asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what action she is taking to secure the release of Charles Cassato, who is imprisoned without trial in British Guiana, prior to the granting of independence of British Guiana.

Under the British Guiana Constitution, internal security, including the making and revocation of detention orders, is a matter for the British Guiana Government.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the number of Rhodesian tourists visiting the Seychelles has been reduced since the imposition of sanctions; and what has been done to make good damage to the economy of the colony.

A cut in shipping services provided by the British Indian Steam Navigation Company had deterred Rhodesian tourists from visiting Seychelles before sanctions were imposed. The Seychelles economy has not suffered as a result of sanctions against Rhodesia.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, if she will make a statement on the position in Aden.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave earlier today.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the prefabricated maternity unit at the Paton Memorial Hospital in Vila, in the New Hebrides, will be ready for occupation.

It is hoped that the unit will be in use in August.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that the earnings of shipbuilding workers rose by 20 per cent. during 1965, whether he will refer the wages of shipbuilding workers to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Earnings in shipbuilding and ship repairing rose by about 12 per cent. between November, 1964, and November, 1965.We shall be watching closely to see to what extent the increase in earnings is being matched by an increase in productivity.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the percentage increase in the first nine months of 1965 over the corresponding period of 1964 for salaries, wages, prices and profits.

Wages and salaries had risen by 7½ per cent., company profits by 1 per cent. and the retail price index by 5 per cent.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what machinery is available either to or in his Department to record variations in the charges made to private users of essential public utility services.

I would refer the hon. Member to the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 2808) outlining the arrangements under which the Government receive advance notification of increases in prices and charges from private and nationalised industry.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware of the substantial increases in certain railway fares in East Anglia; and whether he will refer them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

My right hon. Friend does not consider this a suitable case to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware of the increases in fixed electricity charges recently imposed by the Eastern Electricity Board on premises occupied by small traders; and if he will refer these charges to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

My right hon. Friend does not consider this a suitable case to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why he has not prepared and published for the North-West, or any other region, a comprehensive or any other kind of programme for regional development comparable to that prepared by the previous administration for the North-East; and what steps he is taking towards the early publication of such programmes.

Our regional economic planning councils and boards are preparing plans for their regions which will reflect regional needs and contribute towards the achievement of the National Plan.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he is taking towards the designation within the North-West of any particular growth zone on which emphasis is being placed in the deployment of public investment within the region.

We have already announced plans for a large new town at Leyland/Chorley which will act as a focus for regional growth. In addition, a new town is being built at Skelmersdale; plans for a new town at Runcorn have recently been published, and consultations are proceeding on the Warrington/Risley project.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of wool textile exports in the second half of 1965; and how it compares with the first half of 1965, expressed as a percentage.

The following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how wool textile exports in 1965 compared with the United Kingdom's total export effort in that year.

The following is the information:

asked the President of the-Board of Trade what was the amount, by weight and value, of imports of fish meal into the United Kingdom for each of the past five years to the latest convenient date; and what were home production figures for the same periods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision has now been given on the application for an anti-dumping duty on Danish broilers, accepted by his Department on 6th August, 1965.

I hope to announce my decision very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what official discussions he has now had with the hotel and catering industry; and what proposals he now has to extend the benefit of investment incentives to that industry.

I received a deputation from the British Hotels and Restaurants Association and from the Caterers Association on 1st February. As regards the second part of his Question, I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave the hon. Member on 27th January and my Answer on 31st January to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir J. Eden).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the capacity of the polythene industry; how the prices of imported polythene compare with the prices in the country of origin; and when he expects the industry in this country to reach an output of one million tons.

