asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources why he proposes to charge development levy on commercial development by a local authority of land already in its possession.

I do not propose to do so.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources why he proposes to charge development levy on the expansion of an industrial or commercial concern on land already zoned for industrial development.

The Bill provides that levy is chargeable when development value is realised in a number of ways. It is not chargeable where the expansion falls within the limits of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962, but development value may be realised in the circumstancese the hon. Member mentions, and I can see no reason why it should escape the charge; but the development value may be largely realised when the land for an expansion project is purchased, and in that case the vendor will be liable for most of the levy, if not all.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether, under his proposals for leasehold enfranchisement, owners of leases on such estates as the Bournville Village Trust in Birmingham will be able to purchase their freeholds; and what steps he envisages to preserve the amenities of this estate once some of the freeholds are no longer under the Trust's control.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". As regards the second part, it is proposed to provide for the continuance of estate management on the lines described in paragraph 22 of the White Paper on Leasehold Reform in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what, under the Government's proposals for leasehold enfranchisement, would be the estimated enfranchisement price of a house, without development value, in the Midlands, with a vacant possession value of £2,750, let at an annual ground rent of £10 and with 50 years of the lease still to run.

The actual price for enfranchisement is in the first instance a matter for negotiation between the parties concerned. Accordingly any example I may quote must be treated as hypothetical and not applicable to any specific case whatever the apparent similarity. In this example the price for enfranchisement might well range from, say, £150 to a figure in the region of £230, unless there were very exceptional circumstances.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources how many houses in Wales will be affected by the Government's proposals on leasehold reform.

This depends on the number of houses occupied by qualified leaseholders, which I cannot estimate. The total number of leasehold houses in Wales is of the order of 400,000.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if, with regard to the proposal for simplifying and speeding up procedure for creating footpaths, he will ensure that walkers have adequate opportunities of making representations.

Yes. The Ramblers' Association and the other bodies representing walkers will be consulted about any proposals.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what steps he will take to prevent the disappearance of trees from the countryside.

Two lines of action are needed—to control felling in the interests of amenity, and to encourage new planting to make good losses where necessary—and my right hon. Friend intends to pursue both. Local authorities will be encouraged to plant small woods to improve the landscape and it is intended that approved expenditure should be eligible for grant. For details of the Government's proposals, including grants to local authorities for tree-planting, I would refer my hon. Friend to the recent White Paper.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether, in the light of the views expressed in paragraph 47 of Command Paper No. 2928, dealing with leisure in the countryside, he will, by legislation or otherwise, take steps to ensure that the Forestry Commission assist in the provision of many special bridle ways, and cease their present practice of discouraging the use of their land by riders through imposing a special charge per horse.

The hon. Member will see in paragraph 54 of Command Paper No. 2928 that the Forestry Commission is opening its forests to the public as freely as possible. The creation of new footpaths and bridleways is set out in paragraph 47 of the Paper as something requiring further consultation and investigation. I do not think that it would be appropriate for the Forestry Commission to stop their practice of making a modest charge to regular riders over their land. These charges are part of the normal management of their estate, and it is reasonable that they should obtain some return for special facilities of this kind.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what staff he proposes to recruit for the Land Commission; and what is the estimated total cost of salaries and wages.

When the Commission is fully operational I expect its staff will number a little under 2,000. They will be mainly Officers in the Executive and Clerical classes of the Civil Service. The total administrative costs of the Land Commission were estimated at £4 million gross a year in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum of the Land Commission Bill. About two-thirds of this will be salaries and wages.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what have been the changes in the average price of a house plot in the pressure areas of England and Wales during the last two years.

The information I have shows that in most of the pressure areas the average price of a house plot has increased during the last two years. Apart from exceptional increases of over 100 per cent. in the Oxford/Newbury, Birmingham/Black Country and Shropshire/Staffordshire areas, the increases range from 4 per cent. to 50 per cent. In the North-East, Deeside and Merseyside, Coventry, the South-East coast towns and the Hampshire area average plot prices have fallen by percentages ranging from 5 per cent. to 28 per cent.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, on the basis of the purchasing power of the £ sterling declining at the same rate as since 16th October, 1964, if she will calculate by what date the value of the retirement pension in real terms will be £3 7s. 6d.

I do not think I can answer questions based on hypothetical assumptions about the future.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether she is prepared to pay Professor Adam Murray the £140 in respect of retirement pension since 3rd October, 1963, which he has not received despite the fact that he has paid full contributions during his lifetime;(2) whether she will consider extending the time limit for claims to retirement pensions on the grounds that such pensions, having been paid for, are a right and that there is a gain to the Exchequer when a claim is delayed.

As the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, the National Insurance Commissioner decided last May that Professor Murray was disqualified for receiving retirement pension between October, 1963 and February, 1964 amounting to the sum of £140 referred to in the Question. The Commissioner's decision is final. As regards the wider issue, time limits for claims to National Insurance benefits, including pensions, are necessary. These limits have been considered from time to time in the past, but my mind is not closed to the possibility of further review.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will estimate the number of persons in South Dorset or an approximate area who are over 70 years of age and who receive no pension.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the ratio of nursing staff to patients at Stockport Infirmary, Stepping Hill, Cherry Tree and St. Thomas's Hospitals, Stockport.

The ratios of nursing staff to available beds at 26th February, 1966 were:

Stockport Infirmary	1:1·17
Stepping Hill	1:1·61
Cherry Tree	1:2·51
St. Thomas'	1:2·15

asked the Minister of Health why there has been no progress with the plans for the new hospital proposed in the master plan for Dawley New Town; and for how long this hospital project is now to be retarded owing to the financial crisis and to the cancellation of the master plan for Dawley in favour of a combined new town for Dawley and Wellington.

The Birmingham Regional Hospital Board has asked for a site to be reserved for a new hospital at Dawley; as no decision has yet been taken about a possible starting date, there can be no question of the project having been retarded.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now considered present procedures for investigating complaints by, or on behalf of, hospital patients; and what guidance he proposes to issue to hospital authorities.

Yes. I am today issuing a memorandum to Hospital Boards and Committees, giving general guidance on this matter. My aim is the adoption by all hospital authorities of a common code, embodying methods of procedure which will vary according to the nature and seriousness of the complaint. The purpose of this code, which is broadly followed by many hospital authorities already, is to ensure that all complaints are dealt with promptly and are seen to have been fully and fairly considered.

asked the Minister of Health what medical cover is available at Stockport Infirmary during evenings, nights and weekends.

Normally five and never fewer than three medical staff are on duty at evenings, nights and weekends. Additional medical staff are on call if needed.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total cost in maintenance, repairs and care-taking of the Southern Hospital since its closure; and what plans he has for the disposal or alternative use of this land and property.

Since closure in 1959, about £23, 000. Since April 1965, nil. Part of the land will be used for a trunk road. The Planning Authority is being consulted about permissible uses for the remainder.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent financial stringency is preventing the creation of additional consultant posts in the hospital service.

Reasonable progress is being made with the planned growth of consultant establishments over the period 1964 to 1968, though one or two hospital boards may have found it necessary to make temporary restrictions in growth at the present time in order to allocate adequate funds to other urgent hospital service needs.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present number of time-expired registrars in the hospital service of England and Wales; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number in each specialty.

Provisional figures for 30th September, 1965 show 61 senior registrars who had completed training, excluding staff with University medical school or Medical Research Council appointments holding honorary appointments in the grade. The position (provisional) by specialty is given in the table below:

Specialty	Completed Training
General Medicine	9
Diseases of the Chest	6
Dermatology	2
Cardiology	1
Physical Medicine	2
Veneral Diseases	1
Neurology	2
Paediatrics	1
General Surgery	14
Ear, Nose and Throat	3
Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery	1
Urology	1
Plastic Surgery	2
Thoracic Surgery	1
Anaesthetics	1
Radiotherapy	1
Radiology	1
Gynaecology and Obstetrics	2
General Pathology	1
Mental Illness	8
Mental Illness (children)	1

asked the Minister of Health to what extent student nurses are left in charge of wards at night in any of the hospitals in Stockport.

One-third to one-half of the wards at Stockport Infirmary and one-half to two-thirds of those at Stepping Hill Hospital are at night in the immediate charge of student nurses under the supervision of Night Sisters.

asked the Minister of Health by how much he has increased the expenditure on dental health education this year compared with 1964; and by how much he expects to increase this sum annually in the future.

Responsibility for dental health education rests primarily with the local authorities. Expenditure in 1965–66 by my Department, which is only one of several sources of material for their use, is expected to be about £3,000 or about one-fifth more than in the financial year 1964–65, and will continue at this higher level during 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Health what is the proportion of dentists to population in England and Wales; and what information he has as to how this compares with the United States of America and with western European countries.

One dentist in active practice to about 3,600 people. I have no exactly comparable information for other countries.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make arrangements to standardise and increase prices paid to dental laboratories which carry out work for the National Health Service.

I have no responsibility for the prices paid to dental laboratories by dentists practising under the general dental services.

asked the Minister of Health what is the planned rate of growth of expenditure on the health and welfare services; and what is the rate of growth assumed in the National Plan for the output of the country as a whole.

For health and welfare services 4¼ per cent. per annum: for the output of the country as a whole 3·8 per cent. per annum: in the White Paper published in December, 1963, the annual rate of growth shown for health and welfare services was 3·3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health what cervical cancer screening service is available to women at risk in the county of Nottingham; if he is satisfied with the adequacy of such facilities; how many women have used them to date; and what action is being taken to publicise them.

A routine cervical cancer screening service is available in nearly all parts of the county. About 55,000 Nottinghamshire women have so far been screened. I understand that wide publicity has been given to the arrangements, which are adequate for the present demand.

asked the Minister of Health what cervical screening services are available to women at risk in the three local authority areas of Dorking Urban District Council, Dorking and Horley Rural District Council, and Guildford Rural District Council.

A screening service is available through family doctors for some women in the Guildford area and the opening of a local authority clinic later this year should enable the service to be extended. A diagnostic service is already available in all these areas for women with symptoms.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made by Kent County Council in their review of arrangements for temporary accommodation.

I am informed that the council has endorsed reports from its Health and Welfare and Children Committees to the following effect. While the King Hill Hostel is to be retained, two other hostels are to be provided to serve other areas of the county. There are to be discussions with district councils about measures that can be jointly taken to prevent people losing their homes, to provide intermediate housing for evicted families and residents from temporary accommodation, and to find permanent housing for them as soon as possible. The council re-affirm the importance they attach to preventive measures, especially to avoid the break-up of families, and the provision of rehabilitative services.The council has decided to retain its rules on length of residence and the exclusion of husbands from temporary accommodation. On the first point authority has been given for the relaxation of the rule in individual cases, and as matters relevant to this are to be the subject to judicial proceedings shortly I cannot comment further at present. The enforcement of the exclusion rule is, I understand, to be further considered by the Health and Welfare Committee.I greatly hope that the new measures will be speedily implemented, and that discussions with housing authorities will be fruitful.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has sent to representations from the Chester City Council and other interested persons for an inquiry into the conduct and operation of the Dee-side Junior Training Centre; if he will hold such an inquiry and ensure that parents of children attending the centre are able to give evidence to it; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has told the council that he agrees that there should be an independent fact-finding inquiry into allegations made about the conduct of this centre, and has suggested that the Council should appoint an independent person to hold the inquiry. I understand that they intend to do so.

asked the Minister of Health when he will announce the results of the review of doctors' remuneration.

The result will be announced after the Review Body have submitted their report, which, as they have informed my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, will be towards the end of this month, and the Government have considered it.

asked the Minister of Health, what cervical cancer screening service is available to women at risk in Leicester.

A screening service for women without symptoms is available through general practitioners and a voluntary organisation, and the necessary hospital laboratory facilities are being provided.

asked the Minister of Health how many primary vaccinations per cent. of births were carried out in 1964 and 1965; how many deaths from smallpox and deaths from vaccination in the age group 0–5 years occurred in each of those years; and what were the total deaths in each year from smallpox and from vaccination.

Information about smallpox vaccination of children is collected not in relation to year of birth but to the age at the time of vaccination. The number of primary vaccinations recorded in 1965 is not yet available. There were no deaths from smallpox in 1965; the number of deaths attributed to vaccination in 1965 was four, three of which were in the age group 0–5. Figures for 1964 were given in my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 1st November last.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that the abolition of dental charges will not result in a reduction in the fees paid to dentists.

The net income for dentists will continue to be based on advice from the Review Body.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to ensure that all children under 17 years of age who are in full-time education should receive the same benefits under the National Health Service, in particular for dental treatment.

Dental treatment is free for everybody up to age 21; children over 16, not at school, pay charges for dentures and glasses. The Government have no proposals to effect the limited change implied in the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to publish the Report of the Working Party on Ambulance Training.

The report is being published today and will be on sale. We are consulting the local authority associations and other bodies concerned, and propose to await their views before reaching conclusions on the recommendations made by the Working Party.

asked the Minister of Health how many prescriptions were issued under the National Health Service during the month of December 1965, and their cost; and what percentage increase the figures show over the comparable figures for 1964.

The figures for prescriptions dispensed by chemists in England and Wales during the month of December in each of the years 1964 and 1965, and the percentage increases, are:

	1964 million	1965 million	Percentage increase
Numbers of prescriptions	17,634	21,475	21·8
Cost of prescriptions	£9,239	£11,313	22·4

There is evidence that during December 1965 the level of sickness was significantly higher than during December 1964.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made by the Construction Industry Training Board in its examination of the nature and length of apprenticeships; and when he expects that a statement will be made.

The Board is solely concerned with training and has decided that this must be considered separately from the length of apprenticeship. It is encouraging with grants existing forms of craft training while examining the form training should take in the future.

asked the Minister of Labour why his Department has offered jobs with United States aircraft firms in the United States of America to unemployed skilled British aircraft workers.

No vacancies with aircraft firms in the United States of America have been offered by my employment services to unemployed aircraft workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the percentage increase in average earnings since October 1964 to the present date.

The latest figures I can give the hon. Member relate to the 14 months from October 1964 to December 1965. During this period the average earnings of weekly paid and monthly paid employees taken together rose by 5·2 per cent.Owing to the effect of Christmas holidays on the earnings of weekly paid workers, the December 1965 index was 2 points below the index for November. Over the 12 months December 1964 to December 1965 the average earnings of weekly paid and monthly paid employees taken together rose by 7·8 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people are unemployed in north-east Scotland; and what are their skills, ages and sex.

At 14th February, 1966, 3,548 males and 1,096 females were registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges and Youth Employment Offices in North East Scotland. The available information about the skills and ages of the unemployed is given in the following tables:

ANALYSIS BY OCCUPATION OF WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED ADULTS REGISTERED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN NORTH EAST SCOTLAND AT 6TH DECEMBER, 1965*
Men
Farm-workers, fishermen, etc.	413
Engineering and allied trades workers	75
Food, drink and tobacco workers	53
Transport and communication workers	223
Warehousemen, packers, etc.	65
Clerical workers	186
Shop assistants	85
Service, sport and recreation workers	117
Administrative, professional, technical workers	164
All other occupations	147
Labourers	1,679
Total	3,207
Women
Clerical workers	240
Shop assistants	169
Service, sport and recreation workers	346
Administrative, professional, technical workers	50
All other occupations	291
Total	1,096

AGE ANALYSIS OF WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN NORTH EAST SCOTLAND AT 10TH JANUARY, 1966*
Aged	Males	Females
Under 20 years	318	293
20 years and under 40 years	1,188	606
40 years and over	2,060	382
Total	3,566	1,281
*Latest available. Occupational analyses of the unemployed are made only at quarterly intervals and analyses by age only at six-monthly intervals.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will have metal fumes fever, contracted among foundry workers and welders statutorily notifiable under Section 82 of the Factories Act.

My right hon. Friend's Industrial Health Advisory Committee has recently examined the subject of sources of information of cases of industrial disease, as a result of which Regulations are being prepared, which my right hon. Friend hopes to make within a few months, to revise and extend the provisions for the compulsory notification under the Factories Act of cases of certain industrial disease. Consideration will be given to the inclusion of metal fumes fever in these Regulations.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the percentage rise in the cost of living from October, 1964, to the present date.

The Index of Retail Prices rose by 5·9 per cent. between 13th October, 1964, and 18th January, 1966, the latest date for which the index figure is available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of married women employed in Hull; what percentage this is of married women living in the area; what is their average wage; and what comparative percentage relationships this bears to the number of married women working throughout the country and the average wage in the country.

I have been asked to reply.Of the 75,342 married women enumerated in Hull at the 1961 Census of Population, approximately 20,400, or 27 per cent. in the week before the Census either had a job or were out of employment but intending to get work. For England and Wales, the figures were 3,625,050 or 31 per cent. of the 11,860,467 married women enumerated. Information about average earnings of married women in Hull or nationally in England and Wales is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the official visit to Saigon of Air Chief Marshal Sir John Grandy.

As is customary for the Commander-in-Chief Far East, Air Chief Marshal Grandy has paid a number of courtesy visits to allied and friendly countries in the area since his appointment last May. These include a visit to South Vietnam from February 15th to 19th. In Saigon he called on representatives of the South Vietnamese Government and armed forces, and he also took the opportunity of meeting senior U.S. officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when drill halls and base units for the home defence force will be designated.

I expect that base units and locations will be selected before the end of May. Selection of drill halls will follow shortly afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances the Army Volunteer Reserve will be called out.

The Army Volunteer Reserve would only be called out if major military operations were in progress or appeared to be imminent and when a serious situation affecting vital national interests had arisen. Apart from Special Army Volunteer Reservists holding an Ever Ready liability, no member of the Army Volunteer Reserve would be called out until full use had been made of Section A of the Regular Reserve, i.e. until all suitable members in the numbers and categories required had been called out.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Army Volunteer Reserve will be used outside Europe.

Yes, if a sufficiently serious situation arose; but the resources of two other categories of the Reserve could first be employed. The Special Army Volunteer Reserve (Ever Readies) will be available to be called out at any time, and full use would be made of Section A of the Regular Reserve before the Army Volunteer Reserve were called on.While it is impossible to forecast the precise development of a hypothetical future situation the following is the most likely sequence of events and that on which current planning is based.Such operations would initially be conducted by the Regular Army, reinforced as necessary by Regular units from the Strategic Reserve or from other theatres; these Regular units in turn might be reinforced from the Ever Readies. If the operations were to develop to a point beyond the resources of the Regular Army as thus reinforced, then Section A of the Regular Reserve would be called on to provide individual reinforcements in the ranks and trades required. Only if both these reserves were insufficient would the Army Volunteer Reserve be drawn on, and then only to the extent required.The Army Volunteer Reserve would thus, in this situation, be in the nature of a third-line reserve, to be called upon only if the Regular Army, reinforced by Ever Readies and by Section A of the Regular Reserve, were unable to deal with the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will start recruiting for the Army Volunteer Reserve.

Formal recruitment will not start until the Reserve Forces Bill becomes law, but members of the Territorial Army and of the Army Emergency Reserve will be invited to give an indication of their intentions during the coming camping season which starts in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when drill halls and base units for the Army Volunteer Reserve will be designated.

All the base units and practically all the drill halls have already been selected and units are being informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he is making to inform members of the Territorial Army of the vacancies open to them in the Army Volunteer Reserve and home defence untis.

Members of the Territorial Army and of the Army Emergency Reserve will be informed by their commanding officers of units suitable for them to join, and they will be asked to volunteer for units, giving alternative choices. Selection boards will later fill establishments from the applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the highest rank open to volunteers in the Army Volunteer Reserve and the home defence force.

There will be openings for promotion to colonel in each force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the proposed home defence force will have permanent administrative staff in Northern Ireland; and to what extent it will be self-organising;(2) how many Territorial Army or auxiliary drill halls are to be closed down in Northern Ireland; and where these are located.

I have nothing to add to my answers on 15th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what use is to be made of the site of the Army home defence centre at Devizes after the centre closes.

I am still considering the eventual use of the centre; for the time being a military unit will probably be located there.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of his staff travelled to the United States of America on 26th January by Royal Air Force Comet.

Thirteen.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has now formed of the cost, including housing, of moving the Joint Antisubmarine School at Londonderry to Devonport.

I am considering whether we should take this opportunity to make certain changes in the task of the school. If we do, it would affect the estimate given by my hon. Friend on 26th October last; but I cannot yet say what the final figure would be.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the future prospects for continued employment of those at present engaged at the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Depot at the Kinnegar, Holywood, County Down.

For the next year work is expected to continue at its present level; thereafter some reduction may occur as a result of the reorganisation of the Army Reserves.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the naval air stations on land in the United Kingdom to start being reduced as a result of the proposals in the White Paper on Defence.

Detailed plans have not yet been prepared, but no reductions are expected for some years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why political indoctrination talks have been given to certain British regiments about Rhodesia; and if he will place a summary of those talks in the Library.

No such talks have been authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make arrangements for the collection of coin at the British Museum to be placed on permanent display.

I am informed by the Trustees that they have plans for a small selection of coins and medals to be on exhibition in about a year. Any large scale permanent exhibition would necessitate major building work in the museum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what instructions have been given by his Department to local education authorities on guidance to head teachers in State-assisted schools in the drafting of reports on pupils' work and conduct.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish a memorandum to local authorities on the subject of reports made by head teachers in State-assisted schools on pupils' work and conduct, indicating the purpose of these reports and giving guidance in their preparation.

I have no reason to think that local education authorities or schools are in need of guidance of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has settled the level of the school building programme for the period 1967 to 1970.

Yes. My right hon. Friend intends to authorise annual major programmes for schools (including special schools) and minor works programmes as follows:

1967–68	£120 million
1968–69	£138 million
1969–70	£138 million

He will very soon be inviting local education authorities to submit their proposals for 1967–68 (the first instalment of which has already been allocated), and shortly afterwards for 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what moneys were allocated to Brighton Corporation in each of the years 1964, 1965 and 1966 under the minor works programme for education; how this money was allocated; and what directives he gave to the authority as to how the money should be spent.

£40,000, £67,000 and £75,000 respectively. My right hon. Friend gives no directives to local education authorities on how minor works allocations should be spent; this is a matter for their own discretion and I have no information on how these sums were allocated by the Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what researches are being made into the possible biochemical causes of schizophrenia.

The Medical Research Council are carrying out studies on schizophrenia as part of their programme of research on mental illness. Three of the Council's Research Units are directly engaged on studies of the biochemical aspects of this condition. The Council are also supporting relevant research through their scheme of research grants. Further work is being undertaken in university departments.Some studies on the biochemical aspects of schizophrenia are being supported by voluntary bodies, notably the Mental Health Research Fund and the Schizophrenia Research Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grants have been made by his Department during the financial years 1962–63,1963–64,1964–65 and 1965–66 to assist the training of youth leaders in the Perry Barr parliamentary division of Birmingham.

The training of full-time youth leaders is carried out nationally at five approved courses. The training of part-time youth leaders is a matter for the local authorities and voluntary organisations concerned. None of these organisations records its students on the basis of Parliamentary Constituencies and it is quite unreasonable to expect them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will increase the capitation allowance for woodwork and metalwork teaching in schools, in view of the rise in cost of many items of tools and equipment in the past 12 months;

These are matters for the local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take into account the additional liability falling on the colleges and halls in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge as a result of the Order tabled on 1st March under the Rating and Valuation Act 1961, in determining the amount of recurrent grants to be paid to them through the University Grants Committee.

No. The colleges and halls in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge are not on the grant list of the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has now considered the Report of the National Advisory Council on the Supply and Training of Teachers for Further Education; and if he will make a statement on the action he is taking with regard to it.

The Report of the National Advisory Council's Standing Sub-Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers for Further Education is being published today. My right hon. Friend is most grateful to Sir Lionel Russell and his colleagues on the Standing Sub-Committee for this valuable survey of training needs and of teacher demand and supply in this field.The Sub-Committtee recommended that a requirement should be introduced in 1969 that all new entrant assistant lecturers should receive professional training within three years of their appointment (five years initially). My right hon. Friend is at one with the Sub-Committee in the importance which he attaches to professional training for teaching, but at the present time of pressure on teacher supply and on available financial resources he would not feel justified in imposing a requirement which could be expected to have some effect on recruitment and which would be bound to involve additional expenditure in a period when the demands on the further education service will be increasing rapidly.My right hon. Friend would however wish, so far as present resources will permit, to encourage training on a voluntary basis by an increased emphasis on secondment on salary both for longer courses of the sandwich type and for shorter courses taken by teachers in service, and he hopes shortly to issue a circular containing proposals to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent local education authorities from coercing students to pursue courses of study in their areas by refusing to make grants to them if they take courses in other areas.

No. I shall be replying shortly to the letter the hon. Member has sent me about one of his constituents.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the pension scheme for teachers' widows, to be introduced from 1st April, 1966, is not to be extended to cover widows of teachers who died before the passing of the Act of Parliament authorising its introduction.

The Teachers Superannuation Act, 1965 did not provide for this. It followed examination by a Working Party representative of the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were reported by the Metropolitan Police of road vehicles being on the road unlicensed during the past three months; how these figures compare with the same period last year; and what action he has recently taken to prevent the growing evasion of the payment of road fund licences.

The Commissioner tells me that during the three month period December, 1965 to February, 1966, particulars of 29,656 apparently unlicensed vehicles seen on the road by the Metropolitan Police were reported to the appropriate licensing authorities. In the corresponding period 12 months previously the total was 14,857. These figures show an increasing level of enforcement by the police and do not call for any special action on my right hon. Friend's part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to implement the terms of the international convention relating to the arrest of seagoing ships signed at Brussels on 10th May, 1952 and ratified by Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 18th March, 1959, in those parts of Her Majesty's Dominions for which he is responsible.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies to his Questions of 22nd, 23rd and 24th February about the application to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man of Part 1 of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, which gave effect in the United Kingdom to the provisions of this Convention.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many representations he received about the laundry and dry cleaning industries before he referred them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; how many of those referred to each industry; what is the cost of this inquiry to date; and what he estimates the total cost will be.

About 40 in all. Twenty-two of these referred to increases in laundry charges, and two to increases in dry cleaning charges. The balance referred to increases in laundry or dry cleaning charges along with other price increases. As the text of the reference makes clear, the number of complaints was not the sole consideration in making the reference.I could not without disproportionate cost provide the further information for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the staff employed by his Department who have since October 1964 had wage or salary increases in excess of the Government's 3½ per cent. norm; and what were the amounts paid to staff in each instance prior to and subsequent upon the grant of such increases.

10 Under Secretaries and one Assistant Director have received increases in accordance with the Franks Committee recommendation as approved by the N.B.P.I.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what investigations the National Board for Prices and Incomes have made into the use of manpower in railways; and whether the result of such investigations showed any excess of staff.

I am informed that the Board took evidence from national and regional railway management and from the trade unions; a management consultant assisted in these inquiries. The Board's conclusions on the use of manpower are stated in paragraphs 68 to 79 of their Report (Cmnd. 2873).

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he has taken to ensure that incomes received from dividends, rents, and directors' fees do not rise above the Government's 3½ per cent. norm; and with what result.

The White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy sets out the considerations which should be taken into account by all concerned in determining prices and charges, wages and salaries, and other forms of income. It also states that the facts about the movement of the main categories of income will be assessed in the course of the periodic reviews of productivity, prices and incomes made by the National Economic Development Council.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he proposes to refer all rate increases in excess of the 3½ per cent norm to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 25th November, 1965.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in what cases prices charged to the consumer by the nationalised industries for coal, gas, electricity and transport have been held stable, increased, or referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for consideration, during the last 12 months.

Two area gas boards increased their tariffs in August and December, 1965 respectively. The C.E.G.B. and four area electricity boards increased their tariffs in April, the two Scottish Electricity Boards in June and the London Electricity Board in July, 1965. Some countrywide rail fares and charges and also fares in the London Passenger Transport area were increased in January, 1966. In addition, there have been various local increases in rail fares and charges.During the past 12 months the tariffs of the London Electricity Board and of the Scottish, Wales and South-Western Gas Boards and coal prices have been 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 refer the recent rent increases imposed on council house tenants by the Chelmsford Rural District Council to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to similar Questions on 10th February.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the leaders of the Transport and General Workers' Union, held on Wednesday 2nd March, concerning his decision to hold up the wages award to London's busmen; and what decision was reached.

My right hon. Friend referred the current claims on behalf of London busmen and of busmen employed in municipal and company undertakings to the National Board for Prices and Incomes on 4th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to encourage an export trade in carcase meat as opposed to a trade in meat on the hoof.

Licences are not granted for the export of animals for slaughter except to countries which have given what are known as the Balfour assurances, which are assurances as to their welfare. Apart from action on these lines, it would be difficult to justify Government interference with the pattern of this trade as between live animals and carcase meat on animal welfare grounds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date farmers who applied for a farm improvement grant after 17th November, 1965, will receive payment.

Farmers whose proposals are approved in accordance with the terms of the necessary legislation in the new Parliament will be paid when that legislation has been passed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in considering this year's price review, he will ensure that the increased guarantee to farmers for milk and potatoes for the coming year will take account of the sum he has saved in respect of subsidies in the current year.

The Exchequer cost of support is only one of the relevant factors taken into account at the Annual Review. I cannot anticipate the Review decisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why unregistered agricultural tractors are excluded from the new farm investment incentives, thereby costing farmers £3 15s. per annum licence duty.

The Board of Trade will not be paying investment grants on tractors in industry and it will therefore be necessary to ensure that grants are confined to tractors used in agricultural production. The only effective and economic means of doing this is to confine the grant to tractors licensed annually as agricultural machines.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement regarding his recent discussions with the French Minister of Equipment; and, in particular, outline the position regarding the project for a European airbus.

Yes. M. Pisani and I reviewed the present situation both on the proposed short-haul high-capacity aircraft, known as the airbus, and on the Concord. On the airbus, we reached agreement on the target objectives which might govern a collaborative development programme; and agreed to invite the government of the Federal Republic of Germany to participate in our further discussions.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, in view of the recent satisfactory experience of the capacity of the Belfast aircraft in carrying heavy and awkward loads to Zambia and Australia, respectively, he will now place further Government orders for the Belfast with Short Brothers and Harland Limited.

The Belfast recently transported the Westland SRN.5 hovercraft to New Zealand for the Auckland air show but has not flown either to Zambia or Australia. There is no Government requirement for which an additional order for the Belfast can be placed.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he has received the Report on post-secondary education in the South Pacific region; and when he intends to publish it.

I have received the Report and am consulting the other Governments concerned about publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the claim for increased salaries submitted by the Society of Technical Civil Servants in May 1965; and, in view of this delay, whether any settlement will be made retrospective to that date.

No pay claim was submitted in May 1965 by the Society of Technical Civil Servants. A pay claim on behalf of the Draughtsman grades of the Civil Service was submitted on 28th October, 1965, by the Society of Technical Civil Servants jointly with the Institution of Professional Civil Servants. Negotiations on this claim are in progress. There has been no delay in dealing with it: the claim was for very substantial increases (up to 17·1 per cent. over existing 1st January, 1965 pay). The settlement, when reached, will have effect from 1st January, 1965, in accordance with the terms of the 1964 Civil Service Pay Agreement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public relations officers and Press officers have been appointed during the lifetime of the present Government; and what has been the cost to public funds.

50, to additional posts, of which 45 are in various grades of the Information Officer Class in Departments' Information Branches; at an approximate cost in salaries of £75,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total cost of the fiscal measures which he has recently announced.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to what I said in my speech of 1st March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down the £750 million balance of payments deficit for 1964 and the £350 million for 1965 into trade and capital, respectively, for each year; and what is the estimated stockpiling or destocking item contained in the trade figures, respectively.

In reply to a similar Question by the hon. Member on 11th May 1965, I explained where all this published information may be found as regards the year 1964. For 1965 I must ask him to wait for the figures of the United Kingdom balance of payments in the year 1965, which will be published towards the end of March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average age at which promotion from principal to assistant secretary takes place in the Civil Service; and what is the average age at which such promotion takes place for principals who have been originally recruited into the administrative grade.

In 1965 the average age was 43·8 years for all promotions from Principal to Assistant Secretary, and 39·5 years for Principals originally recruited as Assistant Principals by open competition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in production from October 1964 to the present date.

Between October 1964 and December 1965, the latest month for which figures are available, the index of industrial production rose by 3·0 per cent. For manufacturing industries only the increase was 3·8 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the National Exchequer if earned income relief were given on investment income up to £5,000 per annum, total earned and unearned, for taxpayers over the age of 65 years.

About £30 million for a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are now in the employ of the central Government; and what was the corresponding number of civil servants at the most recent convenient date prior to October 1964.

The information is as follows:—

NUMBER OF NON-INDUSTRIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CIVIL SERVANTS IN POST
(thousands)
	Excluding Post Office	Including Post Office
1st July, 1964	669·3	1,047·1
1st January, 1966*	659·4	1,055·3
* The Forestry Commission whose staff is just under fourteen thousand are now excluded from the numbers of civil servants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what official consultations he has had since the passing of the Finance Act 1965 on the question of exempting Easter and similar offerings to ministers of religion from taxation; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister without portfolio discussed this matter with a deputation from the Churches Main Committee last autumn. I am afraid that the difficulties of principle involved in the suggested exemption remain conclusive against it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what sum was expended upon security measures to protect the official records of the Paymaster-General's Department in the year 1964–65 or the most recent convenient year;(2) what was the total number of persons in the Paymaster-General's Department employed upon ensuring the security of the official records in the years 1963–64, 1964–65 and 1965–66.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to classified material. The departmental records of the Paymaster-General's Office are not within this category; no staff are so employed and there has been no expenditure of this kind. The custody of such records forms part of the normal duties of a Minister's Private Office staff.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations she has had from the Government of the Federation of South Arabia regarding the Government's proposals contained in the White Paper on Defence.

When my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and for the Colonies visited Aden in mid-February the Federal Supreme Council asked for an assurance that the British Government would continue to defend the Federation against external aggression and internal subversion until it was ready to do so itself; for an expansion and improvement of the Federal forces to enable them to deal with the defence and internal security of South Arabia; and for a guarantee of fixed and adequate financial aid for a period of years.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if she will publish the Treaties of Friendship and Protection with the unfederated states of South Arabia.

The Treaties in question have already been published in Volume XI of Aitchison's "Treaties", a copy of which will be found in the Library of the House.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if she will make a statement about the final discussions and the date arranged for the independence of Basutoland.

The position remains as I explained it in my reply to the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) on 1st April, 1965. If a request backed by the necessary resolutions is received, a constitutional conference will be held during May at which we shall expect to settle a date for independence, probably in the autumn.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he will make a further statement on making available up-to-date records on land ownership.

Opinions differ on the question whether it is desirable to make records of land ownership available to the public. It is a matter which the Law Commission will be considering in connection with their examination of the system of transfer of land.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to approve loan sanction for the provision of a sports pavilion at King George's Field. Morecambe and Heysham, in accordance with his letter dated 27th July, 1965 to the local authority.

My right hon. Friend expects to be able to give loan sanction before long to some of the more urgent projects of this kind and I can assure the hon. Member that he will deal with this application as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authority applications for loan consent for capital projects, received before the issue of Circular 62/65, have been deferred on account of that circular.

The projects for which my right hon. Friend is responsible cover a very wide field and he regrets that the number of applications already received before the issue of Circular 62/65, and which had to be deferred in consequence, could not be ascertained without a great deal of work. Moreover, in some cases the local authorities themselves decided not to press their applications and my right hon. Friend would like to take this opportunity of recording his appreciation of their help in this respect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give the names of local authorities and miscellaneous authorities whose capital projects have been sanctioned since the issue of Circular 62/65, the nature of each project, the date of application, and the value.