asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will tabulate the financial assistance given by Her Majesty's Government to those African countries which do and do not, respectively, support the illegal Government in Rhodesia.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT BILATERAL ECONOMIC AID TO INDEPENDENT AFRICAN COUNTRIES 1964–65
£'000
			Financial Assistance		Costs of Technical Assistance	Total
							Grants	Loans(a)
Commonwealth
Gambia (b)	…	…	870	65	194	1,129
Ghana	…	…	—	1,855	321	2,176
Nigeria	…	…	127	4,290	1,244	5,661
Sierra Leone	…	…	—	750	188	938
East African Common Services	…	…	258	2,831	3,364	6,453
Kenya	…	…	4,583	10,217	3,108	17,908
Tanzania	…	…	1,350	3,196	3,093	7,639
Uganda	…	…	257	1,887	2,145	4,289
Malawi (b)	…	…	7,464	1,260	1,213	9,937
Zambia (b)	…	…	3,661	850	1,869	6,380
Rhodesia, Malawi and Zambia	…	…	1,090	—	35	1,125
General (Unallocated)	…	…	—	—	59	59
TOTAL COMMONWEALTH	…	…	19,660	27,201	16,833	63,694
U.A.R. (Egypt)	…	…	—	390	4	394
Libya	…	…	3,250	—	1	3,251
Algeria	…	…	—	—	5	5
Morocco	…	…	—	—	1	1
Tunisia	…	…	—	—	28	28
Sudan	…	…	—	1,315	48	1,363
Somalia	…	…	—	—	2	2
Ethiopia	…	…	—	—	69	69
Guinea	…	…	—	—	5	5
Ivory Coast	…	…	—	—	5	5
Liberia	…	…	—	—	19	19
Mali	…	…	—	—	4	4
Niger	…	…	—	—	1	1
Mauritania	…	…	4	—	—	4
Cameroons	…	…	25	—	55	80
Congo (Brazzaville)	…	…	—	—	5	5
Burundi	…	…	—	—	9	9
Togo	…	…	—	—	5	5
Rwanda	…	…	—	—	2	2
Congo (Leopoldville)	…	…	614	—	—	614
Malagasy Republic	…	…	—	—	3	3
Senegal	…	…	—	—	1	1
Dahomey	…	…	—	—	1	1
General (Unallocated)	…	…	—	—	7	7
TOTAL FOREIGN	…	…	3,893	1,705	280	5,878
GRAND TOTAL	…	…	23,553	28,906	17,113	69,572
(a) Includes Exchequer advances to the Commonwealth Development Corporation; not C.D.C. total investment.
(b)Includes aid given before independence to countries now independent.

We are not giving financial assistance to any African country which supports the illegal régime in Rhodesia. Our total bilateral economic aid disbursed to independent African countries in the financial year 1964–65 was £69·6 million. Following is a table showing (to the nearest thousand pounds) the amounts disbursed on aid to each country:

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many requests have been received from private firms in developing countries for assisted volunteers to help in accountancy.

None. The Volunteer Graduate Scheme is not intended to provide assistance of this kind.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he is aware that people with good professional, scientific and specialist qualifications are needed for service in their own overseas countries more than they are needed in the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking to persuade them to serve their own countries instead of increasing the overcrowding of the United Kingdom.

I agree that the developing countries need people with these qualifications. The Government, however, is not prepared to bar from employment in this country, persons with professional and other qualifications who want to come here and who can make a valuable contribution to our economic development and the maintenance of our social services. In many cases, such persons return to their own countries with enhanced qualifications and experience. Students from overseas are admitted for limited periods and are normally expected to leave when their studies are complete.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the total amount in loans and grants which has been made available by the United Kingdom to Tanzania during the latest convenient nine-month period.

During the period 1st January to 30th September, 1965 payments to Tanzania amounted to £130,000 in grants and £2,276,000 in loans (including investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation). These figures do not cover the cost of technical assistance which was £2,462,000 (including Britain's share of the cost of British officers serving under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what earned income would be required today by a married man with two children, both aged 11–15 years, to give an income equal in purchasing power after tax to incomes earned in 1938 of £1,000, £2,000, £3,000, £5,000 and £10,000.

