asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the proposed Glamis by-pass in Angus is to be started; what is the planned estimated total; and what grant will be paid to the Angus County Council.

When my right hon. Friend has given the necessary approvals, which he hopes to do quite soon, it will be for the county council, as highway authority, to decide when the work on the by-pass will start. The estimated cost of the scheme is £77,500. Grant will be at 75 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress is being made with the technical education building programme.

Since the publication of the 1956 White Paper projects valued at £5 million have been completed, £13 million of work is under construction and £15 million of work, including 16 new colleges and replacements, is being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that the grant paid to Glasgow Corporation for demolition of air raid shelters proved inadeqate for their total demolition, if he will extend the period for their total demolition, if he will extend the period for making such grants to enable the Corporation to complete the demolition.

No Sir. This was a limited programme with the object of providing employment in development districts during the winter; according to plan it comes to an end on 31st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to set up a residential school in Scot- land for those children severely physically handicapped since birth due to thalidomide or other causes.

It is the responsibility of education authorities to ensure the necessary educational provision for handicapped children, but my right hon. Friend is advised that existing facilities should be adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that, in all proposed new hospital building in Scotland, senior staff including non-medical staff are consulted at an early stage in planning so as to eliminate the necessity for improvisation both in staffing and accommodation immediately a unit is opened.

Such consultation is the normal practice of the regional hospital boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that many dentists are overworked, and that many villages in rural areas have no adequate dental service; and what proposals he has for meeting this situation.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the shortage of dentists throws a heavy burden on many dentists in general practice, but patients from rural areas can usually obtain treatment either from a visiting dentist or by going to the nearest town. As the number of dentists qualifying increases the situation will improve.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the future of the Paisley College of Technology.

As a result of the provision of new accommodation, my right hon. Friend expects a substantial increase in the number of students taking advanced courses at the college. The governors have been asked to explore the possibility of having courses at a lower level transferred to other establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes there will be in the administration of higher education in Scotland as a result of recent changes in ministerial responsibility for education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can yet make a statement on the extent to which his responsibilities for higher education, excluding universities, are to be affected by the overall changes being made in the administration of education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the administration of higher education in Scotland will be changed as a result of the recently announced decisions on the matter; and whether he will publish a White Paper setting out the details as they affect all branches of Scottish education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what administrative functions he will in future exercise, consequent upon the setting up of the new office of Secretary of State for Science and Education, in regard to Scottish colleges of education, central institutions for higher education and colleges of technology; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements announced by the Prime Minister in the House on 6th February do not involve any change in the nature of my right hon. Friend's responsibilities for higher education in Scotland. Central institutions as a group will continue within his jurisdiction, although any central institution which acquires university status will move into the sphere of the University Grants Committee. He also remains responsible for the colleges of education. He sees no need to publish a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what special arrangements will be made for liaison between colleges of education and his Department when the status of these colleges is altered in accordance with the proposals of the Robbins Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will invite educational organisations and interested bodies in Scotland to submit suggestions as to the best way of maintaining close co-operation between colleges of education and other levels of Scottish education after these colleges have come within the scope of the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on Ministerial responsibility for Scottish colleges of education when those colleges become associated with universities.

The Robbins Committee recommended that, if degree courses were introduced, the Scottish colleges of education should be financed by the Grants Commission, working for this purpose through a separate committee with which my right hon. Friend would be closely associated. Under the new Ministerial arrangements the Grants Commission would of course be within the sphere of responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Science. No decisions have yet been reached on any change in the arrangements for financing the colleges, since I propose to await in the first instance the outcome of the discussions now proceeding on the introduction of degree-level courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to remedy the acute shortage of general practitioners in some areas of Scotland.

My right hon. Friend is watching this problem closely, but at the end of 1963 the number of areas listed by the Scottish Medical Practices Committee as under-doctored had fallen to three.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he gives to representations sent to the Committee of the Privy Council on the subject of petitions for the grant of charters to Scottish universities.

As one of the Privy Counsellors concerned, my right hon. Friend gives full consideration to such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions since the commencement of 1963 he has had consultations with the University Grants Committee concerning the Scottish universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions since 1st January, 1963, he has had consultations with the University Grants Committee concerning Scottish university matters.

