asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many new jobs have been created in Scotland in each of the years 1959 to 1963; and how many jobs have been lost over the same period.

New jobs likely to arise from industrial building schemes completed in each year from 1959 to 1963 totalled about 7,800; 7,600; 7,900; 17,000 and 9,600, respectively. Between mid-1959 and mid-1963 there was a decrease of 46,700 jobs in extractive and manufacturing industries in Scotland. These were more than offset by increases in other industries and the net change was an increase of jobs of about 24,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will take steps to prohibit the manufacture or import of any fireplace surrounds which do not incorporate eyelets for the fitting of fireguards meeting the British Standards Specification B.S. 2788.

My right hon. Friend has no power to prohibit manufacture and it would not be appropriate to use his powers under the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, to control imports for the purpose envisaged in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what estimate he has made of the number of British tourists who go to Bulgaria each year.

None. Information of this kind is not available for Bulgaria.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if, in view of the need to relate regional studies to a plan for the country as a whole and the limited nature in this respect, of the South-East Study, he will require that all future regional studies are arranged in two parts to provide analyses of the problems of the region and proposals for the solution of these problems in the framework of a national plan.

The form of regional study reports must depend on the nature and problems of the areas concerned. As hitherto, the recommendations of future Studies will fully reflect national policies and priorities. But as the White Paper "South East England" made clear, rather than follow any predetermined "national plan", our policies will be modified when and where experience, or future Studies, show the need.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what is the extent of South African orders for British defence material.

It is not the practice to disclose information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether the full text of the Hailsham Report for the North-East will now be made available for honourable Members before the General Election.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware of the growing practice of companies describing themselves in advertising and similar matter as merchant bankers, industrial bankers, and the like; and whether, in view of the possibility of the public being misled, he will take steps to control the use of these terms.

The Regulations which were made last October under the Protection of Depositors Act afford the protection which I think my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will now extend beyond five years the Export Credits Guarantee Department credit required to facilitate the export to Pakistan of acrylic fibre worth £6 million by High Polymer and Petro-Chemical Engineering Ltd.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what restrictions are applied to the use of the word "Bank" in the registration of business names and limited companies; and how many limited companies whose name includes this word have been registered since 1955.

The registration of a company or business name containing the word "bank" is permitted only when the company is carrying on banking business, or intends to do so. Since the beginning of 1955 27 new limited companies have been registered, and 9 companies have been re-registered, by names including the word "bank" or a similar word.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications for industrial development certificates in the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire were received in the second quarter of 1964; and how this figure compared with that for the first quarter of 1964.

Seventy-four applications for industrial development certificates were received in the second quarter of 1964 compared with 91 in the first quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what undertaking he has asked for from the Rootes Motor Company that there will be no alteration in its steel purchasing policy as the result of the Chrysler deal.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications have been received during the last seven years for aid for existing industries in Penryn, and how many for the establishment of new industries; and how many in each category have been successful.

Since the 1st April 1960, 13 applications for assistance under the Local Employment Acts have been received from firms already in Penryn. Offers have been made in respect of two of these applications and a third has been approved in principle. In addition three applications have been received from firms new to the area. Two of these have been approved in principle and an offer has been made in the case of the third. Figures for the earlier period are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will make a statement about the advance factory to be built at Falmouth.

Negotiations for a site are proceeding and the construction of the factory will be put in hand as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Cotton Board on the subject of protection for the cotton industry.

The purpose of my meeting with the Cotton Board yesterday was to discuss their memorandum, which is being published today entitled "The Case for a Viable U.K. Cotton Industry".In the course of the discussion we reviewed trends and developments in the industry, in the international trade in cotton goods and in world trading policies generally. In the light of this review I told the Board that I accepted the need for some further period of stability in the home market after 1965 to enable the industry to continue the progress it is already making in the modernisation of its equipment and structure. Further studies would however be necessary in order to determine how this requirement for stability could best be reconciled with our general commercial policy and with the need to promote the trade of the Commonwealth and of developing countries.I welcomed the Cotton Board's memorandum as containing some constructive contributions to the solution of these difficult issues, and the industry assured me of their full co-operation in the further studies on which the Board of Trade are now engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether, in view of the continued rise in the cost of the products or services of the nationalised industries which operate against the public interest, he will introduce legislation to enable the Monopolies Commission to investigate, report and recommend as to the future of these industries.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is now able to make a statement on his plans to expand the scope and resources of the National Research Development Corporation.

I hope to make a statement about this very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what criteria he will use in deciding the order in which resale price maintenance cases will be referred to the Restrictive Practices Court; and whether he will take into account the desire of the various organisations and manufacturers seeking exemption, to have their cases delayed as long as possible, either because of the complexity of their case or their inability to finance an effective defence, especially in the early stages, before the views of the Court on the general issues involved about the precise meaning of the new Act have become clear.

