asked the Minister of Aviation what opportunity will be given to local authorities, other bodies and individuals in Essex, to make objection to, or representations upon, the establishment of a third London airport at Stansted.

A public inquiry will be held before a decision is taken. The bodies to which the hon. Member refers will have a full opportunity to put their views before the inquiry.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will seek to form a European seven-nation consortium to share the cost of the Concord project.

The possibility of inviting other countries to share in future work will not be excluded in the current review of the project.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to provide new facilities for long-term credit requirements of agricultural and horticultural co-operative societies.

Along with the general problem of credit to agriculture, we are studying the needs of these societies for additional finance, but are not in a position yet to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what agreement has been reached with the Soviet Government on exchange of information on agricultural research; and whether he will make a statement.

The instrument embodying the arrangements agreed between my Department and the Soviet Ministry of Agriculture at the recent talks has not yet been signed. I shall make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take concerning the price of Channel Island milk.

On the evidence before me, I am not satisfied that a case has been made out for a change in the maximum retail price at the present time. But I have informed the applicants that I am willing to consider the question further if they can offer fresh supporting arguments, particularly in relation to costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in carrying out his promised review of agricultural problems, he will consult both the Government of Northern Ireland and the Ulster Farmers' Union.

Yes. In the development of our agricultural policy my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department will be keeping in close touch with the Northern Ireland Government and the Ulster Farmers' Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the Northern Ireland agricultural industry consequent upon the rise in the tax on petrol; and whether this will be borne in mind in the next Agricultural Price Review.

The answer to the first part of the Question is about £200,000 and this, like other cost changes, will be taken into account at the next Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on large egg, broiler and poultry units; what estimate he has made of the extent to which this development will increase the danger of fowl pest; what steps he is taking to prevent this danger; and if he will make a statement.

The question as to whether the size of units as such has any impact on disease risk is one factor which has to be taken into consideration. Disease risks in poultry cannot be assessed wholly or mainly by flock size. Other factors such as husbandry, including vaccination, are at least as important. The policy of control of fowl pest by voluntary use of dead vaccine, helped by two years subsidisation of the price, is proving effective.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now considered the petition sent to him, and the representations made by the hon. Member for Newark, concerning fowl pest control in Nottinghamshire; and if he will make a statement.

I have given very careful consideration to the petition which my hon. Friend forwarded to my right hon. Friend with his letter of 2nd November and I have sent him a detailed reply today. With regard to the question of the disease risks involved in large scale poultry units, one of the points referred to in this petition, this has been dealt with in the reply given today by my right hon. Friend to the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle (Sir J. Maitland).

—		Value of U. K. Exports of Cattle for Breeding
		1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964 January—September
		£	£	£	£	£	£
Total Exports	…	497,036	749,183	785,500	940,166	858,211	926,431
Irish Republic	…	154,733	157,814	203,138	318,203	428,651	395,532
Other destinations	…	342,303	591,369	582,362	621,963	429,560	530,899

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many approved slaughterhouses were operating at the latest convenient date and how many were operating in 1954.

At the beginning of this month there were 2,450 slaughterhouses

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the export figures of the pedigree cattle trade; and what steps he will take to improve the position.

No. I am seldom satisfied with any export figures. But I am glad to say that exports of cattle for breeding in the first nine months of 1964 were at a higher rate than in any recent year and substantially exceeded the total for the year 1963. The Livestock Export Council and those represented on it are to be congratulated on this success. Further improvements in livestock exports are, as with any other exports, primarily for the industry to pursue.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the figures in money value per annum over the last five years of United Kingdom exports of pedigree cattle.

There are no figures available for exports of pedigree cattle; the Trade Accounts heading "Bovine cattle for breeding" includes non-pedigree cattle. Exports to the Irish Republic listed under this heading include many non-pedigree cattle but few would be included in exports to other destinations. I am therefore showing, within the total values, separate figures for the Irish Republic and other destinations. The figures are as follows:in England and Wales: in October, 1954, there were about 4,850.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated amount of meat and poultry, calculated as carcase weight, consumed per head of the United Kingdom population during the years 1938, 1953, 1958 and 1963, respectively.

