asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to increase the numbers of children of poor families in Hong Kong whose school fees are waived under a means test.

Funds for the remission of fees at public secondary schools were raised in 1965. Up to 45 per cent. of the fees may be remitted. Funds for this purpose at public primary schools were doubled in 1965. They are not yet being fully used, and the Hong Kong Government is at present publicising the opportunities for parents to claim remission of fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many new schools have been built in Hong Kong over the past five years; and at what rate new school buildings are being completed during the current year.

During the period 1962–66 inclusive, 190 primary and 60 secondary schools were built, with 202,220 primary and 45,890 secondary places. Extensions to existing schools during the same period provided 27,540 primary and 6,620 secondary places.During the current year, 29 primary and 7 secondary schools will be completed giving 41,040 primary and 6,350 secondary places. Extensions during the year will provide 3,330 primary and 1,920 secondary places.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what are the numbers of pupils enjoying secondary education in Hong Kong; and how many of these do not pay any fees.

In September, 1966, there were 186,809 full time and 36,129 part time pupils receiving secondary education. Of 57,706 pupils attending public secondary schools 9,873 pay no tuition fees and 16,744 receive partial remission (three quarter, half or quarter fees). Figures for remissions in private schools are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for constitutional development in Hong Kong.

As I stated in the adjournment debate on Hong Kong on the 26th April, because of Hong Kong's special position, constitutional development towards self-government is not possible. In my view it is through the medium of local government that the people of Hong Kong can best be given an opportunity of playing a fuller part in the conduct of the affairs of the Colony. The Report of the Working Party on Local Administration was published in February so there is now an opportunity for public discussion and comment on it in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will set a target date for the completion of the overthrow by means of sanctions of the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many South Africans have enlisted in the Rhodesian armed forces since the Unilateral Declaration of Independence; and how many of these were previously in the South African armed forces.

No figures are available, but I have no reason to think that this has happened to any significant extent.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what part Her Majesty's Government has played in the division of the Rhodesia-Zambia railway system; and whether he will make a statement.

Rhodesia Railways has not been divided, but the Zambian Government announced on 23rd March that talks between Zambian and Rhodesian officials relating to the dissolution of the Railways had commenced. Her Majesty's Government has played no part in these talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries he has made from the British High Commission in Lusaka about tae arrest and imprisonment of four British subjects, including Lieutenant-Colonel Arnott, in Zambia on 13th April; what are the charges against them; and when a trial will take place.

As regards the first part of this Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Leeds, North-West (Sir D. Kaberry) and Portsmouth, Lang-stone (Mr. Ian Lloyd) on 19th April.The arrested men have since been served with statements informing them of the grounds on which they have been detained. These are that they have conspired to collect information relating to the public security of Zambia for a foreign Power and communicated it to that foreign Power. Their legal advisers have been permitted to interview them.The Government of Zambia have said that they are actively considering the question of criminal proceedings, but no decision has yet been announced.—[Vol. 745, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what total of contingency and planning assistance, excluding aid and defence, is being given to Zambia in this financial year; and what has or is to be spent on purchases from Great Britain.

Under an agreement signed on 1st February, £13·85 million contingency assistance has been offered to Zambia for expenditure incurred up to 30th June. Of this sum, £3·8 million was disbursed in the last financial year. The great majority of the equipment specified under the agreement has been, or will be, purchased in Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many Britons have been deported from Zambia in the last six months; how many have been arrested; how many of these have received a trial; and in how many cases he made representations to the Zambian Government.

During the last six months, nine United Kingdom citizens, together with two wives and five children, have been declared prohibited immigrants by the Zambian Government.Representations were made in three of these cases and one of them has been rescinded.Six United Kingdom citizens have been arrested for reasons other than expulsion; one of them has been sentenced, one was acquitted, and one is on bail and still under trial. Representations have been made on behalf of the remaining three who are detained for security reasons.In addition, two United Kingdom citizens have just been arrested, apparently for immigration offences. Representations have been made.Details are as follows:—

DECLARED PROHIBITED IMMIGRANTS
5th November, 1966	Major R. Paton and Mrs. Paton and two children (representations made).
13th November, 1966	Major W. J. Eastwood (representations made).
21st March, 1967	Mr. C. Cunningham.
24th March, 1967	Mrs. C. Cunningham.
12th April, 1967	Mr. J. Aleman and Mrs. Aleman and three children (was also arrested).
14th April, 1967	Mr. W. S. Stephens (representations made and order rescinded).
17th April, 1967	Mr. L. Young (was also arrested).
23rd April, 1967	Mr. Boyle.
	Mr. Wood.

ARRESTS
November, 1966	Mr. G. Gissing (tried and acquitted).
28th December, 1966	Mr. I. D. Wynne (under trial).
13th April, 1967	Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Arnott.
	Mr. H. P. Nursten.
	Mr. Ian Haigh (representations made in all three cases).
21st April, 1967	Mr. D. B. Littlejohn (tried and sentenced).
28th April, 1967	Mr. R. Deans.
	Mr. J. S. Moir (representations made in both cases).

TRIALSMr. G. Gissing, Mr. I. D. Wynne and Mr. D. B. Littlejohn (see above).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, owing to the importance of making their recommendations as quickly as possible he will announce the names of the members of the joint industrial mission to advise on the industrial expansion of the Maltese economy; what their terms of reference will be; and when they will start work.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to a Question by the hon. Member for Peterborough (Sir Harmar Nicholls) on 27th April, 1967—[Vol. 745, c. 342.]—and to one by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 18th April—[Vol. 745, c. 61.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is the distribution of qualified economists on the permanent staffs of United Kingdom High Commissions throughout the Commonwealth; in particular, how many such qualified economists there have been on the permanent staff of the High Commission in India in each of the past five years; and how many there are now.

There are at present no professional economists employed as such. Of members of the Diplomatic Service with degrees in economics there are, serving in various capacities, one each at Bridgetown, Colombo, Karachi, Lusaka, Melbourne, Nairobi and Rawalpindi and three at Kingston. During the last five years there have been two officers on the staff of the High Commission in India with degrees in economics, one serving from 1962 to 1964 and the other from 1962 to 1965, but no professional economists.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further progress has been made towards the independence of Mauritius and Swaziland; and whether he will make a statement.

The grant of independence to Mauritius depends on the outcome of the General Election shortly to be held under the new electoral system. I understand that the date of the General Election will be announced shortly after the Mauritius Premier's return to the island later this month.As regards Swaziland, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress of internal self-government in Swaziland and the final constitutional developments to full independence.

On 25th April a new constitution came into operation, conferring internal self-government on Swaziland and recognising the Ngwenyama as King and Head of State and Swaziland became a Protected State. It remains the intention of Her Majesty's Government, as stated in the White Paper of last October, that Swaziland should become independent not later than the end of 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what detailed arrangements have now been made to keep all Commonwealth Governments informed of the latest negotiations concerning Great Britain's possible membership of the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement.

We are, and will remain, in close touch with Commonwealth Governments on this issue. Our consultations will be arranged to suit mutual convenience.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in securing compensation for British firms expropriated in Tanzania; and whether he will make a statement.

Some of the British undertakings concerned are negotiating their claims for compensation with the Tanzania Government. Others have yet to submit their claims. In the meantime, as I informed the House on 21st March, we have noted the assurance of the Tanzania Government that they will pay full and fair compensation.—[Vol. 743, c. 1433–4.]

asked the Minister of Power what total output of coal is expected to be produced from opencast coal mining in Scotland during the next two years; and what manpower will be employed.

Between 1¾ and 2 million tons from sites already authorised. About 450 men will be employed.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is satisfied that effective procedures exist, by regular sampling and otherwise, to ensure that solid patent fuels available in smokeless zones are at all times safe and unlikely to throw out sparks and burning material; and if he will make a statement.

