asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the restriction of cigarette smoking in places of public assembly.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 27th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesdon, West (Mr. Pavitt).—[Vol. 739, c. 376 –7.]

asked the Minister of Health when health centres will be provided in Wellingborough.

My right hon. Friend has had no formal proposals from the local health authority but I understand that local discussions are taking place.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now amend the rules for garaging cars and tricycles supplied to disabled drivers.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the average annual income of a general practitioner within the National Health Service taking into account the latest increases, the comparable figures for 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1965, the equivalent figures for a third-year trainee nurse, a staff nurse, and a ward sister.

Following is the information:—The former arrangements for remunerating general medical practitioners were designed to provide them with average net incomes, in Great Britain, as follows:

1950–51	£2,222 per annum from all profession sources
1955–56
1960–61	£2,425 per annum from official sources
1965–66	£2,775 per annum from Executive Councils

asked the Minister of Health when he expects a report on the outcome of the clinical and dietary studies on the effect of adding chalk to flour.

My right hon. Friend hopes to receive a report in a few months' time.

asked the Minister of Health how many people are employed at the Cold Investigation Centre on Salisbury Plain; what is their total annual pay; and what is the total annual cost of the Centre.

29 full-time and 11 part-time; £38,000 and £78,000, respectively, for the current year.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent he expects the expenditure proposals of his Department to be reviewed as a result of the postponement of the National Plan and the diminished economic expectations such a postponement involves.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his Question to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29th November.—[Vol. 737. c. 47–8.]

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to encourage the private provision of medical services in view of the limited resources likely to be available for the National Health Service.

No. this would not be of benefit to the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the fact that treatment in the absence of medical supervision is a breach of law, if he will modify his instructions accordingly in the matter of fluoridation of drinking water supplies.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension and in any case adjustment of the fluoride content of water to the recommended level of 1 part per million is preventive and not treatment of illness. I have given no instructions in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what studies have been made of the possible cumulative effect of fluoridation of public water supplies on fruit, vegetables, meat and other foodstuffs.

A detailed study by members of my Fluoridation Research Committee took into account reports of research from Government Departments, universities and research laboratories in this and many other countries, and confirmed that fluoridation of water supplies has no significant effect, harmful or otherwise, on foodstuffs.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken during the last two years to make known to the public and to members of local authorities through the Medical Officer of Health Service, the joint Circular 8/62, Ministry of Education, and 20/62, Ministry of Health, dealing with over-consumption of carbohydrates, particularly sugar, as a fundamental cause of increasing caries in children.

The primary responsibility for dental health education rests with the local health and education authorities. In a further joint circular sent to them on 1st December, 1966, they were reminded of the earlier circular, and of the need for improved arrangements for dental health education, which includes the encouragement of proper habits of diet and oral hygiene from the earliest age.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to amend Section 40(3)(b) of the Mental Health Act which provides that absence without leave for 28 days shall lead to the automatic discharge of an offender under 21 years of age committed to compulsory detention by a court under Sections 60 and 61 of the Act.

No. There are adequate powers for compulsory readmission to hospital in such cases, where necessary.

asked the Minister of Health which categories of pensioners are required to make a contribution from their incomes to their own upkeep while they are non-fee-paying patients in hospitals; whether any other categories of patient are required to make similar contributions; and what is the size of such contributions.

Maintenance in hospital is provided free for all National Health Service patients.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates that the rebuilding of Maidenhead Hospital, necessitated by the recent fire, will be completed.

By July next.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the estimated cost of the special centres it is proposed to set up for the treatment of drug addicts; and whether this will be financed out of additional Exchequer money or by cuts in other parts of the National Health Service.

Such an estimate canot yet be made. All hospitals are given additional money each year for developments, and I do not expect the cost of these additional treatment facilities to require cuts in other parts of the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health how many new patients were treated in casualty departments at Northampton and Kettering hospitals in the year ended 30th June 1966 who gave addresses in the Wellingborough constituency.

3,595.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the minimum length of hospital lying-in for National Health Service maternity cases.

There is no minimum length of hospital lying-in for National Health Service maternity cases.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital beds are not being used because of the shortage of nurses; and what were the comparable figures five and ten years ago.

