asked the Minister of Labour how often his Department requires a youth employment officer to interview individually prospective school leavers per term; what is the required duration of the interview; and how often a youth employment officer is expected to give a school talk.

The guidance given by the Central Youth Employment Executive to Youth Employment Officers recommends at least one individual interview for each school leaver. Interviews should normally last 15–20 minutes, but where necessary they may be longer and more than one interview may be given. The frequency of school talks depends to some extent on the wishes of schools in the area, but Youth Employment Officers aim to give at least one talk to all pupils some months before they leave.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the discussions he has recently held with his Industrial Health Advisory Committee on occupational hygiene.

I had a full discussion of occupational hygiene services with my Industrial Health Advisory Committee on 12th May. The first requirement is to establish the extent and nature of the need for such services. It was decided that an advisory panel of the Committee should be set up to consider how best to carry out a further survey of needs in this field, taking into account the points which had been raised in discussion. I shall give further consideration to policy on this subject in conjunction with the Industrial Health Advisory Committee when the results of this further survey are available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many complaints he has received over the past two years from trainee personnel concerning the lack of proper training facilities in the Government's industrial rehabilitation centres in South Yorkshire.

Training is not provided at industrial rehabilitation units where the courses have two main aims; to restore employment confidence by providing mental and physical toning-up and an opportunity for gradual adjustment to working conditions, and to assess suitability for particular types of work; sometimes the unit recommends training, which may then be provided at a Government Training Centre or other training establishment. From time to time individuals disagree with the unit's recommendation in their case, but I have no separate record of these cases. If the Member will give me details of any particular case which he has in mind I shall have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Labour how many group training associations have applied under the scheme of 80 per cent. grants to help in the promotional costs of group trading schemes for apprentices in industry.

Five.

asked the Minister of Labour how many employees who have left Ford's Dagenham plant in each of the last three months have signed on at the various Essex and Kent employment exchanges; and how many have obtained work at the same plant in the same periods.

I regret that this information asked for in the first part of the Question is not readily available. During the three four-week periods ended 8th April, 6th May and 3rd June our local officers placed 219. 177 and 178 workers respectively at the Dagenham factory.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the increase in the number of female employees of 18 years and under in the Southern and Eastern Region and in Scotland, respectively, in each of the past three years.

Separate figures are available only for girls under 18. In the Eastern and Southern Region the number of girls in employment rose by 1,000 between mid-1960 and mid-1961, by 8,700 between mid-1961 and mid-1962, and by 3,900 between mid-1962 and mid-1963. In Scotland the total fell by 1,900 between mid-1960 and mid-1961, rose by 2,600 between mid-1961 and mid-1962 and rose by 4,200 between mid-1962 and mid-1963.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the increase in the number of male employees in Great Britain and in Scotland, respectively, in each of the past three years.

Between 1960 and 1961 the estimated number of male employees in Great Britain rose by 140,000 and in Scotland fell by 5,000. Between 1961 and 1962 the number rose by 170,000 in Great Britain and by 13,000 in Scotland. There was a rise in Great Britain of 60,000 and a fall in Scotland of 9,000 between 1962 and 1963.

asked the Minister of Labour how many cases were heard in the Industrial Court in 1963 and the early part of 1964; and what plans he has to extend the use of this and similar courts.

The Industrial Court heard 50 cases in 1963 and 24 cases between 1st January and the end of May this year. Employers and trade unions are fully aware of the facilities which exist for settling by arbitration differences which cannot be resolved by negotiation and I do not think that any special measures are necessary to promote the use of these facilities.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed in Hull in May, 1951, and May, 1964, respectively; and what is his estimate of the number of Hull unemployed who during the last 13 years, owing to unemployment in the city, have left to find employment in the south-east of England or elsewhere.

3,187 and 3,443. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many adults and juveniles are being trained or retrained at the Hull Government Training Centre; and what estimate he has made of the numbers who, when their training is completed, will leave to find jobs away from home, because of the unemployment in the city.

There are 63 adults and no juveniles in training at the Hull Government Training Centre at present. The unemployment position in Hull has improved considerably over the last few months and I have no reason to expect undue difficulty in finding jobs for trainees locally.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed workers in Scotland have obtained employment in London and South-East England in each of the last five years; and what estimates he has made of the numbers of unemployed who will similarly move over the next 10 years.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. I am not prepared to make a forecast for the next 10 years.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed workers in Scotland have obtained employment in the Midlands of England over each of the last five years.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed workers in Scotland over the last six months have obtained employment outwith Scotland.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed workers in Scotland he estimates will obtain employment outwith Scotland in 1964.

I am not prepared to make a forecast of this kind.

asked the Minister of Labour what statistics are kept by his Department relating to the movement of insured workers from one region to another.

Inter-regional migration tables are produced annually by my Department showing, in respect of the year June to June, net movements, for males and females separately, into and out of each administrative region, and are published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. These tables are based on information supplied by the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance from their comprehensive National Insurance records, relating to a 1 per cent. sample of all employees including those who were unemployed and those who, although in employment, were temporarily absent from work due to holidays, sickness or other causes.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his estimate of the migration from the Bishop Auckland travel to work area between 1st January, 1960, and 31st December, 1963.

