asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will institute an inquiry to establish the number of cases tried by jury where persons were subsequently found to have been wrongly convicted of an offence.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit the use by persons offering vehicles for hire of the words cab and taxi to describe vehicles not licensed as such in the Metropolitan area.

My right hon. Friend has been examining proposals to this effect made to him by representatives of the London taxicab trade. Further discussions are to be held with them next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the regulations on house to house collections and make proposals in order to alter the present situation, whereby some permits are issued by his Department, and some by chief constables, which results in too many unplanned approaches to the general public.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer) on 28th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to arrange that all police patrol vehicles on motorways be coloured white so that they will be easily recognised by road users.

Regular motorway patrol vehicles are in general white or cream, but some of the Lancashire vehicles are orange and white.The working party on the policing of motorways and trunk roads has under consideration the question of the most effective markings for police vehicles on these roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a maximum fine of £5 for the offence of fighting in a public place is inadequate in the light of modern earnings, and whether he will take steps to increase it.

Yes. This is one of the fines which my right hon. Friend proposes to deal with in the Criminal Justice Bill which will be introduced this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the evidence, brought to his attention by the hon. Member for St. Marylebone, of the circulation through the post of literature designed to re-establish belief of the discredited and notoriously forged document entitled "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" as an offence against the Race Relations Act; and what steps he has taken to identify those responsible.

I referred the document to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. Although he has made extensive inquiries there is insufficient evidence to enable the sender to be identified, and it is not therefore possible to consider proceedings under the Race Relations Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has sent to the representations of the Greater London Council concerning the siting of the magistrates' court in Enfield; whether he will give an assurance that the magistrates' court will continue in the London Borough of Enfield; and whether he will make a statement.

I have not yet received any representations from the Greater London Council, who I understand are still in consultation with the Magistrates' Courts Committee for the Middlesex area of Greater London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about his policy on shop hours.

My right hon. Friend is considering this matter in the light of the views expressed on the suggestions contained in the Home Departments' booklet "Retail Trading Hours".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the prison-building programme will be affected by the reduction in £1½ million in his Department's services.

Yes. This part of the Home Office programme cannot be exempted from the cut; and there is bound to be some slowing down in carrying out desirable works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the increase to 1,683 in the number of escapes from places of detention in England and Wales during the past 12 months; if he is aware that this is a considerable percentage increase from the figure of five years ago; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of such escapes and thus avoid the frustration at present felt by the police.

Escapes from prison this year are running at a slightly lower rate than in 1964 and 1965. The increase since 1960 in escapes from all places of detention is due partly to the increase in the number of persons detained and partly to the fact that a higher proportion of those sent for borstal training have proved difficult and unco-operative. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Essex, South East (Mr. Braine) on 23rd June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints against the police were made in the year 1965; and what proportion of them were found on investigation to be without foundation.

9,301 complaints were made against the police in England and Wales. Some 90 per cent. were not substantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Peters-field regarding investment in gambling in London by the Mafia in the United States of America; and whether he will make a statement.

The communication sent to me by the hon. Member referred to a newspaper report of a Press conference in the United States at which an attorney was said to have stated that he had evidence of such investment and was coming here to investigate. He was later reported to have said that the earlier report was without foundation.I have proposals in hand for amendment of Part II of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1963, to ensure stricter control over the provision of facilities for gaming.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will circulate in the Official Report a table of figures showing by countries of origin the number of immigrant workers and the number of dependants of immigrant workers who have entered Great Britain in each of the last five years.

The available statistics relating to Commonwealth citizens subject to immigration control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, are published annually (Cmnd. 2379, 2658, 2979) and monthly statistics are placed in the Library. I am sending a copy of the return for May to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when considering applications for the admission into Great Britain of immigrant workers, he obtains particulars of dependants for whose admission they may wish subsequently to apply.

Since last October, it has been the practice to ask a Commonwealth citizen overseas who is given a Ministry of Labour voucher to provide particulars of the dependants entitled to enter the United Kingdom with him or to follow him later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give by countries of origin an estimate of the number of dependants for whose admission immigrant workers who entered Great Britain during the last five years, are entitled to apply.

I am not in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in the past 12 months arising from the use of Hyde Park by heavy or commercial traffic.

In recent months it has not been necessary to institute any prosecutions in relation to heavy traffic in Hyde Park, although a number of warnings have been given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to ban the sale of long-pile fur-fabric materials and garments made with these materials which present a fire hazard to wearers; and if he will take steps to issue appropriate warning notices in respect of the fire dangers from these fabrics.

I am seeking the cooperation of the manufacturer and importers concerned in eliminating or reducing the fire hazard of a fabric recently mentioned in the Press, and have set in train an investigation into the possible risks presented by these materials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken in regard to the imported fur fabric material recently found by the Retail Trading Standards Association to be highly flammable, details of which have been sent to him; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such material is not imported and distributed in this country in the future.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made today in reply to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase the supply to fire brigades of ultra lightweight cylinders for use with compressed-air breathing apparatus.

An issue of 500 light-weight cylinders started last March and is now nearly complete. This was done after testing of the cylinder by the National Physical Laboratory and the National Engineering Laboratory. The long-term serviceability of the cylinder has still to be assessed, however, and I propose to wait until we have twelve months' experience of its use before deciding whether to issue further supplies to brigades.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of civil servants employed by his Department full time and part time, respectively, at the last convenient date; and what increases or decreases these figures represent on the comparable figures for October, 1964 and August, 1965.

On 1st July, 19,440 full-time, and 1,710 part-time. These totals are 1,294 and 157 more than in October, 1964, and 832 and 141 more than in August, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement on the application of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to injuries caused by children or insane persons.

It has not been the Government's intention that injuries should be outside the scheme solely because they were caused by someone who, because of age or insanity or other condition, could not be held responsible under the criminal law. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have informed the Board that the scheme should be operated accordingly.We have said that in these or other cases where the Board are satisfied of the

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that county boroughs have an effective say in the organisation and management of amalgamated police forces.

The Police Act, 1964, provides that combined police authorities shall include representatives of the constituent police areas. The exact basis of representation in any particular case is primarily a matter for local agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law to enable legal action to be taken against policemen who refuse to carry out their statutory obligations in enforcing the law when requested to do so.

No. I know of no reason for thinking that such action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took the Metropolitan Police 1½ hours to respond to the call made by Mr. John Garner to investigate matters connected with the finding of the murdered body of the young girl in Eton Avenue, Hampstead, on the evening of Tuesday, 26th July; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commissioner of Police tells me that when this matter was reported to the police they were told only that an abandoned parcel was lying in the street and there was no mention of a body; two other emergency calls were therefore dealt with first.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of regular police officers in the Metropolitan Police area are coloured; and how this figure compares with the coloured people's proportion of the total population there.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to a similar Question today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the arrangements made by Norfolk police to measure traffic delays on the route from Terrington St. Clement to King's Lynn, and on the results.

The Chief Constable informs me that the police keep a close watch on this, as on other approach roads to King's Lynn, especially during summer weekends, and do all that they can to relieve congestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what oil supplies are passing through Bechuanaland to Southern Rhodesia.

I am satisfied that only very small amounts of oil are passing through Bechuanaland into Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the timetable for the independence of Mauritius; and what economic aid will be available on and immediately subsequent to independence.

A timetable can be arranged only when a general election has been held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the results of the family planning services in Fiji in 1965.

Attendance at Family Planning Clinics during the year increased by about a third over the figures for 1964. Since the Fiji Family Planning Association was formed in 1963 the figures for births registered in both the main communities have been consistently below the trend of the previous seven years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will hold a referendum in Gibraltar to establish whether it is the wish of the majority of the people of Gibraltar to be granted independence, to remain in free association with the United Kingdom, or to be integrated with the United Kingdom or with Spain.

