asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to increase the number of clerks of works and building inspectors.

So much construction work is at present in hand that persons with technical qualifications in building are bound to be in great demand. My right hon. Friend is not aware of a shortage confined to the local authority activities with which he is concerned, but if my hon. Friend has evidence he will be glad to see it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further plans he has for designating new towns.

At present I have no plans beyond those I announced to the House in February for two new towns in the North-West, one in North Bucks and the "doubling" of Ipswich, Northampton and Peterborough.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made with the survey on gypsies and other travellers; what counties have failed to give the required information; and what he proposes to do when all returns are in to improve the present unsatisfactory situation.

Returns have been received from all the county and county borough councils and these are now being analysed. I would like to consider the results before deciding upon further action.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many officials are engaged full-time in carrying out the Government's review of local and national finance in relation to the rates problem; when he expects them to submit their report; and if he will publish it.

As I said in the debate last Wednesday, we now have all the background information that is needed for this review. The initial work was carried out by three official working parties: one investigated new sources of local revenue; one co-ordinated Departmental projections of local authority expenditure over the next decade; the third dealt principally with grants and rates. All three working parties have now reported. In addition, of course, the Allen Committee has presented its report on the impact of rates on households. We have the information: we are now working on the action that is to follow.The Finance Division of my Ministry was strengthened to undertake the necessary calculations and staff were allocated to the work as required. The maximum number exclusively engaged on this work at any one time has been eight. An Assistant Secretary has been fully engaged on the work from the outset. The hiring of a mini-computer has now eliminated the need for a large staff engaged on test grant calculations.The papers assembled by officials are not intended for publication. We shall announce our conclusions and proposals when we are ready to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps, in consultation with planning authorities, to inform members of the public of the procedure for consideration of representations which may have been made for or against any particular planning proposal.

The procedure adopted for considering representations is a matter for each planning authority to decide.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking, in consultation with planning authorities, to improve the means of keeping members of the public informed of planning proposals which may affect the value and amenities of their homes.

The difficulty here is to reconcile the need for speedy decisions with telling people what is proposed. There are already fairly extensive requirements for publicity and my right hon. Friend would need much more evidence before he felt justified in adding to what is already a time-consuming and complicated procedure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for ensuring that people likely to be affected by planning appeals may be given the chance to make their views known when the written statement method of deciding appeals is made use of.

The method of deciding an appeal on written statements is used only when there seems no need to give third parties an opportunity of expressing their views on the appeal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to hold the public inquiry concerning objections to the definition of the central development area submitted to him by the Wellington Urban District Council, in relation to the new shopping centre, and to the relevant compulsory purchase orders.

My right hon. Friend will consider fixing an inquiry when he has received from the planning authority the full background information needed for a proper consideration of the proposals and objections.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the impediments to development arising from covenants passing with freehold land, many of which are of great antiquity; and whether he will give consideration to terminating such of these restrictions as date back for 40 years or more, relying upon the planning authorities to determine amenity standards.

There are certain existing procedures which enable restrictive covenants to be set aside; and my right hon. Friend has no evidence that it is necessary to broaden their scope.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in coordinating the activities of local authorities in a scheme for collecting large articles of household rubbish, such as water tanks, lavatory bowls, bedsteads, and mattresses, which at present are being dumped on road verges and common land throughout the country; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities were asked in 1960 to organise the collection of unwanted articles. The Working Party on Refuse Collection are considering this among other matters and when my right hon. Friend has their report he will be getting in touch with local authorities again.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps have to be taken by an area electricity board to satisfy him that planning requirements have been complied with before a sub-station is erected.

Electricity boards may erect sub-stations not exceeding 1,000 cubic feet in capacity without applying for planning permission. In other cases they need to obtain planning permission in the usual way.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has now been made by the Alkali Inspectorate in assisting the Barking Metal Trading Company to reduce the emission of dark smoke from their chimney in contravention of the relevant regulations, and, in general, in promoting the smokeless operation of furnaces in such works.

After discussion with the Alkali Inspectorate, the company has agreed to install a new incinerator to burn cable. The Inspectorate are asking for the installation of similar incinerators, or the addition of efficient afterburners to existing furnaces, at other works of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has taken note of the petition submitted to him by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, East, on behalf of nearly 15,000 ratepayers in Waltham-stow; and what action he proposes to take, within the limits of his powers, in response to these petitioners.

Yes. As my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary has already indicated to the hon. Member I understand and sympathise with the petitioners' feelings. But the level of the rate is a matter for the council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to effect in schemes of urban renewal a balance between development which will yield revenue and that which has amenity value only.