I regret that this information is not available in this form. The estimates of migration of employees for which our Department is responsible are compiled only for Ministry of Labour Regions.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vocational training establishments are available for maladjusted, physically or mentally handicapped and educationally subnormal school leavers, respectively; and how many places are available for boys and girls, respectively.

For disabled young persons over school-leaving age who might benefit by vocational training and who cannot be placed in employment where any necessary training is given on the job, facilities are available at the Government Training Centres, of which there are at present 19, and, under the sponsorship of my Ministry, at three residential training colleges for the disabled and at technical and commercial colleges. No specific number of places under those arrangements is assigned especially to young persons but the number of applications received is not large. At the last count (June, 1963) the number of such trainees was 62 boys and 54 girls. Separate figures are not available to show whether any of these had been maladjusted or educationally subnormal. A number of voluntary organisations and local authorities provide training at various levels for young people in the categories mentioned in the Question but comprehensive statistics are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many industrial rehabilitation units in the United Kingdom have special wings or departments for the assessment of the industrial or training potential of maladjusted, physically or mentally handicapped and educationally sub-normal school leavers; and how many of each category can be so assessed each year.

Apart from the blind, for which there are two special residential centres, the industrial rehabilitation service provides no separate facilities for any particular disability, or any special group of disabled person. There are 1,900 places at the 17 Industrial Rehabilitation Units throughout the country; the 11,906 people who entered these Units during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1963, included 1,081 under 18 years of age. A breakdown into age-groups of the various types of disability is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in the Eastern and Southern Region, the Midlands, and in Scotland, respectively, were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest available date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

On 20th April, 66,098 disabled persons were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, in the Eastern and Southern Region, 102,555 in the Midlands and 63,981 in Scotland. On 11th May. 1964, the number of disabled persons registered as unemployed represented respectively 6·3, 5·8 and 12·9 per cent. of these totals.

asked the hon. Member for Holland-with-Boston, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will inquire from the wholesalers if the chickens supplied for consumption in the dining rooms and restaurants of the House of Commons are factory-fed or home bred.

No. As I said in my Answer to the hon. Member on 20th April, the Department purchases only from reputable wholesalers and has careful regard to the quality and price of the goods purchased. Amongst the varieties of poultry recently purchased are single poussin, double poussin, spring chickens, roasting chickens and capons. Because our relations with our wholesalers are based on trust, it is not the policy of the Committee to investigate the sources of supply of their wholesalers, neither is it the practice of the Committee to give publicity to any firms by announcing their names in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the application of President Johnson's proposal, to which Her Majesty's Government have agreed, for a verified freeze on strategic nuclear missiles to the proposed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation multilateral nuclear force provided that such freeze agreement was linked with an agreement for non-dissemination of nuclear weapons.

Her Majesty's Government will be very ready to participate in an exploration of President Johnson's proposals for a freeze on strategic nuclear delivery vehicles in the light of the details presented to the Geneva Conference, when the Conference takes up this item. We hope that this exploration will be fruitful. Mr. Rusk has stated that a multilateral force would be protected under the American freeze proposals. The conclusion of an agreement on non-dissemination is, of course, a separate matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the recommendations made in the report of the United Nations Committee of Experts, of which Sir Hugh Foot is rapporteur, on the future of South Africa.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on this subject on 30th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he expects to enter into discussion with the United Nations Secretary-General on the earmarking of British units for United Nations peace-keeping purposes.

I would refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave him in answer to his Question on 12th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he entertained at public expense Señor Jose Solis, Secretary General of the Spanish Falange party.

Senor Solis came to this country on a private visit from 4th May to 7th May. As he is a senior Minister in a Government with which we maintain friendly relations, the opportunity was taken to offer him official hospitality by way of a luncheon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new initiative he proposes to take this summer towards the further relaxation of East-West tensions, and particularly towards a solution of the German problem.

Her Majesty's Government will not fail to take any action which could contribute to the further relaxation of East-West tension or to a solution of the German problem, subject to the conditions which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined in his speech to the House on 15th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation now seeks to concert the policies of the member nations in relation to areas of the world outside the treaty area.

The practice of seeking in the North Atlantic Council a harmonisation of the policies of member nations in regions outside the North Atlantic Treaty Area has been in force for many years, in the spirit of Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty. This practice was confirmed by the adoption of the report of the Committee of Three in 1956, and Her Majesty's Government attach importance to making as much use of it as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, having regard to the uncovering of Russian microphones in the United States Embassy in Moscow, what steps he is taking to secure that no similar microphones are installed in the British Embassy in Moscow or in the British Embassies in other Iron Curtain countries; and whether he will make a statement.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the approach recently made by Mr. Dean Rusk to the West German Foreign Minister in support of the claim by Yugoslavia for compensation for Yugoslav victims of Nazism; and whether he will associate Her Majesty's Government with this approach.

I have seen reports of a message sent by Mr. Rusk to Dr. Schroeder but I have no precise details of its contents. The question of compensation is a matter for negotiation between the Yugoslav and Federal German Governments and I do not consider that intervention by Her Majesty's Government would be helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether agreement has yet been reached with the Federal German Government in respect of compensation due to victims of the Nazis.

Negotiations have reached an advanced stage and my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is co-operating with the West German justice authorities in their inquiry into the murder of seven British commandos who, with forty Dutchmen, were murdered at Manthausen in September, 1944.

No. The Federal German authorities have not approached us on this matter, and I have no confirmation of the allegation that seven British Commandos were murdered in these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many United Nations observers are now stationed in the Royalist-held areas of the Yemen; and what reports they have now submitted about Egyptian bombing attacks in these areas.

None. The only United Nations statements about this bombing are contained in the five reports which the Secretary-General has made on the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission. Copties of these are in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what further encroachment his Department propose to make upon the open spaces of the Royal Parks.

Our policy is to manage the Royal Parks in the interest of their enjoyment by the general public, and encroachments upon the open spaces of the Parks, such as facilities for refreshments, recreation and the management of the Parks, are accepted only when they serve this purpose. We have no proposals of this kind in mind other than the restaurants, kiosks and sports facilities already announced.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the total cost to public funds of all the grace-and-favour residences for which he was responsible in the year 1954; and what is the estimated cost for 1964–65.

Expenditure for the year 1954–55 was £52,029; the estimated cost for 1964–65 is £29,250.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proof of identity and nationality is required by National Assistance officials when considering applications.

Under the National Assistance (Administration of Assistance) Regulations, 1948, the evidence of identity or nationality required in any particular case is left to the Board's discretion. The Board's officers generally ask for an acceptable proof of identity, for example a pension book or national insurance card. Evidence of nationality is required only in exceptional circumstances.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensioners in Scotland applied for assistance to the National Assistance Board in each calendar year since 1951; and what percentages these yearly totals represent of the retirement pensioner households in Scotland.

The following table shows, for December of each year since 1951, the numbers of retirement pensioners in Scotland who were receiving supplementary grants from the National Assistance Board, and the estimated percentage of retirement pensioner households with such grants:

Year			Retirement pensioners with supplementary grants	Percentage of retirement pensioner households with such grants
1951	…	…	59,000	18
1952	…	…	66,000	20
1953	…	…	74,000	22
1954	…	…	80,000	23
1955	…	…	66,000	19
1956	…	…	70,000	19
1957	…	…	73,000	20*
1958	…	…	63,000	16
1959	…	…	72,000	18
1960	…	…	83,000	21
1961	…	…	81,000	20
1962	…	…	89,000	21
1963	…	…	88,000	20
* The basis on which the total number of retirement pensioner households in Scotland is calculated was changed in 1957 as a result of the centralisation in Newcastle of the payment of retirement pensions. The figures from 1957 onwards are therefore not strictly comparable with those for earlier years.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in view of the anomalies to which the earnings rule gives rise, both in the case of widows and in the case of those who have reached retirement age, and in view of the continuing shortage of skilled and semi-skilled workers in some parts of the country which could be eased if the earnings rule did not apply, he will now take all necessary steps to bring about the abolition of the earnings rule.

No. To abolish the earnings rule would cost £110 million in the first full year and would require a considerable increase in contributions. It is debatable whether abolition would ease labour shortages. While some pensioners might be encouraged to do more work, other people now deferring retirement might be content to retire and rely on part-time work which with the pension would provide the same level of income.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proportion of insured workers are paid by their employers when absent from their work owing to sickness; and to what extent they are so paid.

An inquiry in 1961 showed that about 57 per cent. of insured men and 59 per cent. of insured women were covered by employers' sick pay schemes. The arrangements for payment, and the amounts, vary widely.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by what method his local officers compute the pre-accident weekly earnings of insured persons, when assessing their entitlement to payments under the Colliery Workers' Supplementary Compensation Scheme.

Although my right: hon. Friend's Department pays this supplement in certain cases, it has no responsibility for determining the pre-accident earnings. This is a matter for the National Committee and the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many appeals against pneumoconiosis assessments were lodged in North Staffordshire in general and Newcastle-under-Lyme in particular in 1962 and 1963; and in what proportions of cases the appeal tribunal varied the assessment favourably to the applicant.

Records are not kept in a form which enables this information to be given for particular counties or parts of counties. The two areas quoted are, however, served by the Stoke-on-Trent pneumoconiosis medical panel. In each of the years 1962 and 1963 this panel gave over 3,000 assessment decisions. In 1962 there were 14 appeals, of which 5 led to a variation of the assessment in the appellant's favour. In 1963 the corresponding figures were 10 and 5.

asked the Minister of Pension:"and National Insurance if he will make a statement on the rights of retirement pensioners who have gone abroad either temporarily or permanently since the National Insurance (Increase of Benefit and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1963, and later amendments and developments in this phase of social legislation.

Any retirement pensioner who goes abroad either temporarily or permanently is entitled, unless other arrangements are made under a reciprocal agreement with the country concerned, to receive his pension at the rate which was current at the time when he qualified for it or at the time when he ceased to be resident in this country, whichever is the later.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will review the unemployment benefit for seasonal workers, as the present regulations bear heavily on a comparatively small number of people.

No. The National Insurance Scheme provides unemployment benefit for a limited period as compensation for loss of earnings. It would be unfair to the general body of contributors if seasonal workers continued to receive benefit, year after year, without limitation during periods when they have no expectation of earning.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has yet decided to make further provision by way of increased pensions or otherwise for limbless ex-service men in order to make their pensions more commensurate with the increased cost of living.

