asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a further statement on the steps his Department is taking to encourage colleges of education to accept for admission mature students with good qualifications and to adapt their courses and traditional methods of instruction to the needs and temperament of adult men and women.

The colleges of education generally are ready to consider applications from older men and women with good qualifications and I am sure that they do all that they can to ensure that the training course meets the special needs of their mature students. Day colleges are especially well placed to do this. There are now 13 of these, with two more planned to open this year, and a growing number of outposts with a similar purpose. In addition my right hon. Friend hopes to announce before long proposals for part-time training courses for older students whose personal circumstances make it difficult for them to take the ordinary full-time course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from technical colleges on the binary system in technical education; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has had correspondence from authorities and colleges on different aspects of the Government's policy but it has usually referred to questions connected with particular institutions. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of his reply to a recent letter from the Chairman of the governing body of the Woolwich Polytechnic.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the progress of the organisation of a university of the air; and what will be its relationship to schools and other existing educational programmes.

A White Paper will be published tomorrow on the educational scope and functions of a University of the Air.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards the establishment of a university of the air.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made in the development for a small rocket for space research; and if he will make a statement.

Good progress has been made on this rocket, now named Petrel. Test launchings are expected next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in order to combat the increase in drug-taking among young people, he will take steps to make avail able to teachers and other responsible college authorities information about the early symptoms of drug-taking.

The Department's pamphlet "Health Education", which is in course of revision, will contain information on the danger of drug taking.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the recommendations of the Robbins Committee on Higher Education have been accepted; which have been rejected; and which still await decisions.

The Report of the Committee on Higher Education contained 178 recommendations variously addressed to one or more of the following: the Government, the University Grants Committee, the universities, the schools and other responsible bodies. I cannot answer the hon. Member's Question in the precise terms in which he put it, but I can assure him that the Government have, or will shortly have taken decisions on all the major recommendations addressed to them and that most will be found to have accorded with what the Committee recommended.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the recommendations of the Newsom Report on Secondary Education have been accepted; which have been rejected; and which still await decisions.

The main recommendation for Government action was that the school-leaving age should be raised and this has been accepted. The other recommendations were by no means confined to departmental action, and I am satisfied that they have been taken seriously by the local education authorities and the schools. In particular, the important recommendations about the curriculum have been given high priority by the Schools Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers who have migrated to this country from India, Pakistan or the countries and territories of the West Indies are employed in British schools.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to ensure that pupils at country schools develop an interest in rural matters and country lore.

Interest in rural studies is widespread among schools, and not only among country schools. The Department's pamphlet "Schools and the Countryside" continues to attract interest and the Department is organising, as in previous years, short courses for teachers in rural studies and allied matters. There is an increasing number of field study centres organised by local education authorities and other bodies. The Schools Council is engaged in work on rural studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the percentage of work which Great Britain obtains from the European Space Research Organisation is equal to the percentage of Great Britain's contribution to it; and if he will make a statement.

E.S.R.O. places contracts by competitive tender. The percentages of work obtained by individual member nations therefore changes frequently and, after major contracts, very markedly. Up till now this country has done reasonably well in competing for orders but there is room for greater effort on the part of British firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can give the figures of the number of graduates and those of com parable technical qualifications who have left this country to take employment abroad in each of the last five years.

No. If the hon. Member will give me notice of any particular aspects of this matter which concern him, I will provide the information which is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the conditions in which pupils and staff have had to work for some years at the Sittingbourne East Secondary School for Girls; whether he has given his approval for the proposed new school to be included in Kent County Council's major building programme; in which year's programme it is to be included; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of conditions at his school and my right hon. Friend has included in the 1967–68 major building; programme a project to provide it with new buildings.

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

We are now examining legal difficulties affecting my Department's powers to assist the Orchestra financially. But I repeat the assurance that I gave earlier in this House that we are determined to save the Orchestra.

Year		Arts	Social Studies	Pure Science	Applied Science	Medicine	Dentistry	Agriculture and Forestry	Veterinary Science	Total
1960–61	…	7,802	3,460	6,691	3,597	2,103	540	471	148	24,812
1961–62	…	8,523	3,733	7,409	4,054	2,083	555	494	150	27,001
1962–63	…	8,728	4,029	7,991	4,006	2,247	572	547	159	28,279
1963–64	…	9,027	4,217	8,156	4,077	2,251	623	464	87	28,902
1964–65	…	10,181	5,007	8,895	4,430	2,400	681	472	148	32,214

The latest available information about the percentage of students who fail to complete their courses is to be found in Appendix Two (A) of the Robbins

Arts and Social Studies	Pure Science	Technology (Applied Science)	Medicine	Dentistry	Agriculture and Forestry	Percentage Veterinary Science
88·1	85·3	79·2	89·3	90·6	87·8	85·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students in each of the past five years who have entered the universities in England and Wales were state-aided, local authority aided, or paying their own fees.

				1960	1961	1962	1963	1964
1.Full-time graduating and first diploma students entering universities for the first time	…	…	…	26,911	29,678	31,146	32,684	36,886
2.Number of awards by the Department of Education and Science	…	…	…	3,392	3,519	3,498	1,408	27
3.Number of awards by the Scottish Education Department	…	…	…	10	5,133*	4,237	4,358	5,413
4.Number of awards by local education authorities in England and Wales	…	…	…	17,334	20,605	21,778	24,997	29,480
5.Number of awards by education authorities in Scotland	…	…	…	2,740	—	—	—	—
* This figure includes a number of awards made to students who were already in the second or subsequent years of their university courses.

These five sets of figures are not strictly comparable. Estimates can be derived from them of the numbers of home

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give for each of the past five years the number of entrants into each of the faculties in all the universities of England and Wales, and the percentage of those who successfully completed the courses in each faculty.

The numbers of full-time first degree and first diploma students entering universities in England and Wales from 1960–61 to 1964–65 (the latest year for which figures are available) are as follows:Report on Higher Education. This relates to all universities in Great Britain. Success rates at that time may be deduced from it as follows:

The table below gives the latest available estimates for students whose homes were in the United Kingdom and for award holders who took up their new awards as university undergraduates in Great Britain. The figures in lines (3) and (5) have been supplied by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.students entering universities who were not award holders but only subject to an appreciable margin of error.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now make a statement on the salaries claim by university teachers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer on 16th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Durham, North-West (Mr. Armstrong).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase there has been in the annual intake of medical students in the United Kingdom since 1951; and what has been the increase of medical students in Wales during the same period.

The numbers entering the first preclinical year in each year since 1960–61 in all Great Britain and in Wales are shown below. No comparable series of figures are available for the earlier years.

	Number of Students
Academic Year	Great Britain (including Wales)	Wales
1960–61	2,020	60
1961–62	2,103	62
1962–63	2,192	65
1963–64	2,281	69
1964–65	2,407	71
1965–66 (provisional)	2,444	70

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of Great Britain's medical college places are in Wales.

About three per cent. of entry places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many medical college places are available annually in Wales; how many applicants there are for these places; and how many of these applicants are qualified for entry.

The number of students admitted to the preclinical year in the University of Wales over the last three years has been: 1965–70, 1964–71, 1963–69. Building shortly to be started at Cardiff will provide for an increase to about 115. The Department has no statistics which would enable me to answer the last two parts of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision his Department is making, in the light of the plan to raise the school-leaving age by 1970, for the education of children placed in special schools.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to raise the compulsory school age for pupils in special schools, which is already 16; but he hopes that increasing numbers of children will either remain at special schools beyond this age or go on to various forms of further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware that plans for making up George's Row, Eastbrook, Dinas-Powis, Glamorgan, have been abandoned owing to a dispute between Glamorgan County Council and Cardiff Rural District Council; and what steps he will take, in view of the present bad condition of the roadway.

My right hon. Friend understands that Glamorgan County Council has decided not to proceed with the making up of George's Row until land belonging to Cardiff Rural District Council, which adjoins the highway, is made available in order to make the street up to bylaw width. It is the responsibility of the highway authority to decide whether or not to carry out private street works but the Welsh Office will be very ready to do what it can to help.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new dwellings were built in Wales in 1965; and how this compares with the average for the previous five years.

19,524 were completed in 1965 compared with 18,969 in 1964. The average for the years 1960–64 was 14,486 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to encourage the Welsh tourist industry.

The Welsh Tourist and Holidays Association is currently engaged on a three-year Government aided research programme into the facilities now available and the future of the industry. The results of this work will provide the basis for planning and my right hon. Friend hopes to have a progress report on it next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the number of police patrol cars has kept pace with the rapid increase in the number of road users; and if he will make a statement.

The need for police patrol cars depends on a variety of factors, including the types of roads and traffic conditions in the area, the requirements of crime prevention and detection, and the availability of police manpower. I am satisfied that a reasonable proportion of police manpower is employed on traffic patrols.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to authorise the police to fine an offender who pleads guilty to minor motoring and other offences by ticket on the spot, while pre serving the right of appeal in all cases.

I have nothing to add to the reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 16th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the reform of the abortion laws so as to authorise the termination of pregnancy following rape, incest or where there is good reason to believe that a deformed child might be born;

My right hon. Friend has, at present, no plans for Government legislation on this subject. The House will probably have an opportunity to consider these matters in Private Members' time. As the House will know, the Hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) has a Bill for Second Reading which is second Order tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received for a major reform of the abortion laws; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend and his predecessor have both received written representations in favour of a change in the law from 50 bodies and 27 persons, one of whom sent a petition with 34 signatures; and my right hon. Friend's predecessor received a deputation from the Abortion Law Reform Association. All the representations have been noted, and recent replies have drawn attention to the Private Members' Bills on this subject that have been introduced in this House and in another place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of indictable offences committed in Cornwall during the calendar year 1965, and their breakdown into the categories listed in his Department's criminal statistics.

The total number of indictable offences known to the police in Cornwall in 1965 was 6,594. The rest of the information is in the following table:

Offence group	Number of offences
Violence against the person	91
Sexual offences	147
Breaking and entering	740
Robbery	3
Larceny	5,126
Receiving	135
Frauds and false pretences	240
Other offences	112
Total	6,594

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to annul the regulation whereby it is an offence for a pharmacist to sell a toothbrush or toothpaste after 6 p.m.

There is no such regulation. The general closing hour for shops laid down in the Shops Act, 1950, is 8 p.m., with 9 p.m. on one late night a week. Local authorities may by order fix a different closing hour, not earlier than 7 p.m.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation to bring United Kingdom domestic law in line with the Genocide Convention so that accession to it can take place as soon as possible thereafter.

I regret that I cannot at present say when it will be possible to introduce this legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why H Division of the Metropolitan Police is further below establishment than any other; and what action he will take.

The Commissioner of Police disposes the available strength of his Force in accordance with his assessment from time to time of the needs of the divisions, having regard to the duties to be discharged. Arithmetical uniformity as between one division and another is not to be expected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now alter or withdraw all leaflets and pamphlets giving instructions and advice to the civilian population in the event of nuclear attack, in view of the unrealistic nature of much of the advice given.

No. We keep this matter under review but at present I see no reason to withdraw the existing publications, which contain much useful information.

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 Guernsey.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry among civil defence workers to discover whether they would prefer a change of uniform, and, in particular, a differently-styled hat.

The provision of a new uniform for the Civil Defence Corps would be a costly undertaking, which could not be authorised at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision his Department is making for the full-time education of young people in borstal institutions, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's plans for raising the school leaving age by 1970.

Full-time education would be provided in borstals for persons of school age as it is already provided in junior detention centres and approved schools.

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if she will make a statement on the conclusions of the Bechuanaland Constitutional Conference.

I am happy to say that agreement was reached on consitutional proposals which will establish Bechuanaland as an independent sovereign republic to be called Botswana; and 30th September, 1966 was confirmed as the date for independence. The Conference Report will be published in a White Paper; meanwhile I am arranging for copies of the Report to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when payment of the rest of the dues outstanding by the Bechuanaland Government will be made to Mr. A. R. Cottam, of Heaton Norris, Stockport, details of which case have been sent to her by the hon. Member for Stockport, North.

I am informed by the Bechuanaland Government that payment of the balance of the money due to Mr. Cottam will be made very shortly.

asked the Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to extend financial aid to South Arabia after the country has become independent.

In meeting the aspirations of the peoples of South Arabia for full political independence, Her Majesty's Government appreciate that full economic independence cannot be achieved simultaneously.Her Majesty's Government recognise that South Arabia, which is receiving budgetary and development aid from Britain, will continue for some time after independence to stand in need of external financial assistance. It remains our wish to see a stable and united South Arabia after independence, and we have readily given the Federal Ministers an assurance that it is not our intention to cease giving aid at independence. The scale, form and extent of the aid to be provided by Her Majesty's Government will have to be decided in the normal way nearer the time of independence. We recognise that this aid will have to take account

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the payment of £72,500 to a managing director on leaving the board of a company.

No. Whatever view one may take about the justification for payments of this type, I do not think that this case would be appropriate for reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what allowance for the purchase of military equipment was included in the import estimate in the 1970 balance of payments figures projected in the National Plan.

An allowance for imports of military equipment, along with estimates for other components, was contained in the initial calculation of total imports in 1970, but the total was adjusted in the light of other factors such as the results of the industrial inquiry. Because of these adjustments it would be misleading to attempt to break down the revised total into each component.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the paper, "An Economic Planning Strategy for the North-West Region", issued by the North-West Economic Planning Council on 21st February.

The statement published by the North-West Economic Planning Council on 21st February gives the Council's own preliminary ideas on the principles of planning strategy for its region. I welcome this document as a useful means of stimulating public discussion of the scale and pattern of development in the region over the next 15 years. But, as the Council recognises, much more study and analysis of the relevant facts are needed before such principles can be adopted as the basis for development programmes. The North-West Planning Board is continuing this work in the light of the North-West Study Group's report and the Council's present statement.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is satisfied with the results so far of the Government's prices and incomes policy; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot usefully add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) on 10th February.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what plans he has for using the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation as the instrument for establishing new publicly-owned industries in development areas.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the legislation which we have promised to introduce as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will, in concert with Great Britain's European Free Trade Association partners, approach the European Economic Community to seek to negotiate free trade between the two in chemicals, asking for a waiver from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade as the United States of America and Canada have done for motor vehicles.

No. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to the hon. Member on 10th February, we believe, with our E.F.T.A. partners, that the best prospect for a useful reduction in barriers to trade, including trade in chemicals, lies in negotiating a successful conclusion to the Kennedy Round.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to complete the remainder of the industrial estate at Coatbridge which has been fully serviced with social services.

We are continuing our efforts to attract industry to Coatbridge Estate and are prepared to build further factories for any suitable project.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that every year since 1950 the United States of America has exported goods to Great Britain of a greater value than those she has bought from Great Britain, and yet imposes a 30 per cent. tariff against British goods, so preventing the earning of United States dollars, if he will approach the United States Government for a special reduction in tariff in order that Great Britain can earn the dollars to pay for the F111 which the United States of America wants to sell to this country; and if he will make a statement.

The American tariff ranges from much less than 30 per cent. on some goods to much more on others.As the hon. Member will be aware, we are engaged in negotiations in G.A.T.T. for the general reduction of protective tariffs in the Kennedy Round. I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my hon. Friend made on the progress of the negotiations on 17th February. We hope for a successful conclusion to these negotiations which should be of great assistance to our exporters in increasing their earnings of United States dollars.As regards the question of payment for the F111, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence made a statement on this subject on 22nd February to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of warnings by leading leather tanners of impending increases in the prices of shoes and other leather goods, what steps he is taking to prevent such increases.

I am watching closely any increases in the prices of shoes and other leather goods which may result from the sharp increase over the past year in world prices of raw hides and skins. I am sure that both the tanners and the manufacturers of finished goods are aware of the need to absorb increased costs wherever possible by improved production methods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many letters he has received from the Rebel Press of 2, Derby Street, London, W.1; and what action he took in consequence.

The Board of Trade has received one letter dated 12th November, 1965, from the Rebel Press, 2, Derby Street, London, W.1, signed by Mr. Ronald Duncan. A request was made to be put in touch with a firm which could undertake distribution on a commission basis on the Continent of books published by the Rebel Press.A full reply was sent by the Export Services Branch on 23rd November. This was returned undelivered by the G.P.O. on 30th November marked "both names gone away". Endeavours to trace both Mr. Duncan and the Rebel Press by telephone through directory inquiries and at the address given have been unsuccessful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what help by grant and by loan, respectively, is available to weavers to assist them in building weaving sheds in Stornoway as self-employed persons, engaged in the making of Harris tweed cloth.

Although powers are available under the Local Employment Acts such assistance is now normally given through the Highlands and Islands Development Board's arrangements for providing financial assistance for industrial and commercial projects, including loans or 25 per cent. building grants; it is for the Development Board to consider each application on its merits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for giving extra financial inducements to male-employing industries to develop in coal mining areas where expedited pit closures are likely within the next few years.

The proposals for new incentives announced in the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 2874) should provide stronger and more effective inducements to attract industry to these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to give protection and compensation to those directors, managers, secretaries and other similar officers who, in obedience to the orders of the de facto Government of Rhodesia or to their local managements, arrange the ex port or import of goods; and what criteria Her Majesty's Government propose to adopt in future, as between the different classes of persons affected, to decide whether compensation shall be paid.

Her Majesty's Government have no such proposal in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for establishing home defence units in Cornwall; how many people will be recruited; and where they will be based.

The location and composition of units of the Home Defence force are under discussion between the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate the items which, together with the £220 million summarised last August, produce the total savings of £400 milion which he intends to make in the prospective defence budget for 1969–70.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to Part I of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1966 (Cmnd. 2901).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing, on a consistent basis, the proportion of the gross national product spent on defence in each of the 10 calendar years to 1965, or financial years to 1965–66, if more convenient.

Defence budget expenditure as a percentage of GNP in the last ten financial years has been:

Year	Per cent. of GNP
1956–57	8·1
1957–58	7·3
1958–59	7·1
1959–60	6·8
1960–61	6·9
1961–62	6·9
1962–63	6·9
1963–64	6·6
1964–65	6·5
1965–66 (estimated	6·6

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rate of growth of the gross national product between 1965–66 and 1966–67 is assumed in his forecast that the proportion spent on defence will fall from 6·8 to 6·6 per cent.

About 5 per cent. in money terms.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the sums allocated by each region for the training of technicians to undertake smear tests for cervical cancer.

Regional hospital boards have been advised to provide these testing facilities as part of the hospital pathology services, and to train the required staff. Details of the sums being spent in each region specifically in training technicians in cytology are not separately available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will seek to make special grants to regions earmarked for the training of technicians to under take smear tests for cervical cancer.

I have not earmarked special funds for this purpose in my allocations to Regional Hospital Boards since it is for them to decide how their revenue allocations, which are reviewed and increased each year, should be spent. Regional Hospital Boards have been asked to give special consideration to the development of this service.

asked the Minister of Health how many legal abortions were carried out in Great Britain in 1964.

I regret that the number is not known, but it is estimated that in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales about 2,000 therapeutic abortions were carried out in 1964.

asked the Postmaster- General whether he will give instructions that the wages of those personnel employed at the Premium Bonds and Stock Division, Lytham St. Annes, who are paid weekly shall in future be paid in envelopes.

The payment of wages in envelopes is one of a number of possible changes in pay arrangements currently under discussion on a Joint Study Group of Post Office and staff representatives and it would, therefore, be premature for me to give instructions as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Post master-General when he received the letter in December, 1965, from the Secretary of the Civil Service Clerical Association Premium Bonds and Stock Division, Lytham St. Annes, requesting that staff wages should be paid in envelopes; and what was his reply.

I received the letter on 8th December. I did not reply direct. The writer's attention was drawn to accepted procedure under which representations from local branches of an association on such subjects should be channelled through the central body of that association.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the proportion of mail from Rhodesia being opened or examined by the General Post Office has increased since the declaration of independence; and how many complaints he has received about letters or parcels from Rhodesia being opened.

As I informed the hon. Gentleman in my reply to his Question on 16th February, we keep no statistics of the proportions of items examined. Letters and parcels from Rhodesia are opened here only for Customs purposes, and we have no record of any complaints being made to us on this score.

asked the Postmaster-General what further action he will take in conjunction with the Railways Board to reduce the delays in the parcel post service.

The Post Office and the Railways do work closely together to reduce parcel delays, and a special effort is being made to improve the service. I shall certainly keep a watch on the position.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the special difficulties, especially in winter and other periods of bad weather, of the lack of public transport, and of the problems created for doctors, district nurses and patients requiring urgent attention, by the lack of a public telephone at Scadabay, Isle of Harris, he will now take steps to provide a kiosk for this isolated but growing community.

I am arranging for one of the weatherproof telephones, referred to in my Answer on 23rd February to my hon. Friends the Members for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Jackson) and Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) to be tried out in this area.These telephones are for emergency, transfer charge, credit and incoming calls but special arrangements will be made to deal with the type of urgent call referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the daily traffic at Stornoway aerodrome and the fact that the nearest public telephone kiosk is outside the aerodrome and at a considerable distance, he will speed up arrangements for a kiosk at the waiting-rooms.

The question of telephone facilities within this Airport has been discussed with the Ministry of Aviation and I understand that they will be providing a coin-box telephone for public use in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the present position with regard to the Anglo-Guatemalan dispute over British Honduras and on the progress made by the United States mediator, Ambassador Webster.

Since he was appointed mediator last November, Mr. Webster has called one plenary meeting, at which representatives of the British Honduras Government were present, and has visited both British Honduras and Guatemala. I expect another plenary meeting to be called shortly, after the mediator has held further consultations with the three Governments.

asked the Prime Minister if he will ask the Royal Commission on Trade Unions to produce an interim report, in view of the current interest in the matter.

I have been asked to reply.In view of the large volume of evidence which still remains to be presented to the Commission, I would not think it profitable to press for an interim report at the present time.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the prospects of employment in the steel industry.

These depend very much on the level of demand for steel. Despite an expected increase in activity in the economy as a whole, demand for steel is expected to be lower this year than in 1965 mainly because of stock changes. Some short-time working and redundancies have already occurred and it is possible that further instances will arise during the year. When redundancies occur my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is always ready to give his assistance, and the Redundancy Payments Act provides for compensation payments subject to certain conditions.The longer-term prospects for employment in the industry are described in the National Plan.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average weekly household expenditure for the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire for the three-year period 1962–64; and what was the comparable figure for the United Kingdom.

The average weekly household expenditure for the East and West Ridings was 334s. 6d. as compared with 375s. for the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the names and whereabouts of all Government training centres, the number of persons trained thereat, and the year of commencement of each centre.

The information is as follows:

Centre	Number of adults trained in 1965	Year of opening
ENGLAND
Billingham, Co. Durham	195	1964
Birmingham (Handsworth)	172	1925
Blackburn, Lancs.	40	1965
Bristol	334	1928
Felling, Co. Durham	512	1961
Gloucester	216	1964
Hindley, Wigan, Lancs.	184	1964
Hull	137	1963
Leeds	248	1947
Leicester	236	1936
Letchworth, Herts	523	1930
Liverpool	506	1940
London (Enfield, Middlesex)	341	1947
London (Perivale, Middlesex)	227	1947
London (Poplar, E.3)	28	1965
London (Waddon, Croydon, Surrey)	370	1931
Long Eaton, Notts.	302	1963
Sheffield	172	1963
Slough, Bucks.	409	1934
Southampton	210	1964
Tursdale, Co. Durham	156	1963
SCOTLAND
Dumbarton	71	1964
Dunfermline	124	1963
Glasgow (Hillington)	244	1946
Glasgow (Queenslie)	—	1965
Irvine, Ayrshire	98	1964
Motherwell, Lanarkshire	178	1963
Port Glasgow	—	1965
WALES
Cardiff	299	1945
Llanelly	191	1964
Total	6,723

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of industrial training boards and their whereabouts in the country, and the number of persons engaged thereon; and if he will make a statement on the progress achieved by these boards.

Of the 11 boards so far established one has its head office in Bradford and the others in or near London. It is for each board to determine the staff it requires. Four boards have collected their first levy and paid grants to firms, and one is about to do so. Five are at various stages of drawing up their first proposals for levy and grants. The eleventh board was established yesterday.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the number and percentage of persons unemployed in the Stornoway area at the most

NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT THE STORNOWAY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
			Males	Females	Total	Percentage rate
11th February, 1963	…	…	1,329	339	1,668	30·1
10th February, 1964	…	…	1,214	283	1,497	27·0
8th February, 1965	…	…	1,147	300	1,447	25·4
14th February, 1966	…	…	940	300	1,240	21·9

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works on what date the Building Regulations Advisory Committee was reconstituted; and on what date he consulted with it before producing the Building (First Amendment) Regulations 1965.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works with whom he consulted, in accordance with Section 9(3) of the Public Health Act 1961, before making the Building (First Amendment) Regulations 1965, Statutory Instrument, 1965, No. 2184; and upon what dates such consultations took place.

I announced the appointments to the reconstituted Committee in the House on 1st February, 1966. The new Chairman was appointed last September.The Building (First Amendment) Regulations 1965, consisted entirely of corrections to and clarifications of the Building Regulations, 1965. The provisions of the Amending Regulations were necessary to give proper effect to proposals which were the subject of consultations with interested bodies and with the Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards provision of a jetty in his Vatersay, Isle of Berra, estate.

I understand that Inverness County Council is preparing detailed plans for this project, and that it hopes to have the work started before April, 1967.

The following table gives the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps in furtherance of the proposed vehicle ferry service between Berneray and North Uist have been taken by Inverness County Council and his Department; and what action he is taking to speed negotiations.

This proposal was put forward when the Highland Transport Board visited Berneray in October in company with officials of Inverness County Council and David MacBrayne Ltd. I am sure that the Board will give me its advice on the proposal as soon as it can, and I intend to seek the views of the County Council before reaching any decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish Ambulance Service has now completed its review of arrangements for double-manning of ambulances and for obtaining assistance with stretcher cases where the vehicle is manned only by the driver.

Yes. The Scottish Ambulance Service has now complete this review which was made at my request. It has decided to make the implementation of these arrangements its first priority in developing and improving the Service over the next two years at a total cost in the region of £60,000. The arrangements will provide for the extension of double-manning of ambulances to areas not at present covered where this is practicable. In some other areas where ambulances are provided under local contractual arrangements, the contractors will be asked to make a second man available; and in other areas an extended scheme of local voluntary help with payment of a retaining fee is being

DOUBLE MANNING
CENTRES WHERE DOUBLE MANNING IS PROPOSED
				Number of Attendants recommended	Estimated Cost 1966–67	Estimated Cost 1967–68	Total Estimated Cost
Elgin	…	…	…	2	—	£2,000
Hawick	…	…	…	2	—	£2,000
Hairmyres	…	…	…	3	£3,000	—
Falkirk	…	…	…	2	£2,000	—
Stirling	…	…	…	2	£2,000	—
Alloa	…	…	…	2	£2,120	—
Dumfries	…	…	…	3	£3,000	—
Shotts	…	…	…	4	£4,360	—
				20	£16,480	£4,000	£20,480

CENTRES WHERE MOBILE ATTENDANTS ARE PROPOSED
				Number of Attendants recommended	Estimated Cost 1966–67	Estimated Cost 1967–68	Total Estimated Cost
Aberdeen	…	…	…	1	—	£1,000
Haddington	…	…	…	2	£2,000	—
Duns	…	…	…	2	—	£2,000
Galashiels	…	…	…	2	£2,000	—
Kelso	…	…	…	2	£2,000	—
Cowdenbeath		…	…	2	£2,000	—
St. Andrews	…	…	…	2	—	£2,000
Law	…	…	…	3	£3,000	—
Kilmarnock		…	…	3	—	£3,000
				19	£11,000	£8,000	£19,000

CENTRES WHERE CONTRACTORS SECOND MAN IS PROPOSED
Number of Centres	Estimated Cost 1966–67	Estimated Cost 1967–68	Total Estimated Cost
8	£1,200	—
9	—	£1,350
17	£1,200	£1,350	£2,550

CENTRES WHERE VOLUNTARY LOCAL HELP IS PROPOSED
Number of Centres	Estimated Cost 1966–67	Estimated Cost 1967–68	Total Estimated Cost
23	£5,083	—
25	—	£5,525
48	£5,083	£5,525	£10,608

Estimated Cost of Additional Transport for Mobile Attendants

…

£6,000

£58,638

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated total gross output from Scottish farms, and the gross output of crops, live and store stock and milk and milk products,

Estimates of the gross output of agriculture for the current year form part of the data at present being considered at the Annual Review. A selection of the more important economic and financial data is published in the Annual Review White Paper, and I will send the hon. Gentleman the Scottish figures for 1965–66 at the conclusion of the Review. The information for 1964–65 is given in Scottish Agricultural Economics, Volume XV, Table 182.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the planned completion date or the estimated date for the M.1–M.6 motorway link.

The target completion date for this link is still 1970–71.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the annual revenue received from the parking meters at present in London; what is the cost of administering this service; and what are the estimated figures of revenue and cost for the new enlarged London parking-meter areas.

The gross income for parking meter schemes in the Greater London area during the financial year ended 31st March, 1965 was £898,673. The total expenditure (including administration, enforcement, maintenance, servicing of loans and taxation) amounted to £716,281.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to receive the results of the survey of the origin and destination of goods, method of carriage and classification of goods passing through the Port of London, now being undertaken by the Port of London Authority; and whether the report will be published.

The Port of London Authority expect to receive the survey results in April. It intends to publish the statistical information referred to in summary form.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of extending the £40 allowance to a married man to meet the additional expense arising out of his wife's infirmity, where he is at present unable to claim because he has no young children and no daughter to help him.

The cost cannot be estimated but it would be small.