asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total balance of trade between Great Britain and the German Democratic Republic for each of the last five years; and what proposals he has for increasing it.

Figures of our trade with East Germany are readily available from the published trade statistics.My immediate concern is the substantial deficit in our trade which has been brought about by a decline in East German purchases from Britain at a time when our purchases from them have increased greatly. The East German Chamber of Foreign Trade, with whom the Federation of British Industries negotiates an unofficial trade arrangement, has been made fully aware of the necessity to increase their purchases of United Kingdom goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a division of British exports as between capital and consumer goods for the latest available period.

In 1964, capital goods represented about three-quarters, and consumer goods about one-quarter, of United Kingdom exports of finished manufactures, which themselves accounted for about one-half of total United Kingdom exports in that year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement about his proposals to increase exports.

In my speech in the House on 8th April I announced a number of new measures to help exporters and reviewed progress made with the measures announced in January. I have nothing yet to add.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what services will be made available from his Department at the International Fire Exhibition to be held at Olympia on 26th-31st July to assist in obtaining the maximum number of export orders for manufacturers represented there.

None. The Board of Trade have organised information stands at previous exhibitions in Britain but the demand for the service proved to be too small to justify its provision as a general rule.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what trade concessions he will make in favour of Rumania to encourage further shipbuilding orders.

Our trade arrangement already provides scope for increased trade in both directions and our credit terms are fully competitive.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is proposing to take to bring industry to the villages of Bannockburn, Fallin, Cowie and Plean.

I must continue to give priority to the development districts where the need for more employment is greater. None the less, any proposal to establish suitable industry in these villages would be sympathetically considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is proposing to take to help the industries of Bonnybridge, especially the foundry industries.

Assistance under the Local Employment Acts is available to suitable projects for Bonnybridge, which is in a development District. Applications from several firms are under consideration and the foundry industry is represented among them. Offers of assistance have already been made in certain cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to institute a system of control of the export of rare British vintage and veteran motor cars analogous to that which operates to control other works of art.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in view of the situation revealed in the case of the Universal Health Studios Limited and the increasing activity in the exploitation of the public by other organisations employing similar techniques, when he will bring forward the proposed consumer protective legislation;(2) what consideration has been given during recent weeks to the affairs of the Universal Health Studios; and if he will make a statement on the present situation.

I have no more information than has appeared in the Press about the present situation of this firm. I have not received comparable complaints about other businesses. I shall continue to watch the situation; but I am not at present satisfied that further legislation is necessary or practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the European Free Trade Association information office in his Department has recently been removed out of and away from the main building of the Board of Trade.

In order to be with the other Overseas Information Sections of the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average delay complained of by British suppliers who are finding difficulty in obtaining payment from the Ghanaian Government in respect of goods supplied under contract.

The average delay on the last 100 invoices taken up with the Ghana Supply Commission is nearly eleven months. However, the Ghanaian Minister of Finance assured the British High Commissioner in Accra on 12th April that Exchange Control approval would shortly be given for all payments outstanding for goods supplied to the Ghana Supply Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek powers to give all shareholders the right to vote on all major matters affecting the enterprise in which their money is invested.

I am not convinced that this is necessary. The Jenkins Committee recommended that, if directors are to manage their companies efficiently, they must, within broad limits, have a free hand to do what they consider best in the interests of the company.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what revisions have been made since last October in the list of strategic goods which have been banned for export to certain countries.

None, apart from a few minor clarifying amendments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made in Operation Australex, with a view to increasing the flow of British exports to Australia.

The tour of industry by six British Trade Commissioners from Australia, known as Operation Australex, begins on 26th April and will last eight weeks. The Trade Commissioners will discuss export prospects in Australia with about 950 firms in twelve industries for which the Australian market appears to offer particularly good prospects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to amend the Import Duties Act, 1958, so as to allow components to be imported duty free for a limited period by enterprises established in areas requiring industrial development.

