asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will seek power to grant duty exemption to the motor vehicles of persons suffering from respiratory polio, provided that the vehicle is used exclusively by these persons;(2) in view of the fact that Section 11 of the Finance Act, 1964, exempts from duty a vehicle fitted with controls enabling it to be driven by persons having a particularly disability, although any vehicle with standard controls, even though used by a wholly disabled person, is subject to duty in the normal way, whether he will introduce legislation to end this distinction.

Persons suffering from respiratory polio may qualify for the exemption under the existing provisions. I regret it would not be possible to extend the exemption to cars with standard controls. The concession must be so defined that local taxation authorities and the police can readily distinguish eligible vehicles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion and amount of the International Monetary Fund and European Central Banks' credit advanced to this country has been provided by Spain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what share of the loans received from the International Monetary Fund since May, 1955, has come from Spain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what support Spain has given to sterling through the International Monetary Fund, or by other means, since October, 1964.

I would refer the hon. Members to the answers my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 22nd June and to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 27th July. There have been no United Kingdom drawings from the Fund since May, 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the net drop in national savings from £72·8 million in the first fifteen weeks of the financial year 1964–65 to £2 million in the same period in the financial year 1965–66.

The figures given by the hon. Member are correct. But I would point out to him that personal savings generally remain high.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he took into consideration, when deciding on cuts in Government expenditure, the conditions of further loans laid down by international sources of finance; how long it will be before these cuts are wholly effective; if he will give an assurance that, should they be insufficient, he will impose further harsher cuts; and if he will make a statement.

All relevant considerations were taken into account. The measures will become effective during the next few months and the Government will continue to keep the situation under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that more than half of the £745 million balance of payment deficit for 1964 was represented by capital outflow, and leads and lags, to what extent the fact that the 1965 deficit will be only half that of 1964 means that these financial leakages have been stopped while the adverse trading position remains practically the same; and if he will make a statement.

The hon. Gentleman has misunderstood the figures. The Government's measures are operating on both the current and the long-term capital accounts, and the deficit on both together in the first quarter this year was reduced to one half the rate last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to remove the 10 per cent. impost from certain of the raw materials used in the manmade fibre industry; and, having regard to the fact that this tax was imposed as a temporary measure, whether he will consider removing it from these materials before the end of the year and so help the man-made fibre industry in Ulster.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 4th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been spent on public investment in Northern Ireland in each of the past five financial years.

Questions about public investment in Northern Ireland are largely a matter for the Northern Ireland Government. I understand, however, that some figures are published in the Northern Ireland Economic Report on 1964.The following are the figures:

Gross Fixed Capital Formation at Home (Revalued at 1958 Prices) Public Sector
	£ million
1960	36·3
1961	38·8
1962	43·8
1963 (Estimate)	48·5
1964 (Estimate)	55·3

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he anticipates completion of the review of public service and Armed Forces pensions; and whether he will give an assurance that effect will be given to the review's conclusions before Christmas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Public Service Pensioners' Council concerning the review of public service pensions; and when he will make a statement concerning the outcome of the review.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to the hon. Member for Rye (Mr. Godman Irvine) today.

asked the Chancellor the Exchequer how he will take steps to preserve the economy of the North-East of Scotland Development District from the effects of the recent economic measures announced by Her Majesty's Government on the economy of the country as a whole.

I made it clear in my statement on 27th July that projects in development districts would be exempt from the postponement of capital projects and from the licensing control for construction projects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates of increased capital expenditure in 1965–66 in the public sector, and of reduced capital expenditure in the private sector; and what is the value of the contributions to exports made by each sector, respectively.

In 1965–66 the increase in public capital expenditure will be limited by the measures I announced on 27th July. Published surveys of investment plans in the private sector show a substantial rise between 1964 and 1965, and little change between 1965 and 1966. It is not possible to separate the respective contributions of the public and private sectors to exports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now announce details of the design and distribution of the five shilling piece which is to be issued in honour of the late Sir Winston Churchill.

A Royal Proclamation was made today laying down the design of the Churchill Crown. On the obverse it is to bear the uncrowned effigy of the Queen with the Royal Style and Titles and the date 1965, and on the reverse the effigy of Sir Winston Churchill with the word "Churchill". The Queen's effigy will be that by Mrs. Gillick which appears on all other denominations of the coinage. The reverse design is the work of Mr. Oscar Nemon.The crown pieces will be available to the public at branches of banks, to which they will be issued as normal coin of the realm. Issues are expected to begin in October and may continue for some time. The Royal Mint is making arrangements to meet orders from overseas banks, but will be unable to deal direct with other organisations or with the public.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest valuation of the British Government's United States equities and fixed interest stock, respectively; and how many of the latter are short-dated.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. and gallant Member for Carshalton (Captain W. Elliot) today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to devalue the £ sterling; and what steps he is taking to improve the balance of payments position.

