asked the Minister of Power what is the cost per therm of gas produced by the coal carbonisation method.

About 12d.-15d. into holder.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that the phrase "High Speed Gas" is misleading to the public; and if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the gas boards not to use it in their advertisements.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he has exercised his functions under Section 9 of the Continental Shelf Act 1964 for the sale of natural gas by private producers to the nationally-owned gas industry.

I have not yet been called upon to exercise these functions.

asked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the boards of the nationalised industries for which he has responsibility, not to place contracts with firms which refuse to recognise or negotiate with trade unions.

No, but I understand that the nationalised fuel industries already include a "Fair Wages" Clause in all their major contracts, which deals with wages, conditions and trade unions. If my hon. Friend knows of particular cases of difficulty I am sure that the appropriate Chairmen will be pleased to hear from him.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now give a general direction, in the public interest, to the nationalised fuel industries to coordinate their advertising.

No. I do not favour indiscriminate competitive advertising, but some individual advertising is valuable, for example, to encourage the development of off-peak loads. I shall keep the subject under review with the industries.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has now had from the steel industry and other organisations about alternative proposals to nationalisation as outlined in the White Paper on Steel Nationalisation, Command Paper No. 2651; and whether he will summarise these proposals in a further White Paper together with his reasons for rejecting them.

The Office Bearers of the British Iron and Steel Federation handed me at a meeting on 10th May, 1966, proposals for a new supervisory authority for the steel industry. A summary of these proposals was published by the Federation on 14th June. I had already explained the Government's views in the following letter of 24th May to the President of the Federation which was also published on 14th June:

"I have considered your suggestions very carefully with my colleagues. The facts are, however, that the Government have been returned to power at two successive General Elections on the basis of a programme which clearly included public ownership of the main part of the steel industry and that the implementation of your proposals would not fulfil these commitments. Moreover, under your proposals, rationalisation of the structure of the industry would be slower and less complete than under full common ownership of all the main producing units, and the continued existence of separate companies with their own shareholders would make it impossible to secure the full advantages of positive central planning of investment, production and marketing over the main part of the industry as a whole.

Again, in the circumstances of the steel industry, a proposition under which the State became a major shareholder of the equity of individual companies would leave their Directors with an awkward divided responsibility to the State on the one hand, with its concern for the most efficient development of the industry as a whole in the national interest, and to the private shareholders on the other hand, whose legitimate concern it would be to secure the maximum return on their investment

For these reasons and to end uncertainty the Government have decided that a Bill to implement the White Paper proposals for the future of the steel industry should be presented to Parliament soon after the Whitsun Recess.

I know that our decision will be unwelcome to you, but I do assure you that it has been reached only after careful thought and because we are satisfied that this is the right course in the national interest. I realise that you and your colleagues will want to make your general views known to Parliament and the public. I very much hope, however, that in the light of the Government's decision, you will in the interests of the industry and the nation co-operate in the practical implementation of these proposals and in securing the best technical organisation of the nationalised industry, which the White Paper leaves flexible. I shall get in touch with you again very shortly and I hope we shall be able to arrange fruitful discussions on this basis."

asked the Minister of Power whether steps have been taken to consult the appropriate trade unions in the steel industry concerning the participation of worker in the democratic management of the industry.

My predecessor consulted the Trades Union Congress in the preparation of the White Paper and I resumed these consultations at a meeting on 16th June. My predecessor and I have also had discussions with individual unions and union officials in the steel industry.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the fatalities which have resulted from accidents to the "Sea Gem", drilling in the North Sea under licence from him, and of fatal accidents to divers investigating the cause of the earlier accident, if he is satisfied with the relevant safety precautions; and if he will make a statement.

Safety precautions receive close attention and my right hon. Friend would certainly tighten them if the need arose. Pending completion of the inquiries into the causes of the accidents it would be inappropriate for him to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Power what provision is made in the licences granted by him to drill for oil and gas in the North Sea to convey the gas and oil recently discovered there to North-East Scotland for the benefit of trade, industry and social life of the people there.

None. The licences provide for gas and oil from the Continental Shelf to be delivered ashore in the United Kingdom unless the Minister consents to its delivery elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Power how the price of domestic coal in Scotland compares with that in the northern region of England.

In the Border counties the zone delivered prices of domestic coal are 5s. 3d. a ton less than in Westmorland, 5s. 6d. more than in Cumberland, and 9s. 9d. more than in North Northumberland. Other parts of Scotland do not use the same quality classification, but in one of the most popular household groups, zone delivered prices in Central Scotland vary between 4s. 10d. more and 10s. 2d. less than in the English zones I have mentioned.

asked the Minister of Power what sanctions he has given for mining operations in the Armitage and Rugeley area of the Trent and Mersey Canal.

My right hon. Friend has not been asked to authorise opencast mining of coal in this area. Other mining operations do not require my sanction.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the reduced position of power station coal stocks due to the premature running down of the coal industry aggravated by the shipping strike.

Coal stocks at those power stations in the South of England which are wholly supplied by sea have naturally been falling since the shipping strike began. At other stations, however, stocks are close to the planned level for the time of year, and are increasing at a satisfactory rate.

asked the Minister of Power if he is satisfied with the supplies of smokeless fuel, and, in particular, the new fuels developed by the National Coal Board; and if he will make a statement.

Supplies of smokeless fuel are in total more than adequate.The National Coal Board has constructed plants at Cardiff, Coventry and Markham Main for the production of new smokeless fuels. I understand the Cardiff plant has been very successful and the Board has decided to extend it, but at the other two engineering difficulties are delaying production.

asked the Minister of Power how many pit ponies are still employed in mines in each region of the National Coal Board; how many have been destroyed, surfaced, or retired in each year from 1950 to the present date; and if he will make a statement.

The number of ponies employed underground in National Coal Board mines has declined from over 20,000 in 1947 to 4,067 in 30th June, 1965.The following were the numbers of ponies employed underground in each Division of the National Coal Board on 30th June, 1965, the latest date for which figures are available:

Scottish	…	6
Northumberland and Durham.	…	2,409
Yorkshire	…	575
North Western	…	9
East Midlands	…	657
West Midlands	…	48
South Western	…	363
Total	…	4,067

No ponies were employed underground in the Kent coalfield.The following are the total numbers of pit ponies destroyed or retired from underground work at National Coal Board mines in each year from 1950 (the figures relate to years ending 30th June):

1950	…	…	…	1,859
1951	…	…	…	1,744
1952	…	…	…	1,457
1953	…	…	…	1,442
1954	…	…	…	1,411
1955	…	…	…	1,346
1956	…	…	…	1,178
1957	…	…	…	1,177
1958	…	…	…	1,102
1959	…	…	…	969
1960	…	…	…	1,192
1961	…	…	…	865
1962	…	…	…	716
1963	…	…	…	655
1964	…	…	…	618
1965	…	…	…	539

Separate figures are not available of the number of ponies brought to the surface.The proper care and treatment of horses in mines is the responsibility of the National Coal Board, but is safeguarded by regulations under the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, and four Horse Inspectors are employed whole-time in the enforcement of these provisionsThe National Coal Board expects that employment of ponies underground will have ceased altogether by the early nineteen seventies.

asked the Minister of Power how many vacancies there were in each division of the National Coal Board at the latest convenient date.

I have asked the Chairman of the Board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the West Midlands Electricity Board in the matter of sub-contracting of electrical equipment repair work previously carried out by the Board's own personnel.

No. When skilled labour is scarce the Boards cannot recruit as many suitable craftsmen as they need. In such circumstances they have to employ sub-contractors if they are to maintain adequate standards of service to their consumers.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the recommendation which has been made to him by the South Eastern Electricity Consultative Council regarding a need to protect tenants by legislation, if he will now make it an offence to resell electricity other than through a certified meter: and whether he will also apply such legislation to gas meters.

Legislation to this effect already applies to gas meters. As regards electricity, it has already been made clear that further action will be taken if the evidence shows this to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Power what information he has regarding the progress of the new hydraulic power station at Bucks Mill in North Devon; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Central Electricity Generating Board that their investigations are continuing.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what requests he has received from overseas Governments and institutions for text books and literature on the history, practice and development of co-operative societies.

In the past four years seven requests from five overseas countries for books on co-operative subjects have been received and met.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what action has been taken to complete the proper survey and land registration in the Cayman and Turks and Caicos Islands.

I am making arrangements to send an expert to the Turks and Caicos Islands to advise on the system of land registration and to draft the necessary legislation. We shall also help with the establishment of a Land Office there. I have not received any request from the Cayman Islands.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what further action is proposed to expedite mosquito clearance in the Cayman Islands.

A Research and Control Unit is being set up under the direction of Dr. M. E. C. Giglioli, with equipment provided by my Ministry from Colonial Development and Welfare funds.

asked the Minister of Technology what request has been made to his Department by British shipbuilders for assistance in the forward planning of ship construction by computer and advanced technological techniques; and what reply he has sent.

None. But my Department is in correspondence with the British Ship Research Association about its request for an earmarked grant to buy a tape-controlled drafting machine. This produces accurate scale drawings from a computer tape which will be used to actuate an automatic plate-cutting machine.

asked the Minister of Technology what information he has about the likely cost of electricity generated by high temperature reactors such as the Dragon type at Winfrith Heath.

Generating costs for high temperature gas cooled reactors have been provisionally forecast by the Chief Executive of the O.E.C.D. Dragon project. These are based on experience so far with the experimental reactor at Winfrith which does not produce electricity.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will initiate research into methods of mitigating the harmful effects of diesel exhaust fumes on human respiratory organs; and whether he will publish a comprehensive report showing what information he has from other Governments and the World Health Organisation who have carried out similar researches.

No. While diesel exhaust fumes may often be unpleasant, I am advised that there is no evidence that the concentrations of these fumes found in the streets may constitute a hazard to health.Information about air pollution by diesel exhausts is freely exchanged on an international basis and I do not consider that the publication of a comprehensive report is needed.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will give details of any development work which he is supporting in the field of infra-red amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; (2) whether he will give details of any development work which he is supporting in the field of light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; and how the work is divided between gaseous lasers, optically pumped lasers and injection lasers; (3) whether he will give details of any development work which he is supporting in ultra-violet amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; (4) whether he will give details of any work which he is supporting in the field of X-ray amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; (5) whether he will give details of any work which he is supporting in the field of gamma-ray amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; (6) whether he will give details of any development work which he is supporting in the field of micro-wave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; (7) whether he will give details of any development work which he is supporting in the field of radio-frequency amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.

Development of the following devices incorporating amplification by stimulated emission of radiation is at present being supported by my Department:

(1) gas devices operating in the sub-millimetre wavelength range and which have the prospect of penetrating fog.

(2) several types of high output optically pumped solid state lasers for use in high speed photography and in the study of the effects of laser beams on solids and plasmas.

(3) several types of gas lasers for use in industrial metrology, in photography, in stress analysis and in producing holograms.

Several other Departments are supporting the development of lasers and other related devices and my Department is in close touch with them.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Laboratory of the Government Chemist up to 1970; and when he will publish it;(2) whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the National Engineering Laboratory up to 1970; and when he will publish it;(3) whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the National Physical Laboratory up to 1970; and when he will publish it;(4) whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Torry Research Station up to 1970; and when he will publish it;(5) whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Warren Spring Laboratory up to 1970; and when he will publish it;(6) whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Water Pollution Research Laboratory up to 1970; and when he will publish it;(7) whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Forest Products Research Laboratory up to 1970; and when he will publish it;

Estimates of current and capital expenditure five years ahead are prepared for planning purposes and are revised annually. Estimated expenditure for 1966/67 is given in the Civil Estimates. I do not propose to publish the planning estimates.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will define those industries for which he accepts sponsorship by reference to the appropriate numbers in the minimum list heading of the Standard Industrial Classification 1958.

The Ministry of Technology is at present the sponsoring Department for the following industries as defined in the Standard Industrial Classification 1958:—

asked the Minister of Technology if he has yet completed his study of the design standards to be adopted for a more modern type of British computer to meet current needs; and with what result.

British computers of modern design are available for most current needs. Computer technology is developing rapidly and my Department has recently completed a study of certain technical aspects of computer development. It will continue to engage in discussions between users and manufacturers on future design requirements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost resulting from the seamen's strike to the balance of payments in the current year and in respect of future years.

No reliable estimate can be made. The cost will depend, among other things, on how long the strike lasts and on the efforts of all concerned to make up lost ground when it is over.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the loss to the revenue if the employment of retirement pensioners were exempted from the Selective Employment Tax; and what would be the loss resulting from the exemption of the employment of persons on the disabled persons register.

Precise figures are not available. However, it is estimated that in a full year the loss to the revenue would be of the order of £10 million in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Ministers and/or Ministries receive tax-free entertaining allowances or grants for this purpose; if he will give the total sum provided during the year ended 5th April, 1966; and how much of this was spent entirely on entertaining overseas visitors.

Most Departments have a measure of delegated authority for expenditure on official entertainment, including Ministerial entertainment: but Ministers do not receive personal entertainment allowances. Specific sums may also be authorised for particular functions. The delegated authorities for the year ending 31st March, 1966 totalled approximately £125,000. Information about actual expenditure is not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions have been given to banks concerning the granting of credit facilities; and if he will make a statement on their effect.

