asked the Postmaster-General how many special stamp issues there have been during the past 12 months.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total number of different commemorative issues of postage stamps in each of the past three years.

:In 1963: Six issues comprising twelve stamps;In 1964: Four issues comprising fifteen stamps;In 1965: Nine issues comprising twenty-four stamps.There have been 13 special stamp issues comprising 35 different stamps since 1st July, 1965.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the interest shown by owners of Premium Bonds in the monthly draw of prizes he will arrange for the draw of the next £25,000 prize to be given further publicity, preferably by television.

We have made a film about the monthly draw which is available on loan and has been offered to the television authorities. Explanatory leaflets about the draw can be obtained at post offices. If the broadcasting organisations were interested in presenting a future draw on television we should be glad to help in any way we could.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to improve the delivery of parcels from the Midlands to South Shields.

I am sorry that the parcel post service between some Midland towns and South Shields is not as good as it should be. Special examinations of the handling arrangements are being made at key offices concerned and we will do all we can to improve the services.

asked the Postmaster-General if the postage stamps obtained by shopkeepers to sell over the counter will be purchased from sub-post offices or general post offices or both.

When licences are abolished, shopkeepers who wish to buy postage stamps for resale will be free to obtain them at any post office.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the reason for the delay in the provision of telephone facilities in the Blackwater area of Hampshire; and whether he will take steps to make available such facilities forthwith in view of the existing inconvenience.

The demand for telephones has increased very rapidly and no more can be connected to Yately exchange for the time being. Urgent relief measures, including a mobile exchange, are already in hand and we hope soon to begin to connect about half of those now waiting. Other measures will follow as quickly as practicable.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with his plans for the old telephone exchange at Robertsbridge disclosed in his answer to the hon. Member for Rye on 10th November, 1964.

The disposal of this property has been delayed for various reasons, including a review of our requirements for land for a new exchange in the light of the higher demand for telephone service, but sale of the property is now being arranged.

asked the Postmaster-General what official demonstrations of colour television on 405 lines he has seen.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on the implementation and financing of the statutory minimum prices scheme for white fish.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 11th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now made a decision on the steps he proposes taking to eradicate brucellosis in cattle.

No. The Government have to consider all aspects of this problem and I will announce a decision as soon as it is made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for grants for fishing vessels were made between the years 1962 to 1964; and how many of these grants were allowed.

In the three years from 1st April, 1962, 383 applications were made and 229 approved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in his negotiations towards the establishment of an international codex for food.

Since the Codex Alimentarius Commission was set up in 1963, sixteen committees have been formed to elaborate standards for the main foodstuffs. Although agreement on international food standards is bound to be a slow process, good progress is being made and a large number of draft standards have been drawn up.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current price of dried milk powder imported from France; and what this price represents per gallon of milk.

190s. per cwt. c.i.f. for whole milk powder representing 25d. per gallon. For skim powder produced from skim milk, the figures are 138s. and 14d.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cold store stock of butter in the United Kingdom at the end of June this year compared with the stock on the same date last year; and how much is the storage cost per week.

The provisional figure is 69,100 tons, compared with 68,100 last year. Nearly all these stocks are of butter from New Zealand and Australia whose Dairy Boards bear the storage costs which they negotiate with port authorities. I cannot say what they pay.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current price of cheese imported from Holland; and what price this represents per gallon of milk.

217s. per cwt. for Cheddar at first hand, representing about 22d. per gallon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in measures to control pigeons and sparrows.

Techniques have been developed for using stupefying baits to take pigeons and sparrows. But more research is required before a decision can be made on whether they are generally suitable for use on farms, and in particular on whether they can be so used without risk to protected species and game birds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the report made to him by Mr. J. L. Davies on his inquiry into the methods of milk distribution in England and Wales.

