asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is regarding the control of imported horse and kangaroo meat.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I have circulated proposals for regulations which will remove any doubt that horse and kangaroo meat are subject to the same controls as other meats. We hope to introduce these regulations as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the arrangements covering the import of frozen boneless meat; and if he will make a statement.

In general, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are satisfied with the present arrangements for the importation of meat. However, we think that some further improvements can be made, and we have accordingly issued proposals for revised imported food regulations, which will include these improvements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the arrangements for the inspection of abattoirs and canning plants where meat is prepared for import into this country.

Meat exported to this country must bear an official certificate recognised by H.M. Government as showing that proper standards of hygiene and inspection have been observed in the exporting country. The certificates of countries wishing to start exporting meat to us are recognised only after my professional officers have satisfied themselves as to the standards of hygiene in the producing establishments and the efficacy of the inspection and supervision by the responsible authority. Periodic visits are made by these officers to countries with an established trade to see that conditions remain satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the diminution in British fishing fleets will lead to a famine in fish; and if he will take steps to grant to the fishing industry assistance similar to that granted to the farming industry in order to keep up the supply and keep down the price of fish to British families.

I am not aware of any decline in the catching capacity of the fishing fleet or of any impending shortage of fish. The industry already receives subsidies and other assistance appropriate to its circumstances. Some aspects of these are at present under review. I do not think, however, that any special action is needed for the purpose mentioned by my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the number, siting, and equipment of export standard abattoirs is such as to encourage the maximum carcase trade and discourage the export of live animals for slaughter; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the number, siting and equipment of abattoirs in England and Wales is not generally a bar to export trade in carcase meat. Forty-three abattoirs are at present approved for export, including nine which are due to be re-visited. I am always ready to consider any others which traders may wish to nominate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to speed up the veterinary inspection of abattoirs, so as to ensure that there is a greater number of export standard slaughterhouses better distributed over the areas where they are most needed.

Inspection of slaughterhouses for approval for export purposes is required by some only of the importing countries, notably France, Western Germany and Holland. Application for such approval is a matter for the occupiers of particular slaughterhouses. At present only two slaughterhouses are awaiting visits by officers of the Department, and these visits will be arranged as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that home gardeners have been advised by him not to use certain toxic chemicals, what arrangements have been made for the disposal of stocks of such chemicals held by individuals who should no longer use them and have no wish to do so.

No special arrangements have been necessary. Home gardeners had ample warning to use up their stocks of aldrin and dieldrin products last year and any remaining stocks should be very small.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will fully recoup the agricultural industry for the increased costs of £2 million in a full year caused by the increased licence fees and the ending of initial allowances on motor cars.

If the Amendments to the Finance Bill, of which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice on 25th June and which stand on today's Order Paper, commend themselves to the House, the cost to farmers of the increase in vehicle duties will amount to about £1·6 million in a full year. The cost will be taken into account, along with all other relevant factors, at next year's Annual Review. The withdrawal of initial allowances on motor cars concerns the amount of income that is taxable and does not affect production costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce his plans for the reorganisation of the marketing of meat.

George asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce proposals for the setting up of a Meat and Livestock Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to include imported meat in his proposals for the setting up of a Meat and Livestock Commission; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have now completed our consultations with representatives of the main organisations concerned about Government's proposals for a Meat and Livestock Commission and we hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he is not able to introduce legislation to apply the calf subsidy on a dead weight basis.

Legislation to implement the decision announced after the last Annual Review will be introduced as soon as possible. In the meantime, arrangements are being made to start payment in the autumn under the authority of the Appropriation Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has received that salmon bred and marked in Northern Irish rivers are being netted in large quantities in the North Atlantic.

I have received no evidence that any salmon bred and marked in Northern Irish rivers have been netted in the North Atlantic. This absence of evidence does not however prove that no fish of Northern Irish origin have been caught in this area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions have taken place so far, and what progress he is making, with his plan to set up an Apple and Pear Development Council.

Discussions have proceeded between representatives of the National Farmers' Union and officials of my Department on the means of ascertaining the views of individual growers. Good progress has been made and I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Denmark, with especial reference to the prospects of a revision of the Memorandum of Understanding on Bacon, Command Paper No. 2318, favourable to the British farmer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultation he had with the Danish Government on the subject of the Danish Bacon agreement during his recent tour of Denmark.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 23rd June. There were no formal consultations with the Danish Goverment about the Bacon Understanding during my recent visit to Denmark. Any revision of the shares of the bacon market in any year would be a matter for consultation between all the participating countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the results of his investigations, undertaken as a result of his recent visit to Denmark, into the dumping of Common Market agricultural produce in this country.

