asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a study of the possibility of siting the next prototype fast reactor atomic power station in Northern Ireland.

No. A second prototype fast reactor is not envisaged.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the split of capital investment between Dounreay and Windscale for the prototype fast reactor and its fuel production plant.

Capital investment at Dounreay, including the strengthening of the grid attributable to the project will be about £27½ million and capital investment at Windscale about £2½ million.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give his estimate of the yearly capital expenditure at Dounreay and Windscale on the construction of the prototype fast reactor.

Planning is not yet sufficiently advanced to attempt an estimate of expenditure year by year. However, the expenditure at Dounreay will rise to a maximum of about £8 million in 1970–71; and maximum expenditure at Windscale will be about £1 million in 1967–68.

asked the Minister of Technology what estimate he made of the extra cost involved in building the prototype fast reactor at Dounreay rather than Winfrith.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what estimates he made of the capital expenditure on the prototype fast reactor if located at Dounreay, Windscale, Winfrith, and Chapelcross respectively;(2) if he will give the operating costs which were estimated for the prototype fast reactor if located at Dounreay, Windscale, Winfrith, and Chapelcross, respectively.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what estimate he made of the costs, to the nearest hundred thousand pounds, of building the prototype fast breeder reactor at Dounreay and Winfrith, respectively;(2) what estimates he made of the running costs, after completion of basic capital expenditure, of a prototype fast breeder reactor, if located at Dounreay, Winfrith and Chapelcross, respectively.

As I told the House on 9th February, the difference between the estimated capital and operating costs of siting the reactor at Dounreay and Winfrith did not play an important part in the decision. Some of the factors involved in the siting of the prototype fast reactor are exceedingly difficult to quantify and it would be misleading to make precise comparisons in money terms. Estimates of the capital expenditure were not prepared for Windscale and Chapelcross, which would have required additional research facilities to support the reactor.

asked the Minister of Technology on what date he decided on the location of the prototype fast reactor which he announced on 9th February.

On several occasions I have said that the Government's decision would be announced as soon as it was made. This was done.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give his estimate of the number of people who will be employed on the construction of the Atomic Energy Authority's prototype fast reactor at Dounreay, and the fuel production plant at Windscale, in each of the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971.

The maximum labour force on construction at Dounreay will be about 700 men. At Windscale the comparable figure will be about 70 men. Planning is not yet sufficiently advanced to attempt a detailed year by year breakdown for either site.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish in HANSARD his latest estimates of all automatic data processing installations and computers, using the classification shown in Appendix 4 of Ministry of Labour Manpower Studies No. 4.

From the beginning of 1964 to the end of 1965 there have been deliveries of 395 installations, comprising

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF A.D.P. INSTALLATIONS AND COMPUTERS DELIVERED DURING 1964 AND 1965
Area, based on Economic Planning Regions		Number of Installations				Great Britain Number of Computers
			Large	Medium	Small		Total
South East (including London)	…	4	109	78	191	201
South West	…	1	9	11	21	23
West Midlands	…	1	27	11	39	39
East Midlands	…	—	12	8	20	22
East Anglia	…	2	1	—	3	3
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	—	12	8	20	21
North-West	…	—	38	18	56	60
Northern	…	—	8	5	13	15
Wales and Monmouth	…	—	3	2	5	6
Scotland	…	—	15	12	27	28
TOTALS	…	8	234	153	395	418

FORECAST DELIVERIES DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 1966
Area, based on Economic Planning Regions		Number of Installations				Great Britain Number of Computers
			Large	Medium	Small		Total
South East (including London)		—	27	10	37	42
South West	…	—	3	1	4	4
West Midlands	…	—	2	2	4	4
East Midlands	…	—	1	—	1	1
East Anglia	…	—	—	2	2	2
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	—	2	3	5	5
North-West	…	—	6	2	8	9
Northern	…	—	4	1	5	6
Wales and Monmouth	…	—	3	2	5	5
Scotland	…	—	1	1	2	2
TOTALS	…	—	49	24	73	80

asked the Minister of Technology what contribution his Department is making to Quality and Reliability Year, sponsored by the British Productivity Council, which starts during 1966; and if he will make a statement.

The National Council for Quality and Reliability, which is supported by my Department, is associated

asked the Minister of Technology what is his policy on the National Research and Development Corporation co-operating with foreign financiers to sponsor projects in Great Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to his hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Ely (Sir H. Legge-Bourke).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directions he has given to the Ministers concerned that moneys provided by them for the payment of subsidies are laid out in the most effective and economic way.

All Ministers are already fully aware of the need for economy and efficiency in all fields of public expenditure. No general directions about subsidies are necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total financial commitments since November 1964 have been withheld from schemes holding prior approval by the policy of refusal to proceed; and if he will publish the schemes involved.

Decisions taken in the defence field will produce savings of the order of £1,300 million. On the civil side, the deferment arrangements announced on 27th July last are expected to produce savings of about £50 million in 1965–66 and £70 million in 1966–67. The nationalised industries are expected to save about £90 million in 1965–66 in relation to earlier forecasts of their expenditure. I regret that a complete breakdown of the information asked for is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will from the beginning of February life unreservedly the six months' deferment he imposed on certain capital projects under the economy measures announced on 27th July, 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the six months' deferment of certain capital expenditure, announced on 27th July, 1965, is to be renewed; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Members to the Statement made to the House on 8th February last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many computers are available to his Department; and in which divisions they are used.

Any of 105 computers in Government Departments and some-belonging to other bodies which happen to have spare capacity are available to the Treasury. Nine of these computers have been used for work arising in the Economic Section, and in Pay, Finance and Management Services Divisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what criteria the Crown Estates Commissioners judge the value of the foreshore when approached to sell a portion for development.

Under the Crown Estate Act, 1961, the Commissioners are required to get the best price they reasonably can, having regard to all the circumstances other than any element of monopoly attributable to the Crown's ownership.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loss to the revenue has occurred since motor car licences were renewable on dates other than 1st January.

Virtually none.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase in sheep and livestock worrying, he will take steps to increase the dog-licence fee from 5s. to £5.

The dog licence fee in England, Wales and Scotland is 7s. 6d. An increase of the order suggested by the hon. Member would bear hardly on many dog owners; and I doubt whether it would be effective in dealing with the problem which he has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that other nations have not imposed restrictions on the settlement of insurance claims settled in Rhodesia, and that South African, Swiss and United States insurance companies have taken over many insurances previously transacted by British insurance companies; and whether he will take action to prevent further loss of business taking place.

The main action is to prosecute vigorously the Government's policy to bring about a return to constitutional government in Rhodesia. Meanwhile the Government is doing what they can by diplomatic representations to safeguard the interests of British insurers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the decision preventing the settlement of insurance claims in Rhodesia by British insurance companies has resulted in increased pressure upon British insurance companies to retain greater funds in those overseas countries where they transact insurance; and what estimate he has made as to the effect on the balance of payments.

There is often pressure on insurance companies to retain premium funds in the country of origin. I have no reason to believe that sanctions against Rhodesia have resulted in any serious increase in this pressure which would not have occurred in any event.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that all pensions due to civil and Armed Forces pensioners now resident in Rhodesia have been received by them in full; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis) on 7th February. The arrangements are working satisfactorily.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of the service of Rhodesia's outstanding debts to Great Britain in respect of which Great Britain is a guarantor; and what loss is currently being sustained on account of sanctions.

Her Majesty's Government is not the guarantor of any Rhodesian Government debt to Great Britain. My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, will be referring today, in reply to another Question, to private credits to Rhodesia which are the subject of normal E.C.G.D. guarantees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of payments of profits and dividends to Great Britain from Rhodesia in 1964; and if he will estimate the current loss to Great Britain caused by sanctions.

Payments of interest and remittances of profits and dividends resulted in a net credit to the United Kingdom in 1964 estimated at about £3 million. The loss to the U.K. balance of payments on this account to date can be not more than a small fraction of this sum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the value of banking and insurance services and other invisible exports into Rhodesia from Great Britain in 1964; and if he will estimate the current loss to Great Britain in this respect caused by sanctions.

