asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now take a decision to commission a prototype fast reactor in succession to the Dounreay fast breeder reactor, in view of the progress achieved on current development work.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 7th May to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Commander Courtney).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now give an assurance that the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889, whether continued as at present or amended, will also be applied to the University of Strathclyde and any proposed new universities.

No. I am not in a position to anticipate any legislation in relation to this Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that the Association of University Teachers (Scotland), with a membership of 1,600, have not yet been consulted by the Scottish universities' representatives who are submitting constitutional proposals in respect of the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889; and, in view of this lack of co-operation, if he will give an assurance that the association's own proposals on this matter will be considered by him.

The Government have as yet received no formal proposals from the Scottish Universities in respect of the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889. When they do, expressions of opinion from all interested quarters will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total amount spent on medical research by his Department in 1963–64; and what proportion of the national income this figure represents.

Total expenditure from Government funds on medical research in 1963–64 (including an estimate of the support for this research by the University Grants Committee) was about £18½ million, representing just under 0·08 per cent. of the national income for 1963. The expenditure of the Medical Research Council in 1963–64, supported by grant-in-aid from the Treasury, was £7,033,000, which is about 0·03 per cent. of the national income in 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to support research in scientific documentation.

In addition to research at the National Physical Laboratory, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is supporting seven projects of a basic character in universities and colleges at a total cost of over £100,000 and has made new grant arrangements with the Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureaux which include a grant of up to £20,000 a year for a research programme concentrated on approved projects in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards establishing a 10-year development programme for the Youth Service, as recommended to the Minister in the Albemarle Report 1960.

My Department, the local education authorities and the voluntary bodies are co-operating closely in giving effect to the developments recommended by the Albemarle Committee. These achievements include the setting up of the Youth Service Development Council, investment over seven years of more than £20 million in new building, co-operation with the Bristol Local Education Authority in designing and building the Withywood Youth Club, a five-fold increase in grants to voluntary organisations, the establishment of a national college for the training of full-time Leaders, and the publication of a monthly broad-sheet to stimulate improvements. Local education authorities have almost doubled their expenditure on the Youth Service in four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much is being spent by the Staffordshire Education Committee on the Youth Service; and how much is devoted to this service in the towns of Leek, Kids-grove, Biddulph and Cheadle in the Leek constituency

Expenditure by the Staffordshire Education Committee on the Youth Service in the current year is estimated at £209,940, including £14,527 in respect of the towns of Leek, Kidsgrove, Biddulph and Cheadle.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the reasons given to him for the resignation of a number of scientists, including the director, from the National Chemical Laboratory; and what changes are contemplated regarding the transfer of work from this laboratory to another Government establishment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis) on 25th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science approximately how many teachers in schools under the supervision of the Essex County Council have received training appropriate for school periods of religious instruction; and how many of these have undertaken this responsibility.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without separate inquiry from almost 1,000 schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what facilities exist for the training of forensic pathologists; and how many students have received such post-graduate training in the last five years.

Facilities exist at three medical schools in the University of London, and also at the universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds. Courses are of varying lengths, and precise figures are not available centrally; but it is estimated that about 200 students have received some form of post-graduate training involving forensic pathology during the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will reconsider his decision not to include improvements to Falmouth Art School in the building programme for 1965–66.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the negotiating machinery for the remuneration of teachers.

On 29th June I had a discussion with the associations representing local authorities at which they gave me their views on the proposals put forward in my right hon. Friend's letter of 3rd March last. The views of the teachers' associations had already been made known to me. I am now reviewing the position urgently with a view to putting further proposals before the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the progress made in providing more places for students taking the Diploma in Art and Design.

Last September there were 61 approved courses leading to the Diploma in Art and Design at 29 colleges. These provided 1,480 first-year places. In September next there will be a total of 80 approved courses at 36 colleges, providing at least 1,800 first-year places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will appoint a small committee of biologists to examine ways in which a World Health Research Centre could further biological studies and overcome difficulties of recruitment.

No. I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the Memorandum from the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, which was published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 25th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the universities' building programme for next year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the very full reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Chippenham (Mr. Awdry) on 14th May, in the course of which he announced that the Government had authorised Exchequer grants for building work to the value of £54½ million to be started in the universities during the 15th month period from 1st January, 1965, to 31st March, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what prospects there now are of one of the proposed new universities being sited in Cornwall.

