asked the Minister of Aviation what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

Between 1st October, 1964, and 1st October, 1966, figures for the precise dates mentioned by the hon. Member are not available, the staff of the Ministry of Aviation declined by 8,702, of whom 8,613 officers have been transferred to the Board of Trade. It is estimated that a further 250 staff will also be transferred to the Board of Trade. I do not anticipate any considerable change in staff numbers in the period up to October, 1967, for the remaining functions carried out by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on constitutional development in Swaziland.

Since my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 5th May I have fully considered the report of the Swaziland Constitutional Committee in consultation with the Swaziland Government and certain points were further discussed during my hon. Friend's recent visit to Swaziland.I have today laid before Parliament a White Paper (Cmnd. 3119) which contains an outline of the proposed internal self-government constitution and a draft of the Agreement which it is proposed to conclude and under which Swaziland will became a Protected State when the new constitution comes into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The staff of the Commonwealth Relations Office, as it then was, on 16th October, 1964, numbered 867. The staff of the Commonwealth Office now numbers 586. The latter figure includes staff from the Colonial Office following the merger between the Colonial Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office on 1st August this year. The decrease is largely due to the amalgamation of the Administration Departments of the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Foreign Office on 1st January, 1965, to form the Diplomatic Service Administration Office, which then had 1,338 staff and now has 1,475. Other joint departments and common services for the Commonwealth Office and Foreign Office, subsequently set up, now contain 204 staff.I expect there to be some decrease in the staff of the Commonwealth Office in the period up to 16th October, 1967, but I cannot at present foresee the precise numbers that may be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

To date, a decrease of some 14,000. Further reductions are expected during the next twelve months but are likely to be largely offset as certain existing shortages, mainly of industrial employees, are made up.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of Rainham rifle ranges; and whether he will consider releasing the land for social and industrial purposes.

The Rainham rifle ranges, camp and training area are used by Regular and Reserve Army units stationed in and around London, and my right hon. Friend cannot at present release this land for the purposes which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The staff of my Department has increased since 16th October, 1964, by 556 full-time and 34 part-time officers. Staffing needs for the financial year 1967–68 are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what increase or decrease there has been in the stafe of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The staff of the Foreign Office on the 16th October, 1964, numbered 1,815. It now totals 601. This is largely due to the amalgamation of the Administrative Departments of the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office on the 1st January, 1965, to form the Diplomatic Service Administration Office, which then had 1,338 staff and now has 1,475. Other joint Departments and common services for the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office, subsequently set up, now contain 204 staff.I cannot at present foresee any significant change in the number of staff of the Foreign Office in the period up to the 15th October, 1967.

asked the Minister of Health what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

An increase of 506 in the period from October, 1964 to October, 1966. Some further increase is expected during the next twelve months but I am not yet able to give a reliable estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the draft regulations regarding the marking of road tank vehicles containing dangerous substances will be submitted to the Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances; and if he will make a statement.

Next month. Drafting has unfortunately been delayed because of the technical difficulties involved in finding appropriate chemical classifications for the many dangerous substances concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The staff of the Home Office has increased by 1,440 since October, 1964. I cannot at this stage say what further change may take place by October, 1967.

asked the Minister of Labour what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The date nearest to 16th October, 1964 for which statistics are available is 1st October, 1964. On that date there were in my Department 21,418 staff. By 1st October, 1966 there had been an increase of 3,066.It is too early to give an estimate for October, 1967 but additional staff will be needed before that time for increased work mainly in connection with the redeployment of labour.

asked the Postmaster-General what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The total staff of the Post Office has increased by 21,900, or 5·7 per cent. since October, 1964. In the same period the business turnover increased by about 13 per cent. There are still staff shortages—some 1,600 postmen and 1,300 telephonists in London alone—and some increase in total staff is expected in the coming year, though its precise extent will of course be influenced by business trends.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The total numbers of industrial and non-industrial staff employed by my Department have fallen by approximately 800 since October, 1964.I anticipate a small increase between now and October, 1967.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will set up an inquiry into the practice of men classifying themselves as self-employed in the building industry to avoid tax and other contributions.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I are jointly considering how best to conduct an inquiry into this matter but it is not yet possible to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Technology what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

Apart from staff transferred from other Departments with their work, there was an increase of staff in my Department of 608 between 16th October, 1964, and 1st October, 1966, the latest date for which figures are readily available. The estimated numbers to be employed in 1967–68 will appear in Civil Estimates to be presented to the House in due course.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will conduct an investigation into price rises for garage repairs during the past 12 months.

The question of garage servicing and repair charges was referred for examination to the National Board for Prices and Incomes on 24th August last.

asked the Minister of Transport why the traffic signals at the A1—Dixons Hill crossroads in Hertfordshire have not yet been installed; what is the reason for the delay; and when she intends that the installation shall be completed.

There have been unexpected delays in developing the highspeed detector equipment need to cope with conditions at this junction. I am sorry that I cannot yet give a firm date for installation but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under her control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease she anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

There has been a decrease of 228 since 16th October, 1964. In accordance with normal procedure discussions will shortly take place with the Treasury about the staffing of the Department for the year 1967–68.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for how long the Minister of State was in Basle in connection with the International Nuclear Energy Exhibition in September, 1966; what was the size of his entourage; and how much was spent out of public funds on the whole visit.

I spent one day in Basle, and one in Zurich where I visited an exhibition of British carpets. I was accompanied by my private secretary. The total cost to public funds of air fares, airport charges and hotel accommodation for myself and my private secretary was £143 11s. 11d.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

There has been an increase of 10,045 in the Board of Trade and of 149 in the Export Credits Guarantee Department. The former figure includes the transfer to the Board of about 1,800 staff from the Ministry of Transport dealing with shipping and related matters and of 8,613 from the Ministry of Aviation, of whom 2,160 are seconded to the British Airports Authority, and the transfer of some 800 staff from the Board to the Diplomatic Service, the Department of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Technology and the British Museum. It is not possible to give a forecast for October, 1967, until decisions are taken on the Estimates for 1967–68.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Departments under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

Since October, 1964, allowing for staff transferred with their work, there has been an increase of 99 in the main Treasury. In addition, since October, 1964, there have been increases of 4,757 in the staff of the Inland Revenue and 1,452 in the staff of Customs and Excise and an increase of 16 in the staff of the Paymaster General's office. The numbers of staff in post in October, 1967, will depend on decisions yet to be taken for 1967–68 Estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the amount saved by individuals, companies, and the Exchequer respectively, for each of the last 10 years, and express these figures as percentages of the gross national product.

The figures, which are derived from the National Income Blue Book for 1966 are set out in the table below:

			Saving
			Personal sector	Company sector	Central government
			(£ million)	(£ million)	(£ million)
1956	…	…	823	2,038	412
1957	…	…	803	2,089	523
1958	…	…	709	1,986	616
1959	…	…	887	2,180	482
1960	…	…	1,367	2,679	190
1961	…	…	1,758	2,400	353
1962	…	…	1,584	2,204	655
1963	…	…	1,683	2,692	226
1964	…	…	1,972	3,227	487
1965	…	…	2,051	3,293	894

Percentages of the gross national product
1956	…	…	4·5	11·1	2·2
1957	…	…	4·1	10·7	2·7
1958	…	…	3·5	9·7	3·0
1959	…	…	4·1	10·2	2·3
1960	…	…	6·0	11·8	0·8
1961	…	…	7·2	9·9	1·4
1962	…	…	6·2	8·7	2·6
1963	…	…	6·2	10·0	0·8
1964	…	…	6·8	11·1	1·7
1965	…	…	6·6	10·7	2·9

NOTES:(1) The figures of saving are before providing for depreciation, stock appreciation and additions to reserves.(2) The figures for the central government follow the definitions used in the national income accounts and are comparable with those for the personal sector and companies. The Exchequer surplus differs in definition and coverage from these figures. A reconciliation was given in Table 10 of the Financial Statement for 1966–67.(3) The personal sector includes unincorporated enterprises, non-profit-making bodies benefiting persons and private trusts as well as individuals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that unit trusts comply with the dividend standstill.

Many unit trusts do not have the power to withhold income from distribution to unit holders, but as this income consists of dividends received from their investments they will automatically be affected by the dividend standstill, though there may be timing differences.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the result of his discussions with those public companies which announced increased dividends before 20th July, and were payable after that date, naming those companies which have, and have not, agreed to rescind the increased dividend.

The full results of the dividend standstill to date were given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 20th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many close companies, public and private, as defined by the Finance Act, 1965, are currently in operation; and how many have increased their dividend, or announced increases, since 20th July, 1966.

No separate record is available of close companies as such.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The staff of the new Welsh Office was drawn from a number of Departments from which responsibilities were transferred and a figure from 16th October, 1964 cannot be given. There were 462 in post on 1st October, 1966. I am not able to say at this stage what increase or decrease there may be in the next year.