asked the Minister of Labour whether the talks on the transferability of pension rights between the staff of the National Economic Development office, and the Departments concerned, to which the Chief Secretary referred on 25th July, 1963, have yet taken place; what was the result of the talks; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9th March to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock).

asked the Minister of Labour how many young people wishing to take an apprenticeship course at his Department's training centre in the Liverpool area attended from St. Helens in any year since the centre was opened; what vacancies there were through lack of interest during the same period; and from what areas the majority of students come at present.

One boy from St. Helens has attended the first-year apprentice training course at the Liverpool Government Training Centre; there have been no vacancies on the course since its inception. The majority of the apprentices on the present course come from Liverpool.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that some factories are visited by his inspectors as infrequently as every seven years; if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Factory Act are properly enforced under such circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

Every factory should be thoroughly inspected at least once every four years. I am satisfied that as nearly as possible this is achieved. Many, of course, receive visits more frequently than this. If the hon. Member knows of any factories which inspectors have not visited for seven years, I should be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply he has sent to the letter to him from Dr. Stephen Manstead, of 10th March, concerning branching teaching machines.

I have written to say that my officials were already familiar with the machine marketed by Dr. Manstead's company, and were considering what contribution the various forms of programmed instruction could make in the training my Department provides both in Government Training Centres and for its own staff.

asked the Minister of Labour how many statisticians are employed in his Department exclusively for forecasting manpower trends.

For work of this nature my Department uses the resources of its Manpower Research Unit, which is staffed by administrative and executive staff assisted by the advice of a professional economist from outside, and those of its Statistics Department, which includes six professional statisticians and a large number of non-professionals. There are no statisticians employed exclusively on this work.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average wage in 1938; what was the average take-home wage per week after State deductions for National Insurance, Health Service and Income Tax for a single man, a married man, and a married man with one child, respectively, in October, 1938; and what is the percentage increase in purchasing power of the take-home net income of a single man, a married man and a married man with one child, respectively, in October, 1963, compared with 1938, when the rise in the cost of living since then has been taken into account and when Income Tax deductions, and deductions for National Insurance and the Health Service, have been made.

The average gross weekly earnings of a male wage-earner 21 years and over in October, 1938, were £3 9s. At the same date the net weekly earnings of a single man, a married man and a married man with one child under 11 were £3 6s., £3 7s. 5d. and £3 7s. 5d. respectively. In October, 1963, these were £13 3s. 0d., £14 0s. 11d. and £14 15s. 4d. respectively or rises of 299, 317 and 338 per cent. It is not possible to provide a reliable measure on a comparable basis of the rise in the cost of living since 1938. The consumer price index, which measures changes in the prices of consumers goods and services covering all

AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS OF MANUAL WAGE-EARNERS IN THE 12 MAIN INDUSTRIES COVERED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR ENQUIRIES
OCTOBER, 1951
Industry	Men 21 and over		Youths and Boys		Women* 18 and over		Girls*
1948 Standard Industrial Classification
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Building	157	5	80	4	80	8	—
Other non-electrical engineering	173	11	61	10	91	10	57	7
Local government services	130	5	73	10	77	4	44	1
Tramway and omnibus services†	153	7	70	4	123	8	—
Manufacture of motor vehicles and cycles	200	1	74	2	107	2	67	11
Ready-made and wholesale bespoke tailoring	161	0	63	3	86	11	53	7
Shipbuilding and ship repairing	170	0	61	2	85	10	—
Printing and publishing, etc. (other than newspapers and periodicals)	189	11	58	11	95	0	51	10
Civil engineering contracting	176	3	84	10	—		—
Other metal industries not elsewhere specified	175	10	67	10	87	0	59	8
Motor repairers and garages	146	0	55	9	88	0	—
Iron and steel melting, rolling, etc.	193	5	81	10	88	7	—
All industries covered by enquiry	166	0	69	1	90	1	57	11

