asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to final redemption of British Transport, including railway, compensation and development stocks.

These stocks will be redeemed in accordance with their terms of issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for altering the Income Tax child allowances.

I cannot anticipate my Budget statement

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a hearing aid purchased by a teacher and necessary for the purpose of continuing in the profession is regarded as a legitimate expense against which Income Tax rebate could be claimed.

No. It is settled law that an employee is not entitled to tax relief for an expense which arises from his personal circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether contributions by employers to membership of the Confederation of British Industry is an allowable deduction for Income Tax purposes.

Yes. Annual subscriptions by traders to their trade associations, like other expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for trade purposes, are an allowable deduction for tax purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to encouraging savings, he will review the definition of unearned income for Income Tax purposes.

No. The cost of such a concession would be out of line with the extra savings that it would produce.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to reduce taxation on pipe tobacco and cigars and increase it on cigarettes.

This is a Budgetary matter and I cannot comment now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that have a foreign exchange allowance for travel of less than £50.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the 6d. National Savings stamp has been abolished so that the lowest value of such stamps is now two shillings.

To bring the figure into line with current practice, to avoid substantial wasteful expenditure and to assist those who voluntarily give their time to promoting children's savings and to whom I would once again wish to convey the nation's thanks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will assign specific cost reduction programmes to all Government Departments; and whether he will publish periodic reviews of progress with these programmes.

No: the way to secure more efficiency is rather to make use of the full range of techniques available to modern management.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific gains in productivity have been achieved in Government Departments following the recent Conference on Productivity.

Efforts to improve efficiency in Government Departments, to get better value for money and to improve productivity, are continuous and are not specially related to the Conference on Productivity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further progress he has made towards establishing United Kingdom Government Departments, research establishments or adjuncts of either in Northern Ireland.

None, having regard to the difficulty of finding a unit of work suitable for transferring to Northern Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation giving authority to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to refund to firms sums of money paid as duty on oil when the delivery should have been out of bond.

No, because full facilities already exist for obtaining supplies from bond.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the Customs arrangements for bonded oil terminals, as these are inflexible and a hindrance to trade.

These arrangements, which are both flexible and convenient, are kept under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take into account in framing his future taxation policy towards agriculture the need to allow farmers to build up their own slender sources of capital so that they can finance their own expansion and modernisation of their farms.

The Government recognise that the industry must be enabled to finance further investment and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture has undertaken to take account of this in the Price Reviews. I have noted the point made by the hon. Member about taxation but he will not expect me to anticipate the Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the result of his talks at Chequers with the Finance Ministers of France, West Germany, Italy and the United States of America on the possibility of getting world-wide cheaper money and reducing the Bank Rate in London.

I would refer to the replies I gave to Questions on this subject on 24th January.—[Vol. 379, c. 1268–73.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will call for a report from the Inland Revenue on the adverse effects of the close company provisions of the Finance Act, 1965.

I am not aware of any adverse effects; but satisfactory arrangements for keeping tax legislation under review already exist.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to exempt from Selective Employment Tax all those employed in regular duties covering sports facilities required for the Regional Sports Councils, as providing public benefit.

No. Those sports organisations which are recognised as charitable already get refund of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what authority there has been discrimination in Selective Employment Tax refunds in favour of local government councils who have been receiving their refunds one month after payment as opposed to the normal six months; what other bodies are receiving preferential treatment; and what is the economic criterion upon which this discrimination is made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper (Cmnd. 2986) explaining the objectives and framework of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will relieve from Selective Employment Tax those service companies that are substantial earners of foreign exchange.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 20th December.—[Vol. 738, c. 248].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the gross cost to industry in the 12 months from 5th September, 1966, of interest at the current rate of 8 per cent. on Selective Employment Tax paid and later refunded to employers.

No accurate estimate can be made because interest rates change. But the gross cost to private industry, if all firms had to borrow at 8 per cent., would be about £6 million, as compared with total refunds in the year of the order of £500 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average surcharge added to bills and accounts due to the imposition of Selective Employment Tax; and when this surcharge will become fully incorporated into the charge for services.

Employers are expected to absorb as much of the tax as possible: the amount which they find it necessary to pass on to the customers varies according to the nature of their business.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now seek to amend the Selective Employment Tax to discriminate in favour of development areas.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. Urwin) on 20th December, when I said that these matters are under review and that the Government is already giving considerable assistance to strengthen the development areas.—[Vol. 738, c. 247–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer would be of exempting all amateur sporting organi- sations from Selective Employment Tax; and what the estimated annual cost would be of exempting all professional sporting organisation from Selective Employment Tax.

I cannot improve on the Answer given to the hon. Member by my hon. and learned Friend on 12th July, 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, to the nearest convenient date, how much has been collected from the Selective Employment Tax, the cost of repayment with appropriate premiums to be included in the present financial year, and the cost of the total operation.

As my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Social Security, said in reply to the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) yesterday, receipts up to 1st January, 1967, were £320 million. Refund and premium payments to the private sector this financial year are estimated at about £200 million. The additional administrative cost of operating the tax is estimated at about £1½ million in a full year.—[Vol. 740, c. 30.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now relieve private schools from paying Selective Employment Tax.

Private schools once they are registered as charities, already qualify for refund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of steel compensation stock to be issued; what coupon or interest rate will be attached; what is the proposed date of issue; and whether he will now make a statement.

The total value of securities is estimated to be between £550 and £600 million. The terms of the compensation stock will be decided nearer to vesting day, which under the Bill now before the House must be not more than thirty-six weeks from the passing of the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the £481 million 2½ per cent. Treasury Stock, which was issued at par in November 1946, is now quoted at 38 per cent., how much percentage the original buyers have lost, allowing for the fall in the market price and the fall in the value of money.

Taking the purchasing power of the pound as 20s. in 1946, £38 is equivalent to about 18½ per cent. of the purchasing power of the original outlay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much would be lost to the Exchequer if the Surtax on unearned income began on the same level as that of earned income.

About £60 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in taxation for 1967–68 would be commensurate on the basis of the increase of the gross national product achieved during the last year.

The gross national product, in real terms, was some 1–1½ per cent. higher in the first nine months of 1966 than in the corresponding period of 1965. The movement of national output is only one of many factors that need to be taken into account in deciding the level of taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gross national product during 1966; what percentage of the total was generated from the public sector and the nationalised industries; and what change there has been compared with the previous year.

The gross national product for the first nine months of 1966, the latest period available, was about 24,000 million. The percentage generated by the public sector and the nationalised industries cannot be given as the necessary information is prepared on an annual basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual cost to the revenue of taxing alimony as earned rather than unearned income.

I regret that information on which to base this estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the new instructions to the banks to ease the restrictions on finance in the development areas; to whom they will apply; what benefits will stem therefrom; and what total financial gain is estimated to accrue in the northern region.

No new guidance on lending in development areas is necessary: but in a recent public speech I gave fresh emphasis to the bank's lending policies in the development areas. In practice, the banks are willing to relax their normal lending criteria to help the promotion of business in the development areas, and they are prepared to provide credit to bridge the gap before firms eligible for Government grants and loans receive payment. This policy applies to all development areas, and is proving of benefit, although the precise financial effects cannot be measured.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the gross domestic product was represented by the value of exports of goods and services in the years 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965, respectively.

Following is the reply:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of United Kingdom invisible exports to North America, the sterling area, the European Free Trade Association, and the European Economic Community, respectively, in each of the years 1964 and 1965.

Gross invisible earnings from the sterling area were £1,060 million in 1964 and £1,104 million in 1965, and from the rest of the world £1,610 million and £1,754 million. Of the latter figures, roughly 35–40 per cent. were from North America, 20–25 per cent. from the E.E.C. and 8–10 per cent. from E.F.T.A.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he is making in the minimum qualifications of entry to the Museum Service in the assistant keeper grade.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of gold coin collectors approved by the Bank of England under the Exchange Control (Gold Coins Exemption) Order, 1966; and what was the number disapproved and the average number of gold coins held by the disapproved applicants.

659 applicants have been given permission to retain gold coins, and 2,147 both to maintain their collections and to add to them. 783 applications have been refused; but the number of gold coins held by them is not known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage increase he expects to take place in public investment during 1967–68, and what decline in private investment.

The latest Board of Trade inquiry suggests a prospective fall of about 10 per cent. in private sector investment by industry and trade in 1967 compared with 1966. I intend to make available shortly a forecast of public investment in 1967–68.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Government have permitted their holdings in British Petroleum to be reduced below 51 per cent.

Because it makes no difference to the effective Government control of British Petroleum. To have kept a holding of more than 50 per cent. would have involved raising an additional large sum of money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the resolution of the Harrow ratepayers calling for the immediate transfer from the rates to the Exchequer part of the cost of education and of the police, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will introduce legislation to give effect to this proposal.

"Yes" to the first part of the Question; and "No" to the second.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the London meeting of the Group of Ten and representatives of the International Monetary Fund.

This was a useful and constructive meeting. I have no detailed comments to add to what was said by the two Chairmen, Dr. Emminger and Mr. Schweitzer, after the meeting on 26th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for an explanatory statement, giving an outline of the way a taxpayer's money is spent, to be issued when demands are set out to taxpayers in future.

A poster giving this information is already displayed in Post Offices, Inland Revenue and other Government offices so as to cover both taxpayers who receive demands and the much larger number who do not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy will be regarding the decimalisation of prices in the shops, when the change could result in either the raising or the lowering of the cost to the consumer.

An early task of the Decimal Currency Board will be to advise on suitable conversion tables to determine the decimal equivalents of amounts in £ s. d. as a guide for the repricing of commodities and services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the evasion of the payment of the road fund duty by thousands of owners of road vehicles, he will take steps to ensure that this duty is paid by all owners of road vehicles, or if, on the evidence available to him, the collection of this cannot be enforced, he will seek to abolish it.

The steps already being taken ensure collection in all but a very small percentage of cases; and my right hon. Fr end the Minister of Transport is considering ways of making enforcement of the law still more effective.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why exemption from paying Excise Duty is not granted to totally-disabled persons in respect of motor vehicles driven by another person but owned by and used exclusively for the totally-disabled person, in view of the fact that exemption may be granted to partially-disabled persons.

Exemption can only be granted to vehicles which can be seen by the police and others to possess specially modified controls.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the talks with the Federal German Republic and the United States of America on the costs of the Rhine Army will be resumed.

The new German representative, Herr Duckwitz, has now been appointed. It is hoped that the tripartite talks will be resumed in February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to require that building societies shall not charge more than the specified rate of interest on mortgages through charging interest on the amount owing at the beginning of the year, despite the succeeding 11 monthly payments reducing the debt.

No. I think that this is a matter between the building societies and their borrowers. No doubt they will have taken note of recent public comment on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the treatment for Capital Gains Tax purposes of any cash payments made on the conversion of British Government securities.

In general, any cash element in a conversion is treated as giving rise to a part disposal of the shares or securities in respect of which the cash is paid but under paragraph 3(2), 7th Schedule, Finance Act, 1965, a small cash element in a conversion of company shares (in practice, "small" is interpreted as meaning not more than 5 per cent. of total consideration) is treated as reducing the cost to the shareholder of his new shares, so that, in effect, any capital gains tax liability on this cash payment is deferred till those shares are disposed of. As the law stands, this provision does not apply to conversions of securities. I see no reason to distinguish in this matter between conversions of shares and of securities and I therefore intend to propose legislation in the coming Finance Bill to apply paragraph 3(2) to conversions of British Government securities and other securities as defined in paragraph 5(3,b) 7th Schedule. This will avoid the need to make numerous small assessments to capital gains tax.This legislation will apply to the offer announced yesterday in which 6¼ per cent. Exchequer Loan, 1972 and 6½ per cent. Funding Loan, 1985–87 were offered in exchange for 2½ per cent. Savings Bonds, 1964–67.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of pensions paid to civil servants and employees of local authorities and of nationalised boards, respectively, in 1946, 1956, and 1966.

The cost of pensions and related benefits paid to (and in respect of) former civil servants in the years 1945–46, 1955–56 and 1965–66 was £17 million, £38 million and £93 million respectively (rounded to the nearest £1 million).Expenditure on benefits paid under the local government superannuation scheme is estimated by the Government Actuary to have been £23 million in 1955–56 and £50 million in 1965–66. No estimate is available for the year 1945–46.As a question of day-to-day management, the cost of benefits paid by the Nationalised Boards is a matter for the Boards themselves.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to prevent any fall in the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling in 1967.

In present circumstances the most effective means of stabilising the cost of living is through an increase in productivity and an active prices and incomes policy. The Government is following such a policy, and already the success of the standstill in the second half of last year has contributed greatly to the prospects for reasonable stability of prices this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for transferring direct Government shareholdings in companies to the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation; what companies are involved; and what is the number and value of the shares in each case.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the companies, as at 1st January, 1967, in which the Government has a shareholding, stating the value and number of shares held in each case.

The following list gives details of the Government's shareholding in various companies at 31st March, 1966, which is the most recent date for which figures are readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the companies, as at 1st January, 1967, in which

The required information is listed below.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the companies, as at 1st January, 1967, in which the Government has appointed directors, stating the number of directors in each case.

The list is as follows:

• Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Ltd.—3 directors.
• Beef Recording Association (U.K.) Ltd.…3 directors.
• Beef Recording Association (U.K.) (Facilities) Ltd.—3 directors.
• British Petroleum Co. Ltd.—2 directors.
• British Sugar Corporation—3 directors.
• British Travel Association—Chairman and 7 directors.
• Cable and Wireless Ltd.— Chairman and 6 directors.
• Cereals Committee Ltd.—2 directors.
• Fairfields (Glasgow) Ltd.—1 director.
• Industrial Advisers to the Blind Ltd.— Chairman and 8 directors.
• Industrial Training Service—Chairman and 11 directors.
• David MacBrayne Ltd.— 2 directors.
• Middle East Navigation Aids Service— 5 directors.
• National Building Agency—Chairman and 12 directors.
• National Cold Stores (Management) Ltd.— 2 directors.
• National Institute of Housecraft (Employment and Training) Ltd.— Chairman and 11 directors.
• Orkney Islands Shipping Co. Ltd.— Chairman and 1 director.
• Power Jets (R. & D.) Ltd.—Chairman and 6 directors.
• Remploy Ltd—Chairman and 14 directors.
• Scottish Agricultural Securities Corporation—1 director.
• S.B. (Realisations) Ltd.—Chairman and 3 directors.
• Suez Finance Co. and its subsidiary Société d'Investissements Mobiliers—3 directors.
• Topliss & Harding (Middle East) Ltd.—1 director.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public contracts over the value of £2 million were let in Scotland in the years 1962 to 1964 and 1964 to 1966, respectively; and if he will give a list of those contracts.

Information is not readily available for all public contracts. I am collecting such information on central Government contracts as I can, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT at a later date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to reduce the incidence of company taxation.

I cannot anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of Government advertising in Tribune in each of the years 1961 to 1966.

No display advertising has been placed in this publication since 1963–64. Suitable records for earlier years and for other types of advertising are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reissue a forecast of central Government expenditure up to 1970 in the light of the decision to postpone the targets contained in the National Plan.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 29th November, 1966.—[Vol. 737, c. 47–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total capital formation during 1966; what percentage of this was in manufacturing industry, and what percentage in the public sector, including nationalised industries; and what change there has been compared with the previous year.

Gross fixed capital formation for the first nine months of 1966 is estimated at £4,811 million. 21½ per cent. of this was in manufacturing industries and 47 per cent. in the public sector. Total fixed investment at constant prices was just over one-half of 1 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period of 1965, the corresponding increases for manufacturing being ½ per cent., and for the public sector nearly 5 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Inland Revenue have been disallowing the remuneration of whole-time directors in close companies as an expense before Corporation Tax where the director dies within six months of the commencement of the financial year, on the grounds that the director was not a full-time employee for more than 50 per cent. of the company's trading year; and what action he will take.

Yes; the statutory provisions may favour the taxpayer in certain circumstances and the Inland Revenue in others. Representations on the point are being taken into account, along with the other representations my right hon. Friend is receiving, in the Budget review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many directors of national museums or galleries have been retired before the age of 65 years since October, 1964.

Two Museum Directors have retired below the age of 65 since October, 1964.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have resolved that the provisions of Sections 20 and 21 of the Local Government Act, 1966, relating to the rating of unoccupied, property, shall apply to their areas.

My right hon. Friend will shortly be asking local authorities to notify him if they pass such a resolution. So far he has heard of one case, but it is too early to make any assessment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the prospect of more adequate supplies of fuel consequent upon the North Sea gas discoveries, he will amend the Clean Air Act, 1966, grant arrangements so as to remove discrimination against electricity by making direct-acting electric space heaters eligible for grant.

Direct-acting electric space heaters were excluded from grant because of the strain which they would impose on electricity supplies at peak periods.My right hon. Friend, after consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Power, considers that the North Sea gas discoveries do not afford a reason for altering this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what general density he has approved, and for what reasons, for the proposed new city in Buckinghamshire.

The decision letter, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy makes clear that, the area designated, which includes three existing towns, covers about 21,900 acres. The population by the end of the century will be about 250,000. These figures give an overall density of 11·4 persons per acre. The densities of actual development will be worked out in the Development Corporation's master plan.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that revaluation of domestic/shop premises on a separate basis would entitle the occupier of the domestic part to claim a rate rebate is sufficient, justification for separate valuations; and if he will make a statement.

Questions of valuation must by law be settled by reference to the facts about the property and not about the occupier's personal circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is at present the approximate average interval between the public local inquiry into a planning appeal and the

12 weeks. Strengthening of departmental organisation has shortened the time required, and I hope to make an announcement about further measures before long.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the foreign exchange savings which would result, he will advise all local authorities to run an efficient waste-paper salvage service.

The maximum reuse of waste paper is, desirable, but the Working Party on Waste Paper, which was appointed by the Economic Development Committee for the Paper and Board Industry and reported in December, 1965, pointed out that promotion campaigns on a national scale are potentially dangerous in promoting surplus tonnage. I understand that the mills could not at present handle more mixed waste paper than they are getting.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the towns in or close to the South-East Region which are to be subject to plans for major expansion, together with their respective latest population targets and including Newbury, Bletchley, Ashford, Southampton, Portsmouth, Ipswich, Peterborough and Swindon.

The following schemes for major expansions have been announced or are under consideration:—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the number of local government employees in England and Wales at the end of 1966; and what were the comparable figures in December, 1965, 1964, and 1963, respectively.

Available statistics relate to June of each year and are published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. I would refer the hon. Member to the issues of the Gazette for October, 1963, October, 1964, March, 1966 and November, 1966.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have replied to his Department's Circular 26/66 dealing with gypsies and travellers who have no fixed abode; and what recommendations is his Department making to the local authorities involved to assist these people to find sites and settle in one place if they wish to do so.

58 out of 77. We are pressing the others to complete their investigations in order that by studying all the reports my right hon. Friend can judge what further action is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many unoccupied dwellings there are in England and Wales.

The latest firm figure was obtained from the 1961 Census of Population and Housing which showed that there were then 314,000 dwellings wholly unoccupied in England and Wales. (2·1 per cent. of the total number of dwellings.) The current number of wholly unoccupied dwellings is likely to be substantially higher than in 1961 and a firm figure will become available when the results of the 1966 Census of Population on housing are published this year. A margin of vacant houses is of course required to facilitate mobility and the smooth working of the housing market.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the latest information available to him about the Beethoven Street and Lancefield Street, W.10, area previously announced as part of Westminster City Council's slum clearance programme for 1966–70

One area is the subject of a compulsory purchase order made by the Greater London Council. An inquiry into objections is to be held by one of the Department's Inspectors on 23rd February. Westminster City Council's officers are currently working on surveys of a second and larger area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of land zoned for residential purposes in the development plans of local planning authorities are subject to standstill orders by reason of the lack of sewerage, water or other facilities.

Information is not available in the form requested. But to judge from surveys recently carried out in certain parts of the country, there are very few cases where development of land allocated for housing in a development plan has to be held up pending the completion of water or sewerage facilities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many fair rents have been registered by the rent officers for the London Boroughs of Southwark and Wandsworth since the dates of their respective appointments; how many reductions in rents have occurred in those so registered in each borough; and how many increases in rents have occurred in those so registered in each borough.

The rent officers for the London Boroughs of Southwark and Wandsworth started operations on 3rd January, 1966, and up to 28th January, 1967, they had registered 594 and 440 fair rents respectively. In Southwark, the original rent was reduced in 432 cases, unchanged in 43 and increased in 119. In Wandsworth, the original rent was reduced in 124 cases, unchanged in 137 and increased in 179. I understand that in the latter Borough, many of the increases related to rents fixed several years ago which had since remained unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding proposed amendments to the constitution of the Seychelles; and when, afterwards, elections will be held.

Agreement in principle has been reached with the Government of Seychelles on the changes in the constitution proposed by Sir Colville Deverell in his report, and on the modifications to certain of his recommendations set out in despatch No. 305 of the then Secretary of State for the Colonies: copies of both these documents are available in the Library. A general election will be held when legislation to give effect to the proposed changes has been finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware of the backward state of the colony of Seychelles; and whether he will send a special commission of inquiry to investigate this.

I am fully aware that remoteness and isolation of Seychelles and its poverty of natural resources make development and advance particularly difficult. Much has nevertheless been done in recent years with grants from Her Majesty's Government to improve such resources as it has and to provide services. I am determined to continue the process as rapidly as Her Majesty's Government's resources permit.The needs of Seychelles are well documented and I do not consider that a Special Commission of Inquiry would be of assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs when he hopes to conclude the agree- ment with the Swaziland Government regarding the new constitution; and when, afterwards, the elections will be held.

I hope that the proposed Agreement will be concluded in March and that the elections will be held in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs which British persons and facilities are to be withdrawn from Jamaica and Barbados, respectively, as a result of the Government's refusal to continue its support to the British Council's activities in these two islands; and how much money will be saved as a result.

The British Council representative will be withdrawn from Jamaica shortly after his Office has closed on 31st January. Some of his functions will, however, be continued by our High Commission in Jamaica. An annual net saving of over £11,000 will result from these changes.In Barbados the Council's operations were always on a very small scale; the withdrawal of the post of the part-time Regional Director has resulted in an annual saving of £1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will consult Rhodesian African leaders in exile about the future of Rhodesia.

As my right hon. Friend made clear in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Dr. Gray) on 24th January, we shall keep open all possible contacts with African opinion.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations have been made to him about the commercial development of the spray iron steelmaking process; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been made to my Department for financial assistance to develop the process commercially. These are under consideration in consultation with the Ministry of Power.