My purpose in inviting Mr. J. L. Davies to carry out this inquiry was to have independent and expert advice on possible ways of securing further economies in milk distribution between the farm and the processing dairy and between the dairy and the consumer.In his report which is being published today, Mr. Davies recommends that more milk should reach processing dairies direct from the farm. The Government accepts that this should be the aim. It has already taken a number of measures to foster the direct movement of milk and these will be maintained and, as appropriate further developed.Mr. Davies further recommends that the Milk Marketing Board should be given full responsibility for the movement of milk between farm and processor. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have already invited the Farmers' Unions and the Milk Marketing Boards to give me their detailed proposals for further increasing marketing efficiency and I shall be considering Mr. Davies' recommendation in the light of their views and of those of the milk trade whom I am also consulting.The main proposal in the field of distribution from the dairy to the consumer is that household deliveries should be restricted to every other day in order to make more efficient use of labour. A number of supporting suggestions provide for the technical and commercial developments that would accompany such an innovation. These proposals are far-reaching and would involve a number of significant changes. It is my intention to discuss their implications in detail with the industry and with representatives of consumers and the other interests who would be affected.I am very grateful to Mr. Davies for an interesting and thought-provoking report, to which he has brought a lifetime's experience of service to the milk industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications he has received during the last 18 months for house improvement schemes of a nature requiring his consent under the terms of the existing Building Regulations; how many he has authorised; and how many he has rejected.

At 1st July, 900 of the applications for relaxation of the Building Regulations received in the previous 18 months related to alterations to existing houses and of these 721 had been authorised; 16 refused; 53 withdrawn; and 110 were at various stages of consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase in Scottish Office personnel has resulted from the implementation of the present Building Regulations; and what estimate he will give of the extra personnel employed by local authorities for the same reason.

Seventeen in my Department. I have no information about the staff employed by local authorities on this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for the accommodation and comfort of visitors to the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, including those relating to the new covered concourse; and when these plans will be completed.

The development scheme being undertaken at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary will concentrate most hospital services for the Aberdeen area on the Foresterhill site. Phase I of the scheme includes a reception area to serve the whole complex. A covered concourse will provide public cloakrooms, toilets, a cafeteria, a shop and special arrangements for children, and will be capable of catering for some 3,000 visitors a day. These facilities are expected to be available about the end of September.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will now make a statement on the progress being made in the winding-up of the Cadco affair in Glenrothes, and the reasons for the delay;.(2) if he will state the reasons for the delay in proceedings concerning the affairs of Cadco in Glenrothes, Fife; and when he expects to announce action in the matter.

A decision on possible action following the reference to the Lord Advocate of the report made to the Board of Trade cannot yet be taken because of proceedings abroad. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.Questions concerning progress with liquidation are for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors will apply and what considerations he will take into account when the Government decide the amount of the resources element for Scotland in the new rate support grant, since the basis on which the total of Exchequer Equalisation Grant was calculated is to be discarded.

These matters are at present under discussion with the Scottish local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he allowed late objection on 5th May in the matter of sand and gravel development near Linlithgow, about which he has received a letter from the hon. Member for West Lothian.

My right hon. Friend has neither proposals nor objections before him in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish an interim report on the Solway Barrage Scheme.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Ron Lewis) on 12th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the landings of white fish at the main fishing ports of Scotland were condemned by the local public health authorities in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date.

In Aberdeen and Leith sea fisheries districts, which respectively include the ports of Aberdeen and Granton, the proportions of the annual white fish catch condemned by the local public health authorities were:

	Aberdeen %	Leith %
1961	0·05	0·02
1962	0·04	*
1963	0·05	*
1964	0·02	0·02
1965	0·01	0·05
1966 to 31st May	0·01

* Less than 0·01.In other Scottish sea fisheries districts the amounts of white fish condemned during this period have rarely exceeded 0.01 per cent. of the annual landings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the studies being made in the Dundee area; and whether, in view of the completion of the Tay Road Bridge next month, this study covers both sides of the River Tay in the Dundee area.

