asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what Commonwealth Governments have expressed an interest in the purchase of Oberon class submarines from the United Kingdom.

Four Oberon class submarines are at present being constructed for the Australian Government and three for the Canadians. The approximate value of these orders is £28 million. The Government of India has also expressed an interest in this class of submarine.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what recent representations he has received concerning the possibility of setting up a Commonwealth Parliament; and whether he will now make a statement.

I have received no recent representations, although a number of hon. Members and others have made known to me their interest in this proposal.At the moment I have nothing to add to the information given to the House by the Prime Minister on 9th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what help Her Majesty's Government are giving to the Government of Pakistan to mitigate the recent cyclone disaster in East Pakistan.

The full seriousness of this disaster only became evident on Staurday, the 15th. I have reviewed the reports from our High Commissioner in Pakistan and I am authorising him today to offer the Pakistan Government aid worth £7,500 in whatever form they wish. Further aid will be considered should later reports warrant this. I have also informed the voluntary agencies, who are cooperating fully with their opposite num- bers. I am sure the whole House would wish me to convey an expression of sympathy in this sad disaster.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual Income Tax payers there were in the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland, in 1963–64; and of these how many had incomes below the rate at which the standard rate of Income Tax was not applied.

17,210,000 counting husbands and wives as one. Of these about 11 million were not liable at the standard rate on any part of their income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total cost to Government, private persons and industries of introducing a decimal currency system this year; and what would be the equivalent figure next year and in subsequent years, allowing for any increase in costs as well as a wider use of computers and other electronic machines.

As the Halsbury Committee recommended a three-year preparatory period before the changeover took place, there can be no question of introducing a decimal currency this year. For estimates of the total cost in subsequent years I would refer the hon. Member to the Committee's Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Government installations in which agreements with the National Staff Side Negotiating Committee limit the number of hours which computers are operated, indicating in each case the type of computer involved, the purpose for which it is used, the date of the agreement and the number of hours per day that the computer is in operation.

A list of computers operating in Government establishments was given in the reply to the hon. Member on 2nd March, 1965. The agreement with the National Staff Side applies generally and not to specific installations. Under this agreement, made in July, 1962, normal working is limited to 15 hours per day but 24-hour manning is permitted where necessary to provide a fully operational service or in emergencies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average weekly tax relief enjoyed by owner-occupiers on their mortgage interest payments.

Just under 12s.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce a tax on oil used for producing gas as a means of helping the balance of payments.

As has already been announced my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power is conducting a thorough review of fuel policy. I cannot anticipate the outcome of that review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the concern arising from the substantial increase in the cost of administration of local government in Greater London resulting from the London Government Act, 1963; and if he will take steps to diminish the burden on the rates.

The reply to the first part of the question is, "Yes". As to the second part I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's speech during the debate on 5th May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what account he took of rail facilities in the King's Lynn area when agreeing to the overspill plan for the area.

The overspill scheme was approved by my right hon. Friend's predecessor who decided that the railway facilities were satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress he has now made on his plans for a reform of local government structure; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15th December last to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Mr. George Jeger).Since then I have made orders extending the boundaries of Coventry and Northampton and making a number of minor changes in the boundaries of several counties in the East and West Midlands. I have also announced decisions on the Local Government Commission's proposals for Exeter, Bristol and Bath, and shall in due course be giving effect to them by order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what study he has made of vacuum equipment and vehicles used in Europe for the collection of leaves and other street litter; and, in view of the development of smokeless zones, what action he will take to develop such equipment.

Several British firms are making and selling this kind of equipment. Regular national and international conferences and exhibitions keep local authorities in touch with developments, and my right hon. Friend does not think any special study or action is called for from him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will, with the minimum delay, define the limits of an extended metropolitan green belt.

The local planning authorities concerned were asked to review their proposals for extending the metropolitan green belt in the light of the South-East Study. They cannot complete this work until the Government have announced their conclusions on the South-East Study itself, since the green belt boundary has to be decided in conjunction with the allocation of land for housing and other needs. Meanwhile discussions are proceeding with each of the local planning authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what contribution has been made by the Greater London Council towards the assistance of the county of Surrey in the year 1965–66; and what this represents in terms of the Surrey county rate.

£587,189, or a rate of 2·9 pence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for safe custody of classified documents of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements in my Department for safe custody of classified documents follow the Government's instructions on security which are prepared centrally and which are issued to all Departments for their guidance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will circularise all the new Greater London boroughs, requesting them to maintain or re-provide facilities for the paying of rate demands by the public in the areas where they existed before the recent borough amalgamations.

No. My right hon. Friend thinks it can be left to the good sense of each rating authority to provide for the efficient and convenient payment of rates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that The Old Windmill at Waterford, Hertfordshire, which is listed in the Supplementary List of Buildings of Architectural or Historical Interest, would be destroyed if a road improvement scheme for the A.602 at present under consideration, was implemented; and whether, in view of local concern, he will institute a public inquiry before reaching a decision on this matter.

The building is not on the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest and the original 17th century structure has been much altered and added to. In these circumstances, it would be difficult for my right hon. Friend to intervene.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he gave loan sanction for the erection of new offices for Brighton Waterworks at a cost of £400,000.

Brighton have long needed new offices for their water undertaking. Their proposals included workshops, laboratories and a depot; and loan sanction was issued as the Department's technical advisers saw no reason to criticise the scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to such local health authorities as have unofficial sites for gypsies and other travellers in their areas on the health risks arising from lack of proper sanitation.

The lack of sanitary facilities on many of the sites occupied by these people was stressed in a circular my Department issued in 1962.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give loan sanction to London borough councils above the district valuer's valuation for housing developments in the acquisition of which the London boroughs are overbid by the Greater London Council exercising its statutory powers.

No. It is no part of my right hon. Friend's policy to increase the price of housing land by encouraging local authorities to bid against each other; nor is there any occasion for the Greater London Council and the London Boroughs to compete for land. He has asked them to prepare their housing programmes in consultation with each other, and he has powers to adjust the balance between them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to provide subsidies and grants to local authorities to build specially adapted houses for disabled men and women.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 16th March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how the number of local authority houses built is related to the space provided on which garages are being or may be constructed; how this proportion compares with what it was in 1960; and what it is expected to be in 1970.

31 per cent. of dwellings in tenders approved in England and Wales in 1964 were designed with garages, and 28 per cent with either carports or hardstandings. Detailed figures for earlier years are not available. By 1970 my right hon. Friend would expect most estates to be planned on the basis of one car per dewelling with some provision for visitors, as recommended in the Report "Homes for Today and Tomorrow".

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, under reference DGB concerning the rent of £8 10s. 0d. per week and key-money of £79, charged to a tenant for insanitary accommodation and the desire of the local council to purchase compulsorily this property under the 1957 Act when he will give his decision on the inquiry held in January last; and whether he will make a statement.

I am anxious that relief should be given as soon as possible to tenants facing exorbitant rents. The compulsory purchase powers under the Housing Act, 1957, are available where a tenant is threatened with homelessness as a result of a demand for an exorbitant rent. The Protection from Eviction Act, 1964, provides additional interim safeguards for tenants, but the real answer to this problem will be provided by the Rent Bill and I intend to establish the machinery for fixing fair rents as soon as possible.I shall issue my decision on the compulsory purchase order to which my hon. Friend refers in the next few days.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for how many local authorities the subsidies still received on pre-war houses amount to more than two-thirds of the total housing subsidies paid to them in any one year.

I regret the information is not available and my right hon. Friend does not think that the time and effort required to compile the figures would be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many discretionary subsidies for agricultural cottages have been provided by the Dorset County Council in each of the last four years.

The number of new, private agricultural dwellings for which discretionary subsidies were authorised by county district councils in the area of the Dorset County Council in each of the last four years for which figures are available was:

				Number of Dwellings
1960–61	…	…	…	13
1961–62	…	…	…	11
1962–63	…	…	…	12
1963–64	…	…	…	4

The county council, not being a housing authority, cannot make these payments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to expand inter-Commonwealth trade.

The Government have set up a Commonwealth Exports Council with six area committees which are already engaged in energetically stimulating British exports to the Commonwealth. Development of trade between other Commonwealth countries is mainly a matter for their own Governments, but it will benefit from the growth of world trade generally which Her Majesty's Government, through their participation in the Kennedy Round and their commercial policy generally, are endeavouring to promote.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the area of oil occupying the surface of Southampton Water and the Hamble River on 12th May, 1965; and if he will take urgent action to prosecute those responsible, in view of the fact that nobody will accept this responsibility locally, and that this discharge of oil is causing much damage.

I have been asked to reply.Inquiries by officials of the Southampton Harbour Board, within whose jurisdiction the area of oil is located, and by officials of the Board of Trade, have failed to establish responsibility for the pollution. In these circumstances, I regret that there is no basis for a prosecution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what regulations exist for governing the accuracy of measuring instruments for fuel oil in quantities above 20 gallons; and whether he will make a statement concerning his intentions in this respect.