No. The Act already enables duty remission to be given for parts of instruments and apparatus if similar parts are not procurable in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of lethal and non-lethal gas were exported to Indonesia in the first quarter of 1965.

If the hon. Member has in mind lethal and non-lethal gases for use in military operations, the answer is "None".

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the result of his inquiry into the methods of door-to-door salesmen; and what information he has, as a result, of the proportion of the products sold by such salesmen having a purchase price of less than £30.

Various methods of door-to-door selling have been brought to my notice, and I am watching the situation. I have not yet, however, seen sufficient evidence of abuse to justify a comprehensive inquiry. I have no specific information on the proportion of products sold below £30.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for further industrial development in the North-East.

As I said in my speech in the Budget Debate on 8th April, we are constructing a major new industrial estate on Teeside; an encouraging number of industrial projects are going forward; and we shall continue our policy of attracting all possible new development to this area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total outstanding debt owed on hire-purchase agreements at the end of the last financial year.

Information is not available in this form.The total debt outstanding under hire-purchase and other instalment credit arrangements at the end of February, 1965, the latest date for which figures are available, was £1,123 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action is being taken to refloat or remove the cargo ship "Magdeburg", lying on its side in a dangerous bend of the River Thames near Grays after being sunk by collision with a Japanese vessel on 27th October, 1964, when it was outward bound for Cuba with a cargo of 42 buses.

Soon after the casualty the owners of the "Magdeburg" appointed an organisation in Warnemunde as salvors. The deck cargo of buses has been removed, but efforts to lift the vessel herself have not yet succeeded. I understand that further efforts will be made in June, when two lifting vessels from Hamburg will be available. Meanwhile the vessel is not a danger to navigation, being clear of the fairway. She has been marked with two lighted wreck buoys by the Port of London Authority, who will continue to keep watch on the operations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what new instructions he has issued relating to a restriction of the granting of industrial development certificates in the West Midlands area.

As I told the hon. Member on 17th December, 1964, I have asked my Regional Controllers to look more critically at all i.d.c. applications in the really congested areas including those in the West Midlands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what inquiries he has received from industrialists with the object of siting new industries in the Chippenham parliamentary division;(2) to what extent it is his policy to encourage the establishment of light industry in the Calne and Chippenham area.

There have been no recent inquiries. I cannot normally encourage the movement into the area of industrial projects which can go to the development districts where the need for employment is much greater.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) who are to be the consultants for the Mid-Wales Town; and when they are likely to report;(2) whether the report of the consultants on the Mid-Wales Town will be published.

I am in touch with a number of consultants and will make an appointment as soon as possible. I shall consider the question of publication when the report is received.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take to minimise the effects of the petrol tax increase, and of the recent increase in the duty on goods vehicles, in parts of Wales with above-average unemployment or where the population has declined.

None. The effects in Wales do not differ from those elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the houses to be completed in Wales this year will be so through the agency of housing associations; and what steps he plans for increasing the contribution of such associations to the provision of houses in the Principality.

About two per cent. The Housing Corporation has recently opened an office in Cardiff, in order to promote the growth of housing societies in Wales, and my officials will give it all the help they can.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present shortage of school places; and what shortage is expected in 12 months' time.

I know of no children who are out of school for lack of a school place. Current building programmes are designed to deal with the most urgent needs for new building in each area and also include an element of replacement for school buildings which are seriously deficient by modern standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a further statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the public schools.

I would refer to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Park) on 11th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools are at present taking part in the General Dental Council's campaign to eat an apple a day.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school children in Heywood are being educated in over-large classes in different types of schools on the latest available dates; and what are the numbers for Royton, Crompton, Milnrow, Wardle, Littleborough and Whitworth, respectively.

The table below gives the information, for January, 1965:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advantage local authorities are taking of Section 17 of the Children Act, 1948, which provides for the emigration of children within their care.