If this kind of comparison is thought useful, the answer in round figures is £4,000, £8,700, £20,000, £64,000 and £150,000 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grants or loans may now be sent to Rhodesia.

Remittances are allowed for missionary, charitable, medical and similar organisations, and Government grants to University College, Salisbury are being continued for current expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed by the Inland Revenue in October 1964; and how many are now employed.

56,480 at 1st October, 1964; 58,973 at 1st January, 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much foreign currency has accrued to the official reserves as a result of the rule he has imposed requiring that 25 per cent. of the proceeds of the sale of foreign currency securities be exchanged for sterling at the official rate and be withdrawn from the investment pool; and if he is aware that the creation, consequent upon this rule, of a market in which investment dollars are being valued at approximately 2·30 dollars to 1 pound sterling undermines the maintenance of the pound sterling at the official parity of 2·80 dollars.

The estimate I gave in the Budget is likely to be exceeded. I do not accept the last part of the Question. It is well understood that the investment currency market (which is an unofficial market) is a restricted one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remit Purchase Tax on items of uniform made exclusively for the use of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remit Purchase Tax on hand controls and other necessary modifications fitted to motorcars for the use of disabled drivers.

There is no Purchase Tax on hand controls and other modifications of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional aid would have to be given by Great Britain in the current year to meet the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development target of 1 per cent. of gross national income; what rate of Income Tax would be necessary to meet this increase; and what would be the equivalent rate of Income Tax needed if the total figure were met by a special Income Tax levy.

In 1964, the last year for which we have complete information, the flow of net official and private capital from the United Kingdom amounted to approximately 1 per cent. of the gross national product. There is no reason to suppose that the overall percentage in 1966 will be significantly different. The latter parts of the Question do not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer if the tax on fuel used by public service vehicles was abolished.

About £30 million a year. This is in addition to the exist- ing relief, worth about £5 million a year, given to bus operators under Section 92 of the Finance Act, 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will replace the investment allowances for dentists' surgery equipment.

Under the proposals announced in Cmnd. 2874, the cost of dentists' equipment will in future rank for an initial allowance of 30 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with representatives of the Committee of London Clearing Bankers, concerning the possibility of amending the Bills of Exchange Act 1882, so as to make Saturday a non-business day for banks.

The Committee has consulted my right hon. Friend, but there are a number of points to be considered before a decision on Saturday closing can be taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will increase interest payable on Post Office Savings Bank deposits in the light of interest being offered on loans to local authorities by private citizens.

No, but the Post Office Savings Bank Bill proposes a new series of Post Office Savings Bank Accounts offering a substantially higher rate of interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the action taken to suspend payment of insurance claims from the United Kingdom to Rhodesia is arousing anxiety lest similar action might be taken in the event of a political dispute between Her Majesty's Government and Governments of other countries; what action he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.

There can be no foundation whatever for any such anxiety. The Government are fully conscious of the necessity of maintaining respect for the sanctity of insurance contracts. The present situation involving the United Kingdom and Rhodesia could not arise in respect of the United Kingdom and an independent sovereign State. In Rhodesia we are dealing not with a political dispute between sovereign Governments but with a rebellion by persons in a dependent territory against their lawful Government. It should also be clearly understood that the present stop on insurance remittances to Rhodesia is temporary. It will be lifted as soon as constitutional Government is restored. British insurers will then be free to pay in full any outstanding claims due to Rhodesia.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the nuisance to local residents caused by sewerage works in Avery Hill, London, S.E.9, being carried out by the West Kent Main Sewerage Board; and if he will investigate the complaints, made by local residents, of excessive noise in the middle of the night and take steps to minimise the nuisance.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the complaints and has made inquiries. Because the ground is waterlogged, compressors must be used, night and day, to keep the sewer tunnels free of water. The contractors have taken steps to reduce noise to a minimum.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that, since the acquisition of the former children's playing field at Pershore for a car park, the children of the town have no equipped playing space; and if he will, notwithstanding his Circular No. 62/65, now sanction the necessary expenditure by the Pershore Rural District Council to re-erect on the Abbey Park the equipment removed from the former playing field.