Manufacturers have a responsibility for the safety of the fuels they make. My Department, which is in touch with the main producers, has been assured that tests are employed but there are inherent difficulties in eliminating the possibility of sparks and burning material.

asked the Minister of Power what plans he has to enable the benefits of the recent discoveries of oil and gas in the North Sea and the sale of their products to be passed on to Scottish consumers in the form of reduced prices.

Only natural gas has so far been found in commercial quantities. Its price to consumers, when it becomes available in Scotland, will depend upon a number of factors which cannot at this stage be known.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now state the prices and conditions of supply of North Sea oil and gas to British consumers.

The price and conditions under which this gas will be supplied to British consumers will depend on the outcome of the negotiations between the Gay Council and the producers, on which discussions are continuing. Oil has not yet been found in commercial quantities in the North Sea.

asked the Minister of Power what decisions have arisen out of his consultations with the National Steel Corporation on the price of steel to the shipbuilding industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Blyth (Mr. Milne).—[Vol. 744; c. 216.]

asked the Minister of Power what discussions he has had with the Gas Council about the arrangements for distributing North Sea gas.

Since it became clear that large supplies of natural gas would be available, there have been continuing discussions with the Gas Council on all aspects of its utilisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the operation of the Capital Gains Tax on land will stimulate the productivity of the agricultural industry.

No estimate can he made; nor have I any evidence to suggest that the Capital Gains Tax will operate to the disadvantage of agricultural productivity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated yield of Capital Gains Tax on land transactions in the last financial year, and the administrative cost of collection.

There is not enough information on which to base these estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total investment of the nationalised industries; and what was the total national investment in 1966–67.

Figures for 1966–67 are not yet available, but for the calendar year 1966 the totals for nationalised industries, and for national investment as a whole, were £1,369 million and £6,601 mill ion respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much foreign currency has been used to date by people taking their holidays abroad since the introduction of the £50 limit; and how this compares with the same period for the preceding year.

The full restrictions came into force only on 1st November last. The information sought is not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date, by including estimates for 1966–67 and 1967–68, Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, contained in Appendix II to Command Paper No. 2915.

Not at this stage. When the examination of public expenditure programmes to which my right hon. Friend referred in his Budget speech—[Vol. 744, c. 990.]—has been completed he will consider what further information can be made available. Meanwhile the hon. Member will find that much of the relevant material for 1966–67 and 1967–68 either has already been published in the Financial Statement 1967–68, in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Cant) on 16th February, 1967—[Vol. 741, c. 165–6.]—and in Cmnd, 3243, or else will be published in Financial Statistics, May, 1967 and in the National Income and Expenditure Blue Book 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the fact that inspectors of taxes have been requested to cease demanding from taxpayers lists of assets held at 6th April, 1965, Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes at Windsor, Berkshire, on 26th April, 1967 demanded from a taxpayer such a schedule of assets; what disciplinary action he now proposes to take to stop inspectors of taxes making such extra-statutory demands; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that a list of assets was asked for in error. The information actually wanted was information regarding the separate sources of the taxpayer's income. Appropriate action is being taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the yield in 1967–68 of the 11 per cent., of the 16½ per cent., and the 27½ per cent. rates of Purchase Tax, respectively, following consolidation of the regulator into these rates, and having regard to economic circumstances and domestic consumption assumed during the current year; and what will be the yield from motor cars during 1967–68 at the consolidated Purchase Tax rate proposed of 27½ per cent.

The Budget Estimate for purchase tax receipts in 1967–68 is £735 million. The division by rates of tax is:

• 11 per cent. rate—£210 million;
• 16½ per cent. rate—£75 million;
• 27½ per cent rate—£450 million.

Motor cars are expected to yield about £148 million out of the total from the 27½, per cent. rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the approximate annual saving in foreign exchange that would result from maintaining British forces in Germany at their present strength, assuming that by far the greater part of these costs is covered by proposals already announced by Her Majesty's Government, in comparison with the foreign exchange costs of maintaining these forces in the United Kingdom.

There is undoubtedly some foreign exchange element in the maintenance of forces in the United Kingdom, but there are so many unknown factors that it is impossible to make a realistic estimate of the difference between this and the cost of maintaining them abroad. There is no doubt however that maintaining forces abroad costs much more in foreign exchange than maintaining them at home.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the £72 million offset against the foreign exchange cost of maintaining British forces it Germany in 1967–68 he expects to arise from German and United States purchases, respectively, in the United Kingdom; and by what criteria he will judge the proportion of such purchases which cannot be so offset because they would probably have arisen in the normal course of trade.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates as the gain in foreign exchange through the maintenance in this country of United States and Canadian armed forces since the war ended and what account he is taking of the gain this year in assessing the United Kingdom's ability to meet the foreign exchange costs of British forces overseas, and especially in the Federal Republic of Germany.

I regret information is not available for the years before 1951. Over the 16 years from 1951–66 Government receipts from the stationing of North American forces in this country have averaged some £17 million a year (£9 million in 1966); and in addition there have been private receipts averaging some £40 million a year (£30–35 million in 1966).As the Government have made clear on many occasions, it has been decided, after taking account of existing resources, that the foreign exchange burden of our troops overseas must be reduced. As regards the foreign exchange cost of troops stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my Budget Speech.—[Vol. 744, c. 981.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount by which the balance of payments on capital account in 1966 was improved by the measures of control exercised by the Bank of England on overseas investment.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the effect of the Government's Exchange Control measures (including the 25 per cent. surrender scheme) and the Voluntary Programme.The total effect on the capital account was probably in the range of £100 to £125 million in 1966.The level of direct investment by United Kingdom companies seems to have been little changed between 1965 and 1966, after rising by an average of nearly £25 million a year since records began in 1958. An increasing proportion of that investment was financed from overseas borrowing and only a minimal amount of investment in the non-sterling area was financed from official exchange (£7 million in 1966). Partly also because of the impact of Corporation Tax there were net sales of £90 million of non-sterling portfolio investments including surrenders under the 25 per cent. scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the anticipated total number of staff to be employed in the Parliamentary Commissioner's office when it is in full operation; and what is the estimated total cost of salaries and general expenses, respectively.

The eventual size of the office will have to be determined in the light of experience. In the current year's estimates 63 staff are provided for in addition to the Commissioner; their salaries would amount to £121,000 and general expenses to £18,000. 54 staff are at present in post.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that £2·1 million was refunded to Bristol Siddeley as a result of the tax they had already paid on their excess profits of £3·96 million and that the Minister of Aviation disclosed to the House of Commons on 17th June, 1965 the tax paid in the Ferranti case, he will end the practice of refusing to disclose such matters.

As a matter of arithmetic tax on profits of £3·96 million at the rates in force for the relevant periods would approximate to the figure of £2·1 million quoted by the hon. Member, but in any particular case there may be factors which make such a method of computation inappropriate and I cannot comment further on the position in the Bristol Siddeley case. Nor do I think that the practice of refusing to answer Questions about the liabilities of particular taxpayers ought to be changed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what basis he agreed to the establishment of a new brickworks at Woburn Sands.

My right hon. Friend's reasons for allowing this development and the conditions upon which the brickworks may be erected are set out in his decision letter of 26th January. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this letter, together with copies of the Inspector's and Assessor's reports.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to stop all local authorities from using waterways for disposal of foul sewage; and if he will investigate which local authorities dispose of their foul sewage into the waterways without first treating it thoroughly.

River authorities are already using their powers to investigate, and to prescribe and enforce conditions for discharges to waterways so as to improve them. Though much remains to be done, they have made good progress. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not feel that he needs to add to existing powers.The reports of river authorities are laid before Parliament each year but if my hon. Friend has a particular waterway in mind, I hope he will write to my right hon. Friend so that he can look into it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to give a decision on the Southend review of development plan.

As further consultations were necessary it has not been possible to reply within the two months proposed but my right hon. Friend hopes to let the council have his views on the proposals shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the total benefit to individual ratepayers in the City of Bristol as a result of the Rating Act, 1966; and how this compares with the benefit received under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964.