My Departments are in frequent contact with the University Grants Committee on questions of mutual concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the scope of the discussions between his Department and the University Grants Committee on the siting of a new university in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend on 11th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has been asked to give to the establishment of a university in the Highlands; and if, when consulted on the site for a new university, he will give particular weight to the value of a university in the Highlands as the basis of an industry, centred on the development, expanding needs and activities of such a project in an area of continuing depopulation and under-development.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of letters suggesting that a new university should be sited at Inverness. All relevant factors will be taken into account in considering the advice which is to be given on the matter by the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what principles he will be guided, in so far as his future responsibilities are concerned, in any future decision on the granting of a charter to any Scottish university; and what machinery will be set up in order to take Scottish interests into account.

Such a decision is a matter for the Privy Council, and it would be impracticable in answer to a Question to enumerate the factors to be taken into account. Present arrangements for consultation ensure that all relevant Scottish considerations are included.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the standards and continuous availability of all maternity and associated medical and surgical services by fully qualified specialist staff will continue to be maintained at Stornoway hospital.

A recent vacancy in the specialist post in obstetrics at Lewis hospital, Stornoway, has been filled on a temporary basis pending consideration of the future provision in the speciality.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated amount of the architect's fee in respect of the new teaching hospital at Ninewells, Dundee.

£527,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will send a reply to the letter of 30th October, 1963, from the Dingwall Town Council regarding the inadequate provision of facilities for functions in the State management hotels in Dingwall.

My right hon. Friend replied to Dingwall Town Council yesterday to the effect that he was unable at the present time to authorise expenditure on the expansion of the National Hotel.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make arrangements for the reimbursement out of public funds of travelling expenses of patients attending hospitals and hospital clinics from outlying areas.

Existing arrangements provide for payment of fares if hardship is shown.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the outstanding housing debt of local authorities for the year 1961–62; and what would be the total interest payable on that sum, assuming that the average interest rate were the same as that charged in 1951–52.

The outstanding housing debt of local authorities at the end of 1961–62 was about £624·5 million. The total annual interest on that sum at the rate of 3 per cent, charged in 1951–52 would be £18·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to reduce the legal costs of establishing new industry in Scotland.

Legal fees for non-judicial business are determined by the Council of the Law Society of Scotland. This is not a matter in which I have authority to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now reconsider his decision to exclude upland dairy farms from the payments laid down in the Winter Keep Scheme.

No. But the position of upland dairy farmers should be materially improved by the decisions taken by the Government following the Annual Review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details showing the population figures for 1953 and 1963, respectively, and the number of general practitioners for the same years actually practising; and what estimate he has made of the number of general practitioners who emigrated during this period.

Between the end of 1953 and the end of 1963 the population of Scotland increased from 5,090,900 to 5,190,500, and the number of general practitioners practising as principals under the National Health Service from 2,466 to 2,657. I have no information about the number of general practitioners who emigrated during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified doctors passed through Scottish universities between 1953 and 1963 and what estimate he has made of the number of these who found employment in Scotland.

The number of students who obtained a first medical degree from the Scottish universities in each of the years from 1953 to 1963 was as follows:—

1953	…	…	…	342
1954	…	…	…	384
1955	…	…	…	454
1956	…	…	…	462
1957	…	…	…	411
1958	…	…	…	429
1959	…	…	…	439
1960	…	…	…	430
1961	…	…	…	439
1962	…	…	…	355
1963	…	…	…	392

The information requested in the second part of the question is not available; but a special investigation carried out in 1962 of the students who graduated in 1957 showed that 331 were initially employed in the National Health Service in Scotland, and that of these 142 were still so employed in 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were built last year for private ownership in Glasgow, Greenock, and Port Glasgow, respectively.

In 1963 the numbers of houses built for private owners in Glasgow, Greenock and Port Glasgow were 183, 21 and nil, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the wide-spread concern experienced by many people in the west of Scotland during the recent earth tremor, what inquiries he has made as to the cause; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that this was a natural tremor of a kind that occurs about once a month in Scotland and once every few minutes in the world as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were built last year in receiving areas and in new towns for Glasgow overspill.

The figures are 1,148 in the new towns and 1,470 in the other receiving areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which counties of Scotland migration is leading to depopulation of such proportions as to call for special Government action.

