asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many students were studying in each of the business schools of London and Manchester during the term which has just finished.

At Manchester there were 30 full-time students throughout the term. At London 50 full-time students ended a course early in the term; and 20 attended a subsequent higher level course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement about the progress made in finding places at other schools of architecture for those students whose careers have been affected by the closure of the Southend School of Architecture.

I am informed by the local education authority that places have been found at other recognised schools of architecture for 16 of the 33 current first-year students at the Southend School of Architecture. Of the remainder, 8 expect to be placed in the near future, 6 have been advised not to continue with the course and 3 have abandoned it of their own volition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the dependency of some areas on the hotel and boarding house industry for their economic stability, he will introduce legislation to empower local authorities to grant loans on attractive terms to such establishments to enable them to modernise and improve their amenities.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that he will not apply the regulation to increase duties on wines and spirits to those goods which have already paid the 10 per cent. surcharge on importation.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the Selective Employment Tax collected in the Blackpool Employment Exchange area he estimates will be returned in the form of refunds and premiums; and what is the percentage for England as a whole.

Refunds and premiums, as a percentage of the total tax collected, are estimated at just under 80 per cent. for England as a whole. No estimate can be made in respect of Blackpool, since figures for Employment Exchange areas do not distinguish between the relevant categories.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the relief the co-operative socities will get from the change to the Corporation Tax system from the Income Tax and Profits Tax system.

It is not possible to estimate this exactly, but the relief is likely to be at least £2 million a year and may well be more.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average retail selling price in London of gold sovereigns of 1959 or 1965 before S.I., 1966, No. 438 came into force; and how it compares with the price which authorised dealers in gold will today pay individuals who hand in such sovereign, in conformity with the said Statutory Instrument.

The London gold market price for sovereigns has fluctuated between 68s. and 68s. 6d. both before and after S.I 1966 No. 438 came into force. The buying price of the authorised dealers in gold is based on this. Persons required to surrender sovereigns under the Order may also sell to recognised coin dealers. Coin dealers do not normally advertise their buying prices. Before the Order came into force, 1965 sovereigns were on offer at 77s. 6d. sometimes with discount for larger purchases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of English gold sovereigns which have been acquired by the Bank of England from authorised dealers in gold as a result of S.I., 1966, No. 438.

The Bank of England does not buy sovereigns from the market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the gold value of gold coins which have so far been sold to authorised dealers as a result of S.I., 1966, No. 438.

Approximately £50,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether progress has been made in drafting an order in council under the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, to enable the benefits arising from the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction of the courts to apply to the people of Guernsey, in view of the fact that these legal rights have been exercised by the people of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for the last 10 years.

I consider, as my predecessors have done, that it is for the Guernsey authorities, if they so wish, to take the initiative in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has so far received from the authorities concerned to the police amalgamation proposals; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs) on 30th June.

asked the Postmaster General if he will make an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of waiving the whole or half the television licence fee for old-age pensioners, either single persons or married couples, who live on their own.

The number of retirement pensioners who, as single persons or as married couples, live on their own, is not known; and no meaningful estimate of the cost of waiving the television licence fee whether in whole or in part can be made.

asked the Postmaster General whether he will state the names, ownership and situation of all pirate radio stations; which are within and which outside British territorial waters; and which have been occupied by the Ministry of Defence, or otherwise used as Government property.

The names and situations of the pirate radio stations near the coasts of the British Isles are:Radio Caroline, Radio London, Radio England, Britain Radio—on ships off the coast of Essex.Radio 270—on a ship off the coast of Yorkshire.Radio Caroline—on a ship off the coast of the Isle of Man.Radio Scotland—on a former lightship in the Firth of Clyde.Radio 390, Radio City, Radio Essex—on abandoned forts in the Thames Estuary.I am unable to give information about the ownership of the stations. Radios Scotland, 390, City and Essex are to landward of the outer limit of the territorial sea: the other stations are, so far as I am aware, to seaward of it. The forts on which Radio 390, City and Essex operate were used in wartime by the armed forces.As I have told the House on many occasions, legislation to deal with offshore radio stations has been prepared and its introduction has only been delayed because of the pressure of other legislation. However the Bill will be introduced before the summer recess.Meanwhile the Government are completing their general review of broadcasting policy in the course of which serious consideration has been given to the better provision of more popular music on a national basis. In addition various proposals for the establishment of local public service radio stations have been under consideration. A statement on broadcasting policy will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster General which stamps used on mail from Rhodesia to this country he treats as invalid.

