asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he is taking to co-ordinate transport facilities in the framing of the Government's plan for regional development.

We will maintain close consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on this important aspect of regional planning.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what companies, nationalised industries, manufacturers and retailers are having their increased prices investigated; and when he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the President of the Board of Trade, have had a series of meetings with representatives of certain trade associations. My right hon. Friends the Ministers responsible for the nationalised industries are in close touch with these bodies. For the future, investigation of particular price increases will be the function of the Price Review Division of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what additional itemised costs in production he has accepted as legitimate by manufacturers, nationalised industries and retailers for increased prices.

The question whether an increase in any particular item of costs justifies an increase in a particular price will need to be judged in the light of the criteria which, as my right hon. Friend announced on 11th February, we are proposing to formulate after further consultations and discussions in the National Economic Development Council.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he proposes to introduce legislation for controlling prices.

Not at present.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will place before the Prices Review Division of the National Board of Prices and Incomes all current increases in prices charged by both nationalised and privately owned enterprises.

No, but it is our intention to select particular cases to be examined in the light of all relevant considerations.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he is taking to expedite the establishment of price review machinery; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 11th February.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what representations he has received from the Housewives League and other organisations against the increases in food prices recently imposed by manufacturers and subsequently by most retailers; and what reply he has sent.

None from the Housewives' League. But many other organisations have drawn our attention to particular price increases and offered their support for the Government's efforts to stabilise prices. The replies sent have indicated our firm intention to take all necessary action to slow down and halt this inflationary process.

asked the First Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many wage and salary increases have been granted since 26th October, 1964; how many workers were affected; approximately what is the total annual increase; to what extent he estimates these increases will result in rising prices; how many increases in pay are now being demanded; what effect this is having on his price stability policy; and if he will make a statement.

Between 26th October and 31st January there were 57 settlements for increases in wages covering some 3,100,000 manual workers. Over two-thirds of these workers were covered by the three year "package deal" for the engineering industry which was signed in December. Because of the complexity of this agreement and the difficulty of knowing its full implications it is not possible to give a firm estimate of the resulting annual increase in wages. 37 claims for wage increases are now outstanding covering about 2,285,000 manual workers. Comparable information for salaried workers is not available, but in the public services there have been seven major settlements for pay increases covering some 420,000 salaried workers and claims covering a further 770,000 workers are outstanding.I think that there is no doubt that pay increases have continued to outrun the underlying rate of increase in productivity, resulting in continued upward pressure on prices. My right hon. Friend has constantly stressed the need for increases in costs to be absorbed by increases in efficiency wherever possible. The Government is giving top priority to working out, in consultation with management and unions, an effective policy for prices and incomes. But it would be unrealistic to expect to obtain the benefits of such a policy overnight.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, if he is aware that certain standards require 10 square feet of office accommodation per person; in view of the fact that 80,000 square feet of office accommodation will be needed to house the new regional headquarters in the South-West Region, how many personnel will be required to run the region; and if he will make a statement.

We now envisage that there will be between 300 and 350 staff in the new Regional Headquarters in the South-West. On the basis of Civil Service office standards, allowing for ancillary accommodation and some margin for expansion, our revised estimate is that we shall need up to 60,000 square feet.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give an assurance that the scope for development on, and the interests of, the Isle of Sheppey will be taken fully into account in the review of the South-East Study; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member on 11th February.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he expects to receive the report of the consultants investigating the potential of Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now announce the names of the consultants appointed to review the potential of Short Brothers and Harland; how long he expects this inquiry to take; and whether the report will be published.

It is hoped to select the consultants soon. When we have done so, a further statement will be made.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the purpose of his official visits to Austria and Scandinavia; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend went to Austria and Sweden to see how they arrange things. His visits were very useful.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what specific plans he has to increase United Kingdom dollar earnings by an amount sufficient to pay for the United States aircraft newly ordered by Her Majesty's Government.