I already seek to do this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to introduce work study where they employ direct labour.

This subject is already being pursued by a Local Government Work Study Group formed under the aegis of the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Services. My right hon. Friend welcomes their initiative.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied with progress in completing maps of public rights of way under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949; and if he will make a statement.

No. Twenty-seven of the county councils in England have completed definitive maps for the whole of their counties, but elsewhere progress is uneven and in some cases far too slow. I was concerned particularly to find that rights of way in some of the national parks and approved areas of outstanding natural beauty have not yet been fully mapped. I have asked the county councils concerned to make special efforts to complete the maps for these areas quickly, and I shall continue to press for better progress elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what stage the survey of rights of way has reached in Cornwall; and what steps it is proposed to take to secure publication of a definitive map for the county within the immediate future.

Provisional maps of public rights of way have been published for 23 of the county districts in Cornwall. The remaining 7 districts have draft maps. The county council hope soon to publish definitive maps for 22 districts, and they are giving urgent attention to the rest of the county.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that many prospective holidaymakers in the United Kingdom are being prevented, by out-of-season cheap-rate longer-term residents claiming security of tenure under the Protection from Eviction Act, from taking up the accommodation they had booked and for which a deposit had been paid sometimes months in advance; and if he will take steps to stop this practice.

I am aware that a few cases of this kind have occurred. I have no sympathy for attempts to misuse the Protection from Eviction Act. But in fact only seven cases have been brought to my attention. If the hon. Member knows of others perhaps he will send me the details.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has yet been able to sanction the commencement of work on the supply of water to Vennington, Shropshire, in accordance with the scheme submitted to him by the West Shropshire Water Board.

No. My right hon. Friend is still awaiting information from the West Shropshire Water Board.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have obtained payments in contribution towards the provision or maintenance of public car parks from applicants for town planning permission for development; and what total sum is involved in this use of planning control.

Local planning authorities may make arrangements of this kind without reference to my right hon. Friend and, therefore the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he cannot accept the proposals made by Professor Ely Devons and the Local Government Commission to extend the boundaries of the South-East Lancashire

Local Government Commission Review Area	Proposal	Inspector s report of the local Inquiry into objections received
East Midlands General Review Area	Extension of Leicester county borough	August, 1962
South Western General Review Area	Creation of a Torbay county borough Creation of a new county borough at Cheltenham	November, 1963
	No alteration in the present boundaries of Plymouth	May, 1964
	Extension of Gloucester county borough	August, 1964
Tyneside Special Review Area	A continuous county with four most-purpose boroughs	July, 1964
North Eastern General Review Area	Extension of Darlington county borough	October, 1964
	Creation of a Tees-side county borough	January, 1965
	Amalgamation of West Hartlepool county borough with the borough of Hartlepool	March, 1965
	Extension of Sunderland county borough	April, 1965
West Yorkshire Special Review Area	Creation of a new county borough by the amalgamation of Dewsbury County Borough with parts or the whole of nine other authorities	February, 1965
	Amalgamation of Wakefield county borough, Horbury urban district and parts of four other authorities to form a non-county borough	May, 1965

This table does not take account of the proposals accepted by my predecessor for a pattern of county boroughs and other changes in the West Midlands Special Review Area and for the conversion of Burton upon Trent County Borough to be a non-county borough in Staffordshire. These proposals are the subject of actions in the High Court.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reports he has had on the effective-

Extensions on the scale proposed would have far exceeded anything Parliament had in mind when it passed the Local Government Act in 1958. I decided it would be wrong to go further than the more limited extensions made by the two orders I recently laid before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission have reached the stage at which it only remains for him to announce his decision; and if he will publish a list of such cases in the OFFICIAL REPORT, together with the dates on which each was received in his department on completion of all the other statutory procedures.

Twelve. The information requested is as follows:ness of the repairs carried out in the last six months to the Mogden Sewage Works; if he is aware that smells from the sewage works which caused annoyance and distress to local residents last summer have now returned; and if he will institute a full investigation into the causes of this continuing nuisance.

The repairs carried out so far have not eliminated the trouble. It is clear that much more extensive works are needed and these the Greater London Council are putting in hand. My right hon. Friend does not think an investigation by the Department at this stage would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much was saved by Saltburn Urban Districe Council in rejecting private tenders for the repair of Marske outfall sewer.

The council spent £4,911. The lowest outside tender was £22,360.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the contamination of the air by organic chemical solvents which are the byproducts of certain manufacturing processes.

