asked the Minister of Power how much capital has been invested in the coal, gas and electricity industries, respectively, since they were nationalised; how much each industry has contributed by way of taxation of profits towards the maintenance of the Welfare State; how many are employed in each industry; and if he will make a statement.

The value of capital assets acquired by the National Coal Board since nationalisation was £1,057 million to December, 1962. The figures for the gas industry and the electricity industry in England and Wales are £635 million and £3,001 million to March, 1963. As a result of the scale of investment and consequent tax allowances, liability to taxation of profits has been £10 million for the National Coal Board, negligible for the gas industry, and nil for the electricity industry. The numbers of employees in the three industries are 598,000 in coal, 124,000 in gas, and 211,000 in electricity.

asked the Minister of Power by what percentages the average charges to the consumer for coal, gas and electricity, respectively, have risen since the industries were nationalised; if he is satisfied that these industries are being run as economically as possible: and if he will make a statement.

Average proceeds per ton, per therm and per kilowatt-hour have risen by 5·6, 4·7 and 2·1 per cent. per annum respectively. I am sure that the managements of the nationalised fuel industries fully realise their responsibilities. The policy of the Government is to promote the efficient and economic operation of the industries.

asked the Minister of Power what are the known reserves of the Scottish coalfields.

Widely differing estimates have been made. I am informed by the National Coal Board that its present estimate or the available reserves is something over 1,000 million tons.

asked the Minister of Power he will make a statement on the prospects for the Scottish coal industry in the next financial year; how many pits ire expected to close; and how many men will be involved in such closures.

The National Coal Board's Scottish Division is discussing its proposals for pit closures with the unions in the light of the developing situation in the industry, and I am asking Lord Robens to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will take the initiative in stimulating Commonwealth trade and in arresting the proportional decline in United Kingdom exports to its members.

I described the various measures which are being taken to stimulate trade with the Commonwealth during the debate in this House on 6th February lag. These are being vigorously pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new factory buildings have been approved in the North-Ea it since 1st January, 1963; and how many new jobs have been created.

From the 1st January, 1963 to the 31st March, 1964, industrial development certificates were issued for 172 schemes in the North-East, estimated to give rise to 16,370 additional jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware that large parts of the north, east and west of Scotland are under-populated, while the south of England is increasingly over-populated; and what plans he has to spread more evenly in Britain its trade, industry, commerce, employment and population.

Our policies for regional development, on which I have kept the House informed, are designed to achieve a more even spread of economic activity throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is satisfied with the power of the Consumer Council to examine the methods of distribution of tickets for the Cup Final and other major sporting events; and if he will make a statement.

If the Consumer Council thought that they ought to examine this question we should see no objection.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what action he is now taking in regard to the recommendation of the Johnston Committee on Industrial Designs; and what proposals he now has for legislation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Speir) on 19th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware of the complaints about delays by the Export Credit Guarantee Department in making decisions about shipbuilding orders from foreign customers; and whether he will expedite such decisions in order to obtain more orders for British shipyards.

My attention has been drawn to Press report of this kind.I am glad to say it is incorrect. The criticism of the Department appears to have sprung from the allegations of a ships' broker. As soon as the report was published the shipbuilder concerned asked to be disassociated from this unjustifiable criticism. The report was also incorrect in saying that the business had been lost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Scotland.

I visited Scotland on Friday and Saturday last, 17th and 18th April, and had useful discussions with the Scottish Board for Industry, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and the Scottish Council of the Federation of British Industries. I also met deputations from the Stranger Town Council and the Eastern Borders Development Association, and visited the Hawick factory of Pringles of Scotland.Among the subjects I discussed were the progress made in implementing our programme for Central Scotland, the studies of other areas of Scotland which we have in hand, and the bearing which the South-East Study has on our intentions towards Scotland. My general impression was that, despite problems, there were encouraging signs of continuing improvement in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proposals are being put forward by the British delegation to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to ensure that after the end of the conference there is continuing consultation on the matters being- discussed there.

