asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to prevent interference by foreign stations on the British Broadcasting Corporation television service in the North.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to eliminate interference from the Continent with British Broadcasting Corporation television programmes.

For the reasons given by my hon. Friend in his Answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Charles A. Howell) on 23rd June, the problem of interference from Continental stations during the summer months is a general one for which there is unfortunately no easy answer, but the B.B.C. are studying the problem.Interference with B.B.C. television reception in Lincolnshire is particularly troublesome in the summer because the B.B.C.'s signals are comparatively weak in many parts of the county. To remedy this I have authorised the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. to build a joint television and V.H.F. sound broadcasting station at Belmont which, as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 16th June, should give the area good reception of all broadcast services, both sound and television.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to provide that, when the Independent Television Authority obtain the withdrawal of a programme to be transmitted by a programme contractor, the Authority should make it available to him for his own use and for the use of hon. Members.

The suggestion in the hon. Member's Question seems to indicate a desire that I should intervene in programme content and administration. Successive Governments have firmly left this to the broadcasting organisations. Parliament itself sets the rules, as in the Television Acts for the I.T.A., and it is the Authority's responsibility to see that the rules are observed.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in order that hon. Members may satisfy themselves whether the powers of censorship entrusted to the Independent Television Authority by Act of Parliament are being correctly exercised or not, he will introduce legislation to provide that, when the Independent Television Authority obtain the withdrawal of a programme to be transmitted by a programme contractor, the Authority should make it available to him for his own use and for the use of hon. Members.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Cheetham (Mr. H. Lever) today.

asked the Postmaster-General what conditions he laid down in appointing the Chairman of the Independent Television Authority to that position.

I appointed the Chairman of the Independent Televison Authority subject to the provisions of Section 1 of the Television Act, 1954.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a recent Shakespeare quatercentenary broadcast of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by independent television was interrupted by an advertisement for toilet paper; and if he will amend the rules which he has made under the Television Act, 1963, with a view to raising the standards of television advertising and confining it to the beginning and end of programmes.

I understand that there was such an advertisement in the middle of a group of advertisements during an interval in this programme. The answer to the second part of the question is No. Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General what further discussions he has had with interested parties about the compensation fund to be provided by pay-television operators for local cinematograph exhibitors whose earnings may be affected by the showing of films on pay-television; and if he will now state in detail the form this compensation will take.

The compensation fund is only one part of the arrangements for safeguarding cinema exhibitors and my Department and that of the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development are still working out some of the details of these arrangements with the interests concerned. I think it is best to announce all this together as promised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now state in detail the terms and conditions to be laid down in the licences granted to pay-television operators.

I am placing copies of the Licence and associated documents in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Postmaster-General how many television licences were issued during the years ended 31st May, 1950, 1955, 1960, and 1964, in the county borough of Stockport.

I am sorry that separate figures for the county borough of Stockport are not available. In the Stockport Head Post Office district, the numbers of television licences in force on 31st March, 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1964 respectively were 817; 31,005; 59,328; and 78,951. These statistics are produced quarterly and figures for 31st May are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will provide a 24-hour mail service between Market Harborough and Leicester.

Correspondence between Market Harborough and Leicester should be delivered the day after posting. I am sorry about the failures on which my hon. Friend has written me. I shall be writing to him about them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will provide letter boxes beside occasional main road lay-bys.

We do not think posting boxes on such sites would, in general, be used sufficiently to justify the cost of providing them and collecting from them. But, if my hon. Friend has in mind any particular lay-by where he thinks a box might be justified and will let me have details, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to issue a postage stamp to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 1965.

We have no such plans.Our policy is to issue special stamps only to mark current events of outstanding national or international importance and Royal and postal anniversaries and occasions.To mark other anniversaries in this way would mean a constant stream of special stamps which would, I think, be generally unpopular.

asked the Postmaster-General by how much in the £ sterling the cost of general postal and telephone services has increased since October, 1951; and whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the quarterly increases in each of the services provided by his Department from October, 1951, to date, on a basis of the £ sterling being worth 20s. on that date.

Post Office services which would have cost the customer £1 at the prices in force in October, 1951, now cost £1 11s. 6d., on average, in the case of postal services, and £1 12s.10d. in the case of telecommunications. I am sorry that quarterly figures are not readily available but I give below the year-by-year variations in the prices I have just mentioned:

	Postal			Telecommunications
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1951 (October)	1	0	0	1	0	0
1952	1	0	11	1	1	11
1953	1	1	1	1	1	11
1954	1	1	4	1	1	11
1955	1	1	4	1	1	11
1956	1	4	0	1	7	0
1957	1	8	2	1	11	10
1958	1	8	2	1	9	11
1959	1	8	2	1	9	11
1960	1	8	2	1	9	2
1961	1	11	2	1	9	2
1962	1	11	2	1	11	6
1963	1	11	6	1	12	10

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of printing, respectively, a de luxe greeting telegram form and envelope and a standard form and envelope; and what income was derived last year, respectively, from the transmission of each type of telegram.

