asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the interests of justice, and to ensure that in future a higher proportion of proceedings against registered producers of potatoes are taken in courts which are readily accessible to producers, he will give a direction to the Potato Marketing Board to take a higher proportion of such court proceedings in courts more convenient to producers than the Oxford County Court.

Ministers have no power to direct the Board as to where summonses shall be issued, but I understand that it is prepared to consider sympathetically any request for a summons to be transferred from Oxford to the growers' own locality.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that the Sugar Act relates the United Kingdom price of sugar to the marginal world market, which procedure resulted in 171 changes in the price of refined sugar during 1963 when 95 per cent. of our requirements are obtained on contract from home and Commonwealth producers, he will seek to amend this Act to eliminate unnecessary fluctuations and speculative operations.

A number of meetings have been held in recent months with the interested trade associations to consider ways of improving the working of the Sugar Act in present conditions. A number of changes not requiring legislation have been made and some minor amendments to the Sugar Act, 1956, have already been provided for in the present Finance Bill. These consultations are continuing and will include consideration of the possible advantages to the trade of a more stable internal price for sugar.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what proposals he has received from the Falkland Islands for constitutional change.

Since the recent general elections in the Colony the Governor of the Falkland Islands has held discussions with the Executive and Legislative Councils and has submitted to me agreed proposals for changes in the composition of both Councils. It is proposed that the non-elected membership of the Legislative Council should be reduced by omitting one of the three ex-officio members and the two nominated official members. The Council would then consist of the Governor, the Colonial Secretary and the Colonial Treasurer, two nominated independent members and four elected members. In the Executive Council one of the three official members would be omitted and the unofficials would consist of two appointed members and two elected members of Legislative Council chosen by a ballot of the elected and independent members of Legislative Council.I have agreed to recommend these proposals to the Queen and I shall submit the draft instruments to Her Majesty in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what proposals he has for providing a pension or other financial assistance for the Sultan of Zanzibar and his ex-Ministers.

As I told the House on 27th January, the British Government have made advances to the former Sultan of Zanzibar to cover his initial living expenses here. We have now decided to make a payment to him of £100,000. Of this, £1,000 will be used to repay advances already made to him, and a further £9,000 will be required to cover his immediate obligations. The balance will be held in a Trust Fund, the interest on which will be paid to the Sultan, while he remains in Britain. If he decides to live permanently abroad, the Trust will be terminated and the capital paid over to him. The House will be asked in due course to vote the necessary Supplementary Estimate. Meanwhile a further advance will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.No assistance is being provided for former Zanzibar Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he has received the report from the observers on the referendum in Malta; when it will be published; if he will place copies in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

I shall shortly make a statement about this and other matters arising out of the referendum.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether he will now make a statement about constitutional advance in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

I will make a statement as soon as possible after the Whitsun Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what advice and assistance is given to junior officers regarding mortgages through building societies for purchase of their own houses during their period of service.

All three Services run mortgage saving schemes in co-operation with the Building Societies Association and the Halifax Building Society. Personnel of all ranks can arrange for regular payments to be made into a savings share account opened with any building society taking part in the scheme. In this way they can save enough for a deposit on a house, and the societies undertake to give them special consideration when they apply for a mortgage. The schemes are widely publicised. Personnel are encouraged to take advantage of them and can obtain advice at their units.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the recent intervention of Her Majesty's forces in Zanzibar, what steps are being taken by the Royal Navy to protect and aid when required those political and racial exiles from Zanzibar who are still in transit at sea in primitive craft between Zanzibar and the Sultanates in Arabia.

There has been no intervention by Her Majesty's forces in Zanzibar. Instructions have been issued that if Her Majesty's ships encounter vessels carrying refugees from Zanzibar, they should give such assistance as is necessary on humanitarian grounds.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors from India and from Pakistan entered this country for service as doctors in 1963.

