asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the terms of the loan made to Ghana for the building of the luxury vessel recently launched on the Clyde; what was the date on which the agreement was made; and what assurances he has received from the present Ghanian Government that they will honour the agreement.

The Government of Ghana were informed on 8th October, 1964, that Her Majesty's Government was willing to provide a credit to cover 90 per cent. of the cost of building a frigate (£4,127,000) in a Clyde shipyard. This was announced in this House on 10th November, 1964.The loan was to bear interest at 6 per cent. and to be repaid as to 3/10ths before delivery of the frigate, the balance in 14 half-yearly instalments beginning at six months thereafter.Revised terms of repayment will shortly be renegotiated with the Ghanaians.The Ghana Government have already announced their determination to pay all their debts.—[Vol. 701, c. 50.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further plans he has for overthrowing Mr. Smith's Government.

Our policies for bringing the illegal régime in Rhodesia to an end were stated by the Prime Minister on 20th December and 2nd February.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to the Rhodesian economy of economic sanctions by the British Government.

It is not possible to isolate the cost to the Rhodesian economy of sanctions by the British Government alone. The effects of sanc- tions can only be assessed in their totality and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Questions today by the hon. Members for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cunningham) and Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of sending copies of his speech in the House of Commons on 7th December to individual persons in Rhodesia; how many copies were sent out; and how many he has received back.

No copies of my right hon. Friend's speech were sent to Rhodesia. But, in accordance with his undertaking on 8th November, 1966, to acquaint the people of Rhodesia with the views of the British Government, a short pamphlet was prepared containing extracts from his speech. Copies of this were despatched to addresses in Rhodesia.It might prejudice future activities to divulge the number sent or the expenditure involved. Less than one per cent. of the pamphlets despatched have been returned.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that the home of Mrs. Lam P. T sung at Mo Lo Tam in Hong Kong was destroyed in the last typhoon and that, innocently, she proceeded to replace her house without applying for a permit, and is now ordered to demolish it by 14th February; and if he will forthwith intervene to stop this process until he has consulted with the Government of Hong Kong on the matter in order to secure a better solution.

No date has been fixed for the demolition, pending consideration of an appeal against the demolition order.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the United Kingdom has recently signed an agreement for aid to Zambia amounting to over £13 million, he will take steps to see that the restrictions upon the amount of money to be transmitted to this country by British people living in Zambia will be relaxed.

Zambian Exchange Control Regulations are a matter for the Zambian Government. I am unaware of cases of hardship affecting British nationals which could justify representations to the Zambian authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that all the opposition members in Grenada have resigned in protest against the new constitution being implemented before elections are held, this leaving only five of 10 elected members of the Assembly active: and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The question of an early general election was fully considered at the Constitutional Conference in London last May and my right hon. Friend the then Colonial Secretary considered that there was no ground for his intervention in the timing of the election. This was a matter for the Chief Minister of the day. The resignations do not change the position. Associated Statehood is not an issue.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the Gas Council to review its methods of disposal of industrial waste.

The disposal of industrial waste is subject to statutory control. The gas boards co-operate closely with the various statutory authorities to ensure that the best possible practices are followed.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction that discussions be held between the gas and electricity authorities regarding the future use of vessels no longer required by gas boards for coastwise cargoes.

The sale of surplus vessels by the gas boards and their purchase by the C.E.G.B. are matters for the Boards, but my right hon. Friend is asking them to consult together when disposal of further vessels is contemplated.

asked the Minister of Power if he will provide facilities for a spray steelmaking plant at Millom, Cumberland, as a commercial unit for the cheaper production of billet steel and to help in the reduction of unemployment in the area.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology told my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 31st January representations have been made to his Department for financial assistance to develop the process commercially. These are under consideration in consultation with my Department.—[Vol. 740, c. 62.]

asked the Minister of Power what discussions he has had with the organising committee set up to consider the future planning of the iron and steel industry regarding the possible location of the offices of the proposed Steel Corporation.

The location of offices will in general be a matter for the National Steel Corporation subject to Clause 36 of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Power if he will appoint a committee to obtain information on the differential pricing policies of the nationalised fuel industries and to assess the effect of these policies on regional development; and if he will make a statement.

Price levels are governed by the statutory obligations and financial circumstances of the individual Boards and it is Government policy that prices should be so far as possible related to the costs of supply, which differ from one part of the country to another. Regional development is affected by many factors apart from fuel costs. I see no need to appoint a Committee.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will invite the responsible Ministers of the world's major shipbuilding countries to attend an international conference in London to discuss ways and means of ending the present pattern of competitive interest-rate subsidies paid solely on ships built for export account in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, in order to limit the distortions which these are presently causing in international shipbuilding.

There are no interest or other subsidies for our exports of ships. The question of Government assistance to shipbuilding industries is currently under discussion between the main shipbuilding countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and I do not think it is necessary to invite the Ministers concerned in other countries to a conference in London at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, following the last Conference on Productivity, he will now call a conference to deal specifically with the question of productivity and cost-cutting in Government Departments.

