asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to seek to bring about a merger of the Herring Industry Board and the White Fish Authority in Scotland.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 8th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 316.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of children losing drugs have been reported to him.

None. Such losses would not normally be reported to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has within the next five years for increasing the beds provided for geriatric treatment in Ayrshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the shortage of beds for geriatric patients in Ayrshire hospitals; and what are his proposals for dealing with it.

At present there are about 500 beds in Ayrshire for geriatric patients, or about 22 beds short on the current criterion of 15 beds per thousand population over age 65. It is hoped to increase the number to about 580 in the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to control the selling prices of dwelling-houses originally built for letting on a rental basis, in view of the high prices at which such houses are being sold.

I am not aware that this is a widespread problem, but Clause 18 of the current Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill should help.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now publish the report of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee on allocation of council houses.

My right hon. Friend has just received this report by a sub-committee of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee and is arranging for it to be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to enable the Western Regional Hospital Board to pay Sister Catherine Fraser, S.R.N., S.C.M., sister-in-charge of the maternity department of Dumbarton Hospital, Dunbartonshire, the rate of pay to which she is entitled by her long service and experience in the nursing profession

Miss Fraser is being paid at the rate to which she is entitled under the appropriate Whitley Council agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any decision has yet been taken as to the future status of the A94 road.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 16th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 156.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what in his policy with regard to open spaces in Edinburgh; and if he will ensure that Alnwickhill is retained as an open space of landscape value.

The formulation of a policy for open space in the City is primarily a matter for the Corporation as planning authority. Proposals put to my right hon. Friend in the Development Plan Quinquennial Review will be considered carefully on their merits and having regard to objections currently being heard as a public local inquiry. Any fresh proposal to develop the Alnwickhill site would have to be advertised and an opportunity given for the lodging of objections.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation for the compulsory licensing of all taxi drivers, including those who operate under private hire.

Local authorities already have adequate power to license vehicles plying for hire or let for hire, and many of them have made bye-laws for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to make improvement grants under the Housing (Scotland) Acts which are at present paid at the discretion of local authorities mandatory for them subject to a satisfactory standard of improvement being reached.

This is one of the recommendations in the Report on "Scotland's Older Houses" which my right hon. Friend is considering.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what annual amount will accrue to Scottish farmers from the Agriculture Bill; and what amount they are losing from the removal of investment allowances and other relevant factors.

I estimate that when all the schemes for which the Bill provides are fully in operation, some £5·3 million annually may accrue to farmers in Scotland. The investment allowances lost might, at current rates of tax, be equivalent to about £l¼ million a year. I am not sure what other relevant factors the right hon. Gentleman has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report on the effects of the seamen's strike on the islands of Scotland is to be published; and what action he is taking.

Much of the information in the Board's report relates to individuals and I do not propose to publish it. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer to the Answer I gave on 21st December in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm MacMillan). —[Vol. 738, c. 319.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the extent of provision for spinal injuries treatment in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Additional provision is needed. The Western and South-Eastern Regional Hospital Boards are each planning a new specialist paraplegic unit 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 how many children at primary schools in Glasgow are now on half-time education as from the latest intake date of 30th January.

2,264.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reviews have now been made by local authorities in Scotland of the future organisation of education authority fee-paying schools.

Renfrew Education Authority has decided to discontinue its fee-paying secondary schools as soon as its comprehensive scheme of education comes into effect. Glasgow has not yet replied to my right hon. Friend's request that it should review the future of its fee-paying and selective schools. Edinburgh, to which my right hon. Friend also wrote, submitted revised proposals for a particular area involving the retention of these schools and has been asked to reconsider them on the basis that all education authority schools in the area concerned should be reorganised on comprehensive lines.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made regarding the fees of overseas students at Scottish universities, and those undergoing courses of further education at other establishments; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answers to Questions given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science on 21st December and 14th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that the plans for the extension of the hostel for deaf children at Polmuir Road, Aberdeen, were approved by the Scottish Education Department as far back as December, 1965, if he will state the reasons for delay in implementing those plans; and if he will now take immediate steps to have them implemented in view of the need conveyed to him by the letter of the National Deaf Children's Society, North and North-East Scotland Region.

This project has been delayed because the education authorities concerned were unable to reach an agreed financial arrangement. My Department convened a meeting, however, on 3rd February at which a financial scheme was agreed in principle, subject to ratification by the individual authorities. Working drawings for the extension are now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry into the loss and damage, physical and financial, caused by the house collapse at the College of Zoology of Aberdeen University.