The Alkali, etc. Works Regulation Act, 1906, enables the Chief Alkali Inspector to control emissions of listed noxious gases, including organic chemical solvents, from works scheduled under the Act; and the Public Health Act, 1936, enables local authorities to deal with emissions likely to prejudice health or cause a nuisance. My right hon. Friend sees no need for additional legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated acreage of land in England and Wales which is being used as burial ground, and what acreage he estimates will be required over the next 25 years.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not in a position to make any reliable estimates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many appeals against assessments in the current valuation list for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are outstanding; how many appeals were heard in April; what steps he has taken to expedite such hearings; and whether he is aware that delay is causing anxiety.

The number of appeals outstanding is 7,668; 80 were listed for hearing by courts in April.The panel are averaging three courts a week and my right hon. Friend does not regard this as unsatisfactory. The progress made in despatching appeals depends not only on the number of courts held but also on private negotiation and settlement between the valuation officer and the ratepayer and we must hold the balance between the two.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will introduce measures that will afford relief to ratepayers, and especially to those of Waltham Forest, whose rate burden is considerably higher than any other in the Greater London area.

I have no proposals to make in advance of the announcement of the Government's general decisions about local government finance and the rating system.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the reasons for the resignation of Professor Devons from the Local Government Boundary Commission; and whether he will make a statement.

Professor Devons resigned because he considered that my decision to limit the extension of the Merseyside and South East Lancashire special review areas would make it impossible for the Commission to consider proposals for effective and convenient local government in the North West.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he intends to take to preserve the Stone Ridge at Westward Ho, North Devon.

It is for the local authority to consider in the first place what action may be necessary. At their request one of the Department's engineering inspectors visited the area recently, and the Department will be writing to the authority shortly, when his report is received.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to enable local authorities to provide houses in overspill areas for immigrants from overcrowded districts of large concentration.

Immigrants can benefit on the same basis as the rest of the community from the present machinery for carrying out overspill schemes. My right hon. Friend sees no reason for making any additional or special arrangements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many habitable houses he estimates are unoccupied in the area of the Greater London Council; and what proposals he has for dealing with this waste of housing accommodation in an area of severe shortage.

At the 1961 Census 40,229, or 1·6 per cent., of the dwellings in the Greater London conurbation were unoccupied. It does not follow that this is all a waste of accommodation. A proportion of dwellings must always be standing empty to allow for movement. The London figure is comparatively low. Local authorities already have adequate powers to acquire empty houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the continuing use in London of many houses for office purposes; and whether, in view of the plentiful supply of purpose-built office accommodation, he will seek powers to provide that suitable houses revert to domestic use as they become vacant.

Where such uses have only temporary planning permission—as is quite common—my right hon. Friend is sure the local authorities will be very much alive to the need to bring back into residential use, when the permissions expire, any houses which are still suitable for living. But to extinguish a continuing right to use a house as an office would involve compensation, and he doubts if the cost would be justified. Many of the houses in question would need further expenditure before they could be suitable for modern living.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement on his plans for safeguarding house purchasers from bad workmanship.

I am not yet ready to make a statement but will do so before long.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the Housing Act, 1964, to provide for standard grants to be payable on the full cost of a bathroom, built to provide a bath, and of a septic tank built for a water closet.

My right hon. Friend is covering these points in his current review of legislation to see how improvement grants can be made more simple and effective.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the cost of interest on a local authority house started this month over the full period of subsidy payment; and what are the comparable figures in respect of a house started a year ago.

As loans may be raised in different ways, sometimes with variable requirements as to payment of interest, it is not possible to generalise about the amount of interest payable during the 60-year period of the subsidy.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will now announce the type of reactor chosen for the Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station; and whether he will make a statement on the implications of his choice for the future of the nuclear power programme and the future of the coal industry.

The tenders are at present being assessed by the Central Electricity Generating Board in consultation with the Atomic Energy Authority. Until I have their views, I cannot say what the implications will be.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the amount of money loaned by the Government to privately-owned companies in the steel industry since denationalisation; and when it is due to be repaid.

Apart from some £150 million invested in connection with denationalisation loans from public funds to privately-owned steel companies since their respective dates of denationalisation comprise a loan of £50 million to Colvilles Ltd. under Section 5 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1953, together with £5 million postponed interest and a loan of £27 million to the Steel Company of Wales, under Section 20(1)(a) of that Act, arranged before the Company was denationalised. The final date for repayment of the Colvilles loan is 1978; the final payment of the loan to the Steel Company of Wales was made in 1963.

asked the Minister of Technology what assistance is being given to the development of Hovercraft.

