asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of those who have resigned from economic development committees since October, 1964; and if he will make a statement.

One Chairman and 8 members of Economic Development Committees, out of a total of 280 industrial and independent representatives, have resigned during their period of appointment. This does not include members who have had to be replaced for causes such as ill-health, retirement from business, change of employment or termination of period of appointment.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to require all tablets, pills and capsules to be marked with an identifying code number.

Identification through colour, shape or some other form of code is currently being studied by the Pharmaceutical Society, the British Medical Association and the pharmaceutical industry, and the need for legislation to facilitate such identification will be considered in the general review of medicines legislation which is well advanced. A number of firms already code products for the purposes of identification.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of those declared redundant at Rootes, Linwood, have been placed in jobs.

Thirteen had been placed by 25th October and a further nine were known to have found work for themselves.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies known to his Department in the Shrewsbury area are at present in manufacturing industries and service industries, respectively; and what were the same figures on 5th April, 1966.

Following is the information for 5th October, 1966 and 13th April, 1966, the date nearest to 5th April, 1966 for which information is available:

NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED AT THE SHREWSBURY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
	5th October 1966	13th April 1966
Manufacturing Industries (Standard Industrial Classification Orders III-XVI)	75	120
Service Industries (Orders XIX-XXIV)	211	309
Other Industries (Orders I, II, XVII and XVIII)	17	45
Total	303	474

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number affected by the recent Wages Regulation (Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing) (England and Wales) Order, 1966; and what is the estimated range of increase in hourly rates and earnings arising therefrom.

We have no information about the exact number affected by this Order, but the number of workers coming within the field of operation of the Wages Council concerned is estimated at about 140,000. The Order, which was made on 14th July, 1966, provided for increases in the weekly minimum rates ranging from 5s. 4d. to 10s. 6d. for men and from 4s. 3d. to 7s. 5d. for women, according to age, skill and area of employment for a normal working week of 40 hours.No information is available about the effect on earnings.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number affected by the recent Wages Regulation (Hair, Bass and Fibre) Order, 1966; and what is the estimated range of increase in hourly rates and earnings arising therefrom.

We have no information about the exact number affected by this Order, but the number of workers coming within the field of operation of the Wages Council concerned is estimated at about 500. The Order, which was made on 14th July, 1966, provide for increases in the hourly minimum rates ranging from 3d. to 9¾d. for men and from 3¼d. to 6d. for women according to age, experience and occupation.No information is available about the effect on earnings, but the two sides of the Council agreed to circulate to their members a joint declaration to the effect that there should be no increases in the rates actually paid where the new rates were already operative.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number affected by the recent Wages Regulation (Cutlery) (Holidays) (Amendment) Order 1966; and what is the estimated range of increase in hourly rates and earnings arising therefrom.

This Order which was made on 19th July, 1966, dealt with the holiday entitlements of workers with at least 12 months' continuous service with the same employer and did not increase the statutory minimum rates. We have no information about the number affected.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of his Department since October, 1964.

The total number of staff on 31st October was 650. This figure includes the staffs of the National Parks Commission and the Water Resources Board. The Department was not set up until 21st October, 1964.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will make a statement about the chairmanship of the Land Commission.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have invited Sir Henry Wells, C.B.E. to be Chairman of the Commission. Sir Henry has accepted the invitation and will take up his formal appointment on the appointed day under the legislation now before Parliament. He will begin as Chairman designate from 1st December next to perform such functions as are necessary to secure that the Commission will be operational on the appointed day. Sir Henry Wells is a chartered surveyor. He has accepted this appointment at some sacrifice since he will be giving up private practice. He will continue as Chairman of the Commission for the New Towns but will devote most of his time to the work of the Land Commission. His initial appointment as Chairman is to run for three years from the appointed day under the legislation and his salary will be at the rate of £7,500 a year.

asked the Minister of Power what was the amount of investment by the National Coal Board in the latest financial year in private companies specialising in coal distribution, heating services, chemicals, bricks and other building materials, respectively.