This fatal accident inquiry opened in Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 16th January and was concluded on the 20th. The jury found that the collapse of the building was due to the failure of longitudinal beam connections.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will require the Registrar General for Scotland to institute a six-monthly report on emigration from Scotland.

There is not at present sufficient material available to justify special reports, but I have arranged for the Registrar General to publish some additional statistical information about migration in his Quarterly Returns for the second and fourth quarters of each year. This April, for instance, he will publish information on migration during the first six months of 1966, and in October similar information for the second six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute a comprehensive investigation into the causes of emigration from Scotland, with particular reference to emigration overseas.

No. The most important causes are undoubtedly economic and we are concentrating our efforts on the practical task of economic improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the average net hourly earnings of a student nurse in her first, second and third year of training, respectively, assuming no deduction for living in hospital accommodation; and if he will state the comparable figures if she does live in.

Nurses in Scotland are paid at the same rates as in England and Wales and these were given to my hon. Friend in a reply by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on 14th February. —[Vol. 741, c. 74–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average hourly earnings of a fully trained nurse and of a second-year student nurse in October, 1948 and in April, 1966, respectively; and how the percentage increase over that period com-

			Hourly Rates				Percentage Increase
	August, 1948		October, 1948		April, 1966		(c)	(c)
	(a)		(b)		(c)		Columns—	Columns—
							(b)	(a)
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Staff Nurse—General Hospital (Salary)	2	2	2	2	7	2	231	231
2nd Year Student—General Hospital (Training Allowance)	1	1	1	8	3	7	115	231
Earnings of women in the manufacturing industries	—		—		—		191
Notes:
1. The mean point of the staff nurse scale has been used to calculate hourly rates as figures for the average earnings of trained nurses are not available.
2. Hourly rates are based on conditioned hours—a 48-hour week in 1948 and a 42-hour week in 1966.
3. Student nurses training allowances were increased on 1st September, 1948 but comparable increases in the pay of staff nurses were made after October, 1948 so that figures relating to October, 1948 may be misleading. Column (a) above has, therefore been added.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses are employed in National Health Service hospitals via employment agencies; and whether this results in additional cost to the service.

In Scotland 35 nurses including midwives are so employed, most of them in a few isolated areas. The additional cost to the service is very small.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a regulation to enable the killing of hares by rabbit clearance societies to qualify for grant purposes; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence to suggest that hares are not adequately controlled under the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Report of the Hunter Committee.

I shall not be able to say when it may be possible to introduce legislation on this subject until I have been able to consider the outcome of the series of consultations now in progress pares with the increase in manufacturing industries.

Following is the information: between my Department and the principal bodies who would be affected by the Hunter Committee's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase substantially financed aid to the Scottish Tourist Board, thus freeing the Highlands and Islands Development Board from the need to spend its limited resources upon purely tourist projects, and enabling it to concentrate on increasing the production and material wealth of the Highlands and Islands region and on provision of assured and fully insurable employment for the local people in manufacturing industry in their own localities.

No. I do not agree that the Highlands and Islands Development Board should be relieved of its important responsibilities towards developing one of the region's major industries, namely tourism. What the Highlands and Islands Development Board is doing for tourism is not limiting its other activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations the Highland Development Board had with him before deciding to finance research on the presence of unusual creatures in Loch Ness.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm MacMillan) on 15th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 105.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated capital cost of providing a place for a child in a prefabricated hostel, on which his Department is budgeting.

Overall the cost per pupil may vary from under £2,000 to £2,675. These figures include all the communal and staff accommodation, which is extensive in these hostels, all equipment and furnishings, and allow for the high building costs in remote areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to introduce legislation to make the same provision for Scotland as is made for England in the National Health Service (Family Planning) Bill.

This is a Private Member's Bill, which is still before Parliament. Accordingly I do not think that any question of corresponding Government legislation for Scotland at present arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has been able to arrange a meeting between his officials and representatives of Rothesay Town Council to discuss the council's decision to give their employees the pay increase due to them on 16th March.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to check the steeply rising prices for fishing boats, which is discouraging applicants and those operating the Highlands and Islands Fishery Scheme; and if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the case of a firm, whose name has been given to him by the Western Isles Crofters Union, and whose tender price for a 75-foot trawler was £49,000 in February, 1966 and £56,000 in October of the same year.

I am not aware that applicants for boats under the Scheme or those operating the Scheme are being in any way discouraged. On the contrary, I understand that in addition to the initial approvals there is a considerable waiting list of applicants. I also understand that the particular tenders mentioned by my hon. Friend do not relate to boats of the same design and specification.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish a table showing the number of consultants in each category of speciality in the National Health Service in Scotland at present in receipt of merit awards, together with the percentage which each figure represents of the total number of consultants in each category.

This information, as at 31st December, 1965, is contained in pages 91 and 92 of Scottish Health Service Statistics 1965 published on 2nd February, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be in a position to publish the results of the application of 50 miles per hour speed limits to selected Scottish roads during holiday periods.

I expect to have an assessment of this experiment from the Road Research Laboratory in a few weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that Fife County Council are fulfilling their obligations in the charging of rents for their council houses at an average rent per week, after allowing for rebates and surcharges, of 14s. 6d. per week when the county town of Cupar is charging 22s. 10d. per week; what economic circumstances warrant this difference of payment; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

Fife County Council decided last July to increase rents by about 25 per cent., but it has subsequently twice decided to postpone the increase, in response to the Government's two White Papers on the Prices and Incomes Standstill. Under the Housing Acts each local authority must decide for itself what rents it is reasonable to charge, and I am sure that the county council will keep the matter under review in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to implement the short-term and long-term proposals outlined in the Cullingworth Report on Scotland's Older Houses.

I refer to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Hugh D. Brown) and Fife West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 15th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 101–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the progress made in Scotland towards the targets laid out in the Scottish National Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Good progress has been made towards the employment and other objectives of the Scottish National Plan despite the difficulties of the current economic situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Scottish Marine Biological Association in 1966 undertook, in conjunction with the Natural Environment Research Council, under Government authority, as an essential step towards fish farming, a sea survey for the first time to assess the primary production potential of the sea; and if he will now state the progress and results of that survey.

The Scottish Marine Biological Association is planning a new type of oceanographic recorder to extend its study over many years of the abundance and distribution of plankton in the open sea and help in assessing the primary production potential of the sea. In coastal waters the Association has also collaborated recently with my Department's scientists in research to provide part of the basic information needed for the development of fish farming. Under the auspices of the White Fish Authority the Association is also collaborating with the University of Strathclyde in a survey of possible sites for further pilot schemes of fish farming and is now participating in survey cruises for this purpose. It is too early to say what the results will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average length of time served in Scottish prisons by prisoners under life sentence who were released between 1952 and 1964 and 1964 and the end of 1966.

The average length of time served by those released between 1952 and 1964 was 7½ years. Since 1964 only one prisoner serving a life sentence has been released; he served 9 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he takes of transport facilities when considering plans for future development in Scotland.

Transport facilities are given careful consideration in the planning of future developments in Scotland. I have recently strengthened the machinery of the Scottish Economic Planning Council by the appointment of a committee to deal with transport questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what limits Her Majesty's Government will set to the percentage average increase in overall expenditure by local authorities in 1967–68.

The Government do not set limits for the permissible expenditure of local authorities. However, rate support grant for 1967–68 is to be based on the assumption that there will be an increase of about 2 per cent. over this year, at constant prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Aberdeen Marine Laboratory in its investigations into the growth of marine plants in certain areas of the sea as food for fish and the effect of those investigations on the locations, habits, numbers and species of fish in those areas and as a result on the fishing industry.

The work of the Marine Laboratory on the basic production of phyto-plankton has brought to light many of the features of the average cycle of herring migration, and we hope that it will lead to an understanding of the causes of yearly fluctuations and long-term trends in abundance of herring, which have an obvious effect on the wellbeing of the fishing industry.Experiments are also in progress at Loch Ewe to improve the production of phyto-plankton by adding nutrients to the water and so to increase the growth rate of young plaice by enhancing the food supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what forecast he has made of the likely number of principals in general practice in Scotland at the end of 1967 and of the anticipated cost of medical prescriptions in Scotland during the financial year 1967–68.

My right hon. Friend has made no manpower forecast for the end of 1967; but he hopes that the new contract will encourage more doctors to enter and remain in general practice. The estimated cost of prescriptions for the financial year 1967–68 is £16·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recruits joined the prison service in 1965 and 1966, respectively; and how many prison officers retired from or left the service.

In 1965, 158 recruits took up duty and 90 officers left the service. In 1966, the respective numbers were 171 and 98.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of recruiting requirements for the local government service in Scotland during 1967.

Local authorities are responsible for recruiting their own staffs, and I do not ask them to submit estimates except for special groups such as the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the public interest was correctly served in the awarding of the contract for supply and installation of machine tools for Motherwell Technical College without putting the contract to genuine competitive tender; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements for the letting of contracts of this kind are for education authorities themselves to determine. I am, however, making inquiries into the instance referred to and shall consider thereafter whether any action on my part is called for as regards general procedure on contracts for equipping further education colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of unlawful drug taking in Scotland were brought to his attention during the last 12 months; what were the ages of the drug takers, the towns or villages where they lived, and the extent of the addiction of each; and what steps he has taken to stamp out the traffic in, and addiction to, unlawful drug taking in Scotland.

I regret that information about the total number of persons convicted in 1966 of offences under the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1964, and the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1965, is not yet available. As regards the last part of the Question I am associated with the action announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office on 30th January.—[Vol. 740, c. 166–74.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the names of the members of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council, indicating which of them represent the student nurses.

It would not be appropriate for me to publish the names of the representatives on the Staff Side of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. However, a list of the bodies represented on both sides of the council is given below. It is open to student nurses to join the appropriate staff organisation which is represented on the Council.The information is as follows:

	Members
Management side
Regional Hospital Boards, England and Wales	4
Regional Hospital Boards, Scotland	1
Boards of Governors of Teaching Hospitals, England and Wales	2
Association of Hospital Management Committees, England and Wales	2
Boards of Management, Scotland	1
Association of Municipal Corporations	2
County Councils Association	2
Inner London Education Authority	1
Scottish Local Authority Associations	2
Scottish Home and Health Department	1
Ministry of Health	4
Staff Side
Association of Hospital Matrons	1
Association of Hospital and Welfare Administrators	1
Association of Scottish Hospital Matrons	1
Association of Supervisors of Midwives	1
Confederaton of Health Service Employees	4
Health Visitors' Association	2
National and Local Government Officers Association	2
National Union of General and Municipal Workers	1
National Union of Public Employees	4
Royal College of Midwives	3
Royal College of Nursing	8
Scottish Health Visitors' Association	1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the difference between the earnings of local government officers in Scotland and local government officers in England.

The structure and gradings of the local government service in the two countries differ so much that it is impossible to make a general comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has now received on the salaries of local government officers; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Alasdair Mackenzie) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he will take to implement the report of the Inter-Services Committee regarding the burial of Servicemen who have died abroad.

I hope soon to announce new arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what requests Her Majesty's Government have received from the Governments of Saudi Arabia and the Yemen to provide gas masks from service supplies for the protection of their population; and what replies they have sent.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will undertake a review of the methods of recruitment adopted by the Army, Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

Recruiting methods are kept under continuous review. If my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind, I should be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now reconsider the decision to purchase from the United States of America FIIIK aircraft, in view of the fact that the purchase price, including components, will now be much greater than when the purchase was agreed.

Without in anyway accepting the premise of the question, the Answer is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the runways and control system of High Ercall Airfield, Shropshire, will be kept in public ownership when the airfield is sold.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the usual channels for investigating the grounds of an application for compassionate leave by a serving soldier.

My Department finds out as quickly as possible by telephone the condition of the person concerned; this is normally done by contacting the local police, the person's doctor or the local Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association representative. An immediate decision is then taken as to whether the soldier should be granted compassionate leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why compassionate leave to see his dying mother was refused to Private D. Tubby, Royal Anglian Regiment.

The medical report at the time did not justify compassionate leave being granted to Private Tubby.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many computers have been ordered for the Polaris submarine programme, and at what cost.

Excluding those which are part of the operational system, 22 computers have been ordered for the Polaris School and other shore support establishments at a total cost of £2·3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the estimated cost of construction of the staging posts at Aldabra and Diego Garcia and the annual cost of maintaining staging posts at Gan, Masirah and Cocos:(2) if the Government intend to proceed with the construction of staging posts at Aldabra, Diego Garcia, and elsewhere, and to maintain the staging posts at Gan, Masirah and Cocos.

As announced in the Statement on the Defence Estimates, we are examining the possibility of establishing a staging airfield in the British Indian Ocean Territory but no decisions have yet been taken. We intend to maintain staging posts at Gan and Masirah for the foreseeable future. The annual cost of these staging posts is £1·8 million and £0·5 million respectively. There is no Royal Air staging post at Cocos.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the total expenditure on the Polaris submarine fleet and base and the missile storage depot up to 1st March, 1968 and all building and constructional operations connected with the base up to the end of February, 1968.

The estimated capital expenditure on the Polaris programme up to 1st March, 1968, is £240 million. This figure includes the building costs of the Clyde Submarine Base, which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works estimates will be £18 million by that date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will approve the building of a new intersection at Bransons Cross, B4101 with A435, in advance of the dualling of the A435 between Wythall and Gorcott Hill.

It has not been found possible to bring forward this part of the scheme for dualling A435. However, we have suggested to the Worcestershire County Council some work which might be carried out to ensure adequate visibility for traffic crossing the A435 at Bransons Cross.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now include Wellingborough in directional signs on the M1 motorway, in view of the continued industrial expansion of Wellingborough.

No. Drivers should have no difficulty in reaching Welling-borough, particularly if they take advantage of the junction number which is now shown on the signs.

asked the Minister of Transport how many broken-down private cars, goods vehicles and motor cycles have been removed from the Severn Bridge; and what charges have been recovered for this service.

Between 8th September, 1966 and 4th February, 1967, 78 private cars, 27 goods vehicles, 1 coach and 2 motor cycles were removed. Charges totalling £562 are being recovered.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if she will arrange for a representative of her Department to visit the junctions of Eastern Avenue with Aldborough Road, North, and Aldborough Road, South, Ilford, in company with members of the Redbridge Borough Council representing the Aldborough ward and the Seven Kings ward, to discuss the traffic arrangements for that junction;(2) what reply she has sent to the requests, sent to her by the hon. Member for Ilford, North, from 975 residents in the area concerned, for traffic signals at the Eastern Avenue-Aldborough Road junction, Ilford.

At the invitation of the Borough Engineer of Redbridge, Ministry Engineers attended a meeting on Friday, 17th February, to discuss with officers of the council and the police traffic arrangements at the Aldborough Road junction on the Eastern Avenue, Trunk Road Al2.It was agreed that certain measures should be carried out on an experimental basis to improve conditions at the junction. I have written to the hon. Member to explain these measures.In view of these proposals, we consider that a further site meeting is not now necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state the amount of traffic along Eastern Avenue between the Green Gate and the Barley Lane roundabout and also the amount of traffic aproaching Eastern Avenue from all the roads leading into it along the same stretch between the hours of 6.30 and 9.30 a.m. and between the hours of 4.30 and 6.30 p.m. on weekdays excluding Saturdays, between Tuesday 7th and Tuesday, 21st February, inclusive.

The most recent traffic census, in August, 1965, showed that this section of Eastern Avenue carried just over 50,000 vehicles per day. Detailed information on side road volumes is not available. We are, however, investigating traffic conditions at the Aldborough Road junction and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport what study she has made of the possibility of adapting the bed of the disused railway track of the line from Wetherby to Harrogate as a relief road connecting Harrogate to the A1 trunk road at Wetherby.

None. But I understand that the West Riding County Council, the highway authority in this area, is proposing to use the disused track between Spofforth and Wetherby for a new road. This proposal has been included in the Wetherby Town Map Review which the County Council, as planning authority, has submitted for the approval of my right bon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Minister of Transport what regulations she has made concerning the right of way at roundabouts; what signs are standardised for indicating the application of those regulations; and whether she will take steps to make the relevant information more widely known among the driving public and driving instructors.

The only rule at roundabouts is the general rule which I announced in the Answer given to the hon. Member for Leominster (Sir Clive Bossom) on 2nd November. This is an advisory rule and is not imposed by regulations. Entrances to roundabouts are now being marked with a single broken white line and this will help to remind drivers entering a roundabout to give way to vehicles already in it. When all lines have been laid more publicity will be given to the give way rule. It has already been widely publicised in the general press, in specialised magazines circulating to drivers and on radio and television. It is also planned to feature it in "The New Traffic Signs" booklet, in a television filmlet and in the mobile signs exhibition van.—[Vol. 735, c. 113–4.]

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made on the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway as it affects the village of Outlane in Huddersfield; and if she will make a statement.

We hope to publish draft proposals for alterations to existing highways, rights of way and private means of access affected by this section of the motorway, together with associated junction proposals, later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what effect the widening of New Hey Road, Huddersfield, to accommodate the feeder road to the proposed new strech of the M62, will have on the houses and shops in the area concerned.

Full details of properties affected, mainly on the north side of the existing road, will be announced when the Huddersfield County Borough Council, who are the highway authority, publish their compulsory purchase order in about two months' time.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will be able to state the total estimated expenditure on the rolling road programme for the five years ending 1970–71 and the year 1971–72.

Estimates of future road programme expenditure will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport why the proposed steel crash barriers for the new light columns on the central reservation of the M4 are not being erected simultaneously with the columns; and, in view of the potential danger to motorists of erecting these columns without adequate crash barrier protection, what warning notices will be provided during the interim period.

The installation of lighting columns necessitated design changes to the standard type of crash barrier. We decided that it was safer to provide lighting during part of the winter from temporarily unprotected columns than to delay the whole project while the modified design was prepared and the installation contract let. Work on providing the barriers should start in the spring. Meanwhile we see no need for notices warning drivers of the presence of these very conspicuous columns.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take measures to enforce a speed limit on the A3071 where it passes through the village of Newbridge, near Penzance, Cornwall; and if she will also prohibit traffic from overtaking in the village by having double white lines painted down the centre of the road.

There is no speed limit on this road, and we have not received an application for my right hon. Friend's consent to one. I understand, however, that the County Council intends to review the position.Double white lines are not provided to prevent overtaking, and they would not be appropriate here.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the total route mileage of British Railways, showing separately the total passenger route mileage and the total freight route mileage on 1st January each year from 1949.

Following are the figures as at 31st December each year. The separate figures requested are available only from 1954:

Year (31st Dec.)		Passenger Route Mileage	Freight Only Route Mileage	Total Route Mileage
1948	…	N.A.	N.A.	19,631
1949	…	N.A.	N.A.	19,598
1950	…	N.A.	N.A.	19,573
1951	…	N.A.	N.A.	19,471
1952	…	N.A.	N.A.	19,276
1953	…	N.A.	N.A.	19,222
1954	…	15,099	4,051	19,150
1955	…	14,801	4,260	19,061
1956	…	14,672	4,353	19,025
1957	…	14,622	4,343	18,965
1958	…	14,454	4,394	18,848
1959	…	14,063	4,502	18,565
1960	…	13,865	4,504	18,369
1961	…	13,697	4,517	18,214
1962	…	12,915	4,556	17,471
1963	…	12,631	4,351	16,982
1964	…	11,670	4,321	15,991
1965	…	10,884	4,036	14,920
1966*	…	10,165	3,556	13,721
N.A.—not available.
* Provisional.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the declared policy of Her Majesty's Government to promote industry and employment in the development areas by moving Government Departments where appropriate, she will give a general direction to British Railways to maintain their existing staff and establishment in such areas.

No. It is for the Railways Board to decide as a matter of management where their staff should be.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the main scheme to give improved access to Tilbury Docks will be approved and completed by 1970.

Our plans provide for this, but they are subject to statutory rights of objection.

asked the Minister of Transport what category of road fund licence is applicable to vehicles carrying dogs, or other small domestic animals, when such carriage is in the course of business of licensed boarding kennels; and to what extent the law is evaded by the use of private cars for this purpose.

A vehicle used for these purposes, and constructed or adapted for the carriage of goods or burden, would be subject to the rate of duty specified for goods vehicles in Schedule 4 to the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1962.A private car is not regarded as so constructed or adapted, and is duitable under Scedule 5 to the Act.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the discontent among traffic examiners due to the delay in reviewing their salary scales, she will now take steps to expedite this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 16th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 164.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the import duty on monofilaments into Portugal has recently been raised so as to prohibit their export from this country; and if he will make representations to the Portuguese authorities.

There has been no recent increase in import duty on monofilaments into Portugal; but if my hon. Friend would like to give me the information on which his Question is based I will look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the National Union of Seamen about the decline in coastal shipping; and what proposal he has for reviving it.

The National Union of Seamen have recently discussed this issue at the Board of Trade and have also made representations to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. The level of activity of coastal shipping depends mainly on the cargo offering, but the Union's views are to be the subject of a further meeting.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration the Export Credits Guarantee Department has given to the insurance of capital projects undertaken by overseas subsidiary companies of British principals purchasing British-manufactured capital equipment, and using British technologies and skills against normal political risks as defined by the World Bank in conjunction with the International Chamber of Commerce.

E.C.G.D. cover is available for sales by or to overseas subsidiary companies effectively controlled by British principals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to encourage the extension of long-term loans under Section 2 of the Export Credits Guarantee Department Act with a view to promoting the sales of British plant and capital goods, and particularly those goods supplied by the chemical plant and steel plant manufacturers who are faced with contracting order books.

Commercial long-term loans for sales of British plant and capital goods are encouraged under E.C.G.D.'s Financial Guarantee scheme which was introduced specifically for the purpose described by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports covered by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in each of the years ending 31st January, 1964, 31st January, 1965, 31st January, 1966; and what percentage of total exports this amounted to in each year.

The values were:

	£m.	Percentage of British Exports
Year ending 31st January, 1964	1,062	25
Year ending 31st January, 1965	1,146	26
Year ending 31st January, 1966	1,365	28

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of guarantees outstanding under the Export Credits Guarantee Department cover at 31st January, 1966, and under Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3, respectively; and what was the increase in guarantee cover in total and under each section during the year ended 31st January, 1966.

Figures are not readily available for 31st January, 1966. The total liabilities under Section 1 and Section 2 at 31st December, 1965 were as follows. Increases over the corresponding figures at 31st December, 1964 are shown in brackets.

	£ million
Section 1	1,190·7	(155·6)
Section 2—
Under guarantees	353·8	(51·1)
Under economic assistance agreements	281·4	(35·3)
Totals	1,825·9	(242·0)

Section 3 provides for financing business guaranteed under Section 1 or Section 2 or economic assistance agreements made under Section 2. The total outstanding at 31st December, 1965 was £281·4 million, all related, as shown above, to economic assistance agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Export Credits Guarantee Department is now taking to make known to British exporters and manufacturers and their trade associations those parts of the world where there is limited Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for medium- and long-term loans because of excessive political and economic risks, and where there is a high guarantee premium; and whether he will publish this information in the next report of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

E.C.G.D. has a mailing list of about 900 trade associations, which are kept informed of major changes in the availability and terms of cover. Credit insurance brokers are kept similarly informed. All holders of Comprehensive Guarantees receive quarterly a WorldWide Schedule showing the premium rates and conditions of cover for each market. Exporters are encouraged to approach E.C.G.D. at an early stage in their negotiations; they can get an indication of the terms on which cover is likely to be available for particular business, including the approximate premium, on request—by telephone, if necessary.I do not consider that publication of this information is necessary or desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent it is the policy of the Export Credits Guarantee Department to favour proposals for insurance guarantee to cover those projects which involve the sale of plant and equipment tied to British technology and know-how to overseas subsidiary companies of British principals, as against foreign principals, in those areas where only limited Export Credits Guarantee Department cover is available.

This situation has not arisen. If it did, the continuing advantages of one transaction over another would be taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he is having with members of the Berne Union to prove that long-term loans, in terms of period of repayment, rate of interest, and rate for guarantee cover made available to British capital plant manufacturers, are no less advantageous than those available to their foreign com- petitors; and what are the maximum terms now offered by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department has a constant exchange of information with other members of the Berne Union on credit terms currently being offered. I am satisfied that the Financial Guarantee Scheme, under which the Department gives guarantees to encourage long-term loans to overseas buyers of British capital plant, provides terms no less advantageous than those available to foreign competitors in respect of periods of repayment, rate of interest and rate of premium. The maximum terms guaranteed by E.C.G.D. under the Financial Guarantee Scheme are now 15 years from contract.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in conjunction with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress, he will arrange for his Department to call a conference at which he could explain to what extent Great Britain's entry into the Common Market will affect our agricultural and horticultural industries, and our balance of payment problems.

No; arrangements for consultation with industry already exist through the First Secretary's Industrial Consultative Committee on the Approach to Europe on which the C.B.I. and T.U.C. are represented.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving his estimate of the extent to which the United Kingdom balance of payments and trade will be adversely affected if Great Britain enters the Common Market on the basis of accepting the Market's present agricultural and free flow of capital policies; and how this would be changed if the United Kingdom accepted either of these policies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) and for Barons Court (Mr. Richard) yesterday, 21st February.—[Vol. 741, c. 254–5.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish as a White Paper his detailed estimate of the financial and other consequences of Great Britain entering the Common Market.

I have nothing to add to the estimates made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10th November.—[Vol. 735, c. 1530–31.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to speed up the flow of information about capital investment by British manufacturing industry overseas; when he expects to have a provisional total figure for 1966; and when he will have the breakdown for 1965.

Quarterly estimates of total direct investment based on the collection of a few key figures from a sample of firms are published at the end of the following quarter.On the more detailed annual inquiry the use of computer processing is to be extended, and the volume of work reduced by exempting firms whose over-

UNITED KINGDOM PRIVATE DIRECT INVESTMENT OVERSEAS, FOR INDUSTRIES OTHER THAN OIL
							(£ million)
			Profits of subsidiaries†
		Book value of net assets at year—end *	Dividends	Unremitted earnings	Branch Profits†	Interest received	Royalties, etc. received from related overseas concerns
1963	…	3,850	97	118	110	5	—
1964	…	4,112	106	149	113	7	20
1965‡	…	—	116	161	119	7	—
* Excluding banking and insurance.
†Net of overseas tax.
‡Provisional.
I regret that the proportion of branch profits, interest and dividends taken in United Kingdom taxation for these years is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been made in each development area for grants for social clubs; and how many, and to what total amount, have been granted in each such area.

Separate figures in respect of assistance to social clubs under the Local Employment Acts are not readily avail- seas investments are small and who in aggregate contribute very little to the total figures. The timing of the detailed figures must however continue to depend on how soon firms are able to complete their returns, which may relate to an accounting year other than the calendar year, and which may have to await the receipt of completed accounts from overseas.A provisional estimate of total direct investment in 1966 will be published in the March issue of Economic Trends, and detailed figures for 1965, which show manufacturing industry separately, in the Board of Trade Journal in about three months' time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the book value of net assets representing investment by manufacturing industry overseas as at 31st December, 1966, and 31st December, 1965, or on the last two year ends at which the information is known; what is the equivalent return by way of interest, dividend and royalty; and what proportion of this is taken in United Kingdom taxation.

The information available is as follows:able, and to compile them would entail a disproportionate amount of time and expenditure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will introduce the Protection of Consumers (Trade Descriptions) Bill.

I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to the hon. Member on 8th December.—[Vol. 737, c. 1561–62.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to enable shareholders to contract out of contributions to political causes paid by their company.

No. I am of course legislating in the Companies Bill to ensure that information about major political contributions is published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the total volume of periodicals and colour magazines imported into this country in each of the years from 1963 to 1966;(2) what was the total volume of periodicals and colour magazines exported from this country in each of the years from 1963 to 1966.

These items are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics; they are included under the heading "Newspapers, journals and periodicals, whether or not illustrated". For this heading import and export figures for 1963 are given in the Annual Statement of the trade of the United Kingdom Volumes 2 (page 291) and 3 (page 437) and for 1964 to 1966 on pages 109 and 263 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1965, and December, 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for the year ended 31st December, 1966 the number of applications for plant and machinery grants from firms in the Blaydon area, the number approved, the estimated amount and employment resulting from them, the number of applications rejected and the number under consideration.

No applications were received between 1st January and 31st March, 1966 (the latest date for acceptance of applications for plant and machinery grants which have been replaced by investment grants). Offers to a total value of £17,255 were made during 1966 in respect of 10 applications received in earlier years: the resulting employment from the associated schemes was estimated by the applicants at 949. No applications were rejected but one application is still being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for industrial development in the Blaydon area to improve the employment position, in view of the approaching completion of the new Scotswood Bridge.

The availability of good sites is essential for the introduction of new industry into an area and I am glad to know that Blaydon Urban District Council are actively considering development of a site. My right hon. Friend is prepared to use his powers under the Local Employment Acts to the full to assist suitable projects which would provide additional employment in the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will declare the area of the Dawley Urban District Council to be a development area.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Government assistance was given in each of the years 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967 for promotional assistance to the Federation of Sussex Industries.

The Board of Trade gives assistance to groups of British firms exhibiting collectively at overseas trade fairs, provided these groups are sponsored by appropriate non-profit-making organisations. The Federation of Sussex Industries has sponsored such groups at the Vienna International Autumn Trade Fair in 1964, at the Franco-British Fair in Dieppe, and the Copenhagen Trade Fair in 1965, and will be sponsoring displays at the Swedish Trade Fair in Gothenburg and the Franco-British Trade Fair in Dieppe in 1967. In 1963 and 1966 the Federation was not involved in events overseas eligible for Board of Trade assistance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many aircraft have been late taking off over the last year due to delays in processing boarding passengers at London Airport.

I am sorry that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans to increase and extend Scottish trade with Russia as a result of the visit of Mr. Kosygin, indicating the aspects of Scottish-Russian trade which he estimates will benefit most.

I propose to discuss with the Soviet Minister of Foreign Trade what further steps can be taken in the light of Mr. Kosygin's visit to increase trade between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union and to achieve a better balance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the official estimate given by those connected with the European Economic Community that if Great Britain joins the Community meat prices in this country will rise by 25 per cent. and food grains used for rearing livestock by 40 per cent., what inquiries he has now made into the basis on which such figures are calculated; and if he will make a statement.