asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board to take special steps to improve the quality and cleanliness of coal supplied for commercial use.

No. The National Coal Board does everything possible to maintain quality of coal as it leaves the pits.

asked the Minister of Power what change has been made in the policy of the National Coal Board regarding the acquisition of private commercial undertakings.

I cannot usefully for the Board, which is aware of the policy of the Government not to place unnecessary restrictions on the activities of the nationalised industries.

asked the Minister of Power how he arrived at his calculations that his proposed short-term measures will enable the coal industry to sell between 4 million and 7 million tons more coal during 1965–66.

This is a matter add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) on 15th April.

asked the Minister of Power (1) whether he is aware that the recommendations of the Royal Commission on which the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, was based were made when some 40,000 ponies were used in the mines, that now there are many miles of conveyors used daily underground and that there are no or insufficient statutory provisions or regulations concerning their working; and if he will take steps to ensure that miners suffering accidents arising out of the use of conveyors have the same right to claim damages as workers who suffer injuries as a consequence of the use of conveyors in factories;(2) wheher he is aware that the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, was based upon recommendations made 16 years previously and that it fails to provide the protection needed as a consequence of the increased mechanisation in the pits; and what steps he will take to review it.

The special conditions of working in mines are quite unlike those in factories, and my right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the protection given by the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, and the Regulations made thereunder is inadequate. The Act lays down principles and provides the power to implement these principles by Regulations. By these means safety requirements are kept constantly up to date in the light of changing circumstances in the industry.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now, in view of the seriousness of accidents in the coal mines, set up an inquiry, with the responsibility of reporting to him upon the desirability of reviewing the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954.

The number of fatal and other serious accidents per 100,000 manshifts worked has fallen during each of the last two years. I have no reason to think that any amendment of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, would lead to a further reduction.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that the operation of Section 157 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, is oppressive and deprives miners from successfully pursuing claims in accidents arising out of unfenced machinery in the mines; and whether he will seek to repeal that section so that miners are afforded the same protection as enjoyed by factory workers under Section 14 of the Factory Act 1937.

I am not aware that Section 157 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, operates unfairly on miners as compared with factory workers in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the large degree of mechanisation which has taken place in the mining industry since the passage of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to see what further measures are necessary to protect those engaged in the industry.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. Abse) today.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that the gravest risk of mining, the regular inhalation of certain types of dust, is not the subject of legal liability, and that foundry workers suffering through excessive inhalation of dust may in certain circumstances recover damages; and whether, in order to give miners parity with foundry workers, he will introduce legislation to ensure that when any miner who has worked below ground for three years or more immediately preceding a claim and is found to be suffering from pneumoconiosis claims damages, his claim should be acceded to subject only to assessment of quantum of damages.

I do not accept the implications in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question.My right hon. Friend has no evidence that miners are at any disadvantage in comparison with foundry workers in relation to claims made in respect of diseases prescribed under the National Insurance Industrial Injuries Act, and he does not think that any further legislation is necessary.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that falls of roof or sides account for a high proportion of mining accidents, that a miner cannot recover damages if he sustains an accident while engaged in repairing a roof following upon a fall and that this takes place at a time when the danger from the roof is greatest; and whether he will introduce legislation to reverse the effect of the decision in Walsh versus the National Coal Board so that miners engaged at the most dangerous times and places shall be fully protected.

I am not satisfied that legislation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member is necessary or that its results would prove to be practicable.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware of the encroachment upon rights of injured miners to claim damages following the decision of Brown v. National Coal Board; and whether, in order to ensure that a miner has no less legal protection underground than factory workers in a factory, he will seek to place an absolute duty upon mine managers to ensure that roads and working places in mines are made and left secure.

I am not satisfied that legislation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member is necessary or that its results would prove to be practicable.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the fatal accident rate per 100,000 shifts worked underground and surface, respectively, in the coal-mining industry in each of the past 10 years; and what information he has as to how these figures compare with mines in other countries.

The figures for 1964 were 0·20 per 100,000 manshifts worked underground and 0·08 on the surface. Information in respect of earlier years is published in the Annual Reports of H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines and Quarries (Table 4).Information in my right hon. Friend's Department about the rates of fatal underground accidents in the principal hard-coal producing countries shows that only the Netherlands has a lower rate than Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware of the many accidents that occur to miners at tension boxes and that there is no standard and accepted method of dealing with obstructions or faulty running of belts through such boxes; and whether he will introduce regulations analogous to the Operations at Unfenced Machinery Regulations that now apply to factories so that a miner shall have the same protection as a factory worker.

I have no reason to think that, having regard to the special conditions of working in mines which are quite unlike those in factories, the requirements regarding the use and maintenance of machinery underground are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Power if he will have discussions with the Chairman of the National Coal Board and the Chief Inspector of Mines concerning an increase in the number of mines inspectors, so that each mine in the country can be inspected more regularly.

