asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to review the remuneration of clerks to the General Commissioners of Taxes, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction among them by reason of the inadequacy of their remuneration and the difficulty that is likely to be encountered in recruiting suitably qualified new staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking consequent on the representation he has received in respect of the remuneration of clerks to the General Commissioners of Taxes.

The Inland Revenue are discussing with the Law Society a proposed new scale of remuneration for Clerks to General Commissioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the difference in yield between the present rates of taxation and those which appertained in 1951.

In 1951–52 taxation yielded £4,193 million, which represents 32·5 per cent. of the Gross National Product; in 1963–64 the lower rates of taxation in force yielded £6,651 million, which represents 24·7 per cent. of Gross National Product.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an approximate estimate of the loss sustained by the nation as the result of the postal dispute.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his negotiations with the Secretary of the Trades Union Congress on the dispute in the Post Office; how long these discussions lasted; what proposals were put forward by Mr. Woodcock; and what alternatives were proposed by himself.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government employees have been dismissed, asked to resign, or moved to other posts because they were judged security risks during 1964; and what were the numbers involved in 1962 and 1963.

None to date during 1964. One employee was dismissed and one barred from secret work in 1963. None in 1962.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases in the last 10 years money paid to contractors who have been found to have made excessive profits from Government contracts has been returned to the Government.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has for appointing an inspector to inquire into the affairs of Mutual Households Ltd.

The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies cannot consider the exercise of his power under Section 50 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893, to appoint an inspector to inquire into the affairs of this association until an application is made by the requisite number of members: no such application has yet been received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for opening a Westminster branch of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

Her Majesty's Stationery Office already has a West End bookshop in Oxford Street. This and its bookshop in Kingsway are reasonably convenient for customers from any part of Central London. But if a suitable opportunity offers, the possibility of providing a bookshop near the Palace of Westminster will be considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial arrangements have been concluded with the German Federal Government relating to the cost of the British Army of the Rhine.

The Agreement to which my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury referred in his Answer of 24th July to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Box) was signed in Bonn yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to arrange for a monthly selection of some of the more interesting publications produced by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to be exhibited in the Library of the House of Commons.

All Stationery Office publications are available for reference in the Library, but, with Mr. Speaker's agreement, I am arranging for a selection to be displayed periodically.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of historic houses which have been handed over by Government Departments to the National Trust.

Sixteen historic houses have been transferred by Government Departments to the National Trust and one is in the process of transfer. One house has been transferred to the National Trust for Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken in response to Recommendation (xvii) of the seventh special report of the Estimates Committee.

None, for the reasons set out in my Department's reply to the recommendation in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes taking to ensure that the Treasury is kept fully informed on the state of development costs on the Concord supersonic project.

The Treasury has from the start been kept fully informed by the Ministry of Aviation of the progress of this project and receives the papers and minutes of the Anglo-French Committee of officials. One of the United Kingdom representatives on that Committee is now a Treasury official.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement concerning the Bank Rate.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total amount he received from Surtax in the financial year 1951–52 for those in the income bracket above £20,000 per annum; what was the rate of Surtax at that time; if he will give similar details for the financial year 1963–64; and by how much the revenue would have increased in the latter year if the Surtax level had remained the same as that in operation in 1951–52.

It is estimated that the Surtax chargeable in 1951–52 on incomes exceeding £20,000 in 1950–51 totalled £32 million and that chargeable in 1963–64 on the same level of incomes in 1962–63 will total £61 million. The rate of Surtax charged in 1951–52 on the slice of income over £20,000 was 10s. 6d. in the £ and in 1963–64, 10s. The average rate of Surtax borne by incomes over £20,000 was nearly 43 per cent. in 1951–52 and about 38 per cent. in 1963–64. If all incomes over £20,000 chargeable in 1963–64 were taxed as they would have been in 1951–52, the extra Surtax would have been about £7 million.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to overcome the interference to television programmes which is caused by the British Broadcasting Corporation transmitting station at Wooferton.

An improvement has already been effected by the fitting, at the transmitters, of electrical filters which suppress the interfering radiations. Work is currently in progress to improve the performance of these filters. The B.B.C. feel that this solution may prove preferable to bringing the Mary Knoll station into service and thereby causing viewers the inconvenience and expense of realigning their aerials and in some cases of fitting new coils to their receivers.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of their large profits, he will introduce legislation to prohibit the Independent Television companies from extending the periods for commercial advertising to recoup them selves for any salary or wage adjustments and to require that they shall fulfil their statutory duty as a public service by entering into direct negotiation with the trade unions of their employees when a dispute occurs.

The Television Act, 1954, provides that the I.T.A., not the programme contractors, is responsible for controlling the amount of time permitted for advertising on independent television. Arising from the recent strike, I understand from the Authority that there is not, nor has there been, any question of the Authority extending the permitted time. As regards the second part of the hon. Member's Question, the terms and conditions of service of the employees of programme companies are matters for negotiation between them, and I see no need for amendment to Section 17 of the Television Act, 1954.

asked the Postmaster-General if under Section 14(4) of the Licence and Agreement and under the Television Act he will direct the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to refrain from sending programmes containing explicit and implied statements on both news and feature programmes that are not completely impartial during the pre-General Election period.

No. Both the B.B.C. and I.T.A. already have a duty to treat controversial subjects with impartiality. I am sure that both bodies are always very conscious of this duty.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the very poor reception on B.B.C. 1 Television in Yorkshire; and if he will take steps to remedy the position.

As I explained in my Answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Charles A. Howell) on 23rd June, the problem of interference to B.B.C. television reception from continental stations during the summer is a general one. Reception will however be improved for many viewers by the additional stations the B.B.C. are building. They are building a Band III station at Belmont which should provide improved reception in parts of the East Riding; and they hope to open a low-power station next Spring to serve the ScarboroughFiley area.

asked the Postmaster-General if, when sending telephone accounts to subscribers, he will arrange for the statement of trunk calls via the operator to state the number called in place of the calling number.

No. I believe that the present system is regarded as satisfactory by most subscribers. Details about individual calls are given freely on request, and details of all calls can be had as a regular arrangement for a small charge. To provide these details for all subscribers without charge would add significantly to the costs of the telephone service.

asked the Postmaster-General what decision he has now reached about the new location for the research work at present carried out at Dollis Hill.

I have decided to move the Research Station to the vicinity of Martlesham in Suffolk, subject to the acquisition of a suitable site.

asked the Postmaster-General to what location he has now decided to move the research station at Dollis Hill.

I have decided to move the Research Station to the vicinity of Martlesham in Suffolk, subject to the acquisition of a suitable site.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give particulars of numbers and grades employed at the Research Station, Dollis Hill.

The number and grades of staff employed at the Research Station are as follows:

Professional and graduate engineers	176
Professional and graduate scientists	76
Experimental Officers and Scientific Assistants	179
Assistant Engineers	164
Technical Officers	560
Clerical Staff	78
Drawing Office Staff	81
Cleaners, canteen staff, etc	70
	1,384

asked the Postmaster-General how many private houses were connected with telephones in the North Riding of Yorkshire in the years 1945, 1951, and 1964, respectively.

I am sorry that information is not available for 1945, but in March 1946 and March 1951 there were, respectively, 15,208 and 22,554 telephones connected to the exchanges serving the North Riding of Yorkshire. It is no longer possible to say how many of these were in private houses. The comparable figure now is 43,179, of which 23,076 are in private houses.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone services have been made for new subscribers during the last 12 months in the Brentwood and Basildon areas of Essex; and how many telephones have been connected.

The figures are:

	Brentwood	Basildon
Telephone applications received	1,206	2,414
Telephones connected	1,270	2,118

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has accepted the proposal made to him by the Central Council of the Royal Air Force Association for a commemorative postage stamp or a franked postal slogan to be used in 1965, the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

As I said on 7th July in my reply to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker), we have no plans for a special stamp issue to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. We did, however, tell the Royal Air Force Association when they wrote to us that, subject to certain conditions, we would arrange for a special postmark slogan and we are awaiting firm proposals from them.

asked the Post master-General, in view of the increasing number of employees who receive their wages by post, and the convenience to all concerned in normal circumstances, whether he will adopt this system and pay the postmen by post from the earliest possible moment.

The experience of the Post Office is that the present arrangements for paying postmen's wages are working satisfactorily.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date the Forth Bridge stamps will be on sale; how many denominations will be printed; how many copies of each stamp will be on sale; and who designed and printed the stamps.

