asked the Minister of Social Security when she proposes to cover for insurance benefits those people who are excused contributions on the ground of a low income.

Title to insurance benefits must depend on the payment of the necessary contributions, but the Ministry of Social Security Act which has just become law is specifically designed to provide improved benefits for such people.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware that at appeals tribunals the Minister's evidence on contributions is mandatory thus preventing argument by the appellant and causing the appellant to feel that the hearing is useless; and if she will take steps to enable appellants to dispute a Minister's evidence.

On a claim for benefit any question about the satisfaction of the contribution conditions is reserved for the Minister's decision, but the claimant is always given an opportunity to state his case before the decision is given. Such decisions do not limit the appeal tribunals in considering other aspects of the claim.

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

In the financial year 1965–66 expenditure on Press publicity and in advertising for staff was £14,700.Costs in the current financial year will be kept to a minimum but we must, of course, keep the public informed by official announcements of changes which affect them.

asked the Minister of Social Security when legislation is to be introduced to ensure that retirement pensions are raised to keep pace with rises in the cost of living.

Pension rates are about 18 per cent. higher than in October, 1964, against a rise in the Retail Prices Index since then of about 8½ per cent. Pensioners would be worse off if their pensions had been tied to the cost of living.

asked the Minister of Social Security what evidence is available to her about the growing problem of loneliness among older people; what approaches on the problem have been made to her Department; and if she will make a statement.

I am, of course, aware of the considerable volume of published material bearing on the problem of loneliness. There have been no special approaches to my Department on this. The problem is not of course particular to my Department but, in so far as loneliness is associated with financial need, officers visiting on behalf of the National Assistance Board check that old people living alone are in regular contact with relatives or friendly neighbours; where this is not the case, they try to put them into touch with clubs, or other voluntary bodies, who may be able to help.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether, in connection with her Department's pamphlet about persons working in or about places of entertainment, which provides that part-time work in such places, including theatres, should be disregarded for National Insurance where the amount earned is not over 40s. a week, she will now increase this maximum, in view of the fact that since this pamphlet was issued payments to employees in the categories covered by the special rule have increased considerably.

The present limit of 40s. a week below which part-time work in this and certain other employments is disregarded for National Insurance purposes but not for Industrial Injuries Insurance, is at present being studied in my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to see that the manufacturers of drugs give the dates of manufacture on the bottles or containers and the period for which the drugs will remain effective.

Requirements of this kind already apply to certain substances controlled under Part I of the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956, and are normal good practice for substances of limited stability or requiring special storage. Powers in relation to these matters would be included in any medicines legislation but my right hon. Friend sees no need to apply them universally.

asked the Minister of Health if he will increase the petrol allowances for invalid tricycles issued by his Department to compensate for the increase in cost of petrol.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average amount by which National Health Service general practitioners augment their income by supplementary fees for such activities as the signing of certificates and services to employers.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to stop the charging by National Health Service general practitioners of a fee to schoolchildren going abroad on educational visits for signing international certificates of vaccination.

No.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the replacement of 24 cubic foot oxygen cylinders, provided under the National Health Pharmaceutical Service to patients' homes, by 48 cubic foot cylinders is not causing inconvenience due to the corresponding increase in weight from 14 lb. to 35 lb. when full; and if he will make a statement.

The larger cylinders have been successfully used with domiciliary oxygen sets for many years. The improved arrangements made last year for delivery of cylinders and erection of apparatus should prevent any serious inconvenience.

asked the Minister of Health what action he will take to ensure that a supply of pure D-Lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate is available for therapeutic purposes to registered medical practitioners practising psychiatry.

I have been making inquiries and am hopeful that an alternative source of supply will become available.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons actually contracted the disease during the recent smallpox outbreak; how many of these had previously been vaccinated; and how many had never been vaccinated against smallpox.

Sixty-nine, of whom 12 had been previously vaccinated and 56 had not. In the remaining case there is doubt.

asked the Minister of Health what he estimates would be the saving to the National Health Service of continuing the issue of life-saving drugs free of charge, but of charging patients for the cost of less necessary drugs, such as tonics and cough medicines; and if he will, under present circumstances, adopt a differential scheme on these lines.

