asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to settle the strike at Steel Radiators Limited, Dalbeattie.

I understand that discussions are now going on between the company and the union. My officers are keeping in close touch with the position.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to report to the House the findings of the inquiry into labour-only sub-contracts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to indicate the terms of reference of the committee of inquiry set up to examine the practice of labour-only sub-contracting in the construction industry; and whether he will make a statement.

The terms of reference of the inquiry which the Minister of Public Building and Works and I are setting up will be:

"To inquire into the engagement and use of labour in building and civil engineering with particular reference to labour-only subcontracting: and to make recommendations."

I am glad to say that Professor Phelps Brown has agreed to be chairman of the inquiry. The other members will be announced as soon as possible. This will be an important inquiry and I cannot say how soon its report will be available.The Economic Development Committees for building and civil engineering, to whose work we would like to pay tribute, have undertaken to give their full co-operation and to make available to the inquiry relevant information from their own continuing studies over the whole field of labour problems of building and civil engineering. Although this is primarily a problem in building, the inquiry will also cover civil engineering to get the benefit of the experience of both.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations have been made to his Department on the operation of the Trades Disputes Acts 1906 to 1966.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present estimate of the amount of Selective Employment Tax likely to be collected and later refunded without premium in the first full 12 months and what is the estimated cost of collecting and repaying this amount.

In the private sector £68 million in a full year. The cost of collection in the refund sector cannot be separately identified. The cost of repayment will be about £375,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the effect so far of the Selective Employment Tax on the employment of part-time staff in the service trades.

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 has been the increase in unemployment in Scotland over the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Between 10th January, 1966, and 9th January, 1967, total numbers registered as unemployed rose by 18,288; this included an increase of 981 in the numbers temporarily stopped. The percentage rate of unemployment rose from 3·2 to 4·0.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that there are over 600,000 totally unemployed, 500,000 on short time, and 500,000 denied overtime work, and these figures are likely to be exceeded, if he will now take steps to stop all further immigration into this country; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of insured employees who receive no additional payment for week-end working on Saturdays and Sundays, or for night work; and in which industries or professions are such conditions prevalent.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour by what amount unemployment in the United Kingdom increased in January 1967 over January 1966 in manufacturing industries and service industries, respectively.

Between the January 1966 and January 1967 counts, the numbers registered as wholly unemployed who were previously employed in manufacturing industries increased by 67,839. The corresponding figure for service industries was 60,625. These figures do not include those temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the national average of unemployment for the United Kingdom excluding London and the South-East Region.

At 9th January, 1967, the latest date for which information is available, the rate of unemployment for the United Kingdom excluding the South-East Standard Region was 3·1 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what immediate steps the Government are taking, until research into the problem has been completed, to ban the import and use of blue asbestos, the dust of which has a known connection with a fatal tumour, in order to protect the public from a malignant disease.

We are revising the Asbestos Industry Regulations with a view to controlling hazards from asbestos.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has concluded discussions with the Confederation of British Industries and the Trades Union Congress concerning equal pay; if he is now able to relate the results of these discussions to the criteria for income increases during the period of severe restraint: and if he will make a statement.

On the first part of the Question the hon. Member will have noted my reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Halifax (Dr. Summerskill) and Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler). When this matter is further considered by the Government, the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry, it will be necessary to have due regard to the requirements of the incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of wage earners who have received increases in income during the period of severe restraint; what is the average expected increase in rates and earnings of the workers affected; and what are the corresponding figures for those in receipt of salaries.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for the removal and resettlement of key workers in North-East development districts were received and approved in the year ended 31st December, 1966.

In the Northern Development Area which covers Cumberland. Westmorland, Northumberland, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire applications were received from 26 firms on behalf of 171 key workers during the year ended 31st December, 1966; 168 of these were approved.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the number of women over the age of 18 years registered as unemployed in the Oldham and Chadderton area increased by over 80 per cent. between 14th November and 12th December, 1966; and what was the comparable figure in January, 1967;(2) whether he is aware that the number of wholly unemployed men of 18 years and over in the Oldham and Chadderton area increased by nearly 25 per cent. between 14th November, 1966, and 12th December, 1966; and whether he is now in a position to state the comparable figures for January, 1967.

Between November and December, 1966, the number of men wholly unemployed rose by 17 per cent. Total unemployment among women rose by 83 per cent. due entirely to an increase in the numbers temporarily stopped. Between December, 1966, and January, 1967, there were further increases of 32 per cent. and 43 per cent., respectively, but the unemployment rate in the area remained below the national average and employment prospects are generally good.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements have been made to assist those employees of the Imperial Typewriter Company, Leicester, who face dismissal, to find alternative employment.

