asked the Minister of Aviation if he will introduce legislation requiring all charter flights arranged by British travel agents and tour operators in connection with holidays abroad to conform to the air safety regulations required in Great Britain.

Operators of British aircraft undertaking charter flights must comply with United Kingdom safety regulations and hold an air operator's certificate of competency. Before a foreign operator is allowed to undertake charter flights here he must produce a similar certificate from his national authority.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a further statement on his talks with the United States Government on the option to purchase the F111 aircraft.

When I was in the U.S.A., I visited the General Dynamics factory at Fort Worth and was brought up to date on the progress on the project, but I had no discussion on the possibility of our taking up the option, which is being considered as part of the defence review.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now make a statement on whether the F111A is to be purchased from America.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, told the House on 2nd June, 1965.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement about the purchase of the F111.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence told the House on 2nd June, 1965.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give an assurance that no purchase of United States aircraft will be allowed to jeopardise the recently concluded Anglo-French aviation agreement; and if he will make a statement on talks or communications he has had on these matters with representatives of both the French and United States Governments.

Yes. The Anglo-French aviation agreement and our proposed purchases of United States aircraft are not in conflict, and this has been made clear in numerous discussions which my right hon. Friends and I have had with French and United States Ministers.

asked the Minister of Aviation what action he has taken, in the course of his negotiations for the purchase of Phantom and Hercules aircraft, to secure the adoption of British equipment, particularly wheels and brakes, for these aircraft.

We are specifying British-designed equipment for these aircraft where we consider it advantageous to do so, but we must have regard in each case for the effects on costs and delivery times. British equipment which might well be satisfactory in itself may entail additional costs to prove it in the environment of the American aircraft and to adapt the aircraft to take it. I would prefer not to make statements about individual items while details of the configuration of these aircraft are still under discussion.

asked the Minister of Aviation, in view of the high wastage rate in wheel and brake spares in the Hercules and Phantom aircraft to be supplied to the British services, and of the heavy dollar cost of such equipment, whether he will take steps to make arrangements to manufacture, to existing United States designs, such items of equipment and spares for these aircraft.

We hope to meet our requirements for some items of United States design by manufacture in this country under licence. In considering the balance of advantage in individual cases we shall take account of such factors as cost and the expected rate of consumption.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will arrange that parking charges at London Airport are fixed so that industrial representatives are not unduly penalised for a single night's parking when visiting branch factories in development areas or furthering exports by short continental visits.

There is no possibility of providing within the island site at London Airport parking space to meet the full demand at low rates of charge. The car park charges have therefore been raised to give priority to short-term parking. In order to assist travellers who wish to park their cars for longer periods, arrangements have been made with concessionaires appointed by my Department for these cars to be parked at garages off the airport, for about 8s. 6d. a day.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will improve arrangements at London Airport so that every method of public communication is used at the earliest moment to inform the public of flight cancellations caused by strikes, weather and other causes, so as to reduce the difficulties in passenger travelling at London Airport which now follow such cancellations.

I agree that earliest possible notice of cancellations is desirable. This is essentially a matter for the airlines concerned; but the airport management are well aware of the need for speed in making facilities available.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will arrange that parking charges at London Airport are fixed so that industrial representatives are not unduly penalised for a single night's parking when visiting branch factories in Scotland and other development areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, South (Mr. Corfield).

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that the time spent by an international passenger pass? ing through London Airport is considerably longer than at other comparable international airports; and how soon he expects the recent re-organisation plans for London Airport to alleviate the present delays.

London Airport carries very much more international traffic than any other airport in the world, but I am not aware that international passengers take significantly longer to pass through the airport and the essential control services than they do elsewhere. New facilities to deal efficiently with the rapidly increasing volume of traffic will be completed in 1968.

asked the Minister of Aviation what discussions he has had with the French Minister of Aviation on Anglo-French co-operation in the production of helicopters.

The two Governments have identified helicopters as a possible area for collaboration. Detailed discussions, however, must await clarification of our own future military requirements.

asked the Minister of Aviation what study he has made of the Russian aircraft displayed at the Paris Air Exhibition, with a view to getting an option for purchase.

I was an interested viewer of the Russian aircraft in Paris, but I would hesitate to describe my observations as amounting to a study. I am not contemplating a purchase.

asked the Minister of Aviation what are the terms of Mr. Masefield's appointment as chairman of the Airports Authority.

asked the Minister of Aviation why he has not appointed a full-time chairman of the London Airport Authority.