Her Majesty's Government consider that the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade will continue to be the most effective instrument for dealing with international trade problems. They recognise, however, that new arrangements may be needed for consultation on some of the matters under discussion at the conference. The United Kingdom Delegation has stated that we would favour the setting up of a Standing Committee in the United Nations for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, in view of the proposal to continue this Parliament until the autumn, if he now proposes to introduce legislation this Session to implement the proposals in the White Paper on Monopolies and Restrictive Practices.

No.

asked the secretary of state for industry, trade and regional development how many new jobs were provided in Scotland during the first three months of 1964.

The imformation requested by the hon. member is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many industrial development certificates were issued in Scotland during the first quarter of 1964; and how many new jobs will be provided by the works sanctioned.

Industrial development certificates were issued for 50 schemes estimated to give rise to 2,223 additional jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware that the Japanese are sending a fair ship to a large number of countries for the purpose of displaying and promoting Japanese products and technolog; and if, in order to maintain the competitive position of the United Kingdom, he will arrange for a similar ship to display British goods.

No. The view of my Exhibitions Advisory Committee, with which I agree, is that floating fairs are not worth the heavy expense they involve, and that industry prefers to participate in established trade fairs on land.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on the tenancy of the advance factory at Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire.

Discussions are proceeding with several firms who have shown interest in the factory. I am hoping that from these a tenant will be found.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development why British subjects were interrogated by a female of his department after the arrival of Flight 530 Qantas on the afternoon of 14th April from New York; if he will give the reasons for and aim of the questions; and if he will make a statement.

On behalf of the Board of Trade, interviewers question a small sample of all passengers entering or leaving the United Kingdom in order to obtain information about the contribution of "Tourism" (including business travel) to cur international balance of payments. The survey provides information also about international migration. No satisfactory alternative means are available for securing this valuable information.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what steps he proposes to take to bring new industry into the industrial areas of Ayrshire centred on Kilmarnock and Ayr and Prestwick, respectively.

We are trying all the time to steed new industry to Scotland. While we mast continue to give priority to the development districts, we should not expect In refuse an industrial development certificate to a firm wishing to set up in Kilmarnock, Ayr or Prestwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the total area of factory space provided in each year since 1958; and how much of this was built in Scotland.

The figures of schemes completed annually since 1958 for Great Britain and Scotland are as follows:

Area '000 sq. ft.
Year	Great Britain	Scotland
1958	50,163	4,257
1959	36,435	4,015
1960	48,482	4,075
1961	54,933	3,773
1962	46,275	4,307
1963*	25,687†	3,040
* First nine months.
† Partly estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proportion of completed new factory building was built in Wales, Scotland, and England, respectively, in the period 1945 to 1960 and in each year since 1960.

The figures are as follows:

NEW FACTORY BUILDING COMPLETED IN WALES SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND*
AREA (SQ. FT.) AS PERCENTAGES OF GREAT BRITAIN TOTALS
Period	Wales	Scotland	England
1945–1960	8·0	9·9	82·1
1960	13·2	8·4	78·4
1961	5·3	6·9	87·8
1962	10·8	9·3	79·9
1963†	10·2	12·0	77·8
* The figures for each period relate to whole schemes (new factories and extensions to existing premises) completed and not to the areas actually built in that period.
† January-September only. Figures of buildings completed are based on information supplied by industrialists and are not yet fully available for recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware that E.M.I. Records Limited have withdrawn the arrangements by which discounts are payable on records sup- plied by this company to education authorities; and what steps he has taken to secure the reinstatement of this concession.

The giving or withholding of discounts by any individual trader is a question for his commercial judgment. My right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in such a matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the number of Government-owned factories now managed by the Welsh Board of Industry; what is the total number of workpeople employed at these factories; and how many persons he estimates would he employed if all the factory space under the management of the Board was fully used.

The Industrial Estates Management Corporation for Wales manages Board of Trade factories of a total area of 16,330,000 sq. ft.: the number of persons employed in February 1964, in these factories was 65,800. There are four factories standing empty, of a total area of 68,000 sq. ft., and it is estimated that these could provide an additional 275 jobs. In addition, a further four factories totalling 822,000 sq. ft. are expected to become available. When these are relet they could provide employment for some 3,300 persons. No estimates are available of the number who could be employed by a more intensive use of the factory space.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will now refer supply of equipment under the Post Office Bulk Supply Agreements to the Monopolies Commission.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on 27th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what plans Her Majesty's Government have for the next six months in regard to bringing about full employment in the North-East.

