asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will approve the building of a new physical education college in the West of Scotland, in view of the need for more adequate and autonomous up-to-date accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

New and larger premises in Edinburgh are under construction for the Dunfermline College of Physical Education for women and an extension of the Scottish School of Physical Education (for men) is being planned as part of the redevelopment of Jordanhill College of Education. The Scottish Council for the Training of Teachers, which advises me on matters of this kind, has not suggested to me that any new centre is required for the training of teachers of physical education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will approve an improvement scheme for the bridge at Calder Street, Coatbridge, in view of the large-scale social development taking place.

The town council has been told that the scheme to replace a bridge over the main railway line at Calder Street may go ahead in 1966. The council's proposal to reconstruct a second railway bridge in that street will be considered for a later year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the 1964 Scottish potato crop now remains on farms; and how this compares with the position at a similar date in each of the last two years.

At 31st December, 1964, the latest date for which figures are available, 59 per cent. of the 1964 Scottish potato crop was held on farms. At 31st December, 1963, 52 per cent. of the 1963 crop and at 31st December, 1962, 53 per cent. of the 1962 crop were held on farms.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Government will now authorise the use by the Potato Marketing Board of the support fund, although the United Kingdom average price has not yet dropped below the guaranteed price, in view of the situation in the north of Scotland and in order to stabilise the market before a worse situation develops.

The Joint Market Support Fund was established for use to strengthen the market for potatoes in years of heavy surplus and low prices throughout Great Britain and not to deal with regional market weaknesses. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, and I are not so far satisfied that the situation in the national market justified the use of this fund. We are however keeping the situation under careful review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a grant to the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board towards the cost of providing an electric blanket for the Tay Road Bridge.

At its meeting on 1st February the Joint Board decided against providing an electric blanket for the roadway on the new bridge. The question of making a grant towards the cost therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the growing difficulties in the procurator fiscal service, he will offer better financial terms for entrants to the service, whether on a full-time or on a part-time basis.

Negotiations are about to begin on a claim for salary improvements for the legal class of the Civil Service, including procurators fiscal, both full-time and part-time. These discussions will take present recruiting difficulties fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres the Forestry Commission will be planting in the current year in Scotland; and if he anticipates an expansion in this acreage in future years.

In the current planting season, which ends in two or three months' time, the Commission hopes to plant about 30,000 acres. I will shortly consider with my colleagues, what acreage will be planted in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last received a claim for an increase in payments to pharmacists in the National Health Service; whether the Whitley Council will consider comparable earnings in private commerce or industry in assessing rewards; and how long this consideration is expected to take.

A claim for an increase in payments to pharmacists in the National Health Service was submitted on 24th September, 1964. The claim is at present under consideration by the Whitley Council who will take account of comparable earnings in private commerce or industry, together with other relevant factors. There will be no avoidable delay in dealing with the claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average lapse of time between the submission of tenders for housing developments and approval being given for such developments.

Four to five weeks is the average time taken by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what lapse of time there is between approval of housing development by his Department and commencement of building operations.

About five months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many communal, domestic and individual air-raid shelters were demolished in Glasgow in 1964 under the Government-aided programme; and how far this programme will be extended in the forthcoming year.

Nine hundred and seventy eight communal domestic and 542 individual shelters were demolished in Glasgow at Government expense in 1964. Shelters will continue to be demolished if they are structurally unsound or a danger to health, or if they impede an approved development.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many convictions there were in each of the last three years for driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs; in how many of these cases loss of life was entailed; and what were the maximum and minimum sentences imposed.

The numbers of persons against whom charges were proved of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drink or drugs in 1961, 1962 and 1963 were 2,382, 2,668 and 2,950, respectively. The highest sentence imposed was 21 months' imprisonment and disqualification for 20 years. At the other end of the scale fines of varying amounts were imposed, normally with disqualification; and, during the three-year period, six persons were placed on probation and one was given an absolute discharge. I regret it is not possible to identify in how many of these cases fatal accidents occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a full report of his investigations into the Cadco project in Glenrothes.

When the review has been completed and definite conclusions have been reached the results will be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the current housing situation in Mallaig.

I understand that Inverness County Council is having difficulty in finding suitable land for houses at Mallaig. It is of course for the Council to deal with this problem, but I will gladly give any help I properly can.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to set up a select committee to inquire into the present arrangements for informing members of the public of the business before the House and its progress and to see what improvements may be made to them.

No. Facilities exist for answering inquiries on these matters and I know of no reason to think that these facilities are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the actual tender price submitted by Cleveland Bridge Company for the construction of Tinsley Viaduct in Yorkshire; and if this was the lowest priced tender.

The amount of the tender submitted by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Co. Ltd., was £4,608,053. This was not the lowest tender initially, but it proved to be the lowest after the necessary adjustments had been made to the tenders so that all accorded with my Department's requirements.

asked the Minister of Transport, in dealing with the tenders for the construction of the Tinsley Viaduct on the M.1 motorway, what was the capitalised cost of maintenance taken into account in comparing the Cleveland Bridge Engineering Company's tender with the other tenders; and if this is included in the construction cost of £4,500,000.

About £150,000 This figure is not included in the estimated construction cost of £4½million.

asked the Minister of Transport if the consultants mentioned in the Press release for the construction of the Tinsley Viaduct, Yorkshire, were employed for the design on the instruction of his Department or the Cleveland Bridge Engineering Company.

The consultants in question were initially retained by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co. Ltd.

asked the Minister of Transport if the unsuccessful tenders for the construction of Tinsley Viaduct on the M.1 motorway were designs of simple support or continuous beam; if engineers from his Department will supervise the construction; and if he will name the consultants who will also do so.

Two of the unsuccessful tenders were for designs on the simply-supported principle; the third incorporated an element of continuity. The construction of the bridge will be supervised by Freeman, Fox &Partners, the designers, who will maintain the normal liaison with my Department's engineers.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will outline his policy for the positioning of service areas on trunk routes.

I have powers to provide service areas on motorways only. Subject to topography and the desirability for safety reasons of locating them at least two miles from junctions, service area sites are selected at approximately 12mile intervals. Since my powers of compulsory purchase of land are restricted, service areas must normally be close alongside the motorway. The precise locations are decided after consultation with the local authorities, who give outline planning permission. Initially, alternate sites are developed: the others are reserved for development when justified by the growth of traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make an announcement about the proposed line of the M.4 motorway between Tormarton and Maidenhead.

I hope to publish next month a draft Special Road Scheme for the 30 miles of M.4 from Tormarton in Gloucestershire to Liddington in Wiltshire. Except for minor local variations the line follows closely the "modified direct route" already announced as the line for detailed survey. There will, of course, be the statutory period of three months from the date of publication during which objections to the proposals can be lodged.The remaining section eastwards to Maidenhead presents more difficulty. Since the consulting engineers carried out the bulk of their survey there have been certain developments of wide significance—notably those arising from the Channel Tunnel project and the South East England Study. Further information has also become available from the Reading and District Traffic Survey. In these circumstances I have asked the consulting engineers to re-examine certain sections of their report in the light of these developments. I have also appointed another firm of consulting engineers to carry out a study of the approaches to M.4 from the south of London and the extreme south-east of England.I fully understand the difficulty and anxiety which lack of information about the line of M.4 is causing in Berkshire, and I will do my best to reach a decision as soon as possible. I am pressing ahead with the necessary preliminary consultations so that I can seek the views of the major authorities concerned at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will erect a sign, "Airport Entrance Ahead", on the road approaching Elmdon Airport.

An advance direction sign on the eastern approach to the airport will shortly be erected. My divisional road engineer is considering the need for a sign west of the entrance. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport, following his examination of improved operational co-ordination between different forms of transport, if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to develop land adjacent to railway stations as municipal bus stations, or for car parking provision.

There are obvious advantages in the juxtaposition of municipal bus and railway stations, and I am arranging for this and other aspects of operational co-ordination to be studied. A planning bulletin on parking to be issued shortly will, among other things, deal with the advantages of linking car parks with public transport facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet received proposals from British Railways regarding the future of the Richmond—Broad Street line; and if, to remove uncertainty, he will make a statement on the future of the line as soon as possible.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Acton (Mr. Floud) and to the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey (Mr. A. Royle) on 11th February.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive proposals from the Railways Board regarding the future of the Richmond—Broad Street line.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend on 11th February.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a general direction in the public interest, to the Railways Board, not to restrict the passenger services on any line in respect of which the Board has undertaken to submit proposals.

No. It would be contrary to the public interest to fetter the Board's discretion to reduce services, especially where such reduction may be a means of avoiding having to propose closure.

asked the Minister of Transport, in his consultations before the British Railways Board announced, on 5th January, 1965, price increases of 5 per cent. in passenger rail fares outside the London area, what consideration he gave to the fact that the proposal included much higher increases for short journeys, in respect of which no announcement was then made.

The national fares increases announced by the British Railways Board, which I discussed with them, were for an average 5 per cent. rise in season ticket rates and an increase from 3d. to 3¼d. a mile (about 8 per cent.) for ordinary second class fares, with a corresponding increase for first class. Local adjustments up and down, especially in reduced-rate fares, are frequently made by the management and are not, of course, referred to me. If the right hon. Member has one of these in mind, the Railways Board would give him the details.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has given to the communication from the President of the Swindon and District Branch of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding unroadworthy motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend has replied to my hon. Friend's letter of 10th February enclosing one sent to him by the Federation. I have no powers which would enable me to impose the requirements suggested, and no evidence to show that existing legal safeguards are inadequate to prevent the sale of defective vehicles.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give details of the basis of compensation being offered to those made redundant as a result of recent changes in the aircraft industry; and what is his policy towards such compensation.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour will be introducing general legislation on severance pay in due course. Severance pay for workers declared redundant in the period before the statu- tory scheme comes into operation must be a matter for negotiation between the companies and trade unions concerned.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will place an order with the Hawker-Siddeley Company for the 1127 aircraft in time to prevent the break-up of design teams at Kingston now declared redundant here due to the cancellation of the P 1154.

My Department has already authorised preliminary work on the P 1127 to maintain the team which will be required for the development of the aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation what proportion of the total cost of the TSR2 project is accounted for by electronic equipment.

Electronic equipment, identifiable as such, accounts for about 10 per cent. of the total cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnages of potatoes were imported from Spain, Cyprus, Malta and Egypt during May and June 1964; and what effect these imports had on home producers.

Imports of new potatoes from Spain, Cyprus, Malta and Egypt were 78,900 tons in May 1964 and 68,200 tons in June 1964. There were no imports of maincrop potatoes. On the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on 3rd February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why there has been delay in giving clearance for dairy farming to Jull and Son of Roberts Farm, Smarden, Kent, who have been prevented from carrying on their business by the outbreak of fluoracetamide poisoning since August 1963.

In the light of crop tests, Messrs. Jull and Son were advised on 2nd February that my Department sees no reason why normal farming operations should not be resumed subject to certain measures being taken in connection with the watercourses. This means that the land which was put down to winter wheat in the autumn of 1964 could, after re-seeding, be used for grazing dairy stock from the spring of 1966 onwards. As a precaution, further tests on one small area will be made during the 1965 growing season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, having regard to the need for conserving foreign currency and, at the same time, assisting the home grower, he will now impose a surcharge on the import of dried peas.

No. It is the Government's policy that foodstuffs should not be subject to the present temporary import charge, the purpose of which is entirely different from the protective tariff. There is a tariff of 10 per cent. or 7s. 6d. per cwt., whichever is the greater, on imports of foreign dried green and blue whole peas.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for improving the Post Office facilities for people living in the Peartree, Woodhall, Hollybush, and Hall Grove areas of Welwyn Garden City.

The Post Office facilities in the areas in question are generally up to standard, and my right hon. Friend has no plans for changing them. If the noble Lord has in mind any special difficulty and will let me have details, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will use his powers to direct the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to avoid the transmission of programmes likely to cause artificial tension or unrest.

No. The broadcasting authorities are responsible for programme content.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has concerning the cost of defence and its effect on the balance of payments problem.

Defence affects the balance of payments in two main ways: overseas expenditure and the impact on the economy. In the twelve months up to 30th September, 1964, overseas military expenditure was about £300 million including defence aid but excluding military imports for which figures are not readily available. It is difficult to quantify the impact on the economy but at just over 7 per cent. of our Gross National Product, defence expenditure imposes a heavy strain on our resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in receipt of the State retirement pension pay Income Tax on these pensions.

About 1½ million counting married couples as one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost, at current rates of Income Tax and of State retirement pensions, of exempting retirement pensioners from bearing Income Tax on their State pensions.

About £60 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the notes and coin issue, the figure of the internal national debt, and the figures of the external national debt at 5th April, respectively, in each year since 1914.

The following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for the removal of Purchase Tax on furniture; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to suspending, blocking or delaying payment of royalties due to Hungarian nationals whilst similar payments, acknowledged by the competent Hungarian State authorities to be due to British nationals, are partly withheld, and the transfer of the balance to London is blocked.

If the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind I will look into it, but I could not accept the course of action he suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement following the visit of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to Gibraltar.

My right hon. Friend is due back from the Caribbean tonight, and, as I stated in the Adjournment debate on Gibraltar on 11th February, this will be a matter for him to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what retirement benefits are to be offered to a person appointed to be a colonial governor if he is unable to qualify for a pension under the Governors Pension Act, 1957.

If a person is appointed to be governor of a colonial or dependant territory for a limited period and will not qualify for pension under the Act of 1957, he may be offered a gratuity at the end of his service at a rate similar to that offered to persons employed on contract for service in such territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of total expenditure on school minor works, including projects costing less than £2,000 for 1964–65 and for 1965–66, respectively.

£21·85million in 1964–65 and £21 million in 1965–66.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public Press interview given by the Minister of Defence for the Army on 21st January in London about Indonesian threats represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

There was misunderstanding at home and abroad of an interview given by my right hon. Friend on 20th January particularly in relation to the timing and scope of the Indonesian reinforcements. My right hon. Friend issued a statement on 22nd January which clarified the position. This fully reflected the Government's policy on the Indonesian threat to Malaysia.

asked the Minister of Health how the comparative quality control tests for tetracyclines produced in Great Britain compare with those produced in Italy and Poland for the National Health Service.

These tetracyclines, whether produced in this country or imported from abroad for the hospital service, are manufactured to comply with the standards of purity and potency laid down in the British Pharmacopoeia. For imported tetracyclines this is required by the central contracts. Arrangements are made for inspection of the overseas factories on my behalf; in addition, samples of each batch are taken on importation and tested by the Government Chemist for compliance with the British Pharmacopoeia requirements before issue to hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the risk of black-outs to persons acting as blood donors following the giving of blood; in view of the dangers arising from such donors being in charge of motor vehicles, what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that it may happen very occasionally that people who give blood faint later the same day. Donors who drive public service vehicles are not accepted as donors if they must return to work the same day. I will consider whether donors who drive private vehicles should be specifically warned of this very slight risk.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to the Metropolitan Police in connection with the implementation of the Protection from Eviction Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1)whether he is aware of cases where police forces are not making use of the powers given to them by the Protection from Eviction Act, 1964; and if he will call for reports from chief constables as to the extent to which these powers are being used;(2) on what grounds the Metropolitan Police Force are refusing to take action against landlords attempting to evict tenants in a manner contrary to the provisions of the Protection from Eviction Act, 1964; and whether he will issue instructions that the police should make use of the powers which have been given them.

Any allegation made to the police that an offence against the Protection from Eviction Act has been committed will ordinarily be brought immediately to the notice of the local authority, which has power to enforce the provisions of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment of firearms held by police authorities to issue to police forces when circumstances warrant such action; at what level such supplies of firearms are held; and what rank of police officer can authorise their issue and use.

The number of firearms kept for police purposes and the arrangements for holding them and authorising their use are settled locally and vary from force to force according to the circumstances of each. In the case of the Metropolitan Police, firearms are, in general, held at police stations and their issue is a matter for the officerin-charge, acting as appropriate on the orders of his superior officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by what date he aims to have the new maximum security prison in readiness;(2) how many prisoners the new maximum security prison is being planned to accommodate.

I am proposing to provide a special block within a secure prison for the accommodation of long sentence prisoners, including prisoners who may be violent. Specifications for the design of the block have not yet been drawn up and I cannot therefore say when it will be ready for occupation or what number it will accommodate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation for the reconstruction of the rating system so that it can take effect in the local authorities' rating financial year 1966–67.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome of the Government's examination of local government finance, including the rating system.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will introduce proposals for an increase in the proportion of municipal housing for renting.

My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make any statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy towards the expansion of industry in a development area when the labour immediately available may not reach the eventual total which will be necessary to meet the industry's expansion programme.

In considering the needs of the development districts for new or expanding industry, the question whether the necessary labour will be available at the time it is needed is one of the factors which are taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fraudulent business activities of the Dundee and Angus Television Company in the. Kingussie area, details of which have been sent to him, he will take action under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, 1948, to protect consumers.

The concern in question is not a company and is outside the scope of the Companies Act, 1948, Section 165(b) of the Act is, therefore, inapplicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that continental customers of British exporters, Sweden in particular, are making deductions from payments, amounting in some cases to 2 per cent. as against an export rebate of 1¼ per cent.; and what steps he is taking to obtain the cessation of this practice.

None. These are matters to be settled between the parties concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to protect those who take holiday tours abroad against default by travel agencies.

I am considering whether it is practicable, without restricting legitimate enterprise by new or small firms or materially increasing costs to the travelling public, to devise legislation which would give protection to tourists against the risk of financial default by tour organisers who provide inclusive holidays abroad. It is clear however that any such legislation could not affect holiday bookings for this coming summer. Members of the public who are thinking of taking an inclusive tour abroad would, therefore, be well advised, before committing themselves financially, to inquire of the travel firm concerned about the existence and nature of any arrangements which may be in force in respect of the tour to ensure that those who make it do not suffer financial loss if the tour or any material part of it is not in fact provided.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to set up the public inquiry into the loss at sea of the Aberdeen trawler "Blue Crusader"; who will conduct the inquiry; and where and when it will sit.

Two of the Board's marine surveyors have been appointed to hold a preliminary inquiry under the Merchant Shipping Act 1894. The report of this inquiry will be confidential. When it is ready my right hon. Friend will decide whether a public formal investigation is necessary. A formal investigation would be held by a Wreck Commissioner appointed by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.