asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the new town corporations in Scotland or the Scottish Special Housing Association are using industrialised methods of building.

At present the New Towns and the Scottish Special Housing Association are building, or have proposals to build, about 2,000 and 3,600 houses respectively by industrialised methods. The New Towns and the Association are concerned to make full use of these methods in carrying out their programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the value of contracts undertaken by the Scottish Special Housing Association in the new town of Cumbernauld.

The value of the contracts already completed is £876,780. The Association is not at present engaged in a contract at Cumbernauld.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total sum paid in grants and subsidies to Scottish agriculture in each financial year since 1958–59; and what percentage these grants and subsidies bore to total agricultural income.

The total of subsidies and grants over the five year period formed 23 per cent. of the gross income of Scottish agriculture including grants and subsidies.The total sums paid in grants and subsidies to Scottish agriculture, including horticultural improvement grants and all agricultural grants paid to crofters, were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the vital statistics reported to him by the Medical Officer of Health for Paisley for the three years from 1961.

The following are the main vital statistics. The Medical Officer of Health's report for 1963 is not yet available, and the figures for that year are the Registrar General's provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what report he has received from the Medical Officer of Health for Paisley regarding the perinatal mortality rate per 1,000 total births during the latest three years.

The rate reported for 1961 was 37·6 and for 1962 43·6. I understand that the provisional figure for 1963 is 31·3.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the Initial Teaching Alphabet is being used in Scottish schools.

During the past 18 months Dundee College of Education has carried out experimental work with this Alphabet in four schools in Dundee and Edinburgh, and the College has just held a course for serving teachers on its use. Several schools in other areas also plan to conduct trials.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress is being made in revising and bringing up to date the syllabuses for the Scottish Certificate of Education.

The alternative syllabuses in physics and chemistry introduced in 1962 have now been widely adopted. Technical subjects, formerly one subject, is now five separate subjects. A new subject, anatomy, physiology and health has been introduced. An alternative syllabus in biology is being tried in some schools and alternative syllabuses in mathematics and modern languages are being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities already provide an adequate laundry service for incontinent elderly and infirm people living at home; and what response he has had from other local authorities to his circular inviting them to provide such a service under Section 27 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947.

Before the issue of the circular four authorities in Scotland were using their statutory powers to provide special laundry services for incontinent old people, and some had made other arrangements. Since the issue of the circular last March, eleven more authorities have so far indicated their intention to provide a laundry service under their statutory powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cause of delay in authorising the construction of the Fada-Fionn project submitted by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in March, 1963; and when he expects that work on this scheme will begin.

The report of the public inquiry into this scheme has not yet been received. I understand that the factual section of it has been sent to the parties in draft so that they may comment on its accuracy before the whole report is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of foreign fishing vessels which have been prosecuted for illegal fishing in Scottish fishing grounds during each of the last 10 years; and in respect of which fishing grounds they were prosecuted.

Eight foreign vessels have been prosecuted and convicted of illegal fishing within exclusive fishery limits off Scotland in the last ten years—one each in 1954 and 1957; two in 1959; three in 1962, and one in 1964. Four cases related to small lobster boats fishing off the Hebrides; three to trawlers fishing off the Inner Hebrides; and one to a vessel fishing lines off Shetland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is making to secure for later use in schools, films, discs, and television reproductions of lessons being broadcast on the lines of the British Council service for foreign listeners and viewers; and to what extent the Scottish Film Library services are being used for their distribution.

The Scottish Film Library obtains from the television authorities films and tele-recordings of programmes in the schools service. Sound programmes may be recorded by the schools themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to give himself power to investigate the removal of electors' names from the voters' roll by electoral registration officers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local planning authorities he has asked to prepare tourist development plans; and whether these include plans for the ski-ing area about the Devil's Elbow on the borders of Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, and Angus.

All Scottish local plan-ling authorities have been asked to prepare tourist development plans. The skiing area referred to is the subject of a special study which is being made by a technical working group of officials from the central department and the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licensed slaughterhouses there are in the county of Fife; what is the maximum capacity which can be handled in each of these slaughterhouses; and how many animals

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision the Government are now making in Scotland for building houses for letting at economic rents.

The Housing Act which has just received Royal Assent provides further substantial Exchequer funds for advances to housing societies building for letting at cost rents or co-ownership. The £3 million provided for this purpose in Scotland in the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1962, is earmarked for schemes already approved or in course of preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have

There are nine public slaughterhouses in the county of Fife operated by town councils and one private sheep slaughterhouse. The following tables show the maximum capacity which can be handled in each of these slaughterhouses and the number of animals slaughtered during the year 1963.been built by private enterprise in Scotland since 1959; and what increase this represents over the previous five years.

