asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Association of British Travel Agents and the Travel Tourist Association in regard to legislation affecting the travel trade arising from the recent liquidations of Spain Only Limited and Rentavilla.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will appoint an inspector to inquire into the liquidation of Spain Only Limited.

On present information there do not appear to be grounds for appointing an inspector under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of Spain Only Limited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will report on progress made with the negotiations for a global quota of cotton textile imports covering the next five years.

We have now discussed fully with those exporting countries that will be subject to restraint our intention to set a total limit to their exports to us from now until 1970. Some matters of method and procedure remain to be settled; but I hope to make a detailed announcement very shortly. Meanwhile provisional limitation is in force.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for attracting more light industry to Dorset.

The first priorities are to steer industry to development districts and provide for the needs of overspill areas, but subject to these I am prepared to consider on their merits applications for industrial development certificates for projects suited to the resources of places in Dorset.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what tonnage of Dutch carrots has been imported into Great Britain since 1st January, 1966; and what considerations led him to approve these imports.

Imports of carrots from Holland during the first three months of 1966 totalled 4,982 tons. Carrots from Holland are on the Open General Import Licence, and no specific approval of these imports was needed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to amend the regulations that exempt advertisements for electric razors from showing their country of origin.

As my hon. Friend has explained by letter to the hon. Member, there are no such regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his short-term proposals to develop employment in those development areas principally dependent on service industries, following the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax.

The legislation proposed in the Industrial Development Bill will reinforce the existing powers under the Local Employment Acts and enable me to encourage the growth of employment in the proposed new development areas. I see no need for further measures at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make special arrangements for incentive grants to be paid for hotel development in the North East.

Building grants will be available, under the Government's Industrial Development Bill, for hotel development throughout the Northern Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of carbon black imported into the United Kingdom for the calendar years ended 1963, 1964, and 1965.

£1·4, £1·8 and £1·7 million respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how soon he estimates industries which use carbon black imported into this country will find themselves independent of supplies from abroad as a result of the manufacture of this product from natural gas from North Sea sources.

It is early yet to say whether the cost of North Sea gas will justify its use in the manufacture of additional supplies of carbon black.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why an industrial development certificate was refused to a firm, the name of which has been sent to him, to build a factory at Ashford, Kent.

Because it was considered that the development could not be carried out consistently with the proper distrition of industry. Following an appeal from the firm the refusal is being reconsidered, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to facilitate the sale of nuclear power stations overseas.

Her Majesty's representatives overseas together with the Board of Trade and other Departments, keep the interests concerned in this country fully informed of all opportunities of which they can learn for the supply of nuclear power stations. They are anxious to give all the help they can to British firms who wish to follow them up, and E.G.G.D. are ready to assist with the necessary credit insurance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the written guidance he has given to potential investors in developed countries in the sterling area seeking an annual return of between 33⅓ per cent. and 50 per cent. on new risk capital invested; what evidence he has of such annual profits during the last 10 years; and if he will immediately draw the attention of British industry to investment opportunities of this character.

The criterion by which investments financed from this country in the developed countries in the Sterling Area should be judged under the Voluntary Programme is not the return on the investment but the benefit to the U.K. balance of payments. I have given no guidance to potential investors, nor is it our practice to draw industry's attention to investment opportunities overseas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that the Free Trade Agreement with Eire will not result in unfair competition from traders enjoying special tax concessions in Eire such as apply to the Shannon Trading Estate; what steps he is taking in this matter; and whether he will make a statement.

Because of the differing economic development in the two countries, we have agreed that the Government of the Republic of Ireland may apply in respect of exports to the United Kingdom the reliefs from Income Tax and Corporation Profits Tax in operation on 14th December, 1965, for the duration of the relevant legislation. But we are free to take action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act 1957, if necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many surveys have been undertaken, and in which countries, since the announcement in January 1965 of facilities for collective market research through the British National Export Council.

Fifty-two, covering fifty-one countries. Several surveys have covered more than one country. Following is the list of countries:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to improve the representation of British industry at the Brussels Trade Fair.

The products of no less than 131 British firms were exhibited at the recent Brussels International Fair. I regard this as a creditable participation in view of the efforts being made by British industry at other major overseas exhibitions. The Board of Trade is very ready to consider proposals for collective displays under the Joint Venture Scheme by which the Board assists groups of firms sponsored by a trade organisation or other appropriate body.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans for introducing more advance factories and encouraging the expansion of existing industries and attracting new industries to Aberdeen and its surrounding areas.

Negotiations are in progress for the purchase of a site in Aberdeen for the advance factory announced last September. We shall continue to bring to the attention of industrial firms the advantages of the Aberdeen area and to offer financial assistance for suitable projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has decided the levels of the quotas of British films to be shown by exhibitors during the year beginning 1st January, 1967.

I have decided to accept the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council to leave the prescribed quotas at 30 per cent. for first feature films and 25 per cent. for supporting programmes for the exhibitors' quota year beginning on 1st January, 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decrease there has been in the British coastal fleet in the last 10 years; and if he will make an estimate of the percentage of this which is due to capture of this trade by Great Britain's Continental competitors.

The only statistics available relate to the average tonnage of the British dry cargo fleet employed in the United Kingdom coastal trade, which has decreased by about 200,000 deadweight over the last 10 years. The proportion of the decrease due to the capture of this trade by Continental competitors was negligible as the total average tonnage of foreign vessels employed in the United Kingdom dry cargo coastal trade was less than 10,000 deadweight in both 1955 and 1965.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in his discussions with the industry on the implementation of the Geddes Committee's Report on Shipbuilding; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 28th April and to my right hon. Friend's statement in the Budget debate on 9th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new ships have been ordered from British shipbuilding yards in the first three months of 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.

The numbers of new merchant ships ordered from United Kingdom commercial shipbuilding yards in the first three months of 1964, 1965 and 1966 were 57. 62 and 43 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek powers to enable him to arrange for exhibitions of British goods and tourist facilities in Great Britain to be staged in British ships on world cruises, in view of the fact that such ships visit ports in many countries.

I think that the initiative in this should come from British exporters and from the British Travel Association. If they come forward with proposals I shall be glad to consider what help my Department can give.If my right hon. Friend has in mind fitting out a complete exhibition ship rather than small exhibitions in ordinary passenger liners, I share the doubts, which most of those concerned have so far shown, whether this type of exhibition, because of its high cost and other disadvantages, is to be preferred to the conventional trade fair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the diversion of imports and exports from British ships to foreign ships because of the threatened seamen's strike; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the country in foreign exchange.

I do not know the extent of the diversion to which the hon. Member refers and I can make no estimate of cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken by his department to ensure that an adequate case is presented to the University Grants Committee in support of a second medical college for Wales.

None. It is for the institutions concerned to make their own case for the Medical School direct to the Universities Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how far local authorities now classified as development districts will qualify for Exchequer grants if derelict land in their areas is selected for reclamation.

I am empowered to make grants of up to 85 per cent. of the eligible cost incurred by local authorities in reclaiming derelict land in areas classified as development districts under the Local Employment Act 1960.Before a grant can be paid, however, the Board of Trade must be satisfied that the land concerned is derelict, neglected or unsightly, that it is likely to remain so for a considerable period and that the completed scheme will help towards the provision of long-term employment in the development districts by enabling the land to be brought into use or improving the amenities of the neighbourhood.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has made to the London Boroughs of Brent and Ealing about formulating plans for a comprehensive system of education in the schools of their respective boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

General guidance was given to all local education authorities in the Circular my right hon. Friend issued last July and he has informed both Brent and Ealing that he welcomes their decision to end selection for secondary education. He has agreed with the Ealing authority's proposal to introduce its scheme in Acton from next September. He has told the Brent authority that its scheme is broadly acceptable in principle and will be approved subject to the receipt of satisfactory assurances on certain features of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that one of the reasons for children being unable to gain admission to school in accordance with the Education Act in Newham is the shortage of teachers; and that such shortage is due in part to lack of available housing accommodation; and whether he will investigate the possibility of taking over Eastgate House, High Street, Stratford, E.15, a new building which has been empty for almost 12 months, as a residence for teachers.

I am aware of the serious shortage of qualified infant teachers in Newham, and I think it would help the authority to attract and retain teachers if they could offer them suitable living accommodation within the borough. I have been glad to learn that the borough council intends shortly to review its general policy regarding the provision of housing for its staff, including teachers, and I am sure they will bear this point in mind. I am advised by the authority that Eastgate House was built for commercial occupation and could not economically be converted into a residence for teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many universities provide courses in basic nursing and diploma courses in nursing administration, respectively.

Four universities provide courses that, combined with suitable nursing training, lead to a general nursing qualification as well as a degree or diploma. There is a diploma course in nursing administration at one university and I understand that another is planned to start next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates he has made of the numbers of students likely to enrol in the courses to be offered in the proposed Open University; and on what proportion of those completing such courses his plans are based.

No precise estimates of enrolments can be given at this time. Only a small proportion of those viewing are likely to accept the full disciplines of study, but the purpose of an Open University is to help raise standards of literacy as well as to provide opportunities for gaining qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the London boroughs have submitted schemes to end selection at 11-plus for schools.

Two, Brent and Ealing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, as an emergency measure, he will suspend temporarily the building of the Humberston County Junior School, near Grimsby, until the representations of families nearby and closely affected, which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth, have been adequately considered; and if he will make a statement.

The school is urgently needed and I would not feel justified in asking the Lindsey Local Education Authority to suspend work on the site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the general bar on children between 16 and 18 years joining their parents in Great Britain as laid down in the 1965 White Paper on Commonwealth immigration.

There is no general bar. It was necessary to modify the previous concession for the reasons given paragraph 20 of the White Paper, which are still valid; but a son or daughter aged 16 and under 18 is normally admitted to the United Kingdom if coming with or to join both parents or an only surviving parent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish the instructions issued to immigration officers under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act during, the course of the last Parliament.

Before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the progress of his consideration of the Report by Mr. Justice Widgery's Committee on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings;(2) when he will introduce legislation dealing with legal aid in criminal proceedings; and whether, in particular, the question of money contributions by those granted such legal aid and who can afford some subvention to the public purse will be dealt with.

I am grateful to Mr. Justice Widgery and the members of his Committee for their valuable Report. The Committee's recommendations are being carefully considered and I hope to make a statement before long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that although the facts have been reported to the appropriate authority, a heavy lorry, registration number 726 CPP, has been in daily use since October 1965 with no road fund licence, with a notice, No Road Tax as no Log Book available, posted on the windscreen; and if he will instruct the Metropolitan Police to take action in connection with this matter.

The Commissioner of Police is making inquiries into this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken by the police on the report made to Sergeant 20N at 3.55 p.m. on Monday 9th May regarding the nine unlicensed vehicles parked in a distance of 100 yards between Caledonian Road Police Station and the junction of Mackenzie Road, N.7, and Market Road, North, on that date at 3.50 p.m.; how many unlicensed vehicles were parked in the length of Caledonian Road; and what reply was made by Sergeant 20N to the complainant.

The Commissioner of police informs me that when this report was made the Station Officer on duty said that no-one was immediately available to deal with the matter but that an officer would be sent as soon as possible.At 4 p.m. that day an officer was sent to the scene and found seven vehicles not displaying licences. A notice was left on each vehicle and reports made to the appropriate taxation authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of recent experience, he will consider amendment of the law in regard to questioning of individuals by the police.

Before making any general statement I should prefer to await the completion of the review of the law of evidence being carried out by the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances will report back to him on the model code of practice relating to automatic cut-off petrol nozzles.

The use of these devices is only one of many matters covered in the new draft code, and at this stage I cannot say how soon the Committee will be able to make recommendations about them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation making it compulsory for drivers of minicabs in the Metropolitan area to undergo a medical examination similar to that required by the Commissioner of Police in respect of hackney carriages;(2) if he will introduce legislation to compel the owners of minicabs operating in the Metropolitan area to apply the same standards of road worthiness to their vehicles as those required by the Commissioner of Police in respect of hackney carriages.

No. The reason for the special conditions imposed on London taxi-cabs is that they ply for hire, which private hire vehicles may not do.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now seek to abolish the use of the prisoners' dock in criminal courts.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave on 13th May to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. William Wilson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the various uses which he is considering for the former Pinewood Hospital buildings near Wokingham.

I regret that at present I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member's Question on 10th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to open discussions for an improvement to police pay and conditions.

Discussions on police pay and conditions of service are the responsibility of the Police Council for Great Britain. In accordance with an agreement made by the two sides of the Council, police pay is due to be reviewed later this year. Preliminary discussions will begin shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving the use of firearms were known to the police in 1964, 1965, and the first three months of 1966, respectively.

The information required for 1964 and 1965 is given in the annexed table. The corresponding figures for the first quarter of this year are not yet available. I am arranging for annual figures to be included in the Criminal Statistics for 1966 and succeeding years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of murders known to the police for each of the years 1960 to 1965 and for 1966 to the latest available date.

The number of offences of murder known to the police, excluding offences subsequently found not to be murder, was 135 in 1960, 132 in 1961, 143 in 1962, 133 in 1963, 155 in 1964 and 154 in 1965; the figure for 1965 includes 2 offences not yet disposed of by the courts.These figures are calculated for complete years only, and the figure for 1966 should be available about this time next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislative proposals he has for compulsorily taking the fingerprints of all persons in Great Britain.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) on 16th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that during March 3,525 Commonwealth immigrants were admitted from India, 827 from Jamaica, and 1,787 from Pakistan, if he is satisfied that the restrictions imposed by the Commonwealth Immigration Act are not being evaded; whether those numbers include wives and children of immigrants already here; and if he will make a statement.

The hon. Member has selected the total numbers of Commonwealth citizens subject to the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 admitted during March from the countries named. This is misleading for the majority were either admitted temporarily, for example as visitors or students, or were returning from temporary absence abroad. Most of the remainder were dependants of Commonwealth citizens being admitted or already resident here. We are doing what we can to prevent evasion of the control and I see no reason for anxiety on that score.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Free Church Federal Council has proposed that the minimum age for marriage and for sexual consent should be raised from 16 to 18 years of age; what communication he has received from the Council; what action he proposes to take in implementing this proposal; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that proposals to this effect have been submitted by the Free Church Federal Council to the Latey Committee on the age of majority. My right hon. Friend has received no communication from the Council himself, and it would not be right for him to comment before the Committee reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, together with a letter from a special constable, whose name has been sent to him, drawing his attention to certain evasions of the law within the Metropolis; and what action he proposes to take in connection with this matter.

My right hon. Friend received my hon. Friend's letter on 13th May and is considering the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose a police chief inspector, a sergeant and twelve constables, two motor-cycle patrolmen and a loudspeaker van were sent to Carnaby Street, London, W.1, at or around 1 p.m. on Thursday, 12th May, and, in view of the shortage of police-manpower, if he will instruct the Commissioner that police officers should be deployed on freeing the traffic congestion; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commissioner of Police tells me that police action was necessary to deal with obstruction of the highway caused by large numbers of people looking into a shop window. It is for the Commissioner to decide how to deploy his force to deal with the enforcement of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that he will not provide Parliamentary time or facilitate the passage into law of the Bill to legalise homosexuality; in view of the fact that this is an offence to the conscience of a large number of British people, if he will give the reasons for Her Majesty's Government's declaration of neutrality on this social question; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have made it clear that they regard legislation on this matter as eminently a subject for a Private Member and a free vote of the House. I have nothing further to add to my speech on this subject on 11th February.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will take steps, in the national interest, to prevent profiteering as a result of the seamen's strike.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has left no doubt about the Government's attitude to unjustified price increases and my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is currently having discussions with leaders of all sectors of the food industry. Meanwhile, the public can play their part by refusing to deal with traders who seek to exploit the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the consultations now going on with other countries on fisheries conservation to agree net sizes and to ensure that such agreements are enforced.

The North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, meeting in Edinburgh last week, recommended an increase from 1st June, 1967 in the minimum mesh sizes of trawl nets in the north-western part of its area to bring them into line with those which come into force in the north-eastern part of its area on 1st January next.The Commission also decided to hold a special meeting in London in November to consider further the question of international inspection of fishing vessels on the high seas.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what sum Her Majesty's Government propose to contribute to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation campaign against illiteracy.

Her Majesty's Government are already contributing through the budgets of the Regular Programme of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and of the United Nations Development Programme towards the cost of the World Experimental Literacy Programme of U.N.E.S.C.O. The proportions of these contributions which may be approximately calculated as devoted to literacy are £85,000 for the biennium 1965 and 1966, and, if U.N.E.S.C.O.'s draft estimates are approved, £155,000 for the biennium 1967 and 1968.The resources required for the World Experimental Literacy Programme, which is being conducted on selected and intensive lines in a limited number of countries with literacy problems, are of course as much those of manpower as of money and we are helping to recruit the skilled people for literacy work who are in short supply everywhere, and to train others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received from farmers regarding the impost of the Selective Employment Tax on the agricultural industry.

58, including a small number from county branches of the National Farmers' Union. We have also received 37 representations from horticultural growers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will suspend the import of tyres from Japan until he is satisfied that no anti-oxidants suspected of having carcinogenic properties were used in their manufacture.

I have no powers to suspend imports.

asked the Minister of Labour what plans are being made by the local employment exchange in Croydon to deal with the proposed closing of Southern Foundries Limited.

When the dates and phasing of discharges are known staff from the Exchange will visit the firm to advise the workers concerned and help them to find other jobs.

asked the Minister of Labour how a manufacturing industry will be defined for the purposes of the Selective Employment Tax.

The legislation required is at present being prepared and I cannot at this stage anticipate its wording. In general, however, the intention will be to give effect to paragraph 15 of the White Paper on the Selective Employment Tax (Cmnd. 2986).

asked the Prime Minister what efforts are being made to get the European Economic Community Governments to meet the Governments of the European Free Trade Association; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the communiqué issued after the recent European Free Trade Association Ministerial Meeting in Bergen, a copy of which was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 16th May.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that in negotiations to determine the conditions for entry into the European Economic Community, Her Majesty's Government will give no support to the French policy regarding the supranational institutions of the Community.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech I made during the debate on the Address on 21st April.

asked the Prime Minister what is the date of the proposed National Productivity Conference; and what will be the basis of representation.

I have as yet nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 26th April to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Maxwell).

asked the Prime Minister what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding their proposal for an Atlantic Nuclear Force.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 10th May to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will cause to be published a Command Paper setting out the changes required in the statute law on Britain adhering to the Treaty of Rome in its existing form, and the means by which such changes would be brought about.

I see no need for such a Command Paper at present, but I will certainly bear the right hon. and learned Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government propose to make to the European Economic Community specifying revisions or modifications of the Treaty of Rome which in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government would facilitate British entry into the Community.

I do not think it would be profitable for us at this stage to make representations on the lines suggested.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will relax sanctions against Rhodesia as progress is being made towards a solution of the problem.

We do not in present circumstances envisage any change in the economic measures affecting Rhodesia.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on 11th May to the Press Gallery about a change of balance from direct to indirect taxation.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister what information he has on radioactive fall-out arising from Chinese atom bomb testing.

It is too soon to make an adequate assessment of radioactive fall-out caused by the latest Chinese nuclear test but we do not expect the amount of radiation outside China to be significant in terms of human health.

asked the Attorney-General if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to shorten, simplify and make less expensive the course of justice in proceedings on tax cases; and if he will make a statement.

The great majority of tax cases are disposed of by the General or Special Commissioners at small cost to the taxpayer. So far as appeals from the Commissioners are concerned, the Evershed Committee on Supreme Court Practice and Procedure thought that the existing arrangements were, in general, satisfactory and my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor sees no reason to differ from this conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the discussions with French officials on 21st and 22nd March concerning the Government of the Condominium of the New Hebrides.

At the talks on the New Hebrides in Paris last July between my right hon. Friend who is now the Minister of Overseas Development and Monsieur Louis Jacquinot, the then French Minister responsible for New Hebrides affairs, it was agreed that regular metropolitan meetings should be held. The meeting of 21st and 22nd March, which was at official level, was held in accordance with this arrangement. The meeting continued the examination of measures for the reform of the internal administration of the New Hebrides. I hope that it will be possible to hold further discussions on these matters with our French partners later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what part of the saving of £80 million on the defence budget for 1969–70, arising from the decision not to build the new aircraft carrier, is attributed to the consequent reduction in the purchase of Phantom aircraft.

About £15 million is attributable to the reduced scale of purchase of R.N. Phantom aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the composition of the units comprising the Home Defence Force which will be raised in Northern Ireland from existing Territorial Army units in the province.

There will be 4 units, three of which will have 2 companies and the other 3 companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army or auxiliary drill halls are to be closed down in Northern Ireland; and where these are.

Twelve will not be required for the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. They are at Ballymoney, Banbridge, Bangor, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Killyleagh, Kinnegar, Larne, Limavady, Magherafelt, Newry, and Whitehouse.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds, male and female, are available for the young chronic sick in each of the four units providing these beds in the area served by the South-Western Hospital Board; and where in the area are the 13 similar beds provided by contractual arrangements, classifying these into male and female beds.

Following is the information:

• Keynsham, 21 female.
• St. Andrew's, Chippenham, 10 male.
• Newcourt, Exeter, 12 male and 18 female.
• Cashes Green, Stroud, 10 female.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the casualty department at Stroud Hospital has been closed and that this imposes hardship and danger on local residents and factory workers; what steps he is taking to recruit staff for this purpose; and whether he will make a statement.

The casualty department at Stroud Hospital has not been closed, though serious cases are now sent to the new accident unit at Gloucester. The vacancy for a resident medical officer has been advertised for some months without success. Local general practitioners have been offered additional paid sessions.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are waiting for telephone installation in Wellingborough; and when he expects all outstanding applications to be met.

Leaving aside orders being completed or under inquiry, 98 applicants were waiting at 31st March, 1966 in four of the telephone exchange areas mainly serving the constituency of Wellingborough. There were no applications outstanding in the remainder. 90 of those waiting will be connected during this summer and the remainder during next spring.Over 900 new connections were provided during the year ended 31st March.

asked the Postmaster-General why his Department did not agree to the request of the Isle of Man Government that a stamp should be issued, or an existing Isle of Man stamp overprinted, to mark the centenary of the democratically elected House of Keys.

The subjects for commemorative stamps in 1966 were chosen last year and the suggestion for a stamp to mark this centenary came too late for consideration. Overprinted stamps are not really suitable for commemorative purposes.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the increased demand for large diameter steel pipes following recent discoveries of natural gas in the North Sea; whether he is satisfied that British steel manufacturers can produce the output required; and if he will make a statement.

Estimates of future demand and supply for large diameter steel pipes are one of the matters which I shall be keeping closely under review in consultation with the gas industry, the licensees concerned and the Iron and Steel Board. It is as yet too early to assess the effect of this increased future demand on the home supply position.

asked the Minister of Power what price will be paid by the Gas Council for North Sea gas in future contracts.

This will be a matter for negotiation between the Gas Council and the licensees concerned. In the event of disagreement, however, I may be called upon to exercise my functions under Section 9 of the Continental Shelf Act, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present state of negotiations and development regarding the projected Greystones Road and Tees-side Parkway.

An application for grant for the proposed Greystones Road has just been received from the North Riding County Council, the highway authority. It is hoped that work will start later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the future plans for the east coast motorway between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

There are no plans for such a motorway.By-passes at Wideopen, Seaton Burn, Morpeth and Alnwick, as well as a number of smaller schemes on Al north of Newcastle, are included in the current five-year programme. The need for further improvement of the route between Newcastle and Berwick is being examined as part of my right hon. Friend's present studies of inter-urban trunk routes for the period after 1970. Similar consideration to the route between Berwick and Edinburgh is being given by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the future plans for the western by-pass of the Al at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

A route is planned from the A1 at the southern boundary of Gateshead to the new Scotswood Bridge. It is not yet certain whether a continuation of this route to rejoin the Al north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne will be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will cause to have removed the road markings on A41 put down to guide traffic on to the temporary flyover built for the construction of the M1 southern extension; and whether she will inform highway authorities, and agent contractors generally, that all road markings and temporary signs are to be completely obliterated or removed at the same time as, and whenever different directions or markings are provided, in order to prevent confusion and consequent danger to road users.

These road markings had been covered. They became exposed and have now been removed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of subsidising local authorities' access to die Public Works Loans Board at the rate of 5⅞ per cent.

It is estimated that on the total of loans made in 1965–66 some £5 million less will be received in interest payments each year than would have been received if the Exchequer credit rate had been charged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with reference to the Selective Employment Tax, he will give the estimated total of premiums as a proportion of the estimated total of payments, in each of the following areas for one financial year, that is to say, the Aberdeen area, as defined in The Scottish Economy 1965–70, Command Paper No. 2864, the Highland area, as defined in the same White Paper, Scotland, England, and Wales.

Excluding the public sector, premiums, as defined in paragraph 11 of Cmnd. 2986, as a proportion of total tax payments are estimated at about 68 per cent. in England, 63 per cent. in Wales, 60 per cent. in Scotland and 18 per cent. in the Highlands. An estimate for Aberdeen is not available, since figures for Employment Exchange areas do not distinguish between the categories in paragraph 10 of Cmnd. 2986.The figure of total tax payments does of course include payments subsequently refunded as well as those forming part of premia.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost of exempting all part-time workers, for this purpose taking not more than 20 hours as part-time, from the Selective Employment Tax.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 17th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made to govern the issue of a free allowance of stationery to Members of the new House of Commons.

The annual rate for a normal year ending in October will remain unchanged at £20. But all Members will be entitled to an allocation of £10 free stationery for the period April to October of this year. For re-elected Members this will be additional to any allocation made in the last Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost of allowing as a reduction for Corporation Tax in close companies £5,000 per annum to each full-time working director up to a maximum of four.

In the region of £5 million in a full year.