asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum was allocated for sport in 1965 and 1966; and what proposals he has to increase these amounts in future years.

Central Government capital and current expenditure on sport and physical recreation is estimated at about £5·5 million in 1965–66 and £6·2 million in 1966–67. It is expected to rise as the growth of the economy makes resources available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in equipping coast preventive men with cars instead of motor bicycles following the experimental steps announced on 20th November, 1964.

The provision of cars is now almost complete.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has given further consideration to the proposal to differentiate between sterling circulating internally and sterling used externally as settlement in world trade; and whether he will make a statement.

I have had this proposal studied, but I am afraid that I do not think it is a practicable scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the recommendation in a recent Fabian pamphlet, a copy of which has been sent to him, that the top rate of tax on personal income should be lowered to 66⅔ per cent.; and whether he will take steps to reform the taxation system accordingly.

Yes. Like all the other pamphlets in this series I found it well worth studying, but I have no statement to make at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the regulations imposed by the Treasury on medical examinations for promotion candidates within the Civil Service.

None. The Treasury has not imposed any such regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to enable holders of post-war credits to convert them into a special category of premium bonds which would be repayable at the date when post-war credit would now be repayable.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue that will be raised by the Selective Employment Tax in a full year from sporting clubs and organisations.

No precise estimate can be given, but, excluding professional sport, it is unlikely to exceed half a million pounds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he will make to ensure that overdraft facilities to enable firms to pay the Selective Employment Tax pending payment of the refund are available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Members for Horsham (Mr. Hordern) and Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Cant).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the total revenue from contributions to the Selective Employment Tax levied on employers prior to the first payments of rebates and premiums; and what would be the percentage increase in bank advances which would be required if all these contributions were financed from bank borrowing.

By private employers, about £280 million. The question does not arise of financing this amount from bank advances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce a date for the redemption at par of War Loan 3½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to repay the 3½ per cent. War Loan Stock.

I have no statement to make about redemption of this stock.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the agreements reached between the Board of Inland Revenue and individual trade unions, giving details of tax allowance for each industry in respect of tools of trade and overalls; and if he will give details of allowances granted other than those negotiated by trade unions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of reintroducing tobacco concessions to old-age pensioners at the rate of 1s. per pensioner per week; and whether he will reintroduce such a concession.

The cost would depend on the number of pensioners who took advantage of the concession and might approach £9 million a year. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No".

The list is too long to reproduce in the OFFICIAL REPORT. but if my hon. Friend would like information about any particular occupation, I shall be glad to send him details.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for taking into the official reserves private holdings of foreign securities.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing the capital invested in the private sector of industry, its turnover, the amount paid by it in taxes and the amount paid by it in rates for each year since 1950.

Comprehensive information on these matters is not available. Estimates of tax payments by companies are, however, available in the annual Blue Books on National Income and Expenditure, and summaries of the information on capital contained in the balance sheets of quoted companies are compiled and published regularly by the Board of Trade. The most convenient sources for this information are given below:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been received for the establishment of Customs clearance points for containers and other unit loads outside the present port customs area; and how many have been granted.

About twenty-five applications have been received; several are still under discussion. Fourteen have been either granted or approved in principle.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the applications for the establishment of customs clearance points for containers and other unit loads received and granted have been from British companies and foreign-domiciled companies, respectively.

All the applications have been made by organisations based in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost of granting an annual allowance in respect of capital expenditure on the conversion and alteration of shop premises at an annual rate of 5 per cent.

There is not enough information on which to base an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vehicles, containers or other qualifying unit loads were admitted to, or passed through, the United Kingdom on TIR Carnets in the years 1960 to 1965, respectively.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects to receive the report of the Committee of Ministers' Deputies of the Club of Ten which has been investigating proposals for improving world liquidity.

Later this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the estimated investment of United States capital in British industry since January, 1965.

About £150 million, net of disinvestment, in the 15 months to March, 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to prevent the extension of the bankers' credit card system, in view of the facts that it is contrary to the policy of credit restriction, that it increases home demand and puts up internal prices and that it makes exports more difficult and expensive; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the yield in Stamp Duty from transactions liable to Capital Gains Tax since that tax came into force; and what was the yield from similar transactions in a similar period before it came into force.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has so far made towards introducing a decimal currency.

As I stated in the House on 1st March, a decimal currency will be introduced in February, 1971: the necessary preliminaries are in hand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the present weakness of the £ sterling due partly to the seamen's strike, and partly to the shortage of credit throughout the world, and the pressure on interest rates at a time when sterling is normally strong, if he is satisfied that the reserves of sterling are sufficient to meet the autumn drain, without imposing a higher Bank Rate; and if he will make a statement.

As the hon. Gentleman is aware it is not the practice to make statements about Bank Rate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many builders were members of the National House-Builders Registration Council on 1st January, 1964, 1965 and 1966; and what proportions these firms represented of the total estimated private house-building activity on these dates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made with the voluntary registration of house builders.

Good progress has been made. Over 4,000 firms have registered, or are in process of doing so. The actual figures of registered builders at 31st March, 1964, 1965 and 1966, were 1,772, 2,005 and 2,618 respectively. I estimate that the capacity of these firms was approximately 27 per cent., 32 per cent. and 40 per cent. of the private house-building industry. These had risen to 3,665 firms and over 50 per cent. of the industry by 30th June, and in addition nearly 500 more applications were being considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in what proportion of cases before rent assessment committees the landlord has available a surveyor as an expert witness.

The landlord has had available a surveyor as expert witness in 17 per cent. of cases decided by rent assessment committees and has been represented by someone with similar qualifications or experience in over 37 per cent. more.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in what proportion of cases before rent assessment committees the landlord is represented by solicitors and counsel.

The landlord has been represented by a solicitor in 18·5 per cent. and by counsel in 8·5 per cent. of cases decided by rent assessment committees.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that rent assessment committees are not disregarding the scarcity factor in assessing rents, that in two cases before the Yorkshire Committee: n Hull on 21st June the chairman announced that the committee had taken into account the scarcity of such property; if he will now introduce amending legislation to stop this practice; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that in the two cases mentioned by my hon.. Friend the committee took into account scarcity value in order to eliminate it from the fair rent, as they are required to do by the Rent Act, 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why authority for the building of 100 houses during each of the next three years by the Christchurch Council has been reduced to a maximum of 70 annually.

The council has been offered a programme of 60–70 houses while its needs and those of other authorities are being reviewed. There is no reason to suppose that any schemes are being delayed as a consequence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what. steps he intends to take to ensure that houses compulsorily acquired for development purposes are purchased at market prices.

The only exception to this rule at present is in respect of houses found to be unfit for human habitation., and on that I cannot at present add to what was said when the Housing (Slum. Clearance Compensation) Act, 1965 was being considered by Parliament.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to give early approval to the joint sewerage scheme at Aylesford Forstal.

The local authority has not yet submitted the scheme to my right hon. Friend. When it does there will be no delay in dealing with it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take following the statement made in the annual report of the Alkali Inspector for England and Wales and Northern Ireland that there is a prospect of steadily worsening air pollution in Great Britain and that the prevention of pollution by sulphur dioxide, grit and dust and motor fumes should be given the highest priority.

The standards for control of industrial emissions are being constantly improved. Widespread research into the hitherto intractable problem of preventing sulphur dioxide emissions continues here and abroad. In the meantime my right hon. Friend will continue to rely on the dispersion of industrial emissions from tall chimneys to avoid undesirable concentrations near the ground. He will shortly be issuing guidance for local authorities and industry on the control of grit and dust, and he is urging local authorities to press on with domestic smoke control.Pollution by motor fumes is primarily a matter for his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and he is in close touch with her about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps are now being taken to advise ratepayers of their entitlement to claim a rate rebate.

I am planning further publicity, aimed in particular at tenants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what financial provision he makes to enable expanding towns to provide parks, recreation grounds and other sporting and cultural amenities for the benefit of new arrivals and the existing population alike.

The Local Government Bill provides for grants to local authorities for the acquisition of public open spaces and this would include parks, recreation grounds and playing fields.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1963, to make it necessary for planning approval to be obtained before an existing retail shop is converted for use as a snack bar or café.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what assistance has been given to the Zambian authorities to construct a new transmitting station at Livingstone.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action the Government is now taking to assist Zambia in its implementation of economic sanctions against the Smith regime in Rhodesia.