Neither this Government nor its predecessors have adopted bilateral trading and accounting policies. It is the policy of this Government to improve our balance of payments by measures adequate to the problem. These include measures to make better use of our productive resources, of which the decisions on the aircraft industry are part.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that the Industrial and Regional Progress Report published by his Department on 1st January, 1964, outlines the imbalance of industrial employment and unemployment in seven regions of England but treats the whole of Scotland as only one region; and, in view of the disparities in these respects between various parts of Scotland, if he will now amend his plan so as to give special attention to northeast Scotland which has particular needs for more industry, advance factories and employment.

The answer to the first part of the Question is—Yes, and to the second part—we have it under consideration.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware of the drift south from Scotland of trade, industry and employment and that this drift is accelerated by the disparities between the south of England and the north east of Scotland in transport facilities to the continent of Europe; and if he will state his plans for negativing these disparities and industrial imbalance in such a way as to bring about a better distribution throughout the whole of Great Britain of trade, industry, commerce and employment.

Yes, our national and regional plans are aimed precisely at doing that.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what will be the rôle of the district advisory committees of the regional boards for industry in the new organisation to be created by him.

The present District Advisory Committees are appointed by the regional boards for industry, which will be wound up when the new machinery comes into operation. But we intend to find a way of continuing the valuable work done by the committees and we will discuss this with the chairmen of the economic planning councils as soon as we can.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs by what criteria the National Board for Prices and Incomes will judge whether the disclosure of information voluntarily provided by trade associations or individual firms about price increases or pricing policies might be directly or indirectly damaging to the commercial interests concerned; what written assurances have been given in this regard; and in what terms and from whom he has received indications that these assurances are satisfactory.

Command Paper 2577 on the machinery of prices and incomes policy states that any evidence of a confidential nature, the publication of which would damage the legitimate business interests of the firm concerned, will be taken in private and will not be published. This wording was agreed with representatives of the four national employers organisations with whom we have been having discussions as well as with the T.U.C. We think it represents a satisfactory assurance on this question and do not anticipate any serious difficulties in practice.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if, in announcing the Government's plans for the South-East and in providing for London's housing problem, he will emphasise the need to give continuing priority to the rehabilitation of the industrial North in order to prevent the population drift.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will take full account of the continuing need of the North-East for industrial development and further jobs in reaching his conclusions following his review of the South-East Study.

Yes. The Government are determined that plans for the South-East will not prejudice the measures being taken to encourage economic growth and employment in other parts of the country.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Cornwall and Devon.

I had a very useful two days getting first-hand knowledge of the area and its problems. I am most grateful to all those who helped me to see so much.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he is taking to maintain the Baginton Works of the Avro Whitworth company in being as a going concern complete with plant and labour force, and to arrange for substitute work of whatever kind to be introduced in place of the cancelled aviation orders.

In so far as there are special problems for workers at Baginton of particular grades of skill, they will be covered by the urgent survey of such problems I have already mentioned in answering my right hon. Friend the Member for Hitchin (Mrs. Shirley Williams) earlier today. But, in general, there are conditions of some labour shortage in the Coventry/Birmingham area.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the integration of road and rail planning with economic and land use planning will be a feature of the work of the economic planning councils and economic planning boards.

This will certainly be one of their many interests.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether it is Her Majesty's Government's intention to house the regional offices of the separate Government Departments under one roof in each region, in view of the advantages of close co-ordination in a single regional headquarters in the South-West and elsewhere.

Yes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what representation, official and unofficial, Dorset will have on the new South-West Regional Council.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) today.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in which of the new planning regions the county borough of Lincoln is situated.

The county borough of Lincoln is situated in the East Midlands Planning Region.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards settling the dispute between shipowners and the United States Maritime Commission; and if he will make a statement.

The immediate cause of dispute between our shipowners and the Federal Maritime Commission, about the form of dual rate contract used by the North Atlantic Westbound Freight Association has, I hope, been removed. A form of contract negotiated between the North Atlantic Westbound Freight Association on the one hand and the British Shippers' Council and North Atlantic Shippers' Association on the other was made known to the Federal Maritime Commission at the end of last year. On 21st January, the Commission recognised it as the sole form for contract shippers in trade from ports in the United Kingdom to ports in the United States North Atlantic range.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, following the visits of the Minister of State for Shipping to Japan, Sweden and the larger shipyards in Great Britain, he will now visit the smaller shipyards in the North-East and elsewhere.