Thirty-two thousand five hundred and ninety-five houses were built by private enterprise in the period 1959 to 1963. This was an increase of 13,722, or almost 42 per cent. over the number built in the five years prior to 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses in Scotland have so far been completed this year.

At the end of June, over 17,000 houses had been completed by all agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many old houses have been replaced in Scotland by new houses since 1959.

About 74,000 houses, including 9,000 temporary houses, were taken out of use by local authority action from the beginning of 1959 to the end of March this year. In the same period public authorities provided over 112,000 new houses. Figures of houses taken out of use privately are not available, but in the same period over 34,000 new houses were provided by private enterprise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, by virtue of his powers under Section 16 of the Criminal Appeal (Scotland) Act, 1926, he will now refer for re-trial the case of John Currie and Peter Connor, who were sentenced to 10 and seven years imprisonment, respectively, on a charge of attempted murder by the High Court of Justiciary at Glasgow on 14th December, 1962; and if he will make a statement.

No. I have carefully considered the representations which the hon. Member has made but I can find no grounds for referring the case to the Court of Criminal Appeal under Section 16 of the Criminal Appeal (Scotland) Act, 1926.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for the resignation of the Chairman of the Western Regional Hospital Board and the dismissal of that Board's Chief Medical Adviser in view of their having deliberately sought to mislead the hon. Members for Hamilton and Motherwell into believing that the recently revised Hospital Plan for Scotland as it affected the Western Region had been decided without opportunity for consultation between the regional board and the Scottish Home and Health Department.

No. As my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has already stated, consultation about these deferments, if the word is interpreted in its narrowest sense as implying a special discussion, did not take place. The decisions were taken in the light of previous and regular discussions between my department and Officials of the board and of the board's own earlier decisions about priorities. I have been asked to express the Chairman's regret, with which I myself agree, that these circumstances were not made clear to the hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what steps he is taking to ensure uniform standards of trunk road lighting throughout the country;(2) whether he will seek powers to pay the full cost of trunk road lighting.

Under the present arrangements the recommendations of the British Standard Code of Practice for Street Lighting are generally followed by local lighting authorities and I am prepared to contribute half the cost of trunk road lighting, which is up to a standard recommended in the Code. But as I said in Answer to a Question on 1st July by my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Mr. Clive Bossom), we are alive to the need for some reform of the arrangements at present governing the lighting of both trunk and classified roads. The problem is a complicated one, but we are preparing proposals for discussion with the local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a further statement about the proposed bypass for Huntingdon.

The consulting engineers' report has now been considered and I will publish as soon as possible a draft Section 7 Order under the Highways Act, 1959, showing the recommended route. As to the timing of the work, I cannot add to the reply given to my right hon. Friend's Question of 25th March this year.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to be able to authorise work on the Eaton Socon by-pass on the A.1.

As soon as the statutory processes and detailed designs have been completed. I have accepted the line of the bypass recommended by the consultants and hope to publish shortly a draft Order under Section 7 of the Highways Act, 1959.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) in view of the fact that the A.56 through Frodsham and Helsby provides the only practical link for most of Lancashire with the North Wales coastal resorts, what special steps he has taken to keep its traffic conditions under constant review;(2) to what extent his Department is regularly informed about the extent of the traffic congestion on the A.56 through Frodsham and Helsby; and to what extent this road is overloaded.

As I told the hon. Member on 15th July, I am well aware of conditions on this road and accept that a bypass of Helsby and Frodsham merits high priority.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans are being made by his Department to ensure that trunk roads serving Redditch will be adequate for the new town; and when discussions will start with the new town corporation.

My Department is in touch with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government about the roads to serve Redditch new town, and plans are being developed. It is too early to say what these will be.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to convert the parts of the A.5 that pass through Brownhills urban district to a dual carriageway.

A scheme to provide dual carriageways over one mile in length between the junctions with A.452 and Newtown Railway Bridge is programmed. The bridge too, will be reconstructed and re-aligned and work on this is expected to begin early next year. A start on the dual carriageways between this point and A452 will depend on the progress of the statutory processes and acquisition of land.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received the report of the consultants he appointed to investigate the trunk road requirements in the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire in the area between the Al and Hull; and whether he will make a statement.

