asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many volunteers have been recruited under the auspices of the Voluntary Service Overseas from agricultural institutions for the years 1964 and 1965, respectively; how many teachers in agricultural and veterinary subjects have been requested for each Commonwealth territory, respectively; and to what extent these needs have been met.

In 1964 16 volunteers were recruited from agricultural institutions by the four voluntary bodies concerned. So far in 1965 51 have been recruited.In 1964, 37 requests were received from Commonwealth countries and 25 were met. For 1965 there are 45 requests and so far 32 volunteers have been recruited.The figures for each Commonwealth country are as follows:

REQUESTS FROM COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES IN 1964 AND 1965 FOR VOLUNTEER TEACHERS IN AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SUBJECTS.
		1964		1965
Country		Requests	Recruited	Requests	Recruited
Basutoland	…	2	2	1	0
Bechuanaland	…	—	—	2	2
British Guiana	…	1	1	—	—
Ghana	…	3	0	—	—
India	…	1	1	4	2
Jamaica	…	2	0	3	2
Kenya	…	9	7	8	5
Malawi	…	3	3	3	3
Malaysia	…	1	1	6	4
Mauritius	…	—	—	1	1
Nigeria	…	6	1	1	1
Sierra Leone	…	1	1	1	0
Swaziland	…	2	2	—	—
Tanzania	…	2	2	10	9
Uganda	…	2	2	3	1
Zambia	…	2	2	2	2
		37	25	45	32

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is her present estimate of the number of graduate volunteers who will be going to serve overseas during the year 1965–66.

About 900. In my Written Answer to the noble Lord's Question on 8th July I estimated the number at between 900 and 950. The latest in- formation suggests that the total will be nearer 900.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why she has slowed down the expansion of the graduate volunteer overseas service scheme for the year 1966–67.

The rate of expansion depends on the rate at which volunteers come forward; the finding of suitable work for them; and the strengthening of the organisation of the voluntary societies which run the programme. All concerned with the programme have agreed that next year's target is right.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will examine the need for helping to establish an institution in Africa where graduates in temperate agricultural subjects could receive short-term courses in tropical agricultural subjects which were relevant to Africa.

I am not aware of any such need, since courses relevant to tropical conditions generally are available at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of the West Indies.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the institutions in Africa where it is possible for graduates in temperate agricultural studies maintained by Her Majesty's Government to receive short training courses in tropical agriculture; and if he will indicate the duration of the course and the number of places available at each.

Complete information on this subject is not available and is being obtained. From such information as is available, however, it would appear that there are no courses at institutions in Africa which would be as suitable for the postgraduate training of British graduates as that which they at present receive at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of the West Indies and in institutions in this country.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what effect her recent announcement on additional financial assistance to overseas territories will have on the balance of payments.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to my announcement of the decision to grant interest-free loans. Loans on these terms will not represent a burden to our balance of payments in the next few years in view of our present practice of giving waivers of interest. It does, of course, represent a significant concession in the long term, though the amount will depend on the total amount of interest free loans which we make.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what response she has received from Commonwealth countries to her announcement of the availability under certain circumstances of interest-free loans for economic development.

My announcement was warmly received at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total of aid disbursements in 1964–65; and by how much this will be reduced in the current financial year.

The provisional total of official economic aid disbursements in 1964–65 was £189 million. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) on 1st June.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what assistance is being given to Nepal.

A grant of £1 million spread over five years was offered by Her Majesty's Government at the time of the Royal visit in 1960. The main projects among which this has been allocated are the electrification of Katmandu, road improvements and technical training of Nepalese civilians in Malaya.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement about the introductory course run by Overseas Service for persons intending to serve overseas.

My Ministry has, since October, 1964, been making greatly increased use of the introductory courses conducted by the Overseas Service College at Farnham Castle. From October, 1964, to the end of July, 1965, 330 individuals sponsored by the Ministry will have attended these courses. Another 80 will attend courses in August and September and 200 are expected to attend in the period October, 1965 to March 1966. Future arrangements are to be reviewed in the autumn.The content of the courses covers the sociogeographical background of the countries concerned and is drawn up by the Overseas Service College after consultation with the Ministry. Special courses for teachers going to East and Central Africa have been arranged. It is considered that, within the five days available, the courses provide an effective and useful introduction to service overseas.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the estimate of Government aid in terms of loans and grants to Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth developing countries, respectively, for the financial years 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67, respectively.

In 1964–5, bilateral financial aid to the Commonwealth, including Colonies, was £127 million, of which £52·5 million was grant and £74·5 million loan. The comparable figures for foreign countries were £17·7 million, £7·6 million and £10·1 million. Technical assistance, almost all of which is grant, was £24·8 million for the Commonwealth and £2 million for foreign countries. As regards subsequent years, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon.:Member for Torquay (Sir F. Bennet:) on 21st May.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proposals she has for dealing with those British farmers in Kenya who rank as compassionate cases.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) today.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to encourage students at schools and universities to learn about the matters for which his Department is responsible.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has a Publicity Working Party on Technology and Engineering and my Department is taking an active part in its work, which is parallel with that being done by the Engineering Institutions and their Joint Council as well as the Federation of British Industries. The Working Party activities include preparing booklets and films for wide distribution and helping to promote the greater use of technological subjects in television and radio programmes.

asked the Minister of Technology what percentage of the cost of approved research projects was paid for by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research grants in 1964; and what is the proposed percentage for 1965.

I am not clear from this Question what point the hon. Member has in mind. If he would like to write to me about it, I shall do my best to supply the information he wants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the measures taken to ease the balance of payments problem have to date proved adequate; and what further steps he proposes to take towards this end.

The measures taken have resulted in an improvement in the situation and will continue to do so. But I am keeping a close watch on the progress we are making.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the factors which led to a recent decline in the volume of industrial production; to what extent this decline has now been reversed; and what is his estimate of the position during the remainder of 1965.

There is no evidence of a decline in the volume of industrial production. The seasonally adjusted index of industrial production stands at 131 for April, the latest available month, compared with 132 for December, but this series is subject to random fluctuation and to establish a trend it is necessary to compare a run of months. On this basis the figures suggest that the rising trend of production in recent months has flattened out. I expect production to continue high during the remainder of 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue department divulged details of a disallowance of a £98,227 part expense claim by Mr. Wilfred Harvey, chairman of the British Printing Corporation.

The Inland Revenue made no such disclosure. The published accounts of Purnell & Sons Ltd. for 1962 and 1963 indicated, in accordance with the Companies Act, 1948, that certain sums paid to a director of the company in previous years in respect of expenses had been disallowed for tax purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has now made of the increase in the staff of the Inland Revenue Department which will be needed as a result of the enactment of the Finance (No. 2) Bill.

The staff numbers will depend to some extent on the methods and procedures to be followed, and these are under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will set out

Issue of Certificates				Date of Issue	Current annual rate of interest (per cent.) based on investment at the date of issue			Current redemption value of £100 invested at date of issue			Current purchasing power of the redemption value compared with the date of issue
					£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
First	…	…	…	1916	1	10	9	421	10	1	118	16	1
Second	…	…	…	1922	1	13	11	370	6	3	130	16	6
Third	…	…	…	1923	1	18	5	329	13	9	110	14	11
Conversion	…	…	…	1932	2	5	6	278	2	6	77	6	4
Fourth	…	…	…	1932	2	2	9	247	13	1	68	16	11
Fifth	…	…	…	1933	2	3	8	238	10	10	64	9	5
Sixth	…	…	…	1935	2	17	2	235	0	0	64	17	6
Seventh	…	…	…	1939	3	5	7	206	13	4	62	4	9
£1	…	…	…	1943	2	15	7	136	5	0	not available
Eighth	…	…	…	1947	2	18	10	171	5	0	93	4	7
Ninth	…	…	…	1951	3	4	6	156	13	4	105	11	1
Tenth	…	…	…	1956	3	12	3	141	13	4	113	4	6
Eleventh	…	…	…	1963	3	11	9	104	11	8	96	14	2
Notes
1. The Consumer Price Index has been used to make the adjustments for changes in prices.
2. It is not possible to give the current redemption value of the £1 issue, adjusted for price changes, since no reliable price index for 1943 is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the approximate cost of changing building society financial arrangements so that they charge interest on mortgages net of tax, with such mortgage interest not then being available as a deduction for Income Tax and Surtax.

There are different versions of the arrangement which my hon. Friend describes, and I cannot give him an answer without knowing precisely what he has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of tax would be paid at current

I regret that separate figures of the total sums outstanding on each issue of National Savings Certificates are not available. The other information asked for by the hon. Member is set out in the table below.rates by persons in receipt of gross annual earned incomes of £20,000, £30,000, £50,000, £75,000, £100,000 and £250,000, respectively, assuming them to be single, and married with two children, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

			Tax payable in 1965–66
Gross Earned Income			Single Person			Married man with 2 children under 11 years
£			£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
20,000	…	…	12,652	12	6	12,333	5	0
30,000	…	…	21,777	12	6	21,458	5	0
50,000	…	…	40,027	12	6	39,708	5	0
75,000	…	…	62,840	2	6	62,520	15	0
100,000	…	…	85,652	12	6	85,333	5	0
250,000	…	…	222,527	12	6	222,208	5	0

The tax comprises the sum of the income tax for 1965–66 and the Surtax for 1964–65 (payable in 1965–66) for an adult male employee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an analysis as between individuals and companies of the revenue from a 6d. standard rate of Income Tax in the latest year for which information is available.

The latest information that I can give my hon. Friend is that, on the basis of the Budget estimates, the yield for 1965–66 of the 6d. increase in the standard rate of Income Tax for that year is £150 million of which it is estimated that £112 million will be borne by individuals and £38 million by company reserves.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of balancing allowances less charges included in annual and other allowances in each year from 1955 to 1964.

The estimated net tax or balancing charges less balancing allowances is as follows:

				£ million
1955–56	…	…	…	2·8
1956–57	…	…	…	3·3
1957–58	…	…	…	3·5
1958–59	…	…	…	2·3
1959–60	…	…	…	1·3
1960–61	…	…	…	3·0
1961–62	…	…	…	1·0
1962–63	…	…	…	-3·5
1963–64	…	…	…	-2·9
1964–65	…	…	…	Not available

A negative sign indicates a net cost to the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will confirm the Liverpool, Milford Street Area, Compulsory Purchase Order which was submitted for confirmation by him on 7th April, 1965.

A public local inquiry into objections against this order has been arranged for 14th September. A decision will be reached as soon as possible afterwards.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has now been made with the scheme for the supply of water to Vennington, Shropshire; and when he expects work will commence.

The West Shropshire Water Board has now revised its proposals. These will be investigated locally by one of the Department's inspectors as soon as it is clear that the necessary land can be acquired. I cannot yet say when work will commence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now announce his decision on the proposed county borough status for Cheltenham.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now announce his decision as to whether Cheltenham is to receive county borough status.

I shall be announcing my decision without undue delay.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what answer he has sent to the Council for British Archaeology to its memorandum on taking over responsibility for the preservation of 51 towns; on what criteria he based this answer; and what plans he has for the preservation of Durham and Alnwick.

This memorandum reached me yesterday. I will write to the hon. Member after considering it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to take action to relieve the hardship which was shown in the Allen Report to exist in such places as Bexhill and Rye.

The Government's examination of local government finance takes account of the Allen Committee's Report. Proposais will be announced as soon as they are ready.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, after months of waiting for action to clear the car park dump in Wilton Road, Humberston, near Grimsby, complaints against which have been made to his Department since November, 1963, his recent undertaking has not yet been carried out; since the nuisance to the local residents has subsequently increased greatly, if he will now take action to clear this dump; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Tuesday, 6th April last. The local planning authority have since instituted proceedings against the failure to comply with the enforcement notice which I understand are due to come before the local magistrates' court.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give the date upon which reorganisation proposals in the County of Shropshire will be implemented.

I recognise the special reasons for speed in this case and as I told the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 29th June, I hope to make an early announcement. This will cover the likely dates when any changes will take effect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give additional assistance to local authorities who are endeavouring to provide suitable dwellings for handicapped persons by making a higher payment in respect of this type of accommodation than that provided for under Section 4(1) of the 1961 Housing Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 16th March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the price at which the Ilford Borough Council sold 3, Colvin Gardens to the sitting tenant in 1956; and what are the present valuation and the amount actually to be paid in the light of the decision of the Council to repurchase and to rehouse the occupant.

The house was sold in 1955 for £645; the present valuation is £3,400; and my right hon. Friend understands that the Redbridge London Borough Council have made an offer of £2,550.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses have been sold to sitting tenants by the Ilford Borough Council since 1951; and what has been the average price paid per house.

Complete annual figures are not available, but since 1945 the former Ilford Borough Council sold 1,306 council houses to sitting tenants. The houses were sold on terms laid down in general consents given in 1952 and 1960 and my right hon. Friend has no details of individual prices which would enable an average price to be calculated.The new Redbridge London Borough Council, of which Ilford now forms part, have decided not to sell any houses now in their ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will authorise the disclosure to the wife of a Royal Air Force officer of her husband's address if she wishes to institute divorce proceedings, and particularly if he is about to leave the country.

No, but it is always our practice to give a Serviceman's address to his wife's solicitors when required for divorce proceedings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the Avon and Dorset River Authority has been obliged to issue nine salmon net licences to fish in Poole Harbour during the season of 1965, compared with two during 1964; and whether he will approve the issue of a net limitation order so as to enable the river authority to prevent the depletion of breeding stock.

My Department has recently been approached by this river authority who have given me the figures quoted by the hon. Member and have put forward proposals for a net limitation order in the area. The authority's proposals are under consideration and will be dealt with as quickly as possible, but before an order could be approved it would have to be publicly advertised and any objections made would have to be duly considered.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that devaluation of sterling would not provide a way out of economic difficulties, if, in order to avoid it, he will take steps to impose a two year ban on increases in wage, salary, rent, dividend, and all other forms of income so as to get prices down and exports up; and if he will make a statement.

The policy which has been agreed between the Government, management and unions is designed to secure general price stability by relating money incomes to real output. My right hon. Friend is currently considering ways of strengthening the policy, with the co-operation of those concerned. If, however, the voluntary principle fails we shall consider other courses.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the Economic Study for the North-West of England will be published; and to what extent Merseyside is integrated in the overall proposals.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) on 13th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government for space research.

The Government's policy is that this country should participate in space research as fully as available resources permit.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now make an announcement concerning legislation to reform the leasehold system.

asked the Prime Minister when leasehold legislation will now be introduced.

Yes. As the House knows, pressure of Parliamentary time and the need to give priority to urgent social legislation such as the Rent Bill has so far prevented us from bringing forward legislation about the leasehold system. I can assure the House, however, that a great deal of preparatory work has been done and that it is the firm intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce legislation in the near future. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources to take over responsibility for the preparation and introduction of this legislation.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will have displayed at London Airport a list of taxi fares officially recommended by the Taxi Proprietors' Association.

The tariff recommended by the recognised representatives of the trade is displayed at the exits from the passenger buildings and at the head of each taxi rank. The Airport management also reproduce the information in their brochures, leaflets and travel information posters.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will undertake a survey of passengers leaving London Airport with a view to ascertaining which overseas services can be transferred to provincial airports.

Yes. I am about to conduct a survey broadly comparable to that mentioned by the hon. Member with a view to helping to establish the potential demand for direct air services between the provinces and the Continent.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will give general directions, in the public interest, to the British Overseas Airways Corporation and to British European Airways, to transfer air services where appropriate to independent provincial airports, in view of the fact that they have unused capacity.

No. The provision of air services is a matter for the commercial judgment of the airlines, subject to any necessary licences being obtained from the Air Transport Licensing Board and to the availability of any necessary air traffic rights. But I trust that the Air Corporations, as well as other airlines, will have full regard to the results of the survey which I am launching and of which I have already informed the hon. Member in reply to a previous Question.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will approve the joint use of the Royal Air Force aerodrome at Leconfield by a private firm for civil air services to and from Hull when the Royal Air Force reduce the station to a maintenance unit.

I would recommend the firm in question to get in touch with the corporation of Kingston-upon-Hull, who are already interested in the possibility of public transport services being operated from Leconfield. My information, however, is that the future rôle of the airfield remains sufficiently uncertain for it not to be possible at this stage to say definitely whether the civil operations proposed could be fitted in.

asked the Minister of Aviation what stipulations he will make regarding buildings or other requirements to be provided by a private firm at Leconfield Aerodrome in order to operate civil air services to and from Hull in conjunction with the reduced use of the aerodrome by the Royal Air Force.

In view of the answer I have given to the previous question, it may be premature to consider the facilities which would be needed for civil operations at Leconfield. However, if my noble Friend, the Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force does find himself able to agree to this extension of joint use, it will be for the operator to decide what accommodation is needed and to make arrangements for its provision. My officials would be glad to give advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of his decision concerning the proposed comprehensive education scheme of the City of Liverpool; and what are the reasons for his decision.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the letter which was sent to the local education authority on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it is next planned to have a meeting in the United Kingdom with the Anglo-German Economic Committee; and whether he will arrange for this to be held in Edinburgh so that the West German Government trade experts can inspect Scotland's industrial potential.

The Anglo-German Economic Committee normally meets twice a year alternately in Germany and in the United Kingdom. A meeting was held in London last week so that the next meeting in the United Kingdom might be expected to take place about the middle of 1966. The place of meeting will be considered nearer the time and we will bear in mind what the hon. Member has suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the amount of the United Kingdom contribution to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in each of the last 10 years; and what are the proposed contributions for the next two years.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development replaced the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation in the autumn of 1961. I list below the net payments made by the United Kingdom towards the budgets of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and its predecessor during the last ten United Kingdom financial years:

			£
1955–56	…	…	302,016
1956–57	…	…	289,507
1957–58	…	…	547,094
1958–59	…	…	517,596
1959–60	…	…	531,105
1960–61	…	…	524,449
1961–62	…	…	397,560
1962–63	…	…	511,210
1963–64	…	…	827,000
1964–65	…	…	808,223

The estimated contribution for 1965–66 is £832,000 and the tentative estimate for 1966–67 is £880,000 (the increase over 1965–66 is mainly attributable to the new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development building which is under construction).United Kingdom contributions to the European Nuclear Energy Agency have not been included in the above totals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been reported to the Metropolitan Police recently of outrages against specifically Jewish property in the Metropolitan Police district; in how many cases proceedings have been brought and with what result; and whether he is satisfied that adequate measures are being taken for the protection of synagogues and churches against outrage.

Since 1st September, 1964, there have been five incidents of arson and four of attempted arson at synagogues and one of arson at a Jewish house, as well as 55 cases of lesser offences such as slogan-daubing and fly-posting. On 19th March last a youth was fined £3 for possessing an offensive weapon and a man has recently been arrested in connection with an arson attempt. The police are in close touch with the Jewish religious authorities and are paying special attention to synagogues throughout the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the style and quality of the uniform issued to special constables in the West Riding of Yorkshire are consistent with membership of a modern police force; and what action he will take.

The provision of uniform for the special constabulary is a matter for the police authority, but I understand that the chief constable has already included in the budget proposals for next financial year, which he will be submitting in due course to the police authority, provision for the issue of open-necked jackets to all active members of the special constabulary.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the total number of dependants of those prospective immigrants for whom a factor in the refusal of an immigration voucher was the number of their dependants.

This consideration is not taken into account when deciding whether to issue a voucher.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the numbers of unemployed on Merseyside, and in Liverpool in particular; what percentage of the working population of the area this represents; if he will state the figures of unemployed in the area and in the city area over the last 14 years; and if he will give the appropriate percentages for those years.

The following table shows the numbers unemployed on Merseyside and Liverpool and the percentage

			Merseyside (including Prescot)		City of Liverpool*	North Merseyside group (including Prescot)
July			Number Unemployed		Number Unemployed
				per cent.		per cent.
1951	…	…	13,908	2·4	9,586	2·5
1952	…	…	21,023	3·6	15,281	3·7
1953	…	…	20,255	3·4	13,862	3·5
1954	…	…	16,104	2·6	10,907	2·7
1955	…	…	11,965	1·9	7,761	1·9
1956	…	…	13,607	2·1	8,585	2·2
1957	…	…	15,926	2·5	10,420	2·5
1958	…	…	23,379	3·7	14,748	3·8
1959	…	…	25,798	4·0	15,510	3·9
1960	…	…	19,528	3·2	11,350	3·1
1961	…	…	17,717	2·9	10,302	2·8
1962	…	…	26,452	4·3	16,066	4·3
1963	…	…	29,621	4·7	17,934	4·7
1964	…	…	22,207	3·6	13,797	3·5
1965	…	…	15,384	2·4	9,818	2·4
* The City of Liverpool area is covered mainly by Liverpool, Old Swan, Walton, and Garston Employment Exchanges and the figures relate to these offices. The figures for 1951–1955 also include those for the area now covered by Kirkby Employment Exchange which at that time was part of the Walton Employment Exchange area.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether, in view of the fact that, according to evidence given by the Housing Centre to the Milner Holland Committee, housing sites within four miles of Westminster were being sold at £100,000 per acre and sites within 20 miles at £52,000 per acre, he will publish current figures for land prices in the London Region and elsewhere.

Prices for housing land in the London region and elsewhere vary widely according to individual circumstances. From the information I have current prices in the London region fall broadly within the figures quoted by the Housing Centre in their evidence to the Milner Holland Committee. The range of prices per acre quoted runs from £285,285 to £7,627.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what is his policy in regard to colliery spoil heaps; and if he will make a statement.

As part of my responsibility for the overall strategy of land use, I am concerned with the techniques and economic aspects of restoring to useful purposes land sterilised by spoliation, such as colliery spoil heaps. Matters arising from planning control in relation to colliery spoil heaps and their reclamation in specific cases are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Secretary of State, in England and Wales, respectively.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will now give the date on which the White Paper dealing with legislation and the Land Commission is to be made available.

The White Paper will be published on the date that the Government consider appropriate.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will state the number of acres in productive forestry in England in 1964 in Forestry Commission woodlands, privately owned dedicated woodlands, privately owned approved woodlands and privately owned woodlands neither dedicated nor approved, respectively; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1954.

The following is the information:

PRODUCTIVE FORESTRY IN ENGLAND
	000 acres
	1964		1954
Forestry Commission
Woodlands		645		512
Privately owned:—
Dedicated Woodlands	426		155
Approved Woodlands	120		18
Other—estimated	590		946
		1,136		1,119
Total		1,781		1,631

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the strike of telephone operators on the London exchanges which paralysed long-distance operator-dialled calls between 10 p.m. and midnight on Monday 19th July.

I deplore the unofficial action by some night telephonists in support of their claim for a pay rise of £1 a week. This started last night and reports show that it affected 28 exchanges and involved about 200 operators. There is no doubt that it caused inconvenience to the public.The men concerned are members of the National Guild of Telephonists who, last year, signed a three year agreement with the Post Office under which they have already received a 3½ per cent. increase this year. Their new claim is quite incompatible with this agreement which provides for the Civil Service Pay Research Unit to start an examination of the pay of telephonists at the end of this year. A recent ballot among Guild members failed to produce the necessary majority for strike action and this strike is therefore unofficial.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for the installation of a telephone are outstanding for the Imperial, Foots-cray and Orpington exchanges; and what is the average waiting time between application and installation.

All applications are being met. On 30th June, the numbers in course of provision were:

Exchange
Imperial	…	74
Footscray (including Waring Park)	…	217
Orpington	…	240

Leaving aside orders held up waiting the customers' convenience, the average time to give service is from four to five weeks.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of telephones operated from the Imperial, Footscray and Orpington exchanges are shared lines; and how this compares with the average for the whole country.

The figures are as follows:

Exchange	Shared lines as a percentage of total working connections
Imperial	24
Footscray (including Waring Park)	28·3
Orpington	15
The national average is 19·5 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General what will be the values of the special stamps he is issuing to mark the opening of the Post Office Tower.

3d. and 1s. 3d.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will tabulate the unit sales on the first day of issue of the last six

Issue	Number of covers bearing full sets of special stamps	Number of covers bearing no stamps sold through Philatelic Bureau	Number of covers bearing no stamps sold through post offices
Shakespeare Festival 1964	117,341	—	—
International Geographical Congress 1964	10,372	12,000	19,505
International Botanical Congress 1964	12,471	9,354	41,651
Opening of Forth Road Bridge	17,481	16,035	272,833
Churchill Commemorative	31,061	47,000	109,601

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Government have yet completed their review of the proposed pay television experiment; and whether he will now make a statement.

The Government, in the course of their review of broadcasting policy, have now considered the experiment in pay television authorised by the previous Administration and due to start later this year. Of the three companies licensed by my predecessor two have now withdrawn, but the third company, Pay-TV Ltd., has declared its intention of proceeding with its part of the experiment.In the Government's view the case for an experiment is still valid. In reaching this view, the Government remain uncommitted on the possibilities of a general or permanent service or the basis on which such a service might be organised. This will be decided in the light of the results of the experiment, and also, of course, of wider economic and social considerations.I am arranging for copies of the conditions applying to the showing on pay television of cinema films to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These conditions are designed to provide adequate

I regret that the information required by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General how many first day covers of the Churchill memorial issue of postage stamps were issued by the General Post Office Philatelic Service; and how this figure compares with other first day covers issued by the service.

The figures are as follows:safeguards for the legitimate interests of cinema exhibitors in the experimental pay television areas. I propose also to take the necessary steps, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, to designate, as soon as possible, the cinemas to which these conditions will apply.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how much office accommodation has been rented by local government in Central London since January 1965; what is the top price per square foot paid for this accommodation; and what is the average price per square foot.

My Department is not responsible for office accommodation rented by local authorities, and statistics are not held by the Government.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how much office accommodation has been rented by Her Majesty's Government since January, 1965, within Central London; what is the top price per square foot paid for this accommodation; and what is the average price per square foot.

During the period 1st January to 30th June, 1965, my Department accepted offers to lease 116,265 square feet of office accommodation in the Central London area.It is not our policy to publish details of rents paid for Government offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of acres in productive forestry in Scotland in 1964 in Forestry Commission woodlands, privately owned dedicated woodlands, privately owned approved woodlands and privately owned woodlands neither dedicated nor approved, respectively; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1954.

The following is the information:

THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN PRODUCTIVE FORESTRY IN SCOTLAND
	1964		1954
Forestry Commission Woodlands		858		556
Privately owned:—
Dedicated Woodlands	317		176
Approved Woodlands	36		7
Other—estimated	126		214
		479		397
		1,337		953

Year		Total Number of Secondary Pupils (a)	Number of Secondary Pupils in Certificate Courses (b)	(b) as a percentage of (a)	Number of Secondary Pupils of in Non·Certificate Courses (c)	(c) a percentage of (a)
1960	…	271,847	123,623	45·5	148,193	54·5
1961	…	287,657	130,727	45·4	156,930	54·6
1962	…	301,157	144,474	48·0	156,683	52·0
1963	…	286,441	147,203	51·4	139,224	48·6
1964	…	287,685	152,523	53·0	135,152	47·0

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an estimate of the value of United Kingdom exports lost in June as a result of unofficial strikes following trade disputes at the Jaguar Car Company and other firms in the motor industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils have availed themselves of the optional fourth year at secondary school in each year since the introduction of a fourth year; and what proportion this represents of all pupils eligible.

The following table shows (a) the total number of pupils in the fourth year of secondary courses in January of each year since the Ordinary grade examination of the Scottish Certificate of Education was introduced in 1962, and (b) the proportion this represents of the number in the third year in the preceding session.

Year		Number in fourth year of secondary courses (a)	(a) as a percentage of the number in the third year in the preceding session (b)
1962	…	21,779	33
1963	…	27,071	37
1964	…	28,208	42

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the numbers and percentages of secondary school pupils taking certificate and non-certificate courses in each of the past five years.

The figures are as follows:

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of this kind; but there is no doubt that recent unofficial strikes in the motor industry have led to loss of exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why proprietary schools are denied the benefit of duty-free importation of scientific teaching apparatus.

The relevant provision of the Import Duties Act, 1958 confines the qualification for relief of duty to articles not intended to be used for a substantially commercial purpose. Articles imported for use in teaching which is carried on as a private business are not regarded as meeting this qualification.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in endeavouring to find ways to reduce arrears of unexamined patent applications in the Patent Office, what study he has made of those aspects of the compact prosecution procedure recently adopted by the United States Patent Office for the same purpose which are applicable to United Kingdom practice, including the encouragement of personal interviews between examiners and the professional

Commodity			Imports from Nigeria in 1964	Rates of Duty
			£m.	Full	E.F.T.A.	Commonwealth Preference
Ground Nuts	…	…	5·8	10%	10%	Free
Ground Nut Cake and Meal			4·5	10%	10%	Free
Cocoa Beans	…	…	8·8	2s. 4d. per cwt.	2s. 4d. per cwt.	Free
Palm Kernels	…	…	9·0	10%	10%	Free
Plywood	…	…	1·2	10%	3%	Free
Ground Nut Oil	…	…	4·6	15%	15%	Free
Palm Oil	…	…	5·3	10%	10%	Free

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the industries with more than 200,000 registered employees, giving the number employed and the total value of the goods and services produced by each and the value of production per employee for each of the last five years and for 1939, 1946 and 1951.

I understand that the compact prosecution procedure recently adopted in the United States Patent Office is very similar to that followed in the British Patent Office. Personal interviews are encouraged wherever the Examiners think that they would be helpful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state in table form the value to Nigeria of preferences given by the United Kingdom; and on what products these preferences are given.

The principal commodities on which Nigeria as a member of the Commonwealth Preference Area enjoys tariff preferences in the United Kingdom, the value of United Kingdom imports of these commodities in 1964, and the full EFTA and Commonwealth preference rates of duty are given in the following table:

The following is the information, derived from reports on the Census of Production, in respect of each year since 1935 for which a full census has been taken. Similar figures are in process of being compiled for the 1963 Census, and up to date indications of movements in production and employment are available from the official index of industrial production and the Ministry of Labour's estimates of employment: