asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to introduce an Order under Section 11(3) of the Rent Act 1965 to convert existing controlled tenancies into regulated tenancies.

I have no intention of making such an Order at the present time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of houses in Great Britain erected before the year 1850, the number erected between 1850 and 1875, between 1875 and 1900, between 1900 and 1919, between 1919 and 1945, between 1945 and 31st December 1951, between 1st January 1952 and 31st December 1964, and from 1st January 1965 to the latest convenient date.

The number of dwellings still used for habitation in Great Britain in mid-1966 is analysed below by the period in which they were erected originally. The estimates for the groups of years before 1919 are subject to a greater margin of error than those for the later years.

STOCK OF DWELLINGS BY AGE: MID-1966
GREAT BRITAIN
Dwellings built				Million dwellings
Before 1850	…	…	…	2·0
1850–1875	…	…	…	1·5
1876–1900	…	…	…	2·0
1901–1918	…	…	…	2·0
1919–1944	…	…	…	4·6
1945–1951	…	…	…	1·0
1952–1964	…	…	…	3·9
1965–mid-1966	…	…	…	0·6
Stock of dwellings	…	…	…	17·6

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many people were homeless in Great Britain at the latest convenient date.

At the end of 1965 there were in Great Britain some 12,450 persons in homeless families in temporary accommodation provided by local authorities, and some 31,140 single persons sleeping rough, using reception centres or living in lodging houses and hostels. Of the latter figure 30,175 were in lodging houses, hostels or reception centres.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much of the money advanced to the Housing Corporation under the Housing Act, 1964, has already been spent; how much has been firmly committed for existing and future building projects; and whether he will make a statement.

Up to 10th October, 1966, £4,918,567 had been spent by the Housing Corporation. The Corporation is firmly committed to schemes costing £31,923,129. Two-thirds of this sum is however expected to be provided by building societies.The Corporation's Annual Report for the year ended 31st March, 1966, will be laid before the House tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give, in tabular form, for each year 1951 to 1965 inclusive, and to the latest date in 1966, the average tender prices and average floor areas for three-bedroom houses built by local authorities, total cost of interest and repayment charges in respect of those houses, assuming loans raised over 60 years at the long-term rate of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board at each 31st December, the annual cost of management, repairs, and maintenance and, on this basis, the average annual economic rents of those houses.

The table below gives details on the average floor areas and average tender costs of construction of three-bedroom houses for local authorities in England and Wales for tenders approved in the years 1951 to 1965. It would be misleading to give figures of economic rents on the basis suggested, since there is a wide variation between authorities in costs and in the methods by which capital expenditure is financed. Moreover, information is not available on the costs of land and site works or on maintenance and management costs for particular types of dwellings built in particular years.

FLOOR AREA AND COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITY 3-BEDROOM HOUSES ENGLAND AND WALES*
TENDERS APP ROVED IN THE YEARS 1951–1965
Year		Average Floor Area	Average cost of construction†
		sq. ft.	£
1951	…	1,031	1,369
1952	…	948	1,386
1953	…	916	1,385
1954	…	914	1,383
1955	…	912	1,421
1956	…	912	1,473
1957	…	908	1,486
1958	…	903	1,485
1959	…	897	1,515
1960	…	897	1,611
1961	…	898	1,786
1962	…	907	1,967
1963	…	917	2,129
1964	…	920	2,303
1965	…	930	2,579
1966 (first half)	…	942	2,724
* Excluding tenders for G.L.C. and L.C.C.
† Excluding land, professional fees and site works.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will ensure that a reasonable limit of tenure is granted to the operators of London's heliport at Battersea.

The heliport operators have appealed against the Greater London Council's decision not to allow the use of the Battersea site beyond 30th June, 1970. The appeal, at the operators' request, is being held in abeyance while they continue negotiations with the Council for a longer period. My right hon. Friend cannot comment further while the appeal is still before him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will arrange for special publicity on the Rate Rebate Scheme under the new Rating Act; and if he will make a statement.

I have put in hand a comprehensive advertising campaign to remind people to put in their applications for the second rebate period. In the new year I am hoping to arrange for leaflets to be distributed to people drawing pensions and family allowances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when it is proposed to give effect to the undertaking of his predecessor on 5th May, 1965, that the rating system would be reformed to relieve ratepayers from the inevitable increase in rates year by year.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Local Government Bill at present before the House. It should achieve my right hon. Friend's object in making it possible for rating authorities to avoid the disproportionate increases of recent years in householders' rates. In addition, rate rebates under the Rating Act 1966 will keep the rates of many households below their recent level for some time to come.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the area of land previously made unusable by industrial or mining activity, including open-cast mining, reclaimed during the period from the beginning of 1960 and until the end of last year; and how much of this reclaimed land has been rendered suitable for agricultural use and for building sites, respectively.

This information is not available. Returns from local authorities in England in accordance with the annual survey of derelict land begun in 1964 show that 4,137 acres of land damaged by industrial or other development were reclaimed in 1964 and 1965. The uses to which this land was put following reclamation are not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he proposes to visit Gibraltar.

I hope it will be possible for me to pay a visit before very long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the maximum legally permitted daily and weekly hours of work for women and young persons in manufacturing industry in Hong Kong; when these hours were fixed by law; and what were the previous legally permitted maximum hours.

Ten hours daily and 60 hours weekly. With permission of the Labour Department 100 hours overtime per year may be worked. Under the age of 16, however, the maximum hours of work are 8 in any day and 48 in any week. Overtime for those under 16 is not permitted. The regulations were brought into effect on 1st January, 1959. Previously there was no legislation to control the hours of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now consider imposing diplomatic and financial sanctions on Spain in response to the continued blockade of Gibraltar.

I deplore the continuation of the restrictions at the La Linea frontier and the recent Spanish announcement of a further restriction. But while talks in compliance with a United Nations Resolution are in train and while the Spanish Government are considering our proposal for a reference to the International Court of Justice, I do not think that measures of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements are made by the British Embassy in Washington to further Anglo-American co-operation in English language teaching which was an essential part of the work of the Counsellor (Education) before that post was withdrawn in 1962.

The British Embassy in Washington provides the link between the British Council, which has the primary responsibility for promoting English-language teaching overseas, and the United States State Department and interested agencies. The British Council has no Representative in the United States, but Anglo-American collaboration in English language teaching has been strengthened by a series of meetings of experts and officials and by a visit made to Washington last June by the Director-General of the British Council at the invitation of the United States State Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken, or intends to take, in the light of the Government's call for economy measures, to reduce the near £11,000 per annum expended on travel, subsistence allowances, hotels, and entertainment of the delegation to the Council of Europe, and when these economies are to commence.

The possibility of making certain reductions in the cost of the Delegation to the Council of Europe is at present under consideration and will shortly be discussed with the Leader of the Delegation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations were made in Kinshasa about the expulsion from the Democratic Republic of the Congo of Mr. John Latz representing the Daily Telegraph in Lubumbashi, and about the treatment of other British subjects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and whether he will make a statement.

At the time of Mr. Latz's arrest and during his detention repeated representations were made both in Kinshasa and London. Our Embassy in Kinshasa also protested, on instructions, at his final expulsion from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Three British subjects are at present in prison in the Congo, all on criminal charges. We are satisfied that their cases are being properly dealt with in accordance with Congolese law.The treatment of British subjects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is closely watched by our diplomatic and consular officers there and representations are made when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the maltreatment of British subjects in Communist China and the expulsion of British subjects therefrom.

Sister Catherine Rogan, a British subject, and other foreign and Chinese nuns were physically maltreated and publicly humiliated by the Red Guards when they forcibly occupied the Sacred Heart Convent in Peking on 26th August. Sister Rogan with other foreign nuns was expelled from China on 31st August. They were accused of committing "serious violations of Chinese law", although no formal charges were made against them. Her Majesty's Government made very strong protests to the Chinese authorities in London and Peking. We have no knowledge of recent maltreatment or expulsion from China of any other British subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what diplomatic privileges are granted to the Panamanian Consul in Glasgow; and how long he has been accredited to this post.

Foreign Consuls in the United Kingdom are not entitled to diplomatic privilege within the provisions of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964.Under Section 462 of the Income Tax Act 1952, the honorary Panamanian Consul in Glasgow, who is a British subject, is however allowed exemption from Income Tax in respect of any official emoluments and of fees paid to him in his official capacity.It is a generally accepted principle of international law that a consular official should be accorded immunity from legal proceedings in respect of acts performed by him in the exercise of consular functions.Inviolability of consular archives and of official correspondence between a consular officer and his Government is also generally accepted.The appointment of the present Panamanian Consul in Glasgow was notified to the Foreign Office on 11th January, 1963, and an exequatur was issued in respect of his appointment on 19th February, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that up to 20 per cent. of motor vehicles, largely in urban areas, have no current licence, he will introduce legislation to empower traffic wardens to require drivers to produce valid licences and insurance at a police station.

To the best of my knowledge, the proportion of unlicensed vehicles is much less than the hon. Member suggests. My right hon. Friend will consider whether the duties of traffic wardens should be extended when he has the report of the Police Advisory Board working party which is studying police manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to restore capital punishment for the murder of police and prison officers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the connection between the organisation of criminal activities in this country and in the Continent of Europe and, in particular, in Sicily.

There is a constant exchange of information about criminal activities between the police of member countries of the International Criminal Police Organisation and particular attention is given to crime of an international nature by the Interpol Secretariat and at the Interpol General Assemblies. There is no evidence of any link between organised crime in this country and crime or criminals in Sicily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of trials by jury failed to reach a verdict in 1938, 1946, and each year since 1956.

These statistics are not available. Examination of a sample of trials by jury in 1965 in England and Wales indicates that the jury failed to reach a verdict in about 3½ per cent. of those trials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of trials by jury reached a verdict of guilty in 1938, 1946, and each year since 1956.

Annual statistics are not available. Examination of a sample of trials by jury in 1965 in England and Wales shows that there was a finding of guilt in about 63 per cent. of concluded trials. A comparable study of trials by jury in 1956 gave approximately the same figure.

asked the Secretary of Stats for the Home Department on what date his Department first received the Brabin Report; and what were his reasons for delaying release until 2.30 p.m. on 12th October.

The Report was received on 9th August; 12th October was the earliest convenient date for publication.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress has been made with the development of the P1127 aircraft; how many of these aircraft have now been delivered; and what steps are being taken to encourage foreign purchasers.

Development is proceeding well. Of the first two development aircraft one is flying and the other is expected to fly within the next few days. Four more are under construction. Initial contracts for production aircraft have also been let. With the support of Her Majesty's Government, Hawker Siddeley Aviation is actively exploring possible overseas markets for the aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many aviation research workers have emigrated from the United Kingdom in each of the calendar years 1963, 1964, 1965 and the first nine months of 1966.

No firm statistics are available, but information supplied by firms in the aircraft industry suggests that the number of qualified scientists and technologists who emigrated from the United Kingdom in the years 1963, 1964 and 1965 was as follows:

Year			Sci.	Emigration Tech.	Total
1963	…	…	14	66	80
1964	…	…	8	98	106
1965	…	…	26	156	182

It is not known how many of the emigrants were engaged on research work prior to their departure. No figures are available for the first nine months of 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the creation of any new salaries in excess of £10,000 at the end of the 12 month duration of the Prices and Incomes Act.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why no official representative of Her Majesty's Government was present at the funeral of the late General Bor-Komorowski.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why no representative of Her Majesty's Government was present at the funeral of General Bor-Komorowski on 2nd September.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why Her Majesty's Government was not represented at the funeral of General Tadeusz Bor-Komorowski who commanded the Polish underground army in 1944 and was later Commander-in-Chief of Poland's armed forces; and if he will give an assurance that a representative will attend the Memorial Service in Westminster Cathedral on 20th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to see that Her Majesty's Government is properly represented at the memorial service to General Bor-Komorowski.

Her Majesty's Government honour the memory of General Bor-Komorowski's distinguished service to the Allies.Official attendance at a privately-arranged funeral is not customary, but at the memorial service for General Bor-Komorowski on 20th October, the Ministry of Defence and the British armed forces will be represented by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Slessor and other officers. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will be represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what compensating advantages accrue to Service men from the installation in new married quarters for the Armed Services of gas heating and electric cooking in view of the fact that a high rate tariff is paid for both fuels.

The Service man enjoys the same advantages of an efficient, modern and labour-saving installation as his civilian counterpart.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the estimated cost of replacing incorrectly specified steel plate used in the construction of the Polaris submarines under construction for the Royal Navy;(2) why the specifications for steel plate used in the construction of Polaris submarines for the Royal Navy provided initially by the United States Government were rejected and replaced by alternative specifications which later proved inadequate.

The original specification fully met all the requirements as then known. It has now been found that the steel has rather more small non-metallic inclusions than the latest American steel which has been developed since our original orders were placed. It is not intended to replace the steel plates produced to the original specification. Some repair may be necessary during service but it is too soon to estimate the extent or cost. The reasons for the defects that have come to light are already the subject of expert investigation in collaboration with industry and independent consultants.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will initiate an inquiry into the departmental procedures which led to the setting of incorrect specifications for steel plate used on the hulls of the Polaris submarines under construction for the Royal Navy.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his other Questions on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between Ministers in implementing the economic measures published on 20th July; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions were given to the right hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Gordon Walker) as leader of the British delegation at the recent Council of Europe meeting on the proposed entry of Great Britain into the European Economic Community.

None.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish

Minister, etc.	Place/Countries Visited	Dates of Visits	Purpose of Visits
Foreign Secretary	U.S.A. and Canada	7th to 17th October	To address the United Nations General Assembly, and to have talks with the President of the United States and with American, and later Canadian Ministers and officials.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.	Greece	10th to 15th September	Talks with the Greek Government.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.	Paris	28th to 30th September	Western European Union Council meeting.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.	Bonn	11th to 13th October	Mixed Commission on B.A.O.R. costs.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Chalfont).	Geneva	12th to 25th August	Disarmament Conference.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Chalfont).	Alpbreh, Nr. Salzburg	26th to 28th August	Non-Governmental Seminar on Disarmament.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Chalfont).	Copenhagen	28th to 29th September	Informal talks with the Danish Government.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Chalfont).	New Delhi	6th to 11th October	Informal talks with the Indian Government.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mrs. White).	Berlin	15th to 16th September	To open the British Pavilion of the Berlin Industries Fair.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Walston)	Mexico City	15th to 21st October	To represent H.M.G. at the British Industrial Exhibition.
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Canada and U.S.A.	17th to 30th September	Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting and I.M.F./ I.B.R.D. Meetings.
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Bonn	13th October	Mixed Commission on B.A.O.R. costs.
Chief Secretary, Treasury	Rome, Accra, New Delhi, Singapore, Bangkok, Vientiane.	30th August to 22nd September	To consider standards of diplomatic accommodation.

Following is a list of Ministers and Permanent Secretaries who went abroad on official business during the Summer Recess. The list also indicates the purpose of each visit. I regret that final information as to cost is not yet available.As the House knows, my personal permission is required before any Minister travels abroad at public expense and my hon. Friend can rest assured that, before giving permission, I take all relevant factors, including the possible use of alternative means of communication into account.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Minister of Overseas Development at Preston on 24th September on the economic situation represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will in future include in advice notes CS/B/2 sent to farmers under the cereals deficiency payments scheme the actual amount deducted by the Home Grown Cereals Authority for the levy due on barley, rather than issue this figure in a separate document.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he has studied those parts of the texts of broadcasts from Zambia Radio, by Mr. George Nyandoro on 25th and 26th November 1965 and by Mr. James Chikerema on 28th November 1965, sent to him by the hon. Member for Antrim, South; and what representations he has made to prevent similar incitements to violence being broadcast from this station.

I have read the material sent to me by the hon. Member which, as has been pointed out previously, is very out of date. If the hon. Member has any evidence of current broadcasts inciting violence I should be ready to consider the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the capital and running costs, respectively, which have been provided to date by Her Majesty's Government for Francistown Radio; why this station is being guarded by British troops; and what is the cost of such measures.

Capital expendiure to date totals £266,000. Operational and programming costs amount to £153,000 approximately.The local security forces are not at present in a position to undertake guard duties at the station, and by agreement with the Government of Botswana, the duties are being performed by British troops. The annual cost is estimated at £12,800.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish details of the work on the Rhodesian Emergency Unit; how many former Rhodesian civil servants have been interviewed and resettled by the Unit; how many Rhodesian civilians have been interviewed and resettled by the Unit; and what further steps he is taking to assist civilians who have left Rhodesia because of the Smith regime.

As my predecessor said in the House on 22 December 1965 a Unit in the Consular departments of my Office helps people in the Rhodesian public service, Armed Forces, judiciary or Parliament, who resign from their posts on grounds of conscience or are suspended or dismissed by the illegal régime in Rhodesia because of their refusal to support it or to carry out unlawful orders. Fifty-two people have so far been accepted under the scheme.About 100 cases in all have been brought to the Unit's notice. 59 of these have been interviewed. The Unit also arranges interviews with bodies such as the Overseas Services Resettlement Bureau of the Ministry of Overseas Development, the Officers Association and (in the case of those wishing to enter the Home Civil Service) the Treasury. It is not directly responsible for resettlement.The Unit has also provided co-ordinating machinery with other Government Departments in the administration of the scheme. They have dealt with such matters as payment of fares and baggage allowance.The Unit has dealt so far with nearly 1,000 oral and written enquiries from members of the public on such subjects as non-payment of pensions, transfer of funds, travel arrangements etc.No Rhodesian civilians have been interviewed or resettled by the Unit. As my right hon. Friend said in December it is responsible only for public servants.

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

pursuant to his reply[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th August, 1966; Vol. 733, c. 445], circulated the following information:Expenditure on staff and overheads in the statistical divisions of Departments, including the Central Statistical Office, was of the order of £7½ million in the financial year 1965–66. Much of the material used by these Divisions comes from the operational side of Departments' activities. It is not possible to estimate the cost of this element.

asked the Chancellor of tthe Exchequer (1) if he will institute an inquiry to discover who was responsible for the July run on sterling: and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will issue instructions to the Bank of England to prevent a further run on sterling.

The causes of pressure are pretty well known. Withdrawals of funds cannot always be prevented, but their effect can be offset, and international arrangements have been helpful in doing this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why his Establishments Division has been unable to date to authorise any offer to enable negotiations to commence on a survey of the Pay Research Unit for these grades issued in November, 1965.

Negotiations on outstanding Pay Research surveys are continuing for the purpose of establishing facts: it will be possible to carry them further when the discussions with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry about the criteria to govern increases in incomes during the period of severe restraint have been completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government intend to honour the Civil Service Pay Agreement, 1964, and pay in full the arrears of salary that may have accrued to those grades from 1st January, 1965 to 1st January, 1966; and whether, in view of the length of time such arrears have accumulated and the circumstances surrounding this claim, he will authorise payment immediately new scales have been determined, or at the latest at the beginning of the period of severe restraint following the six-month income standstill called for in the White Paper, Prices and Incomes Standstill.

As regards the first part of the Question, the six months' deferment under the relevant provisions of Cmnd. 3073 will apply. As regards the second part of the Question, increased rates may not be paid during the standstill. The extent to which they may be paid during the period of severe restraint is at present under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the need of agriculture for credit has been recognised by the banks in conformity with his statement of 12th August, 1966.

The banks recognise the importance of, and are fully meeting, the normal seasonal requirements. They are also prepared to consider, sympathetically, requests for medium term credit to finance the buying and rearing of stock, as well as for other essential purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it was necessary to purchase German and Swedish cash registers to speed up the issue of receipts for duty charged by Customs officials at the Dover Car Ferry Terminal; and whether he will give instructions for British machinery to be used for official purposes of this kind in future.

Competitive tenders were invited but no tenders were received from any supplier of British-built machines. British manufacturers will continue to be invited to tender for future requirements of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which grades of the Civil Service are recruited by competitive examination; which are not; and what change there has been in recent years in the terms of entry.

Recruitment of established officers in all except the most junior grades is by competition. In an increasing number of grades this takes the form of a competitive interview of candidates with prescribed qualifications. There have been a number of changes in such matters as age limits, qualifications and procedure in recent years. If the hon. Member is interested in any particular matter perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on effecting German payment for the British Army of the Rhine.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the communiqué issued after the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission in Bonn on 13th October, a copy of which has been placed in the library of the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of collection of the Capital Gains Tax and of the Selective Employment Tax, respectively, to the latest available date.

The overall expenditure incurred up to any particular date cannot be identified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated gross yield from the Selective Employment Tax to the latest available date; and by how much this yield fell short of the figure which would be required to produce the proportion of the Budget forecast of gross yield from this tax for the current financial year corresponding to the period to that date.

£85·4 million has been paid into the Exchequer up to 15th October representing the estimated yield. It is too soon to attempt any comparison of the sort envisaged by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated net yield of the Capital Gains Tax, after allowing for claims for capital losses, to the latest available date; and by how much this yield fell short of the figure which would be required to produce the proportion of the Budget forecast yield from this tax for the current financial year corresponding to the period to that date.

£1·7 million had been received by 8th October. The Budget Estimate for the year is £5 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the requirement placed upon investment trusts to pay out 85 per cent. of annual net profits has been waived for the duration of the prices and wages standstill; and by what authority this has been done.

Where as a consequence of the dividend standstill an investment trust retains more than 15 per cent. of its income, my right hon. Friend has authorised the Board of Inland Revenue to approve the trust provided the other conditions for approval are met.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will advise colleges and university authorities that any increase in charges to students other than those required to recover increased taxation and rates would be contrary to the prices and incomes policy.

The University Grants Committee has drawn the attention of all universities to the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Standstill and on the 5th September informed them of the Government's view that for the period of the standstill fees and charges should not be increased. This does not apply to Oxford and Cambridge colleges in so far as they cannot absorb increases in cost due to the removal of rating relief.As for other colleges, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has asked local authorities to do their utmost to avoid any increase between now and mid-1967, and particularly until the end of 1966, in any charges for which they are responsible.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average waiting time for major and minor operations, respectively, at hospitals in the Portsmouth area.

The time varies so much according to the operation that average figures would have no practical significance. Urgent cases are admitted without delay.

asked the Minister of Health what consultations he had before providing that income derived from the work performed in industrial therapy units should go directly into Exchequer accounts; and if he will state his reasons for having made this alteration.

This change, which provides also that the cost of running these units should be charged to the Exchequer, was made after normal consultation with hospital officers; the alteration was intended primarily to achieve uniformity in hospital accounting.

asked the Minister of Health what emergency services under the National Health Service are available at weekends to those suffering from acute toothache.

Most dental practitioners are willing to do all they can to treat their own patients in an emergency. If a patient is unable to get in touch with a dentist hospitals with accident or emergency services will normally give treatment at least for the relief of pain.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors, specialists and dentists have emigrated from the United Kingdom in each of the calendar years 1963, 1964, 1965 and the first nine months of 1966.

Records of doctors' movements are being collected and analysed to provide such information in respect of doctors but it is not yet available.I have no reliable information on the number of dentists leaving the country but it is thought to be small.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what are the functions, British membership and cost to public funds of the Centre for Curriculum Renewal and Educational Development Overseas.

The Centre for Curriculum Renewal and Educational Development Overseas has been established to provide help to developing countries on problems relating to curriculum development in schools.The Centre will be able, at the request of overseas countries, to undertake or assist with research into the content of the curriculum, including teaching methods and materials. It will take account of the results of developments in Britain and elsewhere, for instance in the field of science and mathematics teaching, and will help in their modification or adaptation to particular overseas conditions. It is expected that individuals or teams will be sent overseas to assist in experimental projects and that educationists engaged in such projects overseas will be brought to Britain. The Centre will be able if necessary to cover all phases of a project up to and including the production of materials where these are necessary. Much of the work will probably be done in cooperation with Curriculum Development Centres in developing countries.The cost of the Centre to public funds will be £50,000 spread over the next three years.The members of the Board of Governors are:—

asked the Minister of Overseas Development which Non-Commonwealth African countries will receive £637,000 for Technical Assistance during 1966–67 as shown in Class II, 9, C of the Civil Estimates; and what amount each country will receive.

Fixed allocations to individual countries are not made in advance. Technical Assistance is given in response to specific requests from Governments and the amounts actually spent for each country during 1966–67 will not be known until after the end of the financial year. During the six months up to 30th September, 1966, Technical Assistance expenditure has been incurred under Class II, 9, C of the Civil Estimates for the following Non-Commonwealth countries in Africa; Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Kinshasa), Congo (Brazzaville), Dahomey, Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Malagasy Republic, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, and the United Arab Republic. In some cases the expenditure represents costs arising from services provided in previous years.An indication of the scale of our technical assistance to these countries in 1965 can be obtained from the June 1966 edition of statistics of British Official Economic Aid, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will give details of the £2,133,000 to be spent on the promotion of science and technology for the benefit of developing countries, as shown in Class II, 10, B of the Civil Estimates 1966–67.

This money pays for projects directed towards the gathering of new knowledge or the development of new techniques which relate to the problems that impede the social or economic progress of developing countries. The expenditure takes the form of financial grants made to Governments, universities or research organisations, either in Britain or overseas. Grants to overseas projects generally cover only a proportion of the total costs. The sums at present distributed to each field are as follows:

		£
Agriculture	…	724,000
Veterinary	…	154,000
Floras	…	22,000
Forestry	…	13,000
Fisheries	…	100,000
Pesticides	…	110,000
Nature Conservancy	…	2,000
Locust Control	…	10,000
Medical	…	385,000
Trypanosomiasis	…	125,000
Social and Economic	…	125,000
Roads	…	243,000
Building	…	65,000
Miscellaneous	…	55,000
		£2,133,000

Of the total expenditure, about 71 per cent. is spent in the developing countries and about 29 per cent. in Britain. The largest single allocations are as follows:

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the length of Mr. Michael Kittermaster's secondment from the Civil Service to the Zambian Government as Director of Zambian Broadcasting; and what control over his activities is retained by Her Majesty's Government during such secondment.

Mr. Kittermaster is seconded for a tour of two years' residential service from last January. During that period he is a servant of the Zambian Government and his official activities are a matter for that Government alone.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether Mr. Michael Kittermaster is still attached under official arrangements to Zambia Radio; and what have been his duties and conditions of employment.

Yes. Mr. Kittermaster's services were requested in September, 1965. His duties are those of Director of Broadcasting Services. He is on secondment from the Home Civil Service to the service of the Government of Zambia until January, 1968.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many awards are now available under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.

Including the 150 Medical Awards announced at the Commonwealth Medical Conference in October, 1965, the number of awards which may be held on average over the year is about 600.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement about the future of the University College in Salisbury.

I am not yet in a position to say what the Government's attitude will be towards continuing financial support for the College in 1967. Payment of the amount due for the last quarter of 1966 has been made.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the financial assistance proposed to deal with compassionate cases at present outstanding among farmers in Kenya who are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

I propose to provide, subject to Parliamentary approval, up to £233,000 in the form of an interest-free loan to enable the Kenya Government to make offers of purchase to the outstanding 18 cases who qualify.An advance from the Civil Contingencies Fund will be required and provision for repayment to the Fund will be sought from Parliament by means of Supplementary Estimates.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to improve the reception of Welsh-language B.B.C. and T.W.W. television programmes in West Denbighshire.

The extension and improvement of television coverage is primarily the responsibility of the broadcasting authorities themselves. The B.B.C. plans to build a television relay station at Bettws-y-Coed which will serve part of the Conway Valley including the Llanrwst area. At present the I.T.A. has no plans for the area.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will install a pillar box at the corner of Stour Way and River Way in Christchurch, Hampshire, in view of the distance that residents in this area have to travel to the nearest existing pillar box.

I am having the posting arrangements in the area generally reviewed to see whether they can be improved; and the need for a posting box at the site in question will certainly be considered. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the review is complete.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will authorise his Establishments Division to authorise immediate negotiations to determine the salary proper to be paid to the controlling engineering grades in the Post Office from 1st January, 1965.

The detailed application of the Prices and Incomes Standstill to all outstanding reviews of Civil Service pay is currently being considered by the Government, and no new commitments can be entered into until the general issues of principle have been resolved. I have, however, assured the Society of Post Office Engineers that we shall proceed with the final stage of negotiations on the pay of the grades that they represent as soon as it becomes possible to do so.

asked the Postmaster-General what were his reasons for removing the public telephone box from the junction of Craven Road with Chelsfield Lane in Orpington; and if he will state the distance from this point to the nearest public telephone.

This kiosk was removed because the revenues from it had been very low for several years, possibly because most of the houses in the vicinity have private telephones. The nearest public telephone is three-quarters of a mile away, outside Chelsfield Village Post Office.

asked the Minister of Power if, following publication of the report on gas shortages in the Midlands, he will seek consultations with the West Midlands Gas Board to ensure that progress with the second stage Tipton gas plant is such that it will supply gas to the West Midlands by the end of October.

As I told the hon. Member on 29th July[OFFICIAL REPORT, c. 366], progress with the construction of individual plants is a matter for the Board and the contractors. I understand, however, that unless unforeseen delays occur in the next two months at this or other plants under construction, adequate capacity should be available to meet the peak winter demand.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on his suggestion to electricity boards that they should put up their installation charges next year, with a view to creating parity between themselves and private electrical contractors, who pay Selective Employment Tax.

During the consideration of the Selective Employment Tax, my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, informed the House on 4th August (OFFICIAL REPORT, c. 864–5) that the Government would consider ways of avoiding unfair competition occurring between the nationalised industries and the private sector as a result of the Tax. I think this difficulty in the field of electrical contracting would be met if I were to invite Area Electricity Boards in England and Wales, through the Electricity Council, to include in their costings an amount, equivalent to what Boards would pay if labour employed by them in electrical contracting were subject to Selective Employment Tax, and after making such offsetting economies as are possible, they were to price and tender on this footing from 1st January, 1967. I have so informed the Electrical Contractors Association and suggested that the Association should discuss the details of such an arrangement with the Electricity Council.I contemplate a similar arrangement in the case of Area Gas Boards.These arrangements will not affect prices for the supply of gas and electricity.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what directive has been issued regarding heating and cooking installations in new married quarters for the armed services;(2) what representations he has received from the nationalised fuel industries with regard to the fuel systems to be used in the new married quarters for the armed services.

In the last year or so my Ministry has received several representations from a nationalised fuel industry either inquiring why its fuel was not chosen for a particular married quarters scheme or suggesting it as an alternative. My Ministry's policy is to consider for each scheme the costs of all practicable methods of heating and cooking available. Normally the one chosen is the cheapest to buy and install, provided that the running costs to the occupants will be reasonable. However, preference is given to solid fuel where this is suitable and where the total cost, including installation and running costs, is estimated to be within 5 per cent. of the next cheapest alternative.

asked the Minister of Technology how many scientists and graduates; with technical degrees have emigrated from the United Kingdom in each of the calendar years 1963, 1964, 1965 and the first nine months of 1966.

About 3,000 qualified scientists and engineers from the United Kingdom went abroad in 1963; nearly 500 of these being graduates intent on research or further study. Complete figures are not available for years since 1963; those that are available indicate that there has been some increase in net emigration, particularly to the United States, since 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of trials by jury in Scotland reached a verdict of guilty in 1938, 1946 and each year since 1956.

I regret that it would not be possible, without undue expenditure of time and labour, to produce information on the lines requested by my hon. Friend. However, a recent study suggests that approximately 79 per cent. of the persons tried by jury in Scotland in 1964 were found guilty.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent annually by the Scottish Tourist Board in advertising in Canada and the United States of America for the years 1963 to 1966 inclusive.

The British Travel Association undertakes the overseas promotion of the tourist attractions of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Tourist Board, like the Welsh and Northern Ireland Boards, works in close association with the British Travel Association and is represented directly on its council.The figures requested are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from British organisations about dumping of maize starch, potato starch and kindred products in the current year; and what action he has taken.

Applications made by the British Maize Starch and Glucose Manufacturers' Association under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies Act, 1957) have been under consideration and I have received several letters about them. The Board of Trade announced on 16th September that it had decided not to take action but to keep the position under review, and that the Governments concerned had been informed accordingly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has as to agreements restricting international price competition by British Steel companies; what effect this has on costs of specialised steel supplied; and what action he proposes to take.

Any agreements of this kind must be notified to the Board of Trade under Section 31 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956. Under the provisions of Section 33 of the Act any such notification would be confidential.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now announce her decision about the future of the Hurst Green to Lewes railway line.

My right hon. Friend has agreed that the Railways Board may publish under Section 56 of the Transport Act 1962 their proposal to discontinue passenger services on this line. Her permission means only that the proposal should have the benefit of the full examination that publication will set in motion: it in no way prejudges her ultimate decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what official forms are now available in the Welsh language; and what further forms it is proposed to issue in the language.

Approximately 200 forms, explanatory leaflets, pamphlets, notices and other official documents are issued in Welsh by local authorities, public bodies and election officials. Government Departments issue Welsh versions of the forms listed below; in addition 50 leaflets, pamphlets and other documents are issued in Welsh.As the hon. Member knows, I am considering, in consultation with my colleagues, what further forms should be issued in Welsh in advance of legislation, bearing in mind the criterion of "fair demand" recommended by the Hughes Parry Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will reconsider her refusal to sanction a pedestrian crossing in Harrow Road, Wembley, near its junction with Elms Lane and Maybank Avenue, in view of the difficulty pedestrians have in crossing it in peak hour traffic conditions.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason to alter her decision, which is in agreement with the views of the police and of the Greater London Council, which is the highway authority for Harrow Road.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give particulars of the road accidents which have occurred recently at the junction of Harrow Road, Wembley, with Wembley Hill Road; and what conclusions she has drawn about the safety of this junction as a result of investigating their causes.

Five accidents involving personal injury have occurred at this junction during the last six months. An examination of these by the highway authorities concerned does not reveal any immediate need to improve the conditions at this junction.

asked the Minister of Transport what is her programme for improving the Al between Newcastle and Edinburgh, in view of the fact that much of it consists of two-lane single carriageway.

A number of road improvements to the A1 north of Newcastle are programmed for the years up to 1969–70, including by-passes at Wide-open, Seaton Burn, Morpeth and Alnwick. Traffic volumes north of the junction with A697 do not at present justify dual carriageways, but the need for further improvement of the route between Newcastle and Berwick is being examined as part of the present studies of inter-urban trunk routes for the period after 1970. The Secretary of State for Scotland is giving similar consideration to the route between Berwick and Edinburgh where several improvements are being made.

asked the Minister of Transport how many Give Way signs have been erected at the approaches to roundabouts in West Suffolk; how many more are scheduled; and when these will be put up.

There are no Give Way signs at any of the roundabouts in West Suffolk and none are scheduled.