The preliminary report on the 1961 census showed that most of the counties outside the central belt had lost population in varying degrees since 1951. The purpose of the programme of studies on which the Scottish Development Group has now embarked outside the central belt is to establish how the Government's regional development policies can best be applied to promote a healthy economy in these regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the abolition of the payment of Grassum.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken, in response to the representations made to him by the hon. Member for the Western Isles, the local authorities concerned and the Government Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands, to ensure that Messrs. MacBrayne's provide a daily return service to Lochmaddy when the new ferry service begins this summer.

None. I am satisfied that the services to be provided are a fair reflection of the relative needs of Lochmaddy and Tarbert, Harris.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of occupied crofts and vacant crofts in each island of the Outer Hebrides in 1939, 1951, 1961, and 1963, respectively.

The register of crofts kept by the Crofters Commission which was constituted under the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1955, does not contain information regarding croft tenancies in years prior to 1955. According to the Register the numbers of crofts tenanted and vacant in the islands of the Outer Hebrides at the end of 1961 and 1963 were as follows:

——	1961		1963
	Let	Unlet	Let	Unlet
Barra	448	—	445	2
Harris	555	—	553	2
North Uist	477	1	476	3
South Uist	935	1	933	—
Lewis	3,604	3	3,598	2

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many slum dwellings were demolished or closed in 1958, 1961 and 1963, respectively.

Approximately 12,400, 10,600, and 11,400, respectively.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps are being taken to assist electronics firms that have set up in the North-East; and whether he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend told the House on the 2nd August last, officials of my Department have had discussions in Newcastle with electronic firms in the North-East. We have made a further survey of electronic facilities in the area and several experts from our Research and Development Establishments have visited the firms concerned and assessed what they have to offer. Steps are also being taken by the industry to put the firms concerned in a better position to compete for further orders from my Department and also to bid for sub-contract work. I can make no prediction about the outcome, but I am confident that both my Department and the industry are aware of what industrial capacity is available in the area and of what the Ministry, as a supply Department, can do to help.

asked the Minister of Aviation how much public money has been spent during the past 10 years upon the provision of capital facilities at civil airports in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively.

I regret that records are not readily available to enable me to give figures for the past 10 years; but the figures for the past 5 years are £14·1 million, £4·2 million, and £0·15 million, respectively.

asked the Minister of Aviation what stage has been reached in the negotiations regarding the number of Scandinavian Airlines System flights to be allowed through Prestwick Airport; and if he will make a statement.

The three Scandinavian Governments have made further representations after the last round of talks and these representations are still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Aviation what alterations will have to be made to the Phantom before it will be acceptable for use on carriers of the Royal Navy; by how much these alterations will increase the cost of each aircraft; when he expects them to be in service; and if, following his recent visit to the United States of America, he will make a statement.

I have now had the opportunity of discussing the Phantom aircraft with both the manufacturers and the United States Navy. Certain changes in the existing aircraft are proposed by the United States Navy for their own purposes and we should require these for operation from British carriers. I expect further information about the feasibility of these charges in four or five months' time, following detailed evaluation by the United States Navy. In addition it will be necessary to replace the existing engines by Rolls Royce Spey engines and this will call for certain modifications to the airframe. Deliveries of the Royal Naval version of the Phantom are expected to start in the late 1960s. and extend over two or three years. It is not the practice to disclose details of the costs involved in a project such as this. In any case the estimates we have are still only provisional.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress is being made with the production of the HS681.

Design and development of this aircraft is proceeding satisfactorily. The first batch of aircraft to be constructed will be used for development purposes. We have not yet reached the stage for placing a production order.

asked the Minister of Aviation why it took incoming passengers on Air India Flight 107 an hour to complete formalities at London Airport on Thursday, 12th March.

I have investigated this. The main delay seems to have resulted from the unloading of baggage. This is an airline responsibility. I have no evidence of delay in clearing the Health, Immigration and Customs formalities

asked the Minister of Aviation how many persons were killed, during the five years to the latest convenient date on flights by British European Airways and the British Overseas Airways Corporation; and what percentage these deaths were of the total number of passengers and crew.

The number of passengers and crew killed in public transport aircraft operated by British European Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation in the five years 1959 to 1963 inclusive was 28. This represents 0·0001 per cent. of the total numbers carried.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many persons were killed during the five years to the latest convenient date on flights by independent airlines based in the United Kingdom; and what percentage these deaths were of the total number of passengers and crew.

