asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many United States warships have visited Hong Kong in the last year.

I am obtaining the figures from the Governor and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to secure a wider market in Europe for Hong Kong textiles.

The European market for Hong Kong textiles is expanding and Hong Kong firms, assisted by the colony's newly created Export Promotion Organisation, are making good use of the opportunities that exist. The British Government and its representatives in European countries are providing substantial help, within the scope of international agreements, to improve the conditions of access for Hang Kong's exports to these markets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there has been any relaxation of the Spanish restrictions at the frontier with Gibraltar, as a result of the agreement to hold talks to discuss the situation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) to what extent recruitment of skilled men needed in the Clywedog dam has been affected by the activities of 6th March 1966; and what measures are being taken to ensure full protection for workers on the site;(2) if he is aware that land required in connection with the Clywedog dam has been subdivided so as to delay acquisition proceedings; and what steps he is taking to prevent undue delays to this project.

Recruitment for this project has not been affected by incidents which I am sure the vast majority of the people of Wales deplore.The Clywedog Reservoir is expected to bring important benefits to Wales and the Clywedog Reservoir Joint Authority has taken the appropriate measures for protection.No delay is expected by the Authority as a result of land acquisition difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to allow for a declaration of bankruptcy in the case of appropriate criminal offenders convicted of serious crimes of dishonesty.

The whole question of restitution by offenders, including the suggestion to which my hon. Friend refers, needs detailed study before a practicable scheme could be worked out. My right hon. Friend will consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that when the hon. Member for West Ham, North, made a complaint to him concerning alleged abuses upon the part of policemen from Leyton Station, his investigation consisted of police from Leyton Station with an investigating officer claiming to be from Scotland Yard but who was in fact from Leyton station; and whether he will now have an independent investigation into this case, details of which have been supplied to him in writing.

This matter was dealt with under the statutory procedure which governs the investigation of complaints against the police and a full account of the results of the thorough investigation carried out has been sent to my hon. Friend. There are no grounds on which my right hon. Friend would be justified in setting up an independent inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis has refused to approve the appointment of a school-crossing patrol for children attending Aylward School, Stanmore.

Because the Commissioner of Police, who is the school crossing authority for the Metropolitan Police District, has had regard to the results of a recent survey of conditions in Dalkeith Grove and to the limited resources at his disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish separately the figures for criminal offences in those areas where the police forces are being equipped with modern equipment and fully mechanised in order to assess the impact of these measures in the war on crime.

Separate figures for offences are already published annually for each police force in the Supplementary Statistics relating to Crime and Criminal Proceedings, but they are not the only factor to be taken into account in the assessment of the results produced by the introduction of new equipment and methods into police forces, which is being carried out by the Home Office Police Research and Planning Branch as well as by chief constables.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under what circumstances, and why, Tewfig Obali, general secretary of the Aden civil aviation union, and the presidents of six Aden trade unions were arrested by British military authorities on 27th April; and whether he will make a statement.

Tewfig Ali Fara Obali, Secretary of the Civil Aviation Workers and Employees Union, who was arrested last October and released the following month, was arrested once again on 26th April because of his suspected association with terrorist activity. No other trade union's leaders were arrested.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions were reached as a result of the studies undertaken with the Americans last year about limited facilities in the Indian Ocean.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now announce his decision on the Manchester Draft Water Order 1965.

The decision letter will be in the hands of the local authorities tomorrow morning, and hon. Members for constituencies in the Manchester area and the hon. Members for Westmorland and Penrith will receive copies at the same time. Copies will also be available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what increase or decrease there has been since October 1964 in the staffs of local authorities in England and Wales: what is the annual financial outlay involved; and what proportion of the increase or decrease is attributable to legislation passed since October 1964.

My right hon. Friend has no responsibility for the numbers of staff employed by local authorities. But annual statistics are published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. The figures for June 1964, were published in October 1964; those for June 1965, were published in the March 1966, issue.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what initiatives he is taking to further economic co-operation with the countries of the Common Market.

My right hon. Friends the First Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be engaged in a thorough process of analysis and inquiry into the problems involved.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to what extent the Government have reviewed with industry the use of clauses providing for the automatic adjustment of prices to wage increases in contracts for printing and for other goods and services; with what industries; in relation to what goods and services; and with what result.

Various aspects of this question are still under review by the Government and, following discussions, the Confederation of British Industry is also examining the issues involved.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what has been the amount of public expenditure on new buildings and works in 1964–65 in the Northern Region as laid down in Table 8.9 of the National Plan; and how this compares with the pattern in other regions.

Particulars of the amount of public expenditure on new buildings and works in 1964–65 in the Northern Region in the detail given in Table 8.9 of the National Plan and a table showing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to set up a national oceanic council to co-ordinate the work of all research and development groups concerned with the obtaining of food and minerals from the seas and oceans.

The necessary co-ordination is already achieved. The Natural Environment Research Council, which was created last year, has set up two committees—Oceanography and Fisheries Committee and the Geology and Geophysics Committee. The first contains representatives of the White Fish Authority, the fishing industry, the official and independent research organisations, and interested departments such as the Navy. It reviews and advises on the whole field of research on Oceanography and Fisheries excluding the geology and geophysics of the sea floor which is part of the responsibility of the second. The work of these two committees is co-ordinated by the Council itself. Exploration for oil and gas is controlled by licence and permission to drill wells is only given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power after consultation with other interested departments. Any information obtained by the licencees in the course of their operations must be made available to my right hon. Friend and he has authorised the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Natural Environment Research Council to receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that few schools under his authority have facilities for swimming and sunbathing and that fewer give the pupils instruction in swimming; how many schools under his authority have facilities for teaching swimming and for sunbathing; where they are situated; and what steps he is taking to improve the facilities.

I have no complete information about schools with swimming facilities of their own, but 144 covered and heated swimming pools have been approved since 1958 and the English Schools Swimming Association estimate the number of school pools of all types at about 4,000. Very many children are taught swimming in school hours in public baths and the numbers are constantly increasing; as my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend on 29th April, 1965, he is sure that local education authorities do not need to be reminded of the value of swimming and we do all we can to encourage them.Opportunities for sunbathing are outside my right hon. Friend's control and are not an educational pastime.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications towards the removal and resettlement of key workers in North-East development districts were received and approved in the year ended 31st March, 1966.

Applications were received on behalf of 118 key workers from 15 firms: all were approved.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures for Banbury at the latest convenient date of unfilled vacancies and unemployed persons, showing how many of the unemployed have been out of work for more than three months.

At 13th April, 1966 the total number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at the Banbury Employment Exchange was 493.At 18th April, 1966 the total number of persons registered as unemployed was 237, of whom 59 had been so registered for more than 13 weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at Falmouth and at Camborne and Redruth at each of the last six-monthly counts; and what percentages these were of the total number of insured persons, giving separate figures

asked the Minister of Labour what were the percentage rates of unemployment in each of the south-western

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what recent discussions have taken place between his Department and the International Co-operative Alliance in stimulating co-operative enterprises in overseas territories.

As explained in my Answer of 1st June, 1965, there have been no such specific and direct discussions but co-operation is assured in other ways.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development on what terms the £17 million non-project aid to India, recently announced, will be provided; and what

Following is the information:counties in each of the last six-monthly counts.

Following is the information: financial provision has been made for this aid.

The aid will be provided in the form of interest free loans with a maturity of 25 years and a grace period of seven years on the repayment of capital. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course and in the meantime advances as necessary will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what disbursements have been made from the £7·5 million loan made by Her Majesty's Government to assist with India's food crisis.

Following the dissolution of Parliament advances totalling £324,000 were obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund to reimburse the Government of India in respect of claims submitted up to 14th April for the cost of shipping emergency supplies of wheat from Commonwealth countries to India. Further claims are now awaiting payment and a Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course. In the meantime, further advances as necessary will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Power what regulations he has made and proposes to make in respect of drilling rigs in the North Sea.

I have no power to make regulations in respect of North Sea drilling rigs as such. The Petroleum (Production) (Continental Shelf and Territorial Sea) Regulations, 1964 prescribe model clauses to be incorporated in licences to search and bore for and get petroleum offshore. These include requirements that the licensee shall execute all operations in accordance with good oilfield practice and comply with any instructions given by the Minister for securing the safety, health and welfare of persons employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce a starting date for the Glenfeshie road.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 2nd March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish a table showing the numbers of persons over 65, over 70, over 75, over 80, over 85, over 90, over 95 and over 100 years of age, in the seven crofting counties and the County of Inverness, respectively; whether he will give an estimate of those requiring geriatric treat- ment; and upon what information this estimate is based.

The latest figures available are those obtained at the 1961 census and are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work will commence on the Kyleakin Fisherman's Pier.

I have approved the acceptance by Inverness County Council of the tender for this work. I understand that the council has completed all formalities and that it hopes work on construction of the pier will begin in about one month's time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is expected that building will start on a new road bridge over the River Spey at Craigellachie.

I have agreed to discuss the case for its inclusion in the classified road programme with the Joint Bridges Committee of the County Councils of Banff and Moray and Nairn when the technical plans, which I understand they are now having prepared, are ready.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with industry with a view to defining a company which has a substantial export record; whether he has sufficient information in his Department to compile a list of companies which not only export goods to a value of £250,000 but in excess of 25 per cent. of total sales; and what consideration he has given to the annual publication of a list of such companies at the same time as the announcement of the Queen's Award for export and technology.

I have had no discussions with industry for the purpose of defining a substantial export record.Although my Department has a good deal of information about firms' export sales, I could not at present compile a comprehensive list of the kind proposed, and its publication would, in any case, raise questions of disclosure. I have no present intention of publishing such a list.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he will put forward with regard to the temporary charge on imports when he attends the Ministerial meeting of the European Free Trade Association.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on Tuesday, the import charge will lapse when the relevant legislation expires at the end of November. Until then it will remain at the existing level of 10 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the proportionate increase in the value of United Kingdom imports subject to the surcharge during the 15 months ended 31st March, 1966 compared with the corresponding period to 31st March, 1965; and what was the proportionate increase in the value of imports of the same commodities during the 15 months ended 31st March, 1965 compared with the corresponding period to 31st March, 1964.

5·4 per cent. and 17·8 per cent., respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the concern felt by the developers of the Llandow Industrial Estate and the Cowbridge Rural District Council at the exclusion of the locality where the estate is sited from the development area; and if he will reconsider the matter and revise the boundary of the development area in order that, by allowing maximum grants to be available for firms wanting to establish factories, this enterprise may succeed.

The economic circumstances of this district do not justify its inclusion in the proposed Welsh Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the fact that southern industrial firms drain away Aberdeen's skilled workers, thereby depriving Aberdeen industries of their services; and what steps he is taking in the interest of Aberdeen's industrial progress to counteract this drain.

I am making full use of my powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage industrial expansion in Aberdeen so as to ensure that there are ample job opportunities for skilled workers there. New legislation to improve these powers was introduced yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the monthly figures of the value of British exports to and imports from Norway since the imposition of the import surcharge.

These figures are given in table IV of the Overseas Trade Accounts.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will given an undertaking to refuse her consent to the closure of the Hurst Green-Lewes line.

The Railways Board has sought my right hon. Friend's agreement to the publication of its proposal to discontinue the passenger services on this line. In accordance with normal arrangements she has asked the Economic Planning Council for the South East for its comments on the broad planning implications if the closure were to take place. Until she receives these she cannot Judge the issue.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Inland Waterways Board to clear canals of silt and other obstructions.

I do not think such a direction is necessary or appropriate. My right hon. Friend is at present reviewing future policy for the British Waterways Board's system of canals in the light of the Board's recently published comprehensive report "The Facts about the Waterways".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £116 million estimated German offset payments against foreign exchange cost of British forces in Germany in and in respect of the two-year period ended 31st March, 1966, has been spent to date; when he estimates the balance will be spent; and what is his estimate for the two-year period ending 31st March, 1968.

The reply to the first part of the Question is that payments actually made in the period 1st April, 1964, to 31st December, 1965, including payments from the Advance Payment Account set up in July, 1965, amounted to £47 million. Further payments followed in the quarter ending 31st March, 1966, but the exact figure will not be known until the end of June of this year; nor will it be known before then whether there will remain any balance in the Advance Payments Account. Finally, some payments were also made in pursuance of the provisions of Article 5 of the Protocol of 20th July, 1965. As to the second and third parts of the question I cannot anticipate when the remainder of the payments attributable to this Article will be made as this depends on the terms of contracts not yet known to us but a substantial proportion should be made by 31st March, 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking the value of the pound as 20 shillings in 1946, he will state its comparable value today.

Taking the purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. in 1946, its value in March, 1966, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at 10s. This estimate is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for calendar years adjusted by movements in the Retail Price Index for the months at the end of the period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average rise in share prices between 1946 and today.

The average annual increase in prices of industrial ordinary shares is estimated at about 4 per cent. over the period 1946 to 1965.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer what was the average rise in dividends between 1946 and today.

The average annual increase in dividend payments on ordinary and preference shares is estimated at 7½ per cent. over the period 1946 to 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average rise in wages and earned income between 1946 and today.

Total income from wages and salaries is estimated to have increased from £4,950 million in 1946 to £18,855 million in 1965, equivalent to an average rise of about 7¼ per cent. per annum In the same period total income from self-employment increased from £1,147 million to £2,462 million or by about 4 per cent. per annum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the proportion of personal income ranking as earned and unearned, respectively, during the last convenient tax period.

Tables 61 and 62 of the 108th Annual Report of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 2876) show that of the total net income accruing to persons with income above the effective exemption limit for 1963-64 93 per cent. was earned and 7 per cent. was investment income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimated annual loss of revenue would result from the abolition of transfer stamp duty on stock and share sales.

The cost would be about £25 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what rates operators of hire boat fleets are now permitted to depreciate cabin cruisers and sailing craft in the first and each subsequent year.

Vessels of this kind have never been regarded as ships for the purposes of capital allowances and do not qualify for free depreciation. Under the existing law they may qualify for investment allowances, but as a result of the introduction of the investment grant scheme these allowances are being withdrawn. If the vessels are operated for the purpose of a trade they will in future qualify for an initial allowance of 30 per cent.: the rate of annual allowance is 15 per cent. on written down value (or 12½ per cent. if the vessel was acquired before 6th November, 1962).