It is not possible to convert all types of meat into a carcase weight equivalent but in terms of edible weight the estimated totals for carcase meat and offal, bacon and ham, canned meat and poultry, game and rabbits were:

		(lb. per head per annum)
Pre-war average (1934–38)	…	116·5
1953	…	98·4
1958	…	120·7
1963	…	130·5

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to mitigate the adverse effect of the rise in the petrol tax upon small farmers.

The rise in the cost of petrol used for farm purposes will be taken into account, together with other cost changes, at the next Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce legislation to give effect to the cereal marketing arrangements agreed to by the National Farmers' Union and the corn trade on the initiative of the last Government.

As I explained in the House today in reply to the hon. Members for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) and Lowestoft (Mr. Prior), the Government welcome this agreement and are urgently considering legislation to give effect to it.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Government intend to mark the 700th anniversary of Parliament.

Yes. The Government are considering the most appropriate way in which the 700th anniversary of Parliament could be commemorated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increased congestion on the roads in Fife consequent on the opening of the Forth Road Bridge; and what steps he intends to take to expedite the road-building programme in that part of the country to cater for this increased volume of traffic.

The priority to be given to trunk road works in Fife will be reviewed in the light of traffic surveys to be taken next April and August; these surveys will give information as to changes in the pattern of traffic on each side of the Forth following the opening of the Forth Bridge. Meantime an Order authorising the construction of a bypass of Cowdenbeath and Kelty has been published, and objections to it are under consideration. Investigations into the line of the proposed East Fife Regional Road are in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for increasing democratic control and local representation in the new towns development corporations.

In appointing members to development corporations, I intend to secure the fullest representation of local opinion that is consistent with my responsibility to Parliament for the administration of new towns as national enterprises financed wholly by the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a dual carriageway to connect the Forth and Tay road bridges.

There will be two alternative routes between the bridges, through Milnathort and Kirkcaldy respectively. Present plans provide for the improvement of the Milnathort route which also serves Perth, Aberdeen and the North East and the Highlands. Dual carriageways will be provided between the Forth Bridge and Perth; and traffic for the Tay Bridge will use this road as far as the Arlary junction north of Milnathort.The alternative route through Kirkcaldy does not serve as many long distance movements as the Milnathort route, but investigations are in progress to determine the line of a new dual-carriageway route from the Forth Bridge to Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accidents occurred on the Forth Road Bridge or its approaches on 9th and 10th November; and what action he will take to make this route safer in foggy weather.

I understand that on these two days there were accidents involving 27 vehicles and resulting in slight injuries to five people. Safety arrangements on the Bridge are a matter for the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board, but in thick fog the main responsibility for avoiding accidents must rest with drivers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest progress in the construction of the major pumped storage scheme at Ben Cruachan by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

The Board tells me that satisfactory progress is being maintained and that it expects to commission three of the four 100 megawatt generating sets in 1965 as planned. Impounding of water in the reservoir on Ben Cruachan is expected to begin this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the burden imposed on small farmers and especially milk producers by recent increases in rents; and if he will institute inquiries to ascertain to what extent farmers' rents in the South of Scotland have been raised in recent years.

Farm rents are fixed periodically by agreement between landlords and tenants, or failing such agreement, by arbitration. From the information before me I see no need for a special inquiry, but I shall be prepared to consider any further factual evidence which may be produced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with the proposed statutory minimum prices scheme for white fish and a licensing system.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has from the Railways Board as to the use now being made of the Hull-Hornsea and the Hull-Withernsea railway lines for goods traffic, and over what length; whether the tracks of the remainder of the lines are to be retained; whether consideration will be given to the carriage of passengers in summer months; and whether he will make a statement as to the future of these lines.

I have no information about the present use of these lines for freight traffic: this is a matter for the Railways Board.The tracks will be retained for the time being under the general arrangement which I announced on 4th November. This will ensure that they are available for any future needs that may emerge from the development of a regional transport plan. But at present I have no power to restore any of the services to whose withdrawal my predecessor gave his consent last July.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will withhold a decision on the proposed closure of the Goole to Wakefield railway line and so allow the service to continue, pending the preparation of a regional transport plan.