The printing costs, per 1,000 de luxe greetings telegram forms and envelopes, and standard greetings forms and envelopes, are approximately 135s. and 52s. respectively. I am sorry that figures are not yet available to give the financial results on each type of telegram for last year, but there was an average loss, for all types of telegram, of well over 4s.

asked the Postmaster-General when he hopes to complete the new Post Office in Airdrie; and if he will make a statement.

There have been a number of difficulties with this scheme mainly because of the restricted site, but we still hope that the building will be finished by the end of 1966.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will amend the regulations whereby, when postal orders are intercepted and cashed by other persons, production of the counterfoil by the sender does not secure repayment.

No. If both the order and the counterfoil could command payment the service would be wide open to fraudulent claims.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement about the provision of a new post office in Acton.

We expect to open a new Post Office in King Street, Acton, in September. We will let my hon. Friend know the exact date as soon as this has been fixed.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Shakespeare postage stamps have been sold up to the end of June; what profit the Post Office has made on them; and how many were sold in Scotland.

About 193 million had been issued to Post Offices, of which 14 million went to offices in Scotland. Most of these stamps have already been sold and the bulk will have been used for payment of postage. On those purchased for philatelic purposes a profit in the range of £150,000–£250,000 seems probable.

asked the Postmaster-General what information he has from the International Postal Conference about Shakespeare stamps issued in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

We have received copies of the stamps issued by 12 other Postal Administrations.

asked the Postmaster-General how many orders for first-day cover services for the International Geographical Congress special issue had been received by the Philatelic Bureau on or before 1st July; how many covers were dispatched on 1st July; and on what date the last of these covers were dispatched.

In round figures, 3,900 orders were received for a total of 10,000 first-day covers. I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Member that all the covers were posted on the 1st July.

asked the Postmaster-General what further reduction he has made in the waiting list for telephones in the Chigwell Parliamentary Division of Essex.

Although 756 new telephones have been provided since last March the waiting list in the Chigwell Division remains at 158, decreases at some of the exchanges being offset by increases at others. We expect to meet 37 of the waiting applications in a few weeks time and most of the remainder before the end of the year.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the percentage of telephone subscribers in Scotland connected to manual exchanges, and the corresponding figure for England, at the latest available date.

12 per cent. in Scotland and 12 per cent. in England.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the percentage of the total number of telephone subscribers in Scotland connected to exchanges with subscriber trunk dialling, and the corresponding figure for England, at the latest available date.

45 per cent. in Scotland and 47 per cent. in England.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Rutherglen automatic telephone exchange will be in full operation.

The new Rutherglen automatic telephone exchange will open, with STD, in the summer of next year.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the average waiting time for an applicant for domestic telephone service in the Borough of Barry at the latest convenient date; and what was the average waiting time a year previously and five years previously, respectively.

Virtually all applications for service on the Barry exchange during the past year have been met on demand and completed within a matter of weeks. There are at present only four applications on the waiting list, five years ago there were 61. In view of the changes in the composition of the waiting list it is not possible to quote a reliable waiting period at any one time.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks have been installed and how many removed in the Borough of Leyton; how many existing kiosks in that Borough pay for the cost of erection and maintenance; to what extent the incidence of wanton damage to the apparatus and the kiosks has diminished during the past year; and what is the average annual cost of such damage.

Precise figures for the Borough of Leyton are not readily available; but, in the Leytonstone exchange area there are 67 telephone kiosks. Ten have been installed and two removed during the last 10 years. Fifty-nine take enough money to cover the cost of erection and maintenance.I am sorry to have to say the incidence of wanton damage in this area has increased by 50 per cent. in the last 12 months. The cost to the Post Office has been £500.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones in Sunderland are not yet fulfilled.

In the two exchange areas serving Sunderland there is a total of 43 applications on the waiting list. A further 214 are under inquiry or being met.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the waiting list in Leicester for telephones; what is the reason for the delay in supplying them; and what is the longest period for which anyone has waited for installation.

Excluding 14 advance orders for telephones in premises not yet occupied, there are 18 on the waiting list, pending the completion of new cables in five exchange areas. The longest waiting period is 9 months. I expect this application to be met within a month or two and all the remaining ones before the end of the year.In addition 534 orders are under inquiry or being met. 2,900 telephones have been supplied in Leicester in the last 12 months.

asked the Postmaster-General how many residential and how many business telephone subscribers there are in Batley and Morley, respectively; and how many of these are shared-line subscribers.

For the exchange areas serving Batley and Morley the figures are as follows:

		Total exchange connections		Shared service connections
—		Residential	Business	Residential	Business
Batley	…	1,155	962	498	47
Morley	…	1,263	1,012	385	68

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for domestic telephones were unsatisfied at Sully, Wenvoe, and Dinas-Powis, in the county of Glamorgan, at the latest convenient date; and when he expects these to be met.

There are 4 waiting applications in Sully, 3 in Wenvoe and 1 in Dinas-Powis. In addition a total of 29 orders are under inquiry or being met. All the waiting applications will be met by the autumn.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the average waiting time for an applicant for domestic telephone service at Whitchurch and Rhiwbina, Glamorgan, respectively, at the latest convenient date; and how these times compare with the waiting times in the previous five years.

