asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to review the health and welfare development of community care plan; and, in particular, what guidance is being given to the local health authorities about the standard of community care of the mentally disordered.

Local authorities have recently revised their plans for the development of their health and welfare services, including those for the mentally disordered. I am preparing and will publish a summary, and will give any further guidance that may seem necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now cease to treat German measles as an infectious disease and not advise isolation from schools in this case; and if he will make a statement.

No. I am advised that there are no grounds for changing the present arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health, if he is aware that his proposal for establishing a National Health Service Executive Council for North-East London and Essex will mean that there will be only one council for a population of 2,184,900; and if he will so modify this proposal as to ensure that the advantages of a personal health service administered locally are not lost.

asked the Minister of Health, what representations he has received concerning his proposed reconstitution of National Health Service Executive Councils covering the area of East Ham and West Ham; and what reply he has sent.

I agree that the population would be of the size suggested. My right hon. Friend's proposals for this part of Greater London are provisional, and have been both supported and criticised. He has promised to consider all representations.

asked the Minister of Health what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the proposal to establish a World Health Research Centre under the auspices of the World Health Organisation; and if he is now seeking to ensure that it is established in Great Britain.

I cannot add to the reply given on Thursday last, 19th March, by my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Privy Seal.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the World Health Organisation programme for 1965.

The assessed contribution is £941,190.

asked the Minister of Health if he will advise hospital boards and management committees to give time off without loss of remuneration to employees elected as mayor during their term of office.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck) on 26th February.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the report on the working party on conditions of service of general medical practitioners set up under the chairmanship of Sir Bruce Fraser.

It is too early to foresee how and when the working party will discharge its terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Health on how many occasions and on what dates the Review Body has met in the last six months; and what subjects were under discussion.

I understand that the Review Body has met on several occasions since it last submitted advice in February, 1963. As recommended by the Royal Commission on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration its deliberations are private.

asked the Minister of Health if he will provide a breakdown, by 10-yearly age groups, of the deaths from leukaemia and anaemia in England and Wales for each year since 1945.

The information is as follows:

ENGLAND AND WALES
DEATHS FROM LEUKAEMIA AND ALELIKAEMIA
	All ages	0-	10-	20-	30-	40-	50-	60-	70-	80 and over
1945	1,347	193	107	79	160	146	189	301	153	19
1946	1,464	185	117	107	157	199	250	283	142	24
1947	1,474	245	89	86	127	192	242	293	177	23
1948	1,507	241	90	85	116	201	222	311	204	37
1949	1,721	247	130	106	139	207	261	353	239	39
1950	1,832	246	115	121	118	216	319	381	254	62
1951	1,927	268	116	121	141	228	289	415	295	54
1952	2,043	291	127	103	134	218	282	453	366	69
1953	2,121	278	124	95	145	245	331	461	368	74
1954	2,160	257	119	106	149	241	328	478	373	109
1955	2,224	249	121	110	141	255	346	448	452	102
1956	2,315	279	138	129	140	235	312	481	456	145
1957	2,394	239	136	108	151	251	351	498	484	176
1958	2,386	256	122	110	156	215	372	477	503	175
1959	2,534	284	156	115	159	223	400	521	495	181
1960	2,694	281	143	109	161	238	393	562	594	213
1961	2,645	279	151	108	154	218	421	532	554	228
1962	2,707	245	160	108	153	251	389	575	602	224

DEATHS FROM ANAEMIAS
	All ages	0-	10-	20-	30-	40-	50-	60-	70-	80 and over
1945	2,668	44	19	43	70	147	307	738	991	309
1946	2,014	38	19	47	56	112	218	526	730	268
1947	2,078	35	22	32	57	85	225	558	794	270
1948	1,809	36	19	36	39	94	160	438	720	267
1949	1,832	36	11	26	42	83	168	445	703	318
1950	1,921	31	14	24	37	76	186	419	756	378
1951	1,838	23	17	23	30	61	165	411	767	341
1952	1,751	21	20	19	31	83	134	375	694	374
1953	1,604	27	15	12	26	54	142	342	638	348
1954	1,764	35	26	23	23	56	126	350	693	432
1955	1,730	28	13	17	35	42	139	358	679	419
1956	1,733	24	17	14	27	61	111	316	665	498
1957	1,726	26	17	24	19	49	111	300	655	525
1958	1,685	30	14	17	20	34	117	275	663	515
1959	1,691	22	12	18	25	54	119	278	616	547
1960	1,659	25	11	14	17	32	103	279	630	548
1961	1,709	18	14	17	18	42	101	260	642	597
1962	1,680	27	17	17	20	34	87	309	585	584
NOTE: Because of a change of classification in 1950, figures of deaths from anaemia by age are not available on a fully comparable basis for earlier years and are slightly too low compared with those for later years.

asked the Minister of Health why the Phase 1 buildings already completed of the new hospital at Lindley, Huddersfield, are not being used to relieve congestion in the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Because they were designed as the first phase of a con- tinuous building operation and not as a unit to be run separately.

asked the Minister of Health what is the length of time taken to obtain an appointment to see each consultant physician in general medicine at the Nottingham General Hospital.

For non-urgent cases, 11 weeks for 2 of the consultants, 9, 5 and 4 weeks respectively for the others.

asked the Minister of Health what is the waiting time for an operation for hernia at the Nottingham City Hospital.

Non-urgent cases have had to wait about 18 months to 2 years.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital engineers have left the National Health Service in the Sunderland Hospital Management area in the last 18 months.

Three.

asked the Minister of Health when it is anticipated that he and the hospital boards will have completed their study of the reasonableness of the restrictions imposed by the 240 hospitals which restrict the visiting of children by their parents.

I am afraid that I cannot forecast a particular date; I have written at length to my noble Friend.

asked the Minister of Health what information about the prospects of accommodation for married men is given to married applicants for statutorily resident posts at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Married applicants are warned that at present only single accommodation is available within the hospital. They are informed of any other suitable accommodation known to be available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the demand for married quarters for resident medical staff at Stoke Mandeville Hospital; what provision is made to meet it; and what improvements are contemplated.

There are usually three or four resident medical staff who would like married quarters. One house is provided and another was bought recently for conversion into two flats. The purchase and conversion of other suitable property may be considered when it comes on the market.

asked the Minister of Health what modifications in the Hospital Plan for England and Wales have been made for hospitals within the Falmouth and Camborne constituency of Cornwall.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the second revision of the Hospital Plan which my right hon. Friend hopes to publish shortly.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he is making to provide the hospital service with the additional doctors it would need in the event of a nuclear war.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have received advice from the National Medical Manpower Committee that the additional needs of the hospital and casualty service in war should be met mainly by transferring to the hospital service considerable numbers of doctors from general practice, that the selection of those for transfer should be undertaken in peace time through the existing machinery of the Central Medical Recruitment Committees and in consultation with the doctors concerned, and that those selected should be informed and given instructions on where they would be required to report if called upon.My right hon. Friend and I have accepted this advice as being in accordance with the Government's policy of preparedness in home defence planning, and we now propose to consult the medical profession with a view to carrying it into effect.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Fatstock and Carcase Meat Marketing and Distribution; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends and I are at present consulting the organisations representing the interests concerned. I will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action he intends to take to ban the use of chlorinated hydrocarbons in sheep-dip in view of nesting failures and contamination of eggs of golden eagles; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he intends to take with regard to further control of chlorinated hydrocarbons used in horticulture following the recent report of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, a copy of which has been sent to him

I would ask the hon. Lady to await the statement which I hope to make tomorrow on the occasion of the publication of the Review of the Persistent Organochlorine Pesticides which I have received from the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will institute an inquiry into the machinery for liaison between the Forestry Commission and the private side of the industry to ensure that 18-month delays in carrying out a routine review of planting grants will not be repeated.

No. This was not a routine review and there were special reasons why an earlier decision could not be given. The owners were assured shortly after their application was made that any increase would be back-dated to October, 1962, and this has been done.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the rise in the price of meat since January, 1964; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the price of meat to the consumer.

Since January imported beef has become unexpectedly scarce and therefore dear, and there has been some rise in the wholesale price of home-killed beef despite a very high level of supplies. Wholesale prices of pork and of New Zealand lamb have however fallen.Subject to health conditions our traders can import meat without restriction of quantity from all but the Eastern Area countries. I have asked all our major overseas suppliers to join in consultative arrangements aimed at better matching of supply with demand in future.Encouragement has been given to home-produced beef supplies at this year's Annual Review by an increase in the guaranteed price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the proposals of the Verdon-Smith Report; and what organisations he is consulting about the recommendations.

