asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of passengers carried by the British Overseas Airways Corporation on North Atlantic routes in 1965 and 1966, respectively.

454,550 and 517,479, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is planning to take that will encourage operators to use quieter aircraft at London Airport.

The scheme of aircraft noise certification mentioned in my Answer on 17th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) is aimed at encouraging the use of quieter aircraft.—[Vol. 745, c. 24–5.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for the preparation and publication in standard form by all British airlines of operating statistics comparable to the practice in the United States of America, details of which have been sent to him.

A suggestion about publishing more information has been made to me by the manufacturers. Before considering this suggestion I am proposing to consult the operators.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now considered the report of the conference on aircraft noise caused by civil aircraft; why military aircraft are exempted from its conclusions; whether he is satisfied that greater speed can be achieved without increasing engine power and the selling cost of the aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

The answers are:

(a) Yes.

(b) The conference was concerned only with noise from civil aircraft. Different factors determine the extent to which reduction of noise from military aircraft is practicable.

(c) There are many factors involved in the design and costing of future aircraft and it is difficult to generalise about this.

Her Majesty's Government endorse the conclusions of the conference and the proposals for further action. In this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) on 17th April.—[Vol. 745, c. 24.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now state the location of the third London airport.

No, but an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the numbers of pilots likely to qualify from civilian training establishments and to be available for commercial aviation in the United Kingdom during each of the years 1967 to 1972 inclusive.

According to information from existing training establishments, the estimates are: in 1967, 440; and in 1968, 590. For years beyond, the capacity is expected to be at least 600 per year but the actual output will depend on demand and many other factors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans have been made to extend the runways at Aldergrove Airport in County Antrim; and if he will state the additional area of agricultural land required for such extension.

There are no plans for extension at present but the main runway can be extended within the present boundary to cater for all foreseeable types of aircraft used for short and medium haul traffic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when responsibility for the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim will be handed over to the Government of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for the Civil Airport at Aldergrove will be handed over to the Government of Northern Ireland as soon as that Government has powers to operate aerodromes. Legislation for this purpose is in preparation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many houses have been sound-proofed against noise in the Heathrow area; what was the original estimated number who could apply for grants; and if he will make a statement.

Up to 10th April, 1967, 134 applications for grants had been approved. There are some 60,000 dwellings in the area to which the scheme applies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which accident reports on British passenger-carrying airlines are still awaited; and what is the average time between the accident and publication.

Reports on a Dakota at Le Treport in December, 1965, a Boeing 707 near Tokyo in March, 1966, a Britannia at Ljubljana in August, 1966, and a Britannia at Istanbul in December, 1966. In the case of the twenty reports published between 1963 and the end of 1966 the average time was fifteen months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from Czechoslovakia to start a transatlantic air service via Great Britain.

In a letter dated 30th January, 1967 regarding the possible expansion of mutual air routes, the Czechoslovak Ministry of Transport suggested the establishment of Czechoslovak air services across the North Atlantic through London as well as on other routes involving calls in United Kingdom territory. The whole subject is under joint consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to bring to the notice of British exporters the opportunities for British manufactures in Taiwan, Republic of China.

Publicity has been given by the Board of Trade to all export opportunities coming to their notice, and the normal range of export services is available to British exporters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what issues will be raised by the representative of Her Majesty's Government at the second United Nations Conference on Trade and Development scheduled for February and March, 1968 in New Delhi; and if he will now make a statement on the current draft provisional agenda.

The current draft provisional agenda for the Conference embraces virtually all aspects of trade and aid policy of interest to developing countries. This draft is to be further considered at the next meeting, in August, of the Trade and Development Board of the Conference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the British Maritime Board and other interested parties since the announcement of the abolition of the payment of concessionary fares by merchant seamen on British Railways.

None, but I understand that the National Maritime Board has approached my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that no bacon imported into the United Kingdom in the year ended 31st March, 1967, was dumped, within the meaning of Section 1 of the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957.

