asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the Charity Commissioners in establishing local indexes of charities for public inspection under Section 10 of the Charities Act, 1960.

I understand from the Charity Commissioners that they have now supplied copies of the relevant entries in the Central Register of Charities to all county and county borough councils in England and Wales, other than those in London and Middlesex, and the large number of county district councils which have undertaken to maintain the local indexes. Persons wishing to consult the local indexes should inquire at county council offices or town halls. Indexes will not be distributed to the Greater London boroughs until after 1st April; in the meantime, entries may be inspected at the Central Register department of the Charity Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to disqualify for limited periods those who are convicted of aggression in cases where a motorist uses violence to another in a dispute about driving.

My right hon. Friend does not think it would be appropriate to give the courts power to disqualify from driving for this class of offence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present anticipated yield from the addition of 6d. to the standard rate of Income Tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Financial Statement of 11th November, 1964.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total annual revenue derived from road transport sources.

The 1963–64 revenue in Great Britain from oil duty paid by road users, motor vehicle duties and purchase tax on road vehicles totalled £781 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount yielded by Purchase Tax upon jewellery, imitation jewellery and articles of personal adornment during a full financial year at the current rate of 25 per cent. and during the most recent year for which Purchase Tax was levied on such goods or the bulk thereof at the higher rate of 50 per cent.; and what estimate he has made of the change in yield likely to result from a doubling of the percent rate of tax charged on such goods.

The yield from these goods in the year 1954–55 when the rate of tax was 50 per cent. was about £6 million. The yield in the current financial year is estimated at about £7 million. As regards the last part of the Question, my right hon. Friend at this time of the year cannot disclose what estimates he has made of the yield of hypothetical tax changes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will investigate the circumstances in which the Kent County Council has not given consent to three planning applications submitted to it through Orpington Council in July, 1964, concerning a church hall (WK/7/64/382), a shopping precinct (WK/7/64/363), and housing at Rookery Gardens (WK/7/64/163(i)), St. Mary Cray, respectively; and whether valid planning permission can now be deemed to have been granted in accordance with the minutes of the Development Sub-Committee of Kent County Council dated 29th December, 1964.

This is a matter for the county council. It is open to the applicants to appeal to my right hon. Friend against the local planning authority's failure to notify their decision on the applications and so it would not be right for my right hon. Friend to intervene at this stage.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to decide what the future status of Cheltenham should be.

I am not yet able to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's Question on 24th November last.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the increasing rate burden, he will issue a circular to local authorities advising them not to raise money for such things as robes for council members and other regalia.

No. My right hon. Friend thinks that this is better left to local judgment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will identify the source or sources of recent excessive pollution of the River Dee; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such pollution does not recur;(2) whether he is aware of the difficulties recently experienced by the Wirral Water Board in ensuring that water supplies procured from the River Dee are drinkable and free from pollution; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the recurrence of such difficulties.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties experienced by the Wirral Water Board. There has recently been a high concentration of ammonia in the River Dee. This is probably due to intermittent discharges of industrial effluent, containing ammoniacal nitrogen, into the Worthenbury Brook, a tributary of the Dee. The Dee and Clwyd River Board, who are responsible for the prevention of pollution in the river, are taking steps to prevent a recurrence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the county borough of Birkenhead will not be represented on the Mersey and Weaver River Authority at least until November 1967, that neither of the two county boroughs in Wirral is currently represented on the Authority, and that this position is likely to recur; and whether he will take steps to remedy this under-representation on the Authority of municipal authorities on the Wirral side of the River Mersey.

My right hon. Friend is aware that Birkenheand, Wallasey and Bootle jointly appoint a member to the Mersey and Weaver River Authority, and that the present member is drawn from Bootle. Some sharing of appointments is unavoidable if the total number of members on the Authority is not to be too large. He does not accept that Birkenhead and Wallasey are unfairly treated by comparison with the large number of other county boroughs in the river authority area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the Wirral Water Board is not itself represented on the Dee and Clwyd River Authority; and whether he will take steps, in view of the board's dependence on the River Dee for part of its water supplies, to ensure that it is represented on the River Authority.