There is already a continuous contact between Government Departments on getting better value for money and improving productivity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present estimate of the amount of revenue likely to be raised from Selective Employment Tax in the first full 12 months.

Approximately £220 million net in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of the annual repayment of Selective Employment Tax to manufacturing industry; and how much of it is made to companies controlled from the United States of America.

In a full year the gross value of premiums to manufacturing industry is estimated to be of the order of £570 million and the tax paid by employers receiving premiums to be of the order of £440 million. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the cost of raising the starting point of Surtax on earned income to £10,000, £15,000, and £20,000, respectively.

The full year cost would be about £40 million, £50 million and £53 million respectively, on the basis of the Budget Estimate for 1966–67.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the yield of a gifts tax applying to all gifts over £5,000 made by an individual, at a rate of 30 per cent.

No estimate can be made because there is not enough information about the gifts now made and also it is impossible to foretell the effect on gifts of such a tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the cost of lowering the Income Tax personal allowance of single and married persons by £40.

This reduction of personal allowances would yield about £310 million for a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to implement the policy of pooling all Government land and land owned by nationalised industries and the transfer of Government land by administrative allocation instead of sale when any such land is passed from one Government Department to another.

The present arrangements for the transfer of land between

Calendar Years								Number of contracts over £2 million in value let in Scotland by Government Departments or their agents
1962–1964	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	25
1964–1966	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	22

LIST OF CONTRACTS
Project	Contractor
1962–1963
Construction work at Petrol and Oil Depot, Campbeltown.	Messrs. Melville Dundas & Whitson
Construction work at Petrol and Oil Depot, Loch Ewe	Duncan Logan Ltd.
Supply and reconditioning of aero engines	Rolls Royce Ltd., (3 contracts)
Development and Production of electronic equipment	Ferranti Ltd., (2 contracts)
Assault Ship "Intrepid"	John Brown & Co, (Clydebank)Ltd.
Frigate	Yarrow & Co. Ltd.
Frigate	Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd.
Fleet Replenishment Ship	Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd.
Two Submarines	Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd.
Housing at Hutchesontown/Gorbals, Glasgow	Scottish Spical Housing Association/Gilbert Ash Ltd.
New Hospital and Medical School, Ninewells, Dundee	Crudens Ltd.
1964
Construction work at Royal Naval Armament Depot, Coulport.	Richard Costain (Civil Engineers) Ltd.
Housing at Helensborough, Dunbartonshire	Scottish Special Housing Association
Supply and reconditioning of aero engines	Rolls Royce Ltd., (4 contracts)
Two Landing Ships	Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd.
Three Survey Ships	Yarrow & Co. Ltd.
Two Submarines	Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd.
Motorway M.74 (Hamilton By Pass Stage I)	Christiani-Shand
New town housing at Livingston	John Laing (Construction) Ltd.
1965–1966
Development and production of electronic equipment	Ferranti Ltd.
Development, production and reconditioning of aero engines.	Rolls Royce Ltd., (3 contracts)
Frigate	Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd.
Frigate	Yarrow & Co. Ltd.
Various Vessels	Fairfields (Glasgow) Ltd., (2 contracts)
Motorway M.8 (West of Harthill to Newhouse)	Whatlings Ltd.
Motorway M.74 (Hamilton By Pass Stage II)	Tarmac Civil Engineering Ltd.
Motorway M.9 (Polmont-Falkirk By Pass)	Duncan Logan (Contractors) Ltd.

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

Pursuant to my reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 31st January, 1967; Vol. 740, c. 54] the information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take whatever action may be necessary to alter the scheme of rate interest earned of 3½ per cent. for moneys repaid under the Consolidated Loans Fund, controlled by S.I., 1955, No. 1866, to a more realistic rate of 5 per cent., or the actual rate of interest really earned on these capital repayments.

Local authorities with consolidated loans funds may assume my right hon. Friend's approval to a rate of accumulation not exceeding 5 per cent. for annuity loans, to take effect during the current financial year and thereafter. He is also proposing to amend the Instrument to which my hon. Friend refers, the Local Authorities (Sinking Funds) Regulations 1955, so as to specify a rate of 5 per cent., also from the current financial year. This will affect mortgage loans pools and sinking funds.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the report of the Committee on refuse collection will be made available.

My right hon. Friend has just received the report of this Working party and ordered it to be printed. It should be published about the end of April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the proposed route of the Bewdley bypass is now being considered by his Department; and when he expects to give planning approval.

The route is included in the Bewdley town map review which my right hon. Friend is at present considering. He expects to approve the review later this year, but he understands that work on the bypass will not commence for some considerable time to come.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the discontent caused to employees of New Town development corporations by the denial to them, arising out of Her Majesty's Government's policy, of the salary increase accorded to local government employees with effect from 1st February; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate this.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Runcorn (Mr. Carlisle) on 8th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 339.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to local authorities to encourage planning authorities to adjudicate planning applications currently pending as quickly as possible so as to minimise the number of land transactions commenced before the enactment of the Land Commission Act that will attract the development levy because they remain incomplete on the appointed day.

No; but I am sure that local planning authorities will do their best to issue decisions before the Appointed Day in cases where they can properly do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent the hearing of appeals against local authority planning refusals for dwelling houses is being delayed by a shortage of inspectors; and what effect he estimates that this delay is having upon the house building programme.

Shortage of inspectors is a cause of delay in holding inquiries into planning appeals, but the delay is being reduced as a result of the recruitment of more inspectors and a small decline in the number of appeals. Any effect on the house building programme is marginal.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will give an assurance that funds to University College, Salisbury, are firmly under the control of British authorities in this country.

Yes. The British grant is paid in sterling in London to the Rhodesian Account of the University College. This account is subject to United Kingdom exchange control rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will seek to establish a British or Commonwealth Mission to establish contact and negotiations with National Liberation Front leaders in South Vietnam.

No. It is still my view that we should direct all our energy to promoting contacts between the governments with the major responsibility in the conflict.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) why a British teacher, whose name has been given to him, was denied assistance by the British Embassy at The Hague in her efforts to take possession of her property in the Netherlands; and why his Department failed to provide her with services under the Foreign Services Fees Act and the relevant Orders in Council;(2) why a British trader, whose name has been given to him, was refused legal aid in her efforts to take possession of her property in the Netherlands in spite of the provisions for reciprocal legal aid existing between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

The lady in question has been in correspondence with the Foreign Office over 11 years and in frequent touch with Her Majesty's Embassy at The Hague and Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Rotterdam regarding her representation in actions brought in Netherlands courts for the disposal of property in which she claims an interest. It has been made clear by the Netherlands authorities that the parties to a civil action under the Netherlands code must be represented by qualified lawyers. This information has been passed to the lady by Her Majesty's representatives and by my Department but she has declined to act up it.It is contrary to international law and custom for Her Majesty's representatives to intervene in civil or criminal proceedings in foreign courts where cases are still

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will enlarge the Commonwealth sugar quota to allow Malawi to join the membership of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, receive a quota, and thus replace by trade part of the external support now received from Great Britain in the form of aid and technical assistance.

I regret that I do not feel able to do so. We are already committed under the C.S.A. to buying a quantity representing some 90 per cent of our import requirements. It would not be prudent to extend our commitments further.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on whose authority Dr. Wilsdon, Regional Veterinary Officer in Northumberland, refused the request of a private veterinary surgeon to have a cow which died at Flotterton Farm on Thursday, 21st July, tested by Mr. Buntain, his Department's Veterinary Investigation Officer, at Newcastle; what was the reason for the refusal; and whether at any stage Dr. Wilsdon provided samples for testing to Mr. Buntain.

Under his authority as an inspector appointed for the purposes of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950; because no matter of animal origin is allowed off a farm on which foot-and-mouth disease is suspected except under strict security arrangements for testing for that disease at Pirbright; no.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how long it was between the shooting of the Galloway cattle on Lord Ravenworth's farm near Whittingham in the foot-and-mouth outbreak last summer with a ·22 self-loading rifle and the use of humane killers in order finally to kill them; and how many animals originally pronounced dead by officers of his Department to Mr. R. H. Walton, the user of the rifle, were later found alive and slaughtered with humane killers.

The Answer to the first part of the Question was contained in the last sentence of my reply of 7th February. But I should add that as there was no evidence of life after the shooting with a rifle, the captive bolt pistol was used solely as a precaution. The Answer to the second part is "None".—[Vol. 740, c. 284–5.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that in future animals stunned and presumed dead, as a result of rifle or pistol fire, will be shot with a humane killer while unconscious to prevent a repetition of the animal suffering that occurred on Lord Ravensworth's farm near Whittingham last summer.

From inquiries I have made I am satisfied that no suffering resulted from animals being shot by rifle or pistol fire at Lord Ravensworth's farm at Eslington Park.It has always been and will continue to be the practice of my veterinary officers to ensure that all animals are dispatched as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that certain livestock presumed to have been killed in the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Rothbury last summer are alive; how many livestock are estimated to have remained alive; whether in any circumstances they could still be infectious; and what action he intends to take regarding these animals.

I am not aware of this. If the hon. Member will let me have details I will investigate immediately.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total tonnage of eggs imported into Great Britain in 1965 and 1966 and what tonnage has so far been imported in 1967; and, in view of the recent substantial fall in price to the producers, if he will take steps to limit imports.

Separate figures are not available for Great Britain. 14,837 tons of shell eggs were imported into the United Kingdom in 1965 and 13,012 tons in 1966. No official figures for 1967 are yet available.As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Down, North (Mr. Currie) on 9th February.—[Vol. 740, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to announce the Annual Price Review.

The Review is now being held in consultation with producers' representatives. I cannot yet say when it will be possible to announce the Government's decisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a list of what veterinary services are eligible for refunds under the Selective Employment Payments Act; which veterinary services have so far been refused such refunds; and what claims for such refunds are still under consideration.

In general veterinary services are not regarded as eligible for refund under the Selective Employment Payments Act, but a firm which offers farmers a service on a contract basis for the vaccination, de-beaking and caponisation of poultry, has been held to be eligible as an agricultural contractor.I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question is not readily available.

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS, 1965 AND 1966
	1965		1966
	000 cwts.	£000	000 cwts.	£000
Wet Fish and Fish Products
Fresh White Fish	1,086	7,108	1,170	7,209
Fresh Herring	92	190	103	204
Chilled or Frozen White Fish	1,320	15,677	1,085	14,025
Chilled or Frozen Herring	22	58	44	134
Salted in Brine, Dried or Smoked	100	720	102	769
Prepared or Preserved Fish in Airtight Containers	1,378	34,615	1,230	28,086
Prepared or Preserved Fish not in Airtight Containers	12	130	8	97
Fish Meal	7,218	22,572	6,172	21,221
Other Fish Products	4,413	17,324	3,917	13,859
TOTAL: Wet Fish and Fish Products	15,641	98,394	13,831	85,604
Crustaceans and Molluscs
Frozen	82	3,126	92	3,953
Fresh	75	527	41	457
Prepared or Preserved in Airtight Containers	109	4,311	110	4,480
Prepared or Preserved not in Airtight Containers	44	925	69	2,299
TOTAL: Crustaceans and Molluscs	310	8,889	312	11,189
TOTAL: All Fish and Fish Products	15,951	107,283	14,143	96,793

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total subsidy payments to all British fishing vessels for each month in 1965 and 1966.

Following is the information:

		1965	1966
		£	£
January	…	389,800	319,600
February	…	360,700	328,500
March	…	418,700	448,900
April	…	305,400	250,000
May	…	319,900	274,500
June	…	313,800	296,400
July	…	340,000	299,600
August	…	356,700	242,100
September	…	288,000	269,200
October	…	336,000	240,300
November	…	299,100	269,400
December	…	293,500	221,500

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the total quantity and value of imported fish and fish products in 1965 and 1966, subdivided into wet white fish, frozen white fish, tinned fish, fish meal, and other fish products.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many miles of coast protection schemes have been completed by the respective river authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire; if he will state the costs of such schemes; and how many more miles of coast protection schemes are required to give protection from flooding.

Since these river boards were set up in 1950 they have completed some 45 miles of sea defence work and a further 5½ miles are currently under construction. The cost of these works is approximately £1·75 million. It is the responsibility of these authorities to determine the nature and extent of protection required and I cannot anticipate what further schemes they may submit for grant aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what strategic, economic, financial and political benefits for Great Britain will result from his decision to accept 100 United States naval vessels at Hythe, Hants, and Poole, Dorset; in view of Great Britain's pending application to join the European Economic Community, why Great Britain is accepting North Atlantic Treaty Organisation responsibilities cast off by France; and whether he will make a statement.

The vessels, mainly landing craft, tugs, barges and floating cranes, are part of the United States Army reserves now being relocated from France. They will be stored and maintained by civilian contract at Hythe in Hampshire and at Poole The contracts will provide regular employment for about 100 men and payments of the order of £100,000 per annum in dollars.Acceptance of the United States request is fully in accord with our common interest as members of N.A.T.O. and is in no way inconsistent with the Government's policy on the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the details of the recent agreement between the United Kingdom and South Africa over the Simonstown base; and whether he will make a statement.

The Simonstown Agreement of 1955 remains in force. My hon. Friend made a statement in the House on 8th February on recommendations agreed by the U.K. and South African delegations at the recent talks.—[Vol. 740, c. 1617–20.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the relative costs of repairing vehicles in the British Army of the Rhine and in the United Kingdom.

About the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Regular Army officers have been commissioned from Sandhurst in each of the last 10 years; how many of each year's output have since applied to retire or resign their commissions; and how many of these have had their applications accepted.

The number of Regular Army officers commissioned in each of the last ten years is as follows:

1957	…	…	…	300
1958	…	…	…	375
1959	…	…	…	290
1960	…	…	…	271
1961	…	…	…	358
1962	…	…	…	380
1963	…	…	…	422
1964	…	…	…	364
1965	…	…	…	427
1966	…	…	…	416
				3,603

I regret that records are not kept in a form which would permit the remainder of this Question to be answered without a disproportionate amount of research.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of public funds was expended on negotiations to re-sell to previous owners the various areas of the former Admiralty depot at Ditton Priors, Shropshire, prior to the termination of those negotiations on or about 10th January, 1967.

None that can be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware that the roads serving the former rail-based Admiralty depot at Ditton Priors, Shropshire, are quite unsuitable for ammunition lorry traffic; and whether he intends to reopen the former depot railway.

Any damage which may be caused to the roads by the ammunition lorry traffic will be made good. The implications of reopening the railway link are being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to continue the development of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft if France invokes one of the break clauses.

