asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the inequitable effect of the working of the National Insurance Act 1966 with regard to married women teachers who contracted out of the original flat-rate scheme, he will introduce amending legislation.

No. If the hon. Member is referring to the reduction of teachers' sick pay by the amount of sickness benefit receivable under the National Insurance Acts, this is a matter for the teachers' employers and not for my right hon. Friend; but I understand that the employers are currently considering what might be done to help certain married women teachers who, by their own choice, are ineligible to receive sickness benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will accept the first priority given by the London Borough of Haringey for the inclusion in the Youth Service Building Programme 1967–68 of the proposed new headquarters for the Tottenham Boy Scouts' Association; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce the youth service building programme for 1967–68 shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that parents can obtain from his Department satisfactory statistics appertaining to their children's education; and if he will make a statement.

We have made great progress in recent years in improving both the quantity and the quality of our educational statistics. I want this progress to continue. But I must take into account costs and the scarcity of qualified manpower, and I therefore do not wish to duplicate information already in the hands of local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that parents and local government electors have adequate access to all relevant information held by local education authorities concerning educational policy; and if he will make a statement.

I think that local education authorities generally are aware of the importance of giving all relevant information to parents and electors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many temporal bone banks are now available for research; and what steps have been taken to encourage an increased acquisition of sections and case histories for research into deafness.

None. Research workers in this country are aware of the scheme for temporal bone banks recently introduced in the United States and the Medical Research Council will continue to keep the situation under review. Work on this subject is being carried out at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School and at the British Postgraduate Medical Federation of the University of London.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Medical Research Council last supported a research project into sensory-neural deafness; and why five recent proposals submitted for research programmes in this field were rejected.

Research on these problems forms the entire programme of the Medical Research Council's Otological Research Unit. The Council is also supporting related work in university departments and other work of a more fundamental nature.I cannot say why any particular application for a research grant has been rejected; the allocation of grants is a matter entirely for the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the outcome of his discussions with the local authority associations on the undesirability of outside persons visiting primary schools to question children about their family backgrounds; and which were the two boroughs in which research workers have been authorised to do this.

My right hon. Friend was assured that authorities generally agreed that it was not desirable that questions of this type should be asked. The boroughs concerned were Brent and Barnet.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in how many schools for which he has approved plans for comprehensive reorganisation the problem of the split year is likely to arise because the comprehensive annual entry does not divide evenly into the pupil capacity of the existing buildings; and how he is advising local education authorities to meet this difficulty without incurring additional expenditure.

I have not approved any plans for comprehensive reorganisation which involve the separation of pupils in the same age group. If I receive proposals of this character my Department will be ready to discuss with the local education authority concerned how best to overcome the difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what comparability studies are or have been made between the progress and improvement of the least able children in comprehensive and in secondary modern schools, respectively.

It has not been possible to make systematic studies on these lines as until recently there have been very few truly comprehensive schools in this country; that is to say, even those schools called "comprehensive" have frequently been creamed of their top-ability group by the existence of selective schools in the same area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will delay the introduction of the scheme that his Department has drawn up in relation to the Royal Pinner School, until such time as a further meeting of the Court of Governors has taken place.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many members of the staffs of technical colleges in Wales have been trained as teachers; and how many have not.

The following table shows qualification of teachers in full-time service in grant-aided establishments for further education in Wales, at 31st March. 1964:

Trained in colleges of education (technical):
Graduates	14
Non-graduates	89
Total	103
Trained elsewhere*:
Graduates	290
Non-graduates	145
Total	435
Not trained:
Graduates	484
Non-graduates	678
Total	1,162
* Trained in colleges of education in England and Wales other than colleges of education (technical). The heading "Not trained" includes a small number of teachers trained outside England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers joined the staffs of schools in Wales in 1956 and in 1966; and what is the estimate for 1970.

I regret that this information is not available in the form requested. However, during the main recruiting season from 1st April to 1st October, 1966, 834 teachers took up their first permanent appointment in maintained primary or secondary schools in Wales. The earliest comparable figure available for the same period in 1958, is 498. I can give no reliable estimate of the corresponding figure for 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration has been given to the case for establishing a school of medicine in Keele University and the hospitals of the Stoke-on-Trent group; and when a decision can be expected.

