asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British European Airways to refrain from announcing the name of the pilot and the height and speed of the aircraft on internal flights.

No.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to increase the production of helicopters for British forces.

Substantial numbers of helicopters of various types have been and are being delivered to the Services. I am advised that production is in general adequate to meet current requirements.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many holders of private flying licences there are as compared with five years ago.

7,682 today as compared with 6,246 five years ago.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give the export figures of British light aircraft for the last three years.

The value of complete British light aircraft, including helicopters, exported in the last three calendar years was as follows:

asked the Minister of Aviation what help his Department gives to the newly independent countries to develop technical ground facilities at their airports.

My department participates in the Government's technical assistance programmes by providing experts for overseas service and by training personnel from overseas at the Ministry's civil aviation schools. Similar assistance is also given under programmes sponsored by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many passengers were carried on charter flights to the Continent by independent airlines between May and October last year.

247,000.

asked the Minister of Aviation which civil aircraft and aeroengines have received Government financial support under the terms of the policy announced in the House of Commons in February 1960; and how much has been contributed in each case.

Contractual agreements have been entered into to assist the development and production of the following civil projects. £10·25m on the VC10 and super VC10 aricraft, £5m on Trident Mk.l aircraft, £9·75m on BAC one-eleven aircraft, £7·9m on the Spey engine and £14·842m on the Concord aircraft and Olympus 593 engine.£1·11m have also been committed in assistance to proving the Herald and £153,000 in assistance to proving the Argosy.Expenditure under the policy announced in February 1960 thus totals some £49m.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make it a condition of Government help in developing a new type of civil aircraft that it should not be built to the specification and requirement of only one airline.

Decisions whether Government help should be given in the development of a new type of civil aircraft must be taken on the merits of each case. Full consideration is given to export potential as well as the extent to which this aircraft will meet specific requirements.

asked the Minister of Aviation what percentage of the products of the electronics industry was exported in 1963, and what is the estimated percentage in 1964.

Approximately 23 per cent. was exported in 1963. It is expected that this level will be maintained in the current year.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps are being taken by his Department to keep the regulations affecting private flying and gliding to a minimum compatible with safety.

There is close day to day consultation between officials of my Department and representatives of the private flying and gliding organisations, and this consultation finds a focal point in the regular meetings of the Standing Joint Committee on Private and Club Flying and Gliding over which I preside. One purpose of this consultation is to achieve the greatest degree of safety with the least degree of restriction.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many air centres have been established since 1947 in accordance with Recommendation XXVII of the Special Advisory Committee on Private Flying; and how many of these have been built by municipalities.

About a dozen air centres, some of which approach the pattern outlined in the Report, have been opened since 1947; it is not possible to say whether the Committee's recommendation is responsible for any of these and I am not aware that any have been built by municipalities.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many Government-owned aerodromes which have reverted to agricultural use since the end of the war have since 1947 been made available for private flying and gliding.

This information is not available. There are 156 aerodromes notified in the United Kingdom Air Pilot as available for use by private fliers and most of these were at one time military airfields. A number of other military and ex-military airfields are also used by private fliers although not notified in the United Kingdom Air Pilot.

asked the Minister of Aviation what was the cost of Government support to private flying clubs during 1963; how this compares with the subsidy recommended by the Special Advisory Committee on Private Flying in 1947; and if he will make a statement.

In addition to other forms of financial assistance the Committee recommended that a direct subsidy rising to a maximum of £900,000 per annum after three years should be made available to approved flying clubs, and that a subvention of £490,000 should be paid to gliding clubs over a period of five years. These proposals were not accepted by the Government of the day.At present flying and gliding clubs are helped by rebate of part of the duty on the petrol which they use within an annual ceiling of £75,000, and by a number of concessions such as special facilities at State aerodromes. In addition the clubs benefit from Government contracts for the training of A.T.C. cadets under the Flying Scholarship scheme, and from the recently inaugurated "Junior Wings" scheme.

asked the Minister of Aviation what negotiations are taking place for the purchase of Seacat missiles to be used in the British vessels which the Spanish Government wish to acquire.

None, but Seacat is part of the normal equipment of a Leader class frigate and the missile would most likely have been adopted by the Spanish Navy if the recent negotiations with Spain had not been frustrated.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many foreign countries are purchasing the Short Seacat for use by their armed forces.

Six overseas countries have ordered Seacat.

asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent the Government have given support to the development of the vertical lift principle embodied in the P1127 and the Short SC1.

The Vector thrust principle embodied in P1127 has been supported by the United Kingdom Government by orders for a total of 15 P1127 aircraft, partly for the United Kingdom's own research purposes and partly for use in the tripartite evaluation programme which we are undertaking with the United States and Federal Republic of Germany. Further support has been given to this concept of VTOL by the decision taken earlier this year to develop the P1154 and the BS 100 engine to meet the R.A.F. requirement for a Hunter successor. The direct lift principle embodied in the SC1 is in our view more suitable to transport aircraft and as yet there is no firm operational requirement in this field. We are however rebuilding the SC1 aircraft which crashed last autumn and extending the research programme on which it will be used. We have also extended our agreement with France and the Federal Republic of Germany for the continued development of the RB162 engine. As my hon. Friend knows, we are also currently investigating with the Federal Republic of Germany the feasibility of a further research project based on the Do31 experimental transport aircraft which uses this engine.In broad terms the Government has spent to date about £25 million on research and development work on the VTOL principles embodied in the P1127 and the SC1 and their associated engines. This figure will of course increase very rapidly as the P1154 programme gets under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many vessels are allocated to the Fishery Protection Squadron; and what additional vessels and aircraft will be added in view of the need to police the additional waters which will come under British jurisdiction owing to the extension of fisheries limits.

The Fishery Protection Squadron consists of four frigates, four coastal minesweepers and two inshore minesweepers. Occasional help is given by two fast patrol boats. The two inshore minesweepers are shortly to be replaced by one coastal minesweeper. As regards the implications for the Royal Navy of the impending extension of the fishery limits I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 6th May last.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) under which entry headed Type/Class, in Appendix A to Command Paper No. 2270 of 1964, H.M.S. "Roberts" is included; and why there is no entry for the class of Monitor, in which category H.M.S. "Roberts" once fell;(2) why it is proposed to scrap H.M.S. "Roberts".

Ships approved for disposal by scrapping in the previous financial year and earlier are not shown in Annex A of Command Paper No. 2270 of 1964. The Monitors H.M. Ships "Roberts" and "Abercrombie" reached the end of their useful lives in 1954 and were approved for disposal by scrapping. They were then removed from the Strength of the Fleet, tables and the entry for Monitors lapsed. H.M.S. "Abercrombie" has already been scrapped, but H.M.S. "Roberts" has been used for a number of years as a fender for ships in the Reserve Ships Division at Plymouth. She is now no longer required for this purpose and will be disposed of shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an assurance that members of the Armed Forces, including the Territorial Army, are free to communicate with Members of Parliament about personal grievances and matters of public policy without fear of victimisation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of guided weapons will be in current service with the three Armed Services by the end of this year.

The list is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make the Army and Territorial Army available for the demolition of obsolete mine buildings and industrial plant.

If the work would provide good training falling within the rules for the employment of Army units on such work, and the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind, I will consider it. It might, however, be difficult to find suitable units to do the work in view of our present heavy operational requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the recent discussions held by his Department with Spain for a contract to build Leander class frigates was on condition that they were to be built in British shipyards, and to what extent it was for the purchase of plans and drawings for the building of these frigates in Spain; and whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the supplying of strategic information and arms to foreign countries.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House today. As regards the supply of strategic information and arms to foreign countries, I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 15th June in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for New-castle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) and Ebbw Vale (Mr. M. Foot).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in HANSARD a list of the names of the leading 12 firms who have since 1951 been the recipients of the largest Government contracts, and the total amounts of such contracts for each of these years; and what was the average profit allowed for on each of these contracts.

I will certainly try to do so if the hon. Member wishes, but it will take many weeks of work and many man hours of time at a moment when I am seeking both to reorganise my Department and reduce the numbers of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure incurred in the operations in the Aden Peninsula from January to the end of June.

As I told the hon. Member on 10th June, it is impossible to give a meaningful figure for the cost of operations of this sort conducted by standing forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total population in the area served by the Paisley and District Hospital Board and the number of staffed maternity beds available in the Board's hospitals.

About 199,000; 88 such beds are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what report he has received from the Paisley and District Hospital Board regarding the need for maternity beds in their area.

None. As is customary the board of management for Paisley and district hospitals has submitted its recommendations in this matter to the Western Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many industrial firms are now in operation in the Scottish new towns; and how many jobs these provide;(2) how many industrial firms have agreed to establish themselves in the Scottish new towns within the last 12 months; and how many jobs they are expected to provide.

The 109 industrial firms now in operation in the Scottish new towns provide over 13,800 jobs. In the last 12 months 41 industrial firms, who are expected to provide 5,500 jobs, have agreed to establish themselves there; 25 of these firms are already in operation and are included in the 109 already referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have had reductions in their allocation of Exchequer equalisation grant as a result of their rent policy; what is the amount deducted from each authority; and what is the total amount for Scotland.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of Exchequer equalisation grant and general grant notified to each county council, each large burgh, and to each of the four cities, respectively, for the years 1963–64 and 1964–65; and if he will express the total grants for each authority for the respective years as a percentage of their estimated relevant expenditure.

The amounts of Exchequer equalisation grant and general grant most recently notified to local authorities in Scotland are given in the table below. This shows for the landward area of each county and for each large burgh, including counties of cities: in column (2): the amount of the second advance of Exchequer equalisation grant for 1963–64 (including Exchequer transitional grant where payable), based on the distribution of 95 per cent. of the total grant estimated to be available to Scotland;

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the plans put forward by the Development Commissioners for pilot schemes in depopulated areas are integrated with other development plans and the work of the Scottish Development Group.

The plans for pilot schemes to which the right hon. Gentleman refers have not yet been submitted to the Government nor indeed, I understand, formally adopted by the Commissioners. During a recent visit to Scotland, however, the Commissioners had useful discussions about these matters with my Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the accommodation in each of the. primary and secondary schools in East Kilbride; how many children at present attend each school; how many children will require new primary or secondary school places during the school year 1964–65; and how many places will be provided in new schools during 1964–65.

The following is the table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Aberdeen have been modernised each year with the aid of Government grants in the last 10 years.

The total number of bouses improved with the aid of grant since 1954 to the end of 1963 was 756. The following is the number of houses in the city of Aberdeen improved with the aid of grant for each year from 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the present allocation of beds in Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, and the proposed allocation of beds when the second extension to the hospital is completed.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients have been admitted for general surgical operations to Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, within four weeks of being examined by a consultant, in each month from 1st January, 1964, to the latest available date.

The numbers of patients admitted for general surgical operations to Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, in each month from January, 1964, within four weeks of being examined by a consultant were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of those at present in prisons have been sent there in default of paying fines, for nonpayment of maintenance allowances, or for debt, respectively, according to sex and age group.

On the night of Friday, 3rd July, 171 persons were held in Scottish prisons in default of the payment of fines. Eleven of these were males aged 17 to 21, 147 were males aged 21 and over, one was a female aged between 17 and 21 and 12 were females aged 21 and over. There were no prisoners on that date held for nonpayment of maintenance allowances or other debts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the discontent among teachers about the part played by the Scottish Joint Council in settling teachers' salaries, what steps he proposes to take to remove this discontent.

I am not aware of any general discontent among teachers over the working of the Scottish Joint Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the need for a properly constituted negotiation body with powers to determine teachers' salaries; what consideration he has given this matter; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a representation from the Scottish Schoolmasters Association that I should introduce "arrangements for the establishment of a body empowered to conduct negotiations on teachers' salaries and allowances on a genuine voluntary basis". I see no ground at present for altering the arrangements for the negotiation of teachers' salaries in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the shortage of teachers partly results from the present level of teachers' salaries; and if he will have fresh consultations with the interests concerned with a view to introducing higher salaries.

