asked the Minister of Aviation how many British military helicopters have been sold to Malaysia.

None.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will introduce an interim scheme to increase pensions paid under the Tanganyika Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme until such time as diplomatic relations with Tanzania are re-established and a revision of pension tables can be made.

No. The revision of benefits under the Tanganyika Widows and Orphans Pensions Scheme is a matter for the Tanzania Government. The pension tables were revised with effect from the 1st January, 1962, and a further revision is not due to be considered until 1972. So far as I know the break in diplomatic relations has had no effect upon the level of benefits paid.The pensioners concerned may be eligible for pension supplements from United Kingdom funds under the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1962 and 1965. If the hon. Member is in any doubt or has a particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many persons are drawing pensions under the Tanganyika Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme; and how many of these received no increase when revised rates were introduced by the Tanzanian Government on 1st November, 1965.

I understand from the Crown Agents, who manage the Scheme on behalf of the Tanzania Government, that the answers to the two parts of the Question are 420 and 410.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement about his efforts to keep prices stable since 20th July last.

Since 20th July last my Department has maintained the closest contact with the appropriate trade associations and with manufacturing enterprises submitting notifications of price increases as requested by Cmnd. 3073. During this period only limited price adjustments have been accepted and these have been strictly in accordance with the standstill criteria. Discussions are in progress with trade associations for the extension of the Early Warning System for prices. The measures so far taken have met with a satisfactory degree of success in keeping prices stable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect of selective employment tax payments on the advances and liquidity position of the London Clearing Banks in the period before selective employment tax repayments and premiums begin.

No estimate is possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when considering reductions in public expenditure, he will exempt public expenditure in the development areas from such reductions.

The Government's object is not so much to reduce public expenditure as to keep the increase within certain limits. We take the special circumstances of the development areas into account in various programmes where it is appropriate to do so, but we cannot undertake that public expenditure in development areas will be unaffected by the limitations on the overall increase.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a study of ways in which the broad outline of Great Britain's invisible earnings on a quarterly or monthly basis can be meaningfully conveyed to the public and the Press.

Monthly figures are not available. Quarterly figures are published, with a commentary, in "Economic Trends", three months after the end of each quarter. Some further detail is given in the annual publication "The United Kingdom Balance of Payments".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any portion of transfer fees, paid or received by football clubs on transfer of professional players, is taxable.

Transfer fees paid by a football club are an allowable expense in computing the club's trading profits for tax purposes, and fees received are taken into account as a trading receipt.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the increase in postal charges announced on 20th July as part of the current economic restrictions will be removed on the relaxation of these restrictions.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an assurance that no part of Wales or of the county of Monmouth will be joined for local government purposes to any part of England.

No proposals for changing the border have been put to me and, if any are, I assure my hon. Friend that I shall look at them very closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the book value and the current value, respectively, of the funds held by each county council and county borough council in Wales in respect of the moneys transferred to them under the Welsh Church Acts 1914–19;(2) what was the amount of money available for distribution in 1965 by each county council and county borough council in Wales under the Welsh Church Acts, 1914–19.

I am obtaining this information from the authorities concerned and will write to my hon. Friend with the details as soon as I receive them.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consider seeking to set up a separate Countryside Commission for Wales.

As I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynfor Evans) on 24th October [Vol. 734, col. 123], I think the interests of Wales are at present well served by participation in the National Parks Commission. The Government's intentions in regard to the reconstitution of the Commission as a Countryside Commission for England and Wales were set out in the White Paper "Leisure in the Countryside" (Cmnd. 2928).

asked the President of the Board of Trade to which non-Commonwealth countries, besides Eire, the United Kingdom extends the benefits of Imperial Preference terms of trade.

Burma; South Africa; Western Samoa.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the reasons and criteria for continuing Imperial Preference to non-Commonwealth countries other than Eire.

We do this where we consider it to be in this country's overall economic and political interest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the approximate financial benefit to the Republic of South Africa of her continuing to receive Imperial Preference since she left the Commonwealth.

There is no reliable basis for making such an estimate. Since she left the Commonwealth on 31st May, 1961, South Africa has sent us over £900 million of goods of which more than half enjoyed preferences. The preferences we receive are naturally of corresponding advantage to us.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date it was decided to continue Imperial Preference benefits to the Republic of South Africa; what Commonwealth countries were consulted; and what representations have been received on this matter.