I am sorry that the information is not available in the precise form requested. 89 per cent. of applications for service on the Whitchurch exchange, which serves these two areas, are met on demand and completed within a matter of weeks. There are at present 12 applications on the waiting list; 5 years ago there were 317. The composition of the waiting list is constantly changing and a reliable average waiting time cannot be quoted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs on what principles representatives are appointed to the new river authorities set up under the Water Resources Act, 1963.

Our aim has been to include on each authority enough, but no more than enough, members of the various categories prescribed in the Act to enable the authority to discharge its functions effectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he did not give authority to the Radnorshire County Council to give financial assistance to companies and persons operating rural omnibus services within the county, under Section 136 of the Local Government Act 1943, in view of the withdrawal of services in areas where rail closures have taken place and where there is no public transport of any kind.

As the hon. Gentleman is aware, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is mounting experiments in typical rural areas, including the County of Montgomery which adjoins his constituency, to inquire into possible remedies for the rural transport problem. Before embarking on any arrangements for subsidy I think we should await the results of this exercise.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many acres of derelict land in the Bishop Auckland constituency were planted, levelled or otherwise treated during 1963; how many acres are scheduled for treatment this year; and how many acres will remain to be treated thereafter.

The information asked for by the hon. Member is not in my right hon. Friend's possession. He is considering what arrangements could be made to obtain up to date information about derelict land from local authorities

1. CLEARANCE AREAS DECLARED BY THE CORPORATION AND NOTIFIED TO THE MINISTER, IN RESPECT OF WHICH CLEARANCE OR COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDERS HAVE NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED TO HIM
Clearance Area			Date area notified to the Minister
Portwood Street	…	…	1st January, 1963
Everton Road	…	…	9th July, 1963
Cleave Street	…	…	9th July, 1963
Margaret Street	…	…	9th July, 1963
Mill Hill No. 4	…	…	9th July, 1963
York Terrace Nos. 1 and 2	…	…	15th October, 1963
Chatsworth Street	…	…	15th October, 1963
Carlisle Street	…	…	15th October, 1963
Smithdown Lane Nos. 1 and 2	…	…	15th October, 1963
Tunnel Road Nos. 1, 2 and 3	…	…	19th November, 1963
Woodruff Street No. 2	…	…	19th November, 1963
Cochrane Street Nos. 1 and 2	…	…	19th November, 1963
Falkner Street Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6	…	…	18th December, 1963
Bamber Street Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5	…	…	27th January, 1964
Taylor Street Nos. 1, 2 and 3	…	…	27th January, 1964
Chatsworth Street Nos. 2, 3 and 4	…	…	20th March, 1964
Overbury Street	…	…	5th May, 1964
Sackville Street Nos. 1 and 2	…	…	5th May, 1964
Vine Street Nos. 1 and 2	…	…	12th May, 1964
Bedford Street South Nos. 1 and 2	…	…	12th May, 1964

2. CLEARANCE AREAS IN RESPECT OF WHICH ORDERS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE MINISTER BUT HAVE NOT YET BEEN DECIDED
Clearance area	Date area notified to the Minister	Proposed method of dealing with area	Date order submitted to the Minister	Remarks
Thomas Street (Garsten)	8th October, 1962	Compulsory purchase order	6th March, 1964	Inquiry held 26th May, 1964
Dale View	8th October, 1962
Aigburth Vale	9th November, 1962	Compulsory purchase order	1st April, 1964	Inquiry on 8th July, 1964
Seacombe Street	11th February, 1963	Compulsory purchase order	7th April, 1964	Inquiry on 11th August, 1964
Gt. Mersey Street No. 2	9th July, 1963	Compulsory purchase order	21st May, 1964	Inquiry on 11th August, 1964

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many clearance areas, not yet confirmed, in the city of Liverpool have been represented to him; which areas they are; and on what date they were submitted by the local authority.

The answer is contained in the following table:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the proposed White Paper on local government reorganisation in Wales and Monmouthshire will be published.

I hope that the White Paper will be published later this year—though I cannot give a precise date yet.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he has laid before Parliament the Burton-upon-Trent Order 1964, in view of the fact that legal proceedings are pending in regard to the statutory inquiry held to inquire into the merits of the proposal.

Since this Order is to come before the House on Thursday, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the explanation which I shall then give.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he refrained from continuing with the Order affecting local authorities in South Staffordshire once legal proceedings began in regard to the statutory inquiry held on the proposal.

In this instance the High Court action was started at an early stage in the preparation of the Order which involves complex arrangements for the reorganisation of twenty-seven local authorities in the West Midlands special review area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many grants towards the cost of carrying out works of improvement on derelict land under the provisions of the Local Employment Act 1960 have been made to local authorities in north-east England; to which authorities they have been made; and what is the amount involved.