In the course of my initial visits in the United Kingdom I have visited nineteen shipbuilding yards of which four normally only build smaller ships of under 5,000 gross tons. As soon as I have the opportunity, I intend to visit more yards, including some of the smaller ones.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will invite the recently-formed United Nations Trade and Development Board to establish its headquarters in London.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply I gave to similar Questions on the 4th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the recently announced new advance factories to be built in Scotland are all to be sited in the central belt.

Mainly because that is the area with the best claims for this form of assistance. I took account also of the availability of existing factory space, including advance factories previously announced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, while the rulings of the Restrictive Practices Court have eliminated some restrictive trading agreements, many formal agreements have been replaced by so-called information agreements not liable to registration under the Restrictive Practices Act, 1956; and what legislative action he proposes to take to ensure that the intentions of the Act are not circumvented in this way.

My right hon. Friend is aware that agreements for the exchange of information may frustrate the objectives of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act. He intends to introduce legislation to deal with this loophole (and other matters), but it will not be possible to do so this Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many restrictive trading agreements have been the subject of rulings by the Restrictive Practices Court since its inception; how many such agreements are now under consideration by the Court; and how many agreements are now registered with the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements in accordance with the Restrictive Practices Act, 1956.

I understand that at 31st December, 1964, the position was as follows: 138 cases had been disposed of by the Court; 97 other cases had been referred to the Court, and were in various stages of preparation; the register contained particulars of 2,505 agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to extend opportunities for training in the mechanics of export.

Training courses are already widely available and I understand that there are enough places to ensure that no one seriously interested should fail to find one. With my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Minister of Labour, my right hon. Friend is, however, considering whether any changes in the existing arrangements are desirable and whether any action by the Government is required to encourage people to make the fullest use of them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the reaction so far of responsible organisations to his proposals for increasing exports.

The measures which my right hon. Friend announced on the 27th January have been very well received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement on his proposals for increasing exports.

I would refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Perry) on 1st February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which industries have benefited from the imposition of the 15 per cent. surcharge on imports by virtue of a rise in home demand for their products; and which of these industries have reduced their prices in anticipation of an increase in their profits.

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he was consulted before the proposed takeover bid by Courtaulds and the Reed Paper Group for Wall Paper Manufacturers Ltd.; and what advice he gave.

In accordance with their previous undertaking, Wall Paper Manufacturers Ltd. informed my Department of the bid as soon as possible after it had been made. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15th February to the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the export situation and of the difficulties in rapid and reliable communication with the United Kingdom experienced by British business men when negotiating with the Ministries of Foreign Trade in the capitals of Eastern Europe, he will seek to arrange for the provision of a Telex link for British commercial use in each of the capitals concerned.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the views of the industrial and commercial organisations concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is considering to assist the Ford Motor Company in their study for a site for a new plant; and whether he will take into account the availability of land and skilled manpower in the town of Darlington for this purpose.

We have already assisted the company in its study of a number of suitable sites in development districts, including some in the North East. In making its final choice the company will no doubt take into account the facilities available at Darlington.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of British wool textile exports to the United States of America in 1963 and 1964; and what information he has from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as to how they compare with Japanese wool textile exports to the United States of America in the same years;(2) what was the value of British wool textile exports to the Common Market in 1963 and 1964; and what information he has from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as to how they compare with Japanese wool textile exports to the Common Market in the same years;(3) what was the value of British wool textile exports to Commonwealth markets in 1963 and 1964; and what information he has from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as to how they compare with Japanese wool textile exports to Commonwealth markets, in the same years;(4) what was the value of British wool textile exports to members of the European Free Trade Association in 1963 and 1964; and what information he has from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as to how they compare with Japanese wool textile exports to members of the European Free Trade Association in the same years.

The most reliable basis for comparing sales of woollen textiles

£'000
Imports into Commodity		U.S.A.	E.E.C.	Austria	Denmark	Norway	Portugal	Sweden	Switzerland
Wool tops from United Kingdom
1963	…	425	3,526	…	1,212	688	107	2,525	534
1963 (Jan.-June)	…	397*	1,352	…	663	328	70	1,296	251
1964 (Jan.-June)	…	192*	1,320	…	547	460	…	1,526	367
from Japan
1963	…	41	985	…	5	..	..	..	450
1963 (Jan.-June)	…	41*	382	…	..	..	..	..	183
1964 (Jan.-June)	…	NIL*	715	…	..	..	…	..	402
Woollen and worsted fabrics from United Kingdom
1963	…	7,686	16,264	1, 156	1,833	709	215	2,525	1,278
1963 (Jan.-June)	…	6,752*	7,777	575	915	350	139	1,168	611
1964 (Jan.-June)	…	6,455*	8,929	603	1,179	437	146	1,368	838
from Japan
1963	…	15,061	242	..	51	4	..	5	36
1963 (Jan.-June)	…	12,949*	71	..	..	..	..	NIL	..
1964 (Jan.-June)	…	13,927*	262	..	..	..	..	..	..
Yarn of wool and animal hair from United Kingdom
1963	…	591	6,442	626	1,727	625	..	1,168	213
1963 (Jan.-June)	…	449*	3,091	287	863	208	..	656	76
1964 (Jan.-June)	…	811*	3,331	464	1, 171	446	..	521	132
from Japan
1963	…	2, 147	440	..	106	11	..	280	142
1963 (Jan.-June)	…	1,884*	278	..	54	..	..	140	53
1964 (Jan.-June)	…	1,383*	121	..	38	..	..	143	150
* January to October.
… not available.
.. not available—assumed nil or negligible.

Source: United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics and National returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he is charging British exhibitors at the Vienna International Autumn Trade Fair 25s. per square foot for a site rent, in view of the fact that this figure is higher than that charged at comparable exhibitions elsewhere in Europe.

This charge, which is a contribution to the cost of stand construction as well as to the site rental, represents only a small proportion of the full cost to the Board of Trade and is comparable with the charges for British Sections at other European fairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quota relief he proposes to allow for 1965 to those cinemas which do not have regular access to one or other of the two main release programmes at first run.

At my right hon. Friend's request the Cinematograph Films Council

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the numbers of staff of the Monopolies Commission in each year since its inception;(2) if he will list, for each year since the inception of the Monopolies Commission, the number of references made to the Commission and the number of reports produced by the Commission.

MONOPOLIES COMMISSION
—	1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956‡
Number of staff at 31st December*	37	61	55	54	85	102	100	38
Number of references made to the Commission	6	2	2	3	4	4	6	2
Number of reports produced by the Commission †	—	1	2	4	2	1	5	7
—	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964
Number of staff at 31st December*	49	45	35	33	38	37	36	34
Number of references made to the Commission	2	—	—	1	1	—	2	1
Number of reports produced by the Commission †	—	1	1	—	2	—	2	—
* Does not include the Members of the Monopolies Commission.
† Relates to the year within which reports were received by the Board of Trade and not, necessarily, the year in which the reports were published.
‡ Following the introduction of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956 the functions of the Monopolies Commission were considerably modified. As a consequence of the 1956 Act four of the references noted as being made to the Commission in 1955 were allowed to lapse.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what references are now under investigation by the Monopolies Commission; when these references were made; and when he expects to receive reports thereon.

The references currently before the Monopolies Commission are as follows:

• the distribution of petrol for retail sale ("solus sites"), referred on 27th September 1960;
• the supply and processing of colour film, referred on 14th May 1963;
• the supply of household detergents, referred on 14th May 1963;
• the supply of films to exhibitors for exhibition in cinemas, referred on 24th September 1964.

I understand that the Monopolies Commission hope to present their Report on the first of these investigations within the next month or two. It is not possible to give a date for the other Reports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many suggestions and requests, not being suggestions or requests which appear to him to be frivolous, have been made to his Department for the reference of particular matters to the Monopolies Commission; and how many, and which, of such sug-

The following is the information:gestions or requests have been referred to the Monopolies Commission for investigation and report.

As regards the first part of the Question, the Board of Trade are required by Section 16 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948 to include in their annual reports on the operation of that Act a review of the suggestions and requests (not being suggestions and requests which appear to the Board to be frivolous) which have been made to the Board for the reference of any particular matter to the Commission. The reports for the years 1949 to 1955 inclusive record 281 such suggestions, including many suggestions for the reference of collective arrangements of a sort which since 1956 have been registrable under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act and are no longer referable to the Monopolies Commission. The reports for the years 1956 to 1963 inclusive record 130 suggestions and there were 30 suggestions in 1964. The figures include suggestions which were recorded more than once.As regards the second part of the question, it is not possible to give a precise figure. The majority of the 36 references made to the Monopolies Commission since its inception have reflected suggestions received, but the precise scope of references may be wider or narrower than that of particular suggestions received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of exports to the European Economic Community countries in the last six months for which figures are available compared with the same period 12 months earlier; what is the approximate degree of discrimination against British imports into these countries compared with trade between member countries of the Community; and what information he has from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development regarding the extent to which this discrimination is expected to increase.

Exports (excluding re-exports) to E.E.C. countries during the six months ended January, 1964 and January, 1965 were as follows:

		£ million
		Aug. 1963-Jan. 1964	Aug. 1964-Jan. 1965
Belgium	…	49·9	56·1
France	…	89·1	85·0
Western Germany	…	98·9	111·5
Italy	…	79·4	52·5
Luxembourg	…	0·9	0·9
Netherlands	…	80·9	90·3
(The figures for Jan. 1965 are provisional)

Imports into the Community from Britain of industrial goods, in which our trade mainly consists, are subject to the full external tariffs of members of the Community, but the tariffs on inter-Community trade stand at 30 per cent. of their levels at the 1st January, 1957. These remaining internal tariffs are likely to be removed within the next few years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will establish a second Government advance factory in the Blaydon area.

We propose to double the size of the advance factory being built at Ryton to meet the needs of the firm to whom it has been allocated. It is too soon to add to the programme announced on 18th November, which included seven advance factories in the North-East.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his proposed additional incentives to exporters will include incentives to increased advertising.

My right hon. Friend is considering this possibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many universities and college of advanced technology places in science and technology offered in October, 1964, are still unfilled.

About 19,275 students in science and technology were admitted to universities and colleges of advanced technology in October, 1964. This number was 1,375 higher than in October 1963 and about 2,000 lower than had ben planned for by the universities and colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date the application was received from the Breconshire Education Committee for a new primary school in Crickhowell; on what date the project was approved; and why construction has not been proceeded with.

The Breconshire local education authority applied for a place in a building programme for a new primary school at Crickhowell on 28th January, 1959. The project was allocated a place in the 1961–62 major school building programme; Notices under section 13(4) of the Education Act, 1944, were published by the Authority on 26th January, 1961, and the proposal was approved by the Department on 16th May, 1961. The authority did not then proceed with the project because it had difficulty in obtaining a site. I am informed that at a meeting on 2nd February, 1965, the Education Committee resolved that a new primary school should not be built at Crickhowell. Instead I understand that the authority propose to transfer the pupils at present attending the Crickhowell Secondary Modern School to the Secondary Modern Technical School at Brecon, and to utilise the vacated secondary modern school premises for the Crickhowell Primary School.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he

The following is the information (all figures in thousands):
	Pupils aged 11 and over in January 1963			Estimated number of leavers going direct to universities, from schools in England and Wales
	England	Wales	England and Wales	Oxford and Cambridge	London	Others	All Universities
Secondary modern and all-age	1,618.1	46.4	1,664.5	—	—	0.03*	0.03*
Comprehensive	167.2	11.8	179.0	0.03*	0.08*	0.35*	0.46*
Maintained grammar	691.3	30.5	721.8	1.38	2.01	10.39	13.78
Direct grant grammar	94.9	1.7	96.6	0.81*	0.35*	2.45	3.61
Total	2,571.5	90.4	2,661.9	2.22	2.44	13.22	17.88
* The sample was not large enough to give a reliable indication of small numbers. For this reason the pupils, approximately 1,400 in number, who proceeded from schools in Wales to universities cannot with reasonable accuracy be classified either by types of schools or by universities. While all the figures of university entry are approximate, those asterisked are liable to particularly wide percentage errors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the expenditure for minor works, including projects costing under £2,000, for England and Wales in 1963–64; what is estimated for 1964–65; and what is to be the allocation for 1965–66.

In 1963–64 the expenditure was about £21 million, for 1964–65 it is estimated to be £21·85 million, and the allocation for 1965–66 is £21 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what other authorities besides Hertfordshire have experienced a cut of more than 30 per cent. in the minor works programme in 1965–66 as compared with 1964–65.

It is not practicable to answer this Question until final figures

The latest available information on the destination of school leavers relates to 1962–63 and is based upon a sample count.for the year 1964–65 are available from each authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the £102,000 allocated to the Oxfordshire Education Authority for minor works in 1965–66 is for minor works of under £2,000 which were previously not included in the minor works allocation.

The allocation of £102,000 is a global sum to be spent as the authority thinks fit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money has been allocated to the minor works school-building programme in each year since the introduction in October, 1961, of the scheme whereby local authorities enjoyed discretion to proceed with improvement to school buildings where the cost of improvement was less than £2,000; and what is the national aggregate spent in each year under this scheme since introduction.

The information is as follows:

MINOR WORKS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
(£m.)
	Allocations to local education authorities	Expenditure on projects under £2,000*
October, 1961-March, 1962	14.4	1.4
1962–63		4.0
1963–64	10.0	5.4
1964–65	11.9	4.5†
1965–66	17.0	—
* Includes voluntary projects under £2,000.
† First nine months only.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the appointment of library advisers in the Ministry of Education, as required by the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

There is no such requirement, but one library adviser has been appointed and a second post will shortly be advertised.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give in tabular form figures for the Government grant to the universities for each year of the quinquennium 1961–66, actual and proposed.

The figures for Government grants to the universities from the Vote for Universities and Colleges, etc., Great Britain during the financial years 1961–62 to 1964–65 are as follows:

		£million
Grant		1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65
Recurrent	…	57.883	56.783	69.412	86.032
Capital*	…	26.214	32.761	40.719	57.500
		84.097	89.544	110.131	143.532
* Including grant towards the university share of the cost of accommodation in teaching hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of full-time students enrolled in universities in Great Britain at the latest available date.

135,186 at October, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of new primary and secondary schools completed in England and Wales in the third quarter of 1964.

144 new primary schools and 68 new secondary schools (including first instalments) were completed in the third quarter of 1964 under the major school building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the numbers of full-time and part-time teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools at the latest available date.

286,753 full-time and 27,364 part-time teachers in October, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of full-time teachers in grant-aided establishments of further education at the latest available date.

In October, 1964, there were 33,369 full-time teachers in maintained establishments for further education. I have no corresponding figure for direct grant establishments but in March, 1963, the number was 1,968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of all-age schools in England and Wales; and what was the proportion of all senior pupils in such schools in January, 1964.

In January, 1964, there were 411 all-age schools in England and Wales. 1·2 per cent. of all pupils aged 11 and over, in maintained primary and secondary schools, attended them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of students in colleges of education in England and Wales at the latest available date.

62,826 for the first term of the current academic year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has examined the Report of Superintendent Machent concerning allegations made against the Birmingham Police; if he will make a statement; and if he will now publish the report.

I have a copy of this report, and am considering in the light of it representations which I have received about the convictions of certain persons named in it. It has never been the practice to publish reports of police investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to ban the practice known as badger digging.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave to Questions by the hon. Member for Gillingham on 23rd December, 1964, and 8th February, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has studied the racialist pornography, details of which have been sent to him; if he will seek to prohibit the dissemination of such publications in his forthcoming legislation against racial discrimination; and when this will be brought before the House of Commons.

I have brought the material sent to me by my hon. Friend to the notice of the police. As regards the content of possible legislation, I am not yet in a position to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 26th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will declare Malcolm X an undesirable alien and ensure that he is refused entry to this country;(2) why Malcolm X was allowed to enter this country; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a repetition of the visit.

Mr. Malcolm Little (who had previously paid several short visits here) was admitted as a visitor on 9th February and left for New York on 13th February. On present information I am not satisfied that I should be justified in refusing Mr. Little admission to this country in future but I shall keep the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what classes of prisoners will be accommodated in the prison to be built at Honeybourne, Worcestershire.

It is too early to say when the proposed new prison at Honeybourne will be completed or what our requirements for particular classes of prisoners will be at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received reports from the working parties which have been investigating the problem of the transport of inflammable substances by road and the special marking of road tankers containing dangerous substances; and whether he will make a statement.

A working party on the marking of road tank vehicles has drafted a voluntary scheme of marking, but consideration of its introduction has been deferred pending the outcome of international negotiations on this and related matters. On the general question of the carriage of dangerous goods by road I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Mr. R. W. Elliott) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. Randall) on 4th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners with a year or more to serve have been put on the Hostel Scheme.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times Niven Craig has been in prison; and on what charge he was convicted on each occasion.

It would be contrary to long-standing practice to publish the information in my possession about any previous convictions which a prisoner may have; but I am writing to the hon. and gallant Member about the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many more years, taking into account full remission dates, Niven Craig has to serve in prison.

On the basis of ordinary remission Craig has at present four years and eight months of his current sentence still to serve.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Boundary Commissions for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have yet decided when to start the next general review of constituencies.

By virtue of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act, 1958, the Boundary Commissions for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are required to submit their next general reports between November, 1964 and November, 1969. Within these limits the Commissions have discretion when to start a general review. All three Commissions, in the exercise of their discretion, have given notice this week of their intention to commence forthwith general reviews of constituencies in their respective areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about his recent visit to British Guiana.

I arrived in British Guiana on the 12th and left on the 16th February. The purpose of my visit was to assess the situation there and to acquaint myself with the state of opinion. To this end I had discussions with the Governor, with the Premier, and with Mr. D'Aguiar and other Ministers of the coalition Government. I also had discussions with Dr. Jagan and his colleagues, and with as many representatives of other parties, interests and sections of opinion as time allowed.I spent a day travelling through the rural areas east of Georgetown and visiting the Police at their Headquarters, the new Special Service Unit and units of the King's Own Border Regiment and the Lancashire Fusiliers. I should like to express my appreciation of their efficiency and their high morale.My discussions covered a wide range of subjects including the political situation and the economic prospects of the country. I expressed the view that outside confidence would be strengthened if the House of Assembly operated as a consultative democratic body, with those members of the opposition who are now boycotting the House taking their seats and offering constructive criticism.I also emphasised the importance H.M. Government attach to correcting any racial imbalance there may be in the police force and other relevant sectors of Guianese life. I sought to arrange a meeting between the Premier and Dr. Jagan on this restricted but nevertheless most important issue. Dr. Jagan declined the invitation on the grounds that H.M. Government's views were already well known and that further talk would serve no useful purpose. Mr. Burnham however made a number of suggestions and we are both considering our further action on this subject in the light of our discussions. Another matter which I discussed was the timing for a constitutional conference. Mr. Burnham and I will be exchanging further views on this.I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my gratitude for the great courtesy and help I received from so many quarters during my brief stay in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the request for oxygen cylinders was received from the hospital authorities in Gibraltar; on what date they were despatched; and by what method.

The request for oxygen cylinders was received by the Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations on 27th January. As requested by the Gibraltar Government, the cylinders will be despatched on 19th February by sea. Pending their arrival the Naval Dockyard has agreed to the loan of 100 cylinders.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average percentage increase in rents charged by his Department for smallholdings in the south-east of Scotland of 10 acres and 7 acres, respectively, compared with the figures for 1953–54.