The Government have made a number of increases in the basic rates of war disablement pension which have more than compensated for the rise in the cost of living. Limbless pensioners, like war pensioners generally, have benefited from these increases.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent a general practitioner is entitled to charge a patient on his list for issuing a prescription which is not within those permitted within the National Health Service.

No charge may be made.

asked the Minister of Health if the Fraser Committee has within its purview the provision of locums in general practice; and what estimate has been made of the total sum at present paid out by general practitioners to provide themselves with locum and night call services.

Yes. I regret that the sums spent on locum and night call services are not separately identified in the figures used to calculate the central pool of remuneration.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received concerning the adverse effects on health of excessive urban and industrial noise; and what steps he proposes to take to minimise it.

My right hon. Friend has had no representations on the general effects of noise on health, which were discussed in the Report of the Committee on the Problem of Noise. Special problems connected with noise are being considered by the Ministers concerned in consultation as necessary with local authorities and with industry.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to ensure that bone meal fertiliser is not a possible source of typhoid epidemics either through vegetables and animals or through persons handling it; and whether he will make a statement.

I am advised that no case of typhoid has ever been traced to bone meal fertiliser, and that no typhoid organisms have ever been found in it.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in addition to the measures taken to trace the source of typhoid infection and to isolate the victims, he will consider the possibility of providing widespread T.A.B. inoculations in a stricken area with a view to containing the long-term threat to the community.

This is a matter for local decision; but I am advised that where the source and mode of spread of the infection are known, inoculation would not assist in checking an outbreak.

asked the Minister of Health how many women have received psychiatric treatment under the National Health Service during the past five years; and what was the proportion of married to single women for each year, and for each age-group.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what steps his Department is taking to re-emphasise the importance of personal hygiene in combating infection.

As in previous years, advice on the importance of personal hygiene, particularly in relation to the handling of food, has been given in notes issued to the Press and producers of radio and television programmes. The attention of local authorities is being drawn to the posters and other publicity material which are available to them free of charge. Television fillers on food hygiene are already available to the British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television Companies and they are being urged to show them as frequently as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the rise in venereal disease, especially among young people, he is satisfied with the present system of tracing contacts; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has this under review at present.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the cost to the National Health Service of treatment for mental, psychoneurotic and personality disorders in each of the past four years.

So far as the cost can be separately identified, approximate figures are as follows:

				£m.
1959–60	About	…	…	92
1960–61	About	…	…	98
1961–62	About	…	…	104
1962–63	About	…	…	111

Later information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many foreign imports of food and other commodities were detected and stopped on the ground that they were likely to cause infection during each of the last five years; of what kind they were; and how they were then disposed of;

(2) what steps he takes to prevent and limit the infection of British people and food by foreign food imports and by foreign immigrants, and with what results;

(3) if he will make a statement on the steps which he takes to preserve the standards of sanitation and food hygiene in Britain with a view to preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases;

(4) if he will state his procedure on the import, storage and distribution of tinned and other food, indicating the types of food, its sources, and the period of storage; if he will give details of the method of examination and the qualifications of the examiners; and what reports he receives before and after the release of such food for human consumption.

The measures necessary for the control of imported food and of any commodities likely to be a source of infection, for the prevention of the sale of unfit food, for the maintenance of proper hygienic standards in handling food and for general standards of sanitation in their area, are carried out under statute by the local authorities. Detailed information on the action taken by these authorities is not collated centrally, but I am satisfied that the surveillance they exercise constitutes the best practicable safeguard of the public health.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the extent and nature of his supervision of the canning, packing and storage of food imported from abroad into Great Britain for human consumption, indicating the qualifications of the examiners employed for those purposes.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through his veterinary officers satisfies himself about standards of inspection, and hygiene in the preparation and packing before recognising an official certificate for imported meat or meat products. There are no similar arrangements for other food. Imported food and food stores are subject to inspection by the appropriate local authority.

asked the Minister of Health how many epidemics of typhoid fever occurred in Britain during each of the last five years; where they occurred; how long they lasted in each case; how many people were affected, and to what extent; what steps he took to ascertain the cause and to terminate the epidemic in each case; and what were the results.

Four major outbreaks, all in 1963.The first outbreak affected 72 people who had recently returned from Zermatt, with one secondary case in a family contact. There was one death. The cases were widely scattered throughout Great Britain. Onset of illness ranged from 21st February to 8th April. My Department got into touch with the Swiss Ministry of Health about the cause.The other three outbreaks took place at Harlow and South Shields and in the Bedford area, each affecting 20 to 30 people. There were no deaths. In the first two, onset of illness covered a period of about three weeks; in the third about seven weeks. These outbreaks were investigated by the local Medical Officers of Health, and all were attributed to corned beef.In all cases control measures were taken by the Medical Officers of Health, and these undoubtedly contributed to the termination of the outbreaks.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of typhoid and of suspected typhoid have been reported to him in England during the last three months, indicating where and when they were reported, their causes and the present condition and number of patients.

