asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the proposed reorganisation of the Ambulance Service in the Greater London area will not reduce the effectiveness of the Service; and if he will make a statement.

The detailed organisation of the ambulance service in this area is the responsibility of the Greater London Council and is not subject to my right hon. Friend's approval. He is aware that the council is changing the manning arrangements in parts of the area but he has no reason to suppose that any changes made will adversely affect the service provided.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the rates of pay and terms and conditions of service at present being offered to kidney machine technicians are impeding recruitment and thereby hampering the working of artificial kidney units in many hospitals; and if he will take steps to ensure that the known dangers to health involved in this work are taken into consideration in determining rates of pay.

No; a standard pattern of staffing in these new units is still being evolved, but I am urgently reviewing the duties required of the different grades of staff, including technicians, and will take all relevant factors into account in determining salary levels.

asked the Minister of Health how many representations have been made to him since 13th March that he should consult with the Regional Hospital Board with a view to extending their contract for maternity beds at St. Teresa's Hospital until December, 1968; and what reply he has sent.

None. I am aware, however, of my hon. Friend's suggestion which I regret I cannot accept.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the national expenditure on the hospital service in each of the last 10 years has been spent in York.

I regret that figures are not available for the City of York, but for each of the years 1956–57 to 1965–66 inclusive, the net revenue expenditure on the hospital service provided by the York (A) and York (B) Hospital Management Committees was just under 0·6 per cent of the total for England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health what estimate he has made of the shortage of domestic staff in National Health Service hospitals; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this shortage.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 14th November which is of general application.—[Vol. 736, c. 33.]

asked the Minister of Health if the number of pharmacists in hospital service is up to establishment; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware of the concern of both the public and the Guild of Public Pharmacists in the Birmingham region at the shortage of hospital pharmacists; and what proposals he has for remedying the deficiency;(2) if he is aware that as a result of the shortage of pharmacists in the Birmingham region many hospital pharmacies have been compelled to withdraw dispensing in out-patient clinics and to cut out the production of intravenous solutions; and what proposals he has for remedying the situation.

There is a shortage in some areas including the Birmingham hospital region. On remedies I would refer the hon. Members to my right hon. Friend's replies to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Mr. Braine), on 8th August, 1966, and to the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. Maurice Macmillan) on 30th January, 1967.—[Vol. 731, c. 232; Vol. 740, c. 5.]

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of beds which are out of use in National Health Service hospitals; and if he will state the reasons.

On average about 7,500 due mainly to redecoration, quarantine or illness of staff.

			Number of Patients who have been on Waiting List for:
		Waiting List	3-6 months	6-9 months	9-12 months	Over 1 year
Plastic Surgery	…	2,870	244	290	320	1,751
Gynaecology	…	758	202	80	69	151

asked the Minister of Health whether he gave permission for J. E. Hanger Limited to make increases in the remuneration of limb fitters in accordance with an agreement of 2nd December, 1966, between the Association of Supervisory Staffs, Executives and Technicians and the Company.

No.

asked the Minister of Health on what date he received a request from the British Red Cross Society asking for recognition for a pilot scheme dealing with the creation of a physiotherapy unit for treatment in the home by retired physiotherapists; on what date, apart from acknowledgment, an answer was sent; on what date he received a request from the hon. Member for Tynemouth to bring a deputation to discuss the scheme; and on what date an answer accepting the request was sent.

The first three dates referred to were 25th August 1966; 3rd February 1967; 27th February 1967. My right hon. Friend's reply to the request to receive a deputation was sent on 17th March 1967.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the national expenditure on the welfare

asked the Minister of Health if he will list in the Official Report the number of patients awaiting admission into the plastic surgery and gynaecological departments at Frenchay Hospital, showing those who have been on the waiting list for over one year, over nine months, over six months, and over three months, respectively.

Following is the information as at 1st March, 1967:services under his Department in each of the last 10 years has been spent in York.

