asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to amend Section 214 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, to remove the distinction that is made between the treatment of a widower or widow and an unmarried person regarding the allowance for a housekeeper.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the Question of the hon. and gallant Member for Down, South (Captain Orr) on 10th November last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the revenue derived from the capital gains tax, and the estimated cost of collection, to the latest convenient date.

Between £1¼ million and £1½ million in respect of capital gains realised in 1962–63. On the second part, the cost of assessing and collecting the tax on short-term gains cannot be segregated from the cost of administering other taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is intended that the proposed capital gains tax should be levied upon the proceeds of sale of properties acquired by the exercise of compulsory purchase powers; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot add to my answer of 8th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether capital gains tax will be payable on 3 per cent. Government electricity stock 1968 to 1973, bought at 100 per cent. at the time of nationalisation of the industry, if sold above the price at the date of the 1965 Budget, or on the date of redemption, respectively;(2) whether capital gains tax will be payable on 3 per cent. savings bonds 1970 if sold before 1970 at a higher market price than that on Budget day 1965;

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answer of 8th December in which I said that

"… the charge to tax on a gain realised after next Budget day will not be on an amount greater than any gain that is realised." —[OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th December, 1964; Vol. 703, c. 165.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct superintendent valuers to give information to local authorities as to how valuations were arrived at in areas where there have been large numbers of successful appeals.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to rating valuations, but I am not sure what information he has in mind. Rating assessments are based on the rents which the properties may reasonably be expected to fetch and Valuation Officers therefore arrive at their assessments by reference to rents actually being paid in the locality.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the reasons for the delay in settling claims for compensation by the district valuers under compulsory purchase orders in Lancashire, particularly in the Borough of Radcliffe.

I am not aware of any such delay in Radcliffe, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for relief under Section 159 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, were submitted in returns for the year ended 5th April, 1963; and how many such claims were allowed in whole or in part.

Detailed figures are not available; but it is estimated that in 1962–63 fewer than 100,000 claims to relief under Section 159, Income Tax Act, 1952, were made and allowed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in revenue he expects to receive during the current financial year, as a result of the increase in fuel duty, from persons employed in the fishing industry in Northern Ireland, including those fishing on inland waters.

No precise estimate can be made but the amount is expected to be small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to create a two-tier interest system, to prevent long-term rates for housing and industrial borrowing rising too high; what estimate he has made of the cost; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 10th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will advise all Ministers to institute staggered hours in Government Departments in London, as a contribution towards the reduction of peak-hour congestion.

Government Departments are already under instructions to keep to a minimum the number of staff in central London arriving at 9 a.m. and leaving the office between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that all Government Departments are using the most modern office machinery and electronic equipment in the exercise of their functions.

Means are already available for ensuring that Government Departments are made aware of the possibilities and advantages of using office machines of all kinds. The Treasury's management services are active in advising Departments on the use of modern office machinery including electronic computers, and Her Majesty's Stationery Office advise on office machines for document copying and office reproduction processes. In addition, most of the larger Departments have their own O and M staff, who have been trained to discover where office machines can be used.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new machinery he intends to establish to ensure increased efficiency in the Civil Service and increasing awareness of, and contact with, national economic, social, and industrial problems.

The Government intend to make the fullest use of the established Whitley machinery to encourage efficiency, and I see no need for new machinery for the purposes mentioned. Provision is being developed for spreading the use of modern management and administrative methods and many of the Government's policies will bring the Civil Service into even closer contact with economic, social and industrial problems.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the rule by which assessments under Case VIII are based on the previous year's income and of the hardship sometimes resulting from delay in adjusting the income to that of the current year, he will give instructions to inspectors of taxes to take account, when making the assessments, of any specific cause by reason of which the income of the current year is likely to fall short of that for the year preceding.

The law provides for the amount of the assessment to be appropriately adjusted in cases where the taxpayer has ceased to possess a source of income chargeable under Case VIII. Inspectors of Taxes are ready to give sympathetic consideration to cases not covered by this provision where the payment of tax on the preceding year basis would cause hardship, but the assessment itself cannot be reduced except where the law so provides.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the 7 per cent. Bank Rate or the 15 per cent. import charges will not permanently improve the import-export position if they are retained only for a short time; if he will give an undertaking they will not be removed until the trade balance is firmly in favour of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

It is our intention to reduce and remove the import charge as rapidly as the balance of payments position allows.The increase to 7 per cent. in Bank Rate was a short-term measure to relieve the pressure on sterling. The timing of its reduction depends primarily on developments in the monetary field.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been received from local authorities, or their appropriate associations, asking for steps to be taken to enable interest to be paid to lenders without deduction of Income Tax on amounts loaned to local authorities of up to £500; and what action he proposes to take.

I understand that this point has been raised several times in recent years by local authority associations and that it has been explained to them that deduction of tax at source is a basic principle of the Income Tax system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that it has for a long time been the practice to levy a duty on lighters with a view to protecting the Excise Duty on matches, whether he will take steps to apply an equivalent countervailing duty to self-lighting cigarettes.

This would be a matter for my right hon. Friend's next Budget proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of reduced purchasing power of the £ sterling, he will now authorise an increase in tax exemption in respect of meal vouchers issued by employers to their full-time employees.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure of the Inland Revenue when an 80 per cent. death duty is levied on an estate valued at death, but whose executors cannot pay by reason of such a diminution of stock exchange values at the date of probate being granted that the estate is bankrupt and in debt to the Exchequer; and what allowance is given to dependent relatives and/or legatees, more especially on the estates of which the deceased was merely the life tenant unable to touch capital during his lifetime.

Such arrangements would be made as suited the circumstances of the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the incidence of the 15 per cent. import surcharge upon each bottle imported of cheaper and top quality wines, respectively.

The incidence of the surcharge on the import of cheaper wines, as was indicated by my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio during the Committee stage of the Finance Bill will not generally be more than a few pence. Top quality wines are generally held for longer periods before sale to the consumer. There is, therefore, more scope for staggering imports of these wines and for absorbing a temporary charge.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will fix a date on which 3½ per cent. War Stock held by charitable institutions and church bodies can be redeemed at the original purchase price.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what terms the recent loan of $3,000 million was obtained from foreign central banks; in particular, what is the rate of interest being charged; and what is the commitment charge.

This is the amount which has been placed at our disposal, as I told the House on 26th November. It is not a loan, but a series of facilities on which we can draw. It is not customary to disclose details of such arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now relieve the growing hardship of the rating system by transferring a further proportion of the cost of the educational system to the national Exchequer.

I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's Answer on 1st December to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Clive Bossom).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his proposed capital gains tax will apply to National Saving Certificates.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answer of 8th December in which I said that capital gains realised in respect of Savings Certificates will be exempt from capital gains tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for the export of money to Spain for the purpose of buying houses have been granted during the past year; what was the total amount; and what plans he has for the prevention of this drain on sterling.

From 1st January, 1964, to 3rd April, 1964, there were approved 74 applications for official exchange on health grounds totaling £306,770 and 151 applications for the use of so-called "property currency" totalling £683,613. Since 6th April, purchases have had to be made either with investment currency or by purchase for sterling from another resident. Neither method involves the net export of money to Spain or constitutes a drain on the official reserves. From that date to 15th December, 1,206 such applications have been approved totalling £3,626,618.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many additional employees he estimates will be required by the Inland Revenue to implement his proposed tax changes.

I am not at the moment in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the proportion of profits before tax which has been paid in tax by British companies during each of the past five years;(2) what is his assessment of the proportion of profits after tax which has been ploughed back by British companies during each of the past five years.

I would refer the hon. Member to Table 25 in the Blue Book of National Income and Expenditure 1964.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect his proposals for a corporation tax are having upon expansion plans within industry.

This is not a matter on which it is possible to make any estimate. As I explained in my Budget Speech it is one of the objects of the corporation tax scheme to provide an incentive to companies to plough back profits for expansion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are his proposals regarding the forthcoming corporation tax for the treatment of deeds of covenant already entered into by companies for the benefit of charitable, religious and educational organisations;

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the 15 per cent. import surcharge applies to items imported free of cost.

It is impracticable, in the context of the temporary charge, to distinguish imports which do not represent a demand on United Kingdom assets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the rise in the value of imports of £19 million during November, what revenue accrued in respect of the 15 per cent. surcharge during the same month.

This figure is not available; the temporary charge on imports prior to the Ways and Means Resolution of 11th November has not yet been collected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the revenue accruing from the 15 per cent. import surcharge was in respect of contracts already entered into.

The information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the 15 per cent. import surcharge will end.

It is the Government's intention to review, to reduce and to remove, the charge as soon as the balance of payments situation permits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far the White Paper, Command Paper No. 1337, of April, 1961, on the financial and economic obligations of the nationalised industries, represents the policy of the Government.

The Government intend to retain and develop the system of financial objectives for the nationalised industries, following Command 1337. The Government's purpose in developing this will be to enable the nationalised industries to use their labour and capital with the greatest possible efficiency; and to contribute most effectively to the national objective of economic expansion. The existing financial target agreements between the Government and the individual nationalised undertakings will of course continue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average cost of putting and answering a Parliamentary Question compared with the cost of seeking the information by letter.

The average cost of putting and answering a Parliamentary Question varies widely according to the amount of research involved. But the cost of answering by letter would normally be less than the cost of an Answer given in either House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in his search for means to mitigate the effect of the increase in Bank Rate on the housing programme.

I still have the matter under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the meeting of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury with the representatives of the Public Service Pensioners Council on 26th November, 1964.

I had a useful talk with the representatives of the Council, and undertook to consider carefully the points which they had made in the course of the review of the position of public service pensioners which the Government are undertaking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total proof gallonage of whisky produced in malt and grain from Scottish distilleries during the last financial year.

I regret that the information is not readily available in this form. The quantity of malt spirit and of grain spirit distilled in Scotland in the year ended 30th September, 1964, was 110,376,726 proof gallons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult the Governor of the Bank of England about issuing guidance to the banks that no restriction should be placed on credit for agriculture.

The guidance already provided will help the banks to assess applications for credit on their merits in the light of the finance available and the priorities suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures for overseas investment, public and private, investment in the United Kingdom by foreign nationals, overseas aid, grants and loans, overseas expenditure, and the surplus or deficit on the United Kingdom balance of payments for each of the last 10 years and for the first half of 1964.

The figures of overseas aid in grants and loans disbursed since 1960 are brought together and published in "Financial Statistics", (Table 82 in the December 1964 issue). The figures for periods earlier than 1960 are only available for financial years and are contained in Tables 277 and 278 of "The Annual Abstract of Statistics—1961" and previous issues. The annual figures of all the other items up to 1963 are available in "United Kingdom Balance of Payments—1964", Table 1 Figures for the first half of 1964 appeared in Table 1 appended to the article on the U.K. balance of payments in the September 1964 issue of "Economic Trends"Copies of these H.M.S.O. publications are available in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for special transport to take to their homes in London officers of this House who are delayed by late night sittings.

Arrangements have been made for the Ministry of public Building and Works to provide transport when this is required after late night sittings to take the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means to their homes. I do not think I should he justified in extending this concession, the cost of which will be borne on the vote of the House of Commons, beyond these two officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Treasury dollar holdings have been sold since 16th October.

There have been exchanges of securities within the portfolio, but in accordance with precedent I am not prepared to go into detail about the management of these dollar holdings.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will issue commemorative stamps to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September, 1965.

As I said on 15th December in reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, South I have changed the criteria on which the issue of special stamps is based. Because of this I think it fair to wait a little longer before settling the 1965 programme to give time for further suggestions to be put forward. In reaching my decision, however, I shall certainly bear in mind the claims for a special stamp to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is proposing to issue a set of stamps in 1966 to commemorate the 900th anniversary of the Norman Conquest; and if he will include in the set a stamp commemorating the offering of the Crown to William at Berkhamsted Castle.

It is too early yet to settle the special stamp programme for 1966, but when doing so I shall certainly bear the hon. Member's suggestions in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General how many items are sent by the Post Office using the Recorded Delivery Service; and what is the total extra cost of using the Recorded Delivery Service rather than the ordinary 3d. postal rate.

About 1·3 million items a year at an estimated additional cost of some £25,000.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the frequent postal delays in the Midlands; what is the cause of them; and what action he is taking to remedy them.

My right hon. Friend much regrets the delays which have occurred. They have mostly been caused by shortage of staff in some of our main sorting centres. We are doing our best to make good these shortages and, meanwhile, to keep delays to a minimum.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take action to improve the parcel post between Lowestoft and the rest of England, particularly in view of the large quantity of kippers sent by post which are failing to arrive in their usual condition of high quality.

I am very sorry that there should have been delay in the delivery of parcels sent from Lowestoft, especially those containing perishable goods like kippers. The delay has been due in large part to shortage of staff in some of the main sorting offices through which the parcels have to pass. We are doing all we can to recruit additional staff and meanwhile to give the best service that is possible in the circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are frequent and long delays in the delivery of parcel post in Berkshire; and what steps he is taking to improve the service.

I am sorry that parcels for places in Berkshire have sometimes been delayed in the post. This has been largely due to shortage of staff in some of our main sorting offices through which the parcels have to pass. We are doing all we can to recruit additional staff; and, meanwhile, everything practicable is being done to keep delays to a minimum.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce an air mail Christmas card and greeting card which could be sent to any part of the world for sixpence.

I am currently considering various possibilities in this field. The hon. Member's suggestion will be looked at along with others and in due course I will write to him letting him know what I decide.

asked the telegram Postmaster-General why and in what circumstances the telegram sent by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Ministry of Health warning the latter that tins of beef sent by the Argentine to Britain which caused the typhoid epidemic in Aberdeen was delayed in delivery.

I am looking into this matter and I will write to my hon. and learned Friend when my inquiries are complete.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Boxmoor automatic telephone exchange will open.

We plan to open the new automatic exchange at Boxmoor, with STD, in June next year. It will then be known as Hemel Hempstead.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the result of his consideration of the introduction of special reduced rates in the basic telephone installation, rental and all other charges relating to this service for old-age pensioners living alone or confined to their homes; and if he will make a statemert.

My examination of this question must necessarily take a little time, but I will make a statement as soon as I can.

asked the Postmaster-General why no special provision is made for the allocation of telephone kiosks in the overspill receiving area of the Lichfield Rural District Council; and what representations he has received, in advance of the arrival of the incoming overspill population, for adequate telephone facilities to be provided.

The telephone manager consults regularly with the rural district council about the provision of telephone facilities in this area. The Clerk to the Burntwood Parish Council asked very recently for additional telephone kiosks in his parish. Three are in fact to be provided. Plans for further telephone facilities in Burntwood and elsewhere in the rural district are being made as information about future development is obtained from the rural district council and from private developers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that equipment is not now available and will not be available for some years for the extension of subscriber trunk dialling to the Greyabbey and Portaferry and Kircubbin areas, he will now introduce a scheme whereby subscribers in these areas are allowed a discount on their telephone accounts to compensate them for the lack of subscriber trunk dialling service.

No. My right hon. Friend is introducing the STD system as rapidly as possible, but he cannot agree to pass on to subscribers the savings due to this system before they are achieved.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in improving the Maidstone and Madison telephone exchanges since 17th November, 1964.

These exchanges are still heavily loaded and, as I told the hon. Member on 17th November, relief will come mainly from the provision of new equipment and the introduction of Subscriber Trunk Dialling. The necessary work is being done as quickly as possible and should be completed by the middle of next year. Meanwhile, subscribers on Madison manual exchange will be given automatic service on Maidstone next month, and we shall then be able progressively to connect about 200 of those now waiting for telephones.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants for telephones are on the waiting list in Scaly-bridge, Hyde, Dukinfield, Longdendale, and Tintwistle, respectively.

The figures are:

Stalybridge	…	…	…	1
Hyde	…	…	…	105
Dukinfield	…	…	…	16
Longdendale	…	…	…	30
Tintwistle	…	…	…	Nil

asked the Postmaster-General why, on the Abbey and Whitehall Exchanges, the telephones are faulty, giving either wrong numbers or unobtainable rings on a large number of occasions.

I am sorry about these difficulties which are due mainly to failures of exchange equipment. Both these exchanges, and many others in London are being overhauled, and I hope that these measures will lead to an improvement in the service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give consideration to taking steps to incorporate the cost of radio and television receiving licences in the initial purchase price of the sets, with facilities for refund where appropriate.

No. I have considered various ideas on the lines of the hon. Member's suggestions, but I am afraid I have found them all impracticable.

asked the Postmaster-General what further consideration he has given to the proposed pay-television experiment; and whether he will call a conference of television and cinema interests to discuss future arrangements between the two industries.

The Government is reviewing the proposed experiment in pay television and I must ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome of the review. I do not contemplate calling a conference of television and cinema interests at this stage.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now make a statement about Stage 4 of the British Broadcasting Corporation's plans for improving and extending their television and very high frequency sound coverage.

Yes. I have now given my approval in principle to proposals made by the B.B.C.:1. to build low-power television relay stations in the following areas:

Aldeburgh.	Girvan.
Ayr.	Kilkeel.
Ballater.	Kingussie.
Ballycastle.	Llangollen.
Bodmin.	Llanidloes.
Bude.	Lochgilphead.
Campbeltown.	Portrush.
Cardigan.	Scilly Isles.
Dolgellau.	Whitby.

2. to build VHF sound relay stations in the following areas:

Ballycastle.	Llanidloes.
Campbeltown.	Lochgilphead.
Dolgellau.	Weardale.
Kilkeel.	Scilly Isles.
Kingussie.

The 18 television stations will give service for the first time to about 24,000 people, and improve reception for some 101,000 more; the 9 VHF sound stations will bring this service for the first time to over 30,000.It is hoped to complete Stage 4 some time in 1966. The B.B.C. are now considering a further stage.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what communications he has sent to authorities with power to acquire land by compulsion, and in particular to new town corporations, in relation to the exercise of discretionary powers given to them by virtue of Section 22 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1963.

The question of compensation for disturbance on compulsory acquisition is now the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources. My right hon. Friend's predecessor sent a circular to all local authorities and new town corporations on 21st May, 1963, about their discretionary powers in Section 22 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963, and on 12th June, 1964, the attention of all new town corporations was again drawn to them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the progress of smoke control orders, and on what further help he will give to speed up the clean air programme in the areas most severely affected.

Up to mid-December local authorities in England had made 1,771 orders covering over 2,320,000 premises. In the last 18 months progress in most, but not all, parts of the country has fallen off, and my right hon. Friend is anxious that momentum should be regained as soon as possible. Proposals for making better progress by simplifying procedure will be put to the local authority associations almost immediately.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that very large quantities of sulphur dioxide are still being discharged into the air over Great Britain; and what further steps he proposes to take to implement the Clean Air Act.

Substantial emission is inevitable, as no practicable means of preventing it has yet been found. The objective at present must therefore be to keep down ground level concentrations. This is being successfully done under the Alkali Act and Clean Air Act by requiring chimneys high enough to disperse major emissions over a wide area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that, despite the assurances recently given to the hon. Member for Heston and Isleworth by letter, the smell emanating from the Mogden Sewage Works at Isleworth has not abated, and has now become a public nuisance, causing nausea and sore throats to people over a wide area; and what action he will take to rectify this matter.

My right hon. Friend knows that the works are still giving trouble. The county council is installing special deodorising equipment as a temporary expedient until it can get the works operating normally again. The Department's officers have been in close touch and will continue to give all possible help.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will lake steps to compel those areas which are making no attempt to provide sites for itinerant gypsies to play their part, in order not to add to the burden of those authorities which are doing what they can to cope with the problem in their own area.

My right hon. Friend is holding discussions with the local authority associations to see what means can be adopted to ensure that an adequate number of sites is provided. He has no power to compel local authorities to provide sites.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will discuss with county authorities the possibility of setting up temporary transit camps for gypsies on a county basis while arrangements are being made for smaller permanent encampments to be established throughout the country.

Some county authorities are already providing sites on a county basis for gypsies and other travellers. It is for the counties themselves to assess the need and practicability of providing temporary sites for these people until more permanent arrangements can be made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made towards the building of an extended sea wall in Filey.

My right hon. Friend is ready to give loan sanction as soon as the local authority has settled the details of its scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that the proposed leasehold legislation will include residential property of which the freehold is owned by local councils and other public bodies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the legislation proposed for leasehold enfranchisement will apply to property owned by public bodies.

I would ask the hon. Members to await the publication of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when a decision will be reached about proposed extensions of the Metropolitan Green Belt in the Dartford rural district; and what action he will take meanwhile to prevent speculation in land in this area arising out of his recent decision in the North Ash planning appeal.

The local planning authority has not yet made formal proposals for extending the green belt in the Dartford rural district; and before confirming any such proposals my right hon. Friend would need to be satisfied that sufficient land has been allocated to meet the foreseeable need in the area. Anyone who buys land at more than existing use value without planning permission runs the risk of burning his fingers; the decision at Hartley does not alter this fact.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that parish councils which are exercising their rights to be street lighting authorities are also having to contribute through the rates to the cost of street lighting in other parishes which have failed to take this action; what representations he has received from the Wombourn Parish Council on this matter; and, in view of the possible delay in legislative action, if he will give authority for any charge for street lighting properly incurred by the Wombourn Parish Council to be deducted from the amount the ratepayers of Wombourn pay in district rate.

The incidence of street lighting charges in a rural parish is in the first place a matter between the rural district council and the parish council. The legal position has been explained to the Wombourn Parish Council by the Department in correspondence, and the council's representations for amendment of the law have been noted. My right hon. Friend has no power to give the authority to which the Question refers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if it is intended to bring control of water under one authority instead of several Ministries as at present; if he is aware of the high cost of supplying water to rural areas as instanced by the case of a Newark constituent, of whom he has received details, where the cost of connection to an existing main is estimated at £5,800, and that such capital costs are likely to delay the supply to farms and to restrict the building of new houses in country areas; what proposals he has for the future of water undertakings; and if he will make a statement on future water policy.

As regards Ministerial responsibility for water, I must ask my hon. Friend to await the detailed statement promised by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 26th November. The cost of connecting properties in rural areas to water mains varies widely. About 96 per cent. of such properties are connected already. Many of the remainder are isolated and the cost of connecting them is inevitably high. I have no statement to make at present on the future of water undertakings or on water policy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what would be his estimate of the increase in the cost of building an average size house as the result of the 15 per cent. surcharge, Bank Rate increase, petrol tax increase and National Insurance contribution increase, assuming that none of the extra costs falling on the suppliers of building materials and components were absorbed by them.

Such an estimate must involve the making of so many arbitrary assumptions that my right hon. Friend does not think the result would have any value.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to ensure co-ordination between the work of his Department, the Post Office and the Ministry of Technology in the field of communications satellite research and development.

Co-ordination is ensured by the normal processes of consultation between all Department concerned, including the Departments mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when construction of the new primary school at Bedhampton can be expected to start.

Two primary schools at Bedhampton were proposed by the Hampshire Local Education Authority for inclusion in the building programme for the period 1965–68. Neither was included in the programmes announced by my predecessor for that period. I shall be prepared to consider these proposals for the next school building programmes in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to announce a payment to the Ulster growers of the 1960 potato crop.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. Maginnis) on 15th December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends taking to provide public abattoir facilities in Maidstone after 1st January, 1965; and what steps he is taking to help farmers and the meat trade.

It is for local authorities to consider whether public slaughtering facilities are required in their districts. My right hon. Friend has no power to make such provision. There are slaughtering facilities at a number of places within reasonable distance of Maidstone.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reasons for the suspension of the operations of the clock auction system of the Gloucestershire Marketing Society Ltd. at Cheltenham, and the prospects for resumption of the experiment.

The Gloucestershire Marketing Society Limited have suspended the experimental clock auction because it did not appear to be giving complete satisfaction to users of its market at Cheltenham. It is for the Society to decide whether the experiment should be resumed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from seedsmen and nurserymen as to the effect upon their businesses of the imposition of a 15 per cent. surcharge on imports; and what replies he has sent.

We have received representations from four firms of nurserymen about the effect upon their businesses of the temporary import charge on nursery stock. The replies differed in detail, but all reaffirmed our intention to remove the charge as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the provisions of the Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931, are still apt; and whether he will make a statement.

Although my right hon. Friend is aware of criticism of this Act, mainly on the grounds that a sire can be adequately judged only by his progeny, a bad sire not eliminated at licensing age could have done much harm to the standards of our livestock by the time the defects of his progeny became apparent.A general licence is at present available to dairy bulls which pass a visual inspection but whose ancestor lactations were inadequate or unrecorded; but as from 1st January, 1966, the licensing of bulls of the dairy breeds (Ayrshire, Friesian, Guernsey and Jersey) by visual inspection only is to cease in England and Wales. After that date only the Dairy Bull licence, for which lactation records of female ancestors are required, will be available to such bulls.For beef bulls, only the visual appraisal is at present possible, but it is recognised to permit an adequate assessment of the beefing qualities likely to be transmitted. We are assisting the Beef Recording Association to extend the performance testing of beef bulls and the recording of growth rates in beef cattle with the object, among other things, of improving the means of evaluating beef bulls generally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the workings of the present Winter Keep Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, I recently commissioned an urgent study of the present pattern of hill subsidies to see whether they could be rationalised or modified in any way.In the particular case of the Winter Keep Scheme I am concerned that assistance should be related more closely to need: to this end I propose that, next year the present acreage grants in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should give way to a system of headage payments. These will take the form of Supplements to the existing Hill Cow and Hill Sheep Subsidies.Under the present system many hill farmers eligible for either or both of the hill stock subsidies were for one reason or another unable to take advantage of the Winter Keep grant. The change I propose will overcome this difficulty and enable about an additional 10,000 hill farmers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to share in the benefit. The rate of the Supplements will be determined at the coming Annual Review when the necessary Orders will be laid before the House. Meantime I think it right to announce the principle straight away so that hill farmers concerned will feel free to plan next year's cropping and stocking without reference to the conditions applying to the present system of acreage payments.This proposal is based upon consultation with the Hill Farming Advisory Committee, the National Farmers' Union, and County Agricultural Executive Committees in hill areas, and I am glad to say that the change commands general consent. In particular, my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Wales are satisfied that the new arrangements will operate to the advantage of hill farming in both Northern Ireland and Wales.As regards Scotland, as the House will know the Scottish Winter Keep Scheme is already on a different footing and is based upon a system of land grading and differential rates of grant. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is in consultation with the Scottish N.F.U. on whether any change should be made in the Scottish Scheme.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many of the proposals for legislation included in the Queen's Speech but not yet introduced into Parliament Her Majesty's Government intend to introduce before Easter.

As many as possible, and if the pre-Christmas rate of progress is maintained that will mean a good deal.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles of motorway and other major roads, respectively, are to be completed in Wales during 1965; and how this will compare with 1964.

5·75 miles of new construction on trunk and classified roads are expected to been completed in 1965. 23·11 miles have been completed this year.The first sections of motorway in Wales are due to be completed in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of the assistance from the Exchequer to the Welsh Tourist Board under the arrangements made by the last Administration.

So far £2,550 has been paid to the Wales Tourist and Holidays Association Limited, as part of the Exchequer grant of up to £40,000 promised to the Association to assist in meeting the cost of a programme of research into the potential development of the holiday industry. Only a small part of the total sum has been required since the new development officer and three field officers will not take up their appointments until the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for speeding up the provision of the Eastern Avenue by-pass at Cardiff.

Cardiff City Council is responsible for the detailed design including the preparation of draft orders under Sections 7 and 9 of the Highways Act, 1959. These draft orders should be ready for publication by next July. It is too soon to say whether it would be practicable for work to be started earlier than 1967–68 as at present planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of houses to be built in Wales during 1965 by local authorities, by private builders for owner-occupation, and by non-profit-making housing associations, respectively; and how these figures compare with the figures for 1964.

The estimated figures are as follows:

	1964	1965
Local Authorities (including Cwmbran Development Corporation)	8,700	9,000
Private Builders	9,500	9,500
Housing Associations	10	350

asked the Minister of Health if he will institute an independent inquiry into the circumstances attending the treatment of the late Mr. Hugh Harford Bailey in 1962 in Worcester Royal Infirmary, his discharge therefrom, and his death shortly afterwards.

No. I do not consider that any further inquiry is called for.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has to increase the size of the Woking Victoria Hospital to that of a general hospital, to meet the needs of the town.

The regional board's long-term plan is to increase the size of Woking Victoria Hospital to 120 beds.

asked the Minister of Health when he plans to start the construction of a new hospital at Frimley Park, Camberley; and what other plans he has to improve hospital facilities in the Frimley and Camberley area.

I am unable to say yet when the new hospital will start. The regional board hopes it will be possible to start work next year on the new ward block and other improvements at Farnham Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will publicise at schools and occupational centres for the mentally and physically handicapped the fact that those unable to enter remunerative employment may apply in their own right at 16 years of age for assistance from the National Assistance Board:(2) if he will give wider publicity to the fact that the mentally and physically handicapped unable to enter remunerative employment may in their own right at 16 years of age apply for assistance from the National Assistance Board.

I have no reason to think that this right is not well known to teachers and social and other workers who are in contact with and give advice to the mentally and physically handicapped, but I will gladly look into any particular difficulty my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to enhance the status and attractiveness of the nursing and midwifery professions in order to improve recruitment.

I am examining recruitment methods to see how they can be improved. I shall continue to encourage authorities to improve the conditions under which nurses and midwives work and are trained. Remuneration is a matter for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council and I understand that the Staff Side has recently submitted a comprehensive claim. Meantime, in accordance with an earlier agreement of the Council, hours of work are currently being reduced.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will recommend the award of a campaign medal for the military personnel involved in the Borneo operations.

The terms of award of the General Service Medal, 1962, for operational service in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei from December, 1962, were promulgated in a Command Paper presented to Parliament in September, 1964.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to Ministers when preparing legislation to consult those bodies and interests concerned who have usually been consulted in the past.

No special instructions are necessary and none have been given.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the House of Commons Library the full text of the public speech he made in Washington about the Scots Guards.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Kershaw) on 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if, since the location of the Household Cavalry barracks is of no military significance and the decision on it should therefore be a planning, not a defence, decision, he will request the Ministers concerned to reconsider the plan for rebuilding Knightsbridge Barracks on the present site, bearing in mind the desirability of preserving or extending the amenities of Hyde Park.

It is essential that the Household Cavalry should be in Central London to perform their ceremonial duties. The Ministers concerned have thoroughly reconsidered the plan for rebuilding Knightsbridge Barracks, including its effect on the amenities of Hyde Park, and have concluded that this is the only reasonable way to provide the necessary accommodation.

asked the Prime Minister if he will name and specify the duties of those persons appointed to work within Departments, including Downing Street, whose salaries are being paid by political organisations or parties.

There are no such persons.

asked the Prime Minister which Department is responsible for answering Questions regarding the Maldive Islands.

The Commonwealth Relations Office.

asked the Prime Minister (1) how many V-bombers and how many Polaris submarines will be irrevocably allocated to the proposed Atlantic Nuclear Force; and in what ways the United Kingdom's right to withdraw these forces differs from the existing right to withdraw the forces allocated to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation;(2) what proportion of the V-bomber force will be kept under British command for international police work and to fulfil international obligations outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation area; if this force will have a nuclear capacity and if it will be reinforced by TSR2s with a nuclear capacity; and until when it is estimated that this force will constitute a credible independent British nuclear deterrent.

I refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to my remarks, and those of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in the Foreign Affairs debate last week.

asked the Prime Minister what general progress is being made in appointing chairmen and hastening the reports of the review bodies, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Tynemouth.

Good progress is being made.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what is the extent of the responsibilities of the Minister of Land and Natural Resources in respect of control of pollution in inland and coastal waters;(2) what is the extent of the responsibilities in respect of the Water Resources Board and river authorities of the Minister of Land and Natural Resources.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the detailed statement which I hope to make very soon after the Christmas Recess.

asked the Prime Minister what changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly to the Council of Europe.

The right hon. Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. R. A. Butler) has been nominated as a substitute Member.

asked the Minister of Aviation what representations he has received from the Ferranti Company concerning the repayment of the excess profits made by the company on the Bloodhound missile; and whether he will give an assurance that there will be an annual interest charge at current rates of interest over the entire period of the repayment.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Middlesborough, West (Dr. Bray) and West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 16th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Territorial Army officers' present annual clothing allowance and bounty were fixed; at what figures they would now require to be fixed to take account of the decline in the purchasing power of money; and whether he will increase them;(2) when it is proposed to announce the increases in the rates of bounty paid to other ranks in the Territorial Army which the previous Minister of Defence foreshadowed;(3) what representations have been received by his Department about the desirability of raising the minimum requirements for the earning of bounty by Territorial Army soldiers; and what action he will take.

The annual allowance made to officers of the Territorial Army for the maintenance of certain items of uniform was fixed at the present rate of £4 in 1963. The rate is normally reviewed triennially and thus, it will again be examined in 1966. Bounties for Territorial Army officers were introduced with effect from 1st November, 1955.If the annual clothing allowance and bounties were to be fixed to take account of the decline in the purchasing power of money, without regard to other relevant factors, it is estimated that the figures for clothing allowance would be £4 2s. 0d. and for bounties £8 15s. 6d. (basic) and £18 16s. 0d. (higher).The review of the bounty arrangements foreshadowed by the previous Secretary of State for Defence is still in progress. Until it has been completed it is not possible to say what changes will result nor from what date the changes will take place.No representations have been received that the minimum requirements for the earning of bounty by Territorial Army soldiers should be raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he proposes to take to enable officers and other ranks of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, who have conscientious objections to transferring thair sworn allegiance from Her Majesty the Queen to foreign leadership and wearing a special North Atlantic Treaty Organisation uniform, to resign from Her Majesty's Forces rather than serve under the Atlantic Nuclear North Atlantic Treaty Organisation force.

There is no question of British Service man being required to relinquish his allegiance to the Crown.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether Poole and certain other towns in Dorset are still to feature in the Government's review of the regional organisation for South-East England, or whether these towns are now to be considered as part of the South-West Region whose economic planning board is to be centred on Bristol.

Although Dorset is included in the South-West economic planning region, my right hon. Friend is well aware that it has affiliations both with the South-West and South-East. This will be taken fully into account in drawing up regional plans, and in the Government's review of the proposals contained in the South-East Study.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that national average earnings tend to confuse many wage and salary earners who earn less than the national average, whether, in his attempt to develop an incomes policy, he will seek to ensure that there is no reference to a national wage or salary.

As the hon. Lady is no doubt aware, the methods of achieving the objectives set out in the joint statement of intent on productivity, prices and incomes are now being discussed with management and unions. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend is not is a position to make any further statement.