asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of vacant places for students in the principal faculties of the Scottish universities during the current academic year.

The number of students at present in Scottish universities is estimated to be about 24,000 compared with 20,390 a year ago. About 1,000 of this increase results from the amalgamation of the Scottish College of Commerce into the University of Stathclyde. I regret that information is not available about vacant places.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that the passenger services on the Liver- pool-Southport railway line will be retained.

No proposal about these services has yet reached me. If and when it does I shall consider it in accordance with the policy I declared in my statement to the House on 4th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will exempt importers of foreign manufactured goods from the 15 per cent. levy in respect of goods actually in transit when the new measures were announced.

No. The law provides that duty changes, whether upwards or downwards, operate from a fixed point of time without exception, and this is in the best interests of everyone.