I do not believe that any form of referendum would be helpful at present. Adequate arrangements exist for the people of Gibraltar to make their views known through their elected representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking on the final report of the Hong Kong Salaries Commission.

The Commission reported to the Hong Kong Government which have already implemented the greater part of its recommendations. This has led to a general increase of 16 per cent. in salaries as from 1st April, 1965. Certain other recommendations are still being considered by the Hong Kong Government, some involving consultation with Staff Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will announce the progress made in the establishment of family planning clinics in Mauritius and the Seychelles, respectively, during the past year.

98 Family Planning Clinics are now in operation in Mauritius. They are run by two voluntary organisations with financial assistance and co-ordination from the Government. It is not possible at short notice to say how many of the Clinics were started in the last 12 months, but progress has been marked since Government grants became available last year.In Seychelles, instruction in locally acceptable family planning methods which started about two years ago continued at Victoria Hospital. Similar instruction is now planned for rural health centres. In addition, the International Planned Parenthood Federation which opened a clinic in Victoria last year has now extended its activities to a second centre in Praslin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total number of civil servants employed by his Department full time and part time, respectively, at the last convenient date; and what increases or decreases these figures represent on the comparable figures for October, 1964 and August, 1965.

On the 1st July, 1966 the Colonial Office employed 550 full time and 54 part time staff, a reduction of 50 and 4 respectively from the 1st October, 1964 and 8 and 1 respectively from the 1st August, 1965.

asked the First Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the proposed study of Severnside is to be additional to the study jointly sponsored by the South-West and the Welsh Economic Planning Councils into the effects of the Severn Bridge and the motorway network on the economy of both sides of the Bristol Channel.

Yes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what changes in the numbers of technically and professionally qualified personnel employed in the nationalised industries he estimates will occur within the next six months, arising out of Her Majesty's Government's policy for the redeployment of manpower; and if he will publish information showing where such changes will take place.

Government Departments do not prepare overall short-term forecasts of the requirements of the nationalised industries for particular categories of personnel.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give an assurance that pensions' credits will be protected in respect of any salary or wages deferments following agreed in creases such as those affecting the National Association of Local Government Officers, the doctors, railway employees, seamen, and police.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how the Government's policy with regard to the wage standstill will be applied to those persons, already in receipt of several salaries, who accept and are appointed to part-time, new, or freshly created appointments with additional salaries, and where existing appointments are redesignated at enhanced rates of pay for the purpose of overcoming the objectives of the wage standstill; and whether he will make a statement.

The standstill is expected to apply to all forms of salaries as to other employment incomes. Paragraph 18(iii) of Cmnd. 3073 states explicitly that the regrading of posts as a concealed method of increasing rates of pay would be contrary to the intention of the standstill. The payment of a further salary which genuinely reflected additional work would not be inconsistent with the terms of the standstill. But the Government look to all concerned in such cases to show a proper restraint during the next year.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why copies of the planning survey prepared by the East Anglia Planning Council have not been sent to East Anglian Members of Parliament.

The East Anglia Council has not prepared a planning survey. A statistical review of population and employment trends has been prepared by the East Anglia Planning Board for the Council. This is at present under examination.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many persons will be eligible to continue to receive, during the proposed wages standstill, regular increments of specified amounts within a predetermined range or scale, as set out in paragraph 18(iv) of the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Standstill, Command Paper No. 3073; what proportion of the total working population this represents; and which are the main industries, services and occupations in which such arrangements exist.

I regret that precise information is not available about the number of persons on incremental salary scales. Such arrangements, in some cases based on age, are known to be widespread for non-manual workers, while additional payments based on length of service, are sometimes made to manual workers.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the total number of civil servants employed by his Department full time and part time, respectively, at the last convenient date; and what increases or decreases these figures represent over the comparable figures for October, 1964 and August, 1965.

On 1st July, 1966 the Department employed 522 full-time and 15 part-time staff representing increases of 6 full-time and 3 part-time staff over August, 1965. The Department was only set up in October, 1964.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the total spent by his Department on advertising in the past year; and by what sum he intends to reduce it in the current year as a result of the present economic situation.