The question of new universities, and their location, will be considered by the University Grants Committee and the Government during the foundation of the ten-year programme for university development.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with the chairman of the University Grants Committee, Sir John Wolfenden, about expediting an educational establishment for advanced technology to serve the North-East.

There are at present three principal establishments for education in advanced technology in the North-East, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Rutherford College of Technology at Newcastle upon Tyne, and the Sunderland Technical College. At the beginning of this academic year they contained about 1,800 full-time advanced technological students. The University Grants Committee is concerned only with university institutions, and on this subject they are in constant touch with me.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will invite the Road Research Laboratory to undertake research into means of eliminating fumes from all types of motor vehicles.

No. The Road Research Laboratory is primarily concerned with road maintenance and construction and with traffic and safety on the roads. Atmospheric pollution research is the responsibility, within the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, of the Warren Spring Laboratory. The Motor Industry Research Association has facilities for testing devices for the suppression of fumes for motor cars. The Warren Spring Laboratory and the Motor Industry Research Association work in close collaboration on all aspects of air pollution attributable to motor cars.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the confusion that exists about the requirements necessary for an independent school to be registered with the Registrar of Independent Schools under Part III of the Education Act, 1944, what are the minimum requirements for registration, and what are the minimum requirements to be recognised as efficient and to receive official approval.

Under Part III of the Education Act, 1944, no independent school may operate unless it is registered provisionally or finally, under the Act. In deciding whether the registration of a school should be made, final attention is paid, in particular, to its premises, the adequacy and suitability of the accommodation provided, and the efficiency and suitability of the instruction, having regard to the number, ages and sex of the pupils and also the teaching staff. Recognition of a school as efficient has no legal basis but is accorded to schools which apply to be recognised and are found to reach an appropriate standard which is substantially higher than that required for final registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if Monkdene College, although registered under provisions of Part III of the Education Act, 1944, is recognised as efficient; when application was made for such recognition; how many members of the staff have qualifications recognised by his department, and what they are.

The school has not applied for recognition as efficient. My Department does not specify qualifications for teachers in independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many, and what proportion of, primary, secondary modern, grammar, and comprehensive schools, respectively, have televisions sets;(2) how many, and what proportion of, technical colleges have television sets.

I regret that precise information is not available. Following are approximate figures for primary and secondary schools, and establishments of further education (excluding evening institutes) in England and Wales, based on the numbers registered with the B.B.C., or a programme company, or both.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what ways industry will benefit from the work carried out by the Autonomics Division of the National Physical Laboratory.

The aim of the Autonomics Division is to extend the range of problems which can be dealt with by computers in Commerce and Industry. There are three main lines of research—the improvement of computers in reliability, cheapness and speed, the automatic processing of printed characters, words and documents, and the self improvement in the automatic control of chemical and engineering processes. The Division acts as the co-ordinator of the Advanced Computer Techniques Project of D.S.I.R., a cooperative venture between various Industrial and Government Laboratories investigating ways of improving computers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grant he has made to the University of Kent for residential accommodation; why no other new university has hitherto received such a grant; and whether he intends to give a grant for residential accommodation to the new Scottish University.

The detailed allocation of grants to individual universities is the responsibility of the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from Flintshire about the proposed scheme for sixth-form colleges.

In addition to petitions signed by 211 teachers, about 180 local government electors and a number of secondary school pupils, I have received some 450 letters of protest, most of them from parents.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many elementary and secondary school places, respectively, have been provided in West Suffolk in each year since the war; and how much money has been spent each year on new school buildings.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now announce the membership of the Council for National Academic Awards.

I am glad to be able to tell the House that the following have accepted invitations to serve as Members of the Council for National Academic Awards under the chairmanship of Sir Harold Roxbee Cox.The Viscount Caldecote, D.S.C., M.A., M.I. Mech.E., M.I.E.E., A.F.R.Ae.S. Deputy Chairman English Electric.Mr. W. F. Cartwright, D.L., M.I.Mech.E. Managing Director, Steel Co. of Wales.Mr. Michael Clapham, M.A. Director of Imperial Chemical Industries.Sir James Cook, F.R.S., D.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Chancellor Exeter University.Mr. B. Downs, M.Eng., A.M.I.Mech.E. Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Loughborough College of Advanced Technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the reasons for the substantial drop in the number of visitors to the Victoria and Albert Museum during 1963.