We shall continue to press forward the implementation of our programme for regional development and growth in the North-East.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the success in the development of a fast reactor at Dounreay and the other beneficial results in regard to location of industry in that area, he will ensure that the further developments of the system will also be carried out in the Dounreay vicinity to ensure the maximum co-operation in breeder reactor developments.

When the time comes to make a decision on the prototype fast reactor I can assure the hon. Member that full consideration will be given to the points in favour of Dounreay.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the amount granted by the Medical Research Council is sufficient to meet the requirements of cancer research in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom plan to co-ordinate cancer research throughout the world as against the French proposal to create a central research institute.

The Medical Research Council are responsible for only part of what is spent in the United Kingdom on cancer research. I am assured that the Council have not been hampered by lack of funds in their support of proposals for cancer research which have come before them.At one international meeting of officials convened by the French Government at the end of February, agreement was reached on a modified version of the French proposals. This does not include the creation of a central research Institute, but provides for an agency which will collect epidemiological data, and arrange for the exchange of in- formation and material. A draft Convention implementing these proposals has recently been circulated by the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those local education authorities where tie value of approved building projects for 1965–66 has been reduced from their proposals to the same extent as or to a greater extent than those of Gateshead.

No. Authorities' proposals are not comparable with each other in the way such a list would imply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the concern felt by the Cannock Chase Divisional Executive of the Staffordshire Education Committee following the rejection of new school building projects in the area; and, in reaching his decision, to what extent he took into account the special problems facing this part of the county owing to an expanding population, responsibility for overspill schemes and a high percentage of obsolete and inadequate school buildings.

Nine projects in the Cannock Chase area totalling £1·1 million have been included in the school building programme for 1965–67. The school population of Cannock Chase is about 16 per cent of that for Staffordshire while this programme amounts to over 30 per cent. of the county's programme. This relatively large share approved for Cannock reflects the particular account which was taken of the special needs of the area resulting from the expanding population and overspill schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to raise the minimum age at which children are pear fitted to deal with pawnbrokers.

A pawnbroker is forbidden by Section 8 of the Children and Young Persons Act. 1933, to take an article in pawn from any person apparently under the age of 14 years. The question whether this minimum age should be changed has not been raised with my Department since 1933; but I am willing to consider any evidence that changed circumstances require it to be reconsidered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold a Departmental inquiry into the development and social desirability of fixed-odds betting to ascertain whether bribery in sport is made easier by this method and whether it has been encouraged by this new betting trend.

The background and social desirability of different forms of betting on various sports were reviewed by the Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gaming, 1949–1951, and were subsequently fully discussed by Parliament during the passage of the Betting and Gaming Act, 1960. Fixed-odds betting on sporting fixtures is not a new trend, and I know of no sufficient reason to justify a further inquiry at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Police Research and Planning Branch to inquire into methods of investigating bribery in professional football, in view of the ineffectiveness of the piecemeal investigations at present taking place.

I understand that the Sheffield City police force and the other forces which are investigating these allegations are in close contact with each other. There are adequate arrangements for ensuring co-operation between forces in matters of this kind, and I do not think there are any grounds for special inquiry by the Police Research and Planning Branch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce the necessary legisla- tion to enable any 100 electors in a constituency where they have had no elected Member of Parliament for a period of eight weeks to petition Parliament, with the automatic consequence of the issue of a writ for the holding of a bye-election.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the heavy burdens placed upon ratepayers through the operation of the law by which the venue of the court before which major criminal cases, such as the Buckinghamshire mail train robbery case, are tried determines the local authority which has to bear a major part of the costs of prosecution and of investigation, if he will now seek to amend the law to relieve the burden on ratepayers.

I am not convinced that there is a case for amendment of the law on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will, before the General Election, take powers to enable polling cards to be sent out by the returning officers at all municipal elections, in a similar manner to that operating for Parliamentary elections.