The National Research Development Corporation, through its subsidiary company Hovercraft Development Limited is continuing to give substantial financial support to the development of the latest types of Hovercraft, while the Defence Departments are continuing their trials for defence purposes.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the training courses in computer technology which are already available.

Comprehensive information on computer courses in universities, technical colleges and other educational establishments is being collected. I will write to the hon. Member when this is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to prevent further increases in the rents of council houses, he will now reduce the Bank Rate.

I do not accept the implication in the hon. Member's Question. Bank Rate will be reduced as soon as the country's economic circumstances permit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to increase the provision of Parliamentary draftsmen, so that future legislative programmes may be facilitated.

Two Assistant Counsel have been recruited to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel since the beginning of the Session. Further vacancies in this grade are now being advertised.An increase in establishment of the Scottish Parliamentary Draftsmen is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimated breakdown of the £800 million overseas trading deficit for 1964 between capital repatriation, leads and lags, national stockpiling, and the basic trade difference, respectively; why he anticipates it will be the end of 1966 before this position is put right; and if he will make a statement.

The figures of the balance of payments in 1964 were presented in the White Paper, Preliminary Estimates of National Income and Expenditure and Balance of Payments, 1959 to 1964. An account of developments in the year, including the amount invested in stocks, is in the Economic Report in 1964, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and available in the Library. As regards the second part of the Question, the hon. Member should read my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates local and central Government spending would have to be cut in order to restore the balance of payments to equilibrium, and to enable the nation to live within its income; what criteria he employs in deciding to borrow from foreign bankers rather than make these cuts; and if he will make a statement.

There is no simple connection between the amount of public spending and the balance of payments. But the Government have made it clear on a number of occasions that they intend to maintain a firm control over expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the annual rate of inflation each year since 1945 as a percentage.

The rate of inflation could be measured in various ways, which would not necessarily give the same result. A rough indication, however, can be given from the movement of the consumer price index, the annual increase in which is shown in the table below:

Consumer Price Index
				Percentage increase over previous year
1946	…	…	…	Not available
1947	…	…	…	6·8
1948	…	…	…	7·8
1949	…	…	…	2·3
1950	…	…	…	2·8
1951	…	…	…	9·0
1952	…	…	…	6·0
1953	…	…	…	1·7
1954	…	…	…	1·9
1955	…	…	…	3·4
1956	…	…	…	4·4
1957	…	…	…	3·1
1958	…	…	…	2·8
1959	…	…	…	0·5
1960	…	…	…	0·9
1961	…	…	…	2·9
1962	…	…	…	3·7
1963	…	…	…	1·1
1964	…	…	…	2·7

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, since five months have elapsed since representations were made to him on the subject of Civil Service pensions by the Public Service Pensioners Council and the staff side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council, he is yet in a position to open negotiations with these and other representative bodies on this matter.

Full account is being taken of these representations in the review which is not yet complete.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in the Department of Inland Revenue with the introduction of computer services in the calculation of Pay-As-You-Earn.

A computer to take over all routine P.A.Y.E. work now done in local Scottish tax offices has been ordered and will be installed at East Kilbride in 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the value of the pound sterling has declined since 1945.

On the basis of movements in the consumer price index, the internal purchasing power of the pound sterling is estimated to have fallen by 48 per cent. between 1946 and March, 1965, the latest available date. A comparable figure based on 1945 is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take the necessary steps to have published the agreement of sale by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency to the consortium of English Steel, United Steel, and eight other companies, of the Baker and Bessemer plant, Kilnhurst.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to establish for broadcasting a body with functions similar to the Press Council.

No. Broadcasting has been placed in the hands of two public corporations, appointed as trustees for the national interest in broadcasting, each assisted by Advisory Councils.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to divide the British Broadcasting Corporation into two separate corporations of sound and television, respectively, so as to prevent too great an accumulation of power in one set of hands and to reduce costs; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General what criteria he uses in deciding whether to exercise his powers of disallowing the sending of matter on television.

As I explained in reply to the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on 23rd November last, my powers to disallow the sending of broadcast matter are reserve powers for use only in the last resort. In the nature of the case, it is not possible to define the criteria which would govern their use more specifically.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the postal service in the Spilsby and Horncastle areas.

