asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the average cost of interest charges per week for each council dwelling in Newcastle-under-Lyme in each year since 1951 for which figures are available.

The only figures I can give are the total amounts paid in interest charges on housing account each year averaged over the council's stock of dwellings. They are as follows:

Total interest charges borne on Housing Revenue Account expressed as weekly sum per dwelling included in the Account
	s.	d.
1950–51	7	8
1951–52	7	11½
1952–53	9	0
1953–54	10	3
1954–55	11	1
1955–56	12	3
1956–57	14	8½
1957–58	16	3½
1958–59	16	8
1959–60	16	7
1960–61	18	4
1961–62	21	7
1962–63	21	9

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs in how many houses in the County Borough of Oldham, according to the latest housing survey, outside closets are available only to more than one occupied house.

I regret that my right hon. Friend does not have this information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what grants are available for the construction by a tenant of an internal water closet in replacement of an outside water closet.

I have written to the hon. Member to explain the circum- stances in which house owners, but not tenants, may obtain grants for improvements which include the provision of an inside water closet.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now ask the County Borough of West Ham to supply him with details of the average cost of interest charges per week for each council house in 1951 and each subsequent year to date; and if he will then publish this information in HANSARD.

The following table shows the interest charges borne on the Corporation's Housing Revenue Account in each financial year from 1951–52 to 1962–63, expressed as a weekly sum per dwelling included in the Account at the end of the year.I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by seeking further information from the Council.

Total interest charges borne on Housing Revenue Account expressed as weekly sum per dwelling included in the Account.
	per week
	s.	d.
1951–52	8	8
1952–53	9	9
1953–54	11	3
1954–55	12	0
1955–56	14	8
1956–57	17	2
1957–58	19	3
1958–59	21	2
1959–60	21	7
1960–61	24	11
1961–62	29	3
1962–63	31	4

Number of dwellings used in the calculations are taken from "Housing Statistics", published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs by what minimum standards in respect of space and other domestic necessities he is guided in fulfilling his responsibility for providing accommodation for homeless families.

The responsibility for providing temporary accommodation under the National Assistance Act, 1948, rests with the County and county borough councils and is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the acreage of land purchased for house

—		1951		1963
		Acreage	Price	Acreage	Price
			£		£
Cardiff County Borough Council	…	749·940	94,033	71·433	200,560
Swansea County Borough Council	…	Nil	Nil	4·826	1,070
Newport County Borough Council	…	265·404	17,428	17·735	12,423
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council	…	Nil	Nil	1·65	2,372

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what were the amounts paid in interest charges by the County Borough of Swansea in each of the years from 1951 to 1963.

During the period the council's loan debt more than doubled as a result of its continued activity in housing and other fields.The figures

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the number of privately-built houses in

The following table shows the acreage and cost of land purchased for house-building by the County Boroughs of Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil in 1951 and 1963.Where no figures are given there were no purchases.Wales in each of the years from 1951 to 1963, and the number in each year built to let for rent.

The following table gives the number of private houses built in Wales in each year.I have no figures available of the number built to let, but they would be very small as most are built for owner-occupation.

Year	No. of private houses built in Wales
1951	1,240
1952	1,574
1953	2,258
1954	2,644
1955	3,136
1956	3,645
1957	4,125
1958	4,174
1959	4,968
1960	6,078
1961	7,019
1962	7,501
1963	7,609

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the concern felt by the residents living near the proposed hostel for subnormal youths at Holly House Lane, Pontypridd, arising from his letter saying that he could not help to revoke the planning permission for this hostel scheme; if he will review the matter; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the representations made and of the disappointment at my refusal to revoke the planning permission for this hostel. The objections put forward were carefully considered before I took my decision and I see no reason to review the matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give an assurance that the present green belt on the south-western side outside London will be maintained as such, and not used for any other purpose.

As was stated in the White Paper South-East England the approved metropolitan green belt will be maintained and substantial additions will be made to it. Local planning authorities have been asked to consider the possibility of allowing development of such land as there is in the green belt which contributes little of value to it, but such changes if any as result from this will not be more than marginal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to publish his decision on the inquiry into the Malvern Town Map; and when the map will be made available for public inspection.

