asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make representations to the Government of Ceylon to ensure that the pensions of retired British planters to employees which were granted by employers in relation to reasonable need and/or for meritorious services, should be inviolable and not subject to the moratorium imposed upon remittances from Ceylon.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will consult the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with a view to carrying out joint experiments in the use of warm water effluent from the nuclear power station at Sizewell for the rearing and fattening of fish in pens or pounds in conjunction with the fishing laboratory at Lowestoft.

I understand that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the White Fish Authority are at present considering the possibilities of using warm water effluents from power stations for this purpose, in consultation with the Central Electricity Generating Board. It is too early to be specific as to where it will be possible to undertake initial experiments.

asked the Minister of Power if he will review the recommendation of the inspector at the Chichester inquiry in regard to the rerouting of the 400 kilovolt power line in west Sussex.

asked the Minister of Power if he will review his decision on overhead lines and reconsider the question of placing electricity cables underground, in view of widespread public concern, protests from local authorities, the Society of Sussex Downs-men, and other societies, at the damage to the amenity of the Sussex countryside.

I am advised that there is no power in law to withdraw the formal consent granted to the Central Electricity Generating Board by my predecessor under the relevant statutes for the construction of 400 kV overhead lines between Bolney in Sussex, and Lovedean in Hampshire.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the further development of the British nuclear power programme; and what decision has been reached on the type of reactor to be used.

The Government propose to keep this matter under review, as envisaged in the White Paper on the Second Nuclear Power Programme (Cmnd. 2335). The question of the type of reactor to be included will be considered, with the authorities mainly concerned, when the results of the inquiry for tenders for the first station in the programme are available next year.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will introduce the necessary legislation for the underground storage of gas; and when he will do this.

Legislation will be required to provide for changes in organisation and underground storage of gas but I cannot say whether it will be possible to bring it in this Session.

asked the Minister of Power to what extent he will take into consideration, when the oil or gas deposits of the North Sea are exploited, the need to site suitable processing plant in Norfolk, where there is a drain of labour from the land; and if he will make a statement.

This is not a matter which falls within my responsibility.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is taking to formulate a scheme to integrate all sources of power and energy in the United Kingdom into a single comprehensive organisation.

None; but the Government regards a co-ordinated fuel policy as essential and I have begun discussions with the Chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries.

asked the Minister of Power what lengths of 400 kilowatt cable the Central Electricity Generating Board has laid underground, or agreed to lay underground, in the various regions for which they are responsible; and what have been the reasons for these decisions in each individual case.

The Board will be placing about 3¾ miles of 400 kV cable underground on the western shore of and across the Glaslyn Estuary in North Wales, about 3½ miles in the Peak District National Park between Dunsford Bridge and Woodhead Station, and about 1½ miles under Southampton Water from the power station being built at Fawley.The reasons for these relatively short stretches of underground cable were: in the first case, to protect a particularly fine view of Snowdonia up the Glaslyn Estuary; in the second case, to avoid a line of towers across a moorland ridge joining two sections of the National Park where it was considered that towers would he intolerably intrusive and destructive of the special quality of the landscape; and in the third case, to avoid a second 400 kV line up the west side of Southampton Water and round Southampton to Lovedean. The first two cases were decided after public inquiries.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the continued inability of the steel firm of Colvilles Ltd. to pay the interest on the loan granted to them for the establishment of the steel strip mill in Scotland; and what steps he intends to take to expedite payment.

Colvilles have the right under the Loan Agreement to postpone payments of interest accruing up to three years from the production date for the new works, that is until 1st May, 1966. The company exercised this right in respect of £4½ million of interest falling due in 1962 and 1963. In June, 1964, the company stated that a start would be made on the repayment of the postponed interest and in September £2½ million of the sum previously postponed was repaid. The company exercised the right to postpone the payment of the £3 million falling due this year and the total of postponed interest now outstanding is £5 million.The company informed my Department in July, 1964, that it was their hope that if the trading conditions then prevailing were maintained, they would make a further repayment of postponed interest during 1965. They expected that all postponed interest would be repaid by May, 1966.Interest is charged on postponed interest and has been paid regularly by the company. Under the terms of the Agreement there is no obligation to repay postponed interest until the whole amount outstanding is repaid in 1978.

