asked the Minister of Social Security if she will refer to the National Insurance Advisory Council the question of the eligibility of insured persons for benefit when travelling abroad as treatment, as distinct from travelling abroad for treatment.

It is not possible to impose the normal checks on incapacity for work while a person is abroad, and it is by no means easy to define the circumstances in which those checks might be dispensed with, if abuse is to be prevented. I am considering the matter, however.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will devise another system for the payment of insurance stamps, in view of the fact that a fully stamped card is now worth £135 4s. 0d.

Other systems are already in operation. Authorised employers may use machines to impress stamps on cards. Employers with at least 100 employees may pay by cheque, and account for their contributions. The merits and demerits of the stamped card system are being fully considered in the course of our comprehensive review of the National Insurance scheme.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the size of the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund; what are her plans and forecasts for its use, and if she will make a statement.

The National Insurance (Reserve) Fund which stands at £1,168 million was set up by statute as a reserve for the National Insurance Fund. It provides interest which helps to meet the cost of benefits. I have no proposals for changing these arrangements.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she is aware that the provisions of the earnings-related scheme for unemployment and sickness militate against members of local authorities, who, when unemployed or on sickness benefit, have little or no supplement to flat-rate benefit due to low earnings in their regular employment during the previous year because of attending to council business; and whether she will take steps to end this anomaly.

The structure of this scheme was kept as simple as possible so that it could be started quickly. Both earnings-related supplements and the graduated contributions needed to finance them are therefore related to earnings assessable to Schedule E and taxed through P.A.Y.E.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she has given recent consideration to prescribing osteo-arthritis as an industrial disease; and whether any claimants with this disability have received benefit under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts.

On present knowledge, osteo-arthritis does not satisfy the tests for prescription set out in Section 56(2) of the Industrial Injuries Act. Claims to benefit for this disability can succeed under the accident provisions of the Act where it is accepted that the disease resulted from or was aggravated by an industrial injury.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the total number of ex-regulars of the Polish armed forces who served during the war in the British forces under British command, who are now in receipt of a pension or an allowance paid under the Polish Resettlement Act, 1947; what is the current annual expenditure on these payments including those to widows and dependants; and what is the total expenditure to date.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Pensions and supplementary allowances under the Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme, made under Section 1 of the Polish Resettlement Act, 1947. Pensions are currently in payment to some 4,250 Polish disablement pensioners, and 450 widows and dependants, at an annual cost of about £1 million. Total expenditure on these benefits to date is £12½ million. Separate figures for ex-regulars are not available.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many applications for supplementary allowances have been rejected as a result of the wage standstill; and what she estimates would be the number of persons affected by the standstill if these were included.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will publish a handbook for the guidance of Members of Parliament and others, on social security benefits of all kinds.

A new edition of the handbook "Everybody's Guide to Social Security" will be published as soon as possible. This handbook will replace "Everybody's Guide to National Insurance" which became out-of-date and had to be withdrawn from circulation. Copies of the new handbook will be sent to all Members.

asked the Lord President of the Council why Irish whiskey sold by the Refreshment Department costs 2d. per measure more than Scotch whisky; why there is no Bushmills, in fact only one Irish blend; and if he will make a statement.

Current stocks of Irish Whiskey cost the Department 3s. per bottle more than Scotch whisky purchased at the same time. No wide range of Irish whiskey is stocked, as it sells very slowly.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what steps are being taken to increase the number of artificial kidney machines available in the United Kingdom; and what measures are taken to ensure that the existing machines are used for the most urgent cases;(2) what steps are being taken to recruit and train the staff required for the operation of artificial kidney machines.

On the general issues I would ask my hon. Friend to await a statement I propose to make later this week. The selection of patients is a matter for medical decision.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of kidney machines in use today, region by region, and the estimated number needed to ensure an adequate service given to the public; and if he will make a statement.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await a statement I propose to make later this week.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what steps he is taking to safeguard patients' appointments, in view of Her Majesty's Government's decision regarding the agreed pay settlement to fitters of the limb-fitting centre in Roehampton;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that there is no dislocation of work in the limb-fitting centre at Roehampton.

Work is proceeding normally at Roehampton and no special measures are necessary.

asked the Minister of Health why the delay for providing hearing aids for patients at the Croydon General Hospital is approximately 18 months; and what action he is taking to alleviate the distress caused to the patients concerned.

The delay, currently 12–13 months, is due to staffing duties at St. Mary Abbot's Hospital, where patients from Croydon General Hospital are at present referred for hearing aids; but two additional technicians have just been recruited, which should lead to an immediate improvement. Certain longer-term measures proposed by the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board will further improve the position.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made with the introduction of incentive bonus schemes for building trade workers employed in the hospital service; and if he will make a statement.

I have authorised the United Manchester Hospitals to proceed with the implementation of their scheme, but I understand that there are some outstanding organisational matters to be examined; preparatory work on the scheme at St. Bernard's, Southall is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated extra cost for providing a special treatment centre for addicts; and if he will arrange for any expense incurred by regional hospital boards during the current financial year to be covered by a specific financial arrangement.

Costs are expected to vary and estimates are not at present available, but they are not likely to be very large in relation to the funds availaable to regional hospital boards. I do not contemplate that specific financial arrangements will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many special treatment centres for drug addicts will be provided for the London area; and where they will be sited.

My Department is discussing with hospital authorities the provision of additional facilities in London for the treatment of drug addicts. It is too early to say where these additional facilities will be sited.

asked the Minister of Health if he will ensure that special treatment centres for addicts should not be in a position where they have to compete with the demands of the present psychiatric out-patient clinics; and whether they will be given separate facilities and a staffing ratio that will allow for greater time to be spent with the individual than exists in most outpatient psychiatric clinics at present.

The accommodation and staff required for the treatment of addics are matters for hospital authorities to decide in the light of local needs and resources, and where necessary in consultation with my Department.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of patients refused admission to Weston-super-Mare General Hospital during the period 27th November to 19th December 1966, and the number for the corresponding period of 1965.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of emergency operations refused admission to Weston-super-Mare General Hospital in the period 27th November to 19th December, and what reasons were given.

Arrangements were made for patients needing emergency operations to be taken to hospitals in Bristol while the theatres at Weston were closed. The number affected is not known.

asked the Minister of Health why it was necessary to close the operating theatres in Weston-super-Mare General Hospital for a period of over three weeks and why no action was taken to rectify the situation in a shorter period.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his oral Question today on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total number of persons employed in the hospital service in Great Britain, naming the numbers in their separate categories, and the shortages of staff in each category, and the estimated extra cost of filling all the vacancies.

Numbers employed at 30th September, 1965 in England and Wales, in terms of whole-time equivalents, are set out in the following table. Later figures are not yet available for all staff. As regards shortages I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 14th November [Vol. 736, c. 33–4.] which is of general application.

asked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the possibility of doctors issuing free copies of National Insurance certificates to patients requiring them for the purpose of obtaining benefits other than those provided by the State.

This has been considered fully and sympathetically but there are many difficulties and no obligation could be imposed on the doctor under the National Health Service Act, What I have suggested to employers and others is that they should accept a sight of the National Insurance certificate and refrain from requests for private certificates as far as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take the necessary action and provide relevant publicity in order to provide human material for temporal bone libraries.

I am informed that the research centres concerned, though experiencing some difficulty in obtaining suitable temporal bones for research purposes, are not short of such material at present. The supply of human tissue for research purposes is in my view best arranged between doctors.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of doctors in Yorkshire and Humberside region; and what measures he has taken, and intends to take, to bring the numbers up to the required standard.

We are aware that more family doctors are badly needed in some parts of the region. The number of places in medical schools is being increased and we hope that this, together with the new contract for general practitioners, will increasingly attract more doctors into general practice, here and elsewhere. The new scheme of remuneration provides special allowances for doctors in areas where there is a severe and prolonged shortage.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities he has to carry out feasibility studies on new medical inventions.

My Department has medical, scientific and technical staff available for carrying out feasibility studies on new medical inventions and in addition there are facilities at hospitals, Government research laboratories, Universities and some industrial establishments where collaborative work can be done. A number of such studies are supported financially.

asked the Minister of Health what are the number of bed places in the homes and hostels for old people in Hartlepool and West Hartlepool; how many are on the waiting list for admission; and how the provision per 1,000 head of the population compares with the national average.

West Hartlepool County Borough Council are providing 132 places and have a waiting list of 47. On the latest figures available their ratio of provision is slightly above the national average. There are at present no homes in Hartlepool, but one is under construction. 18 Hartlepool residents are accommodated in homes provided by the Durham County Council and 11 are on the waiting list.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to withdraw the oral contraceptive pill from circulation until investigations as to its safety have been completed.

I am advised by the Committee on Safety of Drugs that the inquiries it is conducting have not disclosed any grounds for opposing the marketing of oral contraceptives. I therefore see no reason to ask manufacturers to withdraw them.

asked the Minister of Health how many representations he has received suggesting that he should institute a full inquiry into the future administration and functions of the National Health Service; from whom such representations were received; and what was his reply.

The possibility of review of the administrative structure of the Health Service is mentioned to me from time to time but I do not recall any recent formal request for an inquiry other than that made recently by the British Medical Association. I told my hon. Friend of my reply to the Association in answer to his Question of 30th January.—[Vol. 740, c. 6.]

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the uncertainty which exists in the tobacco industry concerning his Department's policy on cigarette advertising, including the promotion of gift coupon schemes; and whether he is proposing to introduce legislation to implement the proposals recommended to the industry which were accepted by two of the principal manufacturers but rejected by the third.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd).

asked the Minister of Health if he will now agree to provide financial assistance for the adaptation of cars owned by disabled persons who are not themselves licensed drivers but who are able to secure the help of other persons to drive for them.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Luard).

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average level of earnings in the hotel and catering industry and by what percentage has this figure changed over the last 12 months.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Perry) on 31st January.—[Vol. 740, c. 81.]

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will introduce legislation to cover workers in licensed residential hotels and restaurants not covered by either the Factories Act or the Shops, Offices and Railway Premises Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West (Mr. Bob Brown) on 3Ist January.—[Vol. 740, c. 83.]

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will seek power to grant full rebate of Selective Employment

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state for each of the last five years, up to the latest convenient date, the number, by sexes and trades, of unemployed persons in the city of Aberdeen.

Following is the information:Tax to blind shopkeepers who, by reason of their blindness, are compelled to employ a sighted assistant.

Various sources of financial assistance are already available to blind persons engaging in business on their own account. However, if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind in which the incidence of S.E.T. has had a significant effect I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will draw up, or ask major local authorities to draw up, lists of firms willing to employ patients discharged from mental hospitals and other handifrom mental hospitals and other mentally handicapped persons.

I do not think this is necessary. In seeking employment opportunities for the disabled our officers have the mentally handicapped very much in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulties in which the incomes standstill places firms trying to retain their staff in neighbourhoods where new enterprises open up and immediately offer higher rates of pay; and whether he will take special account of this type of situation in formulating arrangements to follow the period of severe restraint.

I am aware of the difficulties which sometimes arise in these circumstances. The policy as a whole for the period after 30th June, 1967, is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will indicate for the latest period this year and the comparative period last year the numbers of part-time men and women registered as becoming unemployed.

The information is not available.The Ministry's statistics show for a specific date each month the number of persons registered for part-time work; they do not purport to relate to persons whose last jobs were in part-time employment.On 9th January, 1967, there were 1,314 men and 9,062 women in Great Britain registered for part-time employment. Corresponding figures for 10th January, 1966, were 1,712 and 8,369.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the official strike which has now lasted three months at Pollard Bearings, Ferry-bridge; and whether he will take action to bring both sides together to negotiate a settlement.

Officers of the Ministry are in touch with the parties and will assist in any way they can.

asked the Minister of Labour how many employees in Great Britain are covered by private pension schemes both contributory and non-contributory; and what is his estimate of the incidence of immobility on account of the non-transferability of many of these schemes.

By 1965 about 12 million persons in the United Kingdom were covered by occupational pension schemes.No statistical estimate can be made of the extent to which non-preservation of pension rights affects mobility, but the Committee on Preservation of Pension Rights found that the mobility of the great majority of employees is not in practice inhibited by this.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will provide a list of the employments which have been added by him in accordance with his powers under Section 9(1)(a) of the Selective Employment Payments Act 1966.

I have not made any Orders under Section 9(1)(a) of the Act.

asked the Minister of Labour in respect of Carrington and Dewhurst, Limited, Springfield Mill, Bradford, how many workers will be displaced when this establishment finally ceases production; what prospects of alternative employment are open to redundant workers; and what involvement his Department has incurred in dealing with this position.

149 men and 49 women will lose their employment by mid-March when the mill is due to close. Alternative employment is likely to be available for the women but for men the prospects are harder to forecast. Employment officers are interviewing workers at the mill and will do their best to assist them to find other jobs. A special approach is being made to employers in the area to help to ensure that all suitable vacancies have been notified to the employment exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour what consideration he has given to introducing legislation requiring employers in large undertakings to provide for formal joint consultation with their employees on safety, health, welfare, education and training, efficiency and other matters of mutual interest.

I do not think it would be appropriate to introduce legislation at present.As regards the special case of joint consultation on industrial safety, I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the reply which the then Parliamentary Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Archer) on 11th July, 1966.—[Vol. 731, c. 954–5.]

asked the Minister of Labour what discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress regarding a clause to be inserted into Government contracts that would forbid any form of discrimination on grounds of colour and race; and what has been the outcome of these discussions.

This question was discussed at a meeting of the National Joint Advisory Council on 26th October, 1966. At the following meeting on 25th January, 1967, the three sides put forward a joint statement of their views on the best means of promoting racial integration in employment. My right hon. Friend hopes to discuss this with them in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the overfishing by Russian, German, Dutch, Norwegian and other fishing fleets in British fishing grounds in the North Sea is injuriously affecting British fishing fleets and British fish consumers; what representations in protest he has made to these respective foreign Governments; and with what results.

I cannot accept the implication that these countries are abusing the common rights which all countries have to fish in international waters. Foreign vessels fishing within British fishery limits are, of course, subject to our jurisdiction.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what retrenchment has been made, and is proposed, in the overseas broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

There is expected to be a net increase of the British Broadcasting Corporation's overseas broadcasts in the next financial year. The Rapp Report did not propose new programmes but stressed the need to improve the British Broadcasting Corporation's audibility overseas. The modernisation of transmitters in the United Kingdom is going ahead, the Ascension Island relay is coming into operation shortly, and work has begun on construction of a relay station at Masirah Island in the Persian Gulf. We hope to undertake other work as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will reconsider his decision to instruct the British Broadcasting Corporation to curtail overseas broadcasts; what progress is being made with implementing the Rapp plan for new programmes overseas; and why he has instructed the British Broadcasting Corporation to cancel their Albanian service.

There is expected to be a net increase of the British Broadcasting Corporation's overseas broadcasts in the next financial year. The Rapp Report did not propose new programmes but stressed the need to improve the British Broadcasting Corporation's audibility overseas. The modernisation of transmitters in the United Kingdom is going ahead, the Ascension Island relay is coming into operation shortly, and work has begun on construction of a relay station at Masirah Island in the Persian Gulf. We hope to undertake other work as soon as possible.On the Albanian Service I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Bury St. Edmunds on 20th January.—[Vol. 739, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken at the United Nations on the latest representations from the Yemen made thereto concerning the use of poison gas from Egyptian aircraft bombarding the Yemeni population, contrary to the international obligations of the United Arab Republic; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that the Saudi Arabian Government have asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations to intervene to prevent a recurrence of the use of poison gas; and the United Arab Republic Government have stated that they are willing to agree to an investigation by the United Nations. Her Majesty's Government welcome these moves, by two of the countries principally concerned, for action by the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before completing arrangements for the celebration of Human Rights Year, he will invite representations from non-Governmental organisations which are active in the field of human rights.

Yes. We are already in touch with the United Kingdom Committee for Human Rights Year which is co-ordinating the activities of non-governmental organisations. We shall be glad to receive suggestions which non-governmental organisations active in this field may care to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report of an Expert Committee appointed by a resolution of the Security Council, S/5773, 18th June, 1964, to undertake a technical and practical survey as to the feasibility, effectiveness and implications of mandatory sanctions; and whether the Committee's recommendation that an international effort should be made to mitigate the hardships caused by such measures to the economies of some member States, for example the United Kingdom, is being implemented.

The report of the Expert Committee on Sanctions against South Africa was received in London in March, 1965, and copies were placed in the Library of the House. The report has not been considered by the Security Council, and the question of the implementation of its recommendations has not therefore arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that no British subjects or property have suffered as a result of recent disturbances accompanying the cultural revolution in China; and if he will make a statement.

No British subject has suffered physical harm as a result of the recent disturbances in China. There has been one instance of minor damage to the personal possessions of a British subject which has been brought to the attention of the Chinese authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement redefining the aims of Great Britain's aid programme in the overall setting of British foreign policy.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development gave him on 26th January.—[Vol. 739, c. 333.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to Brussels and Luxembourg.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 740, c. 769.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the recent attacks of United States troops in the area of South Vietnam known as the Iron Triangle amount to genocide; whether Her Majesty's Government stands by its support of the United Nations Declaration against genocide; and whether he will make clear to the United States Government that Her Majesty's Government does not support the United States Government in waging this war by such methods.

On the first and last parts of this Question I have nothing to add to what I said about this sort of operation in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme) on 18th January [Vol. 739, c. 434.]. Our attitude to Genocide needs no further explanation and I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend the Minister of State's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, North-West, (Sir B. Janner) on 15th November 1965 [Vol. 736, c. 679] and the reply given by my hon. and learned Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office on 26th January this year.—[Vol. 739, c. 1751].

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make available to the public regular reports of the work of the British delegation to the United Nations.

A report is presented to Parliament as a Command Paper after each session of the General Assembly. This report describes the items discussed at the Assembly, and the part played by the United Kingdom delegation. Copies of these reports are available in the Library. The most recent is the Report on the 20th Session. (Cmnd. 3079.)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of his Department regarding the Council of Europe proposal for a convention that would empower member States to extend the jurisdiction of their Anti-Trust Laws beyond their boundaries.

This matter is being studied by the Legal Committee of the Consultative Assembly but no proposal or recommendation has yet been made. We shall give careful consideration to any such recommendation when its terms are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Government of Upper Volta now owe £1,790 3s. 5d. back rent for their embassy at 60 Portland Place, W.1; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes. The Foreign Office are continuing to act as intermediary between the owners' agents and the Upper Volta Government. The payment of the previous instalment of rent was arranged through this channel, and there is therefore reason to expect that payment of the sum now outstanding also will be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long negotiations have been proceeding with the Government of Czechoslovakia for the implementation of the Anglo-Czech Money and Property Agreement; what is the number and total value of British claims outstanding under the agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The British and Czechoslovak Governments are agreed that there should be negotiations on outstanding financial questions, but I cannot forecast when it will be possible for progress to be made.Total private claims presented or due to be presented to the Czechoslovak Government number approximately 1,250, and are estimated at £5,570,000. These include those under the Money and Property Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the last two paragraphs of the letter concerning Great Britain's approach to the European Economic Community which was sent by the then Minister of State at the Foreign Office to the hon. Member for Harrow, East on 24th November last.

The paragraphs in question, in which my hon. Friend the then Minister of State was commenting on a letter to my hon. Friend from Mrs. Hansen, one of his constituents, read as follows:—

"I think the answer to Mrs. Hansen might be that, as you know, our policy on this question was quite clearly set out in our

election manifesto where we said 'Labour believes that Britain, in consultation with her EFTA partners, should be ready to enter the European Economic Community, provided essential British and Commonwealth interests are safeguarded.'

"The latest position as announced in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister on 10th November is that, after having made a deep and searching review of the whole problem, the Government have decided to take a further step forward in their approach to the European Economic Community. After talks with our partners in the European Free Trade Area, we are going to explore the ground further with the individual governments of the E.E.C. But it is only after that—after we have a clearer idea of whether or not our interests and the those of the Commonwealth can be properly safeguarded if we were to accept the Treaty of Rome—that we shall take a decision whether or not to negotiate with the Six. So Mrs. Hansen will be able to see that, so far from rushing headlong into any commitment, we are going about this whole process with due caution: only if we are reasonably certain that we can safeguard our essential interests will we try to enter the European Economic Community."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what part was played by the Minister of State for Disarmament in the recent accord between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; and whether he will make a statement.

Proposals for a non-proliferation treaty are being discussed with the Soviet Union and with our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies. My noble friend the Minister of State with special responsibility for disarmament has played a full part in this consultation. Progress has been satisfactory, but considerable problems remain. It is too early to speak of an accord.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will ensure that common land will be clearly marked on ordnance survey maps as soon as registration has taken place under the Commons Registration Act, 1965.

Information about common land will be shown on Ordnance Survey maps when registration is sufficiently advanced.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what is the policy of his Department on the utilisation of reservoirs and water-collecting areas of land for recreational purposes; and what advice and encouragement is given to water authorities to make such land and reservoirs available for such purposes.

It is the Government's policy to encourage recreational use of reservoirs and gathering grounds where it will not endanger public water supply. Advice and encouragement were given last year in a circular issued jointly by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Science, and myself. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether the gymnastic equipment which was for the use of hon. Members in the 1945–50 Parliament is still available; what is its condition; where it is stored; and if he will make arrangements for its reinstatement.

The two vaulting horses, ropes, punch-balls and bars previously used in the gymnasium are now stored in the basement of the Palace of Westminster. This equipment was second-hand when it was acquired in 1945 and has deteriorated to such an extent that it is generally unsafe for further use. The sunray lamp is available in the Members' changing room.As to the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on 30th January, 1967.—[Vol. 740, c. 27.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what barracks in the United Kingdom have been demolished in the past two years or are now in process of demolition; and how many of these provided accommodation of a higher standard than that which it is now planned to take back into use for units being withdrawn from stations overseas.

In the last two years my Ministry has carried out a large number of major accommodation schemes for the forces in the U.K. We do not keep records of which schemes have entailed demolition, and to find this out would cost a disproportionate amount. Demolition is only carried out after the deployment needs of the services and the economics of retention have been considered. No meaningful comparison can be made of the kind suggested in the Question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes that there should be a complete reform of the rating system.

Rating, along with all other major aspects of local government finance, will need to be reviewed again in connection with the work of the Royal Commission on Local Government. I can express no opinion as to the likely outcome of that review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what increase took place in the numbers of local government employees in England and Wales between December 1964 and December 1966.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which he received on 31st January.—[Vol. 740, c. 59.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many cases during 1966 planning appeals in Hampshire and Dorset, respectively, have been successful.

65 out of 359 decided appeals in the administrative county of Hampshire and 37 out of 145 in Dorset were successful in 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gold reserves stood at in October 1964; what they are today; and how much of the present figure is due to selling securities held abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase took place in the number of civil servants in Great Britain between December 1964 and December 1966.

Excluding the Post Office the increase in the number of civil servants, both industrial and nonindustrial, in the two years ending 1st October 1966 was 14,400. Including the Post Office the increase was 38,100.The figures for 1st January, 1967 are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the Commissioners of Customs and Excise intend to repay the members of the public who have been overcharged in the past on imported goods at a rate held to be wrong and invalid in the case of Salomon v Commissioners of Customs and Excise;(2) whether the Commissioners of Customs and Excise sought independent counsel's opinion on the right rate of duty to be levied in the goods considered in the case of Salomon v Commissioners of Customs and Excise; and what legal

£876 million at end-October 1964 and £1,118 million at end-January 1967. Overseas transactions in securities are summarised quarterly in "Economic Trends". But it is not possible to deduce what the reserves would have been if these transactions had not taken place.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been borrowed from abroad since October 1964; and what are the dates when repayment is due.

Drawings from the International Monetary Fund and from the Swiss Central Bank are as follows:advice had been so given to them prior to the institution of the proceedings by Mr. Salomon;(3) when the Customs and Excise Department first applied rates of duty which were held to be the wrong rates in the case of Salomon v Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

This case concerned the valuation for import duty of a privately imported camera. The camera had been valued according to a method in use since 1958. This method was in accordance with legal advice, including the advice of independent counsel. The valuation was upheld when the case was heard by the Official Referee and again when Mr. Salomon appealed to the High Court. Following the decision of the Court of Appeal the Commissioners of Customs and Excise are meeting claims for repayment duly made, where supported by reasonable evidence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, approximately what percentage of Income Tax and Surtax Returns for the year 1965–66 were cleared by 31st December 1966; how this percentage compares with previous years; and what action he is taking to enable the Inland Revenue and taxpayers to expedite settlement, in view of the complexities of the Finance Act 1965.

It is not possible to give a single percentage figure for the number of returns cleared, because of the different bases of assessment for Income Tax under Schedules D and E and Surtax. Overall there is a slight decrease as compared with the average of previous years. Overtime is to be worked in tax offices but no further special action is required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the financing of private house building.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I have been considering steps to encourage private house building. Buying and selling private houses is now becoming easier because of the flow of funds into the building societies. This will stimulate private house building. As for bank credit, the banks are willing and ready to meet all normal demands for credit from creditworthy customers in this field, whether they be builders wishing to finance construction or purchasers wanting bridging facilities. I am assured that the existing guidance on priorities for bank lending will be interpreted in this way.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost of the survey on the problems and needs of transport in the Sheffield area which she has commissioned from the Sheffield University Civil Engineering Department; what consideration she has given to this survey; and when it will be published.

This study was commissioned by the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council at an estimated cost of £3,200 as one of a number of pilot studies which my right hon. Friend asked the Regional Councils to undertake. It is at present under study in the Department. She will be discussing with all the Chairmen next month how best to make the results of these studies generally available.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will provide a list of local authorities which provide free bus passes for the totally blind, but are not prepared to do so for those of poor partial sight.

This information is not available to us. The extent to which local authorities give these travel concessions on municipal transport under the Travel Concessions Acts is at their discretion, provided they keep within the defintion of "blind persons" in those Acts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now give her consent to the making of a 40 miles per hour speed limit order on the A12 road through the village of Hopton.

The Divisional Road Engineer has been investigating, with the county surveyor and the police, whether a speed limit is the right solution to road safety problems in Hopton. If it is decided to make a formal proposal, my right hon. Friend will, of course, consider it carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will so alter the General Grant Default Regulations, or other relevant regulations, as to allow local education authorities to authorise the attendance at school for part of the day only of children under six years of age.

This is one of the recommendations in the recent Plowden Report. I will consider it further when I have the comments on the Report which I have asked bodies representing the local education authorities and the teachers to send me.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether it is his intention that Scotland should be included within the scope of the revised National Plan.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on his talks in Paris on a European airbus.

My meeting on the airbus proposal took place in Bonn on 27th January and I refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 1st February. The meeting on Friday, 3rd February, was attended by a number of European airlines, including B.E.A., and was a private meeting.—[Vol. 740, c. 486–8.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reductions were made in the price paid for eggs to home producers by the British Egg Marketing Board in each of the weeks during the month of January, 1967; and whether such reductions were made by reason of an excessive import of eggs at a time when home supplies were adequate.

The minmum basic prices paid to producers by the British Egg Marketing Board for first quality large, medium and standard eggs were reduced by 7d. per dozen, and for first quality small eggs by 6d. per dozen from 8th January, 1967. A further reduction of 3d. per dozen on all first quality eggs sold to the Board was made from 22nd January, 1967.The determination of minimum producer prices is a matter for the British Egg Marketing Board which has agreed that these should broadly reflect the pattern of wholesale market prices, taking account of Exchequer payments to the Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what numbers of dozens of eggs were imported into the United Kingdom from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Eire and South Africa, respectively, in each of the weeks during the month of January, 1967; what were the average retail selling prices of home-produced and imported eggs, respectively, in the stated period; and what was the total cost to the United Kingdom across the exchanges of such imports.

Official figures of imports during January are not yet available. The following figures are estimates from trade sources of shell eggs imported during the five weeks ended 4th February, 1967:general sell at somewhat lower prices than comparable sizes of home produced eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the latest estimates he has made of the agricultural subsidies for the United Kingdom for 1966–67, together

Following are particulars of the latest estimates of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1966–67 for which provisions have been made in the Civil Estimates, Class V, Votes 3, 4, 5 and 6, with comparable figures for the outturn in the financial year 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the banks of the River Severn in the area of Saul and Fretherne are being eroded at an increasing rate, resulting in the loss of agricultural land and causing difficulties to fishermen and other users of the river, and that the groynes and other works which used formerly to prevent this erosion are falling into disrepair owing to the inability of landowners to pay the greatly increased costs of maintaining them; whether he will seek to assume responsibility for the maintenance of anti-erosion works; and whether lie will make a statement.

We are aware that erosion of the banks of the River Severn is occurring in the Saul and Fretherne area but it is for the Severn River Authority, who are responsible for the main rivers in their area, to decide what work can and should be done. They are an autonomous body and it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene or to assume responsibility for maintenance works.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a specific list of the various employments connected with agriculture which have been authorised to receive refunds under the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966; and to what extent these refunds cover employees concerned with the feedingstuffs industry, artificial insemination and veterinary activities concerned with farm animals.

I regret that it would be expensive in time and labour to provide a specific list of all the activities connected with agriculture which have been accepted as falling within the requirements of Section 2(3)(e) of the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966.Establishments engaged in the manufacture of animal feedingstuffs are eligible for premium and those engaged in artificial insemination are eligible for refund. Certain veterinary services carried out under contract may also be eligible for refund.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the amount of Rhodesian tobacco disposed of by way of sale or barter to the French company Broussac and a United States consortium led by Senator Eastland and others.

I have seen reports that the Boussac company has entered into a barter deal for the supply of textiles to Rhodesia in exchange for Rhodesian tobacco. I am making further inquiries. The French Government have prohibited the import of Rhodesian tobacco; I am satisfied, therefore, that such tobacco could not enter France.I have no knowledge of any United States consortium set up for such a purpose. If my hon. Friend will let me have the evidence available to him I will be glad to investigate.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that the British Information Services in Australia and New Zealand are sufficiently answering the factual falsity of the Smith régime's propaganda in those countries; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am satisfied that the British Information Services in the countries in question and elsewhere are equipped with the material they need and that where necessary they are deploying it to refute the distortions of the illegal régime's propaganda.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the £1 million contract with Laker Airways for flying oil from Dar-es-Salaam to Ndola, Zambia, is being spent directly or indirectly from the United Kingdom public funds.

Under the assistance agreement concluded with Zambia on 1st February H.M.G. have at the request of the Zambian Government allocated £250,000 to an airlift of aviation turbine fuel from Dar-es-Salaam to Ndola and Lusaka arranged by the Zambian Government with Laker Airways.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received from ex-regular Polish Servicemen who served during the war under British command, to be paid a pension; and what steps he will take, by legislation or otherwise, to meet their request.

The number could not be readily ascertained. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for a pension scheme for Polish ex-Service men.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of Polish ex-Service men who are in receipt of payments under the grant-in-aid scheme administered on his behalf by the British Legion; and what he estimates would be the cost of converting this into a pension scheme for all Polish ex-Regulars who served in the war under British command.

There are 1,473 regular allowances, and last year there were also 931 single grants. A pension scheme for the estimated 4,300 Polish ex-Regulars in this country, on a similar basis to that which applies to long-Service British ex-Regulars, would cost about £2 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his proposals for redeveloping the site of Boulter's Lodge, Southwick.

I much regret that the hon. Lady should not have heard further since my Answer to her Question on 23rd November, 1966. I shall write to her as soon as possible.—[Vol. 736, c. 327.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is aware of the inadequacy of regulations relating to the safety of clothing; and if, in the light of evidence provided by the hon. Member for Monmouth, he will make a statement on the subject;(2) if he will now extend the regulations relating to the flammability of children's nightwear to adult nightwear;(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that the regulations relating to flammability of children's nightwear are not avoided when fabrics are sold by the yard and subsequently made up.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 31st January to similar Questions by the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) and by the hon. Members for Barry (Mr. Gower), Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynfor Evans), and my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Gwilym Roberts).—[Vol. 740, c. 79–80.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the weakened position of appeal court judges under the 1966 Act commented on by Mr. Justice Wynn on 30th January in the court of appeal; and if he will introduce amending legislation.

I am aware of the case in question, but I do not think it would be right to reverse a change in the law which was made only this Session, following the recommendation of a strong interdepartmental committee under the chairmanship of Lord Justice Donovan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why the hon. Member for Oldham, West, has not yet been informed of the result of the inquiries into events at the Wellesley Nautical School, Blyth, Northumberland, in which an Oldham boy of 16 years of age sustained a fractured forearm;(2) whether the Oldham boy of 16 years of age who sustained a fractured forearm at the Wellesley Nautical School is still being detained at another institution under conditions of maximum security; and how long he was so detained;(3) when his Department first received a Report of the injuries sustained by an Oldham boy of 16 years of age at the Wellesley Nautical School, Blyth, Northumberland; and whether he will place a full copy of that Report in the Library of the House of Commons.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State wrote to my hon. Friend about these matters on 1st February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1966, there is a record of corporal punishment being inflicted at the Wellesley Nautical School, Blyth, Northumberland.

Seventy-two.