asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made by him to give effect to the proposals in the White Paper, A Policy for the Arts; whether applications for assistance are to be made to him; and if he will make a statement.

Ministerial responsibility for the national museums, galleries and library in Scotland will now be wholly exercised by my right hon. Friend. He is associated with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science in relation to the Arts Council of Great Britain and will continue to take a special interest in the work of its Scottish Committee. My right hon. Friend will be writing to local authorities urging them to follow up locally the Government's initiative on the Arts. Applications for assistance for arts projects should continue to be made to the Scottish Committee of the Arts Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the additional cost to be borne by Scottish agriculture as a result of the increased duty on heavy vehicles.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to the hon. Members for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour) and North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith).

asked the Secretary of Slate for Scotland if he is aware of the large number of cases appearing at Glasgow courts where a delay of four to six months elapses between the date of the alleged offence and the first diet and also between that diet and date of the trial; and what progress is being made in the provision of extra court accommodation and qualified personnel to improve the present situation.

My right hon. Friend agrees that the time taken in some criminal proceedings in Glasgow is too long. As regards the second part of the Question, the Sheriff Court has now taken over additional accommodation in Lanarkshire House, and an additional stipendiary magistrate is being appointed in the burgh court. The Lord Advocate and my right hon. Friend are prepared to consider any further steps on our part that may help to ease the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will, in the public interest, give a general direction to the South of Scotland Electricity Board to charge landladies who have accommodation for tourists at the domestic tariff.

No. The fixing of tariffs is a matter entirely for the Board, and my right hon. Friend has no authority to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the tariff of the South of Scotland Electricity Board discriminates unfairly between those who advertise tourist accommodation and those who do not and thereby affects the Scottish tourist industry deleteriously; and if he will, in the public interest, issue a general direction ending this discrimination.

No such distinction is drawn in the Board's tariff, which makes it clear that only premises used exclusively as a private dwelling-house can be supplied at the domestic rate. The fixing of tariffs is, however, a matter for the Board and I have no authority to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make special provision for accommodating children under 16 who are at present remanded to prison under a certificate of unruliness.

In the West of Scotland, boys already go to the demand units at Polmont, and Longriggend; and in future boys remanded to Edinburgh and Perth prisons will be accommodated in the new hospital units at Edinburgh Young Offenders Institution and Perth prison, and girls will be accommodated in the Young Offenders Institution at Greenock, which is nearing completion. Under these new arrangements it will be possible to provide a more flexible and appropriate routine for these children, and to separate them more completely from the rest of the prison population. The numbers involved are small. The statistics for 1964 are as follows:

BOYS AND GIRLS UNDER 16 ADMITTED UNDER UNRULY CERTIFICATE
Total admitted in 1964
Unit		Male	Female
Aberdeen	…	12	—
Barlinnie	…	—	6
Dumfries	…	14	1
Edinburgh	…	47	—
Greenock	…	9	—
Inverness	…	8	—
Perth	…	20	1
		110	8
Remand Institution
Longriggend	…	67	—
Polmont	…	50	—
		227

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to implement the findings of the Kilbrandon Report.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement of the Government's intentions regarding the Kilbrandon Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the decline in population in the north-east of Scotland and Upper Banffshire, respectively, between the years 1951 and 1961; and what further decline in population occurred in the same areas between 1961 and the end of March, 1965, respectively.

Between 1951 and 1961 the population of the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine, Moray and Nairn (including all burghs) declined by 9,349, and the estimated further decline between 1961 and June, 1964–the last date for which figures are available—was 208. The corresponding figures for Upper Banffshire were 1,032 and 265.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many last war brick-built communal air-raid shelters are still in Glasgow; how many were removed in the special efforts during the winter of 1963–64; what plans he has for a similar effort; and if he will make a statement.

During the winter of 1963–64 897 communal shelters were removed and 1,400 remain. I have no plans for a similar programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make arrangements to include a representative of the Scottish Schoolmasters Association on the Examination Board, as their members are closely concerned with the results of the Board's activity;(2) if he will arrange for the Scottish Schoolmasters Association to be represented on the Consultative Committee on Education, in view of their known interest in the deliberations and decisions of the Consultative Committee.