On the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Members for Kingston-upon-Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) and Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) by my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State on 7th July. To the second part of the Question the Answer is "Yes".

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase democratic control within new towns.

In making appointments I am insuring that local opinion will be increasingly reflected inside the development corporations. Already 13 out of 33 members of the four corporations are local councillors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the progress of the programme of hospital building in Scotland up to the most recent convenient date.

During the year from 1st April, 1965 to 31st March, 1966, hospital capital works to the value of £5,243,000 were completed in Scotland the new facilities provided included 539 beds and 7 out-patient departments. At the end of March, 1966, schemes estimated to cost approximately £42,275,000 and to provide 4,173 beds were in progress.The schemes completed in the year included a new hospital at Fort William, the first phase of a new hospital at Wick, an ear, nose, and throat unit at the City Hospital, Edinburgh, a professional unit at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, a nurse training unit, a clinical unit and limb fitting centre at the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital, Edinburgh, a new hospital at Bowmore, Islay and general practitioner maternity units at Hairmyres, East Kilbride, and Duntocher, Clydebank. Those started during the period include a new general hospital and a new mental deficiency hospital at Inverness, a neurosurgical unit at Dundee Royal Infirmary, a new general hospital at Fraser-burgh, an eye department at the Chalmers Hospital, Edinburgh, geriatric units at Lightburn, Canniesburn, and Drumchapel, Glasgow, a maternity unit at the Southern

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake to ensure that all Territorial Army establishments are made the subject of special audit investigation before they are disbanded.

Every accounting unit will be audited.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decision has now been reached on the matter of the airborne weapons requested recently by the United States of America.

Any decisions with regard to supply of defence equipment are governed by the policy given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his reply yesterday to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arms he expects to supply to West Germany; and what restrictions he intends to place on their use.

The communiqué which was circulated on 22nd June with my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Members for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) and Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) refers to the major new sales of defence equipment which he agreed recently with Herr von Hassel. The Federal Defence Ministry is already procuring a wide range of equipment under existing contracts, and other items are under discussion. We have no intention of restricting the uses to which the Federal Government puts this equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now order the release of Mrs. Marilyn Clark.

Mrs. Clark's sentence has been reduced on review to five years, so that with full remission she would serve three years and four months. My right hon. Friend does not consider her immediate release to be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the lethal synthetic poison now being used in agricultural insecticides, described at the annual meeting of sea and air port health authorities on 1st July 1966 by the senior principal scientific officer of the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, were developed at the Establishment; and for what purpose.

None of the compounds dealt with in this lecture was developed at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many civilians are employed as gardeners, agricultural workers, woodmen and foresters on his Department's land in the County of Kent;(2) if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing how many civilians were employed as gardeners, agricultural workers, woodmen and foresters on his Department's land at the last convenient date; and what was the value of horticultural, agricultural and forest products sold by his Department in the 12 months prior to that date.

Following is the information:

Year to 31.3.66	Gardeners	Agricultural Workers	Foresters and Woodmen
Employees—Kent	107	—	15
Employees—UK	875	—	123
Value of produce sold	—	—	£33,566

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the breaking strain of the centre-base tie of the PX parachute; and what modifications have been made.

The breaking strain is now 200–230 lbs. The relevant modification involved replacement of the centre base tie which previously had a breaking strain of 150–180 lbs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of adapting parachute dropping aircraft to incorporate high-speed cameras on training drops.

Much depends on the type of equipment and the type of aircraft. As an example, the development and incorporation of a modification for this purpose in two Argosies some six years ago cost about £6,800.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing how many present members of the Territorial Army and the Army Emergency Reserve have signed a declaration of intent to join the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, I, IIA, IIB III and IV, each category shown separately; and how many new recruits have applied to join these reserves, each category shown separately.

The information is not yet available; but by the end of the camping season this autumn we shall know the number of serving members of the Territorial Army and Army Emergency Reserve who have signed Declarations of Intent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many present Army reservists or new recruits have expressed a wish to undertake Ever-Ready liability; and how many men at present serving with the Regular Army have declared an intention to join the S.A.V.R. at the end of their term of service with the Colours.

None has done so at present. There is no authority to approach them until the Reserve Forces Bill has received the Royal Assent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions a trained paratrooper has refused to don a parachute in each of the last three years, respectively.

Two, three and four respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the practice of photographing from the aircraft every parachute training jump performed is still being continued.

No. It was decided in 1956 that it was not worth while to arrange for every service drop to be photographed. As stated by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation, on 6th July, photography is used in the extensive trials carried out by the Ministry of Aviation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the number of parachute jumps performed on an X-type parachute in each of the last three years, respectively, and the number of abnormalities, analysed between thrown lines, blown peripheries and premature openings.

The number for the three years from 1st July, 1963, were 39,254, 32,272 and 36,921 respectively. These figures exclude jumps made outside Europe for which statistics are not readily available. These are few but will be collated if the hon. Member so requests. No statistical record of the number of such "abnormalities" is now kept. Exceptional incidents are investigated on the spot.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the X-type parachute was withdrawn from service.

The X-type parachute is still in service. The PX parachute is being introduced for two principle reasons. First, it has a larger canopy, which meets the Army requirement for a slower rate of descent, thereby reducing the number of minor injuries sustained on landing. Secondly, it caters for the higher speeds of newer type aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for a university for the armed forces; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley) on 25th January, 1966.This is one of the matters being considered by the Committee which will be submitting its report shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will receive a report on transport facilities in East Anglia from the East Anglian Economic Development Council.

My right hon. Friend has already had advice from the East Anglian Economic Planning Council on a number of transport matters, including the need for co-ordination, railway closure proposals and her plans for trunk road improvement. I understand that the Council is now considering the future role and shape of the region's transport network, but it is too soon to say when they will be able to let her have a report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will issue guidance to local authorities stipulating whether traffic flow should take precedence over the rights and safety of pedestrians or vice versa.

The manuals on "Roads in Urban Areas" and "Urban Traffic Engineering Techniques", which have recently been circulated to local authorities, discuss traffic flow and the safety of pedestrians as part of the general concept of road design and traffic management. Conditions vary so much from place to place that no general principle can be laid down.

asked the Minister of Transport what action the Liverpool City Council has taken, arising out of the recommendations of the working party appointed on the initiative of her Department, to introduce patrols on its section of the Liverpool and Leeds Canal.

This is a matter for the local authority. My right hon. Friend understands that the council, after carefully considering all the factors, has decided not to introduce patrols but to take other measures first, including an intensive publicity campaign, aimed at preventing accidents to children.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce regular tests on all commercial vehicles; and if she will make a statement.

Light goods vehicles are covered by the testing scheme that applies to private cars. The Government are pressing forward their plans to establish their own testing stations for heavier goods vehicles; a scheme for regular testing at these stations is planned to start early in 1968. Special provisions on testing goods vehicles will be included in the forthcoming Road Safety Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the percentage increase in prices by British Road Services on 19th June, 1966; and what percentage increase of wages for drivers and administrative staff necessitated such increase in prices.

My right hon. Friend is told by the Transport Holding Company that there was no general increase in prices on that date by British Road Services Limited or by any other road haulage subsidiary of the Company.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a general direction to the Transport Holding Com- pany that, before disposing of surplus houses, they should first offer them to local authorities.

No. The Transport Holding Company and its subsidiaries own very few houses.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce legislation to ensure that those killed or injured in an accident arising from a death due to natural causes of the driver of a vehicle may claim compensation.

I would refer hon. Member to the Answer given 29th June to the hon. Member Oswestry (Mr. Biffen).

asked the Minister of Transport when work will start on the construction of a new bridge over the canal at Thorne and on the building of the by-pass.

A new bridge over the canal will be constructed as part of the Thorne by-pass, on which we hope to start work in 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans are being made to extend the existing motorway construction programme in order to provide an additional 1,700 miles of motorways and expressways in accordance with recommendations made by the County Surveyors' Society, details of which have been supplied to her; and how long this extension of the programme would take to complete.

Plans for the development of inter-urban roads in the 1970's are now being considered and the Department is taking the recommendations of the County Surveyors' Society into account along with the views of other bodies. Whether particular routes should be motorways or all-purpose trunk roads will need to be decided case by case in the light of all the relevant factors, the most important of which are the nature and anticipated volume of traffic, the relative costs of construction and the benefits which the road is likely to produce.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation to amend the Highways Acts to permit the erection of signs on suitable roads reminding drivers about the 30 miles per hour speed limit.

No. The urban 30 m.p.h. speed limit should continue to be indicated by the presence of a system of street lighting. If repeated 30 m.p.h. signs were permitted they would have to be used throughout the country in all urban areas. This would be a great expense and my right hon. Friend does not think it would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the dislocation caused to manufacturers of road traffic signs who have made expensive preparations to fulfil the requirements of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 1964 by the official delays in implementing it; and if she will take steps to remedy this.

Last year's deferment of capital expenditure, and increased costs, have made it necessary to extend the periods, prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations, 1964, for the conversion of regulatory signs on all roads and the remaining signs on primary routes. However, it is estimated that during this financial year about £4 million will be available from central and local funds for the conversion programme in Great Britain. We believe this will form a reasonable basis for the signmakers to work on.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of the freight capacity of liner trains on the Glasgow-London and Manchester- London routes, respectively, was taken up with commercial freight traffic in each of the first six months of 1966.

I am sure that the Railways Board would be prepared to provide the hon. Member with any readily available information which would not prejudice their commercial interests, but it would not be appropriate to give such detailed statistics in a Parliamentary Answer.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the future of the Northampton-Peterborough line, particularly in relation to that section of the line passing through Wellingborough at the Little Irchester level crossing.

Any future plans for the line are a matter for the Railways Board subject to the general arrangement my right hon. Friend announced recently about disposal of assets. This ensures that the formation of closed lines is retained in case of future need unless she agrees to disposal.

asked the Minister of.Aviation from what date the interest-free advances made by British Overseas Airways Corporation to British Overseas Airways Corporation-Cunard were replaced by a loan attracting the normal commercial rate of interest; whether this change involved voluntary relinquishment by either party of contractual rights; and what steps he is taking to secure for British Overseas Airways Corporation interest on moneys advanced prior to the recent change in procedure.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 11th July to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, North-East (Mr. Bradley). As regards contractual rights, the loan will continue to be covered by a debenture. As the original loan was a proper transaction within the commercial discretion of B.O.A.C., no further action is appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he will take to arrest the fall in the value of Government stocks, especially 3½ per cent. War Loan, which is now less than half its nominal value.

The Government's continuing aim is to foster a healthy gilt-edged market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the results from companies showing that though turnover is up, profits are down, what reduction of income from taxation on company profits he now anticipates for the current financial year; how he proposes to replace that loss; and if he will make a statement.

Such information as is available about the recent total of company profits does not indicate any need for a revision of my right hon. Friend's Budget proposals.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Law Commission has yet examined the situation arising when building societies and others demand that insurance be effected with companies from whom they draw commission.

The Law Commission is examining this question in the context of its review of the law of landlord and tenant, which will not be concluded for some time yet.

asked the Attorney-General what is now the average length of time between the receipt of a transfer by the Land Registry and the return of the transfer to the sender.

Where the transfer relates to the whole of the land comprised in a title, the average length of time is 21½ working days. Where only part of the land is transferred, it is 54 working days.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why he referred the proposed increase in brewers' prices to the National Board for Prices and Incomes and did not refer a similar increase that was made by the state brewery in Carlisle.

The reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes covered the costs, prices and profits of the whole of the brewing industry, including the state brewery. The price increase made by the State brewery in November, 1965, was fully justified by increased costs. It took place more than a year after most private brewers had increased their prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what stops he is taking to draw the attention of head teachers to problems of deafness in children.

This is primarily a matter for local education authorities, who were given advice on the needs of children with impaired hearing in ordinary schools in my Department's Circular 10/62. Some authorities arrange for head teachers to attend appropriate lectures or short courses, and advice is available in a number of areas from peripatetic teachers of the deaf. H.M. Inspectors enquire about the presence of handicapped children in ordinary schools and the arrangements made for their care and education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for the provision of facilities for deaf and partially-hearing children in secondary education in the King's Lynn area.

This is a matter for the local education authority. I understand that children with impaired hearing in ordinary secondary schools in King's Lynn receive frequent visits from a teacher of the deaf. The authority are considering the provision of a special class for senior pupils needing more intensive help. Some children from the King's Lynn area attend boarding schools for the deaf or partially hearing which cater for senior pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much money Bechuanaland received last year for grant-in-aid of administration and for famine relief; and what amount of development and welfare funds were in fact used for current as opposed to capital expenses.

The grant-in-aid was £2·66 million, of which £458,000 was for famine relief. Recurrent expenditure from C.D. and W. funds was £328,000 out of at total of £1·11 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many graduates there now are in Bechuanaland; how many students are at present undertaking a university course; and what his estimate is of the number who will be at a university in five years' time.

The figures are 30, 44 and an estimated 140 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many children in Bechuanaland are now receiving a secondary education and what he estimates the numbers will be in five years' time, having regard to the present school-building programme.

1,350 and 2,500 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many visitors to this country were admitted during recent years to hospitals in the United Kingdom for emergency treatment following unexpected illness or accidents; what was the cost of their treatment to the National Health Service; and what procedures are available to collect costs in such cases.

Such emergency treatment is allowed free under our"Good Samaritan"policy in Great Britain. Statistics are not collected but the numbers involved are not thought to be large.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decision he has made regarding the Littlewood Committee's recommendations on the repeal of existing provisions regarding experiments on cats and dogs and their replacement by more stringent rules; and whether he now proposes legislation.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave on 23rd May to a similar Question by the hon. Member on this subject.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will place a copy of the Porter Report on the Economic Development of Bechuanaland in the Library.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of the Report on the Development of the Bechuanaland Economy which has been prepared by his Department.

This Report was made to the British Government and to the Government of Bechuanaland by an Economic Mission appointed in 1965 by my predecessor, with the agreement of the Bechuanaland Government. The Report is at present under consideration by the two Governments and the question of its publication must await discussions with the Bechuanaland Government during the current financial talks.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is his estimate of the amount of capital expenditure required for school development in Bechuanaland, and the amount of current expenditure to which this will give rise.

These are questions which I am discussing with the Bechuanaland Government during the financial talks now being held in London.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is his estimate of the amount of development money needed annually by Bechuanaland for the next rive years.

I am at present discussing Bechuanaland's future development needs with the Bechuanaland Government.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is his estimate of the amount of capital investment required in Bechuanaland initially and for the next three years to develop the copper potential of the territory.

Bechuanaland's copper resources are still being explored. Present information suggests that the costs of development, including the provision of basic services, would be substantial, but I could not give precise figures without further detailed study of all the economic and technical aspects.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is his estimate of the amount of money needed annually by Bechuanaland in grant-in-aid of administration for the next five years.

I am discussing Bechuanaland's future need for budgetary assistance during the current financial talks with a delegation from that country.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why has it been necessary to take one million extra square feet of office space for Government Departments in London since October, 1964; in which parts of London they are mainly situated; what is their capital cost, and extra rent and rates; why is the work not done out of London; if he will take steps to halt this form of Government expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

The extra space is needed to meet staff expansion and moves, reorganisation of Departments, replacement of accommodation, and improvement of standards. Movements of staff include dispersal from central London, and more than half the extra space referred to in the Question is outside the central area.Negotiations for nearly two-thirds of the space started before October, 1964. The capital cost of freehold premises was about £1·15 million. The extra cost in rent is about £1·65 million a year.About 300,000 square feet is for local offices serving the area in which they are situated. The remaining 700,000 square feet is for Headquarters staff who must work in London, including 300,000 square feet for staff dispersed to the periphery.The Government have made and are continuing to make a very considerable contribution to dispersal. Some 30,000 Headquarters staff (excluding the Post Office) are already accommodated outside London; a further 5,000 are due to be moved out over the next five years. A number of new organisations are to be set up outside London, including the Land Commission Headquarters and the Board of Trade Investment Grant Administration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what qualifications are possessed by the members of the Board of Trade Advisory Committee which are not available within the Board of Trade itself; and what is the total staff of his Department.

The members of the Committee, who are appointed by the Board under Section 3 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, are persons with a wide range of practical business, industrial and trade union experience, and are able to give independent advice on the matters referred to them under the Local Employment Acts. The total staff of the Board at 1st June, 1966, was 9,638.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates were granted to firms for development in the King's Lynn area in the periods January-June, 1965, July-December, 1965, and January-June, 1966.

For projects of over 5,000 sq. ft., 13, 3 and 10 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the amounts in quantity and value of imports and exports of edible fish oils in each of the past five financial years; and what was the total home production in a similar period.

Home production is estimated to be approximately 15,000 to 18,000 tons per year. Imports and exports were as follows:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF EDIBLE FISH OILS
	Imports		Exports
Year ended 31st March	Thousand cwts.	£'000	Thousand cwts.	£'000
1962	1,570	4,464	120	815
1963	2,621	5,501	118	551
1964	2,128	6,375	110	633
1965	2,618	10,125	104	766
1966	3,729	14,941	86	591

NOTE: Owing to a change in classification, the coverage of the import statistics was slightly widened from January 1963 onwards, to include some hardened vegetable oils.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs are now in existence in Scotland as a result of industrial development certificates issued since 16th October, 1964.

Of the 38,000 additional jobs estimated to arise from industrial projects approved since 1st October, 1964, 7,200 related to projects which have now been completed, but I am not in a position to say how far recruitment of workers for those schemes has proceeded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the undertaking given to his predecessor by the British Oxygen Company Limited in March 1958, following the Report of the Monopolies Commission on industrial and medical gases, about the acquisition by that company of other producers of oxygen, acetylene and propane.

I have agreed to release the Company from this undertaking.Since the passing of the Monopolies and Mergers Act, 1965, I have ample powers to scrutinise proposed mergers, and, in doing so in this field, I should be able to take account of conditions currently prevailing in the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour what discussions he has held with employers and unions following the publication of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report on Pay and Conditions of Busmen.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on his recent talks with officials of the Transport and General Worker's Union and the Federation of Municipal Passenger Transport Employers on the pay of provincial busmen.

pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th July, 1966; Vol. 731, c. 946], supplied the following information:Statement 1The Minister of Labour, Mr. Ray Gunter. today (13th June, 1966) met representatives of both sides of the National Joint Industrial Council for the Road Passenger Transport Industry to discuss the recent report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on pay and conditions of busmen.Both sides of the Council expressed their agreement with the aim of increasing productivity and pointed out that the Council had made considerable progress on, for example, one man operation. The claim before the Council would be considered at a meeting on 22nd June in the light of the report from the Prices and Incomes Board. The Transport and General Workers' Union stressed their reservation with regard to the Board's report in relation to their declared views on incomes policy but they welcomed the opportunity to discuss increased productivity.The Minister commended the recommendations of the Board to both sides of the Council for their consideration at the meeting on 22nd June.