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if, in order to support British claims in the forthcoming negotiations through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, he will extract from official United Nations publications and other official international sources information showing the extent to which countries other than Great Britain have extended tied aid and long-term credits, respectively, to Commonwealth countries during the last 10 years; and if he will publish and tabulate a summary of the information in the Official Report, together with a table showing the extent to which British trade with Commonwealth countries receiving such aid or credits has increased or declined during the same period.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will set up a committee of inquiry into the effect which costs of manufacturing industries and of all forms of distribution have on the value of real wages.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what steps he is taking to ensure the continuance of the development and production of the Denny hovercraft in Dumbarton.

The National Research Development Corporation, which is responsible for the development of civil hovercraft, is maintaining close touch with the efforts of the liquidator to find buyers for the assets of the firm which has been developing the hovercraft in Dumbarton. As the hon. Member will be aware, the Board of Trade are making use of their powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage new employment in Dumbarton.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development on what date he commenced negotiations with the Government of Czechoslovakia about the proposed liberalisation of trade in manufactured goods; on what date he informed the Czechoslovak Government of his proposals; in respect of what manufactured goods he is proposing liberalisation, and on what terms.

Negotiations with Czechoslovakia began on 28th January on the basis of the statement which my right hon. Friend made on that day in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Hocking). The negotiations were concluded on 26th February and the list of goods concerned will be published when the documents are signed in about two weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when he proposes to introduce selective control of imports.

My right hon. Friend does not have in mind any change in present policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will now state at what period in 1964 he expects the proposed advance factory for Chester-le-Street to be completed.

I expect that the advance factory at Chester-le-Street will be available for occupation towards the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new light industries have been established by his Department in Caithness and Sutherland since 1959; where they are located; and how many persons are employed in them.

It depends what my hon. Friend means by light industries. Since 8th October, 1959, five new projects have been established in Caithness and Sutherland employing over 100 people. Two of the projects were in Wick, two in Thurso and one at Brora.

asked the Secretary of of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development which countries have been asked to increase their supplies of butter to the British home market, and by how much; and if these changes will represent a permanent increase in their quota-allocations.

In the year ending 31st March, 1964, the following tonnages, in addition to the basic quotas, have been authorised:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on the working and effect on Scottish industry of the Local Employment Act 1960, since it came into operation, indicating the number, nature and location of the industries, workers and areas affected and the influence of that Act on the employment position in Scotland.

Nearly every development district in Scotland has benefited from the introduction of new projects or from local expansions, or both, assisted by the Local Employment Acts. Financial assistance offered has reached over £53 million for 300 projects expected to provide 44,000 additional jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what steps he has taken during the last five years to expand industry in North-East Scotland; and with what result.

My right hon. Friend has made full use of his powers under the Local Employment Acts, and earlier legislation, to encourage industrial development in North-East Scotland. Since the beginning of 1959 offers of assistance under the Acts amounted to over £400,000. During this period the Board of Trade issued 44 industrial development certificates covering 975,000 sq. ft., for projects estimated to provide nearly 1,100 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will tabulate Great Britain's imports from and exports to Cuba during each of the last 10 years, indicating the nature of the respective commodities and the parts of Great Britain concerned.

I am sending the main details of United Kingdom trade with Cuba to the hon. Member and am also making a copy available in the Library. I regret that statistics on a regional basis are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will tabulate Great Britain's imports from and exports to South Africa during each of the last 10 years, indicating the nature of the respective commodities and the parts of Great Britain concerned.

I am sending the main details of United Kingdom trade with South Africa to the hon. Member and am also making a copy available in the Library. I regret that statistics on a regional basis are not available.

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 1963 for the county borough of Middlesbrough.

One application was received and granted in 1963.

asked the Minister of Power what information he has as to the stage reached by the Steel Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe in their proposed study of comparative rates of productivity in the European iron and steel industry.

I understand that the Secretariat has issued a questionnaire asking for employment data.

asked the Minister of Power if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total tonnages, cost and average prices per ton of imported raw materials for the iron and steel industry for 1937, 1938 and for 1952 and each subsequent year, showing separate figures for ores, ferrous scrap, pig and sponge iron, and ferro-alloys.

As the Answer consists of a large table of figures I am writing to the hon. Member about it.

asked the Minister of Power if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total tonnages, values and average prices per ton of imported iron and steel products for 1937, 1938, and for 1952 and each subsequent year, showing separate figures for non-alloy billets, bars and rods, plates, sheets, tin plate and steel tubes, distinguishing those of large diameter, pipes and fittings.

As the Answer consists of a large table of figures I am writing to the hon. Member about it.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board that when the Board has houses surplus to requirements it shall offer such houses, where they are held in freehold, to the local authority at a price fixed by the district valuer, and, where the Board are offered freehold reversion, that the Board shall purchase the reversion and subsequently offer such houses to the local authority on terms as set out above.

No.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the current work of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers.

The National Advisory Council has undertaken, as its main immediate tasks, a fresh long-range forecast of teacher supply and demand; an urgent study of short-term measures to improve the staffing of the schools, especially the primary schools; a further examination of the implications of introducing a training requirement for all intending teachers; and, through its Standing Sub-Committee on Teachers for Further Education, a consideration of the recruitment and training of teachers for further education.

asked the Minister of Education what school building projects were submitted for the school building programme of 1964–65 by the Gateshead education authority; and how many of these projects were approved.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend on 7th March, 1963, so far as concerns the 1964–65 programme. The authority's proposals for 1965–68 are now being considered.

asked the Minister of Education what action has been taken on the interim reports of the Supply Working Party on emergency measures to improve teacher supply.

The Supply Working Party of the previous National Advisory Council examined a number of short-term measures for improving the staffing of the schools, but decided to concentrate on formulating a scheme for the further rapid expansion of the training colleges to 80,000 students by 1970. Their proposals were endorsed by the Council and accepted by the Government in January, 1963. Expansion schemes have been discussed and agreed with 140 colleges and those for the few remaining colleges are expected to be settled soom.

asked the Minister of Education if he will allocate grants to local authorities willing to conduct experimental projects in the use of branching teaching machines.

A large number of local education authorities are carrying out experimental work in this field. My right hon. Friend has no power to make them specific grants for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Education what action he is taking to encourage the use of branching teaching machines in teachers' training establish- ments; and what amount of Government finance has been devoted to such machines in teachers' training colleges.

A number of teacher training establishments are using teaching machines for demonstration and experimental purposes but expenditure on these machines cannot readily be separated from training colleges' expenditure on equipment generally. The Ministry recently carried out a survey of activities in the field of programmed learning and teaching machines generally and the results will be incorporated in a memorandum to be circulated shortly. I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Education how many schoolchildren in the area covered by the Colne Valley constituency are dependent on outside earth closets.

I understand that no schools in the area have earth closets.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of primary schools in the area covered by the Colne Valley constituency still has outdoor lavatories.

I understand from the local education authority that the proportion of primary schools with some outside lavatories is 54 per cent. This proportion will be reduced to 29 per cent. under current minor works programmes.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on reading standards in primary schools.

Between 1948 and 1956 the reading standard of primary school pupils aged 11 improved by nine months. Further testing is now taking place, and the results a re likely to be available later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help the 50,000 Garos of Christian faith who have been driven into India from their homes in East Pakistan.

I understand that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has received no request for assistance from the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will make a statement on the recent meetings of the Security Council to consider the situation in Cyprus.

I would refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to my statement in the House this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if a date has yet been fixed for the opening of negotiations with the Soviet Government on the subject of post-1939 Anglo-Soviet financial claims.

No date has yet been fixed for the opening of negotiations for a settlement of these claims. The Soviet Government have however agreed to our proposal that discussions at official level should start in Moscow on 10th March to deal with technical problems on the documentation of claims on both sides. A small group of Foreign Office and Treasury officials will go to Moscow for this purpose.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what communication he has had with the Government of Zanzibar in regard to the future position of the officers of Her Majesty's Overseas Service who are remaining in Zanzibar, concerning their future terms of employment and their rights under the General Compensation Scheme.