Until we know what is registered I cannot say on what grounds it may be desirable to give directions to the Registrar about the order of references to the Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether, in view of the fact that three inter-connected companies are providing approximately 40 per cent. of the exchange equipment and telephone apparatus to the General Post Office under a new five-year bulk supply agreement, he will now refer the suppliers to the Monopolies Commission.

I have nothing to add to the answer which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave the hon. Member on 27th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will make a statement on the progress made by the interdepartmental group which he has set up to study the economic needs of Yorkshire.

The Group has begun meetings, but I have nothing to announce at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the operation of the Stock Market.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the Stock Exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the working of the Stock Exchange and of public companies.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware that coercive measures are being taken against British firms, companies, directors, and others who trade with a friendly nation, Israel, to prevent them from continuing such trade; and what steps Her Majesty's Government will take to prevent such measures.

Yes. As I told the hon. Member on 12th December last, Her Majesty's Government are strongly opposed to interference of this sort. We have repeatedly made known our views on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what representations have been made to him by the Steel Works Plant Association regarding the present system of providing finance for export orders of steel works plant; what replies has has made to the Association; and if he will review existing arrangements.

My predecessor had a confidential discussion with representatives of the Steel Works Plant Association on 1st March of last year. Since then the Association has been in close contact with the Board of Trade about the problems of the industry. There has also been close contact between steelworks plant firms and the Departments concerned about the financing of particular overseas contract. I am expecting myself to have a further confidential discussion with the Association in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications have been received for aid for existing industries in Hayle and how many for the establishment of new industries; and how many in each category have been successful.

Applications for assistance from one firm already in Hayle have been successful. No other applications have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what amount of financial assistance has been given under the terms of the Local Employment Act since it came into operation to industry seeking to establish new factories or to extend existing ones in southern Lanarkshire.

Financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts since April 1960 for projects in southern Lanarkshire, including the construction of an advance factory, is estimated to amount to £127,666.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he has been consulted by Radio Rentals and Rentaset about the proposed merger of their companies; and what advice he has given to them.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proposals have been made to him for the siting of a new motor car plant in an industrial development area in central Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

No such proposals have been made to me.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, why 1st January, 1964, was chosen as the effective date for the revised rate of inducement allowance payable to designated officers in Mauritius.

The full case made to me on which the decision was based related to approximately this date.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what are the principal benefits conferred by membership of Special List A; and what are the prospects of further employment of Special List A officers who leave Nigeria.

1. The principal benefits are:—

(a) Special List "A" officers are in the service of the British Government and seconded to a Nigerian public service; their retirement benefits including dependants' pensions are paid by the British Government and recovered from the Nigerian Government concerned;

(b) if an officer's secondment to Nigeria is terminated through no fault of his own, the British Government will make every effort to find him suitable alternative employment;

(c) after such termination an officer is entitled, pending assignment to other employment, to additional pensionable leave on full pay for a period not exceeding five years or until the age of 55;

(d) an officer who is dissatisfied with his conditions of employment may apply to have his secondment to Nigeria terminated;

(e) an officer is entitled to retirement on pension, and lump sum compensation where applicable, where it has not been possible to arrange suitable employment and the officer has—

(i) completed at least 12 months' additional leave; or

(ii) has completed five years' additional leave or reached the age of 55.

2. As a result of constitutional developments in British overseas territories, opportunities for transfer outside Nigeria to comparable posts have diminished since the Special List "A" Agreements were concluded in 1957. In the majority of cases, therefore, further employment is likely to take the form of a series of assignments to overseas posts which are not themselves pensionable, but in respect of which these officers will be pensionable under the Overseas Service Act, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the concern in adult education institutions, including universities, at his policy of restricting any growth or expansion of classes or courses in the 1964–65 programme; and what steps he will take to encourage such growth and expansion.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen) on 7th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total value of primary and secondary schools and of buildings for technical education now under construction in England and Wales, respectively; and what the value is of each category, separately.

The value of major projects under construction in England at 31st March, 1964, was £129 million for schools and £28 million for further education. The corresponding figures for Wales were £7·7 million for schools and £2 million for further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his proposals for the construction of a nuclear-propelled merchant ship.

I cannot at present add to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Education and Science said in reply to Questions on 2nd July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now state the terms of reference and the membership of the committee he is setting up to inquire into medical education.

I regret that I cannot at present add to my Answer to the hon. Member on 2nd July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what contribution has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the fund established by the United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organisation to promote education in the territories of the new African members of the United Nations.

$105,927 or about £38,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what tests of air pollution at ground level are made in London during fogs; when the last test was made; and whether this test showed an increase in the concentration of sulphur dioxide in fog conditions.

