asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware that the cost of land and of building is rising in developing countries; and whether he will examine those cases where Embassies and High Commission offices and residences are being rented to see whether purchase would be more economic.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why adequate heating has not yet been installed at 102–104 London Road North, Lowestoft, in the occupation of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance; why his officials did not meet the trades union representatives when they visited the offices; and what further action he will take to remedy the heating defects.

I am sorry that there have been difficulties over heating these premises. The lessors are responsible for the heating of the whole building. They have recently arranged for regular maintenance of the plant and are being pressed to carry out an immediate overhaul. Officials of the Ministry were not asked to meet union representatives.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the total number of bricks used during the year 1965; and how the total consumption compares with 1964.

Between 7,900 million and 8,000 million bricks were used in 1964, and between 7,700 million and 7,800 million in 1965, a difference of between 2 per cent. and 3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many brick manufacturers have given official notice of their intention to cut back production; and what reasons have been advanced for such action.

I have not received official notice from any individual brick-maker of his intention to cut back production. Although I have received representations from the National Federation of Clay Industries. Some firms are reducing production; but others including the largest in the industry are expanding their capacity. Part of the trouble within the industry is due to the type of competition. Other reasons are: the shortage of mortgage money early in 1965 and the Chancellor's measures in July. The demand for bricks has fallen below capacity and the bad weather of November and December resulted in an increase of about 200 million in the stocks.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware of the continuing decline in the demand for natural stone as a building component; and what steps he proposes to take to increase the demand.

Yes. The demand for natural stone must, however, be allowed to find its economic level within the market for building materials, although we welcome developments which reduce the cost by industrialising the process of production and fixing. At present the Ministry is using stone in a number of important building projects.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what measures his Department has taken to persuade employers in the construction industry to provide facilities to ensure continuous production in wintertime; and what results have been achieved.

The measures taken by the Ministry include publicity, and contract requirements in the public sector.Publicity action taken includes the issue of a film, and programmes of lectures throughout the country, reports, pamphlets and articles, and a catalogue of equipment. I shall be opening a Conference on Winter Building organised in co-operation with the Scottish Office, on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people drawing National Assistance were affected by the wage-stop at the end of December 1965.

On 14th December, 1965, there were 15,971 unemployed persons, just over 14 per cent. of all unemployed persons receiving assistance, whose allowances were restricted by reference to their usual earnings.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the average sum by which National Assistance payments were reduced as a result of the wage-stop at the end of December 1965.

This information is not available, but a sample enquiry carried out in September 1965 showed that the average reduction in the weekly allowances of unemployed persons affected by the wage-stop was 37s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what benefits are available under her regulations to housewives who are seriously disabled or chronically sick and who have no National Insurance contributions in their own right.

A housewife who does not work outside her home cannot be entitled to National Insurance sickness benefit since this benefit is only available for persons normally in gainful employment. Benefits of the scheme which are available to the disabled housewife through her husband's contributions are:—

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she is aware of the difficulties facing housewives who are chronically sick or seriously disabled; and what action she proposes to alleviate this hardship.

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the difficulties of chronic sick and seriously disabled people, including those who are housewives, are not being overlooked and are among the many important matters which are being considered in connection with the comprehensive review of the social services on which the Government is engaged.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consult the appropriate Ministers with a view to reorganising the Medical Research Council and other departmental research bodies so that speedy investigation and recommendations are made in regard to all health hazards as they arise in food, water, atmosphere, industry and environment.

I am not aware of any delay in investigating health hazards which might be avoided by reorganisation of the kind proposed by my hon. Friend, but if she has any evidence she would like to send me I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health on what grounds he approved the postponing of the building of a children's clinic on the Whitley Lodge Estate, Whitley Bay, until 1970, having regard to the fact that six months ago it was a number one priority.

I am informed that two new clinics were built in the Whitley Bay area in 1955 and 1962 and a temporary clinic opened in 1964, and that the Northumberland County Council decided, following a review in mid-1965 of their capital programme, to postpone the Whitley Lodge Estate scheme on the grounds that priority should be given to the provision of clinics in areas where no such facilities existed.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases have been reported to him in the last year of general practitioners charging fees to National Health Service patients; and how many of these cases he has referred to the General Medical Council for disciplinary action.

Four general practitioners were found in 1965 to have charged fees to National Health Service patients. One has been, and the others are being reported to the General Medical Council: whether the Council take disciplinary action is not a matter for me.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors have had their names removed from the register in the last year; and whether, in view of the growing shortage of doctors, he will take steps to restore their names automatically after a period of twelve months.

I understand that five doctors' names were removed from the Register in 1965 on disciplinary grounds. Restoration of the names of such doctors is under the Medical Act, 1956, entirely a matter for the Disciplinary Committee of the General Medical Council.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give particulars of cervical cancer screening services available in Norwich and elsewhere in Norfolk.

These services, which are still being developed, are centred on Norwich and King's Lynn, where screening is available for women with symptoms attending hospital clinics. In addition, King's Lynn has an open clinic and Norwich has begun to accept some references from non-hospital sources.

asked the Minister of Health what would be the total annual number of tests required in the United Kingdom if all women at risk were screened for cervical cancer every five years; and how many such tests were made last year.

Figures available in my Department relate to England and Wales. Upwards of 2,500,000 tests would be required annually to screen all women over 35 every five years. The December returns are not yet complete but by June last year tests were being carried out at a rate of more than 600,000 per year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give details of deaths due to cancer of the cervix uteri in England and Wales for the year 1964, including the number of deaths in each age group.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to streamline and improve the area of medical and welfare service where both local authorities and the National Health Service have responsibilities, with a view to reducing administrative costs, saving expectant mothers unnecessary duplication of consultations, making the ambulance service more flexible in the patients' interest and to making similar improvements.

I agree that coordination of local authority and other health and welfare services is of first importance and I am constantly looking for new ways to further this; but I do not think that legislation is called for at this stage.

asked the Minister of Health whether his consultations about the recommendations of the Brain Committee on Drug Addiction have been completed; and what action the Government proposes to take.

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 27th January the Committee's recommendations have been urgently considered in consultation with the General Medical Council and the medical profession. These discussions are not yet complete, but it is clear that a considerable measure of agreement exists with most of the Committee's recommendations. The Government is therefore already taking action on two important recommendations which do not require legislation. Consultation with hospital boards has begun, and will be pressed forward, for the establishment of the proposed special treatment centres for addicts; and the Government intends to set up a standing advisory committee to keep under review the whole problem of drug addiction and is now giving consideration to its constitution and terms of reference. Further study is being given to the other recommendations which would in any event require legislation and which in some cases raise difficult problems of policy and practice, including the proposal to take power for the compulsory detention of addicts undergoing treatment at special treatment centres and the method of enforcing the proposed limitation of the prescribing of certain drugs of addiction.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to accelerate the starting date of the new building providing 600 beds for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Work will start in a few months on the construction of a 120 bed maternity unit at a cost of over £11- million. The timing of later phases of the development is under consideration in the current review of the Hospital Plan.

asked the Minister of Health how many post-mortems were undertaken at Withington Hospital, Manchester, in each month of 1965; and if he will give the comparable monthly figures for each of the years from 1959 to 1964.

The figures are given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Health on what basis money is allocated to regional hospital boards and hospital management committees for staffing purposes.

I make revenue allocations to regional hospital boards to cover the cost and development of the services provided within their regions as a whole. I do not divide these allocations into sums for specific purposes, such as staff. It is the responsibility of each board to settle the allocations to their hospital management committees out of the total provided by me and generally to oversee the disposition of their resources.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated population of the area served by the West Kent Hospital; how many beds are now available in that hopital for surgical, medical and maternity purposes; and how this availability of beds, of each type, per thousand of population compares with the rest of England and Wales.

The West Kent General Hospital has 71 surgical, 48 medical and 30 maternity beds available; the population served by it cannot be accurately defined and I regret that it is therefore not possible to provide the comparison for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to improve the recruitment of technicians of all types in the hospital service; and if he will review their salary structure.

Hospital authorities are responsible for recruitment and numbers are increasing steadily. My Department distributes careers literature. The Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine has the training syllabus of medical laboratory technicians under review; for other classes my Department has recently introduced some new training schemes and others are under consideration. Pay is a matter in the first instance for the Whitley Council; settlements covering all classes have been negotiated in the last 18 months, new grading structures have been introduced for four classes and other claims are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health when work will begin on the proposed day hospital at Linton, Maidstone; and when work on further new geriatric buildings will be put in hand at Linton.

Work on the proposed day hospital at Linton Hospital, Maidstone, will start this summer; the Regional Hospital Board propose to carry our further upgrading of the existing hospital building but not to erect any additional accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to increase the new buildings at Linton Hospital, Maidstone, with a view to removing the former workhouse building; and what steps he is taking to publicise the fact that there is already a substantial modern hutted hospital and that modern facilities are readily available to staff and patients.

One ward block at Linton Hospital, Maidstone, is now being upgraded, and further upgrading of the hospital will follow; it is not intended to remove the existing building. I am sure that the facilities available at the hospital are already well known.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds at Linton Hospital are at present occupied by comparatively well old people who should be in accommodation provided by the local authority and not under medical supervision; and what steps he is taking to urge the local authority to provide more of such accommodation.

My latest information is that the number is 24. The building of a new local authority residential home is planned to start shortly.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons resident in, or closely connected with, Maidstone have served on the South-East Metropolitan Hospital Board since its introduction; and if he will take steps to invite one or more local people to serve on that Board.

One. I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind as opportunity occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available correspondence between the Regular Commissions Board at Westbury and the University of Glasgow, concerning the application for a regular commission in Her Majesty's Forces of Second-Lieutenant Michael McManus of the Territorial Army.

An exhaustive search has failed to reveal any such correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to the Army and the Royal Air Force of the flood relief work in the valleys of the Severn and its tributaries in England and Wales during the floods in December 1965.

Extra costs of £1,350 were incurred by the Department by this work and were charged to the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of the long lead items for which contracts have been placed for the new aircraft carrier CVA-01; and whether similar equipment has beer ordered for a second new carrier.

Contracts valued at just over £3½ million have been placed in aid of CVA-01. No commitments have been undertaken in respect of a second new carrier.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval officers and ratings are now working on matters concerning the eventual re-equipment of the Fleet Air Arm with the United States F4 Phantom both in the United Kingdom and in the United States of America.

Ten R.N. officers and 17 R.N. ratings under the Ministry of Defence (Navy Department) and 10 R.N. officers under the Ministry of Aviation are now engaged full-time on this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the design and development of a new class of combined minesweepers and hunters, in view of the increasing age of the existing coastal minesweepers and the fact that some of these are now being discarded.

We still have enough coastal minesweepers, and we are converting a number of them into minehunters. We are studying a new type of ship that can both hunt and sweep mines.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied, as a result of lessons learnt in Borneo, that hovercraft now have a definite place in the fleet of the future; and whether it is proposed to replace the three fast patrol boats now in commission with hovercraft in due course.

The trials of hovercraft in Borneo finished only last month, and the results have not yet been fully evaluated. The indications are, however, that hovercraft have a useful potential as fast patrol boats, and studies are already being undertaken with industry to determine their suitability and effectiveness in this rôle.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of transporting ground crews and equipment to Zambia for the maintenance of the Royal Air Force Javelin fighter squadron there; and how much the continuing airlift is costing.

The additional cost to Air Votes of transporting ground crews and equipment for the Javelin squadron, and other supporting units, was about £240,000. Routine air support of these forces is costing about £16,000 a week, excluding the cost of flying in fuel for the Javelins which is not separately identifiable at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has so far been the cost of maintaining H.M.S. "Eagle" in East African waters, using replenishment at sea techniques.

About the same as if she had been engaged in normal operations anywhere East of Suez.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many new warships have been approved but not yet ordered by Her Majesty's Government for the Royal Navy in the past 15 months.

Three.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Mediterranean Fleet, and, in view of the need to withdraw units of this Fleet for temporary service in East African waters, whether he is satisfied that there is an adequate number of ships suitable for overseas duties of this nature.

It is not the custom to give detailed information about the deployment of H.M. ships: but it is not unusual for the Mediterranean Station to provide ships for temporary deployment to other stations and there are often temporary attachments to the Mediterranean from the Home Fleet. Reinforcements could quickly be made available, if necessary. I should like to have more ships to meet current commitments, but with the best deployment of what we have, the Fleet, although heavily extended, is doing an admirable job.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the cost of transporting fuel and stores to Gan for Her Majesty's Forces there during the past year; and how many tankers and other ships were required.

The cost in 1965 was about £110,000 and the cargo was carried in 19 ships and 10 tankers. In addition three Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers were diverted to replenish Royal Navy fuel stocks off the Island, and some urgent air freight was delivered by Royal Air Force Transport Command aircraft flying on the United Kingdom to Singapore route via Gan.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for a replacement for H.M.S. "Protector", in view of the cancellation of H.M.S. "Terra Nova"; and if he is satisfied with British efforts in the field of oceanography in view of increasing United States and Russian emphasis in this field of scientific research.

The question of a replacement for H.M.S. "Protector" is being studied in the light of the defence review and of the future requirements of the British Antarctic Survey.Our efforts in military oceanography are geared to our future needs. During the current financial year the Navy Department's expenditure on oceanography is £504,800. This is only £17,200 less than last year's figure, which included a contribution of £209,000 towards a Grant-in-Aid to the National Institute of Oceanography. Financial responsibility for the National Institute of Oceanography was transferred to the Natural Environment Research Council on 1st April last.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and men, now serving in the Territorial Army in the City of Carlisle, will become redundant as a result of reorganisation of the Territorial Army.

The number serving currently in the Territorial Army in Carlisle is 342. The establishment of the unit of the Army Volunteer Reserve to be located in Carlisle will be 115. Until 1st April, 1969, however, strengths will be allowed to exceed establishment within specified limits as set out in the White Paper on the Reorganisation of the Army Reserves. Individuals may also volunteer for those units of the Army Volunteer Reserve raised on a countrywide basis. Whether there will be further opportunities for service will depend on the outcome of the Government's consideration of the contribution military units might make to Home Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths believed to be murder became known to the police between 1st January and 31st December, 1965.

31 cases of murder, involving 31 victims, were made known to the police in 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whom he proposes to appoint as planning consultant for the Borders to act in consultation with the local authorities and the Scottish Development Department and to submit a report within 18 months.

Discussions are proceeding with a view to placing the necessary commission, which will relate to the western area of the Borders, and my right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the delay in the construction of the roundabout at Beltonford, near Dunbar; and what steps he is taking to speed up matters.

The work at the bridge over the Biel Burn has been delayed for about two months by bad weather but should be completed in April. Completion of the road works on the west approach depends on entry to the garage and workshop which at present occupy the line of the road. The proprietor received planning permission for a new site a few days ago, and progress will now be made as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware that many times in the last 20 years a promise has been made to transfer to Glasgow the neuro-surgical unit presently housed in outmoded and sub-standard buildings at Killearn Hospital; if, in view of the urgency, he will now give an assurance that the unit will be created in Glasgow without any further delay; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is aware of the increase in the number of patients who have to he taken 20 miles by ambulance to the neurosurgical unit at Killearn Hospital before they can be operated on, and that surgeons, on occasion, have to make three

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the amount of building work going on this year at the universities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh

I am aware of the difficulties here. The Western Regional Hospital Board is planning to start work next year on a new unit at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, which will provide a comprehensive service in this specialty for patients from all parts of the West of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will bring up to date the table of teachers' salaries he published in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Inverness on 12th July, 1965.

The following is the information. The figures for 1960 to 1964 have been recalculated on the basis of the latest available consumer price indices for these years: those for 1965 are derived as shown in the notes:—and the extent of the reduction following the Government's economic measures.

The original building allocations to the universities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh for 1965–66 amounted to £4·3 million in all. The amount now to be deferred until 1966–67 will be £145,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what esimate he has made of the damage suffered by the agricultural industry due to the flooding in December in the Severn Valley in Wales and along the English borders and in the English border counties(2) Whether he will give an estimate of the value of the damage to agricultural land and buildings caused by flooding in the valleys of the Dovey and its tributaries during the month of December 1965.

My information is that the damage to the agricultural industry generally was slight and I do not think that the cost of making a precise esimate would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what was the total amount expended by his Department and the river authorities and their predecessors during the years 1964–65 on flood-prevention measures to prevent flooding from rivers in England and Wales.

River Authorities spend about £14 million per annum on land drainage (including flood prevention). Part of this is grant-aided by my Department and payments over the last two financial years have averaged £3·9 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent farm tractors will qualify for the new system of investment incentives.

I regret that I can at present add nothing to the statement in the White Paper (Cmnd. 2874) that investment allowances in agriculture would be replaced by other incentives. Details of these incentives will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish prices received by farmers for beef and pork for the years 1960, 1955 and 1950, respectively.

The average prices received by farmers in the United Kingdom for fat cattle and fat pigs in the financial years 1950–51, 1955–56 and 1960–61 were as follows:

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will reply to the letter of the honourable Member for Belfast, North concerning the consortium making the VFW614 before 2nd February 1966.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 27th January, 1966.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT or have deposited in the Library the terms of the agreement between British Overseas Airways Corporation and Forte's, on the formation of Bofort Catering Company, Limited.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what delays have been experienced in the payment of Rhodesian pensions to residents of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

About two weeks. The delay was caused by a demand by the illegal Smith regime in Salisbury that pensions paid by Britain to residents in Rhodesia should be paid in dollars, or another convertible currency. This affected payments of pensions in this country on behalf of Rhodesia. Money was eventually paid-in by Rhodesia on 11th January, 1966, and December pension cheques were paid by the Ministry of Overseas Development from that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to mark the establishment of a Legislative Council on the island of Nauru.

The Nauruan Legislative Council is being inaugurated today. A British representative is attending the ceremony and will convey the good wishes of the British Government. He will also present a silver inkstand as a gift from the Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the various forms and classes of saving, giving the amount saved in each for the years 1964 and 1965.

I would refer the hon. Member to Table 8 in the January, 1966 issue of Financial Statistics, a copy of which is in the Library. This table brings together all the available information about saving and dissaving by the personal sector. Some of the items are analysed in greater detail in subsequent tables.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the cost to the Exchequer if earned income relief were allowed against investment income in addition to being allowed against earned income.

About £135 million for a full year assuming that the present limits for earned income would apply to total income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from tax the first £500 net of capital gains in any one year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Harrow, Central (Mr. Grant) on Tuesday, 7th December, 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total present value of interest-free loans granted by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and abroad, respectively.

The amount of interest-free loans at present outstanding is about £61 million, of which some £48 million relates to overseas loans.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government has decided to exercise its rights in the proposed issue of shares by the British Petroleum Company Limited.

Yes. Existing stockholders will have the right to subscribe for one new share of £1 for every £13 nominal of ordinary stock held, at a price of 50s. per share. The first instalment of 25s. per share will be payable not later than 17th March, 1966, and the balance of 25s. per share not later than 19th May, 1966. The Government own £162 million nominal of ordinary stock and have therefore been allotted 12,461,538 new shares. The Government intend to subscribe for the whole of this allotment. The total cost will be £31,153,845. Of this £15,576,922 10s. will fall in the current financial year and a similar amount in 1966–67. An Estimate for this year's expenditure will be presented in due course, and provision for the 1966–67 expenditure will be included in the main Estimates for that year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of loans granted by Her Majesty's Government since November, 1964, below the rates of 5 per cent., 4 per cent., 3 per cent., and 2 per cent., respectively.

Loans at a rate of interest between 4 per cent. and 3 per cent. have been approved to a value of £160,000 since 1st November, 1964. No other loans at any rate of interest below 5 per cent. have been approved, except for interest-free loans which are the subject of a separate Question by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many taxpayers were prosecuted for non-payment or avoidance of Income Tax during the last year for which figures were available;(2) how many taxpayers prosecuted during the last year for which figures are available for non-payment or avoidance of Income Tax were convicted; and how many such convicted taxpayers were imprisoned, fined or otherwise dealt with.

The latest published figures for persons convicted and acquitted for offences relating to taxation are those for the year 1963–64 given in Table 10 of the 107th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 2572). An analysis of the sentences imposed by the Courts is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make Premium Bonds available for purchase as gifts.

No. Gift tokens which may be exchanged into Premium Savings Bonds are already available at Post Offices and certain Trustee Savings Banks.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why he will not refer the increased water rate demanded by the Colne Valley Water Company to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, in view of the increased burden it places on consumers.

Because we do not think that prima facie there is a case for doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the latest material published by his Department to encourage recruiting to all branches of the Civil Defence services.

Yes. The material, which consists of recruiting leaflets for the Civil Defence Corps and Auxiliary Fire Service, and a Campaign Guide giving details of Press advertisements, posters and other media, was produced for the Civil Defence national publicity and recruiting campaign held in 1964. No national campaign was held in 1965 because of the home defence review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total cost to local authorities in the Severn Valley in England in dealing with the floods in the Valley in the month of December 1965.

I regret the information is not available to me.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an estimate of the cost of putting right the damage caused to private and public property, excluding agricultural property, in the Severn Valley in England, by the recent floods in the month of December 1965.

My right hon. Friend has no facts upon which he could base an estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what study he has made of the resolution passed by the annual general meeting of the Broads Society on 23rd November, 1965, a copy of which has been sent to him; and whether he will take steps to ensure the early implementation of the Nature Conservancy report on Broadland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources on 20th December to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Hazell). Since then I understand that steps have been taken by the planning, river and navigation authorities to set up a consortium to implement the proposals in the Supplement to the Nature Conservancy Report on Broadland. As far as he can my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government will give them all possible help.

asked the Minister of Labour when the report of the National Joint Advisory Council Committee at present considering the preservation of pension rights can be expected.

the Committee has now reported to my National Joint Advisory Council. The Council has agreed that the Report should be published and it will be available in about six weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps, by introducing legislation or otherwise, to ensure that non-established industrial and other servants of the Crown are entitled to and do receive redundancy benefit under the provisions of the Redundancy Payments A ct.

Arrangements have been made in consultation with the staff asso- ciations to ensure that payments to any such persons who lose their employment in circumstances corresponding to redundancy as defined in the Act are no less favourable than would be required by the Act.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will seek to introduce new methods of statutory holiday arrangements on an area basis and covering all workers in agreed areas; and if he will make a statement.

Holiday arrangements are a matter for discussion between employers and workers and statutory provision would, therefore, not be appropriate. My National Joint Advisory Council and my Local Employment Committees have been left in no doubt as to the importance which the Government attaches to spreading the peak holiday season.

asked the Postmaster-General how many prosecutions have been initiated in the last three months concerning vandalism and theft from public telephone kiosks in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield.

There have been no prosecutions involving admitted offences in these two towns; but there have been a number of prosecutions of persons who have been apprehended for thefts from kiosks in neighbouring districts.

asked the Postmaster-General what is his policy towards the provision of a public telephone service in shops and public buildings in those areas where the outdoor public telephone kiosk service is being repeatedly destroyed by vandalism.

There are already some 120,000 subscribers' coinboxes rented by shops, hotels, etc., and made available to their customers.I am giving active consideration to the possibility of further developments. Meanwhile, a public service available at all hours is necessary and we are restoring service to kiosks which are damaged so as to give at least an emergency service throughout the 24 hours.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the approximate average capital cost of installing a public telephone kiosk on a new housing estate; and what proportion of this most is attributable to the kiosk, the telephone and coinbox, the labour involved, and any other costs; (2) what is the approximate average running cost of servicing public telephone kiosks; (3) if he will publish a statement of the profits and/or losses incurred by the Post Office from the operation of its public telephone kiosks.

The details asked for are:

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made towards providing peak demand reserves through underground storage of gas.

The legislation necessary to enable underground storage to be developed in this country was brought in by the Government last Session and is now in force. The Gas Council is at present making a detailed investigation of two sites which might prove suitable. Further drilling is being undertaken to establish whether the conditions are in all respects suitable for this form of storage and justify proposals for development being put to me for authorisation under the procedures laid down in the Gas Act.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made in linking the gas supplies of area boards.

Interconnection of the high pressure systems of the East and West Midlands Boards had already been planned and consideration is now being given to extending this link to the North Eastern and Northern Boards. Further interconnections are planned between the North Thames Board and the Eastern and South Eastern Boards. These developments could form part of a future national grid. Eight boards are already connected to the methane grid and plans are being made to link the South West and Wales to a possible national network for the supply of natural gas.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board regarding the delays in the supply of smokeless solid fuels for domestic boilers particularly in the South-East.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board and the distributors, and I have asked the Chairman of the Board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the Government's proposals to disqualify service industries from investment grants, what special measures he intends to introduce to encourage the further modernisation of the hotel and catering industry.

The initial allowance will be raised to 30 per cent., and the industry will qualify for the Board of Trade's building grants in the new and wider Development Areas. It will also benefit from the Government's grant to the British Travel Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will give an estimate of the cost of putting right the damage caused to private and public property, excluding agricultural property, in the Severn Valley and its tributaries in Wales, by the recent floods in the month of December, 1965;(2) what was the total cost to the local authorities in the Severn Valley in dealing with the floods in the Valley in the month of December, 1965;(3) if he will give an estimate of the cost to local authorities in the valleys of Dovey and its tributaries of dealing with the floods in December, 1965.

I have insufficient information on which to base reliable estimates of costs but I understand that the damage caused appears to have been slight.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department will accept financial responsibility for the cost of service assistance rendered by the Army and the Royal Air Force in the emergency caused by the floods in Wales in December, 1965.

This is a matter for settlement between those local authorities who sought Service assistance and the Ministry of Defence.