I shall certainly continue to keep under review the number of inspectors necessary for the execution of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Minister of Power how many vacancies existed in the

NATIONAL COAL BOARD—MEDICAL SERVICE
		1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964
Doctors (including those on research)	…	77	80	79	76	72	67	67	69	71
Nurses	…	330	363	379	368	350	339	338	342	357
Medical Room Attendants, full-time	…	889	932	907	883	842	830	811	800	769
Medical Room Volunteers, part-time	…	1,568	1,522	1,548	1,487	1,407	1,200	1,200	1,014	948

asked the Minister of Power what requests he has received in the last six months for approval of capital projects for the expansion of the scope of work done in National Coal Board workshops; and what projects he has approved in this respect.

None.

asked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the nationalised fuel industries not to supply fuel and services to private firms below cost.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to those nationalised industries Inspector of Mines' Department in the years 1960 to 1964, respectively; and what is the figure to date for 1965.

At the end of 1960 there were 20 vacancies; at the end of 1961, 15 vacancies; at the end of 1962 and 1963, 11 vacancies; at the end of 1964, 3 vacancies. The reduction in the number of vacancies for 1964 is due to a re-assessment of the complement needed.

asked the Minister of Power, how many doctors, nurses, and medical-room attendants were employed full-time, and part-time, respectively, by the National Coal Board during each of the past 10 years.

I have received the following information from the N.C.B. for the years 1956–64. I regret that information for 1955 is not available.under his control that passenger vehicles for use by members of the various Boards are not to be purchased at a cost exceeding £2,000 for each vehicle.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what inquiry he has made into the production of cheap fuels for industry and/or domestic use, and with what result.

I am constantly concerned to promote economy in the supply of fuel and power. It is one of the purposes of my regular discussions with the Chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries and of my review of fuel policy.

asked the Minister of Power what consultation he has had with the Government of Northern Ireland with a view to erecting an atomic power station in Ulster.

This is a matter for the Government of Northern Ireland. We do keep in touch on the general question however, and there is an arrangement for supplying the Government of Northern Ireland with advice on siting and safety matters.

asked the Minister of Power when he intends to bring in legislation to enable the nationalised fuel industries to manufacture plant and equipment.

asked the Minister of Power, if he will expedite the legislation to allow the nationalised fuel industries to produce plant and equipment.

I would refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the statement made on 31st March by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Minister of Power what capital developments in the gas industry he has authorised to be undertaken in the Normanton constituency.

I am asking the Chairman of the North Eastern Gas Board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Technology what plans he has for establishing new publicly-owned scientifically-based industries on the Merseyside.

None, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) on 1st December last.

asked the Minister of Technology what action he is taking to develop new types of electronic equipment for ticket and change issuing, and level crossing control, which may be available for sale in the export market.

None, but the Department is following the experiments with ticket and change issuing machines which are being undertaken by London Transport.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list giving the names of Members who have, for the most convenient and longest period of time from 1945 to date, been included in Parliamentary delegations abroad, lecture tours overseas, Strasbourg and other conferences, where any Treasury expenditure has been involved.

No. I do not feel justified in authorising the extensive expenditure of time and labour which would be required to provide this information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the present credit squeeze is preventing private builders from building houses to sell to individuals, and that there are special difficulties in North Lincolnshire; and when he expects to end the squeeze.

I have seen reports in the Press to this effect, though not of special difficulties in North Lincolnshire. I cannot anticipate when the economic situation will permit a relaxation of credit control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's formula for dividing the export rebate between the manufacturer and the export merchant.

There is no Government formula: it is a matter for commercial negotiation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a letter, details of which have been given him, dated 13th May, 1963, from a former constituent of the hon. Member for Coventry, North, and addressed to the Valuation Officer of the Inland Revenue at Coventry, was only answered on 13th April, 1965; and what measures he is taking to speed up the consideration of assessment appeals.

My hon. Friend is mistaken about the facts and I am writing to him. The second part of his Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £54 million estimated to be raised in a full year by the increased vehicle licences will be levied on road vehicles excluding farm vehicles.

About £52½ million out of the total estimated full year yield of £54¼ million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue he proposes to raise by the new system of differential excise duties on road vehicles.

I cannot add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Wolrige-Gordon) on 19th May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has studied the memorandum from the joint sub-committee of Kent Archaeological Society and Committee for the Preservation of Rural Kent on defects in the law relating to the preservation of buildings of architectural and historic interest; and what reply he proposes to make to their recommendations.

Yes. I shall be replying to it shortly and will send the hon. Member a copy of my reply. I am in sympathy with many of the recommendations made in the memorandum. The hon. Member may like to know that we have already doubled the clerical staff concerned with listing buildings under Section 33 of the Town and County Planning Act, 1962, and that we are urgently studying the problems involved in protecting groups of buildings of architectural and historical interest.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the demand for isolated houses in the countryside and that ample land of little or no agricultural value and often hidden from view is available for these houses; and if he will take steps to discourage planning authorities from keeping this land sterile and rabbit-ridden.

In 1960 my Ministry issued a booklet "New Houses in the Country" which sets out a policy on this matter, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy. I am aware of the demand to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I am also aware of the dangers implicit in any unconditional surrender to it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in view of the pilot scheme for roadside lavatories, what steps he will take to ensure that local authorities within the designated pilot areas take advantage of the provision now made; and what steps he will take to include the North of England in a pilot scheme.