The number of passengers and crew killed in public transport aircraft operated by independent airlines based in the United Kingdom, in the five years 1959 to 1963 inclusive, was 248. This represents 0·0029 per cent, of the total numbers carried.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now make a statement about the light helicopter required by the Army.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement about the helicopter requirements of the services.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the statement I have made today on this subject.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give a general direction in the public interest to British European Airways that they should prohibit cigarette smoking on their internal routes.

No.

asked the Minister of Aviation what action has been taken on the recommendations of the Hamilton Committee's Report on Pilot Training.

The Government have studied this useful and thorough Report and in principle accepts its main proposals. These have now been discussed with the interests concerned and the following action has been put in hand.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now introduce regulations to make compulsory the fitting of mud-flaps to all commercial trucks and lorries in order to increase safety on the highways.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Hocking) on 5th February.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of that part of the Rochdale Report dealing with the shift from rail transport where it is under-employed to road transport where it is congested, especially on roads leading to large docks; and what consideration he has given on the grounds of national importance to the reorganisation of the inland transport system.

I am aware of the part of the Rochdale Report referred to; and I can certainly assure the hon. Member that the Government's attitude to the Report, as to all problems of inland transport, is wholly based on considerations of the national interest.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now introduce the necessary legislation to make eyesight tests compulsory for all those over 60 years of age on application for renewals of driving licences.

Before considering this, we want to find out whether the present eyesight standard should be changed. This is one aspect of the possible effects of physical conditions on driving ability about which we are seeking more information.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will review the life-saving equipment regulations for merchant ships, with particular regard to the respective merits of different types of raft and of lifeboats, in view of the experiences with the "Ambassador" and the "Lakonia".

I think it will be some time before the report of the Greek inquiry into the loss of the "Lakonia" can be available, but I will certainly have it studied with this consideration in mind. The loss of the "Ambassador" is being studied in all its aspects.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Working Group examining the merits of the various reactor systems for a nuclear merchant ship has yet reported; and when he expects to make a statement of Government policy on this matter.

The Working Group has not yet reported. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House yesterday, a statement of the Government's future policy will be made as soon as Ministers have considered the Group's report.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has recently received regarding the need for Western and Eastern bypasses round the boroughs of Altrincham and Sale; what answer he has given; and what the grounds are on which he decides the priorities of major road construction projects in the area.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has studied the letter sent to him by the honourable Member for West Ham, North, together with information regarding a petition sent to him by citizens of Altrincham and Sale, on the subject of road development; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations in the past from my right hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) and recently from the Sale Borough Council. I replied to them in the sense of the Answer I gave on the 11th March to the hon. Member for West Ham, North, whose letter I have already answered. I have seen the petition.I decide priorities for major road schemes for this area as for any other area on their intrinsic merits, having regard to the particular traffic needs and the funds available for road schemes generally.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has agreed the priorities for major road construction projects in Lancashire sent to him recently by the county authority; if he will now state them; and if he will raise the authorised rate of expenditure on Lancashire motorways to £14 million annually.

The Lancashire County Council has submitted proposals to me and its representatives are shortly to discuss them with officers of my Department. As for relative priorities and the rate of expenditure, I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Knutsford (Sir W. Bromley-Davenport) on 11th March.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to announce a decision on the proposal to extend the Victoria Line from Walthamstow Hoe Street to South Woodford or Woodford.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 18th December, 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee on railway closures north and west of Inverness will be referred to the Highland Transport Board for their consideration.

I have agreed in principle with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to make available to the Board (subject to the agreement of the Committee) any information in the Committee's report which might be useful to them in considering the implications of the proposed closures for Highland transport as a whole.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the result of his representations to the British Broadcasting Corporation to hasten the building of a new band III television station in East Lincolnshire; how near the station is to completion; if it will be ready by 11th June; and if he will make a statement.

As I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend on 30th July, the new East Lincolnshire combined stations, when completed, will be capable of providing to the area all present and foreseeable broadcast services, both sound and television. The complexities of this large and novel project, however, are much greater than were originally foreseen. I am sorry to say that, in the broadcasting authorities' judgment, it will not be possible to have the mast manufactured and erected and the station ready for service before about the end of next year. There is in this case no existing mast which might be used to provide a temporary service at an early date.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) how many widows of Regular officers of each rank in the three Armed Services, including the Indian armed services, are receiving widows' ordinary pensions; how many of each have had their pensions reassessed with effect from 10th December, 1963, because they lost their husbands before 4th November, 1958; how many of these widows received no increase in their pensions; and how many who received no increases are now over 70 years of age, respectively;(2) how many widows of Regular ratings and other ranks of the three Armed Services are receiving widows' ordinary pensions; how many have had their pensions reassessed with effect from 10th December, 1963, because they lost their husbands before 4th November, 1958; how many of these widows received no increases in their pensions; and how many who received no increases are now over 70 years of age.

