asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to introduce the scheme for brucellosis.

I have already announced an outline scheme for the essential first step to the eradication of brucellosis; that is, the establishment of a register of accredited herds. The details have already been completed and application forms and information for interested farmers are now available in the Department's Animal Health Offices.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the estimated percentage return on capital employed of the private sector of the brick industry for the latest available four years.

My Department does not collect statistics which would enable any estimate of return on capital to be made.

asked the Minister of Technology why the National Engineering Laboratory has disbanded its Lubrication and Wear Division.

In order that it would be more effectively applied, research on lubrication and wear was integrated in 1961 with other work, carried out in several divisions of the Laboratory, on improving the efficiency and life of many types of machines and components.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what he is doing to implement the recommendation of the Jost Committee that several national centres in lubrication engineering should be established to become Institutes of Tribology;(2) whether, in view of the existence at the National Engineering Laboratory of a highly qualified team of engineers and scientists engaged on industrially orientated research and development in the fields of machine design and control, computer-aided design, and new metal forming processes, and of the availability of the Scottish Universities Training Reactor, the Glasgow University Linear Accelerator, and the Institute of Advance Machine Tool and Control Technology, he will site an institute of tribology at East Kilbride;(3) what estimation he has made of the potential nucleus of skilled manpower for an institute of tribology at East Kilbride;(4) what he is doing to encourage studies in tribology in Scotland;(5) what he is doing to encourage studies in tribology;(6) if he will give an estimate of the figure for losses in British industry due to insufficient attention to the use of lubricants and tribological studies.

The annual cost to British Industry of faulty lubrication, arising from various causes, has been estimated at £500,000,000 by the Lubrication Engineering (Education and Research) Working Group whose report was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in February, 1966. In September, 1966, my right hon. Friend set up a Committee on Tribology. He is expecting to receive the Committee's report shortly, the terms of which will be made known to the House as soon as possible. If a centre is to be set up in Scotland he will of course take into consideration the skills and expertise available at East Kilbride.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total value of preproduction order for machine tools so far placed; and if he will list the companies who have received these orders and the corresponding amounts.

Pre-production orders for advanced machine tools and associated equipment have so far been placed

Company		Machine	Number of Machines	Value
				£
Ferranti Ltd.	…	3D Inspection Machines	6	45,000
Ferranti Ltd.	…	Drawing Measuring Machines	11	93,000
Bennett Tools Ltd.	…	Double action spring coiling machines	8	17,000
Stats Systems Ltd.	…	Pre-setting tooling systems for Warner & Swasey 2AC	6	28,500
Churchill-Redmand Ltd.	…	Numerically controlled P.5 lathes	6	160,000
Molins Machine Co. Ltd	…	3-axis numerically controlled twin-spindle milling machines	3	140,000

asked the Minister of Technology to what date his talks with Transport Minister Jean Chamant, and German Economy Minister Karl Schiller on the subject of a European Air Bus have been postponed; and if he will make a statement.

The date of the talks, which are to be in France, has not yet been settled. I hope that agreement will soon be reached on a mutually convenient date.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on progress with the European Air Bus project.

The forthcoming meeting of British, French and German Ministers is the next major step at Government level. Meanwhile, collaborative planning in industry, and consultations with airlines, are continuing.

asked the Postmaster-General what instructions have been given to the drivers of mail vans on compliance with no-parking signs in the central areas of Birmingham; and whether he will take steps to ensure that mail vans are not prevented by enforcement of no-parking signs from delivering mail.

Post Office vehicles engaged on the delivery and collection of mail in the central areas of Birmingham are exempt from waiting restrictions. The drivers have all necessary instructions and in general can carry out their duties promptly.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with the research project into communications for the elderly; and whether its findings will be related to the study by Aston University of the value of telephones to old people.

Discussions are in progress with the University of Essex, and I hope to announce details shortly. All relevant information will be taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much new factory space has been provided in Scotland and in Fife, respectively, in each of the last five years; how much is currently under construction; and how many new jobs are expected to accrue.

Factory space completed ^* for manufacturing industry was:

			Scotland	Thousand square feet Fife
1962	…	…	5,239	313
1963	…	…	3,880	91
1964	…	…	3,946	392
1965	…	…	4,319	418
1966	…	…	6,313	708

Figures for industrial buildings under construction are not available. Jobs expected to arise within the next few years in authorised new industrial buildings

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the proposed merger between Montague Burton Limited and United Drapery Stores, in order to ascertain whether or not such a merger would be in the public interest.

I am examining this proposed merger in the usual way and shall decide whether or not to refer it to the Monopolies Commission when I have all the necessary information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for providing airport facilities for the City of Sheffield; whether he will give a grant for this purpose; and what representations he has had from the Sheffield City Council.