The banks have been asked to keep their lending to the private sector to 105 per cent. of the level at March, 1965, until further review. In addition they have been asked to give the fullest possible facilities to exports and productive investment by manufacturing industry: to take account of the Government's aims on regional development: and to restrict credit for less essential purposes including imports of manufactured goods for home consumption and imports for stockbuilding.By mid-May 1966 London Clearing Bank advances were 4½ per cent, up on March, 1965. In the twelve months to May advances to manufacturing industry rose by £250 million, but fell by £75 million to less essential categories.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his latest overseas investments directive to the British Bankers' Association, along with his letter to over 200 companies, asking for the slowing down of the flow of capital from Great Britain to developing sterling countries; and what indications he has received that this voluntary effort is being successful.

My letter was published on 10th May, and the Bank of England guidance to the British Bankers' Association on 6th June. I am sending copies to the hon. Member. I am much encouraged by the response from company chairman to my request for co- operation in the Voluntary Programme, which relates to developed countries in the Sterling Area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of interest he has agreed to pay on the most recent £350 million loan from the Bank for International Settlements; and whether it will be paid only on the portion drawn and for the limited period it is drawn.

I have nothing to add to what I said in the House on 14th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the expiring £350 million Bank for International Settlement loan has been drawn upon; on what dates; for what amounts; and for how long a period.

If the hon. Member is referring to the arrangements with Central Banks announced on 10th September last, it was made clear at the time that no details relating to the arrangements would be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage increase or decrease in the financial year 1965–66 as against 1964–65 in the home sales of Scotch whisky and of other spirits, respectively, in the tax yield and in the actual tax yield against estimated yield.

I have no figure for sales. Clearances from bonded warehouses of Scotch whisky and of other spirits declined by 9·1 per cent, and 11·0 per cent, respectively in 1965–66 compared with 1964–65. Revenue increased by 3·1 per cent, for Scotch whisky and by 0·1 per cent, for other spirits. The comparison is distorted by heavy pre-Budget forestalling early in 1965.Separate Budget estimates of the duty yield are not made for the different types of spirits. The 1965–66 estimate for home-produced spirits of all types was £190 million and the outturn £193·4 million, a surplus of 1·8 per cent; for imported spirits the estimate was £56 million and the outturn £51·2 million, a deficiency of 8·6 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimate cost of nationalising the steel industry; what type of stock he proposes to issue in payment; what will be the annual interest charge; what measures he proposes to take to ensure that the stock will be kept as a permanent investment; and if he will make a statement;(2) in view of the facts that 2½ per cent. Treasury Stock issued in 1946 at 100 per cent, is now standing at the lowest ever price of 37 per cent., and that War Loan is down to the lowest price of 50½ per cent., what method he proposes to use to pay compensation for steel nationalisation without depressing the gilt-edged market and further weakening sterling; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not statement to make on these matters in advance of the presentation of a Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the new tax reserve certificate for companies is to be introduced, and on what terms.

The new Company Tax Reserve Certificate will be available on 27th June. It can be used for payment of Corporation Tax and any remaining liability to profits tax, and it will bear interest at 4⅜ per cent, per annum, tax free when used for meeting these tax liabilities. This new certificate should offer an attractive and convenient way of saving to meet taxes. A separate Personal Tax Reserve Certificate, which will continue to earn interest at 3½ per cent, per annum tax free, will be available for meeting liability to Income Tax, Surtax and Capital Gains Tax.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to raise the level of the standard and discretionary grants paid by local councils and Her Majesty's Government towards the improvement and modernisation of substandard old dwellings.

The grant level is one of several factors I am looking into but these inquiries are not yet complete.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the recent decision to allow building at Calver in the Peak District National Park was an infringement of the board's policy to resist any large-scale new housing development to meet the needs of wealthy commuters; and whether he will issue instructions to his inspectors that there is to be no future infringements of this policy.

The Peak Park Planning Board was not opposed to the eventual development of this land; my right hon. Friend merely accelerated the timing. The Board has his full support in restricting development in the National Park to those areas where it can properly be allowed, but planning control is concerned with the use of land rather than with the people who use it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to give local authorities the power to fulfil similar functions to those now available through building societies.

Local authorities already have powers under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and the Housing Acts to advance money on mortgage for the purchase of houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will institute an inquiry into the organisation, structure and control of building societies to determine whether, as now constituted, they offer borrowers the best service at lowest cost.

No, but some of these topics may arise from the reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what changes in rent levels have resulted from the decisions of the London Rent Assessment Committees on applications for registration of fair rent referred to them.

