asked the Secretary of State for Defence what constructional defects have been found in H.M.S. "Dreadnought"; and whether similar defects are apparent in other nuclear submarines now under construction.

No constructional defect has been found in H.M.S. "Dreadnought" apart from the hairline cracks referred to in my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member for Gillingham

asked the Secretary of State for Defence at whose request Rescue Command at Plymouth recommenced the air search for the pleasure boat "Darlwin" on 3rd August.

This decision was taken by the Naval Chief of Staff Plymouth and the Air Officer Commanding 19 Group, who commands the R.A.F. Rescue Coordination Centre, in consultation. All hope of finding survivors had been abandoned on the previous evening but the two officers decided that a search for bodies and wreckage should begin as soon as the weather conditions would permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the air search for the pleasure boat "Darlwin" was officially discontinued on the evening of Tuesday 2nd August, approximately 40 hours after the search commenced and before any trace of wreckage or bodies had been discovered.

On this day a Shackleton from R.A.F. St. Mawgan started a search at 8.07 a.m. and a helicopter from R.A.F. Chivenor was airborne at 10.35 a.m. Both were forced to terminate the search at 12.30 p.m. by impossible weather conditions.By the early evening the Naval, R.A.F. and Coastguard authorities had reluctantly decided that all hope of finding survivors must be abandoned. Despite this decision, however, the R.A.F. helicopter, which had landed at Plymouth, took advantage of a temporary improvement in the weather conditions at 8.25 p.m. to carry out a close search of the area from Plymouth to Dodman Point.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the deferment of the placing of orders for some of the Royal Air Force requirement of P1127 vertical take off and landing aircraft; how many aircraft are involved; and what consideration he has given to the purchase of the United States LTV/A7 Corsair as a replacement.

There has been no change in the plan to replace the Hunter by a combination of the U.S. Phantom and the British P1127. As regards the numbers of the latter, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 3rd August to the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to cancel the order for United States Phantom aircraft for the Royal Navy because they are too heavy for the flight decks of existing aircraft carriers, or if the carriers will be modified to take the aircraft; when these modifications will be carried out; and at what cost.

Present plans are to modify two of our four existing aircraft carriers, H.M.S. "Ark Royal" and H.M.S. "Eagle", to carry the Phantom. The modifications will be carried out in the course of the "Eagle's" refit starting in 1970; and during the "Ark Royal's" refit planned to start at the end of this year.The cost of the modifications cannot readily be separated at this stage from the cost of other work to be carried out during the refits.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1966–67 budget for the Defence Operational Analysis Establishment; how much of this represents salaries and wages; and of this amount how much is for non-service personnel.

The total provision made in the Defence Budget 1966–67 for the Defence Operational Analysis Organisation is £800,000. Within this sum, £564,000 is provided for pay and allowances of personnel, of which £460,000 is provided for pay and allowances of non-Service personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the increased areas to be patrolled under the extended fishing limits, he will second more vessels, especially fast motor patrol boats, to the Fishery Protection Squadron.

Fast Patrol Boats are used to reinforce the Fishery Protection Squadron from time to time, for example during the herring season. It would not be possible, nor is it necessary, to allocate these ships permanently to fishery protection duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, during his visit to Hong Kong, he will consider measures for constitutional advance for the territory.

No. But my right hon. Friend expects to discuss with the Governor possibilities of change in the present local authority arrangements, consideration of which is already in progress in Hong Kong.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what increases of prices or fares in the nationalised industries have occurred or been announced since 20th July, 1966.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what increases in the prices, fares or costs of the products or services of the nationalised industries have since 20th July, 1966 either taken place or been announced as taking place within the next month; and, in each case, whether and why such increases conform with the Government's new economic policy.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such increases since 20th July.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware of the practice of reducing the quantities in packets of merchandise, thereby increasing the purchase price of the article; and, as this is contrary to the Government's policy of a standstill on prices, what action he proposes to take to prevent this practice.

Yes. If the quantity is reduced without a reduction in price, this would be contrary to the requirements of the standstill. Any proposal to increase prices in this way should therefore be notified to the appropriate Government Department in accordance with paragraph 9 of Cmnd. 3073.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in view of the fact that the national income is now expected to drop this year by 1 per cent. representing a shortfall of approximately £1,400 million on his expectations of what the growth rate should have been in one year, by how much he estimates the standard of living will fall as a consequence.

My right hon. Friend does not accept that the national income will fall this year at all, nor does he accept that the standard of living will fall. Although it is not usual to reveal the precise official short-term forecasts, I can state that we expect both the national income and the general standard of living to rise this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money has been allocated to scientific research in universities in each of the last five years; and how much of these sums has been specifically allocated for the purchase of equipment.

For expenditure from general recurrent grant I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix II of Cmnd. 3007, which estimates this as rising from £21.4 million in 1961–62 to £44 million in 1965–66. This includes expenditure on the renewal and replacement of scientific equipment in existing buildings, but no specific allocations are made for this purpose. Substantial capital sums have also been made available through the University Grants Committee for new scientific buildings and their equipment, during the period in question, but it is not possible to distinguish how much of this is attributable to research and how much to teaching requirements since the same facilities are available for both purposes. Universities also undertake substantial research commissioned by Government Departments on contract.Money is also allocated for scientific research in universities by the Research Councils. Details are in Appendix III of Cmnd. 3007. It is not possible to say how much of these sums has been specifically allocated to the purchase of equipment, but the capital element of which some part relate to equipment, for each of the five years is as follows:

				£ million
1961–62	…	…	…	2·27
1962–63	…	…	…	2·93
1963–64	…	…	…	3·44
1964–65	…	…	…	3·74
1965–66	…	…	…	4·51

These figures do not include support in the field now covered by the Natural Environment Research Council except for the year 1965–66, as this Council was only set up in June last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why Her Majesty's Government have withdrawn financial assistance from the National Foundry College.

This College is a small monotechnic offering a single course. Since it was set up in 1948 the situation has greatly changed with the extensive development of local education authority provision for higher technological education and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the needs it serves can, like those of other industries, be more effectively met in future by a more broadly-based institution within the local education authority sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the scheme under which assistant teachers from West European countries are attached to schools in this country for practical experience, the number of teachers who came from each of the countries concerned in each of the six years from 1959–60 to 1964–65, the approximate average length of stay, the estimated cost to central and to local government funds in the same six years, and the estimated numbers and cost for the current financial year.

The cost of these arrangements consists of administrative overheads, which are small and cannot be separated from other costs, and the salaries paid to those among the foreign teachers who do not come on a direct exchange basis, and whose salaries are not paid by their own Governments. It is not possible to make firm estimates under either heading.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will arrange to collect the same information in respect of overseas students enrolled in further education establishments as he does now in respect of United Kingdom students; and if he will ascertain the number of overseas students enrolled in the first year of all courses, the number enrolled in sandwich courses, and the number who enter and pass the examinations for which details are given in Statistics of Education, Part Two, annually.

Some of the information requested will be available in the forthcoming Statistics of Education 1965, Part Two; this will show the numbers of first year overseas students studying each subject, and also the numbers of first year students from each overseas country.Details of the ages of students and the number on sandwich courses are not at present available, but long-term proposals are being worked out for a change in the methods by which information in respect of all students in further education is collected. This would provide information on overseas students in the same detail as United Kingdom students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why no part of the Government's grant of £500,000 to the World Cup competition was spent on improving the unsatisfactory conditions of access for spectators approaching and leaving Wembley Stadium on foot, and in improving the appearance of Olympic Way.

Because improvements of this kind were not regarded as being as important as the other projects to which money was allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the Government's grant of £500,000 to the World Cup competition was spent on improving the facilities of Wembley Stadium.

£13,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that because of the Government's wage standstill senior probation officers are only receiving £1,450 per annum whilst supervising and in control of ordinary basic graded officers receiving £1,510 per annum; and, as the senior probation officers' salary review was pending before the wages standstill, what action he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this anomaly. He has already undertaken to examine the position urgently in consultation with the Joint Negotiating Committee for the Probation and After-Care Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of interference with prosecution witnesses have been reported to him during the current year.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that nine cases of interference with prosecution witnesses have been reported to him during the current year. I do not have information from other forces, as such cases are not normally reported to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that certain builders are increasing their prices for houses by a surcharge in respect of Selective Employment Tax, and that this surcharge is excessive in many cases; and what steps he intends to take to prevent this practice.

Some builders of houses for private sale may have increased prices because of the Selective Employment Tax. The statutory control of house prices is not practicable but the Government expect builders to hold prices down during the standstill period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the need to limit unnecessary imports, what steps he is taking to encourage house construction designs necessitating the minimum of imported materials.

My right hon. Friend is considering, in consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works the scope for import saving in housing construction.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the recent accidents in United Kingdom waters, he will send a circular to local authorities to encourage them to promote safety at sea by such methods as contributions to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

No. In his circular No. 52/65 my right hon. Friend's predecessor drew the attention of local authorities to the National Water Safety Campaign promoted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The circular mentioned the possibility of subscription by authorities to the Society's Water Safety Section. My right hon. Friend does not think that any further guidance is needed now.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources how many employees have been recruited for the Land Commission.

Up to 11th August, 107 staff had been appointed, and a further 176 had been made offers of appointment.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will take steps to ensure that in implementing Recommendation No. 5 of Command Paper No. 2800, the legitimate needs of overseas students are taken fully into account.

I am fully aware of the need to ensure that overseas students should benefit from industrial training facilities in this country and I am keeping in touch with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour, on this subject.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many overseas Commonwealth students are at present receiving education at United Kingdom technical colleges or similar establishments; and if he will make a statement on future plans.

About 11,300.We shall continue to encourage such institutions to make available a reasonable number of places to overseas students.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will seek to restart negotiations with the telephone and cables authority of the People's Republic of China so that businessmen when travelling in China can be enabled to telephone direct to the United Kingdom, as they can to most other countries of Western Europe; and if he will make a statement.

The subject has been reopened with the Chinese Government whose reply is awaited.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the annual minor engineering wages bill for the period 1947–48 to 1965–66; and what is the annual estimated minor engineering wages bill for the period 1966–67 to 1970–71.

The information for the period up to 1967–68 is as follows:

				£ million
1947–48	…	…	…	16·4
1948–49	…	…	…	17·5
1949–50	…	…	…	19·3
1950–51	…	…	…	20·1
1951–52	…	…	…	22·7
1952–53	…	…	…	25·0
1953–54	…	…	…	27·8
1954–55	…	…	…	29·3
1955–56	…	…	…	35·9
1956–57	…	…	…	44·0
1957–58	…	…	…	45·8
1958–59	…	…	…	48·4
1959–60	…	…	…	53·2
1960–61	…	…	…	54·1
1961–62	…	…	…	61·0
1962–63	…	…	…	64·9
1963–64	…	…	…	73·6
1964–65	…	…	…	90·8
1965–66	…	…	…	102·1
1966–67	…	…	…	107·4	(estimated)
1967–68	…	…	…	105·8	(estimated)

In present circumstances, meaningful estimates for later years cannot be made.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of total annual engineering costs was accounted for by labour costs during the period 1956–57 to 1965–66; and what is the estimated annual proportion of labour costs to total engineering costs during the period 1966–67 to 1970–71.

The information for the period up to 1967–68 is as follows:

				Per cent.
1956–57	…	…	…	38
1957–58	…	…	…	39
1958–59	…	…	…	39
1959–60	…	…	…	41
1960–61	…	…	…	41
1961–62	…	…	…	41
1962–63	…	…	…	40
1963–64	…	…	…	38
1964–65	…	…	…	41
1965–66	…	…	…	41
1966–67	…	…	…	36(estimated)
1967–68	…	…	…	32(estimated)

In present circumstances, meaningful estimates for later years cannot be made.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will arrange for the issue of a special stamp to commemorate the opening in September of the Severn Bridge.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will give a price index of each of the 40 items mentioned in paragraph 10 of the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report in the 1965–66 Post Office Report and Accounts for the period 1st April, 1963 to the latest date for which information is available;(2) if he will give a price index of such of the 40 items mentioned in paragraph 10 of the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report for which information is available for the period 1st April, 1963 to the present;(3) what were the 40 items of telephone apparatus for which prices were agreed with the manufacturers by January, 1966; what was the price payable for each of these items on 1st April 1963; what changes have taken place in these prices up to the present; what was the cost price for each of these items in December, 1962; and what were the results of any later costing exercises.