I will make a statement as soon as possible. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for the Home Department and I are consulting over 100 organisations representative of the many interests concerned with the Committee's recommendations. These organisations include representatives of producers, the meat trade, local authorities, public health interests, trade unions and consumers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in order to ensure that no unnecessary suffering is caused to animals and poultry by intensive methods of animal husbandry, he will authorise an impartial inquiry into this practice, with a view to considering what further powers he may require to enable him to make regulations for securing humane conditions in connection with such methods.

I am not at present satisfied whether such an inquiry is necessary, but I am considering the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total size of his Department's staff in Wales, including Monmouth-shire; how many of these staff come under the Welsh Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture; and how many come directly under Whitehall.

The total staff of the Ministry in Wales and Monmouth-shire on the 1st February last was 1,364. The Welsh Secretary takes complete responsibility for the work performed by 937. The remaining 427 are certain professional, scientific and technical staff for whom the Welsh Secretary performs a co-ordinating function but who report on technical matters to the Technical Directors of Services at Ministry Headquarters. The Welsh senior officers of these services are stationed alongside the Welsh Secretary at Aberystwyth.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the status and responsibilities of the Welsh Secretary in his Department; whether there has been any change in his status and responsibilities in the last five years; and whether he has direct access to the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Welsh Secretary is responsible for advising on the Welsh aspects of policy and for keeping my right hon. Friend abreast of Welsh opinion on agricultural matters. And he is in close contact with the Ministers responsible for Welsh affairs. He also has the normal functions of a Regional Controller and, in addition, certain Headquarters responsibility on matters of land improvement and land use and for a wide range of grant and subsidy schemes.There has been no basic change in his status or responsibilities during the last five years. He normally reports to the Permanent Secretary through a Deputy Secretary but has direct access when appropriate.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to assist unemployed school leavers in Middlesbrough; and if he will make a statement.

On 16th March, there were 41 school leavers unemployed in Middlesbrough. The Youth Employment Service is doing all it can to place these young persons in employment.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the decision of this House of 16th March regarding the human problems caused by redundancy in a period of technological change, and of the lessened demand for unskilled labour as a result of the technological revolution, if he will reconsider his decision regarding the issue of work permits to all unskilled, unemployed, intending immigrants for the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

No. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on the 9th March, the employment situation is one of the factors taken into account in determining the number of vouchers issued. It would not be right to stop altogether the issue of vouchers to Commonwealth citizens who have no specific jobs to come to and who do not possess special qualifications or skill.

asked the Minister of Labour how many work permits he issued last year to intending unskilled Commonwealth immigrants with no guaranteed job in this country; what has been the total number issued to date; what is Her Majesty's Government's present policy on the number of these immigrants to be admitted, in view of the threat of unemployment as a result of automation, of the housing shortage, and of other social it problems; and if he will make a statement.

During 1963 vouchers were issued to 22,652 category C applicants, i.e. those who had no specific job to come to and who did not possess the special qualifications or skills recognised for priority. The total number of such vouchers issued up to 28th February, 1964, was 41,130. The number of vouchers to be issued is reviewed from time to time in the light of the housing position, the employment situation, and all other relevant factors. The numbers of vouchers issued in category C will depend in part on the number of applications in categories A and B, which receive priority.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for work permits he has now received under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act; how many of these have been, respectively, for those with jobs to come to, those with special skills, and those with neither of these qualifications; how many have been granted in each category; and how many vouchers in all have lapsed.

Up to 28th February, 1964, a total of 382,777 applications for vouchers had been received. Of these, 19,848 were for persons with jobs to come

Employment Exchange and Associated Youth Employment Office				Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Percentage
Airdire	…	…	…	622	18	450	18	1,108	5·4*
Coatbridge	…	…	…	852	59	648	21	1,580
Wishaw	…	…	…	517	28	341	17	903
Shotts	…	…	…	247	18	174	8	447	6·7
Springburn	…	…	…	2,821	217	655	73	3,766	4·9†
* This percentage is for the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work group which also includes Motherwell, Bellshill, Blantyre, Cambuslang, Carluke, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Larkhall and Uddingston Employment Exchanges.
† This percentage is for the Glasgow travel-to-work group which also includes Glasgow (Central), Glasgow (South Side), Barrhead, Bridgeton, Clydebank, Govan, Hillington, Kinning Park, Kirkintilloch, Maryhill, Parkhead Partick and Rutherglen Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number and percentage of persons unemployed in the Stornoway area this week; and

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED, 14TH MARCH, 1964
Stornoway		Barra	South Uist	Benbecula	North Uist
Number	Percentage	Number	Number	Number	Number
1,372	24·8	120	144	46	99

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are registered as unemployed at the Airdrie, Coat-bridge, Wishaw, Shotts and Springburn, Glasgow, employment exchanges, giving separate figures for each exchange and for men, women, boys and girls, and the percentages these represent of insured persons.

