asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he has now given further consideration to the embargo on the export of nuclear reactors for electricity generation to Eastern area countries like Roumania; and whether he has approached the United States Government on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what consideration Her Majesty's Government have now given to lifting the embargo on the sale of British nuclear power stations to Roumania.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will make a statement on the possibility of removing the embargo on the sale of British nuclear power stations to Roumania.

In principle I favour seeking to modify the embargo so as to permit individual reactors to be exported, subject to the proper safeguards. Discussions with the United States Government on this matter are proceeding. We shall, of course, have to consult the other countries concerned as well.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement about the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what action Her Majesty's Government took at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on the United Nations trade conference at Geneva; and if he is satisfied with the result.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement which I made to the House on 16th June regarding the Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what decision Her Majesty's Government have now reached on the recommendations of the Monopolies Commission in its Report on the supply of wallpaper.

My officials expect to conclude their discussions with the industry this month, and I shall make a statement soon after that.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what consideration has been given to the proposal that an exhibition of British goods should be sponsored in Hong Kong and associated with the British Exhibition to be held in Tokyo in September, 1965.

A proposal for an exhibition of British light engineering products in Hong Kong, following the British exhibition in Tokyo in 1965, is being examined by the Board of Trade and British Overseas Fairs Ltd. A decision will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what consideration has been given to allowing artificial silk goods manufactured in Hong Kong of which the artificial fibre content was produced in this country to be imported into the United Kingdom under dutyfree Commonwealth preference.

My right hon. Friend has considered this possibility very fully in relation to imports from the Commonwealth preference area as a whole, and he has concluded that the objections are overriding.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what amounts have been approved under the Local Employment Acts, 1960 and 1963 up to the latest convenient date in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively; and what are his estimates of the jobs likely to be provided.

The total amounts approved and offered by way of loans, grants and factory building under the Local Employment Acts, 1960, and 1963 up to the end of May, 1964—excluding offers declined—were £44 million in England, £57 million in Scotland and £8 million in Wales. It is estimated that the projects assisted will provide 72,800 additional jobs in England, 54,100 in Scotland and 10,000 in Wales. A substantial additional amount of assistance is likely to be offered in respect of applications which have had preliminary approval and others still under considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what plans he has for expanding the work of the National Research Development Corporation.

I have this matter under consideration, but am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how far he has proceeded with his consideration of the need for the delimitation and designation of the Yorkshire regional planning area; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Worsley) on 4th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what progress has been made as regards obtaining an occupant for the advance factory at Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire.

Board of Trade officials have shown the factory to a number of industrialists, but no application has been received yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development why permission was given for the import into this country, by Iner-Arm Co. Ltd. of Acton, of a number of 0·45 calibre Thompson sub-machine guns.

This company is authorised by the Ministry of Defence to deal in these guns, subject to the provisions of the Firearms Act, 1937, and they were, accordingly, given a licence last November to import a quantity of incomplete submachine guns and parts.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware of the threatened closure of English Velvets of Salford and Congleton Cutters of Stoke; and what steps he will take to maintain the British velvet industry.

I am aware that the Ordsall dyeworks at Salford may close, though I understand that negotiations continue in the industry about its future. The final decision must be a matter for the judgment of the owners. The velvet industry has been assisted by agreements with the two chief low-cost corduroy producing countries, Spain and Japan, which will limit their exports to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many industrialists have made inquiries to his Department concerning the future use of the vacant premises which were previously owned by Baker and Bessemers Ltd. of Kilnhurst.

Three firms have visited this factory following discussions with my Department and the owners have also offered the site to other industrialists.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the proportion of British exports and imports, respectively, with Commonwealth countries and with the European Economic Community in 1958 compared with 1963.

In 1958 and 1963, 35 per cent. and 32 per cent. of our imports came from the Commonwealth, and 14 per cent. and 16 per cent. from the European Economic Community. The equivalent proportions for total exports were 38 per cent. and 29 per cent. to the Commonwealth and 14 per cent. and 21 per cent. to the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the total amount of standard grant for buildings under the Local Employment Act, 1963, paid or approved in Scotland to date; and how much of the total figure was in respect of industrial buildings, shops, showrooms, hotels, other commercial premises, and offices, respectively.

At the 31st May, 1964, the estimated total amount of the standard grants offered under the Local Employment Act, 1963, for building in Scotland was £1,819,000 of which £1,606,000 related to industrial buildings and £213,000 to hotels and restaurants.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware that advertisements, similar to those published by Casino Enterprise companies and subsequently involving depositors in losses of considerable sums of money, have recently been displayed by the Sporting Investment Company, of 30 Notting Hill Gate, London; and whether he will take action under the Protection of Depositors Act, 1963 to prevent this company from advertising for deposits from the public for the purpose of speculation on racing and other ventures.

I have not seen these advertisements but if my hon. Friend will send me examples I will examine them. I must however emphasise, as my predecessor did, that it was not intended that the Protection of Depositors Act should extend to gambling.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will now make a statement on monopolistic practices in the film industry.

This matter is demanding the most careful examination but I hope shortly to make a statement on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new factories and how many new jobs have been provided at the new towns of East Kilbride, Cumbernauld, Glenrothes and Livingston; and how many square feet of factory space for each new town have been provided in the last nine years.

In the last nine years 98 projects have been completed at East Kilbride to employ over 3,300 people, 12 at Cumbernauld to employ about 3,200, and 11 at Glenrothes to employ over 1,600. In thousands of square feet the factory areas completed were 930, 762 and 272 respectively. No new factories have yet been completed at Livingston, but a number of i.d.c.s. have been issued and 2,200 jobs are in prospect.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what inquiries have been made through his Department regarding the establishment of a motor car manufacturing industry in Hartlepool or West Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what discussions have been held in the Council of Ministers of the European Free Trade Association on the possible association of Austria with the European Economic Community.

Austrian Ministers have kept the E.F.T.A. Ministerial Council informed, at each of its recent meetings, of the progress in their discussions with the Economic European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware of the concern of manufacturers and retailers in many trades about the obligations which will be imposed on them under the Weights and Measures Act to re-label and repack their goods to conform with the new provisions before 31st July, 1965, and that no information is yet available as to what the new requirements will be; and whether, since it will be an offence after that date for anyone to have incorrectly marked goods in his possession for sale, he will take early action to prevent unnecessary hardship.

I am aware that a number of trades have expressed concern on this subject. I hope that it will be possible for these regulations to be made next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on the British mining and construction equipment exhibition held in Peking on 4th to 13th June; and, since exports to China in the first four months of 1964 amounted to £7,337,000 against £3,079,000 in 1963, if he is satisfied that there are no unnecessary restrictions to the further development of this trade.

I have received no information about the results achieved at this exhibition by way of sales made or contracts concluded. Our policy is to promote peaceful trade with China and I am satisfied that there are no unnecessary restrictions in the way of a further expansion of our exports, the immediate outlook for which is better than it has been for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to prevent the export of vehicle parts by the Vauxhall Motors Company to Indonesia.

No. The export of commercial vehicle parts is not controlled. It is not the general policy of Her Majesty's Government to impose restrictions on trade in non-strategic goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will seek powers to ensure that the owners of copyright and performing artistes whose records are being broadcast to this country from outside the jurisdiction of territorial waters receive the financial remuneration to which they are entitled.

I understand that proceedings are being taken on behalf of the makers of the recordings in respect of these broadcasts, and I am not therefore proposing to make any statement on the question raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what are the prospects of increased exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a result of the recent agreements with the British chemical industries.

I understand that contracts are under negotiation which should result in substantial exports of chemical and allied plants to the U.S.S.R.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether inquiries have now been completed into the circumstances whereby the Livestock Group of companies incurred deficiencies of £981,061; whether he will state the findings of the inquiries; and what action he proposes to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when he proposes to publish the report submitted to him in or before November, 1963, by inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Livestock Marketing Company Ltd. and associated companies, some or all of which are in liquidation; and whether he will now make the contents of the report available to creditors and shareholders.

The police inquiries are not yet completed. In the circumstances it would not be in the public interest to publish the inspectors' reports.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he will make a statement about the new rate of Over- seas Service Aid Scheme inducement allowance to be paid to expatriate civil servants in Mauritius.

Improved rates of inducement allowance for expatriate officers in Mauritius, equivalent to an increase of 20 per cent. in gross pay, have been introduced with effect from the 1st January, 1964.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what action he is taking to ensure the continuation of the Community Development Clearing House.

I understand that the Clearing House will continue in its present form until the end of 1964. I am exploring the possibility of continuing its functions beyond that date.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what percentage of the £10½ million per annum paid for overseas pensioners is paid by Her Majesty's Government; and what is the sum so paid.

Her Majesty's Government are paying pension advances to overseas pensioners of the Governments of the Somali Republic and Zanzibar, which at present are in default on such payments. The cost is approximately £178,000 per annum or 1·7 per cent. of the £10½ million which is the estimated cost of assuming responsibility for overseas pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many children, up to the normal school-leaving age, were attending schools in Manchester at the beginning of 1951, 1959 and 1964, respectively; and how many teachers were employed at those schools on those dates.

The number of pupils aged under 15, in maintained primary and secondary schools in Manchester, was 97,000 in January, 1951, 110,000 in 1959 and 102,000 in 1963. Figures for 1964 are not yet available. The number of teachers in these schools was 3,500 in 1951 and 4,250 both in 1959 and 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children over normal school-leaving age were receiving full-time education in Manchester in 1951, 1959 and on the latest convenient date in 1964.

For maintained secondary schools the figures are: 1951, 2,500; 1959, 4,200; 1963, 7,500. 1964 figures are not yet available. The numbers in direct grant schools and in further education establishments have increased also.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now make a further statement on the Report of the Working Group on Marine Reactor Research.

The Government are considering the Report and will announce a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now invite the Central Advisory Council for Education, England, the Plowden Committee, to submit an interim report on the age of transfer for primary to secondary education.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many projects were requested by the Bristol Education Committee for the next triennial period; how many have been sanctioned; what steps are being taken to deal with the remainder; and why he refused them, in view of the need for educational development in the city.

24 projects were proposed and seven have so far been approved. The remainder will be considered again when the full proposals for 1967–68 are received. The present programme represents a reasonable share of the available resources in the light of national needs and priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many British scientists and engineers have returned to Great Britain to date from the United States of America and Canada during 1964 as a result of the activities of the selection board representing the British Civil Service, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board.

Most of the scientists and engineers who have so far returned in 1964 were seen by the Board in 1963, when 146 candidates were recommended; 37 of those interviewed are known to have returned so far. In 1964 the Board has recommended about 190, but it is too early to say how many offers of employment will be accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what special inducements are offered to British scientists and engineers engaged in United States of America and Canadian universities and private firms by the selection board representing the British Civil Service, the United Kingdom Atomic Enery Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board, in order to persuade them to return to Great Britain.

The Joint Interviewing Board applies the same standards or recruitment as for candidates interviewed in the United Kingdom.The Board pays to candidates in North America their travelling expenses to and from the nearest place of interview and, in suitable cases, employing departments and authorities will pay return fare to the United Kingdom of successfully assigned candidates and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what deaf units exist at infant, primary and secondary schools in the vicinity of Shenstone, Staffordshire.

None. Children with impaired hearing who cannot be educated in classes of children with normal hearing attend special schools either within the county or in Birmingham.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 34 students at the Sheffield City Training College, who come from countries outside the United Kingdom, applied for living accommodation within the precincts of the College.

I understand that it has been the practice of this college to arrange for overseas students to live out and that they have been accepted on this basis. Thus none of the 34 students applied for living accommodation at the college, but two were offered residential places which unexpectedly became available. I am asking the college authorities to review these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many student places are not being filled this year in the agricultural colleges of Yorkshire because of the shortage of residential accommodation.

Seventy-eight candidates have not so far obtained admission to the institute of agriculture of their choice in this county.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies he is contemplating into educational expenditure and standards following the introduction by the local education authorities of more detailed financial returns in the current year.

The purpose of the more detailed financial returns which I am now collecting from local education authorities is to enable me to give more detailed and precise information to Parliament and to the public, to make better estimates of the likely expenditure involved in possible policy developments, and to make projections of future expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken to implement the assurance given by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on 24th March that the terms of reference of the Advisory Committee would be extended to include industrial and domestic uses of organochlorine pesticides.

The Committee has been given a new title which reflects its wider responsibilities. It will now be "The Advisory Committee on Pesticides and other Toxic Chemicals". Its terms of reference have been extended

"To keep under review all risks that may arise from the use of:

1. Pesticides,

2. Potentially toxic chemicals on sale to farmers for veterinary use and veterinary medicines prescribed for use by veterinary surgeons, and

3. Any other potentially toxic chemical specifically referred to the Committee by Ministers,

and to make recommendations to the Ministers concerned."

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to assist managers and governors of voluntary schools in taking advantage of modern techniques of industrialised building.

The voluntary school bodies received copies of my Department's Circular 1/64 which deals with industrialised building and educational building consortia. Officers of my Department have recently spoken on these themes at a conference of voluntary school authorities and their architects. A building productivity group has been established within the Department to advise on more efficient ways of building schools in both industrialised and traditional methods of construction. The Department will act as agent for any promoters of voluntary school projects who wish to use a consortium system.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students are now taking postgraduate courses to equip them for research into education, following the intention to increase the amount of educational research; and how this number compares with 1962 and 1960.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested, but the evidence points to a growing number of post-graduate students in educational research and associated studies since 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many additional appointments in educational research have been advertised since the University Grants Committee's offer of extra grants early in 1963; and how many of these posts have been filled.

Eleven academic appointments have been made at the four universities concerned. One vacancy exists and candidates for the post were interviewed on 18th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the child care officers at present under training are under 25 years of age; how many have been seconded from Government Departments and local authorities respectively; and what proportion is subject to the parental means test in respect of their grants and allowances.

Of the child care officer students at present in training, 70 are under 25 years of age, 62 are seconded from local authorities, and about 13 per cent. receive reduced grants on account of their parents' income. No student is seconded from a Government Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, since fire losses increased from £8,780,000 in 1938 to £24,145,000 in 1958 and further to £66,442,000 in 1963, if he will give fire brigade officers authority to report immediately to the police any evidence of suspected arson; what further steps he is taking to reduce fire losses; and if he will make a statement.

It is the normal practice of fire brigade officers to report to the police evidence of suspected arson, and they do not need my right hon. Friend's authority to do so. I have no evidence that arson has become a major cause of fire losses. With regard to the steps being taken to reduce fire losses, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 5th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries he has made into the new evidence contained in sworn statements by Mr. Andrews and Mr. Bloom that Mr. Lonsdale and Mr. Blake had frequent conversations together when in prison.

I described the inquiries which I had made, and their upshot, when I answered a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 14th May. Copies of the sworn statements referred to have not been furnished to me. I understand that one is by an ex-prisoner who at the time in question had been sent to Wormwood Scrubs for psychiatric investigation on account of his mental state, and the other is founded on hearsay evidence. Seeing that the events in question took place more than three years ago, I do not really think that farther inquiries would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made with the provision of fall-out shelters.

The Government do not at present contemplate a national programme for the provision of fall-out shelter, but advice to householders on providing such shelter within their own homes is available and would be made widely known by broadcast and other means in the event of an emergency. The Government is carrying out a pilot survey directed to the possibility of using suitable existing buildings as communal shelter for the occupants of houses where the degree of protection is small and could not readily be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in HANSARD a table giving details of how many of the 11,870 prosecutions of holders of provisional licences driving without L plates which took place in 1963 had previous convictions or warnings for this offence.

The Metropolitan Police records are not kept in a form that would enable this information to be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in HANSARD a table giving details of how many of the 8,538 holders of provisional licences who were prosecuted during 1963 for driving unaccompanied had previous convictions or warnings for this offence.

The Metropolitan Police records are not kept in a form that would enable this information to be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is the practice of the Metropolitan Police to ask to see driving licences and examine whether road fund licences are in order only when drivers are interviewed in connection with accidents; and whether he will institute some system of examination before the accidents take place.

As was explained in the Answers which I gave to the hon. Member's Question on this subject on 11th June, accidents are not the only occasions on which drivers are asked for their driving licences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in a short distance of less than a mile for a period of less than 10 minutes' observation the hon. Member for West Ham, North, observed recently 35 vehicles parked and driven in central London without statutory road fund licences; and whether he will give an assurance that on receipt of details from the hon. Member the Metropolitan Police will prosecute.

No; my right hon. Friend has no responsibility in the matter of prosecutions. The institution of proceedings in respect of the excise offences of using or keeping an unlicensed vehicle is a matter for the local taxation authority. It is for the police to institute proceedings, where appropriate, in respect of the offence of not affixing and exhibiting a road fund licence on a vehicle. The police give what assistance they can to local taxation authorities in respect of excise offences. I am bringing the information that the hon. Member has sent me to the notice of the Commissioner of Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions took place during 1963 of persons driving vehicles on the road, and parking vehicles on the road, whilst they were not carrying a road fund licence.

Statistics of motoring offences for England and Wales for 1963 are not yet available; nor will figures for the offence of not affixing and exhibiting a road fund licence on a vehicle be separately available for that year. The Commissioner of Police tells me, however, that there were 57 prosecutions during 1963 for this offence in the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were warned by the Metropolitan Police during 1963 of the offence of driving and parking their vehicles on the road without a road fund licence.

During 1963 the Metropolitan Police gave 1,678 written cautions in respect of the offence of not affixing and exhibiting a road fund licence on a vehicle. No separate record is kept of oral warnings for this offence. As explained to the hon. Member in reply to a previous Question, it is for the local taxation authority to deal with the excise offence of using or keeping an unlicensed vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will announce the dates proposed for Summer Time in 1965.

Yes. I propose that the limited extensions of the statutory period of Summer Time introduced in 1961 should continue. This year, to avoid starting on Easter Day, Summer Time began a week earlier than has been usual, making a total extension of seven weeks, four in the spring and three in the autumn. This longer extension appeared to be popular, and I propose that the extension next year should likewise be seven weeks.Suggestions have been made that it would be more satisfactory to all if the period of Summer Time were fixed not year by year, but for some years ahead. I think there is substance in this proposal, and accordingly I will shortly lay before Parliament a draft Order in Council providing that Summer Time shall run from 21st March to 24th October in 1965, from 20th March to 23rd October in 1966 and from 19th March to 29th October in 1967. I should perhaps make clear that if public opinion towards Summer Time should alter between now and 1967, it would be practicable to modify this Order in Council at any time by means of a new Order in Council.

asked the Minister of Power what were the total steel imports in the last three months; and what percentage increase this represents over the same period last year.

659,500 tons of iron and steel products were imported in February to April, an increase of 184 per cent. over imports in the same period last year.

asked the Minister of Power what: discussions he has had with the Gas Council regarding recent talks in London between the Gas Council and the Netherlands Petroleum Company regarding the Dutch offer to provide half Great Britain's gas requirements from the new natural gas fields in North Holland; what information he has as to how much cheaper Dutch gas would be than Saharan gas; and what estimate he has made of the effect of these proposals on the future level of British coal production.

The Council has kept me informed about its discussions with the Dutch companies. These have been exploratory and without commitment; I am therefore not able to reply to the second and third parts of the Question.

asked the Secretary of Stare for Foreign Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the United States of America about the negotiations now taking place between the United States of America and Rumania for the possible sale of a nuclear power plant by the former to the latter, in view of the embargo which has hitherto applied to the export of such plant from western countries to East Europe.

The United States Government have informed the Rumanians that they are willing in principle to seek the approval of their Allies, who with them operate the strategic embargo, to the export of a nuclear reactor to Rumania. There is no question of the United States Government's wishing to flout the embargo and their action does not call for any representations to them on the part of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons under 18 years of age were unemployed in May, 1964 in Middlesbrough.

On 11th May, 281 young persons were registered as unemployed at the Middlesbrough Youth Employment Office.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the public concern of viewers about the low moral tone of certain British Broadcasting Corporation television programmes, whether he will direct the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority, under Section 14(4) of the Licence and Agreement and the Television Acts, to refrain from sending television programmes of low moral tone.

I am aware of the concern to which my hon. Friend refers and I am sure that the broadcasting authorities are sensitive to these and other expressions of opinion. At the same time I do not think it would be appropriate for me to issue directions to the authorities since programming is their responsibility.

asked the Prime Minister whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government, as stated on 4th May, 1953, by the then Prime Minister in answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West, that Ministers should give precedence to their Parliamentary business.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the relative precedence Ministers give to their Parliamentary business on the one hand, and their other official engagements on the other.

In arranging their engagements Ministers give precedence to their Parliamentary business. It has always been accepted that exceptionally one Minister may answer in the House for another.

asked the Minister of Aviation what decision he has taken about fitting a hand rail to assist elderly passengers using the passenger ramp at the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with my hon. Friend's proposal, a hand rail is to be fitted down the centre of the ramp.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the negotiations about the remuneration of chemists in England and Wales for National Health Service dispensing; and if he will make a statement.

Negotiations with the Central Chemist Contractors' Committee have now resulted in agreement on a settlement which the Committee will recommend to local pharmaceutical committees. This involves an increase in remuneration of some £6 million a year with effect from the beginning of 1964, including the amount for outgoings referred to in my reply to my noble Friend the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) on 20th April, and certain retrospective payments for 1962 and 1963 amounting in all to about £5 million.I hope that this agreement with the Committee is a good augury for future relations between it and the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce the names of the remaining members of the small expert committee on conveyancing.

Yes. As I announced on 29th April, Professor J. M. Halliday of Glasgow University has agreed to act as Chairman. The other members will be:

Mr. G. Black, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland.

Mr. H. M. Harvey-Jamieson, W.S. Edinburgh.

Professor Farquhar MacRitchie, Aberdeen.

Mr. G. A. Rankin, Solicitor. Glasgow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that a knowledge of Giro principles and practice is understood by those who take the Civil Service entry examinations, in particular those desirous of entering the trade departments and the Foreign Office.

No. It would be inappropriate to require candidates for the Civil Service to possess a knowledge of Giro principles and practice. Special training is provided in cheque and credit transfer systems and other systems of payment, including Giro, for commercial officers in the Board of Trade and the Foreign Office.