There were about 155,300 fewer visitors in 1963 than in 1962 when the attendance was unusually high because of two very popular exhibitions. Among the reasons why the attendance in 1963 fell below expectations is the closure for improvements of the gallery used for special exhibitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken or intends to take to satisfy himself that the best results are being obtained from research and from the expenditure on research; and whether he will order small independent investigations to find out information regarding the level of Government expenditure on research in the four other leading countries compared with the United Kingdom and to assess whether better results could be obtained from the expenditure involved if all research was carried out at certain universities.

The Research Councils are appointed to ensure that the funds allotted to them are deployed to the best advantage on expert advice, and the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy reviews periodically the balance of our scientific effort, and draws attention to deficiencies. The United Kingdom are co-operating in an international study, organised by the O.E.C.D., which aims to produce comparable figures for Government and other civil research and development expenditure in member countries. Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that it is advantageous for research to be carried on outside, as well as within, universities. Concentration of all research in particular universities would be an unsound policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the numbers of children who sat for the 11-plus examination for the years 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963 in each of the junior schools in the parishes of Hammerwich and Burntwood, and in the city of Lichfield, in Staffordshire, respectively; and if he will state what total number in each parish and in Lichfield City secured entry in a grammar school.

The following information has been supplied by the local education authority:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the setting up of a Royal Commission to investigate the reasons for juvenile delinquency and teenage hooliganism, with particular reference to the relationship of adult behaviour and the educational system on recent outbreaks of hooliganism and violence.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have recently appointed an Advisory Committee to consider and advise on the problems of juvenile delinquency and on measures for its reduction. I do not think that there is a case for establishing yet another inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Criminal Law Revision Committee is considering the question of amending the law on obtaining money by false pretences; and when the Committee will report.

The Committee is at present considering, among other matters referred to it, what alterations are desirable in the law relating to larceny and kindred offences, including obtaining money or goods by false pretences. The Committee hopes to be able to submit its Report on this subject in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has to show the number of cases of injury caused by the juvenile use of bows and arrows; and if he will take steps to minimise the dangers arising from these objects.

Statistics of such injuries are not kept, but I have no reason to believe that this is a serious problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen were required to maintain order outside Transport House, Westminster, on Wednesday, 24th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the action of the Metropolitan Police in dealing with a disturbance outside Transport House on Wednesday, 24th June.

I am informed that from 9 a.m. between 150 and 200 members of the Young Socialist League gathered outside the entrances to Transport House. As delegates arrived for a meeting at 10 a.m., the demonstrators rushed forward aggressively and surrounded and jostled them. The police warned the demonstrators to disperse, since they were disturbing the peace, and when they refused to do so dispersed them, using the minimum of force.The maintenance of public order is an ordinary police responsibility, and no special authority is required for necessary action to be taken. Twelve police officers were on duty near Transport House at 9 a.m. Reinforcements arrived about 9.30 a.m., and 61 officers were employed in all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the amended scheme which he, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Scotland, has drafted based on the White Paper, Command Paper No. 2323, with a view to extending its scope in such a way as to provide compensation for persons who have suffered loss and damage inflicted on them by an epidemic caused through no fault of their own.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has now collected about the movement into and out of Britain of Irish nationals since the passage of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act; whether he will summarise the figures collected; and what action he proposes to take on the basis of this information.

A summary of the information derived from a sample survey of passengers travelling on air and sea routes between Great Britain and Ireland during the period 3rd September, 1962–2nd September, 1963, was given in reply to a Question by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Renton) on 18th November, 1963. The Government do not contemplate any change in the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under which prison rule prisoners awaiting appeals are deprived of association.

For a limited time at the beginning of their sentence it is the practice as a precautionary measure to segregate recidivist prisoners sentenced to more than four years' imprisonment, whether or not they are appellants. This is done under Prison Rule 43.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in considering proposals for electoral reform, he will not agree to an amendment of the law to ensure that any candidate or elector may on petition have the right to examine the balance sheet of, and contributions made to, any political party contesting the forthcoming General Election.

