asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many British correspondents were expelled from Commonwealth countries in each of the last five years.

My Department has records of the following: 1966, four; 1965, five; 1964, four; 1963, none; 1962, one.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give the names of British journalists expelled from Uganda in 1966; what protest was made by Her Majesty's Government in these cases; and what effect this had.

Mr. Billy Chibber and Mr. E. A. Jones.On my instructions our High Commissioner asked the Uganda authorities to state the reasons for these expulsions; to explain why they were carried out so hastily; and to say whether Mr. Chibber and Mr. Jones were given an opportunity to safeguard their property in Uganda. He was informed that reasons could not be given, but that their continued presence was not conducive to good order and stability.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how the fire at Chatham Dockyard on 12th July originated;(2) if he will give an estimate of the total cost of the damage to dockyard establishments and equipment, and private property, respectively, as a result of the fire at Chatham Dockyard on 12th July, 1966;(3) how essential production in Chatham Dockyard has been affected by fire damage on 12th July;

The cause and cost of this fire are matters for the Board of Inquiry, but I can say now that the value of the stores which were burnt was not very great, and production was not affected by the fire. Private property is brought into a dockyard at the owners' risk, but we are always prepared to consider exceptional claims without prejudice.

asked the Minister of Labour why the retail bespoke tailoring trade is classed as a manufacturing business for the purposes of the Customs and Excise, Purchase Tax, and other Government orders but for the purpose of the Selective Employment Tax is classed as a retail business.

This trade is classified as manufacturing by the Customs and Excise for Purchase Tax purchases because the provisions of the Purchase Tax Act, 1963, require it to be regarded as manufacturing.In the Standard Industrial Classification tailoring is classified under Order XII but dressmaking and tailoring workrooms attached to retail shops are classified to retail distribution. The Government have tabled an Amendment to the Selective Employment Payments Bill the effect of which will be to enable establishments incorporating tailoring workrooms to qualify for premiums, provided they satisfy the conditions of Clause 1 of the Bill, even though the workroom is attached to a shop.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest figures of the percentage of insured workers unemployed in the Lampeter/Llandyssul area.

At 13th June, 1966, the rate of unemployment in the area covered by the Lampeter and Llandyssul Employment Exchanges was 3·1 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply he gave when the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Trade Associations asked him whether he wanted an interim report.

My right hon. Friend and the Chairman of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations discussed on 7th April, 1966 the work of the Commission, including the question of an interim report. They agreed that an interim report would not be practicable because the complex issues which the Commission is considering are all closely inter-related.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that persons hold secret appointments at undisclosed salaries as industrial and political advisers to daily newspapers and other similar appointments; whether he is satisfied that the Government's incomes policy will apply to such persons; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he is aware that trade unions and employers' trade associations pay to their general secretaries, presidents and executive members salaries, wages and expenses which are never revealed to their respective members; and what is the Government's policy with regard to the incomes earned by these employees.

I am not aware that there is any secrecy about the payments made to the senior officials of trade unions and employers' associations. The Prices and Incomes Policy applies to all incomes.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the estimated average weekly overtime worked in the shipping industry during 1963, 1964, and 1965, respectively; by what means these figures are obtained; and what steps he will take to ensure that overtime working will be reduced during the next two years.

Average figures are not available for 1963, 1964 and 1965.A survey by the Shipping Federation showed that in the autumn of 1965 the weekly hours worked by seamen on foreign-going ships average 66, and on home trade ships 73·6.In discussions following the publication of the First Report of Lord Pearson's Committee of Inquiry, the owners and the National Union of Seamen assured my right hon. Friend that they will try to secure the reduction of two hours a week recommended in the report.

asked the Minister of Labour by what further amount the estimated 9½ per cent. increase in the total wage bill recently settled for the shipping industry should be adjusted if no reductions in overtime take place.

By 2⅔ per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of employees in the catering trade; what is the average current level of their earnings; by what percentage it has changed over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The estimated number of employees in employment in the catering, hotels, etc., industry at mid-June, 1965, the latest date for which estimates have been made, was 611,600. No information on earnings is available.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of employees in the distribution trade; what is the average current level of their earnings; by what percentage it has changed over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The estimated number of employees in employment in the distribution trades at mid-June, 1965, the latest date for which estimates have been made, was 2,961,900. It is estimated from a small household sample that their average earnings (including men, women, boys and girls both full-time and part-time) during 1965 were about £614 per annum and that the increase in earnings over 1964 was about 10 per cent. The average earnings of full-time men in 1965 were about £1,000—a rise of about 9½ per cent. compared with 1964. These figures are all subject to sampling error.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in introducing subscriber trunk dialling to subscribers on the Crumlin telephone exchange in County Antrim; and when the work will be completed.

I expect to provide subscriber trunk dialling at Crumlin in mid-1967.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will have a Crown post office opened in New Addington, Surrey, in view of the large increase in the local community in the district.

Short I am looking into this matter and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, where a man sentenced is recommended for deportation, he will review the policy of not informing the man as to whether he will be deported until he is at the end of the sentence, in order that the after-care service shall be better able to plan some form of rehabilitation.

I cannot usually decide on deportation until towards the end of a long sentence because I think it right to give full weight to domestic and other circumstances which may change during the sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any decision has yet been reached on the continued use of the title Royal in the name of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Queen has, on my recommendation, been pleased to confer definitively upon the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra the title Royal which i: has borne since 1946, when it was founded by Sir Thomas Beecham with the support of the Royal Philharmonic Society for participation in the Society's concerts. My advice was tendered after consultation with the Royal Philharmonic Society, which has informed me that it looks forward to including the Orchestra in its forthcoming series of concerts.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the advice he offers to public sector purchasers of computers regarding the price advantage which they should accord to machines produced by British manufacturers, as opposed to imported machines or those produced in the United Kingdom by subsidiaries of foreign companies, where there is no significant technical dissimilarity between competing machines; and if he will make a statement.

As regards Government purchasing, it is the policy of the Government that purchases of computers will be made from British firms whenever reasonably possible. Each case is, however, considered on its merits, price being only one, of the many factors which have to be taken into account. No directive has been given to other public authorities, but they have been invited to take into account the desirability of supporting British industry. Machines made in Britain by subsidiaries of foreign firms are regarded in this context as British.Of the 44 computers which have been ordered for Government adminstrative and scientific purposes since October, 1964, 33 have been British; 31 of these were purchased because, taking all considerations into account, they were the most competitive and two were given a measure of preference.This policy would not be operated in contravention of obligations under the E.F.T.A. Convention.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress she has made in her discussions with the National Union of Railwaymen regarding the provision of free access to liner train terminals by private road hauliers.

Discussions are still continuing with the unions concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport when the cross-Channel container carrying service will be introduced by British Railways, as recommended by her Department.

My right hon. Friend has approved proposals by the Railways Board for container services between Harwich (Parkeston Quay) and Zeebrugge to form part of a completely integrated door-to-door service between the United Kingdom and Continental Europe, available in early 1968.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the national interest, to the Board of British Railways so as to ensure that any system of control tickets used during the holiday period does not involve the travelling public in greater expense than that normally incurred in reserving seats and sleeping car accommodation.

No. I would also refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 11th July.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board not to discriminate against coloured workers.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British Railways not to discriminate against coloured workers; and whether she will make a statement.

The Board are at one with the Government in being strongly opposed to discrimination on grounds of colour in any circumstances and they inform me that they seek full equality of opportunity for all their employees, of whatever racial origin. There have been on occasion local difficulties in obtaining acceptance of coloured workers, but few in relation to the size of the undertaking. The Board tell me that they have re-emphasised to all concerned throughout the undertaking the need for vigilance to prevent discrimination and for using every endeavour to resolve these difficulties when they do arise, as in the case which has recently received so much publicity.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on proposals made to her Department by the Port of London Authority on major developments and extensions to the Royal, Millwall, West India, and Tilbury Docks.

The following schemes have been submitted for authorisation under Section 9 of the Harbours Act 1964: —

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of teachers for deaf and partially deaf children in schools; and if he will establish a training course to increase the supply.

At 31st May, 1966, there were 106 teachers employed in schools for the deaf and partially deaf. There is no evidence at present that the existing facilities for training teachers of the deaf (at Manchester and London Universities) are not adequate to meet Scottish needs, but the question of providing facilities in Scotland is kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the administrative difficulties of giving an option to C grade farmers under the Winter Keep (Scotland) Scheme of being paid on headage instead of on acreage.

The introduction of an option to C grade farms would create an unstable situation. Although the C grade is particularly identified with hill sheep farms, an option would need to apply to both hill cattle and hill sheep. There would accordingly be a case for offering it to A and B farms as well. This in turn would suggest that the option would need to be extended to other parts of the United Kingdom, with the consequence of a significant increase in total expenditure under the relevant Schemes. In addition, an option would introduce an element of uncertainty in estimating expenditure under the Schemes, more particularly if farmers were permitted periodically to exercise a fresh choice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of non-industrial staff attached to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Scottish Home and Health Department, the Scottish Development Department and the Scottish Education Department, respectively, in October, 1964; and what are the corresponding numbers today.

2,531; 2,725; 701; and 637 respectively in October, 1964, and 2,669; 3,021; 803 and 730 in July, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will instruct the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board to reduce the charge on the Forth Road Bridge for solo motorcycles from 2s. 6d. to 1s.

I will consider this possibility with the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board, in reviewing the tolls after this summer's traffic is known.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the contents of the book, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will institute proceedings against the printers and publishers, on grounds of the book's obscenity.

The Lord Advocate's attention had not previously been directed to this book. Now that it has been brought to his notice, he will consider whether to institute proceedings.

asked the Minister of Health what is his policy for the education of children in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the application of that policy in the country generally, and within the area of the Glantawe Hospital Board in particular.

Hospital authorities have been asked to co-operate with local education authorities on this matter. If my hon. Friend knows of any difficulties in the Glantawe group of hospitals and will send me details I will see that they are examined.

asked the Minister of Health what action he will take in view of the evidence to the Royal Commission on Medical Education presented by the Joint Committee of the University of Southampton and the Wessex Regional Hospital Board on the subject of the creation of a medical school in Southampton, a copy of which has been sent to him.

Decisions on the location of any new medical schools are primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science advised by the University Grants Committee, but my Department is consulting with the University Grants Committee about a number of possibilities, including Southampton. The Royal Commission on Medical Education is considering "what changes may be needed in the pattern, number and location of the institutions providing medical education".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what were the number of cattle, sheep and pigs exported overseas for slaughter during 1965 to countries other than those subscribing to the Balfour Assurance; and which countries these were;(2) what were the number of cattle, sheep and pigs exported overseas for slaughter from 1st January, 1966, to the latest convenient date to countries which have not subscribed to the Balfour Assurance; and which countries these were.

Animals for immediate slaughter are allowed to be exported to those countries only which have given the Balfour assurances as to their welfare, and the returns for these periods do not show any such exports to have been destined to other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Overseas Development what economic aid will be given to Basutoland on and immediately subsequent to independence.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Alan Lee Williams) on 1st July.

asked the Secretary of State for Overseas Development what economic aid will be given to Bechuanaland on and immediately subsequent to independence.

This is a matter which I am now discussing with a Bechuanaland Government delegation in London.