asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the extra charge for greetings telegrams being far more than the difference in printing those telegrams compared with ordinary telegrams, if he will undertake to examine this matter to ensure a more reasonable charge being made for the greetings or de luxe telegrams.

The charges for greetings telegrams are well below the costs of handling them and reductions would increase the loss on the inland telegraph service as a whole which, in 1963–64, was about £2½ million. I am sorry therefore that I do not feel able to allow a concession such as my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Postmaster General what further attention is being given to the desirability of fixing a device in telephone kiosks that will give audible sign of wrongful use of telephone apparatus.

We are still studying this problem to see what can be done.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to increase the number of telephone lines between Orpington and London.

Additional telephone circuits were provided during October between Orpington and London and the service should now be satisfactory.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will review his policy towards the provision of telephones for elderly people, especially in remote or isolated villages.

I have already decided to review this question to see whether the Post Office could help in cases of this kind, and when this has been completed I will write to the hon. Members.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to prohibit the advertising of cigarettes on television.

This is one of a number of questions of broadcasting policy which the Government have to review and on which decisions will be announced as soon as they are reached.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has for dealing with pirate broadcasting stations; and whether he will propose the setting up of certain local broadcasting stations as an experiment.

As to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I am considering the introduction of legislation. As to the second, the subject is one of a number of issues of broadcasting policy which I am studying.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects the promised improvements in radio and television reception in the Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and Newry districts of South Down to take place.

The B.B.C. hopes to have its new station at Newry ready for service by the end of December. The station will also improve radio and television reception in Rostrevor and Warrenpoint.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in HANSARD a table giving the annual number of houses built by the Ilford, Hornchurch, Wanstead and Woodford, Chigwell, West Ham, Barking, Dagenham and East Ham local authorities, respectively, for each of the calendar years from 1945 to date.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that there were fewer houses being built to let by local authorities in 1963 than there were in 1947; and what action he proposes to take to increase the number of houses for those in most urgent need.

The Government have made it clear that they intend to pursue a vigorous housing policy directed to producing more houses of better quality. Where past policies have operated to the detriment of the people in most urgent need my right hon. Friend will give the local authorities every encouragement to redress the balance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, pending the repeal of the Rent Act, he will take immediate steps to protect decontrolled tenants from eviction.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the increase in notices to quit issued by landlords in London since the change of government; and if he will take action to safeguard tenants in these circumstances.

Yes. The following are the figures:

I hope to introduce almost at once proposals to meet the danger that some landlords may try to evict decontrolled tenants before the Government's major proposals on rent control can be given effect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the report from the Milner Holland Committee on London housing.

Early in the new year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many prosecutions have been brought in the last five years, or other convenient period, by local authorities under the powers of Section 10 of the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, against landlords who have charged rents in excess of the registered rent fixed by rent tribunals.

In the five years 1959 to 1963 there were 156 prosecutions by local authorities under Section 10 of the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, but I do not know how many of these were brought against landlords for charging rents in excess of those fixed by rent tribunals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amount of Government money he proposes to make available to the Housing Corporation; and what action he is taking to enlarge the work of the Corporation.

Part I of the Housing Act, 1964, which established the Housing Corporation, authorises advances up to £50 million, with provision for this to be increased to £100 million by Order subject to affirmative Resolutions of the House.The work which the Housing Corporation will do is set out in the Act and I have no present intention of enlarging its scope. The Corporation's job will be to foster in all ways the building by housing societies of houses and flats for letting at cost rents or on the basis of group ownership.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many builders are using the services of the National House Builders Registration Council.

At 30th September, 1964, the number of builders' names on the register of the National House Builders Registration Council was 1,935.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the Portobello outfall has been the cause of increasingly serious pollution of the beaches between Newhaven and Brighton, especially in the area of Peacehaven, Telscombe Cliffs, Saltdean and Rottingdean and that efforts to persuade the Brighton Corporation to extend the outfall further to sea or to treat the sewage have failed; and if he will order an immediate inquiry with a view to finding a solution to this problem.

My right hon. Friend understands that the local authorities concerned are reviewing the situation—and I will certainly keep myself and the hon. and gallant Member informed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the estimated terms of trade, to the latest available date; by how much he estimates United Kingdom imports and exports would be increased or decreased in value if the terms of trade had remained as in 1954; and if he will make a statement.

