asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now give guidance to business on the effects of the Government's long-term investment programmes, in the light of his decision not to publish a revised National Plan this year.

If the hon. Member refers to forecasts of the investment required to meet planning objectives, this must await the result of the planning operation to which I referred on 10th November. But we have stressed the importance for the future of maintaining a high level of investment.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has considered the progress report made by the Joint Manpower Committee for the Printing Industry, dated June 1966; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the progress report. There have been further meetings of the Joint Manpower Committee since the report was made and further progress has been achieved towards securing the more efficient use of manpower in the Printing Industry in line with the recommendations of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has yet studied the report of the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Economic Planning Council; and if he will make a statement.

This review is a comprehensive survey of the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. It contains a wide variety of proposals involving action by people in the region as well as by Government. There must now be a proper opportunity for assessing the region's reactions to the survey, while full consideration will be given by Departments to the proposals addressed to the Government.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimates his Department has made of the cost to the national economy of the clerical work in the private sector and in the nationalised industries entailed in keeping the necessary records for the collection of Income Tax, National Insurance, Graduated National Insurance, Selective Employment Tax and industrial training levy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) earlier today.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he expects to revert without qualification to the criteria for exceptional pay increases above the norm set out in paragraph 15 of the White Paper on prices and incomes policy, Command Paper No. 2639.

I shall be consulting the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and other interested parties about the criteria which should govern prices and incomes behaviour after the period of severe restraint. The criteria set out in Cmnd. 2639 will be considered in the course of these consultations.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what are the additional measures specifically designed to meet family needs, referred to in paragraph 28 of the White Paper, Prices and Incomes Standstill: Period of Severe Restraint, Command Paper No. 3150, to which high priority will be given during the first half of 1967.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies on this subject given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security on 28th and 21st November.—[Vol 737, c. 18–19. Vol. 736, c. 929–31.]

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will request regional economic planning councils to provide hon. Members representing constituencies affected, with copies of their reports and recommendations.

Councils when publishing their reports or recommendations invariably make copies available to M.P.s ire their regions.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what consultations he proposes to hold with a view to further development of the European Free Trade Association following the elimination of tariffs.

The European Free Trade Association Ministerial Council consults at regular intervals about the development of the Association within the terms of the Stockholm Convention.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the review of the National Plan 1965–70 will include all the component parts of the original industry by industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement of 10th November in reply to the hon. Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks).—[Vol. 735, c. 341.]

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will make a statement regarding the views of the South-East Regional Council on the South Hampshire Study.

The Council has recently submitted its comments on the Study to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. These views, together with those of other bodies consulted, are being examined and the Government will announce its decision in due course.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to what extent the grant to an employee of inclusion in an employer's pension scheme is contrary to Government policy; and whether he will give an assurance that his powers under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act 1966 will not be invoked to prevent such inclusions.

It is not the Government's policy to prevent the extension of occupational pension schemes during the period of severe restraint and the question of using Part IV powers does not therefore arise.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the percentage change in the seasonally adjusted index of industrial production for the period July to September, 1966 compared with the corresponding period last year; what estimate he has made of its course over the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to similar Questions earlier today.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will take the opportunity of the abolition of the import surcharge to raise once more with the Norwegian Government their obligation to reduce duties on motor vehicles and components in accordance with the spirit of the Stockholm Convention;(2) whether he has sought any assurance from Great Britain's European Free Trade Association partners that the abolition of the import surcharge will be reciprocated by discussions aimed at the removal of such revenue duties, affecting Great Britain's vehicle exports, as are contrary to the spirit of the Stockholm Convention.

We take every opportunity of pressing our views that the E.F.T.A. relationship should be reflected in the duties charged on motor vehicles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to assist those British firms whose delivery dates of goods to the Continent exceed 15 days.