No. It has hitherto been accepted that the value of the issue of poll cards at local government elections would not justify the additional work and expense entailed. There seems to be no ground for changing this view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the Working Party on the Prison Medical Service will be available; and whether he will make a statement.

The report is being published today, and copies are available to hon. Members in the Vote Office. It provides a valuable analysis of the medical requirements of the prison service, together with recommendations for meeting them. I accept all these recommendations in principle, subject to consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many computers have been installed by Government Departments in the past five years how many of these were of foreign origin; and how many were manufactured completely in the United Kingdom.

During the five years ended 31st March, 1964, 56 computers were installed in Government Departments. S of these were of foreign origin.As British manufacturers may have used some components of foreign origin, I cannot say how many of these computers were manufactured completely in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the views of the several local authorities in Fife and Kinross on the recommendations of the Scottish Water Advisory Committee to set up a regional water authority for the area; whether he is aware of the urgent need for an early decision on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

The views of the authorities were received between the last week of September and the second week of January. They were not unanimous in supporting the Committee's recommendations. As I have told the House. I accept these recommendations in principle, and I intend shortly to discuss their implementation with the authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when Her Majesty's Government will take a decision regarding further nuclear power stations in Scotland.

This will depend on the progress of the Second Nuclear Power Programme, described in the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 2335). When Hunterston is in full commission, nuclear generating capacity will form a larger part of the resources of the South of Scotland Electricity Board than of the Central Electricity Generating Board in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to appoint the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board.

The Board has now been appointed. The Chairman is Sir David S. Anderson, formerly Principal of the Royal College of Science and Technology, and the following have agreed to accept appointment as members for a period of three years (a few acceptances being subject to confirmation after meetings of education authorities or other bodies concerned):

• Mr. R. M. Adam, Headmaster, Kirkcaldy High School.
• Mr. D. Beavis, Area Manager, Scottish Gas Board.
• Professor G M. Burnett, Aberdeen University.
• Miss J. M. Calder, Principal, Glasgow and West of. Scotland College of Domestic Science.
• Mr. A. B. Cameron, Director of Education, Dunbartonshire.
• Mr. H. E. Crivan, Vice-Principal, Coat-bridge Technical College.
• Mr. D. Currie, General Council of the Scottish T.U.C.
• Mr. W. M. Dewar, Headmaster, George Heriot's School, Edinburgh.
• Mr. J. C. Dougall, Education Committee, Perth and Kinross.
• Professor G. I. Duthie, Aberdeen University.
• Mr. F. A. Evans, Training Officer, Messrs. Ferranti Ltd., Edinburgh.
• Dr. T. E. Faulkner, Education Committee Dundee.
• Miss H. Fleming, Headmistress, George Watson's Ladies' College, Edinburgh.
• Mr. T. Fleming, Principal Teacher, St. Mungo's R.C. Academy, Glasgow.
• Professor C. J. Fordyce, Glasgow University.
• Mr. C. H. Gates, Principal Teacher, Inverurie Academy, Aberdeenshire.
• Mr. T. Gibb, County Clerk, East Lothian.
• Mr. W. G. Johnston, Headmaster, Inverness High School.
• Dr. R. A. Kille, Edinburgh University.
• Mr. N. M. Macaulay, Principal Teacher, Riverside Secondary School, Glasgow.
• Dr. H. S. Mackintosh, Director of Education, Glasgow.
• Professor G. D. S. MacLellan, Glasgow University.
• Professor I. D. McFarlane, St. Andrews University.
• Dr. D. M. McIntosh, Director of Education, Fife.
• Miss I. G. McIver, M.A., Headmistress, Hutchesons' Gars' Grammar School, Glasgow,
• Mr. W. J. Morris, Principal, Cowdenbeath Technical College.
• Mr. H. Forbes Murphy, Education and Training Committee, Institute of Chartered Accountants.
• Dr. H. B. Nisbet, Principal, Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh.
• Professor D. C. Pack, The Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow.
• Dr. G. Reith, Director of Education, Edinbugh.
• Professor A. E. Ritchie, St. Andrews University.
• Mr. J. Scotland, Principal, Aberdeen College of Education.
• Dr. J. Strawhorn, Principal Teacher, Cumnock Academy.
• Dr. N. T. Walker, Education Committee, Aberdeen City.
• Professor J. Wreford Watson, Edinburgh University.
• Mr. H. P. Wood, Principal, Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow.
• Miss K. M. Young, Lady Superintendent, Perth Academy.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the total expenditure on missiles and military aircraft in the last twelve years; and if he will introduce legislation to require the publication of profits made by the main contractors to his Department on Government contracts in this period and in all future contracts.