My right hon. Friend has a number of modifications in mind. His Department will shortly be writing about these to the county and urban district councils with a view to arranging a meeting to discuss them. My right hon. Friend cannot at present say how long it will be before he can publish his proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he has no information as to the amount of land taken over by the County Borough of West Ham for housing, schools and other public services from 1951 to date, together with the costs involved; what action he has taken during the last month to obtain this information from the West Ham Council; and whether he will now request this Council to supply him with all relevant information.

Local authorities can acquire land without my consent. Nor is a running record kept of acquisition by particular authorities made with consent. My Department does not therefore have the information for which the hon. Member asks. I have not asked the county borough for it because it does not seem to me that information in this form would have any real value.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what interested bodies he is consulting about the amendment of the law relating to burial and cremation; and when he now expects the consultations to be completed.

Consultations so far have been principally with Government Departments. My right hon. Friend will also be seeking the views of local authority associations, religious authorities, and organisations concerned with aspects of burial or cremation. Since the problems involved are complex these consultations may take several months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what amount of grant will be available to the rating authority in Birkenhead in respect of old people under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act.

I cannot estimate how much any local authority will receive in total as a result of the Act because this; will depend in part on the use which they make of their powers to remit rates on grounds of hardship.I estimate the grant payable to the council under Section 1 of the Act for 1964–65 at about £6,650. This figure is based on 1961 data and is subject to revision in the light of later information.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what action he is now taking on the pay and pensions of the eight civil servants recently deported from Uganda; and what representations have now been made about suspending the deportation orders on the other six deportees.

In Kampala our High Commissioner has kept in constant touch with the Uganda Government about the cases of these civil servants. I am now informed that the appointments of the permanent and pensionable officers involved have been terminated in accordance with the regulations. Pay and pensions earned have not thereby been prejudiced. The appointments of the contract officers have been terminated in accordance with the terms of their contracts.As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to what I said in the debate on 13th February on the subject of deportation.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what decisions were reached by the conference, at which his Department was represented, on the future of the medical school and teaching hospital attached to the University College at Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia; and what action is proposed to associate the Governments of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland with the school and hospital and to increase the number of African students.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether a decision has now been reached about the future of the university in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.

The discussions were, I understand, still in progress this morning and until the outcome is known I am not in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what action he has taken to further the realisation of the resolution adopted by 21 votes to nil on 24th March by the special committee of the United Nations General Assembly calling on Britain to ensure the release of all political prisoners in Southern Rhodesia.

The British Government are not responsible for the internal affairs of Southern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies why he consented to the military attack on the township of Harib in tie Yemen Republic on 28th March; how many lives were lost; what damage was caused to property; and what representations have been received from the Government of the Yemen about the incident.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's full statement on 9th April.There was no attack on the township of Harib. We do not know how many casualties were suffered by Yemeni military personnel in Harib fort. We regret any loss of life which may have occurred despite the warning given by leaflet.Most of the upper storey of the fort was damaged and some damage was also caused to the lower storey, and to certain guns.Representations have been received from the Yemeni Republican authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will now state the names of the observers he is sending to Malta in connection with the referendum.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies when he will name the observers to advise him on whether the referendum to be held in Malta takes place under conditions which are fair and free.

My right hon. Friend announced these in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 10th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what steps he takes to ascertain the views of all interests and communities in the island of Cyprus.

The views of the principal communities in Cyprus are well known and were made clear during the London Conference in January. It is now, however, for the United Nations mediator, in accordance with the Security Council Resolution of 4th March to ascertain and consider the various opinions held in order to promote a peaceful solution to the problem confronting Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether he has yet received the directive for British troops serving under United Nations Command in Cyprus; and whether he is satisfied that its terms are sufficiently precise for a military force.

The position was stated by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in reply to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) on 13th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what steps he is taking to restore amicable relations with the Government of the Maldive Islands.

