asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will initiate negotiations to transfer the United Kingdom's sterling balances to the International Monetary Fund.

No. Apart from any other considerations I have no reason to believe that such a proposal would be welcome at present either to the main holders of sterling or to the leading members of the International Monetary Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that foreign exchange dealers have been causing the loss of millions of pounds during the last few months in spite of the request for voluntary co-operation made in his Budget speech; what action he will take: and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove the import surcharge on 1st November 1966.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what guidance in writing he has sent to the Big Five banks on the question of credit facilities to farmers;(2) what guidance in writing he has sent to the Big Five banks on the question of credit facilities for auctioneers, agricultural merchants, and agricultural engineers.

None. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) on 18th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the Income Tax housekeeper allowance and consider raising it to the level of the Income Tax marriage allowance especially in the case of the widower with children.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what prior investigations were made before letters were written in August and September asking firms why they had increased their dividend distribution and addressed to firms which had not increased their dividend distribution.

If there is any suggestion of a dividend increase, the reliable way of estimating the facts is by correspondence with companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Board of Inland Revenue has been authorised to waive the requirement placed on investment trusts to distribute 85 per cent. of their income while close companies have dispensation from the Government's call for a dividend standstill; and what is the position of an investment trust which is also a close company.

Close company dividends are only excluded from the standstill to the extent that they are paid to comply with tax rules designed to prevent loss of revenue. An investment trust which is a close company cannot be approved by the Board of Inland Revenue under the Finance Act, 1965, and is therefore treated like other close companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken to bring the sections of the Prices and Incomes Act which apply the Government standstill policy to dividend increases into legal operation; and by what authority the Government is empowered to investigate individual dividend increases.

The Government have asked companies to co-operate in a voluntary dividend standstill, and to consult the Treasury if they think that exemptions from the standstill are imperative. The Treasury also invite some companies to provide information about dividends in order to make the voluntary standstill effective.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce legislation providing adequate public supervision and control over profits and dividends during the period of the prices and incomes standstill.

Sufficient means already exist to influence the levels of profits and dividends and I do not propose further legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what calculation of its probable effect on employment levels and output in the coming year he fixed the hire purchase restriction on motor cars at 40 per cent. down payment and two years to pay, a severity not previously imposed for ten years.

The level of Purchase Tax and the period for hire purchase repayments were determined in the light of the overriding need to reduce consumption and so achieve a rapid improvement in the balance of payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons over the age of 85 years are owners of War Loan Certificates; and what is the value of the total of such holdings.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sources of statistical information Her Majesty's Government possesses on the number of unit loads passing through British ports of entry on TIR carnets.

All such carnets are at present discharged at the port of entry. There is no traffic through our ports on TIR carnets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much sterling stands to the credit of the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia in London; whether, since the Bank of England has ruled that the debt service of Rhodesia Government loans raised on the London market could not be effected because funds were not available, Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom as assumed responsibility for such debt service; and what is being done otherwise to safeguard the interests of United Kingdom creditors.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is confidential. The Answer to the second part is "No." The Answer to the third part is that the restoration of constitutional Government in Rhodesia, which is the aim of Her Majesty's Government, is in the interests of all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of ascertaining the proportion of the £125,000 spent last year on Government entertainment that was used exclusively on hospitality for overseas visitors.

Well over £100.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for non-industrial civil servants employed by the central Government; and what increase he expects in this figure by this time next year.

Excluding the Post Office, 434,800 at 1st July, 1966. A full assessment of the likely changes by October, 1967 has not yet been made. It is at present expected that there will be some further increase in the period up to April, 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of non-industrial civil servants in each Government Department on 1st March and 1st October 1966, respectively, and the annual cost of paying the salaries in each Department.

The number of non-industrial civil servants in Departments with more than 1,000 staff at 1st April

			Non-industrial staff in post		Estimates provision for salaries 1966/7
Department			1st April 1966	1st July 1966	£'000
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	…	14,721	14,864	19,087
Aviation	…	…	24,743	24,716	34,318
British Museum	…	…	1,172	1,203	1,437
County Courts	…	…	5,321	5,336	5,468
Customs and Excise	…	…	16,793	16,929	21,815
Defence (Central)	…	…	3,123	3,122	4,281
Defence (Air)	…	…	24,848	24,866	26,501
Defence (Army)	…	…	48,032	47,844	54,529
Defence (Navy)	…	…	32,732	33,036	41,321
Diplomatic Service	…	…	10,567	10,650	15,095
Education and Science	…	…	4,185	4,630	6,145
Export Credits Guarantee	…	…	1,211	1,217	1,536
General Register Office	…	…	1,279	1,593	1,208
Health	…	…	5,677	5,816	7,655
Home	…	…	16,066	16,442	18,807
Housing and Local Government	…	…	3,796	3,843	5,941
Information, Central Office	…	…	1,604	1,593	2,271
Inland Revenue	…	…	59,502	60,500	62,288
Labour	…	…	22,147	22,685	24,190
Land Registry	…	…	3,138	3,163	2,953
National Assistance	…	…	14,112	See Social Security	15,100
Ordnance Survey	…	…	3,982	3,954	4,263
Overseas Development	…	…	2,222	2,217	3,119
Pensions and National Insurance	…	…	40,954	—	37,049
Social Security	…	…	*	55,825	*See Pensions and National Assistance
Power	…	…	1,622	1,618	2,698
Public Building and Works	…	…	20,876	20,804	28,783
Stationery Office	…	…	3,057	3,063	3,157
Supreme Court	…	…	1,859	1,832	2,666
Technology	…	…	4,452	4,574	6,999
Trade, Board of	…	…	9,598	9,618	12,704
Transport	…	…	7,062	7,193	9,096
Treasury and subordinate departments	…	…	2,871	2,875	4,179
Scottish Departments
Agriculture and Fisheries	…	…	2,785	2,835	3,376
Home and Health	…	…	3,229	3,233	3,705

