asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration he has given to deciding what form of fuel to use for the purpose of heating Government buildings.

I have nothing to add to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Ogden) on 8th March and to my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. McGuire) on 10th March.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will investigate the possibility of combining sugar beet processing with brick making, with a view to stepping up brick production in the United Kingdom.

Seasonal workers from sugar beet processing might find work in the brickyards in the spring and summer, but the possibilities are likely to be limited and most of them seem to have other opportunities of employment.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when work is to be resumed at the Tower of London on a building for displaying the Royal jewels to tourists.

My intention is to resume work this summer.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the number of visitors to the Tower of London in each of the last three years.

1,524,741 in 1962, 1,517,589 in 1963, and 1,654,526 in 1964.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the estimated output of sand and gravel likely to be available over the next five years in each administrative county from deposits which have either been earmarked for extraction in current development plans, or for which planning permission has already been given; and in each case what additional output is likely to be required to meet the demands of the construction industries over the same period.

I regret that I cannot provide the information in the form requested. I will publish later this year a broad estimate of future demand to supersede the results of the last survey which were published in 1961. I am satisfied that output of sand and gravel will in general match demand during the next five years.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what proportion of the 46 per cent. increase between 1958 and 1964 in the prices of houses for private owners was accounted for by the increase in land prices;(2) in view of the rise in the index of prices of new houses for private owners from 100 in the fourth quarter of 1958 to 146 in the fourth quarter of 1964, if he will state the average increase in building materials prices and building trade wages in the same period.

During the period from 1958 to 1964 the average price of building materials rose by 15 per cent. and average monthly earnings of construction workers rose by 45 per cent. There is no index of land prices.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether, in view of the advantages of timber-framed houses, and in view of the importance of trade relations with Canada, he will encourage this type of construction.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether, in view of the increased cost of timber imports into this country in 1964, he still intends to proceed with his scheme for encouraging the building over here of Canadian timber-framed prefabricated homes requiring $1,000 worth of imported lumber per unit.

My right hon. Friend is encouraging the building of Canadian timber-framed prefabricated houses, bearing in mind inter alia the great importance of increasing the productivity of the building industry.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware of the need for an adequate supply of cement for the building and construction industries; and whether he will make a statement on Government policy.

Since last autumn the Department has been discussing with the cement manufacturers the future level of demand for cement and their plans for increasing manufacturing capacity. New capacity is being provided at Westbury in Wiltshire, Weardale in County Durham, at Tunstead in Derbyshire, and Padeswood in Flintshire. The first two are expected to be in production by the autumn of 1965, and the second two by about the end of the year.There are further plans for future extensions, but these are still subject to planning or other considerations and it is not yet possible to give specific dates for their operation or capacity. As a temporary measure six disused kilns in Kent are being brought back into use and supplies of cement clinker for grinding are being imported by the industry.We are, however worried about possible shortages in the next few months.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will make a statement on the current supply position of building materials; and whether he is satisfied that the present position will not jeopardise the house-building programme.

I have investigated the supply of all the key materials, including those which caused concern in 1964 and I am continuing to watch the position very closely. I expect the present difficulties to diminish during this year in most cases as a result of increases in production, but there may be difficulties over cement during the next few months. With the exception of wood and wood products, imports of most building materials are a very small percentage of home production.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will arrange for the regular publication by the National Building Agency of a list of the main building materials with indication of the approximate delay in delivery dates in various parts of the country, with a view to making it more possible for those responsible for building to switch to materials which are in less short supply than others.

No. This would be a matter for my right hon. Friend's Ministry rather than for the National Building Agency.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how the increase in price of new houses and of building materials has affected the building and number of new houses in Scotland, with particular reference to Aberdeen.

The output of houses in Scotland does not appear to have been affected by increases in the price of houses or building materials.

asked the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange (Mrs. Braddock) as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, why the price of custard in the Westminster Hall canteen has risen by 200 per cent. from 1d. to 3d.

In the Westminster Hall canteen the cost of custard has not previously been advertised. It was, in fact, included in the charge for the sweet.The basic cost of a portion of custard is 1¾d. for the ingredients, before allowing for production costs.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in the review she is undertaking of social security, she will take into consideration the importance of encouraging those who wish to take out private pension schemes.

The review must take account of all kinds of provision for retirement and old age.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the cost of increasing the increments for postponement of retirement beyond the minimum pension ages so that a person could earn 2s. 6d. for every 12 contributions paid instead of 1s. as at present, together with 1s. 3d. in respect of a wife's pension for every 12 contributions paid instead of 1s. as at present, the increases for the wife's pension being raised to the rate of 2s. 6d. for every 12 contributions paid should she become a widow.

About £300,000 in 1965–66 rising to about £95 million in 1985–86, assuming that the higher increments applied to contributions paid from April, 1965.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many workers have been refused unemployment benefit as a result of Regulation 6(1)(e)(i) in each year since 1955 and up to the latest convenient date; and how many of these were claims which failed in the St. Helens constituency in the same period.

