asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much export rebate has been paid out to manufacturers; and how much has been paid to export merchants.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the composition of the official committee engaged in studying the possible differential schemes for Excise Duty on private cars.

The Departments concerned are studying possible differential schemes, consulting together in the normal way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the Government's Grant and Loan of £500,000 towards the cost of staging the World Football Cup in 1966, he will seek power to enable him to recoup some of this money by introducing a tax on football transfer fees.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made with linking public service pensions to an economic indicator.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the implications for public service pensioners of the rise in prices which have taken place in the context of a planned incomes policy; and if he will set up new planning machinery to ensure that the real value of public service pensions is maintained.

No new machinery is needed. Increases in the cost of living are being taken into account in the present review of public service pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to revive the Capital Issues Committee in order to curtail the expansion of credit by exercising a direct control of industrial investment; what other proposals he is considering to achieve this aim; and if he will make a statement.

The Capital Issues Committee is still in existence, but I am not at present contemplating its use to control domestic borrowing as I hope that the measures which I have already taken will prove effective without impeding productive investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he estimates that defence expenditure East of Suez is balanced by the earnings from oil and other sources, which might otherwise be put at risk without such defence expenditure.

The extent to which our economic interests throughout the world might be affected by changes in the disposition of our Forces is one of the questions which the Government are studying in their Review of Defence Expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many civil servants and employees in nationalised industries have received wage and salary increases of 3½ per cent. per annum or less in the last six months;(2) how many civil servants and employees in nationalised industries have received wage and salary increases of more than 3½ per cent. per annum in the last six months.

Many have received increases of more, and many others of not more, than 3½ per cent. per annum. It is not possible to give precise figures. Pay structures and settlements are often complicated and some grades or parts of pay scales may be treated more favourably than others.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what official consultations he has had with the building societies since the reduction of Bank Rate by 1 per cent. to 6 per cent.

None. But my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is in regular touch with the Building Societies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to make provision for payments to Members of the House of Commons of allowances not exceeding the fare by rail in respect of the cost of travel by air upon any journey upon which, under the Resolution of the House of Commons of 15th November 1945, facilities would be available for travel by any public railway, sea or air service.

Facilities are already available to Members for free travel on certain journeys by public air services. The payment of an allowance towards the cost of private air travel would require a new Resolution by the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would now cost the Treasury per annum to reduce the rate of interest on loans to local authorities for council house building from the current Public Works Loan Board rate of 6⅞ per cent. to 3 per cent. on 60-year loans on the current year's council housebuilding programme; and what percentage that sum would represent of all Government annual expenditure.

The reply to the first part of the Question is about £20 million a year, and to the second part less than ½ per cent. on the current year's Estimates. But the cost, and the proportion, would rise steeply every year if a similar subsidy were to be paid on the local authority housing programme of subsequent years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the considerations which led the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries to allocate the picture, Portrait of a Notary, to Quentin Matsys, acquired by the nation from the Spencer-Churchill estate under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1956, to the Scottish National Collection rather than to the Manchester City Art Gallery; and, in view of the disquiet which this decision has aroused in the provinces, if he will set up an inquiry into the functioning of the Standing Commission.

My information is that the Standing Commission gave full consideration to the claim of the Manchester Gallery. The Commission's recommendation was based on the Edinburgh Gallery's need for a really important Flemish picture, and particularly a portrait, of this period to strengthen the existing Flemish room. I do not think that an inquiry into the functioning of the Standing Commission is called for, but we are reviewing together with the Commission the arrangements whereby the Government and the Commission are made aware of the interest of provincial galleries in works of art offered in lieu of estate duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much Spain has directly or indirectly assisted the United Kingdom through its quota contributions to the International Monetary Fund.

The United Kingdom drawings from the International Monetary Fund in December, 1964, and May, 1965 (which totalled the equivalent of $1,000 million and $1,400 million respectively) each included Spanish pesetas to the value of $40 million. The Fund followed its normal policies and practices in arriving at the currencies to be used in both drawings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the total sum of money involved for the North-East Coast in the first year by the reduction in the investment allowance, compared with the rate applied in the last appropriate financial year.

I regret that this information is not available. The Corporation Tax rate will be lower than the combined rate of Income Tax and Profits Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will published in the OFFICIAL REPORT the cost to the Treasury of dealing with the various Amendments to the Finance Bill up to the week ending 18th June.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him regarding the delays caused to incoming passengers at Gatwick Airport by Customs clearance formalities; and what replies he has sent.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the current purchasing power of the £ sterling at the latest convenient date, taking 15th October last as the base date.