Water supply members of river authorities are not appointed to represent particular undertakings. Two of the three such members on the Dee and Clwyd authority are well versed in the problems of supply from the Dee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he proposes to make a further study of Swindon and the surrounding area before determining the development policy for this part of England; and if he will make a statement.

My Department, with the Berkshire and Wiltshire County Councils and Swindon Borough Council, have jointly commissioned Messrs. Llewelyn-Davies, Weeks and Partners to examine the feasibility of housing approximately 300,000 additional people in the area bounded by Hungerford, Thatcham, Didcot and Swindon and to make recommendations for the general location and form of development within this area.This study, which is expected to take about nine months, is without prejudice to any decisions which may be taken as a result of the review of policy on the South East now in hand.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make arrangements to ensure that wherever possible public representatives and officials, namely, magistrates, councillors and local authority chief officers, are not required to share telephone lines at their home addresses.

My right hon. Friend must continue to ask people in these categories to share their telephones when this is necessary to provide service for others.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking within the framework of the Universal Postal Union to express, encourage and increase a sense of world community.

The British Post Office is currently playing a full part in the development of international postal co-operation through its membership of the U.P.U.'s Executive Council and its Consultative Committee for Postal Studies as well as by the provision of technical assistance to new and developing countries. My right hon. Friend will continue to foster these activities as a means of improving the international postal service and so contributing to development of the sense of world community to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent his Department is participating in the activities of the International Co-operation year; and if a representative of the Department is serving on the Press Broadcasting Advisory Panel for the education of the public in international understanding.

In answer to the first part of the Question, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the reply my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. Randall) on 16th March. Apart from this the Department has no specific plans, but it is, as always, playing a full part in the work of the Universal Postal Union and the International Telecommunication Union. In particular, a substantial number of Post Office servants are working abroad under technical assistance programmes. The answer to the second part of the Question is, No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the value of British exports and re-exports to South Africa in each of the years 1962, 1963, and 1964, and the value of British imports from South Africa in the same period; and what percentage of these exports and imports qualified for imperial preference.

Figures of our trade with South Africa can be obtained from published trade statistics. The proportions of the trade in these years qualifying for Commonwealth Preference are not available but it is estimated that in 1961 about one-half of our imports and between one-sixth and one-third of our exports qualified for preference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the lack of exhibition facilities in Britain for British manufacturers comparable to those of their overseas competitors, and of the importance of the provision of a first class national exhibition centre to the export drive, Her Majesty's Government will take action for the building at Crystal Palace of such a national exhibition centre.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Bath (Sir E. Brown) on the 12th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration has been given to the exemption of educational programme material of foreign origin from quota restrictions; and if he will make a statement, with particular reference to television programmes.

There are no restrictions on the import of educational programme material of foreign origin. The amount of educational programme material of foreign origin included in television programmes is limited only by the duty of the two broadcasting authorities to see that proper proportions of the recorded and other matter included in its programmes, considered as a whole, are of British origin and British performance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to prevent the sale of cycle mirrors with red reflectors attached to the rear side.

This is already an offence under Section 12(2) of the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1957. I am not aware that the sale of these mirrors has been widespread, but in one case which came to my Department's notice last year the distributor undertook to stop selling them at once.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from railway unions in the King's Lynn area, regarding the powers and policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to railways; and what replies he has sent.

The Dereham branch of the National Union of Railwaymen has made representations about rail closures. Replies have been sent indicating the Government's policy, in the context of which I shall consider any proposals affecting the Dereham—King's Lynn passenger service.

asked the Minister of Power how many power stations were under construction in 1962, 1963 and 1964, respectively; and what were their respective locations and rated outputs.

This information is given in Appendix 7 of the Central Electricity Generating Board's Annual Reports for 1961–62 and 1962–63 and Appendix 3 of their Report for 1963–64.

asked the Minister of Power how many coal-fired power stations are under construction at present; and what is the location and estimated coal consumption per annum of each.