The following table gives the required information on 16th March:the number unemployed in each of the islands of Barra, South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, and persons under 18 years of age, male and female, respectively, were registered as unemployed at the March, 1964, count in Gateshead employment

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED AT GATESHEAD AND FELLING
—				Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
16th March, 1964		…	…	1,818	102	300	20	2,240
March, 1963	…	…	…	3,122	235	382	53	3,792
March, 1962	…	…	…	1,617	63	298	20	1,998
March, 1961	…	…	…	1,266	22	262	11	1,561
Percentage change between 1961 and 1964				+43·6	+363·6	+14·5	+81·8	+43·5
Percentage change between 1962 and 1964				+12·4	+61·9	+0·7	Nil	+12·1
There were on 11th March 456 unfilled vacancies notified to the Gateshead and Felling Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of school leavers registered for first employment at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at March, 1964; and what is the estimated number of school leavers who have taken up full-time further educational courses and who are not included in the number of registered unemployed for March, 1964.

On 16th March, 25 boys and girls were registered for first employment at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office. It is estimated that since September, 1963, about 150 school leavers have taken up full-time further educational courses; they are not included in the registered unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware of the recent action of the Performing Right Society in calling for an increase by more than five times in the fees to be paid by industrial premises in respect of music played as a background to work there; and whether, in view of the fact that in many factories

:the provision of music during certain hours of the day is regarded as an important contribution to productivity, he will take steps to control the fees charged by the Society, so that productivity is not damaged as a result.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware of a demand by the Performing Right Society for an increase by more than five times in their present charge for the use of copyright music in factories and industrial canteens, and that such increase will cause many factories to discontinue the use of music during work time with consequential loss of productivity; and whether, in view of the fact that the cost of taking a case to the Performing Right Tribunal is too expensive for any individual manufacturer to contemplate, he will take steps to give assistance to organisations representing manufacturers and workers to contest increased charges before this Tribunal.

Disputes about such tariffs can be determined by the Performing Right Tribunal, established under the Copyright Act, which has the power to reduce any fees it considers to be unreasonable. I do not see what further steps are needed. It is not necessary to be legally represented before the Tribunal. The fees payable are £2 on a reference and £5 if a hearing is demanded. My right hon. Friend has no power to give financial assistance to parties before the Tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the total sum asked for by way of grant and loan, respectively, by applicants in the seven Highlands and Islands counties under the Local Employment Act in the last 12 months; and what is the amount approved in each category.

During the 12 months to 29th February, 1964, applicants in the seven Highlands and Islands counties asked for £703,065 by way of grants and £614,240 by way of loans under the Local Employment Acts. The amounts so far offered or approved in response to these applications are £357,000 by way of grant and £279,500 by way of loan. Applications for grants amounting to about £158,000 and for loans amounting to about £285,000 are at present under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how much of the assistance to applicants in the Highlands and Islands under the Local Employment Act by way of grant and loan, respectively, in the last 12 months was given in respect of extension of premises and for plant, of new enterprises, and of replacements, respectively; and what is the estimated net total of resulting new jobs.

During the 12 months to 29th February, 1964, £346,243 was offered to applicants in the Highlands and Islands by way of grant and loan under the Local Employment Acts. This included grants of £9,025 and loans of £329,000 for the extension of premises and additional plant in existing enterprises; and grants of £8,218 for new enterprises. None was for replacements. It is estimated that about 425 new jobs will result from this assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development why he has not yet referred to the Monopolies Commission the monopoly in this country of most types of iron and steel tubes, pipes and fittings, in view of the high protective tariffs, the high profits and poor export performance over the last 10 years of the industry; and whether he will do so in the near future.