The figures for net revenue expenditure on welfare services provided under Sections 21, 26, 29 and 30 of the National Assistance Act 1948 expressed as percentages of the total for England and Wales are as follows:

1956–57	0·44
1957–58	0·45
1958–59	0·45
1959–60	0·44
1960–61	0·41
1961–62	0·38
1962–63	0·38
1963–64	0·32
1964–65	0·33
1965–66	0·31

asked the Minister of Health if he has completed consultations on the proposal to prohibit the irradiation of food; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have today laid before the House regulations under the Food and Drugs Acts to prohibit the irradiation of food and food products intended for human consumption. An exception is made where the amount and energy of radiation is below a prescribed, very low, level; this will allow the use of certain measuring instruments.We are setting up an Advisory Committee on the Irradiation of Food to advise us on applications for exemption from the regulations. Where an application is accepted, fresh regulations will be made to provide for the exemption.Professor F. G. Young, F.R.S., my consultant adviser on Biochemistry, has agreed to be Chairman of the Advisory Committee, whose terms of reference are:

asked the Minister of Health when he will implement the recommendation of the Dunlop Committee on the labelling of medicines.

Any alteration of the present convention governing the labelling of dispensed medicines is a matter' for the medical and pharmaceutical professions in the first instance. They agreed in 1966 on a simple conventional sign whereby the doctor can indicate that the dispensed medicine is to be named on the label, and I understand that they still have the matter under active consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to deal with the redundancies that will arise from the Bournemouth main line electrification scheme.

I understand that no redundancies are expected to arise as a result of the electrification scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of additional training places made available by the Ministry of Defence to augment the facilities of his Department to deal with the increase in the number of applications for industrial training made recently.

The Royal Air Force is providing 48 training places. The Royal Navy has offered places at two establishments. Because of the nature of its own commitments the Army has been unable to help.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 to mobile shops.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour how many prosecutions have been instituted under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 up to the latest convenient date.

Sixty-seven prosecutions, involving 123 charges, have been instituted under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 up to the end of 1965.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the National Board for Prices and Incomes' report on the retail trade's employees' wages.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the award recommended by the Retail Drapery Wages Council, and upon his policy regarding the future of wages councils generally in the light of the recommendations and comments of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The Council's proposals and the Report of the Board raise a number of important issues which are under examination. Discussions with the organisations in the trade have been initiated to consider the Board's proposals for limiting increases to lowest paid workers.As regards the future of Wages Councils generally, my right hon. Friend proposes to await the Report of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations, which has received evidence on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied with the Redundancy Payments Act in its effect on the redeployment of labour; and if he will make a statement.

Together with other measures introduced by the Government, the Act has played an important part in allaying fears of redundancy and resistance to change. This is an essential prerequisite to the redeployment of labour.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Kitione Lavemai, a professional boxer of Edenthorpe, near Doncaster, is unemployed; and if he will take steps to place this man in employment in his profession.

My officers are trying to resettle Mr. Lavemai, but they see little prospect of finding him work as a boxer.

asked the Minister of Labour what discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress on the future of the Government's prices and incomes policy; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friends the First Secretary and the Minister of Labour and I have held a series of meetings with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress. We have discussed with them all aspects of the development of prices and incomes policy and the First Secretary will me making a statement on Wednesday.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will cause surveys to be made and reports to be published annually on the economic situation of each of the development areas.

The economic situation in all parts of the country is kept under review as part of the Government's economic planning work. This is done by economic planning regions rather than development areas, as such, and a Digest of Regional Statistics is published annually. Basic studies of the underlying economic and physical problems of particular regions will be published from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in Aden.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to him by the South Arabian Government arising from Her Majesty's Government's policy to withdraw its forces from Aden; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State visited Aden over the weekend and the United Nations Mission arrives in London this evening. Discussions are continuing meanwhile on all aspects of the Aden situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals he is making for the constitutional future of the four states of the Aden protectorate which have not so far acceded to the Federation of South Arabia.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the un-federated States remains as stated in the reply given by my hon. Friend, the then Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 3rd February, 1966.—[Vol. 723, c. 1265.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British civilians are resident in Aden, excluding those who will be withdrawn after the closure of the base.

The last census in Aden was in 1955, that is to say, before the build-up of the base. The number of Europeans was then 4,400. It is not possible to give an up-to-date figure of the category of civilians described in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what undertakings have been given that Abdulla al Asnag and other organisers of terrorism in Aden will not be arrested and brought to trial for their criminal activities if they return to the Federation; and if he will give an assurance that the law will be applied without exemptions to all who commit or instigate murder, whatever may be their motives.

My noble Friend Lord Caradon stated in the Fourth Committee of the United Nations when the appointment of a special mission to South Arabia was being debated last autumn that any South Arabian is free to return to his country at any time and that no one need fear any restriction provided that they respect and obey the law and refrain from giving encouragement to intimidation and violence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the number of incidents involving violence which have taken place in Aden in the years 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively, and in the first two months of 1967.

Following are the figures of incidents and casualties.

ADEN STATE
Year	Number of Incidents	Persons Killed	Persons Wounded
1963	4	2	54
1964	36	4	32
1965	279	33	173
1966	480	40	542
1967 (January-February)	256	44	239

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that members of the United Nations Security Council are, or have been, in breach of Article 27(3) of the Charter; and what action is taken by Her Majesty's Government when such breaches occur.

In the view of Her Majesty's Government no breaches of Article 27(3) have occurred: the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement about the Spanish blockade of Gibraltar.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 27th February.—[Vol. 742, c. 92.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decision has now been reached about raising in the Security Council the Report of the Expert Committee on Sanctions which was appointed by Resolution S/5773.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State to a similar question by the hon. Gentleman on 27th February.—[Vol. 742, c. 15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress he has made concerning the Soviet debt agreement reached during Mr. Kosygin's visit.

Discussions are now taking place in London with the Soviet authorities on the formulation of this agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made towards achieving a non-proliferation treaty.

The position is still as my right hon. Friend stated it on 13th March. Confidential discussions are going on and we hope it will soon be possible to table a new draft non-proliferation treaty at the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee at Geneva—[Vol. 743, c. 7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the Soviet Government regarding the sale of variable geometry military aircraft to the West German Government.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Federal German Government have agreed to offset a proportion of the foreign exchange costs of the British Army of the Rhine.

Yes. The matter is being pursued in the Tripartite Talks which resume in Washington today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the North Vietnam representative in Paris has confirmed that his Government are ready to enter into peace talks if the United States of America ceases bombing attacks against his country; and whether he will now request the United States Government to stop their air attacks so that peace talks may begin.

No. Neither the statements by the North Vietnamese representative in Paris nor those by the authorities in Hanoi have ever indicated whether or how the North Vietnamese would respond to a cessation of the bombing.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware that the lifts recently installed in the House of Commons are apt to halt between floors and are exceptionally slow; and if he will consult engineers with experience of installing lifts in hotels and other public buildings, with a view to providing faster and more dependable lifts for the use of hon. Members.

There have been no recent mechanical failures in the lifts. However, if they are overloaded they may not behave normally; and if the stop or emergency buttons are pressed by mistake, the lifts would come to a halt between floors. They travel at the normal speed for lifts serving only a few floors.There are experienced specialists in lift engineering on the staff of my Department, who give first-class service to the House of Commons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage increase in new building work, other than housing, for private developers in Scotland between 1964 and 1966; and what is his forecast of the increase to be expected between 1966 and 1968.

I have been asked to reply.The percentage increase, at constant prices, between 1964 and 1966 was 24 per cent. I cannot give a forecast for the years 1966 to 1968.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what plans he has for the replacement of the concrete blockhouse at the corner of The Mall and Horseguards Parade.

I have no plans to replace this building as its retention is the most economical means of housing the Whitehall Wireless Station.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will announce plans for the cleaning of the Tower of London, and of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square; and what plans he has for cleaning other public buildings in London.

A start will be made on cleaning the White Tower at the Tower of London this spring, at the same time as necessary repairs are made to the stonework. The programme will take some years to complete. I have no proposals for cleaning Nelson's Column itself, as the effects of cleaning the grey granite would not really be apparent, but the statue, the bas-reliefs and the lions are washed periodically. The cleaning of the Horse Guards has just started and that of Dover House will follow. I hope to announce from time to time plans for cleaning further buildings.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the estimated cost of all barrack construction in each of the next three years; and how many places it will provide.

In 1967–68, £26,524,000; in 1968–69, about £29 million; and in 1969–70 about £28 million. The places provided in each year will be about 21,000, 16,000, and 10,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Social Security when she intends to seek to raise the Industrial Injuries Act 20s. widow's pension.

This benefit relates to one aspect of the provision for widowhood generally and will be considered in the course of the review of social security provisions.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will authorise the costs of independent medical advice to industrial injury appellants whose cases are referred by her to the Medical Appeal Tribunal for decision.

My right hon. Friend is authorised to pay for an examination and a report obtained at the request of a medical appeal tribunal, but she has no authority to pay the costs of obtaining medical advice sought by a claimant.

asked the Minister of Social Security why student's allowance for a girl attending a college of education in Scotland is taken into account when assessing her parent's sickness benefit, in view of the fact that this is not done in a similar case in England; and what action she will take to remove this anomaly.

Existing regulations require National Insurance personal benefits and dependency increases to be adjusted if the person concerned is receiving a training allowance from a Government Department. In Scotland responsibility for payment of students' maintenance grants has been transferred from the local education authorities to the Scottish Education Department and these grants have to be taken into account when considering title to national insurance benefit. In England and Wales students' maintenance grants are usually paid by the local education authority and do not affect national insurance benefit. Draft amending regulations to bring the National Insurance position in Scotland into line with that in England and Wales were submitted to the National Insurance Advisory Committee in February.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware that, through no fault of their own, dockers are being stood off and that their standby pay is very often only £8 per week and in some instances even less; and what action she will take to ensure that these workers are able to receive National Insurance benefits in addition to their nominal standby allowances.

Unemployment benefit, which is primarily intended for people who have lost their jobs and are looking for fresh employment, is not payable for any day covered by a guarantee agreement. The Government's view is that employers should bear the responsibility for employees who are temporarily stood off because of a shortage of work, by making adequate provision for them through guaranteed week agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence at what rate British troops are at present being withdrawn from Aden in anticipation of their ultimate complete withdrawal.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 1st March.—[Vol. 742, c. 486–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which barracks are being prepared to receive British troops withdrawn from the British Army of the Rhine.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer that my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) on 16th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 149.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether barracks in Northern Ireland are being prepared for the reception of British troops withdrawn from overseas.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will use the former North Irish Brigade headquarters at Eglinton, near Londonderry, to accommodate British troops withdrawn from the British Army of the Rhine and elsewhere.

No. The property is in process of disposal, and no living accommodation suitable for troops is now left in our ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which barracks in economically weaker areas of the country are being made available for British troops withdrawn from the British Army of the Rhine and elsewhere.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer that my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) on 16th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 149.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what days of the week military exercises involving heavy transport and cross-country manœuvres may take place.

In this country, it is usual for the Regular Army to use training areas during the week and for Reserve Army units to use them at weekends or at annual camp. Regular Army exercises sometimes extend over weekends, if the nature of the exercise makes this desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the value of the X-ray laser as a weapon in the 1970s.

We are co-operating with the United States in a research programme on lasers which includes their capability as weapons as well as defence against such weapons. I am not able to give the results of this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the Government's plans for nuclear-powered naval ships.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my remarks in the Debate on Vote 4 of the Defence (Navy) Estimates on 15th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 616.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the territorial boundaries of the Army Strategic Command; and what will be the rank of the Commander-in-Chief.

Those of the United Kingdom; the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief will be a Lieutenant-General.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate cost of equipping an armoured brigade group, and an infantry brigade group, respectively.

The value of equipment held by an armoured brigade and by an infantry brigade in B.A.O.R. are approximately £18·5 million and £16·5 million respectively. When the Chieftain tank and Swingfire missile are fully in service, these costs will increase to £29 million and £20 million.The cost of the equipment of an infantry brigade for operations outside Europe is about £8 million and that of an airportable infantry brigade is about £6 million. The former will cost £11·5 million when equipped with Chieftain and Swingfire; the latter £6·5 million when equipped with Swingfire.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of a Chieftain tank, of an armoured personnel carrier, and of an Abbot self-propelled gun.

Final prices for these vehicles have not yet been determined. Estimated costs are as follows:—

• CHIEFTAIN Tank, £90,000 to £100,000.
• Armoured Personnel Carrier Type FV 432, £20,000 to £22,000.
• ABBOT Self-propelled Gun, £46,000 to £50,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many barrack places are in use at present; how many are unused; and how many will become available in each of the next three years, specifying whether these will be of new construction, or rehabilitated;(2) how many barrack places are at present empty at Perth, Edinburgh, Catterick, Barnard Castle, Scarborough, Ripon, North Weald, Pembroke, Crow- borough and Warminster, respectively; at what other locations there are barrack places empty; and how many of these there are at each place.

Barrack accommodation is allocated to units and modified according to their needs. Disproportionate effort and expenditure would be involved in calculating the number of barrack places available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the essential services in Phase I of the barrack complexes.

The essential works services in Phase I of the rehabilitation of Barracks for soliders withdrawn from overseas are designed to ensure that all services, including heating, are in proper order, and the essential requirements of the unit including single accommodation, messing and ablutions, together with recreational and training facilities are functioning properly and a reasonable state of decoration is secured.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in which barracks in Northern Ireland there is capacity to house a further battalion.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to acquire land where tracked vehicles may be used.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Gentleman on 10th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 396.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the average cost per married quarter of the 20,000 married quarters he will provide over the next three years, specifying whether the cost is for the construction of new dwellings, or the purchase or hiring of existing dwellings.

The average cost of building a married quarter (excluding land) is £4,000. The average cost of acquiring a house by purchase (which would of course include the land) is expected to be a little higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what acreage is available to Her Majesty's Government for formation training in Germany, in Libya, and in the United Kingdom, respectively.

There are 220,000; 2,300,000; and 90,000 acres respectively, over which a Brigade could carry out a limited exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to increase the British contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation mobile force.

Her Majesty's Government make a substantial contribtuion to the present mobile force and will consider, when studies on this subject now being undertaken by the Alliance have been completed, whether this should be increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will increase the amount of research being done into defence against biological and bacteriological weapons; and whether he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the chemical warfare equipment of the Army is adequate in quality and quantity; what steps he will take to increase research in this field; and whether he will make a statement.

Research and Development undertaken at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, Porton, embraces work on all aspects of defence against chemical warfare. The programme of re-equipment of the Services is a continuous one and one which reflects relevant advances in science and technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is still his policy that some Army units should be equipped with tactical nuclear missiles.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list, in percentage form, the shortages of officers, in each rank up to major, in the Household Troops, the Artillery, the Royal Armoured Corps, the Infantry, the Engineers, and the other technical corps of the Army.

Following is the information:

	Percentage shortfall
	Major	Captain	Subaltern
Royal Armoured Corps	—	5	—
Royal Artillery	—	11	10
Royal Engineers	—	16	—
Infantry	—	—	—
Royal Signals	8	24	—
Royal Army Ordnance Corps	4	10	—
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	—	18	—
(Figures for the Household Brigade are included in Royal Armoured Corps and Infantry.)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to form a Corps of Infantry.

The long-term structure of the Army is one of the matters on which I hope to announce further plans later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be in a position to receive applications from officers who wish to resign their commissions under the arrangements he announced in January last; when he will announce compensation terms; and whether he will make a statement.

Officers will be invited to apply as soon as compensation terms have been published. I regret that I am not yet able to say when this will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for increasing the use of airfields in Malta for training purposes.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on this subject in the debate on the Defence (Air) Estimates on 14th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 396.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the annual actual expenditure on defence, and the percentage it represents of the gross national product for each year since 1946.

Actual expenditure on defence year by year is as follows:

Year	Net expenditure
	(£ million)
1946–47	1,643
1947–48	847
1948–49	753
1949–50	735
1950–51	801
1951–52	1,123
1952–53	1,392
1953–54	1,358
1954–55	1,447
1955–56	1,407
1956–57	1,518
1957–58	1,439
1958–59	1,451
1959–60	1,484
1960–61	1,603
1961–62	1,684
1962–63	1,756
1963–64	1,809
1964–65	1,898
1965–66	2,052

Over the years there have been changes to the conventions used in attributing expenditure to the defence budget, but substantially the figures are consistent with one another.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what action he has taken following the drowning in February 1966 of two men of the Royal Engineers when using defective lifejackets while on exercise on the Thames at Windsor.

A committee appointed last year by one of my predecessors is about to make its report. It recommends new safety regulations, which will be brought into force to govern the sport of canoeing in the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the annual ground support costs of an Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft; and what estimate he has made of annual maintenance costs.

I can assure the hon. Member that we have made estimates of annual running costs which include such factors as spares support and maintenance. It is too early however to give these figures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will seek powers to ensure that the quality labelling of fruit and vegetables is extended to fruit and vegetables at the point of sale to shoppers.

Not at present. We must see how we get on with the statutory grades that we are about to introduce for apples, pears, cucumbers, tomatoes and cauliflowers when sold in bulk. These grades could not in any case be applied as they stand to small quantities and single units.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the percentage change in the value of net United Kingdom farm output in each of the last 15 years at constant 1958 prices; and what estimate he has made of the percentage change in 1967.

I regret that information on precisely this basis is not readily available. But the official index of agricultural net output in the United Kingdom published in the 1967 Annual Review White Paper (Cmnd. 3229) shows the changes in each year since 1953–54 at constant prices which are the average of the years 1954–55, 1956–57. The figures are given in Table K on page 31 of the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in Westmorland have applied for the Farm Business Records Grant to the latest convenient date.

Thirty-seven applications had been received by 28th February, 1967.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increase in guaranteed prices he estimates to be needed at this year's Annual Price Review, taking into account additional costs, to provide a rise of £100 million to the farming industry since, and inclusive of, the 1964 Price Review.

After deducting the increased costs, the total awards at the last four Annual Reviews, together with the gain from increasing productivity, amount to about £100 million. About £40 million of this is attributable to this year's Review, when the award left the industry with the whole of its productivity gain and provided full recoupment for the increased costs together with a further £10 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will consider taking steps to restrict the payments of grants to students who absent themselves from lectures without due cause.

No. Local education authorities already have power to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of children staying on after the school-leaving age in London comprehensive schools; and how this compares with figures for England and Wales as a whole.

The information is as follows:

Ages in January, 1966	Inner London Education Authority Comprehensive Schools (estimated) per cent.	England and Wales (all maintained secondary schools) per cent.
15 over school leaving age	58·0	43·1
16	29·6	24·7
17	11·4	12·4
18	3·3	4·1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost to public funds of the London School of Economics, including grants payable to students there, for 1965–66.

The latest year for which figures of the recurrent income of the London School of Economics from public funds are available is 1964–65. Details are given under columns 6, 7 and 9 of Table 11A of Returns from Universities and University Colleges, 1964–65 (Cmnd. 3106). The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not collected for individual university institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that the change in the system of grants in respect of school meals is imposing a financial strain on local authorities with large school-child populations and that communities with a lesser number of children to educate are securing a financial advantage; and if he will review his appraisal of costs in order to re-establish the principle of providing for each local education authority according to its needs in maintaining this service; and if he will make a statement.

I do not accept that the new system of rate support grant which comes into operation on 1st April will bear hardly on those local authorities with disproportionately large numbers of school children. The formula for the distribution of the needs element of the grant will take into account both the number of school meals provided by each authority and the extent to which its numbers of pupils and students exceed a prescribed level per thousand of population.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up a distribution system for educational films for schools.

The film library of the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids already provides such a service nationally, and many local education authorities also operate libraries for their own schools.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will publish the correspondence between Sir Alfred Owen and herself concerning the replacement of Sir Alfred Owen by the Parliamentary Secretary in her Department as Chairman of the Road Safety Council.

There is no correspondence to publish. I discussed the future of the Council, including the chairman- ship, with Sir Alfred Owen on 31st January, when he agreed to continue as Vice Chairman of the Council. He confirmed this at the Council meeting on 9th February when I announced the change.

asked the Minister of Transport why the chairmanship of the Road Safety Council has been taken by a Minister of the Crown as opposed to an independent and voluntary chairman.

As I announced on 9th February, to secure that the work of the Council is more closely related to the new plans for road safety which I am developing.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce a 30 miles per hour limit through the village of Worlingham in view of greatly increased traffic and building development which has taken place on both sides of the road in recent years.

A 40 m.p.h. speed limit is already in force here. The initiative for changing it lies with the East Suffolk County Council, who could, if they thought fit, apply to my right hon. Friend. I understand that last May the County Council rejected a request for a 30 m.p.h. limit as unjustified. We share their views.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an undertaking that no final decision will be taken on the route of that part of the mid-Wirral Road which lies within the Bebington borough, until the views of the Bebington Council have been considered at Ministry level.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the light of her request for a cost/benefit study of the alternative routes proposed for the mid-Wirral Road through the borough of Bebington, she will indicate what cost/ benefit studies are available, or have been sought, from the Merseyside Land Use and Transportation Study regarding the effects of the future Dee and Mersey crossings upon each of these alternative routes.

The Study is at too early a stage for an analysis of this kind.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what are the statistics of vehicular traffic upon the A41 within the borough of Bebington for 1961 and 1966, respectively; and what are the estimates for such traffic in 1971 and 1976, respectively.(2) what are the estimates of vehicular traffic upon the mid-Wirral Road within the borough of Bebington immediately following its completion, and five years after its completion.

The estimates of vehicle traffic on both roads depend on other developments in the area. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that more detailed maps were available to the Press than to Members of Parliament in explanation of her statement on British Railways network for development, if she will on future occasions ensure that Members are given equal opportunities with the Press to study her intentions.

The additional maps given to the Press were regional versions of Sections of the map placed in the Vote Office. They were thus on different scales, in order to facilitate reproduction in local newspapers, and it was therefore possible to include more place names. The definitive map is that which was placed in the Vote Office and is now on sale to the public.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a statement to explain the arrangements envisaged in her statement on the British Railways network for development for the provision of railway services in the Levenmouth area; and, in particular, what passenger services will be available between Thornton and Leven.

I understand that the Railways Board intends to put forward a proposal to withdraw passenger services from the line between Thornton Junction and Leven. If it does so my right hon. Friend will carefully consider it in the light of advice from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Transport Users Consultative Committee for Scotland and the Scottish Economic Planning Council.The Board intends to maintain freight services on the line to Methil but to withdraw them from the Leven Branch.

asked the Minister of Transport whether arrangements for the registration books of vehicles written off by insurance companies to be appropriately marked have been completed; and when they will be introduced.

Motor insurers generally, for whose co-operation I am most grateful, have agreed that, as from 1st May, when a total loss payment is made on a seriously damaged vehicle, the registration book will be sent to the appropriate local taxation officer. The book will then be endorsed "Seriously damaged vehicle—insurance total loss payment".

asked the Minister of Transport when the Transport Bill will be published.

I hope to introduce it soon after Parliament reassembles in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs by what date he intends to introduce legislation which will make it possible to enact by Order in Council the new constitution for Bermuda.

This has not yet been finally decided, but I hope it may be possible before the end of the present Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of indictable offences known to the police in England and Wales was cleared up in 1966; and how this percentage compares with those for the three preceding years.

The information is as follows:

Year	Number of indictable offences known to the police	Number of indictable offences cleared up	Column (3) expressed as a percentage of column (2)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
1963	978,076	421,942	43·1
1964	1,067,963	422,787	39·6
1965	1,133,882	444,562	39·2
1966 (provisional)	1,199,861	482,555	40·2

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the most convenient and longest period of time, details of immigration into this country from the Commonwealth countries, giving each country separately, and similar details for immigrants from Ireland and as much information as he has readily available on the numbers of immigrants coming into this country for any stated period from all countries.

Statistics of Commonwealth immigration are put in the Library month by month and are published annually. Figures for 1962 (from 1st July) to 1965 appeared as Command Papers, 2379, 2658 and 2979, and the figures for 1966 are due to be published in a few weeks' time. Statistics of aliens entering the country from 1962 to 1965 are to be found in Command Papers 2008, 2340, 2649 and 2975, and the figures for 1966 are due to be published shortly. There is no immigration control between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, so corresponding statistics are not available for travel from Ireland.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give estimates for Greater London, England and Wales, and Great Britain, respectively, of the total number of privately rented dwellings, the number subject to control, and the number subject to regulation at the latest convenient date; and if he will also give an estimate of the current annual rate of decline of the number in each class.

Information on tenure of dwellings derived from the 1966 sample census will be available later this year. The follwing estimates embody projections from the same data upon which earlier estimates were based, and are therefore somewhat less certain.

	Greater London	England and Wales	Great Britain
	m.	m.	m.
Privately rented dwellings (end 1966)	0·96	3·25	3·5
Annual rate of decline about 5 per cent. overall
Controlled dwellings (end 1966)	0·32	1·65	1·8
Annual rate of decline about 10 per cent. overall

Most privately rented dwellings not subject to rent control are either subject to rent regulation or within the scope of the furnished houses rent tribunals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much total annual local authority expenditure has increased since 1963.

In 1965–66 revenue expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales met from rates and grants was approximately £450 million more than in 1963–64.

asked the Postmaster-General why he proposes to appoint Mr. John Wall at a salary of £25,000; and what will be his duties.

Mr. Wall was appointed Chief Executive of the Post Office on 1st November 1966 for two years, on loan from E.M.I. Limited, at a salary of £12,500 a year.

asked the Postmaster-General when the necessary experimental work on very high frequency/ultra high frequency and 625-line television will be completed; and at what date thereafter it is proposed that BBC-1 and BBC-2 should be combined into a single economic unit.

I think the hon. Member has in mind the decision to change the definition standard on which BBC-1 and independent television are broadcast from their present transmissions on 405 lines and in VHF to 625 lines in UHF: that is, to the standard and in the frequency bands on which BBC-2 is broadcast. No further experience of 625 line transmissions in UHF is needed to establish the general feasibility of making this change. The second part of the Question refers, I take it, to the date by which BBC-1 will, like BBC-2, be broadcast only on 625 lines. I cannot add to my statement that the 405-line transmissions of BBC-1, and of independent television, will continue for a period of years.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to encourage manufacturers of telephone exchange equipment and telephones to reduce their prices.

Certainly. That has always been, and will continue to be, one of the main objects of my whole purchasing policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the home produced surplus of eggs which have been broken-out by the Egg Marketing Board since 1st January, 1967, originated in Scotland.

About 6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the value of work done for the Government in the last three years in Great Britain on terrain-following equipment.