The information is given below. The regions are those of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the figures of estimated coal consumption are for the first full year of operation of each power station.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what was the total cost of contracting work done by area electricity boards directly on power stations under construction in 1962, 1963 and 1964 respectively;(2) what was the cost of private electrical contracting work done on behalf of the Central Electricity Generating Board on power stations under construction in 1962, 1963, and 1964, respectively.

I am informed by the Central Electricity Generating Board that the value of contracts placed with private electrical contractors and with area electricity boards in these three years, for work on power stations under construction, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Power what was the cost of the work contracted out to private enterprise by each area board of the electricity supply industry in 1962, 1963, and 1964, respectively.

I regret that this information is not readily available but I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent her Department is participating in the arrangements for International Co-operation Year 1965 with special regard to the encouragement of racial tolerance in a world community setting.

My Ministry warmly supports the aims and objectives of International Co-operation Year. My Parliamentary Secretary will be opening a Consultation on Service Overseas which is being held on 6th April by the Overseas Working Group of the U.K. Committee of I.C.Y.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if her Department is represented on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Council in Group Relations founded in June 1963; and to what extent United Kingdom representatives have participated in action programmes designed to reduce discrimination and prejudice.

Although the International Council on Intergroup Relations was constituted as the result of meetings held at the U.N.E.S.C.O. Youth Institute near Munich it is not a part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and my Ministry is not represented on it.British experts helped with the setting up of the Council and also took part in a series of meetings in the Youth Institute's own programme concerned with intergroup relations and the prevention of prejudice in young people.The furtherance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction of race, sex, language or religion is one of the basic purposes of U.N.E.S.C.O. To this end, and especially through the work of its Education Department on the prevention of discrimination in education and its Social Sciences Department on the promotion of universal respect for human rights and eradication of racial prejudices, there is full British participation in the activities of the Organisation.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development who has been appointed by her Department to represent the United Kingdom National United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Commission at the meeting of Governmental representatives during 1965–66 to examine the working of the two United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation agreements on the importation of educational, scientific and cultural materials and on the facilitating of international circulation of visual and auditory materials of an educational, scientific and cultural character.

The meeting referred to will not take place until 1966 and therefore the question of representation at it has not yet arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the population of each Welsh county live in houses built since 1945; and what proportion live in houses built before 1900.

The proportions of post-1945 dwellings in each county are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what mileage of three-lane and what mileage of four-lane roadway there is in each Welsh county.

The mileage of three-lane and four-lane trunk and classified roads in each Welsh county is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of schoolchildren from each overseas country, respectively, who have visited the United Kingdom in organised parties for educational purposes in the years 1962, 1963 and 1964; and what arrangements were made for their reception and accommodation during this period.

The information is not available. Information about the numerous bodies concerned with arrangements for organised parties of schoolchildren from abroad is given in a broadsheet issued by the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, which is grant aided by my Department and the Scottish Education Department, and I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration has been given by his Department to the provision of additional accommodation for organised parties of schoolchildren from overseas countries for educational visits; and if he will consider setting up a reception centre.

I have no power to provide accommodation for schoolchildren from overseas. Arrangements for the reception of organised parties are however made by various bodies including local authorities, voluntary organisations and private enterprise. Information about this is provided by the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges which was set up for this and other purposes and is grant aided by my Department and the Scottish Education Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent his Department is participating in the arrangements for International Cooperation Year 1965, with special regard to the encouragement of racial tolerance within a world community setting.

The convenor of the Education Working Group that is preparing in this country for the International Co-operation Year is the Secretary of the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, which is grant aided by my Department and the Scottish Education Department. The attention of schools was particularly drawn to those aspects of Human Rights which have to do with race relations in the circular issued in October, 1964, on The Schools and International Affairs, and copies of the United Nations declaration on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination accompanied that circular. There will be a special reference to the International Co-operation Year in this year's circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many load-carrying and dual-purpose vehicles were disposed of at the public auction sale at Ruddington from 16th-18th February; what was the original cost and how much they realised; what they were used for and what was the average mileage covered by each vehicle; if he will give a list of the Government Departments and public bodies given an opportunity to acquire them before it was decided to dispose of them at a surplus stores sale; and what was the result.

