asked the Minister of Power what representations have been made to him for the proper use of natural indigenous fuels by the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers, respectively.

In their discussions with me both bodies have shown a proper concern for the welfare of the coal industry and its work people. I shall give due weight to the role of indigenous fuels in the present review of fuel policy.

asked the Minister of Power what consultative machinery exists between his Department and the National Coal Board in respect of the closure of pits.

Pit closure policy is regularly reviewed by the Department and the National Coal Board. Additionally, the Department and others concerned are kept informed of individual pit closures so that appropriate measures can be taken to ease any social problems which may arise.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board not further to extend its interests in the marketing of domestic solid-fuel boilers.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the tonnage of coal brought in 1966 to Welsh power stations from English coalfields.

436,000 tons: and 377,000 tons of Welsh coal was supplied to power stations in England.

asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate on the basis of his most recent information of the number of men who will be employed by the National Coal Board in Wales and Scotland, respectively, in one, two and three years' time.

There were 42,276 men employed at collieries in Scotland at the end of 1966 and 60,956 in Wales. It is estimated that the numbers employed at the end of 1967, if present trends of recruitment and wastage continue, will be about 40,000 in Scotland and 55,000 in Wales. No accurate estimate can be made yet of the numbers likely to be employed beyond 1967.

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish the number of coal mines closed in Wales and Scotland, respectively, since vesting day up to date; and what is the number still open.

Since vesting date 117 collieries have been closed in Wales and 188 in Scotland; at present there are 76 collieries in operation in Wales and 59 in Scotland. During this period many new mines have been sunk in both Divisions.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the estimated tonnage of coal to be mined in the Welsh and Scottish coalfields, respectively, in 1970 under the revised National Plan.

The level of output in particular coalfields is a matter for the National Coal Board in the light of energy policy generally, which is at present the subject of a major Review. As my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State indicated in reply to questions by the hon. Members for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and Guildford (Mr. David Howell) on 9th February the revision of the National Plan is still in progress.—[Vol. 740, c. 341.]

asked the Minister of Power how many vacancies currently exist for coal miners at collieries in the Northern Region; and if he will name the pits concerned.

At present there are very few vacancies in the National Coal Board's Northumberland and Durham Division. This is because about 1,000 men had to be redeployed from Lynemouth Colliery when it was temporarily closed after a fire in November, 1966 and because men must be absorbed from collieries which are closing in the Division.There were 46 vacancies in the three Cumberland pits (Solway, Harrington and Haig) at the end of December, 1966.

asked the Minister of Power if he will estimate the number of coalminers recruited to the industry during 1966 to pits in the Northern Region; how many miners left the industry during the year; and what is the numerical strength of the labour force at 31st December, 1966 by comparison with 31st December, 1965.

There were about 3,500 men recruited into the mining industry in the Northern Region during 1966. About 12,450 men left during the year and a further 800 men transferred to other coalfields. There were 80,400 men on colliery books at the end of December, 1966 compared with 90,150 men at the end of December, 1965.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in future appointments to the boards of nationalised industries and services, he will ensure that those appointed are in favour of the principle of nationalisation.

I shall aim to appoint the best men available, who have the will and the capacity to make their nationalised industries succeed.

asked the Minister of Power what proposals he has for the closer integration of the fuel and power industries and services.

I am not sure which specific point my right hon. Friend has in mind, but I have, at present, no proposals for altering the statutory basis on which the three nationalised fuel industries have been established as separate enterprises.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will introduce legislation to control, and require the provision of information about, the diversification activities of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible.

No. The present powers are adequate.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total value of plant and ancillary equipment, excluding buildings, ordered by the Gas Council, Central Electricity Generating Board and other nationalised industries for which he is responsible, respectively and in total, ordered directly or through sub-contractors and installed, erected or delivered during the year ended 31st December, 1966; and what were the value and percentage of this total supplied from overseas.

The information asked for is not readily available, but I am asking the Chairmen of the National Coal Board and of the Electricity and Gas Councils to write to the hon. Member to give such information as they can.

asked the Minister of Power what discussions he has had about prices of British manufactured steel to the chemical plant industry with representatives of the appropriate associations, including the Tank and Industrial Plant Association.

None.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he proposes to take to control the effect of low-cost steel imports on the home pricing structure in advance of vesting day.

My right hon. Friend is in close touch with the industry on the general problems of world surplus capacity which are depressing import prices and has initiated discussions on this subject with the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community.

asked the Minister of Power whether he now proposes to pay to members of the Board of the National Steel Corporation and senior executives of that body salaries comparable with those paid in privately owned industry to persons with comparable responsibility.

I am not yet able to make a statement about the remuneration of the members of the National Steel Corporation; that of senior executives will be a matter for the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to amend the Gas Act, 1948, to ensure that the area gas boards exercise supervision over the installation of gas appliances by private retailers and tradesmen, in view of recent fatal accidents.

My right hon. Friend would like to consider this.

asked the Minister of Technology what talks he has has had with the motor industry, with a view to further integration.

As I said in the House on 17th January, the Government are convinced that the British controlled motor manufacturing firms would gain greatly if they could co-operate more fully in overseas marketing arrangements. The Industrial Reorganisation Corporation is therefore discussing with these firms the possibility of co-ordination and co-operation between them in their efforts overseas.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the nature, number, design and purpose of the prototype fast-breeder reactors made at or under the auspices or authority of Dounreay Experimental Station and the manner in which they will benefit British production, exports and defence.

The A.E.A.'s experimental fast reactor at Dounreay has paved the way for the 250 MW (electricity) prototype fast reactor, now under construction there. The latter is confidentally expected to demonstrate the advantages of fast breeder reactors for commercial power production at home and overseas.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will give an undering that he will not reduce the dissemination of information from the Atomic Energy Authority to the three British nuclear energy consortia.

I have nothing to add, as yet, to my reply on 6th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Dr. David Owen).—[Vol. 740, c. 239–40.]

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects to approve the contract between Short Brothers and Fokker for the manufacture of F28 wings.

I am waiting for Short Brothers and Harland to provide certain information arising out of the agreement between themselves and the other parties in this venture. In the meantime, work on Shorts' part in the project is proceeding as planned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on the effectiveness of the economic measures announced on 20th July, 1966.

Externally sterling has been greatly strengthened. The underlying trend of the gold and convertible currency reserves has been upwards since the autumn, and substantial repayments of earlier drawings on Central Bank facilities have been made. Exports have been advancing strongly and the rapid increase of imports has been checked. The balance of payments as a whole improved greatly in the fourth quarter, and was probably in surplus over the quarter as a whole.Internally, the measures have eliminated the excess pressure of demand and freed resources for export production and other essential activity. They have also halted the upward spiralling of cost and prices, to the advantage of our competitive position overseas. In the process of redeploying resources some loss of potential output, and a rise in unemployment, has occurred, but these are short-term disadvantages to be set against the gain to the country's long-term prospects for renewed growth on the basis of solvency.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for reducing the level of Purchase Tax currently being imposed on charity Christmas cards.

None. An exemption for Charity Christmas Cards would result in unfair competition with other Christmas cards which have to bear the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has proposed that the present uplift on the printer's price for Christmas cards bought by charities should be increased from 50 per cent. to 75 per cent.

To ensure that Purchase Tax is charged on the value required by law, and to equate the tax on charity cards with that on cards sold through ordinary commercial channels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will resolve the difficulties attendant upon the introduction of decimal currency by proposing that the 10s. unit be used for all transactions at home and the £ sterling be used for international transactions.

No. Nor do I accept that the difficulties—where they exist—are more than transient.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the numbers and annual cost for salaries and expenses of Ministers of State in Her Majesty's Government on 1st September, 1964 and on 16th February, 1967, respectively.

16 and 21, and £66,250 and £132,000 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a committee to inquire into the present form of rating and assessment of public houses. and to consider whether this should be based in future on turn-over.