As the then Prime Minister told the House on 22nd March, 1961, the preferential arrangements between this country and South Africa, which affect trade both ways, were and are governed by the bilateral Agreement concluded in 1932, which was unaffected by South Africa's changed status.—[Vol. 637, c. 447.]Consultations with other Commonwealth countries was not therefore appropriate. They were kept informed of what we proposed to do, and as the then Lord Privy Seal said on 26th February, 1962, there was no hint of criticism from any of them.—[Vol. 654, c. 941.]So far as I am aware no representations have been received on this matter from Governments. Representations have been received from various bodies and persons in the United Kingdom including the hon. Member himself and other hon. Members, urging the termination of the Agreement. Neither the present Government nor its predecessors have felt that termination was justified, since the Agreement secures valuable advantages for us. South Africa gives preference to about 25 per cent. of the goods she imports from the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will extend the payment of investment grants to cover both drawing office and ordinary office equipment for items valued over £25 if used for carrying on a qualifying industrial process.

No; but I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to his Question on the 10th November in relation to the availability of grants for certain items of specialised draughtsmen's equipment.—[Vol. 735, c. 344.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints have been received about increases in hotel charges, laundry charges, domestic appliance prices, toiletry prices, and vehicle repair charges since 20th July.

Approximately 60 complaints have been received about increased hotel charges, 1,000 about laundry charges, and 200 about prices of toilet preparations. Most domestic appliances and vehicle repair charges are the responsibility of the Ministry of Technology.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what authority requests have been made by his Department to hoteliers for particulars of their price increases since 20th July and the costings which have provoked these increases.

The requests have been made in the exercise of my general responsibility for the application of Government policies to industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the priorities in the provision of new terminal buildings at Turnhouse and the provision of a runway to take future aircraft; and when he proposes to authorise each.

A new terminal building will be needed within about five years and preliminary planning is now in hand. I consider that the present runways will be adequate for some years after 1970 but I am keeping the matter under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give an estimate of the percentage of the output of manufacturing industry which was exported from Scotland and from the remainder of the United Kingdom in each year from 1945;(2) what he estimates was the value of Scottish exports per employee as against exports per employee in the rest of the United Kingdom in each year from 1945;(3) what he estimates was the value of Scottish exports and of exports from the remainder of the United Kingdom in each year from 1945.

I regret that I am unable to give such estimates.Contributions to the value of individual products exported may be made by industry in more than one region and goods are not necessarily shipped from the region in which the final stage of their manufacture takes place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of United Kingdom exports of whisky in each year from 1945; and what percentage this represents of the value of all United Kingdom exports.

The following is the information:

VALUE OF UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS OF WHISKY
Year		£ million	As percentage of all United Kingdom exports
1945	…	8·6	2·0
1946	…	11·0	1·2
1947	…	13·6	1·2
1948	…	16·2	1·0
1949	…	18·7	1·0
1950	…	26·3	1·2
1951	…	29·6	1·1
1952	…	33·0	1·3
1953	…	37·8	1·5
1954	…	39·1	1·4
1955	…	43·6	1·5
1956	…	47·6	1·5
1957	…	52·1	1·5
1958	…	56·0	1·7
1959	…	61·9	1·8
1960	…	65·6	1·8
1961	…	74·4	2·0
1962	…	80·9	2·1
1963	…	84·8	2·0
1964	…	92·3	2·1
1965	…	107·6	2·3

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his efforts to keep prices stable since 20th July last.

My Department has approached the trade associations in the Board of Trade's field, and also a number of individual firms of special importance, in order to explain the policy of the prices standstill and to ask for their co-operation. A high degree of co-operation has been forthcoming and arrangements have been made which, over a wide field, give us advance notice of proposals to increase prices. These are carefully investigated in accordance with the criteria in the White Paper. All complaints, about price increases received from the public are followed up with the firms concerned. The evidence is that the great majority of manufacturers and retailers are complying with the policy set out in the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport how many derailments of passenger or goods trains occurred on British Railways during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1966; and what was the cost of repairs to railway property and damage to rail users.

The latest provisional figures for the 12 months ended 31st October, 1966, show that there were 32 derailments of passenger trains and 247 of goods trains, a total of 279. Information giving the cost of repairs to railway property and damage to rail users is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of derailments on British Railways in the 12 months ended 31st October, 1966 was due to defective freight wagons; and what action the Railways Board are taking, in the interest of safety, to renew the wagon fleet and make better equipment available.