In the last few years about 60 children a year have emigrated under this Section.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state, for the latest available date, the numbers of child care officers and separately trained residential workers in child care in England and Wales, and the number of unfilled vacancies in each category;(2) if he will give the numbers of child care officers and separately trained residential workers in child care entering the service in 1964, and the numbers required for the years 1965 and 1966.

The following is the answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of autopsy a Home Office pathologist has reported death as being due to carcinoma of the bronchus accompanied by pneumoconiosis, or similar chest condition.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will advise local authorities that, when exercising their powers to issue licences to hawkers, they shall include a condition that toys and other articles should not be left on the doorstep in plastic wrappers, which can constitute a danger to babies and young children.

Local authorities are not empowered to attach such a condition to hawkers' licences. On the danger to children arising from plastic bags left on doorsteps by house-to-house collectors of old clothing (who need not be licensed), I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in reply to Questions by the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Sir R. Thompson) on 4th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he made to ensure that the remains sent to the Republic of Ireland were in fact those of Sir Roger Casement.

The records and plans of prison burials kept in the Home Office made it possible to locate accurately and identify with certainty the single grave in which Roger Casement's remains were buried.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to set up a select committee to examine the present state of the law relating to parliamentary privilege.

This is essentially a matter for the House. I am not myself aware of a general desire that this should be looked at, but I am, of course, willing to receive representations on it.

asked the Minister of Health what is the planned starting date far the construction of a new hospital at Frimley Park, Camberley.

As the hon. Member will be aware, the hospital building programme is under review, and I cannot yet add to the reply given him on 22nd December last.

asked the Minister of Health when work will start on the rebuilding of the physiotherapy department of Woking Victoria Hospital.

I understand that the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board is considering a scheme for replacing the existing physiotherapy department; I am not yet able to say when work will start.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that suitably qualified nurses are being barred from teaching trainees because of a regulation made under the Nurses Act; and if he will amend the regulation.

Nurses can teach trainees without being registered as nurse tutors under the Nurses Rules.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to amending Section 17 of the Nurses Act, 1957, so as to enable registered nurses who possess university degrees and teaching diplomas of universities to become registered tutors without first having to take the full two years course leading to the Sister Tutor's Diploma.

This will be considered when legislation is practicable.

asked the Minister of Health if he will reconsider his decision to postpone the second stage of the rebuilding of Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, to provide 325 hospital beds and administrative, medical, photographic and pathological departments, in view of the need for this new hospital to replace a 1914–18 hutted hospital to serve a densely populated catchment area from the A.2 to the Cray Valley.

This decision was made by the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in reassessing the priorities of its building programme, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital building projects he has postponed or cut from the programme laid down for the South-Eastern Regional Area by the previous Government; and what capital saving this represents in 1965, 1966 and 1967.

The hon. Member will be aware that an extra £5 million has been provided by this Government for hospital building in the financial year 1965–66. The South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board received a share of this additional money. No reductions have been made in provisional capital allocations for later years announced by the previous Government. Hospital Boards are at present reviewing their programmes for succeeding years, and until their proposals are complete I am unable to say what changes in priorities may need to be made within the resources available.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds are allocated for the young chronic sick within the area of the Reading and District Hospital Management Committee; how many are waiting for a hospital bed; how many are confined in beds close to or in the same wards as geriatric patients; and what improvements are planned to deal with them.

Ten beds. Information about the number of young chronic sick waiting for admission to hospital is not readily available. I am told that no young chronic patient is in a bed close to or in the same ward as geriatric patients. The hospital management committee is considering whether a special unit should be provided for young chronic sick.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will list the projects in each regional hospital board area on which the capital allocation for hospital building for 1965–66 will be spent.

There are some thousands of these and to list all would involve a disproportionate amount of staff time. Appendix IV to the Estimate for the Vote for the National Health Service,etc. (Hospital Services, etc.), England and Wales, 1965–66, already lists the schemes in progress on which £200,000 or more is estimated to be spent in 1965–66 and the schemes costing more than £250,000 which it is proposed to start in the year.

asked the Minister of Health how the total sum of £68 million, allocated for hospital building in 1965–66, will be divided amongst the different individual regional hospital boards and boards of governors of teaching hospitals throughout the country; what was the comparable figure for 1964–65; and what is the percentage increase for each board.

The information for 1965–66 is set out in Appendix I to the Estimate of the Vote for the National Health Service, etc. (Hospital Services, etc.), England and Wales, 1965–66; comparable figures are set out in Appendix I to the Estimate for the similar Vote for 1964–65; because of the different starting dates of the larger schemes, short-term comparisons may be misleading.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the report of the survey on catering expenditure in acute and psychiatric hospitals.

Two studies of the cost of food in acute hospitals have been made and the results communicated to hospital authorities. A study of the cost of food in 12 hospitals for mental illness is in hand and the results will be made known to hospital authorities later in the year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will list the areas where a full cervical cancer screening service is available, and those areas where a restricted service is available.

I regret the information is not at present available. A diagnostic cytological service is now available at several centres in each hospital region and about a quarter of the laboratories handling this work should be able to support a routine screening service in the areas they serve some time this year.

asked the Minister of Health what is the ratio of dentists to population in Birkenhead; and how this compares with the national average.

The ratio of dentists providing general dental services mainly in Birkenhead to the population of Birkenhead was 1 to 4,350 at 31st December, 1963, compared with 1 dentist to 4,450 in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average number of patients per general practitioner in Birkenhead; and how this compares with the national average.

2,416 per principal as compared with 2,362 in England and Wales, on 1st October, 1964.

asked the Minister of Health if he will discontinue the practice of his Department in paying the highest market price of a given drug to a chemist dispensing National Health prescriptions, even where it is known that a cheaper brand of the same drug has in fact been dispensed.

This question does not arise, since the Drug Tariff provides that chemists shall be reimbursed the net price for the product actually dispensed. They have recently been reminded of this rule.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that some general practitioners who were unwilling to offer their resignation from the National Health Service during the recent pay dispute have been subjected to pressure by their colleagues; and if he will seek power to protect doctors from such coercion in future disputes.

I would deprecate any attempts at improper coercion but I do not think this is a matter appropriate for legislation.

asked the Minister of Health if he will set up a permanent committee to look into the whole question of notifiable diseases, with a view to excluding some of the present notifiable diseases, and including others not at present on the list such an infective hepatitis, undulant fever, coronary thrombosis and cancer generally.

My medical advisers have this subject constantly under review with the help of other expert opinion as necessary, and I see no need for such a committee.

asked the Minister of Health what research is being conducted into the immunising of children against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough by mouth instead of by injection.

So far as I know, no medical research in this field is being carried out in this country at the present time. Some research has been carried out in the past upon the use of diphtheria toxoid by mouth to reinforce immunity in children previously immunised by injection but the results obtained were not altogether satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to ensure adequate quality control over medicines being imported into this country by suppliers using the provision of Section 41 of the Patents Acts, 1949.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will set up an inquiry into deteriorated and dangerous examples of tetracycline paediatric drops which pharmacists were stocking to supply on prescription to members of the public;(2) if he is aware that drugs imported by Inter-Continental Pharmaceuticals Limited have not undergone the required tests; and if he will ban the use of these drugs in the National Health Service until they have done so.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the deficiencies in tetracycline paediatric drops and other drugs, brought to light by the City Analyst of Birmingham, he will now introduce amending legislation on the quality of drugs.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of public concern that imported drugs, including tetracycline, are being sold at strengths below that claimed; whether, to reduce the resulting hazards to children, he will seek power to set up an independent central authority for the quality control of drugs with appointed regional laboratories for examination of samples taken by inspectors with powers to check drugs for accuracy of composition, formulation and structure.

A sample of tetracycline paediatric drops imported by the firm mentioned was recently found by the Research Chemist in the Birmingham City Analytical Laboratory to be seriously deficient in potency, although an analysis by the manufacturers in Italy showed that at the time of manufacture the batch was not deficient. The firm has taken steps to withdraw the consignments. Food and drugs authorities have powers to take samples of drugs available for sale by retail and to prosecute in suitable cases if deficiencies are found. But the law as it stands at present provides no direct means of requiring manufacturers to introduce adequate control measures during production except in the case of a limited class of medicines such as vaccines, sera and injectable antibiotics. I am considering what additional powers are called for in the course of the current review of medicines legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further steps he is taking to ensure that more local authorities salvage wastepaper from households; and how many local authorities do not participate in the existing scheme of salvage.

My right hon. Friend has no further steps in mind at present, but he is keeping the matter under review. Out of 1,411 local authorities in England and Wales probably about 600 do not salvage wastepaper at all. This figure includes many of the smaller authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he has sent to local authorities who have made representations that the new rates of subsistence allowance authorised in Circular No. 21/65 are inadequate, and that he should reduce the mileage limiting payment of the allowance.

The new rates of subsistence allowance referred to in circular No. 12/65, which replaced rates introduced in 1959, were agreed with the local authority associations, and my right hon. Friend has no reason to think that they are inadequate. Legislation would be required to alter the provision that subsistence allowance cannot be paid to members performing duties within three miles of their homes and this question will be looked at again when we are next considering legislation in this field. Replies on these lines are being sent to local authorities which make representations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the public local inquiry was held concerning the Gateshead, Argyle Street Compulsory Purchase Order 1964; on what date he received his inspector's report; and why a decision has so far not been given.

The public local inquiry was held on 6th October. Owing to the inspector's illness his report was not completed until 10th March. My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decision within the next two weeks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of his correspondence with the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton, he will now give his decision on the town map for the area covering Crompton and Royton; and what decision he has taken on whether land at George Street, Crompton, will be made available for tipping purposes.

A list of proposed modifications to this town map has been sent to the Lancashire County Council whose reply is awaited. No amendment to the allocation of land at George Street, Crompton, for tipping purposes is proposed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for standard and discretionary improvement grants, respectively, have been made in the City of Birmingham during the last full year for which the figures are available; and what percentage of these applications was made by Birmingham Corporation, owner-occupiers and private landlords, respectively.

During 1964, 6,282 applications were made for standard grants and 88 for discretionary grants in the City of Birmingham. 70 per cent. of the applications for standard grant were from Birmingham Corporation, 16 per cent. from owner-occupiers and 14 per cent. from private landlords; 7 per cent. of the applications for discretionary; grants were from the Corporation, 18 per cent. from owner-occupiers and 75 per cent. from landlords.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in his forthcoming visit to the United States of America, he will discuss with President Johnson the need for a joint effort for aid to under-developed countries.

I have been asked to reply.I cannot make any statement about the subjects which my right hon. Friend will discuss with President Johnson in his talks this afternoon.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on the handing over to Parliament of the control of the Palace of Westminster.

I have nothing to add to the Statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23rd March.

asked the Prime Minister what progress he has made since his recent visits to the continent of Europe towards promoting a conference to stop the war in Vietnam and to achieve international peace in that area.

I have nothing to add at present to the full statements made in the debate on 1st April, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will naturally be discussing the prospects of progress towards a peaceful settlement in Vietnam while he is in Washington.

asked the Prime Minister what British proposals for a peaceful settlement of the Vietnam situation he proposes to put forward to President Johnson during his American visit.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave today to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the supply of nuclear weapons or secret nuclear information of a military character to Governments in the Middle East.

As has frequently been stated, it is Her Majesty's Government's policy not to transfer the control of nuclear weapons to any non-nuclear State and not to assist any such State in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give the dates of his official engagements between mid-April and mid-June.

