asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what steps he will take to assist local authorities in the national parks area in the North Riding of Yorkshire to remove derelict railway bridge abutments; and if he will make a statement.

Local planning authorities have powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 to order the removal of redundant structures. In National Parks grant is payable towards the cost.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what action he is taking to ensure that National Park authorities are consulted on road developments affecting them.

The Ministry of Transport are prepared to discuss the construction or improvement of trunk roads with the appropriate Park planning authorities. Substantial new works on classified roads are already subject to planning permission. I am strongly in favour of maximum consultation about other road works, but I am not convinced that it should be made compulsory.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what fresh appointments have been authorised to the staff of the National Parks Commission to enable the policy on the countryside outlined in the White Paper to be carried out.

The complement of the Commission has been increased by 15 posts since November, 1965.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will introduce legislation to nationalise all water supply undertakings in order to prevent unreasonable increases in charges to consumers.

I cannot at present add to my Answer to the Question of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Brigg on 10th May. There is already a wide measure of statutory control over the finances of water undertakers.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will instruct the Forestry Commission to undertake an immediate review of the grants paid to private woodland owners, in view of paragraph 17 of the White Paper on the Selective Employment Tax.

No. It is open to the Forestry Committee of Great Britain to ask for a review at any time.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources by how much it will be necessary to increase grants on dedicated and approved woodlands to repay the cost of the Selective Employment Tax, which will add £1,200,000 to the costs of forestry, including the Forestry Commission.

It is estimated that the selective employment tax paid by private woodland owners in a full year would amount to about £470,000. Some account will be taken of the effect of the tax in the determination of the grants to owners of private woodlands. The Forestry Committee of Great Britain will be fully consulted before arrangements are settled.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what representations he has received from the Forestry Commission, as responsible for private forestry, on the effect on the industry of the Selective Employment Tax.

It would not be proper to disclose advice given to Ministers by the Forestry Commission.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, in view of the recent decision of the Minister of Housing and Local Government regarding the controlled quantities of water which Manchester may be allowed to take from Ullswater and Windermere, if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the results of the feasibility survey for the Morecambe Barrage Scheme are made available as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether any conclusions have been reached by those responsible for the feasibility survey of the Morecambe Bay Barrage Scheme which point to the scheme being found to be feasible; and on what approximate date water from the scheme may become available to the North-West for supply.

The report on the desk study of the project should be completed early in July and will be published as soon as possible thereafter. The report will indicate the quantity of water which a barrage would make available, the problems associated with making the water potable, and the probable cost, but it will not establish whether a barrage would be practicable. On the most optimistic assumptions, a barrage would not make water available for supply until the early 1980's.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what progress is being made with the feasibility studies for the Morecambe and Solway Barrage Schemes.

The Water Resources Board expect to receive the consulting engineers' reports on the desk studies for both these projects during the first week of July. These reports constitute the first stage of the feasibility studies.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will seek to amend the law so that when tree preservation orders are issued by local authorities they become effective without having to be confirmed by him.

The procedures for making tree preservation orders are at present being examined as part of a comprehensive review of the tree preservation legislation. The point raised by the hon. Member will be fully considered along with other proposals for amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will raise the upper limit of rateable value of £200 for houses outside the London area qualifying for leasehold enfranchisement under the proposals in the White Paper on Leasehold Reform.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will state his proposals in regard to the construction of a Wash Barrage.

The Water Resources Board have now sent to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and myself a report on water supplies in the South East of England, which discusses, among other things, a barrage in the Wash. The report, which I am now studying, is being printed and will be published in July.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if Fountains Abbey is still in the market; who is responsible for its maintenance; if he will give an assurance that the sylvan surrounds will not be used as a zoological garden; and if he will make a statement.

The West Riding County Council are now negotiating for the acquisition of Studley Royal Park, which includes Fountains Abbey. Meanwhile responsibility for maintenance rests with Broadland Properties Limited. If any question of development directly affecting the amenities of the Abbey were to arise,

OFFICIAL RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION OCCUPIED BY CABINET MINISTERS (excluding flat occupied by Lord Chancellor in Palace of Westminster)
Residence	Occupant	Capital expenditure in last 2 years (see note 1)	Estimated annual cost (see note 2)
		£	£
10 Downing Street	Prime Minister	300	2,100
11 Downing Street	Chancellor of the Exchequer	200	2,300
1 Carlton Gardens	Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	200	2,000
Flat at 2 Carlton Gardens	First Secretary of State and Secretary for Economic Affairs	4,000	1,500
Admiralty House:
Flat on 1st Floor and part of 3rd Floor	Secretary of State for Defence	23,000	1,700
Flat on 2nd Floor	Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations	13,000	1,300

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how often in the last two years the clock over the archway at St. James's Palace facing St. James's Street has been out of order; if, in view of the present Austrian State I would consult with the planning authorities.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what further plans he has for providing accommodation for Cabinet Ministers.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works which Ministers of the Crown have now been allotted official residences; at what cost to the taxpayer; to what extent this represents an increase; and what is the Government's policy for the future.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give in column form the official residences of all Cabinet Ministers, the capital cost in the last two years, the staff employed, the total annual cost including depreciation, and the rent paid.

I would refer hon. Members to the written reply I gave to Questions on 16th May.I have no further plans for providing accommodation for Cabinet Ministers.Visit to this country, he will ensure that clocks at Royal Palaces, at least those on view to the public, are functioning; and at what periods the chime in the clock at St. James's Palace is silenced.

Thrice. Yes. Midnight to 7 a.m.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works by how much the original estimate for the restoration and conversion of Admiralty House was exceeded; and how the additional expenditure was used.

The additional cost is about £55,000. This is mainly because the structure proved to be more extentively unsound than a preliminary investigation had suggested. This made it necessary to introduce a good deal of steelwork and as a result to do many additional repairs to the floors, ceilings, walls and roof.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the amount of additional office accommodation, in square feet, occupied or agreed to be taken by Government Departments within the city of Leeds since October, 1964: and if he will give the details for each Department concerned.

52,000 square feet net, after allowing for space being surrendered.New hirings have enabled those Departments associated with the Regional Economic Planning Board to be housed in one building and the following main requirements to be met:

New Offices	Sq. ft. (approx.)
Ministry of Housing and Local Government	10,000
Rent Assessment Panel	6,000
Department for Economic Affairs	2,750
Ministry of Technology	1,300
Inland Revenue Audit Office	1,000
Expansion and relief of over-crowding in existing offices
Ministry of Public Building and Works	8,500
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	4,000
Ministry of Transport	3,300
Board of Trade	1,000

The rest of the additional space is being used to meet a number of other miscellaneous requirements in the course of the re-allocations involved.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many contracts for building and civil engineering works which have an estimated completion date of May, 1968, or later in the United Kingdom, his Department entered into before 3rd May, 1966, with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

Two contracts, value £1,675,000.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many contracts for building and civil engineering works in the United Kingdom which have an estimated completion date of between May 1967 and May 1968 his department entered into before 3rd May 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

108 contracts, value approximately £32 million.

asked the Minister of Public Building and works what was the cost of all additions, modifications and alterations in the Palace of Westminster in the last 10 years; and what is the estimated cost of work now being done but not yet completed.

£1,144,000 and £320,000.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress he has made in organising, for Press representatives as well as for Members of Parliament, conducted tours over the entire building of the Palace of Westminster; and whether, in preparation for such tours, he will issue to each Member of Parliament a detailed plan of the building, indicating room sizes and the uses to which they are put.

I am bringing my hon. Friend's inquiry to the attention of the authorities concerned in each House. A complete set of plans of the Palace of Westminster is available for inspection in the Library.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what will be the estimated cost of collection of the proposed Selective Employment Tax in respect of boys and girls under school-leaving age who are employed in retail and/or newspaper distribution; and what is the estimated return from such tax.

The employers of boys and girls under school-leaving age are not liable to pay National Insurance contributions for them, so no liability for the Selective Employment Tax is incurred.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many single payments of National Assistance grants were made at the latest convenient date, and at what cost; how many grants were made to meet temporary needs, and at what cost; and how many grants were made for exceptional needs, and at what cost.

During the four weeks ended 26th April, 1966, a total of approximately 250,000 single payments of National Assistance were made costing some £1,047,000. They comprised 180,000 grants to meet immediate need at a cost of about £810,000; 29,000 grants for exceptional needs at a cost of £129,000; and 41,000 grants costing £108,00 to meet charges for spectacles, dentures and dental treatment provided under the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people were in receipt of discretionary additions to National Insurance allowances at the latest convenient date; what was the average amount of the addition; and what was the cost.

At the end of December 1965, 1,157,000 (58 per cent.) of the 1,997,000 people getting National Assistance allowances were in receipt of discretionary additions: the average amount was 10s. per week and the weekly cost approximately £580,000. The average weekly cost over the whole year was however less than 10s., as about 42 per cent. of these additions included provision for extra fuel allowable for the winter months only. The average provision for extra fuel in December 1965 was 5s. 10d. per week.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people were in receipt of National Assistance allowances at the latest convenient date; how many of these were in supplement of national insurance retirement pensions and other national insurance benefits; what other categories of people were receiving allowances; how many there were in each category; and what was the cost of these allowances.

On 29th March, 1966, there were 2,023,997 people in receipt of National Assistance allowances, 1,503,643 of which were supplementing national insurance benefits, including 1,212,381 retirement pensions. The remaining 520,354 people who had no entitlement to national insurance benefits were receiving National Assistance allowances because of age (176,800, including 49,402 in receipt of Noncontributory Old Age Pension), sickness or disability (138,714), unemployment (75,634), responsibility for dependent children (113,416), and other reasons—mainly the need to stay at home to care for aged or sick relatives (15,790). Some of the allowances provided for the needs of more than one person. The total weekly cost of the allowances was about £4,700,00.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in receipt of National Assistance allowances at the latest convenient date were receiving less than the full scale rates owing to capital and income resources.

Of the 1,997,000 people receiving National Assistance in December 1965, 1,530,000 had a National Insurance pension or benefit or noncontributory old-age pension which under the terms of the National Assistance Act was fully set off against their requirements. Many of the remaining 467,000 recipients also had resources wholly or partly taken into account; between them they had 256,000 separate sources of income, such as superannuation payments, family allowances and disability pensions, but as some of them had more than one such source the number of individual recipients with reckonable resources cannot be stated.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many retirement pensioners are currently working in service industries; (2) how many widows in receipt of a State pension are currently working in service industries.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many contracts for building and civil engineering works which have an estimated completion date of May 1968 or later in the United Kingdom her Department entered into before 3rd May 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts; (2) how many contracts for building and civil engineering works in the United Kingdom which have an estimated completion date of between May 1967 and May 1968 her Department entered into before 3rd May 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

None. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Public Building and Works is responsible for the provision of services of this nature required by my Department.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the annual cost of referring sickness benefit claimants for examination by doctors of the regional medical service of the Ministry of Health; and what is the amount by which sickness benefit payments are reduced as a result of these examinations.

During 1965, 581,000 sickness benefit claimants were referred, at an estimated cost to the three Depart- ments concerned of £1·1 million which is less than ·5 per cent. of the annual cost of sickness benefit. Of those referred about 300,000 returned to work after being informed that they had been referred or as the result of medical examination. As it is not known how far the intention to examine them or the fact that they were examined caused them to return to work earlier than they otherwise might have done it is not possible to estimate the benefit saving.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will continue to pay war pensions to widows of war disability pensioners for a period of 12 months after death, where there is doubt as to whether death was directly attributable to war service, so that each individual case may be considered on its merits before the pension is withdrawn.

There is already provision for the widow of a severely disabled war pensioner to receive a special temporary allowance which, broadly, continues the husband's pension for 13 weeks and this period will be extended to 26 weeks when the National Insurance widow's allowance period is similarly extended. Nearly all other claimants to war widow's pension have title to National Insurance widow's benefit which is paid while the claim to war widow's pension is being examined. I do not think that any further provision is necessary.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many additional civil servants were employed to administer the graduated pensions scheme.

The work arising in respect of graduated contributions and pensions currently represents the equivalent of about 4,125 staff; 2,675 in my Department and 1,450 in the Inland Revenue Department.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the total amount collected from National Insurance contributions in 1951, 1961, and 1965, respectively; and how much was paid in benefits in each case.

Contributions from insured persons and employers amounted to £376 million in 1951–52, £915 million in 1961–62 and, on a provisional estimate, £1,476 million in 1965–66; benefits amounted to £385 million, £1,086 million and an estimated £1,718 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what has been the result of her discussions with the Ministers of Health and Agriculture on the incidence of malnutrition among retirement pensioners.

I cannot usefully add to the reply on this subject given to my hon. Friend on 2nd May by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Health if nurses in London teaching hospitals are permitted to work a 10-hour shift.

Most nurses in hospitals work a 42-hour week, but how the hours are spread over the week or fortnight is a matter for local arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health what talks he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Science with regard to the provision of university courses in basic nursing and diploma courses in nursing administration; and if he will make a statement.

Officers of my Department regularly consult those of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science about proposed developments in nurse training. For the preparation of nursing staff to occupy senior posts the Salmon Committee have made comprehensive recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the delay in implementing the through bus service from Rhondda to East Glamorgan Hospital for staff at that hospital is causing concern amongst the present staff and is delaying the recruitment of staff which it is hoped the service will encourage; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

Pontypridd and Rhondda Hospital Management Committee propose to hire a bus to transport nurses travelling between the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Hospital. The grant of a road service licence is a matter for the Traffic Commissioners for the South Wales traffic area and the application is listed for hearing at a public sitting on 27th May.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, despite a recent adjustment, hospital social workers are in general paid less than people of identical qualifications employed by local authorities, and that this is causing a drift of workers from hospitals; and if he will improve the salaries of hospital social workers.

Pay of hospital social workers is a matter for the Whitley Council in the first instance. A recent settlement introduced for hospital staff engaged on comparable duties a salary and grading structure corresponding with that negotiated for local authority staff. Both services require more social workers and my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio has under review the co-ordination of the training, recruitment and deployment of social workers generally.

asked the Minister of Health why the three extra maternity beds promised for the Patrick Stead Hospital at Halesworth have been delayed.

Schemes of higher priority have had to take precedence.

asked the Minister of Health at what date the Northwick Park Hospital will be completed and brought into service.

At various dates as the different phases are completed up to 1972–73.

asked the Minister of Health when he will issue his review of the hospital rebuilding programme for England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now completed his review of the hospital building programme; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes: a Command Paper will be presented tomorrow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total labour force is employed in clerical and secretarial work in the York area; and what are the respective figures for the Tees-side area.

I have been asked to reply.Percentages of all economically active persons in 1961 (the latest date for which figures are available) who were in Order XXI "Clerical Workers" of the 1960 Classification of Occupations were as follows:

	Males	Females	Persons
York County Borough	8·3	24·9	14·2
Middlesbrough County Borough and Stockton-on-Tees Municipal Borough combined	5·4	21·3	9·8

asked the Minister of Health why Mr. A. J. Hillman, a severely disabled ex-Service man of Edgbaston, Birmingham, must himself pay the cost of converting a car, supplied by his Department, to hand controls.

Mr. Hillman is not eligible for the supply of a car by my Department.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that every effort is being made to increase the number of machines available for kidney use; and if he will make a statement.

Yes; I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Sir E. Errington) and my hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Ginsburg) on the 7th March, 1966. Since then several more units have been approved.

asked the Minister of Health how many contracts for building and civil engineering works which have an estimated completion date of May, 1968 or later in the United Kingdom his Department entered into before 3rd May, 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

None.

asked the Minister of Health how many contracts for building and civil engineering works in the United Kingdom which have an estimated completion date of between May, 1967 and May, 1968 his Department entered into before 3rd May, 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

None.

asked the Minister of Health what was, in respect of each of the last five years for which figures are available, the number of children and for at playgroups and other registered privately-provided child-minding establishments; what percentage rate of increase these figures represent; what further increase he expects in the present year; and to what extent such further increase is likely to be affected by the imposition of the Selective Employment Tax.

The number of places, and percentage increases in them, provided at premises registered under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act 1948 in England and Wales are as follows:

Year			Number of places	Percentage increase over previous year
1961	…	…	17,618	—
1962	…	…	22,591	28 per cent.
1963	…	…	31,045	37 per cent.
1964	…	…	38,144	23 per cent.
1965	…	…	55,543	46 per cent.

I regret that the remaining information asked for is not available centrally. It is not possible to forecast any effect that the Selective Employment Tax might have.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to bring chiropody into the National Health Service.

It is already provided as part of the National Health Service by local health authorities and hospitals.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average income from their duties as appointed factory doctors of doctors undertaking this work.

This information is not available. Appointed Factory Doctors are paid directly by employers for the bulk of their work under the Factories Act.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the refusal of 40 girls at a clothing factory in Nantyglo, Monmouthshire, to work properly has resulted in the factory being closed; and if he will give an assurance that unemployment pay will be refused to these girls on grounds of industrial misconduct; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the closure of a clothing factory at Nantyglo, Monmouthshire, is the result of bad labour relations resulting from the firm's refusal to recognise trade unions; if he will give an assurance that unemployment pay will not be refused to the 40 girls employed at the factory; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of this closure.Decisions on claims to unemployment benefit are entirely a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage the total man hours lost by strike action during the last 10 years were of the total man hours worked in the last 10 years in air transport, shipping, the docks, the railways, road haulage and road passenger transport, taken as a group.

Under one-fifth of 1 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour whether those employed at the administrative head office establishment of a company whose manufacturing activities are carried out in other establishments and locations will be eligible for the Selective Employment Tax premium.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will include sawmilling as a manufacturing industry in relation to the Selective Employment Tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 15 of the White Paper on the Selective Employment Tax (Cmnd. 2986). Sawmilling falls under Minimum List Heading No. 471.1 in Order XIV of the Standard Industrial Classification. This is a manufacturing heading.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many instances since 1950 an employer has been fined for failing to comply with the terms of the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, 1950 and the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act, 1951 with regard to men or women reservists released after military service; what proportion this is of the cases investigated; and what have been the maximum, minimum and average fines imposed.

I have no record that any employer has been fined for failure to comply with an Order made under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, 1950. It would be possible, however, for a reservist on whose behalf a reinstatement order had been made to take enforcement action on his own account without consulting my Ministry.The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act, 1951 imposes no penalties on employers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the breakdown into convenient age groups of unemployed persons at the present time.

As the reply consists of a table of figures I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.Following is the information:

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT 10TH JANUARY 1966 ANALYSED BY AGE GROUPS
Age Group		Males	Females	Total
Under 18	…	11,133	7,422	18,555
18 and under 20	…	14,395	8,225	22,620
20 and under 25	…	26,357	14,149	40,506
25 and under 30	…	23,552	7,364	30,916
30 and under 35	…	21,620	4,755	26,375
35 and under 40	…	22,011	4,685	26,696
40 and under 45	…	22,506	5,421	27,927
45 and under 50	…	18,672	5,864	24,536
50 and under 55	…	21,190	6,854	28,044
55 and under 60	…	24,675	7,757	32,432
60 and under 65	…	53,446	710	56,212
65 and over	…	2,056
		261,613	73,206	334,819

Detailed age analyses of persons registered as unemployed are available only for January and July each year.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the number of retirement pensioners who are seeking employment but have been unable to obtain it.

I regret that it is not possible to make such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the progress made with discussions on the application of the Redundancy Payments Act to the ship-repairing industry, he will now list the points on which agreement has been reached, and those still outstanding.

This matter is being pursued by the two sides of the industry in discussions at district level. The question whether special provision should be made for the industry under the Redundancy Payments Act cannot be decided until these discussions are completed.

asked the Minister of Health how many school-leavers with five or more O levels in the general certificate of education were obliged to leave the York area in order to find employment in the last 10 years.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many contracts for building and civil engineering works in the United Kingdom which have an estimated completion date of between May, 1967 and May, 1968 his Department entered into before 3rd May, 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts;(2) how many contracts for building and civil engineering works which have an estimated completion date of May, 1968 or later in the United Kingdom his Department entered into before the 3rd May, 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

None. The Ministry of Labour does not enter into contracts for building work; the provision of its accommodation is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of persons on the disablement register in Scotland and Fife, respectively; and how many in each case are currently employed.

Total numbers of registered disabled persons in Scotland and in Fifeshire at 19th April, 1965, the latest date for which information is available, were 64,154 and 3,852 respectively. The numbers of these in employment are not known. Those who were registered as unemployed at 14th March, 1966 numbered, Scotland 6,842, Fife 555.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the numbers of males and females over and under 18 years of age, respectively, registering for employment at employment exchanges in Lanarkshire, the percentage of the total insurable population these figures represent, the total insurable population, and the numbers registering for whom suitable vacancies do not exist.

Total numbers registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Lanarkshire on 18th April, 1966 were: men 3,315, boys 232, women 2,232, girls 89, total 5,868. This represented 3½ per cent. of all employees (employed and unemployed) which were estimated to be about 184,000 at mid-1965.Employment estimates are based on National Insurance cards exchanged in the County supplemented by employers' returns and are subject to sampling errors.The number of unfilled vacancies notified to employment exchanges and youth employment offices in Lanarkshire on 13th April was men 711, boys 133, women 466, girls 121, total 1,431. It is not possible to say how many of these were suitable for persons registered as unemployed, but it should be borne in mind that many vacancies are not notified to exchanges and therefore do not appear in the figures.

asked the Minister of Labour how many joiners are at present registered in Sunderland as unemployed; how many joiners have been trained in Government training centres in the last three years; how many are at present being trained; and what consultations he has had with the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers about the employment prospects of joiners trained in the centres.

On 14th March 1966, there were 53 joiners registered as unemployed in Sunderland. In the three years ending December 1965, 1,428 joiners were trained in Government training Centres in Great Britain. On 9th May 1966, 653 men were in training as joiners in Government Training Centres. There is close co-operation in all regions between the Ministry and the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers on the employment prospects of joiners being trained in the centres.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that output will not rise in the coming year by more than one per cent. to two per cent., why he gave statutory endorsement to the Road Haulage Wages Council's recommendation of a seven per cent. increase after the National Board for Prices and Incomes had recommended against this; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis) on 16th May, 1966.The Wages Regulation Order was made following assurances by the two sides of the industry at the meeting referred to.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will refer to the Royal Commission on the Trades Unions the restrictive practices of the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers, whose members are paid £12 6s. 10d. a night for a relatively short time for the unskilled work of loading newspaper vans, in order to end this monopolistic work by the admission of fresh workers; and if he will make a statement.

No. I understand that the Royal Commission has received evidence about alleged restrictive practices in printing.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether an increase in money wages in any public sector of the National Plan, greater than the change in the average price index needed to express actual money sums in the Plan's constant terms, means that real investment in the same public sector will fall below the amount expressed in the Plan.

No, it does not.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what decision was taken at the recent European Free Trade Association conference on the proposal that Austria should be a member of the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Community at one and the same time.

No decision was taken on this proposal. However, as I told the House on 16th May, I would regard this as a happier solution to the problem than some others.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he proposes to take to prevent persons or firms from imposing price increases unnecessarily, using the seamen's strike as a reason for doing so.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 19th May by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under- Secretary to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans for the future of the disused United States Air Force camp near Bovingdon airfield.

Some buildings and installations are to be retained. The rest of the property will be sold when the future uses allowed by the planning authority are known.

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 on 1st April and 1st May, 1966, and the number of new recruits, re-engagements and resignations during the months of March and April.

Yes.

TERRITORIAL ARMY
		Strength	Recruits	Re-engagements	Resignations
1.3.66	…	—	1,283	2,892	543
1.4.66	…	97,322	1,064	1,819	515
1.5.66	…	96,071	—	—	—

ARMY EMERGENCY RESERVE
		Strength	Recruits	Re-engagements	Resignations
1.3.66	…	—	74	246	4
1.4.66	…	12,295	82	124	4
1.5.66	…	12,149	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what factors he took into account in deciding when to announce the withdrawal from Aden.

The paramount consideration was that, having reached the decision to withdraw, it would have been dishonest and unfair to South Arabia to pretend that we had not. The Government felt itself under the strongest obligation to give the local people and their leaders the earliest possible notice of our intention to withdraw from the base and thus leave the maximum time in which they and we could tackle the heavy tasks of making South Arabia ready for independence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for improving training facilities in Bahrein.

None. There is no requirement for extra training facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what attendance centres were in operation in 1964, 1965 and at the latest convenient date; and to what extent they are fully staffed.

There were 57 attendance centres in operation on 31st December, 1964, and 59 on 31st December, 1965. The present number is 59. Apart from temporary vacancies all are fully staffed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the maximum penalties permitted have been imposed for offences committed by spectators at football matches open to the public.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what reports he has received from the police in Wales that civilians were prevented by the military from approaching the police with complaints about military conduct during the escape and evasion exercise which started in Wales on 4th May; and (2) what complaints have been made to police in Wales about the conduct of military personnel towards civilians in the course of an escape and evasion exercise which commenced in Wales on 4th May, 1966.

My right hon. Friend has received reports from the Chief Constable of Glamorgan of the two incidents on 8th and 9th May at farms mentioned by my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for the Army, in his Answer on 18th May to my hon. Friend. In one of these cases it was alleged that civilians were prevented from approaching the police immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decisions he has made regarding the Littlewood Committee's recommendations on the repeal of the existing provisions regarding experiments on cats and dogs and their replacement by more stringent rules.

The Committee's recommendation on this matter, as on many others, would require legislation. My right hon. Friend is studying the views of interested bodies on the recommendations, and will consult them further before framing proposals for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts for building and civil engineering works which have an estimated completion date of May, 1968 or later in the United Kingdom his Department entered into before 3rd May, 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts for building and civil engineering works in the United Kingdom which have an estimated completion date of between May, 1967 and May, 1968 his Department entered into before 3rd May 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.

One; £225,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the text of all scientific research papers of recent years, in the possession of his Department, dealing with finger printing.

A considerable variety of material is in the possession of my Department, but it is mostly of a confidential character, and my right hon. Friend therefore regrets that he cannot comply with the hon. Member's request.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost and the time and manpower required for each of the local mass finger-printing exercises carried out by the police in certain murder inquiries in each of the past five years; and what was the total of prints taken in each case.

The only exercise of this kind in the past five years of which I have information is that undertaken in the investigation of the recent murder al, Reading. Eighty-nine police officers were engaged full-time from the 18th to the 24th April inclusive and 10,413 people had their fingerprints taken. The cost has not yet been accurately determined, but is of the order of £2,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Return of Election Expenses incurred by candidates in the recent General Election will be made public.

Returning officers have been asked to furnish the necessary information, but preparation of the Return will take some time and I regret that at present I am unable to say when it will he published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many postal votes were cast in each constituency in the recent General Election.

I regret that this information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spoiled ballot papers there were in each constituency in the recent General Election.

I regret that this information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances policemen take over the control of traffic at Hyde Park Corner.

The Commissioner of Police informs me that police officers take over control of traffic at points of entry into and exit from the Hyde Park Corner roundabout when congestion begins to build up or when an accident or other emergency requires their intervention.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will permit the recovery in the next 12 months of Selective Employment Tax in respect of men employed on fixed price building and construction contracts signed before the Budget.

I am considering this and other related issues.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what practical difficulties there are to extending the concession on the Selective Employment Tax for agriculture to include forestry, in view of its direct contribution to the saving of foreign currency.

My right hon. Friend is still examining the practical and other considerations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to find out from registered charities or by other means the sums which they estimate will become due in a full year for payment under the Selective Employment Tax in respect of their employees.

The National Council for Social Services tell me that they have consulted some 300 charities, including the majority of the larger organisations, and it appears that the total effect on the finances of these charities might be of the order of £2 million per annum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total sums

PREMIUM SAVINGS BONDS FOR THE YEAR 1965
				Annual value of purchases	Cumulative value of purchases	Annual of prizes	Annual of prizes as a percentage of Cumulative purchases
				£	£	£	Per cent.
Northern Ireland	…	…	…	742,713	5,622,232	167,600	2·98
England and Wales	…	…	…	88,126,272	709,578,724	20,349,250	2·87
Scotland	…	…	…	4,422,447	37,148,166	1,056,600	2.84

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the total number of non-industrial civil servants in 1951, 1954, 1957, 1960, and 1963, respectively; and what is the estimate for 1966.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 16th May, 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to hasten the payments of export rebates to exporters of livestock in Northern Ireland; and whether he will make a statement.

Many claimants have been unable to show that the conditions prescribed by law are fulfilled. No progress can be made where supporting evidence is lacking.Where evidence has been produced, it is being examined by the Customs, who will advise the applicants whether it is satisfactory and explain any aspects in which it is inadequate. This is being done as rapidly as possible.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour what was the result of the recent campaign to recruit staff for the Civil Service in York in relation to the number of vacancies; whether similar campaigns have been conducted in Teesside, Cardiff, East Kilbride or Rugby; and with what results.

I have been asked to reply.There has been no such campaign. Departments wishing to fill clerical and similar vacancies have advertised their needs in the local Press in the ordinary way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a list of the categories of persons or employments, either self-employed, privately or public employed, other than Ministers of the Crown, who are allowed to claim their house, coal, fuel, light and furniture supplied as an emolument to their terms of employment, tax free; and on what authority these emoluments are allowed to be tax free.

Where an office holder or employee, public or private, is required to occupy a house or flat for the proper performance of his duties, such benefits are not taxable save to the extent that the provisions of Part VI(II), Income Tax Act, 1952 apply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing value of the £ sterling in 1957 compared with 1966.

On the basis of the change in the consumer price index, the purchasing value of the £ sterling taken as 20s. in April, 1966, was 25s. 7d. in 1957.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts for building and civil engineering works which have an estimated completion date of May 1968 or later in the United Kingdom his Department entered into before 3rd May 1966 with a standard form of contract without a variation clause; and what is the total value of the contracts.