I regret that the precise information requested is not available.The numbers of claims disallowed under the Unemployment and Sickness Benefit Regulation referred to—the holiday rule—for the years 1955 to 1964 are as follows:

Year	Number of claims disallowed	Year	Number of claims disallowed
1955	3,698	1960	3,117
1956	3,943	1961	2,620
1957	3,984	1962	4,535
1958	4,435	1963	4,354
1959	4,745	1964	3,394

Separate figures are not available for the St. Helens constituency but the number of claims disallowed in 1964 under this Regulation by the St. Helens Employment Exchange was seven.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will review the position of retirement pensioners resident abroad so that they will receive those increases in the retirement pension from time to time awarded by Her Majesty's Government.

I am satisfied that there are good reasons for the rule which has been followed in the past and that exceptions should be made only where we have a reciprocal agreement under which each country pays its pensions at current rates to its pensioners in the other country.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state Her Majesty's Government's policy on the separation in hostels of homeless family people.

The object of all the services concerned should be to keep families together, and this should be the aim of welfare authorities in providing temporary accommodation for the homeless.

asked the Minister of Health how many types of spectacle frames are available free to those requiring them through the National Health Service suitable for men, women and children, respectively; and when the range of choice was last increased.

None for adults, six for children; in October, 1963.

asked the Minister of Health, when the present hearing aids available under the National Health Service were first issued; if he will introduce small transistorised models; and if he will make a statement.

The present standard Medresco hearing aid was first supplied to children in 1958 and to adults in 1960. This is a transistor model which is clinically satisfactory for the great majority of the hard of hearing. I am reviewing the hearing aid service to see whether improvements can be made.

asked the Minister of Health what is the position with regard to the supply and use of artificial kidney machines; how many are in use in this country; whether they can be used privately at home under the National Health scheme; what is the cost; and what action he proposes to take to encourage the use and supply of these machines.

I am advised that there is adequate provision of this equipment for established medical uses in the treatment of acute renal failure; statistics are not available centrally. Recent research indicates that these machines may be of considerable value also in the treatment of chronic renal failure, and further developments, including the possibility of using them at home, are being urgently studied. The cost of a machine and its associated equipment ranges from about £1,500 to £3,000.

asked the Minister of Health what representations have been made to the Registrar General about the suggested closure of the Registration Office at Sidcup Hill, Sidcup, in respect of the registration of births and deaths; if he is aware that this office serves some 60,000 residents between the A.2 and the A.20, that the alternative office suggested at Brampton Road, Bexley, is nearly four miles from Sidcup and involves crossing the A.2, that Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, now being re-built to house 600 patients, covers a catchment area which includes a considerable part of the new Bromley division, and that births or deaths occurring in Queen Mary's would necessitate relations travelling from Chislehurst and Mottingham to Bexley to make the registration; and, in view of the hardship and inconvenience that would be caused, if he will give an assurance that the registration office in Sidcup will not be closed.

We are satisfied that the amount of work in the London Borough of Bexley will not at first justify the appointment of more than two registrars. No representations were received against the borough council's scheme determining the location of its offices. My right hon. Friend has therefore approved it but he would expect a third office to be opened when the expansion of Queen Mary's Hospital justifies it.

asked the Minister of Health how many complaints against general practitioners had been decided upon by the London Executive Council in the 12 months to the latest convenient date; and if he will state the number of cases where the complaint concerned a doctor deputising for another, and the number of cases where the complainant's case was upheld.

Seventy-one in the year to 31st December, 1964. These involved not necessarily as the primary object of the complaint, 22 deputies who were themselves on the list and thus responsible to the Executive Council for their own acts and omissions and 21 who were not. A breach of the terms of service was found in five cases involving six deputies, two of them on the list.

asked the Minister of Health if he will discuss with the relevant bodies the provision of additional training and qualification for State registered nurses to enable them to act as medical auxiliaries to general practitioners.

Present information does not suggest that further training is necessary for this purpose, but I will consider any suggestion my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health what further steps his Department is taking to provide institutional care for alcoholics; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on compulsory treatment in certain cases.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 8th February to the Members for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) and Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Park); progress is kept under review. I am advised that the successful treatment of alcoholics depends on their co-operation, but alcoholism may be evidence of mental disorder which warrants detention under the Mental Health Act, 1959.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total number of district nurses in 1953, 1963, and at the latest available date, respectively.

At the end of 1953 and 1963 the totals were respectively 6,595 and 7,843, in whole time equivalents. The figure for 1964 will be available shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the experimental use of mobile units, similar to those successfully used for mass X-ray in the detection of lung diseases, for diagnostic tests as a means of detecting cervical cancer.

For mass X-ray vans are needed to carry complex equipment. Very little equipment is needed for taking cervical smears and so the same need does not arise. Many types of accommodation are adequate for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available in the Bournemouth and district area for diagnostic tests as a means of detecting cervical cancer; and what steps he proposes to take to increase such facilities.

Tests are carried out in hospital clinics, and as more trained staff become available a routine screening service will be introduced.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors have been granted bursarships by the Council of Europe; and to which countries they have gone.

Seven last year and five the year before; Austria, Belgium, Den- mark, France, Finland, West Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the increase in the numbers of patients for each of the last five years on the average number on general practitioners' lists for England and Wales.