I have not yet completed my examination of this proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received the report of the Transport Users Consultative Committee, Yorkshire area; and if he will make a statement on the Huddersfield-Penistone and Huddersfield-Clayton West train service.

I have received the report and I am considering it along with the other aspects of the Railways Board's closure proposals for these services.

asked the Minister of Transport if he regards the proposed closure of the branch lines to Skegness and Mablethorpe as major closures; and whether, in this case, it is the intention to keep these lines permanently open.

As I indicated in my statement on 4th November, I mean by a "major closure" one which is likely to conflict with regional transport plans. I shall not be able to decide whether a particular passenger closure falls into this category until I have studied it either in advance of publication, under the special procedure announced in my statement, or in the normal course after receiving the report of the Transport Users Consultative Committee on hardship.The Area Committee has held a public hearing on the closures mentioned in the Question but I have not yet received its report. Until I have examined it and the other aspects of the proposals I cannot say what my view will be.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about the future of the line between Okehampton and Plymouth.

The Railways Board have proposed the withdrawal of the passenger service between Okehampton and Bere Alston. I shall consider this proposal in all its aspects when I have received the report of the Transport Users Consultative Committee on hardship. I understand that the Board intend to maintain a passenger service between Bere Alston and Plymouth for the time being.

asked the Minister of Transport what decisions have been made on the report from Messrs. Scott & Wilson, Kirkpatrick, and Partners, with regard to trunk road requirements between Hull and the Great North Road; in view of the urgency of the problem, what work has been approved; and on what dates the major parts of the scheme will start.

Consideration of the report is going ahead in consultation with other Departments concerned. This is a very important matter involving new trunk roads costing many millions of pounds and it is likely to be several months before I will be ready to announce my conclusions. But I will do so as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents were reported on the A.30 road between Exeter, Tedburn St. Mary and Whiddon Down in the last 12 months; and what action he is taking to minimise the dangers of this road.

In the 12 months period ended 1st October, 1964, 101 accidents were reported, of which 41 involved personal injury. A major improvement scheme at Whiddon Down is already in progress and four other schemes are expected to be started within the next year or so. Altogether there are eight major schemes amounting to over £300,000 for this stretch of road, in addition to minor improvement schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the danger to children and old people from fast traffic in Long Furlong Drive, Britwell and in Trelawney Avenue, Langley; and if he will consult the local authority to see what can be done to minimise this danger.

As the hon. Member will know, an application for a pedestrian crossing in Trelawney Avenue, Langley, has been refused by my Department on the grounds that the traffic conditions do not justify the installation of a crossing. No request has been received from the borough council for a crossing in Long Furlong Drive, Britwell; but I will, of course, consider very carefully any such application, or any further evidence about a crossing in Trelawney Avenue, which they may put forward.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will specify the difficulties about land requirements that have caused postponement of the start of the work on the Malton bypass, A.64.

The eastern arm of the bypass is to be constructed as a single carriageway initially. Dual carriageways will be required ultimately and we have

EXPENDITURE BY CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
—				New Construction	Major Improvements	Maintenance and Minor Improvements	Total
				£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.
1952–53	…	…	…	1·8	3·5	54·2	59·5
1953–54	…	…	…	2·1	4·6	55·5	62·2
1954–55	…	…	…	2·8	5·1	60·7	68·6
1955–56	…	…	…	3·3	8·4	65·0	76·7
1956–57	…	…	…	7·0	12·8	67·2	87·0
1957–58	…	…	…	12·3	13·5	70·7	96·5
1958–59	…	…	…	34·7	17·1	70·8	122·6
1959–60	…	…	…	39·2	23·8	75·1	138·1
1960–61	…	…	…	34·2	28·3	79·7	142·2
1961–62	…	…	…	45·3	30·5	86·3	162·1
1962–63	…	…	…	66·6	34·0	87·4	188·0
1963–64	…	…	…	87·7	45·9	110·0	243·6

The figures in the table are based on returns made by local authorities shortly after the end of each financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have taken place on A.158 in the vicinity of Hagworthingham in the last three years; and if he will arrange that a scheme to improve this area be undertaken as a matter of urgency.