The Board of Trade does not inquire into allegations of dumping. Unless the industry concerned makes an

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF CERTAIN RAW MATERIALS
		1966		1946
Commodity	Unit of Quantity	Quantity	Average value per unit	Quantity	Average value per unit
			£		£
Hides, skins and furskins, undressed	ton	83,460	797	127,033	215
Oil seeds, oil nuts and oil kernels	ton	819,270	55	1,051,083	25
Crude rubber	ton	259,269	178	299,082	141
Pitprops	piled cu. fathom	114,525	33	458,989	23
Telegraph poles	standard	12,680	103	5,456	49
Pulp and waste paper	ton	2,938,000	46	950,141	20
Silk	lb.	803,000	1	629,969	2
Sheep's or lamb's wool, not carded or combed	thous. lb.	521,608	211	475,327	79
Cotton	centals of 1001b.	6,431,888	8	9,096,903	5
Fertilizers, crude or simply prepared	ton	1,657,554	6	902,009	6
Asbestos	ton	190,498	63	55,235	33
Iron ore and concentrates	thous. tons	15,961	4,371	6,657	2,841
Nickel mattes, speiss, etc.	ton	58,035	347	12,737	98
Tungsten ore and concentrates	ton	7,410	898	3,240	259
Tin ore and concentrates	ton	55,708	408	47,152	196
Molybdenum ore and concentrates	ton	9,362	774	1,291	216
Animal oils and fats	ton	259,657	71	87,992	56
Animal and vegetable oils and fats, fixed and processed, and waxes.	ton	466,074	97	222,454	63

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the price policy of Purnell and Sons, Paulton, Bristol, to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the steady deterioration in the employment and economic situation of the Okehampton area, if he will now extend the existing development area of North application for anti-dumping action, which is supported by information indicating that the imports are being dumped and are causing or threatening the industry with material injury.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give in column form the quantities and average prices of the United Kingdom's imports of raw materials in 1946 and 1966, respectively.

The information, which is in respect of most of the important raw materials, is as follows:Devon to cover all the borough and rural districts of Okehampton with the exception of the national park.

No, the current circumstances of this area do not justify adding it to the South West Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent it will b his policy to seek to safeguard the interests of Jamaica. Trinidad and British Honduras in the Kennedy Round negotiations for the further freeing of access to the British citrus market now requested by the United States Government.

The Government will certainly bear in mind the interests of the West Indies in any discussions on citrus in the Kennedy Round trade negotiations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value and number of motor cars exported to Germany in the last five years ended 31st December, 1966; and what were the comparable figures of German cars imported in the same period.

UNITED KINGDOM TRADE WITH'WESTERN GERMANY IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF MOTOR CARS*
		Imports (c.i.f.)		Exports (f.o.b.)
		Number	Value	Number	Value
Year		Thousand	£ million	Thousand	£ million
1962	…	10·8	4·1	9·9	4·8
1963	…	12·6	5·7	8·5	4·5
1964	…	17·5	9·1	6·9	3·6
1965	…	18·3	9·2	6·7	3·6
1966	…	20·5	9·9	6·3	3·3
* Includes cars new and used; three wheeled vehicles (excluding invalid carriages) not exceeding 8 cwt. unladen. There was a slight variation in coverage in 1962.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to stimulate suitable light industrial development in country areas where reduced demand for labour on the land has produced the need for new employment opportunities.

The trend of agricultural employment is taken into account, along with other factors, when applications for industrial development certificates are being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the staff of the Official Receiver's Office is adequate to discharge its present functions; and if he will make a statement.

Owing to staff shortages in Official Receivers' Offices, including the Office at Reading, some delays have arisen in the discharge of their functions. Efforts are being made to recruit additional staff for Official Receivers' Offices generally. Difficulties have been acute at Reading but the staff have volunteered to work overtime and are being increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for new hire-purchase regulations to protect consumers from evasion by doorstep salesmen of the cooling-off provisions of the 1964 Act.