The information required is not available immediately. I am having it collected and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement setting out his plans to extend the new preventative measures to areas where wilful damage is heavy to telephone kiosks.

I hope the hon. Gentleman will feel as I do that public notifification of these plans would hinder rather than help to prevent or to detect vandalism. I am, however, writing to him today about our plans and the whole problem.

asked the Postmaster-General how many private telephones have been installed during the last six months in the Chigwell parliamentary division of Essex; and what is the present waiting list.

During the last six months 1,558 telephones, including 1,325 in private homes, were supplied in the exchange areas serving the Chigwell parliamentary constituency. The corresponding total, for the whole of 1962, was 1,903. A further 519 are under enquiry or in course of being met and 158 applications are at present on the waiting list.

asked the Postmaster-General what decision he has now made concerning Britain's participation in a satellite communications system.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of the 26th February to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason). Representatives of interested European Governments had a further meeting in London last week, and I hope that negotiations with the United States, and other countries, will take place shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue a special stamp to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War what discussions he has had with the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes on the siting of a new building at the Central Ordnance Depot, Donnington, Wellington, Shropshire; and if he has allocated this site.

It is planned to reprovide the junior ranks club and the families shop by the adaptation of two existing permanent post-war buildings for which there is no other requirement. There have been discussions between architects employed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works, and local representatives of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in his review of the duration of the three-year sentence passed on ex-gunner B. C. Smith, he will take into account that he has a wife and young child dependent upon him in this country.

The reconsidering officer will be informed of all relevant circumstances, including this one, in carrying out the duties laid upon him under Section 114 of the Army Act.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements exist for ensuring that the views of the corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers are taken account of in the design of weapons and equipment for the Army.

The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is consulted in the preparation of all weapon and equipment requirements. During the development stage, the views of the Corps are available to design staff through special units attached to research and development establishments for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War what use is to be made this year of the guided missiles range in South Uist; and what service personnel, other than British, will be brought in for exercises or training.

The Hebrides range will be used this year for the practice firing of Corporal missiles. In addition the Royal Navy intends to use the range for the firing of Bullpup air-to-sea missiles, and the Meteorological Office have a programme of about 35 firings of their high altitude meteorological rocket. The United States Army in Europe has used the Hebrides range in previous years, and it is always possible that they will ask to do so again in the future. No other N.A.T.O. country has yet asked for the use of the range.

asked the Secretary of State for War for how much longer it is intended to continue to employ Corporal missiles in guided missile launching training in South Uist, in view of the fact that they are obsolescent.

Corporal missiles are still in service in the British Army and training firings at the Hebrides Range will continue until a short time before the weapon goes out of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on the working in Aberdeen of the measure passed in April, 1963, providing for grants and loans to firms and industries in development areas; how many industrial firms in Aberdeen applied for, and how many were given, such grants and loans; and what were the amounts provided to each.

Eighty-two applications for grants under the Local Employment Act, 1963, have been received for projects in Aberdeen. Fifty-three of these applications, for grants estimated at £280,000, have been approved. I am not able to disclose the extent of assistance given to individual firms. The Act does not provide for assistance by way of loan.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he intends to put contracts out to tender for the junior ranks club at the Central Ordnance Depot, Donnington, Wellington, Shropshire.

I hope that the construction of the junior ranks club at the Central Ordnance Depot, Donnington, will start early in 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, for the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of unemployed in that part of North Staffordshire which comprises the city of Stoke-on-Trent, the borough and rural district of Newcastle-under-Lyme, the urban and rural districts of Leek, the urban district of Kidsgrove, and the urban and rural districts of Stone, the proportions of the working populations unemployed in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, respectively, and the numbers of disabled unemployed in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The following table gives the information required in respect of those employment exchanges whose areas fall wholly or partly within the area defined:

