asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what percentage the retired pay of a major over 60 years of age has been reduced in purchasing power since his retirement in 1946; in what five-year period this fall was greatest; and by how much the purchasing power of such a pension fell during this period.

Taking into account the effect of pensions increase measures the net reduction in purchasing power between April, 1946, and April, 1964, was 24·2 per cent. The five-year period in which the fall was greatest was June, 1947, to June, 1952, during which the reduction was 27·5 per cent. The figures on which this calculation is based are taken from the Cost of Living Index, the 1947 Interim Index and the 1956 and 1962 Indices of retail prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Bishopton; how many were so employed at the corresponding dates in 1959 and 1961; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the future development of this factory.

Port		Name and Type of Ship			Dates		Complement
							Officers	Ratings
Ballycastle	…	LONDONDERRY	…	Frigate	12th—15th June	…	11	203
Portrush	…	BARNARD	…	Boom Defence Vessel.	23rd—25th June	…	2	28
		WIZARD	…	Frigate	10th—12th July	…	11	150

It may also be possible for one of Her Majesty's submarines to visit a Northern Ireland port later this year, but until the local authorities have been consulted I regret that I am unable at present to give further details of this visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a

1,636. The corresponding figures for 1959 and 1961 were 2,035 and 2,477 respectively. We have no plans for changing the rôle of this factory.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an undertaking that no further evictions will take place from Chatham Dockyard police quarters before consultations have taken place with Gillingham and Chatham borough councils in an effort to try and arrange alternative accommodation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which of Her Majesty's ships will visit Northern Ireland ports this year; and what are their approximate complements.

Subject to overriding operational needs, arrangements have been made for three of Her Majesty's ships to visit Northern Ireland ports this year. Details of the visits are as follows:—statement about the collision between an oil tanker and H.M.S. "Cavalier" when the latter was being towed from Chatham Dockyard to Gibraltar for refit.

On 21st May, at about 8 a.m., H.M.S. "Cavalier", while under tow from Chatham to Gibraltar, was in collision in fog with the tanker "Burgon" of Libertan registry, at a position 20 miles off Brighton. Both ships suffered damage. "Cavalier" is now at Devon-port for the repairs necessary to her bow, before resuming the tow to Gibraltar. A Naval Board of Inquiry has been held and its report is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what technical advice he sought on the type of British nuclear reactor to be used in British submarines.

The decision on the type of British-made nuclear reactor for British submarines was taken by the Board of Admiralty on the advice of their professional advisers. Account was also taken of the views of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and of information made available by the United States authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what authority the regional officer of his Department gave an assurance at Plymouth on 26th May that there is no prospect of further redundancies at Devonport naval dockyard.

The statement by the Admiralty regional officer that, as seen at the moment, there is no reason to fear any further discharges at Devonport Dockyard was made after proper consultation with the Navy Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what exchange of information takes place between Her Majesty's Government and other Governments in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the production of nerve gases.

Any exchange of information would be treated as confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what premises have been released by the removal of staffs from the former War Office, Admiralty, and Royal Air Force Departments to the new offices of his Department.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Regular officers' widows and other ranks' widows are receiving pensions: and how many of these pensions have been increased since 10th December, 1963.

The answer is given in the following table of figures:

SERVICE WIDOWS' PENSIONS
	(1)	(2)	(3)
	Number of widows (including Indian Armed Services) receiving Ordinary Pensions	Number of entitled widows bereaved prior to 4th November 1958	Number of widows bereaved prior to 4th November 1958 who have had their pensions re-assessed and receive an increase from 10th December 1963
Officers	11,404	7,157	4,460
Other Ranks	4,152	1,637	1,539

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters, houses and flats, are to be built for the three Services in the United Kingdom in 1964; what are the conditions of occupation by tenants; and what are the average rents paid.