Reference to the Monopolies Commission is not necessarily made in every case where the legal conditions for a reference exist. I will, however, bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when I consider further references to the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the amount of the grant made to Cadco Co. Ltd. in respect of a pig production unit at Glenrothes New Town, Fifeshire; and what employment will result from such expenditure.

I cannot disclose details of applications for financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts, which are confidential to the applicants and the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many licences his Department has granted for the export of live cats for vivisection laboratories in 1963 and 1964 to the latest convenient date; and if he will make a statement.

Live cats are not subject to export licensing control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he now expects to introduce legislation to deal with traffic in drinamyl;(2) what progress he has made with consultations to check the spread of addiction to black torpedoes and similar drugs not scheduled as poisons

These consultations are well advanced and I hope to introduce legislation shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, is a United Kingdom Act which has been in force for many years, he will ask the Isle of Man Government, who are considering the extent to which insular legislation may be needed to allow Part I of the Act to apply to the Isle of Man, to treat this matter as one of urgency in order that the same legal rights may be enjoyed by the people of the Isle of Man as those which have been enjoyed by the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland over a number of years.

This is exclusively a matter for the Isle of Man authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the action of the Coventry City Council in calling in, and opening three centres to enable people to hand in, six proprietary brands of insecticides containing mono-fluoroacetic acid and its salts, namely tritox, megatox fluoron, vitux F.15, flac and finovakil, on the ground that these substances could kill people and should not be emptied into lavatories or drains or over gardens, because they could contaminate soil and water; and what steps he is now taking on a nation-wide scale to protect the population against these poisons.

Yes. Farmers having stocks of agricultural insecticides containing fluoroacetamide have been advised to return them to their suppliers. Gardeners who have been able to obtain only insecticides containing not more than 1 per cent, of fluoroacetamide, such as tritox, have been advised, where there is main drainage, that it is safe to empty this substance down the drains if followed by plenty of water; in other areas they should return it to the supplier. Under the Poisons Rules as amended by the Poisons (Fluoroacetamide and Fluoroacetanilide) Rules, 1964, which came into effect on 7th February, any derivative of fluoroacetic acid at present in use can lawfully be sold or supplied by retail only to a person producing a certificate given by a medical officer of health or an official of one of the agricultural Departments. Such a certificate can be given only for the use of the substance as a rodenticide in a ship, aircraft, hangar, sewer, or industrial premises or warehouse, the location of which is shown in the certificate. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked the Advisory Committee to review even these uses as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusion he has reached regarding the number of counting agents to be permitted at the forthcoming elections of Greater London and London borough councillors.

I have decided to amend the London Borough Council and Greater London Council Election Rules, 1963, so as to remove the special limitation they impose on the number of counting agents permitted at the forthcoming elections of Greater London and London Borough councillors. Amending Rules will be laid before Parliament this week. Their effect will be to apply, so far as concerns counting agents, Parliamentary Elections Rule 31 in the Second Schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1949. There will accordingly be no limit on the number of counting agents except such as may be imposed by the returning officer in accordance with the proviso to Rule 31(1).

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has sent to the representations, in the letter to him from the hon. Member for Swindon, dated 12th March, and from other hon. Members, regarding his refusal to permit British Railways to take orders to build tank wagons for private oil companies, and for other wagons and containers for private rail users; and whether he will now reverse this decision, in view of the considerations that have been brought to his attention and of the public concern that has been expressed.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 9th March in reply to his original letter of 4th March on this subject. I did not think his second letter called for a further reply, particularly as the matter is shortly to be debated in this House. I do not intend to reverse my decision.

asked the Minister of Transport, what enquiries he made, when considering proposals by the British Railways Board for construction and manufacture under Section 13(4) of the Transport Act, 1962, regarding the nature of the costing at British Railways workshops in respect of the manufacture of wagons and containers; if he is satisfied that no advantage is taken of subsidies from public funds or by concealing overheads; and if he will make a statement.

The problem here is not one of disguised subsidy or concealed overheads; it is the inevitable issue of allocating overheads in an organisation carrying out a large volume of repair work as well as new manufacture. I am assured by the Board that it makes this allocation quite fairly; but I have thought it proper, as I have already told the House, to reserve my right at any time to examine the validity of the costing arrangements of the Board's workshops.

asked the Minister of Transport whom, apart from the Secretary of State for Scotland, he consults, before endorsing railway closure proposals, with regard to the social and economic impact of those closures on the areas and communities concerned; and whether this system of consultation applies in all Scottish cases.

