asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the fact that rural householders are being asked for high fees for connection of the electricity supply and that these connection fees are much higher than they were a few years ago, he will seek power to give grant aid or other help to cover the increase in these fees.

No. There are already certain grants which may apply to rural electrification expenses.

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to allow the Central Electricity Generating Board to raise money on the stock market for further development of the electricity industry, in order to relieve pressure on the consumers and those country dwellers who are not yet connected to an electricity supply and from whom a high connection charge is demanded.

No. I do not think recourse by the electricity industry to the stock market would promote these objects.

asked the Minister of Power when he intends to introduce a Bill to nationalise the British steel industry.

As soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to enable him to review his predecessor's decision in regard to the construction of 400 kilovolt overhead lines between Bolney in Sussex and Lovedean in Hampshire.

No.

asked the Minister of Power when he expects to publish the Powell Report on the Nuclear Power Programme.

Details of the work of Cabinet Committees are confidential but the previous Government had the views of this Committee available when they issued the White Paper on the Second Nuclear Power Programme (Cmnd. 2335) in April this year.

asked the Minister of Power what estimates he has made of increased demand on the British steel industry as a result of the import levy; and to what extent it is estimated that the increased demand can be met.

I am informed by the Iron and Steel Board that the import charge might perhaps increase the home demand upon the industry by an annual rate of the order of ½ million ingot tons. The industry is fully confident of its ability to meet this increased demand provided normal ordering practices are maintained.

asked the Minister of Power what applications for consent to drilling operations for oil and natural gas in the North Sea have been received from the companies concerned.

I have received two applications but these are being held in suspense as the licensees are not yet ready to proceed.

asked the Minister of Power on what dates, and for how long, in September, October and November the Electricity Board failed to supply current to the Shropshire Water Board and thereby caused intermittent failure of the water supply to the residents of Ketley Bank and other areas in The Wrekin.

Electricity supplies to the Woodfield pumping station of the East Shropshire Water Board were interrupted on 16th September for 48 minutes and on 18th November for 1 hour 15 minutes. The supply to a booster pump at Buckatree was interrupted on 20th October for 50 minutes. In each case the interruption was due to a fault on 11 kV overhead lines, one being caused by gales, and the other two by birds colliding with overhead lines.

asked the Minister of Power how many miles of the Gas Council's underground grid have been completed; and what was the cost per mile.

The completed natural gas pipeline system is 329 miles long and cost, on average £34,750 per mile.

asked the Minister of Power what supplies of smokeless fuel will be available in the London area this winter.

Smokeless fuels generally should be in good supply in the London area.

asked the Minister of Power whether, as part of the plan to reduce the number of office personnel working in central London, he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to move its headquarters to Scotland.

I do not think a general direction would be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to initiate a reopening of negotiations on the miners' pension scheme, in view of the inadequacy of the existing scheme.

No.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what technical and other assistance is being given to the Republic of the Congo Leopoldville.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Haltemprice yesterday (Mr. Wall).

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the Government's policy regarding the grant of aid, not related to British exports, to countries where British nationals and property are unjustly treated.

Our policy will be decided in each case in the light of the particular circumstances. If the hon. Member wishes for information on any particular case, he will no doubt put down an appropriate Question.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid Her Majesty's Government will make available to Trinidad.

The Government have agreed to make a Commonwealth Assistance loan of £1·2 million to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. This will be used for the purchase of British buses (which will be delivered "completely knocked down" and assembled in Trinidad) and of garage equipment.The loan will be made under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act, 1949 (as amended) and repayable over twenty-five years with a grace period of five years in respect of capital repayment.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what sums are currently being paid by way of subsidy or grant to each of the former Colonies or dependencies; for what length of time Her Majesty's Government are committed to such payments; and what conditions pertain to them.

The information is listed in the following table. In the case of Technical Co-operation expenditure the figures are of actual disbursements in the financial year 1963–64. They do not include

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, as representing the Minister of Technology, what plans he has for initiating and increasing salt water conversion in the United Kingdom and Colonies.

The Government are very conscious of the increasing importance of salt-water conversion and the Minister of Technology is reassessing the Government sponsored programmes of work on this subject.

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, as representing the Minister of Technology, how much it will cost his Department, both this year and in a full year, to pay the employers' National Insurance and additional tax on hydrocarbon oils.

The estimated cost for the financial year 1965–66 for the increase in employers' National Insurance Rates is £44,000 and for the additional tax on hydrocarbon oils, £1,000. The cost in the current year depends on the date of coming into operation of the Ministry, and hence on the Science and Technology Bill at present before the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that it is scarce in the United Kingdom, whether he will exempt nylon staple carpet fibre from the recent 15 per cent. surcharge on imports.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware of the anxiety caused to many small investors in investment trusts and unit trusts by uncertainty about the nature of his proposed corporation tax; and if he will make an early statement that he contemplates no steps which will destroy, the value of their investments;(2) if, in order to remove uncertainty and to restore confidence in the minds of investors and of the advisers of investing institutions, he will clarify his taxation proposals in relation to limited companies.

I shall be making a statement about the main features of the proposed corporation tax in reply to the Question put down by my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Duffy) for Written Answer today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement about the corporation tax and capital gains tax which he proposes to introduce next year.

The task of working out all the provisions of these major schemes of tax reform will be long and complicated. But I am anxious that there should be no unnecessary doubts and I set out below certain features of the proposals which, as at present advised, I have it in mind to put before Parliament.It must be understood that these outline proposals are concerned with ordinary transactions and the ordinary conduct of business affairs. Special provisions may be necessary for special types of corporations such as, for example, life assurance companies; and the full details of the schemes I shall present next April will, of course, have to take account of, and guard against, any dangers of action that might be taken to avoid or artificially to reduce the normal liability to tax.I am, of course, ready to consider any ideas arising out of my outline proposals which representative bodies may wish to put forward and representations should be addressed to the Board of Inland Revenue at Somerset House. Meantime, the House will not expect me to give any further details, pending the examination of representations and the formulation of my detailed proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the interest required to be paid on loans and credits from foreign sources recently raised to support the £ in the period from 16th October to the end of the current financial year.

The interest cannot be calculated until the amount of borrowing over the period is known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce a national computer system of stock control in order to regulate imports.

It is not yet possible to introduce such a system on a national scale; but the Government are fully aware of the advantages of operating computer systems for stock control, as is shown by the practice of a number of Government Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to granting special incentives to encourage the production and more general use of automation and cybernetic equipment.

Substantial incentives are already offered for capital investment in new equipment including that for automation and cybernetics. In consultation with my colleagues I shall examine what other forms of encouragement can be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing legislation to apply a special tax on betting shops which might be levied on the basis of the rateable value of the premises.

The taxation of betting is a matter that will be reviewed, in the ordinary course, in the preparation of the next Budget and Finance Bill, and I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase in the duty on petrol, he will review mileage allowances payable to civil servants travelling on duty in their own motor cars.

The mileage allowances payable to civil servants are the subject of an agreement with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council. A Staff Side claim that the rates should be increased is currently being examined.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his talks with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

We had a useful and helpful discussion during our meeting on 2nd and 3rd December. This was fully reflected in the communiqué, which I am placing in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will appoint a representative committee to examine the implications and workings of a corporation tax; and if he will arrange for the committee to report to him before Budget Day, 1965.

A corporation tax has been under consideration by successive Chancellors since 1961, and the implications have been widely canvassed. But I will gladly take into account any representations which may be made to me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the International Monetary Fund credit will be used to repay the short-term loans from the central banks.

I am afraid I cannot add to my statement in the House on 26th November at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of the Income Tax child allowances for the year 1959–60 to 1964–65, and what is the estimated cost for 1965–66.

The estimated figures are as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to instal a letter-box for the use of the inhabitants of Slievetoye Park and Shaneen Park in the Cavehill area of the Parliamentary constituency of South Antrim.

My right hon. Friend has reconsidered the matter and, in view of the hilly,nature of the area, we have decided to arrange for a new letter box to be provided exceptionally.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the extra annual cost to the Post Office arising from the increase in the employers' contribution to weekly National Insurance contribution and the increased tax of 6d. on hydrocarbon oils.

About £3½ million.

asked the Postmaster-General if, at an appropriate date in 1965, he will make available a special series of postage stamps to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

I am giving this particular suggestion very careful consideration in connection with my current review of policy on issue of special stamps. I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that, on the evening of Monday, 30th November, the Division bell in the flat of the hon. Member for Manchester, Moss Side, was out of action; whether this was a general failure or an isolated incident; and what precautions he will take to prevent a recurrence, in view of the fact that it caused the hon. Member to miss a Division.

I am sorry that the hon. Member was inconvenienced by an isolated failure of his private Division bell.Precautions are already taken to guard against failures. The continuity of the circuits is tested every Friday evening without ringing the bells and a ringing test is made daily from Monday to Friday at 10 a.m. For this latter test to be effective hon. Members must arrange for their bells to be switched on at 10 a.m., and if the bell does not ring for this to be reported. I would invite the continued co-operation of hon. Members in this respect.

asked the Postmaster-General what will be the extra cost in a full year to Post Office services as a result of the increase in tax on light hydrocarbon oils.

About £½ million.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the interference of coastal pirate radio stations on normal ship/shore communications, and the possible consequences thereof to persons at sea; and if he will take steps, in advance of the Council of Europe Agreement, to remove this hazard.

I am aware of the interference caused by these stations and its possible consequences, but I have no powers at present to take any steps to prevent it. The problem is an international one which can best be solved by concerted action with other European countries and this means waiting for the Council of Europe Agreement.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will amend his regulations so as to require the Independent Television Authority to reduce the amount of advertising in commercial television programmes, or confine it to intervals between programmes at specific times during the day;(2) if he will take steps to require the Independent Television Authority to reduce the tendency towards excessive and meaningless claims in television commercials.

The points which my hon. Friend has in mind are among the recommendations contained in the policy statement about advertising issued last July by the Advertising Council. As I said on 17th November in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Francis Noel-Baker), I am considering the parts of the statement which relate to advertising on television. I am sorry that I cannot at present add to that Answer.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps will be taken to improve television reception in parts of Wales where British Broadcasting Corporation television programmes cannot be received clearly at present; and what steps will be taken to enable viewers in the central area of Wales to receive the independent television programmes of T.W.W. Ltd.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the announcement, which I hope to make shortly, about the B.B.C.'s plan for improving television reception and coverage. As to the second part of the Question, this is a matter, in the first place, for the Independent Television Authority. I have not received any proposals from them for serving central Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated additional cost to the house-building industry of the 15 per cent. surcharge on a wide range of building materials.

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth, West (Brigadier Clarke) on 1st December, my right hon. Friend estimates that the import surcharge is likely to increase the cost of a house by less than 1 per cent. on average. The cost to the house-building industry depends on how much of the surcharge is absorbed and how much is passed on to its customers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the hardship caused to owner-occupiers in Wales whose long leases are expiring and who are either denied the right to purchase their freehold or are being charged exorbitant prices; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the growing number of leaseholders who are being pressed by local landowners to purchase, as soon as possible, the freehold of the land they now occupy, what proposals he has for leasehold reform in the near future.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date he will give detailed information about his proposed changes in the law relating to leasehold tenure as it affects residential premises; and if he will issue a White Paper giving this information.

I would refer my hon. Friends the Members for Pontypool (Mr. Abse) and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Rhodes) and the hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) to the statement I made today.I cannot add to what I then said.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will expand the details of new housing presented in the Housing Summary and Housing Return, so as to distinguish dwellings built by industrialised methods.

My right hon. Friend is examining this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that, following the rise in Bank Rate, building societies will be forced to increase their mortgage interest rates to borrowers; and what are now his proposals to assist house purchasers.

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 how much extra he estimates it will cost local authorities this year and in a full year to build council houses considering the 15 per cent. surcharge, the extra stamp duty on National Insurance and the increased duty on hydrocarbon oils.

My right hon. Friend can make no reliable estimate because it is not possible to say how much of the extra costs will be absorbed by the building industry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what percentage of building plots in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Cardiff, respectively, was developed by leasehold and what percentage by freehold grants in the years 1930, 1950, and 1960, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will state the number of applications for encroachment on to the green belt in the county of Essex and the number of building permissions which have been granted and refused, respectively, detailed according to local authority areas for the most convenient stated period of time during the past 20 years.

The number of planning decisions affecting green belt land in Essex was 895 in 1962 and 907 in 1963, of which 524 and 491 respectively were allowed.The number of decisions on applications for new building was 772 in 1962 and 778 in 1963, of which 465 and 408 respectively were allowed.I regret that figures for other years and by local authorities are not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the need for clarification of his policy with regard to the preservation of the green belts; what specific proposals he has for their preservation; and whether he will make a statement.

I have already made it known that I am not contemplating any basic change in green belt policy. I am satisfied that the existing machinery for protecting the green belts is adequate, and have no proposals for modifying it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether it is his policy to preserve intact the Green Belt round London.

It is my policy to preserve the approved Metropolitan green belt. This is subject, of course, to the review which the local planning authorities are undertaking to see whether any land included within the approved belt is of no real green belt value and could help with London housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the concern caused by the erection of substantial office buildings by the Central Electricity Generating Board in one of the best residential areas of Bramhall; and whether, in view of the fact that these offices could be put in a more appropriate setting, he will use his planning powers to see that the Board does not cause further loss of amenity by extending the present developments.

Certain local residents have complained about the extensions now being built. I understand that an outline permission exists for further development but that there is no immediate intention of exercising it. I regard the future development of the site as a matter for the local planning authority in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the totals of loan charges within the

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will amend the Use Classes regulations made under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, to enable planning authorities to control the use of commercial

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the totals of expenditure within the general and relative supplemental grant orders for the years 1959–60 to 1964–65; and what his estimate is of the percentage increase year by year of those totals both in current terms and in real terms.

The table gives the information required at current prices:premises for launderettes which operate for 24 hours a day and are otherwise likely to cause a nuisance to the occupiers of neighbouring residential premises.

If a launderette causes a nuisance to nearby residents, remedies are available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what inquiries or consultations he has undertaken in regard to the proposed new town at Risley; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is still considering the report on the soil investigation. If he concludes that there is a prima facie case for a new town at Risley, he will consult all the local authorities concerned before deciding whether to proceed with a draft designation order.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he is taking to set up a Commonwealth Consultative Assembly.

This is something on which we should naturally wish to seek the views of other Commonwealth Governments. I am at present considering the matter, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a further statement on the progress he has made towards initiating future talks with the Government of Rhodesia.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey) on 1st December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to abolishing fee paying throughout the universities; and if he will make a statement.

University fees are constitutionally a matter for the universities. I have no statement to make on this matter at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the cost of local authority school building in the years 1959–60 to 1964–65; and what increase or decrease these figures represent, compared with each immediately preceding year, expressed as a percentage.

The following table shows the value of work started by local education authorities in England and Wales on major school building projects in each year and the percentage increase or decrease over the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement as to the future of bases overseas and the deployment of the Army outside Great Britain.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 30th November to the Question of the hon. Member for Richmond (Mr. A. Royle) about Hong Kong.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has formed of the increased costs of horticulturists in Northern Ireland as a result of the increase in petrol tax.

My right hon. Friend's reply on 18th November to the right hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Soames) and the hon. Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) attributed about £¼ million extra costs to the horticultural industry in the whole of the United Kingdom. The value of horticultural output in Northern Ireland is about 2 per cent. of the total horticultural output, so it can be taken that the increase in Northern Ireland growers' costs will be very small indeed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now review the level of the Remoteness Grant for Northern Ireland agriculture to take into account the £200,000 estimated by the Ministry of Agriculture to be the extra cost to the Northern Ireland farming industry due to the increased duty on hydrocarbon oils.

The payments under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act, 1957, are made in recognition of the special position of agricultural producers in Northern Ireland. The increased duty on hydrocarbon oils, which applies to the United Kingdom, does not call for any revision of this special assistance but will be taken into account along with all other relevant circumstances at the next Annual Review of the general economic condition and prospects of the agricultural industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the hardship caused to persons living in North Dorset and other rural areas by the new charge for delivery of milk, authorised by his Department, and of the distress caused to pensioners and others on fixed incomes by this innovation, which coincides with the withdrawal of the half-pint milk containers; and if he will rescind his authorisation.

I have not authorised any new delivery charge and it does not fall to me to do so. The position is that the Milk (Great Britain) Order, 1962, does not prohibit retailers from making a reasonable charge where the cost of delivering milk is unusually high. I understand that this delivery charge was introduced in parts of North Dorset on 1st October, 1964. I am making inquiries into the situation in North Dorset and shall let the hon. and gallant Member know the outcome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an estimate of the indirect and direct cumulative cost in a full year to the agricultural industry of the 7 per cent. Bank Rate, the increase in petrol duty and the import surcharges.

The direct cost of the increase in petrol duty is estimated at about £2½ million. A similar estimate for the other items cannot yet be made: I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Prior) on 25th November and the right hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Soames) on 2nd December. It is not possible to say to what extent farmers' costs may be affected indirectly.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what was the outcome of the representations made by Her Majesty's Government for the use of Belgian paratroops to release British subjects held as hostages by the Congolese rebels at Watsa.

No such representations were made. We have no firm evidence that any British subjects are detained at Watsa.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will introduce legislation to bring the Palace of Westminster into public ownership.

I cannot add to my replies of 9th November to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) and other hon. Members.

asked the Prime Minister when he intends to introduce legislation to authorise the appointment of a parliamentary commission to investigate individual grievances.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to what extent, in preparing a regional plan for the Norfolk area, he proposes to take account of the development of installations for processing gas and oil from North Sea deposits.

Until more is known about the commercial prospects for these deposits, no one can say where the processing plant should be sited. Naturally, if the exploration is successful it will be taken into account in drawing up regional plans.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to extend the facilities for cervical examination in the Brighton area.

Facilities for cytological testing are available at Brighton for women with symptoms. The South East Metropolitan Hospital Board are considering what additional facilities will be needed before a routine screening service can he provided.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he received during his discussions on cigarette advertising with the Advertising Inquiry Council about the amount spent on cigarette advertising in the United Kingdom on television and other media, respectively, in the latest convenient year.

I have not yet discussed this with the Council.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities for cervical smearing are available in Banbury, Birmingham, Coalville, Hinckley, Coventry, and Swindon.

All except Coalville have a diagnostic service for women with symptoms. At Banbury and Swindon smears taken by general practitioners and at family planning clinics can be accepted for examination; elsewhere provision for routine screening is being or will be developed. The United Birmingham hospitals have provided one of the special training centres for pathologists and technicians.

asked the Minister of Health what are the latest figures for total infant deaths per 1,000 live births, the legitimate infant deaths per 1,000 legitimate live births, and the illegitimate infant deaths for 1,000 illegitimate live births in Bootle; and what are the comparable figures for England and Wales.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health what research is being carried out into new models of invalid cars; and what attention is being given to the substitution of light alloy for heavy metal in construction so as to make possible reductions in weight.

My Department does not undertake research into the design of motor cars. The design of invalid tricycles supplied by my Department is continually being reviewed in the light of experience; some development contracts have been placed and others are being considered. Light alloys are used wherever appropriate in these machines.

asked the Minister of Health when building will commence on the maternity hospital annexe for Bootle; on which site this will be built; and when he estimates the hospital will be open for patients.

This annexe is to be built at the junction of University Road and Trinity Road, Bootle. Building is expected to start in June, 1965, and the unit to open for patients by about May, 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the increase or decrease, expressed as a percentage, in the retail price index taking one year with another between 1959–60 and 1964–65, using the figures for the first six months only of 1964–65.

The changes are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to improve and make more efficient rules regarding electoral registration for Service personnel; and what proposals he has to improve voting facilities for Service personnel, in particular those whose postings change between registration and an election.

Suggestions in connection with the registration of Service men and their wives are being considered as part of a general review of electoral law. If the hon. Member has any particular improvements of the present arrangements to suggest, my right hon. Friend would be glad to consider them. As regards voting facilities for Service men, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Hawkins) on 10th November.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people she estimates will be in receipt of National Assistance following the approval of the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Amendment Regulations 1964; and what the number is at present.

The proposed increases in the National Assistance scale rates are bound to make some people eligible for National Assistance who have not been eligible hitherto. But there are so many factors affecting changes in the numbers of persons receiving assistance over any given period that it is not possible to predict a figure. At the latest available date, October 1964, 1,933,760 persons were in receipt of regular weekly allowances of National Assistance.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals she has to relieve the position of many aged persons who through no fault of their own are pensionless.

It would hardly be possible to provide a pension through National Insurance for people who have not paid the necessary contributions. The House will, however, shortly be asked to approve proposals for a substantial improvement in the provision made through National Assistance for such people, and the Government are actively studying the best way of putting into effect their plans for giving additional assistance to persons of retirement age whose incomes are small, including both pensioners and non-pensioners.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the cost of family allowances for the years 1959–60 to 1964–65, and what is the estimated cost for 1965–66.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the indirect and direct cumulative cost in a full year to the agricultural industry in Scotland of the 7 per cent. Bank Rate, the increase in petrol duty and the import surcharges.

The increase in Bank Rate is likely to add in a full year some £750,000 to interest on bank loans and hire purchase interest for farming purposes. The increased duty on petrol and light hydrocarbon oils is likely to cost £300,000 in a full year. It is too early yet to say how farming costs may rise because of higher credit charges by merchants or as a result of the import surcharges, and no assessment is possible as to how far the prices actually paid by farmers may be affected indirectly by the three factors mentioned in the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure the energy requirements of the proposed 29 Government-financed advance factories are met in the most economical way.

The management corporations, who will build these factories for the Board of Trade, will take account both of economy and of the probable wishes of the future tenants, in providing for energy requirements.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy with regard to the collection of tolls on bridges linking public highways.

My policy is that tolls should be charged on expensive new river crossings, such as the Severn Bridge, which will provide exceptional savings in cost and time to a clearly defined category of road users.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting period for driving tests in Doncaster.

The waiting period in Doncaster is at present 12 weeks. This is the same as the national average. We are recruiting additional examiners to try to bring down the waiting period generally.

asked the Minister of Transport when he anticipates that no waiting restrictions will be introduced in the neighbourhood of Gearies Secondary and Newbury Park Primary schools in Perryman's Farm Road, Ilford.

I am awaiting the views of the Ilford Borough Council on a suggestion my engineers have put to it for waiting restrictions in Perryman's Farm Road between Horns Road and Buntingbridge Road. These would cover the entrances to the two schools.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will amend the regulations governing the maximum height of side lights where these become obscured by loads carried by fork lift trucks; and whether he will consider allowing the lights to be placed on the mast in such a position that they can be seen by other users of the road.

If the hon. Member will send me details of what he has in mind, I will have his proposal considered, but at first sight I see difficulties in his idea.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has had from the Access to the Countryside Committee of the Auto Cycle Union, the Civil Service Motoring Association and vintage car clubs concerning recommendations made to him by his Motor Rallies Advisory Committee; if he will take account of these representations when framing draft regulations for the control of competitions on public highways; and when he intends to lay the regulations on the Table.

Representations have been received from a number of organisations, including the Auto-Cycle Union, the Civil Service Motoring Association and one vintage car club. All these representations are being taken into account in framing the regulations.I hope to consult representative organisations on the draft regulations in the next few weeks; the regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible thereafter.