asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to improve the X-ray facilities at the Kent County Ophthalmic Hospital and the West Kent Hospital, both at Maidstone; and what improvement in the working conditions of the X-ray staff will be made in the current year.

Over £12,000 has been spent in the last 5 years on improvements in the X-ray department at the West Kent Hospital. The Regional Hospital Board has plans to improve the department at the Kent County Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital, but it is unlikely to be able to carry them out this year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now make private and amenity beds interchangeable in smaller hospitals.

I am advised that this is not possible under present legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there are 14 hospital units scattered throughout Dorset, and that even after considerable expenditure many old buildings such as workhouses remain inefficient and uneconomic; and whether he will now reconsider his decision to postpone the new County Hospital, thus restoring to Dorset a fair priority.

Many improvements have been made to the hospitals in Dorset and more are contemplated. The Wessex Regional Hospital Board considers that at present other needs in the region have greater priority than a new district general hospital at Dorchester.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for a study to be made of the organised service of voluntary help by members of the National Hospital Service Reserve in a hospital for the mentally subnormal in Bedfordshire with a view of seeing how usefully such schemes could be applied to hospitals for the mentally subnormal elsewhere in the country.

This is the kind of voluntary effort which I greatly welcome and my Department is taking a close interest in the scheme's progress. If, as I hope, its success continues I should expect it to receive publicity in the hospital service and other management committees would thereby be encouraged to consider something similar in their hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if he will undertake a review of undeveloped hospital land for which there are no defined proposals and plans for use as part of the National Health Service, with a view to its use for other community purposes by public authorities.

Hospital authorities keep their land holdings under constant review and there is no need for a special review at the present time. Since 1955 some 14,350 acres of land no longer needed for hospital purposes have been disposed of and a further 4,900 acres have been declared surplus and will be sold.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to encourage and assist regional hospital boards and hospital management committees to sponsor the establishment of housing associations and trusts to help meet the special needs of chronic disabled in- or out-patients and their families.

No. The provision of accommodation for people who do not need hospital care is not a matter for Hospital Boards or Management Committees.

asked the Minister of Health how many vacancies exist in each grade of staff in the hospitals situated within the Greater London area; and what were the comparable figures in respect of three years ago.

This information is not centrally available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will seek to amend the law to allow psychiatric patients who have wandered from their hospital to be accepted by the psychiatric hospital nearest to where they are found; and if he will make a statement.

No. There is no legal impediment to the admission of a wandering patient to any hospital willing to admit him.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to minimise the inconvenience caused by the shortage of pharmacists which has caused the closing down of out-patients' drug dispensary departments in London hospitals.

I hope that recent pay increases will reduce the shortage: meanwhile arrangements have been made for prescriptions to be dispensed by retail pharmacists.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have organised a Drug Surrender Week; and what amounts of unwanted drugs and medicines have been handed in.

I regret that this information is not available. But we welcome the initiative shown by the local authorities concerned and also the opportunity of reminding all authorities of the value of such campaigns.

Macmillan asked the Minister of Health whether he will list all projects and their cost which have been put forward by local authorities since the beginning of 1965, but for which his Department has refused loan sanction.

Loan sanction has been refused in three cases. Details of these are as follows:

Camden L.B. Purchase of a house to provide a maternity and child welfare clinic. Loan sanction was refused because the premises were due for demolition in 5–7 years for the creation of an open space. The cost was £4,000.

Kensington and Chelsea L.B. Purchase, repair and adaptation of houses to provide short-stay accommodation for homeless families. Loan sanction was refused because the resultant accommodation would not be satisfactory nor an adequate return for the cost involved. The cost was £79,000.

Salford C.B. Erection of a staff house in the grounds of a large home for old people. Loan sanction was refused because the institution was planned to close within ten years. The cost was about £4.000.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to open a cervical smear clinic in Ledbury.

Appointments can be made to attend a clinic held in Hereford, only 10 miles away from Ledbury, with a good bus service.

asked the Minister of Health what is the latest available figure of the ratio of patients to dentists in the Carlisle area; and how this compares with the rest of the country.

The ratio of persons to practitioners providing general dental services in Carlisle at 30th September, 1965 was 3238:1. The ratio for England and Wales was 4566:1.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations he has had from the President of the Amalgamated Engineering Union on productivity; and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state to the latest convenient date the unemployment figures for the city of Aberdeen by trade, industry and sex, as compared with the relevant figures during each of the last five years.

INDUSTRIAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT THE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE IN ABERDEEN
	10th October, 1966			11th October, 1965			12th October, 1964
Industry	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Agriculture and horticulture	65	5	70	50	2	52	77	3	80
Fishing	74	—	74	76	3	79	90	—	90
Bacon curing, meat and fish products	50	20	70	55	34	89	87	45	132
Shipbuilding and ship-repairing	27	1	28	41	1	42	51	2	53
Spinning and doubling of cotton, flax and man-made fibres	20	8	28	16	13	29	23	14	37
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	21	—	21	20	5	25	31	—	31
Timber	34	1	35	22	1	23	46	—	46
Construction	172	1	173	147	2	149	208	2	210
Sea transport	64	—	64	79	—	79	86	—	86
Distributive trades	176	114	290	164	150	314	194	177	371
Entertainment and sport	26	6	32	33	9	42	47	9	56
Catering, hotels, etc.	55	50	105	62	58	120	70	51	121
Private domestic service	1	19	20	3	27	30	5	27	32
Local government service	105	10	115	84	14	98	125	18	143
Other industries and services	506	186	692	487	292	779	573	308	881
Total, All Industries and Services	1,396	421	1,817	1,339	611	1,950	1,713	656	2,369

	14th October, 1963			15th October, 1962			16th October, 1961
Industry	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Agriculture and horticulture	91	6	97	59	7	66	80	4	84
Fishing	141	—	141	149	—	149	120	—	120
Bacon curing, meat and fish products	79	56	135	91	40	131	60	44	104
Shipbuilding and ship-repairing	57	—	57	83	1	84	134	1	135
Spinning and doubling of cotton, flax and man-made fibres	17	28	45	25	19	44	26	11	37
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	43	1	44	43	1	44	57	—	57
Timber	69	—	69	73	1	74	69	—	69
Construction	194	1	195	221	4	225	230	8	238
Sea transport	107	—	107	120	1	121	95	—	95
Distributive trades	277	194	471	244	201	445	248	117	365
Entertainment and sport	63	13	76	56	9	65	59	13	72
Catering, hotels, etc.	107	58	165	113	59	172	103	61	164
Private domestic service	10	33	43	7	20	27	12	30	42
Local government service	137	28	165	150	20	170	134	12	146
Other industries and services	705	359	1,064	705	342	1,047	699	284	983
Total, All Industries and Services	2,097	777	2,874	2,139	725	2,864	2,126	585	2,711

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour what amounts have been paid out under the Redundancy Payments Act; and what is the estimate of the amount to be paid out under the Act for the year 1967.

The amount paid out between 6th December, 1965, when the Act came into operation, and 30th September was £17,330,000. Of this £4,251,000 has been borne by employers and £13,079,000 by the Redundancy Fund.Future payments cannot be estimated with precision. Expenditure from the Fund has, however, exceeded income substantially since May and the Fund will shortly run into deficit. Outgoings are, moreover, expected to rise in the coming months. Action is urgently needed to clear the deficit, to cover rising expenditure, and also in the longer term to build up a reserve. I have therefore today laid a draft Order which provides for an increase in contributions from 6th February, 1967. The draft Order is subject to the approval of both Houses by affirmative Resolution.

asked the Minister of Labour why, in view of the Government's refusal to allow wage increases freely negotiated and agreed before 20th July to be paid, he is not opposing the City of London Police increases of £1 per week backdated to 1st January, 1966.

Payment of these increases was made on 15th July, that is to say, before the standstill. The increases were authorised in regulations made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 26th May, which came into effect on 13th July. Formal ratification by the Court of Common Council did not affect the date of implementation.

asked the Minister of Labour for what reason employees of Associated Motorcycle Company, Plum-stead, S.E.18, who were discharged eight weeks ago have not yet received their entitlement under the Redundancy Act, whereas employees discharged one week ago have received their entitlement.

By the time the Fund's responsibility was established, the employees in question were no longer available at the firm, and it took time to get the necessary information. It has now been obtained, and postal drafts were sent to the employees concerned on 20th October.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to implement the recent International Labour Organisation recommendation that the maximum permissible load carried by an adult male worker should be 88 pounds.

No recommendations have been made by the I.L.O. on maximum permissible weights to be carried by one worker. A Preparatory Technical Conference of the I.L.O. was held in January this year, which recommended that there should be international instruments covering maximum permissible weights, which in the case of an adult male worker should be 50 kilogrammes (i.e. 112 1b.). The Report of this Conference will be considered at the Fifty-First Session of the International Labour Conference in June 1967.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will seek consultations with trade unions and employers in the building industry regarding the increase in the numbers of workers classified as self-employed.

My National Joint Advisory Council has discussed the problem of labour-only sub-contractors in the construction industry (including those who are self-employed), and officials of my Department and of the Ministry of Public Building and Works have since had informal discussions with representatives of the employers and trade unions concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to encourage employers to consider older workers for vacancies.

My employment officers do everything they can to persuade employers to base their selection of staff on capacity to do the job and not on age, and not to set arbitrary age limits when notifying vacancies.

asked the Minister of Labour what objections he has received from trade unions to the employment of trainees from Government training centres; and which trade unions, industries and skills had been concerned in such objections.

The arrangements for training at Government Training Centres are in general the subject of agreement with both sides of industry at national level. It follows that trainees are normally accepted into employment with the co-operation of the trade unions. In a few areas, however, there are local difficulties with trade unions over certain trades. It would not be helpful at the present time to highlight these difficulties which I am making efforts to overcome.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the cost in the current year of the retraining programme to public funds; and what it is expected to be next year.

The total cost of retraining financed from public funds is not readily ascertainable but, for costs falling on the Ministry's Vote, amounts, in the current financial year, to about £7·5 million, the bulk of which relates to expenditure at the Government Training Centres. Costs falling on the Votes of other Departments, for example, for rent, rates, fuel are difficult to assess but may, in the current financial year, be of the order of £1 million. In addition, a sum of about £2 million will be spent on building and equipping new training centres during 1966–7.Much retraining is done in industry and the cost of some of this is now spread over the industries concerned by the levy and grant arrangements of Industrial Training Boards.It is not yet possible to estimate how much will be spent from public funds on retraining next year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the effect of the Government's prices and incomes policy on the continued payment to employees of annual bonuses that have been customary in the past.

Annual bonuses which are a recognised regular practice should not during the period of the standstill be increased over the previous payment. Discretionary bonuses are a form of pay increase which should not be made during the standstill.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of adult workers earning less than £10 per week, £10 but less than £11, and £11 but less than £12, indicating separately the numbers of male and female workers and the number of wage and salary earners, and giving the date of the most recent estimate.

The most recent estimates are for 1965, when the numbers of full-time adult workers in these ranges of weekly earnings were as follows:

		Men	Women
Under £10	…	200,000	2,700,000
£10 but under £11	…	300,000	600,000
£11 but under £12	…	500,000	400,000

The figures are derived from information provided by the 3,400 households which were included in the Family Expenditure Survey in 1965. They are subject to margins of sampling error which may range from about 50,000 either way on the smallest figure up to about 200,000 on the largest. The sample is not large enough to divide the men in the lowest earnings ranges between wage and salary earners, but of all those earning less than £12 a week about 90 per cent. of the men and about two-thirds of the women were wage earners.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish details of the levels of unemployment recorded during the last five years and up to the last available date in the employment districts for the County of Cardigan.

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR AREAS COVERED BY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN CARDIGANSHIRE
	Aberystwyth		Cardigan		Lampeter and Llandyssul
	Numbers unemployed	Percentage rate	Numbers unemployed	Percentage rate	Numbers unemployed	Percentage rate
16th October, 1961	95	1·3	133	4·1	115	2·6
15th October, 1962	187	2·6	131	3·8	171	3·9
14th October, 1963	187	2·7	128	3·8	136	2·9
12th October, 1964	148	2·0	99	3·1	138	3·2
11th October, 1965	202	2·9	135	4·3	184	4·2
10th October, 1966	250	3·6	143	4·6	213	4·9

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the growth of Government training centres since January 1963.

There were 13 G.T.C.s providing 2,450 places in January 1963, and there are 32 G.T.C.s providing 6,200 places at present.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Government training centres have been opened since October 1964.

Seven. In addition, several have been expanded, providing in all 2,300 extra places.

asked the Minister of Labour how many places in Government training centres will be provided in the years 1967 to 1969.

There are at present some 6,200 places in 32 centres. The current expansion programme provides for a total of about 8,000 places in 38 centres by the end of 1967. Plans are being made for expansion in subsequent years.

asked the Minister of Labour how many inquiries have been dealt with by his occupational guidance centre in Scotland since it was opened; and whether he will establish further centres in Scotland.

Between 1st March and 10th October the number of interviews was 543 and 330 additional inquiries were received. This is an experimental scheme: the question of establishing further centres will be considered in the light of the first year's results.

Following is the information for October of each of the years from 1961 to 1966:

asked the Minister of Labour how many increases in rates of wages, salaries or other remuneration and reductions in hours of work have been put into effect since 20th July 1966; how many people are concerned; and what is the average percentage increase in remuneration.

Minimum wage rates have been increased or standard hours reduced since 20th July in eight trades covered by Wages Councils but in each of these cases the Wages Regulation Order had been made before 20th July. About 300,000 workers are within scope of these Orders but some had received increases before the effective date of the Order.The monthly index of hourly wage rates showed an increase of less than one-tenth of 1 per cent. between 19th July and 20th September. The monthly index of average earnings, which measures changes in wage and salary earnings combined, fell by 2 per cent. between end-July and end-August, but at this time of year the index is influenced by seasonal factors (e.g. holidays).

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers received increases in remuneration or reductions in hours during the period 1st January 1966 to 20th July 1966; and what was the average percentage rate of increase, with comparable figures for the period 1st January 1965 to 20th July 1965.

From 1st January to 20th July 1966 just over 10 million manual workers received increases in basic weekly rates of wages or reductions in normal hours. The monthly index of hourly wage rates showed during the period an increase of 4·4 per cent. For the same period in 1965 the corresponding figures were about 11 million increases and 4·8 per cent. Corresponding information about salaried workers is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is now taking to speed up the application of equal rates of pay to women doing similar jobs as men; and what effect the differential scales of selective employment tax payment will have on this process.

A meeting at official level with the T.U.C. and C.B.I. has been arranged and will take place next month for further discussion in detail of problems associated with equal pay. As I told my hon. Friend, the Member for Faversham on 29th July the timing of any action must be affected by economic circumstances. I do not think the differential rates of the Selective Employment Tax will have any significant effect on progress in achieving equal pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consideration has been given to effecting economies in the cost and administration of British embassies overseas.

The cut of a hundred million pounds in Government expenditure overseas, which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced to the House on 20th July, includes a reduction in the cost of our representation overseas. This reduction will be achieved by postponing some building projects, by reducing overseas information services and by cutting staff at some of our larger Missions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken during the last two months to invite consultations directed towards ending the war in Vietnam; with which Foreign Ministers; and if he will state the result of those consultations.

During my recent visit to the United States and Canada I discussed the Vietnam situation with a number of world statesmen, including President Johnson, Mr. Dean Rusk, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Canada, the Indian Foreign Minister and Mr. Gromyko. My own proposals were of course at the heart of my thinking and I am confident that they were widely accepted as being just and reasonable. Mr. Gromyko does not agree with all that I proposed, but we have a good understanding of each other's position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official response he has had from the North Vietnam Government to his peace proposals; and what further initiatives he plans in this field.

There has been no official response from the Government of North Vietnam and I hope that in studying my plan they will recognise that it offers an effective way to peace. My task in the immediate future will be to convince those who do not yet recognise the urgency that negotiations for a settlement must start at once.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what fresh consideration has been given to the case of Rudolf Hess; and whether he will make a statement.

In 1964 and again this year Her Majesty's Government, together with the French and United States Governments, pressed the Soviet Government for the release of Hess, but without success.The Western Powers have recently made certain proposals to the Soviet authorities about the conditions of Hess's future imprisonment. The Soviet authorities have agreed to discuss the proposals and Four-Power discussions will shortly take place in Berlin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the result of the representations made to the Chinese Government about the desecration of British graves in Peking by Red Guards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the damage to British property and outrages on British citizens whether in religious orders or as ordinary civilians or to British dead which have been committed by Chinese on the Chinese mainland since mid-August; what steps has Her Majesty's Government taken about these; whether British Ministers attended the Chinese official national day celebrations in Peking or London; and whether he will make a statement.

So far as the maltreatment of British subjects in China is concerned, I have nothing to add to the reply given on 18th October to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison). Some 300 British graves in the Foreigners' Cemetery at Peking were desecrated by Red Guards in early September. The headstones were removed and in some cases destroyed but the graves themselves were not interfered with. We have made vigorous protests to the Chinese, both in London and in Peking and have demanded restitution. Unhappily, the Chinese Government have so far neither expressed regret nor offered to make restitution. The acting Chargé d'Affaires in Peking was instructed not to attend the Chinese National Day celebrations, nor did any British Ministers attend the official Chinese celebration in London. Apart from the graves, I have no knowledge of any recent damage to British property in China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Upper Volta Republic has closed its embassy in the parliamentary constituency of St. Marylebone without paying the rent; and what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that this government discharges its obligations.

Yes. The Upper Volta Embassy closed on 30th April, two months before further rent was due. The Ambassador made provision to meet this liability from an assignment of the lease. This could not be arranged speedily and therefore money was not available when rent became due at the end of June. The Foreign Office took up the matter with the Upper Volta Government, and their Minister for Foreign Affairs has given a personal assurance that financial provision for the rent will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Anglo-Spanish talks relating to Gibraltar.

When the Gibraltar talks with the Spanish Government were resumed on 10th October Her Majesty's Government's proposal, that the legal issues in dispute between the two Governments should be referred to the International Court of Justice, was put to the Spanish Delegation, who agreed to refer it to their Government for consideration. The Spanish Government have not yet replied.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will define precisely what aspects of the Anglo-Spanish dispute over Gibraltar Her Majesty's Government has proposed should be referred to the International Court of Justice.

The draft Special Agreement for the proposed reference to the Court tabled by the British Delegation at the talks on 11th October remains confidential, but the intention of Her Majesty's Government is to submit to the Court all the legal issues in dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken since the Recess to bring about a debt settlement with the Argentine Government over the Anglo-Argentine Tramways and with the Hungarian and Rumanian Governments over similar debt negotiations; and whether the Minister of State, when visiting Hungary at the end of this month, will bring up this matter and take with him at least one expert on these problems.

Her Majesty's Ambassador has been in contact both with the Anglo-Agentine Tramways Company and with the Argentine Government. I cannot add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 8th August.Negotiations with the Rumanians on all our outstanding claims will be re sumed in Bucharest on the 21st of November.Exchanges with the Hungarians are continuing. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will take the opportunity of his visit to raise the matter with the Hungarian Government. As he does not envisage entering into detailed negotiations, it will not be appropriate for him to take an expert with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, following the meeting of Ministers at Chequers, he is now in a position to state what steps the Government intend to take to secure Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary on 11th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements were made in Aden for representatives of Amnesty International, or any branch of it, to interview prisoners or otherwise investigate allegations of maltreatment made against Her Majesty's forces; and whether he will make a statement.

Dr. Rastgeldi, the representative of the Swedish branch of Amnesty International who visited Aden, was not permitted to visit the detainees there. He was informed by us that this would be so before he left for Aden. He was at liberty to see any other people there that he wished and was received by the High Commissioner.As hon. Members will have seen, I have asked Mr. Roderick Bowen, Q.C., to visit Aden as my personal representative to examine the procedures for the arrest, interrogation and detention of suspected terrorists in Aden. He will be going out there very shortly.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many women have been refused widows' pensions on the grounds of inadequate proof of the death of their husbands; and in how many of these cases the courts have issued certificates of presumption of death.

I regret that this information is not available although it is clear that the numbers are small. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Social Security 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.

Including the former staff of the National Assistance Board, there has been an increase of 4,211 since October 1964. Some further increase— difficult to assess with any accuracy at present—is likely to be needed by October 1967.

asked the Minister of Social Security what would be the cost of providing a supplementary pension of £1 for all pensioners over 85 years of age.

For all such retirement pensioners the gross cost would be £14 million a year at present, of which about £4 million would be in replacement of expenditure on supplementary benefits under the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total cost to the State of training a doctor; and whether he will take steps to see that doctors, when trained, either repay this sum if leaving the country, or practise here for at least three years.

The average cost, on the basis of 1964–65 figures, is not less than £8,000. This sum does not include any element for capital or for the period before registration which a doctor must spend in an approved hospital post after leaving medical school. On the other hand, it includes the cost of research charged to university funds which is not at present separately identifiable but is substantial.On the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland said on this matter in reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children of school age in Bedfordshire are known to have defective hearing; how many schools in Bedfordshire specially cater for such children; and what he proposes to do to increase the educational facilities for children in the county with impaired hearing.

Forty-seven at the last annual return, of whom six are between the ages of two and five. The authority provide a special class for partially hearing pupils at a county primary school and use other facilities outside their area. I understand that a peripatetic teaching service, interrupted by staff shortages, is being resumed and that the authority hope to appoint additional teachers for one or two more special classes. Nationally, the number of training places for teachers of the deaf has been increased and the Department is in regular touch with the universities concerned about measures to secure further improvements in supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will make an announcement concerning the location of the proposed College of Agriculture for Wales; and whether the suitability of Aberystwyth for this purpose is being given consideration.

As my right hon. Friend and I have made clear in previous answers, the establishment of this college is now a matter for the Welsh Joint Education Committee. I understand that they have set up a special panel to examine urgently all the problems involved, including that of the college's location. I have no doubt that the committee will consider the suitability of Aberystwyth, since this was the location proposed in the Report of the Seaborne Davies Committee and the subsequent Ministry of Agriculture Working Party.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of new houses to be completed in Scotland in the calendar year 1966.

I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 20th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the recent incident at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in which six patients died, he has issued instructions or recommendations to lessen the chances of the recurrence of such an accident.

As regards the arrangements at the Infirmary, suitable steps were taken as soon as the defect in the installation was discovered to ensure that the same circumstances will not arise again. As regards other hospitals in Scotland, on 12th October my Department issued to hospital authorities a memorandum of guidance on the precautions to be taken where piped medical gas systems are installed or modified. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend and copies are being put in the Library.I wish to take this opportunity to express my sympathy for the relatives of those whose deaths had to be investigated as a result of this tragic incident.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 was an increase of 883 between October 1964 and October 1966. The review of staff needs in the financial year 1967–68 has just begun and it is too early to assess what changes are likely in the period to October 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the findings of the Grant Committee on Sheriff Courts.

I hope to receive the Committee's report early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Scottish Police Federation that sheriff courts and police courts should work in the evening to overcome the backlog of court cases.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek consultations with representatives of the sheriffs about the practicability of working two evenings a week.

No. Before considering this suggestion I would wish to have before me the recommendations of the Grant Committee on the working of the sheriff courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the backlog of cases in Scottish sheriff courts and police courts.

I am aware that there is some delay in the disposal of summary criminal cases in certain courts. I am writing to my hon. Friend to give him some details.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the freeze on prices, incomes and rents, he will approve the increase in rents which the Scottish Special Housing Association has planned for houses in Toryglen, Glasgow, in July 1967; and if, in arriving at a decision, he will take into account the fact that a rent increase came into effect in July 1966 only days before the imposition of the freeze.

The increase was approved in March.

asked the Secretary of Sate for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total sum paid in Selective Employment Tax by farmers in Scotland between 5th September 1966 and the first repayment in February 1967.

About £1¼ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what basis he proposes to take account of the cost to farmers of the Selective Employment Tax in the 1967 Annual Price Review.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question on 27th May by the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Russell Johnston).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials will be occupied full-time or part-time with the repayment of Selective Employment Tax to farmers.

The repayment process will be undertaken by the Scottish Office Computer Service. Total staff time requirements are expected to be equivalent to six full-time staff.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by local authorities in dealing immediately with cases of deliberate and continuing unauthorised use of land; and whether he will take steps to amend the existing legislation to enable local authorities to deal immediately with the unauthorised use and misuse of land.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties facing local authorities and will consider what can be done as soon as the opportunity arises for legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is currently the number of urban district councils, rural district councils and parish councils, respectively, in England and Wales.

Following is the information:

		Number in England	Number in Wales
Urban district councils	…	462	73
Rural district councils	…	412	59
Parish councils	…	7,054*	679
* Including 82 joint parish councils.

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

Between 16th October, 1964 and 15th October, 1966 there was an increase of 446. This figure is net after deduction of the 268 staff transferred, with their responsibilities, to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister of Land and Natural Resources.I cannot at this stage predict what changes there will be over the next twelve months but staff numbers are bound to increase as the work of the Department continues to expand and when there is a redisposition of the functions of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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.

During the past two years the staff of my Department has increased by 184. I cannot at this stage forecast the changes that are likely to take place over the coming year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have recently been made to him concerning the closure of some bacon curing facilities in Yorkshire; and what reply he has sent.

I have been told of the decision to cease slaughtering and curing at one Yorkshire factory and that this will cause redundancies. The reply said that the present difficulties with which the bacon curing industry is faced arise mainly from a shortage of pigs. My recent action to encourage expansion of pig production should help to overcome this. I have been unable to accept suggestions made to me for relieving the difficulties in the short-term, for reasons which I have explained to the representatives of the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will establish a testing station for foot-and-mouth disease in North-East England; and if he will make a statement.

No. The security precautions essential in handling foot-and-mouth disease virus make it necessary to limit the number of these establishments to the minimum. The laboratory facilities of the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, which is a world reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease, are available to our veterinary officers as an aid to diagnosis of the disease. The facilities at Pirbright are the best obtainable and there is no reason to duplicate them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he authorised the military exercises in which the Lancastrian Brigade were to attack Welsh Nationalist forces; and if he will make a statement.

This was a routine exercise arranged at the Lancastrian Brigade Depot, involving 100 junior soldiers. Some were to attempt to capture military equipment defended by the others. As is usual, the two sides were given names. I am sorry if the choice in this case gave offence.The Welsh Nationalists won.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic 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 Department increased by 439 in the period 16th October, 1964 to 1st October, 1966; it is too soon to say what changes will be made in the next twelve months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total agreed losses for Capital Gains Tax to the nearest convenient date.

This figure is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost in the years 1961 to 1966 of the publications in English sold and distributed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office; and what was the cost of Welsh language publications sold and distributed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office during the same years.

The cost of printing and publishing these publications for each of the last five financial years was:

Year		In English	In Welsh	Bilingual English/Welsh
		£	£	£
1961–62	…	1,105,279	—	—
1962–63	…	1,245,780	1,499	—
1963–64	…	1,286,045	911	—
1964–65	…	1,439,759	—	119
1965–66	…	1,633,314	1,190	—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of low prices experienced in the market for sheep and lambs, he will give further advice to banks to extend credit facilities to sheep and lamb dealers.

I am assured the existing guidance is sufficient, and that the present level of prices does not depend upon the supply of credit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requests he has conveyed to the Scottish banks concerning the framing of their lending policies.

Guidance has been provided by the Governor of the Bank of England. The attention of the Scottish Banks had been drawn to the requests on bank lending addressed to the London Clearing Banks; the Scottish Banks have been asked to observe an appropriate degree of restraint making allowance for the differences between conditions in Scotland and those in the rest of Great Britain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of special deposit which Scottish banks are required to make with the Bank of England; and how this compares with the rate for English banks.

1 per cent. at present; the comparable rate for the London Clearing Banks is 2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have adopted the Accrington scheme; and whether he will make a statement on the success of the experiment.

Under arrangements made with the Police Research and Planning Branch of the Home Office, six forces are experimenting with this method of unit beat policing, and discussions are now taking place with two other forces. I am awaiting a report from the Police Advisory Board Working Party on Operational Efficiency and Management but preliminary results are encouraging.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what plans Her Majesty's Government have to nationalise completely the water supply industry of this country during the lifetime of the present Parliament.

The Government will not hesitate to extend public ownership where this is required to ensure adequate water supplies. This does not necessarily involve complete nationalisation within the lifetime of the present Parliament.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the recent financial talks with the Government of Lesotho.

The British Government have offered, subject to the approval of Parliament, to provide during the three year period beginning 1st April, 1967 up to £11 million budgetary and development aid to Lesotho as a contribution towards that country's needs. This amount is additional to the post-Independence aid already agreed for the period up to 31st March, 1967, and to technical assistance and compensation loans.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial and technical assistance is to be provided by Her Majesty's Government to Lesotho as a result of the recent official governmental talks in London.

As regards financial assistance, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon). As indicated by my predecessor in the reply he gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Alan Lee Williams) on 1st July, 1966, the full range of British technical assistance will continue to be available to Lesotho. This includes the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, and the provision of experts, consultants, surveys and training courses.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT precise details of the cuts to be made in his Department's programme as the result of the current economic policies of Her Majesty's Government.

I regret that this is not possible because it would involve forecasting the results of large numbers of negotiations and consultations concerning individual parts of our aid programme.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development 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 Ministry of Overseas Development, with its greatly expanded duties, has increased by 476 over the number employed in the former Department of Technical Cooperation on 16th October 1964. It is not at present possible to estimate what further increase may be necessary by October 1967.

asked the Minister of Power 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 33 in the staff of my Ministry since 16th October, 1964, and there may be some further increase in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will give a general direction to the Gas Council to supply natural Gas to the Central Electricity Generating Board for use in gas turbine generating plant;(2) if he will estimate the cost of converting all the gas turbine plant operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board from oil to natural gas.

The factors affecting the supply of natural gas to power stations, including the cost of conversion, are being studied jointly by the Gas Council and the Central Electricity Generating Board. Until this and other related studies have been completed it will not be possible to determine the pattern of use which would be most favourable for the country.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the annual cost of providing application forms for the renewal of motor vehicle licences in the Welsh language; and what estimates were made of the cost of providing these in a bilingual form.

The annual cost of a Welsh language form will depend on the rate of use and this cannot be established until experience has been gained.No estimates were made of the cost of a fully bilingual form since such a form would necessarily have been larger and have cost more.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on her talks with the British Railways Board on the extension of electrification between Crewe and Glasgow.

There have been preliminary discussions between the Railways Board and the Department on this project. The Board is preparing a firm investment proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the proposed Carlisle by-pass; and if she will give an undertaking that it will be speeded up.

The line of this motorway was fixed on 27th May. Construction will start as soon as the remaining statutory procedures, including land acquisition, are completed. These are proceeding as rapidly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many different Government forms are currently in use in Wales;

As my hon. Friend is aware, the Government have accepted the principle of equal validity and not of bilingualism. The criterion to be adopted as to whether a form in the Welsh language should be published is that of "fair demand". There are in the region of 4,000 different Government forms in use in Wales. It is not possible to give an estimate of the annual cost of providing all these in Welsh without a great deal of enquiry, which I do not feel is justified in view of the Government's stated policy.

	Administrative County	Carmarthen M.B.	Llandovery M.B.	Llanelli M.B.	Llandeilo	Ammanford U.D.
1935	176,900	10,770	2,034	37,890	1,938	7,130
1936	176,390	10,850	2,050	37,730	1,929	7,117
1937	174,090	10,950	2,032	37,120	1,909	6,958
1938	172,700	10,860	2,006	36,890	1,902	6,906
1939	171,980	10,940	1,999	36,590	1,891	6,793
1940	172,920	11,700	1,988	36,000	2,104	6,624
1941	180,390	12,590	2,214	35,490	2,312	7,133
1942	172,180	12,050	2,105	34,200	2,110	6,920
1943	165,810	11,310	2,010	33,220	1,951	6,662
1944	164,490	10,280	2,031	33,360	1,902	6,543
1945	162,670	10,020	1,943	33,400	1,886	6,403
1946	165,070	10,240	1,951	34,300	1,881	6,495
1947	168,400	12,200	1,849	34,720	1,910	6,492
1948	170,200	12,490	1,826	34,980	1,886	6,510
1949	170,800	12,540	2,036	33,630	1,940	6,395
1950	171,730	12,660	2,051	33,630	2,020	6,618
1951	170,600	12,080	2,034	33,870	1,949	6,561
1952	170,700	11,910	1,965	33,260	1,882	6,570
1953	170,900	11,970	1,960	32,880	1,860	6,641
1954	171,100	11,870	1,930	32,770	1,880	6,730
1955	170,800	11,850	1,940	32,120	1,880	6,710
1956	170,400	11,840	1,910	31,900	1,860	6,700
1957	170,300	11,860	1,950	32,110	1,840	6,680
1958	169,300	11,870	1,960	31,770	1,830	6,620
1959	168,700	11,980	1,960	31,430	1,810	6,560
1960	168,250	12,080	1,970	31,200	1,810	6,520
1961	166,800	12,830	1,980	29,900	1,900	6,240
1962	167,110	12,910	1,990	29,800	1,880	6,250
1963	166,560	12,900	1,990	29,510	1,880	6,200
1964	166,600	12,820	2,020	29,270	1,930	6,250
1965	166,320	12,830	1,990	29,120	1,930	6,200

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total population of Wales in each of the

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when legislation will be introduced to establish a Welsh Transport Board.

No such legislation is contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual estimate of the population in Carmarthenshire, and of the boroughs of Carmarthen, Llandovery and Llanelli, and the urban districts of Llandeilo and Ammanford for each of the years 1935 to 1965.

The information is as follows:years between 1921 and 1966; and what was the estimated excess of births over deaths in Wales during that period.

The information is as follows:

					Home Population			Excess
					(Thousands)	Births	Deaths	(Thousands)
1921	…	…	…	…	2,658	66,548	32,038	206 (1921–30)
1922	…	…	…	…	2,686	58,711	34,786
1923	…	…	…	…	2,704	58,448	31,537
1924	…	…	…	…	2,730	57,426	32,819
1925	…	…	…	…	2,737	54,935	33,341
1926	…	…	…	…	2,731	52,637	30,998
1927	…	…	…	…	2,724	46,873	33,435
1928	…	…	…	…	2,687	46,696	31,922
1929	…	…	…	…	2,677	44,595	33,538
1930	…	…	…	…	2,629	43,941	30,831
1931	…	…	…	…	2,593	42,339	33,384	61 (1931–10)
1932	…	…	…	…	2,582	49,873	32,549
1933	…	…	…	…	2,568	39,424	33,610
1934	…	…	…	…	2,554	39,956	31,729
1935	…	…	…	…	2,538	39,187	32,238
1936	…	…	…	…	2,517	37,909	32,093
1937	…	…	…	…	2,479	37,175	33,197
1938	…	…	…	…	2,466	37,625	31,941
1939	…	…	…	…	2,465	37,402	33,398
1940	…	…	…	…	2,489*	39,319	35,585
1941	…	…	…	…	2,626*	39,886	35,837	126 (1941–50)
1942	…	…	…	…	2,527*	43,130	31,260
1943	…	…	…	…	2,459*	43,270	31,469
1944	…	…	…	…	2,424*	46,730	30,987
1945	…	…	…	…	2,411*	41,515	31,892
1946	…	…	…	…	2,489*	47,566	31,547
1947	…	…	…	…	2,501*	51,163	33,291
1948	…	…	…	…	2,553*	47,175	30,095
1949	…	…	…	…	2,571*	44,337	32,109
1950	…	…	…	…	2,599	42,776	33,295
1951	…	…	…	…	2,599	41,270	36,005	87 (1951–60)
1952	…	…	…	…	2,590	41,388	31,005
1953	…	…	…	…	2,596	41,528	31,392
1954	…	…	…	…	2,601	40,256	32,822
1955	…	…	…	…	2,603	38,876	33,938
1956	…	…	…	…	2,608	40,915	32,438
1957	…	…	…	…	2,611	41,645	32,696
1958	…	…	…	…	2,615	42,460	32,642
1959	…	…	…	…	2,622	42,262	32,134
1960	…	…	…	…	2,629	44,147	32,715
1961	…	…	…	…	2,635	44,923	33,705	63 (1961–65)
1962	…	…	…	…	2,653	45,382	33,781
1963	…	…	…	…	2,663	47,006	34,763
1964	…	…	…	…	2,676	47,502	32,746
1965	…	…	…	…	2,693	46,292	33,062
1966	…	…	…	…		Not Available
					* Civilian Resident.