In the present financial year my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Building and Works expects work to start on a total of 4,400 married quarters. During the year completion of 3,270 married quarters is expected.Once a Service man has been allocated a married quarter under the rules in force he may remain in that quarter so long as he continues to serve on the Active List, and in the unit for which the married quarter is intended, so long as he pays the appropriate quartering charges, and there is no evidence of misconduct, misbehaviour or a breach of station regulations on his part or on any member of his family or any other person living in or using the quarter.For the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, however, there is an additional

Rank	Weekly Charge for Type of Quarter
	Type A		Type B		Type C		Type D		WOI Type
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Leading Seaman, Corporal, Corporal, R.A.F. and below	40	0	44	0	46	0	48	0	—
Petty Officer, Sergeant and Sergeant, R.A.F.	41	6	45	6	47	6	49	6	—
Chief Petty Officer, Staff Sergeant and Flight Sergeant	43	0	47	0	49	0	51	0	—
Warrant Officer Class II.	43	0	47	0	49	0	51	0	—
Warrant Officer Class I, Warrant Officer, R.A.F., Regimental Sergeant Major, R.M. and Quarter Master Sergeant R.M.	45	6	49	6	51	6	53	6	65	0

	Annual Charge for Furnished Quarter
	£
Lieutenant, Captain, Flight Lieutenant and lower commissioned ranks	192
Lieutenant-Commander, Major and Squadron Leader	225
Captain R.N. with less than 6 years' service, Colonel, Group Captain, Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel and Wing Commander	261
Captain R.N. with 6 years' service, Brigadier and Air Commodore	294
Rear-Admiral, Major-General, Air Vice-Marshal and officers of higher rank	330

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the circumstances leading to the resignation of Brigadier MacWilliam from his appointment with the South Arabian Federation Army to which he had been seconded.

I understand that Brigadier MacWilliam was concerned at what he regarded as shortcomings in the arrangements for the control and administration of the force under his command. He resigned after holding the appointment only for a matter of days. As I understand it, the main cause of his dissatisfaction was that the problems resulting from the transfer of administrative responsibility to the Federal Authorities on 1st April, 1964, had not yet been adequately dealt with, and that he therefore regarded his personal position as Commander as unsatisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will lay a Command Paper before the House setting out particulars of the military operations conducted by British forces in the Arabian Peninsula since 1st January, 1955, including operations both in Oman and on the Aden frontier with the Yemen, and showing the number and rank of British officers and men who have been killed or wounded in the operations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much land has been given up by the Royal Air Force in the last five years.

Approximately 103,000 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present position at the summer herring fisheries; and how many drift net boats are engaged in catching herring.

The Scottish summer herring fisheries have got off to a slower start this year. One hundred boats including 14 from English ports are now engaged in the drift net fishery on the Buchan and Shetland grounds. A further six Scottish boats are at present drift net fishing off the north-east of England. The total is somewhat less than at the same time last year and the catch since 1st April has been somewhat lower; but the average catch and earnings per boat have been higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new electricity consumers were connected by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board between 1959 and the end of 1963; and what percentage of rural distribution has now been completed for the Board's area.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board connected 39,309 new consumers between 1959 and the end of 1963.Rural distribution in their area is more than 90 per cent. complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the conditional housing development at Nether Street, Kirkcaldy; what criteria determine when old houses should be retained on a site of comprehensive redevelopment; and what financial assistance is given to local authorities in meeting the cost of renovating such old property.

Yes. The decision whether to retain existing houses in such areas depends on their architectural and historic merit and the manner in which they can be incorporated in the redevelopment. Any improvement work carried out in course of renovation is eligible for grant under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the letter from Kirkcaldy Meat Traders' Association, sent to him by the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs, regarding the 146 cattle sold at Thornton Auction Mart on 25th May, of which approximately 20 to 25 per cent. were exported; and, in view of this high proportion, what proposals he has to protect meat prices to Scottish consumers.

I received the hon. Member's letter on 1st June. I have written telling him that these figures are not typical of what is happening in Scotland and that I see no reason to depart from the statement made on 26th May by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if there is any scientific evidence to show that typhoid bacteria can be present in a tin of corned beef for many years without contamination of the meat to an extent which would make it unpalatable.

I am advised that this is theoretically possible, but I am not aware of any scientific evidence which would determine the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further information he has on lobster stocks around Orkney and Shetland.

My latest information is that the measurement of samples from commercial catches shows that the mean average length of lobster landed in Orkney and Shetland during 1963 was 11·2 inches and 11·8 inches, respectively, compared with 9·8 inches for the east coast fishery. This does not suggest over-fishing and this conclusion is supported by the results of a tagging experiment carried out by scientists in Shetland during June and July, 1963, when 171 tagged lobsters were released of which only a relatively small proportion have so far been taken in commercial catches.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of certificated teachers, uncertificated teachers and teachers required in Glasgow schools in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively; and what was the percentage deficiency in each of these years.