I have now received this report and am considering it. My hon. Friend will be aware of the importance we attach to this matter, and conclusions on the report, which is far-reaching, cannot be reached without the most careful consideration. This will take a little while but I will make a further announcement as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that in amending the regulations relating to the use of vehicles on footpaths for maintenance purposes, arrangements will be made to ensure that modern apparatus such as the Blaw Knox Mini Paver will be permitted to be used for laying and maintaining bituminous footpaths in all cases where a specific request has not been made by the appropriate gas board that the gas mains under the pavement are of ancient construction or laid at a shallow depth and must not be subjected to such loads; and if he will make a statement.

Draft amending regulations which have been prepared would permit the use of heavy equipment on footpaths not laid over gas mains. Where there are gas mains underneath a footpath the local authority would be required to consult the area gas board before using such equipment.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that the replacement of existing railway level crossing gates by the new type of continental half barrier gates provides adequately safety measures to all road users; and what protests he has so far received about their installation.

Simple obedience by the road user to the stop signal given by the twin red flashing lights which are a part of the automatic half barrier equipment will ensure his safety. The equipment is not exactly new on the Continent, where there are now perhaps 2,000 automatic half barriers.Each barrier spans only half the road and much anxiety has been expressed about unattended children going into danger on the crossing when a train is approaching, through lack of understanding of the stop signal given by the lights flashing followed by the barriers becoming lowered. So far as very young children are concerned I would emphasise again that they should not go on the road unattended. Children of school age are given special instruction locally when a new installation is brought into use by the railway in consultation with the school authorities. So far, I am happy to say, they have understood the simple warning which is given by the equipment and have kept out of danger.National publicity has been given to the equipment, and the meaning of the twin flashing lights is explained in the Highway Code. Finally, attendants will be kept at each new crossing installation until the people are accustomed to it.

asked the Minister of Transport when the footbridge over the Boothferry road at Welton, East York shire, will be constructed.

Work on the footbridge will begin as soon as the statutory processes have been completed and the necessary land acquired. This is expected within the next eight months.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the nature and purpose of the road work which began in Piccadilly on 14th July at the Eastern entrance and exit of the Hyde Park Corner underpass; and why this work was carried out during a week when the traffic was likely to be exceptionally heavy.

The London County Council began preparatory work last week for the widening of Piccadilly between the Hyde Park Corner underpass and Half Moon Street. The work was carried out mainly at night, to minimise the effect on traffic. The normal carriageway width was maintained up to 8 p.m. each day, and we understand from the police that there was no unusual traffic difficulty.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made towards the construction of the M.5 between Quinton and Great Barr; and when work will commence.

I have made the scheme establishing the line of the motorway. Proposals for necessary alterations to side roads have been published. These are now open to objection. Since construction depends upon these statutory processes and the acquisition of land, it is too early to say when it will begin.

asked the Minister of Transport whether experiments with light-controlled pedestrian crossings have now provided sufficient experience; and if, in the light of the mounting toll of road accidents, he will announce a national policy for pedestrian crossings as soon as possible.

The results of the "Panda" crossing experiment have needed very careful and thorough examination and this has involved consideration of the much wider question of pedestrian crossing policy as a whole. In this we have been in close touch with the Road Research Laboratory. Examination of this important matter is not quite complete, but I will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received a report from consulting engineers on the D ring road as part of the trunk road system of north-west London; if he will publish this report; and if he will make a statement.

I do not expect the consulting engineers' report for some time. When I have it, I shall discuss it with the local authorities concerned before deciding what draft Order I should publish for the line of the road.

asked the Minister of Transport how many additional miles of dual carriageway, excluding motorway, came into use in Great Britain each year from 1945–1963, inclusive; and what is the yearly forecast over the next five years.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport following the recommendations of the Worboys Committee on the signing of main roads, when he intends to issue new traffic sign regulations to enable highway authorities to put the necessary arrears of work in hand.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. and gallant Friend gave on 1st July to my hon. Friends the Members for Leominster (Mr. Clive Bossom) and Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt).

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise the erection of new directional signs on primary routes in advance of the regulations which will be made later in the year to implement the recommendations of the Worboys Committee.

Since our consultations with interested organisations have shown that there is general agreement on the concept of primary routes and the directional signs proposed for them by the Committee, I agree to the erection of these new directional signs on primary routes in advance of the Regulations. A circular will shortly be sent to local highway authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the statement by Mr. W. H. Hughes, the Wells Street magistrate, regarding the regulations concerned when trying the alleged parking offence of Mr. Kenneth Vardon Wilson of Abbey Road, Stratford, E.15, details of which have been supplied to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North; what action he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.

I have seen reports in the Press about the incident to which the hon. Member refers. I announced on 2nd June that the supplementary signs "Parking Meters: No Charge Sats. beyond this point", which were said to have misled some motorists into parking elsewhere than at meters, were to be removed. I understand that the local authorities concerned have this in hand. I do not agree that the parking rules in Central London are unduly complicated. The simple basic rule during the hours of control is "Meter Parking Only", and this is stated on all the zone entry signs.

asked the Minister of Transport how many holders of A and B licences there are at present; what is the total number of vehicles operated by each category; and how many of these vehicles do not operate beyond a radius of 25 miles from their base.

The latest figures of vehicles and licences, as at 31st December, 1962, show that 119,000 vehicles were operating under 28,000 A and Contract A licences and 74,000 vehicles were operating under 35,000 B licences. I cannot say how many different licence holders there are, nor how many vehicles do not operate beyond a radius of 25 miles from their base.

asked the Minister of Transport how many teams of engineers are now being utilised for the purpose of checking heavy lorries; how many lorries have been examined by the teams during the last month; and how many of the vehicles examined were found to be dangerous and had to be taken off the road.

Normally there are at least twelve teams at work. More are being provided for the current series of special checks. In June 6,858 goods vehicles were inspected. 3,787 prohibition notices were issued of which 625 had immediate effect.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the random check of heavy lorries on the A.40 in which he participated on 13th July; who is the owner of the lorry driven by Mr. Frank Egan, in which 22 faults were found; who are the owners of the other lorries found to be defective on this occasion; and if he will institute proceedings against the firms responsible for putting these lorries on the road.

Eighty-two vehicles were stopped and examined. Fifty-two were found to be defective and prohibition notices were issued for them. In nine of the cases the prohibitions were made with immediate effect. This check formed part of the two day intensive operation in the London area when 24 sites were in use. During this operation 1,929 vehicles were inspected and 1,119 prohibition notices were issued, 195 of them with immediate effect. In these cases the circumstances may vary con- siderably and I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to publish the owners' names. I understand that the police have given warning in some cases (including that mentioned by the hon. Member) that the facts would be reported for possible prosecution.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements there are to co-ordinate research and development work on new forms of transport by Government Departments and agencies and by private industry.

My Department keeps in close touch with other Government Departments, transport operators and others interested in new forms of transport, and is always ready to consider any new and promising ideas.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet discussed with Aberdeen Corporation the necessary amendments of the law to enable local authorities to provide old-age pensioners and limbless ex-Service men with cheap travel facilities.

Aberdeen Corporation will be included in the discussions referred to in my Answer of 8th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Montgomery).

asked the Minister of Transport if he will hold consultations with the motoring organisations, the Institute of Advanced Motorists and the principal driving schools for the purpose of producing a training manual to ensure that the same system of driving is taught in all driving schools; and if he will make a statement.

We are examining the possibilities of providing further guidance on driving techniques, both for instructors and for learners. The stage for consultations has not yet been reached, but I can assure my hon. Friend that his suggestion will be taken fully into account.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements there are between his Department and that of the Minister of Housing and Local Government for co-ordination of work on the Buchanan Report.

Work in this field is co-ordinated by the Joint Urban Planning Group. It comprises administrators, architects, engineers and planners from the two Departments. The Departments also maintain close day-today contact.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the number of boys in training establishments for a seagoing career is growingless every year; what is the cause of this; and what steps are being taken to encourage more boys to take up this training.

There has been a fall in the numbers of boys in the training schools, mainly because, as the average size of ships increases, the number of men needed for the Merchant Navy tends to fall. Present recruitment is adequate to meet the needs of the shipping industry.

asked the Minister of Transport what course of training has been arranged for seamen who are engaged in the transport of radio-active materials in case of fire or accident at sea; and what specific markings are placed upon containers or packages holding such materials.

The transport of radioactive materials by sea takes place only under the strictest precautions and no special course of training for seamen has been considered necessary. Packages containing radio-active materials, except in very small quantities, are marked according to the degree of hazard with special labels on which either the word "RADIO-ACTIVE"or the internationally accepted symbol of the trefoil always appears.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will set up an immediate court of inquiry into the sinking of the motor fishing vessel "Sirius".

I have ordered a preliminary inquiry into this casualty, under the Merchant Shipping Acts. I should like to express my sympathy with the families of the five members of the crew who lost their lives.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision has been reached regarding the laying down of a British nuclear-propelled merchant ship.