Following is the information:

Period	Increase in average list for all doctors providing unrestricted general medical services
1st July, 1959–30th September, 1960	5
1st October, 1960–30th September, 1961	5
1st October, 1961–30th September, 1962	12
1st October, 1962–30th September, 1963	22
1st October, 1963–30th September, 1964	36 (provisional)

asked the Minister of Health when construction of the first phase of the diagnostic centre at the Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Gateshead, will commence.

Building is planned to start in November this year.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available in the National Health Service for hyperbaric oxygenation.

At the following hospitals—including those where clinical trials are proceeding:

• St. Thomas'.
• Guy's.
• Royal Marsden.
• University College Hospital.
• St. Mary's, Portsmouth.
• Velindre Hospital, Whitchurch.
• Whipps Cross.
• Heatherwood, Ascot.
• Westminster.
• Blackburn Royal Infirmary.
• Queen Mary's, Roehampton.

asked the Minister if he will set out in tabular form in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the amount spent on new hospitals per thousand of the population between 1950 and 1965 in each region, respectively, the same figures for extensions, and the same figures of the estimated expenditure between 1965 and 1975.

In a programme which consists largely of replacement, it is not easy to define a new hospital. Expenditure on schemes which are the whole or part of entirely new hospitals or of the virtual reconstruction of old hospitals has been included in the second column of the table below; expenditure on all other hospital building is in the third column.As I informed the House on 8th February, the future hospital building programme is under review. I am therefore unable to reply to the second part of the Question.

Region (including teaching hospitals)	Capital expenditure 1st April, 1950–31st March, 1965 (estimated) £ per 1,000 population
	New hospitals	Other hospital building
Newcastle	2,871	6,409
Leeds	3,139	5,258
Sheffield	1,926	4,116
East Anglian	2,296	5,877
North West Metropolitan	3,538	5,688
North East Metropolitan	1,662	5,446
South East Metropolitan	1,014	5,383
South West Metropolitan*	1,836	6,192
Wessex
Oxford	3,622	6,524
South Western	1,393	5,780
Birmingham	1,852	4,357
Manchester	1,359	4,183
Liverpool	1,472	5,935
Welsh	3,535	5,732
* Wessex did not function as a separate hospital region until 1st April, 1959.

asked the Minister of Health what are his plans to dissuade members of the nursing profession from leaving this country to take up similar work in other developed countries.

I have no such plans.

asked the Minister of Health how many trained nurses left this country to take up posts in the United States of America during the years 1960 to 1964, respectively.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost of new hospitals and the number of people they will service in the period 1960–70 within a reasonable radius of Stoke-on-Trent, Salford, Manchester, Hull, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Hillingdon, Barking, Orsett, Harlow, Poole, Newport, Swansea, and Cardiff.

The estimated cost of schemes expected to be completed in the period 1960–70, which are the whole or part of entirely new hospitals or of the virtual reconstruction of old hospitals, and the population that is expected to be served by such new developments, solely or jointly with other hospitals in the vicinity, are as follows:

Place		Estimated Cost (£ million)	Population (Thousands)
Stoke-on-Trent	…	3·8	500
Salford	…	0·8	265
Manchester	…	4·0	1,000
Hull	…	5·6	425
Huddersfield	…	7·0	230
Sheffield	…	5·7	710
Hillingdon	…	4·1	220
Barking	…	2·3	250
Orsett	…	3·5	120
Harlow	…	3·5	80
Poole	…	4·8	100
Newport	…	2·9*	325
Swansea	…	2·7	335
Cardiff	…	2·3	460
* Includes the estimated cost of a psychiatric hospital serving a larger population (470,000) than served by other hospitals at Newport.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total amount spent on the Salford Royal Hospital since 1945; what number of population it serves; where a new hospital will be built; and when it will be finished.

About £175,000 since 1948; earlier figures are not available The estimated population served by the group of which this hospital is part is 265,000. Two new hospitals are planned to replace it, one at the present Hope Hospital and one on a new site near the north west boundary of Salford. I cannot yet say when these hospitals will be completed.

asked the Minister of Health what was the expenditure on the City General Hospital and North Staffs Royal Infirmary, between 1945 and 1965; and what are the proposals for new hospitals in North Staffs.

£1·7 millions since 1948; development of the North Staffs Royal Infirmary and the City General Hospital, Stoke, to form together a major district general hospital, of which a new out-patient department, a neuro-surgical and neurological block and a new maternity unit are under construction.

asked the Minister of Health, having regard to hospital staff shortages, to what extent computers have been, and are being, introduced into National Health Service hospital administration.

We are encouraging the use of computers wherever it is reasonable to do so. Four have been installed, three are on order and others are under consideration. In addition a number of hospital authorities make use of the services of commercially provided computers.

asked the Minister of Health how many midwives will be required to ensure that all midwifery blocks in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area are fully manned.

All beds now closed would be brought into use with 16 additional midwives, but for full manning the hospital authorities would like to recruit far more.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that during the past 10 years the number of readmissions to mental hospitals has more than doubled; and to what extent this deterioration is the result of inadequate accommodation and facilities for improved diagnosis and modern psychiatric treatment.