Some of the delay to mail for the Spilsby and Horncastle areas, which I much regret, is due to shortage of staff in our main sorting centres: we are doing all we can to recruit more staff. Special checks are also being made on the mails for the areas in question so that if there are remedial weaknesses in the arrangements they can be removed.

asked the Postmaster-General what consideration he has given to the series of definitive stamps, the proposed designs of which have been sent to him by a firm of stamp dealers.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what proposals he has received from outside organisations for the re-designing of United Kingdom postage stamps; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he is taking to improve the design of the United Kingdom postage stamps, especially the ½d. to 1s. varieties.

I have received suggestions from a well-known firm of stamp dealers for the re-design of our definitive series of postage stamps. As I announced in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Hobden) on 24th March last, new designs for this series using a profile photograph of Her Majesty are to be commissioned and action to this end is already in train.

asked the Postmaster-General why he is changing the colour of Post Office vans from traditional red to verdant green.

My right hon. Friend has no intention of changing the colour of postal vans. Green engineering vehicles are sometimes used, particularly during the Christmas period, for postal purposes.

asked the Postmaster-General, to what extent surplus stocks were offered for sale to the public during the financial year 1964–65; what was the total amount realised; what action was taken to acquaint other Government departments and public bodies of the surplus stocks before offering them to the public; and with what result.

All the "unused" and suitable "used" surplus stocks arising in 1964–65 were initially offered to Government Departments and public bodies likely to be interested, and, as a result, sales to a value of £6,700 were made. The bulk of the remaining surplus stores were then offered for sale to selected firms by competitive tender in accordance with normal policy and, from these tenderings a further £23,984 was realised. A few special items (e.g. of proprietary equipment) were sold non-competitively to a value of £2,809.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now estimate the date on which the proposed standardised envelopes will be ready for introduction, so as to reduce uncertainty to firms when ordering stocks of stationery.

I hope shortly to make an announcement which will cover the point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider taking steps to institute a standard size envelope which can be electronically sorted for use in a high-speed service.

A single standard sized envelope would, I am sure, be too restrictive for the general user of the post. As announced on the 25th March, I have decided to press ahead with envelope standardisation and this will permit the use of a standard range of sizes lending itself to high speed mechanical sorting.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has yet completed his consideration of the proposal of the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North to increase the telephone facilities and amenities for old-age pensioners; and what action he will take.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd) on 16th March. The examination is continuing.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the continuing frustrations and delays experi- enced by the subscribers, mostly business and professional, linked to the Municipal exchange; and what steps he is taking to provide an adequate service.

I am sorry for these continuing difficulties. To improve the service 110 additional circuits have been provided since last November and a further 29 will be added shortly. A large new cable to Central London should be brought into service in July.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will offer the land at Station Road, Budleigh Salterton, which is surplus to his requirements for the new telephone exchange, back to the executors of the original owners at a fair price.

As I told the hon. Member in my letter of 15th March, the local authority, the Devon County Council, and others are interested in acquiring the site. In the circumstances, I think the right thing to do is to put it up to public auction.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that for a distance of 20 miles on the A.635, between the Sovereign Inn at Lane Head and Mossley, travellers cannot use a telephone kiosk unless they have four pennies on their person; that this is particularly inconvenient on the 10 miles moorland portion of the road between Holmfirth and Greenfield; and if he will take steps to remedy the situation.

Yes, but genuine emergency calls can be made from all of these kiosks without the insertion of coins. The new type of coinbox, requiring 3d., 6d. or 1s. pieces, cannot be installed until the exchanges concerned are converted from manual to automatic working, but will be introduced as these conversions take place over the next 3 years.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the early need to develop the new shopping centre in Wellington, when he proposes to give loan sanction to the application sent to him by the Wellington Urban District Council for the construction of the new bus station.

The Wellington Urban District Council tell me they intend to make a bus station Order under the Road Traffic Act, 1960. This Order will require my confirmation under the statutory procedure and decision on it will determine my attitude to the loan sanction application. The present bus station project is distinct from the shopping centre development proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent, under his regulations, a motorist may drive his vehicle during a 14 days' grace period after the expiry of his road fund licence, provided the vehicle is taxed within that period from the date the previous licence expired.

A motorist who keeps or uses an unlicensed vehicle on the road is committing an offence under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1962. But no action is taken against him provided that he renews his licence within 14 days of the expiry of the previous one. This arrangement is extra-statutory, and is generally known as the "days of grace" period.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the traffic congestion caused by the movement of vehicles carrying outsize heavy loads within a 30-mile radius of London; and if he will restrict the movement of such vehicles to the period between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. during the summer months.

