asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the estimated net pre-tax profits both per acre and as a return on net assets of apple growers in Suffolk and Kent, respectively, for the years 1961, 1962 and 1963, and the prospects for 1964.

No reliable estimate can be made on the information which is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the repayment of post-war credits irrespective of the age of those holding the credits; and whether Her Majesty's Government will allow outstanding credits to be transferred to other funds where interest can be paid or accumulated in the normal way.

I have no statement to make at present on the first part of the hon. Lady's Question. In reply to the second part, I would remind her that compound interest at 2½ per cent. per annum has been accruing on unpaid credits since 1st October, 1959.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the recent pension increases he estimates he will receive back in tax.

About £12 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of aid to under-developed countries included in the 1964 estimate of the balance of payments.

Disbursements of economic aid to the developing countries amounted to £103·7 million in the first half of 1964. This compares with £157·8 million in the year 1963. Figures for the third and fourth quarters of 1964 will appear in the December, 1964, and March, 1965, issues of Financial Statistics, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will split his estimate of the adverse balance of payments for 1964 of £700 million to £800 million into visible balance, invisible balance, long-term capital balance, and balancing item, respectively.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions were given to the officers of the Waterguard as to the application of the 15 per cent. Surcharge; when these instructions were issued; and on what date they came into effect.

Preliminary instructions were given to Waterguard officers on 26th October, 1964, the date when the temporary import charge was announced and were amplified before midnight on 12th November, 1964, the time after which the charge was first collected. The charge was not collected on goods imported in passengers' accompanied baggage before that time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made with the experiment to provide small cars for patrolling Customs coast preventive men in place of the motor cycles they now use.

The experiment is progressing according to plan. The trials to establish the relative merits of light cars and motor cycles for use on patrols by Customs Coast Preventive Men will continue until the end of the year. I will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as I can.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that one quarter of the finished leather used in boot and shoe manufacture has to be imported; and if he will give consideration to this when reviewing the import surcharge.

We have not found it practicable or desirable to attempt to select materials to which the charge applies on any basis of availability from domestic sources. All aspects of the charge will be kept under continuous review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about Government assistance to the National Gallery towards the purchase of a picture by Cezanne.

Yes. The National Gallery has for some months been negotiating for the purchase of an outstanding late painting by Cezanne, known as "Les Grandes Baigneuses". A private donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is most generously contributing nearly half the total purchase price. The National Gallery Trustees have undertaken to provide £25,000 from the Gallery's present resources and to contribute £100,000 from their purchase grant for 1965–66 towards the cost of the picture. In view of the great importance which the Trustees attach to this acquisition, the Government have decided to authorise, subject to the approval of Parliament, a special grant of £125,000. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course. Meanwhile the amount of the special grant, together with an advance of £100,000 against the Gallery's purchase grant for 1965–66, will be made available from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consultations he has had, or will be having, with the trade unions in the aviation industry to ensure continuity of employment as readjustments of Government policy are made in relation to the industry from time to time.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 11th November to the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) to which I have nothing further to add at present.

asked the Minister of Aviation what instructions he has given to the airways Corporations about their statutory obligation to consult organisations representing their workers on the wages and working conditions of those workers.

The National Joint Council for Civil Air Transport provides the machinery envisaged in the Air Corporations Act, 1949, for discussion of matters of mutual interest to the Corporations and persons employed by them. The use of this machinery is well established and I see no occasion for any general direction on the matter.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many scientists, engineers, and technicians are employed on the Black Knight project at the present time.

About 200 in industry and 30 in the Ministry of Aviation.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many scientists, engineers and technicians are employed on the Blue Streak project in the United Kingdom and in Australia at the present time.

On 30th September the United Kingdom was employing 459 scientists and engineers and 502 technicians on the Blue Streak project, of which 43 scientists and engineers and 85 technicians were in Australia.

asked the Minister of Health how many people are on the waiting list for a bed in the Croydon and Warlingham Park Hospital Group; and what is the average waiting time for admission, other than in acute and emergency cases.

2,914 at 30th September; a figure of average waiting time for admission is not available.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when the proposed new extension to the Tate Gallery will be commenced.

I hope to receive early next year the report from the firm of architects who have been commis-

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether the wartime military camp is to be removed from Richmond Park.

Yes. Demolition of the camp will start next week and should be completed next summer. As the area will then have to be reinstated, a further year is likely to be needed before it will be fit to be re-opened to the public.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the total outstanding guarantees of the Export Credits Guarantee Department amounted to on 1st January, 1964, and on 26th October, 1964; and what is his estimate for 31st December, 1964.