The Forth Road Bridge stamps will be on sale on 4th September; the denominations will be 3d. and 6d.; 143 million 3d. and 19 million 6d. stamps will be printed; the stamps were designed by Andrew Restall and will be printed by Messrs. Harrisons Ltd. The designs will be published shortly.

asked the Post master-General why the minimum charge for a de luxe telegram is 7s. 6d. and for a standard telegram is 5s., although the extra cost to the Post Office is only one penny.

The charges must have regard to overall costs, rather than the costs of the forms themselves. Last year there was an average loss of well over 4s. per telegram; I think it is reasonable for the users of the greetings service to pay something nearer the economic price than the users of the ordinary service. The minimum charge for a De Luxe Greetings telegram is 7s. and not 7s. 6d., as stated by the hon. Member.

asked the Post master-General why he issued Form P.18B to postmen who went on a one day's strike; and, in view of the fact that this form is intended to find out the reason for absence from work, whether he will give a summary of the replies he received.

Some head postmasters used the standard inquiry form P.18B to find out whether postmen absent from work on 16th July were on strike or away for some other reason, such as sickness. The information was required for local use only. The replies have not, therefore, been summarised.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the terms of the agreement reached at Washington on the establishment, ownership, control and operation of a worldwide satellite communications system; and what arrangements have been made to protect the interests of the United Nations, of the International Telecommunication Union, and of countries, such as the Chinese People's Republic, which are not yet represented in these organisations.

:1. At an International Conference held in Washington last week, draft Agreements were drawn up covering interim arrangements for the establishment of a global commercial communication satellite system. The Agreements were initialled on a basis ad referendum to their Governments or designated authorities by representatives of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Vatican City.2. The United Kingdom Government has now approved the Agreements which will be open for signature by any member of the International Telecommunication Union ready to make a capital contribution.3. A White Paper describing the negotiations, the considerations which have determined the Government's policy, and the main features of the Agreement will be presented within a few days. Meantime, copies of the Agreements are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.4. The Government consider that the proposed arrangements will achieve the policy objectives described in my statement of the 26th February last, and will provide a secure foundation for international co-operation in the field of satellite communications.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the facts that the average weekly earnings including overtime in 1951 for postmen was £6 15s. 2d. against £14 14s. 10d. today, for telephonists £5 6s. 9d. against £11 12s. l1d. today, and for all technicians £6 17s. 8d. against £15 18s. 7d. today, what formal proposals for strike action were made to his Department by the unions concerned in 1951 at their wages then; and if he will make a statement.

There were no proposals for strike action in 1951.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish in HANSARD the minimum average wage received by postmen on 1st January since January, 1952, to date, and how the increases awarded in each calendar year compared with the fall in the purchasing value of the £ sterling, the rise in the cost of living, and the national average minimum wage level in industry generally.

In the following table the estimates of postmen's minimum average wage are based on the average of earnings exclusive of overtime and all

			Change during previous year as a percentage, taking 1st January 1952=100
			Postmen's Minimum Average Wage at 1st January			Postmen's Minimum Average Wage	Purchasing Value of £	Cost of Living	National Average Minimum Wage
			£	s.	d.
1952	…	…	6	13	4
1953	…	…	6	19	4	4	-4	4	6
1954	…	…	6	19	4	nil	-1	2	4
1955	…	…	7	10	4	9	-4	4	4
1956	…	…	8	6	3	12	-4	6	8
1957	…	…	9	4	0	13	-3	5	10
1958	…	…	9	13	0	7	-2	4	7
1959	…	…	10	0	8	5	nil	3	5
1960	…	…	10	1	4	1	-1	-1	1
1961	…	…	10	12	8	8	-2	3	6
1962	…	…	10	14	5	2	-3	6	5
1963	…	…	11	11	2	12	-1	4	7
1964	…	…	12	7	8*	13*	-1	3	7
			Total			86	-26	43	70
*Including the 6½ %increase agreed on the 24th July.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that Post Office workers' wages have more than doubled since 1951 and that a further pay offer has recently been made, what estimate he has made of the date on which it will prove necessary to raise the 3d. letter charge to 4d.; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans for increasing postal charges.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated annual value to Post Office workers of their non-contributory pension; how much this amounts to; what is the estimated annual value of their five-week annual holiday and one week's sick