So far as I am aware, this playing field has not yet been acquired by the rural district council for use as a car park. I understand, however, that the equipment has already been re- moved and my right hon. Friend will therefore be willing to sanction a loan to enable it to be re-erected in the Abbey Park.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will make a statement on the question of whether there should be a new review of local government in respect of the southeast Lancashire conurbation.

The question whether to proceed now with the reorganisation of local government in the south-east Lancashire conurbation depends on the Government's decision, which it is hoped to announce very shortly, whether to institute a radical review of local government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has completed his consideration of new arrangements for the management of Alexandra Palace and grounds; and if he will make a statement.

In reaching a decision about the future of Alexandra Park and Palace my overriding concern has been to ensure that its immense potentialities are developed for the benefit of London as a whole.I have given careful thought to the various views put to me. The London boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Islington favour a continuance of the trustee system and the Greater London Council are also willing to co-operate in a reconstituted trust. I am advised, however, that within the powers available it would not be possible to reconstitute the Trust on any basis which would provide a fully satisfactory administration for the future.In order to secure that the best use is made of this very valuable asset I have therefore decided to vest the Park and Palace in the Greater London Council alone. I recognise that this decision may cause some disappointment to the London boroughs whose predecessors were instrumental in saving the Park and Palace for the public but I have no doubt that both in their long-term planning and their day-to-day administration the Greater London Council will make suitable arrangements to keep in touch with them.I have today written to all those concerned to inform them of my decision and I shall be bringing the necessary order before Parliament as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now announce his decision on the proposed Meldon Down scheme for the North Devon Water Board.

My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has yet received the report by Lord Llewellyn Davies on the Newbury-Swindon area; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the consultants' report. The main recommendation is that planned development should take place on a substantial scale in the Swindon area.The report is now being printed and is expected to be ready for publication in early March when I will make a further statement. After publication I shall be consulting the other commissioning authorities (Berkshire and Wiltshire County Councils and Swindon Borough Council) as well as the South West Economic Planning Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to issue the new statistical abstract on housing foreshadowed in Command Paper No. 2838.

My right hon. Friend expects to publish the first issue of a new quarterly statistical abstract next May. The Scottish Development Department and the Welsh Office are co-operating with the Ministry in producing this publication.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what rates of remuneration he has prescribed for professional and lay members of rent assessment committees; and what salary scales and provisions for expenses he has laid down for rent officers.

Fees will be paid on a basis of 15 guineas a day for professional members and 12 guineas for lay members. All chairmen of committees will receive 18 guineas.The salary scale for Rent Officers is £1,495–£1,745 with an allowance of £250 a year for certain senior posts. Expenses will be paid on the normal basis for local authority staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give an estimate of the cost to Great Britain to date of the assistance given to Zambia in connection with, and arising from, the economic sanctions imposed against Rhodesia.

The cost of assistance to Zambia up to the 27th January, the latest date for which figures are available, was approximately £1·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many administrative officers are employed by the Commonwealth Secretariat; how many women have been appointed; how the selection is made; and what encouragement has been given to well qualified women in the Common wealth to apply.

I understand from the Commonwealth Secretariat that seven senior officers have been appointed. None is a woman. Of other staff, eight are women including the press officer.The procedure for recruitment is laid down in the memorandum agreed by Commonwealth Heads of Government presented to Parliament as a White Paper (Cmnd. 2713). There is no ban on the appointment of women, but I understand that no Commonwealth Government has nominated a women for a senior post.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many of the High Com missioners in the ex-colonial dependencies are former members of the Colonial Ser vice, now in Overseas Service; how many of these are now stationed in Africa; how many have qualifications in an African language; and what is now their average length of service in their present posts in Africa.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "none". A number of members of the Overseas Civil Service (Colonial Service) have joined the Diplomatic Service, but none of them has so far reached a rank higher than Counsellor or First Secretary. Ex-members of the Colonial Service now in the Diplomatic Service are therefore not yet eligible to be considered for High Commissioner posts, though many of them are serving at High Commissions in ex-colonial territories.The answer to the other parts of the Question is therefore also "none". Of the six High Commissioners now in Africa, all of whom are former members of the Commonwealth Service, none are known to have any African language qualifications. Their average length of service in their present posts is 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what special assistance will be given in the next three months for the relief of drought in central Africa.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3rd February to questions by the hon. Member for Stafford and Stone (Mr. Hugh Fraser), Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make funds available to enable the British Museum to publish a catalogue of Hebrew books in its possession.