£11,235 was spent last year on Press advertisements. The amount to be spent this year is likely to be about £1,500 less.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether, in support of his prices and incomes policy, he will introduce legislation to compel all unions who have declared themselves in favour of the Government's policy to declare to their members the increases paid to their officials during the past three years, where these increases have been in excess of the Government's 3½ per cent. norm.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will give an estimate of the first year's costs of operating the proposals in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes and those in the Prices and Incomes Bill, taking into consideration the new staffs to be employed, their offices, publicity, printing and all expenses and costs allied to these proposals.

I expect some increase in costs above the figures shown in Paragraph 29 of the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum on the Prices and Incomes Bill. But it is too soon to make a revised estimate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech, about the contribution of British overseas investment to the balance of payments, made to the Canadian Club in Ottawa on 26th May.

I have arranged for copies of this speech, which covered a number of topics, to be placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will examine the proposed new German anti-dumping legislation to see if it would be advantageous to British horticulture to introduce similar legislation for British horticultural protection and take steps to speed the present anti-dumping rules.

The Government have already undertaken to consider seeking wider powers to impose provisional duties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the trade benefits to Great Britain resulting from the Moscow Trade Fair which was attended by the Prime Minister this July, indicating the number of orders received by British firms.

The Exhibition provided an excellent opportunity for British manufacturers to demonstrate their products to Soviet buyers and users. It is too soon to assess how much business will result; but exhibits themselves to a value of £1 million have been sold, and Soviet authorities are negotiating contracts with many firms who exhibited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek to create an intermediate category of semi-development areas and include East Anglia in it.

No. But in operating the Industrial Development Certificate Control the Board of Trade already differentiate in favour of certain places which are not included in the Development Areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the directive he has sent to the Chairman of the British Airports Authority, notifying him of the restrictions on investment which he expects him to impose as a result of the latest economic restrictions, and the reply which he has received.

I have issued no such directive. I have, however, consulted the Chairman of the British Airports Authority about these reductions in capital expenditure, and he has assured me of the Authority's full co-operation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes formally to instruct the Monopolies Commission to consider the question of tied houses; and whether, in dealing with that matter, the Monopolies Commission will be empowered to consider restrictive and monopolistic practices with regard to the supply of all alcoholic liquor in public houses, including beer.

The supply of beer was formally referred to the Monopolies Commission for investigation and report on 27th July. The terms of the reference have been published and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to acquire shares in firms in the North-East which have received grants and loans under the provisions of the Local Employment Act and kindred legislation.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that when discussions take place with the hotels industry regarding the new grants to attract tourists to Great Britain, consideration will be given to improving the hotel and catering standards which at present are being offered to tourists and visitors from abroad.

Where improved standards at an hotel would result in a significant increase in its overseas earnings, and where the project would require capital expenditure on structural work or on fixed equipment, the project may be eligible for a loan under the development loan scheme which I announced on 26th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will initiate discussions with the appropriate local authorities in Northumberland to consider the building of a conference hall in the Tynemouth-Blyth area, as a means of improving the facilities for attracting visitors and tourists, in view of the Government's recent actions in this field.

No; but I should of course be pleased to hear from any part of the country about a local initiative for building a conference hall where this was expected to pay its way and to prove an attraction for overseas visitors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of civil servants employed by his Department full time and part time, respectively, at the last convenient date; and what increases or decreases these figures represent on the comparable figures for October, 1964 and August 1965.

On 30th June the Board of Trade, with the Export Credits Guarantee Department, had 10,665 full-time and 339 part-time staff. This is an increase of 1,440 full-time and 51 part-time staff on October, 1964, and an increase of 144 full-time and a decrease of 20 part-time staff on August, 1965.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are current annual overseas earnings of the United Kingdom from overseas tin mines and rubber plantations, respectively.

The information is not available but overseas earnings from agriculture (including plantations) and mining amounted to £27 million and £33 million respectively in 1964, the latest year for which detailed estimates are available. Detailed results of the 1964 inquiry were published in the Board of Trade Journal of 10th June, 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total spent by his Department on advertising in the past year; and by what sum he intends to reduce it in the current year as a result of the present economic situation.

Expenditure by and on behalf of the Board of Trade in 1965–66 was £195,365, and of the Export Credits Guarantee Department £57,277. The Board of Trade's expenditure will be increased in the current year in order to support measures to strengthen the economy and promote exports. The expenditure of the Export Credits Guarantee Department will be about the same as last year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the overcrowding of the Channel packets does not involve breach of the regulations securing safety at sea; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of passengers carried in ships on cross-Channel voyages are governed by regulations made under the Merchant Shipping Acts and in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of recommendation of the Geddes Report, he will make a statement as to the appointment and composition of the new Shipping Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the setting up of the Shipbuilding Industry Board as proposed by the Geddes Committee.

I expect to make a statement before the Recess.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that British firms have placed orders for trawlers to be built in Poland; what is the amount of British currency to be spent in Poland by building these trawlers abroad; and what steps were taken by the Government to prevent this loss of British currency during the present financial position.

I am aware that two British firms have announced a decision to order four trawlers from Poland but I do not know the prices being quoted. Trawlers are not subject to import restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the progress being made towards the establishment of a comprehensive system of education in the London Borough of Harrow; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has been informed by the Chief Education Officer that the Authority has not yet completed its consultations on secondary reorganisation. I hope that they will be able to submit a plan to me later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the progress in the study of comprehensive education, as applied to Northamptonshire, in response to his circular on the subject to the Northamptonshire County Council; and if he will make a statement.

My Department was informed by the Chief Education Officer on 27th July that a draft plan for secondary reorganisation was rejected by the Northamptonshire Authority on 21st July. I hope that the Authority will be able to formulate revised plans for submission to me at a later date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have yet to submit proposals for reorganising secondary education in their areas; and if he will make a statement.

The following 15 local education authorities have schemes of reorganisation covering the whole of their area implemented or approved, either before or since the issue of Circular 10/65:

Anglesey.	Merioneth.
Bradford.	Middlesbrough
Brent.	Montgomeryshire.
Bristol.	Newport (Mon.).
Cardiff.	Oldham.
Darlington.	Rochdale.
Doncaster.	Wakefield.
Luton.

2. The following 29 authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he sought about the profits made in the past two financial years by football clubs in England before they received grants and loans from Her Majesty's Government to assist in providing the venues for the World Cup Competition; and if he will publish the results.

The clubs submitted their acounts for the three financial years 1961–62 to 1963–64, and Her Majesty's Government were satisfied that the clubs could not pay, from current assets, the whole of the expenditure involved. Copies of the accounts of the clubs are lodged with the Board of Trade, where they are available for public inspection.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the grants and loans made to football clubs in Great Britain whose grounds were the venues of the matches in the World Cup Competition.

The financial aid which H.M. Government have made available to the Football Association for distribution to the six football clubs on whose grounds the World Cup matches have been played is as follows:

Football Club		Grant £	Loan £
Aston Villa	…	46,100	9,900
Everton	…	48,360	10,740
Manchester United	…	39,940	9,760
Middlesbrough	…	42,900	30,500
Sheffield Wednesday	…	78,700	17,700
Sunderland	…	61,300	3,600

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will give particulars of grants and other payments made by him to the various school and amateur sports associations in Great Britain during the past twelve months;

In accordance with arrangements approved by the Treasury, grants may be made by the Department under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, to national voluntary sports organisations, including schools sports organisation, and to local voluntary organisations as follows (actual expenditure is given under each head in respect of the latest year for which figures are available):

(a) Current grants to national voluntary organisations towards the costs of headquarters administration and national coaching schemes. Each case is considered on its merits, taking into account the needs of the organisation, its programme of development and its ability to meet a reasonable part of the cost from its own resources. The organisation concerned must be a non-profit-making body. In the financial year 1965–66 grants totalling £488,753 were made to 64 organisations;

(b) On the recommendation of the Sports Council, grants to national voluntary organisations in respect of:

(i) International, Under-23, Youth and School teams taking part in international events overseas, and delegates to important international conferences overseas. Grants are based on a contribution to the travelling costs of competitors or delegates. Grants totalling £23,615 to 37 organisations in England and Wales were recommended by the Sports Council for a variety of events taking place during the financial year 1965–66. Actual expenditure was borne on the Votes of the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Relations Office but responsibility for such grants was transferred to the Department as from 1st April, 1966.

(ii) World, Commonwealth, and other events of outstanding importance for international, under-23, youth and school teams, staged at home in England or Wales. Grants are based on a contribution to administrative costs and a contribution to the daily accommodation costs of visiting competitors. In the financial year 1965–66 grants totalling £4,500 were made by the Department for two events of this kind. A payment on account of £2,000 was also made to the Central Council of Physical Recreation in respect of an International Conference on Sport, Recreation and Education held in July, 1966;

(c) Capital grants to local voluntary organisations for the provision or extension of sports facilities. A grant of up to half of the approved cost of an acceptable scheme may be made. The maximum grant is normally £10,000. The main conditions which must be met in order to qualify for capital grant are: the application must be submitted by a non-profit-making organisation; the organisation must show financial need; membership of the organisation must be open to the public in general; and there must be adequate security of tenure of the new facilities. Expenditure on capital grants for sports facilities in the financial year 1965–66 amounted to £627,051. (This includes a grant of £71,655 to the Central Council of Physical Recreation for the development of existing national recreation centres.)

On the recommendation of the Sports Council, grants may also be made under the Science and Technology Act, 1965, in respect of research into the sociological, psychological and physiological aspects of sport and physical recreation. Two grants were made to the national voluntary organisations in the financial year 1965–66; a grant of £2,500 towards the cost of the British Olympic Association research project at Mexico City and a grant of £2,110 to the Central Council of Physical Recreation towards the establishment of a mobile research laboratory at Crystal Palace National Recreation Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of civil servants employed by his Department full time and part time, respectively, at the last convenient date; and what increases or decreases these figures represent on the comparable figures for October, 1964, and August, 1965.

The total number of civil servants employed by my Department on 1st July, 1966, was 3,973 full-time and 248 part-time, respectively.These figures represent an increase of 568 and 33 respectively over the comparable figures for 1st October, 1964, and an increase of 206 and 28 respectively over the comparable figures for 1st August, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in receipt of public funds at present make membership of their cadet corps compulsory.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total spent by his Department on advertising in the past year; and by what sum he intends to reduce it in the current year as a result of the present economic situation.

In the financial year 1965–66 the Central Office of Information spent £95,890 on behalf of the Department in Press advertisements to further the campaign for the recruitment of teachers. The Department spent from its own Vote £3,785 in advertising for staff. The estimate for the current financial year for expenditure by C.O.I. is £103,500 covering advertisements in connection with the recruitment of teachers, the Advisory Service on Full Time Degree and Diploma Courses in Further Education, and the Pension Scheme for Teachers' Dependants. Approximately the same amount as last year will be spent by the Department in advertising for staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the present economic circumstances, he will reduce the £102 million annual subsidy on school milk and meals, subject to concessions for very low-income families.

This is a matter which is kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will estimate the total cost to date to the British balance of payments overseas of the Rhodesian sanctions policy of Her Majesty's Government, including defence costs, loss of exports, visible and invisible, airlift, loss of service on Rhodesian loans, and economic aid to Zambia; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the continuance of the present measures in the light of the present economic circumstances of Great Britain.

The total cost to the British balance of payments is difficult to assess and no reliable estimate is available. As to the identifiable loss of earnings I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3rd August by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Maidstone. However, because of the element of overseas costs and loss of earnings on several items, including some of those mentioned by the hon. Member, and because of higher prices for certain imports, the total cost to the balance of payments is likely to be higher than the figures for the decline in export earnings alone would suggest.As to Her Majesty's Government's policy on sanctions, it remains as stated by the Prime Minister on 19th May in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Chigwell.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a further statement about the arrest of members of the academic staff of the University of Salisbury and in particular about action taken by the illegal régime in Rhodesia against Mr. Ian Henderson.

Deportation Orders were served by the illegal régime on all nine lecturers on 30th July; all have now left Rhodesia.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has achieved in pursuance of his policy of curtailing restrictive practices in industry since 20th July.

Results cannot be assessed over so short a period. In a wide range of industries progress is being made and must be maintained.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are now employed on shipbuilding for the Royal Navy and in naval dockyards.

In Great Britain at 1st July, 1966, some 39,000 males were employed at Naval Dockyards including 25,000 engaged on shipbuilding and ship repairing. At other establishments an estimated 10,000 male operatives were engaged in the building and repairing of naval vessels at mid-February, 1966, the latest date for which estimates are available. The number of administrative, technical and clerical workers employed on naval work at these other establishments is not known.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total spent by his Department on advertising in the past year; and by what sum he intends to reduce it in the current year as a result of the present economic situation.

The sum spent by my Department in the financial year 1965–66 on direct advertising was about £18,500, mainly for the recruitment of staff for Government Training Centres and, through the Central Office of Information, for information purposes about £17,500 making a total of about £36,000. Expenditure for staff recruitment in the current year will continue at approximately the same level but expenditure for information purposes is likely to be exceeded because of the need to publicise the arrangements for making payments to employers after the enactment of the Selective Employment Payments Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimates he has made of unemployment in Scotland in the winter of 1966–67 and the winter of 1967–68.

Estimates of unemployment in Scotland cannot be given but one of the main aims of the Government's policies is to reduce the difference between the rates of unemployment and the national average in areas where the rate has been persistently above average.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the work proposed to be done to the Old Gateway and Nos. 24 to 26 Old Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, is not mere demolition, but involves rebuilding the southern part of the Old Gateway in the Tudor facsimile in which the northern part of the Old Gateway was rebuilt in 1956 with planning approval, that this scheme is essential to replace buildings in a dangerous condition and that further delay involves risk; and whether, in view of the thorough consideration which has already been given to all aspects of the scheme, he will now allow it to proceed.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. John Smith) on 26th July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to restrict the use of chimes by ice-cream vans.

Section 2 of the Noise Abatement Act, 1960 already prohibits the operation of chimes on ice-cream vans outside the hours 12 noon to 7 p.m. and their operation between these hours in such a manner as to give reasonable cause for annoyance. Local authorities are responsible forenforcement. My right hon. Friend thinks that more experience of these provisions is needed before further restrictions are considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if the pensions of local government officers in England and Wales will be affected by the wage standstill in those cases where officers are within three years of retirement and their superannuation allowances are calculated on a fraction the numerator of which consists of the number of years' service multiplied by the average remuneration in the three years before retirement; and if adjustments will be made to meet these cases.

Under the regulations made under the Local Government Superannuation Acts pensions depend on the actual pay received during the last three (in some cases five) years of service. I have no plans to amend the regulations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what discussions he has had or is contemplating to avert rent increases for council-house tenants; how many local authorities are affected; and if he will make a statement.

I have had discussions with representatives of the Birmingham City Council. Twenty-seven authorities have been in touch with my Department about increases which they had decided to make before the publication of the White Paper on the Prices and Incomes Standstill. I do not know how many others may be affected but I am glad to see that several authorities have responded to the appeal in the White Paper and deferred increases without reference to me. I am sending a circular to local authorities asking them to give a lead in restraint over the coming months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what method he will keep under scrutiny the movement of rents charged by private landlords; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements have been made to obtain regular statistical information on registered rents and further information on private rents is regularly available from the Family Expenditure Survey.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in cases where local authorities delay increases in council house rents in response to the Government's wages and prices standstill, he will advise them to increase rate poundages to compensate them for the loss of income resulting from the deferment of rent increases or to cut back on house and school building programmes.

The first requirement is that local authorities should set an example in price restraint during the next critical six months. Whether they subsequently make good losses of rent income due to postponement of rent increases from rent or rates or economies in less essential expenditure is for them to decide. The Government have made it clear they do not want housing and school programmes reduced.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total spent by his Department on advertising in the past year; and by what sum he intends to reduce it in the current year as a result of the present economic situation.

£29,412 was spent by my Department on press and poster advertising during the financial year 1965–66, about half on publicising the new rate rebates and half on the Ministry's long-standing campaign for improvements. Similar expenditure during the current financial year will continue to be restricted to essential purposes and with special regard to the need for economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give further clarification on travel allowances following negotiations with the British Travel and Holiday Association.

There have been no such negotiations.

asked the Prime Minister how much of the £500 million reduction in the level of demand during the current year contained in his recent proposals arises from measures which will not apply to the development areas.

I have been asked to reply.It is not possible to give precise estimates of the effects of the measures in particular areas. But development areas are exempt from the extended controls on less essential building and on office building; and measures such as the building of Government financed factories which will bring new employment and strengthen the economic development of these areas, are being pressed ahead.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who printed the publication entitled, A New Town in mid-Wales—Consultant Report; and why this publication was not printed in Wales.

McCorquodale & Co. Ltd. This publication fell within a special long-term contract, for which Welsh printers had the same opportunities to tender. Substantial printing for H.M.S.O. is carried out in Wales, including matter distributed in England.

asked the Chancellor Exchequer of he will publish a table showing what receipts the United Kingdom obtains from investments in various territories east of Suez; and what is the capital value, preferably at current prices, of these investments.

The figures are as follows:

U.K. PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND INCOME EAST OF SUEZ*
	Value of assets end-1964	£ million Income year 1964
Direct investment† (excluding oil)	1,400	120
Portfolio investment‡	700	40
* Including Australasia.
†Assets based on 1962 book value; income including undistributed profits. Figures for principal countries were published in the Board of Trade Journal for 7th August, 1964 (assets at end-1962) and for 10th June, 1966 (income in 1964). The analysis by area of overseas oil earnings and assets is not available.
‡Very approximate estimates; assets at market value. Both assets and income concentrated in Australasia.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a White Paper setting out the future programme of work for the Organisation and Methods Unit of the Treasury and the savings achieved as a result of recent investigations by that body.

No. The programme is flexible and subject to revision and is therefore not suitable for publication in a White Paper.A quantitative assessment of all general Organisation and Methods assignments completed in the calendar years 1963 and 1964 was published as a Supplement to the Organisation and Methods Bulletin issued in May, 1965. It showed that about half the assignments produced results capable of evaluation in terms of money and that these yielded recurrent annual savings amounting to about two and a half times the total cost of the assignments. It is proposed to publish in a similar way an assessment of the savings of the assignments completed in 1965 and 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total spent by his Department on advertising in the past year; and by what sum he intends to reduce it in the current year as a result of the present economic situation.

The Treasury spent £1,563 in 1965–66, mainly in advertising for staff. It is not practicable to decide now whether, and if so by how much, to reduce expenditure of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if an agreement has yet been reached between Her Majesty's Government and the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on behalf of professional engineers within the works groups category; and whether the agreement will be implemented without delay.

It is assumed that the Question refers to pay negotiations covering the Works Group of Professional Classes based on a survey by the Civil Service Pay Research Unit. No agreement has been reached: the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the Government's present policies, if he proposes to reduce the grants to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

I propose to ask these organisations to exercise the greatest economy, particularly as regards expenditure involving foreign exchange, during the remainder of 1966–67. The level of grants-in-aid in future years will be reviewed in the autumn as part of the Estimates exercise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has to date been the yield of the tax on Capital Gains.

About £375,000.