The figures are as follows:

—	Certificated teachers employed	Uncertificated teachers employed	Certificated teachers required *	Percentage deficiency
1958	6,769	128	941	12·4
1959	6,701	161	1,057	13·7
1960	6,687	210	1,190	14·3
1961	6,718	219	1,302	16·5
1962	6,729	254	1,328	16·7
* The number of certificated teachers which the education authority estimate are required to reduce oversize classes to the prescribed maxima, to replace certificated teachers of 70 and over, to replace uncertificated teachers and to fill outstanding vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement on the outbreak of typhoid in Aberdeen.

I made a full statement in the House last Monday. The total number of cases in hospital in Aberdeen today is 431 of which 376 are confirmed and 55 are under investigation. This represents an increase of 19 since Monday. We cannot afford to relax our vigilance, and in particular the strictest personal hygiene is still required on the part of members of the public both in Aberdeen and in all other parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outbreak of typhoid in Aberdeen; what steps are now being taken to control it; and if he is satisfied that the present arrangements provide for sufficiently expeditious action.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House last Monday and to the reply given today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Aberdeenshire (Mr. Wolrige-Gordon). I am satisfied that the present arrangements provide for sufficiently expeditious action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on major hospital building projects in Renfrewshire in the financial years 1960–61, 1961–62. 1962–63, and 1963–64.

None of the £626,000 spent on capital works in hospitals in Renfrewshire in this period related to schemes costing more than £250,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on major hospital building projects in Scotland in the financial years 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, and 1963–64.

Out of a total expenditure of £19 5 million on hospital capital building works in the four years, the expenditure on schemes costing over £250,000 was as follows:

			£ million
1960–61	…	…	1·2
1961–62	…	…	1·8
1962–63	…	…	2·9
1963–64 (estimated)	…	…	3·2

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the Standing Cancer Committee of the Scottish Health Services Council on the further development of the cytological service for the early detection of cancer of the cervix.

The Standing Cancer Committee's recommendations will be considered by the Scottish Health Services Council on 15th July. I expect that the Council will report to me immediately thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the proposal to transfer major accident cases from the Dunfermline area to Kirkcaldy; what replies he has sent; and whether, in view of the concern felt by employees at Rosyth Dockyard at this move, he will make a statement.

I have received representations from the Dunfermline Trades Council to which a reply is being sent today. The South Eastern Regional Board, in line with the general policy on the provision of accident services, has decided in principle that the main accident unit in Fife should be at Kirkcaldy. The scope of the accident services which will continue to be provided at Dunfermline is to be further considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the actual on anticipated annual increases in megawatt capacity from generating stations in Scotland in each year from 1959 to 1970.

On the present plans of the two Electricity Boards in Scotland, which do not yet cover 1970, the annual net increases (actual or planned) involve a total net increase in output capacity from 2,533 MW in 1958 to 7,018 MW in 1969, and are as follows:—

Year	Increase MW
1959	269	(Actual)
1960	150	(Actual)
1961	78	(Actual)
1962	284	(Actual)
1963	275	(Actual)
1964	375	(Planned)
1965	567	(Planned)
1966	534	(Planned)
1967	509	(Planned)
1968	866	(Planned)
1969	578	(Planned)

These figures include isolated hydroelectric and diesel stations which are not connected to the main transmission network but provide about 50MW.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the normal waiting time for an appointment with the orthopaedic consultant at Kirkcaldy Orthopaedic Hospital, the normal waiting period for cartilage operations, and the number of cartilage operations since 1st January, 1964.

Seven weeks for a consultation followed by one week for the operation; 22 cartilage operations have been performed during the period 1st January to 4th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the normal waiting period for a cartilage operation in Bridge of Earn Hospital; and how many patients resident in Fife have had cartilage operations since 1st January, 1964, to the latest available date.

Two to four weeks for men, eight to ten weeks for women; 85 patients from Fife have had cartilage operations in this hospital during the period 1st January to 31st May, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the advisability of training for newly appointed justices of the peace who sit on juvenile courts; and if he will make a statement.

I agree that instruction is desirable for justices who are appointed to the juvenile court panel. With the support of my Central Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace I have encouraged local arrangements for courses of lectures for justices and I meet expenses incurred in arranging such lectures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a short manual of court procedure and guidance to magistrates appointed to preside at burgh police courts; and if he will make a statement.