In the three years ended 31st October, 1964, 25 accidents were reported, of which one was fatal,

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the amount of money spent on new roads, with completed mileage, and on improvements to existing roads, respectively, in each of the years 1952 to 1963.

The following table gives details of expenditure from central and local government funds on new construction, major improvements and maintenance and minor improvements on all roads in England and Wales in the years 1952–53 to 1963–64. The mileage of newly constructed public highways in 1963–64 was 1,184; corresponding figures for the earlier years are not available.The following is the information:3 resulted in serious and 15 in slight personal injury. Almost all the accidents occurred on the approach roads to the village. These roads will be improved as funds become available.

asked the Minister of Transport what length of the A.30 road has been double-tracked during the last year; and what further length of this road will be completed in the next year.

In the last 12 months, an additional 1·8 miles of the A.30 have been converted to dual carriageways, bringing the total mileage of this standard to 11.5 miles. A further 1.3 miles are expected to be completed by next November.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will hold a public inquiry before proceeding with the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway in so far as it affects the village of Outlane in Huddersfield.

I am still considering objections relating to the scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport who will be the chairman of the nationalised Transport Advisory Council; and whether the Council will in future issue any reports of its proceedings.

I am considering possible future arrangements for the Council.

asked the Minister of Transport when, under the powers given by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, he proposes to bring into force the new regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

On 1st September, 1965, which is the date determined by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the fishing industry of the proposed duty on hydrocarbon oils.

The British fishing industry already enjoys relief from the duty on hydrocarbon oils, and I do not expect, therefore that the proposed increase of 6d. a gallon in the duty will have any direct effect on their costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remove processed but unmade-up sheep skins from the 15 per cent. surcharge.

No. The raw hides and skins of heading 41·01 and raw fur-skins of heading 43·01 of the Tariff are already exempted from the temporary import charge. These exemptions cover sheep skins which have undergone only simple cleaning and preserving processes. Sheep skins processed further than that must bear the charge in common with many other products.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the activities so far of the Paymaster-General's Department; where that Department is located; how many civil servants are occupied in that Department; how many are in the Paymaster-General's private office; and what is the total amount of their salaries.

The Paymaster-General's Office is a sub-department of the Treasury and it acts as banker for most Government Departments. It also pays some 430,000 public service pensions, including those of Civil Servants, teachers and staff of the National Health Service. The main office is at Russell Square, W.C.1, with branch offices at Tavistock Square and at Crawley New Town. The Office employs 650 staff, and the cost of their salaries is approximately £588,000 per annum. The private office of the Paymaster-General, in Whitehall, is staffed by a private secretary (higher executive officer) and a clerical officer (secretary); the salary cost is £2,400 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the circumstances in which 4252471 S.A.C.2 J. A. Atkinson was detained by Cypriot civilian authorities on 31st October, 1964, and on the failure to communicate to his wife and next-of-kin early information of his subsequent return to his unit.

It has been reported that on Saturday, 31st October, Senior Aircraft man Atkinson was driving a private car off duty in Limassol which was involved in an accident which resulted in the death of a Greek Cypriot adult and injuries to a child.As a result, Atkinson was taken into custody by the civil police and brought before the local magistrates on 2nd November, when he was represented by a civilian advocate. He was released to R.A.F. custody on 3rd November. He is due to reappear before the magistrates on 20th November when he is to be formally charged.Senior Aircraftman Atkinson's wife is on holiday in England. When the Royal Air Force authorities obtained access to Senior Aircraftman Atkinson he declined an offer to inform his wife by telegram, saying that he wished to write to her. When he was released, a telegram explaining the circumstances was sent to the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association in London asking that the news should be broken to her gently. A representative of the Association therefore called upon her at her mother's home in Manchester on 4th November. I am informed by S.S.A.F.A. that their representative gave Mrs. Atkinson all the known facts, including the fact that her husband had been released and was in R.A.F. custody.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give favourable consideration to the proposal for a new comprehensive school at Holsworthy.

I have received no proposal from the local education authority to establish a comprehensive school at Holsworthy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to the resolution sent to him on 15th July, 1964, by the Court of Governors of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire; and whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the future structure of higher education in South Wales and Monmouthshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now accede to the request made to him by the Court of Governors of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the future position and status of the constituent institutions at present comprised in the University of Wales, and the future structure of higher education generally for the whole of the Principality.

