asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been made to him concerning proposals for amalgamating technical colleges in London.

My right hon. Friend will not receive formal proposals from the Inner London Education Authority until he invites authorities to submit Polytechnic schemes, which he hopes to do shortly. I understand, however, that the Authority are considering the form their proposals might take.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence has been presented to his Department on the unsatisfactory nutrition of school children; and whether he will make a statement.

Local Education Authorities submit annual returns of the numbers of school children examined under the School Health Service whose physical condition is assessed as unsatisfactory. In 1965 one child out of every 260 examined was so assessed. Separate information is not available to show which of these children were suffering from malnutrition. The returns show a steady improvement in the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what medical research is being conducted into the causes and treatment of obesity as a separate disease entity, and, in particular, the psychosomatic aspects of obesity.

The causes of obesity are varied and an extensive programme of research is being undertaken by the Medical Research Council, in University Departments, and within the National Health Service and the School Health Service. This research covers all the factors that may be associated with the causes and treatment of obesity, including the psychological aspects of the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much is saved to public funds by a parent educating a child privately, including a three-year course at a university for which no grant is paid.

If small numbers of school children from a locality are educated privately there is little saving to public funds. If there are larger numbers, there could be a saving which might at the maximum amount to £2,000 a pupil for a full education up to 18. The greater part of the cost of university education is borne by public subsidy even in the case where no grant is paid, so no comparison of the kind requested is possible. Parental contribution for a university student towards maintenance and fees can rise to over £500 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek to amend the Education Act, 1944 to ensure a more democratic system of electing school governors.

The Department is currently grant-aiding a study by University of London Institute of Education of the functions of school managers and governors. Their report is likely to be ready next year. My right hon. Friend will wish to study this report and the comments by local authority and teachers associations on the Plowden recommendations before deciding what further action may be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to amend primary school teacher training courses to ensure that more nursery teachers are available when the Plowden proposals for the extension of nursery education are implemented.

My right hon. Friend is still considering the Plowden proposals, and is awaiting the comments of the teachers and local authority associations on them. The number of students taking nursery or nursery/infant courses has risen each year since 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has recently received from the National Advisory Council for the Training and Supply of Teachers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 19th January.—[Vol. 739, c. 99–100.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on the establishment of a University of the Air, stating the reasons for the delay in proceeding with the project.

A good deal of preparatory work has now been completed, including a firm estimate of both capital and running costs. I hope to make a fuller statement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when an answer will be given to the letter on comprehensive education dated 29th July, 1966, from the Joint Executives of the National Union of Teachers, National Association of Schoolmasters and National Association of Head Teachers for the County of Holland, which was received by his Department and which was followed on 16th September, 1966, by a petition signed by 400 teachers in the County of Holland which was sent by recorded delivery.

A reply was sent on 30th August, 1966. The letter of 16th September was acknowledegd. A further letter was sent on 24th February explaining that before reaching a decision on the official proposals I had taken fully into account the views expressed by this body of teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will arrange that all antiquities of archaeological importance, even where the value is below £2,000, shall be submitted to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art before their export is permitted.

Special treatment of archaeological material in the manner suggested would depend on a satisfactory definition of such material for export control purposes. In its thirteenth report, covering the twelve months ending 30th June, 1966, the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, reported that prolonged attempts to find such a definition had failed. That remains the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will commission a departmental study to assess and publicly report on the practicability of replacing student grants wholly or partly by student loans.

The whole question of student support is kept under review in my Department in the light of comments received from interested organisations. I do not think that a formal inquiry on this particular point would be the best way of proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps, by discrimination in the allocation of grants to overseas students, to secure that such students are distributed evenly throughout United Kingdom universities.

I understand that those responsible for administering grants to overseas students from U.K. public funds already try to secure as equitable a distribution of students as possible, bearing in mind the availability of suitable courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on his meeting with the Committee of Principals and Vice-Chancellors on 28th February to discuss the increased fees for overseas students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on his meeting with representatives of the University Vice-Chancellors on 28th February.

I had a full discussion with members of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals on Tuesday. The Vice-Chancellors explained the universities' concern and drew attention to a number of considerations affecting both the short-term and the longer term situation. I reaffirmed the Government's basic decision, but agreed to meet the Vice-Chancellors again in a few days' time to continue the discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a student from the Republic of Eire will count as an overseas student for the purpose of the increased student fees.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the scale of financial assistance given to United Kingdom students abroad compares with that given to overseas students in the United Kingdom.

In 1956–66, the average cost of a university place in the U.K. exceeded the fees paid by the student by some £750 a year. The element of subsidy was considerably higher in the case of post-graduates who made up about half of the number of overseas students in U.K. universities. Comparable figures arc not available for all universities abroad, but Table 17 of Part I of Appendix Five of the Robbins Report shows that in 1960–61 the public recurrent expenditure for an equivalent full-time student in higher education was appreciably higher in this country than in West Germany, Sweden, or U.S.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average annual cost per undergraduate in each university in England, Scotland and Wales.

Information on university expenditure is not readily available in this form. The following figures of the expenditure by each university in 1964–65 divided by the total number of full-time students are derived from the Returns from Universities and University Colleges 1964–65 (Cmnd. 3106).

Academic Year 1964–65
Average university expenditure per full-time student
	£
Birmingham University	1,016
Bristol University	882
Cambridge University*	805
Durham University	690
East Anglia University	1,125
Essex University	2,377
Exeter University	563
Hull University	580
Keele University	823
Lancaster University	1,020
Leeds University	781
Leicester University	608
Liverpool University	867
London University, including its Colleges and Schools	1,268
Manchester University	881
Manchester University Institute of Science and Technology	1,092
Newcastle upon Tyne University	934
Nottingham University	770
Oxford University*	781
Reading University	1,121
Sheffield University	855
Southampton University	752
Sussex University	731
York University	869
University of Wales, including its Colleges and School	703
St. David's College, Lampeter	537
Aberdeen University	775
Edinburgh University	721
Glasgow University	749
St. Andrews University	695
Strathclyde University	612
* The figures for the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford exclude all expenditure by the Colleges, which covers part of the cost of teaching and administration. These figures are therefore not directly comparable with those of other universities

These figures should be interpreted with caution. Those for new universities in their initial years when the number of students is building up are clearly unrepresentative. The cost per undergraduate at a particular university will depend on a number of factors including the balance of faculties and the proportion of postgraduates.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view if the prospective increases in public expenditure in the Vote on Account, he will delay the introduction of a minimum school-leaving age of 16 years.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average annual cost per child of primary education and secondary education in the region of the Northern Economic Planning Council and in other regions in the country, respectively.

In 1965–66 the average cost per primary pupil in maintained schools in the Northern region was about £70. This compared with about £72 for England and Wales as a whole outside the London area, where teachers are paid a special allowance and other costs tend to be higher. The corresponding figures for secondary pupils were about £132 and £135.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sums have been allocated during 1967–68 for sport and the arts, respectively; and what steps he is taking to narrow the existing disparity.

Public spending in 1967–68 will be as follows: capital and current expenditure from central Government funds, £2 million on sport and £14·6 million on the arts; capital expenditure from local government funds (excluding expenditure on educational establishments), £23 million on sport and £0·5 million on the arts. Figures of local government current expenditure on these services are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the further proposals he has received from the London Borough of Enfield for the reorganisation of secondary education have been sufficiently considered by the local education authority itself, by teachers and by parents; and if he will make a statement.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes" and to the second part "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further proposals he has received from local education authorities whose original plans for the reorganisation of secondary education were unsatisfactory.

I have so far rejected the plans of five local education authorities because they did not provide for the elimination of selection. It is too early as yet for me to have received alternative proposals, but I have suggested that discussions should take place between the authorities and the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that no progress has been made in negotiations on the salary claim for teachers submitted in 1966; and what action he will take to ensure that this claim is now considered expeditiously.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answers of 23rd February to the hon. Members for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and Tonbridge (Mr. Hornby).—[Vol. 741, c. 1941.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what body is currently dealing with negotiations for teachers' salary increases.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answers of 23rd February to the hon. Members for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and Tonbridge (Mr. Hornby).—[Vol. 741, c. 1941.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why, under his college letter 3/67 r/574/54 of 25th February, he has instructed voluntary colleges of education that the revised scales for local government employees in the administrative, professional and technical classes payable with effect from 1st February in maintained colleges of education should not apply to voluntary colleges;(2) whether he is satisfied that his decision to discriminate between the maintained and voluntary colleges in relation to the increased payment to staff will not affect the recruitment of staff of colleges maintained by religious bodies; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why there is a difference in Government policy on the restraint of pay increases which prevent the same treatment for non-teaching staff of voluntary colleges of education as of maintained colleges.

Employees covered directly by agreements which were entered into on or before 20th July, 1966, to increase pay by specific amounts before the end of 1966 may, under paragraph 32 of Command 3150, receive these increases after six months' deferment. But Government policy requires that such increases should be limited to those directly covered by those agreements. The voluntary colleges of education were not party to the local government agreements in question here, so they have been advised that no consequential increases should be paid before 1st July, 1967. I cannot predict the effect on recruitment, but the White Paper on the severe restraint period (Cmnd. 3150) says that only in the most exceptional circumstances can a pay increase be justified during this period in order to attract or retain manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why his Department has advised that the pay of non-teaching staff at voluntary colleges of education should be frozen whereas the pay of similar staff at maintained colleges is allowed to rise; and, as this has a divisive effect, if he will reconsider his decision.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer today to the hon. Members for Liverpool, Waver-tree (Mr. Tilney) and Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that all local education authorities comply with his advice to renew at regular intervals, preferably weekly, the orders for milk distribution to the pupils of secondary schools in their respective areas; and what steps he is taking to remind those authorities which do not comply with his advice and so cause waste through unwanted and unused milk which has been ordered at the beginning of each term.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that his advice on this matter is generally followed. Returns are periodically checked and any over-ordering is taken up with the local education authorities concerned. If the hon. Member knows of any specific instance of over-ordering and will give me details I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Government will take steps, in consultation with the University Grants Committee, to ensure that competition for entry to university courses in arts, natural science, applied science and social science during the forthcoming quinquennium 1967–72 shall not be more severe than at present; and if he will make a statement.

Pressure for university places in different faculties is a matter which the University Grants Committee will, I am sure, take into account in preparing the advice which it will be giving to the Government in connection with the next quinquennial settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to introduce legislation to enable part-time teachers, teaching halftime or more, to qualify for a superannuation scheme.

Following recommendations from the Working Party I set up to consider this, and consultations I have had with local authority and teachers' associations, I hope to introduce superannuation arrangements towards the end of the year for part-time teachers in primary and secondary schools. They will apply, on an optional basis, to part-time teachers who have done at least a year's full-time pensionable service. The Working Party are considering how the arrangements might be extended to other educational institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the functions of the proposed national organiser for pre-school playgroups; and when he expects to announce an appointment.

This is the responsibility of the National Association of Pre-School Playgroups, which I understand hopes to make an appointment shortly. I understand that the person appointed will be expected to act as a general adviser on playgroup standards, but her precise functions will be defined by the Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students have been awarded Fulbright scholarships to the United States of America and to Great Britain in each year since their inception.

Up to 30th June, 1965, Fulbright awards were made by the United States Educational Commission in the United Kingdom administering solely American funds. I do not have figures for the number of awards made during this period. In 1965–66 38 Americans held senior awards and 102 held graduate student awards while 209 British senior scholars and graduate students received travel grants. Corresponding figures for the current academic year are 35, 110 and 224.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of those national and local statutory and non-statutory organisations with which he has had consultations about the future of voluntary service by young people in Great Britain.

No. I am consulting a large number of organisations, but as my discussions are not yet complete they must remain confidential for the present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce legislation to compel all British universities to amend their constitutions so as to have student representation on their governing bodies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 10th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 392.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to see that partial-hearing units are sited in increasing numbers of ordinary schools to cater for the needs of the deaf child.

I refer the hon. Member to the Answer of 23rd February given to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Newens).—[Vol. 741, c. 1938.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which other establishments in the category of Studley Agricultural College have had their grants withdrawn.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a successful uncontested prosecution appeal against an acquittal in a magistrates' court may result in a respondent having to pay costs substantially more than the maximum fine to which a person would have been liable in the event of conviction; and if he will take steps to see that this cannot happen.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his Question on 27th February.—[Vol. 742. c. 35.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has banned Mr. George Raft from entering Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he has refused entry to Mr. George Raft, an American citizen, to attend to his business at the Colony Club, London, W.1.

As I stated on 28th February in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett), I considered that Mr. Raft's continued presence here would not be conducive to the public good.—[Vol. 742, c. 78.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce the new procedure to allow visas for the bona fide private visitor from Formosa, wishing to come here for business or tourist reasons, which should then take only a few days after the application has reached the British visa officer in Taipei.

This procedure has now been introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that powers available to the police for searching persons, premises and motor vehicles for dangerous drugs are adequate; what representations he has received on this subject; and if he will make a statement.

It has not been represented to me that the powers available are inadequate, but I will ascertain the views of chief officers of police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Scotland Yard detectives visited West Ham College of Technology to interview Mr. Philip Bradbury; what objections were raised, and by whom, to the Students' Rag Magazine; and whether he will make a statement.

As the result of complaint from a member of the public about the Rag Magazine produced jointly by Waltham Forest Technical College and West Ham College of Technology, police officers visited these establishments on 3rd and 17th February respectively and interviewed, among others, Mr. Philip Bradbury, Chairman of the Rag Committee. No copies of the magazine were confiscated. The only copy that the police had was received from the complainant. This has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the further interview arranged by him with the prisoner mentioned in paragraph 63 of the Mountbatten Report, he will now confirm that this prisoner in 1965 intimated to the security officer there mentioned that the Communist authorities were interested in George Blake, with a view to Blake's escape; and if he will make a statement.

At the recent interview, the prisoner concerned gave essentially the same information about his interrogation in East Germany as he gave to the Security Service on 2nd April, 1965. It affords no grounds for disagreeing with Lord Mountbatten's conclusion that there was no evidence that the prisoner warned the Security Authority that Communists intended to rescue Blake from Wormwood Scrubs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of each prison subject to the provisions of Section 38 of the Prison Act, 1952, what is its estimated present market value and the amount due, upon its closure, from the local authority to the Crown.

The following table shows the amounts which, subject to verification and negotiation, appear to be payable by local authorities under the Act. Estimated market values are not at present available.

			£	s.	d.
Aylesbury Prison	…	…	13,845	12	0
Bedford Prison	…	…	8,418	16	0
Birmingham Prison	…	…	61,411	4	0
Bristol Prison	…	…	21,481	4	0
Canterbury Prison	…	…	54,478	16	0
Cardiff Prison	…	…	47,361	4	0
Swansea	…	…
Chelmsford Prison	…	…	27,507	18
Dorchester Prison	…	…	10,864	16
Durham Prison	…	…	73,732	16
Exeter Prison	…	…	19,176	6	0
Gloucester Prison	…	…	24,665	16	0
Holloway Prison	…	…	41,174	8	0
Hull Prison	…	…	39,598	4	0
Leeds Prison	…	…	51,138	0	0
Leicester Prison	…	…	12,818	8	0
Lewes Prison	…	…	14,907	12	0
Lincoln Prison	…	…	17,332	16	0
Liverpool Prison	…	…	122,880	0	0
Maidstone Prison	…	…	54,478	16	0
Manchester Prison	…	…	119,726	8	0
Northallerton Prison	…	…	19,249	0	0
Oxford Prison	…	…	9,009	12	0
Portsmouth Borstal	…	…	15,307	4	0
Reading Borstal	…	…	13,387	9	0
Shepton Mallet Prison	…	…	16,992	0	0
Shrewsbury Prison	…	…	17,186	16	0
Stafford Prison	…	…	68,976	16	0
Usk Detention Centre	…	…	17,624	8	0
Wakefield Prison	…	…	143,632	8	0
Wandsworth Prison	…	…	100,056	0	0
Winchester Prison	…	…	33,940	16	0

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of motor-cycles belonging to the Metropolitan Police is equipped with winking trafficator lights; and if he will seek information on how this figure compares with those belonging to county constabularies.

None. The information requested in the second part of the Question cannot be obtained without making special inquiries, which I do not think would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of motor-cycles belonging to the Metropolitan Police is equipped with windshields; and if he will seek information on how this figure compares with those belonging to county constabularies.

714 out of an establishment of 925 motor-cycles. The information requested in the second part of the Question cannot be obtained without making special inquiries, which I do not think would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, with a view to facilitating trade between Great Britain and Europe, he will introduce legislation to ensure that the time in Great Britain is the same as that of Western Eureope throughout the year.

The question of facilitating trade with Europe is being taken into account in the current review of Summer Time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make regulations abolishing the tipping of taxi drivers in the Greater London area, and increasing the scale of fares by equivalent amounts.

To prohibit tipping would require legislation, and I doubt whether it could be properly enforced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Yorkshire, West Riding, into the circumstances under which two private citizens, one a visiting American student, sustained personal injuries from assault in the village of Aberford, near Leeds, on 10th December, 1965, into the extent of their injuries and the steps that have been taken to apprehend their assailants; and what steps are proposed to diminish the risk of such assaults in the future.

I understand from the Chief Constable that two persons were convicted and sentenced at the Leeds West Riding Magistrates' Court on 14th February for offences connected with this incident, and that they have appealed against conviction and sentence. I cannot comment when the cases are still before the courts.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what further proposals he has for regional development; and whether he will make a statement.

Regional Policy is under continuing study but my right hon. Friend has no proposal to make at the present time.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now establish an economic development committee for the motor industry.

I am glad to say that agreement in principle has now been reached between all the interests concerned for the establishment of an Economic Development Committee for the motor manufacturing industry. The National Economic Development Office will be issuing an announcement when the necessary arrangements are complete.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on how many occasions since 20th July he has refused to make an Order to prevent wage or salary increases.

The Government have made no more Orders under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act than have been necessary to ensure that the policy for the standstill and severe restraint are not undermined by the actions of a few.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will make a statement on his discussions held on Thursday, 23rd February with the Trades Union Congress Economic Committee; and what reply he made to the Committee about their warning that if Great Britain joined the Common Market prices would rise very steeply and that they would expect wages to keep pace, and about how this conforms with the Gov- ernment's policy on wages standstill and severe restraint.

No. My right hon. Friend's discussions with the T.U.C. Economic Committee, which took place at the Committee's request, were confidential. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the Answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10th November.—[Vol. 735, c. 1530–1.]

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that all television sets on sale today are able to receive 405 lines on two out of three channels, as some new sets can receive 405 lines only and as the life of a television set is often 10 years, whether he will state the minimum number of years during which broadcasts will continue to be made on 405 lines.

The consideration to which the hon. Member has drawn attention will be kept very much in mind. There are however other factors, and in particular the rate at which duplication on the 625-line standard progresses, to be taken into account. I do not think therefore that it would be useful for me to specify now the minimum period for which the 405-line transmissions will continue. As I have said they will certainly continue for a period of years.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a pocket-sized instrument is being produced by Marchant House Limited of New Street, Oadby, Liecester, to be used in motor vehicles to give instant warning of a police radar speed trap; whether, under his regulations, a licence will be required for its use; and on what conditions.

Anyone wishing to use this type of apparatus would require a licence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949. The firm in question has recently been informed that I am not prepared to issue a licence for such purposes.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether it is possible for arrangements to be made for memoranda from outside organisations to be included in the morning delivery at both Houses, provided they are delivered to the post offices at the Palace of Westminster by 10 p.m. on the preceding evening;(2) whether he will make arrangements for hon. Members of both Houses of Parliament to circulate all hon. Members of both Houses through the post offices in the Palace of Westminster at a reduced charge.

Memoranda of the kind in question can be dealt with in this way, when Parliament is sitting, only if the people posting them can gain access to the Central Lobby and if they are tendered, appropriately stamped as postal packets, at the Post Office there; as the hon. Gentleman will know, I have no responsibility for controlling the admission of strangers to the Lobby. Alternatively, such packets would be included in the first delivery at both Houses if they were posted at the main Post Office in Howick Place, S.W.1, by 10.0 p.m. the previous evening.I am sorry that I should not be justified in introducing special postage rates of the kind to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to reduce the noise made on railway station platforms by the new Post Office trailers with iron wheels.

There are no Post Office trailers of new design with metal wheels on railway station platforms.

asked the Postmaster-General why no official statement was made concerning the damage to a large number of mail bags on 18th February on the 10.35 p.m. Liverpool to Crewe train; how much damage was done; how many letters for the south of England and overseas were destroyed; and whether he will make a statement.

No statement was issued because reports appeared the next day in many national newspapers. 100 bags of mail were damaged, some severely. All the damaged mail has been examined and about 25,000 salvaged letters have been forwarded to addressees or returned to senders. Some letters were completely destroyed. It is not possible to say how many were for the south of England and overseas.

asked the Postmaster-General how long the two public telephones in the kiosks outside Sadler's Wells Theatre have been out of order through vandalism.

The coin box telephones in these kiosks were damaged and repaired twelve times in the twelve months up to September 1965, when they were damaged beyond repair for normal use. As other kiosks are available within 200 yards, the two outside the theatre were put in order for emergency calls only.Full service will be restored when strengthened boxes, now in production, are in plentiful supply. At present, priority is being given to damaged kiosks with no other nearby.

asked the Minister of Technology how far the money being allocated by his Department to Strathclyde for new equipment connected with machine tools will involve duplication with other establishments.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Institute of Advanced Machine Tool and Control Technology at East Kilbride. There should be little or no duplication when items of major equipment are provided for this Institute, and certainly no unnecessary duplication. One reason governing the choice of site for the Institute was the availability of equipment at the National Engineering Laboratory, thus avoiding duplication.

asked the Minister of Technology in what ways the implementation of the Geddes Report is now behind the timetable it set out.

The Government have been keeping close to the timetable in the Geddes Report but the introduction of the Shipbuilding Industry Bill was delayed for two or three weeks so that new proposals about credit facilities could be included in it.

asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate of the cost of generation of electricity for the latest type of nuclear power station planned and for a conventional power station, respectively.

Allowing for cost increases since the Dungeness B tender, the total cost of generation for early A.G.R. stations is expected to be about 0·5d./kWh. For conventional stations, the corresponding estimates range between 0·5d. and 0·6d./kWh. according to fuel cost and location.

asked the Minister of Power what study he has made of the economic advantages of setting up fully gas-fired electricity generating stations near the East Anglian coast and distributing the power by reversing the flow along the existing grid lines connecting East Anglia and the Midlands; and what conclusions he has reached.

The Central Electricity Generating Board and the Gas Council are conducting further studies into the use of natural gas at power stations. The results will be carefully considered as part of the review of fuel policy which I am undertaking.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to restore the confidence of the textile industry in Lancashire and Cheshire.

This Government have done and are doing more than any other to stabilise the level of imports, but we cannot isolate the textile industry in Lancashire and Cheshire from the effects of the general economic measures which we had to take last July. The position should improve as soon as distributors begin to replenish their depleted stocks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in his discussions with the Textile Council for the appointment of an expert commission to advise on the regulation of disruptively priced cotton and man-made fibre imports.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any progress has been made in discussions with other countries about sharing the burden of textile imports; which countries have so far been consulted; and if he will make a statement.

The Board of Trade have always taken every opportunity to emphasise the disparity in the performance of importing countries. There have been increases, in some cases, in the quotas available to developing countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards solving the problems of grey towns; what kind of special assistance will be given to such areas; and if he will make a statement.

In so far as industrial development is concerned, the problems of those localities where some diversification is desirable but whose circumstances do not justify designation as a development area can best be met through the flexible administration of the i.d.c. control.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet investigated the possibilities of extending categorisation under the global quota system; and if he will make a statement.

The Government negotiated a far tighter system of categorisation than any which previously existed as an integral part of the global quota scheme. Any proposal to extend categorisation would therefore reopen discussion of the whole control system, and I am sure that this would not be to the industry's advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage increase in the total number of houses completed in Scotland in the two-year period 1965–66 over the period 1963–64; and what was the corresponding percentage increase in the two-year period 1963–64 over the period 1961–62.

Nine per cent. and 21 per cent. respectively.The figures are:

1961–62	…	…	…	53,991
1963–64	…	…	…	65,388
1965–66	…	…	…	71,145

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what date has been put on the discharge papers of Mr. Leslie Parkes.

15th February, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, as a result of his investigation, he will now give in detail the reasons for the delay of seven months which occurred between the civilian proceedings brought against Mr. Parkes and his arrest by the Military Police.

The time was taken in the collection and examination of evidence from 45 military and civilian witnesses, some of them serving overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which are the 14 camps that were available last July for troops withdrawn from the Continent; what is their respective capacity; and how far they are now used or earmarked for troops withdrawn to this country from elsewhere than the Continent.

The 14 camps earmarked last July have now been included in a larger list of camps to meet planned withdrawals as a result of the Defence Review as well as possible withdrawals from B.A.O.R. Each is sufficient for a major unit; but their use depends on the type of unit to be withdrawn, its rôle in the United Kingdom, and the training facilities available locally. I am not prepared to name these camps at the present time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing, for each economic planning region, the approximate number of leasehold houses with a rateable value not exceeding £200, the approximate number, with a rateable value exceeding £200 but not exceeding £400, and the approximate number with a rateable value exceeding £400.

I regret that the information requested is not available. The valuation lists give no particulars of tenure.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the average weekly rates in the United Kingdom for blowing room operatives, strippers and grinders, loom overlookers, weavers, warpers, stenters and callenderers, back fillers and drying machine operators, for the years 1964, 1965, 1966 and the present day; and what information he has from international sources about the rates for Portugal.

The following table gives standard or minimum rates of wages in this country for certain occupations. The information is drawn from a number of the principal agreements for the textiles industry. Centrally determined minimum rates are not specified for loom overlookers in the textiles manufacturing section and basic rates vary between mills and areas. Corresponding rates of wages for Portugal are not available from the usual international sources.