asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many self-propelled pea-vining machines are known to be in the country; why trailer machines have been excluded from the investment grants; and whether he will amend the regulations accordingly.

I regret the information on pea-vining machines is not available but the number is undoubtedly small. To prepare a practicable scheme of investment grants it was necessary to restrict grant to machinery licensed for Excise purposes as agricultural machines. Trailer machines will not therefore be eligible under the arrangements for which my right hon. Friend is seeking authority in the Agriculture Bill, and he cannot contemplate making any change in these proposals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what agricultural investment grant will be paid for tractors which do not need to be taxed either because they do not leave the farm or because they qualify for exemption in view of the fact that paragraph 2 of Form TIG 1 specifically excludes them.

None. Except in the Scilly Isles, where special conditions obtain, grant will be payable only on tractors which are licensed as agricultural machines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he intends to make for agricultural investment grants to be paid to companies which undertake the leasing of agricultural machinery.

Agricultural investment grants will not be paid on leased machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now considered in detail the implications for the United Kingdom of the Association agreement between Nigeria and the European Economic Community; what Her Majesty's Government's policy now is towards arrangements giving the European Economic Community preference over the United Kingdom in Commonwealth markets; and whether he will make a statement.

The Agreement has not yet entered into force and it will not be possible to assess the implications for British trade until it has been in operation for some time. The Government's policy towards arrangements which give the European Economic Community preferences over the United Kingdom in Commonwealth markets was explained by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, in reply to the Question by my hon. Friend on 26th July.—[Vol. 732, c. 1417.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he will take about the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines in the London Borough of Harrow, in view of the fact that the education authority refuses to abandon the principle of selection at the age of transfer from primary to secondary education.

I received the proposals of the London Borough of Harrow for the reorganisation of secondary education on 27th October. These proposals are not complete. The authority has promised details of the administrative method of implementing the council's decision and these have not yet arrived. When I have studied the proposals with

Project Title	University/Consultant	Estimated Total Cost£
1. Growth Potential in the North East	Durham University: Business Research Unit.	10,284
2. Analysis of regional economic development	National Institute of Economic and Social Research.	60,000
3. Economic Atlas of London and the London Region.	London School of Economics	12,000
4. Preston/Leyland/Chorley Industrial Complex Study.	Economic Consultants Ltd.	44,000
5. Tourism in the South West	Exeter University	5,000
6. Migration Survey of the Northern Region	Local Authority Planning Officers	1,587
7. Economic Impact of the Severn Bridge (in conjunction with the Welsh Economic Planning Council).	Swansea University College and Bristol College of Science and Technology.	30,750
8. Central London Office Location	London School of Economics	300
9. A Study of the Sub-regions of the South East	Reading University	3,540
10. Accessibility to Employment in the Northern Region.	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne	1,200
11. Characteristics of the Secondary Labour Force in South Yorkshire.	Sheffield University	1,135
12. Retail Trade Patterns in the East Midlands	Leicester University	10,000
13. Feasibility Study on the use of Electricity consumption as an indicator of economic activity.	London School of Economics	125
14. Economic and Social Survey of the North West	Lancaster University	7,100

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated value of United Kingdom exports and invisible current overseas earnings that arise from the net Government overseas current expenditure of £456 million during 1965; and what are the corresponding figures for the period 1952 to 1964, inclusive.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give a breakdown of the £70,000 which he spends on research into regional development.

The following list gives the regional research projects which the Department have currently on commission, or for which expenditure has been approved. This shows the total estimated cost for each, but some will be spread over two or more years. The total expenditure in 1966–67 is at present estimated at about £45,000, but expenditure should grow as approved projects are brought into operation and other projects are added.

A precise calculation is not possible, but the overall proportion is not likely to be very high.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer since the banks now have £160 million to lend, for which suitable borrowers were not available, if he will take the earliest opportunity of recommending a reduction in the Bank Rate, and so relieve industry of the burden of high interest rates; and if he will make a statement.

I have no statement to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many bingo only licences have been issued in England and Wales, in the classes of £100, and £1,000, respectively;(2) how many licences to cover all commercial gaming have been issued in England and Wales in the classes concerned, namely, £500, £5,000, and £50,000, respectively.(3) how many licences to cover all commercial gaming have been issued in Scotland in the classes concerned, namely, £500, £5,000, and £50,000 respectively;(4) how many bingo only licences have been issued in Scotland in the classes of £100 and £1,000, respectively.

