asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what effect sanctions have had on the price and availability of hospital equipment and supplies in Rhodesia.

I have no reliable information on this, but as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 31st January, 1966, exceptions to the United Kingdom's embargo on exports to Rhodesia are permitted in respect of items for essential humanitarian purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the increased flow of coal from Rhodesia into Zambia to relieve the shortage on the Copper Belt; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to this trade.

I am not in a position to give the House details of the flow of coal from Rhodesia into Zambia since this is largely a matter for the commercial companies concerned. It is, however, the declared policy of H.M.G. to assist Zambia in reducing her economic dependence on Rhodesia, and part of H.M.G.'s assistance to Zambia is related to the development of Zambian coal resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many passports have been issued to Rhodesian citizens by the British Consuls in Lusaka and Pretoria, respectively, since the unilateral declaration of independence; whether passports so issued are British passports; and whether persons holding such passports fall within the provisions of the Commonwealth Immigration quota.

Since the illegal declaration of independence the High Commission in Lusaka and the Consular post in Pretoria have issued 2,244 and 233 passports respectively to Rhodesian citizens who are not also citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last 12 months British subjects and British diplomatic personnel have been assaulted or insulted by soldiers of the Uganda Army; what protests were made; and with what results.

Twenty-four incidents have been reported to the High Commission in Kampala, of which eleven involved assault. In all the more serious cases the British High Commission made representations, and I have expressed our concern to the Uganda High Commissioner in London. The Uganda Government have expressed regret at the incidents and have undertaken to investigate and where appropriate to punish the culprits.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will announce the composition of the Malta economic mission and its precise terms of reference.

Our High Commissioner has had further discussions with the Prime Minister of Malta about the Joint Mission. We are anxious to set up this Mission as soon as possible and I hope to make an early announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why the post of Scientific Attaché at Delhi has not been maintained.

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend in his letter of 11th January, the High Commissioner reported in the summer of 1965 that there would be no requirement for the Scientific Attaché post if the British Council proceeded with its plans to appoint a Science Officer to New Delhi. Dr. J. M. Wilson was posted to the British Council Headquarters there in October, 1966, and among his other duties, now provides advice for the High Commissioner on scientific matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether corporal punishment is still awarded judicially in Bermuda; what form it takes; and how many persons have been sentenced to it in each of the last five years.

Yes. The cane, the birch, or the cat. In 1962 there were six cases; in 1963, four; in 1964, none; in 1965, five; in 1966, none. With one exception, these sentences were all of caning.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit Botswana in 1967.

My hon. Friend the former Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies visited Botswana in September last year. I have no plans to visit Botswana at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to bring about constitutional changes in the Seychelles.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's Answer on 31st January.—[Vol. 740, c. 61.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many British firms or companies have moneys blocked in Ghana; what is the total sum involved; and what action Her Majesty's Government is taking to obtain release of these funds.

I regret that the figures of firms or companies and of the total sum involved are not available. The Ghana Government is, of course, aware of our anxiety that these funds should be released as soon as possible and I understand that they are doing their best within the resources available to them to approve transfers and to provide the foreign exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the future constitutional relationship between Gibraltar and Great Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14th February by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) to which I am not at present in a position to add.—[Vol. 741, c. 331–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action, after consultation with the Hong Kong Government, has been taken to prevent the demolition of Mrs. Lai Pick Tsuu's home at Mo Lo Tam in the New Territories, Hong Kong.

I have written to the hon. Member about this case. There are no grounds for me to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that the Commission of Inquiry into the Kowloon disturbances of 1966 pointed out that most of the participants in the disturbances were comparatively poorly educated, poorly housed and poorly employed and that these disabilities provided the economic and social reasons for the disturbances; and what steps he is taking, after consultation with the Governor, to eliminate such barriers to the peaceful development of Hong Kong.

The Commission found that the great majority of the participants came from poorer sections of the community but concluded that political, economic and social frustrations were not the direct cause of the riots. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the report calls for any action on his part.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether steps are being taken, by microfilming or other means, to duplicate or triplicate the rarer documents in the India Office library; for what sum the library is insured; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Library's rarer oriental manuscripts are being systematically microfilmed, 4,000 having been microfilmed so far. In addition, when orders are received from the public for microfilms of any other material in the Library and Records, the negative microfilm is retained. A large and steadily growing collection of microfilms is in this way being built up. It is not the policy of the Government to insure property in its ownership or custody.

asked the Minister of Power what is the average price paid per therm by bulk heavy oil users in London and the South-East at the present date.

