asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs in how many Commonwealth countries the arrangements outlined in Command Paper No. 2739 have been made for intending immigrants to the United Kingdom to undergo medical tests before they leave; and if he will make a statement.

During the past twelve months discussions have been in progress with our Missions overseas and local Commonwealth authorities about arrangements for the medical examination of Commonwealth immigrants before they leave their countries of origin. Plans are now in an advanced stage for the compulsory medical examination of all voucher holders and these new arrangements will come into operation next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the safety of British subjects and British companies in Zambia.

As hon. Members are aware, disturbances broke out at Kitwe on 30th October following a fire at an oil depot. As a result of these disturbances Mrs. Myburgh, the wife of a British subject, was killed and several people received minor injuries. I am sure that the House will join me in expressing sympathy to the family of Mrs. Myburgh.The Zambian Government, which is, of course, responsible for the safety of all communities in Zambia, has strongly condemned those responsible for the disorders, and issued emphatic warnings against racialism in any form. President Kaunda has appealed for discipline in all sections of the community. Additional security measures have been taken, and the situation in the Copperbelt and in Zambia as a whole is at present quiet and under control.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs which Commonwealth and foreign Governments are represented in Rhodesia; and at what level.

Britain has residual staff in the High Commission, having withdrawn its head of misison after i.d.i.; France, the United States, Japan and Italy withdrew the heads of their Consular missions after i.d.i. They together with the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland have career consular officers in Rhodesia. South Africa has an accredited diplomatic representative. In the case of Belgium and Germany their Consul-Generals had left Rhodesia before i.d.i. and have not been replaced. Other Commonwealth countries withdrew their entire missions and are not represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what undertakings have been given to the Seychelles in respect of the construction of an airport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to provide a full-length modern runway in the Seychelles.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to meet the cost of building a civil airfield in Seychelles. A Government team is now making a detailed engineering survey of a site on the Island of Mahe. Further decisions, including the airfield's precise location and method of construction, will be made in the light of the team's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider offering Gibraltar in the near future British county status, in order to assure the Gibraltarians of remaining permanently British.

The people of Gibraltar are British and will remain British. Nothing can alter that. As far as constitutional changes are concerned, I invite the: hon. Member's attention to the reply which my hon. Friend gave on 1st November. [Vol. 735, c. 58.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on his visit to Gibraltar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his visit to Gibraltar.

My discussions with the Governor, with Ministers and with many others in Gibraltar covered a wide range of subjects. I was deeply moved by the warmth of the welcome with which the Government and people of Gibraltar honoured me. I was glad to convey to them the wholehearted admiration of this House and of the Government and people of Britain for the courageous way in which, under the leadership of the Governor and their Chief Minister, they are withstanding the irksome and unworthy restrictions imposed by Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what economic guarantees he has given to the Government of Gibraltar during the continuation of the current dispute with Spain.

I reaffirmed to the people of Gibraltar that the British Government intend to sustain Gibraltar in her present difficulties, and that if further finance is proved to be needed for this purpose, and if the British Government are satisfied as to this need, we will stand ready to provide it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the average daily number of Gibral- tarians crossing the frontier into Spain before the recent ban.

225.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what ways Her Majesty's Government are helping the Gibraltar Government to launch its Development Plan; and when implementation of the plan will begin.

T would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 3rd November. The plan for additional development covers the years 1967–70.—[Vol. 735, c. 159–60.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the lawlessness now taking shape in Mauritius; and what action the police are taking to curb the growing danger to life and property.

The situation in Mauritius is quiet. There have been two demonstrations by groups of unemployed since early in September, but neither of these resulted in any damage to life or property. The police will continue to take any measures necessary for maintaining law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the present dissatisfaction of European civil servants regarding their condition of service whilst serving in Hong Kong.

During my recent visit to Hong Kong I had a frank discussion with representatives of the Association of European Civil Servants. I was informed that there was dissatisfaction among their members as to the degree of recognition given in the recent salaries' review to the need to ensure that conditions of service are adequate to attract and retain the services of expatriate staff. The Hong Kong Government are fully aware of these views and are giving them appropriate consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hong Kong.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what visits have been made since October, 1964, to British colonies in the Pacific Ocean by or on behalf of the Colonial Office; between what dates these visits were made; with what terms of reference; and at what cost.

