asked the Minister of Labour what discussions he has had with the Trades Union Congress on the question of restrictive practices in industry; and what progress has been made arising out of these discussions.

I have discussed the whole question of the more effective use of manpower with my National Joint Advisory Council on which both the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry are represented. I shall continue to give whatever help and encouragement I can to both employers and trade unions to follow up their undertakings in the Joint Declaration of Intent to lead a sustained attack on all obstacles to efficiency. There have been a good many agreements in recent months providing for the more efficient use of labour.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider taking steps to initiate an early warning system to give him advice on threats of strike action.

No. I do not think this would be useful or practicable.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to deal with employers who dismiss employees to avoid the liabilities of the Redundancy Payments Act, as in the case of Mr. D. Betteridge, who was given notice of discharge from his employment by J. Grice and Sons, building contractors, of Castleford.

As I have told the House, I deplore manoeuvres designed to defeat the purposes of the Act, and my officers have taken up with the employer any alleged cases which have been reported. The Parliamentary Secretary has written to my hon. Friend about the case he mentions.

asked the Minister of Labour what payments have been made under the Redundancy Pay- ments Act 1965 on account of redundancy; and what claims for rebate have been received to date.

No payments have been made as the Act only came into force today. Advance notice of claims in respect of 2,600 employees had been received up to 26th November.

asked the Minister of Labour, what steps he is taking to assist recruitment of inspectors under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act; and what reasons are given by local authorities who have been unable to fill these posts.

The Act makes every local authority responsible for appointing inspectors to enforce its general provisions in their area. The Central Advisory Inspectorate advise local authorities on recruitment problems when requested. Those authorities who have had difficulty in filling these posts report that this is due to the national shortage of persons with experience of inspection work under comparable legislation.

asked the Minister of Labour, approximately how many adult men have gross earnings on average over a year of less than £10, £11, £12, £13 and £14 per week, respectively.

The latest available figures are for 1964 when the approximate numbers of adult men were 400,000, I million, 1½ million, 2½ million and 3½, million respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many girls are now being trained at Government training centres; and for what trades.

On 13th September, 1965, there were three women training in Government training centres, all in screen process printing.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many trade unions have still not agreed to accept the new six-month training courses at Government training centres as sufficient qualification for skilled employment.

The agreements between the Ministry and the representatives of employers and trades unions at national level about the placing of G.T.C. trainees, generally secure that trainees are accepted into jobs where they can use the skills they have learnt at the centre. There are, however, still local difficulties in particular areas.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether he will conduct a follow-up survey of trainees from Government training centres to ensure that they are being absorbed into the trades for which they were trained.

A follow-up survey is at present in progress.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many girls are being trained at Government training centres; and what trades are involved.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the member for Uxbridge (Mr. Curran) this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether, in view of the substantial number of accidents in shops and offices due to falls, he will take steps to define and insist upon adequate standards of indoor lighting.

I have asked local authorities and H.M. Inspectors of Factories to make a survey of lighting standards found in offices and shop premises during inspections carried out in the last quarter of 1965. When the results of this survey are received I shall be in a position to decide whether lighting regulations are necessary and, if so, what standards should be required under them.I have no evidence from the reports of enforcing authorities to suggest that bad lighting is a major cause of accidents due to falls.

asked the Minister of Labour, what consultations took place with local authorities, the Trades Union Congress and the Employers' Federation before the figures were determined for Commonwealth immigrants in the White Paper Command Paper No. 2739.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House in the course of the debate on the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many Commonwealth immigrants have been employed in the transport services for the years 1963 to 1965, inclusive: and what is the proportion of these who have been specially recruited for such employment, and from which territories, respectively.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. From 1st January, 1963 to 26th November, 1965, 1,890 Category A vouchers have been issued for employment in the Transport and Communications group of industries. The distribution of these between the Harts of the Commonwealth is given below.

asked the Minister of Labour, what plans he has to extend the number of Government training centres in Scotland.

I have at present no further plans for new centres in Scotland beyond those I announced in June, but I am keeping the situation under review.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many Government training centres there are in Scotland; how many trainees they can accept; and how many of these places were taken up at the most recent available date.

There are seven Government training centres in Scotland with at present 715 available training places. On 8th November, 1965, 516 persons were in training.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of boys who left school during the first seven months of 1965 took jobs in which they were trained as apprentices.

The proportion of boy school leavers who are known to have entered apprenticeships in the first 10 months of 1965 was 40·8 per cent. This figure will include some boys who left school in December, 1964.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied with the procedure for the reporting of industrial accidents; what was the percentage failure to report last year; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the procedure for the reporting of industrial accidents is as simple and straightforward as it can be.It is not possible to give the percentage failure to report for the whole of last year but arrangements have been made under which we hope to estimate this from a statistical sample in future years. 1966 is the first year for which it is expected this information will be available.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of industrial accidents, compared with all industrial accidents, which could have been mitigated or avoided by the use of protective equipment and clothing.

The causes of accidents are very complex and it is not possible to estimate over the whole of industry how many accidents might have been prevented or mitigated by the use of protective equipment and clothing.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures of unemployment in Blyth, Bedlington and Seaton Valley in each of the years from 1961 to 1965 at the latest available date.

The following table gives the information:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures of unemployment amongst school leavers in Blyth, Bedlington and Seaton Valley in each of the years from 1961 to 1965 at the latest available date.

The numbers of school leavers registered for first employment in mid-November at the Blyth, Bedlington and Seaton Delaval Youth Employment Offices were as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures of long-term unemployment in Blyth, Seaton Valley and Bedlington in each of the years from 1961 to 1965, and the numbers of persons over 50 years of age in that category.

asked the Minister of Labour what records are maintained in his Department of discussions which take place between factory inspectors and work people's representatives arising out of factory visits.

The reports by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectors on factory visits contain details of all matters requiring attention but do not necessarily record separately discussions with workers' representatives. As my hon. Friend knows, Her Majesty's Factory Inspectors are instructed to get in touch with workers' representatives during visits to factories.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in the light of prevailing bus fares in the Abersychan area, hardship is arising from the attendances which unemployed persons over 60

An analysis of the unemployed by age and duration of unemployment is made twice a year. The following table gives the position at the most recent count and at the comparable count in the earlier years specified, for persons registered as wholly unemployed for over 26 weeks.years of age are compelled to make at Pontypool employment exchange; what are the results of the experiments being conducted in certain areas testing the feasibility of reducing attendances at employment exchanges; and whether as an experiment he will reduce the required attendances at Pontypool of any unemployed person over 60 years of age whose home is far away.

If, because of disability or infirmity, it would cause real hardship to an unemployed person, whether over 60 or under 60, to go to the Employment Exchange, attendance may be excused. I know of no special reason for making any other concessions to people living in the Abersychan area.The experiment in certain areas in one-weekly attedance to prove unemployment and payment of unemployment benefit by post is proceeding quite well, but it will be some time yet before it can be fully appraised and a decision taken about whether it should be extended.

asked the Minister of Labour how many man-hours have been lost during the past six months in maintenance and plant construction in the gas and electricity industries, respectively, by strikes and go-slows, both official and unofficial.

It is estimated that nearly 2,500 working days were lost in the six-month period May to October, 1965 (inclusive) through stoppages of work, both official and unofficial, due to industrial disputes involving maintenance workers in the gas and electricity supply industries. Of these, over 2,000 were in electricity supply. The corresponding totals for gas and electricity plant construction workers were 3,000 and 19,000 respectively. Information about time lost through go-slows is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 153,377 people, unemployed for more than eight weeks at 8th November, have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks; and how many for more than a year.

Analyses of persons registered as wholly-unemployed for more than eight weeks are compiled only for the months of January, April, July and October. Of the 146,876 persons who had been registered as wholly-unemployed for more than eight weeks at 11th October, 1965, in Great Britain, 82,227 had been unemployed for more than 26 weeks and 51,068 for more than 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now propose to the Security Council that it call upon all members of the United Nations to apply economic sanctions to Rhodesia, under the terms of Article 41 of the Charter.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in order to gain the admission of the People's Republic of China into the United Nations to replace the representatives of the Government of Taiwan, he will instruct the United Kingdom delegation at the United Nations not only to vote in favour of such an admission but also to vote against any procedural resolution which might effectively block China's admission.

We shall continue to vote in favour of the Chinese People's Republic occupying the China seat in the United Nations as we did at the General Assembly on 17th November. We shall also continue to vote on any procedural resolutions on their merits as they occur. In any case the United Nations Charter makes no difference between procedural and non-procedural questions in the General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that the Hanoi Government has been willing to negotiate, he will now, in pursuance of Her Majesty's Government's initiative to secure peace in Vietnam, renew his endeavours to bring the parties together.

In view of the full replies given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to similar questions on 25th November, I need only add that a broadcast commentary on the same day from Hanoi described the story that negotiations were proposed by North Vietnam last year as a legend fabricated by an American newspaper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now apply to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam for an exequatur for the British Consul-General in Hanoi.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the work the British Council now undertake in Vietnam on which £50,413 will be spent in 1965–66; and whether he will make a statement.

The British Council allocation of funds for their work in Vietnam in 1965–66 is £25,327 and not £50,413. Out of this sum the Council maintain an Office and Library in Saigon with a London appointed Representative and seven locally employed staff. The Council concentrates on English language teaching and allied subjects, subsidises three British lecturers at the University of Saigon and held short summer schools in 1964 and 1965 for teachers of English. As in other countries the Council organises the Cambridge examinations in English.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will make a statement outlining his proposals for the strengthening and revision of the functions of the National Parks Commission.

The Government propose that the National Parks Commission should be strengthened and reconstructed as a Countryside Commission which, besides discharging the present functions of the National Parks Commission, would be responsible for promoting the provision of opportunities for the enjoyment of the countryside generally. I hope to present a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals in relation to countryside activities when consultations with local authorities and others have been completed.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether local authorities acquiring freehold land under the terms of the proposed Land Commission will be required to dispose of such land on a similar basis if not retained by the local authorities for their own purposes.

It will depend on the circumstances in which they acquire the land. If, for example, they acquire land on concessionary crownhold terms for redisposal they may be expected to dispose of it subject to conditions of the kind described in paragraph 24 of the White price or the initial value described in Paper. In other cases they may dispose of a freehold or a leasehold as seems appropriate.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, if he will specify the kinds of transaction which will be liable for a levy under the proposals in Command Paper No. 2771, and which would not otherwise be taxed under the existing fiscal system either as trading profit or as capital gain.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, with reference to Command Paper No. 2771, what criteria he will use to establish the date on which development of land takes place and the levy becomes payable.

The criteria used will relate to physical operations on the land but I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Bill for details.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether under his proposals contained in Command Paper No. 2771 those who trade as dealers in land will be liable for the levy.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will give an assurance that no levy will be payable by an owner of land at the time he receives planning consent for material development but only when the actual development takes place.

Levy will be payable not when planning consent is received but when development takes place or when development value is realised on a disposal of the land.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what will be the base value for the purposes of calculating the charge to levy where the land was purchased before 22nd September, planning permission has been obtained since that date, but development is not started until after the appointed day.

Base value in these circumstances will be either the purchase price or the initial value describned in paragraph 27 of the White paragraph 27 of the White Paper, whichever is the higher.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what procedure he proposes to adopt in determing cases where there is disagreement between the proposed Land Commission and the local planning authority about use of the Commission's powers of compulsory purchase.

The Commission's powers of compulsory purchase will not operate until an appropriate planning decision has been made. If there is disagreement on the planning issues between the Commission and the local authority it will be open to the Commission to appeal to the appropriate planning Minister.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what salaries will be paid to the Chairman and other members of the proposed Land Commission; and what will be the duration of their appointments.

Proposals for the salaries of the Chairman and members will be presented in an Estimate for the Land Commision in due course and provisions about appointments to the Commission will be included in the Land Commission Bill.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will itemise the powers of compulsory purchase which the Land Commission will possess, under the proposals contained in Command Paper No. 2771, that are additional to those already possessed by local planning authorities.

Both local planning authorities and the Commission will have powers to buy land compulsorily to secure its development. Those of local authorities depend, in the absence of specific powers, on prior amendment of the development plan to designate the land for compulsory purchase. The Land Commission, however, will be able to exercise its powers whenever, as a result of a planning decision of any kind, a designation order for a new town or a clearance order under the Housing Act, it is clear that the land may be developed.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, whether he will instruct the Forestry Commission to move their headquarters to Scotland where the major forests are situated.

No. I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave my hon. Friends the Members for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 28th June.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works on what occasions water has entered the No Lobby from the flat roof above; whether the roof is now watertight; and what steps he proposes to take to make good the damage to stonework and woodwork.

On only one occasion, about two years ago, when a small rain water outlet in the roof above became blocked and overflowed. This was cleared at the time and the roof has since been watertight. The damp has now dried out, leaving some white efflorescence on the stonework and woodwork of the Oriel window, which will be cleaned off during the Christmas Recess.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what action his Department is taking to protect and classify buildings and plant considered to be of interest as industrial archaeology.

My right hon. Friend's powers under the Ancient Monuments Acts and the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act, 1953, cover industrial structures. Some industrial monuments have already been scheduled. Grants have also been offered in a number of cases towards the cost of repairs.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what plans she has for the provision of a State retirement pension to those persons who retired prior to the introduction of compulsory National Insurance contributions.

Many people who were insured under the Contributory Pensions Acts which preceded the compulsory National Insurance scheme introduced in July, 1948, are in fact qualified for retirement pensions. As for those who do not receive a contributory insurance pension because they were already over minimum pensionable age and were not insured when the new scheme began, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Members for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel) and for Barry (Mr. Gower) on 22nd November.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the value of the pension in real terms as at the latest date, compared with May, 1963, after the increase in pensions had been made.

At current prices the present retirement pension rates of 80s. (single) and 130s. (for a couple) are worth 6s. 6d. and 11s. 4d. more, respectively, than the 67s. 6d. and 109s. rates introduced in May, 1963.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much the State retirement pension has fallen in real terms since the introduction of the new rate.

To restore retirement pensions to their March, 1965, values would require additions of 2s. 4d. for a single person and 3s. 9d. for a married couple.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps she takes to ensure that all doctors who medically examine war disability pensioners or claimants for war disability on behalf of her Department are aware that whereas an ex-Service man of the 1939–45 war has a statutory right of appeal to an independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal and to the production of all medical reports on his case, an ex-Service man of 1914 and earlier wars has no such right and his medical records are held by the Department; and if she will take action to remedy the situation.

Doctors who carry out war pensions medical examinations for my Department have access to the complete medical records in each case and their manual of guidance refers to the appeal position. Any decision taken in the light of their advice is made in the full knowledge of this position. As the hon. and gallant Member knows, it has long been accepted that it would not be practicable now to revive for 1914 war disablement pensioners formal appeal rights which expired many years ago.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in Rhodesia were in receipt of United Kingdom retirement pensions; what was their annual cost; and what is to be done with the money saved by the Government's descision not to pay them.

The number of retirement pensioners in Rhodesia is 1,542 and the annual cost about £160,000. Money not paid out now will remain in the National Insurance Fund and be available for payment later.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensioners and war pensioners, respectively, will have their benefits withheld under the terms of the new exchange control restrictions relating to Rhodesia.

The numbers of retirement pensioners and war pensioners in Rhodesia are 1,542 and 574 respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) what would be the cost of giving a Christmas bonus, as was done last year, to retirement pensioners;

I take it that the hon. Member has in mind the special payments last December to people over retirement age receiving weekly allowances from the National Assistance Board. The cost of these payments was as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will amend the appropriate National Health Insurance regulations to allow a married woman paying full contributions to receive the full benefits when the husband is over retirement age.

The National Insurance Act provides for fully insured married women to be entitled to the same benefits, generally at the same rates and on the same terms as all other fully insured people. The exception is that sickness and unemployment benefits are at a lower rate unless the woman is wholly or mainly maintaining her husband who is incapable of self-support, or is separated from her husband and is receiving little or nothing from him by way of maintenance. I have no proposals for changing these provisions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why married women paying in full the same insurance contribution as a single woman receive a lower rate of sickness and other benefits.

Married women who choose to pay the National Insurance contribution claim sickness and unemployment benefits, as a group, more frequently and for longer periods than employed men and unmarried women.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will state the average number and percentage of persons absent from work per day in October, 1965, due to industrial injury, and compare this figure with the previous year; and what is the reason for the trend shown by these figures.

I regret that the precise information asked for is not available.It is estimated that the number of persons incapacitated by industrial injury on 20th October, 1964, was about 70,000, which 0·3 per cent. of the total number of persons insured for injury benefit. The corresponding figure for 15th October, 1965, is 76,000. The reason for this increase is not yet known.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will state the average number and percentage of persons absent from work per day in October 1965 due to sickness, and compare this figure with the previous year; and what is the reason for the trend shown by these figures.

I regret that the precise information asked for is not available. I have information only about persons whose sickness is notified to the Department for purposes of claiming benefit and contribution credits under the National Insurance Act. It is estimated that the number of such persons sick on 19th October, 1965, was 1,008,000 which represented about 4·9 per cent. of the total number of persons insured for sickness benefit. The corresponding figures for 20th October, 1964, were 980,000 and 4·8 per cent.The estimates include a substantial number of persons who had been sick for a long time and who may no longer have been in employment. On the other hand, spells of sickness lasting less than four days do not usually attract benefit and are not normally reported; nor does the Department know about absence from work of people such as married women who have chosen not to be insured for sickness benefit, or of non-industrial civil servants who do not normally claim benefit through the ordinary machinery during the first six months of illness.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for the regional hospital board to provide for adequate psychiatric units for adolescent children in the Coventry area.

The unit for girls at the Central Hospital, Hatton serves the Coventry area; the Board is considering further provision for the region as a whole in its current review of the hospital building programme.

asked the Minister of Health, what instructions he has issued with regard to the deduction of trade union subscriptions from the pay of hospital employees.

None so far. I am considering what guidance I should give.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue instructions that no hospital normally giving casualty services shall turn away any case where the life of the patient may be in jeopardy.

No. If a patient is brought to a hospital accident and emergency department as in need of emergency treatment, it is for the doctor in charge, having seen the patient, to decide what is in his best interests.

asked the Minister of Health, when the new hopital at Lindley, Huddersfield, is to be opened.

In the spring of 1966.

asked the Minister of Health how many operations are performed each week by cardio-thoracic surgical units within the area covered by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board; and how many new cardio-thoracic units he intends to establish in the region during the next five years.

An average of 95; one new unit is now being established at Stoke, one will be provided in the new hospital being built at Walsgrave, Coventry, and a third is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the general shortage of nursing staff, whether he will allow hospitals to run free transport to and from work for the benefit of the staff.

Non-resident nursing staff are normally responsible for their travel to and from work. Some assistance is already provided where staffing is exceptionally difficult and public transport is inadequate, and I am reviewing the arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health, what instructions he has given to regional hospital boards with regard to making appointments of registrar and senior registrar grades.

Boards have for many years been required to secure my approval for any increase in the numbers in these grades.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he is aware that the physiotherapy department of the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, has since its inception been overcrowded and that now, with the burning down of the Hatfield Physiotherapy Clinic, conditions are very difficult; and what steps he is taking to provide additional accommodation.

I am aware that the accommodation is not fully adequate by present standards. The Regional Hospital Board is considering whether it can provide additional accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health, whether, in view of the representations sent to his Department that provision should be made for a maternity home at Malvern, he will now take the necessary steps to have one provided.

I have asked the Regional Hospital Board to consider these representations in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Health what was the vaccinal condition of schoolgirls who suffered from the recent mystery illness in Blackburn; and what connection there was between this illness, with symptoms similar to those of poliomyelitis, and the poliomyelitis vaccination.

I am obtaining the detailed information about vaccinal state and will write to my hon. Friend when it is available. I am, however, advised that there is no connection between this illness and poliomyelitis vaccination.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of confirmed cases of poliomyelitis in the recent Blackburn epidemic in their appropriate age groups; and how many of these suffered from the mild form of poliomyelitis.

I am informed that the provisional number of confirmed cases is 53. Of these:

• 5 were aged 0–4 years.
• 9 were aged 5–14 years.
• 10 were aged 15–19 years.
• 19 were aged 20–29 years.
• 6 were aged 30–39 years.
• 4 were aged 40 years or over.
• 24 were classified as non-paralytic.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of persons immunised in the recent Blackburn poliomyelitis epidemic with the live Sabine oral vaccine, distinguishing between those given one dose and those given two or more doses; and how many were injected with the inactivated Salk vaccine.

After the outbreak began about 100,000 persons received a first dose of oral (Sabine) vaccine, 80,000 a second dose and 65,000 a third dose; a few persons were given inactivated (Salk) vaccine, but the precise number is not known.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is being made in the West Riding of Yorkshire for the treatment and education of spina bifida children.

Most cases in the West Riding are referred to the Sheffield Children's Hospital for operation and associated investigations. Surgery is also undertaken in neuro-surgical departments at Pinderfields Hospitals, Wakefield, and, to a lesser extent, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, and Leeds General Infirmary.Long-term hospital care is available at a number of hospitals in the area, the orthopaedic services providing any necessary operative treatment.I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that there are special schools for physically handicapped children in the area which can accept children suffering from spina bifida, and a new boarding special school for such children is to be built by the Sheffield local education authority.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the increased public cost as a result of abolishing the prescription charges is approximately £25 million a year; and what priority was laid clown, in apportioning expenditure by the National Health Service, to the various needs of the Service.

It is impossible to determine how much of the cost of the pharmaceutical services is due to the abolition of prescription charges; the removal of these charges was regarded by the Government as one of the highest priorities in the development of the National Health Service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the instructions which have been given by Her Majesty's Government to the masters of British ships passing through the Suez Canal when these are searched for goods in transit for Israel.

No such instructions have been given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, is he is aware of the growing practice by commercial firms of posting unsolicited goods to individuals for which the recipient is called upon to pay if the goods are not returned within a relatively short period; and whether he will seek to amend the law so as to make such a recipient not liable for payment if he destroys or otherwise disposes of the goods.

I am aware of the practice, but the existing law, to which my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General referred in his reply on 30th November, appears to give adequate protection to recipients of unsolicited goods and legislation on the lines suggested does not seem necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what inquiries he is undertaking under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948 in respect of the fraudulent trading activities of Service Distributors (Agencies) Limited, which is operating in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and other areas;(2) what inquiries he is undertaking under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948 in respect of the fraudulent trading activities of Service Distributors (Holdings) Limited, Service Distributors (Marketing) Limited, Service Distributors (Retail) Limited, Service Distributors (Products) Limited, and Service Distributors (Sales) Limited.

On present information I am not satisfied that the Board of Trade would be justified in appointing an inspector under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of the "Service" group of companies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in order to encourage small exporters, he will seek to arrange for facilities for joint booking to be provided so as to obtain the benefit of party rates of air fares.

Facilities already exist for groups, under certain conditions, to book flights at reduced rates on scheduled air services. In addition, for trade missions organised by approved sponsoring organisations (trade associations, chambers of commerce or similar non-trading bodies) the British National Export Council will refund up to 50 per cent. of the cost of passages from and to the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what inquiries he is undertaking under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948 in respect of the fraudulent trading activities of Flagbridge Limited, which is operating in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and other areas.

On present information my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the Board of Trade would be justified in appointing an inspector under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of Flagbridge Ltd.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take in respect of the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East, of repeated violations of Section 200 of the Companies Act, 1948 by a person named in the said evidence.

The evidence submitted by my hon. Friend does not appear to relate to contraventions of Section 200 of the Companies Act, 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to amend the Companies Act 1948, bringing it into accord with the recommendations of the Jenkins Committee, in view of the activities of a number of exempt private companies, details of which have been sent to him, which are acting in a fraudulent manner by selling franchises for non-existent vending machines.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the proposals my right hon. Friend will be making for new companies legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give consideration to the siting of an advance factory in Bedlington, Northumberland, particularly in view of impending pit closures in the area.

When the advance factory position is next reviewed, the claims of Bedlington will be considered. Impending pit closures will be one of the factors that will be taken into account. An advance factory for Cramlington was announced in November, 1964, and a second advance factory for Cramlington and one for Ashington were announced recently.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the quantities of eggs imported from all overseas countries during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1965.

, pursuant to his reply, [OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd December, 1965; Vol. 721, c. 230–1], supplied the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what percentages of boys in industry and girls in industry are now released for part-time day release courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what percentage of girls in industry are now released for part-time day release courses.

In 1964, the latest year for which information is available, 31 per cent. of boys and 7·3 per cent. of

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the fact that a person was recently charged at London Sessions with being on enclosed premises at the Admiralty, what action he is taking to improve security arrangements there to prevent the entry of unauthorised persons.

We have tightened up our arrangements in certain ways, but it would not be in the public interest to specify them in detail. As girls under 18 were released by their employers to attend part-time day courses in grant-aided establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will list the amounts of grants made under the Physical Training Recreation Act, 1937 for the years 1952 to 1964 and the proposed grant for 1965.

The amounts paid in grants for the years 1952 to 1964 and the estimated amount for 1965 are as follows:stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Watford on 3rd December, the person concerned had no access to classified information of any kind, and he was apprehended before leaving the building.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining an infantry battalion in Berlin, British Army of the Rhine, the Middle East and the Far East, respectively.

About £1·1 million, £1·4 million, £1·3 million and £1·3 million, respectively. These figures represent directly attributable costs. They cover pay, allowances, food and clothing, unit and personal equipment, and the maintenance of barracks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining an armoured regiment in Germany.

About £2·4 million. This represents directly attributable costs. It covers pay, allowances and food and clothing, unit and personal equipment, and cost of the maintenance of barracks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average it takes for a letter posted from H.M.S. "Ark Royal" to reach Weymouth.

Three to four days; a little longer over a weekend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining a squadron of V-bombers in the United Kingdom and the Far East, respectively.

The current annual cost is about £1·9 million in the United Kingdom, including spares, repairs and fuel for aircraft and associated ground equipment, and the cost of aircrews and servicing personnel. There are no V-bomber squadrons as such based in the Far East; V-bombers from United Kingdom squadrons are on detachment there.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of maintaining a squadron of Lightning aircraft in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Far East, respectively.