On the basis of the change in the index of retail prices, the purchasing power of the £ sterling, taken as 20s. in October 1964 was about 19s. 2d. in May 1965, the latest date available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he intends to take during the current financial year to assist the British shipbuilding and shipping industries to improve their profitability and rate of capital investment and expansion, in order that they may be in a better position to meet low-taxed foreign competition; and if he will make a statement.

The problems of these industries are being looked at by the Shipbuilding Enquiry Committee and in other studies which are also taking place. I shall await their conclusions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of different experts drawn from each of the national museums and galleries for the purpose of examining objects in respect of claims for exemption from death duties in 1963 and 1964, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that overseas-owned enterprises in the United Kingdom remitted some 57 per cent. of their earnings abroad in 1964 compared with 42 per cent. in 1963, whereas British enterprises abroad only remitted 47 per cent. in the United Kingdom; and what steps he intends to take to discourage this trend.

I am aware of these figures. They reinforce the request already made by my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State to United Kingdom companies with subsidiaries or branches abroad to remit more of their earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the salaries of London based civil servants of the following grades, namely, principal, higher executive officer, and higher clerical officer in 1939, October 1951, October 1964 and June 1965, showing the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that adequate Customs staff are on duty to deal with foreign arrivals on Sundays at London Airport.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he authorised the issue of new Government stock at par, carrying 6½ per cent. interest, which is the highest on a British Government security, thereby more than doubling the interest burden on the national debt for percentage rise for each grade from 1939 to 1951, from 1951 to 1964, and from 1939 to 1964.

The information is as follows:this transaction, in view of the fact that a reduction of the Bank Rate to 4 per cent. would enable borrowing to be at 4½ per cent.; since the high Bank Rate is neither checking adequately domestic spending nor attracting foreign funds, if he will now reduce it to 4 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

The terms of issue of the new Government stocks were fixed in accordance with normal practice in the light of current market conditions having regard not only to the coupon but also to the yield to redemption. I cannot anticipate future decisions about Bank Rate, which is only one among many factors affecting the rate of interest on Government stocks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much he expects to increase the number of houses to let in 1965 and 1966 compared with 1964.

In 1965 I expect public authorities in Great Britain to complete about 170,000 dwellings—virtually all to let—compared with 156,000 in 1964. Each year about 100,000 dwellings are demolished under slum clearance powers or for redevelopment, but not all of these are rented.I cannot estimate reliably how far the number of privately rented house is likely to increase by new building or to decrease by sales for owner-occupation.It is too early to offer a forecast for 1966.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why no rural authority is represented on the Standards of Housing Fitness Sub-Committee to the Central Housing Advisory Committee; and whether, in view of the special difficulties experienced in rural areas over house modernisation, he will cause such an appointment to be made.

The Committee invited members to serve on the Sub-Committee for the contribution they could make to its task rather than to represent particular interests. My right hon. Friend is sure this is right. The Sub-Committee is, however, fully aware of the importance of rural problems and will be visiting the hon. Member's constituency to see them at first hand.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, in Circular 3/65, he required local authorities to charge an interest rate of 7 per cent. to borrowers of home loans.

Circular No. 3/65 sets out the rates of interest for loans advanced to local authorities by the Public Works Loans Board: it does not require local authorities to charge any particular interest rate on loans for house purchase.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now give his most recent estimate of the number of homes likely to be built in the years ending 31st December, 1965, and 1966, stating separately council dwellings and others.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, on the basis of the number of starts made in the first three months of the current year, he will give an estimate of the number of houses likely to be completed during the year; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, East (Mr. Freeson) on 18th June.It is still too early to make a forecast for 1966.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the average cost of building a two-bed-roomed council house for the last available year as compared with 1951; and what is the comparison over the period of average cost of land, interest charges and economic rents.

The average tender price of a two-storey two-bedroomed council house was £2,082 in 1964 compared with £1,248 in 1951.Information about the cost of land is not available.As loans may be raised in different ways, sometimes with variable requirements as to payment of interest, interest charges cannot usefully be compared. Because most authorities pool their rents over their whole housing stock, what is an economic rent will vary from one authority to another.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what increase has taken place in the price of land for housing in the area of the Greater London Council in the last 15 years.