OCTOBER, 1963
Industry	Men 21 and over		Youths and Boys		Women 18 and over		Girls*
1958 Standard Industrial Classification
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Construction	332	7	152	2	156	4	97	1
Motor vehicle manufacturing	420	7	168	8	213	11	122	5
Local government service	255	2	155	5	174	11	—
Metal industries not elsewhere specified	338	10	148	5	164	6	106	9
Motor repairers, garages, etc.	287	8	119	2	161	5	102	2
Other machinery	328	4	134	7	179	6	103	8
Iron and steel manufacture	370	11	171	8	158	8	—
Road passenger transport†	308	0	209	6	245	2	—
Printing and publishing, etc. (other than newspapers and periodicals)	385	0	149	11	184	3	102	8
Radio and other electronic apparatus	330	5	133	9	171	10	110	8
Woollen and worsted	295	3	145	9	164	8	121	5
Aircraft manufacture and repair	365	8	134	9	179	2	104	11
All industries covered by enquiry	334	11	148	8	168	3	109	2
* Where no figure is given the number covered by the returns was too small to provide a satisfactory basis for the calculation of a general average.
† Except London Transport.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give in column form the dozen main industries used in computing the average industrial earnings in October, 1951, as men 166s., boys 69s. 1d., women 90s. 1d., and girls 57s. 11d., and October, 1963, as men 334s. 11d., boys 148s. 8d., women 168s. 3d., and girls 109s. 2d.; and what was the average in each industry, respectively.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the extent to which Her Majesty's Government are prepared to contribute to the United Nations Development Decade Programme.

Her Majesty's Government contribute very substantially to the purposes of the Development Decade, The extent of our aid to developing countries is described in the White Paper of September, 1963, on Aid to developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, despite the United Nations disengagement agreement, Egyptian reinforcements have been sent to Yemen; what consequential action has been taken at the United Nations; and what United Nations observers have been posted at the airfields and ports of Yemen.

In his report of 3rd March, the Secretary-General of the United Nations described an increase in the United Arab Republican forces which he estimated at one to two thousand men. The Secretary-General's Special Representative has drawn the attention of the United Arab Republican authorities to the unfortunate impression created by the increase. The deployment of United Nations observers includes three, plus the headquarters staff, at San'a, two at Sa'da and one at the port of Hodeida. The main airfields are at Hodeida and San'a.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to prevent the further shipment of Wasp helicopters to South Africa until such shipment has been approved by this House.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend to the hon. Lady the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent members of Her Majesty's Embassies abroad are required to attend in their official capacity at Press conferences held by visiting Members of Parliament; and whether it is the practice to keep records of such conferences.

A member of the Embassy would normally attend a Press conference held by a visiting Member of Parliament when the conference had been arranged by the Embassy.The Embassy would decide in each case whether a record of the conference should be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent proposal at Geneva to freeze nuclear delivery vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the Government's policy on a freeze on means of delivery for nuclear weapons as a measure of disarmament.

I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12th March in reply to a Question from the hon. Gentleman the Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey). At Geneva, I said that we welcomed this American proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken following the incident at Port Said when the British freighter "Cardiganshire" was forced by Egyptian authorities to unload its entire cargo because a parcel addressed to the Israel Ambassador in Manila was included on the ship's manifest and subsequently seized.

Our Ambassador has protested to the United Arab Republic authorities at the delay in the passage of the "Cardiganshire" and has reserved Her Majesty's Government's rights in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long it takes, on average, for Czechoslovakians to obtain a visa to enter this country; and what information he has about the time taken to obtain a visa for a British citizen to enter Czechoslovakia.

The time taken to grant visas to Czechoslovakians depends upon the circumstances and urgency of each application, but for most categories of visitor the average time is two weeks. Recently, British tourists wishing to visit Czechoslovakia have been granted visas immediately or within a day or two. Visas for other categories of British visitor, including businessmen, generally take just under two weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what proposals for armament reduction he made to the Committee of Eighteen Nations at Geneva; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what proposals he made to the Committee of Eighteen Nations on Disarmament for the improvement of their procedure.

In my speech to the Conference I listed six cardinal points upon which we should try to reach agreement if we are to make practical progress:

• An agreement on observation posts in the N.A.T.O. and Warsaw Pact areas.
• A comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.
• An agreement to ban the further dissemination of nuclear weapons or knowledge.
• The increased use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
• A freeze of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles.
• The early physical destruction of some armaments.

I then outlined three further proposals as worthy of particular attention and study:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now ratify the European Convention on Establishment which they signed on 13th December, 1955.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave on 13th March to the hon. Gentleman, the Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. C. Johnson).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what initiative he is taking with foreign Governments in negotiating a new international convention, with a view to reducing the number of persons enjoying diplomatic immunity to ambassadors and high commissioners and their immediate staffs.

In 1961, Her Majesty's Government took part, together with 81 other States, in an international conference which adopted the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.Although this Convention will not reduce the number of foreign and Commonwealth staff enjoying some degree of diplomatic immunity, its general effect will be a restriction of jurisdictional immunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and designations of organisations, other than embassies, legations and high commissions, whose personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom.

These organisations, with the numbers of qualifying persons, are:

• Western European Union—The Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General.
• Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation—The Secretary General.
• European Coal and Steel Community—The Chief Representative of the High Authority.

These four persons are entitled to the same degree of immunity from suit and legal process as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign power accredited to Her Majesty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the ease of modern travel and the improvement of communications, he will take steps to reduce the size of United Kingdom embassies overseas; and if, where appropriate, he will reduce the status of a number of embassies to legations.

No. As the Plowden Committee pointed out, it is in the general interest that Britain should continue to exert her influence in the world. Our "Diplomatic" Services are indispensable to enable her to do so, and the strength and quality of their performance must be fully maintained. The speed of modern communications is no substitute for the work of experienced and competent representatives on the spot.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons are at present in receipt of workmen's compensation payments; how many of them are at present earning and are unable to increase their incomes because increases in earnings are automatically deducted from the compensation payments; and what proposals he is at present considering to improve their position.

It is estimated that about 22,000 people are at present receiving workmen's compensation payments. I do not know how many of these are working, but the effect of workmen's compensation rules is such that the situation described in the hon. Gentleman's question does not arise. There are no special considerations applying to this group as a whole which call for legislation.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what further steps he will take to ensure that all retirement pensioners, who are eligible to have their pension supplemented, know what action they should take in order to achieve this end.

I am most anxious that this should be clear to everyone. There is at present a notice in every pension-book referring to it, but I am arranging for a leaflet to be inserted in all pension-books from now on which will explain the position more fully. Any pensioner who would like to discuss the matter will be able to write his name and address on the back of the leaflet and send it to one of my local offices. An appointment can then be arranged either at the pensioner's home or at the local office of the National Assistance Board, according to the pensioner's wishes. This new arrangement will not stop pensioners from getting into direct touch with the Board, as they can at present, by means of a pre-addressed franked form which is available at any post office.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the number of disabled persons employed by the National Assistance Board; and what is the total number of staff employed by it.

400 and 13,250 respectively on 1st October, 1963, the date of the most recent count of disabled persons employed by the Board.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to deduct the amount of the fares from the prescription charges to old-age pensioners who have to use public transport to have their prescriptions dispensed.

No. Where payment of fares would cause hardship, help can be obtained through the National Assistance Board.

asked the Minister of Health why he will not make skeletal plastic ear moulds available with Medresco aids as an alternative to the present pattern, in view of the fact that the retail price quoted by a hearing aid manufacturer is the same for each type.

A correctly fitted mould of the present pattern meets the clinical needs of all patients for whom an ear insert is suitable; skeletal moulds would be more expensive to supply.

asked the Minister of Health if he will instruct the British delegate to the World Health Assembly to withdraw his opposition to

SUPPLEMENTARY OPHTHALMIC SERVICE
Dispensing Fees
					National Health Service frames or other reglazed frames						New private frames
	All frames 1948		All frames 1951		1964		1964 fees expressed in terms of purchasing power in				1964		1964 fees expressed in terms of purchasihg power in
	(1)		(2)		(3)		1948 (4)		1951 (5)		(6)		1948 (7)		1951 (8)
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
General (single vision lenses)	25	0	24	0	24	0	38	7	33	7	19	0	30	6	26	7
General (bifocal lenses)	25	0	31	6	31	6	50	7	44	2	26	6	42	7	37	2
One lens to applicant's own frame	25	0	12	6	12	6	20	1	17	6	N.A.		N.A.		N.A.
For each additional pair of glasses where more than one pair are prescribed	25	0	10	0	10	0	16	1	14	0	8	0	12	10	11	3

asked the Minister of Health when the pre-test for the

The proposal to set up a World Health Research Centre is at present before the World Health Assembly for information only, and requires further study in the organisation before a decision can be reached.

asked the Minister of Health what was the amount of the dispensing fee paid to ophthalmic opticians for the supply of spectacles with single vision, and bifocal lenses, in 1948, 1951, and 1964; and to what figure the present fee would need to be increased to restore the fee to its 1948 and 1951 purchasing power.

The figures are as follows:proposed sample census in 1966 will be held; in what areas it will be conducted; and how many households will be involved.

The pre-test will begin on 4th April in England and Wales. Parts of the following areas will be included:

Borough, Urban District or Rural District	Location of pre-test areas
Gateshead C.B.	Riverside ward
Skelton and Bretton U.D.	Lingdale ward
Malton R.D.	Bulmer parish
Bradford C.B.	Heaton ward
Barnsley C.B.	Carlton ward
Leeds C.B.	Wellington ward
Leeds C.B.	Armley ward
Spenborough M.B.	Birkenshaw ward
Birkenhead C.B.	Argyle ward
Birkenhead C.B.	Claughton ward
Chester C.B.	Trinity ward
Bebington M.B.	New Ferry ward
Manchester C.B.	Moston ward
Bolsover U.D.	West ward
Leicester C.B.	No. 4 or Spinney Hill ward
Gainsborough U.D.	South ward
Caistor R.D.	Lissington parish
Birmingham C.B.	Selly Oak ward
Burton upon Trent C.B.	Horninglow ward
Colchester M.B.	New Town ward
Rochford R.D.	Hockley (Hullbridge) parish
Gipping R.D.	Claydon parish
Chatham M.B.	St. John's ward
Hampstead M.B.	Central ward
Hampstead M.B.	Kilburn ward
Bermondsey M.B.	Tunnel ward
Kensington M.B.	Golborne ward
Wandsworth M.B.	Clapham Park ward
Wandsworth M.B.	Graveney ward
Paddington M.B.	Harrow Road North ward
Paddington M.B.	Lancaster Gate East ward
Croydon C.B.	Upper Norwood ward
Hove M.B.	Vallance ward
Hove M.B.	Adelaide ward
Wycombe R.D.	Radnage parish
Bournemouth C.B.	Kinson North ward
Fareham U.D.	Sarisbury ward
Fareham U.D.	Crofton ward
Winchester R.D.	Colden Common parish
Winchester R.D.	Cheriton parish
Lostwithiel M.B.	All wards
Langport R.D.	Somerton parish
Swindon M.B.	North ward
Swansea C.B.	Penderry ward
Gelligaer U.D.	Bargoed ward
Llantrisant and Llantwit Fardre R.D.	Llantrisant parish
Nant Conway R.D.	Caerhun parish

The number of households involved will vary from about 10 in rural to about 150 in urban pre-test areas and will amount to about all.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons have died from leukaemia and anaemia in each year since 1945 in England and Wales, respectively.

The available information is as follows:

DEATHS FROM LEUKAEMIA AND ALEUKAEMIA (I.C.D. No. 204) AND ANAEMIAS (I.C.D. Nos. 290–293)
England and Wales 1945–1962
			Leukaemia and Aleukaemia I.C.D. 204
			England and Wales
1945	…	…	1,347
1946	…	…	1,464
1947	…	…	1,474
1948	…	…	1,507
1949	…	…	1,721

			England	Wales
1950	…	…	1,734	98
1951	…	…	1,815	112
1952	…	…	1,943	100
1953	…	…	2,010	111
1954	…	…	2,043	117
1955	…	…	2,120	104
1956	…	…	2,204	111
1957	…	…	2,262	132
1958	…	…	2,262	124
1959	…	…	2,392	142
1960	…	…	2,553	141
1961	…	…	2,500	145
1962	…	…	2,558	149

			Anaemias I.C.D. Nos. 290–293
			England and Wales
1945	…	…	2,751
1946	…	…	2,065
1947	…	…	2,139
1948	…	…	1,851
1949	…	…	1,904
1950	…	…	1,921

			England	Wales
1951	…	…	1,667	171
1952	…	…	1,606	145
1953	…	…	1,486	118
1954	…	…	1,629	135
1955	…	…	1,565	165
1956	…	…	1,598	135
1957	…	…	1,578	148
1958	…	…	1,564	121
1959	…	…	1,549	142
1960	…	…	1,549	110
1961	…	…	1,581	128
1962	…	…	1,552	128

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated number of African, Asian and West Indian immigrants in the United Kingdom, including children born to them in the past 10 years.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information is not available. It is provisionally estimated that at the census in 1961 there were about half a million people in the United Kingdom who were born in Commonwealth territories in Africa, Asia or the West Indies. Since the census the net inflow of immigrants from these territories is estimated to have been something over a quarter of a million. Neither of these estimates includes any children born to immigrant parents in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Health how many registered pharmaceutical chemists and how many dispensing points there were in England and Wales in 1961, 1962 and 1963, respectively.

The numbers of pharmaceutical chemists on the register of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in 1961, 1962 and 1963 were 28,575, 28,847 and 28,963 respectively. Separate figures for England and Wales are not available. The numbers of chemists shops, drug stores and appliance suppliers in contract under the National Health Service in England and Wales were 15,681, 15,468 and 15,208. There are also dispensing points at hospitals, doctors' surgeries and elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the various measures available to enable National Health Service patients treated in general wards to enjoy a fair degree of privacy; and whether he will institute research in this field, beginning with a comparative study of existing practices.