I am still not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the result of the monitoring for radiation of the United States nuclear ship "Savannah"during her visit to British waters.

The Atomic Energy Authority arranged to monitor the Port of Southampton and its immediate vicinity before, during and after the visit of the "Savannah". No change in the normal level of background radioactivity was recorded.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the unsettled conditions at present prevailing in the Middle East, how many long-range tankers capable of using the Cape route are available under the British flag today; and what were the comparable figures for eight years ago.

The Government do not accept the assumption made in the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. All tankers except some designed for the coastal and short-sea trades are capable of using the Cape route. Tankers of 1,600 gross tons and over on the U.K. register totalled 7.7 million gross tons at the beginning of 1964, compared with 5·1 million gross tons at the beginning of 1956. The corresponding figures for tankers of 20,000 gross tons and over are 3·9 million gross tons for 1964 and 0·2 million gross tons for 1956.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there are excellent facilities available for the transport of ship propellers to and from Falmouth by sea and that the time factor is many times faster than transport by road; and if he will give an assurance that no permission will be given for transport of these objects by road except in very exceptional circumstances.

Permission for the movement by road of marine propellers over 14 feet wide is normally given only when the transport of such loads is not practicable by sea. I am aware of the facilities available for the transport of propellers to and from Falmouth by sea. In fact, since July, 1963, I have not had any applications to carry a propeller over 14 feet wide to or from Falmouth by road.

asked the Minister of Transport, consequent on the closing of the Stranraer-Dumfries line, what provision will be made for alternative transport facilities for passengers in the New Luce and New Galloway areas.

There are two buses each way on Saturdays between New Luce and Stranraer; I have accepted the view of the Transport Users Consultative Committee that no material hardship would be caused by the lack of an alternative service for the handful of passengers on other days.New Galloway itself, which is not on the railway, is served by buses between Glasgow and Castle Douglas, but these run down the opposite side of Loch Ken to the village of Mossdale near New Galloway station which has a bus service only on Saturdays. In view of the weight of objections from local users, I have made it a condition of my consent to the closure that the Rail- ways Board make arrangements to my satisfaction for access by such users to alternative public transport facilities. The Board are considering whether this can best be done by providing a safe footway over the Loch Ken viaduct or by other means.

asked the Minister of Aviation what conclusion he has reached, following his consultations with the Secretary of State for Scotland, about establishing an airport authority for Scotland as has been suggested by the local authority at Prestwick.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him to a similar Question on the 15th July, 1964.

asked the Minister of Aviation what encouragement is given by his Department to civil flying clubs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Harrow, East (Commander Courtney) on 8th July.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Aberdeen for consultations on means to maintain and improve communications in North-East Scotland; whom he consulted; and what are his future plans for the area.

I was not able to visit Aberdeen on my last visit to Scotland, but I did go to a number of airports in the Highlands and Islands, including Islay, Tiree, Inverness, Sumburgh, Stor-noway, Wick, Kirkland and Benbecula. My object was to see the facilities available at first hand and to hear something of the views of representatives of local interests. I also had discussions with the Scottish Advisory Committee for Civil Aviation. These have been followed by a meeting of the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself with the Scottish Council. During the course of my visit to Scotland I was also able to see the airfield at Dundee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to raise the pay and allowances of ratings taking part in the mixed-manned force experiment so that they receive roughly the same amount as is paid to men from other national contingents doing the same work.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence stated on 15th July in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) the experiment with the mixed-manned force at sea has only just started. The progress of the experiment, including any problems arising in respect of pay, will be closely watched.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reasons the Spanish Government gave Her Majesty's Government for not pursuing their inquiries into the possibility of their having built "Leander" class frigates.

I would refer the hon. Member to what was said by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy in the Debate on the Adjournment on 15th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the exact full text of the announcement prepared by his Department for release on the completion of negotiations for the sale of frigates to Spain.

No formal announcement was prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department have taken or intend taking to publicise the Government's view on the breaking off of negotiations by the Spanish Government for the purchase of "Leander" type frigates.

By courtesy of right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy, and I have already had ample oppor- tunity to make the Government's view clear on the Floor of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the first official public announcement was made by Her Majesty's Government regarding the negotiations for the sale of frigates to Spain.

No official public announcement was made. Press inquiries, after those dealt with on 8th June, were answered to the effect that negotiations had not been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arms have been supplied to Spain in the last 10 years.

