asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a general instruction to all Government Departments that they shall employ only those firms of chartered accountants which pay wages which are not less than those paid in the equivalent grade of the Civil Service.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now abolish the tax on sweets and ice creams imposed in 1962.

I cannot at this time add anything to the Answers my right hon. Friend the Chancellor gave to my hon. and gallant Friend and to the hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Milne) on 3rd December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the greatly increased public expenditure on gambling, he will consider the introduction of a State lottery.

We have no such plan in mind at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has given to the United Kingdom representative on the governing body of the International Development Association, in the light of the refusal by the United States Congress to vote the additional contributions called for by that body.

It is not the practice to disclose any instructions which may be given to the United Kingdom Executive Director of the International Development Association.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from Purchase Tax on soft drinks for the year 1962–63; and what is the anticipated revenue for the current year 1963–64.

Receipts of Purchase Tax on soft drinks in 1962–63 amounted to about £¾ million. The Budget estimate for the current financial year included £15 million in respect of these goods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the East Ham Borough Council's letter urging the abolition of fuel tax on public transport vehicles; what reply he has sent to the letter he received from the hon. Member for East Ham, North, forwarding a resolution from the East Ham Chamber of Commerce in similar terms; and how many letters and resolutions he has received on this subject.

The letters in question have been acknowledged and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has informed the hon. Member that he will bear these representations in mind. My right hon. Friend has received similar representations from over 350 councils, bus undertakings and other interests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the rate of unemployment in Central Scotland is almost four times the rate of the Midlands, London and the South-East of England and that the relative position of Scotland has further deteriorated recently; and what reply he has sent to the letter from the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on this subject, dealing with the need for fiscal remedies.

Although the figures for Scotland are a great deal higher than those for the other areas selected by the hon. and learned Gentleman, the position is improving. My right hon. Friend received this morning the letter to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library of the House a list of books which Customs officers are now directed to seize on the ground that they are indecent; by whom the list is drawn up; and how often it is revised.

The list is merely a working guide for Customs officers. It is in no sense comprehensive and its reproduction out of context would serve no useful purpose. It is drawn up under the authority of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise and is revised as often as may be warranted by new decisions of the courts or otherwise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that dental surgeons have to pay Purchase Tax on Citanest 30 when a comparative product, Xylocaine, is tax free; and if he will exempt the former from tax.

A recent application for Citanest 30 to be added to the exempt list of essential drugs and medicines has been referred by the Customs for consideration by the Ministry of Health, whose recommendation is required by Section 17(3) of the Purchase Tax Act, 1963, before a direction for exemption can be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual average increase in wages and dividends, respectively, since 1952; and what relation these rates of increase bear to Her Majesty's Government's incomes policy.

Between 1952 and 1962 total wages rose at an average annual rate of 5·7 per cent. The corresponding increase in total dividends was 9·1 per cent. Figures for 1963 are not yet available. It is clear that wages, dividends and other forms of money income rose more rapidly than national production over this period. The figures show how essential it is for this country to follow an incomes policy designed to keep money incomes broadly in line with national production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of post-war credits now outstanding; by how much their purchasing power has decreased since 1943; and what steps he intends to take to increase the speed of repayment.

About £250 million, the purchasing power of which has fallen by about half since the credits were created. I have no statement to make on the last part of the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what day, and at what hour, the monthly trade figures for January, 1964, were available to him.

It is not normal practice to say at what precise time particular items of information become available to Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, having regard to Hong Kong's record of succouring refugees from the Chinese mainland, he will ensure that refugees in Hong Kong, whom the authorities in Taiwan are willing and able to receive, are not returned to Communist territory.

No. Most of the persons who try illegally to enter Hong Kong from China are not refugees. Any who are refugees are free to travel on to other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Government of Hong Kong refused to divulge the names or other information concerning a senior Public Works Department officer who had been suspended from duty and had had disciplinary proceedings instituted against him, and an expatriate police inspector who had been suspended from duty pending disciplinary action; and whether this withholding of information applies to all grade of Hong Kong Government officers and employees.

This is the normal practice, applied to all grades in the public service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the reasons for the recent police raid on the offices of the Aden Trade Union Congress, the seizure of office equipment, and the arrest of the President, Mr. Qadhi.

These offices were searched because the police had information that illegal pamphlets were being prepared for distribution. A duplicating machine and some stencils were removed for examination and subsequently returned.Mr. Ali Hussein Qadhi was arrested for holding an unauthorised meeting but released after being given a warning.No charges have been brought in respect of either incident.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the details of the fourth Development Plan for Fiji starting this year; and what are its targets.

The plan provides for expenditure of up to £15 million during the five years 1964–68.The emphasis is on an intensive land settlement and agricultural production programme. The main targets are to develop a large-scale cocoa industry; to double coconut production; to reduce food imports by, for example, increasing rice cultivation; and to expand production of local staple crops.The plan also provides for the continuation of physical and demographic surveys and the expansion and improvement of communications and educational and medical facilities.I am placing a copy of the plan in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the responsibilities of the New Hebrides Advisory Council; and what changes have recently been made in its constitution.

The Advisory Council which was established in 1957 advises the British and French Commissioners on those matters which, at the discretion of the Resident Commissioners, are submitted to it. Its main business is consideration of the Budget and policy papers and examination of draft legislation. It was agreed last December that 8 of the 20 Unofficial Members of the Council should in future be elected. The other 12 Unofficial Members will be nominated; there will also be 6 Official Members (of whom 2 will not vote).

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why Mrs. Sally Orton has been classed as a security risk and informed that she cannot be employed in his Department.

Mrs. Orton has not been classed as a security risk and is employed in my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what action he proposes to take to ensure the continuation of work on the base at Glen Douglas, Dunbartonshire, in view of the recent statement by the contractors that work on the site is likely to stop.

I am aware that the contractor is reducing the number of men employed at this site and the Ministry is in touch with him. It would be premature for me to say now what action may be necessary.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will appoint a representative of the British Precast Concrete Federation to the new National Building Agency.

No. A board representing all the many interests affected by the work of the Agency would be unmanageable. The board has therefore been constituted to reflect broadly the various interests concerned and I have not sought to appoint representatives of particular organisations.

Palace	Fuel	Gas	Electricity	Water	Household Articles	Total
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Buckingham Palace	12,482	5,023	7,857	1,500	10	26,872
St. James's Palace	2,000	4,136	5,376	213	50	11,775
Marlborough House Garage Block	408	84	397	39	25	953
Windsor Castle	19,515	2,830	8,497	—	5	30,847
Frogmore	404	425	280	—	—	1,109
Kensington Palace	3,210	548	259	64	5	4,086
Hampton Court Palace	3,964	237	5,730	293	50	10,274
Sandringham and Balmoral	2,539	—	1,253	—	—	3,792
Kew Palace	—	—	16	—	5	21
Palace of Holyrood House	3,000	200	1,700	75	25	5,000
Totals	47,522	13,483	31,365	2,184	175	94,729

Miscellaneous Payments for Easements, etc.								£
Kew Palace	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	3
Windsor Castle (New Inn Site)	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	15
Manor Farm Sewer	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	10
Palace of Holyrood House	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	243
									271
									£95,000

The increase from £84,000 provided in 1963–64 is due partly to higher prices and partly to a review of requirements in the light of expenditure to date in the current financial year and of actual expenditure in 1962–63.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will itemise the current expenditure of £163,404 at Buckingham Palace, as shown in Appendix III of the Civil Estimates, Class IX, Vote 10.

The details are as follows:

£
1,262	for salaries and wages.
14,200	for cleaning and services.
19,500	for day to day building maintenance.

asked the Minister of Public Building And Works if he will break down the figure of £95,000 shown in the 1964–65 Estimates for Royal Palaces, Class IX, Vote 10G, for fuel, gas, electricity, and water; and what are the reasons for the increase from £84,000 in 1963–64.

The breakdown is as follows:

£
34,860	for day to day maintenance and operation of plant.
9,155	for painting
22,325	for special maintenance of which:

£
1,500	for resurfacing basement corridors.
1,750	for the boundary wall.
4,900	for renewal of stonework.
2,000	for repair of stone carvings.
1,200	for restoration of stables.
1,000	for overhaul of chandeliers in the State rooms.
9,975	for minor works.

