asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many young Army officers have been subjected to courts of inquiry or courts-martial in the past five years in connection with negligence or mishandling of small funds such as mess funds; and whether he will take action by means of instruction in accounting and the provision of adequate books and forms to ensure that young officers who are not specialists in accounting have a better chance of avoiding such cases.

In the past five years, five subalterns have been tried and convicted by general court-martial of charges of fraudulent misapplication of non-public funds. During the same period, two subalterns have been convicted at a summary trial for offences in relation to non-public funds. Records of the number of boards of enquiry are not maintained, nor of the number of officers found not guilty at a summary trial.Instruction in accounting is given to officer cadets before they are commissioned into the Regular Army and there is no lack of official books of instruction. These, with the guidance available from more experienced officers, should be sufficient to enable a young officer to avoid difficulty in handling small accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now give permission for 23823005, Lance Bombardier G. Stenton, to have compassionate leave to enable him to get married.

The Regiment in which Lance Bombardier Stenton is serving was sent to Cyprus on 19th February as a reinforcement for the peace-keeping force. Because of this, it was not possible to allow him leave to return to this country to get married on 28th March.In view of the present situation in Cyprus, it is now possible for his Com- manding Officer to consider an application from Lance Bombardier Stenton for privilege leave but because compassionate leave at public expense is not normally granted when a soldier wishes to get married, travel to and from Cyprus would have to be at Lance Bombardier Stenton's own expense, but he might be able to obtain an indulgence flight at least one way. We shall do our best to arrange a flight, subject to his being granted privilege leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the estimated net cost to the Army of maintaining a garrison in Hong Kong.

The estimated net cost to Army Votes is about £8 million annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the Territorial Army or of the Army Emergency Reserve who are registered as civilian voters may vote by post as absent voters if an election takes place during the period of their annual camp; and what is the position in this regard of a member of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve who has been called up in an emergency.

Yes. Under the Representation of the People Act 1949, all members of Her Majesty's Reserve or Auxiliary Forces may vote by post as absent voters during full-time service at annual camp or otherwise. Any member of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve who might have been called up and was serving overseas would be able to vote by proxy if he had made the necessary arrangements.We have explained the position in a pamphlet published in May, 1963, entitled "Elections, Registration and Voting Procedures (Members of the Forces and their Wives)". As a normal step before any election or by-election we issue an instruction drawing attention to the relevant paragraphs of this pamphlet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now reconsider the case of Corporal Garrod, recently of the Royal Air Force, a constituent of the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West, who, on the death of his father, was given compassionate release in order to return home to run the small family farm, but who was required to pay a heavy purchase price before being released from the Royal Air Force.

We only allow the waiver or reduction of the purchase price if there is clear evidence of financial hardship at the time. I am satisfied that there was no justification for waiving or reducing the purchase price in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the recent offers of military help to Malaysia made by the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand will make possible some reduction in the strength of British forces in Sabah and Sarawak.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the recent arrival in Cyprus of troops from other countries forming part of the United Nations force, he will now make a statement on his plans for reducing the number of British troops serving under United Nations command in Cyprus and for the inter-changeability of troops between United Nations command and British base command in Cyprus.

I am glad to be able to inform the House that, in agreement with the Secretary-General, we shall soon be able further to reduce the size of the British contingent, as other national contingents build up. We hope to get down to 3,000 men, possibly to 2,000, out of a total United Nations strength of 7,000 by the end of May. There are no plans at present for interchanging troops or units between United Nations and British command.

asked the Secretary for Defence how many rear admirals and above, major generals and above, and air vice marshals and above are at present on the Active List of the three Services; and how these numbers compare with the total number of officers and ratings or other ranks in the individual Services concerned.

The numbers asked for are as follows:

	R.N. and R.M.	Army	Royal Air Force
Rear Admirals and above	81	126	93
Major Generals and above
Air Vice Marshals and above
Total Numbers	89,635	172,152	125,881
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
	0·09	0·07	0·07

All figures are as at 1st March, 1964, and exclude women and boys.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters are being built during the coming year for families of the Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force; and whether, in view of the present shortage, he will agree to the provision of caravans.

At the present time there are about 5,550 married quarters under construction in this country for families of the three Services. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works expects to complete rather more than 3,000 of these during the present financial year and at the same time to start work on about 4,500 additional married quarters. Abroad there are about 750 married quarters under construction at the present time of which 500 will be completed this year; a further 300 are planned to start by the end of March, 1965.I am certainly prepared to consider the provision of any kind of accommodation in non-permanent construction (including caravans) where this will help to meet acute difficulties and this has, in fact, been done satisfactorily on various occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will compile and publish a list of all Royal Navy personnel illegally detained in Nazi concentration camps during the last war.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for the Army on this subject earlier this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors are practising from the Health Centre in the new town of Cumbernauld.