We treat as invalid all stamps which we know to have been issued without the authority of the lawful Rhodesian Government. In practice this means any stamps which bear a reference to "Independence".

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures comparing the net present worth of a discounted cash flow return over 10 years of an investment of £1,000 in new plant for use in a qualifying industrial process made in 1964–65, pre-change, and a similar investment made in 1966–67, post-change, in a non-development district pre-change, but in a development area post-change, making the assumptions, to be set out in his reply, contained in correspondence from the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford relating to this matter;(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures comparing the net present worth of a discounted cash flow return over 10 years of an investment of £1,000 in new plant for use in a qualifying industrial process made in 1964–65, pre-change, and a similar investment made in 1966–67, post-change, in a non-development district, pre-change, and in a non-development area, post-change, making the assumptions, to be set out in his reply, contained in correspondence from the hon. Member for Wan-stead and Woodford relating to this matter;(3) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures comparing the net present worth of a discounted cash flow return over 10 years of an investment of £1,000 in a new plant for use in a qualifying industrial process made in 1964–65, pre-change, and a similar investment made in 1966–67, post-change, in a development district, pre-change, and in a development area, post-change, making the assumptions, to be set out in his reply, contained in correspondence from the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford relating to this matter.

These figures are based as nearly as practicable upon the assumptions suggested in the hon. Member's correspondence. They are calculated on the following basis:

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures comparing the net present worth of a discounted cash flow return over 10 years of an investment of £1,000 in a new general purpose goods vehicle made in 1964–65, pre-change, and a similar investment made in 1966–67, post-change, in a non-development district pre-change, but in a development area post-change, making the assumptions, to be set out in his reply, contained in correspondence from the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford relating to this matter;(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures comparing the net present worth of a discounted cash flow return over 10 years of an investment of £1,000 in a new general purpose goods vehicle made in 1964–65, pre-change, and a similar investment made in 1966–67, post-change, in a non-development district, pre-change, and in a non-development area, post-change, making the assumptions, to be set out in his reply, contained in correspondence from the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford relating to this matter;(3) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures comparing the net present worth of a discounted cash flow return over 10 years of an investment of £1,000 in a new general purpose goods vehicle made in 1964–65, pre-change, and a similar investment made in 1966–67, post-change, in a development district, pre-change, and in a development area post-change, making the assumptions, to be set out in his reply, contained in correspondence from the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford relating to this matter.

These figures are based as nearly as practicable upon the assumptions suggested by the hon. Member. They are calculated on the following basis:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to implement the recommendation made by the Estimates Committee, which examined the administration of the Local Employment Act, 1960, that management corporations should be given a more positive part to play in encouraging industry to settle in development areas.

The corporations are being given additional powers by the Industrial Development Bill. I believe that these changes will achieve the most efficient division of functions between the Board of Trade and the corporations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken to carry out the recommendation of the Estimates Committee on the administration of the Local Employment Act 1960 that his Department should consult the management corporations and the valuation office about reviewing the procedures on valuation in order to reduce delays.

In accordance with this recommendation, the Board carried out, in consultation with the Management Corporations and the Valuation Office, a review of the procedures, and as a result certain time-saving modifications were introduced. These procedures are kept under constant review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken upon the recommendation of the Estimates Committee, which examined the working of the Local Employment Act 1960, that a comprehensive study be made of the Board of Trade Advisory Committee procedures to reduce delays as quickly as possible.

I am doing everything practicable to speed up the procedure. B.O.T.A.C. must, however, consider applications thoroughly; and a good deal of time is often taken by applicants in providing the information needed.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has for conceding some simpler and speedier procedure and more freedom from the restraint on competition imposed by the licensing system, for professional hauliers engaged in international trade, in order to negotiate better conditions for them with European countries.

Good progress is being made in discussions with ten European countries on bilateral agreements aimed

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what has been the total cost of unemployment benefit for the 10 years 1955 to 1965.

£394 million.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what has been the total cost of sickness benefit for the 10 years 1955 to 1965.

£1,415 million.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of how many appeals have been made each year and how many were successful in each year since the Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act, 1949, came into force.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, how much has been collected on behalf of unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, and industrial injuries benefit, respectively, through the National Insurance stamp, in the 10 years from 1955 to 1965.

Contributions from employers and employees to the Industrial Injuries Fund amounted to £571 million. It is not possible to give corresponding figures for the contributions towards unemployment benefit or sickness benefit because, from 1961, contributions under the main National Insurance Scheme have not been built up from separate elements relating to the different benefits of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what has been the total cost of industrial injuries benefits for the 10 years 1955 to 1965.

£514 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what official forms in the Welsh language are at the present moment available for use by the public in Wales.

Some information about such forms is given in the Report on the Legal Status of the Welsh Language (Cmnd. No. 2785). As indicated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Merioneth (Mr. William Edwards) on 17th May, a full survey of the whole range of official forms is being conducted. I shall make a statement as soon as this survey is completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he has made to the memorandum sent to him by the British Limbless ex-Servicemen's Association on the subject of a rate rebate scheme for their members; and whether he will make a statement.

The hon. Member was kind enough to send me a copy of the memorandum. The issue was debated in the final stages of Standing Committee D of the Rating Bill in the House of Commons on 10th and 15th February, and examined further at Report stage on 24th February. Much as the Government sympathises with the feeling that disability pensions should be left out of income for the rebate scheme we have not been persuaded that it would be right to have any disregards for this particular purpose. The object of the rebate scheme is to reduce the proportion of low incomes which goes in meeting rates and it is not part of the scheme to take account of the nature or source of the applicant's income.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now amend the local government financial regulations to allow an increase in financial loss and subsistence allowances.

The rates of financial loss allowance for local government members are at present under consideration. The rates of subsistence allowance were raised in February last year and no further increase is contemplated.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when Mr. T. H. Browne, of 78 Glenfarg Road, Catford, S.E.6, may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 18th May, 1966 with regard to rent assessment panels.

A reply has now been sent to Mr. Browne: I am sorry it was not sent earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that, because of the United States investment in research and development, their design and production enables their defence items to be from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. cheaper than comparable United Kingdom products; if he will take steps to fill this gap and so enable Great Britain to produce more of its own defence equipment.

The total annual expenditure by the United States on defence research and development, trials and evaluation exceeds the total defence budget of the United Kingdom, but as a percentage of the gross national product and of total defence spending the United States and United Kingdom allocations to defence R. & D. are of the same order. R. & D. is aimed primarily at technological progress rather than at reducing costs and if added to production costs can increase them considerably. A much more important factor is the scale of production, and in this the United States, because their requirements are so much larger than ours, have substantial advantage. Steps are being taken wherever practicable to share R. & D. and production costs in co-operation with other countries and to improve the scale of production by increasing sales.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Great Britain's national budget is spent on defence; and what comparative figures he has through international organisations for other European and Commonwealth countries.

In the current financial year 17·6 per cent. of total central Government expenditure in the United Kingdom is being devoted to defence. I have no comparable information regarding foreign Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will investigate why the British tender for four American harbour tugs worth $2 million involved 2½ times as many man hours as the American bid, in view of the need to ensure the success of Her Majesty's Government's policy of selling British equipment to offset partially the $2½ billion purchases of the Phantom and F111 aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

I have carried out a searching inquiry into the reasons why the British firm failed to secure this particular order. The additional man-hours estimated to be required were not the only factor. The facts of geography alone had a significant effect. The successful United States bidder had won earlier orders for the same class of harbour tug. So had the other United States firm which bid for this contract. Both were therefore at an advantage over any British firm. The design lends itself to batch production, so the United States builders had a further benefit from this earlier experience. Also, unfamiliarity with the stringent United States contract conditions and requirements tended to increase the estimate of man-hours allowed for the work as compared with what a firm more experienced in building for the United States Navy would have included.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what citizens of the United Kingdom have been seconded to Zambia Radio under arrangements made by his Department; and for what duties.

Three in all: a programme training officer, whose assignment is now finished; a director of broadcasting services, who is now in Zambia; and a radio news editor, who is about to go to Zambia. Their designations describe their duties.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the recent financial talks with the Government of Basutoland.

In the light of the decision that Basutoland shall become independent on the 4th October, 1966, the British and Basutoland Governments have discussed together the question of Basutoland's future aid requirements. The British Government have assured the Basutoland Government of their willingness to continue to assist Basutoland to meet its needs in the fields of budgetary and development finance after Independence. The Basutoland Government wish to give further consideration to their development priorities in the light of the resources likely to be available to them, and the two Governments have agreed to hold further detailed discussions in a few months time on the scale and nature of the contribution which Britain can make after March, 1967. In the meantime, in order to assist the Basutoland Government to meet its immediate needs, the British Government has agreed to make available between the date of Independence and the 31st March, 1967, the unspent balance of Basutoland's current allocation of Colonial Development and Welfare funds, together with the unissued balance of the budgetary grant already agreed for the financial year 1966–67. The necessary Supplementary Estimates will be laid before Parliament in due course. In the meantime, advances will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund if necessary.During the current talks the British Government have agreed to make a grant of £50,000 for the next stage of the preparatory work on the Oxbow Scheme, and have offered an interest-free loan of £123,000 in connection with electricity development. British technical assistance, including the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, will continue to be available to Basutoland without interruption after Independence; and the British Government are also making loans totalling £402,500 to cover Basutoland's share of the payments to officers of H.M.O.C.S. under the General Compensation Scheme.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures that enable him to determine the relative productivity of firms in the engineering industry.(2) what organisations provide him with figures showing the comparable figures of productivity between firms in the engineering industry; and if he will make such figures available.

Comparative figures of productivity between firms in the Engineering Industries are obtained from the Reports on the Census of Production which are published by the Board of Trade and copies of which are available in the Library of the House.Net output per person employed, with an analysis by size of enterprise within each industry, is given in Tables 2 and 3 of the detailed industry reports on the Census of Production for 1958, of which parts 42 to 75 relate to the Engineering Industries and the associated Vehicle and Metal Using Industries. This information is summarised in Table 1 of part 133 and further information on net output and employment in these industries, from which net output per head can be calculated, is given in Table 5 of part 133 and in Tables 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19 of part 135.Provisional results of the Census of Production for 1963, giving net output and average numbers employed were published for each industry group in total in the Board of Trade Journal of 24th December, 1965, pages 1517 to 1519. Final reports containing information similar to that given for the 1958 Census of Production are expected to be published by the Board of Trade at the beginning of next year.

asked the Minister of Power if he proposes to intervene in the negotiations now taking place between the Gas Council and Shell and Esso for the sale of North Sea natural gas.

This will depend on the course the negotiations take. I shall keep myself informed.

asked the Minister of Power what is the quantity of North Sea gas under discussion between the Gas Council and Shell-Esso.

This is a matter for the parties concerned in the first instance but any quantities discussed can only be provisional at this stage.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will provide an estimate, expressed in pence per therm, of the operating cost, exclusive of all capital charges, of producing and delivering on shore North Sea gas at the rate of 1,000 million cubic feet daily from a single structure;(2) if he will provide an estimate, expressed in pence per therm of the capital cost, including a return, net of tax, of 15 per cent. of producing and delivering on shore 1,000 million cubic feet of gas daily from a single structure over a period of 20 years;(3) if he will give an estimate of the total capital investment required by British Petroleum to find and produce the North Sea gas now under contract for supply to the Gas Council at 5d. per them, and of the length of time required to recover this investment, assuming 100 million cubic feet of gas a day is available during the contract period.

No I cannot provide these estimates.

asked the Minister of Power whether he has reached any conclusion on pricing policy for North Sea gas; and whether he has yet communicated his views to the interested parties.

The negotiations in relation to the price paid for North Sea gas are between the Gas Council and the licensee. I am of course deeply interested in the pricing of natural gas because of its bearing on overall fuel policy and the economy as a whole; and this is well-known to the interested parties. But too little is known about the size of the North Sea gas deposits and the costs of exploration and extraction to reach any conclusions yet awhile.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the present scales of remuneration of professional and technical workers A grade and of professional and technical workers B grade.

The salary scales for the basic grades of staff whose pay is negotiated in the Professional and Technical A and B Whitley Councils are as follows. Staff with special skills or additional responsibilities may be eligible for special allowances or higher salary scales.