asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, following his re-examination of the matter, he will now give an assurance that all funds for missions and their staffs in Southern Rhodesia will be remitted freely and without any deductions.

Each case must be considered on its merits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he refuses to make the Scottish bank note legal tender.

Except in wartime bank notes other than those issued by the Bank of England have never been legal tender. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to make an exception now in favour of Scottish bank notes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, in respect of the calendar years 1963 and 1964, the total sums treated by the Inland Revenue as an allowable expense for purposes of taxation in respect of damages for libel and plaintiffs' costs awarded by the courts against newspapers and periodicals and sums paid by them in settlements made out of court.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost to public funds of preparations for the threatened railway strike.

The information is not readily available and could not be obtained except at an excessive cost to public funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since the duty on whisky in Great Britain was raised by 4s. a bottle last April, 21 countries have raised their taxes on imported spirits, thus making it increasingly difficult for the British whisky industry to maintain their sales in those markets; and whether he will take suitable action in his next Budget to remedy this matter.

Representations have been made to this effect; but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt trade exhibitors at agricultural shows from those provisions of the Finance Act, 1965 relating to entertainment expenditure, in view of the marked decrease in the number of trade exhibitors applying for space at 1966 shows.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to improve the working conditions of Customs and Excise preventive officers.

A number of measures are being taken, including additional recruitment, to try to offset the burden imposed on working conditions by the continual growth in traffic.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a container of furniture coming from Eire to London, containing valuable furniture and pictures, was dropped in the Thames when being off-loaded in the East India Docks on 3rd February and still remains there, since the Customs papers for clearing this container have not yet come from Dublin; and why, in such an emergency, no action has been taken to let this container be unpacked to save the furniture and pictures from fatal damage.

There is some disagreement about what occurred. It may be that there was a misunderstanding. I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will abolish the Purchase Tax on schoolchildren's foot wear; and if he will make a statement.

Most of the footwear worn by schoolchildren is already free from purchase tax under the exemption for young children's footwear.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he in tends to introduce legislation to establish the proposed position of Parliamentary Commissioner.

A Bill for this purpose was introduced on the 14th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why per mission is sometimes refused to trustee savings banks who wish to increase the rate of interest payable to investors.

Changes in the rate of interest paid by the Special Investment Departments of Trustee Savings Banks require the approval of the National Debt Commissioners, who consider all relevant circumstances in the interests of depositors. Last summer the banks were asked not to seek approval of interest rates above 5 per cent., but this special request is now being withdrawn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income-earning projects exceeding £250,000, £1 million and £5 million in value, respectively, are at present being undertaken by Government departments, nationalised industries and other public authorities; and in what proportion of these the capital equipment proposals involved have been subjected to discounted cash flow analysis.

I regret that the information requested could not be made available without undue expenditure of time and effort. The value of discounted cash flow analysis is widely recognised in the public sector and the Government seek to ensure that it is used wherever it is appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to withdraw the validity of bank notes to values from £20 to £1,000 which have not been issued since 1943.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue he estimates would be secured by charging a licence fee of £100 on each of the automatic gambling fruit machines.

Probably about £4 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as a first step towards the decimalisation of British currency, he will mint more florins and fewer half-crowns.

Many more florins than half-crowns are being minted this year, but that is to meet current demand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of British investment in Africa; and what is this expressed as a percentage of total British overseas investment.

Comprehensive figures are not available but the value of United Kingdom private direct investment (including oil) and portfolio investment in Africa at the end of 1964 is roughly estimated to have been in the range £1,400–£ 1,500 million, which is about 15 per cent. of the value of the corresponding investment in all overseas countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in tabular form, the total amount of public investment in Wales of each of the last 15 years, expressed in absolute terms and in terms of 1965 prices; and what was the real average percentage annual increase in Wales.

I regret that separate information on total public investment in Wales for the years covered by the question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that imports have increased by 2 per cent. over the past three months, despite the 10 per cent. surcharge, if he will now take steps to double the surcharge so as to reduce imports and help the balance of payments problem; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to previous statements on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the financial and economic consequences for the United Kingdom of the transfer of Rhodesian gold sales from London to the Republic of South Africa.

The consequences will be very slight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the administrative difficulties and the disproportionate expenditure caused for unit trusts and investment trusts by subjecting them to tax on realised gains; and if he will take steps to exempt them from this tax.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the explanatory booklets about the Capital Gains Tax and Corporation Tax will be available to the public.

These booklets will be available at tax offices tomorrow. For the convenience of hon. and right hon. Members I am also arranging for copies to be placed in the Vote Office today.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has for assisting local housing authorities who wish to purchase dwellings now in private ownership, where neglect of necessary maintenance would otherwise lead to loss of available accommodation.

My right hon. Friend has no such proposal at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the average rise in rents of council houses in England over the period 1st January, 1965, to 31st December, 1965.

Local authorities are not required to notify my right hon. Friend of changes in rent levels of council houses. Consequently he has no reliable figures.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he proposes to take to persuade local authorities to help and promote housing associations to assist Commonwealth immigrants, as referred to in paragraph 37 of the White Paper, Immigration from the Commonwealth.

The White Paper invited local authorities to do their utmost to help housing associations which have integration as one of their aims. This view was echoed in the Fourth Report of the Commonwealth Immigrants Advisory Council. My right hon. Friend does not think that further pressure on local authorities is necessary at the present time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publicly advise tenants not to enter into agreements or leases with their landlords at new rents which might circumvent the Rent Act 1965, without first consulting the rent officer or a solicitor.

In the publicity on the Act, and in particular in my right hon. Friend's broadcasts, he has made it clear that, except in some limited ways, it is illegal for a landlord to raise the rent for a regulated tenancy before a fair rent is registered; and that anyone in doubt should get proper advice. My right hon. Friend is glad to underline this, by means of this Question and Answer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were started by local authorities in the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire in 1965.

14,625.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were completed in England and Wales in 1965.

347, 181.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the public expenditure on housing and environmental services in Yorkshire and Humberside for 1964–65; and what percentage this represents of the total for the United Kingdom.

Estimated expenditure on building and new construction for housing and environmental services in Yorkshire and Humberside for 1964–65 amounted to £53·1 million, or 83 per cent. of the total for the United Kingdom. An apportionment of other housing and environmental services expenditure is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of holiday and other accommodation left vacant by landlords uncertain of being able to regain possession owing to the Rent Act, 1965.

Twenty-five cases of this kind were reported to me after the passage of the Protection from Eviction Act, 1964. There is no reason to anticipate any increase under the Rent Act, 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when Part II of the Rent Act, 1965, is to be brought into operation in the administrative county of Essex.

I expect the machinery to be ready to start in April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give advice to planning authorities regarding the proximity of residential property to industrial premises where inflammable or explosive sub stances are in use.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that planning authorities need any general advice from him on this matter. In particular cases, it is open to them to consult the fire authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many planning appeals are now in his Department awaiting his decision; what is the average time which now elapses between receipt of an appeal by his Department and the communicating of his decision to those concerned; how these figures compare with those of 18 months ago; and what steps he is taking to reduce delay in dealing with these appeals.

I am glad to have the opportunity to correct and amplify the figures which I gave in the Adjournment debate on 7th February. There are 8,500 appeals in my Department awaiting determination. The average time between receipt and decision is now 44 weeks for appeals which go to inquiry, and 32 for those settled on written representations. Comparable figures for 18 months ago were 7,200, 32 and 30.I am very concerned about these figures. They reflect a continuing high intake of appeals, which is producing a cumulative burden of work. Over 13,000 appeals in England were received during 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now in a position to state the terms of reference of the inquiry which is to be held into certain aspects of the Whitehall Plan and the name of the person who will preside.

Yes. Sir Robert Matthew has accepted my invitation to conduct this inquiry and report on proposals for the Broad Sanctuary area. The inquiry, which arises out of the Martin and Buchanan reports on Whitehall, will be into proposals for the future use or uses of the area bounded by Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary, Great George Street and Storey's Gate, having regard to the provisions of the development plan for Greater London and any other relevant considerations. A public notice will be issued shortly giving the time and place of the inquiry which I hope will begin early in May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce his decision on the appeal of Messrs. Ede Developments, Oxford, Limited, in relation to planning permission for residential development of a site at Hilltop, London Road, Headington.

My right hon. Friend's decision was announced on 21st February and the hon. Member was sent a copy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that certain local authorities include in their conditions of contract, when putting out tenders in respect of housebuilding, a condition that the contractors shall not employ on the site of the works to be executed any manual worker who is not a member of a trade union affiliated to or eligible for affiliation to the Trades Union Congress; and whether he will take steps to ascertain the additional expenditure resulting from this restriction in the field of tendering, and inform the House.

I am aware of at least one case where a local authority has for some years sought compliance by tenderers with such a condition. But I have no evidence that the authority have experienced any difficulty in obtaining tenders, and an examination of the tender prices approved since October, 1964, for houses in this area has shown no excess over the general level of prices obtained by neighbouring authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will give guidance to river authorities on the most practicable way of requiring and enforcing conditions relating to assessment of abstracted water, otherwise than by metering, where it is used for farming or horticultural purposes;(2) as under licences of right granted under the Water Resources Act 1963 farmers must install meters on movable equipment, in view of the capital expense involved and of the doubtful reliability of meters attached to portable equipment, whether he will initiate further research into the problem.

The Water Resources Board has already given guidance to river authorities about measurement and assessment, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Board's memorandum. My right hon. Friend is advised that metering, which is in many cases the appropriate method of measurement, need present no special difficulty, even on portable equipment. He is satisfied that adequate meters are available at reasonable cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the increase of staff in his Department which will be necessary as a result of legislation passed since October 1964.

Of the legislation passed since 1964, only the Rent Act 1965, will lead to an increase of staff in my Department. The best estimate I can make at present is that about 240 staff may ultimately be needed to service the Rent Assessment Committees now being established, but recruitment to this total will be phased over some months and will be determined by actual need.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet received the report of the public inquiry into the road development scheme involving the A.456 road at Colley Gate, Halesowen, Worcestershire; and when he will give a decision.

I assume my hon. Friend means the A.458. My right hon. Friend has received the report and hopes to issue a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations have been received from local authorities and their associations for increased penalties for litter offences; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has recently received representations from the Greater London Council and the local authority associations that the maximum fine of £10 under the Litter Act, 1958, is too low, particularly for large-scale dumping. He has undertaken to consider their suggestions and he is now doing so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will reach a decision on the Abingdon Review Town Map.

Following a meeting between the Department's officials and the Berkshire County Council last week my right hon. Friend is waiting for further information. He hopes to issue his list of modifications soon after that is received.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the new London boroughs have yet set target dates for clean air as required by the Clean Air Act, 1956; what such dates are; and if he will request those who have not set dates to do so.

The Clean Air Act does not require local authorities to set target dates and the new London Boroughs have not done so. But in due course my right hon. Friend will be asking all local authorities in the black areas to let him have up-to-date programmes for bringing their areas under smoke control.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many firms and how many individuals have responded to the persuasions of the Location of Offices Bureau to move their offices out of London, and how many individual employees have been thus affected, in each of the years since the Bureau was set up.

As a result of the Bureau's activities, 19 firms—a total of 2,021 posts—moved out of Greater London in 1964. In 1965 the figures were 68 firms and 5,191 posts. In addition, 110 firms with 4,083 posts moved in these two years from Central London to the suburbs.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what further steps he plans to take to ameliorate tax and import and export relations directed to increasing the flow of trade between Great Britain and Eire and Northern Ireland, respectively.

The Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement signed on 14th December, 1965, which comes into force on 1st July, 1966, contains ample provision for increasing the flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on the one hand, and the Irish Republic on the other.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what expenditure of public funds from Her Majesty's Government is involved in the purchase of railway tanker wagons from Japan for the oil lift to Zambia.

£130,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the cost per gallon of flying petrol into Zambia; and what proportion of this cost is being paid by Zambian and United Kingdom Governments.

The total cost of the British civil and R.A.F. airlifts to 9th February, the latest date for which figures are available, was £1·28 million. I regret I am not able to elaborate on this information.The entire cost of the British airlifts is being met by Her Majesty's Government. I am not, of course, in a position to comment on the airlifts organised by the Canadian and American Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on what Vote or Votes it has been decided to bear Government help to Zambia's contingency planning; and whether he will state the expenditure already incurred.

The costs of assistance to Zambia to help her meet the present contingency will, in the main, fall upon the Commonwealth Services Vote, although some costs which are of a kind normally borne by other Departments involved in the present arrangements will be borne by those Departments.A Supplementary Estimate has been laid before Parliament. Any payments necessary before this Estimate is approved will be met from the Civil Contingencies Fund.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 will make a statement on the effectiveness of his restrictions on imports to Rhodesia and on his future plans in that respect.

This ban has been completely effective as regards crude oil. Refined petroleum is reaching Rhodesia from South Africa in quantities which are causing the British Government concern and representations are accordingly being made to the South African Government.The British Government have no plans at present to impose restrictions on the import of other goods into Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many public servants in Rhodesia have resigned because of the unilateral declaration of independence.

Thirty-nine public servants, who have left their posts as a result of the illegal declaration of independence, have so far come to our notice.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the value of the increased retirement pensions for single persons and married couples, respectively, compared with the value on the date when the increases were made.

The retirement pensions of 80s. for a single person and 130s. for a couple are now worth, respectively, 3s. 1d. and 5s. less than when they were introduced in March 1965.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why persons who have been working in the United States of America and paying United Kingdom Income Tax and National Insurance contributions are not able to draw normal family allowances until they have been resident in this country after their return for a probationary period of several months, details of which have been sent to her by the hon. Member for Louth; if she will take steps to end this anomaly; and if she will make a statement.

Title to family allowances is not linked with the payment of taxation or of National Insurance contributions. Under the Family Allowances (Qualifications) Regulations it is a condition for family allowances that the claimant has been in this country for at least six months out of the previous twelve. Similarly family allowances can continue to be paid for up to six months of temporary absence from this country. I cannot regard these provisions as anomalous.

asked the Board of Trade whether he will consider giving some form of aid to the small exporter who is fulfilling orders of less than £50,000 value.

The export promotion facilities of the Board of Trade are all freely at the disposal of exporters whether large or small. In addition E.C.G.D. credit insurance can be obtained irrespective of the value of the order. The Department's supplementary facilities which assist in bringing forward bank finance for exporters are available for transactions involving credit of two years and over provided the value is not less than £25,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will clarify the Government's intentions on capital allowances and investment incentives for the boat hire industry.

It is not the intention that small pleasure craft of the kind which the hon. Member has in mind shall be eligible for investment grants; if operated for the purposes of a trade they would be eligible for 30 per cent. initial allowances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the jobs in prospect in Darlington and South-West Durham over the next four years.

The estimates of jobs in prospect made by firms applying for industrial development certificates or acquiring Board of Trade factories in these areas amount to about 7,000 jobs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a revised version of Table 2, page 7, of the National Economic Development Council's booklet, Investment Appraisal, showing the after tax net cash flow under the new investment grant proposals, the discounted value of the cash flow for each year, and the total discounted value for the 17 years.

The construction of a revised version of the Table referred to by the hon. Member depends on the rate of Corporation Tax. The Government intend to give further information about the value of the new system of investment grants once the rate of Corporation Tax has been announced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an estimate of the value of timber and processed timber, including pulp and paper, that he expects to be imported in 1966 from each of the main supplying countries, together with his estimate of the United Kingdom trade balance with each of those countries during the same period.

No. The information is not available but the hon. Member may be interested to see the data on contract balances outstanding in the Business Monitor relating to Timber, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with the plans to assist exports, foreshadowed in July, 1965, for making finance available at Bank Rate when credit is required for less than two years and is guaranteed unconditionally by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

I am sorry that the working out of this E.C.G.D. Scheme with the banks to assist the provision of finance for export credits has been protracted. My right hon. Friend hopes, however, to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether projects in the counties of Berwick and East Lothian will fall to be adversely affected by his new policy on public investment and expenditure.

No. The new arrangements merely continue, with a greater degree of flexibility, the deferment policy announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 27th July last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of persons employed on the staff of the Scottish Office on 1st October, 1964, and 1st February, 1966.

The numbers of persons employed on the staff of the Scottish Office on 1st October, 1964, and 1st February, 1966, were respectively 7,580 and 8,132. These figures include industrial staffs (800 in 1964 and 805 in 1966) and the staff of the Scottish prisons (1,283 in 1964 and 1,376 in 1966).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 48 people who died on the Scottish mountains between 1960 and 1964 died from trauma and how many from exposure; and whether he will have an investigation made into the number of lives which would have been saved had woollen clothing been worn instead of clothing made from man-made fibres.

I understand that 39 died as a result of injuries (in some cases exposure may have been a contributory factor) and 9 from exposure. As regards the second part of the Question, I have no power to institute an investigation into the detailed causes of these fatalities; it would not be for me to form an opinion as to the protective value of the clothing worn by victims of these accidents. General research into the causes of death from exposure is being conducted by the Medical Research Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total of crimes and offences made known to the police in Scotland in each of the years 1955, 1960 and 1965; and what percentage of crimes was cleared up in each of these years.

The information for 1965 is not yet available. The following is the information for the years 1955, 1960 and 1964.

	1955	1960	1964
Crimes and offences made known to the police	195,752	282,655	352,358
Crimes made known to the police	74,773	102,617	133,654
Percentage of crimes and offences cleared up	75·8	74·2	72·2
Percentage of crimes cleared up	40·7	37·5	37·2

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total authorised establishment of the police forces in Scotland in 1st January, 1966, and the actual strength on that date.

Figures are not available for 1st January, but the position on 31st December, 1965, was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 1st February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assaults on prison warders in the course of their duty took place in Scotland in each of the past five years.

The numbers of incidents involving assaults and attempted assaults on prison officers in Scottish prisons since 1963 were:

1963	20
1964	31
1965	32

Figures for earlier years are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assaults on police officers in the course of their duty took place in Scotland in each of the past five years; and how many persons were charged and convicted.

The numbers of police officers injured on duty by assaults were as follows:

1961	60
1962	60
1963	55
1964	63
1965	72

I regret that information relating to the number of persons charged and convicted in respect of assaults on the police is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many youths between the ages of 17 and 21 years were convicted in Scotland in the last year for which figures are available; how many were sentenced to periods of detention; and what proportion of these were sent to prisons, Borstals, and detention centres, respectively.

26,562 youths aged 17 or over and under 21 were convicted in 1964. The number of those on whom sentences of detention were imposed cannot be established without undue work; but during the year, 701 male persons in this age group were admitted to prison under sentences of imprisonment (other than imprisonment in default of payment of fines), 394 were admitted to Borstal and 613 to detention centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage remuneration for dentists in Scotland, compared with that for England.

English and Scottish dentists are paid on the same scale of fees and the average gross fees paid per dentist in Scotland during the year ended 30th September, 1965, were about 95 per cent. of those in England and Wales. Separate figures are not available of the net remuneration of dentists in Scotland and England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the entry of nursing administrative grades in hospitals in the five years 1959 to 1964 compared with the five years 1954 to 1959; and whether he is satisfied that the present rate of entry is adequate.

The information is not available in the form requested but of those holding nursing and midwifery administrative positions in mid-1964 probably about 400 entered their current grade less than 5 years earlier and about 250 between 5 and 10 years earlier. Some entrants to these administrative grades, particularly in the earlier period, will have retired or left before 1964. I have no knowledge of vacant posts in these grades left unfilled through lack of applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give in detail the latest estimates which he has made of the agricultural subsidies which will be paid to Scottish farmers during 1965–66, together with comparable figures for the previous year.

Particulars are set out below of the latest estimates of the cost of agricultural support to Scottish farming in the financial year 1965–66 for which provisions have been made in the Civil Estimates, Class V, Votes 3, 4, 5 and 6,

(I) FARMING GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES
			£ million
			Latest estimate of outturn 1965–66	actual outturn 1964–65
1.	General Fertilisers Subsidy	…	4·6	4·7
2.	Lime Subsidy	…	1·9	2·2
3.	Grants for Ploughing up Grassland	…	1·7	1·7
4.	Grassland Renovation Grants	…	—*	—*
5.	Field Drainage and Water Supply Grants	…	0·4	0·4
6.	Grants for Improvement of Livestock Rearing Land	…	0·6	0·6
7.	Winter Keep Grants	…	1·6	1·3
8.	Bonus Payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme	…	—*	—*
9.	Calf Subsidy	…	4·4	4·0
10.	Hill Cattle and Hill Sheep	…	5·6	6·0
11.	Silo Subsidies	…	—*	—*
12.	Grants for Farm Improvements	…	1·7	1·6
13.	Grants to Rabbit Clearance Societies	…	0·1	0·1
14.	Grants to Small Farmers	…	0·3	0·3
15.	Other Grants	…	—*	—*
Total I		…	22·9	22·9
* Outturn less than £50,000.

(II) IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRICE GUARANTEES
				£ million
				1965–66		1964–65
(1) Cereals:—
Wheat and Rye	…	…	…	0·6		0·7
Barley	…	…	…	2·2		3·4
Oats and mixed corn	…	…	…	30		3·9
					5·8		8·0
(2) Fatstock:—
Cattle	…	…	…	1·1		2·0
Sheep	…	…	…	1·3		1·2
Pigs	…	…	…	2·3		1·6
					4·7		4·8
(3) Eggs	…	…	…		l·0†		2·0†
(4) Wool	…	…	…		1·0†		0·6†
(5) Potatoes	…	…	…		0·l†		0·1†
Total II	…	…	…		12·6		15·5
† Apportionment of U.K. figure.

(III) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Applicable to I and II	…	…	…	1·7	1·6
Total of Estimated Cost of Agricultural Support	…	…	…	37·2	40·0

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the low prices received by farmers for their potatoes in recent weeks, he will authorise the Potato Marketing Board to buy potatoes in support of the market.

Yes. The market was strengthened by the two support buying programmes undertaken by the Board earlier this season, but prices have recently declined. To put it beyond doubt that the Board have full control of the surplus, I have authorised them to buy a further quantity of potatoes. Particulars of this new buying programme are being announced by the Board today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will lay the order which he promised with regard to veterinary inspection of ponies for export at port of embarkation.

My right hon. Friends intend shortly to make new orders to consolidate and amend existing legislation governing the export of horses. One of these will require the veterinary inspection of all horses and ponies for export.

the Minister of Aviation who will be representing the United Kingdom at the Anglo-United States bilateral talks on air routes due to commence in Washington on 28th February, 1966; and whether he will publish the terms of reference of the United Kingdom team.

The United Kingdom delegation will be led by a Deputy Secretary

Port		Ship		Dales
Bangor, County Down	…	ULSTER (frigate)	…	27th April–1st May
	…	BLACKWOOD (frigate)	…	16th–22nd July (in connection with Royal Ulster Regatta).
Belfast	…	ULSTER (frigate)	…	3rd–5th March
	…	HAMPSHIRE (guided missile destroyer)	…	19th, 20th and 26th, 27th March
	…	AGINCOURT (frigate)	…	27th–30th June
Coleraine	…	KILMOREY (R.N.R. minesweeper)	…	12th–13th March

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on how many occasions the National Economic Development Committee on Distribution has studied the problems which arise from the development in the distributive sector of working hours that differ from those prevalent in transport and manufacturing industry, since the National Board for Prices and Incomes expressed the view that such problems merited early study by the Committee; and what have been the consequences of such study.

The Committee has considered this question on four occasions, and has sent a report on terminal

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which ships of Her Majesty's Home Fleet will be visiting Northern Ireland ports during 1966; what will be the length of their stay; and at which ports they will be calling.

I cannot yet give the names of Her Majesty's ships likely to pay visits later in the summer; but the following visits are already being planned for the earlier months:and handling arrangements in distribution to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. The Board is expected to record progress on this subject in its final Report on the road haulage reference. The Economic Development Committee is also taking steps to give publicity to its views.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) to what extent the National Board for Prices and Incomes has further investigated the matter, mentioned in paragraph 53 of their first Report, of costs in the road haulage industry; and what have been the results of such inquiry;(2) what have been the results of the talks which the National Board for Prices and Incomes intended to continue with the parties concerned about the situation referred to in paragraph 50 of the Board's first report; and what progress has so far been made in overcoming this situation;(3) what estimate he has made of the average increase in road haulage rates since 23rd June, 1965;(4) when the National Board for Prices and Incomes' Second Report on road haulage rates will be produced and published.

I would ask the hon. and learned Member to await the Final Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Road Haulage which will be published in the near future.

asked the First Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of the increase in average weekly earnings in the road haulage industry that will accrue from the proposals of which the Road Haulage Wages Council gave notice on 3rd February, 1966; to what extent this increase is in accord with Her Majesty's Government's policy for prices and incomes, and with the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its first Report; and whether such increases will be referred to the National Board for consideration and report.

If actual working hours remain unchanged it is estimated that the Road Haulage Wages Council proposals will increase earnings in the road haulage industry by about 7 per cent. An increase of this size could only be justified under the criteria laid down in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy (Cmnd. 2639) if the industry, through its newly formed Productivity Committee, can effect worthwhile improvements in efficiency.These are all matters that we would expect to be dealt with in the National Board's Final Report on this industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will authorise local education authorities to make loans of audio-visual aid equipment already in their possession to suitable voluntary organisations which offer formal adult instruction in first aid leading to a recognised qualification.

My authorisation is not necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many persons are engaged on whole-time research into the learning processes of the severely subnormal in England and Wales.

Information is not available in the precise form of the question. A considerable number of studies either are in progress or have recently been carried out in hospitals, under local authorities and within university departments into the development of the subnormal, including the severely subnormal. Three members of the Medical Research Council's external staff are engaged full-time, and several part-time, on studies related to this problem. In addition the Council is supporting research on the basic processes of learning which may well throw light on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an estimate for Great Britain's total spending on scientific research and development for each of the years 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, and 1964–65.

This information is collected every three years. In 1961–62 the total national expenditure on scientific research and development was estimated at £634 million. The provisional figure for 1964–65 is £750 million. Within this total the proportion spent on defence research and development has declined and the proportion spent on civil research has increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he accepts the terms of paragraph 392 of the Robbins Report as the basis for his present policy on the granting of university status to colleges of advanced technology.

All of these colleges will achieve university status. As the paragraph referred to by my hon. Friend makes clear, the form which this can take varies and will depend on the particular circumstances of each individual case.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) which of the colleges of advanced technology which have been granted independent university status are situated within towns or cities which already have another university institution; and what is the relative size of these neighbouring institutions;(2) what is the present number of students at each college of advanced technology; and which of these colleges have already been granted independent university status.

None of the colleges of advanced technology has yet received a charter as an independent university. One of the Scottish central institutions has received its charter as the Heriot-Watt University; it has 962 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students, compared with 8,292 in the neighbouring University of Edinburgh. The other Scottish central institution in this group—the Scottish College of Commerce—is now merged in the University of Strathclyde. The following table shows the provisional number of students taking undergraduate and postgraduate full-time and sandwich courses in the colleges of advanced technology, as at October, 1965:

Battersea	1,605
Birmingham	2,059
Bradford	2,277
Bristol	1,001
Brunei	885
Chelsea	924
Loughborough	1,671
Northampton	1,826
Salford	2,294
Wales	996

Northampton and Chelsea colleges are in the London area. Two other colleges at present in the London area—Brunei and Battersea are planned to develop in Uxbridge and Guildford, respectively. Bristol College is to develop at Bath. The relevant university populations for the last part of the Question, are, there-for, London, 26,454 and Birmingham, 5,677.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to diminish or extinguish the rôle of the Road Haulage Wages Council, in light of the view expressed by the National Board for Prices and Incomes, in paragraph 41 of its first Report, that the continued existence of the Council might militate against the development of new wage negotiating machinery in the road haulage industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 26th July last.

the Minister of Labour to what extent the Road Haulage Wages Council, which gave notice on 3rd February, 1966, of its intention to submit to him proposals for reductions in the working week and for increases in wage rates, differs in composition, method of working and objectives from that described by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in paragraph 41 of its first Report.

There has been no change in the Wages Council, but there have been developments in the voluntary negotiating machinery in the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made towards the establishment in the road haulage industry of new negotiating machinery that will permit a more realistic relationship between paper time and working time, in response to the observations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes in paragraph 46 of its first Report, concerning the urgent need for such reform; and what new steps he proposes to take to further such progress.

The National Negotiating Committee for the Road Haulage Industry was set up last year by the Road Haulage Association and the trade unions concerned. Arising from negotiations on wages and conditions of employment, the Committee decided to set up a working party to consider ways of improving productivity. Our officers will keep in touch with developments.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average length of stay of patients in hospitals in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area compared with the rest of the country; if he will give comparative figures for maternity cases; and if he will make a statement regarding the bed and staff situation.

The following table compares the average length of stay in the Sheffield hospital region with that in England and Wales as a whole in 1964 for a selection of the principal specialties.

	Average length of stay (days)
Specialty	Sheffield Hospital region	England and Wales
General medicine	14·5	17·9
General surgery	9·4	11·0
Traumatic surgery	19·0	18·5
Ear, nose and throat	5·0	5·3
Gynaecology	8·0	8·4
Obstetrics (including general practitioner maternity beds)	8·0	8·6

There is a marked shortage of hospital beds and supporting facilities in many parts of the Sheffield region, and much replacement is needed. Expenditure on hospital building in the region (including its teaching hospital) has been increased to nearly £6 million in the present financial year, and many large schemes are now in progress or about to start. I have the future programme under review.A number of beds are temporarily closed because of shortage of staff. The hospital authorities are trying to fill these vacancies.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the figures relating to the shortage of nursing, medical, consultant and other staff for hospitals in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area; and what action is being taken to fill the vacancies.

Details of local assessments of need for staff other than certain medical and dental grades are not collected centrally. In September, 1965, when the last returns were made, the numbers of nursing and midwifery staff employed in the Sheffield region were the highest ever, but I know that many of the hospitals in the region still need more. The local response to the current national nursing publicity campaign is very encouraging; and this campaign is being supported by a carefully planned local effort.For consultant medical staff I have approved in principle increases equivalent to 138 whole-time posts in the region over the five year period ending 1968, and the equivalent of 54 new whole-time posts have so far been agreed bringing the present total to 509: 12 posts are vacant.The number of posts in other medical grades is being increased where necessary, within the limits of the financial resources and medical manpower available, and is at present 883: there are 56 vacancies.

asked the Minister of Health what was the entry to nursing and midwifery administrative posts in the five years 1959 to 1964 compared with the five years 1954 to 1959; and whether he is satisfied that the present rate of entry is adequate.

The information is not available in the form requested, but of those holding nursing and midwifery administrative posts in 1964 probably about 3,700 entered their current grade less than five years earlier and about 2,000 between five and ten years earlier. Some taking such posts, particularly in the earlier period, will have retired or left the grade before 1964. I have no knowledge of vacant posts in these grades left unfilled through lack of applicants.

asked the Minister of Health whether the review of pay beds which he has asked hospital boards to undertake will include a review of the future of the private patients' wing at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health whether the fees paid by patients in the private patients' wing of the Manchester Royal Infirmary are sufficient to cover maintenance costs of the buildings, wages and salaries and other overhead expenses; and whether he will estimate, to the nearest convenient date, the amount of costs borne on public funds.

Charges to private patients in all the hospitals of the United Manchester Hospitals Group are calculated in accordance with the Pay-Bed Regulations, 1953, and are designed to ensure that the hospital authorities recover the whole cost, including overhead charges, of the accommodation and services provided for private patients in these hospitals, in accordance with Section 5(1) of the National Health Service Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Health how many general practitioners are now serving in Rhondda; what are their age groups; and how many are likely to retire in the next five years.

Thirty-seven principals and two assistants in these age groups:

Under 30	2
30–34	7
35–39	4
40–44	7
45–49	2
50–54	3
55–59	4
60–64	4
65–69	4
70 and over	2

I have no means of forecasting the number of practitioners likely to retire over the next five years.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the present complement of general practitioners in Rhondda is sufficient to meet any epidemic that may occur; and if he will make a statement.

Much would depend on the nature, course and extent of any epidemic. If the need arose, additional help would be sought from doctors not at present in general practice in the area.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of general practitioners in Rhondda; and what steps he is taking to remedy the situation.

I am aware that this is an area which needs more general practitioners. I have had a special survey made of its problems and am urgently considering what steps can be taken to make the best use of available medical resources, and to attract more doctors, into this and other under-doctored areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the progress which has been made during the past 10 years in applying by Order in Council, Part I of the Administration of Justice Act 1956 to the Isle of Man.

I consider, as my predecessors have done, that it is for the Isle of Man authorities, if they so wish, to take the initiative in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the total number of taxi drivers assaulted in the course of their employment during the past five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a committee to look into the question of the taxi trade with a view to the introduction of legislation to stop the continued infiltration of pirate taxis.

On the information at present available to my right hon. Friend he is not convinced that there is a need to set up a committee for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths have resulted from fires caused by electric blankets during the past 12 months; and what progress he is making with his review of this matter.

The provisional figure for 1965 is eight in England and Wales. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statement made on 10th February in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Hove (Mr. Maddan).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will now consult the British Standards Institution with a view to the issue by them of a British Standard covering the servicing of electric blankets on the lines of the New Zealand code of practice which was made mandatory in 1961;(2) whether he will consult the British Standards Institution with a view to the amendment by them of the British Standard for electric blankets so as to require that all blankets which have no safety device will remain flame-resistant after having been wetted, whether accidentally, during cleaning or otherwise.

My right hon. Friend will gladly invite the British Standards Institution, which keeps its Standards constantly under review, to consider these two proposals.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many persons from the United Kingdom attended courses at the School of Tropical Agriculture in the West Indies during each of the last five years.

Information is available only in respect of persons studying under official British Government schemes. These numbered:—

1961–62	16
1962–63	10
1963–64	11
1964–65	12
1965–66	13 plus one student now in his 2nd year

Twenty studentships may be awarded annually. The numbers of those attending so far have been limited only by the numbers of suitable candidates coming forward.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he is aware that the action of the Tanzanian Government in stopping the payment of pensions to Tanganyika pensioners resident in Rhodesia is a breach of the Public Officers' Agreement signed by Her Majesty's Government and the Tanzanian Government; and what steps are now being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that these pensions are paid.

I understand that the Tanzania Government is prepared to pay pensions due to residents in Rhodesia into blocked accounts in Dar-es-Salaam. Arrangements have been made to pay loan advances to these pensioners from United Kingdom funds to meet arrears and current pension entitlements for as long as remittances are interrupted.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the number of expatriate officers who served overseas with local government organisations and other quasi-governmental bodies on overseas leave terms and under the same pensions regulations as other officers of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service who are now debarred from receiving supplements under the Pensions Increase Acts 1962 and 1965; and what would be the sum involved if such supplements were granted.

The number of expatriate officers who served overseas outside the service of overseas Governments is not known since, because of the nature of their service, no central records were maintained. The second part of the Question cannot therefore be calculated.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the percentage increase in the cost of producing the London telephone directories between 1962 and 1st January, 1966; and what has been the percentage increase in advertising space, advertising charges and advertising revenue in respect of these directories over the same period.

The London Postal Area telephone directory comprises four books issued over a 15 months' cycle. Since 1962 the cost of producing a complete new edition has increased by 19 per cent. to £665,000. During the same period the number of copies of each book distributed has increased by 17·5 per cent. to nearly 1·5 million and the average number of pages in each book has risen by 3·5 per cent. to nearly 700. Advertising charges remained unchanged until May, 1965, when the advertising contractor increased his charges by 120 per cent. The charge for a standard ⅔"×3 columns advertisement appearing in the 1·5 million copies of a book for its 15 months' currency is now £75. I cannot yet give any information about the effect of the new charges on the revenue from advertisements, but the total value of the advertisements sold in the last complete edition before May, 1965, was £115,000. Even at the new rates, charges compare very favourably with alternative media.

asked the Postmaster-General how many rural and urban kiosks have been replaced or taken down in each of the counties of Wales and Monmouthshire during the last 12 months and the previous two years.

The total figures for Wales and Monmouthshire for the last 3 years are as follows:

	Rural Kiosks	Urban Kiosks
During 1965
Re-sited	24	19
Withdrawn	11	8
During 1963–64
Re-sited	53	29
Withdrawn	4	11

It would take a disproportionate amount of time and expenses to divide these figures into counties.