I have already told the Association that the question of their members' participation in the work of these bodies is a matter which can most conveniently be considered further when I have occasion to review their composition, and that I will keep the Association's views in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when and on what terms the site for the university at Stirling, at present held by his Department as a hospital, will be made available to the sponsoring committee.

I am glad to be able to say that the Government have decided to make a gift of the entire Airthrey Castle estate of 300 acres to the new university. The necessary Treasury minute will be laid in due course. Entry to the ground other than the castle buildings will be given as desired during the current year, and to the castle itself about four years from now.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what progress is being made with compulsory registration of title at Her Majesty's Land Registry; and when he expects this to be completed throughout England.

Good progress is being made in extending the system for compulsorily registering titles on the sale of land. In addition to the counties and county boroughs mentioned in my Answer to Questions put to me on 23rd December by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. Carol Johnson), the compulsory system is, by an Order in Council which was made today, to be extended to the County Boroughs of Birkenhead, Stockport and Wallasey on 1st June; to Brighton, Burnley and Preston and to parts of East Sussex and Warwickshire on 1st October; and to Bolton and Bury and to parts of Lancashire on 1st December of this year. It is the intention of my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor thereafter to press on with the introduction of the compulsory system to other built-up areas of England and Wales as fast as the volume of conveyancing work throughout the country and the expanding resources of H.M. Land Registry permit. Although my noble Friend has plans for extending the compulsory system to all built-up areas in England and Wales by 1972, it is not possible to forecast a date by which the compulsory system will be applied to all rural areas.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what plans he has for introducing compulsory registration of title in Wales; and in what part of the Principality such registration will first be introduced.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor recently received from the Flintshire County Council notice of a resolution in favour of compulsory registration. As the hon. Member may know, the compulsory system cannot be applied to any area until up-to-date maps on the requisite scale are available. The only areas in Flint-shire for which there are maps are Prestatyn, Rhyl and a few small urban districts. The Lord Chancellor hopes to be able to extend the compulsory system to any built-up areas in the County within the next few years; but the Flintshire County Council is the only authority in Wales which has so far passed a resolution, and there are others in England which have done so and whose requests must also be considered.The Lord Chancellor is anxious to extend the compulsory system to the built-up areas of the Principality as soon as possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware that the revised arrangements for Question Time reduce considerably the time allocated for the answering of Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to rectify this position.

The new experimental arrangement ensures that the Secretary of State for Scotland is top for Questions every six weeks instead of seven.

asked the Minister of Transport, when the Geddes Committee's Report is expected; and whether he will give an assurance that no decisions will be taken by him on any new integration policy before the proposals of the Geddes Committee have been fully considered.

I have now received the Report and I propose to publish it as soon as possible. I shall certainly take it fully into account in deciding policy.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he will take to obtain information as to the number of motor accidents which are caused by defective eyesight of drivers.

The Road Research Laboratory is carrying out a study with the aid of material derived from its own accident investigations and those of others, into the relationship between eyesight and driving. I hope this will provide useful information on the extent to which eyesight defects cause or contribute to accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will seek to require the periodic certification of the necessary standard of eyesight of applicants for driving licences.

No. There is as yet no evidence that such a requirement would reduce road accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek to make it a condition for the holding of a driving licence for any person convicted in the courts of dangerous or careless driving that he should be required to witness the showing of a suitably adapted film depicting the consequences of certain road accidents.

This is one of several approaches to the problem of the human factor in road accidents. I doubt whether it should be adopted as it stands; but I agree wholeheartedly with the objective of seeking to raise the levels of skill, care and general behaviour shown by drivers on the road. I very much hope that my new Advisory Council will be able to reinforce the work that is already being done on this most important front.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now publish minimum standards of efficiency for all recut or remoulded tyres sold to the public for use on motor vehicles.

