asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he had made of the effect on the rate of unemployment in Malta of the proposed cuts in defence expenditure in Malta.

This is one of the aspects of the matter on which we are in consultation with the Malta Government in accordance with our obligations under Article 6 of the Defence Agreement. As these consultations are still in progress I must ask my hon. Friend to await their outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the Zimbabwe Freedom Fighters who support the legitimate Government of Rhodesia are covered by the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what talks he proposes to have with Caribbean Commonwealth countries on the effect of Great Britain joining the Common Market.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answers to Questions by the hon. Members for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick), Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) and Easington (Mr. Shinwell) today.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is the total estimated number of white British citizens in Commonwealth countries, and other countries, respectively, on the continent of Africa.

British High Commissioners and Ambassadors do not differentiate in any respect between the various categories for whose consular protection they are responsible. The best estimate that can be made of United Kingdom nationals of European origin on the continent of Africa is:—

(a) In independent Commonwealth countries	119,000
(b) In foreign countries	109,000

Dual nationals are excluded from both figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give instructions for the publication of the Seychelles Prices and Incomes Committee report on the cost of living.

No. The Report was not intended for publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that all possible steps are taken to prevent dogs being smuggled into this country from abroad in the boots of cars with a view to avoiding quarantine regulations; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to suppose that the present precautions are inadequate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the plans of the Mint to change over to a decimal currency and to deal with the present national currency needs; and if he will transfer the whole or part of the present and future work of the Mint to Aberdeen.

On 8th December, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton), I undertook to make a statement shortly about the Royal Mint. This statement will include arrangements to deal with the present national currency needs.—[Vol. 737, c. 362.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Statutory Instrument No. 438 of 1966 applied retrospectively to gold coins already in the ownership of collectors, and not only to gold coins purchased after 27th April, 1966, the date on which the Exchange Control (Gold Coins Exemption) Order, 1966, came into operation.

Under the Exchange Control Act, 1947, the permission of the Treasury is required to hold gold coins. The Order did not apply retrospectively. It applies to coins held on the date it came into force, or subsequently.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated total cost of allowing the normal increases in Civil Service and local government scales of remuneration to proceed in spite of the statutory standstill on incomes.

Regular increments of specified amounts within a predetermined range or scale are not affected by the incomes standstill. The information upon which to base an estimate of the total cost of paying such increments in the Civil Service and local government during the standstill period is not readily available and would be too costly to obtain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the surplus accruing to the balance of payments from United Kingdom visible trade with South Africa, and from United Kingdom visible trade with third countries conducted through South Africa, and also from invisible transactions from South Africa or conducted through South Africa, respectively, for the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the total net cost to date, direct and indirect, to the United Kingdom balance of payments, of the cessation of trade and payments between Great Britain and Rhodesia and of economic support for Zambia, together with the additional cost of foodstuffs, tobacco and raw materials traditionally purchased from Rhodesia or Zambia and now bought from alternative sources of supply; and what estimate he has now made of the corresponding figures for 1967.

The direct costs to the Exchequer are to date about £16 million.United Kingdom exports to Rhodesia from January to October, 1966, were a little over £2 million compared with a little under £27 million in the first 10 months of 1965.These are gross figures. I cannot give a reliable estimate of the total cost to the balance of payments, when all other factors are taken into account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many hire cars registered in Southern Ireland and driven by United Kingdom residents entered Northern Ireland in each of the six months from April to September, 1966; and how these figures compare with last year;(2) how many private cars registered in Southern Ireland entered Northern Ireland for the first time in each of the six months from April to September, 1966; and how this figure compares with previous years.

I would refer the hon. Member to the figures I gave in my Answer to the hon. Member for Down, North on 9th December.For private vehicles the total number is slightly smaller, and for hire vehicles slightly larger, than in 1965.—[Vol. 737, c. 381.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the spot rates for the £ sterling against the United States dollar on the 139th day after the application of deflationary measures on 19th September, 1957, 25th July, 1961, and 20th July, 1966, respectively.

$2·8111/16, $2·813/32, and $2·7827/32 respectively.As I explained in the debate on Economic Affairs on 1st December, there is no valid comparison between these dates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had or intends to have with foreign Governments or central banks about the provision of additional contingency support for sterling against pressures arising from Her Majesty's Government's decision to seek United Nations mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia; and what assurances he has received about access to existing contingency support in the event of a deterioration of the United Kingdom balance of payments resulting from the Rhodesian situation during 1967.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies are being made of the anomalies created by the operation of the Selective Employment Tax; and when he intends to publish the results of such studies.