No. Regard is generally had to the amount of trade in assessing the rental value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of interest on Rhodesian Government stock due but unpaid to holders of such stock resident in the United Kingdom; and what action he is taking to mitigate their consequent hardship.

Just under £2 million; while I regret this situation, I cannot accept any responsibility for the liabilities of the Rhodesian Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware that there is no branch of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the city of Liverpool, and that this causes inconvenience and delays to the social and business activities of South-West Lancashire and North Wales; and if he will set up a branch there;(2) what is his estimate of the initial cost and annual costs involved in the provision of a branch of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the city of Liverpool;(3) what would be the amount of the minimal annual turnover necessary to make a branch of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Liverpool an economically viable proposition;(4) what estimate has he made of the current level of demand for the service of a branch of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Liverpool, to serve Merseyside, South-West Lancashire and North Wales.

The demand for Government publications in the Liverpool area represents a turnover of about £30,000 a year—which is little more than half what would be required for economical operation of a bookshop selling only Government publications with a low average price.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the new scales of compensation payments to dispossesed agricultural tenants which he is now considering will not be chargeable either to Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax.

It is not envisaged that the additional compensation which as announced today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food it is proposed shall be payable to tenant-farmers who are displaced from their land for non-agricultural purposes, will be taxable as income or chargeable to Capital Gains Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now enabled the Freedom from Hunger Campaign to remit money to Rhodesia for the improvement of African agriculture.

Further information about these projects was provided on 7th February and I am accordingly prepared to authorise payment in sterling to Rhodesian account. The applicants are being informed of this decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the London Borough of Newham is expected to increase rates by 1s. in the £ sterling and that rents of council properties are ex- pected to rise by 7s. 6d. per week; and, as this will be contrary to the Government's policy of severe restraint, what action he proposes to take to assist this council in overcoming its economic difficulties without having to impose an additional burden on ratepayers.

The new grant arrangements under the Local Government Act, 1966, will reduce any rate increase by 5d. so far as domestic ratepayers are concerned; and domestic ratepayers who qualify, including local authority tenants, can also benefit from the rate rebate scheme which is financed as to three-quarters by the Exchequer.I understand that the rents of a small proportion of the council houses will he increased as the third stage of a scheme adopted in 1965. The increase will vary as the council have a rent rebate scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what instructions he has given to the development corporations of new towns to plan the provision of all services such as electricity, gas, water and telephones through single ducts capable of inspection, thereby obviating constant disturbance of the roadways or pathways when there is a breakdown in any service or a new one has to be added to a habitation.

Before considering further action my right hon. Friend will await the recommendations of the Committee announced on 29th November last by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works. Meanwhile development corporations, encouraged by the Department, are already making extensive use of common trenches and some have tried, or are considering limited trials of, common ducts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made towards implementing the Government's decision to establish a centre for environmental studies.

The Centre for Environmental Studies has now been formally established as an independent charitable trust for the purpose of advancing education and research in the planning and design of the physical environment. I welcome the decision of the Ford Foundation, announced today, to make a grant of $750,000 to the Centre. Subject to Parliamentary approval a Government grant will be made to the Centre and will amount for the first five years to one and a half times the contribution of the Ford Foundation, up to a maximum of £600,000. The Centre will have a governing body of ten, including one international governor appointed in consultation with the Ford Foundation. Two of the governors have yet to be appointed; the following have already accepted appointments:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether the future status of the remaining British colonies has been discussed with the United Nations.

The future of non-selfgoverning territories is frequently discussed at the United Nations and we participate in discussions on the British territories to which Article 73 of the Charter applies.

asked the Secretary of State. for Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that 800 homes were destroyed in the Tasmanian fires and that the average cost of those homes was £4,000 and if he will increase British aid immediately.

In accordance with our normal policy following natural disasters in other countries, our contribution of £20,000 to the Tasmanian relief fund was intended to be applied to immediate first-aid relief. My right hon. Friend altered his Australian programme in order to make an immediate visit to Hobart on 19th February. He has now seen the devastated areas for himself and has discussed the immediate problems and needs with Tasmanian Ministers. In the light of these discussions he will no doubt be considering the matter further.I understand that the Tasmanian Government have, in fact, announced that they will provide new homes free for those people left homeless by the bush fires near Hobart.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on proposals to extend the British Museum.

My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make a statement, but will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the date stipulated as the final deadline for applications by overseas students for admission to British universities; and what special financial assistance will be given to overseas students who completed their applications before the increased fees were announced.

The final date for application to the Universities Central Council on Admissions was 15th December, 1966. The announcement of 21st December, 1966 on fees for overseas students was made before any decisions were likely to be reached on these applications, so that no special arrangements on the ground of prior commitment would appear to be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what precise proposals are being considered for a special fund to be set up to assist overseas students who are unable to meet the increase in fees owing to special hardship; if such a fund will be available for private students as well as for those on grants from voluntary organisations; and how the fund will be administered.

The proposed fund will be available to private students as well as those on grants from voluntary organisations. The details of the fund and its administration are now being worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his definition of an overseas student; and what exact conditions and qualifications will entitled a student to be included in the category of British subject, immigrant or alien, respectively;(2) whether overseas students who have been resident in the United Kingdom for longer than three years are exempt from the proposed increase in fees and qualify for local education authority grants.

The test for higher fees. as has already been stated, will be based on ordinary residence and not on nationality or origin. Further guidance will be given after appropriate consultation has taken place.Students who have been ordinarily resident for longer than three years before commencing their course are normally eligible for local education authority awards on the same terms as students resident in the United Kingdom since birth. These arrangements are not being altered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of his proposal that universities themselves should subsidise the increase in fees for overseas students, if he will consider making special provision for assistance to those universities which have a high proportion of overseas students, and for which the provision of such subsidies would prove an impossible burden.

As I announced on 14th February the Government 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. Universities will still be free to assist in cases of hardship if they are able to do so from their existing resources.—[Vol. 741, c. 73.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children reached school-leaving age in the year 1966 in the Abertillery constituency; and how many of those failed to enter employment.

Approximately 800. Some of these stayed on at school or went to further education establishments. Others were seeking employment and their number should be available locally from the Youth Employment Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy that the size of primary and secondary school classes should be reduced to 30 and that teachers should be adequately paid, what action he has now taken, and will take, to achieve these objectives.

My 14-point programme is aimed at increasing the supply of teachers and so reducing class sizes. The remuneration of the teachers is in the first instance a matter for the Burnham Committee.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the need to co-ordinate public construction programmes within the Northern Region in terms of land, labour, plant and financial resources, what form of experiment he has arranged to eliminate delays and waste as recommended by the Northern Economic Council.

The recommendation which the hon. Lady has in mind is being considered by officials of the Northern Economic Planning Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of the Polaris submarine school at Faslane; and what is the weekly expenditure now being incurred at the school.

The total cost to Defence Votes is £7·5 million. To work out a comprehensive figure for weekly expenditure would take a great deal of effort which I do not consider justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the Polaris submarine depot at Coulport; what is the total cost, including roads, water supply, etc.; whether atomic missiles are to be stored there.

The Royal Naval Armament Depot at Coulport is part of the Clyde Submarine Base, which will provide support and maintenance facilities for all submarines based in the Clyde area. The total cost of the base is estimated to be about £45 million. Polaris missiles will be stored at Coulport.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence at what time on 15th February he ordered that Mr. Parkes should be released from custody.

The Commanding Officer was informed at about one o'clock that Mr. Parkes should be released from custody.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the policy of a £100 million cut in defence expenditure decided last July has been, or is likely to be, achieved.

