asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what economic assistance has been asked for by Zambia, and what has been given to that country, as a result of the illegal declaration of independence by Rhodesia.

As a result of discussions conducted by the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations in Lusaka from 15th to 19th December, 1965, the British Government agreed to meet the cost of a British airlift of essential supplies into Zambia, and to meet expenditure of some £3½ million on equipment and construction work necessary to develop alternative surface routes into Zambia. In addition, by 15th January, eleven experts over and above the normal technical assistance programme have been made available to Zambia, and high priority is being given to recruitment of other staff urgently needed by Zambia for contingency planning. The Zambia Government sought redress from the British Government for any economic and financial harm to Zambia arising out of the actions of the illegal regime in Rhodesia. The British Mission emphasised the British Government's concern about these effects and reiterated their determination to quell the rebellion as quickly as possible in order to arrest the strain which it is imposing on both the British and Zambian economies.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the comparative cost per 1,000 tons of oil or petrol being supplied to Zambia by air or by rail via the Benguela railway.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what has been the cost so far to the British taxpayer of the lift of oil and other aid to Zambia since the introduction of sanctions against Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison), and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement on the aid given to Pakistan after the recent cyclone to alleviate suffering in East Pakistan.

In mid-December, 1965, a cyclone caused damage and loss of life in East Pakistan, although I am glad to say not on as large a scale as was originally feared. Her Majesty's Government gave £7,500 to help to relieve distress among the fishing community, many of whom were temporarily deprived of their means of livelihood.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what talks he has had with representatives of the Ghanaian Government with a view to the cessation of tobacco purchases by Ghana from Southern Rhodesia, in furtherance of Her Majesty's Government's policy of sanctions.

Representations about this were made to the Ghanaian authorities before Ghana severed relations with us on 15th December. The Ghanaian Government took action to ban trade with Rhodesia on 7th January. We welcome this decision. We regret that it was so long delayed.

asked the Minister of Power how soon he expects the reports of investigations into the loss of the dril- ling rig "Sea Gem"; and whether he will make a statement regarding progress.

The investigation will take the form of a public inquiry by an independent Commissioner assisted as necessary by expert assessors. I cannot yet say when it will be opened. The necessary preliminary investigations, including the examination of any equipment recovered from the scene of the accident, may take some months.

asked the Minister of Power what delay is likely to occur in the development of North Sea gas exploration following the "Sea Gem" disaster.

No precise estimate is possible, but I understand the British Petroleum Company is considering an alternative method of exploiting its discovery, which should keep any delay to a minimum.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will reconsider the ban on advertising of domestic storage heaters.

Such advertising is included in the general ban agreed by the Chairman of the nationalised fuel industries last November. I do not think it would be right to lift or alter that ban at the present moment.

asked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board that no pit currently scheduled for closure on economic grounds shall be closed until sufficient alternative employment is provided for those men likely to become redundant.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what plans he has for an expansion in the activities of National Coal Board workshops, especially those situated in areas likely to be hardest hit by pit closures in the next few years.

None. This is a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now grant housekeeping allowances to wives of incapacitated husbands who have young children and who are the family breadwinners.

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted, but I would remind her that the special wife's earned income allowance is available in such cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will grant equal pay to women non-industrial civil servants.

Women non-industrial civil servants already receive equal pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the reduction in the yield which he could otherwise have received from Income Tax, Surtax, Profits or Corporation Tax, Estate Duty and Short- and Long-term Capital Gains Tax during the first year of the operation of the levy proposed in the Land Commission Bill, and as a consequence of that impost.

Very small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to cancel the tax-free privileges of all toll bridges.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer against what Vote the cost of sanctions against Rhodesia will be charged.

The sanctions, which consist mainly of controls on trade and payments, entail no direct cost. The small addition to administrative costs is spread over the Votes of several Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the proposals in Command Paper No. 2874, any change is proposed in the scope of the term, plant and machinery, for the purpose of entitlement to initial allowances, so far as the hotel and catering industry is concerned.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the salaries of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the area electricity boards, area gas boards, divisional coal boards, regional hospital boards, and chairmen of consultative councils, indicating where applicable those cases in which a salary is paid for another appointment.