In the absence of general agreement about the drugs to be regarded as life-saving, such an estimate is impracticable. The Answer to the second part of the Question is, "No".

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the treatment available in the National Health Service for sufferers of agoraphobia is efficient and adequate; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 9th May to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. William Wells) and the hon. Members for Norfolk, Central (Mr. Ian Gilmour) and Merton and Morden (Mr. Atkins).

asked the Minister of Health whether he will ascertain from the Medical Women's Federation what terms they would recommend in order to attract married women doctors to undertake a refresher course, with a view to offering themselves for re-employment in the profession.

The special arrangements for refresher training for doctors entering or re-entering general practice which I announced in March, are on lines recommended by the Medical Women's Federation.

asked the Minister of Health by what amount public investment in local authority health and welfare services will be reduced in the current year.

Capital expenditure on these services in England and Wales is expected to be about £6 million less in 1966–67 than in 1965–66. This fall arises mainly from the deferment of capital schemes which was announced in July, 1965.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the provision in the new contract of services offered to full-time consultants by the Welsh Hospital Management Committee which compels full-time anaesthetists and radiologists to attend private patients without fee or payment to the hospital board; and if he will see that the contracts are not made.

The contract offered by the Welsh Hospital Board follows the form suggested by my Department after consultation with the profession. A patient occupying a private pay bed who arranges to pay a part-time consultant also pays the hospital a charge for accommodation. This charge contains an element for full-time consultant services. I do not propose to ask the Board to alter their form of contract.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities exist at Dolgellau to enable minor surgery to be undertaken.

There is a fully equipped operating theatre at Dolgellau and District Hospital. The theatre is used by consultants for minor surgery on two half days each month. At other times it is available for surgery that can appropriately be performed by general practitioners on the staff of the hospital.

asked the Minister of Health how many vacancies for hospital almoners in all grades exist in the National Health Service in England and Wales, to the most convenient date.

I regret that the information is not centrally available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present total shortfall in junior hospital medical staff, namely, house officers, junior hospital medical officers, dentists and registrars, other than senior registrars, respectively, in the National Health Service hospitals; and what percentage of the present staff is represented by doctors from overseas.

I recognise a need for more doctors and dentists in these grades although numbers have risen. 46 per cent. of present staff are from outside Great Britain and Ireland.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give details of wage and salary increases for National Health Service staff which had been negotiated but not paid before 20th July, and details of negotiations going on but not completed by 20th July.

Agreements had been reached but not implemented by 20th July for increases in salaries of hospital medical and dental staff, hospital engineers, legal advisers of Regional Hospital Boards, principal nurse tutors, dispensing assistants and medical photographers.The Whitley Council negotiations for increases in salaries in which offers had been made but not firmly accepted by 20th July were for physics technicians, and building supervisors.

asked the Minister of Health if the study undertaken by his Department into food requirements in mental illness hospitals is complete; and what adjustments will be made as a result in the diet provided to patients at the Katherine McNeile Clinic at Roundway Hospital and at similar establishments.

The study by my Department into food requirements in mental illness hospitals has been completed.The conclusion was that hospital authorities should, with good catering practice, have been able to provide a satisfactory standard of catering for patients in these hospitals within the sum of 27s. 9d. per head per week, at prices current in May, 1964. This is the equivalent of 29s. 1d. at prices current in November, 1965.

asked the Minister of Health what is the outcome of his inquiries into the shortage of maxillo-facial technicians; in what areas is the shortage most acute; and what steps are now being taken, both short-term and long-term, to remedy these deficiencies.

Reports from hospitals which are still being analysed show 138 maxillo-facial technicians in posts on 31st March, 1966, and fourteen posts vacant. Visits to dental laboratories are now being arranged to obtain further information about the recruitment and work of maxillo-facial technicians and of dental technicians generally.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to deal with the shortage of pharmacists in National Health Service hospitals.

Salaries were substantially increased last year and the number of pharmacists has increased, but more are needed. Further steps to increase the attractions of a career in the hospital service are being considered with representatives of the profession.

asked the Minister of Health if he will seek to modify Section 7 of the Asylum Officers Superannuation Act, so that experienced male nurses, aged 60–65 years, can re-enter the short-staffed mental health services on a part-time basis without suffering a reduction in their pensions.

