asked the Minister of Health how much money is spent annually by the National Health Service on new medical research; and what proportion of the National Health Service budget this represents.

The amounts I am providing for new and continuing medical research are rising each year; the estimated expenditure is about£1·1 million for 1966–67 and£1·7 million for 1967–68 and these amounts represent 0·1 per cent. and 0·13 per cent. respectively of the National Health Service budgets for England and Wales. The main responsibility for allocating funds for medical research lies with the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of recent cases of sickness, believed to be caused by excessive copper contained in drinks served from cold drink vending machines; and whether he will make a study of these machines to assess the extent of this danger.

No, but if the hon. Member will supply details I will certainly look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to the compulsory registration of cancer patients.

This was considered some years ago, but considerable success has been achieved in registration on a voluntary basis and my right hon. Friend does not consider that compulsion would be of value. It is estimated that about 90 per cent. of all patients up to age 65 referred to hospitals are now registered.

asked the Minister of Health how many kidney machines, either portable or hospital based, are now available and in use under the National Health Act; how many persons would benefit from being able to use these machines; and how many new machines are now under order for delivery in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

I gave the number of patients being treated in my statement of 8th February and no later figures are yet available. The number of machines available is not known centrally. More than one patient can be treated on each machine and some machines must be held by the hospital in reserve.Intermittent dialysis is not suitable for all patients suffering from chronic renal failure. Present advice to me indicates that between one and two thousand annually might benefit from this form of treatment.Intermittent dialysis systems are still at various stages of development and it is not wise to place long-term orders for them; as explained in my statement on 8th February, the conditions governing the rate of growth of this service are the need to recruit and to train staff, and the time to plan and build or adopt specialised accommodation. Arrangements have been made to ensure that machines are available as the units at present planned become operational.—[Vol. 740, c. 1559–64.]

asked the Minister of Health why, in view of the fact that the hon. Member for West Ham, North, spoke to his Department and wrote on 21st March, 1967, concerning an urgent matter connected with a woman becoming pregnant after an operation for sterilisation, he did not send a formal acknowledgement until 10th April; why a positive reply has not yet been received by the hon. Member for West Ham, North; and whether he will expedite his inquiries into this matter.

An acknowledgment was sent on the 22nd March, 1967, and an interim reply on 10th April. I am awaiting a report from the hospital

asked the Minister of Health what is the cost of laundry per patient per day in the average general hospital.

3s. 1d. in 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Health what is the cost of medicines per patient per day in the average general hospital.

3s. 6d. in 1965–66.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give particulars of all hospital building projects in the North-East development districts, costing over£100,000 for which contracts had been let but were not yet started, or where work was under way at 31st March, 1967, including the estimated cost and date of completion in each instance.

The following are the schemes in the Northern Development Area, which has replaced the former development districts referred to in the Question:

asked the Minister of Health how many existing members of hospital management committees were appointed on the recommendation of trade unions or local trades councils; and what proportion this bears to the total number of members now serving on such committees.

Such information is not normally collected centrally. A special inquiry in 1964 showed that 295 out of 6,280 members of hospital management committees, i.e. 4·7 per cent., had been appointed on the recommendation of trades unions or of local federations of trades councils. No more recent figures are available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many proposals for increasing the remuneration of employees by improving or instituting meal vouchers or trading stamps have been referred to him during the periods of standstill and severe restraint, respectively; and how many were approved.

In the last five months the Ministry of Labour has received well over 8,000 written inquiries about the interpretation of the Government's incomes policy. The scrutiny of records to identify the small numbers of these cases would involve unjustifiable cost.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has now completed his examination of Report No. 27 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes concerning the proposals of the Retail Drapery, Outfitting and Footwear Trades Wages Council; and when he expects to deal with the related voluntary settlements in the retail trade, and the proposals of other wages councils already submitted to him.

The National Board's Report was considered by the Retail Drapery Council on 13th March and the Council decided to submit its proposals to my right hon. Friend without amendment. These proposals were originally formulated in November, 1966, and my right hon. Friend has today made an Order to give effect to them from 22nd May. Orders are similarly being made to give effect from the same date to proposals of other Waves Councils which have been held up pending the Board's Report.Employers will be advised that the legal effect of the Order relates only to the minimum rates and that it is the Government's view, having regard to the con- tinuing requirements of the prices and incomes policy, that increases designed to meet the needs of lowest paid workers should not be paid to workers already receiving more than the new minima, except to the extent that this is necessary to avoid distorting an existing wages structure based on individual responsibility, merit or performance.With regard to the related voluntary settlements notified to the Ministry, my right hon. Friend is advising employers and unions that effect may be given to the increases they have agreed, subject to a similar proviso regarding increases above the minimum rates.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to promote further productivity agreements in industry, bearing in mind the success of the agreement in the electricity supply industry where overtime working has been almost abolished.