The Royal Commission on Medical Education is considering in the context of medical education generally the question of establishing further new medical schools. The proposal for a new school at Keele, together with similar proposals from other universities, is also being considered by the University Grants Committee in consultation with the Ministry of Health. I cannot say when it will be possible to announce any decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what is the average cost per year of each undergraduate at university.

The average recurrent expenditure by universities per undergraduate was estimated in 1964–65 as £630 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many graduates left Great Britain to take up employment within 10 years of graduation in the latest convenient year.

384 students who qualified for first degrees and 515 graduates awarded higher degrees in 1964–65 are known to have taken permanent employment overseas. These figures exclude graduates in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science and overseas students returning to their own countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much local authorities spent on the performing arts in 1964–65 and 1965–66.

The Department has no precise information about this.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is yet able to announce his decision on the pay of university clinical teachers under the standstill.

Yes. University clinical teachers will receive salary increases linked to those given to hospital medical staff under the award resulting from the report of the Review Body on the remuneration of doctors and dentists. Since there was a commitment before 20th July that any increase should take effect from 1st April, 1966 the original operative date is subject only to six months' deferment under the standstill, and the award will therefore take effect from 1st October, 1966. Since the amount of the increases had not been decided by 20th July, payment cannot be made before the end of the period of severe restraint. I am considering in accordance with paragraph 36 of the White Paper whether payment should then be by instalments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum of money the Welsh Joint Education Committee has collected for the construction of the Welsh College of Agriculture; and when it is proposed to proceed with the project.

Fourteen of the local education authorities in Wales have agreed to participate financially; the detailed financial arrangements have still to be worked out. The Welsh Joint Education Committee are working on detailed plans for the project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet completed the review of Civil Defence; what conclusions have been reached; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the statement I made yesterday.—[Vol. 738, c. 458–63.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a person's conviction whilst a juvenile is a bar to entering the police service.

Not necessarily. A high standard of integrity is required, and any criminal conviction would count seriously against an applicant; but the nature and circumstances of the offence, including the age at which it was committed, would be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of aliens admitted with work permits in 1965; how this compares as a percentage with the average of 1963 and 1964; and how many permits he estimates will be issued in 1966.

48,874 aliens were admitted with Ministry of Labour permits in 1965. This represented an increase of 18·8 per cent. over the average for 1963 and 1964. It is not yet possible to estimate how many permits will be issued in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen have been injured while on duty in England and Wales during each of the last five years.

National figures are not available. The figures for the Metro- politan Police Force from 1961 to 1965 inclusive, are: 998, 1,080, 1,162, 1,195 and 1,313.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries he has made as to what use could have been or was made by George Blake in his escape of the wireless receiving set possessed by him while in prison after December, 1963.

This question falls within the scope of Lord Mountbatten's inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the paper sent to him by the hon. Member for Gillingham on the preservation and control of badgers on 21st June, 1965, and the report of the working party on mammalian predator control, what action he will now take to deal with the problem.

I have no proposals in mind at present for any change in the law relating to badgers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange, prior to the release of a prisoner, for his National Insurance card to be stamped for the period of his detention.

National Insurance Regulations do not permit prisoners in common with certain other classes of person, to have their National Insurance cards stamped at the employed person's rate unless they are working under a contract of service for an outside employer, as under the hostel and working out schemes. There are difficulties in making an exception in favour of prisoners in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on Wednesday, 7th December, at or around 2.15 p.m., there were parked in Caledonian Road, N.7, 34 vehicles not showing a current road fund licence; why the police constable who was walking along Caledonian Road from north to south at this time did not take action to report all of these vehicles; how many he reported; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commissioner of Police informs we that because of the many other duties that they had to attend to that day, none of the police officers who at the material time were patrolling beats that included parts of the Caledonian Road, N.7, submitted reports of apparently unlicensed vehicles. 47 vehicles have been so reported from the road during the past six months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure that young persons sentenced to long-term imprisonment are detained in prisons within reasonable travelling distance of their parents' homes.

Young prisoners serving long or indeterminate sentences are after allocation detained in three young prisoners' centres, at Aylesbury, Northallerton or Liverpool. So far as other considerations permit, each young prisoner is allocated to the centre which is nearest to his home.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons under the age of 18 years are detained in adult prisons; what are their ages and sex; and how many there are in each age group.

On 9th December 4 boys and 8 girls aged 17 were detained on remand in England and Wales in prison accommodation not exclusively assigned for the custody of young persons. The available figures for sentenced young offenders relate only to those under 21 as a group. Most of these are detained in separate establishments or in other accommodation exclusively assigned to them; but on 29th November 543 sentenced males under 21 were detained in local prisons and 19 girls in Holloway and Styal women's prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct that juveniles sentence to long-term imprisonment should serve their sentences as near as practicable to their homes, to afford parents maximum access and minimum hardship.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer to the Question which he put down for Oral answer today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the duration and frequency of permitted visits by parents to young persons detained in prisons; and if he is satisfied with the present arrangements.

Under the Prison Rules for England and Wales, a convicted prisoner under the age of 21 is entitled to receive a visit once in four weeks; in practice wherever possible such prisoners are allowed a visit every two weeks. Visits in local prisons last at least 20 minutes; those in young prisoners' centres at least 30 minutes. Governors have discretion to allow longer visits when sufficient staff and space are available. They may also allow extra visits where special circumstances justify this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took more than six weeks to inform the hon. Member for Doncaster why a 17-year-old Doncaster boy, serving an indefinite sentence, was detained in Walton Prison, Liverpool, rather than one nearer his home.

I regret the delay. In order to give my hon. Friend a full answer to his letter, detailed inquiries were necessary, but these inquiries took longer than I would have wished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects on present estimates to be able to bring into operation, respectively, Sections 10, 11, 18, 22, 28, 29, 36, 37, 38, 40, Part IV, Part V and Section 59 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

Clauses 10, 11 and 40 can be brought into operation, after the Bill is passed, as soon as adequate notice has been given to the courts and others concerned. The other provisions mentioned by the right hon. and learned gentleman will require subordinate legislation or detailed administrative preparations, and I cannot at present forecast when they will be brought into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the special precautions which, as as a result of the escape of prisoner Mitchell, have now been taken to prevent dangerous prisoners from escaping from Her Majesty's Prisons.

Following Mitchell's escape from an outside working party, I have arranged, in consultation with Lord Mountbatten, for the Chief Constable of Leicester, Mr. Robert Mark, to carry out an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the escape and the events leading up to it. Mr. Mark arrived at Dartmoor yesterday afternoon, and the results of his investigation will be dealt with in Lord Mountbatten's Report.The present arrangements affecting outside working parties are being reviewed, and I shall give urgent consideration to any recommendations made by Lord Mountbatten.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in order to prevent crime, he will consult with window frame manufacturers to ensure the provision of adequate locking devices for window frames.

The Standing Committee on Crime Prevention will be holding its first meeting early in the New Year, and I am asking it to consider this suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police chiefs concerning the introduction of crime prevention certificates for householders; and, in view of the demand that such a scheme would make on police manpower, if he will decline to introduce it.

I have received no representations from chief officers of police about the introduction of such a scheme. The current National Crime Prevention campaign is drawing attention to the need for householders to take adequate precautions to safeguard their property, but the introduction of a national scheme on the lines referred to in the Question would make demands on police manpower which could not be met.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what further progress has been made in acquainting school leavers of opportunities to serve in overseas development; and if he will make a statement.

My Department and the voluntary societies continually inform young people of opportunities for service in developing countries. Since my reply of 8th February to my hon. Friend, officials of my Department have given 74 talks to institutions of higher education, professional associations, and schools.New material for schools includes a map folder illustrating British aid and a booklet on Britain's contribution to the work of U.N.E.S.C.O. My Department is taking part in the "Engineers Day" exhibition at the Science Museum, and has produced a special pamphlet for the occasion. A portable exhibition stand is in preparation for loan to functions organised by youth employment officers and others. I will let my hon. Friend have copies of the publications I have mentioned. —[Vol. 724, c. 182.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial aid is being made available to Peru.

An agreement was signed on the 3rd December covering a loan of £500,000 for the purchase from British firms of bridging equipment required for the National Road Programme. This loan is part of the £2 million loan offered to Peru and will be repaid over 18 years, including a grace period of four years before repayments of capital begin.A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament for approval in due course and in the meantime, if necessary, advances will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what study he has made of the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding the unfair situation regarding the Government's wages, prices and incomes policy; and whether he will make a statement in connection with this matter.

We do not accept the view that the Government are pursuing a prices and incomes policy which is unfair to wage and salary earners. The criteria for increases in prices and charges during the current standstill period were set out in Cmnd. 3073 and the Government have acquiesced in proposed increases notified to them only where they have been satisfied, after rigorous examination, that the relevant criteria have been fully met.The criteria for prices for the period of severe restraint during the first half of 1967 are set out in Cmnd. 3150 and the Government intend to examine rigorously all proposals for price increases against these criteria.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he anticipates that his Department's unit for feasibility studies upon Humberside development will publish their findings.

The study of Humberside which is being undertaken by the Central Unit for Environmental Planning is highly complex and we do not expect the results to be available before the second half of 1967.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he has completed his consultations with the South-Western Regional Planning Council as to the advisability of setting up a new Government training centre in the region.

Not yet.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement about the working of the regional planning boards.

The Economic Planning Boards have done very useful work in conjunction with the councils since their establishment last year. We are keeping their operation under review, but have no present plans for altering their broad functions and organisation.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the various price increases which have been notified to his Department since 20th July, 1966; which of these are still in operation; and which of these have been given his approval and sanction.

Notifications by manufacturers of proposed price increases are made not to my Department but to the Department with special responsibility for the industry concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek to amend the Public Health Act, 1875 so as to require the licensing of all boats intending to ply for hire and to institute a national registrar for ships and small boats.

Section 94 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1907, where in force, enables local authorities to license pleasure boats and many authorities do so. I do not consider that the compulsory registration of small boats would be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans for the future of British Lion Films.

This is in the first instance a matter for the company's board of directors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the British Trade Centre in New York has no director, very few visitors and a low number of exhibitors; whether he is satisfied with the assistance that this centre under present conditions is giving to British trade prospects in New York; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the lessons learnt from the experience in this trade centre will be studied before arrangements are made for British participation in the permanent World Trade Centre due for completion in New York for 1970.

The British Trade Centre in New York was set up by the British American Chamber of Commerce, with financial support from the Government, as an experiment in promoting British trade in the U.S.A. The Centre has encountered problems both of finance and presentation. In order to give this experiment a fair trial, the Board of Trade has now taken over the Centre and will introduce different techniques. There is no connection between the British Trade Centre and the New York World Trade Centre.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in view of the progress which so far has been made in the work at the air terminal building at the civil airport at Alder-grove in County Antrim, he will consider the substitution of an escalator in place of the passenger lift planned for the final stage to be completed in July.

No. The lift is being provided for elderly and infirm passengers who would be unable to use an escalator.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the recommendations contained in the report of the Northern Economic Planning Council, if the Government will give special incentives to industrial undertakings who are prepared to transfer to the Northern Region complete with their research and development departments.

There is already available under the Local Employment Acts and the Industrial Development Act, 1966, a wide range of incentives to industrial undertakings which set up in the Northern Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department is sponsoring, through the National Marketing Council, three courses in marketing at American universities in 1967 for senior British executives; how many executives will be sent; and what will be the cost in foreign exchange.

In general, I approve the National Marketing Council's efforts to improve marketing efficiency in British industry. But I cannot yet say whether special financial support for these courses is necessary. Nor can I state the numbers of executives involved, nor the cost in foreign exchange.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in deciding whether his Department should sponsor courses in marketing for British executives at American universities in 1967, he consulted representatives of the British teachers of marketing in universities.

No decision of this sort has been taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a general direction to the Airports Authority to examine what improved facilities can be provided at London Airport for the collection by passengers of luggage for customs inspection and for private cars to pick up passengers on arrival.

No. This is not an appropriate matter for a general direction under Section 2(6) of the Airports Authority Act, 1965.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average delay in paying special grants to firms moving into the development areas.

These figures are not readily available, and their compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and expenditure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is likely to be the average delay between the receipt of the application and the payment of an investment grant.

We aim to pay claims within six months of receiving them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of each type of aircraft purchased from the United States of America during the last 15 years; how many of each type were imported free of duty; and what was the sum involved.

I regret that this information could not be supplied without disproportionate expense. I am, however, writing to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the various price increases which have been notified to his Department since 20th July, 1966; which of these are still in operation; and which of these have been given his approval and sanction.

Information received under the price notification arrangements is confidential. My Department has received 224 notifications since 20th July. 63 of these were considered acceptable within the criteria for price increases, and 15 were not; the rest are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of Great Britain's balance of payments problems, and the fact that such products can be produced in this country, he allows one-armed bandits, juke boxes and similar types of equipment to be imported into this country.

Because import prohibitions would be contrary to our international obligations and might provoke retaliation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assistance his Department will give to achieve the early establishment of a British Council at Damascus, Syria.

As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 8th November, certain economies will have to be made next year in the Government's grant to the British Council in the interests of containing Government expenditure, especially overseas. This precludes in the immediate future the re-establishment of the British Council in Syria.—[Vol. 735, c. 261.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent during the negotiations on British Army of the Rhine costs he sought assurances that the arms to be bought by the United States of America should not be used in Vietnam; and what assurances he received.

No assurances have been asked for, or received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that certain documents relating to the alleged Zinoviev Letter of 24th October, 1924, have disappeared from the files of the Foreign Office; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await my right hon. Friend's reply to Questions on Monday, 19th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many occasions the Military Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has reported its plans to the Security Council of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 54 of the Charter.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is not a regional arrangement within the terms of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. A requirement to report under Article 54 does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the progress made in implementing the special cuts in Government overseas expenditure amounting to £100 million announced on 20th July, 1966; and if he will make a statement.

These difficult issues are progressing as fast as I expected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he will take to deal with the continued rise in unemployment, especially in the development areas; and if he will make a statement.

In the recent Economic debate the Government drew attention to the favourable prospects for reflation of demand through an increase in exports and aggregate productive investment and announced further supporting measures. My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade referred to the particular problem of the development areas.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the increase in British Railways' advertising rates for platform advertisements is inconsistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy, what action she will take to prevent this increase.

The management of British Transport Advertising Ltd. have assured me of their complete willingness to conform with the Government's Prices and Incomes Policy. If the hon. Member is concerned about any particular instance I should be glad if he would let me have the details.

asked the Minister of Transport what priority is being given in the road programme to the improvement of highways in Lancashire, and in particular to the South Lancashire motorway; and if she will make a statement.

Certain Lancashire schemes, including the South Lancashire Motorway, are being considered, together with those in other parts of the country, for inclusion in the next list of trunk road improvements which my right hon. Friend hopes shortly to announce for preparation.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimates she has made of the cost to the nation of fatal road accidents in each of the last three years.

The Road Research Laboratory currently estimate the economic cost of fatal accidents as £23 million, £28 million and £30 million for the years 1963, 1964 and 1965 respectively. These estimates are based on the loss of future output, damage to property, ambulance and hospital services and the administrative costs of insurance. They make no allowance for the value placed by society on human loss or suffering.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the year-by-year expenditure on roads in Great Britain since 1946 by central Government and by

EXPENDITURE FOR 1965–66 AND ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR 1966–67 IS AS FOLLOWS:—
								£ million
			New construction and major improvements			Maintenance and minor improvements
			Exchequer	Local Authority	Total	Exchequer	Local Authority	Total
*1965–66	…	…	144·8	36·5	181·3	56·5	77·4	133·9
1966–67	…	…	175	37·0	212·0	67·0	78·0	145
* Provisional.

Comparable estimates cannot be given for the years 1967–68 to 1970–71. These will be affected by the revision of the highway grant structure.—[Vol. 732, c. 29–30.]

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the expenditure on new roads and major improvements in each of the eight major conurbations of England and Wales in each of the last five years, and her estimates for the current year and each of the next two years.

The information is not readily available in this form and the cost of obtaining it would be excessive.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to be able to give an estimate for the cost of road congestion in the United Kingdom during the year 1965.

In the early part of next year.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the study into rapid forms of public local government on major improvements and new construction, and on minor improvements and maintenance, respectively; and what are the estimates of expenditure for 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, and 1970–71, respectively.

For expenditure between 1945–46 and 1964–65 I would refer to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 18th July.transport for the City of Manchester; and if she will make a statement.

I understand that good progress is being made and that a report should be ready by next May.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Waterways Board to make the canals under its control less dangerous to children.

The protection of children from this danger is a responsibility which the British Waterways Board shares with local authorities, riparian interests and parents. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Board is fully alive to it and that a general direction would be inappropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport what is now her policy on the Portbury project.

The policy remains as stated in the White Paper on Transport Policy.

asked the Minister of Technology, in view of the recommendations contained in the report of the Northern Economic Planning Council, if the Government will introduce new forms of financial aid to stimulate technological development in the Northern Region.

Technological development in the Northern Region should benefit from the new and improved range of incentives provided by the Government in the Industrial Development Act, 1966.I recently met members of the Council and am aware of their views about the problems of the Northern Region. My Regional Officer will continue to keep in the closest touch with them about future prospects.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will take steps to increase the grant to the British Ship Research Association in order to prevent a further reduction in the staff of the Association.

The nature and level of Government support for ship research is currently under review and discussions on this are taking place with the senior staff of the British Ship Research Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether all telephone calls from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar are monitored; and why a private call on Tuesday, 29th November between the two was cut off when casual mention was made of the fact that two empty Royal Air Force Britannias had passed through Gibraltar the previous evening, on the way to Southern Africa.

Her Majesty's Government have no knowledge of any monitoring of these calls.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Gibraltarians are currently debarred from entering Spain; and for what reason.

The number, if any, is not known: and the Spanish authorities have not made any reasons public. About 225 Gibraltarians are still crossing into Spain each day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has about the use of frigates by the Spanish Government in the blockade of Gibraltar.

The restrictions imposed by the Spanish authorities are at the land frontier only. There has been no interference with shipping to Gibraltar.

asked the Minister of Power what progress is being made towards determining the price of North Sea gas; and if he will make a statement.

Negotiations between the Gas Council and the licensees are still proceeding. I will give the House full information when I am in a position to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the Government's policy towards mergers and monopolisation of the Press; and if he will make a statement.

To protect the public interest. Thus, mergers which would result in a significant concentration in the ownership of newspapers require the written consent of the Board of Trade. Such consent is given or withheld only after careful consideration of all the implications and, in major cases, after a full investigation by the Monopolies Commission.

asked the Prime Minister on what grounds he decided the telephones of Members of Parliament should not be tapped on the authority of the Home Secretary in any circumstances; and why he advised the extension of Parliamentary privilege in this way contrary to the unanimous recommendation in paragraph 124 of Command Paper No. 283.

It is not for me to add to or subtract from Parliamentary privilege. For the rest 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 by what principles Her Majesty's Government will be guided when granting independence to those territories, such as Bermuda, which are now dependent.

We are ready to work out suitable arrangements to grant independence to those dependent territories overseas which want it and can sustain it. For the others we are willing to work out with the representatives of their peoples arrangements that would enable them, if they so wish, to continue in some form of association with us.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Government policy with regard to liaison with the Press.

So far as I am aware Government policy on this matter is much as it has always been. If, however, there is any particular point on which the hon. Member would like further information perhaps he would let me know.

asked the Prime Minister if he will co-ordinate the activities of Ministers with regard to redeployment of the growing numbers of unemployed.

My colleagues and I already work closely together on all aspects of policy but if the hon. Member has any particular point in mind perhaps he would let me know.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what increase or decrease there was in the level of income of farms in Wales under the 275 standard man-day per annum limit for the year ended 31st December, 1965, and the preceding year;(2) what increase or decrease there was in the level of income of farms in Wales over the 275 standard man-day per annum limit for the year ended 31st December, 1965, and the preceding year.

The trend of incomes of farms with over 275 standard man-days a year would broadly correspond with that set out in the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 12th December about the general level of farm incomes in Wales. Most of the farms with less than 275 standard man-days a year would be part-time farms. I regret that no reliable figures are available on the incomes of this group but the trend of their income over the last two years is unlikely to be very different from that of the larger farms.—[Vol. 738, c. 29.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Wales, set up a survey to inquire into the likely effects for Welsh agriculture of entry into the European Economic Community under the terms of the Treaty of Rome and existing agreements thereunder.

No. In assessing the possible effects of joining the E.E.C. we considered very carefully the possible impact on all the main sectors of U.K. agriculture, including of course, those that are of special importance to the agricultural economy of Wales. We shall continue to do this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what moneys have been paid by way of grant by his Department to the Borth Drainage Board for drainage works on Cors Fochno. Cardiganshire, in each of the five years up to 31st December, 1965.

No grant was paid to Borth Drainage Board for works on Cors Fochno up to 31st December, 1965, but £1,785 has been paid in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he has taken to make arrangements for regular meetings of Commonwealth Governments to work through the development and capital investment programmes of each Commonwealth country, with a view to raising the level of inter-Commonwealth trade.

Commonwealth Prime Ministers, in the final communiqué issued after their meeting of September 1966

"Noted with approval that, in accordance with their decision in 1965, which had been carried further by Commonwealth Trade Ministers at their meeting in June, 1966, a preliminary conference of officials engaged in economic planning was to be convened to consider the various methods adopted in Commonwealth countries and see whether a mutual exchange of current plans could be used to improve them and thus promote trade and economic progress within the Commonwealth."

Arrangements for that conference are being undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what have been the quantity and type of armaments sold by Commonwealth countries to the illegal régime in Rhodesia since I 11th November, 1965.

No licences have been issued by the Board of Trade for the export of armaments of any kind to Rhodesia since 11th November, 1965, nor is there any evidence to suggest that any armaments have been sold to the illegal regime in Rhodesia by Commonwealth countries since that date.

asked the Minister of Labour how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 15th December; and how many of them were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age, and school leavers, respectively.

On 14th November, 1966, the latest date for which information is available, the total numbers registered as unemployed were 273 men and 22 women at Bexhill, 189 men and 20 women at Hailsham and 93 men and 12 women at Rye. In addition, there were 17 boys and 5 girls under 18 years of age registered at the Bexhill Youth Employment office, which also covers the Rye, Hailsham and Battle areas. One boy was a school leaver registered for first employment.Age analyses of the wholly unemployed are made only in January and July. The latest information about the numbers aged 55 years and over was that given to the hon. Member in my written reply on 21st July, 1966—[Vol. 732, c. 138–9.]

asked the Minister of Labour what statistical evidence is now available on changes in the numbers of persons regarding themselves as self-employed since the Selective Employment Tax was introduced.

No statistical information is yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the

Manufacturer			Type of Machine
Forges Usines et Fonderies de Gilly	…	…	Horizontal Boring Machine
Société Genevoise D'Instruments de Physique		…	Tape Controlled Jig Boring and Milling Machine
Salomé Freres	…	…	3 Profile Lathes
			Programme Controlled Multi-tool and Copying Lathe
Dixi SA	…	…	Horizontal Jig Boring Machine
Fritz Studer Ltd.	…	…	Template Milling Machine
Ikegai	Japan	…	Lathe
Akuma			Lathe
Friedrich Deckel	…	…	3 Universal Milling Machines
Aciera SA	…	…	5 Universal Milling Machines
			Jig Boring and Drilling Machine
Henri Hauser Ltd.	…	…	Pivot Grinding Machine
			2 Profiling Machines
			Multi-Spindle Drilling and Tapping Machine
S.A. Joseph Petermann	…	…	Cam Slotting Machine
Agathon Ltd.	…	…	Centreless Grinding Machine
Kummer Freres SA	…	…	Plate Turning Machine
Leon Huré Cie	…	…	Universal Milling Machine
			Swivel Head Milling Machine
Heid Aktiengesellschaft	…	…	Universal and Copy Lathe
George Fischer Ltd.	…	…	Copying Lathe
Kearney & Trecker Corporation	…	…	3 Numerically Controlled Machining Centres
De Vleig Machine Co.	…	…	Precision Tool Grinding Machine

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the type and function of each of the 34 machine tools ordered for Royal Ordnance Factories from overseas manufacturers during the current year; which orders were placed as a result of competitive tendering; and which were placed because no suitable British machine tools were available.

Orders for the following 25 machines were placed as the result of competitive tendering:

Country of Origin	Type and Function of Machine
Switzerland	Pivot Grinding Machine
Switzerland	Jig Boring and Drilling Machine
Switzerland	4 Universal Milling Machines
Switzerland	2 Profiling Machines
Switzerland	Centreless Grinding Machine
Switzerland	Cam Slotting Machine
Switzerland	Plate Turning Machine
Switzerland	Copying Lathe
Switzerland	Horizontal Jig Boring Machine
Switzerland	Template Milling Machine
Switzerland	Universal Milling Machine
France	Programme controlled multi-tool and copying lathe
France	3 Profile Lathes
Germany	2 Universal Milling Machines
Germany	Universal Milling machine with spiral milling capacity
Belgium	Horizontal Boring Machine
Japan	2 Lathes

Following is the information:Orders for the following 9 machines were placed competitive tendering because no other suitable machine tool was available.

Country of Origin	Type and Function of Machine
Switzerland	Multi-spindle Drilling and Tapping Machine
Switzerland	Tape Controlled Jig Boring and Milling Machine
France	Universal Milling Machine
France	Swivel Head Milling Machine
Austria	Universal and Copy Lathe
U.S.A.	3 Numerically controlled Machining Centres
U.S.A.	Precision Tool Grinding Machine

asked the Minister of Health how many medical practitioners have left the National Health Service and emigrated to other countries in the course of the most recent convenient period of 12 months; and what were the reasons given for their course of action.

For the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey (Mr. A. Royle) on 18th October; and for the second part, to my reply to the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 1st November.—[Vol. 734, c. 25, Vol. 735, c. 79].

asked the Minister of Health how many medical practitioners in private practice hold appointments in Government-controlled services such as those dealing with war pensions.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General how many orders have been made by magistrates, in each of the last five years, for the confiscation of television sets in the possession of persons who have evaded payment of the licence; how many unlicensed sets were hired on a rental basis; and if he will make a statement.

During the last five years, the number of sets ordered to he forfeited was:

• 1962–72 of which 25 were rented sets.
• 1963–23 of which I was a rented set.
• 1964–10 of which 2 were rented sets.
• 1965–1 which was not rented.
• 1966–22 of which 12 were rented sets.

I do not know how many rented sets are unlicensed.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of new equipment which is awaited by his Department to increase the efficiency of transatlantic telephone calls; when this equipment was ordered; and when delivery is expected.

Three contracts for the supply and installation of equipment to handle further overseas calls including those to North America were placed on August, 1964, March, 1965 and April, 1966. Equipment on the first of these contracts is now becoming available for service and that on the other two contracts will be completed in stages by autumn, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent information he has regarding pupil/teacher ratios in Scottish schools; and if he will give separate ratios in respect of local authority primary schools, local authority schools, private schools, and grant-aided schools.

Pupil/teacher ratios derived from numbers of teachers as at September, 1965, and numbers of pupils as at January, 1966, are:

	Number of pupils to each teacher
(1) Education Authority Primary Schools	28·1
(2) Education Authority Schools (Primary and Secondary)	21·3
(3) Grant-Aided Schools	15·8

NOTES:(i) In the calculation for (1), primary departments attached to secondary schools have not been included; nor have nursery schools been included.(ii) In all the calculations uncertificated as well as certificated teachers have been included; part-time certificated teachers have been included in terms of full-time equivalents.(iii) Grant-aided schools include college or education demonstration schools, grant-aided special schools and grant-aided orphanages as well as schools receiving grant under the Grant-Aided Secondary Schools (Scotland) Regulations 1959.

asked the Minister of Social Security what steps she is taking to ensure that employers do not evade their National Insurance liabilities by treating their employees as self-employed.

Whether a gainfully occupied person comes into the employed or the self-employed class for National Insurance depends on the actual conditions of employment. It is not a matter which can be settled between employer and employee irrespective of those conditions. Failure to stamp the contribution card correctly can lead to loss of benefit and may also, when brought to light, involve an employer in having to meet the entire cost of contributions due for past periods, with no right to recover the employee's share from his wages. My Department will continue to take appropriate action in cases where employers are found not to have paid contributions correctly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of its relevance to local authorities in mid-Wales, he will cause the Report of the Clayton Survey to be published.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on 9th December. [Vol. 737, c. 385.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has yet reviewed his policy on the granting of dispensation to allow councillors who are tenants of council houses to vote on questions of housing finance.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I are still considering this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will instruct Welsh Economic Council to make a special study of the Report by Professor Edward Nevin's research group at Aberystwyth, on the prospect of employment in Wales in the period 1966 to 1970, recently published.

The Welsh Economic Council is aware of the work which Professor Nevin and his colleagues have been doing, and of the estimates in the recently published report of the changes to be expected in employment in Wales based on certain theoretical assumptions including the assumption of no special action by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals his Department has for the provision of further governmental assistance to the tourist industry in Wales.

After talks with the Chairman of the Wales Tourist Board, my right hon. Friend is now discussing with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade how best further to promote the tourist industry in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will cause legislation to be introduced to amend section 132 of the Local Government Act 1948 so as to enable financial assistance for cultural activities in Wales to be given by county councils.

I shall consider this point in connection with local government reorganisation in Wales.