The annual value of the non-contributory pension, is on average, between 8½ per cent. and 11½ per cent. of the annual pay depending on the grade of worker. The amount of the pension is, in general, one-eightieth of the average pay received during the last three years of service, for every year of reckonable service. In addition, a lump sum is payable, usually of three-eightieths of the average pay received during the last three yars of service for every year of reckonable service.Annual leave, which for most Post Office staff is less than five weeks, is at full pay. Sick leave is also at full pay up to a maximum period of six months. Where uniform clothing is provided, it is valued at 2 per cent. of pay. These and other fringe benefits are taken into account when pay is settled on the basis of comparisons with the remuneration of workers outside the Civil Service.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received from the public and from businessmen, especially those in the mail-order business, concerning the serious dislocation and inconvenience caused by the postmen's strike; when he expects the pay dispute to be resolved; and if he will make a statement.

Now that industrial action by the union has ceased we are overtaking arrears: and I hope to restore the suspended printed paper and parcel post services within two or three days.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the postal strike and go-slow tactics are causing hardship to those in receipt of sickness benefits and other benefits which come by money order through the post; and what precautions he proposes to take in the event of the strike extending to other branches of the Post Office when it will be impossible to cash drafts over the counter or collect old age pensions, money orders, etc.

I regret any hardship to recipients of sickness and other benefits caused by the recent industrial action. We are now doing all we can to overtake arrears of correspondence. The point raised in the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question does not now arise.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many applications were made in 1963, and 1964 to the latest convenient date, for grants to improve houses in Hartlepool and West Hartlepool, respectively; and what was the cost involved.

The numbers of applications for standard and discretionary improvement grant made in 1963 were 15 to Hartlepool Borough Council and 129 to West Hartlepool County Borough Council. In the first six months of 1964 the figures were 11 and 59 respectively. Information about cost is not available in the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has received the housing programme proposals for 1964 from the High Wycombe Borough Council, the Wycombe Rural District Council and the Marlow Urban District Council; and if their proposals have been agreed.

Tenders for the building of 134 houses for the borough council have been approved so far this year. Proposals to place contracts for a further 446 during 1964 were received on 22nd July and are still being examined. The rural district council proposed to start 61 houses during the year. This was agreed, but so far tenders for only two of them have been submitted and approved. The urban district council have proposed to start 59 houses during the year, and tenders for all these have been approved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authority and private development houses have been built in the areas of High Wycombe Borough Council, Wycombe Rural District Council and the Marlow Urban District Council since October, 1951.

Two thousand and twenty local authority and 3,420 private houses in High Wycombe; 1,274 local authority, 67 housing association and 4,470 private houses in Wycombe Rural District; and 285 local authority and 1,066 private houses in Marlow Urban District.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he proposes to deal with Section 4 tenants under the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Act, 1955, who will face eviction in April, 1965.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Stoke Newington and Hackney, North (Mr. Weitzman) on 21st July, 1964.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many tenancies under Section 4 of the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Act, 1955, still exist.

I have no up-to-date figures, but I am in touch with the local authorities in the County of London which have the largest figures, about the numbers which will become decontrolled on 1st April, 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the action he is taking to ensure that the corporation of Sunderland has sufficient land to continue its housing programme at its present rate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams). I have sent him copies of my decision letters and of the inspector's report on the public local inquiry into the application and order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish in HANSARD the number of houses built by the respective local authorities in the counties of Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, respectively, in 1952 and each succeeding year up to and including the first two quarters of 1964.

Cumulative housebuilding totals by local authority area, both for local authorities and for private owners, are given in the Appendix to the Housing Return which is published quarterly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many dwellings have been built in the Shrewsbury borough and Atcham Rural District Council areas since October, 1951.

The following are the figures to 30th June, 1964:

—	Local Authority	Private Enterprise	Totals
Shrewsbury Borough	2,729	2,266	4,995
Atcham Rural District	737	876	1,613

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the number of units of accommodation which are not serviced by mains sewerage in the counties of Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, respectively; and if he will relate the figures to the respective Parliamentary constituencies.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the number of units of accommodation that have no bathroom facilities in the counties of Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestshire, respectively; and if he will relate the figures to the respective Parliamentary constituencies.