No salaries are paid to the chairmen and deputy chairmen of regional hospital boards. The salaries of chairmen of the divisional coal boards are for the National Coal Board itself to determine. Details of the other salaries and of multiple appointments are to be found in the White Paper on Public Boards (Cmnd. 2848) presented to Parliament at the end of last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government schemes in the City of Carlisle have been postponed as a result of the recent curb on expenditure.

The only Government capital schemes in the City of Carlisle deferred since the 27th July have been a number of projects under the Carlisle State Management Scheme. Their total value is £186,000. The Minister concerned is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking 100 as the figure for investment per head in England and Wales, what were the figures for Scotland for the most recent year, in respect of education, hospitals, housing, and roads, respectively; and if he will state the total sums involved, respectively.

Taking 100 as the figure for investment per head in England and Wales, the figures for Scotland and the total sums involved for the financial year 1964–65 in respect of the services listed were as follows:

		England and Wales as 100	Total sums involved
			£m.
Education	…	112	24·9
Hospitals	…	112	8·3
Housing	…	170	83·4
Roads	…	119	24·0

These figures differ from those given on the 4th November, 1965, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis) because they take account of certain later information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fresh instructions have been given to Her Majesty's inspectors of taxes in the past 12 months with a view to charging to Income Tax on recipients gifts, other than cash, to buyers.

If my hon. Friend will give me further particulars about the point that is concerning him, I will look into it and write to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of assets sold by the British Government in the United States in 1965; and what the present value of these assets would be if they had not been sold.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 3rd August, 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days a week and between what hours a representative of the Inspector of Taxes (Kettering) is available for consultation in Corby; and whether he is satisfied that this is adequate for the population of Corby.

One day each week between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. In general this proves adequate to deal with the requests for consultation but the Inland Revenue are considering whether it is possible to improve the arrangements at peak calling times.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the application of exchange control as a sanction against Rhodesia.

I summarise below a number of exchange control measures which have been taken. They are making an effective contribution to the Government's policy designed to bring about an early return to constitutional government in Rhodesia.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about the area that he proposes to designate in north Buckinghamshire as the site for the announced new town.

As the hon. Member is aware my right hon. Friend wrote to the local authorities and statutory undertakers on 13th January setting out his proposals and his reasons for them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the serious flooding which occurred when the River Wharfe overflowed its banks in the town of Tadcaster on 10th December, 1965; what remedial action he proposes to prevent a recurrence of this flooding; and what compensation the Government proposes to offer to householders and shopkeepers whose property was damaged.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the flooding. He understands from his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, that the Yorkshire Ouse and Hull River Authority is working on a flood prevention scheme which it hopes to submit to his Department by May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what are the differences of opinion he has with the Local Government Commission over the amalgamation of Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham into one county borough, which have caused work on the project to stop;(2) if it is his intention that the work of the Local Government Commission in connection with the amalgamation of the three Medway towns shall now cease entirely; or if the halt is only designed to allow time for further consideration.

The Local Government Commission has not as yet given any consideration to the future of these three towns, since with my right hon. Friend's agreement it has deferred starting its South Eastern General Review. It would be unfair to ask local authorities in the area to undertake work for the Commission until it is decided whether we should have a new, radical review of local government and, if so, what the effect of that should be on the Commission's work.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that, in spite of the advice given by his Department, and the continued fouling of the beaches in the Peacehaven, Telscombe and Saltdean area by sewage from the adjoining authority, the sewer outfall committee to the Brighton Intercepting and Outfall Sewers Board has not recommended any action to solve this problem; if he is aware of the discontent that this inaction has caused; and what action he now proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend has seen a copy of the Sewer Outfall Committee's report, and he is asking the Board to send representatives to the Ministry for a discussion before they reach a decision on the report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what charge is made by local water boards to provide and fit a meter to measure the water drawn from a well.

Local water boards have no power to provide water meters except for measuring water that they themselves supply, or for detecting waste in their supply systems.If the, hon. Member will write and tell me the circumstances which he has in mind, I will give him what information I can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government w tat consideration he has given to the consulting engineers' report on the Thames Flood Barrier; whether it will be made available to the public; and when he will make a statement on it.