No. I see no ground for disturbing the salaries settlement agreed last year, which will remain in force until 31st March, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that teachers are not allowed by the National Joint Council to discuss and be mandated by their members as regards salary negotiations at National Joint Council level; and if he will take steps to ensure that the normal mechanics of collective bargaining shall operate.

The restriction imposed by the Scottish Joint Council on its members relates to the divulging of information about the Council's proceedings. It does not prevent the teachers' associations from instructing the members they have nominated to the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the progress of the programme of hospital building in Scotland, up to the most recent convenient date.

During the six-month period from 1st October, 1963, to 31st March, 1964, hospital capital works to the value of £4,676,000 were completed in Scotland: they provided 265 additional beds. At the end of March, 1964, schemes estimated to cost approximately £16,884,000, and to provide 1,952 additional beds, were in progress.The completed schemes included the provision of radiotherapy units at Belvidere Hospital, Glasgow, and the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. Those started during the period include the provision of new hospitals at Wick (Phase 1—£108,000) and Islay (£194,000), as well as schemes for the substantial remodelling of Dundee dental hospital and school, and Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert, and for major extensions to Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh, each of which is estimated to cost upwards of £½ million.Further particulars are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentage, based on an index of 100, rent and rates, respectively, have risen since January 1959 to 1964 in Scotland, with particular regard to Aberdeen.

Taking the average rate payment per house in the year 1958–59 as 100, the corresponding figures for the year 1963–64 for Scotland and Aberdeen were 119·5 and 125·5, respectively. There are no comparable figures for Scottish rents.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will call for a report on traffic congestion on the A.30 road during Ascot week; and if he will make a statement.

No. The traffic arrangements for Ascot week were less effective this year because of the exceptional weather conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated mileage of additional trunk roads which will be brought into use this year; what is the estimated mileage for each of the next three years; and to what extent he is satisfied that trunk roads are not at present being subjected to loads beyond their designed capacity.

We estimate that about 70 miles of new and reconstructed trunk road (excluding motorways) will be brought into use this financial year and that about 55 miles will be brought into use in 1965–66. It would be misleading to attempt to give estimates for each of the years 1966–67 and 1967–68, since the mileage for each year will depend upon the dates on which particular road works are started between now and then. A variation in the starting dates of only a few months for some of the schemes would make a significant difference to the respective mileages brought into use during these two years.We know that while much of the trunk road system has been modernised there are still many sections which are carrying heavier volumes of traffic than they are designed for. We are continuing in our trunk road improvement programme to deal with what remains to be done on a priority basis.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the need for amendment of Section 135 of the Highways Act, 1959, which provides for a fine not exceeding 5s. in respect of each animal straying on a highway, with a view to increasing this penalty.

I agree that this penalty is out of date and I will consider a change when a suitable opportunity occurs.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the large increase in industrial and other traffic along the B4265 road; and what further improvements are planned, particularly in the vicinity of Rhoose and East Aberthaw.

Yes. As my hon. Friend knows, I have approved Glamorgan County Council's scheme to realign and widen a stretch of this road between Old Mill and Burton, Aberthaw.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the accident record along the B4266 road between Barry and Bonvilston in the past five years; and what further improvements are planned, particularly near the existing bridge over the River Weycock.

In the five years ending 31st December, 1963, 52 accidents were reported of which 2 were fatal and 21 others involved personal injury.The Glamorgan County Council, which is the highway authority, has a scheme for improvement at Weycock Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport what are his plans for an access road on to the M.6 at Charnock Richard or Runshaw; and when this will be built.

I have no such plans.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a report on the accident at Crichley Hill, Birdlip, Gloucestershire, on 27th March, 1964.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the contracts awarded by his Department for each calendar year from 1951 to date, similar details where the firms acted in consortium with other firms, the total amounts of moneys actually paid and due for payment to these firms; and how these figures compare with those for the period 1945 to 1951.