Strict comparison over the last 15 years is not possible, since the basis of compensation for land purchased by local authorities was changed by the Town and Country Planning Act, 1959; and information is available only about land purchased by housing authorities. The available records, which cover an area which is not quite identical with Greater London, show that since 1959 the cost of housing land inside the former L.C.C. area has increased by 275 per cent. and in the rest of the area by 330 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on progress made in installing baths, inside water closets, and hot water in houses requiring them.

By the end of April 448,000 standard improvement grants had been made, providing 187,000 dwellings with a bath or shower, 190,000 with a water closet and 292,000 with hot water. Detailed figures for each item are not available for discretionary grants, which have been approved for 446,000 dwellings, but it is a condition of grant that a dwelling must have all three when work is complete. It is not known how many of these items have been installed in dwellings without the aid of grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the increasing number of billboards in open fields along the railways, he will introduce legislation to enable him to secure their removal.

Advertisements of all kinds are already subject to control under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, and the regulations made under it. If my hon. Friend would let me have particulars of the cases he is concerned about I will look into the position.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the number of billboards along the roads in the neighbourhood of London Airport, he will seek to control them by use of his powers under the Town and Country Planning Acts.

The Staines Urban District Council recently submitted an order to bring advertisements on some roads near London Airport under special control. I understand that similar action for the Yiewsley and West Drayton area has also been considered; but I am making inquiries about the position and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the domestic difficulties of council house tenants are sometimes the cause of their being evicted; and if he will introduce legislation to allow tenants so aggrieved a right of appeal to him.

I feel sure that local authorities can generally be relied on to take sympathetic account of domestic difficulties in dealing with cases of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a further circular to local authorities about their handling of evictions from council houses, particularly where such evictions are the result of the domestic difficulties of the tenants.

I have no reason to think that further advice from me is necessary at present, but I am considering the particular case of which the hon. Member has sent me details.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps are being taken to encourage local authorities to establish all-purpose buildings for community services and other purposes.

How best to house their community services can only be decided by the individual local authority in the light of local knowledge. So much depends on the size and type of authority concerned, the extent of needs in the area, and local conditions generally, that my right hon. Friend doubts whether it is possible to give any useful general advice. He welcomes local initiative and experiment and the Department are always available for consultation in individual cases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will lift the restrictions on local government direct work departments to enable them to carry out industrialised building for their own and other local authorities.

A local authority may use its direct labour department to erect any buildings which the authority have power to provide, including industrialised buildings. Legislation would, however, be necessary to enable such an organisation to carry out work for another local authority. I hope shortly to issue a circular to local authorities about restrictions which are not required by Statute.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied with the progress being made on the planning aspects of the Lea Valley; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend understands that planning applications in respect of proposed housing development by the Greater London Council are likely to be in the hands of the Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils before the end of July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total revenue from the rates and Government grants, respectively, of all local authorities in the area of the Greater London Council for the last available year compared with 1951.

On the basis of rate demands for the current year, the approximate figures are:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the rate burden per head of the population in the area of the Greater London Council for the last available year compared with 1951.

Rates levied in the current year represent £37 2 0 per head of population. A broadly comparable figure for 1951–52 is estimated to be £10 16 0.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the figures of loan indebtedness for local authorities in the area of the Greater London Council for the last available year compared with 1951; and what is the comparison between the cost of servicing such loans.

The last year for which information about the loan debt of local authorities is available is 1963–64. I regret that estimates of the debt of local authorities in Greater London cannot be provided, either for 1951 or for 1963–64, because the figures relating to the debt of the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Kent and Surrey are not apportionable in the absence of detailed information about the distribution of assets and the loan charges outstanding on them. Firm information about the debt of the London Boroughs and the Greater London Council as at 31st March, 1966, should become available by autumn, 1966.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the radioactive life of the various types of effluent from nuclear power stations and Atomic Energy Authority establishments.