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he has made for national and Bank holidays in 1967 and subsequent years; and what steps he has taken to give adequate publicity to any changes during 1967.

In 1967 and 1968 the dates of the spring and late summer bank holidays will be the dates announced on 3rd June, 1965–29th May and 28th August, 1967 and 3rd June (Whit Monday) and 2nd September, 1968. As regards the dates for these bank holidays in 1969 and thereafter, and publicity for any changes, I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 27th January, 8th July and 8th August, 1966 to the hon. Member and 1st July, 1966, the latest date centrally available, was as follows. The salaries provision for each department is that shown in the Memorandum on the Estimates 1966–67 Command 2955.for Knutsford (Sir W. Bromley-Davenport). No special arrangements are contemplated for the other public and bank holidays.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum held as sterling balances in this country by other Governments; and how this is divided between the holders.

The external sterling holdings with U.K. banks of central monetary institutions in overseas countries were £2,392 million at the end of June, 1966; of which £1,879 million related to overseas sterling area countries and £513 million to non-sterling area countries. Figures for Government holdings as such and for the holdings of individual countries cannot be provided.Further details of this series can be found in the monthly publication "Financial Statistics".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present state of the debts and credits of the Government of the United Kingdom incurred during, and as a result of, the 1914–18 War, as modified by the Baldwin Settlement of 1923.

At the time of the Hoover Moratorium in 1932 United Kingdom Government debt to Overseas countries was:—

					£000's
U.S.A.	…	…	…	…	897,534
France	…	…	…	…	53,500
Italy	…	…	…	…	21,388
					972,422

Her Majesty's Government was due to receive from the undermentioned countries:—

		£000's
France	…	755,875
Italy	…	252,938
Roumania	…	30,375
Portugal	…	22,425
Jugoslavia	…	31,750
Greece	…	22,375
		1,115,738
Australia	…	79,724
New Zealand	…	26,191
Others Dominions & Colonies	…	3,398
		1,224,951

Payments on these loans were suspended in accordance with the arrangements made at the Lausanne Conference and have not since been resumed.In addition there was a debt of £60 million to Russia, which was not a party to any Agreements on War debts and on which also payments have been suspended.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an undertaking that in no circumstances refunds due under the Selective Employment Payments Act will be postponed, reduced or stopped as a result of the economic situation.

There can be no question of reducing or stopping statutory payments to qualifying employers who make valid claims.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the primary objective of the Selective Employment Tax in freeing unwanted labour power is being evaded by firms putting the cost of this tax on to other products and services; and, as this is contrary to the Government's policy and is increasing the cost of living, if he will now introduce amending legislation.

The Government expects firms to absorb part or whole of the tax by increased efficiency and economies but where this is not possible then it will be necessary for them to pass on some part of the increased cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net transfer of financial resources from the British Exchequer to Northern Ireland during each of the years between 1947–48 and 1965–66, inclusive.

The following table covers payments from the United Kingdom Exchequer to the Northern Ireland Exchequer in respect of:

(i) Residuary Share of Reserved Taxes;

(ii) Unemployment and Family Allowances Agreement and the Social Services Agreement;

(iii) "Remoteness" Grant under the Agriculture Act 1957;

(iv) Training of ex-Servicemen;

(v) Repayment of war-time savings borrowed from the Northern Ireland Exchequer;

(vi) Advances to the Northern Ireland Exchequer under the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1950.

It does not show tax receipts from Northern Ireland by the United Kingdom Exchequer nor certain payments made in Northern Ireland which are not transactions with the Northern Ireland Exchequer.

				£'s 000
1947–48	…	…	…	24,768
1948–49	…	…	…	33,321
1949–50	…	…	…	37,878
1950–51	…	…	…	38,718
1951–52	…	…	…	43,565
1952–53	…	…	…	54,176
1953–54	…	…	…	53,435
1954–55	…	…	…	52,228
1955–56	…	…	…	65,339
1956–57	…	…	…	69,347
1957–58	…	…	…	77,567
1958–59	…	…	…	77,338
1959–60	…	…	…	81,402
1960–61	…	…	…	90,103
1961–62	…	…	…	102,359
1962–63	…	…	…	106,892
1963–64	…	…	…	123,049
1964–65	…	…	…	143,404
1965–66	…	…	…	165,795

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the payments made by the British Exchequer to Northern Ireland doubled from £81,402,000 in 1959–60 to £165,795,000 in 1965–66.

								£000's
Year			Residuary Share of Reserved Taxes	Social Services Agreement (N.I.) 1949	"Remoteness" grant under Agriculture Act 1957	Advances to Northern Ireland Exchequer	Training of Ex-Servicemen	Total
1959–60	…	…	73,726	6,441	1,200	—	35	81,402
1960–61	…	…	81,941	7,015	1,110	—	37	90,103
1961–62	…	…	90,644	6,750	915	4,000	50	102,359
1962–63	…	…	94,786	6,950	1,102	4,000	54	106,892
1963–64	…	…	111,520	7,012	1,460	3,000	57	123,049
1964–65	…	…	129,537	9,000	807	4,000	60	143,404
1965–66	…	…	138,883	9,542	1,306	16,000	64	165,795

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments will be made by the British Exchequer to Northern Ireland in the current financial year.

It is estimated that the following payments will be made:

	£'000
Residuary Share of Reserved Taxes	154,230
Social Services Agreement	9,797
"Remoteness" grant under the Agricultural Act 1957	1,750
Training of Ex-Servicemen	66
Advances to the Northern Ireland Exchequer under the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1950	12,000
Total	177,843

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total moneys raised by all forms of taxation in Northern Ireland in each year between 1959–60 and 1965–66.

Most of the increase was attributable to a £65 million rise in the residuary share of the reserved taxes attributable to Northern Ireland. This reflected the general increase between the two years in the yield of Income Tax, Customs and Excise Duty and other reserved taxes. The balance was attributable to payments under the Social Services Agreement being £3 million higher in the later year than in the earlier one, and to loans of £16 million being made to the Northern Ireland government in 1965–66.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the detailed figures, under the major headings, of payments made by the British Exchequer to Northern Ireland in each year between 1959–60 and 1965–66.

The information is given in the following table:

The information is contained in the following table:

£ million
Year		Gross Proceeds of Reserved Taxes attributable to Northern Ireland	Proceeds of Transferred Taxes as Published by Northern Ireland Government in Northern Ireland Finance Accounts	Total
1959–60	…	84·8	5·9	90·7
1960–61	…	97·9	6·2	104·1
1961–62	…	99·7	6·6	106·3
1962–63	…	105·1	6·8	111·9
1963–64	…	115·0	7·6	122·6
1964–65	…	131·3	7·7	139·0
1965–66	…	144·8	9·2*	154·0
* Northern Ireland Financial Statement 1966–67.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects on the strength of the pound of the Government's economic policies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Members for Banbury (Mr. Marten) and Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the sums

			Balance outstanding at 30/9/1966(a) (£ million)	Repayments to be completed by	Currency in which repayment is to be made
1. Inter-Government loans received by the United Kingdom Government from:
U.S.A.	…	…	1,301	2003–4	U.S. dollars
U.S.A.	…	…	102	1983–4	U.S. dollars
U.S.A.	…	…	16	1987–8	U.S. dollars
U.S.A.	…	…	42	1981–2	U.S. dollars
U.S.A.	…	…	1	1978–9	Sterling
Canada	…	…	329	2003–4	Can. dollars
Federal Republic of Germany	…	…	37	1971–2	Deutschmarks
Portugal	…	…	28	1973–4	Sterling
Pakistan	…	…	3	1997–8	Sterling
Total	…	…	1,859

2. Loans received by other countries the repayment of which is guaranteed by the United Kingdom Government (nominal net liability):
Irish Republic	…	…	…	19		2004–5	Sterling
Sudan	…	…	…	1		1973–4	Sterling
Sudan	…	…	…	1		1974–5	Sterling
Central African Power Corporation—
Rhodesia	…	…	…	13	(b)	1981–2	(c)
Rhodesia	…	…	…	1	(b)	1989–90
Zambia	…	…	…	13		1981–2
Zambia	…	…	…	1		1989–90
East African Common Services Organisation	…	…	…	5		1974–5
Kenya	…	…	…	1		1970–1
Malta	…	…	…	2		1983–4
Mauritius	…	…	…	2		1983–4
Nigeria	…	…	…	8		1978–9
Rhodesia	…	…	…	3	(b)	1976–7
Rhodesia	…	…	…	1	(b)	1969–70
Rhodesia	…	…	…	5	(b)	1977–8
Singapore	…	…	…	4		1983–4
Swaziland	…	…	…	2		1983–4
Trinidad and Tobago	…	…	…	6		1981–2
Uganda	…	…	…	3		1981–2
Zambia	…	…	…	2		1972–3
Zambia	…	…	…	3		1976–7
Total	…	…	…	96
(a) Excluding amounts of less than £500,000.
(b) Since the 1st April, 1966 the United Kingdom Government has been meeting the service payments on these loans.
(c) Loans by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development may be issued, and are then repayable, in various currencies including sterling.

The details are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the present total taxation, on income, on expenditure including rates, and on social security contributions, respectively, as a percentage of national output, and state how this compares with the taxation in the United States, of America, Belgium, Italy, the

TOTAL TAXES AND CONTRIBUTIONS AS PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST
			Total taxes and contributions	Taxes on income	Taxes on expenditure including rates	Social security contributions
United Kingdom
1964	…	…	32·3	12·1	15·3	5·0
1965	…	…	34·6	13·0	16·1	5·4
United States
1964	…	…	29·7	14·7	10·3	4·8
Belgium
1964	…	…	32·1	9·4	13·7	9·0
1965	…	…	33·4	10·1	13·7	9·7
Italy
1964	…	…	35·8	7·3	15·5	13·0
Netherlands
1964	…	…	35·8	13·6	11·0	11·1
1965	…	…	37·6	14·1	11·1	12·4
West Germany
1964	…	…	40·3	12·7	16·4	11·2
1965	…	…	39·6	12·0	16·4	11·3
France
1964	…	…	44·8	7·5	21·0	16·3
1965	…	…	45·5	7·9	20·8	16·8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state for any convenient period of time, without incurring a disproportionate expenditure of time and money or investigation, the amounts of first-class travel and subsistence allowance drawn by any number of stated Ministers.

Yes. The expenditure incurred by the Chief Secretary to the Netherlands, West Germany and France, in order to bring up to date the figures given in the Economic Bulletin issued by his Department in August.

The latest information available is given in the table below. The figures are based on O.E.C.D. sources, and returns for 1965 have not yet been received for all countries.Treasury, the Financial Secretary and myself on account of official travel and subsistence in the period 1st October, 1965, to 30th September, 1966, amounted to £1,358 8s. 10d. of which the bulk was incurred on an overseas tour by the Chief Secretary with a view to effecting savings in public expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent residents of Rhodesia, whose funds in the United Kingdom are blocked by sanctions, are enabled to draw thereon to meet the expenses of school and college education for their children in the United Kingdom.

These expenses may be met, provided the bills are produced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expected yield in this financial year and the next in Capital Gains Tax; and what is the administrative cost per year of its collection.

The Budget estimate for 1966–67 is £5 million. This excludes the tax on the capital gains of companies which will be liable to corporation tax. It is not the practice to anticipate Budget Estimates. The cost of collection cannot be segregated from the cost of collecting other taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost to the British economy and balance of payments of sanctions against Rhodesia.

The direct costs to the Exchaquer amounted, at the end of September, to about £12 million.United Kingdom exports to Rhodesia from November, 1965, to September, 1966, were £7 million, compared with a rate of £29 million in the first nine months of 1965.These are gross figures, and do not relate to the total cost to the balance of payments, when all other factors are taken into account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the seamen's strike caused a run on sterling, what steps he is taking to make the motor car workers realise that strikes in that industry would weaken confidence in sterling, and endanger the livelihood of everyone in Great Birtain; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is in close touch with the situation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has to relieve ratepayers of the additional burden resulting from his attempts to freeze local authority rents.

None. It would be wrong to treat separately the effect which any particular measure taken in furtherance of the Prices and Incomes standstill might have on local rates, especially as the general effect of the standstill on rates is unlikely to be adverse.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the report of the consultants appointed to consider the feasibility of extending the designated area of Dawley New Town is now ready; and why there has been a further delay in completing it.

The consultants' report on possible development at Wellington/Oakengates will be published during the second week in November. I regret it has not been possible to get it out earlier as we had hoped.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated number of persons employed in catering by local authorities in the United Kingdom; and if he will seek to amend the law so as to ensure that the catering staff of local authorities will be treated in the same way as the catering staff of private enterprise as regards Selective Employment Tax.

About 200,000 altogether, of whom about 180,000 are employed in the school meals service and a proportion of the remainder in staff canteens. The answer to the second part of the question is "No".

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set out in tabular form the total number at the latest convenient date of direct ratepayers in England and Wales, showing domestic ratepayers, commercial ratepayers, industrial ratepayers, docks and public utilities, entertainment, education and culture, and miscellaneous direct ratepayers, and the total number of indirect ratepayers, and showing how many are local authority tenants and how many in privately rented accommodation.

The following table shows for England and Wales the number of hereditaments in each class at 1st April, 1966.

Class		No. of hereditaments
Domestic	…	15,112,125
Commercial	…	2,351,551
Industrial	…	102,656
Docks and public utilities	…	22,466
Entertainment	…	66,904
Education and culture	…	38,728
Miscellaneous	…	278,462*
		17,972,892
*Including 50,465 in Crown occupation on which payments in lieu of rates are made.

My right hon. Friend has no statistics which distinguish indirect ratepayers, but he thinks it may be assumed that almost all non-domestic occupiers pay rates direct. Among domestic occupiers he would estimate that about 4 million council and new town tenants and about 2½ million private tenants pay rates indirectly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to provide professional auditors appointed by a resolution under Section 239(1)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1933 with powers of disallowance and surcharge.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total number of applications for rate rebate received in the County Borough of Oldham and the Urban District of Chadderton, respectively; and what proportion this represents of the estimated total of persons entitled to apply.

The number of applications made for the first rebate period to Oldham County Borough was 2,900 and to Chadderton Urban District Council 974. These represent 7·2 per cent. and 8·4 per cent. respectively of the domestic hereditaments in the area; but I can make no estimate of what proportion they represent of those entitled to apply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the 12 local authorities with the largest direct labour building department, measured by number of operatives employed, and the annual value of work done, respectively; and if he will state the relevant figures in each case.

I regret that this information cannot be made available for individual authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many of the 13,175 applications in the London Rent Assessment Panel area have been determined by rent officers; how many appeals against such determinations have been made to the London Rent Assessment Committee and with what result; and how long it takes before such appeals are heard by the Rent Assessment Committee.

Up to 8th October Rent Officers in Greater London had determined 8,266 applications, of which 1,671 had been referred to rent assessment committees. 266 cases had been decided by committees; the original rent was reduced in 220 of these, unchanged in 7, and increased in 39. The time taken between reference of a case to a committee and decision has so far been about 18 weeks on average.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will bring up to date the table relating to dwellings in Great Britain set out in column 5 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for 11th November 1965.

The latest available estimates relate to dwellings at the end of 1965. These are as follows:

DWELLINGS IN GREAT BRITAIN
			Millions 1965 (end of)
Owner-occupied	…	…	8·1
Public authority rented	…	…	5·1
			(0·2)
Privately rented	…	…	4·3
			(0·6)
All dwellings			17·5

NOTE. The figures shown in parenthesis are dwellings within each group estimated to be occupied by virtue of employment.Additional information about tenure of dwellings was published in "Housing Statistics" No. 1 1966.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many cases have been disposed of by the rent tribunals which deal with applications for reduction of rents in the area which includes the County Borough of Oldham and the Urabn District of Chadderton since it commenced to function in April; and what is the average reduction of rent effected up to the most recent date for computation of figures;(2) what is the estimated cost of administration involved in the setting up of the rent tribunal for the area including the County Borough of Oldham and the Urabn District of Chadderton up to the most recent date convenient for computation.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the new machinery for assessment of fair rents under the Rent Act, 1965.Registration areas under this Act are the areas of counties and county boroughs and I have no separate information for the urban district of Chadderton. In the county borough of Oldham up to 15th October 20 applications for registration of rent had been made to the rent officer, of which 16 had been determined. The original rent was reduced in 15 cases and increased in 1. Seven cases had been referred to a rent assessment committee, of which 5 had been decided, the original rent being reduced in each case. Figures giving the average change in rent are not yet available for individual registration areas; but the overall average change in all cases decided up to 30th September by committees of the Manchester Rent Assessment Panel which covers both these areas was a reduction of 32·7 per cent. from an average rent of £117 per annum to one of £79.The estimated cost of the rent officer service in the county borough of Oldham up to the end of September is £3,000. Figures to show the estimated cost of the Manchester Rent Assessment Panel apportionable to individual registration areas are not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in establishing the mortgage scheme which will give relief to owner-occupiers who do not benefit by tax relief.

I expect to introduce the necessary legislation in the near future. At the same time a White Paper will be published explaining how the scheme will work.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the increased unemployment which has so far been caused to Rhodesian Africans by Her Majesty's Government's policy of sanctions.

No detailed employment statistics have been published in Salisbury since last February, nor have the régime mentioned any figure which we could accept as accurately representing the extent of African unemployment. The increase is entirely the responsibility of the régime which can remedy the situation by making a return to constitutional rule.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what opportunities he will provide for Commonwealth Governments to consider proposed guarantees for majority rule in Rhodesia before these become part of any final settlement.

We remain in close touch with other Commonwealth Governments and we will naturally inform them of any developments in connection with a return to constitutional government in Rhodesia and any settlement, which we have repeatedly said, must be in accordance with the Six Principles.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether the mission of Sir Morrice James to Mr. Ian Smith in Rhodesia is unofficial; and what official cognisance will be taken of the reply of the rebel leader.

This purpose of this official mission was explained in the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 18th October. Naturally any comments on our statement which are passed to us through the Governor will be most carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the disturbances at Gibraltar between returning Spanish immigrants from Australia and Gibraltarians on 19th October.

The Governor has reported that a group of 42 Spaniards passed through Gibraltar on 19th October in transit from Australia to Spain. While coming ashore on the tender one of the Spaniards made insulting remarks to Gibraltarians on board. Some of the other Spaniards joined in, but desisted when asked to do so by the Gibraltar police immigration officer on board.

asked the Minister of Power how many remotely-operated long-wall faces were in production on the latest convenient date for which such information is available; and what was the average weekly tonnage being produced on these faces at that time.

Two coal faces making partial use of these techniques are at present in operation. Average weekly outputs have recently been 2,200 tons and 4,500 tons of saleable coal respectively.

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to set up an arbitration procedure to decide questions of pit closures where a difference of opinion arises between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mine-workers.

No. Consultation with the unions is carried to the furthest practical limits but the final decision on individual closures must be a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Power what action he now proposes, in view of the dispute between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers Area Council, as expressed by its decision at Barnsley on Tuesday 18th October not to accept the decision to close the two collieries at Monckton, near Barnsley, in view of the money spent in these pits in recent years, and if he will make a statement.

The Government have approved the policy of concentrating coal production on economic pits, but the decision on the closure of particular pits rests with the National Coal Board. I understand that the Board have informed the National Union of Mine-workers at national level of their final decision to close the two New Monckton pits, and I am asking the Chairman of the Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all companies wholly or partly run by the National Coal Board in each case indicating the extent of the National Coal Board's holding and the nature of the company's activities.

The information required by the hon. Member up to 31st March, 1966, is at pages 23–26 and Schedule II at page 16 of Volume II Accounts and Statistical Tables of the Report and Accounts of the National Coal Board 1965–66, published in September, 1966.I am asking the Chairman to send the hon. Member any further information he feels able to give about the period from 1st April.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now consider taking steps to introduce compulsory secret ballots before any strike action can be taken in any of the national coal mines; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the tonnage of bulk deliveries to electricity generating stations by road; and if she will give a general direction to the Boards concerned to transfer this traffic to rail.

I have been asked to reply.In 1965, about 9 million tons out of a total of some 64 million tons. I understand that it is the Generating Board's general policy to use road transport only where no other method is practicable.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give an estimate of the commercial production of the various North Sea gas wells so far discovered when these are in full operation.

It is not yet possible to give an estimate. More drilling and testing will need to be carried out before the full potential of the fields so far discovered can be assessed.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement on the appointments he has recently made of members to the committee to arrange the transfer of the steel industry to national ownership, their qualifications and the salaries and expenses to be paid to each person.

On 30th September I appointed the following members of the Organising Committee:—

Right Hon. Lord Melchett (Chairman), Managing Director of Hill, Samuel & Co. Ltd.

Mr. N. C. Macdiarmid (Deputy Chairman), Chairman and Managing Director of Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd.

Dr. H. M. Finniston, Managing Director, International Research Development Co. Ltd.

Mr. S. A. R. Gray, General Manager, John Summers & Sons Ltd.

Sir Cyril Musgrave, K.C.B., Chairman of the Iron and Steel Board.

Mr. Peter Parker, M.V.O., Director of Booker Bros., McConnell & Co. Ltd.

Mr. Ron Smith, General Secretary, Union of Post Office Workers.

I have since appointed Mr. R. P. Brookes (Chairman, Guest, Keen & Nettlefolds Ltd.) to be a part-time member. Further appointments will be made in due course; but I am satisfied that with the appointments already made the Committee will form a well-balanced team combining experience and knowledge of the steel industry with the new outlook and ideas which the industry needs.Only the Chairman, who has been seconded from Messrs. Hill, Samuel & Co. Ltd., is at present on a full-time basis and, as has been reported in the Press, he is being paid a salary of £16,000 a year. Sir Cyril Musgrave and Mr. Ron Smith are each receiving £1,000 a year in respect of their part-time appointments to the Committee, the salary which is normally paid to part-time members of national boards. The other part-time members are serving without remuneration.Members will be allowed expenses incurred directly on the business of the Committee.Funds are being provided for the Organising Committee from the Civil Contingencies Fund. I will, in due course, ask the National Steel Corporation to repay the money expended by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour when he intends to introduce legislation to make all private pension schemes fully transferable.

I am to discuss the question of the preservation of pension rights with my National Joint Advisory Council tomorrow. The issues are complex and when I have heard the views of the Council, I shall consider what action might be taken.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the board of Plessey's Limited are giving a £75,000 golden handshake to one of their retiring directors; and, as this is contrary to the Government's policy on wages, prices and incomes, what action he proposes to take to prevent it.

I understand that the sum of £75,000 was not a gratuity but was the amount required to fund by a single insurance premium the pension considered appropriate for a director who was retiring early, and for whom the existing arrangements were held to be inadequate. I am informed that the payment of the premium was made before the Prices and Incomes standstill and that the pension became payable on the director's retirement on 30th June, 1966. Whatever view one may take of payments on this scale, it does not appear to be an infringement of the standstill.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations have been made to his Department for the setting up in Cumberland of a Government training centre; and if he will make a statement.

A number of representations have been received from my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven and the hon. Member for Penrith has written to my right hon. Friend about it. A few representations have also been received from local bodies. I intend to visit Cumberland shortly and will be examining this and other matters affecting the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what number of male insured workers there were in Wales in each of the 10 years between 1956 and 1966.

I have been asked to reply.The annual mid-year estimates of the numbers of male employees (including the registered unemployed), were, in thousands:

1956	…	…	…	684,000
1957	…	…	…	686,000
1958	…	…	…	683,000
1959	…	…	…	682,000
1960	…	…	…	684,000
1961	…	…	…	685,000
1962	…	…	…	686,000
1963	…	…	…	690,000
1964	…	…	…	687,000
1965	…	…	…	685,000

(Sources: 1956 to 1963—Abstract of Regional Statistics No. 2; 1964 and 1965—Ministry of Labour Gazette, July, 1966.)Estimates for 1966 are not yet available. Because the method of estimation has been changed, as explained in the July, 1966, issue of the

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the insured workers of Carmarthenshire are now unemployed; and by how much the number has increased since the end of July.

I have been asked to reply.The rate of unemployment in Carmarthenshire at 10th October, 1966 was 7·9 per cent. Total numbers registered as unemployed increased by 2,175 since 10th July, 1966 when the rate was 3·6 per cent.The increase of 2,175 in Carmarthenshire is almost entirely accounted for by the rise of 2,038 at Llanelli, where, on 10th October, 1966, 2,000 workers were temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the number of unemployed registered at Barnstaple Employment Exchange for the Ilfracombe area as at 10th October, 1966 represents 10·2 per cent. of the employed population and that this is 2·6 per cent. in excess of the figure for the comparable period last year; and what steps he now proposes to take to provide employment for those out of work.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member are those for Ilfracombe Employment Exchange area; for the Barnstaple Employment Exchange area, for which separate figures are produced, the unemployment rate on 10th October was 3·1 per cent. compared with 2·9 per cent. for October, 1965.At both offices the number of vacancies notified but unfilled was higher on 5th October than at the same time last year. Our local officers are doing all they can to help the people who are seeking employment. The Board of Trade has

NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN THE COAL MINING, GAS, ELECTRICITY AND RAILWAYS INDUSTRIES AND PERCENTAGES THAT THESE FORM OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN ALL INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES
(Thousands)
		Coal mining		Gas		Electricity		Railways
		Numbers employed	Percentage of all employees	Numbers employed	Percentage of all employees	Numbers employed	Percentage of all employees	Numbers employed	Percentage of all employees
Mid-1948	…	794·3	4·0	136·0	0·7	157·1	0·8	565·4	2·8
Mid-1956	…	782·6	3·6	141·1	0·7	201·0	0·9	499·0	2·3
Mid-1965	…	559·2	2·4	120·7	0·5	245·1	1·1	361·7	1·6

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increasing level of unemployment in the country, he will take steps to ensure that, where employers find it necessary to adjust their labour requirements, arrangements are made to transfer employees to other suitable employment before they become unemployed.

Our employment services do their best to ensure that redundant workers are placed in new jobs without an intervening period of unemployment, but this is not always practicable.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will seek to amend the Contracts of Employment Act 1963 and/or the Redundancy Payments Act, 1965 to ensure that employers give their employees three months' advance notice of any contemplated change in labour requirements.

No, we do not think it would be appropriate to use the Contracts of Employment Act or the Redundancy Payments Act to impose a statutory obligation of this kind on employers.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number and the percentage of working population employed in the coal, gas, electricity and railway industries, respectively, in the years 1946, 1956 and 1966.

As figures prior to the introduction of the National Insurance Scheme in 1948 are not comparable with those for later years, the information that follows relates to 1948, 1956 and 1965 (the latest date for which final estimates are available).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to announce the Government's policy on civil defence.

I made a statement on the Government's review of home defence on 2nd February. Consultations with local authority associations and others are not yet complete but I hope to make a further statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were received into prison in the most recent convenient 12 months on committal orders issued by the magistrates in respect of arrears under maintenance orders in respect of wife or children, including illegitimate children; what was the total amount of arrears involved; what amount of arrears was collected; and what was the total estimated cost to the community.

3,465 persons were received into prison on this account during 1965. The estimated cost of maintaining them there was about £200,000. I regret that the other information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present total estimated cost to the State, including the National Insurance Fund or Social Security Fund, of the committal to prison for a period of six weeks of a husband in respect of arrears of maintenance to his wife and two children under 10 years of age who have no other means of support and who also leaves a mistress and two children under 10 years of age with no means of support, after making approximate average additions for the cost of his rehabilitation, retraining or redeployment.

The cost of maintaining the husband in prison for six weeks, on the figures for the financial year 1964–65, would have been about £80. Assuming that both families were receiving National Assistance, the total payments to them, including family allowances, would usually be between £72 12s. and £78, depending on the ages of the children, plus the amount of rent, which would normally be met in full.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions for rape and attempted rape were recorded in the years 1938, 1949, and 1960, respectively; and what was the average sentence of imprisonment imposed on either charge;(2) how many convictions for robbery with violence were recorded in the years 1938, 1949, and 1960, respectively; and what was the average sentence of imprisonment imposed;(3) what was the number of convictions for burglary or housebreaking by night recorded in the years 1938, 1949, and 1960, respectively; and what was the average term of imprisonment imposed in each such year for those offences.

The information is contained in the following table:

CONVICTIONS AND AVERAGE PRISON SENTENCES FOR RAPE, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY AT ALI. COURTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES IN 1938, 1949 AND 1960
Offence		1938	1949	1960
Rape	Convictions	41	52	168
	Average prison sentence in months	27	33	36
Robbery	Convictions	127	466	1,039
(Section 23 of Larceny Act 1916)	Average prison sentence in months	21	30	30
Burglary	Convictions	410	758	1,238
(Section 25 of Larceny Act 1916)	Average prison sentence in months	15	24	21

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of alleged crime were tried in the most recent twelve months for ease of computation, before a High Court judge or Commissioner of Assize and a jury; and in how many cases the jury have failed to reach an agreed verdict.

Information in this form is not available, but, in a sample of 536 trials before a jury at Assizes and the Central Criminal Court in 1965, there were 10 trials in which the jury disagreed.

asked the Prime Minister what declaration he recently made on the question of the level of unemployment which the Government expect from their deflationary policies, during his discussions with workers from the motor industry.

None.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his recent talks with the representatives of workers in the car industry.

If my hon. Friend is referring to the informal meeting I had on 3rd October, I listened to their representations about the employment position in the British Motor Corporation, with particular reference to the question of consultation with the workers concerned, and sought by means of questions to elucidate further points about their opening statements. Most of the points raised were subsequently taken up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour with the management of the British Motor Corporation.

asked the Prime Minister whether the President of the Board of Trade's public statement on 29th September in Perth, Australia, about the price of gold represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

My right hon. Friend made no declaration of Government policy on that occasion. In answer to a question he referred in theoretical terms to the consequences of a rise in the price of gold, but made it clear that it was not Her Majesty's Government's policy to press for an increase.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to announce the names of the members of the Royal Commission on the Administration of Justice at Assizes and Quarter Sessions; and when it is expected to commence hearing evidence.

Shortly. Arrangements for the hearing of evidence will be for the Royal Commission to settle.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to co-ordinate the responsibilities of respective Ministers for the prevention of accidents, fire and disease in various forms of employment.

Close contact is already maintained as necessary between the Departments concerned and I do not think there is any special action which I need to take.

asked the Prime Minister when it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce the legislation to abolish the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources.

I have at present nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 17th May to Questions by the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Gibson-Watt) and my hon. Friend the Member for Acton (Mr. Floud).

asked the Prime Minister when he intends to make his postponed visit to India.

New dates for this visit have not yet been arranged.

asked the Prime Minister which of the former functions of the Ministry of Aviation now devolve on other Ministers; if he will name the Ministers concerned; and whether the realignments have now been completed.

Responsibility for civil aviation, including supervision of the air corporations and independent airlines, has been transferred to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. As I made clear in my Statement on 16th June, a comprehensive examination is being carried out in order to determine the best way in which to reallocate the other responsibilities of the Ministry of Aviation. This examination will shortly be completed, and I will make a further Statement as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on the modernisation of the Honours System.

I have, as yet, nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 20th October to a similar Question by my hon. Friend.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the cost to public funds of all the Reports so far completed by the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Information in this form is not readily available. Expenditure by the Board since the date of its inception to 30th September, 1966, was £367,189. This figure does not include the cost of printing reports, but revenue from sales is designed to cover this. In the period the Board published twenty-one reports and were working on a number of others.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware of the proposed redundancies at Monarch Electric Limited, Londonderry; and if, in view of the high rate of unemployment in this area, he will take steps, such as by placing Government orders, to provide more jobs there.

We are in close touch with the Northern Ireland Government about the general employment situation in Northern Ireland. But responsibility for the promotion of employment in particular towns and districts is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government. As regards the placing of United Kingdom Government orders, Northern Ireland firms will continue to receive the same treatment as firms in the Development Areas of Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what was the amount advanced from British embassies and consulates abroad in the latest convenient 12 months prior to 5th July, 1965; to what number of British subjects who were without means or destitute funds were advanced; and what amount has since been repaid;(2) what amount has been advanced in the latest convenient 12 months since 5th July, 1965, in respect of special advances in exceptional circumstances to British subjects claiming to be destitute abroad; and how much has since been repaid.

In the 12 months ended the 31st March, 1965, advances towards repatriation costs totalling £76,950 were made by Embassies and Consulates abroad to 2,990 British subjects who were without means.The latest 12 monthly period for which similar details are conveniently available is that ended the 31st March, 1966, the comparable figures for that year being £55,540 and 2,163 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the estimated number of staff available at the British Embassy in Luxembourg; what is the total estimated cost of the Embassy to public funds; and what number of staff is normally on duty on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.

The Chancery staff of the Embassy is comprised of the Ambassador, five United Kingdom based and four locally-engaged staff.The combined emoluments of the Chancery staff total £26,930 including the cost of their residential accommodation. Other expenditure on office expenses, travel, etc., is not readily identifiable but would not be substantial.The Embassy is closed for public business on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. The Ambassador's Residence is part of the same building as the Chancery and his domestic staff are instructed to refer any inquiries received out of normal business hours to the duty consular officer who is always on call.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the amount of money collected from the public telephone at the junction of Craven Road and Chelsfield Lane in Orpington during the last convenient period of 12 months before it was removed, and the amount of money collected from the public telephone outside Chelsfield Village Post Office during the same 12 months.

£50 and £80, respectively.