Her Majesty's Government are maintaining an airlift and providing technical and financial assistance to enable Zambia to meet her essential import requirements from sources and by routes outside Rhodesia.

asked the Minister of Power how many tons of coal have accumulated at Scottish coal mines as a result of the seamen's strike; and if he will give an assurance that depleted stocks of coal at power stations in the south of England will be made good in sufficient time to meet all demands of power which will be arise in the event of an early winter.

The seamen's strike led to the addition of 278,000 tons of coal to stocks at Scottish mines, and interrupted the normal summer build-up of stocks at power stations in the South of England. The industries concerned are now going ahead with measures to build up adequate stocks at the power stations as soon as possible this autumn, and these include the use of some of the additional Scottish stocks.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the reasons fox the appointment of Mr. Cecil King as a part-time member of the National Coal Board; what knowledge or experience he has of the coal industry; what other public appointments Mr. King holds; what is his age; what salary and expenses he will draw; and whether he will make a statement.

I invited Mr. King to join the National Coal Board because of his great experience of large-scale business. He is sixty-five; a director of the Bank of England and a member of the National Parks Commission. His salary as a part-time member of the Board is £1,000 per annum. The only expenses he is entitled to recover are those he incurs when travelling on the Board's business.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the legislation to eliminate evasions of immigration control, which was announced as Government policy on 9th November, 1965, has not been introduced.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9th November, 1965, and to the reply given to a Question by the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton) on 28th April, 1966.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what support he is giving to the proposed extension and improvement of the air strip on Beef Island, recently connected by bridge to Tortola, so that the scheduled services operating Avro 748 or similar aircraft can be accepted and communications to and from the British Virgin Islands improved.

With the co-operation of other departments we recently arranged for a party of Royal Engineers to carry out a survey of possible airfields in the Virgin Islands including Beer Island. I have not yet received their report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish overseas trade statistics quarterly instead of monthly.

In official comment, attention is directed to the figures for the latest three months rather than the latest month; but I do not think the longstanding practice of monthly publication could easily be changed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make an estimate of the loss to British dollar-earning capacity which will result from the effect of the pay-roll tax on the hotel industry in this country, in view of the competition with overseas subsidised hotels.

No, nor do I agree that there will be a loss.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the question of bank charges and earnings stand referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes and estate agents' fees to the Monopoly Commission and that the problem of price information agreements has been adjudicated by the Restrictive Practices Court, he will now seek to rationalise arrangements for the control of monopoly in this country.

No. I am satisfied that no such rationalisation is required, since the respective functions of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, the Monopolies Commission and the Restrictive Practices Court are clearly differentiated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will seek to amend the Bills of Sale and Moneylenders Acts.

I hope to propose as soon as the legislative programme permits an amendment to the Moneylenders Acts relating to the exemption of companies bona fide carrying on the business of banking. I have no present intention of proposing amendments to the Bills of Sale Acts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of the Anglo-United States Air Agreement made at Washington recently.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation on 27th May to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, North-East (Mr. Bradley). The terms of the Agreement reached in Washington on new and amended civil air services routes are set out in a Command Paper No. Cmnd. 3015.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he now expects to be able to publish the full details of the recent trade talks with New Zealand.

I have arranged for the full text of the Record of Understandings reached to be placed in the Library, together with the Schedules of tariff concessions agreed to by the New Zealand Government.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he is taking to restrict increases in incomes derived from rents, interest, profits and dividends, with a view to avoiding inflation and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend will have noted the proposals in the Prices and Incomes Bill now before the House. Increases which are inconsistent with the criteria set out in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy are liable to be referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for examination. They may also be restricted by fiscal and other measures.

asked the First Secretary and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if, in conjunction with the Northern Economic Council, he will begin a detailed study of Carlisle and the Solway area with the object of expansion in that area.

We shall consider the need for a study of this area as our work on long term population distribution progresses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will purchase for the Science Museum the aircraft in which Miss Sheila Scott recently flew solo round the world, as a memorial to her courage and to the British aircraft industry, and encourage the science and art of British aviation.

The first criterion for exhibits in the Science Museum is that they should represent a significant stage in technical development not already shown in the Museum. It is not considered that the aircraft in question, which was American built, meets this criterion.But may I add that this in no way diminishes my admiration of Miss Scott's distinguished achievement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make special grants to finance specific projects for sports and leisure facilities developed on a joint basis to serve a region or sub-region.

The Government have no powers to make specific grants to local authorities for this purpose, but under the Local Government Bill now before the House local authority expenditure on sports provision will be included in the aggregate of expenditure which will be taken into account when the Government determines the total of rate support grant to be divided among authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now reconsider his decision in relation to loan sanction for purchases of property affected by the St. Anthony's development in Blackley, Manchester, by the city corporation.

In the light of further information now given to me by the local education authority, I can recommend the loan sanction it has requested for the purchase of a particular property.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary projects he has included in the major school building programme for 1967–68; and how many of these are improvement projects.

670, of which 175 are designed to improve or replace existing schools. Of the remaining 495 included mainly to meet basic needs, 57 contain a specific element of improvement and all will contribute to the raising of standards of accommodation generally.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she proposes that inland container depots should qualify for loans and grants as do ports, and that containers should qualify for investment grants in accordance with Recommendation No. 17 of the Report of the Economic Development Committee for the Movements of Exports.

The Government are studying the implications of the Economic Development Committee's recommendation and will announce a decision on these two points as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what underground railway extension developments are under consideration in the London Transportation Study; and when she expects to receive the Study's recommendations.

The Study is assessing the relative merits of different complete networks of Underground, rail and road facilities. It would be misleading to list hypothetical lines of route which even if desirable in theory might not prove practicable. Useful information for the Study should start coming in before the end of 1966. Most results, not necessarily in the form of recommendations, should be available during 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the number of deaths, she will seek to make it compulsory that a look-out man should be provided when vehicles are reversing and moving about in small places.

My right hon. Friend has no evidence to suggest that it is always necessary to have a look-out man when vehicles are reversing or manoeuvring. The Highway Code reminds drivers to get help when reversing if their view behind is restricted. Attendants are required for certain large vehicles, motor vehicle/trailer combinations, and vehicles with substantially projecting loads.

asked the Minister of Transport how many scheduled train services are now invariably operated by single-man crews; and what percentage this figure is of all such services.

The information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport what action she is taking to reduce accidents in Eastern Road, Portsmouth, by road improvements; and whether she will reconsider the introduction of a 40 miles per hour speed limit on an experimental basis.

This is a classified road for which Portsmouth City Council is the highway authority. My right hon. Friend has recently made a grant towards the cost of installing traffic control signals at the junctions with Burrfields Road and the Airport Service Road.She has also invited the council to apply formally for her consent to a 40 m.p.h. speed limit on part of the southern section. Conditions on the remainder of the road are not appropriate for this limit.

asked the Minister of Health what would be the cost to the Exchequer of establishing a full home-help medical service, compared with the cost of the present hospital beds and services which would be consequently saved.

Information is not available to enable any such comparison to be made.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an estimate of the number of people in Great Britain suffering from rheumatism, arthritis and associated diseases.

Information on which an estimate might be based is not available from official sources.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in achieving the aim set out in the letter of 26th March, 1965, to the hon. Member for Rye to have a child's limb ready for trial fitting fifteen days after measurement and to carry out the subsequent finishing work in a similar period. in view of the fact that, for the same patient, limbs ordered on 8th April, 1965, were delivered on 1st July, 1965, those ordered on 9th December, 1965, were delivered on 24th February, 1966, those ordered on 15th July, 1965, were delivered on 11th November, 1965, and those order on 31st March, 1966, were delivered on 9th July, 1966.

Some improvements have been achieved and efforts to make further progress are continuing. As stated in the letter of 26th March, the fifteen-day periods quoted do not include time taken in transit and in arranging appointments.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of maternity beds available in the City of Leicester per thousand of the population, and how this figure compares with the national average.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement concerning revised financial arrangements for continued development of a European rocket through the European Launcher Development Organisation following recent discussions in Paris.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave in the House yesterday in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to British European Airways, that an agreed percentage of their re-equipped fleet of aircraft should be purchased from British manufacturers.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. Albert Roberts) on 15th June.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, under the cost-sharing agreement with the French Government, there will be any commitment to financial expenditure on the Concord project after the certificate of airworthiness has been issued; and whether estimates are available as to the amount involved.

Some development will be needed to carry the aircraft beyond the standard required for certificate of airworthiness up to its full planned performance. The detailed estimates are at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now introduce a Brucellosis Eradication Scheme in view of the serious dangers to human health inherent in the continued existence of this disease.

The Government are considering all aspects of this matter and I will announce a decision when it is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the amount of grant-in-aid of administration received by Bechuanaland in each of the last five years.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what British troops have been engaged in action in British Honduras; and if he will make a statement.

Units of the British Garrison (a company of the 1st Stafford-shires) stationed in British Honduras assisted the police during a night-time curfew imposed in Belize City from 28th June to 5th July. The curfew was imposed to prevent the recurrence of hooliganism which followed garbled reports about the mediation of the dispute between Guatemala and the United Kingdom. The British troops acted in exemplary fashion throughout and no untoward incidents took place.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated percentage of the total salary bill which is accounted for by salary earners with whom indidual contracts are negotiated, and by salary earners whose emoluments are negotiated by trade unions and staff organisations.

Somewhat less than a half of all salaried workers are covered by centralised collective bargaining. A further unknown proportion is also covered by domestic negotiations with trade unions or staff associations. It is not possible to say what proportions of the total have individual contracts.

asked the Minister of Labour if he intends to refer the 15·3 per cent. increase in the salary of the General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General what is his programme for converting to automatic working the Blackmore, Coxtie Green, Fyfield, Ingatestone, Moreton, Ongar, Stapleford, Theydon Bois and White Roding telephone exchanges.

The exchanges mentioned are already automatic except for Ingatestone which is planned for conversion in 1968. The range of calls that can be dialled from some of these exchanges is, however, limited pending the conversion to automatic working of Brentwood in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with his study of the Solway Barrage Scheme; what representations have been made to him regarding the cost and completion of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I expect shortly to receive the report of the consultants on the quantity and quality of water that could be made available by a barrage, and of the cost of making it available. I cannot anticipate their findings at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many cases were referred for sentence in Scottish courts for drug peddling in 1964, 1965, and at the last convenient date;(2) What is the average length of sentences for those convicted of drug peddling in Scotland.

The number of persons proceeded against in Scotland in 1964 and 1965 for contravention of the Dangerous Drugs Acts were 29 and 16 respectively. Of the 29 in 1964, 21 persons were convicted of whom 9 were sentenced to imprisonment, 9 dealt with by fine and 3 were placed on probation. Of the 16 in 1965, 11 persons were convicted of whom 1 was admonished, 2 were sentenced to imprisonment, I was sentenced to detention in a young offenders' institution, 5 were dealt with by fine and 2 were placed on probation.The average period of detention imposed on those sentenced to imprisonment or detention in a young offenders' institution was a little over six months. The average fine imposed was a little under £30.I regret that figures for a later date are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what aspects of the Brain Committee Report on Drug Addiction are being considered for application in Scotland;(2) what is the incidence of drug addiction in Scotland; and what proposals he has to deal with this problem.

The total number of persons suffering from drug addiction in Scotland is not known. The number of patients admitted to mental hospitals and psychiatric units in 1964 for treatment under the National Health Service for addiction to drugs, including those controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Acts, was 166; the provisional figures for 1965 indicate no significant change.I am reviewing the provision of treatment facilities in consultation with the Regional Hospital Boards and I am considering, in conjunction with my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Minister of Health, what further action; can be taken to deal with this problem in the light of the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on Drug Addiction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will refer the recent increases in electricity charges imposed on consumers to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 22nd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an announcement regarding the limits of cost for school building.

I am making two changes which w ill increase the limit of common cost for school building. First, certain items such as excavations, foundations and underbuilding, hitherto classified as common costs, are being reclassified as special costs outwith the prescribed limit. Second, the limit of common cost is to be the product of the total permissible area and £4 2s. 9d. (and not £3 18s. 9d. as hitherto). The detailed changes are being conveyed to the education authorities by circular.In view of the increased limits, the total value of school building projects

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that no part of the $2 million worth of assault tracking which he has agreed to sell to the United States Department of Defence will be used directly or indirectly for the fighting in Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given today to a Question by the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total area of the Brancepeth Army Camp; how much of the camp is now in use; and what proposals he has for its future use.

One hundred and twenty acres. A few buildings are in current use, but there is no defence requirement for the camp and it will be disposed of in accordance with the normal procedure, which will take into account first the interests of other Government Departments and then those of local authorities.