The number of applications for gaming licences received up to 31st October is as follows:—

			Number of applications
Category		Rate of Duty	England and Wales	Scotland
Bingo only	…	100	1,378	195
		1,000	256	22
All games	…	500	682	34
		5,000	126	4
		50,000	15	0

In some cases the licences have not yet been formally issued, pending settlement of questions which may affect the amount of licence duty payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the nature of employment for which 4,035 non-industrial civil servants were recruited into the Inland Revenue between 1st October, 1964 and 1st July, 1966, the employments from which they were recruited, and a breakdown of additional costs by branch of service.

The increase in staff is attributable to the cut in hours effective from 1st October, 1964 and 1st October, 1965 following an award by the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal, to seasonal work, to growth in existing work and to work on capital gains tax and corporation tax. The net salary cost of the changes in staff in post in the period is of the order of £2¼ million, almost all of which is attributable to the Chief Inspector of Taxes Branch. Information about the previous employments of recruits in the period is not available but a substantial proportion were school-leavers.

asked the Minister of Health in what ways he is encouraging general practitioners to be associated in the work of the Hospital Service.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of relevant extracts from the third report of my negotiations with the representatives of the general practitioners.

asked the Minister of Health how many general practitioners in the area of each hospital board hold part-time appointments within hospitals.

Following is the information:—

Hospital Board
Newcastle Regional	…	249
United Newcastle	…	4
Leeds Regional	…	345
United Leeds	…	8
Sheffield Regional	…	331
United Sheffield	…	3
East Anglian Regional	…	116
North West Metropolitan Regional	…	268
North East Metropolitan Regional	…	167
Southt East Metropolitan Regional	…	215
South West Metropolitan Regional	…	260
Oxford Regional	…	161
South Western Regional	…	278
United Bristol	…	12
Welsh Hospital Board	…	345
United Cardiff	…	5
Birmingham Regional	…	528
United Birmingham	…	41
Manchester Regional	…	323
United Manchester	…	9
Liverpool Regional	…	112
Wessex Regional	…	200
St. Bartholomew's	…	8
London	…	43
Royal Free	…	47
University College	…	39
Middlesex	…	10
Charing Cross	…	42
St. George's	…	7
St. Mary's	…	47
Guy's	…	1
King's College	…	28
St. Thomas'	…	8
Hammersmith	…	3
Nervous Diseases	…	3
Royal National Nose and Ear	…	17
Moorfields	…	33
Bethlem and Maudsley	…	1
St. John's for Skin	…	2

2,194 general practitioners were attending patients in general practitioner hospital units other than maternity units. Information about the distribution of these by hospital board area is not centrally available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for an inspector from his Department to visit the Peter Pan Homes run by the Retarded Children's Aid Society Limited with a view to reporting whether they are correctly registered and what is the maxi- mum number of occupants for which each of them can cater.

Matters relating to the registration of such homes are for the registration authority (in this case the Council of the London Borough of Barnet) to determine. I have no power to intervene in their decisions.

asked the Minister of Health if he will approve the draft British Standard Specification for method of test of air conduction hearing aids.

I understand that a revision of the relevant British Standard Specification, published in 1959, is being considered by the British Standards Institute. My approval is not required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present case load per probation officer in this country, compared with the previous 10 years; and what percentage of probation officers are at present untrained, compared with the previous 10 years.

The following Table gives the latest available information:

A. PERSONS APPOINTED FOR PROBATION OF THE FIRST TIME AS OFFICERS
Year	Appointed after training	Appointed without training	Percentage appointed without training
1955	57	3	5
1956	63	20	25
1957	50	46	48
1958	77	56	42
1959	107	53	33
1960	91	114	56
1961	104	92	47
1962	92	105	53
1963	129	67	34
1964	171	79	32
1965	260	57(*)	18
1966 (up to 30th September)	211	30 (†)	12
(*) Twenty-seven of these were formerly employed by discharged prisoners' aid societies or in the approved school welfare service.
(†) Including 6 former employees of voluntary prisoners' aid societies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the cuts in public expenditure of £1½on, announced on 20th July, in his Department's services are to be implemented.