The scheme has been put to the local authorities; they are considering it and my right hon. Friend hopes they will decide to co-operate. Because its purpose is to gain experience, it is confined to four representative lengths of trunk road, which happen to be in the south. If any of the councils approached should decide not to take part, the interest shown by northern authorities will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consideration he has given to the demand expressed by the Annual General Meeting of the Youth Hostels Association, London Region, a copy of which has been sent to him, for an assured wide belt of continuous countryside round the existing built-up area of London; and when he will state definitively the limits of the Metropolitan Green Belt.

I am glad that this Association supports the Government's policy of maintaining and extending the Metropolitan green belt. I am forwarding to the hon. Member a copy of the letter sent to the Association on my behalf. On the second part of the Question I would refer to the reply I gave to the hen. Member for Sevenoaks (Sir J. Rodgers) on 18th May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the irregularity of the water supply in parts of East Leake, Nottinghamshire; and what proposals there are to improve it.

My right hon. Friend understands that the main serving East Leake is being connected to the nearby Derwent aqueduct which will give increased pressure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that persons in the Lighthouse Service are not handicapped by the circumstances of their job in obtaining council house accommodation.

My right hon. Friend has not had his attention drawn to any general problem. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why a decision has not yet been announced on the request of the former county borough of West Ham to compulsorily purchase property in Stratford E.15, details of which have been supplied to him, in view of the fact that the inquiry was held in January.

I have issued my decision on this order today. It raised issues which have recently come before the High Court in connection with another compulsory purchase order and I thought it right to await the Court's judgment in that case. In the light of that judgment I have decided that I cannot confirm the West Ham Order. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations he has recently made to the Ceylon Government about the restriction on remittance of funds from Ceylon to this country.

Our High Commissioner in Colombo has continued to make clear to the new Government of Ceylon the importance which the British Government attach to a removal of the restrictions on remittances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Boundary Commissions to make available to Members of Parliament copies of their recommendations at the same time as these are supplied to the newspapers.

This is a matter for the Boundary Commissions, who will no doubt take note of the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual cost to the University Grants Committee of implementing the recommendations of the Hale Committee; and whether the supplementations resulting thereform are in addition to the Pensions Increase Acts.

The total amount of supplementing university pensions in 1964 was £335,702, met from the general income of the universities. No specific allocation is made for this purpose by the University Grants Committee.The major part of this sum is attributable to the scheme recommended by the Hale Committee for supplementing the pensions payable to university staff on their retirement. The Pensions Increase Acts do not apply to university staff, but following the last such Act adjustments designed to produce a similar effect on the pensions of university teachers already in retirement were made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, by subject of study, the number of students who have qualified annually in science and technology during the calendar years 1962, 1963, 1964, with his estimates for the next three years, using the classifications and criteria shown in Table 4 of Command Paper No. 2146.

Since the publication of the Command Paper to which the hon. Member refers revised figures for students qualifying in 1963 have become available. These indicate that about 900 more technologists qualified than was estimated, largely due to a growth in the membership of professional institutions qualified otherwise than by university degree, diploma, etc.Figures for 1964 and estimates for following years are not yet available but will be incorporated in the report on the 4th Triennial Survey of Scientific and Technological Manpower which took place in January last.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the acute shortage of youth leaders in Gloucestershire; what steps he is taking to provide more; and whether he will make a statement.

The number of full-time youth leaders in England and Wales has increased from 700 to about 1,200 since 1960. There are nevertheless shortages in areas such as Gloucestershire where the development of the youth ser? vice has been most impressive. I have no power to direct leaders to these areas. A committee of the Youth Service Development Council is at present considering future recruitment and training in England and Wales as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list showing the percentage of selected places for secondary education available in county boroughs throughout England and Wales, such figures to specify places available only to children from the borough itself and not to include those available from the surrounding districts.

Information in this form is not readily available. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of List 69, published annually by my Department, which shows the percentages of 13-year-old pupils in schools of different types by individual local education authority. The figures relate to January, 1963: those for 1964 will be available later this year.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are outstanding in East Lothian; and what is the average delay before applicants are satisfied.

Twelve, all of which will be met within a month when additional cables have been provided. In addition, there are 72 orders in course of completion; in these cases, the average time to give service is three weeks except when completion is held up to meet the convenience of the applicants.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will designate the protected cinemas in Westminster, Southwark and Sheffield for the purposes of the pay television experiment.

No. The question of the designation of the local cinemas must wait until the Government has carried out its review of the pay television experiment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now announce the site for the offices of the Post Office Savings Bank in Glasgow.

I have decided on a site already owned by the Government adjoining the Cowglen hospital. I am now making final arrangements to acquire it for the Bank's purposes. I am very grateful to all who have helped in the search for an acceptable location.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many teachers of the English language have been maintained overseas by the British Council in each of the years 1962–65, taking the average for the first quarter of each year; and what is the target for 1966.

The British Council appoints its own overseas English language officers and also subsidise teaching posts overseas. The figures relating to these two categories are:

			English Language Officers	Subsidised Posts
1962	…	…	64	133
1963	…	…	76	126
1964	…	…	113	163
1965	…	…	127	184

The target for 1966 will be higher in both categories, but whether it can be reached will depend on the availability of finance and manpower and the demand of oversea Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to facilitate mutually the transit of business people and others between this country and East Germany, in view of the fact that present restrictions retard the growth of trade and mutual understanding between the two countries.

No. Her Majesty's Government place no obstacle in the way of bona-fide commercial and private visitors travelling to this country from East Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the value of British private investment in South Africa, Rhodesia and Zambia, respectively.

Information is available only for the book value of direct investments at the end of 1962—exclusive of oil, insurance and banking; these values were £269 million in South Africa, and £108 million in Rhodesia, Zambia and Malawi.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of British exports to and imports from Rhodesia and Zambia, respectively, in 1963 and 1964.

United Kingdom statistics do not distinguish Rhodesia and Zambia before 1965, but separate statistics were compiled in those countries for 1964, as follows:

		Exports to United Kingdom	Imports from United Kingdom
		(£ million f.o.b.)
Rhodesia	…	31·17	33·51
Zambia	…	54·49	13·45

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will publish a table showing the division of exports as between capital and consumer goods during each of the last three years ended on 31st March, 1965, or the last convenient date;(2) if he will publish a table showing the division of imports as between capital and consumer goods during each of the last three years ended on 31st March, 1965, or the last convenient date.

The following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF FINISHED MANUFACTURES*
—		Imports (£ million c.i.f.)			Exports (£ million f.o.b.)
		Year ended March			Year ended March
		1963	1964	1965	1963	1964	1965
Consumer goods†	…	186·6	240·2	265·1	447·0	507·8	528·6
Other, mainly capital goods‡	…	420·7	463·5	562·5	1,518·9	1,616·5	1,606·3
Total finished manufactures	…	607·3	703·8	827·6	1,965·9	2,124·5	2,134·8
* Sections 7 and 8 of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revised). The allocation of finished manufactures between consumer goods and capital goods involves some assumptions where the products may be either capital or consumer goods, e.g. passenger cars. The scope of the two classes, which are to some extent arbitrary, is indicated below.
† Includes cars and motor cycles, works of art, clothing and footwear and other headings covering mainly consumer goods.
‡ Includes machinery, road vehicles other than cars and motor cycles, aircraft, rail vehicles, ships and boats, instruments and other headings covering mainly capital goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he has made for United Kingdom tenders to be submitted for the construction of nuclear power stations in Europe which are shortly to be ordered.

The submission of tenders is a matter for the manufacturers concerned. My right hon. Friend is prepared to assist them in every possible way.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are now being taken by Her Majesty's Government to implement the statement by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers in 1961 that an international authority should be created in association with the United Nations to control an adequately armed military force, established to prevent aggression and ensure that it is not used for any purpose inconsistent with the United Nations Charter.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs gave to the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) on 1st March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange as a regular routine to have placed in the Library a copy of any public speech which he may make in this country or overseas, in every instance where a full text of such speeches exists.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave to a similar request from the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg) on 12th May. Wherever possible I would hope to do this.

asked the Prime Minister why the Paymaster-General's letters are stamped First Lord of the Treasury.

asked the Prime Minister what proportion of all the letters from the Paymaster-General are stamped First Lord of the Treasury.

About a hundredth of 1 per cent. of letters from the Paymaster-General's Office are so stamped, and this is for reasons of administrative convenience.

asked the Prime Minister which members of his administration have at public expense visited which overseas countries since the forma-

Minister	Places Visited	Dates
President of the Board of Trade	Moscow	28th–29th October, 1964
President of the Board of Trade	Peking	30th October to 4th November, 1964
Minister of Defence for the Army	British Army of the Rhine	27th–30th October, 1964
Commonwealth Secretary (and Mrs. Bottomley)	Zambia	21st–29th October, 1964
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Gordon Walker	United States	25th–28th October, 1964
Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	Chile	2nd–6th November, 1964
Colonial Secretary	South Arabia	26th November to 8th December, 1964
President of the Board of Trade	Geneva	9th–10th November and 19th–20th November, 1964
Minister of Aviation	Paris	29th–30th October, 1964
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Gordon Walker)	Bonn	14th–16th November, 1964
	Geneva	18th–20th November, 1964
President of the Board of Trade	Bonn	16th–17th November, 1964
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Lord Chalfont)	U.S.A.	23rd November to 3rd December, 1964
Minister of Agriculture	Geneva	19th–20th November, 1964
Attorney-General	Paris	27th–29th November, 1964
Economic Secretary	Helsinki	27th November, 1964
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Mr. Thomson)	Paris	30th November, 1964
President of the Board of Trade	Paris	2nd–3rd December, 1964
Economic Secretary	Paris	2nd–3rd December, 1964
Minister of Overseas Development	Paris	2nd–3rd December, 1964
Minister of Transport	Paris	2nd–3rd December, 1964
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Paris	lst–3rd December, 1964
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office (Lord Walston)	Mexico	26th November to 3rd December, 1964
Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. Harold Davies)	Palermo, Sicily	5th–6th November, 1964
Chancellor of the Exchequer (and Mrs. Callaghan)	Paris	14th–16th December, 1964
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Gordon Walker)	Paris	14th–18th December, 1964
Secretary of State for Defence (and Mrs. Healey)	Paris	14th–17th December, 1964
Prime Minister	U.S.A. and Canada	6th–10th December, 1964
Foreign Secretary	U.S.A. and Canada	6th–10th December, 1964
Secretary of State for Defend	U.S.A.	6th–10th December, 1964
Commonwealth Secretary	U.S.A. and Canada	9th–10th December, 1964
Minister of State, Commonwealth Relations Office (Mr. Hughes)	Nairobi	9th–14th December, 1964
Minister of Defence for the Army	Paris	15th–17th December, 1964
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Mason)	Sweden	20th–22nd December, 1964
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Aviation (Mr. Stonehouse)	Brazil, Argentina and Chile	28th December, 1964 to 6th January, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Reynolds)	Malta and Libya	28th December, 1964 to 5th January, 1965
Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	The Hague	21st December, 1964
Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Lord Bowden)	Switzerland	29th December 1964–6th January, 1965
Minister of Defence for the Army (and Mrs. Mulley)	Aden, Bahrain, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Delhi	3rd–21st January, 1965
Minister for Overseas Development	India and Pakistan	4th–20th January, 1965

The following is the information:

Minister	Places Visited	Dates
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mallalieu)	Gibraltar	10th–16th January, 1965
Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy	U.S.A. and Canada	4th–16th January, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Mr. Thomson)	U.S.A.	3rd–11th January, 1965
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Mason)	Japan	10th–15th January, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office (Lord Walston)	Ethiopia	30th January to 14th February, 1965
Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Lord Bowden)	Australia	26th January to 7th February, 1965
Colonial Secretary	Caribbean and U.S.A.	31st January to 17th February, 1965
Lord Chancellor and Commonwealth Secretary	Rhodesia	20th February to 4th March, 1965
First Secretary of State	Austria and Sweden	7th–14th January, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the R.A.F. (Mr. Millan)	Middle East	3rd–10th January, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office (Lord Walston)	Rome	21st–24th January, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office (Lord Walston)	Paris	6th–7th January, 1965
Minister of State, Commonwealth Relations Office (Mr. Hughes)	Gambia	15th–20th February, 1965
President of the Board of Trade	Brussels	11th–13th January, 1965
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture (Mr. Hoy)	Berlin	28th–30th January, 1965
Minister of Aviation	France (Bretigny)	11th January, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office (Lord Walston)	Dakar	25th–29th January, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office	Gibraltar	12th–15th February, 1965
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Gordon Walker)	U.S.A.	24th–27th February, 1965
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Aviation (Mr. Stonehouse)	Beirut	19th–25th March, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Mr. Thomson)	Moscow	12th–15th February, 1965
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Redhead)	Cologne, Frankfurt and Offenbach	19th–22nd February, 1965
First Secretary of State	Geneva	22nd–23rd February, 1965
President of the Board of Trade	Geneva	22nd–23rd February, 1965
Attorney-General	Bermuda	23rd February–4th March, 1965
Minister of Transport	Rome	27th February—lst March, 1965
Minister of Defence for the Army	Paris	lOth–11th March, 1965
Minister of State, Department of Economic Affairs	Holland	19th February, 1965
Secretary of State for Defence	Paris	26th–27th February, 1965
Foreign Secretary	Brussels	11th–12th February, 1965
Minister of Aviation	Paris	26th–27th February, 1965
Prime Minister	Bonn and Berlin	6th–9th March, 1965
Foreign Secretary	Bonn and Berlin	6th–8th March, 1965
Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Labour (Mr. Marsh)	Germany (Oberhausen)	16th March, 1965
Chief Secretary, Treasury	Bonn	7th–9th March, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office (Mrs. White)	Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland	11th–29th March, 1965
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Redhead)	Luxembourg	4th–5th March, 1965
Foreign Secretary	Rome	8th–10th March, 1965
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Development (Mr. Oram)	Wellington, New Zealand	12th–30th March, 1965
Minister of Power	Luxembourg	4th–5th March, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office (Lord Walston)	Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Saigon, Manila, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul	25th March to 17th April, 1965
Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	U.S.A.	24th–28th March, 1965