I prefer to concentrate on making a success of the current project.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the respective sums spent on defence in Malaysia, Singapore, Aden, the Persian Gulf and Malta in 1966; and what sums he expects to be spent in 1967.

The estimated figure for local expenditure in Malaysia and Singapore in 1966–67 is £82 million. For the other figures for the current year I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer to the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Luard) on 22nd June, 1966 [Vol. 730, c. 64.] and to the statement made on 24th January, 1967 [Vol. 739, c. 1274.] by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. Information about expenditure overseas in 1967–68 will be given in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to report the result of his investigations into the dispersal of secret papers on Chislehurst Common.

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to await the statement which will be made to the House in due course.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that steel production for January, 1967 was 8 per cent. below January, 1966, though that of 1966 itself was 7 per cent. below the 1965 level, and that home consumption is the lowest since 1963 and exports are again down, whether Her Majesty's Government will cease giving the balance of payments absolute priority, and take steps to encourage the production of wealth, before unemployment and short-time working overwhelms the economy.

My right hon. Friend does not share the hon. Gentleman's pessimism. The purpose of the present restraints is to correct the balance of payments and thus to assure a sound basis for sustained growth. We shall continue to relax them as and when it is safe to do so.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what has been the total cost of the advertisements run by his Department for economists since November, 1966.

Nothing. The Department has not advertised for economists in this period. The hon. Member may have in mind recent advertisements by the Civil Service Commission.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many economists have been recruited by his Department, since November, 1966, in the categories for which advertisements have been placed in the national, provincial and professional Press.

None.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will list the Economic Development Committees of the National Economic Development Council, showing the date on which each was set up and showing the members of each and the dates on which each member was appointed.

Economic Development Committee for:				Date of First Meeting
The Agricultural Industry	…	…	…	22nd December, 1966
The Building Industry	…	…	…	21st June, 1965
The Chemicals Industry	…	…	…	20th April, 1964
The Chocolate and Sugar Confectionery Industry	…	…	…	14th May, 1964
The Civil Engineering Industry	…	…	…	21st June, 1965
The Clothing Industry	…	…	…	3rd May, 1966
The Distributive Trades	…	…	…	15th July, 1964
The Electrical Engineering Industry	…	…	…	26th May, 1964
The Electronics Industry	…	…	…	23rd April, 1964
The Food Processing Industry	…	…	…	8th July, 1965
The Hosiery and Knitwear Industry	…	…	…	26th May, 1966
The Hotel and Catering Industry	…	…	…	20th June, 1966
The Machine Tools Industry	…	…	…	15th April, 1964
The Mechanical Engineering Industry	…	…	…	21st May, 1964
The Motor Vehicle Distribution and Repair Industry	…	…	…	13th October, 1966
The Movement of Exports	…	…	…	21st July, 1965
The Newspaper, Printing and Publishing Industry	…	…	…	24th January, 1966
The Paper and Board Industry	…	…	…	20th May, 1964
The Post Office	…	…	…	14th March, 1966
The Rubber Industry	…	…	…	15th July, 1965
The Wool Textiles Industry	…	…	…	25th May, 1964

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 23, Productivity and Pay during period of Severe Restraint, and the seven conditions laid down for increases during the first half of 1967 being based upon productivity and payment by results applies to doctors, nurses, morticians, funeral workers, firemen, policemen, civil servants, and those in non-productive service; and how this will operate.

The report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Productivity and Pay (Cmnd. 3167) is intended to provide guide-lines for the application to individual cases of the productivity and efficiency criterion in paragraph 27 of the White Paper on the Period of Severe Restraint (Cmnd. 3150). As my hon. Friend will know, there are other criteria in paragraphs 28–30 of Cmnd. 3150 relating to justification of-increases in incomes during the period of severe restraint where it would be in-

The following is a full list of the Economic Development Committees of the National Economic Development Council showing the dates of their first meetings.Copies of a complete list of the members of each of these Committees is being placed in the Library. The majority of members have served since the setting up of their Committees but some have been appointed subsequently.appropriate to seek to apply the productivity criterion.

asked the Prime Minister if he will call another national productivity conference.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on 2nd February by my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to a Question by the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. David Howell).—[Vol. 740, c. 148.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the visit of Mr. Kosygin.

asked the Prime Minister whether he discussed with Mr. Kosygin the possibility of increased trade between Russia and the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his conversations with Mr. Kosygin.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government will now sign a non-aggression pact with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as officially proposed by Mr. Kosygin.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Russian Prime Minister's visit to Great Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Statement I made to the House yesterday.—[Vol. 741, c. 109–14.]

asked the Prime Minister if he was able to discuss with Mr. Kosygin the case of Gerald Brooke.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave yesterday to a Supplementary Question by the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).— [Vol. 741, c. 116.]

asked the Prime Minister if, during the visit of Mr. Kosygin to this country, he will take the opportunity of discussing with him the general question of European security with particular reference to the problem of Eastern Europe.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Joint Statement issued yesterday at the end of Mr. Kosygin's visit and to my subsequent Statement to the House.—[Vol. 741, c. 109–14.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with Mr. Kosygin.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Statement I made to the House yesterday.—[Vol. 741, c. 109–14.]

asked the Prime Minister what discussion he had with the Soviet Prime Minister regarding the present imbalance in Anglo-Soviet trade, and with what result.

I would refer hon. Members to the Statement I made to the House yesterday.—[Vol. 741, c. 109–14.]

asked the Prime Minister whether peers who have not taken the oath are exempted from telephone tapping.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave earlier today to a Question by the hon. Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish).

asked the Prime Minister whether, during his recent visit to the European Economic Community in Brussels, he had discussions regarding the mobility of labour in the Common Market.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what is his policy towards the conditions laid down by the Common Market Council at Brussels on Wednesday, 8th February, 1967, that Great Britain must accept in full the Market's new policy for the next four years of, inter alia, bigger farms and the movement of labour away from agriculture, limitation of increased pay for civil servants, limitation of price standstill to exceptional circumstances only and for short periods, and limitation in the reduction of the working week.

No such conditions were laid down.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish in tabular form the functions and responsibilities of the Minister of Aviation which have been transferred to the President of the Board of Trade and those which have been taken over by the Minister of Technology.

Yes. The information is as follows:

Functions transferred to Board of Trade	Civil Aviation functions, including:
(S.I. 1966, Nos. 741 and 1015)	(a) civil airports policy
	(b) the national air traffic control organisation (jointly with Ministry of Defence)
	(c) air safety and accident investigation
	(d) international regulation of civil aviation and negotiation of traffic rights
	(e) functions in relation to the air corporations
	(f) air transport licensing
Functions transferred to Ministry of Technology	All other functions of the Ministry of Aviation, including:
(Ministry of Aviation (Dissolution) Order 1967–S.I. 1967, No. 155: coming into operation on 15th February 1967)	Research, development and procurement relating to aircraft, guided weapons and electronic equipment for both military and civil purposes

asked the Prime Minister if he will issue instructions to all Government servants employed abroad, including ambassadors and colonial governors, to refrain from making speeches about matters of political controversy whilst they are in office; and if he will ensure that severe disciplinary action is taken against any such officials who flout such instructions.

It is part of the duty of Ambassadors abroad to explain and further the policies of Her Majesty's Government. Instructions governing the conduct of members of the Diplomatic Service at home and abroad are contained in Diplomatic Service Regulations. I should be glad to make a copy available to my hon. Friend.Similar instructions, contained in Colonial Regulations, govern the conduct of Colonial Governors.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider taking steps to make it easier for private citizens to take up satisfactorily individual matters with Departments of State.

I would be happy to consider any suggestions my hon. Friend has to make on this matter.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made with the proposal that the United Kingdom Government should make a contribution to the development of Canberra.

As the House was informed on 13th March, 1963, by the then Prime Minister it was suggested to the Australian Government that the United Kingdom Government should make a gift to mark the Golden Jubilee of Canberra which was being celebrated that year. After consultations with the Government of Australia it has finally been decided that the gift should take the form of a structure housing a carillon. This will stand on Aspen Island on Lake Burley Griffin within the central area in Canberra known as the Parliamentary Triangle.It has also been agreed that three selected Australian and three United Kingdom architects should be invited to take part in a limited competition for the design of the United Kingdom gift.It is estimated that the cost of the gift including the competition will be about £200,000. Parliament will be asked in due course to approve the amount required in this financial year by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance will if necessary be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Aviation to which Department the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth, Cardiganshire, will be transferred; and if he will make a statement on its future operations.

The Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth will be transferred to the Ministry of Technology. It is not expected that the transfer will affect either the level or the type of work carried out there.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the system in use by local authority secondary schools, namely, to order at the start of each term quotas of milk for free distribution and to continue thereafter with such supplies regardless of whether the milk is drunk by the pupils or not; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such waste of public money is ended.

No, this is not the system. On the contrary, local education authorities have been advised that the orders placed at the beginning of each term, based on the number of pupils who normally take milk and on the usual rate of absence, should be reviewed regularly, preferably once a week throughout the term, and varied as necessary to avoid waste of public money.

asked the Minister of Education and Science whether he will, in co-operation with the Minister of Overseas Development, establish a fund to provide financial assistance to overseas students, accepted by institutions of higher education in this country but not assisted by Governments, who can give evidence of financial need.

The Government have taken careful note of the representations made to them on the subject of increased fees, but remain of the opinion that the amount of public subsidy for overseas students must be brought under control. But as I have made clear on several occasions they appreciate that the increases may cause hardship in some cases, particularly where students already in this country are supported by their families. The Government therefore intend to set up a fund to enable grants to be made towards the increase in fees in cases where hardship can reasonably be claimed, with reference especially to students from developing countries. This will be additional to the arrangements already announced for helping students financed by H.M.G. and the Governments of developing countries. It is too soon to give details of these arrangements which will be the subject of further consultation, but the aim will be to ensure that those overseas students already here will not be prevented from completing their courses because they are unable to pay the increased fees. The longer term situation, especially as it affects the developing countries will be kept under review by the Departments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many thalidomide-damaged children in England and Wales are in school; and of these how many have gone to normal schools.

At the end of 1966 in England and Wales 176 of the 262 children suffering from severe deformities attributable to thalidomide were at school; 92 were at ordinary schools. The remaining 86 had not reached the age of five.

asked the Minister of Health how many people are now awaiting hospital vacancies for National Health Service operations.

This information is not available. Waiting lists for in-patient treatment in the surgical specialities (including gynaecology) total about 488,000 patients but not all are necessarily awaiting even minor operations. Patients who need urgent operations are of course given priority.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the net hourly earnings of a student nurse in her first, second and third year of training, respectively, assuming that she lives in; the comparable figures if she lives out; and the comparable statistics for a ward sister on the top salary scale.

The net hourly rates of training allowance for student nurses in general hospitals after deduction of income tax (assuming a single person with no allowance other than earned income relief and personal allowance), National Health Service superannuation contributions and national insurance contributions are as follows:

		Non-resident student		Resident Student after deduction of board and lodging charge
		s.	d.	s.	d.
1st year	..	2	9	1	6
2nd year	..	3	0	1	8
3rd year	..	3	2	1	10

For the purpose of these calculations hours spent on lectures and classes are included in working hours.Net hourly rates of salary calculated on a similar basis for a Ward Sister in a general hospital on the maximum of the salary scale are:

Non-resident		Resident
s.	d.	s.	d.
7	11	5	6

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from general practitioners in the Rhondda for assistance in the setting up of group practices; and what steps he is taking to speed up the process.

14 doctors have claimed and are being paid the addition to the basic practice allowance for practising in groups. I am at present considering the application from a further partnership of three doctors and a decision will be given as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average number of patients on the lists of general practitioners in the Rhondda, Wales and England, respectively, on the last convenient date.

2,678 and 2,197 for the Rhondda and Wales respectively, at 1st January, 1967, and 2,470 (provisional) for England, at 1st October, 1966.

asked the Minister of Health how many general practitioners were practising in the Rhondda on each of the following dates: 1st January, 1952, 1st January, 1957, 1st January, 1962, and 1st January, 1967.

• 1st. January, 1952–33 principals, 6 assistants.
• 1st January, 1957–38 principals, 9 assistants.
• 1st January, 1962–43 principals.
• 1st January, 1967–36 principals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent it is his policy to adhere to the police wages formula, reached in 1942 after the studies of the Willink Commission, in future pay offers made to the police.

Police pay is negotiated by the Police Council for Great Britain. I made it clear to representatives of the Council on 22nd November that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I were in agreement with the continued operation of the formula reached in 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the actual population at present of all prison service establishments; and how this compares with the prison population on 31st December, 1965 and 1966.

The figure in England and Wales was 35,026 on 31st January, 1967. On 31st December, 1965 it was 30,134 and on 31st December, 1966, 33,776.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners at present sleeping two and three in a cell, respectively; and if he will give a list of all prisons where such overcrowding is occurring.

On 31st January, 1,476 prisoners were sleeping two, and 6,954 three, in a cell, in the following prisons: Ashford, Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol, Brixton, Canterbury, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Dorchester, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Lewes, Lincoln, Liverpool, Maidstone, Manchester, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Pentonville, Preston, Shepton Mallet, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Swansea, Wandsworth, Winchester, Wormwood Scrubs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of boys at present accommodated in Her Majesty's Prisons awaiting transfer to Borstal establishments.

On 31st January, the figure was 202.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the closure of a textile mill in Royton in which 300 employees have been made redundant; if he will take action to help; and if he will make a statement.

The employment exchanges are already dealing with the forthcoming redundancy at the Royton Textile Corporations Mill and will do their best to find other jobs for the 82 men and 199 women affected. Dismissals are to be phased over a period of six to ten weeks starting on 10th March.

asked the Minister of Labour what lodging and other allowances will be available to indentured apprentices at present employed at Darlington Forge Limited who will become unemployed as a result of the proposed closure of the firm; and if arrangements will be made for them to continue their apprenticeship with other firms.

Our officers are continuing to make every effort to place the apprentices with firms with whom they can continue their training, and to date 15 apprentices have been placed in their own or comparable training trades. Those who have to leave home for this purpose will be able to apply for a weekly maintenance allowance and certain other benefits under the Training Allowances Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many places are available in sheltered workshops in Scotland, other than Remploy centres.

There are approximately 1,000 severely disabled persons now employed in sheltered workshops in Scotland other than Remploy.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he has for the extension of provision of sheltered workshops in Scotland.

Proposals currently under discussion between our officers and the local authorities and voluntary bodies concerned are designed to provide some 200 further places.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons were sent from Scotland to England for training last year, category by category.

Thirty-six disabled people came to England in 1966 for training sponsored or conducted by the Ministry. Of these 19 men and 4 women attended residential training colleges run by voluntary bodies with financial help from the Ministry, whilst 13 men went to Government training centres.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered disabled were unemployed in Scotland at the latest available date; and what percentage of the total registered disabled this represents.

At 9th January, 1967, there were in Scotland 7,607 registered disabled persons who were registered as unemployed, representing 11·9 per cent. of all persons on the disabled persons register.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will instruct the area telephone manager to install a telephone for the use of the divisional agent for Liberal Greater London Council candidates in the London Borough of Greenwich.

Yes. Temporary service is being given until after the conclusion of the Greater London Council elections.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish a table showing the number of persons awaiting connection to the telephone system in each year since 1945, the number installed annually and the total number in use in each year.

The figures are as follows:

		Total Orders in Hand at 31st March (thousands)	Telephone connections in use at 31st March (thousands)	Number of telephone connections provided during year ended 31st March (thousands)
1946	…	360	2,339	244
1947	…	448	2,644	423
1948	…	488	2,868	318
1949	…	560	3,019	254
1950	…	552	3,140	304
1951	…	533	3,291	311
1952	…	482	3,463	341
1953	…	427	3,591	307
1954	…	376	3,770	369
1955	…	372	4,007	399
1956	…	344	4,265	416
1957	…	246	4,474	398
1958	…	171	4,500	332
1959	…	145	4,606	347
1960	…	144	4,784	408
1961	…	170	5.037	465
1962	…	147	5,210	434
1963	…	161	5,354	407
1964	…	172	5,620	541
1965	…	175	6,030	694
1966	…	227	6,535	808

"Orders in Hand" includes both orders on the waiting list because lines and/or equipment are not immediately available, and orders which are in course of being met.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that farmers in the Inverness area who submitted their claims for repayment of the Selective Employment Tax at the end of December as prescribed have received neither acknowledgment nor repayment; and whether he will now take action to secure them this repayment.

Over 12,000 claims have been received from employers in Scotland since the end of December, and these are being examined as quickly as possible. I expect that the first repayments will be made this week, and that most claims will be dealt with before the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether the views of the relatives of the victim of a fatal accident are taken into account in deciding whether an inquiry into the death should be held in terms of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1906.

Yes. In any case of a sudden or suspicious death which does not come within the scope of the Fatal Accidents Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1895 and in which, although there is no appearance of criminal responsibility, the information available suggests that the occurrence was directly or indirectly connected with the actions of a third party; or in which there is a desire locally for a public inquiry into the circumstances; or where the procurator fiscal considers that such an inquiry is expedient in the public interest, the views of the relatives of the deceased are taken into account in deciding whether an inquiry should be held in terms of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1906. The relatives are informed, however, that the final decision on the matter rests with the Lord Advocate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of deaths in Scotland caused by accidents at work, on the road and in the home in the years 1964, 1965, and 1966; and how many deaths in each category in each year were the subject of a fatal accident inquiry.

Deaths caused by accidents are classified by international convention under the heads shown in the following table. The information for 1966 is not yet available.

		1964	1965
Road Transport Accidents	…	815	804
Other Transport Accidents	…	54	68
Non-Transport Accidents, in — The Home	…	1,190	1,054
Residential Institutions	…	86	103
Farm and Forest	…	21	14
Mine and Quarry	…	36	29
Industrial Places and Premises	…	83	78
Street and Highway	…	27	34
Other and unspecified places	…	274	288

During the years 1964 to 1966, fatal accident inquiries were held as follows:—

	1964	1965	1966
Total number of inquiries	238	268	225
Road transport accidents	43	46	40
Industrial accidents	152	159	158
Other*	43	63	27
* Includes inquiries into accidents in the home, which are not shown separately in the records that are kept of fatal accident inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the per-

SCOTTISH INSHORE FISHING FLEET 1965 AND 1966
FISHERMEN EMPLOYED
1966
Type of Fishing				Total	Regular	Part-time	Crofter
White Fish	…	…	…	5,241	4,724	273	244
Herring	…	…	…	1,174	1,113	57	4
Shell Fish	…	…	…	2,111	605	962	544
Total	…	…	…	8,526	6,442	1,292	792
1965
Type of Fishing				Total	Regular	Part-time	Crofter
White Fish	…	…	…	5,171	4,543	297	331
Herring	…	…	…	1,234	1,190	44	—
Shell Fish	…	…	…	2,053	637	872	544
Total	…	…	…	8,458	6,370	1,213	875

VESSELS ENGAGED
Type of Fishing								1966	1965
White Fish	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,426	1,437
Herring	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	152	151
Shellfish	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,193	1,216
Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,771	2,804
NOTES:
(1) Persons who engage in fishing merely on a casual basis in small boats and who are, normally employed in other professions or trades are not classified as part-time fishermen for the purpose of these statistics.
(2) Fishermen and vessels engaged in more than one type of fishing are classified by reference to the type of fishing in which most days were spent during the year.