No regulations exist at present for controlling instruments of this type. The Board of Trade intends to frame proposals as soon as practicable with a view to making regulations for that purpose, but a number of items of subordinate legislation under the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, will need to be given priority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to find out how many local authorities have established unified and comprehensive consumer protection services and to encourage them to provide such services at district council level.

One local authority has established a service of this kind and I understand that two others have proposals under consideration. I think it is for individual local authorities to decide in the light of local circumstances whether to provide such services.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet made a decision about the quota of British films to be shown by exhibitors during the year beginning 1st January, 1966.

I have decided to accept the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council to leave the prescribed quotas at 30 per cent. for first-feature films and 25 per cent. for the supporting programme for the exhibitors' quota year beginning 1st January, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances Elliot Ngwabi, Keyi Nkala, and Clark Mpofu were arrested by a combined force of Rhodesian and Bechuanaland police on 6th January, 1965.

These three men were initially apprehended in Bechuanaland near the border with Rhodesia by four private citizens who recognised them as having escaped from Bulawayo Prison. They were then taken into custody by the Bechuanaland Police and removed from the territory as prohibited immigrants under the Bechuanaland Immigration Law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the state of emergency declared by the Governor, Sir John Rennie, in Mauritius.

Yes. Since 1st May there have been a number of violent incidents during which three persons were killed, a number injured and some damage done to property. With the agreement of the Premier, the Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency under the Emergency Powers Order in Council, 1939. He has made regulations giving the police and security forces limited powers of entry, search, arrest and detention up to 14 days. A number of persons found in possession of offensive weapons have been arrested. There is no indication of any further disorder.I have full confidence in the Governor's judgment of what was needed and in his handling of the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposals for a forthcoming international conference of Powers including Great Britain, United States of America, France, Russia and Communist China, on the subject of Cambodia, indicating its scope and personnel and where and when it will meet.

The Soviet proposal, which my right hon. Friend accepted, was for a conference of the Governments participating in the 1954 Geneva Conference to consider the question of guarantees of the neutrality and territorial integrity of Cambodia. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow suggested on 26th April that the joint message in these terms drafted by the Soviet Government should be issued forthwith by both Co-Chairmen. Until we receive a reply from the Soviet Government, I cannot answer my learned Friend's other questions.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the operation so far of the Government's incomes policy.

The National Economic Development Council recently decided, at my suggestion, to undertake a general review of the movement of both prices and money incomes. The House will wish to know that I am today referring to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for examination—in the light of the national interest—wages; costs; and prices in the printing industry.

asked the Prime Minister what machinery he has set up to keep himself informed of matters involving security risks.

It has never been the practice to reveal security procedures.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent past practice is being followed whereby members of the Government offer themselves for positive vetting; and what is the practice with regard to the positive vetting of Her Majesty's Government political advisers with direct access to them.

The position as regards Ministers is exactly the same as under the last Government. It is for the Prime Minister of the day to satisfy himself as to the suitability of those whose names are submitted to Her Majesty.If, as I assume, the second part of the hon. Lady's Question refers to temporary civil servants, none of whom are political advisers, they are, of course, subject to the same rules and procedures as other Government employees.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will move for the appointment of a standing select committee on foreign affairs.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions he issues to members of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the safe keeping of confidential official documents.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions he gives to Ministers to prevent confidential Departmental documents being left in public places; and if any form or reward is given for their return.

On first appointment, Ministers are briefed on all aspects of physical security including the need to ensure the safe custody of confidential documents. It is not the general practice to give rewards for the return of documents mislaid.

asked the Minister of Health how long it takes to train technicians for cervical cancer test clinics.

The courses in cytology arranged centrally for hospital technicians normally last 12 weeks: local training will vary in duration, according to circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health what factors limit the number of technicians currently being trained in Wales for the detection of cervical cancer.

At this stage mainly the numbers of pathologists and technicians already trained and available to provide local training, the need to limit the number who can be released for training at any one time so as to avoid detriment to hospital pathology services, and the length of training needed to ensure the high standards required.

asked the Minister of Health (1) when he expects a decision to be made on the question of the payment of an incentive bonus to building maintenance staff in hospitals in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.(2) whether he will authorise the payment of in interim bonus of 1s. per hour on an ex-gratia basis to building maintenance staffs in hospitals in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland pending a decision being made as to a scheme for the payment of an incentive bonus on a permanent basis.

The Builders Committee of the Ancillary Staffs Council has agreed on the principles which must underlie any incentive bonus schemes for building maintenance workers in hospitals, and a firm of management consultants has been asked to submit an outline scheme for experiment at a selected hospital. This is expected shortly, but I cannot forecast when the results of the scheme, if acceptable, can be fully evaluated.

asked the Minister of Health what projects in the area covered by the South-East Region Metropolitan Hospital Board have taken precedence over the rebuilding of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

Of projects starting in 1965–66, those at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and the Medway Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will reconsider his decision to close Yarcombe Primary School.

No. My approval to the Devon local education authority's proposal to close this school was given under section 13(4) of the Education Act, 1944, after full consideration of the circumstances. I have in any case no power to revoke it.

asked the Secre-of State for Education and Science what opportunity was given to British computer companies in 1964 to tender for an analogue computer to be used by the Department of Control Engineering at the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield.

No formal tenders for an analogue computer were invited by the College of Aeronautics in 1964. The Governing Body of the College has been giving careful consideration to the question of acquiring a hybrid analogue machine to improve general computer facilities and for highly specialised departmental purposes, and has now submitted certain proposals to me. I have referred these proposals to the Standing Advisory Panel on computers under the Chairmanship of Sir Willis Jackson for advice before taking a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings he had with the Northern Ireland Government on the subject of the Race Relations Bill; and what reasons were given by the Northern Ireland Government for their wish that the Bill should not be extended to cover Northern Ireland.

I have had informal discussions on this subject but no formal meetings have been held. In accordance with established practice on a matter within the competence of the Northern Ireland Parliament, inquiry was made through official channels to ascertain whether the Northern Ireland Government wished our legislation to extend to Northern Ireland. They indicated that they did not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons below the age of 18 years were detained for any period in Her Majesty's prisons between 1st January and 30th April, 1965; what was the longest continuous period any such young person was so detained; and how many such young persons were serving a sentence of imprisonment.

I regret that information in this form is not available. The number of persons aged 17 who were received into prison under sentence of imprisonment during the first three months of 1965 is provisionally estimated to have been 45 males and 3 females. Of these one male was sentenced to five years, two to four years, one to 18 months, three to six months, and four to three months imprisonment. Thirty-four males and three females were sentenced to imprisonment for less than three months. Details of persons under 21 who were in custody in prisons and remand centres on 20th April, 1965, are as follows:

PERSONS UNDER 21 IN CUSTODY IN PRISONS AND REMAND CENTRES ON 20TH APRIL, 1965
PRISONS
	Male	Female
Untried	218	17
Young prisoners
3 years and over	228	4
over 6 months and under 3 years	279	2
6 months and under	330	20
Borstal inmates
awaiting transfer to allocation centre or recall centre	229	3
others	96	—
Other convicted prisoners
(e.g. Magistrates' Courts Act 1952, sections 14(3), 28 and 29)	214	26
Total	1,594	72

REMAND CENTRES
	Male	Female
Untried	207	4
Young prisoners
3 years and over	3	—
over 6 months and under 3 years	6	—
6 months and under	40	2
Borstal inmates
awaiting transfer to allocation centre or recall centre	23	2
others	4	—
Other convicted prisoners
(e.g. Magistrates' Courts Act 1952, sections 14(3), 28 and 29)	396	16
Total	679	24

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of concern at the lack of public control of police forces outside the Metropolitan area; and if he will introduce legislation to bring these police forces under his control.

No. The arrangements for the control of police forces outside London were recently strengthened by the Police Act, 1964, and I do not accept that they are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many agricultural officers have left Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service on termination of employment over the last five years; and what occupations they have subsequently sought.

I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question will take a little time to compile and it will not be possible to supply complete information in reply to the second part of the Question. I shall, however, write to the hon. Member as soon as possible giving all available information.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why Mrs. C. M. James, 13, Brookland Avenue, Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, was not allowed full pension on the death of her husband, in view of the facts that he had been employed in the coal mines for 33 years, was drawing a pension due to pneumoconiosis for 13 years, and in 1958 was allowed industrial disablement benefit for pneumoconiosis, which was assessed at 10 per cent., until his death in October, 1964; and why his widow was not given the benefit of any doubt.

I understand that Mrs. James has appealed to the Industrial Injuries Commissioner against the disallowance of her claim for industrial death benefit. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the Commissioner's decision has been given.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will publish a table showing the number of persons drawing old-age pension, and that number expressed as a percentage of the population in Scotland, the seven crofting counties of Scotland and the County of Inverness, respectively.