As the House has often been informed, it is not the practice to disclose details of arms supplied to other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what use is being made of the old Admiralty buildings, the old War Office buildings and the premises occupied by the former Ministry of Defence since their staffs were transferred to the new Ministry of Defence offices.

No further use is being made by my Department of the premises occupied by the former Ministry of Defence. The old Admiralty and old War Office buildings will be occupied by those former Admiralty and War Office staffs who have not been transferred to the new main building, and by those former Air Ministry staff who were removed from it and temporarily accommodated in Queen Anne's Mansions, which we are also giving up.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decision has been reached about the future of H.M.S. "Discovery".

Since H.M.S. "Discovery"ceased to be used by the Naval Careers Service, she has been used to supplement training accommodation available to the London Division of the Royal Naval Reserve in H.M. Ships "President" and "Chrysanthemum". This use will continue at least until next October, and possibly until the following spring. No final decision has been reached about her future thereafter, but full account will be taken of the ship's history and of the wishes of the various open air associations who have expressed interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now publish further information regarding the fate of Major Macey and Driver Platt.

The United Nations Force is still actively pursuing its investigations. Following the receipt of information the search has been concentrated in and around a filled-in well in the area of Gastria. Australian police supported by soldiers of the 40th Irish Battalion have discovered pieces of metal that could be from a vehicle but it is very difficult at this stage to say precisely what the pieces are. They are being collected for analysis outside Cyprus. Meanwhile the investigations are continuing. I am sorry that this is all the positive information that I can give at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he proposes to make in order to increase the number of officers' sons to be entered at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; and whether he will make a statement.

No such changes are envisaged. As I stated in the course of the debate on Greenwich Hospital and Travers Foundation on 15th July, sons of direct entry officers and other officers having less than four years' service as ratings will be admitted only within a maximum of 10 per cent. of the entry.

Subject to a satisfactory outcome of the trial period referred to, amendment of the Greenwich Hospital Act will be sought as indicated in paragraph 2 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report of 18th March, 1964 (H.C. 164).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters were built at Scone on the site originally purchased in 1939 as a new depot for the Black Watch; in what year they were built; how much they cost; how many are at present occupied; and what plans he has for them.

Twenty-five married officers quarters; 10 married soldiers quarters and 15 garages have been built on the Spoutwells site (near Scone) at a cost of £110,786. Work on the quarters began in 1954–55 and was completed in 1955–56; the garages were completed in 1956–57. Two of these quarters are temporarily unoccupied but there is a continuing requirement for all the quarters in the foreseeable future for officers and men of Headquarters 51 Highland Division/District at Perth.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that a helicopter from Leuchars Royal Air Force station made a vain attempt to help the master and crew of the Scottish trawler "Sirius", which was sunk on 16th July in Scottish waters by a Polish trawler, but that the helicopter during the operations ran short of fuel and had to give up operations even after being helped by a Shackleton; and why the helicopter was allowed to take part in these operations without sufficient fuel.

The helicopter took on a full fuel load at Buchan before flying to the scene of the accident to the "Sirius"on 14th July. The crew displayed a high standard of airmanship in operating at extreme range and in the dark. I regret that this gallant attempt failed in its purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the Director of Public Prosecutions' report into the bribery in professional football and the need to give an opportunity for all named footballers who have not been criminally involved to clear their names, he will now move for the appointment of a judicial tribunal under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921, with a view to ascertaining how widespread the practice has been.

No. I do not consider that this would be an appropriate course to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has studied the letter sent to him some 14 days ago by Prince Muhamed of Zanzibar regarding the issue to the Prince of a travel permit; and whether he will issue a suitable travel document to enable the Prince to pay a visit to Arabia and return to the United Kingdom;(2) what steps he is taking to issue to His Highness the exiled Sultan of Zanzibar, and his followers who came to the United Kingdom with him, suitable travel documents, in view of the fact that His Highness has been banned for life from Zanzibar, and his followers have been threatened with execution if they return there.

I have seen the letter referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. It is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to issue travel documents, save in emergency, to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations is inquiring of the Government of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar about the position of the former Sultan and his entourage, since citizenship is a Union subject under the Articles of Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. I will review the matter in the light of the reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent guidance he has issued concerning a change in the administration of the law concerning homosexuality; when such guidance was issued; why the statement announcing this change was not made to the House of Commons; and to what extent this new arrangement will affect the course of investigations being conducted by the Metropolitan Police.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 20th July to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what official research is being made into dryrot in fishing boats; and what remedies have been discovered.