No. When I was in Denmark certain points were drawn to my attention informally in connection with a particular application under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957, which has been made to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I promised that these would be looked into.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentages of the distant water and middle water fishing fleet operating out of Hull, Grimsby, Fleetwood and Aberdeen, respectively, consist of modern post-war vessels; and whether he is satisfied that the optimum size of the total distant water and middle water fishing fleet has now been reached.

The percentages are 83, 93, 85 and 91, respectively. The optimum size of the fleet depends on many variable factors, including the yields from the fishing grounds, demand, and technological development.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will take steps to regulate the time that live poultry is kept crated at packing stations awaiting slaughter;(2) when he will introduce a measure to make compulsory the humane slaughter of commercially-killed poultry.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have now circulated detailed proposals for legislation, limiting the time that birds awaiting slaughter may be kept in crates and providing for humane slaughter. We shall proceed with consultation as expeditiously as we can.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the importation of Charolais cattle will have on Great Britain's balance of payments difficulties.

I expect the cost of importing these cattle to be more than balanced by their contribution to higher productivity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Knapp Report on agricultural co-operation.

This useful Report was made to the Agricultural Central Co-operative Association and not to me. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to make a statement. It is however being taken into account in the consideration I am giving to further measures to promote agricultural co-operation in accordance with paragraphs 9 and 13 of the last Annual Review White Paper.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of permits for strychnine issued in England, and Wales in the last full year and the total number of ounces of strychnine used; and if he will review the issue of permits for strychnine.

13,731 permits authorising the purchase of 2,551 ounces of strychnine for use in controlling moles were issued in England and Wales in 1964. I see no need to review the issue of permits, which is strictly supervised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he is making with his plans to introduce a payment during sickness scheme for farm workers; and if he will make a statement.

I appreciate my hon. Friend's concern in this matter, and I would assure him that I intend taking action as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of cereal acreage for the 1965 harvest.

The acreage under cereals in the United Kingdom for the 1965 harvest is provisionally estimated at around 9 million acres. Firm figures will not be available until the results of the 4th June census are known.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take steps to enable farmers to borrow at a reduced rate, and to make credit more freely available to farmers.

There is nothing I can add to the replies I have given today to the hon. Members for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) and for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total rent paid to landlords by farmers in England and Wales in July 1965.

No precise figures are available, but it is estimated that the total rent paid by tenants for farm land in England and Wales is of the order of £45 million per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that Mr. H. C. Tulley, of 78 North Street, Nazeing, has his application for a grant under the Horticultural Improvement Scheme refused as the result of his failure, inadvertently, to comply with certain technical requirements of the scheme; and if he will reconsider the case.

As my hon. Friend knows from my correspondence with him, I have already gone into this case very thoroughly; but I can find no good ground for changing my decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to increase exports of agricultural produce.

The Government's additional measures for export promotion, which were announced last January, are available to assist exporters of agricultural produce. I have already discussed these measures with representatives of the trades and industries chiefly concerned with agricultural exports; and I intend shortly to hold a formal meeting with all those interested to put forward for their consideration certain specific proposals designed to ensure that the maximum benefits are obtained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the efficiency factor was first introduced into the Price Review negotiations; what changes in its level have been made; and by what criteria the present figure of £25 million was fixed.

The increasing efficiency of the agricultural industry has always been taken into account, along with cost changes and other relevant factors, at Annual Reviews under the Agriculture Act, 1947. A figure of from £15 million to £20 million was used in 1950 as an indication of the value of increasing efficiency for Review commodities. The present figure of £30 million for the industry as a whole, or about 2 per cent. of the annual value of gross output, was adopted in 1955, together with a figure of £25 million for Review commodities alone. These were not precise figures but served as a broad indication of the amount which the industry might be expected to secure from improvements in efficiency, taking one year with another. They were consistent with the trend of farming net income, after allowing for changes in prices and costs, and when reviewed in 1960 they were found to be in broad agreement with estimates of changes in productivity and in the scale of operations in agriculture. As announced in this year's Review White Paper, the figures for the gain in efficiency will be reconsidered before the next Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that efficient producers of bacon pigs obtain an adequate return for their capital and labour.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the practice of placing imported early potatoes into cold storage; and what quantities were stored from this year's imported crop.

Yes. Imported new potatoes are sometimes put into cold storage when the exporter considers he may get a better return if they are temporarily held off the market. No statistics are available, but I understand that some imported potatoes were put into cold store this May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of early potatoes were imported this spring from foreign producers and the Channel Islands.

155,000 tons of new potatoes were imported into the United Kingdom in March, April and May this year, and 13,500 tons were sent from the Channel Islands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the latest Annual Report of the British Trawlers' Federation expressing alarm at the recent undue intensity of exploitation of the fishing stocks in the North Atlantic and the Barents Sea and at the diminution in the British fishing fleets, and calling on Her Majesty's Government to take steps to rectify these dangers; and if he will take steps to remove these dangers.

