asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make arrangements for pilot desalination plants to be built and worked in conjunction with those nuclear and conventional power stations, respectively, which are planned to be built near the coast within the programme for building new power stations.

This possibility is being examined.

asked the Minister of Technology what detergents were used to dissipate the crude oil from the "Torrey Canyon"; which of them have persistent qualities; and what will be the effect of them on the natural life in the parts of the sea where they were used.

Several detergents have been used. At sea they dilute and cause no real damage to marine life. They are likely to destroy plants and animals living on beaches and for a short distance below low water mark.

asked the Minister of Technology what studies he has made of the potential market for a 200-seater shorthaul civil aircraft; and how this compares in quantity and timing with the likely market for a 250-seater aircraft.

Studies have been made by my staff of the market for various sizes of aircraft over a range from 150 to 300 seats. As my right hon. Friend informed the House on 28th February last, joint studies by my Department with French and German officials have established that there will be a substantial world market during the 1970's for shorthaul aircraft of about 250 seats. My Department's view is that an aircraft of this size has a better market potential than a 200 seater because it offers the prospect of lower fares.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement regarding the projected development of the European airbus.

No.I hope the next meeting of British, French and German Ministers to discuss this project will be held within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has made to the cost to public funds of the design and building of the European airbus with British engines and the BAC211, respectively.

It would be premature for me to indicate at this stage the cost to public funds of a United Kingdom contribution to the launching costs of a European airbus with British engines. No decision on this has yet been reached. As regards the BAC211, I informed the House on 20th March that the launching cost estimates by the manufacturers concerned amount to about £100 million in total if the RB 211 engine were used, divided roughly equally between airframe and engine. The Government would almost certainly be asked to put up the greater part of this cost.

asked the Minister of Technology what proposals have been made to Euratom for a possible extension of the Capenhurst fuel enrichment plant to supply European needs.

The possibility of providing enrichment services from an expanded Capenhurst plant to supply European needs is much in mind. Some preliminary discussions have taken place. Further discussions with particular European countries and Euratom are to be arranged.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the growth of the British computer industry and its export performance.

Returns from manufacturers in the U.K. show that the total production of computers, including peripheral equipment, was £44 million, £35 million and £69 million in 1964, 1965 and 1966 respectively.Of these totals £5 million, £6 million and £31 million respectively represent production of export.I am encouraged by this evidence of the expansion of the computer industry at home and by its export performance, both of which rest upon the commercial success of its products and look forward to even greater achievements.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will revise his Department's estimate of some 3,000 computers in use in the United Kingdom by 1970 given in paragraph 26 of the Report of an Interdepartmental Working Group on Computer Education.

I shall be keeping this estimate, which relates only to computers for use in offices under review.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the uses and operations of the new multipurpose Telechiric promoted by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment under his authority at the conference on 5th April, 1967, on the telechnology of the sea and seabed.

I am placing a copy of the paper describing the Telechiric Devices and Systems in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will give details about the review now being undertaken by his Department into the advisability of initiating a large-scale national project of research and development in the field of oceanography.

No formal arrangements have as yet been made by my Ministry to initiate a large-scale national project of research and development in the field of oceanography.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what he is doing to encourage the growth of micro-electronics in Central Scotland;

My Department and the National Research Development Corporation are working together to assist the micro-electronics industry in Great Britain in its effort to become competitive in world markets. In particular, my Department is prepared to participate in the financing of worthwhile projects aimed at improving micro-electronic technology and is already examining some specific proposals from industry, including industry in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Technology when information about overpayments by Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited was first given to the Press.

At the same time as the House was informed on Wednesday, 22nd March.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he expects further repayments to be made to the Government by Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited.

There are no further repayments owing, on the recent negotiations with Bristol Siddeley.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a further statement about the agreement made with the directors of Bristol-Siddeley Engines Ltd. on the repayment of £3·96 million to Her Majesty's Government.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the oral Answer I gave this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Technology what recent discussions he has had with the French Government on the technical difficulties still to be overcome in the production of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I will be holding a meeting with the French Minister of the Armed Forces on Monday next. Meanwhile, officials of both Governments are in day-to-day contact on all aspects of the project.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will now seek to insert a clause into all Government contracts with the aircraft industry permitting contracts to be renegotiated.

asked the Minister of Technology what departmental action he proposes to take in order to prevent cases of overpayment on Government contracts to the aviation industry, as shown by the repayment to Her Majesty's Government of £3·96 million by Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited.

I am considering these and other aspects of contract policy to see whether changes need to be made.

asked the Minister of Technology what orders have been placed for automatic test sets for the F111.

No orders have yet been placed for automatic test equipments for the F111. The relative merits of proposals from both British and American firms are currently being examined.

asked the Minister of Technology what guidance he has given to the Shipbuilding Industry Board about the number of shipyards on the upper Clyde which should be included in a new grouping.

I would refer the hon. Member to the oral Answer I gave him this afternoon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of oil to the United Kingdom balance of payments in the years 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966.

Estimates of this kind cannot be published, but, as my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend in reply to his Question on 7th March, the net cost to the balance of payments was considerably less than the c.i.f. valuation shown in the Trade Accounts.—[Vol. 742, c. 237.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what administrative or other measures have been taken to prepare for the introduction of a decimal currency system in anticipation of parliamentary approval.

The preliminary work and planning which must be done if we are to decimalise in 1971.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence the members of the Halsbury Committee received in favour of the proposition, which he has accepted, that there is a widespread support for the introduction of a pound unit of decimal currency.

The evidence referred to in the Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to protect British holders of Rhodesian Government stock.

My right hon. Friend cannot accept any responsibility for the liabilities of the Rhodesian Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the London and Scottish clearing banks have agreed to a fixed lending rate of 5½ per cent. to shipowners making use of the Shipbuilding Industry Bill.

Discussions with the banks are not yet quite completed, but I have no doubt that this will be one element in the arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the final result of action the Government has taken to prevent the Rhodesian banknotes printed in Germany being sent to Rhodesia; and what has been the total cost of this operation.

In accordance with the terms of the settlement of the action, the banknotes will not be delivered to Southern Rhodesia except on the directions of the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia. No significant charge on public funds has been involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the return since the introduction on the Capital Gains Tax as applied to chattels; and if he will give an estimate of the cost of collecting this sum.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider including all employment in the development areas in his proposal for a regional employment premium, in view of the importance of service industries to some of these areas, notably tourism in the South-West.

Some of the arguments for and against this are set out in the memorandum on The Development Areas published on 5th April as a basis for public discussion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to make certain that increases in company taxation do not reduce commercial development, for example over plant for the desalination of salt water.

I am looking into the matter raised in the hon. Member's letter to the Minister of Technology and will write to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the Exchequer in 1965–66 of tax relief on mortgage interest for house purchase, the abolition of Schedule A tax for owner-occupiers, and subsidies for local authority housing, respectively.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is £135 million. The cost of the abolition of Schedule A tax was estimated in the Financial Statement for 1963–64 as £35 million in 1963–64 and £48 million for a full year; it is not possible to give a figure for 1965–66. The 1965–66 cost of local authority housing subsidies in Great Britain was nearly £95 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now begin using the Selective Employment Tax as an instrument in regional development policies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the publication "A proposal for a Regional Employment Premium" and to my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to provide special grants to enable local authorities to undertake uneconomic schemes to connect rural areas to mains water supplies and main drainage systems.

Grants may be made for such schemes under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts, 1944 to 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what inducements are offered to local authorities to recover and subsequently dispose of waste paper salvage;(2) what is the average price per ton obtained for waste paper collection; and if he will seek powers to standardise the price throughout the country;(3) if he will introduce legislation to set up a national collecting and disposal agency for waste paper to relieve the possibility of local authorities terminating their existing arrangements on economic grounds, especially when there is an urgent need to reduce the costs of imports.

Recommendations on waste paper recovery were made in February, 1966, by a working party of the Economic Development Committee for the Paper and Board Industry. These included the provision of the required incentives to local authorities by the negotiation of long-term contracts between them and the users of waste paper and the setting up of a joint body representing mills, merchants and local authorities to watch supply and stock levels and forecast changes in supply and demand. I understand that the parties concerned are now discussing the implementation of these recommendations and that the board mills which are the users of mixed waste paper are at present getting all that they can handle.The Government do not have information on average prices, which are a matter for negotiation between those concerned. The Restrictive Practices Court has ruled that a nationally negotiated minimum price for local authorities' waste paper was contrary to the national interest.My right hon. Friend does not think that legislation is called for.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans the Land and Natural Resources Department of his Department have to survey the sea bed surrounding the United Kingdom for minerals other than oil or natural gas.

None. The Department is concerned in this connection mainly with the arrangements for seeing that sufficient sand and gravel bearing land is available, with due regard to housing, amenity and other needs, to the sand and gravel operators to enable them to meet the requirements of industry. I understand that a number of these operators are already obtaining gravel from the sea under licence from the Crown Commissioners, to whom they supply information obtained from their work. I understand also that the Institute of Geological Sciences, which is responsible, through the Natural Environment Research Council, to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, have well-advanced plans for making geological investigations of the Continental Shelf round our islands. To this end a considerable amount of airborne geophysical surveying work has already been carried out.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the public support shown in recent National Opinion polls, details of which have been sent him, for allowing council tenants to buy the houses in which they live, he will reconsider his advice to local authorities that they should not allow this.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Ghana Government about mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia and on the time limit set in H.M.S. "Tiger", and also of that Government's policy on Rhodesia's remaining within the Commonwealth; and whether he will consult with the Ghanaian and other African Commonwealth governments on the achievement of a peaceful solution of the Rhodesian problem.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in answer to the hon. Member's Question of 9th March, communications with Commonwealth Governments are confidential. The British Government remain in close touch with other Commonwealth countries.—[Vol. 742, c. 342.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs which functions of the British Council will come to an end in Jamaica and Barbados as a result of the withdrawal of Government grants, and which are being continued by the High Commissioner in Jamaica.

All functions of the British Council in Jamaica have come to an end except those which will be continued by our High Commission. These continuing functions include advice and help to Commonwealth Scholars and Bursars, and to the volunteers serving in Jamaica under the British Volunteer Programme; the maintenance of the speech record library; and the answering of general educational inquiries.The activities of the British Council in Barbados have always been on a very small scale and have now ceased.

asked the Minister of Power what finance has been made available for the use of the projected National Steel Corporation; and when its financial position will be confirmed.

The statutory arrangements governing the financial position of the future Corporation are set out in Part IV of the Iron and Steel Act, 1967.

asked the Minister of Power what advisory committees have been set up in relation to the industries for which he is responsible, on which there are representatives both of the nationalised industries and of the private sector; and what further such advisory committees he proposes to establish.

The following advisory committees associated with my Department have a membership which involves representatives from nationalised and private industry:

• Energy Advisory Council.
• Advisory Council on Research and Development.
• Explosives in Mines Committee.
• Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee.

I propose to establish also an Iron and Steel Advisory Committee and an Advisory Council on Steel Research and Development.

asked the Minister of Power when he will issue a statement setting out the policy of his Department on the future energy requirements of the nation, and the sources from which they will be drawn.

As I told the House on 24th January conclusions emerging from the current review of fuel policy will be announced in the House as they are reached, but I would again stress that some of the work is long-term and that the full results of the review will only emerge over a period.—[Vol. 739, c. 233.]

asked the Minister of Power what are his proposals for fields of industrial research on borderline technical projects in which more than one fuel industry could be involved.

Proposals for research are primarily a matter for the industries financing it. There is much collaboration in projects of common interest between the nationalised fuel industries themselves, and between them and private industrial firms. Co-ordination of this kind is a matter to which my right hon. Friend pays particular attention when reviewing the research programmes of the nationalised fuel industries with the help of the Advisory Council on Research and Development.

asked the Minister of Power if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a table showing the new generating stations expected to come into operation by the Central Electricity Generating Board in each of the five years 1967–68 to 1971–72, inclusive, and the plant expected to be taken out of commission in each of those years, giving for each of these stations the maximum output capacity in megawatts.

Information on plant expected to come into operation in the next five years ahead is published annually in the C.E.G.B.'s Annual Report. Decisions on plant to come out of service in the period 1967–72 will be taken in the light of the total generating capacity available to meet the demand at any particular time.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has received from the Electricity Council about increases in the prices of electricity after the period of severe restraint on incomes has been relaxed next July; and what reply he has sent.

I am discussing the general question of the industry's financial performance and the implications for electricity prices with the Electricity Council in the light of the Government's prices and incomes policy, but no decisions have yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Power if he will list the cost per ton of coal charged to the steel industries in Scotland, England and Wales in 1966 and to the latest available date in 1967.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 23rd January, 1967.—[Vol. 739, c. 194.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist to ensure that the penalties for offences created by departmental legislation are consistent with current penal policy, particularly so far as the avoidance of short sentences of imprisonment is concerned.

It is established practice for Departments to consult the Home Office about proposals to create new criminal offences or vary existing penalties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of unsolved murders which are being investigated by Scotland Yard; and whether he is satisfied that there is a sufficient number of experienced officers in the Murder Squad to deal with the increased rate of murders.

Since 1st January, 1966, there have been thirteen murders in the Metropolitan Police District which have not yet been solved. Detective officers from Scotland Yard are assisting in the investigation of three murders or suspected murders in the provinces. The murder rate has varied little over a period of many years, and I have no reason to think that there are insufficient detective officers to deal with these crimes.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether, in view of the technical drafting of Command Paper No. 3235 and the difficulty in understanding the language employed, he will issue a simplified version.

No. I believe that the White Paper sets out plainly the need for moderation in prices and incomes increases and the considerations which people should take into account before proposing increases.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will increase Government investment in the engineering, electrical, metal goods and metal manufacture industries in the Northern Region so as to enable more scientists and technologists to be employed in them, thus correcting the imbalance against the numbers employed nationally in these industries.

In the development areas, including the Northern region, investment grants of 45 per cent. are at present payable for capital expenditure used by manufacturing industries and in scientific research and development related to these industries. Additional loan or grant assistance can also be given to projects, including research and development projects, which are expected to provide new jobs, subject to the recommendation of an independent advisory committee.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the proposed regional employment premium will apply to areas outside the development areas which have a consistently higher rate of employment than the national average.

The proposal has been worked out on the basis that if introduced, it would apply in the development areas as they are now, or with only limited boundary adjustments in exceptional cases. The problems of other areas will have to be taken into account in the Government's eventual decision about the scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people are now employed in service industries, as defined for Selective Employment Tax purposes, for the last available period compared with the same period before imposition of Selective Employment Tax.

Employment estimates are made monthly for Index of Production Industries and in June each year for other industries and services.At June, 1966, the estimated number of employees in employment in industries bearing the Selective Employment Tax, i.e. those not receiving either premium or refund, was 10,105,000.Estimates for June, 1967, will become available early in 1968.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the increase in the cost of living since 20th July, 1966, to date.

The Index of Retail Prices rose by 1·7 per cent. between 19th July, 1966, and 21st February, 1967, the latest date for which the index has been calculated.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of Great Britain's insured working population lives in each development area.

The estimates for local areas, from which the Development Area figures are derived, relate to employees only and not the total working population. The figures relate to the areas in which the employees work and not the area of residence. The latest available figures relate to June, 1965 and are as follows:

Employees in each Development Area as a percentage of total employees in Great Britain
				Per cent.
South Western	…	…	…	0·6
Merseyside	…	…	…	3·5
Northern	…	…	…	5·9
Scottish	…	…	…	8·4
Welsh	…	…	…	2·8

Local estimates for June 1966 will be available in June, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish as a White Paper a digest of the principal factual and statistical information bearing on the economic and political advantages and disadvantages of British membership of the European Economic Community for the United Kingdom and other countries likely to be affected.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 14th March [Vol. 743, c. 56] to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich West (Mr. Hamling) and to the Answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister of 4th [Vol. 744, c. 29] and 6th [Vol. 744, c. 451] April.

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

I have nothing to add to the statement I made yesterday.—[Vol. 744, c. 743.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the present boundaries of Czechoslovakia and Poland should not be subject to negotiation at a German peace conference.

The final determination of the boundaries with Germany cannot be formalised until there is a peace settlement. As regards the frontier between Germany and Czechoslovakia Her Majesty's Government take the view that no consideration should be given to any changes effected in 1938.With regard to the Oder-Neisse line, Her Majesty's Government's policy, as frequently stated in the House, is that when the time comes to make a peace settlement one of the important factors to be taken into account must be the wishes of the present inhabitants of the territory concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has had from the Hanoi Government seeking the good offices of Her Majesty's Government to establish peace in South Vietnam.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the unit cost of the 40 F111Ks, including initial equipment, United States modifications to meet Royal Air Force needs, the cost of British equipment and the loan charges.

The unit cost of the 50 F111Ks we have ordered remains, as hitherto, about £2½ million. This figure, which excludes U.S. money inflation allows for the cost of the special British requirements and installed equipment but not for loan charges as the credit facilities cover certain support and spares items as well as the aircraft themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost of the spares and test equipment for the 50 F11lKs now ordered.

The cost of support equipment and initial spares is currently estimated at about £55 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why Lance-Corporal Kenneth Ramsay, of the Royal Scots Greys, is acting as a valet and chauffeur on private occasions; how many other serving members of the Armed Forces are performing similar private duties; and whether he will recover the cost of such services from the officers who use these services.

Major the Duke of Kent has a full-time orderly because of the commitments which he undertakes in addition to his military duties. Officers are not required to repay the costs of orderlies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has considered the use of Territorial Army accommodation in Northern Ireland for housing Servicemen returning from overseas.

Yes; but none is suitable, without disproportionate expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister whom he has appointed as his principal adviser on matters related to shipping.

Departmental responsibility for the shipping industry rests with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Prime Minister what studies are being undertaken to link proposals for technical collaboration within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation with a possible European Technological Community.

Various aspects of technological collaboration are being studied in both the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Organisation for European Co-operation and Development as well as between individual European countries. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and myself have, of course, also discussed these matters on our recent visits to the Western European capitals.

asked the Prime Minister if he will set up an interdepartmental study group from the Foreign Office, Defence Department, Board of Trade and Ministry of Overseas Development to consider the future rôle of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and to draw up possible British proposals for the revision and extension of the current North Atlantic Treaty after its expiry in 1969.

The North Atlantic Treaty does not expire in 1969.

asked the Prime Minister what further measures he intends to take to relieve the distress and hardship caused by oil pollution to the affected local authority areas on the south and southwest coasts of Great Britain.

I have, as yet, nothing to add to the White Paper on the "Torrey Canyon" published on 4th April, my Statement to the House on the same day and to the speeches of my right hon. Friends in the debate yesterday.—[Vol. 744, c. 38; c. 758–821 and c. 874-onwards.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the growing practice of Ministers not replying to correspondence from Members of Parliament during Parliamentary Recesses; and whether he will arrange that a Minister or Junior Minister is available to reply to Members' correspondence during recesses rather than keep Members of Parliament waiting for long periods without replies.

I am not so aware, but if my hon. Friend has any particular instances of difficulty in mind perhaps he would take them up with the Ministers concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rivers in Wales are now affected by the salmon disease, Columnaris; and what specific steps are being taken by his Department to combat this disease.

Disease is present in the River Dee. The Dee and Clwyd River Authority area is being designated as an Infected Area by an Order under the Diseases of Fish Act, 1937, which will come into operation on 11th April. The Dee and Clwyd River Authority are being authorised to remove all dead and diseased fish from waters within their area by all suitable means, and the Order prohibits the movement of all live fish and fish eggs out of the area except under the Minister's authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Brambell Committee which was published on 1st December, 1965; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself on 5th August last. We intend to set up an Advisory Committee on Farm Animal Welfare, and to introduce legislation, on proposals for which we have already consulted the interests concerned, as soon as we can.—[Vol. 733, c. 200–203.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the survey by Mr. Thorald Warley, entitled Agriculture: the Cost of Joining the Common Market, a copy of which has been sent to him; and whether he will hold a survey along the same lines.

The Government have already made a thorough survey of the implications which acceptance of the common agricultural policy would have for this country. These matters are being kept under continuous review, taking full account of independent evaluations of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the sums of money involved, together with the appropriate dates, on grants made to the British Beef Company Limited by the Agricultural Market Development Executive Committee; and what repayments are being made.

No grant has been paid by the Agricultural Market Development Executive Committee to the British Beef Company Limited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the White Fish Authority about the effect of oil or detergents on inshore fish breeding areas.

Experience since the "Torrey Canyon" disaster confirms the advice of the Department's scientists that oil and detergents are not likely to have any appreciable effect on fish breeding grounds. Special measures are being taken to protect oyster beds which could be endangered by the use of detergents in estuaries.Advice on these matters has been widely disseminated but there have been no special discussions with the White Fish Authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the progress of the Torry Research Station in the technical problems associated with the pre-packaging and sale of wet fish, what arrangements have been come to between the Station and the White Fish Authority during the last two months for the purpose of the distribution and sale of those fish; what obstacles have been encountered; and which of them have been overcome or found to be insuperable, respectively.

The Torry Research Station and the White Fish Authority have collaborated in marketing experiments and have circulated a report and a code of practice to interested parties. I am arranging for a copy to be sent to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he intends to make in the provisions for raising drainage charges in the Gwynedd river authority area; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. Following discussions with the Association of River Authorities, the National Farmers' Union, and the Country Landowners' Association I propose, with their agreement, to make the following changes:

(i) to change the basis of assessment for drainage charges from Schedule A to acreage of crops and grass;

(ii) to make the general drainage charge more closely equivalent than at present to the contribution which the general ratepayer makes to the river authority through the precept on county and county borough councils;

(iii) to replace the present joint maximum for the general and special drainage charges by a maximum for the special charge only of 2s. per acre.

These changes would apply to any river authority which levies these charges and would lead to a substantial reduction in the amount of the general drainage charge in the Gwynedd area.The necessary legislation will be introduced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the estimated 1967–68 vote for schools is attributable to Wales and England, respectively.

Welsh local education authorities account for 6·4 per cent. of the total estimates of current expenditure on primary and secondary schools accepted as relevant for rate support grant in 1967–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the out-of-date buildings and the difficult conditions under which medical and other research scientists have to work, he will consider converting redundant schools with their light classrooms as up-to-date laboratories.

Decisions on this matter are for individual institutions in consultation with the local education authorities concerned. If my right hon. Friend has any particular possibility in mind, perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what school building projects he has sanctioned in Westmorland for the period 1968–69.

None. But in January I was able to add one of the authority's proposals for 1968–69 to the programme for 1967–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportions of each of the main types of school in the country are co-educational for their pupils, and which have both male and female teachers, respectively.

In January 1966, the proportions of schools with boys and girls on their rolls expressed as percentages of all schools in each category, were as follows:

	Per cent.
Maintained primary	98
Secondary modern	63
Maintained grammar	35
Technical schools	41
Comprehensive schools	68
Other maintained secondary	66
Special schools	76
Direct grant grammar	1
Independent schools recognised as efficient	24
Other independent schools	76

I regret that similar information about which of the schools employ both men and women teachers is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make available to Members a display of tricycles which are supplied to war and civilian disabled persons.

The only display of all the current models is at the headquarters of the invalid tricycle service at Blackpool, but I am arranging for photographs of the models to be available in the Library within the next few days.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it is possible for firms in overseas countries to sell antibiotics, which are restricted by the Therapeutic Substances Act, direct to private persons in the United Kingdom, without contravening United Kingdom laws; and what action he will take to prevent this.

Whether such sales contravene the provisions of the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956, depends on the particular antibiotics and on the circumstances of sale or supply. If the hon. Member will give me particulars I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of homeless families admitted to temporary accommodation in inner London in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.

1962	…	…	…	2,001*
1963	…	…	…	2,152
1964	…	…	…	2,086
1965	…	…	…	1,338
1966	…	…	…	1,411
*Figures for seven weeks of 1962 are not available.

The figures up to April 1965 are for families admitted by the old London County Council, and since then by the twelve Borough Councils in Inner London and the Corporation of the City of London.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that existing methods of dealing with complaints that elderly patients, particularly in psychiatric hospitals, are ill-treated, afford adequate protection for patients and staff.

Yes; comprehensive guidance on this subject was circulated only last year. But I should be glad to see the evidence on which such allegations may be based, and would not hesitate to refer it for independent inquiry if necessary. My Department have always made it clear that any evidence of undesirable practices, supported by details, would be investigated. Though it is clearly the duty of anyone who might have such evidence to produce it, little evidence of the kind that would enable such inquiries to be made has ever been provided. General unsubstantiated allegations are impossible to pursue and cast unfair suspicion on all those, doctors, nurses and others, who devote themselves to the care of these patients.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will have a posting box erected at the corner of Swiss Farm Road and Westlands Road, Shrewsbury, in view of the distance people in the area now have to walk to post a letter, including the crossing of a main road.

The hon. Member will be pleased to know that a pillar box was put up on the site he mentions on 5th April.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what steps are now taken to give notice to Premium Bond holders that they have drawn a prize; and what percentage of prize winners have failed to collect their prizes;(2) whether there is any limitation on the length of time within which a claim for a Premium Bond prize can be made.

We write to all winners individually. If there is no answer we make inquiries through the local head postmaster. Winning numbers are published each month in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes, and copies are exhibited in all the larger post offices: every quarter a list is included of prizes that have been unclaimed for 18 months or longer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the out-of-date buildings and the difficult conditions under which medical and other research scientists have to work, he will consider converting redundant schools with their light classrooms as up-to-date laboratories.

Decisions on this matter are for the institutions concerned in consultation with education authorities; but if my right hon. Friend has any particular possibility in mind perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will have talks with the White Fish Authority about the possible effects of oil and detergents on the hake and other fish breeding grounds in the Clyde and elsewhere.

The advice of my scientists is that the release of oil and the subsequent use of detergents, even in the very large quantities that occurred recently, are unlikely to have any appreciable effect on marine species except those shellfish which live on or near beaches where oil is deposited. Nursery grounds for hake and other fish in the Clyde and elsewhere off the Scottish coasts have not been affected, and I see no reason for special consultation with the White Fish Authority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of staff employed by him in his Department's organisation in Wales; and by how much this has increased in the course of the past five years.

The Board of Trade's total staff in Wales is 676. Five years ago it was 111.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of personnel employed at the Investment Grant Office in Cardiff.

Three hundred and eight.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that German exports to Great Britain for the first two months of 1967 were a record £56 million, being a rise of £5 million, whereas Great Britain's exports to Germany for the same period reached a new low level of £37 million; what was the reason for this; what action he has taken, or intends to take, to balance this trade; and what extent Great Britain's entry into the Common Market would improve these figures.

Yes. The main factor which has affected Anglo-German trade in recent months is probably the down turn in the German economy, which has led to an overall decline in German imports. The removal last November of the temporary import charge has no doubt affected our imports from Germany.The recent course of our export trade as a whole suggests that British traders will be well able to take advantage of any revival of demand in Germany, and the Government will continue to do all it can to help British industry to become even more competitive at home and overseas.The last part of the Question is hypothetical.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the value of expenditure on plant and machinery by manufacturing industry in Scotland in 1961, 1965, and 1966, at constant 1965 prices.

Capital expenditure on plant, machinery and vehicles by manufacturing establishments in Scotland, at 1965 prices, was £97 million in 1961 and is provisionally estimated at £87 million in 1965. Estimates for 1966 are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of imports from Australia are subject to United Kingdom Import Duties.

Based on information for the year 1962, the latest for which an analysis has been made, about 1 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of export credits guarantee facilities afforded to British exporters exporting goods to Ghana during the last 10 years; and what sums have been irrecoverably lost as a result of the transactions concerned.

During the 10 years 1957–1966, the Export Credits Guarantee Department insured some £125 million of exports to Ghana and wrote off just under £14,000 as irrecoverable under claims paid. More than £7 million was paid in claims during the last financial year because of economic difficulties in Ghana and substantial sums will be paid this year under the agreed debt settlement but it is reasonable to expect that these sums will be recovered in full.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give a direction to the nationalised airlines to seek to recover from United States aircraft manufacturers financial losses occasioned by faults in their aircraft.

No. This is a commercial matter within the responsibility of the managements of the nationalised airlines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for the 12 months ended 31st March, 1967 the costs of the civil aviation unit administered by his Department; what this unit comprises; what action he has taken, or proposes to take, to reduce these costs; and how they compare with those incurred during the year ended 31st March, 1966.

The cost of the Civil Aviation Flying Unit for the 12 months ended 31st March, 1967, was £761,270, of which about £48,000 related to communication flights, compared with £714,600 and £18,000 respectively for the 12 months ended 31st March, 1966. The 1966–67 figures are provisional at this stage. The Unit comprises 9 Doves, 3 Princes, 1 President, 1 Chipmunk and 1 HS.125. I see no prospect of reducing the cost while the technical demands on the fleet continue to grow.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, in view of the inadequate transport communications in Wales, what plans he has to secure helicopters for the service of the Welsh Office.

It is not at present economical to make general use of helicopters, but wherever possible civil aviation facilities will be developed in Wales. At present arrangements can be made for special flights where appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is now able to announce a decision about the extension of the Victoria line south of the Thames.

I have nothing to add at present to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) and to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr. Frederic Harris) on 8th March, 1967.—[Vol. 742, c. 293.]

asked the Minister of Transport how many spot checks on goods vehicles have been carried out during the year 1966; how many vehicles were. found to be defective in any respect; how many cases immediate prohibition notices were issued; and in how many cases deferred prohibition notices were issued.

The figures for the year ended 30th September, 1966, are as follows:

Number of vehicles examined	129,378
Number of vehicles found to be defective	52,612
Number of immediate prohibition notices issued	13,033
Number of delayed prohibition notices issued	39,579

asked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a general direction to the Transport Holding Company to see that Thomas Cook ensure that in cases where airlines intend to raise domestic fares but have not yet published notice of their intention to do so in the Civil Aviation Licensing Notices, passengers are informed that if they pay the full fare at the time of booking the airline cannot reassess them to any higher fare that may subsequently be agreed by the Air Transport Licensing Board, whereas if they only pay a deposit they will be liable to any increase agreed, in accordance with Regulation 201 of the United Kingdom domestic air tariff.

No. It would not be appropriate for me to give a direction. In this matter Thomas Cook, amongst others, act as agents for, and on the instructions of, the operating companies concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what reports she has received with regard to the organisation and running of motorway service areas; and whether she will make a statement.

I have received no formal reports with regard to the operational organisation and running of motorway service areas.I have however recently received from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College of London, a Report of its study, commissioned by my Department in 1965, into the design of service areas.This study was concerned with the factors which determine the siting, size, layout and design requirements of service areas and the timing of their introduction: it was not concerned with day-to-day commercial organisation and running except in so far as these bear on the architectural concepts.The Report, which contains a large amount of data, is now being examined in the Ministry, but the mass of detail accumulated in the two years of research will clearly require considerable detailed study and I cannot say when a further statement about it will be ready. A number of points made in the Report are however being put into effect as appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the percentage of the 1967–68 vote for roads attributable to England.

The published Estimates for 1967–68 show the vote provision for Roads England, Scotland and Wales separately. Excluding the provision in respect of (a) registration of motor vehicles and related items covering Great Britain and (b) research which will have general application to all roads, the vote for which I am responsible represents 82·7 per cent. of the total provision in these three votes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has any record of the traffic flow between the junction of the A5 and A446 and the Bassetts Pole Inn; and whether she has any plans for the improvement of the A446 on this stretch.

An average daily flow of 13,100 per 16-hour day was recorded in August, 1965. This road is to be improved to dual carriageway standard; work on a substantial section of this scheme is expected to begin this autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has made an estimate of when the M1 to M6 link motorway will be in operation.

Yes; it is planned to be in operation in 1971. At this distance, and with the difficulties of urban lengths, I cannot be more precise.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the growing importance of the tourist industry in west and north-west Wales, she will reconsider her decision to allow the closure of the Dovey Junction to Pwllheli railway line.

My right hon. Friend has taken no decision on the closure of the line from Dovey Junction to Pwllheli: unless and until the Railways Board decides to proceed with publication of a closure proposal under Section 56 of the 1962 Transport Act and such a proposal is opposed, there can be no question of her having to take a decision in the matter.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial aid is being received by the people of Malta and Singapore, respectively, per head of the population per year, on the basis of the British military presence in each area.

There is no such direct connection as the Question assumes between the volume of financial aid now being given and a British military presence.