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to remedy the deficiencies in the steel industry, as revealed in the recent report from the Iron and Steel Board.

Yes. Preparatory work for legislation to re-establish public ownership over the main part of the iron and steel industry is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware of the continual concern at the quality of coal reaching the domestic consumer; and whether he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to devise a stricter method of preventing the sale of low or mixed quality coal at high-grade prices.

The National Coal Board has already taken action in collaboration with the distributive trade and, as from today, coal merchants must use the N.C.B. group numbers to describe the quality of the coal they sell.

asked the Minister of Power what is his policy for safeguarding the future of the coalmining industry in the formulation of a coordinated national fuel policy.

In collaboration with Lord Robens and his colleagues, I am reviewing the propects of the coal industry in relation to a co-ordinated policy for fuel.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has received from representatives of Scottish industry against the differential prices charged for coal by the National Coal Board; and what action he intends to take in the matter.

Only those from my hon. Friend, though I am aware that similar representations have been made by him and others to my predecessors. I understand that the National Coal Board has no plans at present for varying the differential.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when the salaries of designated officers under the Overseas Aid Scheme to East Africa will be increased and if the increase will be back-dated to 1964.

The East African Governments are considering proposals we have put to them for increasing the salaries of designated officers and I hope for an early reply.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement on the progress of the Million Acre Resettlement Scheme in Kenya.

Up to the end of June this year, when the scheme had been in operation for two years, about 14,000 African families had been settled on nearly 500 former European farms comprising about 700,000 acres. This represents expenditure by the British Government of £8·2 million out of the total commitment for this purpose of about £16·5 million.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the outcome of Her Majesty's Government's recent discussions with the President of Zambia regarding the British aid programme for that country.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) in a Written Reply on 20th November, the British Government is to make a grant of £1 million towards the capital cost of the Academic buildings, staff housing and equipment of the new University of Zambia in Lusaka. There are to be further discussions between the two Governments in January, 1965, to consider in detail financial problems arising from the dissolution of the Federation and the development needs of Zambia.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress is being made in the Kenya Government's Scheme to purchase British-owned farms in the 01 Kalou salient with funds provided by the British Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question by the Hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 27th November. I understand that the Kenya authorities have already made offers to purchase farms in the Dundori/ Bahati area, and that they will be making offers to the remaining farmers in the near future.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement regarding British aid to Tanzania, following the recent discussions in London with the Tanzanian Finance Minister.

Unfortunately the Tanzania Minister of Finance, Mr. Bomani, fell ill shortly before his arrival in London and we have therefore not yet been able to meet.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will give details of the assistance being given by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Dahomey for the improvement of agricultural training.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to make a gift to the Government of Dahomey of equipment up to the value of £50,000 for agricultural training centres and are also providing under technical assistance arrangements the services of an expert to advise on the type of equipment to be supplied. Parliament will be asked to vote the necessary sum in due course. Meanwhile, if earlier payment should be necessary, an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will take steps to avoid hardships to small investors in investment trusts when he frames his proposed corporation tax; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will take steps to avoid hardship to small investors in unit trusts when he frames his proposed corporation tax; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement of 24th November on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, and to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 27th November. As I said to the House on 26th November, I shall be making a statement on the corporation tax as soon as I am able to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce a reduced rate of Income Tax for persons in receipt of public service pensions.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to expand the staff of the Basing- stoke district valuer's office so that it is adequate to deal with the many compensation cases arising out of the Town Expansion Scheme without undue delay.

Everything possible is being done, and will continue to be done, to deal expeditiously with these cases, but I cannot promise an early increase in the staff of the Basingstoke District Valuer's Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that, when district valuers exclude from compensation recommendations any increased value due solely to the prospects of town expansion schemes, they make due allowance for the development which would have occurred quite apart from such schemes.