I understand the hon. Member's Question to refer to visits made by outside bodies on behalf of the Colonial Office.There was one such visit. On the invitation of my predecessor, Mr. O. V. Garratt, Dr. T. E. Morris and Mrs. B. Serota accompanied by an official visited the four Pacific Territories between 25th February and 3rd April this year. Their terms of reference were:

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that the Dutch Government makes it a condition in licences they grant to search for and exploit gas and oil in the Dutch part of the Continental Shelf that the State should take a proportion of the accruing benefits; and if he will make a similar condition in future licences which he grants to search for and exploit gas and oil in the British part of the Continental Shelf.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the Dutch Government are considering the conditions under which licences will be granted. Terms for the granting of future licences to operate in the British sector of the Continental Shelf will be considered at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the shortage of petroleum geologists in Great Britain.

No shortage has been brought to my attention.

asked the Minister of Power what requests his Department has had from Euratom for information for the establishment of common cost criteria in nuclear power station construction; and what replies he has given.

Euratom has not asked my right hon. Friend for such information, though there have been discussions with other international organisations about the costing problem.

asked the Minister of Power what recent discussions he has had with the European Coal and Steel Community to identify obstacles to the United Kingdom's accession to the Paris Treaty.

By reason of the United Kingdom's associate relationship with the European Coal and Steel Community my officials are in regular contact with the High Authority, and are well informed on the issues that might arise.

asked the Minister of Power how many professional staff have joined his economic section in the past year.

Four.

asked the Minister of Power if he will tabulate the main areas where oil is now being extracted in this country, and the average daily output; and if he will also tabulate all the oil strikes on the mainland, and in the North Sea which have been notified to him this year, stating the location of the strike, the name of the exploration company making the strike, and the daily anticipated output.

All reports furnished to my right hon. Friend under the provisions of licences are confidential.Oil is being extracted in the Midlands and in Dorset, and the latest published figure of total production in Great Britain is 91,000 tons for the year 1965. This figure includes petroleum gases.British Petroleum have an oil show in a well in Yorkshire.The Burmah Group announced last month that they had encountered oil in their exploration well in North Sea Block 48/22, but it is not yet known whether there is sufficient present for commercial exploitation.

asked the Minister of Power what further consultation has taken place with the parties concerned to plan some form of direct workers participation in the management at firm level unions in the iron and steel industry.

I have discussed the general question of workers' participation in the management of the nationalised steel industry with the Economic Committee of the Trades Union Congress and am awaiting their considered views. I have also had talks with a number of the unions in the iron and steel industry.

asked the Minister of Power what is the average gallonage of water pumped to waste from coal mines in England and Wales each year; and what is the average pumping cost per ton of water.

During the year ending 31st October 1965 nearly 88,000 million gallons of water were extracted from N.C.B. mines in England and Wales. Costings are not available.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that the price of broken and large coke has increased from 12s. 6d. per hundredweight in 1965 to its present price of 16s. 5d. per hundredweight; what is the reason for this increase; and what action he will take.

I understand 12s. 6d. a cwt. was the price of broken and large coke in July, 1965. The price of 16s. 5d. refers to Gloco, a higher quality product, and includes 9d. in respect of the increase in coke prices on 1st May and Is. owing to partial removal of the summer discount in August.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will ensure that the National Coal Board refrain from tipping waste material on the seashore of the County of Durham.

Alternative methods of waste disposal would add substantially to the costs of the Durham pits concerned, but the National Coal Board are anxious to mitigate the effects of waste disposal on amenities and are re-examining this problem.

asked the Minister of Power (1) whether he will seek such powers as may be necessary to enable him to see that all dangerous slag heaps are cleared forthwith, and that the National Coal Board commences immediately to clear these heaps of waste by placing them underground into disused pits;(2) whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain the number of waste heaps which are in the coalmining areas and the estimated cost of clearing these by placing them into disused pits.

Action is already being taken to ensure that no colliery waste heaps are dangerous. Whatever needs to be done will be done, but I am advised that the particular proposal made by my hon. Friend is not a practicable solution to this problem.

asked the Minister of Power why, in view of the Government's wage and prices standstill, he is permitting an increase of £1 per ton in the pithead price of coal, in view of the fact that summer discount prices were not available to the retail customers this year.

The normal summer discount of £1 a ton was introduced on 1st May but for most grades of coal the discount more than offset the simultaneous increase in house coal prices. The summer discount ended on 31st October. The White Paper on the Prices and Incomes Standstill (Cmnd. 3073) made it clear that seasonal price changes up and down would not be regarded as a breach of the prices standstill.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has had from the Electrical Contractors' Association regarding the position of electricity boards under the Selective Employment Tax; and what reply he has sent.

asked the Minister of Power what has been the result of his consideration in consultation with the industries concerned of the position which causes electrical contractors to pay the full Selective Employment Tax while exempting the electrical contracting departments of electrical boards who are in direct competition with them.

In response to the proposals set out in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 18th October, the Electrical Contractors Association of England and Wales has proposed instead that employment in certain of the area electricity boards' activities should be made by statute not eligible for refund of the tax. This proposal is not acceptable to the Government and the Association has been asked whether it will reconsider proceeding on the line previously proposed—[Vol. 734, c. 32.]

asked the Minister of Power what applications for the use of natural gas for electric power generation he received from the electricity supply industry before 26th July; and what applications he received between 26th July and 5th October when the annual report of the Electricity Council was published.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is satisfied that the use of natural gas in place of coal in electricity generating stations will reduce air pollution; and if he will make a statement on restrictions imposed on the Central Electricity Generating Board in their use of natural gas.

asked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the Central Electricity Generating Board to estimate the financial saving of oil-powered stations near the North Sea gas fields turning North Sea gas into electricity.

I have received no applications from the electricity supply industry for the use of natural gas in power stations, although I am aware of the views expressed by the Electricity Council in their recently published Annual Report. On the factors which would affect such use. I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 24th October.Air pollution would not be greatly reduced by the use of natural gas because special measures are taken to reduce air pollution from the chimneys of coal-fired stations, but the cost of such measures would be avoided.—[Vol. 734, c.

asked the Minister of Power if he will tabulate the natural gas strikes in the North Sea and on the mainland which have been notified to him to date stating the location of the strike, the name of the exploration company making the strike and the anticipated daily output from the bore hole.

All reports furnished to my right hon. Friend under the provisions of licenses are confidential. I give below a summary of the information so far made public by licensees. Further testing of all

asked the Minister of Power to what extent, and at what cost in foreign exchange, the Gas Council will now have to import steel pipes for the piping of North Sea gas; and what steps he intends to take to expedite home production.

Next year the Gas Council will need to import some large

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the continuing financial results being returned by the Scottish Gas Board, he will seek to write off some of that organisation's capital deficit, following the precedent set in the case of the National Coal Board.

No. The circumstances of the two industries are quite different.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the expected value of the Government's own requirements of radio and electronic components for civil and military use during the current year and the first and second halves of 1967, respectively.

The estimated value of the requirements of the main purchasing Departments during the current financial years is around £80 million. The figures for 1967–68 will be available when the Estimates are published.

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects to conclude his examination of the possibility of forecasting Government requirements of radio and electronic components; and if he will make a statement.

We want to give component manufacturers as much advance knowledge as possible about future Government requirements of radio and electronic components. My Department in consultation with the industry and the main purchasing Departments, is examining ways in which this process might be improved. The range of products involved is of course very wide.

asked the Minister of Technology by what means he proposes to inform Parliament and the electronics industry of the expected value of future Government requirements of radio and electronic components.

I shall not be able to say what kind of information can be made available or by what means, until the work referred to in my Answer today to the hon. Member's Question No. 68 is further advanced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the adverse effects that the close company Sections of the Finance Act 1965 are having on the growth of many smaller companies, he will seek to amend these Sections in the next Finance Bill.

I am not aware that these Sections have an adverse effect on growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many publicly quoted close companies have made dividend announcements since 20th July last; how many have increased their dividend; and how many of these were due to the Inland Revenue invoking the provisions of the Finance Act 1965.

No separate record is available of close companies as such.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer since Her Majesty's Government's economic policy is creating unemployment and reducing the profits made by private industry from which over half is taken in taxation, if he will now cut the welfare services; and if he will make a statement.

It is our constant aim to get the right economic and social priorities in public expenditure having regard to the resources available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the 1,100,000 holders of 3½ per cent. War Stock has held the security for a period of 15 years or longer.

I regret that this information is not available. There are more than a million holders of War Loan and any attempt to identify any particular class of holder would be a lengthy and expensive operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to see that no sterling above the £50 limit gets into Spain via Gibraltar.

Exchange control procedure in Gibraltar follows United Kingdom practice. I understand that the Gibraltar Government imposes the £50 limit on the provision of foreign exchange for travel and takes all possible steps to ensure that United Kingdom exchange control restrictions are implemented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has, in view of the restrictions on the foreign travel allowance outside the sterling area, regarding reprisal action being taken by other countries.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the estimated currency savings as a result of the financial restrictions on travel abroad outside the sterling area during the first 12 months of its operation.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated in his Statement on 20th July, the savings in foreign currency from this and the other exchange control measures are expected to be £50 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether guidance has now been given to Government Departments and local authorities on the conduct of negotiations in relation to pay agreements during the standstill period.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the numbers of employees in each category in the Bristol area as far as the Selective Employment Tax is concerned; and what is the gross amount of Selective Employment Tax collected, and the amount of refund paid in a full year in the same area.

I regret that it is not practicable to provide this information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the peak rate of unemployment in the forthcoming winter months; and what steps he is taking to ensure greater accuracy in these forecasts.

It is not the practice to publish detailed economic forecasts. These are necessarily subject to a margin of error, but I am satisfied that the work is done as well as it can be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it was on his authority that the Bank of England recommended the commercial banks to lend an additional £200 million to suitable customers; how much sooner the wage freeze and incomes restraint will be ended; and to what figure the real sterling reserves must rise before his present policy will be revised.

The statement issued by the Bank of England on 1st November with my agreement was intended to make it clear that the banks will have room within the ceiling on advances to meet the demands of priority borrowers. The ceiling remains unchanged and credit to non-priority borrowers must continue to be restricted. The Government's measures will be maintained for as long as is necessary to achieve our economic objectives.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a direction to the Bank of England to permit part of the unused bank credits of £170 million to be available for payment of the Selective Employment Tax by manufacturing industry and particularly for those firms which are substantial exporters.

The banks are aware that credit can be provided for payment of the Selective Employment Tax within the ceiling and subject to the priorities which have been laid down. The recent Bank of England announcement reaffirmed that exporters should continue to be regarded as first priority borrowers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a breakdown of demand in the metals, engineering and vehicle industries, for the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which of the 12 companies which have increased their dividends since 20th July last are close companies as defined in the Finance Act, 1965.

None of these companies sought exemption on the grounds of being closely-controlled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, why, in view of the country's economic difficulties and of the pornographic nature of the product, the import has been permitted from the United States of a gramophone record called L.S.D.; and whether he will make a statement.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend later.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the Government's wage and prices standstill and a severe restraint on increased incomes in 1967, he has agreed to overtime

Figures for all the years 1957 to 1965 are not available. For the year 1963, the following statistics are available from the input-output tables published in the August, 1966 issue of Economic Trends.payments at enhanced rates of pay for civil servants, commencing on 11th February 1967; and whether he will make a statement.

This agreement is an existing commitment as defined in paragraph 22 of the White Paper on the Prices and Incomes Standstill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost to the Exchequer in the last financial year of granting tax reliefs to people buying their own houses on mortgages; and how many people were granted such reliefs.

For 1965–66, about £130 million and about four million persons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of his restrictions on overseas travel allowance to £50 per annum, he is allowing £2,000 per annum for school fees to children attending schools and colleges in hard currency areas; and what economies he intends to make in these allowances.

The figure of £2,000 comes from a notice to banks dating back to November, 1960, and is being amended as part of the current travel restrictions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, contrary to the Government's declared policy regarding the wages and prices standstill, the price of coffee and tea supplied to civil servants in his Department has been increased; and what action he proposes to reduce these prices.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the staff restaurant in the Great George Street Offices. Staff restaurant committees are expected to absorb extra costs if possible but the White Paper indicated the limited circumstances in which a minimum increase is permitted.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if, in view, of the fact that Her Majesty's Government's National Plan of a year ago forecast a shortage of 200,000 workers, and there are now half a million unemployed and unable to find jobs, with the probability of a million unemployed this winter, he will abandon the rest of the plan; and if he will make a statement.

Without accepting the hon. Member's figures, I would ask him to await a statement on the future of the Plan.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he has yet decided to publish a second edition of the National Plan.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with a view to catching George Blake, what contact has been made with his wife since his escape; what advice was given to her about leaving Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

It is not in the public interest to disclose details of police investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Director of Prison Security carried out an inspection of Her Majesty's Prison, Wormwood Scrubs.

The Security Adviser has visited Wormwood Scrubs on several occasions, but his main inspection was on 15th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost for the last ascertainable 12 months of the petrol subsidies for Service personnel stationed in Germany.

None to the British Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has studied proposals to reduce the number of Service bands; and if he will make a statement.

Band establishments, like other Service establishments, are kept under regular review. I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to unify the teaching of music in the Armed Services.

None. My right hon. Friend has examined the arrangements, and is satisfied that there would at present be no advantage in changing them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a detailed breakdown of his final £100 million economies.

As I have indicated previously, measures have been identified by which these economies could be made by 1969–70, but it would be premature to give details.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the earliest date at which economies from Service manpower reductions will be reflected in the Estimates.

I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 19th October in which I stated I was not at present prepared to give a forecast of the total future strength of the Services.—[Vol. 734, c. 208–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of maintaining the British bases in Cyprus.

The approximate annual budgetary cost of the forces and installations in Cyprus is £30 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many local civilians are employed at the British bases in Cyprus.

About 7,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of the Army and the Royal Air Force in Cyprus.

About 4,900 and 5,800 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many local civilians are employed in the British bases in Libya.

About 1,200.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of maintaining the military presence in Libya.

The approximate annual budgetary cost of the forces and installations in Libya is £5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of the Army in the British bases in Libya.

About 1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many locally employed storemen there are in Cyprus, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar, respectively.

303 in Cyprus, 24 in Libya, 380 in Malta and 153 in Gibraltar.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of the Army units and support kept in Malta.

About 2,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many local civilians are employed by British forces in Malta.

7,516 of whom 1,782 are employed by the Ministry of Public Building and Works.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of the Royal Navy at Malta.

About 1,500 naval personnel ashore and about 1,000 afloat.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of the Army at Gibraltar.

About 700.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many local men are employed in the dockyard of Gibraltar.

2,651 of whom 996 are aliens.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the dockyard at Gibraltar; and how much is in foreign exchange.

About £2 million a year, of which about £1¾ million is in foreign exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he gave instructions that the Pipe Band of the Scots Guards should be ordered to drop their engagement to play for the Anglo-Rhodesian Society on Armistice Sunday.

Military bands are not allowed to accept engagements organised by bodies having partisan or controversial aims.

asked the Minister of Aviation what was the number of apprentices engaged in training at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth, Cardiganshire, in each of the years 1960 to 1965, inclusive.

The numbers of apprentices engaged in training at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth, on 1st October in the years 1960–1965 were respectively 47, 40, 46, 38, 40 and 39. The small variation in numbers is due either to inability to recruit the numbers required of the right quality, or to wastages during the year.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether there have been any further associations between the Research and Development Establishments of his Department and universities, since the agreement between the Royal Radar Establishment and the University of Birmingham, announced last December.

Yes. An agreement has just been concluded, broadly on the same lines as that between R.R.E. and Birming- ham University, between the University of Southampton and the Royal Aircraft Establishment. This agreement, which is for five years in the first instance, provides for collaboration between a number of departments in both organisations for joint research projects; for the part-time exchange of staff, who would not only engage in teaching but would also take some part in the formation of research policy; and for joint supervision of students working for higher degrees. Up to 10 senior staff on each side will be involved.I welcome this association, which will enable each institution to obtain benefits, in the national interest, from the experience and expertise of the other. The agreement is not exclusive, and will, I hope, be followed by others, not only between R.A.E. itself and other universities, but between other establishments and universities also.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in HANSARD the number of general practitioners per 100,000 of the population, by counties, serving the National Health Service.

The latest available figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many local authorities increased the rents of their council dwellings between 20th July, 1966, and the present date;(2) how many local authorities have announced their intention of increasing the rents of their council dwellings between the present date and 31st December, 1966;

The authorities who have informed my right hon. Friend of increases during these periods number 17, 3 and 37, respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the increase in the tender price of three-bedroomed houses built for the London boroughs during the past five years and that, whereas the cost was £1,825 in 1960, by 1965 this had risen to £3,000; what were the reasons for this increase of 65 per cent. in five years; to what extent wages increases for building trades workers contributed to these increases; and what action he proposes to take, by legislation or otherwise, to reduce these prices.

It is not possible to say what proportion of the increased cost can be attributed to wage increases, since no estimates are available of the change in productivity for the particular group of workers. Other factors leading to higher costs include the higher price of materials, higher overheads, and better plans, layouts and amenities inside and outside the dwelling. For major schemes the London boroughs now seek cost targets from my Department at sketch plan stage, and this and the other measures my right hon. Friend is now considering will help to limit the cost of housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what information he receives from local authorities regarding the growth of non-conforming industry in residential areas; and what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to relocate non-conforming users.

Local planning authorities have adequate power to control the extension of non-conforming industry in residential areas and my right hon. Friend does not receive specific information about it. At present he cannot encourage expenditure on removal of non-conforming users except where removal is immediately necessary to the carrying out of other public investment programmes, or in the interests of the economy or public health or safety.