asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations have been made to him by the City Corporation of Liverpool to the effect that the powers available to them under the present statutes are inadequate to enable them to deal with such cases concerning bad landlords as may be brought to their attention; and what reply he has sent.

In July, 1963, the corporation asked for the reintroduction of some form of rent control because of their concern that some owners were charging exorbitant rents for substandard property. I replied that rent control in the past had led to a reduction in the amount of accommodation to let, but I offered to consider their problem further if they would send me more details.This year the corporation asked the circumstances in which compulsory purchase powers might be appropriately invoked to deal with the situation where a tenant was threatened with eviction.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs in how many cases powers of compulsory purchase of residential property have been sought by the City Corporation of Liverpool where allegations of excessive rent demands have been made.

The corporation have submitted two compulsory purchase orders where they consider that the rents charged might be unreasonable, but the main reason given for making these orders was the threatened eviction of the tenants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is satisfied that the existing statutory provisions relating to compensation for site values for slum clearance are understood by local authorities and enable them accurately to estimate costs involved; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to believe that local authorities have difficulty in making adequate estimates of the cost of acquisition.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take on the report published on 7th July on Housing in Britain, a copy of which has been sent to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now put forward revised proposals to deal with the housing shortage, in the light of the Report of the Town and Country Planning Association on Housing in Britain, a copy of which has been sent to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take following the report of the Town and Country Planning Association entitled "Housing in Britain", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

The report is based for the most part on published statistics with which I am already familiar. I think hon. Members on both sides of the House will agree, when they have had time to study it, that the Report provides striking confirmation of the soundness of the Government's housing policies and particularly of their target of 400,000 houses a year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how far the estimates in the report entitled "Housing in Britain", a copy of which has been sent to him, of the need to increase slum clearance to 190,000 houses a year and to build 500,000 houses a year to meet all housing needs in the next 20 years correspond to his own estimate of housing needs; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply given by me today to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mrs. Slater).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the number of domestic properties purchased by local authorities in the London and Greater London area in the past five years in order to prevent the eviction of the tenant.

Twenty-two compulsory purchase orders have been confirmed relating to 31 houses and 200 flats within the Greater London area where tenants were threatened with homelessness. Of these orders, 17 related to 26 houses and 198 flats within the County of London. I have no record of the number of properties purchased by agreement in these circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the progress that has been made in the development of factory-made houses by several firms, what action has now been taken by Her Majesty's Government regarding the development of this type of house; and what steps are being taken or are contemplated to encourage greater use of factory-made houses in future housing programmes.

My Department has had over 700 meetings with firms interested in industrialised building methods and a number of meetings and conferences with a total of 510 local authorities; the Ministry also helps and encourages local authorities to play their part in the development and use of promising systems. I believe that the advice and information which has been given has contributed materially to the development of new methods in this country. A research and development group of the Department have designed and developed a system for two-storey houses, known as 5M, and is developing a second—12M—for houses and low-rise flats and maisonettes. These systems will be made available for general use.I am encouraging local authorities to form working groups to enable them to take the fullest advantage of new methods. Of the 510 local authorities, 70 of the largest building between them about one-quarter of the local authority programme, are already working in groups, and I hope more groups will be formed following conferences and meetings which my Department has held with the others. About one-sixth of the local authority programmes in 1964 and about one-fifth in 1965 will, be built by industrialised methods, I would expect this proportion to rise sharply thereafter. The main function of the National Building Agency, which has been set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works, is to encourage the greater use of industrialised methods for all types of building, including houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that since 1957 the number of council houses built by the Bristol Corporation has fallen from 1,413 to 276 in 1963; and what was the number of houses completed by the Corporation for each of the years from 1945 to 1957.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the figures for 1957 and 1963 were as stated by the hon. Member. These figures, and those for the intervening years, which ranged from 385 to 936 were given in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke) on 2nd July.The numbers of permanent houses completed for Bristol Corporation in the years 1945 to 1956 were:

1945	…	…	…	Nil
1946	…	…	…	234
1947	…	…	…	1,107
1948	…	…	…	1,752
1949	…	…	…	2,121
1950	…	…	…	1,754
1951	…	…	…	1,655
1952	…	…	…	1,695
1953	…	…	…	1,480
1954	…	…	…	2,105
1955	…	…	…	2,479
1956	…	…	…	1,936

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the amount of increase in the average cost of private houses built so far this year compared with those built in the same period last year.

The Ministry of Public Building and Works index number of the average price of new houses for private owners was 138 for the first quarter of 1964 compared with 129 for the first quarter of 1963—an increase of 7 per cent. The figures on which the index is based include the cost of land and they cover only those houses on which building societies have advanced mortgages during the period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to receive and to publish the Milner Holland Report into the housing situation in London; if he will ensure publication is in time to be discussed by this Parliament; and if he will, after publication, consider a similar survey into housing conditions outside London.