The Zanzibar Government have made it clear that they wish these officers to remain and have fully met their terms of service under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme and the general compensation scheme. Her Majesty's Government have been in touch with the Zanzibar Government over the application of these terms to individual officers.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the consequences of British action in entering East African territories, if he will give an assurance that any similar British action in the future will be taken only after the views and co-operation of the United Nations Organisation have been sought.

No. It would have been for the East African Governments concerned to refer their recent difficulties to the United Nations if they had so wished. They chose instead to ask for help from Her Majesty's Government, and we gladly gave it.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent it is his practice and that of Ministers when being interviewed on television in explanation of Government policy to discuss beforehand the direction which the interview will take, and the subjects on which questions are to be put.

This is not a matter for which I consider I have Ministerial responsibility, but since the hon. Member is interested I will tell him that in accepting an invitation to appear on television I conform to whatever arrangements are made by the broadcasting staff.

asked the Prime Minister what Government-assisted development has taken place or is contemplated north of Inverness, similar to that undertaken at Corpach, which has saved the West Highland railway line from closure.

The Government-supported pulp and paper mill at Corpach and the chip board mill at Inverness are likely to be able to process all available timber in the North of Scotland for the time being. The Government are of course always very willing to consider assisting any well-conceived schemes of this or any other character.

asked the Prime Minister who are his official advisers on public relations with the Press.

asked the Minister of Defence what his policy is with regard to the automatic revision of Armed Services' pensions following future increases in the remuneration of the Armed Services.

In accordance with the recommendation of the Grigg Committee, Service pensions are reviewed every two years at the same time as Service pay. I cannot anticipate the results of the next review.

asked the Minister of Health what decision has been reached with France and other countries on international co-operation in cancer research.

Further meetings were held in Paris on 27th and 28th February,

Mr. Groves is acting as my official adviser on public relations and Mr. James as his deputy.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the numbers of traffic accidents and road casualties, respectively, on the A.62 in the Colne Valley urban district, during each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The information is given in the following table:when there was discussion of the organisation and status of an Agency to be set up to facilitate international co-operation in cancer research. The matter is now being considered by the five Governments.

asked the Minister of Labour how many wage and salary earners were resident in the Saddleworth urban district, and how many of them were employed in the Saddleworth urban district, for the years 1955, 1959, and 1963, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General how many instances there have been of vandalism to the post in Birmingham, such as the burning of letters in pillar-boxes; and what action is being taken to prevent such behaviour.

Acts of vandalism against the mail in the Birmingham area have been confined to fires in posting-boxes. Last year there were 89 such incidents all were promptly reported to the police.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the number, value and nature of shipbuilding and ship repairing contracts placed by the South African Government in Britain during the last ten years, indicating in each case the shipyards with which these contracts were placed.

Twenty ships (harbour craft and naval vessels) worth, I am informed, £18·5m. The shipyards were Ferguson Brothers; Yarrow; Alexander Stephen; Harland and Wolff (Belfast); Whites; Camper and Nicholson; Thorneycroft; Vosper; Dorset Lake.Similar information on ship repairing is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) when the land between the Burgh of Monifieth and the Buddon Burn on the coastline of the Firth of Tay was first acquired by the War Department during what periods there have been physical restrictions to access by the public and on what dates in this area there have been injuries to the public during firing practice;(2) on how many days during 1963 the War Department land on the coast of the Firth of Tay between Monifieth and Buddon Burn was used for firing practice; and what was the avenge daily duration of such firing practice;(3) what is the estimated length and cost of the fence and gate proposed to be erected across the War Department land between Monifieth and Buddon Burn.

This land was acquired in 1892. When firing is in progress sentries are posted to restrict access by the public. The posting of these sentries and their vigilance has successfully prevented any member of the public being injured whilst firing was in progress. Over the last four years, however, two accidents have occurred through the presence of dangerous objects on the range area.This small part of the ranges was used in 1963 for firing practice on 55 days for an average duration of five hours each day.The proposed fence between the train-area and the rubbish dump will be about 260 yards long. The exact type of fence has yet to be decided so that its cost is not yet known.