Under the Rating Act, 1966, rate rebates in Bristol in 1966–67, the first full year of the scheme, amounted to about £123,000. Under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, the total amount of rate relief for individual ratepayers for the whole of the three years 1964–65 to 1966–67 was £1,168.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he now proposes to take to prevent the demolition of Baguley Hall. Manchester.

My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works are in communication with the City of Manchester. A statement will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement about the future of Baguley Hall, Manchester.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the various rentals of houses in the new town of Peterlee; and how they compare with the rentals of houses provided by the Easington Rural District Council.

The average net weekly rent of a corporation owned three-bedroom house in Peterlee is 44s. 1d.; the comparable average rent for a council owned house in Easington rural district is 35s. 5d. For two-bedroom houses, the corresponding figures are 36s. 6d. and 34s. 1d. respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities concerning the operation of Houses for Key Workers schemes in order to obtain essential skilled labour where it is most needed.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a Circular on Housing and the Redeployment of labour which was issued earlier this year. In addition, the Housing Subsidies Bill provides for a supplementary subsidy to be paid in certain circumstances for houses provided as part of a scheme involving a substantial transfer of industry or of persons engaged in an industry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will state the average amount by which rent assessment committees have increased rent officers' figures of rents and the average reduction on the original rents;(2) if he will state the average increase of rents determined by rent officers and rent assessment committees compared with controlled rents for these or similar properties and also with gross rateable values.

Taking the average for England and Wales, rent committees in 1966 increased rent officers' figures by 6 per cent; their figures were still below the original rent in the great majority of cases but the overall proportion is not available.Registered rents in 1966 represented an average increase of ½ per cent. over previous rents and a relatively small sample suggests a ratio of registered rents to controlled rents of 2·5: 1.The average ratio of registered rents to gross value was about 1·7: 1.

asked the First Secretary and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what representations he has received from the Northern Regional Economic Planning Council regarding implementation of the recommendations contained in the regional study, Challenge of the Changing North; and if he will make a statement.

Together with other Ministers concerned, my right hon. Friend and I met the Chairman of the Northern Economic Planning Council and some of his colleagues on 18th April to discuss the particular problems of the Northern Region in the context of the Council's Report, Challenge of the Changing North. The points arising from the discussion are being considered and the Government's views on the report will be made known to the Council in due course.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now give a complete list of the appointments made to the economic planning councils following his review of the membership.

The following is the list of appointments:—

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if the Director of the Building Research Station will have direct access to him now that the station has been transferred from the Ministry of Technology, without the intermediary of the Director General of Research and Development.

I am considering what general arrangements are needed to enable me to discharge all my responsibilities for building research, including the Building Research Station, and I will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the distribution costs of fresh fruit and vegetables.

I discussed this report, made to my right hon. Friend the First Secretary and myself, with representatives of the National Federation of Fruit and Potato Trades Limited and of the Retail Fruit Trade Federation Limited on the day of publication, 26th April. The National Federation, at my request, considered the report at a special emergency Executive Committee meeting last weekend. I welcome their decision at this meeting to withdraw the recommendation made to their members last September to impose a surcharge on wholesale sales of fresh fruit and vegetables. I would hope that as recommended in the report similar action will be taken by local organisations of traders and individual wholesalers. The Retail Fruit Federation is continuing to urge its members to follow reasonable pricing policies, and to exercise special restraint in the period up to 30th June, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the annual value of United States arms and other purchases that he hopes to offset against the dollar cost of United States military aircraft in each year until repayment has been fully effected; how he intends to distinguish between orders that would probably have been placed in the normal course of trade and other orders; and in what proportions he proposes to allocate these offset purchases between the cost of these aircraft and the cost of maintaining British forces in Germany.

The average annual receipts arising from contracts already let are running at a rate more than sufficient to meet the target of $325 million over the whole period.No difficulty has so far been experienced in identifying orders that have been placed as a result of the F111 arrangement. These purchases fall into two main categories:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is aware of the evidence for a link between the increased consumption of sugar with the growing incidence of coronary thrombosis; and whether he will support research in this field.

In the last three years several scientific papers have been published suggesting that there may be a possible link between the consumption of sugar and the incidence of coronary thrombosis. A Medical Research Council working party is currently investigating this question and related studies are in progress in M.R.C. establishments and university departments. This work forms part of a wide programme of research into the causes and treatment of coronary thrombosis that is being supported from Government funds.

asked the Minister of Health what experimental schemes he is considering, aimed at integrating the administrative structure of the National Health Service; and when and where these schemes will be started.

I have no power to arrange experiments involving changes in the administrative structure laid down in the National Health Service Acts. Many measures have been and are being taken within the existing administrative structure with the aim of providing better integrated services to the patient.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that large masses of the "Torrey Canyon" oil have now descended on the coasts of the Channel Islands and northern France, in spite of previous assurances by Her Majesty's Government that all such oil had been totally dispersed, and that no more remained afloat; what recent surveys have been made; and if he will make a statement.

Aerial reconnaissance indicated that by 6th April there was no oil at sea thick enough to require continued spraying by detergent, and that there was no immediate threat of further crude oil reaching the Cornish coast. Almost daily reconnaissance has subsequently shown little change in this situation. Oil which reached the coasts of the Channel Islands and northern France is understood to have been already treated with detergent; oil which has recently repolluted some parts of the Cornish coast is considered to be old oil which the spring tides have washed back into the sea from inaccessible coves and inlets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will devote a higher proportion of the resources available for penal policies towards rehabilitation in the community.

Yes. I am making every effort to ensure that all suitable offenders should receive treatment in the community rather than custodial treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for increasing hostels for paroled and other ex-prisoners, for the training and staffing of hostel staff, for training voluntary rehabilitation workers, and for increasing the number of probation officers.

I am keeping under review the arrangements for Government support of the cost of approved after-care hostels, and I hope shortly to form a housing association to assist voluntary management committees to acquire suitable buildings. I have arranged for the setting up of regional consultative committees to enable probation and aftercare authorities, the prison service and voluntary societies to assess needs and co-ordinate action. The National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders is investigating the training needs of hostel staff, and I shall give careful consideration to its recommendations. At my invitation probation and after-care committees are providing courses of preparation for voluntary workers, who are being increasingly used in the befriending of offenders and their families. I aim to expand the Probation and After-Care Service in England and Wales to a strength of 3,500 by 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amounts have been paid from public funds in each of the last seven financial years to assist children's homes run by voluntary organisations under the provisions of the Children Act, 1948; how these figures compare with Exchequer grants to local authority homes for the same purpose; and what are the numbers of children cared for in each case in each of those years.

The following Exchequer grants for the improvement of premises or equipment of voluntary children's homes in England and Wales were made under Section 46(1) of the Children Act, 1948:

Year		Total grants	Number of homes affected	Number of children in the homes affected
		£
1959–60	…	27,460	21	608
1960–61	…	45,860	19	360
1961–62	…	39,847	14	396
1962–63	…	39,895	10	353
1963–64	…	49,994	14	420
1964–65	…	50,000	15	431
1965–66	…	22,253	14	289

On 31st March, 1966, the number of voluntary homes registered under Section 29 of the Act was 491, accommodating 13,040 children.Payments from local authority funds for the maintenance of children in the care of local authorities accommodated in voluntary homes under Section 13(1)(

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Wilson Committee to report on immigration procedure; and whether legislation made necessary by the report will be introduced during the next Session of Parliament.

I understand from the Chairman that the Committee on Immigration Appeals hopes to be able to submit its report before the end of July, although the complexity of its task makes it impossible for it to give an unqualified assurance that it will be able to do so. It would be premature for me

NORTH-WEST REGION
			All industries and services		Textiles
Year			Number of days lost (000s)	Percentage of time lost	Number of days lost (000s)	Percentage of time lost
1956	…	…	207	·03	2	*
1957	…	…	1,547	·22	25	·03
1958	…	…	101	·01	3	*
1959	…	…	700	·10	†	*
1960	…	…	345	·05	2	*
1961	…	…	630	·09	†	*
1962	…	…	888	·13	3	*
1963	…	…	283	·04	10	·02
1964	…	…	348	·05	†	*
1965	…	…	267	·04	8	·01

UNITED KINGDOM
			All Industries and services		Textiles
Year			Number of days lost (000s)	Percentage of time lost	Number of days lost (000s)	Percentage of time lost
1956	…	…	2,083	·04	27	·01
1957	…	…	8,412	·16	37	·02
1958	…	…	3,462	·07	10	*
1959	…	…	5,270	·10	54	·03
1960	…	…	3,024	·06	16	·01
1961	…	…	3,046	·06	18	·01
1962	…	…	5,798	·10	31	·02
1963	…	…	1,755	·03	23	·01
1964	…	…	2,277	·04	27	·01
1965	…	…	2,925	·05	46	·02
* Less than 0·005.				† Less than 500.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of working days lost through strikes in Lancashire, excluding Merseyside, in each of the last 10 years, showing the percentage this represents of the total working days, and the comparative information for the textile, cotton and man-made fibre industry and for the country.

I regret that this information for Lancashire, excluding Merseyside, could not be made available without a disproportionate amount of work. Figures for the North-West Region and for the United Kingdom as a whole, for all industries and services, and for the textiles industry (including the cotton and man-made fibre industry), are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour what is the annual cost of making the repayment in respect of Selective Employment Tax.

The annual cost to my Department of making payments of premiums and refunds of Selective Employment Tax is about £600,000.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he is satisfied with the Post Office facilities available at British airports; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will arrange for a post office to be established at Abbotsinch Airport.

I am satisfied that Pest Office facilities at British airports meet the reasonable needs of the public. We are always ready to provide additional services when the expected demand for them is sufficient in relation to the cost. I do not consider that this would be so at present in the case of Abbotsinch.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people are on the waiting list for a telephone installation in the Rhondda area; what is the number now using a shared line; and what steps he is taking to provide an independent telephone service for those in the Rhondda area who desire this service.

60 applicants were waiting at 31st March, 1967, all of whom will be connected during this summer. 48 business and 315 residential subscribers have shared lines. My right hon. Friend intends to remove the obligation to share when resources permit.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what new aid Great Britain offered to Ceylon at the meeting organised by the World Bank in Tokyo on 18th and 19th April.

A further loan of £3·57 million was offered, of which £2 million is intended to be for disbursement on commodity aid in 1967–68 and the balance for disbursement in 1968–69. Like previous aid to Ceylon, the new loan will be interest free for 25 years with a 3-year grace period followed by graduated repayments over the next 5 years. Disbursements during 1967–68 would be charged to the Overseas Aid (Bilateral) Vote in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy with regard to recommendations made in the Farquharson Lang Report on the administrative practices of hospital boards in Scotland; and what progress has been made in implementing these recommendations, particularly numbers 2, 25, 26, 32 and 43.

The Report covered a very wide field, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement on it as a whole. As regards the specific recommendations mentioned, I have drawn the attention of hospital authorities in Scotland to recommendation 2 and have asked them to report to me by 26th July on its implementation; and I am now considering the comments I have received on the others from hospital authorities and other organisations concerned.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on his proposed extensions of the work of Dounreay Experimental Station and the uses to which those extensions will be put in relation to Scottish productive industry and exports.

The only extension to the Dounreay Experimental Reactor Establishment is the construction of the Prototype Fast Reactor. This is designed to demonstrate the operating characteristics and fuel performance of large commercial fast reactor power stations likely to come into use in the late 1970s. The reactor will supply some 250 MW(e) to the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board's system.

asked the Minister of Social Security what research her Department is already sponsoring or contemplating on the economic, social and occupational consequences of disability.

