asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many resignations there have been among officers of the Army since the middle of November.

About 110, which is almost exactly the same as for any other 10 week period in 1965.

asked the Secreretary of State for Defence how much his new bonus scheme for dockyard workers will cost in a full year; and how much more money dockyard workers will get on a normal week without overtime.

The amount of bonus paid out under the Dockyard Incentive Bonus Scheme will depend upon its success in improving productivity. For the same effort, the scheme will pay, on average, the same bonus as the Job Price Contract scheme it replaces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum wage rate for workers in Her Majesty's Dockyards.

The present minimum rate for an unskilled labourer is £10 18s. for the 40-hour week. Skilled labourers receive leads which bring their minimum rates above this level, in many cases substantially so. The minimum rate for a craftsman is £13 9s. and most craftsmen receive supplements, up to a maximum of 47s. Overtime and payment-by-results earnings are of course additional.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many men working in Her Majesty's Dockyards during 1965 received less than £12 per week to take home in any one week; and how many were on this rate for four weeks or more;(2) how many men working in Her Majesty's Dockyards received under £12 a week to take home for more than 26 weeks in that year.

The information requested is not available and I am afraid it would take a very great amount of machine time and clerical effort to obtain it. The average pay for all industrial employees in the Dockyards, after deductions for insurance, graduated pensions and income tax, is about £17 per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make arrangements for Members of Parliament to be briefed by the Admiralty Board on naval strategy and the material needs of the Royal Navy for the tasks for which it is responsible, thus helping to ensure a constructive and informed debate on the Navy Estimates.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State and I are always glad to discuss with hon. Members any issues they want to raise with us, and we arrange a wide programme of visits to the Fleet. In addition, the Statement on Defence this year will be fuller than usual.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of Her Majesty's Government's world-wide responsibilities for the safety of British sea lives, the protection of British commerce from hostile submarines, and for landing operations concerned with a brush-fire war and other operations, whether he is satisfied that sufficient numbers of land-based aircraft are available for these purposes; and from what sources air support for naval operations is provided.

Yes. Air support for naval operations comes from both carrier-borne and land-based aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost so far to Defence Votes, including pay of the Service personnel engaged, of the oil airlift to Zambia.

The R.A.F. Transport Command oil airlift up to 27th January involved additional costs to Air Votes of about £355,000. Except for the cost of flying in fuel for the Javelin force, which is not separately identifiable at this stage, this expenditure will be recovered from the Commonwealth Services Vote. In addition, the normal pay of the personnel concerned cost about £35,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the introduction of separation allowances for Service men.

Yes. Starting from 1st April, officers and men of all three Services who have been separated from their families for at least 12 months because of service outside the United Kingdom, will qualify for an allowance of 4s. a day during further periods of separation. So will naval personnel appointed to certain sea-going ships on home sea service, and serving home legs of General Service Commissions. Because the incidence of separation increases with service, particularly in the Navy, a Service man who has completed nine years service and has been separated for three years, will qualify for an allowance of 8s. a day.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future use of Territorial Army drill halls.

Those halls no longer required after the reorganisation of the Reserves will be disposed of under the normal procedure for the disposal of property surplus to Government requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there is to be the same increase of approximately £100 million a year in arms expenditure in this spring's arms estimates as there has been in each of the previous six years; and if he will cut the arms budget from £2,120 million to £2,000 million this spring.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Defence Estimates for 1966–67, which are due to be published shortly. I can assure him that the figure will be substantially less than it would have been under the plans of the previous Administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to transfer the pensions rights of ex-naval ratings to their widows on the death of the former; and when this policy will be carried out.

The wives of naval ratings retired to pension on or after 1st September, 1950, are eligible for Service widows' pensions. If the husband died before 4th November, 1958, the award of a pension to his widow also depends on his length of service. The same arrangements apply to all three Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the establishment in officers and men of Territorial units in the county of London on 1st December, 1965; and what was the actual strength.

The establishments of units administered by the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association for the county of London total 10,204; strengths on 1st December, 1965, were 4,805. Details are as follows:

Establishment				Strength
Officers
Male	…	…	749	522
Female	…	…	178	42
Total	…	…	927	564
Other Ranks
Male	…	…	8,977	4,199
Female	…	…	300	42
Total	…	…	9,277	4,241

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will give his decision on the review of the return, without payment by the families, of the coffins of Service men who die abroad on active service.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my hon. Friend gave this afternoon to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher).

