asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will issue a White Paper outlining his proposals in regard to leasehold reform.

I have nothing to add at present to the statement I made on 8th December.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to make it an offence for owners of property covered by a compulsory purchase order to let premises without disclosing that such an order is in existence.

I am not aware that this is a widespread problem, but if my hon. Friend has any evidence, perhaps he will let me have details.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether he will review the salary scale of persons serving on rent tribunals; and if he will make a statement.

The fees for persons serving on rent tribunals were increased by one third from the beginning of this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he proposes to seek powers to compel local housing authorities to introduce rent rebate schemes.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is now his forecast of housing starts in the calendar year 1965; how many of these will be in the public and private sectors, respectively; and how these figures compare with those of the calendar year 1964.

426,000 houses were started in Great Britain last year and I expect about the same number this year. Last year public authorities accounted for 42 per cent. of the total; this year their share should be about 45 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many building societies have increased their loans rate to 7 per cent.; and if he will state his policy on this.

I do not know the exact figures, but I understand that few building societies have done so. The Government do not exert control over the interest rate policies of building societies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give consideration to the raising of the £400 limit on improvement grants for houses.

Yes. My right hon. Friend's current examination of the improvement grants system will cover this point.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1957, relating to standards of unfitness for human habitation is interpreted uniformly by all local authorities.

A sub-committee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee has been appointed to advise my right hon. Friend on the problem of identifying unfit houses. They are considering means of establishing more objective standards.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to redefine more accurately the term "slum" as guidance to local authorities in measuring and acting upon the housing needs of their areas.

A sub-committee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee has been appointed to advise my right hon. Friend on the problem of identifying unfit houses. They are considering means of establishing more objective standards.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to set up local authority registers of houses for sale; and what discussions he has had on this matter with professional estate agents' bodies.

My Department have had preliminary discussions with officers of some local authorities, about the feasibility of the experimental arrangement described by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on 4th June.So far I have had no discussions with bodies representative of estate agents, but if any of them wishes to make representations to me I will gladly consider them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what information he has available or has called for concerning the number of one-bedroom or single-room flatlets in Bournemouth which are over-occupied and inadequately provided with toilet, washing, cooking, and storage facilities; and what new measures he proposes to alleviate the shortage of available accommodation and to encourage landlords to improve their properties.

The 1961 census shows that 917 households in Bournemouth were occupying shared dwellings of one or two rooms without exclusive use of a cooking stove or sink; but the census does not give separate information about toilet or food storage facilities in those cases. Eighty-four of these households were living at a density of more than one and a half persons per room. My right hon. Friend has asked local authorities to review housing needs in their areas and to let him have building programmes for four years ahead and he is urging a big extension in the use of industrialised building methods. He is reviewing the improvement grants system to see how it can be made more effective.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total number of representations concerning the effects of the Protection from Eviction Act which he has received from owners of hotels, guest-houses or other similar establishments letting rooms for short periods; and, in view of these, what action he now proposes to take to prevent abuse by tenants.

The total number of such representations is 53 including four from the hon. Gentleman. The total number of actual cases of difficulty reported to me is 18. The remedy in such cases is prompt legal action by the landlord.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to make it a legal offence for a landlord to fail to issue a rent book to a tenant.

The law already requires the landlord, where the rent is payable weekly, to provide a rent book containing the landlord's name and address and, if the tenancy is subject to the Rent Acts or the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, a statement of the rent payable under those Acts. I know that the Milner Holland Committee found that in London 14 per cent. of weekly tenants had no rent book, but in my view the difficulty here is one of enforcement of the existing law.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, when publishing the Housing Summaries, he will include for easy reference the total and monthly number of houses built for the same period in the previous year, together with the current figures.

My right hon. Friend is considering how to make the published Housing Returns and Summaries more informative and will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind. Comparative figures of the kind the hon. Member mentions are already published in the Monthly Digest of Statistics.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to local authorities that they should encourage, by all means possible, the transfer of persons living in houses that have now become too large for their needs, to smaller dwellings, as a means of utilising to the full the housing accommodation in this country.

My right hon. Friend does not think there is any simple solution to this problem, but he is studying it and will, if necessary, issue a circular to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what determination he has made concerning Planning Appeal APP/1713/A/89336, which was lodged on 23rd October, 1964, by Mr. Scown.

The decision on this appeal will be issued before the end of the week.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to- ensure that all newly-built properties conform to a minimum standard laid down by him.

I assume my hon. and learned Friend has newly-built houses in mind. For local authority building no new powers to lay down standards are needed. For private enterprise my right hon. Friend will be making a statement before long.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to home-owners, informing them of the effect that proposed legislation will have on the letting of houses, and, in particular, on the difficulties of regaining possession thereafter.

No. But I am now planning for an intensive publicity campaign about the effects of the Rent Bill when it becomes law.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of a severe foam nuisance arising from the discharge of synthetic detergents into the River Aire; and what progress is being made in applying chemical solvents to abate this nuisance.

My right hon. Friend is aware that there is a special problem here. The Department's officers have recently discussed it with the local Council and a working party of officers from the authorities concerned has been set up to study a remedy. He will watch progress carefully.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to reduce the pollution of beaches in England.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that many seaside holiday resorts do not protect their amenities with adequate arrangements for the disposal of sewage; and if he will take steps to see that they do so.

In the past five years, schemes to the value of £15 million for improving sewage disposal in seaside towns have been completed or put in hand, and further schemes to the value of over £10 million are on the stocks. In a number of areas where improvement is needed my right hon. Friend is urging the local authority to take action. The Department's technical officers are available to advise authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the average interest rates paid by local authorities during the period from 1952–53 to 1963–64, and during the period from 15th October 1964 to date.

The average rate of interest paid by local authorities in England and Wales on their outstanding debt rose from 3·5 per cent. in 1952–53 to 4·8 per cent. in 1962–63 and is estimated to have remained at that rate in 1963–64. Figures for 1964–65 are not yet obtainable. There is no possible means of calculating centrally the average rate of interest on either total debt or new borrowing during the period 15th October, 1964, to a current date since local authority accounts are normally on an annual basis.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the Central Government Grant to local authorities in 1952 and in 1964.

Grants paid by the Central Government to local authorities in England and Wales amounted to £395 million in 1952–53 and to £930 million in 1962–63, the latest year for which final figures are available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have cut their expenditure on health and education since the introduction of the block grant system.

None, so far as I know. In a period of rising pay and prices I would not expect to find reductions in expenditure actually incurred.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether he is now satisfied that the action taken by detergent manufacturers has eliminated river foam; and if he will make a statement.

The manufacturers ceased to produce detergents from hard-based materials at the end of last year and that is a big step forward. But it is certainly not the end of the foam problem. We need a still softer detergent. My right hon. Friend is far from satisfied with the present position but the industry is continuing its researches and he will keep a close watch on progress.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now issue a circular to local authorities to encourage them to salvage waste paper and make it thus more readily available for the paper and board industry, so as to economise in import costs.

My hon. Friend will know that the Economic Development Committee for the paper and board industry have just appointed a working party, on which the Board of Trade and this Department are represented, to consider how supplies of waste paper can be increased. My right hon. Friend prefers to await their report before considering whether to issue a circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what instructions have been issued by his Department since 1951 on the salvaging of wastepaper in the national interest.

None, and none would have been justified. There was a heavy fall in demand and prices in 1952. The market for wastepaper subsequently continued to fluctuate and at times the quantities offered to the mills were an embarrassment to them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the number of local authorities which have no separate wastepaper collection and salvage arrangements, and the estimated loss of revenue this entails.

My right hon. Friend has no complete list. Probably about 600 authorities, including many of the smaller ones, do not salvage wastepaper at all. It cannot be assumed without detailed inquiry that revenue would exceed collection costs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rating appeals were outstanding at the latest convenient date; how many are being dealt with each month; and how many new appeals are being entered each month.

At 31st March, 1965, in England and Wales there were approximately 325,000 rating appeals outstanding. On average about 26,000 appeals are settled each month, of which local valuation courts determine 5,600; the rest are withdrawn or agreed before hearing. About 6,000 appeals are made each month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state his policy with regard to the green belt in the London borough of Redbridge, and whether he intends to give planning permission for housing or industrial or other development on green belt land in the borough.

I have no proposals before me for development on green belt land in Redbridge. It is my policy to preserve the approved metropolitan green belt—subject only to the review by the local planning authorities to see if any land which is of no real green belt value can be spared for housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for changing the organisation of local government in Greater London established by the London Government Act.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 2nd February in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many objections he has received to the Gloucestershire County Council's proposal to exclude a further area of land in the Yate-Chipping Sodbury area from the Bristol green belt; and if he will give an assurance that he will convene a public local inquiry before making any decision further to reduce the green belt.

I have received five objections, including two petitions. I can assure the hon. Member that there will be a public inquiry before any development is permitted on this land; but I do not think a further inquiry into the proposed green belt would be helpful at this stage. A letter has been sent to the hon. Member about this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects the Maud Committee to publish its Report on the Management of Local Government.

I understand that the Committee will not report till next year. I have impressed on them that it should be as early in the year as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to publish his decisions on the reorganisation of local government boundaries on Tees-side; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce his decisions on the reorganisation of local government boundaries on Tees-side.

My decision will be reached as soon as practicable, but I am not yet able to say when that will be.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has reached a decision on the proposed reorganisation of local government boundaries as they affect the constituency of Houghton-le-Spring; and if he will make a statement.

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind the Local Government Commission's proposals for extension of the boundaries of Sunderland County Borough. I have not yet reached a decision on these proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the encouragement he is giving to local authorities to provide facilities for sport, including swimming baths, and of the value of such baths for swimming instruction as a safety measure, he will take steps to give further financial help towards the provision of these baths.

My right hon. Friend is glad to acknowledge the valuable work which is being done by local authorities in providing swimming baths, including teaching pools. He has, however, no power to make specific grants to authorities for these purposes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that rivers and canals claim the highest number of deaths by drowning amongst children and that the National Water Safety Committee of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is campaigning to reduce these deaths; and in view of this and of the need for safety in public places, what further financial support he will give to assist this campaign.

My right hon. Friend is aware of these statistics and intends shortly to issue a circular to local authorities in support of the Royal Society's campaign, which he welcomes. Expenditure incurred in safeguarding dangerous places should in his view remain a local responsibility.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that recent publicity with regard to the unsatisfactory condition of the beaches at some British seaside resorts has already resulted in the cancellation of visits by some foreign tourists to this country; what steps are being taken by his Department to encourage and assist the local authorities concerned to remedy this matter by the installation of more up-to-date sewerage systems; and whether he will make a statement.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a recent article in the Journal of the British Safety Council. This was concerned with many other points besides sewage pollution. In several of the towns whose beaches were criticised the sewage disposal arrangements are wholly satisfactory or are already being improved. In one at least which was praised the sewage arrangements are in fact open to criticism. Where improvement is needed my Department urges the local authority to take action and helps with technical advice. I am not aware of tourists cancelling visits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce amending legislation to provide for the lodging of an appeal and the holding of a public inquiry in cases where planning permission has been granted by a local authority in spite of known local objections, or in circumstances where local residents had no reason to anticipate that planning consent might be granted.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what financial provision is available to the Peterlee, County Durham, Development Corporation for additional amenity requirements, such as an indoor swimming pool, youth clubs and entertainment.

The provision of recreational facilities is the responsibility of the local authority but the Peterlee Development Corporation has, with my right hon. Friend's approval, contributed £80,000 towards a central youth club and two sports and social centres. Contributions to other projects, including a swimming bath, are under discussion.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps are being taken to bring to the notice of all those concerned with abstracting water from rivers that they must apply before 30th June to establish their claims for a licence of right; and what will be the position of those abstractors who fail to apply by that date.

The Department and the river authorities have advertised in national, local and trade papers, and arranged for announcements on the radio. The trade organisations for the main water-using industries, including agriculture, have kept their members informed. Holders of licences under the Water Act, 1945, have been individually told of the coming into effect of the new system. In some areas river authorities have been able to identify and write to other abstractors of water. An explanatory leaflet aimed primarily at those abstractors who belong to no organisation has been distributed at agricultural shows, through the regional organisation of the Ministry of Agriculture, and through Chambers of Commerce.

Decisions on applications for licences under the Water Resources Act are a matter for river authorities in the first place. They will refuse licences of right in areas not previously restricted if they are not satisfied that the applicants have, as they claim, been abstracting water during the five years preceding 1st April, 1965. Permissive licences may have to be refused if there is so little water that the grant of a licence might interfere with the protected rights of other abstractors or with the minimum acceptable flow in the stream concerned. Such licences will obviously be refused if there is an overriding need in the public interest to reserve available water for some other purpose. In the case of both licences of right and permissive licences an appeal against refusal may be made to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for the future management and use of Alexandra Palace.

This is a matter on which I am in consultation with the local authorities concerned. An important consideration is that any organisation appointed to administer the Palace and park in the future should have adequate resources and experience to make the most of this valuable public asset.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for the implementation of local government reorganisation in the County of Shropshire.

I am not yet ready to announce my conclusions on the county council's proposals; but I have studied the inspector's report following the public inquiry to hear the objections and hope to do so soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has now received the local authority surveys of slag heaps and derelict land in the Lancashire coal field; and what steps he will take to encourage treatment of them.

My right hon. Friend has received replies from all but seven of the local authorities concerned with this area. This information is being analysed together with the replies from other local authorities.With regard to the second part of the Question I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 28th May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to provide more play streets in urban areas.

Local authorities were advised in a Ministry of Transport Circular No. 787 dated 12th July, 1961, to consider using the powers to make Street Playground Orders under section 49 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, as a contribution to the safety of children in urban areas where there is insufficient recreational space. My right hon. Friend does not think it is necessary for him to issue any further advice but he will keep the subject under examination.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to confirm the Chilterns Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Designation) Order, 1964.

My right hon. Friend is naturally in sympathy with this proposal, but the boundaries of the proposed area need to be considered in conjunction with current proposals for extension of the metropolitan green belt and with the review of the South East Study. He will give a decision as soon as he can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the cost to the County Borough of Bournemouth and the Borough of Christchurch for essential works of maintenance, repair and protection of cliffs and promenades during each of the last five years; and what Exchequer grants have been made during the same period.

The following details have been supplied by the local authorities concerned:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many counties have not completed the provisional footpath maps of their area as required under the Countryside Act of 1949.

Sixteen. But fourteen of these have completed definitive maps for parts of their areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what results emerged from the discussions between his Department, the Ministry of Transport and the local authority associations on the disposal of unwanted motor cars.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular No. 8/65, which resulted from these discussions. Further discussions are in progress on ways of improving co-operation between local authorities and the scrap and car breaking trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when it is proposed to publish the Report of the Overseas Migration Board for 1964.

The Report for 1964 will be published towards the end of this year as soon as possible after the relevant statistics have been received and processed.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on how many occasions in the past 12 months temporary appointments to the Diplomatic Service have been made of candidates who had previously failed their normal entrance examination; on what basis applicants are accepted or refused; and to what extent the school and background of those appointed are taken into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on whose authority temporary appointments are made to the Diplomatic Service; how many instances there have been in the last five years where such an appointee was given the status of a third secretary in a British High Commission overseas; and how long such appointments have lasted.

Under the power vested in my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and myself, machinery exists for recruiting temporary officers for vacancies which may occur from time to time. Candidates are chosen by a Selection Board who assess the applicants' qualifications, achievements and general qualities of character needed for the Diplomatic Service. The school attended by a candidate or his social background is not a matter of primary importance. In the past 12 months one candidate was appointed who has previously failed the entrance examination for established employment in the career Service.In the past five years 18 temporary appointments were made to British High Commissions overseas in the rank of second or third secretary. Two of these who were under 25 years of age were third secretaries, the rest were second secretaries. The appointments were for a period of three to five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of Her Majesty's Government's involvement by her treaty obligation to assist in Malaysia's defence, what reports he has received from the Malaysian Government about the participation of regular serving members of the Indonesian military and para-military forces in acts of armed terrorism in Malaysia.

Indonesian officers and other ranks have regularly participated in numerous unsuccessful attempts to infiltrate armed raiding parties in both Western and Eastern Malaysia. I am arranging to place in the Library of the House copies of three official Malaysian Government publications in which the main details of the raids which have taken place up to the beginning of June are catalogued. In addition I am arranging to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the official Malaysian Government record of a press conference given in Kuala Lumpur on 17th June by the captured Commander of an Indonesian regular para-military police unit which landed in South-East Johore at the end of last month.RECORD OF PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN IN KUALA LUMPUR ON 17 JUNE 1965A captured Indonesian Company Commander told the Press to-day that none in his group of 25 invaders, who landed on Penggerang in Johore on 30 May was a Malaysian. "All of us are Indonesian regulars", said Inspector of Police, grade two, Nicolass Titaley, in an interview with the Press held at the Information Department. The Indonesian Government recently claimed that the Indonesians who had landed on south-east coast of Johore were Malaysians who wanted to "liberate Malaya from the neo-colonialists". Some time on Friday, 28 May, 1965, D Company of Regimen Pelopor (an Indonesian para-military police unit) left their base camp at Kawal for Tanjong Pinang where they boarded an Indonesian customs boat which took them to Tanjong Uban. This is on the Indonesian island of Bintan in the Rhio group south of Singapore. At Tanjong Uban 21 members of the company under their Company Commander, Inspektor Polisi II Nicolass Titaley, were selected for infiltration into Malaysia. On the evening of 29 May, they were transferred into two outboard motor-boats which proceeded towards the coast of Malaysia. The two boats managed to evade Malaysian coastal patrols and arrived at Penggerang, Southern Johore. Malaysia, in the early hours of 30 May. Everyone was fully armed, wore camouflage uniform, carried two weeks' rations, medical supplies, 500 to 600 rounds of amunition, hand grenades and several hundred dollars in Malaysian currency. Their so-called mission was "to infiltrate into Malaysia, to assist the local people in military training and to help Malaysians fight for their independence". Malaysian security forces were deployed soon after they landed at Penggerang to track and eliminate the Indonesians and in 12 days of jungle operations, the entire group of infiltrators was eliminated and the operation called off. One Indonesian had been killed and 24 captured alive. Malaysian security forces suffered no casualties in this operation. Here is an interview with the Indonesian Commander of the ill-fated group of infiltrators, who had left their base with assurances of their superiors in the Djakarta regime that, when they arrived on Malaysian soil, "a large number of soldiers from their own regiment who had been sent to Malaya in several groups in the past were waiting for their arrival".Q. What was the purpose of your mission?A. To carry out instructions as a Company Commander of the police Mobile Brigade to come to Malaysia and assist the people of Malaysia in their uprising.Q. Were you told about the uprising in Malaysia before you started to come to Malaysia?A. I was briefed that Malaysia was a colonialist country.Q. Before landing here were you aware of this colonialism?A. No, but I was told prior to my departure from Indonesia that I should assist the people of Malaysia and I would be receiving assistance from the local people when I arrived here.Q. Did you make any contacts with the local people?A. No.Q. So you knew that you would not receive any support from the people?A. I only realised this fact after I was captured.Q. What was your main objective?A. My main objective was to land, to look for the members of the Indonesian forces who had landed earlier and to make our way inland, possibly as far as North Kelantan.Q. How long were you in command of your men?A. I was in command of D Company in the last three months. Before that I was in Djakarta.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, if he will make a statement about the proposed Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly and the implementation of the decision of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference on this matter.

Her Majesty's Government do not propose to take any steps immediately towards setting up a Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly. They brought this proposition to the notice of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Meeting, but the Conference did not have time to go fully into the matter on this occasion. Meanwhile they noted with approval the meetings organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

asked the Minister of Power why permission has to be sought from his Department by the local electricity boards in every instance for each small connection and laying of cable; and to what extent delay could be avoided if the electricity boards were given power to sanction such small schemes under a certain financial limit without having to seek such approval from his Department.

This is not a question of financial control. It is a statutory requirement under the Electricity Acts that all overhead lines, except service lines, must have my right hon. Friend's consent, and to dispense with this would require legislation. It would still be necessary, however, for planning permission and wayleaves to be obtained, and the present procedure does not add appreciably to the delay. Underground cables do not require consent.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total expenditure under the Commonwealth Educational Co-operation Scheme between 1st April, 1960 and 31st March, 1965.

The total expenditure is expected to have been £4·6 million. Final figures for the year 1964–65 are not available until after the end of July, so it has been necessary to include an estimate for last year within the figure quoted, based on known and expected charges.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps are being taken to ensure the continuation of the overseas training and correspondence courses in co-operation organised by the Plunkett Foundation for Co-operative Studies when its present arrangements with the Nuffield Foundation are changed.

Following discussions with the Plunkett Foundation, I intend to provide a grant-in-aid to the Plunkett Foundation of up to £15,000 per annum for the five years starting in April, 1966, which, together with a further grant which the Nuffield Foundation have agreed to contribute, will enable the Plunkett Foundation to continue both its training courses which have been recommended by the Advisory Committee on Co-operatives under the chairmanship of Lord Peddie, and other activities to the benefit of developing countries. Provision will be made in the estimates of my Department accordingly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with other members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the insurance of private investment in developing countries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development to the hon. Members for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair) and Walthamstow, East (Mr. John Harvey) on 1st June. The Council of O.E.C.D. has since approved the transmission of the recent O.E.C.D. report on the establishment of a multilateral investment insurance scheme to the I.B.R.D. for further study.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the recent rise in the cost of living, when he proposes to take action to help public service and armed forces pensioners.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemp-town (Mr. Hobden) on 14th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to co-ordinate information services to Government departments, civil and military, on the availability of manpower for recruiting.

None. The services of the Ministry of Labour and of the Central Office of Information are already available to all Government Departments wishing to recruit staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a statement in simple terms to enable taxpayers to learn in detail their obligations under the Finance Bill.Mr. MacDermot I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given on 22nd June to my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for individual copies of the Central Office of Information publication entitled, Their Trade is Treachery, to be sent to those Members of Parliament whose names are customarily included in official invitations to receptions and other functions given by Embassies whose activities in connection with members of the Civil Service and the Armed Forces this booklet is intended to counter.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to future sources of finance for the social services; and to what extent taxation and borrowing will be used for these purposes.

In the main, new developments in National Insurance should be financed by contributions from insured persons and employers, and other social services primarily by the Exchequer and the local authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that outside London there is no branch of the Stationery Office available to the public in the eastern half of England, whereas there are three in the western half; and whether he will open such branches in the regional centres, namely Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham and Leeds.

I am aware of this, but the demand for Government publications in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham and Leeds is insufficient to warrant opening Government bookshops there at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the fine of £25,000 levied on Richard Thomas and Baldwins by the Restrictive Practices Court will be borne by the Exchequer.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration has been given to the recommendation contained in paragraph 69 of the Report of the Committee on the Remuneration of Ministers and Members of Parliament; and whether he will now take steps to give effect to such recommendation.

I am considering this recommendation with those concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that exports of Scotch whisky from the United Kingdom earned £92 million foreign currency in 1964, and therefore substantially exceeded the cost of all imported spirits, wines and beers during the same period, he will make inquiries as to the risk of duties on Scotch whisky being increased as a countermeasure to the recent United Kingdom increases in the duties on imported spirits, wines and beers, and take this into account when drawing up plans for his next Budget.

My right hon. Friend will, of course, take account of all relevant considerations when preparing his next Budget, but it would not be practicable to make the inquiries suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present tax revenue derived from the profits of companies operating in this country which are subsidiaries of foreign companies; and how much of this revenue he estimates will be lost to the United Kingdom Exchequer through these subsidiaries, in the light of the company tax provisions of the Finance Bill, being converted into branches of the parent company.

The answer to the first part of the Question is something in the region of £150 million. The answer to the second part is that no useful estimate can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue instructions to the Inland Revenue to investigate the payment of luck money at cattle markets in the North-East, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Darlington, with a view to securing tax returns on the income resulting from this practice.

The information which my hon. Friend has sent me is being passed on to H.M. Inspectors of Taxes in the North-East.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish figures showing the full indebtedness of the United Kingdom to overseas and international Governments and financial institutions, together with the dates of the various loans and the conditions of their repayment.

The table below summarises the long-term external indebtedness of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom as at 31st May, 1965. As regards I.M.F. drawings and short-term assistance, I would

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net income, including family allowances, after payment of Income Tax, Surtax, National Insurance and graduated pension scheme contributions in force at that time, of an employed man in each of the years 1951 to 1964 inclusive, whose gross income was at each of the following levels in £s sterling per annum, namely £312, £416, £520, £624, £780, £1,000, £1,500, £2,000, £3,000, £5,000, £10,000, £24,000 and

My hon. Friend will find the figures for all years up to 1962 in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 7th May, 1962 (Vol. 659, No. 106, col. 14–16, Written Answers). The figures for later years are given below.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give details of the visits for which he is responsible to overseas countries by Members of Parliament which are due to take place during the forthcoming Summer Recess, on which Treasury money is to be expended, and the estimated cost in each instance.

No visits are planned for which my right hon. Friend is directly responsible. The United Kingdom Branch of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is sending 17 Members to Canada to the 54th Annual Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Estimates of costs are not yet avaliable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information has been conveyed to him from the Chinese Government about the abandonment of their policy of the inevitability of war between the Communist and capitalist nations; and, since international disarmament is impossible until such a declaration has been made, if he will take adequate steps to make the information public.

Communist doctrine on this issue is one of the principal points at dispute between the Russians and Chinese and is open to various interpretations and qualifications. However the Chinese position on disarmament was clearly stated in the message from Mr. Chou En-lai to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, dated 17th October, 1964. My right hon. Friend replied to this on 21st December. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the texts of these messages have been published and copies are available in the Library of the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made by the British High Commissioner to the Government of Malaysia concerning the use by shoemakers in Penang of the words, "Made in England", or, "Made in Northamptonshire", on shoes which are manufactured and sold in Malaysia.

The British Trade Commission in Malaysia made representations last year to the Registrar of Trade Marks of the States of Malaya and the Malaysian Ministry of Commerce and Industry about locally manufactured shoes being marked with false indications of British origin. The British Trade Commission were informed that Malaysian Government Departments have no power to initiate prosecutions for violations of the Merchandise Marks Ordinance and that it is for the aggrieved party to file a complaint with the police.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual cost of importing raw materials for the paper and board industry, and the annual rate at which this cost is increasing; and whether this rate is in excess of the national rate of expansion.

The following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of recent statements on the cement industry and the fact that one company produces 60 per cent. of the cement output in the United Kingdom, he will refer the cement industry to the Monopolies Commission; and if he will make a statement.

I will bear this suggestion in mind. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works is also in close touch with the industry about the present shortage of cement.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the reasons which led him to subsidise travellers in London rather than those in Scotland.

The reasons for the limited undertaking given by the Government to the London Transport Board that the Board would not have to bear the loss in revenue caused by the postponement of fares increases were made clear in the answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West (Mr. Popplewell) on 23rd June, 1965.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps, similar to those in the case of the London Transport Board, to empower himself to require city corporations such as Glasgow not to raise bus and underground fares during the remainder of this year and to reimburse the corporations the money which would have come from higher fares; and if he will institute an inquiry into the public transport and traffic problems in Glasgow and the west of Scotland to be carried out by his Department in consultation with the corporation of Glasgow and other interested bodies.

No. With regard to the second part of the Question, the overall transport problems of the Glasgow area are already being examined in the Greater Glasgow Transportation Study.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now received the views of the Scottish Chief Constables Association on the question of laying additional duties upon traffic wardens with a view to releasing police officers for other duties; and whether he will make a statement.

The Chief Constables' (Scotland) Association has not yet formally submitted its views, but I understand that it would welcome an extension of the functions of traffic wardens similar to that provided for in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what work is at present being done in the crofting counties to supply information for the Survey of Land Use in Sutherland; when it is anticipated that the results of the survey will be published; and what other official surveys of this kind are in train.

A survey of Central and most of East Sutherland is now being carried out jointly by the Forestry Commission and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to establish how much plantable land there is and how much could be afforested with due regard to the needs of agriculture. In addition, the Forestry Commission has recently completed its part of a survey of nine estates in the Helms-dale Valley.As is usual with such surveys, the detailed results will be treated as confidential. I shall be considering whether there would be any advantage in publishing the overall results when the surveys are concluded.It is hoped shortly to commence a further joint survey of extensive areas of Mid Ross and Mid Inverness-shire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the outcome of his review of the market support arrangements for potatoes; and if he will make a statement.

Improved arrangements for the introduction and financing of support buying for potatoes will operate from 1st August next. In future, a buying programme, financed jointly by the Government and the Potato Marketing Board, may be introduced whenever it seems likely that, unless this is done, a deficiency payment may arise at the end of the season. Under the former arrangements the Agriculture Ministers could only commit the Exchequer in advance to paying two-thirds of the cost of a joint buying programme if they were satisfied that there was likely to be a heavy surplus; and the season might be well advanced before the supply situation became clear.The new arrangements should be more flexible and should make it easier to anticipate developments in the market situation. The Board will be able, subject to Government approval, to announce a buying programme at any time on or after 1st August (the beginning of the guarantee year) but no programme will normally be open for offers by growers after 31st March. The Government's share of the cost will depend on the average market price, as calculated at the end of the season which will, of course, have been influenced by the size of the surplus as well as by the buying programme itself. The Government will still carry two-thirds of the cost when this average price has been near to the guaranteed price. If, however, the average price has reached a level of 5s. or more above the guarantee, with corresponding benefits to growers, the Government's share of the cost will decrease progressively and the Board's will increase. The Board's share of the cost will, as now, be met from their annual payments of £1 million into the Market Support Fund. Taking one year with another, the respective liabilities of the Government and the Board should be broadly the same as at present.As part of the new arrangements, the Government will determine in consultation with the Board, before each season begins, the lowest level of prices at which potatoes would be bought for delivery in the months October to March if a buying programme were introduced. These minimum prices will be announced before 1st July each year. There will be no implication that a buying programme will necessarily be introduced if, at any time in the season, market prices approach or fall below the announced scale of buying prices; a number of factors, of which the current level of prices is only one, would need to be taken into account in deciding at any point in the season whether a buying programme should be introduced in accordance with the objectives of the agreement, and if so at what level (at or above the announced minimum buying prices) it should be introduced.These improved arrangements, which apply to Great Britain, result from discussions between the Agricultural Departments, the National Farmers Unions of England and Wales and Scotland and the Potato Marketing Board. They are subject to no specific time limit but may be reviewed from time to time.Discussions are now taking place about the future arrangements for Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will instruct police officers employed by his Department to follow the same rules for the use of dogs as are laid down by the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the police forces for which he is responsible.

Officers of the Civil Aviation Constabulary handling police dogs already act in accordance with guidance given by the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is to be his policy in answering questions about the administration of bodies to which the Arts Council makes grants, in particular the London Opera Centre.

I intend to follow the practice of former Chancellors of the Exchequer of both parties. It is the firm intention of the Government not to interfere with the discretion of the Arts Council in making grants and not to seek to exercise control or supervision over the administration of the bodies to which the Council makes grants. I shall be guided by these principles, which apply to the London Opera Centre, in answering questions which relate to the policy of the Council or of bodies receiving grants. In answering questions which seek information about the grants made and matters relating thereto, I shall, where practicable, obtain information from the Arts Council and give it in reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, following the representations made to him by the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton on the analysis of primary schools in the Whitworth Urban District Council area, he will now supply information on the places achieved by pupils in each of these schools in grammar schools in recent years.

I cannot add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on this subject on 31st May.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the financing of technology in the universities.

The Government, with the advice of the University Grants Committee, have, as I foreshadowed in my statement on higher education on 24th February, been considering the needs of developing technology in the universities for the remainder of the current quinquennium up to 31st July, 1967.As a result the Government have decided to make available special supplementary recurrent grants totalling £1 million over the academic years 1965–66 and 1966–67, for allocation by the University Grants Committee to the three specialised institutions I then referred to—Imperial College, London, Manchester College of Science and Technology and the University of Strathclyde. The objects are to make good certain serious deficiencies in technology, to consolidate existing activities, and to support selected projects of importance which are beginning to develop out of existing activities. This should secure a sound base for the further development of technological education and research in these institutions in the next quinquennium.At the same time, it is the Government's intention to encourage and expand the work of technological departments in other universities. The special needs of the colleges of advanced technology, which have just come into the university grant system, will be considered by the U.G.C. in assessing their total recurrent needs for the rest of the quinquennium. For the remainder of the university field the Government intend to make available to the U.G.C. up to £400,000 during the rest of the present quinquennium for selected approved projects for promising developments in technology. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology informed the House on 14th June the attention of the University Grants Committee has been drawn to the need to encourage the development of machine tool technology and they will take account of the recommendation of the Machine Tool Economic Development Committee in making their allocation of this grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances the families of men serving afloat in the Royal Navy can qualify for married quarters at their ship's base port in the United Kingdom.

Up to now married quarters at the United Kingdom base ports have been allocated to the families of sea-goers only when the husband's ship would be in home waters for at least six months when the quarters were allocated. We have now decided that from 1st July, the families of men serving in ships which spend part of their commission in home waters and part overseas shall be able to occupy married quarters at the ship's base port in the United Kingdom at any time during the commission, subject only to the basic qualifications for married quarters which apply to everyone.

asked the Minister of Health what additional units are being planned as in-patient accommodation for mentally ill and seriously maladjusted children and adolescents; how many beds will be provided in each unit; and when