I have no reason to think that they fail to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the demand for increased wages by commuters each time railway passengers' fares are increased, thereby adding to the cost of living, he will arrange in his Budget for an Income Tax rebate of a percentage of commuters' season tickets.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in deciding how to use tax differentials for encouragement of industrial growth in Northern Ireland and other development areas, he will consider regional variations in the petrol tax.

No. Apart from other considerations, this proposal would raise serious practical difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of Her Majesty's Government's judgment, expressed in paragraph 7 of their White Paper on the economic situation dated 26th October, 1964, that the domestic economy was not under undue pressure, what steps he intends to take to reduce the impact of the 7 per cent. Bank Rate upon the domestic economy; and to what extent the policy expressed in that White Paper remains that of Her Majesty's Government.

The Government adhere to the view that there is no general problem of undue pressure on resources. As I explained in my speech on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, the rise in Bank Rate will help to prevent any rise in pressure resulting from the Government's measures to improve the balance of payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) who is undertaking the official review of public service and Armed Forces pensions to restore their full purchasing power; when their report will be made; and if it will be published;(2) with which interested bodies official negotiations have been opened to see how the principle of parity can be applied to all public service and Armed Forces pensioners; how all such pensions can in future be linked to rising national prosperity as well as compensating for rising prices; and when a statement will be made.

In conducting the review, of which my hon. Friend told the House on 10th November, the Government will naturally consider any representations on behalf of public service pensioners. The House will be informed in due course of the Government's intentions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for converting 3½ per cent. War Loan into a dated redeemable stock.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the financial hardship caused to current holders of 3½ per cent. War Loan who purchased this security many years ago in response to an appeal so to do in the rational interest; and what plans he has for the alleviation of this hardship.

The Government will review this difficult matter with care. It would be wrong, however, to hold out definite hopes of any action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the effect of the rise in the Bank Rate on the cost of school-building; and whether he will reduce the interest charges on advances made in this respect.

Debt charges on school buildings are one of the items of expenditure relevant to the calculation of the general grant to local authorities. Increase Orders about to be made by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Scotland will take account of the likely effect, during the rest of the financial year, of higher interest rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the proposed corporation and capital gains tax, what changes he plans to make in the methods of taxation of the funds of life assurance companies.

I cannot at present go beyond what I said during the Finance Bill debate on 24th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for placing more of the cost of education on to the Exchequer, thereby relieving the rates.

We are examining the whole question of local government finance, including the rating system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date Save and Prosper Limited were given permission to invest capital raised in Britain in continental European companies.

A general permission is in force under which residents of the United Kingdom may buy quoted foreign currency securities with investment currency, representing a switching of existing investments held by United Kingdom residents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the shortage of plaster board and plaster lath, if he will take steps to rectify this by exempting these articles from the temporary Customs duty of 15 per cent. recently imposed.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the hardship to single women who for many years have devoted their time to looking after elderly or invalid parents; and whether he will consider reductions of taxation or a special pension for these cases.

The hon. Member's suggestions have been noted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the need to assist local authorities at present engaged on the preparation of their rate demands for next year, if he will make an early statement of his policy with regard to educational expenditure being borne by the Exchequer.

The usual General Grant Order, covering next year's expenditure, will be laid shortly. I do not think we can adopt the time-table suggested by the hon. Member for completing our general review of central and local finance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to exempt from Purchase Tax the 15 per cent. surcharge levied on imported goods.

No. To do so would reduce, in the case of goods subject to Purchase Tax, the effectiveness of the temporary charge as a means of restricting the volume of imports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what study he has made of the terms of the letter addressed to him by the Vice-President of the Shipbuilding Conference; whether he accepts them; and what reply he has sent.

The Vice-President of the Shipbuilding Conference wrote to the Chancellor on 12th and 23rd November putting forward proposals for financial assistance for exports of ships. These proposals are now being considered and a reply will be sent as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-industrial Civil Service posts there are in the constituency of Harrogate; and how many of these posts are filled by those residing in that constituency.

1,142 non-industrial civil servants are employed in the constituency of Harrogate, and 992 or 87 per cent. of these reside in that constituency. These figures exclude civil servants employed in the Post Office and Post Office Savings Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue a White Paper explaining the extent to which the financial measures taken by him in the past five weeks have arisen out of the necessity of complying with international agreements.