The figures of E.C.G.D. liability under guarantees current at 1st January, 1964, and 31st October, 1964 (the nearest convenient date to 26th October, 1964), and estimates for 31st December, 1964, are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement about the control of office building.

An office development permit will be needed for building or rebuilding which involves the provision of office space, whether or not it is in an office building, for example, office space in a warehouse, shop or factory building, as well as for the change of use of existing premises to office space. In the case of factories within the Greater London Council area, however, for which planning permission covering both industrial and office floor space was given before 5th November, and for which the Board of Trade had granted an industrial development certificate in respect of the industrial floor space, a permit will not be required in respect of the office floor space.Planning permission, for this purpose and for the purpose of the other exemptions referred to in the statement by the First Secretary of State on 4th November, means either an outline or a detailed planning permission.Applications for office development permits cannot yet be considered; I shall make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations which Commonwealth countries allow unrestricted entry by British citizens seeking to land with a view to obtaining employment; which Commonwealth countries permit this subject to conditions; what the the conditions imposed in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Regulations governing entry into and employment in another Commonwealth country are entirely the responsibility of the Government of that country and only that Government can give an authoritative interpretation of them. United Kingdom citizens seeking information about such regulations would be advised to apply to the High Commissioner's office of the commonwealth country they wished to enter.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the dates laid down in the road programme for the construction of an inner by-pass in East Fareham and the reconstruction of the Station Bridge and the improving of its approaches in West Fareham; and on what dates these two schemes were placed in the programme.

The East Fareham scheme is in the classified road programme announced in December, 1963, and it is expected by the highway authority to be started in 1966–67. The other scheme is in the 1967–68 extension to the trunk road programme announced in October, 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will authorise a 40 miles per hour speed limit on the A.12 between Ipswich and Martlesham.

No. The conditions on this stretch of road do not justify a speed limit.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will stop the distribution of the three road accident posters, classed by himself as horrific, which have been condemned by the British Safety Council and leading psychologists and psychiatrists; and if he will take immediate steps designed to stiffen the tests and penalties for motorists who drink and drive.

No. These posters are part of the campaign, which overall has an informative and positive theme. They show something of the gruesome and tragic consequences which can follow from driving after drinking. We must bring about a change in social attitudes to reduce the number of deaths and injuries this causes. I believe that by arresting attention these posters will help. Before considering whether any further strengthening of the law is necessary, I shall await the results of the campaign and of the special investigations which the Road Research Laboratory are undertaking during December and January.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were unemployed in Perth at the latest count; what proportion of the insured population this represents; and what were the figures in the same month of 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured employees were in employment in Perth in June, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963; and when he expects the June, 1964, figure to be available.

The following is the information for the mid-year:

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs which foreign countries allow unrestricted entry by British citizens seeking to land with a view to obtaining employment; which countries permit this subject to conditions; what are the conditions imposed in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Regulations governing entry into and employment in a foreign country are the responsibility of the Government of that country. British citizens seeking information about such regulations would be advised to apply to the diplomatic or consular representatives of the country concerned

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will make a statement about aid for the new University of Zambia, in the light of Dr. Kaunda's recent visit

I discussed the needs of the new University of Zambia with Dr. Kaunda during his visit. Britain has from the outset given, and plans to continue to give, technical aid to this important development, which is based on plans drawn up in a report of an international expert mission led by Sir John Lockwood. The capital cost of the University over the next few years is rather more than £2 million. It is expected that the Zambia Government themselves will contribute substantially towards this. I told Dr. Kaunda that the British Government was prepared, subject to Parliament voting the necessary funds, to agree in advance of general discussions about development, to contribute £1 million towards the capital costs of the academic buildings, staff housing, and equipment

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in his discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the possibility of special grants being made to Oxford and Cambridge colleges through the University Grants Committee in lieu of rates

I have the question of the colleges' rates under consideration

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give the following figures in respect of office building in the City of London, namely, the area of office space in 1939; the amount destroyed by war or demolished since 1939; the area of new office space completed since 1939; the area under construction; and the amount for which planning consent has been

The figures for the City of London are as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish details of each commission or committee appointed by Her Majesty's Government since January 1962 which has not yet reported, showing its name, chairman, terms of reference, and estimated date of report

The particulars asked for are as follows