asked the Minister of Technology if he will investigate the possibility of using the general research facilities in fast reactor technology which exist in Dounreay for the general benefit of North-East Scotland.

The research facilities at the Dounreay Experimental Research Establishment are too highly specialised to provide assistance to local industry. The existence of this Establishment in North-East Scotland is of general benefit to that region.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the development of nuclear propelled ships; and what further assistance the Government will give to this enterprise.

Last July my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced the Government's decision that the prospects of building a nuclear ship which would be economic to operate were too remote to justify the large Government expenditure necessary to build a prototype.Nothing has happened since to change the Government's view and the A.E.A.'s programme of work remains as then outlined by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will devise a joint experiment by a computer and a model of the Irish Sea coast taking in the Solway Estuary, Morecambe Bay and the Dee Estuary whereby the feasibility of reclamation of the three estuaries and the building of a bridge across the Mersey without endangering the port of Liverpool and other ports on this coast can be reasonably assured.

No. These three areas—Solway Estuary, Morecambe Bay and Dee Estuary—in which other Ministeries are also interested, are being considered separately. A further crossing of the Mersey will be considered in the light of the current transportation survey of the whole Merseyside conurbation. If any of these investigations show the need, further work will be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking, in view of his forthcoming increased responsibilities for aviation, to ensure maximum security for the officers and staff of his Department.

Security will be fully maintained. The hon. Member would not expect me to give details.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the categories of arms and weapons of war which are manufactured by the industries for which he is responsible or for which he has the sponsorship.

No.

asked the Minister of Technology what arrangements he has made for certifying the applications of firms which consider they are eligible for receipt of premiums under the Selective Employment Tax; and when he will have fully dealt with such applications.

Appropriate departmental arrangements have been made for certifying scientific research establishments covered by Clause 1(2) of the Selective Employment Payments Bill after the Bill becomes law. It is clearly not possible to say at this stage when all such applications will have been dealt with.

asked the Minister of Technology how far information on the use of scientific manpower obtained by the Committee on Manpower Resources for Science and Technology is used as the basis for Government policy.

The Committee will shortly submit its report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and myself on the 1965 triennial survey of engineering, scientific and technological manpower, and related flatters. The conclusions and recommendations will certainly be seriously considered by the Government in formulating policy.

asked the Minister of Technology how many of the staff of the Gov-

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give details of the expenditure during the years 1964–65 and 1965–66 on each Government research laboratory for which he is responsible.

None from the research stations of my Department.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of staff employed on 1st April, 1966 in each of the Government research stations for which he is responsible.

The numbers are shown in the Table below:

Details of expenditure, on the 10 Ministry of Technology research stations, from the Votes of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in 1964–65 and Ministry of Technology in 1965–66 are given in the following table.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is satisfied that the design of British computers is more advanced than that of computers imported from the United States of America and other countries; how British costs compare with the costs of those imported from overseas; and if he will make a statement.

In general the design of British computers is as advanced as that of imported computers and British computers are competitive.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give details of those projects in which the National Research Development Corporation is encouraging the development of automation by introducing risk-saving agreements with private companies.

N.R.D.C. is providing some support for the following projects in the field of automation: —

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in the real value of the £ sterling since 15th October, 1964, to the most recent convenient date.

On the basis of the change in the index of retail prices, the purchasing power of the £ sterling, taken as 20s. in October, 1964 was about 18s. 6d. in May, 1966, the latest date available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent the West German Bank has assisted in measures to save the pound;(2) to what extent the Bank of Switzerland has assisted in measures to save the pound.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the announcement on 14th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. in 1914, and then the value in each year since in shillings and pence to the latest convenient date.

The figures for the years 1914–1964 will be found in column 138 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for 22nd January, 1965. The corresponding figure for 1965 is 3s. 11d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of money was paid out in each of the years 1960 to 1965 to the holders of Post-War Credits; and what is the total amount unpaid at the present date.

The amounts of Post-War Credits, together with interest, paid in the last six calendar years were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of exempting retirement pensioners from the payment of Income Tax on State retirement pensions; and if he will make a statement.

£90 million for a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to deal with the evasion of Pay-As-You-Earn arising from the extension of labour-only sub-contracting in the construction and civil engineering industries.

Arrangements were introduced last year under which the Inland Revenue secure regular returns of payments made to sub-contractors in these industries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him as to the likely effect of the proposed payroll tax on food delivery services in rural areas; and what replies he has made.

A number of representations have been made about the effect of the tax on delivery services generally. My right hon. Friend has replied that as the tax represents a very small proportion of retail turnover he does not believe it will have serious effects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct the Bank of England to clarify the extent to which banks may advance credit to finance the initial payment of the Selective Employment Tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on 27th June, c. 1259–1261.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of administrative grade officers of the Inland Revenue on complement and in post at the most recent date.

The complement is 61 posts, of which 51 are filled by administrative grade officers. The remainder are filled by the secondment to Principal posts of officers of comparable rank in other Branches of the Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the estimated current yield to the public revenue of a wealth tax levied at an aver-rate of 1 per cent. on estates of £20,000 and above.

About £175 million if the tax applies only to the slice of wealth above £20,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent it is the purpose of his regulations to ensure that individuals holding as part of personal jewellery in excess of four gold coins minted after 1837 are subject to S.I., 1966, No. 438.

The Order covers all gold coins minted after 1837.

asked the Chancellor of the Exhequer what estimate he will make of the number of coin collectors in Great Britain; and what estimate he will make of the number of individuals likely to be holding an excess of four gold coins minted after 1837.

I am not in a position to give an estimate of either.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the result of his discussions with the West German Minister of Finance about the support costs of British troops in Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Our discussions are at an early stage and I am not in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of printing Finance Bills and associated White Papers in each of the last five years including 1966.

The costs of printing Finance Bills and associated White Papers in the last five years are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Customs of inspecting travellers' baggage; and what is the duty received on undeclared articles as a result of this inspection.

The cost is about £1,450,000 a year. The duty collected (which is not, of course, the only object of the control) is about £1½ million a year; no separate figure is available for undeclared articles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of priming Government publications in each half year period since 1st January, 1963.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many blind persons are at present being allowed tax allowance of £100.

About 12,000 in 1963–64, the latest year for which figures are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the rate of sales tax which would be necessary, excluding food and items such as alcoholic drink, petrol and tobacco already subject to other taxes, in order to yield the same revenue as the present rates of Purchase Tax; and what flat rates of Purchase Tax on the same items he estimates would be required to yield the same results.

Assuming that the hon. and gallant Member has in mind a retail sales tax on all consumer goods and services other than the exclusion which he mentions, the Answer to the first part of his Question would be theoretically 5½ per cent If in the second part of his Question he is thinking of taxation at the wholesale stage this system is applicable only to goods not services, and the corresponding figure would be 11 per cent. on the narrower base.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was invested by this country overseas in the years 1951 to 1964; and how much income this now produces.

Nearly £3,500 million in the years 1952 to 1964 inclusive. The income from this new investment is not available separately.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what information about the delay in the publication of the consultants' report on the possible extension of the designated area of Dawley New Town was given by his Department to the Press, before it was given to the House or to the local authorities affected;(2) why the consultants' report on the possible extension of Dawley New Town will not now be ready in July, as was originally expected.

The consultants' report on possible development at Wellington/Oakengates is being slightly delayed so that it may benefit from extensive population and economic investigations now going on. My Department has not given the Press any information about this delay.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what authority rates are being collected upon half a house in the County of Lancaster and the remaining half in the County Borough of Oldham; and why neither half qualifies for rate rebate.

The law recognises as a rateable hereditament a part of any property which lies within a single rating area; in this case the occupier does not qualify for rebate because the rates on each part are below £3 15s. 0d. per half year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will reconsider Circular 100 procedure in respect of development on Government sites in order to provide for better consultation between Government Departments, local authorities and other interested parties.

No. The Circular 100 procedure requires consultation with the local authorities concerned in all cases of development by Government Departments except secret and minor proposals and there is adequate provision for consulting other interested bodies where this is desirable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what arrangements have been made for the large-scale evacuation of the urban population of this country in the event of the threat of a nuclear war.

A scheme was prepared in 1962 for the dispersal of about ten million people, mainly children under 18 and their mothers, from the most heavily populated areas in the country. The scheme is now being revised, in consultation with the local authority associations and transport organisations, in order to make it simpler and quicker.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the increasing hardship of the operation of the existing laws relating to private streets; and whether he will now take steps to relieve this hardship.

I know that some people consider it a hardship to have to pay road charges, but it is a long established principle that the cost of making up private streets should be shared between the frontagers, in proportion to the length of frontage. The Advanced Payments Code, where it is in operation, has greatly eased the position for purchasers of new houses whose share of road charges is now included in the purchase price. For owners of older houses, there are various means by which hardship can be mitigated—for example, under the 1892 Code a council may have regard to degree of benefit, and under section 210 of the Highways Act 1959 they can make a contribution to the cost of the work.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient local publicity given to the restrictions placed upon the payment of improvement grants by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Great care is taken to ensure that applicants for improvement grants are made aware of the conditions attached to them. Information in leaflet form is available at council offices. In the campaign maintained by the Department through travelling exhibitions and publicity in the local Press attention is directed to the conditions for the payment of grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to amend the legislation concerning the payment of improvement grants in order to allow an appeal to him in the event of a grant being refused.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that provision for appeal would be right in relation to discretionary grants; there is already provision for standard grants which can be claimed as of right subject to certain conditions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many appeals to the Rent Assessment Panel are outstanding; how long they have been outstanding; and what are the reasons for the delay.

Over 200 cases were received by the London Rent Assessment Panel in each of the last four months and there were 860 cases outstanding at 2nd July. Delay has arisen because both the number of cases and the amount of work involved in each one exceeded expectation. Measures are in hand to overcome these initial difficulties.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many appeals to the Rent Assessment Panel are outstanding in the Borough of Hackney.

On 2nd July 17 cases from the Borough of Hackney were outstanding at the London Rent Assessment Panel.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress he has made in his discussions with building societies and other interested parties over the implementation of the option mortgage scheme.

A good deal of progress has been made in these discussions and I hope to be able to make a statement on the result of them fairly soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the present programme of work of the Commonwealth Secretariat which was set up recently; how far it has progressed with that programme; what is its future plan of work; and when its Report will be available.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd) on 14th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what has been the cost of the Commonwealth Relations Office in the last three financial years.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to salaries and other administrative expenses of the Department. Separate Vote provision for these costs ceased on 1st January 1965 when the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Foreign Office were combined to form the Diplomatic Service; consequently no separate figures for the total administrative costs of the Commonwealth Relations Office after 31st December, 1964 can be produced.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how much was the total cost to public funds of the Oversea Migration Board during the period of its existence.

The cost of servicing the Board since it was appointed in 1953 was approximately £2,000. The cost of producing and publishing the Board's Reports as White Papers between 1959 and 1965 was £1,235. Figures showing the cost of the Board's Reports before 1959 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what was the cost to public funds of the Oversea Migration Board since 1962: what machinery exists for stimulating Commonwealth migration; and whether he will make a statement.

For the years 1962 to 1965 inclusive the cost of servicing the Board amounted to aproximately £500. The production and publication as a White Paper of the Board's Annual Statistical Reports cost £543; a total of £1,043. Annual statistics of emigration would of course have been published in similar form if the Board had not existed.No British Government machinery exists for stimulating Commonwealth emigration; but the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Governments maintain active migration departments in their High Commissions in London which are responsible for the recruitment of British migrants to those countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on how many occasions within the last five years British journalists have consulted his Department in respect of expulsion from Commonwealth countries; and if he will list those countries and the names of the newspapers concerned.

About a dozen. With permission I will send the hon. Member details separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representation he made to the Government of Nigeria concerning the expulsion of the Observer and Guardian correspondent, and with what result.

Representations have been made both orally and in writing by the High Commissioner. He has expressed concern at the deportation of a journalist who had been in Nigeria for more than three years. He has pointed out that no reason had been given by the Nigerian Government and that deportation at such notice would be liable to be regarded as discriminatory by public opinion in Britain.The High Commissioner's request for reconsideration was not met, but there was a temporary postponement.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the recent Anglo-Zambian talks in Lusaka.

The purpose of my hon. Friend's most recent talks was to discuss with the Zambian Government measures necessary to intensify sanctions against the illegal régime in Rhodesia. After a full and useful exchange of views these talks were adjourned on 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why Her Majesty Government made no representations in Lusaka about the Z.A.N.U. broadcast from Radio Zambia on 11th May advocating guerrilla operations in Rhodesia to follow the Sinoia outrage and calling for support in Rhodesia for such exploits; and whether he will make a statement.

I am confident that the Government of Zambia are fully aware of our feelings in these matters. The hon. Member will no doubt know that since the broadcast mentioned, the Zambian authorities have publicly condemned killings by anyone in Rhodesia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties being caused to electrical contractors as a result of the present shortage of copper; and whether he will seek discussions with the Institute of Electrical Engineers with a view to the authorisation of aluminium for small-wiring cables as a suitable substitute for use in house wiring.

Electrical contractors generally are able to obtain their requirements of copper products. Producers and users of small-wiring cables are currently discussing the technical problems involved in using aluminium as well as copper for house wiring, and we are in close touch with the trade associations concerned.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consultations he had with the local authority before a decision was taken to erect the space probe radome at Steamer Point, Friars Cliff, Christchurch, adjacent to a residential area.

Full consultation took place in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular No. 100 and on 26th July, 1965, the Clerk of the Hamps lire County Council advised the Director of the Signals Research and Development Establishment that there was no objection to the development.

asked the Minister of Aviation what nuclear weapons or parts of weapons are being made or tested at Aldermaston.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many men in the British aircraft industry are presently engaged in work on the Concord project.

About 5,000 people are directly engaged. In addition the work of other people which can only be attributed partly to Concord is estimated to be equivalent to another 5,000 full-time jobs. The numbers will rise considerably as the programme gets under way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been received by the Queen's Commissioner in Bechuanaland from local political leaders against the transmitter at Francistown and the presence there of British military forces; what action has followed; and whether he will make a statement.

In January, Mr. Mpho, President of the Botswana Independence Party, asserted that the relay station and the presence of troops threatened Bechuanaland's security and were a pretext for the establishment of a permanent British military post to suppress opposition and create a one-party State. The Bechuanaland Government replied that there were no grounds for these allegations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the facts that the reduction in pig guarantee payments in the first quarter of this fatstock year will result in an overestimate lower than that contained in the Annual Price Review, that marketings of pigs in the remaining three quarters of the year are expected to be lower, and that the nett cost of pig meat to processors has increased, whether he is satisfied that sufficient home bacon will be produced to meet the agreed quota tinder the International Bacon Market Sharing Understanding for 1966–67; and if he will make a statement.

I accept that pig supplies in the current fatstock year will fall below last year's level, and that the cost of pigs to processors is likely to be higher, but I cannot yet say what the effect may be on the amount of bacon produced over the year as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that export licences for cats are not ordinarily available within a period of a week; what action he proposes to shorten this delay; if he is aware of its consequences for the export of live animals; and if he will make a statement.

No export licences are required for cats, but some countries require official certification that this country is free from rabies and that the animals were not imported during the preceding six months. Applications for such certificates should normally be made seven days before the shipment to cover postal transmission and to allow time for any further approval required from consular or other sources; but late applications are dealt with as quickly as possible and when necessary at very short notice.I have heard of no difficulties caused to the export trade but will gladly investigate any brought to my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many other ranks in the Armed Forces under the age of 21 years are married; and how many have children;(2) how many officers in the Armed Forces under the age of 25 years are married; and how many have children.

1,165 officers and 3,850 other ranks. No record is kept of the number who have children.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for married quarters abroad have been turned down because of Queen's Regulation 1240; how many applications were from married men with children; and for how long this regulation has applied in its present form.

The Regulation has applied since 1946. No record is kept of inquiries from non-entitled personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what married quarters are available for other ranks and officers, respectively, in the Armed Forces outside the shores of Great Britain.

5,387 for officers and 26,628 for other ranks. In addition, there are 2,326 hirings at present in use by officers and 10,013 by other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the longest single period of continuous sea time performed by H.M.S. "Eagle"; what was the nature of the operation; when any surface ship of the Royal Navy last exceeded this period; how many officers and men were involved; and whether he will consider a special form of recognition of this service.

During her surveillance of the Mozambique Channel H.M.S. "Eagle" spent 71 days continuously at sea. This has established a Royal Navy record for aircraft carriers in peace-time. Other classes of surface ship in the Royal Navy have probably at some time exceeded this period, but this could not be confirmed without considerable research. H.M.S. "Eagle" has a complement of 240 officers and 2,350 ratings. Her performance of this arduous task was in accordance with the highest standards expected of ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what ships of the Royal Navy have been involved in operations concerned with the application of sanctions against Rhodesia; and how many aircraft sorties have been flown by ship-based and shore-based aircraft, respectively.

H.M. Ships "Eagle", "Ark Royal", and a number of frigates, supported by ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Carrier-based aircraft flew about 2,300 sorties amounting to about 3,500 flying hours, shore-based aircraft flew about 100 sorties totalling about 900 flying hours. Sorties were also flown by helicopters from other ships but we do not have figures readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide estimates of the number of children suffering from spina bifida and hydrocephalus who will be requiring lull-or part-time education in each local education authority in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

Information on which to base a valid estimate by each local education authority area is not at present available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide details of the number of children suffering from spina bifida and hydrocephalus who were receiving full-time or part-time education in each local education authority area in each of the years 1961 to 1956.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the purpose of Section 5 on Application Form "A" for a passport.

Section 5 of the passport application form "A" is for the benefit of the travelling public. If the Passport Office knows the destination and purpose of a journey it provides helpful advice and literature in cases where the applicant might encounter difficulty. Furnishing the date of departure enables the application to be given priority if it is submitted at short notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue instructions that all people who arrive in this country but are refused admission by an immigration officer should be helped to contact a diplomatic representative of their own country before being sent home.

Immigration Officers are already instructed to assist persons refused admission who wish to get in touch with diplomatic representatives. I am aware that practical difficulties arise from time to time, and I am considering what might be done to get round them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of certain allegations made in evidence against senior officers of the Metropolitan Police during the trial of L. J. Bradbury in South Africa; and what steps he will take to clear the names of the police officers who were named.

My right hon. Friend has had the transcript of the trial examined. He is told that it contains no record of any allegation against any officer of the Metropolitan police.