10,930	for Supplies and Parks services.
24,300	for maintenance of furniture and equipment.
26,872	for fuel, gas, electricity, water, etc.
163,404

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will itemise the expenditure of £72,000 on the reconstruction of the Stable Yard at St. James's Palace as offices for the Royal Household; when the work is expected to be completed; and what will be the number of personnel likely to be employed in the building.

The sum of £72,000 is a provisional estimate for the cost of reconstructing the interior of the building in Stable Yard behind the existing facade. It is hoped to complete the work in 1967. Between 30 and 40 staff are likely to be accommodated in the building, which will provide offices for Departments of the Royal Household under the control of the Lord Chamberlain, some of whom are at present housed in rented accommodation, as well as storage facilities and space for records.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give details of the estimate of £42,000 required for the reconstruction of Apartment 9 of Kensington Palace; and to what use the Apartment is to be put.

This Apartment was severely damaged by fire as a result of bombing during the War and is now in a derelict condition. The sum of £42,000 is a provisional figure for its reconstruction and division into two apartments. The use to which the accommodation will eventually be put is a matter for Her Majesty's pleasure.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give a breakdown of the figure of £23,800 required for capital expenditure at Windsor Castle in 1964–65.

The breakdown is as follows:

£
8,500	for the preparation of the Norman Tower for re-occupation.
7,000	for repairs, alterations and adaptations in the Henry III Tower.
3,300	for the construction of a pumping station, new drains and connections at Home Park.
5,000	for the construction of a depot mess room and joiners' shop.
23,800

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will itemise those new works under £10,000 which are to be undertaken at the Royal Palaces in 1964–65.

The total estimate for this item is £34,900. It is broken down as follows:

Hampton Court Palace	£
Apartment 2: preparation for reoccupation	1,000
Apartment 10: preparation for reoccupation	1,500
Apartment 35: repairs and adaptations to form 2 apartments and prepare rooms adjoining the Wolsey Suite for opening to public	8,000
Provision of public lavatory accommodation	5,500
Provision of electric lighting in State Apartments, kitchens and cellars	1,650
State Apartments: heating improvements	430
Apartment 41: preparation for reoccupation	200
Old Office Yard House: reoccupation services	300
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Improved lavatory accommodation and additional wash basins	1,420
Provision of glass house: Croft-an-Righ Nursery	450
St. James's Palace
Lord Chamberlain's Office: alterations and improvements to caretaker's quarters	3,000
Apartment 31B: preparation for reoccupation	3,000
Kensington Palace
Erection of small workshop for Ministry of Public Building and Works staff	150
Windsor Castle
Home Park: construction of pumping station for drainage purposes	3,300
Construction of Depot mess room and joiners' shop	5,000

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give details of the £4,000 required in the 1964–65 Estimates for the supply of furniture and equipment to the Royal Palaces.

The details are as follows:

£1,800	for the repair of historic furniture and supply and renewal of equipment for the State Apartments open to the general public in the Palaces of Hampton Court, Holyroodhouse and Kew.
£1,450	for the renewal of curtains, carpets and other furnishings in rooms in St. James's Palace used for State and official functions, and in Housekeepers' Apartments at various Palaces.

£250	for the supply of Royal Standards.
£500	as a contingency provision for minor unforeseen items arising during the year.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the nature of the building and engineering services appearing in the Civil Estimates, Class IX, Vote 10, which are costing £525,000 in 1964–65.

This expenditure is for the internal and external maintenance of the structure of all the Royal Palaces and for their heating, lighting, water, plumbing, sanitary and lift services.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give the details of the £56,000 needed in 1964–65 for the maintenance of furniture and equipment at the Royal Palaces.

The details are as follows:

£50,350	as a contribution towards the wages of industrial staffs at Buckingham Palace (£23,500), Windsor Castle (£23,500) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (£3,350).
£5,650	for the repair and maintenance of furniture and equipment in unoccupied Palaces open to the public (£3,900) and used for State and official functions (£1,750).

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation to what extent he has received requests from other Commonwealth countries for assistance similar to that given by the United Kingdom to the Delhi Institute for Science and Technology.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Co-operation has received requests for help to several institutions of higher education in Commonwealth countries which his Department is meeting by supplying staff and equipment. Assistance to the Delhi Institute is unique in that British industry is providing a major part of the equipment.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what grants and loans have been made since his Department was founded for agricultural education; and to which Commonwealth territories they were given.

I have been asked to reply.Since the figures are not readily available, my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Co-operation will include them in the letter he is writing to the hon. Member in reply to his earlier question on educational grants and loans to developing Commonwealth territories.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether it is his intention to publish the report of the committee set up to study assistance for developing countries in geology and mining under the chairmanship of Sir Frederick Brundrett.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Co-operation gave on 28th January to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Sir H. Kerr).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why no representatives of the technical professions have been appointed to serve on the committees on the Management of Local Government and on the Staffing of Local Government, in view of the fact that such a wide range of local government activity falls within the purview of the technical officers.

The members of the two committees were proposed to me by the local authority associations.The hon. Member will have observed that there are on the two committees, in addition to clerks, a treasurer, an education officer, a medical officer of health. It was not possible to put on to them representatives of all the professions engaged in local government without making them far too large.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to introduce legislation regulating the position of the Metropolitan Water Board in relation to the Greater London Council and London boroughs.

Since there will be no opportunity for legislation in the present Session, the Board will continue in existence for a time after the reorganisation of London Government. The Board's constitution will, however, have to be altered meanwhile to allow for the changes in its constituent authorities and I shall, after consultation with the Board and the new authorities, make an order under the London Government Act, 1963, for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take steps to set up an official pilot survey in a northern industrial town to determine how a system of site value rating would operate, in order to provide a comparison with the findings of the Rating and Valuation Association survey at Whitstable.

No. I think that the Whitstable survey together with previous studies provides all the information that is at present required for further consideration of the system.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he will introduce legislation to give relief to the rate burden in rating areas where the lack of industrial hereditaments has an adverse effect on the rate revenue;(2) if he will introduce legislation to give rate relief benefit to aged residential occupiers in rating areas where industry has declined.

These and similar questions will fall to be considered in the light of the report of the Allen Committee and the outcome of the Government's general review of central and local government finance. Most rating areas which lack industrial hereditaments, including those in the hon. Member's constituency, already have their deficiency in rateable resources made good by rate-deficiency grants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will set up a committee to co-ordinate policy in the matter of land acquisition by local authorities for comprehensive development.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received regarding the necessity of taking steps to alter the procedure of transport users' consultative committees, in view of proposals by the Scottish Transport Users' Consultative Committee regarding the limitation of the number of people who may give evidence at a hearing; and what reply he has sent.

I received representations about the committee's intention to limit hearings on the proposals to close the lines north and west of Inverness from Dingwall Town Council and my hon. Friend the Member for Ross and Cromarty (Sir J. MacLeod). I shall be saying in reply that this is a matter primarily for the committee's own decision. There is no statutory requirement that the committees should hear objectors in person.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister received representations from the North of Scotland Transport Conference, who were referred to my reply to a supplementary question from the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. N. McLean) on 12th February. I understand that within the two days arranged for the Inverness hearings every person who wished to amplify his written objections was given the opportunity to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he has received from the chairman of the South-East Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee the report which he requested on the proceedings and procedures adopted at the hearing into the proposed closure of the Shoreham-Horsham branch railway line which took place at Steyning on 26th February, 1963; and if he will make a statement;(2) when he will reply in detail to the questions and complaints raised with him by the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham in his communications dated 2nd and 4th March concerning the procedure employed at the Transport Users' Consultative Committee hearing at Steyning on 26th February, 1964, on which he has called for a report from the chairman;(3) following his request to the chairman for a report on the procedure at the hearing of the South-East Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee into the proposed closure of the Shoreham-Horsham branch railway line at Steyning on 26th February, 1964, what information he has received as to which members of the Committee attended the meeting; and what are their special qualifications.