Our employment officers started work on this on 4th January with the result that of the 161 workers made redundant since 13th January, only 13 are still registered as unemployed and we are doing all we can to find suitable employment for these. So far as I know no further redundancies are expected at this firm.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied with the administration of Government vocational training centres in the Merseyside area; and what proposals he has for improving information about them.

I am satisfied with the administration of the Government Training Centre at Liverpool, but if my hon. Friend has any particular matter in mind I hope he will let me know. Our local officers can provide full information about courses at Government training centres to any inquirer. I do not think that further steps to improve such information are required.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will list the number of Government vocational training centres in the Merseyside area, the range of courses available, the number of persons now taking such courses and the numbers waiting to undertake them.

There is one Government Training Centre in the Merseyside area. The present centre gives instruction in 22 trades, of which 8 are in the construction industry, 6 in engineering and 8 in other trades. On 13th February there were 353 people in training; of these 172 were in construction, 81 in engineering and 100 in other trades. The number of people awaiting admission to the Liverpool Centre at the same date was 244. As my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 30th November, 1966, building of a second Merseyside centre will start in the coming financial year.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of men there were in employment in June 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966, and for the last date for which the figures are available in Wales and Scotland, respectively.

Employment estimates for men, as opposed to males, are only available for Great Britain as a whole.It is estimated that in June, 1966. the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of male employees in employment in Wales and Scotland were 664,000 and 1,332,000 respectively. Information for the earlier years was given on 10th February in my written reply to an earlier Question by the hon. Member.—[Vol. 740, c.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made on the transferability of private pension schemes; when he expects to introduce any necessary legislation; and if be will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 30th January, 1967.—[Vol. 740, c.11.]

asked the Minister of Labour how many labour districts there are at present in Wales with an unemployment level in excess of 5 per cent.

On 9th January, 1967, the rate of unemployment exceeded 5 per cent. in 27 of the 54 areas in Wales for which percentage rates are calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the use of gas bombing by the Egyptians in the Yemen at the United Nations as a threat to peace.

As I said in reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 6th February, the Saudi Arabian Government have already asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations to intervene to prevent a recurrence of the use of poison gas. I do not think there would be any advantage in a separate initiative on the part of Her Majesty's Government.—[Vol. 740, c. 213.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recommendations he made to the World Health Organisation about its dealings with the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 20th December, 1965, the World Health Organisation in which Rhodesia holds associate membership was informed, after the illegal declaration of independence, that the authority of representatives of the illegal regime to the Organisation had been withdrawn by Her Majesty's Government. It was not however the intention to deny humanitarian services through the World Health Organisation. The Organisation was therefore also informed, that while it should hold no communication with the illegal régime in Salisbury, it might continue, where necessary, to correspond on strictly technical or routine matters with Rhodesian officials lawfully appointed before the illegal declaration of independence and acting in the ordinary course of their duties.—[Vol. 722, c. 363.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official representations have been made by the Ruler of Beihan about the action taken by Her Majesty's Government; and what replies have been sent.

When the Ruler called on my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last September he expressed his concern at the recent Egyptian air attack on Nuqub in his State. My right hon. Friend assured him of our determination to carry out our obligations for as long as we remained responsible for the protection of South Arabia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals he has for improving relations with Indonesia.

The hon. Gentleman will recall that last year, even before Confrontation had ended, Her Majesty's Government gave Indonesia a grant of £1 million to help the new government deal with their immediate economic problems. It is only our own present economic situation which prevents us from offering further help. Relations between the two countries steadily improve and we look forward confidently to the resumption of mutually beneficial trade and business with Indonesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make an application for the United Kingdom to join Anzus.

No. The common defence interests of our allies and ourselves in the area are covered by other and more recent arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the Government will, in connection with its discussions about peace in Vietnam, seek to ensure observance of the United Nations Charter, which forbids the use of force or threats of force by one party to bring the other to the conference table or to compel it to accept a settlement desired by the party resorting to force or threats of force.

We hope that all parties to the conflict, whether or not they are members of the United Nations, will respect the principles embodied in the United Nations Charter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the total destruction by United States bulldozers and other means of the South Vietnamese town of Ben Suc, he will inform the United States Government that Her Majesty's Government dissociate themselves from this form of warfare as being contrary to the Geneva Convention.

No. The United States Government have stated that they are applying the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions in regard to the hostilities in Vietnam and that the operation to which my hon. Friend refers was aimed at strictly military objectives. I understand that the civilian population were all evacuated to places of safety before the operation began.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent freedom to plan the economy of the United Kingdom is regarded by the Government as an essential interest to be safeguarded when entering the European Economic Community.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's reply of 19th December last to the hon. Gentleman the Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).—[Vol. 738, c. 181.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the strengthening of the staff of the British Consul General in Hanoi in order to improve the provision of direct information on conditions and events in North Vietnam in Great Britain.

We are very anxious that the staff of the Consulate-General in Hanoi should be adequate in numbers. Delays in obtaining visas from the North Vietnamese authorities prevent the normal level of three United Kingdom-based staff being maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement giving information on the present position of the case of Guardsman Gabriel in the light of Sir Charles Newbold's announcement of the reasons for the court's decision to reject his appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement about the position of the case of Guardsman Gabriel in the light of the announcement of the appeal court's reasons for rejection.

As hon. Members will know, the High Commissioner in Aden, in exercise of the Royal Prerogative, has commuted to one of 10 years' imprisonment the sentence of death passed on Guardsman Brian Gabriel by the Aden Supreme Court on the 3rd of December, 1966.Guardsman Gabriel arrived in this country this morning to serve his sentence in one of H.M. Prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further discussions he has had with the Federal Government of Germany on the subject of the cost of United Kingdom forces in that country.

asked the Secreretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his discussions in Bonn, on offset payments for the British Army of the Rhine.

I would ask my right hon. Friend to await my right hon. Friend's reply to a Private Notice Question on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what departmental or other official inquiries are on foot into the future of overseas broadcasting.

The departmental review of Overseas Information Services which, as hon. Members are aware, is now being carried out by Sir Harold Beeley, includes the work of the British Broadcasting Corporation's External Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will seek the amendment of Article 27(3) of the United Nations Charter, to bring it into line with current jurisprudence.

No. Her Majesty's Government do not consider any amendment to Article 27(3) of the United Nations Charter to be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is now the position of the Baltic creditors after the agreement with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; when it will be finally signed; who else will be included besides the Baltic asset claimants and whether the remaining gold and other assets will all be eventually divided between the British claimants who have already been registered, or what other arrangements Her Majesty's Government propose to make; and when the whole process will be completed.

The agreement with the Soviet Government announced on 13th February has the effect of leaving assets in this country available for a distribution against claims by United Kingdom nationals. The agreement referred to all the post-1939 claims and counterclaims which have, since 1959, been the subject of discussion between our two Governments. As the hon. Gentleman knows, these include on our side, besides the several kinds of Baltic claims, claims arising from the cession of territory to the Soviet Union by Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Rumania, and the question of the Lena and Tetiuhe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics State Notes. Arrangements for the distribution of the assets to the claimants, including the Baltic creditors, will be completed as soon as possible. I cannot forecast how long the whole process will take, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I am as anxious as he is that the claimants should receive payment quickly.—[Vol. 741, c. 110.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress was made during his recent talks with Mr. Kosygin towards the establishment of a United Nations permanent peace-keeping force.

No. The communiqué contains, however, a reaffirmation by both countries of their interest in strengthening the United Nations and enhancing its effectiveness on the basis of strict observance of its Charter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, during the visit of Mr. Kosygin, he accorded or agreed to accord any recognition of the seizure and annexation by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of the independent and sovereign republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The position remains as stated by my hon. Friend, then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 18th July, 1966. Her Majesty's Government recognise that the Baltic States have been de facto absorbed into the Soviet Union but have not recognised this de jure. The question of recognition was not discussed during Mr. Kosygin's visit.—{Vol. 732, c. 8.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what experimental work is being carried out in connection with the ducting of water, electricity and gas mains for new road works in urban areas; and what progress is being made.

The Committee which I recently set up under the chairmanship of Sir Donald Gibson, will study the co-ordination of underground services on building sites, and will consider the possibilities of ducting. Road works generally are not my responsibility.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what has been the total number of man-hours of building and constructional workers employed in building the Polaris base and the Coulport depot.

This information is not readily available, because the construction contracts are on a fixed price basis and it would involve a disproportionate amount of time to calculate it.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress is being made in planning the change to the metric system in the construction industry.

The British Standards Institution will tomorrow publish a programme for the change to the metric system in the construction industry.In 1965, the Government asked the B.S.I. to co-ordinate the change to the metric system in all industries, and construction is the first industry to draw up an agreed timetable. This is a notable achievement and the B.S.I. and the industry are to be congratulated on their initiative. I have written to the B.S.I. indicating that the Government supports the programme, will adhere to it in its own work, and will advise and encourage other authorities in the public sector to do the same.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works by what authority he has permitted the parking of cars off the highway at Wellington Arch, St. James's Park.

I am responsible for the fabric of the Arch but the area around and under it is not under my control. A letter has been sent to the hon. Member, explaining the position.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the negotiations on the question of additional payment to nurses for work on public holidays, week-end duty, and night duty; and what initiative he has taken, or intends to take, in the matter.

The reply given to my hon. Friend on 15th February by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland applies to England and Wales as well as Scotland.—[Vol. 741, c. 104.]

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many patients are requiring use of kidney units in the Liverpool area; and how many can actually be accommodated;(2) what is being done in the Liverpool area to improve the position regarding the kidney units available for patients requiring them.

Facilities for the treatment of patients with acute renal failure are adequate. The number of patients with chronic renal failure who would benefit from treatment by intermittent dialysis is not known. At present four such patients are being treated on kidney machines in hospitals in Liverpool. Developments in Liverpool have been held up by an outbreak of infection of the kind referred to in my Statement

						Consultants
Specialty				Beds	Operating Theatres	Full-time	Part-time
General Medicine	…	…	…	82	—	—	3
Chronic Sick	…	…	…	60	—	—	—
General Surgery	…	…	…	58	2	1	2
Gynaecology	…	…	…	24		—	2
Ear, Nose and Throat	…	…	…	22		—	2
							(one vacancy)
Plastic Surgery	…	…	…	106	3	—	3
Thoracic Surgery	…	…	…	83	3	—	3
Neurosurgery	…	…	…	52	2	1	2
Gastro-Enterology	…	…	…	36	—	—	—
Anaesthetics	…	…	…	—	—	3	3
Dental Surgery	…	…	…	—	—	—	2
Dermatology	…	…	…	—	—	—	1
Diseases of the Chest	…	…	…	—	—	—	2
Neurology	…	…	…	—	—	—	2
Ophthalmology	…	…	…	—	—	—	2
Paediatrics	…	…	…	—	—	—	1
Pathology	…	…	…	—	—	5	—
Radiology	…	…	…	—	—	—	3

asked the Minister of Health what hospital in the Stockport area has been designated for receiving casualties; and when it is expected that the hospital will have full cover, day and night, for this service.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are provided in hospitals in the Stockport area for day and night casualty reception.

Stockport Infirmary. I am informed that a twenty-four hour service is provided.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, because hospital management committees in the House on 8th February. When the existing unit has been freed from infection expansion will be possible. I am sending fuller details to my hon. Friend in reply to his recent letter.—[Vol. 740, c. 1559–64.]

asked the Minister of Health if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT, by speciality, the number of beds, the number of operating threatres, the number of consultants, part-time and full-time separately, at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

The information is as follows:are only able to pay to pharmacists salaries little over half what they are paid in retail shops, there is a serious shortage of pharmacists in the hospital services in the west Midlands; and what action he proposes to take.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North and the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Gurden) on 13th February 1967.—[Vol. 741, c. 65–67.]

asked the Minister of Health what were the average weekly rates of wages of female workers in Group I occupations in the National Health Service in April 1955, April 1964 and August 1966 in areas outside London and in Scotland, respectively; and what were the comparable figures for a newly- trained nurse and a second-year student nurse.

AVERAGE WEEKLY RATES OF WAGES OF FEMALE WORKERS IN GROUP I OCCUPATIONS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
								Urban	Rural
April, 1955	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£4 19s. 0d.	£4 18s. 0d.
								Outside London (including Scotland)
April, 1964	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£7 14s. 10d.
August, 1966	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£8 12s. 4d.

COMPARABLE FIGURES FOR SECOND-YEAR STUDENT NURSES AND NEWLY-QUALIFIED STAFF NURSES
Weekly rates of pay outside London (including Scotland)
	April, 1955			April, 1964			August, 1966
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Second year Student Nurse in a general hospital	4	15	11	6	12	4	7	9	7
Staff Nurse in a general hospital on minimum of scale	7	7	8	11	10	1	13	4	8

asked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his study of the results of the review of vehicles for the disabled; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on Wednesday, 15th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 523–31.]

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. Brian Shayer, a senior technician at the Queen Mary's College, has invented and produced a machine which will enable the crippled victims of thalidomide and others to climb stairs whilst seated in their invalid chair; and whether he will investigate to see to what extent his Department are able to offer financial and other assistance.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the work being done at Queen Mary's College and he is considering the question of financial assistance.

asked the Minister of Health what study he has made of the consequences for the medical services and the National Health Service of this country of Great Britain becoming a member of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

The available information is as follows:

I am advised that membership of the European Economic Community would have no direct or immediate effects on our medical services or the National Health Service; but there should in due course be greater freedom for members of the professions concerned to practise in any part of the Community area, and the Government would join in any future discussions aimed at harmonising the social services of Member States.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the estimated gross remuneration in 1967–68 from all official sources of general medical practitioners under 70 providing unrestricted general medical services under the National Health Service expressed as averages per such practitioner.

I have no information about payments from sources other than Executive Councils and payments to doctors under age 70 are no longer separately estimated. Dividing the estimated total payments by Executive Councils in Great Britain by the estimated total number of doctors gives a quotient of about £5,600.

asked the Minister of Health what is his estimate of the number of persons in the United Kingdom who had a limb or limbs amputated during 1966, or the most convenient 12-month period.

About 4,750 new amputees were referred to Limb Fitting Centres in 1966. Information about those not so referred is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Health what is his estimate of the number of persons in the United Kingdom who have had a limb or limbs amputated.

About 84,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to arrange for all limb fitters working in connection with the National Health Service to be employed directly by regional hospital boards or the boards of governors of teaching hospitals.

I am expecting advice on this question from my Standing Advisory Committee on Artificial Limbs.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will draw up specifications for the principal parts of artificial limbs and invite competitive tenders.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for an artificial limb and appliance centre to be linked with the outpatients' department of the principal orthopaedic hospital in each regional hospital board area.

No, but all new centres are being located in the grounds of hospitals with major orthopaedic departments.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available to people in Westmorland for the use of kidney machines.

There is a main centre for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic renal failure in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and another is being developed in Manchester. I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House on 8th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 1559–64.]

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost last year to the National Health Service of drugs on the proscribed list, obtained by doctor's prescription for registered addicts.

No such information is available, as there is no registration of addicts and prescriptions for addicts are not readily distinguishable from those for other patients.

asked the Minister of Health how many Welsh-born persons there were resident in England at the last date for which the figure is available.

At the 1961 Census, 632,054 persons resident in England on 23rd April, 1961, gave Wales—including Monmouthshire—as their place of birth.

asked the Minister of Health if he will send a circular to hospitals and to medical officers of health urging them to extend cervical cancer screening facilities to women under 35 years of age.

No, not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities are available in Galloway for technical training and what action he intends to take to improve them.

Since there are not enough students to justify setting up a centre for day courses in technical subjects in this area, the authorities responsible have reviewed the arrangements for further education in consultation with my Department. It has been agreed that, for students in Kirkcudbrightshire and the eastern part of Wigtownshire, provision can best be made at Dumfries, and I have approved a proposal to build a new college there. Day students in the western part of Wigtownshire are likely to go increasingly to the new colleges at Ayr and Kilmarnock.If new developments in industry or agriculture make it necessary to supplement these arrangements the authorities concerned will no doubt put proposals to me for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities are available for the treatment of paraplegic patients in Scottish hospitals; how many of these hospitals have specialised units for the treatment of spinal injuries; and if he will make a statement on the plans for the future development of such units.

There is a specialist unit at Edenhall Hospital, Musselburgh and a small unit at Philipshill Hospital, Glasgow. Apart from these units, new paraplegic patients are treated mainly in the orthopaedic departments of acute general hospitals. The Western and South-Eastern Regional Hospital Boards are each planning a new specialist paraplegic unit in place of the existing units but, taking account of other urgent needs, they have not yet been able to fix starting dates for these schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of farms in Scotland are owner-occupied.

In 1966 the land was owned or mainly owned by the occupier on 41 per cent. of the agricultural units in Scotland. In addition, on about 30 per cent. of units (mainly crofts and landholdings) the house and buildings were owned by the occupier but the land was rented from a landlord.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the dissatisfaction among farmers at the delay in refunding Selective Employment Tax, if he will take immediate steps to expedite payment.

Over three-quarters of the claims received from employers have now been met, and I expect that most of the remaining claims will be dealt with before the end of February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sum of money from public funds he has given to Mr. Jack Eastwood of Nottingham under the Local Employment Acts for the intensive rearing of poultry.

Information about applications by particular firms to the Board of Trade for assistance under the Local Employment Acts is confidential.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has as to the capital of the Union Accident Company; and whether he will institute an inquiry into this company under Section 165 of the Companies Act 1948 on the ground that the circumstances suggest that it is being conducted with intent to defraud its creditors.

Southern Counties Insurance Co. Ltd. is registered under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, as the sole proprietor of Union Accident Insurance Company. The issued capital of Southern Counties Insurance Co. Ltd. is returned as £100,000.The Board of Trade has made, and is continuing to make, inquiries, but on present information I am not satisfied that the Board would be justified in appointing an inspector under Section 165

asked the Attorney-General what saying it is estimated would be effected by the transfer of undefended matrimonial cases to the county court: and how this estimate is calculated.

It is not possible to make a precise estimate of the saving, but I see no reason to revise the figure of £400,000 a year which I gave in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 15th December 1965. In estimating this saving, it has been assumed that counsel will continue to appear in three-quarters of the 27,000 undefended cases now brought each year by assisted persons. Where counsel appears, a small saving can be expected on counsel's fees because of the somewhat lower fees allowed in the county court. There will probably be a saving of about £16 in the solicitor's profit costs in each case in which counsel is instructed and of about £6 where the solicitor conducts the case without counsel.—[Vol. 722, c. 1261.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had about effecting improvements in the conditions of service of industrial civil servants criticised in Report No. 18 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

None about equality of status. But consultations are taking place with the trade unions concerned about a new pay structure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of changes in the value of industrial output per man-hour at constant prices in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Western Germany, France, Italy and Japan, between the third quarter of 1964 and the fourth quarter of 1966, from information he received from international organisations.

Between the third quarter of 1964 and the third quarter of 1966 (the latest date available) output per operative hour in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is estimated to have risen by about 8 per cent. Comparable figures for other countries are not available from the international organisations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that many women living alone, whether widows or single, receive small but taxable incomes from insurance policies, pensions, and the return on small capital, he will consider the relaxation of the present scale of taxation of people in this group, whether income is earned or unearned.

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the benefit to the balance of payments which results from British ownership, in whole or in part, of oil companies operating in Libya, and of the capital value expressed in sterling, of such assets.

I am not in a position to publish estimates of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost of the advertisements run by the Civil Service Commission for the recruitment of economists; how many economists have been recruited directly as a result of these advertisements; and to which Government Department they have been allocated.

In 1966, the Civil Service Commission spent £3,550 on advertisements for the recruitment of economists. Of the 15 people appointed, 11 said that they had learned of the vacancies from press advertisements. Departments to which economists were allocated are: the Department of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Overseas Development, the Ministry of Power, the Board of Trade and H.M. Treasury. Five of the 15 were appointed as cadet economists and are receiving further training at Universities.The Commission have recently advertised at a cost of £3,835 an open competition to recruit economists in 1967. Interviews will be held in March and April.

EXPENDITURE PER HEAD OF POPULATION, 1965–66
			Total Public Expenditure						Central Government Expenditure†
Service*			Scotland			England and Wales			Scotland			England and Wales
			£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Roads (including lighting)	…	…	8	14	6	7	12	10	5	8	4	3	17	3
Airports‡	…	…		17	4		7	0	—			—
Ports‡	…	…		13	5		5	7	—			—
Promotion of local employment	…	…	1	12	3		7	3	1	12	3		7	3
Agricultural support	…	…	5	6	10	4	6	10	5	6	10	4	6	10
Agricultural and fishery services, etc.	…	…	1	16	2		10	1	1	15	0		8	5
Forestry	…	…		11	2		10	3		11	2		10	3
Housing	…	…	28	13	5	15	6	4	4	6	10	1	16	10
Environmental services	…	…	13	16	9	10	15	3		13	5		8	11
Libraries and museums	…	…		10	5		19	6		2	4		3	10
Police	…	…	3	18	0	4	2	0	1	16	1	1	18	9
Prisons	…	…		13	5		11	1		13	5		11	1
Other law and order	…	…	1	14	2	2	0	3		13	1		13	11
Education (excluding Universities and C.A.T.s)			27	11	6	24	19	8	2	13	5	1	0	4
Universities and C.A.T.s	…	…	5	5	8	4	9	11	5	5	4	3	13	4
Health and welfare	…	…	26	18	5	24	14	6	24	8	10	21	3	6
Childrens services	…	…	7	3	9	6	5	0	6	6	10	5	5	10
Benefits and Assistance	…	…	45	8	6	43	13	3	45	8	6	43	13	3
Other services	…	…	2	17	3	4	12	8	1	11	11	1	7	4
General, Rate Deficiency, and Equalisation and Transitional Grants to Local Revenues		…	—			—			20	17	9	18	19	10
* As listed in Table 57 of the Scottish Digest of Statistics, 1966.
† Including transfers to other spending authorities within the Public Sector, other than Consolidated Fund Loans to Local Authorities (not separately identifiable).
‡Items for which separately identifiable figures of transfers are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish tables in respect of 1965–66 showing the expenditure per head of population in Scotland, and England and Wales, respectively, on each of the services listed in Table 57 of the Digest of Scottish Statistics which includes expenditure by local authorities, and a similar per capita breakdown of expenditure by central Government Departments under these headings, including transfers from the Exchequer to other spending authorities;(2) if he will publish a table in respect of 1965–66 showing the Exchequer element of expenditure per head of population in Scotland, and England and Wales, respectively, on those items where it is possible to identify expenditure in Scotland, and which are not covered by other tables he has been asked to publish.

The following table shows total public expenditure and central government expenditure per head of population in Scotland, and England and Wales, respectively, for 1965–66.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables in respect of 1965–66 showing Exchequer expenditure per head of the population in Great Britain on defence, external relations, railways, and waterways, grants, research councils, financial administration, and common services.

The following table shows Central Government expenditure per head of the population in Great Britain in 1965–66 on the relevant services.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE PER HEAD OF POPULATION 1965–66
	£	s.	d.
Military Defence	40	7	5
External Relations	5	14	5
Railways and Waterways Grants	2	9	10
Research Councils		19	5
Financial Administration and Common Services	4	18	5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in respect of 1965–66 showing Exchequer expenditure per head of the population in Great Britain on items other than Supply Services, including the servicing of the national debt.

The following table shows Exchequer expenditure (other than Supply expenditure) per head of population in Great Britain for 1965–66.

EXCHEQUER EXPENDITURE OTHER THAN SUPPLY EXPENDITURE PER HEAD OF POPULATION (GREAT BRITAIN) 1965–66
	£	s.	d.
Consolidated Fund Standing Services*
Interest on and management of National Debt	21	8	11
Payments arising from war-time liabilities		7	7
Miscellaneous		4	2
Consolidated Fund Loans(net)†
Nationalised industries	11	2	10
Private industry		10	7
Local authorities	9	18	3
Other public bodies		19	3
Overseas assistance		15	9
Other		4	11
Total	45	12	3
* Excluding Northern Ireland share of reserved taxes.
† Excluding net lending to Northern Ireland Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct the Board of Inland Revenue to publish its examination of the effect and working of close companies legislation in the Finance Act 1965.

It is an essential part of the machinery of government that advice is constantly asked for by Ministers and tendered to them by their Departments. Such advice is confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of grants to private industry, other than agriculture, over the last 20 years.

The following table shows the total of capital grants to private industry, other than agriculture, and excluding war damage compensation, by the central Government for each year since 1950 (there being no figures available for 1946–49) to the nearest £ million at current prices until 1965, the latest year for which figures are available.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT: CAPITAL GRANTS TO PRIVATE INDUSTRY
						£ million Current prices
1950	…	…	…	…	…	1
1951	…	…	…	…	…	1
1952	…	…	…	…	…	1
1953	…	…	…	…	…	1
1954	…	…	…	…	…	1
1955	…	…	…	…	…	1
1956	…	…	…	…	…	1
1957	…	…	…	…	…	2
1958	…	…	…	…	…	2
1959	…	…	…	…	…	2
1960	…	…	…	…	…	14
1961	…	…	…	…	…	8
1962	…	…	…	…	…	13
1963	…	…	…	…	…	12
1964	…	…	…	…	…	20
1965	…	…	…	…	…	32

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many commercial companies at present claim fishing and shooting estates as entertainment expenses; and whether he will make a statement.

The information is not available. I would remind my hon. Friend that Section 15, Finance Act, 1965 lays down the general rule that expenditure incurred on business entertaining is to be disallowed for tax purposes, with a limited exception for the entertainment of overseas customers as defined in the Section.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a study within the bounds of practicability of the relationship between the total revenues accruing to the Exchequer from Scotland, and England and Wales, respectively.

I cannot usefully add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Gentleman's Question on 16th November 1966.—[Vol. 736, c. 139.]

asked the Secretary of State for Educaton and Science if he will list the number of performances in the last full year promoted by the orchestral management of each of the four London orchestras and each of the five major regional orchestras; and if he will state the average amount of the Arts Council grant for each such performance.

The following are the number of performances in 1965–66 promoted by the management of each orchestra and the result of dividing the Arts Council grant by these numbers:

		£
London Philharmonic	84	440
London Symphony	32	529
New Philharmonia	23	736
Royal Philharmonic	109	362
City of Birmingham Symphony	77	636
Bournemouth Symphony	106	566
Halle	102	539
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic	100	520
Scottish National	97	644

Other factors, however, were also taken into account in determining the grants given to these orchestras.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of Government grants made to golf clubs since October, 1964; and for what purposes they were given.

Payments totalling £124,793 have been made so far towards grants amounting to £160,237 offered to the clubs listed below to assist with the purchase and lay-out of land and provision of premises for essential changing, washing and storage facilities. The estimated total cost of these projects was £444,388.Further grants amounting to £96,712 have been offered to 21 clubs towards projects costing £307,268 but no payments have yet been made. These include grants totalling £66,653 offered provisionally subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions by the clubs concerned.No Government grant is provided for social facilities.

GRANTS PAYMENTS MADE TO GOLF CLUBS IN ENGLAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND SINCE OCTOBER, 1964
Club			Grant Paid
			£
ENGLAND
Cambridgeshire
Girton	…	…	3,775
Cornwall
Truro	…	…	2,080
Devon
Honiton	…	…	648
Durham
Chester-le-Street	…	…	2,697
Seaham Harbour	…	…	1,600
South Shields	…	…	4,386
Whitburn	…	…	1,681
Hampshire
Winchester	…	…	5,000
Hertfordshire
Boxmoor	…	…	812
Huntingdonshire
St. Neots	…	…	5,657
Lincs.
Louth	…	…	7,544
Sleaford	…	…	2,560
Norfolk
Diss	…	…	843
Northants
Market Harborough	…	…	1,505
Northumberland
Whitley Bay	…	…	685
Shropshire
Shifnal	…	…	10,000
Suffolk
Felixstowe	…	…	3,566
Stowmarket	…	…	1,755
Warwickshire
Rugby	…	…	1,075
Westmorland
Windermere	…	…	1,778
Yorkshire
Baildon	…	…	3,162
Clayton	…	…	3,463
South Bradford	…	…	2,422
Total	…	…	£68,694

Club			Grant Paid
			£
WALES
Caernarvon
Pwllheli	…	…	7,308
Cardigan
Cardigan	…	…	937
Carmarthen
Llandeilo	…	…	2,527
Monmouth
Blackwood	…	…	5,215
Pembroke
Milford Haven	…	…	2,590
Tenby	…	…	8,815
Radnor
Llandrindod	…	…	55
Total	…	…	£27,447
SCOTLAND
Aberdeenshire
Fraser Burgh	…	…	3,620
Huntly	…	…	1,638
Turriff	…	…	925
Argyllshire
Cowal	…	…	1,273
Ayrshire
Ardeer	…	…	4,622
Banff
Keith	…	…	3,100
Dunbartonshire
Bearsden	…	…	5,752
Inverness
Fort Augustus	…	…	24
Sconser	…	…	533
Lanarkshire
East Kilbride	…	…	991
Stirlingshire
Bonnybridge	…	…	1,554
West Lothian
Greenburn	…	…	3,620
Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire County	…	…	1,000
Total	…	…	£28,652

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientists are now employed by the Army, Navy and Air Force Departments, respectively; and what is the annual cost.

Estimated figures for 1967–68 are about 1,400, 1,470 and 1,140 respectively; the total estimated cost is about £8·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances it has been necessary to move Gurkha troops by sea instead of air charter.

At the time of the hostilities between India and Pakistan in 1965, the Indian Government informed us that in view of the shortage of aviation fuel in the country, refuelling facilities could not be made available for the forthcoming move of Gurkha troops by air charter. The move that autumn, and both those in 1966, were carried out by sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nature of the expenditure on British Indian Ocean territory which has been deferred to a later year.

The expenditure deferred is for the purchase of a ship for the use of the Administrator of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation has been paid to representatives of former owners of areas of the former Admiralty depot at Ditton Priors, Shropshire, for their expenses in the negotiations terminated by him in January 1967.

This is one of the matters which will be the subject of inquiries in the proceedings which Lord Boyne has instituted.