TYPHOID FEVER NOTIFICATIONS
Week ending			Number of Cases	Local Authority Area
7th March	…	…	2	Hackney M.B. (1), Watford R.D. (1).
14th March	…	…	3	Hackney M.B. (2), Swanscombe U.D. (1).
21st March	…	…	2	Stoke-on-Trent C.B. (1), Birmingham C.B. (1).
28th March	…	…	—
4th April	…	…	3	Watford R.D. (3).
11th April	…	…	3	Watford R.D. (2), Hampstead M.B. (1).
18th April	…	…	2	Watford R.D. (2).
25th April	…	…	—
2nd May	…	…	12	Bury C.B. (2), Leicester C.B. (1), Clutton R.D. (Somerset) (2), Long Ashton R.D. (Somerset) (2), Chertsey U.D. (2), Walton and Weybridge U.D. (1), Woking U.D. (2).
9th May	…	…	3	Poplar M.B. (1), Barnet U.D. (1), Long Ashton R.D. (Somerset) (1).
16th May	…	…	6	Watford R.D. (1), Rochdale C.B. (1), Loughborough B. (1), Woking U.D. (1), Port of London (2).
23rd May	…	…	1	Romford B. (1).
30th May	…	…	2	Hatfield R.D. (1), Gt. Harwood U.D. (1).*
6th June	…	…	1	Walthamstow B. (1).
* Now thought not be be Typhoid Fever.
Eighteen of these cases probably contracted infection abroad; 9 were associated with a hospital outbreak; 4 were probably infected within the household; and in 8, the source is unknown. One case notified as typhoid fever was not confirmed.

asked the Minister of Health if he will revise the system whereby allocation of money to hospitals must be spent in the financial year or lost, which leads to extravagance and wasteful spending; if he will allow unspent balances to be carried forward to the hospital concerned; and if he will make a statement.

No. My right hon. Friend is constantly seeking, with the hospital authorities, better ways of obtaining value for money and discouraging waste: but the arrangements must comply with the accounting arrangements laid down by Parliament.

asked the Minister of Health what plans exist for extending hospital provision in the Gravesend area; and what is the present

Forty cases of which details are given below.Although there is full consultation between the Ministry of Health and medical officers of health at all stages, day-to-day information on the condition of individual patients, confirmed or suspected of typhoid fever, is not available centrally,number of patients on the waiting list for admission to Gravesend hospital.

The Gravesend and North Kent Hospital will ultimately be developed into a small district general hospital. The answer to the second part of the Question is 805 at 31st March last.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement about the progress being made in the bringing into full commission of the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City.

244 of the 315 beds are now in use, and 10 special care cots. As more nurses are recruited, the remaining beds will be brought into use. The commissioning of the hospital is necessarily a gradual process and every effort is being made to complete it as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now name a date for starting the construction of the new maternity unit for North Staffordshire.

Work should start in the autumn; some delay has been caused by the inclusion of additional precautions against mining subsidence, shown to be necessary following a more comprehensive geological survey.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food how many tins of corned beef have been released on the market by his Department in the last month to relieve the beef shortage; how old were the stocks so released; what tests were made as to the edibility of the corned beef; what is the estimated time such stocks remain in edible condition; and whether he is satisfied that adequate stocks exist to counter similar shortages in beef supplies in the near future.

As regards the first three parts of this Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on Wednesday, 3rd June. Releases from Government stocks are made solely for the purpose of turning over those stocks and not to relieve any shortage of beef. There is no set period of storage life, but the meat is not released from the Government's stocks for human consumption unless it is in good condition.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tins of corned beef have been disposed of by his Department, from the emergency reserve, for sale to the public since 1st January, 1963; how long the tins had been in stock; what precautions were taken to ensure that the meat did not suffer from black staining, or have a distinct metallic taste as the result of being too long in the tins; and in what way the interests of the consumer were considered in making such transactions.

As regards the first two parts of his Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton) on 3rd June. The tests carried out before meat is released from Government stocks are designed to safeguard the interests of consumers. Any consignment that appeared on sampling to be seriously affected by black staining or metallic taste but was otherwise wholesome, would be disposed of for manufacture and not for retail sale.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the quantity of corned beef held by his Department as a strategic reserve, and the annual disbursement of these stocks to private retailers.

Since these stocks are part of Government stocks held for defence purposes, I cannot disclose the total quantity held. The average rate of disposal is 1,000 tons a month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stocks of imported corned beef are now in store in Great Britain; where they are situated; what is their weight, nature, content and source of origin; when they were last scientifically examined; what were the results of such examination; and what are his plans for their retention or for their distribution for human consumption.

I assume the hon. and learned Member is referring to the Government stocks which are maintained for defence purposes, and I regret that I cannot give details of their extent or location.The sources of origin are Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The stocks are turned over regularly. They are examined and sampled by a firm of public surveyors who are expert in assessing the condition of the meat. This examination and sampling is a continuous process and ensures both that the stocks are always in sound condition for further long-term storage and that the meat released in the course of turning over the stocks is suitable for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the rapid increase in beef prices and their effect on the cost of living, he will, with a view to protecting the interests of the British housewife, institute an inquiry into meat prices and other financial aspects of the meat trade; and if he will make a statement.

The Verdon-Smith Report published in February dealt with these questions in considerable detail and I cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by a further inquiry at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what types of foodstuffs have been stored for or on behalf of his Department for possible contingencies for over five years; how long each type has been in store; and what steps he takes to ensure that the replacement of stocks is carried out often enough to ensure that the condition of foodstuffs is reasonably good when reaching the public.

It has not been the practice, in the interests of national security, to give the information asked for in the first part of the Question.All stocks, both under and over five years of age, which are turned over with the trade and which may subsequently reach the public are regularly inspected and sampled to ensure that they are in good condition.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the stocks of food held by his Department, together with their dates of origin.

It has not been the practice in the interests of national security to give such information as is asked for by the hon. Member about the strategic food reserves held by the Government.So far as stocks of canned corned beef are concerned I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 3rd June to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms in England and Wales have now been declared ineligible for the Hill Cow Subsidy Scheme which were formerly eligible for such subsidy.

Of the 14,357 farms in England and Wales for which hill cow subsidy was paid in 1962, 787 have been declared ineligible to date as a result of last year's review of eligible land. 616 other farms have been declared to be partly eligible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what prospects he sees for closer links with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on agricultural matters as a result of the visits he and the Secretary of State for Scotland made recently to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the occasion of the British Agricultural Fair in Moscow; and whether he will make a statement.

At the invitation of the Soviet Government, I visited the Soviet Union from 12th to 21st May. I had meetings with Mr. Kosygin, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R., with Mr. Volovchenko, the Soviet Minister of Agriculture and with other Ministers and senior officials in Moscow and in the Republics of the Ukraine and Georgia. These and other discussions ranged widely over topics of mutual interest in the spheres of agriculture, horticulture and fisheries. I visited several state, collective and experimental farms, and scientific institutes. I, and the senior scientific advisers who accompanied me, were able to see at first-hand much of interest in agricultural research and practice in the Soviet Union.One of the matters which Mr. Kosygin discussed with me was the scope for closer Anglo-Soviet co-operation in the field of agricultural research. It was suggested that there could be mutual advantage from a fuller exchange of scientific information and other forms of technical co-operation in the various branches of agricultural and horticultural research. Her Majesty's Government attaches importance to extending effective cooperation in this as in other scientific fields and is arranging for the possibilities to be explored further with the competent Soviet authorities.On 18th May, I opened the British Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow and was glad to have the opportunity personally to congratulate the Organising Committee who have made it such a resounding success. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, who also visited the Exhibition, and I were encouraged by the keen interest taken in the Exhibition by high-ranking Soviet Ministers who after seeing it instructed agricultural specialists from all parts of the Soviet Union to visit it. They are impressed with the achievements of British agriculture and were anxious to learn more through the exhibits of our livestock, machinery, seeds and chemicals for agriculture. The Soviet authorities are anxious, as in our own industry, to follow up the many contacts which were established with U.K. firms. The discussions we have had indicate that there are good prospects for increased trade in agricultural products and equipment.I should like to express appreciation to the Soviet Government for making the visit possible and for the warm welcome which we received throughout our visit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to make it obligatory on all manufacturers of canned food to place on the tins in a conspicuous place the date on which the food was placed in the containers and the date by which it would be safe for the public to consume it.

This matter is being examined by the Food Standards Committee in its current review of the labelling of food. My right hon. Friend will consider it in the light of the Report and of any comments made to him when the Report has been published.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the reasons for the increase in the price of meat and bacon, as revealed in the Index of Retail Prices, of 10 per cent. between January, 1962, and April, 1964; what increase has there been since then; and what was the comparable figure in October, 1951.

The rise in retail prices of meat since January, 1962, was generally in line with the increase in other food prices up to March. The rise in the April index reflects the rise in carcase meat prices especially beef, resulting from the reduced level of imported supplies. More recent detailed information is not yet available. It is estimated that the comparable increase in the index of retail prices between January, 1952, and January, 1962, was about 44 per cent. It is not practicable to carry the estimate back to October, 1951.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the reasons for the increase in the prices of butter, margarine, lard, and cooking fat of about 2s. 6d. in the £ since January, 1962; and what was the increase in the same sub-group expressed in the same way, between January, 1952, and January, 1962.

The increase was largely due to a rise in the price of imported butter, which was very low in January 1962; for example, the wholesale price of New Zealand butter was 285s. per cwt. in that month, compared with 335s. in April 1964 and 410s. in January, 1960.The comparable increase between January, 1952, and January, 1962, was about 4s. 3d, in the £.

asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a further statement on the situation in the meat trade.

On the present supply position I would refer the hon. Member to the information which I gave in reply to the Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir A. Hurd) on 4th May.As I indicated in the agreed statement following the meeting with the Joint Consultative Council for the Meat Trade on 26th May, there is a shortage of beef but a good supply of lamb, pork and poultry, and supplies of meat available on our home market are broadly in line with those available at this time last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to ban the slaughter for export of in-calf cows.

No, except where veterinary examination shows them unfit for travel. As I said in reply to the question by the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Kenyon) on 5th May, while some breeding stocks have been slaughtered there are indications that the number of dairy herd replacements is increasing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many factory farms he visited while he was in Russia on an official visit; and what inquiries he made as to the extent to which antibiotics, tranquillisers, oestrogens and arsenical compounds are used to promote the growth of the animals reared in them as is done in Great Britain.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what subsidies are paid to those engaged in rearing animals by factory farm methods; and what was the amount paid in 1963 to persons engaged in factory farming.

Animals which are eligible under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme and the calf subsidy scheme get the appropriate subsidy payments, irrespective of the methods by which they may have been reared. It is neither feasible nor necessary to estimate how much was paid to producers engaged in any particular system of animal husbandry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why oestrogens are injected into animals reared in factory farms; and if he is satisfied that this treatment has no secondary effect on those who consume the food produced in this way.