I have circulated to interested organisations proposals to amend the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations in order to control the use of recut tyres. I have no evidence to suggest that remoulded tyres are in general unreliable.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the recommendation by the Road Haulage Association to increase its charges for the third time in eight months, if he will introduce legis- lation to re-nationalise this section of the transport industry.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the progress so far made in connection with legislation embodying the principle of a maximum permitted level of alcohol in the blood.

The Government accept in principle that it should be made an offence to drive with more than a prescribed amount of alcohol in the blood. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I are considering the views which have been expressed by the Council of the British Medical Association as to the level that might be adopted. We are also examining what form a new law might take in relation to such matters as police procedures and the measurement of alcohol in the blood. A further report from the B.M.A. Committee is expected shortly on the alternative methods of measuring blood alcohol levels. The Government are also awaiting a report from the Road Research Laboratory on the role played by alcohol in road accidents last December and January and the effects of the "drink and driving" campaign, and a report from the Home Office Working Party which is considering the practical and procedural questions involved in the use of breath testing equipment. As soon as consideration of the technical problems involved has been completed, we shall go ahead with the preparation of the necessary Bill, which will be introduced at the first convenient opportunity.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make payments to bus operators in relief of the extra 6d. fuel tax duty imposed in the autumn Budget.

Yes. Provision for these payments is being made in the Finance Bill. In the initial period, pending the passage of the Bill, they will be made from an advance from the Civil Contingencies Fund. Forms and instructions for claiming relief will be sent to operators in the next few days.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects that the work o widening the town bridge in Chippenham will be completed.

In about 12 months' time.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about his meeting with the deputation advocating the building of a Humber bridge.

The representatives of the Humber Bridge Board urged upon me the importance of the bridge and suggested a new road network for the region incorporating the bridge. I will consider the Board's ideas along with the views of the County Councils of Lindsey and the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire, the City Council of Hull and the Yorkshire and. Humberside Regional Economic Planning Council, which are also being consulted.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will cause an investigation to be made into the danger to pedestrians, especially schoolchildren, using the railway bridge joining Wards Road East to Wards Road West, Ilford.

No. Any initiative of this kind would be a matter for the local highway authority, if it thought it justified.

asked the Minister of Transport what parts of the A.1 between London and Doncaster now have separate carriageways; what parts still carry two-way traffic; and what proposals he has for eliminating two-way traffic.

Separate carriageways have been provided or are in the course of construction for about 112 miles of the A.1 trunk road between London and Doncaster. The construction of a further 32 miles will be carried out in the next few years. The remaining 13 miles will be dealt with as soon as funds are available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a fatal accident occurred to a passenger on a scooter in Leicestershire recently owing to the reflector posts on the road being covered in mud; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that road signs are kept clean.

I was sorry to learn of this accident.The responsibility for the maintenance of traffic signs rests with the appropriate highway authority, which in this case is the Leicestershire County Council. I understand its attention has been drawn to this matter. The Traffic Signs Manual being issued by my Department will emphasise the need for the regular cleaning of signs.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now give an assurance that it is not his intention that tolls will be charged on any of the new motorways forming part of the Government's road programme.

I do not intend that tolls should be charged generally on new motorways. My policy is that they should be charged on expensive new river crossings from which users derive exceptional savings in cost and time. Tolls will, therefore, be charged on the Severn Bridge section of the M4 motorway, if the Severn Bridge Tolls Bill becomes law.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board, to provide adequate ticket- and change-issuing machines, especially on urban and suburban lines.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what railway lines in the Birmingham district were closed to passenger traffic in 1963 and 1964, respectively; and what lines are proposed for closure in 1965.

No closures took place in 1963. The passenger services between Birmingham (Snow Hill) and Dudley, and between Dudley and Old Hill, were closed in 1964, and those between Birmingham (New Street) and Walsall via Penns in January, 1965. Proposals for the closure of local passenger services between New Street and the following towns—Redditch and Worcester; Leicester and Nottingham; and Tam-worth and Derby—are also at various stages of the statutory procedure.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board not to pay wages for shifts in which railwaymen merely attend their place of employment.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in cases where a loss was sustained on any railway line, he will give details of the losses incurred on each line separately in the last year.