My right hon. Friend is in correspondence with the Maldivian Prime Minister. He hopes to be in a position to make an early statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what progress has been made in developing economic co-operation in Central Africa.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) on Thursday, 16th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the constitutional crisis in St. Lucia and the refusal of the Government to summon the Legislative Council despite the request of a majority of members.

Two members of the St. Lucia Government resigned from it on 2nd April. This left a confused position and on the advice of the Chief Minister the Administrator dissolved the Legislative Council on 6th April. Under the Constitution there was no need to summon a meeting of the Legislative Council before dissolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what provision Her Majesty's Government is making for the Sultan of Zanzibar to settle permanently in the United Kingdom.

I have nothing to add at present to the Answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Eye (Sir H. Harrison) on 27th January but I hope to be able to make a further statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state, for the three latest years for which figures are available, the exports of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, by commodity and by destination for each commodity.

BECHUANALAND: EXPORTS BY COMMODITY AND DESTINATION
Commodity	Year	Total Quantity	Total Value	Destination
				Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland	Republic of South Africa	Others
			£s'000 Sterling	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Sorghum (000 bags of 200 lb.)	1960	0·23	0·35	—	100	—
	1961	179	268	—	100	—
	1962	8·7	19·6	—	100	—
Citrus ('000 packets of 37 lb.)	1960	15·0	7·3	89	11	—
	1961	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
	1962	15·0	7·4	89	11	—
Beans and Pulses ('000 bags of 200 lb.)	1960	5·7	11·5	—	100	—
	1961	68·1	170	—	100	—
	1962	1·3	6·4	—	100	—
Groundnuts ('000 bags of 200 lb.)	1960	2·2	10·2	—	100	—
	1961	33·4	157	—	100	—
	1962	5·8	29·2	—	100	—
Wheat ('000 bags of 200 lb.)	1960	1·2	3·0	—	100	—
	1961	2·4	5·9	—	100	—
	1962	0·17	0·43	—	100	—
Millet ('000 bags of 200 lb.)	1960	0·08	0·11	1	99	—
	1961	6·1	9·2	—	100	—
	1962	0·28	0·41	—	100	—
Sunflower Seed ('000 bags of 200 lb.)	1960	0·77	1·6	—	100	—
	1961	2·7	4·1	—	100	—
	1962	3·7	3·7	—	100	—
Cotton (bales)	1960	—	—	—	—	—
	1961	143	2·1	—	100	—
	1962	—	—	—	—	—
Timber (short tons)	1960	400	1·8	100	—	—
	1961	—	—	—	—	—
	1962	—	—	—	—	—
Flower Bulbs (tons)	1960	80	3·0	—	100	—
	1961	—	—	—	—	—
	1962	—	—	—	—	—
Butter ('000 lb.)	1960	137	21·8	—	100	—
	1961	350	61·3	—	100	—
	1962	59·1	7·7	—	100	—
Butter Fat ('000 lb.)	1960	154	23·5	—	6	94
	1961	406	60·7	—	45	55
	1962	360	48·2	—	51	49
Cattle, live ('000 head)	1960	7·9	151	100	—	—
	1961	12·7	236	100	—	—
	1962	18·8	315	100	—	—
Cattle Carcasses ('000 lb.)	1960	36,018	1,578	—	41	59
	1961	36,813	1,658	—	22	78
	1962	44,301	2,046	15	48	37

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th December, 1963; Vol. 686, c. 43]. supplied the following information.

asked the Attorney-General when the Statutes Revised were last printed; and if he will take steps to print an up-to-date edition.

The Third Edition of the Statutes Revised, in 32 volumes, and the Church Assembly Measures Revised, in one volume, were printed over a period from 1947 to 1951 and were published simultaneously in January, 1951. Annual volumes have since been published and arrangements for noting-up ensure that the edition can be kept up to date.The Government do not think that there is any need for a new Edition of the Statutes Revised at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent his Department has not levied Income Tax on Territorial Army pay in the last 10 years; what new instructions on the subject were issued in 1963; and why he is now attempting to levy such taxation in advance.