Daily measurements are made at some 150 sites in Greater London and at selected sites additional measurements are made in fog. The last such additional measurements were made in January, 1964. The concentration of sulphur dioxide was much greater than that in normal conditions but there is no evidence that London fogs are becoming worse in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many overcrowded classes there are in primary and secondary schools, respectively, in the Dearne Valley constituency area.

In January, 1963, the number of primary classes over 40 and secondary classes over 30 in maintained schools in the Dearne Valley constituency were as follows:

—	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools
Number of classes exceeding the prescribed sizes	16	95
This number expressed as percentage of all classes	5·5%	39·1%

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many overcrowded classes there are in primary and secondary schools, respectively, in the West Riding County Council area.

In January, 1963, the number of primary classes over 40 and secondary classes over 30 in schools maintained by the Yorkshire West Riding Local Education Authority were as follows:

—	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools
Number of classes exceeding the prescribed sizes	314	1,627
This number expressed as percentage of all classes	6·0	46·7

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what arrangements he has made with the British Broadcasting Corporation to secure for schools films or discs of lessons broadcast for later use in schools, as is done by the British Council for education abroad;(2) whether he will make arrangements for the reproduction on tape or discs of television lectures by authorities so that their exposition can be made available to universities and teaching schools as aids to efficiency and economy in the use of teaching.

Schools can obtain, through the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids, films of a number of the B.B.C. television programmes for schools and technical colleges. They can also make their own tape recordings of educational radio programmes, and use them until the end of the school year. Arrangements could be made to provide films of other programmes of educational interest if the demand justified it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total numbers of grammar and technical school places in Dorset in 1954 and 1964, respectively.

In January, 1963 (the latest date for which statistics are available) there were 5,609 pupils on roll at maintained grammar schools in Dorset. There were no technical schools maintained by the Authority but there were 3 comprehensive schools with 2,019 pupils on roll. In January, 1954, there were 5,435 pupils on roll at maintained grammar schools and 226 at one maintained technical school. There were no comprehensive schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance his Department is giving to the new examining boards in preparing the examinations for the Certificate of Secondary Education.

Trial examinations are being conducted in English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, Music, Housecraft, Technical Drawing and Geography. Research has been commissioned into the problems of oral examining, the use of teachers' assessments, the assessment of course work and practical work, the design of calibration tests to assist in the moderation of standards, and the place of objective types of test in the C.S.E. examinations system. The results of some of this work have already been published in Examinations Bulletins Nos. 1 and 2, and in the Secondary School Examinations Council's Information Series Nos. 1 and 2. Further bulletins and publications in the Information Series are in preparation. The Department is also helping the examining boards to conduct a number of conferences and courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish, in a form similar to the table given in Appendix E of Command Paper No. 2163, a table showing estimated Government expenditure on civil research for the year 1964–65.

The publication referred to is the Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy. As it has been the practice for many years to publish data of this kind in the Council's Report, I will draw the attention of the Chairman of the Council to my hon. Friend's request.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why 19 of the 21 assessors to the Fire Research Board represent Government Departments; and whether, in view of the extent to which fire losses concern industry and private individuals, he will take steps to include amongst the assessors suitable representatives of industry, insurance companies, and the public.

Industry, insurance companies and the public are represented by individuals serving in their personal capacities as full members of the Board and not as assessors. Assessors generally represent Government Departments, and have the dual function of seeing that the work of the Fire Research Station is drawn to the attention of their Departments and that the needs of their Departments are represented to the Fire Research Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 11 members of the Fire Research Board are qualified and experienced in the conduct of industry or fire insurance.

Ten.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce amendments to the regulations on awards to students.

The University and Other Awards Amending Regulations 1964 are being laid today, to come into operation on 1st September. These regulations, with one exception, make minor amendments to the University and Other Awards Regulations, 1962, in the light of experience of their operation. The amendment of substance increases the payment to members of religious orders from £30 to £150 per annum.No changes are being made in the general value of the awards or in the rates of allowances to students' dependants. These are determined after taking into account the advice of the Standing Advisory Committee on Grants to Students, which has only recently begun its review of the rates fixed in 1962. The recommendations of this Committee will be considered as soon as they are received.In the review preceding the making of the amending regulations, the possibility of introducing discretionary powers to provide dependants' allowances in circumstances in which such allowances are not at present payable has been considered, and a number of important issues has been identified. I am opening further consultations on those issues with the local education authorities without delay, but a satisfactory solution may require legislation. In the meantime, these amending regulations command the general agreement of local education authorities and are, therefore, being made now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what prosecutions have been made in the Metropolitan Police area as a result of the wearing of topless dresses.