This country is party to many international agreements which involve reciprocal rights and obligations. These are in the interests of our trading partners and ourselves, though they necessarily limit our choice of action. As regards the Standby Agreement with the International Monetary Fund, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which the Chief Secretary gave him on 24th November. This agreement contained no stipulation about the economic policies we should pursue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to ensure that areas of high unemployment, such as Scotland, do not suffer as a result of the recently-announced increase in Bank Rate; and whether he will make a statement.

It remains the aim of the Government, by means of its policies for regional development, to promote a high level of employment in Scotland as in other areas notwithstanding the level of Bank Rate.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has completed his consideration of issuing a stamp to commemorate the sitting of the first Parliament in Westminster Hall in 1265; and what action he will take.

I have almost completed my review of the general policy governing special stamp issues and I hope shortly to make a statement which will cover the question raised by my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider issuing a postage stamp for Cornwall similar to those issued for other Celtic countries in the British Isles.

I am now reviewing stamp policy generally and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will extend the 8 p.m. collection of mail at Adel Post Office to include a collection in Bramhope, the next village, where there is a business community of over 3,000.

No. Adel Post Office is within the town postal area of Leeds: we could not justify providing collections as late as 8 p.m. in country districts such as Bramhope.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present profit or loss on the greetings telegram service.

The expected loss in 196465 is about £½ million.

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter, the original envelope of which has been sent to him, posted in Knebworth on Sunday, 22nd November, before 5.13 p.m. by the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood did not reach the House of Commons until Tuesday, 24th November.

This letter should have reached the House of Commons early on Monday, 23rd November, and I am sorry that it did not do so. I regret that despite full inquiry it has not been possible to establish the precise cause of the delay.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to ensure that letters posted in London in the early evening reach destinations in Hampshire by first post the following morning.

Letters for Hampshire posted in London in time for collections from street boxes at 6 p.m. in sub-district areas and 7.30 p.m. in head district areas (8 p.m. at head district post offices) should normally be delivered first post next weekday. I am sorry that in recent weeks shortages of staff have made it impossible to maintain this standard of service. Some changes in mail circulation arrangements are being made and I hope these will produce an improvement.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the proposed move of the Post Office Savings Bank to Glasgow will affect the Post Office Savings Bank in Harrogate; and if he will make a statement.

It is clear that the efficient operation of the Savings Bank in Glasgow will in the end require a concentration there of all the work of the Bank, including that now done at Harrogate. While some smaller items of work may filter away to Glasgow a little earlier, I visualise the main items of Harrogate business as remaining there until towards the end of the dispersal operation which itself will necessarily take many years.

asked the Postmaster-General how many non-industrial Civil Service posts in the Post Office Savings Bank are filled by persons resident in the constituency of Harrogate.

1,185 at 26th November.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many people are employed in collecting and sending reminders for television and wireless receiving licences; and how many are employed on detector vans;(2) what is the approximate cost of maintaining the staff employed in sending reminders for television and wireless licences, and on detector vans.

Officers engaged on the preparation and issue of broadcast receiving licence reminders and ancillary work may be employed on full-time or part-time duties. The time spent on this work in 1963–64 was equivalent to 837 full-time duties, plus overtime. The total cost was £925,717.There are nine detector cars in use. Each one is allocated to a different region within which it travels from area to area, spending a few weeks in each place. Each car is manned by two or three men, who are usually local officers temporarily seconded to this work. Without extensive local inquiries it is not possible to segregate from the total costs of other work in connection with the broadcast receiving licence system the staff costs involved on this work; but they are estimated to be under £25,000 a year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delays experienced by telephone subscribers in the Southend area who wish to communicate with other areas, particularly London; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the situation.

Yes. The traffic has increased considerably and both the switchboard and trunk lines are overloaded. Relief is being given by additional lines some of which should be ready early next month; and by the provision of subscriber Trunk Dialing in about the middle of 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much he expects a £4,000 house to go up in price as a result of the 15 per cent. import duty and petrol tax.

