asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of the increase in the rate of national growth that would result if the percentage of unemployment in development areas were reduced to the current national average.

In 1964 the unemployment rate in the Development Districts was 4·2 per cent. as compared with 1·7 per cent nationally. If unemployment in the Development Districts had been at 1·7 per cent., there would have been 86,400 more at work, which represents rather over a third of 1 per cent. of the total U.K. workforce. It would be reasonable to assume that the addition to national output would be about the same.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the Government's policy of cutting defence expenditure, what plans his Department is making to redeploy all types of resources which would be released by such cuts.

Our redeployment plans for defence resources as a whole must await the outcome of the comprehensive review of defence expenditure now under way. Experience of the changes already taking place in the aircraft industry shows that men and materials released from defence work can be successfully redeployed, to the general benefit of our economy.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will take steps to invite directors of limited liability companies to exercise restraint in the payment of dividends.

Directors of limited liability companies are expected to have regard to the general considerations relating to prices and incomes which have been agreed with representatives of management and unions and are set out in Command Paper 2639.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he is taking to inform members of the public of the meaning of his Incomes Policy.

197,000 copies of the joint Statement of Intent on Productivity, Prices and Incomes have been asked for. Two White Papers (Cmnd. 2577 and 2639) have been published. A number of articles explaining the policy have been published in the D.E.A. Progress Report. This month the first of a series of Broadsheets will be published on the subject.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what sanctions he proposes to employ in order to ensure that his incomes and prices policy is adhered to.

Government, Employers and Unions stated in the White Paper on Machinery of Prices and Incomes Policy that we proposed to give the voluntary method every chance before resorting to other methods. That remains our policy.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why he will not permit the National Board for Prices and Incomes itself to select for investigation the price rises which it considers to be of most significance for the cost of living.

The agreement we made with both sides of industry expressly reserved this decision to the Government.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what information he has as to how many companies, which increased their prices when the 15 per cent. import surcharge was introduced and gave as the reason for such increases the introduction of the 15 per cent. import surcharge, have since its reduction to 10 per cent. reduced their prices to the pre-15 per cent. surcharge figure.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 27th May by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Ioan L. Evans).

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the growing practice, amongst landlords of commercial properties, of charging rentals which are based on the turnover of the tenant's business, in view of the inflationary effects of such a practice.

No. I am advised that under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954, a tenant in such circumstances may seek determination of the rent by the court. In doing this, the court is required to have regard to the open market value of the premises and to disregard factors concerning the business carried on by a tenant on the premises.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that the Central Electricity Generating Board has increased its charges for ash collected from its stations by 41 per cent. if he will refer this charge to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer the proposed 10 per cent. rise in provincial bus fares to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I am not aware of any such proposal.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what progress he has made in encouraging the mobility of labour as a means of promoting regional development.

I would refer the hon. Member to the speech by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour, on the Second Reading of the Redundancy Payments Bill on 26th April.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what consideration he is giving to creating an economic development committee for the motor car and motorcycle industry, to work in conjunction with the National Economic Development Council; and if he will make a statement.

An economic development committee for the motor vehicle and cycle industry is under consideration but exploratory discussions with the organisations involved have not yet reached the stage where I can make a statement.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will name the 30 local authorities who have immigrant populations big enough to justify the appointment of liaison committees; how many immigrants there are, including women and children, in each area; what other areas are likely to be included in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement.

These committees are established by voluntary effort and are not necessarily related to the number of immigrants in a particular area. I hope, however, that further committees will be established in places where they do not at present exist and where substantial numbers of Commonwealth immigrants have settled.The following is a list of those areas in which liaison committees have already been set up, together with the figures taken from the 1961 census of the numbers of immigrants in each.

RESIDENTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES ENUMERATED IN THE AREA STATED AND BORN IN:
Area	Commonwealth Countries Colonies and Protectorates	Foreign Countries and at sea
LONDON
Brent (formerly Willesden)	13,289	9,488
Camden (formerly Hampstead, Holborn and St. Pancras)	18,734	22,468
Croydon	6,901	4,591
Ealing (formerly Southall)	2,540	719
Hackney	11,378	8,462
Haringey (2 committees)—
(a) Hornsey	7,158	4,564
(b) Wood Green	Not	Not
	available	available
Hillingdon (formerly Hayes and Harlington)	849	822
Islington	21,645	7,429
Lewisham and Greenwich	7,133	4,467
Southwark	1,836	1,131
Westminster (formerly Paddington)	12,358	11,680
PROVINCIAL
Birmingham	31,108	10,834
Bradford	6,814	8,058
Derby	2,661	3,041
Gravesend	779	531
Halifax	679	2,032
High Wycombe	1,176	2,054
Keighley	246	1,209
Leeds	5,615	8,398
Leicester	4,445	5,627
Manchester	9,131	10,596
Nottingham	5,642	6,289
Oxford	2,636	2,990
Slough	1,954	2,388
Smethwick	2,370	531
Wolverhampton	5,844	2,903
Regional Committees
London	289,737	266,437
West Midlands	50,642	20,808
Yorkshire	36,649	50,946

These figures are taken from Table 8 of the series of County Reports on the 1961 census of population. For the areas in London, they are in terms of the authorities as they were before the changeover to the Greater London Boroughs.The figures relate to those people who stated they were resident in England and Wales but were born outside the British Isles. This excludes immigrant children born in this country, but includes people born to parents who were temporarily abroad.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what criteria he used before deciding to refer the printing workers' claim to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

That the whole question seemed to me to raise issues of great national concern.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what proposals he has for co-ordinated action to speed the movements of goods for export.

The National Economic Development Council has approved the formation of an Economic Development Committee to deal with this important subject. I am pleased to announce that Lord Caldecote has accepted my invitation to act as Chairman of the Committee.The following is a list of members of the Committee:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many manufacturers have applied for registration of their product for retail price maintenance; and how many have been refused such registration.

I understand from the Registrar that about 700 applications were received. About 50 of these were withdrawn by the applicants or rejected by the Registrar before registration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to publish, for the benefit of exporters, regular information on the capacity available in the various docks throughout the country, and the special facilities which each is able to provide.

The information to which my hon. Friend refers is already published regularly, and I have received no evidence that exporters find this inadequate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make representations to the Canadian Government with a view to preventing the damage now being caused to the United Kingdom cotton textile industry by the export from Canada into the United Kingdom of Canadian goods and of goods other than of Canadian origin at dumped prices.

My Department have asked the Cotton Board to provide any information the British industry may have to support allegations that Canadian traders are acting as the hon. Member suggests. It is, of course, open to any industry that has evidence that imports are being dumped and are causing or threatening them with material injury to apply for action to be taken under the Customs and Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the British Week being held in Amsterdam in the week of 11th May where there is a growing market for British exports; what are his plans to take advantage of this to encourage trade between Holland and north-east Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I spent several days in Amsterdam during the British Week which was held there from 14th to 23rd May. This highly successful operation has, I am sure, opened up fresh opportunities for our trade with the Netherlands, and Her Majesty's Government intend to give all possible encouragement to British firms, including those in northeast Scotland, to exploit these opportunities to the full.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the work so far done by the Commonwealth Exports Council.

The Commonwealth Exports Council, which held its first meeting on the 4th March, is assisted by six Committees each covering a distinct area of the Commonwealth. These Committees, under the general co-ordination of the Council, are tackling the varying problems of the markets with which they are concerned, by the methods best suited to each. They are, for instance, carrying out market surveys, preparing inward and outward missions, and helping to organise trade fairs and displays of British goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to assist shipbuilding in the United Kingdom, in view of the recommendation of the Commission of the European Economic Community to the Council of Ministers of the Community on the subject of shipbuilding subsidy in the countries of the Community.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the recent decision of the Executive Commission of the Common Market that member countries will, as from 1967, grant state aid amounting to 10 per cent. of the cost of building a ship or of any shipyard project such as rationalisation or reconversion, and that certain member nations, subject to the Commission's approval, will be permitted to grant direct subsidies up to 15 per cent.; what effect this decision will have on the British shipbuilding industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are studying the complicated proposals by the Commission for financial assistance to shipbuilding from 1967, in member countries of the European Economic Community. It is too early to assess what damage these proposals might do to our industry if they were approved by the member countries or what steps we might have to take.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is now an embargo on the import of china and earthenware from this country into Jamaica; and what steps he is taking to seek to have this embargo removed.

There is no embargo. Imports of tableware from all sources are subject to import licensing, but our Trade Commissioner has reported that licences will be freely granted for fine bone china, and any tableware for sale to tourists from "in bond" shops. Licences are also currently issued for special hotel orders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the grounds on which he has refused permission to the Dominion Life Assurance Company to work in this country in the name under which it has been known in Canada for 75 years.