Employment Exchanges and associated Youth Employment Offices	Number unemployed at 10th February, 1964	Percentage of total number of employees	Number of disabled persons unemployed
Stoke-on-Trent	442		101
Hanley	1,224		199
Burslem	829		320
Longton	625		183
Total Stoke Group	3,120	2·0	803
Newcastle-under-Lyme	591	2·0	204
Market Drayton	141	3·2	20
Leek	116	0·8	19
Kidsgrove	210	2·2	66
Stone	54	0·8	2
GRAND TOTAL	4,232		1,114

The Stoke-on-Trent group of employment exchanges slightly exceeds the boundary of the City. Newcastle-under-Lyme is covered substantially by the area of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Employment Exchange and by a small part of the Market Drayton Employment Exchange. A percentage rate of unemployment is not available for constituent parts of the Stoke-on-Trent group.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the average time taken to notify awards by the Industrial Court has been reduced since the provision of the additional secretariat assistance for the Court, which was announced by his predecessor last July.

Yes. The average period between reference of a case to the Industrial Court and the issue of the award has fallen by nearly 3 weeks since the figures were given last year.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were unemployed in each of the employment exchanges in Lanarkshire at the latest convenient date; how many were recorded as being employed; and how many he estimates were travelling out-with their respective areas in order to work.

The following is the reply:

Employment Exchange and associated Youth Employment Office	Number Unemployed, 10th February, 1964	Employees in Employment, Mid-1962	Estimated number of persons travelling to employment outside the Employment Exchange Area, Mid-1963
Airdrie	1,173	16,300	6,290
Bellshill	561	7,300	5,535
Cambuslang	478	6,900	1,980
Carluke	136	3,600	1,650
Coatbridge	1,640	21,100	5,160
Lanark	452	9,400	1,250
Larkhall	336	5,400	3,010
Lesmahagow	236	2,900	1,150
Motherwell	1,052	30,200	4,915
Shotts	491	6,400	2,830
Uddingston	424	6,700	2,895
Wishaw	1,064	12,600	8,955
Blantyre	499	34,800*	4,000
East Kilbride	274		2,560
Hamilton	1,389		9,165
* Separate figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number and percentage of persons unemployed in the Stornoway area at the most recent count; and what was the number unemployed at that date in each of the islands of Barra, South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist.

On 10th February, 1964, 61 were unemployed in the island of Benbecula; the latest available information for the other areas was given in my answer to the hon. Member on 19th February.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average number of persons employed and unemployed,

Area	Average Number Unemployed		Estimated Number of Employees in Employment (thousands)
	1951	1963	1951	1962	1963
Gateshead Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office	1,704	2,416	49·9	52·9	—
Northern Region	27,453	65,425	1,215·9	—	1,257·2

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the alternatives he is considering for a Shackleton replacement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has yet decided on a replacement for the Shackleton; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on this subject during the Air Estimates debate on 3rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon after the event he was notified that Christopher Simcox had been charged with housebreaking and attempted murder; why he was not then immediately recalled to prison for a comprehensive medical and psychiatric examination; why he was not recalled when, in breach of his licence, he was convicted of a charge of unlawfully being in possession of a weapon; what reports were received by his Department of the concern felt by the police at the conduct of Simcox, following upon his being placed on probation; and what steps he intends taking to ensure that any further person released on licence after a

The following table gives the information required except that, in the case of Gateshead, figures of employees in employment have been provided for 1962, as those for 1963 are not yet available.conviction of violence is under adequate supervision.

I was notified on 24th September, 1963, that Simcox had been charged on 20th September, and that he had been remanded in custody; in accordance with normal practice in such circumstances the decision whether to revoke his licence was deferred until the outcome of the proceedings against him was known. The court, on convicting Simcox of the charge of possessing an offensive weapon, to which he pleaded guilty, decided, after considering reports by the prison medical officer and a probation officer and hearing evidence from them, not to send Simcox to prison but to place him on probation. It would have been wrong for me as Home Secretary to override this considered decision of the court by recalling him to prison. I received no reports from the police about Simcox's conduct after he had been placed on probation. The arrangements for the supervision of persons released on licence have been working satisfactorily over a long period, but I am always ready to see whether they can be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the nature of the terminal medical reports given on Christopher Simcox on his transfer from a closed to an open prison, and on his release on licence; whether these medical reports and the medical report given to the court on his conviction at Staffordshire assizes were all given by medical officers within the prison medical service; whether they were all given by doctors holding the diploma in psychological medicine; and whether the treatment given to Simcox and the reports given upon him will be reviewed by the committee now enquiring into the prison medical service.