Power to control the time of movement of abnormal indivisible loads on roads is vested in the police by virtue of the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1963. I do not feel justified in varying this general arrangement.I do, however, impose a condition prohibiting throughout the country movement of exceptionally large, wide or heavy loads over Bank Holiday periods and during summer weekends.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the Prices and Incomes Board will be able to investigate increases in prices imposed on bread, soaps and detergents and road haulage by the electricity, gas or National Coal Boards.

Yes, if the Board considers this relevant to its inquiries.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs into which category of exceptions to Her Majesty's Government's Incomes Policy, as outlined in paragraph 15 in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy, the increase in salary of 6¼ per cent. awarded on 28th April, 1965, for 3,800 day workers at the Pressed Steel Company's car body factory at Cowley, comes.

It is not for me, but for the parties concerned, to defend this settlement in relation to the policy set out in the White Paper, which has been agreed with representatives of management and unions.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer to the Prices and Incomes Board the 6 per cent. increase in electricity charges proposed by the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the incompleteness of the voters' roll in Ayr resulting in substantial omissions of voters' names whereby ratepayers who for years had voted regularly were prevented from doing so at the recent municipal election, if he will hold an inquiry into the reasons for the inaccuracies in the preparation of the electoral roll.

No. I have no statutory power to take such action as suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated acreage of land in Scotland which is being used as burial ground, and what acreage he estimates will be required over the next 25 years.

No information is available on which reliable estimates could be based.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what shortages of nursing staff exist in Scottish hospitals; and whether he will publish a list of all hospitals, showing their establishment of nurses and the number of vacancies.

There are no fixed establishments of nursing staff for hospitals in Scotland and consequently no figures of vacancies. In recent years the effective number of nursing staff has increased on the average by about 3 per cent. per year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will not make a further statement on such events in the Republic of Dominica as endangered British lives.

The danger to British lives was most acute immediately prior to the first landing of United States troops on 28th April; law and order in Santo Domingo had broken down and armed bands were roaming the streets. The United States action undoubtedly prevented serious civil strife; and evacuation of foreign, including British, nationals proceeded as planned. Since 5th May, when a cease-fire was signed by the combatant forces in the presence of the Organisation of American States Mission, the danger has further diminished. But tension between the two sides is still high and United States forces have been the target of insurgent snipers. In these circumstances we should not advise British subjects who were evacuated to attempt to return to Santo Domingo until law and order have been completely restored.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made by Her Majesty's Government towards achieving a negotiated settlement in the Vietnam crisis.

Britain, the United States and their other allies in the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation reaffirmed on 5th May their purpose of seeking a peaceful settlement and their support for President Johnson's offer of unconditional discussion with the Governments concerned in the Vietnam conflict. But I am sorry to tell the House that I still have no indication that China, North Vietnam or the Soviet Union are yet prepared to consider a negotiated settlement on anything but their own unacceptable terms.

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to tighten up security.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the operation of security policy and its application throughout the public service; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer hon. Members to the statement I made in the House yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what is the estimated cost for this year of the total British support effort in connection with the defence of Malaysia; and whether he is satisfied that this expenditure is not disproportionate to that of the other countries engaged in the confrontation with Indonesia;(2) if he is satisfied that the commitment for British forces in Malaysia is not disproportionate to that of the other countries engaged in the confrontation with Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

The estimated extra cost of the British support effort this year related to the defence of Malaysia is about £5 million.I am satisfied that this expenditure and the commitment of our forces is necessary for the discharge of our obligations under the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the problems of fatherless families and to make recommendations.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 27th April to a Question by the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward).

asked the Prime Minister whether, in his recent discussions with Chancellor Erhard, he agreed with the Chancellor that the conclusion of a peace treaty with Germany must await the reunification of Germany under a single Government.

My discussions with Chancellor Erhard were confidential. Her Majesty's Government's view is that a peace settlement for the whole of Germany should be concluded with a freely elected Government of a reunified Germany.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent official discussions with the leaders of the National Farmers' Union.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement issued from 10 Downing Street on 6th May, following the discussions, and to the statement issued this morning jointly by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and the other Agricultural Ministers. Copies of both statements are available in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister in view of the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation has visited Beirut in negotiations with Middle East Airlines on behalf of the British Aircraft Corporation for the sale of the Vickers Super VC10, if he will take steps to make available to other privately-owned companies similar Ministerial assistance in negotiating business abroad.

Yes, if the circumstances were such as to justify it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of brucellosis to the agricultural industry.