My Rome visit will be from 27th to 29th April. I will be performing opening ceremonies at the Universities in Newcastle and Bradford on 7th May and 11th June respectively; and addressing the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting on 3rd May and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting on 11th May. On 1st and 8th May I will be attending the Football Association and the Rugby League Cup Finals.Further dates have been or will be announced at the appropriate time and in the usual way.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the names of the delegates from the United Kingdom Parliament to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe will be meeting in Strasbourg from 3rd to 7th May. I have appointed 18 delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The delegation this year will consist of 9 Members of the Labour Party, 8 Members of the Conservative Party and 1 Member of the Liberal Party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.The appointments of Conservative and Liberal representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the Leaders of those parties.The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union.Representatives from the Government benches will be:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the wastage of manpower and uneconomic running on the retail side of milk distribution, whether he will take steps to divert part of the amount received by the retailer to the farmer supplying the milk.

I cannot accept that milk distribution is uneconomically managed. The remuneration of milk distributors has for many years been controlled by reference to costings investigations carried out by independent accountants. I am, however, at all times anxious to achieve even greater economies, and, as I said in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Carmarthen (Lady Megan Lloyd George) on 25th March last, I have arranged for an inquiry into the possibility of making changes in methods of milk distribution with a view to reducing costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of notifications received by his Department under the Notification Scheme for Chemicals used in Agriculture, and the number of such notifications which failed to gain clearance by the Advisory Committee, in 1963 and in 1964.

The information is in the table given below:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the comparative figures of those leaving the agricultural industry year by year for the past 10 years or convenient period.

Following are the figures for the net changes year by year in the numbers of workers employed on agricultural holdings. The number of farmers leaving the industry is not known precisely, but it is believed to be of the order of 2,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Aviation what contracts he intends to let to allow the aircraft guidance systems development work being carried out for the TSR2 to be continued, in view of the cancellation of that aircraft.

My officials are considering, with the contractors concerned, what development work, if any, on aspects of the TSR2 project should continue for the benefit of approved projects. I cannot say at present what the outcome of this examination will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about his visit to Mauritius and his plans for the future independence of the island.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his visit to Mauritius.

During my visit I had useful talks with the Governor, the Premier and the other Ministers of the All Party Government, which includes the leaders of all the main political parties in Mauritius, about economic and political problems, including the recommendations in Professor de Smith's recent (and very helpful) report and the future status of the island. I hope that it will be possible to have a Conference in London later in the year at which all outstanding constitutional problems can be discussed. I have expressed the hope that the political leaders will meantime press on with discussions among themselves so as to establish points on which there is agreement between them and the points which require resolution. I was shown impressive evidence of recent economic and social development and had interesting and informative meetings with members of local authorities, business and employers organizations and trade union leaders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the opposition Labour Party in Kingstown, St. Vincent, has been banned by the territorial Government from holding its traditional May Day meeting this year; and what action he proposes to take to have this ban removed and the traditional right of free assembly restored.

The Labour Party sought permission to hold a procession in Kingstown. This was not given, but permission was given for the procession to follow a route outside Kingstown. The reason for this is that the People's Political Party had earlier submitted an application to hold a procession in Kingstown on this day which had been approved. The Chief of Police considers there is danger of a breach of public order if both parties hold processions within the town on the same day.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the total value of military aid given by Her Majesty's Government to India since 1950.

The total value of military aid given by Her Majesty's Government to India between 1950 and March, 1965, is £16·63 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will now make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's views on the United Nations mediator's report on Cyprus.

At present I have nothing to add to what was said by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister during the Foreign Affairs debate on 1st April.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he will take to ensure that the problems of the Furness area are considered by the North-West Economic Planning Council.