The transfer report made by the Principal Medical Officer at Wakefield in 1957 indicated that Simcox was mentally and physically fit for open conditions. The release report in 1958, signed by the Medical Officer of Ley-hill, indicated that his mental state was normal. These reports, and the report to the Staffordshire Assizes, were made by members of the Prison Medical Service. They were experienced doctors, although not holding a diploma in psychological medicine. The Working Party which was set up to review the organisation of the Prison Medical Service has completed its work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the six men convicted at the Old Bailey of being in possession of dangerous drugs on 9th March, 1964, comprising three Jamaicans, a Nigerian, a native of Hong Kong and an alien, were recommended for deportation; how many recommendations he has confirmed; and, in regard to the Commonwealth citizens involved, how many were exempt from deportation through having been resident in the United Kingdom for five years or more.

None was recommended for deportation. Three would have been exempt under Section 7(2) of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962; they had been in this country for nine, ten and fourteen years, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the facts that there is no chemical test for determining the presence of fluoroacetates in the tissues of humans or animals which have been dead longer than a few hours, and that there are no post-mortem findings of any significance in acute fluoroacetate poisoning, what research is being undertaken by his forensic science laboratories to determine the cause of death with precision, when fluorcacetates are suspected from the circumstantial evidence.

Within the forensic science service no research has been undertaken into fluoroacetate poisoning of animals. The problem of identifying positively toxic quantities of these poisons in human tissue is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals the Government have for research into the influence of schools in counteracting juvenile delinquency.

The Minister of Education and I have commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to undertake a research project into the factors in the organisation and life of a school that may affect the attitudes, behaviour and attainment of school children. The aim is to discover how variations in these factors may exert a positive influence on educational attainment and on personal development and social adjustment. Juvenile delinquency will be one of a number of variables included in the study.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects that the Skelhorn Report on the Woolf case will be published.

I have this week received Mr. Skelhorn's Report and hope to arrange for it to be published before Easter.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when building will commence on Polaris submarines Nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

Specialised equipment and long lead items for all these vessels have been or are being ordered. Building will commence on them at approximately six-monthly intervals from October next.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average delay in the hearing of criminal cases in magistrates' and sessions courts in Bolton, Manchester, and Preston.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th February, 1964; Vol. 612, c. 106] gave the following information:The average time between committal and trial during the last three completed sessions at Bolton, Manchester and Preston was as follows.

asked the Attorney-General in what districts there is now compulsory registration of land titles; and what other districts are considering adopting this system of registration.

The system of compulsory registration of title on sale of land now applies to the counties of Berkshire, Kent, London, Middlesex and Surrey; and to the county boroughs of Blackburn, Canterbury, Croydon, Eastbourne, Hastings, Huddersfield, Leicester, Manchester, Oldham, City of Oxford, Reading, Rochdale and Salford.My noble friend the Lord Chancellor has been informed that resolutions have been passed by the councils of the following authorities signifying their desire that the system of compulsory registration should be applied to their areas:—the counties of Bedford, East Sussex, Essex, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire; and the county boroughs of Birmingham, Brighton, Burton-on-Trent, Coventry, Dudley, East Ham, Stoke-on-Trent, Smethwick, Wallasey, West Bromwich, West Ham and Wolverhampton. It is possible that other authorities are also considering the adoption of the system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons have been deported from the South Arabian Federation in the past five years; how many of these were exempted persons; and how many were citizens of the Yemen.

The Federal authorities had no legal power to deport before 18th January 1963. Since that date 993 people have been deported from the Federation (including Aden State); 978 of these were citizens of the Yemen.2. My inquiries as to the number of exempted persons among those deported are not yet complete. I shall write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I have this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will approach the appropriate authorities in the Western Pacific Commission and ask whether they wish the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, to be extended to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, to the Central and Southern Line Islands and, after consultation with the French Government, to the New Hebrides Condominium, respectively, by Orders in Council.

