asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on the special responsibilities he has assumed for social security matters; and what steps he is taking to discharge those responsibilities.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the description of my responsibilities which I gave in answer to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Leeds, North-East (Sir K. Joseph) on 25th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to invite outside bodies to submit evidence for consideration in his review of social security; to whom evidence should be submitted; and by what date it should be made available.

As I have already told the House, the Government will welcome any representations or views which organisations or individuals care to send in. As the review proceeds, Ministers may invite certain bodies to give their views on particular issues. Representations should be addressed in the first instance to the Minister in charge of the department concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the imports of early potatoes from Spain, Cyprus, Malta, and Egypt throughout May and June 1964 were in fact early varieties; and if he will make a statement on the effect of these imports on home producers.

I am satisfied that the existing arrangements are adequate to ensure that imports of new potatoes correspond with the definition in the import licensing regulations. It is difficult to assess the effect on the home producer of imports of new potatoes in May and June 1964, but it must be borne in mind that the home crop did not reach the market in quantity until about the middle of June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the nature of his official talks with traders concerning rising prices; what steps he proposes to take to peg the cost of living; and if he will make a statement.

In reply to the first part of this Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 20th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin). In reply to the second half, I have nothing to add to the answers given on 19th and 21st January by my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that surface water from the new motorway is likely seriously to increase the danger of flooding to farms alongside the River Severn between Gloucester and Berkeley; and what additional works he will authorise to obviate this flooding.

I understand that the consultant engineers for the Ministry of Transport have still to submit to the Severn River Board their drainage proposals for the Gloucester to Berkeley motorway. When they have, the Board will take steps to arrange for consultation with any local drainage authorities affected to ensure that adequate drainage arrangements are made. As a result, I do not expect the motorway to lead to any increase in the danger of flooding to farms.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, in spite of recent works, the rhines in the Epney area of Gloucestershire are not adequate to prevent serious flooding, even though the season has been unusually dry, and that this is causing serious loss to farmers and inconvenience to all; and what steps he will propose to remedy the situation.

Flooding may occur when abnormally high water levels in the River Severn prevent discharge through the gravity outfall of the Epney Rhine. The general situation could be remedied by a pumping station. This is a matter for the South Gloucestershire Internal Drainage Board. Up to now they have not felt justified in putting forward a pumping scheme. If they do decide to do so, we will, of course, examine it sympathetically.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many confirmed outbreaks of anthrax there have been in Devon and Cornwall in the last three months; what were the comparable figures for the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Twenty-eight outbreaks of anthrax were confirmed in Devon and Cornwall in the three months November, 1964, to January, 1965. The figures for the corresponding period from 1960 onwards are 2, 6, 5 and 1, and the annual totals for those two counties since 1960 have been 5, 34, 17, 10 and 25. The inquiries we have made indicate that the 28 cases referred to are likely to have originated from anthrax contamination in feedingstuffs.In Great Britain as a whole outbreaks of anthrax have in recent months been occurring in greater numbers than usual and over a wide area. These are now becoming fewer and the indications are that a gradual reduction in incidence will continue. We are still proceeding with the investigations into the justification for further control over imported bones and bone products, which I referred to in the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on 4th December last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of anthrax in pigs have been reported in England and Wales during each of the past six months; and how this number compares with the total in the same period during 1963-64.

The numbers of outbreaks of anthrax in pigs in England and Wales in each of the six months from August, 1964, to January, 1965, were 4, 3, Nil, 12, 32 and 20. The total of 71 for this period compares with a total of 6 for the same period in 1963-64.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total increase in farm costs over a full year resulting from the autumn wage award, the imposition of the import surcharge, the increase in fuel tax, the increases in the rates of National Insurance contributions, and the rise in Bank Rate.

Part of the temporary import charge has been absorbed by dealers and distributors, and for the rest it is not possible to isolate the effects of the charge from those of other factors affecting costs. As regards the other items mentioned in the Question, these are estimated to increase costs by about £28 million in a full year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of overseas suppliers about the continuation of the cereal agreement, in particular in regard to the desired levels of wheat and barley production at home in 1965; and whether he will make a statement.

The first of the regular consultations provided for under the agreements with our four major overseas suppliers took place in London last month. The supply and demand situation for the current year was examined and it was agreed that there should be further consultations when the data permitting a more precise assessment of future prospects had become available. As regards the desired level of wheat and barley production in 1963, this, as the right hon. Member well knows, is a matter for decision following the forthcoming Annual Review, and I have no statement to make.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the killing of seals on the Farne Islands takes place only when authorised by his Department.

The order now in force suspending the close season on the Fame Islands prohibits any unauthorised killing of grey seals, and any future Orders made would contain similar provisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many, in number and in weight, imported tins of corned beef are now in store in Britain under his control or licence; where they are; where they came from; what he plans to do with them; and how he plans to ensure that they are fit for human consumption.

I must withhold details of the extent and location of the Government stocks which are maintained for defence purposes. They come from various Commonwealth and South American countries, and are regularly examined and sampled by a firm of independent surveyors. They will continue to be released for peace-time consumption only to the limited extent necessary to turn over stocks, and of course nothing which is unfit will be released. In particular, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland informed the hon. and learned Member on 17th December, none of the small part of the stockpile which, in the light of the Milne Report, might be unsafe will be released until it has been subjected to a safe method of processing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that owner-occupiers who wish to change from one farm to another are deterred from entering into contracts for sale or purchase of farms by the prospect of exposing themselves to additional taxation upon capital gains; and what steps he will take to help such persons through his National Agricultural Advisory Service.

I am not willing to speculate on the effects this prospective tax may have on the agricultural industry, nor to assume that any class of farmer will need advice from my Department. In any case, I have no information which would bear out the hon. Member's description of the present state of the property market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much longer he expects the scarcity of beef to continue.

Total beef supplies during 1965 are expected to be about the same as last year, with the advantage that they should be rather more evenly spread.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy in regard to the application of factory methods to farming.

The main policy issue that arises concerns animal welfare. This is being examined by the Brambell Committee, whose report we hope to receive by the end of the summer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the result of his re-examination of forms to be used by people wishing to rid themselves of the obligation to collect their neighbours' ground rents.

We have already simplified this procedure by waiving the provision of a plan in most cases, and it is hoped to be able to improve the application forms very shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in connection with his plans for implementing the report on brucellosis, he will inaugurate a scheme of brucella-free herds with compensation for any losses.

The report on brucellosis made no recommendation and until I have received and considered the results of my Department's further studies of the problem I cannot say whether eradication is feasible or not.

asked the Minis. ter of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what schemes he has under consideration for establishing a copyright in plants and seeds under the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act, 1964.

In conjunction with my colleagues, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, I shall shortly be laying before Parliament, under the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act 1964, schemes for the grant of plant breeders' rights in new varieties of wheat, barley, oats, potatoes and roses. Consideration is being given to the technical and other problems involved in making schemes for a number of other groups of plants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to alleviate the rising costs of production in the horticultural industry.

The horticultural industry has not been alone in recent years in facing rising costs of production. This is a situation which the Government has inherited and our general policy is directed towards bringing costs and prices under control. I hope that growers will take full advantage of the many forms of financial assistance and technical advice available to them.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move for a Select Committee to consider the desirability of placing a statue of the late Lard Carson of Duncairn in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster.

No. I have no evidence of any general desire for this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision has been reached arising from the South Eastern Regional Hospital Board's discussions with the Scottish Home and Health Department in 1964 on the scale of future hospital maternity provisions; and if he will give an assurance that action will be taken to provide more maternity beds in West Fife.

The need for further maternity beds in West Fife and elsewhere is being considered in the course of the review of the hospital building programme referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 25th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the percentage increase in the amount which it will be necessary to raise in rates in Scotland in the first year of operation of the General Grant (Scotland) Order, dated 8th December, 1964, over the previous year.

About 6 per cent., but because of increased rateable value from new property the average rate poundage should increase only by about 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the functions of the proposed Scottish Planning Board will differ from those performed by the Scottish Development Group during the past two years.

The Board will pay more specific regard to the industrial element in planning for growth in the Scottish economy, and will be working in the context of a national plan that takes account of Scotland's needs and potentialities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the decision of Lanark County Council Education Committee to dismiss from its service a number of persons employed as uncertificated teachers; and if he will take steps to draw the attention of these people to the opportunities presently offered in teacher training.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Milne Report on the typhoid epidemic in Aberdeen exceeded its terms of reference by criticising the national Press, television and radio on the ground that they exaggerated the danger and produced unfortunate results notwithstanding that the epidemic was quickly and effectively ended by Dr. Ian MacQueen, the Aberdeen Medical Officer of Health; and if he will take steps to correct this mis-statement.

The Milne Report does not express, nor does it appear to imply, any criticism of the national Press, television or radio, and no correction seems necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to apply the principles of comprehensive education in Scotland.

Many education authorities have already made considerable progress with the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines and a number of developments are at present in hand. It is my policy to expedite progress on these lines. I intend to ask education authorities to review the position and to report on their future plans, and I hope to give them some guidance as to how development on these lines can best proceed.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons were convicted of using a motor vehicle without statutory insurance during the 12 months to the last convenient date; and in how many cases disqualification was ordered by the court.

81,352 during the year ended 31st December, 1963. Disqualification was ordered in 25,562 cases.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to amend Section 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, so as to abolish the emergency treatment fee payable by the driver of a motor vehicle, in view of the fact that payment now has to be made irrespective of any proved liability for negligence.

This provision has existed in its present form since 1934. The case for its withdrawal will be considered when a suitable legislative opportunity arises. Payments made under the provision are covered by compulsory motor insurance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise an extension of the 30 miles per hour speed limit in Old Port Road, Wenvoe, in the county of Glamorgan, in view of representations from local residents, from the Wenvoe Parish Council, and from the hon. Member for Barry.

No. The reasons were explained in a letter to the clerk to the Wenvoe Parish Council on 18th January, a copy of which has been sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the danger arising from the dangerous sweeping curves approaching the M.1 Markfield exit and access point; what steps he proposes to take to deal with them; and whether he will have warning notices erected on the road at appropriate places.

The curves on the A.50, at its approaches to the Markfield junction with M.1, conform to accepted design standards and are not considered to be dangerous. Some accidents occurred during construction of the junction, probably because traffic approached the roundabout too fast. Erection of warning signs at the roundabout and on its approaches is expected to be completed in the next few days and additional "Slow" markings are to be painted on the carriageways. The situation will be kept under close observation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now confirm the compulsory purchase order on the Aston Tinsley length of the M.1, and the draft compulsory purchase orders to be published on the Meadowhall section of the M.1.

No. These orders cannot be made until the statutory procedure for considering objections to the draft orders has been completed. They may then be made with or without modifications. In the case of the Aston-Tinsley length of M.1, I am considering the report of the inspector who held an inquiry and hope to announce my decision shortly. A draft Order covering one section of the Meadowhall length will be published on 12th February. The draft orders for the remaining sections cannot be published until final details of the land required are determined.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now confirm the Section 13 orders on the Wakefield Meadowhall section of the M.1.

No. There were a number of objections to the draft Order and I am now considering them. This will necessarily take some time.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to hold the public inquiry at Outlane, near Huddersfield, concerning the route of the motorway M.62; and if he will consider the possibility of holding the inquiry early in March, 1965.

For the present, I cannot add to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 20th January.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the allowed maximum continuous period of duty of a British Eur0opean Airways domestic services captain of aircraft.

B.E.A. captains are instructed not to exceed continuous periods of duty of 11 hours for single-pilot crews, 13 hours for two-pilot crews, and 14 hours for three-pilot crews. In practice on domestic routes their captains are rostered for periods between 2½ and 11 hours a day. Actual flying hours are appreciably less. The average weekly duty hours for B.E.A. captains are 30 in summer and 25 in winter. The Corporation, I am satisfied, pays special attention, in the interests both of their crews and of their passengers, to avoidance of pilot fatigue.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a further statement on his negotiations with the Ferranti Company on the repayment of the excessive profit made on the Bloodhound missile.

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

asked the Minister of Aviation when he expects the plans for the extension and improvement of the terminal building at the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Plans have been completed and local interests are now being consulted about them. I will make a statement when these consultations are complete.

asked the Minister of Aviation what was the result of the conference in Paris concerning the European Launcher Development Organisation; and what new plans have been made by the European Space Research Organisation.

A conference attended by all the European Launcher Development Organisation Member States met in Paris from 19th to 21st January, to review the activities of the Organisation and to examine proposals concerning its future work.The cost of completing the first programme launcher which is based on conventional techniques and has a limited operational capability, will be higher than the original estimate. A working group has therefore been set up to consider the feasibility of profiting from the technical results already achieved and the experience acquired by the Organisation, to develop an advanced launching system making use of the most modern techniques. The system would continue to make use of Blue Streak as the first stage.The conference will be convened again this year to review progress.The European Space Research Organisation is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, but I understand that the Organisation has made no new plans.

asked the Minister of Aviation what United States aircraft he is studying with a view to their purchase in substitution for the HS681; and what is his estimate of the total cost of United States aircraft to satisfy United Kingdom defence requirements.

I would refer my hon. Friend to yesterday's statement by the Prime Minister.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consideration he has given to the effect on the Concord project of the cancellation of TSR2; and if he will make a statement.

On the Concord, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 20th January last. As regards the TSR2, I would refer him to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in yesterday's Debate.

asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain balanced production and design units at Short Brothers and Harland in their future plans for the British aircraft industry.

The Government are giving urgent consideration to the problems facing Short Brothers and Harland.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has studied the possibility of adapting the Belfast strategic transport aeroplane to fulfil a dual strategic and tactical rôle with short takeoff potential; and what the cost of developing the present Tyne engine would be in order to increase this aircraft's present lift and range capabilities.

The possibility of using the Belfast in the dual strategic and tactical role was carefully studied as part of the defence programme review but the advantages offered by the purchase of the Lockheed C.13 CE could not be ignored. As regard the second part of the hon. Member's question, the cost of the engine development, if approved, would fall on the Defence sub-head, details of which are not published, but I should point out that apart from the engine development costs, substantial sums would have to be spent on providing larger propellers, new reduction gearboxes and associated airframe alterations.

asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent the production of missiles falls within the scope of the Committee of Inquiry into Aviation.

The production of guided weapons is one of the activities of the aerospace industry which Lord Plowden's Committee is expected to cover in the course of its inquiries.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources how many deer were shot during the past three years on estates owned by the Forestry Commission.

About 21,000.

asked the Minister of Health who tests scientifically food imported to Britain; and what scientific tests are applied before such food is released for human consumption in Britain.

Port health and other local authorities take samples at their discretion for chemical and bacterological tests by public analysts and by the Public Health Laboratory Service.

asked the Minister of Health how and when he disposes of rejected imported food; and, in dumping it in the sea, how he satisfies himself that it will not infect fish and destroy their fertility.

Justices of the peace have power to order the destruction or disposal of condemned imported food under the supervision of the medical use for officer of health.

asked the Minister of Health when the review body on doctors' remunerationis expected to report; and when a statement will be made to the House on it.

The Review Body has now reported and a statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to eliminate the payment of fees by drug companies to hospital consultants and general practitioners for the conducting of clinical trials.

No. Acceptance of such fees does not diminish the doctor's professional responsibility for the appropriate treatment of his patient, and I have no evidence that patients' interests are thereby prejudiced.

asked the Minister of Health if he will instruct all teaching hospitals that treatment shall not be made conditional on the patient consenting to be used for teaching purposes if required, and that the patient's consent to be used must be obtained.

According to a survey undertaken last year no teaching hospital imposes such a condition. Guidance was subsequently given to teaching hospitals on the need to explain their beaching activities to patients and to seek the patients' co-operation. It is too early to assess the effect of this guidance. I am however watching the position.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider introducing a statutory procedure for hospital complaints analagous to that of the executive councils for complaints arising in the general medical services.

I do not consider that a procedure of the kind suggested would be suitable for hospital complaints, but I am at present considering whether the various procedures now in use for dealing with such complaints can be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the decision of the Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 29th September, 1964, upholding the appeal of Mrs. Peter Dunn to be granted a proxy vote when she accompanied her husband abroad, if he will introduce legislation to provide that electoral registration officers in England and Wales, as well as in Scotland, will now allow a proxy vote to any wife accompanying her husband abroad, when the husband has obtained a proxy vote under section 12(1)(b)(i) of the Representation of the People Act 1949.

This is one of the questions included for consideration in the general review of electoral law.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will undertake a revision of the lists of buildings of architectural or historic interest in the country, with a view to ensuring that all houses on the lists should be of sufficient architectural or historic interest to justify grants for restoration or preservation.

No. My right hone Friend's duty under section 32 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, is to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. All such buildings are in fact eligible for grants from local authorities under the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act, 1962.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what considerations led him to take his recent decision under Sections 32 and 33 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, to add the railings round St. Mary's Churchyard, Ashford to the provisional list of buildings of architectural or historic interest;(2) why no consultations took place with Ashford Urban District Council before his decision to add the cast-iron railings round the churchyard of the parish church of St. Mary the Virgin to the provisional list of buildings of architectural or historic interest.

My right hon. Friend is advised that a complete run of railings of this type is extremely rare and that they are of special interest as a late example of the work of a 19th century Kentish iron-master. There was no need to consult the local authority before adding them to the provisional list.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to assist men, who have had to leave their homes in development areas to find work elsewhere, to return home in the event of work becoming available there.

Anyone who takes work away from home can maintain his registration for employment in his home area so that he can be informed of any suitable jobs becoming available. Those who have been helped under the Resettlement Transfer Scheme on the basis of returning home as soon as suitable work becomes available may travel home at public expense to take up a job within two years after leaving home.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the dispute between Messrs. Wm. Denby and Sons, Baildon, and the National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers is now 14 months old; what steps he has taken to obtain a settlement; whether he will institute an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the dispute; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My officers tried without success to promote a settlement by conciliation. Last November the trade union approached me about this dispute and after careful consideration I informed them that there was nothing further I could do which would lead to a settlement. I have reconsidered the matter but I am still of the same opinion. I do not propose to institute an independent inquiry. In December the trade union submitted a formal complaint that the firm was in breach of the Fair Wages Resolution of this House. The firm's observations are now being considered, and if the matter is not otherwise settled I shall refer it to the Industrial Court for decision.

asked the Postmaster-General what is his policy towards the N.T.S.C. system of colour television; what consideration he has given to any alternative system; and if he will make a statement.

Recent reports suggesting that the United Kingdom's support for the N.T.S.C. system is no longer so firm are without foundation. The fact is rather that developments over the last few months have served rather to strengthen the Government's view that the N.T.S.C. system should be adopted. In particular, a former criticism that it was unsuitable for transmitting over long distances has been shown to be unfounded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the agreement between the United States of America and Canada, instituting free trade in cars and car parts between the two countries; what estimate he has made of the effect this agreement is likely to have on British exports; what are the regulations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade on this subject; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the agreement between the Governments of Canada and the United States of America, which provides for the removal of United States duties on Canadian made motor vehicles and original parts and for the granting to bona fide Canadian manufacturers of motor vehicles rights to import vehicles and original parts free of duty from any source.The agreement appears in some respects to be inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. I understand that the United States Government intend to seek a waiver from their obligations under Article I to the extent necessary to allow them to implement the agreement: this Article provides that any advantage given by a contracting party to the General Agreement to a product of any country should be accorded to like products of all other contracting parties.