In September, 1964, the terms of trade stood at 101 (taking 1961 as 100).It is estimated that the value of United Kingdom exports in the first nine months of 1964 would have been, at an annual rate, about £650 million less at 1954 prices, and the value of imports about the same. Firm conclusions cannot however be drawn from these estimates, since at different price levels the quantities of goods exported and imported would also have been different.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the last pit in the community of Kelty in Fife is about to close, and that there is no alternative industry in the area; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this situation.

There is alternative industry already established at Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline within reasonable travelling distance from Kelty, and also at Kirkcaldy, which is a little farther. More employment is expected in the Cowdenbeath area generally. My right hon. Friend will encourage industry to develop in these places.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to assist small centres of unemployment in Wales such as Llanrwst.

The first priority must be to get industry to development districts. But the Board of Trade would issue an industrial development certificate to a firm wishing to establish in Llanrwst, if it could not go to a development district. The Board of Trade Controller for Wales has been helping to find a tenant for an empty factory at Llanrwst, and will continue to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that the area now proscribed for office building in and around London will not be increased within the next 12 months.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what answer he has sent to the representations of shipowners and shipbuilders on the imposition of the 15 per cent. import duty.

These representations have been carefully considered. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will explain the Government's view on them when introducing his Budget proposals tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to issue reminders to all holders of Road Fund licences before their licences expire.

No. Expiry dates are clearly printed on all vehicle licences. These have to be prominently displayed and can therefore act as their own reminder. The issue of reminder notices would be very costly, and unnecessary for the large majority of licence holders.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement concerning the future of the Bodmin Road-Padstow passenger service.

I shall consider any proposal which the Railways Board may prepare for the closure of this service in accordance with the general arrangements which I announced in my statement on 4th November.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement concerning the proposed closure of the Okehampton-Bude and the Okehampton - Wadebridge passenger services.

I am considering the reports of the Transport Users Consultative Committee along with all other aspects of these proposals with a view to reaching my decisions as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements he is making for Questions concerning the Minister of Technology to be answered in this House.

As a temporary arrangement, Questions on matters within the responsibility of the Minister of Technology should be put down to my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, who will for this purpose occupy the place on the roster of Questions reserved for the Minister.

asked the Prime Minister who will be responsible for answering Questions relating to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston.

The Minister of Technology will be responsible for the general conduct of the Atomic Energy Authority. No change will be made in the existing arrangements under which contracts and research carried out at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment on behalf of the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Aviation will remain the responsibility of those two Departments. Questions relating to this responsibility will be answered as hitherto by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence or my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation as appropriate.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now publish the Report on the remuneration of Ministers and Members of Parliament.

I hope to make a statement shortly about this Report.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a junior Minister to concentrate on Glasgow housing.

No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will ensure that Glasgow's housing problems receive all due attention from the Government.

asked the Prime Minister what are the regulations regarding the employment in the Civil Service of persons who by birth are nationals of a foreign State; and to what extent it is the practice to allow them access to secret and classified papers.

The Nationality Rule for established appointments is rather long, and I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report. The same requirements normally apply to temporary employment, but Departments have discretion in the public interest to employ any person in a temporary capacity. With regard to the second part of the Question, no one, whatever his origin, is allowed access to classified information unless the Head of the Department is satisfied that he can be trusted; and he is of course subject to the necessary security inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements he has made to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Ghent and the continuous peaceful relations with the United States of America since the ratification of that Treaty.

Various possible schemes have been examined, but all have unfortunately proved impracticable. There is, of course, a problem of timing, in that the anniversary falls on Christmas Eve. This makes it difficult to hold the sort of social celebration which might have been appropriate. However, I am glad to say that the United States and British copies of the Treaty are to be displayed in the Library of Congress and the United States Embassy in London, respectively. We are considering further what Parliament might do, at an appropriate time, to mark the occasion.

asked the Prime Minister why the responsibility for matters concerning the Shops and Factories Act has been transferred to the Ministry of Power.

There has been no transfer of responsibilities.My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is still concerned with the Factories Act, 1961, and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary with the Shops Act, 1950.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the sugar factories in England have had the highest and lowest percentage of sugar in their beet deliveries during the period ended 31st October, 1964; and what has been the average sugar content of beet delivered to all English factories during this same period.