I have appointed Mr. Masefield to be Chairman of the Authority for a period of five years at a salary of £6,000. His appointment requires him to devote such time to the Authority's affairs as I think necessary. For this task I regard expert knowledge, energy and flexibility of mind as more important than full-time attendance and I am convinced that Mr. Masefield has these qualities in full measure.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will ensure that all firms in the aircraft industry are given a chance to tender for sub-contracts concerning new aircraft ordered from abroad in replacement of cancelled British aircraft projects.

Suitable British firms are being invited to tender for items to be incorporated in the Phantom and Hercules aircraft which we are ordering from the U.S.A.

asked the Minister of Aviation what plans he has for engines for the Lockheed C130 transport aircraft to be purchased from the United States of America.

We are considering whether the aircraft to be built for us should have Rolls-Royce Tyne engines instead of the Allison engines at present used in this design of aircraft, but if we do decide to have Tynes, they would be incorporated on the production line in America. I hope to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the names of sub-contractors who were supplying components for the TSR2 aircraft, and the estimated value of each contract.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the information which I gave in reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 12th April last. It would not be in accordance with practice to disclose the value of each contract.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the extent of the development required to convert the Comet to its proposed maritime role; and what will be the cost of each completed aircraft.

Conversion of the Comet to the maritime reconnaissance role will involve re-engining with the Spey, a special equipment fit and consequent modifications to the airframe. Negotiations on price are about to start.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will issue a general direction to British European Airways, in the public interest, to prepare a standard emergency plan to deal with the situation which arises when a number of flights have to be cancelled because of strikes, fog and other circumstances.

No. I have full confidence in B.E.A.s ability to make adequate preparations for dealing with emergencies.

asked the Minister of Aviation what are the reasons for the recent increases in car parking charges at Edinburgh Airport, Turn-house; and if he will now reduce these charges.

The object is to limit the demand for the restricted parking space available. A reduction in the charges would not improve the efficiency of the airport and could well impair it.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he expects the Anglo-French variable geometry fighter to become operational.

In the second half of the 1970s.

asked the Minister of Aviation what civilian and military transport aircraft due to come into service during the next 10 years and having a short take-off and landing capability are currently either under development or are being purchased from abroad or for which specifications are being prepared; and in each case how their short take-off and landing capability performance will compare with that of the HS681.

A continuing programme of research work into V/STOL techniques is being undertaken by my Department but no decisions have yet been taken on the specification, development or purchase of STOL transport aircraft for future civil or military use.

asked the Postmaster-General how the total amount received from telephone subscribers to the telephone service in Shrewsbury, when divided by the number of subscribers in the last 12-month period before the introduction of the subscriber trunk dialling system, compares with the figure for the last available 12-month period.

The figure for the Shrewsbury exchange area for the last available 12-month period is £65. I am sorry that a comparable figure for the 12-month period prior to the introduction of STD in July, 1961, cannot now be given since the bills rendered to subscribers in that period are no longer available.

asked the Postmaster General how often supplies of telephone directories at London underground stations are checked; and why, among 36 telephone directories at Tottenham Court Road underground station public telephone boxes, there is no copy of the L-R directory.

The availability of telephone directories is checked every other day at the main underground stations in London and twice weekly at the remainder. I am sorry that, due to a temporary shortage of copies of the L-R directory, the books which had been taken from the Tottenham Court Road station over a period were not immediately replaced, but this has now been put right.

asked the Postmaster General what was the cost of damage done to telephone kiosks by vandalism in each of the last five years; how many persons have been prosecuted for this

The figures are as follows:

Year	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964
		£	£	£	£
Vandalism
Estimated cost (including damage in course of theft).	Basis for estimate not available	57,000	67,000	90,000	150,000
Prosecutions	223	291	390	388	464

I deplore this greatly increased damage to a valued public amenity and everything possible is being done to stop it. I hope that the general public and other authorities will play their part in helping to avoid this waste of public money and serious inconvenience to the users of the telephone service.

asked the Postmaster General how many applicants are waiting for telephone installations in Wellingborough; and what is the average period of delay.

Leaving aside orders in course of completion there are 63 applicants waiting for telephones in two of the eight exchange areas mainly serving the constituency of Wellingborough; there are no applications outstanding the remaining six. The composition of the waiting list is constantly changing and it is not possible to give a reliable waiting period. More exchanges and cables are already being provided in the Wellingborough area and I expect all the applications at present waiting to be met before mid–1966.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are awaiting telephone installation in Nottinghamshire; what is the average delay anticipated and what equipment is required.

Leaving aside orders in course of completion, two hundred and seventy applications for telephones are delayed because of shortage of exchange equipment in 9 of the 53 exchange areas mainly serving Nottinghamshire. The provision of additional equipment is in hand and those at present waiting should get service progressively between now and November this year.

asked the Postmaster-General when suitable books of stamps will be on sale to the public.

A new 6s. book containing 18 fourpenny stamps was put on sale on 21st June. Other new books are in preparation and I shall announce the details shortly. The old range of books is still on sale except for the 4s. 6d. book which contained 3d. stamps only and was withdrawn on 17th May.

asked the Postmaster-General when he now plans to issue books of 4d. stamps.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) earlier today.

asked the Postmaster-General what conditions regarding age and physical fitness are required of drivers of mail vans containing registered mail; and why such drivers, especially elderly ones, are not accompanied as an additional security measure.

Drivers of mail vans must be over 20 and physically fit. Practically all mail van services are liable at some time to carry registered mail and, while escorts are provided in a number of instances, I do not think they would be justified generally as an additional security measure.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will change the postal address of Frimley, Surrey, from Frimley, near Aldershot, Hampshire, to Frimley, Surrey.

Proposals to give Frimley the address Frimley, Camberley, Surrey are being considered. I hope the change of address can be made at about the middle of 1966.

asked the Posmaster-General what charges are being made to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority for the use of the satellite ground station at Goonhilly Down for relaying Early Bird transmissions across the Atlantic.

A charge of £40 a minute is now being made for the use of all the European earth stations with free use of the Satellite facilities. From 28th June the system will be in commercial use and a comprehensive charge will be made for the use of European ground stations and the satellite facility. The amount of the charge is still under discussion with the other Administrations who will be cooperating in providing the service: it will be notified to the broadcasting organisations later this week. I will then send the hon. Member particulars.

asked the Postmaster-Gentleral what steps are being taken to improve television reception in Wellingborough and other areas in the constituency of Wellingborough.

Improvements in the quality of reception of television services in particular localities are primarily the responsibility of the broadcasting authorities concerned. The B.B.C. are aware that improvements are needed in Wellingborough and are considering what can be done in this and other areas where reception of their programmes is unsatisfactory. The I.T.A. hope that their new station at Sandy Heath to serve the Bedford/Peterborough area, which opens next month, will give improved service in Wellingborough.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the subjects he discussed during his recent visit to the continent of Europe, including Denmark; with whom he discussed them; and what results he achieved, with particular reference to the Scottish fishing industry and other Scottish industry and exports from Scotland.

I recently visited Denmark, at the invitation of the Danish Minister of Agriculture, in order to meet him and see something of Danish agriculture. I had useful and informative informal discussions on a variety of topics of mutual interest with Danish Ministers and agricultural personalities, but I engaged in no negotiation and no decisions were taken. In our conversations no specific reference was made to the subjects mentioned by my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many shell eggs have been imported from the Polish Republic and how many from Cuba between November, 1964 and the latest convenient date; and how these amounts accord with the existing quota agreements.

Between November, 1964 and April, 1965, the latest month for which figures are available, 136,726 boxes of eggs were imported from Poland. There were no imports from Cuba during this period but a small quantity has arrived since. There are no quantitative restrictions on the imports of shell eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present strength of the fishery protection squadron; how many arrests it has made since the extension of British fishing limits; and what penalties have been imposed.

The present strength of the fishery protection squadron is 10 vessels (4 frigates and 6 coastal mine-sweepers). Since the extension of British fishery limits on 30th September, 1964, five French and five Belgian vessels have been arrested for infringements of fishery limit regulations. The penalties imposed have ranged from absolute discharge in one case to fines of the maximum penalty of £250 plus confiscation of gear and costs. One of the Belgian vessels and four additional French vessels which have been arrested have been charged with using nets with meshes below the prescribed minimum size. The penalties imposed for these offences have ranged from £75 to £200 plus costs with the confiscation of the offending nets.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations have been made to the Danish Government regarding the capture, off the Greenland coast, of quantities of salmon bearing tag marks indicating origin in the British Isles;(2) whether he will set up a committee to look into the damage done to the British salmon fishing industry by the capture off Greenland of quantities of salmon bearing tag marks indicating origin in the British Isles.

