asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress is being made, in co-operation with Commonwealth Governments, over the proposed review of the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881; and if he will make a statement.

The review of the Act is proceeding. We hope soon to be in a position to put precise proposals to other Commonwealth Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made in the discussions about the future of the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Salisbury.

I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend told the House on 5th March, except that talks with the Southern Rhodesia Government have now been arranged for early in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement under which the air force of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was transferred to the constituent territories of the Federation.

I assume that the right hon. Member is referring to the text of the agreed joint statement made after the inter-governmental meeting on defence held in Salisbury in October. I have arranged for a copy of this statement to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proposals he has for the establishment, using the services of trade commissioners, of British food centres in foreign countries, in order to encourage the export of British products; and if he will make a statement.

No proposals for the opening of such centres has been put to me by the exporters of British foods. I will certainly consider any suggestions put to me, but I think that the other methods of encouraging exports which have been adopted are probably more effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what steps he is now taking to ensure a greater diversification of industry in the Northern Region to meet the need for employment by young persons; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is pressing on with present policies which are already showing encouraging results in terms of the diversification of industry in the Northern Region. Since January 1963, some 30 firms entirely new to the area have decided to establish units there; together they are expected to provide some 8,000 new jobs, including 5,400 for males.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will refer the steel industry to the Monopolies Commission.

I should have to be satisfied that the legal conditions for a reference prevailed in the industry before I consider this.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the number of new industries that have come to north-east England in the last three months; and how many jobs these new industries have provided.

In the three months December 1963 to February 1964, industrial development certificates have been issued in the North-East to five firms new to the area. These projects, representing between them four industries, are expected to provide 2,700 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry. Trade and Regional Development how many advance factories were completed in the North-East in the years 1962 and 1963; how many are now occupied; and how many jobs they are providing.

During 1962 and 1963 three Board of Trade advance factories in the North-East became available for occupation. Two are occupied. Employment figures for individual firms are confidential; the three factories together should provide over 200 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many advance factories are due to be completed in the North-East during 1964; and how many jobs they will provide.

I expect that 10 Board of Trade advance factories in the North-East will become available for occupation during 1964. Three have already been allocated to firms. The 10 together should provide about 1,000 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what advice and assistance Her Majesty's Government and British representatives overseas are giving the Federation of Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce in its efforts to expand Commonwealth trade.

Her Majesty's Government and British representatives in Commonwealth countries overseas maintain close contact with the work of the Federation and assist with information and advice as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development (1) whether the director to be nominated by the National Film Finance Corporation to the board of British Lion will be required to take account of the interests of the company as a whole or of a particular shareholder only;(2) whether it will be permissible for the director nominated by the Film Finance Corporation to the board of British Lion to disclose information about the conduct of that company's affairs to a particular shareholder, and not to the general body of shareholders.

The first duty of the director nominated by the Corporation will be towards British Lion. Subject to that duty, he will give the Corporation any information he considers it desirable for them to have.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what has resulted from the visit of the Canadian Minister of Trade; whether he will make a statement about efforts to expand British trade with Canada; and whether the Western Hemisphere Export Council has now been reorganised so as to give special attention to trade with Canada.

I had valuable talks with Mr. Sharp on several topics, including British export trade to Canada. Mr. Sharp emphasised that Canadian imports are growing and that there are excellent opportunities for British exporters. The arrangements to replace the Western Hemisphere Export Council will be announced shortly and will make special provision for trade with Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy on the proposal, which will come before the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, for the replacement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade by a new international trade organisation.

Her Majesty's Government are opposed to the replacement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade by a new international trade organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when the advance factory at Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire, will be completed; and what progress is being made in securing a suitable tenant for it.

The advance factory at Portmadoc will be available for occupation this month. It has been shown to a number of prospective tenants but has not yet been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is satisfied that no injury will be done to the camera trade between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom by the proposed halving of the camera import duty; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is examining an application for a reduction in the import duty on certain types of cameras. The consideration mentioned by my hon. Friend is one of those which will be taken into account before a decision is reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware that during recent weeks certain manufacturers of pharmaceutical goods have circulated to retailers increased retail price lists, an example of which, showing an average 10 per cent. increase, has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Farnworth; and what information he received regarding such price increases when preparing the Resale Prices Bill.

I have noted the information which the hon. Member has sent me. The purpose of the Resale Prices Bill is to give retailers freedom to sell below the prices set out in the type of lists to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what voluntary organisations will be allowed to give evidence to the West Midland's Regional Studies Group; and whether this evidence may be given in personal interview as well as in writing.

The group will be glad to receive considered views from any organisation which is concerned with the development of the region. It may be best to begin with written statements but personal interview will also be possible where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will list the six industries with the largest export trade, giving the export figures for each industry for the latest convenient year.

I regret that this information is not available. Such a selection would need to be an arbitrary one and it would depend on how widely or narrowly the industries were defined. Furthermore it is difficult to estimate the full contribution made by an industry to our export trade, including as it does its contribution of materials or components for use by other industries in producing goods for export.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will give an assurance that development plans in the growth areas will not be retarded due to the recently announced increase in the Bank Rate; and if he will make a statement.

Our development programmes for the growth areas remain unchanged. Neither the public investment programme nor the incentives provided by the Government for private investment there have been altered.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that a household, at an address of which he has been informed, in a smokeless zone in Barking, Essex, was without solid fuel of any kind on 20th February, 1964, although a supply of Coalite had been ordered more than six weeks earlier and the fuel merchant reminded repeatedly of the order; and what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate supplies of the appropriate kinds of fuel are always available for people living in these zones.

Coalite is a proprietary fuel whose production and distribution are a matter for the manufacturers. I am not aware of any general shortage of smokeless fuels in this area.

asked the Minister of Power if he will secure an agreement with Colvilles Limited, in respect of the loan to that company of £50 million from the Consolidated Fund and unpaid interest on that loan, that repayment of interest on that loan from public funds should take precedence over ordinary dividend distribution.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what security is being taken by Her Majesty's Government, and for how much, in respect of the loan of £50 million to Colvilles Limited from the Consolidated Fund, and unpaid interest on that loan; whether this is by the creation of a second debenture; what is its proposed amount and nature; and what was the amount and nature of the first debenture.

As provided for in 1959 loan agreement, a fixed charge is being created upon the company's works, and an assignment is being made of the company's reversionary rights in the shares of subsidiaries for the amount of the loan and interest outstanding at any time. This security will rank immediately after an existing debenture trust deed for £10 million stock, and a debenture trust deed for a maximum of £6 million being prepared in respect of a loan agreement between the company and the Finance Corporation for Industry, under which £2·5 million has so far been advanced.

asked the Minister of Power if he will announce his conclusion on the Report of the Lurgi Joint Study Group.

Yes. My conclusions have been communicated to the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries, who have embodied them in a Special Report to the House. Copies of this, and of the Study Group's report, are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Education if he will take steps to ensure that persons trained at universities at public expense in the professions take up these professions at the end of their training; and if he will give them assistance to enter these professions.

The answer to the first part of the Question is No. On the second, assistance to attend courses leading to professional qualifications is available under the system of student awards.

asked the Minister of Education what study his curriculum study group are making of branching teaching machines.

None, but the curriculum study group are naturally interested in the projects which my right hon. Friend is currently supporting from his research fund, and in the survey of activities in the field of programmed learning and teaching machines recently carried out by the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Education on what date plans for the proposed Newcastle-under-Lyme College of Further Education were first submitted to him; if he will give details of the alterations which were required; and when building will now commence.

Sketch plans were first submitted in August 1961. The alterations proposed were concerned with fire precautions, dining arrangements, disposition of specialist rooms, orientation, phasing of work, access and circulation. In March 1962, the authority decided to revise the schedule of accommodation and plans mainly to provide additional workshops to meet increased demands for mechanical and electrical craft courses. My right hon. Friend has approved the new plans and building is expected to start within one month.

asked the Minister of Education if he will hold an inquiry into the proposed closing of the Drenewyedd School by the Glamorgan Local Education Committee, having regard to the future needs of the village, and the present and proposed deployment of the children from the surrounding area.

If I receive such a proposal I shall, before coming to my decision, consider most carefully not only the views of the authority and of any objectors to the proposal, but also the educational advantages to the children and the possible impact of the closure on the life of the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the date on which United States forces are to vacate the Sculthorpe air base in Norfolk; what are his plans for the future use of the base; on what date it will be re-occupied; and if he will make a statement.

The United States Air Force base at Sculthorpe will be returned to the Royal Air Force on 1st July, 1964. No decision has yet been reached on its future use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1949, so as to permit a wife who is temporarily resident abroad with her husband to enjoy the same absent voting rights as are accorded to the husband.

