asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he will take to avoid the discrimination against the use of the Welsh language referred to by the Hughes-Parry Committee, pending legislation to implement the Committee's Report.

I am consulting my colleagues about the steps that might be taken, in advance of legislation, to implement those of the accepted recommendations that do not require legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being done on the effects of diesel fumes on the health of drivers of railway engines, motor vehicles and others especially exposed to such fumes; and if he will issue a report on the results of such research.

A number of studies have been carried out on the possible hazards to health of diesel fumes in confined situations. None has so far indicated any adverse effect. Reports of these studies are published in the medical and scientific journals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study has been made of the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on independent and direct-grant schools.

No special stuffy has been made. The Government's promise to consider how charities might be recompensed of course extends to educational charities which include all direct-grant and most public schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on direct-grant schools.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date, for what purpose and to whom, he or his Department disclosed that he was to appoint a committee of investigation into football and that the chairman would be the hon. Member for Northwich and that the hon. Member for Birmingham, All Saints, would be a member of the committee; and why this information was not first given to the House of Commons.

I announced to the House on 9th February last year that the Government were offering to the football authorities a comprehensive inquiry into the state of football. There have been conversations and I have made preliminary inquiries, and I can only assume that the Press comments to which my hon. Friend refers arise from these.However, I am not yet in a position to announce the terms of reference or the membership of the Committee but I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the Brynmor Jones Report on Audio-Visual Aids in Higher and Scientific Education.

I have nothing to add at present to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) on 3rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further consultations will take place before he reaches a decision on the City of Manchester's proposals for reorganising secondary education; what consultations have already taken place; and when he will announce his decision.

My right hon. Friend is to meet representatives of the Manchester City Council on 15th June. I have recently met representatives of Manchester parents and head teachers and national and local representatives of the teachers' organisations. My right hon. Friend expects to be able to announce a decision by the end of June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will encourage deferment of plans for the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines until such time as the Royal Commission on Local Government in England makes its recommendations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many educationally subnormal children there are in the London borough of Redbridge; and if he will state his intentions regarding the proposed school for them at Little Heath.

There are in Redbridge approximately 150 educationally subnormal children needing education in a special school for children who are so handicapped.The proposal to build the Little Heath School together with all other proposals for special schools for the building programme 1967–70, is currently under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what action he is taking to encourage a more varied experience for teachers in training; (2) what he is doing to encourage teacher-training colleges to ensure that as many teachers in training as possible gain experience of a comprehensive school.

The colleges of education are already concerned to give their students by observation and school practice as wide an experience as their location and other circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to encourage the provision of apples in school meals.

The quantity of fresh fruit in school dinners has been substantially increased this term with the introduction of new nutritional standards. The choice of fruit provided rests with the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the activities of some street photographers are causing unnecessary nuisance in major cities, he will seek powers to control such activities by licence.

Power exists under Section 249 of the Local Government Act, 1933, for County and Borough Councils to make byelaws for good rule and government and for the prevention and suppression of nuisances. So far 38 local authorities have used this power to make a byelaw prohibiting importuning of the public by street photographers in specified streets or public places. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that additional powers are required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will open discussions with the Government of the Irish Republic for the regulation of the entry into the United Kingdom of the growing motor caravan traffic of migrant Irish workers and their families, in view of the police, sanitary and social problems created for the local authorities and permanent inhabitants of cities such as Bristol when these families encamp on temporarily vacant sites created by housing demolition in preparation for reconstruction and development.

No. An immigration control over travellers arriving from the Irish Republic would cause great practical difficulties and inconvenience and my right hon. Friend is not convinced of the need for it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the present establishment of the Metropolitan Police force is full; and how many vacancies there are in the recruitment target for police cadets.

The strength of the Metropolitan Police Force is about a quarter below the establishment of 25,000.The establishment of police cadets is 1,300 and the current strength approximately 740, but the full strength cannot be reached until additional accommodation becomes available in 1967. In the meantime, the intake cannot be more than about 150 in each term, or an annual total of about 450. During 1965, 416 cadets were recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to revise the existing arrangements for compensation for the dependents of prison and police officers killed in the course of their duty and for officers disabled as a result of assaults.

The proposals which the Prison Officers' Association have made for revising the existing arrangements for prison officers and their dependants are still under discussion with them.There are no proposals before the Police Council, which is the consultative body on these matters, for revising the arrangements in the police service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in supplying personal radio sets for policemen on patrol.

Over 800 pocket wireless sets purchased last year are now in operation in 71 forces; another 200 sets are available for use as soon as local construction and installation is complete. I have decided to increase the purchase of sets in the current year to 3,000 and I shall shortly be ordering a further 5,000 sets for delivery in 1967–68. In addition, some 750 pocket sets have been separately provided for four forces and more are on order; substantial numbers of pack sets are also being used by policemen on patrol.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek discussions with the Northern Ireland Government with a view to legislation to secure the transfer to him of responsibility for the administration in Northern Ireland of elections to the United Kingdom Parliament.

The Northern Ireland Government have no functions in relation to elections to the United Kingdom Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women joined the Prison Service and how many prison officers left the Service, respectively, during the year ended 31st December, 1965; and how many cases of assault took place in Her Majesty's Prisons during the same period.

438 established men and 40 established women officers were appointed to the prison service, and 295 men and 35 women officers retired or resigned. 43 offence of gross personal violence to officers in prisons were dealt with under the Prison Rules; the total number of assaults of all kinds so dealt with in prisons was 750.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that animal farms are opening in this country with the intention of breeding laboratory animals for sale to research organisations outside the United Kingdom; and if he will take steps to make the export of these animals illegal.

Specialist breeding of animals for research is well-established in the United Kingdom and was recommended by the Littlewood Committee. My right hon. Friend intends to consult interested bodies about the possibility of introducing safeguards for animals exported for research purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the provision of a further detention center in the North West.

Sites are being sought in the North-West for an additional centre for senior boys and for a centre for junior boys.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people who left the Probation Service in each of the years 1963, 1964 and 1965.

77, 133 and 176 respectively. The figures for 1964 include two officers, and those for 1965 nine officers, who were seconded to prison welfare work which, since 1st January, 1966, has become a responsibility of the probation service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the people who left the Probation Service in the year 1965 entered the children's services.

33 established officers (24 men and 9 women).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the result of his experiment con-

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the shops Act 1950 so as to permit the sale on a Sunday of fishing tackle and equipment.

While I have sympathy with the object of my hon. Friend's Question, there is no prospect in the current session of legislation to amend the Shops Act 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what State for the Home Department if he will plans he has for the provision of a further give the figures for recruitment into the Probation Service for each quarter of the years 1964 and 1965, and to 31st March, 1966.

The figures for established officers are as follows:cerning immigration checks at London Airport; what will be the regulations at Whitsun; and if he will make inquiries into the methods adopted at other European or Japanese airports carrying similar numbers of passengers.

As I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 28th April, the results of the experiment at London Airport are being evaluated in detail and I hope to have a full report shortly. The normal system of segregating arriving passengers will apply at Whitsun. I am informed that segregation is not generally practised at European or Japanese airports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners there are now in confinement who were originally sentenced, or had their sentence commuted, to life imprisonment and who have now served in excess of 10 years or 15 years.

Seven such prisoners have served In excess of 10 years and four of these in excess of 15 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners, specifying male and female, now in confinement who were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder; and how many are now serving sentences in open prisons or centres.

340 male and 10 female prisoners; of these 24 male and one female are in open conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he is proposing to amalgamate either the probation services or the criminal prosecution departments of those eight West Riding of Yorkshire local authorities whose police forces he proposes to merge into one.

Of the areas concerned, all but one are already combined for probation purposes; my right hon. Friend has no proposals for a further combination.The arrangements for bringing prosecuti ons on behalf of the police is one of the matters for local discussion when an amalgamated force is being formed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Metropolitan Police recently included a man's ethnic description on a motoring summons; on how many summonses this has previously been done; and what instructions he will give on this matter in the future.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has told me that this description was typed on the form by inadvertence, and he very much regrets this this occurred. Steps have been taken to prevent any recurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage the Metropolitan Police authorities to accept suit- able Commonwealth applicants for the police force.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis will glady accept any applicant to join the force who reaches the standard required.My right hon. Friend is studying ways in which a larger number of suitable coloured applicants can be encouraged to come forward.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance, in cash and kind, has been received by Bechuanaland from other countries and from the World Food Programme for the relief of famine; and whether he will make a statement on the shortage of food and fodder there and in Basutoland and Swaziland.

Apart from certain private contributions no assistance has been received by Bechuanaland direct from any countries other than the U.K.The World Food Programme provided food for 60,000 people during September and October last and since then has been providing supplies for 105,000. Approval was recently given for further supplies for up to 360,000 people for the 12 months beginning in July and for a 5-year supplementary feeding programme for children and for pregnant and nursing women, also beginning in July. The famine is expected to continue until 1967. Additionally the World Food Programme is helping with stock feed for the period up to the end of November when it is hoped that normal rains will provide fresh grazing.Supplies of food and fodder in Basutoland are expected to be adequate. Late rains just averted a serious shortage of both. There is no shortage of food or fodder in Swaziland where the crop this year is good.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that on 1st April the prices of ordnance survey maps were doubled; and if he will refer the matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for a decision as to whether this increase is justified.

We are aware that there have been substantial price increases in some cases, but my right hon. Friend does not think that a reference would serve a useful purpose. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources gave a full explanation in a Written Answer on 23rd February of the plans for speeding up the re-survey programme and of the increases in map prices, royalties and other charges which were in consequence necessary.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the opposition among many trades unions to the voluntary implementation of the incomes part of the prices and incomes policy, if he will now introduce legislation to make that part enforceable by law; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's prices and incomes policy as set out in Cmnd. 2639 has the active support of the Trades Union Congress and numerous union conferences held recently have confirmed their support.My right hon. Friend will shortly be introducing legislation designed to strengthen the application of the voluntary policy for both prices and incomes and to make it more effective.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the present establishment, actual and authorised, of the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Council in Leeds; and what is the present number of rooms occupied as offices or for conference by the Council.

The Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council is an advisory body and consists of thirty persons appointed from outside the Civil Service. The Council and its sub-committees meet in conference rooms in City House shared with Government Departments.The Council has a common secretariat with the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Board. The Chairman of the Board and his staff number 14 and they occupy 10 rooms in City House. There are vacancies for one Senior Research Officer and two typists.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he proposes to take to prevent price increases beyond the one per cent. forecast as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has indicated that he would expect the increase in the cost of living to be well under 1 per cent. even if all changes in costs resulting from the tax were passed on.It is up to traders to make genuine efforts to absorb the tax, like any other increase in costs, through greater efficiency. Where increases in charges for services appear to have been made unnecessarily, it is open to the Government to ask the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what representations he has received from regional economic development councils, or from other organisations in Northern Ireland, regarding the effects of the Selective Employment Tax on balanced regional development.

We have received no representations from Northern Ireland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken since his letter of 24th February 1966 to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North, to release in conjunction with the Bank of England credit facilities for firms in North-East Scotland who engage in production and export.

Exporters in North-East Scotland will, I hope, benefit from the improvements in E.G.C.D. guarantees to banks which my right hon. Friend announced on 8th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he made the Customs and Excise (Anti-Dumping Duty) Order 1966, S.I., 1966, No. 319, on 23rd March, 1966, to come into operation on 25th March, 1966; and why that Order has not been laid before the House.

This Order was made on 23rd March and brought into force two days later in order to check dumped imports. It was laid before the House immediately Parliament reassembled on 18th April, but it was not necessary to proceed with an affirmative Resolution because the supplier undertook not to export to the British market at dumped prices and the Order has lapsed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the advantages from the point of view of economy, prestige, the availability of suitable clerical labour and the housing of transferred staff, he will move the Patents Office to a new or expanded town such as Swindon.

I expect the intended move of the Patent Office to Croydon, which I announced in a reply on 10th February, to meet these considerations, and in addition that of greater accessibility from central London.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds he made concessions to the working party of the Confederation of British Industry regarding investment incentive allowances; and what other organisations have made representations on this subject.

The modifications which have been made in the investment grants scheme as a result of discussions with the Confederation of British Industry and other organisations are designed to improve the effectiveness and practical working of the scheme outlined in the White Paper on Investment Incentives (Cmnd. 2874). Representations about the scheme have been received from a large number of organisations concerned with industry and commerce.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in establishing an industrial design centre for Wales in Cardiff; and whether he will make a statement.

The C.o.I.D. applied to me for an increased grant in 1966–67 to finance a Design Centre in Cardiff: owing to the need for economy in Government expenditure this could not be approved. I am, of course, ready to consider proposals for extensions of the Council's activities, in the light of their expected contribution to the standard of industrial design, and also in relation to other Government measures designed to improve industrial efficiency generally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in his forthcoming Companies Bill, he will seek to implement the proposal of the Jenkins Report that shipowners' profits be published.

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

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to enable him to control the movement of British coastal shipping, in order to ensure that, in the interests of safety at sea, ships do not put to sea without adequate crews.

The Board of Trade already have powers to detain ships which are unsafe on account of under manning or other causes.

asked the Minister of Health if he will discuss with local authorities and the various voluntary organisations concerned the need for specially trained teachers to assist in the training of mentally handicapped children of comparatively high intelligence who are not considered suitable for admission to schools for the educationally subnormal.

The courses approved by the Training Council for Teachers of the Mentally Handicapped are already training the staff of local health authority training centres and hospital schools to deal with the whole range of mentally subnormal children who are unsuitable for education at school.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take into account the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on dentists' earnings in the National Health Service.

Yes; the payment of the tax will count as part of the dentists' practice expenses which are reimbursed through their fees, so far as they relate to practice under the general dental services. The effect of the tax will be taken into account in fixing the level of fees for the current year.

asked the Minister of Health how many home confinements and how many hospital confinements there have been in the Bedford constituency during each of the past five years; and how many of the latter were at the Bedford Hospital (North Wing).

There are no such statistics available relating to the population of my hon. Friend's constituency, but at the Bedford General Hospital there were 1,583, 1,709, 1,834, 1,862 and 2,251 births respectively in the five years 1961 to 1965.

asked the Minister of Health what is the waiting period for an out-patient appointment in the ophthalmic department of the Kettering General Hospital; and how many patients are on the waiting list.

Four and a half months; 144.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development by what criteria he decides what is the right proportion of British overseas aid to be tied to the purchase of British manufactured goods.

I have to take into account first and foremost the needs of the recipient country and the kind of aid which will most effectively provide the right kind of development. Subject to this consideration, our policy is to ensure that as much aid as possible is used to supply British goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to transfer communications between his office and British forces and establishments abroad, now carried by British radio and cable links, to a United States satellite chain.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposal to use a United States satellite system of communications to maintain the British world-wide defence system.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 11 th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what future plans he has for St. Mary's Drill Hall, Southampton.

The property will not be required for the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. If it is not needed for any other defence purpose or for use by another Government Department it will first be offered to the local authority at the District Valuer's valuation, and, if they do not wish to purchase at that price, it will be sold in accordance with normal procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria will be used to determine whether or not any State should be included in the drive to increase sales of British military equipment abroad.

Political, economic, strategic and security considerations will continue, as now, to be the criteria used in all cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what future plans he has for Blighmont Barracks, Southampton.

It will be retained for use by the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the weekly wages of able-bodied seamen, cooks and stewards on H.M.S. "Britannia".

About £11 on average, with local overseas allowance and marriage allowance extra for those who qualify.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) when Her Majesty's Government will ratify the International Labour Office's Convention against discrimination in regard to the employment of women;(2) when Her Majesty's Government will ratify the Convention on Equal Remuneration.

Her Majesty's Government is unable to ratify either Convention at present because, in the matter of equal pay, the present position in the United Kingdom is not fully in accordance with the detailed requirements of these instruments. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Clapham (Mrs. McKay) on 6th May and to the hon. Member for Halifax (Dr. Summerskill) on 20th May, 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to encourage the training of skilled building site workers.

The scheme of training and retraining grants introduced by the Construction Industry Training Board, is aimed at increasing the amount and improving the quality and efficiency of training in the industry. In addition, as a direct contribution towards the training of skilled building workers, the number of training places in Government Training Centres in trades serving the construction industry has been increased from 228 to 2,108 in the last three years and should be increased to 2,488 by the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to encourage workers declared redundant in mining and foundry industries to retrain as skilled building site workers.

Our local officers are instructed to consider all suitable redundant workers registered for employment at Employment Exchanges for retraining in building and other skilled trades at Government Training Centres.

asked the Minister of Labour on what evidence establishments are categorised in the Standard Industrial Classification; in what approximate proportion of cases evidence has been obtained from the firm concerned; and what steps are taken to see that the categorisations are kept up to date.

Establishments are classified at local offices of my Department to Minimum List Headings of the Standard Industrial Classification on the basis of information, supplied by employers, about the industrial or commerciai activities carried on at the establishments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for reducing the number of people employed in Government Departments on clerical work so that they may be made available for industry in general and for exporting firms in particular.

As I stated on 17th May, all Government Departments are enjoined to make full use of modern techniques such as computer installations to economise in the use of manpower.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the computers on order by Government Departments, showing the date on which the order was placed, the estimated date of delivery, name of manufacturer, type of computer and the function for which it is to be used, respectively;(2) if he will list all the computers being used by Government Departments, showing the date of installation, name of manufacturer, type of computer and function for which it is used;(3) if he will list the computers being used for scientific purposes in various Government Departments and establishments, showing the date of installation, the name of manufacturer, type of computer and the function for which it is used, respectively.

The information sought in the three Questions is being prepared and will be given as soon as it is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the cost to the revenue of including minerals, classified as Order II in the Standard Industrial Classifications, among those scheduled to benefit from the receipt of premiums under the provisions of the recent White Paper, Command Paper No. 2986.

The nationalised coal industry is to have the tax refunded and, as I announced yesterday it has been decided that extractive industries in the private sector should receive the same treatment. The extra cost of paying premiums would be of the order of £10 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional costs which will fall upon hotels and boarding houses in Great Britain as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.

The additional cost for the hotel and catering industry as a whole would be in the region of f20-£25 million in a full year at the level of employment in 1965. Separate figures for hotels and boarding houses alone are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of exempting from Selective Employment Tax employers who are registered charities.

I regret that this information is not available; there is no central record of staff employed by charities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of exempting employers of registered disabled persons from the Selective Employment Tax.

If all those on the Ministry of Labour register were employed, and the distribution among the three industrial groups was the same as for employees generally, the cost of relief would be over £10 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue staff will be released for other duties because of the administration of the cash investment grants by the Board of Trade and the ending of investment allowances.

It is impossible to measure the extent of the easement to the staff of the Inland Revenue through the withdrawal of investment allowances. What there is will be taken up by their increased duties on Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, after payment of the administrative expenses and interest to depositors at the statutory rate of 2½ per cent., he will use all the surplus income, or a higher percentage than at present, of the Post Office Savings Bank Ordinary Account to make up the capital loss on investments which currently have a value of less than the moneys owed to depositors, rather than continue paying half of this surplus to the Treasury; and if he will make a statement.

This question is reviewed from time to time. I have no further statement to make at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to enable him to set up a body with powers similar to those of the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation; and if he will empower this body to extend its activities to Northern Ireland.

I see no need to duplicate the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation in this country; the creation of such a body specifically for Northern Ireland would be a matter for the Government of that country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that within hours of the commencement of the seamen's strike a number of commodities were increased in price; if he will introduce legislation to prevent these increases being passed on to the consumer; and whether he will ask the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate all price increases since 16th May, 1966.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes all food price increases made since the start of the seamen's strike.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the replies to Questions yesterday on the subject of food price control. We are prepared to take immediately any steps which we consider necessary but voluntary co-operation has, so far, worked well. We are not therefore considering a reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the increase in the numbers of self-employed casual workers in agriculture which will occur as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.

Negligible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that of agricultural merchants selling similar products some are classified as manufacturers and others as distributors; and what plans he has for ensuring that the Selective Employment Tax does not give rise to inequity and the distortion of normal trade patterns.

The position of these employers is being considered in the preparation of the forthcoming Bill to provide for payment of refunds and premiums.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee on the need for improved arrangements for policing of the sea within the new British fishery limits; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a resolution from the Committee on the need for the presence of a fishery protection vessel throughout the operations of the herring fleet off the coast of the Committee's area.A reply has been sent by my Department, informing the Committee that, subject to any overriding operational requirements of the Royal Navy, the Fishery Protection Squadron will follow their normal practice of allocating a vessel to patrol the seasonal herring fishery off the East coast. My view is that the extension from 3 to 6 miles of the limits from which foreign vessels are completely excluded should tend to reduce, rather than aggravate, the danger of damage to the fishing gear of British vessels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cows, bulls, heifers, sheep and swine, other than pedigree stock, have been exported from the United Kingdom in 1964, 1965, and 1966 to the latest convenient date.

There are no separate figures for cows, bulls and heifers. The information available is shown in the following table:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the tonnage of wheat of over 18 per cent. moisture content which is likely to be needed for the rolled and flaked wheat market in the cereal year 1966–67.

I am unable to estimate the tonnage. I understand that the market is small but growing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken about representations made to him on 19th May by the hon. Member for Harrow, East, concerning increases in the price of vegetables at a shop in Stanmore; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give an assurance that exploitation of North Sea oil and gas deposits takes place in accord with the public interest.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is taking to promote a fixed price or a cost-plus pricing policy for North Sea oil or gas deposits.

The price to be paid is a matter for negotiation between the purchaser and the licensee. In the event of a disagreement between the Gas Council and a licensee on the price of gas, I may be called upon to exercise my functions under Section 9 of the Continental Shelf Act, 1964.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to ensure public ownership of the retail distribution of coal, in the light of the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the National Coal Board's application for increased prices.

The National Coal Board is already extending its interest in retail distribution and no legislation is needed for this. The National Board for Prices and Incomes is at present investigating coal distribution costs.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many accidents took place during the past six months on the staircase of the terminal building at the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim; and how many took place in other parts of the terminal building during the same period.

Reported accidents were nil and two respectively.

asked the Minister of Aviation when the results of the survey of the origin and destination of passengers on routes between London and the Continent will be available.

The analysis is now complete and I have placed copies of the survey in the Library.

asked the Minister of Aviation on how many occasions actual departure and arrival times differed from those scheduled on domestic British European Airways flights between 18th April and 20th May, 1966, inclusive; what was the difference in time in each case; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that 90·5 per cent. of arrivals and 85·6 per cent. of departures from London Airport on the main domestic trunk services were within 15 minutes of the scheduled time over the period in question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now take steps to introduce 3 per cent. mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 23rd May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what rent assessment committees are to serve the Chigwell urban district and Epping and Ongar districts of Essex; and when they will be appointed.

When Part II of the Rent Act is in operation in Essex, members of the Eastern Rent Assessment Panel will be chosen by their President, as needed, to form committees to hear cases arising there. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. Friend hope to make the first appointments to the Panel shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will investigate the circumstances in which a number of Bristol schoolgirls were taken to hospital on Friday, 20th May from Bristol North Baths suffering from the effects of chlorine gas; and what action he proposes to take.

I understand that the girls were affected by fumes caused by the mixing of chemicals when a lavatory at the baths was being cleaned.The Bristol Council which is responsible for the management of the baths is investigating the matter and will no doubt take steps to prevent any recurrence.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she is aware of the practice of refusing unemployment benefit to men and women dismissed solely because of their refusal to join a particular trade union; and if she will take steps to stop this practice.

Claims for unemployment benefit are decided by independent statutory authorities. I cannot intervene in their decisions, but if the hon. Member will send me details of any case he has in mind I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why the disease, farmer's lung, has been classified as an industrial injury, thereby ruling out the payment of compensation to small farmers in the self-employed insurance class

Self-employment is not insurable under the Industrial Injuries Act. In relation to insurable employment I have prescribed farmer's lung as an industrial disease under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1965, because I am satisfied, on the advice of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, that it fulfils the conditions in Section 56(2) of the Act.A self-employed person who is incapacitated for work by reason of the disease can, of course, receive sickness benefit under the National Insurance Act.