Officials of the Ministry of Labour and other Departments concerned have been studying the operation of the tax in consultation with industry. As is normal their advice to Ministers will be confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now publish a detailed account of his investigations into currency irregularities in the Cadco affair; and, in view of the fact that certain individuals were guilty of offences, what prosecutions are contemplated.

The full results of the investigation were made available to the Lord Advocate, who decided that criminal proceedings were not warranted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will authorise the necessary expenditure for the televising of proceedings of the House of Lords.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Flint, West (Mr. Birch) on 2nd December when I said that it would be proper to await further developments. Specific financial provision would be required which this House would have to approve before any new expenditure could be properly incurred. —[Vol. 737, c. 156–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange for the publication of a list of the changes which would be necessary to the major policy measures taken by Her Majesty's Government since October, 1964, in order to bring them into conformity with the Treaty of Rome.

No.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he has any fresh proposals for assistance to the British Virgin Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Not at this stage. A Colonial Development and Welfare allocation of £390,000, of which about £336,000 has been committed so far, was made for the period April, 1965, to March, 1968. A further allocation for the period up to March, 1970, will be considered soon.

asked the Prime Minister what responsibility for the security services he has given to the Paymaster-General.

None. The arrangements for Ministerial responsibility for the security service remain as I described them in my reply to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 6th December. The functions of my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General are confined to advising me on such questions of security falling within my responsibility as I may refer to him from time to time.—[Vol. 737, c. 277.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the House of Commons Library a copy of his public speech to the Royal Statistical Society on Friday, 18th November, 1966, on the subject of the social services.

I did so on 22nd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now announce the names of the Central Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government.

I hope that an announcement can be made very soon.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now make a statement on United Kingdom relations with the European Economic Community.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement of 10th November [Vol. 735, c. 1539.]; to my speech in the debate on 17th November [Vol. 736, c. 759.]; and to the speeches of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the debate on 16th November [Vol. 736, c. 446.] and 6th December [Vol. 737, c. 1165.].

asked the Prime Minister if he will co-ordinate the activities of Ministers responsible for European policy and the Minister of Power with regard to shaping British energy policy to facilitate British entry to the Common Market.

My right hon. Friends already work closely together on all matters of common concern.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for discussing the reform of the world liquidity system during his meetings with heads of Common Market Governments next year.

Discussion on this subject must be mainly in the International Monetary Fund and the Group of Ten, but I shall certainly take advantage of any opportunity there may be, during my talks in Europe, to help to bring agreement nearer.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now reduce the number of Ministers in his administration.

No, but necessary changes will be made from time to time.

asked the Prime Minister what were the reasons which led Her Majesty's Government to depart from the recommendations contained in the Privy Councillors' Report, and to exclude Members from the practice which applies to the public generally in regard to telephone tapping.

I have nothing to add to the Answers I gave to Questions on this subject on 17th November—[Vol. 736, c. 634.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the administration of charities.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 25th October to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon).—[Vol. 734, c. 825.]

asked the Prime Minister whether steps are being taken to inform the Rhodesian public of the working agreement reached and the offer of independence under reasonable conditions which resulted from his meeting with Mr. Smith, so that they will realise what action is necessary on their part to bring about peaceful progress in Rhodesia.

I can assure the hon. Member that we are taking all possible steps to inform the Rhodesian public of the working document and the other results of the meeting in H.M.S. "Tiger".

asked the Prime Minister whether, in his meeting with Mr. Ian Smith in H.M.S. "Tiger" or on other occasions, he proposed that before the interim period described in Chapter III of Command Paper No. 3159, began, the Southern Rhodesia Act 1965 should be repealed or amended; and, if the latter, in what sense.

This matter was not discussed in H.M.S. "Tiger", or elsewhere.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to arrange a European conference on European security.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 22nd November to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winn ick).—[Vol. 736, c. 273.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent a veterinary officer of his Department questions the compensation to be paid to the owner of a pedigree herd of cattle slaughtered for foot-and-mouth disease when he has agreed to the appointment of the valuer.

The valuer is employed by the Ministry to advise our officers on the value of animals to be slaughtered. Where our officers are not satisfied with a valuation it is proper for them to seek the advice of a second valuer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that in order not to spread foot-and-mouth disease Mr. R. Brewis has had to give up temporarily his position as an agricultural sales representative and thereby suffer financial loss, he will pay his compensation.

Mr. Brewis' employers have informed us that he has continued in employment although not engaged on his normal duties, and for that reason they have asked whether they would be entitled to some compensation. This question is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is now in a position to make a further statement about British space activities.

In addition to our commitments to E.L.D.O. and E.S.R.O., we are proceeding with a national programme of satellite technology based on the Black Arrow Launcher.We have also agreed, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General on 7th December, to co-operate in a preliminary study and design project, which is being initiated by C.E.T.S. and undertaken by E.S.R.O. of an experimental communications satellite.—[Vol. 737, c. 1334–5.]

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give details of the 37 cases in which prices have been reduced following complaints to the Government; and if he will specify the rôle played in each case by his Department.

The cases were handled by the Departments with responsibility for the industry or service concerned and I do not think it would be right for the traders involved to be identified.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) whether he will specify the groups of employees in public service and in private industry, respectively, in respect of whom a firm commitment existed to review their pay prior to 20th July as from a later date, the amounts not having been determined by 20th July;(2) what was the number of employees in respect of whom commitments existed prior to 20th July to review their pay with effect from a later date, the amount not having been determined by 20th July.

I am unable to give this information as each case must be decided on its merits.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will publish a table showing the firms employed by the National Board for Prices and Incomes to give professional advice on matters on which it is the intention of the Board to report, showing the subjects covered by each.

No. My right hon. Friend does not think this would assist the Board in its inquiries.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the circulation of the Progress Report published by his Department.

The circulation of the Department of Economic Affairs Progress Report in November was 100,000. It has been rising steadily since the first issue in January, 1965, for which the circulation was 27,000, and the print order for the December issue is 105,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether, when it was known that Mr. R. Brewis had contracted foot-and-mouth disease, he advised Dr. Armstrong of Rothbury, who had treated Mr. Brewis, that he should isolate himself from his other patients until the infectious period came to an end; and how long a man is infectious after he has contracted foot-and-mouth disease.

No. Foot-and-mouth disease in man is exceedingly rare and there is insufficient information to permit any firm conclusion on the duration of infectiousness.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will report on the progress of the committee of inquiry into soccer; and whether he will issue an interim report.

So far as I am aware the Committee is getting on with its job and I see no reason why I should make the inquiry suggested. Nor do I think it would be appropriate to ask for an interim report, there being no part of the subject matter of the inquiry which necessitates such action.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why, when the laboratory at Pirbright found that Mr. R. Brewis was suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, no official communication was made to him; and why, despite the fact that Mr. Brewis's disease was confirmed by his Department, he has never been officially informed that he is no longer infectious;(2) whether his Department's laboratory at Pirbright officially informed the Walkergate Isolation Hospital in Northumberland that Mr. R. Brewis was suffering from foot-and-mouth disease when he was a resident patient there.

The Animal Virus Research Institute at Pirbright is not under the direct control of the Department, but is an independent research institute financed largely by grants from the Agricultural Research Council. It is primarily a research organisation but because of its knowledge of the foot-and-mouth virus, it acts as a reference laboratory for the identification and type of specimens for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and for other bodies.I understand that by arrangement the laboratory accepted certain specimens sent by the physician attending Mr. Brewis, and informed him—the physician—of the results of tests made on them. It was no pant of the duty of the Institute to communicate this information to any other person or organisation, and it did not, in fact, do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the report by Professor John Yudkin and others at the University of London on their study into the effects of the ingestion of milk on concentrations of blood alcohol, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on 9th December to a Question by the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris). I shall keep in touch with my right hon. Friend and consider whether any action is called for in the light of the scientific and medical advice we receive.—[Vol. 737, c. 384.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence involving the use of shotguns were committed during the last 12 months; how many such crimes involving the use of other types of firearm were committed; and what percentage of all firearms in such cases had been illegally acquired or were lawfully in the possession of the assailant.

During the first ten months of this year the number of offences of violence against the person known to the police which involved shotguns was 158. The number of such offences involving other types of firearm was 619.No information is available as to the percentage of all firearms in such cases that had been illegally acquired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the method of penal reform currently available for the rehabilitation of persons of over 75 years of age sent for short-term imprisonment for the first time;(2) in what institution the man of 79 years, of whom particulars have been supplied to him, and who was recently sentenced at Chadderton to three months' imprisonment, is currently being detained;(3) whether he is satisfied that the man of 79 years, recently sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Chadderton, is being visited by friends or relatives; and if he is in need of outside assistance.

The prisoner is at Manchester prison, in the prison hospital, where he is being carefully looked after. He has been visited and has written and received letters from his son. On discharge, I understand, he will return to the house which he rents. The Prison Welfare Officer will do what he can to help him.I will write to my hon. Friend about the sentence imposed in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the nature of the injuries recently sustained by the boy of 16 years living in Oldham, West, whose name has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Oldham, West, whilst being detained at the Wellesley Nautical School at Blyth, Northumberland;(2) why the boy of 16 years being detained at the Wellesley Nautical School at Blyth, Northumberland, whose name has been sent to him, was transferred with his arm in plaster to the Boothstown institution, near Manchester.

Inquiries are being made. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as these have been completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what help in monetary terms Harwich and Brightlingsea receive, respectively, from

			Harwich B.	Brightlingsea U.D.
1. Rate-deficiency grant payable to local council:
(a) Amount	…	…	£54,725	£15,639
(b) As a percentage of local expenditure	…	…	32·9 per cent.	41·8 per cent.
(c) As a rate	…	…	29·5d.	25·6d.
2. Rateable share of Rate-deficiency Grant payable to Essex County Council:
(a) Amount	…	…	£9,426	£3,100
(b) As a rate	…	…	5·1d.	5·1d.
3. Aggregate Rate-deficiency Grant:
(a) As a rate	…	…	34·6d.	30·7d.
(b) As a percentage of the total rate (including county precept)	…	…	21·4 per cent.	21·3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what help in monetary terms Clacton-on-Sea receives from the Government as an area below average rate resources per head of population; how much this represents in rateable terms; and what percentage this is of the total rate including the county rate that ratepayers have to pay.

Clacton U.D. is not an area of below average rate resources per head of population. It benefits however from the rate-deficiency grant payable to the Essex County Council which in 1966/67 represents about a 5d. rate or about 3 per cent. of the total rate levied (including county precept) by the Clacton U.D.C.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in abating the smoke and noise nuisance created by companies concerned with the recovery of non-ferrous metals at Harow Manor Way, London, S.E.2.

I am informed that the companies concerned are employing the best practicable means for dealing with the emission of smoke and fumes; and that the squeak which the new extractor plant developed has now been eliminated.

The estimated figures for 1966–67 are:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of land in Colne Valley parliamentary constituency are classified by his Department as derelict; and how many such acres have been scheduled for reclamation.

I am informed by the local authorities concerned that there are 315 acres of derelict land in this area, of which 139 acres are scheduled for reclamation.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 39,362 persons who were registered as unemployed in Wales on 14th November, 1966, have now been redeployed into the 7,644 unfilled vacancies which existed in Wales on 9th November, 1966.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what plans the Government has to redeploy the remainder of the 39,362 persons registered as unemployed in Wales on 14th November, 1966, when all the 7,644 vacancies in Wales on 9th November, 1966, have been filled.

The Employment Exchanges will continue to help the unemployed to find suitable work. The notification and filling of vacancies are a continuing process not limited to a particular figure for a particular day. In general, the Government's economic policy aims at the provision of additional employment opportunities in development areas.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage of apprenticeships gained by entrants to industry in Wales and in England, respectively.

The figures for the last five years are as follows:

	Boys		Girls
Year	Wales	England	Wales	England
1962	25·8	36·4	4·1	7·0
1963	24·6	33·5	3·3	5·8
1964	29·4	36·3	4·4	6·0
1965	36·3	40·6	4·4	6·5
*1966	36·9	42·7	5·1	7·0
* First ten months.

asked the Minister of Labour by what criteria he decides on the siting of new Government training centres.

The principal criteria are the existence in a given area, on a continuing long-term basis, of an adequate supply of applicants suitable for training and of jobs for them to go to when they have been trained.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has yet decided on the siting of the four new Government training centres.

As I told the House on 30th November, one of the new Government Training Centres will be in Scotland, one on Merseyside and one in South Wales. It was subsequently decided, and announced by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 5th December, that the fourth new centre would be located in Cumberland.

asked the Minister of Labour how many places for industrial retraining were available in each of the years 1946 to 1966.

NUMBERS OF TRAINING PLACES AVAILABLE AT GOVERNMENT TRAINING CENTRES IN THE YEARS 1946 TO 1966
December, 1946	24,468
December, 1947	12,724
December, 1948	5,670
December, 1949	5,084
December, 1950	3,817
December, 1951	3,558
December, 1952	3,555
December, 1953	3,097
December, 1954	3,066
December, 1955	2,938
December, 1956	2,906
December, 1957	2,771
December, 1958	2,761
December, 1959	2,615
December, 1960	2,729
December, 1961	2,790
December, 1962	2,440
December, 1963	3,090
December, 1964	4,357
December, 1965	5,754
November, 1966	6,421

asked the Postmaster-General what reports he has received about the reception of B.B.C.2 programmes in the Darlington area.

The extension and improvement of B.B.C. television coverage are primarily the Corporation's responsibility, and I do not receive reports about reception. However, the B.B.C. tells me that Darlington is not within the normal B.B.C.2 reception area served from Pontop Pike. The station planned for North Yorkshire should serve the Darlington area, but it is too early to say when this station will open.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that there were 39,362 persons registered as unemployed in Wales on 14th November, 1966 and only 7,644 vacancies, if he will seek further consultations with the National Coal Board with a view to adjusting the colliery closure programme to prevent the further closure of coal mines in Wales.

I shall continue to maintain close consultation about the colliery closure programme with the Chairman of the National Coal Board. At present there is a substantial shortage of miners in South Wales and jobs can be offered to all able-bodied men likely to be affected by pit closures, provided they are willing to transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the number of retirement pensioners is not taken into account when deciding the amounts of Grants to local authorities.

This would require an alteration of the general grant formula which is in its last year. I propose instead to remedy this defect in determining amounts of rate support grant from 1967–68 onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made for instruction in map reading and the use of firearms by inmates of Borstal institutions under his jurisdiction.

The army cadet force at Polmont Borstal institution, the membership of which is about 40, receives such instruction and training on the same basis as other army cadet forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average number of patients on the lists of doctors providing full general medical services in October, 1964, October, 1965, and October, 1966, respectively.

2,005, 2,049 and 2,083, respectively. These figures are inflated by about 3 per cent. since it is not possible to eliminate all duplicate entries from doctors' lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many centres in Scotland provide facilities for cervical smear tests.

There is a large variety of arrangements throughout Scotland for taking cervical smears. Facilities for their examination are available at 17 laboratories, and it is expected that three more laboratories may have such facilities by mid-1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors from overseas were serving in general practice and in hospitals, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

At 30th September, 1965 there were 545 doctors in Scottish hospital (15·3 per cent. of the total) who had been born overseas. Corresponding information about general practitioners is not readily available, but at the same date 14 principals on the medical lists of Scottish Executive Councils (0·5 per cent. of the total) had foreign or Commonwealth qualifications.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many passengers arrived at Aldergrove Airport, Belfast, in the six winter months October, 1965 to March, 1966, and the six summer months from April to September, 1966; how many of these passengers arrived from London; and how these figures compare with the figures for previous years.

Passengers arriving at Aldergrove Airport, Belfast, during the six months October, 1965 to March, 1966 and the six months April to September, 1966 and during comparable periods of the 5 previous years were:

Winter		Summer
October—March		April—September
1965–66	171,265	1966	317,606
			(Provisional)
1964–65	154,843	1965	266,206
1963–64	138,982	1964	230,882
1962–63	106,837	1963	205,515
1961–62	94,685	1962	184,524
1960–61	81,287	1961	163,205

It is not the practice to issue statistics of air traffic between particular airports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give a list of the new jobs and additional factory space provided in the Blyth constituency in each of the years since 1960 to the latest available date; and what the new job and factory space expectations are for the next 12 months.

Information is available for the South-East Northumberland Group of Employment Exchanges which comprises Blyth, Bedlington, Seaton Delaval and Ashington. From 1st April, 1960 to 12th December, 1966 the following industrial building, for which i.d.c.'s were issued, was completed in this Group:

Year	Area completed (thousand sq. ft.)
Year ending 31st March, 1961	Nil
Year ending 31st March, 1962	47
Year ending 31st March, 1963	6
Year ending 31st March, 1964	69
Year ending 31st March, 1965	96
Year ending 31st March, 1966	161
From 1st April, 1966 to 12th December, 1966	108
	487

The industrialists to whom the industrial development certificates were issued estimated that these buildings would provide additional employment for 1,450 males and 1,700 females when fully manned.On 12th December, 1966, 1,700 jobs for males and 1,000 jobs for females were expected to arise within four years in the South-East Northumberland Group of Employment Exchanges in authorised new buildings and in existing buildings taken over by manufacturing firms based on estimates made by developers. In addition, four Board of Trade advance factories, one at Blyth, one at Cramlington and two at Ashington, have still to be completed and allocated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list, in pursuance of his powers under the Monopolies and Mergers Act, 1965, of daily, Sunday and provincial newspapers which have been amalgamated in one form or another since the Act came into force.

Since 5th August 1965, when the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965 came into force, Board of Trade consent has been given to the change of ownership of the following newspapers:—

(i) the Salisbury Times.

(ii) the Coventry Express.

(iii) the South Wales Gazette.

(iv) the Carmarthen Journal.

(v) the Smethwick Telephone and Warley Courier.

(vi) the Welwyn Times and Hatfield Herald and the Stevenage News.

(vii) the Torquay Times, the Paignton News and the South Devon Journal.

All of these publications are local weekly newspapers with circulations of less than 25,000 copies per day of publication.The only application for consent in respect of a national or Sunday newspaper has concerned the proposal to bring

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation to empower the police or local borough councils or licensing authorities to tow off the road vehicles which have no current licence on show and make the owner liable for the cost of towing away and four times the arrears of licence fees due since last licensing the vehicle, these amounts to be paid on collection as a fixed penalty, with right of appeal to the courts.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the apppropriate authorities have been advised on several occasions of the registration numbers and the addresses of the owners of several vehicles which have been and are in constant daily use without a proper road fund licence, what actions she has taken or proposes to take.

The statutory responsibility for dealing with particular alleged offences rests with the appropriate licensing authority. We are considering with the other interests concerned various measures to improve observance of the vehicle excise law.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will inquire into the circumstances in which a resident in Oldham, West, whose name has been sent to her, whose brother sent him from South Africa a wedding present valued at £29 10s. has been asked to pay a sum of £30 on account of Purchase Tax, duty, and various dock charges, with an additional 7s. 6d. a day for watching charge.

I am looking into this and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport why she has not made specific provision for waterway freight in the new proposals for freight transport.

The inland waterways are only important for the movement of traffic (mainly in bulk loads) in a few limited areas, and even of this traffic less than one-tenth is carried in boats owned by the nationalised British Waterways Board. It was not considered necessary to make special provision for the latter traffic in the new proposals set out in the White Paper for concentrating in a single national freight organisation of responsibilty for the general merchandise and sundries traffic of the Railways Board and Transport Holding Company. However, the economic use of the waterways must be fully developed and, as I said in this House on 18th November last, we shall be ready to consider on their merits any proposals for modest development or improvement that the British Waterways Board may recommend from time to time, provided always that they show real prospects of a sound economic return.—[Vol. 736, c. 820.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an assurance that no decision on the proposed withdrawal of passenger services from the Edinburgh-Hawick-Carlisle railway line will be taken until the Border Economic Consultative Group have been able to make factual representations based on proposed development plans which will not be available until the spring.

As my hon. Friend indicated in his reply to the hon. Member on 21st June, we expect to receive the advice of the Scottish Economic Planning Council on the proposal in the New Year. Before giving its advice the Council will seek the views of the Consultative Group and I am sure the Group will be fully apprised of the latest proposals for development.—[Vol. 730, c. 60.]

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents occurred on the A62 in the last six months to date between the Linthwaite-Huddersfield boundary and the junction with Varley Road, Slaithwaite; how many resulted in fatal injury; and what were the corresponding figures for the same period of 1965.

In the six months period May to October, 1966, there were 29 accidents, one of which was fatal; in the corresponding period of 1965 there were 25 accidents, one of which was fatal.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents occurred on the A62 in the last six months to date between the junction with Sandbed Lane, Delph, and the junction with Thorpe Lane, Austerlands; how many resulted in fatal injury; and what were the corresponding figures for the same period of 1965.

In the six months period May to October, 1966 there were 42 accidents, none being fatal; in the corresponding period of 1965 there were 33 accidents, none being fatal.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents occurred on the A62 in the last six months to date between Lingards Terrace, at Lingards Wood and Warring- ton Terrace, Marsden; how many resulted in fatal injury; and what were the corresponding figures for the same period of 1965.

In the six months period May to October, 1966 there were 7 accidents, one of which was fatal; in the corresponding period of 1965 there were 12 accidents, one of which was fatal.