I have no evidence to suggest that a change in the Regulations would be helpful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for meeting the growing need of consumers for an effective consumer complaint service.

As recommended by the Molony Committee, we are continuing to support the extension and strengthening of the consumer advisory service provided by Citizens' Advice Bureaux.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional powers he now proposes to seek to control the extent of advertising by selected firms.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which Chambers of Commerce have objected to the request of the Birkenhead Chamber of Commerce that it should change its name to Birkenhead and Wirral Chamber of Commerce; and, in view of the fact that the Birkenhead chamber has more members within the Wirral peninsula than any other chamber, if he will now agree to this request.

The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ellesmere Port Chamber of Commerce have objected. I am not prepared to agree to the change of name proposed as I am not satisfied that the Birkenhead Chamber of Commerce represents a majority of the commercial concerns in the Wirral outside Birkenhead.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will examine the conditions imposed by various advertising and Press organisations which prevent small advertising firms of ability from gaining recognition for commission purposes; and if he will take steps to prevent this restriction on fair competition.

I will bear this matter in mind when new references to the Monopolies Commission are being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs in manufacturing industry in Scotland were lost as a result of factory closures in 1964, 1965 and 1966.

This information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the substantial increase in the volume of low-priced cloth now being imported into the United Kingdom from Austria; and what steps he is proposing to take to safeguard the Lancashire textile industry from this new threat.

I am aware of the increase in the volume of fabric imports from Austria; but their general price level is above the average for similar imports from all sources. If the hon. Member has any evidence to show that particular types of cloth are being dumped, I should be glad to receive it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will require a certificate of domestic value to be produced before allowing the import into this country of any cotton, synthetic or blended textiles.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he now proposes to authorise increased imports from Japan of dress fabrics containing metallised yarns.

No. I have no intention of altering the arrangements for the import of Japanese textiles in 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Industrial Development Certificates have been issued for factories to be established within the county borough of Bolton in each of the last three years.

Seven i.d.c.s. were issued in Bolton County Borough in 1964, ten in 1965 and five in 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the current difficulties of the chipboard industry and the deleterious effects on the Scottish economy; and what steps he is taking to solve the problem.

U.K. consumption and production of chipboard have been rising steadily over recent years. Competition has become more severe since the removal of the temporary charge on imports and the last duties against imports from E.F.T.A. sources. But there is no reason why the British industry, with its advantages of proximity to the customer, should not continue to share in the expansion of the market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to alleviate the shortage of employment opportunities, particularly for school leavers, in those areas of Monmouthshire excluded from the Welsh Development Area, having regard to the further disincentives to those industrialists wishing to establish themselves in these areas foreshadowed by the recently announced proposal for a regional employment premium.

I would welcome the creation of additional employment opportunities by suitable industrial projects in those parts of Monmouthshire outside the Development Area and where appropriate would authorise the issue of industrial development certificates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance has been given to brewery companies building new hotels in the development area of Wales, under the Local Employment Acts; how many grants have been made; and how many are now the subject of application.

This information is not readily available and could be extracted only with much time and effort.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now state the total volume of grants made to concerns and local authorities, under the Local Employment Acts, in the Welsh Development area.

Grants offered (including those subsequently declined) by the Board of Trade under the Local Employment Acts in the period 1st April, 1960, to 28th February, 1967, for projects in the Welsh development areas (including the former Welsh development districts) were:

	Value	Number
	£
Building Grants	2,317,516	181
Plant and Machinery Grants (now replaced by investment grants)	615,509	203
Grants towards unusual initial expenditure	536,437	32
Total	3,469,462	416

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates have been issued for the Portsmouth area since 1959; what has been the resulting number of employment vacancies; and what has been the proportionate division of these vacancies between men and women.

During the period 1st January, 1960, to 31st March, 1967, the number of industrial development certificates issued for the Portsmouth area, i.e., the employment exchange areas of Ports- mouth, Gosport, Fareham and Havant, was 172. The additional employment estimated by applicants when their projects are fully manned was 5,200 for males and 3,500 for females.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Gainsborough about the increase in check trading, he will now introduce legislation to bring it in line with the other hire-purchase restrictions.

I have no plans to introduce legislation at present but I am watching the development of check trading closely.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no instructions have been issued by Her Majesty's Government to masters of British ships about the compliance with the Egyptian Government's claim to rights to search all shipping passing through the Suez Canal.

Because no instructions are necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the activities of the Harmonisation Conference for cross-Channel motor-car ferries which has increased car ferry fares by an average of 6s. per fare.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the requirements expected of women seeking to obtain a yacht master's ticket, indicating the fees to be paid, the subjects of the examinations to be passed, where they are held, and the number of Scottish women who have qualified in the last five years.

The requirements for men and women are the same and are contained in a Board of Trade publication which I will send to my hon. and learned Friend. In the last five years 13 women have obtained a Yacht Master's Certificate of whom four were born in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to take any action to prevent synthetic hormones being used in the fattening process of animals for human consumption.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner) on 19th April. —[Vol. 745, c. 103–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to implement his proposal to set up a Farm Animals Welfare Committee.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 11th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 168.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department can provide of the increased price of sugar imports in the event of Great Britain joining the Common Market.

I appreciate the hon. Member's concern in this matter, but I am afraid it is not possible to estimate what the average price of our sugar imports would be if we were to join the E.E.C., because of the many imponderable factors involved, including the nature of the arrangements that might be made for sugar in an enlarged Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give an estimate of the cost of butter per 100 hundredweight from the Common Market countries in the event of British entry into the European Economic Community, and the comparative cost of butter imported from New Zealand.

For 1968–69 the E.E.C. have adopted a support-buying price for butter of 640 shillings per cwt. and a minimum price for imports of 694 shillings. The ex-store price of New Zealand butter recently has been 300 shillings. The price of imports into this country if we were to join the Community would depend on the arrangements agreed for butter in the enlarged Community and on market conditions at the time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will reconsider his decision not to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the proposed increases in the price of compound feeding-stuffs.

No. As I told the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 15th March, I am quite satisfied that these price increases were necessary and fully justified in the terms of the White Paper.—[Vol. 743, c. 107–8.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent farmers' rents have risen during the last three years.

The average increases in farm rents in England and Wales for the years 1963–64, 1964–65 and 1965–66 were 6·9 per cent., 7·3 per cent. and 6·9 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many boxes of eggs have been imported into the United Kingdom in the past eight weeks; and what is the anticipated import figure for foreign eggs in the next eight weeks.

There are no official statistics of imports of eggs in the past eight weeks but according to trade estimates they amounted to 156,000 boxes of 360 eggs each. No estimates of imports during the next eight weeks are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to apply the recommendations of the Mountbatten Committee Report to the Scottish prison administration; and, in particular, whether he accepts the Committee's recommendations on liaison between prisons and local Press representatives.

The recommendations of the Report are being applied as appropriate, and I am always prepared to make arrangements for the Press to visit prisons and interview Governors so as to encourage an active and constructive interest in work carried out by prison staffs at all levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what year he estimates the A9 road will be dual carriageway from Perth to Blair Atholl.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 9th November, 1966.—[Vol. 735, c. 282.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to replace the Waverley Home and Clenoch Hospital in Stranraer.

The Western Regional Hospital Board has not been able to include these replacement projects in its programme of schemes due to start up to 1968–69, but will consider them when the programme for later years is formulated. Meanwhile the schemes are being planned so as to be ready to start as soon as funds become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent farmers' rents have risen in Scotland during the last three years.

In the three years to 1965–66 the average rent changes in Scotland on a representative sample of full-time tenanted farms were as follows:

1963–64	…	…	+7·8 per cent.
1964–65	…	…	+6·2 per cent.
1965–66	…	…	+9·2 per cent.