Apart from my right hon. Friend, whose responsibilities cover several fields, in all Scottish cases I consult others of my colleagues as appropriate—for example the Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Regional Development and the Minister of Defence. My colleagues and I also obtain advice as necessary from local authori- ties, regional boards for industry and other interested organisations including, on Highland cases, the Highland Transport Board and Highland Panel.

asked the Minister of Transport in which cases of proposed closure in Scotland he has decided to postpone closure after consideration of the reports of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee; how long he normally has taken between receipt of the consultative committee reports and his giving a decision; what, besides transport hardship, were the chief factors which influenced him in favour of deferment of closure; and if he will state the length of the period of deferment of closure in each case.

I have refused consent for the present to the proposed closure of the Ayr-Kilmarnock passenger service, but have said that I would be prepared to reconsider it after at least a year, when the effect of other closures in the area could be seen. My consent to the closure of the services between Fraserburgh, and St. Combs was given on condition that closure was postponed till 1st May, 1965, to allow certain road-works to be completed. The average time taken to reach decisions so far has been 12 weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport in which cases he has refused completely to sanction proposed closures of railway lines in Scotland.

Only the Ayr-Kilmarnock passenger service.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee on the proposed withdrawal of railway services in the North and West Highlands; and if he will make a statement.

I have today received the Committee's reports on the hardship which would be caused by withdrawal of rail passenger services between Inverness, Wick and Thurso and between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh. I will consider the proposals in the light of these reports and of evidence on other matters, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I cannot at present say when I shall be able to reach a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the effect of proposed railway passenger, livestock or freight service closures or curtailment west and north of Fort William and Inverness upon the social and economic life of the people of the Highlands and the and upon the rapidly growing tourist industry of the North-West will be taken into account by him in considering closure proposals, or in deciding the number of years before a closure takes effect.

I take full account of all social and economic factors relevant to a passenger closure proposal before reaching my decision.Reductions of services and the closure of freight services are the responsibility of the Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the cost per place of building the underground garage in Hyde Park; and to what extent it is being fully used.

The Westminster City Council built the garage at a cost, I understand, of about £977 per parking place. The capacity is 1,070 cars. On a normal weekday it is used by about 700 cars. The maximum at any one time is about 400.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the provision of off-street parking in the London area.

Detailed information on the amount of off-street parking space in the whole of the London area is not available. But it is being provided at a steadily increasing rate. In the last two years loan sanctions for local authority car parks have been issued totalling £5,734,568.In central London the number of public off-street parking spaces increased from 16,700 in January, 1961, to 22,500 in January, 1964. Another 2,400 spaces are already planned by local authorities to be provided by 1966, and a further 7,400 by 1974. Private enterprise is also known to have plans for more. In addition, there are a large number of private parking places and more will be provided as new development takes place.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what has been the total expenditure on new road construction and major improvements in Hertfordshire; how much of this was borne by the Exchequer and the local authority, in the years 1945, 1951, and 1952 to 1963; and what is the estimated figure for 1964 and 1965;(2) what has been the total expenditure in Hertfordshire on maintenance and minor road improvements; how much was borne by the Exchequer and by the local authority, in the years 1945 and 1951 and 1952 to 1963; and what is the estimated figure for 1964 and 1965.

All the information is not immediately available. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister o Aviation whether he will give an estimate of the future growth of air traffic to and from the civil airport at Aldergrove in South Antrim during the next five years, respectively.

The number of passengers to and from Aldergrove, which was 649,676 in 1963, is expected to increase at the rate of about 9 per cent. a year during the next five years.

asked the Minister of Aviation when the findings of the Committee set up to examine the requirements for a third airport to serve London will be published.

The Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Third London Airport will be on sale at the Stationery Office at noon on Tuesday 24th March. I am arranging for copies to be available in the Vote Office tomorrow.

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 for the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, to be extended to the Central and Southern Line Islands and, after consultation with the French Government, to the New Hebrides Condominium, respectively, by orders in council.

I am consulting the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific on the extension of the Act to the Central and Southern Line Islands. The High Commissioner has agreed to the extension of the Act to the New Hebrides as far as is practicable. I propose to consult the French Government about this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will approach the Government of the State of Malta and ask whether they wish the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, to be extended to the State of Malta under that Act.

The Government of Malta has already indicated that it would prefer to implement the provisions of the International Convention relating to the Liability of Owners of Sea-going Ships by local legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals he has received for the creation of an independent state for European residents in the Tati concession area of Bechuanaland; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Commissioner has received two petitions with 319 signatures, asking for sovereign independence, or other alternative solutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present population of Aden; how many are Yemeni subjects; approximately how many of the Yemeni subjects have been resident in Aden for at least five years, 10 years and 20 years, respectively; and how many of the remainder of the population are of Indian and Pakistani origin.

The present population of Aden is about 220,000 of whom about 90,000 are believed to be Yemeni subjects. Statistics regarding their length of residence are not available. The 1955 census showed that of the remainder of the population about 15 per cent. were of Indian or Pakistan origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress is being made with the work on the development of the waters of the Indus basin.

As the House is already aware, it is the Government of Pakistan which is responsible for the work of the development of the waters of the Indus Basin, subject to the supervision of the International Bank. The British Government, like other contributing Governments, are kept informed by the bank of the progress made. The bank's latest report shows that progress is generally satisfactory on the construction of the dam, barrages and link canals for which contracts have already been let. Bids for additional works have been received, and are being analysed by the bank's consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to continue to encourage emigration to Canada, Australia and New Zealand; and, bearing in mind the large numbers of people in the United Kingdom wishing to emigrate to those countries, what steps he proposes to take in consultation with the other Commonwealth Governments concerned to increase the numbers emigrating.

Yes. We welcome the fact that substantial numbers of British citizens are emigrating from this country to Canada, Australia and New Zealand and we continue to give assistance.The total numbers emigrating from Britain are largely determined by the rate of intake the receiving countries can absorb. We are always ready to discuss specific proposals by the Governments concerned.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to provide systematic training for teachers of management studies in technical colleges, as recommended by the United Kingdom Advisory Council on Education for Management.

The Department of Management Studies at the Polytechnic, Regent Street, is to provide a series of 10-week full-time courses for teachers of management starting in May. The courses will be run in conjunction with the Polytechnic's programme of research into management teaching methods which is financed jointly by my Department and the Foundation for Management Education. These are intended primarily for in-service training of teachers of management studies in technical colleges but will also be suitable for new recruits to management teaching. Some places will also be available for management teachers from other educational institutions and for persons engaged in management training in industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual borrowings from the Public Works Loan Board for each of the years from 1951 to date, the average interest rates for these calendar years, and the cost of repayment of these loans at the stated interest rates; and what would have been the cost of repayment for each of these years if the interest rates had remained at the 1951–52 level.

The following is the information:

ANNUAL TOTAL BORROWING FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS LOANS BOARD
Financial Year	Borrowing from the Public Works Loans Board £m.	Average rate of interest per cent.	Annual repayments on loans made in stated years
			At actual rate of interest £m.	At 1951–52 rate of 3⅜ per cent. £m.
1951–52	402	3⅜	18·4	18·4
1952–53	436	4¼	22·8	20·0
1953–54	328	4⅛	16·8	15·0
1954–55	386	3¾	18·8	17·6
1955–56	364	4⅝	20·0	16·6
1956–57	121	5⅝	7·6	5·6
1957–58	117	6	7·8	5·4
1958–59	44	6	3·0	2·0
1959–60	45	5¾	3·0	2·0
1960–61	40	6⅛	2·6	1·8
1961–62	54	6⅝	3·8	2·4
1962–63	39	6¼	2·6	1·8

[These figures are based on repayments by the annuity method over 40 years]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of Government Departments which were on 1st January, 1964, costing less in administration than on 1st January, 1951.

No. In the course of 13 years there have been many changes in the nature and load of Government work and in its distribution between Departments. The comparisons asked for would accordingly be expensive of time and effort as well as misleading if attempted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants were employed in all Government Department, on 1st January in each year from 1951 to date; and what was their total cost.

Civil Servants (excluding Post Office)
At 1st January				Industrial	Non-Industrial
				Numbers	Numbers	Total Salaries and Wages
				(Thousands)	(Thousands)	£ millions
1951	…	…	…	325·6	425·6	205	Year ending 30th September
1952	…	…	…	339·8	435·6	233
1953	…	…	…	352·4	419·7	239
1954	…	…	…	359·5	409·0	249
1955	…	…	…	348·5	387·3	256
1956	…	…	…	341·3	386·3	262	Year ending 31st March
1957	…	…	…	333·1	385·2	291
1958	…	…	…	310·0	380·0	303
1959	…	…	…	286·1	377·1	316
1960	…	…	…	274·8	381·6	343
1961	…	…	…	268·5	386·3	371
1962	…	…	…	266·7	396·7	388
1963	…	…	…	265·7	406·2	408
1964	…	…	…	256·8	415·4	Not yet available
(The numbers of staff are published in the Annual Abstract of Statistics and in the Monthly Digest of Statistics.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the rates of total revenue received from Surtax in each of the years from 1951 to 1963; and what estimate he has made of the estimated revenue return for the year 1962–63 if Surtax rates had been left at the 1951–52 level.

The net receipt of surtax was as follows:

	£ million
1951	124·9
1952	128·4
1953	129·6
1954	131·8
1955	132·1
1956	144·5
1957	159·2
1958	160·7
1959	169·4
1960	177·6
1961	196·4
1962	229·8
1963	174·1

No estimate has been made of what the yield of Surtax would have been in 1962–63 if the Surtax rates had been the same as in 1951–52.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the average annual percentage increases in the cost of living, average industrial earnings, and retirement pensions, respectively, during the five-year periods 1946–51 and 1958–63.

The figures are as follows:

AVERAGE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE INCREASE
	1946–51	1958–63
Retail prices*	4·5	2·2
Industrial earnings†	6·8	5·2
* Based on the Interim Index of Retail Prices for 1946–51 and on the Retail Price Index for 1958–63.
† Average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in the industries covered by the Ministry of Labour's half yearly inquiries.

Retirement pensions increased from October, 1946, to October, 1951, by 15½ per cent. for a single person and by 19 per cent. for a married couple. The corresponding increases from the end of January, 1958, to May, 1963, were 35 per cent. (single) and 36½ per cent. (married couple). As increases in pension rates are made at irregular intervals it would not be appropriate to convert these figures to average annual rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list giving the number of persons employed in the office

COMPLEMENT OF PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE, 1951–1964
Grade	1.3.1951	1.3.1952	1.3.1953	1.3.1954	1.3.1955	1.3.1956	1.3.1957	1.3.1958	1.3.1959	1.3.1960	1.3.1961	1.3.1962	1.3.1963	1.3.1964
Private Secretaries
Under Secretary	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Assistant Secretary	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	2	2	3
Private Secretary (unpaid)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	1	1	1	—
Principal	3	2	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1
Assistant Principal	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	5	5	5	5	4	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Information Staff
Adviser on Public Relations	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	—
Chief Information Officer	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2†
Information Officer	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1
	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	3	3
Assistant Private Secretaries
Assistant—
Grade I	2	2	2	2	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	2	2	2
Grade II	6	6	6	6	4	5	4	6	6	7	7	8	7	7
	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	9	9	9	9	10	9	9
Clerical and Typing Staff
Clerical Officer	10	11	11	12	11	10	13	10	10	11	13	14	16	15
Shorthand Typist	11	11	7	8	10	10	10	10	11	12	10	11	10	11
Typist	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
	22	23	19	21	22	21	24	21	22	24	24	26	27	27
Office Services
Office Keeper	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Senior Messenger	9	9	9	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
Messenger	1	1	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cleaner*	10	10	10	10	9	9	10	10	9	9	10	9	9	10
Porter	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	2	2
	22	22	22	22	21	21	22	22	21	21	23	21	22	23
GRAND TOTAL	58	59	55	57	56	57	60	59	59	61	63	65	66	67
*					† One C.I.O. acting as Adviser on public relations.

The information is given in the following tables:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the amount of land in acres taken over by local authorities in the year 1951–52, and in each subsequent year to date; for what purposes the land was acquired; what were the total costs involved; and what was the average price paid per acre of land for each year respectively.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now confirm the St. Pancras Miscellaneous Properties (No. 15) Compulsory Purchase Order as a matter of urgency, in view of the fact that the ground-floor tenant of 14 Grafton Terrace, who has four children under six years of age, received notice to quit on 17th March, the day following the public inquiry at which she gave evidence.

I am giving this compulsory purchase order top priority and shall issue my decision as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the annual rate of production of all types of local authority houses in 1951–52; what was the average size and cost of production of these houses; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the years from 1951 to date.