asked the Postmaster-General why a design for a Post Office stamp to commemorate the World Cup contest, which bore the flag of North Korea, has been rejected.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 9th May.

Giles asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider his policy about discontinuing facilities for the handing in of telegrams at small sub-post offices.

I am thinking about this matter and will write to the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress is being made with the development of automatic equipment for handling letter mail.

Prototype equipment installed at Norwich, together with additional equipment will allow us to try out a fully mechanised letter sorting office before ordering equipment in quantity. Orders for an advance installation of code-marking and sorting machinery for the E.C. District Office in London, have been placed.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what considerations were taken into account in deciding what landmarks should be depicted on the recently released pictorial stamps;(2) whether he will include a landmark from Wiltshire in a further issue of pictorial stamps.

Apart from the requirement that the four recently released pictorial stamps should feature typical landscapes or coastal scenery in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively, the only consideration taken into account in selecting the designs was the quality. This must, of course, remain the case for any future general pictorial issue.

asked the Postmaster-General what rate of interest will be paid on the new Post Office Savings Bank Investment Accounts.

We shall start these accounts with a rate of 5½ per cent. perannum.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will issue a circular to draw the attention of local authorities to the voluntary emergency service organised by the taxi drivers in Birmingham, details of which have been supplied to him.

This imaginative voluntary scheme has already received wide publicity and no doubt local authorities will decide whether to and how to take, advantage of it.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will inquire into the complaints of Mr. R. G. W. Thomas, which have been sent to him, about the inefficiency of Post Office workers in the Brighton area;(2) what are his explanations of the complaints concerning the postal service in the letter of Mr. G. Hill, 80, Ashford Road, Brighton, which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion;(3) why a letter from Mr. S. Norris, dated 28th April and addressed to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, was already sliced open and damaged on receipt, and an apology was received from the postmaster on the next day; and whether he will make an inquiry into this.

I am looking into the complaints the hon. Member has sent me and will write to him.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present percentage of telephone subscribers in Northern Ireland served by automatic exchanges.

99.

asked the Postmaster-General what are his plans for extending international subscriber dialling to western European countries; and if he will make a statement.

International subscriber dialling has been a success and in the last year traffic increased by 46 per cent. I have today extended the service to Luxembourg and am discussing the possibilities of further extensions with other European countries.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the increase in demand for new telephones in the Peterhead and Fraserburgh districts since the introduction of the new dialling system: and to what extent the demand has already been met.

Since automatic working was introduced at Peterhead exchange in November last the level of demand for new connections has been over half as much again as in the previous 12 months. Automatic working is due to be introduced at Fraserburgh exchange in August 1967. The level of demand there has increased by about 9 per cent. in the last six months.Neither exchange has a waiting list.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is not possible for the General Post Office to give a line from London to Brighton for showing the Cassius Clay-Henry Cooper fight on closed-circuit television; why there are not enough cables; which other towns will be able to see the fight by this means; why the Brighton Post Office had not prepared for this demand; and whether there is still time to provide a cable.

Special plant is needed for long-distance TV transmission. It would not be economic to provide it everywhere on a permanent basis nor can it be provided at short notice to a multitude of places simultaneously. We hope to get circuits ready as requested to Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham and Southampton, but it is not possible to include Brighton unless some other circuits are given up.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will direct the Independent Television Authority, under the Television Act 1964, not to broadcast television programmes containing comments on electoral matters in Northern Ireland.

No. Parliament has vested responsibility for programme content in the broadcasting authorities; and the Government does not intervene. The Authority is, of course, already under a statutory duty to exclude from its programmes statements of its own opinion, and of that of the programme companies, on matters of political or industrial controversy, or on matters relating to current public policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the conditions to be applied to payment of the new beef cow subsidy have now been finally decided; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost of this subsidy during the current financial year.

Not all the conditions of this new subsidy have yet been settled. We have been actively working on them in consultation with the Farmers' Unions and they will be announced as soon as possible. The estimated cost of this subsidy in the United Kingdom in the current financial year is £2·4 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement of the Government's intentions arising out of his consideration of the Brambell Report.

No. I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave on 11th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the report on costs, prices and profits in the brewing industry; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his recent official talks with the brewing groups on the question of the stabilisation of beer prices.

As my right hon. Friend stated in his reply to the hon. Member for Twickenham on 5th May, he has already reached agreement with the Brewers' Society about a check to increases in beer prices, following the recommendation of the Prices and Incomes Board.The Brewers' Society has agreed that there should be a standstill until 1st January, 1967, on the prices of all major brands which have been increased in price since 1st January, 1964. Where no such increase has been made and can now be justified to my Department, it has been agreed that the price in the public bar for draught and bottled beers should not go up by more than 1d. per pint.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the First Report of the Committee on Smallholdings.

This interim report recommends fundamental changes in the policy for the provision of smallholdings by county councils. It is under detailed consideration in my Department with a view to early discussion with the organisations principally concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairies have been closed in the last year; and how many of these were in Dorset.

The number of registered milk producers in England and Wales fell by 4,401 in the year ended 31st March, 1966. Of this total 64 were in Dorset. This is the smallest annual fall in Dorset for five years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to administer the Selective Employment Tax in the fishing industry.

The general arrangements are stated in the White Paper. The administrative arrangements for refunds of tax and payment of premiums will be announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour after consultation with industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates will be the cost in a full year to the agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries of the new Selective Employment Tax.

For agriculture and horticulture, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 9th May and to the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Body) on 11th May. Figures for forestry were provided in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 9th May to the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what developments of horticultural policy he will propose to take account of the effects of the proposed Selective Employment Tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Hazell) on 13th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that the Selective Employment Tax will be refunded to agricultural and horticultural co-operative associations and companies wholly owned by growers, and that there will be no discrimination against farmers' co-operatives as compared with growers who carry out similar packing, grading and related processes on their own farms.

We are considering the position of these co-operative bodies in the light of the Government's decision to refund the tax direct to individual farmers and growers. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the Irish authorities relating to the salmon and freshwater fish disease.

We have recently had helpful official discussions with the Irish authorities about the measures which they are taking to prevent exports from Ireland of dead salmon affected by the disease. There have also been close consultations between the scientists on the cause of the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stage has been reached in the preparation of the scheme of flood prevention for the River Taff where it passes through the Treforest Industrial Estate; and if work will commence on the scheme during the coming summer months.

Further details are awaited from the Glamorgan River Authority of its proposals now estimated to cost about £240,000 for the protection of this industrial estate. When these are available a decision on the question of grant will be given as quickly as possible but it is too early to say when work is likely to start.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he is having regarding the possible infection from France by the free movement of horses between the two countries, owing to the known sporadic incidence of swamp fever; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State and I have already made an Order to prohibit the importation of horses from Europe for the present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the facts that the scheme for compensation to victims of acts of violence awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board came into operation on 1st August 1964 and that earlier victims of acts of violence and their dependants are thereby deprived of compensation, if he will introduce amending legislation to remove these injustices, to cover the case of which details have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North.

No. Legislation would not be required, but I should not feel justified in proposing that the scheme which the Board administers should be made retrospective.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what approaches have been made to him for a grant towards the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, 1970; and what action he proposes to take.

Edinburgh Corporation has made a preliminary inquiry about a grant towards the cost of the facilities required for the Games. I am considering this in consultation with the Sports Council, but the stage has not yet been reached at which a decision can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of public concern at the high rate of failure in certain faculties at Scottish universities, he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the quality of teaching and the teaching methods used at these universities.

No. Teaching methods are a matter of constant concern to the universities themselves and they already have before them the Report of a Committee under Sir Edward Hale issued as recently as 1964. It should not be assumed that the only cause, or the major cause, of student failure lies in university teaching methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures relating to passes and failures in all faculties during session 1964–65 in Scottish universities.

The latest information for British universities as a whole is given in paragraphs 80–85 of the Report on University Development 1957–62 (Cmnd. 2267).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the accident and casualty record for 1964–65 of the A82 between Balloch and Tarbert.

The numbers of accidents and casualties on this length of A82 were as follows:

Year	Accidents involving injury	Killed	Seriously injured	Slightly injured
1964	49	3	28	86
1965	51	2	19	73

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work will start on the Alexandria by-pass on the A82 road.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory processes, work on the section from Barloan Roundabout to Howgate should start in the autumn of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give directions to the Scottish Special Housing Association to withdraw its objections to the siting of caravans by tenants in gardens, in those burghs where the elected councils allow caravans.

No. This is a matter of detailed management which is best left to the discretion of the Association's Council of Management.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total book value of the articles, and specifically the book value of the Elliott Computer 153, which were offered for sale at the Northern Command Ordnance Survey Depot at Barlow, near Selby, on 22nd and 23rd March last; and what was the total sum, and specifically the sum for the computer, realised at the sale.

It would involve undue effort to work out the book value of the very many articles offered at this sale. The computer was withdrawn from the auction with a view to sale by tender. A total of £39,500 was realised on the other goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how long the submarine "Dreadnought" is likely to be out of commission undergoing repairs; and what is the estimated cost of carrying them out.

H.M.S. "Dreadnought" will be going to sea shortly for exercises and trials. Repairs and surveys on the hairline cracks cost about £150,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware of the concern of citizens in the Kirkhill, Morpeth, area, in the County of Northumberland, arising from low-flying aircraft; and what action is being taken to deal with it.

I know of only one complaint from the Kirkhill area during the past 16 months. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of times and dates when disturbance has occurred I will gladly look into the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the measurements of the temperature of the Atlantic this month compare with those of similar periods in 1959 and 1965: and what conclusions he draws about the warmth of this coming summer as compared with 1959 and 1965.

This year, as in 1959 and 1965 there has been unusually cold water off Newfoundland, but on this occasion it extends further east. But as the summer of 1959 was hot and dry and that of 1965 was cool and wet no valid deduction about the forthcoming summer can be made from this factor alone.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent one of the duties of the new arms salesman will be to increase the supply of arms to Cuba.

Not at all.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in adapting the hovercraft principle to the design of ships for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

After trials in Borneo last year, we are studying with industry whether hovercraft would make effective patrol craft. We have also had encouraging preliminary studies of hovercraft of 40–80 tons for coastal patrol and logistic support, and we are considering developing and buying prototypes. We are also considering even larger craft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing separately the total strength of the Territorial Army and the Army Emergency Reserve at the latest date for which figures are available and for each of the past 12 months, and the number of new recruits, re-engagements and resignations for each month.

Yes.

TA
	Strength	Recruits	Re-engagemeats	Resignations
1.4.65	109,067	2,663	2,559	601
1.5.65	108,818	2,312	1,773	482
1.6.65	108,763	1,944	1,771	499
1.7.65	108,569	1,180	1,680	410
1.8.65	108,132	1,190	1,696	411
1.9.65	107,179	956	2,031	306
1.10.65	106,161	1,399	2,188	395
1.11.65	104,979	1,615	1,932	410
1.12.65	103,848	1,026	1,394	318
1.1.66	102,466	857	1,985	298
1.2.66	100,677	1,027	2,933	454
1.3.66	98,896	1,283	2,892	543
1.4.66	97,322	—	—	—

AER
	Strength	Recruits	Re-engagemeats	Resignations
1.4.65	13,108	152	137	6
1.5.65	13,038	164	274	3
1.6.65	13,008	218	351	3
1.7.65	13,055	140	445	3
1.8.65	13,140	146	453	4
1.9.65	13,010	99	878	3
1.10.65	12,941	65	362	1
1.11.65	12,884	87	779	3
1.12.65	12,804	105	194	1
1.1.66	12,763	34	245	6
1.2.66	12,626	42	255	6
1.3.66	12,467	74	246	4
1.4.66	12,295	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what new instructions he has issued to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, about the disclosure of information to local members of Civil Service staff associations in the Command.

No change has been made in the rules about these matters. There has therefore been no need to issue special instructions to any General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what British Forces are now stationed in Commonwealth and foreign territories in connection with supplying Zambia and enforcing sanctions against Rhodesia; and what is the cost to date.

A detachment of Transport Command is providing an airlift with Britannia aircraft from Nairobi to Zambia, partly to meet the fuel requirements of the air defence force in Zambia and partly to supply oil products for the civil economy. A detachment of Shackletons is based at Majunga to assist in the surveillance of the sea approaches to Beira. The cost of the R.A.F. oil airlift to date has been about £1·75 million including the cost of supplying fuel for the aid defence force. The cost of the R.A.F. surveillance operations is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is to be the rôle of the Royal Marines Reserve; what numbers he expects to recruit; where they will be stationed; and what their duties will be.

The "Royal Marines Reserve" is not a new reserve force: it is the new name for the existing Royal Marine Forces Volunteer Reserve. Details of this Reserve are given on page 46 of the Defence Estimates 1966–67, and we plan no change in its roôle, recruiting targets, stationing or duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many military personnel and how many military vehicles and aircraft were involved in the escape and evasion exercise staged in Wales commencing 4th May, 1966;(2) how many shots were fired with live ammunition by military personnel or civilians during the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May, 1966;(3) how many instances have been reported of offences against National Coal Board property during the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May;(4) how many incidents against civilian personnel or property, arising out of the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May, have been reported to him since 11th May; and on what date those incidents took place;(5) what was the cost of the escape and evasion exercise staged in Wales from 4th May, 1966;(6) what foreign military personnel were used in the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May, 1966; and what was their nationality;(7) if foreign troops were allowed to stop and question civilians during the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May;(8) what orders were given before the exercise to military personnel taking part in the escape and evasion exercise, which commenced in Wales on 4th May, about their conduct towards and powers over civilians; and how these orders were varied after complaints were received;(9) at what level in the command structure approval was given for the staging of the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May;(10) by what authority military personnel stop, interrogate and search civilians during a peacetime military exercise;(11) what reports he has received of military personnel refusing to allow civilians to approach the police with complaints during the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May;(12) what reports he has had of civilians being confined to their own houses during the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May;(13) if he will give details of incidents against civilians reported to him as a result of the escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May;(14) if he has yet initiated investigations into the conduct of military personnel during an escape and evasion exercise in Wales which commenced on 4th May;

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware of the incident at Lletyrafel Farm in the Vale of Neath on Monday, 9th May, when members of an Army detachment used physical violence against occupants of the farm; and what action he will take.

About 450 Service men, including some 350 Territorials and some 25 American parachutists, took part in this exercise, for which Ministerial approval had been given. Thirty-four road vehicles, 4 helicopters and 1 transport aircraft were used. No live ammunition was fired by any Service man; one report has been received of a shot gun being fired by a farmer. The cost directly attributable to the exercise was small.As my hon. Friend said in his Answer on 11th May, all those taking part in the Exercise were briefed on their conduct towards civilians and private property. In particular they were told that they had no powers of arrest over civilians, that civilians were not to be molested and that cars on main roads were not to be stopped. No changes were made in these instructions during the Exercise. Military personnel are not empowered to stop, interrogate and search civilians during a peacetime military exercise. There is, of course, no reason why they should not ask questions of civilians.A full report, which will include a detailed investigation of all incidents, is being prepared on the Exercise. I have heard so far of three incidents. My hon. Friend explained the circumstances of one of these in his Answer of 11th May. The other two, reported since, concern alleged incidents on 8th and 9th May at farms, and these are being investigated. No offences against National Coal Board property have been reported, though one mine canteen was used at the invitation of the mine management as a briefing room. Until I have received the report on the Exercise, I would prefer to make no further statement beyond expressing my regret that the Exercise should have given rise to some disquiet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases there have been, in each of the last five years, of the Army and Royal Air Force having to pay compensation to civilians for damage or injury arising from military exercises; and what is the total amount of this compensation.

Figures for the Army are as follows:

Year	Number of cases
1961	278
1962	260
1963	258
1964	180
1965	168

The total amount of compensation paid over this period is £44,295 6s. 3d.I will write to my hon. Friend and give him the Royal Air Force figures as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation making it compulsory for the vendor of any secondhand motor car to produce a certificate of roadworthiness before the sale is completed.

Under existing legislation it is an offence to sell, or to offer for sale, a motor vehicle which is not in a condition in which is could legally be used. But my right hon. Friend is keeping the position under review to see whether further measures should be taken.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reason she has determined the membership of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for the West Midland area of the Mayor of Kidderminster, Councillor Charles E. Talbot; what other changes she has made in the membership of that body, and for what reasons; and what consideration she gave to the respective political associations of the persons so respectively appointed and dismissed.

Councillor Talbot was a member of the previous Committee whose term of office expired in January. His name did not appear in the range of names suggested for my right hon. Friend's consideration in appointing the new Committee by the bodies she consulted in accordance with section 56 of the Transport Act 1962.In the light of their advice she appointed eight persons to the new Committee who were not members of the previous one, and reappointed fourteen, including the Chairman. She gave no consideration to their political associations: her aim in selecting members is to reflect as wide a range as possible of user interests.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now make a statement about her decision on the compulsory registration of driving instructors.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's Answer of 4th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) and the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Mr. Braine).

asked the Minister of Transport if she will initiate legislation to ensure that driving a motor vehicle may be taught only by qualified, licensed instructors.

As my right hon. Friend announced in answer to Questions on 4th May, she is consulting the interests concerned about the compulsory registration of professional driving instructors. She is not at present planning measures which would go beyond this.

asked the Minister of Transport what advice she seeks before appointing members to serve on the Transport Users' Consultative Committee; and what qualifications she requires candidates for such appointments to possess.

My right hon. Friend is required by Section 56 (2) of the Transport Act 1962 to consult those bodies, which appear to her to be representative of user interests. She requires no standard qualifications. Her aim has been to secure as wide a range as possible of users interests. She also has had regard to the geographical distribution of membership in the committee's area.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent the parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas overnight.

No. local authorities already have powers under the Road Traffic Acts to deal with this problem.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a direction to the Greater London Council under Section 10 of the London Government Act 1963 requiring it to take urgent steps to keep traffic moving freely in London generally and between the House of Commons and Marble Arch in particular.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons in each category were fined during the past 12 months, nationally and in London, respectively, for evasion of road fund duties.

The information is not available in the form requested. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible giving such information which can be readily assembled.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will approve the construction of the first part of the York outer ring road; and what is the estimated cost of the project.

This scheme, which will cost about £5 million, will be considered in the plans which are being drawn up for improving the inter-urban roads system in the 1970s. It is too early to say when construction might start.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the Channel Tunnel project; and if, in this connection, she will arrange to avoid congestion in Kent by providing loading points for road vehicles on to rail both in London and in the industrial areas including Lancashire.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the reply to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling) on 27th April on the progress of the project. It is premature to consider detailed arrangements for handling traffic which might use a Channel Tunnel. But there would certainly be considerable advantage in through services and she is in touch with the British Railways Board about possible facilities for such traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has yet completed her consultations with the local authorities about the standardised lighting of trunk roads.

My right hon. Friend has been consulting the local authority associations on the best way of carrying out her decision, which she announced on 27th January, to assume full responsibility for new street lighting on trunk roads. These consultations are now complete and she will inform local authorities of the detailed arrangements as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for a pedestrian crossing at Selsdon Park Road/Featherbed Lane junction, in view of the increased traffic in this place and the danger to pedestrians.

None. The London Borough of Croydon is responsible for initiating proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men have been rendered redundant since 1964 as a result of the reorganisation of the railway services; and how many depots are now on short time.

Approximately 46,000 about half of whom accepted offers of alternative railway work.The British Railways Board tells me that none of its depots is on short time.

asked the Minister of Transport what inquiries she is holding as a result of the rail crash at Moore on the night of 13th-14th May involving the Euston-Stranraer express in which the driver and the fireman of the express were killed; and whether she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has ordered a formal inquiry and the inspecting Officer's Report will be published later after submission to her.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to strengthen and expand the work of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary, in view of the heavy work undertaken by the regular police, arising from civil and motoring offences; and if he will consider launching a publicity campaign for new recruits notwithstanding the opposition of the Police Federation.

Action is continuously being taken to stimulate interest in the Metropolitan Special Constabulary and to encourage recruitment. Recruiting exhibitions are held, and with the valuable co-operation of the Press a great deal of publicity is obtained for the work of this force. The Police Federation do not offer any objection to the strengthening of the Special Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the sale of sodium chlorate in a powdered form as a weed killer, in view of the temptation to children to use this substance to create home-made explosives.

Sodium chlorate, which is dangerous only when mixed with certain other substances, has many practical uses besides that of a weed-killer and I doubt whether the statutory control of its sale would be justifiable or effective as a safeguard against the danger referred to. Action is being taken in other ways to minimize the possibility of this substance being misused by children.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the part played by the United Kingdom in the European conference for satellite communications.

The United Kingdom played a leading part within the Conference in securing European participation in the commercial global communications satellite system, to be set up under the Interim Agreements signed at Washington on the 20th August, 1964. A report by the technical planning staff of the Conference on ways in which Europe could acquire its own capability in communications satellites technology is under study by the committees of the Conference and by member governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the reports of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation working groups studying the implications of the French withdrawal from the integrated command system.

This whole question is being studied by the Permanent Representatives at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of the countries concerned and their views are expected to be available to Ministers at their meeting at Brussels in June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he now proposes to take to provide expert assistance to tenants appearing before rent assessment committees.

I cannot at present add to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General to a Question by the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 11th May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were built in Wales and how many in England in each year from 1951.

The information is as follows:

DWELLINGS COMPLETED IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Year	Wales	England
1951	9,617	162,286
1952	12,049	196,926
1953	15,550	263,681
1954	15,841	293,111
1955	13,320	270,006
1956	12,628	256,096
1957	12,293	256,360
1958	10,380	231,145
1959	10,786	238,595
1960	11,604	257,622
1961	12,669	256,163
1962	15,110	263,557
1963	14,080	256,575
1964	18,969	317,536
1965	19,524	327,657

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for encouraging local authorities to use modern methods for the collection and disposal of refuse.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the report of the Working Party on Refuse Collection in the near future and will bring their recommendations to the notice of local authorities. Following that, he proposes to set up a working party on refuse disposal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he has sent to the Rushden Urban District Council's letter of 2nd May, 1966, regarding the payment of compensation in a case which has been brought to his attention under Section 28 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962.

I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of the reply which has been sent to the Clerk of the Rushden Urban District Council today.

asked the Attorney-General on how many days the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General have appeared in court over the last 18 months; and if he will categorise the range of cases.

Since October, 1964 I have appeared in court on 21 days; on 13 of these days I was appearing in criminal cases and on eight days in civil cases. During the same period, my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General has appeared in court on 15 days; on two days he was appearing in a criminal case and on 13 days in civil cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children attending private schools have either part or all of their fees paid by local authorities.

In January 1965, local education authorities in England and Wales paid the whole of the fees for 93,855 children in direct grant and independent schools. The number of children for whom only part of the fees was paid is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the development of higher education within the further education system.

The Government will be presenting a White Paper to Parliament on this subject next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to issue advice to local education authorities about the extra building necessary for raising the school-leaving age.

I am proposing to issue a circular next week which will invite proposals from local education authorities for the 1968–69 school building programme and will explain the special procedure for projects relating to raising the school-leaving age.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £190 million earnings received in 1965 from United Kingdom investments in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were reinvested and not remitted to the United Kingdom.

Only a provisional estimate is possible at present, but the figure may be of the order of £70 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state in table form, comparable to that of the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, as at the most recent date for which figures are available, the short- and long-term assets and liabilities of Great Britain.

The latest figures available are those for the end of 1964, published in the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin in December 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, for the purposes of the Selective Employment Tax, he will treat freelance journalists and agencies supplying news to newspapers in the same way as the proprietors and printers of newspapers.

No, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the tax will not be charged in respect of self-employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that tax obstacles exist to British companies forming joint subsidiaries with European companies; and what steps he proposes to remove them.

My right hon. Friend will gladly consider any representations the right hon. Gentleman cares to make on this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the acquisition of property in lieu of Estate Duty on Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.

Nos. 5, 6 and 7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, have been offered in part satisfaction of Estate Duty on the death of the Fifth Marquess of Bute. This offer has been accepted, and the property will be put into the care of the National Trust for Scotland. The cost to the National Land Fund will be £70,000. These three houses are of outstanding architectural interest, and I am glad to announce that they have been acquired for the nation.No. 5 will remain in use as the headquarters offices of the National Trust for Scotland.The National Trust for Scotland are proposing to lease No. 6 to a new trust which is being set up to administer the house as an official residence for the Secretary of State for Scotland. Funds to equip and run the house are to be raised privately.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has for the purchase of more stereotactic apparatus used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and what steps he is taking to enable maximum use to be made of such machines, especially at Preston Royal Infirmary.

The decision to purchase and use stereotactic apparatus is for individual hospital authorities on the advice of their senior medical staff. At Preston Royal Infirmary the apparatus has only recently been installed and any judgment on its use would be premature.

asked the Minister of Health why, for the purpose of supply of an invalid car where two members of the household are disabled, a member of the family under the age of 16 years does not count.

A car is provided instead of two tricycles; a young person under the age of 16 years is not entitled to a tricycle because he is not allowed to hold a driving licence.

asked the Minister of Health if he will estimate the extra cost to the National Health Service of prescriptions, since the prescription charges were abolished, of the heavier incidence of sickness in 1965, the use of more powerful but more costly drugs, the increase in the population and in the proportion of the elderly, respectively.

It is impossible to quantify the effect of these various factors.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he expects to complete his examination of the question of whether British European Airways are complying with the regulation in giving away drink in take-away bottles; and if he will make a statement.

This question only arises in relation to domestic services and turns on the details of air service licence provisions. It is still under examination, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the Government's reasons for refusing to allow Short Brothers and Harland to enter into a contract for the sale of Skyvan aircraft to Indonesia for civil use.

During the period of confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia the Government have necessarily had to prohibit the supply of aircraft which could be of military value. This policy is constantly under review, and the present restriction on trade will be relaxed as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the extra winter unemployment within the Blackpool Employment Exchange area which will result from the proposed Selective Employment Tax; and how many unfilled vacancies exist in manufacturing industries in that area.

The tax is expected to give a positive encouragement to employment in manufacturing industries; it is not intended to increase unemployment. On 11th May, 1966, there were 177 unfilled vacancies in the manufacturing industries in the Blackpool Employment Exchange area.

asked the Minister of Labour what will be the cost of the proposed Selective Employment Tax to employers in horticulture and other service industries respectively, in the Blackpool Employment Exchange area.

Figures for employment exchange areas do not distinguish between the categories in paragraph 10 of Cmnd. 2986, and so no reliable estimate can be made for small areas.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women, boys, and girls, respectively, are employed within employment exchange areas in Kincardineshire and Angus in the following Order of Standard Industrial Classification, 1958, Order I, II III to XVI, XVII to XXIII and XXIV, respectively.

Following is the information:

ESTIMATES OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS IN KINCARD-INESHIRE AND ANGUS AT MID-1965
(Thousands)
Standard Industrial Classification (1958)	Males	Females	Total
Order I	6·8	1·0	7·8
Order II	0·1	—	0·1
Orders III to XVI	32·0	22·0	54·0
Orders XVII to XXIII	32·3	28·4	60·7
Order XXIV	3·5	1·1	4·6

The estimates are based on National Insurance cards exchanged in these areas supplemented by employers' returns and are subject to sampling errors. Except Order XXIV, they do not distinguish employees in the public and private sectors. Separate estimates for boys and girls are not available.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what programme of improvement, and at what cost, he plans for the Royal Air Force Servicemen's barrack accommodation at Muharraq, Bahrein, in the next 12 months.

Apart from works services necessitated by redeployment it is planned to extend and improve an Airmen's Mess and to improve existing officers' single accommodation and the Elworthy Social Club. It is also planned to construct some new single accommodation for officers, S.N.C.O.s and Airmen, a new S.N.C.O.s Mess and a second swimming pool. The estimated total cost of all these services is about £500,000.

asked the Minister of Technology how many copies of Planned Maintenance, by Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, have been published officially by his Department; what is the total cost of this publication; and to whom free distribution of this booklet has been and is being made.

Some 10,000 copies were printed. The total cost of preparation and printing was £927.In the month since publication over 3,700 copies have been issued to firms likely to be interested through the Ministry's regional offices, associated Industrial Liaison Centres, Government research establishments, Research Associations, Chambers of Commerce and schools of management. In addition 600 copies have been sent in response to direct requests and 100 were provided to specially interested enquirers at the Ministry's stand at the Gauge and Machine Tool Exhibition at Olympia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving, in connection with his proposals for reforming British company law, to the assimilation of such law to that of the European Economic Community and European Free Trade Association countries.

I recognise the importance in the long term of the harmonisation of company law in Western Europe; but, in preparing legislation for introduction in the early stages of this Parliament, it will be necessary to distinguish between long-term objectives of this kind and this country's more immediate requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek discussions with other European countries on the amendment of company law to facilitate international groupings.

While I am interested in developments in other countries affecting company law, I do not propose to seek discussions on this particular subject at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what invitation he has received to send a departmental representative to the expert discussions proposed by the European Economic Commission on European-incorporated companies.

None. The discussions will be between experts from the Member States and the Commission of the European Economic Community.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what studies he is making of the legal machinery necessary to ensure British participation in supranational companies being suggested by the Common Market Commission;(2) what steps he is taking to prepare for British inclusion in the consultations proposed by the European Economic Commission on facilitating the formation of European-incorporated companies.

Until the Member-States of the Community have studied the Commission's proposal to provide for European-incorporated companies, we do not know whether there will be discussions in which H.M. Government might take part, or what legal machinery, necessary to secure British participation in such companies, might need to be studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses in Wales in 1961 were classified as unfit for occupation; how many of these houses were demolished or reconditioned by 1964; and how many houses were classified as unfit for occupation in 1964 in Wales.

No survey was made in 1961 or 1964 of the number of unfit houses in Wales. The number of unfit houses was estimated in 1962 as about 30,000 and in 1965 as about 38,500. 11,230 unfit houses were closed or demolished from 1961 to 1964 inclusive.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what complaints have been received by his Department about the stopping of traffic on Welsh highways by military personnel during an escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May.

None.