Apart from the special case of the Highlands and Islands, it is not the Government's policy to provide civil aerodromes. The Board of Trade has had no request for a grant for an aerodrome to serve Sheffield, nor evidence that such a grant might be needed. The City of Sheffield have requested general and technical information regarding aerodromes from the Board of Trade and this has been provided.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Yorkshire, Humberside and East Midlands Regional Boards with a view to providing up-to-date landing and other flying facilities for private executive, and other civil aircraft for the sub-region based on Sheffield; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the Regional Economic Planning Councils on this matter. I understand the Yorkshire and Humberside Council await a report on aerodrome requirements in its region which has been commissioned by local authorities. The City of Sheffield has also commissioned reports on Sheffield's aerodrome requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what grants have been made by Her Majesty's Government since the end of World War II for civil airport construction and maintenance; if he will tabulate in each instance the date the grant was made, for what purpose, and the amount involved; and what projects, supported by Government grant, are still under construction.

In addition to the large sums expended on Government owned aerodromes the grants shown in the following schedule have been made to non-State aerodromes. The list is not exhaustive in view of the disproportionate cost involved in compiling a complete list.

SCHEDULE
Airport Capital Grants paid	Date(s)	Grant
		£
Birmingham*	Various dates between April, 1956 and March, 1967	873,261
Manchester†	Various dates between July, 1950 and March, 1967	2,455,658
Newcastle‡	1964–65	250,000

Technical Aid Scheme§
Blackpool	…	…	12,905
Bristol	…	…	10,960
Cambridge	…	…	5,443
Carlisle	…	…	6,037
Exeter	…	…	12,336
Gloucester/Cheltenham	…	…	7,332
Ipswich	…	…	4,000
London (Westland Heliport)	…	…	192
Luton	…	…	8,202
Lydd	…	…	7,324
Lympne	…	…	5,243
Northampton	…	…	206
Oxford	…	…	450
Plymouth	…	…	4,868
Portsmouth	…	…	2,594
Rochester	…	…	2,187
Sandown	…	…	2,249
Shoreham	…	…	796
Southampton	…	…	18,779
East Midlands	…	…	20,774
Coventry	…	…	5,004
Hawarden	…	…	5,390
Leeds/Bradford	…	…	11,708
Newcastle	…	…	14,404
Enniskillen	…	…	2,287
Swansea	…	…	6,700
Tees-side	…	…	11,478
Dundee	…	…	4,514
Perth	…	…	2,156
Orkney Islands	…	…	1,190

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about the attempts of the Thames and Medway river authorities to trace the source of an oil slick covering about one square mile in the Thames estuary.

I am sorry to say that neither the Port of London Authority nor the Medway Conservancy Board has been able to trace the source of this oil slick despite strenuous efforts on their part. The source is believed to have been an outward bound vessel which escaped detection in darkness.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about the renewed threat to parts of the South-East of England, particularly the Kent and Sussex coasts, of pollution by oil from the 'Torrey Canyon' and about the concern of the Nature Conservancy about this; to what extent there is a renewed threat; and what steps are being taken to deal with it.

There is no present evidence of a renewed threat to the South-East of England by oil from the 'Torrey Canyon'. The Nature Conservancy's concern was with the original danger over 10 days ago and was expressed at that time by a call for volunteers to combat pollution. The danger seems to have receded but regular reconnaissance is being undertaken in the western part of the Channel.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made towards the appointment of the members of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation.

I have already announced the appointment of Lord Campbell of Eskan as Chairman of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation. I have now decided to appoint Mr. W. N. Ismay as Deputy Chairman and the following members:—

• Councillor R. G. Bellchambers (chairman of Newport Pagnell R.D.C.).
• Councillor J. F. Cassidy (member and former chairman of Bletchley U.D.C.).
• County Councillor Mrs. A. M. Durbridge.
• Mr. A. Meikle.
• County Alderman R. B. Verney.

Two vancancies remain to be filled on the Board. I shall make an announcement about these later.Because of the exceptional nature of this project the deputy chairman will serve full time, and as such will act as the Corporation's chief executive. I should like him to be known as the Managing Director.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to prevent the sale of council houses.

Section 104 of the Housing Act, 1957 provides adequate powers for dealing with this matter, and it is necessary that local authorities should have power to dispose of houses in the normal course of housing management.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the progress on the Yorkshire-Lancashire motorway, M62, tabulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT progress on each section, stating the route where designated and confirmed, whether tenders have been placed, and where contracts have already been placed, the planned completion date.

The route from the East Lancashire Road (A580) north-west of Manchester to the A1 at Ferrybridge has been confirmed. The advance works, tabulated below, are now in progress. Tenders have not yet been invited for any other works, but the whole motorway is programmed to be open to traffic by the early 1970's.

Advance works in progress	Contract completion date
Lancashire
Lowering and dualling of A.580	September, 1967
A.580 to Whitefield—advance bridges	August, 1968
Whitefield—temporary road and rail diversion works	July, 1967
Rakewood Viaduct	July, 1968
Milnrow to Rakewood—earth-works	April, 1969
Yorkshire (West Riding)
Pennine Section—earthworks	November, 1969

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what plans she has to improve road communication between Sheffield and Lancashire; and what plans she has for improving the access to the M62 from Sheffield;(2) what steps, in addition to the Yorkshire-Lancashire Motorway, M62, she is taking to improve road communications across the Pennines by surveying alternative routes and determining traffic requirements between Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicester on the one hand and Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire on the other; what specific motorway routes are now being surveyed or considered; what progress has been made in each instance; and what consultations she has had with the appropriate regional boards.

My right hon. Friend initiated last year a large scale study of traffic movements in the area bounded by Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Lichfield and Stoke-on-Trent, including movements between Sheffield and Lancashire with a view to the improvement of east-west communications. Consideration of possible new routes must await the outcome of this study which is expected by the end of the year and no consultation with the appropriate regional boards about particular proposals has therefore been possible.Access from Sheffield to the M62 will be by means of the extension of the M1 to Lofthouse which is at present under construction.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the construction of access roads to the M1 from Sheffield; what grants have been given to the local authorities for this purpose; and what progress has been made with the Sheffield Parkway and Rotherham by-pass access routes to the M1.

The only access road to be constructed is the Sheffield Parkway and Rotherham Link Road; grant for this road has not yet been issued, but preparation is well advanced and construction work should start next year. There are no proposals for the improvement of the existing roads which will link Sheffield with the M1.

asked the Minister of Transport when she now plans to open the northern section, from Nuttall to Pinxton, and the southern section to Hendon of the M1, London to Yorkshire motorway.

The southern section to Hendon and the northern section from Nuthall as far as the Annesley junction with A608 will both be opened on 24th May.The section from Annesley to the junction with A615 at Pinxton will be brought into use as soon as possible afterwards, probably during June.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on progress on the construction of the M1 London to Yorkshire motorway, including the Sheffield-Leeds spur and the M18 extension to Doncaster tabulating for each section or major junction under construction, the date the contract was placed, the name of contractor, value of contract and original quoted completion date, and any revised dates for completion given since placing the contract and

M.1 SOUTHERN EXTENSION
Contract length	Date contract placed	Contractor	Value of Contract £m.	Original quoted completion date	Revised date for completion
Hendon Urban Motorway	†June, 1964	Marples, Ridgeway and Partners	4·1	December, 1966	May, 1967*
Reasons for delay:—
* Circumstances arose which fairly entitled the contractor to an extension of time under the terms of the contract.
† Starting date 20th July, 1964.

M.1/M.18 CRICK-DONCASTER
Contract length	Date contract placed	Contractor	Value of Contract £m.	Original quoted completion date	Revised date for completion
Nuthall-Pinxton	December, 1964	George Wimpey and Co. Ltd.	5·5	January, 1967	May, 1967* (Nuthall-Annesley) June, 1967 (Annesley-Pinxton)
Pinxton-Heath	July, 1965	John Laing Construction Ltd.	7·2	August, 1967	—
Heath-Barlborough	July, 1965	John Laing Construction Ltd.	5·4	August, 1967	—
Barlborough-Morthen	October, 1965	Tarmac Civil Engineering Ltd.	4·7	November, 1967	December, 1967†
Morthen-Doncaster	January, 1966	W. & C. French Ltd.	5·1	February, 1968	—
Reasons for delay:—
* Work was considerably delayed by bad weather during critical early stages of this contract. An extension would have been merited but the contractor succeeded in making up a lot of time and until a late stage seemed likely to achieve completion close to due date. An extension finally became necessary because of difficulty in properly carrying out finishing works during the winter months. The section to the Annesley junction with A.608 will be opened on 24th May and the remainder as soon as possible thereafter.
‡ A 7½ week extension has recently been allowed because of the combined effect of bad weather, extra works at culverts, and additional work in consolidating old mine workings.

M.1 SHEFFIELD-LEEDS
Contract length	Date contract placed	Contractor	Value of Contract £.m.	Original quoted completion date	Revised date for completion
Aston-Tinsley	July, 1965	Dowsett Engineering Construction Ltd.	6	October, 1967	—
Tinsley-Viaduct	November, 1966	Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Ltd.	4·2	October, 1967	—
Meadowhall-Blackburn	June, 1966	Holland and Hannen and Cubitts (Civil Engineering) Ltd. with C. A. Blackwell (Contracts) Ltd.	2·5	June, 1968	—
Blackburn-Tankersley	June, 1966	A. Monk and Co. Ltd.	3·6	June, 1968	—
Tankersley-Darton	July, 1966	Dowsett Engineering Construction Ltd.	6·7	August, 1968	—
Darton-Horbury	July, 1966	Richard Costain (Civil Engineering) Ltd.	7·3	August, 1968	—
Horbury-East Ardsley	July, 1965	Sir Alfred McAlpine and Leonard Fairclough consortium	3·9	August, 1967	—
East Ardsley-Stourton	April, 1965	A. Monk & Co. Ltd.	5·4	August, 1967	October, 1967*
Reasons for delay:—
* A 12 week extension has recently been allowed because of the combined effect of bad weather during critical periods, mining subsidence and additional work load on earthworks due to mining subsidence.

Following is the information requested:

asked the Minister of Transport how many productivity schemes involving an increase of railwaymen's earnings have been submitted to and confirmed by her since 1st January.

Since 1st January British Railways, after consultation with the Department, have proceeded with arrangements for implementing seven incentive schemes based on work study.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to introduce legislation to provide for an increase in public service pensions; and

GOVERNMENT OVERSEAS CURRENT EXPENDITURE AND RECEIPTS, 1966
						£ million
		Services		Transfers		Other	Total
		Military	Administrative, Diplomatic, etc.	Military Grants, etc.	Economic Grants, etc.
EXPENDITURE
North America	…	24·1	9·3	—	0·5	5·4	39·3
Western Europe	…	104·6	10·9	0·2	0·4	1·1	117·2
Mediterrean	…	35·0	0·8	0·4	6·0	—	42·2
Middle East and Africa	…	26·7	9·1	9·2	50·2	7·2	102·4
Far East	…	75·2	6·5	6·6	8·1	0·1	96·5
Hong Kong	…	9·2	0·1	—	0·1	—	9·4
Other	…	13·1	12·3	3·7	20·1	10·7	59·9
	…	287·9	49·0	20·1	85·4	24·5	466·9
International Organisations	…	—	—	4·6	7·6	35·8	48·0
Total	…	287·9	49·0	24·7	93·0	60·3	514·9
RECEIPTS
North America	…	16·0	0·9	—	—	—	16·9
Western Europe	…	3·5	0·6	—	—	—	4·1
Mediterranan	…	0·2	*	—	—	—	0·2
Middle East and Africa	…	1·3	3·0	—	—	—	4·3
Far East	…	1·3	1·2	—	—	—	2·5
Hong Kong	…	—	*	—	—	—	*
Other	…	3·1	4·5	—	—	—	7·6
		25·4	10·2	—	—	—	35·6
International Organisations	…	0·1	6·8	—	—	—	6·9
Total	…	25·5	17·0	—	—	—	42·5
* Less than £50,000.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs from what precise date will the distribution of dividends fall outside

I would refer my hon. Friend to my speech on the Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions Commission Bill on 3rd February, 1967.—[Vol. 740, c. 989–90.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of net Government overseas current expenditure in 1966, as set out in table 15 of Command Paper No. 3244, on military services administration and diplomatic services, military grants, economic grants and other transfers, respectively, by geographical areas, and a breakdown of subscriptions and contributions to international organizations by type of organization.

The information is given in the following table:the period of severe restraint, and whether the date of announcement or the date of payment of the dividend is the operative date for the prices and incomes policy.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the terms of the settlement made out of court by the London Board of the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia in the case of banknotes printed in Munich for Rhodesia; what payments were made by the said board in that regard; from what funds; with whose authority; and whether he will make a statement.

On 27th January, 1967, the German Court recognised Sir Sydney Caine and his fellow directors as the sole legitimate representative of the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia. This having been established, the Bank and the printers entered upon discussions for the resolution of the issues outstanding between them. On 6th March, 1967 the printers formally accepted terms that had been offered by the Bank on the direction of the Secretary of State at the conclusion of the negotiations some weeks earlier.Under the agreement, the printers may not deliver the banknotes to Southern Rhodesia except on the directions of the Bank. The banknotes, together with unfinished banknotes, banknote paper and plates, are instead deposited in the vaults of a German bank in the joint names of the parties. The printers have agreed not to print any further notes for Southern Rhodesia for 2½ years unless constitutional government is restored earlier. The Bank, on the authority of the Board, and taking into account the direction referred to above, has paid from its own funds the sum of DM. 3 million to cover the printer's expenses and losses on the transaction. The Court proceedings have been withdrawn, each side to bear its own costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of United Kingdom inter-Governmental loans in 1966 as set in table 18 of Command Paper No. 3244, by recipient country.

The information is as follows:

INTER-GOVERNMENTAL LOANS BY THE U.K. 1966
	£ million
	Made by U.K.	Repaid to U.K.
Austria	—	·27
Iceland	—	·02
Norway	—	1·66
Turkey	6·49	·02
Yugoslavia	—	1·45
Poland	—	·80
U.S.S.R	—	·52
Gibraltar	—	·01
Cyprus	—	·04
Malta	·78	·12
Aden	—	·16
Afghanistan	—	·09
Botswana	·66	·02
East Africa (Common Services Organisation)	1·55	·47
Egypt	·20	·48
Ghana	1·42	·12
Iran	·81	—
Jordan	·80	—
Kenya	6·32	·66
Lesotho	·06	—
Liberia	·07	—
Malawi	2·25	·14
Mauritius	1·05	·12
Nigeria	3·35	·75
Sierra Leone	·72	·23
St. Helena	·01	—
Sudan	1·39	—
Swaziland	·74	·05
Tanzania	1·46	·09
Uganda	1·29	·27
Zambia	·56	·17
Other Africa	·01	—
Ceylon	2·59	·42
Hong Kong	—	·21
India	43·11	11·79
Malaya	—	·30
Nepal	·14	—
Pakistan	9·50	2·16
Singapore	—	·01
South Korea	·08	—
Argentina	3·11	4·67
Bolivia	—	·04
Brazil	1·14	·90
Chile	1·55	·31
Ecuador	·12	—
Guyana	·42	·33
British Honduras	—	·02
Fiji	—	·04
Grenada	—	·06
Jamaica	—	·11
St. Kitts	—	·01
Trinidad	·52	—
Total	94·36	30·02

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the accidents caused by fireworks during the period 16th October to 12th November, 1966, together with comparable figures for the four previous years.

FIREWORK INJURIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES
	1966	1965	1964	1963	1962
A. Place where injury occurred
(i) Family or Private Party	1,065	973	969	1,144	1,200
(ii) Public or semi-public Party in Parks or Open Space	428	411	340	372	531
(iii) Casual Incident in Street	415	463	624	717	816
(iv) Other Place	157	149	131	89	161
(v) Unknown	237	343	156	139	124
B. Type of Firework Involved
(i) Banger	588	618	723	885	1,236
(ii) Rocket	335	357	335	280	266
(iii) Jumping Cracker	115	124	166	237	270
(iv) Display Firework e.g. Roman Candle	509	407	373	447	483
(v) Other than above (Including Home made Fireworks)	332	390	230	181	206
(vi) Unknown	423	443	393	431	371
C. Circumstances Leading to Injury
(i) Ignition in Pocket	37	52	59	78	157
(ii) Accidental ignition in Box or Container	88	93	104	80	115
(iii) Examining Firework after faulty or delayed ignition	308	219	258	302	371
(iv) Holding Firework in Hand	417	432	401	548	570
(v) Delibertate Misuse	512	582	505	545	645
(vi) Other causes	593	500	551	555	537
(vii) Unknown	347	461	342	353	337
D. Age Group of Persons Injured
(i) Over 21	493	457	436	398	418
(ii) 16–20	161	197	174	222	264
(iii) 13–15	359	413	389	509	664
(iv) Under 13	1,289	1,272	1,221	1,332	1,486
E. Nature of Injury
(i) Eye	831	797	749	916	1,038
(ii) Face	482	543	481	493	642
(iii) Hand	723	816	707	827	978
(iv) Other Part of Body	494*	505	518	518	687
F. Severity of Injury
(i) Died	0	0	2	0	0
(ii) Admitted to Hospital	259	213	241	332	483
(iii) Not admitted to Hospital but injury severe	292	163	336	387	505
(iv) Minor Injury	1,721	1,884	1,609	1,729	1,828
(v) Unknown	30	79	32	13	16
* These figures amount to more than the total of persons injured because some patients received injuries in more than one of the categories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mothers of children of school age or below are at present serving prison sentences; how many children are involved; and what is the cost to public funds of caring for these children.

The table below analyses the information obtained from hospitals in England and Wales relating to the 2,302 persons who received hospital treatment for injuries caused by fireworks during this period. Figures are also given for the comparable four-week periods in 1965, 1964, 1963, and 1962 when the total numbers of persons involved were 2,339, 2,220, 2,461 and 2,832 respectively.

I regret that this information is not available. The only relevant information I have is that on 1st March, 1967, information at the prisons showed that 377 women serving prison sentences in England and Wales were the mothers of 1,134 children; and that during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1966, 809 children came into care in England and Wales because a parent or guardian had been in prison or remanded in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the circumstances in which a wrong blood-alcohol content report was sent by the Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory at Cardiff to Her Majesty's Coroner for Carmarthenshire at the inquest on the late Christopher Hopkins.

I have received a full report about this, and do not consider any further inquiry necessary. I much regret that owing to a clerical mistake an erroneous blood-alcohol content was reported to Her Majesty's Coroner in this case. Steps are being taken to ensure that, where this is not already the practice, clerical procedures are double checked in future. I am satisfied that this case does not indicate any need to reconsider the procedures to be prescribed under Part I of the Road Safety Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated public expenditure on grants for university and other full-time further education during the financial years 1957–58, 1962–63, 1966–67 and 1967–68.

, pursuant to his Answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th April, 1967; Vol. 745, c. 784], circulated the following:

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON UNIVERSITIES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND ON FURTHER EDUCATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES
			£m.
	(1)	(2)	(3)
	Awards to Students	Other Expenditure	Total
1957–58 (actual)	17	102	119
1962–63 (actual)	34	217	251
1966–67 (estimated)	63	407	470
1967–68 (estimated)	70	441	511

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the fund will be in operation to provide assistance towards the increase in fees for overseas students in cases of hardship; and what will be the size of the fund.

asked the Secretary for Education and Science what is the total sum which the Government will provide to relieve hardship arising from the increase in fees for overseas students; how this sum will be administered; and what information he has received from universities and local authorities about the sums they are setting aside for the same purpose.

, pursuant to his Answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th April, 1967; Vol. 745, c. 795–6], circulated the following:TEXT OF THE LETTER REFERRED TO IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S REPLY

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the setting up of the National Council for Educational Technology which he announced to the National Union of Teachers on 2nd April, 1967.

, pursuant to his Answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th April, 1967; Vol. 745, c. 796–7], circulated the following:

The new Council will have the following terms of reference:—

1. To advise bodies, including Government Departments, concerned with education and with training in industry and in the Services, on audio-visual aids and media and on the most appropriate and economical ways of using them.

2. To survey work in educational technology and, in consultation with the bodies involved, to seek ways of improving co-ordination.

3. To encourage research and development projects in educational technology.

4. To collect and disseminate information about experience with existing audio-visual aids and media and about new developments and research projects.

5. To consider the arrangements needed for, and to promote, the training of staff who are concerned with audio-visual media and equipment and with the creation and use of audio-visual material.

6. In the light of progress with the Council's work and other related developments, to advise the Secretaries of State whether a national centre for educational technology is required, and, if so, what its functions and structure should be.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is joining me in setting up the Council, and my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Technology will all be associated with the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the total numbers of pupils, the numbers of boarding pupils, and the percentage of pupils, respectively, in each of the following categories of schools, at the most recent date for which figures are available, namely, maintained primary and secondary schools, direct grant schools, all

	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
	All pupils (numbers)	As a percentage of pupils in all schools	Boarded	As a percentage of pupils in these schools
1955
Maintained primary schools	4,600,862	63·9	487	—
Maintained secondary schools	1,914,814	26·6	7,655	0·4
Maintained primary and secondary schools	6,515,676	90·5	8,142	0·1
Direct grant grammar schools	89,487	1·2	7,928	8·9
Other direct grant schools	11,823	0·2	n.a.	n.a.
All independent schools	510,652*	7·1	n.a.	n.a.
Independent schools recognised as efficient	258,947	3·6	107,777	41·6
Other independent schools	251,705*	3·5	n.a.	n.a.
All schools, including maintained nursery and special schools	7,199,492*	100·0	n.a.	n.a.
1960
Maintained primary schools	4,201,123	55·1	301	—
Maintained secondary schools	2,723,158	35·7	9,418	0·3
Maintained primary and secondary schools	6,924,281	90·9	9,719	0·1
Direct grant grammar schools	108,663	1·4	8,978	8·3
Other direct grant schools	11,675	0·2	n.a.	n.a.
All independent schools	496,807	6·5	139,730	28·1
Independent schools recognised as efficient	294,286	3·9	121,757	41·4
Other independent schools	202,521	2·7	17,973	8·9
All schools including maintained nursery and special schools	7,619,814	100·0	n.a.	n.a.
1966
Maintained primary schools	4,366,372	55·6	218	—
Maintained secondary schools	2,816,793	35·9	10,793	0·4
Maintained primary and secondary schools	7,183,165	91·5	11,011	0·2
Direct grant grammar schools	114,919	1·5	9,327	8·1
Other direct grant schools	11,047	0·1	9,062	82·0
All independent schools	449,776	5·7	132,608	29·5
Independent schools recognised as efficient	308,898	3·9	122,838	39·8
Other independent schools	140,878	1·8	9,770	6·9
All schools including maintained nursery and special schools	7,850,262	100·0	175,185	2·2
* Estimated.

"Separate figures are not kept by my Department in respect of public schools. But under the definition provided in the terms of reference of the Public Schools Commission, the number of public schools in England and Wales in February, 1966 was 276, containing 107, 120 pupils of whom 62,292 (58·2 per cent.) were boarders".NOTEThe definition of a "public school" for the purpose of the Commission is "any independent school currently in membership of:(i) the Headmasters' Conference(ii) the Governing Bodies' Associationor (iii) the Governing Bodies of Girls' Schools Association."

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what investigations have been made into

The following table shows the numbers of pupils and boarders in various types of school in January, 1966 together with such information as is available for 1960 and 1955.the causes of arterio-sclerosis and diabetes; and what relationship has been established between these diseases and malnutrition.

Many investigations have been made over a number of years at centres in this country and abroad into the cause of arterio-sclerosis and diabetes. There is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and malnutrition.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children in receipt of free school meals in England and Wales came from families of four, five and more than five children, respectively.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will give a decision regarding the proposals for a revised educational system put to him by Brighton Corporation.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places in university and colleges of advanced technology engineering courses have been unfilled since October, 1966; and if he will state this figure as a percentage of total places in engineering courses.

The Fourth Report of the Universities Central Council on Admissions indicated that the number of students in Engineering, Technology and Applied Science admitted to universities in October, 1966, was 405 less than the universities' own estimate (made in May, 1966), of 9,972. As a percentage of that estimate the shortfall was approximately 4·2 per cent.No information is available on the number of new entrants since October.

asked the Minister of Power when he expects to make a statement on the price of North Sea gas.

Discussions are continuing. I will give the House full information as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Power what would be the approximate cost of taking the North Sea gas field into public ownership.

The Government has no such intention.

asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated percentage return on capital employed of the brickworks division of the National Coal Board for the latest available four years.

I cannot add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 12th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 216.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will now announce the date when the relevant sections of the steel industry will be vested in the National Steel Corporation.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of those engaged in the building trade whose earnings have increased since 1st January; and how this number divides between employees and self-employed.

An analysis in the categories specified in the hon Member's Questions is not available. There have been no changes in nationally agreed standard rates of wages in the building industry since March, 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour what measures he proposes to take to assist in redeployment of workers in rural areas where demand for agricultural workers is declining.

Many workers who have left agriculture in recent years have done so voluntarily. Government measures to strengthen training facilities, the employment service, and financial provision for redundancy will assist redeployment in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour how many miners are unemployed; and what percentage of this total is managerial staff.