The whole of this information could not be made available without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. The total expenditure for the years 1945–46 to 1963–64 on new construction and major improvements of trunk roads, the greater part of which represents payments to contractors, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what improvements have been effected during the past five years along the main projected north-to-south road route through Wales; and what further improvements are planned.

Over 50 road improvement schemes have been carried out on this route since 1959 at a cost of over £280,000. A further 19 are in progress or planned at a cost of £322,000.

asked the Minister of Transport what further improvements are planned for the A.470 road, particularly between Whitchurch, Glamorgan, and Taffs Well.

A scheme for the construction of dual carriageways from the northern end of the Whitchurch bypass to Nantgarw is included in the road programme.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the increase of traffic during the past five years along the A.4119 road between Radyr Chain, Glamorgan, and Pontyclun; and what improvements are planned for this road.

No statistics are available for the five year period, but counts taken in 1954 and 1963 indicate that traffic on A.4119 more than doubled during this period. A scheme for the improvement of this road at Llantrisant is included in the classified road programme.

asked the Minister of Transport what up-to-date information he has about the increase in traffic along the A.469 road between Thornhill, Lisvane, and Caerphilly; and what further improvements are planned for this road.

It is the responsibility of the Glamorgan County Council, as the highway authority concerned, to take traffic counts. They have a scheme to improve a section of this road south of Caerphilly. I have approved the issue of grant for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to make it an obligation that where vehicles are engaged in carrying dangerous cargoes of any kind, they must have both a driver and an attendant at all times, and that the braking systems of such vehicles shall be of a dual type.

Goods vehicles are already required to have two independent braking systems; it would be unreasonable to require both an attendant and a driver on all vehicles carrying dangerous cargoes because the degree of danger depends on the quantity and type of load and how it is packed.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the large number of lorries found by his inspectors to be dangerous by reason of vital defects, what steps he will now take to safeguard other road users by introducing additional inspections or stiff penalties for using vehicles in a preventable dangerous condition.

I would refer the hon. Member to the speech which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary made on the Motion for the Adjournment on 23rd June.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now take action to prevent the use of re-cut tyres on motor vehicles, while being driven on the highway.

Yes. I am seeking power under the Consumer Protection Act, 1961, to regulate the sale of re-cut tyres.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a growing number of old and unwanted motor vehicles are being abandoned by their owners in the streets of Deptford and other London boroughs, and that the powers exercisable by the police are insufficient to curb the practice; and what measures he proposes to introduce to deal with the problem.

I am aware that more vehicles are being abandoned, as the number of vehicles grows, although I do not know the precise figure for any particular borough. The police have power to prosecute where obstruction or danger is caused; and both the police and the local authority have power to remove and dispose of abandoned vehicles, and to charge the owner for the removal and for the net cost of disposal, if any. I do not believe that the powers are insufficient: the difficulty arises in exercising them. I have been considering this question with the Minister of Housing and Local Government who hopes soon to issue advice to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has now given to the question of anomalies which arise under the Public Service Vehicles (Travel Concessions) Act, 1955; and if he will make a statement.

I am getting in touch with the local authorities concerned with a view to reaching agreement with them as to what amendments of the law are required to secure that their powers to grant travel concessions under the 1955 Act are not eroded. Subject to our reaching a satisfactory agreement on these lines with the local authorities concerned it is our intention to introduce the necessary legislation next session.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking in conjunction with the relevant county and municipal authorities to eliminate the pollution by oil of the sea at British seaside resorts.

The discharge of oil into the seas; surrounding our coasts is an offence under the oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1955. I take a grave view of such offences. Wherever practicable, the offenders are prosecuted. Offences by foreign vessels are reported to their Governments.Whenever H.M. Coastguard become aware that floating oil is likely to come ashore they warn the local authority concerned.I hope that the new system of tanker operations recently announced by leading British oil companies will bring about a great reduction in pollution of the sea by oil.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the yearly investment expenditure on British Railways from 1948 to 1964, inclusive, showing separately for each year the amount spent on rolling stock.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what hovercraft are now being produced for commercial sale.