This Canadian company was refused permission to register a company by the name it proposed, as the name was too like that of an existing company registered here. I have no power to prevent an overseas company from working in this country in its own name.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that an International Trade Fair is to be held at Plovdin in Bulgaria during September, 1966; and whether he will attend in his official capacity and arrange for the Board of Trade in conjunction with British industry to have a stand and suitable exhibits of British merchandise, etc.

It is too soon to say whether there will be official British participation at this International Trade Fair or whether I can be present. If there is evidence of substantial interest by British industry, the Board of Trade will consider how best it can assist their efforts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to prevent the sale to South Africa, by an American-controlled British firm, of lorries which are capable of conversion to armoured vehicles.

None. These vehicles are not military vehicles and therefore do not fall within the scope of the embargo announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prevent the export to South Africa of Vauxhall Bedford four-wheel drive lorries for use by the South African Defence Forces, as this is in conflict with the terms of the United Nations Security Council Resolution of 3rd December, 1963.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrew, West (Mr. Buchan).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will announce the dates of the spring and August Bank Holidays for 1967 and 1968.

The dates of the spring and late summer Bank Holidays will be 29th May and 28th August in 1967 and 3rd June (Whit Monday) and 2nd September in 1968. The Bank Holidays replaced in Scotland by those Bank Holidays in May and June will be, of course, the Scottish Bank Holiday on the first Monday in May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for further investigations by the Monopolies Commission.

I propose to make four references to the Monopolies Commission. The Commission will be asked to investigate and report on the supply of flat glass, and on the supply of rayon and other cellulosic fibres. They will also be asked to investigate and report on alleged monopoly practices in the supply of aluminium semi-manufactures and electrical wiring harness for motor vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is now prepared to receive an application for assistance from the Pre-School Playgroup Association.

Yes. Arrangements have been made to discuss with the Association's representatives how far we can help to meet their needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance he has given to local education authorities and school governors about the use of schools by outside persons or bodies.

This is primarily a matter for the education authority or school governors concerned, but the Department has drawn the attention of local authorities to the possibilities created by the dual use of sports facilities. The Department also gives guidance on the design of schools for use by youth clubs. I should, however, like to take this opportunity of expressing, once again, my encouragement for the dual use of educational buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for a four-term year in teachers' training colleges.

I shall shortly be asking colleges of education to examine the organisation of their courses with a view to securing by one means or another a more productive use of their facilities. I shall suggest a number of ways by which this might be achieved, including what have come to be known as "Box and Cox" schemes and various patterns of a four-term year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why an application for a Government grant by the British Deaf Amateur Sports Association, towards the cost of sending a team of deaf athletes to Washington to participate in the Tenth International Games for the Deaf from 26th June to 5th July, has been refused.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) on 27th May. As I have said, if the Association have any new evidence which might throw a new light on their application, my right hon. Friend would be willing to have it examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the Standing Advisory Committee on Students' Awards departed from the normal practice of consultation with the National Union of Students prior to the recent award; and whether he is satisfied that the new rates are adequate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 31st May to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Park). The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Recorder of Derby on the Challenor case.

I am informed that Mr. James hopes to be able to complete his report towards the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to implement the recommendations of the Littlewood Committee Report; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 20th May to Questions by the hon. Member for Gillingham (Mr. Burden) and my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrew, West (Mr. Buchan).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the application by the Trustees of the Royal Cornwall Home for Children at Falmouth for aid towards the necessary building reconstruction; and if he will make a grant.

A grant of £2,265, the amount applied for, was paid on 29th March, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the local inquiry in respect of the objection of the Luton Watch Committee to the proposed scheme for the amalgamation for police purposes of the County of Bedfordshire and the County Borough of Luton.

I have received the report of Mr. Charles Scholefield, Q.C., and have laid it before Parliament. Mr. Scholefield says that if there had not been such a long history of intense desire for separation he would have had no hesitation in recommending that he could see no reason for departing from the principles of the Royal Commission and that the two forces should be amalgamated, but that in the circumstances he has grave doubts about the timing of an amalgamation. He therefore recommends that consideration should be given to an experimental period during which the separate forces should co-operate with each other in every way and that at the end of that time the question of amalgamation should be reconsidered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now detained without trial in British Guiana; for how long have they been detained; and when is it proposed that they will be either released or brought to trial.