It is for the Trustees of the British Museum to decide whether to devote the necessary money for this purpose from the funds available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now make a statement about the National Youth Orchestra.

I received last month an application for a grant from the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Council responsible for the Orchestra and it is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many appointments to Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education have been made during the past 10 years; how many inspectors left the service before the completion of their period of probation; in how many cases the appointment has not been confirmed on the expiration of this period; in how many cases the normal probationary period has been extended pending a final decision; and in how many of these cases the appointment has not been confirmed.

During the ten years ended 31st December, 1965, 228 appointments were made to H.M. Inspectorate of Schools. Those appointed in 1965 and some of those appointed in 1964 have not yet completed the normal 2 year probationary period: of the remainder 3 died and one resigned before the completion of the period. In one case the period was extended and the appointment was not confirmed.

asked the Minister of Transport when she proposes to give loan sanction to the Bristol City Council for a multi-storey car park serving one of the principal shopping centres in Clifton at Berkeley Place, Clifton, Bristol.

My right hon. Friend recommended the issue of loan sanction, for land acquisition and site investigation works, on 3rd February.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to investigate the necessity of erecting a Bailey walk-way attached to Shoreham Toll Bridge; if she is aware that a walk-way for pedestrians would increase safety even after the bridge itself returns to partial traffic use in mid-March; and if she will give an estimate of the cost of a walkway and the time needed to erect it.

We are advised that a suitable walk-way would probably cost more than £30,000 and take at least 12 weeks to construct. We do not consider that the use likely to be made of it would justify its provision.

asked the Minister of Transport when the study which her Department is making of the improvement of inter-urban routes in the 1970's, including the future of the southern section of the M.1, will be concluded.

In the second half of this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the cost of the new investment proposals for a full year, after taking into consideration savings in existing investment allowance.

I estimate that the total investment grants payable by my Department in respect of investment for the current year will be of the order of £250 million. The timing and size of Exchequer savings from the changes in the tax allowances for investment will depend on a number of factors, including the rate of Corporation Tax.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the arrangements which have been made by his Department in connection with the Government investment in Fairfield, Glasgow, Limited.