1,343 Service load-carrying and dual-purpose vehicles were disposed of. Most of them were over twelve years old and their original cost cannot now be ascertained. It is not usual to give details of prices realised. They had been used to carry military stores and equipment, and, in the case of dual-purpose vehicles, military personnel. The estimated annual average mileage of each vehicle is approximately 7,000.Only a few of the vehicles, from the Air Force Department were serviceable and these were offered without success to the Navy Department, the Army Department, the Ministry of Aviation, the Home Office, the General Post Office, the Government Communications Headquarters, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Forestry Commission, the Prison Commission and the Ministry of Health. The other vehicles were beyond economic repair and were not offered to other Departments because of their condition and age.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford with copies of communications sent to other Departments and public bodies giving details of load carrying and dual-purpose vehicles surplus to requirement before a decision was taken to auction them at Ruddington on 16th-18th February.

No. It is contrary to established practice to disclose interdepartmental communications outside official circles.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many blankets were sold at the auction sale in Belfast on 24th February; why they were sold at a public auction and not retained for further use or acquired by another Department or public body; what was the original cost and how much they realised; and how many of the blankets were new.

1,290 blankets were sold. They were first offered to the Northern Ireland Government which did not want them. The blankets were all in a very worn condition and had been declared unfit for further Service use. Their original cost is not known, but replacement would cost about £2,400. It is not usual practice to give details of prices realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the types and quantities of clothing disposed of at the surplus stores auction sale in Belfast on 24th February; what was the original cost and how much was realised; why the clothing was sold; what amounts were new; what Government Departments and public bodies were given an opportunity to acquire this clothing; and how they were notified before a decision was taken to dispose of the clothing at a public auction sale.

995 battledress blouses, 987 battledress trousers, 34 women's greatcoats, and 539 men's greatcoats. All this clothing was in worn condition and had been rejected for futher Service use. The clothing was offered to the Northern Ireland Government, Prison Department, which did not want it. Its original cost is not known, but replacement would cost about £6,000. It is not usual practice to give details of prices realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the quantity and types of footwear offered for sale at the auction at Belfast on 24th February; what was the original cost and how much they realised; why they were not retained for further use; how many were new; and in what way they were first offered to other Departments and public bodies or welfare organisations before a decision to dispose of them at a public sale was made.

One hundred and twenty-eight pairs of shoes, 27 pairs of ankle boots, 53 pairs of rubber thigh boots, and 100 pairs of motor cycle boots were sold. Their original cost is not known, but replacement would cost about £600: it is not usual to give details of prices realised. The shoes and ankle boots had been worn and been declared unfit for further Service use: the rubber thigh boots and the motor cycle boots had not been used but had deteriorated in storage. All the shoes and boots were offered to the Northern Ireland Government, Prison Department, which did not want them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the reasons for the decision to dispose of engineers' tools and generators at the auction sale at Belfast on 24th February; what was the original cost and how much they realised; for what purpose they were originally purchased; and in what way they were first offered to other Government Departments and public bodies.

Engineers' tools and generators were disposed of because they were either not serviceable or obsolete, and there was no further Service requirement for them. They were purchased for Royal Engineer works construction purposes, and for general service use. They were not offered to other Departments because of their condition and age. Their estimated cost is £2,588: it is not usual to give details of prices realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available to the hon. Member for Erith and Cray-ford copies of communications sent to other Government Departments and public bodies giving details of the articles surplus to requirements before a decision was made to auction them at Belfast on 24th February.

The Prison Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Northern Ireland Government, was sent details of the surpluses; it is however well established practice that interdepartmental communications are not normally disclosed outside official circles.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why it was decided to dispose of generator sets, air compressors, charging sets, wireless reception sets, wireless signal spares, tents, batteries, binoculars, watches, industrial tractors and trailers, fork-lift trucks, survey equipment and theodolites at an auction sale at the Technical Stores Sub-Depot, Shropshire, on 25th February; to what extent these articles could have been of further use to his department or other Government Departments or public bodies; and what was done to draw their attention to these surplus stores before deciding on a public auction.

These stores were disposed of because they were either obsolete, surplus to requirements, or not in a serviceable condition. They were of no further use to the Army Department. Those items which were serviceable were offered to other Government Departments under the normal arrangements in force before the decision to dispose of them by public auction was taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the amount realised at the surplus stores auction at the Technical Stores Sub-Depot, Shropshire, on 25th February; and what was the total purchase price from public funds.

£69,477 was realised. It is not possible to state the purchase price.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of charging sets were disposed of at the auction sale in Shropshire on 25th February; why they were considered to be of no further use to his or any other Government Department; how much they realised; and what was the original cost.

The charging sets were 1260 watt 35 volt, 4 kilowatt 80/125 volt, 42 kilowatt 80/125 volt, 6 kilowatt 110 volt, 300 watt 15 volt, 80 watt 18 volt. In addition there were 15 volt, 200 amp, 12/24 volt, 200/250 volt, AA No. 2, AA No. 4 Battery Chargers, and a Dry Air Changing Plant of 400/440 volts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of tents auctioned; for what reason they were auctioned on 25th February; why they were not retained for further use; when they were purchased; what service they have seen; how much each tent realised at the sale; how this compares with the purchase price; and how the information concerning these surplus tents was brought to the attention of other Departments and public bodies before deciding to dispose of them by public auction.

Five tents sized 8 ft. x 7 ft. which were of Canadian pattern and were part of a complete wireless station which had become surplus to requirements were auctioned. It is not known when they were bought or how much they had been used. They were offered to other Government Departments under the normal arrangements in force before the decision was taken to dispose of them. They cost £16 each: it is not usual to give details of prices realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many batteries, and of what types, were offered for sale at the public auction on 25th February; how the selling price compared with the purchase price per battery; why it was decided to dispose of them rather than retain them for future use; and what action was taken to offer them to other Departments or public bodies before deciding to dispose of them by public auction.

The following lead acid batteries: 1,142 6 volt, 174 6 volt 100 amp, 282 6 volt 170 amp, three 24 volt 85 amp, 128 of various capacities and 850 of an Alkaline type for Artillery equipment. Their estimated total purchase cost is £30,928: it is not usual to give details of prices realised. All these batteries were either obsolescent or surplus to requirement. Some were not serviceable. They were not offered to other Departments because they were of a type not in general use.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many watches, and what types, were offered for sale at the auction on 25th February; for what purpose they were purchased, and at what price; how many were never used, and how the remainder were used; why it was decided to sell them and not to retain them for possible future; what was the average price obtained for each watch; and what action was taken to ensure that all Departments were offered these watches before the decision was taken to dispose of them by public auction.

365. 119 wrist watches, 12 pocket watches, and 234 stop watches. They were bought during the war for general service use at a total purchase price of approximately £2,500. All were used. They were disposed of because they were of types not being retained in service. They were not in serviceable condition: where repair was possible, the cost and other factors did not justify it. Owing to their age and condition they were not offered to other Departments.It is not usual to give details of prices realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many, and what types of binoculars were offered for sale at the auction on 25th February; when they were purchased and at what price; how many were sold at the auction and at what price; why it was decided to sell them instead of retaining them for future use; how many had not been used; and in what way other Departments were informed of these surplus stores before deciding to dispose of them at a public auction.

Eight pairs of 7 x 50 prismatic binoculars and 694 pairs of 6 x 30 prismatic binoculars were offered for sale at the auction and were sold. They were bought in 1942 for £14,391 and were all used. They were sold because they were not serviceable and could not be economically repaired, and for this reason they were not offered to other Government Departments. It is not usual to give details of prices realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why it was decided to dispose of industrial tractors and trailers at the public auction on 25th February; what were the number and types offered; how many were disposed of; how the prices obtained compared with the purchase prices; what service they had seen; why they were not retained for future use; and in what way these were offered to other Departments or public bodies be-tore it was decided to dispose of them by public auction.

