asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law so as to ensure that the courts give consideration to the ordering of Borstal training at a stage in a boy's criminal career when it is most likely to be effective.

I have no reason to think that the courts do not give adequate consideration to the possibility of a Borstal sentence when sentencing an offender who is eligible for it. In any event, I do not think that this is a matter which could appropriately be dealt with by amendment of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time crime prevention officers there now are in the Metropolitan Police.

No full-time crime prevention officers are at present employed in the Metropolitan Police, but the Chief Inspector in each sub-division has a special responsiblity for crime prevention matters. The organisation is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the working of the Street Offences Act.

My right hon. Friend has recently done so, in consultation with the police. If the hon. Member has a particular point in mind, perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the use of aversion therapy in the rehabilitation of criminals.

Aversion therapy is already used in the psychiatric treatment of offenders, such as alcoholics and certain sexual deviants, in cases where a condition indicating its use is diagnosed and the patient agrees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy of accession to the Genocide Convention and the serious infringements of the provisions by such contraventions as the dismissal in Austria of cases against persons proven to have been instrumental in sending numbers of victims to gas chambers, he will now introduce the necessary legislation to enable Her Majesty's Government to fulfil its undertaking.

I regret that I cannot at present add to my hon. and learned Friend's Answer to a Question by my hon. Friend on 23rd June.—[Vol. 730, c. 886.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what electric or radio equipment was authorised to be used by George Blake during his imprisonment.

He was authorised as from 3rd December 1963 to have a portable battery-operated wireless receiving set in his cell.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has made any arrangement for a record in any form to be made of all that is said and written to the Mountbatten Committee about the escape of Blake; and what those arrangements are;(2) why he has not arranged for those upon whom blame may be apportioned by the Mountbatten Committee for the escape of Blake to be notified of any statements affecting them and to be given the opportunity to challenge the makers of such statements face to face and by cross-examination and to produce their own evidence in rebuttal.

The detailed procedure which Lord Mountbatten follows in his inquiry is a matter for him. He has told me that a proper record is being kept of all proceedings, and that he does not intend to apportion blame to any named individual, if he finds this necessary, without giving him an opportunity to challenge the evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the make, model and type of radio receiver which George Blake had in his cell at the time of his escape.

A Perdio Town and Country transistorised radio, model PR74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings of the London Cab Trade Consultative Committee have been held since its establishment; at what intervals it is intended that future meetings will be held; and what proposals he has for legislation as a consequence of the Committee's deliberations.

Two; as and when there are matters to be discussed; at present none, but my right hon. Friend is examining suggestions discussed by the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received, and from which bodies, about the situation in the London cab trade; what replies were sent; and what administrative action he proposes to take to deal with the problems recently brought to his attention.

My right hon. Friend is in frequent touch with the representatives of the cab trade on a wide variety of subjects of concern to them, some of which have been referred to the London Cab Trade Consultative Committee. He has had few representations from other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to bring about stricter control on gambling and gaming; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply given on 27th October to a Question by the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey (Mr. A. Royle).—[Vol. 734, c. 214.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in preparations for amending the Betting and Gaming Acts; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply given on 27th October to a Question by the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey.—[Vol. 734, c. 214.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is aware that on 16th October the entire on-duty watch of the Exeter City Fire Brigade were involved in an exercise from 10.07 hours to 16.36 hours at Poltimore House, some four miles away from their headquarters; and whether he is satisfied that such an exercise is in accordance with his regulations on the standards of training to be observed by fire authorities.

I understand that the exercise in question was for the purpose of giving training in emergency fire-fighting, and my right hon. Friend is in consultation with the fire authority about the circumstances. There are no regulations dealing with standards of training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce his further controls on the sale of firearms by mail order firms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to bring shotguns within the police certificate regulations; and if he will introduce legislation to prevent mail orders for shotguns.

I propose to include in the Criminal Justice Bill provisions for controlling the sale of shot guns whether by mail order or any other means.There are already restrictions on the sale of firearms for which firearm certificates are required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents involving the use of firearms in connection with criminal offences have taken place this year; how many people have been killed in these and how many injured; in how many cases have prosecutions been instituted; and in how many of these did conviction result.

The number of indictable offences involving firearms known to the police in England and Wales during the first nine months of this year was 1,019. These included 23 cases of murder or manslaughter and 431 woundings or assaults.The other information requested could be obtained only by asking the police for a special return which would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and energy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in preparing legislation on clubs, he will take into account the necessity of introducing effective public control of allegedly private clubs which may be both unlicensed and unregistered but which in practice rely on an appeal to the public.

This point is being taken into account in helping in the preparation of Private Members' legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he was informed by the visiting magistrates of the birching sentence on Roger Keith Maxwell; and on what date he made known his decision that the punishment should not be carried out.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 19th October to a Question by the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. John Wells).—[Vol. 734, c. 55.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refused to confirm the sentence of birching recommended by the visiting magistrates in the case of Roger Maxwell in respect of his assault on a prison officer; what alternative penalty he has imposed; what is his policy in respect of such recommended punishments; and what communications he has received about his decision from the representatives of prison officers.

Each case is considered on its merits. In Maxwell's case it was clear that on medical grounds, independent of any other considerations, I should not have been justified in confirming this award. Maxwell has already been kept in conditions of solitary confinement, except for the two sessions a week when he undergoes psychiatric treatment, for 79 days, and this will be continued as long as is thought necessary.I have discussed the case fully with representatives of the Prison Officers' Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to transferring the responsibility for financing the police from local authorities to the central Exchequer.

I have no plans for altering the existing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make regulations to restrict the sale of airguns.

I am considering the question of using my power under the Firearms Act, 1937 to subject to the firearms certificate procedure certain classes of specially dangerous air weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement on the future of the Civil Defence Corps.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 25th October to a Question by the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Brian Harrison).—[Vol. 734, c. 155.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in order to assist him in deciding whether to set up a new inquiry into the conviction for murder of James Hanratty, he will investigate the circumstances in which a witness at the trial, Mr. Terry Evans, was advised not to tell the whole truth.

I can find nothing in the transcript of the trial, or in any other information before me, to suggest that Mr. Evans was given any such advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that United States nationals who come to Great Britain to evade being conscripted for Vietnam will not be investigated by officials of his Department and the police on behalf of the United States authorities.

It is a normal practice for the police of one friendly country to make inquiries on behalf of the police of another country about suspected offences against the law of that country. A person who fails to comply with a notice calling him up for service in the United States forces commits a criminal offence under United States law, and in accordance with long-standing arrangements inquiries are occasionally made of such persons by the police on behalf of the United States authorities. But they are strictly confined to asking what their intentions are with regard to complying with the call-up notice; no question of enforcement arises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the proposed maximum security block at Albany, Isle of Wight; and if he will make a statement.

Good progress has been made with the plans and I hope to approve them, taking into account any recommendations which Lord Mount-batten may make, by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are being made into complaints, details of which have been sent to him, that certain indigestible advertising samples, when pushed through letterboxes of private homes, could be harmful to unwatched children, who are tempted to eat them.

Investigations, of which particulars have already been sent to the hon. Member, show that the samples in question would cause no serious harm to children. Manufacturers generally are guided by a recommendation of the Advertising Standards Authority that the safety of children should be taken into account whenever a door-to-door distribution of samples is being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the escape from custody of Harold Prince.

When Harold Prince was arrested on 25th October, he was found to be suffering from shingles and chicken pox and had to be taken to hospital. Two police officers were continuously present at Hither Green hospital to watch over him, but owing to the contagious nature of his illness they were not in the same room. Despite the precautions taken Prince managed to escape during the night on 4th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ban live-hare coursing; and if he will make a statement.

I am not at present in a position to add to the reply given to a Question by my hon. Friend on 23rd June.—[Vol. 730, c. 902.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes have there been from Her Majesty's Prison, Hornby Road, Walton, Liverpool, in 1965 and 1966; and how they occurred.

In 1965 there were three escapes from the prison and nine prisoners (including seven young prisoners at one time) absconded from outside working parties.This year up to 31st October, five prisoners have escaped from the prison, one prisoner escaped from his escort whilst attending an outside hospital and six prisoners have absconded from outside working parties.All of those who escaped in both years have since been recaptured.I am writing to my hon. Friend giving details of the escapes from within the prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to improve security at Her Majesty's Prison, Hornby Road, Walton, Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

Additional patrols are being used in the grounds of the prison in the evenings and the night yard patrols have been strengthened.A careful review of high security risk prisoners at all prisons, including Liverpool, has been carried out and some prisoners in this category have been transferred from Liverpool to other prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to repeal the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to make for the amendment of the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860.

I have at present no proposals for amendment of the Act other than the penalty provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered the question of compensation for the mother of the late Timothy Evans; and what action he proposes to take.

As I said in the House on 18th October, I do not consider that this is primarily a case for compensation; and my present view is that no further action is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the disquiet amongst prison authorities at the increasing difficulties in maintaining order and security in Her Majesty's Prisons; and whether he will review his present policy of greater leniency towards prisoners.

I am aware of and share the general anxiety about prison security, and a number of steps have been taken to improve it pending Lord Mount-batten's report. I am not aware of unusual difficulties in maintaining order in Her Majesty's prisons and I certainly do not accept the implications of the last part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made with his proposals for exploring the need for a voluntary welfare service for immigrants at Heathrow.

I am glad to say that International Social Service of Great Britain have undertaken, with generous support from the Noel-Buxton Trust and some help from public funds, to provide a service for an experimental period. The object is to enable a practical study to be made of the welfare and social needs of immigrants arriving at the Airport. I shall then consider what welfare facilities are required. The experiment will, I hope, start on 1st December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in the last year permission for police officers to carry arms has been sought and refused; and whether such permission was sought in the case of the three murdered policemen.

No record is kept in the Metropolitan Police District of applications made but not granted, nor is this information available for the country as a whole. The Commissioner of Police is not aware of any such case in the Metropolitan Police District during the past year. Permission was not sought by the three Shepherds Bush police officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Commissioner for Police for the Metropolis expects to complete the issue of walkie-talkie radios to all policemen on the beat.

It is difficult to give a precise answer because methods of policing are constantly being studied and experiments in the Metropolitan Police District and in the provinces may well affect the numbers of policemen engaged on beat duties and the numbers of personal radio sets needed. But I have recently approved the purchase of 3,000 sets for the Metropolitan Police over the next 2 years.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what measures he proposes to introduce a control mechanism over key commodity prices.

Through the voluntary early warning system the Government are able to keep under close scrutiny movements in the prices of key commodities. As the Prime Minister stated on 20th July, it is not our intention to introduce elaborate statutory controls, but the Government have power under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act to deal with unjustified price increases.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if, in the interests of the national economy, he will now dissolve the Economic Development Committees so that the resources of the businessmen now serving on them may be redeployed to maximise the profitable use of the assets of the companies by whom they are employed.

No.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent meetings with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry, regarding the prices and incomes policy and the draft White Paper; to what extent he has changed the White Paper in the light of these discussions; and whether the assurance which he has given to these organisations that he will consult them before preparing Government policy will also extend to consultations with the House before such preparations.

I have not yet completed consultations with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry regarding the criteria for the period of severe restraint. The object of consultation is to secure mutual understanding of the problems involved and the best means of overcoming them. I intend shortly to publish a White Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds a licence was refused for the export of British machinery to the Rhodesian subsidiary of David Whitehead and Sons (Holdings) Ltd.

A licence was refused in accordance with the general ban on exports to Rhodesia imposed on 2nd February, 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many qualified accountants are employed on the staff of the Monopolies Commission;(2) how many economists are employed on the staff of the Monopolies Commission.

The Monopolies Commission employs seven qualified accountants on its staff. There are no posts for economists. The Commission itself includes 4 economists and 2 accountants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has about the fire aboard the Russian motor vessel "Vereia" in the port of Liverpool; and if he will seek international agreement to ensure that port fire-fighters fighting fires on foreign vessels shall not be obstructed, as happened on this occasion.

I understand that a fire broke out in the Russian ship "Vereia" while in Huskisson Dock, Liverpool, during the evening of 7th December. The Fire Brigade attended the ship and started to tackle the fire. There were language difficulties when the ship's master wished to use the ship's fixed carbon dioxide installations, but these difficulties were resolved after the arrival of the Chief Fire Officer. The fire was contained overnight, and the Brigade extinguished it next morning. I do not think any international agreement would have helped.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he pro poses to take to further the export of British books.

The full range of Government export services are available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give for the period since last September and the previous 12 months the costs of the civil aviation unit administered by his Department; what this unit comprises; and what action he has taken or proposes to take to reduce these costs.

The cost for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1966, was £714,600 of which about £18,000 related to communication flights. No later figures are readily available. The Unit now comprises 9 Doves, 3 Princes, 1 President, 1 Chipmunk and 1 HS.125. I see no prospect of reducing the cost as the technical demands on the fleet are growing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the North-East Development Council as to delays in the payments of grants to industrial firms; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a letter drawing attention to the financial difficulties of a firm which has bought new machinery this year, but has not yet received an investment grant.In reply I have explained that the Investment Grants Offices will shortly be inviting applications for investment grants and will be issuing application forms and an explanatory booklet. Payment of claims will start next July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the quantity and value of glass grains (ballotini) imported during 1964 and 1965 and for the first nine months of 1966.

Statistics of the quantity of glass grains (ballotini) imported are not available; following are the values of imports:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the system of value charts, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for South Bedfordshire; and if he will take steps to initiate a system of value ratings.

Such charts are no doubt helpful to some shoppers. I do not think that Government intervention is called for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is now the situation with respect to the Solus Petrol (No. 2) Order.

The Order has been allowed to lapse. Following a report by a Select Committee of the House of Lords that the Order should be approved, I am glad to say that Total Oil Products (G.B.) Limited are giving me identical Undertakings to those provided earlier by all the other suppliers of petrol and lubricants.I propose to review these Undertakings within 12 months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the 10 leading categories of United Kingdom exports in 1965 as indicated in the summary of Exports by Section and Division in the Overseas Trade Accounts, showing what percentage they represent of total United kingdom exports during 1965; and what is the most approximate Standard Indus

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what legislative action he proposes to take to provide the Forestry Commission with the necessary powers to spend money on the provision of recreational facilities for the general public.

In consultation with my hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources I am considering, in the context of countryside legislation, whether it is necessary to add to the power the Commission already have.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will issue a circular to encourage local education authorities to appoint trained counsellors and child guidance officers in secondary schools.

The following is the information:

No. The use of specially trained counsellors has not been proved to be the best method of providing guidance and advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what his proposals are for the disposal of private funds and trusts held by grammar schools and direct-grant schools which may be affected by the reorganisation of secondary education.

My right hon. Friend expects to be able to make any provision necessary on applications by the trustees under the Charities Act, 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now state the school building programmes authorised to individual local education authorities for 1967–68, giving both the value of each authority's submission and the amount he has approved, and separate lists for primary and secondary building projects.

I will arrange for the information to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the changes taking place in the content and organisation of education, he will issue a circular to encourage local education authorities to appoint research and development officers.

No. This is a matter for the authorities themselves to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the total number of university students at 31st October, 1966, the total number of new entrants for a first degree or diploma at that date, and the corresponding figures for October, 1965.

184,510, of whom, I am informed by the University Grants Committee, 54,058 were new entrants. The corresponding figures last year were 168,114 and 52,577 respectively. These are provisional counts, and the full-year total figure is normally somewhat higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what number and in what percentage of primary schools in Cornwall and in England as a whole is there outdoor sanitation.

The only comparative figures available are those compiled in 1962 which showed 256 such schools (90 per cent.) in Cornwall and 13,810 (66 per cent.) in England. The current figure for Cornwall is 228 schools (83 per cent.).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what number and in what percentage of primary schools in Cornwall and England as a whole does the oldest main building date from 1902 or earlier.

The only comparative figures available are those compiled in 1962 which showed 220 such schools (77 per cent.) in Cornwall and 12,566 (60 per cent.) in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will consult the Minister of Health to devise a formula which will maintain a constant relationship between university clinical salary scales and salary scales of doctors in the National Health Service, so to avoid recurring friction whenever the salaries of one group or the other are adjusted.

My right hon. Friend is discussing with those concerned the form new machinery for the determination of the salaries of university teachers might take. When established it would no doubt take into account the question of the relationship between the salaries of clinical teachers and those of hospital doctors in the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated total expenditure by his Department and local authorities, respectively, on teaching aids during the current year.

Approximately £50,000 by the Department. Estimates of local authority expenditure on these aids are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students there are currently at the agricultural school at Leeds University.

174 full-time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has received from the University Grants Commission as to the closing of the agricultural school at Leeds University.

Matters of this kind are for the University Grants Committee and the universities concerned and no proposals have therefore been received. The Committee have, however, told my right hon. Friend that they think there would be advantage in rationalising university provision for agriculture and he accepts their advice on such a matter. I understand that the proposals at present being discussed include the possibility of discontinuing undergraduate teaching in agriculture at Leeds University.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will seek to call a conference of leading Europeans to discuss the setting up of a European Technology Community.

Various possible ways of strengthening technological collaboration within Europe have been discussed on a number of occasions over the last two years. The Anglo-French aspects of this were discussed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister with President de Gaulle last year. More recently proposals by the Italian Government have been received. While there are no current arrangements for a formal conference the concept of a technological community is under active study and the issues involved are a matter for the forthcoming discussions between my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and our European partners.

asked the Minister of Technology if he proposes to conduct a survey with the view of promoting mergers in the electronics industry; and if he will make a statement.

The need for rationalisation in particular sectors is one of the issues which may emerge from my Department's studies of the electronics industry.

asked the Minister of Technology how many graduate or similarly qualified personnel are now employed by the Atomic Energy Authority; and what was the figure for the nearest available date one and two years ago.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Technology what representations he has received from the Electronics Development Committee suggesting qualified specialists should be released from the Atomic Energy Authority for employment in industry; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has received no direct representations from the Committee but I am aware of the views expressed in paragraph 55 of its recent report. Until the current review of the Atomic Energy Authority's forward programme has been completed it will not be possible to say whether the number of qualified specialists employed by the Authority can be further reduced.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the estimated value of public sector purchasing of medical electronics and teaching aids for the current year.

The estimated expenditure by the Health Departments, the hospital service and the Defence Departments on electro-medical equipment, including X-ray apparatus, for the year 1966–67 is £3,518,000. This excludes an unknown amount spent by hospitals on direct purchase of electro-medical equipment other than X-ray equipment.The information on public sector purchases of teaching aids is not readily available as a substantial proportion is bought independently by regional authorities.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT 1965 figures for Tables 1–4 contained in Appendix 1 of the report of the Economic Development Committee for Electronics.

Table 1–4 in Appendix 1 of the report of the Economic Development Committee for Electronics were prepared by the E.D.C. from statistics collected by the Ministry of Aviation and the General Post Office, the sponsoring Departments for the electronics industry in the year covered by these tables. The statistics subsequently collected by the Ministry of Technology have a wider coverage and content and are not, therefore, strictly comparable with those in the E.D.C. report. Table 1 below gives the same information as table 1 of the E.D.C. report on this wider coverage. Table 2 below gives similar information to tables 2 and 3, which largely duplicate one another. Because of the non-comparability of the 1965 statistics with those for earlier years it is not possible to provide indices for 1965 for the items contained in table 4 of the E.D.C. report.

asked the Minister of Technology what proposals he has for a statistical definition of microelectronics conscistent with the recommendations of paragraph 149 of the report of the Economic Development Committee for Electronics; and what will be the estimated cost of providing such information.

Proposals for a statistical definition of integrated circuitry, which includes microelectronics, are at present under discussion with the trade associations concerned, prior to incorporation in the revised edition of the Standard Industrial Classification currently in preparation. When agreement has been reached on these proposals, this item will be included in the normal statistical inquiries of the electronics industry and no significant additional cost to Government or industry is anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware of broadcasts by Rhodesian radio services designed to give aid and comfort to the rebel régime, to undermine the Commonwealth, and to suborn the loyalty of Her Majesty's subjects; and what action he proposes to take to deal with them.

I am aware of these broadcasts. We are doing all we can to answer them, while pursuing our primary aim of bringing about a return to constitutional rule in Rhodesia and thus ending such activities.

asked the Minister of Power whether the reduction in 1967–68 capital expenditure by the gas industry, announced on 20th July, has yet been apportioned in detail; and if he will make a statement.

Capital expenditure by the gas industry in 1967–68 will be reduced by £11 million of which £1¼ million will relate to plant and buildings used in connection with the production of gas. The rest of the savings relate to distribution and consumer service projects and other miscellaneous items, including office buildings and stores.

asked the Minister of Power by what year gas appliance users in the Greater London area will be supplied with natural gas; and what are the advantages to be anticipated.

A number of area boards are planning to carry out pilot schemes for converting selected groups of consumers which will probably include some consumers in the Greater London area. It is not yet possible to forecast beyond this.Direct supplies of natural gas would make corresponding reductions in the need for gas plant, and, because of the higher calorific value, would increase the capacity of the distribution.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of recent increases in the prices of gas coke and hard coke in the North-East of England; and what action he will take in this matter at this time of severe price restraint.

Recent increases in the price of coke are due to removal of the discount given in summer to encourage consumers to stock up when demand is lower. Seasonal price changes of this kind are not affected by the standstill on prices.

asked the Minister of Power what arrangements have been made for an adequate supply of smokeless fuel for the Coventry area during the forthcoming winter.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. R. C. Mitchell) on 15th November.—[Vol. 736, c. 45.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the electricity boards to transfer to rail transport the 9 million tons of coal that is transported by road, to electricity generating stations.

I explained in reply to my hon. Friend on 25th October it is the Generating Board's general policy to use road transport only when no other method is practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for how many local authority capital expenditure schemes he has refused sanction under the terms of Circular 42/66 since 20th July and 30th August 1966, respectively.

83 and 68 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made to the value of prospective local authority capital expenditure schemes for which he has refused loan sanction since both 20th July, and 30th August 1966 under the terms of Circular 42/66.

About £6½ million and £6¼ million, respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the individual and overall value of applications for loan sanction for the items specified in Circular 42/66 which came from local authorities in development areas.

The information is being assembled and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for the items specified in Circular 42/66 have come from local authorities in development areas since 20th July and 30th August 1966, respectively; what proportion of these applications has been refused; and for what projects.

The information is being assembled and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for new local government offices, extensions to existing offices and new council suites, respectively, he has approved and how many he has refused since both 20th July and 30th August 1966, respectively; from which local authorities these applications came; and what was the individual and overall value of the applications submitted to him.

25 approved and 14 refused since 20th July; 25 approved and 13 refused since 30th August. I am sending the hon. Member the further information requested.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for parks and pleasure grounds, swimming baths, other sports facilities, community centres, theatres and other amenity, cultural, leisure and recreational projects, respectively, he has approved and how many he has refused since both 20th July, 1966, and 30th August, 1966, respectively; from which local authorities these applications came; and what was the individual and overall value of the applications submitted to him.

The total figures in these categories are 165 and 17; and 144 and 12 respectively. I am sending the hon. Member the list.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for schemes for coast protection he has approved and how many he has refused since both 20th July, 1966, and 30th August, 1966, respectively; from which local authorities these applications came; and what was the individual and overall value of the applications submitted to him.

No applications have been refused. I am sending the hon. Member a list of those approved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for schemes for clean air he has approved and how many he has refused since both 20th July, 1966 and 30th August, 1966, respectively; from which local authorities these applications came; and what was the individual and overall value of the applications submitted to him.

Nine applications were approved between 20th July, 1966 and 30th August, 1966, and 12 since. I am sending the hon. Member the list. None has been refused.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for schemes for refuse collection he has approved and how many he has refused since both 20th July 1966 and 30th August 1966, respectively; from which local authorities these applications came; and what was the individual and overall value of the applications submitted to him.

Nine applications were approved between 20th July, 1966 and 30th August, 1966, and 39 since. I am sending the hon. Member the list. None has been refused.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for burial grounds and crematoria he has approved and how many he has refused since both 20th July 1966 and 30th August 1966, respectively; from which local authorities those applications came; and what was the individual and overall value of the applications submitted to him.

No application was approved or refused between 20th July, 1966 and 30th August, 1966.Twenty-two applications have been approved since 30th August, 1966. None has been refused. I am sending the hon. Member the list.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for loan sanction for rural water and sewerage schemes he has approved and how many he has refused since 20th July, 1966, and 30th August, 1966, respectively; from which local authorities those applications came; and what was the individual and overall value of the applications submitted to him.

Between 20th July and 1st November, 95 applications were granted, 72 of them since 30th August. The overall value was £5,251,364.52 applications were refused, 43 of them since 30th August. The overall value was £2,650,603.I am sending the hon. Member details of the individual applications.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give, in tabular form, details of the capital expenditure projects which local authorities have notified to him in accordance with Circular 42/66 that they propose to defer, indicating in which cases loan sanction or formal approval had already been given by his department.

The replies to Circular 42/66 from local authorities are not in standard form and do not lend themselves to tabulation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will list the local authorities which have notified his Department in accordance with Circular 42/66 of the results of the reviews of all their capital expenditure schemes; and whether he will itemise the cases in which loan sanction or formal approval had already been given by his Department, but a firm contract had not been placed.

Some local authorities have sent a consolidated report. Others have written, or spoken, about individual schemes. It is not practicable to give a comprehensive list. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated ex-farm annual value of agricultural production of the 13,000 acres in Samford and Gipping Rural District Councils which it is proposed should be part of the area to be designated for the expansion of Ipswich.

Precise figures are not readily available, but a very rough estimate would be £650,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the agricultural implications of the consultants' recommendations on the expansion of Ipswich submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government in May 1966.

The recommendations if implemented would involve the loss of some 13,000 acres of agricultural land of good quality. The Government will take this factor into account along with the other relevant planning considerations in arriving at their decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the effect of the closure of the agricultural school at Leeds University on the number of young people entering the agricultural industry.

I understand that the University Grants Committee are not considering any reduction in the total number of university students of agriculture, but are investigating the possibility of rationalising the provision of university courses in this field.