The change in the current rent year to May 1967 is provisionally estimated at +6·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the closure of the runways at the Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovil-ton, from Whitsun until mid-August; and if he will give an estimate of the extra costs which will result from the dispersal of the squadrons.

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton will be closed to flying from 29th May to 14th August while work is being carried out to repair the main and secondary runways, the taxitracks and hardstandings, and to prepare these for operational use by Phantom and Sea Vixen aircraft.Most of the Station's air tasks are being deployed to other Service stations and the resulting extra cost will not be great. They are expected to be of the order of £10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the camps available in the United Kingdom meet all his requirements for forces returning to this country: and what consideration he has given to the possibility of using the former Royal Air Force camp at Wartling as a military transit camp.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer that my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Kershaw) on 12th April. The former Royal Air Force camp at Wartling is not suitable for this purpose.—[Vol. 744, c. 189.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete his review of the inter-service engagement structure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 6th March. —[Vol. 742, c. 214.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy on the building of warships for the South African Navy.

Her Majesty's Government's policy is as stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th November, 1964.—[Vol. 702, c. 199–208.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the sum to be spent in the United States of America on missiles and other equipment for the new Polaris submarine and for the submarine school at Faslane.

The dollar capital cost of the Polaris programme is expected to amount to just over £100 million during the period 1963–64 to 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will prevent military aircraft from flying low over Bala during the period of the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales from 7th to 12th August, 1967, inclusive.

We are always very ready to co-operate in matters of this kind so far as is operationally practicable and I am glad to say that we are making arrangements which will enable us to meet my hon. Friend's request.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that some car delivery drivers are working excessively long hours, thereby endangering the safety both of themselves and of other users of the roads; and what proposals she has for remedying this state of affairs.

Drivers who deliver individual cars are not at present restricted by law in the number of hours they may work. I do not think it would be practicable at the moment to enforce legal limits on the hours of professional car drivers.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has for ensuring that persons driving vehicles on the roads, under trade plates, carry records of the number of hours worked.

I am now considering, as part of my current review of the law governing drivers' hours, whether the requirements to keep records of hours of work should be extended to all goods vehicle drivers, including those driving under trade plates. I do not think that it would be practicable to apply similar requirements to professional car drivers at the moment.

asked the Minister of Transport what recent action she has taken to ensure that all vehicles are registered with the appropriate licensing authority; whether she is aware of the growing practice of owners of vehicles deliberately refusing to register change of ownership of vehicles; and whether in considering increasing penalties for road offences she will give consideration to increasing the penalties for this type of offence.

Provisions proposed in the Finance Bill will increase the incentive to vehicle owners to notify their acquisition of a vehicle.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will produce a plan of integrated road and rail services for Wales which will give Wales a service at least equal to that in England.

The legislative proposals for integrating transport services which I shall bring before the House next Session will apply to Wales as to the rest of the country. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have set up a Passenger Transport Coordinating Committee for Wales to bring about immediate short-term improvements in public passenger services.

asked the Minister of Transport how many passengers and what value of freight was carried on the Dovey Junction—Pwllheli railway line during the course of the last 12 months' period when figures were compiled; and how many travelled from Dovey Junction to Aberystwyth during the same period.

Statistical information relating to nationalised industries, when available, is usually provided only for the country as a whole. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that financial loss is being inflicted on British Railways by the new practice of deterring returning sailors from visiting their families because they have recently been deprived of concessionary railway fares: and if she will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board, to restore the concession.

No. I accept the Railway Board's view that the withdrawal of these concessionary fares will add to their revenue and thus reduce their demands on the taxpayer.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has received a request from British Railways for authority to proceed with the electrification of the Crewe (Weavers Junction) to Glasgow line, and what reply she has sent.

No such request has yet been made.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals and improvements she will make to deal with the increased number of heavy transport vehicles using the A30 spine road through Okehampton to Cornwall.

Traffic census figures indicate that the increase in heavy vehicles using the A30 in the Okehampton area is less than one half of the average national increase.Westwards from Exeter a number of schemes have been carried out recently and more are in progress or programmed. By-passes of Okehampton and Launceston are being considered for inclusion in the preparation pool.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the improvement on the A30 west of Launceston, why only limited reconstruction has been undertaken in Devon.

Limited reconstruction has been carried out on the A30 in Devon and Cornwall both east and west of Launceston. On the section between Exeter and Bodmin three small improvement schemes are in progress in Devon and two in Cornwall; five further schemes are programmed in Devon and two in Cornwell.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware that Plessey's Limited, a company in Merseyside, in a development area, are about to declare a number of redundancies; and if he will request the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to develop this company so as to avoid these redundancies.

It is not the function of the Corporation to intervene in cases of this kind.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what plans he has for the improvement of the sailors' accommodation at the Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton.

Plans are well advanced for extending the existing dining and recreational facilities and for the construction of two new blocks of sleeping accommodation—one for Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers, and the other for Junior Ratings.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why Mr. Roland Hunt is being replaced as British High Commissioner to Uganda.

To take up another senior appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grants have been made to voluntary organisations in Wales, by his Department, for the provision of new amenities; and to what category of amenities these grants apply.

In the financial year 1966–67 73 offers of grant, totalling £164,116, were made under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, and the Social and Physical Training Grant Regulations, 1939, to voluntary organisations in Wales for the provision of new or extended amenities and the purchase of equipment. Nine grants were made towards the cost of village halls, 41 to local clubs and organisations for the provision of playing fields and other sports facilities, and 23 grants for the provision of buildings and equipment for the youth service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what sum has been spent on building new primary schools during the last five years in each of the urban districts of Holmfirth, Colne Valley and Denby Dale;(2) what sums have been spent on building new schools in Saddleworth urban district during the last five years.

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

• Holmfirth—Two new primary schools costing £98,000 under construction.
• Colne Valley; Denby Dale—Nil.
• Saddleworth—One new primary school costing £46.000 under construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the ratio of full-time qualified teachers in state primary schools; and what percentage of these qualified teachers are graduates.

About 96 per cent. of full-time teachers in maintained primary schools are qualified and of these about 4·5 per cent. are graduates.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many immigrant children are at school being taught English as a second language; and what is the approximate annual cost.

7,700 immigrant pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in January, 1966 were described as having no knowledge of English and 24,600 as having some English but needing further intensive teaching. Arrangements for teaching these children English vary considerably from area to area and I am unable to say what additional expenditure is being incurred by Local Education Authorities for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many overseas students are receiving grants; at what annual cost; and from which countries mostly they come.

Grants to overseas students from British public funds are made under a number of schemes including those for Commonwealth Scholarships, Commonwealth Bursaries, Technical Assistance programmes, British Council Scholarships and the Athlone Fellowships. My right hon. Friend is not responsible for any of these schemes, but I understand that in 1965–66 the total number of students covered by them (including 517 students receiving awards from Local Education Authorities as under equivalent arrangements) was 3,132, the great majority of whom came from developing countries. More detailed questions regarding the schemes for which he is responsible are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development. Many other overseas students are in receipt of grants from their own governments or from voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what facilities are available in technical colleges and universities for students wishing to pursue a course of study up to flight training stage with a view to entry into the commercial aviation profession.

Courses of instruction in air navigation covering part of the syllabuses of the Board of Trade for Pilots' and Navigators' licences are held at the Department of Navigation of the Sir John Cass College and at certain private colleges. To obtain a Commercial Pilot's licence, however, it is necessary for candidates to show evidence that they have attended a course of instruction approved by the Board of Trade. Such courses are available at the College of Air Training, Hamble, and at three private flying schools, the London School of Flying, Elstree, Oxford Air Training School, Kidlington, and Airwork Services Training, Perth. In addition, a number of universities and technical colleges offer courses in aeronautical engineering and in other subjects which may be of value to students wishing to make a career in civil aviation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the Government's response to Mr. Henry Moore's munificent offer of an extensive collection of his works to the Tate Gallery.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have decided, as a unique measure in expression of their appreciation, to make a special contribution of £200,000 towards the housing of the collection.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now cause to be established in mid-Wales additional Government departmental offices suitable for both the needs and resources of the area.

We will bear in mind the needs of this area but I cannot hold out any prospect that additional Government offices will be established there.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet considered the letter dated 17th April, 1967, from the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North, listing the advantages which the amenities and beauties Aberdeen offers to the staff of the proposed new Royal Mint; and if he will now announce his decision to site the new Royal Mint in the city of Aberdeen.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cuningham) and Oxford (Mr. Luard) on 25th April, 1967—[Vol. 745, c. 1330–37.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider additional fiscal incentives to encourage gifts and legacies to museums and galleries.

My hon. Friend's suggestion involves preferential treatment for museums and galleries over other charities, and I do not think this is the right way to help them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table for the latest available year, showing the proportion of the gross national product represented by provision of all welfare services by central Government and local government, respectively, and showing separately the figures for health services, education, housing and retirement pensions.

The table below shows expenditure on housing and social services as a percentage of the gross national produc tat factor cost. The classification of social services is that used in Table 53 of the 1966 Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure. The detailed analysis of expenditure in 1966 is not yet available.

EXPENDITURE ON HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST, 1965
	Central government*	Local authorities	Total public authorities
Housing	0·3	2·6	2·9
National health service	3·7	0·4	4·1
Education	0·9	4·2	5·1
National insurance retirement pensions	3·9	—	3·9
Other social services†	4·0	0·6	4·6
Total housing and social services	12·8	7·8	20·6
* Excluding grants to local authorities.
† Including expenditure on local welfare services, child care, school meals, milk and welfare foods, other national insurance expenditure and assistance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss to the revenue of separately assessing for income tax purposes those married women returning to the teaching profession.

I am afraid that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the numbers by which the fire service and the police force are at present below establishment in corresponding grades in each service, respectively.

The latest information available in respect of whole-time male members of the fire service in England and Wales is for 31st December, 1966. The figures are:

	Establishment	Strength	Deficiency
Chief Officer	131	131	—
Assistant Chief Officer	62	62	—
Divisional Officer Grade 1	109	108	1
Divisional Officer Grade 2	124	134	+10
Divisional Officer Grade 3	218	209	9
Assistant Divisional Officer	492	480	12
Station Officer	1,908	1,721	187
Sub-Officer	2,588	2,396	192
Leading Fireman	2,613	2,543	70
Fireman	19,242	16,332	2,910
Total	27,487	24,116	3,371

No central statistics are maintained showing the shortage of police in each rank in England and Wales. The establishment of male officers on 31st December, 1966, was 100,529; the strength was 83,736. The deficiency was therefore 16,793.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of offences known to the police in England and Wales involving the possession or use of dangerous drugs in 1964, 1965 and 1966.

I regret that this information is not available. The numbers of prosecutions in the United Kingdom for offences involving drugs controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1965 were 745 in 1964, 834 in 1965 and 1,345 (provisional) in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been taken into care as a result of their mothers' imprisonment in each of last five years.

The numbers of children received into the care of local authorities in England and Wales because a parent or guardian was in prison or remanded in custody were as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to purchase controlled dwellings; and if he will state his policy on the criteria determining the price to be paid to landlords for such properties.

My right hon. Friend would consider any such proposal in the light of the particular circumstances; the price would depend on the legislation and, in case of dispute, on the decision of the Lands Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will estimate the present number of controlled dwellings in Greater London, England and Wales, and Great Britain, respectively.

I cannot add to the reply given to the Question by the hon. Member on 20th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 206.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many determinations of fair rent under the Rent Act, 1965, there have been up to the latest convenient date in Greater London and England and Wales, respectively; what proportion of the total number of tenancies subject to regulation these figures are estimated to represent; and what steps he is taking to bring the machinery of the Rent Act, 1965, to the attention of tenants who have not so far availed themselves of its provisions.

Up to 15th April, 1967, fair rents had been registered in respect of 16,292 tenancies in Greater London and 32,135 in England and Wales; both these figures are estimated to represent around one-twentieth of the total number of regulated tenancies. At that date there were, in addition, 5,021 applications for registration outstanding in Greater London and 7,716 in England and Wales. The rent regulation machinery was advertised at the end of 1966 in the Press outside London, posters are being displayed and my right hon. Friend is arranging for some publicity to be given shortly on television and radio; he is considering what further steps might be taken.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of registered disabled persons unemployed in the area of the Huddersfield Employment Exchange in July, 1966, and in March, 1967.

The numbers of registered disabled persons registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Huddersfield Employment Exchange, distinguishing between Section I (suitable for ordinary employment) and Section II (unlikely to obtain employment other than under special conditions) were:

		Section	Section
		I	II	Total
11th July, 1966	…	95	17	112
13th March, 1967	…	169	13	182

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to ensure that employers do not evade their obligations to employ where possible the three per cent. of disabled persons.

Employers are contacted regularly to remind them, where necessary, of their quota obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944; and action as the circumstances warrant is taken where contravention of, or failure to comply with the provisions of the Act is revealed.

asked the Minister of Labour how many representations he has had about employment agencies which charge large sums to unemployed executives even in cases where no job is offered; and what reply he has sent.

We have received two letters of complaint about the firm National Executive Search Ltd., alleging that unemployed men have paid sums as high as £150 or £250 for the agency's services without obtaining any offer of a job. Our replies explained that, unfortunately, the Minister has at present no power to control the activities of private employment agencies. In some areas they are subject to local authority licensing and by-laws, but this is not so in the area in which this firm has its headquarters. The Employment Agencies Bill, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins), will if enacted provide for a national system of licensing and regulation. It comes up for Report Stage and Third Reading on Friday of this week, 28th April, and I hope it will have a successful passage.

asked the Minister of Labour what programme he has for the modernisation and renovation of Ministry of Labour offices in Edinburgh, with particular reference to the one in Lauriston Place.

The Employment Exchange in Lauriston Place is to be rehoused in the new building now under construction at Castle Terrace. Negotiations are in progress for fresh accommodation in the Princes Street/Rose Street area for the Rose Street Employment Exchange. Of the remaining offices, the Professional, Executive and Commercial Employment Office is in good modernised premises in George Street; the Portobello Employment Exchange moved into a new building last year and for the Leith Employment Exchange, which is in a good 1930 building, some internal changes are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will intervene in the trade dispute at the firm of C.B.R. Jersey Mills Ltd., Brighton.

The union has asked for my Ministry's assistance. My officers are trying to arrange a meeting with the employer.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what request he has now received from the Intermediate Technology Development Group for financial assistance; what was the amount requested: and what was the amount of the grant provided.

The Group have asked for £800 towards the cost of publishing their illustrated Buyer's Guide to British Tools and Equipment for Developing Countries, but in this instance my right hon. Friend has not felt able to grant their request.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Broadcasting Corporation to refrain from broadcasting programmes showing females with topless dresses, with a view to discouraging this unconventional practice in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

No. The content of their programme is the B.B.C.'s responsibility.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many car radio licences are held in Great Britain; and what revenue is derived from them;(2) how many radio licences are now held in Great Britain; and what revenue is derived from them.

On 31st March 1967, some 2,429,000 sound radio licences producing, in the financial year 1966–67, £3,036,000 in revenue were held in Great Britain. Included in this total were some 746,000 car radio licences, producing £933,000 in revenue.