The capacity of the polythene industry including both low and high density types is approximately 260,000 tons per annum. Reliable information showing how prices of the various grades of imported polythene compare with prices in the country of origin is not available. United Kingdom polythene

The figures for imports of fish meal and flour are as follows. I regret that figures for home production are not available.capacity is increasing but an output of one million tons is unlikely to be reached for several years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what application he has received from the Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for grant of national status and for financial assistance; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to meet on 28th February the local authorities which support the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 27th January, I have also received a letter from the Economic Planning Council for the North West Region about the status of the Orchestra and the prospect of financial assistance from the Government. The level of grant for the Orchestra is a matter for the Arts Council; I am concerned, however, that there shall be fair distribution of public funds between London and regional activities, and have the whole field under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many vacancies existed for teachers in primary schools in the West Riding of Yorkshire at the beginning of the present term; how many are expected to persist until Easter; how many part-time teachers are employed; and how many primary schools are experiencing a 50 per cent. turnover of staff in less than five years.

I understand that at the beginning of the present term the West Riding local education authority were advertising vacancies for some 450 full-time qualified teachers to fill posts in their primary schools at present staffed in other ways. All or nearly all of these vacancies are expected to persist until Easter. About 560 part-time teachers (equivalent to 260 full-time teachers) are employed in the Authority's primary schools. The Authority estimate that about 500 or roughly half of their primary schools have a fifty per cent. turnover of staff in less than five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what educational building in Hertfordshire has been affected by the six-month moratorium on building.

The following projects of the Hertfordshire Local Education Authority on which work was expected to start between 27th July, 1965, and 26th January, 1966, have been deferred:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in securing changes in the law of copyright so as to give assistance to living authors, as suggested in Her Majesty's Government's White Paper, A Policy for the Arts.

The new Literature Panel of the Arts Council, which has been set up to replace the previously existing Poetry Panel, is undertaking as one of its first tasks a review of the whole question of assistance to authors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements are being made for the opening of museums and art galleries in London outside the regular hours.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Wandsworth, Putney.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of local education authorities, covering what proportion of school-age children in England and Wales, have already introduced or are proposing to introduce comprehensive secondary school schemes.

Following the issue of Circular 10/65 last summer, all local education authorities have been considering their intentions and many have been and are in consultation with my Department. The situation is therefore fluid and it is impracticable to say with any accuracy at any particular point of time how many are proposing to introduce comprehensive schemes. In January, 1965, there were 262 secondary schools classified as comprehensive, maintained by 48 local education authorities and containing 8·5 per cent. of all secondary school pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the chief constable about the action taken by the Leeds police as a result of the circumstances in which an American civilian, Mr. Bruce Jack, resident in Leeds, was escorted to London by a United States military police officer; and whether he will make a statement.

I am informed that Mr. Jack is a United States naval reservist; that he failed to report for active duty when called upon to do so; and that in consequence he became an absentee without leave from the United States forces and, as such, subject to the provisions of Part II of the Visiting Forces Act, 1952. An officer of the United States Navy went to his address accompanied by a member of the Leeds City Police and subsequently interviewed him at police headquarters. Mr. Jack then agreed to go voluntarily with the officer to London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet come to any decision on the request, made last July, for the payment out of public funds of the costs incurred by any of the parties to the second inquiry ordered by his predecessor into the new warding arrangements for the County Borough of Northampton; which costs will be paid out of public funds; and how much will be paid.

After careful consideration my right hon. Friend has reached the conclusion that there are no sufficient grounds for making a contribution out of public funds towards the costs of any of the parties represented at the inquiry. My right hon. Friend has set out the reasons for his decision in a letter to the right hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to deal with the unsatisfactory features prevailing in the jury system.

Legislation is being prepared to amend the law in the light of the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Jury Service, but I cannot say when it will be practicable to introduce it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his plans are for the future of Her Majesty's prison at Hill Hall, Theydon Mount; and whether he will make a statement.

Hill Hall is an open prison for up to 75 suitably selected women. My right hon. Friend has no plans to change its use, but he proposes to provide on an adjacent site a closed prison for up to 250 women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will let the traffic signals in Parliament Square work at all times, and see if he receives any protests from Members of the House.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to him on 27th January. My right hon. Friend would be glad to consult the Commissioner of Police about making this change whenever the House indicates that this would be its desire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what request he has directed to the Dorset County Council in respect of the case of the boy in the Dorset foster home; what reply he has received; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has asked the county council for a report on the case, and at his invitation, the council's representatives are meeting him on 9th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the maximum order that can be obtained by an unmarried mother in a court against the father of her child is 50s. per week, that any payment awarded by the court is taxed as unearned income and that there is public concern prompted by a recent case where a highly paid entertainer could only be compelled to pay 50s. a week for his own child; and what are the results of the consideration he has been giving to amending the law to enable larger amounts to be ordered in affiliation proceedings.

My right hon. Friend has accepted a recommendation made by the Law Commission in its First Programme that a committee should be set up to examine the financial limits prescribed by Statute for orders which may be made in magistrates' courts for the maintenance of spouses and children, and the appropriate machinery for adjusting such limits to changing circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the law to enable affiliation orders to be made requiring the payment of a sum sufficient to give the child the standard of life appropriate to the status in life a son or daughter of that lather would normally have, such a sum to be fixed on the same basis as that afforded to an entirely innocent wife in a divorce case; and whether he will further seek to amend the law to enable magistrates, in fixing a sum, to take into account the expenses or losses incurred by a mother having to stay at home if the child is to have personal maternal care.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that it would be right to fetter the discretion of magistrates to take into account all factors that seem relevant to them in fixing the amount to be paid within the statutory limit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that if a grandmother or aunt takes in an illegitimately-born child whose mother has died or disappeared, no affiliation order can be made on account of the child to benefit directly either the child himself or the relative; and whether he will seek to amend the law so that the Continental practice of attaching a right of payment to the child himself, and not only to the mother, comes into existence.

Where an affiliation order has already been made Section 5(4) of the Affiliation Proceedings Act, 1957, gives the court power to appoint some person other than the mother to have the custody of the child if the mother has died, or is of unsound mind, or is in prison, and the person appointed guardian is entitled to enforce the order. If no order has been made it is difficult to see how the court could obtain satisfactory evidence to enable it to make an order in the absence of the mother. The vesting of the right to maintenance in the child would not overcome this difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the report Fatherless by Law of the Board for Social Responsibility of the National Assembly of the Church of England, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will now reconsider the refusal given on 20th May, 1965, to the request of the hon. Member for Pontypool that the law should be amended to enable formal but private recognition of patternity to be given by the father of an illegitimate child.

My right hon. Friend is considering this matter in the light of the report, but he is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to seek to deal with the problem of unmarried fathers, he will seek to amend the Affiliation Act to enable officers of the court to interview, on the application of an unmarried mother, the alleged putative father with a view in suitable circumstances to encourage the parents of an illegitimate child to marry.

My right hon. Friend has no information to suggest that a statutory procedure is needed to encourage the parents of illegitimate children to marry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the employment of the full range of blood tests now available could extend the utility of tests in affiliation cases beyond excluding paternity, that in certain cases they would be of aid in positively establishing paternity, and that, since in some cases they would narrow the percentage of men in the community in general who could be the father to less than 1 per cent., whether he will seek to amend the law to enable magistrates to order compulsory blood tests.

My right hon. Friend understands it is not the case that blood tests can positively establish paternity, and as at present advised he does not think that recent advances in hematology would justify providing for such tests to be compulsory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there are no provisions in the Affiliation Act enabling a court to order payment by a putative father beyond the child's age of 16 when the child remains dependent because of physical or mental disability; and whether he has now completed his consideration announced on 20th May, 1965, of amending the law.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that it would be desirable to amend the Affiliation Proceedings Act, 1957, to give courts power when the child remains dependent after the age of 16 because of physical or mental disability to order payments to be made towards his maintenance up to the age of 21. He cannot, however, say when it will be possible to introduce legislation for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that no claims can be made against the estate of a deceased putative father in respect of arrears due under a court order; and whether he will seek to amend the Affiliation Act to enable in suitable cases an order to be made against the estate.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that such a provision would be free from difficulty, but if my hon. Friend has evidence that the present provisions cause hardship he will be glad to consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that hardship to illegitimate children arises from the cessation of any affiliation order upon the death of a father, irrespective of the size of the father's estate; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable claims to be lodged against the estate of a deceased putative father.

Consideration of the possibility of providing for claims against the estate of a deceased putative father must await the report of the Committee which is considering the law of succession in relation to illegitimate persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will fulfil the undertaking given in May, 1965, to consider bringing the law relating to affiliation proceedings in line with that relating to matrimonial proceedings so that an unmarried mother seeking to enforce or vary an order made in respect of her child shall not be compelled to do this in open court with the attendant publicity this entails.

I cannot say when a suitable opportunity may arise for legislation to make this procedural change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the consideration promised on 20th May, 1965, to be given to amending the Maintenance Order (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920; whether he is aware that increasing difficulties are arising because an unmarried mother cannot enforce an affiliation order against a father who is resident in a Commonwealth country; and whether, in view of the increasing number of Commonwealth citizens in this country, he will make a statement.

Action to amend this Act is awaiting Commonwealth consultation. The matter has been noted for discussion when convenient at a Conference of Commonwealth Law Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a seducer of a married woman living with her husband cannot be ordered to make a payment for a child born out of the affair; and whether he will seek to amend the law to ensure that such putative fathers do not avoid responsibility to their own children.

This proposal would entail a departure from the presumption that a child born during the subsistence of a valid marriage is legitimate. My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that such a change in the law would be desirable or free from difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are in long-term care; and what percentage of them are illegitimate.

61,690 of the children in the care of local authorities in England and Wales on 31st March, 1965, had been, or were expected to remain, in care for longer than six months. The returns from local authorities do not show how many are illegitimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the rule preventing an unmarried mother commencing proceedings against a putative father more than 12 months after the birth of the child is resulting in hardship, and that many unmarried mothers are not emotionally ready to face court proceedings within the 12 months nor have always become cognisant of the financial difficulty of bringing up a child; and whether he will seek to amend the law to enable an unmarried mother to take proceedings within a three-year limit as is permitted to the National Assistance Board.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that there are grounds for amending the law, but if my hon. Friend will let him have evidence of any hardship that the existing rule is causing he will be glad to consider it sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions or, if more convenient, convictions for indictable offences of violence against police officers there were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many there were in 1938 and 1948; and for each year how many were disposed of by a magistrates' court and how many on indictment by assizes or quarter sessions.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table in HANSARD showing the number of prisoners in Great Britain's prisons in the age groups of under 20, 20–30, 30–40, 40–50, 50–60 and over 60 years.

During 1964 the average population of prisons in England and Wales consisted of 1,483 persons under the age of 21 and 21,857 persons aged 21 and over. A more detailed age analysis of prison population is not available, but the age groups of adult persons on their reception into prison under sentence in 1964 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table in HANSARD showing the previous occupations, by major industrial category, of the population of Great Britain's prisons.

I regret that statistics of this nature are not compiled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of university graduates at present serving sentences in Great Britain's prisons.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the organisers of small lotteries under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, in cases where the gross proceeds do not exceed £100, have great difficulty in keeping within the 10 per cent. limit for expenses allowed under that Act; and whether he will consider increasing this limit to 15 per cent. for lotteries of which the gross proceeds do not exceed £100.

I have been told that difficulties arise which are attributable to increased printers' charges. These might in some cases be overcome by adjusting the price of the tickets within the maximum of 1s. permitted by the Act. The suggestion for increasing the limit on expenses will be borne in mind when there is an opportunity for amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what part the Commonwealth Secretariat has played in seeking a solution to the problem of Rhodesia.

The Agreed Memorandum on the Commonwealth Secretariat presented to Parliament as a White Paper (Cmnd. 2713) in July, 1965 precludes the Commonwealth Secretariat from taking an executive role in Commonwealth affairs. The Secretariat has, however, been responsible for the servicing arrangements for the recent Prime Minister's Meeting in Lagos, and is currently servicing the two committees, one concerned with sanctions and the other with training assistance, which were established at Lagos. The Secretariat has prepared and circulated factual papers in connection with Rhodesia and is facilitating the exchange of information.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he is taking to protect the life of Mr. Lazarus, a Rhodesian citizen reprieved by Her Maesty the Queen.

Steps have been taken to ensure that all those concerned know of the commutation by Her Majesty the Queen of the sentence on Mr. Lazarus. Should anyone harm Mr. Lazarus in defiance of this, he would be acting without legal authority and would have to accept liability for the consequence of his action.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when he proposes to initiate discussions with the Government of Cyprus for changes in the extent and status of the territory for which he is now responsible in the island in view of the changing British defence requirements.

I do not have it in mind to initiate discussions with the Government of Cyprus concerning the extent and status of the Sovereign Base Areas.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will cause to have examined the element in the cost of building hospitals and schools caused by architects' fees, and to have reviewed the system where such fees are fixed as a percentage of the total cost of the project; and if he will make a statement.

Fees paid to architects for school and hospital building are in accordance with the Scale of Professional Charges laid down by the Royal Institute of British Architects for building work generally. Proposed changes in the current fee scale are at present under discussion with the R.I.B.A. At the moment no change is proposed in the system by which the fee for normal services is fixed as a percentage of the cost of the work.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware of the technical defect developing in concrete constructed flats which have been erected at Lichfield and elsewhere, resulting in the absorption of water and the consequent appearance of mould on inside walls; and what advice his technical advisers can give on this matter.

No. But may I suggest that full details be sent to the Building Research Station for investigation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce provisions to enable local education authorities to change the seating ratio in school buses from four children to three seats to five children to four seats.

Under the present Regulations for school contract buses, three children under 15 may be counted as two for seating purposes, but there must be no standing. Local education authorizes can provide for more seats if they wish. We have no evidence that this concession gives rise to danger but my right hon. Friend will review it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give a date for the starting of work on the B.190 Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, 20th Mile Bridge, which has been deferred under the proposals for reducing capital expenditure.

Work should start next June.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give a date for the starting of work on the A.1000 southern link road at Hatfield, which has been deferred under the proposals for reducing capital expenditure.

Subject to the clearance of the increased cost indicated by tenders now under consideration, work on this classified road should start in the spring.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list the sections of motorway, showing the mileages in each case, which are in use, under construction, for which tenders have been invited, for which schemes have been made, for which draft schemes have been published, and for which a line has not yet been published, showing the actual or estimated completion date and the actual or estimated cost wherever possible.

The position as at 31st January is set out in the following table:

asked the Minister of Transport what initiative has been taken by her Department or by the Staffordshire County Council in effecting minor improvements on road A.453, following the undertaking given to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth.

The divisional road engineer is considering what small improvements may be possible within the funds available.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total amount of road programme investment in the North-West Region in the years 1959 and 1964, and what is the figure for the latest year for which forecasts are available, all expressed as a percentage of Great Britain's road programme investment in the same years.

Figures for 1959 are not readily available. In 1963–64 the total road programme investment in the North-West Region was approximately £17 million; it is forecast that it will be about £43 million in 1969–70. These figures represent 12 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively of the investment in Great Britain's road programme in those years.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will publish details showing how many bridges are owned or leased by British Railways, and an analysis of the total showing how long ago the various bridges were constructed.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce his decision concerning a grant to the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board, in connection with the proposed improvement to Houndsden Gutter and the construction of a new culvert at Salmon Brook in Bush Hill.

We hope to give a decision within a few weeks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the percentage cost increase per year for a standard tractor used on non-hill country farms, taking 1964 as 100 per cent.

During the last two years there have been substantial changes in tractor models and specifications, and it is not possible to make direct comparisons between the average price of current models and that of models available in 1964. In estimating cost changes from year to year the Government take account of changes in models and specifications, on the basis of confidential information supplied by the manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much haulage for sugar beet has increased during 1965 in the West Midlands.

There have been some increases in road and rail rates affecting haulage of sugar beet in the West Midlands but the 1965–66 beet processing campaign is not yet over and haulage costs are not therefore available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the gross total borrowing of farmers at the maximum in each year since 1963; and whether recent increases are in accordance with his general policy.