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

asked the Postmaster-General what review is currently taking place into postal deliveries in rural areas, aimed at varying existing Post Office practice; and if he will give an assurance that there will be no reduction in the number of deliveries or the standards which his Department has maintained in the rural areas.

A general review of postal arrangements for the long term, including those in rural areas, is now under way. It is not possible to say at present whether this review will lead to any general change in the standards in rural areas; but, in the meantime, second deliveries in a few of these areas may have to be withdrawn where the cost of maintaining them becomes excessive.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what increase or decrease there has been in the non-industrial staff of his Department since October, 1964.

There has been an increase of 464, about three quarters of whom have been recruited to fill existing vacancies.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what action he is taking to decrease the amount of wasteful competition among firms in Scotland making tenders for elaborate contracts in the building industry;(2) what action he is taking to decrease the amount of wasteful competition among firms in making tenders for elaborate contracts in the building industry.

Selective tendering has been the Ministry's own policy for many years. This provides for competition between a limited number of contractors according to size and type of project. Following the recommendations of the Ban-well Committee, my Department has published guidance to local authorities on methods of selective tendering, and is stimulating interest in other procedures by the distribution through Government Departments and professional institutions of a Research and Development Paper on (i) the early selection of a contractor with subsequent negotiation of a tender and (ii) serial tendering.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many applications for repayment of selective employment tax have been made under Section 6(2,b) and (c) of the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966.

Up to 1st November, 633 claims had been made under Section 6(2,b) of the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966 and 136 claims under section 6(2,c).

asked the Minister of Social Security how many applications for repayment of Selective Employment Tax have been made by private householders whose household includes a person over the age of 70 years in respect of persons employed in the rendering of domestic or nursing assistance; what steps have been taken to call the attention of such employers to the refunds available under Section 6(2a) of the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966; and what further action is proposed to make the availability of these refunds widely known.

Up to 1st November, 3,756 claims had been made under Section 6(2,a) of the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966. When Selective Employment Tax became payable the national, provincial and periodical Press carried information and paid Press advertisements about the possibilities of repayment. Since the first week of October explanatory leaflets giving details of repayment under Section 6 of the Act, together with the relevant claim forms, have been available in all Post Offices and offices of the Ministry of Social Security. The question whether further publicity is necessary is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much land has been acquired by compulsion under the Highland Development Authority Act;(2) what businesses or undertakings have been acquired under powers granted by the Highland Development Authority Act;(3) how many buildings have been erected under powers acquired through the Highland Development Authority Act;(4) how much equipment on or in connection with land has been acquired under powers granted by the Highland Development Authority Act;(5) how many services on or in connection with land have been provided under powers granted by the Highland Development Authority Act.

The Highlands and Islands Development Board has not found it necessary to use these powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent information has been obtained from businessmen and landowners under the Highland Development Authority Act.

I am informed that the Highlands and Islands Development Board has obtained a considerable amount of information voluntarily from businessmen and landowners. The Board has not found it necessary to serve any notice requiring the provision of information in terms of Section 11 of the Highlands and Islands Development (Scotland) Act, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many loans or grants have been given to industry under the Highland Development Authority Act in addition to those available through normal Board of Trade channels; and what is their amount.

The following table gives information about approvals and payments up to 31st October, 1966, under the Highlands and Islands Development Board's arrangements for assistance to industrial and commercial projects.

	Number	Loans Offered	Grants Offered	Amount Paid
		£	£	£
Manufacturing	24	169,530	24,433	108,982
Tourism	54	185,840	62,285	48,891
Others	67	217,765	27,668	115,550
	145	573,135	114,386	273,423

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was, at the latest convenient date, the approximate number of vehicles crossing the border on the A74, A7, A68 and A1 routes, respectively; and if an estimate has been projected for 1970 for each route.

In August, 1965, the numbers of vehicles per day at the census points nearest to the Border were as shown below. Nationally it is expected that traffic will increase by about 40 per cent. between 1965 and 1970 and the figures in brackets show the result of applying this factor; an attempt to forecast specifically for these four census points might be misleading.

• A74—Sark Bridge, Cumberland, 12,976 (18,200).
• A7—Todhillwood, 2,222 (3,100).
• A68—Huntford, 3,262 (4,550).
• A1—Boundary with England, 4,872 (6,800).

NOTE:—On A74 the seasonal variation is low; on the other routes the average number of vehicles per day over the whole year would be about two-thirds of the August figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has now made of the cost of the selective employment tax in the Highland counties during the current year and in a full financial year, respectively; and what proportion will be repaid by way of repayments and premiums.

I regret it is not practicable to provide such an estimate for any particular area.

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS*
£ million
			1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960
India	…	…	130·9	168·7	176·5	161·2	172·2	151·3
Pakistan		…	36·5	32·6	34·4	29·0	34·3	39·8
Ceylon	…	…	21·7	25·9	25·7	28·0	31·7	29·0
Malaysia	…	…	40·0	44·5	42·1	38·8	35·9	41·2
Singapore†	…	…	38·1	41·6	39·6	35·8	31·3	33·8
Hong Kong		…	26·9	34·2	37·6	31·8	36·7	41·3
Gambia	…	…	2·0	1·7	2·0	1·6	1·5	1·3
Sierra Leone		…	9·5	11·5	11·6	10·6	9·2	10·1
Ghana	…	…	39·1	38·8	38·0	34·6	41·7	45·1
Nigeria	…	…	57·3	62·1	58·2	65·9	72·3	80·4
Zambia	‡	…	53·6	58·4	60·2	52·2	49·3	47·1
Malawi		…
Rhodesia		…
Tanzania	…	…	17·3	15·0	12·5	11·2	10·2	9·7
Kenya	…	…	38·1	36·0	31·3	27·2	28·9	31·4
Uganda	…	…	10·1	8·2	7·1	6·3	5·0	5·0
Canada	…	…	141·1	178·1	195·7	188·6	208·2	215·1
Australia	…	…	284·4	239·2	235·5	235·9	223·9	260·4
New Zealand		…	139·2	126·9	140·0	128·1	97·9	120·9

£ million
			1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	Jan.-Sept. 1966
India	…	…	153·1	117·9	138·2	128·9	114·1	70·3
Pakistan	…	…	43·6	43·0	42·0	44·2	50·4	37·6
Ceylon	…	…	26·7	24·8	23·0	19·9	18·9	17·9
Malaysia	…	…	44·4	49·8	47·7	84·2	92·2	36·6
Singapore†	…	…	37·4	34·8	37·8	—	—	29·2
Hong Kong		…	45·8	48·6	55·0	57·8	65·0	45·7
Gambia	…	…	1·8	1·5	1·7	1·6	2·2	1·7
Sierra Leone		…	13·1	11·0	11·1	12·8	10·3	6·9
Ghana	…	…	49·5	36·6	38·7	33·6	40·7	19·1
Nigeria	…	…	74·2	63·3	65·4	70·8	72·6	49·1
Zambia	‡	…	47·3	41·4	40·6	40·6	15·1	18·8
Malawi		…					3·5	4·5
Rhodesia		…					31·5	2·2
Tanzania	…	…	11·1	10·1	10·6	9·9	11·0	10·6
Kenya	…	…	28·9	29·6	30·2	32·9	34·3	28·3
Uganda	…	…	5·0	4·5	4·9	5·6	7·5	6·4
Canada	…	…	222·6	188·9	173·4	187·7	200·5	155·8
Australia	…	…	201·9	229·2	236·6	256·8	280·3	186·4
New Zealand		…	124·1	107·2	115·2	117·4	124·9	94·1
*All figures include trade in diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones.
† In 1964–65 Singapore was included in Malaysia; separate figures are not available.
‡Formerly the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; figures for individual countries are not available prior to 1965.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports to India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Gambia, Sierre Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Rhodesia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for the years 1955 to 1965, inclusive, and for the year 1966 to date.

The following is the information:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce plans for future major airports in the United Kingdom.

Other than the plan for a third London Airport there are no proposals under consideration for new major airports in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the interests of staff economy, he will institute a system of acknowledging correspondence by printed cards, as is the practice of a number of other Departments, instead of by typed and signed letters as at present.

It is standard practice in the Board of Trade to acknowledge letters by means of printed postcards except when the nature of the communication calls for an interim reply rather than a bare acknowledgement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what studies have been made of the economics of large submarine oil tankers and of submarine freighters in general.

No such studies have been undertaken by my Department. But the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research did a study in this field some six years ago which gave unfavourable results.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the landing fees for light aircraft at the new landing strips at Dundee, Glenrothes, Cumbernauld, Plockton and Mull.

I understand that the landing fees charged at Dundee are 9s. per 1,000 lb. of aircraft weight. Landing fees at Glenrothes and Cumbernauld are the same as those at aerodromes administered by this Department, i.e. for aircraft up to 26,000 lb. 6s. 1,000 lb. of the aircraft's maximum total weight authorised. The fees to be charged at Plockton and Mull have not yet been promulgated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the changes in the rate of duty charged on the import of rayon and other man-made fibres since October, 1964.

The most-favoured-nation rate has not been changed since October, 1964. In accordance with our obligations under the Stockholm Convention and the Free Trade Area Agreement with the Irish Republic, the rate of duty on imports from E.F.T.A. countries has twice been reduced and will be eliminated on 1st January, 1967, and that on imports from the Irish Republic has already been eliminated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he now intends to take to prevent the occurrence of cruelty to both animals and birds imported into this country by air from abroad.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten)—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd November, 1966; Vol. 735, c. 154.]

asked the Minister of Transport how many motorists were charged during 1965 with dangerous driving in that they failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing when an accident occurred as a result, and when there was no accident, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will publish the results of the research being conducted by her Department into the comparative costs of rail and road transport.

We do not now expect to receive the first results of the studies before the end of the year. We hope to publish a report on this part of the study early in 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the decrease of 228 in the staff of her Department since October, 1964, takes account of the transfer of l,800 staff to the Board of Trade, as well as any other transfers to other Departments.

The decrease of 228 takes account of the transfer of 1,782 staff to the Board of Trade and 66 to the Welsh Office, as well as the transfer to the Ministry of the Road Research Laboratory with 756 staff.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if she will list the items of the expenditure programme of British Railways which have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the economic measures announced on 20th July, 1966, showing in each case the value of the item expenditure, the date on which it was to have been started, the date on which it was to have been completed and the date on which it is now expected it will be started;(2) if she will list the items of the expenditure programme of the Docks Board which have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the economic measures announced on 20th July, 1966, showing in each case the value of the item expenditure, the date on which it was to have been started, the date on which it was to have been completed and the date on which it is now expected it will be started;(3) if she will list the items of the expenditure programme of the London Transport Board which have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the economic measures announced on 20th July, 1966, showing in each case the value of the item expenditure, the date on which it was to have been started, the date on which it was to have been completed and the date on which it is now expected it will be started.

The Boards have not cancelled any major items of expenditure as a result of these measures. They have however agreed to re-arrange their programmes over a wide range of projects so as to reduce by £10 million (British Railways), £2 million (London Transport) and £1 million (British Transport Docks) the capital investments they had hoped to make during 1967. The precise makeup of the programmes, and the timing of individual schemes within them, is a complex matter and it is not practicable to give the information the hon. Member asks for.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a Welsh version of the form of application for driving licences is now being prepared.

Not at present. But my right hon. Friend is considering whether a Welsh version of this form would be practicable and justified.

asked the Minister of Transport at what intervals police cars patrol the Ml and M6 motorways.

I have been asked to reply.In fine weather by day the average distances between patrolling cars at 14 miles on Ml and 13 miles on M6; the average distance in fine weather by night is 23 miles on both motorways. Patrols are greatly strengthened in bad weather.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list the sections of dual carriageway trunk road, excluding motorway, showing the mileage in each case, which have come into use since 1955, which are under construction, for which tenders have been invited, and for which schemes have been made, showing the actual or estimated completion date and the actual or estimated cost wherever permitted.

As most work on non-motorway trunk road schemes is delegated to my divisional offices and as there is no requirement within my Ministry to keep records of dual carriageway trunk roads in this form, the information requested could not be collated without considerable expense and detriment to other work.

asked the Minister of Transport by what criteria she judges excessive the cost of obtaining information on the dual carriageway trunk road scheme.

It would have cost over £1,000 to obtain the information for which the hon. Member asked.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the concern of the people of the area following the meeting between her officials and Brentwood Urban District Council officials, with regard to the flow of traffic, whether she will now arrange a meeting with members of the council and introduce the proposed traffic survey before the summer of 1967.

A further meeting would serve no useful purpose. I could not tell members of the Council more than will have been reported to them in the discussion between our officials.I am afraid that an earlier survey would not take account of peak summer traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list the items of the road programme which have now been postponed or cancelled as a result of the economic measures which were announced on 20th July, 1966, showing in each case the value of the item expenditure, the date on which it was to have been started, the date on which it was to have been completed and the date on which it is now expected it will be started.

No schemes have been postponed or cancelled for this reason.

asked the Minister of Transport what objections she has received to the proposed removal of Long Eaton directional signs fom the M1-A52 interchange near Sandiacre; and whether in view of these objections she will reconsider her decision.

Additional directional signs of the normal motorway pattern are now being installed, after which it is proposed to remove the present temporary signs. We shall reply shortly to renewed objections from Long Eaton U.D.C. about the removal of these, but on present information we are unlikely to change our view that motorists should experience no further difficulty, though we are prepared to reconsider the matter if the new signs prove inadequate.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will receive a deputation from hon. Members for East Grinstead, Reigate and the Sevenoaks divisions to discuss the proposed closure of the Hurst Green-Lewes railway.

The Railways Board have not yet published their proposals for this line. When they do so the statutory procedure will be invoked and, if objections are received by the Transport Users Consultative Committee, my right hon. Friend will have to decide whether or not to give her consent to closure. The best time for meeting with hon. Members will be when she has received and studied the Consultative Committee's report on hardship, details of alternative transport services in the area, the advice of the Economic Planning Council on the planning implications of closure, and information about other important matters such as road conditions. Any additional points which hon. Members wish to raise can then be considered before a decision is reached. We will write to the hon. Members concerned at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Transport, if she will give an assurance, following the undertaking given by her Department to the effect that the formation of the Aberystwyth-Carmarthen railway will not be disturbed until the Welsh Economic Council considered the question of that railway line, that the railway bridge between Aberystwyth and Pont Llanio will be allowed to remain standing until a final decision is reached.

I understand that the bridge is unsafe and is to be demolished immediately. I am unable therefore to give my hon. Friend the categorical assurance which he seeks. But the formation of the Aberystwyth-Carmarthen railway line will not be disposed of until the Welsh Economic Council have completed their reconsideration of this question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the special security wing of Parkhurst Prison became available for the receipt of prisoners.

31st January, 1966.

asked the Lord President of the Council what sum has been spent on books in the Welsh language for the House of Commons Library in each of the years from 1955 to 1965.

The following sums were spent during the period in question:

				s.	d.
1955	…	…	…	6	0
1956	…	…	…	58	0
1957	…	…	…	33	0
1958	…	…	…	6	0
1959	…	…	…	6	0
1960	…	…	…	12	6
1961	…	…	…	nil
1962	…	…	…	25	0
1963	…	…	…	7	6
1964	…	…	…	7	6
1965	…	…	…	7	6

The books purchased were those parts so far published of the "Dictionary of the Welsh Language". Apart from these, two other Welsh dictionaries, the "Oxford Book of Welsh Verse" and another anthology in the Welsh language were bought.

asked the Lord President of the Council what steps are taken to obtain books in the Welsh language for the Library of the House of Commons if hon. Members request them.

Requests from Members for books in the Welsh or any other language can be handed in at the counter in the Oriel Room or written in the Suggestions Book kept in A Room. Since 1951 no suggestions for books in Welsh have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether any of the recent cuts announced by the Government in respect of roads in Wales apply to Cardiganshire; and if he will give details of them.

No cuts have been made in Cardiganshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why the Chairman of the Welsh Planning Board, whose office was in Cardiff, was replaced by a civil servant born in the Potteries and resident in Buckinghamshire and whose offices remain in London; and how often he visits Wales.

This was not a matter of replacement but of a growing volume of work which required an addition to the senior staff and a sharing of duties. I count myself fortunate in having been able to recruit a distinguished civil servant of wide experience, who is now devoting his energies to the work in both my London and Cardiff offices and who will, I am sure, render great service to Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, when deciding upon the persons to be appointed as members of the Aberfan Committee of Inquiry, he ascertained that each of those so appointed were free to commence their activities immediately.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total cost of commissioning the report on the new town in Mid-Wales, together with the costs of publishing, printing and distributing the report.

The production of the report cost £16,970 and the printing, publishing and distribution an additional £4,956.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of staff economy, he will institute a system of acknowledging correspondence by printed cards, as is the practice of a number of other Departments, instead of by typed and signed letters as at present.

I am obliged to the hon. Member for his suggestion but as I find on inquiry that the proposed change would not enable the staff cost of my office to be reduced I would prefer to

Department				1.10.64	1.7.66	Change
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	…	…	14,739	14,864	+125
Aviation	…	…	…	24,418	24,716	+298
British Museum	…	…	…	979	1,203	+224
County Courts	…	…	…	5,162	5,336	+174
Customs and Excise	…	…	…	15,852	16,929	+1,077
Defence	…	…	…	109,388	108,868	−520
Diplomatic Service	…	…	…	9,581*	10,650	+1,069
Education and Science	…	…	…	3,441	4,630	+1,189
Export Credits Guarantee	…	…	…	1,092	1,217	+125
General Register Office	…	…	…	1,196	1,593	+397
Health	…	…	…	5,232	5,816	+584
Home	…	…	…	15,134	16,442	+1,308
Housing and Local Government	…	…	…	3,192	3,843	+651
Information, Central Office	…	…	…	1,490	1,593	+103
Inland Revenue	…	…	…	56,465	60,500	+4,035
Labour	…	…	…	20,781	22,685	+1,904
Land Registry	…	…	…	2,636	3,163	+527
Ordnance Survey	…	…	…	3,893	3,954	+61
Overseas Development	…	…	…	1,623†	2,217	+594
Social Security	…	…	…	53,276	55,825	+2,549
Power	…	…	…	1,615	1,618	+3
Public Building and Works	…	…	…	20,727	20,804	+77
Stationery Office	…	…	…	2,966	3,063	+97
Supreme Court	…	…	…	1,812	1,832	+20
Technology	…	…	…	5,373‡	4,574	−799
Trade, Board of	…	…	…	7,883	9,618	+1,735
Transport	…	…	…	7,810	7,193	−617
Treasury	…	…	…	1,500	1,638	+138
Scottish Departments
Agriculture and Fisheries	…	…	…	2,618	2,835	+217
Home and Health	…	…	…	2,931	3,233	+302
Other Departments	…	…	…	10,529	12,324	+1,795
*Commonwealth Relations Office and Foreign Office only.
† Department of Technical Co-operation.
‡ Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give instructions to Her Majesty's Customs that, in view of the ruling of the High Court in the case of Her Majesty's

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, Department by Department, the staff changes which were responsible for the increase in the number of non-industrial civil servants, excluding those in the Post Office, of 19,500 between October, 1964, and July, 1966.

The numbers of staff on post on 1st October, 1964, and 1st July, 1966, in Departments with more than 1,000 staff are shown below. In some cases the change in numbers reflects a reallocation of functions between departments or a reclassification of staff.Customs versus Salamon, on the payment of import duty on cameras, he will instruct Her Majesty's Inspectors of Customs to cease forthwith the practice of discrimination between trading companies and individuals in respect of this or any other duty, unless such discrimination is specifically sanctioned by Act of Parliament.

The Customs have already modified their practice in this matter in the light of the decision of the Court.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional revenue which has accrued to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise over the last five years as a result of their policy of discrimination between persons and trading companies in the import of cameras and all other such items over which such discrimination has been exercised in the determination of duty payable.

It is not possible to ascertain the amount, but it is certainly quite small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for Northern Ireland Government publications to be available to Members on a green demand form, which covers publications required for the discharge of their Parliamentary duties.

Yes.

		Portsmouth	Devonport	Chatham	Rosyth	Gibraltar	Singapore
1st April, 1962	…	33	31	32	18	6	19
1st April, 1963	…	36	32	33	17	6	19
1st April, 1964	…	34	32	32	23	6	19
1st April, 1965	…	35	31	31	23	6	19
1st April, 1966	…	36	27	32	23	6	19

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the number of qualified and unqualified technical personnel, respectively, employed in preparation of schedules for the Dockyard Incentive Bonus Scheme, giving particulars for each dockyard separately.

The number employed on these duties, among others, are: 121 at Portsmouth; 101 at Devon-port; 120 at Chatham; 68 at Rosyth. Depending on the length of time since the last qualifying examination, some of these posts may be held by experienced but unqualified men.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-naval

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in the interests of staff economy, he will institute a system of acknowledging correspondence by printed cards, as is the practice of a number of other Departments, instead of by typed and signed letters at present.

Most correspondence received in my Department is already acknowledged by printed cards. The number of typed acknowledgements, usually relating to Ministerial correspondence, is quite small.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what increase or decrease there has been in the non-industrial staff of his Department since October, 1964.

A decrease of 179.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval officers were in positions in Her Majesty's Dockyards in each of the years from 1962 to 1966, inclusive; and if he will give the particulars for each dockyard separately.

The details are as follows:officers have been appointed to civilian posts in Her Majesty's Dockyards with salaries of £1,500 per annum or over for the years 1962–63, 1964–65, and 1966; and if he will give the particulars for each dockyard separately.

The numbers are as follows:

		Portsmouth	Devonport	Chatham	Rosyth
1962	…	1	1	—	—
1963	…	2	1	—	—
1964	…	—	—	1	1
1965	…	1	—	1	—
1966	…	1	2	—	1

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when examinations for qualified technical staff in Her Majesty's Dockyards are normally held; and how long elapses before results are announced.

The Inspector of Trades examination is held every second, even-numbered, year. Candidates successful at a written examination in July go for interview, and the final results have been coming out about eleven months after the written examination. We plan to reduce this time by new arrangements for the interviews.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the principles established by the Crichel Down's case are not being applied to the sale of a bungalow in Theddlethorpe St. Helens, Lincolnshire, which was compulsorily acquired in 1935 and is now being sold by public auction on his instruction in order to get the highest possible profit, instead of being offered at a fair price to the widow of the previous owner; and if he will take steps to safeguard the rights of this citizen.

The policy to which the hon. Members refers was stated by the then Minister of Agriculture in the debate on Crichel Down on 20th July, 1954 [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th July, 1954; Vol. 530, c.1189–1192.] It applies to agricultural land which has been acquired compulsorily for which there is no further Government need.This bungalow was included in a purchase of seven acres from Mr. and Mrs. G. Hudson in July, 1935, of which part has been transferred to the Nature Conservancy and part is still required by the Ministry of Defence. The bungalow and the small area of land being sold with it are not agricultural in character and do not therefore fall within the terms of this policy. But in view of the special circumstances of this case my right hon. Friend is prepared to give the late owners' daughter-in-law the opportunity of buying the bungalow at the district valuer's assessment of the current market value.