asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what extra cost will be borne on his Estimates to cover the additional National Insurance stamp charge and the increased tax on hydrocarbon oils.

The extra charge which can definitely be assessed in respect of the increased National Insurance contributions for staff employed by my Department will be about £506,000 a year, and in respect of the increased tax on hydrocarbon oils for the Ministry's vehicles and plant about £32,000 a year.I cannot however assess the total extra cost of these additional charges on my Estimates. In tendering for new contracts, contractors will no doubt take these factors into account along with others, and any extra costs due to these charges will not be identifiable.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of unnecessary costs to public funds during the Downing Street rebuilding scheme; and what action he proposes to take.

This matter was exhaustively examined by the Select Committee on Estimates and the Public Accounts Committee and my Department has observed on the Committees recommendations. I do not consider that further action is necessary.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many people paid last year to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London; and what were the receipts.

In 1963 480,462 adults and 133,452 children paid £27,359 to see the Crown Jewels.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works to what extent research is being carried on into the possibility of expediting the substitution of brick walling by modern prefabricated panels.

Research is being undertaken into new methods of producing prefabricated panels and into the suitability of new materials for their manufacture. My Ministry's project for 2,000 industrialised houses, many of which are to be built in the hon. Member's constituency, gives an indication of how far these techniques have already developed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, in view of the continuing inadequacy of brick supplies, if he will introduce legislation to enable him to build new brickyards.

No. Legislation would not solve the immediate problem. I believe that the brickmakers will respond adequately to my appeal for higher production in 1965.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what work his Department has done in connection with the American base at Holy Loch.

Works services carried out by my Department and, before 1st April, 1963, by the Admiralty at the U.S. Naval base at Holy Loch include the adaptation of buildings at Greenock and Ardnadam for administrative, medical, welfare and recreational purposes and the rehabilitation of certain piers. Maintenance is also undertaken.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will consider the construction of a gallery in the Members' telephone room in order to enable the number of telephone boxes to be doubled.

I agree that more telephone booths are needed for hon. Members, but there are practical difficulties in adopting the hon. Member's particular suggestion.The scheme now being considered for a new building in Star Chamber Court includes provision of a substantial number of additional telephone booths for hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what recent requests have been made to him for additional substantial expenditure on 1A Kensington Palace; and what reply he has made.

A claim from the contractor who restored Apartment 1A in 1962–63 is at present under consideration. Otherwise no recent requests have been made to me for any additional expenditure on this Apartment.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how the new building regulations for England and Wales will be administered.

They will be enforced by local authorities, as provided in the Public Health Act, 1961, under which they will be made.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware of the shortage of cement in the South-Western area; what steps he is taking to improve the position; and whether he will make a statement.

There have been difficulties over supplies of cement in Cornwall and West Devon, and the manufacturers have sent some additional supplies by sea. I am discussing the future national demand for cement with the manufacturers.

asked the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, when she will be able to make a statement on the work of the Kitchen Committee.

The Kitchen Committee has begun its work by examining the present financial position of the Refreshment Department particularly in the light of the two Special Reports made by the Committee of last Session. After this it intends to carry out a general review of the catering facilities of the Department. It hopes to be able to report its conclusions to the House later this Session.

asked the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether she will arrange to have a charcoal grill installed in the Members' Cafeteria or elsewhere.

asked the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if she is aware of the merits of Dungeness sprats; and if she will arrange for them to be included on the House of Commons menus.

The Kitchen Committee has started to carry out a general review of the administration and financial position of the Refreshment Department, and hopes to be able to make a Special Report of its conclusions to the House later in the Session. Meanwhile, the suggestions made by the hon. Members will be considered and account will be taken of them by the Committee during the course of its review.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she is aware that the further increases she is proposing in National Insurance contributions will bear heavily upon students; and whether she will take steps to relieve students of some part of the burden.

No. National Insurance contributions are not compulsory for students except when working for an employer.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will introduce a uniform rate for the National Insurance contributions paid by employers for casual work by married women working on farm crops.

I am writing to the hon. Member about the particular case which I understand he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will make arrangements for the insurance cards of university students to be franked so as to avoid a backlog of contributions having to be met by undergraduates entering civilian employment.

No. Students are not required to pay contributions as non-employed persons for the period of their education. They are credited with contributions up to the age of 18. After that they may pay voluntarily. To credit them with contributions after they reach 18 would mean subsidising them at the expense of other contributors.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much it would cost for the Exchequer to contribute the employees' portion of the National Insurance stamp for all those students receiving full-time education at school or tertiary establishments.

Students receiving full-time education are not employed persons for the purpose of the National Insurance scheme. There is therefore no employees' contribution in respect of them. They are classified as non-employed persons and credited with contributions up to the age of 18, and above that age may pay voluntarily. Non-employed persons' National Insurance contributions in respect of all students over the age of 18 would amount to about £6½ million a year at present contribution rates and about £8 million at the rates coming into force at the end of March.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in each area covered by the National Assistance Boards of Middle Street and St. James Street, Brighton, were in receipt of National Assistance at the latest available date; and how many of them were retirement pensioners, widows, sick and unemployed, respectively.

On 15th December, 1964, in the area covered by the National Assistance Board's office at Middle Street, 4,817 persons, including 3,043 retirement pensioners, 140 with widow's benefit, 514 sick, and 307 unemployed; and in the area covered by the office at St. James Street, 5,389, including 3,117 retirement pensioners, 239 with widow's benefit, 686 sick, and 186 unemployed. Some of the allowances to retirement pensioners covered the needs of more than one pensioner, being allowances to a married couple.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance for what reasons other than administrative difficulties the rise in retirement pensions cannot be paid before March.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the full explanations which I gave to the House during the proceedings on the National Insurance Bill. These are to be found in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 25th November (Cols. 1299 to 1300) and the OFFICIAL REPORT for 4th December (Cols. 912 to 915).

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will take steps to ensure that girls who go abroad immediately on leaving school on an au pair basis are, on their return, given the same rights to sickness benefits as if they were engaged in full-time study.

No. I do not think living with a family on an au pair basis can be regarded as receiving full-time education.

asked the Minister of Health what estimate he has made of the additional surgery hours which will be necessary in surgeries in Wales in a full year, as a result of the abolition of prescription charges.

No such estimate has been attempted.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has received that the sale of cracked shell eggs constitutes a hazard to health; and what action he is taking in the matter.

I am advised that there is no evidence that the sale of cracked eggs has presented a hazard to health. Local authorities have powers to take action if such a hazard is found.

asked the Minister of Health what schemes his Department is considering for Hull local authority health and welfare services for 1965–66; what is their cost; how many of these schemes have now been approved; and at what total cost.

We know of three schemes with an estimated total cost of about £123,000 but particulars have not yet been submitted for my right hon. Friend's approval.The schemes and estimated costs are:

	£
Hostel for mentally subnormal women	32,670
Hostel for mentally ill adults	49,000
Social and luncheon centre for old persons	41,000

asked the Minister of Health what inquiries are proceeding into the prevalence of rickets in the various areas of the country; and whether he will set up a comprehensive inquiry to consider to what extent the reduction in Government assistance for welfare foods has contributed to this state of affairs.

Further inquiries were made recently in co-operation with the medical officers of health in eleven large industrial towns. The results are awaited and further action will depend upon them.

asked the Minister of Health what methods are used by county and county borough councils, and by district councils to which health and welfare functions have been delegated, to ensure that all disabled persons, to whom Section 29 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, applies, are included in the relevant register.

Not all handicapped people need or wish to receive welfare services. But local authorities seek to ensure that all who work in the health and welfare field and come into contact with the handicapped tell them about the services available to those who register; and many authorities arrange general publicity in their areas.

asked the Minister of Health what is at present the shortest interval between the amputation of a leg and the first fixing of an artificial limb.

About three weeks.

asked the Minister of Health what administrative arrangements he is making to ensure a thorough coordination of the review of the local authority health and welfare service, and the review of the hospital building programme.

I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the report of the Committee set up by the National Council of Social Service to make recommendations on the staffing of residential homes.

The Committee will not be reporting to me, but I understand that it expects to report about the end of next year.

asked the Minister of Health how much will be added to his Estimates both for this year and in a full year to pay for the increased National Health stamp charge and increased duty on hydrocarbon oils.

For National Insurance contributions 1964–65 nil, 1965–66 £4,100,000. There is no increase in the National Health contribution.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage of maternity beds provided by the regional hospital board in Huntingdonshire; and what steps will be taken to overcome this shortage.

Yes, this area is served also by the Cambridge maternity hospital where it is hoped to provide additional beds shortly.

asked the Minister of Health when the maternity ward in the Medway Hospital will be available; how many beds it will comprise; and how many of the beds will be available to general practitioners.

This will be part of the later phases, the timing of which I cannot as yet forecast. The Board's present intention is to provide a unit of 125 beds; the number of these to be allocated to general practitioners has not yet been determined.

asked the Minister of Health what capital expenditure the Leeds Regional Hospital Board has proposed for Hull for 1965–66; for what schemes; what is their cost; how many of these schemes have now been approved; and what is the total cost.

The Board's proposals for capital expenditure in 1965–66 include approximately £1½ million in respect of schemes in Hull at the Western General, Royal Infirmary, Kingston General, and Castle Hill hospitals. The total cost of these schemes is approximately £6 million. Capital estimates for next year have not yet been approved.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet in a position to announce the capital allocation for 1965–66 For the regional hospital boards and teaching hospitals.

I have nothing to add at present to my Answer of 23rd November.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities exist in Hertfordshire for cytological tests; and what proposals there are for the provision of routine screening in the area.

All five hospital groups provide a diagnostic service for women with symptoms and at two hospitals there are facilities for screening symptomless women. Plans are being made to expand these facilities to allow for the introduction of routine screening for cervical cancer throughout the area.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of people on the waiting list for admission into the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, the category of treatment for which they are waiting, and the average waiting time for each category.

Urgent cases are admitted at once. As the noble Lord will be aware, the full commissioning of this hospital is necessarily a gradual process, and no meaningful figure of average waiting times can be given. The total waiting list is at present 776, made up as follows:

Numbers	Speciality
338	General Surgery.
4	Paediatrics.
4	General Medicine.
23	Dentistry.
53	Traumatic and orthopaedic surgery.
128	Gynaecology.
137	Ear, Nose and Throat (Tonsils and Adenoids).
89	Ear, Nose and Throat (Other).

asked the Minister of Health when he expects facilities to be available in Birmingham for the routine taking and examination of cervical smears.

Hospital diagnostic facilities are expanding with specially trained staff becoming increasingly available, but it is too early yet to forecast a date for a routine service.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to provide, in connection with cervical smearing facilities, a diagnostic service at Coalville for women with symptoms.

A diagnostic service for women with symptoms is provided at Leicester. It would be impracticable to provide such a service at Coalville.

asked the Minister of Health what action he is taking to make known throughout the world, and encourage the manufacture on a large scale for export of, the recently perfected range of electrical equipment for hospitals and health centres.

With the Board of Trade, my Department constantly encourages manufacturers to expand their exports of medical equipment.

asked the Minister of Health if he will invite representatives of all embassies in London to visit the hospitals where the latest electro-medical scientific equipment is in use, including the stabilised thyristor power rectifier, electro- encephalographs, electron microscopes and linear accelerators, with the object of encouraging the building and equipment of hospitals in other countries by British consortia.

While representatives of embassies would be welcome to visit hospitals, I would not propose that this should replace the normal methods by which British progress in medical science and building is brought to the notice of overseas countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to announce the conclusions of his review of defence projects.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 30th November to a Question by the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the recent obstruction by Quantock Staghunt followers and supporters of manoeuvres by the 1st Battalion of the East Anglian Regiment; and whether, since the manoeuvres had been arranged with all proper prior notice, and since attempts are being made by hunt supporters to blame the Army, he will make it clear to the hunt that it cannot have precedence over legitimate Army manoeuvres on the Quantock Hills.

On 23rd November there was some temporary confusion because the Quantock Staghunt moved through an area in which military training was taking place, but this was resolved and both the hunt and the training continued. I am glad to say that local good will towards Army training in the area is not likely to be impaired.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many acres of land are owned by the Admiralty at Cabrits in the island of Dominica; why the land is left in a derelict condition with its historic buildings overgrown; and what action he proposes to take either to restore the area as an ancient monument or to seek some alternative productive use.

No land on the island of Dominica is owned or held by the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the use of the guided weapons range in the Hebrides by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries for practice firing nuclear delivery vehicles.

There are proposals for practice firing Sergeant missiles, of course without their warheads, by the Americans and Germans next summer. If these proposals are implemented there will be no interference with our own requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken to investigate evidence brought to his notice in a letter from the hon. Member for Woking, dated 4th November, 1964, that the existing methods of tendering for, and execution of, Army dry cleaning contracts are open to abuse and may have the effect of encouraging corrupt practices.

I sent a full reply to the hon. Gentleman on 26th November. Since then, I have received his further letter of 14th December enclosing further representaions from his constituent. I am looking into these and will write again as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to order the Tigercat missile for the Royal Air Force.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 22nd June, 1964.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered disabled workers are unemployed in Brighton and whether this represents an increase or decrease on 12 months ago; and what special action is being taken to find suitable employment for them.

On 9th November there were 307 registered disabled persons registered as unemployed at Brighton Employment Exchange compared with 283 on 11th November, 1963.Our local officers are doing all they can to find suitable openings.

asked the Minister of Labour why there is a delay in issuing vouchers to Commonwealth immigrants; and when this delay will be cleared up.

Currently the number of applications exceeds the number of vouchers available for issue. There must be delay while this situation continues. As I have told the House, I am reviewing the whole operation of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people on the employment exchange of Kidwelly have secured work in factories in the town of Llanelly in the past six months, 12 months, two years, and three years, respectively.

During the last six months two people from the register at Kidwelly Employment Exchange have secured work in factories in Llanelly. I regret that information for earlier periods is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham, and Rye Emplyoment Exchanges at the latest available date in December; and how many of them were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age, and school leavers, respectively.

265 men and 36 women at Bexhill, 92 men and 13 women at Hailsham, and 46 men and 12 women at Rye. There were 13 boys and 8 girls registered as unemployed at the Bexhill Youth Employment Office, which also covers the Rye, Hailsham and Battle areas; 3 of the boys were school leavers registered for first employment. The latest information about the numbers of unemployed people over 55 years of age was given in my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member on 24th July, 1964. The next analysis will be available in January, 1965.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to strengthen the factory inspectorate, in view of the rise in the number of accidents at work.

There has been a net gain of 11 inspectors in 1964 and there are now 474 factory inspectors in post. The authorised cadre is 517 posts, which includes 42 posts added this year to take account of new responsibilities under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, and every effort is being made to recruit up to this figure. The work of the Factory Inspectorate is of great importance but an improvement in industrial safety standards also requires a great development of safety organisation in industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take action, in consultation with the National Society of Pottery Workers, the manufacturers and others, to fill all vacancies arising from the export drive, including the employment of students.

Our employment exchanges in North Staffordshire are in close touch with the pottery industry and are doing all they can to fill current vacancies. There are few vacancies suitable for students. I understand that the need is for skilled workers and suitable women to train.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give comparative numbers of men specifically employed in collieries in the constituency of Houghtonle-Spring for the years 1950 and 1964.

The following table shows for mid-1951 and mid-1963 the estimated number of males employed in the coal-mining industry in the areas of those employment exchanges which are covered by parts of the constituency. Figures for employment exchange areas are not available for mid-1960 and those for mid-1964 will not be available until April 1965.

Employment Exchange Area		Mid-1951	Mid-1963
Houghton-le-Spring	…	8,100	6,500
Seaham	…	11,200	9,000
Pallion	*	5,800	5,300
Southwicdk-on-Wear
Sunderland
* Although no part of the constituency falls in the Sunderland Employment Exchange area a joint figure only is available for these three exchange areas.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the rate of recruitment of apprentice craftsmen to the building industry in each year from 1946 to 1963; and what was the corresponding number of journeymen employed over the same period.

The numbers of boys who entered the construction industry as apprentices and the number of craftsmen in the industry in the years 1951 to 1963 were as follows:

		Boys entering as apprentices	Number of craftsmen employed
1951	…	20,373	669,650
1952	…	19,318	629,670
1953	…	21,001	637,000
1954	…	19,278	642,580
1955	…	20,855	not available
1956	…	19,451	not available
1957	…	18,783	681,330*
1958	…	18,308	673,350*
1959	…	21,966	696,690
1960	…	22,321	706,140
1961	…	26,163	701,870
1962	…	31,473	712,230
1963	…	26,827	720,090
* These figures do not include craftsmen employed in Government Departments.

Figures showing the number of apprentices entering the industry in years before 1951 are not available. The figures show the numbers known to the youth employment officers to be entering employment leading to apprenticeship and are therefore incomplete.The construction industry includes building, civil engineering and electrical contracting, and building and civil engineering departments of Government Departments and Local Authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been retrained as craftsmen for the building industry; what are the numbers in each trade; and how many of these are now productively employed in the industry.

Following is the information:

VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHEME
NUMBER OF PERSONS TRAINED FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 15.12.45 TO 9.12.63
Period	Bricklayers	Carpenters	Heating and Ventilating	Painters	Plasterers	Plumbers	Slaters and Tilers	Contractors Plant Mechanics	Electrical Contractors	Street Masons and Paviors	Constructional course	Terazzo layers
Year ended 9.12.63	—	139	—	12	—	17	—	142	18	15	—	—
Year ended 10.12.62	—	124	—	21	2	10	—	130	14	22	—	—
Year ended 11.12.61	26	110	—	27	6	17	—	124	15	22	—	—
Year ended 12.12.60	20	120	—	31	9	12	—	109	—	20	—	—
Year ended 14.12.59	20	108	—	22	8	16	—	105	—	19	—	—
Year ended 8.12.58	19	104	—	20	10	11	—	96	—	19	—	—
Year ended 9.12.57	16	113	—	19	8	19	—	95	—	9	—	—
Year ended 10.12.56	42	105	—	29	16	27	—	103	—	31	—	—
Year ended 12.12.55	37	156	—	29	11	37	—	79	—	26	—	4
Year ended 13.12.54	49	134	—	32	18	25	—	25	—	55	—	16
Year ended 7.12.53	61	146	26	59	25	34	—	—	—	47	—	17
Year ended 8.12.52	43	117	50	61	12	31	—	—	—	71	10	31
Year ended 10.12.51	40	131	46	93	7	22	—	—	—	51	12	35
Year ended 11.12.50*	46	186	82	230	2	43	—	—	—	66	31	27
Year ended 12.12.49	53	228	—	318	8	91	—	—	—	73	31	48
Year ended 13.12.48	693	644	76	468	353	339	28	—	—	98	28	43
Year ended 15.12.47	15,513	8,271	33	3,836	3,615	2,729	588	—	—	91	28	—
Year ended 16.12.46	4,543	4,968	4	1,754	1,125	993	206	—	—	12	1	—
TOTALS	21,221	15,904	317	7,061	5,235	4,473	822	1,008	47	747	141	221

Period	Terazzo Polishers	Wood Machinists	Maintenance Fitters	Stone Masons	Fixing and Walling Masons	Timbermen	Blacksmiths	Mastic Asphalt	Pipe Jointers	Glaziers	Carpenters(Bench)	Totals
Year ended 9.12.63	—	59	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	28	430
Year ended 10.12.62	—	56	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	25	404
Year ended 11.12.61	—	65	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	25	437
Year ended 12.12.60	—	92	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	23	436
Year ended 14.12.59	—	69	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	34	401
Year ended 8.12.58	—	95	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	32	406
Year ended 9.12.57	—	81	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	30	390
Year ended 10.12.56	—	93	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	36	482
Year ended 12.12.55	1	101	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45	526
Year ended 13.12.54	6	120	54	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	23	557
Year ended 7.12.53	31	129	79	33	11	—	—	—	—	—	44	742
Year ended 8.12.52	29	147	67	61	15	—	—	—	—	—	46	791
Year ended 10.12.51	23	120	71	110	21	—	—	—	—	—	44	826
Year ended 11.12.50*	41	204	91	195	17	—	6	13	—	—	29	1,309
Year ended 12.12.49	58	225	176	224	104	—	40	173	—	—	36	1,886
Year ended 13.12.48	44	177	158	122	—	9	78	308	49	17	57	3,789
Year ended 15.12.47	—	573	127	82	—	36	53	96	121	44	32	35,868
Year ended 16.12.46	—	249	79	—	—	5	6	14	28	—	—	13,987
TOTALS	233	2,655	902	827	168	50	183	604	198	61	589	63,667
* Estimated figures for 1 month included.
It is not known how many of these persons are currently employed in the construction industry though well over 90 per cent. were placed in jobs in their training trades in the industry on leaving the centre.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the average earnings in Brighton; and how these compare with average earnings for the country as a whole.

As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South on 7th December, reliable figures of average earnings are not available for areas smaller than "regions". I am afraid therefore that I am not able to provide this information.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs if he will

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his speech in the House on 16th December, we hope to have further discussions and negotiations with the Germans on this important matter.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Federal German Government that the legislation recently enacted by that Government on compensation for refugees persecuted on grounds of nationality does not adequately fulfil the obligations entered into by the Federal Republic in the Convention on the Settlement of Matters arising out of the War and the Occupation, signed at Bonn on 26th May, 1952.

No legislation to provide compensation for refugees persecuted on grounds of nationality has recently been enacted in the Federal Republic of Germany. Draft legislation dealing with this question, among others, is however before the Federal Parliament and is now being considered by the Restitution Committee of the Bundestag. We have subjected this draft legislation to careful examination in the light of the provisions of the Convention on the Settlement of Matters arising out of the War and the Occupation, and its progress will be followed with close attention. But our present view is that representations of the kind described by the hon. and gallant Member would not be appropriate.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have for implementing the decision taken by the United Nations on 26th October, 1964, which recommended that aid should be given to the victims of apartheid.

No such decision was taken by the United Nations. There was an appeal by the Special Committee on Apartheid, of which the United Kingdom is not a member, to members of the United Nations to contribute to help the families of those on trial for political offences in South Africa. The existing relief organisations to which the appeal refers are private organisations. It is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government to make financial contributions to unofficial organisations of this kind.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has, following the visit by Her Majesty's Consul at Capetown to Mr. Alan Brooks, a British subject, in a prison in Capetown on 18th August, 1964, on Mr. Brooks' case.

Mr. Alan Brooks, a citizen of the United Kingdom and of Southern Rhodesia, was detained at Cape Town on 22nd July under the General Law Amendment Act, 1963. He was charged with conspiracy to commit sabotage and with contravening the Suppression of Communism Act of 1950. At his trial in November he was sentenced to four years imprisonment, two years of which were conditionally suspended.Our Consul at Cape Town visited Mr. Brooks on 23rd July, but was not permitted to see him again until 18th August, when he complained of ill-treatment during interrogation by the police. Her Majesty's Ambassador made representations to the South African Government asking that the complaint should be investigated.On 17th November, the Department for Foreign Affairs informed the Ambassador that, after thorough consideration of Mr. Brooks' complaint, the Attorney-General had declined to prosecute for the alleged offence, but observed that Mr. Brooks was free to institute a private prosecution. Mr. Brooks' solicitors are now proceeding against the Minister of Justice and others. Consular officers have visited Mr. Brooks several times and his lawyer has had access to him since the 6th of October, when he was charged.On 17th December, acting on instructions, our Ambassador delivered a Note seeking an assurance from the South African Government that British subjects held in the custody of the South African authorities will not be subjected to ill-treatment.The Embassy has left the South African authorities in no doubt that Her Majesty's Government take a serious view of this matter. The Government have reserved all rights in the matter pending the proceedings in court.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state his plans for town and country planning in Scotland, indicating the procedure which will be adopted regarding notices to be given to present owners and occupiers.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I have in hand a review of planning procedures. The review will cover the circumstances in which owners and occupiers need to be notified of planning proposals, and the procedures governing these notifications.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what annual rate the egg subsidy is running, and whether this is above or below the estimate made in the 1964 Annual Price Review.

The subsidy depends on the average price realised for the whole of the financial year, and this cannot at present be forecast up to the end of next March. The estimate made at the time of the 1964 Annual Review was £25,600,000, but it is expected that the final figure will be higher than that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now give his decision on the application of the Severn River Board for grant-aid for the Board's further scheme for bank revetment.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to give a decision in regard to this scheme which it is proposed to start next April but I appreciate the deep interest of many people and will give a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will undertake a series of bull performance tests on Sussex cattle, now that tests on the Hereford have been completed.

No. The test recently concluded at Rosemaund Experimental Husbandry Farm was primarily an experiment designed to assess the value of the performance test as a technique of evaluating the merits of the beef bull. It was not a test of the Hereford breed as such. I do not consider it a normal function of the Department to test individual breeds in this way. Such testing is already being undertaken by organisations within the industry, and some Sussex bulls are at present under test by the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to ensure that a freeboard of at least 12 inches above the March, 1961, flood level is provided for all wharves on the River Hull, in order to prevent large-scale flooding of residential and industrial properties at the next equinoctial high-water spring tides in March, 1965.

I understand from the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board that all the wharves are now up to or above the high water levels recorded in March, 1961. The predicted high water at Hull Mouth of the equinoctial tides on 18th March, 1965, is 12·5 O.D. Newlyn, and the wharves have been raised to cope with a tidal high water of 16·0 O.D. Newlyn. In order to consider the provision of an additional margin of safety their engineer has been instructed to investigate further the possibility of constructing a barrage at the mouth of the River Hull.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the amount of freeboard above the 1961 flood level, on the River Humber bank, at the Humber road-Ings road proposed development site for 94 houses; and by how much the river bank will need to be raised to prevent new houses being flooded at similar high-water spring tides.

I understand that, while full records are not available, it would seem that there is no freeboard above the 1961 flood level and that to give protection against a tide of this level the bank would need to be raised by perhaps 3 or 4 feet, and possibly strengthened.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent increases there have been in the retail prices of foodstuffs; to what factors he attributes them; and whether he will make a statement.

Over the last three months the index of retail food prices has increased from 108·7 to 109·4 (January, 1962 =100). Within this overall increase in the index, prices of some foodstuffs have risen and others have fallen. In particular, increases have occurred in the bread and cereals group, the butter and fats group, and for certain vegetables. On the other hand there have been decreases in the price of fruits.Retail prices are affected by fluctuations in agricultural production and in the availability of imports, and by increases in costs in the food industries. Subject to these factors it is the policy of the Government to keep the level of food prices as steady as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the additional cost of employers' insurance contributions from 1st April, 1965, will be individually in respect of the following nationalised boards, that is, the National Coal Board, the British Railways Board, the electricity boards, the gas boards, the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways.

The Boards' estimates of the additional costs in a full year are:

	£
National Coal Board	5,000,000
British Railways Board	3,250,000
Electricity Council and Boards (England and Wales)	1,900,000
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	31,000
South of Scotland Electricity Board	135,000
Gas Council and Boards	1,000,000
B.O.A.C.	118,000
B.E.A.	125,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from the 15 per cent. surcharge machinery, tools and parts of tools which are imported into this country only for the purpose of repair and return to the foreign owner.

Such goods qualify for the existing duty reliefs for temporary importations, which have been extended to include the temporary charge on imports. I will write to the hon. Member about the particular case he has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he is making for the valuation of land and tenements made necessary by the proposed capital gains tax; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether a life estate left to a widow by her deceased husband which is at present exempt from estate duty on her death will be subject to the proposed capital gains tax in the event of an increase in the capital value of the trust on the death of the widow;(2) if he will prepare a scheme to exempt bona fide small traders and shopkeepers and farmers with less than 50 acres from the proposed capital gains tax on sale or transfer by gift of their business or farm at retirement;(3) whether he will fix a day other than Budget Day 1965 as the base date for valuation of securities under the proposed capital gains tax, having regard to the unrealistically low valuations created as a result of uncertainty about taxation.

I cannot add to my Answer of 8th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the nature and extent, in total, of Government Departments dispersed to various parts of the country, including the location of these Departments, and the number of jobs involved; and if he will make a statement.

The latest review of the position, as set out by Departments and locations in the following table, shows the approximate numbers of non-industrial civil servants employed on the headquarters work of Government

HEADQUARTERS WORK OUTSIDE LONDON
Department				No. of Staff	Location
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	…	…	1,000	Guildford
Ministry of Aviation	…	…	…	800	Liverpool
					Reading
					Broxbourne
					Brighton
					Harefield
					Malvern
Customs and Excise	…	…	…	250	Lyhman St. Annes
					Southend-on-Sea
Ministry of Defence:
Navy Department	…	…	…	5,250	Bath
Army Department	…	…	…	150	Leeds
Air Force Department	…	…	…	2,000	Bracknell
					Worcester
					Cheadle Hulme
					Harrogate
General Register Office	…	…	…	700	Titchfield
					Worthy Down
					Southport
Ministry of Health	…	…	…	300	Blackpool
Inland Revenue	…	…	…	2,600	Edingburgh
					Cardiff
					Liverpool
					Worthing
Ordnance Survey	…	…	…	1,800	Southampton
Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance	…	…	…	10,700	Blackpool
					Newcastle
Post Office	…	…	…	9,100	Lytham St. Annes
					Hemel Hempstead
					Morecambe
					Harrogate
					Bristol
					Chesterfield
					Durham and other centres
H.M. Stationery Office	…	…	…	500	Basildon
Ministry of Transport	…	…	…	380	Cardiff
					Hemel Hempstead
				35,500

Walker asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the dates, amounts, recipients and purposes of grants and loans of more than £1 million made during the last five years to companies under private control.

The following grants and loans have been made by Government Departments to private companies in the United Kingdom during the last five years:

(a) Colvilles Limited. Under an agreement dated 29th September, 1959, £50 million has been loaned to Colvilles for a new strip mill at Ravenscraig.

(b) David MacBrayne Limited. Annual grants are made to David MacBrayne Limited for shipping services in the Highlands and Islands. Over the last five years the grants have totalled £1·5 million.

(c) Wiggins Teape and Company Limited. Assistance given under the Fort William Pulp and Paper Mills Act, 1963, up to 30th November, 1964. towards the construction and equipment of these mills, has amounted to £5·86 million (grants, £0·15 million; loans, £5·72 million).

(d) Cotton Industry. Grants have been made under the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, towards paying compensation for the elimination of excess capacity under reorganisation schemes administered by the Cotton Board to which the industry are also contributing necessary funds; and for re-equipment. The payments from public funds from 1959–60. Awards to Fine Spinners and Doublers Limited have totalled £1·11 million. Similar payments to the Lancashire Cotton Corporation Limited have totalled £1·09 million.

(e) Local Employment Acts. The total amount of grants and loans made under the Local Employment Acts 1960 and 1963 up to 30th November 1964, to promote employment in localities where high and persistent unemployment exists or is threatened (development districts), was £65·3 million (grants, £12·8 million; loans, £52·5 million). It is not the practice to divulge details of assistance given to individual firms under these Acts.

(f) Shipbuilding Loans Scheme. During 1964 loans totalling £9·2 million have been made under the Shipbuilding Credit Act, 1964, to companies under private control for the financing of new shipbuilding orders. It is not the practice to divulge the loans made to individual firms.

During the five years December, 1959, to November, 1964, payments totalling £45.2 million have also been made to companies under private control for the purpose of assisting the development and proving of transport aircraft. Where projects receive support the Government will participate in the proceeds from sales.Payments of more than £1 million have been made as follows:

Manufacturer	Project	Payment£m.
British Aircraft	VC 10	6·4
Corporation	Super VC 10	3·4
	BACl–11	8·7
	Supersonic Transport (airframe)	5·4
Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd.	Trident	5·0
British Siddeley Engines Ltd.	Supersonic Transport (Olympus engine)	2·1
Rolls Royce Ltd.	Spey engines	5·4
West land Aircraft Ltd.	Rotodyne	2·4

Excluded from the above list is expenditure incurred by Defence Departments in giving capital assistance to Gove- ernment contractors. Ownership of the capital assets financed in this way vests in the Departments concerned and a rental is charged to the contractor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the double taxation agreements with other countries at present in operation; and whether, and on what date, he gave notice to each that these will require re-negotiation following the proposed corporation tax.

Comprehensive agreements made with the following countries for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income are at present in operation:

Aden	Jamaica
Antigua	Japan
Australia	Jersey
Austria	Kenya
Barbados	Malawi
Basutoland	Malaya, Federation of
Bechuanaland Protectorate	Malta
Belgium	Mauritius
British Guiana	Montserrat
British Honduras	Netherlands
British Solomon	Netherlands Antilles
Islands protectorate	New Zealand
Brunei	Nigeria
Burma	North Borneo
Canada	Norway
Ceylon	Pakistan
Cyprus	St. Christopher and
Denmark	Nevis
Dominica	St. Lucia
Falkland Islands	St. Vincent
Faroe Islands	Sarawak
Fiji	Seychelles
Finland	Sierra Leone
France	South Africa
Gambia	South West Africa
Germany, Federal	Southern Rhodesia
Republic of	Swaziland
Ghana	Sweden
Gilbert and Ellice	Switzerland
Islands	Tanganyika
Greece	Trinidad and Tobago
Grenada	Uganda
Guernsey	United States of
Ireland, Republic of	America
Isle of Man	Virgin Islands
Israel	Zambia
Italy	Zanzibar

In addition there are limited agreements in operation with Argentina, Iceland, Iran, Lebanon, Portugal and Switzerland.No notice has been given to any of these countries that the agreement in force will require re-negotiation when the corporation tax is introduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extra number of officials required by the Inland Revenue to operate the proposed corporation tax and capital gains tax; when he will commence recruitment; and what will be the cost.

I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why representations on the proposed corporation tax and capital gains tax are to be sent to the Board of Inland Revenue rather than to himself.

The Inland Revenue are my advisers in these matters. They will, of course, bring to my attention in the ordinary way questions which require my consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the original par value of War Loan at date of issue; and what is the current purchasing power of this sum compared with its purchasing power at date of issue.

The par value of War Loan at the time of issue in February, 1917, was £100. The current purchasing power of this sum is estimated at approximately £33 at 1917 prices. The stock was actually issued at £95.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the market value of War Loan to the nearest convenient date and the current purchasing power of the sum compared with its purchasing power at date of issue.

The market value of War Loan on 16th 'December, 1964, was 54½. The current purchasing power of this sum is estimated at approximately 18 at 1917 prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he will make for tax to be recovered by charitable bodies upon donations under covenant from corporations which will be liable to pay the proposed corporation tax instead of Income Tax.

I am afraid that I cannot add to my statement of 8th December on the corporation tax.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now state his policy towards the review by local planning authorities of development in the Green Belt surrounding the Greater London area.

The local planning authorities are reviewing the approved green belt to see whether any land which contributes little of value to the purposes of the belt can be released for housing; and they should also be re-examining their proposals for extending the green belt in the light of the likely population growth. I am looking to them to make a constructive and realistic approach to these tasks, bearing in mind the pressing need to provide more land for housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy with regard to the prevention of urban sprawl.

My right hon. Friend's policy is to prevent urban sprawl by making adequate provision for planned growth and by the positive use of planning powers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the increasing tendency of landlords to impose substantial increases in the rents of decontrolled tenancies with the intention of forcing upwards the new levels of controlled rents which the Government's forthcoming legislation will establish; and what action he will take to prevent this intention from being successful.

I am aware that some landlords are seeking substantial increases in rents. But a landlord cannot impose an increase without first terminating the tenancy and the Protection from Eviction Act should now make wholesale rent increases virtually impossible. Where a tenant refuses to pay an increase he cannot be evicted without an order for possession from the county court and the court may suspend the execution of the order and impose conditions about payment for occupation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in preparing permanent legislation on the relations between landlord and tenant, he will consult the holiday industry about provisions which may affect dwellings customarily let for holiday purposes.

The form of the Government's legislation is still under consideration. I would rather not promise to consult particular interests on issues which are at present hypothetical.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made, in his preparation of legislation on the subject of agricultural tied cottages, of the number of such cottages in current occupation by persons employed in agriculture;(2) what estimate he has made in his preparation of legislation on the subject of agricultural tied cottages, of the number of possession orders relating to such cottages made annually by the High Court, county courts and by magistrates' courts, respectively, in the last three years;(3) what estimate he has made, in his preparation of legislation on the subject of agricultural tied cottages, of the number of possession orders which resulted in actual evictions being made from such cottages;(4) what estimate he has made, in his preparation of legislation on the subject of agricultural tied cottages, of the number of evictions from such cottages made without arty court order in each of the last three years.

It is estimated that there are about 120,000 agricultural tied cottages in England and Wales. As regards the other information asked for, I regret that I cannot make reliable estimates. But I should add that the Government have promised, as a matter of principle, to provide greater security for occupiers of agricultural tied cottages; what is right as a matter of principle is not determined by statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has made to the representations made to him by the Manchester City Council in a letter dated 3rd December concerned with Section 2 of the Police Act, 1964.

My right hon. Friend replied to the city council on 15th December in the sense indicated in the Answer given on 17th December to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East (Mr. Conlan).

asked the Minister of Aviation what calculation he has made of the technological loss that would result in the aviation and electronics industries from a cancellation of the TSR2 project; and if he will make a statement.

Possible technological loss, along with other relevant considerations, will receive close attention in the Government's review of advanced defence projects including the TSR2. It is not susceptible to precise calculation.

asked the Minister of Aviation what decision he has taken regarding the applications by airlines for increases in the number of night flights into London, Heathrow, Airport in the year 1965; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on Thursday, 17th December, to the hon. Member for Feltham (Mr. A. E. Hunter).

asked the Minister of Aviation what role Short Brothers and Harland Limited will play in the joint research projects in the aircraft industry being negotiated with the United States of America.

It is too early to state what role will be played by any particular aircraft company in this country in any joint research and development programme that may be negotiated with the United States of America.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether it is the policy of his Department to ensure the maximum possible use of British equipment in foreign aircraft purchased for the Armed Forces.

My Department's policy is to favour the use of suitable British equipment, although we must of course have regard to performance, costs and delivery times.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what guidance and advice he has given on urban sprawl.

None.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Common Land.

A Bill is being introduced in another place today for a scheme of commons registration. The scheme will provide for the registration of claims that land is common, and of claims to the ownership of the land and of common rights. The Bill broadly follows the Royal Commission's recommendations for commons registration, but provides for registration to be completed in much less time than the 12 years proposed by the Commission.

asked the Attorney-General what changes he proposes to make in regard to the disclosure in civil proceedings of medical records of members of the Armed Forces.

The current practice is to claim privilege for these records in proceedings between private litigants on the ground that they belong to a class which the public interest requires to be withheld from production. Privilege is not claimed on this ground where proceedings are brought against the Crown, or a doctor employed by the Crown, for negligence. It is proposed to modify the practice in proceedings between private litigants and in future a claim of privilege will not be made on this ground in such proceedings for clinical reports made by doctors treating Service men for injuries sustained in accidents.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will in future give as much notice as possible of the dates of the Parliamentary Recess, having regard to the difficulty of hon. Members in booking places on aeroplane flights to their constituencies at short notice at busy times of the 'year and having regard to the fact that all British European Airways aeroplanes from London to Belfast have been fully booked for some time and the waiting lists have been closed for Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th December.

I appreciate the difficulties referred to but the normal practice is to announce the recess dates a week beforehand because they depend on the progress of Government business, and I see no alternative to this.

asked the Postmaster-General how many post offices are equipped with franking machines for direct public use.