Territorial Army pay has always been liable to Income Tax. The only instruction issued to Inspectors on the point in 1963 dealt with the tax liability on the taxable bounty received by members of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve. As regards the last part of the Question. I presume the hon. Member is thinking of arrangements made for spreading the tax due on the year's Territorial Army pay over the tax year, either by an adjustment of the P.A.Y.E. code number applicable to the taxpayer's full-time employment or by direct collection of the tax on Territorial Army earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had in the last two years with the owners of tax-free toll bridges with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable solution of the problem created by the legislation enacted in the 18th century which granted such owners tax exemption on the receipts from the bridges; and what were the results of such discussions.

There have been no discussions of this kind.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury which units of Government work it is now proposed to move away from London and the South-East; and what consideration is being given to the possibility of moving one or more of them to the Forth Valley or other locations in central Scotland.

Under present plans, three units, employing between 200 and 400 staff each, are to be moved away from the south of England. In selecting locations, consideration is being given to the claims of areas of high unemployment in the light both of their suitability for the purpose, and of a fair distribution of this work between such areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the National Debt in 1920, 1945, 1952 and 1963; and what was the amount per head of the population for each of those years.

The figures are:

—	Debt outstanding 31st March*	Amount per head of population†
	£'000	£
1920	6,846,633	147
1945	21,365,891	434
1952	25,890,451	513
1963	29,847,559	556

NOTES:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Estate Duty form D1 has space for only one jurat for the swearing of co-executors; and when he proposes to amend the form, having regard to the fact that the great majority of estates have more than one executor.

This form is in process of revision, and the point raised by my hon. Friend will be considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the practice of his Department to charge Stamp Duty on trading stamps, whether or not contained in partially or wholly-filled trading stamp books, when such stamps are endorsed as exchangeable for cash.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what representations have been made to him by the United States Government about the raid on Fort Harib by the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton) on 9th April.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange with Ministers whose Questions are not reached, and where the subject is of national importance and requiring action, to seek permission to answer after Questions.The Prime Minister: This is a matter which can only be decided by the responsible Minister in the light of all the circumstances of each case.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the reason for preventing passengers from aircraft arriving at gate 6 of the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim from walking to their luggage on ground level without having to go up a ramp and come down stairs to reach the same place.

The object of the present arrangements is to get passengers away from aircraft manoeuvring areas and under cover as quickly as possible. An additional baggage claim area is to be built, opening directly on to the aircraft apron, which will enable passengers arriving at aircraft stand No. 6 to enter at ground level and collect their luggage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many unskilled labourers are employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport; what is the basic weekly wage: and how many do not get any overtime.

There are about 740 unskilled labourers employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport. The present basic wage of these workers, as from 1st April, 1964, is £10 3s. 0d. per week. Most of the unskilled labourers have the opportunity of working some overtime.I regret that it is not possible from the available records to distinguish readily how many of these men receive no overtime payments in any given period.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of Her Majesty's ships are to be stationed and repaired in the Far East; how many were previously repaired in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport; and what action is being taken to provide work to replace work on these ships.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the numbers of ships to be stationed and repaired in the Far East.None of these ships was previously allocated specifically to Devonport for repair. The programme of ships to be repaired in the United Kingdom depends essentially upon the needs of the Fleet, and has invariably been arranged, after taking into account the welfare of the crews, so as to provide the best balance of work at the time for all the United Kingdom yards. This will continue to be the method of allocation in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decision he has taken on continuing the payment of family allowances to university teacher; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have accepted in principle the National Incomes Commission's recommendation that, subject to transitional arrangements safeguarding the position of staff who already have this benefit as a feature of their conditions of service, the practice of paying family allowances to university teachers should be discontinued, this being one of the conditions on which their salary proposals were based. I am awaiting the advice of the University Grants Committee on its detailed implementation (including the transitional arrangements) which is still under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is being issued to universities on fixing the level of professorial salaries.

I have accepted in principle the ranges of salary for academic staff proposed by the National Incomes Commission. The University Grants Committee are discussing with the universities how to give effect to these recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether lie has decided on the gradings and salary levels in the university structure to which members of the staffs of colleges of advanced technology shall be transferred; and whether he will make a statement.

As I said in my statement to the How e on 26th March, so far as colleges of advanced technology are concerned, assimilation to the university grading structure and salary rates will be the subject of early discussions between my Department, the University Grants Committee, the colleges and their staffs, within the broad principles recommended by the National Incomes Commission These discussions have started already and will be energetically pursued.

asked the Minister of Health if he will list those non-teaching hospitals which have been recently transferred, or are about to be

Hospital	Operative date	Hospital Management Committee	Board of Governors	Number of beds transferred
1. Bristol Homoeopathic	1st April, 1964	Bristol Homoeopathic (dissolved 31st March, 1964).	United Bristol Hospitals.	97
2. Dulwich	1st April, 1964	Camberwell	King's College Hospital.	378
3. Lambeth	1st July, 1964	Lambeth Group	St. Thomas' Hospital.	502

asked the Minister of Health how many employees of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board are given leave to serve on local authorities as magistrates, or in any other public office.

Eighteen employees of Hospital Management Committees in the region are given leave for local government activities and 14 for magisterial duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications for assistance under the Local Employment Act are currently under consideration from the North-East of Scotland; and how many additional jobs they are expected to supply.

89 applications from development districts in North-East Scotland are currently under consideration; the additional employment is estimated at about 1,700.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many industrial projects in the North-East of Scotland development district have been

The list is as follows:materially assisted by Her Majesty's Government under the Local Employment Act since its inception; how much money has been spent; and how many jobs have been created thereby in the area.

24 industrial projects in development districts in North-Eastern Scotland have received assistance from the Government under the Local Employment Acts. The offers made amount to £429,145 and the additional employment is estimated at 790.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware that the proposed Channel Tunnel will accentuate the concentration of international trade between Britain and the continent of Europe in the south of Britain at the expense of the North and Midlands and Scotland; and what plans he has for solving this problem.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 23 of the White Paper on South-East England (Cmnd. 2308) published last month which sets out the Government's considered view on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of employed and unemployed in the development districts of Great Britain.

The total number of employees in the areas at present scheduled as development districts in Great Britain in mid-1963, employed and unemployed together, was 3,453,800. At the latest count, on 13th March, 1964, the number registered as unemployed was 161,358.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list the various organisations concerned with space research and the development of satellite communications of which the United Kingdom is a member to what extent Her Majesty's Government have invested money in each of them to date; what is the British annual financial commitment; and what part the Post Office is playing in these developments.

As regards space research, the United Kingdom is a member of the European Space Research Organisation (E.S.R.O.) and the European Launcher Development Organisation (E.L.D.O.) Questions relating to these Organisations are, of course, primarily for my right hon. Friends the Secretary, of State for Education and Science and the Minister of Aviation respectively.The Post Office is continuing its work on the development of satellite earth stations and on the communications aspects of satellite communications systems as a whole. Together with the other interested Departments it is playing a full part in the work of the European Conference on Satellite Communications and in other international discussions on satellite communications.

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations he has now had with representatives of British industry who would be involved in the development of satellite communications; and to what extent such representatives have been brought in for consultations and advice on British commitments in the European Space Research Organisation, the European Launcher Development Organisation and in relation to discussions with the American Satellite Communications Corporation.

Last November my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation and I had an exchange of view with representatives of the British industry on policy in regard to the development of satellite communications. There has been some exchange of correspondence since, and I hope that a further meeting will be held fairly soon.Questions relating to the European Space Research Organisation and the European Launcher Development Organisation are, of course, primarily for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Minister of Aviation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that the £2 million estimated by him to be spent by the parties to the bulk supply agreement on research and development is an adequate contribution, in view of the fact that the Post Office contribution on telecomnunications plant was £4 million in 1962–63; and if he will make a statement.

The comparison is invalid because the £4 million includes much expenditure outside the field covered by bulk supply agreements whereas the £2 million represents only that part of the expenditure of the parties which is reflected hi bulk supply agreement prices.