The latest provisional figures indicate that of the 279 derailments that occurred on British Railways during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1966, 43 (17 per cent.) were caused by defective freight wagons.By the end of 1966, over a period of 5 years, a total of nearly 400,000 wagons, mainly short-wheelbased 4 wheel vehicles, will have been withdrawn from service, leaving a fleet of some 550,000 wagons. New wagon building is being concentrated mainly on rolling stock for bulk movement and for the development of the freight liner network which will progressively replace much of the existing fleet. In the meantime, in the interest of safety, the maximum speed of trains carrying short-wheelbased vehicles has been reduced to 45 m.p.h.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated annual financial saving to the Railways Board of all branch line and passenger station closures completed since the publication of the Beeching Report in 1963.

The Railways Board estimate that the present financial improvement is about £17 million per annum.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of her proposed subsidy to rural omnibus operators is to be borne by the Exchequer, and what proportion by local authorities.

This is one of the matters on which my right hon. Friend has made proposals to the local authority associations and on which we are awaiting their views.

asked the Minister of Transport when legislation will be introduced to enable Exchequer and local government financial assistance to be given to rural omnibus operators.

My right hon. Friend hopes to introduce a Transport Bill in the next Session, which will deal with this among other important matters.

asked the Minister of Transport when the aerial survey of the line for a new road from the M5 motorway terminal near East Brent to the vicinity of Exeter is expected to take place.

At a suitable time in the first three months of 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the estimated total capital investment for the Tees and Hartlepools Port Authority for 1966, 1967 and 1968, and the amount estimated for the Hartlepools Port and Harbour for each of these years.

The authorities' estimates of capital investment in 1966 are:—

		£,000
Tees Conservancy Commission	…	3,700
British Transport Docks Board:
Middlesbrough Dock	…	75
Hartlepools	…	130

The programme of capital investment after 1966 is a matter for the new Tees and Hartlepools Port Authority to which the existing undertakings will be transferred on 1st January, 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with discussions to ensure that vehicles, once they have been declared a write-off by an insurance company, are not in any way used again on the highway.

We are pressing ahead with discussions with insurers and others on the arrangements referred to in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes) on 16th November. [Vol. 736, c. 114.]It does not necessarily follow that because a vehicle has been treated as a "total loss" for insurance purposes it cannot be effectively repaired to proper and safe standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authorities have so far undertaken to introduce a comprehensive system of secondary education.

My right hon. Friend it at present considering proposals for the introduction of comprehensive education from 62 local education authorities. 46 authorities already have a comprehensive system of secondary education either approved or in operation for the whole or part of their area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of primary school improvement projects submitted by the London County Council or the Inner London Education Authority for inclusion in the 1967–68 building programme; and what was the number approved.

The Inner London Education Authority submitted 17 primary school improvement projects for the 1967–68 Major Programme, of which 12 were approved.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that many people who have written and telephoned about the prices and incomes policy have been passed from Department to Department; if he will state the correct address to which such complaints should be sent; and if he is satisfied that the machinery for dealing with confusion and delay is adequate.

I am not aware that there has been any general difficulty on this score where the advice which I gave in my statement to the Press on 12th September has been followed and I do not accept that there is confusion and delay. If, however, my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I will be glad to look into it.In my statement to the Press on 12th September I indicated that the first thing to do was to ask the supplier for an ex-explanation of a price increase. If a convincing reply was not forthcoming a short note of the facts could always be sent to the Ministry of Agriculture in the case of food and drinks of all kinds and to the Board of Trade for most other consumer goods and services. If it was another Department's concern, the latter would be passed on.I hope, however, that the additional information given below about the Government Departments to which complaints may be sent will be of assistance to Members and to the public. Complaints should not be sent to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if all the members of the National Economic Development Council and its constituent economic development councils are required to observe the Official Secrets Act; and if he will make a statement.

Members of these bodies are subject to the Official Secrets Act.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why actual payments to the public services under existing commitments are required under paragraph 36 of Command Paper No. 3150 to be postponed until after the end of the period of severe restraint.

I should like to clarify any misunderstanding there may be about this. The provisions in paragraph 36 of Cmnd. 3150 do not apply to cases in which both the amount of any improvement and the operative date had been agreed by 20th July. 1966. They apply only to cases in the public services where there was a commitment to review pay from an agreed date but the amount of any improvement had not been determined by 20th July. In so far as agreements which have yet to be reached in these cases on the amount of any increase do not conform to the severe restraint criteria, it is right that actual payment of the increase should be postponed whilst other workers are subject to severe restraint.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has considered for a bypass of the A9 at Aviemore.