The fair rents determined by London rent assessment committees on 66 applications decided up to 11th June represent reductions in the rent prior to registration in over 80 per cent, of the cases, no change in about 4 per cent, and increases in about 13 per cent. Very substantial reductions were made in a number of cases. In only five cases, where the rent was increased, was the increase above the rent determined by the rent officer. Details of the committees' decisions are given below.I am arranging for copies of the bulletins of selected decisions issued by the London Rent Assessment Panel to be placed in the Library. At present they are being issued monthly, but this may be varied in future. Further copies may be obtained on request from the Ministry.

Ministry of Housing and Local Government Reference	Annual Rent* before Registration	Annual Fair Rent* determined by Rent Assessment Committee	Rent Assessment Committee determination compared with rent before registration
	£	£	£
1	234	117	-117
2	364	299	-65
3	130	136	+6
4	234	221	-13
5	475	400	-75
6	208 (incl.)	143	-65†
7	234 (incl.)	156	-78†
8	325	385	+60
9	300	225	-75
10	161 (incl.)	117	-44†
11	161 (incl.)	117	-44†
12	239 (incl.)	156	-83†
13	273 (incl.)	160	-113†
14	260	260	no change
15	442	375	-67
16	234 (excl.services)	351 (incl. £36 services)	+81 (allowing for services)
17	312	240	-72
18	287	247	-40
19	312	240	-72
20	312	275	-37
21	130	300	+170
22	390	270	-120

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will include in the option mortgage scheme mortgages granted to housing associations approved under Section 43 of the Finance Act, 1963.

I will willingly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion as soon as the main proposals for option mortgages have been settled with the mortgage institutions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he proposes to introduce legislation to control gypsies of the Irish tinker variety; and whether he will give assistance to local authorities in south-west Middlesex to prevent the nuisance caused by such gypsies on private property and on the highway verges.

No. I believe that local authorities can best help to solve this problem by providing properly equipped sites where gypsies and other itinerants can go. I issued a circular last week, urging them to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in connection with Circular 26/66 about provision of camp sites for gypsies by local authorities, whether the cost of providing these sites is to be recoverable from rents; on what basis the occupants are to be selected; and if he is satisfied that the existing powers of local authorities are adequate to control the sites.

Rents and selection of occupants are matters for local authorities to settle. I am satisfied that they have adequate powers to control the sites.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the estimates for the North-East Coast for pit heap reclamations for the years 1965–66 and 1966–67 will be met in full; and what are the sums involved.

Local authorities in development districts in the North-East propose to clear 1,058 acres of spoil heaps in the year ending 31st December, 1966. Information is not available to show how much of this acreage is included in schemes already accepted for grant, but I know of no reason why grant should not be payable for all approved schemes. Proposals for clearance for the year ending 31st December, 1967 have not yet been submitted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what response he has made to the proposal put forward by the North Regional Committee of Planning Officers for an alteration in the policy at present operative for the rehabilitation of pit heaps so as to add to the visual amenities essential to attract new industries to the North.

A deputation from the North Regional Planning Committee met my right hon. Friend, the Joint Minister of State at the Board of Trade on 8th June to discuss matters of policy relating to grant for treating derelict land in the Northern Region. My Department was represented. These included suggestions for altering the arrangements applying to the treatment of pit heaps. My right hon. Friends, the Joint Minister of State, Board of Trade and the Minister of of Housing and Local Government will consider the deputation's proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to expedite the publication of the definitive map of footpaths and bridleways in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

I am about to make a direction requiring the County Council to prepare a provisional map.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what were the total population and total rateable value of boroughs, urban district councils and rural district councils by these categories in the sample survey sent out in connection with the Local Government Bill and the total population and rateable value figures for all the boroughs, urban districts and rural districts of England and Wales, both for the most recent convenient period;(2) whether he will publish a table showing the product of a penny rate for the most recent convenient periods of two boroughs, two urban district councils and two rural district councils, which authorities have been selected for sample survey purposes in connection with the Local Government Bill, the authorities concerned in each bracket to be those with the highest and lowest penny rate product of those selected for survey.

		Population mid-1965		Rateable Value1.4.1965		Penny Rate Product 1965–66
		Sample	England & Wales	Sample	England & Wales	Highest of sample	Lowest of sample
				£.m.	£m.	£	£
Boroughs	…	616,370	7,391,520	28·9	306·6	30,000 (Slough)	150 (Cowbridge)
Urban Districts	…	965,740	8,605,400	36·7	319·0	14,450 (Crawley)	170 (Builth Wells)
Rural Districts	…	956,550	9,951,630	29·6	312·7	10,350 (Chichester)	226 (Tregaron)
Total	…	2,538,660	25,948,550	95·2	938·3	—	—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set up a study group, in consultation with the Greater London Council, to replan Trafalgar Square on Buchanan principles taking into account the suggestions in the current Agricultural Review, a copy of which has been sent to him.