The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd., to which interim financial assistance had been made available in accordance with the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 4th November, 1965, transferred its shipbuilding undertaking (together with the movable assets, work in progress and shipbuilding contracts) early in January to a new subsidiary, Fairfields (Glasgow) Ltd. It is this company which was acquired on 7th January by the new financial partnership between the Government and certain private interests to which the First Secretary of State for Economic Affairs referred in his statement on 22nd December. The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd. retained its other assets including the shares of Fairfield Rowan Ltd.The capital of Fairfields (Glasgow) Ltd. is £2 million, consisting of one million £1 ordinary shares and £1 million 7 per cent. unsecured Loan Stock, 1975. The Board of Trade have acquired one half of the ordinary shares and have subscribed the whole of the Loan Stock. The other half of the issued share capital has been acquired by the private participants.If the company issues ordinary share capital in excess of the £1 million already issued, the Board of Trade will be entitled to acquire one half of the new issue. So long as it is Government policy to retain a 50 per cent. holding in the company, the Board of Trade would wish to exercise this option. No ordinary share in the Company may be disposed of to outside interests unless it has first been offered to the other shareholders at the price offered by an intending purchaser and has not been taken up by them.The company has an option to redeem the Unsecured Loan Stock in whole or in part, at par, at any time before 1st April, 1966. In the event of any new issue of ordinary shares for cash, the Board of Trade may require the company to redeem at par Unsecured Loan Stock equivalent in amount to the new share capital issued, to the extent that the Stock is still outstanding. Moreover, so long as there is Stock outstanding, total borrowing by the company may not exceed twice the issued share capital and consolidated reserves.If the company, at any time prior to 31st December, 1975, is unable to obtain adequate working capital from ordinary market sources at reasonable rates of interest and on reasonable terms and conditions, the Board of Trade will advance sums in aggregate not exceeding £500,000 at any one time outstanding on terms to be agreed with the company. The Board of Trade will have the right to have such advances secured on the assets of the company.The Governments shareholding entitles the Board of Trade to nominate one director on the board of Fairfields (Glasgow) Ltd. The other shareholders are entitled to nominate three directors. Additional directors are to be appointed by the board of directors and will hold office in accordance with the Articles of Association. The present chairman is Mr. Iain Stewart. The appointment of subsequent Chairmen will be by the board of directors, subject to the prior approval of the President of the Board of Trade. The day to day management of the company is vested in the board of directors who may appoint any one of its number to be managing director. The first managing director is Mr. Oliver Blanford. I have nominated Mr. Derek Palmar to be the Government director.No Resolution of the board of directors will be valid on any of the following matters unless there is a unanimous vote of all the directors:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give examples of total police wastage in figures and as a percentage in the years 1938, 1958, and 1965, or the latest complete year for which he has a record; and how this compares with the industrial average.

The number of men who left police forces in England and Wales (including those transferring to other forces) was 4,765 in 1965 and 4,139 in 1958. In each case this figure was 6·1 per cent. of actual strength at the beginning of the year. Information available for 1938 is not strictly comparable, but the corresponding figures are estimated to have been 3,593 and 6·1 per cent. The figures published by the Ministry of Labour are compiled on a different basis and relate to losses of employees by individual firms in manufacturing industry in Great Britain over selected periods of four weeks each. Direct comparison between the police and the industrial figures would be inappropriate, but in the four weeks ended 13th October, 1965, the number of discharges and other losses of men per 100 employed at the beginning of the period was 2·5. Police wastage was 0·5 per cent. in September, 1965 and 0·5 per cent. in October, 1965.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what finance has been made available for

			1963–64	1964–65	1965–66
					£	£	£
CD. & W. Grants	…	…	266,971	780,327	1,060,261 (actual)
Exchequer Loans	…	…	330,649	130,750	Nil
C.D.C. Investment	…	…	2,245,445	2,822,914	1,474,000 (estimate)
Budgetary Grants	…	…	855,382	1,627,804	1,500,000 (estimate)
O.S.A.S.	…	…	52,864	39,225	53,143 (actual for 9 months)
Technical Assistance	…	…	14,644	12,054	48,000 (estimate)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many cases in the last year applications for hill cow or hill ewe subsidies have been turned down, following unanimous approval by the local agricultural executive committee.

During 1965, the number of applications for the hill cow or hill sheep subsidy about which my right hon. Friend was unable to accept the advice of county agricultural executive committees, unanimous or otherwise, was four.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average real weekly earnings of agricultural workers in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively, during the latest 12 months for which he has a record; and how these compare with the agreed minimum wages.

The approved budgetary grants to Swaziland in the three years 1963–64, 1964–65 and 1965–66 were £855,000, £1,639,000 and £1,510,000 respectively. The grant-in-aid for 1966–67 has been fixed at £1,200,000, subject to the approval of Parliament.Colonial Development and Welfare allocations totalled £2,662,000 for the period 1963–66. For the new period 1965–68, £3,900,000 has been allocated; this includes approximately £1,440,000 of the previous allocation which was unspent at 31st March, 1965.Actual figures for all forms of assistance issued over the last two financial years and estimated issues in 1965–66, are:—

In England and Wales the average total weekly earnings of regular whole-time male agricultural workers over 20 years of age was £13 5s. 9d. during the year ended 30th September, 1965. The statutory minimum wage for this class of worker was £9 10s. for a standard week of 45 hours until 3rd January, 1965, and £10 2s. from 4th January, 1965; the average over the year was £9 18s. 11d.In Northern Ireland, the average total weekly earnings for the same class of worker during the year ended 31st May, 1965, was £10 1s. 10d. The statutory minimum wage varies over six districts; the average for all districts during the year ended 31st May, 1965 was £9 3s. 2d. for a standard week of 46 hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what British naval, military and air units are now in Zambia, the High Commission Territories, and waters adjoining Central and Southern Africa; and for what purposes they are there.

In response to the Zambian Government's request for air defence assistance, there are in Zambia a squadron of Royal Air Force Javelins with radar support, a squadron of the R.A.F. Regiment and a small number of Army personnel (mainly for communications); in addition there are personnel of Transport Command engaged in the supply lift.In Swaziland, there is a battalion headquarters and one infantry company to assist, if required, in the maintenance of internal security in that country, Bechuanaland and Basutoland; a company of the same battalion is in Bechuanaland to guard the radio relay station at Francis-town.It is not the practice to reveal the disposition of H.M. Ships.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the reception and amenities of Her Majesty's Forces in Zambia; and whether he will make a statement.

Excellent N.A.A.F.I. facilities have already been provided, there is a good postal service, English newspapers are supplied by airmail, books and magazines are being sent out, film shows are arranged and transport has been provided to take off-duty personnel into the nearest town. There are good sports facilities and matches are arranged with local teams. I would also refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 2nd February in reply to the hon. Members for Bromley (Mr. Hunt) and for Dorset, North (Sir Richard Glyn).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what cases of desertion and absence without leave have been reported from British units in Zambia and the High Commission Territories; and whether he will make a statement.

Three airmen have absented themselves without leave from the R.A.F. force in Zambia. Six cases of absence from Army units in the High Commission Territories were reported up to September last year. Three of these men are now back. In addition, four soldiers have been reported as absent without leave from 24th January this year and a further two from 31st January.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British officers and men have been seconded for service with the Zambian armed forces; and what cost will fall on the British Exchequer.

Thirty-eight Army and 35 Royal Air Force officers, and 29 Army and 91 Royal Air Force Non-Commissioned officers and men are seconded; British personnel have been so seconded since Zambia became independent. No additional costs fall on the British Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the objects and results of the recent mission of Major-General Willoughby in Zambia.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations informed the House on 1st February, Major-General Willoughby's mission was to discuss with the Government of Zambia the future arrangements for British forces in that country. Major-General Willoughby has submitted a report which is now being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions as to the wearing of Her Majesty's uniform and the flying of British colours are enforced upon Her Majesty's Forces engaged in the supply lift to Zambia within Tanzanian or Portuguese territory or territorial waters.

Her Majesty's Forces are not at present engaged in the supply lift within Tanzanian or Portuguese territory or territorial waters.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state the composition of the units comprising the recently announced Home Defence force which will be raised in Northern Ireland from existing Territorial Army units in the Province;

Discussions now taking place between the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations will cover the composition and location of units in the new Home Defence force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken by any of Her Majesty's ships to prevent or deter vessels from entering the port of Beira.

None; but Her Majesty's ships on the Middle East station are, of course, on the alert for any emergency duty that may be required of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet decided on the future employment of those civilian employees of the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations in the Brighton area, particulars of whom have been sent to him.

No. I am at present considering the representations I have received from the Staff Side of the Joint Administrative Council for Civilian Employees of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations on the future of Association employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware of the danger of human beings being exposed to nuclear radiation following the crash of a United States B52 bomber in Spain; and if he will give an assurance that no such dangers exist from United States aircraft stationed in this country.

I am not aware that any human beings have been exposed to danger as a result of the B52 crash in Spain. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for West Willesden by the then Secretary of State for Air on 20th February, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons he decided not to recruit the proposed Army Volunteer Reserve to its establishment of 50,000, as proposed in his statement to the House on 29th July, 1965;(2) whether his statement to the House on 29th July, 1965, that the reorganisation of the Reserve Forces would result in an annual saving of £20 million after 1969, was based on the assumption that the Army Volunteer Reserve would be recruited to only 80 per cent. of its establishment figure.

There is no question of Army Volunteer Reserve units not being allowed to recruit up to their full establishments. For planning purposes it is assumed, as it was when the statement was made last July, that the Reserve as a whole is likely to achieve a recruited strength of 80 per cent. of establishment. The annual saving of £20 million was calculated on this assumption.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the discussions he was having with the principal manufacturers of bread and flour as a result of the report on those industries of the National Board for Prices and Incomes have been concluded; and with what result.

My right hon. Friend will consider whether further discussions are necessary when the Final Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, following the reference of 3rd December, is available.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the discussions he was having with the principal manufacturers of soaps and detergents as a result of the report on those industries of the National Board for Prices and Incomes have been concluded; and with what result.

There are some outstanding points on which my right hon. Friend may require to have further discussion with the manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Power to what extent he took into consideration, when ordering a ban on advertising by the electricity authorities, the fact that the West Midlands Electricity Board, prior to the start of the cancelled advertising campaign, had requested manufacturers of night-storage heaters to have a large stock of such heaters so as to support the campaign; and if he will make a statement.

Advertising by the Electricity Council and boards was included in the general ban agreed by the Chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries last November in the light of the current fuel supply position. I did not take into account any arrangements which may have been made by the boards with makers of appliances; and any such arrangement would be a matter between the board concerned and the manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total outlay authorised by Her Majesty's Government on gas and on electricity power development during 1965.

Approval has been given for capital expenditures on fixed assets in Great Britain in 1965–66 of £117 million by the gas industry and of £733 million by the electricity industry. The industries have since agreed to defer a small part of the expenditures covered by these approvals as a contribution to lightening the load on the economy in 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give details of the total sources of income of the National Health Service during 1965; and what was the effect of the abolition of prescription charges during that year.

The estimated income for 1965–66 in England and Wales apart from taxes and local rates is:

	£ million
National Health Service contributions	144
Charges to Patients:
Central Government services	27
Local Authority Services	6
Miscellaneous	4

On the second part of the Question the total number of prescriptions issued in 1965 is not yet known, but for the months of February to November inclusive the income from prescription charges, if these had remained at the same level as before abolition, would have been £21½ million.

asked the Minister of Health what warning was given by the medical executive to practitioners in the Rugeley and Armitage areas of Staffordshire concerning the increase in population to be anticipated following the start of the construction on the coal industry housing estate at Handsacre, Armitage.

The expected increase is not large enough to call for such a warning.

asked the Minister of Health which hospitals in England and Wales have been transferred from the administration of regional hospital boards to the Boards of Governors of teaching hospitals during the last five years.

• Dulwich Hospital.
• Bristol Homoeopathic Hospital (including the Out-Patient Department).
• Lambeth Hospital.
• New Cross Hospital,
• St. Olave's Hospital,

(together with Dunoran Home, Southwark Chest Clinic and the Out-Patient Clinic at the Bermondsey Public Health Centre).

asked the Minister of Health, in respect of cases in which traffic casualties received treatment at National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales and of the last year for which information is conveniently available, what was the total amount received by National Health Service hospital authorities under the provisions of Section 212 of the Road Traffic Act 1960; in respect of how many in-patients and out-patients, respectively such payments were received; in respect of what proportion of traffic casualties treated such payments were received; what proportion of the total expenses reasonably incurred in the treatment of traffic casualties was covered by the payment received; and whether he will take steps to increase the amount received by National Health Service hospital authorities under the section referred to.

The income received under the Road Traffic Act, 1960, for hospital treatment in the year ended 31st March, 1965, was £578,000, most of which related to Section 212. The other detailed information requested is not available. I will keep in mind the point made in the last part of the Question.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will define the area of the North-East which will be able to receive B.B.C. 2 when the service opens there in the spring of this year.

The B.B.C. have told me that they will be getting into touch with my hon. Friend so as to let him know as fully as they can at this stage what their expectations are. The station should brought B.B.C. 2 to more than 1½ million people in south-east Northumberland and the eastern half of Durham.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will give a decision on the Television Advisory Committee's recommendation on coloured television.

I cannot usefully add to the reply I gave on 2nd February to my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen).

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the extent of wilful damage to public telephones in the areas of the Long Eaton Urban District Council and the South-East Derbyshire Rural District Council; and what has been the cost of repair.

3 of the 27 kiosks in Long Eaton U.D.C. area and 21 of the 86 in South East Derbyshire R.D.C. area were damaged in 1965. 2 of the 3 kiosks at present out of order have emergency facilities. The cost of repair to date, excluding overheads and loss of revenue, is estimated at £45.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the nature of the accommodation included in the new post office at Airdrie, the estimated cost of the project and the date when he expects the new building to be completed.

The new two-storey building will contain, on the ground floor, offices and a public counter with ten serving positions, and, on the first floor, the dining room, cloakrooms, etc. There will be a sorting office and yard behind the main building. The building is planned to cater for growth during the next 30 years. It will cost about £47,500, and is expected to open for business in about November, 1966.

asked the Postmaster-General why a parcel containing a duck, which was posted in Llanfyllin on 20th December, 1965, did not reach its address in Birkenhead until 31st December, 1965; what is the distance by the methods of transport used by his Department between Llanfyllin and Birkenhead; and what compensation he proposes to pay to the addressee in respect of the fact that the duck was inedible on arrival.

I much regret that this parcel was delayed. I have not been able to find the cause of the delay. About 100 miles: 25s.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of operating the fishery protection vessels under his control in the years 1964 and 1965; and what it will be in the current year.

The cost of maintaining and operating the eight vessels of the Scottish fishery protection fleet during the financial year 1964–1965 was £311,310. Expenditure in the current financial year, 1965–1966, is expected to be £330,600 and the estimated expenditure during the financial year 1966–1967 is £348,972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of young chronic sick between the ages of 16 to 35 years, 36 to 50 years, and 51 to 60 years, respectively, in each regional hospital board area accommodated in young chronic units, contractual beds, geriatric wards and long stay in general wards, respectively.

I am afraid that this information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage of the population in the age groups 16 to 35 years, 36 to 50 years and 51 to 60 years, respectively.

The following is the information at 30th June, 1965, the latest date for which an estimate is available:

Age group	Percentage of population
16–35	26·5
36–50	18·5
51–60	12·4

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the population figures for each regional hospital board area in Scotland.

The following is the information at 30th June 1965, the latest date for which an estimate is available:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultants there are attached to hospitals in Edinburgh in the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthetics, radiology, orthopaedics and general surgery, respectively; and how these numbers compare with those recommended in the Wright Report.

The information is as follows:

	Consultants in Post (December, 1965)	Wright Report Recommendation
Obstetrics and Gynaecology	15	17
Anaesthetics	26	26
Radiology	12	15
Orthopaedics	10	11
General Surgery	23	24
	86	93

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average real weekly earnings of agricultural workers in Scotland during the latest 12 months of which he has a record.

The total average weekly earnings of regular adult male agricultural workers in Scotland for the year ending March, 1965, were 250s. 4d. a week, including payments for overtime and the value of perquisites.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of houses that will be completed in Scotland in the calendar year 1966.

It is too early in the year to offer a firm estimate, but we have reason to hope that the number will exceed 39,000.

asked the Minister of Technology what estimates he has made of the proportion of machine tools in British industry over 20 years old.

In 1961, the publication "Metalworking Production" undertook a census of machine tools in use in metal working industries, which showed that 22 per cent. were over 20 years old.A second census is now being carried out by the same publication, with my full support, and the results should be available in July. I urge everybody who has received, but not yet completed their returns to do so as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Technology, if he will publish the staff figures for his Department.

Figures for the staff of my Ministry are published in Civil Estimates Class IV in the form which the House has approved.