I have read with interest the latest Annual Report of the British Trawlers' Federation. Although alarm was expressed about the intensity of exploitation in the Barents Sea, the Federation was glad to see Her Majesty's Government taking the initiative towards effective conservation measures. We are, of course, taking all steps open to us to secure the international agreement required for the effective conservation of fish stocks. While it is true that there has been some decline in the numbers of fishing vessels, I do not accept that there has been any decline in the catching capacity of the British Fleet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms in Wales were tenanted and owner-occupied, respectively, at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for 1950.

The estimated number of tenanted and owner-occupied holdings in Wales in 1961, with comparable figures for 1950, were given in reply to a Question from the hon. Member on 30th July, 1963. These figures, which arose out of our participation in the World Census of Agriculture, are still the latest available. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he accepts the recommendation of the Reid Committee that provision should be made, as in England, to free purchasers from claims for Estate Duty; and if he will take account of this in preparing his future legislation.

This question is within the terms of reference of the Halliday Committee which was set up, in accordance

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total expenditure in Cyprus since October, 1964; and what steps he is taking to reduce it.

About £13 million. All our overseas defence commitments are at present under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what measures he proposes to improve conditions of service for Royal Naval and Royal Marine aircrew.

As my hon. Friend is aware, Royal Navy and Royal Marine aircrew have been working under particularly trying conditions, and we have decided on some special measures, which will be reviewed after three years, or earlier if necessary.First, with effect from the next promotions date we shall greatly improve the prospect of promotion to Lieutenant-Commander for short service aircrew and those on pensionable commissions to the age of 38; this will apply to Lieutenants on the Royal Navy Supplementary List or in the Royal Marine Special Entry who have 8–12 years seniority in the rank. We will also greatly increase the proportion of transfers to full-term permanent commissions on the Supplementary List.Next, we are introducing at once a special taxable bounty of £3,000 for short service Supplementary List aircrew who complete 8 years' service if they will undertake to stay on to complete at least 12 years' service; this new bounty will be paid in addition to the normal pension and terminal grant for those who leave at 16 years or to a terminal gratuity of £4,000 tax-free for those who leave at 12 years.Lastly, because it is especially arduous to fly aircraft or helicopters from ships serving East of Suez, we are introducing at once a system of sending home for two weeks' leave at public expense all aircrew appointed to the ships engaged on flying duties East of Suez when their tour of duty overseas is expected to last for twelve months. If they are likely to serve overseas for 18 months, a second period of two weeks' leave will be allowed.I hope that these improvements will help us to keep more of these valuable men in the Service, and encourage others to join them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will recall Rear-Admiral T. W. Best, the Royal Navy Flag Officer for Gibraltar, in view of his behaviour at the Spanish frontier on Friday, 2nd July, which has caused concern among the people of Gibraltar, who are suffering hardship and frustration at the hands of the Spanish authorities.

No. There have been no restrictions on walking across the frontier and Admiral Best, like many other Gibraltarians and Service men, has been in the habit of crossing on foot for exercise. He was not enjoying any special privileges, and became involved in a demonstration solely because the crowd recognised him as a local public figure. The Governor of Gibraltar has denied a Press report that he promised the demonstrators' representatives that he would forward a request for the recall of Admiral Best.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the authority and date for appointing a board of governors for the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; who are the present governors; by whom they were recommended and for what reasons; and what were the dates of their appointments, respectively.

The government of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook was vested in the Admiralty by the Greenwich Hospital Act of 1865. By virtue of the Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964 the functions of the Admiralty were transferred to the Secretary of State for Defence but under delegated powers Greenwich Hospital continue to be administered in all respects by the Admiralty Board (the statement made in the House by the Civil Lord of the Admiralty on 21st November, 1963, HANSARD Column 1315 refers). An Advisory Committee was first appointed by the Board of Admiralty in 1937. Later the title "Committee of Management" was adopted and the composition and present membership is as shown below (dates of appointment being given in brackets):

Under Secretary of State (R.N.)—Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu, M.P. (Chairman since 1964, previously member since 1950).

Director of Greenwich Hospital—Mr. P. S. Newell, C.B. (Vice-Chairman, 1964).

One M.P. from Government Party—Mr. M. MacPherson, M.B.E., M.P. (1965).

One M.P. from Opposition—Commander Sir John Maitland, R.N. (Retd.), D.L. M.P. (1947).

Two Education Officers or other appropriate Educationalists—Mr. J. H. Aldam, M.C., M.A., Chief Education Officer, East Suffolk (1962) and Mr. L. R. Missen, C.M.G., M.C., M.A. (Former Chief Education Officer, East Suffolk) (1937).

The Chaplain of the Fleet—The Venerable Archdeacon R. W. Richardson, C.B., Q.H.C., M.A. (1963).

The Director of the Naval Education Service—Instructor Rear Admiral Sir C. Darlington, K.B.E. (1960).

Naval Officer (representative of Naval Training or Naval Manpower Department—Rear Admiral T. H. Maxwell, D.S.C. (1965).

Any member of the Admiralty Board attending a meeting of the Committee ranks as a full member of the Committee.Members of the Committee are chosen on the basis that, by virtue of their office and their experience, they are in a position to supply helpful guidance for the School and its affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information is sent to all directors of education about the facilities at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; whether Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are included; what was the date of the last circular; whether it stated that orphans receive first consideration and gave the date for applications; and whether he will place copies in the Library.

All Directors of Education in England and Wales are sent copies of the School brochure, copies of which I am arranging to send to the Library. The last circulation was in September, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give the dates and places of the meetings of ratings at Portsmouth and Plymouth, respectively, recently addressed by the headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, and members of his staff, on the facilities of the school; and whether the fact that orphans receive first consideration was stressed;(2) whether, during the recent visits of the headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, and members of his staff to Portsmouth and Plymouth, the local branches of the Royal Naval Association and the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust were addressed on the facilities of the school, including the fact that first consideration is given to orphans; and whether he will arrange such meetings.

The headmaster and his staff visited Plymouth from 25th-28th February, 1964, and Portsmouth from 25th-29th May, 1965. The audiences totalled 437 at Plymouth and 744 at Portsmouth, including representatives of organised bodies.The fact that orphans receive first consideration was stressed.No specific invitation was issued to the Royal Naval Association, nor to the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust but a representative of the latter is known to have been present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Service welfare organisations are regularly circularised about the facilities at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; what was the date of the last circular; whether it stated that orphans would receive first consideration and gave the date for applications; and whether he will place copies in the Library.

Contact with most Service welfare organisations does not have to be maintained by circular letter. Details of the Royal Hospital School and of all other benefits dispensed by Greenwich Hospital have become well known to the larger organisations and the Hospital is in very frequent contact with the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association. It is indebted to both of these organisations for their services in providing a personal link between the Hospital and applicants for all kinds of assistance from the Hospital's funds. In 1963 copies of the School Brochure were sent to the Ships' Welfare Committees of all of Her Majesty's Ships and Shore Establishments. Statements issued by Greenwich Hospital about the Royal Hospital School invariably include a passage stating that preference is given to orphans.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the last information supplied to "Navy News", "Ashore and Afloat", "The Navy" and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association magazine, respectively, about the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; whether this circular stated that orphans receive first consideration and gave the date for applications; and whether he will place copies in the Library.

Full length illustrated articles about the Royal Hospital School appeared in the publications mentioned below on the given dates. Each article contained a passage stating the age at which application should be made for entry to the School and referred to the preference given to orphans.

Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association Magazine—January 1964.

"Ashore and Afloat"—November 1964

"The Navy"—May 1965.

I understand that the Library already receives regular copies of "The Navy" and the S.S.A.F.A. Magazine. I am arranging for copies of the November 1964 issue of "Ashore and Afloat" to be placed there.News items about the School normally appear each term in "Navy News".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of grants, in the current year, made from the Naval Education Allowance fund for the sons of officers and ratings, respectively, and for the sons of officers' widows and ratings' widows, respectively, at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, together with the amounts.

The number of education allowances paid to serving officers and ratings in respect of their sons at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, is not readily available. However, during the spring term this year there were 120 serving officers' sons and 185 serving ratings' sons at the School. It seems reasonable to assume that most, if not all, are in receipt of the education allowance. This is related to the fees and would amount to £100 per annum.The Naval Education Allowance is not payable to officers' or ratings' widows.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the sons of the 2,000 ratings of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service are eligible for entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; how many entered in the 20 years since the war; and what action is taken to inform these ratings of the facilities at the school, particularly for orphans, and the date for application.

As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, admission to the Royal Hospital School is open to the sons of seafaring men.Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary receive copies of Defence Council Instructions (R.N.). These promulgate full information about the Royal Hospital School.I am afraid that to supply the figure requested by my hon. and gallant Friend would involve a disproportionate amount of research.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the authority for the Naval Education Allowance, the date of origin and reasons; what amount is included in the current Navy Estimates; and to how many schools grants are made for the education of the sons of officers and ratings, respectively, and to officers' widows and ratings' widows, respectively.

The authority for payment of Children's Education and Maintenance Allowance is Naval Pay Regulations BR 1950, Article 1351. These allowances were introduced on 11th November, 1955, in all three services. They are paid to members of the Forces who, in order to avoid frequent changes of school for their children when they are posted, either send them to boarding school or board them with either relatives or friends while they attend day school. For this reason the allowances are not payable to officers' and ratings' widows. The amount included in current Navy Estimates for this purpose is £515,000.The Navy Department does not make grants direct to schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether married quarters and other service accommodation situated at North Weald, Essex, are to be transferred to the Army for the housing of Army personnel when North Weald airfield is handed over.

