asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an assurance that the public schools will be integrated into the State system of education not later than any fundamental change in the present position of direct grant grammar schools.

It is not practicable at this stage to prescribe relative time-tables in the way suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the university of the air will be established; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are now discussing the television and radio arrangements with the broadcasting authorities. When these are finalised, a period of not less than eighteen months will be required to set up the essential academic framework.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will increase the funds avail able for research into the causes and cure of multiple sclerosis.

No. The allocation of grant-in-aid for medical research is a matter for the scientific judgment of the Medical Research Council which is currently supporting a sizeable programme of research related to multiple sclerosis.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the quota deficiencies were, in the London Boroughs of Newham, Barking and Redbridge, on 1st October, 1965, and on the lastest available date; and how many off-quota qualified and un qualified teachers, respectively, are at present employed by each of the three London boroughs.

The information is as follows:

QUOTA DEFICIENCIES (−) AND SURPLUSES (+)
	At 1st October, 1965		At 1st February, 1966
Authorities	Number of teachers	Percentage of authority's total quota	Number of teachers	Percentage of authority's total quota
Barking	−51	−4·7	−60	−5·5
Newham	−123	−8·3	−129	−8·7
Redbridge	−16	−1·3	+19	+1·6

NUMBER OF OFF-QUOTA TEACHERS EMPLOYED AT 1ST FEBRUARY, 1966
	Qualified		Unqualified
Authorities	Fulltime	Fulltime equivalent of part-time	Fulltime	Fulltime equivalent of part-time
Barking	3	34·2	110	29·8
Newham	7	67·8	132	1·4
Redbridge	13	59	58	16

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it a condition of the grant of public money to the National Theatre that seats should only be obtainable through recognised ticket agencies.

No. The arrangements whereby the National Theatre placed block reservations of seats at the disposal of ticket agencies has been discontinued because of a complaint that people could not get seats at the box office or from the theatre but could get them if they were willing to pay a fee to a ticket agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the shortage of lodgings for students of the Barking College of Technology; and if he will make funds available to suitable organisations to provide accommodation.

Under the Overseas Students Welfare Expansion Programme, administered for the Government by the British Council, a grant has been agreed in principle to assist the Romford Y.M.C.A. to provide residential accommodation for overseas students. The Barking Local Education Authority has told my right hon. Friend that it is considering grant-aiding an addition to this project to provide specifically for the students of the College of Technology. My right hon. Friend has no power to make funds available to the Y.M.C.A. or any similar body for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost to the nation of educating a medical student up to the point where he is registered by the General Medical Council as fully qualified to practise.

The average cost to public funds of training a student at a medical school in Great Britain is not less than £7,500. After leaving medical school a doctor must spend at least 12 months in an approved hospital post before he is eligible for full registration and for this period there is no cost to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will request the Science Museum to take over the responsibility for administering the Transport Museums, as requested by the Railways Board.

This matter is under consideration, but for the coming year financial responsibility rests with the Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is given to university students whose grant is based on parental income when the circumstances of such income alter through illness, unemployment or death which may materially alter the basis of the grant; and what study he has made of the case, details of which have been supplied by the hon. Member for Tynemouth.

When the parents of an award-holder have suffered a sub- stantial drop in income, a claim may be made for the parental contribution to be based on current income. I am sending the hon. Member one of the booklets published by the Department which contains this advice. I understand that the local education authority is prepared to consider such a claim in the case to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students are attending full-time courses in management subjects at the present time in universities, colleges of advanced technology, colleges of technology and similar establishments supported by the state; of this number, how many have had more than five years' practical experience of management in industry and commerce; and if he is satisfied with the availability of such courses, the numbers using them, and the standard of management instruction.

The figures for which the hon. Member asks could not be obtained without extensive special inquiry, but courses in management subjects are now available in some thirty university institutions and some fifty maintained colleges of technology and other establishments of further education. On present evidence the supply of such courses is adequate to the demand; indeed, more support for them would be welcome. In so far as my right hon. Friend is responsible for the standard of instruction in them, the answer to the last few words of the Question is "Yes".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science under what system tenders are invited by the European Space Research Organisation, whether by public advertisement or by invitation to selected firms; and if he is satisfied that sufficient publicity is being given to British firms who might compete.

Lists of potential tenderers have been drawn up in response to a public invitation which was advertised in the Press in 1964. The Department arranged further publicity in the Board of Trade Journal and through Trade Associations. Of about 1,000 replies, over 400 were from the U.K. From these lists several firms from each member country are selected to tender for specific contracts. The European Space Research Organisation has just issued a further invitation for firms to enter the lists and I will ensure that British firms are fully informed about this.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will now withdraw the restrictions which debar local authorities from increasing their provision of nursery schools.

I welcome proposals to establish in existing suitable accommodation new nursery schools and classes which will enable more married women teachers with young children to return to teaching, and my right hon. Friend has recently announced arrangements for permitting this to be done more freely. But he cannot withdraw all restrictions without diverting teachers from older children, and this would be wrong until more teachers are available for primary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make it a condition of the next annual grant to the Arts Council that they should use a portion of it for financial assistance to acting schools.

No. It would be improper for me to do so. The Arts Council have full discretion in spending their grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now decided to include the improvement of Chigwell County Primary School in the Essex Education Committee's major building programme for 1967–68.

No. My right hon. Friend cannot reach a decision until he has examined all the authority's proposals for the remainder of the 1967–68 programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will finance a training orchestra for appropriate people finishing their musical studies at the Royal Colleges of Music as a preparatory step towards acceptance as performers in major national orchestras.

The hon. Member no doubt knows of the recent initiative taken by the B.B.C. in establishing a new orchestra for the training of young players. I note her suggestion and hope to be able to give it further study later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the school population in Hampshire stay on for a further year beyond the statutory school leaving age; and how this percentage compares with the national average.

In January, 1965, the number of pupils aged 15 but over school leaving age (that is born between 1st January and 1st September) in grant aided schools represented 46·7 per cent. of the corresponding age group in Hampshire and 4·5 per cent. in England and Wales. The percentages for pupils aged 16 were 27·6 per cent. and 24·2 per cent. respectively. No information is available on the number of children who stay on for a full year after they attain school leaving age.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of secondary school population in Hampshire in all types of maintained and grant-aided schools take the general certificate of education examination at O level and at A level, respectively; and how the percentage compares with the national average.

Relevant information for England and Wales has been published in Statistics of Education, 1963, Part 3, Tables 1, 11 and 12. I regret that corresponding information for individual county Authorities is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teaching machines his Department will order in the financial year 1966–67; and whether he will issue a circular to local education authorities recommending them to buy teaching machines for their own use.

The Department may buy a few machines for staff training. While the Department continues to give support to the development of programmed learning, it is for local education authorities to decide, in the context of their overall policy, about the purchase of machines.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provisions are being made in the formulation of the charters of the new technological universities to ensure proper representation of student opinion.

The formulation of these charters is a matter for the individual governing bodies. The Committee of the Privy Council concerned, of which my right hon. Friend is a member, has, after taking the advice of the University Grants Committee, asked them to consider the inclusion, where this has not already been done, of provisions for authorising the establishment within each university of an association representing the student body, and for empowering the Council and Senate to establish joint committees of themselves and representatives of the student body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce his decision on the salary claim of the university teachers first submitted in January, 1964.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's 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 (1) by how much the previously-authorised further education building programme for 1965–66 will have been reduced, in the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on 27th July, 1965;(2) if he will state the revised further education building programme for 1966–67.

No projects have been deleted from the further education building programme as a result of the measures taken last July. About £9 million worth of projects which would have started in 1965–66 will, however, be deferred beyond the end of that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many day colleges of education have been established since April 1965.

One—the Ethel Wormald College of Education at Liverpool, which opened in January 1966. Two more day colleges are planned to open this year, at Luton and Sittingbourne. A proposal for another day college in the London area is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many technical colleges are providing facilities for teacher training courses; and how many students are attending such courses.

Two of the annexes brought into use at colleges of education last September involve the use of facilities in establishments for further education: as these annexes are counted as part of the parent college of education it is not possible to give separate student numbers for them. Eight colleges of education are known to be considering the setting up of annexes or outposts involving similar use of further education establishments. Other colleges of education are using facilities of further education establishments on a smaller scale not amounting to the organisation of an annexe: my Department has no central record of arrangements of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to introduce teacher training on a part-time basis.

My right hon. Friend intends shortly to issue a circular about the organisation of part-time courses for teacher training.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increases in terms of real money have been received by headmasters of grammar schools since January 1954.

A grammar school headmaster today is receiving about £1,300 to £1,500 per annum more, according to the size of school, than the headmaster of a school with the same number of pupils in January 1954. This represents increases of the order of 100 per cent. to 120 per cent. If account is taken of changes in price levels over the same period, the increases in real money are of the order of 75 per cent. to 90 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to re-organise the police forces of Great Britain on a national basis.

No. The provisions of the Police Act, 1964, particularly those relating to amalgamation schemes, central research and collaboration between forces, and the other steps I described on 2nd February for making the most efficient use of manpower and equipment in police forces, must be allowed time to show their effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment when he intends to introduce legislation to implement the proposals set out in the White Paper, The Adult Offender.

Not this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to continue the practice of allowing Press facilities to groups of prisoners serving sentences in prison; on what principle he selects such groups; and whether he intends to extend such privilege to individual prisoners.

No Press facilities have been provided for prisoners. Representatives of the Press are from time to time allowed to visit prisons in order to gain first-hand information about penal conditions. With the consent of the governor they are permitted to ask prisoners about their treatment, but not to discuss other matters or to identify individuals. Prisoners are not otherwise allowed to communicate with the Press, and I do not propose to alter this practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the discussions held between his Department, the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority on the appearance of coloured immigrants on television.

There have been no discussions on this matter between the Home Office and the broadcasting authorities; but in April and May last year my hon. Friend who is now Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office discussed informally with the Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Independent Television Authority the part which radio and television could play in helping immigrants to adapt themselves to our way of life and to settle here successfully as full members of the community. My hon. Friend has since kept in touch with the successful efforts in this direction which the broadcasting organisations are making.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what detailed plans he has for implementing the proposals of the Donovan Committee in regard to prisoners' appeal applications; and when he will implement them.

The Government have accepted the recommendations in the Donovan Committee's Report. A Bill to implement the Committee's recommendations is being drafted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of discrepancies in sentences imposed by magistrates' courts for non-payment of fines as between those sentenced for taking part in political demonstrations and those sentenced for other offences; and if he will introduce legislation to standardise penalties and so eliminate this practice.

My right hon. Friend does not think it would be appropriate to fix uniform terms of imprisonment for non-payment of fines since this would allow courts no discretion to take account of individual circumstances. He has no evidence that courts discriminate in the way my hon. Friend suggests, but if she has any particular case in mind, perhaps she will let me have it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the appointment of the local conciliation committees under the Race Relations Act, 1965.

It will be for the Race Relations Board to make and announce these appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the appointment of members to the committee to inquire into the possibility of appeals procedure and related matters under aliens and immigration law.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Barons Court (Mr. Richard) on 25th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that certain drugs, such as amphetamines, known to be used by young addicts, can be sold by wholesalers to retailers who are not authorised sellers of poisons, and that many of the proprietary names of such drugs disguise their true nature; and whether he will take steps to tighten up the rules governing such sales.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the position as stated in the first part of the Question and he hopes soon to make a Rule under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933, relating to this matter. As regards the second part of the Question, under Section 18(1)(c) of the Act a container of any listed poison must be labelled with the name of the poison and, in the case of a preparation containing a poison, with prescribed particulars as to the proportion which the poison bears to the total ingredients.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what criteria he fixed the sum to be paid to the National Marriage Guidance Council for the preservation of marriage and family life at £42,000 a year; and what sum it is estimated will be allocated in the coming year for those seeking legal aid for divorce.

The grant proposed represents just over half the Council's estimated annual average expenditure over the next two years. It is of course by no means the only public expenditure undertaken for the preservation of marriage and family life. The estimated cost to the State in 1966–67 of legal aid in divorce cases, after allowing for the estimated recovery during the year of outstanding costs, is about £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further inquiries he has made into the possible extension of British Summer Time to conform with the European pattern; what have been the results of these inquiries; and whether he will now announce a decision to conform with the European pattern.

The arrangements at present in force under the Summer Time Order, 1964, provide for Summer Time to be extended from the end of March until the end of October in each year up to and including 1967. This was intended as an experiment. My right hon. Friend is considering how and when these arrangements can best be reviewed, and whether or not a change along the lines suggested by the hon. Member would be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation giving power to local authorities to create bye-laws making it a punishable offence for people to bathe in the sea when public warning systems are in operation.

My right hon. Friend is not at present satisfied that the introduction of a penalty is necessary or would be particularly effective.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the composition of the delegation from Barbados for the Independence Conference to be held in London during June, 1966.

The composition of the delegation from Barbados to the independence conference which will now open on 20th June has not yet been decided.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what definition she makes of the width of territorial waters surrounding the islands of Gan, Aldabra, Farquhar Desroches, Diego Garcia, and the Chagos Archipelago.

Gan is part of the Mal-dive Islands, an independent State. For the other islands the answer is three sea miles, measured from baselines drawn in accordance with the Geneva Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Gibraltar will be represented in the Anglo-Spanish talks about Gibraltar.

Her Majesty's Government are responsible for the external affairs of Gibraltar and the talks will take place between representatives of Her Majesty's Government and of the Spanish Government.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations she has had with the Gibraltar Government about talks with Spain; and whether they agreed to such talks taking place without relaxation of the frontier restrictions imposed by Spain.

My noble Friend has naturally kept in the closest touch with the Governor about these matters and has been fully informed of the views of the elected representatives of the people of Gibraltar. In a statement on 28th February the Chief Minister of Gibraltar accepted that the decision to hold talks with Spain was made by Her Majesty's Government in the exercise of its responsibility for Gibraltar's external affairs.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware that fees of 15 guineas a day for professional members, 12 guineas a day for lay members, and 18 guineas a day for chairmen of rent assessment committees have been fixed; and, as these payments for part-time employment conflict with his wages and incomes policy, if he will refer them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The reasons for this scale of fees were given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 1st March. My right hon. Friend does not therefore consider that they should be referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the discussions which he is having with the joint man power committee of the printing industry.

I understand that a proposal has now been made that the terms of reference of the Joint Manpower Committee, under an independent chairman, should be extended to cover all the recommendations made in the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes. This has been referred to the member unions of the Printing and Kindred Trades Federation for immediate consideration. If they approve, as we hope they will, I understand it is probable that the British Federation of Master Printers and the Newspaper Society will concur.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what salaries and expenses will be paid to or claimable by the members of the South-East Economic Planning Council; whether the £750 paid to the part-time chairman is inclusive or exclusive of expenses; and how frequently this Council is likely to meet.

No salary is paid to the members of the South-East Economic Planning Council, which is likely to meet monthly. The honorarium paid to the Chairman is exclusive of expenses. Both the Chairman and members may claim actual travelling expenses and subsistence allowances at Civil Service rates.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that the Isle of Sheppey was put forward in the Kent Development Plan for major development, but that this proposal was not included in the South-East Study, causing dissatisfaction to the county council, the three island local authorities and many other bodies; and if this proposal will now be referred to the new South-East Economic Planning Council.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has recently informed the Kent County Council that the possibility of planned expansion at Sheppey might now be explored further and that the Economic Planning Council will be consulted in due course.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if proposals in the Kent Development Plan, that were omitted from the previous South-East Study, will be referred to the new South-East Economic Planning Council.

When considering what advice to give the Government about the strategy of planned expansions within the South-East, the Economic Planning Council will look at all the possibilities.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give an assurance that local authorities in the South-East Region will have access to the new South-East Economic Planning Council, and may put forward major planning proposals to it.

Arrangements have already been made for close co-operation between the South-East Economic Planning Board which will work in partnership with the Council and the technical panels of the Standing Conference on London Regional Planning on matters of general regional interest. This will supplement the close working arrangements with local authorities which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government already has in carrying out his responsibilities for land use planning.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he has taken since October 1964 to co-ordinate economic policy with the Government of Northern Ireland for matters other than those which are the sole responsibility of that Government; how many meetings have been held; and if he will make a statement on progress in integrating Northern Ireland within the targets set out in the National Plan.

There is a continuing liaison between officials of the two Governments on economic questions, and representatives of the Northern Ireland Government take part in the regular meetings which are held with the Chairmen of Economic Planning Councils and Boards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to bring to the attention of expanding industry the desirability of the north-west of Northern Ireland, including Londonderry city and county, and counties Tyrone and Fermanagh.

In their discussions with industrialists about locations for development, officials emphasise both the attractions of Northern Ireland and the various forms of financial assistance available. I am glad to say that Northern Ireland has substantially benefited from the Government's policy on the location of industry, and negotiations completed in 1965 provide for over 40 per cent. more jobs in manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland than the average of the three preceding years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the average monthly increase in export earnings has been since October 1964; and what has been the total increment in pounds sterling to the end of the last complete month.

Since figures for individual months are misleading, I have compared the seasonally adjusted figures of exports in the three months November 1965 to January 1966 (£410 million a month) with those in the three months August to October 1964 (£370 million a month). The average rate of increase over the fifteen-month interval was £2·7 million a month. From November 1964 to January 1966, exports totalled £5,874 million, £324 million more than if they had remained constant at £370 million in each month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the new job prospects in Blyth, Bedlington and Seaton Valley in the next 12 months.

The general position has not changed since my hon. Friend's similar Question was answered on 7th December last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what new jobs have been provided in Blyth, Bedlington and Seaton Valley during the past 12 months to the latest convenient date; and if he will give comparable figures for 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962 and 1961.

The additional employment which applicants for industrial development certificates estimated would arise from industrial buildings completed in Blyth, Bedlington and Seaton Valley in the years 1961 to 1965 was as follows:

Industrial Building completed in	Estimated additional employment (as known at 28th February, 1966)
1961	90
1962	260
1963	530
1964	670
1965	420

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of imports of gramophone records from Czechoslovakia during 1964; and what was the corresponding export value to Czechoslovakia in the same period.

Imports were valued at £70,210 c.i.f.; there were no exports in 1964.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional new jobs there will be during the next 12 months at the Killingworth Town ship.

Projects in hand at Killing-worth for which industrial development certificates have been approved were estimated by the firms concerned to provide 650 jobs in the next three or four years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what guidance and encouragement his Department is giving to firms seeking to establish themselves on the North Bank of the Humber near Hull.

The first priority is to steer industry to the development districts. Subject to this I am prepared to consider on their merits applications for industrial development certificates for suitable projects at or near Hull.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the increasing oil contamination on beaches in West Dorset: to what extent this is due to tankers cleaning their tanks at sea; whether he is satisfied that the present regulations governing these activities are adequate; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware that Dorset beaches have been much affected by oil in recent months but there has been serious pollution elsewhere. In some cases it has been identified as having been caused by tankers but in others dry cargo ships could have been equally to blame.As regards measures to prevent or detect pollution I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, South, on 21st February. I would add that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is taking steps in support of the efforts of the Secretary-General of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation to expedite the coming into force of the amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil which we adopted in 1962. These will give additional protection against pollution by oil.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the import arrangements for butter for the year beginning 1st April.

I expect to announce the new quota arrangements shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether mergers proposed by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation will be exempt from the operation of the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965.

No. Mergers proposed by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation would be discussed at an early stage with the Board of Trade, who would consider them in the same way as they would consider any other proposal for a merger. The Corporation would not proceed with its proposal if there was a risk of public detriment sufficient to justify further investigation by the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he will take to encourage new industries to the Yorkshire-Humberside Region, particularly where there are to be coalmine closures;(2) what steps he is taking to encourage growth industries to move to the Yorkshire-Humberside Region.

The first priority is to steer industry to the development districts. Subject to this, I am prepared to consider on their merits applications for industrial development certificates for projects in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the fixed capital expenditure in the wool textile industry in 1965; and how this figure compares with 1964.

The fixed capital expenditure of the wool textile industry in 1965 is provisionally estimated at about £17 million; the corresponding estimate for 1964 is £19 million. These estimates are subject to revision in the light of the results of the censuses of production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount by way of grants, and loans, respectively, paid out in each of the years 1963 to 1965, respectively, on projects in the Western Isles constituency under the Local Employment Act; and if he will give the same information in respect of the Highlands and Islands area as a whole.

Total grants and loans offered in each of the years 1963 to 1965 (excluding offers declined) under the Local Employment Acts, 1960 and 1963, to projects in the Western Isles were as follows:

	Loans (£)	Grants (£)
1963	nil	nil
1964	nil	22,247
1965	nil	10,383
Total	nil	32,630

Similar figures for the Highlands and Islands are:

	Loans (£)	Grants (£)
1963	329,000	3,315
1964	21,000	310,892
1965	45,900	464,661
Total	395,900	778,868

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the effect on workers in Her Majesty's Dockyards of Her Majesty's Government's policy of building no more aircraft carriers.

The new carrier could not have come into service before 1973 and the decision not to build her will not have any effect on the work of the Royal Dockyards for many years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet decided on his future helicopter requirements as recommended in the Plowden Report.

I am reviewing the position in all three Services. A series of studies is well advanced which cover not only the question of the types required for the various rôles but also the possibilities of collaborative programmes with other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what stage the type of F111A that will be brought into service with the Royal Air Force has now reached in its development and flight programme; what are the problems that have so far been encountered; to what extent and in what way each one is being overcome; and if he will make a statement.

Nearly all development and tests associated with the F111 aircraft which the R.A.F. will be getting will be covered as part of the United States' F111A programme. Development of the F111A started in December 1962 and the first flight took place in December 1964. Twelve aircraft are now flying and 390 flights, totalling 590 hours, have been made of which 124 were supersonic, a number being above Mach 2·0. As regards problems encountered, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 1st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the expected differences in cost, performance and communications avionics between the basic F111A aircraft, as referred to in paragraph 10 on page 11 of Command Paper No. 2901, and the completed aircraft which will be in service with the Royal Air Force.

There will be a number of small changes in configuration from the basic F.111A aircraft of which the most important will be the inclusion of an improved navigation/attack system using components which will be incorporated in United States aircraft. Other changes include British communications and reconnaissance equipment and provision for the carriage of AJ.168, the Anglo/French air to ground guided weapon. The unit cost is expected to be about £2½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force pilots have flown the F111; and whether they have evaluated the aircraft's performance.

A senior R.A.F. test pilot is currently being given the opportunity to fly the F111 during its development test programme. He has already flown the aircraft at least twice and his reports have been included in our evaluation of the aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) to what extent the proposed home defence force in Northern Ireland will be based on particular Territorial Army units; and which these will be;(2) what proportion of the total personnel in the home defence force for the United Kingdom will be contributed by Northern Ireland;(3) what is the composition of the units comprising the home defence force which will be raised in Northern Ireland from existing Territorial Army units in the province.

Discussions on these matters continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will in future provide a free memorial stone to relatives who, at their own expense, repatriate to Great Britain the body of a Service man killed on active service in an overseas theatre, bearing in mind that if burial takes place in a War Graves Commission cemetery overseas, a memorial stone is provided by the Services.

This possibility is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he proposes to do with the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, when it ceases to be required by Her Majesty's Government.

Its main block is to be demolished: when the Psychiatric Wing has been reprovided elsewhere, the hospital will be disposed of in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the proportion of the gross national product that will be spent on defence in 1966–67 and in the four following financial years.

The proportion of the gross national product to be spent on defence in 1966–67 is estimated to be 6·6 per cent. Based on the forecast in the National Plan for growth in the gross national product, the proportion will be about 6 per cent. by 1969–70, but the precise rate of progression cannot be forecast at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel will be withdrawn this year from overseas as a result of the decisions announced in the White Paper on Defence, and from which stations; and how many will be redeployed overseas.

None.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what arrangements have now been made to co-ordinate the work of voluntary organisations in the fields of overseas relief and development; and what liaison there is between these organisations and his Department.

The Voluntary Committee on Overseas Aid and Development, the establishment of which I announced in the House on the 1st June, 1965, has started work. A Secretary has been appointed and is seeking premises to replace its present temporary accommodation. An observer from the Ministry of Overseas Development attends the Committee meetings. We are in close and constant touch with the Secretary and with all the constituent voluntary bodies. We give the Committee all the help we can.

asked the Minister of Transport what is now her policy with regard to the extension of the publicly-owned road haulage and passenger undertakings whether there has been any development of the Government's policy in this respect since her predecessor's answers to Questions on 20th January, 1965; what extensions have taken place since his answer of 2nd August last; and what further extensions are now planned.

My policy is to build up an expanding freight service under public ownership which can compete effectively with private haulage and help us to make fuller use of our railway services. My proposal for a National Freight Authority is designed for these purposes. For information about recent extensions, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Duffy) on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Transport how many contractors are on her Department's selective list for contracts over £250,000, and between £100,000 and £250,000 respectively.

The information asked for is 91 and 153 (including the 91), respectively. Only a small proportion of the first category would be considered for contracts of over £1 million.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list the contractors who have received since 12th February, 1964, contracts over £250,000, and between £100,000 and £250,000, respectively, giving the number of contracts and total value of contracts in respect of each contractor.

The list of contractors who have been awarded highway contracts by the Department since 12th February, 1964, is as follows:

CONTRACTS OVER £250,000
Contractor	Number of Contracts	Total Value (to nearest £10,000)
		£m.
Amey's Asphalt Company Ltd.	1	0·46
Asphalt & Public Works Ltd.	1	0·65
Percy Bilton Ltd.	2	2·59
Brims & Company Ltd.	1	0·75
Buckton (Contractors) Ltd.	1	0·28
A. M. Carmichael Ltd.	1	3·41
The Cementation Company Ltd.	1	1·31
Christiani & Nielsen Ltd. with Lehane, Mackenzie & Shand Ltd.	1	2·75
Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Co. Ltd.	3	7·96
Clugston Civil Engineering Ltd.	1	0·57
Richard Costain (Civil Engineering) Ltd.	2	2·28
Martin Cowley Ltd.	2	316
D.C.M. Contractors (Liverpool) Ltd.	1	0·34
The Demolition and Construction Co. Ltd.	1	0·61
R. M. Douglas Construction Ltd.	1	4·58
Dowsett Engineering Construction Ltd.	2	6·27
Droitwich Construction Co. Ltd.	1	0·25
A. E. Farr Ltd.	1	0·90
Fitzpatrick & Son (Contractors) Ltd.	1	3·75
W. & C. French Ltd.	3	10·09
Galliford & Sons Ltd.	2	1·17
Sydney Green & Sons (Contractors) Ltd.	1	0·39
Sydney Green & Sons (Contractors) Ltd. with Holland and Hannen and Cubitts (Civil Engineering) Ltd. and Kier Ltd	1	4·75
Hadsphaltic Construction Company Ltd.	1	0·44
John Laing Construction Ltd.	2	12·58
F. J. C. Lilley (Marine) Ltd.	1	0·30
Peter Lind & Co., Ltd.	2	212
Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Ltd.	1	0·42
Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Ltd.	5	16·67
Leonard Fairclough Ltd.
Robert McGregor & Sons Ltd.	4	6·18
Marples Ridgway Ltd.	1	4·06
A. Monk & Company Ltd.	4	14·35
John Mowlem & Company Ltd.	1	0·47
William Old Ltd.	1	0·28
Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Company Ltd.	1	4·28

Contractor	Number of Contracts	Total Value (to nearest 110,000)
		£m.
Pinfold (Construction) Ltd.	1	0·47
Reed & Mallik Ltd.	2	1·20
Southern Counties Construction Ltd.	2	3·46
Tarmac Civil Engineering Ltd	5	9·09
Turriff Construction Corporation Ltd	2	1·76
George Wimpey & Company Ltd	3	9·20

CONTRACTS BETWEEN £100,000 AND £250,000
Contractor	Number of Contracts	Total Value (to nearest £10,000)
		£m.
Amey's Asphalt Company Ltd.	3	0·41
Asphalt & Public Works Ltd.	1	0·11
Buckton (Contractors) Ltd.	1	0·22
A. F. Budge (Contractors) Ltd.	1	0·12
Concrete Piling (Successors) Ltd.	1	0·14
Conoley & Company Ltd.	2	0·28
Dowsett Engineering Construction Ltd.	1	016
Droitwich Construction Co. Ltd.	1	0·25
Dyggor Contractors Ltd.	1	0·11
Leonard Fairclough Ltd.	1	0·11
Thomas Fletcher & Company Ltd.	1	0·21
W. & J. Glossop Ltd.	1	0·15
Grant Lyon & Company Ltd.	1	0·11
Hadsphaltic Construction Company Ltd.	4	0·76
John Laing Construction Ltd	1	0·13
Peter Lind & Co., Ltd.	1	0·21
McLaughlan (Knottingley) Ltd.	2	0·33
Metropolitan Construction Company Ltd.	1	0·11
Reed & Mallik Ltd.	1	015
George Wimpey & Company Ltd	1	0·12

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that the bridge at Sinderby carrying the A.1 over the B.6267 road from Ainderby Quentin to Masham does not provide the regulated minimum headroom of 16 feet 6 inches; and what action she proposes to take to prevent this inconvenience to traffic.

Yes. But because of the physical conditions to provide the normal minimum headroom would involve major and costly works which it would be difficult to justify.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents involving personal injury have occurred on the A.6 between the junction with the M.6 north of Carnforth and the Lancashire/Westmorland county boundary since 1st November, 1964; and how many fatalities have resulted.

39, resulting in 5 deaths.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she proposes to take to abolish ancient tolls on bridges.

I am providing new routes for the through traffic that is now obliged to use the three ancient toll bridges on trunk roads, subject to the normal priorities of my roads programme. Merely buying out toll rights is unjustifiably expensive.

asked the Minister of Transport when she proposes to construct the Banbury by-pass.

It has not so far been possible to include this scheme in the road programme and I cannot therefore yet say when it might be built. It will be re-considered when the programme is next extended.

asked the Minister of Transport if it is her decision that the closure of Forster Square station, Bradford, should take place.

My right hon. Friend has not so far received any proposal from the Railways Board about the closure of this station. She has not therefore been called upon to make a decision.

asked the Minister of Aviation what charges have been paid, or are to be paid, to contractors as a result of the cancellation of the TSR.2 aircraft project.

I cannot add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 28th February, 1966.

asked the Minister of Aviation what was the value of contracts, including sub-contracts, placed with Short Brothers and Harland by Her Majesty's Government since 16th October 1964 and cancelled during the same period; and if he will give the figures for the period from October 1951 to 15th October 1964.

Since 16th October 1964 my Department has placed direct contracts with Short Brothers and Harland to the value of £8·6 million. Cancellations have amounted to £44,000. Precise information about sub-contract orders is not available as these are the responsibility of the main contractor, but the value of these orders placed since 16th October 1964 is understood to be about £12·5 million.Orders placed in Northern Ireland as a whole between 1st April 1953 and 30th September 1963 were valued at £85·6 million and cancellations at £1·4 million. The majority of these orders were placed with Short Brothers and Harland. Information is not readily available for orders placed with Short Brothers and Harland for the precise period October 1951 to 15th October 1964.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now make a statement about the future of Short Brothers and Harland in the light of the Plowden Report.

I have nothing to add at present to the statement which I made in the course of the debate on the Plowden Report on 1st February.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will place a production order for the Blowpipe missile developed by Short Brothers and Harland.

An operational requirement for a weapon of this general type is being studied and Short Brothers and Harland have together with other firms in the industry been asked to submit a feasibility study. It is premature to consider a production order at this stage.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that powers are enjoyed by housing authorities to make compulsory purchase orders over dwellings from which tenants or licensees have been illegally evicted; and whether he will issue a circular reminding them of such powers.

The question whether a compulsory purchase order should be made in such circumstances would depend on what the order could achieve. The important thing is, however, to make sure that illegal evictions do not take place; and I should hope that the fines and imprisonment which can be imposed under the Rent Act will suffice to secure this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what sum of money is to be granted to the London borough of Wandsworth under the Government's proposals to assist local authorities responsible for heavy programmes of slum clearance; and what conditions he will impose on its use.

Houses completed by Wandsworth on or after 25th November, 1965, will qualify for the new subsidies. Since the value of the new subsidies will vary from authority to authority according to the size and cost of their building programme, my right hon. Friend is not yet able to make estimates for individual authorities.No conditions will be imposed but, as the recent Housing White Paper made clear, the Government expect the new subsidies to be used to relieve those with the greatest social need.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the contamination by oil of beaches in West Dorset, frequented by holidaymakers; that one patch of oil measured 150 yards by 50 yards; and what action he is taking in the matter.

My right hon. Friend knows that certain beaches in West Dorset are affected. On the general problem of oil on beaches, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to Questions by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 14th February, and by the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Mr. Braine) on 1st March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has concluded his consultations with the National Parks Commission regarding redevelopment on the Ulverston-Barrow coast road at Roosebeck; and if he will make a statement.

It was suggested to Lancashire County Council and the National Parks Commission last November that the problem of unsightly shacks at Roosebeck might conveniently be discussed at one of the regional conferences which the latter is arranging with maritime planning authorities about the preservation of coastal amenities. The conference for this area will take place in December.Meanwhile, however, my right hon. Friend has issued a Circular drawing the attention of maritime planning authorities to the need to formulate more stringent policies for safeguarding the coast. He understands that Lancashire are giving the Roosebeck problem further thought in the light of what is said in this Circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that adjacent to the Church of England school at Upton Magna, Shropshire, there is a stream of septic water caused by damage to the underground soakaway pipes during the laying of water mains to the village; and whether he will take action with all authorities concerned to terminate this threat to the health of the children.

My right hon. Friend's attention had been drawn to this. He understands that there is doubt where responsibility lies but that Atcham Rural District Council is being recommended to carry out repairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the building and estimated date of completion of a new secondary school at Prestonpans, East Lothian.

I expect to settle soon with the Education Authority its investment allocation for 1967–68 to 1969–70. The allocation should enable the Authority to start this school next year and complete it in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been started and how many have been completed in the town of Stornoway in each year from 1958 to 1965, inclusive.

The information is as follows:—

	Houses Started		Houses Completed
	For Stornoway Town Council	For Private Owners	For Stornoway Town Council	For Private Owners
1958	20	1	29	7
1959	11	4	20	2
1960	—	18	11	14
1961	12	5	—	7
1962	—	18	12	8
1963	—	8	—	17
1964	28	14	8	7
1965	—	—	20	12

I understand that private building has been encouraged by the town council, by the provision of sites, as a means of meeting the demand for higher amenity houses. The high turnover of local authority houses has assisted the town council to decant tenants voluntarily to houses suitable for their requirements. I am glad to hear that the council has plans in hand for additional house building.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date the planning consultant for the Borders will report to him on the siting of the new Border Hospital to replace Peel Hospital; and how long after that date the new hospital will be completed.

Advice on the siting of the hospital will be included in the overall report on the Western Borders which the planning consultant will be asked to submit within 18 months. It is not yet possible to forecast a starting or completion date for the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1), if he will ask the Forestry Commission to undertake a survey of the Outer Hebrides with a view to shelterbelt planting and general afforestation;(2) what action he has taken to further shelterbelt planting and general afforestation in the Outer Hebrides.

The Forestry Commission has in recent years surveyed land in the Outer Hebrides. The prospects are not encouraging but the Commission is at present looking into the possibilities of afforestation on Lewis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the ratio of patients to general practitioners in the National Health Service in Scotland and in the Outer Hebrides respectively, in each of the years 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1965.

The estimated average number of patients for each principal providing unrestricted general medical services was as follows:—

	Scotland	Outer Hebrides
July, 1950	2,153	1,768
July, 1955	1,975	1,538
July, 1960	1,977	1,375
July, 1965	2,039	1,332

The true figures may be slightly smaller since it is not possible to eliminate all duplicate entries from doctors' lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average rate of interest charges per week for each house in Stornoway, the rate in the Isle of Lewis, and the rate in the County of Ross and Cromarty as a whole in 1950 and in each subsequent year; and if he will give the corresponding information in respect of the outer islands of Inverness-shire and the county of Inverness, respectively.

I am writing to my hon. Friend giving him such information as is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cause of the delays in completing the water supply scheme in the Newton area of North Uist; when it is intended that the work be completed; and to what extent the final cost is likely to exceed the originally estimated cost.

Completion of this scheme has been delayed because more rock was encountered than expected in the initial stages and, more recently, the track digger had to be withdrawn for a major overhaul; the work, however, should be completed by June. The final cost is not expected to exceed the original estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received recently from Inverness County Council regarding the construction of the proposed circular road in the Paible district of North Uist.

Inverness County Council submitted proposals on 24th February, 1966, for the reconstruction of the Paible Township Road at an estimated cost of £90,422 and these are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work on the electricity supply scheme for the Isle of North Uist is to begin this year.

This is a matter for the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to decide, but I understand that the preliminary work for the connection of North Uist is already well in hand and that constructional work is expected to start early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of subsidy paid to Messrs. MacBrayne's in the last full year; and what is the current annual rate of subsidy.

The subsidy to MacBrayne's for 1965 has been fixed at £440,000 subject to prescribed variation upwards or downwards depending on actual trading

			Freight Rates	Passenger Fares (excluding Clyde Services)	Passenger Fares (Clyde Services)
1950	…	…	16⅔	—
1951 (April)		…	10	—
1951 (December)			6½ (average)	—
1952	…	…	5	—	10
1955	…	…	7½	7½	7½
1956	…	…	7½ (consignments under I ton)	—	—
			5 (consignments of I ton or over)
			(agricultural traffic excepted)
1957	…	…	10 (agricultural traffic excepted)	—	10 (February)
					6½ (September)
1959	…	…	—	6	12½
1960	…	…	—	—	1¼
1961	…	…	10 (cargo ships)	5 (1st class)	10
			7½ (mail ships)	15 (2nd class)
1962 (April)		…	5 (motor vehicles—summer only)	10 (one class ships—summer only)	10
	(October)	…	10 (restricted to 5 per cent. for agricultural traffic other than livestock and for motor vehicles in winter)
1963	…	…	10 (motor vehicles—summer only)	5 (summer only)
			5 (motor vehicles—winter only)
1964	…	…	7½ (consignments under I ton)	7½ (excluding Tobermory-Mingary service and excursions)
			5 (consignments of I ton or over, and agricultural traffic)
1965	…	…	15s. per car and 20s. per caravan on car ferry services excluding Skye service	Varying increases in Day Return and Excursion Fares	Approximately 8
1966	…	…	5	12½ single (summer only)
				15 return (summer only)