The import surcharge is likely to increase the cost of a house (exclusive of land) by less than 1 per cent. on average. I can give no reliable estimate of the effect on house prices of the increase in petrol tax.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the threat of rent control is already inhibiting developers from proceeding with the provision of accommodation for letting at reasonable rents; and if he will give an assurance that his proposed legislation imposing rent control will allow for revisions of rents to take account of increases in the costs of building and maintenance after such legislation has been passed.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, there is nothing new in the fact that very little accommodation is being provided for letting at reasonable rents by private developers. In considering fresh legislation on rents, I shall bear in mind that costs may rise in the future, but it is too early to say what form the legislation will take.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy on mortgage interest rates for house purchase.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce interest rates for would-be house purchasers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when reduced mortgage rates will come into operation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on his proposals to make available to house purchasers loans at rates of interest below 5 per cent. per annum.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what methods he will reduce interest rates on mortgages entered into by purchasers of houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he now proposes to take to keep housing mortgage interest rates down.

I would refer the hon. Members to the replies given to the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Peter Walker) and other hon. Members on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the considered housing target for 1965; and whether the Government intends to change it.

My predecessor hoped that the number of houses completed in Great Britain in 1965 would approach 400,000. I see no reason to alter this. It is of more immediate importance to see that land is available and to ensure that the construction industry is equal to the demands of such a programme than to set new targets.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on how many occasions the Southend Council have sought to use compulsory powers to acquire empty properties for housing purposes; and how many such attempts have been dealt with on appeal to his Department.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the increase in Bank Rate, he will, with a view to relieving local authorities of the additional standing charges involved in housing schemes, authorise a reduction in the interest rate chargeable in respect of advances made to local authorities for housing development; and whether he will make facilities on a similar financial basis available to building societies.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 23rd November that the Government were urgently considering whether some means could be found of mitigating the severity of the increase in Bank Rate on the housing programme. I have nothing to add.As to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Peter Walker) and other hon. Members, on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now reached a decision on the further use of land near Pinfold Lane, Bridlington, for industrial development.

A public inquiry was held on 10th November into two appeals against refusals to grant planning permission for the use of land in Pinfold Lane, Bridlington, for industrial purposes.My right hon. Friend is awaiting the Inspector's report and will issue his decisions as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to act on the recommendations of the Allen Committee before next April.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 24th November to a question by the hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale). The Committee were not asked to make recommendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in the light of the findings of the Allen Committee, he will now define those areas where hardship due to revaluation has been greatest; and if he will make a statement about any national pattern which may have emerged, indicating the type of property which has attracted the largest percentage increases.

I must ask the hon. Member to await publication of the report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the proportion of water treated with fluoride which is likely to be taken in human consumption as opposed to the quantity which would have to be used for other purposes and which would go to waste.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will make a statement on the future of Banbury in relation to the South-East Area Study.

My right hon. Friend appreciates the need for a decision, and a statement will be made as soon as possible. But he cannot yet say when this will be.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that, before deciding on the future role of Banbury in relation to the South-East Area Study, he will have the fullest discussions with the local authority and hear the views of the people of Banbury.

There have already been discussions. The county and borough councils have expressed their views fully, and these views will be given full weight in the making of a decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the new Essex County Plan will he published.

The council expect to publish the review of their development plan in February next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the expenditure to be met by the Welsh Vote.

The detail of this matter is still under examination. I hope to be able to make a statement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what date, and to what extent, he will assume responsibility for matters in the Principality at present within the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

I refer the hon. Member to the full statement about my responsibilities made on 19th November by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what date, and to what extent, he will assume responsibility for matters in the Principality at present within the responsibility of the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

I refer the hon. Member to the full statement about my responsibilities made on 19th November by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The necessary Transfer of Functions Order will be laid as soon as possible.

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, as representing the Minister of Technology, what new research projects he has authorised; and what is their estimated cost.

None as yet.

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, as representing the Minister of Technology, what existing research projects he has cancelled; and what are the estimated savings.

None.

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, as representing the Minister of Technology, what amount of Government financial support will be given to automation in the current financial year; and what firms are in receipt of this Government assistance.

Many Government organisations are supporting automation in various forms, but since automation is essentially an industrial process rather than a defined area of industry it is not possible to estimate the total amount of financial assistance which is being given or to identify all the firms which are receiving it.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will reach a decision with regard to facilities for the import of iron ore into South Wales.

The National Ports Council tell me that they hope to make recommendations to me on the various schemes early in the New Year. The Government's conclusions will be put before the House as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause to have placed in the Library of the House a transcript of all the recent speeches by the United Kingdom delegation at the last meeting of European Free Trade Association Ministers at Geneva.

As stated in the Answer given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. John Harvey), the proceedings of the Ministerial Council of the European Free Trade Association are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has invited Commonwealth Governments to send observers to British Guiana for the forthcoming elections there; which Governments have been approached; and what answers have been received.

A team of eleven observers drawn from Canada, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Trinidad and Malta is now in British Guiana.The members of the team, who have been selected in consultation with the Commonwealth Governments concerned are:—Mr. J. W. Holmes (President of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs); Mr. William Parker (an official of the Canadian Liberal Party organisation); Mr. Kweku Bonsu (Deputy Minister of Justice, Ghana); Mr. C. K. Tedam (a lawyer and Member of Parliament, Ghana); Justice Tek Chand (a retired judge of the Punjab High Court); Mr. Bakar Ali Mirza (a Member of Parliament, India); Dr. Cassar Galea (a lawyer and a Member of the Malta House of Representatives); Mr. Maurice Abela (Principal Government Statistician and Principal Election Commissioner, Malta); Mr. A. Okubadejo (a lawyer in Nigeria); Sir Alan Reece (Chairman of the Trinidad Election and Boundary Commission); and Dr. Moosai Maharaj (Member of the Trinidad Election and Boundary Commission).

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will give assistance to the victims of the recent typhoon in the Southern Philippines.

Her Majesty's Government are making arrangements to provide medical supplies for the relief of those rendered homeless in the Southern Philippines. The cost of Her Majesty's Government's contribution will be £1,000. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote this amount by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime, an advance is being obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposals for an Atlantic luclear force submitted by him to the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and to the other members of the Alliance.

No such proposals have been submitted.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will move to set up a Select Committee to consider the Tribunals of Enquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921, and security matters as envisaged in the debate on the Vassall inquiry.

Certainly concern has been expressed about the working of the Act. I am giving consideration to this matter, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the increase in Bank Rate will add to the financing of bank overdrafts for farmers; and if this additional burden will be taken into account at the forthcoming annual price review.

Yes. The effect of this increase, like that of other cost changes, will be taken into account at the forthcoming Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what firm assurances have been obtained from countries with whom agreement for the prohibition of the export of live animals for slaughter have been entered to ensure that such animals are not re-exported for slaughter; and what is the machinery for detecting any breaches.

Those countries to which the export of animals for slaughter is permitted have given formal assurances that they will not be re-exported. These are assurances given by one Government to another and as such one would not expect them to be lightly disregarded. In the very few cases where breaches of this assurance have been alleged the Governments concerned have co-operated fully in making inquiries and taking remedial action.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which are the countries with whom the United Kingdom has entered into agreements for the export of live cattle since the prohibition of such exports for slaughter;(2) which are the countries to which the United Kingdom exported live cattle prior to the order of 8th June and which have not agreed that such exported animals should not be slaughtered.

Exports to Europe from Great Britain of live cattle for slaughter have been controlled since 1957, and confined since that year to Belgium, Holland, West Germany and France. This control was extended on 8th June this year to cover cattle, sheep and pigs for slaughter to all destinations, and exports of sheep and pigs for slaughter are now limited to those going to Belgium, Holland and West Germany: the assurances necessary to allow trade in live animals for slaughter to continue have been given by the countries named (in the case of France for cattle only) but not by any other countries.Exports from Northern Ireland of cattle, sheep and pigs for slaughter were not subject to control before 8th June this year, but are now licensed only to Belgium, Holland and West Germany. The export of animals from Northern Ireland to the Irish Republic is not controlled, except that, when it is known that animals going from Northern Ireland to the Republic are destined for shipment to another country, the same control is applied as if the animals were being sent from Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Covent Garden Market Authority will be introducing a Private Bill to enable the market to be moved to Nine Elms.