The Royal Air Force will continue to use the married quarters and a few of the buildings. The remaining buildings will be taken over by the Army.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to make special grants to local authority transport undertakings to prevent increased fares being charged;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to give himself power to collect information regarding the comparative fares charged by municipal transport undertakings in the major Scottish cities; and whether he will take steps to reduce the hardship caused by high bus and trolley bus fares.

I have no proposals for such legislation. Bus and trolley bus fares are subject to the control of the Traffic Commissioners, who take all relevant factors into account in reaching their decisions.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the decisions of the Road Haulage Association to ignore the recommendation of the National Board for Prices and Incomes and to increase their charges by 5 per cent., he will reconsider his decision to operate liner trains from open terminals.

As my hon. Friend will be aware from developments reported since his Question was tabled, the Road Haulage Association have not ignored the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes. In any case I see no reason to reconsider my approval of investment on liner trains on the basis of operation from open terminals.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the London Transport Board to reduce hardship to waiting bus passengers in bad weather.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport how many cars have been imported from abroad during the past five years which are not subject to an annual test.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport why cars imported from abroad and not previously registered in this country are registered here as if they were new vehicles and are therefore, despite their age, not subject to any test for roadworthiness; and what action he will take having regard to the danger which might arise from the use of such vehicles on United Kingdom roads.

The first registration of a motor vehicle is not related to its age but to the date when it is first put into use on public roads in this country. This applies equally to imported used cars, for which the date of first registration in the country of origin could not readily be established in every case. There are not many of them and, in the absence of any evidence that they constitute a particular danger, I do not propose to change the law, as would be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what encouragement is given by his Department, in areas where bus services have been discontinued, to individuals or companies prepared to institute limited services; and if he will take steps to remove obstacles to the introduction of such services.

The Traffic Commissioners are ready to help and advise anyone wishing to apply for a licence to run a bus service. They decide such applications on their merits. There should be no obstacle, provided the service meets a public need and does not compete harmfully with other services.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the result of his consideration of what can be done to see that headlights are always used on unlit roads, and dipped headlights in built-up areas; and if he will now ban the practice of driving on sidelights only.

Our evidence does not show that in well lit streets the use of dipped headlights is any safer than side lights. But elsewhere headlights should always be used in accordance with the rules in the Highway Code which are:—

"Use dipped headlights at night in built-up areas, unless the street lighting is good."

"On unlighted roads always use your headlights. When meeting other vehicles and cyclists dip your headlights. If you are dazzled, slow down or stop."

It is difficult to define by Regulation "well lit streets" in terms which would make it clear to drivers, as would be necessary exactly where headlamps need not be used. In practice this need not pose a serious problem because, in case of any doubt, drivers should have their headlights on.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the aims of the International Co-operation Year to stimulate more links between British people and those of other countries, why he will not give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board not to withdraw concessionary fares for young foreign visitors to Great Britain.

I explained in the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 16th June that such a direction would not be appropriate. The existence of the International Co-operation Year does not affect that position.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to publish the report of the inquiry held by his inspector into the recent collapse of a signal box at Clapham Junction.

I expect the Chief Inspecting Officer's Report to be published in the early autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received from the Goole Labour Party a letter protesting against the proposed sale of Railway Board assets; and what reply he has sent.

Yes. I have informed the Goole Constituency Labour Party that this is a matter entirely for the Board and that their proposal does not require my approval.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications for the refund of additional fares paid by season-ticket holders who had mislaid their tickets were received by British Railways in the last convenient 12-month period; and how many season ticket holders are known to have made more than one such application.

I understand from the British Railways Board that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the worsening traffic conditions in Parliament Square, what short-term plans he has to alleviate the situation.

Traffic in London is now the responsibility of the Greater London Council. So it is for them to consider what, if any, short-term measures can and should be taken here.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now experiment with speed limits by imposing an 80 miles per hour speed limit on all motorways, and 60 miles per hour in place of the present 50 miles per hour on certain trunk roads, while retaining the present 40 miles per hour limit.

I think it is best to deal first with roads which have a high accident rate. That is why I am imposing, from the middle of this month, 50 m.p.h. speed limits on nearly 300 miles of trunk roads. I shall see how effective these are before considering the advisability of 60 m.p.h. limits. Motorways are much safer than all-purpose roads, but as traffic intensity on them increases I shall review the position and will consider whether experimental speed limits should be introduced.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements are being made to provide information to other local authorities of the parking disc system at Cheltenham.

My Department hopes to discuss with the Cheltenham Borough Council, in the near future, the first two months' working of the disc system. They will, at the same time, consider whether the results so far are likely to be of interest to other local authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement on proposals for dealing with the Neasden Circus traffic problem.

I have not yet completed my study of the various alternative ways of dealing with this intersection.

Brown asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the benefit which should accrue to London Airport by the opening of the M.4 road is vitiated by bottlenecks which occur east of the Chiswick flyover, at the roundabout at Sutton Court Road, at the Hogarth roundabout and eastward from Warwick Road; and if he will eliminate the roundabout and replace it with traffic lights, build a temporary flyover to carry eastbound traffic from the Great Chertsey Road, and establish a 24-hour clearway east of Warwick Road and a tidal flow along that section of West Cromwell and Cromwell Roads.

I am aware of the difficulties at the Sutton Court Road and Hogarth roundabouts. I expect to replace the first roundabout with traffic lights by next spring and hope to have a temporary flyover erected within the next 12 months to carry eastbound traffic from the Great Chertsey Road across the Hogarth roundabout. A draft order under Section 9 of the Highways Act 1959, relating to the scheme for the temporary flyover, was published on 28th May this year. There is a three months' objection period.Further traffic measures on the length of this route east of Warwick Road are a matter for the Greater London Council as traffic authority.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received the report of the public inquiry concerning the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway in so far as it affects the village of Outlane in Huddersfield; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently received the inspector's report on the inquiry. I hope to announce my decision in the near future.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) whether he will give active backing to the British Aircraft Corporation to enable them to get a super-super VC10 flying;(2) whether he will give a general direction to British Overseas Airways Corporation to order the super-super version of the VC10 in preference to the United States Boeing 707–820.

The possibility of developing a larger version of the Super VC10 and B.O.A.C.'s potential requirement for an aircraft of this type are being closely considered. B.A.C. have made it clear to us that the proposals they have put forward would depend on very considerable Government expenditure amounting to several tens of millions of pounds. A number of questions, including the likely export market for such an aircraft, must be resolved before a decision can be reached.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state which Articles of the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to the Precautionary Arrest of Aircraft signed at Rome on 29th May, 1933, have been

			Rural		Urban		Total
County			No. of Kiosks	Estimated total costs	No. of Kiosks	Estimated total costs	No. of Kiosks	Estimated total costs
				£		£		£
Anglesey	…	…	8	3,230	3	1,080	11	4,310
Brecon	…	…	10	2,950	4	1,440	14	4,390
Cardigan	…	…	1	410	—	—	1	410
Caernarvon	…	…	7	2,960	4	1,440	11	4,400
Carmarthen	…	…	2	940	4	1,440	6	2,380
Denbigh	…	…	5	1,920	4	1,440	9	3,360
Flint	…	…	5	1,820	2	720	7	2,540
Glamorgan	…	…	3	1,050	62*	22,320	65	23,370
Merioneth	…	…	5	2,000	—	—	5	2,000
Montgomery	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Monmouth	…	…	4	1,050	32*	11,520	36	12,570
Pembroke	…	…	3	1,160	1	360	4	1,520
Radnor	…	…	2	1,260	—	—	2	1,260
Totals	…	…	55	20,750	116	41,760	171	62,510
* The large numbers of urban kiosks in Glamorgan and Monmouth are due to housing developments in these areas.

No precise allocation has yet been made under the special scheme for un-remunerative kiosks in rural areas for the period from October, 1965.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent faults in and deterioration of the public telephone service at railway termini and large stations are due to excessive use; and if he will undertake an inquiry to ascertain whether adequate telephones are available for the demands at railway stations, and into the need to provide effective inspection and attention.

Railway kiosks which are in constant use, suffer heavy wear and tear and occasionally rough handling and even some vandalism.My right hon. Friend plans to improve the inspection routine to reduce the number

None.

asked the Postmaster-General how many kiosks were erected in each of the counties of Wales and Monmouthshire in the two years 1963 to 1965; what was the cost for the period in each county; and what allocation of kiosks has been made for the next two-year period.

The figures are as follows:that are out of order at any one time, and maintain the service for the public. Meanwhile if my hon. Friend has any particular station in mind I should be pleased to look into the matter and write to him.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the cost to the Post Office of maintaining public telephone kiosks has been increasing; and what are the reasons.

Maintenance costs have risen by about 10 per cent. during the last two years. The increase has been mainly due to higher staff costs and a greater number of faults. More kiosks are in use and they are used more frequently. There is also more vandalism.

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter, whose cover has been forwarded to him, postmarked London, 11th February, 1965, was not delivered in Portchester till 10th June, 1965, four months later.

I am having inquiries made about the delay in delivery and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the time within which his Department normally expects letters and parcels, respectively, posted in London before mid-day, to be delivered to addresses in Birkenhead.