Fourteen persons are detained. They have been in detention since 13th June, 1964. I am confident that they will be released as soon as the interests of public safety and order allow, but this is a matter for the British Guiana Government, who have it under constant review and to whose attention I am bringing this question and answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments and nationalised industries have increased their expenditure by more than 2½ per cent. in the first six months of this year; and what sum of money this additional expenditure represents.

The following table lists the Government Departments whose expenditure in the six months ended 31st March, 1965 (the latest six monthly period for which information is available) was more than 2½ per cent. higher than their expenditure in the corresponding six months up to 31st March, 1964, and shows the sum of money represented by the excess over 2¼ per cent. The calculations have been made at current prices of the period concerned. I regret that no comparable figures are readily available for nationalised industries.

DEPARTMENTS WHOSE EXPENDITURE INCREASED BY MORE THAN 2¼ PER CENT. BETWEEN SECOND HALF OF 1963–64 AND SECOND HALF OF 1964–65
Department	Increase in excess of 2¼ per cent.
	£ million
Customs and Excise	1·3
Inland Revenue	1·4
Foreign Office	1·7
Commonwealth Relations Office	22·1
Department of Technical Co-operation	3·6
Scottish Home and Health Department	3·0
Board of Trade	9·1
Ministry of Labour	3·6
Ministry of Aviation	8·2
Ministry of Transport	0·6
Ministry of Power	0·4
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	1·4
Ministry of Housing and Local Government	18·8
Scottish Development Department	2·2
Ministry of Education	4·8
Scottish Education Department	1·6
Ministry of Health	29·6
National Assistance Board	5·0
Office of the Lord President and Minister for Science	14·6
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research	2·1
Agricultural Research Council	0·9
Ministry of Public Building and Works	24·8
Stationery Office	0·4
Central Office of Information	1·1
Paymaster General's Office	0·8
Ministry of Defence	6·3
TOTAL	169·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates is the average marginal rate of tax of premium bondholders.

I regret that I cannot give a figure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the 7 per cent. Bank Rate has now lasted longer than at any time since 1921, if he will give details of the economic circumstances in which it can be reduced; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which British Colonial Territories there is censorship in the printing and distribution of publications; and if he will take steps to end such censorship in those territories for which he has responsibility.

If by "censorship" my hon. Friend means scrutiny before publication, there is no such censorship in British Colonial Territories. But most of them naturally have powers to prevent the introduction or dissemination of publications that are contrary to public morality, public safety or law and order. The exercise of these functions is in the discretion of the Governments concerned and I should not think it right to intervene unless there were special circumstances that would justify such a step in any particular case. I am, however, anxious that restrictions of this kind should be as few as possible and I am circulating this question and answer to all Colonial Territories.

asked the Minister of Power what consideration he has given to directing a reduction in the maximum price of British steel, in order to assist United Kingdom manufacturing industries to compete in world markets.

I do not consider that I would be justified in directing the Board to reduce the present maximum prices.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for improving the supply of qualified town planners.

The Government are already considering in consultation with the University Grants Committee what steps should be taken in universities and other institutions of higher education to increase as soon as possible the output of qualified planners.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to limit the growing nuisance of ice-cream vans fitted with noise-making apparatus patrolling residential areas on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

Section 2 of the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, already prohibits the operation of ice-cream chimes on any day outside the hours 12 noon to 7 p.m., and their operation between these hours in such a manner as to give reasonable cause for annoyance. Responsibility for enforcement rests with the local authorities. My right hon. Friend is not at present convinced that further restrictions are necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of persons engaged from the Newcastle and Sunderland employment exchanges who accepted work at the Ford Motor Company, Dagenham, received grants from his Department, and have since returned to the North during the months of April and May, 1965.

Of thirty men transferred in April and May, nineteen have left their employment in Dagenham. Fourteen are known to have returned to their home area.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unskilled workers have been permitted to enter the United Kingdom in search of employment in the last three calendar months; and if he will give the figures for the comparable three months of 1964.

The statistics of voucher holders actually entering the country do not distinguish between those persons coming to a particular job and those coming to look for work. No fresh C Vouchers (which would enable an unskilled Commonwealth worker to enter this country in search of employment) have been issued in the last three months. Between 28th February and 29th May, 1964, 864 C Vouchers were issued.In the case of aliens the answer is nil, both for this year and 1964. Aliens must have a job to come to and are not allowed to enter this country to look for work.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take in respect of the official dispute between the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and Foyles Bookshops; and if he will make a statement.