The need for research into those aspects of disability which are the concern of my Department will be taken into account in deciding what research should be carried out by the Department and what the priorities are.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of investment for which investment grants have been applied for to date in the North-East of England.

The total value of applications received by the Billingham Investment Grants Office up to 14th April was £40 million. In addition to the Northern Development Area, this office covers Yorkshire and part of Lincolnshire. More detailed geographical analysis of this figure is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now give a decision on the future of Stansted Airport.

I hope to be able to announce a decision shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many animals and birds imported into Great Britain in the past year died in transit; and whether he will take steps to regulate their travelling conditions through the International Air Travel Association or by legislation.

I regret that these figures are not available. The International Air Transport Association, partly at the prompting of my Department, has already set up a special study group to examine in detail the problem of the carriage of live animals by air. When the findings of this group are available, I will consider what further action, if any, need be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his further plans for altering the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958.

Her Majesty's Government have suggested to I.M.C.O. that the liability of shipowners and others needs to be examined internationally in the light of the 'Torrey Canyon' incident.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the recent tragic accident at Gants Hill, Ilford, roundabout; and whether she will meet any representations from the Redbridge Borough Council to facilitate the provision of ramps in the subways and to meet a deputation from the authority.

We are aware of and regret the recent tragic accident.Ministry Engineers are arranging to meet officers of the Redbridge Borough Council and representatives of London Transport Board to discuss the question of providing ramps for the Gants Hill subways. In the circumstances it would be premature to receive a deputation.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is satisfied that the principle of first ready, first served, as outlined for dealing with urban road schemes, will not prejudice the more complicated and large-scale schemes which will require longer to prepare; and if she will make a statement.

Yes. The main object of the £1,000 million preparation list of urban principal road schemes, is to give local highway authorities very much longer than hitherto to prepare the larger and more complex schemes. It will obviously be desirable to include all worthwhile schemes in the rolling programme as soon as they reach a sufficiently advanced stage of preparation. The exact place of a scheme in the programme will, however, depend not only on its state of readiness but, as between one scheme and another, on its relative priority and the resources available in a particular year.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will set out the savings to be derived from the standardisation of buses ordered by local authorities as envisaged in her recently published statement on urban transport.

Standardisation of bus design should promote longer production runs of vehicles and ancillary equipment and therefore reduce unit costs.

asked the Minister of Transport if she intends the conurbation transport authorities to have power to raise development finance on the open market if shortage of finance from Government sources is the only obstacle to the early implementation of a plan.

I shall be publishing detailed proposals for the financial arrangements for these authorities in a White Paper later this year. But I envisage that C.T.As will have broadly the same powers to raise capital as local authorities have at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if she intends the conurbation transport authorities should have power to proceed with the implementation of comprehensive plans for local development if those plans are adopted by a conurbation transport authority, but not by her Department.

If Parliament agrees to my proposed legislation these authorities will have extensive powers to provide public transport services and promote the construction of new public transport facilities, but insofar as implementation of their plans requires financial assistance from the Exchequer they will need my approval.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration she is giving to the proposal for a rail link between Aviemore and Grantown-on-Spey, which was contained in the report of the technical group on the Cairngorm area.

The need for such a rail service was taken into account by my right hon. Friend's predecessor when he gave his consent to the withdrawal of passenger services between Aviemore and Forres in March, 1965. If there were a strong local case for the restoration of the service, we would expect to receive a recommendation to that effect from the Economic Planning Council.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the general inadequacies of the transport system in Wales, she will give a general direction to the Railways Board to the effect that she will not consider the closure of any railway line in Wales for at least five years.

No, but my right hon. Friend will of course continue to give any railway passenger closure proposal in Wales the most detailed examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the net migration of permanent civilian population into and out of Cardiganshire in 1966.

In the year ended 30th June, 1965 which is the latest for which migration figures are available for publication, there was an estimated net inward migration of 83 people. The balance of births over deaths in the county was 4, making a net increase in population of 87 in the year. Separate figures of inward and outward migration are not available.