Danish scientists have co-operated with ours in the study of this problem and, as I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 17th June, the number of tagged fish of British origin caught in Greenland is up to the present time very small compared with the number of such fish caught in British waters.The problem was discussed at a recent meeting of the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, which is the body responsible for fisheries conservation in the area and the Danish Government is well aware of the anxiety which we and the other countries concerned feel. All member countries have been asked to conduct research into the possible effects of the Greenland fishing on their salmon fisheries. In view of the international character of the problem I do not consider that these researches would be facilitated by the establishment of a committee in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the statutory rights of appeal available to a district nurse dismissed by a local authority in Scotland are less favourable than in England; and if he will introduce legislation to remedy this.

There is no statutory right of appeal against dismissal for district nurses employed by local authorities in either country and I am not satisfied that any such provision is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present strength of the Scottish fishery protection squadron; how many arrests it has made since the extension of British fishing limits; when these arrests were made; and what penalties have been imposed.

The protection fleet operated by my Scottish Fisheries Department numbers eight vessels. It has made two arrests of foreign fishing vessels for infringements of British fishery limits since the limits were extended on 30th September last. Both these arrests were made off the Butt of Lewis on 17th May last and the skippers were each fined £60.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions the Government have reached regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the committee appointed under the chairmanship of Lord Kilbrandon to examine the law of Scotland relating to juvenile delinquency and juveniles in need of care or protection; and if he will make a statement.

The report has been carefully studied together with observations on it received from interested bodies. The Government have come to the conclusion that there would be substantial advantages in seeking to deal with the prevention and treatment of delinquency in the way recommended by the Committee, and accordingly propose to bring forward legislation in due course for the establishment of juvenile panels in Scotland on the lines recommended by the Committee.The effective establishment of a system of juvenile panels will require suitably organised support from the social work services, though not necessarily based, as the Kilbrandon Committee recommended, on the education authority.The Government are at present considering how best the social work services in Scotland may be reorganised in order to provide the comprehensive casework service recommended by the Kilbrandon Committee. I shall, of course, make a further statement on this in due course, when I have had an opportunity for discussion with those concerned with this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions now exist in Scotland for cervical smear tests for women at risk.

Facilities for such examination are now available throughout Scotland to all women with symptoms and also in some areas to women without symptoms. With co-operation between the hospital service, local health authorities and general practitioners I am sure that it will be possible to move towards a general screening of women without symptoms; and in order to determine the best way of doing this one pilot project has already started, and another is being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work is likely to commence on the proposed high-level bridge at Erskine; when it will be completed; and whether the bridge will be toll-paying.

I hope work will start within the period 1965–69, and the bridge should take about three years to build. As indicated by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, during the proceedings on the Severn Bridge Tolls Bill, it is our policy that tolls are an appropriate method of financing large river crossings such as this. I hope to discuss the financial arrangements further with the Joint Committee soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to alter the system of grants for marginal land so that farms below a certain size will qualify irrespective of the percentage of dairy produce.

The position of upland dairy farms under the Winter Keep Scheme will be considered as part of the review of the problems of the hill and upland areas referred to in the 1965 Annual Review White Paper, but I cannot anticipate the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, (1)what was the number of the last entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, and the numbers who were the sons of ratings, officers commissioned from the lower deck and cadet-entry officers, respectively;(2) what was the number of the last entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, of officers' and ratings' sons, respectively, with both parents living, one parent deceased and both parents deceased, respectively.

Of the 36 boys who were entered at the beginning of the current term, 33 were the sons of ratings, of whom three had only one parent still living; two were sons of officers commissioned from the lower deck, with both parents living; and one was the son of a direct entry officer, with only one parent living.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present complement of boys at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; what percentage are the sons of past and present Royal Navy officers; and what percentage are the sons of other ranks of the Royal Navy.

The complement is 660 although at present this has been somewhat exceeded. Of these boys 28·5 per cent. are sons of R.N. officers and 68½1 per cent. the sons of R.N. ratings. The sons of Merchant Seamen entered into the School make up the other 3·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of each annual intake of boys in the last five years into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, were the sons of past and present officers of the Royal Navy;

The following table shows the percentage of each annual intake of officers' and ratings' sons in the last five years:

Year			R.N. Officers' Sons	R.N. Ratings' Sons
1960	…	…	27·0	71·5
1961	…	…	29·9	67·3
1962	…	…	28·0	70·5
1963	…	…	26·2	68·4
1964	…	…	33·3	63·0

These percentages do not include the sons of merchant seamen at the school.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many boys leaving the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, entered the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, in each of the last five years.

