asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a report on the enforcement during the last six months of Section 17 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1964; how many staff are employed to enforce it; where they are located; how many times and where there were offences against it; how many people were killed or injured as a result of those offences; and how many prosecutions followed.

Enforcement is part of the duties of the Board's Marine Surveyors. Five prosecutions for offences under Section 17 have been initiated since last April. No injury or loss of life was involved. During the same period casualties to three other small passenger vessels resulted in the loss of 54 lives. In each case a Formal Investigation has been ordered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now restore a full-time coastguard service at Looe.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make an order that unlicensed pleasure boats carrying less than 12 persons shall be excluded from carrying children unless they are included in the total number of passengers.

No. Under the Merchant Shipping Acts, passenger numbers are determined by the Board of Trade if they exceed twelve, including any children over the age of one. If the numbers are twelve or less, control may be exercised by local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to protect the public from defaulting estate agents.

I have nothing at present to add to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on 27th July in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Old-bury and Halesowen (Mr. Horner) about the decision of the societies representing estate agents to set up a Council voluntarily.—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 732, c. 295.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948, into the affairs of English Transcontinental Limited, a merchant bank, whose business was suspended in April, 1966, and whose members and depositors have been given no information since.

On the information at present available there do not appear to be grounds for appointing an inspector under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of English Transcontinental Limited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what investigations he has made under Section 165(b)(ii) of the Companies Act, 1948, into the circumstances surrounding the offer of shares to the public in National Investors Life Assurance Company (U.K.) Limited, details of which were sent to him by the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford.

On present information my right hon. Friend sees no grounds for appointing inspectors under Section 165(b)(ii) of the Companies Act, 1948, but the details which the hon. Member sent are being carefully examined. My right hon. Friend will write to him in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the administrative arrangements for the payment of investment grants.

My right hon. Friend will make an announcement next month. At the same time my Department will publish a booklet giving guidance to industry on the working of the investment grants scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to start paying investment grants under Part I of the Industrial Development Act.

The intention is to begin making payments in July next year in respect of the first block of claims for investment grants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to encourage the use of safer jet fuels by airlines using British airfields.

In 1962 a Departmental Committee concluded that the properties of kerosene made it a safer fuel for turbine-engined aircraft than wide-cut gasoline. The Committee's Report was circulated to the International Civil Aviation Organisation and to administrations and airlines abroad. It was not completely accepted internationally, but kerosene is used by all British operators of such aircraft, and I understand that only 3 foreign operators of these aircraft now take on wide-cut gasoline from airports in this country. I do not think that any further steps are practicable at this time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for industrial development in the Swindon area.

My first priority is to steer industry to the development areas. Subject to this, the employment needs of Swindon's expanding population are taken into account in considering i.d.c. applications for the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the balance of trade between Great Britain and Spain, including holiday spending by British people visiting Spain, is favourable to Great Britain; and what are the yearly figures.

The balance of trade, on a payments basis, with individual countries cannot be closely estimated. In 1965 exports plus re-exports to Spain were £86 million (f.o.b.) and imports were £58 million (c.i.f.). Estimated travel expenditure excluding fares by United Kingdom visitors to Spain was £41 million and by Spanish visitors to the United Kingdom £2 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far complaints about aircraft noise over the Twickenham area in the last two months have been brought about by changes in runway practice, by breaches of regulations by aircraft or by weather conditions; and what steps he is taking to remedy adverse factors within his control.

Wind conditions have made it necessary for aircraft to take off to the east on an unusually high proportion of days in the last two months; some of these aircraft have to pass over Twickenham, which is not affected when the traffic flow is in the opposite direction. I am not aware of any other special factors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in the interests of noise abatement to residents, he will discourage the use by large jets of the Dover Alpha route on runways 10R and 10L at Heathrow Airport and order that the noise levels on these routes by day be reduced to those applicable between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

While I am concerned to do all I can to reduce noise I do not think I would be justified in trying to give this particular route special treatment in the matter of take-off limits. I am examining the other suggestions contained in the correspondence the hon. Member has just sent me and will reply to him as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to reduce aircraft noise in Westminster.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to reduce aircraft noise over Central London.