I have no legislation to amend this Act in view.

asked the Secretary of State, for the Home Department how many children under the age of five years lost their lives in the years 1960, 1961 and 1962 as a result of suffocation, in the opinion of coroners' courts in England and Wales.

This information is not at present available, but I hope to be able to obtain it and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners escaped from Her Majesty's open prisons and closed prisons, respectively, in England and Wales in 1963.

The figures are 7 and 3, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male prisoners escaped from Her Majesty's open prisons and closed prisons, respectively, in England and Wales in 1963.

The figures are 193 and 56 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the danger to children crossing Station Road, Barnes, on their way to Westfield Primary School, mentioned in the Assistant Commissioner's recent letter to the hon. Member for Richmond, if he will instruct the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police to make arrangements for a police officer to man a school crossing patrol in Station Road, Barnes.

Under Section 47 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, the Commissioner of Police is the school crossing authority for the Metropolitan Police District and it is for him to decide where patrols should be stationed. My right hon. Friend has no authority to give the Commissioner instructions in such matters. I understand that the Commissioner is satisfied, in the light of a recent survey of conditions in Station Road, Barnes, and having regard to the resources at his disposal, that he would not be justified at present in providing supervision at this point. He will, however, keep the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the drafting of an Order in Council under Section 56(1) of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, to apply Part I of the Act to the Isle of Man; and if he will make a statement.

The Isle of Man Government are considering the extent to which insular legislation may be needed. The drafting of the Order in Council must await their decision on this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the receipts from Purchase Tax on motor cars since April, 1963, to date compare with receipts for a similar period beginning April, 1962.

Receipts of tax in respect of motor cars in the period April to December, 1963, amounted to £94 million, compared with £126 million in the corresponding period in 1962.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Purchase Tax revenue on sales of motor cars for the period May to October, 1962, when Purchase Tax was 45 per cent. compares with that for a similar six months of 1963 when Purchase Tax was chargeable at 25 per cent.; and whether he will give an estimate of increased revenue received from licence duty and fuel tax on the 134,000 additional cars which were registered during the latter six months in excess of the 1962 level.

Purchase Tax is collected on a quarterly basis and figures for the period May to October are not therefore available. Receipts in respect of sales of motor cars in the period April to September, 1962, amounted to £84 million, compared with £66 million for the corresponding period in 1963. The additional licence duty and fuel tax revenue received in the same period in 1963 compared with 1962 on the cars in question was about £2 million and £1 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the nature of the research into transport economics provided for by Supplementary Estimate 10F of Class IV.

The purpose of this Supplementary Estimate is to enable the Ministry to promote and support economic research into techniques for reaching decisions on the allocation of resources in the transport field, including the development of cost-benefit techniques for the assessment of investment proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the number and amount of ex-gratia payments made by his Department in respect of life salvage during each of the past five years, respectively.

No such payment has been made during this period.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many British experts are now serving in Commonwealth countries under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme; and what were the figures a year ago, and two years ago.

I have been asked to reply.I cannot give precise up-to-date figures, but the total number covered by the Overseas Service Aid Scheme was about 14,230 on 31st December, 1963. At a corresponding date in 1962 the number was about 15,350, and in 1961 about the same.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce to Parliament details of the Annual Price Review.

I hope to be able to make a statement on Wednesday, 18th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the text of the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding between the United Kingdom and its major overseas suppliers of bacon will be published.

Representatives of participating countries signed the understanding yesterday. I intend to publish its terms together with related texts of exchanges of letters between the United Kingdom and other countries as a White Paper on 19th March, 1964.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that changes in sugar distribution payments over the past several months have been of a pattern which can reasonably be anticipated by sugar distributors and users, and that this situation has recently led to a speculative hoarding of supplies by sugar distributors and users, and a quota scheme being imposed by the refiners with, in some areas, a shortage of sugar for the household consumer; and what action he will take to rectify the situation.

The fluctuations in the world price of sugar in recent months have necessitated frequent changes in the rate of distribution payment. It is true that, when the ex-refinery price of sugar rises, it can in general be foreseen that corrective action will be taken by increasing the distribution payment; and conversely when the price falls. This is inherent in the operation of the machinery for offsetting movements in the world price. Distributors and users of sugar, as of other commodities, naturally seek to buy and sell to their best advantage; but if their operations to this end lead them to place abnormally large orders with the refiners at certain times, it is not unreasonable for the latter to impose a quota scheme to protect the rest of their customers. My right hon. Friend is not aware of shortages of sugar for the household consumer in any area in recent months, and does not consider any action is called for. There can be no shortage nationally as some 95 per cent. of our requirements is supplied under contract by our own and Commonwealth producers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the average size in square feet, the average building cost, the average annual loan charges, and the total cost of three-bedroom local authority houses built in Wales for each year since 1951.

The table below gives the desired information. The figures given are for houses in tenders approved in each year. The cost of land and site works have not been included. In calculating annual loan charges the Public Works Loan Board rate for long term borrowing on 30th June each year has been used. Much house-building by local authorities is, however, now financed by borrowing on the open market for much shorter periods than 60 years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have for improving the protection afforded to house purchasers against defects in the quality of materials or work in new houses.

My Department and the Ministry of Public Building and Works are represented on the Working Party set up by the National Federation of Building Trades Employers which is studying this subject, including means of securing the participation of all house-building firms in the existing registration scheme. The Government do not exclude the possibility of new legislation, but the need for this, and the form any legislation might take, can best be considered when the Working Party have reported.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many back-to-earth houses there are in the Colne Valley constituency, according to local authority district.

I regret that I do not have this information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many back-to-back houses there are in the Colne Valley constituency, according to local authority district.

I regret that I do not have this information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will move to amend Section 59(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1933, so as to clarify the position of teachers in excepted districts.

I do not consider that Section 59(1) requires amendment. The principle is well established and generally accepted that no person holding paid office under a local authority should become an elected member of that authority. The application of this principle in the case of individual teachers in excepted districts depends, I am advised, on the conditions of their particular appointments.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will list the schemes for divisional administration under the Education Act 1944, under which teachers are disqualified for election as members of the corresponding district councils.

I am advised that in the excepted districts listed below, teachers in county and voluntary primary schools are disqualified for membership of the district council con- cerned by the terms of the scheme for divisional administration. I am further advised that whether or not teachers in county and voluntary secondary schools are similarly disqualified depends in any particular case on the Articles of Government of the individual school.

Acton, Parking, Basildon, Beckenham, Bedford, Bexley, Brentford and Chiswick, Bromley, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Colchester, Crosby, Dagenham, Ealing, Edmonton, Enfield, Finchley, Gillingham, Gosport, Harrow, Hayes and Harlington, Hendon, Heston and Isleworth, Hornsey, Huyton with Roby, Ilford, Hove, Keighley, Leyton, Lowestoft, Luton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Middleton, Nuneaton, Oldbury, Poole, Rhondda, Romford, Scunthorpe, Solihull, Southgate, Stretford, Stockton-on-Tees, Swindon, Tottenham, Wallsend, Walthamstow, Wembley, Widnes, Willesden, Worthing.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies for person, fit to undertake only light employment, are available in the Stornoway area, and elsewhere in the Western Isles, respectively; and if he will state the nature of the work offered.

None of the vacancies at present available are suitable for persons capable only of light work.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, fit to undertake only light work, have been suitably placed in the Stornoway area; and what is the number of persons registered as available for such employment.

Three persons have been placed in light employment since 1st January, 1964. On 10th March 63 persons were registered for work as light labourers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of lobster landings in the southern isles of the Outer Hebrides in the last full year for which figures are available; how many fishermen were engaged; and what was the estimated average gross annual income therefrom.

The total value of lobster landings in 1963 on the islands from North Uist to Barra was £10,868. Most of the lobster fishing around these islands is done by crofter-fishermen, fishing for varying periods throughout the year; about 200 men were employed for some part of 1963 in this type of fishing; the estimated average gross annual income for that year is therefore £54 per man.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of crofter fishermen in the Highlands and Islands in 1938, 1948, 1958, and 1963, respectively.

The number of crofter fishermen in the Highlands and Islands during the years in question was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will forecast the prospects for summer herring fishing in the Minch Waters.

The data for this is not yet complete, but my Department expects to publish a forecast of the prospects of the summer herring fishery in the Minch waters by the middle of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will forecast the prospects for white fishing in the Broad Bay waters of Lewis.

It is impossible to make a forecast for such a small area as Broad Bay. Haddock is the principal species caught there, and the fish are part of the haddock stocks of the Minch which are expected to share over the next year or two in the improvement which has already started in the North Sea haddock stocks.