The published price of heavy fuel oil (3,500 seconds) for minimum bulk loads of 500 gallons delivered in London and the South-East varies according to the price zone, and is equivalent either to 7·7d. or 8·0d. per therm, including tax. These prices are subject to rebates negotiated with individual customers.

asked the Minister of Power what consideration has been given to technical developments with a view to reviving the study of deriving oil products from coal.

The developments in this field continue to be kept under review, but the relative costs of coal and oil in this country still do not offer any prospect of enabling viable oil-from-coal processes to be developed.

asked the Minister of Power what was the energy consumption of coal equivalent in Scotland in the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966.

26·1, 26·7, 28·0 and 27·8 million tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Power what was the energy consumption of coal equivalent in England and Wales in the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966.

253·1, 254·2, 264·1 and 264·1 million tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the cost of his model of the fuel economy, the numbers of staff employed and their total salaries; when he expects the results to emerge; and whether he will make the results available to the House of Commons.

Eleven staff, with annual salaries of about £19,000, are now employed on this experimental work. As results emerge they will be taken into account in statements on fuel policy I make to the House.

asked the Minister of Power if, when appointing chairmen and deputy chairmen of area boards of the nationalised industries, he will make it a condition of such appointment that the person so appointed shall reside within reasonable daily travelling distance of the appropriate board headquarters.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what undertaking he obtained, before giving consent to the building of the power station at Drax, that it would be coal-fired; and if he will refuse consent to any application to use another type of fuel there.

The consent sought and given was for a coal-fired station.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the names of the power stations to be completed during the next 12 years, the kind of fuel that will be used, and the output in megawatts per station.

The information available is as follows:

STATIONS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR ORDERED BY THE CENTRAL ELECTRICITY GENERATING BOARD
Name of Station	Fuel	Output (MW)
Aberthaw B	Coal	1,500
Cottam	Coal	2,000
Didcot	Coal	2,000
Drakelow C	Coal	720
Drax (part)	Coal	1,980
Dungeness B	Nuclear	1,200
Eggborough	Coal	2,000
Fawley	Oil	2,000
Ferrybridge C	Coal	2,000
Fiddler's Ferry	Coal	2,000
Hinkley Point B	Nuclear	1,320
Ironbridge B	Coal	1,000
Kingsnorth	Oil/Coal	2,000
Oldbury	Nuclear	600
Pembroke	Oil	2,000
Ratcliffe-on-Soar	Coal	2,000
Rugeley B	Coal	1,000
Tilbury B	Coal	1,400
West Burton A	Coal	2,000
Wylfa	Nuclear	1,180
		31,900

STATIONS FOR WHICH THE BOARD HAVE STATUTORY CONSENT BUT WHICH WILL BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN FUTURE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
Name of Station	Fuel Proposed	Output (MW)
Drax (remainder)	Coal	1,980
Littlebrook D	Coal	1,500
		3,480

STATIONS FOR WHICH THE BOARD'S APPLICATIONS FOR CONSENT ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION
Name of Station	Fuel Proposed	Output (MW)
West Burton B	Coal	about 2,000
Isle of Grain	Oil	about 3,300
Heysham	Nuclear	about 2,500
Seaton Carew	Nuclear	about 1,300
		9,100

asked the Minister of Power whom he has appointed to represent the British Steel Industry, including companies who will be part of the National Steel Corporation, in discussions with the High Authority of the European Economic Community on Steel Prices.

The Chairman of the Iron and Steel Board has been and is a member of the Council of Association representing the interests of the steel industry. The Study Group recently set un to consider problems arising from the world surplus of steelmaking capacity, including the effect on steel prices, is composed of senior officials and the industries are not directly represented.

asked the Minister of Power what information he has about the effective steel prices which operate in European Economic Community countries, as distinct from published prices; and what machinery he will employ for publishing home and overseas steel prices after vesting day.

No official information about the extent to which Community prices vary from published prices is available Responsibility for publishing the prices charged by the publicly-owned British companies will rest with the National Steel Corporation.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that many industries, including the Scottish Gas Board, are being granted rebates of between 20s. and 30s. a ton under special terms from the National Coal Board, which are denied to the Electricity Board; and if he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to end the selective price system.

I am aware that in appropriate circumstances, as when the Board would otherwise lose contracts of special importance, the Board negotiate special agreements. This commercial practice is also followed by the Board's competitors. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to issue a general direction.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of its urgency for the Scottish mining industry, he will have consulations with the National Coal Board to consider selective coal prices.

No. The Government and the Board already agree that opportunities should be taken to correlate the prices and costs of the various coalfields, and this principle was supported last year by the National Board of Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what plans are being made to bring North Sea gas to Bristol and the South-West;(2) what are the plans to bring a gas pipe line down to the sea bank works at Avonmouth.

The Gas Council is discussing with the Department its plans for transmitting natural gas, including a pipeline to Avonmouth for completion in 1969. The gas would be used initially in the Seabanks works, but the South Western Gas Board is planning a phased programme for providing direct supplies to consumers.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give further details of the method perfected by scientists at Torry Research Station, Aberdeen, of transporting cod, haddock and other fish from the sea to the shopping basket so that they can be bought and sold as wet fish without losing their fresh taste.

The Torry Research Station has solved a number of technical problems associated with pre-packaging of wet fish which will allow its introduction on a wide scale. Good practice throughout the chain of distribution is important and the Torry Research Station and the White Fish Authority will be advising the distributors on how this can be achieved.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to utilise the British Computer Industry in providing the wide range of computer systems which will be necessary in the reorganisation of the steel industry.

The choice of computers for the reorganised steel industry will rest with the industry itself. The Computer Advisory Service will become available to the steel industry, as it now is to the other nationalised industries. My right hon. Friend will ensure that the merits of the excellent products of the British computer industry are drawn to the attention of those concerned, and will promote the development of steel industry computer applications by development contracts and other means.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the value of work done for the Government in the last three years on the evaluation of drag in supersonic aircraft.

Apart from sums spent on particular aircraft projects, where it is not possible to isolate expenditure on drag evaluation from other expenditure, about £760,000 in Government Establishments.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the value of work done for the Government in the last three years on problems of aircraft exhaust nozzles.

£500,000 intramurally and £400,000 in industry. In addition, considerable sums have been spent on particular engine development projects where it is not possible to isolate nozzle expenditure.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the value of work done for the Government in the last three years on flutter-testing.

Apart from sums spent on particular aircraft projects where it is not possible to isolate expenditure on flutter-testing from other expenditure, about £300,000 at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what was the value of orders delivered to the home market and overseas, respectively, for the motor industry for each of the quarters in 1966; what growth there has been over the last two years; and what is the forecast for the current year;(2) what was the value of orders delivered to the home market and overseas, respectively, for the electrical engineering industry for each of the quarters in 1966; what growth there has been over the last two years; and what is forecast for the current year;(3) what was the value of orders delivered to the home market and overseas,

HOME AND EXPORT DELIVERIES OF CERTAIN ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES
							£ million (current values)
		Motor Vehicles*		Metal Working Machine Tools		Other Mechanical Engineering†		Electrical Engineering‡
		Home	Export	Home	Export	Home	Export	Home	Export
1966 First quarter	…	222	129	29	9	329	141	260	62
Second quarter	…	229	120	28	8	339	141	268	58
Third quarter	…	153	114	28	9	327	138	248	63
Fourth quarter	…	121	122	28	9	343	167	294	71
Percentage change 1964 to 1966§	…	- 3 per cent.	+ 3 per cent.	+ 30 per cent.	- 9 per cent.	+ 18 per cent.	+ 16 per cent.	+ 15 per cent.	+29 per cent.
* Cars, commercial vehicles and tractors.
† Excluding (in addition to metal-working machine tools) industrial engines, instruments, watches and clocks.
‡ Excluding the electronic industries but including industrial engines.
§ The percentage changes given for machine tools make allowance for the additional firms included from the beginning of 1965.

asked the Minister of Technology how many major British projects there are experience of which will provide know-how for the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft.

The British Aircraft Corporation, the United Kingdom airframe contractor for the A.F.V.G., has considerable experience of high performance combat aircraft development, of which the most important examples are the Lightning and TSR2. It has also experience of variable geometry

The following table gives the latest figures of home and export deliveries of motor vehicles, metalworking machine tools, other mechanical engineering and electrical engineering for the quarters of 1966 together with the percentage changes between the years 1964 and 1966. All figures are at current values. Forecasts of deliveries of these products for 1967 are not available.techniques gained from research work carried out over a number of years.

asked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has made of the number of months between the start of drawing board work on the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft and the coming of the first Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft into Royal Air Force service.

Until we have completed the project definition study it is not possible to estimate precisely how long development will take. But the present intention is that the aircraft should enter service with the R.A.F. in the mid-seventies.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the annual cost of the Fatigue Stress Laboratory at Farnborough; and what has been the capital cost of improving the unit in the last three years.

I am not sure whether my hon. Friend is referring to the whole of the new complex of buildings and facilities at Ball Hill, Farnborough, which make up the Structures Department, or simply to the Fatigue Research Laboratory, which is a small part of that complex. The running cost of the whole complex is expected to be about £1¼ million in 1966–67, of which about £830,000 will be a direct cash cost. Its original capital cost was about £3 million, and £160,000 has been spent on subsequent modifications of a capital nature since it was opened in June last year. It is not possible to identify separately the capital cost of the Fatigue Research Laboratory but its running cost this year is expected to be about £100,000, including £65,000 direct cash cost.

asked the Minister of Technology what study he has carried out on the feasibility of applying variable geometry techniques to aircraft weighing 25 tons or less.

A considerable amount of effort has been devoted in the United Kingdom to the study of the variable geometry concept for combat aircraft and the feasibility of such aircraft at weights below 25 tons has been demonstrated through extensive wind tunnel and other aerodynamic tests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the use of aluminium alloy for the new penny and twopenny pieces instead of bronze, in view of the fact that aluminium alloy is much lighter in weight than bronze.

No. The proposed new coins will be much lighter than the present bronze coinage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now revoke Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 438, concerning gold coins.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in his Department are concerned in the financial control of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft.

Six, in the course of their ordinary duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will appoint an advisory body to deal with the purely financial aspects of the Anglo-French co-operation on variable geometry aircraft.

It is not possible to separate questions of pure finance from technical management. The detailed financial control of this project is among the responsibilities of the Anglo-French project Management Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what study he has given to the report of the Economic Development Council for the Distributive Trades on the impact of the Selective Employment Tax; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in the matter.

It has been helpful to have this detailed study. The hon. Member will understand that I am not able to say more at this time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of exempting retirement pensioners and part-time workers, respectively, from Selective Employment Tax.

The cost of relieving employers in the service sector of the tax in respect of retirement pensioners, while at the same time continuing to pay premiums in the manufacturing sector, would be of the order of £10 million in a full year. The cost in respect of part-time workers depends on how part-time employment is defined.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of the rebate given to agriculture in respect of the Selective Employment Tax.

Refunds to agriculture, horticulture and forestry are estimated at about £25 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has approved the settlement reached between the Treasury and the Institute of Professional Civil Servants concerning increased salaries for engineers in the Civil Service, Works Group; and if he will make a statement.

No settlement has yet been reached between the Treasury and the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on the pay of the Works Group.

				Salary (or salary range, after 12½ per cent, cut)		Net salary after tax
				£	£	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Chairman	…	…	…	16,000		7,233	5	0
Deputy Chairmen	…	…	…	17,500	—21,000	7,402	0	0	—7,743	5	0
Other full-time Board Members	…	…	…	13,125	—16,625	6,732	6	3	—7,303	11	3

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the net wealth owned in 1964 by the 71 per cent. of the people in Great Britain aged 21 years and over who owned less than £1,000 each.

The estimates of wealth owned by persons over 21 are based on the Estate Duty statistics and therefore they do not cover people whose wealth would pass on death without a grant of representation. These comprise two-thirds of the people mentioned in the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 189 companies which have increased their dividends since 20th July, 1966 did so with the agreement of the Treasury; and how many were close companies.

By 16th March, 1967 about 200 companies had announced proposed increased dividends; of these 50 rescinded their increases at the request of the Treasury. Of the remaining 150 companies, 15 increased their dividends due to a misunderstanding about the precise application of the standstill policy in their particular cases. 135 increased their dividend with Treasury agreement. The greater part of these involved increases in a technical sense only, e.g. owing to material capital changes in a company's structure. 32 were close companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the net income, after tax, of a married man with two children in receipt of each of the salaries announced for the members of the Steel Board, on the assumption that this is his sole income.

On the further assumption that both children are under 11, the figures, taking current Income Tax and Surtax rates (ignoring the Surtax surcharge), are as follows:Question. The estimated aggregate wealth of the remaining one-third is about £3,600 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount paid in direct and indirect taxes in Wales in 1965–66; and what was the total Government expenditure in Wales during that year.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he intends to take to ensure that local authorities administer the rating of empty properties in accordance with his recent circular.

Authorities who apply these provisions of the Local Government Act, 1966 to their areas will have to administer them in accordance with the Statute, and I have no doubt that they will do so. The circular is purely explanatory.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will undertake a review of the existing law relating to the acquisition of licensed premises adjacent to clearance areas, in view of the high cost of compensation for such premises which are not normally of a very high standard.

No, the statutory basis for compensation on compulsory acquisition of business premises is market value which must be presumed to reflect the relevant factors, including the state of the premises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how long it is likely to be before a decision will be made on the application of the Central Electricity Generating Board for planning approval to enlarge their power station at West Burton.

Consultations are at present taking place between the Board and the local planning authority and I hope that a decision will be reached soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will ask the National Parks Commission to consider a realignment of the route of the Pennine Way in Northumberland between Brown Rigg Head and Byrness in Upper Redesdale, in view of repeated complaints of the Ramblers Association and other interested bodies.

No. The length of path in question here is about five miles out of the 250 miles long Pennine Way. It was acceptable to the National Parks Commission and although it had not the unqualified support of the Ministry's Inspector my right hon. Friend does not see any reason at this stage to seek to upset the decision taken by the Minister of Housing and Local Government in 1964.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will use his powers under Section 65 of the National Parks Act to consult with the National Parks Commission and the Northumberland County Council with a view to making an access order applicable to open country in the area of Padon Hill, Brown Rigg Head, Kelly's Pike and Blackwool Law.

My right hon. Friend's powers under Section 65 do not operate unless the National Parks Commission has made representations to him that he should exercise them. It has not done so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the present acreage of national parks in Wales and England, respectively; what will the acreage in Wales be after the proposed new Mid-Wales national park has been established; and whether this will be the total acreage in Wales to be administered by the Countryside Commission.

The present acreage of National Parks in Wales and Monmouthshire is 1,016,960 and in England is 2,348,160. Proposals for a new Mid-Wales National Park, which are under discussion might, if confirmed, increase the figure for Wales by about 320,000 acres.None of these areas will be administered by the Countryside Commission; they will be administered by park planning authorities set up under Section 8 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now able to make a statement about membership of the Board of the Development Corporation for the New Town of Milton Keynes.

I am glad to say that Lord Campbell of Eskan has accepted my invitation to be chairman of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation on a part-time basis. I hope to announce the other members of the Corporation soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the Report on the future use or uses of the Broad Sanctuary site will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Robert Matthew's Report is published today and copies are available for hon. Members in the Vote Office. I should like to express my warm appreciation to Sir Robert for his valuable Report.Sir Robert found that the future of this site, although connected with the wider question of the planning of Whitehall, could be considered separately and that Broad Sanctuary itself needed to be comprehensively planned.He found that on the evidence available at the Inquiry insufficient claims had been made out to justify removal of the two Institutions (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Institution of Civil Engineers). He suggested immediate investigation of possible State, Government and public space requirements eminently suitable for this site and of the appropriate provision for tourists and visitors. If no reasonable claims for space resulted from this investigation he thought it incontrovertible that the Institutions should remain and that comprehensive planning should proceed accordingly. This planning he thought might be carried out in two stages; first, a study of potential uses and traffic im- plications; and second, a study of alternative comprehensive plans.The Government accept Sir Robert's main conclusions. They have reviewed the need for public buildings on this site in the light of his Report.They have decided that it would be inappropriate to use the site for offices, but have confirmed that part of it should be used for a Government Conference Centre. They will, as Sir Robert has recommended, investigate the possibility of some sharing of conference facilities between the Institutions and the Government.They accept also Sir Robert's recommendation for an investigation into the needs of tourists and visitors which he thought must cover the wider area of Central London. I shall be making arrangements for this with the Greater London Council, the British Travel Association and other bodies concerned. They consider, however, that such provision as may be shown to be necessary on this site is unlikely to be great enough to affect the major uses.Since, therefore, the Government see no need to require the removal of the two Institutions, Sir Robert Matthew's recommendation for comprehensive planning can go forward at once. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works and I will be consulting the local authorities and the Institutions about this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has now given to those local authorities wishing to sell council houses.

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the circular on this subject which is being published today.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local government authorities have delayed rent increases for the period of the standstill; how many have increased rents; and what is the average weekly increase.

Comprehensive information is not available as local authorities are not required to notify the Ministry of such decisions during the period of severe restraint.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in discussions between his Department and the Worcestershire County Council and the Birmingham City Council regarding Birmingham's housing needs; and if he will make a statement.

The two councils are giving urgent consideration to the suggested terms of reference and area of search which was sent to them recently. My right hon. Friend has told them that he will give any help they may need to start the study soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek power to establish an international university situated in the United Kingdom but financed from abroad, thus enabling other Governments to combine their resources to provide university places in Great Britain for their young people.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils in secondary schools were in receipt of educational maintenance allowances at at the last date for which figures are available.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce legislation to ensure that the people of Wales receive material return for the two-thirds of the water impounded in Wales which is consumed by English industrial conurbations.

The Welsh reservoirs supplying industrial areas in England already benefit Wales in a variety of ways.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total gallonage of water, impounded in Welsh reservoirs, used in England in 1966.

In 1966 about 45,500 million gallons of water were taken directly into supply from Welsh reservoirs for use in England. It is impracticable to measure the quantities abstracted by English water authorities from the River Dee.

asked the Minister of Health which Regional Hospital Boards have expanded their laboratory facilities for the examination of smears in connection with cervical cancer; why there is much discrepancy in the facilities provided between one area and another; and if he will take steps to remedy the situation.

All; speed of expansion depends on many factors which vary from one area to another; in a circular issued last October I asked hospital authorities to do their utmost to make good any remaining deficiencies in staff and accommodation which prevented their support of population screening.

asked the Minister of Health how many additional beds have been made available in Welsh hospitals since 1961.

Since September, 1961, hospital building schemes completed in Wales have provided 1,126 additional beds but there has been a net reduction of 518 in the total number of beds.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has had regarding the use of invalid tricycles by haemophiliacs; why he will not offer small cars as an alternative; and if he will make a statement.

Various hon. Members and the Haemophilia Society have criticised the suitability of invalid tricycles for haemophiliacs, but I do not regard these criticisms as valid. I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on 15th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 523–31.]

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he is making to enable Irvine Engineering Services Limited to continue to supply artificial limbs to the National Health Service.

I am arranging for the firm to attend at the Birmingham and Roehampton Centres with a view to obtaining more work. Immediately, I propose to make them a loan of up to £10,000 in advance of future business. For this purpose an advance will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund and a Supplementary Estimate will be presented to the House in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration she has given to joining the M4 motorway with the A30 road by a fast and convenient road, having regard to the relative proximity of these routes at certain points.

Consideration is being given to the need for connecting links between the M4 and the M3, which replace the A30 as the main route to South-West England.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that the current edition of the Highway Code is misleading in that it does not include the new traffic signs and does not mention the 70 miles per hour speed limit but states that on motorways there is no speed limit; and when she proposes to issue a correct Highway Code.

The Highway Code is being revised and will be laid before Parliament, as the law requires, in due course. An official booklet "The New Traffic Signs" was published in 1965. The 70 m.p.h. speed limit is experimental and thus inappropriate for the Code.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the importance of establishing an experimental husbandry farm in the northern counties to explore the problems of livestock production in the hill areas; and what steps he proposes to take to this end.

Yes. I have for some time attached high priority to the requirement for a hill farm in the North, preferably to the east of the Pennines. I am glad to say that negotiations have now reached an advanced stage and will I hope very shortly be concluded for the leasing by my Department of two adjacent farms between Otterburn and Rochester in Northumberland to form a northern hill experimental husbandry farm. The lease will be for 21 years, renewable by agreement with the owner. Possession will be given in May next. The farms comprise in all about 2,300 acres, of which 280 acres are improved land. I and my advisers are satisfied that they are very suitable for experimental work on the problems of these hill areas. I am confident that the work of the Redesdale Experimental Husbandry Farm (as it will be called) will in the years ahead lead to a very significant increase in the contribution which livestock rearing areas such as this can make to increased home meat production in accordance with the selective expansion programme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the difficulties facing the rabbit clearance societies at the present time; and what measures have been decided upon to assist them in their work.

Yes. The early rapid growth of the rabbit clearance society movement has inevitably slowed down, and because of myxomatosis and their own success in controlling rabbits some societies in whose areas rabbits are now a minor problem have difficulty in maintaining their membership. The rabbit remains potentially the most serious agricultural pest, however, and there is a danger that if societies relax their efforts the rabbit population may return to pre-myxomatosis levels as the disease loses its virulence. In order, therefore, to enable societies to attract and retain members and so improve their financial stability, the Secretary of State for Scotland, who proposes to take the same action, and I have decided to allow work done by societies to destroy moles on their members' land to rank for the standard 50 per cent. grant. For their part societies will be expected to work to acceptable standards of efficiency and it is hoped that some of the smaller ones will be encouraged to amalgamate with their neighbours so as to form larger units capable of more effective deployment of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the acreage of Welsh land used by the armed forces.

About 53,500 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the word Rhodesia has been omitted from the title of No. 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force; and why there is a similar omission from the new colours to be presented in June.

In 1952 the Air Council decided that all indications of territorial associations should be removed from the official titles of Royal Air Force squadrons. This meant the disappearance of territorial names from some 40 squadron titles including that of "Rhodesia" from the official title of No. 44 Squadron.In accordance with the rule that has been in force since the Air Council decision of 1952, the badge on the standard which was embroidered for No. 44 Squadron early in 1965 and which will be presented to the Squadron next June, carries the squadron number on either side of the emblem, the one word "Squadron" above it, and the words "Royal Air Force" underneath.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs which industries for which the Ministry of Technology is responsible have set up economic development committees; and what representation that Department has on these committees.

There are Economic Development Committees for the following industries for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology is responsible: electrical engineering, electronics, machine tools, mechanical engineering and motor vehicle distribution and repair. His Department is represented by a senior official on each of these committees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1950 persons have been committed for trial on criminal charges by a coroner's jury; how many have been convicted; and how many have been acquitted because no evidence was offered by the prosecution.

In the years 1950 to 1966 inclusive 203 persons were committed for trial by coroners' juries. Fifteen of these were convicted of the offence charged in the inquisition, and 73 of a lesser offence, as a result either of the inquisition or of a subsequent committal by the magistrates. 67 persons were acquitted because no evidence was offered by the prosecution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken with regard to Mr. F. B. Imam's application for a visa to enable his wife, Angelika, now resident in Leipzig, to join him in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

In January Mr. Imam was informed by the British Visa Officer in West Berlin that it was contrary to the policy of the N.A.T.O. Governments to recognise East German passports, and that it would therefore not be possible to endorse a United Kingdom visa on Mrs. Imam's East German passport. Mr. Imam was advised about the procedure his wife should follow in order to obtain a temporary travel document from the Allied Travel Office in West Berlin, but I understand that no application for such a document has so far been made. A visa will be made available to Mrs. Imam as soon as she presents the necessary temporary travel document to the British Visa Officer.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that some Scottish contracting electrical employers are receiving conflicting advice from Government Departments and their trade association about the increase of 1s. per hour payable to their electricians; and if he will give an assurance that the Government will not prevent this wage increase, freely negotiated between the employers and the unions, being applied, in view of the fact that a similar wage increase is being applied in England.

The hon. Member will now be aware that on 14th March the First Secretary gave written notice that he is considering the making of an Order under Section 29 of the Prices and Incomes Act to prohibit the further payment of this increase.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now give the total number of wage earners who have received income increases during the period of severe restraint; by how much these increases have changed the average level of rates and earnings of those affected; and what is the corresponding figure for salary earners.

It is estimated that during January, 1967, increases in the basic full-time weekly rates of wages or in the minimum entitlements of nearly 2·9 million manual workers took effect. Over three-quarters of this total were in engineering where workers whose earnings were above the new minimum earnings levels were not entitled to an increase. In the same period, the index of hourly rates of wages in all industries and services, which reflects changes in basic rates whether or not they affect actual pay, rose from 169·8 to 170·9 (base 31st January, 1956 = 100). The figures for February will be published shortly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. Corresponding information on salary scales cannot be given because so many of these are determined individually.The monthly earnings inquiries, covering both wages and salaries, show an increase between December, 1966, and January, 1967, of 1 per cent., which is no more than the normal seasonal increase.

asked the Minister of Labour how many transferred workers were receiving grants and allowances under the Resettlement Transfer Scheme in December, 1966; and what were the comparable figures for the same months of each year since the Scheme came into operation.

The scope of the Resettlement Transfer Scheme was widened on 6th September, 1962, and the number of workers assisted before and after that date are not comparable. Those currently receiving the allowances shown on 31st December each year since 1962 were as follows:

CURRENT ON 31ST DECEMBER
	Year	Lodging Allowance	Continuing Liability Allowance
1962		680	20
1963		952	23
1964		755	54
1965		847	31
1966		615	30

As statistical information on the scheme is produced quarterly it is not possible to say how many workers were paid grants during any one month.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average length of paid holidays per year in Great Britain and each of the European Economic Community countries, respectively.

I am sending the information to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour by how much local authority employees have increased in number since 1963.

Between June, 1963, and June, 1966, the latest date for which information is available, total numbers employed in local authorities and police forces in Great Britain increased by nearly 236,000. The increase was made up of 114,000 full-time and 122,000 part-time employees.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of unemployed male school leavers in the County of Fife at the present time.

At 13th February, 1967, the latest date for which information is available, 84 boys under 18 years of age were registered at Youth Employment Offices in Fifeshire for first employment after leaving school.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the total flow of financial resources from

FLOW OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND MULTILATERAL AGENCIES*
						£ million
				1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
Great Britain	…	…	…	289	333	267	259	327	356
France†	…	…	…	464	502	498	452	494	471
Germany†	…	…	…	220	298	226	210	247	252
* The totals show the flow of official aid (net of capital repayments), private investment (net of disinvestment) and the net change in export credits under Government guarantee of over one year's maturity.
† The figures for France and Germany are those published by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD. The figures for Britain are on the same basis but amended to take account of the latest information.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people in the Parliamentary constituency of North Cornwall are on waiting lists for telephones; and how many of these have been on a waiting list for more than six months.

At the end of February, 62 applicants were waiting in the 29 exchanges that serve the constituency. Twenty-three applicants have been waiting over 6 months, of whom 22 are awaiting connection to Bude exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider introducing a system whereby, when a person is dialling an emergency 999 call, a hooter or some other signal will immediately come into operation, so that hoaxers will be deterred from making false calls.

No. Apart from the risks that such arrangement might deter people from making genuine calls and might warn criminals that the police were being called, a signal at the kiosk would not deter hoaxers. Passers-by could not know whether the call was genuine or not. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is as concerned about this dangerous and anti-social practice as we are and our Departments keep in touch about ways of discouraging it.

I regret that figures for 1966 are not yet available. Following the information for 1960 to 1965.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to ensure that post offices in Wales carry the Welsh description Llythyrdy, as well as the English Post Office.

As I explained in Answer to the hon. Member on 26th October, 1966, for Crown Offices our policy is that in predominantly Welsh-speaking areas where both languages are used on public buildings, we display the name "Post Office" in Welsh as well as English on new or reconstructed Offices, if a request is made and supported by the local authority and it is practicable to do so.As for scale-payment offices, sub-postmasters in Welsh-speaking areas are at liberty to exhibit the name of their office in Welsh as well as English, provided that no less prominence is given to the latter.—[Vol. 734, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated population of Scotland in June, 1966; how this compares with the census figure for 1961; what was the percentage change between the two years; and what were the population figures and changes for each county.

The following table shows for each county and city in Scotland the population at the census of 1961, the Registrar General's estimate of the popu-

			Population at Census 1961 (corrected for Usual Residence)	Estimated Population at 30th June, 1966	Increase or, Decrease between Census 1961 and June, 1966		Increase or Decrease per cent. of 1961
					+	-	+	-
SCOTLAND	…	…	5,179,344	5,190,800	11,456		0·2
COUNTIES (including all burghs except Cities)
Aberdeen	…	…	137,036	135,519		1,517		1·1
Angus	…	…	95,288	94,852		436		0·5
Argyll	…	…	57,896	58,830	934		1·6
Ayr	…	…	340,784	347,826	7,042		2·1
Banff	…	…	46,981	44,927		2,054		4·4
Berwick	…	…	22,310	21,538		772		3·5
Bute	…	…	14,331	13,115		1,216		8·5
Caithness	…	…	27,369	28,257	888		3·2
Clackmannan	…	…	41,483	42,499	1,016		2·5
Dumfries	…	…	88,027	87,709		318		0·4
*Dunbarton	…	…	185,122	211,524	26,402		14·3
East Lothian	…	…	52,048	53,481	1,433		2·8
Fife	…	…	321,113	320,531		582		0·2
Inverness	…	…	82,709	84,471	1,762		2·1
Kincardine	…	…	25,739	25,332		407		1·6
Kinross	…	…	6,624	6,306		318		4·8
Kirkcudbright	…	…	28,672	28,779	107		0·4
*Lanark	…	…	571,432	597,554	26,122		4·6
Midlothian	…	…	112,803	120,110	7,307		6·5
Moray	…	…	49,936	51,137	1,201		2·4
Nairn	…	…	8,410	8,168		242		2·9
Orkney	…	…	18,690	18,102		588		3·2
Peebles	…	…	13,787	13,493		294		2·1
Perth	…	…	126,117	125,318		799		0·6
Renfrew	…	…	338,672	354,552	15,880		4·7
Ross and Cromarty	…	…	57,568	57,128		440		0·8
Roxburgh	…	…	43,390	42,633		757		1·7
Selkirk	…	…	20,738	20,348		390		1·9
Stirling	…	…	194,340	198,958	4,618		2·4
Sutherland	…	…	13,384	13,175		209		1·6
West Lothian	…	…	93,578	102,978	9,400		10·1
Wigtown	…	…	28,868	28,509		359		1·2
Zetland	…	…	17,871	17,371		500		2·8
COUNTIES OF CITIES
Aberdeen	…	…	184,801	183,463		1,338		0·7
Dundee	…	…	183,339	183,744	405		0·2
Edinburgh	…	…	471,004	468,765		2,239		0·5
Glasgow	…	…	1,057,084	979,798		77,286		7·3
* The figures for these areas have been adjusted to take account of burgh extensions since 1961.

General Register Office, Scotland.