In his plan for the National and Government Centre, Sir Leslie Martin recommended a comprehensive study of the needs of the Trafalgar Square area in relation to Whitehall and other adjoining areas, including traffic arrangements and needs. I understand that the Greater London Council hope to announce before the Summer Recess arrangements for such a study, in consultation with Government Departments including my own, the Westminster City Council, as local planning authority, and other bodies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will now make a statement in regard to the future of the Kenya Settlers' Compassionate Trust Fund.

The Trust was due to be wound up in December, 1965, but was

The sample was constructed on the basis of ranking all authorities of these three classes together in one order of population and selecting every tenth authority. The information below is based on the latest estimates available:extended for one year. All but a small amount of the Fund has been spent, and the operation of the Fund on a revolving basis, as originally contemplated, is no longer practicable.The situation in Kenya has changed considerably since the Trust was established and I am in correspondence with the British High Commissioner in Nairobi as to whether, and on what terms provision should be made beyond the end of 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) in view of the fact that the cost of premium grade petrol is 4s. 2d. a gallon and of ordinary grades 3s. 10½d. a gallon to motorists and consumers in Zambia, what account he is taking of petrol prices in Zambia in his negotiations with the Zambian Government about the supply of petrol to that country;(2) what has been the cost to date to the British Exchequer of the airlift and other arrangements for transporting petrol to Zambia since the unilateral declaration of independence by Rhodesia, in total and per gallon.

The British civil airlift which ended on 29th May cost £2·2 million. The R.A.F. airlift cost £2·2 million up to 15th June, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what is the present difference between the selling price and the full landed cost of petrol brought into Zambia by all means for which the United Kingdom bears either a part or the whole of the financial responsibility;(2) what he estimates the direct financial cost will be to the United Kingdom of the further measures of economic discrimination taken by the Government of Zambia against Rhodesia;(3) what consultations the Government of Zambia had with him before embarking on further measures of economic discrimination against Rhodesia, which will have direct financial consequences for the United Kingdom; and whether he will list those measures which were agreed and those which were rejected by the United Kingdom.

British airlifts into Zambia cost £4·4 million up to 15th June. At that date they had carried approximately 15,500 tons of oil into Zambia. Because of the many complex factors involved, it would be misleading to use these figures to calculate the cost of petrol per gallon and to relate this cost to the selling price.It is not possible to state the exact cost to the United Kingdom of economic sanctions imposed by the Zambians against Rhodesia. The steps so far taken by the Zambian Government to intensify sanctions against the illegal régime have been the subject of consultations between the Zambian Government and Her Majesty's Government. The Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations has returned to Lusaka to continue consultations and no further information can be given at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what response his Department has made to General Ankrah's request for army clothing and equipment for Ghana.

I am actively considering General Ankrah's request.

Watkins asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why no further defence aid has been offered to the Government of Malaysia this year; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government have not offered further defence aid to Malaysia because of our own current financial difficulties. This was explained to Mr. Tan Siew Sin, the Malaysian Finance Minister, when he visited London last month. There is no hidden political reason for this refusal.Although we have been unable to make a further offer, considerable sums are still available under earlier grants. Of the grant of £20 million made for the period 1963–65 rather more than £2 million remains to be spent. In addition to this sum the United Kingdom will be providing about £2·5 million this year for the costs of British Service personnel seconded to the Malaysian Forces, and for the raising of a complete infantry battalion. Economic aid for civil purposes will also be in the neighbourhood of £5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the British troops stationed in Bahrein will be used in defence of countries in the Middle East which have defence treaties with the United Kingdom.

To the extent that may be required to fulfil our obligations under those treaties.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what units of the armed services are at present stationed in Northern Ireland; and what is their annual cost.

Units of the Regular Forces at present stationed in Northern Ireland include a Joint Anti-Submarine School, a squadron of naval helicopters, one armoured car regiment and one infantry battalion, a R.A.F. Maritime Squadron and a R.A.F. Maintenance Unit, together with headquarters personnel, depôts and minor supporting units. Their annual cost is about £14 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the construction of small carriers for vertical take-off aircraft.

None at present. The whole question of the ships and aircraft which the Navy will need in the post-carrier era is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the recent fatal accidents at the Cockenzie power station site, he will direct the South of Scotland Electricity Board to include in all contracts over £5 million a clause stipulating that a site safety officer must be employed from the start of construction and that extra safety officers must be engaged if Her Majesty's Inspector of Factories considers that one such officer is insufficient or the size of the site and the number of hazards involved.

No. The safety of workers on constructional sites is entirely the responsibility of individual contractors and they are subject to the safety regulations administered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour through Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time taken in the sampling of fields for testing the presence of potato root eel-worm, between receipt of the application form by his Department and the result being notified to the applicant.

It is not feasible to give an average time. The general aim is to notify results to farmers in good time before planting. The time taken to deal with individual applications varies according to the circumstances, including weather conditions prevailing at the time of application. Prolonged periods of frost or snow which hinder the taking of samples from time to time give rise to considerable delays. In 1965–66 additional difficulty arose out of exceptional demands on inspecting staff in connection with the export of ware potatoes to Europe.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has formed of the saving in costs which will accrue to the building and construction industries as a result of the abolition of the import surcharge; and what percentage this is of their total costs.

Substantially less than one per cent, of construction costs.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what increases have taken place in the price of certain components used in house building in Scotland since March, 1965, namely, plasterboard, glass, cement, brass screws, asbestos fittings, copper tubing, sheet copper, electric switch gear, wiring cables, electric fires and heaters, electric water storage heaters, ready-mix concrete, conduit, and conduit fittings.

The estimated price increases in Great Britain between March, 1965 and May, 1966 are:

Material	Percentage Price Increase
Plasterboard	5
Glass (Sheet and plate)	3
Cement	3
Asbestos cement products	6
Copper Tube	29
Copper Sheet	68
Domestic Electrical Installations	10
Domestic Electrical Heating Appliances	3
Conduit	6

Figures are not available for brass screws, electric switch gear, ready-mixed concrete or conduit fittings.The estimates relate to average price increases in Great Britain as a whole. There may be variations from them resulting from such factors as differences in transport costs, but it is not possible to give specifically Scottish prices.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will make a statement on the financial consequences of the proposed Selective Employment Tax to builders with fixed price forward contracts with local authorities.

Precise information is not available. It is estimated, however, that if there were no compensating increases in productivity, the extra cost due to the Selective Employment Tax, on contracts placed by local authorities on their own behalf prior to the Budget, would be about £4,000,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the malpractice and financial incompetence of the Egg Marketing Board; and if he will set up an inquiry to look into the whole administration and working of the Egg Marketing Board.

I have now received a memorandum from my hon. Friend and shall be considering with my right hon. Friends whether there are grounds for an inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the overdraft of the Egg Marketing Board is currently running at about £5 million and that the Board is using bonus amounts, due to producers, to reduce the amount of the overdraft, thereby depriving egg producers of the amount due to them; and what steps he is taking to deal with this situation.

Under arrangements concerning the operation of the Board's reserve fund, they inform me from time to time of the level of their overdraft. The present level is, I understand, very much below the figure quoted by my hon. Friend. The arrangements for paying bonuses to producers are a matter for the Board, which announced on 26th May that, during the period until producers are transferred to the centralised payments system, interim payment of bonuses will be made whenever the accumulated sum due to any producer reaches £50. My right hon. Friends and I cannot intervene in the Board's administrative arrangements save in the special circumstances provided for in the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958. A complaint about the operation of the centralised payments system generally has been referred to the Committee of Investigation under Section 19 of the Act; the matter is therefore sub judice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of unrepresentational nature of the delegates at the present Basutoland Constitutional Conference, he will give an assurance that any proposals formulated by this conference will be subject to ratification by the people of Basutoland at an election before they are implemented.

No. I do not agree that the delegates were unrepresentational.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many colleges of advanced technology and colleges of technology included courses in traffic engineering in their curricula in 1965–66; how many are planning to provide such courses in 1966–67; and if he will list these colleges.

The following colleges provided courses in traffic engineering in 1965–66, and are continuing the courses in 1966–67.

• Battersea College of Technology^*.
• Bradford Institute of Technology^*.
• Bolton Institute of Technology.
• Brighton College of Technology.
• Coventry Technical College.
• Enfield College of Technology.
• City of Liverpool College of Building.
• Liverpool, Riversdale Technical College.
• Nottingham Regional College of Technology.
• Sunderland Technical College.
• Westminster Technical College.
• Wolverhampton College of Technology.
• ^*Colleges of Advanced Technology.

There may be other colleges which intend to provide courses in 1966–67 about which the Department does not have information. Traffic engineering is sometimes available as an optional subject in more general courses, e.g. in civil engineering.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the present formula

			(a)	(b)	(c)
			Registered as charities	Provided by religious orders	Total of (a) and (b) as percentage of total in Table 4 [4]
Direct Grant Schools
20 Nursery	…	…	4	—	20
21 Grammar	…	…	46	57	58
22 Special (other than hospital)	…	…	16	16	29
23 Special (hospital)	…	…	—	—	—
24 Institution and technical	…	…	2	—	29
25 All direct grant schools	…	…	68	73	43
Independent schools recognised as efficient
26 Nursery	…	…	1	1	22
27 Primary	…	…	125	121	32
28 Secondary	…	…	113	82	65
29 Primary and Secondary	…	…	146	169	66
All recognised independent schools	…	…	385	373	49

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he has approved a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Natural Environment Research Council up to 1970; and when he will publish it; devised for fixing the teacher quota allocation to local education authorities works fairly and equitably for all authorities; and what proposals he has to alter it.

My right hon. Friend does not at present propose to alter the formula by which each authority's share of the available force of full-time qualified teachers is allocated, since he is satisfied that the formula works equitably.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the numbers and percentages of schools which are charities of those direct grant and independent schools listed in Statistics of Education, Part I, 1964, Table 4 [4], lines 20–36, severally and inclusive, to the latest convenient date, of which he has information.

The following table gives the information available about the educational establishments listed in lines 20 to 30 of the Table. Information is not readily available about the independent schools which are not recognised as efficient and a disproportionate amount of time and labour would be required to obtain it.(2) Whether he has approved a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Science Research Council up to 1970; and when he will publish it;(3) Whether he has approved a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Agricultural Research Council up to 1970; and when he will publish it;

No. The Council for Scientific Policy which advises my right hon. Friend in the exercise of his responsibility for determining the resources of the Research Councils, is at present considering the forward programmes of the four Research Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has approved a programme of current and capital expenditure for the Social Sciences Research Council up to 1970; and when he will publish it.

No. The Social Science Research Council began to function only on 1st December last and its longer term programme of expenditure will not be determined until it has gained some experience of operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has prepared a programme of current and capital expenditure for the National Lending Library for Technology and Science up to 1970; and when he will publish it.

Provisional estimates of the National Lending Library's expenditure over the next five years are prepared for planning purposes. Each year the estimate for the next financial year is made firm and published in the Official Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the bodies in receipt of Arts Council grants which are classified as charities and exempt from Selective Employment Tax; and which are excluded from exemption.

The check being made by the Arts Council is not yet completed. As soon as it is, I will write to the hon. Lady.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the annual amount spent on research into the problems of addiction; and if he will ensure that this is increased.

The information requested is not available centrally; applications for research funds are considered on their merits.

asked the Minister of Health what research is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministries of Transport and Technology to assess the harmful effects of diesel exhaust fumes on respiratory organs; when he will make a statement; and whether he will publish a report showing what information he has from other Governments and the World Health Organisation who have undertaken comparable researches.

Research is carried out by the Air Pollution Unit of the Medical Research Council, in consultation with the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology and with the Ministry of Transport. Reports have been published in the scientific and medical press and a brief summary of the position will be given later this year in the 1965 Report of my Chief Medical Officer. Contact is maintained with other countries and the World Health Organisation. No evidence of any health hazard from diesel exhaust fumes has so far been obtained.

asked the Minister of Health whether personnel employed by dispensing chemists to provide prescriptions under the National Health Service are to be excepted from the Selective Employment Tax.

No. Payments to chemists for dispensing National Health Service prescriptions are, however, designed to cover all the costs attributable to such work. An inquiry into these costs is currently in progress and the effects of the new tax will be taken into account with other factors in deciding whether any adjustment in remuneration is called for.

asked the Minister of Labour what weighting has been given to the industries in public ownership in the Index of Retail Prices over the period 1951 to 1965; and to what extent the percentage increases or decreases have been affected by fluctuations in prices in the industries in public ownership and private ownership, respectively.

The industries in public ownership, comprising the coal, coke, gas, electricity and railway industries, the London Transport Board, postal telephone, etc. and broadcasting services provided a weighting of about 8 per cent, of the index during the period 1951 to 1965.The Index of Retail Prices rose by about 75 per cent, between January, 1951 and December, 1965. About 12½ per cent, of this rise was due to fluctuations in prices in the industries in public ownership and 87½ per cent, to fluctuations in other industries.

asked the Minister of Labour if he proposes to introduce legislation to give employees the right to holiday pay in proportion to the period during which they have worked.

No. Holidays with pay are normally dealt with by collective bargaining, and I do not think it would be appropriate to legislate in the way suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the achievements of Lancashire teams in winning the Football Association Cup, the championship of the Football League, the Rugby League Cup and the championship of the Rugby League, he will issue a Lancashire stamp in the county series.