Cuts of some £1·3 million will be made in the following building programmes in England and Wales—police and prisons £0·6 million; courts £0·4 million; fire £0·3 million. The remainder of the £1·5 million will be found by reductions in police and prisons building work in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were convicted of the crime of capital murder in each of the years 1945 to 1965; how many were sentenced to death in each of these years; and how many were hanged subsequently.

The information is contained in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now reached a decision on the recommendations of the Littlewood Committee concerning the control of experiments on animals; and whether he will introduce appropriate legislation.

When the views of all interested bodies have been received I hope to formulate proposals for legislation. I cannot at present say when a Bill will be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of the ten trials before a jury at assizes and the Central Criminal Court in 1965 in which the jury disagreed the case proceeded to rehearing; and in how many of such cases there was a further disagreement, a finding of guilty, or a finding of not guilty.

The ten cases in which the jury disagreed, in the sample of 536 trials to which I referred in answer to my hon. Friend's Question on 25th October, were all retried. The retrials resulted in six findings of guilt and three acquittals; and in one case the jury again disagreed and the accused was discharged.—[Vol 734, c. 156.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers are now employed at headquarters and in the home commands to administer the remaining Territorial Army units.

About 140 Regular Army officers in the Minitsry of Defence and at Command and formation headquarters are employed full-time on the administration of the Territorial Army, and a number of other officers spend part of their time on this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the Band of the Scots Guards has been asked to withdraw from a special service of remembrance for white Rhodesians who lost their lives in two world wars.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer that I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) on 8th November.—[Vol 735, c. 264.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the committees, working parties and the like which are currently sitting, but excluding those which are composed only a civil servants, showing the number of civil servants who have been allocated to work full- and half-time, respectively, on each.

The information is as follows:

LIST OF COMMITTEES
	Crown Servants Allocated:—
	Full-time	Half-time
Wilson-Smith Committee (Committee on the employment of civilians)	4	—
Conventional Armament Working Party	—	—
Engineering Standards Coordinating Committee	—	—
Defence Research Committee	—	—
Joint Equipment Standardisation Committee	—	—
Joint Services Expeditions Committee	—	—
Committee for University Assistance to Adult Education in H.M. Forces	—	—
Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee	—	—
Personnel and Anti-Personnel Research Working Party	—	—
Materials Research Working Party	—	—
Nuclear-Powered Warships Safety Committee	—	—
Inter-Departmental Packaging Technical Sub-Committee	—	—
Inter-Departmental Packaging Co-Ordinating Committee	—	—
Caldecote Committee on Organisation of Certain Naval Research and Development Establishments	—	1
Air Advisory Committee	—	—
Air Cadet Council (includes the London and the Scottish Councils; the London and the Scottish Welfare and Sports Committees; the London and the Scottish Chaplain's Committees)	—	2
Air Forces Flight Safety Committee (Europe)	—	—
Chaplaincy Services Advisory Board	—	—
Education Advisory Committee for the R.A.F.	—	—
Cranwell Advisory Board	—	—
Flying Personnel Research Committee (including sub-committees on Otology, Physiology, Psychology, Space Medicine and Vision)	3	—
Medical Research Co-ordinating Committee	—	—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what initiatives he is taking to promote the training of regional planners at institutions of higher education.

At the request of my right hon. Friend's predecessor, a review of the output of trained planners, including those required for regional planning, has been initiated under the auspices of the Department of Education and Science and the University Grants Committee. Four new post-graduate courses in regional or regional and urban planning have been started this autumn at Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Nottingham universities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why his instructions in Circular No. 57/66 dated 17th October, 1966, to the effect that surplus land which is not sold back to former owners under the Crichel Down procedure will first be offered to local authorities, do not apply to houses and property generally; if this right will be extended to the widow of a former owner; and if he will make a statement.

Circular No. 57/66 makes it plain that the Crichel Down procedure is not affected by the new arrangements for offering surplus land (including buildings) to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the fire risk resulting from the state of deterioration in the Lowestoft beach area; and if he will give an assurance that the scheme on which his decision is awaited is not being delayed by Government financial policy.