One Planet Fowler industrial tractor and two Mercury industrial tractors, together with nine industrial fiat top trailers, were offered for sale because they were not serviceable. They were all bold. The Planet Fowler tractor and the Mercury industrial tractors cost £781 each, and the trailers approximately £100 each. It is not usual to give details of the prices realised. Some of the tractors and trailers were used in the 1939–45 war. Because they were not serviceable they were not offered to other Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the number and types of fork-lift trucks offered for sale at the public auction on 25th February; when they were purchased; how the selling price per truck compared with the purchase price; what was the reason for disposing of them; and what was done to ascertain if they were required by other Departments or public bodies before deciding to dispose of them at a public auction.

Two Conveyancer 2-ton, two Coventry Climax 2-ton, and three Coventry Climax 3,500 lb., fork lift trucks. They were purchased in 1950 and were types not being retained in service. None of them was servicable and the cost of their repair was not justified. The original purchase price of the trucks is not known, but it would cost £1,992 to replace each of the Conveyancer 2-ton and the Coventry Climax 2-ton fork lift trucks, and £1,892 to replace each of the Coventry Climax 3,500 lb. trucks: it is not usual to give details of the prices realised. The trucks were not offered to other Departments because of their age and condition.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature of the survey equipment offered for sale at the public auction on 25th February; when this was purchased and at what price; why it was not retained for future possible use; how the selling price compared with the purchase price; and what steps were taken to acquaint other departments of these surplus stores before deciding to dispose of them by public auction.

The survey equipment offered for sale consisted of theodolites, drawing instruments, measuring tapes and field instruments. They were mostly of wartime manufacture and the purchase price is estimated at about £7,640. It is not usual to give details of prices realised. Measuring tapes which were surplus to Army Department requirements were offered to other Government Departments under the normal arrangements in force; the remaining items were not serviceable and were therefore not offered to other Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many theodolites were offered for sale at the public auction sale on 25th February; when they were purchased; and why it was decided to sell them as surplus stores.

Five. They were bought during the war and were sold because they were obsolescent and not serviceable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will supply the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford with copies of communications sent to other Departments and public bodies, giving details of generator sets, air compressors, charging sets, wireless reception sets, wireless and signal spares, tents, batteries, binoculars, watches, industrial tractors and trailers, forklift trucks, survey equipment, and theodolites before a decision was taken to offer them for sale at the Technical Stores Sub-Depot, Shropshire, on 25th February, so as to give an opportunity for their use.

A number of Departments having a possible interest were circularised regarding these surpluses; it is however well established practice that interdepartmental communications are not normally disclosed outside official circles.

asked the Secretary of State for De fence what was the total cost of the Government surplus stores auction sales at Ruddington on 16th-18th February, at Belfast on 24th February, and in Shropshire on 25th February, respectively.

The following is the reply:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the reason for inviting tenders for the sale of machine tools at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield; and by what process it has been ascertained whether other Departments could use any of them before publicly inviting tenders.

These machine tools were obsolescent or unserviceable. All Government Departments are notified of machines for disposal before disposal takes place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, before selling off surplus Government supplies, he will consult the Minister of Overseas Development to discover whether such supplies might be useful in schemes of technical aid.

I am advised that items which are disposed of by the Services would not be of use in connection with technical aid schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, when considering any future acquisition of land that may be necessary for use by tracked vehicles, he will release an equivalent amount of land for housing and other purposes, especially in the county of Surrey and other parts of southern England.

Holdings of Service land are continually reviewed. Subject to the essential needs of the Services every effort is made to release land for housing and other purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost in foreign exchange of the recent decision to buy aircraft from the United States of America.

I cannot add to my statement of 11th February.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what the cost would be of abolishing the seasonal workers clause.

I am afraid that an estimate would require information which is not available about the position of seasonal workers who do not at present claim unemployment benefit and who cease to register when their claims have been disallowed.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will investigate the refusal of National Assistance Board local officers to make allowances to men who were laid off during the recent British Motor Corporation strike at Longbridge and who were unable obtain unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldbury and Halesowen (Mr. Homer) on 18th March.