asked the Minister of Pension; and National Insurance how much it would cost to abolish the earnings rule in the case of retirement pensions; and how much it would cost to raise the allowed income level by £1, £2 and £3, respectively.

Abolishing the earnings rule and consequently the retirement condition would cost about £110 million in the first year. The annual cost of relaxing the earnings rule by the amounts specified would be about £400,000. £750,000 and £1 million respectively, if one could assume that the change would not increase the number of retirements.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in her review of pensions, she will give priority to modifying the present earnings rule for retirement pensioners.

I cannot promise any special priority, but I have made it clear that we will continue to keep the level at which the earnings rule begins to operate under examination.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what amount was paid out in National Insurance and in National Assistance benefits in Halifax during the last year.

I regret that this information is not available for particular areas.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will now make a statement on the question of appeal from a decision of the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board when the subject of diagnosis is in dispute.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave him on 3rd May, and my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 9th July. I am still in consultation with the Trades Union Congress on this difficult matter and I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Health if he will implement the recommendations of the Brain Committee on Drug Addiction; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to make a statement when the Committee's report is published in about three weeks time.

asked the Minister of Health, what was the number of primary vaccinations per cent. of births in 1964; how many deaths from smallpox and how many from vaccination took place in the age group 0·5; and what was the total number of deaths from smallpox and from vaccination in the same year.

The figure of children born in 1964 who have received primary vaccination in England and Wales is not available, but the recorded primary vaccinations of children under two years of age in 1964 as a percentage of the children born in 1963 is 32 per cent. There were no deaths from smallpox; the number of deaths attributed to vaccination was three, all in the age group 0–5.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of an outbreak of dysentery among schoolchildren in South Croydon; to what cause he attributes this outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that this outbreak was caused by infection by Sonne's bacillus, and that dysentery associated with this infection is a common disease of children. Up to 26th October 58 cases had been reported from one primary school, and investigation of the families of the affected children revealed a further 30 persons who had become infected. No child had been seriously ill or admitted to hospital. The Medical Officer of Health took appropriate control measures and the outbreak appears now to be subsiding.

asked the Minister of Health what is the mortality rate of narcotic addicts in Great Britain.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health how much money is spent annually on research into drug addiction.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will seek to have consultations on the care and welfare of old people living alone and in particular on matters related to their safety and early action in case of accident or illness.

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, a number of schemes have already been organised by local authorities and voluntary bodies to enable old people to get help in an emergency. The general problem falls within the review of the social services now in progress.

asked the Minister of Health, what stage has been reached in the plans for adolescent and child psychiatric units in the Manchester Regional Hospital Board area and when building will start.

I am unable to add to the information given in my Answer to the noble Lord the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) on 29th June. As I said then, timing depends on the current review of the hospital building programme or other factors.

asked the Minister of Health what changes there have been in the membership of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board since 15th October, 1964; and if he will indicate the period of residual service in the case of each present member of the Board.

asked the Minister of Health what changes have been made in the membership of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board and of the South Hospital Management Committee since 15th October, 1964; and what is the residual period of service in the case of each member of these bodies.

The new members appointed to Manchester Regional Hospital Board since 15th October, 1964, are:

• Dr. J. B. Fulton, M.B., Ch.B.
• Alderman S. C. Hamburger, J.P.
• Miss K. Martin, O.B.E., S.R.N., S.C.M.
• C. G. Simon, Esq.
• Alderman R. E. Thomas, J.P.
• Councillor G. Vernon, T.D.
• N. R. Woolfenden, Esq.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average monthly amount left to a single 20-yearold student nurse after deduction of Income Tax and the cost of her board; and what is that sum in terms of hourly earnings.

For a student nurse aged 20 and entitled to the Income Tax personal allowance for a single person, but with no other tax allowances or deductions, and receiving board and lodging at the hospital, the monthly and hourly amounts after such deductions are as follows:

asked the Minister of Health, what studies are in hand on the application of data processing techniques to hospital services; and if he will make a statement.

The scope for the use of computers in the hospital service is studied continuously by my Department. The results of a symposium organised jointly with the Medical Research Council last year have been published (H.M.S.O. "Mathematics and Computer Science in Biology and Medicine") and a number of hospitals and medical schools are following up the suggestions for studies. At least 15 studies of the application of computers to statistics, accounting, payroll, new hospital building and medical research projects have been or are being conducted by Hospital Boards, and local information systems related to patients' records are being developed to provide information for management.

asked the Minister of Health how subsidence has affected the plans for new psychiatric units at Prestwich Mental Hospital.

Because of the risk of mining subsidence the Board revised their original plans and this caused some delay. This scheme is now under consideration as part of the Regional Hospital Board's comprehensive review of its programme.

asked the Minister of Health, how many pay beds are to be made available at the new hospital in Lindley, Huddersfield; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet ready to make a decision on this.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the need for an adult training centre in Huddersfield for the mentally handicapped, when work will commence on the proposed centre in Cross Grove Street; and when he expects it be completed.

I understand that the local health authority now expect to complete the working drawings early next summer. Work will start as soon as loan sanction is granted and should take about 12 months to complete.

asked the Minister of Health, if, in view of the fact that of the 6,280 members of hospital management committees in England and Wales only 295 are nominees of the trade unions, he will advise regional hospital boards to increase this allocation.

Regional hospital boards are well aware of the value of having trade union experience well represented on hospital management committees. The total number of members who have strong links with the trade unions is much greater than the number of members appointed on the recommendation of trade union organisations.

asked the Minister of Health when the first stage of the new general hospital development at South Shields will commence, in view of the urgent need for new accommodation.

The Regional Hospital Board hope that the first phase will start in the autumn of 1966.

asked the Minister of Health, how many cases there have been of elderly people in the Brighton area dying because of a shortage of hospital beds.

I know of none.

asked the Minister of Health, what number and what proportion of the nursing staff of London hospitals are Commonwealth immigrants.

At 31st December, 1964, 6631 student and pupil nurses in hospitals in the Metropolitan regions and in the London teaching hospitals were from Commonwealth countries; they comprised 25 per cent. of the total number of student and pupil nurses in these hospitals. Otherwise I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health, what provision he is making for hospital and maternity services to match the further development of Thetford under the new town expansion scheme.

The needs of Thetford and district will be taken into account in the current review of the hospital plan.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will implement the recommendations made by the Recorder of Plymouth and Mr. Richard Head in their inquiry into the crane accident at Brent Cross last June; and if he will make a statement.

I am giving urgent consideration, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, to those recommendations which call for action on the part of the Government. Our conclusions will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will seek to make a period of notice before strike action can be taken enforceable by law;(2) if he will seek to make contracts between management and unions legally enforceable.

No. These are matters which will, no doubt, be considered by the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, in an attempt to avoid their obligations under the Act, firms have decided to dismiss all their employees before the coming into force of the Redundancy Payments Act on 6th December and to re-engage them three days later; and if he will introduce legislation to prevent this.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I issued to the Press on 28th October following reports that a Midlands building firm was proposing to do this. As I said in that statement, I am advised that such action would not achieve the purpose intended and that the provisions of the Act ensure that it could in no way affect the entitlement of employees should they become redundant after 6th December.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men over the age of 40 years are unemployed in The Hartle-pools; what percentage this represents of the total unemployed; and how many have been offered opportunities for training in the Government training centres in the region.

At 12th July, 1965, the latest date for which information is available, 489 men aged 40 years and over were registered as wholly unemployed at the Hartlepool and West Hartlepool Employment Exchanges. This represented 54·5 per cent. of the total number of males then registered as wholly unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour how many working days have been lost through strikes in the last 12 months; and how this compares with the previous 12 months.

The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1965, was about 2,884,000. The corresponding figure for the 12 months ended 30th September, 1964, was about 2,379,000.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were employed in the nationalised industries and by local authorities, respectively, at 1st October, 1964, and 1st October, 1965, respectively.

At mid-1964, the latest date for which information is available, 1,638,000 persons were employed in nationalised industries and 1,885,000 by local authorities in Great Britain. The corresponding figures for mid-1963 were 1,697,000 and 1,817,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made towards the provision of a sheltered workshop for the disabled in the Brighton area.

My Department has been in touch with the Brighton County Borough Council for some time on the possibility of the Council providing such a workshop, and these discussions are still proceeding.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has now taken to set up an Occupational Health Service.

My Industrial Health Advisory Committee will be considering the report of its Sub-Committee on the Appointed Factory Doctor Service when it meets later this month. In addition, the Committee is reviewing policy on industrial hygiene, and the Factory Inspectorate is carrying out a sample survey of all factories to establish the size of the need for industrial hygiene services. I hope that these two reviews will provide a sound basis for the further development of Government services to safeguard health at work.

asked the Minister of Labour what response he has had from the employers' organisations to implement the findings of the Devlin Report, especially with regard to proper amenities for the workpeople; and if he will make a statement.

The port exployers have generally accepted the conclusions in the Devlin Report and are agreed that a drastic improvement in the provision of amenities in the docks is urgently necessary. Good progress is being made by the National Dock Labour Board, on which the employers are represented, in arrangements for the comprehensive survey of welfare amenities which the Devlin Report recommended as a first step.I hope shortly to make a general statement on the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the Devlin Report.

asked the Minister of Labour how many times shop stewards have been present during safety inspections by factory inspectors in the King's Lynn area during the past year.

None. It is not the practice of H.M. Inspectors of Factories to make their inspections accompanied by shop stewards though they have instructions to get into touch with workers' representatives on all important visits.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he has to ensure that safety committees are set up in all major factories.

In consultation with both sides of industry, I am considering what further action should be taken to ensure the establishment of works safety committees in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the report of the Chief Factory Inspector, what action he proposes to take to encourage the appointment by the boards of major companies of directors responsible for safety.

I entirely accept that active support at the highest levels of management is essential for an effective accident prevention policy. A practical way to achieve this is for one director in an undertaking to accept responsibility for safety matters. In co-operation with the Confederation of British Industry and bodies concerned with management education, I am making every effort to ensure that top management recognises its responsibilities for safety.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he has for the labelling of containers of vanadium pentoxide to indicate the need for cautious handling on health grounds.

Neither the relevant Committee set up by the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers in this country nor the Council of Europe Sub-Committee on Industrial Safety and Health (Chemical Section) consider that there is any need to label containers of vanadium pentoxide. Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate have no reason to disagree with the view taken by these expert bodies and I am not proposing to take any action. If, however, my hon. Friend has any further information he would like me to consider I will gladly do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he intends to publish the book on the Special Operations Executive, French Section, commissioned by his Department in his predecessor's time and now ready for release.

I hope that this book, "Special Operations Executive in France", commissioned by Her Majesty's Government from Mr. M. R. D. Foot, will be ready for publication by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State 'or Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's Middle East tour.

I recently visited, on three successive trips, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iran; the United Arab Republic and Saudi Arabia; and Israel. My purpose was to acquaint myself personally with the problems of the area and with leading statesmen in the countries I visited with whom I had many useful talks. I am sure that in general these have helped to promote better understanding between Her Majesty's Government and the Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about exchanges with the Portuguese Government about representation of the Rhodesian Government; and whether Rhodesian affairs are now channelled through the Rhodesian representative or through the British Ambassador.

Her Majesty's Government's view on the question of Rhodesian representation in Lisbon has been explained on frequent occasions to the Portuguese Government during the last three months. Her Majesty's Government remain responsible for Rhodesia's external affairs and for the diplomatic representation of her interests in foreign countries. They cannot therefore agree to the Portuguese Government receiving a representative of Rhodesia in a capacity unacceptable to Her Majesty's Government, and would only accept the appointment of such a representative if he were to be formally a member of the staff of Her Majesty's Ambassador in Lisbon.The Portuguese Government have throughout these exchanges recognised Her Majesty's Government's responsibility for Rhodesia's external affairs. But Mr. Reedman, who arrived in Lisbon on 15th September, has been officially received by the Portuguese authorities as a representative of Rhodesia, although not in the capacity of an "Accredited Diplomatic Representative" which is the title the Rhodesian authorities have claimed for him.Mr. Reedman's presence in Lisbon does not affect the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government for the conduct of Rhodesia's external affairs with the Portuguese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the cost of distributing leaflets and posters to publicise United Nations Day on 24th October; and who was responsible for the designs.

The cost of producing the leaflet and posters for United Nations Day amounted to £2,060 and distribution costs are assessed at about £450. The Foreign Office has overall responsibility for the production of the leaflets and posters, which is arranged through the Central Office of Information, and sponsors the expenditure. The designer is Mr. F. H. K. Henrion, a former President of the Society of Industrial Design, Member of the Council of Industrial Design and President of the Alliance Graphique. The text of the leaflet was prepared in the Foreign Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many interim payments have now been made to applicants for participation in the Federal German Government's grant for those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis; on what basis the grants were assessed; and what is the total sum involved.

456 payments amounting to £264,038 have now been made based on the length of time each individual was imprisoned in a concentration camp or comparable institution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions on Her Majesty's Government's proposals for an international treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

A draft non-dissemination treaty was tabled by the United States at the Geneva Disarmament Conference on 17th August, 1965. Much of this draft was based on a text prepared by the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government support the draft as a basis for negotiations. This draft, and the Soviet draft treaty tabled later, are now under discussion at the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent developments in Indonesia, in so far as they affect British interests in South-East Asia.

Her Majesty's Government have closely followed recent internal developments in Indonesia, but it is still too soon to advise the House how these developments may affect British interests in South-East Asia. I can say, however, that so far as Indonesia's confrontation against Malaysia is concerned there has been no relaxation in Indonesia's aggressive policy and all factions in Indonesia continue to subscribe to the confrontation policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he will take to approach the Indonesian Government regarding relations between Indonesia and Great Britain, in the light of recent events in Singapore.

None. The separation of Malaysia and Singapore does not affect our willingness to help those countries against Indonesian attack. The Indonesian Government knows well that we have no quarrel with them apart from this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about his visit to the United Nations.

I spent from 3rd October to 9th October at New York. My main purpose was to attend the 20th Session of the United Nations and hear some of the general debate. The 19th Session was overshadowed by the controversy about United Nations financing and this is consequently the first time for two years that the British Foreign Secretary has attended a session of the Assembly. I addressed the Assembly on 7th October and as the hon. Member may be aware advanced certain suggestions as to how the work of the United Nations in preserving international peace might be strengthened. I took advantage of my visit to meet the Secretary-General of the United Nations again, and to discuss problems of mutual interest with a number of colleagues and delegates. I was also glad of the opportunity to see our delegation at work and must express again my admiration for the manner in which my noble friend Lord Caradon and his staff are carrying out their mission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new action he proposes to take to seek the admittance of China to the United Nations Organisation.

Her Majesty's Government's views on the question of Chinese representation in the United Nations have not changed. As I emphasised on a number of occasions recently, we believe that representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China should occupy the seat of China in the United Nations Organisation. We shall vote accordingly when the question is raised in the United Nations General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to protect British visitors to Spain; and what action is planned to impose economic sanctions upon the Spanish Government following ill-treatment of British citizens in that country.

The Spanish Government has apologised for the recent failure of the Spanish authorities to notify the British Consul of the arrest of a British subject, and has given an assurance that its obligations under the Anglo-Spanish Consular Convention with regard to the notification of arrests will be carried out. Our Consular Officers in Spain continue to give help to British subjects who are under arrest or otherwise in serious need of official assistance, as soon as such cases come to their knowledge. Compared with the number of British visitors to Spain the number of complaints of ill-treatment is very small and no special measures would be justified. No Government can protect its citizens from all the risks inherent in foreign travel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Spanish Government in connection with the danger to British tourists at Pineda del Mar, Costa Brava, Spain, and in particular in connection with the case of Kevin Cassidy, a British subject, the full details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton.

Her Majesty's Consul-General at Barcelona has twice taken up with the Civil Governor of Barcelona Province the matter of the danger caused to tourists by the coastal railway line which is unfenced and which has been the scene of several accidents to British subjects including Mr. Kevin Cassidy. The Civil Governor replied that he had asked the local authorities to take measures to prevent such accidents as far as possible by putting up signs and building an underpass.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will place in the Library the text of the official speech he made during his recent visit to Czechoslovakia in respect of the Munich Agreement; and whether it is Her Majesty's Government's present policy that the Oder-Neisse line is the final demarcation of the boundaries of any existing or future German state.

I did not refer to the Munich Agreement in any public speech in Czechoslovakia, although in the course of a Press conference which I gave in Prague on 23rd April, I answered a question about Her Majesty's Government's attitude to this Agreement. On this point I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 3rd May.As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) on 23rd March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a committee to inquire into the effects of taxation upon building societies, their investors, and their borrowers.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a grant, paid from public funds, for a student nurse, can be treated in a similar manner, for Income Tax purposes, as a grant, paid from the local education authority, for a student teacher.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 26th October.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will state the average cost of answering oral and written Parliamentary Questions since October, 1964; how many oral and written Questions were taken into account in arriving at these costs; and the maximum and minimum costs incurred in answering any one Question during the present and previous Parliament.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that no more information about average and maximum and minimum costs of answering Parliamentary Questions is available than is contained in my Answer of 29th October to the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make it a condition of any grant made to an overseas Government that a percentage of the grant be set aside to allow for supervision

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue instructions to the Inland Revenue that where a notice of meeting of Commissioners, following an appeal, is sent to the appellant, a copy will be sent to the agent acting for such appellant.

No. The Income Tax Acts provide for notice to be given only to the appellant. I understand that in many divisions the Clerk to the Commissioners and in others the Inspector of Taxes on behalf of the Clerk, arranges for the taxpayer's agent to be informed of an appeal hearing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were employed in established and unestablished positions in the Civil Service, respectively, at 1st October, 1964 and 1st October, 1965, respectively.

The numbers of civil servants at the latest available date in 1965, and at comparable dates in 1964, are as follows:by the Treasury of the spending of the grant.

No. Most of these grants fall within the overseas aid programme and their supervision is one element in the overall management of the aid programme which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development, as indicated in the White Paper Cmnd. 2736, has very much in mind. I am not persuaded that the device proposed by the hon. Member would add to the effectiveness of this supervision.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing a long-term regular savings covenant whose income will be tax free on the lines of that proposed to be introduced in France.

I have noted the right hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will give an estimate of the proportion of the cost of oil imports into the United Kingdom in each of the past five years which has been offset by the overseas earnings of the international oil companies in which there is a British interest.

The offset is substantial, but it is difficult to give a precise estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated amount to be paid in the form of tax relief for the year 1964–65 in relation to all industrial and other occupational pension schemes and self-employed schemes, giving tax relief to employers, employees, the self-employed and the investment income of superannuation funds separately.

The estimated costs of these tax reliefs for 1964–65 are about £65 million for employees, about £5 million for the self-employed and about £35 million for the investment income of superannuation funds (including income of assurance companies' annuity funds exempted under Section 24 of the Finance Act, 1956). If employers' contributions to these schemes had not been deductible in computing business profits the additional tax payable for 1964–65 would have been about £160 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the average amount of strontium 90 found in babies' bones every six months since 1950, and the highest figure for any one child in each of those periods; and what are likely to be the average and the highest figures for the next 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, provided that there are no more nuclear explosions in the atmosphere within the next two years.

I will, with permission, circulate the available data which begins in 1956 in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In the absence of further nuclear tests it is expected that over the next two years the countrywide average for children aged about one year will fall slowly from the present figure of nine pico-curies of strontium 90 per gram of calcium, but the rate of fall cannot be accurately predicted. There have been considerable variations—by as much as five to 10-fold between the concentrations observed in the bones of individual infants, but it is exceptional for an individual to exceed twice the average. I regret that it is not possible to predict future variations.The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many boys and girls applied for a place in a medical school during the last year; and how many of these were accepted for entry.

This information will not be available until the publication of the next Annual Report of the Universities Central Council on Admissions, which I understand is expected to be about the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether, in view of the special problems of the area, youth service projects in Birmingham will be excepted from the Government's general decision to defer for six months educational building projects.

No. All except one of the projects which are now ready to start were programmed in 1963–64 or 1964–65, and have been held up more by delays in planning than by the Government's measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether he will give priority to grants towards students' feeding and accommodation rather than to more direct financial grants which may become taxable.

I do not consider that taxation provisions enter into the form of student grants. Except in the case of certain post-doctoral fellowships given by Research Councils, awards from public funds are not subject to tax.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of his proposed payment of £3·85 million to the London Transport Board during the remainder of 1965 as compensation for loss in revenue caused by the postponement of fare increases planned by the Board for this year, why he will not give support to the Corporation of Glasgow along similar lines to meet this year's deficit.

The special reasons for the temporary measure which the Government have taken in the case of the London Transport Board were explained in my Answer of 23rd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West (Mr. Popplewell). These do not apply to other passenger transport undertakings.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applicants for driving tests are waiting to be examined in The Hartlepools; what is the waiting period for examination; and how many examiners are employed in the area.

About 1,300 candidates are awaiting test at the West Hartlepool Centre. The waiting period has varied, and was recently as high as 24½ weeks. Some adjustment of programmes has, therefore, been made. This, and the availability in the near future of an extra examiner, should reduce the waiting period to about the national average of 15 weeks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what plans he has to assist the Lea Valley growers to overcome their current difficulties arising out of the uncertainty which hangs over the future of the horticultural industry in that area.

It is true that growers in certain parts of the Lea Valley are likely to be uncertain about the future use of their land until planning decisions are taken following the request made by the former Minister of Housing and Local Government in February, 1963, to the London County Council and the Herts, and Essex County Councils to discuss the possibility of releasing glasshouse land in the Green Belt for housing. Applications recently made by the Greater London Council for permission to develop certain areas in the Valley for housing have now been called in for decision by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, but it will necessarily take time for a decision to be reached.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the Report of the Brambell Committee.

I expect that this Report will be published on 2nd December.

asked the Minister of Aviation what are his regulations as to compensation to the dependants of passengers who are victims of air accidents on domestic and international flights, respectively; and whether he will make a statement.

International carriage as defined in the Warsaw Convention of 1929 is governed by the provisions of that Convention as scheduled to the Carriage by Air Act, 1932. Similar provisions were extended to other types of carriage by the Carriage by Air (Non-International Carriage) (United Kingdom) Order, 1952, made under that Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in dealing with the question of sewage in the Brighton area.

As I said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 28th May, representatives of the Brighton Intercepting and Outfall Sewers Board are visiting towns where sewage is treated before being discharged to sea, with a view to deciding what method of treatment would be appropriate to their Portobello outfall.My right hon. Friend has himself met members of Brighton Corporation (the chief constituent of the Board) and urged them to speed up the investigations so that an early decision can be taken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will reconsider his refusal to grant loan sanction to Brighton Corporation for the purchase of certain properties in Brighton, as the decision will mean hardship to owners and increased costs to the corporation at a later date.

My Department has received a letter from the Council asking that I should reconsider the decision. The hon. Member will, of course, be aware of the Government's decision, announced in August, that expenditure on purchase of land in advance of requirements must in present circumstances be deferred wherever possible; and I am considering the Council's request in the light of this general decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what effects his circular of 6th August, 1965, has had on the Brighton housing programme.

Following the circular my right hon. Friend is considering the size of programmes which individual authorities might undertake in 1966. To enable Brighton Corporation to lay plans for at least the first half of the year they have been told that approval will be given initially for some 150 dwellings. My right hon. Friend hopes soon to be able to settle a programme for the whole year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will permit Brighton Corporation to resume lending of money for house purchase in view of the special reasons in favour of this.

The Brighton Corporation have not sought any such permission.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why poisonous rat bait has been used on the floors of the motor transport offices at Devonport Dockyard; and if he will stop this practice.

This action was taken to keep down rats and I see no reason to stop it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the restriction of vouchers to categories A and B under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act will have on the recruitment of student nurses from the Commonwealth.

None. Student nurses do not need vouchers: they are admitted on the same conditions as other students.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times enforcement proceedings have been instituted by the police in respect of Regulation 73(2) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1963, in the past 12 months.

During the twelve months ended 31st December, 1964, proceedings were instituted in 11,087 cases for offences involving dangerous loads. I regret that separate figures for insecure loads dealt with under Regulation 73(2) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1963 are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he is aware that in many areas of the country the British Broadcasting Corporation radio programmes regularly suffer interference from continental radio transmitters using similar frequencies; and what steps are being taken to minimise such interference for the benefit of the listening public.

Yes. Though the B.B.C. use all available technical means to minimise the effect of the interference, its basic cause is that the medium wave band is overcrowded; and for this there is no technical cure. It is essentially for this reason that the B.B.C. have built a network of stations to transmit their sound programmes also on V.H.F. These transmissions, which are virtually free from continental interference, have now attained a population coverage of about 99 per cent. and are so available to nearly everyone who chooses to equip himself with a V.H.F. receiver. It is upon the V.H.F. transmissions that we will increasingly have to rely in order to get good reception.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will list the mean aerial height and mast height of the British Broadcasting Corporation's existing and proposed sound broadcasting stations; and if he will provide a map of the service areas, medium frequency and very high frequency, of each.

asked the Postmaster-General, what are the locations, radiated frequencies, medium frequency and very high frequency, effective radiated power medium frequency and very high frequency, and horizontal radiation patterns, very high frequency, of all British Broadcasting Corporation sound broadcasting stations in operation, under construction or proposed at present to be built.

It is for the B.B.C. to decide the detailed technical characteristics of their medium-wave and V.H.F. sound broadcasting stations, subject to such limitations as I prescribe on sites, aerial and mast heights power, and frequency.Much of the information the hon. Member requires is contained in the B.B.C. Handbook 1965 and in the Corporation's Annual Report and Accounts for the year 1964–65 which will be presented to Parliament later this month. The Corporation will, I am sure, be glad to provide further information he may require.

asked the Post-master-General, when the official opening of the Post Office communication tower in Birmingham is to take place.

This tower is to be brought into use towards the end of 1966.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will make a statement on the work of his research and development department in the last nine months.

During the past nine months my Directorate General of Research and Development has carried out a comprehensive review of research and development work related to the building and civil engineering industries in this country. It has commissioned from universities a number of research projects relevant to the construction industry and is actively studying proposals for increasing the resources available for building research and the dissemination of technical information in the industry. In the field of development two large barracks projects built by industrialised methods have been completed. Contracts have been let for a further barracks project and for over 2,000 married quarters, one of the biggest housing contracts ever placed in this country. Design work has started on a £1 million pre-production programme for the Directorate General's own steel-framed system, Nenk. Further progress has been made with dimensional co-ordination and preliminary work has been put in hand on the change to the metric system.As I announced to the House on 22nd July, national Building Regulations for England and Wales (excluding inner London) have been made and published and I expect to publish a technical Explanatory Memorandum early next year.The Directorate-General has continued its work on winter building and has just issued a film on techniques suitable for smaller builders. It administers a Grantin-Aid to the National Building Agency which is mainly expended on the services that the Agency gives to local housing authorities in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to help them in using industrialised building methods. It has provided support for the Committee on Agrément, whose Report was recently published, has been concerned with the preparation and organisation of exhibitions, lectures, films and other publicity material, and has issued certain publications, notably handbooks on "Preparing to Build" and "Selective Tendering for Local Authorities". It has continued to collect, analyse and disseminate statistical information and to contribute advice on the construction industries in connection with the Government's work on economic planning.My Ministry is represented on the Economic Development Committees for the Civil Engineering and Building Industries by members of the Directorate-General, which works closely with these bodies.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he will announce the date from which his Department will be ready to receive applications for building licences.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave in the House this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what has been the result of the steps taken to ensure an even flow of cement to builders merchants in Dorset.

My right hon. Friend has had no complaints of shortages from Dorset or elsewhere for some months.

asked the Minister of Power, what is his estimate of the demand for each fuel by the main sectors of consumption in 1970.

Paragraphs 29 to 32 and the Appendix of the White Paper (Command 2798) have already given as much detail as appeared to me appropriate for publication.

asked the Minister of Power, what is the estimated tonnage of coal lost last year through accidents.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many patients were admitted to Scottish mental hospitals suffering from alcoholism in 1964 and in the first six months of 1965; and what were the comparable figures for 1950, 1955 and 1960.

The number of admissions of patients diagnosed as suffering from alcoholism to Scottish mental hospitals in 1964 and in the first six months of 1965 were 2,188 and 1,090. The figures of admissions for 1956 (the earliest year available) and 1960 are 732 and 1,091.Alcoholics are also admitted to the four psychiatric units attached to general hospitals in Scotland. Figures for admissions to such units are not available before 1st June, 1962. The figures for 1964 and the first six months of 1965 were 510 and 209.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the capital value of hospital building projects and major conversions or extensions started in the years 1963 and 1964, respectively; and what are the comparable estimates for the years 1965 and 1966, respectively.

The estimated capital value of hospital building projects each costing over £100,000 started or to be started in these years is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what steps he is taking to speed up publication of the results of the 1963 Census of Production.

Full Censuses of Production are large scale inquiries and inevitably their results take an appreciable time to process and publish. A new electronic computer is being used for the Census for 1963, and it is expected that this will enable the Census reports to be produced more speedily than for full censuses for earlier years.