A number of instances of rot in Scottish fishing boats have been reported recently but it is expected that the problem can be solved by modifications in boat design, making use of existing knowledge of wood preservatives and their application.The Forest Products Research Laboratory and the Torry Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are in close contact on this problem with the White Fish Authority, the Herring Industry Board, and the Fishing Boat Builders Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the reasons that led him to accept the recommendation of the University Grants Committee on the siting of Scotland's latest university; and what is his future policy for Scottish higher education.

The factors taken into account by the University Grants Committee in advising on the location of the new university are described in paragraphs 276–287 of the University Grants Committee's report "University Developments 1957–1962" (Cmnd. 2267). In addition, the University Grants Committee considered that the location of the new Scottish university had to allow both specifically Scottish needs to be met and for a suitable proportion of students to be attracted from elsewhere. In conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, I accepted the University Grants Committee's advice based on these criteria.The policy of my right hon. Friend and myself on higher education matters has been set out in the White Paper on higher education (Cmnd. 2165) published last October and subsequent statements in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he has now decided on the site for the new university in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Commander Donaldson), on 17th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of teachers in Hull schools now, compared with 1951.

The number of teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools in Hull in January 1963 was 2,216 compared with 1,556 in January 1951. These figures include the full time equivalent of part-time teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the schoolchildren of Hull now stay on at school after the age of 15 years, compared with 1951.

At the January 1963 count, 15-year old pupils in maintained secondary and all-age schools in Hull represented 30·7 per cent. of the 13-year old pupils who had been attending these schools two years earlier. The corresponding percentage in January 1951, was 24·5.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the level of expenditure on education in Hull in 1951–52 and 1963–64, respectively.

Expenditure by the local education authority in 1951–52 was £1·8 millions; the estimate for 1963–64 is £6·2 millions.

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

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce his decision whether one of the new medical schools is to be attached to the University of Hull; and when the local education authority and university authorities are to be informed, in view of the fact that the allocation of this medical school to Hull has been under consideration for over nine months.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, North (Mr. Coulson) on 21st July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the results of the beef production experiment of crossbreeding Charollais bulls with domestic herds.

The results of the first cross-breeding trials in England and Wales, in which the progeny of dairy cattle sired by Charollais bulls were compared with those sired by bulls of a number of other breeds and with pure Friesian cattle, under intensive rearing systems, show advantages to the Charollais bulls in food conversion and in killing out percentages. In liveweight gain and in carcase grading there were again advantages to the Charollais in most cases. In liveweight gain, however, they shared this advantage with pure Friesians, and the carcases of Hereford crosses graded slightly better than Charollais crosses. Details will be published in an early issue of the Ministry's journal "Agriculture". These results will be studied along with the results of other trials, including some on more extensive systems of husbandry, and involving further breeds. In the light of these, and of the information about the experience of farmers in the calving and rearing of Charollais cross cattle, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I will be considering whether or not the Charollais breed should be established in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many members, being qualified in respect of fisheries in accordance with Section 6(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act, 1963, he has appointed or expects to appoint to the River Authorities of England and Wales, the constitutions of which will be established in this Session of Parliament.

I attach a statement showing the number of members qualified in respect of fisheries whom my right hon. Friend expects to appoint later this year to the various Authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the members of Osageyfo Dr. Nkrumah's personal Ga bodyguard, during his recent visit to Great Britain, had their weapons removed from then on their entry into the United Kingdom by Her Majesty's Customs officers; and if these arms were impounded or returned to their owners on his departure.

No firearms or other weapons were declared to the Customs by any members of Dr. Nkrumah's party, nor were any weapons taken from them by Customs officers. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to provide economic aid to Vietnam.

Yes. We intend to make a grant of £50,000 for the purchase of road-building machinery, which will be used for making secondary roads in the provinces of Vietnam, together with one of £6,000 for the purchase of diesel engines for fishing vessels being constructed under the auspices of the Government of Vietnam. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote these amounts by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime, an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that hardship is caused to National Health Service patients in Bradford due to pressure on consultants' time and that long delays occur before appointments can be obtained at outpatient orthopaedic clinics; and whether, in order to relieve this pressure and give patients a better service, he will arrange for general practitioners to be authorised to prescribe such items as spinal supports and surgical belts without prior reference to a consultant.

No. Urgent cases are seen at once, and in non-urgent cases the delay is less than two month. I should like to see this period reduced, but my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the provision of appliances of this kind is more appropriate to the hospital and specialist services.

asked the Minister of Health what are the differences between the circumstances that obtained when Her Majesty's Government refused to implement an earlier pay award to nurses and midwives and that obtaining today when he has agreed to such an award.