My right hon. Friend has no information later than that provided by the 1961 census. The numbers of dwellings in these counties without a fixed bath is shown by local authority area in the published county reports of the census. Figures related to Parliamentary constituencies are not available except where the boundaries of the constituency and local authority areas coincide.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the number of units of accommodation not serviced by mains piped water and the number of persons affected in the counties of Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, respectively; and if he will relate the figures to the respective Parliamentary constituencies.

The number of dwellings not provided with mains piped water is shown by local authority areas in the census returns. Figures related to Parliamentary constituencies are not available except where the boundaries of the constituency and local authority areas coincide.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the cost borne on the housing accounts for interest charges by the respective local authorities in the counties of Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, respectively, in 1951 and each succeeding year including the first two quarters of 1964.

This would involve extracting over 4,000 separate figures and my right hon. Friend does not think the work involved would be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what conclusions he has reached on the statement by the Town and Country Planning Association on the South-East Study, a copy of which has been sent to him by the Association, particularly on the proposal that two-thirds of the increased value of land arising from development plans shall be returned to the community.

The Association's statement was received only a few days ago. It is being considered but it is a long and complex document and it is too early yet to say what conclusions will be reached on all the issues raised by the Association. I have noted with interest the suggestion for a betterment levy. But the statement does not consider—in my view—realistically the effect that their proposals would have upon the voluntary supply of land for development.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations have been addressed to Her Majesty's Government from workmen's clubs on the subject of rate increases which are regarded as a burden on welfare institutions; and what relief will be provided through Government action in order to reduce the burden and enable workmen's clubs to continue their activities without financial strain.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has sent me three letters from working men's clubs in one town about their rates but I have no evidence of any general problem calling for relief. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, local authorities already have power to remit or reduce the rates payable by such clubs and I think it right that the decision should be taken locally in the light of local circumstances, including the effect on other ratepayers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now make a further statement on his reconsideration of the future of the Swynnerton site.

I met a deputation from Staffordshire County Council last Thursday at which representatives of Stone Urban and Rural District Councils were also present. At the close of the meeting I said that after consulting my colleagues I would give the County Council a reasoned reply. This I hope to be able to do shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the heavy storm damage which occurred in Accrington and district on 18th and 19th July; and whether the Government will make a contribution to the expenses of the local authority.

My right hon. Friend has had no request for financial help from the local authorities concerned, and he has no reason to believe that their expenses, which will qualify for rate deficiency grant in the normal way, will be such as to justify additional Government help.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, when the Allen Committee on Rates reports in the autumn, he will publish their conclusions in a White Paper.

I intend to publish the report in full as a Command Paper.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, how many requests for advice he has received from local authorities as a result of the circular which he issued in 1963 as a result of the debate on Second Reading of the Historic Buildings Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for Bristol, West, and in how many of these cases of proposed development in the vicinity of historic buildings did he cause a site inspection to be made.

My right hon. Friend has occasionally been asked for advice by local planning authorities as a result of the circular but he has not been able to give them advice on how to deal with planning applications for development in the vicinity of historic buildings since such applications may be the subject of appeals to him. As my hon. Friend may remember, the circular asked local authorities to consider taking independent professional advice in important cases of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many offices have been transferred from the London area to Scotland since the creation of the Location of Offices Bureau; and how many jobs have been created in Scotland in this way.

The information sought is not available, but no firm in touch with the Location of Offices Bureau has moved to Scotland so far.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will introduce legislation to abolish university and college seats on local councils.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the excess of new office building in the central London area, and that many of these buildings are standing empty and unlet for many months; and what new proposals he has to control or limit new office building in the central London area.

The Government have already taken action to limit the growth of office employment in the central London area. An important contribution was made by the Town and Country Planning Act, 1963; and the Government have set up the Location of Offices Bureau to encourage firms to move out of London and to advise them how best to do this. The results of the Bureau's work so far are encouraging, and it is too early to conclude that stronger measures need to be taken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will hold a public inquiry into the suitability of the premises in Cathedral Road, Cardiff, which it is proposed to use as a probation hostel, before he approves of the planning certificate being issued.

No. Planning permission for this development has already been given by the local planning authority and it does not require confirmation by me.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies (1) if he will make a statement on his talks with Kenya Ministers on financial assistance for land resettlement schemes;(2) what financial assistance Great Britain is giving towards the resettlement scheme in the Ol Kalou salient in Kenya;(3) what additional financial assistance is now being given to assist the resettlement of British farmers now in Kenya who are considered to be compassionate cases.