Yes. Decisions will be issued as soon as revised documents have been received from the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what authority he has undertaken to give the Labour-controlled London Borough of Camden additional subsidies that are not available to other boroughs to meet the £2,100,000 annual housing deficit, instead of increasing the rents as recommended by the district auditor; and if he will give an assurance that applications from other boroughs will be treated equally.

My right hon. Friend has given no undertaking that the London Borough of Camden will receive additional housing subsidies available to no other borough.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the cost to United Kingdom public funds of the construction of the barracks at Seria, Brunei; and what part of the cost was paid by the Government of Brunei.

Buildings occupied as barracks and married quarters at Seria, Brunei, were for the most part existing premises hired at Brunei Government expense. Some new construction and considerable rehabilitation was necessary at a cost of about £150,000 borne by the Brunei Government. The cost to United Kingdom public funds was about £20,000 for equipment such as refrigerators and fans.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of pig iron have been imported each year during the last five years.

The following is the information:

Year				Tons
1961	…	…	…	32,650
1962	…	…	…	132,748
1963	…	…	…	189,267
1964	…	…	…	335,836
1965	…	…	…	317,129

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far Messrs. Willerby Limited have progressed with the tailoring advance factory allotted to them at Tullos, Aberdeen; what acreage it will occupy; how many workers it will employ; and when they will start work.

The advance factory referred to was built by the Aberdeen Council. I am informed that the factory is complete apart from adaptations to meet Messrs. Willerby's requirements: it has an area of 13,000 sq. ft. The firm expect to start training in part of the factory on 14th November and hope to take full occupation on 1st January, 1967. Employment is expected to be 70, initially, mainly female; the firm hope to increase the employment in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has now received as to the fate of the Aberdeen trawler "Blue Crusader" lost in the North Sea in January, 1966; and what provision has been made for dependants of the officers and crew.

I have called for information about a report that a ship's mast has been trawled up near the place where the Court of Formal Investigation found that the "Blue Crusader" had been lost, and when I have considered it I will write to my hon. and learned Friend. Apart from National Insurance benefits, the question of compensation is a matter for agreement between the dependants and the owners of the vessel.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of the total capital tied up in the activities of the British Railways Board on 31st December 1965, the turnover and profit in the previous year, the numbers employed and return on net worth expressed as a percentage; and of this total if she will tabulate the proportion and corresponding figures for British Railways and their activities directly concerned with the transport of freight and passengers, and the corresponding figure for all ancillary activities, including railway workshops, ships, harbours, hotels and rail catering, letting of lands, buildings, sites and properties.

I would refer the hon. Member to Part II of the Railways Board's Annual Report and Accounts for 1965 which were presented to Parliament on 25th May, 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport what further steps she proposes to take to persuade the minority of motorcyclists and scooter riders who do not wear safety helmets to do so, in view of the reduction of injury to that part of the head protected by a helmet of as much as 30 per cent. to 40 per cent.; and if she is satisfied that it is not necessary to seek to make the wearing of helmets compulsory.

My right hon. Friend is reluctant to make the wearing of safety helmets by motorcyclists compulsory for all when so many have accepted the need to wear them. We intend to continue the propaganda by all means at our disposal.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will request the Road Research Laboratory to investigate the extent to which the latest rectangular headlamps promote dazzle; and if she will consider, in the light of the ensuing report, whether they should be banned under the Construction and Use of Vehicles Regulations.

My right hon. Friend has asked the Road Research Laboratory to report on this matter and she will then consider whether there is need for any action.

asked the Minister of Transport what initiatives she is taking to promote the training of regional planners at institutions of higher education.

Planning of transport, both national and regional, requires knowledge of the operating, engineering and economic aspects of transport systems. Training over such a wide field and covering so many disciplines is not easy to provide, but my right hon. Friend is now considering whether institutions of higher education could contribute to such training.

asked the Minister of Transport what further steps she now intends to take to reduce the air pollution caused by exhaust fumes from motor vehicles.

The proposals in the Road Safety Bill will enable my right hon. Friend to make plating, type approval and maintenance regulations which should reduce the emission of excessive smoke from diesel engined vehicles by preventing their overloading, by requiring that new vehicles have engines which conform to the new British Standard for diesel engines and by including a smoke check in the annual test for goods vehicles.For petrol engines I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Leominster (Sir Clive Bossom) on 31st October.—[Vol. 735, c.

asked the Minister of Transport when, in view of the recent serious accident, pedestrian crossings are to be established at the three roundabout road junctions on the newly reconstructed Queslett Road, in Birmingham.

Since Queslett Road is a classified road, the provision of pedestrian crossings on it is a matter primarily for Aldridge Urban District Council as local highway authority. Approval was given at the beginning of this year to their proposals for surface crossings at the Beacon Road and Kings Road roundabouts but the council subsequently submitted alternative proposals for pedestrian subways at three sites. Further information in support of this latest proposal is awaited from the council.

asked the Minister of Transport how many pedestrians were killed whilst making use of uncontrolled zebra crossings in each of the years 1960 to 1965; and how many in each year were children under 15 years of age.

Following is the information:

1960	…	…	…	131
1961	…	…	…	131
1962	…	…	…	148
1963	…	…	…	157
1964	…	…	…	173
1965	…	…	…	176

The number of children killed in each year is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However an analysis for 1962 shows that of 1,185 pedestrians either killed or seriously injured on these crossings, 224 were children under 15 years of age.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made on the projected improvements to the A.13.

The Movers Lane flyover is now being built. The Beckton Road diversion, estimated to cost nearly £3 million, is planned to start early next year. Other schemes are programmed, costing altogether £1·5 million.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the new developments at Tilbury Dock and the building of container berths, what applications for capital expenditure on a container depot for the south of England she has received from the Port of London Authority; and where the depot will be situated.

No application has been submitted by the Authority for my right hon. Friend's consent to the provision of a depot for the handling of container traffic, but I understand that they are at present examining, in consultation with other interested parties, the future requirements for such a depot.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives he is taking to promote the training of regional planners at institutions of higher education.

The training of professional staff is largely a matter for the professional bodies concerned, who are fully alive to the needs, and intervention by me would not be appropriate.My particular concern is to ensure that the educational facilities match the present and future needs of students during their professional training, and my Department consults the professional bodies about this as occasion demands. University output of qualified planners is in fact being increased and action is also being taken to expand output from the colleges of art.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many gaming establishments have been registered in Scotland in each year since the passing of the Betting and Gaming Act, 1960.

This Act contains no requirement for registration of premises for purposes of gaming.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in view of the shortfall in the number of commercial vehicles crossing the Tay Road Bridge compared with the forecast on which the schedule of toll charges was based, he will now revise this schedule in respect of heavy goods vehicles to bring it into line with that recommended by Mr. W. Munro, Q.C., for a trial period to see whether a lower toll would lead to a substantial increase in traffic and consequently a net increase in revenue.

Under the Tay Road Bridge Order, 1962, the schedule of tolls may be revised only after the bridge has been open for 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recent fire accident in Stornoway resulting in the deaths of four Aberdeen schoolteachers, including Aberdeen's organiser of education; and what precautions were taken by the services under his authority to prevent disasters and loss of this kind.

Investigations are still being carried out by the firemaster of the Northern Area Fire Brigade. I have called for a full report as soon as this can be made available. I take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives.Publicity is regularly undertaken to warn the public of the main causes of fire and the best means of preventing it. Brigades also provide, on request, fire prevention advice in respect of all types of premises; and an inspection of the Caledonian Hotel, Stornoway, was undertaken some years ago as a result of which improved means of escape from the upper storeys of the building were provided. I understand, however, that the spread of fire was so rapid that the victims were trapped before the available means of escape could be utilised.

asked the Minister of Labour how many orders have been made giving effect to the provisions of Section 10(2)(b) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944; and if he will seek to use these provisions more extensively in order to reduce the number of unemployed disabled persons.

One, the Disabled Persons (Special Percentage) (No. 1) Order, 1946, which designates a special percentage of 0·1 per cent. in relation to the quota requirements of the Act for seagoing employment. I do not think that greater use of the power would be practicable as a means of reducing unemployment among the disabled.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what is the estimated number of redundancies that have arisen since 20th July;(2) if he will establish machinery to determine how many workers declared redundant since 20th July have been subsequently employed in companies con- tributing to the total of United Kingdom exports;(3) by what method he ascertains that workers declared redundant since 20th July have been subsequently employed by companies needing labour to execute export orders;(4) what is the estimated number of workers declared redundant since 20th July that have been subsequently employed in the service industries.

Redundant workers are under no obligation to register with my Department and no estimate of the total number is possible. I would draw the hon. Member's attention to my statement to the House on 24th October. As I then explained detailed information of the sort requested by the hon. Member is not obtainable; my department draws the attention of suitable registrants to vacancies at firms whose activities are of special economic importance; the broad trend of labour re-deployment following on the Government's economic measures of 20th July can be judged from the redundancies of special sgnificance which we are closely watching, but it is at this stage too early to draw firm conclusions.

asked the Minister of Labour what assistance his Department has given to Tyne Tees Television, with a view to giving information about jobs for redundant workers.

At the request of Tyne Tees Television my Department has assisted the company in providing information about jobs available in the Northern Region to enable it to provide a new weekly five minutes programme of help to redundant workers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will authorise the pasteurisation and bottling of milk to be treated in a similar way to the bottling of soda water for the purposes of the Selective Employment Tax.

The pasteurisation and bottling of milk is classified under Minimum List Heading 810 in the Standard Industrial Classification, and does not qualify for premium or refund of the tax. As I announced when the Selective Employment Payments Bill was before the House, the Government does not intend to make changes in the incidence of the tax during the first year of its operation.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that the strike by 650 car delivery drivers is now in its sixth week, and is causing unemployment and poverty to thousands of Birmingham workers, if he will instruct his conciliation officers to intervene.

My officers continue to be in almost daily touch with the parties. There is no further action they can usefully take at present, but I am keeping the position under close review.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the anxiety felt throughout the country about the unemployment situation, he will make arrangements through the employment exchanges for the publication of unemployment figures weekly instead of monthly.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of part-time workers who have ceased part-time employment since 20th July or since the beginning of the Selective Employment Tax.

There are no practicable means of estimating terminations of part-time employment in all its diverse forms by regular, seasonal or occasional-part-time workers. The numbers of unemployed persons seeking only part-time employment through the employment exchange service in recent months have however been very similar to the corresponding numbers in 1965, as the following figures show:—

1965
12th July	…	…	…	9,366
9th August	…	…	…	8,596
13th September	…	…	…	10,032
11th October	…	…	…	11,699
1966
11th July	…	…	…	9,563
8th August	…	…	…	8,797
12th September	…	…	…	9,635
10th October	…	…	…	11,744

asked the Minister of Labour how many employees will lose their jobs when the firm of Mirrlees Watson in Scotland Street, Glasgow, closes down; and what provision is being made for their continued employment.

Nearly 500 workers are employed by this firm. Jobs will be available for about half these workers either with an associated local firm or a new firm which has succeeded Mirrlees Watson. My employment officers will help to place the remainder.

asked the Minister of Labour what information he has received from Her Majesty's Inspector of Factories who met in Aberdeen on Thursday 3rd November his officials and legal advisers, Messrs W. J. Anderson Limited and Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal to discuss the collapse with loss of life of the partially constructed zoology department of Aberdeen University; and what further inquiry he plans to set up as a consequence.

A member of H.M. Factory Inspectorate has made a preliminary investigation into this accident and I have received an interim report. I shall consider what further action is necessary when the Inspectorate's inquiries have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the circumstances in which Miss Barbara Gryma, a Polish subject, attempted to gain entry to the United Kingdom on Saturday 5th November.

Miss Gryma attempted to evade the immigration control, no doubt because she feared that she might not obtain leave to land. After examination, leave was refused and Miss Gryma returned to Dunkirk.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the figures of the rate of depopulation in the five counties of mid-Wales during the years 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965, respectively.

The figures requested by the hon. and learned Member are given in the table below:

TOTAL CHANGE IN CIVILIAN POPULATION
		Numbers	Percentage
1962–63
Cardiganshire	…	-147	-0·3
Merionethshire	…	-41	-0·1
Montgomeryshire	…	-41	-0·1
Radnorshire	…	-62	-0·3
Breconshire	…	-29	-0·1
		-320	-0·2