I understand from the Commissioner that proceedings have been instituted in three cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the Advisory Council's recommendation, made in January, 1963, to abolish preventive detention.

The Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders recommended that preventive detention should be abolished, but that the courts should be empowered to pass a sentence of up to ten years' imprisonment on persistent offenders convicted of offences at present punishable with imprisonment for a term of five years or more.The Government accept that, for the reasons given by the Advisory Council, preventive detention should be abolished. The Council, however, in their proposals to replace it, do not state exactly what they mean by "persistent offenders"; nor do they make any proposal as regards the persistent offender who commits an offence carrying a normal maximum of between two and five years (who under the present law could qualify for preventive detention of up to fourteen years).The Government have thought it right to consider persistent offenders as a whole, including those at present eligible for corrective training. The qualifications for corrective training are set out in section 21(1) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948. It is a sentence of from two to four years which aims at giving a constructive training to recidivists who are still likely to benefit from it.In all forms of imprisonment, however, we are nowadays increasingly realising the aim of providing constructive training, and the Government consider that for those who now receive corrective training, just as for those who now receive preventive detention, it would be preferable to enable the appropriate type of training to be selected, after sentence, from the full resources available to the Home Office for offenders sentenced to ordinary imprisonment.The Government accordingly propose to introduce legislation which will abolish preventive detention and corrective training and instead provide the courts with new powers to impose extended sentences of ordinary imprisonment on persistent offenders. It will only be permissible to impose the new extended sentence where:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the circumstances that caused his Department to issue guidance to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on procedures to be adopted in future cases where persons are suspected of homosexual offences.

Neither my Department nor I have issued any such guidance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the guidance recently given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to police authorities concerning homosexual offences committed by consenting adults in private, he will now, in order to prevent blackmail and protection rackets, introduce legislation to give effect to that part of the Sexual Offences Bill, 1962, which would prohibit the prosecution of such offences and the placing in homosexual offences of a duty upon a court to obtain medical reports of first offenders on conviction and before sentence.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was to public funds, particularised so far as possible to each Prime Minister or substitute, of providing protection to Prime Ministers attending the recent Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

The amount of protection provided for Commonwealth representatives attending the recent Conference took account of their wishes and of the possible need for it. I regret that the costs attributable to particular services or to particular Ministers are not readily obtainable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the armed round-the-clock Special Branch and special extra mobile Metropolitan Police escort provided for the protection of Osageyfo Dr Nkrumah during the recent Commonwealth Conference; and why similar extra armed protection was not provided for all other Commonwealth leaders attending the conference.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I am giving today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation regarding crime revealed in the recent Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and in the Report of the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis.

Both Reports deal, of course, with the year 1963. I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper entitled "The War Against Crime in England and Wales, 1959–64" (Cmnd. 2296) published in April of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who were the occupants of the motor cars, escorted by police outriders, which crossed against the red traffic signals from Hyde Park through Stanhope Gate and across Park Lane, thereby causing danger to other motorists, at 4.55 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday 18th July; whether these arrangements were authorised by him; and to whom, and why, such privileges are accorded.

My hon. Friend's Question appears to refer to a journey by His Highness the Ruler of Bahrain, who was in this country as a guest of Her Majesty's Government, and his entourage. A police escort is usual in the circumstances in which it was made, and does not require my authority. Members of the escort do not recall the incident, but it is possible that the final vehicle of the convoy, which had to be kept together, had not cleared the junction before the lights changed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has studied the representations from the Central Council of Bank Staff Associations representing over 65,000 employees in the clearing banks, calling for heavier penalties for those convicted of attacks on bank officials and others in charge of money, a copy of which has been sent to him; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen a copy of a letter sent to my hon. Friend by the Chairman, of the Central Council of Bank Staff Associations. I fully appreciate the Council's concern about attacks on bank officials and others in charge of money, but the maximum penalties available to the courts for these offences are, in my opinion, adequate. These include life imprisonment for armed robbery or robbery with violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has failed to place a copy of the report of the tribunal on the appeals of Police Constables Bourne and Maclennan in the Library of the House of Commons.

It is not the practice to place in the Library reports of inquiries held under the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, but, as the report of the Tribunal in this case has been communicated to the press by the solicitors acting for one of the appellants, I am placing a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries he has made into the reasons why the respondent in the appeal of Police Constables Bourne and Maclennan against their dismissal, failed to call for evidence from the complainant, Mr. Stratta.

A tribunal set up under the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, may require the attendance of any witnesses. This power is normally exercised at the request of the respondent or the appellant, bu there is nothing to prevent the tribunal itself from calling witnesses. I am informed that in this case the respondent did not call Mr. Stratta to give evidence because he considered that without it there was sufficient evidence to prove his case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of occasions in the past three years on which leave for members of the Metropolitan Police has been cancelled or postponed because of political demonstrations or marches; and whether all the arrears of leave has now been made up.