The Export Services Branch is always ready to give any help it can; but this is mainly a matter for exporters to pursue with their forwarding agents and carriers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that with the ending in January, 1967, of tariffs between European Free Trade Association countries there is a possibility of considerably increased trade with Sweden; and what he is doing to take advantage of this opportunity(2) whether he is aware that Italy, Norway and the United States of America have trade centres in Stockholm; and whether he will establish a British trade centre in that city.

I agree that Sweden offers an excellent market for British goods, particularly now that we are entering on industrial free trade in E.F.T.A., but I have no plans for establishing a permanent trade centre in Stockholm. There are many other ways in which we can and do assist the promotion of our export trade to Sweden.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date the first payments will be made under the Industrial Development Act.

In July next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the sale of duty-free liquor and tobacco at airports to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he refuses to allow the repayment of foreign bonded debts owing to citizens of this country to be included in trade discussions with such countries, in view of the fact that other European countries which equally had bond claims against countries like Roumania, Hungary, etc., have settled these claims and have since considerably exceeded the United Kingdom in new trade agreements with these countries.

Her Majesty's Government do not consider that linking bonded debt and trade discussions would help. Bonded debts have been discussed together with other forms of outstanding claims, and the difficulties in reaching acceptable settlements are not in any way related to discussions on trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why United Kingdom exports to Taiwan, which in the last two years had more than doubled, in the first half of this year have been more than halved; what Her Majesty's Government is doing about this; and why Taiwan has not been included in recent trade delegations from the United Kingdom to that part of the Far East, since there is a United Kingdom trade representative at the consulate there.

Exports to Formosa have not been halved; they continue to increase. In January-October, 1966, they amounted to £1,728,000 compared with £1,548,000 in January-October, 1965. Official trade delegations do not go to Formosa because Her Majesty's Government do not decognise the Government of that country; as for non-official delegations, it is for their sponsoring bodies to arrange their itineraries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what means he employs to ensure the licences to import arms into Great Britain from Europe are not used for gun-running into Africa; and what information he has of such practices;(2) whether he will give particulars of Import Licence No. Ex193057/1 and import certificate No. NE2253; to whom these were issued; and whether other licences have been issued or reissued to the same person, persons or company in the last 12 months.

It would be contrary to practice to disclose details of import licences or import certificates issued by the Board of Trade to individual importers. Import licences are required to import arms into the United Kingdom and are issued only to persons or bodies authorised by the Ministry of Defence. I have no evidence that arms imported into Great Britain are used for gun running into Africa.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the success of the recent British shopping week arranged in Florence at the city's request, and the urgent need to help shopkeepers there to re-establish their businesses after the disastrous floods, if he will take immediate action to provide favourable credit terms for the supply of stacks of British goods.

We all sympathise with the people of Florence, and I am anxious to be helpful. The Export Credits Guarantee Department will adopt a sympathetic attitude to requests from British exporters to cover credits to shopkeepers there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentages of the imports and exports of the United Kingdom trade with the Republic of South Africa last year represented; and what percentages of the imports and exports of South Africa were represented by trade with the United Kingdom.

In 1963, 3 per cent. and 5 per cent.; and 28 per cent. and 34 per cent. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will establish independent tribunals to investigate consumer complaints in the carpet, furniture and other trades.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will set up a committee to make a cost effectiveness study and educational evaluation of the use of instructional hardware in education.

Evaluation of audiovisual aids is carried out over a wide field by the Experimental Development Unit of the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids. Other bodies undertake evaluation in particular fields or for more limited purposes.My right hon. Friend is still considering the recommendation by the Brynmor Jones Committee that a national centre for audio-visual aids should be established.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why a full-time course on landscape architecture due to start last September at the Manchester College of Art and Design has been postponed.

Because there was already adequate and under-subscribed provision at other colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the continued shortage of teachers, he will now call a meeting of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers to discuss the subject.

My right hon. Friend cannot add at present to the answer which he gave to the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Mathew) on 3rd November.—[Vol. 735, c. 642–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the numbers of vacancies existing for teachers at the latest available date and the estimated figures for 1967, 1968 and 1969.

My right hon. Friend does not collect information from authorities about vacancies for teachers in their schools. The number of teachers in the maintained schools is at present about 44,000 below that required to bring all classes within the present regulation sizes. The corresponding estimates for later years are 38,000 in 1967, 31,000 in 1968 and 23,000 in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give, for any early and convenient stated period of time and for any district or area for which information is readily available, figures which will show the number of schoolchildren who have lost their lives and/or who have been injured and damaged for life as a result of carrying out their educational studies in physical education when learning such sports as football, rugby, swimming, athletics and boxing.

A survey of accidents in schools in ten local education authority areas was carried out for 1965, covering 825,000 children. No loss of life arising from physical education activities occurred nor, on the information available, were there any injuries likely to result in damage for life.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has received from the University Grants Committee with regard to setting the criteria involved in rationalising university provision for agriculture.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which universities have been approached by the University Grants Committee with a view to closing their degree courses in agriculture.

I understand that the University Grants Committee is at present engaged in confidential discussions with a few universities about the need to rationalise courses in agriculture. These discussions involve academic judgments which are the responsibility of the U.G.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Sicence how many local education authorities have notified him that they will have to postpone accepting children aged five who would normally be commencing their schooling in January, 1967.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that all children aged five who would normally be commencing their schooling in January, 1967 will not be prevented from doing so by their local education authorities.

I am aware that a number of authorities are facing difficulties over the staffing of their infant schools, but I am confident that they will do their utmost to fulfil their responsibilities towards the children of their area. For my part, I will continue to do all that is possible to increase the supply of teachers under my fourteen point programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the capital value of sports facilities in schools, colleges, and universities for the years 1963–64, 1964–65, and 1965–66; and what are the estimates for 1966–67.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether, as stated in Appendix E of the Sports Council report, figures for capital investment for sport and recreation have been assembled since the publication of Command Paper No. 2177 in October, 1963;

asked the Secretary of Slate for Education and Science when he w ill introduce legislation to ensure that authors receive fair remuneration for copies of their books in libraries.

A Working Party set up by the Literature Panel of the Arts Council is considering this problem. Any

The best estimates that are available are as follows:proposals submitted to me by the Council will be carefully considered and all the bodies likely to be affected will be consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many classes in primary schools in Cardiff are over 40 in size; and how this compares with the national average.

145 classes in Cardiff's maintained primary schools had more than 40 pupils in January 1966. They represented 19·0 per cent. of all primary school classes. The corresponding percentage in England and Wales was 11·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the capital expenditure on the youth service, voluntary and statutory, for the years 1963–64, 1964–65, and 1965–66; what sums within these totals were spent on facilities for sport; and what are the relevant estimates for 1966–67.

Figures of actual expenditure are not available in the form asked for, but the total value of projects authorised to start in the Youth Service building programmes were: 1963–64, £4·0 million, 1964–65, £4·5 million, 1965–66, £4·5 million, 1966–67, £2·5 million; for the estimated amount of capital expenditure related to sport I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him, and the hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Hordern) today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for using unlicensed motor vehicles have been recorded in the Uxbridge constituency in the last 12 months and in the previous 12 months; and what measures he is taking to prevent this.

This information is not readily available. The relevant statistics are however being extracted and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as they have been obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to ensure that toy safety standards are observed when toys are imported into this country.

I share my hon. Friend's concern about this matter, and my Department keeps in close touch with toy manufacturers and importers, and with the Hong Kong Government, with a view to ensuring that toys offered for sale comply with the requirements of the appropriate British Standard Code. Many of the requirements of the Code are inappropriate for inclusion in statutory regulations under the Consumer Protection Act, 1961, but regulations dealing with various aspects of the safety of toys are in course of preparation, and I attach urgency to their completition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions involving drug addiction have been registered in the last 12 months in the Uxbridge constituency; and how many of those convicted were under 21 years.

The numbers of persons aged 21 and over and under 21 convicted in the Uxbridge constituency of being in illegal possession of dangerous drugs controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1965 were respectively 7 and 2 in 1965, and 6 and 3 up to mid-October this year. Corresponding figures for convictions for illegal possession of drugs scheduled under the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1964 are 2 and 1, and 4 and 3 respectively.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he has undertaken contingency planning in consultation with Commonwealth Governments for a programme of reconstruction and social economic development in Rhodesia following mandatory sanctions under Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations.

In accordance with the decision made at the meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers at Lagos in January, 1966, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat convened a Committee of representatives of Commonwealth Governments to consider in detail projects of aid for Rhodesia.This resulted in the setting up of the Special Commonwealth Scheme for the education of Rhodesian Africans outside Rhodesia, with which the British Government has been actively concerned.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what representations he has received about reducing aid to African countries; and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what grants have been made by his Department to African countries in respect of educational projects in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The figures are not readily available but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development which ten countries in 1965 received the greatest amounts from private investment in the figures included in the British aid programme; and how much South Africa has received under this heading in each of the last five years.

Private investment is not included in the aid programme; the remainder of my hon. Friend's question does not therefore arise. If, however, he is thinking of figures for private investment in the developing countries which, although not part of the aid programme, a re reported to the Development Assistance Committee, these do not include investment in the Republic of South Africa which is not classed as a developing country.

asked the Minister of Technology, in view of the fact that hydrofoil craft are built and operated in Russia, America, Italy, Japan and Germany as compared with none in this country, what steps he is taking to encourage a shipbuilding firm to enter this field.

I refer to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 22nd November last. When the results of the current studies are known, both the Ministry of Technology and industry will be in a better position to assess the case for commercial exploitation of the hydrofoil principle in this country.—[Vol. 736, c. 251–2.]

asked the Minister of Technology if he will introduce legislation to nationalise the British motor industry, in view of their present difficulties.

No.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the present financial position of Fair-fields, in view of the public money which has been invested in it.

As the Government announced at the time, it is their intention that Fairfields (Glasgow) Limited, should operate its shipyard on a normal commercial basis and no special provision was made for the submission of accounts. The company will no doubt file their annual return together with their accounts as required by the Companies Act in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why half the draughtsmen in Government employ are on the increased new rate of pay and malt on the old.

The agreement on revised scales of pay reached in June covered the Architectural and Engineering Draughtsman Class only: all members of this Class are receiving the new rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will quantify the effect on the current balance of payments of the 1966 seamen's strike.

I cannot give a precise figure, but the seamen's strike was certainly responsible for most of the deterioration in our current account balance between the first and second quarters of 1966. Much of the loss has been made good since.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that public servants who have had wage or salary increases deferred by the prices and incomes standstill will not receive a reduced pension for life if they retire before the increase in wages or salary is paid.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated annual cost since 1960 of interest and other charges on United Kingdom external liabilities in sterling;(2) what is the estimated annual income since 1960 from interest on United Kingdom claims in sterling.

Interest paid on U.K. external liabilities in sterling is estimated to have been, in round figures:

	£ million
1960	1961	1962
150	175	150
1963	1964	1965
125	175	200

Interest received on banking advances, which represent roughly one-third of U.K. external sterling claims, is estimated to have been, in round figures:

	£million
1960	1961	1962
15	20	15
1963	1964	1965
20	25	30

The larger part of U.K. external claims in sterling is represented by commercial bills and acceptances. If allowance is made for interest on these included in "interest profits and dividends" and for interest included but not distinguished in the value of exports, the true net interest cost on U.K. net liabilities in sterling is probably now in the region of £100–£150 million per annum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the period of severe restraint will have on interest rates on mortgages charged by building societies and local authorities.

The Government expect that restraint will continue to be exercised in these fields, and that increases will be avoided as far as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of P.45 forms issued by all employers throughout the United Kingdom during the year 1963.

Just under 10 million in the year 1963–64.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of P.45 forms collected by Inland Revenue from all employers in respect of new starters throughout the United Kingdom during the year 1963.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the overall standard of living of the British nation has risen since October, 1964.

Between the third quarter of 1964 and the second quarter of 1966 (the latest available date) the overall standard of living as represented by the gross national product at constant prices increased by over 3 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the latest estimates of total investment for the nationalised industries for 1965, showing each industry separately, and estimate the proportion that the total figure represents of the total national capital formation excluding investment in dwellings;(2) if he will give the total numbers employed by the nationalised industries on the most recent available date, showing each industry separately; and if he will give the proportion which the total figure represents as a percentage of the total working population of the United Kingdom;(3) if he will estimate the value of the total output of the nationalised industries for the most recent convenient year, showing each industry separately; and if he will estimate the proportion which this represented of the value of the total national output;(4) if he will give an estimate of the value of the current assets employed in

NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES
		Gross fixed capital formation, 1965	Number of employees at end March, 1966	(Output contribution to G.N.P., 1965)	Total net assets
		£m.		£m.	£m.
Post Office	…	195	412,300	617	1,487
National Coal Board	…	85	481,400	600	800
Electricity Council and Boards	…	582	226,500	627	3,626
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	…	16	3,900	19	256
South of Scotland Electricity Board	…	46	17,300	47	306
Gas Council and Boards	…	103	121,700	199	863
B.O.A.C	…	20	18,900*	60	128
B.E.A	…	17	19,300*	39	98
British Railways Board	…	109	379,000	538	1,614
London Transport Board	…	23	72,900	87	206
British Transport Docks Board	…	6	11,000	20	92
British Waterways Board	…	1	3,400	5	13
Transport Holding Company	…	15	101,000	118	167
Total	…	1,218	1,868,600	2,976	9,156
Total as percentage of all industries	…	25	7	10	Not available
* Including 6,000 employed overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what study he has made of the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on old-age pensioners; and what action he will take.

We are watching the effects of the Selective Employment Tax on the employment of old-age pensioners. So far there is little evidence of any serious effect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the decision of the council of the London Borough of Camden to set up a policy committee of the council, membership of which is

The following table gives the required information.to be confined to members of the Labour Party and officers of the council; and, in view of this abuse of the machinery of local government for party purposes, whether he will direct the district auditor to make a special report as to the legality and propriety of the expenditure involved.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the Answer I gave in reply to a Question by the hon. Member from Bromley (Mr. Hunt) on the 1st November.—[Vol. 735, c. 45–46.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that Redbridge Borough Council has increased the charge to be made to ratepayers for making garage drive-ins across pavements; and to what extent this increase is in accord with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

I understand that the work on these crossings is done by the council's direct labour department in some parts of the borough and in others by a private contractor, the contract being put out to tender. In either case the householder pays for the actual cost of the works.I am told that the contract is tendered for annually in April and that neither the direct labour charges nor those of the contractor have been increased since the beginning of the prices and incomes standstill.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the housing authorities in England and Wales which completed more than 250 council houses in 1965.

More than 250 local authority dwellings were completed in 1965 for each of the following 103 housing authorities (which exclude New Towns) in England and Wales.

Northern Region
Carlisle C.B.	Stockton-on-Tees B
Darlington C.B.	Newcastle-on-Tyne
Gateshead C.B.	C.B.
South Shields C.B.	Middlesbrough C.B.
Sunderland C.B.
Yorkshire and Humberside Region
Scunthorpe B.	Rotherham C.B.
Kingston-upon-Hull C.B.	Sheffield C.B.
	Batley B.
Bradford C.B.	Rawmarsh U.D.
Halifax C.B.	Thorne R.D.
Leeds C.B.
North Western Region
Birkenhead C.B	Preston C.B.
Chester C.B.	Rochdale C.B.
Stockport C.B.	St. Helens C.B.
Macclesfield B.	Salford C.B.
Winsford U.D.	Wigan C.B.
Blackburn C.B.	Ashton-under-Lyne B.
Blackpool C.B.
Bootle C.B.	Eccles B.
Liverpool C.B.	Widnes B.
Manchester C.B.	Kirkley U.D.
Oldham C.B.	Worsley U.D.
East Midlands Region
Derby C.B.	Lincoln C.B.
Blackwell R.D.	Nottingham C.B
Chesterfield R.D
West Midlands Region
Warley C.B.	Coventry C.B.
Stoke-on-Trent C.B.	Aldridge Brownhills
Walsall C.B.	U.D.
West Bromwich C.B.	Solihull C.B.
Wolverhampton C.B.	Dudley C.B.
Birmingham C.B.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he intends to take in respect of the rates of interest chargeable by building societies and local authorities in respect of mortgages granted by them to would-be owner-occupiers.

It is desirable that all those concerned should have an opportunity of considering the implications of the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes which was published on the 14th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's intention of seeking to join the European

I shall ensure that a proper share of the available funds is devoted to Western Europe, including France.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take by legislation or otherwise to rationalise the distribution of bread in the light of the Report on Bread and Flour Prices by the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I do not consider that this would be an appropriate matter for statutory action, but the attention of the industry has been drawn to the recommendations contained in the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister o Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decision has been taken on the commodities to be supplied by the United Kingdom to the World Food Programme.

Of our pledge for 1966–68 of $6·2 million, half is to be given in cash—which will mainly be spent on shipping and insurance costs—and half in commodities. After consultation with the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, it has been decided that our commodity contribution should include dried egg, dried skimmed milk and canned fish. Over the period we shall be in touch with the Executive Director about the quantities to be supplied and about other details.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the new branch set up by the Meteorological Office to expand research in cloud physics, its objects and scope; and whether there are any prospects of its leading to developments in weather control.

The new Cloud Physics Branch of the Meteorological Office was set up in October, 1966. In addition to taking over the work on cloud physics which was already being done in the Office it will carry on the major research done by Imperial College, London, which has recently closed its Cloud Physics Department. The College's valuable work has given the United Kingdom pre-eminence in this field.The new branch studies the growth and behaviour of cloud droplets and ice crystals, the formation of rain, hail and snow and large-scale air movements in cloud. It does laboratory and mathematical work at Bracknell and radar work at Malvern, and is assisted by the Meteorological Research Flight at Farnborough. The research is of a fundamental nature, but it will contribute to a better understanding of the possibilities of artificial rainmaking.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what purpose a missile base is to be built by the Royal Air Force at Penang and how much it will cost.

There are no plans for building a missile base a Penang.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the totals of expenditure spent by Great Britain in the defence of each of the States in the Middle East since 1945 and in each of the last five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to carry out road improvement works on the A68 at Stagshaw crossroads.

I understand that Northumberland County Council, as highway authority, hopes to start work at Stagshaw crossroads during 1967. It is difficult to estimate a more precise date as some land has yet to be acquired.

asked the Minister of Transport what complaints her Department has received about the quality of the catering services on motorways, especially the M1; whether there is any provision for the revocation of a concession if the service provided falls below a certain standard; and whether she will insert such a proviso in the contracts of any future concessions.

66 complaints have been received, including 45 relating to the M 1, where the catering facilities at two of the service areas have been in operation for six years and are used by more than 100,000 people a week.Service area operators must, under the terms of their leases, supply meals and refreshments of good quality at reasonable prices, but it would be impracticable to lay down specific standards for the quality of catering services. The services offered are acceptable to the great majority of users and we do not consider further safeguards to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for improving transport facilities in Northumberland, particularly in rural areas.

My right hon. Friend's proposals for helping public transport, stated in the White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmnd. 3057), are intended to apply to Northumberland as to other parts of the country.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reasons she rejected the recommendation of the North-East Transport Users Consultative Committee that Gilsland station should be retained as an unmanned halt; and whether she will give further consideration to this matter.

My right hon. Friend gave her consent to the closure of the station to passengers because, after studying the Consultative Committee's report, she came to the conclusion that the alternative bus service available would be adequate in view of the small numbers of travellers involved. The Railways Board is not, however, precluded from considering the Committee's suggestion that it might be retained as an unstaffed halt, though I understand that there are objections to this.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the reduction in the total number employed in the railway workshops since 15th October, 1966; and whether she expects the total number employed in the railway workshops to decline further or to increase during the next twelve months.

Between 6th October, 1966 and 3rd November, 1966, the date for which information is readily available, the total staff of British Railways Workshops was reduced by 122. The Board expects some reduction in staff during the next 12 months, which is likely largely to be covered by natural wastage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that, under the present law, the registration of electors in Bermuda will take place in February, 1967, and that the next general election there may be contested on the register then compiled; and if, accordingly, he will send to Bermuda forthwith the expert on parliamentary registration whose visit is proposed in the report of the recent constitutional conference.

It is the intention that the visit of the expert should take place in time for any changes agreed as a result of his recommendations to be given effect in the compilation of the Register for the next general election. I cannot yet say when the visit will take place.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent firms who have always paid a bonus at Christmas will be allowed to give one this year on the same scale as before.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 24th October, 1966.—[Vol. 734, c. 100.]

asked the Minister of Labour what are now the Government's intentions with regard to trade union collective bargaining after the total stand-;till and severe restraint on incomes.

I cannot at present add to what is said in paragraph 40 of the White Paper, Prices and Incomes Standstill: Period of Severe Restraint (Cmnd. 3150).

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now make a statement about the recommendations in the report of the investigation of the crane accident at Brent Cross.

The Report made it clear hat this disastrous accident was the result of the coincidence of a number of different factors and that there was not likely to be a repetition. We have, however, been considering carefully the lessons to be derived from the accident, and the additional precautionary measures that ought to be taken.So far as the actual safety of the operation of mobile cranes is concerned, there are certain particular matters which require attention. These are:

asked the Postmaster-General why he charges the maximum fee of £10 in cases where a subscriber moves to a new house in which a telephone has been connected previously and where it is now only necessary to attach an instrument to the existing installation.

In the circumstances stated the maximum connection charge is abated. If the hon. Member has a specific case in mind I shall be happy to investigate if he will let me have particulars.

asked the Postmaster-General what part he intends the existing Post Office radio station to play in a new national broadcasting system; and if he will make a statement.

The question what, if any, new broadcasting systems should be authorised is a matter for the Government's general review of broadcasting policy; and I must ask my hon. Friend to await its outcome.

asked the Minister of Power how much oil has been sold to South Africa by British-owned companies or their subsidiaries in each of the last five years.

Her Majesty's Government do not collect full statistics of the quantities of oil supplied by British companies from one overseas country to another. It is estimated, on the basis of South African trade statistics and the companies' known share of the market (about 40 per cent.), that their net sales to South Africa in the past five years were as follows:

(million tons)
1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
1·5	1·65	1·8	2·15	2·4

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the housing authorities in Scotland which completed more than 250 council houses in 1965.

The information is as follows:

Town Councils	County Councils
Aberdeen.	Fife.
Airdrie.	Lanark.
Clydebank.	Midlothian.
Coatbridge.	Stirling.
Dundee.
Edinburgh.
Glasgow.
Johnstone.
Kirkcaldy.
Motherwell and Wishaw.
Paisley.
Renfrew.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from residents of the Birchgrove and Penrhiwgwynt area of Porth, Rhondda, regarding the danger from top soil deposited on the mountain above their houses; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a letter from a group of residents in this area and have arranged for a deputation to be seen at the Welsh Office, Cardiff. My officials are in close touch with the Borough Council, who have obtained a preliminary report by experts, and are considering with them what further measures may need to be taken.