asked the Postmaster General what is the latest position regarding the working of overtime by postmen operating from Lichfield, Staffs; and whether he is aware that postmen working very substantial overtime hours may be asked to drive delivery vans.

The position with regard to overtime is still much the same as it was when my right hon. Friend replied to the hon. Member's Question of the 17th March. Those postmen on driving duties who work substantial periods of overtime are given suitable breaks for rest and refreshment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now notified local education authorities of their school building programme for 1965 to 1968; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The greater part of the £200 million programme for the two and a half years 1965–68 has now been notified to authorities. Authorised starts will amount to £80 million in each of the years 1965–66 and 1966–67, and £40 million as a first instalment for 1967–68.In 1965–66 there are so far 776 projects, amounting to £78·4 million. The balance of £1·6 million will be allocated as soon as details of certain outstanding projects have been settled. Of the 776 projects, 533 are for primary schools, costing just under £33½ million and 243 are for secondary schools, costing some £45 million. 428 primary projects (£27·1 million) and 123 secondary (£21·8 million) provide essential new places to meet the increasing numbers of pupils and to serve areas of new housing. These together represent about 62 per cent. of the total programme. 105 primary projects (£6·3 million) and 120 secondary (£23·2 million) and improve or replace existing school buildings.The 1966–67 programme stands so far at £64½ million (614 projects). Some authorities' programmes, notably those for Yorkshire, West Riding and Cheshire, have yet to be announced and other programmes are incomplete. In addition, a reserve of £4·5 million is being retained mainly to cover future urgent requirements in areas of substantial housing development and population growth in the South and South-East. Of the 614 projects already approved 401 are primary, costing £24·6 million and 213 secondary, costing £40 million. 304 primary projects (£18·6 million) and 116 secondary (£20·5 million) provide essential new places and 97 primary projects (£6 million) and 97 secondary projects (£19·5 million) improve or replace existing school buildings.Projects already announced for 1967–68 total 142 (74 primary and 68 secondary) at a value of £18·1 million (£4·7 million primary and £13·4 million secondary). 37 primary projects (£2·2 million) and 44 secondary (£9·2 million) improve or replace existing school buildings. The remainder provide essential new places. Further projects in this year will be announced in the next few months.

asked the Minister of Health how many major operations were performed at Hurstwood Park Hospital in each of the past three years.

360, 233, and 421.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost per bed per week for 1963 in Hurstwood Park Hospital, including the period during which it was housed within St. Francis Hospital.

The latest information available is for the financial year 1962/63 (Hurstwood Park Hospital was closed from 9th September, 1962 to 23rd December, 1962, and the patients were transferred to St. Francis Hospital). The cost per occupied bed at Hurstwood Park was £94 5s. 4d. per week, of which about £52 arose from exceptional expenditure on roof repairs and the renewal of X-ray apparatus.

asked the Minister of Health the official estimates for births in the United Kingdom for the years 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970.

The present official forecasts for live births in the United Kingdom are as follows:

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of live births in the United Kingdom in 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively.

The numbers of live births registered in the United Kingdom were:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will direct the Export Credits Guarantee Department to re-examine rates in connection with trade to the People's Republic of China.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department keeps all its rates—details of which are confidential to policy holders—under regular review. Policy holders were informed of changes affecting China on 26th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon how many harps Purchase Tax was levied in Great Britain last year; and what was the total amount of revenue so raised.

I regret that there is no separate information about the yield of tax on harps.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the conditions and salaries of personnel employed by Channel Television are inferior to those of all other independent television companies; and if he will refer the matter to the Industrial Court for settlement.

If the hon. Member is referring to employees of Channel Television in the Channel Islands, this is a matter for the appropriate authorities in the Channel Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the £2,552,000 stolen in the Cheddington mail train robbery of 8th August, 1963, has been recovered to date.

£336,534 10s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the average number of potential witnesses interviewed in connection with charges, similar to those brought against the late Stephen Ward, in the last five years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Article 20 of the Declaration of Human Rights, namely, that everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and that no one may be compelled to belong to an association.

The Declaration of Human Rights is a statement of moral rights and freedoms proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations as a common standard of achievement which all countries should strive to attain. Her Majesty's Government subscribe generally to the ideals embodied in the Declaration, including those expressed in Article 20.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to bring the provision of maternity beds in the Paisley district into line with the recommendations of the Montgomery Report; and when it is intended to implement such proposals.

The Western Regional Hospital Board has this matter under consideration, but I am not yet able to say when additional beds will be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of additional maternity beds required in Paisley and district to bring the total provision of maternity beds in that area into conformity with the recommendations of the Montgomery Report.

About 60.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many married and unmarried persons, respectively, applied to enter the teaching profession under the Special Recruitment Scheme in 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963, respectively; and how many were successful.

Statistics of married and unmarried applicants are not available. The remainder of the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons not selected for the Special Recruitment Scheme for teachers in 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963, respectively, appealed for a review; and how many were successful.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women applied to enter the teaching profession under the Special Recruitment Scheme in 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963, respectively; and how many were successful.

The information is as follows: