asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the effects of recent economies on the informatoin and cultural services; and whether he is satisfied with present arrangements.

Economies now being made or contemplated are no more severe than are necessary to ensure that next year's overall expenditure can be broadly contained within the same level of expenditure as that for the current year. Certain activities which are not of first priority will be restricted and some capital projects held back.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what further appointments he has made to the committee which he has set up to co-ordinate the installation of services on new building sites.

I have now appointed Mr. F. M. Little, B.Sc.(Tech.), M.I.C.E., M.I.Mun.E., A.M.I.Struc.E., City Engineer and Surveyor. Nottingham, to complete the membership of the Committee which I announced in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 29th November—[Vol. 737, c. 93.]By this appointment, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Municipal Engineers will be associated with the work of the Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General what reductions in the Saturday working hours of post offices have been authorised since 20th July, 1966.

It would not be possible to provide the precise information for which the hon. Member asks without disproportionate expense. But I estimate, very broadly, that reduced hours of business on Saturday have been introduced at some 900 of our main Post Offices.The reduction in hours is enabling us to cut down overtime and strengthen staffing at peak times. There is no change in the standard weekly hours of counter staff; but I hope the earlier finishing time will be of some help in the effects we are making to overcome our recruiting problems.

asked the Postmaster-General why, in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government do not recognise the illegal régime in Rhodesia, his Department offer and supply postal and telegraph services to the régime; and whether he will take action to prevent the seditious and treacherous paper, Rhodesia Commentary, being circulated in this country with the aid of the Post Office services.

There is no necessary connection between the provision of postal and telegraph services to a given country and the recognition of that country's Government. In the case of Rhodesia, Her Majesty's Government have so far taken the view that the public interest is best served by the continued exchange of mail and telegraph services. As to the second part of his Question I would remind my hon. Friend that my predecessor and I have frequently assured the House that no mail is censored in this country. I do not propose to depart from those assurances on this occasion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the 1,200 additional staff required to administer investment grants have already been appointed; what office accommodation they are occupying; and what are the total annual costs so far involved.

Eight hundred staff have so far been appointed to the five investment grants offices, which will occupy in all 160,000 sq. ft. of office space. Staff salaries and the provision of accommodation are expected to cost £750,000 in the current financial year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish an addendum to the document No. R. 5155, entitled Commonwealth Preference, issued by the Central Office of Information in August, 1961, showing any changes of preferences or other relevant questions which have occurred since then, including any agreements made between Commonwealth countries and between foreign countries.

This series is primarily intended for distribution abroad by the Information Officers in our Embassies and High Commissions. In view of the publication in June of this year of "The Pattern of Commonwealth Trade" (R.5494/66), I see no need for an addendum to the earlier publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which organisations and individuals, respectively, have made representations to his Department calling for the continuance of Common-wealth preference for South Africa; and what replies he has made.

During the last week or so I have had such representations from three firms and twelve individuals.These correspondents are being reminded that the Government have repeatedly said that they do not intend to rescind our bilateral Trade Agreement with South Africa, which governs the preferential arrangements both ways.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish full details of the categories and amounts of the assistance of £118 million given to the shipping industry since April, 1964, referred to by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Barnsley.

The figure referred to relates to financial assistance offered under the Local Employment Acts for projects of all types designed to provide employment in the development areas and former development districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to publish the commissioners' Report, following the public inquiry into the accident to a British European Airways' Vanguard at Heathrow on 27th October, 1965; and if he will make a statement.

The Report is being put on sale today by the Stationery Office. Copies are available in the Library. It concludes that a series of misfortunes, no single one of which on its own would have caused the accident, combined to bring about the eventual crash. More specifically, the probable cause of the accident is stated to be pilot error due to a combination of 11 stated factors. The Report covers a wide field in its findings and recommendations and calls for careful study by all concerned. All the recommendations affecting the Board of Trade are being examined: and action has already been taken on a number of them.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the hardship cause to disabled workers resulting from the Government's redeployment policies, he will now exempt employers of registered disabled men and women from payment of the Selective Employment Tax.

The Government has said that it will consider possible changes in the Selective Employment Tax in the light of experience of its working. During recent months the increase in unemployment among the disabled has been proportionately less than the increase in total unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were unemployed in each month in 1958; what percentage of the labour force the figures represent; what was the increase in the Retail Price Index and Wage Rates Index during the year; and if he will give similar information for the period 1st June, 1962, to 30th May, 1963.

Following is the information:

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN 1958
	Numbers unemployed	Percentage rate
13th January, 1958	395,527	1·8
17th February, 1958	424,547	1·9
17th March, 1958	433,071	2·0
14th April, 1958	443,699	2·0
12th May, 1958	447,556	2·1
16th June, 1958	429,257	2·0
14th July, 1958	411,838	1·9
11th August, 1958	445,603	2·0
15th September, 1958	475,986	2·2
13th October, 1958	513,842	2·4
17th November, 1958	536,027	2·5
8th December, 1958	531,727	2·4

Between mid-January and mid-December, 1958. the Index of Retail Prices rose by 1·9 per cent. During the period end-December, 1957, to end-December, 1958, there were increases of 3·7 per cent. and 3·8 per cent. respectively, in the Indices of weekly and hourly rates of wages, for all industries and services.

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT FROM JUNE, 1962 TO MAY, 1963
	Numbers unemployed	Percentage rate
18th June, 1962	397,183	1·7
16th July, 1962	400,418	1·7
13th August, 1962	464,376	2·0
10th September, 1962	465,138	2·0
15th October, 1962	501,378	2·2
12th November, 1962	544,667	2·4
10th December, 1962	566,158	2·5
14th January, 1963	815,099	3·5
11th February, 1963	878,363	3·8
11th March, 1963	702,140	3·0
8th April, 1963	604,619	2·6
13th May, 1963	553,623	2·4

Between mid-June, 1962, and mid-May, 1963, the Index of Retail Prices rose by 1·0 per cent. During the period end-May, 1962, to end-May, 1963, the Indices of weekly and hourly rates of wages rose by 3·8 per cent. and 3·9 per cent. respectively, for all industries and services.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the urgency of the matter, he will ask the Engineering In- dustry Training Board to expedite grant offer to the Croydon Local Education Authority and thus facilitate their consideration of expansion of first year off-the-job-training at Croydon Technical College for the smaller firms, without their own subsidised training schools, who are unrepresented on the Board, in spite of substantial levy payments.

No. The Engineering Board is at present examining various ways in which first year off-the-job-training facilities could be provided in the Croydon area.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list rail closure proposals to which Ministerial approval has been given in the last five years notwithstanding a recommendation from the Transport Users Consultative Committee concerned that withdrawal of services would cause severe hardship to the communities they served, and the dates of each.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available and its extraction would involve disproportionate time and expense.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will make the draft order outlining the proposed route for improving the stretch of the A1 at Ayot, St. Lawrence, Welwyn; and whether, in view of the public concern which will, be felt locally at whatever route she selects, she will give an assurance that she will arrange for a local public inquiry to be held.

The selection of a line through this particularly pleasant area needs the most careful consideration. My Tight hon. Friend is studying the alternatives submitted to her but, because of the conflicting factors involved, it is too early, to suggest a date for the publication of the draft Order.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that certain transport undertakings acquired by the Transport Holding Company remain in competition with British Road Services; and whether she will give general directions, in the public interest, to the appropriate managements to co-ordinate their activities.

Standing machinery has been set up by the Transport Holding Company to promote co-operation in the commercial and operational spheres between all the subsidiary companies under their control which are concerned with freight. My right hon. Friend does not consider that a direction would be appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the net cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments of British troops in Germany after allowing for offset payments already received from the Federal Republic or due to be received before 31st March, 1967, during the current financial year; and what is his latest estimate of the gross foreign exchange costs of the British Army of the Rhine in 1967–68.

On the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 14th December.—[Vol. 738, c. 106–7.] On the second part, I am not yet in a position to make a considered forecast, but the substantial administrative economies to which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster referred on 12th December are being put into effect.—[Vol. 738, c. 44.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of the British economy from November, 1964, to the latest convenient date.

Between the third quarter of 1964 and the second quarter of 1966 (the latest available date) the gross national product, at constant prices, is estimated to have increased by over 3 per cent. Monthly figures are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to clarify the law regarding the tax requirements of charities, both registered and unregistered, as far as the sale of Christmas cards is concerned.

No. I do not accept that the law on this matter needs clarification.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the annual repayment of capital and payment of interest on the post-war loans from the United States of America and Canada will be made as usual this year.

Yes. In 1964 and 1965 the service of these loans was postponed, under the terms of the financial agreements of March, 1957. I am glad to say that the improvement in the balance of payments and in the strength of sterling enables the annual payments to be made in full this year. The amounts in question are U.S.$147·8 million (£52·8 million), and Can.$40·4 million (£13·3 million).

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what amounts have been paid out of public funds to each of the firms providing professional advice to the National Board for Prices and Incomes showing the period covered.

Payments for professional services have been made to nine firms since 1st April, 1965. The total amount is £102,481 6s. 7d., of which the nine firms have received

£	s.	d.
55,207	9	8
2,415	0	0
7,303	10	0
4,321	15	0
8,955	0	0
5,000	0	0
2,700	0	0
9,378	11	11
7,200	0	0

respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the student intake into Welsh colleges of education in 1956; what it was in 1966; and what is the estimate for 1970.

Non-graduate entrants to courses of initial teacher training in the Welsh colleges of education numbered 814 in 1956. Their combined intake target for the next few years, which they proposed in response to my right hon. Friend's request of July, 1965 for a more productive use of college facilities, is about 2,100, but I am glad to say that they have already exceeded this with a provisional figure of 2,131 for their 1966 intake.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the Government is financing medical research which does not involve the use of animals; and if he will make a statement.

A large proportion of research in the laboratory as well as in the fields of clinical and social medicine is undertaken without the use of experimental animals, but it is not possible to cost this separately from the overall provision made for medical research from official sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the research projects that are currently being carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research.

I am sending the hon. Member a list I have been given. Responsibility for the research programme rests with the Foundation's governing body, not with my right hon. Friend, though he supports certain projects financially.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the Welsh Economic Council will complete their consideration of the Government's economic development plan for Wales, which is due to be published early next year.

I have nothing to add to my Reply to the hon. Gentleman on this subject yesterday.—[Vol. 738, c. 631.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the complement of the Welsh Office down to the grade of assistant secretary in October, 1964 and October, 1966; and how many were in each grade.

The Welsh Office started at the end of 1964 with one Permanent Secretary, one Under-Secretary and two Assistant Secretaries. As further work was transferred to it from other Departments, this complement was increased and now amounts to one Permanent Secretary, two Under-Secretaries and six Assistant Secretaies.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what study he is making of the economic requirements of Zambia; and how Zambia's needs can be related to under-used capacity in Great Britain.

We keep under constant review the economic needs of all those countries to which British aid is given. In view of the special circumstances of Zambia we are following its economic problems with particular care.Our aid is whenever possible tied to the use of British goods and services; but as my hon. Friend was informed on the 24th November it is not usually practicable to relate it specifically to surplus capacity in this country, although this factor is of course borne in mind.—[Vol. 736, c. 1566.]

asked the Minister of Health what action is being taken to improve hospital facilities in Worcestershire, in view of the various programmes for Birmingham overspill.

New hospitals are to be built at Worcester and Redditch as recorded in "The Hospital Building Programme—Cmnd. 3000" and in the meantime improvements and extensions are to be made to some existing hospitals serving the area.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to ease the position of the child born out of wedlock by making the shortened form of birth certificate obligatory for general use, except where more detailed information is needed, when the full certificate should be applied for from the Registrar-General, and by giving the illegitimate child rights to claim on both the mother's and the putative father's estate as a dependant within the meaning of the Inheritance (Family Provision) Act, 1938, or under the rules relating to intestacy.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "No".Amendment of the inheritance (Family Provision) Act, 1938 would be a matter for my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor: he is, I know, sympathetic to the suggestion made by my hon. Friend, which is in accordance with the recom- mendation contained in the Report of the Russell Committee on the Law of Succession in relation to Illegitimate Persons.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a revised version of Command Paper No. 3163 showing the effects, with the present tax reliefs under the proposed option scheme, of an interest rate of 7⅛ per cent. rather than of 6¾ per cent.

No. The balance of advantage as stated in the White Paper between the proposed option scheme and Income Tax reliefs will not be materially affected.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rate rebates were granted for the period ended on 30th September 1966; and what steps he has taken to ensure that ratepayers applying for rate rebates more than a month after the beginning of the rebate period, because of ignorance of their rights, are granted the full rebate for the period.

The indications are that for the first rebate period ending on 30th September, 1966 about a million people in England and Wales will have been granted rebates. The decision whether or not to grant the full rebate to late applicants rests entirely with rating authorities. My right hon. Friend has made it widely known that he hopes they will use their discretion generously at least in the first year of the scheme but he cannot direct rating authorities in this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rate rebates were granted in Stoke-on-Trent for the period ended on 30th September, 1966; and what proportion this figure is of those eligible.

Four thousand one hundred rebates have been granted in respect of the first rebate period in Stoke-on-Trent. This represents 4·6 per cent. Of the domestic hereditaments in the area but I can make no estimate of what proportion it represents of those eligible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what returns have so far been received by is Department from local authorities in reply to the circular, A Planned Programme for Town Centre Renewal, which was issued on 30th September; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my Reply given to the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Murton) on the 12th December, in answer to a similar Question.—[Vol. 738, c.37.]

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he is aware that Midlands property companies are inserting, in house purchase agreements, clauses as a result of which prospective owner-occupiers undertake to abandon any rights they may receive from the Government's proposals for leasehold enfranchisement; and if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to curtail this practice.

Yes; the Bill will include provision to override such attempts at contracting out of its provisions.

asked the Minister of Power when work is expected to start on the Hinkley Point 'B' power station.

The station has not yet been ordered but I understand from the Central Electricity Generating Board that work could start shortly after the placing of the contract. The timing will depend on the outcome of the Government's consideration of the Board's capital development programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the procedure under which firms in the development areas should apply to be included on the list of those whom he will invite to tender for army contracts;(2) what is the procedure under which firms in the development areas should apply to be included on the list of those whom he will invite to tender for Royal Air Force contracts;(3) what is the procedure under which firms in the development areas should apply to be included on the list of those whom he will invite to tender for naval contracts.

There is no special procedure applicable to firms in development areas. Any firm may apply to the appropriate Department for inclusion in the lists of approved tenderers. Subject to enquiries as to its financial standing and technical ability, any such firm will be noted on the lists for those stores or services for which it has the necessary manufacturing or other experience.Applications to any one of the Service Departments which are likely to be of interest to either of the other Service Departments are automatically passed on.The addresses to which applications may be sent are:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of increasing the pensions of widows of Armed Forces pensioners from one-third of the husband's pension to one-half.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of paying pensions to Service widows at the rate of one-half instead of one-third of their husband's retired pay.

About £1·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of providing widows' pensions for widows of Armed Forces pensioners who marry after retirement or discharge.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of paying pensions to widows who married members of the Armed Forces after their husband's retirement.

The Services do not necessarily know all the details of such cases and the cost cannot therefore be calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of continuing to pay widow's pension to widows of Armed Forces pensioners who remarry.

I regret that this information is not available. We could not pay widows' pensions to those who have remarried.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of fully restoring to widows who are widowed a second time of Armed Forces pensioners the pension which she forfeited on her remarriage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of paying their original pensions without a means test to service widows who have remarried and been widowed again.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the increase necessary in Service pay fully to provide for a contributory widow's pension of one-half of the Armed Forces pensioners' pension.

No such scheme has been devised and therefore the cost cannot be given. I would not necessarily accept that such a scheme would call for an increase in the pay of officers and men.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of paying pensions to Service widows whose husbands retired on pre-1956 codes at the rates they would be receiving had their husbands retired on the 1956 code.

About £400,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, as a result of visits paid by Mr. R. P. Robson, veterinary surgeon, after he had been in contact with animals suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, stock was put down to prevent the spread of the disease; and on how many farms this precautionary measure was taken.

Yes. 17 animals on 7 farms.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the bottle containing saliva and scabs from the mouths of animals suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, which were originally declared negative at his Department's laboratory on 18th July, was, when further tests were taken, proved to have contained a virus of the disease.

Yes. The complement fixation test carried out at the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, proved negative; the test in tissue culture was inconclusive; and the test by animal inoculation proved positive. The latter two tests were not completed until after the disease had been diagnosed clinically on 21st July.