A total of 16 boys have gained Dartmouth cadetships in the last five years as follows:

Year				Number of boys
1960	…	…	…	3
1961	…	…	…	2
1962	…	…	…	2
1963	…	…	…	5
1964	…	…	…	4

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of boys at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, whose fathers are officers or ratings, respectively, for whom fees are charged; what is the amount of the fees.

Of the 675 boys 214 are the sons of officers; of these 211 pay fees ranging from £4 to £100 per annum. Of the 461 sons of ratings, 457 pay fees ranging from £4 to £100 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of boys at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, whose fathers are officers or ratings, respectively, for whom fees are charged, who are reimbursed from naval funds or by the local education authority, respectively; and what is the number of parents who themselves have to pay fees.

Of the 675 boys in the school at the beginning of the spring term there were 7 for whom no fees were charged. For 37 boys reduced fees were charged. For the remaining 631 boys full fees were paid as follows:

By serving officers in receipt of Naval Education Allowance	120
By serving ratings in receipt of Navy Education Allowance	185
By parents with full Local Education Authority grants	92
By parents with full Local Education Authority assistance	97
By parents without assistance	137

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of widows of naval ratings with sons at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, who themselves have to pay fees, and the range of yearly fees; and why widows have to pay fees at a school founded for the free education and maintenance of orphans of naval ratings.

There are 48 boys at the Royal Hospital School whose mothers are the widows of naval ratings. In 27 cases the full fee is paid by local education authorities. In a further 13 cases the local education authorities have assessed grants of less than the full amount and the parent is paying the balance. In the remaining eight cases—including three where the mother has remarried—where the parent has been unable to obtain assistance from the local education authorities, fees have been remitted entirely in two instances, and reduced in six.The fees paid range from £4 to £69 per annum, with an overall average of £23 per annum.Referring to the second part of the hon. and gallant Member's question, the Greenwich Hospital Charter does not refer to free education.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what new aircraft are being developed or purchased or for which specifications are being prepared which will provide the Royal Air Force over the next 15 years with adequate reconnaissance capability.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 2nd June about our plans for all weather reconnaissance at the end of this decade. In addition, the P 1127 is planned to have a day photographic reconnaissance capability. At this stage in the current Defence Review it is not possible to detail our additional reconnaissance plans for the following decade but, for example, the variable geometry aircraft we are studying with the French would probably have a reconnaissance capability.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the experimental use of hovercraft in anti-submarine warfare.

We are actively examining the possible use of hovercraft in this rôle. Trials have just begun at Londonderry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and men to be employed in the new Polaris base in Faslane are now being trained at Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America; what costs have been incurred up to 20th June; what is now the daily cost; what is his estimate of the total cost when this training will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Six officers and 12 ratings are now being trained at Dam Neck, near Norfolk, Virginia. The average daily cost of training is about £2 per man. The total training cost is estimated at £56,000 of which £11,000 approximately had been spent on 30th April, 1965. The performance of officers and men under training has been admirable.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to ensure that fish is delivered to as many areas under the new delivery scheme as under the old scheme.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future of passenger services on the Richmond to Broad Street railway line.

The London Midland Region of British Railways announced on 21st June that they no longer intend to withdraw these services.

asked the Minister of Transport, if he is aware that, despite the assurance given in the vehicle registration book that no person would be prosecuted for failing to renew a vehicle excise licence within 14 days of the expiry of the old licence, such prosecutions, resulting in conviction and fining of the accused, are continuing; whether he will now introduce legislation to clarify the position; and if he will make a statement.

As I said in my Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern) on 17th May, I am not aware of any case where proceedings have been taken against a motorist who has renewed his vehicle excise licence within fourteen days of the expiry of his previous one. If, however, the hon. Member has information to the contrary which he can give me, I shall be very ready to investigate it.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of road accidents involving motor cars was attributed to motorists driving at speeds in excess of the authorised levels in 1963 and 1964, respectively.

This information is not available. To classify accidents by reference to speed alone would be misleading, since other factors are present in many of them. It is, in any case, difficult to establish speeds after the accident.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the Report of the World Meteorological Organisation relating accidents to weather conditions, he will ask the Road Research Laboratory to investigate any correlation between weather and road accidents over holiday periods.

The importance of weather as a factor affecting vision and road surfaces is well known. Any new evidence in this report that it has a physiological effect will be studied with interest by the Road Research Laboratory.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the establishment of staff of the British Waterways Board, and what is the number at present in post in the United Kingdom, and in each region; and what were the corresponding figures on 31st October, 1964, and 30th May, 1965.

