asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the decline in the tern population of the Seychelles; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the extinction of these birds.

I am aware that recent visitors to the Seychelles have suggested that there is a danger of a decline in the tern population. The Acting Governor informs me, however, that the best evidence available suggests that the tern population is increasing rather than decreasing.Controls are exercised by the Seychelles Government based on recommendations made in 1955 by two United Kingdom ornithologists and the Acting Governor is hoping to be able to arrange for these gentlemen to visit Seychelles again to reassess the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the Orders in Council to incorporate the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction, conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, in the judicial systems of the following territories, namely, British Solomon Islands Protectorate, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, New Hebrides, British Honduras, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Orders to extend the provisions of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, with certain modifications, to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, the New Hebrides and British Honduras were made on 24th March, 1965, and came into operation the following day. A draft Order to extend the provisions of the Act to the Turks and Caicos Islands has been referred to the Government of the Islands and their agreement to its terms was received on 12th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in Barbados in passing local legislation to incorporate the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction, conferred upon the High Court of the United Kingdom by the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, into the legal system of the territory; and if he will make a statement.

It is regretted that the Government of Barbados have not yet been able to introduce the necessary local legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the United Nations Special Committee on Colonialism he entertained at luncheon at Lancaster House last week; if official business was conducted at the time; what was the purpose of the luncheon; and if he will make a statement.

17 Committee delegates and U.N. Secretariat officials were present at the luncheon on Saturday 22nd May. This hospitality was extended as a courtesy to members of the Committee who were in transit through London on that day to take part in sessions of the Committee in Africa. No official business was conducted at the luncheon but matters of mutual interest were, naturally, discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the average time between conviction on a criminal charge and the hearing of the appeal in Bermuda in each of the last five years.

Hitherto the only appellate court in respect of decisions of the Supreme Court of Bermuda has been the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Lord Mountbatten's Mission on Commonwealth immigration proposes to visit Barbados and British Guiana.

No. The Mission is visiting only a representative selection of Commonwealth countries.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer to his Prices and Incomes Board the case of the agricultural industry, where prices and incomes have not risen as much as those of the rest of the community.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer the recent settlement of the postmen's pay claim to the National Incomes and Prices Commission.

No. As the Joint Under-Secretary of State explained in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 29th April, we consider that the terms of this settlement were justified in the circumstances and I do not think that an inquiry by the Board would serve any useful purpose now.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer the recent tariff increases by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on 11th May by my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he proposes that executive powers shall be withheld from the Regional Planning Councils permanently.

Yes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will review the new planning machinery after two years, with a view to obtaining democratic participation in the regional planning councils.

The setting up of the Councils was in itself a democratic move. I shall see how they get on before deciding whether there should be any changes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what reductions in retail prices he attributes to the reduction in the import surcharge on 27th April.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Ioan L. Evans) earlier today.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to give himself power to appoint a court of inquiry to investigate the control of small pleasure craft on hire to members of the public and to investigate accidents to such craft at sea.

No. Powers are already available to the Board of Trade and to local authorities to control small pleasure craft in certain respects. The Merchant Shipping Acts contain wide powers to investigate accidents to ships. My right hon. Friend has no evidence to suggest that there is a present need to extend any of these powers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the accident to a rowing boat off Cowden, Bridlington, Yorkshire, on Easter Monday, resulting in the death of three girls; and if he is satisfied that the number in the Coast Lifesaving Corps is adequate to ensure that effective action can be taken to save lives in coastal waters.

Yes. I was very sorry to learn of this distressing incident and I take this opportunity to extend my sympathy to the relatives of the girls. I am satisfied that the Search and Rescue Organisation, which includes the Coast Lifesaving Corps, is adequate to deal with vessels that are in distress around the coasts of this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of wood pulp and paper made from wood imported during 1964; and what proportion of the United Kingdom's total import bill this represents.