The principal radioactive constituent of the gaseous effluent discharged from nuclear power stations is argon 41, which has a half life of less than two hours, and the principal radioactive constituent in the liquid effluent is tritium, which has a half life of just over 12 years. In addition, gaseous, liquid and solid wastes contain small amounts of other radionuclides whose half lives vary from a few seconds to many hundreds of years.The radioactive substances in the wastes discharged from the various establishments of the Atomic Energy Authority vary according to the operations carried out there. At Capenhurst and Spring-fields the principal constituent of the discharges is uranium, which has a half life of many millions of years. In the discharges from most other Authority establishments the activity is mainly due to fission products with half lives ranging from a few seconds to about thirty years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how radioactive effluent from nuclear power stations and Atomic Energy Authority establishments is being disposed of at present; and what quantities are involved.

Gaseous wastes, after treatment where necessary, are discharged to the atmosphere, and low activity liquid wastes are normally discharged direct to watercourses or the sea. Depending on their nature and activity, solid wastes are either stored, disposed of by burial on special sites or dumped at sea.The high activity liquid wastes arising from the processing of irradiated nuclear fuel are stored indefinitely at the Atomic Energy Authority's Windscale Works.All radioactive wastes are disposed of in accordance with authorisations granted by my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.Information about the discharges of radioactive effluents from nuclear power stations is regularly given to the local authorities, who are members of the local liaison committee, in environmental monitoring reports. I will send my hon. Friend copies of the latest reports.The Atomic Energy Authority is producing an Environmental Monitoring Report for 1964, which will show the discharges authorised and actually made from their establishments. A copy will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied that the present arrangements for the disposal of radioactive waste will be adequate to cope with the greater quantity that will be produced when the number of nuclear power stations increases; and if he will make a statement.

The disposal of the relatively small amounts of waste which arise from the day-to-day operation of the stations presents no great problem. The principal solid and liquid radioactive wastes derive not from the operation of the stations themselves but from the processing of the irradiated fuel elements. These are withdrawn from the reactors from time to time and sent to the Atomic Energy Authority's Windscale Works, where they are processed in a special treatment plant.My right hon. Friend is satisfied that these arrangements will be adequate to meet demands arising from any foreseeable increase in the number of nuclear power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is aware of the practice adopted by his Department of not extending an invitation to Members of Parliament with 20–30 years' membership of the House of Commons to the dinners, lunches and receptions given by his Department and of extending more than one such invitation to Members with a limited membership of the House of Commons; and whether he will take steps to change this practice.

No. When extending invitations to Members of Parliament to attend receptions, luncheons and dinners, the majority of which are given for visiting Commonwealth personalities, careful consideration is given to individual Members' interest in any particular guest and the country he represents.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has received from the National Federation of Ironmongers, the National Federation of Plumbers and Builders' Merchants or other bodies regarding the interest acquired by the National Coal Board in J. H. Sankey & Son Ltd.; and what replies he sent.

None.

asked the Minister of Power how many cases there have been of gas appliances being blocked by dust particles; how many persons have been injured as a result of explosions following such blockages; what research is being done into the cause of such blockages; and if he will make a statement.

There has been a number of cases, but precise figures are not available. Blockages have occurred only sporadically and in limited areas. I am not aware of any explosions which have been caused in this way. The industry is satisfied that the causes of the trouble are known and that adequate remedial measures can be taken quickly where it occurs.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial aid she proposes to allocate to Gibraltar to offset the effect upon the economy of the Colony due to the frontier restrictions imposed by Spain.

I am unable to give the hon. Member precise figures of the development aid for Gibraltar until the Overseas Development and Service Bill which is still before the House has received the Royal Assent. I would, however, refer him to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on 15th April when she said that the Gibraltar Government will over the first three years of the currency of the new Bill receive at least half as much again in aid as they have been receiving in the latest period.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she is aware of the practice adopted by her Department over the years of not extending an invitation to Members of Parliament with 20–30 years' membership of the House of Commons to the dinners, lunches and receptions arranged by her Department, and of extending such invitations on more than one occasion to Members with a very limited membership of the House of Commons; and whether in the future she will take steps to change this practice.

When inviting Members of Parliament to attend receptions, luncheons and dinners, the majority of which are given for overseas personalities, careful consideration is given to individual Members' interests both in the subjects with which any particular guest may be concerned and in the country he represents.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for dealing with motorway dazzle and the danger of accidents caused by cars crossing the central reservation following the removal of the anti-dazzle crash barrier on the M.1.

The metal mesh screen on M.1. was designed solely as an anti-dazzle device, not as a crash barrier. Its removal will enable me to assess its effectiveness in reducing accidents. I am also experimenting with anti-dazzle planting on M.2. to see whether shrubs can survive in the difficult conditions prevailing on motorway central reserves.The crash barrier experiments on M.1 are still in progress. Two nine-mile lengths of double steel rail safety fence were erected recently and a further nine-mile length of a new type of cable safety fence being developed by the Road Research Laboratory will shortly be installed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now take steps to make the use of mud flaps on lorries compulsory, thereby ensuring that rear lights are not obscured by mud with the consequent danger to road safety.

Research into the use of existing types of mud flaps on lorries does not suggest their use would prevent rear lights being obscured by mud.I do not therefore propose to make the use of mud flaps compulsory at present, but I am seeking the co-operation of the motor industry in improving the mudguards of commercial vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take following the bad results of the roadside checks of motor lorries in the South Wales area; what representations he has received from South Wales road hauliers about the effects on road safety of the shortage of lorry parts for replacement; and what replies he has sent.

I have received no representations from South Wales hauliers about a shortage of spares, but I am informed that their maintenance advisory committee for goods vehicles (which is supported by my area representatives and the licensing authority) has been pursuing the matter with manufacturers.My plans for dealing with the general problem of the maintenance of lorries were set out in the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Lady Gammans) on 2nd June.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Committee on Carriers' Licensing.

The Report of the Committee on Carriers' Licensing, under the chairmanship of Lord Geddes, is being published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office and from H.M. Stationery Office.It is unfortunate that this Committee were given such narrow terms of reference, resulting in their considering only one aspect of the problem of road haulage, and road transport in isolation. In these circumstances, the Committee were precluded from making a more positive contribution to transport policy, which I am sure they could have made. The Government is nevertheless grateful to Lord Geddes and his Committee for the hard work and devotion they have brought to their task.The Geddes Committee have shown that in many respects the present licensing system provides ineffective regulation and consequently recommend its abolition. On the other hand, the Government believes that the nation cannot afford an unregulated, unco-ordinated road and rail transport system.The Government has in hand studies into the means whereby and the extent to which the transport of goods and passengers can best be co-ordinated and developed in the national interest. These studies will take full account of the Geddes Committee's conclusions and recommendations. Until the studies are completed, I cannot say whether or to what extent the Committee's recommendations will prove to be compatible with other policy proposals. Meanwhile, I shall welcome views of Members of the House, of interested organisations, and the public on the Report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for the East Midland Area has considered the proposal by the British Railways Board to withdraw the passenger train services between Kettering and Nottingham and Kettering and Leicester via Melton Mowbray, and to close certain intermediate stations and that the Committee expressed the view that the withdrawal of the services would inflict hardship upon various categories of passengers, and have made certain suggestions for alleviating the hardship; and what action he is taking in the light of the objections and suggestions of the Committee.

I am considering the Committee's report, which reached me three weeks ago, together with the other factors affecting these closures. It will be some little time before I can reach my decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total annual cost of maintaining the Royal Schools of Music and of Drama; how many places are available annually; what proportion of students subsequently teach; and what, in terms of earning capacity, this represents on the overall annual expenditure on the Royal Colleges.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is about £460,000, and to the second part 624 places. About three-quarters of the students from the Royal Manchester Colleges of Music go into teaching, and none from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. The Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music keep no record of what proportion of their students subsequently teach.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to issue to local authorities his intended circular on comprehensive secondary education.

Early next month.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that this country is behind many other countries in the publication of postage stamps to commemorate Sir Winston Churchill; if he will set up a committee to examine the delay in this case and in the case of the publication of the stamp to celebrate the 700th Anniversary of Simon de Montfort's Parliament; and if he will take steps to have their publication expedited.

I know that certain countries have already issued stamps to commemorate Sir Winston Churchill, but I see no purpose in setting up a committee as suggested by the hon. and gallant Member. As I explained in my Answers to his Questions on 2nd and 3rd June, the delay in putting these stamps on sale has been due to unofficial action by staff in our Supplies Depôts.Normal working has now been resumed, and the stamps will now be issued on the dates I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. Carol Johnson) on 21st June.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to be able to issue 4d. regional postage stamps to take account of the recent issue in letter postal charges.

I am sorry that I cannot at present add to my Answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Box) on 5th May.

asked the Minister of Labour what requests he has received from representatives of aircraft workers at Bristol Siddeley Engines, Patchway, for a personal interview to discuss methods of dealing with redundancy; and why he has refused to see them.