I regret that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only by a detailed check at every police station in the Metropolitan Police District. But officers who have to do duty on what would otherwise have been their rest days are entitled to payment in lieu, if the appropriate time off has not been granted within three months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce his proposed regulations to ban the sale of children's inflammable nightdresses.

After full consultation with all interested bodies I have decided on the form which these regulations will take. They will be laid before Parliament next week. The regulations will in general apply to all nightdresses having both a finished garment chest measurement not exceeding thirty-eight inches and an overall length not exceeding forty-six inches. They will not, however, apply to any nightdress which, although coming within both of these measurements, is so made or designed that it is unsuitable for wear by a child under the age of 13; nor will they apply to any nightdress which is designed as an infant's gown suitable for wear by a newly-born baby.All nightdresses coming within the scope of the regulations will be required to be made of a fabric which conforms to the low-flammability requirements of British Standard 3121: 1959. Trimmings below the waist or elbow must also be of fabric of a kind which complies with this Standard.The regulations will provide that, where fabric with which a children's nightdress is made or trimmed contains fibres made of a synthetic substance which melts with the application of heat, (

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, together with further evidence, about criminal activities in the East and West Ends of London; and if he will instruct the Commissioner of Police to seek from the editor of the Sunday Mirror the photographic evidence in his possession which will enable the police to take action in connection with these activities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) yesterday.

asked the Minister of Power if, in the public interest, he will give a general direction to the Scottish Gas Board to cease charging domestic consumers for the electricity which the Board used to operate gas heating warm-air appliances.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what progress is being made by the gas industry in eliminating old and dangerous gas mains under streets and pavements; and whether, in view of the interference resulting from the continued use of such mains to the efficient maintenance and repair of streets and footpath, he will ensure that replacement is accelerated.

Gas boards have continuing programmes for replacing old mains although investigations have shown that there is not necessarily any connection between age and liability to fracture. Street maintenance need not be affected by the presence of gas mains, whatever their age, provided that local authorities and Gas Boards work closely together. If road repairs disclose faulty mains the opportunity is taken to replace them. As to footpaths, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on 21st and 22nd July.

asked the Minister of Labour how many new industrial jobs have been created since 1961 in that part of the Bishop Auckland constituency which is not a development district; and how many jobs have been lost by closures of works.

The only comprehensive figures showing changes in the numbers of jobs are based on comparisons of the number of employees in employment at the mid-year. Between mid-1961 and mid-1963 the estimated number of employees in employment in the areas of the Barnard Castle and Middleton in Teesdale Local Offices increased by 200. These figures relate to a wider area than that mentioned by the hon. Member but no more precise figures are available. Our local officers are not aware of the closure of any works in the area during the period in question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men were employed in the mining industry in October, 1959, in the areas of Coalburn, Lesmahagow, Douglas, Douglaswater and Forth; and how many are employed now.

Figures are available for the mid-year and for employment exchange areas only. Coalburn and Douglas are in the Lesmahagow Employment Exchange area and Douglaswater and Forth in the Lanark Employment Exchange area. The estimated number of male employees in employment in the coalmining industry in the Lesmahagow and Lanark Employment Exchange areas were 1,600 and 1,600, respectively, at mid-1959 and 1,000 and 1,100, respectively, at mid-1963, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Minister of Transport if, following the closure of the Stranraer-Dumfries line, he will take steps to provide alternative employment for the railwaymen rendered redundant.

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the Railways Board hope to offer alternative employ- ment to all the workers affected by this closure. However, should any of them need to seek other employment the full facilities of our Department will be available to help them.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the numbers in the East Riding of Yorkshire employed in agriculture and other industries, respectively, in the years 1951 and 1964.

In the employment exchange areas which are wholly or mainly within the East Riding of Yorkshire the estimated numbers of employees in employment in agriculture (including horticulture) and in all other industries were 10,200 and 170,200, respectively, at mid-1951 and 8,700 and 195,500, respectively, at mid-1963. Figures are not yet available for mid-1964.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state for each region and for Great Britain, respectively, the number of vacancies remaining unfilled at the latest convenient date, for every 100 persons wholly unemployed, arranging the table in order starting with the region with the most number of vacancies in ratio to the numbers of unemployed.