Yes; this trend mainly reflects advances in treatment which have reduced the need for long, unbroken periods of hospital care; it is not a deterioration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that only 8 per cent. of the total expenditure on health services is allocated to mental hospitals and that mental hospitals accommodate more than one-half of the bed patients in the country; and what action he is taking to improve facilities in the hospitals.

I am not clear on what basis these estimates have been made. Any conclusion drawn from them would need to take into account factors such as differences in length of stay and type of treatment. Detailed advice was given to hospital authorities last year on ways of improving the effectiveness of hospitals for the mentally ill.

asked the Minister of Health how many mentally-abnormal adolescents below the age of 21 years are at present in Broadmoor and Rampton, respectively; how they are housed; and what facilities exist for their treatment.

24 males and 5 females at Broadmoor; 65 males and 35 females at Rampton. At Broadmoor male adolescents are housed in the admission unit, female adolescents in wards with other patients. At Rampton adolescent patients of both sexes are housed with other patients according to their condition and behaviour. A full range of psychiatric treatment is available at both hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects work to begin on the major reconstruction of Clatterbridge Hospital, Bebington; whether he is aware of the present need for a new operating theatre at that hospital; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the provision of such an operating theatre will be treated as a matter of urgency in advance of major reconstruction work.

Work on the extension of the radiotherapy department is in progress; Yes; the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board is considering ways of improving the present operating facilities.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the capital value of constructional work to be carried out by traditional building methods, and by industrialised building systems, respectively, during the financial year 1965–66.

About £52 million and £5 million respectively. The proportion of industrialised building is expected to rise in future years as a result of measures already being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the communication which he sent to the hon. Member for West Ham, North, on 5th March, concerning the paper, "Focus on Germany", he will now make a further statement on the Government's policy on the matter.

In answering the hon. Member's Question on 1st March, I said that HQ. B.A.O.R., had been asked to delete from future editions of "Focus on Germany" a small map of Germany showing the 1939 frontiers.I regret that this reply was based on a misunderstanding. As I have now informed the hon. Member, I have since found that the map shows the 1937, rather than the 1939 frontiers of Germany. Had it shown the 1939 frontiers, it would have been most objectionable, but the 1937 frontiers are a different matter.I have therefore, decided that there are no grounds for removing this map from future editions of "Focus on Germany", and I have accordingly rescinded the orders for its deletion.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the names, dates, and duration of visits of Her Majesty's ships calling at ports in Northern Ireland during 1965.

Details, so far as I am able to give them at present, of visits, by Her Majesty's ships to ports in Northern Ireland during 1965, are as follows.

Port	Ship		Date
Bangor, Co. Down.	Submarine Depot Ship (tentative)		15th–18th July
Belfast	"Lynx"	Frigates	11th–15th February (operational visit)
	"Grafton"
	"Wakeful"	(Frigate)	12th–15th March (operational visit)
	Ships of the Home Fleet		30th July–5th August
Portrush, Co. Antrim	R.N.R. Minesweeper		3rd–4th July

I regret that I cannot yet give the names of the ships likely to take part in the visits during the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the names, dates and duration of visits of Her Majesty's ships calling at Aberdeen during the last five years; and what are his plans for visits of Her Majesty's ships to Aberdeen during 1965 and 1966.

As far as can be established now, the details for the last five years are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour, of the vacancies listed at the most convenient date at the Gateshead employment exchange, what were the numbers for skilled and unskilled; how many apprenticeship opportunities were available for boys and girls; and how many unskilled vacancies were offered to boys and girls.

Of the 810 vacancies outstanding at the Gateshead Employment Exchange on 3rd March, 1965, 784 were for men and women with some degree of skill and 26 for unskilled workers.At the Gateshead Youth Employment Office on the same date there were 202 vacancies for boys and girls, including 23 vacancies for apprentices, 71 for progressive employment and 108 for unskilled employment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons during the last six months attended the three vocational training centres in the North-East from the Gateshead employment area; and how this compares with the previous six months.

Since 1st September, 1964, 25 trainees and 29 apprentices from the Gateshead area attended the Felling Government Training Centre. There were none at the other two Government Training Centres in the Northern Region. These figures compare with 24 trainees and 11 apprentices at the Felling Government Training Centre and 1 trainee at the Tursdale Government Training Centre during the previous six months.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement on the strike of maintenance workers at the Longbridge, Birmingham, works of the British Motor Corporation.

I am glad to be able to inform the House that work was resumed this morning.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the percentage of unemployment in the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges at the latest convenient date.

Separate percentage rates of unemployment are not quoted for employment exchanges whose areas form part of a wider travel-to-work area. The percentage rate of unemployment on 8th March for the travel-to-work district which comprises the areas of the Mexborough and Goldthorpe Employment Exchanges was 2·6 per cent and that for the areas covered by the Wombwell, Barnsley, Hoyland, and Royston Employment Exchanges was 1·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has received from the Spanish Government to his protests at the continued blockade of Gibraltar; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member and the hon. Members for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby), Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker), Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton), Belfast, West (Mr. Kilfedder) and Bristol, North-West (Mr. M. McLaren) on 1st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what study he has made of the request from the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Vietnam to consider an immediate appeal to all concerned with a view to reducing tension and preserving peace in Vietnam and take whatever measures are necessary in order to stem a deteriorating situation; and if he will approach the co-chairman with a view to issuing such an appeal.