Letters for Birkenhead posted in London before midday should normally be delivered by first post next weekday; parcels should be delivered on the following weekday, but, in present circumstances of shortage of staff in London, some may not get delivery until the second weekday after posting.

asked the Postmaster-General how many complaints his Department has received during the last 12 months for which figures are available, about the late delivery in Birkenhead of letters and parcels, respectively, posted in London and other parts of the country.

114 are recorded for the 12 months ended 31st May, 1965—they were equally divided as between letters and parcels.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the number of persons employed in the postal and telephone services in Birkenhead falls below the standard regarded as essential to secure prompt and efficient operation of postal and telephone services within Birkenhead; and if he will make a statement.

The number of persons employed in the postal and telephone services in Birkenhead is adequate for the prompt and efficient operation of these services.

asked the Postmaster-General why the threepenny stamp with the St. Andrew's Cross does not contain the word Scotland or some other indication that it is a Scottish stamp; why the Forth Bridge stamp is no longer on sale in all the post offices of Aberdeen; and if he will take steps to rectify these omissions.

My right hon. Friend thinks the St. Andrew's Cross, along with the Crowned Thistle which also appears on this stamp, are generally accepted as identifying the stamp with Scotland.He is sorry that because of a local error some post offices in Aberdeen were at one time without stocks of Forth Road Bridge stamps. This was put right.

asked the Postmaster-General what new books of postage stamps are in preparation; and when they will be on sale.

In addition to the 6s. book already on sale containing 18 fourpenny stamps new books will be issued as follows:

Price	Contents	Issue Date
2s.	4 stamps at 4d.	16th August
	2 stamps at 3d.
	2 stamps at 1d.
4s. 6d.	12 stamps at 4d.	26th July
	6 stamps at 1d.
10s.	24 stamps at 4d.	23rd August
	6 stamps at 3d.
	6 stamps at 1d.

In addition, a 2s. book containing eight threepenny stamps will be introduced later in the year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will seek to hold further consultations with the responsible authorities about the need for an early decision on the future development of the Lea Valley, in view of the fact that the horticultural industry in this area will be damaged by uncertainty.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 22nd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr. Atkinson) when I said that planning applications for proposed housing development are likely to be in the hands of the Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils before the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consult with the local authority associations and the Keep Britain Tidy Group with a view to the institution of a national Keep Britain Tidy Week.

The problem calls for continuous education and publicity rather than a one-week campaign; but my right hon. Friend will certainly consider this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the present volume of supply and demand for water in Sussex, and what are the estimated supply and demand in the years 1970, 1975 and 1980.

Information about supply and demand for water in Sussex for all purposes will not be available until the Sussex river authority has completed the licensing of existing abstractions under the Water Resources Act 1963 and has made an intial survey of future demands. The following are figures for the public supply in the area of the Sussex river authority, which is roughly coterminous with the county.

—		Average demand per day million gallons	Maximum reliable yield per day million gallons
1965	…	53	68
1971 (estimate)	…	64	70
1981 (estimate)	…	80	Not available

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he proposes to agree to in order to increase the supply of water to meet future needs in Sussex.

The Department's officers and those of the Water Resources Board are in touch with the Sussex River Authority and the statutory water undertakers about action for meeting future needs. My right hon. Friend will consider all proposals submitted by these bodies, but he cannot say in advance what plans will be approved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the present volume of supply and demand for water in England and Wales, and the estimated supply and demand in the years 1970, 1975 and 1980.

Comprehensive information about supply and demand for water in England and Wales for all purposes will not be available until the river authorities set up under the Water Resources Act 1963 have completed the licensing of existing abstractions under Part IV of the Act and have made an initial survey of future demands.In 1963, the quantity taken from the public supply was about 2,500 million gallons per day. The demand made on the public supply has been growing at an average rate of 3 per cent. per annum over the last decade.It will be the duty of the river authorities to prepare successive estimates of demands, normally for twenty years ahead, and to formulate proposals for water conservation works in order to ensure that adequate supplies are available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what projects are at present under construction to expand the reservoir capacity of England and Wales; what other projects have been approved; and what is the expected addition to the reservoir capacity in each case.

Major reservoir projects under construction include the following:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the figures for pleas of guilty and not guilty, respectively, recorded in assize criminal cases in each of the past five years.