I regret that I am not yet able to add to my reply of 21st July to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies whether he proposes to continue to issue the Common wealth Relations Office List as a hand book on Commonwealth affairs.

Column1	Column2	Column3
(a)	(b)	(c)
British Honduras	Antigua	Barbados
British Solomon Islands Protectorate	Gambia	British Antarctic Territory
Dominica	State of Malta
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, with the Central and Southern Line Islands	St. Helena
	St. Lucia
	St. Vincent
Grenada	Tonga
Montserrat
New Hebrides
St. Kitts Nevis-Anguilla
(a) Orders in Council are in the course of preparation for all these territories.
(b) The matter is still under consideration by the Governments of these territories.
(c) Barbados intends to enact local legislation. British Antarctic Territory has agreed to adopt the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction but the method of doing so is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will list those countries or territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office, together with those former colonial countries or territories for which Her Majesty's Government previously

It is intended that the next edition of the Commonwealth Relations Office List should be published in January, 1965. Arrangements for subsequent years, after the setting up of the new Diplomatic Service in 1965, are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will list those Territories or countries for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office which have not as yet incorporated in their legal systems the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction which has been conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956; in each case, what progress is being made towards the incorporation of such jurisdiction; and, where this has not been done, what are the reasons.

The following maritime territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office have not yet incorporated in their legal systems the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956.exercised such responsibility, which have incorporated in their legal systems the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction which has been conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956; and, in each case, by what constitutional instrument such jurisdiction was conferred.

The following maritime territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility

Territory					Constitutional Instrument
Aden	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Aden) Order in Council 1963 (S.I. 1963/1934).
Bahamas	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Bahamas Island) Order in Council, 1962 (S.I. 1962/2348).
Bermuda	…	…	…	…	The Supreme Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act 1962, No. 31 of 1962.
British Guiana	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (British Guiana) Order in Council, 1962 (S.I. 1962/630).
Cayman Islands	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Cayman Islands) Order, 1964 (S.I. 1964/922).
Falkland Islands	…	…	…	…	The Falkland Islands Application of Enactments (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962.
Fiji (and the Pitcairn Islands Group)				…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Fiji) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/398).
Gibraltar	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Gibraltar) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2031).
Hong Kong	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Hong Kong) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/1547).
Mauritius	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Mauritius) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/167).
Seychelles	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Seychelles) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2032).
Virgin Islands	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Virgin Islands) Order in Council 1961 (S.I. 1961/2033).

The following countries for which Her Majesty's Government previously exercised responsibility had, at the time

Territory						Constitutional Instrument
Jamaica	…	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Jamaica) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/631).
Sabah	…	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (North Borneo) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/399).
Sarawak	…	…	…	…	…	Application of Laws Ordinance Cap. 2.
Singapore	…	…	…	…	…	Courts (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Ordinance 1961, No. 32 of 1961.
Zanzibar	…	…	…	…	…	The Admiralty Jurisdiction (Zanzibar) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962/2180).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will list those countries or territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office, together with those former colonial countries or territories for which Her Majesty's Government previously exercised such responsibility, which have incorporated

Bahamas	…	The Shipowners' Liability (Colonial Territories) Order in Council 1963 (S.I. 1963/1632).
Bermuda	…
British Antarctic Territory	…
British Honduras	…
British Solomon Islands Protectorate	…
Falkland Islands and Dependencies	…
Fiji	…
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony	…
Hong Kong	…
Mauritius	…
Seychelles	…
Virgin Islancs	…
Gibraltar	…	Gibraltar Merchant Shipping Ordinance (Cap. 76) as amended by Gibraltar Ordinance No. 13 of 1960.

The following maritime territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office have incorporated in their legal systems the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
Cayman Islands	British Guiana	Aden	St. Kitts Nevis-Anguilla
		Antigua
Dominica	State of Malta	Barbados	Tonga
Gambia		New Hebrides
Grenada		St. Helena
Montserrat		St. Lucia
Turks and Caicos Islands		St. Vincent
(a) All these territories have agreed to the Act being extended to them by Order in Council. An Order is in the course of preparation.
(b) These territories have decided to enact local legislation.
(c) These territories have the matter under consideration.
(d) These territories do not wish the International Convention to be extended to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies, if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of persons killed or injured in British Guiana in each month since January 1964, including July.

Yes. The following are the figures of people killed or injured as the result of the Guiana Agricultural Workers Union strike and the racial disturbances which followed it:

Month		Killed	Injured
January	…	Nil	Nil
February	…	Nil	4
March	…	5	84
April	…	8	112
May	…	17	250
June	…	30	162
*July (1st to 23rd)	…	74	166
* Includes 34 killed and 8 injured in a launch sunk by an explosion thought to have been due to sabotage.

The following maritime territories for which Her Majesty's Government exercises responsibility through the Colonial Office have not yet incorporated in their legal systems the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what further financial aid Her Majesty's Government proposes to offer to Southern Rhodesia, and on what conditions, with a view to raising living standards, reducing unemployment, and improving African education.

I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to the hon. Members for Torquay (Mr. F. M. Bennett) and Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 2nd and 21st July respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what progress has been made with the preparations for the air service from Fiji to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands; and when it is expected to begin.

A fortnightly air service between Suva (Fiji) and Tarawa (Gilbert Islands), calling at Nadi (Fiji) and Funafuti (Ellice Islands) began on 20th July, 1964.The service has been started on an experimental basis and is subject to review in three months' time.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the total mileage of four- and six-lane highways in use in Wales; and what will be the additional mileage of four- and six-lane highways in use by 1970.

44½ miles of four-lane highways are in use. By 1970 there are expected to be in use a further 78¼ miles of four-lane highways. Of these 24¼ miles will be motorways. There will also be a short stretch of six-lane highway.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the difference in the average cost of construction per mile, excluding the cost of land acquisition, of four-lane highways and six-lane highways.

About £150,000 including the cost of junctions but excluding major bridges and viaducts.

asked the Minister of Transport how much money has been spent on roads in Shrewsbury since October, 1951.

£2,011,689.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will include the proposed southern arm of the ring road, which is an element in the Ilford Borough Council's central area redevelopment plan, in his rolling programme; and in which financial year he anticipates that construction work on the road will begin.

I cannot at present indicate in which year it is likely to be possible to include this scheme in my rolling programme of classified road schemes or, consequently, when work could begin.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the improved lighting which has been installed on most roads in Greater London which are bus routes, he will investigate the possibility of abolishing the regulation which requires that vehicles parked in these roads must have their lights on.

I am considering changes in the regulations for parking unlit vehicles in towns at night. The aim is to make them as uniform and simple as we can. Poor visibility has to be taken into account: also the fact that bus routes often carry heavy traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state his intentions about the start of work on, and the proposed route of, the North Orbital Road in order to relieve the present congestion on the Ingrave Road, Brentwood, caused by traffic using the Purfleet-Dartford Tunnel.

As soon as possible after the results of a route survey are known I will initiate statutory procedures fixing the line for that part of the North Orbital Road that will relieve Ingrave Road of much of its through traffic.It is too soon to say when the new road is likely to be constructed. But the possibilities of helping traffic in Ingrave Road itself will be clearer when the results of a recent traffic survey are also known.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has concerning losses incurred by some firms in the civil construction industry who have tendered for fixed price contracts for roads and bridges; and what representations they have made to him to make good these losses.

I have some evidence of losses said to have been sustained on road construction contracts, but I have no general documented information on the subject. Road construction contracts are let following competition by tender.Some firms, when making claims for the payment of sums due under contracts, have submitted that the contract has resulted in a loss, and have suggested that this should be taken into account in the settlement of such claims. Other firms have asked for an

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the year-by-year expenditure on roads in Great Britain since 1946 by central Government and by local government on major improvements and new construction, and on minor improvements and maintenance, respectively; and what expenditure is likely over the next five years.

The following table gives the expenditure since 1946:they are appropriate, the figures given above for Exchequer expenditure are different from the figures given annually in the Appropriation Account for payments from the Exchequer.Expenditure during 1964–65 and over the following five years is likely to be:

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the numbers of cars, motor bicycles and scooters registered in

—	North Riding County Council			Middlesbrough County Borough Council			Total for North Riding of Yorkshire
	1946	1951	1963	1946	1951	1963	1946	1951	1963
Cars	14,292	20,085	57,910	3,257	4,396	13,760	17,549	24,481	71,670
Motor cycles and scooters	4,295	7,230	13,560	1,286	2,341	5,320	5,581	9,571	18,880

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 what progress has been made with the provision of off-street parking in Greater London in recent months; and what plans are in hand.

Comprehensive information is not available. But progress continues. During the last six months loan sanctions have been issued for 57 local authority car parks in the London Traffic Area.A multi-storey garage in Ilford was opened in May (capacity 480 cars), and an underground garage in Westminster was opened this month (capacity 250 cars). Local authorities' plans for more car parks include permanent garages in Savile Row, Whitcomb Street, Rochester Row and Grosvenor Hill in Westminster; Topham Street in Finsbury; Saffron Hill and Bloomsbury Square (underground) in Holborn; Chiltern Street in St. Marylebone; Wandle Road, South End and Dingwall Road in Croydon; and Simpsons Road in Bromley. Private enterprise also has well-advanced plans for a number of other permanent garages.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and

Figures for the precise years requested are not available. The following are the figures for 1946, 1951 and 1963:Regional Development, what form of encouragement he is prepared to give to suitable new developments employing women and young persons in the Port Talbot area; to what extent this is a new policy; since what date it has been in effect; and what steps have been taken to inform interested parties of it.

The Board of Trade has for some time been aware of the need to provide additional employment for women and young persons in the Port Talbot area. Sympathetic consideration will be given to applications for industrial development certificates for suitable projects that cannot be located in a development district.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what further action he proposes to take to promote industrial innovation and development and the wider use of automation; and if he will make a statement.

The National Research Development Corporation was established in 1948 primarily to secure the effective exploitation of patents arising from inventions made in Government laboratories or those resulting from research supported by Government funds. The Corporation was also empowered in appropriate cases to assist the development of other inventions. In 1954 the Government extended by five years the period during which the Board of Trade could make advances to the Corporation. In 1958 this period was further extended to twenty years in all and the limit on capital advances was increased from £5m. to £10 m.The Government now propose to seek powers to extend the scope and scale of the Corporation's work so that, in addition to the activities which it has undertaken in the past, it will be able to contribute more effectively to industrial innovation and development, particularly development in which industry takes a share of the risk.For this purpose legislation will be introduced next Session to raise to £25m. in the first instance the Corporation's present limit of borrowing power from the Board of Trade. The legislation will also provide for a modification and extension of the financial and other conditions under which the Corporation operates so that, in partnership with industry, it will have greater freedom to promote the development and the commercial application of new techniques.The Government have also made a study of the opportunities presented by the techniques of automatic control of industrial processes to strengthen the national economy and of the problems to which this may give rise. Action of many kinds is already being taken, both within the Government and outside, which will contribute both to the advancement of automation and to the identification and solution of any consequential problems. The Board of Trade have recently carried out a study of these activities as a result of which the Government are satisfied that there is a need to co-ordinate, supplement and above all to give a strong forward

Name of Company						Date of Appointment
Savoy Hotel Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	23rd April, 1954
Berkeley Hotel Company Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…
Provincial Amusements Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	11 June, 1954
Falk Investment Trust Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	2nd May, 1955
Weber Sawyer and Brown Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	24th February, 1956
Egliston Building Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	8th March, 1956
Khama Caterers Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	23rd April, 1956
Ralph Poole & Partners Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	12th December, 1958
H. Jasper & Company Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	25th September, 1959
The Anglo-Sumatra Rubber Company Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	6th May, 1960
Tremelbye (Selangor) Rubber Company Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	6th May, 1960
Val D'Or Rubber Estates Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	6th May, 1960
Mambau (F.M.S.) Rubber Company Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	20th July, 1960
Kali Glagah Rubber Company Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	3rd August, 1960
Selangor United Rubber Estates Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	3rd August, 1960
Moccasin Shoe Makers Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	3rd August, 1960
ABC Coupler & Engineering Company Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	19th September, 1960
Siginting (Negri Sembilan) Rubber Estate Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	19th September, 1960

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development in respect of which companies and under what sections of the Companies Act he has of his own initiative caused inquiries to be made into those companies' affairs during the past 10 years.

Since April, 1954, inspectors have been appointed under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, on the initiative of the Board of Trade, to inquire into the affairs of the following 42 companies: