asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the introduction of salary inducements to attract teachers to areas of shortage; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Burnham Committee, which will be meeting on Tuesday.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that 4,000 civil servants in the salary range of £772-£2,761 per annum are to have wage and salary increases averaging 10 per cent. at an annual cost of £5·5 million; and whether he will give an assurance that he will now ensure that teachers' salaries are increased on a similar basis.

I assume my hon. Friend refers to the increases recently announced for some 40,000 professional and technical civil servants. These did no more than ensure that the Civil Service rates compare fairly with rates of pay generally in force as long ago as January, 1965. Teachers' pay, which was increased by an average of 13 per cent. in April, 1965, is a matter for the Burnham Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to amend the Education Act, 1962 to enable pupils to leave school at the end of the term in which they attain the age of 15 years, in cases where such pupils are entering into apprenticeships.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will examine and take steps to publicise the experience of the West Midlands in using the further education system to help the middle-age range of industrial managers and executives to keep abreast of new ideas and methods in their own fields.

The right hon. Gentleman is no doubt referring to the valuable experiment recently mounted in the West Midlands on the initiative of the Regional Economic Planning Council and the Regional Advisory Council for Further Education. The Department has already co-operated in providing publicity for this work and when the results of the first courses are known we shall certainly consider what more can be done in this direction.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the danger that children would be discouraged from taking school meals if the price of the meals were to be increased, he will leave the charge at the present level of 1s.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 13th April to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen).—[Vol. 744, c. 1354–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now decided what assistance it is possible to give the reading research unit of London University in order that the research, which it is conducting into the best ways of teaching children to read, can continue after the threatened shut down on 31st May, 1967 through lack of funds.

This unit, which has done excellent work, has been financed from a number of sources, including the Ford Foundation, the Nuffield Foundation, Sir James Pitman, and my Department. The question of the continuation of the unit is primarily for consideration by London University. It is not a normal function of my Department to be responsible for the long-term support of a particular research unit in a particular university.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what general instructions are given to primary schools on the admission of children under five years of age when no nursery schools are available.

Local education authorities are asked to ensure that the number of children under five in the primary schools (excluding children due to reach their fifth birthday in their first term) does not exceed the corresponding number in 1956–57. Within this general requirement which has been slightly modified, it is for the authorities to give appropriate instructions to the heads of their primary schools in accordance with the local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of comprehensive education within the City of Bristol.

Most areas of the City of Bristol are covered by a comprehensive scheme introduced in September 1965 under which 15 comprehensive schools take the full ability range from their areas. In East Bristol a two-tier system operates under which pupils transfer to an upper school at the age of 13 if they intend to remain at school until 16. Lower schools and upper schools work together in groups and I have just approved the amalgamation of the three schools in the St. George group into an all-through comprehensive school. In Central Bristol the schools are still organised as Grammar and Modern schools but the Authority have in mind the need for reorganisation as circumstances permit.In addition there are three Roman Catholic secondary schools which take Catholic children of the full ability range for all parts of the city.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of the plans for the proposed new Bristol Polytechnic.

My right hon. Friend's invitation to Bristol to prepare a Polytechnic scheme was issued only on 4th April. But I know that the Bristol authority have been considering the matter for some time and there have been informal discussions with the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will instruct local education authorities to take full account of the wishes of the consumers of further education in the provision of evening classes.

No. That is already, I am sure, the general practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made to change the toilets at Abbotsham Primary School, North Devon, from buckets to modern sanitation.

No proposals for modernising the toilets at this school have yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend. I am informed that it is hoped to start work on the new sewage system for the village during the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the modernisation of Winkleigh Primary School; and if he will make a statement on its future.

I understand that the Devon authority plan to rebuild the school eventually. In the meantime they do not propose to modernise the existing premises, but a temporary classroom is to be added.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools in Bedfordshire are still without flush lavatories or adequate washing facilities; and how many of these are Church schools.

Seven, of which four are Church schools. One of the county schools and two of the Church schools are currently being improved or replaced.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will reconsider his answer to the Herefordshire Education Authority concerning their application for primary school projects in 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that his reduced allocation of money to Herefordshire Education Authority for primary school projects in 1968–69 will cause undue hardship, especially in the case of Credenhill; and if he will reconsider his decision.

No. I am satisfied that the authority has received a reasonable share of the available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further investigations the Medical Research Council's Air Pollution Research Unit has made into the effect of benzpyrene likely to be inhaled each day by residents of densely populated cities, in view of the fact that on the basis of their own estimates the intake of benzpyrene into the lungs under such conditions is three times the amount likely to be inhaled by a smoker smoking 44 cigarettes a day; and what evidence there is that the greater part of the smoke particles inhaled are not retained in the lungs.

The Medical Research Council's Air Pollution Research Unit (in collaboration with the Statistical Research Unit) has studied mortality in gas workers who in the course of their occupation have been exposed to amounts of benzpyrene over 100 times higher than normal levels in city air.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that Mr. John Fairbrother, who was appointed head of department for chemistry at the Wallasey High School in September, 1965, is being paid a Grade A allowance despite the assurance given to him on appointment that subject to a satisfactory report from his head teacher he would be placed on the Grade B allowance at the end of 12 months' teaching; to what extent the prices and incomes policy is intended by Her Majesty's Government to apply to cases of this sort; and if he will make a statement.

The grading of a head of department post is a matter in the discretion of a local education authority. In exercising this discretion at the present time authorities have been asked to pay regard to the incomes restraint policy and to satisfy themselves that any increase is justified by the level of work or responsibility. In this case the County Borough of Wallasey decided to postpone the re-grading of the post until after the period of severe restraint. I have no reason to question this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take appropriate steps to ensure the continuance of the Harlequin Ballet.

This is a matter entirely within the discretion of the Arts Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to simplify and expedite the verification of overseas teaching qualifications of teachers willing to teach in maintained and special schools in England and Wales.

I have made a number of special arrangements to ease the task of overseas authorities in providing me with the information on which I make a decision. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I will be very glad to look into it if he will send me details.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in investigations into the possibility of giving financial aid to the British Theatre Museum; and whether he will consider making an emergency grant to prevent it from closing while permanent arrangements for its future are being made.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today to him and to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that for a local education authority to allow parents only three days for public discussion before proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education are sent to him, is unreasonable; and if he will give further guidance to local education authorities on this matter.

I am not aware that local education authorities are acting in the way described, but if the hon. Member has any particular instance in mind and can give me details I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in adapting the Leeds methods of teaching French in primary schools to the teaching of English as a second language to immigrant children with little or no English.

The Leeds Institute of Education, in co-operation with the Schools Council, is developing materials for the teaching of English to immigrant children. In so doing it is taking careful account of the audiovisual methods worked out by the Nuffield Foundation for teaching French to English primary school children. The problems are not, however, identical.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he is making in teacher training colleges for the study of general problems resulting from the arrival of immigrant children with little or no English in primary and secondary schools in many urban areas.

The colleges of education, and, particularly those in areas with many immigrants, are showing a growing interest in these problems. Possible developments in college courses are to be discussed further at a short conference next October organised by my Department jointly with the Association of Teachers in Colleges and Departments of Education and the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in securing the services of immigrant teachers and teacher-aides to help immigrant schoolchildren with language difficulties and with social adjustment and to assist in parent-teacher relationship.

Local education authorities employ a number of immigrants in their schools, either as welfare or liaison officers to help with the social adjustment of the children and with school/family relationships, or as teachers. Unless such teachers have a good standard of spoken English and a knowledge of our teaching methods, they are not well fitted to teach immigrant children. I have sponsored four four-term courses intended to help these teachers to overcome their difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, as an aid to understanding and as an incentive, he will institute a scheme of annual scholarships to selected teachers from training colleges and from schools with large proportions of immigrant pupils from the West Indies, India and Pakistan to visit some of the main areas from which these pupils come.

I am examining this suggestion in the light of the fact that a substantial number of college tutors and school teachers are already helped to make such visits, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the relationship between the Research and Documentation Centre for Programmed Learning at the University of Birmingham and the new National Council for Educational Technology.

The Council will cover the whole field of educational technology,

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now introduce legislation to

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the total number of boys' schools, girls' schools, and mixed schools in England and Wales, subdivided into wholly or mainly boarding schools, mainly day schools, and day only schools, respectively, and listed under the following categories, namely, maintained primary schools, maintained secondary schools, direct grant schools, and independent schools recognised as efficient, respectively.

The table below shows the number of schools in the categories requested, for January, 1965:enable royalties to be paid to authors on books borrowed from libraries.

The Literature Panel of the Arts Council has completed a report on the Public Lending Right, but this has not yet been put before the full Council. Following that, I shall receive the report and consider it most carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what plans he has for providing a gymnasium for the Bournemouth colleges of technology and art;(2) what plans he has for increasing the accommodation for the Students' Union of the Bournemouth colleges which has been approved in principle since 1949.

The provision of these facilities is for the Local Education Authority to consider in the first place but I understand that they are fully aware of the need and are examining urgently how it can best be met.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what rooms and facilities are available for extra-mural activities after normal working hours for the students of Bournemouth College of

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take on the report of the Chief Constable of Bristol to him that 464 people required hospital treatment due to dust that was contaminated by tar and free tarry acids from the track, and sensitised the skin and eyes of those affected to sunlight whilst attending a public event on 4th March, 1967, at Whitchurch Airfield, Bristol.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on this subject today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that the total number of immigrants to be admitted to the United Kingdom is limited to 7,500 per annum, why in the month of February were 2,767 admitted from India, 864 from Jamaica and 2,313 from Pakistan; and under what categories they were admitted.

The limit of 7,500 relates to vouchers issued to enable Commonwealth citizens to come here for employment. The other figures quoted (one of which is wrong) also include dependants, returning residents and people admitted only temporarily. I will, with permission, circulate particulars in the OFFICIAL REPORT.Following are the figures:

I have asked for the advice of the Road Research Laboratory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the total amount of addictive dangerous drugs manufactured in or imported into this country and the total amounts licitly prescribed with a view to determining the quantities of such drugs available for illicit transactions.

National estimates of narcotics requirements are confirmed and published annually by the Drug Supervisory Board at Geneva. The United

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Race Relations Act, 1965, during the present Session of Parliament.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave to a number of Questions on 9th March.—[Vol. 742, c. 1729–1730.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the provision of the Petroleum Spirit Conveyance Regulations, 1957, so as to cover the carriage of domestic fuel oil.

Domestic fuel oil is by no means as hazardous as petroleum spirit and I have no evidence that its conveyance by road needs to be similarly controlled. On the possible risks presented by mixed loads of petroleum spirit and domestic fuel oil, I would refer to the reply which I gave on 25th January to a Question by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke).— [Vol. 739, c. 312.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain the circumstances in which Azizur Rehman was refused admission to this country; and if he will make a statement.

I am glad to have an opportunity to correct some of the recent reports about this case.Under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, a Commonwealth citizen may not be refused admission to the United Kingdom if he satisfies the immigration officer that he is the child under 16 years old of a Commonwealth citizen resident here; and "child" includes an adopted child. On 13th April, Azizur Rehman arrived at London Airport in the company of Ghafoor Khan, who was resuming residence here after absence overseas and claimed that Azizur Rehman was under 16 and his son. Azizur Rehman did not have an entry certificate, and after considering all the available evidence the immigration officer was not satisfied that the two were father and son. As Azizur Rehman had no other claim to be admitted, he was refused admission. On 14th April, Ghafoor Khan for the first time asserted that Azizur Rehman was a nephew whom he had adopted; but he did not satisfy the immigration officer that an adoption, legal or

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the circumstances surrounding the refusal to allow Azizur Rehman to enter the country.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to the Question by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special measures he proposes to increase net recruitment to the Probation Service, in view of the additional burdens which will be placed on that service by the release of prisoners on licence.

Allowance for the additional work likely to arise from the licensing provisions of the Criminal Justice Bill has been made in the Government's plans for the expansion of the service. Measures to increase recruitment have been put in hand following the advice of my Advisory Council for Pro- bation and After-Care. These include greatly increased publicity, an expansion of training courses at the Universities and liaison schemes with the Universities to attract suitable graduates.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will offer aid to Zambia for the building of the Kafue Dame project.

No such request has been received from the Government of Zambia. If a request were received it would of course be carefully examined.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on future British policy and commitments towards development projects of the World Bank and International Development Association.

The British Government will continue to give their fullest support to the World Bank and the International Development Association. We do not expect a further call up of capital subscriptions to the World Bank, whose funds are now raised on private capital markets, but we intend to continue to make appropriate contributions to I.D.A. resources, to which the United Kingdom is the second largest contributor. Close co-operation exists between the British Government and the World Bank on development projects, and we shall seek to strengthen the co-ordination of Bank activities and our own bilateral programmes of development assistance.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what studies are taking place in his Department on the effect of British entry into the European Economic Community as it relates to regional development.

This matter has been and continues to be under study and review in my Department.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state, to the latest convenient date for the last 12 months, the number of telephone kiosks damaged in the City of Leeds; what are the comparative figures for the previous 12 months; how many prosecutions have been brought against the persons causing the damage to telephone kiosks in Leeds in the last 12 months; and what penalties were inflicted upon the persons found guilty of wilful damage.

Four hundred and 450 for the years ended 31st March, 1967, and 1966, respectively.Twenty-four prosecutions were brought; three offenders were imprisoned, 15 were fined, one was put on probation; four are awaiting sentence and one is awaiting trial. Three more were cautioned.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the average hour at which morning post has been delivered to residents in Nether and Upper Poppleton in the most recent four-weekly period.

On average first calls were made at 7.20 a.m. and last calls at 11.15 a.m.: but we are now recruiting more staff and we aim to finish the first letter delivery in the built-up part of this area by 9.30 a.m. from 24th April.

asked the Postmaster-General with what associations of dealers he has discussed the proposals in the Wireless Telegraphy Bill.

The Electronic Rentals Association; the Finance Houses Association; the Hire Purchase Trade Association; the Northern Ireland Radio Retailers' Association; the Radio and Television Rentailers' Association; and the Scottish Radio Retailers' Association.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many prosecutions were successfully made against persons failing to buy a television licence during 1966 in the Yorkshire and Humberside region;(2) how many television licences were taken out in 1966 in the City of Bradford; and what is the figure as expressed as the number per 100 families;(3) how many savings cards for radio and television licence fees have been issued by post offices in the City of Bradford and the United Kingdom, respectively; and how many licences were paid by this means during 1966.

I cannot give the full range of information for which my hon. Friend asks. But, during the year ended 31st March, 1967, 8,898 successful prosecutions were undertaken in Head Postmasters' areas in Yorkshire, and 141 in the Grimsby Head Postmaster's area. 115,289 combined sound and television licences were held in the Bradford Head Postmaster's area on 31st March, 1967. Some 8,000 licence savings cards have been issued to Post Offices in that area. I estimate that altogether some half-a-million licences were bought in exchange for the cards over the last twelve months.

asked the Postmaster-General what form of publicity has been undertaken to acquaint the public of the stamp card system of paying television licences; if he is satisfied with the response to this method; and whether he will publicise this method by television announcements.

The scheme has been publicised by posters and display notices in post offices. Many pensioners' associations and savings groups have been told of it as opportunity offered. I think the scheme is generally known but am considering further publicity, including the possibility of broadcast announcements.

asked the Postmaster-General how many television detector vans are operating in the Yorkshire and Humberside region; and when additional vans will become available.

One detector car is at present operating in the Post Office North East Region. Additional cars should be available in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further steps the Government is contemplating to intensify the effect of sanctions on the illegal regime in Rhodesia.

As the Prime Minister said on 6th April in answer to a Question on this subject, we are naturally considering all the time whether new measures are needed to tighten up sanctions. Having given the regime ample warnings in the past of the consequence of their actions, however, it is not our policy now to give them advance notice of fresh measures which we may propose to introduce in order to bring about a return to constitutional government in Rhodesia.—[Vol. 744, c. 448–51.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proportion of this year's tobacco crop in Southern Rhodesia has been sold;

Because of the cordon of secrecy thrown round the Rhodesian tobacco industry last year, no precise figure of the tobacco crop sold can be quoted, but there is no doubt that the proportion was a low one. It was unlikely to have been much more than one-third of the total crop, and this was of course sold at very low prices.This year's crop only began to reach the floors about a month ago and little of it can yet have been sold.Both last year and again this year, the régime have had to abandon normal auctions. Under the new system the whole of the tobacco crop has to pass into the hands of the regime's Tobacco Corporation and attempts are then made to arrange sales. But even if the regime were to be able, under mandatory sanctions, to dispose of the same proportion of this year's crop as they did of the 1966 crop under voluntary sanctions, they would, by October, have tobacco worth more than £40 million in normal times still on their hands.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many children of school age in Hong Kong colony are attending school full-time; and what are these numbers expressed as a percentage of the total children of school age, and also as a percentage of the possible totals in the primary and secondary schools, respectively.

At September, 1966 the total enrolment of school children pursuing full-time courses up to school certificate level amounted to 799,023 or 76·9 per cent. of children in the age range 6–16 years inclusive. Although the number of children of primary school age was 612,650, primary school enrolments were 620,298 or 101 per cent. relative to the total of the appropriate age group. But separate figures are not available to show how many children at primary schools were above or below the appropriate school age.Secondary school enrolments amounted to 178,725 or 41·9 per cent. of the total population of children of secondary school age.In addition to the above, 8,084 children attend 6th forms in Secondary day schools and part-time education is followed by 38,120 primary pupils at special late afternoon or early evening courses and by 36,129 secondary pupils at night or tutorial classes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft project, particularly relating to the dates for agreement of joint specification, financial penalties and the overall timetable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any modification is under discussion for the requirements and specification of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he has postponed the decisive day of commitment to the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft from 1st June, 1967 until 1st January, 1969.

The Minister of State for Technology and I will be meeting M. Messmer again in May to discuss further the specification for the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft. If, as we hope, we reach agreement then, we shall still expect to complete detailed project studies this year and launch the prototype stage early next year. We have agreed to postpone until 1st January, 1969 the date after which the penalties for withdrawal become more severe, in order to bring it into line with the revised programme to which we have been working. Financial commitments will, however, continue to be incurred as and when the programme requires them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft project will go ahead if the Germans do not join in the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had from the German Government on the date of final decision on their participation in an Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft.

The future of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft does not depend on German participation but we and the French are taking all possible steps to inform the Germans and other prospective customers of our plans and to ascertain their requirements. As I understand it, the Germans are not yet in a position to take decisions on tile future re-equipment of their Air Force but we and the French intend to press forward with the idea of aligning them with the Anglo-French variable geometry project.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 10 most expensive vessels now being supplied to or in commission for the Royal Navy; and what each costs.

The most expensive vessels on order for the Royal Navy are the Polaris and Fleet submarines. As I told the hon. Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) on 24th February the estimated cost of each Polaris submarine is £52 million. The estimated cost of a Fleet submarine is about half as much.—[Vol. 741, c. 360.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the weekly pension in 1937 of a guardsman who retired after 22 years' service; what that pension would now be if it had kept pace with the cost of living; and what is the pension now paid to a guardsman retiring in 1967 after 22 years' service.

A Guardsman who retired in 1937 after 22 years' service would have received a pension of 19s. 3d. per week. With Pensions Increases his pension would have risen to £3 17s. 1d. per week by 1967.Since 1937 the cost of living has risen by 182 per cent. up to February, 1967. Had the Guardsman's pension kept pace with this rise, he would now receive only £2 14s. 3d.A Guardsman retiring in 1967 after 22 years' service would receive a pension of £3 6s. per week, together with a lump sum terminal grant of £514 16s.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many German civilian doctors are employed by the British forces in the German Federal Republic; and what was the total sum paid to them for the last convenient 12-month period.

4 full-time, and 15 part-time; at a cost of £6,880 and £4,700 respectively during 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much time has elapsed since Mr. R. T. Speare, of The Barton, Delabole, Cornwall, first made application to his Department for a grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme for milking premises;(2) if he will estimate the total number of man hours worked by officials of his Department on the application of Mr. R. T. Speare, of The Barton, Delabole, Cornwall, for a farm improvement grant for milking premises; the total administrative cost to his Department, and the value of the grant;(3) how many visits have been paid by officials of his Department to the farm of Mr. R. T. Speare, The Barton, Delabole, Cornwall, to discuss a grant for milking premises; how many letters have been written by officials of his Department about this case; and how many officials of his Department have been consulted about it.

I am at present inquiring into this case, and will write to the hon. Member very shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that producers of bacon pigs are receiving lower prices now than a week ago; what relation this has to the increase in guarantee price announced at the 1967 Annual Price Review; and if he will make a statement.

Last year's contracts between pig producers and bacon curers ended last week, and I understand that discussions on contracts for the coming year are now taking place. Meanwhile prices are being offered on a weekly basis, and I am informed that the current price offered to producers formerly selling on contract is lower than a week ago. It is for the industry itself to determine the prices offered for bacon pigs of different qualities, whether on contract or otherwise, having regard to all relevant factors including the level of the guaranteed price.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was derived during the last available 12-month accounting period from Stamp Duty on instruments, other than those by way of equitable mortgage, constituting the only or principal or primary security for the payment or repayment of money; and what the loss to the revenue would be from an exemption from such Stamp Duty of any such instrument presented for denoting work on conveyance assignment of transfer of land where the consideration does not exceed £7,000.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is £42 million in the year 1966–67; the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the breakdown of central Government expenditure on airports and ports for the financial year 1965–66, showing expenditure per head of population in Scotland, and England and Wales, respectively.

The figures, which were not available for inclusion in the table published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 20th February [Vol. 742, c. 218] are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that in his guidance to local authorities he will maintain housing standards at the level proposed by the Parker Morris Committee.

At present the housing standards to which local authorities must conform are substantially below the level recommended by the Parker Morris Committee. The circular which my right hon. Friend is about to issue will raise present mandatory minimum standards to a level based on the principal standards recommended by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent it is his policy to encourage local authorities to build houses up to Parker Morris standards.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave today to my hon. Friend the member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the total financial benefit to individual ratepayers in the London Borough of Harrow from the Rating Act, 1965; and how this compares with the total benefit to individual ratepayers in the London Borough of Harrow from the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964.

In 1966–67 rebates to individual Harrow ratepayers under the Rating Act, 1966, came to about £83,500 and I expect that the figure for 1967–68 will be much the same. The amount of direct relief provided to individual ratepayers in Harrow by the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, has been nil.

asked the Minister of Labour when he proposes to set up the Industrial Training Board for Distribution; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to establish this Board as early as possible in 1968. We are preparing draft proposals for the scope of the Board and aim to send them to all interested organisations early this summer.

asked the Minister of Power how many persons are employed in the administration of nationalised industries for which he is responsible in Wales, including Monmouthshire; and by how much this figure has increased over the last five years.

I am asking the National Coal Board and the Gas and Electricity Boards concerned to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power what conditions he attaches to the closure of a colliery by the National Coal Board.

Individual colliery closures are decided by the National Coal Board after consultation with the Unions and no conditions are imposed. However, the Board carefully phases closures to minimise difficulties of redeployment and Government Departments are kept informed.

asked the Minister of Power if he will hold discussions with the National Coal Board about the Board's policies of offering employment in different areas of Great Britain at levels of remuneration which cannot be sustained by the Board.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the Board is adopting any such policies.

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish a table showing the consumption of coal in 1965 and 1966, the estimated consumption in 1967, and the forecast consumption in 1968.

Gross inland coal consumption was 184·6 million tons in 1965 and 174·6 million tons in 1966. It is expected that consumption in 1967 and 1968 will be somewhat lower than in 1966, but, in view of uncertainties, it would not be helpful to attempt precise forecasts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies have been carried out and what significant information has been gathered by the computers in use by regional hospital boards, particularly concerning data upon which conclusions as to the incidence and/or diagnosis of illness and disease can be based; whether he is satisfied that patient records are properly standardised throughout Scotland to make the greatest possible use of existing computers; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what local education schemes of comprehensive education he has approved which include single-sex schools; and if he will give the names of these schools and the totals of their respective school rolls.

I have approved proposals put forward by Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire which involve the continuance of certain existing single-sex

Regional Board computers have been used in various studies including investigations of hospital cross-infection gastro intestinal conditions, thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis. One computer is regularly used for the calculations of radiotherapy dosage and treatment and another in the management of cervical cytology services.I have received a report from the Scottish Health Services Council on Hospital Medical Records which will be published next month. I intend to consider its recommendations with hospital authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the regional hospital boards who own and operate a computer, stating the make, when acquired, how long in use and approximately weekly hours of work, and who determines the work to be done by the computer in long-term planning of projects and day-to-day management, respectively.

The following is the information:schools. The names of the schools concerned and the rolls which each is expected to have when the present reorganisation is complete are:

asked the Minister of Technology how many motorcycles were manufactured in this country in each of

asked the Minister of Technology why details of the M45G engine for the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft are being released in France and not in the United Kingdom.

Substantial information on the family of M45 engines has been cleared for publication both in France and in the United Kingdom. The development and specification of the precise mark of engine under consideration for the Anglo-French variable geometry remains classified in both countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for strengthening his powers and staff for the investigation of company fraud.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement on this subject on 17th April in the debate on the Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the affairs of Capital Finance Company; and what action he is taking under the Protection of Depositors Act.

As the company has not advertised for deposits, it is not subject to the requirements of the Protection of Depositors Act. I have, however, re-

United Kingdom production figures are not available, but deliveries by U.K. manufacturers and imports were as follows:quested the company to keep me informed of developments.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost to be spent by the Government and local authorities on the preparations that will be allowed for the £200 million worth of roads that have so far been placed in the Preparation Pool.

The costs of preparation of trunk road schemes vary with their nature, size and complexity and no overall estimate is available. Some of these schemes will be prepared by local authorities (as agents), some by consulting engineers and many of the larger ones by Road Construction Units. A preparation fee, currently 2 per cent. of the cost of the constructional works, is paid to local authorities who undertake this work on our behalf. The Department pays the actual cost of such ground, aerial, soil and traffic surveys as may be necessary in addition.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the fatality and accident rate per vehicle, per passenger, and per mile for motor cycles compared to other types of vehicle.

Following are the rates in 1966 per vehicle and per mile. As the total number of passengers carried is not known it is not possible to show comparable rates per passenger, hut estimated fatality rates per 100 million miles

asked the Minister of Transport what measures, such as encouraging the provision of special parking facilities, she is taking to assist the Government's policy of persuading more people to go to work by motor cycle.

It has always been my policy to encourage local authorities to provide parking facilities for motor cycles. In creating new parking meter zones local authorities provide free on-street parking places without time limit for motor cycles.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will publish the preliminary report by British Railways and London Transport of "A Railway Plan for London".

No. This was a preliminary planning document and is now out of date.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken to train persons in Wales for computer work as systems analysts and programmers, and to provide research into the use of computers.

As it has shown by the setting up of the National Computing Centre, the Government recognise the importance of this training. Facilities already exist in the University of Wales, the Welsh College of Advanced Technology and in various technical colleges. These are being kept under review. It is also recognised that computer bureaux provide useful training facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when a decision will be made on the question of whether designation for development under the New Towns Act, 1965 is the most appropriate method of fostering growth in the towns of Mid-Wales, other than the town of Newtown in Montgomeryshire.

When I can consider the question in the light of the progress of the Development Corporation with its first task of expanding Newtown.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will cause legislation to be initiated in order to deal specifically with the development of the towns of Mid-Wales.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech which I made in the Welsh Grand Committee on 15th March when I outlined the Government's policy towards existing towns including the legislative position.