I regret that information for the last five years could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work. It has been estimated from a previous research sample that in 1957 4,700 persons pleaded guilty, and 2,000 persons pleaded not guilty, at assize courts in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that advocates engaged in civil proceedings arising out of traffic accidents in which criminal proceedings have been concluded or not instituted are not always allowed by police officers subpoenaed to attend the civil court to see the original statements which they have taken from witnesses to the accident including parties to the civil proceedings; whether he will call for reports from chief constables as to the extent to which they are complying with the recommendations on this subject contained in the Final Report of the Evershed Committee on Supreme Court Practice and Procedure and in earlier circulars from his department; and whether he will take steps to ensure that police authorities are aware of and comply with the foregoing recommendations;(2) whether he is aware that solicitors conducting civil litigation cannot always obtain from police authorities copies of statements of witnesses to traffic accidents in which criminal proceedings have been concluded or not instituted, notwithstanding the fact that the witnesses concerned have given their written consent to the disclosure of their statements; whether he will call for reports from chief constables as to the extent to which they are complying with the recommendations on this subject contained in the Final Report of the Evershed Committee on Supreme Court Practice and Procedure and in earlier circulars from his Department; and whether he will take steps to ensure that police authorities are aware of and comply with the foregoing recommendations.

The extent of the assistance to be given by the police in particular civil proceedings is a matter for the chief officer of police concerned to determine and my right hon. and learned Friend has no power to issue directions. Chief officers of police are aware of the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Committee on Practice and Procedure with regard to the supply of copies of witnesses' statements made to the police in road accident cases, and these recommendations are generally followed. My right hon. and learned Friend is prepared to have inquiries made in any particular case in which it appears that the Committee's recommendations are not being followed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to what investigations are made to check that Bingo clubs return all stake money as prizes to the players as required by the Betting and Gaming Act.

Subject to consideration of any information the hon. Member may care to send him, my right hon. and learned Friend is not satisfied that such reports are called for.

asked the Minister of Health how many regional hospital boards have made express provision, in schemes submitted by them under Section 11 of the National Health Service Act 1946 for securing sufficient representation on hospital management committees of people under the age of 45 years, of people employed by employers other than public or publicly-owned authorities, and of people who are in day-to-day touch with the communities served by the respective hospital authorities and sufficiently free of other public duties; to what extent he is satisfied that the powers of regional hospital boards to appoint hospital management committees under the National Health Service Act, 1946, are so exercised as to ensure that hospital management committees are sufficiently representative of the foregoing categories of people; and whether he will take steps to ascertain and improve the representative quality of hospital management committees appointed under the existing system.

None. The constitution of Hospital Management Committees is governed by the Third Schedule to the Act. Members are appointed primarily for the individual contributions they can make, and not as representatives of particular sectional or group interests. Regional Hospital Boards are aware of the need to secure a suitable range of knowledge, interests and backgrounds.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the membership of regional hospital boards is sufficiently representative of people under the age of 45 years, of people employed by employers other than public or publicly-owned authorities, and of people who are in day-to-day touch with the communities served by the respective hospital authorities and sufficiently free of other public duties; and if he will make a statement.

Members of regional hospital boards are appointed primarily for the individual contributions they can make, and not as representatives of particular sectional or group interests. At the same time I try so far as I can to secure a suitable range of knowledge, interests and background, taking into account, among others, the factors which the hon. Member mentions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the range of salaries paid to speech therapists, orthoptists, dietitians, and enrolled nurses, employed in the Hospital Service on 1st January 1950, 1955, 1960, and at present, respectively; and what is the value of the salaries expressed in terms of the purchasing power of the £ sterling as at 1st January, 1950.

Following is the information in respect of clinical grades:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the range of salaries paid to State registered nurses employed in the Hospital Service on 1st January, 1950, 1955, 1960 and at present,

			Salary Scale						Column (1) expressed in terms of purchasing power of the pound sterling as at 1st January, 1950, on the basis of the Retail Prices Index
			(1)						(2)
			Staff Nurse			Ward Sister			Staff Nurse			Ward Sister
			£			£			£			£
1st January 1950	(men)	…	325	—	425	385	—	500	325	—	425	385	—	500
	(women)	…	315	—	415	375	—	500	315	—	415	375	—	500
1st January 1955	(men)	…	395	—	495	460	—	575	305	—	383	356	—	445
	(women)	…	385	—	485	450	—	575	298	—	375	348	—	445
1st January 1960	(men)	…	500	—	625	625	—	800	335	—	418	418	—	536
	(women)	…	498	—	623	622	—	800	333	—	416	416	—	536
	Current (Note)	…	690	—	880	890	—	1,205	384	—	490	496	—	671
Note. Equal pay for nursing staff has been in operation since 1961.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the range of salaries paid to radiographers employed in the Hospital Service on 1st January, 1950, 1955, 1960, and at present,

			Salaries
			Minimum of basic grade		Maximum of higher grade	Column (1) expressed in terms of the purchasing power of the pound sterling as at 1st January, 1950 on the basis of the Retail Prices Index
				(1)			(2)
				£			£
1st January, 1950	…	…	310	—	600	310	—	600
1st January, 1955	…	…	380	—	680	294	—	526
1st January, 1960	…	…	500	—	980	335	—	656
At present	…	…	623	—	1,391	347	—	775