asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to introduce legislation to give security of tenure and rent control to residential caravan dwellers.

My right hon. Friend cannot at present say when any legislation could be introduced.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, as a means of encouraging mobility of labour between the regions, he will discuss with local authorities the practicability of a national clearing house system to facilitate exchanges between council house tenants.

The sub-committee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee which studied this proposal in 1953 came to the conclusion that it was impracticable, but my right hon. Friend is having it re-examined.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what steps he proposes to take, in consultation with the local authorities, to facilitate the movement of families in council houses to larger or smaller properties as the size of those families fluctuates over time.

Local authorities are aware of the advantages to be gained by making transfers of this kind which my right hon. Friend welcomes. He does not think, however, that there is any need for further action by him at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the normal process for collecting the information on which his Department bases its housing returns; and whether he will make a statement.

Information relating to housing progress in England and Wales is based mainly on monthly returns submitted by local housing authorities: a list of the forms used was published in the Fourth Report from the Estimates Committee, Session 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what discussions he has had with representatives of the building industry regarding easier credit facilities for private builders; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 6th February; this follows discussions I have had with among others, the private builders and the Building Societies Association.—[Vol. 740, c. 223.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of the Report to him by the National Building Agency into the North Peckham housing scheme.

A copy of the Report has been placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what representations have been made to his Department by London boroughs on the operation of the Rent Act, 1965; and what reply he has sent;(2) what representations have been made to his Department by London boroughs of harassment of tenants by landlords in the Greater London area; and what reply he has sent.

There is frequent contact between the Department and London boroughs in problems which arise, and my right hon. Friend will shortly be asking them for their comments on the operation of Part III of the Act. Evasion through long leases will be dealt with in the forthcoming Bill on leasehold reform.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what targets have been fixed for housing completions in 1967 as a result of the reviews he has held with representatives of the builders, the building societies and the local authorities; what division this represents between private and public sector housing; and whether he will make a statement.

The recent increase in the amount of money available through building societies for house mortgages should help in this direction. I have had discussions with representatives of the builders and building societies about other steps which might be taken to stimulate private building. Action has already been taken on two matters to which they attached particular importance; that is, better facilities for bank credit for house-builders and for bridging finance for house purchasers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to make improvement grants available for the replacement of old and faulty electrical wiring systems in dwelling-houses.

Grants are available for replacement when this is part of an approved scheme of improvement to the wiring system as part of the modernisation of the house; the grant system is being reviewed as part of the current examination of the problems of our older houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what application he has received from Lowestoft Town Council with regard to building houses for sale in order to relieve the house waiting list; and what reply he has sent.

The Department has had correspondence with the council about the general question of building for sale but I understand that the council is not yet ready to make a specific application.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now announce what limits he has set for building society mortgage advances for 1967 in compliance with the programme announced by his predecessor on 6th October, 1965.

None. The building societies know that I hope they will advance as much as they can this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice his Department has given to local authorities about rises in council house rents during the period of severe economic restraint.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 20 of the White Paper "Prices and Incomes Standstill: Period of Severe Restraint" (Cmnd. 3150).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the precedent established by at least one local authority in deliberately ensuring a profit for the rate fund from the housing revenue account, he will reconsider the possibility of creating an impartial rent review board to which council tenants could refer rent increases for independent comment.

No. I consider that the responsibility for fixing reasonable rents for local authority houses should remain where Parliament has placed it, with the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that planning blight due to the Wembley Central Development Plan is causing hardship to owners who want to sell their houses in the Wembley Central area of Brent because neither private owners nor the Brent Borough Council will buy them; and if he will take steps to remove this hardship.

If the local authority wish to buy such property on hardship grounds, my right hon. Friend is always prepared to consider an application from them for loan sanction for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to assist pensioners, widows, and families on low income to be relieved of hardship when required to meet the outstanding costs of heating appliances when a smoke control order is implemented.

In any such cases local authorities may exercise their discretionary power under the Clean Air Act, 1956, to pay up to the whole cost of installing smokeless appliances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities about the adoption of the Parker Morris standards in future building programmes; what estimate has been made of the total cost of adopting the standards in full; and to what extent it will delay achievement of present housing targets.

The White Paper "The Housing Programme 1965–70" said "They (the Government) will expect local authorities … normally to incorporate the space and heating standards recommended by the Parker Morris Committee". A high proportion of new dwellings now include these standards which account for most of the cost of the full recommendations. The cost of building all houses to full Parker Morris standards would add approximately £100 a house averaged over the total local authority programme. The achievement of our housing target will not be delayed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will ask local authorities to provide him with the number of houses to rent, municipal and private, standing empty at 31st January, 1967; and if he will publish the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The Department investigated the possibility of obtaining this information, but the conclusion was reached that it would not be justifiable to place on local authorities the considerable amount of work which would be involved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the discussions between his Department and officials of Portsmouth City Council and on subsequent action by the city council, notified to his Department, which followed the publication of the Jones Report on the Administration of the City's Housing Revenue Account.

The discussions were concerned with a number of the suggestions made in the Jones Report and particularly about the cost to the Housing Revenue Account of the appropriation of land at Leigh Park. In the result, the Council have not accepted this suggestion, though I am satisfied that they fully considered all the relevant factors. It is for the Council to take the decision in this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will relieve council tenants of unnecessary anxiety by taking steps to end the requirement that local authorities must give notice to quit to their tenants whenever a notice of rent increase is issued.

This issue is being considered by the Law Commission, as part of their examination of the law of landlord and tenant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to provide grants to voluntary bodies dealing with homeless families and associated problems.

These bodies can already obtain financial assistance towards the cost of improvements and conversions. My right hon. Friend is considering whether any further aid is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he now proposes to take in the light of the report of the district auditor of No. 11 Audit District into the alleged overspending by the Salford City Direct Labour Building Department; and whether he will make a statement.

On 1st February the council took a number of steps to remedy weaknesses in its direct labour department and my right hon. Friend sees no present reason to intervene.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that lengthy absence through illness of the rateable occupier from his or her home will disqualify him or her for rate rebate; and what steps he is taking to remedy the anomaly.

This is a matter on which the rating authority must exercise its judgment. Where there is a prospect that a sick person will eventually return home he may, I am advised, properly be regarded as usually resident in his home and so is eligible for a rate rebate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will be making a statement about the future of Stansted Airport.

I shall do so as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, in view of the need to preserve good agricultural land, he agreed to the development of the new Milton Keynes town at such a low density.

As my right hon. Friend explained in Answer to a Question from the hon. and learned Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell) on 31st January the overall density of the new town will be 11·4 persons per acre. This he considers reasonable in view of the need to incorporate the existing towns into the new development in a manner which preserves their sense of local community and the need to avoid a centralised urban structure recreating the problems of existing towns.—[Vol. 740, c. 57.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now take steps to compensate those local government officers who have suffered a loss of superannuation rights as a result of the salaries standstill.

No. It is normal practice to calculate pensions of this kind by reference to salary or wages at retirement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the reason for the large increase in the numbers of local government employees, where these increases have arisen, and in what sections of local government.

For the year ending June, 1966 the main increases were due to expansion of the education and health services, which accounted respectively for about one half and one fifth of the total increases.Available statistics, published in the

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the green belt between Birmingham and Coventry has not yet been legally designated; and when he expects to make this designation.

The provision of the necessary land to meet current and future housing needs in the West Midlands is still being worked out. While this is so, my right hon. Friend does not feel able finally to approve the green belt, although it is in fact protected by day to day planning control.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent changes he has made in his policy on the green belt.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to expedite the redevelopment of Piccadilly Circus.

The Greater London Council and the Council of the City of Westminster have now accepted the general principles of Lord Holford's latest report as a basis for action. They have just asked my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, and myself, to arrange discussions on the financial and other aspects. We are ready to arrange these discussions as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the financial difficulties facing the Salford Corporation arising out of its housing programme, particularly the rebuilding of the city centre in the Ellor Street area; and if he will make special loan sanction arrangements to assist authorities like Salford, faced with this tremendous job of rebuilding these cities.

My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the heavy financial burden that rebuilding involves in Salford and other big cities. The Government's Housing Subsidies Bill, however, will greatly increase the assistance which such authorities receive from the Exchequer by, in effect, reducing the loan charges on new building to 4 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take about the oil pollution on beaches along the South Coast and the Isle of Wight.

I would refer the hon. Members to the replies given on 27th January, 1967 [Vol. 739, c. 381 and 389.] by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Board of Trade and myself; also my reply to yesterday morning's debate on the Adjournment [Vol. 740, c. 1070.] My right hon. Friend will consider what action to take when the Joint Working Group set up last October by the local authority associations and the Institute of Petroleum have submitted their report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek statutory powers to compel all county authorities to provide sites for gypsies and other travellers so as to relieve the burden on those counties that have already acted under his Department's Local Government Circular No. 26/66.

While my right hon. Friend appreciates the special difficulties of those authorities who have already taken action, the replies to the Circular show that others are planning some action. Legislation will not provide an easy or quick solution and he is not yet satisfied that it will be needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what he is doing to ensure that steps are being taken by local authorities generally to comply with the proposals, set out in his Department's Circular No. 26/66, for dealing with the problems of gypsies and other travellers.

The replies to the Circular show that local planning authorities are now generally giving serious attention to the problem, although they are not all equally advanced. We shall follow up cases in which the position seems uncertain or unsatisfactory.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that certain local planning authorities are asking applicants for development permission to make a so-called voluntary payment towards the cost of additional public parking; and whether he will draw the attention of local authorities to the illegality of this procedure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the attempt by local authorities, notably at Devizes, Wiltshire, Bridgwater, Somerset, and Dunstable, Bedfordshire, to extract money from planning applicants in respect of car parks as a condition of planning permission being granted; and, in view of the fact that this practice is illegal, whether he will take steps to ensure that it ceases forthwith.

It has been made clear as recently as last December when I answered a Question on the subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Robert Davies) that no payment of money or other consideration can be required as a condition of granting planning permission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to clarify the law relating to the rating of buildings used for agricultural production.

My right hon. Friend has no such intention at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to secure the satisfactory completion of the Teesside Survey and Plan financed by his Department and local authorities, in view of the threatened dismissal of Mr. Franklin Medhurst the director; and if he will make a statement.

Two firms of consultants, Messrs. Wilson and Womersley and Messrs. Scott and Wilson, Kirkpatrick and Partners, were jointly commissioned for the Teesside Survey and Plan. I have no reason to believe that these firms will not satisfactorily complete the project for which they are responsible. I understand that the Steering Committee is to meet to consider the situation on 10th February.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated net cost of reclaiming derelict land in which reclamation is justified, as listed in the Derelict Land Survey published by his Department.

No estimate of cost is available for the 53,976 acres considered by local authorities to justify reclamation. Information from applications for grant so far approved suggests an average cost of £1,100 an acre. This figure, which includes the cost of land acquisition, could vary considerably from site to site.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much he estimates would have been needed as a rate support grant in the financial year 1967–68 to have prevented rate increases.

It is impossible to say. In recent years changes in rate poundages have varied from increases of 30 per cent. and more in some areas to small decreases. It is too early to say what the pattern for next year will be.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to strengthen the powers of local authorities to clear public highways of caravans which are a source of danger to public health.

The problem is not only one of powers. Local authorities have adequate powers, which they need to use to find suitable sites for caravans. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular addressed to local authorities about this last June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will withdraw his consent to the demolition of certain buildings in Lincoln's Inn and Bishop's Court, London, W.C.2, and their replacement in exact replica; if he will take note of the expert opinion, to which his attention has been drawn, that the facades of these buildings can be preserved and that the existing interior is of high architectural importance and can reasonably be adapted to current needs; and if he will consult the local authorities concerned, and the owners of the buildings, with a view to preserving and adapting them, as suggested, or, if necessary, replacing them by a building harmonious in scale with its neighbours but modern in design.

No. This was a difficult and important case and I reached my decision only after the most careful examination of all the circumstances including expert opinion on the possibility of retaining and adapting the existing buildings. This opinion was in some respects conflicting but I was left in no doubt that a satisfactory and economically viable reconstruction of the interior was impracticable if the exterior were retained.A change of decision would involve a revocation order which I could not contemplate making. Neither the G.L.C. nor either of the London boroughs concerned suggested or initiated the making of a building preservation order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take powers to give special grants on the amalgamation of water undertakings, where the ratepayers of one of the undertakings have to go on paying a disproportionately high rate, for a number of years.

No. Amalgamation of water undertakings makes it possible to spread costs over wider areas and thus to reduce differences in rates. My right hon. Friend does not think a special Exchequer grant would be justified in cases where existing differences are retained for a time after amalgamation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he pro poses to publish the combined annual report for his Department for 1965 and 1966.

Work on the preparation of the report is proceeding and I hope that publication will take place before the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the recommendation of the Colonial Committees of the United Nations that Gibraltar should be decolonised, if he will now accede to the representations made to him by the Integration with Britain Movement in Gibraltar by conducting a referendum to ascertain the wishes of the people of Gibraltar regarding their political future.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19th January by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling).—[Vol. 739, c. 127.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now allow the Gibraltarians to express formally the relationship they want to maintain with Great Britain by conducting a referendum on this question.

I do not consider that a referendum would be helpful at present. Adequate arrangements exist for the people of Gibraltar to make their views known through their elected representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Comomnwealth Affairs what will be the estimated effect of the proposed service run-down on the economy of Malta.

The number of Maltese Servicemen and civilians employed by the United Kingdom Services will fall by about 6,500 by the end of 1970, and the rate of Services expenditure in Malta will be about £6½ million lower in 1970–71 than at present. These reductions will also have indirect effects on the level of incomes and employment in Malta. Over the same period, however, additional incomes and new jobs will be created in industry and tourism as a result of the Malta Government development programme and continuing aid from the United Kingdom Government under the Financial Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what aid Great Britain gave in 1966 and expects to give in 1967 to Zambia in respect of costs incured by that country arising from the illegal declaration of independence by Rhodesia.

With regard to assistance to Zambia in 1966, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 24th November, 1966, to which I have nothing to add.With regard to assistance in 1967, final agreement was reached in Lusaka on 1st February on Her Majesty's Government's offer of up to £13·85 million to assist Zambia during the present emergency in the development of alternative supply routes, and Zambian fuel and power resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to the United Kingdom of sanctions imposed on Rhodesia in the year ended November, 1966.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 13th December, 1966, to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).—[Vol. 738, c. 45–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost of sanctions in the year ending November, 1967.

It is not possible to make a realistic estimate of the total cost of sanctions in 1967.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that the number of mineworkers employed in the county of Durham has been reduced in the last 10 years from 100,000 to 50,000; and whether the coalmining industry in that area can now be regarded as viable.

I am aware that manpower has fallen by 50 per cent. although production has declined by only 25 per cent., a factor which will, of course, make the industry in Durham more viable. Some further concentration of production on the highly productive pits in the area is possible, but this is a decision for the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Power what recent studies have been undertaken together with other appropriate departments on the economic significance of thermal insulation in national fuel policy.

Thermal insulation of new industrial building is provided for in the Thermal Insulation (Industrial Buildings) Act, 1957 and no studies in this field have been undertaken by the Department.The economic significance of domestic thermal insulation has been the subject of consultation between the Department and other Departments concerned with the Building Regulations, 1965. Both economic and technical issues are involved and an improvement in the existing standards would be outside the scope of the present powers and would require further legislation. Meanwhile the fuel industries draw the attention of building developers and potential users of heating systems to the importance of thermal insulation and its economic benefits.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what plans he has for the new authority which will be required to run the European Technology Community proposed by Her Majesty's Government;(2) what steps are being taken to develop joint procurement policies with other European Governments in furtherance of Her Majesty's Government's proposal for a European Technology Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to him on 31st January, last.—[Vol. 740, c. 63].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he expects to receive as a result of the payment of Selective Employment Tax by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

About £1·4 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, in the case of property coming within the mischief of Section 41(2)(b) of the Finance Act, 1966 and being liable for Estate Duty, the burden of duty falls not on the securities, nor on the beneficiaries receiving them, but primarily on the free estate of the person on whose life the securities happen to pass; and if he will seek to remedy this situation.

Yes, Sir. That is the primary object of this anti-avoidance provision and there is no need for amendment..

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will on compassionate grounds permit a dependant who received a grant out of the fund for the victims of Nazi aggression for the loss of a child by extermination to transfer a portion to a godson in France who had risked his life and that of his family to give coverage to a British officer on the run.

Permission was given four weeks ago in the case which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in November 1965 the company Dollar Land Holdings made an application to him under Section 468 of the Income Tax Act, 1952 for incorporation to be transferred to Canada; why it took him until August 1966 to give a negative reply; why the reply was not given in the affirmative; and whether he will make a statement.

I cannot discuss the tax affairs of particular taxpayers, but on the general administration of this Section I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Peter Walker) on 2nd November, 1965.—[Vol. 718, c. 139.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax the Capital Gains Tax on chattels has yielded to date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet completed his consideration of the arguments in favour of siting the new Royal Mint in Aberdeen, having special regard to national security, unemployment and economics; and if he will now state his decision.

No. I do not now expect this decision to be reached for some time yet.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the foreign exchange involved in the buying out of British shareholders in the Imperial Typewriter Company by Litton Industries Incorporated of Beverley Hills, California.

The offer by Litton Industries, of 12s 6d. a share, amounted to about £1,920,000. All the finance required was provided from external sources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to reach a double taxation agreement with the Government of Singapore, in particular as it affects the pensions of former civil servants now resident in the United Kingdom.

A new double taxation agreement with Singapore was signed recently and will be laid as a draft Order in Council within the next week. Former Singapore civil servants living in this country are in any case entitled, under the provisions for the unilateral relief of double taxation, to credit for any Singapore tax on their pensions in arriving at their liabilities to United Kingdom tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the additional procedure now instituted, he will review those instances when five per cent. Defence Bonds have been unredeemed by the holder at the appropriate date due to lack of notice as to expiry date and genuine oversight by the holder.

As the hon. Member is aware, the Government are bound by the terms of the Prospectus which clearly states that no interest can be paid after maturity. This principle still holds good and there are, therefore, no grounds for reopening cases which have already been settled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss of invisible exports, such as insurance business, to Rhodesia in the year ended November, 1966.

Net earnings from Rhodesia on account of services in 1964 have been estimated at about £7 million. Earnings in 1966 will have been very small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the basis adopted in his estimate of a wealth tax of one per cent. on estates over £20,000 yielding £175 million; and how the basis adopted compares with the Written Answer on 15th November, 1962, when the yield on personal wealth over £20,000 was estimated to produce £250 million from 400,000 people.

The former related only to the slice of wealth over £20,000 and the latter to the whole wealth of all with over £20,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Salomon v. Commissioners of Customs and Excise, in how many cases duty has been extracted from the public by Customs and Excise during each of the five years commencing 1st January, 1960, as a result of their wrongful application of the law.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what, at the last convenient date, was the average level of income per head for persons living in Wales; and how this figure compared with the corresponding average level for persons living in England;(2) what, at the last convenient date, was the average income per head of persons living in the five mid-Wales counties;(3) what, at the last convenient date, was the average income per head of persons living in Cardiganshire;(4) what is the number of people in employment in Cardiganshire who are earning under £10 per week.

The only figures available for income per head by region are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey carried out for the Ministry of Labour. The latest figures relate to the period 1963–64, for which the average weekly income per person in Wales was 135·97s. The comparable figure for England was 155·75s. I regret that no figures at all are available for parts of Wales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the net income after tax of a married man, with two dependent children, earning £3,500 a year in the United Kingdom compares with the net income of a similar person earning an equivalent sum in Canada, Australia, the United States of America, New Zealand, and South Africa, respectively, based on information he has from international organisations.

The net amount after income tax, left to a married man, with two dependent children under 11, living on an earned income of £3,500 is as follows:

United Kingdom £2,656; Canada £2,908; Australia £2,489; United States (California) £3,079; New Zealand £2,495; South Africa £2,992.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to end the practice whereby husbands and wives living in hostels are separated.

I would refer the hon. Member to the circular sent to local authorities on 31st October, 1966, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of fires in dwelling-houses is caused by faulty electrical installations.

In 1965, the last year for which there are complete figures, there were 29,450 fires in dwelling-houses in England and Wales. 34 per cent. of these were attributed to electrical appliances and installation, 13 per cent. of the total being fires caused by cooking appliances. 3·5 were directly attributed to faults in wiring, sockets and switches.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen and policewomen the Metropolitan Police are at present below strength; and what proportion of applicants was accepted in the past year.

On 29th January, the Metropolitan Police Force was below establishment by 6,187 men and 124 women.During 1966, 1,129 men were accepted for appointment, representing 27·7 per cent. of the 4,079 applications received. 114 women were accepted, representing 43·3 per cent. of the 263 applications received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coloured applicants have tried to join the Metropolitan Police in the past year; how many have been accepted; and what were the reasons for rejection in each case.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that during 1966 36 coloured persons, none of whom was appointed, applied to join the Metropolitan Police.Five were summoned for interview, but four failed to attend and the other, after interview, was rejected as being below the general standard required. Of the 31 who were not called for interview, 17 were recent arrivals in this country; seven were of poor education; 5 were rejected on medical grounds; one was below the minimum height standard; and one was above the maximum age limit. All the applicants were male.These results are disappointing. I attach importance to the recruitment of suitably qualified coloured policemen, and hope that a number will come forward in the near future.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will give further details of the leaflets he intends to publish on the Land Commission Bill.

I propose to issue four publications on the Land Commission Act. The first will be a general leaflet for the public, the second a simple guide for estate agents, the third will be directed to builders, and the fourth will be a more detailed explanatory memorandum. The first three will be published free and the fourth will be on sale. I hope all four will be published early in March.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what ad- vice has been given by Her Majesty's Government to the London Borough of Bromley about the legal problems involved in acquiring common land needed for the purpose of the Locks Bottom traffic improvement scheme.

The former Orpington U.D.C. were informed that an application for my consent to inclose part of the common should be made by the Greater London Council. My Department has advised the Greater London Council about the procedure to be followed and I await their formal application.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that a 22 colt automatic pistol is not a suitable weapon for killing cattle; and what percentage of the cattle shot with a 22 colt automatic in the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Rothbury last summer, although originally pronounced dead, later became conscious and had to be killed by a humane killer.

I have no information on the efficacy of a 22 free bullet pistol for killing cattle. No such weapon was used at Rothbury. The pistol used on the Highland cattle was a 45 automatic and no humane killer was used on these. Some Galloway cattle were shot with a 22 high velocity rifle. Immediately the last had been shot, a humane killer was used in order to be quite certain that they were all dead.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures of imports of all grades of eggs for the six-month period August, 1966 to January, 1967, together with the price per dozen at port of entry.

During the five months from August, 1966 to December, 1966, imports of all grades of eggs in shell amounted to 261,359 boxes of 360 eggs, with an average value of approximately 2s. 7d. per dozen. No official figures for imports during January, 1967 are yet available, but estimates from trade sources are that approximately 80,000 boxes were imported during the four weeks ended 28th January, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will be made by withdrawing British troops from Malta, in view of the fact that living is cheaper in Malta than Great Britain and is paid for in sterling.

I would refer the hon. Member to my speech in the debate on Thursday last.—[Vol. 740, c. 869–82.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further grant it is proposed to make towards the Atlas computer purchased by London University in 1961; what reduction in the amount of computer time available for academic purposes the university has had to make; and by what date the university hopes to repay the existing capital debt, on the assumption that no further grant is made by the Government towards the cost of Atlas.

It is not proposed to make any further grant towards this computer. The original Exchequer contribution was designed to secure 25 per cent. of the available time for academic use, the rest being available to B.P. Limited in proportion to their capital contribution or for sale to provide income to service a capital loan privately raised by the company formed to operate the computer. This remains the position, and although until recently a greater proportion of computer time has been available for academic use I understand that it will be reduced to 25 per cent. as the University's computer operating company expands its commercial sales. The question of how soon the capital debt will be repaid is a matter for the computer operating company.The provision of further computer capacity for London University is under consideration by the Computer Board. New machines have already been authorised for installation in University College and Queen Mary College.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students from Nigeria are at present in receipt of grants from his Department; and how many he estimates will be in receipt of such grants in the next financial year.

The Department does nor normally make awards to non-resident students.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the amount so far paid to the members of the National Board for Prices and Incomes as tax-free expenses for hospitality.

Members of the Board do not receive personal allowances for entertainment but reasonable hospitality expenses incurred directly on the business of the Board are reimbursed. Since the Board was formed on 8th April, 1965, members have been reimbursed about £1,100.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress can now be reported on the replacement of the employment exchange at West Calder, Midlothian.

We now have good prospects of getting more satisfactory accommodation in the near future. The Ministry of Public Building and Works are negotiating for part of an existing building which they hope to convert for

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the latest unemployment figures for Rothesay.

On 9th January, 1967, at Rothesay Employment Exchange, there were 340 persons registered as unemployed of whom 10 were temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average gross remuneration of barristers and solicitors for 1966 and each of the preceding five years.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many persons were registered as unemployed at the Wellingborough and Rushden employment exchanges at the last available date; and how many were registered as unemployed at equivalent dates in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966.(2) what rise in unemployment there has been in the Wellingborough and Rushden areas; and what is the number of unfilled vacancies.

Following is the information:

asked the Postmaster-General when the proposed mini-bus service in Montgomeryshire will be introduced.

The experimental service will start on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if there is any recent evidence of the Irish salmon disease in rivers in the north and east of Scotland.

No. Salmon Fishery District Boards have been given full information about the symptoms of the disease and have been asked to send specimens of any suspected case to the Marine Laboratory. No salmon suffering from the disease have been received or reported in recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will pub-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Highland Transport Board has yet reported; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) on 24th January.—[Vol. 739, c. 255.]