asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the effect on the nationalised power industries of the rise in fuel oil prices which will result from the Finance (No. 2) Bill.

I do not expect the costs of the nationalised power industries to be increased by a rise in fuel oil prices as a result of this Bill.

asked the Minister of Power if, when introducing his proposed legislation amending the Electricity Act, 1957, he will propose to place the fixing of the bulk supply electricity tariff under an impartial authority.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what official consultations have taken place between him and Richard Thomas and Baldwin Limited on varying schemes for the handling of iron ore cargoes coming into the Bristol Channel.

None: but the Government and the Iron and Steel Board have been aware of all the schemes in which Richard Thomas and Baldwin have shown an interest.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the increasing urgency of the situation, he will expedite an announcement of his intentions on the capital reconstruction of the coal industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made on this matter on 1st July.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of British fuel needs, expressed in coal-ton equivelants, by 1970, 1975 and 1980, respectively.

On the economic growth assumptions of the national plan inland energy requirements may be about 325 million tons of coal equivalent in 1970. Estimates further ahead become increasingly speculative but, if gross domestic product rises at 4 per cent. a year after 1970, total requirements might be about 375 million tons of coal equivalent in 1975.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much of the financial grant allocated to the Gambia for 1964–65 has been made available to date; and if she will make a statement.

The financial grants allocated to the Gambia Government for 1964–65 totalled £1,061,000. This sum was made up of a budgetary grant-in-aid of £365,000 and a grant of £696,000 towards development. Of these amounts all but £860 of the grant-in-aid has been disbursed.In addition to these grants, loans of £65,000 towards the Gambia Government's share of the compensation scheme for overseas officers and of the cost of their commuted pensions were also made, and these were fully disbursed.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development with whom she has had discussions, and what have been their nature, for developing voluntary services overseas in countries of the Commonwealth.

The development of the British programme of service overseas by volunteers is kept continuously under review in the Lockwood Committee, and in informal discussions and exchanges between the voluntary societies, Commonwealth Governments, including the British Government, the British Council and those organisations and institutions in Commonwealth countries which make use of volunteers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied that sufficient effort is now being made by authorities in all parts of the country to preserve local historical archives; and if he will issue a circular to local authorities on this subject.

County councils and county borough councils have made excellent progress in building up records departments. My right hon. Friend is sure they need no encouragement to further effort in this direction other than is already given in the Department's Circular No. 44 of 1962, issued when the Local Government (Records) Act, 1962, came into operation. He hopes that other local authorities will make increasing use of these departments for depositing their records on the lines advised in the circular, and he is grateful to his hon. Friend for giving him the opportunity of reminding them of the advantages of this arrangement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that the arrangements for publicity for planning proposals by local authorities requested by him are adequately carried out; and if he will make a statement.

My general impression is that authorities are working these arrangements sensibly. Occasional complaints suggest that the exercise of judgment involved is not always easy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the increases in rates in the spring of this year, he will now introduce legislation to relieve frontagers of financial liability towards the cost of making-up private streets; and if he will make a statement.

No. My right hon. Friend does not think that such legislation would achieve its purpose. The effect of relieving frontagers from road charges would be to throw a still heavier burden on the rates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimates his Department has made of the proportion of young children to adults in populations moving from London to expanding towns.

It is estimated that about one-third of the population in expanding towns are under 10 years of age. This compares with a proportion of 15 per cent. in the population at large.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what communication he has received from the Yorkshire East Riding County Council about the reasons for that Council's failure to make progress with the Survey of Rights of Way; and whether he will now use his powers under Section 37 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to expedite such survey.

I wrote to the East Riding County Council about this on 15th April. I have only just received its reply, and have not yet had time to study it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for what area of garden space his Department make provision when settling the densities of new and expanding towns.

Whilst the Department takes a general interest in these matters, garden space and densities in new and expanding towns are primarily the concern of development corporations and local authorities; standard housing densities range generally from 12 to 20 dwellings per acre.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement on the progress of his plans for reducing the rate of interest on mortgages to people engaged in buying their homes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington (Mr. W. T. Williams) and other hon. Members on 29th June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the average cost to the Exchequer of giving mortgage relief to house purchasers; how it compares with the cost to the Exchequer of subsidies towards municipal housing; what is the total cost of subsidies to municipal housing, including local authority subsidies; and how the average cost per tenant compares with the average Exchequer cost per house-purchaser.

The information is as follows:

Great Britain	Total amount (£s million a year)	Average amount per house-purchaser or council tenant (£s a year)
Mortgage interest relief 1964–65	125	31·1
Exchequer subsidies to local authorities 1964–65	87·6	18·9
Rate subsidies 1962–63	35·7	7·7

1962–63 is the latest year for which figures of rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts are available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what considerations led his Department to recommend housing densities of about 77·8 persons per acre or 100 persons per acre on the new estates of Bockhanger and Stanhope, respectively, which constitute part of Ashford's expansion under the Town Development Act; and if he will make a statement.

For the Bockhanger scheme the Ashford U.D.C. itself proposed a net density of 80 persons per acre. At an early stage in preparation of the plans for the Stanhope area, officers of the Department suggested that a net density of 100 persons per acre might produce the most economical housing scheme. The council pointed out that this would mean too many flats and not enough houses to meet their needs. In the event the Department and the council agreed on a net density of 80 persons per acre for the scheme, which will consist mainly of two-storey houses. This represents an economical use of the land.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the maximum and minimum pensions, beginning on 1st October, 1964, payable to the various grades available to teachers after maximum service, and the corresponding pensions, including increases under Pensions (Increase) Acts, which began on 1st October in each of the preceding 20 years.

I regret that some of the information needed to make this comparison is unascertainable and some cannot be obtained in the time available without a disproportionate amount of labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the normal practice and what advice he offers to local authorities in meeting the costs of the purchase of musical instruments, in particular recorders, for use by pupils in primary schools.

The arrangements for purchasing school supplies, including recorders and other musical instruments, are the responsibility of the local education authorities, and I have issued no advice to them on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue a circular advocating the use of Portland stone for suitable public buildings connected with education.

No. If cost permits, educational bodies are free to use stone or any other suitable material at their own discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens were admitted to this country with work permits per annum for the last five years; how many such permits were renewed, bringing the aliens' stay for more than 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total number of such aliens resident in this country at the moment.

The total number of aliens admitted with work permits in the several years 1960–64 inclusive was 46,059, 49,422, 44,290, 39,663 and 42,584 respectively. Of these, 14,948, 17,119, 16,941, 17,803 and 18,920 respectively were admitted for less than 12 months; the remainder were admitted for a year. I regret that the information sought regarding renewals is not available and that it is not possible to make a worthwhile estimate of the total number of past and present permit holders resident in this country at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the maximum and minimum pensions, beginning on 1st October, 1964, payable to the various grades available to members of the Fire Service and police in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Police after maximum service and the corresponding pensions, including increases under Pensions (Increase) Acts, which began on 1st October in each of the preceding 20 years.

I regret that this information could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further raids into Sabah and Sarawak have been made by Indonesian troops during recent weeks.

Frequent raids by the Indonesian army into Eastern Malaysia have continued in recent weeks. In June, for example, encounters with the Malaysian, British, Australian and New Zealand forces in Sabah and Sarawak averaged three a week. One large raiding party was intercepted and dealt heavy casualties by the Royal Australian Rifles on 15th June and another by the Parachute Regiment on 24th June. On 27th June a Malaysian village in Sarawak was attacked, and two policemen and six civilians killed, by a force which has not yet been tracked down.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, in view of the mounting pressure on passenger accommodation at the civil airport at Alder-grove in Co. Antrim, he will expedite his scheme for enlarging the terminal building; and when he expects the work to begin on the alterations to the building.

Detailed planning is already proceeding as rapidly as possible; work on site should start during the first half of next year.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he received a letter dated 29th June from the Town Clerk of Kettering asking him to receive a deputation to discuss the attraction to the borough of the growth industries necessary for economic expansion referred to in his Department's recent correspondence with the Mayor of Kettering; and what reply he has made.

I received the letter from the Town Clerk of Kettering on 30th June. A reply was sent yesterday. I explained that I appreciated the Borough Council's concern about promoting industrial growth and that in view of the establishment of the regional economic planning machinery it would be best for its problems to be discussed with the Chairman of the East Midlands Economic Planning Council and the Chairman of the associated Board. An appointment for this discussion will be arranged shortly.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why he requested or induced the management of Martin's Bank to withdraw the pay offer previously made by them to their staff.

I have not asked for any offer to be withdrawn. This is a matter for the employers.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to what extent he has had or is having negotiations with one or both parties to the London Clearing Banks staff pay claim in parallel to the consideration given to this matter by the National Prices and Incomes Board.

Negotiations on these and other pay claims are the sole responsibility of the parties concerned. I have however been informed of the current position of the Clearing Banks in the light of the reference of the recent Midland Bank settlement to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he will take, in the light of the facts stated in Command Paper No. 2695, that costs per unit of output have risen more sharply in the United Kingdom than in other countries, and that the treatment of a demand which may be too high lies with the Government, to get down prices; and if he will make a statement.

The report explained that if the general level of demand is too high the treatment lies with the Government. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has set out in his Budget Speech and on subsequent occasions, the Government's view on this matter and the action which it regards as appropriate. But the report goes on to emphasise that the second cause of rising prices lies in

"old habits, inherited attitudes and institutional arrangements"

which may all combine to exert an upward pressure on prices. This is where not only the Government but the whole community has a vital part to play.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the Leeward Islands Television Service recently opened in Antigua by a private company; what proportions of the programmes are from British and United States sources; from what sources the news bulletins are obtained; and when the service is to be extended to Montserrat and St. Kitts.

The Leeward Islands Television Service is operated in Antigua by a private company with shares held by the Government of Antigua, the Bermuda Broadcasting Company, Rediffusion, the Columbia Broadcasting System and local interests. It was opened on 17th June, 1965. On an average, pending the development of local programmes, one hour a day of programmes comes from British and two hours a day from American sources. News bulletins are obtained from the B.B.C. and local sources. The service will be extended to Montserrat when the necessary equipment has been installed but will not be extended to St. Kitts.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he intends to take to improve the quality of personnel serving with British High Commissions overseas.

The administration of the Diplomatic Service, which is responsible for staffing British High Commissions, makes constant efforts to maintain and improve standards by recruitment, training, promotion policy and general administration. I have been much impressed on my visits abroad by the high standards of the staff of British High Commissions.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will name the schools attended by the 18 temporary appointments made in the last five years to British High Commissions overseas in rank of second or third secretary.

The following is a list of schools attended by officers appointed temporarily in the last five years in the rank of second or third Secretary at British High Commissions overseas:

• Portora Royal School, Northern Ireland.
• King Edward VII School, Lytham.
• City of London School.
• Cranbrook, Kent.
• St. Edward's, Oxford.
• Hove and Aldrington High School.
• Morrison's Academy, Crieff.
• St. Francis Xavier's College.
• Regent Street Polytechnic.
• St. Aidan's High School, London.
• Queenswood, Hatfield, Herts.
• Keighley Boys' Grammar School.
• Lawrence Memorial School.
• Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol.
• Oundle, Northamptonshire.
• Shrewsbury.
• The Grammar School, Enfield.
• Sheffield Central.

asked the Minister of Health what are the maximum and minimum pensions, beginning on 1st October, 1964, payable to the various grades available to the National Health Service including nurses after maximum service and the corresponding pensions, including increases under Pensions (Increase) Acts, which began on 1st October in each of the preceding 20 years.

The information is not available.

FIGURES AS AT 11TH JANUARY, 1965*
			Section I			Section II			Totals
Age Groups			Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
SWANSEA
15–19	…	…	3	4	7	2	—	2	5	4	9
20–29	…	…	16	6	22	4	—	4	20	6	26
WALES
15–19	…	…	71	55	126	37	12	49	108	67	175
20–29	…	…	214	106	320	65	20	85	279	126	405
ENGLAND
15–19	…	…	575	400	975	162	69	231	737	469	1,206
20–29	…	…	1,958	616	2,574	439	124	563	2,397	740	3,137

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL UNEMPLOYED REGISTERED DISABLED PERSONS
					15–19	20–29
SWANSEA	…	…	…	…	2·9	8·3
WALES	…	…	…	…	3·7	8·5
ENGLAND	…	…	…	…	3·1	8·2
*Note: An analysis of duration of unemployment and age is made each year in January and July only.

asked the Minister of Labour how, after allowing for differences in the size of labour forces, the incidence of notifiable accidents in the coal industry in Wales compares with the incidence in the steel industry in Wales.

I am afraid that this information asked for is not available from the statistics regularly collected.

asked the Minister of Labour how the average weekly earnings of workers in the coal industry in Wales compares with those of workers in the steel industry in Wales.

The average weekly earnings, including the value of allowances in kind, of adult mineworkers in the South Wales Wages District in the week ended 17th October, 1964, were 376s. 10d. During the second pay-week in October, 1964, the average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in "Iron and steel (general)" in Wales were 437s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of registered disabled unemployed in Swansea, Wales and England, respectively, are under 30 years of age; and what proportion are under 20 years of age.

The following tables contain the information requested.

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured employees were in employment in Perth in mid-1964.

At mid-1964 (June), there were estimated to be 27,500 employees in employment in the Perth Employment Exchange area.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made to ensure transfer rights to superannuation benefits when workers transfer from one employment to another.

A Committee of my National Joint Advisory Council is at present considering how wider provision might be made for the preservation of occupational pension rights on change of employment. I shall be considering what action needs to be taken in the light of the Committee's report.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the increase in the number of employees in employment in manufacturing industry in Scotland between 1963 and 1964; what percentage increase this represents; and what was the percentage increase in the same period in Great Britain as a whole.

The estimated numbers of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Scotland increased by 14,100 or 2·0 per cent. between June, 1963 and June, 1964. The corresponding percentage increase in Great Britain was 1·4 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what changes, on the basis used in calculating the cost of living index, have taken place in the price to domestic consumers of gas and electricity since 30th June, 1965, and since 30th June, 1961.

On the basis used in calculating the retail prices index, the prices of gas and electricity rose by 57 per cent. and 68 per cent., respectively, between 14th June, 1955, and 18th May, 1965, and by 11 per cent. and 24 per cent., respectively, between 13th June, 1961, and 18th May, 1965.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many blind people are in receipt of war disability pensions and industrial injuries disablement benefits, respectively.

I regret that the information asked for is not available in the form requested. The Ministry's information relates to pensioned disablements and not to pensioners blinded for other reasons, for example, because of a road accident. About 950 people are receiving war disablement pensions which were awarded for total blindness. About 14,500 people are also receiving war pensions for loss of an eye or disease of the eye, where this is the main cause of their disablement, but it is not known how many of these pensioners are blind. No similar figures are kept for industrial disablement pensioners.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware of the concern felt by the Glamorgan County Council and the house owners liable for street improvement costs at his refusal to make an ex-gratia payment of £84 towards the private street works costs fronting the Crown's office in Duffrys Terrace, Tonyrefail; and if he will initiate steps towards making Crown buildings liable for private street work costs in these circumstances.

My Ministry is able to make ex-gratia contributions in appropriate cases. I am prepared to make an ex-gratia contribution in this instance, the amount to be settled in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for each county and large burgh in Scotland the number of dwelling-houses, at the latest convenient date, the rateable value of which exceeded £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the widespread desire in Scotland that the Commonwealth Games should be held there in 1970; if he will provide financial assistance to this end, so that forward planning can be started; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the authorities responsible for the Games will not decide on the invitation by Edinburgh Corporation and the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland until next year and the question of financial assistance has not, therefore, arisen. I am sure, however, that acceptance of the invitation would give great pleasure in Scotland and I would certainly do what I could to help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that the export programmes of other nations trading in the Middle East are advancing more rapidly than those of the United Kingdom, he will take steps to strengthen the United Kingdom trading position in that area.

