asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the introduction of legislation in respect of Wales analogous to that recently introduced for the better administration of water boards and water development boards in Scotland.

Legislation on Scottish lines would not be appropriate for Wales where the amalgamation of public supply water undertakings into large units has already made very good progress and where the provisions of the Water Resources Act, 1963, apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the quinquennial reviews of development plans which local authorities are required to carry out are overdue; and what action he intends to take in the matter.

Twelve of the 17 quinquennial reviews are overdue; I do not intend to take any general action at present. But if special requirements called for a review, I should encourage local planning authorities to make a submission.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the White Paper on Wales setting out the Government's policies regarding Welsh economic and social problems.

I am aiming at publication before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been made in Wales for the establishment of yacht marinas; and how many have been granted.

Applications for planning permission are normally deter- mined by local planning authorities. Of the four applications for yacht marinas which have come to me for decision, one was authorised, two were refused and one was withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the report on the reorganisation of local government in Wales can be expected.

During the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed analysis of the educational priority areas in which he proposes to spend £3 million for the rebuilding of schools.

I do not have it in mind formally to designate such areas. The schools concerned are situated in the areas of the following local authorities:

Barking	Lincolnshire (Kesteven)
Birmingham	Liverpool
Blackburn	Manchester
Bolton	Middlesbrough
Bradford	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Bristol	Newham
Cheshire	Nottingham
Darlington	Salford
Derbyshire	Shropshire
Doncaster	Sheffield
Dudley	South Shields
Essex	Stoke-on-Trent
Haringey	Walsall
Inner London Education Authority	Waltham Forest
	Warrington
Leicester	Wolverhampton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to finalise the 1968–69 school building programme.

About the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he hopes to reach a decision about the school building programme for Market Rasen which has been submitted to him by the Lindsey County Council covering the years 1968–69; and if he intends to include a project for De Aston School in this programme.

The first part of the 1968–69 programme was announced on 31st March and was mainly for primary projects. We have not yet reached a decision about the second part of the 1968–69 programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the progress of the Public Schools Commission.

I expect the Public Schools Commission to report to me at about the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, why, in view of the fact that Mr. Walter Schlünz was able to produce a document satisfactorily establishing his identity and nationality in accordance with the 1953 Aliens Order, he was nevertheless prevented from entering Great Britain; and whether citizens from the German Democratic Republic who in future produce documents satisfactorily establishing their nationality and identity in accordance with the 1953 Aliens Order will be allowed to enter this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply by my right hon. Friend to his Question on 4th April. I am unaware of any occasions on which Mr. Schlünz has been refused admission to the United Kingdom on production of an acceptable travel document.—[Vol. 744, c. 18–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to protect London taxi-cab drivers from unfair competition by minicabs.

Possible amendments of the law to restrict opportunities for illegal plying for hire by unlicensed vehicles are being considered by the London Cab Trade Consultative Committee. Wider consideration of the relative roles of taxicabs and private hire cars must await the review referred to by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the Answer he gave on 9th March to a Question by the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Geoffrey Wilson).—[Vol. 742, c. 341.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many teachers in privately run publicly financed approved schools have the appropriate qualifications for their position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 8th March.—[Vol. 742, c. 309.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has received of unnecessary harsh discipline in approved schools resulting in severe bruising.

None. Corporal punishment is permitted, subject to strict conditions prescribed in the Approved School Rules. Investigation of cases where complaint has been made has established that the punishment was given in accordance with the Rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent parental co-operation is encouraged in approved schools.

The interest and co-operation of parents is essential to the success of approved school training, and schools make every effort to secure and encourage it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities exist for visitors to approved schools.

Facilities vary from school to school. Parents often take their children away from the school for a short time; where this is not permitted, or for other reasons the visit takes place at the school, suitable accommodation is provided, so far as possible in private.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to take over control of the privately run but publicly financed approved schools in the interests of the inmates, the teachers, and the parents.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome of the Government's study of the comments received on the White Paper "The Child, the Family and the Young Offender" (Cmnd. 2742). The proposals in the White Paper for the future of the approved schools were generally welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many privately run, but financed out of public funds, approved schools there are in this country.

93 schools are corn-ducted under voluntary management in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has undertaken to determine the proportion of drug pushers who are themselves addicts, the proportion of drug addicts who do themselves pass on drugs at some time, and for what motives, and the degree to which addicts who do pass on drugs are able to do so because of the difficulties of those with responsibility for treatment in assessing the real needs of their patients.

As regards narcotics, the Interdepartmental Committee on Drug Addiction concluded in its Second Report that over-prescribing by a few doctors was the major source of supply for the increased numbers of heroin and cocaine addicts coming to notice since 1959, and the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Bill are designed to remedy this situation. I will consider what further quantitative survey would be desirable in the light of the working of the Bill, if enacted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he will issue to newly amalgamated police forces to ensure that the work of localised drug squads with their local knowledge and confidence does not suffer by dilution in a more remote and impersonal county flying squad approach.

I am confident that the chief constables of newly amalgamated forces will take steps to see that the most effective use is made of the resources at their disposal, taking local circumstances into account.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the outcome of his negotiations with the Confederation of British Industry on the question of prices control; and if he will make a statement.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement about statutory powers on prices and incomes which my right hon. Friend hopes to make shortly.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with the National Economic Development Council on the document prepared by his Department and the Treasury relating to the new subsidy proposals for the manufacturing industries in the development areas.

The Council has agreed to discuss the substance of the proposal at its next meeting on 3rd May.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what discussions he has now had with the regional councils in development areas on the effects of British entry into the Common Market.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on this matter on 23rd March.—[Vol. 743, c. 1893.]

asked the Postmaster-General when the post office at Victoria Station, London, is to be modernised; and whether, in view of the bad impression given to many foreign visitors arriving via this terminus, he will arrange for immediate improvements before the summer tourist season.

The site of this Post Office is due to be cleared for railway purposes under a station improvement scheme, and we are urgently reviewing the future of the office. I cannot at this stage give an undertaking of the kind my hon. Friend seeks, but I will write to him on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will specify the capacity of existing Post Office computers which it is intended to employ in the Government's proposed computer service, the current capacity utilisation of each, and the breakdown of overhead and variable costs incurred on each at zero, 25 per cent., 50 per cent., 75 per cent., and 100 per cent. utlisation of capacity.

The Post Office has six large modern computers in operation and a seventh will be added within the next few weeks. These are all suitable for the proposed computer service. The loading of computers is a continuous process and the total load is redeployed between machines as required. The total load is currently about 50 per cent. and increasing. Overhead costs are apportioned between the uses to which each computer is put on a time basis and variable costs charged to the uses which give rise to them. The breakdown of these costs therefore varies according to the particular uses to which each computer is being put at the time.

asked the Minister of Power what is the share of the cost borne by the Atomic Energy Authority as a result of the decision to modify the basic advanced gas-cooled reactor fuel element, from the 7 inch design at Dungeness B, in favour of a 7½ inch design at Hinckley B; and how much this amounts to in £ sterling.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him on 10th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 142.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange for the publication of a White Paper on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the future status of the private sector of the economy.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what will be the effect on Her Majesty's Government's present regional policies should Great Britain successfully negotiate entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to a supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Michael Foot) on 6th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 455.]

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the difficulty of separating regional planning from regional development, he will transfer from the Board of Trade to the Department of Economic Affairs responsibility for all development area policy.

The responsibility of the Board of Trade for the distribution of industry is one of a number of executive functions supporting regional policy—others, for example, lie in the fields of physical planning, housing, transport and taxation. There is, of course, already the fullest liaison between Departments in these matters and I see no advantage in making the particular transfer suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister what allowance was made, in his estimate of the effect of the Rhodesian situation on the British balance of payments, for the loss of invisible earnings; and whether, in spite of the difficulty of quantifying the cost, he made any allowance for the rise in the bill for copper imports and the consequent need to import aluminium as a substitute for copper, for the breakdown of the contract pricing system and the movement by the copper producers to the use of the London Metal Exchange price for contract copper, and for the loss of copper re-exports and of exports of semi-manufactured goods made out of copper.

As to the effect on United Kingdom invisible earnings I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7th February, 1967 [Vol. 740, c. 275] to a Question by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis). As to the effect on copper, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) on 16th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 151.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Parliament delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Yes. The Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe will be meeting in Strasbourg on the 24th of April. I have appointed 18 delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The delegation this year will consist of 10 members of the Labour Party, 7 members of the Conservative Party and 1 member of the Liberal Party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.The appointments of Conservative and Liberal representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the Leaders of those Parties.The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union.Representatives from the Government benches will be:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government, with regard to Recommendation No. 476 on agricultural policies in Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th January, 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

The attitude of Her Majesty's Government to this Recommendation is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the recommendations made to him by the National Farmers' Unions on procedures in relation to foot-and-mouth disease control.

There have been discussions with the National Farmers' Unions on recommendations which they have put forward to me, based on the report of Northumberland and Roxburghshire County Branches.It is clear that I can, and will most gladly, accept most of these recommendations, but the National Farmers' Unions wish to have further talks on some of the recommendations and on points of detail and I am, of course, agreeing to this request. As soon as these points are cleared, I propose to publish the recommendations made, with my comments on them and an account of the action I am taking.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact it has now been ascertained that the type of humane killer used in the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Northumberland last year was designed to stun and not to kill, and in Northumberland that animals were alive for long periods after their supposed death, he will take steps to see that a more lethal weapon is used by slaughterers in future outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

I do not accept all the implications of the hon. Member's question.In my statement of 22nd February I undertook to hold consultations to see whether any improvements in the weapons or in the method of slaughter used in foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks could be obtained. I have now consulted the R.S.P.C.A., the Council of Justice to Animals and the Humane Slaughter Association, representatives of weapon manufacturers and a distinguished veterinary physiologist. I understand that the National Farmers' Union wish to discuss this matter. I shall make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis the evidence presented by his Department to the Select Committee on Agriculture was prepared.

The evidence submitted by my Department is based on the result of discussions with all the other Government Departments concerned. I reject utterly the insinuation in a recent Press article that the evidence is biased and, in particular, that this is due to bias on the part of any civil servant in my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what inspection is made of live animals imported into this country not normally for use as food, other than greyhounds and horses, when they land, especially at airports, to ensure that they are free from dangerous diseases.

My control over the importation of animals is designed to prevent the importation of animal diseases into this country, and relates to farm livestock including poultry, horses, zoo animals in so far as they may affect farm animals, and canines and felines in so far as rabies is concerned. The extension of control to other mammals that are potential carriers of rabies is under consideration.The method of control is to prohibit importation from most countries except under licence and subject to veterinary certification and in certain cases to quarantine. Customs officials examine the licence and veterinary certification and detain the animals if they are not satisfied. Inspection at ports is therefore not necessary, and in most cases such inspection could not ascertain freedom from disease.Some animals may, of course, carry diseases that affect human beings. So far as these diseases do not affect animals as well, this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Recommendation No. 474 on the general policy of the Council of Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th January 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government are in sympathy with the aims of Recommendation 474, which is still under discussion with the Committee of Ministers Deputies. Member governments expect to receive, in due course, the Secretary General's proposals on the ways in which this Recommendation may be put into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Recommendation No. 485 on the ratification of Protocols Nos. 2, 3 and 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government have signed and ratified Protocols Nos. 2 and 3 and signed Protocol No. 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights. Recommendation No. 485 has recently been discussed in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies and a reply will be sent to the Assembly shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Resolution No. 332 on the general policy of the Council of Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th January, 1967; and what action the Government has taken or contemplates taking on it.

Her Majesty's Government have taken note of the views expressed by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe in Resolution 332 with which they are in general sympathy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government, with regard to Recommendation No. 478 on the right of conscientious objection which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government can accept Recommendation 478 in so far as it invites member States to bring their national legislation as clearly as possible into line with the principles set out in Resolution 337. These principles are in fact already reflected in United Kingdom law and practice relating to the right of conscientious objection. The Recommendation is, however, still under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies and it is clear that other Member States have difficulties of which account will have to be taken.Resolution 337 itself calls for no action by Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government, with regard to Resolution No. 337 on the right of conscientious objection which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967; and what action Her Majesty's Government has taken or contemplates taking.

Her Majesty's Government can accept Recommendation 478 in so far as it invites member States to bring their national legislation as clearly as possible into line with the principles set out in Resolution 337. These principles are in fact already reflected in United Kingdom law and practice relating to, the right of conscientious objection. The Recommendation is, however, still under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies and it is clear that other member States have difficulties of which account will have to be taken.Resolution 337 itself calls for no action by Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government, with regard to Recommendation No. 480 on civil liability for motor accidents which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis) on 10th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 117.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Recommendation No. 483 on the Convention of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government ratified on 19th December, 1966, the Convention of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States, and the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe will be instructed to vote for the proposals in the Recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Resolution No. 334 on European economic problems which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th January, 1967; and what action Her Majesty's Government has taken or contemplates taking on it.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 10th November last and to the reports he has given to the House since then after each of his visits to the capitals of the Six.—[Vol. 735, c. 1539–51.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Resolution No. 342 in reply to the 13th Report on the activities of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27th January, 1967; and what action Her Majesty's Government has taken or contemplates taking on it.

Her Majesty Government accept the broad humanitarian principles underlying Resolution No. 342 (1967) of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Recommendation No. 462 (1966) on which it is based. Resolution No. 342, however, is addressed to individual members of the Consultative Assembly, and Her Majesty's Government is not therefore called upon to take action on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Recommendation No. 475 in reply to the 8th Report on the activities of the European Nuclear Energy Agency which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th January, 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government sympathise with the objectives of Recommendation No. 475. Our permanent representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is being instructed accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what part Her Majesty's Government are playing in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's study of the future tasks facing the alliance.

The special high-level group established by the North Atlantic Council has begun its study of the future tasks of the alliance. The United Kingdom and certain other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have been invited to appoint special representatives to prepare reports for discussion by the group on various aspects of the question. Her Majesty's Government attach importance to this study of the ways in which the alliance can be most effectively employed in present circumstances and have nominated Mr. Adam Watson, until last year Her Majesty's Ambassador to Cuba, to work with the Permanent United Kingdom Representative on the North Atlantic Council for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the civilians employed by Her Majesty's Armed Forces perform duties that were performed in 1939 by men in uniform.

I regret that it would not be practicable to assemble such figures.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to the special seasonal administrative problems with which treatment centres for drug addicts in holiday resorts will be confronted in terms of fluctuating case loads, should addicts having registered at one centre be able on request to move to another; and if he will make a statement.

The movements of addicts are not expected to present special problems for such hospitals but the arrangements which may be appropriate when addicts wish to move temporarily from one area to another are being considered and will be reviewed in the light of experience.

asked the Minister of Health why the cost of laundering at St. George's Hospital, London, is £2 6s. 9d. per 100 articles laundered, whereas at Guy's Hospital it is only £1 8s. 9d.; and if he will make a statement.

Higher transport costs are incurred at St. George's Hospital because the laundry is situated at Wimbledon, but the main reason for the higher costs is the lower output per operative per week as compared with Guy's Hospital. The hospital authority is considering means of increasing productivity at St. George's.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to control the sale of disposable syringes by chemist shops.

I do not think this would be helpful.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on the recent financial talks with the Government of The Gambia.

Following financial talks held in London from 3rd to 7th April between the Governments of Britain and The Gambia, the British Government have undertaken to provide up to £3·2 million development aid to The Gambia over the four Gambian financial years 1st July, 1967–30th June, 1971, in the form of a 25-year interest-free loan for specific projects to be agreed. In addition a grant of £90,000 will be made available for uncompleted projects carried forward from 1966–67. Further grants to the extent necessary to balance the recurrent budget will be made within the following maxima:

Gambian Financial Year
1967–68	…	…	£590,000
1968–69	…	…	£450,000
1969–70	…	…	£370,000
1970–71	…	…	£280,000

It is the intention of both Governments that the need for such grants should be eliminated as soon as possible.The Gambian Government have accepted this offer, which is in addition to technical assistance and loans towards The Gambia's share of compensation and commutation payments to officers designated under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, together currently running at about £260,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Recommendation No. 486 on the conclusions of the 2nd Seminar. on Inter- national Voluntary Service which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27th January, 1967; and whether they will instruct their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government are in favour of Recommendation No. 486. Indeed the majority of the conclusions of the 2nd Seminar on International Voluntary Service are already in force in the British Volunteer Porgramme.The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is due to consider these conclusions shortly and the U.K. Permanent Representative will be instructed to vote in favour of these proposals. We hope that other Governments will also do so.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans he has in hand for increased co-operation with Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland; and when he intends to make an official visit to the territories.

As regards increased co-operation, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs on 4th April. I have no plans to visit these three countries at present.—[Vol. 744, c. 13.]

asked the Minister of Technology what allowances he has made in his calculations on the cost of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft for rises in labour costs and the cost of materials between 1967 and 1974.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to a similar Question given him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence yesterday.—[Vol. 744, c. 186.]

asked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made on his Department's scheme for placing pre-production orders for advanced machine tools.

Six orders have been placed by my Department to the value of about £½ million over the past 5 months, and further orders are under negotiation.I propose to expand this scheme rapidly by making an additional £5 million available for a limited period for the purchase of genuinely new models of machine tools offering a significant improvement in overall performance over existing machines. By placing orders quickly I hope not merely to speed the introduction into use of efficient modern machines, but also to help the machine tool industry at this time, when orders are needed. Machine tool firms should therefore make applications for orders to my Department within the next 6 months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation providing that when a newspaper or journal ceases publication, and he considers that as a result a competing newspaper or journal will have a monopoly position within its own circulation market, he has powers to refer the circumstances to the Monopolies Commission.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the procedure for dealing with the liquidation of companies was last examined; and whether he is satisfied that existing procedures lead to no unwarranted delays.

The administration of compulsory liquidations by Official Receivers and non-official liquidators is kept constantly under review by the Board of Trade. Owing to staff shortages some delay has arisen in concluding some liquidations, but I am confident that liquidators do their best, in these circumstances, to reduce delays to a minimum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many proceedings in liquidation, now pending, were begun before 1960.

It is not possible without an undue expense of time to ascertain even approximately the number of voluntary liquidations which were begun before 1960 and which are now pending.The best estimate which I can give for compulsory liquidations is about 270.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now announce the dates of the May and August Bank Holidays in Scotland in 1969.

In Scotland as well as in England and Wales the May bank holiday in 1969 will be on 26th May (Whit Monday), but the August bank holiday in Scotland will revert to the first Monday of the month, 4th August.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list, in table form, the total number of road casualties in Great Britain for each year since 1960 to the latest available year, showing the number of accidents, the number and different types of vehicles involved, the number of persons killed, the number seriously injured, the number slightly injured, and the number of accidents in each year that occurred during the hours of darkness.

Following is the information:

	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966
Number of injury accidents*	271,787	270,295	264,032	271,531	292,245	299,229	291,733
Number of casualties—Total	347,551	349,767	341,696	356,179	385,499	397,937	392,457
Fatal	6,970	6,908	6,709	6,922	7,820	7,952	7,985
Serious	84,443	84,936	83,915	87,776	95,460	97,865	99,838
Slight	256,138	257,923	251,072	261,481	282,219	292,120	284,634
Number of vehicles involved—
Total	433,749	430,933	421,578	436,967	472,070	484,592	468,211
Pedal cycles	53,617	49,863	45,153	41,679	41,133	37,864	32,480
Mopeds	7,161	6,808	6,169	6,421	8,005	7,312	6,230
Motor scooters	28,389	28,764	28,253	26,893	28,940	27,809	25,093
Motor cycles	68,860	63,048	55,150	51,668	56,674	51,177	43,886
Cars and taxis	176,003	181,273	185,060	203,867	229,163	251,799	257,985
Public service vehicles	23,732	24,235	24,086	23,969	23,975	23,338	21,644
Goods vehicles (under 1½ tons)	37,268	41,486	43,907	45,131	46,171	46,822	43,363
Goods vehicles (1½–3 tons)	16,958	13,324	11,256	12,178	11,187	8,999	8,904
Goods vehicles (over 3 tons)	16,311	16,396	16,792	19,004	19,961	22,627	22,376
Other vehicles	5,450	5,736	5,752	6,157	6,861	6,845	6,250
* The number of accidents that occurred in the hours of darkness is not readily available for each year. In 1961, out of 77,356 fatal and serious accidents 27,159 (35 per cent.) occurred in hours of darkness: in 1963 the proportion was 28,635 out of 79,369 or 36 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce legislation making passenger insurance compulsory for all drivers.

I cannot add at present to the Answer given to my hon. Friends the Members for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) and for Bolton, West (Mr. Oakes) on 15th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 116]

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what steps have been taken to minimise the risk of further accidents since the derailment near Sittingbourne on 27th July, 1966; and whether any further steps are envisaged as a result of the report of the inquiry into that accident, published on 4th April, 1967;(2) if she will give an assurance that all possible steps either have been taken or will be taken to minimise the danger of further accidents since the freight train derailment near Sittingbourne on 27th July, 1966.

The safety of operation of the railways is the responsibility of the British Railways Board. It tells me, however, that after the accident at Sittingbourne the most stringent instructions were issued and special attention is being paid in driving training to the need for strict observance of speed limits. Regular spot checks are being carried out by a variety of methods to ensure that the limits laid down are not exceeded. I consider that these steps are appropriate in the circumstances.The Board is considering, as a matter of urgency, how best it can implement the points drawn to their attention in the Report of the Inspecting Officer who inquired into the accident, and I have no doubt that it will study these with care.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount raised in taxation in the year 1963–64; and what comparable estimate he has made of the amount raised in the year 1966–67.

£6,649 million in 1963–64 and £8,985 million in 1966–67 although owing to changes in the taxation system, the figures are not strictly comparable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the lack of adequate display space in the British Museum, he will take steps to enable treasure trove, found in the provinces, to be offered to provincial museums.

The claims of provincial museums are taken into account under the existing arrangements, and the British Museum has been asked to refer any case of dispute to the Lords Com- missioners of the Treasury. In recent years a high proportion of treasure trove finds has passed to local museums. All treasure trove retained in the British Museum, other than coins (which are especially catered for in the Coin Room) has been on public display since it was acquired.