Yes; and such studies are now in progress.

asked the Minister of Health what savings in food and labour have resulted from the new kitchen and conveyor belt installations at Bethnal Green Hospital; and how many similar schemes are being carried out.

The system was installed at Bethnal Green Hospital only recently and it is much too early to assess the results; four other hospitals have this type of installation and another is being equipped now.

asked the Minister of Health in which year work will start on the new district general hospital at Dorchester.

Not before 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Health at what stage a decision will be reached about the future of the hospitals in Bridport; and in what way local opinion will be taken into account.

Not finally until the new district general hospital at Dorchester has been completed; by consultation with the local interests concerned, including the local authorities and representatives of the general practitioners.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to inquire of the 14 acute hospitals which do not allow daily visiting why they do not permit such visiting.

The hospital authorities concerned have already given their reasons: these are being further considered as necessary in consultation with the hospital boards.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the numbers of section 4 and section 5 beds in each hospital within the jurisdiction of the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee and the percentage occupancy by paying patients, at the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for each of the two previous years.

I am having these details extracted and will send them to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the increase in the Bank Rate, he will now consider sympathetically the proposal to set up a land bank to provide term loans at fixed reasonable rates of interest for long-term agricultural developments.

The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation set up under the Agricultural Credit Act, 1928, and its Scottish counterpart, appear to be land banks as defined by the hon. Member, and both have been so functioning for over 30 years. The Lands Improvement Company also operates in this field.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his discussions with the Algerian authorities on the question of further trade in live sheep; and what action he proposes to take.

No. My right hon. Friend will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the Report made to him by the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food; and what amendments will be made in his Department's publications in the light of that Report.

On the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden). As regards amendments to publications, I must ask the hon. Lady to await the statement my right hon. Friend hopes to make when the Report is published.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he is yet able to publish the Report of the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage.

The Advisory Committee's Report on the persistent organo-chlorine pesticides is being printed and I expect that it will be ready for publication by about the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the numbers of milking cows in Great Britain during the last two quarters of 1963; and what is the projected figure for the first quarter of 1964.

The most recent figures for Great Britain, which relate to June and December, 1963, are 3,052,000 and 3,059,000 respectively. I regret that a projected figure for the first quarter of 1964 is not available, but some seasonal reduction is to be expected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what figures of recent animal deaths in Kent have been given to the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage to assist it in its review of rodenticidal use of fluoroacetamide.

In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 24th February, my right hon. Friend gave the numbers of animals which we know or believe to have died as a result of this outbreak of fluoroacetamide poisoning. The investigations into the outbreak were conducted by the Ministry's Central Veterinary Laboratory and Infestation Control Laboratory. Officers from both laboratories serve on the Advisory Committee and the Committee has had full access to all information required for the review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, since fish survive in laboratory tank water containing eight parts per million of fluoroacetamide, whereas fish placed in water taken from ditches and ponds near a south-eastern factory which made fluoroacetamide, and which showed no fluoroacetamide content on analysis, die in a matter of minutes, if he will say what research he is undertaking to determine what kills these fish.

I have no information about the tests to which my hon and gallant Friend refers, but fish placed in water taken from ditches and ponds may well die as a result of deoxygenisation, common in stagnant water, irrespective of the presence or absence of fluoroacetamide.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Lawrence sealed grain silos erected in England or Wales received grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme between 1st January and 25th November, 1963.

The Ministry's records do not readily show the number of individual makes of grain silo erected under the Farm Improvement Scheme. It seems probable, however, that no grant was paid on any Lawrence sealed silo between 1st January and 25th November, 1963, but that during this period approval was given to the erection of two of these silos under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Grant will be paid when claims are received and if the conditions of the Scheme have been satisfied.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to give his answer to Paignton Urban District Council's application, made by it on 20th November, 1963, for his consent to an order under Section 28 of the Road Traffic Act, 1962.

This week.

asked the Minister of Transport for what purposes he has submitted a Supplementary Estimate for an additional £4,990 for research into transport economics; and if he will give details of the expenditure involved.

In reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question I would refer him to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss) on Thursday, 12th March. The expenditure involved in this financial year is in respect of a contribution of half the cost of a cost/benefit study of possible investment in the Great Northern Suburban Railway Line, commissioned jointly by the Ministry of Transport and the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet received the report on hardship from the Transport Users' Consultative Committee considering the Shoreham to Horsham branch railway line.

No.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many proven or suspected gun-running vessels have been apprehended or intercepted by Her Majesty's ships in both the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea in the past three years.

Two ships were apprehended with arms on board, and 12 more have been intercepted.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the fact that the Danish Government's unilateral 12 miles fishing limit of the Faroes came into force on 11th March and that the British Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron is now patrolling that fishing area, how many vessels constitute that squadron; of what kind they are; how they are armed; what are the limits of their duties; and what international incidents have occurred since they went there.

As I informed the hon. and learned Member on 11th December, 1963, there are four frigates, four coastal minesweepers and two inshore minesweepers in the Fishery Protection Squadron. Only the frigates armed with three 40 mm. quick-firing Bofors guns are suitable for work in distant waters.One frigate has been sent to patrol for the time being outside the new fishery limits off the Faroes. H.M. ships will not assist the Royal Danish Navy to enforce the new limits, but will give advice to any British fishing vessels which are uncertain as to the position of the new limits, and will safeguard their interests outside the limits. In general, any fishing inside the limits will be at the risk of those concerned, but

—		1958–59	1959–60	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63
		3,428,882	3,234,629	3,624,865	3,511,043	3,638,007
Number of Ships	…	4,959	5,262	4,686	4,791	4,797

Figures for 1963–64 are not yet available.Since no duties are levied on bunker exports and harbour dues do not accrue to the Aden Government, revenue derived by the latter from bunkering is indirect. It is not possible to arrive at any exact figure of its amount.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if strike pay was given to members of the Forces' Employees Union in Aden during the dispute last November.

I understand that no strike pay was paid by the Aden Forces and Associated Organisations Local Employers Union during the strike of local employees of the Services in November—December, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many violations there have been by foreign powers of the borders and air space of the South Arabian Federation in the past two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give a summary of the totals of merchant shipping tonnage bunkering at Aden in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963, and the total revenue derived from such services by the Aden Government.

Figures for the total tonnage of ships bunkering are not immediately available but the total tonnages of fuel supplied and the number of ships bunkering at Aden are as follows:

There have been eight violations of the border and 18 intrusions into the air space of the South Arabian Federation in the past two years. Of these latter it is thought that 10 might have been unintentional and due to navigational errors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will advise the appointment of a Guianese as Governor of British Guiana, after consultation with the Government and Opposition, in view of the motion requesting this, passed by 27 votes to 3 in the Legislative Assembly.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, by the operation of the principle of aggregation of estates for the purpose of the payment of death duties, a small settled share of an estate can be liable to pay death duties of up to 80 per cent.; and if he will move to repeal the Section of the 1894 Act which penalises beneficiaries of such a share in this way.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am afraid I could not see my way to abolish the principle of aggregation for the purpose of Estate Duty.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will provide figures show-

* A notifiable accident is one in which any person suffers death or where the aircraft receives substantial damage, i.e., damage which necessitates replacement or extensive repair to any major component, between the time when any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and the time when all the persons have disembarked from it.
Year		British Overseas Airways Corporation	British European Airways	Independent Operators	All British Operators
1959	…	5	6	7	18†
1960	…	5	5	10	20
1961	…	1	4	7	12†
1962	…	2	1	6	9†
1963	…	0	6	7	13
1964 (up to 10th March)	…	0	0	1	1
		13	22	38	73
† In each of the years 1959, 1961 and 1962 there was one notifiable accident, in addition to the figures shown above, involving a British registered aircraft operated by a foreign airline.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the technical training colleges.

The four colleges of this type are in London, Bolton, Huddersfield and Wolverhampton. They provide a variety of courses, mainly of one year's pre-service training but a four-term sandwich course has recently been developed for serving teachers who spend the middle two terms teaching under supervision in their own technical colleges. The colleges contain this year about 1,200 students of all kinds. New teaching accommodation is expected to be complete at all the colleges by the summer of 1965. The future work of the colleges is at present being considered by the Standing Subcommittee on Teachers for Further Education set up by the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers.

The number of notifiable accidents^* to aircraft on the British Register engaged on public transport flights operated by British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, and by independent operators, respectively, which occurred in the period 1st January, 1959, to 10th March, 1964, is as follows.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the Further Education Staff College.

The college, which is administered by an independent governing body under the chairmanship of Lord Fleck, was opened at Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset, in March, 1963, and nine courses have so far taken place. They have covered a wide range of subjects dealing with different aspects of further education and the relations between further education and industry, and have been mainly attended by senior teachers and administrative staff from colleges of further education of all kinds. I understand that those who have been on the courses have found them of great value, and I hope that it will be possible to overcome the difficulties which the college has so far experienced in recruiting a full complement of students.

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of full-time staff and part-time staff in technical colleges in 1962–63.

The number of full-time teachers in grant-aided establishments of further education in March, 1962, was 24,731. The figures for March, 1963, will probably be available in May. No separate return of part-time staff has been made since 1961 when the number was 52,435.