This information is not available. In some areas beds may be temporarily out of use because of shortage or sickness of nurses but the total number of nursing staff is now the highest ever.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital beds are now unused because of shortage of nursing staff.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated shortage of domestic staff in National Health Service hospitals.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kingston-on-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 14th November, which is of general application.—[Vol. 736, c. 33.]

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the result of his investigations into the case of Mrs. Henrietta Burns.

Mrs. Burns is claiming compensation for alleged negligence in treatment given to her at Hope Hospital, Salford. The allegation of negligence has been investigated and is denied. Mrs. Burns has been advised repeatedly by the Regional Hospital Board and my Department that if she wishes to pursue her allegation and claim she should do so through the Courts.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to improve the maternity facilities in the Northallerton area; what plan he has for incorporating the existing maternity home into the main building of the Friarage Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Minor improvements have recently been made at the Northallerton Maternity Hospital and further improvements will be made in the next financial year. It is the intention of the Regional Hospital Board that the existing Maternity Hospital should be eventually replaced on the site of the Friarage Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the dispute existing between electricians employed in the hospital service and the employing authorities.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he intends to take to avoid the threatened industrial dispute between hospital management committees and electricians working in the hospital service.

There is no dispute. While the Government were considering, in relation to the National Health Service, the report by the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Wages and Conditions in the Electrical Contracting Industry, I had to take precautionary measures because of the terms of the electricians' contracts. I have now told the Electrical Trades Union that hospital authorities will pay electricians paid on Electrical Contracting Industry rates the increase in those rates due in March.

asked the Minister of Health if he will ensure that, where a committee is set up by regional hospital boards to inquire into the death of a patient, the full report will be made available to the solicitors of interested parties; and if he will make a statement.

No. The normal practice is to make available to the parties a summary of the Committee's conclusions.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the light of the comments of the coroner at a recent inquest, he will institute an immediate inquiry into the acute shortage of nursing staff at Harrow Hospital; and whether he will make a statement.

The hospital authority is investigating the circumstances of the death of the patient on whom the inquest was held and I await a report from the Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals in England and Wales normally employ agency nurses; and what is the total number of agency nurses who were so employed on 31st December, 1966.

About 200 National Health Service hospitals: 1,332 (including midwives) on 30th September, 1966. Later figures are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish figures to show the rates of pay of agency nurses as compared with the rates of pay of nurses directly employed in the National Health Service.

Directly comparable figures are not available. Information from a number of hospitals in the London area suggests that an agency nurse or midwife may attract fees between about £17 and £22 15s. a week from which the agency deducts its commission. Other fees may be paid in addition, e.g., for laundry and travelling. The salary scales of directly employed staff nurses and staff midwives in London, expressed as a weekly rate, range from £14 14s. 3d. to £18 18s. 10d.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to reduce the cost of the Health Service, he will now seek to charge patients for the cost of their meals while in hospital.

No.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many patients in Wales require treatment by means of an artificial kidney machine; and whether the demand for such treatment can be fully met in Welsh hospitals;(2) how many members of the staffs of Welsh hospitals are qualified to treat patients in Wales by means of artificial kidney machines; and what plans he has for increasing the number so qualified;(3) how many artificial kidney machines are installed in hospitals in Wales; and if he is satisfied that the maximum use is being made of these machines.

There are two artificial kidney machines at Cardiff Royal Infirmary dealing with cases of acute renal failure: they are in full use. Four doctors and a technician are fully trained to treat such patients. A new ten-bedded unit is being established at the Hospital to treat patients suffering from chronic renal failure and staff will be trained for this purpose as the service develops. The number of patients in Wales requiring this form of treatment is not known. I know of no country in the world in which the demand for intermittent dialysis can at present be fully met.

asked the Minister of Health what is the ratio of qualified midwives to maternity beds in the United Kingdom as a whole, in the West Cornwall Clinical Area, and in the Miners and General Hospital, Redruth.

At 31st March, 1966, the ratio for England and Wales was 1 to 2·4; for the West Cornwall Clinical area 1 to 2·65 and for the Miners and General Hospital, Redruth 1 to 2·58.

asked the Lord President of the Council if, in view of the desire of hon. Members on both sides of the House to receive an oral answer to their Questions, and thus greatly increase the number of Parliamentary Questions, he will seek to refer to the Select Committee on Procedure the possibility of a new rule of one Question per Member per day.

I would not want to do as the hon. Member proposes without some clearer guidance that it would meet the general wishes of the House. However, this should not deter him from himself making the suggestion to the Select Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take on the Report by Mr. A. J. Scamp, J.P., dated 10th November, 1966 on the motor industry.

The Report was intended to serve as a basis for further examination of labour relations problems in the industry by the Government, management and trade unions. I met both sides of the industry on 6th February to discuss Mr. Scamp's report. Both sides paid tribute to Mr. Scamp's work as Chairman of the Council and it was agreed that the Council should continue on present lines, but should endeavour to give more attention to longer term problems of the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give further details to explain the words "general carrier" in the last paragraph of Appendix C on page 21 of the Guide to Employers on the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966; and whether he will amend the Guide to show the categories and variety of goods a haulage contractor has to carry to obtain a refund under the Act.

The words are intended to explain the position under the Act of a public haulier whose main business is the carriage of goods other than for himself or for an associated company; I do not think an amendment to the Guide is necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest unemployment figures for Croydon.

On 9th January, 1967, there were 2,239 persons registered as unemployed at Croydon, including 45 who were temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour what factors account for fact that teenage girls are able to get apprenticeships in greater numbers in England and Wales than in Scotland; and what steps he will take to remedy the situation.

The greater number of teenage girls who get apprenticeships in England and Wales is due to the number going into hairdressing; if these figures are excluded, the proportion of girls who took apprenticeships in 1965 was virtually the same for Scotland as for England and Wales, i.e. 1·6 per cent. compared with 1·7 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what evidence he now has that the imposition of Selective Employment Tax is having the effect of shaking out labour from service into manufacturing industries.

It is not possible, so soon after the inception of the tax, to make a precise distinction between the effects of S.E.T. and the results of other items of Government economic policy.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to offset the unemployment amongst registered disabled persons which is being caused by the incidence of the Selective Employment Tax.

The effects of the tax on the disabled have not been sufficiently marked to warrant special action. I am, however, continuing to watch the position.

asked the Minister of Labour how many new jobs he estimates will be created in Scotland in 1967; and what proportion of these are in service industries.

I have made no such estimate.

asked the Minister of Labour, what progress has been made in the settlement of the dispute at Pollard Bearings factory at Ferry-bridge.

My Regional Industrial Relations Officer is discussing the dispute separately with the parties to try and find a solution.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take on the Cameron Report on the Printing Industry.

Following informal consultations which I had on publication of the Report, the T.U.C. will be following up with the unions concerned the recommendation for their amalgamation into one body. The three employers' organisations—the British Federation of Master Printers, the Newspaper Society and the Newspaper Proprietors' Association—have undertaken to consider, with the assistance of the Confederation of British Industry, the recommendations concerning closer association between them. Arrangements have been made for a joint meeting under my chairmanship to take place on Tuesday 28th February to discuss the other recommendations.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply he has received from industrialists to his request for notification of the forward requirements for labour in the North East.

I am always glad to receive employers' estimates of their forward requirements for labour but I am not aware of any special approach of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Labour what effect he estimates the shortages in some skilled engineering trades in parts of Tyneside and Tees-side will have on the development of the newer and precision trades in the North-East, in view of the fact that the area looks towards these new industries as possible growth points.

There are acute shortages of instrument makers and precision fitters with certain specialised skills. Although I appreciate that these may cause difficulties to some firms, the shortages are less pronounced in the North-East than in most other parts of the country. Moreover, there are many possibilities of industrial growth which are not affected by them.

asked the Minister of Labour what evidence he has about the carcinogenic effects of blue asbestos.

A panel of experts under the Chairmanship of H.M. Senior Medical Inspector of Factories is currently reviewing all the available medical evidence on this topic. Without prejudging their conclusions, I can say that it is well established that there is an increased incidence of lung cancer among persons who suffer from asbestosis. There is also evidence suggesting an association between a rare form of cancer, mesothelioma, and past exposure to asbestos particularly blue asbestos. The significance of asbestos, or a particular form of it, as a cause of this disease is one of the questions being considered.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will undertake an inquiry into the necessity for crocidolite in industrial processes, with a view to the eventual prohibition of its use except under special licence.

All the problems involved in the use of asbestos in general and blue asbestos in particular are being thoroughly studied during the current revision of the Asbestos Industry Regulations.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the proportion of persons registered as unemployed in Scotland to the number of vacant jobs in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available.

In January, 1967, there were in Scotland 18.3 notified vacancies remaining unfilled to every hundred wholly unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour by what percentage the numbers registered as unemployed in Scotland increased between December, 1966, and the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will give the percentage increase which took place in England and Wales over the same period.

Between 12th December, 1966, and 9th January, 1967, the numbers increased by 10·8 per cent. in Scotland, 5·4 per cent. in England and 8·2 in Wales.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number placed in employment in public administration (Standard Industrial Classification Order XXIV) during 1966; and what percentage change this represents over the figure for 1965.

During 1966, Employment Exchanges and Youth Employment Offices in Great Britain effected 94,223 placings in Order XXIV of the Standard Industrial Classification. This was 10·8 per cent. higher than the corresponding figure for 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what grounds the Security Council of the United Nations gave for refusing to hear a Rhodesian representative before imposing mandatory sanctions.

The telegram containing the request by the illegal regime for a representative to be heard by the Council was circulated by the President to all members of the Security Council on 30th December, 1966. No further action has been taken on the telegram. When a similar request was made last May, the Secretary-General made a statement in the Council on 18th May in which he pointed out that Southern Rhodesia was not an independent State and that Article 32 of the Charter did not therefore apply. He also recalled that the Council in several resolutions described the regime in Southern Rhodesia as illegal. He had decided, therefore, not to reply to Salisbury. The Security Council accepted this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States on the question of anti-ballistic missile defence systems; and whether he will make a statement.

We have been in touch with both the United States and the Soviet Governments on the question of Anti-Ballistic Missile systems. As I explained in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Luard) on 7th February, we hope to see the United States and the Soviet Union move towards an understanding on this vital question.—[Vol. 740, c. 277.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what methods were used to discover the true identity of a Foreign Service official who wrote to the Paymaster-General under the pseudonym of Vaughan Lewis at a bank address.

The writer was immediately identified from the fact that he had already made very similar allegations in an interview with an official in the Diplomatic Service Administration Office in October, 1966. He used as an address the account number and bank address he had himself given to the Diplomatic Service Pay authorities. No reference was made to any outside body in order to identify the writer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the official tour of Mr. Kosygin in Great Britain, when extended beyond the Border, was confined to south-west Scotland; and why it did not extend to the north and north-east of Scotland.

Only one day was available during Mr. Kosygin's visit for a tour out of London. His journey included a visit to Edinburgh, but it would not have been practicable to extend his tour to the north and northeast of Scotland. The items included in the programme were designed to meet Mr. Kosygin's particular interests and wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to resume talks with Spain about Gibraltar; and whether he will place first on the agenda the removal of the frontier restrictions imposed by Spain.

On 20th December, 1966, we voted in favour of a Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations which inter alia called on us and Spain to continue negotiations. No date has been fixed for talks to be resumed but when they are we shall continue to press for the removal of the frontier restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his action regarding a report made to him involving ill-discipline by members of Her Majesty's Foreign Service stationed in Germany.

I assume the hon. Gentleman refers to the report published in the Daily Express on 6th February. All the allegations made were investigated. Two referred to events of some years ago. Appropriate action where necessary had already been taken. I do not consider any further action is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what British subjects are among the mining technicians in Katanga forbidden by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to leave the country; and what action has been taken.

Three British subjects were employed by Union Miniére at the beginning of the year. One of these left last week with his family without hindrance. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Kinshasa has received from the Congolese Government an assurance that British subjects in the Congo will be allowed to leave if they so wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative on the Council of Europe to support the establishment of a permanent youth centre in Strasbourg.

The Council for Cultural Co-operation of the Council of Europe recently submitted to the Committee of Ministers a recommendation in favour of the establishment of a permanent youth centre at Strasbourg. This recommendation has yet to be discussed by the Committee of the Ministers' Deputies. The instructions to the United Kingdom representative on this Committee are at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Social Security (1) whether she will now take steps to allow a widow, whose second husband dies within three years of marriage, to receive a full widow's pension if over the age of 50 years;(2) whether she will now take steps to allow a widow who remarries to count her former husband's pension contributions towards her own pension;(3) whether she will now take steps to allow a widow, whose retired husband dies before she is 50 years of age, to continue to receive a supplementary pension.

To deal adequately with the points raised in the hon. Gentleman's Questions would go beyond the tolerable limits of Parliamentary answers, and we are therefore writing to him.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether the review of the social services will recommend an increase in the basic retirement pension.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) on 6th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 1081–2.]

asked the Minister of Social Security how much would be needed to restore the retirement pension to the relative position it had to average wage and salary earnings when the last pension increase was made.

On the basis of the Ministry of Labour's last six-monthly figure (that for October 1966) of average earnings of men in manufacturing and certain other industries, increases of 5s. 11d. for a single person and 9s. 8d. for a married couple.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will now reconsider the case of Mrs. A. C. Chalkeley of 7 Bedford Road, Henlow Camp, Bedfordshire, with regard to entitlement for child allowance.

My right hon. Friend has no power to do so.

asked the Minister of Social Secruity what instructions she has given, inhibiting administrating officers in her Department from writing letters to newspapers on matters within the scope of her Department and if she will lay a copy of such instructions in the Library of the House.

The rules relating to publications having a bearing on official business issued to the staff in my Department conform to those laid down for the Civil Service in general, which are already available in the Library of the House. Staff were recently reminded of these rules.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware that her Department requires the production of marriage certificates to obtain certain allowances whereas Income Tax and other authorities generally do not, and that this practice causes expense and annoyance; whether she will co-ordinate her regulations with those of other Departments; and whether she will make a statement.

The right to certain National Insurance benefits and increases of benefit is conditional upon the satisfaction of conditions relating to the marriage of the claimant: and the best possible evidence is the marriage certificate. I do not think that the production of a certificate normally causes extra expense or annoyance, but if the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind I should be glad to have it looked into.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will take steps to increase the amount of the death grant, in view of the fact that there has been no increase for nine years and funeral expenses have substantially increased.

I am aware of the point which the hon. Gentleman raises and I shall bear the matter in mind.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will now state when he expects to introduce the Government's legislation for leasehold reform.

By the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will investigate atmosphere pollution occasioned by gas effluent emanating from domestic gas plants.

Gas effluent from plants producing gas for domestic purposes is controlled under the Alkali &c. Works Regulation Act 1906; plants are inspected regularly by the Alkali Inspectors to ensure that the best practicable means are employed for minimising the emissions, and rendering them harmless and inoffensive.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total rate relief given to ratepayers in each of the London boroughs under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act 1964 and Rating Act 1966, respectively.

The following are the figures of total rate relief afforded direct to individual London Borough ratepayers. The information for 1966–67 is necessarily provisional as applications by ratepayers are still being made:

	Discretionary Reliefs Granted Under Rating (Interim Reliefs) Act 1964		Mandatory Rate Rebates Granted Under Rating Act 1966
	1965–66	1966–67	1966–67
	£	£	£
Inner London
City of London	121	120	450
Camden	936	234	16,100
Greenwich	—	—	75,000
Hackney	—	—	40,000
Hammersmith	—	—	47,000
Islington	—	—	22,000
Kensington and Chelsea	1,898	400	40,400
Lambeth	66	—	64,300
Lewisham	85	—	85,000
Southwark	—	—	36,500
Tower Hamlets	—	—	14,000
Wandsworth	—	—	88,000
Westminster	6,506	5,474	45,300
Outer London
Barking	—	—	39,200
Barnet	—	—	140,000
Bexley	—	—	104,000
Brent	—	—	82,400
Bromley	—	—	130,000
Croydon	—	—	130,000
Ealing	—	—	116,000
Enfield	—	—	108,000
Haringey	—	—	80,000
Harrow	—	—	88,500
Havering	—	—	130,000
Hillingdon	—	—	76,000
Hounslow	—	—	71,000
Kingston-upon-Thames	—	—	71,000
Merton	—	—	89,000
Newham	—	—	64,000
Redbridge	—	—	97,200
Richmond-upon-Thames	—	—	90,000
Sutton	—	—	95,600
Waltham Forest	—	—	123,000

Because of London Government reorganisation no comparable figures are available for 1964–65; but the general level of relief granted in that year under the 1964 Act was similar to that granted in 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the amount of rate relief paid to each of the London Boroughs last year and an estimate of the amount to be paid out in the current year.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to grants in aid of

					Grants under Rating (Interim Relief) Act 1964		Grants under*Rating Act 1966
					£	£	£
					1965–6	1966–7	1966–7
City	…	…	…	…	60	60	340
Camden	…	…	…	…	470	120	12,040
Greenwich	…	…	…	…	—	—	56,250
Hackney	…	…	…	…	—	—	30,000
Hammersmith	…	…	…	…	—	—	35,250
Islington	…	…	…	…	—	—	16,500
Kensington and Chelsea	…	…	…	…	950	200	30,300
Lambeth	…	…	…	…	30	—	48,220
Lewisham	…	…	…	…	40	—	63,750
Southwark I …	…	…	…	…	—	—	27,380
Tower Hamets	…	…	…	…	—	—	10,480
Wandsworth	…	…	…	…	—	—	66,000
Westminster	…	…	…	…	3,250	2,750	33,990
Barking	…	…	…	…	—	—	29,420
Barnet	…	…	…	…	—	—	105,000
Bexley	…	…	…	…	—	—	78,000
Brent	…	…	…	…	—	—	61,830
Bromley	…	…	…	…	—	—	97,500
Croydon	…	…	…	…	—	—	97,500
Ealing	…	…	…	…	—	—	87,000
Enfield	…	…	…	…	—	—	80,970
Haringey	…	…	…	…	—	—	60,000
Harrow	…	…	…	…	—	—	66,380
Havering	…	…	…	…	—	—	97,500
Hillingdon	…	…	…	…	—	—	57,000
Hounslow	…	…	…	…	—	—	53,280
Kingston	…	…	…	…	—	—	53,250
Merton	…	…	…	…	—	—	66,750
Newham	…	…	…	…	—	—	48,000
Redbridge	…	…	…	…	—	—	72,900
Richmond	…	…	…	…	—	—	67,500
Sutton	…	…	…	…	—	—	71,680
Waltham Forest	…	…	…	…	—	—	92,250
* The figures are necessarily based on estimates derived from experience of the first half of the year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the present allowances for subsistence and travelling of local government officials in England and Wales were agreed; and whether any changes are under negotiation.

Subsistence allowances for the administrative, professional, technical and clerical grades, which are negotiated by the appropriate Joint Council, came into operation on 1st October, 1964, with minor changes in August, 1965 and November, 1965. Allowances for the use of private cars, which are similarly negotiated, have been in operation since June, 1965 and are at present under review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the response of coastal authorities to the letter he sent last year on the subject of their discharging untreated sewage into the sea; how many are now treating their sewage inland; how many are setting about doing so, and how this figure varies from that of a year ago; how many intend to pump partially-treated sewage into the sea during the approaching summer; and how many, and which coastal authorities by name, are going to pump their sewage into the sea this summer either wholly untreated or merely comminuted or disguised.

73 replies have been received from the further 82 coastal or estuarial authorities who were asked last year about their sewage disposal arrangements. At least 8 of them are treating their sewage inland, and one more is planning to do so.As these authorities were not covered by the original questionnaire issued in 1965, there is no information to show how their present situation compares with that of a year ago but it is unlikely to be greatly different.14 of the authorities pump partially treated sewage into the sea and will presumably continue to do so throughout the approaching summer. 44 of them, as in the following list, discharge sewage into the sea untreated or comminuted only.

Birkenhead C.B	Watchet U.D.
Bootle C.B.	Axminister R.D.
Liverpool C.B.	Belford R.D.
Berwick-on-Tweed B.	Bideford R.D.
Bideford B.	Bridlington R.D
Dartmouth B.	Bridport R.D.
Helston B.	Camelford R.D.
Bude Stratton U.D.	Freebridge Lynn R.D.
Burnham on Crouch U.D.	Isle of Wight R.D.
	Kerrier R.D.
Filey U.D.	Kingsbridge R.D.
Hornsea U.D.	Lancaster R.D.
Hoylake U.D.	Millom R.D.
Lynton U.D.	Norham and Islandshires R.D.
Northam U.D.
Padstow U.D.	Plympton St. Mary R.D.
Salcombe U.D.
Saltburn U.D.	St. Germans R.D.
Scalby U.D.	St. Thomas R.D.
Sheringham U.D.	Stockton R.D.
Skelton and Brotton U.D.	Wadebridge R.D.
	West penwith R.D.
St. Just U.D.	Whiteby R.D.
Torpoint U.D.	Williton R.D.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of undeveloped land zoned for house building are held by local authorities in Birmingham, Liverpool, London and Manchester, respectively.

While information is not available in the form requested, the Government and local authorities are carrying out studies of the availability of land in some areas. I shall write to the right hon. Gentleman when the results are known.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the experience of the working of the Rent Act in Birmingham since February, 1966, including the number of rents which has been registered, the number of appeals which has been lodged, and the number of cases in which the registered rents have been increased, decreased or unaltered by the rent assessment committees.

Up to 4th February, 1967, rent officers in Birmingham had determined a fair rent in 444 applications for registration. The original rent was reduced in 279 cases, unchanged in 104 and increased in 61; 111 cases had been referred to a committee, of which 103 had been decided. The rent determined by the rent officer was reduced by the committee in 9 cases, unchanged in 13 and increased in 81; the original rent was reduced by the committee in 98 cases, unchanged in 3 and increased in 2.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will withdraw permission for a branch of the National Building Agency to develop its own system of industrial housing construction, in view of the fact that the Agency is intended to give impartial advice to his Department about the merits of competitive systems of industrial housing construction existing in this country.

The Agency is not developing its own system of housing construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT statistics showing the comparative expenditure, both current and capital, on nursery education, primary education, secondary education, further education, and higher education for each year since 1945–46 at market prices and at constant prices.

I regret that figures at constant prices are not available. Figures at market prices are available from 1959–60 to 1964–65 and are given in Table 39 of "Statistics of Education, 1965, Part One".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much in Government funds is being spent annually in cancer research in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and how such funds are dis-

	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
	£	£	£	£
Grants to researchers in universities	373,000	415,000	461,000	484,000
Grants to other researchers	54,000	66,000	74,000	90,000
Medical Research Council Units and external staff	531,000	548,000	643,000	696,000
Total	958,000	1,029,000	1,178,000	1,270,000

It is not possible to give an estimate of Government funds applied to this purpose from grants given on the advice of the University Grants Committee to universities and medical schools, or the amount spent by hospitals within the National Health Service. Moreover it is not possible to estimate to what extent basic research financed by the Medical Research Council and universities has an important bearing on cancer research.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what methods of preventing oil from polluting Britain's beaches he has discussed with the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation and the Warren Spring Laboratory in London called for the purpose of planning the separation of oil discharged by ships from sea water; and, as a result, how he plans to prevent pollution and cleanse British sea beaches.

The Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation has recently discussed the "load on top" system already used by many tankers and the development of improved equipment for ships to separate oil from water and to measure the oil content of ships' discharges. Widespread adoption of the "load on top" system and the development of such equipment will help to reduce pollution from ships. The Board of Trade and the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology are playing a full part in this tributed amongst universities and research establishments.

Exculding capital expenditure, the Medical Research council's expenditure in recent years specifically on cancer research is estimated as follows:work. Methods of cleaning beaches are being studied by a Working Group set up by the local authorities' associations and the Institute of Petroleum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the extent of the financial assistance given by the Government in 1955 to 1965 to Welsh airlines, airfields and air navigation services.

In addition to the deficits incurred on the operation of Cardiff airport (including navigation services) grants totalling £12,475 were approved during the period for the installation of technical equipment at other aerodromes in Wales. No financial assistance was given to Welsh airlines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the financial deficits paid from the Exchequer on airports and navigational services in 1955 to 1965 in Wales, Scotland, and England, respectively.

Financial deficits paid from the Exchequer in respect of State owned civil airports, and the associated navigation services, for the years 1960–65 are shown in the following table. Comparable figures for the earlier years are not readily available.

		Wales	Scotland	England
		£	£	£
1960–61	…	144,329	1,432,750	1,944,802
1961–62	…	140,290	1,357,082	62,217
1962–63	…	136,620	1,541,291	Nil
1963–64	…	168,989	1,616,514	Nil
1964–65	…	183,273	1,532,754	Nil

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the closure of a textile mill in Royton affecting 300 employees, arising from the increased imports of sheeting, he will now take action to control such imports.

Present quotas for imports of cotton textiles are already based on an extensive system of categories and any further tightening of this system could prejudice international acceptance of the quota system as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what efforts his Department are making to find an occupier for the former aircraft factory at Squires Gate, Blackpool; and if he will make a statement.

The Board of Trade draws the attention of suitable firms to the availability of this factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken arising from his inspection of accounts submitted to his department by Davies Investments Limited under Section 5(1) of the Protection of Depositors Act 1963.

The Board of Trade has used its powers under Section 18 of the Protection of Depositors Act, 1963, to investigate the situation. As a result, the company filed its petition for a compulsory winding-up order which was made by the Court today. The Senior Official Receiver is investigating the company's affairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies submitted accounts to his Department under Section 5(1) of the Protection of Depositors Act, 1963, in each of the years since the commencement of the Act; and how many of his staff are engaged in the investigation of those accounts.

Accounts were submitted by 95 companies in 1964, 112 in 1965 and 111 in 1966. The investigation of the accounts is undertaken with other work, but occupies the equivalent of the full time of three officers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies, subject to the Protection of Depositors Act, 1963, are overdue with the submission of required accounts; and what is the length of delay in each case.

Accounts from 12 companies are overdue. In three cases where accounts are overdue by thirteen, eight and seven months respectively, special circumstances apply. In the nine other cases the accounts are overdue by four months in three cases, and by less than two weeks in two cases. The Board of Trade are pressing for accounts from the companies concerned; under Section 5(1) of the Act these are prohibited from advertising for deposits while their accounts are overdue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases he has used his powers under Section 3(1)(a) of the Protection of Depositors Act, 1963, to place restrictions on the form of advertising for deposits.

Section 3 empowers the Board of Trade to make regulations dealing with the contents and form of advertisements for deposits. The Protection of Depositors (Contents of Advertisements) Regulations, 1963, were made accordingly on 13th August, 1963.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will inquire into the working of the Export Credit Department as it affects orders for shipbuilding; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the credit facilities available to British shipbuilders backed by E.C.G.D. compare well with those available to shipbuilders anywhere in the world. The E.C.G.D. facilities include: greatly reduced premiums in appropriate cases for sales secured by a ship's mortgage; special arrangements to offer terms of credit at least as long as those available from any other country; and Financial Guarantees for ocean-going ships with a minimum order value of £1 million, compared with £2 million for all other types of project. Bank finance for export credits covered by an E.C.G.D. Bank Guarantee or Financial Guarantee at a fixed interest-rate of 5½ per cent., although not limited to the shipbuilding industry, has proved of particular benefit to that industry in securing export orders. In the last two years 45 contracts have been supported, to a value of £90 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories in Rhondda are now empty; and what steps he is taking to encourage industrialists to make use of these factories.

There is one Board of Trade factory unoccupied, at Llynpya. These facilities are being brought to the attention of all potentially suitable industrialists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of new prison building now under construction.

In England and Wales, about £11 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of new prison building which will be started between 1st March and 31st December, 1967; and how much will represent improved security and how much will represent improved workshops, training facilities or better living conditions.

The programme is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will accede to the request of the prisoner mentioned in paragraphs 63 to 67 of the Mountbatten Report for a further interview with the security officer there mentioned, in view of the importance of confirming or otherwise that the information given by that prisoner to that officer in April, 1965, was as stated in the Report.

Arrangements are being made for the prisoner to be interviewed; and I will write to the right hon. Gentleman in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual sum spent on fuels for heating and cooking in Her Majesty's Prisons and Borstal service.

This sum cannot be isolated. The cost of fuel for all purposes at prison service establishments in England and Wales amounts to about £1,400,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present range of work for prisoners now available in Her Majesty's Prisons and Borstals; and what new industries are planned.

For prisons and borstals in England and Wales, there is a wide range of manufacturing industries, farming, building and domestic work; details are given in the Report of the Prison Department for 1965. A market research survey into possible new industries has just been completed and is being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present range of training facilities now available in Her Majesty's Prisons and Borstals; and what additional training facilities are planned.