Even if it were practicable to provide figures in the form requested, these would be the responsibility of the Railways Board and not mine.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now announce the decision on the future of the East Suffolk railway line.

After examining the basic particulars of the Railways Board's proposals for the withdrawal of passenger services I have informed them that I have no objection to publication under the Transport Act, 1962. If the proposals are published I shall make a full examination of all the implications after I receive the Transport Users' Consultative Committee's report on hardship.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement about his plans for the future production of the Buccaneer Mark II aircraft following the cancellation of the order to the South African Government.

My Department will continue to place orders for Buccaneers Mark II as they are required. No Buccaneers ordered by the South African Government have been cancelled although, as the Prime Minister made clear on 25th November, 1964 no further South African contracts will be entered into.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of aircraft and missiles cancelled from 1952 to the present date, the amount expended on each item, including cancellation charge, and the date of cancellation.

The list is as follows:

AIRCRAFT AND MISSILES CANCELLED BEFORE GOING INTO SERVICE SINCE 1952
	Estimated Expenditure £m	Cancel lotion Date
Transport Aircraft
Brabazon transport aircraft	6·45	Feb., 1952
Princess flying boat	9·1	1954
Vickers military transport aircraft	4·0	Dec., 1955
Orion turbo-prop. aero engine	4·75	Jan., 1958
Rotodyne helicopter	11·0	Feb., 1962
Operational Aircraft
D.H. fighter aircraft	2·5	May, 1952
Developed Hawker Hunter	0·14	July, 1953
Swift fighter aircraft	22·0	Feb., 1955
Swift photo-reconnaissance and fighter aircraft	0·3	June, 1955
Swift crescent-wing research fighter	1·6	Dec., 1955
Avro rocket interceptor aircraft	1·0	Sept., 1955
Thin wing Javelin all-weather fighter aircraft	2·3	June, 1956
Fairey supersonic fighter aircraft	0·15	Mar., 1957
Supersonic bomber (in eluding engine)	2·05	Mar., 1957
Naval Interceptor	3·2	Dec., 1957
Scorpion rocket engine	1·25	Feb., 1959
Spectre rocket engine	5·75	Oct., 1960
P.1154	25·0	Feb., 1965
HS.681	4·0	Feb., 1965
TSR.2	195·0	Apr.,1965

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware of inconvenience caused to residents in the Coryton area of Whitchurch, Glamorgan, by the recent closing of pedestrian access to Manor Way; and if he will reconsider this matter in the light of correspondence from the hon. Member for Barry.

I am aware that the closing of the unauthorised pedestrian access to Manor Way in the Coryton area may have caused some inconvenience but it was necessary on traffic and safety grounds.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the result of the investigations he has made into the allegations by Miss Iris Jones that she has been treated as a mental case for 17 years owing to incorrect diagnosis by doctors.

Inquiries are in hand and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member when they are complete.

asked the Minister of Health how many staff and other canteens are established and run in his Department's offices either separately or jointly with others at Government buildings at Lawnswood, Leeds, and at Halton, Leeds; what is the lowest price charged for a midday meal; what is the average price charged; whether those prices represent the economic cost of purchases, preparation, service and rentals; how much profit is made in a year; and how a loss is dealt with in the annual accounts or estimates of his Department.

Seven of the Ministry's staff are entitled to use the canteen at Lawnswood which is run by the Ministry of Public Building and Works. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works has written to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what improvement in the working of the National Assistance Act, 1948, has been achieved by the passing of the National Assistance Act, 1948 (Amendment) Act, 1962; and if he will make a statement.

Since the passing of the National Assistance Act, 1948 (Amendment) Act, 1962, local authorities have made considerable use of their powers under that Act to provide, or to assist voluntary agencies in providing, services for old people. These include meals on wheels for those who are homebound; meals in clubs and centres for those who can get about; clubs, centres and occupational workshops; and holidays, transport and social events. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I recognise the need for further expansion of these services, which vary in extent from area to area, and will keep the position under review.

asked the Minister of Health what is the reason for the delay in opening the operating theatres of the National Heart Hospital in Westmoreland Street, St. Marylebone; and whether he will make a statement.

These newly rebuilt theatres have been temporarily closed because of defective plasterwork. The work of renewing the plaster is proceeding without delay and it is expected that the theatres will be in full use again early in May.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's visit to Malta.

My hon. Friend visited Malta from 8th to 11th April at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Borg Olivier. My hon. Friend was glad to have this opportunity of meeting a large number of people there, and of acquainting himself with the special problems of the Maltese islands, and how they are being tackled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has completed his review of the hardship caused to holders of 3½ per cent. War Loan; and what steps he will take to alleviate that hardship.

I regret that I see no satisfactory method of taking special action to help those concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether tax reserve certificates will be acceptable in payment of Corporation Tax.

A new prospectus will be prepared in due course to provide for the continuation of the principle of accepting tax reserve certificates in satisfaction of tax due on company profits when the new Corporation Tax applies. Tax reserve certificates of any issue will be available for use in payment of Corporation Tax, but certificates issued under the new prospectus will not be usable against any liability in respect of Income Tax deducted at source from interest or dividends paid after the new system has come into force on 6th April 1966. Interest on tax reserve certificates will be exempt from Corporation Tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will grant the extra £3,000 needed for the building of the boys' club at the Alton Estate, Roehampton.

No. I consider the present offer of grant of £19,740 on the club to be reasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on scientific research, as defined in paragraph 20 of the Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, Command Paper No. 2538, during 1964–65; what amount will be provided for this purpose in 1965–66; and whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the amounts referred to in paragraph 21 of Command Paper No. 2538.

The estimated expenditure for 1964–65 on civil scientific research for which I am now responsible is £43·5 million. The estimated cost of scientific research work undertaken by the universities in the same year is £37·4 million. The resulting total of £81 million is broadly comparable with the figure of £77 million quoted in paragraph 20 of the last Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy.The corresponding total for 1965–66 is £98 million, which includes £45·4 million in respect of the universities.The Government will consider the future requirements of civil scientific research in the light of advice from the Research Councils and the Council for Scientific Policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken towards the implementation of the recommendations of the Henniker-Heaton Committee on Day Release.

The Henniker-Heaton Committee proposed that in order that the national target of at least 250,000 additional young people in further education courses on day release should be reached by 1970, local targets should be set for each local education authority by the regional advisory councils, and that the councils should inform the National Advisory Council for Education in Industry and Commerce annually of the targets set and of the progress made in reaching them.All regional advisory councils have been considering this proposal in consultation with their local education authority members, and two councils have informed the Department of the targets for local education authorities in its area for 1965. The others are expected to do so shortly.The Committee drew special attention to the importance of the work of the industrial training boards, which it considered would be of major assistance in achieving the Committee's objectives. It suggested that in appropriate cases boards should use their power to make day release for an employee a condition of grant to a firm. In considering the levy-grant proposals of industrial training boards, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself, proposes to pay particular attention to the extent to which boards intend to use these powers to encourage day release, especially for young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that available facilities for technical education are fully utilised.

Various aspects of this subject are being studied by the Committee on the use of technical college resources under the chairmanship of Sir Harry Pilkington which was set up by the National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce last year.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now announce the membership of the Economic Planning Council for the South-West Region.

Yes. The following have accepted my invitation to serve on the Economic Planning Council for the South-West Region.SOUTH-WEST REGION

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what advice has been given by Her Majesty's Government on the provisions in the draft Royal Charter and Byelaws for the Confederation of British Industry relating to the nationalised industries.

The Privy Council Office has received the draft Royal Charter and Byelaws for the Confederation of British Industry. These make provision for nationalised industries to apply, if they wish, for a form of association not involving full membership.In view of the special constitutional relationship between the boards of nationalised industries and Ministers, the Government have been considering their attitude to this proposal. Over the broad field of management problems, and in a mixed economy such as ours, there should be much advantage in a fruitful exchange of information and ideas, especially in the committee work and conferences of the C.B.I., both at the central and regional levels.The draft Charter makes it specifically clear that the C.B.I. will have no power to do anything which would constitute an interference with any of its members in the conduct or management of their affairs or in their complete individual autonomy, nor would it affect their complete independence of action in such matters as the negotiation of wages and conditions of employment. Their association would not in any way interfere with the nationalised industries' statutory responsibilities or their relationships with their sponsoring Ministers.It is also clearly understood that the nationalised industries, as associates of the C.B.I., would in no way be implicated in any pronouncements or discussions about questions that might be the subject of political controversy. At all times it would be the object of the C.B.I. to avoid embarrassment to the associates or the members in this context.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what authority the restriction of access from frontage developments into busy main roads is operated; and whether the policy is equally applied to private as well as municipal frontage development.

This matter is dealt with under the planning control provisions of Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962. So far as my right hon. Friend is concerned both the control and the policy adopted in exercising it apply equally to private and local authority development. As regards decisions given by local planning authorities he would expect the same impartiality to apply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that outline planning permission is to be granted for the hotel on the South Bank, including a slab block 439 feet high, and that the Royal Fine Art Commission have raised objections to these proposals; and, in view of its proximity to the Houses of Parliament, if he will give hon. Members the opportunity of studying the details of this proposal.

Yes, the London County Council sent me details of the proposed scheme and informed me that, subject to my comments, they were disposed to grant outline planning par-mission; the Royal Fine Art Commission has sent me a copy of a statement of its objections. In view of the importance of this site, I have asked the Greater London Council, which has taken over the functions of planning authority for the South Bank, to let me have a model and photographs of the proposed building showing how it would appear from different view points. I am arranging for these to be put on display in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday, 26th April to Friday, 30th April. In the meantime I am considering whether to call in this planning application for my own decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the accidents caused by fireworks during the period 12th October to 7th November, 1964, together with comparable figures for the two previous years; and what further action he is proposing to take to reduce the number of such accidents.

The particulars are set out in the table below, which analyses in various ways the information obtained from hospitals in England and Wales relating to the 2,220 persons who received hospital treatment for injuries caused by

FIREWORKS INJURIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES
			1964	1963	1962
A.. PLACE WHERE INJURY OCCURRED
(i) Family or private party	…	…	969	1,144	1,200
(ii) Public or semi-public party in park or open space, e.g. sports club	…	…	340	372	531
(iii) Casual incident in street	…	…	624	717	816
(iv) Other places	…	…	131	89	161
(v) Unknown	…	…	156	139	124
B. TYPE OF FIREWORK INVOLVED				…	…
(i) Banger	…	…	723	885	1,236
(ii) Rocket	…	…	335	280	266
(iii) Jumping cracker	…	…	166	237	270
(iv) Display firework (e.g. roman candle)	…	…	373	447	483
(v) Other than above (including home-made firework)	…	…	230	181	206
(vi) Unknown	…	…	393	431	371
C. CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO INJURY
(i) Ignition in pocket	…	…	59	78	157
(ii) Accidental ignition in box or container	…	…	104	80	115
(iii) Examining firework after faulty or delayed ignition	…	…	258	302	371
(iv) Holding firework in hand	…	…	401	548	570
(v) Deliberate misuse	…	…	505	545	645
(vi) Other causes	…	…	551	555	637
(vii) Unknown	…	…	342	353	337
D. AGE GROUPS OF PERSONS INJURED
(i) Over 21	…	…	436	398	418
(ii) 16–20	…	…	174	222	264
(iii) 13–15	…	…	389	509	664
(iv) Under 13	…	…	1,221	1,332	1,486
E. NATURE OF INJURY
(i)Eye	…	…	749	916	1,038
(ii) Face	…	…	481	493	642
(iii) Hand	…	…	707	827	978
(iv) Other parts of body	…	…	518	518	687
(These figures add up to more than the total of persons injured because some victims received injuries in two or more of the categories.)
F. SEVERITY OF INJURY
(i)Died	…	…	2*	0	0
(ii) Admitted to hospital	…	…	241	332	483
(iii) Not admitted to hospital but injury severe	…	…	336	387	505
(iv) Minor injury	…	…	1,609	1,729	1,828
(v) Unknown	…	…	32	13	16
* One death occurred on 8th November, but it has been included in these figures as the fatal injury was. sustained on 5th November.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled men were unemployed in March, 1964, and how many in March, 1965; and if he will give the same figures for Stoke-on-Trent.

The following table gives the information required in respect of Great Britain as a whole and Stoke-on-Trent in particular:

Area		Number of registered disabled men recorded as unemployed on:—
		16.3.64	8.3.65
Great Britain	…	50,353	43,472
Stoke-on-Trent	…	89	74

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the case of foundry conditions which led to a stoppage of work on two occasions, on account of fog and lack of heating; what consideration has been given to the trade union report forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South; and what reply he has sent.

The report sent to me by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) refers to inadequate heating arrangements, and broken windows, at a foundry at Hanley. H.M. Inspector of Factories was already aware of these and I have written to the hon. Member to assure him that remedial action is being taken.

asked the Minister of Labour what financial assistance he will give to industrial training boards.

Under the power given me by Section 5(1) of the Industrial Training Act, 1964, I have decided to make grants to Boards:—

(1) to meet the whole of a Board's administrative expenses (including the cost of essential furniture and office equipment for the first twelve months of its existence;

(2) to reimburse 25 pen cent. of current expenditure incurred by a Board in connection with the provision of training course for training officers, training supervisors and instructors. Because of the urgency of the need for more trained persons of these kinds, I propose to increase the rate of grant under this head to 50 pen cent. of expenditure months from the date on which a Board is established;

(3) to meet 50 pen cent. of the cost of research undertaken or sponsored by a Board. This will include projects undertaken to try our new methods of training;

(4) to make a contribution towards the cost of the first two periods of industrial training forming part of sandwich courses leading to a degree of a technological university or an award of the Council for National Diploma, started within three years beginning September, 1965;

(5) to meet for a period of five years, 25 per cent. of the current expenses (excluding the wages of trainees) or additional places provided for "off the job" training.

I am prepared to consider grant-aiding other projects undertaken or sponsored by Boards in order to improve and extend training.Grants are conditional upon my approval of a Board's estimates of relevant expenditure, and will be subject to maxima agreed in the light of these estimates.I am also prepared to consider applications from Boards for loans to help them to acquire any necessary fixed assets, such as buildings or machines, or to provide working capital.All these arrangements are subject to review in the light of experience.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement about the strike of toolmakers at Pressed Steel, Oxford, which is threatening production and employment in the motor industry.

I am glad to say that the men decided at their meeting today to resume work immediately in order to allow further discussions to take place with the company.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why a letter sent to the manager of her Department's office in Kensington High Street on 12th February has never been answered, despite a telephone call by the insured person, number zp.979138/B, on 22nd March, and a further telephone call on 27th March.

I am very sorry for the delay in this case. The information necessary to enable the Kensington High Street 1ocal office to deal with the inquiry unfortunately went astray in transit from our Central Office at Newcastle. An acknowledgement was however sent to the insured person on 17th February, and an interim letter on 23rd March. I am writing to the hon. Lady.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give a direction, under Section 14(4) of the Licence and Agreement, to the British Broadcasting Corporation not to include views on matters of public policy which have no foundation in fact in fictitious dramatic serial programmes.

Programmes are the responsibility of the broadcasting authorities themselves. The B.B.C. is under a duty to treat controversial subjects with due impartiality.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will have inquiries made into the cause of the late delivery of morning mail in the Donaghadee, County Down, urban and rural areas, and arrange for the morning mail in these areas to be delivered not later than 9 a.m. in the future.