I am sure that we can rely on the Chairman and members of the Council to take full account of the problems and potential of the Furness area. I am glad to say that Mr. L. Redshaw, Managing Director of Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd. at Barrow-in-Furness has now accepted my invitation to serve on the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for the reprinting of Command Paper No. 9239, containing a record of the Final Session, Agreements and Final Declaration of the 1954 Geneva Conference on Indo-China.

Yes. This is being done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the function of the new United Nations Institute for Training and Research; and what information he has as to the effect of the Institution on the transformation of the present organisation into an effective peace-keeping body.

The purposes of the proposed Institute are to train personnel, particularly from the developing States, for administrative and operational work both with the United Nations and the Specialised Agencies and for government service in their own countries; and to conduct research into the operations of the United Nations and the Specialised Agencies, especially in the fields of economic and social development and the maintenance of peace and security.The first meeting of the Board of Trustees has only just taken place and it is too early to predict what effect the establishment of the Institute will have on the work of the United Nations.

asked the Minister of Labour how many class I disabled unemployed and how many class II disabled unemployed are registered in Swansea, and how many in Wales.

The information required is given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the comparative average weekly wage for those employed in industry and for those employed in agriculture.

The average weekly earnings of hired regular whole-time adult male agricultural workers in Great Britain during the half-year ended September, 1964, were 261s. 6d. The average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in the industries and services covered by the regular half-yearly inquiries of the Ministry were 352s. 5d. in April, 1964, and 362s. 2d. in October, 1964.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the size range of Remploy factories expressed in terms of numbers employed.

The numbers employed in Remploy factories, including all the severely disabled employees and the staff, range from 24 to 192.

asked the Minister of Labour what plans he has to create new Remploy factories in Swansea and in Wales; and what plans he has to expand existing Remploy factories in Swansea and in Wales.

The position in Wales in common with the rest of the country, will be borne in mind by Remploy in planning any further expansion.

asked the Minister of Labour at what places within the seven crofting counties of Scotland Remploy are considering the setting up of factories.

There are no proposals to set up Remploy factories anywhere in the seven crofting counties.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when the maximum penalty for contravening a tree preservation order was fixed; and what proposals he has for increasing it.

The maximum penalty was fixed at £50 under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1943. This penalty is something which I am keeping in mind in my review of proposals to amend the legislation on the National Parks and associated matters.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the total value of economic aid given by Her Majesty's Government to India since 1950.

Since 1950 Her Majesty's Government have agreed to lend to India under the provisions of Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act a total of £235·5m. Of this sum about £176m. has so far been disbursed. In addition, during this period Her Majesty's Government have provided grants totalling about £4·5m. of which £135,000 has been for flood relief and the remainder technical assistance under the Colombo Plan and the Commonwealth Education Scheme.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what arrangements are being considered to make loan finance for development purposes available to the Gambia Government.

At the time of the Gambia Independence Conference last summer, an offer of various forms of assistance was made to and accepted by the Gambia Government. One item included in this offer was an undertaking that in the period up to 30th June, 1967, Her Majesty's Government would provide a loan of up to £400,000 to the extent that other loan funds were not available to finance or to refinance approved projects in the Gambia Development Programme for the period 1964–1967.The extent to which Her Majesty's Government will be called on to honour this undertaking in the current financial year is not yet known, but the House will be asked in due course to make the necessary provision by way of a Supplementary Estimate. The Gambia Government may, however, find themselves required to pay back at short notice money which they borrowed on call to meet development expenditure. It is anticipated that some £45,000 will be so recalled shortly and that there will be a consequential request to the British Government to cover the refinancing operation with money from the loan. In that event, advances will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund, repayable when the Supplementary Estimate is approved.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy that the recently announced measures to help the coal industry should maintain the market at a level of between 4 and 7 million tons higher than it would otherwise have been, how much of that additional quantity will be used by the electricity and gas industries, respectively, during a period of one year.

As discussions are still going on between the Coal Board and the gas and electricity industries, I cannot give an apportionment of the additional consumption. But electricity, which is coal's largest single customer, will make the main contribution.

asked the Minister of Power what sum has been allocated for the development of electricity supplies in the East Midlands for the next 12 months compared with the past 12 months.

The capital development programme of the East Midlands Electricity Board, which my predecessor approved, provides for £16·2 million to be spent on fixed assets in 1965–66. The corresponding figure for 1964–65 was £14·65 million. It is not practicable to divide the capital development programme of the Central Electricity Generating Board between different areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many stabbings there were in Scottish prisons in the last three months.

Thirteen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assaults, including stabbings, there were in Scottish prisons in the last three months.

Seventy-one: 50 on prisoners and 21 on prison officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assaults there were on prison officers in Scottish prisons in the last three months; and by what methods.

Twenty-one: 14 by punching and kicking, six by throwing articles or striking, and one by spitting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many incidents involving drugs there were in Scottish prisons in the last three months.

Twenty.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional inspectors would be required to be enrolled by his Department to enable it to extend the system of inspection at present applied to stock seed potatoes to seed potatoes of grade A and H; and what would be the annual cost of such an extension.

The sampling and sealing of all consignments of Scottish certified seed potatoes would require between 30 and 40 additional inspectors, allowing for fluctuations in production and demand. The additional cost could range between £35,000 and £50,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the appeal of Mr. David Baird was heard in connection with the refusal of planning permission for a caravan site at Minnigaff; when he expects to announce his decision; and what is the reason for the delay.

I received on 24th February the report of the appeal heard on 29th October last. This proposal raises very considerable difficulties and I am anxious not to give a decision until I am clear that all the possibilities have been explored.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the practice of employing patients at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for eight hours in a day to pull a plough on fields adjoining the hospital; and whether he approves of this practice.

Patients and members of the garden staff have been employed at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital once a year, for six hours in total spread over two days, to draw a garden drill plough on half an acre of ground for operations for which it is not practicable to use a mechanical plough. This plough, which has been pulled by five elderly but fit patients, is a small implement which one person can carry. The work was carried out under medical supervision and no physical hardship was involved.There is also the aspect of ensuring that the dignity of mental hospital patients is fully respected, and that no grounds are given for public anxiety on this score. The question whether any particular type of work is suitable for therapy is one for the hospital authorities in the first instance. They will be considering at a meeting later this month whether patients should be employed in this way in future. I am sure they will look closely at the need to avoid any work which might seem to threaten the patients' dignity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total estimated commitments outstanding on 31st March last and the total estimated new commitments in 1965–66 in respect of new construction and major improvements for trunk roads and for classified roads and loans to highway authorities, respectively.

The estimated commitments for major improvement and new construction outstanding at 31st March 1965 were £45·3 million made up of:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been received by the South of Scotland Electricity Board about low voltage in its electricity supply in the County of Fife in the latest year for which figures are available; and whether he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the Board to ensure that such deficiencies are rectified before the opening of the new power station at Longannet.

I am informed by the Board that in the year to 31st March, 1965, it received 261 complaints in its Fife area on this score. One-third of these referred to variations in voltage which, on investigation, were found to be within the statutory limits, and in some cases the same incident was the subject of more than one complaint. Overall 218 of the complaints were dealt with satisfactorily.The rectification of these difficulties turns on the Board's ability—in financial and physical terms—to reinforce or adjust its distribution network to meet increasing loads at the points of consumption and not on the completion of individual power stations. A direction would serve no useful purpose as it is already Board's policy to carry this work out as quickly as is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amounts of grants made to each of the direct grant schools in Scotland, the numbers of

The following table gives details of the amount of grant paid to and the numbers of primary and secondary pupils on the roll of each grant-aided secondary school in the school's financial year ending in 1963, the last available year. I shall send the hon. Member the information about the staff as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of children in schools in Scotland who are classified as educationally sub-normal; and whether he will publish a table indicating their dispersal, county by county.