My right hon. Friend has just received this report. It gives details of two possible designs for a retractable barrier which could be built at the upstream end of Long Reach, near Purfleet.Each design would take six years to build and cost £25,000 per annum to maintain. The estimated cost of construction is £23 million in one case and nearly £39 million in the other.Copies of the report are being sent to the various public authorities concerned. Brief details are being circulated to the press. My right hon. Friend is placing a copy of the report, including the appendices, in the Library, and one will be available for inspection at the Ministry.My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friends who are concerned will study the report and will announce their conclusions in due course.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will reply to the letter about the rating relief of Oxford colleges, sent to him by the hon. Member for Oxford on 16th November, followed by a reminder in writing on 9th December and another by telephone on 3rd January, all of which remain unacknowledged.

I have not replied to the hon. Member's letter because the letter, which was released to the Press before I read it, did not contain any question which called for a reply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what Government schemes in the City of Carlisle have been postponed as a result of the recent curb on expenditure.

So far as my right hon. Friend is concerned, none. The Department undertakes practically no capital work and has had nothing in prospect for Carlisle.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the work of the Local Government Boundaries Commission in respect of South-East Lancashire has been halted; and if he will make a statement.

After the publication of its draft proposals for the area, the Local Government Commission issued a letter, with my right hon. Friend's agreement, suggesting that local authorities should not prepare new material for submission for the time being. This was to avoid asking the authorities to do more work until the Government had reached a conclusion on the question whether there should be a new, radical review of local government, and if so, what the effect should be on the work of the Commission. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of local anxieties, he will order a public inquiry before test pumping begins in connection with the Thames Conservancy's scheme for abstracting water from the Berkshire Downs.

An inquiry at this stage would not help. The test-pumping will be designed to provide information, now lacking, on which to judge the feasibility and likely effects of the full scheme. The Water Resources Board will insist upon conditions for this test pumping which will protect those whose interests are likely to be affected by it.There will be a public inquiry before approval of the full scheme is considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new towns are planned not to have a passenger railway station.

All the new towns are sited on or near to railways. But in new towns, as in old, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, may be called upon, following closure proposals by the Railways Board, to decide whether the continued provision of a passenger service is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the total strength of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve and the number of recruits for each month of 1965.

Yes.

		Strength	Recruits
January	…	6,631	286
February	…	6,720	376
March	…	6,705	387
April	…	6,769	436
May	…	6,743	272
June	…	6,563	272
July	…	6,450	230
August	…	6,382	271
September	…	6,361	290
October	…	6,338	302
November	…	6,237	329
December	…	6,171	Not available

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Government schemes in the City of Carlisle have been postponed as a result of the recent curb on expenditure.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types of aircraft at present in use in the Far East Air Force, the dates on which they came into service, the types of aircraft with which it is intended to replace them, and the dates on which these new aircraft will come into service.

The following table gives the information required on the types of aircraft at present in use in the Far East Air Force:

	Dates on which the aircraft entered service
Current types of aircraft	a. with the Royal Air Force	b. with the Far East Air Force
Argosy C1	1962	1963
Belvedere HC1	1961	1962
Beverley C1	1956	1959
Canberra bomber aircraft B15	1961	1962
Canberra photographic reconnaissance aircraft PR7	1953	1960
Hastings C1/2	1948	1957
Hunter GA9	1960	1961
Javelin FAW9	1960	1961
Pioneer: Single	1953	1953
Pioneer: Twin	1958	1959
Shackleton Mk. 2	1953	1962
Sycamore HR14	1954	1954
ValettaC1	1949	1951
Whirlwind HAR10	1962	1963

It has previously been announced that the Beverley and the Hastings transport aircraft are due to be replaced in general R.A.F. service by the C130; the Hunter ground attack aircraft by the Phantom and the P1127 (R.A.F.), and the Javelin fighter by the Lightning. On present plans this will involve a major re-equipment programme in the Far East Air Force over the next few years. In general decisions have still to be taken on the replacement of other types of aircraft at present in use in the Far East Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the estimated annual cost of the Army Volunteer Reserve for the year 1969–70;(2) what is the estimated annual cost for 1969–70 for the running of Army Volunteer Reserve centres, provision of bounties for the Army Volunteer Reserve, the cost of pay and travel allowances for the Reserve during its camp, cost of pay during out-of-camp training, and cost of civilian staff attached to headquarters.(3) what is the estimated annual cost for 1969–70 for the provision of all types of equipment for the Army Volunteer Reserve.(4) if he will provide detailed figures to illustrate where the proposed £20 million annual saving will be achieved as between the cost of the Territorial Army and the Army Volunteer Reserve.(5) how many members of the Regular Army are attached to the Territorial

ESTIMATED COSTS IN 1969–70
Item	Territorial Army and Army Emergency Reserve	Army Volunteer Reserve	Saving
	£m	£m	£m
Bounties	3·4	3·6	0·2 increase
Training (pay, travel, etc.) at camp	4·0	1·5	2·5
Training (pay, travel, etc.) out of camp	6·4	2·4	4·0
Cost of running Centres	8·9	1·7	7·2
Civilian employees (other than those with units and HQs of T&AFAs)	4·3	2·0	2·3
Equipment	5·1	3·5	1·6
HQs of T & AFAs (or equivalent)	1·1	0·1	1·0
Totals	33·2	14·8 (a)	18·4
Add estimated saving on revised rank structure of Regular Army, on civilian employees in the Command structure (b)			2·0
			20·4
Subtract estimated extra cost of administering the Army Cadet Force and of recruiting for the Regular Army			0·4
Total net saving (c) £m			20·0
Notes:
(a) This estimate is based on the assumption that the Army Volunteer Reserve will be recruited 10 80% of establishment.
(b)The figures of £33·2m and £14·8m do not include the cost of Regular permanent staff. There are about 3,000 of these at present, of whom about half would be retained under the reorganisation. Whether the Regular Army's manpower ceiling will be reduced to reflect the reduction in its commitment in respect of the Army Reserves has not yet been decided. No allowance has therefore been made for savings on this account, but even if the manpower ceiling remains unchanged, there will still be a considerable saving since the number of posts in the senior ranks, both of officers and of other ranks, will be reduced. This latter saving has therefore been allowed for, as have savings on civilian staff in the Regular Army static chain of command. The figure of £2m quoted is the estimated saving on these two items taken together.
(c) No allowance has been made for non-recurrent items—on the one hand for compensation for personnel made redundant by the reorganisation, and on the other for the proceeds of disposal of surplus Territorial Army accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to secure greater efficiency and economy in Service training at undergraduate and graduate level.

I have set up a Committee, consisting of Professor Michael Howard, Professor of War Studies in the

The following table gives the information requested; as the Army Volunteer Reserve will replace both the Territorial Army and the Army Emergency Reserve the comparison includes the cost of the Army Emergency Reserve as well as the Territorial Army.University of London, and Mr. C. R. English, the Senior Chief Inspector of the Department of Education and Science, to investigate this matter. The Committee will work on the basis of a study carried out in my Department of the future requirements of the Services for officers and of the impact upon the Services of national developments in the field of higher education. The Committee will in particular review the work of the colleges at Dartmouth, Sandhurst, Cranwell, Shrivenham, Manadon and Greenwich.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is now the estimated cost of the Territorial Army for the year 1965–66;(2) what is the estimated cost for 1965–66 for the provision of all types of equipment for the Territorial Army.

£35½ million, including £5 million for equipment. This figure covers the cost of Regular Army personnel serving with the Territorial Army but not that of the Army Emergency Reserve.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will institute an inquiry into the establishment of a single publicly-owned integrated service to deal with the delivery of parcels not exceeding 22 lb. in weight, 3 feet 6 inches in length and a combined length and girth of 6 feet.

My Department, with the assistance of the General Post Office and the nationalised transport operators, has already undertaken a study of the carriage of parcels and sundries of all weights and sizes. I am considering the results of this study, as part of my review of plans for the co-ordination of transport.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will announce the results of the survey started on 29th May, 1965, of the effect on passengers of the closure of the Eridge-Hailsham line.

The material derived from the survey is now being examined. Because of complexity, my right hon. Friend does not expect to have it analysed and to reach conclusions for a month or two yet.

asked the Minister of Transport how many sites near main line railway stations have been sold to National Car Parks; and if she will give a general direction to the Railways Board to develop those sites and not to sell them.

None. The Railways Board tell me, however, that it has granted tenancies to National Car Parks Limited in respect of sites near six main line railway stations.The Board had provided car parking facilities at many other stations, including main line stations, and in the interests of transport co-ordination and of convenience for passengers its intention is to improve and extent such facilities wherever justified, It is, in the first instance, a matter for judgment by the Board whether this use of its land or some other form of development is the most appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of representations made by hon. Members on behalf of railway super-annuitants, what approach she has made to the British Railways Board with a view to securing improved pensions.

The question of increasing the pensions of railway super-annuitants is primarily a matter for the British Railways Board. It has made certain proposals to my right hon. Friend which she is now considering.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will come to a quick decision to allow the line to remain open between Oldham and Rochdale and thus relieve the anxiety of people in the area of Royton, Shaw, Milnrow and Newhey, particularly in view of findings of the committee that widespread hardship would be caused if the line were to close.

My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the local anxiety for an early decision. However, further investigation of the Railways Board's proposal is needed now that the closure of the Manchester-Oldham section of the line has been refused. She will make her decision at the earliest possible time, but I cannot at present forecast just when this will be.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents occurred at the junction of the Halesowen by-pass and Manor Lane, Halesowen, in the three weeks following the opening of the bypass on 19th November; and what steps she will now take to ensure that the junction is properly and safely designed.

Four accidents, in which two people were slightly injured, were reported up to 11th December. The Worcestershire County Council, which is the highway authority responsible, has since provided additional warning signs and road markings at this junction and will continue to watch the situation.

asked the Minister of Transport what Government schemes in the City of Carlisle have been postponed as a result of the recent curb on expenditure.

None, as far as my right hon. Friend's responsibilities are concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the dangerous traffic conditions at the junction of the Colnbrook by-pass and the Coln-brook Road near Langley, Berkshire, especially for eastbound traffic turning into Laburnum Grove, she will install a roundabout at this point.

The cost of this improvement is not at present justified when judged against other more urgent schemes elsewhere. But our engineers will continue to watch conditions there.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will fix a date for the public local inquiry into compulsory purchase orders affecting the proposed Faringdon Relief Road.

No Compulsory Purchase Order for the Faringdon Relief Road has yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend for confirmation.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have been reported in each year in the last five years at the crossroads on the B.2016 in the village of Mereworth; and what advice her safety officers have given to the Kent County Council about improving this crossroads, particularly the visibility on the south-west corner, and towards eliminating the dip on the B.2016 road to the north of this crossroads.

Accident figures, which are readily available for four years only, are as follows:

• 1962: 1 slight.
• 1963: 2 serious; 1 slight.
• 1964: 2 serious.
• 1965: 1 fatal; 2 slight.

The Kent County Council, as highway authority, is examining the possibility of improving safety there. I understand it has already been agreed that visibility can be improved.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have been reported in each year in the last five years on the A.228 crossroads in the village of Mereworth; and what advice her safety officers have given to the Kent County Council for improvement.

Accident figures, which are readily available for the last four years only, are as follows:

• 1962: 1 slight.
• 1963: 1 slight.
• 1964: 2 slight.
• 1965: 1 serious.

I understand that the Kent County Council, as highway authority, is planning no further improvement beyond the scheme for which grant has already been issued and for which negotiations for land entry are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the development of fertilisers containing controlled release trace elements; and whether he will take steps to extend subsidies to encourage the use of such fertilisers.

I am aware of this development. Fertiliser subsidy is at present paid only on the nitrogen and phosphoric acid content of a fertiliser. These are plant nutrients which are usually applied to most crops and there is a general and continuing need for them. I am advised that there is no evidence on the other hand of a need for applying regularly whole ranges of trace elements at the same time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the plans of Her Majesty's Government for reforming the system of land drainage rating; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think there would be any case for interfering with the well established principle of land drainage legislation that areas which derive benefit or avoid danger as a result of drainage operations are liable to be constituted as drainage districts and hence to pay drainage rates. We have in mind the need to provide a more up-to-date basis of assessment for drainage rates though I am afraid I cannot hold out any immediate prospect of legislation for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he has made of the damage suffered to property and goods in the town of Llanrwst as a result of flooding during December, 1965;(2) what action is being taken to ensure that, as a temporary measure to reduce the danger of flooding in the Conway Valley, the bed of the river is dredged and obstructions in its lower reaches near Talycafn are removed;(3) whether he will order a detailed survey of the Conway Valley in order to ascertain what further work is required to prevent, or reduce the danger of, flooding in the area;(4) whether he will make available special Government assistance towards the cost of carrying out measures to prevent the recurrence of flooding in the Conway Valley.

The responsibility for flood alleviation measures in the Conway Valley rests with the Gwynedd River Authority which has almost completed a detailed and comprehensive survey of the problem. While the results of the survey will require careful consideration by the Authority I understand that it is satisfied that temporary measures such as the dredging of the bed of the river or the removal of obstructions in the lower reaches would not be practicable.The Gwynedd River Authority is eligible to receive the highest rate of grant available under present arrangements for land drainage grants and it would be inappropriate to give special assistance towards the cost of works in the Conway Valley. A scheme for the relief of flooding at Trefriw has been approved and we will, of course, give sympathetic consideration to any application for grant towards the cost of any further works the River Authority wish to undertake.On the question of flood damage, I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales, that although no precise figures are available, the damage in Llanrwst resulting from the flooding in December last seems happily to have been slight. Flood warning was given in good time and the flooding took place during daylight.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has come to a decision about the establishment of an Apple and Pear Development Council.

After studying the views expressed by growers who responded to the recent postal inquiry conducted by my Department I have decided to seek Parliamentary authority for the establishment of an Apple and Pear Development Council for England and Wales. A draft Order under Section 1 of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act, 1947, will be laid before Parliament in due course.The results of the inquiry showed that about 43 per cent. of the growers who

would have to meet the cost of a Council, with some 59 per cent. of the acreage that would be subject to levy, are in favour of the proposals. Only 17 per cent. of the growers, with 21 per cent. of the acreage, are opposed. The National Union of Agricultural Workers and the Transport and General Workers' Union have also assured me of their support in principle and I am accordingly satisfied, as Section 1(3) of the Act requires me to be, that the establishment of a council

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards the establishment of statutory grades for fresh fruit and vegetables; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions with representative organisations on draft grades for apples, pears and cauliflowers have now been completed. I have considered a request by the National Farmers' Union that the minimum sizes for apples and pears should be subject to variation in relation to the volume of the home crop. While recognising the need to contemplate temporary adjustments in extreme conditions of glut or shortage of any graded commodity, I do not think it would be right to use the grades, which are intended to promote better quality and greater uniformity, as a means of regulating the quantity coming on to the market. The Union has also drawn attention to the special difficulties which some cauliflower growers fear national grades will create for them. I am not convinced that these difficulties are such as to justify excluding cauliflowers from the scope of statutory grading, which I hope will eventually be extended to a wide range of fruit and vegetables. The proposed grades for apples, pears and cauliflowers will be published next month and I hope that those for tomatoes and cucumbers, on which points of detail remain to be settled, will be made available in March. Explanatory leaflets will be issued as soon as possible as a guide to the grades, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I hope that growers of the five commodities will try out the grades on a voluntary basis. Our present intention is that, after this trial period, Orders should be laid before Parliament in due course with a view to the introduction of statutory grading on the following dates—

Apples and pears	17th July 1967
Cucumbers	15th January 1968
Tomatoes and Cauliflowers	13th May 1968

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will publish details of all production orders placed by his Department with the British aerospace industry between October, 1964, and the present time, bracketing in one figure any items where security considerations prevent the publication of details.

In the period between 1st October, 1964, and 30th September, 1965, 24,400 new orders and additions to existing orders were placed for airframes, engines, aircraft equipment, guided weapons and the electronic equipment associated directly with them. The total value of these orders was £198 million. The effort of examining this range of contracts to decide what security or commercially confidential information is involved would be disproportionately high, and for this reason a more detailed analysis cannot be given.Statistics for the last quarter of 1965 are being collated.

School				Roll	Floor Space in sq. ft.	Number of Class Rooms	Number of Classes	Teacher Pupil Ratio
East End	…	…	…	432	1,500	2	9	1:43
The Road	…	…	…	481	1,200	1	13	1:37
Valley Boys'	…	…	…	330	1,100	1	7	1:41
Valley Girls'	…	…	…	314	1,476	1	7	1:39
West End	…	…	…	187	3,840	6	8	1:37

Anguilla has a common education Department with St. Kitts and Nevis, and the proposals for the improvement of education in St. Kitts apply also to Anguilla.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a table showing how many children are

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the percentage increase in the value of output of the nationalised Air Corporations and the privately-owned airlines forceast by the National Plan; and what was the comparative figure for the preceding five years.

The value, at 1964 prices, of the annual output of United Kingdom airlines is forecast in the National Plan to grow by 55 per cent. between 1964 and 1970. This is an average annual growth of 7½ per cent. and compares with an estimated average annual growth of 9 per cent. between 1960 and 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a table showing how many children are receiving primary education in the island of Anguilla, the names of the primary schools, the floor space of each school, how many classrooms there are in each school, how many classes there are in each school, and the teacher-pupil ratio; and if he will make a statement about future plans for primary education.

The number of children receiving primary education in Anguilla is 1,744. These are divided among the following schools:receiving primary education in the island of Antigua, the names of the primary schools, the floor space of each school, how many classrooms there are in each school, how many classes there are in each school, and the teacher-pupil ratio; and if he will make a statement about future plans for primary education.

The number of children receiving primary education in Antigua is 11,614. These are divided among the following schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a table showing how many children are receiving primary education in the island of Nevis, the names of the primary schools, the floor space of each school, how many classrooms there are in each school, how many classes there are in each school, and the teacher-pupil ratio; and if he will make a statement about future plans for primary education.

The number of children receiving primary education in Nevis is 3,994. These are divided among the following Schools:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a table showing how many children are receiving primary education in the island of Tortola,

School			Roll	Floor Space in sq.ft.	Number of Class Rooms	Number of Classes	Teacher/Pupil ratio
Government
Meyers	…	…	170	1,100	4	7	1:24
Road Town	…	…	530	4,788	11	16	1:29
Church
Anegada	…	…	75	840	1	7	1:19
Belle Vue	…	…	75	472	1	5	1:25
Cane Garden Bay	…	…	130	993	1	7	1:22
Carrott Bay	…	…	79	727	2	6	1:16
East End	…	…	411	3,740	7	11	1:32
Jost Van Dyke	…	…	40	800	1	3	1:13
Long Look	…	…	95	614	1	4	1:24
North Sound	…	…	83	720	1	4	1:21
Sea Cow Bay	…	…	94	566	1	4	1:23
West End	…	…	165	1,014	1	9	1:28
St. George's	…	…	170	1,400	1	6	1:28
St. Mary's	…	…	102	2,580	3	8	1:26
St. Philip's	…	…	107	331	1	5	1:27

Four of the schools mentioned in the table are accommodated in buildings designed for the purpose. The remainder are housed in churches, chapels or chapel rooms. Subject to the availability of funds, it is proposed to initiate this year a school building programme to replace the existing church buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish

	Pupils	Floor Space in sq.ft.	Number of Class Rooms	Number of Classes	Teacher/Pupil ratio
St. John's	381	4,928	7	10	1:35
Cavalla Hill	178	2,240	1	8	1:25
St. Peter's	126	1,568	1	7	1:25
Salem	232	3,225	3	8	1:35
Cork Hill	249	2,950	1	8	1:35
Wesley	210	1,800	1	8	1:30
St. Mary's	232	3,275	1	8	1:33
St. Augustine*	230	3,538	8	8	1:29
Kinsale	241	3,900	4	8	1:35
St. Patrick's	122	1,456	2	7	1:31
St. George's	383	3,216	2	10	1:35
Bethel	220	1,800	1	8	1:32
Long Ground	42	984	1	3	1:21
Seventh Day	60	1,144	2	7	1:20
Adventist* Mr. Piper's (Private)	44	500	2	4	1:22
*Church Schools

The number of children receiving primary education in the British Virgin Islands is 2,325. These are divided among the following schools.a table showing how many children are receiving primary education in the island of Montserrat, the names of the primary schools, the floor space of each school, how many classrooms there are in each school, how many classes there are in each school, and the teacher-pupil ratio; and if he will make a statement about future plans for primary education.