I have read both the majority report from the International Control Commission in which this request is contained, and the minority report. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 9th March, one needs to read both to get a balanced view. All members of the 1954 Geneva Conference have now had copies of the reports and can draw their own conclusions on what is necessary for restoring peace to Vietnam. I hope to discuss with Mr. Gromyko tomorrow the possibility of action by the co-chairmen in the light of our earlier approach to the Soviet Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the European Convention on Establishment, signed under the auspices of the Council of Europe, came into force on 23rd February, 1965, and that, under Resolution 51 (30) B of the Committee of Ministers, this Convention should be ratified within one year; and whether Her Majesty's Government will now deposit its instrument of ratification of that Convention.

The Convention came into force for the five countries which have so far ratified it on 23rd February 1965. Her Majesty's Government are at present considering the question of ratification of the Convention by the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the shortage of teachers in Scotland and the fact that there are 20,000 married women who are trained and experienced teachers but who have left teaching, he will consider offering some form of special tax relief to such persons to attract them back into teaching in Scottish schools.

Special Income Tax reliefs—the wife's earned income allowance and a separate set of reduced rate reliefs—give a substantial inducement to married women to continue in, or return to, employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent exports of home-reared beef are subsidised by the taxpayer, directly or indirectly, through subsidies on feedingstuffs or capital grants or by other means;(2) if he will recover any subsidy paid by the Exchequer on exports of home-reared beef by means of an export tax;(3) if he will protect consumers against the continental policy of high meat prices by taxing exports and re-exports of fresh or chilled meat and store-livestock.

Exchequer support for the home production of beef derives mainly from the system of fatstock guarantees and from calf subsidy. Other forms of indirect support are fairly small by comparison. Current exports of cattle are in the main not of types which will have been eligible for either fatstock guarantee or calf subsidy. In any case, guarantee payments on cattle have for many months been nil or comparatively small, owing to the strength of the market. In these circumstances, fiscal measures to recover subsidies would at present have little effect on the trade, but the Government are keeping the situation under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many official appointments, paid or unpaid, have been made since 15th October, 1964, of persons outside the public service to advisory or executive positions in relation to Ministers or their departments in the field of Press and public relations.

Sixty-seven; of which 63 have been made to previously existing posts.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is satisfied that all aircraft now operating from Gatwick Airport comply with the safety and other requirements of the Air Registration Board, and in particular with paragraph 2(2) of Circular No. 60 Issue 2 of 1st August, 1961; and if he will make a statement.

An aircraft operator may carry out his own maintenance or engage a contractor, but as the Air Registration Board's Circular No. 60 sets out, in either case the Board must be satisfied that a sufficient number of skilled engineering staff are employed. The Air Registration Board has taken special steps to satisfy itself that these requirements are being met at Gatwick at the present time.

asked the Minister of Aviation how the increase in British Overseas Airways Corporation's passenger traffic in the past 12 months compares with the increase forecast by the British Overseas Airways Corporation board a year ago.

The scale of increase in British Overseas Airways Corporation's passenger traffic is indicated by the improvement of their average load factor from the 52 per cent., which had been anticipated, to the 57 per cent. now expected for the full year 1964–65. Final figures will, however, not be available before the end of the financial year to which British Overseas Airways Corporation's traffic forecasts are geared.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories have been built in development areas since 1959; how many are already let to a tenant; and of those not yet let how many are at present the subject of negotiations with possible occupants.

Thirty-four advance factories have been built in development districts since 1959. Twenty-four have been let and six sold. Three are the subject of negotiations with possible occupants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the yearly total of loans and grants made available under the Local Employment Acts 1960 and 1963 to projects in the Highland counties.

The information is given in the following table:

OFFERS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ACTS 1960 AND 1963 TO PROJECTS IN THE HIGHLAND COUNTIES
Financial	Loans	Grants	Total
Years	£'000	£'000	£'000
1960–61	354	3	357
1961–62	102	22	124
1962–63	121	5	126
1963–64	308	25	333
April-December, 1964	21	282	303

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the £10 million loan made available for the construction of the Fort William Pulp Mills has now been taken up by the operating company; when the balance will be taken up; and what estimate he has made of the yearly cost of the remission of interest on the loan during the first years of the project.

The whole of the loan of £8 million for the first stage of the project will have been advanced by 1st April. The remaining £2 million will be issued if and when the Company proceeds with the second stage of the project and demonstrates its need for such further assistance. Grants of £49,000 in 1963–64 and £241,000 in 1964–65 have been made in respect of interest; it is estimated that there will be further grants of £434,000 in 1965–66 and £440,000 in 1966–67.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give an assurance that, while the power to amend the Constitution of Rhodesia rests with the Parliament of the United Kingdom, it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce legislation to amend the Constitution of Rhodesia, without the approval of the Government and Legislature of Rhodesia and the approval of all racial groups in that country.