An approach has been made and the High Commissioner has requested that the Act should be extended to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, to the Central and Southern Line Islands and, subject to the agreement of the French Government, to the New Hebrides, by an Order in Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of the revenue accruing to the Aden

1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963 (first six months only)
£	£	£	£	£	£
18,960,000	19,410,000	17,499,000	17,935,000	16,532,000	8,882,000

No direct revenue accrues to the Aden Government in respect of the entrepot trade since Aden is a free port and duty on tobacco, alcohol, perfume and petroleum products are levied only on imports used in Aden and (since January 1963) the Federation of South Arabia. It is not possible to assess with any accuracy the value of indirect revenue accruing from entrepot trade.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has received the report of the sub-committee on the higher award in business studies; and whether he will make a statement.

This sub-committee was set up by the National Advisory Committee on Education for Industry and Commerce, under the Chairmanship of Mr. W. F. Crick, to consider the need for a new qualification in business studies in respect of courses broadly

There is no doubt that the presence of Her Majesty's Forces in Aden makes a significant contribution to trade and employment and, hence, to government revenue. But it would not be possible without a special and lengthy economic survey to assess with accuracy the revenue derived by the Aden Government from this source.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the annual value of the entrepot trade accruing to the Aden Government in the years 1958 to 1963 inclusive.

The annual value of the entrepot trade of Aden from 1958 to 1963 was as follows:equivalent it length and standard to courses leading to the Diploma in Technology. Its report has been endorsed by the National Advisory Council, and I have today commended it to local education authorities and colleges.The report recommends the establishment of a new nationally recognised qualification in business studies in respect of courses which, through the sandwich system, combine an advanced general education for business with practical experience in business. It suggests that it would be appropriate for such a qualification to take the form of a distinctive honours degree of the new Council for National Academic Awards.I welcome the report, which will, I am sure, be of much interest to all concerned with the education and training of well-qualified young people for responsible careers in business, and of value to the Council for National Academic Awards. The introduction of a nationally recognised qualification in business studies at this level will mean that opportunities in further education for business careers are broadly in line with those for careers in science and technology.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table giving details of forms of new taxation introduced by his Department between October, 1951, and January, 1964; to what extent these and the various taxes in operation in October, 1951, have risen; and what has been the percentage rise in each of these taxes between October, 1951, and January, 1964.

New forms of taxation introduced between October, 1951, and January, 1964, were the excess profits levy, which ran from 1st January, 1952, to 31st December, 1953, the television licence duty, which was introduced in the 1957 Finance Act and abolished in the 1963 Finance Act, and the television advertisement duty, which was introduced in the 1961 Finance Act. Major extensions to existing taxes have been the duty on heavy oils introduced in 1961, the extension of Purchase Tax to confectionery, soft drinks and ice cream in 1962 and the extension of Income Tax to short-term gains in the same year.As regards the second and third parts of the Question, I would refer to the answer which I gave in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 19th February, 1964. The following table gives figures for the yield of the television advertisement duty, which was not referred to in that Question.

——	1961	1962	1963
Television advertisement duty (£ million)	4	8	8

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the order of Questions during the period between Easter and Whitsun.

Yes. It is proposed to extend the experiment of trying to ensure that Ministers are reached for Questions more frequently. The new arrangements can, of course, be revised at any time.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals provide beds for mothers of children under treatment as in-patients, as recommended by the Platt Report; and what is the total number of such beds.

I regret that this information is not available centrally in a statistical form but reports received from Boards in 1960 and 1961 showed that many hospitals were able to admit mothers with their children when specially desirable on medical grounds. I am considering taking a census of children in hospital when hospital authorities would be asked what accommodation they have for mothers with children.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, to encourage local authorities to provide swimming and life-saving facilities for school children and other members of the public, he will make a substantial grant to help local authorities to build suitable swimming pools.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for paying a specific grant to local authorities towards the cost of building swimming pools, but I should point out that net rate-borne expenditure incurred in providing them would attract rate deficiency grant where the authorities qualify. Nearly 150 new pools are either under construction or known to be under consideration by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of houses sharing outdoor lavatories in the area of the Colne Valley constituency.

I have no information on which to base such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of twilight houses in the Colne Valley constituency.

None.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the non-professorial staff are fully consulted and their views adequately considered before draft charters for future new universities are submitted to the Privy Council;

Before a petition for a university charter is drawn up, there are very full consultations between those concerned, but this is a matter for the petitioners. Representations on the draft Charter for the University of Strathclyde have been received and will be fully considered by the Committee of the Privy Council concerned. If the conclusions of the Commitee are to take account of further representations on behalf of the non-professorial staff, these must be made before; the Committee tender their advice.