Minister	Places Visited	Dates
Minister of State, Department of Economic Affairs	U.S.A.	16th–19th March, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Lord Chalfont)	U.S.A.	3rd–10th March, 1965
	Paris	30th March to 1st April, 1965
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Darling)	Lyons	20th–22nd March, 1965
Foreign Secretary	U.S.A.	21st–24th March, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Mr. Thomson)	Paris	30th March, to 1st April, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office (Mrs. White)	Fiji	23rd April to 4th May 1965
Colonial Secretary	Mauritius	4th–11th April, 1965
Commonwealth Secretary (and Mrs. Bottomley)	Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand	21st April to 5th May, 1965
Secretary of State for Defence	Germany	8th–10th April, 1965
Secretary of State for Defence	Italy	2nd–4th April, 1965
Minister of State, Commonwealth Relations Office (Mr. Hughes)	Malta	8th–11th April, 1965
Minister of Public Building and Works	Germany	26th–30th April, 1965
President of the Board of Trade	India and Pakistan	22nd–29th April, 1965
Prime Minister (and Mrs. Wilson)	Paris	2nd–3rd April, 1965
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Stewart)	Paris	2nd–3rd April, 1965
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office (Lord Taylor)	Sierra Leone	26th–29th April, 1965
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Stewart)	Teheran	5th–9th April, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Lord Chalfont)	Helsinki	11th–13th April, 1965
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Stewart)	Belgrade and Prague	18th–25th April, 1965
Secretary of State for Defence (and Mrs. Healey)	Norway	23rd–26th April, 1965
Minister of Agriculture (and Mrs. Peart)	Ireland	20th–25th April, 1965
Minister for Overseas Development	Holland	7th April, 1965
Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy	Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong	19th–27th April, 1965
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Darling)	Milan	21st–23rd April, 1965
Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Economic Affairs (Mr. Foley)	Holland	12th–13th April, 1965
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Redhead)	Brussels	14th April, 1965
	Hanover	30th April to 2nd May, 1965
Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus and Libya	20th–25th April, 1965
Chief Whip, House of Lords	Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus and Libya	20th–25th April, 1965
Minister for Overseas Development	Tanzania and Zambia	21st April to 1st May, 1965
Prime Minister	U.S.A.	13th–16th April, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Mr. Thomson)	U.S.A.	13th–16th April, 1965
Prime Minister (and Mrs. Wilson)	Rome	27th–29th April, 1965
Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Mason)	Norway	16th–18th May, 1965
Minister of Overseas Development	Paris	12th–13th May, 1965
Minister of State, Department of Economic Affairs	Brussels	21st May, 1965
Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Economic Affairs (Mr. Rodgers)	Geneva	2nd–5th May, 1965
	Paris	14th–17th March, 1965
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Power (Mr. Morris)	France	3rd May, 1965
Minister without Portfolio (Lord Champion)	Strasbourg	5th–7th May, 1965
Financial Secretary	Zurich	11th–12th May, 1965
Minister of Aviation	Denmark	13th–15th May, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Mr. Thomson)	Persian Gulf	8th–17th May, 1965
President of the Board of Trade (and Mrs. Jay)	Amsterdam	13th–18th May, 1965
Foreign Secretary (and Mrs. Stewart)	Vienna	14th–16th May, 1965
Prime Minister	Vienna	23rd–25th May, 1965

Minister	Places Visited			Dates
President of the Board of Trade	Vienna	…	…	23rd–25th May, 1965
Foreign Secretary	Germany	…	…	18th–19th May, 1965
Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (Mr. Skeffington)	Jersey and France	…	…	19th–20th May, 1965
Mr. Silkin, Government Whip	Paris	…	…	21st–25th May, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Mr. Padley)	Vienna	…	…	23rd–25th May, 1965
Minister of State, Foreign Office (Lord Chalfont)	U.S.A.	…	…	24th April-8th May, 1965

asked the Minister of Aviation what facilities are being made available to the Plowden Committee to enable it to visit and study the United States aircraft industry; and if he will make a statement.

A sub-committee of the Plowden Committee recently visited Washington for discussions on aircraft matters with representatives of the American Government. The visit was part of its investigation into possible future co-operation on aircraft projects between our industry and the industries of other countries. It did not visit individual firms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made towards the creation of an Eastern Caribbean Federation.

In a dispatch of 22nd March I gave the seven Governments my views on their draft Federal Scheme and expressed the hope that when the Regional Council of Ministers had considered the matter further at their April meeting in the light of my dispatch it would be agreeable to them to attend a Conference in London starting on 1st July.The Council met on 26th April. The Government of Antigua took no part in the discussion of federation. The Council adjourned on 29th April without completing their deliberations and without fixing a date for resumption. The Government of Barbados have announced that they wish to have the benefit of the views of the Barbados Parliament before entering into further discussions with the terri- tories concerned. They propose to publish a White Paper early in June which would be debated before the end of the month. I hope that the Regional Council of Ministers may be reconvened shortly after.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals, and of what species, were used for experiments at the Porton Down Research Establishment in the years 1962, 1963, and 1964, respectively.

Figures for experiments at the Microbiological Research Establishment and the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, related to financial years, are as follows:

		1962–63	1963–64	1964–65
Horses	…	—	1	—
Sheep	…	66	92	107
Cattle	…	5	8	10
Pigs	…	83	58	121
Poultry	…	1	1	57
Rats	…	16,497	13,382	12,492
Mice	…	95,159	67,188	61,303
Rabbits	…	2,716	2,924	3,414
Guineapigs	…	10,397	10,860	7,453
Monkeys	…	14	5	10
Dogs	…	25	22	24
Frogs	…	12	90	72
Cats	…	232	203	209
Hamsters	…	—	—	12
Pigeons	…	6	1	—

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT lists showing each type of aircraft and missile, where this is not classified information, now in service with the Royal Air Force, and the year in which under present plans they are to be replaced with more advanced types; and the aircraft and missiles which are shortly to come into service or are on order, or for which design studies have been commissioned or on which an option exists, with which it is at present planned to equip the Royal Air Force, and the

I. AIRCRAFT NOW IN SERVICE
Aircraft		Date for Replacement by more advanced type	Remarks
Andover CC 2	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Anson	…	Replacement now in progress.	—
Argosy	…	Not yet decided.	—
Auster	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Basset	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Belvedere	…	Not yet decided.	—
Beverley	…	About 1968	To be replaced by C130.
Britannia	…	—	No decision on replacement taken.
Canberra	…	Date depends on decision on replacement type.	—
Chipmunk	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Comet	…	—	No decision on replacement taken.
Dakota	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Devon	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Gnat	…	1973–74.	Joint Anglo-French development planned.
Hastings	…	About 1967.	To be replaced by C130.
Heron	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Hunter	…	1968 onwards.	To be replaced in front line by Phantom and Kestrel.
Javelin	…	—	Rô1e to be assumed by Lightning.
Jet Provost	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Kestrel	…	—	In service with Tripartite Evaluation Squadron.
Lightning	…	Not yet decided.	—
Meteor	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Pembroke	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Pioneer	…	Not yet decided.	—
Provost	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Shackleton Mk. 2	…	1969–70.	To be replaced by HS801.
Shackleton Mk. 3	…	Not yet decided.	—
Sioux	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Sycamore	…	Not yet decided.	—
Twin Pioneer	…	Not yet decided.	—
Valetta	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Vampire	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Varsity	…	Mid-1970's	No decision taken on replacement.
Victor	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Vulcan	…	—	No current plans for replacement.
Wessex	…	Early 1970's	Replacement type not yet decided.
Whirlwind	…

II. AIRCRAFT ON ORDER, OR EXPECTED IN SERVICE WITHIN TWO YEARS
Aircraft							Expected Financial Year of Entry to service
Andover C I	…	…	…	…	…	…	1965/66
Belfast	…	…	…	…	…	…	1965/66
Dominie	…	…	…	…	…	…	1965/66
C 130	…	…	…	…	…	…	1966/67
VC 10	…	…	…	…	…	…	1966/67

III. AIRCRAFT FOR WHICH STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED
Aircraft	Expected Entry to Service
New Tactical Helicopter	Early 1970's
Kestrel (Operational version)	Late 1960's
Advanced trainer (Anglo-French development)	1973–74
Variable geometry aircraft (Anglo-French development)	Mid-late 1970's

The non-classified information requested is tabulated below.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of information supplied to him by the hon. Member for Blackley, he will postpone the next sailing of H.M.S. "Ark Royal" to the Far East until after a full independent investigation of conditions on board.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals, and of what species, are currently housed at Allington Farm, Wiltshire.

At a count taken on 7th May there were 8,300 mice, 2,400 rats, 2,150 guineapigs, 870 rabbits, 630 sheep, 530 fowl, 160 cattle, 100 cats, 40 dogs, 28 miniature swine, 7 horses, 5 geese and 2 sheepdogs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost for the years 1962, 1963 and 1964, of the maintenance of the animal breeding station known as Allington Farm, Wiltshire.

£89,000, £81,000 and £87,000 respectively in the financial years 1962–63, 1963–64 and 1964–65.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the organisation for admission of acutely ill patients to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the light of the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East; and whether he will make a statement on his plans to improve the present position.

I am in touch with the Board of Governors and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what action he proposes to take, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, to ensure that there are adequate reserves of home-grown timber to meet the needs of the United Kingdom between 2015 and 2065, having regard to the best forecasts he can make of rising United Kingdom and world timber consumption, the relative decline in the availability of overseas supplies and the desirability of reducing the balance of payments problem; and whether he will make a statement.

Studies of how much manpower and capital should be allotted to planting in various parts of the country are in progress as part of the

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES FOR APRIL
Year		Aberdare Employment Exchange and associated Youth Employment Office					Mountain Ash Employment Exchange
		Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Men	Women	Total
1951	…	550	12	161	24	747	284	68	352
1952	…	415	14	227	68	724	288	126	414
1953	…	401	22	261	32	716	262	100	362
1954	…	289	37	364	87	777	201	98	299
1955	…	159	34	98	26	317	110	33	143
1956	…	177	36	129	41	383	156	60	216
1957	…	193	45	94	42	374	133	25	158
1958	…	253	64	196	59	572	243	68	311
1959	…	256	82	147	36	521	241	68	309
1960	…	185	46	127	49	407	156	54	210
1961	…	179	41	183	30	433	147	72	219
1962	…	232	14	107	10	363	156	53	209
1963	…	408	113	144	44	709	284	47	331
1964	…	222	29	43	20	314	175	25	200
1965	…	337	44	140	72	593	214	40	254

asked the Minister of Labour what are the figures for insurable population in the Mountain Ash and Aberdare Employment Exchanges, respectively, for the month of April in the years 1951 and 1965.

Estimated numbers of employees are available for the mid-year only. Separate figures are not available for the Aberdare and Mountain Ash Employment Exchange areas. For the joint area the estimated number of employees was 24,440 for mid-1951 and 25,840 for mid-1964. The figure for mid-1965 will not be available until April, 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the figures for registered unemployed for the month of April in each of the years 1951 to 1965, and for men, boys, women and girls, for the Mountain Ash and Aberdare Employment Exchanges, respectively.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the average weekly earnings of adult male general and light labourers in London, the Midlands and the West of Scotland, respectively.

Information about average weekly earnings is not available for light labourers. The average weekly earnings and hours for adult male labourers—timeworkers—in the engineering industries in January, 1965, the latest date for which information is available, were 301s. 10d. for 47.1 hours in London and South-Eastern region, 304s. 2d. for 47.2 hours in Midlands region and 297s. 1d. for 47.8 hours in Scotland. Separate figures for the west of Scotland are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the major disabilities

Nature of Disability	England (a)	Wales (b)	Swansea (c)
Chronic Bronchitis; Emphysema, asthma, etc.	4,444	547	33
Diseases of the Heart and Circulatory System	3,606	425	23
Diseases, Injuries and Deformities of Lower Limb	3,072	374	17
Curvatures and Spondylitis, Lumbar and Cervical Disc Lesions, etc	2,641	308	36
Mental Disorders: Psychoneuroses (e.g. anxiety or obsessional states; Hysteria)	2,208	284	24
Diseases, Injuries and Deformities of Upper Limb	2,017	228	9
Diseases of Digestive System	1,944	284	28
Organic Nervous Diseases (Epilepsy)	1,841	105	6
Arthritis and Rheumatism	1,781	186	17
Eye Defects (including totally blind not registered with local authorities)	1,433	170	16
Tuberculosis (Pulmonary)	1,392	252	24
Other General Diseases and Injuries	1,215	131	10
Injuries to Thorax, Abdomen, Pelvis and Trunk; Hernia	895	140	15
Pneumoconiosis (including Silicosis) (Coalminers and Ex-Coalminers only)	175	171	3

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what eventual target acreage for land in productive forestry he estimates to be desirable to meet the requirements of the nation in 100 years' time, in view of the steady rate of increase in consumption and the likelihood of higher prices for imported timber due to a growing world shortage.

I would refer the noble Lord to the Reply which my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, gave him today. The review of the forestry programme will take account of future trends in consumption and prices as far as they can be reasonably foreseen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schemes of fishing harbour improvement and reconstruction have been carried out since 1951; how much money has been expended on them; and where they have taken place.

The following table shows the numbers of registered disabled persons in the numerically larger categories of disability who were registered as unemployed on 12th April, 1965 in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Swansea.

Since the Secretary of State for Scotland became responsible, on the passing of the Fisheries Act, 1955, for assisting works at fishery harbours in Scotland, Exchequer grants amounting to £1,801,307 and loans amounting to £380,097 have been offered for works at 69 harbours.Details of the schemes under construction or completed each year are given in the Annual Reports on the Fisheries of Scotland presented to Parliament. Before 1955 these Reports gave corresponding information about schemes formerly assisted from the Exchequer on the recommendation of the Development Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will abandon the off-set double white line experimental scheme between Skew Bridge and Beela Bridge on the A.6, in view of the recent accident record and the adverse opinion of experienced drivers using this road.

No. So far as I have heard comments on the experiment with off-set double white lines on straight roads, they have been largely favourable. I very much regret the accident which occurred on this road on 15th May, but I do not think it can be attributed to the markings. The experiment is still in its early stages and I propose to continue it.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of road accidents resulting in serious or fatal injury in 1964, expressed as a figure per mile of trunk or Class I roads in each of the respective areas of Warwickshire, each adjoining county, and Great Britain as a whole.

I regret that the figures of fatal and serious accidents are not readily available. The following table shows the numbers of people killed or seriously injured, expressed as a figure per mile of trunk and Class I roads:

Warwickshire	…	8·4
Staffordshire	…	5·1
Leicestershire and Rutland	…	3·9
Northamptonshire	…	4·1
Oxfordshire	…	3·7
Gloucestershire	…	5·8
Worcestershire	…	3·5
Great Britain	…	3·6

NOTE: Counties include county boroughs.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents resulting in serious or fatal injuries occurred in Warwickshire in 1964; what was the comparable number in 1960; what percentage increase this represents; and what was the comparable percentage increase in adjoining counties.

I regret that the figures of fatal and serious accidents are not readily available. The number of people killed or seriously injured in Warwickshire—including Birmingham and Coventry—was 4,223 in 1963 and 3,365 in 1960: the increase was 25 per cent. The percentage increases for the adjoining counties—including county boroughs—were:

Staffordshire	…	13
Leicestershire and Rutland	…	0
Northamptonshire	…	19
Oxfordshire	…	8
Gloucestershire	…	20
Worcestershire	…	9