Rent revision has been settled in respect of one ten-acre smallholding; this shows an incresae of 40 per cent. over the 1953–54 level. Rent revisions have been settled in respect of four seven-acre smallholdings; these show an increase of 61 per cent. over the 1953–54 level. All these increases took effect at Martinmas 1964 with the agreement of the tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the plant population of sugar beet related to acreage sown in the area supplying the Cupar sugar beet factory in each of the last five years.

The plant population per acre of beet contracted to the Cupar factory in each of the last five years was as follows:

		Initial Field Population after singling	Delivered to Factory for Processing
1960	…	21,870	20,241
1961	…	21,367	17,846
1962	…	21,393	17,797
1963	…	22,196	16,520
1964	…	21,159	16,844

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Boundary Commission for Scotland has yet decided when to commence a general review of constituencies in Scotland.

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act, 1958, requires the Boundary Commission for Scotland to submit its next general report between August, 1964 and August, 1969. Within these limits the Commission has discretion when to start a general review. The Commission, in exercise of its discretion, has given notice this week of its intention to commence forthwith a general review of constituencies in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has made to the Central Electricity Generating Board in view of its decision to increase the price of electricity to the area boards.

None. I was informed beforehand of the Board's proposals and the reasons for them. I considered the decision was justified.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the Chairman of the National Coal Board regarding the increase of 10s. a ton in the price of foundry coke which took effect from 1st February, 1965.

The Board has explained to my right hon. Friend the reasons for recent increases in the price of hard coke (including foundry coke) and these have been before the Industrial Coal Consumers' Council together with similar coke price increases in the private sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he estimates the present hire-purchase debt of £1,115 million can be allowed to grow without defeating his policy of price stability; what action he is taking on the Governor of the Bank of England's advice to curb domestic spending; and if he will make a statement.

The growth of hire-purchase debt is kept under review along with other indicators in the credit field, but I could not accept the view that there is any fixed relation between the growth of the debt and the level of prices generally. I have no statement to make today on the level of domestic spending.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many outstanding valuation proposals exist within the area of Portland; and how long the oldest of these has been outstanding.

Ninety-four, of which 52 were made by the valuation officer. The oldest of these (apart from one which has been held over by consent of both parties) was made on 26th March, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will cause an inquiry to be held into the accident involving the death of two children on the Havant Road, Port9+8smouth, on 9th February; and whether, pending the outcome of this inquiry, he will take steps to increase the number of pedestrian crossings between Cosham and Havant.

I should like to express my deepest sympathy for the parents of the children involved in this tragedy. I am making inquiries into the circumstances of the accident and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will discuss with Dr. Beeching the problem of an in-grated transport system.

No. As I announced last week I have appointed Lord Hinton of Bankside specially to examine this problem. I have no doubt that Lord Hinton will be in touch with Dr. Beeching and any other person or organisation which he thinks might further his inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now regard the proposed withdrawal of passenger train services on the Manchester (Central)—Sheffield (Midland) and the Hope Valley line or any part of them as major closures.

I cannot say what view I shall take of these proposals until I have received the Transport Users Consultative Committee's reports and considered them along with all other relevant factors.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with Dr. Beeching about transport policy; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) and the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee) on 4th February and to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on 8th February.

asked the Prime Minister why Her Majesty's Government continue officially to refer to Southern Rhodesia when, since the independence of Zambia, the Rhodesian Government have decided that the country shall be known as Rhodesia.

It is already our practice, where appropriate, to use "Rhodesia" for informal purposes. It remains correct for legal and other formal purposes to use the title "Southern Rhodesia".

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that letters from Ministers to Members of Parliament are frequently signed by private secretaries; and if he will take steps to see that Ministers sign letters themselves whenever possible.

I agree that what the hon. and gallant Gentleman proposes ought to be the normal rule, though there are occasions when it can be helpful to hon. Members to have a reply signed by a private secretary. As the hon. Member knows, I should be glad to look into any particular cases he may have in mind.