A committee of workers from this factory has on a number of occasions sought a meeting with myself and other Ministers to discuss the voluntary redundancy scheme at Bristol. While I am always glad to have the views of individual workers my view is that these are best conveyed through the normal union machinery.

asked the Minister of Labour what request the Government received from workers at Bristol Siddeley Engines, Patchway, that a spokesman should attend at the works for a discussion of the employment prospects of the 15,200 aircraft workers still employed there; and why he refused this request.

I do not consider that a discussion of the sort asked for would serve a useful purpose. The future size of the labour force at Patchway cannot at present be estimated.

asked the Minister of Labour how the average length of period of registered unemployment for disabled workers compares with the average length of period of registered unemployment for able-bodied workers.

The following tables analyse the wholly unemployed and the registered disabled unemployed in Great Britain at 11th January, 1965, according to duration of unemployment. Because the numbers of unemployed are not uniformly spread throughout the periods of unemployment into which they are grouped, average periods of unemployment are not available.

(a) Wholly unemployed in Great Britain at 11th January, 1965, according to duration of unemployment:

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has made with the establishment of industrial training boards for the electricity, gas and water supply industries.

I have laid before the House today Orders establishing these three Boards. The following persons have accepted my invitation to serve as Chairmen and Members respectively of these Boards:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the quarterly sales of liquid milk produced in Wales during 1962, 1963, 1964.

Sales of milk through the Milk Marketing Scheme in Wales during each quarter of 1962, 1963 and 1964 were as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the quarterly total of pigmeat production in Wales for the years 1962, 1963 and 1964;(2) what was the production of beef in Wales in 1962, 1963 and 1964;

Estimates of beef, mutton and lamb and pigmeat production in Wales are not at present available, but arrangements are being made for their publication in the Annual Digest of Welsh Agricultural Statistics after this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what air conditioning plant exists in H.M.S. "Ark Royal"; why a cooling system which has recently been installed is to be dismantled before

"Ark Royal" has five main air conditioning plants and 29 smaller self-contained plants. Their total capacity is about 4½ million British Thermal Units. No cooling system related to the air conditioning was dismantled before the ship sailed. The hon. Member may have in mind the removal of a drinking water cooler. This was removed to provide for an ice-cube-making machine which is of greater benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he received from Glasgow Corporation its proposals for the inner ring road project; on what date he approved the project; and how much of the estimated expenditure involved he has sanctioned to date.

The concept of an inner ring road was approved in principle in November, 1962, in the quinquennial review of Glasgow's development plan. It is agreed that the north and west sections should be built first, and they are estimated to cost about £25 million.A series of constructional schemes will be required and three have so far been submitted and approved.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to discover which Welsh local authorities do not provide social centre facilities for the physically handicapped.

In the near future I shall be asking all authorities to provide information about their health and welfare services, both existing and proposed, including those for the physically handicapped.

asked the Minister of Health how many physiotherapists were employed full time in the hospital service on 1st January, 1950, 1955, 1960, and at the nearest convenient date, respectively.

Following are the figures of physiotherapists employed full time in hospitals in England and Wales:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the range of

Following are the figures for a Hospital Physiotherapist (Basic Grade):

asked the Minister of Health how many ophthalmic opticians were employed full time and part time in the hospital eye service on 1st January, 1950, 1955, 1960, and at the nearest convenient date, respectively.

The following are the numbers of ophthalmic opticians employed in the hospital eye service.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the range of salaries paid to ophthalmic opticians employed in the hospital eye service on 1st January, 1950, 1955, 1960, and at present, respectively; and what is the value of the salary expressed in terms of the purchasing power of the pound sterling as at 1st January, 1950.

Following is the range of salaries paid to ophthalmic opticians in the hospital eye service:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the effects on the wool textile industry in this country of the special measures being implemented by the Italian Government to support the Italian textile industry; and what steps are being taken currently or in future to assist the industry in this country.

I am not aware of any special measures of support at present applied to the wool textile industry in Italy which would affect the industry in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that Welsh-speaking workers in Wales are always entitled to speak their native language during the course of their employment.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has the recent incident at Blaenau Ffestiniog under consideration. As regards the wider issues, I received last week, and am now considering, the report by the Committee under the chairmanship of Sir David Hughes Parry which was asked to clarify the legal status of the Welsh language and to consider whether any changes in the law ought to be made.