Four.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will establish a maternity unit in the new town of Cumbernauld.

The provision of a general practitioner maternity unit in Cumbernauld has been approved in principle by the Western Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for each of the years 1956, 1959, and 1962 the number of patients diagnosed as suffering from alcoholism who were admitted to mental hospitals; what percentage such patients comprised of the total admitted to such hospitals; and whether the readmission rate of alcoholic patients is higher than that of all patients.

The number of patients diagnosed as suffering from alcoholism admitted to mental hospitals in 1956, 1959 and 1962 were 732, 921 and 1,617 or 7·1 per cent., 7·3 per cent. and 11 per cent. of total admissions to such hospitals. In 1962 the re-admission rate for alcoholic patients was 52 per cent. and the general re-admission rate was 47 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now received the views from interested bodies on the recommendations of the Wheatley Report, Command Paper No. 2066; and if he will now make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received the views of the bodies consulted and is considering what action to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he plans to take to revise and modernise the recommendations in the White Paper on local government in Scotland.

The local authority associations accepted my right hon. Friend's invitation last October to join in a study of the question of reorganisation. The Working Party of officials has now prepared a first report which will shortly be considered by the Steering Committee of elected members.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the extent of damage avoided by the use of gin traps in Scotland; and, in view of the suffering to animals caused by such traps, if he will introduce legislation to prohibit their use.

No precise estimate has been or can be made of the damage avoided by the continued use of the gin trap against foxes and otters in Scotland, but my right hon. Friend is satisfied that it is substantial. He will withdraw his authority for these remaining uses as soon as he is satisfied that there is an effective and humane alternative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement about the price paid by the Herring Industry Board for surplus herring at Stornoway.

As I informed the hon. Gentleman in my letter of 26th March, discussions have been taking, place between my right hon. Friend's Department and the Herring Industry Board. My right hon. Friend's Department initiated these discussions after the Board had submitted late in February the accounts of the Stornoway factory for the period from 1st September, 1963, to 31st December, 1963. It appeared from these accounts that the Board had not used any part of a grant payable to them to cover the standing costs of the factory and, in my Department's view, the provision for depreciation was in the circumstances unduly high. At my request, the Board have reviewed the situation. They have reconsidered the matter in the light of the latest estimates for the seven months' period, 1st September, 1963, to 31st March, 1964, and have agreed that they can make a supplementary payment bringing up to 27s. 6d. per cran the price paid for herring bought for the factory since 1st September, 1963. A firm market for oil and meal over the past four months coupled with exceptionally high oil yields have contributed largely to the substantial supplement to the price. The Chairman of the Board is writing to the Herring Fishermen's Associations today to inform them of the Board's proposal.The Board have expressed their real regret for their mistake in regard to the grant and for their consequent failure to raise the price earlier, and my right hon. Friend would like to add his own apologies for giving an impression to the House, albeit in all good faith, which has turned out to be wide of the mark.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheep have been exported to North Africa since 1st January, 1964, to the latest available date.

None, from Scottish ports. The figure of exports from Great Britain was given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 2nd March as being 15,000. Separate Scottish figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of pupils whose test score was 52–60 at eight years of age left school in Scotland at 15 years of age, in the year ended March, 1964.

Since it is not the practice to make intelligence tests for all children at age eight, the information is not available. The majority of above average pupils take certificate courses and the proportion of pupils in certificate courses completing at least four years of secondary education before leaving was, in 1963, 61 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to publish the latest annual reports received from the university courts of the Scottish universities, in terms of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest information he has as to the details of attendance on the various classes in each of the four older Scottish universities

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has now taken to ensure that each of the university courts of the four older Scottish universities shall make an annual report to him in accordance with the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889.

The universities provide all the information required by Section 30 of the Act of 1889. The latest reports my right hon. Friend has received which were for the year 1961–62 were laid before the House on 24th October last but my right hon. Friend regrets that the papers laid did not include the statistics of attendance on classes. These will be laid within a few days and I am sending copies to the hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information, additional to that specified in the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889, the Scottish University Committee of the Privy Council has determined that the university courts of the four older Scottish universities shall furnish, in respect of the present university session.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1889 will apply to the University of Strathclyde and to the proposed new Scottish university.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will move to amend the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1889 in order that the reports from the university courts of the Scottish universities shall include each year details of expenditure on capital developments.

As hon. Members will know, the Robbins Committee recommended that this Act should be repealed. Its future will be for consideration as soon as consultations with the Scottish universities on the recommendation are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he now intends to take to amend the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1889; and in what respects amendments are now proposed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given today to the hon. Members for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Malcolm MacPherson) and Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were built in Scotland in 1963 by private persons for letting and for owneroccupation, respectively; and in each case what actual increase or decrease this is over 1962.

Four hundred and eighty-one for letting and 6,141 for owneroccupation. As compared with 1962 this is an increase of 101 for letting and a decrease of 1,263 for owner-occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of teaching staff at each of the four older Scottish universities; and how many of these in the case of each university are professors.

According to the information my right hon. Friend has received, in 1962–63 there were 2,091 teaching staff of whom 229 were professors at the four older Scottish Universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on educational research in Scotland in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what proportion of the total education costs are represented by these figures; and how they compare with the corresponding figure for England.

The cost of educational research done by universities, central institutions, colleges or education and education authorities, is not readily separable from their other expenditure. Specific grants made by my right hon. Friend's Department in the last three years were £3,000, £5,500 and £8,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the danger to health, particularly during the warmer weather, and to children during the school holidays, of the remaining wartime communal air-raid shelters; if he is aware that the work provided by their demolition would be welcomed in Scotland; and if he will take steps to encourage their demolition.

Danger to health is one of the criteria which, under existing arrangements, justify demolition of last war shelters at public expense, and my right hon. Friend is always prepared to consider individual cases submitted by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many undergraduate classes in the four older Scottish universities now contain fewer than 10 students; and whether he will detail these by subject and university.

—	Port Glasgow				Greenock				Gourock				Renfrew County
	1951		1963		1951		1963		1951		1963		1951		1963
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
1. Total loan charges per house per week	12	11	22	5	11	6	27	9	15	0	23	6	12	7	25	6
2. Total interest charges per house per week	9	5	15	9	5	8	18	1	11	0	17	2	7	2	16	2
3. Average weekly rent of Council houses	8	10	12	3	9	7	13	3	14	4	16	1	10	5	17	0

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the amounts spent in interest charges for housing and for all services, expressed separately, by the burgh of Greenock for each of the years 1950 to 1963.

The figures are as follows:

Year to May	Interest charges in respect of
	Housing	All Services
	£	£
1950	90,088	112,305
1951	88,212	111,040
1952	94,561	115,712
1953	118,998	135,580
1954	151,861	176,023
1955	170,045	201,365
1956	209,262	247,029
1957	242,391	292,579
1958	280,708	333,981
1959	292,526	355,675
1960	316,012	387,050
1961	363,544	450,236
1962	416,388	522,661
1963	424,215	539,360

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the income and profit of the state

In recent years the number has been about 400. I am sending the hon. Member details.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average loan charge, the average interest rate and the average rent, all stated in weekly terms, for a council house in 1951 and 1963, respectively, in the burghs of Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock and in the county of Renfrew.

The following is the information:management district in the Cromarty Firth area since it was put under state management.

The takings since 1917 in the Cromarty state management district have been of the order of £7¼ million and the gross profit about £1½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many administrative officials have left his Department since 1959; and how many of these have, within a period of two years, undertaken work for financial gain with firms having Government contracts.

Forty-five. None has been employed full-time with such firms. One has undertaken some consultant work but not, I understand, in relation to any contract within the field of his former Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the numbers of section 4 and section 5 beds in teaching and non-teaching hospitals and the percentage occupancy by paying patients at 31st December, 1960, 1961, and 1962.

Figures as at 31st December are not available; the follow-

TEACHING HOSPITALS
—	1961		1962		1963
	Section 4	Section 5	Section 4	Section 5	Section 4	Section 5
Number of beds designated at 31st March	94	82	97	102	97	109
Average percentage occupancy by paying patients during the year ended 31st March	10·7	65·5	8·8	53·4	9·0	41·8

NON-TEACHING HOSPITALS
—	1961		1962		1963
	Section 4	Section 5	Section 4	Section 5	Section 4	Section 5
Number of beds designated at 31st March	2,182	728	2,135	576	2,182	548
Average percentage occupancy by paying patients during the year ended 31st March	53·2	51·8	60·0	53·9	50·4	52·7

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the ratio of patients to general practitioners in the National Health Service in Scotland for each of the years 1949 to 1963.

The information is as follows:

Average number of patients per principal providing unrestricted general medical services in Scotland
	Patients per principal
1st January, 1950	2147
1st January, 1951	2169
1st July, 1952	2078
1st July, 1953	1995
1st July, 1954	1981
1st July, 1955	1975
1st July, 1956	1967
1st July, 1957	1984
1st July, 1958	1978
1st July, 1959	1987
1st July, 1960	1977
1st October, 1961	1979
1st October, 1962	1977
1st October, 1963	1996

NOTES1. No comparable figure is available for 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals which are still in use were built over 100 years and 50 years ago, respectively; and what is the annual rate of replacement expressed in terms of new beds provided.

Two hundred and seventy one hospitals now in use were mainly built more than 50 years ago and 39 of them were mainly built more than 100 years ago. No meaningful replacement rate can be given; most of these hospitals have been improved and modernised from time to time, and many of them are not in need of replacement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the average annual rate burden for the occupier of the average council house in Scotland in 1951, 1955, 1959 and 1962, respectively.

The estimated average amounts of rates paid by a council house tenant in Scotland were as follows:

	£	s.	d.
1951	10	13	11
1955	15	6	6
1959	31	10	7
1962	34	14	9

The amounts for 1951 and 1955 relate to occupiers' rates only so that no valid comparison can be made between them and the figures for 1959 and 1962. Under the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956, separate owners' and occupiers' rates were abolished and a combined rate levied on occupiers from 16th May, 1957. At the same time rents were reduced by the amount of owners' rates in the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the average cost of interest charges per week for each house in the new town of Cumbernauld for the year 1958 and in

Year		Cumbernauld		Dunbartonshire		Kirkintilloch		Milngavie		Clydebank
		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
1951	…	—		7	7	6	6	9	11	10	3
1952	…	—		8	4	7	0	10	2	10	10
1953	…	—		10	7	7	6	11	3	12	9
1954	…	—		10	10	8	10	12	5	13	11
1955	…	—		11	7	9	5	12	9	14	0
1956	…	—		12	11	10	10	13	9	15	5
1957	…	—		14	5	11	5	14	9	16	10
1958	…	43	10	16	0	13	3	15	11	18	0
1959	…	46	1	15	6	13	10	15	8	16	9
1960	…	45	5	15	6	14	5	17	8	16	5
1961	…	50	3	16	10	16	5	19	3	17	7
1962	…	53	1	19	6	18	7	21	6	19	4
1963	…	55	8	20	8	19	11	*		18	10
* The information for 1963 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average charge, the average interest charge and the average rent, all stated in weekly terms, for a council house in

The information is as follows:1951 and 1963, respectively, in the joint Burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Report of the Committee on Children and Young Persons will be published: and if he will make a statement.

Today. I should like to say again how grateful I am to Lord Kilbrandon and his Committee for the great deal of thought and attention

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average loan charge, the average interest charge, and the average rent, all stated in weekly terms, for a council house in 1951 and 1963, respectively, in each local authority area in Fife.

The answer requires figures for 26 local authorities and I shall, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The following is the information:which they have given to this extremely complicated subject.The Committee make some important recommendations for an entirely new approach to the prevention and treatment of delinquency among children under 16. Before reaching a decision on those recommendations the Government propose to give the various authorities concerned, and the public generally, an opportunity of expressing views on the major issues involved.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received a copy of the Greek inquiry into the loss of the s.s. "Lakonia"; and whether he is now prepared to institute a British inquiry.

No. The Greek inquiry is still proceeding. For the reasons my hon. and gallant Friend gave the House on 15th January we consider it undesirable to hold a parallel inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport when he now proposes to publish the report of the committee set up under the auspices of the Road Research Laboratory to consider the pricing of vehicles in congested areas.

Towards the end of next month.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the pavement on the west side of Kirkgate, which is the main street in Otley, has been in a partial and semi-made state for the last three weeks and that the pavement in Boroughgate has now been pulled up; how many accidents to pedestrians have taken place due to the uneven and irregular surfaces of these pavements; and if he will take immediate steps to remove this inconvenience.

The repairs are being carried out as quickly as possible. The Kirkgate repairs should be completed by the end of this month. One pedestrian is reported to have slightly injured himself at night in Kirkgate.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for improving road communications between London Airport and Gatwick Airport.

Communications will be progressively improved by the comple- tion of M.4 and later by the construction of the London-Crawley Motorway together with other smaller schemes. In the long term the South Orbital Road in association with the London-Crawley Motorway should provide a more direct route between the two airports.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet made a decision on the British Railways Board's manufacturing proposals as regards locomotives.

Yes. I have now approved the Board's proposals for locomotives on the same basis as I approved their other manufacturing proposals, as set out in the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 26th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many copies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Letter and the European Free Trade Association Bulletin, respectively, are distributed by Her Majesty's Government free of charge to the recipient; how many such copies are sent to Members of each House of Parliament; and what, for each journal, is the annual cost to United Kingdom revenues for the purchase of copies and for distribution, respectively.

17,280 copies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Letter are distributed free of charge in this country by Her Majesty's Government. 176 copies go to Members of this House and 5 copies to noble Lords. Copies are received free of charge from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Secretariat. The annual cost to Her Majesty's Government of distributing the copies in the United Kingdom is £2,440.3,691 copies of the European Free Trade Association Bulletin are distributed in a similar manner. 179 Members of this House and one noble Lord receive copies. Copies are received free from the European Free Trade Association Secretariat. The anual cost to Her Majesty's Government for distribution is £885.A copy of each journal is supplied free of charge to the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the report of the Committee of Investigation on Differential Milk Price Zones, arising from representations made to him by the producers in the Eastern and South-Eastern Regions; and whether he will make a statement.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Report of the Committee which was set up by the Milk Marketing Board and which reported to that body, not to me. This Report proposed higher prices in the Regions to which the hon. Member refers, and the Board have decided not to implement it.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what terms of reference have been given to the team of observers who are to report on the Malta referendum; and, in particular, whether they have been asked to report on the campaign leading up to the referendum as well as on the mechanics of voting.

The observers have been asked to report to me on whether the referendum is held under conditions which are fair and free. This of course covers the campaign leading up to the referendum as well as its conduct.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will place in the Library a copy of the Malta Gazette containing a draft constitution for Malta.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of applications for extension beyond Saturday midnight of the permitted hours for licensed registered clubs have been received in each of the past four years in Southsea, Brighton, Bournemouth, and Torquay; what total and percentage have been granted; and how this compares with the figures for the Isle of Wight for the same period.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, for the year ended 31st March, 1964, how many applications for building grants were received from north-eastern development districts; how many were approved; how many were rejected; and what was the total amount granted.

In the year ended 31st March, 1964, 317 applications for building grants were received from northeastern development districts; of these 218 were approved and 21 rejected or withdrawn. Offers were made of grants estimated at £942,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, for the year ended 31st March, 1964, how many applications for grants and loans for the general purposes of an undertaking were received from north-eastern development districts; how many were approved; how many were rejected; and what was the total amount approved.

During the year ended 31st March, 1964, 92 applications were received for grants and loans under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, for projects in north-eastern development districts; 10 of these were later withdrawn. During the year 31 applications, were approved and 23 rejected. The total assistance offered under the Section for these districts during the year was £7,079,100.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what improvements have been effected in the Board of Trade Advisory Committee procedure in the past year.

The Advisory Committee keep their procedures under constant review. They fully appreciate the need to process applications as quickly as is consistent with the proper discharge of their functions under the Act. During the past year they have introduced a number of changes to this end. In particular, the Committee have revised and simplified the initial questionnaire sent out to applicants for assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the average time of consideration of an application for building or machinery grants.

For a machinery grant the average time taken is about six weeks. For a building grant the average is 8 to 9 weeks.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware that Scottish local authorities' housing and schools programmes are being delayed by a shortage of bricks; and what plans he has to facilitate the continuation of building in these essential spheres.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Hannan) on 20th April, 1964

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state for the most recent available date the number of persons unemployed in areas of Kilmarnock, Irvine Valley, and Ayr, respectively; and how many of these are young persons.

Following is the information for the employment exchanges which cover these areas:

	Numbers unemployed 13th April 1964
	Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
Kilmarnock	612	53	369	15	1,049
Newmilns	49	5	34	2	90
Ayr	887	69	343	93	1,392

The Irvine Valley falls within the area of the Newmilns Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons employed in railway industry in Ayrshire and in Kilmarnock, respectively, in 1951, 1955, 1959 and 1964.

The following table gives the number of railway employees, employed and unemployed together, in the areas concerned. The figures for Kilmarnock include employment in the area of the Stewarton Branch Employment Office whose employment figures are combined with those of Kilmarnock. They do not include some ancillary employment and may include workers employed by private manufacturers of rolling stock and equipment. Figures for 1963 are not yet available.

Railway Employees Employed and Unemployed
mid	Ayrshire (including Kilmarnock)	Kilmarnock
1951	5,240	1,500
1955	4,880	1,410
1959	4,500	1,270
1962	4,080	1,130