As I made clear in answer to a supplementary question from the right hon. Member on 8th March the ultimate grant of independence to Rhodesia is a responsibility of this Parliament. I also said that as long as there was no unconstitutional action this Government would respect the convention whereby Parliament at Westminster does not legislate for Rhodesia on matters within the competence of the Legislative Assembly of Rhodesia, except with the agreement of the Rhodesian Government. As the right hon. Member will be aware, the arrangements for amendment of the 1961 Constitution of Rhodesia are contained within it. Under Section 111 certain provisions can only be amended by Order in Council; otherwise the Constitution can be amended by the Legislature of Rhodesia after a vote of two-thirds of the total membership of the Assembly, except that in the case of the specially entrenched provisions a majority in each of the four main racial communities must approve the proposal in a referendum, or the proposal be submitted to the Queen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the inconvenience for patients, staff and visitors of Peel Hospital, he will name an early date for the building of a new hospital for the Borders.

The revised hospital plan for Scotland published in May, 1964, and covering the period to April, 1974, made no provision for a new general hospital for the Borders, but siting possibilities for the future are under consideration by the Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has studied a letter from Duns Town Council to the effect that the Reston-Duns branch railway line is to be closed in the near future; and what reply he has sent.

I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and will arrange for a copy of the reply to the Town Clerk to be sent to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the yearly cost of Exchequer support for the Highland Fund.

Payments from the Development Fund to the Highland Fund Ltd. have been approved as follows:

	Advances to Official Loan Fund	Grant towards administrative expenses
	£	£
October, 1963 to 31st March, 1964	35,000	2,500
1st April, 1964 to 31st March, 1965	50,000	3,500
	85,000	6,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the population of the seven Highland counties; what additional population is included in the area covered by the Highland regional study; and what proportions these are of the total population of Scotland.

On 30th June, 1964, the population of the seven Highland Counties was estimated by the Registrar General for Scotland to be 276,328.The additional population included in the area covered by the Highland Regional Study, that is, the Counties of Nairn and Bute and contiguous, upland portions of other Counties also included in the North East Regional Study was approximately 65,000.These figures represent 5·3 per cent. and 1·2 per cent. respectively of the total population of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Highland regional study will be completed; and when he will publish a report.

I hope that all these regional studies will be completed by the middle of the summer when they will have to be considered in relation to one another and to the national plan. It has not been decided how or when the Government's plan, or plans, for Scotland can most appropriately be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the expenditure by the Forestry Commission in the Highland counties in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of all the Commission's expenditures in Scotland this represents.

The estimated net expenditure was as follows:

			(a) Highland Counties*	(b) Scotland	(a) as percentage of (b)
			£'000	£'000	Per cent.
1955	…	…	1,097	2,800	39
1956	…	…	1,145	2,698	42
1957	…	…	1,186	2,744	43
1958	…	…	1,165	2,694	43
1959	…	…	1,210	2,733	44
1960	…	…	1,231	2,905	42
1961	…	…	1,350	3,295	41
1962	…	…	1,413	3,112	45
1963	…	…	1,516	3,764	40
1964	…	…	1,536	3,970	39
* The counties are Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness and Argyll. There was no expenditure in Orkney and Shetland.

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE IN THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS
£ million
			1954–55	1955–56	1956–57	1957–58	1958–59
Exchequer Grants to Local Revenues including Education			4·025	4·355	5·001	5·695	6·049
Water and Sewerage	…	…	0·610	0·172	0·125	0·104	0·131
Housing	…	…	0·603	0·598	0·742	0·827	0·971
Health	…	…	3·003	3·228	3·591	3·743	3·984
Roads	…	…	Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Vote		1·500	1·500	2·000
Shipping	…	…	0·267	0·249	0·284	0·278	0·271
Agriculture	…	…	2·505	2·639	4·923	5·040	5·749
Forestry	…	…	0·931	1·097	1·145	1·186	1·165
Fisheries	…	…	0·905	0·858	0·784	0·701	0·878
Miscellaneous	…	…	0·276	0·280	0·316	0·324	0·353
TOTAL	…	…	13·125	13·476	18·411	19·398	21·551

£ million
			1959–60	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64
Exchequer Grants to Local Revenues including Education			5·888	7·096	7·405	8·231	8·618
Water and Sewerage	…	…	0·168	0·265	0·253	0·342	0·336
Housing	…	…	1·076	1·143	1·141	1·106	1·111
Health	…	…	3·946	4·270	4·559	5·060	5·523
Roads	…	…	2·200	2·917	2·509	3·125	3·738
Shipping	…	…	0·296	0·522	0·550	0·951	1·351
Agriculture	…	…	5·860	6·226	6·151	7·230	7·308
Forestry	…	…	1·210	1·231	1·350	1·413	1·526
Fisheries	…	…	0·941	1·008	0·992	0·757	0·800
Miscellaneous	…	…	0·491	0·510	0·509	0·415	0·525
TOTAL	…	…	22·076	25·188	25·419	28·630	30·836

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the various headings of expenditure by the Scottish departments in the Highland counties in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion this is of their total expenditure in Scotland.

Estimated net expenditure by my Departments and the Forestry Commission in the Highlands and Islands (seven crofter counties) during each of the years 1954–55 to 1963–64 inclusive is given in the following table and represents about 10 per cent. of the total estimated expenditure by these Departments in Scotland. Figures of actual expenditure in the Highlands and Islands are available only for 1962–63 and 1963–64 and show a variation of about 2 per cent. from the estimated figures. Total net expenditure in the Highlands and Islands in the current financial year is estimated at £33 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what capital and other expenditure in the Highland counties has been incurred by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in each of the last 10 years.

Separate information is not available for the Highland counties, but the total capital and revenue expenditure of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board during each of the past ten years was:

£ million
				Gross Expenditure
				Revenue*	Capital
1955	…	…	…	7·8	23·4
1956	…	…	…	8·8	20·3
1957	…	…	…	9·4	18·0
1958	…	…	…	10·9	16·3
1959	…	…	…	12·2	13·6
1960	…	…	…	13·1	10·7
1961	…	…	…	13·3	12·9
1962	…	…	…	14·8	15·8
1963	…	…	…	17·8	17·1
1964	…	…	…	18·5	17·1
* Including interest payment but excluding depreciation provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what yearly expenditure has been incurred in the Highland counties under the Highlands and Islands (Shipping Services) Act 1960.

Since 1960–61, the year the Highlands and Islands (Shipping Services) Act 1960 came into effect, expenditure on shipping services in the Highland counties has been:

	Expenditure
Year	Capital Payments	Subsidy Payments
	£	£
1960–61	—	276,404
1961–62	124,254	296,368
1962–63	251,817	341,355
1963–64	835,346	281,005
1964–65 (estimated)	467,000	523,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what public expenditure has been incurred in the Highland counties in each of the last 10 years by the Crofters Commission, the Herring Board, and the White Fish Authority, respectively.

Expenditure on Schemes administered by the Crofters Commission since the Commission was appointed has been:

Calendar Year		£
October 1955—December 1957*	…	298,854
1958	…	375,780
1959	…	464,951
1960	…	520,835
1961	…	573,434
1962	…	544,681
1963	…	494,281
1964	…	472,648
* The first Scheme enabling the Commission to provide financial assistance to crofters came into operation on 31st July, 1956. Separate figures for the years 1955–57 are not available.

Expenditure by the Herring Industry Board and the White Fish Authority in the Highland Counties on schemes mainly to assist the building of new fishing vessels and the re-engining of existing fishing vessels has been:

Calendar year	Herring Industry		White Fish
	Board		Authority
	Grant	Loan	Grant	Loan
	£	£	£	£
August, 1953-December, 1957*	1,250	2,469	89,025	185,877
1958	1,508	2,229	33,045	67,208
1959	4,262	7,372	33,769	69,726
1960	16,563	25,277	22,355	55,690
1961	19,946	14,179	23,247	19,252
1962	11,755	14,940	24,049	13,003
1963	5,505	17,774	18,557	35,020
1964	27,213	40,613	26,928	50,113
* Separate figures for these years are not available.

The Board and the Authority have other responsibilities covering the whole country and are partly financed by contributions from the industry. Comprehensive figures of their expenditure out of public funds relating particularly to the Highland Counties are not available. The following items can, however, be so related:

(a) Capital Expenditure from public funds in Crofting Counties by Herring Industry Board
Financial Year					£
1954–55	…	…	…	…	35,443
1955–56	…	…	…	…	1,456
1956–57	…	…	…	…	1,017
1957–58	…	…	…	…	2,888
1958–59	…	…	…	…	21,006
1959–60	…	…	…	…	33,498
1960–61	…	…	…	…	24,879
1961–62	…	…	…	…	35,693
1962–63	…	…	…	…	3,815
1963–64	…	…	…	…	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there are in Scotland many buildings of architectural charm and distinction which are threatened with destruction, and that such destruction would be a loss to the nation; and if he will make a list of such buildings, with a view to taking steps for their preservation.

In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947, I am having compiled lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest in Scotland.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will indicate the responsibility of Ministers for dealing with problems in the English county of Monmouth; and what responsibilities in this respect have been allocated to the Secretary of State for Wales.

The responsibilities of Ministers in relation to Monmouthshire are the same as those in relation to any county of Wales.

asked the hon. and learned Member for Brigg, as Second Church Estates Commissioner, why the demolition of St. James Church, Hampstead Road, has been delayed, in view of the dangerous condition of the structure, which adjoins a busy hospital.

This church vests in the diocesan board of finance of the diocese of London under a scheme made by the Church Commissioners in 1954 pursuant to the Reorganisation Areas Measures, 1944.The existing scheme provides for the demolition of the church subject to the removal of its western facade and cupola for incorporation in a new church but the diocesan authorities, despite continued effort, have found it impossible to fulfil the condition and have in consequence requested the Commissioners to prepare a supplementary scheme to remove the requirement.In preparing the supplementary scheme the Commissioners have again had to carry out statutory consultations. They have ascertained the views of the Central Council for the Care of Churches and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and await those of the Ministry of Public Building and Works which they understand will be received shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now detained in British Guiana under the Emergency Regulations; for how long they have been detained; and what provision exists for their cases to be reviewed.