I wrote to my hon. Friend at some length on 12th March about the results of my inquiries. Twelve members of the Committee were present at the hearing. Together they formed a fair cross section of the user interests I consulted before appointing the Committee.Complaints about the arrangements for the meeting have largely arisen as a result of unauthorised advertisements by persons unknown which were put up in the locality beforehand. As to the proceedings themselves, the Committee heard a great deal of evidence on the hardship that closure might cause. My information suggests that objectors had full opportunities to put to the Committee any points which they had not already made themselves in their written submissions and which had not been made by other objectors.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the fact that four residents of Lea and Ashton, comprising 100 houses adjoining the Preston-Blackpool road, have already lost their lives on that road, he will introduce emergency safety measures; and if he will authorise an immediate start on the construction of the M.6-Blackpool motorway to reduce the danger on the present road.

Within the next few months a start should be made on an extension of Watery Lane to join A.583 west of Lea. This will relieve the existing road of traffic. In addition we intend later this year to widen the road through Lea in order to install refuge islands for pedestrians.A new road from M.6 to Blackpool is a longer term proposal which has yet to find a place in the roads programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further inquiries have been made by the Metropolitan Police with a view to prosecuting for living on immoral earnings the owner of the fiat in Queensway, let to a police witness in the Ward case at 33 guineas a week, since it proved impossible to relet at the same figure and was subsequently offered to the hon. Member for Paddington, North, at £20 per week.

A full inquiry was made into this matter when the hon. Member first drew my attention to it in August, 1963. The Commissioner of Police tells me that, taking into account all the various factors involved, including the rent charged for the property, which consisted of three flats, he then found no grounds for taking proceedings; no further facts have since come to light which would cause him to alter that view.

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 the Bailiwick of Guernsey; and when the terms of the Act will apply to it.

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 Guernsey; and if he will make a statement.

The Guernsey authorities have informed me that they need further time to consider this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, following his approval for grant aid of the final length of the initial scheme of revetment of the banks of the River Severn, which assures work until the early part of 1965, he is prepared to give his approval for grant aid to the further £40,000 scheme so that the work can be continued until the end of that year; and if he will make a statement.

The Severn River Board has not yet submitted the scheme for consideration for grant aid. If they do, my right hon. Friend will consider whether a grant can be made towards the cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what experiments have been conducted to ascertain whether or not plants are able to synthesise fluoroacetates when foreign fluorides are added to water.

I understand that Sir Rudolph Peters has undertaken some work on grasses which indicates that they do not perform this synthesis. I am not aware of any other experiments. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 11th March, any plant capable of synthesising organo-fluorine compounds would already obtain fluoride from water supplies naturally containing it, from fertilisers or from the soil, and thus the existence of any such plant in this country can be expected to have become apparent long before now.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications under the Small Farmer Scheme have been received for East Suffolk; how many of these have been approved; and how many are pending.

I regret that the records are not kept in a form which enables me to give separate figures for East Suffolk without undue expenditure of time and labour. For Suffolk as a whole, 592 applications have so far been received; 408 of these have been approved and 10 are at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many scholars studying in this country under the Commonwealth Scholarships Act, 1959, whose awards expired in 1962–63, decided to defer their return to their own country; what percentage this constituted of the total number of such scholars; what was the country of origin of those deferring their return; what subjects they were studying; and what reasons they gave for not wishing to return.

Of the scholars studying in this country under the Commonwealth Scholarships Act, 1959, whose awards expired in 1962–63, 80 applied for permission to defer their return to their own country and, in 73 cases, the Commission granted permission for the deferment of payment of their return fares.The 73 cases referred to represented 40 per cent. of the total of 184 awards which expired in 1962–63.The country of origin of the 73 scholars concerned, and their subjects of study, will be given in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