Yes, I am already doing this. The Committee for Middle East Trade, one of the area committees of the British National Export Council, is carrying out a programme for promoting our trade with this area in the light of its researches into the goods and markets which offer the best prospects for British exports. Its predecessor, the Council for Middle East Trade, published a number of reports of the special missions which it sent out to Middle East countries; these and a booklet on "Trading in the Arab World" published by the Board of Trade contain a great deal of information useful to exporters. In the preface to the latter, I drew attention to the need for British businessmen to make more visits to these rapidly growing markets, where personal contacts count for much and many of which are able, with their large and increasing incomes from oil, to hasten their economic development and improve their living standards.All the facilities offered by the Board of Trade, the British National Export Council and our commercial officers overseas are available to help exporters develop their business in this area. Better terms for the Export Credits Guarantee Department's cover for exports to some of these markets—Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf States—have recently been announced.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now take steps to ensure a fixed standard height for bumpers on British-made cars in order to reduce the damage of impact.

Because of the many different sizes of vehicles produced in this country it would be impracticable to make regulations fixing a standard height for all bumpers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of hon. Members, other than Ministers, who have travelled abroad during the current Parliamentary Session partly or wholly at public expense, or at the expense of national, foreign, Commonwealth or international organisations receiving grants or subsidies from United Kingdom public funds, and showing, for each hon. Member, the purpose and duration of the visit.

I cannot add to the list published in columns 21 to 28 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for 28th June, 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the total strength of the Civil Service including the General Post Office; how many of these are employed in the Greater London area; what is the total cost of salaries and wages of the Civil Service; and how much of this is in respect of those employed in the Greater London area.

The total strength of the non-industrial Civil Service including the Post Office at 1st April, 1965, was 803,327.The figure excluding the Post Office was 419,520, and the estimated cost of their salaries and wages for the year 1965–66 is £475 million. Of these 419,520, something over 130,000 were employed in the Greater London area. The cost of salaries and wages for individual regions is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek the authority of the House to repay to Members of the House of Commons the cost of parking their cars at authorised airports and railway stations in connection with return journeys between their homes, constituencies and Westminster made partly by motor car and partly by air, or partly by motor car and partly by rail.

No. It would not be in accordance with the basic principles underlying the payment of a flat rate mileage allowance for journeys by road to reimburse Members for such incidental expenses as parking fees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that August and September are the traditionally dangerous months for sterling; if he will take steps to demonstrate the underlying strength of sterling so as to forestall another crisis of confidence in the £; if he will give an assurance that any exchange control that may be necessary to defend sterling will be imposed should the need arise; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the hon. Member in Answers to similar Questions last month, the strength of sterling will be reinforced as we get the balance of overseas payments right. The figures so far available show that substantial progress has already been made this year in the process of recovery. We are not yet out of deficit but we have adequate resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect on British export capability of the rise in industrial costs of nearly 10 per cent. since October; what effect this is likely to have on sterling; what new steps he is taking to curb inflation; and if he will make a statement.

There is no single accepted measure of industrial costs but the hon. Gentleman's estimate, is much too high. In the six months to April this year, the Board of Trade's export price index for manufactures rose by 1·8 per cent. and, as the House is aware, exports in the five months to May this year are running at 4 per cent. above the average rate last year. The future depends on support from both sides of industry for the Government's policies on productivity prices and incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the meaning of the letters T.C.I. and of the additional charge of £2 on I.D.S. No. 7688, Parcel No. 4682, containing eight Chinese silk shirts, imported from Hong Kong by the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham for personal use; and how the sum of £2 was arrived at.

T.C.I. means temporary charge on imports, that is to say, the import surcharge introduced last autumn. £2 is 10 per cent. of the declared value of the shirts.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is aware of the concern that exists about employment prospects in the area when the military camp at Tonfanau closes down; and what action he will take.

I am fully aware of the employment problem in the Tonfanau area and I am considering, in conjunction with the mid-Wales Industrial Development Association, how best to deal with it.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will issue the Report of the Committee which has in- quired into the legal status of the Welsh language under the chairmanship of Sir David Hughes Parry in time to enable it to be discussed, if so decided, in the House of Commons and/or the Welsh Grand Committee before the end of the present Parliamentary Session.

I am anxious to publish the report in Welsh as well as English as soon as possible. It will take some time, however, to print the report and I cannot promise that discussion will be possible before the end of the session.