Payments of grant amounting to £30,541 have been made for two schemes undertaken by the Sunderland County Borough Council, and one each by the Blyth Borough Council and the Spennymoor, Tow Law and Washington Urban District Councils. Five of these six schemes will attract further payments of £31,481 as they are completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what discussions his; Department have had concerning the Master Plan for Dawley New Town with the Railways Board, in view of the proposal of the Board to close or remove all railway lines into the new town.

I have had no direct discussions with the Railways Board. I am consulted by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, about proposed railway closures and I am in close touch with the Dawley Development Corporation. Except in one recent case, the Development Corporation have found no compelling reasons for objecting to the proposed closures.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) how many cases have been brought to light by the Working Party on Refuse Collection of methods used by local authorities which could constitute a danger to public health; and what action his Department has taken;(2) in how many cases the Working Party on Refuse Collection have discovered that local authorities have themselves created litter in public places as a result of inefficient methods of refuse collection; and what action his Department has taken in these cases.

The terms of reference given to the Working Party require them to examine the facts of refuse collection generally; they are not undertaking a comprehensive inspection of the methods used by all local authorities. But I have no doubt that if they come across any methods of collection which constitute in their opinion a danger to public health they would draw them to the immediate attention of the authority responsible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the total amount advanced to the new town corporations for capital expenditure since 1946, the amount of capital repaid, and the estimated value of capital assets at current values, now held by the corporations and the Commission for the New Towns.

The total amount advanced to the new town development corporations in England and Wales and to the Commission for the New Towns up to 31st March, 1964, to meet capital expenditure and provide working capital was £302,913,735. The amount repaid to that date was £9,554,090.The total capital expenditure at 31st March, 1964 at cost less depreciation was £291 million. No estimate is available of the current value of these capital assets.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many square miles are available at Risley and Risley Moss for the building of the new town; how many square miles are on peat soil; and if it is his intention that building should take place on these areas of peat.

As I explained in the Answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Sir R. Cary) on 16th June, the precise location and area of the proposed new town must depend on a detailed survey which I am arranging. Until I have the results of the survey I cannot answer the hon. Member's query about the peat.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the congestion caused in residential areas by the parking of cars on the streets, he will consider exempting those who build private garages from corresponding increases in their rates.

No. To exempt newly built garages would lead to inequity between ratepayers whose premises already include a garage on which they pay rates and ratepayers who in the future construct a new one in conjunction with either new or existing premises. The parking of cars in residential streets is in any case due to many factors, and I doubt whether the rating of private garages ranks high among them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what acreage of land suitable for industrial and residential development, respectively, is available on the Isle of Sheppey.

About 223 acres of land appear to be suitable for industrial development in the Isle of Sheppey but not all of this is necessarily available because some of it is tied to existing industry. Some 510 acres of land are suitable for residential development.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many residents of the Palace of Westminster are registered with the Civil Defence authorities; and what provision has been made for their evacuation in the event of a nuclear attack.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many male and how many female residents there are in the Palace of Westminster known to the Civil Defence authorities; and what provision has been made for their evacuation in the event of a nuclear attack.

Plans are being prepared by local authorities, at my right hon. Friend's request, for the dispersal of people in the priority classes from large centres of population in the event of a threat of nuclear attack. It would be for the Government at the time to decide whether dispersal should be carried out.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, whether he will ask the chairman of the Milner Holland Committee to issue an interim report, in view of the fact that their full report is not expected until the end of the year and the importance of this matter being discussed during the forthcoming General Election campaign.

EXCHEQUER GRANT FOR WELSH BOOKS
Exchequer Grant			Allocations of Grant by University of Wales Press Board
Financial Year (1)		Amount (2)	Period in which grant allocated (3)		Number of books awarded grant (4)	Average amount of grant per book (5)
Year ended		£	Year ended			£
31st March, 1957	…	1,000	31st Decemver, 1957	…	12	57
31st March, 1958	…	1,000	31st December, 1958	…	28	48
31st March, 1959	…	1,000	31st December, 1959	…	34	31
31st March, 1960	…	1,000	31st December, 1960*	…	41	53
31st March, 1961	…	3,000	31st March, 1961*	…	19	76
31st March, 1962	…	3,500	31st March, 1962	…	35	98
31st March, 1963	…	4,000	31st March, 1963	…	51	78
31st March, 1964	…	4,500	31st March, 1964	…	59	76
* Period of overlap—see Notes 1 and 2.
NOTES:
1. The original scheme was announced in January, 1956, the first Exchequer grant being made available in August of that year. Up to 31st December, 1960, the University of Wales Press Board, which undertook the task of administering the grant on behalf of the Government, made its allocations of grant on a calendar year basis as shown in column 3.
2. It was announced in January, 1960, that the grant for the financial year 1960–61 (which would have been the last year of the original grant scheme) was to be £3,000 and that this figure would be increased annually by £500 to a level of £5,000 in 1964–65.
3. Initially, any part of the Exchequer grant which remained unallocated at the end of the period was carried forward to the next period (e.g. a balance of £315 at 31st December, 1957).
4. In respect of money provided in 1960–61 and subsequent years, it was agreed that any balance of grant unallocated by the Press Board at the end of a financial year should be surrendered to the Treasury. The only sum so surrendered, to date, has been £475 which remained unallocated at 31st March, 1961.
5. The figures in columns 4 and 5 relate to books awarded grant for the first time. In a few instances applications have been made for increased grants; such supplementary grants, where approved, are allocated from the current Exchequer subsidy but the grants so paid are not reflected in the above-mentioned figures.

I understand the Committee have carefully considered making an interim report but have decided that they cannot usefully do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the amount of the Government grant to Welsh book publishing in each year since its inception; the amount spent in each year; the amounts returned to the Treasury; the number of books in each year awarded grants; and the average amount in each year per book.

The answer is contained in the following table:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that the index figure for rent and rates in the cost of living index increased from 711 in January 1956 to 113·8 in April 1964, an increase of 60 per cent.; and what steps he is taking to halt the increase.

As I explained on 8th June, the index covers owner-occupiers as well as tenants and takes account of expenditure on rates, maintenance and decorations as well as rents and rent equivalents for owner-occupiers. In so far as the increase represents expenditure on achieving higher standards of housing, welfare, education and other services it is not to be deplored. Where it is caused by other factors, those that can be influenced by Government action are being tackled vigorously—as in the efforts of my right hon. Friend, and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works, to improve the productivity of the building industry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that the index for rent and rates in the cost-of-living index increased from 71·1 in January, 1956, to 113·8 in April, 1964, an increase of 60 per cent.; what action he took during this period to present this increase; and what effect it has had upon rents and rates during this period.

The increase in the index reflects increased expenditure on higher standards of housing, welfare, education and other services, and to that extent should not be deplored. It also reflects the higher earnings of building workers and others. The Government's concern has been to encourage the improvement of housing standards—believing that that is what people want and are willing to pay for; and to see that local authorities get and give value for money in all the services for which they are responsible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs by how much in the £ sterling rents and rates have increased since October, 1951, to date; and whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the quarterly increases since October, 1951, to date.

Information about rents is not available in this form. Average rate poundage in England and Wales in 1951–52 were 19s. 4d. and in 1963–64 were 9s.; but these figures are not comparable because of revaluations during the period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now permit the building of old people's bungalows in those category four villages in the Bishop Auckland constituency where there is a reasonable expectation that the villages will still be in existence in 20 years time.

Applications for permission to build old people's bungalows in these villages would be for the county council to consider in the first place. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of their policy in this matter and of my right hon. Friend's general support for it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now reconsider his decision not to make a special grant to those local authorities who will install central heating in bungalows built for aged people.

No, my right hon. friend does not think a special grant is called for. All local authorities are encouraged to provide some form of central heating for old people and many of them are doing so. The normal housing subsidies are of course available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses in the local authority districts of Llwchwn, Pontardawe and Gower rural were improved with the assistance of the standard and discretionary grants up to the most recent date for which figures are

Local Authority	Gower R.D.C.	Llwchwr U.D.C.	Pontardawe R.D.C.
Discretionary Grants, 1949–31st May, 1964	439	311	772
Standard Grants, 1959–31st May, 1964	111	26	27

ANNUAL FIGURES
—		Gower R.D.C.	Llwchwr U.D.C.	Pontardawe R.D.C.
1959 Discretionary Grants	…	56	46	73
1959 Standard Grants	…	13	1	—
1960 Discretionary Grants	…	70	45	80
1960 Standard Grants	…	20	—	3
1961 Discretionary Grants	…	65	38	66
1961 Standard Grants	…	29	10	2
1962 Discretionary Grants	…	59	26	89
1962 Standard Grants	…	33	10	11
1963 Discretionary Grants	…	36	49	99
1963 Standard Grants	…	10	3	9
NOTES:
The figures above show the number of applications for grants approved.
The figures given for Discretionary Grants include a very small number of grants approved for the conversion of properties.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs by how much in the £ sterling housing prices have increased since May, 1952, as measured by the index of retail prices; and to what factors he attributes the increase.

The index of retail prices, which is based on rents, rates and other charges, does not provide any measure of the purchase price of houses. On the increase in the index figure for housing I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) on 8th June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many council houses and private homes, respectively, have been built in West Suffolk in available; and how the figure for the past year compares with that for the previous five years.

The information requested is as follows:each year since the war; and how many of each he estimates will be built in 1964.

The figures for the administrative County of West Suffolk are as follows:

			For local authorities	For private owners
1945–46	…	…	46	70
1947	…	…	342	104
1948	…	…	609	84
1949	…	…	463	81
1950	…	…	510	81
1951	…	…	434	78
1952	…	…	437	127
1953	…	…	535	219
1954	…	…	749	229
1955	…	…	437	243
1956	…	…	372	259
1957	…	…	508	286
1958	…	…	374	342
1959	…	…	331	341
1960	…	…	382	501
1961	…	…	420	662
1962	…	…	453	727
1963	…	…	438	641
			7,840	5,075

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were built in the county borough of Stockport in the years ended 31st May 1950, 1955, 1960, and 1964; how many of these were built by the local authority; and how many were for owner occupiers.

Figures for the twelve months ended 31st May are not available for the earlier years mentioned. I give below a table showing the numbers of dwellings completed in the county borough of Stockport in the years ended 31st March 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1964, distinguishing those built for the local authority and those for private owners.Following is the table:

Year ended 31st March		Total	For local authority	For private owners
1950	…	396	324	72
1955	…	652	390	262
1960	…	635	422	213
1964	…	392	139	253

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will now make a statement on the constitutional and economic position of Malta.

I shall be making a statement very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether the negotiations of a loan to Trinidad have now been completed; and what total and terms have been offered by Her Majesty's Government.

Negotiations with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago have not yet been concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies how many Prime Ministers and Heads of Government have now accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in London at the beginning of July.

With the exception of Mr. Shastri, Archibishop Makarios and Sir Alexander Bustamante, all Commonwealth Heads of Government will be attending the Meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies when he expects to get approval to the items in the Dominica Development Programme relating to the Hatton Garden to Salybia Road, the Castle Bruce to Petite Soufriere Road, the integrated health programme, the equipment for the new drama school, the staffing grant for Watton Waven School, and the mobile library van.

An application for Colonial Development and Welfare grant for the integrated health programme has not yet been received.The application for a mobile library van was received on the 9th June. Further information is required and has been asked for.The application for equipment for the new grammar school (there is no drama school) was received on the 1st July and is now being considered.The Dominica Development Plan makes provision for beginning both the Hatton Garden to Salybia Road and the Castle Bruce to Petite Soufriere Road, although it is stated that funds will not be available until after 1966 to complete either of them. We are considering with the Dominica Government whether it would not be better to complete one road instead of making a start on two.The Dominica Government have been told that the cost of staff for the Watton Waven School could be borne on the local Budget. This is grant-aided.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what steps he is taking to expedite a substantive reply from the Burmese Government to his representations regarding the payment of Burmese pensions in the United Kingdom to Burma pensioners, in view of the hardship being caused by the suspension of basic Burma pensions.

The Government of Burma was recently asked to expedite a reply to the representations made to them on behalf of Burma pensioners living outside Burma, whose basic pensions may now only be paid in Burma currency. Every effort is being made to secure an early reply from the Burmese Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas both motor-cars and smoking pipes are subject to Purchase Tax at 25 per cent. cleaning polish for motor-cars and all domestic polishes are untaxed, but cleaning polish for smoking pipes is taxed at 25 per cent.; why this discrimination in favour of non-pipe-smoker motorists exists; why car polish is preferred fiscally to pipe polish, both being polishes; and whether he will abolish Purchase Tax on pipe polish promptly.

Purchase tax is charged on goods according to the category into which they are grouped in the Purchase Tax Schedule. Polish as such is not in any taxable category. Certain kinds, however, are taxed because, being made for a special purpose, they do come within an appropriate Group of the Purchase Tax Schedule. For example, nail polish is taxed as a "toilet requisite" under Group 31, and pipe polish as "smokers' requisites" under Group 22. Car polish is not taxed because Group 27, covering road vehicles, does not include any accessories or "requisites".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that liability to costs inhibits many householders from making appeals against rating assessments, whether he will take steps to ensure that householders who are taken to the Lands Tribunal by the Inland Revenue after winning their appeals in the local valuation court are not liable to costs.

No. The Lands Tribunal has, like other courts of law, a statutory power to award costs. But where the Valuation Officer has successfully appealed to the Lands Tribunal against a local valuation court decision in the ratepayer's favour, the Inland Revenue, if they are asked by the tribunal for observations on the matter, normally ask for costs only in cases where the Valuation Officer has been legally represented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total sales of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Belfast in each of the last five financial years.

The total annual sales of the H.M. Stationery Office Bookshop in Belfast are as follows:

				£
1959–60	…	…	…	16,703
1960–61	…	…	…	17,985
1961–62	…	…	…	19,834
1962–63	…	…	…	22,895
1963–64	…	…	…	27,354

This bookshop in Belfast is managed for the Government of Northern Ireland under an Agency Agreement between the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office and the Ministry of Finance. All receipts are paid over to the Ministry of Finance and are accounted for in the Appropriation Accounts submitted to the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the quarterly percentage rise or fall since October, 1951, in the following items, namely, rent, rates, cost of living, purchasing value of the £ sterling, food, cost of imports, food imports, terms of trade, exports, National Insurance contributions, National Health Service charges, fuel tax, wine and spirit tax, tax on sweets, tax on tobacco, Income Tax, and Surtax, taking October, 1951, as equalling 100.

No. Figures are available from published material. The following is a list of the relevant publications:

Item	Publications
Rent	National income Blue Book
Rates	National Income White Paper (Cmnd. 2328)
Cost of living (retail price index)	Ministry of Labour Gazette
	Statistics on Incomes, Prices, Employment and Production
	Monthly Digest of Statistics
Food (consumers' expenditure)	National Income Blue Book
	Monthly Digest of Statistics
Cost of imports	Trade and Navigation Accounts
	Monthly Digest of Statistics
Food imports	Trade and Navigation Accounts
Terms of trade	Board of Trade Journal
	Monthly Digest of Statistics
Exports	Trade and Navigation Accounts
	Monthly Digest of Statistics
National insurance contributions	National Income Blue Book
	Monthly Digest of Statistics
National Health Service charges	Monthly Digest of Statistics (May,1964)
Hydrocarbon oil duty	National Income Blue Book
Duty on wines and spirits	Financial Statistics
Purchase tax on confectionery	Report of Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Cmnd. 2216)
Duty on tobacco	National Income Blue Book
Income Tax
Surtax	Monthly Digest of Statistics
Purchasing value of the £	Previous answers to Parliamentary Questions—in particular 7th February, 1964, col. 233

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Her Majesty's Government intend to introduce the necessary legislation to denationalise Richard Thomas and Baldwin Limited.

No new legislation is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health what part of the plan for a World Health Research Centre is favoured by Her Majesty's Government; and what reply has been received from the World Health Organisation to the communication sent by Her Majesty's Government embodying their decision on this matter.

Her Majesty's Government support the development of epidemiological studies and of the collection and dissemination of technical information. This view has been conveyed to the World Health Organisation, but no reply has been received and none is expected at this point.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the majority of portable telephones available for use in the wards of the hospitals of England and Wales are supplied as the result of the efforts of Leagues of Friends, Guilds of Supporters, and so on; and if he will ensure, in the interests of patients' welfare, that every hospital has an adequate number of telephone trolleys for bedside use supplied under the National Health Service.

A large number are so provided: hospital authorities may use National Health Service funds for this purpose if they consider it desirable.

asked the Minster of Health how many nett additional maternity beds will be provided in each region under the Hospital Plan as now revised; how many will be available within seven years; and how many would have been provided under the original 1962 Hospital Plan.

The following table shows, for each Hospital Board area, (i) the number of maternity beds provided in 1960 (the year to which the Hospital Plan, Cmnd. 1604, relates); (ii) the number of such beds which at the time of the original Plan, were expected to be provided on completion of schemes shown in Cmnd. 1604; (iii) the number of such beds now expected to be provided seven years after the second revision of the Plan; and (iv) the number of such beds now expected to be provided on completion of schemes in the second revision of the Plan. Teaching hospital beds are included in the appropriate Hospital Board area. Additional beds may be made available by deferring closures.

Region	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(iv)
Newcastle	1,388	1,880	1,776	1,957
Leeds	1,411	1,780	1,987	2,177
Sheffield	1,769	2,480	2,503	2,896
East Anglia	534	900	760	816
North-West
Metropolitan	1,922	2,300	2,351	2,575
North-East
Metropolitan	1,679	2,200	2,290	2,292
South-East
Metropolitan	1,375	1,710	1,779	1,991
South-West
Metropolitan	1,508	1,780	2,179	2,421
Wessex	676	1,030	934	1,246
Oxford	655	1,100	958	1,072
South-Western	1,285	1,550	1,439	1,547
Birmingham	1,882	2,680	2,493	2,791
Manchester	2,047	2,540	2,705	2,799
Liverpool	1,102	1,510	1,506	1,613
Wales	1,298	1,580	1,612	1,766
Total	20,531	27,020	27,272	29,959

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the failure of the United Nations to establish peace in the Congo, he will instruct the United Kingdom delegate at the United Nations to urge the Secretary-General to hold an inquiry into the United Nations intervention in the Congo, and to publish the findings together with full details of the costs of the operation borne by each of the contributing countries.

No. The Secretary-General has just published a report on the United Nations military operation in the Congo. Despite the present precarious state of internal security, the presence of United Nations troops has in our view made a valuable contribution to the maintenance of law and order. The United Nations Civil Assistance programme, to which we are contributing, is continuing its work in the Congo.Details of the assessed payments to be borne by Member States are already published in United Nations documents.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what delays there have been in the payment of pensions to overseas service pensioners or their widows by the Government of Ceylon; what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Ceylon Government; and what has been the result.

There have been delays of some months by the Government of Ceylon, primarily in the payment of a number of widows' pensions. In response to representations by the British Government the Government of Ceylon have recently approved in principle a scheme for payment by the Crown Agents immediately these pensions fall due. I hops this new scheme will be implemented shortly.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether Zanzibar income tax is deducted from the pensions of overseas service pensioners; and whether such tax is being remitted to Zanzibar.

Deductions in respect of liability to Zanzibar tax are being made from the advances which the British Government are making to expatriate pensioners of the Zanzibar Government. These tax deductions are not being remitted to the Union or Zanzibar Governments pending a resumption of payment to the pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the concern of persons in the service of the children's department of the London County Council about restriction of their opportunities to apply for posts in the service of the new London boroughs; and what action he will take.

I am not convinced that the experience and qualifications of the officers in question are sufficient for the important post of Children's Officer in the London boroughs. But in view of the concern which has been expressed, I am prepared to receive a deputation on the matter if that is desired.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the negotiations with Spain for the supply of frigates.

We have for some time been discussing with the Spanish Government the building of warships of British design in Spain. Until recently it seemed that the negotiations would reach a successful conclusion but I understand that the Spanish Government do not now intend to proceed with them. It is estimated that the agreement would in all have been worth some £11 million to the British economy, £2–3 million for design fees and similar payments and £8–9 million for equipment manufactured in this country for the Spanish Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people on the Isle of Sheppey are still receiving the special travel concession for their daily journey to their work in Chatham allowed since their displacement from Sheerness following the closure of the Naval Dockyard there; and on what date this concession will cease.

Payment of excess travelling expenses to transferred industrial employees operates for a maximum of five years from the date of transfer. As Her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheerness, finally closed on 31st March, 1960, the last payments will terminate on 31st March, 1965. Two hundred and four ex-Sheerness employees are at present receiving the special travel concession.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why no war damage payments have been made for the restoration of the Garrison Church at Portsmouth, largely roofless since the wartime bombing.

No war damage payments have been made because the Royal Garrison Church at Portsmouth is Crown property.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the reasons for the delay in publishing Volume 4 of the Official History of the War with Japan.

This volume is likely to be published early in 1965. This would not involve any undue delay in relation to past practice.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in the Faversham constituency are now receiving National Assistance; how many new applications have been made during the past 12 months; and, of these new applications, how many have been refused.

The information is as follows:

Recipients of National Assistance at 26th May, 1964	3,323
Applications, June, 1963—May, 1964	3,226
Applications rejected, withdrawn or not proceeded with	499

It is not possible to distinguish between applications by persons who have previously received National Assistance and those by persons who are applying for the first time.

asked the Minister of Power what was the average revenue per unit of electricity consumed in 1962–63 in England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively; and what was the average revenue per unit consumed in the same period in the areas of the boards responsible for the following areas, namely, Merseyside and North Wales, South Wales, Midlands, London, and Southwest England.

The information requested is given in the table below:

		Average Revenue per Unit Sold (d. per unit)
England and Wales	…	1·566
Scotland.	…	1·576
Merseyside and North Wales	…	1·452
South Wales	…	1·392
Midlands	…	1·480
London	…	1·874
South Western	…	1·815

The details of average revenue from sales in England and Wales are taken from the Electricity Council's Annual Report for 1962–63, Statement A5. For Scotland, the information is taken from the Annual Reports of the two Boards for 1962 and relates to the calendar year 1962.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration he has given to the furnishing of parking facilities at the export division of the Board of Trade in the City of London, where the lack of this facility causes difficulties to exporters and intending exporters making personal calls at this office.

I had not been aware that there was any difficulty over parking, and there are public facilities in the area. However, in view of the hon. Member's question I am seeing whether some special arrangements can be made for visitors to the Export Services Branch of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will set up a public inquiry to discover the views of traders in Chatham before Chatham Borough Council puts into effect the Borough of Chatham (Traffic Regulation) (High Street) Amendment Order 1964.

No. I understand that the Order came into operation on 1st July. I see no reason to intervene in what is essentially a local matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consult the Minister of Housing and Local Government about the proposed new towns at Skelmersdale and Risley, in view of the need for adequate transport facilities for these towns; what decision he has reached on the proposal to close the Glacebrook, Risley and Culcheth railway line; and what approval he has given for capital expenditure on modernisation of the existing lines and for expenditure to link with new lines Manchester, Glacebrook, Risley, Culcheth, Skelmersdale and Liverpool.

My right hon. Friend and I always consult together about the implications for transport of proposed new towns, and in particular about the possible effects of passenger closure proposals. I am in touch with him about the implications of the Wigan-Glazebrook proposal, on which I have not yet reached my decision.The provision of new railway services is a matter for the British Railways Board; the Board have made no proposals for capital investment on the lines referred to in the Question, but if, as plans develop, railway investment seems desirable, I have no doubt that they will consider it.

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions the Nationalised Transport Advisory Council has met since 1st January, 1963; what advice he has received from the Council relating to the co-ordination of the nationalised transport undertakings; and what action he proposes to take.

Since 1st January, 1963, the Council has met four times. It has proved a valuable means of informal discussion over a wide range of subjects concerning the nationalised transport undertakings represented on the Council. I have naturally taken full advantage of the views expressed at these meetings in considering the problems of transport policy.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the original estimated construction cost per mile of the London-Birmingham M.1 motorway; what was the actual construction cost per mile incurred; and what is the present estimated construction cost per mile of the north-west extension of M.1 for which tenders have been let, excluding in each case the cost of acquiring land.

The original estimated construction cost of the main section of the London-Birmingham motorway' was £321,000 per mile. The actual construction cost, including the cost of repairs and improvements carried out and authorised to bring the motorway up to current design standards, is £431,000 per mile; this figure is subject to settlement of outstanding claims.The estimated construction cost of the Crick-Stanton section of the northward extension of M.1, for which tenders have been let, is £680,000 per mile.In each case the costs of administration and land are excluded.