The number of persons detained under the Emergency Regulations has been progressively reduced from 41 to the present 14. These have been in detention since 13th June, 1964.An Advisory Tribunal, with a legally qualified Chairman appointed by the Chief Justice and other members appointed by the Governor after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, has been established to review the case of any applicant and to make recommendations concerning his continued detention. None of the remaining detainees has applied to have his case reviewed.As the past releases demonstrate, the Governor has the detentions under constant review, and I know that he shares my own determination that no person shall be detained longer than is necessary in the interests of public order and safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide, in tabulated form, itemized information on the number of persons employed in different grades and their salaries in the Departmental establishments which until this year formed the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for the years 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, and 1965–66.

The non-industrial staff by grades and the industrial staff of the Department of Scientific and Industrial

NATIONAL RATES
Grade	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66
Chief Scientific Officer (1)	£4,050	£4,050	£4,050	£4,700	£4,700
Chief Scientific Officer (2)	£3,863	£3,863	£3,863	£4,425	£4,425
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer	£3,125/£3,450	£3,125/£3,450	£3,275/£3,600	£3,625/£4,025	£3,625/£4,025
Senior Principal Scientific Officer	£2,650/£3,000	£2,650/£3,000	£2,800/£3,150	£3,050/£3,475	£3,050/£3,475
Principal Science Officer	£1,716/£2,418	£1,716/£2,418	£1,839/£2,569	£2,100/£2,900	£2,174/£3,002
Senior Scientific Officer	£1,342/£1,654	£1,342/£1,654	£1,396/£1,720	£1,628/£2,012	£1,685/£2,082
Scientific Officer	£738/£l,222	£738/£l,222	£768/£1,271	£865/£1,470	£895/£1,521
Chief Experimental Officer	£1,976/£2,288	£1,976/£2,288	£2,109/£2,434	£2,400/£2,800	£2,484/£2,898
Senior Experimental Officer	£1,508/£1,872	£1,508/£1,872	£1,568/£2,001	£1,845/£2,250	£1,910/£2,329
Experimental Officer	£1,087/£1,336	£1,087/£1,336	£1,130/£1,389	£1,274/£1,618	£1,319/£1,675
Assistant Experimental Officer.	£458/£983	£458/£983	£476/£1,022	£530/£1,160	£549/£1,201
Senior Scientific Assistant	£811/£1,082	£811/£1,082	£843/£1,125	£962/£1,269	£996/£1,313
Scientific Assistant	£333/£780	£333/£780	£346/£811	£370/£920	£383/£952
Principal Research Fellow	—	—	—	£2,100/£2,895	£2,175/£3,000
Senior Research Fellow	£1,325/£1,640	£1,325/£1,640	£1,380/£1,705	£1,605/£1,995	£1,685/£2,080
Junior Research Fellow	£910/£1,220	£910/£1,220	£945/£l,270	£1,000/£1,470	£1,140/£1,520
Principal Psychologist	£1,635/£2,040	£1,716/£2,340	£1,839/£2,488	£1,951/£2,640	£1,951/£2,640
Senior Psychologist	£1,230/£1,545	£1,342/£1,654	£1,396/£1,720	£1,481/£1,825	£1,481/£1,825
Psychologist	£595/£l,260	£728/£l,222	£757/£l,271	£803/£1,348	£803/£1,348
Senior Research Officer	£1,635/£2,040	£1,716/£2,340	£1,839/£2,488	£1,951/£2,640	£1,951/£2,640
Research Officer	£1,230/£1,545	£1,342/£1,654	£1,396/£1,720	£1,481/£1,825	£1,481/£1,825
Assistant Research Officer	£595/£l,260	£728/£l,222	£757/£l,271	£803/£1,348	£803/£1,348
Chief Information Officer A	£2,650/£3,350	£2,650/£3,350	£2,800/£3,500	£3,050/£3,900	£3,050/£3,900
Chief Information Officer B	£2,392/£2,650	£2,392/£2,650	£2,542/£2,800	£2,697/£3,050	£2,697/£3,050
Principal Information Officer	£1,976/£2,288	£1,976/£2,288	£2,109/£2,434	£2,400/£2,800	£2,484/£2,898
Senior Information Officer	£1,508/£1,872	£1,508/£1,872	£1,568/£2,001	£1,845/£2,250	£1,910/£2,329
Information Officer	£1,222/£1,430	£1,222/£1,430	£1,271/£1,487	£1,348/£1,578	£1,521/£1,811
Assistant Information Officer	£458/£l,154	£458/£1,154	£476/£1,200	£530/£1,360	£549/£1,408
Librarian Grade II	£1,508/£1,872	£1,508/£1,872	£1,568/£2,001	£1,845/£2,250	£1,910/£2,329
Librarian Grade IV	£458/£1,154	£458/£1,154	£476/£1,200	£530/£1,360	£549/£1,408
Professional Works Group
Superintending Grade	£2,650/£3,00	£2,650/£3,000	£2,800/£3,150	£3,050/£3,475	£3,050/£3,475
Senior Grade	£2,080/£2,392	£2,080/£2,392	£2,163/£2,488	£2,295/£2,640	£2,295/£2,640
Main Grade	£1,456/£1,950	£1,456/£1,950	£1,514/£2,028	£1,606/£2,152	£1,600/£2,152
Basic Grade	£707/£1,430	£707/£1,430	£735/£1,487	£780/£1,578	£780/£1,578