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if she will hold consultations with nationalised industries and business firms with a view to taking steps to reduce the number of cars provided for senior executives in central London;(2) what steps she is taking to reduce the use of cars by Ministers and officials in central London.

I do not consider special action in relation to particular categories of car justified at present. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works assures me that the Government car service is used only when needed for the efficient conduct of business.

asked the Minister of Transport what study she has made of the results achieved in countries which make it an offence to drive with more than a specified amount of alcohol in the blood; and what evidence is available concerning the reduction of accidents achieved by such legislation.

The experience of foreign countries which already have a law of this kind has been taken into account in preparing the new legislation on drink and driving. Evidence from both Austria, which has recently introduced legislation similar in many respects to that proposed in the Road Safety Bill, and from Sweden, which has had a law of this kind since 1941, indicates a considerable saving in accidents as a result.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply she has given to the representations made to her by bodies acting on behalf of road users pointing out that the proposal to authorise random checks of alcohol consumed puts at risk the ready acceptance of the other stringencies of her policy and requesting that she should revise the draft of the proposed legislation accordingly.

Bodies representing road users have expressed differing views on this subject. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have considered the views expressed to my predecessor on behalf of the motoring organisations; we have decided that, for the reasons given in the White Paper, random tests are the fairest and most effective way of enforcing the proposed law. The Bill as published provides for them.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will seek powers to introduce random roadside breath tests of motorists as soon as possible.

Such powers are included in the Road Safety Bill introduced last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now make a statement on the outcome of experiments giving priority from the right at roundabouts.

We are at present assessing the results of the "Give Way" experiment at roundabouts. My right hon. Friend will make a statement as soon as she can.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to announce her policy on the integration of road and rail transport; and what steps she intends to take meanwhile to ensure that road transport bears the full economic cost of the provision of road facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will publish her proposals for the future of Great Britain's transport systems.

I shall publish my proposals on transport policy as soon as possible. Meanwhile I do not think it desirable to anticipate the outcome of my review of policy.

asked the Minister of Transport what study she has made of the resolution sent to her from Hadleigh Urban District Council deploring the continued maintenance of the high tax on fuel oil used for public service vehicles; what reply she has made; and whether she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has sent the hon. Member a copy of the Department's reply to the Council. I cannot add to this at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will discuss with the Motor Insurers' Bureau improvements in car insurance along the lines suggested by the Consumer Association.

The primary purpose of compulsory motor insurance is to ensure that third parties who are killed or injured in road accidents, through no fault of their own—or the dependants of those killed—are compensated. I do not think that the Consumers' Association has suggested that this purpose is not being achieved. Nevertheless, any implications which the Association's report may have on road traffic legislation will be considered by the Department.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to make night driving a compulsory part of the test for a driving licence.

No. It is impracticable to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware of the hazardous traffic conditions at the junction of A.58 with A.659 in the village of Collingham, near Leeds; and what action she proposes to take in the matter.

Yes. A scheme to improve the layout of this junction, by providing better visibility and islands to accommodate turning traffic, is planned to start in August.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that public expenditure on roads and transport in the Yorkshire and Humberside planning region, as recorded in table 89 of the National Plan, was appreciably smaller than that of any other region in the United Kingdom in the latest available year; and what proposals she has to remedy this imbalance.

That year was 1963–64. This Government's announced plans for improved road communications in the region demonstrate the importance attached to it.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will restore to the road programme the scheme in Twickenham the A.292, Heath Road; and when work on that scheme will commence.

Work on this scheme is now expected to start in March.

asked the Minister of Transport if the second section of the High Wycombe bypass is to be reinstated in the road programme; and when the work will begin.

Work on this scheme is now expected to start in April.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the reconstruction of the A.19 road in County Durham.

The diversions at Sheraton and Shotton are now open. Construction of the Wolviston to Sheraton section is progressing satisfactorily. Draft Orders have been published and preparatory work is well in hand for the bypass of Wolviston village and for an improvement at Sheraton crossroads.Tenders have been invited for the section between Sheraton Hill and Eden Vale.Preparatory work for other improvements north of Eden Vale is going ahead.

asked the Minister of Transport how many motorists were questioned as to their views on the 70 miles per hour speed limit before her Department stated in its advertisements that 60 per cent. of all motorists were in favour of the limit.

The number of motorists in the random sample of electors questioned by the National Opinion Poll was 430.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations she has received from outside organisations asking her to reconsider the 70 miles per hour speed limit on motorways; and what reply she has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received several communications, from various bodies, about the 70 m.p.h. experimental speed limit. She will take into account the views expressed by these and other bodies concerned when deciding the course to be adopted after the experiment ends on 13th April.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the factors which the Road Research Laboratory has been instructed to take into consideration when assessing the results achieved by the experimental 70 miles per hour speed limit.

The Road Research Laboratory will make "before" and "after" comparisons of accidents and casualties, taking into consideration vehicle speeds, traffic flow, weather conditions aid any exceptional circumstances.Additional evidence on such matters as driver behaviour and the general effects of the speed limit on motorways will be provided by the police, the R.A.C., the A.A. and other representative organisations; this will be taken into account in addition to the assessment by the Road Research Laboratory.

asked the Minister of Transport how many authorities have now taken action, following the example of Cheltenham, to introduce disc parking.

None, but some authorities are considering such schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date it is expected that the section of the M.3 motorway between London and Blackbushe Airport will be completed; and whether she will give greater priority to the construction of this road, in view of the importance of time-saving for air travellers using this airport.

This is in the first 1,000 miles of motorway programmed for completion in the early 1970's. It is not a question of priority but of when the statutory processes and detailed preparation can be completed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is now prepared to authorise the provision of a pedestrian crossing on the A423 Oxford-Maidenhead road at Rose Hill, Oxford.

No. The situation here has not materially changed since the hon. Member last raised this matter on 20th January, 1965.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the growing traffic congestion in the Medway towns, she will authorise an early start on the construction of a second bridge over the Medway as soon as the plans of the Rochester Bridge wardens become available.

I hope this important scheme will be started as soon as its necessary planning and preparation can be completed.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the meaning of the expression, "average casualty rate", used in her advertisements in the public Press; and what evidence supports the contention that this rate is three times higher at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour than at speeds between 65 and 70 miles per hour.

The term "average casualty rate" is defined as the number of persons injured per hundred million vehicle-miles of travel. Evidence that this rate is about three times higher at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour than at speeds between 65 and 70 miles per hour is contained in a report published by the United States of America's Bureau of Public Roads in July, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the reason for the delay in reaching a decision about zebra crossings in Clacton-on-Sea, about which the hon. Member for Harwich wrote to her Department on 22nd November.

We had to obtain the views of the police and then to arrange a site inspection by representatives of the divisional road engineer, the police and the urban district council. They have recommended, following a meeting on 26th January, that crossings should be provided at three of the six sites. I will let the hon. Member have the details separately.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will announce the line of the M.11 north of Bishop's Stortford.

My right hon. Friend intends to publish a draft scheme line for the whole route of the motorway as soon as consultations with local authorities have been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to analyse the causes of road accidents.

Reports on all accidents causing injury or death are sent to the Department by the police. Staff at the Ministry's headquarters and at the Road Research Laboratory carry out constant statistical analyses of these reports with a view to detecting recurrent accident factors and patterns which may point to possible means of tackling the accident problems. In addition, sample studies are conducted in greater depth than is possible for all accidents by the Road Research Laboratory's Accident Investigation Unit and by our two area road safety units in Hampshire and Warwickshire. Material on the possible contribution of vehicle defects in acciddents is also secured and analysed by our vehicle examiners and mechanical engineers, and our divisional road engineers study local accident concentrations in order to identify road features that may have contributed to accidents.Accident investigation is also undertaken by such bodies as the Metropolitan Police Accident Investigation Unit which send the Ministry and findings they think may be useful.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make publicly available, before the public inquiries which are to be held for both sections of the Commons route of the proposed Esher bypass road, full details construction and estimates of cost for both the Commons route and the suggested Mole route of this road.

The period for objection has not yet expired and no decision about the holding of a public inquiry has been made. If one is held, a statement will be sent to all objectors not less than one month before the date of the inquiry setting out my right hon. Friend's case in support of the line proposed and her reasons for the preference of this line.

asked the Minister of Transport how many new pedestrian crossings were established during 1964 and 1965; and how many requests for new pedestrian crossings during those two years were refused.

This information is not readily available and to obtain it would require a disproportionate amount of work. I do not think the expenditure of time and labour would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport in what road programme she proposes to make provision for the acquisition of the Selby Toll Bridge from its proprietors, with a view to modernising communications in the West and East Ridings of Yorkshire.

My right hon. Friend is not at present contemplating acquisition of this toll bridge. Our plans for modernising the trunk road system in the area between Humberside and the A.1 were announced last September.

asked the Minister of Transport if the Harringay experimental pedestrian scheme is to continue in its present form; and if she will make a statement.

The future of the scheme is under consideration. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport how many railway workshops were closed or partially closed in each year since 1962; how many railway workshop staff were made redundant as a result of this policy; and how many were given training courses to fit them for other work.

The total number of staff given training courses cannot be readily ascertained. The following is the informal ion about closures and redundancy:

BRITISH RAILWAYS WORKSHOPS
Redundancies due to closure, partial closure, or curtailment of major activities of Works, 1962–65*
A			B	C
Year			Number of Works affected	Staff-Redundant
1962	…	…	17	2,326
1963	…	…	25	8,126
1964	…	…	18	4,462
1965	…	…	13	1,648
			TOTAL	1,6562†
* The number of works affected over the period is 29. Column B shows the number within this total at which staff became surplus in each year.
† 4,346 of this total took alternative railway employment.

asked the Minister of Transport how many railway passenger and freight services were withdrawn, or curtailed, in each year since 1962 up to the latest convenient date; and if she will publish details of these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The number of complete withdrawals of passenger services from lines or stations is, to the end of January:

1962	…	…	…	Nil
1963	…	…	…	21
1964	…	…	…	118
1965	…	…	…	74
1966	…	…	…	7

Reductions in passenger services which do not involve the total closure of a line or a station do not require my right hon. Friend's consent. These and the withdrawal or reduction of freight services are matters for the Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will hold a special inquiry into the causes of recent railway accidents on the Western Region of British Railways.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what action the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways has taken to inquire into the derailment of freight trains at Didcot on 1st January, Uffington on 7th January and Steventon on 21st January, which resulted in delays to traffic between Paddington and South Wales; and whether she will make a statement;(2) if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to publish the results of inquiries held by regions into derailments of freight trains which have caused various delays to rail traffic on main lines;(3) whether she will make a statement on the recent derailments to passenger and freight trains on the Western Region of British Railways.

A formal inquiry has been held into the derailment of the passenger train near Reading on 28th December last and I have ordered one to be held into the derailment of the freight train at Steventon on 21st January. I do not propose to order inquiries into other recent derailments on the Western Region since these are not distinguished by any special features. A detailed report on each derailment of importance will be made to the chief inspecting officer who will decide, after careful consideration what further action, if any, is necessary. It would not be appropriate to direct the British Railways Board to publish the results of its domestic inquiries. The report of my chief inspecting officer's inquiry will, of course, be published.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will reconsider her decision not to hold an inquiry into recent derailments on the Western Region following a further derailment at Bath.

No. The derailment at Bath on 27th January occurred during shunting movements. There is no common feature between its cause and the causes of the main line train derailments, and it is not of the type that has to be reported to my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will approach Lord Beeching with a view to his reappointment as Chairman of British Railways.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what is her decision on the possible closure of the Oldham to Rochdale railway passenger service.

I cannot at present add to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Barnett) on 25th January.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will agree to meet the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire with a deputation of local authority representatives at an early date in order to discuss objections to the proposed withdrawal of passenger train services and the closure of stations on the Glasgow-Barrhead-Kilmarnock line.

My right hon. Friend has asked me if I will meet my hon. Friend on her behalf. I am certainly prepared to meet him by himself, but we have to make a rule of not seeing deputations about closures save in very exceptional cases. I must, however, make it clear that my right hon. Friend cannot rescind consent to the closure, though she is always ready to vary the conditions of a consent if experience shows this to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to stabilise London Transport fares at their present level for a minimum period of three years.

Such steps could have considerable implications for the taxpayer or ratepayer. I am considering the Board's financial position in the context of London's transportation problem as a whole. But I would point out that London travellers have the protection of the Transport Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction to the British Railways Board to ensure the provision of an adequate number of wagons for the discharge of cargoes imported to docks owned by the British Transport Docks Board.

No. This is a matter for negotiation between the two Boards.

asked the Minister of Transport how many wagons were made available in the last year by British Railways for serving the docks owned by the British Transport Docks Board; and how many were made available in each region of British Railways.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has yet come to a decision on the proposals submitted to her by the British Railways Board regarding the question of supplementation of pensions.

I hope to do so soon.

asked the Minister of Transport what information she has regarding proposals to close the line between Hurst Green and Lewes.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has received from the British Railways Board to close the line between Hurst Green and Lewes.

I understand that the Railways Board intends to publish soon under Section 54 of the Transport Act, 1962, advance notice of its plans to close to passengers the line from Hurst Green Junction to Eridge in association with its intentions, announced in the Reshaping Report, of withdrawing the passenger services between Tonbridge and Brighton.If the Board decides to go ahead with these proposals it will first invite my right hon. Friend's agreement to publication under Section 56 of the Act.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction to the Railways Board to limit to the minimum staff changes amongst its top executives, in the interest of morale.

No. Such matters should be left to the judgement of the Railways Board.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to amend the Wireless Telegraphy Acts so as to stop the sale and use of micro-bug transmitters which intrude into the private conversations of citizens.

I am considering whether I should be justified in seeking wider powers to prevent unlicensed use of transmitting apparatus. But this is a complex question which does not concern the Post Office alone and I cannot promise an early decision. In the meantime I have taken steps to improve the safeguards against the improper use of small radio microphones which I do licence, both by an amendment to the licence itself and by stricter procedures in dealing with applications for licences.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now make a statement on the introduction of coloured television in Great Britain.

As I told the House on 15th December, I expect to announce the Government's decision on colour television when its comprehensive review of broadcasting policy is completed.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will take powers to authorise the Independent Television Authority to set up its own audience measurement machinery so that information as to the viewership in each region of the country shall be independently obtained and made publicly obtainable.

My right hon. Friend's purpose is, I think, already met by Section 24 of the Television Act, 1964, which specifies as one of their functions audience research by the Authority on the programmes they broadcast. It is, of course, for the Authority to decide what particular forms of audience research to undertake, and how far the results should be published.

asked the Postmaster-General, what steps are being taken to provide for the future of television on the expiration of the present commercial contracts; and, in particular, whether decisions on the introduction of 625 lines are to remain unchanged.

The duty of letting contracts is vested by the Television Act, 1964, in the Independent Television Authority. They have informed me that they intend to extend the term of their present contracts for one year: that is, from July, 1967, to July, 1968. The question whether and if so when a second service of independent television, broadcast on 625-lines, should be introduced, involves the further question of the allocation of the fourth network. On this, I cannot, of course, anticipate the Government's decision.

asked the Postmaster-General, what action he will take in connection with the offer of Rhodesian stamps surcharged by his Department as being illegal contained in the announcement sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

None. Although these stamps are not valid for postage, my duty is to deliver any item bearing them to the addressee, surcharging as appropriate. Thereafter the addressee may do as he likes with it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the action of the general manager of the British Egg Marketing Board in intercepting letters sent by a member of the Board to the regional committee chairman of the Egg Board; and whether he will initiate a prosecution for the interception of mail contrary to Section 56 of the Post Office Act, 1953.

I will write to the hon. Member about this.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give details of his plans to provide new postage stamps depicting Scottish heroes and distinguished episodes in Scottish history.

It is still too early to do this. But I should value suggestions from my hon. and learned Friend or any other hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General why a parcel posted in Leeds on 23rd November, 1965, did not reach an address in Cornwall until 1st December, 1965; why a parcel posted in Leeds on 2nd December, 1965, did not reach Cornwall until 6th December, 1965; and what action he proposes to take to improve the service, and hence commercial prospects in the north of England.

I am sorry that these parcels were delayed while in transit. In collaboration with British Railways we are trying to improve the parcel service from Leeds to Cornwall by tightening up the transferring arrangements at the key station through which the mails pass. We are also looking into the possibility of using through vans to reduce transfer work.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements he is making to speed up deliveries of mail between Scotland and the Continent of Europe.

New arrangements are always made when the availability of air and shipping schedules allow us to improve our services. But if the hon. Gentleman has any particular aspect of the service in mind and will let me have details, I shall gladly look into them.

asked the Postmaster-General in view of the fact that the recent automatic and other improvements in Aberdeen city post office service were largely experimental and have proved successful, what further scientific advances he plans for Aberdeen postal service and for the parts of North-East Scotland which have a bearing on Aberdeen trade and industry.

Aberdeen has an early place in the national programme for extending coded addresses and automatic letter sorting. Advances of this kind in North-East Scotland are for the present being concentrated in Aberdeen, this office being at the hub of the postal services in the area.

Cooke asked the Postmaster-General what progress is being made in his measures against telephone kiosk vandals; whether all possible alarm systems are being urgently considered, including those suggested by private enterprise firms; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the hon. Member on 27th October, I am stepping up measures to safeguard our equipment; 237 thieves were caught in the last six months against 80 in the same period the previous year.The answer to the second part of the Question is Yes. Alarms are already in use by the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the average time taken and the average cost of installing a telephone; and what steps he has taken to reduce them.

Subject to plant availability and customers' convenience, about 56 per cent. of exchange connections and 80 per cent. of miscellaneous works are now being completed within two weeks of the order. The plant and labour needed to give service cost about £140 per connection.Measures taken to improve the speed of provision and reduce costs include an improved telephone which makes it possible to use lighter wires; polythene insulated cables; improved fixtures for connection to customers' premises; mechanisation; reorganisation of the working force in agreement with the trade unions, and streamlined office procedure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is to be taken to prevent the remaining stocks of corned beef, withdrawn in 1964, from being sold at some future date.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 26th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what deduction for the Meat Research Levy was made from deficiency payments during weeks 35, 36, 39, 40, and 41; and when there was no deficiency payment, whether the backlog was reduced by any extra payments.

Deductions in respect of meat research levy have been made from fatstock guarantee payments for the weeks in question at the rates specified in the Meat Industry (Scientific Research Levy) Order, 1963. As to the second part of the Question, there is no backlog and no extra deductions have been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to him by apple growers on the subject of the Anglo-Irish trade agreement.

One growers' marketing organisation has written to me expressing concern at the position of our apple industry in the light of the trade agreement. However, the new arrangements guarantee that there will be facilities for the export of 3,000 tons of apples between the beginning of August and the end of February at a maximum duty of 1d. per 1b.; that additional exports between those dates will be unrestricted in quantity and subject to a duty of not more than 2d. per 1b. irrespective of any higher rate of duty that may be charged on apples from other countries; and that exports between the beginning of March and the end of July will be duty-free and unrestricted. The National Farmers' Union have been kept well informed during the negotiations of the arrangements relating to horticulture, and their views were taken fully into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the National Farmers' Union on the effects of the Anglo-Irish trade agreement on home agriculture; and whether he will make a statement.

The National Farmers' Union have been kept well informed of the arrangements relating to agriculture in the Anglo-Irish free trade area agreement. They made frequent representations and their views were taken fully into account in arriving at the Agreement. I am satisfied that there will be no damage to our own farmers and growers from it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his proposals for a pig health scheme now that the swine fever problem has been considerably reduced.

We have this matter under consideration and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the average price paid to producers for top quality bacon pigs over the last available quarterly period, and the preceding seven quarters; and what estimate he has made of the average cost of producing such pigs assuming a weaner cost of £5, feed conversion at 3·5, and labour and overheads at approximately £2 per pig.

A large proportion of the pigs sold for bacon is purchased by curers under annual contracts, and the prices and terms offered vary as between curers. For such pigs it is not possible to give the information required on a quarterly basis.Some pigs are, however, purchased by curers on terms varying according to weekly price lists. Average prices paid are shown by quarters in the table below. Prices paid for pigs sold in this way are on average lower than for pigs purchased under contracts.In addition to the prices paid by curers, producers received guarantee payments, and for top quality pigs, which for this purpose are assumed to be pigs which are graded AA+, quality premiums as well.

Quarter	Market price		Deficiency payment and quality premium (per score deadweight)		Total return
1964	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
January-March	41	0¾	5	7¾	46	8½
April-June	33	11¼	12	10½	46	9¾
July-September	36	4½	11	7½	48	0
October-December	38	9½	7	3½	46	1
1965
January-March	36	3¼	8	11	45	2¼
April-June	31	7¾	12	11¼	44	7
July-September	32	9	12	9¾	45	6¾
October-December	35	9¾	9	6¾	45	4½

On the stated assumptions regarding costs and feed conversion rates, the cost of producing such pigs would be about £15 10s. per pig.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why, in view of the large numbers of animals contracting foot-and-mouth disease in countries close across the English Channel during the months of November and December, no order was made to prohibit imports of meat from those countries until 19th January and this order did not take effect until 27th January.

We require strict veterinary conditions to be observed at all times by the exporting countries to prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into Great Britain, and these rigorous conditions have given us good protection in the past. We have at all times kept in close touch with the Netherlands veterinary atuhorities, and the ban was imposed when the disease was found to be spreading seriously. In making our decision, we took into account the time needed for publication of the Order and clearance of any supplies already on their way.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what action the United Kingdom is taking to manufacture more vaccine for use in Europe against outbreaks of foot and mouth disease.

The types of foot and mouth disease at present occurring in Western Europe are those usually encountered.Vaccination is already common practice, and suitable vaccines are produced in most of the countries concerned. We have not been asked to help.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for encouraging private investment in forestry expansion in Scotland.

I hope the noble Lord will agree that investment in private forestry is already encouraged by the existing grants paid by the Forestry Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were completed in Scotland in the year 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were started and how many completed in the years 1963, 1964, and 1965.

The figures are as follows:

Houses started	…	1963	37,664
		1964	35,902
		1965	42,228
Houses completed	…	1963	28,217
		1964	37,171
		1965	35,116

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the recommendations on Scottish teachers' salaries conveyed to him in November last.

The recommendations of the Scottish Joint Council for Teachers' Salaries and the Government's decision are set out in a circular issued to education authorities and other bodies by my Department on 31st January together with draft Salaries Regulations. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available the correspondence of May, June and July 1965, between the University of Glasgow, the Scottish Council for the Training of Teachers, and the Principal of Jordanhill Training College, concerning the application of Michael McManus, graduate of the University of Glasgow, for training as a teacher, under the Scottish Regulations.

No. I have no powers to require disclosure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount paid in Government subsidy and in local authority subsidy, respectively, from the rates for housing purposes in Scotland over the last five years; and what he expects the total Government subsidy, assuming the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill becomes law, will be over the next five years.

For the financial years 1961–62 to 1965–66 Exchequer housing subsidies to local authorities will total about £77 million and rate-fund contributions to their housing revenue accounts about £92 million. Exchequer subsidies under the Bill are expected to total about £115 million in the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average total growth in output per year foreseen for Scotland from 1965 to 1970 in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 2864, on the Scottish Economy, comparable to 3·8 per cent. for the United Kingdom given on page 2 of Command Paper No. 2764, and distinct from 4·6 per cent. for manufacturing industry only.

The figure of 3·8 per cent. annual average rate of growth required to achieve a 25 per cent. increase in the national product between 1964 and 1970 is calculated from United Kingdom aggregate figures which cannot be assessed separately for Scotland. The comparisons made in Command Paper 2864 between projected rates of growth in industry are based on the separate Scottish Index of Industrial Production.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to establish a Forestry Research Centre in Scotland.

The Forestry Commission intends, as soon as circumstances permit, to increase the number of professional, scientific and supporting staff in Edinburgh from 17 to about 40. To do this a new building is required and consideration is already being given to its location.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish National Farmers' Union on the effects of the implementation of the Brambell Report.

I am expecting representations from a number of organisations, including the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, to reach me shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what cost he has approved for the second phase of the piping and infilling of the Monkland Canal at Coatbridge; what is the amount of Government grant approved; and what is the estimated completion date for the project.

The scheme for the second phase of infilling the canal is provisionally estimated to cost £175,000. The amount of grant cannot be determined until more precise costs are known, but I am glad to say that the grant arrangements will be the same as for the earlier phase of the work. The timing of the work is a matter for the town council but I understand that it may be some two years before the work is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior secondary schools in Scotland, county by county, teach Gaelic to ordinary, higher, and advanced level, respectively.

The information is given in the following table:

NUMBERS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS PROVIDING GAELIC COURSES
		Ordinary grade only	Ordinary and Higher grades	Total
Glasgow	…	—	3	3
Argyll	…	4	1	5
Inverness	…	2	3	5
Lanark	…	—	1	1
Renfrew	…	—	1	1
Rossland Cromarty	…	—	3	3

There is no advanced grade in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he is conducting into the value of zirconium as a preventative to dental decay in children's teeth; and to what extent the results show that it is more efficient and less harmful than adding sodium fluoride to drinking water.

None. I understand that work on this substance in the United States is still in a preliminary stage and that no scientific evidence has been published about it. I do not accept the suggestion that the addition of sodium fluoride to drinking water to provide a concentration of one part per million is in any way harmful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what approval he has given to the building of a new old folks home at Airdrie; what is the nature of the accommodation involved; and what are the starting and completion dates, and the estimated cost of the project.

I have approved in principle the building of an old people's home containing 26 single and seven double bedrooms at Forrest Street, Airdrie. On 2nd November the town council estimated the cost of the home at £155,000. Since this seemed unusually high the Department wrote on 26th November asking for further information: the town council's reply is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce his plans for the raising of the school leaving age, especially insofar as those plans involve the provision of additional school buildings and teachers.

Building programme allocations from 1967 will be calculated to cover the essential additional accommodation. With the expansion of higher education the number of teachers is expected to increase substantially by 1970, but if we are to avoid a major shortage I am satisfied that even with maximum recruitment from existing sources we shall need new sources of supply. I shall continue to take all practicable steps to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the letter from the Aberdeen branch of the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers concerning tthe recommendations in the Hunter Report on Scottish Salmon and Trout Fisheries, Command Paper No. 2691; and whether, when and in what manner he will accede to the terms of that letter and reply to it.

I received a copy of the letter from my hon. and learned Friend on 15th November, 1965, and a reply was sent to him on 20th November indicating that I shall bear in mind the branch's representations in my consideration of the action to take on the Hunter Committee's Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of his plans for the establishment of health centres in North-East Scotland.

A small health centre was opened at Huntly last September. I have no further proposals before me at the present for this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether the Wales Economic Planning Council will consider in its recommendations the establishment of an industrial estate under the administration of the Wales and Monmouthshire Industrial Estates Corporation Limited upon that area at Efail Isaf, Glamorganshire, allocated for industrial development in the Glamorgan County Study, as a means of providing adequate employment facilities in place of the declining coal industry and in view of the future expansion of the Llantrisant area as envisaged in the same study;(2) if he will make a statement about Government action in the establishment of an industrial estate at Ynysmaerdy, Talbot Green, Glamorgan, as a means of meeting employment needs arising from redundancies resulting from the declining size of the coal industry.

The development of industrial estates by the Industrial Estate Management Corporation for Wales is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who takes full account of the views of the Welsh Economic Planning Council on the needs arising through redundancies in coal and other industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what parts of the construction industry in Scotland will be eligible for the new investment grants; and what parts of the building material industry will be eligible.

Plant or machinery used for construction will not attract investment grants. Plant or machinery used for the manufacture of building materials will be eligible for grants on the same basis as plant or machinery used for other manufacturing activities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the imposition of a ban, similar to that imposed under the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act 1921, on the importation into this country of furs derived from animals which have been caught in traps, the use of which in this country would be illegal on grounds of cruelty.

None. The Board do not use their powers under the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, to impose fresh import controls for other than economic or commercial purposes. Legislation to control imports for the sort of purpose suggested by the hon. Member is normally introduced by Private Member's Bill.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will seek international cooperation in applying pressure, through airport control measures, on airlines to specify reduced levels of engine noise when ordering new aircraft.

I am studying the practicability of this approach and I expect that the International Conference I hope to arrange later this year will discuss ideas on these lines.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the present total employed in the aircraft industry by comparison with the totals one year, six months and one month ago, divided so as to show the percentage effect on design personnel at the principal centres of aircraft and engine design.

Total employment in the aircraft industry—including Northern Ireland—in December, 1964, June, 1965, October, 1965, and November, 1965, was 270,350; 259,025; 258,120 and 258,750, respectively.Comprehensive figures of employment of design personnel are not available for all the dates specified. Total manpower in the main airframe, guided weapons and

		Airframes		Guided Weapons		Aero-Engines
		Number	Index	Number	Index	Number	Index
December, 1964	…	97,112	100	21,078	100	68,750	100
June, 1965	…	88,829	91	20,655	98	67,073	98
October, 1965	…	87,460	90	20,700	98	67,598	98
November, 1965	…	87,419	90	20,716	98	68,061	99
The above figures are linked to those given in Table IV of Appendix C of the Plowden Report.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give estimates of the numbers and percentages of design and research personnel who have left the British aircraft industry in the last year, six months and one month, respectively, and gone overseas, particularly to the United States of America.

As my predecessor stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 4th August, 1965, people who take up employment abroad are not required to provide information about their prospective work to a Government Department. Such indications as we have suggest that the number is not large in relation to the total number of design staff in the aircraft industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made with the implementation of paragraph 81 of the White Paper on the Arts, with particular reference to the opening hours of museums and galleries.

The idea of subsidised travel is spreading: the Arts Council has agreed to extend its scheme, and a further regional Arts Association is proposing to introduce arrangements for this in 1966–67. The Department gives every encouragement to theatre, opera and concert managements to provide seats at reduced prices for special groups. I am anxious that apprentices as well as students should be able to benefit from such schemes. Proposals for extending the opening hours of museums and art galleries are being formulated, and are being discussed with the staff interests concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what Government assistance is being made available, or will be made available, for the Oxbow scheme in Basutoland.

Colonial Development and Welfare grants totalling £88,632 were made available up to March, 1963, for a hydrological investigation of the Oxbow scheme. A further grant of £83,190 has been made up to the end of 1965–66 for a hydrological survey to evaluate the water resources of Basutoland generally, including continuation of the Oxbow investigations. Consideration is now being given to an application for an additional grant to enable a project report on the scheme to be produced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total Government expenditure is at present spent on defence.