The Committee do not consider that it will be possible to let me have their report until the end of the year. The need for further surveys will have to be considered in due course.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent a further rise in rents; and if, in view of the increase of 60 per cent. in the cost-of-living index for rent and rates since 1956, he will seek to amend the Rent Act to end creeping decontrol.

The best way of keeping rents at a reasonable level is to increase the number of houses as quickly as possible, and this the Government are doing to the full extent of the building industry's capacity. Abolition of creeping decontrol would encourage landlords to sell instead of reletting when they got vacant possession, and this would not be in the interests of tenants generally.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has now been made in the consultations he has been having with various organisations about amending the law relating to burial and cremation.

The local authority associations and representatives of religious and other organisations have been informed of my right hon. Friend's proposals, and he is awaiting their comments.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the, report of the Local Government Commission for England's examination of the organisation of local government in the South-East Lancashire Review Area will be available.

The Commission have not yet produced draft proposals for this area. It is not possible to say when their report and final proposals will be available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received from Sheffield Corporation or from the Gainsborough Urban District Council about the population limit envisaged in the Boundary Commission's Report No. 8.

None. Local authorities have until the end of October to make representations about the Commission's proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he is proposing to take following the last annual report of the Warren Spring Laboratory which drew attention to the fact that whilst the emission of smoke in the air has dropped 60 per cent. that of sulphur dioxide has risen by 32 per cent.

Although the amount of sulphur dioxide emitted in London during the past 10 years has increased by 32 per cent., there has been no detectable increase in the ground level concentration. This is because most of the increased emission is dispersed from high chimneys. My right hon. Friend will therefore maintain his policy of requiring new furnaces at power stations and other industrial premises to be fitted with high chimneys.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will reconsider his decision to refuse to grant planning permission to Mr. Edwin Relf for land at Deanland Wood, Golden Cross, Sussex; and whether he will call for a further report by one of his senior officers about this case.

No. Once my right hon. Friend has given his decision on an appeal he has no further jurisdiction in respect of it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has been taken on the Sixth Progress Report of the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents.

Progressive improvement has been effected by the substitution of "soft" base materials which break down more easily in sewage purification, for the "hard" materials formerly used. The commercial feasibility of using the still softer materials referred to in the Sixth Report of the Standing Technical Committee is currently under investigation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has been taken on the recommendations contained in the Six Reports of the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents.

As a result of the Committee's recommendations, the proportion of "soft" materials used in the manufacture of detergents has greatly increased and is still increasing. The "soft" materials break down more easily in sewage purification, and the effect of using them is that there is much less detergent in the effluent from sewage disposal works.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has been taken arising out of the Sixth Progress Report of the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents.

Progressive improvement has been effected by the substitution of "soft" base materials which break down more easily in sewage purification, for the "hard" materials used formerly. The commercial feasibility of using the still softer materials referred to in the sixth Report of the Standing Technical Committee is currently under investigation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the pending appeals of a Chelsea ratepayer against the District Auditor's failure to surcharge the Chelsea Borough Engineer and Surveyor for having improperly employed members of his council staff to do private work at, and in connection with, his properties at Kingston-upon-Thames over several days and during working hours, while being paid salaries from the rates, will be held in public, as were the original objections to the audit.

The ratepayer concerned has asked my right hon. Friend for a personal hearing under Section 231 of the Local Government Act, 1933. My right hon. Friend and his predecessors have always taken the view that personal hearings under this Section are required to be held in private.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will state the reasons for the delay in arranging for the hearing of the Chelsea ratepayer's appeal against the District Auditor's failure to surcharge the Chelsea Borough Engineer and Surveyor for private work done at ratepayers' expense, in view of the allegations of the improper use of staff, the improper use of the mayoral car and other alleged malpractices, some of which were reported to him in August, 1963.

My right hon. Friend received in August, 1963, appeals against the District Auditor's decision on certain objections made at the Audit of the Chelsea Borough Council's accounts for the financial year 1960–61. For a number of reasons, including the delay in lodging these appeals, there was doubt whether they were within my right hon. Friend's jurisdiction. These doubts have been resolved and the hearing will now be arranged.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will issue a circular to local authorities giving guidance on the retention of full-time employees in receipt of a Service pension; and whether he will make a statement.

No. In staffing matters generally local authorities are as independent of central government as any other employer, and guidance from my right hon. Friend would not be appropriate. But I hope that no local authority would regard the receipt of a service pension as in itself constituting a bar to full time employment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give an assurance that, when he appoints members to serve on the Washington New Town Development Corporation he will give full consideration to persons with local knowledge of the area and experience of membership on local authorities in the county of Durham.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make an inquiry into, and a statement upon, the circumstances in which the Solihull Borough Council, having refused development permission to Mrs. E. M. Clarke and Mr. J. B. Raven in respect of a plot of land then scheduled as open space, gave a certificate of development for residential purposes for the same plot of land after it had been sold to the Rover Company Ltd.

The land was not allocated as open space; and I am informed that planning permission was not refused to Mrs. Clarke and Mr. Raven who had not sought it. The land had, however, been "white land"; but after Rovers bought it the Council laid certain requirements on them in connection with their development of a nearby estate which made it reasonable to contemplate allowing housing on some of this land too.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has now been made in the plans for a stilt town for 25,000 people on Belvedere Marshes; and what influence the releasing of 500 acres at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich, for housing and the proposal to erect another generating station has had on the original proposals for a stilt town.

I understand the London County Council are working on the master plan for development at Erith Marshes; and they have discussed with me the possibility of a comprehensive scheme to cover development on land at Woolwich Arsenal as well. The question whether another generating station should be put here is not yet settled.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to announce his decision on the Manchester Corporation Radnor Street and Fenwick Street clearance orders; and whether he is aware that the public inquiries were held in October 1963.

My right hon. Friend will announce his decision on these four compulsory purchase orders very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many appeals against the new rating valuations remain unheard; and by what date he expects these outstanding appeals to be determined.

At the end of May, local valuation panels had in hand 309,352 unheard appeals by persons who had made proposals to alter the 1963 valuation lists. Many of these will be settled by agreement before they come to be heard. My right hon. Friend cannot say how long it will take to clear those that must come before a local valuation court.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extnet the Report and Proposals for the York and North Midlands General Review Area will affect the inquiry authorised by his Department on the Rivelin and Stan-nington areas; and when he will be able to announce his decision.

Not at all. I regret that I cannot say at present when I will be able to announce my decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, whether, as an outcome of the Report and Proposals for the York and North Midlands General Review Area and in view of the need to consider the East and West Ridings as one region, he is satisfied that the increase in population and industrial expansion can be contained within the proposed boundaries for Sheffield, without further encroachment on the green belt; and if he will make a statement.

It would be premature for me to comment on the Local Government Commission's report and proposals for the York and North Midlands General Review Area which were published only on the 24th June last. I am now awaiting representations from the local authorities and other bodies concerned. The land proposed for Sheffield's housing needs should be sufficient for the next decade.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he can now announce the name of the eighth member of the Water Resources Board.

The eighth member of the Board will be Mr. F. W. W. Pemberton, M.A., F.R.I.C.S., F.A.I., a chartered surveyor and farmer.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies, what defence help has now been offered by Great Britain to Malaysia to help her withstand the present threats to her sovereignty by Indonesian guerilla bands.

On 18th July last year I gave the House details of our programme of defence aid (totalling some £20 million in the three years 1963–65). In addition to this, as my hon. Friend will know, our armed forces continue to be actively engaged at Malaysia's request, in contributing to the defence of Malaysian Borneo against Indonesian incursions. We shall continue to give Malaysia this help as long as she needs it.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what progress has been made in the conversion of the naval dockyard in Malta for commercial uses since it was taken over by the Malta Dry Dock Co.; and when he expects that the work will be completed.

Good progress has been made. All the main works in the plan will have been completed early in 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if it is the intention of the Dry Docks Committee in Malta to discontinue the use of the Admiralty floating dock; and why it is to be sold when there is no dry dock in the island capable of taking some of the large oil tankers trading near the Island, which may find it necessary to enter Valetta for emergency repairs.

Her Majesty's Government have no responsibility for the internal management of the Yard. I understand that Malta Dry Docks will not require the use of the floating dock after September, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies (1) in view of the activities of the Sultan of Fadhli, if he proposes to recommend to the South Arabian Federation that they should charge him with sedition or treason or both;(2) whether he proposes to recommend to the South Arabian Federation that they should proceed against the Sultan of Fadhli for bribery and corruption.

These are matters for the Federal Advocate-General to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether he is aware that there is resentment in Trinidad and Tobago over the terms of a recent loan offer by Her Majesty's Government, the interest and repayment demanded being too onerous; when the most recent stage of the negotiations took place; when he was informed that the offer was rejected; why, a week ago, the negotiations were not regarded as having been completed; and whether he will now reveal the terms offered and his reasons for refusing to ameliorate them.

I have not yet received a reply from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to the offer of aid which I made to them in April. The terms of the offer are still confidential between our two Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies for what period detention is now allowed without a charge being laid in British Guiana.

As long as the Emergency Regulation providing for detention is in force and subject to review by an advisory tribunal under a chairman appointed by the Chief Justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what further consultations he has had with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand with a view to ensuring that British migrants have reasonable accommodation and that assisted passages are not granted to British migrants without a guarantee of such accommodation where migrants desire this.

None, Sir, as responsibility for housing immigrants lies fully with the receiving countries. The majority of assisted migrants to Australia are sponsored by relatives or friends in Australia under the Personal Nomination Scheme. It is a condition of this scheme that the sponsor must guarantee accommodation to the intending migrant. The remainder migrate under the Australian Government Nomination Scheme and are guaranteed hostel accommodation for up to two years on arrival, and I am satisfied that the overwhelming majority find accommodation well within their two year period of hostel accommodation.We have no Assisted Passage Scheme with New Zealand but all British immigrants go to accommodation guaranteed either by their sponsors or by the New Zealand Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies how many actions have been instituted for alleged offences under the Swaziland Legislative Council Election Proclamation 1964; and if he will give an assurance that no action will be taken to annul retrospectively any provisions of this proclamation.

