asked the Minister of Aviation what is the foreign exchange cost of the European Launcher Development Organisation.

Up to 31st March, 1966, some 98 per cent. of the total United Kingdom contributions to E.L.D.O. had been spent with British firms and Government establishments. My understanding is that the balance was spent by E.L.D.O. in Australia. The only expenditure outside the sterling area up to this date was in respect of licence fees and sub-contract payments by the British firms. Details of these payments are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what instructions were given to the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations on her visit to Zambia; what was the result of her visit; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Faulds) on 14th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department intends to take to reform the structure and content of secondary education to reduce the level of early leaving among women.

None, but I should be interested to hear of any proposal which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take to ensure that all qualified students in colleges of education who wish to proceed to a fourth Bachelor of Education year have an opportunity to do so irrespective of qualifications at time of entry to the college of education.

This is a matter for determination by the degree-awarding body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give full support, including financial support, to the establishment of a viable organisation for the sponsorship and coordination of sport in the non-university student sports field at area, regional, national and international level.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Russell Johnston) on 27th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he estimates the seamen's strike has already cost the country through losses of reserves; and if he will make a statement.

The seamen's strike was a major influence on the reserves in May. The movement in the reserves is not a measure of the effect on trade and shipping transactions, since it appears to have been the result of flows of short-term funds, which could well be reversed when the strike is settled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he will ensure that the proposed refund of Selective Employment Tax will in each case result in increased efficiency and lower prices rather than in increased profits.

I think my hon. Friend has in mind the premiums, not the refunds, which merely cancel out the tax in those sectors where no impact is sought. The premium is a reduction in direct costs similar to any other cut in the costs of labour and materials, and I rely upon it to have a comparable effect on prices, which are generally related to direct costs of production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of net national income at factor cost was taxation, including local taxation and social insurance, in 1963 and in the latest available full year.

Total receipts from taxes on incomes, taxes on capital, taxes on expenditure (including local rates) and National Insurance and Health contributions are estimated to have been 36·7 per cent. of net national income at factor cost in 1963 and 39·0 per cent. in 1965. These percentages are based on the Preliminary Estimates of National Income given in Cmnd. 2966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority the housekeeper allowance is refused to widows and widowers in respect of a student daughter resident with her parent and for whom child allowance is granted.

Because it is considered that the child does not satisfy the statutory conditions for a claim to housekeeper allowance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the recent heavy pressure on sterling, if he will give an assurance that his policy is still to resist devaluation, and to maintain sterling at all costs; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's policy to maintain the exchange value of the pound is well understood and remains unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table of the annual operating losses and the losses on capital account sustained by the nationalised industries for each of the years 1962 to 1965.

The following table shows annual financial results before and after paying interest. All the results for the year 1965 are not yet available.

NATIONALISED INDUSI RIES
				£ million
			1962
		Result Before Interest	Interest	Result After Interest
1.	Post Office	50·3	38·2	12·1
2.	National Coal Board* (see Notes 1 & 4)	45·4	440	1·4
3.	Electricity Council	145·4	102·9	42·5
4.	N.S.H.E.B.* (see Note 1)	10·2	8·7	1·5
5.	S.S.E.B.* (see Note 1)	11·0	9·2	1·8
6.	Gas Council (see Note 2)	31·1	26·2	4·9
7.	B.O.A.C. (see Note 5)	−6·5	6·4	−12·9
8.	B.E.A.	0·7	3·1	−2·4
9.	British Transport Commision† (see Note 6)	−71·8	110·7	−182·5
10.	B. Railways Board†	—	—	—
11.	L.T.B.†	—	—	—
12.	B.T. Docks Board†	—	—	—
13.	B. Waterways Board†	—	—	—
14.	Trans. Holding†	—	—	—

				£ million
			1963
		Result Before Interest	Interest	Result After Interest
1.	Post Office	72·2	41·5	30·7
2.	National Coal Board* (see Notes 1 & 4)	42·7	42	0·7
3.	Electricity Council	184·3	113·9	70·4
4.	N.S.H.E.B.* (see Note 1)	9·6	9·5	0·1
5.	S.S.E.B.* (see Note 1)	12·3	10·9	1·4
6.	Gas Council (see Note 2)	37·3	27·7	9·6
7.	B. O. A.C. (see Note 5)	−4·2	6·2	−10·4
8.	B.E.A.	5·8	2·8	3·0
9.	British Transport Commission†(see Note 6)	—	—	—
10.	B. Railways	−75·8	58·1	−133·9
11.	L.T.B.†	7·8	5·7	2·1
12.	B.T. Docks Board†	4·5	3·0	1·5
13.	B. Waterways Board†	−0·7	0·8	−1·5
14.	Trans. Holding Company†	13·7	3·8	9·9

				£ million
			1964
		Result Before Interest	Interest	Result After Interest
1.	Post Office	65·9	45·8	20·1
2.	National Coal Board* (see Notes 1 & 4)	43·2	42·7	0·5
3.	Electricity Council	193·5	129·4	64·1
4.	N.S.H.E.B.* (see Note 1)	10·6	10·4	0·2
5.	S.S.E.B.* (see Note 1)	13·2	13·0	0·2
6.	Gas Council (see Note 2)	46·7	31·5	15·2
7.	B.O.A.C. (see Note 5)	14·2	6·2	8·0
8.	B.E.A.	4·1	2·8	1·3
9.	British Transport Commissiont (see Note 6)	—	—	—
10.	B. Railways Board†	−62·5	58·4	−120·9
11.	L.T.B.†	7·3	6·0	1·3
12.	B.T. Docks Board†	4·7	3·1	1·6
13.	B. Waterways Board†	−0·7	0·8	−1·5
14.	Trans. Holding	17·5	3·8	13·7

NOTES:1. Accounts by financial years except for where prior to 1963 these industries accounted by calendar years.2. The basis of calculation has been altered slightly since the reply given on 17th June, 1964 (Hansard Col. 193).3. † Accounts by calendar years throughout.4. Under the Coal Industry Act 1965, £415 million of the Boards debt at 28th March, 1965 was written-off. This will not affect results until 1965.5. Under the Air Corporations Act 1966 £110 million of the Corporation's debt at 31st March, 1965 was written off. This will not affect results until 1965.6. Under the Transport Act 1962 accumulated revenue losses of the Commission totalling £486·9 million were written off. The Exchequer received from the Commission cash and investments to the book value of £54·8 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra Income Tax is paid by a married farmer with two children whose income is £1,000 per annum, who buys a tractor worth £1,000, as a result of the change in allowances.

In the year which he first received allowances for the tractor, such a farmer would pay no Income Tax either before or after the proposed changes, assuming that at least one of his children is over 11 years old and that the figure of £1,000 represents his income before deducting any allow ances for the tractor. Under the Agriculture Bill now before Parliament, it is proposed that he will receive a grant of £100 towards the cost of the tractor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation during the present Session with a view to the appointment of an ombudsman.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 3rd May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what limitation he has placed on credit facilities granted by agricultural and horticultural machinery syndicates, respectively.

None.

asked the Minister of Health when the Committee on Safety of Drugs is expected to report on the possible long-term effect of oral contraceptives.

After making a comprehensive review of the toxicity data relating to the two oestrogens used in the oral contraceptives commercially available in the United Kingdom, the Committee has advised that one of these can cause serious liver damage to rats when administered to them in very high doses over a long period. The data relating to the other oestrogen used is not sufficient to enable the Committee to assess whether it can cause similar effects.The Committee states that the relevance of the findings in rats to the prolonged use by women of oral contraceptives is uncertain. It has, in fact, no evidence that the incidence of liver disorders in women taking oral contraceptives is increased, and while women have not been taking oral contraceptives for a comparable proportion of their life span a group of women in Puerto Rico have been taking the oestrogen in question for nine years without apparent detriment.In bringing its findings to the notice of the medical profession today through the medical journals, the Committee adds that, since the drugs have a therapeutic as well as a social value and are obtainable only on a doctor's prescription, it does not feel it is justifiable on the present evidence to deny the public the benefit of these drugs.The Committee intends to arrange for further long term toxicity tests to be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are being made to train technicians to carry out the cervical cancer tests on women aged over 34 years to be introduced by the end or this year.

In all areas Hospital Boards are aiming initially to provide, as soon as possible, a routine screening service for women aged 35 and over. The courses for pathologists and technicians at the five special centres are continuing and in addition training is now being carried out in laboratories in all regions.

asked the Minister of Health how many people are awaiting beds for hospital treatment in the Rugby area.

1,009 on 31st May, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present cost per child per week for children in care of local authorities boarded out, the number of children, and the total annual expenditure.

According to the information supplied by local authorities in England and Wales for the purpose of determining general grant, the average number of such children in 1964–65 was 31,618, the cost was £4,320,563 and the average cost of maintenance per child per week was £2 12s. 3d. This excludes administrative costs, which cannot be apportioned between the maintenance of children boarded out, the maintenance of other children in care, and other functions of the children's service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what negotiating machinery exists for fixing salary scales for child-care officers.

The local authorities' National Joint Council for Administrative, Professional, Technical, and Clerical Services recommends a scale for child care officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify the nature of qualification necessary for a child-care officer and the scales of remuneration for those qualified and unqualified, respectively.

The qualification generally regarded as appropriate is the Letter of Recognition awarded by the Central Training Council in Child Care to students who complete a course of training approved by the Council. Possession of this qualification is not, however, a necessary condition of employment. The scale recommended by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Administrative, Professional, Technical, and Clerical Staffs is £750–£1,170 (excluding London weighting), with the proviso that officers not possessing the Letter of Recognition should not, with certain exceptions, proceed beyond £1,090. The point of entry to the scale is determined by the employing authority. The scale is the subject of an agreement due to expire on 31st July 1966 and I understand that a new agreement is being negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the number of child-care officer posts on establishment, the number of officers in post, and the percentage of these qualified; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the past five years.

I regret that figures for years before 1963 are not available. For 1963–1965, the information is as follows:

LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES CHILD CARE OFFICERS
Authorised establishment	1,713	2,037	2,376
Staff in post:
Professionally qualified*	422 (27·2%)	503 (28·4%)	612 (30·4%)
Others with a degree or diploma in social science	509	563	571
Others	618	707	827
Total staff in post	1,549	1,773	2,010
* Holding the Letter of Recognition of the Central Training Council in Child Care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the Report and Recommendations placed before the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents designed to increase the safety of firemen engaged in live rescue drills; and what action he will take.

My right hon. Friend will certainly take the views of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents into account before reaching a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many wild birds were imported into the United Kingdom for sale as pets during 1965, and at what cost in foreign exchange;(2) what has been the known mortality among wild birds imported during 1965.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals bred in Great Britain for research purposes were exported in 1965; what animals were involved; what was the number in each category; and what was the total value of the traffic.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will issue a stamp to commemorate either the 175th anniversary of The Rights of Man or to honour Tom Paine.

I did consider this suggestion very carefully before settling the 1966 special stamp programme, but I am sorry it did not prove possible to meet it. However this does not exclude future possibilities.

asked the Postmaster-General what instructions he has given regarding inspection of outgoing mail from the United Kingdom addressed to Rhodesia.

None.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, in view of the fact that, as a result of the stockpiles in the Welsh brick industry, particularly in East Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, closures and redundancies will follow in the industry, if he will give a forecast of the likely demand for bricks in Wales over the next six months.

The Government are co-operating with the construction and building materials industries, within the framework of the Economic Development Committees for Building and Civil Engineering, in seeking to form agreed estimates of demand for building materials, including bricks.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware that the present short-term difficulties in the Welsh brick industry result in part from unfair competition from outside sources; and whether he will issue a circular to local authorities to encourage the use of home-produced bricks, in view of the facts that closures of brickworks will have serious effects on the long-term building programme, and that once works have closed down they will not reopen.

No. I have no evidence that the competition is unfair. I am sure that in spite of the present temporary difficulties many local brickmakers will be able to maintain their share of the market, without any protective measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates in 1965 and so far in 1966 on which the departments of the Scottish Office in Edinburgh were closed for holidays, and the particular holidays which occurred on the dates in question.

The following is the information:

1965

1st January—New Year's Day.

16th April—Good Friday.

19th April—Easter Monday.

4th June—Queen's Birthday.

7th June—Whit Monday.

17th September (afternoon)—In lieu of afternoon of Maundy Thursday.

20th September—Edinburgh Autumn Holiday.

27th December—In lieu of Christmas Day (which fell on a Saturday).

1966

3rd January—In lieu of New Year's Day (which fell on a Saturday).

8th April—Good Friday.

11th April—Easter Monday.

27th May—Queen's Birthday.

30th May—Whit Monday.

NOTES:1. In the Civil Service the Queen's Birthday is normally observed on the Friday before Whit Monday.2. The afternoon of Maundy Thursday is normally a Civil Service holiday in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the difference between the average age of male teachers in Scottish primary schools arid Scottish secondary schools, respectively.

The average is 49 in primary schools and 39 in secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy regarding the fact that mill multures are still legally payable when the mill concerned is no longer operable or in existence.

I have no proposals in view on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to redefine hill land in terms of the Hill Farming Acts 1946–56, to take some account of altitude and latitude and to eliminate many of the anomalies which new exist.

No. The present definition of livestock rearing land takes account of these and other factors and I have no reason to think that it is unsatisfactory in its application.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average number of working days after the end of the month before the publication of the Overseas Trade Accounts for the period January-April 1966.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12th May to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many square feet of office buildings are at present unoccupied in the Greater London area.

Current figures are now being obtained from local planning authorities, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the replies are all available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities at value of alarm clocks imported into this country in the first four months of 1966 and 1965, respectively, showing the relative figures for the principal countries of origin.

U.K. IMPORTS OF ALARM CLOCKS (EXCLUDING ELECTRIC)
				January to April, 1965		January to April, 1966
Country from which consigned				Number	Value	Number	Value
					£		£
France	…	…	…	4,308	5,105	1,569	2,359
Switzerland	…	…	…	18,792	42,716	40,233	67,103
Western Germany	…	…	…	158,523	108,484	325,327	221,038
Eastern Germany	…	…	…	9,000	3,458	—	—
Soviet Union	…	…	…	42,400	11,159	22,400	5,634
Hungary	…	…	…	35,150	10,113	97,149	22,926
Czechoslovakia	…	…	…	42,182	12,481	18,439	5,770
Poland	…	…	…	—	—	33,000	10,202
Yugoslavia	…	…	…	10,000	2,958	10,000	3,142
China	…	…	…	5,150	2,117	15,892	6,872
Japan	…	…	…	44,332	29,666	115,478	63,232
Hong Kong	…	…	…	—	—	8,006	4,524
Other	…	…	…	3,689	3,645	1,402	1,483
Total	…	…	…	373,526	231,902	688,895	414,285

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the result of his discussions with the Ross Group Limited on the implementation of the Monopolies Commission's report on the proposed merger between that company and Associated Fisheries Limited.

I am glad to say that the Ross Group Limited has given me its assurance that the company will neither make a further bid for Associated Fisheries Limited nor take any other action to place the company in a position of controlling the policy of Associated Fisheries.In these circumstances no further action on the Monopolies Commission's report is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will seek to increase road safety by deciding a standard code of headlamp flashing and announcing it to the public.

The flashing of headlamps should, in the interests of road safety be regarded as having only the same meaning as sounding the horn-that is, as an indication of the presence of a vehicle on the road. Drivers have already been given this advice and I propose to include it in the next revision of the Highway Code.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the result of the consideration she has given to the proposal to introduce legislation to enable local authorities to dispose more rapidly of abandoned cars.

The evidence which I have at present on this from local authorities and others does not suggest a need for new legislation. I will, however, continue to watch the position.I would also refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 28th April last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of increasing traffic congestion on the former Midland Railway line between Birmingham and Gloucester; and whether she will ensure the retention of the alternative route provided by the former Great Central Railway, along which much of this traffic formerly flowed via Leicester, Rugby and Banbury, to provide for the additional railway freight traffic of the future.

The British Railways Board tells me that there has been no serious traffic congestion on the line between Birmingham and Gloucester. It is for the Board to decide the routes upon which their freight traffic is carried, and to assess the operational adequacy of such routes for present and future needs.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date closure of the line between Dearne Junction and Mexborough West was authorised; and on what date part of the track was first r moved.

Consent to the closure of this section of line to passenger services was given on 20th April, 1966. Part of the track was removed last year prior to the consent in connection with major engineering works. Passengers were not affected by the consequent diversion of trains, which took place on the basis that it was a provisional arrangement rending a decision on the formal closure proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has approved a line for the new route of the A3 running through or near the village of Liss; and if she will make a statement.

I have agreed to the inclusion of a line in the county development plan as part of a bypass of Liphook and Petersfield. Since the scheme is not included in the programme at present no steps have been taken to finalise the line under the Highways Act, 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether 31st August, the original expected completion date of the Crick-Coldra section of the M4 motorway, still stands.

The original contract completion date was 6th July, 1966. Under the terms of contract the contractor is entitled to certain extensions of time and these have been allowed by the consulting engineers responsible for the supervision of the contract on my behalf. The contract completion date is now 31st August, 1966, but there is some doubt whether this date will be met and the situation is being urgently reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps will be taken to relieve the traffic congestion in south Monmouthshire and Newport which will follow the opening of the Severn Bridge, particularly in view of the possible delay in the Crick-Coldra section of the M4 motorway and the recent roof falls in the Brynglas tunnels.

The opening of the Severn Bridge and the improvement of the southern by-pass over George Street bridge will help at Chepstow and Newport respectively. The existing trunk road A48 should be able to carry the expected traffic without difficulty. I am consulting the police about how best to relieve any congestion that may occur.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what action he has taken about the application of the London Borough of Harrow for an order restricting horse riding on Stanmore Common to a track the council proposes to lay out.

A draft of the proposed Order has been agreed with the council. As soon as I have obtained their agreement to the accompanying plan, the proposal will be advertised.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources how many applications he has received from tenants for apportionment of ground rents in the Accrington constituency including Oswaldtwistle, Church, Claytonle-Moor and Rishden during the last 12 months; and how many of such applications have been granted.

In the year ended 31st May, 1966, there was a considerable increase in the number of applications, 113 such applications were received, 12 of which were withdrawn. 53 Orders of Apportionment were made. In the remaining 48 cases the procedures, which involve enquiries of the other property owners affected, have not yet been completed.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources how many applications have been made by rent-owners in Lancashire, and how many in the Accrington constituency, for ground rents to be extinguished by payment of a capital sum where an order of apportionment has been made during the last 12 months; and how many householders have been unable to proceed with the apportionment because of inability to pay the capital sum during the same period.

The information is not readily available but it is being obtained and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources how many applications for apportionment of ground rents have been granted in Lancashire; and how many of such applications have been made during the last 12 months.

In the year ended 31st May, 1966, 835 applications for the apportionment of ground rents in Lancashire were received and 416 Orders of Apportionment were made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, when he approved a scheme under the Birmingham Corporation Act 1965, he did not require the Corporation to state its reasons for refusing to register a house.

This is not provided for in the local Act and since there is a right of appeal to the courts against a refusal to register a house, the Corporation could hardly avoid giving reasons for its decisions. In fact, I understand it always does so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing, for the last two convenient years, the precepts levied by river authorities both in money terms and in terms of a penny rate.

The information has already been published in the Association of River Authorities' handbook for 1965, in respect of 1965–66, the river authorities' first year of operation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the public interest in the shipping dispute, he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the dates from 1945 on which seamen had increases in wages, together with the rates of such rises.

The rates of pay of seamen vary according to occupation, length of service and other circumstances. The changes affecting two of the principal occupations are summarised in the following table:

asked the Minister of Labour what salary and/or expenses were drawn or allocated for the members of the inquiry into the seamen's strike; and how many hours the tribunal sat in order to present their interim report.

The Court met on 31st May, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th June. It is not possible to calculate the total hours required to prepare the Report because members spent a great deal of additional time in studying written evidence and framing their proposals. Members fees and expenses totalled about £85.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the increases in the Index of Retail Prices in the services group and in the nationalised industries, respectively, between October, 1951 and April, 1966; and what was the increase for manufactured goods during the same period, and for the remainder of the index list

The increases in the Index of Retail Prices in the services group and in nationalised industries between October, 1951 and April, 1966 were about 78 per cent. and about 123 per cent., respectively. The increase in the index for the clothing and footwear, durable household goods and miscellaneous goods groups, which together are taken to represent manufactured goods, was about 24 per cent., while the increase for all groups other than these three groups was about 74 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will provide a table of figures giving the percentage rise or fall in the Index of Retail Prices since October, 1951, taking that month as representing 100.

The table required is as follows:

INDEX OF RETAIL PRICES REBASED WITH 16TH OCTOBER, 1951 TAKEN AS 100
		Jan.	Feb.	March	April	May	June	July	Aug.	Sept.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
1951	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	100	100	101
1952	…	103	103	103	105	105	107	107	106	106	107	107	108
1953	…	107	108	108	109	109	110	110	109	109	109	109	109
1954	…	109	109	110	110	110	110	112	111	111	112	112	113
1955	…	113	113	113	114	114	116	117	116	116	118	120	120
1956	…	119	119	121	122	122	122	122	122	122	122	123	123
1957	…	124	124	124	124	125	126	127	127	126	128	128	129
1958	…	129	128	129	131	130	131	129	129	129	130	131	131
1959	…	132	131	131	130	130	130	130	130	129	130	131	131
1960	…	131	131	131	131	131	132	132	132	132	133	133	134
1961	…	134	134	134	135	135	136	136	138	138	138	139	139
1962	…	140	140	141	143	143	144	143	142	142	142	142	143
1963	…	144	145	145	146	145	145	145	144	145	145	146	146
1964	…	147	147	147	149	150	150	150	151	151	151	152	153
1965	…	153	153	154	157	157	158	158	158	158	158	159	160
1966	…	160	160	160	162	163

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in which of the subjects in the commercial pilots licence examination qualified pilots in the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force are not of the standard required for that examination.

Service pilots do not need to have a knowledge of Aviation Law; nor do they need to qualify in certain aspects of flight planning and radio communications, since these duties are carried out by Service navigators and signallers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men and boys in the Forces purchased their discharge or transfer to the Reserve in 1965, and in 1966 to the latest date for which figures are available, respectively.

9,145 in 1965; and 2,971 in the first four months of 1966.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now introduce statutory limitations on all forms of personal incomes, dividends, wages, salaries and rents, in order to prevent inflation and the devaluation of sterling; and if he will make a statement.

No. The measures which the Government judges appropriate to secure the economic interests of the country, including the aims mentioned by the hon. Member, have frequently been made clear to the House. The most important recent occasion was during the Budget Debate

asked the Minister of Technology how much has been spent so far on the new building at the fluid power research laboratory at East Kilbride, for which initial expenditure was provided in the Civil Estimates for 1965–66.

It is intended to concentrate fluid power research at the National Engineering Laboratory in the new building to which the hon. Member refers.I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works that the cost of the design work so far completed on this building is about £7,500.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what conditions specified from time to time by him with the approval of the Treasury guarantee payments for wheat were made to farmers under Section 5(1) of the Cereals (Guarantee Payments) Order, 1964.

The conditions for the cereal year 1964–65 were set out in the booklet "Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme (1961 Edition)" issued by the Agricultural Departments, as amended by subsequent harvest supplements including the supplement for the 1964 harvest issued in September, 1964. The conditions for the 1965–66 cereal year were set out in the booklet "Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme (1965 Edition)" issued by the Agricultural Departments in August, 1965. The booklets and supplements are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the approximate retail price per pound for potatoes on 1st January, 1966, and each following month up to, and including, 1st June.

Typical ranges of retail prices for white varieties of potato sold loose in England and Wales were:

			per lb.
Beginning of January	…	…	2½d. to 3½d.
Beginning of February	…	…	2½d. to 3½d.
Beginning of March	…	…	2½d. to 3½d.
Beginning of April	…	…	3d. to 4d.
Beginning of May	…	…	3½d. to 4½d.
Beginning of June	…	…	5d. to 6d.

Red varieties were generally between id. and ld. per lb. dearer. Prepacked potatoes were also a little dearer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the price of tea, following devaluation of the rupee.

No. It is not yet clear what effect the devaluation of the rupee and associated measures will have on the average price of U.K. imports of tea (of which India currently provides about half). The bulk of the tea imported from India is sold on the London auctions at sterling prices determined by the interaction of supply and demand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many home-grown potatoes were exported to the Continent during the last six months.

Official monthly export statistics are available only up to the end of April, but my estimate of total exports of potatoes from the United Kingdom 1965 crop is as follows:

	tons
For human consumption	100,000 (including 36,000 tones from Northern Ireland)
For industrial and	46,000
stockfeed processing Seed	66,000 (including 51,000 tons from Northern Ireland)
Total	212,000

About two-thirds of these exports would have gone to the Continent

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to set up a farm animal welfare standing advisory committee as proposed by the Brambell Committee.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are considering this, along with the Committee's other recommendations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the operation of the Sugar Act 1956 on 13th June 1966, and on other recent dates, when United Kingdom refiners refused other than nominal orders at the day's spot price based on the equivalent spot price for raws quoted by the Sugar Board; and if he will make a statement.

The circumstances stated do not disclose any defect in the operation of the Sugar Act. I am satisfied that United Kingdom refiners were acting responsibly in refusing to meet abnormally large orders from customers seeking to take advantage of a tempo rarily low ex refinery price. The price has now been restored to a more normal level by an increase in the surcharge this morning, but even so the ex refinery price will still be at a level comparable with the earlier part of this year and prices at all levels of distribution should be unaffected