I understand that West-land Aircraft Ltd. are producing a hovercraft, the S.R.N.5, for commercial sale.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many industrial development certificates were issued in Middlesbrough in 1963, and to the latest available date in 1964.

In 1963 one industrial development certificate was issued for Middlesbrough; three certificates were issued in the first six months of 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children ascertained as educationally subnormal or maladjusted have left school during the past five years.

Statistics relating to the number of educationally subnormal and maladjusted school leavers are not kept but the latest available figures suggest that during the five years 1958–62 about 18,000 educationally subnormal children and about 500 maladjusted children left special schools at or above the age of 16.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many courses are being run by local education authorities for educationally subnormal and maladjusted school leavers to assist their adjustment to working life.

I regret that information is not available regarding courses specially run for this purpose. I would expect that help and advice would be given during the final year at school and ordinary courses of further education are of course available in suitable cases. The youth employment service is available for the vocational guidance of school leavers up to the age of 18 and beyond that age if they are still at school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement on the recent scientific developments at Dounreay, indicating their contributions to British home industry and to exports.

The Atomic Energy Authority's establishment at Dounreay is primarily concerned with the development of fast reactors. The Dounreay Fast Reactor has been operating at full power since July, 1963, except for shutdown periods for refuelling and experimental purposes. It generates 60 megawatts of heat, is many times more powerful than any other fast reactor operating in the world, and is the first such reactor to supply electricity to a national supply system. Although it is only an experimental reactor, by the end of May it had supplied more than twenty-five million kilowatts of electricity to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. At present it is being used to test types of fuel for a possible Prototype Fast Reactor.There is also at Dounreay a Materials Testing Reactor with associated fuel element manufacturing and chemical processing plants. It is used in general support work for the various types of reactor systems. Fuel elements have been, or are being, manufactured at Dounreay in co-operation with industry, for experimental reactors in this country and in West Germany, Denmark, Australia and India. After irradiation abroad the fuel is returned to Dounreay for chemical reprocessing.The objective of the fast reactor development programme is to establish commercially a new type of reactor which both breeds fissile material in the process of generating heat, and also, in the first instance, burns plutonium which is a by-product of the thermal reactor systems now being installed by the C.E.G.B. The successful development of this system would therefore improve the economics of nuclear power.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions, in the period 1958 to 1963, persons who have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and are in process of serving their sentence have been allowed to attend the hearing of their appeals against sentence in their legal advisers' offices; and whether they have been allowed to use private conveyances between the court and their gaol.

To the best of my knowledge, none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the increasing number and size of vehicles in use transporting on the roads commodities that are inflammable, explosive, toxic and corrosive; and if he will require these vehicles to bear a distinctive sign of a standard pattern so that the public may be aware of the extra dangers if such vehicles are involved in an accident.

Provision for the marking of vehicles containing dangerous goods which cross international boundaries is included in the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, which is expected to come into operation within the next year. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport about the arrangements needed to implement this agreement. Consideration is being given at the same time to the adoption of similar measures in respect of domestic traffic.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will ensure that youth employment officers are given special training for their work with educationally subnormal and maladjusted school leavers.

Existing training courses for youth employment officers include instruction in assessing the occupational significance of physical and mental handicaps when advising and placing young people. I am considering whether any further training should be arranged for youth employment officers who specialise in work among handicapped young people.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will set up residential vocational guidance centres for educationally subnormal and maladjusted school leavers prior to their entering employment, in particular by adapting an existing industrial rehabilitation unit for this purpose.

The question of residential vocational guidance centres is one of the matters which will be considered in the interdepartmental examination which is to be made of the recommendations of the Working Party of the British Council for Rehabilitation of the Disabled on problems of the handicapped school leaver.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the educationally subnormal or maladjusted school leavers who left school during the past five years are in employment.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will extend the youth employment service to cover young people up to and including the age of 21 years who have been ascertained as educationally subnormal or maladjusted.

It would not be practicable to extend the present age limits of the youth employment service to cover particular classes of young people. The disablement resettlement services of my Department are available to handicapped young people up to and beyond the age of 21.