A trunk road diversion west of the village is included in the Aviemore section of Inverness County's approved development plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Highland Transport Board will report.

The Board has already given advice on certain matters, and I hope to receive its final report in December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the series of burglaries of various organisations' offices in London in March this year, details of which have been sent him; whether the Special Branch have made any inquiries in the matter; and what steps have been taken to prevent any recurrence.

I received a report about these incidents from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The full police inquiries included certain Special Branch investigations, but it has not been possible to identify the person or persons responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, before introducing any legislation to alter the requirement that a jury must be unanimous in its verdict, he will commission research into the working of the jury system and take steps to implement the Morris Report.

No, but I am proposing in the Criminal Justice Bill to implement the recommendations of the Morris Committee as regards excluding criminals from juries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that there is a shortage of places in detention centres serving the West Midlands; and what proposals he has for providing more places.

The new centre at Whatton, Nottinghamshire, which opened on 23rd November, should help to improve the position in the Midlands. The total number of detention centre places for boys is now 1,800. I have plans to provide 850 more places during the next few years, and some of these will be available to courts in the West Midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Fugitive Offenders Act.

Shortly, I hope.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, bearing in mind the number of cars stolen or taken without the owner's consent, he will introduce legislation to make it an offence to leave an unattended car unlocked.

No. It would not be practicable to enforce such a provision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress has been made by the Boundary Commission; and when its final recommendations will be published;(2) when it is proposed to implement the recommendations of the Boundary Commission.

The Boundary Commissions for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are engaged on general reviews of constituencies in their respective areas. The Commission for England have so far published provisional recommendations for constituencies in all but seven geographical counties. Fifty-three local inquiries have been held and revised recommendations have been published for constituencies in seven London boroughs and nine counties. The Commission for Scotland have published provisional recommendations for all constituencies except those in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and have held two local inquiries. The Commissions for Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet published provisional recommendations.By virtue of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act, 1958 the Commissions are required to submit reports of their final recommendations by the autumn of 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet referred any matters to the new Advisory Council on the Penal System.

I have asked the Council to consider, as their initial programme,

(a) how the principle of personal reparation by the offender might be given a more prominent place in the penal system;

(b) what changes and additions should be made in the range of non-custodial penalties, disabilities and other requirements which may be imposed on offenders.

I have invited the Council in their investigation of these matters to consider specially the position of the professional criminal.The Council will be assisted in their examination of reparation by a working party of officials.

asked the Minister of Social Security why wives of disabled husbands are subject to an earnings rule.

The National Insurance Scheme does not provide for the automatic payment of an increase of sickness benefit for a wife, but only if she can be regarded as dependent on her husband. Her earnings, therefore, have to be taken into account and a limit is laid down in the National Insurance Act as one of the tests of dependency.

asked the Minister of Social Security if the earnings rule for wives of disabled husbands is being reviewed.

The earnings limit for a dependency increase will be carefully considered in the course of our review of the National Insurance Scheme.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when it is proposed that the Countryside Commission described in the White Paper, "Leisure in the Countryside", should be established.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 11th July, 1966.— [Vol. 735, c. 159.]

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether it is his policy that the country parks proposed in the White Paper, "Leisure in the Countryside", should include small harbours whose attraction for tourists exceeds their commercial significance.

There may be cases where a small harbour lies within an area proposed by a local planning authority for a country park. While such a proposal would not be rejected for that reason, it would be inappropriate that the grants proposed in the White Paper should be applied to works of harbour restoration or improvement as such.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on his discussions with representatives of the local authority associations regarding the rehousing of men affected by the redeployment and mobility of labour policies of Her Majesty's Government.

As a result of the discussions, my right hon. Friend is about to issue a circular to local authorities giving fresh advice on the allocation of Council houses, arrangements for exchanges and loans for house purchase to people moving to take up new employment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the need for housing in the Abingdon rural district; and when he expects to reach a decision on the council's application to develop land at Steventon.

The decision on Abingdon R.D.C.'s appeal was issued on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about his efforts to keep rents and mortgage rates stable since 20th July last.

On rents I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 19 and 20 of the White Paper "Prices and Incomes Standstill; Period of Severe Restraint" (Cmnd. 3150) published this week. Mortgage rates were discussed in a report recently submitted by the National Board for Prices and Incomes; this is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the local authorities which have increased council house rents since the standstill on prices and incomes was announced on 20th July; and how many of these same local authorities failed to observe the standstill on their employees' remuneration.

The following authorities have informed my right hon. Friend of rent increases since 20th July:

• Bath C.B.C.
• Birmingham C.B.C.
• Rochdale C.B.C.
• Ashton-under-Lyne B.C.
• Slough B.C.
• Stafford B.C.
• Ampthill U.D.C.
• Cheshunt U.D.C.
• Gainsborough U.D.C.
• Keynsham U.D.C.
• Leighton-Linslade U.D.C.
• Saxmundham U.D.C.
• Sheringham U.D.C.
• Ware U.D.C.
• Wells-next-the-Sea U.D.C.
• Clutton R.D.C.
• Dartford R.D.C.
• Ringwood and Fordingbridge R.D.C.
• Sedbergh R.D.C.
• Wing R.D.C.

As far as I know, all these authorities have applied the incomes standstill to their employees.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the projected population growth between the years 1961 and 1981 at five-year intervals, or a suitable similar period, in the Sevenoaks and Uckfield Rural District Council areas.

These figures are not at present available. Consultations are being held with local planning authorities on the county population forecasts which followed the review of the South East Study. When these are complete, the local planning authorities will be able to prepare projections for individual local authority areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take in the light of the report of the district auditor of Number 11 Audit District on 23rd September, 1966 concerning overspending by the Salford City Direct Labour Building Department.

The report drew attention to weaknesses in organisations and management. I understand that the Salford County Borough Council are now considering what might be done to overcome these weaknesses, and my right hon. Friend is asking the council to inform him of the steps which they decide to take.

asked the Minister of Power what arrangements he has now made to ensure that the impact of the selective employment tax upon electrical retailers and contractors does not give unfair advantage to the retailing and contracting departments of the electricity boards.

The Electrical Contractors Association of England and Wales has now accepted my suggestion that it should discuss with the Electricity Council the details of the arrangement described in my reply of 18th October to my hon. Friend, the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell).—[Vol. 734, c. 32.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement about his efforts to keep prices stable since 20th July last.

The chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries gave their full support to the policies announced by the Prime Minister on 20th July. Apart from the normal ending of the summer discount for domestic solid fuels, which was not subject to the standstill, there have been no general increases since that date in the prices charged by the nationalised industries for coal and other solid fuels, gas and electricity.I have sought the co-operation of private sector manufacturers and distributors within my field of responsibility in the operation of the standstill, supplementing as necessary the arrangements for "early warning" given in Cmnd. 2808. In general, the response has been very encouraging.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the expected levels of unemployed and of unfilled vacancies likely to be registered by his offices over the next six months.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the report of the committee of inquiry into the Millwall Dock dispute.

The Report of the Court of Inquiry was published on 18th November. On the same day I saw representatives of the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers, the Transport and General Workers Union and the National Association of Port Employers and urged them to take action on the basis of recommendations of the court. I understand that the court's finding as to the work in dispute at the Millwall Docks has now been accepted. The Enclosed Docks Joint Sub-Committee of the National Modernisation Committee has begun discussions on the court's recommendation that a common register should be set up in the London docks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the minimum age for boys joining the Air Training Corps is 14 years although they may join the Sea Cadets at 12 years and be given a uniform at 12½ years.

The normal age of entry to the A.T.C. is fourteen years, although, if they have their headmaster's approval, boys may join as probationary members at 13½. Taken into conjunction with a normal age limit of 20 years and the amount, type and variety of training provided this is considered to provide the most suitable age span for the Corps. All boys serve a probationary period and 14¼ years is the earliest age at which a boy wears a uniform.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt in the Royal Dockyards concerning the present working of the Dockyard Incentive Bonus Scheme; and whether he will investigate the same.

I am aware that this scheme is a great improvement on its predecessors, and is making good progress, and I see no need to investigate it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will seek to provide the necessary moneys in the Navy Estimates to ensure that the Dockyard Incentive Bonus Scheme becomes a more effective incentive.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian personnel are now employed in each of Her Majesty's Dockyards; and how each of these figures compares with the numbers employed in each of Her Majesty's Dockyards in November, 1964.

The latest figure for H.M. dockyards at home are:

			October 1964	October 1966
Portsmouth	…	…	14,976	14,264
Devonport	…	…	15,674	15,789
Chatham	…	…	9,716	9,351
Rosyth	…	…	6,756	7,044

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now announce the results of the review of regulations on the commutation of pensions by warrant officers and other ranks.

As I told the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, Southwest (Mr. Longden) on 16th November last, the results of the review will be announced as soon as possible.—[Vol. 736, c. 432.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the defence establishments sited in Scotland, in England, in Wales and in Northern Ireland; and if he will give an estimate of the contribution they make to the economy of the areas in which they are situated.

I regret that a detailed Answer to this Question would involve disproportionate effort. If the hon. Member had a particular establishment in mind, I will gladly write to him about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to operate the recommendations of the Gaskain Report and amalgamate the Defence Department's constabularies into a single force.

My right hon. Friend is considering the recommendations of this Report, and will consult the Federal Council of Departmental Police Associations before he takes any decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the total num- ber of military personnel and dependants in Northern Command; and how many are stationed in and around Catterick.

There are 10,776 Army personnel and about 11,250 dependants in Northern Command, of whom 4,483 and about 4,370 respectively are stationed at Catterick.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what charge Great Britain is making to Malaysia for the use of Royal Air Force helicopters, transport aircraft, flying crews, and ground staff in Sabah and Sarawak.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force explained in his Answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 7th November—[Vol. 735, c. 226.]—details are now being worked out with the Malaysian authorities concerning the provision of certain assistance to the Malaysian forces by the Royal Air Force for a limited period after the British forces have left Eastern Malaysia. These discussions will in due course cover the question of charges but we cannot decide what charges to make until it becomes clear exactly how much help the Malaysians will need from the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will seek powers to ensure that the existing wage and salary standstill shall not apply to the periodic review of service pay and pensions for those serving or who have served in the armed forces of the Crown.

No. There is no justification for treating present or past members of the armed forces differently from all other members of the community in this respect.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are on the waiting lists for admission or treatment as out-patients, separately, at the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds hospitals, respectively; and what are the waiting periods for appointments with orthopaedic and surgical specialists and consequent admissions at each hospital.

The numbers of persons on the waiting lists for admission as at 31st October, 1966, were 1,926 and 605, respectively. Information on the numbers of patients waiting for outpatient appointments is not readily available. The waiting times for out-patient appointments for orthopaedic patients are 7–12 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively; for general surgery patients 4–10 weeks and 2 weeks, respectively. The waiting time for consequent admissions varies from a few days to several months at Ipswich Hospital depending upon degree of urgency. At Bury St. Edmunds Hospital it is 2 weeks for orthopaedic and up to 3 months for general surgery patients. Emergency cases are admitted without delay at both hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the present expansion of Sudbury and Great Cornard, he will take steps to improve the casualty facilities at St. Leonard's Hospital, Sudbury.

The main accident and emergency services for the area are, and will continue to be provided at Bury St. Edmunds where staff and essential facilities to deal with any emergency are available night and day. The East Anglian Regional Hospital Board plan to improve facilities at Sudbury for minor casualties but because of greater priorities elsewhere in the region this work is not likely to be started yet.

asked the Minister of Health what further progress has been made in providing facilities in the Croydon area to detect cancer of the cervix; and why Mayday Hospital is not now to be used for this purpose.

A diagnostic service is available for all women with symptoms. A service for women at risk has started and will be extended as soon as possible. The provision of screening clinics for well women is a matter for the local authority and I understand that they are providing a clinic in existing local authority premises, not in the Mayday Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received in reconstituting the National Health Service's Profession and Technical Council B Whitley Council Committee F; whether he is aware that architects in the National Health Service are not satisfied at the present Whitley Council machinery; and if he will change representation so as to give architects direct representation on the Whitley Council's Professional and Technical Council.

I have received letters from architects in the Health Service and from the Association of Official Architects asking for representation of the Association on Committee F. The composition of the Staff and Management Sides of the Whitley Councils are matters for the two Sides themselves, and I have therefore conveyed the representations of the Association to the Staff Side.Architects are eligible for membership of several of the six staff organisations already represented on Committee F and I understand that discussions with the Association are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the Sainsbury Committee's Report on the Pharmaceutical Industry's relationship with the National Health Service.

Probably about the the middle of next year.