Election law is concerned with expenditure incurred on behalf of an individual candidate and not with the finances of political parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not take the necessary steps to proclaim Thursday 15th October 1964 a national public holiday.

I am not aware of any reason why 15th October should be singled out for such exceptional treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will instruct the Metropolitan Police to stop the continual testing of car brakes by employees of Oldfield garage in King's Avenue, Chadwell Heath, on the grounds of public nuisance.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the police have investigated this matter but have not found evidence of excessive use of this road for the testing of car brakes. They will, however, continue to pay attention to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what formalities not required of other Commonwealth citizens are applied to Southern Rhodesians entering the United Kingdom.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, until the whereabouts of Major Macey and Driver Platt have been established, he will ban any further immigration into the United Kingdom of persons holding Greek Cypriot passports.

I share my hon. Friend's anxiety about Major Macey and Driver Platt, but I have no power under the law to take the action which he suggests. It would be inconsistent with the terms and purposes of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated number of unexploded German high explosive bombs still in the United Kingdom.

There are about 500 bombs which have been abandoned as presenting no significant risk to life or property. 34 reports of other suspected bombs are at present under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken or is proposed against the owners of the 1,148 vehicles who, during the week ending 20th June, had vehicles on the road either without road fund licences, without exhibiting the same, or having out of date licences, contrary to the law.

The Commissioner of Police informs me that the 258 cases of vehicles not exhibiting road fund licences were dealt with by oral warning. The remaining 890 cases of vehicles apparently having no licence or an out-of-date licence are being followed up by the police in conjunction with the appropriate taxation authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing practice of gangs working the three-card trick in Petticoat Lane and Club Row on Sunday mornings; how many were arrested for this offence on Sunday, 28th June; what action he is taking to increase the number of plain clothes detectives in this area; and what further action he proposes to take to stop this practice.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that on 28th June there were no arrests for this offence in the area mentioned, although 60 persons have been arrested for street gaming there since the beginning of the year. The Commissioner considers that the number of plain clothes detectives in this area is sufficient, but he will continue to pay special attention to the problem of street gaming in the area.

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish the latest financial objectives which he has agreed with the National Coal Board, the electricity board and the gas boards, implementing the policy laid down in Command Paper No. 1337.

The financial objectives which were agreed with the electricity boards in England and Wales, the gas boards and National Coal Board and of which the House was informed on the 28th March and 23rd July, 1962, remain unchanged.

asked the Minister of Power at what date electric power produced by nuclear energy will be equal in cost to other known methods of generation.

Nuclear power is likely to become economic by the early 1970's, and thereafter to become cheaper than conventional power for the generation of base load.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many of the 2,000 jobs in prospect in the next four years in the Gateshead employment area have so far materialised; and how many are anticipated in 1964.

The best estimate I can make is that between the 20th February, when I gave the figure of 2,000 jobs in prospect to the House, and the middle of May, at least 280 jobs materialised from projects covered by that forecast. Between mid-February and mid-May unemployment in the Gateshead and Felling area fell by 531. As I have already explained to the hon. Member, it is not possible to estimate how many jobs will materialise during 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will give financial assistance to a joint university study of the Morecambe Bay Barrage Scheme, a copy of which has been sent to him, proposed by Mr. C. F. Carter, Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, and Professor Gordon Manley.

My right hon. Friend is grateful to the hon. Member for drawing to his attention the notes which have been prepared by the University of Lancaster. He has asked the North West Study Group to discuss the subject with the Vice-Chancellor and others concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware that the liquidators of the North British Locomotive Company have accepted for discussion at its forthcoming general meeting a resolution calling for an independent public inquiry into the circumstances under which £1,750,000 of Government money was loaned to the Company in 1959 and into other matters including the responsibilities and position of the Government director appointed as chairman of the company; and whether he will therefore instruct the Government's representative on the committee of inspection to press for a stay of the winding-up of the company pending a decision as to whether an inquiry is to be held.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the resolution to which my hon. Friend refers, but does not think it necessary or appropriate to intervene as he suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will publish a White Paper setting out the Restrictive Practices Court's ruling on steel price agreements.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of geriatric beds per thousand of the population for the area of each regional hospital board, at the latest convenient date.

At 31st December, 1963, the numbers were:

asked the Minister of Health which specialist services will not be available in Cornish hospitals when Treliske area hospital is completed.

All specialist services will be available except those such as major radiotherapy, neurosurgery and plastic surgery, which are normally provided on a regional basis.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether the warhead for Polaris missiles being produced by Great Britain is the same as that produced by the United States of America or a different warhead with the same potentialities.

The warhead to be produced in this country will differ in certain respects from the American.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vouchers were issued in the first two years of operation of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act to unskilled applicants in Category C; and what rate of issue is proposed for the next quarter or half year.

Up to 26th June, 1964, 42,206 vouchers were issued to applicants in Category C. The rate of issue to applicants in this category cannot be foretold as it will depend, not only on the overall rate of issue, but on the share of the total issue taken up by priority applications.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a direction to the Railways Board to take action on that part of paragraph 17 of the Report of the Central Transport Consultative Committee which recommends that, as the Board may, on sections of line proposed for closure to passengers, be deliberately attempting to run down the demand pending the public hearing by reducing facilities and amenities in the meantime, these activities shall be discontinued in order to allay public concern.

The Committee has made no recommendation but has drawn attention to the unfortunate impression which the public may form of what may be important changes in services for operational or commercial reasons. Such changes are entirely matters of management, and it would not be appropriate for me to give the Board a direction.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in sending copies of the Annual Report for 1963 of the Central Transport Consultative Committee to the Railways Board, he will give a direction to the Board to take action on the Committee's recommendation, expressed in paragraph 35, that the question of introducing unstaffed halts merits further consideration; and if he will make a statement.

No. I understand that the Board has sent the Committee a statement of its policy on unstaffed halts. I am told that the Committee discussed this at a recent meeting and found it acceptable. In deciding whether to consent to a proposed passenger closure, I always bear in mind the possibility that stations for which there is a public need might be retained as unstaffed halts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a second fatal accident recently occurred to a pedestrian on Straight Road, Old Windsor; whether he is satisfied that the present proposal to install central refuges is adequate in relation to the volume of traffic; and whether he will now reconsider an alternative scheme for the provision of pedestrian-controlled crossings.

I have heard with regret of these accidents, but on the information I have I still consider that, for the reasons explained fully in correspondence with my hon. Friend, the present proposal will provide a better solution than signal-controlled crossings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what purpose the Government have tabled plans for the extension of the multilateral force to weapons such as the TSR 2, the TFX and the Pershing missile, before it has agreed in principle that the multilateral force itself should be constituted.

Our ideas for the mixed-manned, joint ownership, and multilateral control of land-based nuclear weapon systems have been put forward for consideration in parallel with the American proposal for a sea-borne force. When we agreed to enter into discussion of the American proposal we did so on the understanding that it would be examined in all its aspects and possible variations. Among the many questions which must be answered are whether an M.L.F. is necessary and, if so, what form it should take. Our initiative is intended as a constructive contribution to the discussions and to help in finding the right answers to those and other questions. We have suggested that the Paris Working Group should consider the adoption by an M.L.F. of the weapon systems to which my hon. Friend refers, which exist or are planned, and which meet a military requirement. This has obvious manpower and financial advantages which the countries in the Paris Working Group will no doubt want to take into account before making up their minds on an M.L.F. By advancing their own ideas for consideration Her Majesty's Government are in no way committed to joining an M.L.F. in whatever form it might be established.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that early potato growers in Scotland are suffering from competition from early potatoes imported from Cyprus; and if he will investigate complaints that these potatoes are produced by low-paid labour, against which they have to compete, and under insanitary conditions, with a view to taking action to help the Scottish growers.

Scottish new potatoes normally compete with potatoes imported from Cyprus and other countries during the first few weeks of lifting, but the main importing season is now coming to an end. I am not aware of any complaints which would justify my seeking to investigate production conditions in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if his consultations with the Scottish universities have now been completed in respect of the Robbins recommendation that the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889, should be repealed; and when he expects to be able to make a statement;(2) if, before a Bill is drafted for presentation to Parliament, he will afford an opportunity to all interested parties, including the Association of University Teachers (Scotland), to consider the proposals formulated by the Scottish universities about the future of the 1889 Act;(3) what representations he has received on the proposals submitted to him, or about to be submitted to him, by the Scottish universities in regard to the future of the 1889 Act; and if he will state the nature of such representations;(4) if he will state the names of the members of the Scottish Universities Committee with which he is having consultations in respect of the future of the 1889 Act;(5) whether his consultations with the Scottish universities about the future of the 1889 Act are being conducted with the principals only or with the courts of each university;(6) if it is his intention to introduce legislation for the abolition or amendment of the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889 before the Summer Recess.

The Government have as yet received no formal proposals from the Scottish Universities in respect of this Act. The Association of University Teachers (Scotland) have asked that they and all interested parties should be informed of these proposals. Once they are received, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Science, and I will decide on the extent and nature of the consultation to be undertaken and on any further steps.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of his Department in ranking for tax relief donations to schools by industry for educational purposes.

Under the general tax law only expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for the trade are deductible

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information given in Tables I, II, III and IV of the Reply of the Government of the United Kingdom to the Note Verbale of the Secretary General of the United Nations on the economic consequences of disarmament, dated 22nd September, 1961, brought up to date.

The information given in Tables I-IV of the Reply of the United Kingdom Government to the Note Verbale of the Secretary General of the United Nations dated 22nd September, 1961, is shown below. The estimates have been brought up to date where this has proved possible.The figures given in Tables III and IV and the estimate of indirect employment in Table I must be treated as approximate. The calculations assume that the inter-industry relationships described in "Input-Output tables for the United Kindom 1954", H.M.S.O. 1961, are still valid and that the military products and the total products of an industry require the same inputs from other industries. Neither assumption can be verified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Anglo-Norwegian fishery talks.

Officials of the United Kingdom and Norway met in London from 17th to 23rd June to discuss the arrangements to be made, in accordance with the Note supplementary to the Anglo-Norwegian Fishery Agreement of 17th November, 1960, when the new United Kingdom fishery limits are introduced. In that Note Her Majesty's Government undertook to make for Norwegian vessels off the United Kingdom arrangements corresponding to those made under the Agreement for British vessels off Norway.Subject to the conclusion of a formal Agreement between their Governments in this matter, officials recommended that until 31st December, 1984, Norwegian vessels which would otherwise be excluded from the new fishery limits might continue to fish in the zone between six and twelve miles from the baselines of the territorial sea of the United Kingdom,

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will appoint Sir Hugh Foot as special representative to the United Nations with ministerial status in order that he may represent the United Kingdom on the Expert Committee to be set up by the Security Council under its Resolution of 18th June to study measures for the enforcement of its decisions on South Africa.

No. I am considering urgently who shall represent us on this Committee, but I do not think it is necessary for Her Majesty's Government to be represented by a Minister on a body of this sort.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details, as far as possible in tabular form, of the further aid which Her Majesty's Government propose to offer to Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland; to what extent the proposed aid will take account of the burden of debt assumed by the three territories at the dissolution of the Federation; how much of this aid will be in the form of gifts and loans and of budgetary assistance, respectively; how much will be allocated to development projects; and how much will be in respect of compensation of Her Majesty's Oversea Civil Service.

On the dissolution of the Federation the British Government undertook to discuss with the Southern and Northern Rhodesia Governments the resulting financial situation, including the possibility of British aid, taking into account the debt burden which they had assumed. The following table gives details of the aid already agreed and the further aid which it has been decided to make available to Southern Rhodesia. Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people were receiving increments to their retirement pensions after the first seven years' working of the increment arrangements, and after the following seven years; and what percentage they represented of the total number of retirement pensioners.

The figures are shown in the following table:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the total sum paid in grants to the Bristol Corporation in each of the years 1957 to 1963.

The following table gives the total payments made by the Department to the Bristol Corporation, including housing subsidies, in each financial year. My right hon. Friend regrets that information is not readily available for calendar years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the total number of houses built by the Bristol Corporation in each of the years 1957 to 1963.

The numbers of houses built by Bristol Corporation in these years were: