Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Wednesday, 2nd November, 1966

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Registered Milk Producers

10.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food approximately how many farmers have given up dairying in the last 12 months.

The number of registered milk producers in the United Kingdom declined by about 5,500 during the year ending 30th September, 1966.

Fishing Industry (Skin Divers)

16.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations he proposes to introduce to prevent the activities of skin divers from interfering with the trade of legitimate fishermen.

63.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received of skin divers pilfering from crab and lobster pots on the coasts of Devon and Cornwall; and what steps he proposes to take to protect inshore fishermen from this nuisance.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee. Potters have the usual legal remedies, and we know of no steps we can take for their further protection.

Outspan Oranges (Price)

18.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that at the beginning of September Outspan oranges were being sold to the wholesale market at 17s. per 112/125 case, and that by 19th October the same cases were being sold at 32s. to 33s. per case; and, as this is a controlled market, what action he proposes to take to secure a reduction in these prices.

The wholesale price has risen due to a seasonal shortage of supplies which should ease when the Mediterranean season gets fully under way later this month. We recognise that increases in price may be unavoidable because of increases in the cost of imports or of changes in supply for seasonal reasons.

Cereals (Equipment Grants)

29.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the contribution cereal producers make to the nation's balance of payments, he will seek to provide additional investment allowances for combines, grain driers and on farm storage facilities.

Under the provisions of the Agriculture Bill now before the House self-propelled combine harvesters which are licensed can qualify for the new 10 per cent. investment grants which replace the former investment allowances, now discontinued; while fixed grain driers and storage on full-time farms can qualify for the 5 per cent. supplement as well as the 25 per cent. grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme, or for the 10 per cent. investment grant as appropriate. The new arrangements for agriculture were agreed with the industry.

Pigmeat, Yorkshire (Exports)

50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for encouraging the export of pork from Yorkshire.

None. The home market requires more and not less pigmeat at present.

Liquor (Public-House Prices)

51.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had on recent price increases in public houses; and what reply he has sent.

A considerable number. We have explained that such part of the cost of S.E.T. as licensees cannot absorb may be recovered by increases on beer outside the public bar and on spirits in any bar.

Farm Rents

52.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek assurances from land owners that they will not increase farmers' rents during the period of severe restraint.

The advice given to their members by the Country Landowners' Association which I reported to the House in my reply of 10th August to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Hawkins), applies both to the period of standstill and that of severe restraint.—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 733, c. 348.]

Beef (Home Production)

53.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reduction he estimates in home production of beef from the dairy herds, following the fall in the store price of cattle.

The number of calves slaughtered as bobbies throughout this year has shown some increase over last year. One main reason for this is that some of the extra calves retained from the dairy herd during the past two years have proved unsuitable for beef. This should not seriously affect progress towards our objective in the National Plan.

Brewing Industry (Selective Employment Tax)

54.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an order controlling price increases in managed public houses, in view of the fact that brewers on the manufacturing side of the industry are getting the premium under the Selective Employment Tax.

No. The careful inquiries that we have made do not support my hon. Friend's assumption that the manufacturing and wholesaling side of the brewing industry as a whole will receive any net benefit from the tax.

Foodstuffs

55.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the average cost of foodstuffs in the United Kingdom at the last available date; and how it compares with the average costs in France, Belgium, Holland and Federal Germany.

It is hard to make a precise comparison for each country. I can however assure my right hon. Friend that many of the main foodstuffs cost more. The most striking example is butter which costs up to twice as much. I am looking at this question further and will write to my right hon. Friend.

57.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will examine what proportion of food prices can be attributed to middle men's profits; and if he will seek power to reduce the number of middlemen involved to a minimum.

In the close watch which my Department is maintaining on movements in food prices, all the main factors are being kept under examination. My aim is always to ensure the most efficient means of production and distribution.

58.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of the deteriorating world food situation revealed by a recent Food and Agriculture Organisation Report, Her Majesty's Government will seek to safe guard this country's future requirements by planning a major increase in the proportion of home-produced food.

The world food situation emphasises the importance of our programme of selective expansion which calls on home agriculture to meet a major part of our increasing demand for temperate foodstuffs. This programme takes account of the technical limitations on expansion and also of our international commercial relations and of the need to secure the most effective use of all our resources. But the ultimate solution to the world food problem lies in increasing the agricultural production of the developing countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the machinery available in his Department to ascertain whether food price increases are justified or not.

Arrangements have now been made with the food and drink industries—to whose co-operation I would like to pay tribute—with the aim of ensuring that any price increases are consistent with the principles of the White Paper "Prices and incomes Policy" (Cmnd. 3073). The main features are as follows:—(a)

Early Warning Arrangements

These have been negotiated to apply to a wide range of manufactured foodstuffs and differ in detail according to the circumstances of each individual commodity. In each case they require a proposal to increase prices to be supported by full information on the reasons for the increase including details of cost increases and of the extent to which these have been or will be absorbed by the firm and not passed to the consumer. The normal period for prior notification of proposed price increases is 28 days although in a very few cases where the circumstances of the commodity make this unavoidable, a shorter period has been agreed.

(b) Constant Watch Arrangements

The prices of certain foodstuffs are subject to short term market fluctuation caused by varying supply and demand, which make it impossible to give early warning of price changes. My Ministry keeps a constant watch on the charges of supplies and prices for these commodities. In addition. I have established liaison committees for the main commodities. These committees meet at regular intervals to keep the Ministry informed of likely supply and price movements, and enable questions relating to prices to be raised by either side.

It is impossible to require prior notification of wholesale and retail price changes. Nevertheless, wholesalers and retailers are expected to act in accordance with the Government's prices and incomes policy. I have therefore had arrangements made to increase the information available on wholesale and retail food price trends, and the reasons for them.

(d) Enquiries from the public

Letters from the public about price increases are followed up with those concerned, to find out the reasons for the increases and to ensure that they are consistent with the policy set out in the White Paper.

Meat (Inspection)

56.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek powers to make meat inspection a direct responsibility of his Department.

Local authorities have recently been empowered to control hours of slaughter subject to consultation and appeal. I have made more of my veterinary officers available to advise them on matters of meat inspection and hygiene. We must await the results of these measures which we hope will expedite progress towards full inspection and uniformly high standards.

White Fish Industry (Minimum Prices Scheme)

60.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the introduction of a statutory minimum prices scheme for white fish.

66.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has so far made regarding a statutory minimum prices scheme for the White Fish Industry.

The White Fish Authority is continuing its consultations with the interests concerned in the industry.

Fishery Protection Squadron

61.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what complaints he has received about the in adequacy of protection afforded to vessels fishing within coastal waters; and what steps he intends to take to increase the protection afforded by the Fishery Protection Squadron.

Complaints have been received from local fishermen's associations and from an hon. Member.Subject to overriding operational requirements of the Royal Navy, there is a continuous patrol by at least one protection vessel during the herring season. The arrangements are kept under review to see if they can be improved, but it would not be justifiable to increase still further the protection given to this fishery by a diversion of effort from other sectors of the coast.

Internal Drainage Boards

64.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to transfer the functions of internal drainage boards to local authorities or river boards.

No.

Food Distribution (Selective Employment Tax)

65.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he is giving to the representations made to him on the effects of the Selective Employment Tax on food distribution.

All representations made to me about the effect of the tax on food prices are fully investigated. It is too early to judge what effects the tax is likely to have on food distribution.

Rural Roads

67.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to make financial help available for the building of roads in agricultural areas on the lines of the help available under the Agricultural Improvement of Roads Act, 1955.

No, but the Agriculture Bill now before the House provides for the setting up of Rural Development Boards in the hills and uplands and the provision and improvement of rural roads would be among the facilities that a Board could grant-aid.

Hill Farmers (Subsidies)

68.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to assist hill farmers, in view of the exceptionally low prices paid for this year's lamb crop and weanlings cattle.

Hill farmers are assisted directly by the hill subsidies. Many of them also get the calf subsidy, and all benefit indirectly from that subsidy and the fatstock guarantees. The levels of these production grants and price guarantees are matters for the Annual Review where, of course, profitability is taken into account.

Tenant Farmers (Disturbance Compensation)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to introduce legislation to improve the disturbance compensation payable to tenant farmers when wholly or partly dispossessed, as a result of non-agricultural development, from the land they occupy.

My right hon. Friend has this difficult problem very much in mind but is not at present in a position to make any statement on the possibilities of legislation.

Salmonellosis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make the notification of the disease salmonellosis in cattle compulsory.

No. Notification could only be a formality. No useful action could be taken if the disease were made notifiable. In any case, the infection is sometimes difficult to recognise and similar symptoms may have other causes. My officers do, however, notify medical officers of any outbreaks that come to their notice, where there appears to be a threat to public health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to eradicate the spread of salmonellosis in calves; and if he will introduce legislation to give his department powers to enter farming premises, where there is evidence that salmonella infection exists, to eradicate known infection.

The organisms that cause this disease are widely spread in animals and man. Eradication by statutory methods is not practicable. Our officers are always ready to advise veterinary surgeons about the prevention and control of the disease.

Fruit And Vegetables (Surcharge)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further discussions he has had with the National Federation of Fruit and Potato Wholesalers regarding the surcharges recommended by them; and if he will make a statement.

There has been no occasion for further discussions since those referred to in my reply of 19th October to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis)—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 734, c. 41.]

Charolais Cattle (Importation)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the present importation of Charolais cattle is being delayed; and if he will make a statement.

This importation is delayed because of difficulty in reaching agreement on an additional test we require to detect the presence of any foot-and-mouth disease virus in apparently healthy animals. Recent experience at the Animal Virus Research Institute at Pirbright has shown that this test may reveal carriers which cannot be detected in any other way.

Fat Cattle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Eire about the adverse effect on fatstock prices of the large numbers of fat cattle exported from Eire to this country; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave this afternoon to the hon. Members for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith), Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Hawkins) and Banbury (Mr. Marten).

Bacon

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had recently with the British bacon curing industry; and what action the Government intend to take to alleviate the difficulties at present being experienced in this industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave this afternoon to the hon. Members for Skipton (Mr. Drayson), Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill), North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith), Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton), Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) and my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson).

Fish Meal Factories (Capacity)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the capacity of fish-meal factories in the United Kingdom is adequate, in view of the need to reduce dependence on imported supplies at the present time wherever possible; and if he will make a statement.

Factory capacity is normally more than sufficient to deal with supplies of raw material, although exceptionally heavy landings of herring and sprats last winter caused temporary difficulties at two Scottish factories.

Agricultural Exhibition, Palace Of Westminster

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek permission to arrange for the exhibition illustrating the development of agriculture in the last 100 years, to mark the centenary of the Agricultural Census, to be displayed within the precincts of the House.

I am arranging for the Exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall during the week commencing 7th November.

Brucellosis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give further details of his proposals for brucellosis eradication.

Following my announcement on 26th July of the Government's intention to introduce a scheme for the eradication of brucellosis, discussions have been held with a number of interested organisations.The first step is to build up a register of brucella-free herds to provide a reservoir of disease-free replacements. A serological survey made in 1964 showed that then about 14 per cent. of adult female cattle would react to the diagnostic tests available. Many of these will react because of vaccination by Strain 19 and not because of infection. It is quite impracticable to slaughter such a large proportion of the female cattle in this country. The cattle that react because of vaccination are no risk to health and are capable of giving profitable service for the rest of their lives. It is essential for time to be given to allow most of these animals to live out the rest of their working lives, and this is the reason for the gradual approach to the problem of eradication.The first stage—the establishment of a voluntary register of brucella-free herds—will start as soon as the necessary arrangements have been made, including the provision of extra laboratory equipment, printing of forms, preparation of detailed instructions to staff, etc.

All testing will be carried out on behalf of the Ministry. Herds that have passed all preliminary tests will be registered as "supervised". At that stage, a final test will be made and compensation will be paid for any reactors found and slaughtered. The herd owner, of course, will have to abide by certain conditions relating to fencing, to purchase of cattle amongst other matters, designed to minimise the risk of any further infection.

After a sufficient number of herds have been entered on to the voluntary register, and time has elapsed from animals reacting to the tests because of vaccination to be culled in the normal process of husbandry, consideration will be given to compulsory eradication area by area.

A copy of the outline of the scheme which is being sent to the Farmers' Unions and other interested organisations is being placed in the Library.

Criminal Court Convictions (Civil Cases)

45.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to make it possible for a conviction in a criminal court to be used as evidence in a subsequent civil case.

This topic is being considered in the Law Reform Committee's current examination of the rules of evidence in civil cases and I think it would be better to await their recommendations.

Lord Justices Of Appeal (Ex-Lord Chancellors)

47.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to provide that ex-Lord Chancellors no longer have the right to sit as Lords Justices of Appeal unless specifically appointed as such.

An ex-Lord Chancellor has no right to sit as a Lord Justice of Appeal.

Race Relations Board (Hotel Proprietor)

asked the Attorney-General what progress has been made with the case of the Yarmouth hotel proprietor which he referred to the Race Relations Board.

The Race Relations Board reported this matter to me on 31st October. I am now considering whether to institute civil proceedings.

Scotland

Marine Fish Farming

70.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement of his plans for extending the conservation, hatchery and breeding of fish in Scotland.

We shall continue basic studies, in co-operation with the White Fish Authority and other interested organisations, to determine the environmental conditions necessary for successful marine fish farming. Research on the growth of salmon fry will be extended to cover the rearing of salmon to the smolt stage, and my Department's scientists will continue to assist angling clubs and others with advice about restocking and improving trout waters.

Scottish Housewives Association, Aberdeen (Letter)

71.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the letter from the Aberdeen Branch of the Scottish Housewives Association requesting greater representation by women in committees appointed by him; and what reply he has sent to it.

Yes. I have written to my hon. and learned Friend explaining that appointments to the Scottish Economic Planning Council and the Economic Consultative Groups are made from names put forward by representative bodies directly concerned with economic development in Scotland. None of these bodies has put forward a woman's name.

Police Advisory Board (Meetings)

72.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of the Police Advisory Board he has attended since his appointment; how many have been attended by other Scottish Ministers; and how many meetings have taken place with no Minister present.

One; none; and five.

Police Forces (Establishments)

73.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate be has made of the shortage of policemen in Scotland; and what plans he has to review the authorised establishments of the various forces.

On 30th September, the police in Scotland were 884 short of establishment. I review the authorised establishments of the various forces when the police authorities concerned seek my approval to changes.

Motor Vehicle Industry (Aeu Representations)

74.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Amalgamated Engineering Union on the provision of facilities for the motor-vehicle components industries in the Bathgate area.

The A.E.U. wrote to me in May last year. It was concerned about difficulties in the supply of components for the Scottish section of the motor vehicle industry and urged Government action to increase the proportion of component manufacturers located in Scotland.

Bathgate Area (Development)

75.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from the Regional Studies Group at Strathclyde University on the development of the Bathgate area.

None.

Scottish Universities (Places)

76.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what number of places at Scottish universities is now available to Scottish students; and what percentage of those applying for places gain admission.

Figures as to the total number of places this session are not yet available. Places are not reserved specifically for Scottish applicants. Although there is no regular return I have no reason to believe that any sizeable proportion of qualified applicants is rejected.

Forestry Research Station, Bush

77.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the establishment of a new forestry research station and laboratory at Bush, near Edinburgh; and what is his latest estimate of its completion date.

Good progress is being made and the research station is expected to be completed between 1969 and 1970.

Crime (Research)

78.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent in recent years on the scientific study of methods of detecting crime in Scotland by the Scottish Home Department and by other sources of which he has official information, respectively.

My Department does not undertake research of this kind but it has access to the studies undertaken by the Home Office Research and Planning Branch.

79.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent in recent years on the scientific study of the causes of crime in Scotland by the Scottish Home Department and by other sources, such as the universities, of which he has official information, respectively.

Criminological research is carried out on behalf of the Department by a research unit based on the Home Office; the Department's expenditure in the current financial year is estimated at £6,000. Departmental expenditure on financing work in the Scottish universities is estimated at £9,000. I cannot put a figure on the cost of university work not so financed but it may be about as much again. Expenditure has increased over recent years as suitable staff have been obtained.

Glenafton Hospital (Transfer Of Patients)

80.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the old people now in the sanatorium at New Cumnock are to be transferred to another hospital.

A survey undertaken recently by the local fire prevention officer indicated that a fire risk exists at Glenafton Hospital. It was therefore decided to transfer the patients to the Biggart Memorial Home. However, no final decision has yet been taken about the future of Glenafton Hospital.

Fuel Boards (Regional Planning)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board, the Electricity Council and the Gas Board about regional planning.

The Scottish Economic Planning Board includes representatives of the Ministry of Power which has close working links with the National Coal Board and the Scottish Gas Board on regional planning, and of the Scottish Development Department which is in touch with the two Scottish Electricity Boards.