I understand from the Board that it would be misleading to give establishment figures, since the undertaking has—as explained in the Board's Annual Report—been in the process of reorganisation during the period to which the question relates. The number of the Board's employees, as at 31st October, 1964, and 28th May, 1965, was as follows:

Area	Number 31st October, 1964	Employed 28th May, 1965
South (including Head-quarters Staff)	1,707	1,714
North	1,694	1,640
Scotland	164	151
	3,565	3,505

These figures cover all employees, except dock workers allocated daily from the National Dock Labour Board's pool. There has been no significant change between 28th May and the present.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Waterways Board to recruit suitable staff replacements following the internal reorganisation of the Board, which necessitated the transfer of its offices.

No. This is a matter of internal management. I understand, however, that the Board's policy is to recruit suitable staff to such vacancies as cannot be filled by redeployment and promotion within the undertaking.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement about the financial problems revealed in the London Transport Board's annual report for 1964.

The Board have reported that they are finding it increasingly difficult to meet both the duties imposed on them by Parliament; to provide an adequate service and to pay their way taking one year with another. In particular they consider that the maximum revenue that could now be derived from fares increases, taking into account the loss of passenger traffic which would result, could not be sufficient to enable the Board to attain a fully satisfactory financial position. In these circumstances the Government have concluded that a thorough examination of the conditions under which the Board operate is necessary, including the possibility of even more extensive traffic management measures and also other measures of restraint of traffic. The Government are anxious that whilst this examination is being carried out the attractiveness of the Board's services should not be lessened and have accordingly asked the Board to agree to postpone action for fares increases. The Government appreciate that in the meantime the Board's finances will deteriorate. (The Board estimate that the fares increases they had in mind would have brought in £3·85 million by the end of this calender year.) The Government have therefore given an assurance that they will find means of ensuring that the Board does not have to bear the loss in revenue caused by this postponement. In the light of this assurance the Board have agreed to postpone the fares increases they had planned for this year. The Government propose to review the matter again with the Board with a view to the taking of fresh decisions to be effective not later than the beginning of 1966.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans she has to help the Government of British Guiana to secure a modern and comprehensive geological survey of that territory.

The British Guiana Government has its own Geological Survey Department which has been active since 1867. It is largely British staffed. However, we recently told the British Guiana Commissioner in London that we would gladly offer the services of our own Overseas Geological Surveys as well if the British Guiana Government wished this; this matter was carried further yesterday in a meeting here with the British Guiana Minister without Portfolio.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the proportion of the managers in British industry who have received some formal external training in management subjects.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a recent report of the National Economic Development Council. This contains the results of a survey showing that 14 per cent. of the executives in the companies which took part had attended external management courses in the three years prior to the survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total sum spent by his Department on education in the latest convenient year; for every pound spent on formal education, how much was spent on the youth services by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the position of the youth service in relation to the recommendations of the Albemarle Report.

The total of Votes 2, 3 and 7 of the 1965–66 Estimates, Class VII, excluding expenditure on School Meals and Milk, is £239,354,000; the amount provided in Vote 2 for the Youth Service is £1,887,000. A comparison of this figure with the equivalent amount of £229,000 in 1959–60 illustrates the development of the Youth Service since the Albemarle Report though most of the public expenditure on education and the Youth Service is borne by Local Authorities and is not on my Department's Votes. Considerable progress has been made in implementing the recommendations contained in the Report; in particular, the number of full-time youth leaders has increased from 700 to about 1,200, and 1,822 capital projects have been programmed in England and Wales since 1960. A committee of the Youth Service Development Council is now reviewing the objectives of the Albemarle Report and will in due course make recommendations to the Council for the future development of the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide statistics comparing passes in O and A level General Certificate of Education examinations per 1,000 pupils undergoing all types of secondary education in Norfolk, and in any comparable area where a comprehensive system has been in operation for five or more years for all children in that area.

The statistics collected by my Department do not enable me to provide this information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now introduce self-adhesive envelopes into House of Commons stationery.

Although self-adhesive envelopes are in some respects more convenient than the conventional gummed envelopes, they have a number of disadvantages as well as being considerably more expensive. I will certainly consider any representations which I may receive on this subject from the Select Committee on Publications and Debates Reports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise his policy of excluding the nationalised industries from the restraint imposed on the growth of the public sector expenditure of 4¼ per cent. per annum since they contribute nothing in taxation from profits for the maintenance of the Welfare State, and make no direct contribution to exports, but are an immediate strain on sterling; and if he will make a statement.