£237 million and 4·3 per cent. These figures include some paper made wholly or partly from materials other than wood, which is not separately distinguished in the import statistics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for assisting British participation in overseas trade fairs and trade weeks, and similar promotional activities during the current financial year.

As I indicated in my speech in the Budget debate on the 8th April, the proposed programme of overseas trade fairs, British Weeks and store promotions in which the Board of Trade is participating this year is a heavy one. Major items in the programme include British Pavilions organised by the Board at international exhibitions in Johannesburg, Budapest, Poznan and Moscow. An all-British Exhibition will be held in Toyko next October together with a British Fortnight, and to these the Board is also giving financial assistance.There is a marked increase in the number of joint venture projects in which the Board of Trade supports participation by industry in specialised fairs. Fifty such projects are planned, the more important at Cologne, Paris, Frankfurt and Hanover.In addition to the British Week held at Amsterdam earlier this month, there will be major British Weeks at Milan in October and Hong Kong in March next year. Some 50 store promotions are also being supported in Canada, the United States and Europe.It is likely that other events will also be included; but the following commitments represent the main part of the programme:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the damage done to British exports by delays in loading ships in United Kingdom docks, particularly Southampton Docks; and if he will consult the Minister of Transport to devise ways of avoiding delays in the future.

There has been a great improvement at all the docks and there are now few delays anywhere. I agree that delays can be very damaging to exports. The Government are extremely concerned to see improvement in every aspect of the efficient working of our ports.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will reconsider his decision in respect of an application made by the British Deaf Amateur Sports Association for assistance towards the cost of sending a representative team to take part in the 10th International Games for the Deaf to be held in Washington D.C. from 26th June to 5th July next and authorise the appropriate grant to be made.

The scheme of Government assistance for amateur teams from this country taking part in overseas events is designed primarily for those competing in internationally open events. If grants were made to teams catering for a limited part of the community, save in the most exceptional circumstances—which in my view do not exist in this case—the field would be tremendously widened and in present circumstances this cannot be contemplated.The decision to which the right hon. and learned Member refers was made after the most careful consideration, and though I have great sympathy with the British Deaf Amateur Sports Association, I do not think the decision can be modified. If, however, the Association has any new evidence which might throw a new light on its application, my right hon. Friend would be willing to have it examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in order to give effect to his assurances regarding the future of nature conservancy, he will authorise the Conservancy to advertise the coming vacancies for the posts of director- general and deputy director-general, scientific, at levels calculated to attract applications from suitably qualified and experienced men, such as university professors, in the salary range of £4,750 per annum.

There has been some misunderstanding about this matter. The facts are as follows:In accordance with the legislation recently enacted in this House, the activities of the Nature Conservancy will, on 1st June, be taken over by the Natural Environment Research Council. Sir Graham Sutton, F.R.S., Director-General of the Meteorological Office, who is retiring from that post shortly, has been appointed Chairman of this Council; and I recently announced the names of the other distinguished persons who have agreed to serve as members.The Natural Environment Research Council will have status fully equivalent to that of the other Research Councils.The new Research Council will be required by its Charter to have a Committee, appointed with my approval, and to be called the Nature Conservancy, the first members of which will be the existing members of the present Conservancy who have agreed to serve in this capacity. All members of the present Conservancy staff become members of the N.E.R.C. staff on 1st June.In these circumstances, it would clearly be inappropriate for me to decide, a few days before these changes take effect, that there shall be a particular number of posts within the new Council's organisation, bearing particular titles and salaries, and engaged on particular functions.I have, however, stated, with the agreement of the Chairman, that one post at a salary in the range £4,425–£4,700 will be advertised. The salaries of professors range from £3,400–£4,750, but the average of professorial salaries in any individual university must not exceed £4,200.The question whether, under the new arrangements, a second post at, or above, that level will be needed will be considered by the N.E.R.C. in the course of a review of all senior staff requirements which will be undertaken as one of their first activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many female medical students were successful in obtaining places at British universities in the years 1960 to 1964, respectively.

The numbers of women entering university medical schools in Great Britain in the years 1960–1964 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give financial assistance towards solving the problem of competing at different altitudes, in view of the next Olympic Games in Mexico City.

This is a subject of some importance that the Sports Council has discussed in detail and with the advantage of expert professional advice. Discussions have also taken place between the Sports Council and the British Olympic Association. The B.O.A. is preparing a programme of research into this problem, to submit to the Research Committee of the Sports Council. When these proposals are available, my right hon. Friend will consider what grant can be made from public funds towards the cost of the research.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement on the assistance he will give to improve the facilities of those football grounds on which matches in connection with the 1966 World Cup series will be played.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what help he has so far given to those grounds in which the 1966 World Cup will be played; and what are his future plans.

The Government have decided, subject to Parliamentary approval, to make available to the Football Association a sum not exceeding £500,000 towards the cost of the facilities necessary for the Association Football World Cup games in 1966 to be suitably staged. Somewhere between 80 and 90 per cent. of this sum will be spent on permanent improvements: four-fifths of that amount will be paid as a grant and one-fifth will be provided as a loan.Most of the money will need to be distributed by the Association to the six football clubs on whose grounds World Cup games are to be played, to help with the extension of seating accommodation—some 39,000 additional seats are required—and with the improvement of toilet, restaurant and other facilities. The remainder is to be spent principally on providing for the reception of overseas visitors attending the games at Wembley and elsewhere.In the latest discussions with the football authorities I understand that something less than this sum is likely to be required to reach the standards which the Government regard as desirable and which have been agreed with the clubs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the facts that complaints concerning the conduct of the Chief Constable of Oldham have been, and are being, preferred by officers of the Oldham Borough Police Force, that complaints have been preferred by the Chief Constable against a number of officers that a writ for libel has been issued by the Chief Constable against the local newspaper complaining of criticism of his conduct, and that the morale of the Oldham Borough Police Force has been gravely affected, he will order a public inquiry under Section 32 of the Police Act, 1964.

I understand that an investigation is being undertaken under the Police (Discipline) Regulations, 1965, and I must await the outcome of these proceedings before considering whether any action is required on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that obstructions and difficulties are being placed in the way of prisoner T. Brett by the prison authorities and by his Department when he attempts to obtain information and evidence to support his claim of innocence of a shooting charge; and if he will take action to stop these impediments.

No unreasonable restrictions have been placed on Brett's correspondence and visits. He is subject to the same rules as other prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications he has received during the past three months from local authorities and others on the proliferation of betting shops in Greater London; what communication he has received from the London Borough of Newham dated 18th May; what was the nature of his reply; and if he will now take steps to control the number of betting shops.

Since the end of February my right hon. and learned Friend has received only one communication from a local authority on this subject apart from the very recent letter from the London Borough of Newham to which he has not yet replied. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the suggestions made in that letter for controlling the number of betting offices, but he has no proposals to put forward at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not found it possible to send juvenile delinquents, so found, out of confinement under supervision to cleaning and other constructive work for aged persons and others.

As I informed my hon. and learned Friend in answer to a Question on 20th May, such methods have been in use in borstal institutions and approved schools for many years. They have not been extended to young prisoners because the trend of legislation has been to keep out of prison all young offenders for whom alternative treatment is possible: consequently young prisoners are in general unlikely to be suitable for this kind of activity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the criteria governing mortgage interest rates.

This is basically a matter of supply and demand, but of course there are other factors which borrowers and lenders have to take into consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and which civil servants now in the service have criminal records; and in which branch they are serving.

The information is not centrally available. Civil Servants are of course required to report criminal convictions to their departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of abolishing the licence fee for dogs.

The gross revenue from the dog licence fee in 1963–64 was £992,015 in England and Wales, where proceeds acrue to local authorities, and £75,647 in Scotland, where they accrue to the Exchequer. The loss on abolition of the fee would be of this order, though there would be some offsetting savings on costs of administration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to complete the review currently being undertaken into the case for parity, based on length of service and position held regardless of date of retirement, for public service pensioners.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Ted Fletcher) on 26th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief was received by owner-occupiers on mortgage payments last year.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Lena Jeger) on 10th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a contribution of one-third of the cost of providing sanitary facilities on certain trunk roads where the local authority is prepared to provide the remaining two-thirds, to the same extent that the Minister of Transport is proposing on certain roads south of the Border.

I would certainly consider any proposal of this kind by a local authority, if the experiment seemed likely to be useful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expected expenditure on the new construction and major improvement of roads in urban areas of Scotland in 1969–70; and what part of this expenditure will be borne respectively by the Exchequer and by local authorities.

I expect that expenditure on the new construction and major improvement of roads in urban areas in Scotland will amount to about £15·5 million in 1969–70, towards which the Exchequer will contribute about £10·1 million and local authorities approximately £5·4 million. This excludes the construction of estate roads by private developers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now reconsider his decision not to hold a public inquiry into the proposed development in the village of Skellingthorpe, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will give due weight to the expression of local feeling in the petition sent to him containing the signatures of almost the whole of the adult population of the village.

I have seen the petition; but it would not be right for me to intervene now and reopen by way of public inquiry a decision properly arrived at locally, on what is essentially a local issue.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many additional staff have been recruited since last October to the research section of his Department.

11 appointments to research grade posts have been made since last October, but losses meantime have reduced the net increase to 2. A further 21 candidates have been, or are likely to be, offered appointments.Other groups of staff engaged on research projects or on statistical and survey work have also been strengthened since October.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make arrangements for the televising of the Premium Bond draw by electronic random number indicator equipment on a suitable occasion.

Programme content is a matter for the broadcasting organisations; but, if they were interested in the presentation on television of the Premium Bond draw, we would do all we could to help.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of public concern, if he will take steps to set up a committee of inquiry into the financial structure of the public bodies responsible for the television and radio channels.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the financial situation of the British Broadcasting Corporation as stated by the Director General, he will take steps to hold a committee of inquiry into the Corporation's finances.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made to the House on 14th April in which I announced that, as part of its wider review of broadcasting policy, the Government would be giving further study to the problems of broadcasting finance, and asking the B.B.C. to co-operate with this review. This is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities now have laundry service schemes for the incontinent; and whether he will publish the names of those which do so.

I regret that full information is not available centrally. But I understand that nearly all local health authorities have schemes for meeting the needs of the incontinent either by providing laundry facilities or supplying incontinence pads.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will list the wage increases that have been granted since the publication of the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy which come within the 3½ per cent. norm;(2) if he will list the wage increases that have been granted since 26th April which exceed the 3½ per cent. norm.

As I am sure the hon. Member knows, paragraph 11 of Command Paper 2639 explains that the "norm" indicates the average rate of annual increase of money incomes per head which is consistent with stability in the general level of prices and says that in present circumstances the appro- priate figure is 3 to 3½ per cent. Comprehensive information about agreements and awards affecting agreed rates of wages is published each month in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. This information shows that it could be misleading simply to list increases in wage rates in percentage terms and relate them on this basis to the "norm".

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were employed in British shipyards in 1964; how this figure compares with 1960; and, based on current trends, what he expects the figure of employment in British shipyards to be in 1970.

The numbers employed in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry in Great Britain in mid-1964 and mid-1960 were respectively 147,400 and 180,900. The level of employment in 1970 is under discussion with the industry in the course of preparing the National Economic Plan.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will order an inquiry into the accident at Shave Cross, Dorset, where one man was killed and five injured when a new 110 foot electricity pylon crashed; and what steps he is taking to ensure that in future adequate precautions are taken to safeguard the public from similar danger.

The accident occurred while lines were being strung on the pylon by contractors working for the Central Electricity Generating Board. No member of the general public was involved. My right hon. Friend is seeking a report from the Board and he will decide in the light of this report and of the evidence given in the coroner's court what further action on his part is needed.