DEFERMENT OF PAYMENT OF RETURN FARES OF COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARS
DEFERMENTS CLASSIFIED BY FIELD OF STUDY
Country	Number of Scholarships expired 1962–63	Number of Scholars deferring return	Arts	Social Science	Pure Science	Technology	Medicine	Dentistry	Agriculture and Forestry	Veterinary Science
Australia	13	9	1	3	4	1	—	—	—	—
Canada	16	7	2	1	2	2	—	—	—	—
Ceylon	8	7	—	1	2	3	1	—	—	—
Cyprus	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ghana	2	1	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—
India	35	9	2	—	3	4	—	—	—	—
Jamaica	4	1	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
Kenya	5	2	—	—	—	1	1	—	—	—
Malaysia: Malaya	4	3	1	1	1	—	—	—	—	—
Singapore	3	2	—	1	—	1	—	—	—	—
New Zealand	12	5	—	—	4	1	—	—	—	—.
Nigeria	17	7	1	1	1	1	3	—	—	—
Pakistan	13	3	—	1	—	1	1	—	—	—
Tanganyika	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Trinidad	3	1	—	—.	—	1	—	—	—	—
Uganda	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Zanzibar	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Southern Rhodesia	7	3	1	—	1	—	—	—	1	—
Barbados	1	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—.
British Guiana	3	1	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—
British Honduras	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Gambia	1	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
Gibraltar	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
High Commission Territories	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Hong Kong	11	6	—	1	—	2	3	—	—	—
Malta	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Mauritius	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
West Indies	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Africa	9	4	—	—	2	1	1	—	—	—
TOTAL	184	73	8	10	22	20	12	—	1	—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among British nationals who were inmates in Nazi concentration camps at the progress of compensation negotiations with the West German Government; whether he will take steps to speed up these negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

The negotiations are proceeding as quickly as possible but they are inevitably complicated. I would refer the hon. Member to the explanation given by my hon. Friend, the then Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the Adjournment debate on 15th July, 1963, about Mrs. G. M. Lindell. These are confidential negotiations between Governments and I do not think it would be useful for me to make a more detailed statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking, in the light of the Plowden Committee investigations of Foreign Service recruitment, to increase the number of recruits from State schools and from universities other than Oxford and Cambridge.

The proportion of recruits to the Foreign Service from these sources has risen in the past few years, and we shall continue our efforts to see that it rises further. I agree with the Plowden Committee's proposals to this end; in particular, on the need to develop closer contacts between the Service and university teaching staffs generally, and to encourage university graduates to compete for entry into the Executive as well as the Administrative Class of the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many industrial de- velopment certificates have been issued for Wales since the inception of the Local Employment Act, 1960; and how many of these were issued for areas not scheduled under the Act.

In the period from 1st April, 1960, until 29th February, 1964, 433 industrial development certificates were issued for projects in Wales. Of these 343 were for places not scheduled as development districts at the time that the certificates were issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many standard grants available under the Local Employment Act, 1960, have been issued for Wales; and how many have been refused.

I assume that the hon. Member is inquiring about the grants of 25 per cent. of the cost of providing a building available under the Local Employment Act, 1960, as amended by the Act of 1963. Since the latter Act came into force three grants have been offered for Wales and one has been refused. A further 24 applications have had preliminary approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many grants for plant and machinery introduced last year under the Local Employment Act, 1960, have been issued for Wales; and how many have been refused.

These grants are available under the Local Employment Act, 1963. Since that Act came into force eight grants have been offered for Wales and one has been refused. A further 12 have had preliminary approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the present position with regard to the establishment of a British Trade Centre in New York; and whether, in view of the importance to British trade of exports to the United States of America, he will give an assurance that all possible assistance is given by his Department to the achievement of this plan.

The proposal of the British American Chamber of Commerce that Her Majesty's Government should assist financially in the establishment of a trade centre in New York is at present under consideration. The extent of the contribution which such a centre might make to our exports to the United States is a major factor to be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will give an assurance that he will not consider any applications for the purchase of British Lion which seek to alter the conditions and safeguards which he recently laid down; and if he wilt make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House today.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science, if he is satisfied that there is adequate trade union representation provided for in the proposed Charter for the University of Strathclyde; and if he will give special consideration to this point, in view of this university's future importance to industry and science.