Net earning from Rhodesia on account of services in 1964 are estimated at about £7 million. The loss to the U.K. balance of payments to date on this account can be no more than a small fraction of this sum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total present effect on the British balance of payments caused by sanctions against Rhodesia.

No exact estimate can be made. On balance, the effect so far has probably been small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he now anticipates will be the yield of duty on spirits at the end of the financial year; and whether this will represent a decrease in the original estimate.

If receipts continue as at present I do not think that there will be a deficit in the yield, as compared with the estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will take steps to institute an inquiry into tax avoidance arising from Stock Exchange transactions;(2) what action he proposes to prevent any further incidence of tax avoidance by bond-washing; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to prevent further evasion of the law in regard to the practice of bond washing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he will take to recover taxation wrongly remitted in recent cases of bond washing; what was the amount involved; and how he proposes to prevent this happening in future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he proposes to take to prevent tax avoidance in Government bond dealings;(2) what steps he will take to recover the revenue lost following the recent bond-washing operations which resulted in the suspension of members of the Stock Exchange.

I am obliged to the Stock Exchange Council for sending to the Board of Inland Revenue a copy of the Report which led to the suspension of certain jobbers and brokers. I hope the action taken by the Council will lead to closer observation of the existing rules.Nevertheless, I am considering whether there is sufficient guarantee that the Revenue is guarded against loss, and if necessary I shall bring forward further legislation.The deals in question disclose the possibility of tax irregularities; and the Board of Inland Revenue have begun a comprehensive inquiry into the position of firms and individuals whether inside or outside the Stock Exchange who have played any part in these or similar transactions.It will be sometime before I can estimate how much tax has been lost and say what action can be taken to recover it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of free depreciation claimed by companies in respect of investment in development districts in Scotland, from the inauguration of the system of free depreciation to the latest available date.

No information is available centrally as to the amount of investment in Scotland for which free depreciation was claimed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that non-agreed assessments are now issued during the summer holiday months, he will agree to the duration of the appeal period being extended from 30 to 60 days in order to avoid the necessity of applications for extensions.

No. I do not think that any general extension of the time limit for appeals is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average level of sick leave in the Civil Service before provisions were made for paid sick leave; and what the average level for the latest available year.

Provisions for paid sick leave go back 100 years and the information is therefore not available. As regards the second part of the Question, sample surveys suggest that the average sick leave in the non-industrial civil service is about ten days a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why serving officers of Her Majesty's Forces who are required by the traditions and conditions of their service to pay mess subscriptions are not able to obtain tax relief in respect of such payments.

Because these payments are not made wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of an officer's duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remove the Purchase Tax on musical instruments.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total amount of tax that would be obtained, in each group, in a full financial year, if a tax on personal wealth were introduced in the following categories, namely, ½ per cent. on all personal wealth from £20,000 to £50,000, 1 per cent. from £50,000 to £100,000, 2 per cent. from £100,000 to £200,000, 3 per cent. from £200,000 to £300,000, 4 per cent. from £300,000 to £400,000, and 5 per cent. on over £400,000 respectively.

Approximately £20 million, £35 million, £45 million, £30 million, £20 million and £100 million respectively, totalling roughly £250 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the high cost of erecting a fire escape, as required by recent legislation, is deterring many people from letting rooms and flats in their houses, thereby aggravating the housing shortage; and whether he will take steps to enable the cost to be offset, in whole or in part, against Income Tax.

I have noted the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion about tax relief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure on tobacco and alcohol for 1964 and 1965, respectively; and approximately how much per head of population this represents.

Total consumers' expenditure in 1964 is estimated to have been £1,344 million on tobacco and £1,317 million on alcoholic drink, equivalent to about £25 and £24 per head of the total population. Complete figures for 1965 are not yet available but preliminary estimates suggest that expenditure in 1965 on both tobacco and alcoholic drink was higher than in 1964 in money terms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) why it is not possible to give particulars of the original cost of securities held by the Post Office Savings Bank Fund; and if he will give an estimate;(2) if he will revise the method of presentation of the annual accounts of the Post Office Savings Bank Fund so as to conform with the best commercial practice; and if, in particular, he will show the original cost and date of purchase of securities held, together with their current market value.

The National Debt Office keeps book values of its holdings of each stock. These are adjusted by adding the actual cost of new purchases and deducting proceeds of sales, and they thus differ from the original cost of the current holding. It is not possible to work back through the records and obtain the original cost of current holdings, or to give an estimate, as some securities have now been held for as much as 50 years and, following normal disposal procedures, the records have been destroyed.It is therefore not possible to present the accounts in the form suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total sum which has been re-invested in the Post Office Savings Bank Fund as general provision against depreciation of securities and the annual amount since 1950; and if he will indicate the basis on which this general provision is determined.

Figures for the annual amounts dating back to 1861 are not readily available, but in general the amounts were small. Figures for the annual amounts since 1950 are as follows:

	£000
1950	147
1951	74
1952	76
1953	105
1954	121
1955	95
1956	1,098
1957	1,116
1958	1,576
1959	1,135
1960	2,428
1961	3,480
1962	4,162
1963	4,466
1964	5,658

The sums to be retained against depreciation are, under Statute, determined by the Treasury. At present, 50 per cent. of the Fund's surplus income is retained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the percentage yield per annum since 1950 on the moneys invested in the Post Office Savings Bank.

	Per cent. yield
1950	2·88
1951	2·88
1952	2·93
1953	2·99
1954	3·03
1955	3·06
1956	3·13
1957	3·19
1958	3·26
1959	3·29
1960	3·43
1961	3·57
1962	3·71
1963	3·79
1964	3·91

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend to mobile shops the duty concession, which is at present limited to showmen's vehicles.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to a similar Question from my hon. Friend on 4th May, 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to give increased security of tenure to workers made redundant when they occupy houses owned by their companies and are given notice to quit.

No worker having exclusive possession of service accommodation can be evicted without an order from the court. If he holds the accommodation on a tenancy to which the Rent Acts apply and not on a licence, the court have power to make the order only if they are satisfied on certain statutory requirements. If the hon. Member has evidence of abuse of the system of service occupation I would be glad to have it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he is making to local authorities to encourage them to make land available for private enterprise to build houses for sale.

The Government's policy is set out in paragraph 25 of the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 2838).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what percentage of dwellings built in each of the years between 1959 and 1964, inclusive, in the private sector was for owner-occupation.

The information is not available; but my right hon. Friend believes that nearly all the new dwellings in the private sector are built for owner-occupation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received about back-dating 4 per cent. loans on council house building; what would be the approximate cost to the Government of back-dating them from November, 1965, to November, 1964, and to November, 1963; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have received representations from 11 hon. Members, 24 local authorities and 1 local authority association. The extra cost in England and Wales of putting back the qualifying date would be:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will seek to introduce lower mortgage rates for the benefit of voluntary housing associations;(2) whether, in formulating his plans for specially favourable mortgage rates for certain house purchasers, he will give consideration to the needs of voluntary charitable organisations.

Housing associations providing subsidised housing by authorised arrangement with local authorities will have the benefit of the new subsidies proposed in the Housing Subsidies Bill. Others have been given substantial tax reliefs in the Finance Acts of 1963 and 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the increase in the rate liability of each of the universities and university institutions listed in the First Schedule to the Rating and Valuation Act, 1961, for each complete financial year since the Act came into force.

My right hon. Friend has no information about the rate liabilities of these institutions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that on housing estates in new town areas rents and/or rates are fixed by local authorities on which tenants of council houses have no direct representation or other constitutional means of expressing their reaction to proposals affecting their rents and rates; and whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that these tenants are fully represented in these cases on the appropriate authority.

Development corporations are not local authorities and do not levy rates; they are appointed by my right hon. Friend to develop new towns, and they fix rents as owners and managers of property.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that on housing estates in over spill areas rents and/or rates are fixed by local authorities on which tenants have no direct representation or other constitutional means of expressing their reaction to proposals affecting their rents and rates; and if he will seek power to ensure that such tenants are fully represented in the appropriate responsible authority.

No. Rates are fixed in these cases by the council for the area in which the houses are situated. So far as rents are concerned my right hon. Friend does not think tenants need to be directly represented upon the council which is their landlord in order to bring their views to its attention.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will authorise the renewal of capital grants in aid by local authorities to community associations in their areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on public expenditure made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8th February. My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider an application to borrow money for this purpose where a local authority can show that there is an urgent need.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement about his plans to designate a new town upon South Humberside.

A review is being made of population trends and the pattern of settlement up to the year 2,000. An interim report, including a list of areas suitable for development, should be available for consideration by Ministers by midsummer. When the results of this review are available, it should be possible to begin the detailed studies of those areas which, like Humberside, offer possibilities of major growth. The designation of a new town would be the final stage.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the fact that he can make no further progress with the reorganisation of Tyneside on his proposal without a further inquiry, he will undertake to refer the future of Tyneside reorganisation to the Royal Commission.

I would refer the hon. Member to what I said in reply to the supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) following my statement about local government reorganisation on February 10th (OFFICIAL REPORT, February 10th, col. 648).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the inspector's report regarding the Scotch Street comprehensive development area of Carlisle.

My right hon. Friend has just received the inspector's report. The proposals were contested by many local people, and raise issues which may take some time to consider, but he will make his decision known as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table which sets out the Statutes whose enforcement or operation falls within the responsibility of his Department or of local or other public authorities under the guidance or surveillance of his Department and which provide for the licensing, registration or inspection of persons, premises or institutions of a particular kind, identifying in each case the authorities or persons by whom such licensing, registration or inspection is to be effected, and stating in each case the extent to which he is satisfied that the processes of licensing, registration and inspection are being completely and effectively carried out.

This information is not readily available and I do not consider that the large body of work involved in attempting to provide it would be justified. If, however, the hon. Member is concerned with the administration of a particular function and cares to put down a Question on this aspect, I will do what is possible to help him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the Local Government Commission is not proceeding with its review of the South-East, and has informed local authorities that it does not expect them to submit evidence in respect of new matters; what communication he has had with the Commission about this matter; whether he is satisfied that this is consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1958; what steps he proposes to take to secure longer consideration of changes in local government organisation; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and by me on 10th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware of the difficulties of Christian missions in Rhodesia; and what are his plans to assist those missions to carry out their work in Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations made in the House on Tuesday, 25th January, in reply to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart). In this connection, I would like to draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement issued by the Office of the African Secretary of the Conference of British Missionary Societies on 27th January, on behalf of the London Missionary Society, the Methodist Missionary Society, the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the British and Foreign Bible Society. The statement read as follows:

"Neither the Missionary Societies in Britain nor the Churches in Rhodesia, with which they are in relation, wish the Church to be given special privileges at a time when others are suffering. At the same time they believe that the pastoral care exercised by the Church in a time of spiritual tension and service to African education form a vital contribution to the future peace of Rhodesia. In the circumstances the Missionary Societies consider the level of remittances authorised by the Government to be reasonable and fair. They have received every consideration from the Government in the discussion of their problems."

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the transactions of the Rhodesian Parliament.

We do not, of course, accept the so-called Parliament which was purported to be established by the Constitution promulgated by the illegal régime in Rhodesia has any legal status. The Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia which was established under the 1961 Constitution is still lawfully in being, but under Section 3 (1) of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution Order 1965 it is prohibited from making any laws or transacting any other business. Accordingly, whether the body now sitting in Salisbury is looked at as the Parliament under the rebel Constitution or as the Legislative Assembly under the valid 1961 Constitution, its transactions have no legal effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement about the continued presence of the British Military Training Team in Ghana.

The British Joint Services Training Team was established in Ghana by an Exchange of Notes between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Ghana on 1st May, 1962. Under this agreement the Team was established for the purpose of assisting in the training and development of the Ghana Armed Forces. Our present policy is to maintain the Team in Ghana in accordance with the Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what protest he has made to the Government of Zambia about the cessation of Commonwealth preferences for British goods; and with what results.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on this subject on 25th January, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what has been the cost of the airlift to Zambia up to the present date; and how the cost is to be apportioned between the countries taking part in it.

The cost of the British civil and R.A.F. airlifts to Zambia up to 9th February, the latest date for which figures are available, was approximately £1·28 million. The cost of Canadian and American airlifts is, of course, a matter entirely for those Governments, and I have no information on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will estimate the cost of British economic support to Zambia on account of sanctions against Rhodesia.

The cost of assistance to Zambia up to the 9th February, the latest date for which figures are available, was approximately £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that oil supplied to Zambia by Great Britain is now being sold by Zambia to Rhodesia; what is the cost per gallon of that oil; and what action he will take.

At a press conference on 10th February President Kaunda dismissed as wholly unfounded allegations that P.O.L. was being sold to Rhodesia by Zambia.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that undistributed stocks of coal are greater than they were 12 months ago and export tonnages are substantially less, if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to open up new markets abroad for British coal.

The export of coal is a commercial matter for the National Coal Board, who are in any case fully aware of the need to promote exports wherever there are satisfactory opportunities.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he has taken to apply in Great Britain the United States Office of Coal Research's new technique for making gas from lignite coal.

Steps to apply new techniques are matters for the industries concerned. The particular technique for making gas from coal to which the hon. Member refers is the subject of a research project being carried out by the British Coal Utilisation Research Association.

asked the Minister of Power what arrangements he has made for the inquiry into the recent breakdowns in gas supply in the West Midlands.

I have asked Sir Robert Wynne-Edwards, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., M.A., Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Chairman of the Council of Engineering Institutions, to make this inquiry. His terms of reference will be:

"To investigate the extent and causes of the shortage of gas supplies in the West Midlands Area during the winter of 1965–66 with particular reference to the availability of plant and the breakdowns experienced, and the steps taken to restore supplies, and to report."

Sir Robert will be free to seek expert aid and advice from assessors as he may think desirable.

asked the Minister of Power what information he has as to the loss which is being sustained on account of sanctions by British companies who normally supply oil to Rhodesia.

I have no information on losses of revenue. British companies previously supplied about 300,000 tons of oil a year to Rhodesia. About a third of this was for Zambia. Supplies for Rhodesia have stopped but alternative arrangements, in which the British companies are participating, have been made to supply Zambia.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what requests he has received for medical equipment and personnel to combat the spread of disease in Southern Sudan resulting from the pre sent conditions.

None.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial assistance is available under the technical assistance programmes to British expatriate officers in the Nigerian public services.

I have recently agreed with the Nigerian authorities to supplement salaries of British expatriate officers in the Nigerian public services. The scheme will cost about £600,000 a year and will affect some 1,200 officers. Provision for payments falling due in the current financial year has been included in the spring Supplementary Estimates.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give as a percentage the effect which bus and train fares have upon the cost of living; and what has been the trend in each from 1951 to the latest convenient date.

A rise of 1 per cent. in bus fares and in train fares would raise the retail prices index by ·023 per cent. and ·008 per cent., respectively. Increases in bus and train fares accounted for about one-eighteenth of the rise of 75 per cent. in the retail prices index between January, 1951, and December, 1965. During this period bus and train fares, taken together, are estimated to have risen by about 150 per cent. On the advice of Cost of Living Advisory Committee percentage changes for smaller divisions than sub-groups of the retail prices index are not published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of trade to the most recent convenient date as compared with 1954; and on what data or formula they are calculated.

The terms of trade in 1965 were 17 per cent. higher than in 1954. They are obtained by expressing the export unit value index as a percentage of the import unit value index; the calculation of these indices was explained in detail in Economic Trends for September, 1963.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of his policy that the solus system in the petrol trade, as now operated, is in some respects contrary to the public interest, and the fact that the Monopolies Commission has recommended certain safeguards against those features that it considers to be harmful, he will make a statement on the action he intends to take.

My right hon. Friend made a statement on this matter in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 10th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what would be the cost if office machinery were to qualify for investment grants of 20 per cent.

Approximately £6–£8 million at the current level of investment. This estimate does not cover computers, items not normally charged as capital expenditure or public sector investment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the balance of trade between Rhodesia and Great Britain was favourable to Great Britain in 1964; and if he will estimate the loss currently being caused to Great Britain by sanctions.

Rhodesia was not distinguished in United Kingdom trade statistics in 1964; Rhodesian figures were as follows:

	£ million f.o.b.
Exports and re-exports to U.K.	31·2
Imports from U.K.	33·4

The difference between these figures is not a good measure of the balance of payments for trade, but this cannot have been large. I am not able to provide the estimate asked for in the second part of the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the value of the loss likely to be sustained in respect of claims for lost exports against the Export Credit Guarantee Department on account of sanctions against Rhodesia.

The maximum liability of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of goods which cannot at present be shipped to Rhodesia under insured contracts is estimated at £1·4 million. The actual loss to be sustained cannot yet be assessed but should prove substantially less. There would be savings in respect of goods which can be resold and on goods where the manufacturing process is not completed; and some goods may eventually be shipped.In addition there is insured credit outstanding in respect of past business. The amount of this still to be paid cannot be accurately estimated but could amount to some £5 million, with payments due over the next 5 years. While claims are likely to arise they should be largely recovered once normal conditions are restored.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of goods exported to Rhodesia from Great Britain in 1964; and if he will estimate the current export loss to Great Britain caused by sanctions.

Rhodesia was not distinguished in United Kingdom trade statistics in 1964. Rhodesian statistics record imports from the United Kingdom in that year as £33·4 million f.o.b. I am not able to provide the estimate asked for in the second part of the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the value of insurance business in Rhodesia previously enjoyed by Great Britain and now being transferred elsewhere by Rhodesia on account of sanctions.

While the figure is considerable, it is not possible to estimate it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the value of lost British exports to Malawi and Zambia, having regard to the damage done to their economies on account of sanctions against Rhodesia.

There has so far been no sign of any such loss of British exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate by how much the price of Zambrian copper exported to Great Britain has been increased on account of sanctions against Rhodesia.

There has been no increase in the price of Zambian copper exported to Great Britain on account of sanctions against Rhodesia. On 3rd January, 1966, the Zambian copper companies raised the price of copper sold on a contractual basis from £304 a ton to £336 a ton. This increase followed similar increases announced by copper producers in other parts of the world.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for industry in Northern Ireland to have a choice between the proposed investment incentives and the current arrangements including free depreciation.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the application of the proposed investment incentives to Northern Ireland.

No. This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if cash investment grants will be available on machinery purchased in the newspaper industry.

It is the intention that the machinery should be eligible if it is used in the production process. For instance, printing machinery used by the newspaper industry would qualify; office equipment would not.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date in 1966 it is hoped to have B.B.C.2 television available in Northern Ireland; and to which areas of the Province this service will initially be available.

The B.B.C. UHF station at Divis is expected to open in the autumn. They will let the hon. Member know what coverage they expect the station to attain. It should, I understand, bring B.B.C.2 to nearly a million people in Belfast and the eastern half of the Province.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the British Broadcasting Corporation Channel One transmitter in the Cheltenham-Gloucester area is working satisfactorily; what further steps the British Broadcasting Corporation is taking to ensure better reception of television in the Stroud area; and whether he will make a statement.

The B.B.C. tells me that its Cheltenham-Gloucester relay station located at Churchdown Hill is working satisfactorily; but points out that the coverage of this station was not expected to include the Stroud area. Reception in Stroud of their transmissions on Channel 5 from Wenvoe is, the Corporation add, generally satisfactory, provided suitable aerials are properly installed.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is expected that the present modernisation works at Gladstone Telephone Exchange will be completed, providing for the changeover to subscriber trunk dialling.

STD was introduced for Gladstone subscribers on 13th December, 1965. Subscribers on the Dollis Hill exchange which serves the same area will get STD next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what contacts he has made with organisations in other countries investigating and developing computer technique for scientific and technical information storage, abstraction, and retrieval; and what plans he has to collaborate on joint development programmes.

The Office for Scientific and Technical Information, which is within the Department of Education and Science, seeks to keep in close touch with organisations in other countries, and to encourage co-operation on development work. A current example is an experimental literature retrieval service based upon a system inaugurated by the United States National Library of Medicine in July, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent either his Department or the computer centre administers the sponsorship of projects for developing techniques for scientific and technological information storage, abstraction, and retrieval.

Sponsorship of such projects is a principal function of the Office of Scientific and Technical Information within the Department. For this, and other related activities, £180,000 was provided in the Estimate for the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum is expended in any one year on educational research in schools in England and Wales; what proportion is disbursed through the National Foundation for Educational Research; and what proportion goes direct through local authorities.

Within my Department's total programme of support for educational research in the current financial year, about £250,000 will be spent on projects related to the schools and school children. About £55,000 of this will be included in payments to the National Foundation for Education Research, which conducts research but does not disburse funds. None of the Department's research funds are allocated through the local education authorities.Research of this kind is also supported by local education authorities, charitable foundations and universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the dispute with the West Midlands Gas Board and the consequent delay in starting the new county primary school at Albrighton, what request for loan sanction he has received from the Shropshire County Council for temporary school classrooms to be made available at Albrighton Junior School.

I understand that the Shropshire local education authority plans to provide temporary accommodation at the Albrighton County Infants School and the Albrighton County Junior School as part of its 1966–67 minor works programme.I have received no request for loan sanction for this work, which may be financed from revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can yet estimate the date of the completion of a new school at Handsacre, work on which is scheduled to start this year.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave him on 27th January. The Staffordshire authority is negotiating for the purchase of a site. Until one has been acquired and work has started, no reliable estimate of the date of completion is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which Government research body is responsible for evaluating the cumulative effects of additives and contaminants in food, water, atmosphere, and industrial processes, on human health; how frequently reports of this body are issued; and in what form.

The Government are advised by a series of expert committees—with interlocking membership as necessary—concerned with specific aspects of this general field, and in this way the position in each is kept under constant review. I am sending my hon. Friend a booklet describing the committee structure for providing such advice in relation to chemicals, additives and drugs.These various committees not only evaluate current information but point the way as the occasion demands for the institution of further research, and their views are brought to the attention of the appropriate research council or other relevant organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many copies were sent out of Survey of Information Needs of Mechanical Engineers; and what was the total cost thereof, including paper and postage.

About 5,000 copies are being dispatched at an estimated cost in postage of about £200. This survey is being conducted by the Library Association with support from my Department, through the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, which has been represented on the steering committee. Support is taking the form of dispatching the copies and receiving and mechanically processing the replies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been made to him by diocesan educational authorities and others regarding the future rôle of church and voluntary schools in the reorganisation of education; and if, following the representations made to him by the hon. Member for Newark and others, he will now make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of Swansea schoolchildren attend special schools for handicapped children; and how this proportion compares with the national figure.

In January, 1965, the latest date for which information is available, 0·83 per cent. of Swansea school children were attending special schools for handicapped children. This compared with the national figure of 0·96 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many deaf children and how many partially deaf children attend special day classes at Swansea schools;(2) what are the sizes of special classes for deaf and partially deaf children at Swansea schools;(3) if deaf and partially deaf children are taught in the same classes in Swansea schools.

20 full-time pupils of Waun Wen Primary School are in two special classes for the partially hearing containing 10 children each. In addition, three pupils of other schools attend these classes part-time. The classes do not contain any pupils classified as deaf.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is his policy to encourage the teaching of deaf and partially deaf children in separate classes; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, at the stage when classification of individual pupils as deaf or partially hearing is possible. This involves an evaluation, often extending over a number of years, of a variety of factors in addition to degree of hearing loss.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what class sizes are recommended by his Department for deaf and partially deaf children.

The statutory maximum is 10 in each case. Local education authorities are aware of those circumstances making it desirable for handicapped pupils to be in classes smaller than the prescribed maxima.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the percentages of university students in England and Wales who fail their courses in the arts and science faculties, respectively, in the first, second and third year, respectively, distinguishing between men and women students.

The latest available information is in Appendix 2A of the Robbins Report on Higher Education, and relates to those who fail to complete their course for any reason. Of undergraduates entering in 1957, 11·9 per cent. in arts, 14·7 per cent. in science and 20·8 per cent. in technology failed to complete the course; in arts, 50 per cent. of these were first year students, 24 per cent. second year and 26 per cent. third or fourth year, including failures in the final examinations; in science the corresponding percentages were 43, 31 and 26 and in technology 50, 30 and 20. Men and women are not shown separately.