As the premises on which the hon. Member's Question is based are false, the answer is No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost of staffing London Airport with Customs and Excise officers; and how much additional revenue is produced as a result of their activities.

The current total cost of those employed on clearing passengers' baggage at London Airport is £455,000 per annum. During the last financial year they collected £406,000 revenue. Their duties are, of course, essentially preventive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the speed at which passengers are enabled to proceed through Customs at London Airport; and if he will institute a survey of the average times in which Customs clearance is obtained at London as compared with such other international airports at Idlewild, Orly, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, or any other such airports as he may judge to be broadly comparable.

I am not entirely satisfied with the present position; nor are the Customs. They are reviewing the whole process of passenger clearance, and methods in use in other countries are being studied.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) in view of the fact that wage increases for 1965 have averaged 6½ per cent., against 4½ per cent. in 1964 and the Government's norm of 3½ per cent., and are raising prices unduly, if he will take steps to prevent all wage increases not directly linked to increased production, and to prevent British goods from being priced out of world export markets and a further run on sterling; and if he will make a statement;

As my right hon. Friend said in reply to the hon. Gentleman on 3rd June, this is a policy in which management, the trade unions and the Government are jointly concerned. We must all fight to make it effective. Ministers have been taking vigorous steps, in speeches, in special publications prepared for widespread distribution, and in other ways to secure a wider understanding in all sections of society of the vital importance of these issues to the whole country. I do not think that at the present time a further White Paper would necessarily be helpful, but we are always willing to consider constructive suggestions.

asked the Minister of Health what is the proportion of amenity beds to all beds available for hospital admissions under the National Health Service; and if he will give the figures for the city of Manchester.

1·0 per cent. and 1·9 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health what is the proportion of amenity beds to all beds available for maternity cases under the National Health Service; and if he will give the figures for the city of Manchester.

National figures are not centrally available; the proportion for the city of Manchester is 1·0 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health what is the proportion of first, second and subsequent confinements admitted to hospitals under the National Health Service; and if he will give the figures for Manchester.

The following were the percentages in 1964 for mothers resident in England and Wales and the Manchester County Borough:

	First confinement	Second confinement	Subsequent confinements
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
England and Wales	84	57	56
Manchester County Borough	81	50	51

asked the Minister of Health what is the proportion of all maternity cases admitted to hospitals under the National Health Service in the city of Manchester discharged within 48 hours of birth.

1·88 per cent., calculated from the sample figure provided by the latest Hospital In-patient Enquiry.

asked the Minister of Health, if he will give details of the incidence of venereal disease amongst specific groups of the population, such as merchant seamen, immigrants, Her Majesty's forces, prostitutes, both female and male, and teenagers; and if he will give comparative figures over the last five years.

The numbers of cases among young persons below the age of 20 years treated in clinics in 1963 and 1964 are as follows:

Primary and Secondary Syphilis			Male	Female	Total
1963	…	…	62	42	104
1964	…	…	80	40	120
Gonorrhoea			Male	Female	Total
1963	…	…	1,919	2,060	3,979
1964	…	…	2,275	2,387	4,662

Figures for earlier years, and for the other groups mentioned, are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the membership of the Food Hygiene Advisory Council; and whether results from this Council are confidential to him alone.

The Chairman of the Food Hygiene Advisory Council is Lord Strang and the members are:

• Mr. S. W. Barnes.
• Mr. L. F. Cadwallader, O.B.E., F.R.I.S.
• The hon. Daphne Courthope.
• Mr. R. W. H. Covell, O.B.E.
• Mr. H. Crane, O.B.E.
• Mr. C. W. Fulker, O.B.E.
• Mr. J. D. Hiscock, O.B.E.
• Alderman F. J. Jackson, J.P.
• Mr. R. Loosley.
• Miss F. E. Morkam.
• Sir Frank Shires.
• Mr. A. E. Simms, F.H.C.I.
• Sir Harry Sinderson, K.B.E., C.M.G., M.V.O.

The Council advises my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and myself on food hygiene and related matters. Its advice is confidential and we decide how best to give effect to it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he expects to announce his decision on the Oxford Development plan within the present session of Parliament; and what is the latest probable date of his decision.