The hon. Member will have seen from Friday's notices relating to Private Business that the Authority have now deposited their petition for a Private Bill. Copies are available from the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the estimated average cost of each launching of a Corporal missile at the South Uist rocket range;(2) how he intends to arrange for disposal of stocks of the now obsolete Corporal missiles;(3) what was the total cost of the Corporal missiles acquired for the British Army.

It is not practicable to give a meaningful estimate of the cost of launching a missile as this operation is inseparable from the cost of training troops in handling and firing techniques. Corporal missiles are still deployed operationally by the British Army and the question of disposal does not at present arise. The Corporal system was supplied free by the United States Government.

—	Grade	Salary Scale
		£
Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, East Anglia, North West Metropolitan, North East Metropolitan, South West Metropolitan, Oxford, South Western, Birmingham, Manchester and Wales.	Senior Administrative Officer	1,164–1,430
Liverpool	Principal Administrative Assistant	1,350–1,614

In addition to the basic salary of the grade Regional Blood Donor Organisers in the Senior Administrative grade who are required to work more than 43 hours a week (i.e. more than 5 hours' overtime) receive a half-yearly honorarium of £45.The Regional Blood Donor Organisers employed by the North West Metropolitan and South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards receive a London Weighting allowance of £55 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the number of flights planned for Abbotsinch Naval Station in each of the last three years, and the number which were cancelled due to poor visibility.

The Royal Navy handed Abbotsinch Air Station over to the Ministry of Aviation in October, 1963, and this change of use explains the variation in the following figures:—

	Flights Planned	Flights Cancelled
1962	1,306	108
1963	561	13
1964	None	None

It is not possible to tell from our records how many of the cancellations were due to poor visibility.

asked the Minister of Health what are the grades and salaries of regional blood donor organisers employed by each regional hospital board, together with any additional payments they may receive.

The grading and salary scale for the Blood Donor Organiser in each hospital region and in Wales are as shown below.

asked the Minister of Health what are the reasons for the different scales of payments made to regional blood donor organisers in the National Health Service.

Gradings in the National Health Service are governed by the duties and responsibilities of each post. Regional Hospital Boards determine the gradings of staff up to the Senior Administrative grade, but require my approval for higher gradings.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce an assisted payment scheme for the purchase of a car for those officers employed as regional donor organisers, deputy regional donor organisers, or assistant regional donor organisers, in the National Blood Transfusion Service, where a car is considered essential for the satisfactory carrying out of their duties.

Assistance is not given to officers in the hospital service for the purchase of cars but I will review the matter to satisfy myself that the present policy should be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of grammar school places obtained by pupils from each of the primary schools in the area of Eston Urban District Council, Yorkshire.

It is the policy of the local education authority not to make public information of this kind about individual schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth immigrants have been admitted as students during the current year; and what proportion of the students who have completed their courses in past years are estimated to have returned to their home country.

Between 1st Janunary and 31st October, 1964. 18,347 Commonwealth citizens were admitted as students. No estimate is available of the proportion of those admitted in the past who have completed their studies and gone home.

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured workers he estimates are resident in the constituency of Harrogate.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered dock workers were employed in the port of Liverpool, including Bootle, Birkenhead, Garston, &c., during 1963; and if he will give comparable figures for previous years from 1954.

The following information has been supplied by the National Dock Labour Board. In the Liverpool and Garston areas of the National Dock Labour Board's jurisdiction (which include Liverpool, Bootle, Birkenhead, Garston and Widnes), the average number of registered dock workers employed during normal working turns in 1963 was 10,993. Comparable figures for previous years from 1954 are as follows:

1954	14,039
1955	15,349
1956	13,774
1957	13,683
1958	12,557
1959	12,341
1960	13,203
1961	11,626
1962	10,544

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the total amount paid into the National Insurance Fund since 5th July, 1948; and what has been the total amount paid out in benefits.

To 31st March, 1964, about £12,109 million had been paid into the National Insurance Fund, including £2,058 million from the Exchequer; and about £11,027 million had been paid out in benefits. The figures for 5 year periods are conveniently brought together in the Reports by the Government Actuary on his Quinquennial Reviews of the National Insurance scheme (the latest report (H.C. 20 Session 1964–65) was published on Friday 20th November). The Reports show also the administration costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many uncertificated teachers in Lanarkshire are honours graduates, ordinary graduates, or partly qualified graduates, respectively.

The position as at 7th October, 1963, the latest date for which

Education Authority			Number of uncertificated teachers	Percentage of uncertificated to total teachers employed	Number of unfilled posts (as stated by education authorities)
Aberdeen (County)		…	78	6·3	—
Angus	…	…	16	2·3	11
Argyll	…	…	19	4·2	8
Ayr	…	…	254	9·7	27
Banff	…	…	15	3·4	5
Berwick	…	…	6	3·0	10
Bute	…	…	3	3·0	3
Caithness	…	…	20	7·7	5
Clackmannan	…	…	50	14·3	—
Dumfries	…	…	48	7·0	14
Dunbarton	…	…	83	5·7	46
East Lothian	…	…	9	2·3	4
Fife	…	…	254	9·8	28
Inverness	…	…	32	4·3	7
Kincardine	…	…	8	3·6	2
Kirkcudbright	…	…	1	0·4	2
Lanark	…	…	470	11·2	57
Midlothian	…	…	18	1·9	—
Moray and Nairn		…	16	3·5	6
Orkney	…	…	6	3·4	3
Peebles	…	…	3	2·9	—
Perth and Kinross		…	34	3·4	31
Renfrew	…	…	171	7·2	64
Ross and Cromarty		…	2	5·0	7
Roxburgh	…	…	17	5·7	6
Selkirk	…	…	2	1·3	1
Stirling	…	…	97	6·6	21
Sutherland	…	…	10	6·1	8
West Lothian	…	…	57	7·3	8
Wigtown	…	…	21	8·1	2
Zetland	…	…	5	2·8	4
Burghs
Aberdeen	…	…	22	1·3	2
Dundee	…	…	120	8·2	62
Edinburgh	…	…	108	3·8	—
Glasgow	…	…	242	3·4	758

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of uncertificated teachers presently employed by each local education authority, the percentage these figures represent of the total number of teachers employed, and the number of teaching posts unfilled in each education authority area.

The position as at 7th October, 1963, the latest date for which complete information is available, was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hill cattle and hill sheep were eligible for subsidy in each of the years 1949, 1953, 1958, and 1963 in the county of Banffshire; and if he will express the figures given in terms of percentages for the whole of Scotland in those years.

The following is the information:

HILL CATTLE—BANFFSHIRE
Year	Number eligible for Subsidy	Percentage of Scottish total
1949	3,148	3·04
1953	3,646	3·50
1958	7,676	4·86
1963	11,153	4·84

HILL SHEEP—BANFFSHIRE
Year	Number eligible for Subsidy	Percentage of Scottish total
1949	14,511	0·61
1953	No Subsidy paid
1958	No Subsidy paid
1963	14,375	0·59

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that, although the Forestry Commission must obtain the consent of his Department of Agriculture before using agricultural land for forestry, there is no similar obligation upon private landowners; and whether he will take steps to require them to do so.

An alteration of this kind in the existing procedure would require legislation and I do not consider that this would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the nature of his reply to the representations from the Educational Institute for Scotland, urging a fairer distribution of certificated teachers in Lanarkshire; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him in reply to a Question on 30th November.

asked the Minister of Health whether there is any evidence that the prevalence of mosquitoes in Ridge, Arne, Stoborough, Sandford, Lytchett, Minster, Upton and Studland is detrimental to public health.

I am advised that there is no evidence that the prevalence of mosquitoes in these places is detrimental to the public health.