Most aircraft taking off from Heathrow are already routed to avoid Central London; approaching aircraft are never authorised to descend below 2,000 feet over this area and are often higher. Further action presents considerable difficulties but is being studied.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will announce the name of a tenant for the advance factory at Stranraer.

Construction of this factory is expected to be completed in January, 1967. We have not yet allocated it, but we are, of course, bringing it to the attention of suitable firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has required the Kensington and Chelsea

The number of certificates issued in the first six months this year, 1,636, was greater than in either of the two previous six month periods. No information is available of the amounts which applicants expect to spend on their schemes or of the proportion of applications from overseas principals. The rest of the information is as follows:Chamber of Commerce to change its name on incorporation.

Because in my view the Chamber is more a chamber of trade than a chamber of commerce. I would agree to its incorporation as the Kensington and Chelsea Chamber of Trade and Commerce Ltd.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give urgent consideration to the need to prevent the loss to this country of rare and unique specimens of vintage or veteran motor vehicles; and if he will seek powers to limit this loss of British engineering science and craftsmanship.

No. While I am aware that vehicles of this description are sold abroad from time to time, I do not consider that control over their export is warranted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to develop new industries on Merseyside in view of the increase in unemployment in that area.

I shall continue to encourage the establishment of new industry and the expansion of existing industry by the full use of my powers under the Local Employment Acts reinforced by the investment incentives under the Industrial Development Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of recent events in South Wales, he will now urge on all local authorities the need to expedite their plans for the clearance of sites of industrial dereliction; and, to encourage such action, whether he will now seek to give such authorities 100 per cent. of the cost of such schemes.

The first part of the Question is for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. They may pay 85 per cent. grants towards clearance of derelict land in development areas where this will contribute to the development of industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of increases in the price of pop records; and what steps he is taking to restrain such increases.

Since 20th July there have been small increases reflecting the increase in Purchase Tax. I believe manufacturers will continue to co-operate in implementing the Government's prices policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Committee on Bankruptcy Law and Deeds of Arrangement; and when he proposes to take it.

My right hon. Friend hopes to introduce legislation to amend the bankruptcy law in the light of the Report, but I cannot say when it will be possible to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories in Scotland, announced before 16th October, 1964, but not started by that date, have since been completed and are in operation.

Three.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories in Scotland, announced after 16th October, 1964, have been completed and are operating.

Three factories and three out of four nest units forming another factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD details of the overseas visits made by Ministers in his Department during the past two years; for what purposes and at what cost these visits were made; and what have been the results of such visits.

Yes. Information on costs will be made available as soon as it is ready. In their nature, visits of this kind do not have results which can be quantified. But in the great majority of cases subsequent reports from the

asked the President of the Board of Trade who, in addition to the four Ministers from his Department who made the 11 visits overseas during the Summer Recess, accompanied these Ministers and were in attendance at the various overseas functions; whether this included ambassadors or any of their staffs; and why the public engagements of the Ministers could not have been carried out by these ambassadors or their representatives instead.

In addition to private secretaries, nine officials in all accompanied Ministers from the Board of Trade. On almost all occasions the British Ambassador or one or more members of his staff were in attendance. The Ministers' personal presence was required at all public engagements that they attended.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding price increases imposed by hairdressers; and whether he will refer these increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Complaints concerning a very small proportion of the total number of hairdressers have been received and are being investigated. My right hon. Friend is not satisfied at present that there is a prima facie case for referring the trade's prices to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, but he is considering whether to refer certain conditions in this trade to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to introduce the Consumer Protection Bill during the current Session.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer) on 2nd May.—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 728, c. 79].