I am informed by the British Sugar Corporation that the English factories with the highest and lowest percentage of sugar in beet delivered up to 2nd November, 1964—the date closest to 31st October for which figures are available—were:

• Felsted—19·57 per cent.
• Selby—17·64 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing in money terms by how much the national income has increased in the last 12 years, and the increase in the yield of Estate Duty in the same period; and whether he will take steps to tighen up the law in this field of taxation, in view of the evidence of tax avoidance.

The figures for the last 12 years are shown in the table below. On the second part of the Question, my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of individual businessmen in trade and the professions in 1963; how many of them showed a declared net true income of less than £250 per year, £250 to £500 per year, and £500 to £1,000 per year, respectively; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the comparable figures for each of the last 10 years.

The latest available figures of assessments on trading profits and professional earnings are for 1961–62 and they relate broadly speaking to the earnings in 1960. The total number of assessments in that year was 1,524,900 and of these the number of cases where the net true income assessed was less than £250 was 428,500 and between £250 and £500 423,400 and between £500 and £1,000 458,800. The figures of net true income are after deduction of capital allowances. I would remind my hon. Friend that some of these assessments are on subsidiary earnings and some are for only part of a year, while they exclude all income of the taxpayer from any other source. Comparable figures are only available for the two previous years and are published in Table 42 of the 105th Annual Report of the Board of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 1598) and Table 43 of the next Report (Cmnd. 1906).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing how many insured workers have, after tax, a weekly income of £10 or less, £10 to £15, £15 to £20, and over £20, respectively.

The only figures available of numbers of persons by range of income after tax relate to all taxpayers and not simply to insured workers. Moreover they do not cover persons with incomes below the effective exemption limit for income tax. The latest figures available which relate to incomes for 1962–63, are provisional only; a married couple is counted as one even if both are earning and non-taxable benefits are excluded.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to deal with the incomes from certain toll bridges which have been exempt from all forms of taxation for almost 200 years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the figures showing the total revenue derived from the capital gains tax introduced by his predecessor; and whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of that tax.

The total revenue from capital gains realised in 1962–63, the first year for which the tax operated, is provisionally estimated at between £1¼ million and £1½ million. These figures relate to gains realised on assets which had been both acquired and disposed of between 9th April, 1962, and 6th April, 1963. My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement in answer to the second part of his Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his short-term plans for dealing with the balance of payments problem; and whether such plans will include the control of steel imports.

The statement of 26th October on the economic situation sets out the immediate measures being taken by the Government. The temporary charge on imports applies to all steel products.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove the 15 per cent. tax on blackcurrant juice in his forthcoming Budget.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether raw materials imported into this country for the production of British wine will be subject to the new 15 per cent. surcharge.

Among the main ingredients used in the production of British wine, spirits are liable on importation to the 15 per cent. import charge, and unfermented grape must, fruit, fruit juices and sugars are exempt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why wine and spirits, but not tobacco, tea or coffee, are to be subjected to the new 15 per cent. surcharge.

Foodstuffs generally have been excluded because they are basic essentials; tea and coffee are generally accepted as foodstuffs, but alcoholic beverages are not. Unmanufactured tobacco is exempted from this charge because it is unmanufactured raw material. It is already subject to very high revenue duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what mechanism the Government proposes to review the consequences of the recent surcharge of 15 per cent. on certain categories of imported goods.

All aspects of the charge will be kept under continuous review through the normal machinery of interdepartmental consultation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated expected revenue from the recent surcharge of 15 per cent. on certain categories of imported goods.

This information will be given in the statement which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be making tomorrow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of each class of hydrocarbon oils retained for home consumption during the years ended 31st November, 1963, and 31st March, 1964, and the net amount received in respect of duty thereon, showing the amounts received on motor spirit and heavy oils used as fuel in road vehicles.

The particulars required are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of outstanding post-war credits; and whether he will take steps to expedite their repayment.

The amount of postwar credits outstanding at the end of October was £239 million. I have no statement to make on the second part of my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will direct that correspondence between Members of Parliament and local authorities shall be entitled to be sent in Official Paid envelopes and not paid for out of the Member's salary.

No. An extension of the present use of Official Paid envelopes to cover Members' correspondence with local authorities could have wide implications. I will, however, consider the question further when the general question of Members' expenses has been considered in the light of the report of the Committee on the Remuneration of Ministers and Members of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in extending the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act 1956, to the Turks and Caicos Islands by an Order in Council.

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands have agreed to the extension of this Act to the Islands and the draft of the necessary Order in Council is being agreed with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the construction of connecting railways between Swaziland and Mozambique.

The extension of the railway line from Goba in Mozambique across the Swaziland border was opened in January, 1964. This extension links up with the new trans-Swaziland Railway from Ngwenya on the Eastern Transvaal border, which was completed in September, 1964. The new railway was officially opened by the Ngwenyama on 5th November and is now in use.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what assistance the British Government have agreed to give to the Government of Ghana towards the purchase of a frigate for the Ghana Navy.

The British Government have offered the Government of Ghana a credit of 90 per cent. of the cost of this vessel, which is to be built in a Scottish yard.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that at the recent General Election a number of Royal Air Force personnel had not been informed of the correct procedure for registering as electors; and if he will take steps to ensure that all Service men are fully informed of their rights in this respect.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." As regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Gillingham (Mr. Burden).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take on the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and other Toxic Chemicals in its supplementary report on certain organochlorine pesticides published last month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action is being taken on the recommendations in the supplementary report by the advisory committee on pesticides and other toxic chemicals published in July last.

My colleagues in the Agriculture Departments and I accept the Committee's recommendations in to say that assurances of co-operation in the implementation of the recommendation

asked the Minister of Health how many wards in each hospital in Huddersfield are closed due to a shortage of nurses.

No wards are closed because of shortage of nursing staff.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the new hospital in Lindley, Huddersfield, to be fully operative.

In 1966.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of trained and untrained nurses at present employed by each hospital in the area covered by the Huddersfield Hospital Management Committee, together with the number allowed.

the information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the phased redevelopment of St. Lukes Hospital in Huddersfield to be completed.

May, 1965.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of public relations officers employed by each regional hospital board in the National Health Service and the number it is proposed to employ, together with the salaries payable.

Regional hospital boards do not normally employ officers specifically for public relations work and I propose to consider whether the appointment of such officers should be encouraged.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of persons awaiting admission to hospital other than for surgical operations in the area covered by the Huddersfield Hospitals Management Committee.

Twelve.

asked the Minister. of Health if he will state the maximum number of hours per day of domestic help provided by a local health authority under Section 29 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, for totally disabled persons.

There is no maximum prescribed in the Act, but in deciding the amount of help which can be given in an individual case a local health authority necessarily takes into account the needs of the population of its area as a whole and the staff available to meet those needs.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the European Inter-municipal Development Plan, initiated by the Council of Europe in 1961, and which has since enabled thousands of young people to take part in exchanges; and what response has been made to the appeal, through the Committee of Ministers, that the necessary funds should be provided to ensure the continued operation of the Plan.

Her Majesty's Government are in favour of this and other useful projects for bringing together young people from the different countries of Europe.This plan, sponsored by the European Conference of Local Authorities, has been subsidised since 1962 from the resources of the Council of Europe. It was originally envisaged that it should become self-financing in due course. The Committee of Ministers' Deputies in Strasbourg has recently decided, however, to retain the subsidy in the 1965 Budget.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what instructions he has given to the Governor of Wandsworth Prison regarding the treatment of Ronald Arthur Biggs; (2) for how many hours per week Ronald Arthur Biggs, a prisoner in Wandsworth Prison, is permitted to leave his cell; and for what purposes.

The Governor of Wandsworth Prison has been instructed to treat Ronald Arthur Biggs as an Escape List prisoner for the time being. He spends about 29 hours each week out of his cell for purposes of attending chapel service, employment, exercise and hygiene. He is also allowed to attend a two-hour film show once every three weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to enable Service personnel returning from overseas stations to register on the current register on the date of their return.

Under existing law Service voters, once they have made a "Service declaration" for the purposes of electoral registration, are automatically included each year in the current register, whether or not they are in this country. They can vote by proxy or, if in this country, by post or in person. My right hon. Friend sees no need to amend the law.

asked the Minister of Labour how many shipbuilding and ship repairing workers were registered as unemployed in the Clyde district in October, 1961, October, 1962, October, 1963, and at the most recent available date.

The number of workers registered as unemployed in the Clyde district who were last employed in shipbuilding and ship repairing was:

asked the Minister of Labour what were the average weekly earnings of male manual workers in the City of Norwich and the county of Norfolk, respectively, in April, 1964.