I shall continue to encourage and assist industries and individual firms to reach agreements which meet the relevant criterion set out in the government's statements on incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to provide alternative employment for employees of Vickers Limited who will lose their livelihood as a result of the non-acceptance of a tender by the firm for the manufacture of Chieftain tanks for the Ministry of Defence.

It is by no means certain that any significant number of workers will lose their employment at Vickers because of the loss of this contract, therefore the question of provision of alternative employment does not immediately arise. We are however closely watching developments and my officers will give all practicable help if the need arises.

asked the Minister of Labour how many places were available for training and retraining at the training centres in the North-East development districts during the year ended 31st March 1967.

In the three Government Training Centres in the Northern Region there were 713 training places on 12th April 1966 and 727 places on 13th March 1967. A fourth Centre in the North-East will open later this year.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications towards the removal and resettlement of key workers in North-East development districts were received and approved in the year ended 31st March, 1967.

In the Northern Development Area which covers Cumberland, Westmorland, Northumberland, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire applications were received from 27 firms on behalf of 223 key workers during the year ended 31st March 1967; 220 of these were approved.

asked the Minister of Labour when the recommendations of the Devlin Report relating to decasualisation will be implemented in the Bristol Docks;(2) what is the fall-back pay of dock workers in Bristol; and if he will take steps to rectify the anomaly whereby dockers on fall-back pay receive less than if they were on unemployment plus social security provision.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 10th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens) concerning progress towards docks decasualisation in general. This covers the position in Bristol.In Bristol as in other ports the present weekly fall-back payment for Category A dock workers is£9 gross (generally less for those who are over 65 or not fully fit); the new pay structure recommended by the 1966 Devlin Report to accompany decasualisation includes a national weekly guarantee for all registered dock workers of£15.—[Vol. 744, c. 735–6.]

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the total number of persons on the disabled person's register and the number of registered disabled persons unemployed on the most recent convenient date and on the corresponding date last year, respectively.

At 18th April 1966, there were in Great Britain 654,483 persons registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts, 1944 and 1948. The register is counted in April each year and the figure for April 1967 is not yet available.The numbers of registered disabled persons registered as unemployed at 13th March 1967 and 14th March 1966 distinguishing between Section I (suitable for ordinary employment) and Section II (unlikely to obtain employment other than special conditions) were:

that is an increase of 25·7 per cent. as compared with an increase of 81·1 per cent. in the total unemployed register over the same period.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish a table showing the annual average unemployment percentage for the Fleetwood/Thornton Cleveleys area from 1959 to 1966, inclusive, setting out the difference between development areas and the rest of Great Britain.

Following is the information for Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the unemployment caused by the liquidation of Messrs. Dorran's (Northern) Limited at Consett; and what steps he is taking to remedy the situation.

About 70 of the workers who were employed at this firm's Consett factory are at present registered as unemployed. Everything possible is being done to help them to find other jobs. About 135 other men employed on site work at Newburn and Cramlington have been discharged, but very few have registered and it is thought that the rest will have found other jobs without undue difficulty.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the danger to dockers from the risks of cancer from handling asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that asbestos may be associated with two kinds of cancer. The first is lung cancer. This occurs more often among people who have asbestosis than it does among the general population. Asbestosis is a lung disease which is contracted through working daily over a period of months or years in fairly heavy concentrations of asbestos dust. I am informed that there is no recorded case of a docker contracting asbestosis from his work, and dockers are therefore no more likely to get lung cancer than anybody else.It appears that asbestos is also associated with another kind of cancer called mesothelioma. This affects the covering rather than the substance of the lung. It may also affect the lining of the abdominal cavity. It is a very rare disease. Even now with all the publicity that has been given to the subject in the Medical and National Press, reports of new cases are still only coming in at the rate of less than 50 a year.Of the new cases being reported each year, a substantial majority are thought to have had some occupational exposure to asbestos.Three main kinds of asbestos are imported into this country. About three-quarters of it is chrysotile or white asbestos; about one-fifth is amosite or brown asbestos, and about one-twentieth is crocidolite or blue asbestos. Current evidence points to blue asbestos as being the variety most commonly associated with mesothelioma. It is impossible to be certain that the others are harmless, but the risks are certainly much less than with blue asbestos.The chance that any individual docker will get mesothelioma is remote. This is true even with the precautions that have been taken in the past. My Department is revising the Docks Regulations to require additional precautions. In the meantime we have recommended to the producers, importers and users that asbestos of any kind should only be imported into and transported within this country if it is in dust- and fibre-proof containers. Unlined hessian sacks allow too much dust to escape. Multi-wall paper sacks may split under load. Like certain other kinds of packaging such as some kinds of polythene bag they may tear easily and so are not wholly satisfactory. Better results have been obtained by using hessian lined with or bonded to polythene or paper and other promising lines are being investigated.We must assume that blue asbestos cannot be handled safely even in bags which are normally reasonably dust-proof. Satisfactory conditions can however be obtained if the blue asbestos is packed in dust-proof containers which are then stacked on pallets which can be handled mechanically. An even better method which in time may well be adopted for asbestos is to use container ships.Dockers are at present only very slightly at risk of getting mesothelioma from asbestos. No one can guarantee that any process is 100 per cent. safe, but all our present knowledge suggests that if our recommendations are followed dockers should in future be at no greater risk than the rest of the population.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what discussions there will be at the forthcoming meeting of the Central Treaty Organisation Ministerial Council in London of the promotion of economic development in the area.

I expect that in accordance with the usual practice the Ministerial Council will be discussing the Report of the Economic Committee of the Organisation.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of his Department since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The staff of the Ministry of Overseas Development has increased by 516 over the number employed in the Department of Technical Co-operation on 16th October, 1964. A further increase of up to 70 is expected by 15th October, 1967, mainly to fill clerical and typing vacancies.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what he is doing to help the developing countries by providing industrial training in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

After consultation with Industrial Training Boards, the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress, I have prepared, with the help of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, a scheme for this purpose. Under this scheme we will seek to find training places in British industry for several hundred persons a year nominated by the Governments of countries to whom we are giving technical assistance. Practical training will be provided at clearly defined levels and will include placing in sandwich courses.A booklet describing the conditions under which the trainees will be accepted will be handed by the Ministry of Labour to any employer asked to receive a trainee. I have had copies of the booklet placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement about progress with the Asian Development Bank.

The Bank, to which Britain has subscribed$30 million, formally opened its doors for business at its Headquarters in Manila on 19th December last. Since then there have been a number of meetings of the Board of Directors, in which the British Alternate Director has taken an active part, to discuss the Bank's lending and other policies, Mr. Watanabe of Japan, the President of the Bank, has meanwhile been recruiting staff and Britain has provided him with assistance in this field. One British appointment to the Bank's senior staff has already been made, and I hope others will be made in the near future. At this early stage in its affairs the Bank has not yet made any loans.

asked the Secretary for Defence what negotiations there have been with the Mauritius Government and the Seychelles authorities for the purchase of privately-owned islands in the Indian Ocean; what price Great Britain has agreed to pay for the purchase of such islands; and what are the terms of contract of sale between the present owners and Her Majesty's Government.

Negotiations for the purcsase of certain islands in the British Indian Ocean Territory (Desroches, Farquhar, and islands of the Chagos Archipelago) took place direct with the owners. We have acquired the freeholds outright, at agreed prices totalling£1,013,200.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates will be the total cost of the first Polaris submarine when it is completed; and what will be the annual cost of operating it.

The total cost of the first Polaris submarine is estimated to be£52 million. The estimated annual running cost is£5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimate of the cost of the Royal Naval Polaris School; what it is now; and why the cost of it was not included in the Polaris submarine programme when it was first announced.

The first estimate of cost for the Royal Naval Polaris School was£9 million and as I informed my hon. Friend on 21st February, 1967, the final cost of the School to Defence Votes was£7·5 million. At the time the original estimates for the programme were formulated there was insufficient information available to enable the cost of the School to be assessed.—[Vol. 741, c. 249.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates he hopes to make his forthcoming visit to the Far East; and whether he will seek to visit Cambodia and Burma, in order to discuss the British military presence in Singapore.

I shall be visiting Far East Command from 23rd to 27th April. I do not propose to go to Cambodia or Burma.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he is aware that bicycle manufacturers in the United Kingdom make machines comparable in price and quality with those produced in West Germany; and if he will ensure that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes stock more British-made bicycles in their shops in West Germany;(2) if he will ensure that Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes shops in West Germany stock deep-frozen meat produced in the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth;(3) if he will ensure that Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes shops in West Germany stock long-lasting milk produced on United Kingdom farms.

N.A.A.F.I. promote the sale of British rather than foreign goods whenever possible and this policy is being energetically pursued, particularly by means of the "Buy British" campaign now being conducted among the Forces and families stationed in West Germany.N.A.A.F.I. stock a range of British bicycles and will obtain any particular make or model which is asked for. The bicycle market is a highly competitive one and the demand is small. It is N.A.A.F.I.'s commercial judgment that carrying greater stocks would not stimulate sales.Meat produced in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth is on sale in N.A.A.F.I. shops in West Germany. As part of measures already in hand, butchery facilities are being expanded with the object of increasing this trade.The price at which long-lasting milk exported from the United Kingdom can be sold in West Germany is considerably higher than that of fresh milk obtainable locally. Until such time as prices can be made more competitive it is again N.A.A.F.I.'s considered judgment that there is unlikely to be a market of any size for the long-lasting variety.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to notify contracting States, pursuant to Article 4 of the Paris Agreement of 1960, that certificates of airworthiness granted by the United Kingdom will in future include a condition limiting the amount of noise to be produced by the aircraft in question and that validation of certificates of airworthiness in respect of imported aircraft will be dependent on the fulfilment of that condition.

During the debate on Aviation on 21st November last, I said that I was considering whether noise should be included as a factor in the certification of aircraft. I have now decided that a scheme of noise certification should be introduced under which future civil aircraft operating in this country will be required to secure a certificate from my Department, or from an appropriate foreign authority, saying that they can comply with certain noise standards. This arrangement will ensure that civil aircraft and aero engines are designed from the drawing board to give a quieter performance than existing aircraft. In consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Technology, I shall proceed with discussions, which must take some time, with the manufacturers and the airlines to ensure that the right standards are fixed to achieve substantial and practicable reductions in noise at the earliest opportunity. I shall also maintain close contact with the United States and the French authorities in order to obtain uniformity of standards and hence common objectives for the manufacturers of the various countries.As was made clear at the recent International Conference, there is probably little that can be done to improve the noise performance of existing aircraft without the economic penalties becoming very heavy. Similar problems arise with aircraft whose development is already under way. These matters will have to be explored in the discussions I have already mentioned.It is possible under existing legislation to introduce this scheme for aircraft using the airports of the British Airports Authority and those belonging to the Board of Trade, and I propose to do so from a date to be determined. Further powers to apply the scheme throughout the country will be sought at the appropriate time.The form of the noise certificate to be adopted, and the question whether it should be combined with the certificate of airworthiness, will have to be considered, together with other questions, in the internal and international discussions to which I have referred.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of firms which went bankrupt in the building and construction industry in each of the past five years.

The numbers of Receiving Orders and Orders of Administration (under Section 130 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1914) made in England and Wales in respect of firms and sole traders in the building and construction industry (including builders' and timber merchants) during the past five years are as follows:

1962, 655; 1963, 738; 1964, 619; 1965, 663; 1966, 807.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the advance factory now being constructed in the Bellshill Industrial Estate will be ready for occupation; if he has received any applications for this factory; and if he will make a statement.

The third advance factory at Bellshill, which will be of 27,500 sq. ft., is expected to be ready for occupation by December, 1967. No application for the factory has been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for building more advance factories in the Bellshill Industrial Estate; how many and how soon they will be available; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has already authorised three advance factories at Bellshill. Two of these which have been allocated to tenants should be completed shortly and the third finished by the end of this year. There are at present no plans to build more advance factories at Bellshill. My right hon. Friend is, of course, aware of the unemployment problems in the area and will take account of its needs when arranging future programmes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for the year ended 31st March, 1967, the number of applicants for plant and machinery grants from firms in the North-East development districts, the number approved, the estimated amount and employment, the number of applications rejected, and the number under consideration.

Plant and machinery grants have been replaced by investment grants and no applications were accepted after 31st March, 1966. In respect of the North-East part of the Northern Development Area offers to a total value of£1,519,724 involving 255 applications, were made in the period: the resulting employment from the associated schemes of which the plant and machinery formed part was estimated by the applicants at 16,391. 134 applications were rejected and 99 are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for the year ended 31st March 1967, the number of approvals given for the building of factories and extensions in the North-East development districts, giving the area and the estimated employment and cost.

Development Districts were replaced by Development Areas, as from 19th August, 1966. Industrial Development Certificates were approved for 250 projects with a total area of 9,447,000 sq. ft. in the Northern Development Area in the year ended 31st March, 1967. The additional employment estimated by applicants when their projects are fully manned was 22,160. Applicants for I.D.C.S. are not asked to give estimates of the cost of projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for the year ended 31st March 1967, the num- ber of applications for building grants from firms in the North-East development districts, the number approved, the estimated cost and estimated employment, the number of applications rejected, and the number under consideration.

The information, in respect of the North East part of the Northern development area, is as follows:

asked the Minister of Power if it is his policy that natural gas from the North Sea should be made available to the various gas boards at a uniform price.

I am not yet in a position to say what will be the terms for supply of natural gas to the Gas Boards.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the progress made in the negotiations between the Gas Council and the oil firms regarding the price to be paid for supplies of North Sea Gas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 4th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 15–16.]

asked the Minister of Power how many new gasholders the gas boards propose to erect in the United Kingdom; and if he will give a list of the respective sites in the Official Report.

Following is a list of gasholders at present under construction in Great Britain or for which firm plans have been made. Additional storage capacity is projected but the details have yet to be determined.

asked the Minister of Power what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of his Department since 16th October 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October 1967.

There has been an increase of 67 in the staff of my Ministry since 16th October 1964. I cannot say whether there will be any further increases in the period up to 15th October 1967.

asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated capital cost of the nuclear power stations he has been asked to approve at Heysham in Lanca- shire and Seaton Carew in Durham; and what he estimates to be the capital cost of stations of comparable size and using coal.

No realistic estimates of the capital cost of the proposed nuclear power stations at Heysham and Seaton Carew can be given until the Central Electricity Generating Board have received tenders.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether, before making an Order against Rothesay Town Council under the Prices and Incomes Act, 1966, he will give full consideration to the arguments advanced by the council in its letter of 11th April to his Department.

My right hon. Friend has fully considered the council's representations.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware of the liquidation of Messrs. Dorran's (Northern) Limited; and, in view of its effects on the economy of part of the United Kingdom, if he will request the Industrial Reorganisation Development Corporation to assist the development of this industrial enterprise.

This is not a case in which it would be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to ask the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to take action.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why an Order has been made in the case of only one of the 200 price increases unjustified since July, 1966, compared to the more rigorous application of orders to incomes.

The Government have used their powers under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act without any differentiation between prices and incomes. Orders have been made only in cases where those concerned have failed to comply with the criteria for prices and incomes behaviour. My hon. Friend in referring to the figure of 200 cases, as mentioned in my reply to him on 10th April, may be taking this to relate to price increases which had occurred in breach of the policy, but it related to proposed increases which did not take place because the proposals did not satisfy the criteria of the standstill and severe restraint.—[Vol. 744, c. 139–40.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of his Department since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The expansion of the scientific, advisory and technical services, and the increase in work from the development and implementation of new policies, has resulted in an increase in the Department's staff of about 600 since October, 1964.Mainly because of the continued expansion of the scientific, technical and advisory services it is expected that the staff will increase by about 600 by October next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the trawler fishermen are insured against damage to their ships as a result of contamination by oil or detergents contracted through their help in dealing with the "Torrey Canyon" disaster.

There are no general requirements governing trawler owners' insurance policies, and the particular risks covered would depend on the terms of the individual policies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate what proportion of the recent Price Review Award will remain with farmers after paying present rates of taxation.

It is not possible to give a figure because so many differing factors affect the tax position of individual farmers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish details of the local authorities which have not yet submitted plans for comprehensive reorganisation and of those whose plans he has rejected; and if he will state what action he is taking in each case.

Of the 162 local education authorities in England and Wales, only 36 have yet to submit proposals under Circular 10/65, including five which have officially indicated their intention not to do so. The remaining 31 authorities are at various stages of planning and I am satisfied with the progress being made. I have rejected the schemes put forward by nine authorities and asked them to submit fresh proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he is doing to bring to the attention of pupils the attraction of a career in engineering.

The inter-Departmental Working Party referred to in the Answer to my hon. Friend's Question of 15th December, 1966, continues with its work. The report on the Schools Council study referred to in that Answer is expected in September next, but the results already obtained show that it would be desirable to mount a major project to develop guidance and help for schools wishing to introduce into their curriculum work in the field of technology. The Schools Council has decided to sponsor such a project over the years 1967–71 at a cost of about£180,000.—[Vol. 738, c. 637.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum has been spent on building new schools, in each of the rating authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools at present in use in Suttonin-Ashfield were built before 1867, 1914, and 1939, respectively; and what is the total number of pupils attending the schools in each of these three categories.

The following are the figures:

The Department does not collect information in respect of parts of local authority areas. But the following figures, which relate to county and voluntary controlled schools, have been provided by the Nottinghamshire local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in Sutton-in-Ashfield were built since 1960, and what is the total number of pupils attending them.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of his Department since 16th October 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October 1967.

The staff of my Department has increased since 16th October, 1964, by 673 full-time and 35 part-time officers. I expect that a further increase of about 125 will occur between now and 15th October, 1967. These additions will be used mainly to develop the Department's statistical computing and planning services, and to extend the services provided by the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will estimate the amount of money spent annually in this country from all sources on medical research;(2) if he will estimate how much money is spent on medical research in the universities each year.

Annual expenditure from Government sources is running currently at about£31 million. Of this sum approximately£17 million is estimated to be devoted to medical research out of the general grants made to the universities on the advice of the University Grants Committee. It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of expenditure by other bodies including the pharmaceutical industry and voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the average cost per annum of one medical research worker, including his equipment and facilities.

It is not practicable to give the average cost. Such a figure would moreover be misleading. Individual costs range widely according to such factors as the type of research and the equipment needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how much money is available annually from the Medical Research Council for new research.

While no sum is specifically designated for new research in the Medical Research Council's grant-in-aid, the Council regards itself as having a special responsibility to encourage research on new projects. This is achieved primarily by the setting up of research groups and by the award of research grants to individual scientists in universities and other bodies, but also through the creation of M.R.C. research units and the development of the programmes of the Council's existing establishments. In the financial year 1966–67 the Council's expenditure on new research groups and new short-term research grants was£330,000. Since it is not possible to draw a hard and fast line between the cost of new and of continuing work in the Council's own establishments, a figure for new developments in this sphere is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research he is sponsoring into the possibility of human beings living for extensive periods under the sea, with a view to exploitation of the mineral and other resources of the sea-bed.

None, so far as the technological aspect is concerned, but some research relevant to this problem is supported by the Medical Research Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what financial help he has given to the Institute of Geological Sciences for making geological investigations of the Continental Shelf round the United Kingdom;(2) when he expects the Institute of Geological Sciences to begin geological investigation of the Continental Shelf other than an airborne geophysical survey.

In 1967 the Natural Environment Research Council authorised its Institute of Geological Sciences to commence a complete geological survey of the Continental Shelf surrounding the United Kingdom. A start was made and is being intensified as staff now being recruited becomes available. Expenditure in 1966–67 was£12,000, in the current year it is expected to be£30,000 and to increase still further in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the airborne geological survey of the Continental Shelf being carried out by the Institute of Geological Sciences will be completed.

This is a continuing operation but the Institute of Geological Sciences already holds aero magnetic information covering 90 per cent. of that part of the Continental Shelf which extends around the United Kingdom to a depth of 100 fathoms. The Institute is at present considering the best methods of extending the magnetic survey to cover the remaining areas of the Shelf and some magnetic measurements will be made from ships during the next twelve months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of his Department since 16th October 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.

The staff of the Home Office has increased by 2,297 since October 1964. I expect a further increase of about 800 by October 1967. The additional staff will be required mainly for the implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the Inquiry into Prison Escapes and Security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were disqualified in each of the years from 1960.

The figures for Magistrates' Courts in England and Wales are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce legislation which will enable the police to arrest a person who is driving while disqualified at any time of the day in any part of England, Scotland and Wales.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and I hope that a provision for this purpose will be included in the Road Safety Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disqualified drivers were involved in accidents in each of the years from 1960; and how many such drivers were sent to prison.