I do not think that this question can be appropriately considered until the outcome of the current discussions in the Council of the University of Wales is known.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is to be the future status of the College of Advanced Technology, Cardiff; and whether its future will be considered in conjunction with the communication from the South Wales and Monmouth. shire University College which he has recently received.

The Welsh College of Advanced Technology will be financed through the Universilty Grants Committee from 1st April, 1965, and an Academic Advisory Committee is considering its future development. On the latter part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Written Reply I have today given my hon. Friends the Members for Rhondda, West (Mr. Iorwerth Thomas) and Pontypool (Mr. Abse).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the murders known to the police and of the offences known to the police which were first recorded as murder but reduced to manslaughter by the operation of Section 2 or Section 4 of the Homicide Act, 1957, in each of the calendar years 1960 to 1963, inclusive, were done in the course of furtherance of theft, or by shooting or causing an explosion, or in the course or for the purpose of resisting or preventing arrest or of effecting or assisting an escape or rescue from legal custody, or were of a police office in the execution of his duty, or of a person assisting a police officer so acting, or were by a prison officer acting in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a prison officer so acting.

31 in 1960, 21 in 1961, 25 in 1962 and 22 in 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the murders known to the police and of the offences known to the police which were first recorded as murder but reduced to manslaughter by the operation of Section 2 or Section 4 of the Homicide Act, 1957, in each of the calendar years 1960 to 1963, inclusive, were committed by persons under the age of 18 years at the time of the offence, by persons between the ages of 18 years and under 21 years, by persons over the age of 21 years, and by persons whose ages are unknown.

The information is given in the following table:

NUMBER OF MURDERS KNOWN TO THE POLICE IN THE YEAR STATED, LESS THOSE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND NOT TO BE MURDER, TOGETHER WITH OFFENCES DECIDED TO BE MANSLAUGHTER UNDER SECTION 2 OF THE HOMICIDE AT 1957
	Age of Offender
	Under 18	18, 19 or 20	21 or over	Not known	Total
1960	2	19	136	9	166
1961	4	12	133	12	161
1962	6	12	148	13	179
1963	3	16	151	18	188

There were no offences known to the police as murder during these years which were subsequently decided to be manslaughter under Section 4 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to take action under Section 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1961, to prevent or reduce the risk of death or personal injury through the sale of fireworks to children.

The sale of fireworks to children under the age of thirteen is already prohibited under the Explosives Act, 1875. The manufacture of fireworks is subject to statutory inspection and control from the point of view of safety; the danger generally arises from their misuse. The manufacturers are co-operating with the Home Office in further measures to improve the safe design of fireworks and in promoting publicity about their safe use. My right hon. Friend will keep this matter and the possible need for further action under review.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what financial support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the United Kingdom Committee for the International Co-operation Year.

Her Majesty's Government warmly support the purposes of the International Co-operation Year and welcome the work being done by the United Kingdom Executive Committee. They have agreed to contribute £ 10,000 towards the initial administrative and publicity expenses of this Committee. The House will in due course be asked to vote that amount by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that since 1951 a far greater proportion of newly-built houses has been allocated to those in the higher income group able to purchase at high costs, in preference to those on lower incomes only able to rent from local authorities; and what action he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

I have no evidence that local authorities allocate too many of their houses to tenants who do not need them. But the whole question of what people do need local authority houses will be considered in the review of housing subsidies with the associations of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will examine the position of small landlords whose entire savings are invested in controlled properties, with special regard to the relation between rents and repairs, with a view to giving them some relief, and if he will make a make a statement;(2) whether he will examine the position of small landlords whose incomes from controlled rents are far below those of their tenants, and obtain little from their investment, with a view to giving them some relief, an dif he will make a statement.

The position of landlords will of course be considered as well as that of tenants in the preparation of the Bill to control rents.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to allow part-time married women doctors employed by local authorities to be covered for superannuation in the same way as those employed under the National Health Service.