The answer to the first part of the Question is three. It is not proposed to annul retrospectively any provisions of the Election Proclamation. A new provision (based on s. 145(1) and (2) of the United Kingdom Representation of the People Act, 1949) has, however, been inserted in the Proclamation. This will enable persons, against whom certain election offences are or may be alleged, to apply to the High Court of Swaziland for relief from the consequences of their acts or omissions. To obtain relief, an applicant will, amongst other things, have to satisfy the Court, (as in the United Kingdom) that the act or omission arose from inadvertence or from accidental miscalculation or from some other reasonable cause of a like nature, and in any case did not arise from any want of good faith; the Court's power to grant relief is discretionary, and does not extend to cases which would be the equivalent of "corrupt practices" under United Kingdom law.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what assistance Her Majesty's Government has given to the United Nations sub-committee investigating the situation in Southern Rhodesia; and what further action Her Majesty's Government intends to take to assist the United Nations in its consideration of this problem.

I and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, had two meetings with the sub-committee of the Committee of 24 on 1st and 2nd June. We explained the British Government's point of view. We have always made it clear that, while we are ready to listen to representations, the United Nations are not, in our view, competent to intervene in matters relating to Southern Rhodesia.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present estimated revenue from the Purchase Tax imposed on eye baths.

I regret that there is no separate information about the yield of Purchase Tax from eye baths.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking June, 1957, as equalling 100, what has been the percentage rise in the wages and salaries of civil servants to date; and, on the basis of an average group of civil servants who were in June, 1957, receiving a salary of £1,750 per annum, what was their latest annual salary.

The movement in Civil Service salaries since 1957 has been different for different grades. In the case of three typical Civil Service salaries, if the June, 1957, London maxima are expressed as 100, the current London maxima may be expressed as follows:

Clerical Officer	…	141
Executive Officer	…	135
Higher Executive Officer	…	136

In the case of three typical Civil Service salaries which were £1,750 (London) in June, 1957, the current London rates are:

	£
Principal	2,581
Principal Scientific Officer	2,581
Chief Executive Officer	2,499

Changes in the pay of Civil Servants are made public as and when they occur.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking June, 1957, as equalling 100, and at that date the £ sterling having a purchasing value of 20s., what has been the percentage and monetary depreciation of the £ sterling to the latest convenient date.

Taking the purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. in June, 1957, its value in May, 1964, was 17s. 3d., equivalent to a fall of just under 14 per cent. This estimate is based on movements in the consumer price index for calendar years, adjusted by movements in the index of retail prices for the months at the beginning and end of the period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many

FORMAL INQUIRIES INTO ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANTS OR PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN HELD BY PEOPLE NOT EMPLOYED IN THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED
Date	Matters under investigation	Results
Nov., 1953–May, 1954	Disposal of land at Crichel Down.	The Government clarified its land disposal policy and an investigation was initiated which led to the setting up of the present regional organisation.
Nov., 1955–March, 1956	Security procedures in the public services.	Changes in security procedures.
June, 1961	Breaches of security at the Underwater Detection Establishment, Portland.
May, 1961–April, 1962	Security procedures in the public service.
Nov., 1962–April, 1963	The Vassall Case and related matters.
August, 1956	Allegations of the ill-treatment of prisoners at Liverpool Prison.	Two Prison Officers received severe reprimands and special probation. The charges against two other Prison Officers were not proved.
Feb.-April, 1957	Allegations of official pressure on the managers of public houses in the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme to produce greater profit by undesirable measures.	Allegations found to be untrue.
Nov., 1957–Jan., 1958	Allegations of improper disclosure of information relating to the raising of the Bank Rate.	Allegations found to be untrue.
Nov., 1958	Allegations of misuse of official facilities for the circulation of documents.	The report concluded that no-one in the public service had made any official facilities available with the conscious purpose of assisting the distribution of a pamphlet issued by the Rented Homes Campaign.
April-May, 1963	Allegations of the ill - treatment of prisoners at Durham Prison.	Only one of eleven allegations gave rise to doubts whether Prison Officers had behaved properly. In view of the conflict of evidence no action was taken.
June-Sept., 1963	Circumstances leading to the resignation of the former Secretary of State for War and related matters.	Allegations against certain public servants were found to be untrue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1), taking June, 1957, as equalling 100, what has been the percentage rise to date in the gross national product;(2) taking June, 1957, as equalling 100, what has been the percentage rise or fall in interest rates, profits and dividends to the latest convenient date. occasions, since January, 1952, formal inquiries into allegations against public servants or Public Departments have been held by people not employed by the Department concerned; and if he will specify the dates, matters under investigation, and results of such inquiries.

I have identified 11 such inquiries. The particulars are as follows.

Figures of gross national product and of profits and dividends in June, 1957, are not available. Figures on a calendar year basis for 1958–63 of gross national product and of gross trading profits of companies and their payments of dividends were published in the pre-Budget White Paper on National Income and Balance of Payments (Cmnd. 2328). Comparable figures for 1957 can be found in the Blue Book "National Income and Expenditure "published in September, 1963 which covers 1952–62.There is no comprehensive single indicator of movements in interest rates, but Bank rate at the present time is at the same figure as in June, 1957, namely 5 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Her Majesty's Government intend to denationalise Richard Thomas and Baldwins Limited.

It would be contrary to practice to enter into discussion of possible future disposal operations by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency. The Government's policy on steel denationalisation is well known.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take to reimburse Mr. Stokoe of Newcastle-upon-Tyne for his loss of approximately £800, partly as a result of the admitted negligence of the Post Office.

Much as I regret that Mr. Stokoe should have lost money through the action of one of his clients, I am sorry that, for the reasons I have already explained to the hon. Member, the Post Office cannot compensate him.

asked the Postmaster-General taking June, 1957, as equalling 100 and the £ sterling at that date having a purchasing value of 20s., what has been the percentage rise in postal and telephone charges to date; and by how much in the £ sterling these charges have risen to date.

From June, 1957 to date, postal charges have increased by 31 per cent. (6s. 2d. in the £) and telecommunication charges by 22 per cent. (4s. 5d. in the £).

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that since October, 1951, postal charges have risen by l1s. 6d. in the £ sterling and telecommunications by 12s. l0d. in the £ sterling; what was the reason for these increases; and what action he proposes to take to reduce these charges.

The increased charges were due to increasing costs. In particular, average rates of pay have more than doubled. There is no room for any overall reduction in the present level of charges.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will authorise the issue of a special postage stamp to mark the holding or' the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Apart from Royal and postal occasions and anniversaries, our policy is to issue special stamps to mark current events of outstanding national or international importance. We have never regarded this as applying to events which recur annually, and my right hon. Friend does not feel justified in making an exception in the case of the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new telephone kiosks were installed in each of the Welsh counties during the last 12 months; and how many are to be installed during the next 12 months.

The latest available figures relate to the calendar years. The actual figures; for 1963 and estimated figures for 1964 are as follows:

		1963	1964
Anglesey	…	2	9
Brecknockshire	…	—	7
Caernarvonshire	…	9	5
Cardiganshire	…	2	3
Carmarthenshire	…	6	6
Denbighshire	…	5	9
Flintshire	…	2	4
Glamorgan	…	30	43
Merioneth	…	4	5
Montgomeryshire	…	1	2
Pembrokeshire	…	—	3
Radnor	…	1	1
Total	…	62	97

asked the Postmaster-General how many new automatic telephone exchanges are to be completed in each of the Welsh counties during the next year.

I expect 18 new automatic exchanges to be completed in Wales in the next 12 months. The details are as follows:

Carmarthenshire	…	…	…	1
Cardiganshire	…	…	…	4
Caernarvonshire	…	…	…	3
Denbighshire	…	…	…	2
Flintshire	…	…	…	1
Glamorganshire	…	…	…	3
Merionethshire	…	…	…	1
Pembrokeshire	…	…	…	1
Radnorshire	…	…	…	2

asked the Postmaster-General if he will refund to television licenceholders in East Anglia a proportion of their £4 licence fee in recognition of the fact that they ate frequently unable to receive clear images on their screen due to Continental interference; and what other steps he will take either to rectify this situation, or to compensate licenceholders who are getting a less good service than they had reason to expect when they paid their fee.

It would not be practicable to vary television licence fees according to reception conditions, which may vary not only from place to place, but also from time to time; and my right hon. Friend could not make an exception for East Anglia. On the general problem of Continental interference, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Charles A. Howell) on 23rd June.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list all the steps he has taken to the most recent date to discourage the permanent establishment of pirate offshore radio stations.

My right hon. Friend has taken such steps as are available to him in the present state of the law. These include:

(i) bringing to the notice of potential advertisers the objections to pirate radio, and

(ii) withholding radio telephone services between the offending ships and the shore.

In addition the Post Office has, as the House is aware, assisted in drafting a Council of Europe Agreement about the elimination of radio piracy which could serve as the basis of further legislation.

asked the Postmaster-General what new attempts to establish pirate radio stations there have been since the establishment of Radio Caroline and Radio Atlanta; and what action he has taken to dissuade them.

A pirate station has been broadcasting from a disused fort in the Thames estuary since 28th May; and there have been reports of attempts to establish stations off the Lancashire coast, off the Yorkshire coast, and on another fort in the Thames estuary. In a statement to this House on 2nd June my right hon. Friend made clear the objections to this kind of piracy and outlined the Government's policy.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is now his intention to allow the military forts in the Thames to continue to be used for the establishment of illegal radio transmitters.

My right hon. Friends have the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the specification laid down by the Spanish Government in respect of the length and displacement of naval vessels for which plans were sought from this country, the range of missiles and the requirements in respect of homing devices in the missiles.

The Spanish Government laid down no specification for length or displacement, range of missiles, or homing devices. Their interest was principally confined to Leander Class frigates, with appropriate equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why an offer was made to lease or sell the floating crane in Malta to Messrs. Swan and Hunter; and what was the outcome of the offer.

This crane had been hired from the Admiralty by Bailey (Malta) Ltd. for their ship repair work while the development of the dockyard was in progress. With the rundown of Malta to a forward operating base, the Naval need for the crane at Malta ended; and as it was needed at Gibraltar, Messrs. Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd., who are now responsible for the management of the dockyard, were asked whether they would still require it, at a full economic rent, after April this year when No. 4 dry dock was expected to come into operation. They replied that they would not then find it worthwhile to keep the crane at Malta, so it is now being removed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the 5th Battalion The King's Regiment was sent to Scotland, not far from Aberdeen, for their annual territorial camp during the typhoid epidemic in that area.

The 5th Battalion The King's Regiment (T.A.) was allowed to attend annual camp at Monifieth in Scotland from 13th to 27th June as planned because, after consultation with the military medical advisers and the local health authorities, it was considered safe for it to do so. Monifieth is about 50 miles from Aberdeen.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many times aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Force have broken the sound barrier over land in Great Britain during the past 12 months.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what were the cost figures quoted for the atomic reactor for which inquiries were made by the Rumanian Government recently, and for which an export licence was refused by Her Majesty's Government.

I do not know what prices, if any, have been quoted by firms interested in supplying a reactor to Rumania.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications for grants under the Local Employment Act, 1963, have been received by him from firms with factories in the South-East Region wishing to establish factories in the North-East Region; how many of these applications have been approved, rejected or withdrawn, and not yet dealt with, respectively; and how many are likely to involve the closure of a firm's existing factory in the South-East.

Fourteen applications for standard grants under the Local Employment Act, 1963, have been received from seven firms with factories in London and the South-East Region wishing to establish factories in the North-East Region. Ten applications have been approved and four rejected. One existing factory in the South-East, and part of another, are likely to be closed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the setting up of a Royal Commission to investigate the working of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, in so far as it concerns matters within the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional places in approved schools have been provided since the new building programme was launched in 1960; by what date this programme is designed to be completed; how many further places it will provide; and whether he estimates that by then the shortage of places in approved schools will have been fully made good.

940 additional places have been provided, but there have been some reductions because of alterations and for other reasons, with the result that the net increase so far is 756. Six new schools have been opened, and 14 more are at various stages of development. The programme, which I hope will be completed by the end of 1966, will provide about another 1,500 places. I estimate that there will then be sufficient places available to meet the expected demand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to recompense members of the public for injury sustained in attempts to assist police officers on duty but not in uniform.

The position is the same whether the police officer is on duty in uniform or not in uniform, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the Question by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery) on 25th June.

asked the Minister of Transport what sums of public money have been spent on roads in Dorset in the five years to the last convenient date.

£6,826,000 for the five years ended 31st March, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport if, following the request made to him by the Glyncorrwg Urban District Council, he will refer to the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Wales the question of the provision of a bus service to Aberavon beach in place of the rail service which has now been closed.

As I have had no such request, I cannot say whether I should be able to accede to it.

asked the Minister of Aviation what action is being taken to safeguard the population against accidents and noise when the runway is extended at Elmdon Aerodrome, Birmingham.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Meriden on (Mr. Matthews) in answer to a similar Question. The Birmingham Corporation is fully aware of its responsibility to minimise disturbance from noise as far as is practicable.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the amount of the single largest claim for compensation for damage caused by aircraft breaking the sound barrier for which his Department has accepted responsibility; and what was the nature of the damage.

The largest claim of this kind for which the Ministry of Aviation has accepted responsibility was in respect of the loss of mare and foal at Llandyssul, Wales, in May 1963. The claim was settled at £300.

asked the Minister of Aviation why it is necessary for aircraft for which his Department is responsible to fly at supersonic speeds over land in Great Britain.

Most supersonic flying is carried out over the sea, but in exceptional circumstances, for instance when in the course of aircraft development a particular test is being made for the first time, it is advisable that the flight should be over land. There is then a greater chance that, if something goes wrong, the pilot will be saved and the aircraft or its wreckage recovered. The flight paths are, of course, always carefully selected and controlled so as to be over sparsely populated areas. In other instances, aircraft engaged in weapon trials over the sea sometimes have to accelerate to supersonic speed overland before reaching the test area.

asked the Minister of Aviation what percentage of aircraft for which his Department is responsible which have broken the sound barrier during the past 12 months, have done so over the sea; and what percentage have done so over the land in Great Britain.