A manual of the kind envisaged by the hon. Member is published by the Scottish Council of Social Service, entitled What the Scots magistrate ought to know. A revised edition of this manual, bringing it up to date in the light of recent changes in the law, is at present in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the trunk road improvement schemes approved for the years 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964, respectively, stating the estimated cost, the percentage of cost met by grant, and the names of the consulting engineeers in respect of each scheme.

Trunk road and motorway schemes of major improvement and

Year	Scheme	Present total estimated cost£ thousand	Agent Authority or Civil Engineer
1961	Improvement between Lesmahagow and Cander-dyke, Lanarkshire	1,256	Messrs. Babtie, Shaw & Morton
	Ayr-Prestwick Bypass (Stage II), Ayrshire	278	Ayr County Council
	Crossgates-Cowdenbeath-Keltv Bypass (Stage I), Fife.	231	Fife County Council
	Lockerbie Diversion, Dumfriesshire	826	Dumfries County Council
	Improvement between Newhouse and Baillies-ton, Lanarkshire.	1,285	Lanark County Council
	Reconstruction south of Millbank to Duneaton, Lanarkshire.	1,434	Messrs. Babtie, Shaw & Morton
1962	Improvement between Cluanie and Kyle (2nd Section) (Eas-nan-Arm Diversion), Ross and Cromarty.	399	Ross and Cromarty County Council
	Reconstruction between Telford Bridge and Hector's Bridge, Lanarkshire.	1,008	Messrs. Babtie, Shaw & Morton
	Improvement from Glenkinglas to junction of A.815, Argyllshire.	245	Scottish Development Department
	Eastwood Toll Diversion, Renfrewshire	218	Alexander Frew
	West of Cumbernauld to Forth and Clyde Canal, Dunbartonshire.	1,311	Dunbarton County Council
			W. Fairhurst and Partners
	Berriedale Bridge Diversion, Caithness	103	Caithness County Council
1963	Bonnybridge and Larbert Diversion, Stirlingshire.	1,413	Stirling County Council
			W. Fairhurst and Partners
	Harthill Bypass, West Lothian and Lanarkshire	2,084	Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners
	Reconstruction between Hector's Bridge and Dumfries County Boundary, Lanarkshire.	1,058	Messrs. Babtie, Shaw & Morton
	Improvement between Invergarry and Daingean Bridge, Inverness-shire.	327	Inverness County Council
	Improvement between Ecclefechan and Kirk-patrick, Fleming, Dumfriesshire.	2,141	Dumfries County Council
	Chupelhill Diversion, Berwickshire	214	Berwick County Council
	Improvement at Longforgan, Perthshire	885	Perth and Kinross County Council
1964	Blackwood-Hamilton Motorway, Lanarkshire	8,110	Messrs. Babtie, Shaw & Morton
	Latheronwheel Diversion, Caithness	186	Caithness County Council
In addition smaller schemes with a total cost of about £900,00C were approved each year.

asked the Secretary of of State for Scotland (1) what are the present arrangements in Scotland for settling the salary scales and conditions of service of qualified youth leaders;(2) if he will ask the Standing Consultative Council on Youth Service in Scotland to consider the salaries and conditions of service of community centre wardens in Scotland, in the light of the need to keep these compatible with the salaries and conditions of service of youth leaders;(3) what was the last occasion on which the Standing Consultative Council

The question of salary scales and conditions of service of full-time youth leaders has been considered by the National Joint Industrial Council for Local Authority Services (Scotland) but agreement has not so far been reached. Recommendations have been issued by the Standing Consultative Council on Youth Service in Scotland to education authorities and national voluntary youth organisations, the most recent in January, 1964. In December, 1963, the recommended salary scales were being implemented in respect of two of the five youth leaders then employed by education authorities and were being applied also to five youth organisers or assistant youth organiser posts.The Standing Consultative Council decided on 8th June to set up a working party to consider the terms of employment for youth and community leaders and organisers, including community centre wardens. It will be open to it to recommend that a joint negotiating body for some or all of the officers in question should be set up.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what courses are at present available in Scotland for training community centre wardens; and what proposals he has for extending such courses;(2) what courses are at present available in Scotland for training qualified youth leaders; and what proposals he has for extending such courses.

Courses of professional training for workers in the youth and community service are at present provided at Moray House College of Education—a basic course of two academic sessions and a special short course of two terms for persons who have certain academic qualifications and also relevant practical experience. From October, 1964 a similar basic two-year course will also be provided at Jordanhill College of Education.The Standing Consultative Council on Youth and Community Service has undertaken to advise me on any further developments in training arrangements that may be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received for the establishment of a separate joint negotiating body for settling the salaries and conditions of service of community centre wardens; and what reply he has made.