Local authorities already have power to bring their part-time employees into their superannuation schemes where they think it appropriate to do so. These part-time employees, however, cannot claim superannuation as of right. To concede this right would require a basic change in existing legislation. I shall be writing to my hon. Friend about the particular case in which he is interested.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will cause to be investigated the unsatisfactory conditions of the ancillary workshops of Remploy Limited, Treforest Industrial Estate, which do not conform to the general good standard of the estate factory buildings; and if he will take steps to have these temporary structures replaced by permanent buildings.

Remploy are fully aware of the unsatisfactory nature of these buildings which are used for storage and intend to replace them as soon as financial circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps she is taking to overcome the reluctance of some pensioners to apply for National Assistance; and whether she will consider changing the name of the National Assistance Board.

As I have already told the House, we are examining all these questions as quickly as we can. Meanwhile the National Assistance Board itself has for some time been doing all it can to overcome any reluctance to use its services.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the additional charge to the national revenue of issuing a double benefit payment to retired pensioners and widows once in each six weeks in the weeks beginning 14th December, 1964, 25th January and 8th March, 1965.

On the assumptions that this arrangement was feasible and that it could be limited to National Insurance retirement pensioners and widow beneficiaries, the additional cost to the National Insurance Fund would be some £65 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the new programme of advance factories.

I announced on 12th November my intention to put in hand a new programme of Government-financed advance factories in the development districts, as a first contribution towards more rapid development in the under-employed areas of the country. I have now authorised the construction of 29 such factories. The details of their size and location are as follows:

—	Area	Size
		'000sq.ft.
England
North-East	The Consett/Stanley area	25·0
	Cramlington	25·0
	Crook	25·0
	Houghton-le-Spring Team Valley Estate Gateshead-on Tyne	25·0
	Tees-side (two factories)	25·0
		10·0
North-West (including Cumberland)	Cleator Moor	25·0
	Maryport	10·0
	The Merseyside area:
	North	25·0
	South	25·0
	Widnes	25·0
South-West	The Penzance area	10·0
	The Ilfracombe area	5·0
	The Camelford area	5·0
	The Helston area	5·0
Scotland	Port Glasgow	12·0
	Blantyre	12·0
	Bellshill	40·0
	Falkirk	40·0
	Queenslie Estate,	12·0
	Glasgow (two factories)	10·0
	The Kilsyth/Kirkintilloch area	12·0
	The Carluke area	12·0
	The Cumnock area	12·0
Wales
North	The Blaenau Ffestiniog area	10·0
	The Pwllheli area	10·0
South	The Milford area	10·0
	The pontardulais area	10·0

asked the Postmaster-General on what date the manual telephone exchanges at Seaton and Lyme Regis are to be replaced, and by what system.

We hope to replace the manual exchange at Lyme Regis by an automatic exchange with STD in the summer of 1967. We plan to replace the existing exchange at Seaton similarly in 1969.

in pursuance of his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT 17th November, 1964; Vol. 702, c. 181.] circulates the following:

Year		Number imported	Number from U.K.	Total Number
1959–60	…	46,100	17,200	63,300
1960–61	…	43,400	10,100	53,500
1961–62	…	86,800	9,300	96,100
1962–63	…	182,200	10,300	192,500
1963–64	…	112,900	19,000	131,900
		471,400	65,900	537,300

asked the Minister for Public Building and Works if he will take steps to alleviate the serious delays caused to Salford Direct Labour Building Department by the brick shortage.

asked the Minister for Public Building and Works if he will take steps to alleviate the serious delays caused to Salford Direct Labour Building Department by the brick shortage.

I have already had discussions with the brickmakers about increasing substantially the total number of bricks produced. My regional officers at Manchester are in consultation with the Salford Direct Labour Building Department about the immediate problem there, and I will write to my hon. Friends when I know the outcome.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many men in Portsmouth Dockyard, employed by his Department, were overpaid between September, 1963, and August, 1964; and if he will give, in round figures, the amounts of overpayment.

Between September 1963, and August, 1964, bonuses were overpaid to 1,337 men employed in Portsmouth Dockyard. The amounts of overpayment varied from one shilling to £30.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what appeals he has received against the recovery of the money overpaid to men of his Department working in Portsmouth Dockyard.

Of the 1,337 employees involved, 173 requested further information and 164 advanced objections.