From the Brucellosis Survey published in December 1964 it is estimated that the annual economic loss caused by the disease in dairy herds amounts to about £1,000,000. The incidence of disease in beef herds is not known and no estimate of the annual loss in these herds can be made.

asked the Minister of Aviation what arrangements are being made to preserve the jigs and tools of the TSR2 project.

None, except in the limited number of cases where they can be used in other projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement about constitutional talks on South Arabia.

Since the postponement of the South Arabia Constitutional Conference arranged for March, it has become clear that the Governments and political parties in South Arabia are not ready for such talks and that there is a general wish for further discussion among themselves about the various possibilities of constitutional development which exist. I have considered how we can help in this process and have decided that the best way of doing so lies in the appointment of a Commission which can visit South Arabia, consult with the various interests there, and consider with them what will be the most suitable future constitutional arrangements for the area.The composition of the Commission has still to be settled but I hope to include some members from countries other than the United Kingdom. I propose to make an oral statement to the House as soon as practicable. The terms of reference of the Commission will be:"In the light of the wish of the Governments and people of South Arabia to achieve independence as soon as possible, and the general desire in South Arabia for unity, and bearing in mind the declared aspiration of Her Majesty's Government to bring Aden and all the States of the Protectorate of South Arabia, both within and without the Federation, to independence as a single State by 1968, to consider, after consultation with the Governments and peoples of South Arabia, the constitutional structure appropriate for a sovereign independent South Arabian State and the necessary interim constitutional arrangements leading to its introduction, and to make recommendtions."

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when a firm order will be placed for the first of the six new coastal survey craft for the Royal Navy.

The detailed characteristics of the new survey craft have required extensive study but we expect to invite design and build tenders shortly and place an order in the late Autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when an order wild be placed for the Royal Navy's new icebreaker H.M.S. "Terra Cotta" to replace H.M.S. "Protector".

I am not yet able to say when the order will be placed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that negotiations between examining bodies in further education have been proceeding for three years; and if he will inquire into the reasons for this delay with a view either to reaching an early agreement or to the setting up of an inquiry into the whole field of examinations in further education.

Negotiations have been proceeding for some three years between the City and Guilds of London Institute and the regional examining bodies with a view to revising the agreement on examinations at the "intermediate" level for operatives, craftsmen and technicians, originally drawn up in 1933.The regional examining bodies have recently been examining revised draft proposals circulated by my Department in November and December last after a meeting between all the parties, and they forwarded proposed amendments to the Department a fortnight ago.Further discussions with the examining bodies are being arranged, and I have every hope that, given the desire of all parties to reach an agreement, the negotiations may soon be brought to a successful conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list of those public companies, professional associations and trade union organisations which have made contributions to the building and endowment of new universities; and how much each has contributed, and to which universities, over the last 10 years.

This is not a matter within my responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will give a monthly figure for doctors of philosophy who have migrated from the United Kingdom since January, 1963;(2) if he will give monthly figures for the number of doctors of philosophy who originally graduated from universities in the United Kingdom and who have returned to work in the United Kingdom since January, 1963.

There are no comprehensive statistics available to provide an answer to these Questions.Regarding scientists and technologists, the Joint Interviewing Board, which is the joint responsibility of my Department, the Atomic Energy Authority and the Civil Service Commission, and which also represents the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Science Research Council, visited the U.S.A. and Canada last year as is their yearly practice, to interview scientists and technologists, most of them British, for appointments within those organisations in the United Kingdom. They saw 265 candidates, of whom about 65 per cent. were holders of Ph.D.'s, and 186 were recommended for appointments. One hundred and one appointments were made up to December, 1965, either as a result of those recommendations, or by direct recruitment by the Research Councils and the organisations represented by the Board. In addition, the names of 16 candidates were passed by the Board to the Federation of British Industries for consideration for industrial posts in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Health how many adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years of age were received into adult mental wards in the area of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board during 1964.

Two hundred and ninety-six (including those aged 18).

asked the Minister of Health when his plans for adolescent psychiatric units in the area of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board will be completed.

I cannot at present add to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend on 22nd February.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will conduct an inquiry, within the area of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, into cases where adolescents, compelled to receive psychiatric treatment in adult male wards, have been subjected to criminal assaults by other patients.

No such cases have been brought to my notice or that of the Board but if my hon. Friend has any information and will let me have it I will make enquiries.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds there are available for acute cases in the various disciplines for the people of the county borough of Stockport; and how many patients are waiting for admission to hospital.