I regret the information is not available for areas smaller than regions. The average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in the Eastern and Southern Region in April, 1964, were 358s. 0d.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will provide an up-to-date list showing the mileage in respect of each of those motorways or lengths of motorway for which either no line has yet been proposed, or for which a draft scheme has been published or a scheme has been made, or for which tenders have been invited or for which a contract has been placed, or which were under construction, respectively as at 31st October.

The following is the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what consideration he is giving to the problem of excessive feus being paid by owner-occupiers in Scotland.

I am aware that in certain localities feu duties for new owner-occupied houses have risen considerably; my impression is that this rise is associated with the general increase in the cost of land in Scotland, and as the hon. Member knows it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to deal with that wider problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will publish the findings of the public inquiry into the Fada-Fionn hydro-electric project;(2) when a decision may be expected on the Fada-Fionn hydro-electric project,

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the lack of facilities for organised recreation for young people in the Newlands and Merrylee districts of Glasgow; and when permission will be given by his Department for work to proceed on the Merrylee Playing Fields.

I know that Glasgow Education Authority has proposals for school playing fields in these districts. When work can go ahead, depends on decisions by the authority on priorities within its allocation of investment for school projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the increase in the volume of traffic over the last 10 years in the section of Clarkston Road within the Glasgow city boundary;

The report of the public inquiry, which I have had before me for only three weeks, is a long and complex document which must take some time to study thoroughly. It will be published along with my decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families from Glasgow were housed in other areas under overspill agreements in each of the last three years; and in each year how many were housed under the overspill arrangements by the new towns of Cumbernauld and East Kilbride.

The figures are as follows:and why his Department rejected the recent proposal of the Corporation of Glasgow to erect a pedestrian crossing near the Couper Institute to allow residents in the area, particularly older people, to cross the road in safety.

A census taken by Glasgow Corporation on 14th March, 1963, showed that the average hourly traffic on Clarkston Road was 941 vehicles with a maximum of 1,510, and the average number of pedestrians crossing opposite the Couper Institute was 54 per hour with a maximum of 157. Comparable figures for 1953 are not available. No accident involving a pedestrian occurred between 1st January, 1961, and 15th April, 1963. The Corporation's proposal was not approved because proliferation of crossings, especially where pedestrian traffic is so light as this, tends to undermine their protective value.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average sugar content of the beet crop delivered to the Cupar sugar factory during the period between the opening of the factory and 31st October, 1964.

15·76 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to implement the Teachers (Education, Training and Certification) (Scotland) Regulations, 1964; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot say until my consideration of representations on the draft Regulations is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has made of the representations of the Scottish Schoolmasters' Association concerning the Teachers (Education, Training and Certification) (Scotland) Regulations; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

The representations of the Scottish Schoolmasters' Association are being considered along with the many others received on these draft Regulations. The receipt of the representations was acknowledged in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the increase in the employment of uncertificated teachers, he will hold an immediate review of teachers' salaries with a view to substantial increases in order to attract certificated teachers into Scottish schools; and if he will make a statement.

No. I have no proposals in mind for an immediate review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give grant aid to a pension scheme which will provide for the widows and for orphans of teachers, in order to recruit to the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement.

No. I hope shortly to have formal consultations with the interested associations as required by statute about introducing a scheme on the financial basis of the scheme outlined in the Report of the Working Party on Pensions for Teachers' Widows published in September, 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to set up a general teaching council with teacher representation, to be entrusted with the control of the profession, as recommended by the Wheatley Committee; and if he will make a statement.

As already announced, the Government intend to introduce legislation to set up a General Teaching Council for Scotland on the lines recommended in the Report of the Wheatley Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress is being made in the construction of the Longannet power station in Fife; and what effect it is likely to have on the local employment situation so far as miners are concerned.

The South of Scotland Electricity Board tells me that work is proceeding satisfactorily and that the Board hopes to have the first two of the four generating sets in operation in 1969 as planned. The National Coal Board expects that up to 10,000 miners mainly in Fife and Alloa will be employed in supplying coal when the station is in full operation.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, if she is aware of the urgent need to increase pensions to the elderly; and if she will make a statement on a pensions increase, indicating the form this will take and when it will be introduced.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clark).