In the last twelve years the expenditure of the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Aviation on defence equipment for which the Ministry of Aviation is now responsible, including missiles and aircraft, has amounted to about £4,650 million. The answer to the second question is No.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he expects the report of Sir John Lang's Committee into the Ferranti Bloodhound contract.

The Chancellor and I have asked Sir John Lang to let us have a report by June. He has agreed to do so.

asked the Attorney-General what is now his estimate of the approximate total cost of the mail train robbery trial recently held at Aylesbury; and what part of this cost will fall on the ratepayers of Buckinghamshire.

The costs of the prosecution in these proceedings amounted to £32,375 6s. 2d. I expect that, with the possible exception of about £100, the whole of this sum will be paid out of local funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will pay a resignation gratuity to Mr. S. Fegan, of 1195 Shore Road, Belfast, who was formerly employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

No. Mr. Fegan did not resign during his service with my Department. He was transferred to the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 1st April, 1963. As from that date any question of his superannuation became a matter for that Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish the record taken by Her Majesty's Embassy in Washington of the Press conference of the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition on 3rd March.

It is not usual to publish such records and I do not think I can make an exception in this case.

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 Gateshead in each year since 1951 for which figures are available.

The only figures I have for annual interest charges are totals covering the whole of the council's housing revenue account and so including interest payments on shops, garages, etc., as well as on houses. In the following table these total payments are divided by the number of houses held at the end of the particular year.

Year	Total interest charges on housing revenue account shown as a weekly sum per dwelling
	s.	d.
1950–51	9	5
1951–52	9	3
1952–53	10	10
1953–54	11	4
1954–55	12	1
1955–56	13	4
1956–57	17	1
1957–58	17	10
1958–59	20	2
1959–50	18	1
1960–61	19	1
1961–62	20	0
1962–63	21	3

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the estimated capital expenditure on urban road schemes by the Exchequer and local authorities, respectively, for the years 1956–57 to 1969–70, inclusive.

Separate information about urban road expenditure, as distinct from expenditure on roads generally, is not readily available.Although many trunk road and motorway schemes help to relieve urban traffic congestion, most of the important urban schemes relate to classified roads. The following table gives the Exchequer contribution and the local authorities' expenditure on classified roads in England and Wales for each of the years 1956–57 to 1962–63 together with estimated figures for 1963–64.

Year	From central funds	From local authority funds	Total
	£m.	£m.	£m.
1956–57	6·1	3·8	9·9
1957–58	8·0	4·5	12·5
1958–59	11·8	6·2	18·0
1959–60	14·7	7·2	21·9
1960–61	16·1	8·7	24·8
1961–62	19·3*	11·1*	30·4*
1962–63	21·7*	12·6*	34·3*
Estimated out—turn 1963–64	31·6*	13·4*	45·0*
* Provisional figures.

Separate figures for Exchequer contributions and local authority expenditure are not available for later years. However, the total Exchequer contribution on classified roads between 1964–65 and 1968–69 will be well over £250 million and the corresponding local authority figure will b( well over £l00 million. The present five year road programme does not extend beyond 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Health how many qualified doctors have emigrated from this country in each of the last five years.

Accurate estimates of net migration are not yet available. Studies are in progress to establish the number of doctors from this country who settle abroad offset by the numbers from abroad who settle here.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government propose to extend official recognition to the new Government of Laos.

My information is that the Prime Minister of Laos has not resigned and there has been no change of Government.Negotiations between the Laotian leaders are continuing and I understand that as a result of his interview with the King of Laos, Prince Souvanna Phouma has agreed to stay on as Prime Minister of the Government of National Union. Other arrangements for restoring the