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of entrants, men and women respectively, to teacher training colleges for each of the past three years.

The table below shows numbers of students admitted to all courses of initial training in the general, specialist and technical teacher training colleges:

		Men	Women
1961–62	…	5,490	11,745
1962–63	…	5,761	12,607
1963–64 (provisional)	…	7,250	15,000

asked the Minister of Education how many students are attending day teacher training colleges.

The provisional figure is 2,472.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of day students at residential teacher training colleges.

About 7,750 in the general residential colleges.

asked the Minister of Education if he will provide a table showing separately for England and Wales and Scotland, at the latest convenient date, the number of young people of 18 years in each of the principal industries who are on day release; and what percentage they constitute of the total of young people in those industries.

The latest available information for England and Wales has been published in "Statistics of Educa- tion 1962, Part two" (Table 20). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will send the hon. Member the latest available information for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will give the number of pupils per full-time teacher in Hertfordshire primary and secondary schools, respectively, for each year since 1951.

The relevant information is set out in the following table:

PUPILS PER FULL-TIME TEACHER HERTFORDSHIRE, 1951–1963
January		Primary schools	Secondary schools
1951	…	29·2	21·0
1952	…	30·0	20·4
1953	…	30·9	19·2
1954	…	31·0	19·2
1955	…	30·3	19·4
1956	…	29·7	19·8
1957	…	29·8	19·8
1958	…	30·6	20·0
1959	…	30·5	20·6
1960	…	30·5	20·6
1961	…	29·9	20·2
1962	…	29·5	18·9
1963	…	29·5	19·8

asked the Minister of Education (1) to what extent there has been an improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio since 1951 in primary and secondary schools in Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, and Hatfield, respectively;(2) to what extent there has been a reduction since 1951 in the number of pupils in junior and senior over-size classes in Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, and Hatfield, respectively.

Information on individual localities within the authority's area is not available for years before 1958 and could be extracted only with considerable labour for the later years.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many new schools, new primary schools, and new secondary schools, respectively, were completed in Hertfordshire in each year since 1945.

asked the Minister of Education what has been the value of major school building projects authorised in Hertfordshire for each year since 1945; and what is the value authorised for 1964, 1965, and 1966.

The table below gives the desired information:

HERTFORDSHIRE
Value of Primary and Secondary School Major Building Programmes
Programme				£000 Value
1946–48	…	…	…	829*
1949	…	…	…	1,999
1950	…	…	…	1,331
1951–52	…	…	…	1,236
1952–53	…	…	…	1,506
1953–54	…	…	…	2,041
1954–55	…	…	…	1,625
1955–56	…	…	…	1,450
1956–57	…	…	…	1,213
1957–58	…	…	…	1,075
1958–59	…	…	…	1,345
1959–60	…	…	…	1,390
1960–61	…	…	…	2,049

The table below gives the desired information:

Programme		£000 Value
1961–62	…	3,096
1962–63	…	2,308
1963–64	…	2,076
1964–65	…	2,104
Total	…	28,673
The 1965–66 programme will be announced shortly.
*In addition a HORSA programme was completed at a cost of about £290,000 during the early post-war years.

asked the Minister of Education what bursaries or scholarships exist for qualified teachers from England wishing to proceed on exchange or tutorial courses to India, similar to those which exist for such courses in other Commonwealth countries, such as Canada, Australia and Nigeria.

There is no scheme for the exchange of teachers between Britain and India although a number of British and Indian teachers are serving in each other's countries. British graduate, teachers may be eligible for a limited number of awards offered by the Indian Government under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan for post-graduate studies in Indian universities and similar institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the preparation of a draft order under Section 11 of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, to extend the Act to Jersey; and when the terms of the Act will apply there.

Progress has been made, in consultation with the insular authorities, with the preparation of this Order, and I hope that it will soon be ready for submission to the Privy Council.

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 Jersey; and if he will make a statement.

The Jersey authorities have decided to introduce their own legislation. The Order in Council cannot be drafted until the form of this legislation has been settled.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the total number of county councillors, rural district councillors, urban district councillors, parish councillors, borough councillors, county and non-county and city councillors, respectively, in England and Wales.

The numbers of members—including aldermen—of each type of local authority in England and Wales are: counties 5,350; county boroughs 5,017; non-county and metropolitan boroughs 10,217; urban districts 9,342; rural districts 14,549. The total number of "city councillors"—that is, members of those county or non-county boroughs which have city status—is 2,958. No precise figure for the total number of parish councillors is available but it is probably over 60,000.

asked the Postmaster-General when work commenced on the new television and very high frequency sound station at Newry; how this work is proceeding; and when the station will be in operation.

