asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what strategic or tactical military purpose Her Majesty's Government propose to use the F111 bombers being ordered from the United States of America.

As I have often made clear, the rôle of the F111 will be to replace the Canberra as a tactical strike/reconnaissance aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement explaining the rôle of Her Majesty's aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean in recent weeks.

First H.M.S. "Ark Royal" and then H.M.S. "Eagle" have been engaged since early March in the surveillance operations covering the Mozambique Channel. The purpose of this surveillance has been to identify tankers suspected of carrying oil bound for Rhodesia. Both carriers and their aircraft have operated at full stretch under very arduous conditions and "Eagle" has broken the record for length of continuous patrol at sea by a British carrier in peacetime. The thousandth flight from "Eagle" took place yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for how long H.M.S. "Eagle" and "Ark Royal" have been operating off the east coast of Africa; and for what purpose.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the increase in the price of copper will increase the cost of a Polaris submarine.

The effect on the cost of these submarines is expected to be negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the increase in the price of copper will increase the cost of defence.

It is much to early to say, but in relation to defence expenditure as a whole the increase is not likely to be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he authorises for the cancellation of the proxies of the wives of members of the Forces on their return from stations abroad; and whether he informs the wife and the proxy of the cancellation.

Standing instructions in all three Services require Commanding Officers to inform the General Register Office when the wife of a Service man who has been living with her husband abroad returns permanently to this country, or for any other reason loses her qualification as a Service voter. The General Register Office informs the Electoral Registration Officer and the question of informing the proxy would be a matter for him. On the question of notifying the wife, I am looking at the Service instructions to see if any improvements are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities he afforded candidates at the recent General Election to visit wives of Service personnel living in married quarters at Service stations and so registered as voters in that constituency.

Canvassing by candidates and their supporters is of course permitted at Service married quarters to which there is direct access from the public highway. Where the only entrance is by Ministry of Defence roads, access has to be at the discretion of the commanding officer, but permission should not be withheld unless security is involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if nuclear bombs are carried by British or United States aircraft over or near Great Britain during exercise or transport or at any other time; and if, in the light of the recent accident over Spanish territory, he will make a statement on the prevention of such incidents here.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State on 24th February, 1966, to similar Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the talks with the Australian Government about an alternative base to Singapore in Australia.

As a result of my discussions in Canberra last February, the Government of Australia agreed that we should look into the practical possibilities of the United Kingdom having military facilities in that country, in case this should become necessary following a withdrawal from our bases in Singapore and Malaysia. Studies are continuing, and were given new impetus by the recent visit to London of Mr. Hasluck, the Australian Minister of External Affairs. There is no final commitment on either side—nor will there be until all parties are satisfied as to costs and other practical considerations, and until there is general agreement on the need for deploying British forces to Australia in the light of the development of events in South-East Asia.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many other ranks are engaged in looking after polo ponies privately owned by officers in the Brigade of Guards; how many privately-owned horses are stabled at Combermere Barracks, Windsor, and other military establishments; what is the cost to public funds; and how many other ranks are playing members of the Brigade of Guards Polo Club.

Following is the information. First, three other ranks, who are also employed on military duties. Second, four horses at Combermere Barracks and two at Wellington Barracks, whose owners pay for forage and accommodation. Last, none.In addition, 25 ponies of the Household Brigade Polo Club at Combermere Barracks are looked after by soldiers from public duty battalions, who remain available for duty and accompany their battalions overseas on operations and training.I have not completed my inquiries about other establishments and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers have been killed or wounded fighting in the war in Vietnam.

None has been fighting in Vietnam and none has been killed or wounded there.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to deal with the nuisance caused by the sewers at Aden to members of the Services serving on H.M.S. "Sheba"; and if he will make a statement of his plans for improving service quarters and amenities pending the closure of this British base.

It is not possible to remove the public sewer running under H.M.S. "Sheba", but a length of pipe has been added to take the effluent further out to sea. H.M.S. "Sheba" is fully air conditioned, and I am assured that there is no danger to health.Capital expenditure on further amenity projects in Aden is being carefully examined to ensure that it will give immediate benefit during the limited period in which British Forces are likely to remain in Aden. Of course we must continue to look after the health and well being of Service men and their families during this period and steps are being taken to improve air conditioning in official hirings, and recreational and social amenities. The latter will include better sailing facilities at Aden and Little Aden for all ranks, and improvements to the Tarshyne Officers Club.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the reorganisation of Army administration in Scotland; and whether this will entail the abolition of Scottish Command and the direction of its operational tasks from England.

Studies are being made of a possible reorganisation of the United Kingdom Command structure. No decision has yet been taken.

asked the Minister or Transport how much she estimates trade in total volume of tons has increased to date through the port of Harwich, Parkeston, in the last five years, and the new Navy Yard Port at Harwich; and how much she estimates this trade is likely to increase in the next five years.

Traffic through the British Railways dock at Parkeston Quay rose from 196,000 tons in 1961 to 229,000 in 1965. The Navy Yard Wharf at Harwich began operation in 1964; in 1965 it handled 201,000 tons of cargo.Forecasts of the traffic through these docks in the next five years are not available now.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the new islands and traffic lights at Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, were the centre of the only point of congestion on the whole length of the Shropshire A5 during Easter weekend, what action she proposes to take to improve this situation.

The improvement of the junction of A5 and A49 at Meole Brace is not yet complete. I am sure that congestion will be considerably eased when the scheme is finished and permanent traffic lights installed.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position concerning the Channel Tunnel; and whether she will make a statement.

The first volumes of the report on the geological survey for the Channel Tunnel were handed over to the two Governments on 15th April. The results are being assessed. There will be further discussions with the French Government before any joint statement on the future of the project is made.

asked the Minister of Transport under what circumstances she requires evidence of 200 per cent. overloading before permitting major improvement of a trunk road; and whether she will relax this requirement in the case of trans-Pennine roads, in view of the frequent blockages in adverse weather on these roads.

Of course a trunk road need not be overloaded by 200 per cent. before a major improvement can be carried out. The extent of overload is an important factor in the selection of schemes for my right hon. Friend's trunk road programme, but it is only one of a number of factors which have to be taken into account, including special geographical circumstances of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce legislation to allow the use of the advance warning triangle in the interest of road safety; and if she will make a statement.

Regulations are being prepared on the lines of the revised proposals circulated for comment last month. Generally they will allow a red reflectorised triangle complying with the appropriate British Standard to be used to give warning of an obstruction on the road. The Regulations will be made as soon as a few details have been settled and a minor change made in the existing British Standard.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the local objection to the east-west flyover in Croydon, she will stop this project and allow an alternative traffic scheme to be planned.

No. Responsibility for this scheme rests with the London Borough of Croydon as highway authority. I have replied today in greater detail to my hon. Friend's letter on this subject.

asked the Minister of Aviation what will be the date of the proposed international conference on aircraft noise, and the purpose of the conference.

The Conference will be held from 22nd to 30th November this year, and will provide an opportunity for discussion of practical methods of reducing the noise and disturbance caused by civil aircraft. Invitations have been dispatched to about 30 countries and international organisations.

asked the Minister of Aviation what study he is making of the noise effect of the 25 Boeing 747 Jumbo jets to be operated by Pan-American Airways, in relation to the tolerances allowed at London Airport.

The onus rests on airline operators to satisfy my Department that any new jet aircraft which they may wish to introduce at Heathrow Airport can comply with current noise limits; and they will doubtless insist on appropriate contractual safeguards from manufacturers before committing themselves to purchase.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will test for noise the Pratt and Whitney jet engines, each of 41,000 lb. of thrust, to be fitted to the Boeing 747, to see how they compare with the engines of the Boeing 707.

I shall naturally maintain an interest in the noise and other characteristics of these aircraft as information becomes available, but it is, as I indicated in reply to the hon. Member today, for prospective purchasers of this or any other aircraft to satisfy themselves, if they wish to use Heathrow, that the aircraft will comply with the limits there.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the position at the Addiscombe Telephone Exchange where applicants are being advised of a two-year delay owing to a shortage of equipment; and if he will make a statement.

A major extension of the Addiscombe exchange is being manufactured to provide for the very rapid increase in applications for service in this area. Installation of the additional equipment will be completed by the middle of 1968, but as the existing equipment is already fully used, I regret that many applicants will have to wait for service until then.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now set up an authority or board to stimulate development in North-East Scotland.

No. But I hope very shortly to establish a local consultative group for the area with whose help I am confident we shall be able to stimulate the development of North East Scotland on the lines already set out in the recent White Paper on the Scottish Economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the North-East Conservancy of the Forestry Commission has already used virtually all its reserves of land suitable for afforestation; and what steps he proposes to take to acquire land for this purpose, in view of its importance in stemming rural depopulation.

The Forestry Commission has a reserve of 24,000 acres of land for planting in their East Scotland Conservancy. It is concerned about the extent of this reserve and is considering with my Departments what can be done to improve the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the relationship between the person murdered and the murderer in each of the eighteen murders which took place in 1965 in Glasgow.

In three of the 18 cases recorded as murder by the Glasgow police in 1965 the victim was a relative of the accused person. The relationships were as follows:—

Infant son and father; infant daughter and mother; stepfather and stepson.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to initiate further research into the sprat-fisheries around the coast of Scotland, with a view to their further development.

Investigations will be continued by scientists of my Department to build up knowledge on which forecasts of future abundance of sprats may eventually be made. These will include continued sampling of catches and it is hoped also to carry out an experiment in tagging of sprats.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will extend the Farm Business Recording Scheme to the whole of the country, as proposed in the 1966 White Paper.

I am not yet in a position to say when this will be possible, but I am in consultation with the Colleges of Agriculture and the appropriate representative organisations on the matter and there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the 1966 Price Review increases of £23 million will be received by farmers in Scotland.

It is estimated that about one-eighth of the 1966 Price Review award of £23 million will be received by farmers in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the £32 million of additional costs incurred by farmers prior to the recent Price Review related to Scotland.

About £5 million. Of this, labour costs including the wage award which came into operation on 18th April, 1966 account for £2·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amounts contributed by Scottish farmers to the efficiency factors of £25 million and £30 million in the Annual Review of 1965 and 1966, respectively.

No separate assessment is made for Scotland of the annual gain in efficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has decided not to allow further expenditure on improvements to the A7 road.

I have taken no such decision. A £55,000 diversion was completed recently at Hazelbank, Midlothian; an £86,000 improvement at Wilton Hill, Hawick, is nearing completion; and a further improvement on the adjoining Galalaw to Newton section is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing the number of students who entered universities this session; and, of this total, how many he expects to enter the teaching profession.

8,615 students entered first degree courses in all faculties of Scottish universities this session. On the basis of recent experience some 1,900 of these may be expected to become teachers in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation to reform the feudal system in Scotland.

When I receive the Report of the Halliday Committee on Conveyancing Legislation and Practice I intend to make a detailed examination of this important matter. I hope to receive the report within the next three months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the increase, by percentage and numbers, in prescriptions under the National Health Service in Scotland comparing the month of January, 1966 with the month of January, 1965.

40 per cent.; 753,992.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the increase, by percentage and numbers, in prescriptions under the National Health Service in Scotland in the year to 31st January, 1966 compared with the previous year.

20·5 per cent.; 4,494,150.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of general practitioners in practice in Scotland on 31st January, 1966; and what was the corresponding figure for 31st January, 1965.

The numbers of principals and assistants (excluding trainee assistants) in practice in Scotland at the nearest available dates were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the same standards are applied in scheduling land eligible for hill cow and hill sheep subsidy in Scotland as in the remainder of the United Kingdom; and what are the reasons for the differences.

The definitions of eligible land in the Hill Cattle and Hill Sheep Subsidy Schemes which apply to Scotland are the same as the corresponding definitions in the Schemes which apply to the rest of the United Kingdom. Joint inspections on both sides of the border do not suggest any difference of interpretation in applying these definitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now publish in full the results of his inquiry into the Cadco affair; and whether legal action has been, or is to be, taken against any person or persons involved.

The results of the various inquiries which have been made on the Government's behalf should not be published piecemeal. Any question of legal action depends on the outcome of further inquiries being made by the Lord Advocate following reference to him of the report made to the Board of Trade under the Companies Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for accident prevention on the Broxbourn-Whitburn stretch of the A8.

The considerable improvements already made to this section of A8 are reflected in the reduction of the injury accident rate from 2·5 per million vehicle miles in 1954 to 1·53 in 1965. A junction improvement at Livingston Station Road is now in hand; I am considering the provision of a roundabout at Boghead Crossroads; and the whole stretch will be replaced by a motorway within five years.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the total staff employed by Garrison Engineers in overseas establishments engaged on work now taken over by his Department; and whether the civilian staff now employed on this work have increased or decreased.

In April, 1963, the Ministry took over from the Army Works Organisation 412 non-industrial and 25 industrial U.K.-based civilians serving overseas, together with 2,131 non-industrial and 9,355 industrial locally-entered staff. As a result of integration, the number of staff now engaged on works services for the Army cannot be separately identified. Since April, 1963, the load of work overseas has risen by about a quarter and there has been a net fall in staff of 1,079.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Parliament delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Yes. The Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe will be meeting in Strasbourg from 2nd to 6th May. I have appointed 18 delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The delegation this year will consist of 10 Members of the Labour Party, 7 Members of the Conservative Party and 1 Member of the Liberal Party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.The appointments of Conservative and Liberal representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the Leaders of those Parties.The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union.Representatives from the Government benches will be:—

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to define more clearly the law of contempt, with particular reference to the rights of newspapers to interview witnesses or potential witnesses in legal proceedings and to publish developments in cases where a crime has been committed but no charge has yet been made.

It is not the intention of the Government to introduce any such legislation in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what standards are applied in scheduling land eligible for hill cow subsidy and hill sheep subsidy, respectively; and why there is a disparity between them.

Broadly, to be eligible for hill sheep subsidy purposes, land must be basically suitable only for the maintenance of hardy hill sheep. Hill cow subsidy can be paid where the land is suitable for rearing other sheep and cattle, though not to any material extent for dairying, fattening or cash cropping.The land quality test is less stringent in the case of the hill cow subsidy because, in order to maintain regular beef breeding herds, better land is required than for the hardy foundation flocks that the hill sheep subsidy is designed to assist.

asked the Secretary of State for commonwealth Relations if he will publish in HANSARD details of the number of emigrants who returned from Australia in each of the last three years.

No. Detailed figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that a number of five-year-old children in West Ham, North, are unable to commence their education because teachers are not available; and what action he will take to ensure that these children receive their education in accordance with the law.

I understand that 79 children of statutory school age could not be admitted to three schools in my hon. Friend's constituency at the beginning of the present term because sufficient teachers were not available. Parents were given the chance to send their children to other schools in Newham some distance from their homes, but few have taken advantage of this offer. The Newham local education authority hope to be able to admit some of these children during the course of the present term.The responsibility for recruiting teachers rests with the local education authority. I am willing to discuss with them any measures which they think might overcome their present difficulty in finding infants teachers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to see that Purchase Tax already paid to the revenue is repaid in all cases where the retailer looses goods through no fault of his own, including cases of theft where underwriters will not accept the risk, such as on certain types of electrical goods.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements for Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax to be paid by way of tax reserve certificates.

As already announced, tax reserve certificates may be used for payment of Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the foreign exchange cost of British troops in Germany during the current financial year.

£89 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the foreign exchange cost of British forces in Germany over the two-year period to 31st March, 1966; what was the total value of contracts placed against the advance payment by the Federal German Government of £42 million in June, 1965, up to the end of March, 1966; and what was the value of British exports financed by the sum of £45 million set aside in the Anglo-German Agreement of 29th June, 1965, for the financing of additional British exports, to the end of March, 1966.

The reply to the first part of the Question is £170 million.The reply to the second part is that withdrawals of £24.4 million have been made from the advance payments account in respect of exports chargeable to the account, and known to have been made in the period ending 31st March, 1966; there will be further withdrawals when full details of payments in the period are known.The reply to the third part of the Question is that transactions have now been approved in principle which will in due course result in the whole of the deposit account referred to in Article 5 of the Protocol of 20th July, 1965, being used up.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the designation as Green Belt of about fourteen-sixteenths of the total area of Colne Valley urban district frustrates production for export, restricts the variety of employment, and produces no compensating advantages; and whether he will relax this policy in order that houses may be built in the floor of the Valley.

My right hon. Friend doubts whether the Green Belt proposals would have these effects. However, the proposals will be advertised so that objections can be considered before he reaches a final decision.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the expenditure under the Local Employment Acts to assist expand- ing firms in the North-East development districts with training costs in the year ended 31st March, 1966.

In the year ended 31st March, 1966, the Department has paid out assistance totalling £21,000 as against offers totalling £155,000 to firms in Development Districts in the Northern Region for the purpose of helping them to train additional labour. The improved rates of assistance became available as from 1st April, 1966.

asked the Lord President of the Council by what authority cameras were allowed in the House of Commons on the occasion of the opening of Parliament; and in what ways Members of the House were consulted.

I would refer to the Answer which I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on Tuesday, 26th April.

asked the Lord President of the Council if the resolution passed on 7th March 1966 by the Select Committee on House of Commons, Services, to give permission to the British Broadcasting Corporation to install a camera in the gallery of the House of Commons on the State Opening of Parliament was based on the prior request by the British Broadcasting Corporation for this particular facility on this particular occasion.

The request made by the B.B.C. was for general facilities to broadcast the State Opening ceremony in television and sound. In recommending to Mr. Speaker that this request should be agreed, the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) resolved that permission should be given to the B.B.C., if they so wished, to install an additional camera in the Gallery of the House of Commons.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will list the major aid programmes or projects in India and Pakistan, respectively, that are being financed by Great Britain.

The major economic programmes or projects in India and Pakistan which are being assisted by British Government aid are set out below:INDIA

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on aid to British Guiana.

Following discussions in London with Mr. Henry Thomas, the British Guiana Minister of Economic Affairs, the British Government have informed the British Guiana Government of their intention to continue to assist that country's development after independence. The British Government have offered, subject to Parliamentary approval, to provide Guiana with aid totalling some £3 million in the U.K. financial year 1966–67. This is made up of £1 million budgetary aid, already announced, about 1·2 million in development grants and about £0·75 million in technical assistance, gifts of militant equipment and development loans. This is in addition to a development loan of £416,000 in the first quarter of 1966.