Approximately 270 Indians and 90 Pakistanis in the year ending 30th September, 1963.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has for the recruitment of doctors into the National Health Service.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) on 4th May.

asked the Minister of Health to now express in figures the correct number of households reported as being without a fixed bath which, according to the post enumeration survey of the 1961 census, was under-stated in the census by 5 per cent.; and if he will give the figure reported as without a water closet in the building or attached to it, as corrected by the survey.

The post enumeration survey indicates that at the 1961 Census the number of households in England and Wales without a fixed bath was about 3·4 million compared with the number returned of 3,221,260.The true number of households without a watercloset in the building or attached to it cannot be estimated accurately because of the possibility that the phrase "attached to the building" was again misunderstood in the post enumeration survey interviews; but the number of such households was of the order of 2 million compared with the number returned of 1,008,802.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the number of medical staff at The Hartlepools Hospital is now adequate; and if he will make a statement.

Late withdrawal by two appointees led to difficulty in filling two vacant senior house officer posts in the Accident and Orthopædic Department, but appointments have now been made and the posts will be filled this month and early next month respectively. Because of increasing pressure, the Board are also creating one additional consultant post in orthopædics and one in obstetrics and gynecology for the Hartlepools Group.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of resident medical posts remain unfilled in the United Kingdom and in the counties of Durham and Northumberland, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that surgical spirit is only available on medical prescription.

Surgical spirit is commonly used for the treatment of skin conditions and my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of abuse to justify making it available only on prescription by a medical practitioner. If evidence becomes available that it is being bought from chemists' shops for drinking purposes, my right hon. Friend will consider approaching the Pharmaceutical Society.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was stolen in armed hold-ups and raids in the Metropolitan area of London in the last 12 months; and how much has been recovered.

Between 1st April, 1963, and 31st March, 1964, there were 376 cases of robbery and assault with intent to rob in which the thieves were armed with firearms (or supposed firearms), or with other offensive weapons or instruments. The total amount stolen was £448,152, of which £29,669 has been recovered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions the Metropolitan Police have had with private security organisations in London regarding the wearing of police uniforms; and if he will make a statement.

The Commissioner has discussed the design of uniforms with various private security organisations from time to time. On occasion he has asked an organisation to modify the design of its uniforms, where these have so closely resembled police uniforms as to be likely to mislead the public. I share the Commissioner's opinion that it is desirable for the uniforms of members of private security organisations to be clearly distinguishable from police uniforms. An amendment has just been made to the Police Bill in another place, on the initiative of the Government, which provides that any person who, not being a constable, wears any article of police uniform in circumstances where it gives him an appearance so nearly resembling that of a member of a police force as to be calculated to deceive shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of building maintenance work now being carried out at Pentonville Prison.

During the present financial year maintenance work to the value of about £12,000 is expected to be undertaken. Workshops and boiler house extensions, etc., estimated to cost £122,000 are in progress or are likely to be started soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Pentonville Prison will be demolished.

As I said in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis) on 28th November, it is not yet possible to consider relinquishing existing prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the membership of the committee set up to consider desalination of salt water by nuclear energy; when he expects to receive their report; and what other inquiries are being conducted into ways of turning salt water into fresh.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has formed a Desalination Research Committee to advise how it can most usefully assist British Industry in the general field of desalination research and development. The membership of the committee is:

• Dr. L. Grunberg (National Engineering Laboratory) (Chairman).
• Professor R. S. Silver (Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh).
• Dr. A. Hitchcock (U.K.A.E.A.).
• Dr. R. G. H. Watson (Admiralty Materials Laboratory).
• Dr. F. H. H. Valentin (Warren Spring Laboratory).
• Mr. J. Leicester (British Launderers' Research Association).
• Dr. H. C. Simpson (G. and J. Weir Ltd.).

The Committee is at present considering an application for assistance in the distillation field. The Committee has also been informed of industrial interest in freezing and reverse osmosis. The Committee has a continuing function in advising the Department and is unlikely to render specific reports. I know of no committee set up to consider desalination of salt water by nuclear energy.The International Atomic Energy Authority has convened two panel meetings on the use of nuclear energy in salt water conversion at which the United Kingdom was represented by Professor Silver and Dr. Hitchcock.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the increasing numbers of cases of intimidation and trickery to induce controlled tenants to vacate their dwellings, he will ask the Milner Holland Committee to make recommendations on this aspect of their work in time for legislation this Session.

No. The Committee is a fact-finding body and has not been asked to make recommendations. It knows that my right hon. Friend is anxious to have its report as soon as possible, but it has a heavy task and I do not think it would be right to hurry it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses have been demolished in The Hartlepools since 1959 to the latest convenient date; and how many new houses have been completed by local authorities and private enterprise, respectively.

The information required for the period between 1st January, 1960, and 31st March, 1964, is as follows:

—	Houses demolished under the Housing Act 1957	Dwellings completed
		Local authority and Private Housing Association	Private builders
West Hartlepool C.B.	1,014	1,192	872
Hartlepool B.	462	464	261
	1,476	1,656	1,133

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to reach a decision on the future shopping centre for West Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement.

The local inquiry into the objections to the central area proposals was held last month and my right hon. Friend is awaiting his Inspector's report.

asked the Minister of Labour what investigations are made by his Department into the arrears of rent and rates, gas, electricity and traders' accounts, of persons applying for financial assistance in respect of travelling and family removal expenses when taking up employment in another part of the United Kingdom; to what extent such grants have been paid to persons who have left considerable debts behind them; and if he will make a statement.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None". The information asked for in the latter part of the Question is therefore not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will reconsider his decision not to accept the application for an 80 per cent. grant-aid for the apprenticeship scheme organised by the South Yorkshire Group Training Association.

The scheme of 80 per cent. grants to help in the promotional costs of group training schemes is confined to areas of exceptionally high youth unemploymelt. The area to be covered by the South Yorkshire Group Training Association include districts where youth unemployment is rather less than the national average. Therefore the scheme does not qualify for an 80 per cent. grant.The refusal of an 80 per cent. grant does not necessarily mean that no financial help will be forthcoming to this group.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give further consideration to the Group Training Association of South Yorkshire's request for a grant in aid to assist them in developing their scheme of apprenticeships.

My right hon. Friend is considering sympathetically the application for a grant to help the South Yorkshire Croup Training Association develop their apprenticeship scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether he is aware that the figure of £600 capital has remained the limit, for a number of years, above which subsidiary pensions cannot be claimed, despite the alteration in the value of money; and whether he will alter the regulations in order to encourage saving;(2) whether he will arrange that the capital saved by pensioners shall be ignored in qualification for subsidiary pensions, and calculations based on the income derived from such capital.

The present figure, which relates to capital other than war savings, was increased by 50 per cent. in 1959. In addition, a person can have up to £375 new savings invested in Government securities since 2nd September, 1939, making a maximum of £975, or £1,350 for a married couple. A further increase, or a total disregard, unlike the increases which are made quite frequently in the basic assistance rates, would be of benefit only to people with substantial savings; and a total disregard would involve an important change in the National Assistance Scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he takes to ensure that persons who are eligible for retirement pensions receive their pension books at or before the date on which the pension becomes payable.

Application forms and explanatory leaflets are sent out well in advance. Where the claim is made promptly, and there is no difficulty in establishing title, the order book should be available at the right time. I understand from a letter received from my hon. Friend yesterday morning that he has a particular case in mind, and I shall be writing to him about this.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the average time which elapses between the receipt of retirement pensions claim forms by his Department and the issue of pension books in relation to such pensions.

The average time between the receipt of a claim for retirement pension and its award is about four weeks. Order books are normally issued for collection at any time during the fortnight before payment begins.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what progress he has made in his discussions on the possibility of relating the level of unemployment benefit to a worker's previous earnings; and when he expects to make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I met representatives of both sides of industry again on 13th May, to review the important and far-reaching problems involved. These discussions have been very useful, but I have nothing further to say at present.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is expected that the North-East will receive transmissions of British Broadcasting Corporation 2.

The B.B.C. hope to start transmitting B.B.C.2 in North-East England by about the end of next year.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will request the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising to circularise their members not to patronise Radio Atlanta, as he did with Radio Caroline.

My Department wrote to the Institute in November, 1963, about these broadcasting ventures generally, and Radio Atlanta was mentioned in the letter.

asked the Postmaster-General what his technical examination of jamming procedures against offshore pirate radio stations revealed; and if he will make a statement.

Jamming would be possible technically, but would raise complicated issues relating to the use of the radio frequency spectrum.

asked the Postmaster-General what information has been forwarded to him by the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union advising him what action has been taken by members of the union against offshore pirate radio stations.

The following is a summary of the information:

asked the Postmaster-General if he will seek power to have observations kept by his Department of the broadcasting and advertising by offshore radio stations to ascertain to what extent they are comparable with those governed by the codes of conduct laid down under existing Acts.

I should not need to seek additional powers.

asked the Postmaster-General what the Council of Europe's Legal Committee on Broadcasting have decided regarding the future of unauthorised broadcasting stations operating outside national territories.

That Committee has been meeting this week. I understand that it has reached agreement on the text of a draft convention to be submitted to Ministers' deputies.

asked the Postmaster-General why it took six weeks to instal a telephone at the Hardware Trades Fair at Olympia for the Hardware Trades Journal so that it was too late for exhibitors and others to be informed of its telephone number; and if he will make a statement.

The telephone for the Hardware Trades Journal was installed on the day before the date specified by the customer. I am sorry that the telephone number could not be made known much earlier. The arrangements for telephone service at exhibitions are now being reviewed to see what improvements can be made.

asked the Minister of Power what instructions he has issued to companies prospecting for oil off the North-East Coast regarding the use of explosives; and if he is aware that trawls and nets are being damaged in this way.

None. Contracting companies known to be operating in the North Sea are, however, requested by the Ministry of Transport not to explode any charges when any vessel is within half a nautical mile of the operations or within one nautical mile if the charges are in excess of 50 lb. The companies maintain contact with local officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who have not reported any damage to trawls and nets by the use of these explosives.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what authorisations he has given for trunk pipelines between the North-East and other industrial complexes;(2) what authorisations he has given for trunk pipelines to be built within the North-East industrial area;(3) what authorisations he has given for trunk pipelines to be built to and from Tees-side.

None.

asked the Minister of Power what plans have been put to him by the National Coal Board or the Central Electricity Generating Board for pipelines for the delivery of coal slurry to power stations in the North-East or elsewhere.

The Central Electricity Generating Board are bringing into service a 5 inch pipeline over a mile long between Walton colliery and Wakefield power station, and are continuing their research into the transport of coal by pipelines.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that it is the practice, in some cases, of the gas and electricity boards to refuse to re-connect the supply of gas or electricity until outstanding hire-purchase payments on equipment supplied by them have been paid; and if he will give them a general direction, in the public interest, not to do this.

I understand that it is not the policy of any gas or electricity board to refuse reconnection of supplies until hire purchase debts have been paid, and that where this may have happened it has been due to a misunderstanding which the Board concerned is taking steps to prevent.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what plans he has for the provision of toilets for young children in Royal Parks; how long it is since these plans were drawn up; and when he expects to implement them.

New children's toilets are to be provided in St. James's Park this year. In addition a complete survey has recently been carried out of all toilets, including children's toilets, in the Royal Parks and, based on this, a phased programme of improvements is now being prepared.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what percentage of his Department's budget for the Royal Parks is spent on provisions for children of primary school age and younger.

Separate records are not maintained of all the expenditure incurred on provisions for children of this age group, and no proportion of the Royal Parks Vote is specifically allocated for this purpose. During the current year, however, it is planned to spend about £6,000 on improving the facilities in the Royal Parks for young children, such as playgrounds and toilets. In addition money will be spent on maintaining the existing facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what alterations will be necessary to continue the Kirkcaldy Orthopaedic Hospital in use for post-operative convalescent patients, when the orthopaedic department is transferred to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

The South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board has not yet reached a decision whether Kirkcaldy Orthopaedic Hospital is to be continued in use for hospital purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many beds could be made available for geriatric patients in the Victoria Hospital on its completion, if the Kirkcaldy Orthopaedic Hospital were used for post-operative convalescent patients.

None. The South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board takes the view that any beds that might become available by this means should be used for acute patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the nature of the structural alterations, and the cost of such alterations, made at Kirkcaldy Orthopaedic Hospital in each year from 1st April, 1959, to the latest convenient date for which figures are available.

Year	Nature of Expenditure	Amount
		£
1959–60	Improvement to female wards	1,330
	Minor works	151
1960–61	Improvements to female wards	1,442
	Improvements to surgical orthopaedic facilities	3,405
	Minor works	31
1961–62	Improvements to surgical orthopaedic facilities	583
1962–63	Electrical re-wiring	2,588
1963–64	Nil	—
	Total	9,530

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many persons were arrested in Glasgow on 1st January, 1964, and charged with breach of the peace; on what dates these charges were disposed of; and how many such cases were disposed of on each date;(2) how many of the persons arrested in Glasgow on 1st January, 1964, and charged with breach of the peace were allowed bail; and on what dates this occurred.

Sixty-three persons were arrested in Glasgow on 1st January, 1964, and charged with breach of the peace. Of these 25 were allowed bail—18 on 1st January, one on 2nd January, five on 6th January and one on 17th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the annual White Paper on Industry and Employment in Scotland will contain information this year on the progress of the Central Scotland Plan.

A full progress report will be published in the autumn, in a new White Paper that will replace the existing form of document. On the assumption that the Opposition seek the usual supply debate during the summer on Industry and Employment in Scotland, I will make an interim report in the course of that debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what has been the rate of growth of productivity in the wool textile industry since 1961; and how it compares with the rest of the economy.

Output per man in the wool textile industry has risen less strongly than in the economy as a whole since 1961. Productivity comparisons between one year and another are, however, greatly influenced by the business conditions then prevailing. The output of the industry is lower than it was on average in 1961, and this has depressed the growth of productivity, but output is now increasing.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the volume of output per employee in the wool textile industry for 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963.

Absolute figures of the volume of output per employee in the wool textile industry are not available. Comparatively the volume of output per man appears to have been slightly less in 1961 and 1962 than in 1960, but about 3 per cent. more in 1963. These comparisons are, however, greatly influenced by changes in business conditions over short periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what were the figures for production personnel in the wool textile industry in Yorkshire for 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963.

Figures collected by the Wool Industry Bureau of Statistics for production personnel employed in the wool textile industry in Yorkshire and Lancashire are as follows:—

• at 31st December, 1960–131,116
• at 30th December, 1961–127,502
• at 31st December, 1962–121,020
• at 31st December, 1963–116,791.

Separate figures are not compiled but it is estimated that employment in Yorkshire accounts for 95 per cent. of the figures for Yorkshire and Lancashire combined.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what percentage of the wool textile industry's looms were automatic in 1963, and how this compares with 1960.

In December, 1963, 29·6 per cent. of wool textile looms were automatic compared with 25·7 per cent. in December, 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if trunk pipelines will attract grants for building, land, and equipment in development areas.

A trunk pipeline undertaking could be considered for financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts if it would provide additional employment in a development district. The form and extent of assistance for which it would be eligible could be determined only in relation to a specific project.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what decisions were arrived at by the Consultative Committee of the European Free Trade Association at its recent meeting in Basle; and if he will make a statement.

The E.F.T.A. Consultative Committee is an Advisory body; it provides a forum in which representatives of the main sectors of economic life can exchange views on E.F.T.A. affairs. Subjects discussed at the recent meeting in Basle include various aspects of the E.F.T.A. rules of competition, non-tariff barriers to trade and E.F.T.A.'s information policy. The views expressed by members of the Committee will be fully taken into account in the Association's further work on these subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when the next meeting of the Economic Development Committee of the European Free Trade Association will be held; and if he will make a statement on the work so far done by this Committee.

I expect the second meeting of the Economic Development Committee to take place in June. Until this has taken place I have nothing to add to the reply about the Committee's work which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 6th February.

asked the Minister of Transport what measures he is taking to improve the intake of Merchant Service cadets; and whether he is satisfied with the present methods of entry.

It is primarily for the shipping industry to decide on ways of increasing the intake of cadets if this is thought desirable. There are several methods of entry into the Merchant Navy and it is good both for the cadets and the industry that this should be so. I have no reason to believe that these methods do not produce satisfactory officers. I should mention that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Science, and my right hop. Friend are discussing with representatives of shipowners and officers, and with the navigation schools, the possibility of providing greater opportunities for further education for Merchant Navy cadets.

asked the Minister of Transport if he aware that some lorry drivers exceed the present statutory regulations, in some cases driving for 17 to 19 hours at a stretch; and, bearing in mind the dangers this presents to other road users, what new measures he proposes to take to prevent it.

I agree that the law is broken despite the enforcement efforts of the licensing authorities. The problem is difficult, but I am considering a number of lines of attack on it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now take steps to ensure that lorries are compulsorily tested from time to time and that they carry a certificate of road worthiness.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Knutsford (Sir W. Bromley-Davenport) on the 29th April. I should add that, while the Certificate of road worthiness is useful it must of necessity relate primarily to the date when it is issued.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the Metropolitan Police towed away vehicles from outside school entrances while the schools were used as polling stations in recent local government elections, he will now introduce regulations to permit the same procedure on normal schooldays.

The regulations as they are enable the police to remove vehicles left on any road so as to be likely to cause danger to other road users, or which contravene statutory waiting restrictions or are causing serious obstruction.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received the Report of the Wales and Monmouthshire Transport Users' Committee on the alternative omnibus services instituted between Brecon and Newtown as an alternative to the rail services which were closed; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. I have not completed my consideration of their conclusions.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what was the cost of acts of vandalism committed last year in railway trains and on other kinds of railway property, respectively;(2) what was the cost of acts of vandalism committed last year in railway trains and on other kinds of railway property in Scotland.

The cost of repairing damage caused by vandalism on British Railways trains and property in 1963 was about £150,000 of which some £50,000 relates to Scotland. Damage to rolling stock accounted for about £95,000 of the total, £30,000 of it in Scotland. British Railways estimate that the total cost to them of acts of vandalism—including the expense of preventive action, loss of business and other consequential effects—could well be of the order of £500,000 a year. The Railways launched a big anti-vandalism campaign last February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if free depreciation applies to trunk pipelines in development districts.

Yes, if the pipeline is used for an industrial purpose as defined in Section 38(8) of the Finance Act, 1963.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed full and part time by the National Economic Development Council on 1st May in 1962, 1963, and 1964, respectively.

The information is as follows:

		Full-time staff	Part-time staff
1st May, 1962	…	20	4
1st May, 1963	…	73	6
1st May, 1964	…	93	8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the expenditure on the National Economic Development Council during 1963–64; what are the estimates for expenditure on it during 1964–65; and what is the percentage increase in the estimates for 1964–65 over expenditure in 1963–64.

£159,200; £247,000; and 55 per cent.