The B.B.C. tells me that work on the building will start in the next few days. All the equipment is on order; and the Corporation is doing its best to have the station in operation this summer.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what progress has been made by the Common Cold Research Unit in producing a vaccine to prevent or cure the common cold.

The Common Cold Research Unit is pursuing this work under a collaborative arrangement between the Medical Research Council, the National Research Development Corporation and three pharmaceutical firms. Much requires to be done before a vaccine suitable for general use is likely to be available. Work is now in hand to determine the conditions necessary to give a good antibody response in human subjects and to select the types of organism most suitable for inclusion in a vaccine. A continuing supply of volunteers is essential if the progress of this work is to be maintained.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science which research council is responsible for making grants for research in medical engineering.

Grants are awarded by the Medical Research Council or the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research according to the nature of the particular project.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science, as the level of detecting fluoroacetate residues in plants is of the order of 0·1 part per million, what evidence is available to show that this amount or lesser amounts are not cumulative and lethal to man, cattle and dogs.

Experimental work on various animal species has shown that fluoroacetates are rapidly eliminated from the body. With experimental rats, for example, substantially the whole of a given dose had disappeared within two days. There is no evidence to suggest that residues of 0·1 parts per million and below would be dangerous to human beings, cattle or dogs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details showing the total value of the school building programme for which Departmental approval was recently sought by each local education authority, the actual amount approved, what this represented as a percentage of the amount of the original application, and the total school population of each local education authority.

Some education authorities drew up their school building programmes for 1964–65 in scale with the provisional allocations of investment of which I had notified them earlier; others did not. Any comparison of authorities' proposals would, therefore, be misleading. Final allocations have still to be settled for a few authorities, but when this has been done I shall circulate a list of the allocations in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the pre-test for the 1966 sample census will be held; in what areas it will be held; and how many households will be involved.

The pre-test will begin on 11th April in Scotland. Parts of the following areas will be included:

City or County	Location of pre-test areas
Aberdeen City	St. Nicholas ward
	Rosemount ward
Dundee City	Harbour ward
	Linlathen ward
Edinburgh City	St. Bernard's ward
	West Leith ward
	South Leith ward
Glasgow City	Exchange ward
	Park ward
Angus County	Montrose Burgh
Ayr County	Troon Burgh
East Lothian	Tranent District (Ormiston parish)
Fife County	Dunfermline Burgh (3rd ward)
	Dunfermline District (Dunfermline parish)
Lanark County	East Kilbride Burgh (3rd Westwood ward)
	Seventh District (Shotts parish)
Peebles County	Linton District (Newlands parish)
Perth County	Perth District (Scone parish)
Renfrew County	Gourock Burgh (1st and 2nd wards)
Stirling County	Kilsyth Burgh (Eastward)
	Central No. 2 District (Kilsyth parish)
West Lothian County	Kirkliston and Winchburgh District (Abercorn Parish)

The number of households involved in each area will vary from about 20 in rural parishes to about 250 in the cities, and will amount to about 1,800 in all.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is intended to reconstruct or replace the schools at Gerinish and Torlum, respectively, in South Uist and Benbecula; and if he will give an estimate of the cost of reconstruction and of total replacement in respect of each.

Inverness education authority is preparing plans for the reconstruction of Gerinish and Torlum Schools at estimated cost of £4,500 and £2,000 respectively. Work can be put in hand as soon as plans have been approved. The question of replacement has not been raised by the Authority. While, therefore, no detailed estimates of the cost of replacement have been made, it would be such as to make the work impracticable within the limits of the investment programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the size of the Herring Industry Board in 1946; what it is today; and whether it is seasonal in the nature of its employment.

In 1946 the Board consisted of a chairman and two members all part-time. There is now a third part-time member. The change was made last year to allow additional common membership with the White Fish Authority. The Board arranges its own work but I understand that meetings are normally held at frequent intervals throughout the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the terms of the letter he has received from the Cowlairs Co-operative Society, dated 28th February, 1964, about future development in the Springburn district of Glasgow; and what was the nature of his reply.

The Cowlairs Co-operative Society drew attention to unemployment in its area, and asked for information as to the possibility in the near future of any new industries being introduced. I am in touch with my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development and the Minister of Labour, and I will see that the hon. Member gets a copy of the reply sent to the Society.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proportion of the total exports from this country is represented by the export of animals for slaughter.

It is estimated, that in 1963 approximately 0·3 per cent. by value of our total exports related to animals for slaughter.