It is estimated that at 30th June, 1964—the latest date for which population figures are available—there were 530,000 retirement pensioners in Scotland, representing a little over 10 per cent. of the total Scottish population.I regret that statistics relating to the number of retirement pensioners in particular local areas are not available.

asked the Minister of Power what was the annual tonnage of coal sold by the National Coal Board to the steel industry since 1950, indicating the proportion taken by those companies which the Government propose to nationalise.

I have consulted the industries concerned and the figures are as follows:

Year		Coal received at iron and steel coke ovens*	Thousand Tons National Coal Board disposal to the Iron and Steel Industry†	Total
1950	…	10,848	8,145	18,993
1951	…	11,713	8,034	19,747
1952	…	13,035	7,393	20,428
1953	…	14,120	7,002	21,122
1954	…	14,478	6,510	20,988
1955	…	14,964	6,397	21,361
1956	…	16,501	5,966	22,467
1957	…	17,299	5,495	22,794
1958	…	15,391	4,391	19,782
1959	…	14,443	3,923	18,366
1960	…	17,939	3,919	21,858
1961	…	16,760	3,287	20,047
1962	…	15,244	2,604	17,849
1963	…	15,925	2,387	18,312
1964	…	17,736	2,155	19,891
* Source: British Coking Industry Association.
† Other than to coke ovens. Source: National Coal Board.

The Iron and Steel Board estimates that at least 95 per cent. of the total sales in each year were to steel companies which the Government propose to nationalise.

asked the Minister of Power what was the annual capital investment by each region of the National Coal Board on each of the last 10 years; and what are the annual estimates for the next five years.

A breakdown of capital investment by regions appears in the published annual accounts of the National Coal Board.The level of future investment will be determined in the light of the national fuel policy and national plan to which I referred in my statement to the House on 12th April.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total annual coal production and the total for each region of the National Coal Board for each of the last 10 years.

The figures of deep-mined coal production are published in the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest (Table 32 of the 1963 edition and corresponding tables in earlier editions).

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the average profit or loss per ton for each year in each region of the National Coal Board for each of the last 10 years.

The figures of average profit or loss per ton, before charging interest, are published in the National Coal Board's Annual Accounts and the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest (Table 33 of the 1963 edition).

asked the Minister of Power what was the number employed in each region of the National Coal Board on 31st December in each of the last 10 years.

Figures of wage-earners on colliery books are published in the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest (Table 32 of the 1963 edition and corresponding tables in earlier editions).

asked the Minister of Power what were the total annual tonnage and the average price paid per ton of miners' coal for each of the last ten years.

Figures showing the quantity of miners' coal and the amounts charged are given in the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest (Table 30 of the 1963 edition and comparable tables in earlier issues).

asked the Minister of Power if he will list by region the coal pits closed each year for the last five years, showing the number of men employed and output of coal one year before each pit was closed.

I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power how many electricity boards have now fixed maximum charges for electricity resold for domestic purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Eleven, including the two Scottish Electricity Boards. The other three Electricity Boards expect to follow shortly. The maximum charges will apply from 1st July, 1965.

asked the Minister of Power what was the average rise in the price of electricity, gas and coal, respectively, sold to consumers in each year since 1950.

Figures of proceeds per ton of saleable coal and of average net selling values of electricity and gas are published in the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest (Tables 26, 84 and 100 respectively of the 1963 edition).

asked the Minister of Power if he will give figures showing the breakdown into coal, oil, gas and electricity of the total energy consumed in Great Britain in each of the past 10 years; and what are his estimates for each of the next five years.

The analysis of total energy consumption in the United Kingdom by type of fuel is given in Table 8 of the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest, 1963.The use of oil, electricity and town gas is expected to continue to increase and the direct use of coal to decrease but I cannot give precise forecasts at this stage.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a breakdown of the primary sources of energy generated in Great Britain in each of the last 10 years.

I am not entirely clear what the hon. Member means by "a breakdown of the primary sources of energy generated". Production of the principal fuels is given in Table 5 of the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest, 1963, an analysis by primary fuel of inland fuel consumption in Table 6 and an analysis of fuel used for electricity generation in Table 7.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the lunches, dinners and receptions which have been held by Ministers at public expense since 16th October, 1964, to the nearest convenient date; and if he will itemise for each, the Minister acting as host, the date, the cost, the number attending, the purpose of the entertainment, and the number of overseas buyers present.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in reviewing the road programme for Scotland in July, he will give attention to the problem of township roads in the seven crofting counties.