I have not had any recent representations on this specific matter. In June, 1963, however, my Department had a request from the Scottish Standing Conference of Community Centre Wardens for a review of the status, salary and conditions of service of full-time community centre wardens. My Department's reply explained that these were matters for joint consideration between the Standing Conference and the employing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the community centres in Scotland where further education is carried on.

The information requested is not available from existing official records. Information of this kind is, however, likely to be included in a report expected this summer from a Working Party of the Scottish Council of Social Service which has been considering community centres and community associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present membership of the Standing Consultative Council on Youth Service in Scotland; and what are the matters currently remitted to the Council for consideration.

The Standing Consultative Council on Youth Service in Scotland has been reconstituted as the Standing Consultative Council on Youth and Community Service. The present membership of the Council is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport how many deaths occurred on the roads during the Whitsun weekend; how many of these took place on motorways; whether he is now satisfied that it is essential to speed up the extension of the present motorways and the provision of new ones; and whether he will take immediate steps to achieve this end.

The provisional figure is 84. The proportion occurring on motorways is not yet available. The reduction of accidents is one of the main objectives of the road programme as a whole. It is being pressed ahead as fast as resources will allow.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Staffordshire County Council may expect a decision regarding the imposition of a 40 miles-per-hour speed limit at Streethay, Staffordshire, on A.38.

I have decided that there is a case for a 40 m.p.h. speed limit, on part at least of the length of road concerned. As soon as I have settled on a terminal point for the speed limit in the light of the fuller information about speeds and accidents which I have requested, I shall give public notice.

asked the Minister of Transport, if, in view of the large number of fatal road accidents over the Whitsun holiday, he will now advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine the causes of road accidents and make recommendations accordingly.

No. I remain of the opinion that a Royal Commission would not be the appropriate way to deal with this continuing and most serious problem.

asked the Minister of Transport why the road works on the Watford Way at its southern end are taking a long time; and when he expects them to be completed.

The completion date for this scheme could be advanced only by regular night and weekend working which, as well as adding to the cost, would cause serious disturbance to local residents. The roadworks are proceeding according to contract timetable and should be completed before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Transport which design he proposes to use for the Calder Bridge on the M.1 motorway.

I have decided to adopt the design submitted by Messrs. Butler and Woolley, in association with Messrs. E. W. H. Gifford & Partners. This was one of two designs placed equal first in the competition held last year.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of motorway have now been completed in England and Wales.

292½ miles.

asked the Minister of Transport when he now intends to proceed with the A.34 improvement scheme on the central area by-pass in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Very soon.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will suspend further decisions on rail closures, pending a judicial ruling on the right of objectors before the transport users' consultative committees to challenge the facts and figures presented by the Railways Board.

No. I am not aware of any reason why I should not continue to carry out my statutory responsibilities and I propose to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the Transport Users Consultative Committee's report which has been made to him on the hardships involved in closing the passenger train service between Newcastle and Newbiggin, Monkseaton, Blyth and Newbiggin and Newsham and Blyth, he will refuse the proposed closure.

I received the report of the Transport Users Consultative Committee on the proposed closure of these three services on 25th May. I am now considering the proposals in the light of the report and of other relevant factors. I cannot yet say when I shall be able to reach a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals have been submitted to him by the Railways Board for the construction of a diesel locomotive maintenance depot at Old Oak Common.

I have approved the Railways Board's proposals for the construction of a new diesel maintenance and servicing depot at Old Oak Common. It is being built at an estimated cost of £484,000 and is expected to be completed early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to take further steps to control the emission of smoke and fumes from diesel vehicles.

The studies described in the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dunfermline (Dr. A. Thompson) on 26th February are still in progress.I am not yet able to say when I may wish to propose amendment of the Regulations governing the emission of smoke from diesel vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement on the proposed Channel Tunnel.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given on 6th May to the hon. Member for East Ham, South (Mr. Oram). Good progress is being made by officials in their study of arrangements for a further geological survey.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to discourage lorry traffic on the main roads out of large towns during the rush hours.

No. The inconvenience and loss of time that result from use of these roads at rush hours themselves discourage movements which can take place earlier or later.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the observations of the inspector in the appeal of Wanderlust Tours against the decision of the traffic commissioners of the Yorkshire Traffic Area, which was heard at Don-caster on 4th January last, he will direct that traffic commissioners shall give reasoned decisions in all cases.

No. I dealt with this point in my decision letter on the appeal, of which the hon. Member has a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he takes to collect and keep up to date information about the subsidies paid, both directly and indirectly, by foreign Governments to assist their shipbuilding industries.

My Department obtains this information from a number of sources. The information, which as far as possible is kept up to date, is obtained in some instances from the Governments concerned.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consideration he has given to the facilities of Brough, Pocklington and Hedon aerodromes, and other aerodromes, for civilian air services for Hull and its environs; what are his decisions; and which aerodrome he is prepared to approve as the airport for Hull.

It is for local authorities and other local interests, assisted by technical advice from my Department, to select aerodrome sites to meet their needs.The authorities at Hull already own the small aerodrome at Hedon and have made no proposal to me for establishing any new municipal aerodrome.

asked the Minister of Aviation what numbers of daily flights and passengers are required before a Government grant will be considered for a local aerodrome; what sum he is prepared to approve towards a local civil airport for Hull for scheduled services to London and elsewhere; and what conditions he will lay down.

The Government's White Paper of August 1961 (Cmnd. 1457) sets out the criteria which would normally govern applications from local authorities for such grants.I have received no application for a grant for a municipal airport at Hull.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) what was the cost of modifying the Fairey Delta 2 to its present configuration; and what is the budgeted cost of its present flight test programme;(2) if he will state the nature and cost of each of the projects authorised either in Government establishments, or by private industry at Government expense, which are contributing valuable information to the Concord programme but are not part of that programme.

Our aeronautical research programme covers a very wide field and a large number of projects within it will contribute in one way or another to the Concord. For these reasons it would not be practicable to give an itemised list of projects in the form requested by the hon. Member. Nor would it be in accordance with normal practice to give the individual costs of current research contracts. In broad terms, however, we are at present spending in the establishments and in industry about £1½ million a year on work which, although not depending for its justification solely on the Concord programme, is contributing information of particular value to this programme. This sum includes the current annual expenditure on the B.A.C.221 research aircraft, the former Fairey Delta 2.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many married quarters have been built for the Royal Air Force in the last three years in the United Kingdom and overseas; and what was their cost.

Between 1st April, 1961, and 31st March, 1964, 4,151 married quarters were built for the Royal Air Force at home and 809 overseas. The cost was £12,528,000 and £3,900,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what weight of waste paper is accumulated on an average sitting day of the House; how it is disposed of; and what is the quantity disposed of annually, and the revenue derived therefrom.

On an average sitting day, about 8 cwt. of non-confidential waste paper is accumulated. About 85 tons are disposed of annually under a contract let by Her Majesty's Stationery Office by competitive tender. The revenue derived from disposal has always been confidential for commercial reasons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to refer the cases of hardship caused to Shoreham-by-Sea beach residents and West Sussex residents generally by rating, brought to his notice by the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham, to the Allen Committee.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. in June, 1954, and to 15s. 11d. in June, 1957; and what was the comparable figure for April, 1964.

Yes, based on the movements in the Index of Retail Prices. The comparable figure for April, 1964, was 13s. 6d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total sales of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Edinburgh in the last financial year; and what proportion of these sales was sent to Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Total sales by Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshop in Edinburgh in the year 1963–64 amounted to £108,000, of which it is estimated that 35 per cent. went to Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Of this 35 per cent. rather more than a third was sold through the Stationery Office's official agent in Glasgow.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of constructing a public telephone kiosk in Belfast, and of installing a public telephone therein.

The average cost including line and exchange equipment is £360.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the present state of the advance factory in Fraserburgh; what have been the difficulties encountered; and if he will make a statement.

There has been difficulty in finding a suitable site in Fraserburgh that will meet the wishes of the local planning authority and provide for the needs of the advance factory at a reasonable cost. A fresh solution is now being sought and I hope that this will be found shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the present state of the advance factory in Peterhead; what have been the difficulties encountered; and if he will make a statement.

There was some difficulty in finding a suitable site for the advance factory at Peterhead. This has now been overcome with the help of Euclid (Great Britain), Ltd. This company propose to extend their Cross-fields factory at Peterhead and to concentrate their local activities on that site. By doing so they will release a factory of 14,000 sq. ft. (with room for expansion) in Windmill Lane, Peterhead. It has been agreed in principle that the Board of Trade will reacquire this factory, which was built a few years ago, to serve as the advance factory.