Yes. The balance of payments has substantially improved in 1965 and I announced on 27th July measures to ensure that we reach our aim of eliminating the deficit in the course of next year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which county authorities have established camp sites for gypsies and travellers; how many sites have been established or are under establishment; and what steps he is taking to encourage other local authorities to establish such camps so that an unfair burden is not placed on the ratepayers in the more active councils by virtue of a sudden influx of travellers from other counties.

In England 13 such sites have been established by local authorities in the counties of:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which are the three local authorities in Greater London which are not carrying out smoke control programmes.

Since 1st April, when the reorganisation of local government in Greater London took effect, all local authorities in the area have been carrying out smoke control programmes. The former authorities which were not doing so were East Ham, Surbiton and Ruislip-Northwood.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the Report of the Working Party on Refuse Collection which was set up by his predecessor.

As stated in reply to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cunningham) on 21st May, 1965, my right hon. Friend expects to receive the report in a few months' time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to announce the Government's measures for easing the financial burden placed on ratepayers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he now has for reform of the rating system.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he now proposes to take to assist local authorities in their rating problems.

The Government's proposals will be announced when they are ready.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are now his plans for giving early relief to ratepayers.

The Government's proposals will be announced as soon as they are ready.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to rating of agricultural buildings; and what instructions are going to the valuation officers on the method of assessment.

The rating of agricultural buildings is being considered as part of the current examination of local government finance and the rating system. My right hon. Friend has nothing to say at present. As regards the second part of the Question, the issue of instructions to valuation officers is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he has sent to representations made by Bradwell Parish Council in the Lowestoft constituency on the subject of their opposition to the proposed merger of the village into Great Yarmouth.

I have acknowledged the Parish council's representations and have promised to inform them in due course about arrangements for the local inquiry into objections to the Local Government Commission's proposals for Great Yarmouth, at which their representations can be heard.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the increasing difficulty in providing enough water throughout the country for domestic purposes and of the increased cost of providing water by means of barrage, desalination and other schemes, he will appoint a body of experts to report to him on the possibility of providing some more effective measure of water storage for individual houses, blocks of flats, farms and housing estates.

Collection of rain water by the individual household has, in the past, been a useful way of obtaining a supply. But the quantities now used for domestic purposes are so large that this practice, even if universally adopted, could make only a marginal contribution to meeting water needs, especially in dry weather. The problem would be to secure adequate storage, which would be a very expensive matter for most people. In the circumstances, my right hon. Friend doubts whether an investigation such as my hon. Friend suggests would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the result of his consultations with the Secretary of State for Defence on the release of Northolt aerodrome for social purposes.

My right hon. Friend's consultations with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence are still in progress.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is to be the date of publication of the Evesham Town Map.

It would be premature for the planning authority to reach firm conclusions about future land use and traffic layout within this town until they know more about the route of a nearby trunk road proposal which is still under survey.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in reinstating the towpath along the Thames as a public footpath from Lechlade to Teddington; and if he will give particulars of sections still to be reinstated and the local county authorities through which they pass.

My right hon. Friend is advised by his right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources that there is no current proposal to designate the Thames towpath as a long distance public footpath from Lechlade to Teddington. However, there are approximately 100 miles of public paths bordering the river between these two places. The creation of further footpaths is a matter for local initiative.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's recent economic measures, and of the need in expanding towns to balance new development of offices, factories, houses, roads, and other services, he proposes to offer fresh guidance to the expanding town of Ashford.

General advice is being given to local authorities by circular: if any specific difficulties arise in Ashford, no doubt their officers will get in touch with the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, while he is considering what changes are desirable in the rating system, he will consider giving relief to owners of houses damaged by mining subsidence, without increasing the burden of other rate payers.

I cannot offer any prospect of rate relief other than any reduction in gross value which may be obtainable following damage by subsidence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to curtail the period of granting a licence for planning permission to a time limit of two years; and when he will do this.

Planning authorities already have power to do this in suitable cases, but they have been advised—rightly in my view—to exercise the power with discretion. My right hon. Friend can see no advantage in limiting every planning permission in this way. The holder of an expiring permission would either make a token start on the development in order to perpetuate the permission, or apply for a fresh one, which could rarely be refused.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what discussions he has now had with local authority associations and other official bodies over his proposal to reform local government and the rating system.

I have had a general discussion with representatives of the local authority associations and the Greater London Council and this is being followed up by a working party of officials.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what his policy is in regard to the statement in the West Midlands Regional Study that the Chelmsley Wood development to the east of Birmingham should be the last peripheral project of such a major character, and that the inner edge of the conurbation green belt should now be confirmed broadly on the basis on which it at present stands.

It would not be reasonable for me to reach conclusions on this or any other suggestion until there has been a chance for the local planning authorities and others concerned to let me know their views.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether he now intends to initiate negotiations for a new Dorset Water Board.

My right hon. Friend did so by letter to the bodies concerned, on 23rd July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress so far made on the development of the South Bank site.

I assume that the right hon. Lady is referring to the proposed Hotel, Exhibition and Conference Centre and School of Art. I informed the Greater London Council on the 27th June that I did not wish to offer any observations on their proposal to grant outline planning permission for this development. I am sending the right hon. Lady a copy of the letter to the council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make proposals to increase the penalties under the Litter Act.

No. The present maximum tine of £10 applies to all litter offences under the Act, and while my right hon. Friend is keeping the matter under review, he is not satisfied that any general increase is called for.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many more houses would have been built in England and how many in Wales in the period 1st January, 1955, to 31st December, 1963, if the 1954 output of houses had been maintained during each intervening year.

About 352,000 in England and 30,000 in Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to circularise local authorities about the treatment of members of the Armed Forces of the Crown who apply to be placed on housing lists.

A circular will be sent to local authorities in about a fortnight reminding them that they should deal with applications for council houses from ex-Servicemen on the basis of their housing need and without regard to length of residence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to introduce Government grants to encourage and assist people to save for a house-purchase deposit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now announce Her Majesty's Government's proposals for reducing mortgage interest rates; and whether the Government's plans for cheaper mortgages will be announced before the Summer Recess.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 27th July in announcing measures for eliminating the balance of payments deficit, the Government have decided to postpone the introduction of measures for helping house purchasers. In the interval we shall be working out how assistance can best be given.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publicise the fact that decontrolled tenants of private landlords should not agree to pay any rent increases demanded before the Rent Bill, 1965, becomes law, and that they are protected from any ensuing attempt at eviction provided they pay the previous rent.

I am glad to have this opportunity to repeat that, until the Rent Bill becomes law, decontrolled tenants of private landlords are in general covered by the Protection from Eviction Act. If they get notice to quit—because they cannot agree the rent with the landlord or for some other reason—they cannot lawfully be evicted without a court order. The court can suspend the order for up to 12 months and can say what the tenant shall pay meantime.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether he will now announce the membership of the Greater London Rent Assessment Panel.

In agreement with my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, I have asked the following people to serve as Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Greater London Panel, if the Rent Bill is passed into law, and they have agreed to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations under what circumstances appointments are made to the Diplomatic Service of persons who have failed to pass the appropriate Civil Service examinations; and how many such appointments have been made during the last 12 months.

Posts in the Diplomatic Service are filled from time to time by temporary officers because of the continuing manpower shortage. Candidates who have failed to pass Civil Service Competitions for established posts are still eligible for consideration for temporary appointments. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 29th June, during the last 12 months one candidate was appointed who had previously failed the entrance examinations for established employment in the career service. During this period one similar appointment was also made in the Information class of the former Commonwealth Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a further statement about discussions with the co-guarantors of the Constitution of Cyprus, which has now been denounced by the President; and what further steps he proposes to take to maintain the constitutional rights of the Turkish Cypriots which Great Britain has guaranteed.

As the hon. Member will know, the Turkish Government addressed a Note on 29th July to Her Majesty's Government and to the Greek Government requesting formal consultations under Article 4 of the Treaty of Guarantee. At the same time the Turkish Government requested a meeting of the Security Council which is due to start later today. In our view responsibility for peace-keeping rests in the first instance with the United Nations and we naturally hope they will be able to deal adequately with the present situation. I think hon. Members will agree that it would be appropriate to await the outcome of that meeting.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board to take steps to obtain the highest price possible for the sale of their surplus equipment.

No. I understand that it is already the normal practice of the Board to obtain the highest possible prices.

asked the Minister of Power what proportion of the £400 millions capital debt incurred by the National Coal Board and now written off by the Government was accounted for by the purchase by the Board of capital equipment and machinery subsequently sold by the Board substantially below its capital cost or written down value.

None. I understand that the proceeds of sale of surplus capital equipment and machinery overall have been at least equal to the written down value.

asked the Minister of Power how much of the extra 5 million tons of coal demand referred to in a recent statement he expects to be taken up by the electricity and gas industries, and by public authorities, respectively.

For electricity 4½ million tons, of which about 3 million tons are expected to be used and the rest added to stocks: for gas some 300,000 tons. The amount for public authorities is more difficult to assess as the total depends on the response of local authorities to the Government initiative, but it may be in the region of ¼ million tons.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement about the future of coal prices.

I have nothing to add at this stage to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 8th July.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of the hardship that is being suffered as a result of coalmining subsidence; and what further legislative action will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to alleviate grievances, arising out of coalmining subsidence, for which there is at present no legal remedy.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 26th May.

asked the Minister of Power what is his policy with regard to the statement in the West Midlands Regional Study that interference with other land uses would become particularly marked if there were to be exploitation of those areas in Warwickshire where there are substantial reserves of coal workable by opencast methods; and if he will make a statement.

Applications for authorisations to work opencast coal sites in the West Midlands, as elsewhere, will, in accordance with the provisions of the Opencast Coal Act, 1958, be considered on their merits in the light of any objections from local authorities or other interested parties.

asked the Minister of Power if it is his intention that coal output in the West Midlands should be maintained at around the present figure for some years, as indicated in the West Midlands Regional Study.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in reply to Questions on 26th July, the Study is not a statement of Government views or policy. The level of output in the various coalfields is a matter for the National Coal Board in the light of energy policy generally which I am reviewing in consultation with the Board and my Energy Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Power what were the standard unit charges and the two-party tariff unit charges on domestic tariffs for electricity supply under the South-Eastern Electricity Board in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1965, respectively.

I am asking the chairman of the board to write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the multiple visits involved in making simple repairs, even when full details of the components and the model concerned have been specified, if he will set up an inquiry into the possible co-ordination of the repair departments of the electricity and gas undertakings, so as to reduce the cost to the consumer and increase the productivity of the industries.

No.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking, in his present plans for development of the machine tool industry, to apportion that development among areas where there is unemployment and where industry is small or scarce, with a view to increasing industry and employment in such areas.

The Ministry of Technology, in implementing the proposals contained in the statement about the machine tool industry which my right hon. Friend made on 14th June, gives full consideration to the interests of those areas where there is serious unemployment or a need for technological development.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the type, number and utility of the commercial fast breeder reactors which are being developed by the Dounreay Scientific Experimental Station; to whom they are sold; and what contribution they make to Britain's export drive and balance of payments problems.

The fast breeder reactor system cannot be exploited commercially until the necessary development and operating experience has been obtained. This would be the object of setting up a prototype fast breeder reactor; and, as I have said earlier, on that I am awaiting a submission from the Atomic Energy Authority.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the official visits he has made overseas since his appointment and give details of those he has planned for the Recess.

I attended a meeting of the United Kingdom-Euratom Continuing Committee on 8th July in Brussels and also visited Euratom and Belgian atomic energy establishments at Geel and Mol in Belgium. I am visiting Copenhagen at the invitation of the International Transport Workers Federation from 3rd to 6th August to address their conference on the technical aspects of the changes in the structure of the transport industry. I am hoping to pay a visit to the United States during the Recess, but arrangements have not yet been finalised.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the risk to health, what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take to restrict the advertising of pipe tobacco.

None at present. Although pipe-smoking is not free from risks to health, I am advised that they are considerably less than those of cigarette smoking.

asked the Minister of Health what efficiency studies have been and are being conducted into the possibility of reducing the amount of paper work involved in the hospitial service, in the general practitioner service and in the health and welfare services; and what effect these studies have had in reducing the amount of time spent by persons in the National Health Service in filling in forms.

Over 500 efficiency studies of hospital activities requiring paper work have been completed or are in hand, besides other studies commissioned by hospital and local authorities. I have received and am about to publish a report from the Central Health Services Advisory Council on the standardisation of medical records in hospitals. Efficiency studies were made on the procedures for registration of patients with doctors in the general practitioner service before and after their introduction. In my discussions with the representatives of the general practitioners provisional agreement has been reached on a drastic reduction in the number of National Insurance certificates doctors will have to give. It is not possible to estimate the saving of time resulting from these studies.

asked the Minister of Health how many young chronic sick patients are confined in general medical wards in England and Wales.

I regret that this information is not available centrally.

asked the Minister of Health how many young chronic sick patients are confined in wards normally reserved for geriatric cases in England and Wales.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 12th July last to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress he has made in bridging the gap between the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost in a full year of the University of the Air; and how he proposes to finance this project.

The scope and functions of a University of the Air are now being closely studied, but it is too early to give an estimate of the annual cost, or to say how it will be financed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will use his reserve powers to intervene in the case of the refusal of a grammar school place to Lorraine Joy Jones by the Worcester County Council.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils were admitted to the secondary departments of direct grant schools with lower schools at the beginning of the last school year; and how many of these pupils came from the lower schools, how many from state primary schools, and how many from other sources.

The following table provides the information for the 122 schools involved:

Admissions to the upper schools of direct grant grammar schools with lower schools September, 1964
Schools previously attended	No. of pupils
Grant aided primary schools	6,212
Lower schools	3,269
Other schools or no previous school	1,756
Total	11,237

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of direct grant schools; and how many of these schools have a lower school for pupils who have not yet reached secondary school age.

Of the 179 Grammar Schools in receipt of direct grant, 122 have a lower school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the respective dates on which the new Brookhurst County Primary School and Eastham Mill Park County Infants' School, at Bromborough and Eastham, respectively, will be open to receive pupils.

Both schools are expected to open to receive pupils after the Easter holidays, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the use of the initial teaching alphabet in schools.

Although the research being undertaken by the Institute of Education of London University will not be completed in all its aspects for several years, and it is therefore too early to reach a definite conclusion on the merits of this medium for teaching reading, I am glad to see that a growing number of schools are experimenting for themselves in the use of this alphabet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the average weekly value of the payments in kind received by adult male farm workers was for the year ended September, 1964; what percentage of their total earnings was represented by their payments in kind; what was the percentage of those workers who received payments in kind; and what was the percentage of farm workers not in receipt of any premium above the minimum wage.

In the year ended 30th September, 1964, the average value of payments in kind received by adult male hired regular whole-time farm workers in England and Wales was evaluated at 6s. 9d. a week. This represents 2·7 per cent. of their average weekly total earnings. Fifty per cent. of these workers received payments in kind in the form of cottages, 24 per cent. in the form of milk, 4 per cent. in the form of board and lodging, 5 per cent.

WORKERS EMPLOYED ON AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS—ENGLAND AND WALES, JUNE, 1964 (a)
							Agricultural Holdings (b)	Regular Whole-time Male Workers (aged 20–64 years)	All Workers (male and female, regular, seasonal and temporary) (c)
							per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
Agricultural holdings with:—
No workers	…	…	…	…	…	…	55·3	—	—
No regular whole-time workers				…	…	…	7·7	—	8·1
No regular whole-time males (20–64 years) but one or more other regular whole-time workers						…	6·5	—	7·5
1 regular whole-time male worker (20–64 years)						…	15·3	20·2	19·0
2 regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)						…	7·0	18·4	32·1
3 regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)						…	3·1	12·3
4 regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)						…	1·7	8·8
5 and over regular whole-time male workers (20–64 years)		…	…	…	…	…	3·4	40·3	33·3
Totals (per cent.)		…	…	…	…	…	100·0	100·0	100·0
Totals (number of holdings or workers)					…	…	(328,804)	(249,777)	(475,797)
(a) Excluding the occupier, his wife, domestic servants and children still at school.
(b) Exceeding one acre in extent.
(c) Including 50,275 regular whole-time male workers under 20 years old and 9,803 aged 65 years and over.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what were the total imports; between the

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures for June 1964 showing the percentage of agricultural holdings in England and Wales with no workers, with no regular whole-time workers, with no whole-time male workers but one or more other regular workers, with one regular whole-time male worker, two or four regular whole-time male workers and five or more regular whole-time male workers, respectively; and what proportion each of these groups represents of all regular whole-time male workers, and of all workers in the industry.

The following is the information:months of October 1964 and 30th June, 1965, of chilled and frozen beef, mutton and lamb.

In the period 1st October 1964 to 30th June 1965, United Kingdom imports of beef, mutton and lamb were as follows:

	Thousand tons
Beef and Veal
Fresh and chilled	115·1
Frozen	108·1
Mutton and Lamb
Fresh, chilled and frozen	297·0
Total	520·2

The figures available do not distinguish between fresh and chilled beef nor between fresh, chilled and frozen mutton and lamb.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the total tonnage of exports of beef, dead and alive, respectively, from the United Kingdom to the Continent between the months of October 1964 and 30th June, 1965; how many carcases were prime beef eligible for subsidy; how many were bulls and cows, respectively; from which ports the exports

Port			Cattle				Sheep
			Clean		Other		Clean		Other
			head	tons*	head	tons*	head	tons*	head	tons*
London		…	50	10	31,100	7,780	74,000	1,480	5,500	170
Boston		…	15,800	3,950	46,300	11,570	18,700	370	—	—
Bristol	…	…	450	110	2,000	500	2,100	40	—	—
Colchester		…	—	—	3,050	760	200	··	—	—
Harwich		…	—	—	450	110	950	20	—	—
Hull	…	…	9,250	2,310	2,400	600	1,150	20	—	—
Newhaven		…	—	—	2,300	570	—	—	—	—
Plymouth		…	200	50	400	100	—	—	—	—
Gt. Yarmouth		…	16,800	4,200	15,050	3,760	19,750	400	3,200	100
Dundee		…	11,600	2,900	750	190	—	—	—	—
Leith	…	…	150	40	100	30	200	··	400	10
Others (including airports)			400	100	100	30	25,250	510	200	10
			54,700	13,670	104,000	26,000	142,300	2,840	9,300	290
			Total 39,670 tons*				Total 3,130 tons*
			* Estimated Dressed Carcase Weight.				Less than 5 tons.

Only clean animals are eligible for subsidies under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme and a small proportion of these would not reach the required standard. Export statistics do not distinguish between cows and bulls, or between ewes and rams, which are covered by the above figures for "other" animals.Exports of carcase beef, and mutton and lamb to the Continent in the same period were 6,900 tons and 1,600 tons respectively. It is not possible to specify took place, with respective tonnages; and how many of his Department's inspectors were working at each port to check on the hygiene and animal safety regulations.(2) what was the total tonnage of exports of mutton, dead and alive, respectively, from the United Kingdom to the Continent between the months of October 1964 and 30th June 1965; how many carcases were prime lamb eligible for subsidy; how many were ewes and rams, respectively; from which ports the exports took place, with respective tonnages; and how many of his Department's inspectors were working at each port to check on the hygiene and animal safety regulations.

United Kingdom exports to the Continent of cattle (excluding cattle for breeding) and of sheep in the period October 1964 to 30th June 1965 were as follows:the ports from which these exports took place neither is any information available on the quality of the beef, mutton and lamb exported.No veterinary officers are employed exclusively on the inspection for fitness to travel of live animals for slaughter. This work is carried out by the general body of Veterinary Officers and Local Veterinary Inspectors of the Agricultural Departments as part of their normal duties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take in respect of the Burry Inlet Cockle Fishery Order 1965 as a result of the special attention drawn to this Order in the Second Report from the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments.

The Report of the Select Committee throws some doubt on the interpretation that has always been placed by successive administrations on certain admittedly obscure provisions of the Sea Fisheries Act 1868. With great respect to the Committee I am satisfied that this interpretation is not only necessary but tenable. I do not therefore propose to take any action about the Order. I will however consider the question of amending legislation for the removal of the doubt.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the total amount of grant aid given by Her Majesty's Government for development work at the Welsh National Folk Museum during the periods 1965 to 1967 and 1970 to 1972, respectively.

The £700,000 twelve-year building programme for the Welsh institutions (which was confirmed in the recent White Paper "A Policy for the Arts") includes the sum of £355,000 for the Welsh Folk Museum at St. Fagans. Of this amount, £185,000 will be spent in the period 1965–67 and £170,000 in 1970–72.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works on what conditions he is permitting trade to take place in the Victoria Gardens.

The catering contractor for St. James's Park has been given permission to sell ice-cream and mineral waters in Victoria Tower Gardens. Under the terms of his licence, he will pay a percentage of his gross receipts to the Ministry. I was asked to provide this facility for the many children who visit the gardens. The arrangement is experimental and will be reviewed at the end of the summer.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress is being made in providing adequate supplies of cement in the Dorset area where disruption and expense are being caused by the present shortage.

The producers are expanding capacity and arranging imports until this is available. Meanwhile my right hon. Friend has asked them to give priority to local authority housing and essential work.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) whether he is aware that the cost of importing timber and timber products in the first five months of 1965 was £104 million as against £89 million for the first five months of 1964; and, in view of the need to obtain a healthier balance of payments, what steps he plans to take to reduce the unnecessary use of timber in the fields for which his Department is responsible;(2) what part of the £285 million worth of timber imported into this country during 1964 was absorbed by the building industry; and whether, in view of the adverse effect on the balance of payments of this import, he will review his present arrangements for stimulating the increased use of imported timber in building in this country, and arrange for his scientific experts to pay attention instead to the possibilities of substituting indigenous materials for imported timber in building wherever possible.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the increase in the cost of importing timber and timber products: part of this increase has been due to a rise in price. It is probable that more than half of the imported timber is used in the building industry. Research is always being carried out into improved methods of building, and new materials are constantly being developed. Timber is generally used only where it is the most suitable and the most economical material.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, when the Central Railway line from Speke to Liverpool Central Railway Station is closed, he will help the City of Liverpool in the interests of the Port to convert this railway into a tidal flow road.

Decisions on the future of this railway have yet to be taken.The future road plan for Liverpool is a matter for the Liverpool Corporation and, as I understand it, the Corporation is not contemplating the conversion of this railway, if abandoned, into a road.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in reaching his decisions on railway closure proposals in the area around the Birmingham conurbation, such as the modification of the Birmingham-Tamworth-Derby services, he will bear in mind the view expressed in the West Midlands Regional Study that such closures should not prejudice plans for a better long-term distribution of growth, or conflict with lateral planning of transport in the urban complex.

Certainly. Moreover, as I explained in my statement of 31st March, I have arranged to obtain the advice of the regional Economic Planning Council on each rail passenger closure proposal which comes before me.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will give his decision on the proposed withdrawal of passenger train services between Liverpool, Lime Street, and Chester general stations, and the discontinuance of all passenger train services between Runcorn and Frodsham, since he has now had the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee since the first week of December, 1964.

I have had to call for more information about alternative services in this case, and I am also awaiting the comments of the North-West Economic Planning Council. I shall complete my study of the proposals as soon as possible after receiving this additional material, but I cannot yet say when I shall be able to reach a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what are now his plans for forming a Merseyside Transport Authority.

The Steering Committee on Merseyside traffic and transport has just decided to set up a subcommittee to examine and report on the form of a possible Merseyside transport authority. I think we must now await this Report.

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made, in his current negotiations with the Motor Insurers' Bureau and the motor insurance industry with a view to securing comprehensive compensation for the victims of unidentified motor drivers, of the provisions of Section 6 of New Zealand's Transport Amendment Act, 1963, with a view to introducing similar legislation for England and Wales.

I am aware of the terms of the legislation to which the hon. Member refers, which provides that persons injured by unidentified motorists may proceed against a nominal defendant, namely the State Insurance General Manager. Although the objectives of the discussions with the Motor Insurers' Bureau which were referred to in the Answer given to the hon. Member on 2nd July are similar, I am doubtful whether legislation in these particular terms would be the most appropriate way for us to meet those objectives.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will now publish the provisional line for the proposed Helsby-Frodsham by-pass; and what has been the cause of the delay;(2) with what local authorities or other public bodies negotiations are still taking place concerning the provisional line of the Helsby-Frodsham by-pass; and when those negotiations will be completed.

Only one out of the 21 local authorities and public bodies consulted has yet to reply. It is expected to do so soon. The views of these local bodies and other authorities will then be considered. I still hope to publish a draft line before the end of this year, as foreshadowed in my Answer to the hon. Member on 12th May.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Government's policy of slowing down the rate of expenditure on capital projects will affect his present intention to commence construction of the Helsby-Frodsham bypass during the financial year 1968–69.

It is too soon to say to what extent a particular scheme so far ahead will be affected by the statement made last Tuesday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimates have been made of the annual saving to road users arising from the availability of the Severn Bridge, discounting toll charges.

The bridge is such an exceptional project, and will have such widespread effects on traffic of different types, including the generation of new traffic, that there are unavoidable uncertainties in estimating aggregate savings. But in due course, if the Severn Bridge Tolls Bill becomes law, the saving to bridge users will be one factor to be taken into account in formulating toll proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is hoped to start work again on the Stokesly by-pass; what is the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement.

The North Riding County Council, as highway authority for the A.172, is responsible for this scheme.There were objections to a compulsory purchase order by which the County Council sought to acquire some of the land required for its scheme. My predecessor declined to confirm the order, and asked the County Council to reexamine its proposals and to investigate the merits of an alternative scheme suggested by the objector. The County Council has done this and is now considering making another compulsory purchase order.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that prices of 10d. and 11d. are charged for cups of coffee at self-service cafeterias on the M.1 motorway; and if he will seek to ensure that more reasonable prices are charged when the leases of service area operators are granted or renewed.

These prices are related to the quantity of coffee supplied and reflect the fact that some facilities are available to the public 24 hours per day. I have no evidence to show that they are unreasonable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will identify each project for major road improvement and for new road construction within the North-West Economic Planning Region whose commencement or completion will be retarded as a result of the recent financial policy changes; and whether he will indicate, in each case, the date on which each project affected will be commenced or completed, respectively.

I have not yet completed my review of the schemes due to start over the next few months and decided which shall be postponed.

asked the Minister of Transport what decisions have been reached concerning the proposals for additional motorways submitted to his predecessor in 1962 by the County Surveyors Society.

I am taking the recommendations of the County Surveyors Society into account in the preparation of plans for the improvement of inter-urban roads in the 1970s. Whether new or improved roads should be motorways or all-purpose trunk roads will need to be decided in each case in the light of all the relevant factors, the most important of which are the nature and anticipated volume of traffic and the relative cost of construction.

asked the Postmaster-General what machinery exists for establishing informal contact between Post Office Ministers and the leaders of the Staff Side; and on how many occasions during the last 10 years these informal meetings have taken place, including the number of meetings held in the first six months of 1965.

My hon. Friend and I have periodic meetings with Post Office Staff Side leaders at which matters of current mutual interest are discussed confidentially in an informal atmosphere. There have been two such meetings in the first six months of this year. I cannot answer for the actions of my predecessors in this respect.

asked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions the Post Office Board has met in each of the last 10 years and the first six months of 1965.

Since I became Postmaster-General there have been 20 meetings of the Post Office Board, thirteen of which took place during the first six months of 1965. I cannot answer for the actions of my predecessors in the frequency of Board meetings.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the steps being taken towards the introduction of attractive, small, pictorial definitive postage stamps.

I shall shortly be inviting a number of artists to submit designs for a new series of definitive stamps. As a separate matter, I am also considering the issue of a pictorial series.

asked the Postmaster-General if the artists being invited to design definitive postage stamps are drawn from the normal panel of artists, or whether anyone will be permitted to submit designs.

I have not yet decided which artists will be invited to submit designs for the new definitive series of stamps. As I indicated in the reply I gave on 6th April to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire I am always prepared to consider designs from people other than the invited artists.

asked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions the Post Office Advisory Council has met in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement about the new Post Office Users' Council which has been established.

The Post Office Advisory Council met on 14 occasions in the last 10 years; namely:

• 1964 none.
• 1963 one.
• 1962 one.
• 1961 none.
• 1960 two.
• 1959 two.
• 1958 two.
• 1957 two.
• 1956 one.
• 1955 three.

The Council was disbanded this year.My intention is that the proposed Post Office Users' Council should serve the same purpose in the Post Office as the consultative or consumer councils in the major nationalised industries.I have now approved the constitution for the new Council proposed to me on 23rd July by a preparatory conference of representatives from various national and local organisations. The Council's terms of reference will be: "To represent at national level the interests of the users of Post Office services; to ensure the existence of adequate consultative arrangements at local level; to receive proposals from the Postmaster-General; and, to make recommendations to him about the services." The Council will have an independent chairman and 32 members whose appointment will be governed by the constitution. I will announce their names later.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the waiting list for telephones in each of the years 1951–52 to 1964–65.

The composition of the waiting list is constantly changing and it is not possible to quote figures relating to entire years. The numbers quoted below, therefore, represent the position on the 31st March of each year.

Year	Applications on the Waiting List
1951	418,000
1952	389,000
1953	324,000
1954	265,000
1955	252,000
1956	232,000
1957	160,000
1958	91,000
1959	60,000
1960	49,000
1961	55,000
1962	48,000
1963	44,000
1964	44,000
1965	50,000

asked the Postmaster-General what it was estimated that the telephone waiting list would have risen to in each of the next five years on the basis of the capital programme actually authorised and planned in October 1964.

It is estimated that if the capital programme current in October, 1964, had remained unchanged, and demand for service was in line with present forecasts, and if priority was given to improving the service to existing customers,

TELEPHONES PER 100 POPULATION
At 1st January			U.K.	U.S.A.	Canada	France	West Germany	Japan	Sweden
1952	…	…	11·4	29·3	22·1	5·9	5·6	2·4	25·2
1953	…	…	11·7	30·3	22·9	6·2	6·1	2·6	26·4
1954	…	…	12·15	31·27	24·01	6·45	6·61	2·96	27·73
1955	…	…	12·74	32·21	25·05	6·88	6·92	3·18	28·99
1956	…	…	13·46	33·73	26·28	7·18	7·59	3·48	30·44
1957	…	…	14·04	35·45	27·56	7·57	8·26	3·84	31·50
1958	…	…	14·25	36·82	28·64	7·92	8·75	4·22	32·60
1959	…	…	14·53	37·97	29·64	8·29	9·30	4·69	34·00
1960	…	…	15·03	39·51	30·85	9·06	9·98	5·21	35·30
1961	…	…	15·69	40·79	31·82	9·53	10·71	5·88	36·81
1962	…	…	16·25	41·78	32·66	10·07	11·50	6·73	38·51
1963	…	…	16·72	43·05	33·73	10·52	12·37	7·72	40·28
1964	…	…	17·41	44·26	34·89	11·09	13·12	11·06	42·25
Note: The U.K. figures are as at 31st March.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone maintenance engineers were employed by the Post Office in each of the years 1951–52 to 1964–65.

The average number of engineers employed on maintenance (of telephone exchange equipment, subscriber's apparatus and line plant) has risen from 20,100 in 1951–2 to 24,100 in 1964–5. The details for each of the years in question are as follows:

1951–52	20,100
1952–53	20,300
1953–54	20,400
1954–55	20,500
1955–56	20,400
1956–57	20,500
1957–58	21,000
1958–59	21,400
1959–60	21,200
1960–61	21,300
1961–62	22,300
1962–63	23,300
1963–64	23,500
1964–65	24,100

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephones per head of population were installed in the United States of America, Canada, France, West Germany, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom, respectively, in each of the years 1952 to 1964.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of subscriber trunk dialling calls failed due to faults attributable to the Post Office in each of the last six years.