I have been asked to reply. I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the £100 million cut in foreign exchange expenditure announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20th July, 1966. The major part of this, but not the whole, was to be in the foreign exchange cost of defence and, as the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1967 (Cmnd. 3203) makes clear, savings at a rate of about £75 million will be achieved by the end of 1967/68.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the North Vietnam Government following the resumption of United States bombing of North Vietnam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the United States Government as a result of the resumption of bombing of North Vietnam.

Both the American and North Vietnamese authorities are fully aware of Her Majesty's Government's continued readiness to help both sides to a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish a table showing how many British Servicemen, British Servicemen's dependants, other British civilians, and other persons, respectively, have been killed and wounded in each month since October,

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what agreement was reached by Her Majesty's Government in regard to Mr. Kosygin's official proposal that the Federal German Government must be required to adhere to a 1964 in terrorist incidents in South Arabia.

The following table contains the information which is immediately available. I does not show separately figures relating to the dependants of British servicemen, but I have asked the High Commissioner whether he can supply this information.nuclear non-proliferation treaty and must not herself obtain nuclear weapons.

None. No such official proposal was made and no response therefore is required. Her Majesty's Government's position is well known. We hope that all States will sign a non-proliferation agreement in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the quantities

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Minister of Housing and Local Government, the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, and the Minister of Public Building and Works, for implementing the Government's housing plan; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am satisfied that those of my right hon. Friends with responsibilities in this field work closely and effectively together.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange to start answering Questions at 3 o'clock in order that right hon. and hon. Members, on both sides of the House, may obtain oral answers.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the Answer I gave to a similar Question by him on 10th November last.—[Vol. 735. c. 1537.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the salary to be paid to the right hon. Lady the Member for Cannock and value of the exports of cattle, sheep and pigs to the Continent for each of the year from 1962 to 1966.

Yes. The following is the information: at the Department of Education and Science.

As my hon. Friend will know the normal minimum salary of a Minister of State is £5,625 a year. In view of the need for restraint, however, it has been agreed that my right hon. Friend will for the time being serve at her previous salary of £3,750 a year despite her promotion. This follows the precedent set in the case of my right hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, East (Mr. George Thomson), as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Prime Minister at what time and on what date President Johnson informed him of the United States Government's decision to recommence bombing in North Vietnam; and on what date and time he advised Prime Minister Kosygin of this information.

As I told the House on 14th February, the details of my contacts with President Johnson and the discussions with Mr. Kosygin were confidential and must remain so.—[Vol. 741, c. 345.]

asked the Prime Minister what increase in the cost of living and what effect on the balance of payments will result if the United Kingdom enters the Common Market.

asked the Prime Minister what is the Government's estimate of the rise in the cost of living which will occur if Great Britain becomes a full member of the European Economic Community.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the Answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 10th November last to which, as yet, I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 735, c. 1537.]

asked the Prime Minister what is the Government's estimate of the additional exchange cost to Great Britain arising from a free capital market if Great Britain becomes a full member of the European Economic Community.

Estimates of this kind depend on the detailed assumptions on which they are based and the range of possible assumptions is wide. It would be misleading therefore for me to give an estimate which might gain currency as an authoritative assessment out of the context in which it was framed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the net annual income per acre at the last convenient date for farms in England and Wales of between 20 and 50 acres;(2) what was the net annual income per acre at the last convenient date for farms in England and Wales of between 50 and 100 acres;(3) what was the net annual income per acre at the last convenient date for farms in England and Wales of between 100 and 150 acres.

The information is given in "Farm Incomes in England and Wales 1964", a report based on the Farm Management Survey, and is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the abattoirs in England and Wales which still fail to meet the conditions set out in the Slaughterhouses Act, 1958.

According to my latest information from the responsible local authorities, there are 18 such slaughterhouses situated in the nine districts for which my right hon. Friend has not yet appointed days for the application of the construction regulations under the Act. I will obtain details of the up-to-date position and write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the incidence of brucellosis in cattle in Westmorland.

Brucellosis is not a notifiable disease and I regret I have no precise information on its incidence in any particular county. Some farmers in Westmorland have had brucellosis tests carried out at our veterinary investigation centre at Penrith. The results while not necessarily representative show no great difference from those of the recent national blood survey. They do not show the incidence of the disease since it is impossible to distinguish vaccinal reactors from others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what percentage of farms in England are owner-occupied;(2) what percentage of farms are owner-occupied in Wales.

The latest available information relates to 1961 when the proportion of all agricultural holdings which were wholly owned by the occupiers was 47 per cent. in England and 51 per cent. in Wales. In addition, 16 per cent. of all holdings in England and 11 per cent. of all holdings in Wales were mainly or partly owned by the occupier.More detailed statistics relating to tenure were published in Agricultural Statistics 1962–63: England and Wales (H.M.S.O. London 1965).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give, to the nearest convenient date, the number of claims he has received from eligible agricultural establishments for repayment of the Selective Employment Tax; and how many of those claims have been settled.

Up to 17th February 77,688 claims had been received; of these 68,534 had been paid.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of the Government's proposals for improved compensation of agricultural tenants displaced for development purposes.

The Government intend to introduce as soon as possible legislation to provide for special additional compensation payments, at the rate of four years' rent, to be made to a tenant farmer who is displaced for development, forestry or any other non-agricultural purpose, whether he is displaced by a private landlord or a public authority. The new proposals will give an effective minimum of five years' rent as compensation, or in some circumstances up to six years' rent compared with 1–2 years' rent now payable under the Agricultural Holdings Acts. My right hon. Friend asks me to make clear that these provisions will also apply in Scotland.It is proposed that the new provisions should apply to notices served on tenants after the day the Bill is introduced pro- vided the tenancy does not terminate before the Royal Assent. In the meantime, Government Departments, New Town Corporations and other public authorities will be asked to have regard to the proposed level of compensation, making use where appropriate of the discretionary powers under Section 22 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963, or Section 38 of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act, 1963.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why, when Mr. Foster, a school teacher from Chester-le-Street, asked the Foot-andMouth Research Centre in Rothbury last year during the epidemic if he could take a party of school children through the area he was informed that the Pennine Way was still open when it was not.

Because it was not closed under the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Infected Areas Restrictions) Order, 1938.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the facts that incessant use of the humane killer in Northumberland last year caused the weapon to become hot and resulted in inefficient killing and that in large-scale killings spare humane killers should be available, he will ensure that in future outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease two spare humane killers are made available to each slaughterer.

I have no evidence to show that the assumption in the first part of the Question is correct. Normally, slaughtermen bring their own weapons and spare humane killers are available. The supply of these weapons is under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many and on which farms animals originally regarded as dead were later finally destroyed by humane killers, or hand action; and what was the period between the original intended killings and the animal's actual death in the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Northumberland last summer.

These questions are dealt with in the statement I am making on 22nd February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now approve for grant the payment by rabbit clearance societies to their operators of the 6s. per week increase in the minimum wage recently awarded to agricultural workers.

The wages of rabbit clearance society operators are not covered by Orders made under the Agricultural Wages Act, 1948, but societies are being advised that where a contract linking the wages of an operator to the agricultural workers' minimum rate was in existence before 20th July, 1966 the recent increase of 6s. per week may be applied as appropriate. Arrangements are being made for other cases to be considered on their merits in accordance with the criteria for wages set out in the White Paper on the Period of Severe Restraint (Cmnd. 3150). Any wage increases approved under these arrangements will rank for grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of shoplifting were brought before the courts in England and Wales last year; in how many cases the defendants were found guilty; and whether those figures show an increase on the previous year.

I regret that this information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to empower himself to control the issue of licences for clubs by the Greater London Council in such a way as to ensure that such issue does not conflict with the interests of individual London boroughs and that the boroughs are fully consulted.

No. The statutory requirements as to publicity for applications should suffice to enable a London borough council, like any other interested party, to make its views known. I understand that it is the normal practice for the Greater London Council to notify the relevant borough council of the receipt of an application for a new licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further subjects he has referred to the Advisory Council on the Penal System.

I have asked the Advisory Council to consider the régime for long-term prisoners detained in conditions of maximum security, and to make recommendations.To undertake this task they have set up a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Professor Radzinowicz. In addition, the Council has set up at my invitation a standing sub-committee on criminological research. The sub-committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Younger, will keep my Department informed of research which the Council would like to see instituted in connection with its own operations, and will provide a forum in which my Department can seek expert advice on the make-up of the criminological research programme. The Home Office Research Advisory Committee has in consequence been dissolved.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the numbers placed in employment in the service and distributive industries covered by Standard Industrial Classification XIX-XX1V increased between July and November, 1966, compared with the preceding year; what has been the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on employment in the service industries; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers placed in industries covered by Orders XIX-XXIV of the Standard Industrial Classification between July and November, 1965, were 288,000, and between July and November, 1966, were 290,000. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) on Monday, 13th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 11.]

asked the Minister of Labour if he will list in adjoining columns in the OFFICIAL REPORT the index of retail prices and that of wages for each of the months from September, 1966, to January, 1967, inclusive.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of mineworkers who have been redeployed into other industries during the last 12 months inside Wales and Scotland, respectively.

The information is available only for the second half of 1966. During that period 75 workers in Wales and 21 in Scotland who had been discharged as a result of recent colliery closures and were registered with the Ministry found work or were placed by the Ministry in employment other than coalmining.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the numbers and percentages of unemployed persons at the latest date for which the figures are available in the Welsh coalfields and also the number of vacancies there.

At 9th January, 1967, the latest date for which information is available, there were 20,700 persons registered as unemployed (representing a rate of 4·8 per cent.) at Employment Exchanges and Youth Employment Offices in the areas of the Welsh coal-fields. On 4th January, 1967, 3,827 notified vacancies remained unfilled at these offices.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled men and how many persons who are not disabled are currently employed in Remploy factories in Wales.

1,125 disabled people are currently employed in Remploy factories in Wales. They find it necessary to employ 106 fit people on production work and there are 185 on the Supervisory staff.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will hold discussions with Commonwealth Governments, particularly those of developing countries, to consider technological methods of improving food production as a basis for promoting trade.

Advice and assistance on agricultural methods and in agricultural schemes already form an important part of our overseas aid, with benefit to the trade of the developing countries and ourselves.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will state the percentages of national income, during the financial years 1964–65 and 1965–66, represented by Government aid to developing countries and by the new long-term movement of private capital to those countries, in accordance with the criteria agreed at the 1964 U.N.C.T.A.O. Conference, and the totals of national income, Government aid and private capital to which these percentages relate.

Estimates of private investment, export credits and the national income are only available on the basis of calendar years. The information asked for in respect of 1964 and 1965 is contained in the table below. Figures for 1966 are not yet available. The percentages given in line 7 of the table represent British performance in relation to the U.N.C.T.A.D. 1 per cent. target.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if his undertaking that overseas students holding United Kingdom awards or grants provided by overseas Governments will have their increased fees met out of an increase in overseas aid funds will apply to those students who wish to apply for entry to universities and institutes of higher education from October, 1967 onwards; and in what way the increase in overseas aid funds will be apportioned.

All students, present or future, financed from British Government funds, will have their fee increases met out of an increase in overseas aid funds. The fund to meet the £50 increase in the case of students supported by the Governments of developing countries applies only to those already embarked on courses.The increase in overseas aid funds will be apportioned between the Ministry and the British Council according to the numbers involved in each case.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if his undertaking that overseas students holding United Kingdom awards or grants provided by overseas Government will have their increased fees met out of an increase in overseas aid funds will apply to those students already accepted for courses of study irrespective of the length of such courses; and the increases will also be met for those who change from one course to another.

The increase will be met for students financed from British Government funds irrespective of the length of their courses or if an approved change is made from one course to another. The application of the fund to meet the £50 increase in the case of those students who are financed by Governments of developing countries, and who have already embarked on courses, is under consideration with the authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what special assistance will be given to students from developing countries of the Commonwealth whose educational needs cannot be met in universities or other institutes of education in their own territories; and if he will consider initiating joint consultation with Commonwealth representatives to establish priorities in this respect.

Special consideration is already given in the allocation of training awards to the needs of Commonwealth developing countries for courses which cannot yet be provided in those countries. Undergraduate awards are for instance given to some territories under the Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme which is mainly a scheme for post-graduate awards. There is continuing consultation with developing countries on these needs.

asked the Postmaster-General why a new post office is being built at Mauchline, Ayrshire.

Because the existing post office is much too small to meet present day needs and cannot be extended.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, to the nearest convenient date, the number of claims he has received from eligible agricultural establishments for repayment of the Selective Employment Tax; and how many of those claims have been settled.

By 17th February nearly 13,000 claims for repayment had been received from employers in agriculture, horticulture and forestry, and over 10,000 of these claims had been met.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many self-employed people in Scotland are currently suffering from farmers' lung.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the price of houses has been rising faster in Scotland than in the rest of the country; what is the reason for this; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen figures in the last few days which indicate that in part of the private sector house prices have increased more in Scotland than in England during the past five years. A recent study of some aspects of new house costs by the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee has suggested that a large part of higher Scottish costs, compared with most parts of England, is attributable to higher standards of construction which are accepted as desirable in Scottish climatic conditions. The Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations which came into force in June, 1964, do prescribe higher minimum standards.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many farmers in each of the 13 counties of Wales are currently suffering from farmers' lung; and how many farm workers are similarly affected.

Self-employed farmers are not insurable under the Industrial Injuries Act but are eligible for sickness benefit; the number of such farmers drawing sickness benefit for this disease however is not known. Eighteen employed farm workers in Wales received industrial injuries benefit for it in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, in view of the refusal of development permission for the Newhouse site near Chepstow, what action he proposes to take to ensure that men, especially those in their fifties who are made redundant following the closure of the Royal Naval Propellant Factory, are found employment locally.

A study of the best use to which the Caerwent Factory Site can be put is being made by the Departments and local authorities concerned. Some industrialists have shown an interest in the site and I am confident that the appropriate development will be secured.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now announce the opening date of the Coldra-Crick section of the M4.

I cannot yet give a precise date, but I expect to be able to open the motorway between Coldra and Newhouse shortly before Easter.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the depth of draught required by the type of oil tanker now being constructed and the danger of navigation in waters around Great Britain for vessels with a draught of 72 feet, what plans she has for the accommodation of such vessels; and if she will seek to site an oil transhipment depot on the west coast of Scotland.

Responsibility for initiating port development projects for large tankers rests in the first place with the oil companies and port authorities concerned. I understand that one company has plans for using vessels with a draught of 72 feet, but I have not been asked to authorise any projects to accommodate this size of vessel. I have authorised developments at Finnart and Milford Haven which will enable those places to accept tankers of 200,000 dwt., the largest vessels for which provision has been sought so far.I will certainly consider any further proposals which may be put forward.

asked the Minister of Transport what action she has taken to improve the facilities for pedestrians wishing to cross Honeypot Lane, Queens-bury, Harrow, since representations were first made to her in April last.

I am writing to my hon. Friend on this subject today.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that large numbers of drivers ignore school entrance signs; and whether she will consider some other system to discourage people from parking vehicles near schools.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given on 21st November, 1966 to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Loveys). When our inquiries are completed I will write to my hon. Friend.—[Vol. 736,c. 226–7.]

asked the Minister of Transport what is the reason for the delay of the approval of the plans of improvements to the Great North Road between Felton and Berwick-upon-Tweed, inclusive.

Except for the delay in publishing our proposals for Al through Berwick-upon-Tweed, to which my reply on 17th February to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Mackintosh) refers, I am not aware of any delay in the approval of the plans for improvements on the length of road in question.—[Vol. 741, c. 189.]