One of the matters being considered by the Committee of the Privy Council to which the Petition for the grant of a Charter to the proposed University of Strathclyde stands referred is a communication from the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Council regarding trade union representation. The Committee of Council has not yet reached a decision on this matter but will give full consideration to it.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science when, under the College Charter Act, 1871, the Charter granting the foundation of the new University of Strathclyde will be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

Under the College Charter Act, 1871, the Petition for the foundation of a university, together with a copy of the draft Charter applied for, have to be laid before both Houses of Parliament. For the proposed University of Strathclyde this was done on 24th October, 1963. The Act contains no provision for any further submission of the Charter to Parliament.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science how much money the United Kingdom has paid towards the cost of testing the fuel in the Belgian reactor, B.R.3; and what is the estimated cost over the next two years.

Under its agreement with Belgonucleaire, the Authority has agreed to bear an equal share of the running costs of the B.R.3 reactor for the period during which it will be used for a large-scale irradiation experiment with fuel suitable for a Vulcain reactor. I cannot give details of these future charges as they are part of an agreement which, for commercial reasons, is confidential to both parties.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone connections are oustanding at the latest convenient date on the Burntwood Telephone Exchange, Staffs.; and of these how many have been waiting 12 months or more.

86 applications for telephones are now outstanding on Burntwood exchange and, in addition, 67 are under enquiry or in course of being met. Five applications have been waiting 12 months or more; three of these will be met by the end of this month and the remaining two when the houses for which they are ordered have been built.Most of the remaining applications are for service on new housing estates and these will be met as cabling progresses in step with the completion of roads and footpaths.

asked the Postmaster-General when a telephone will be installed on behalf of Mr. B. N. W. Wood, at Burntwood, near Lichfield, Staffs., details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth.

By the end of this month.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has regarding the building of the new head post office at Lichfield, Staffordshire.

We are well ahead with the plans for a new head post office on a site in the town centre, which we are buying from the local authority. Building work is expected to start early in 1965 and I hope the office will be open by the autumn of 1966.

NEW TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND MAJOR EXTENSIONS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Area	College	Project	Actual Starting Date	Estimated Completion Date
Aberdeen Burgh	Aberdeen Technical College	New College	February, 1961	March, 1964
Aberdeen Burgh	Aberdeen Commercial College	New College	March, 1964	September, 1965
Dundee	Dundee Trades College	New College	June, 1961	June, 1964
Dundee	Dundee Institute of Art and Technology	Third phase of new building	June, 1962	June, 1964
Edinburgh	Napier Technical College	New College	January, 1962	July, 1965
Edinburgh	Edinburgh College of Art	New School of Architecture	November, 1962	April, 1965
Glasgow	Stow College of Building and Printing	New College	May, 1959	November, 1964
Glasgow	Barmulloch College	New College	March, 1961	March, 1964
Glasgow	Langside College	New College	August, 1961	April, 1964
Glasgow	Anniesland College	New College	February, 1962	April, 1964
Glasgow	Glasgow School of Art	Extension	December, 1960	March, 1964
Ayrshire	Kilmarnock Technical College	New College	February, 1961	August, 1965
Ayrshire	Ayr Technical College	New College	February, 1961	March, 1965
Caithness	Thurso Technical College	Extension	October, 1962	October, 1964
Dunbarton	Clydebank Technical College	New College	June, 1962	December, 1964
Dumfries	Dumfries Technical College	Extension	December, 1963	May, 1964
Fife	Kirkcaldy Technical College	Extension—Phases I—III	September, 1960	September, 1966
Renfrewshire	Paisley Technical College	Extension	February, 1964	March, 1965
Renfrewshire	Greenock Watt Memorial College	Annexe	October, 1963	April, 1964
Selkirk	Galashiels Technical Centre	New College	July, 1962	January, 1965
Selkirk	Scottish Woollen Technical College	New College—replacement	May, 1963	November, 1964
West Lothian	Bathgate Technical College	New College	March, 1963	March, 1965

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the completion dates of the present technical college building programme will be realised; and if he will provide a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the progress of each project.

The following tables give the required information. The estimates are those made by the education authorities or other bodies concerned.