Grants for the improvement of township roads are made under the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act, 1897, and are considered separately from the motorway, trunk and classified road programmes. The problem of township roads is important and I can assure the hon. Member that I have it very much in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Barlinnie, are engaged on remunerative work; how many days per week they work; how many hours per day they are employed; and what is the average daily wage earned by these prisoners.

In the last week in April, 584, working a 51½ day week of 6½ hours from Monday to Friday and 3½, hours on Saturday, and earning an average daily wage of 1s.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the teacher shortage in Scotland, what steps he intends to take to discourage the drift of teachers into politics; and how many have been lost to the profession in this way in the last 20 years.

Serious though the teacher shortage is, I should be the last to seek to limit the contribution which teachers make to the work of this House and to political life generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the proposals he has received from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for new hydro-electric schemes within its area, together with the approximate cost of such schemes.

The following four schemes have been submitted to me for confirmation:

			Estimated Cost
			£
Nevis	…	…	4,200,000
Laidon	…	…	1,450,000
Fada-Fionn	…	…	6,600,000
Loch a'Bhraoin	…	…	2,250,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many geriatric beds are available in Scotland, the seven crofting counties of Scotland and the County of Inverness, respectively.

At 30th September, 1964, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 7,907 geriatric beds in Scotland, of which 492 were in the seven crofting counties, including 101 in the county of Inverness. In the Northern Region a large number of geriatric patients are also accommodated in beds not set aside specially for geriatrics.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the waiting list for geriatric beds in Scotland, the seven crofting counties of Scotland, and the County of Inverness, respectively.

The total geriatric waiting lists of the hospital authorities in Scotland number about 1,200. The total for the seven crofting counties is about 70 and that for the County of Inverness 28. Waiting list figures have to be interpreted with caution, because they are not all compiled on the same basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new beds for geriatric purposes are expected to become available in the next five years in Scotland, the seven crofting counties of Scotland and the County of Inverness, respectively.

Over 1,000 additional beds for geriatric purposes are expected to become available in Scotland in the period ending in March, 1970. Of these 26 are in the seven crofting counties, but there are none in the County of Inverness.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the total number of staff currently employed in his Department with a breakdown into Civil Service grades.

I would refer the hon. Member to pages 102 and 103 of the Civil Estimates 1965–66 Class IV which gives information about the staff of my Ministry in the form which the House has approved.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the detailed studies of particular industries and of particular technological problems now being carried out by his Department.

I have on various occasions indicated that my Department's attention is first being turned to the problems of the four industries for which I have sponsorship responsibility. In addition I am starting a study of industrial and process control instrumentation, and I am having a special survey made of engineering standards.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the total numbers employed in each of the industries for which he is sponsor, indicating the number of graduates in each industry.

Numbers in employment at June 1964, in establishments in the United Kingdom classified to the industries sponsored by the Ministry of Technology were as follows:

Telegraph and Telephone Apparatus	75,500
Radio and Other Electronic Apparatus	295,300
Metal-Working Machine Tools	87,800

There are no separate official data on employment related to computers since these are classified as a product of the electronics industry.Pending the results of the survey now being carried out in respect of January, 1965, the latest official data on employment of qualified scientists and technologists are for January, 1962. These statistics cover Great Britain only.Employment of qualified scientists and technologists in establishments with 100 or more employees in the telegraph and telephone apparatus and the radio and other electronic apparatus industries together was 7,484.Employment of qualified scientists and technologists in the machine tool industry is not separately distinguished under the general heading of the mechanical engineering industries, but the Machine Tool Trades Association has estimated that its members employed about 1,000 in 1963.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the computers being used by nationalised industries and the Post Office, showing the cost, date of installation, name of manufacturer, type of computer, and function for which it is used.

The information is being collected and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT when it is complete.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the value of losses from postal parcels through pilferage during 1963 and 1964, respectively; what has been the number of claims during this period; and how these figures compare with those in 1962, in respect of Northern Ireland, England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively.

Details of the value of losses from postal parcels through pilferage alone are not available. But the total amounts of compensation and the number of claims paid in the years in question for the loss of and from inland postal parcels are given in the following table. I am sorry that it is not practicable to give separately the figures for Northern Ireland, England, and Wales, and Scotland.

Year		Compensation Paid	Number of Claims
1961–62	…	£184,954	55,885
1962–63	…	£178,433	52,327
1963–64	…	£214,164	59,980
1964–65	…	£238,160	63,134