I outlined the facts of this dispute in my reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 31st May. The meeting on 1st June did not result in agreement. My officers have approached the parties and offered to conciliate.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what steps he is taking to provide more public information about the National Parks.

Encouragement is being given to the National Parks Authorities to extend their information services, and expenditure on this work this year is 10 per cent. higher than last year. The Peak and Snowdonia National Parks already have full-time information officers and the Lake District Planning Board are about to appoint one; other Park Authorities are considering doing so. The National Parks Commission are also considering some new measures in the field of information.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will make a statement on the wastage of trained foresters from the Forestry Commission.

My hon. Friend will no doubt have seen the Observations of the Forestry Ministers contained in the Eighth Special Report of the Estimates Committee. Until the discussion with the Union referred to in Observation 26 of that Report is completed, any statement would be premature.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on allotments policy.

Yes. I propose to appoint a committee to review general policy on allotments in the light of present-day conditions in England and Wales and to recommend what legislative and other changes, if any, are needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have taken place in the Welsh Department of his Department since the appointment of a Secretary of State for Wales in respect of the number and the Civil Service grading of the staff of the Department, respectively.

Since the creation of the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, the Ministry's own Welsh Department has been strengthened by the appointment of an additional chief executive officer whose duties include the assembly and processing of information and statistics for Ministers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Welsh Secretary of his Department has direct access to him, or whether he channels representations through the Permanent Secretary or Under-Secretary.

The Welsh Secretary who is an Under Secretary of my Department reports in the normal way to a Deputy Secretary and on appropriate occasions direct to the Permanent Secretary. On any important issue involving his functions in Wales, the Permanent Secretary ensures that I am aware of the viewpoint of the Welsh Secretary, and, of course, I ask him to give me his personal advice whenever I consider this desirable.

asked the Minister of Aviation what licences have been granted to the manufacturers in South Africa of Bristol Siddeley Viper turbo-jet engines for powering the Macctic MB 326.

I am not aware that any licence has been granted for such manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce his decision on the release of the agricultural land at Royal Air Force Station, High Ercall, still in his possession; whether he intends to offer this land to the original owners; and if he will make a statement.

This land will be sold as soon as possible, some of it by public auction and some to former owners. Of the eight of these, four are interested in repurchasing their previous holdings and will be given the opportunity of doing so, two are not interested and the other two have died and have no successors entitled to be treated as former owners.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many industrial workers were incapacitated through industrial diseases in the last year for which figures are available; and how many work days were lost due to this cause.

I regret that the precise information requested is not available. During the period from 3rd June, 1963, to 30th May, 1964, there were about 27,000 new spells of incapacity from prescribed diseases (other than pneumoconiosis and byssinosis) for which injury benefit was paid. In the same period, just under 1 million working days were lost through such diseases. It is estimated that, during the same period, there were about 2,500 new awards of industrial disablement pension for pneumoconiosis and byssinosis. Not all these disablement pensioners are incapacitated for work, and some may be over pensionable age.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many work days were lost in the last year for which figures are available due to industrial accidents.

It is estimated that from 3rd June, 1963, to 30th May, 1964, the total number of work days lost through industrial accidents was approximately 23½ million. This includes about 2½ million days of incapacity continuing after the end of the injury benefit period among seriously injured persons.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many work days were lost through sickness in the last year for which figures are available; and whether she will publish these figures under headings according to the nature of the illness.

I have information only about days of sickness which are notified to the Department for purposes of claiming sickness benefit and contribution credits under the National Insurance Acts.In the period from 3rd June, 1963, to 30th May, 1964, the estimated number of such days was 286 million. The major groups of illnesses were as follows:—

Illness	Million
Mental, psycho-neurotic and personality disorders	28
Diseases of the circulatory system	33
Diseases of the respiratory system	68
Diseases of the digestic system	25
Diseases of the bones and organs of movement	28
Accidents and poisonings other than those which attracted injury benefit under the Industrial Injuries Acts	22

Further details will be given in the Annual Report of the Department to be published early in July.Spells of sickness lasting less than four days do not usually attract benefit or a credit, and are not normally reported to the Department: nor does the Department know about absence from work of people such as married women who have chosen not to be insured for benefit, or of non-industrial civil servants who do not normally claim benefit through the ordinary machinery during the first six months of an illness.

asked the Minister of Health what investigations are being made into the most efficient techniques of processing cervical cancer test slides.

Work is in progress at several centres on evaluating an enzyme test for cytological diagnosis. I am also considering with the Medical Research Council the possible use of electronic scanning devices.

asked the Postmaster-General if he expects there to be a delay in the issuing of the special stamps to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the Simon de Montfort Parliament; how many of each stamp are being issued; and if he is satisfied with the colours of these stamps.

I am sorry that because of the continuing unofficial ban on overtime at our Supplies Depots it will not now be possible to put these stamps on sale on 10th June as was planned. I shall announce a new date as soon as possible.The number of stamps to be issued will be 10 million of the 6d. denomination and 5 million of the 2s. 6d. denomination. I am satisfied with the colours of the stamps: in fact I believe this issue will prove to be very popular.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now state the date upon which books of 4d. stamps will be on sale to the public; and what were the reasons for the delay in providing this service.

I am sorry that industrial action by staff in our Supplies Depots is causing difficulties in the distribution of new books of 4d. stamps to post offices: but I hope it will be possible to make a start on this next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will draw the need for improvement in the foot treatment services, particularly for old people in Scotland, to the attention of the Council for Supplementary Services, and take steps to remedy the situation in which there are more unregistered chiropodists than state registered chiropodists.

I am aware of the importance of the chiropody services provided by local health authorities especially for the elderly; but I am not clear exactly how the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine, whose function is to maintain standards of registration, could help in this matter.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he has now decided on what date he will visit Chapelcross in order to give consideration to its future rôle.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 1st June.

asked the Minister of Transport if his analysis of the provisional figures of fatal accidents over the Easter Holiday period is yet complete; and if he will make a statement.

I am issuing today the results of the preliminary analysis of the 99 accidents resulting in the 109 deaths reported over the Easter holiday. This is of course only a small proportion of the total number of accidents over Easter, but I think these preliminary figures emphasise some of the exceptional holiday dangers in a situation that is of great concern all the year round.The most striking and disturbing feature is that, of the 65 users of motor vehicles who were killed, 40, or nearly two-thirds, were young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years. In all, 45 out of the 109 killed were in this age group. These are much higher proportions than the year as a whole.Eighteen of these young people were killed on motor-cycles or scooters, twelve in cars, and ten in goods vehicles. In all, thirteen people were killed in goods vehicles, mostly passengers. This, too, is a higher proportion than for the year as a whole, and suggests particular hazards in the use of goods vehicles for pleasure trips.Nearly half of the 109 deaths occurred during darkness, as many as 39 of them between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.Thirty-nine pedestrians were killed—fewer in relation to total deaths than in the year as a whole. But of these, three-quarters were either children under 15 or old people.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what terms of reference are being given to the consultants who are to advise him for a proposed new town in mid-Wales.

The consultants are being asked to make proposals for the provision, through the machinery of the New Towns Act, of an economically-viable urban centre in Mid-Wales which, by making available new opportunities for employment and by offering up-to-date shopping services and cultural and other facilities, including facilities for tourists, will arrest and I hope reverse the depopulation of the area and strengthen its economy. Architecturally and culturally the development should have a character in keeping with the area.

asked the Secretary of State foe Wales if he will now name the consultants appointed to advise him about the siting or development of a new town.

I have appointed Economic Associates Limited, who are arranging for a report to be made to me by 31st December next.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what tasks he has set the Welsh Water Committee.

I have asked the Welsh Water Committee, in association with the Severn River Authority, to report on the lines along which the water resources of the Welsh part of the Severn Basin should be developed having regard (a) to the likely demand for water from this source up to about 1990 and (b) the need to utilise these assets in the interests of the area itself, as well as of outside consumers, through making abundant supplies of water available for incoming industries and population, through improvement of amenities, the promotion of tourism and the alleviation of flooding.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements have been made for giving him advice on water questions.

After consultation with the Minister of Land and Natural Resources and the Chairman of the Water Resources Board, a Welsh Committee of the Water Resources Board has been set up consisting of Professor Darby and Dr. Bassett, who are both members of the Board, together with the Chairmen of the seven River Authorities whose areas lie wholly or partly in Wales. The Welsh Committee will consider matters connected with the conservation and use of water resources in Wales and their advice on such matters will be available for my use as well as, of course, the advice of the Water Resources Board as a whole.