asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he proposes to send to the survey carried out by the Birmingham branch of the Abortion Law Reform Association on so-called abortifacient drugs, a copy of which has been sent to him.

My right hon. Friend has informed the Abortion Law Reform Association that he will take account of the recommendations made by its Birmingham group when the results of certain other investigations are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in the area of the five new county boroughs in the West Midlands have opted for transfer to the county force rather than to stay in their present divisions as members of the new West Midlands force.

Options have not yet been finally exercised, but it is thought that probably 160 members of the Staffordshire Constabulary and 11 members of the Worcestershire Constabulary will decide to stay in their present forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that danger is caused by some 100,000 blankets being sold a year which do not conform to the current British Standard; and what progress he has made in the review he is making of this matter.

While compliance with the British Standard is desirable in the case of all brands of electric blankets, my right hon. Friend has no evidence that those which do not carry the "kite-mark" of the British Standards Institution are unsafe. He is not yet satisfied that there is a need for regulations, but if any particular brand of blanket is shown to be unsafe my Department will not hesitate to take the matter up with the manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what immigration control policy is applied to visitors from Rhodesia.

A Rhodesian citizen, like any other Commonwealth citizen subject to the immigration control, is admitted as a visitor if the immigration officer is satisfied that he is in a position to support himself and his dependants for the period of his visit without taking employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the flood warning system for warning residents who live near the River Thames of flood peril failed to operate satisfactorily in Kew on 10th December, 1965; and what steps he is taking to ensure that residents are warned in good time in future.

The issue of flood warnings by the Metropolitan police is based on advice received from the Greater London Council and information from the Storm Tide Warning Service and the Thames Conservancy. The rate of flow of the river at Kew rose exceptionally quickly on 10th December last, and this, I regret to say, led to the flood warning there being later than usual. The arrangements have been reviewed and in future there should be an improvement of 30 minutes in the speed with which warnings will be broadcast at Kew and Richmond.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the adequacy of medical arrangements in Her Majesty's Prisons.

The organisation and functions of the Prison Medical Service were the subject of a report published in 1964; and since then a systematic review has been undertaken of its staffing and other requirements. My right hon. Friend does not consider that a further enquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to assist the fight against crime, he will take steps to permit commercial security companies to check the back grounds of potential employees with the police.

I have no power to require chief officers of police to disclose information from police records, but I am considering this question in consultation with chief officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to arrange that traffic wardens should assist the Metropolitan Police in the control of traffic and traffic offences during and after parking-meters hours, thereby enabling the police to give more time to their other responsibilities.

The wardens at present available in the Metropolitan Police District are fully occupied in carrying out their primary responsibilities in relation to parked vehicles. As more wardens are recruited their functions could be extended, under existing legislation, and the Commissioner of Police is keeping the matter under review in the light of the manpower situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in selecting an alternative site to that of Nether Alderley for the open prison.

Nether Alderley and other sites are being considered but it is not yet possible to take any decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglar alarm calls were received by the Metropolitan Police for the latest available year; and what percentage of these calls was not the result of an attempt to break into the premises.

46,458 calls were received in 1965 from automatic alarms installed in the Metropolitan Police District, 97·8 per cent. of these calls were not the result of an attempt to enter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as a result of development since the Report of the Royal Commission, he has given further consideration to the establishment of a Queen's Constabulary; and whether he will now embark upon this course.

If the hon. Member has in mind the establishment of a national police force, I would refer him to my reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) on 3rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that mail order firms are indiscriminately distributing order forms for guns, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bromley; and if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to forbid this practice.

The question of the restrictions to be placed on the sale of firearms was fully discussed when the Firearms Act, 1965, was before the House. My right hon. Friend has no authority to prevent mail order or other firms advertising the lawful sale of firearms by distributing order forms, and while the operation of the existing law is kept under continuous review, he has no present proposals for introducing further legislation to prohibit this practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the normal procedure for informing aliens threatened with deportation of the result of their appeals to the chief metropolitan magistrate; and what period of notice is given to them to allow them to put their affairs in order.

The procedure, including the period of notice, has varied with the circumstances of the particular case. In future, an alien who has made representations to the Chief Magistrate against a proposal to deport him will ordinarily be allowed a reasonable time in which to settle his affairs after he has been informed of the outcome of his appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain the circumstances in which a Persian national, Mr. Moghaddam, married to a British citizen, was arrested on his warrant on 7th February, 1966, and deported the following day without prior notice being given of the failure of his appeal to either Mr. Moghaddam or his solicitor.

The deportation order in this case was made with the concurrence of the Chief Metropolitan Magis-strate. Mr. Moghaddam was taken into custody on 7th February, and left the country on 9th February after I had reconsidered his deportation at the urgent request of my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to trace husbands who have deserted their families.

For the purpose of maintenance proceedings Government Departments disclose addresses from social security records to court authorities on request. I have sent my hon. Friend particulars of the arrangements that have been made for this purpose. If a husband is a defendant to proceedings and a warrant is issued for his arrest, responsibility for executing the warrant rests with the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the rôle prison visitors are playing at the present time; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is satisfied with the method of recruitment of prison visitors; and if he will make a statement.

The National Association of Prison Visitors has recently made some suggestions about the rôle of prison visitors and the method of recruitment. These my right hon. Friend is considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the number of offences and the average sentence imposed for escapes and attempted escapes from prisons for the latest convenient year.

During 1964 there were 77 escapes from closed prisons, 313 from open prisons and 114 from outside working parties etc. I regret that figures for attempts are not available. Appendix No. 8 to the Report on the Work of the Prison Department (Cmnd. 2708) gives an analysis of offences and punishments in prisons but no analysis is made of punishments imposed for particular offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the recommendation of the Church Assembly in favour of a fixed Easter; and if he will now act upon it.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the Church Assembly has informed the World Council of Churches that it is in favour of a fixed Easter. It is desirable that there should be general agreement among the Christian Churches as to the date to be observed, and the World Council of Churches has been inquiring into the possibility of reaching such agreement. My right hon. Friend awaits the results of these inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to make arrangements where by the payment of maintenance allowances and other court orders may be made through post offices, thereby assisting those who have to travel in country districts.

Payment of maintenance ordered by magistrates' courts may already be made to the beneficiary by post. My right hon. Friend will be glad to consider any fresh proposals which my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to enable any person of good character with suitable premises to obtain a licence for the sale of intoxicating liquor when the liquor sales are predominantly in con junction with the sale of foodstuffs and the liquors consist mainly of imported wines not readily available elsewhere in the same licensing district.

At present applications can be made for off licences in respect of food shops. My right hon. Friend is not convinced that it would be right to remove the discretion of the licensing authority to grant or refuse such licences in the case of a particular class of applicant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the fact that the honourable Member for West Ham, North, made a complaint to him concerning an alleged irregularity upon the part of certain policemen at Leyton Police Station, affecting one of his constituents, and when he promised an independent examination, the officer appointed for this investigation was himself from Leyton Police Station, where the com plaint originated; and whether he will make a statement.

This matter was dealt with under the statutory procedure which governs the investigation of complaints against the police, and in the correspondence with my hon. Friend no undertaking was given that an independent inquiry would be held. A full account of the results of the thorough investigation carried out has been sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to ensure that when Members of Parliament are promised in dependent inquiries into allegations of malpractices upon the part of the police, such investigations are not conducted by police officers from the same police station from which the complaint originated.

I already have powers to direct, where necessary, that the investigation should be made in a particular case by an officer of another force. Normally, however, when a chief officer of police receives a complaint against an officer of his force, it is for him to decide, having regard to the nature of the complaint, whether to appoint an officer from another force, or another division, to investigate, or whether the complaint can appropriately be dealt with by an officer in the same division.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers of people treated by hospitals, the numbers of those detained in hospitals, and the numbers killed, as a result of fireworks during the 1965 season, both for the country as a whole and for Sussex separately.

The particulars for the period 17th October to 13th November, 1965, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon he expects to be able to complete his reconsideration of the case of C. H. Williams, 434, Dartmoor, in the light of the second memorandum on this case submitted to him by Mr. John Foot; and if, in this connection, he will bear in mind the recommendation in paragraph 145 of the Donovan Report.

I have given further careful consideration to this case in the light of this memorandum and of further inquiries which I have made, but as I have explained to my hon. Friend I have been unable to find any ground on which I should be justified in referring it to the Court of Criminal Appeal or in taking any other action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to compile statistics showing the previous occupations, by major industrial category, of the population of prisons.

Persons received into prison have commonly had frequent changes of occupation. I am not therefore at present satisfied that the compilation of statistics of this kind would be worth while.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional recognition he proposes for prison officers who are injured or who show courage beyond the call of duty in the execution of their task.

There are already a number of ways in which outstanding conduct by prison officers can be recognised. If the hon. Member has a particular further proposal in mind I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made, in pursuance of paragraphs 17 and 18 of the White Paper, Immigration from the Commonwealth, for the admission outside the voucher scheme of Commonwealth citizens coming for seasonal employment or for training.

An employer in this country who wishes to provide a course of training on the job for a limited period to a Commonwealth citizen from overseas, or who wishes to engage a Commonwealth citizen from overseas for a limited period of seasonal employment, should apply to the local office of the Ministry of Labour. If the Ministry approves the application, entry certificates will be granted to the Commonwealth citizens concerned authorising their admission without vouchers.Approval of an offer of training will depend on the employer's ability to provide training which is not readily available in the trainee's own country; on proof of the trainee's suitability for the training; and on the fulfilment of certain other conditions designed to secure the trainee's eventual return to his own country.Approval of applications for seasonal workers will depend on their being no suitable labour available in this country; on the terms and conditions of the employment being satisfactory; and on the fulfilment of other conditions designed to prevent abuses of the scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now announce details of the plan for investment allowances in respect of leased machinery; and what arrangements will be made to consult the firms principally concerned with such leasing, including Leicester firms.

It is intended to provide that investment grants shall be paid in respect of eligible items of plant or machinery which are leased, when new, for use in a qualifying process of manufacturing or extraction for a minimum period of three years. Grants will be paid to the lessor, who will be under an obligation to notify the Board of Trade if the equipment in question ceases to be used for the purpose, or in the place, in respect of which the grant was given. The lessor will be liable to repay the grant in such circumstances. If an eligible item of plant or machinery which qualifies for a grant on this basis is leased for use in a Development Area, it will be eligible for a grant of 40 per cent. In other cases, the grant will be 20 per cent. Grants will not be paid in respect of plant or machinery leased to persons or institutions who would not themselves be eligible to receive grants, such as local authorities or Government undertakings, or for assets for use outside Great Britain.The possibility of extending the scheme to cover some classes of plant or machinery when leased for shorter periods than three years is still being considered. It is, however, clear that there would have to be adequate safeguards against diversion to use for non-qualifying purposes. A further announcement will be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what measure of success was achieved by the experiment of a British exhibit at the Berlin Exhibition, Grüne Woche.

It is too early yet to assess the long-term results of the first British participation in this event. I understand, however, that the Food Manufacturers' Federation, the Brewers' Society and the National Farmers Union who sponsored the British participation all consider the experiment, which resulted in retail sales to the value of £21,000, to have been extremely successful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what considerations led him to invite the wool textile industry to form a joint organisation with the Cotton Board; what structure and powers he envisages for the new organisation; and what progress has been made to date.

I have not issued any such invitation to the wool textile industry. The industry was, however, invited by a working group engaged in a review of the scope and functions of the Cotton Board to participate in its deliberations. The wool textile industry declined this invitation.

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, 1966.

The Government have decided to continue the quota system for imports of butter for a further twelve months, beginning 1st April, 1966. Stocks of butter in this country and in Europe are considerably higher than a year ago; and, given normal weather, butter supplies are expected to be plentiful.The total of imports to be authorised initially will be 435,500 tons. Basic quotas will be 421,230 tons in total. In the light of their supply prospects, the basic quotas of Kenya and South Africa have been suspended and that of Argentina has been reduced to 6,000 tons without prejudice to their position in future years. In the context of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement, the basic quota of the Irish Republic has been increased from 12,905 tons to 23,000 tons. Otherwise basic quotas are the same as in the year beginning 1st April, 1965, 5,500 tons in addition to basic quotas and 8,770 tons to offset the reductions and suspensions of basic quotas of certain countries are being authorised for delivery in the period April-November from countries with basic quotas who have estimated that they may have such additional butter.The butter situation will be reviewed in the summer with the New Zealand and Australian Governments to enable the United Kingdom Government to determine whether to provide for the import of up to 5,000 tons more. New Zealand and Australia, whose heaviest shipments arrive in the period December-March, would be given first opportunity to fill any allocations then issued in accordance with their entitlement to proportionate shares of total permitted imports.The intention of these arrangements is to achieve a level of supplies sufficient to maintain a stable and reasonable level of prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ask the Monopolies Commission to investigate the situation in which a fixed charge of £2 for a green card is levied by virtually all insurance companies.

Yes. I propose to refer the supply of this service to the Monopolies Commission for investigation and report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage married teachers with young children to return to teaching, by provision of nursery schools, in the city of Birmingham.

My right hon. Friend has recently approved a proposal by the Birmingham Local Education Authority to establish three additional nursery classes in areas where they may be expected to encourage married teachers with young children to return to teaching.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science approximately how many children, at the latest convenient date, were enjoying State education in England and Wales without their parents making any direct contribution to the cost.

In January, 1965, 7,092,155 children were in schools maintained by local education authorities in England and Wales; no tuition fees are charged by these schools. In the same month, the authorities also paid the whole of the fees for 93,855 children in direct grant and independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what Relationship exists between the qualifications required for associate membership of technical institutes and the curricula of the Higher National Certificate and technical diploma courses; and if he will take steps to eliminate any distortion in such curricula that might arise from the requirements of the institutes.

Higher National Certificates and Diplomas are primarily qualifications in their own right for the senior technician in industry and commerce, and courses are devised with this end in view.Certain professional institutions still grant a measure of exemption from their own requirements to holders of these qualifications, although with the general tendency of the institutions, to raise standards, both qualifications are likely in the future to afford less exemption.However, the granting of exemptions by institutions is not the object at which these awards are aimed, and I would not accept that courses approved by Joint Committees leading to the awards are distorted in order to meet the requirements of the institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent, in fixing the pay for full-time teachers, weight is given to the possibility of their taking additional jobs.

So far as I know, none.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recommendations the University Grants Committee has made to him about the detailed arrangements for the application of the 5 per cent. increase in university teachers' salaries from 1st April 1966.

After discussion with the Vice-Chancellors' Committee and with representatives of the Association of University Teachers, the University Grants Committee have recommended that from 1st April, 1966, the salary scales of academic staff, other than clinical staff, should be as given below. The Government has accepted these recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, with a view to providing equitable consideration for the next of kin of deceased Service men who have died during peacetime service abroad, he will introduce an embalming service for the purpose of transporting the deceased home; and if he will make a statement.

Under present arrangements, the body of a Service man who dies in North-West Europe is brought home at public expense if the next of kin desire it; and those who die at sea are buried at sea. To introduce an embalming service for those who die in other places overseas would not necessarily make it possible to repatriate all bodies. What we are looking for is an arrangement that will be general, practical, and considerate of the feelings of the next of kin, and there are considerable difficulties to be overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many satellites or missiles launched for observation or other military purposes are in regular daily orbit over the British Isles; and if he will make a statement on the security threat which they present.

The nations which launch satellites do not announce which, if any, are for military purposes. There have been about 500 over-flights in the last 12 months from all sources. The main security threat from satellites is of reconnaissance.Russian satellites in the KOSMOS series pass regularly over the United Kingdom in orbits suitable for reconnaissance purposes. They disappear from orbit after 8 days and are assumed to have been returned to earth.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the hon. Member for Swindon regarding the disbandment of the Territorial Army in Wiltshire; what reply he sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to the hon. Member in reply to his letter of 2nd March to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of overseas bases purchased or leased within the past five years, indicating the price or rent paid, and the amount of capital expended on such bases within that period.

No overseas bases have been purchased or leased within the past five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the target date for the reduction by over 30 per cent. of British troops serving outside Europe; approximately how many men are involved; approximately how many men will be withdrawn from each station; when withdrawals will commence; and what proportion will be stationed in Germany and in the United Kingdom, respectively.

As I explained in my speech on the second day of the Defence Debate, there are cogent reasons for not defining precisely how and when we plan to cut the tasks of our forces overseas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the interim report of the Wise Committee, in view of the fact that this report will now not be in the hands of the House before the General Election.

No. The Report is a long and careful survey of the subject which will be published before Easter. It would be wrong for me either to attempt to summarise its contents in advance of publication or to form any hasty conclusions upon it.

asked the Minister of Aviation what would have been the total cost of ordering 50 TSR2s on the date when the project was cancelled; how this compares with the total cost of ordering 50 F111 As; and, in deciding to order the United States aircraft, what account he took of the £165 million cancellation costs of the TSR2 and any further costs that are likely to arise.

The total cost of ordering 50 TSR2s, on April 1965 estimates, would have been upwards of £475 million of which about £125 million had been spent at the time of cancellation. 50 F111s, at a price of £2½ million each, will cost £125 million, with an additional charge of about £25 million for interest. In reaching their decisions to cancel the TSR2 and to buy the F111, the Government took full account of all relevant factors, including expenditure and liabilities on the TSR2 and differences in support and running costs. The overall comparison, on a ten year basis, shows that 50 TSR2s would have cost about £300 million more than 50 F111s.

asked the Minister of Aviation what cancellations of aircraft contracts have taken place and what orders have been placed since 1st November, 1964.

The major cancellations of aircraft contracts since 1st November, 1964, have been in respect of the TSR2, the P1154 and the HS681. There have also been some reductions in the total number of Lightning aircraft on order. These cancellations have, of course, required the cancellation of certain other contracts in respect of engines and equipment for these types of aircraft.As to orders for military aircraft placed since that date, I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Woking on 1st February and to the information in the Defence Review.In the same period the formal contract was placed for three additonal VC10 aircraft for the R.A.F. Orders were also placed for five civil type aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation what changes have been made in contract procedures for the Concord project since the publication of the report of the Public Accounts Committee.

A new contract has been placed with British Aircraft Corporation which covers the development and manufacture of the prototype aircraft in conjunction with Sud Aviation. Negotiations are nearly completed for the placing of a new contract with Bristol Siddeley Engines, Ltd., for the related engine development and manufacture in conjunction with Societe Nationale d'Etudes et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation. The requirements for this stage of the project are regarded as firm.Discussions have begun on the possibility of introducing incentive arrangements progressively into the contracts.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) how much public money has been spent on developing British-made blind landing equipment; and how much he intends to spend next year;(2)why he has taken no steps towards the encouragement of the installation of British made blind landing equipment in British made aircraft;(3)what steps he has taken to encourage the export of British made blind landing equipment;(4)what steps he has taken to encourage the export of British-made autopilots.

My Department has given considerable encouragement and support, both technical and financial, for the development of United Kingdom automatic landing equipment and to its use, particularly in the VC10 and Trident. Public expenditure on development of automatic landing equipment and facilities goes back many years and covers both military and civil applications and ground installations at airports. I cannot give a total figure. Excluding the cost of the substantial technical assistance provided by the Department's research establishments the Department has spent something over £1 million in the past three years in direct support of development in industry of airborne automatic landing equipments. The scale of expenditure for the coming year has not yet been decided but substantial support will continue. The facilities provided by the Government in aid of exports which I described in my Answer to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 1st March are available to the manufacturers of this equipment and autopilot systems generally.

asked the Minister of Aviation what were the profits or losses in each of the last 10 years, after depreciation but before tax, of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible.

The results shown in B.O.A.C.'s and B.E.A.'s published profit and loss accounts, after interest and depreciation, in each of the last 10 years, are as follows:

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the total value of orders placed in Great Britain for new aircraft by the Defence Department since October 1964.

The total value of production orders placed for new aircraft and their associated engines in the period specified is approximately £135 million; others are in course of negotiation.

asked the Minister of Aviation why, following the announcement of his decision to buy Lockheed C130 aircraft in February 1965, it was not until July 1965 that he asked Lockheed to incorporate the maximum amount of British equipment.

Incorporation of British components in the C130 was raised with Lockheeds in March, 1965.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress he is making in his study of the report of his inspector following the inquiry into the siting at Stansted of a third airport for London; and when he expects to announce his findings.

I have not yet received the inspector's report.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give a detailed breakdown of the £8,600,000 of contracts placed with Short Brothers and Harland since 16th October 1964, and of the £44,000 contracts cancelled.

A broad breakdown is:

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's plans for Short Brothers and Harland, in the light of the Plowden Report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Mr. Pounder).

asked the Minister of Aviation, how many employees in the aircraft industry were declared redundant as a result of the cancellation of the P1154, HS681 and TSR2; and how many of them have still to find employment.

I have been asked to reply. The number of employees declared redundant as a result of the cancellation of the P1154, HS681 and TSR2 was 8,226. On 14th February, 248 of these employees had still to find other employment.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance the United Kingdom proposes to give British Guiana towards its budget on becoming independent.

Subject to Parliament approving the necessary provision, the United Kingdom will make a grant of up to £1 million towards the current budget for 1966.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the increases in the prices of periodicals.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the activities of Comprehensive Designers, Inc., a subsidiary in this country of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation of America, who are paying 30 per cent. above the national norm to aircraft design staff engaged in design work here upon a United States aircraft.

My right hon. Friend is not at present contemplating such a reference, but a careful watch is being kept on the situation.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will give the actual increase in output, employment and output per head over the latest 12-month period for which figures are available in respect of all the industries listed in table 2.2 of Command Paper No. 2764.

Information is not readily available in the full detail requested.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to what extent the Government's policy on wages, prices and incomes applies to persons with many sources of income; whether the 3½ per cent. limitation should be applied to each of these incomes or to the total received; how this policy applies to those in receipt of payments for part-time work and expense payments; and on what basis such a policy is to be enforced.

We regard the general policy considerations set out in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy (Cmnd. 2639) as applying in principle as much to people whose income derives from two or more sources as to anyone else. The application of the policy to particular cases will necessarily depend upon the circumstances.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) whether he is aware that during the month of February more than 500 grocery items from about 40 manufacturers rose in price, and that in some instances this was the second such rise in two consecutive months; how many of these price increases were considered by or reported to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and with what results;(2) whether he is aware that 1,167 grocery prices have increased during the past two months; row many of these price increases were referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and with what results.

Figures such as these are extremely misleading. The most reliable indicator—the food section of the index of retail prices—actually fell between December, 1965, and January, 1966, which is the last month for which we have figures.My right hon. Friends the First Secretary and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have not considered it necessary to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the prices of any grocery items.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on how many occasions the National Board for Prices and Incomes have considered the wages, salaries and fees paid to persons in the Surtax range; how many times they have considered directors' fees; and with what results.

Several inquiries undertaken by the National Board for Prices and Incomes have covered, among other groups, people likely to be paying Surtax. In some cases the remuneration of directors may have been relevant to their inquiries, but there has been no specific reference of directors' fees.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that the recent agreement on London bus drivers' pay was freely and voluntarily entered into by both sides; and what discussions he held with either side about his intentions before holding up this wage award.

No agreement on the pay of London busmen has yet been concluded. My hon. Friend will be aware that on 4th March, the Government referred the claim of the London busmen to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, together with those of busmen employed by municipal and company undertakings. The Board has been asked to examine these claims and the relationship between pay and conditions of busmen in the various sectors of the bus industry and to report as early as possible in May. As any settlement reached in the present negotiations on the pay of London busmen will not be implemented until the latter half of June of this year, this gives ample time for the Board to make its report before an agreement is finally concluded.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the Arthur D. Little Report on diversification for the Belfast aircraft factory.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement, before the dissolution of Parliament, on the consultants' report on Short Brothers and Harland.

We are urgently working on the questions raised in the Report, but I regret that at this moment I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 10th February to a simliar Question by the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills).

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the rise in productivity in 1965 or in the latest 12-month period to date.

The latest 12-month period for which figures of productivity for the economy as a whole are available is the 12 months beginning October, 1964, and ending September, 1965. In this period output per man was greater than in the previous 12 months by 1·6 per cent. As weekly hours worked fell in the same period, output per man-hour increased at a greater rate. Figures are not available for the economy as a whole on that basis, but it is now estimated that in the case of manufacturing industry the increase for productivity per man-hour over the same period was about 3½ per cent.Present forecasts indicate that productivity is currently rising over the economy as a whole at a rate of about 2½ per cent. This will, of course, include important areas where the rise is greater.

asked the Minister of Health if he has completed his study of food in psychiatric hospitals; if he is satisfied that the diet for patients in those hospitals is not inferior to that in other hospitals; and if he will make a statement, with particular reference to Roundway Hospital at Devizes.

With regard to the first two parts of the hon. Member's Question, I am not in a position to add to my reply to the hon. Members for Westbury (Mr. Walters) and Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) on 14th February, 1966.The 12 hospitals on which the study was based did not include Roundway Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the approximate daily average number of patients occupying free beds in hospitals in England and Wales during the last convenient period of 12 months.

395,845 during the year ended 31st December, 1964.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance that the building of the new District General Hospital near Chester will commence in 1967, or state when building is expected to commence.

This depends upon the current review of the Hospital Building Programme which is not yet complete.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that representations were first made in 1964 by local general practitioners to the Executive Council for Essex regarding the likely shortage of doctors in Benfleet, since when the population has increased substantially; what steps have since been taken by the Executive Council to meet this situation; and what action he has taken in regard to the recent representations made to him on the subject by the hon. Member for South-East Essex.

Yes. The Executive Council and the Local Medical Committee have had the problem under continuous review and are to discuss it with the local doctors on 22nd March. They have advertised three times for a new doctor and expect to interview on 4th April applicants who replied to the latest advertisement. I am asking the Council to keep me informed of developments.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the alarming increase in thefts of drugs from drug cupboards in chemists' establishments, he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to ensure that all drugs are kept locked in safes.

I have been asked to reply.I have no such proposal in mind at present, but I am studying the adequacy of existing controls over the storage of drugs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will make a statement about his decision on the boundaries of the City of Sheffield, following the Report of the Local Government Commission for England, Yorkshire and North Midland General Review Area.

I expect that this decision will be announced early next month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about his announced intention to transfer on 1st April the assets of the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Development Corporation, in view of the fact that no Order implementing this decision has been laid before Parliament.

In accordance with my decision announced to the House last December (OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd December, 1965, col. 246, Written Answers to Questions), I made, on 7th February, the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Development Corporations (Transfer of Property and Dissolution) Orders, 1966 (S.I. 1966, Nos. 125 and 126).These are Orders under Section 41 of the New Towns Act, 1965, are not subject to annulment and are not required to be laid.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much expenditure is involved in the advertising campaign in connection with house improvement grants; and in how many newspapers these advertisements are being carried.

The only recent expenditure concerns a campaign in Greater London. £5,627 14s. has been spent on advertisements in the two London evening papers and six local weekly papers, and on posters. This campaign has now been suspended until after the General Election.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will carry out a survey of derelict land in the Faversham constituency area, and in particular, in Sittingbourne, to see what further land might be made available for development there.

Annual surveys of derelict land are undertaken by local authorities. At 31st December, 1964 there were 107 acres in the Faversham area, of which 69 were in Sittingbourne. The allocation of land for development is, in the first instance, a matter for the local planning authority. My right hon. Friend is not aware of a shortage of land in the area.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what has been the cost to public funds of his Department from its inception in 1964 to the latest convenient date.

Net expenditure on the votes of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources from its inception to the end of February, 1966 was £779,000.During the current financial year the expenditure has included the expenses of the National Parks Commission and the Water Resources Board together with expenditure on grants for National Parks in England and payments to river authorities in England and Wales under the Water Resources Act 1963.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what action has been taken with regard to the establishment of a pensionable career service for experts working in the Commonwealth.

Thorough examination has been made of this idea in recent years but it has shown that a career service would be impracticable. The present-day demand is for British people to serve temporarily in the developing countries of the Commonwealth. Britain's ability to meet this demand is being improved by the implementation of the plans announced in Chapter XI of the Command Paper "Overseas Development: The Work of the New Ministry" (Cmnd. 2736, August, 1965), including the establishment of a corps of specialists in the employment of the Ministry of Overseas Development.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the true increase in the purchasing power of the retirement pension brought in by the present Government, in view of the fact that the value of the £ sterling has fallen by 1s. 1d.

The retirement pensions of 80s. for a single person and 130s. for a couple are, at current prices, worth, respectively, 3s. 1d. and 5s. less than when they were introduced in March, 1965. The increases of 12s. 6d. for a single person and 21s. for a married couple then made are now worth 12s. and 20s. 2d. respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the cost of the 1965 increase in the 10s. widows' pension to 30s., the cost of the increase in the widowed mother's allowance, and the cost of abolishing the earnings rule for widows benefit, respectively, in a full year.

£5 million, £5½ million and £8 million respectively (including the increased additions for children in the cost of the increase in the widowed mother's allowance).

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many telephone exchanges will be equipped with electronic switching in each of the next five years;(2) if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the installation of electronic switching in the telephone system of the United Kingdom.

My policy is to change over to the installation of fully electronic exchange equipment as quickly as practicable. New exchanges up to 2,000 lines capacity ordered from now on will be electronic. Orders for five exchanges of this kind have already been placed and the first is expected to come into service by the end of this year. There will be follow-on orders for fifty similar exchanges and these are expected to come into service in the late 1960s. The development of larger electronic exchanges and of electronic equipment for extending existing electro-mechanical exchanges is proceeding satisfactorily but has not yet reached the stage at which ordering programmes can be prepared.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now make a statement about the Independent Television Authority's plan for improving and extending the coverage of their services.

Yes. I have now given my approval in principle to the proposals made by the I.T.A. to build low-power relay stations in the following areas:

asked the Minister of Power whether the Government have now considered the National Board for Prices and Incomes' Report No. 7 on Electricity and Gas Tariffs; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

The recommendations and suggestions made by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its Report No. 7 on Electricity and Gas Tariffs have been carefully studied.The Government agrees that it is important to have long-term trends in view when fixing prices, as being consistent with the Government's fuel policy announced in Cmnd. 2798 and conducive to the objective of price stability over as long a run of years as possible.It also agrees with the importance of the two provisos set out in paragraph 23 of the report which advise that too optimistic anticipation of future lower costs may result in the expansion of demand which cannot be met, and that too easy a release of management from financial objectives in anticipation of lower costs may defeat its purpose by slackening financial discipline.The Government accepts the specific recommendations at paragraph 83(i) and (iv) of the Report, which have already been implemented.As regards the Scottish Gas Board, the Government accepts the National Board's finding that a 13 per cent. increase in tariffs is needed immediately. It also accepts the recommendation that the increase on the running rate should be modified, and the balance placed in the standing charge. The Scottish Gas Board will announce revised proposals to this effect. The Government has also studied with close attention the National Board's proposals for segregating an estimated non-recurrent element in costs, and after re-examination of the estimates in the light of the winter's experience and the actual situation today, inclines to the view that the Scottish Board might be unwise to designate any part of the increase as temporary. The Scottish Board will naturally keep its tariffs under constant review, and any adjustments that may later appear desirable and possible will be made.As regards the South Western Gas Board, the consequences of the abrupt transition which will occur if all coal carbonisation based on the ten-year 1·2 million ton coal contract is replaced at the end of 1969 by gas from oil are fully appreciated. Consultations are taking place between the Board and the National Coal Board to see whether the problems of investment and transfer of labour, which would in this case be concentrated into one year, could not be alleviated by running down the contract in such a way as to spread out the same total contract tonnage of coal over a rather longer period. The National Board has recommended that the South Western Gas Board should in present circumstances aim to do no more than break even in 1966–67, and has estimated that an increase in tariffs of approximately 3 per cent. would achieve this. The South Western Gas Board's tariff proposals were prepared last summer on the basis of estimates derived from experience of the winter of 1964–65. Experience of the winter of 1965–66 has made revision necessary to take account of substantial additions to costs. The Government recognises that in these altered circumstances the South Western Board will need an increase of 7 per cent. to meet the National Board's recommendation of breaking even.My comments on the suggestions made in paragraph 84 of Report No. 7 are as follows (the numbers refer to the sub-paragraphs in the Report):—

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will ensure that photographic records are made of all Government buildings in Whitehall and deposited with the National Monuments Record.

Yes, as opportunity offers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans have been made for increasing the numbers of medical students; and if he will make a statement on his proposals, financial and otherwise, to alleviate the problems of general practitioners.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on 26th January. On the second part of the Question, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the final report of the negotiations between the Government and representatives of the profession, and the report of the review body on levels of remuneration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his future plans for the creation of health centres.

I have undertaken to provide health centres in the new towns of Livingston and Cumbernauld and in Glasgow. Proposals for health centres in a number of other areas are being considered. Generally, within the limits of our resources, I want to encourage the development of health centres wherever the local conditions are favourable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of houses built by public authorities and in the private sector, respectively, for each month for each of the years 1960 to 1965.

I am sending the hon. Member a table of figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress made on the implementation of smoke control orders.

As is shown in the following table, 82 smoke control area orders have been made by 21 local authorities, covering over 229,000 premises. 5 of these orders have not yet been confirmed and 14 others are not yet in operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much the total expenditure on maintenance and minor improvements for roads in Scotland will have been reduced in the current financial year as a result of the Government's economic measures.

The reduction, if any, will be marginal since the Government's economy measures applied only to areas outside development districts, and there to individual minor improvement schemes costing £25,000 or over which authorities were able to defer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities in Scotland have been asked to postpone or reduce their school building programmes owing to the financial situation.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the cost or estimated cost of school building programmes in Scotland for 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively; and what increases or decreases in real terms have been made in these years.

The cost of school building projects started or to start in Scotland in 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the Corporation of Glasgow with regard to its request for estended duties for the special constabulary.