During the 12 months which ended on 30th June, 1964, approximately 90 per cent. of these supersonic

NUMBERS OF PUPILS IN MAINTAINED PRIMARY AND. SECONDARY SCHOOLS CHISLEHURST AND SIDCUP AND ORPINGTON DIVISION OF KENT
—			January, 1952				January, 1964
			No. of Schools	Boys	Girls	Total	No. of Schools	Boys	Girls	Total
Primary	…	…	49	—	—	13,105	57	—	—	15,361 (134)
Grammar	…	…	2	587	514	1,101	4	1,296	1,163	2,459 (688)
Technical	…	…	1	—	503	503	2	751	715	1,466 (307)
Modern	…	…	9	—	—	5,464	15	—	—	6,984 (338)
The figures in brackets for 1964 indicate the number of pupils under 5 in primary schools and over 15 in secondary schools included in the totals. Comparable figures for 1952 are not available.

asked the Minister of Health when he intends to arrange for the standing joint committee on proprietary preparations to consider whether neutrogena soap should be included on the list of preparations obtainable under the National Health Service.

My right hon. Friend will seek the Committee's advice after it has been reconstituted, but I regret that I cannot yet say when it will be able to consider the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has of danger to health from typhoid arising from flights were made over the sea and 10 per cent. over land.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children of school age were at schools in the Chislehurst division in 1951, and at a current convenient date, analysed as to primary schools, boys' and girls' grammar, technical, and secondary modern schools.

The table below is a summary of information received from the local education authority.corned beef imported from the Commonwealth; and whether he will give an assurance, in advance of the decision of the Committee of Inquiry, that Commonwealth corned beef is not dangerous to the public.

It is never possible to give an absolute assurance about the safety of any food, but I have no evidence of danger from typhoid arising from Commonwealth corned beef.

asked the Minister of Labour how many industrial workers were entitled to holidays with pay in 1950 and 1963, respectively; and what was the average length of entitlement in each case.

In 1950 about 13 million manual workers were entitled to holidays with pay. Of these about 58 per cent. were entitled to one week, 34 per cent. to 2 weeks and 8 per cent. to periods of intermediate duration, together in each case with the usual public holidays or days in lieu. In 1963 nearly 14 millions were entitled to holidays with pay. About 96 per cent. were entitled to a basic 2 weeks and about 4 per cent. to more than 2 weeks, again with the addition of public holidays. About 15 per cent. of those entitled to a basic 2 weeks are in industries

NUMBER OF MEN AND WOMEN IN RECEIPT OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT CALCULATED ON A SAMPLE RETURN RENDERED ON 4TH NOVEMBER, 1963
		Between the Ages of						Aged
		60–65 years	55–60 years	50–55 years	45–50 years	40–45 years	25–10 years	19 years	18 years	17 years	16 years
Males	…	32,800	17,660	15,940	14,100	17,000	54,420	3,500	4,020	2,560	1,880
Females	…	440	6,020	5,380	3,740	2,900	13,460	3,240	3,020	2,520	1,380
I will publish the figures for May, 1964, in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as they become available.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of physically handicapped and mentally afflicted persons in receipt of unemployment benefit at the latest available date.

On 15th June, 1964, there were 50,473 registered disabled persons registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Great Britain. Information about the number in receipt of unemployment benefit is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of unemployed clerical workers, skilled workers, and unskilled workers at the latest available date.

On 15th June, 1964, there were 36,753; 18,528 and 147,864 unemployed adults in Great Britain in the respective categories.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, taking June 1957 as or services in which there is provision for additional days holiday dependent on the length of the individual worker's service with the same employer.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest available figures of men and women by sexes in receipt of unemployment benefit between the ages of 60–65 years, 55–60 years, 50–55 years, 45–50 years, 40–45 years, 25–40 years, and aged 19, 18, 17, and 16 years, respectively.

The following is the information:equalling 100, he will give the percentage rise in the cost of living to date.

Nearly 19 per cent., on the basis of the Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that, in the main, retirement pensioners spend their money on food, rent and rates, and fuel and light, and that since October, 1951, when retirement pensions were £2 10s. 0d. for a couple, food has risen by 10s. 6d. in the £ sterling, rent and rates by 18s. 1d. in the £ sterling, and fuel and light by 18s. 1d. in the £ sterling; whether he is satisfied that the present scale of £5 9s. 0d. for a retired couple is adequate to compensate for these increases on the basis of the pension being spent on food, rent and rates, and fuel and light; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that food prices have gone up by about 50 per cent. and both rent and rates and fuel and light have gone up by about 90 per cent. The retirement pension for a married couple has meanwhile increased by about 120 per cent., so that in real terms it is now worth a good deal more than it was in 1951.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will give details of information in his possession showing the average amount in the £ sterling which was spent by retirement pensioners on food, rents and rates, and fuel and light, in October, 1951 and October, 1963, respectively.

Figures are not available for the precise dates quoted, but on the basis of the expenditure pattern in pensioner households shown in the Report of the Household Expenditure Survey, 1953, and the Family Expenditure Survey, 1962–63, I can give the following figures:

	1953–54			1962–63
		s.	d.		s.	d.
Rent and rates (i.e. Housing costs)		3	1		3	5
Fuel and light		2	3		2	10
Food		8	1		7	5
Other Expenditure		6	7		6	4
Total	£1	0	0	£1	0	0

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will ensure that adequate publicity is given to the requirement that claimants for sickness benefit must claim within six days, in order to avoid loss of benefit through ignorance of the regulations.