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of investment by manufacturing industry, as distinct from portfolio investment by overseas companies in Great Britain, by companies from the United States of America in Great Britain, by European companies in Great Britain, by British companies overseas, by British companies in the United States of America, by British companies in the Commonwealth, by British companies in Europe, and by British companies in the under-developed countries, respectively, in the first six months of 1965, the second six months of 1965, 1965 in total, and the first six months of 1966, respectively.

I regret that this information is not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the amounts of United States funds invested in British film production on 1st January, 1960, 1st January, 1963, and 1st January, 1966.

I regret that this information is not available. However, sums receivable by the film industry from North America, mainly for film production, from 1961 to 1964, excluding the earnings of British films, amounted to £9·0 million, £9·7 million, £8·4 million and £9·4 million respectively. Complete figures for 1965 are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many classes of goods are now free from resale price maintenance; how many have been granted exemption; for how many exemption is being claimed which is being contested; and how long the Restrictive Practices Court will take to clear the last category at the present rate.

In addition to goods which were not registered under the Resale Prices Act, 1964, 62 whole classes of goods and parts of 14 further classes are free from resale price maintenance by virtue of Orders of the Restrictive Practices Court. No goods have yet been granted exemption by the Court. No estimate can be given of the time needed to deal with the remaining categories as claims for exemption may be abandoned at any time up to the hearing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to seek power to implement the Reith Commission Report by setting up a National Consumer Board, or by effecting some means of raising advertising standards.

The Report of Lord Reith's Commission is a very useful contribution to the study of advertising practices and is being carefully considered. On the raising of advertising standards I intend to introduce, as soon as possible, legislation on the lines of the Protection of Consumers (Trade Descriptions) Bill which would prohibit most forms of false or misleading advertisements of goods and services.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will decide against the creation of a new town in mid-Wales and use the £137 million, which is its estimated cost, to build modern highways in Wales.

1 cannot anticipate my decision about a new town in Mid-Wales. Judging from their reactions so far, many people in Wales would like to see urban and other development in Mid-Wales as well as the building of modern highways.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he intends to take in connection with the consultants' report on a new town in Mid-Wales.

1 shall consider the action to be taken on this report when I have heard from all the representative bodies whose views I have sought.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what recommendations he has had from the Welsh Economic Council on the impact of the Selective Employment Tax in Wales.

At my request the Council has asked its industry and employment panel to undertake an examination of the effect in Wales of the Selective Employment Tax and will report its findings to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that harbour authorities are still failing to deal with the problem of driftwood in rivers and that people are being drowned as the result of striking driftwood in speedboats; and if he will seek power to reinforce the prosecuting power of harbour authorities by vesting it also in the police or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I understand that the difficulty is to obtain adequate evidence, and the extension of the power to prosecute would not help with this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of amalgamating police forces.

In general, good progress is being made with the police amalgamation programme which I announced in May. Of the 30 schemes, one has already been made and in 13 other schemes all the police authorities concerned have indicated agreement in principle to the proposed amalgamations. In one scheme I have initiated a compulsory amalgamation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce legislation on clubs.

There are no immediate proposals for Government legislation on this subject, but my Department is helping in the preparation of Private Members' legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his decision to permit rewarding in the London Borough of Brent; and if he will pay regard to the recommendation of his commissioner who inquired into the proposals.

My decision was reached after full consideration of the Commissioner's report, and was based on an alternative recommendation made by him. I do not propose to alter it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consultations he has had with the Police Federation about the restoration of capital punishment for the murder of policemen on duty; and what proposals he has for their protection.

In recent discussions with my Department about other matters, representatives of the Police Federation took the opportunity to state their views on this subject. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 18th October to a Question by the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys)—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 734, c. 8]—and on 20th October to Questions by the hon. Members for Dorset, West, and for Louth (Sir C. Osborne).—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 734, c. 71.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints were made to him at his meeting with the Police Federation on 20th October; and what action he is taking to remove the present discontent in the police force, which is damaging morale and prejudicing recruitment.

A number of issues including pay, equipment, firearm training, capital punishment, and judges' rules were discussed at this open meeting of the Metropolitan Branch Boards. I do not accept all the implications of the second part of the Question. Recruitment for the first nine months of this year stood at 6,323, as against 5,619 for the first nine months of 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth immigrants entered the United Kingdom with A, B and C vouchers, respectively, in 1964, 1965 and in each month of 1966 for which figures are so far available.

Statistics of the number of voucher holders admitted are given below. We do not know in which categories their applications for vouchers had been placed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there was a net increase in Commonwealth immigration of 3,890 men in September, 1966; to what extent this was due to the issue of employment vouchers; and whether he will make a statement.

During September, the number of men subject to Part I of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, who were admitted to the United Kingdom exceeded the number who left by 3,890. The net balance for so short a period is not a reliable indication of the number who have settled. The number of voucher holders admitted was 384.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will install in all prisons a high-voltage electrified fence within the perimeter wall, further to deter escape by prisoners.

This suggestion falls within the scope of Lord Mountbatten's inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be able to state how any revision in ward boundaries in Sheffield will affect constituency boundaries; and if he will give provisional indication of constituency boundaries when he gives a decision on ward boundaries for Sheffield.

Any alteration of constituency boundaries is a matter for the Boundary Commission for England to consider as part of the general review of constituencies on which they are at present engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report on the redistribution of ward boundaries in Sheffield will be published; and when he will give a decision on these boundaries, in view of the fact that, if they are to be operative for the 1967 municipal election, candidates must have sufficient notice of any ward revision.

Copies of the report will accompany my decision, which will be notified as soon as practicable to the City Council and other parties to the recent local inqury.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development whether he is satisfied with the arrangements that have been made to enable Mr. Caplan, unlawfully expelled from Rhodesia by the Smith régime, to pursue his research work with adequate funds; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Caplan has been awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship by the United Kingdom Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, tenable at the

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to reform the gaming laws.

My proposals are not yet finalised. Consultations are still in progress with interested organisations and authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in HANSARD details of the overseas visits made by Ministers in his Department during the past two years; for what purposes and at what cost these visits were made; and what have been the results of such visits.

The details are as follows:University of London, on the nomination of the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship agency.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on financial assistance for Lesotho.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon) on 24th October, 1966—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 734, c. 118.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are at present detained in Aden for reasons of security.

One hundred and eleven.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) in view of the fact that the last seamen's strike caused a run on sterling and created abroad the fear of devaluation, what steps he is taking to prevent from spreading the present unofficial dock strikes which are holding up exports and undermining the confidence of foreign bankers; if he will seek to take disciplinary action against all unofficial strikes; and if he will make a statement;(2) in view of Her Majesty's Government's failure to settle the demarcation dispute between the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers Union and the Transport and General Workers Union over which 2,654 men are on unofficial strike and another 1,689 are unable to work, causing 54 ships in the London docks to be held up, and thus hindering exports, if he will intervene to end this action which is against declared governmental policy; and if he will make a statement.

I had discussions yesterday with representatives of the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers, the Transport and General Workers Union, and the National Association of Port Employers about the strike of members of the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers in the Port of London. In the light of these discussions, I have decided to set up a Court of Inquiry to inquire into the strike and to consider whether any change is desirable in existing practices with regard to the employment of members of particular unions in the port.The members of the Court will be announced as soon as possible. I understand that the Executive of the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers are recommending their members to resume work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Adwest Group are giving a £29,000 golden handshake to one of their retiring directors; and, as this is contrary to the Government's wages, prices and incomes policy, what action he proposes to take to prevent this.

I am informed by the company that this payment was made in January, 1966, before the standstill was introduced.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to move to implement the latest recommendations of the Select Committee on Procedure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to similar Questions on 26th October.—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 734, c. 1014–8.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much land is available and how much could be made available in the Sitting-bourne area for further residential and industrial development, respectively.

In Sittingbourne urban district 92·8 acres of land are available for new industry plus 16·2 acres already owned by firms for their own expansion. Land is available for 3,655 new dwellings and the local planning authority would have difficulty in providing more land for development in quantity because of the high agricultural value of surrounding land.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much land is available and how much could be made available on the Isle of Sheppey for further residential and industrial development, respectively.

In the Isle of Sheppey 261 acres of land are available for new industry plus 65·3 acres already owned by firms for their own expansion. Land is available for 2,033 new dwellings and there is no physical limit to more if sufficient employment could be provided.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consideration has been given to an extension of the use of sink waste disposal units on sewers and sewerage plants; and if he is satisfied that their capacity would be sufficient to deal with additional load.

The local sewerage authorities are watching this and the many other factors affecting the load on their sewers and sewage works.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will sanction expenditure by rural and urban district councils who wish to make contributions to the Aberfan disaster fund.

Yes. My right hon. Friend will be willing to sanction such expenditure by any local authority in England which applies to him under Section 228 of the Local Government Act, 1933, and I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will do likewise for local authorities in Wales.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland asks me to add that Scottish local authorities do not at present have powers to contribute from the rates, although the possibility of amending the law is being urgently considered.

asked the Prime Minister to which Minister questions should be put regarding the increases in recent years in payments from the British Exchequer to Northern Ireland.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Prime Minister if, following his Chequers meeting to discuss the European Economic Community, he will make a statement on the extent to which it is his policy that Great Britain should solve her balance of payments problems before seeking entry.

Her Majesty's Government recognise that Britain would need to enter the European Economic Community with a healthy economy and balance of payments. The measures I announced in July show our determination to build a position of strength.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that in future negotiations with the Common Market countries over the terms of a possible British entry he will not allow the question of creating a European or separate Anglo-French deterrent system to be introduced into the negotiations as a part of a package deal.

The basis of any negotiations would be economic and no question of military commitments would arise.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now announce the names of the Chairman and members of the Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions.

Yes.As the House will recall, I announced on 11th August that The Queen had approved the setting up of a Royal Commission with the following terms of reference:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants were employed in his Department in the administration of the Deficiency Payments scheme on 1st October, 1960, 1964, and 1966, respectively.

Precise information is not available because the staff dealing with the Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme have other duties as well.But the periodic costings undertaken in the Department show that in 1962 and 1965 the equivalent of some 420 and 320 staff respectively was employed on the administration of the Deficiency Payments Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act so as to give himself power to instruct Marketing Boards constituted thereunder to organise Wales as an entity and to employ there at least one bilingual officer.

No. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that this is a matter for the producers themselves. The marketing schemes were all approved in their present form by a substantial majority of producers, and they are operated by Boards consisting mainly of elected members. Three of the four schemes applying to Wales have a separate region for Wales (including Monmouthshire), while under the Milk Scheme there are separate regions for North Wales and South Wales (excluding Monmouthshire).

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement in detail as to the proposed study into the prospects of the major industrial and urban development of Severnside; and when this study will be available.

The best way to undertake this Study is being actively considered and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what inquiries he has made in preparation for the establishment of pay and productivity committees within factories.

The scope for such committees will be considered by the Working Party of the National Economic Development Council which has been set up to follow-up the National Productivity Conference.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he now intends to take to protect consumers from the effects of continually rising prices.

The White Paper on the Prices and Incomes Standstill (Cmnd. 3073) set out the strictly limited criteria for possible increases in prices and the arrangements for notification of proposed increases. The Government are keeping a rigorous scrutiny on prices and charges and have available the statutory powers under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act which was brought into force on 6th October.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of items, goods and services which have risen in price since 20th July, 1966, the amounts of such increases and the reasons in each instance for these price increases.

There have been price increases for a number of goods and services since 20th July which reflect principally the increases in Purchase Tax and the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax. The general movement of retail prices as recorded in the Monthly Index was 117·1 on 20th October compared with 116·6 at mid-July and 117·3 at mid-August.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will publish a White Paper explaining in detail the policy to be pursued in relation to prices and incomes following the six months and 12 months periods of the standstill and near-standstill, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will relieve subscribers who

It is our intention to publish as soon as possible a White Paper about the considerations which should govern prices and incomes in the period of severe restraint during the first half of 1967.Thereafter the Government will continue consultations with the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and other interested parties, with the object of securing a planned growth of money incomes in line with real output after 1st July, 1967, and a further White Paper will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the major road projects in Scotland which were due to start between August, 1965 and January, 1966, and which were deferred for six months, giving the actual date on which work was originally scheduled to start and the date on which each was scheduled to be completed, the date on which each project started or is now planned to start, and the date on which each will now be completed, indicating in each case the estimated cost at the time of deferment and the current estimate of the cost.

Only one major trunk road project was deferred: the following are the details:have changed their residences from the conditions imposed by paragraph 41(3) of Part VIII of the Current Statutory Regulations.

No.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is aware that prices of cars are to be increased; and, as this is contrary to the Government's prices and incomes policy, what action he proposes to take to prevent these increases.

All car prices are subject to the standstill arrangements described in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes (Cmnd. 3073) and my Department will continue to examine rigorously any proposals for increases.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations have been made to her to bring forward the commencement of the car registration year from 1st January to the preceding 1st October; and what action she proposes to take in this matter to assist the motor industry.

Representatives of the motor industry have told my right hon. Friend that the incorporation of a letter which changes on 1st January each year in motor vehicle registration marks tends to depress vehicles sales at the end of the year and to create a peak in demand at the beginning of the following year. There is at present no conclusive evidence about this, but my right hon. Friend has agreed to consider the question further and in the light of any additional information which may come from experience at the end of this year, so that, if necessary, a change could be made in 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the position with regard to construction of the M5 to M6 link between Quinton and Great Barr; and whether she will give an assurance that the completion date continues to be before the end of 1969.

Advance works for the construction of this motorway link have been started and tenders are being invited for the main contracts. The work is expected to be completed before the end of 1969.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list the sections of dual carriageway trunk road, showing the mileages in each case, which have come into use since 1945, which are under construction, for which tenders have been invited, for which schemes have been made, showing the actual or estimated completion date and the actual or estimated cost wherever permitted.

This information is not readily available and the cost of obtaining it would be excessive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requests he has received from the Trustees of the Irish Soldiers' and Sailors' Land Trust to introduce legislation to extend the terms of the Trust; when he will introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been made to the Government by the Trustees that the terms of the Trust should be extended, and I understand that the Trustees will in due course be putting forward detailed proposals. I can add nothing further at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the Government's intentions and expectations in terms of percentage of unemployment in a position of short-term emergency and in 12 months' time.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour in the debate on redeployment on 24th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the charge of Income Tax under Schedule F on a transfer of assets from a company to its members at less than market value can be an obstacle to the reorganisation of groups of companies, if he will introduce legislation to remove the charge.

I am aware of this difficulty which arises from paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 11 to the Finance Act 1965. I shall propose in due course that this provision be amended so as not to charge Schedule F tax on a transfer of assets by a subsidiary company to a parent company in cases where the companies could make an election to have dividends paid gross. Meanwhile the Board of Inland Revenue are arranging that assessments to Schedule F tax will not be made in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of children staying on at school beyond the minimum leaving age in the area of the Inner London Education Authority and in each of the Greater London boroughs at the latest available date.

The numbers of such pupils attending maintained schools in January, 1966, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated number of children in the area of the Inner London Education Authority and in each of the Greater London boroughs for whom additional school accommodation will be required when the school leaving age is raised in 1970–71.

The data required for making an accurate estimate of the numbers is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total value of the major school building programmes authorised for 1967–68 for primary and secondary schools, respectively, for the Inner London Education Authority and for each of the Greater London boroughs.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sums he has allocated under the 1966–67 minor works programme to the Inner London Education Authority and to each of the Greater London boroughs.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the local education authorities to which he has given provisional or formal consent to the transfer of pupils from primary to secondary education at an age other than 11 plus;(2) if he will list the local education authorities to which he has given provisional or formal consent for the establishment of middle schools.