Building development in the Donaghadee area has led to the first delivery of mail being delayed.It would not be practicable to complete the delivery in areas like this as early as 9 a.m. without disproportionate expense. By my right hon. Friend is arranging for some improvements to be made in delivery times in the Donaghadee area and for the first delivery in the town itself to be completed by about 9.15 a.m.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what has been the percentage increase in building costs in each six-monthly period from April, 1955, to date; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the causes of these increases.

The following are the figures:

INDEX NUMBERS OF THE COST OF NEW CONSTRUCTION QUARTERLY AVERAGES FOR 1ST AND 3RD QUARTERS
		Average.1954=100
		Index Numbers	Percentage Change
1955—1st Quarter	…	103
3rd Quarter	…	107	+4
1956—1st Quarter	…	108	+1
3rd Quarter	…	111	+3
1957—1st Quarter	…	112	+1
3rd Quarter	…	115	+3
1958—1st Quarter	…	115	0
3rd Quarter	…	115	0
1959—1st Quarter	…	113	-2
3rd Quarter	…	113	0
1960—1st Quarter	…	113	0
3rd Quarter	…	114	+1
1961—1st Quarter	…	116	+2
3rd Quarter	…	117	+1
1962—1st Quarter	…	121	+3
3rd Quarter	…	122	+1
1963—1st Quarter	…	125	+2
3rd Quarter	…	126	+1
1964—1st Quarter	…	127	+1
3rd Quarter	…	129	+2
1965—1st Quarter	…	Not yet available

The average rise in the Department's Cost of New Construction Index since 1955 has been just over 2 per cent. a year. I do not consider that this calls for a special inquiry.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many official dinners and luncheons he has given since he took office; how many guests he has entertained; and at what public cost.

In order to gain a deeper knowledge of the problems of the construction industry in all parts of the United Kingdom, I have given 10 lunches and one dinner to members of the Building and Civil Engineering Joint Committees which advise me in various parts of the country. Each of these occasions was followed by a full exchange of views on the problems facing the industry. I have also given a working dinner for the National Building Agency and a lunch to mark the 100th meeting of my Advisory Committee of Specialist and Sub-contractors. The total cost of these functions was £800.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what additional assistance has been given to members of Commonwealth countries since November, 1964; and in what form it has been given.

pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th April, 1965; Vol. 710, c. 157–8], supplied the following information:

NEW PLEDGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND BUDGETARY AID TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMONWEALTH SINCE 1ST NOVEMBER 1964
Trinidad	£1·2m.	Loan under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act, 1949, for the purchase of buses. The period is 25 years, of which the first five will be free of repayments of capital.
Malawi	£7·75m.	Grants for recurrent expenditure and capital projects in 1965.
Zambia	£1lm.	£1m.Grant towards the development of the new University of Zambia; £10m. for other purposes on terms to be agreed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which local authorities have approached him with requests for the extension of development district designation to include their areas.

I have received representations from 19 local authorities for their areas to be listed as development districts.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will now give further information about the development and location of the prototype fast reactor; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing yet to add to the reply which my hon. Friend gave on 22nd December to the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn), when he said it was unlikely that the Atomic Energy Authority would be in a position to submit a proposal to the Government earlier than the end of 1965.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he has taken to encourage all Government Departments and all organisations which receive Government aid wishing to purchase a computer to request tenders from British manufacturers.

In computer procurement for Government Departments tenders are invariably invited from British manufacturers. Over the public sector as a whole the Ministry of Technology, through its Computer Advisory Service will ensure that appropriate consideration is given to the products of the British computer industry.

asked the Minister of Technology how he intends to implement Section 4 of the Science and Technology Act.

Section 4 enables me to require the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, after consulting it, to undertake research and development outside the field of atomic energy. This makes it possible for the considerable range of technical skills and facilities already at the Authority's disposal to be applied more widely for the benefit of industry and particularly for those sections serving export markets.