The following table gives the information:

Region		Number of unfilled vacancies at 8th July for every 100 wholly unemployed on 13th July, 1964
Eastern and Southern	…	282
Midlands	…	270
London and South Eastern	…	257
South Western	…	168
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire	…	152
North Western	…	70
Wales	…	58
Northern Region	…	33
Scotland	…	22
Great Britain	…	122

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, and persons under 18 years of age, male and female, respectively, were registered as unemployed at the July 1964 count in the Gateshead employment area and the Northern Region, respectively; what were the comparable figures for each of the years 1959 to 1963; what percentage the total figures for each of the years represents of unemployment; what was the percentage increase or

—		Numbers unemployed in the Gateshead and Felling Employment Exchange areas				Tyneside Group
		Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Per cent.
July,1964	…	1,237	104	198	20	2·8
July,1963	…	1,830	177	322	67	3·9
July,1962	…	1,452	77	277	32	3·1
July,1961	…	1,004	19	238	16	2·2
July,1960	…	1,199	15	243	19	2·8
July,1959	…	1,296	30	399	28	3·2
Percentage change between
1959 and 1960	…	-8	-50	-39	-32	—
1960 and 1961	…	-16	+27	-2	-16	—
1961 and 1962	…	+45	+305	+16	+100	—
1962 and 1963	…	+26	+130	+16	+109	—
1963 and 1964	…	-32	-41	-39	-70	—

—		Numbers and percentage unemployed in the Northern Region
		Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Per cent.
July, 1964	…	26,258	1,761	7,376	1,111	2·8
July, 1963	…	36,306	3,755	9,503	2,201	4·0
July, 1962	…	30,218	2,277	7,900	1,206	3·2
July, 1961	…	18,303	596	5,468	431	1·9
July, 1960	…	22,070	950	6,956	535	2·3
July, 1959	…	26,756	1,004	8,396	687	2·9
Percentage change between
1959 and 1960	…	-18	-5	-17	-22	—
1960 and 1961	…	-17	-37	-21	-19	—
1961 and 1962	…	+65	+282	+45	+180	—
1962 and 1963	…	+20	+65	+20	+83	—
1963 and 1964	…	-28	-53	-22	-50	—
On 8th July there were 766 unfilled vacancies notified to the Gateshead and Felling Employment Exchanges and 11,830 to Employment Exchanges in the Northern Region.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were registered as unemployed at the Petersfield and Alton employment exchanges on 25th June last, and what percentage of unemployment each figure represents.

I regret that the information is not available for 25th June. On 13th July there were 138 unemployed at Petersfield and 65 at Alton represent-

The following table gives the information:1·3 and 1·0 per cent. of the estimated number of employees in each area, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the figures of unemployment in each region at July 1964 compared with 1951, the percentage increase or decrease they represent on the 1951 figures, and the number of unfilled vacancies at the latest convenient date and in 1951 for each region.

COMPARISON OF NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED AND UNFILLED VACANCIES BY REGIONS—JULY, 1951 AND JULY, 1964
		Number Unemployed			Unfilled Vacancies
Region		July, 1951	July, 1964	Per cent. increase between 1951 and 1964	July, 1951	July, 1964
London and South Eastern	…	29,407	44,875	52·6	131,381	114,185
Eastern and Southern	…	11,932	21,440	79·7	56,775	60,236
South Western	…	8,544	14,640	71·3	30,424	24,465
Midlands	…	9,460	26,426	179·3	96,287	69,705
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire	…	12,963	22,781	75·7	50,293	33,767
North western	…	27,894	55,516	99·0	74,018	37,600
Northern	…	21,276	36,506	71·6	17,680	11,827
Scotland	…	43,797	74,408	69·9	33,084	16,607
Wales	…	20,574	20,986	2·0	14,118	12,047

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-July in the years 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964; what was the number of school-leavers registered for first employment at July, 1964; and what is the estimated total number of school-leavers who have taken up full-time further educational courses who are still at school and who are not included in the number of registered unemployed for July, 1964.

The numbers of boys and girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Youth Employment Office at mid-July in the years 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 were 35, 109, 244 and 124 respectively. The July, 1964, total included 53 school-leavers registered for first employment. Since September, 1963, about 170 school-leavers have taken up full-time further educational courses. Detailed figures are not available to show how many of them were still at school and not included in the registered unemployed at the date of the July count.

asked the Minister of Labour when the independent inquiry which he has directed to be held into the crane accident which took place

The following is the information:on 20th June on the North Circular Road, near Brent Cross, will take place.

I understand that Mr. E. S. Fay, Q.C., who is conducting the Inquiry, will commence the hearings at 10.30 a.m. on 21st September at the Holborn Town Hall, High Holborn, London, W.C.1.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the value of new naval vessels supplied to India since the attack by China in 1962.

No new naval vessels have been supplied from the United Kingdom to India since the attack by China in 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how long Trooper Milburn and Trooper Upshall of the Royal Tank Corps, British Field Post Office 69, were under close arrest for disobeying an order not to take part in the affairs of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Committee of 100; why this order was made; what was the nature of the propaganda they duplicated on the quartermaster's duplicator and on Army department stationery; and what was their punishment.

