asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles of new motorway and trunk roads, respectively, he plans to construct in Wales during the next 10 years.

Twenty-three miles of motorway are under construction in Wales and will be completed next year. About 93 miles of new trunk road are either under construction or are in the programme for the next five years.The road programme beyond 1970 has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of staff in the Department under his control on 15th October, 1965; and what increase or decease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1966.

There were 393 in post on 15th October last. Partly because the transfer of work on roads in Wales to my Department had not by then been completed, there may be about 70 more in post by 15th October, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the grants made to the Central Council of Physical Recreation during the years ending April, 1964, 1965 and 1966.

The grants towards the current expenditure of the Central Council of Physical Recreation in these years were £252,165, £305,910 and £324,410 respectively. Grants for capital expenditure were £25,852, £60,854 and £132,469.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now make a statement on his proposals for increasing the number of general practitioners.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Dr. Summerskill) on 25th November concerning an increase in the number of medical school places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much his Department has spent on teaching machines in the last year; and how much it will spend in the future.

Teaching machines are used mainly by local education authorities, who are responsible for buying their own equipment. There are at least 73 authorities who are making use of programmed learning in varying degrees. The Department's audio-visual unit has 13 machines for display and demonstration purposes. Approximately £19 was spent last year on one machine and two programmes for that unit and several more machines may be bought next year for the training of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies are being conducted of the changing patterns of the use of leisure in each of the Registrar General's social groups.

A study now being conducted by the Central Office of Information at the request of this Department and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government has as one of its major aims to relate the nature and extent of leisure activity to social and economic background. The Sports Council is also actively concerning itself about special research projects covering this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools built prior to 1866 are currently in use within the area of the Lancashire County Council Education Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Information in this form is not available. In 1962 about 415 maintained primary schools in Lancashire were using teaching accommodation dating from before 1875. A substantial number of these have since been improved or extended. My right hon. Friend is anxious to improve the quality of primary school accommodation as quickly as possible. But priority must continua to be given to the provision of extra places needed for the rising school population and to match the housing drive.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the ignorance among parents of the choice of non-academic courses of advanced education now available; and what steps he is taking to remedy the situation.

If the hon. Member is referring to advanced courses below degree level in technical colleges, I agree that the opportunities are not yet sufficiently well known. A number of new publications and other publicity measures are planned for next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special precautions are taken by a school when a pupil is confirmed as suffering from venereal disease; and if he will make a statement.

None. Privacy is essential to the system of follow-up by V.D. clinics and action by schools would make its working less effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the approximate cost of building a 2,000-place comprehensive school; and what is the number of children not now being educated either in a fully comprehensive school or in any other reorganised system designed to eliminate 11-plus examination.

About £750,000 and 2,358,424 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the university building projects which were due to start in 1965–66 and have been deferred until 1966–67.

The effect of deferment on the university building programmes for 1966–67 and later years is being kept under review in the light of the economic situation and any special circumstances affecting the universities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action lie will take to prohibit the sale of abortifacient drugs.

I understand that a variety of drugs, many of which are in common use for other purposes, are taken in the belief that they will terminate pregnancy. As at present informed my right. hon. and learned Friend is not convinced that it would be justifiable to prohibit or regulate their sales, but he is keeping the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many escapes from prison lasting more than one hour have been made in each of the last three years;(2) how many escapes have taken place from maximum-security prisons in each of the last three years.

The number of escapers not recaptured on the day of the escape, including those who escaped from open prisons, is as follows:

1962	…	…	118
1963	…	…	195
1964	…	…	310
1965	…	…	186 (up to 19th November)

The figures for escapes from maximum security prisons are as follows:

1962	…	…	39
1963	…	…	52
1964	…	…	69
1965	…	…	55 (up to 19th November)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residential homes for mentally-subnormal children are under the charge of his Department; where they are located; how many children were in them at the latest convenient date; and what number of staff, qualified and unqualified, were employed at that date.

There are 1,500 residential homes with accommodation for 20,000 children provided by local authorities under Section 15 of the Children Act, 1948, for children deprived of a normal home life. Some subnormal children may be accommodated in these homes from time to time, but careful consideration is always given to the question of transfer to accommodation provided by the health authorities in which they might receive more appropriate treatment. The East Sussex children authority provide two special homes in Cuckfield for subnormal children. They at present have 17 children, four qualified staff and three unqualified staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to bring hours of meals in prisons on to a normal basis.

Meals are served at normal hours except that in some prisons dinner has to be served shortly before twelve noon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that meals served in Her Majesty's Prisons, particularly breakfast, are brought up to a palatable standard.

Much importance is attached to the quality of prisoners' meals. They are, I hope, always palatable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what treatment is available in prison for Michael Brooke Baker and others like him who are imprisoned for homosexual offences.

There is a special psychiatric prison at Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire and there are psychiatric units at Wormwood Scrubs, Wakefield and Holloway prisons, where prisoners can have treatment if they are suitable and willing to receive it. Arrangement are also made in suitable cases for prisoners to receive psychotherapy from qualified doctors at other prisons. Baker is receiving psychotherapy at Wormwood Scrubs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why seven first offenders who were minors were held on remand in Wormwood Scrubs Prison in 1963; and what is the total number of places now available in remand homes for minors who may come before the Willesden Magistrates' Court.

Of the seven minors held on remand at Wormwood Scrubs in 1963, five were remanded there by a court of assize, one was transferred there from Lewes prison, and one was held there because he was liable to return to borstal following an earlier sentence. At least three of the seven are known to have had previous convictions. Ashford Remand Centre can take all minors remanded in custody by the Willesden Magistrates' Court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will retain British Summer Time in future years as a permanent feature, to bring Great Britain in line with the industrialised nations of Western Europe, including the European Free Trade Association countries and those in the Common Market.

My right hon. and learned Friend is not satisfied that the time is yet opportune for this change, but he will keep the proposal in mind. There are many other considerations to be taken into account in fixing summer time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent police forces in Wales have appointed traffic wardens to relieve the duties of police officers; and whether he will make a statement.

There are 14 traffic wardens in Cardiff, and 6 in Mon-mouthshire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the types of employment and training that are available to boys and girls committed to approved schools, the remuneration that is paid for such work and the date when the rates of pay were last reviewed.

The list of subjects in which practical training is available is as set out below. Children of school age in approved schools are not employed at all. Boys and girls over this age working in the training departments of a school are not paid but get pocket money. Older boys and girls may also go out to work and, where they do, the employer pays the rate for the job. The school then makes certain deductions, the boy or girl is allowed some spending money, and any sum remaining is saved for his or her release.The main forms of practical training given in approved schools are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that his regulation that a prison sentence must be served in the country in which it is imposed inflicts additional hardship on some Scottish, English and Welsh citizens who are thereby deprived of the opportunity of being visited by their relatives, inflicts on the relatives who wish to visit them avoidable expense and increases the number of travellers by road and rail; and if he will alter the regulation accordingly.

A person sentenced to imprisonment is committed to a prison in the country in which he is sentenced; but under Section 26 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 the responsible Minister may make an order for transfer to another part of the United Kingdom. In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland I would make such an order if I considered there was a compassionate case for doing so and room could be found in a suitable prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what pension will be paid to the widow of Prison Officer Lambert.

In addition to a lump sum payment of about £813, the total payments to Mrs. Lambert under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1965, and the Superannuation Act 1965, are expected to provide her and her children with a weekly sum of approximately £13 8s. for the first thirteen weeks of her widowhood and £11 16s. thereafter. She will additionally continue to receive a family allowance of 8s. 0d. a week in respect of her second child. It will also be open to her to make a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his proposals for the treatment of adult offenders.

A White Paper outlining the Government's proposals on this subject is being published today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what financial incentive is offered to police officers who have been successful in passing the examination for promotion to sergeant but who, because of establishment reasons, are still designated as constables;(2) how many police officers have passed the requisite examinations for promotion to sergeant and are still serving as constables;(3) if he will seek to introduce an intermediate grade between constable and sergeant for those officers who have been successful in passing the appropriate examination but who have not been given the rank of sergeant.

Regulation 53 of the Police Regulations 1965 provides that a constable who obtains a pass in both the qualifying examinations for promotion to sergeant shall be paid a constable's promotion examination allowance of £30. On 31st December, 1964, 9,330 constables serving in forces in England and Wales were so qualified, but passing these examinations does not necessarily mean that a constable is in all respects qualified and suitable for promotion as soon as a vacancy arises. My right hon. and learned Friend is glad that so many constables take the promotion examinations, but for the reason I have given it would not be appropriate to provide for automatic promotion to a rank intermediate between constable and sergeant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were committed to prison for failing to comply with the maintenance requirements of matrimonial orders made against them for each of the years 1963, 1964, and the first nine months of 1965.

2,271 men were received into prison during 1963 for non-payment of wife's maintenance and a further 417 for non-payment of children's maintenance: it is not known how many of the latter committals were related to matrimonial orders. Corresponding figures for 1964 were 2,284 and 631 respectively. Figures for 1965 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many warrants were issued by magistrates' courts in England and Wales for the arrest of husbands who had failed to comply with the maintenance provisions of matrimonial orders, made by such courts for each of the years 1963, 1964, and the first nine months of 1965;(2) how many attachment of earnings orders issued by magistrates' courts in England and Wales were revoked on the grounds that the husband had changed his employer since the making of the order;(3) what was the average amount of weekly maintenance ordered to be paid to a wife under matrimonial orders made by magistrates' courts in England and Wales for each of the years 1963, 1964, and the first nine months of 1965; and what was the average weekly maintenance per child under such orders for each of these years;(4) how many summonses were issued by magistrates' courts in England and Wales under the Matrimonial Causes Acts for each of the years 1963, 1964, and the first nine months of 1965; and how many such summonses were returned as not served because the husband could not be found;(5) how many attachment of earnings orders were issued by magistrates' courts in England and Wales during each of the years 1963, 1964, and the first nine months of 1965.

The number of attachment of earnings orders made by magistrates' courts in 1963 was 3,746 and in 1964 4,033.I regret that the other information sought is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had with the Prison Officers' Association during his recent visit to Blundeston Prison.

I regret that, during what was necessarily a very short visit to Blundeston prison, I was not able to meet representatives of the Prison Officers' Association local branch committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilians were appointed during the past year in each of the Welsh police forces; and if he will make a statement.

On 31st October, 1965, 484 civilians, other than police cadets and traffic wardens, were employed in police forces in Wales, including Monmouthshire. This was a net increase of 91 over the previous year.Following are the details:

NUMBER OF CIVILIANS EMPLOYED IN WELSH POLICE FORCES
Force	30th October, 1964	30th October, 1965
Carmarthen and Cardiganshire	30	30
Denbigh	26	29
Flint	25	34
Glamorgan	120	158
Gwynedd	8	16
Mid-Wales	14	18
Pembroke	14	17
Cardiff	55	67
Merthyr Tydfil	6	7
Swansea	27	31
TOTAL	325	407
Monmouthshire	52	61
Newport	16	16
TOTAL	393	484

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing the approximate percentages of the adult and juvenile inhabitants of Mauritius who are chronically unemployed, the number of school-leavers in each of the last ten years, and the approximate percentage of these who have found regular employment within a year of leaving school.

There is no compulsory unemployment registration in Mauritius and it is therefore not possible to give the percentages of chronically unemployed. The following table shows the number of school leavers in each of the last ten years. I regret that the approximate percentage of these who found regular employment within a year of leaving school is not known.

Year		Primary School Leavers	Secondary School Leavers
1955	…	Not available	811
1956	…	Not available	1,711
1957	…	5,170	2,109
1958	…	5,228	1,716
1959	…	7,831	2,133
1960	…	6,993	3,162
1961	…	9,162	4,219
1962	…	4,687	4,402
1963	…	8,925	6,051
1964	…	9,000	4,903
		(estimated)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing the population of Mauritius in 1905, 1925, 1945 and 1965; how many people have left Mauritius as permanent migrants in each of the last 10 years; to which countries they have gone; and if he will seek to assist the Government of Mauritius to cope with its problem of over-population by consulting other Commonwealth arid European nations on the possibility of accepting a larger number of Mauritian immigrants, as well as taking steps to increase the number allowed to enter the United Kingdom.

The estimated population of Mauritius in the years in question was:

1905	…	…	377,532
1925	…	…	393,708
1945	…	…	425,316
1965	…	…	751,000

The table below shows the total number of persons who have emigrated from Mauritius during the last ten years and their destinations.I am looking into the possibilities of assisting the Government of Mauritius with its over-population problem, and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can. As regards entry into the United Kingdom it is not possible to relax the general policy of control of the numbers of immigrants by treating Mauritius as a special case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the constitutional advance agreed for Basutoland.

At the recent talks held in London the Prime Minister of Basutoland said that on 30th April, 1966, his Government intended to submit a formal request for independence. The Basutoland Delegation asked that meanwhile the British Government Representative should assign to Basutoland Ministers responsibility for the subjects of external affairs, internal security and defence. Her Majesty's Government were in general agreement and undertook to transfer the greater part of these responsibilities subject to the conditions which are listed in the Report of the discussions which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what financial assistance is envisaged for Basutoland until independence and on independence.

So far as aid to Basutoland until independence is concerned Her Majesty's Government have provided Basutoland with a grant-in-aid of administration of £2,350,000 for the year ending 31st March, 1966. Budgetary assistance for 1966–67 will be considered when the Basutoland draft Estimates for that year have been examined. Basutoland also has £1,800,000 of Colonial Development and Welfare funds available for spending on approved development schemes during 1965–66 and 1966–67. In addition, Her Majesty's Government have allocated over £500,000 from C.D. & W. funds towards the capital costs, during 1964–67, of the University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland, which is located in Basutoland. Exchequer loans for Basutoland totalling £93,000 were approved in 1964 and 1965 and have not yet been fully drawn.Expenditure on Technical Assistance, including the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, is likely to amount to some £314,00 during 1965–66.Financial assistance to Basutoland after independence will be a matter for discussion with the Basutoland Government in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities were provided in Bechuanaland for the erection of a short-wave transmitter for broadcasts to Rhodesia on behalf of Her Majesty's Government; and what labour was used for the purpose.

The Bechuanaland police are helping with the security of the site and the transmitters. Prison labour was used to clear the site. British Government staff have been sent to Bechuanaland to establish the station.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has sent to the request from Tristan da Cunha for an agricultural adviser to be posted to the island.

I have not received any such request. At the moment, while the harbour is being completed, priority has been given to the appointment of a Superintendent of Works.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that legal considerations prevent the pub- lishing of the report on Fiesta Tours in full, if he will make a condensed version available in the House of Commons Library.

When the report is received, a decision will be made about its publication. I am advised that, if the report is published, it will have to be published in full.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will further examine the need for legislation to protect holidaymakers, in view of the breakdown in negotiations for an amalgamation between the Association of British Travel Agents and the Travel Trade Association.

My right hon. Friend keeps the need for such legislation constantly under review; but, before reaching a decision, he wishes to see how the holidaymakers and the travel trade are affected by the Association of British Travel Agents' "stabiliser" scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, when he expects the Hoover factory at Trecynon, Aberdare, to be let.

I am hopeful that negotiations now in progress will result in this factory being re-occupied shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent ships flying the British flag are still able to call at the port of Haiphong in North Vietnam.

Restrictions are not placed on the movements of British ships except in time of war, but there is very little activity now in North Vietnamese ports by British vessels.

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 the Arctic White Laundry 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 Laundrex Properties Limited, which is operating in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and other areas.

On present information I am not satisfied that the Board of Trade would be justified in appointing inspectors under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of Laundrex Properties Ltd. and Arctic White Laundry Ltd.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what action he proposes to take following the report of the Monopolies Commission on the suppliers of petrol to retailers in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce his conclusions on this report shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will introduce legislation to require directors of public companies to detail their shareholdings and those of their families in the annual report as well as having this information available in the directors' share register at the annual meeting.

The proposals my right hon. Friend will be making for new companies legislation this Session will not extend to amendment of the provisions of the Companies Act regarding disclosure of shareholdings of directors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the report of the Board of Trade inquiry into the loss at sea with all hands of the Aberdeen trawler "Blue Crusader", which foundered off Ronaldsay Firth, Orkney, on 13th January, 1965; and, in particular, if he will detail the efforts which were made to prevent her loss and to save her officers and crew.

The formal investigation into the loss of the "Blue Crusader" was held last week and we have just recived the court's report. It will be published and I will see that a copy is sent to my hon. and learned Friend. The court's findings and recommendations will be carefully studied and any action that it may show to be necessary will be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to provide alternative employment for the miners of the South Wales coalfield, in view of the fact that nearly one-half of that coalfield will be closed down in the near future.

All the areas in South Wales likely to be seriously affected by colliery closures are now development districts and I shall make full use of my powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage industrial development in these areas. I have recently announced my intention to build six advance factories in South Wales and officials are examining with the National Coal Board the possibility of converting to alternative industrial use colliery buildings which will no longer be required.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to co-ordinate the action of Government Departments in an effort to remove the pirate radio station from a fort in the River Thames.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him yesterday.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will seek power to prevent the broadcasting on television of misleading advertisements.

No. Parliament has vested this responsibility in the Independent Television Authority.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the criticisms made by an assistant inspector of Post Office telegraph communications from the Post Office in London that radio channels in the North Sea between ship and ship and between ship and shore were being misused at the time when the Aberdeen trawler "Blue Crusader" was lost off Orkney with all hands; and if he will take steps to investigate these criticims, to answer them, and to prevent such misuse in the future.

I take it my hon. and learned Friend is referring to the evidence given by one of my officials at the court of inquiry into the loss of "Blue Crusader". I am well aware of the misuse of frequencies which he mentioned. It can at certain times be a considerable impediment to the handling of ordinary messages between ship and shore and we are constantly trying to put a stop to it, both by appealing to the skippers concerned and by prosecuting the worst offenders. I must emphasise, however, that it has nothing whatever to do with the loss of "Blue Crusader"—that is abundantly clear from the court of inquiry's findings—and that the evidence my hon. and learned Friend mentions was not given in that context.

asked the Postmaster-General, how many special postage stamp issues he plans for 1966; and what will be the criteria for selection of suitable subjects.

As regards next year's stamp programme, I have nothing to add to my reply of 27th October to the hon. and gallant Member for Wembley, North (Sir E. Bullus).The criteria for issuing special stamps remain as stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 15th December, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the approximate date for the opening of the Severn Bridge.

It will depend largely on the progress of work this winter. I hope to make an announcement in the spring.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that by Section 78 of the Highways Act, 1835 it is an offence to lead or ride a horse on the right hand side of the road, and that it is a widespread custom to do this, in the interests of safety, so that the horse faces on-coming traffic; if he will seek to amend the law on this matter; and whether he will make a statement.

I am advised that Section 78 of the Highways Act of 1835 should be interpreted as requiring that horses should be ridden or led on the left of the road. Should the opportunity occur I would be willing to consider revising this provision. I have no evidence, however, that road safety is being endangered by undue insistence on literal observance of this Statute.

asked the Minister of Transport what rates of income apply in each case to the loan facilities granted during his period of office to the Transport Holding Company for the purpose of new acquisitions.

No Exchequer loans have so far been made to the Transport Holding Company.

asked the Minister of Transport what increase or decrease there was in the staff of the Department under his control in the period 16th October, 1964 to 15th October, 1965; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1966.

There was a decrease of about 770. In accordance with normal procedure, discussions are now taking place with the Treasury about the staffing of my Department for the year 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the accident and casualty rates expressed in vehicle-miles on motorways, as distinct from roads built to motorway standards, and on all-purpose main roads, respectively, for the latest period available.

Accident and casualty rates for all motorways are not readily available. The table below gives the figures for M.1 and for all rural trunk and Class 1 roads in Great Britain, in 1964.

CASUALTY AND ACCIDENT RATES PER MILLION VEHICLE MILES
		London-Birmingham Motorway (M.1)	All Rural Trunk and Class 1 Roads
Casualties:
Fatal	…	0·07	0·08
Seriously Injured	…	0·44	0·79
Slightly Injured	…	0·54	1·55
Total Casualties	…	1·06	2·42
Total Accidents	…	0·6	1·5

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will provide a list of road schemes in Yorkshire which have been delayed in connection with the proposals for reducing immediate capital commitments; whether he will give an assurance that none of these will be delayed for more than six months; and whether he will give revised starting dates of each.

Details of schemes costing over £100,000 and the revised target starting dates are given below. A prompt start on the new dates depends on satisfactory progress with land acquisition and other preparatory work.

	Revised target starting date
M.1 (Aston-Leeds section)
(a) Tankersley-Darton	June, 1966
(b) Darton-Horbury	July, 1966
A.63 Widening through Garforth village	April, 1966
A.647 Stanningley By-pass (Stage 1)	March, 1966
A.639 Haigh Cottages-Oulton	April, 1966
A.642 Horbury By-pass	March, 1966

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to reduce the dangers of the Hog's Back road in Surrey.

The Surrey County Council, as highway authority, plans to improve this road progressively by providing dual two-lane carriageways with two-level separation at the main junctions. Work is expected to start in the first half of 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether he will, as a matter of urgency, order a traffic flyover at The George crossroads, Widley, on Portsdown Hill.

Proposals are being discussed now between the Portsmouth County Borough Council, which is the responsible highway authority, and the engineers of my Department, with a view to agreeing upon plans so that I can consider making grant available.

asked the Minister of Transport, what are the specific traffic and safety reasons for the provision of hard shoulders of current design on motorways in this country and for the provision of lay-bys on high standard dual carriageway all-purpose roads.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Knutsford (Sir W. Bromley-Davenport) on 6th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, what is the range by night and by day of the transmitter now being erected in Bechuanaland for the purpose of relaying broadcasts to Rhodesia.

The medium-wave transmitter will have a range of about 110 miles in daylight and 500–600 at night. The short-wave transmitter will have a range in excess of 500 miles by day or night. These figures relate to audibility by ordinary transistor sets but reception will of course be affected at times by atmospheric interference.

asked the Minister of Aviation what increase or decrease there was in the staff of the Department under his control in the period 16th October 1964 to 15th October 1965; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October 1966.

The staff of the Department decreased by 234 between 1st October, 1964 and 1st October, 1965; exact figures for the dates mentioned by the hon. Member are not available. I do not expect any considerable change in numbers during the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in what circumstances and by what authority officers of the Royal Air Force, on secondment to the Sudanese armed forces as a training mission, are being used to suppress revolts in Sudan's southern provinces.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Buxton) on 3rd December.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now give a starting date for the ward unit at Torbay Hospital, Torquay, in the south-western region, which was postponed earlier this year.

It is hoped to start next autumn.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the proposals he is putting forward to building societies will restrict the funds which they have at the moment available for financing owner-occupied housing in Northern Ireland; and if he will give an assurance that the final agreement reached with the societies will leave them with adequate funds for this purpose.

I am aware that the building societies which operate in Great Britain are also active in Northern Ireland. The discussions I have in hand with the Building Societies Association and the building industry are designed to enable the industry to plan a high level of house production for owner occupation. I do not accept that they are in any way prejudicial to the funds available for house purchase advances in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he will take to safeguard racecourse land against building development where such development would mean loss of valuable open space, recreational facilities and general amenity.

My Department wrote this autumn to the planning authorities in a number of areas where this question could be relevant, reminding them of the important implications that any use of a large open space such as a racecourse can have for the planning and amenity of its locality. The letter went on to ask that they should refer to me any proposals they are minded to approve involving development of all or part of their local course for non-racing purposes.The letter was sent to the following authorities:

asked the Minister of Labour what was the employment in the Scottish brick industry at the nearest convenient date; what was the employment on the same date last year; and what percentage change this represents.

It is estimated that the number of employees in employment in brick, fireclay and refractory goods manufacture in Scotland was 8,700 at mid-1964 and was the same at mid-1963. Mid-1964 is the most recent date for which figures are available. Estimates are not available for the brick industry alone.

asked the Minister of Labour what increase or decrease there was in the staff of the Department under his control in the period 16th October, 1964, to 15th October, 1965; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1966.

The date nearest to 16th October, 1964, for which statistics are available is 1st October, 1964. On that date there were in my Department 21,418 staff. By 1st October, 1965, there had been an increase of 614 in that number.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the present figures of registered disabled unemployed in the area covered by the Mountain Ash and Aberdare employment exchanges.

106 at Aberdare Employment Exchange and 52 at Mountain Ash Employment Exchange at 8th November, 1965.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what methods will be adopted for selecting persons to whom houses will be sold below market value on the crownhold system of tenure.

Generally speaking schemes for concessionary crownhold disposal will be controlled by local authorities, housing associations or co-operative groups who will be able to employ whatever methods of selection they think fit in the light of their experience in such matters.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources how many surveyors and other professional staff he estimates will be required by the proposed Land Commission to carry out its functions under Command Paper No. 2771.

A preliminary estimate is that the number of professional staff initially employed by the Land Commission will be under 40, mainly solicitors and surveyors.As my hon. Friend explained to the hon. Member on 1st November, 1965, valuations will be the responsibility of the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether land in comprehensive development areas of which the local authority own the freehold, but in respect of which they grant leases, will be regarded as held by them for the purposes of Command Paper No. 2771, and thus exempted from the levy.

Local authorities will not be liable for levy when they grant leases of land held by them in comprehensive development areas.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether local authorities who own freehold land within a town development area and grant leases for offices, shops, etc., will be liable to levy; and how this will be calculated.