No. Provision for abatement of pensions on re-employment is a normal condition of public service pension schemes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make an estimate of the saving to the National Health Service if patients who could afford to do so were invited to pay for the cost of their own food while in hospital.

This would depend on how many could afford to pay and would respond to such an invitation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make an estimate of the financial benefit to the National Health Service of a Government-sponsored hospital sweepstake.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what is the acreage of undeveloped hospital land in England and Wales for which there are no defined short-term or long-term development proposals by the hospital authorities.

The information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what short-term or long-term plans there are for hospital development on undeveloped land at Central Middlesex, Neasden and Willesden General Hospitals in the London Borough of Brent.

Land not already built on at these hospitals is being held for further hospital development, but definite plans have not yet been drawn up.

asked the Minister of Labour what will be the functions of the Industrial Court during the wage standstill; and what instructions he has given to the Court.

While awards will be subject to the requirements of the periods of standstill and severe restraint, the Industrial Court will continue to carry out its statutory functions; although I have power to make rules regulating the procedure of the Court I have no power to give instructions to the Court.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the leaders of the Electrical Trades Union who support the Government's wage and salary standstill have voluntarily frozen a proposed increase in their salaries; and whether he will therefore meet and discuss with Mr. Sydney Greene, the General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, the possibility of him agreeing to forgo his proposed 25 per cent. increase in his salary for the period of the Government's wage and salary standstill.

I have read the Press reports of the action taken in response to the standstill by Mr. Cannon and members of the E.T.U. executive. In reply to the second part of the question, I have no plans to meet Mr. Greene to discuss his arrangements.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he has for the preservation of pension rights for workers changing their jobs.

This matter was to have been discussed at a meeting of my National Joint Advisory Council, which was planned to take place on 27th July but had to be cancelled. I am therefore arranging a separate meeting to discuss this matter with the organisations on the Council. In the light of this I shall consider what action should be taken.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will hold an inquiry into the current series of industrial disputes in the vehicle delivery business in the Birmingham area, with particular reference to intimidation both of small firms and of their employees.

I am in touch with developments. I do not think that an inquiry would be useful at present.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the facts that Her Majesty's Government's latest economic policy aims at creating 460,000 unemployed, and that this figure may rise to a million, if he will cease immediately the issue of work permits for intending immigrants and stop further immigrants' families coming into Great Britain, since the trade union policy of last in, first out, will mean large-scale unemployment amongst immigrants; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government's new plans for redeployment of labour are designed to produce an increase or decrease in the construction industry.

I am not prepared to forecast the future level of employment in the construction industry. One of the results of the Government's measures should be to ease the labour shortages which the industry has experienced for many years,

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to resolve the dispute concerning six-day working at Covent Garden Market.

There is no action I can usefully take at present.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Greyhound Racing Association Trust Limited is intending to increase the re muneration of the chairman from £600 to £1,250 per annum, and that of other directors from £500 to £1,000; and what steps he will take to ensure conformity with the standstill on incomes and prices.

The Government understand that the decision to submit these proposed increases to the shareholders was taken before 20th July, and that the Board now intends to propose that implementation be deferred for six months in response to the standstill.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how much he estimates the recent economic measures will increase unemployment in Carmarthenshire;(2) how many unemployed people are expected in the 13 counties of Wales in the winter of 1967 following the Government's recent economic measures.

Estimates of unemployment in these areas 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 Labour if he will now initiate a crash programme for a substantial increase in Government-sponsored industrial training and re-training facilities.

Government Training Centre facilities are already being rapidly expanded as a result of plans I announced to the House last year. There is a limit to the pace at which these facilities can be expanded without impairing the quality of the training, but I am keeping the situation under close review.

asked the Minister of Labour when the review of the structure of railway pay, measures to increase productivity and efficiency, and the machinery of negotiation and consultation within the railway industry will be completed; and whether he will then publish a report of the results.

I cannot yet say when this detailed review will be completed; the results will no doubt be made public in due course, but I will at the appropriate time consider with the parties concerned whether it would be useful to publish a special report.

asked the Minister of Labour when the joint study by his Department and the Trades Union Congress on equal pay is expected to be completed; and if the conclusions will be published.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on Friday, 29th July, to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Boston).

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the health hazards from asbestos dust, he is satisfied that the: health screening and other arrangements in the asbestos industry are adequate to protect the health of asbestos workers and their families; and if he will make a statement.

I am at present revising the Asbestos Industry Regulations, 1931, with a view to bringing their provisions up to date and to extending their scope, the medical aspects of the problem, including the possibility of developing methods of early diagnosis, are being considered by an Advisory Panel of medical experts set up to advise the Senior Medical Inspector of Factories.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources on what date he will present his Bill on leasehold reform.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 13th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Smethwick (Mr. Faulds).

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources on what areas surveys for twenty-four inches to the mile ordnance survey maps suitable for Land Registry purposes have been completed since 1st January, 1965; in which areas such surveys are now in progress; and in which areas such surveys will begin before 31st December, 1966.

I am obtaining the particulars and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the price of ordnance survey maps has been raised from 8s. 6d. to 16s.; and how far this rise is intended to cover the cost of maps which will not be available until 1980.

I have been asked to reply. The increase in the prices of the National Grid large scales plans, which came into effect on 1st April, stems from the heavy cost of the expansion of the Ordnance Survey necessary to accelerate the work of the Department announced in the House on 23rd February. Even at the new level the prices still represent only a small part of the total cost of producing these plans.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what consideration he has given to the conclusions in the Report of the Water Resources Board that expenditure of up to £850 million may be required before the end of the centnry to provide the water requirements for South-East England, and that in this connection reconnaissance should include a feasibility study of a Wash Barrage; and what steps are being taken to achieve the earliest possible conclusion of such study.

I have not yet anything to add to the statement circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 25th July in reply to a Question from the hon. and learned Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton).

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware of the large stocks of bricks which have accumulated in response to the Government's request for higher pro duction; what will be the effect of the Selective Employment Payments Bill' upon further production; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend understands from the brickmakers that the higher production was planned before the Government requested it. He is aware that present stocks are large, representing 5½ weeks' production. They are falling slowly and we do not expect the Selective Employment Payments Bill to have any major effect on the production of bricks.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what further progress has been made in his efforts to expand the amount of research carried out by the building and construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

On 21st June my right hon. Friend met representatives of the Civil Engineering Research Association and of the industry and associated professions, as a result of which revised proposals for the establishment of a Construction Industry Research and Information Association are now under consideration by the parties concerned. We hope that this matter may now be brought to a speedy conclusion and that the expansion of research and development, and the institution of an adequate information and advisory service for this industry, may soon be put in hand,

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the estimate for the erection of embassy offices in Madrid has increased from the original £200,000 to £400,000; and whether he will now defer this project, in view of the need for national economy.

The increase is due to steep rises in prices in Spain since the provisional estimate was prepared in 1962 and also to a measure of underestimation. The project is almost completed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will now announce the deferment or abandonment of the proposed building of a High Commissioner's residence, offices and staff accommodation at Islamabad at a current estimated cost of £3 million.

The scheme cannot be abandoned but it is being spread over seven years. I am considering whether some further deferment of the scheme is possible.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why a new house is being purchased for the British Ambassador in South Africa; what is the total cost involved; and why the purchase could not be deferred during the current economy campaign.

The South African Government require the present Residence back when the lease expires in 1972. Since no suitable houses for purchase were likely to be available Her Majesty's Government contracted before the announcement of the recent economy measures to purchase a site. The house at present on the site will be used for Embassy staff until required for development, which will not be for some years. Therefore the final cost cannot be estimated at present.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether, in view of recent developments in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom, he will now abandon the projects of the erection of High Commission Offices in Lagos, estimated to cost £430,000, and the erection of Deputy High Commissioner offices and staff flats at Kaduna at an estimated cost of £130,000.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." The offices in Lagos are to be erected on a valuable site given to us by the Nigerian Government at the time of Independence for this specific purpose.The project for Kaduna was abandoned earlier this year when it was found possible to extend the lease of the present offices.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are his intentions as to the future of the projected erection at Mbabane of a High Commissioner's residence, offices and staff accommodation, at an estimated cost of £280,000.

The start of this construction has been deferred for three months until December, 1966 but it must then proceed, as the buildings will be required by the time when Swaziland attains independence.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the estimated cost of the further development of a political agency compound at Abu Dhabi has increased from the original £75,000 to £220,000; in what way the scope of the scheme has changed, and why; and whether it will be deferred or abandoned or modified.

The higher cost reflected additional requirements consequent upon the increasing importance of Abu Dhabi. Expenditure planned for the current year will be deferred until next year but it is not intended to abandon the scheme.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why it is necessary to spend an estimated £190,000 on the erection of an Ambassador's residence in Caracas; and whether the project will now be abandoned or modified.

Building a new residence was considered the most economic way of replacing the present house, which is unsatisfactory. But in view of the financial situation, the scheme has been deferred and further consideration will be given to the matter.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why it is necessary to spend an estimated £130,000 on the erection of a political agent's residence, agency officers, &c, in Dubai; and whether the scheme will now be deferred or reduced in scope.

Additional accommodation is required owing to increased staff in Dubai. Building costs are high in the Persian Gulf area. This scheme has high priority and will therefore not be deferred.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the estimate for the erection of High Commission offices in Kampala has increased from £120,000 to £190,000; and whether there is scope for a reduction in the scope of the project.

The increase was due to additional requirements since the first estimate was formulated in 1963, and to a decision to include all sections of the High Commission within the new building. The construction is almost complete.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the estimated cost of the erection of a Deputy High Commissioner's residence and staff accommodation at Kuching has increased from £120,000 to £160,000; and what steps are being taken to reduce the scope of the project.

The estimated cost of the project was increased in view of rising prices in Kuching, but it was subsequently decided earlier this year to reduce the scope of the scheme and to limit expenditure to £90,000.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a breakdown of the £700,000 appearing in the Civil Estimates, 1966–67, Class IX, 3, Appendix II, under the heading Various Posts: Purchase and Adaptation of Property.

It is not the practice to disclose the price paid to, or under negotiation with, private vendors. I expect that significant savings will be made in this provision.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the estimated cost of alterations to the Ambassador's residence and erection of Embassy offices in Buenos Aires has increased from £300,000 to £575,000; and whether he will now abandon, defer, or scale down the project.

The rise in cost reflects in the main rapid rises in building costs in the Argentine. The alterations to the residence are complete. The timing of the office project is being reviewed but in any case expenditure on the offices this year will be limited to £100,000.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the provisional estimate for the erection of a Consul General's residence and offices in Jerusalem has increased from £75,000 to £150,000; and whether the project will be deferred or modified in the light of the need for economy on spending overseas.

The whole of the increase since the provisional estimate of £75,000 in 1963 is attributable to higher labour costs and increased prices of materials. As work is well advanced no deferment or modification is possible.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why it is necessary to erect a Consul General's residence in Sao Paulo at a cost of £108,000; why this estimate has increased from the original £72,000; and whether the project will be considerably modified or abandoned.

No suitable property, either to lease or buy, could be found to replace the present unsuitable Residence when the lease expires. The provisional estimate of £72,000 was made in 1964 since when building costs have risen steeply in Sao Paulo. Construction is nearly complete.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether the land on which the Rome Embassy is to be built has already been acquired; and if he will make a statement about the present position concerning this land.

The land was purchased by Her Majesty's Government in 1877. The offices and residence erected on the site, following the purchase were destroyed by terrorists in 1947. I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Aviation if, in view of the fact that rebated fares for leave for the forces and other attached personnel in Germany are decided by British European Airways and that such rebated fares are not available for full-time civilians attached to the forces, he will give a general direction to British European Airways that all full-time civilians be given such concessions.

This is not a matter appropriate for a general directive but one within the commercial discretion of B.E.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what civilian employees of his Department in Germany are entitled to have reduced fares for journeys to and from the United Kingdom on leave; and whether he will revise the list to ensure that all full-time civilians are entitled to these concessions.

There is no official entitlement, but a commercial airlines gives special rates to some civil servants and civilians serving in support of the Forces. They greatly appreciate this arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the sum transmitted to Nepal in 1965 to pay the pensions of soldiers who had served in the Gurkhas.

About £220,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid to Gurkha soldiers in 1965; and what proportion of this sum he estimates was sent by these soldiers to Nepal.

About £2·5 million; I estimate that about one quarter of this was sent to Nepal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much money was spent by his Department on newspaper advertising during the last convenient three-monthly period; and if he will give separate totals for staff advertisements and for general publicity.

A little over £290,000 up to 30th June, of which about £260,000 was for Service recruiting, £30,000 for civilian recruiting, and a small sum for other purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the nature of the rôle at present played by the Royal Air Force in Sudan;(2) what assistance British pilots and/or aircrews have given in the transportation of supplies for Government forces in Southern Sudan.

The two Royal Air Force officers at present on loan to the Sudanese Air Force are primarily employed on flying instruction. In the past members of the Royal Air Force training mission have flown supplies to airfields and garrisons in the Southern Sudan and have on occasion taken part in supply drops. Apart from their training duties, however, they have since November, 1965, only been permitted to undertake routine transport flights between recognised civil airfields.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the travel arrangements for all the Services between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and in what way the crediting of an unused rail and sea free leave warrant between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Service man concerned in order to offset part of his air fare paid out of his own pocket would jeopardise such arrangements.

The arrangements for normal duty and leave journeys between Great Britain and Northern Ireland provide for rail and sea travel by the cheapest and most direct route: in cases of urgency, on duty or compassionate leave, travel by the quickest available means may be authorised. On the second part of the Question, I can only confirm what has already been said to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent by Her Majesty's Government in each of the last five years on research into the causes, treatment and prevention of foot-and-mouth disease.

Research on foot-and-mouth disease is concentrated at the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, and comprises almost all the work of that Institute. The grants from the Agricultural Research Council to the Institute for the last five financial years have been as follows:

Year	Current Expenditure	Capital Expenditure	Total
	£	£	£
1961–62	313,168	43,597	356,765
1962–63	353,154	183,433	536,587
1963–64	203,700	45,163	248,863
1964–65	334,138	56,324	390,462
1965–66	464,328	35,051	499,379

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if any part of the Government's grant of £500,000 to the World Cup competition was spent on improving the conditions of access for spectators approaching and leaving Wembley Stadium on foot, and on improving the appearance of Olympic Way.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now state the amount of the reduction in public investment, resulting from the measures announced on 20th July, which is to occur in Scotland, giving separate figures for roads, central and local government projects and investment by the nationalised industries.

Reductions in central and local government investment in Scotland in 1967–68 will amount to £3·5 million, of which £2 million will relate to local authority offices, recreational facilities, etc. Some details have yet to be worked out, but approximate figures for the other items are:Roads—about £1·2 million;Police and prisons services—about £02 million;Local health and welfare services—about £0·1 million.Details of reductions by the nationalised industries in their investment in Scotland cannot be given until discussions with the chairmen of the Boards have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will alter the basis of police statistics to distinguish between major and minor crimes, as proposed in the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland for 1965.

The criminal statistics in the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector are derived from the same source as those in the annual report on Criminal Statistics. The Government will consider the proposal of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector in the light of the recommendations of the Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Thomson which is at present reviewing the arrangements for recording, reporting, collecting and presenting criminal statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will now state the amount of the reduction in public investment, resulting from the measures announced on 20th July, which is to occur in the development areas as a whole, including roads, central and local government projects, and investment by the nationalised industries;(2) to what extent the development areas are to be treated differently from the rest of the country, in the measures to reduce public investment announced on 20th July, other than in the building of Government-financed factories;(3) to what extent the development areas are to be treated differently from the rest of the country, in the measures to reduce private investment announced on 20th July, other than in the controls over office-building and less essential building and in the issue of industrial development certificates.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 4th August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his official discussions with Mr. Henry Fowler, the United States Secretary of the Treasury, at or after the conference in The Hague; and what discussions he had so far as matters of joint interest are concerned.

I had friendly and confidential talks with Mr. Fowler on world liquidity and other topics of common interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will examine the possibilities of introducing further legislation to increase the tax on all forms of gambling and betting, in view of the country's serious economic position.

My right hon. Friend will keep these duties under review, like other forms of taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which delegation it was which could not agree with subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 6 of the communiqué issued after the meeting of the Finance Ministers at The Hague; and which was the one that could not agree to paragraph 7 of the communiqué

The French.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was spent on newspaper advertising by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise during the last convenient three-monthly period; and if he will give separate totals for staff advertisements and for general publicity.

During the period April to June, 1966, the amount spent was approximately £660: it related wholly to staff advertisements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the Government's intention to implement the Pay Research Unit recommendation for the technical and professional classes of the Civil Service.

The Pay Research Unit does not make recommendations: it provides factual evidence of pay and conditions of service in comparable outside employment. This forms the basis for negotiation with the representative staff association. No agreement has been reached in the pay negotiation covering the technical and professional classes and the question of implementation does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that 44,415 Commonwealth citizens subject to control under Part I of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 were admitted in June, 1966, and that the coloured population is estimated already to have reached two per cent. of the total, what proportion of Commonwealth immigrants it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to allow in future years; and if he will make a statement.

The hon. Member's premises are misleading; but so far as Her Majesty's Government's policy is concerned, I would refer him to the White Paper "Immigration from the Commonwealth" (Cmnd. 2739) presented to Parliament in August, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will send copies of proposed new regulations imposing safety requirements for toys to the principal consumers' and women's organisations for comment so that these comments can be considered when trade comments are under consideration.

This has been done. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the organisations concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parked cars were taken away by police in the Metropolitan area on 22nd July; how many staff of all kinds were involved; how many were taken away in the year to 31st December 1965, or the earliest full year for which information is available; how many staff were involved; what was the amount of fines collected; what was the total annual cost of these operations; and what criteria are adopted in deciding which cars shall be removed.

152; this information is not available; 49,537; this information is not available; £243 10s. 0d. in removal and storage charges was collected in respect of 22nd July, 1966, and £89,139 in 1965; the total annual cost has not been estimated; cars are removed for infractions of the provisions of parking place orders and infringements of experimental traffic orders, contravention of statutory prohibitions, causing serious obstruction or danger, or being abandoned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the recent increase in crimes of violence, what new alternative punishments he proposes to employ in place of corporal punishment.

I have no reason to think that the penalties available to the courts—which include imprisonment for life for the most serious offences—are inadequate. Believing that one of the most effective deterrents to crime is to increase the likelihood of detection, I am doing everything possible to increase the strength and effectiveness of the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy involving unemployment, he will give an undertaking that before relaxing further the control of immigration he will obtain the approval of a resolution of this House.

I do not accept the various implications in the phrasing of the Question, but the answer to the substantive point is "No".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been paid in compensation to farmers for destruction of their flocks and herds following outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in each of the last five years.

The amounts of compensation paid for animals slaughtered following outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the last five years are as follows:—

	£
Year to 31st March, 1962	81,831
Year to 31st March, 1963	18,574
Year to 31st March, 1964	2,245
Year to 31st March, 1965	Nil
Year to 31st March, 1966	18,299

There were no outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the years ending 31st March, 1964 and 31st March, 1965. The compensation shown for the year to 31st March, 1964 is a payment delayed by a dispute about the ownership of animals slaughtered in March, 1961. It is too early to give any figures for the present outbreak.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will have printed a stock of posters in large print warning hikers and tourists generally to keep clear of areas affected by, or adjacent to areas affected by, foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he will ensure the distribution of these posters in adequate numbers as soon as an outbreak of the disease is confirmed.

Stocks of posters, suitable for erection at the entrances of infected farms, on footpaths passing through farmland, and at the boundaries of farms within the Infected Area, are held at all Animal Health Offices and when disease is confirmed additional supplies are sent immediately to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Centre. These posters give adequate warning to hikers and tourists, and in cases such as the present these warnings are reinforced through the co-operation of organisations concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what correspondence he has exchanged with the Eire Department of Agriculture concerning the fish farm at Waterville, Co. Kerry; and if he will make a statement.