The inspector has only just completed his report. Just when the decision will be reached my right hon. Friend cannot yet say, but it will not be before August.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the cost in 1964 of supplementary and other benefits paid to registered disabled unemployed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. A proportion of the people concerned will also be receiving pensions in respect of their disabilities, though an estimate of what the cost of these would be cannot be made.

asked the Minister of Power how many farmers have received compensation from electricity boards for losses suffered due to supply failure from the year 1959 to date.

I regret that this information could not be obtained without an excessive expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister of Labour what cost was in 1964 of unemployment benefits for registered disabled unemployed.

I cannot say exactly because payments to the disabled are not recorded separately, but the figure must be round about £8–9 million. It is estimated that in the financial year 1964–65 £74 million were paid out in unemployment benefit and national assistance to people registered at Employment Exchanges as unemployed and about 12 per cent. of these people were registered disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what effect the standstill on new office building contracts imposed last November has had on the redeployment of building materials to housing needs in Greater London;(2) what effect the standstill on new office building contracts imposed last November has had on the redeployment of building labour, craftsmen and designers to housing needs in Greater London.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave him on the 18th June.

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects to complete his study of the electronics and telecommunications industries.

The various studies of the telecommunications and electronics industries on which my Department is engaged are part of a continuing review of these two industries.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the main projects in which there is official technological co-operation with European countries.

Official technological collaboration with European countries is undertaken by a number of departments within their respective responsibilities.The main projects in defence and aviation were given by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister of Aviation respectively in the former's statement on 17th May and the latter's Answers to the hon. Members for Leicester, South-East (Mr. Peel) and Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 17th March.Other main projects are the Channel Tunnel, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, and collaboration on space technology through the European Space Research Organisation (E.S.R.O.) in the field of responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.In my own areas of responsibility, the main projects in collaboration with other members of the European Nuclear Energy Agency (E.N.E.A.) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (O.E.C.D.) are the Dragon High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor project at Winfrith, Dorset and the Boiling Heavy-Water Reactor project at Halden, Norway. My Department is also developing co-operation with other European countries in its inquiry on standards practice.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the organisations which the Computer Advisory Unit is currently advising.

In addition to Government Departments, the Computer Advisory Service is at present advising, five local authorities, two gas boards and one water board.

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects to complete his examination, in consultation with the other Government Departments concerned, of how the purchasing power of the Government can best be used to promote a policy of stimulating technological progress.

This examination will be a continuing one and not a once-for-all operation. Initially at least it is likely to lead to proposals for action on specific, narrow, aspects of the subject rather than any general change of policy over the whole field of Government procurement.

asked the Minister of Technology what arrangements are being made for publication of reports on research by the British Industrial Biological Research Association into the toxic effects of food additives; and if he will make a statement.

The first report on food additives is about to be published in the Association's bulletin and, later, in the technical journal "Food and Cosmetics Toxicology". Future reports will be published similarly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the use by manufacturers and retailers of retail prices in guineas, or fractions of guineas, is confusing to the public; and if he will take steps to abolish the practice.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any serious confusion as a result of this practice and he sees no reason to introduce legislation to deal with it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the publicly-owned industries he proposes to establish in the Merseyside area, indicating how much capital will be invested, the number of proposed workers, the source of managements, the potentialities of export trade, and the estimated profits; how soon he plans that production will start; why his choice has fallen on specific trades; and if he will make a statement.

I have no statement to make at present; but I have in mind the possibility of locating such enterprises in development districts should the occasion arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will compile and make available statistics of imports of chemicals which are not made in this country for the periods November 1964-May 1965, inclusive, and November 1963-May 1964, inclusive.

I regret that it is not possible from the trade statistics to distinguish those chemicals which are not made in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the floor area of the approved planning applications for new office building which have not proceeded as a result of the standstill on new office building contracts imposed last November in Greater London.

This information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the grounding of the Aberdeen trawler "Craigievar" on Eday Island, at Red Point, Orkney, about 8th June and her subsequent rescue by the inter-island ship "Orcadia" and indicate the damage caused thereby and the amount and destination of salvage involved.

The "Craigievar" stranded on Red Head in Eday, Orkney, in thick fog at 8 a.m. on 8th June. The m.v. "Orcadia" passed a radio message requesting assistance to Wick Radio Station. The fishing vessel "Press On" took off four of "Craigievar's" crew of six, and the Stronsay lifeboat was launched at 8.55 a.m. The "Craigievar" was not damaged, however, and was refloated without assistance at 11 a.m. None of the crew were injured. I have no information as to whether salvage was involved.