The figures for the hospitals of the Stockport and Buxton Hospital Management Committee, which provides hospital services for the great majority of patients from the Stockport County Borough area, are:

	Average daily number of Available Beds in 1964	Waiting List at 31st December, 1964
General Medicine	13	8
Paediatrics	40	—
Infectious Diseases	49	—
Diseases of Chest	116	—
Dermatology	22	—
Physical Medicine	96	17
Rheumatology	97	46
General Surgery	229	3,535
E.N.T.	24	1,271 tonsils
		and adenoids
		656 other
Traumatic and Orthopaedic	145	313
Ophthalmology	23	64
Dentistry	4	—
Gynaecology	51	795
Pre-Conva lescent	14	—
Others	40	—

asked the Minister of Health what is the average waiting time for admission to the various departments of St. Thomas's Hospital, Stockport Infirmary, Cherry Tree Hospital and

			1962	1963	1964
Stockport Infirmary
General Medicine	…	…	3–4 days	6–8 days	3–4 days
General Surgery	…	…	11½ months	11 months	4 months
E.N.T. (tonsils and adenoids)	…	…	3 years 7 months	5 years 7 months	1 year 3–4 months
E.N.T. (Others)	…	…	1 year 4–5 months	5 months	8½ months
Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery	…	…	3 months	2½ months	2½ months
Stepping Hill
General Medicine	…	…	Nil	Nil	Nil
Paediatrics	…	…	3–4 days	Nil	Nil
Diseases of Chest	…	…	Nil	Nil	Nil
Geriatrics	…	…	1 month	2 weeks	1 month
General Surgery	…	…	6–7 months	6–7 months	8½ months
E.N.T. (tonsils and adenoids)	…	…	7 months	7–8 months	5 months
Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery	…	…	2 weeks	6–8 days	Nil
Ophthalmology	…	…	3½ months	2½ months	1½ months
Dentistry	…	…	1 month	Nil	Nil
Gynaecology	…	…	2½ months	2 months	4 months
Waiting lists are not maintained at St. Thomas's Hospital or Cherry Tree Hospital.
Emergency cases are admitted immediately and urgent cases either immediately or within a few days.

asked the Minister of Health what schemes are at present being considered either by the North-West Regional Hospital Board or the Stockport and Buxton Hospital Management Committee for the rehabilitation of St. Thomas's Hospital and the enlargement of Stockport Infirmary.

At St. Thomas's Hospital, one scheme for upgrading ward accommodation and one for installing a new boiler: at Stockport Infirmary, one scheme for improving the X-ray and pathology facilities. No schemes for enlarging the Stockport Infirmary are being considered.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities exist in the county borough of Stockport for the detection of cervical cancer.

Stockport and Buxton Hospital Management Committee provide a cytological service for women with symptoms. Additional laboratory facilities are being provided and these will allow a routine screening service to he introduced.

As the figures averaged over three years could mislead, I give figures for each of the three years:

asked the Minister of Health how many general practitioners there are within the county borough of Stockport; and how this compares with the national figure.

On 1st October, 1964, there were 66 general practitioners providing unrestricted services in Stockport with an average list of 2,371, and 20,246 in England and Wales with an average list of 2,362.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what period he now intends to allow before the new standards for lifejackets become obligatory and lifejackets supplied to earlier specifications are declared obsolete; and what the cost to British shipowners will be if the change-over is made within a period of five years.

I am considering what period it would be reasonable to allow for the change-over from the present type of lifejacket to the new type and a decision will be announced shortly. The new and improved lifejacket will be more expensive than the existing one but until it is in production I cannot say precisely what the cost will be.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to make further changes in the list of development districts.

I am adding to the list of development districts the employment exchange areas of Newton Stewart and Wadebridge, the branch employment office area of Turriff, and the Caerphilly and Bargoed groups.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sentenced to imprisonment for life and released on licence have been recalled during the periods 1945 to 1957 and 1957 to 1965, respectively; and for how long in each of those periods such persons were detained.

During the years 1945 to 1956 inclusive three persons on licence from a sentence of life imprisonment were recalled to prison. Two were again released on licence, after being detained for four months and twelve months respectively. The third is still in prison having been detained for over ten years since his recall.No such person was recalled during 1957, and the corresponding number for the period since then is five. One of these was again released on licence after being detained for thirteen months; two are still in prison having been detained for seven months and ten months since recall; one has been twice recalled and is still in prison after an aggregate of four and a half years' detention since being first recalled; and the fifth died in prison eight months after being recalled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Return of Election Expenses moved for on 5th November, 1964, will be published.

It is hoped that this Return will be published before Whitsun.