The Government have never refused to implement any pay award to nurses and midwives.

asked the Minister of Health how many family doctors were practising in the National Health Service in Hull on 1st January, 1951, and how many were practising there on 1st January, 1964.

112 and 152; of these 97 and 129 practised mainly in Hull itself.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of occasions when migraine patients requiring treatment were directed by his Department to the Putney Health Centre.

It is not my Department's function to advise individual patients about treatment; inquirers are advised to consult their family doctor.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that, in the case of Hornchurch, the figure for completed houses has fallen from 257 in 1947 to 14 in 1963; whether he will ascertain the reasons for this; and what further help he will give to Hornchurch Council to enable them to increase their house building.

The building record of the local authority reflects its success in dealing with slum clearance and other priority categories on which its housing effort has been concentrated. It is misleading to compare figures for two arbitrarily selected years and to ignore private enterprise building. Up to the end of 1963, the total number of new dwellings provided in Hornchurch since the war was 15,118, of which 12,024 were built by private enterprise.My right hon. Friend has already made it clear that he will give as much encouragement as he can to the building of more accommodation for Londoners.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the number of council houses and private houses built in Hull in each of the years 1947 to 1951 and 1959 to 1963.

The number of houses built in Hull in each year of these five-year periods was:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that in Wanstead and Woodford 68 houses were completed in 1946, and that this had fallen to 52 in 1963; whether he will ascertain the reasons for this; and what further help he can give to the Wanstead and Woodford Council to increase their house building.

The building record of the local authority reflects its success in dealing with slum clearance and the other priority categories on which its housing effort has been concentrated. It is misleading to compare figures with two arbitrarily selected years and to ignore private enterprise building. Up to the end of 1963, the total number of new dwellings provided in Wanstead and Woodford since the war was 3,723, of which 1,950 were built by private enterprise.My right hon. Friend has already made it clear that he will give as much encouragement as he can to the building of more accommodation for Londoners.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many homes for old people were built in Hull in each of the years 1945 to 1963.

My right hon. Friend has no information about privately built homes for old people. The available figures for council building relate to one-bedroomed dwellings which are usually but not invariably occupied by the elderly. The following are the numbers of one-bedroomed dwellings provided by the council as housing authority in the years 1945 to 1963 and of places provided by new building or conversion by the council as welfare authority:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how much money has been spent in each year since the war by each appropriate authority in East and West Suffolk on sewage disposal schemes.

The information will take some time to extract and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he has taken arising out of the correspondence he has had since June 1963 with the Secretary of the Hull Ratepayers' League on the question of the parking of heavy vehicles in Alexandra Road, Hull; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend's Department has been in constant touch with the Hull County Borough Council and I understand that negotiations are well advanced for the acquisition by the council of the transport company's depot at Alexandra Road and the leasing of an alternative site to the company. I am also informed that pending completion of the contracts and preparation of the alternative site the company have asked the council to agree to the use of another site as a temporary measure to improve conditions in Alexandra Road. My right hon. Friend has asked to be kept informed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that under the draft of the Dee and Clwyd River Authority (Seaward Boundaries of Area) Order, 1964, the area of this river authority in respect of the new functions under the Water Resources Act, 1963, will be different from the area of that same river authority in respect of the other functions of land drainage fisheries and pollution; and for what reason he is proposing another delimitation of the same area.

Yes. The difference relates only to the seaward limit of the river authority's area. The various seaward limits for purposes of the authority's land drainage, fisheries and pollution functions, are not necessarily appropriate for their new water resources functions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that the Dee and Clwyd River authority own the deep water channel in the River Dee as far as a line drawn from Point of Ayr to Hilbre Point in Cheshire, why he is proposing to delimit the area of this authority for the new functions under the Water Resources Act, 1963, by a line drawn between point SJ 29037003 and point SJ 29257042; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think that ownership of the channel affects the area in which the river authority should exercise its new functions under the Water Resources Act, 1963. The draft order excludes from the authority's area for the purposes of those functions (and no others) tidal waters below low-water mark to seaward of the line referred to, because, on the information before my right hon. Friend he regards it as unnecessary for the authority to be enabled to control abstraction from those waters.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his proposals under the draft of the Dee and Clwyd River Authority (Seaward Boundaries of Area) Order, 1964, would have the effect of altering the area of that authority for land drainage purposes in the estuary of the River Dee.

No.