Synthetic oestrogens are administered to fattening stock to increase the rate of liveweight gain and efficiency of feed conversion.I am advised that the evidence available does not show any hazard to consumers from the edible tissues of animals so treated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is he is aware that the Index of Retail Prices reveals that the figure for the food group is the highest on record; and what are the reasons for this.

The Retail Food Index normally shows a seasonal rise at this time of year, but at 107·4 the April figure is less than one per cent. higher than a year ago. The rise of one and a half points between March and April is due mainly to increases in the prices of liquid milk, beef, lamb and fresh vegetables.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the reasons for the increase of almost 4s. in the £ in the prices of sugar, preserves and confectionery from January, 1962, to April, 1964; and if he will give the comparable increase, expressed in similar terms, between January, 1952, and January, 1962.

There were two main reasons for this increase: first, the change in the world price of sugar which, because of poor crops in Cuba and in Europe, was £65 10s. per ton in April, 1964, compared with £21 10s. per ton in January, 1962, with peaks of over £100 per ton meanwhile; and second, the introduction of 15 per cent. purchase tax on chocolate and sugar confectionery.The comparable increase between January, 1952, and January, 1962, was about 5s. 6d. in the £.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the discussions with the Railways Board regarding the curtailment of train services for the distribution of fish; and if he will make a statement.

I am not a party to these discussions; the Railways Board's proposals are a matter for the Board and the fish trade.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the rise in the percentage of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere; and what effect this increase is likely to have on public health.

Disregarding fluctuations caused by weather conditions there has for at least the last 10 years been no detectable trend upwards or downwards in the ground level concentration of sulphur dioxide. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that a high proportion of ratepayers in West Sussex exist on fixed incomes and are concerned about the rise in rates levied by the West Sussex County Council: and whether, within the framework of his present review of the national rating system, he will give particular consideration to the problems of West Sussex, in view of the large number of ratepayers living on fixed incomes.

My right hon. Friend has no information about the proportion in West Sussex. But, wherever they live, ratepayers living on fixed incomes cannot fail to be concerned about any increase in rates and in their review the Government will give particular attention to them in the light of the report of the Allen Committee, when that is available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure the highest possible standards of cleanliness and to encourage the provision of adequate washing facilities in public lavatories.

This is a matter primarily for the local authorities. But it is the Department's practice to ask them to consider the provision of washing facilities whenever these are not shown in plans of public lavatories submitted for the purpose of loan saction.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why the index figure for housing, as shown in the Ministry of Labour Gazette, stands at an all-time record of 1138 for April, 1964; whether he will state the comparable figure for April, 1952; and what are the reasons for the increase.

Because of changes in January, 1956, in the composition of the housing group of the index of rent prices it is not possible to give a comparable figure for April, 1952. The comparable figure for January, 1956, was 71T. Taking January, 1956, as 100 the figure for the rent and rates group for April, 1952, was 86·6. The index covers owner occupiers as well as tenants of local authority and privately rented houses and it takes account of expenditure on rates, on maintenance and decorations as well as rents and rent equivalents for owner-occupiers. The cost of providing and maintaining housing of all kinds has gone up over the past 12 years for many reasons, including the increased cost of labour and materials and pressure of demand arising from a growing population and higher living standards.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what were the average loan charge, the average interest rate, and the average rent, all stated in weekly terms, for a two-bedroomed and three-bedroomed council house in each year from 1951 to 1963 in the City of Manchester.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to supply information related to particular types of houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number and kind of defence contracts Her Majesty's Government have placed during the last 12 months; how many and which have been placed in Scotland and England, respectively; and what has been the approximate number of workers employed in each place on such contracts.

DEFENCE CONTRACTS PLACED IN 1963–1964
—	Scotland	England and Wales
Shipbuilding and repairs	363	5,359
Aircraft, aero engines and aircraft equipment	1,199	23,463
Electronics and guided weapons	345	14,285
Weapons and ammunition	195	4,021
Vehicles	69	3,479
Chemicals	151	3,542
Mechanical, electrical and other engineering	228	7,963
Food, clothing and all other	1,686	21,876
TOTAL	4,236	83,988

I regret that the figures showing the number of workers employed are not available.

asked the Minister of Aviation what proposals have now been made for the return of the excessive profit made on the Bloodhound contract.

In view of Messrs. Ferranti's agreement to make their records available to the Lang Committee, negotiations on a possible refund have been deferred until Sir John Lang has reported.

asked the Minister of Aviation what financial objectives he has agreed with the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways, implementing the policy laid down in Command Paper No. 1337.

The financial objective set for B.E.A. is an average return on its net assets over the five years from 1963–64 to 1967–68 of 6 per cent. a year after making proper provision for depreciation but before taking account of interest charges. In my letter of 1st January, 1964, to the new Chairman of B.O.A.C. (HANSARD, 5th February, 1964, Cols. 1141–2) I have given B.O.A.C. the immediate task of achieving the break even point after meeting interest and depreciation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the names of the members of the delegation who will be attending the Commonwealth Education Conference in Ottawa in August to September, 1964.

The British delegation will be led by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, and the Secretary for Technical Co-operation. The final composition of the delegation is still under consideration and a full list of names will be published later.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount paid in Income Tax, Profits Tax and Corporation Tax by companies in the public and private sectors of the economy, respectively, excluding tax paid by employees, in the last five years.

In the five years 1959 to 1963 inclusive tax paid by public corporations amounted to £49 million and payments by companies in the private sector to £4,262 million. These figures cover Income Tax, Profits Tax and small amounts of Excess Profits Tax and Excess Profits Levy. Payments of Corporation Duty, which was abolished in 1959, were negligible. The figures exclude tax paid by employees and also Income Tax charged on companies and public corporations but recovered by them by deduction from payments of dividends and interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the maximum pensions, including increases under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1962, payable to persons under the age of 70 who retired on 31st March in each of the years 1960 to 1964 after 40 years' pensionable service from London posts in the Civil Service grades of postman, clerical officer, executive officer, senior executive officer and principal.

The pensions are as follows. London rates of pay have been used for service before 1st January, 1961, and outer London rates since that date.

Grade	Year of Retirement
	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964
	£	£	£	£	£
Postman	292	292	295	306	317
Clerical Officer	399	400	412	430	446
Executive Officer	567	576	582	600	622
Senior E.O.	895	926	942	977	1,021
Principal	1,146	1,188	1,209	1,251	1,305

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the present membership of the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

The present membership of the Committee is as follows:The Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Sellers, M.C. (

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the United Kingdom tariff against steel imports from Canada; and what is the Canadian tariff against steel imports from the United Kingdom.

Imports of steel from Canada into the United Kingdom are admitted duty free provided that they qualify for Commonwealth preference. The Canadian tariff on steel varies from product to product. Their preferential rates, which apply to imports from the United Kingdom, are nil on items which in 1961 accounted for rather more than one-third of our exports of steel and range up to 17½ per cent. on other items.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what were the reasons for the increase in prices of furniture, floor coverings, and soft furnishings of 7 per cent. between January, 1962, and April, 1964; and what was the increase between January, 1952, and January, 1962.

I cannot usefully comment on the reasons for these increases which are not out of line with prices in general. The Government have no general powers to control the prices of goods, and believe that the interests of consumers and producers are usually best served by the interplay of competitive forces.The Ministry of Labour Index of Retail Prices records an increase of 8 per cent. for furniture, floor coverings and soft furnishings between January, 1952, and January, 1962.

the Postmaster-General what is the total estimated cost of building the new post office at Llanidloes; and what greater accommodation it will have that the present post office does not possess.

£29,600, including site cost; an increase of 47 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated saving per annum on the abolition of the Llanidloes post-mark; and how this saving is achieved.

About £100. The transfer of work to Newtown has enabled reductions in staff hours to be made at Llanidloes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to authorise the start of work on the Renfrew by-pass.

The necessary special road scheme and trunk road order have been advertised, and the orders dealing with connecting and side roads will be published shortly. I hope that these necessary statutory processes will be completed in time to allow a start on the scheme next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will extend the terms of reference of the proposed committee of inquiry into the source of the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak to include an investigation of the methods adopted to deal with the outbreak including possible reforms in public health organisation and policy, particularly in the relative powers of initiative of local authorities and the central Government.

No. As I have informed the House today, the object of the inquiry will be to discover the cause of the typhoid epidemic and the means by which it was disseminated; I do not think that it would be necessary or helpful to extend the inquiry in the way suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the event of a typhoid outbreak, he will advise local authorities to issue handbills immediately to citizens in the area concerned, providing detailed advice on personal hygiene and other precautions to be taken.

I have no doubt that local authorities on the advice of their medical officers of health would take immediate steps to provide the people in their areas with all necessary advice. As the hon. Member will know the precautions to be taken have been widely publicised during the present outbreak.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now name the members, in addition to the chairman, Sir David Milne, of the typhoid inquiry; and what are their terms of reference.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my statement in the House today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what stocks of the appropriate drugs and chemicals he has made available to the medical officer of health and his staff in Aberdeen and in the relevant hospitals and nursing homes in and about Aberdeen to enable them to deal with the present typhoid epidemic there.

As indicated in my replies of 3rd and 5th June to the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs (Dr. A. Thompson) adequate stocks of drugs and chemicals are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will specify the nature, kind and time of his offers of additional medical and nursing help to the medical officer of health and his staff in Aberdeen; and what was the result of those offers.

My officers have been in touch with the medical officer of health throughout the epidemic, and have asked on a number of occasions whether he required assistance. They also conveyed an offer from another local authority to provide additional staff. They have been assured that the public health staff of Aberdeen are able to cope with the situation, but would gladly accept these offers if the need should arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the areas where new general hospitals will be built during the next 10 years, and the approximate dates when these projects will be started.

In addition to five major teaching hospital projects which will provide important new general hospital services, the Revision of the Hospital Plan for Scotland published on 1st May listed the following new general hospital projects which are planned to start in the five-year period up to March, 1969:

• Gartnavel District General Hospital, Glasgow—New Hospital.
• Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary— Replacement.
• Greenock—New Hospital.
• North Ayrshire—New Hospital.
• Airdrie—New Hospital.
• West Lothian—New Hospital.
• Fraserburgh—New Hospital.
• Inverness—New Hospital.

In the five-year period from March, 1969, to March, 1974, new general hospitals are planned to start at Ayr, Motherwell, Oban and Paisley.