The information is as follows:

	Price Index
Item	1st April 1963	1st October, 1965 (latest date for which information is available)
Bell No. 44 C	100	118¾
Bell No. 56 C	100	105½
Coil Heat "A"	100	141
Coil Heat No. 1	100	124
Converter Ringing No. 9A	100	100¾
Dial Auto No. 21CA	100	84
Dial Dummy No. 6	100	133¼
Fuse Mounting No. 8064A	100	106¾
Fuse Mounting No. 8064B	100	106½
Handset No. 3	100	86
Headset No. 1 (Black)	100	81½
Key and Lamp Unit No. 2A (complete)	100	92¼
Key and Lamp Unit No. 2A (part)	100	92½
Plan Set No. 625	100	91
Plug No. 420	100	93¾
Protector Electrode No. 1B	100	81½
Receiver Inset No. 4T	100	89½
Resistor Coil No. 9—
50 ohms	100	85
2,000 ohms	100	105

asked the Postmaster-General how much more money has been paid to the telephone equipment manufacturers as a consequence of the prices indicated from 1st April, 1963; how much would have been paid if adequate information had been available at the time; and why such information was not available.

Prices payable under the Bulk Supply Agreements are settled by negotiation in the circumstances, and in the light of the best costing information available, at the time. It is never possible to say how much higher or lower prices would have been had the circumstances, the information available, or the time been different. Assuming that the Question relates to telephone apparatus, the prices payable as from 1st April, 1963 were lower in real terms than those paid previously. Later costing information could not have been used for negotiating the April, 1963 prices without delaying settlement unreasonably.

asked the Postmaster-General which firms were given contracts in 1965–66 for telephone apparatus and exchange equipment, respectively; what was the value of each contract; and which of these firms were either party to the bulk supply agreement or subsidiaries of such firms.

The list below shows the value of contracts placed for items covered by the Bulk Supply Agreements. In order not to disclose the results of competitive tendering, the value of the contracts placed under the reservation clauses is shown in terms of Agreement prices rather than prices actually paid.

Telephone Apparatus	£'000
(a) Firms party to the Bulk Supply Agreement
Associated Electrical Industries Ltd.	2,155
Automatic Telephone & Electric Co. Ltd.	1,845
Ericsson Telephones Ltd.	1,420
The General Electric Co. Ltd.	1,475
Phoenix Telephones Ltd.	1,860
The Plessey Co. (UK) Ltd.	1,850
Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd.	1,900
Telephone Manufacturing Co. Ltd.	1,545
(b) Other firms
A.E.I. Plastics (Aldridge) Ltd. *	1
A. P. Besson & Partner Ltd.	147
Astralux Dynamics Ltd.	62
Ball Plastics Ltd.	3
E.M.I. Electronics Ltd.	604
Ibex Electronics Ltd.	42
Labgear Ltd.†	2
Pye (Scottish) Telecommunications Ltd.†	1,098
Pye Switches Ltd.†	61
Pye Telecommunications Ltd.†	8
Smith's Industries Ltd.	147
The Telephone Supplies Ltd. *	694
Whiteley Electrical Radio Co. Ltd.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the main items mentioned in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report, which were purchased in 1965–66 under the reservation clause of the Bulk Supply Agreement for some 18 per cent. less than would have been payable at the revised agreement prices.

The items were:

• Convertor Ringing No. 9A.
• Dial Auto No. 21 CA.
• Dial Auto No. 22 FA.
• Fuse Mounting No. 8064A.
• Fuse Mounting No. 8064B.
• Handset No. 3. Plug No. 420.
• Receiver Inset No. 4T.
• Resistor Coil No. 9.
• Telephone No. 706L.
• Transmitter Inset No. 13.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the few individual items of stores mentioned in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report that were published in 1965–66 under the reservation clauses of the Bulk Supply Agreement at prices nearly 21 per cent. below agreement prices.

The items were:

Private Automatic Branch Exchanges and associated Switchboards and Relay Sets.

Subscribers' Meters.

Transformers.

Uniselectors and spare parts for them.

Spare parts for Selectors.

Relay Sets.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, he will start the production of telephone equipment in Post Office factories.

My right hon. Friend is considering the rôle of the Factories Department.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the service of the Hastings Telephone Exchange.

My right hon. Friend is planning for a relief operator switchboard to be opened in October, 1966.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to issue a White Paper on broadcasting policy; and whether he will give an undertaking he will do this before the Second Reading of the Bill banning British pirate radio stations.

As soon as the Government's review of broadcasting policy is completed. The case for introducing the Marine etc., Broadcasting (Offences) Bill stands on its own merits.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that some 300 pirate radio stations operating on long and medium wavelengths outside the Copenhagen Plan exist at the present time in the European area; and what steps have been taken by him to suggest that the countries concerned should take similar action to that now proposed by him to suppress stations operating in their territories which do not conform to the Copenhagen Plan.

There are many stations, mostly of low power, which are not provided for in the Copenhagen Plan. But they are not pirate stations; they operate under licences from their Governments, who are responsible to one another for avoiding interference between stations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, since Her Majesty's Government's announcement of a wages, prices and dividends standstill, a number of food prices have risen, and that a number of firms have announced increases; whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the information in his Department of the rise in prices since 20th July and those that are due to be increased under announcements already made; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that these prices remain at the 20th July level for the next twelve months.

I am aware that since 20th July there have been a number of food price changes. I have looked into these carefully. Some of the changes relate to commodities whose prices inevitably go up and down in accordance with short-term fluctuations in supply and demand, and the Government have recognised that the prices of these commodities cannot be held at the levels they were at on any particular day. Other changes are due to the increase in Purchase Tax announced by my right hon. Friend on 20th July.I do not think it would be appropriate for me to publish the detailed list to which my hon. Friend refers. As regards the last part of the Question, I would call my hon. Friend's attention to my Reply to his Question on 10th August about the arrangements I have made to ensure that the policy in Cmnd. 3073 is applied fully to food and drink prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will submit to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the price of diabetic foods.

I have no reason to believe that the price of diabetic foods would be an appropriate subject to refer to the Prices and Incomes Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, since Her Majesty's Government's announcement of a wages and prices standstill, the publication representing the grocery trade has published a list of 150 items which have risen in price; and what action he proposes to take to reduce these prices to their former level.

The list to which my hon. Friend refers contains both food and non-food items. The majority are in fact non-food. Although 150 lines are listed, they cover only a few commodities. For example, there are seven different fragrances of one pack of talcum powder and nine varying grades of steel wool.The great majority of these price increases are due to the increase in Purchase Tax.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that duplicate copies of the Ministry's Guidance Leaflet on Selective Employment Tax (H.M.S.O. 1066 Dd 133020 560,000 6/66 McC 51-ST87) were delivered to farmers in the Bedfordshire and Huntingdon areas, one copy being posted in Guildford and the other in Huntingdon; and what is the reason for this unnecessary work and expense.

My primary concern was that every farmer who might be eligible for refunds should be given the chance to register. My Department therefore arranged to use both the lists in the divisional offices and those at Guildford, which are broadly complementary, and to accept the risk of some duplication. It would have been expensive in time and staff cost to have cross-checked the lists.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the advice that employers applying for Selective Employment Tax refunds or premiums should do so through offices of the Ministry of Labour applies to farmers and nurserymen.

No. I have sent out an explanatory leaflet and claim form to all known employers in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. This leaflet makes it clear that such employers must register with the divisional offices of my Ministry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has issued a similar leaflet setting out the arrangements in Scotland.I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the leaflet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to help farmers who have incurred large commitments for capital installations for which they had obtained grant under the Agriculture and Horticulture Acts but who will not now receive payment because of the Government's measures.

Nothing in the Government's economic measures will involve the withholding of grant from farmers who have received approval to improvements under the Agriculture Act, 1957 or the Horticulture Improvements Scheme.I announced on 22nd April, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Kenyon), the Government's intention of paying the new 25 per cent. Farm Improvement Scheme grants under the authority of the Summer Appropriation Act pending specific legislative authority. This Act received Royal Assent on 9th August and claim forms are being sent as soon as possible to farmers who have started work with our written agreement on improvements eligible under the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the fish disease, columnaris, is increasing and is likely to spread all over the country; what steps are being taken to prevent the spread of this disease; and whether it has been referred to the appropriate fisheries research organisation.

As regards the first two parts of the Question I have nothing to add to the statement by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary in the debate on the Diseases of Fish Order, 1966 on 14th July and to the reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Kimball) on the 10th August. Research into the disease is being undertaken by the Fishery Departments in collaboration with the Public Health Laboratory Service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in England and Wales respectively, left agriculture in the year ended 31st December, 1965.

I regret that this information is not available. It is estimated however that in the year ended June, 1965 the number of agricultural holdings over one acre decreased by 4,360 (1·6 per cent.) in England and 664 (1·3 per cent.) in Wales. These figures include part-time and spare-time holdings, and some occupiers farm more than one holding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will refer the proposed increase to 8½ per cent. in the lending rate of the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No. I do not think this is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that since the Government's announcement of a wages and prices and dividends standstill, a number of firms have announced increases in their dividends; what machinery he has to enable him to have these cases reported to him; and how many such cases have been reported to date;

Most companies are observing the standstill and I have seen reports of reductions in dividends as well as a few increases. Under the terms of Incomes standstill the obligation is on the White Paper on the Prices and companies to inform the Government in order that the justification for any proposed increase may be examined. I expect the downward pressure on profits, resulting from the Government's fiscal and other measures, to make less likely requests for dividend increases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the dividend freeze applies to dividends on overseas investments; and how Her Majesty's Government proposes to make effective the application of a dividend standstill to companies owned and controlled outside the United Kingdom but which have shareholders of British nationality resident in the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts spent by the Exchequer per head of population, in the most recent year for which at least approximate figures are available, for Scotland and England and Wales, respectively, on education, housing and roads, respectively.

Expenditure on Departmental Votes in 1964–65 in England and Wales, and in Scotland, per head of population was as follows:—

	England and Wales			Scotland
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Roads	3	15	6	4	14	0
Housing	1	14	6	4	0	0
Education (including University education)	16	14	0	21	10	0

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the increase in personal savings that he anticipates as a result of the recent economic measures; which particular personal savings he expects will increase most; and what reasons led him to arrive at his conclusions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what data he bases his expectation of greater private savings.

I estimate a substantial increase arising from a fall in consumers' borrowing as a result of the tightening of hire-purchase terms on 20th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Scotch whisky incurs a greater duty per degree of alcoholic strength than many other alcoholic and imported drinks, and that this encourages the import and consumption of foreign alcoholic beverages; and, in view of the need to conserve foreign currency, if he will either tax foreign beverages at the same rate as whisky or reduce the taxation on whisky to the same level as that on foreign imported wines and spirits.

The duty on imported spirits is on the same level as that on Scotch whisky or in some cases slightly higher.My right hon. Friend will keep the relative burden of duty on spirits and other beverages under review, like other forms of taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what official expenses and/or subsistence allowances Ministers are allowed to draw in addition to their ministerial and Parliamentary salaries; and what have been the individual amounts so drawn by each Minister since October, 1964.

Ministers travelling on official business are entitled to first-class travel and to subsistence allowances in accordance with the general arrangements for senior civil servants.I regret that the information in respect of the second part of the Question could only be made available at a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the separate amounts of Government investment, of private portfolio investment, of private direct investment, and of re-invested profits, invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area from other countries of the overseas sterling area;(2) if he will estimate the separate amounts of Government investment, of private portfolio investment, of private direct investment, and of re-invested profits, invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area from the United Kingdom;(3) if he will estimate the separate amounts of Government investment, of private portfolio investment, of private direct investment, and of re-invested profits, invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area from the United States of America and Canada;(4) if he will estimate the separate amounts of Government investment, of private portfolio investment, of private direct investment, and of re-invested profits, invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area from Western Europe;(5) if he will estimate the separate amounts of Government investment, of private portfolio investment, of private direct investment, and of re-invested profits, invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area from the non-sterling area, excluding the United States of America, Canada, and Western Europe;(6) if he will estimate the amounts invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area by Russia;(7) if he will estimate the amounts invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area by China;(8) if he will estimate the amounts invested in each year since 1955 in the overseas sterling area by the eastern European countries, excluding Russia and China;(9) if he will estimate the total amount of interest, profits and dividends paid out in each year since 1955 from the overseas sterling area countries to the United Kingdom;

No figures of transaction of the O.S.A. as a whole with countries other than the United Kingdom are available. Estimates of United Kingdom investment in, and interest, profits and dividends from, the overseas sterling area from 1958 are contained in the Central Statistical Office publication "United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1965". Some information relating to transactions between some non-sterling area countries and some countries of the overseas sterling area will be found in the Yearbook of the International Monetary Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of printing carried out in Northern Ireland for Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the last financial year.

Approximately £200,000, of which £142,500 was for the Government of Northern Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of printing carried out in Scotland for Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the last financial year.

Approximately £374,000, of which £90,000 was in respect of printing in the Stationery Office Press at Edinburgh.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of printing all publications published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the last financial year.

The cost of printing publications for sale was approximately £1,670,000. The cost of all printing for the Stationery Office was approximately £10,706,000, of which £3,482,000 was in respect of printing in Stationery Office presses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many former employees of Conservative Party organisations have been recruited into the Civil Service since October, 1964; and how many have been established or are awaiting establishment.

As no central records are kept, this information could not be produced without disproportionate cost and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the agreed new rates of pay to draughtsmen in Government offices have been paid to some draughtsmen and are being withheld from others in the same grade; and what steps he will take to remedy this injustice.

Steps are being taken to pay the new rates to the small minority of architectural and engineering draughtsmen not already in receipt of them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if, in view of the economic situation, he will withdraw altogether the foreign currency allowance for travellers to Spain.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost in 1965–66 of Government statistical/research services.

The information sought on Government statistical services is being collected and, when available, will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the list of industries which have been given priority in accordance with national policy in the provision of credit facilities; and what priority agriculture has in that list.

There is no list of industries. The banks give high priority in their lending to certain broad categories of borrowing such as exports and finance for the strengthening of productive investment by manufacturing industry. The banks have also been asked to pay full regard to the aims of Her Majesty's Government on regional development. Within this policy I have said that the banks will recognise the importance of agriculture because of the contribution it makes towards our economic strength.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have announced their intention to pay, or have paid, an increased dividend since 20th July, 1966, in defiance of the ban on increased dividends.

This is being investigated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied his present policy will not create more than 460,000 unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement by the Prime Minister in the House on 20th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the United Kingdom's current earnings of foreign exchange from the stationing of military forces in the United Kingdom, and from sales of defence equipment and supplies overseas; and what are the estimated comparable figures for 1969–70.

The Government's receipts amount to about £10 million from the stationing of forces in the United Kingdom. Sales of defence equipment and supplies overseas are currently running at about £120 million a year. It would not be meaningful to give estimates for 1969–70 since this would require arbitrary assumptions, e.g. on the level of United States Forces to be maintained in the United Kingdom, which is a matter for the United States Government and N.A.T.O. as well as the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current cost in foreign exchange of the United Kingdom's overseas military presence, country by country, and of purchases of defence equipment and supplies; and what are the estimated comparable figures for 1969–70.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Table 3, Annex H of Cmnd. 2902, which gives the current foreign exchange cost by area; and to Table 4 for the cost of equipment and supplies. I regret that a country by country division is not available. It is not the practice to give estimates for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the growing traffic congestion in Perth; what study he has made of the likely increase in traffic through Perth as work progresses on the motorway between the Forth Road Bridge and Perth; and if he will give the Perth city by-pass a higher priority in the long-term road programme.

The special transport/land use survey now being carried out in Perth should produce, about the end of this year, exhaustive information about the movement, volume and growth of traffic. When this information is assessed the priority accorded to the by-pass will be considered again.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will submit the scale of charges or fees for conveyancing of property in Scotland to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

It is not intended to make a reference at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has sent a letter to the Scottish Special Housing Association similar to the one sent to local authorities asking them to freeze their rents; and if he will make a statement.

The Association was sent a copy of the letter to local authorities dated 5th August and told that any rent increases which were intended to come into effect after that date should be held in suspense.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers

CERTIFICATED TEACHERS —PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Scale 1		Scale 2		Scale 3		Scale 4
Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women
3,178	1,083	530	140	4,070	3,640	3,262	4,255
Scale 5		Scale 6		Scale 7		Scale 8
Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women
1,664	494	129	799	276	13,250	15	36

TEACHERS—FURTHER EDUCATION
Scale 32		Scale 33		Scale 34		Scale 35
Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women
418	27	30	3	836	123	586	127
In addition 75 Principals and Depute Principals in further education establishments were paid on special scales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give increased publicity to the regulations

There have been 54 applications and 21 nominations, of which 20 have been accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking with a view to introducing negotiating machinery for teachers' salaries; and what his time-table is in this connection.

Last month I put tentative proposals for revised negotiating machinery to the local authority and main teachers' associations. I hope to have discussions with these bodies in the autumn and to introduce legislation as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of men and women paid under each of the various salary scales set out in the Teachers' Salaries (Scotland) Provisional Regulations 1966.

The numbers employee whole-time by education authorities and paid on the various basic scales at September, 1965, the latest date for which figures are available, were as follows:—about the cutting of noxious weeds before seeding, in view of the increase in the occurrence of such weeds in some agricultural districts of Scotland.

Only certain weeds are subject to statutory control, and agricultural executive committees have powers to require occupiers to take action to prevent them spreading. Generally it is possible to get satisfactory action taken by persuasion, and I see no need for special publicity. I shall be glad, however, to look into any specific cases which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which police and prison services will be affected by the cut of £0·2 million in 1967–68.

Savings will be made by postponing the start of building schemes which will be selected so as to affect the efficiency of the services as little as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the local health and welfare services which will be affected by the cut of about £0·1 million in 1967–68.

Savings will be made by postponing the start of building schemes which will be selected so as to affect the efficiency of the services as little as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the local authority offices, recreational facilities, &c, which will be affected by the cut of £2 million in investment under these headings in the year 1967–68.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 29th July to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which roads will be affected by the cut of £1·2 million in the Scottish road-building programme in 1967–68.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 29th July to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to make available the revenue from dog licences in Scotland to the local authorities as is done in England and Wales.

I am doing so, in the Local Government (Scotland) Bill at present before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has that undersized hake are being caught and landed in the Clyde area near the hake breeding grounds.

According to my information no hake below the minimum size have been landed at Clyde ports in recent weeks. I understand that the hake landed have been of the size normally landed in the Clyde at this time of year.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware that fittings and furniture from county courts in the process of being refurnished are not offered for sale to the public, but are sold to his Department by whom they are burned; and whether he will take steps to stop this wasteful practice.

County court fittings and furniture are the property of my Department; any not suitable for continued use are sold by auction. Only totally valueless furniture is burned.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why he has agreed to hire a part of a prestige building of 15 floors in Cardiff, at a rent of 22s. 6d. per square foot against the 15s. to 17s. 6d. per square foot generally available in Cardiff for ordinary non-prestige buildings; and whether he will review this in the light of Her Majesty's Government's drive for economy, so far as Government and private expenditure is concerned.

This was the only office accommodation in Wales of sufficient size available by the time required to house the office of the Board of Trade Investment Grant Administration which is to serve Wales.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the increase in the square footage of offices occupied by the Civil Service since October, 1964; and what is the total annual cost, including interest on capital, attributable to this increase.

The information is not immediately available in the form requested but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, and the letter from the West Ham, North, constituency Labour Party concerning the need for the purchase and supply of kidney machines to hospitals; and what was the nature of his reply.

Yes: I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of my reply to the letter from the constituency Labour Party.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients were receiving treatment with the aid of kidney machines at the latest convenient date in the south-west Lancashire area; and how many of these machines are now available in the south-west Lancashire area National Health Service hospitals.

Five patients suffering from chronic renal failure are being treated at Sefton General Hospital in a unit of four beds which is available for the treatment of acute and chronic renal failure. Acute cases can also be treated at Whiston Hospital; a further unit of six beds for chronic patients will be ready for use at Mossley Hill Hospital later this month.