On 13th March, 1967, there were in Great Britain 7,725 persons registered as unemployed who last worked in the coalmining industry. But the statistics available do not show how many of them were in managerial occupations.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that milk processing has only been classified as a distributive activity since 1958; and if in the light of representations made during the past year he will now authorise this activity as qualifying for a Selective Employment Tax premium.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". As regards the second part, the Government is keeping under review the provisions of the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966, which define the premium and refund categories.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of non-commissioned British recruits into the military forces are given technical training.

Approximate proportions for men in highly skilled trades, such as artificers, engineers, electrical and air mechanics, are as follows:

Royal Navy	…	…	50 per cent.
Army	…	…	20 per cent.
R.A.F.	…	…	40 per cent.

Most of the rest are in skilled and semi-skilled occupations, for example medical technicians, drivers, cooks, and clerical staff; and all receive the training proper to their professional skills.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the total number of aerodromes for which he was responsible at the end of World War II have been sold or completely dismantled, how many have been sold for civil flying, how many are held by him and not in use or used for flying, and how many are fully operational; and if he will tabulate those aerodromes which, from time to time and by arrangement, are now made available to private aircraft and civil airlines, indicating the flying aids and facilities which are available to them.

There were about 680 military airfields in the United Kingdom at the end of the war. The number now in flying use for the Services is 113, and a further 35 are held for other purposes. The remainder have been disposed of over the years; I cannot now say how many were sold for civil flying use. 49 R.A.F. airfields in the United Kingdom are available for use by civil aircraft, with the prior permission of the Station Commander. A list of these airfields, giving the facilities available at each, is published in the United Kingdom Air Pilot. I am sending a current copy of the relevant section to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the new methods of cost-effective control of expenditure on weapons, introduced since October, 1964.

Many developments, which have been set out in Statements on the Defence Estimates, have played their part in the improvements we are achieving. They include the appointment of a Minister of Defence for Equipment (Cmnd. 3203, Chapter I, paragraph 53); the work of the Operational Requirements Committee (Cmnd. 2902, Chapter VI, paragraphs 4 and 5); the work of the Weapons Development Committee (Cmnd. 2902, Chapter VI, paragraphs 10 and 11); deeper and more far-reaching cost effectiveness studies for all three Services carried out by the Defence Operational Analysis Establishment (Cmnd. 2902, Chapter VI, paragraphs 12 and 13); the improvement of the functional costing system (Cmnd. 2592, Part I, paragraphs 36–40); the development of simulation techniques including war gaming, (Cmnd. 3203, Chapter VI, paragraph 33); value engineering (Cmnd. 3203, Chapter III, paragraph 30); and the establishment of the Programme Evaluation Group (Cmnd. 3203, Chapter I, paragraph 59).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for an aircraft early warning system in relation to island staging posts in the Indian Ocean.

The staging posts at Gan and Masirah have normal airfield radar facilities. The question of providing the Royal Air Force with airborne early warning aircraft for operational purposes which could be deployed wherever necessary is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what study he has made of the use of independent control of defence expenditure, exemplified by the American Systems Analysis Unit, under the direction of Assistant Secretary Alain Enthoven, details of which have been sent to him.

Developments in the Department of Defence in the field of systems analysis were taken into account in the studies which led to the recent changes in organisation within the Ministry of Defence, particularly the appointment of the Chief Adviser (Studies) and the setting up of the Programme Evaluation Group announced in the Statement on Defence Estimates, 1967 (Cmnd. 3203) Chapter I, paragraphs 57 to 59.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state the names and rank or position of the Geraghty Committee, and the date on which he set it up;(2) when the committee set up under the chairmanship of Mr. Geraghty, on the Financial Organisation of Defence Resources will report and whether he intends to publish the report;(3) if he will state the terms of reference of the Geraghty Committee.

The Study Group on Defence Organisation was set up in April, 1965. Its terms of reference were:

"To examine the scope for changes in organisation which would make for the more efficient and economical operation and administration of our forces:

(a) in the unified commands in the Far East and Middle East;

(b) in other overseas commands including Germany;

(c) in the United Kingdom.

To advise on the implications of such changes for the organisation of the Ministry of Defence Headquarters".

The Chairman of the Study Group was Mr. W. Geraghty, a Deputy Under-Secretary of State. He was assisted by a senior officer of each of the Services, an economic adviser and an industrialist.The Study Group reported in May, 1966. It is not intended to publish the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to seek a referendum in Gibraltar to discover whether its people desire full integration with Great Britain.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Raphael Tuck) on 7th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 270.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the proportion of illegitimate persons for 1966 in Scotland within each quinquennial age range of 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79 and 80–84 years, respectively.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of the live births in Glasgow was illegitimate in the years 1951, 1956, 1961 and 1966;(2) what proportion of live births in Scotland in each of the years 1951, 1956, 1961, and 1966 was illegitimate.

The following table shows illegitimate births expressed as percentages of live births in Scotland and Glasgow in each of the years mentioned:

Year			Scotland	Glasgow
1951	…	…	5·1	5·3
1956	…	…	4·3	4·8
1961	…	…	4·6	5·4
1966	…	…	6·4	8·8

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the Registrar General for the number of illegitimate births anticipated in Scotland for each of the years 1971, 1976, 1981, and 1986.

No estimates are made by the Registrar General of the probable number of illegitimate births in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the compensation given by the various local authorities in Scotland for feus acquired in the course of a compulsory purchase of property; and what change there has been in the average terms of compensation over the past ten years.

Information could be assembled only by specially examining the records of all compulsory acquisitions, and this would involve unjustifiable expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities have sought the assistance of the special unit at the Welsh Office charged with preparing schemes of reclamation work in respect of derelict land.

So far, twenty-eight local authorities have sought the assistance of the Welsh Office Derelict Land Unit. Advice has been sought on 30 sites and help in the preparation of outline schemes for a further 25 sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the staff employed by the Welsh Office in London and Cardiff, respectively, are Welsh speaking.

About one-third and one-tenth respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will cause a survey to be made in Wales of the number of persons who are living in conditions of poverty, as that is officially defined.

I have been asked to reply. I do not think that we could vary the rates of cash benefits administered by my Department from one part of the country to another. Consequently I would not regard the survey suggested by my hon. Friend as a useful way of employing the research facilities available to my Department.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why he has decided that it is inappropriate to ask the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to assist the development of Messrs. Durran's (Northern) Limited, which is in liquidation.

The Corporation's main function is to promote the rationalisation of industry. It was not established to act as a lender of last resort to companies which are not commercially viable.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the total budgeted annual income and expenditure of the International Secretariat for Voluntary Service of which Her Majesty's Government is one of the sponsors; what are the contributions made by individual Governments and other sources to its income; on what basis its membership is comprised and its staff appointed; and what is the relationship and policy of the British Government towards it.

In 1966 the total income of the International Secretariat for Volunteer Service was £82,000 and the total expenditure was £56,430.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an estimate of the number of people over 60 years of age who suffer from disordered nutrition.

From investigations made and others in progress it appears that overt malnutrition is rare. Investigations to detect subclinical degrees of malnutrition are being prepared. Malnutrition when it occurs is frequently secondary to some other disease of the elderly.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities he has to determine the extent and significance of malnutrition amongst elderly people and children, respectively.

Dietary surveys have been and are being conducted through the medium of the Government Social Survey, and my own staff have the co-operation of geriatricians and paediatricians throughout the country. The data produced are examined by my Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy, to whom I look for advice on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health what biochemical surveys he has conducted to ascertain the extent of nutritional deficiencies among elderly and young people, respectively.

I am currently combining biochemical and other nutritional studies of children and similar investigations are proposed among the elderly. The findings are being examined by expert panels of my Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the composition of white flour is now such as to prevent malnutrition; and if he will make a statement.

Flour alone cannot prevent malnutrition; good nutritional standards depend on the consumption of a balanced diet. Research into certain aspects of the composition of flour is being currently undertaken under the auspicies of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has as to the existence of such diseases connected with malnutrition as glossitis, angular stomatitis, cheilosis and myodoema, and how prevalent they are.

I am advised that these conditions, which are not necessarily connected with malnutrition, can only be diagnosed subjectively and that therefore no accurate estimate of prevalence can be made.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the influence of advertising on eating habits, he will give publicity to good nutritional standards.

Advice on diet is already widely available through general practitioners, local authorities and other organisations and the Press, especially the women's pages and the women's magazines; the broadcasting services also issue a great deal of advice. I am considering whether any further publicity is desirable.

asked the Minister of Health what was the proportion of illegitimate persons for 1966 in England and Wales within each quinquennial age range of 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, and 80–84 years, respectively.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what proportion of live births in England and Wales in each of the years 1951, 1956, 1961, and 1966 was illegitimate;(2) what proportion of live births in the following cities was illegitimate in the years 1951, 1956, 1961, and 1966, namely, London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Leeds, and Bristol.

ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS PER THOUSAND LIVE BIRTHS IN 1951, 1956, 1961 and 1966
	1951	1956	1961	1966
England and Wales	48	48	60	79
London Administrative County	69	85	127	—
Greater London Conurbation	53	61	90	109
Greater London Council Area
Birmingham	53	68	96	113
Liverpool	56	50	58	92
Manchester	67	76	103	148
Newcastle upon Tyne	45	52	71	115
Leeds	65	61	80	115
Bristol	41	44	69	98

asked the Minister of Health what is the latest estimate of the Registrar General for the number of illegitimate births anticipated in England and Wales for each of the years 1971, 1976, 1981, and 1986.

Information for an estimate is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has of chronic scurvy amongst children and old people, respectively.

There is no evidence of chronic scurvy among children. I have no later information about old people than that given in my Answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Russell Johnston) on 20th May, 1966, but further inquiries are in progress or being planned. [Vol. 728, c. 318.]

asked the Ministry of Health if he is satisfied with the progress of trials being carried on on his behalf by St. Dunstan's of a sonic aid for the blind; and whether he will give further assistance to enable these to be speeded up.

I am much interested in the pioneer work on this device being undertaken by St. Dunstan's and others. My help has not, however, been sought and the project is not being carried out on my behalf.