Falkirk/Grangemouth Survey

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Falkirk/Grangemouth survey is to be published.

Work on the survey is almost complete and I hope it can be published in the spring of next year.

Petroleum And Petro-Chemical Industries (Projects)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many petroleum and petro-chemical projects he has under active consideration at the present time.

The Minister of Power and the President of the Board of Trade are primarily responsible, respectively, for matters concerning the petroleum and petro-chemical industries. Among possible projects being considered within these industries at the present time are a number for Scottish sites, with which I am naturally concerned. As, however, some of these possibilities are extremely tentative, it would not be meaningful to give precise figures.

Surgical Appliances (Cost)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost for the most recent convenient 12-month period of surgical appliances supplied through hospitals in Scotland; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous three 12-monthly periods.

The estimated cost of supplying standard surgical appliances for which central contracts are arranged was £318,000 in 1965. The corresponding figures for 1962, 1963 and 1964 were £241,000, £260,000 and £295,000. Costs for other items are not readily available.

Motorways

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorway for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction, and which were in use, respectively, as at 31st October.

The following is the information requested:

Motorways in Use		Miles
M.90 Inverkeithing-Perth Admiralty Road flyover to Duloch	…	1·9
M.8 Edinburgh-Glasgow Harthill Bypass	…	5·15
		7·5

Under Construction
M.74 Draffen-Stonehouse (A.74)-Glasgow Hamilton Bypass Stage I	9·0
M.74 Draffen-Stonehouse (A.74)-Glasgow Hamilton Bypass Stage II	4·45
M.8 Edinburgh-Glasgow Newhouse-West of Harthill	5·15
A.8 (M) Glasgow-Greenock Renfrew Bypass (part)	3·8
M.9 Edinburgh-Stirling Polmont and Falkirk Bypass	5·8
	28·2

Contracts Placed
Nil
Tenders Invited
Nil
Schemes Made
M.90 Inverkeithing-Perth Cowdenbeath-Kelty Bypass	…	…	7·23
M.8 Edinburgh-Glasgow Whitburn-Dechmont	…	…	7·55
			14·78

Draft Scheme Published
M.73 Maryville (M.74) to West of Mollinsburn (A.80)	6·3
M.8 Edinburgh-Glasgow Dechmont-Newbridge	4·95
M.90 Inverkeithing-Perth Kinross and Milnathort Bypass	6·75
	18·0

Line not yet Published	Miles
M.74 Draffen-Stonehouse (A.74)-Glasgow Maryville-Carmyle	3·0
M.9 Edinburgh-Stirling
Newbridge-Polmont and Falkirk By-pass	11·25
Stirling By-pass (Northern section)	3·5
Stirling By-pass (Southern section)	3·5
Polmont and Falkirk By-pass-Stirling By-pass (Southern section)	6·2
M.90 Inverkeithing-Perth Milnathort-Bridge of Earn	10·0
	37·45

Houses (Completions) 1966

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest forecast of the number of houses to be completed in Scotland this year.

I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 20th June [OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 730, c. 10.]

Emigration

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the recent survey of the Scottish Council, Development and Industry, shows that 40,000 persons emigrate from Scotland yearly, and that this rate of emigration marks a dangerous decline in Scottish industry; and if he will particularise his plans district by district to stop this emigration and decline.

Yes. This rate of loss of population is prejudicial to Scotland's future economic growth, and the Government's policy is to reduce it. The general strategy is laid down in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy. It is not practicable to particularise plans district by district.

Tay Road Bridge (Traffic)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest available figure for the number of commercial vehicles using the Tay Road Bridge; and how this figure compares with the forecast of utilisation of the bridge by commercial vehicles on which the schedule of toll charges was based.

I understand that during the first ten weeks, to 26th October, an average of 440 heavy commercial vehicles crossed each day. The forecast was an average of 600 heavy commercial vehicles per day over the first year of operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has carried out a traffic census north of Dundee since the opening of the Tay Road Bridge.

By arrangement with Angus County Council, traffic is being continuously counted on two roads north of Dundee.

University Of Aberdeen (Collapse Of Zoological Building)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement regarding the collapse in course of construction of the Zoological Building at the University of Aberdeen.

About 1.15 p.m. yesterday the framework and concrete floors of a 6-storey building under construction for the University of Aberdeen suddenly collapsed. Eight men were trapped, three of whom were subsequently rescued. The bodies of the five men killed have been recovered.There will be a public inquiry under the Fatal Accident Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1895.I wish to express my sympathy to those who have been so tragically and suddenly bereaved.

Ministry Of Defence

Simonstown Agreement

81.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes are contemplated in the Simonstown agreement.

We contemplate no changes.

Light Aircraft Channel (Rescue Operations)

83.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time taken to mount a rescue operation for light aircraft in the Light Aircraft Channel from Folkestone to Gris Nez.

The decision to mount a rescue operation for a missing aircraft is normally made by the R.A.F. Rescue Co-ordination Centre to which distress calls are referred by the police, air traffic control or other authorities. In a clear cut case the decision is telephoned to the Station at once. In both the incidents in which an R.A.F. search and rescue operation has been mounted since the Light Aircraft Channel was established in 1961, helicopters were airborne in less than 15 minutes from the time when the call for help was received at the Station.

Germany (Service Men)

84.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service men and how many of their dependants he is bringing home from West Germany; at what financial saving; and how many men he will demobilise either from this or other sections of the Armed Forces.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Gentleman on 19th October last.—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 734, c. 208–10.]

Recruiting (Expenditure)

85.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give

Date	Minister	Places Visited	Purpose of Visit	Cost
1. 2nd-6th 1964 Nov.	Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	Chile	To represent HM The Queen at the Inauguration of the President	See note (i)
2. 6th-10th 1964 Dec.	Secretary of State for Defence	U.S.A.	Discussion with American Ministers	See note (i)
3. 14th-17th 1964 Dec.	Secretary of State for Defence	Paris	NATO Ministerial Meeting	See note (i)
4. 15th-17th 1964 Dec.	Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Mulley)	Paris	NATO Ministerial Meeting	See note (i)
5. 21st Dec. 1964	Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	The Hague	Official visit to H.R.H. Prince Bernhard on the award of an Honorary RAF Commission	See note (i)
6. 28th Dec. 1964-5th Jan. 1965	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Reynolds)	Libya and Malta	To visit Army units	See note (i)
7. 3rd-21st Jan. 1965	Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Mulley)	Aden, Bahrain, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Delhi	To visit troops and Service establishments in Middle and Far East Commands	See note (i)
8. 3rd-10th Jan. 1965	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force (Mr. Millan)	Middle East	To visit RAF units	See note (i)
9. 4th-16th Jan. 1965	Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mayhew)	U.S.A. and Canada	To visit RCN and US Naval Headquarters, ships and establishments	See note (i)

the recruiting expenditure in the last year to a convenient date; and whether he proposes to keep manpower to the present 445,000 total, in view of the proposed reductions in overseas arms expenditure.

Expenditure on recruiting in the financial year 1965–66 amounted to about £8·8 million.In answer to the last part of the Question, I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member on 19th October—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 734, c. 208–10].

Departmental Ministers (Overseas Visits)

86.

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

Yes. As a result of the visits, Ministers were enabled to fulfil their responsibilities for the Services more effectively and to participate in discussions with our allies.

Date	Minister	Places Visited	Purpose of Visit	Cost
10. 10th-16th Jan. 1965	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Navy	Gibraltar and Malta	To visit HM Ships and Establishments	See note (i)
11. 26th-27th Feb. 1965	Secretary of State for Defence	Paris	Talks with French Minister of Defence	See note (i)
12. 10th-l1th March 1965	Minister of Defence for the Army	Paris	To visit SHAPE and to address a meeting of WEU	See note (i)
13. 24th-28th March 1965	Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	U.S.A	For discussions in the Department of Defence	See note (i)
14. 8th-10th April 1965	Secretary of State for Defence	Germany	Talks with German Minister of Defence and visit BAOR	See note (i)
15. 19th-27th April 1965	Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy	Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong	To visit Ships and Establishments of the Far East Fleet	See note (i)
16. 20th-25th April 1965	Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus and Libya	To visit RAF units	See note (i)
17. 23rd-26th April 1965	Secretary of State for Defence	Norway	To visit Norwegian Minister of Defence and Service establishments	See note (i)
18. 16th-23rd May 1965	Secretary of State for Defence	Middle East	To visit British Forces	See note (i)
19. 31st May-1st June 1965	Secretary of State for Defence	France	Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers	See note (i)
20. 7th-15th June, 1965	Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	Canada	To visit Ministry of Defence and RCAS units	See note (i)
21. 19th June 1965	Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	France	Visit to Salon d'Aeronautique	See note (i)
22. 23rd June-2nd July 1965	Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Mulley)	Aden, Singapore and Addis Ababa	Study of Defence Organisation	See note (i)
23. 14th-17th Sept. 1965	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Reynolds)	Gibraltar	To examine questions of land and housing	See note (i)
24. 14th-16th Sept. 1965	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mallalieu)	Gibraltar	Study of Civil Redevelopment Scheme	See note (i)
25. 21st-24th Sept. 1965	Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Mulley)	Munchen Gladbach and Berlin	To visit troops and training in BAOR	See note (i)
26. 1st-9th Oct. 1965	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mallalieu)	Bahrain and Aden	To visit HM Ships and naval establishments	See note (i)
27. 7th-10th Oct. 1965	Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force	France	To visit various NATO headquarters	See note (i)
28. 18th-23rd Oct. 1965	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. Millan)	Cyprus	To visit RAF units	See note (i)
29. 9th-10th Nov. 1965	^*Secretary of State for Defence and three officials	Belgium	Meeting with Belgian Defence Minister	£ 145
30. 26th-27th Nov. 1965	^*Secretary of State for Defence, Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Mulley) and four officials	France	Meeting of NATO Special Nuclear Committee	600
31. 13th-16th Dec. 1965	^*Secretary of State for Defence and five officials	France	NATO Ministerial Meetings	530
32. 2nd-4th Jan. 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force and two officials	Germany	To visit RAF units	1,290

Date	Minister	Places Visited	Purpose of Visit	Cost
				£
33. 9th-14th Jan. 1966	^*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mallalieu)	Bermuda and U.S.A.	To visit HM Ships and establishments and U.S. Polaris School	572
34. 10th-12th Jan. 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Reynolds) and two officials	Germany	To visit troops and training in BAOR	396
35. 26th Jan.-6th Feb. 1966	^*Secretary of State for Defence and ten officials	U.S.A., Australia, Malaysia and Singapore	Defence Review talks	13,600
36. 18th-19th Feb. 1966	^*Secretary of State for Defence and ten officials	U.S.A	Meeting of NATO Nuclear Planning Working Group	3,030
37. 17th-20th April 1966	^*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. Rees)	Cyprus	To visit RAF units	2,492
38. 5th-6th May 1966	^*Secretary of State for Defence and four officials	France	Meeting with French Minister of Defence	435
39. 12th-18th May 1966	Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Reynolds)	Middle East	To visit the Aden base, operations in the Radfan and Army establishments in the Persian Gulf	188
40. 27th May 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mallalieu) and three officials	The Hague	To visit Netherlands Admiralty	128
41. 30th May-18th June 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force and two officials	Middle East and Far East	To visit RAF units	11,500
42. 6th-8th June 1966	^*Secretary of State for Defence and four officials	Germany	Meeting with German Minister of Defence and visit to British Forces	500
43. 27th-29th June 1966	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Ennals)	Germany	To visit Army units	43
44. 30th June-2nd July 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Reynolds) and twelve officials and representatives	France	To represent HM Government at 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme	347
45. 4th-16th July 1966	^*Secretary of State for Defence and seven officials	Middle East and Far East	To visit Service Headquarters and units	10,600
46. 12th-18th July 1966	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Lord Winterbottom)	Malta	To visit HM Ships and naval establishments, and US 6th Fleet	80
47. 16th-18th July 1966	Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mallalieu) and two officials	Mediterranean	To visit US 6th Fleet	128
48. 25th-27th July 1966	^*Secretary of State for Defence and ten officials	France	NATO Force Planning Meeting and Meeting with French Minister of Defence	285
49. 22nd-24th Sept. 1966	^*Secretary of State for Defence and eight officials	Italy	Meeting of NATO Nuclear Planning Working Group	1,050

Date	Minister	Places Visited	Purpose of Visit	Cost
				£
50. 26th Sept.-7th Oct. 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Mallalieu) and two officials	Far East	To visit Far East Fleet	2,880
51. 26th-28th Sept. 1966	^*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. Rees)	Germany	Tovisit R.A.F. Germany	485
52. 27th-30th Sept. 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Army and two officials	Belgium, West Germany, and West Berlin	To visit B. A.O.R. base installations and headquarters and Army autumn exercise	350
53. 13th Oct. 1966	^*Minister of Defence for the Army and 11 officials	Bonn	Ministerial discussions on foreign exchange costs of B.A.O.R.	320
NOTES:
(i) Complete details of the visits listed at serials 1–28 are not readily available but the total cost was in the order of £50,000.
(ii)^* indicates that the Minister was accompanied by a Private Secretary.
(iii) So far as practicable, Service aircraft, where used, were filled up with Service men and families entitled to official air travel on the same route.
(iv) Where journeys were made in aircraft of RAF Transport Command, the transport element in the costs published for some of the flights would have been incurred otherwise for normal training purposes.

Chatham Dockyard (Fire)

87.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the report of the inquiry into the fire in Chatham Dockyard on Tuesday, 12th July last; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the hon. Gentleman on 21st July, I will make a statement on the conclusions of this Inquiry when I have got them. I have not got them yet—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 732, c. 129–30].

Low-Flying Aircraft

88.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give instructions for Royal Air Force crews engaged in low-flying training to be briefed to avoid flying over the town of Harrogate.

Low flying over the town of Harrogate is not permitted. If pilots cannot avoid the town laterally they must overfly it at not less than 2,000 feet, which is the normal minimum height for military aircraft over towns.

89.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what standards of navigational accuracy are required during low-flying training.

When using authorised low flying training routes aircrews are required to keep within 1½ nautical miles of the required track and to avoid towns and other places where low flying is forbidden. They are not to descend below the minimum height authorised for their flight.

Us Experimental Defence Communications Satellite System

90.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about future British participation in the United States interim defence communications satellite programme.

We intend to continue co-operation in the United States experimental defence communications satellite system and are discussing participation in an operational system.

Weather Control (Research)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much Great Britain is at present spending on research on affecting or controlling the weather; and what progress is being made.

Meteorological Office research, costing about £800,000 a year, is mainly directed to a better understanding of basic weather processes, including the general circulation of the atmosphere and the formation and behaviour of clouds. A better understanding of these processes is an essential prerequisite for any significant progress in weather control. The Office keeps in touch with weather control work abroad.

Departmental Reorganisation

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the reorganisation of his Department on functional lines.

As explained in Chapter III of Command 2902, the organisation of the Ministry is evolving and being modified by experience. Further changes may follow from the Report of the Committee to which reference was made in that Chapter. But the nature and timing of these must be carefully planned if the performance of the Department is not to be prejudiced.

Fishery Protection Squadron

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that the protection of British fishing grounds and fishing fleets in the North Sea from foreign encroachments continues to be inadequate; and if he will take steps to increase that protection by obtaining Royal Air Force supervision in addition to the protection vessels.

No, I believe that the Fishery Protection Squadron provides an excellent service. R.A.F. Shackleton aircraft help the Squadron by reporting any concentrations of foreign fishing vessels they spot in the course of normal training flights.

Roads

Roundabouts (Give Way Rule)

94.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the experiments of traffic giving way from the right at roundabouts are completed; and what conclusions she has reached upon them.

In agreement with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales my right hon. Friend has decided that a general advisory rule should be introduced forthwith to the effect that vehicles entering a roundabout should give way to vehicles already in it. Since this is a general rule upright give way signs will not be necessary but the points of entry to all roundabouts will be marked on the road surface by single broken white lines as soon as possible. There will be exceptional cases where the general rule will not apply, but this will be clearly indicated by road markings in the roundabout.This general rule will be reviewed after it has been in operation for a year.

Motorways

95.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorway for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction, and which were in use, respectively, as at 31st October.

The following is the information:—

LINE NOT YET PUBLISHED	Miles
M.4 London-South Wales
Theale-Shefford Woodlands	17½
M.11 London-Bishops Stortford	32
M.18 Thorne By-pass	2
M.18 Doncaster Southern By-pass	10
M.23 London-Crawley	27
M.56 North Cheshire Motorway
Bowdon-Preston Brook	11
Sharston By-pass	2½
M.61 Preston-Manchester
Westhoughton-Middle Hulton	3¾
A.1(M) Birtley By-pass	2½
South Orbital Motorway	47
Leeds South East Radial	2½
(Classified Motorway to be built by Leeds C.B.C.)
Bristol Parkway (Stage I)	2¾
(Classified motorway to be built by Bristol C.B.C. and Gloucester C.C.)
Bradford South Radial	2½
(Classified motorway to be built by Bradford C.B.C. and West Riding C.C.)
Aston Expressway, Birmingham	2
(Classified motorway to be built by Birmingham C.B.C.)
Eccles By-pass	1¾
(Classified motorway to be built by Lancashire C.C.)
Sale Eastern and Northenden By-pass	4½
(Classified motorway to be built by Cheshire C.C, Lancashire C.C. and Manchester C.B.C.)
	171¼

DRAFT SCHEME PUBLISHED
M.1 London-Yorkshire
Fiveways Corner-North Circular Road	2
M.3 London-Basingstoke	39¾

M.4 London-South Wales
Holyport-Theale	…	19
Shefford Woodlands-Liddington	…	10½
M.5 Bristol-Birmingham
East Brent-Edithmead	…	2¼
M.56 North Cheshire Motorway
Preston Brook-Hapsford	…	8
Princess Parkway-Bowdon	…	7
M.61 Preston-Manchester
Middle Hulton-Manchester	…	5½
M.62 Lancashire-Yorkshire
Lofthouse-A.1	…	10½
		104½

SCHEMES MADE	Miles
M.1 London-York shire
Fiveways Corner	½
M.4 London-South Wales
Tormarton-Liddington	30
M.5 Birmingham-Bristol
Oldbury-Great Barr	6½
Strensham-Almondsbury	41
Avonmouth-East Brent	22
M.6 Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
Catthorpe-Darlaston	41¾
Carnforth-Hackthorpe	36½
Penrith-Carlisle	12¼
Carlisle By-pass	7
M.61 Preston-Manchester
Preston-Westhoughton	13
M.62 Lancashire-Yorkshire
Worsley-Moss Moor	17
Pole Moor-Lofthouse	20¾
A.1(M)
Durham Motorway
Bowburn-Chester-le-Street	10½
Blackfell-White Mare Pool	3½
(Classified Motorway to be built by Durham C.C.)
A.20(M) Ditton By-pass	6½
A.40(M) Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross By-pass	7½
Leeds Inner King Road, Stages I and II (subject to Minister's confirmation)	2¼
(Classified Motorway to be built by Leeds C.C.)
Newcastle Central Motorway East (subject to Minister's confirmation)	1
(Classified Motorway to be built by Newcastle C.B.C.)
	279½

TENDERS INVITED			Miles
M.5 Birmingham-Bristol
Quinton-Oldbury	…	…	3½
Cribbs Causeway-Avonmouth	…	…	4½
A.40(M) High Wycombe By-pass
Loudwater Viaduct	…	…	¼
			8¼

CONTRACTS PLACED Nil
MOTORWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION	Miles
M.1 London-Yorkshire
N. of Fiveways Corner-Brockley Hill (Hendon Motorway)	4¼
Nuthall-Pinxton	8½
Pinxton-Barlborough	14¼
Barlborough-Morthen	7

			Miles
Morthen-Doncaster By-pass	…	…	9
Aston-Tinsley	…	…	6½
Tinsley Viaduct	…	…	¾
Meadowhall-Tankersley	…	…	5½
Tankersley-Horbury	…	…	13½
Horbury-East Ardsley	…	…	3½
East Ardsley-Stourton	…	…	4½
M.4 London-South Wales
Hambrook-Tormarton	…	…	8
M.6 Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
Penrith By-pass	…	…	8
M.62 Lancashire-Yorkshire	…	…
Moss Moor-Pole Moor	…	…	6
A.1(M) Baldock By-pass	…	…	6¼
A.1(M) Durham Motorway
Aycliffe-Bradbury	…	…	5¼
Bradbury-Bowburn	…	…	6
A.40(M) High Wycombe By-pass
Stockenchurch-Handy Cross	…	…	8
Handy Cross-Burkes Road	…	…	4¾
			129½

MOTORWAYS IN USE	Miles
M.1(including M.10 and M.45) London-Yorkshire
Brockley Hill-Aldenham	4
Aldenham-Crick	73
Crick-Markfield	26¾
Markfield-Kegworth	11
Kegworth-Sandiacre	5¼
Sandiacre-Nuthall	6
M.2 Medway Motor Road	25¼
M.4 London-South Wales
Chiswick-Langley	13
Slough By-pass	5½
Maidenhead By-pass	6
Hambrook-Newhouse	12
M.5 Bristol-Birmingham
Twyning-Lydiate Ash	26
Lydiate Ash-Quinton	6
M.5 Filton By-pass	2¼
(Classified Motorway built by Gloucestershire C.C)
M.6 Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
Darlaston-Shareshill	6
Shareshill-Dunston	8¼
Dunston-Preston	78¼
Preston By-pass	8
Preston-Lancaster	13¼
Lancaster By-pass	11½
M.50 Ross Spur	21½
M.62 Stretford-Eccles By-pass	6
(Classified Motorway built by Lancashire C.C.)
A.1(M)
Stevenage By-pass	7
Doncaster By-pass	15½
Darlington By-pass	13
A.20(M) Maidstone By-pass	6¾
	417

Tidal Flow Schemes

91.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the introduction of schemes which allow for the tidal flow of road traffic.

I know of nine formal tidal flow schemes introduced by local authorities and of two more that are being planned.

Transport

Minister Of Transport (Visit To America)

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will make a statement on her recent visit to the United States of America; for what purpose the visit was made; who accompanied her; what were the costs; what other overseas visits have been made by Ministers in her Department during the past two years; and for what purposes and at what costs these visits were made.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on her visit to the United States of America, including details of the lessons learned that may be applicable to this country.

The purpose of my visit to the United States was to enable me to study developments in transport policy and transport technology—in particular, the latest techniques in the handling of freight traffic in containers; developments in the provision of financing of public transport; highways and traffic policy; and transport research programmes in the United States. In pursuit of this I met the Secretary of the Housing and Urban

Date	Minister concerned	Place	Purposes	Total Cost
				£
2.12.64	Rt. Hon. T. Fraser (accompanied by three officials)	Paris	E.C.M.T. Meeting of Ministers	170
27.2.65	Rt. Hon. T. Fraser (accompanied by two officials)	Rome	E.C.M.T. Meeting of Ministers	300
26.6.65	Rt. Hon. T. Fraser (accompanied by three officials)	Lisbon	E.C.M.T. Meeting of Ministers	330
1.8.65	Mr. Stephen Swingler (Parliamentary Secretary) (accompanied by three officials)	Chateau-neufsur-Loire	Inspection of French monorail system	140
30.8.65	Rt. Hon. T. Fraser (accompanied by Private Secretary)	Munich	E.C.M.T. Meeting of Ministers	120
7.11.65	Rt. Hon. T. Fraser (accompanied by two officials)	Paris	E.C.M.T. Restricted Grade 4 Meeting of Ministers	100
30.1.65	Mr. Stephen Swingler (Parliamentary Secretary) (accompanied by four officials)	Paris	E.C.M.T. Meeting	230
25.5.66	Rt. Hon. Barbara Castle (accompanied by three officials)	Lucerne	E.C.M.T. Meeting	210
24.10.66	Mr. Stephen Swingler (Parliamentary Secretary) (accompanied by Private Secretary)	Strasbourg	150th Anniversary of the Central Rhine Commission (representing Prime Minister, Minister of Transport and Foreign Secretary)	100
27.10.66	Rt. Hon. Barbara Castle (accompanied by four officials)	Paris	Meeting with French Minister of Equipment (Monsieur E. Pisani) in connection with the provision of the Channel Tunnel	120

Development Department, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Transportation, and officials of their Departments; the Administrator of the Californian State Transportation Agency, the Californian State Highway Engineer and the chief engineer of District VII of the Californian Highways Administration; the Traffic Commissioner of New York City; many senior political and professional people responsible for transport in Boston and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Commissioners and senior officers in both the Port of New York Authority and the New York City Transit Authority; the President and senior officers of the Association of American Railroads, the Southern Pacific Railroad Company Incorporated, and Sealand Services Inc.; and senior officers of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and of the Matson Shipping Corporation. From all these discussions I learned a great deal of value, of which I shall take account in the development of transport policy for this country.

I was accompanied to the United States by my Chief Scientific Adviser and my Principal Private Secretary. The costs incurred were £1,332.

Other overseas visits have been made during the past two years by me, my predecessor and our Parliamentary Secretaries as follows:—

Motor Vehicle Registrations (Scotland)

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of new vehicle registrations for cars and motor

								Number
				Cars			Motor Cycles
Month			1964	1965	1966	1964^*	1965	1966
July	…	…	7,958	7,200	7,240	1,001	610	504
August	…	…	5,415	5,027	4,540	723	600	346
September	…	…	5,984	5,188	4,433	645	455	266
^* Including tricycles and pedestrian-controlled vehicles for which separate figures are not available. In the third quarters of 1965 and 1966 these numbered 72 and 68, respectively.

Channel Tunnel

93.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a progress report on the negotiations that are taking place with the French Government on the financial details of the Channel tunnel project.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement issued following my meeting with M. Pisani, the French Minister responsible for the Channel Tunnel, on 28th October. The statement, copies of which have been placed in the library, is as follows:

"1. Mrs. Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport, and M. Pisani, Minister of Equipment, announced today that the British and French Governments had agreed the lines of a solution for the provision of the Channel Tunnel. The Tunnel would be built with recourse to finance from private sources, but its operation would be entrusted to an Anglo-French public Authority.

2. This announcement follows the agreement of 8th July last between the two Prime Ministers, Monsieur Pompidou and Mr. Wilson, to the effect that the two Governments had decided that the Tunnel should be built, subject to finding a solution for the construction work on mutually acceptable terms.

3. The financing of the project would have to be secured on terms acceptable to the two Governments and participation from public funds in the risk capital of the construction company would not be excluded. The private capital would be drawn to the greatest possible extent from the international capital market. British and French Railways would be closely associated with the operation of the Tunnel, which would be governed by a formal agreement between the construction company and the public operating body.

4. The two Ministers noted with satisfaction that the geological survey carried out in 1964–65 had confirmed the technical feasibility of the project and that the latest economic

cycles in Scotland for the months of July, August and September in the years 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.

Following is the information:—

studies by the two Governments had shown that investment in the Tunnel would show a satisfactory return. If private financing of the project proved possible on terms acceptable to the two governments, an early treaty could be concluded between the two countries and the necessary legislative procedure could then be put in hand.

5. To study those problems which still need to be determined, permanent working groups with representatives from the various Government Departments concerned will be set up under the British Minister of Transport and the French Minister of Equipment. In particular, these groups will have to determine, with the least possible delay, the basis for discussions with representatives of private enterprise interested in the construction of the Tunnel.

6. The two working groups will also be studying the structure required for the Tunnel operating body, with particular reference to its relations with the railway undertakings of both countries.

7. In view of the importance of the project as a permanent link between the road and rail networks of Britain, France and Continental Europe, the Ministers have also agreed to concert their studies for the provision and development of complementary road and rail access facilities on both sides of the Channel. Unrestricted access to the tunnel would be guaranteed, without discrimination, to all users."

Motor Vehicles (Excise Duty)

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has any plans for scaling the licence fees for vehicles according to the amount of road space they occupy.

Rates of vehicles Excise Duty are primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. But we would not see any advantage from the point of view of transport policy in differential vehicle excise duties of the sort my hon. Friend suggests.

Railways

Freight Liner Services

92.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in accordance with the measures announced on 20th July, the freight liner train services have now gone ahead on the basis of open terminals.

The London-Glasgow freightliner service is already being served on an experimental basis by British Road Services and we are confident that this will be followed by wider availability of terminals in due course.

Ministry Of Aviation

Variable Geometry Aircraft And Airbus

96.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement on the future of the Anglo-French VG project and of the European Air Bus.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I will be meeting French Ministers on 7th November to discuss the next stage of the Anglo-French variable geometry project. On the Airbus, joint proposals submitted by industrial firms in the United Kingdom, France and Germany on how best to meet the outline specification agreed earlier this year, are now being evaluated.

Ministry Of Aviation (Responsibilities)

97.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) whether, as a result of the reorganisation of aviation administration, he will review current methods of military aircraft procurement;(2) what proposals he has to reorganise defence research and development in the aviation field.

These problems are being thoroughly considered in the context of the review of the responsibilities of the Ministry of Aviation to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister referred in his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 25th October.—[OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 734, c. 159.]

European Launcher Development Organisation

98.

asked the Minister of Aviation what repercussions on the European Launcher Development Organisation he anticipates from present plans for co-operation between Great Britain and the United States of America in the field of defence satellite communications.

None.

Concord Project

asked the Minister of Aviation by what criteria materials and components to be employed on the Concord project will be sought from outside Great Britain and France.

It is agreed Anglo-French policy to select British or French suppliers wherever possible. Only in exceptional circumstances and where there is an overriding technical, commercial or delivery advantage would a supplier from a third country be selected.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will now accept the forecast of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation that there will prove to be a market for some 300 Concords.

It is not for me to accept or reject this forecast. I have however noted it with interest.

Sonic Bangs

asked the Minister of Aviation what tests have so far been conducted in this country to ascertain the effects upon the population of the sonic bangs which will be created by the supersonic airliner fleets anticipated in the next decade.

Laboratory studies of reactions to sonic bangs have been carried out by the Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit, the Institute of Sound and Vibration at Southampton and by the National Physical Laboratory. Ministry of Aviation establishments have also conducted field tests with simulated sonic bangs. The effects of actual sonic bangs have been studied on a number of occasions when supersonic flights have taken place over the United Kingdom including the demonstration "Exercise Westminster" for Members of Parliament held at Upwood in 1965. The results of tests in the United Kingdom are supplemented by information from experimental work in France and the United States which has been made available to me.

British Space Activities

asked the Minister of Aviation what proposals he has for a British space programme.

We are currently considering the future nature and scale of British space activities in the light of available resources and our existing space commitments which include membership of several international organisations.

Wireless And Television

Broadcasting Services (Coverage)

99.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will require the British Broadcasting Corporation under Section 3 of the Licence and Agreement and the Independent Television Authority under the Television Act 1963 to provide additional stations in order to extend the coverage of musical programmes similar to those provided by pirate radio stations.

The powers cited by my right hon. Friend enable me to require the broadcasting authorities to extend the coverage attained by their existing services, but not to require them to provide new services. As to the provision of programmes similar to those put out by the pirate stations, I must ask him to await the White Paper on broadcasting.

Pirate Radio Stations

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received from hon. Members and the general public on the subject of pirate radio stations; and what replies he has sent.

I have received a number of letters and petitions from the general public urging me not to take action against the pirate stations and also some urging me to take action against them. Hon. Members have transmitted similar letters to me on behalf of constituents. In reply I have pointed out the dangers of allowing anarchy in the use of radio wavelengths to continue and underlined the need for legislation.

Telephone Service

Directories

asked the Postmaster-General when the Post Office will have finished its inquiries regarding the reorganising of telephone directories; when the inquiries regarding Manchester will be started; how many complaints he has received that subscribers to the Manchester directory cannot be included in the directories of neighbouring areas; and whether he will give an assurance that the subscriber has the right to have his name in the telephone book which covers his post town.

I hope to be in a position to make an announcement within the next few months. In the meantime I regret that I cannot allow subscribers generally to have entries in two or more books, because this would add significantly to the already excessive bulk of most directories. In the past five years we have received three complaints about the non-inclusion of Manchester subscribers in the directories of neighbouring areas, and one representation from a subscriber whose entries appear in the Liverpool directory but whose post town falls in the Manchester telephone area.

Post Office

Equipment And Apparatus

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now order all Post Office equipment and apparatus solely by competitive tender open to all firms.

The greater part of what the Post Office buys already is ordered competitively. Telephone apparatus will be ordered competitively after the Bulk Supply Agreement expires in March 1968. I am still considering the future arrangements for telephone exchange equipment which is at present bought under a Bulk Supply Agreement also expiring in March 1968.

asked the Postmaster-General for how long Post Office equipment and apparatus has been ordered only from firms in a ring; and what he estimates to have been the total additional cost to his Department of this arrangement, in view of the fact that five firms in the ring have made a profit of £25 million in the last 2½ years.

A series of Bulk Supply Agreements for telephone exchange equipment and telephone apparatus have been in force since 1928 and 1934 respectively; but since 1960 a proportion of Post Office orders has been placed with other suppliers.It is impossible to say what the Post Office would have paid for its supplies had they been ordered differently over the years.

Education And Science

Calves And Lambs (Sex Control Research)

100.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has to report in the research into the ability to control the sex of calves and lambs.

The results of recent work on this subject under the auspices of the Agricultural Research Council have been negative: further studies are being made on the basic mechanisms involved, but they cannot be expected to give an early answer.

Universities (Candidates)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applicants possessing the appropriate qualifications are expected to seek entry to British universities in the years 1967–68, 1968–69, and 1969–70; how many places will be available in each year; and what are the comparable figures for Scottish universities.

Some 92,000 candidates applied for admission to British universities in 1966–67 through the Universities Central Council on Admissions. This figure includes overseas candidates and candidates without the minimum academic qualifications for the university courses to which they sought admission, but excludes Scottish candidates for certain Scottish universities and candidates for London Medical Schools, who apply direct.If the number of candidates were to rise strictly in proportion to the number of students expected to leave school or further education institutions with two or more G.C.E. passes at advanced level or the equivalent Scottish qualification, the corresponding numbers for future years would be:

Academic year			Number of candidates
1967–68	…	…	93,300
1968–69	…	…	95,200
1969–70	…	…	98,200

These figures may be regarded as minima, since they exclude increases in the application rate and the effects of extending the scope of application through the U.C.C.A.

On the assumptions made by the Robbins Committee the numbers of places in British universities for new entrants (including students from overseas) would be:

Academic year			New entrants
1967–68	…	…	51,600
1968–69	…	…	51,400
1969–70	…	…	51,900

I expect that at least these numbers of places will be available.

I regret that separate figures for candidates for Scottish universities are not available. The Robbins Committee estimates for places in Scottish universities for new entrants from the United Kingdom are:

Academic year			Number of new entrants from U.K.
1967–68	…	…	7,390
1968–69	…	…	7,510
1969–70	…	…	7,810

Economic Affairs

Regional Economic Planning Councils

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he envisages the Regional Economic Planning Councils being composed indefinitely of nominated, as distinct from elected, members.

We have no present intention of altering the existing arrangements.

National Finance

Motor Vehicles (Taxation Revenue)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total revenue received in respect of motor fuel tax, motor vehicle licence duties, and motor vehicle Purchase Tax, respectively, for each of the 12-month periods ending 30th September, 1964, 1965 and 1966.

The information is as follows:

	Revenue in 12 months ended:
	30.9.64	30.9.65	30.9.66
	£m.	£m.	£m.
Duties on motor fuel	520	656	710
Motor vehicle licence duties	182	215	258
Purchase Tax on motor vehicles	141	156	155

The receipts from the motor vehicle licence duties relate to Great Britain, these duties being a transferred tax in Northern Ireland. The other figures relate to the United Kingdom. The revenue from motor fuel is estimated, since the hydrocarbon oil duties apply also to oil used otherwise than as motor fuel.

Surtax (Surcharge)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed 10 per cent. surcharge on Surtax for 1965–66 will apply to the personal representatives of those who died in 1966–67 before it was announced.

Where a taxpayer died on or before 20th July, 1966, I propose that the surcharge shall not apply. I

			Numbers of nursing staff
Hospital		Regional Hospital Board's assessment of nursing staff required	National Health Service		Agency
			Whole time	Part time	Whole time
Glebe House	…	15	9	7	1
Oxhey Grove	…	15	7	8	1
Roxbourne	…	31	11	29	—
Orme Lodge and Stanmore Cottage	…	22	12	10	2
Springbok	…	18	1^*	1†	7
West Hendon	…	59	37	24	2
^* Exclude the Matron who is also Matron of Orme Lodge and Stanmore Cottage Hospitals.
† In addition 8 part-time unqualified staff assist the nursing staff.

Grade of Staff		Cost to Hospital of Agency Staff (Amount paid to staff not known		National Health Service Staff Salary Scales
Nursing Auxiliaries	…	£12 11s. 4d.— £16 18s. 10d. p.w.	Nursing Auxiliaries	Age 18, £365 p.a.
				Age 19, £390 p.a.
				Age 20, £420 p.a.
				Age 21, or over, £520–£645 p.a.
Enrolled Nurses	…	£18 0s. 8d.— £22 8s. 6d. p.w.	Enrolled Nurses	£595—£755 p.a.
			Senior Enrolled Nurses	£725—£835 p.a.
Staff Nurses	…	£15 10s. 10d.— £20 10s. 0d. p.w.	Staff Nurses (S.R.N.)	£690—£880 p.a.

also propose that in such a case the limit on the liability of the deceased for Surtax for 1966–67 under Section 236 of the Income Tax Act, 1952 (which provides that the Surtax on a person's income for the tax year in which he dies shall not exceed the amount which would have been due if the previous year's Surtax rates had applied for that year) shall be computed by reference to the basis Surtax rates for 1965–66, without the surcharge.

Hospitals

Nursing Staff, Harrow

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the establishment and actual numbers of National Health Service nursing staff at each of the geriatric and infectious disease hospitals taking patients from the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East, on September 12th, 1966, the number of agency nurses employed on that date, and the rates of pay of the agency and National Health Service nurses.

It is not my Department's practice to fix nursing staff establishments but the following table shows the Regional Hospital Board's assessment of nursing staff required compared with the numbers in post.

asked the Minister of Health what was the outcome of his Department's consultations with the regional hospital board following inquiries by the hon. Member for Harrow, East, about the number of nurses working in geriatric and infectious disease hospitals taking patients from the hon. Member's constituency.

The Board will continue to encourage the Hospital Management Committee to take all practicable steps to improve the position.

Ward Orderlies, Harrow

asked the Minister of Health what was the nature of the nursing duties being performed over the last three months by ward orderlies at Orme Lodge, Stanmore Cottage, and Springbok House hospitals.

Such tasks as feeding, bed making, bed pan rounds, and sluicing of linen and bed pans for part of the time.

Ministry Of Health

Homeless Families (Temporary Accommodation)

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many husbands he estimates to be separated from their wives and children living in accommodation for the homeless;(2) if he will state the number of homeless families being accommodated by local authorities in total and for each of the major local authorities in reception centres and in short-stay accommodation, respectively.

The total number of persons resident on 31st December, 1965 in temporary accommodation provided by local welfare authorities under the National Assistance Act in England and Wales was 12,411: detailed figures for each county, county borough and London borough other than those returning no persons in temporary accommodation at that date are set out below. I regret that the other information is not available, but I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the circular I sent to local authorities this week in which I ask them to plan to provide accommodation in which husbands can be with their families and to report on their arrangements by 31st March next.

Number of persons in temporary accommodation at 31st December, 1965 in certain counties, county boroughs and London boroughs in England and Wales

ENGLAND
County Councils
Bedfordshire	79
Berkshire	38
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely	9
Cheshire	16
Cornwall	125
Cumberland	28
Derbyshire	45
Devon	503
Dorset	65
Durham	32
Essex	150
Gloucestershire	33
Herefordshire	50
Hertfordshire	274
Kent	224
Lancashire	123
Leicestershire	3
Lincolnshire (Holland)	2
Lincolnshire (Kesteven)	8
Lincolnshire (Lindsey)	30
Norfolk	20
Northamptonshire	9
Northumberland	33
Nottinghamshire	62
Oxfordshire	94
Rutland	4
Salop	15
Surrey	226
Sussex East	7
Sussex West	141
Warwickshire	20
Wiltshire	8
Worcestershire	9
Yorkshire, North Riding	45
Yorkshire, West Riding	11
Total County Councils	2,541

County Boroughs
Bath	…	…	…	76
Birmingham	…	…	…	214
Blackburn	…	…	…	8
Bolton	…	…	…	9
Bootle	…	…	…	12
Bradford	…	…	…	1
Brighton	…	…	…	124
Bristol	…	…	…	11
Canterbury	…	…	…	8
Carlisle	…	…	…	8
Coventry	…	…	…	9
Darlington	…	…	…	7
Derby	…	…	…	30
Dewsbury	…	…	…	12
Doncaster	…	…	…	15
Eastbourne	…	…	…	15
Exeter	…	…	…	34
Gateshead	…	…	…	37
Gloucester	…	…	…	57
Great Yarmouth	…	…	…	15
Grimsby	…	…	…	10
Halifax	…	…	…	18
Huddersfield	…	…	…	20
Kingston-upon-Hull	…	…	…	15

Leeds	…	…	49
Leicester	…	…	14
Lincoln	…	…	8
Liverpool	…	…	54
Luton	…	…	44
Manchester	…	…	30
Middlesbrough	…	…	4
Newcastle upon Tyne	…	…	17
Northampton	…	…	15
Norwich	…	…	241
Nottingham	…	…	6
Oldham	…	…	3
Oxford	…	…	40
Plymouth	…	…	132
Reading	…	…	17
Rotherham	…	…	6
Salford	…	…	8
Sheffield	…	…	226
Southampton	…	…	80
Southport	…	…	11
Stockport	…	…	6
Stoke on Trent	…	…	1
Sunderland	…	…	16
Wakefield	…	…	32
Wallasey	…	…	154
Warrington	…	…	3
West Hartlepool	…	…	2
Wigan	…	…	11
Wolverhampton	…	…	15
Worcester	…	…	16
Total County Boroughs	…	…	2,026

London Boroughs
Barking	…	…	2
Barnet	…	…	175
Brent	…	…	110
Bromley	…	…	24
Camden	…	…	442
Croydon	…	…	35
Ealing	…	…	165
Enfield	…	…	6
Greenwich	…	…	322
Hackney	…	…	880
Hammersmith	…	…	454
Haringey	…	…	61
Harrow	…	…	19
Havering	…	…	203
Hillingdon	…	…	118
Hounslow	…	…	89
Islington	…	…	621
Kensington and Chelsea	…	…	243
Lambeth	…	…	916
Lewisham	…	…	467
Merton	…	…	117
Newham	…	…	147
Richmond-upon-Thames	…	…	39
Southwark	…	…	525
Sutton	…	…	43
Tower Hamlets	…	…	391
Wandsworth	…	…	556
City of Westminster	…	…	469
Total London Boroughs	…	…	7,613
Total England	…	…	12,180

WALES
County Councils
Caernarvon	…	…	…	…	21
Cardigan	…	…	…	…	7
Flint	…	…	…	…	6

Glamorgan	…	…	…	…	42
Monmouth	…	…	…	…	51
Montgomery	…	…	…	…	8
County Boroughs
Cardiff	…	…	…	…	73
Newport	…	…	…	…	6
Swansea	…	…	…	…	17
Total Wales	…	…	…	…	231

United Kingdom Emigrants To Canada

asked the Minister of Health how many persons have emigrated from the United Kingdom to Canada in the years ended 1st October 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.

The most recent estimates by the Registrar General are:—

Emigrants^*from the United Kingdom to the Dominion of Canada
Calendar year			Thousand persons
1963	…	…	25
1964	…	…	29
1965	…	…	40
1966 (first half)	…	…	27
^*Here defined as persons who, having resided in the United Kingdom for more than the twelve months preceding embarkation, are moving to Canada with the intention of remaining there for more than twelve months.

Ministry Of Labour

Engineering Industry Training Board (Levy)

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the total sum collected by the Engineering Industry Training Board by way of levy for the first six months of 1965–66; and what was the total amount of grant awarded in respect of the same period;(2) what was the amount of levy or grant collected and awarded in the first six months of 1965–66 by the Engineering Industry Training Board to firms having over 1,000 employees, between 1,000 and 300 employees, and under 300 employees, respectively.

I do not require Industrial Training Boards to supply me with this kind of information for periods less than a full financial year. The Engineering Industrial Training Board have however been good enough to provide me with the following information.The first instalment of the Board's levy has yielded £34.8 million of which £2.4 million was paid by firms which had made no claim for grants. The amount awarded in grants for the first half of the 1965–66 grant year was approximately £29 million, of which payment of £4.6 million has been deferred until payment is made of grants for the second half of the year. A number of claims for grant have still to be dealt with.The information asked for in the hon. Member's second Question is not available.

Unemployment (Ruislip)

asked the Minister of Labour what are the unemployment figures in Ruislip-Northwood for the latest available date; and how they compare with the equivalent date last year.

Total numbers registered as unemployed at Ruislip Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office were 228 at 10th October 1966 and 245 at 11th October, 1965.

Board Of Trade

Supersonic Aircraft (Airport Facilities)

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his present estimate of the number of supersonic airliners which will be requiring airport facilities in Great Britain in 10 years' time; and what plans have so far been made to meet this estimated demand.

It is too early to make precise estimates of this kind, particularly because of uncertainties about the date at which the American S.S.T. will enter service; in regard to the second part of the Question the facilities at United Kingdom airports likely to be used by these aircraft should, together with planned improvements, be adequate for their operation.

National Wool Textile Export Corporation

asked the President of the Board of Trade what support he is rendering to the National Wool Textile Export Corporation in its representations to the United States Federal Trade Commission opposing the introduction of compulsory testing of the fibre content of imported fabrics.

My Department has worked closely with the National Wool Textile Export Corporation in preparing their submission to the United States Federal Trade Commission. The Government is also making representations to the United States Government in support of the Corporation's case, and has drawn attention to the possible implications of the Commission's proposals in relation to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Airport Communications

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans exist for improving communications and speeding passenger traffic between each of the major airports of Great Britain and their neighbouring urban centres during the next decade.

I understand that the plans of the highway authorities for all major centres include elements which would benefit airport communications.The possibility of improved systems of public transport is also being currently examined, notably in the study of airport links by the Transport Co-ordinating Council for London and in the Manchester Rapid Transit Study, to both of which the Government are contributing resources.

Films (Monopolies Commission's Report)

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the Report which he has received from the Monopolies Commission on the supply of films to exhibitors.

The Report was made public on Monday, 31st October. The Commission have found that the conditions to which the Monopolies legislation applies prevail as respect the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas. The Commission have also found that the share of the supply of films taken by the Rank Organisation, the lack of competition between the Associated British Picture Corporation and Rank for films, the practice of barring, the practice of making the hire of one film conditional upon the hire of others, two practices of the Kinematograph Renters' Society and the preference which Rank gives to certain of its own documentary films all operate and may be expected to operate against the public interest. Although the Commission consider that the rigidity which results from the dominance of Rank and A.B.P.C. and the practice of barring is detrimental to the service which the industry gives to the public, they do not recommend breaking up the circuit system.Instead the Commission have recommended that certain measures be taken by the leading organisations to introduce more flexibility into the industry; that arrangements be made to modify though not to bring to an end, the present barring system and to open up exhibitors' rights to bid for films; and that the recommendations of the Kinematograph Renters' Society limiting exhibitors discretion about the use of their premises for purposes other than the exhibition of films and the co-operative booking by exhibitors should be withdrawn.I am inviting the parties concerned to discuss the Commission's recommendations with my Department and shall make a statement at a later stage.

Volume 735: debated on Wednesday 2 November 1966

Written Answers To Questions

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Registered Milk Producers

Fishing Industry (Skin Divers)

Outspan Oranges (Price)

Cereals (Equipment Grants)

Pigmeat, Yorkshire (Exports)

Liquor (Public-House Prices)

Farm Rents

Beef (Home Production)

Brewing Industry (Selective Employment Tax)

Foodstuffs

Meat (Inspection)

White Fish Industry (Minimum Prices Scheme)

Fishery Protection Squadron

Internal Drainage Boards

Food Distribution (Selective Employment Tax)

Rural Roads

Hill Farmers (Subsidies)

Tenant Farmers (Disturbance Compensation)

Salmonellosis

Fruit And Vegetables (Surcharge)

Charolais Cattle (Importation)

Fat Cattle

Bacon

Fish Meal Factories (Capacity)

Agricultural Exhibition, Palace Of Westminster

Brucellosis

Criminal Court Convictions (Civil Cases)

Lord Justices Of Appeal (Ex-Lord Chancellors)

Race Relations Board (Hotel Proprietor)

Scotland

Marine Fish Farming

Scottish Housewives Association, Aberdeen (Letter)

Police Advisory Board (Meetings)

Police Forces (Establishments)

Motor Vehicle Industry (Aeu Representations)

Bathgate Area (Development)

Scottish Universities (Places)

Forestry Research Station, Bush

Crime (Research)

Glenafton Hospital (Transfer Of Patients)

Fuel Boards (Regional Planning)

Falkirk/Grangemouth Survey

Petroleum And Petro-Chemical Industries (Projects)

Surgical Appliances (Cost)

Motorways

Houses (Completions) 1966

Emigration

Tay Road Bridge (Traffic)

University Of Aberdeen (Collapse Of Zoological Building)

Ministry Of Defence

Simonstown Agreement

Light Aircraft Channel (Rescue Operations)

Germany (Service Men)

Recruiting (Expenditure)

Departmental Ministers (Overseas Visits)

Chatham Dockyard (Fire)

Low-Flying Aircraft

Us Experimental Defence Communications Satellite System

Weather Control (Research)

Departmental Reorganisation

Fishery Protection Squadron

Roads

Roundabouts (Give Way Rule)

Motorways

Tidal Flow Schemes

Transport

Minister Of Transport (Visit To America)

Motor Vehicle Registrations (Scotland)

Channel Tunnel

Motor Vehicles (Excise Duty)

Railways

Freight Liner Services

Ministry Of Aviation

Variable Geometry Aircraft And Airbus

Ministry Of Aviation (Responsibilities)

European Launcher Development Organisation