It is undesirable from a military point of view that soldiers should take an active part in controversial affairs, and a specific order was given to them by an officer on 2nd June when it became evident that they were doing so. On 10th June they disobeyed this order by reproducing about 200 copies of a Committee of 100 leaflet on an Army Department duplicator and stationery. The leaflet was an account of the views and aims of the Committee of 100. They were under arrest from 10th June to 25th June when they were dealt with summarily by their commanding officer. It is not the practice to disclose summary punishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arms Her Majesty's Government are currently supplying to Bulgaria.

None.

—		East Riding County Council		Kingston on Hull County Borough Council		Total East Riding
		1951	1963	1951	1963	1951	1963
Motorcars	…	14,237	36,250	8,986	28,540	23,223	64,790
Motor bicycles and scooters	…	4,072	9,400	4,572	19,280	8,644	28,680

Since no distinction is made between scooters and other motor cycles for registration purposes, separate figures for these vehicles are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the alternative transport facilities of limited stop buses instead of the railway between Stranraer and Dumfries, the closure of which he has authorised, will be in addition to the existing bus services.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the need to establish safe standards for remoulded, retreaded and recut tyres for road vehicles, he will refer the matter to the British Standards Institution.

Tyre re-cutting and other related problems are now being discussed by my Department with the Tyre Manufacturers Conference. If a need for a British Standard is established I shall not hesitate to refer the matter to the Institution.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the number of cars, motor bicycles, and scooters, registered in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the years 1951 and 1964, respectively.

The following are the figures for 1951 and 1963, which is the latest available year:

asked the Minister of Transport when the proposed Rose-worthy diversion to the A.30 trunk highway west of Camborne will start; when it will be completed; and what is the anticipated total cost.

I cannot say when it will start. It has not yet found a place in my forward programme. The estimated cost of the scheme is £250,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the traffic densities of the A.30 trunk highway through Cornwall at Launceston, Liskeard, Bodmin, the Goss Moor, Fraddon, Camborne, Hayle, and at Ponsondane, Penzance.

The 1961 census figures for the peak period in August were:

			Vehicles per day
Launceston	…	…	6,074
Liskeard	…	…	6,634
Bodmin	…	…	8,736
Fraddon	…	…	6,971
Camborne	…	…	15,081
Hayle	…	…	9,776
Ponsondane	…	…	15,571

No figure is available for the Goss Moor, but the traffic density there is estimated to be of the same order as at Fraddon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the traffic densities of the A.30 trunk highway at the western end of Exeter, at Bridestowe, Okehampton, and Lifton.

The 1961 census figures for a peak period in August, which are the latest available, were:

			Vehicles per day
Bridestowe	…	…	5,556
Okehampton	…	…	6,797
Lifton	…	…	5,934

asked the Minister of Transport what is the traffic density along the A.30 trunk highway in the Glynn Valley, Cornwall; what is the total length where only single line traffic is possible each way; and what plans he has for early improvements.

The 1961 census figure of traffic on this length of trunk road was 3,213 vehicles per day. The road has a two-lane carriagement throughout the 5 miles of this valley. No improvement scheme is programmed.

asked the Minister of Transport what improvements are to be made to the A.30 trunk highway from Exeter to the Cornish border in 1964–65 and in 1965–66.

A number of small improvement schemes are to be undertaken, amounting to about £128,000 in 1964–65 and £20,000 in 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the traffic density over Boscawen Bridge, Truro, and at Tresawles Road, Truro.

These places are on classified roads and it would be for the Cornwall County Council, as the highway authority concerned, to take traffic counts.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he has taken to promote an improved design of life-jacket for use in merchant ships and fishing vessels.

In October, 1963, I set up a Committee, on which the shipping and fishing industries and the seafarers' unions are represented, to consider the design of life-jackets in the light of the relevant provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960.This Committee drew up a revised operational requirement for life-jackets to be used in merchant ships. Manufacturers of life-jackets have co-operated in producing prototype designs to meet these new requirements. Over twenty have already been tested and are now being modified to overcome various shortcomings before further testing.My Department has already been able to accept one type of life-jacket as meeting the requirements of the 1960 Convention and others are likely to qualify in the near future. I am therefore confident that by the time the Convention comes into force on 26th May, 1965, several types of life-jackets will be available which will show a substantial improvement on existing types.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will announce his decision on the findings of the Padmore Report.

I cannot add to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to assist Tanganyika's Five-Year Development Plan.

We have informed the Government of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar that we are ready to give sympathetic consideration to contributing towards the Plan as soon as we have had time to study its details.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how Her Majesty's Government intend to implement the Resolution of the House, passed on 1st May, 1964, relating to education and rates; and when he now expects to receive the report of the Allen Committee dealing with rating generally.

The question what changes may be needed in the arrangements for bearing the cost of education and other local government services is being considered as part of the Government's general review of central and local government finance and the rating system. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I hope to receive the report of the Allen Committee on the impact of rates on householders in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what improvements and simplifications he proposes to make to the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, relating to development plans and the control of development; and if he will make a statement.

The present planning system has, generally speaking, worked well and achieved a wide measure of public acceptance and support. But it is right to ask whether it is equal to the new demands being made on it by the need to secure a proper integration of traffic and land use planning, especially in our larger towns; by the development of regional plans, and by the need to keep ahead of events in a period of rapid growth and change.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to anounce his decision on the application of the Local Government Commission for the extension of the Merseyside and South-East Lancashire special review areas.

I have decided to hold the application in abeyance for the time being to enable the Commission to complete their preliminary discussions with Lancashire County Council about the problems of local government organisation in Lancashire. The Commission would also be prepared to have discussions with other authorities in the areas affected who seek an opportunity to express further views to them on the question of extending the special review areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made with smoke control in England and Wales since the passing of the Clean Air Act, 1956.

By the 30th June, 1964, 1,669 smoke control orders had been made under the Act by local authorities in England and Wales, covering a total of 2,147,776 premises and 393,587 acres.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will seek to extend the standard grants to include the installation of septic tanks at private premises.

Section 46 of the new Housing Act empowers local authorities at their discretion to pay standard grant above the normal maximum of £155, but subject to an upper limit of £350, where the work of providing a w.c. requires the installation of a septic tank.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet received the report of the committee of inquiry into the demand for agricultural graduates.

The Committee of Inquiry into the demand for agricultural graduates under the Chairmanship of Dr. C. I. C. Bosanquet, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, has submitted its report to my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself. The report is being published today. I am most grateful to Dr. Bosanquet and his Committee for their review of this subject, which will enable the universities to plan their future dispositions.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table for each of the last 10 years showing the expenditure on hospital building and renovation together with the number of new and modernised beds available in the following areas, namely, England and Wales, South Eastern Hospital area and the Mid-Kent area, and the approximate population of each of these areas.

A table of capital expenditure is below. The population figures for England and Wales, the area of the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, and the area served for the main acute specialties by the hospitals of the former Mid-Kent group are, about 47·0 million, 3·4 million and 0·1 million respectively. I regret that records of beds are not kept in the form my hon. Friend asks.

		Hospital Capital Expenditure
Year		England and Wales	South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board	Former Mid-Kent Group
		£m.	£m.	£'000
1953–54	…	8·8	0·46	3·6
1954–55	…	11·3	0·59	6·9
1955–56	…	11·5	0·55	12·2
1956–57	…	14·2	0·94	19·0
1957–58	…	18·7	1·12	18·3
1958–59	…	21·2	1·08	17·1
1959–60	…	21·0	0·93	18·2
1960–61	…	27·1	1·10	16·5
1961–62	…	34·2	1·22	75·9
1962–63	…	35·7	1·39	135·5

asked the Minister of Aviation what further representations he has now received regarding the need to improve the surface of the passenger ramp at the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim; and if he will make a statement.

None. The ramp has a non-slip surface but in order to provide an additional safeguard a handrail is now being fitted to assist elderly persons.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT statistics in tabular form showing the change in industrial production, change in output per man hour, the increase in average wages and the increase in average earnings, for each industry between 1923 and 1946, and between 1946 and 1963.

I regret that information is not available from which valid comparisons can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a British-born citizen on holiday in Eire and using a car reputably hired in Eire is denied admittance to Northern Ireland by car when all other persons can be admitted in like circumstances.

Cars imported by people who are principally resident in any part of the United Kingdom, regardless of their nationality or place or birth, are not legally entitled to the Customs concession under which motor vehicles brought to this country by non-residents, for their own use here on a temporary visit, may be admitted without payment of customs charges. The same rules apply in Northern Ireland as in all other parts of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom residents on holiday in the Republic of Ireland may thus not bring a car with them into Northern Ireland, whether or not it has been hired in the Republic, unless the appropriate Customs charges have already been, or are then, paid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public investment he has channelled into Cornwall and how much into the Falmouth and Camborne constituency since April, 1960; and what percentages these sums are of the total public investment of Great Britain as a whole.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD details of all contracts for £1,000,000 or more on which Her Majesty's Government have carried out negotiations with foreign governments or business concerns since 1951.

I regret that this information is not available, and could only be obtained by the expenditure of disproportionate time and labour.

asked the Postmaster-General when the British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television Authority television stations at Scarborough will come into service.

The B.B.C.'s low-power satellite station at Scarborough should be ready by next spring, and that of the I.T.A. a month or two later. The two stations are expected to give first-class television reception in the Scarborough-Filey area.