Yes. Amending regulations designed to give effect to the relaxation in the time limit have not yet been reported on by the National Insurance Advisory Committee. Before such regulations can come into operation, sickness benefit leaflets, posters and display cards for doctors' surgeries drawing attention to the relaxation will have been widely distributed. All these documents and the medical certificates on which the great majority of claims are made will continue to include a clear and prominent warning that benefit may be lost if claims are made late.

asked the Minister of Power if he will say, following the report to him by the Iron and Steel Board on research, what the Board's estimate is of research expenditure during the current year.

The Iron and Steel Board cannot yet estimate expenditure in the current year. Their provisional estimate is that about £7·3 million was spent on research in the general branch of the industry in 1962–63 and they expect an increase in 1963–64.

asked the Minister of Power if he will ask the Steel Board to arrange for quarterly information on crude steel output by processes, published for most countries by the Economic Commission for Europe, to be collected and published for the United Kingdom also.

The steel statistics published quarterly by the Economic Commission for Europe include information about production of crude steel, by process, in the United Kingdom on the same lines as that given for other member countries. The Iron and Steel Board are considering the best means of publishing similar information in this country.

asked the Minister of Power what tonnage of finished steel exports during 1963 and the first quarters of 1963 and 1964 was attributable to exports consequential upon hire-rolling contracts from abroad; and what products were exported as a result of these contracts.

The tonnages of finished steel exports attributed to hire-rolling contracts are:

1963	226·1 thousand tons.
1963 (1st quarter).	77·5 thousand tons.
1964 (1st quarter).	83·2 thousand tons.

The products exported included steel plate, sheet and light sections and bars.

asked the Minister of Power what were the total imports during 1963 and the first quarters of 1963 and 1964 attributable to hire-rolling contracts; and of what products did the imports consist.

The tonnages of steel imports attributed to hire-rolling contracts are:

1963	289·3 thousand tons.
1963 (1st quarter).	79·3 thousand tons.
1964 (1st quarter).	108·3 thousand tons.

The imports consisted of slabs and coils for re-rolling and include material imported in payment under the contracts.

PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES
—		United Kingdom	Western Germany	France	Italy	Belgium*
		Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
1953 over 1937	…	+ 36	−2	+ 26	+ 69	+ 16
1963 over 1937	…	+ 73	+ 77	+ 122	+ 387	+ 95
1963 over 1953	…	+ 28	+ 80	+ 76	+ 187	+67

—				Luxembourg	Holland	Sweden†	Austria
				Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
1953 over 1937	…	…	…	+ 6	+ 2,104	+ 59	+ 98
1963 over 1937	…	…	…	+ 61	+ 5,902	+ 251	+ 354
1963 over 1953	…	…	…	+ 52	+ 172	+ 121	+ 130
* Ingots and finished castings.
† Percentages based on ingots and finished castings in 1937.

asked the Minister of Power if he will show what proportion of total crude steel output was produced by oxygen converters during 1963, and the first three months of 1964, showing separate figures for the V.L.N. process, for publicly-owned, and for publicly-financed plants, respectively.

6·7 per cent. of total crude steel output was produced in oxygen converters in 1963, and 8·per cent. in the first three months of 1964. These figures exclude V.L.N. steel which is not produced in oxygen converters. I cannot give the more detailed breakdown requested as it would involve disclosing information relating to individual companies.

asked the Minister of Power, how much steel was produced by the continuous casting process during each of the last five years; and if

asked the Minister of Power what information he has on the percentage increase in crude steel production in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Sweden, and Austria, respectively, in 1953 over 1937, and in 1963 over 1937 and 1953.

The following table gives the information but no useful comparisons can be based on it.he will arrange for statistics on this important development to be regularly published.

The information is as follows:

Production of continuously cast steel
Year		Tons
1959	…	nil
1960	…	8,946
1961	…	11,138
1962	…	39,644
1963	…	87,495
1964 (1st 4 months)	…	44,594

The Iron and Steel Board are considering how this information can best be published in future.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that the figures for production and trade in non-alloy steel sheets and plates are currently published by the Iron and Steel Board in their monthly statistical brown book in a manner that is difficult to understand; and if he will request them to publish the information in a more readily comprehensible form.

Yes; the Iron and Steel Board are trying to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what conditions he laid down in making an increase in the grant paid to the Church of Scotland Youth Leadership Training and Conference Centre at Carberry Tower under the Further Education (Scotland) Regulations, 1959.

The increased grant has not been offered in formal terms, but I do not propose to attach any special conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the Sanitary Inspectors' Association of Scotland in response to the resolution recently sent o him drawing attention to the serious shortage of sanitary inspectors; and what steps he proposes to take to investigate the position.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey).