asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of textile machinery exports and imports in each of the past ten years.

The following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF TEXTILE MACHINERY (OTHER THAN LAUNDERING AND DRY-CLEANING MACHINERY)
					£ million
				Exports (f.o.b.)	Imports (c.i.f.)
1957	…	…	…	43·1	8·1
1958	…	…	…	39·6	8·1
1959	…	…	…	41·1	8·7
1960	…	…	…	51·8	12·7
1961	…	…	…	62·1	18·7
1962	…	…	…	62·5	17·9
1963	…	…	…	64·0	17·9
1964	…	…	…	63·8	22·5
1965	…	…	…	67·8	25·6
1966	…	…	…	78·7	26·3

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the amount of applications to date for investment grants, showing separately, amounts from development and non-development districts, the amounts agreed, how the claims compare with his original estimate of applications and with the information available to him of plant produced; and if he will make a statement.

By 21st April, 1967, 10,273 applications worth £174 million had been received. I hope to be able to provide separate figures for development and non-development areas in about two months when most of the claims for the first quarter of 1966 should have been received and processed. On the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his supplementary Question on 26th April.—[Vol. 745, c. 1577].

asked the President of the Board of Trade what research he has carried out as to the percentage of firms that have not made application for investment grants, despite their being entitled to do so; and if he will make a statement.

None. There is no closing date for applications which are now coming in at an increasing rate for both the first and second quarters of 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many staff are employed by his Department to investigate investment grant claims; how many claims have been made on the appropriate forms to the latest convenient date; and how many of these have been paid.

1,159 staff were employed in the investment grants offices on 21st April, 1967. By that date 10,273 claims had been received, and 3,278 payments had been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the basis on which his original estimate was made of the cost of investment grants in 1967–68 and the new basis for the amount shown in the Financial Statement 1967–68; to what extent allowance was made for claims not being made due to ignorance of the procedures; and if he will make a statement.

The original estimate, made early last year, of the cost of investment grants in 1967–68, was of the order of £200 million, and was based on estimates of eligible investment in the first three quarters of 1966. The revised figure of £166 million in the Financial Statement made some allowance for delays in the receipt and clearing of claims, and for the likelihood that some firms instead of switching immediately to investment grants would continue for a time to claim investment allowances. The procedures have been fully explained and publicised, and the flow of claims is accelerating.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements Her Majesty's Government is making to enable the local security forces to take over the task of guarding the Francistown Relay Station.

The Botswana Government are engaged in extending their armed police force and will be able to assume this responsibility in a few months' time. Parliament will be asked in due course to vote a contribution of £165,000 towards the cost by means of a supplementary estimate on the Commonwealth Services Vote. In the meantime an advance is being obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Technology if the recent wage increase offered by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to manual workers represents the maximum incomes increase that would be consistent with the criteria for the Government's prices and incomes policy.

No wage increases as such have been offered by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to its industrial employees. As part of a proposed productivity agreement, the Authority offered to pay productivity supplements to the employees in return for specified changes in working practices, other measures to improve the flexibility of the labour force and to secure progressive reductions in regular overtime working. I understand that the Authority's offer is still open. The proposed agreement as a whole accords with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will, before coming to a decision on the proposal to close the railway from Ashford to Ore, obtain professional military advice on the lateral transport facilities in what has been the invasion area of this country for nearly one thousand years.

In considering this railway passenger closure proposal my right hon. Friend will, in accordance with normal practice, seek advice from all appropriate Government Departments, including, if necessary, the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations she has received from the Greater London Council about steps to be taken to prevent more accidents in Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon Heath; and what action she proposes to take to expedite the provision of either a pedestrian subway or pedestrian controlled traffic signals at this thoroughfare.

No representations have been received from the Greater London Council.Traffic control signals are being installed by that council, which is the highway and traffic authority, at the junction of Long Lane with Uxbridge Road and are expected to be in use by early June.The council hopes that these signals will improve conditions for pedestrians in Hillingdon Heath.The position will be reviewed when the signals are in operation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will speed up the erection of traffic signals at the junction of Hatch Lane and Bath Road at Harmondsworth; and if she will make a statement about the delay.

This is a complex installation necessitating the signalling of the adjoining intersection of the Bath Road with the Colnbrook By-pass on the Old Bath Road requiring special equipment; it is expected that the traffic signals will be in operation in July.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will improve the signposting of West Drayton on the M4, in view of the representations of the hon. Member for Uxbridge on 22nd January, 1967 and the interim reply from the Parliamentary Secretary on 7th March, 1967.

No. As indicated in my letter of 4th May we cannot agree to add to the place-names already shown on the M4 signs.The recent introduction of "Interchange Numbers" on motorway signs should help to remove any difficulties.

asked the Minister of Transport what negotiations she has had with the Greater London Council and Hillingdon Borough Council, regarding the urgent need to reduce the heavy industrial traffic in Moor Lane, Harmondsworth, by allowing it access from its workings to the Colnbrook Bypass.

My right hon. Friend has not had any negotiations with the Greater London Council or the Hillingdon Borough Council about Moor Lane (an unclassified road) in Harmondsworth.An access to the Colnbrook By-pass would prejudice the free flow and safety of traffic on this trunk road.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has for giving financial assistance for the improvement of roads serving agricultural premises.

Financial assistance towards the expenditure of local authorities on all minor roads is made through the rate support grant. In addition I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food makes grants for the improvement of farm roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration she has given to the further representations made to her about the future of the River Tyne, following the proposals of the National Ports Council regarding the need to examine coastal sites suitable for development near population centres and adjoining deep water.

We have not received any further representations on this subject, nor has my right hon. Friend's authorisation been sought for any major development on the Tyne.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to how many of the people involved in the serious disturbance which took place outside the works of Robert Arundel, at Chestergate, Stockport, on 22nd February, 1967, did not live in the Stockport area and had no direct connection with the firm.

The Chief Constable of Stockport estimates that a majority of the demonstrators involved in the disturbance on 22nd February came from other industrial establishments, many of them outside Stockport; the largest contingent arrived by coach.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now the average number of electors, per Parliamentary constituency in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and in the United Kingdom, respectively.

The figures for 1966 are as follows:

Scotland	…	…	47,686
Northern Ireland	…	…	75,553
United Kingdom	…	…	57,611

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will instruct chief constables to ensure that motorists who act on police advice to use a certain route, particularly on big sporting occasions, will find that the suggested route will make for a safer, quicker and easier journey because adequate planning has been made for the reception and dispersal of motor cars at both ends;(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to why motorists from the Merseyside and South Lancashire areas, who were travelling to Manchester City's football ground to watch the replayed Amateur Cup Final, were encouraged by the police to travel via the A580 and the M62 without adequate provision being made by the police authority, which resulted in the A580 and the M62 being blocked.

I have no authority to instruct chief officers of police in operational matters, but I am satisfied that they take all reasonable steps to ensure that traffic directions imposed and advice given by the police are such as to achieve the maximum traffic flow consistent with safety.I am informed that because of roadworks traffic had to be diverted from the A56 to the A6 trunk road at Salford on 29th April. This affected the A580 trunk road, which with the M62 was the only route left available for persons travelling from Liverpool to the Maine Road, Manchester football ground. An additional load was placed on these roads by persons travelling from Manchester to the Everton club ground.In these circumstances some congestion and delay was unavoidable. All the available police officers were on duty to facilitate the flow of traffic.

asked the Secretary of State For the Home Department if he will use his powers under the Firearms Act, 1937, to subject to the firearm certificate procedure classes of specially dangerous air-guns.

I propose to make rules under the Firearms Act, 1937, which will bring under the full firearm certificate procedure air weapons capable of developing more than prescribed levels of power output.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of occasions recently on which horses being ridden by police officers in London have been endangered or frightened by cars, lorries or other vehicles being driven too fast or too close to them in contravention of Section 64 of the Highway Code; and if any officers or horses have been injured.

Two accidents have occurred this year in such circumstances. No injury resulted.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will set up a court of inquiry into the dispute at the works of Roberts Arundel, Chestergate, Stockport.

My right hon. Friend recently met the chairman and other representatives of the company. He is meeting representatives of the unions concerned on 12th May and will consider what further action may be necessary in the light of that meeting.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the causes of, and who are involved in, the dispute at the works of Roberts Arundel, Chestergate, Stockport.

Members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, the Transport and General Workers' Union, the Sheet Metal Workers and the Draughtsmen and Allied Technicians' Association came out on strike in November last in protest against the engagement by the company of women to work machines transferred from one of the company's other factories. The company subsequently dismissed the employees on strike and withdrew recognition from the unions. The unions have continued to press for reinstatement of their members and recognition by the company.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the total number of persons currently registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts, 1944 and 1958.

At 18th April, 1966, there were in Great Britain 654,483 persons registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts, 1944 and 1958. The register is counted in April each year and the figure for April, 1967 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of firms in England and Wales, respectively, is failing to meet their obligation to employ 3 per cent. of registered disabled persons.

The last annual inquiry, undertaken in June, 1966, revealed that 48·8 per cent. of firms in England were failing to meet their quota obligations. In Wales the percentage was 32·9.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the estimate given in the National Plan for the total expected labour force in the textile industry by 1970 still stands; whether he has made a revised estimate; and if he will make a statement.

Revised estimates of employment in the textiles, and other, industries will be made as part of the general assessment of developments in the economy which is currently being undertaken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount paid for all purposes from national funds to assist the rate income of the non-county borough of Whitehaven, the Ennerdale Rural District Council and the Millom Rural District Council for the years 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67.

The total sums paid in respect of rate deficiency grant, grants under Section 1 of the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, specific grants in aid of revenue expenditure and housing subsidies for these years are as follows:

	Borough of Whitehaven	Ennerdale R.D.C.	Millom R.D.C.
	£	£	£
1962–63	144,497	78,799	40,546
1963–64	131,935	61,599	40,048
1964–65	137,403	63,610	40,446
1965–66	150,577	75,538	49,790

Comparable figures for 1966–67 are not yet available.(Source—Epitomes of accounts and departmental records.)

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the average benefit given to individual ratepayers obtaining relief in England and Wales under the Rating Act, 1965; and how this compares with the average benefit given to ratepayers obtaining relief in the London Borough of Havering.

For the whole year 1966–67, the average rate rebate under the Rating Act, 1966 in England and Wales was about £15. The average in Havering was about £23.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list giving the names of buildings, county by county, on which preservation orders have been made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1962; and whether there have been any changes in the list of those made under previous Town and Country Planning Acts and published in answer to a Question by the honourable Member for Bristol, West, on 28th March, 1963.

520 building preservation orders covering 1,741 buildings are now in force in England and Wales, of which some 200 orders covering some 450 buildings were made under the 1962 Act. A further 88 orders covering 334 buildings have been made under the 1962 Act, but not yet confirmed. It would not be practicable to give particulars of all the buildings affected in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in view of the large numbers involved.According to the Department's records, permission has been given for the demolition of four buildings in the list published on 28th March, 1963, and orders in respect of two more have been revoked.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the difficulty generally encountered in obtaining mortgages for dwellings where it is a condition of the planning grant that they should be inhabited by agricultural or horticultural workers; and if he will take steps to discourage planning authorities from stipulating this condition.

I am aware that there may sometimes be difficulty; but my right hon. Friend has no evidence that this condition is imposed except where it is fully necessary on planning grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average age of students on entry to the one-year course of training in a Technical College of Education in the last year for which statistics are available; and what was the average age five years previously.

33 in 1960–61 and in 1965–66.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average age of first appointments to full-time teaching in technical colleges for the last year for which statistics are available; and what was the average age of first appointments to full-time posts five years previously.

The average age of new entrants to full-time teaching service in grant-aided further education establishments in 1963–64 was about 32 to 33, and in 1959–60 was 33. Figures for more recent years will be available later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will name the universities and other colleges which implemented the 7 per cent. salary increase to clerical and administrative staff from 1st February, 1967; which have since been instructed to discontinue this payment; and how many have complied with this instruction.

I do not have information about the universities and colleges which implemented the increase. Further guidance has recently been sent to universities and voluntary colleges which I hope will enable them to comply with Government incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of British subjects, including Rhodesians, deported from other Commonwealth countries since they became independent; the reasons alleged; the notice given them; the compensation obtained for property abandoned in consequence; and the action taken on their behalf by Her Majesty's Government and its representatives overseas.

No. I regret that the information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will seek to extend entitlement to widow's basic pension to all widows whose husband's insurance contributions commenced on any date prior to January, 1949.

Widow's basic pension is payable only to those widows whose husbands were still insured under the Contributory Pensions Acts at the time the National Insurance scheme started and who would have qualified for the 10s. widow's pension if that legislation had remained in force. Those Acts were repealed with effect from July, 1948. The pension has no counterpart in the permanent provisions of the National Insurance scheme which succeeded them and I do not think it would be right to alter the conditions for it.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of the retirement pension for a married couple in January of each of the years 1958 to 1967, inclusive; and if she will show the figures as a percentage of average industrial earnings in January of each of these years.

The following table gives the information:

RETIREMENT PENSION FOR A MARRIED COUPLE AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS* IN JANUARY OF EACH YEAR FROM 1958
Year		Retirement pension for a married couple		Average earnings of men*		Col. (2) as a percentage of Col. (3)
(1)		(2)		(3)		(4)
		s.	d.	s.	d.
1958	…	80	0†	251	7	31·8
1959	…	80	0	256	8	31·2
1960	…	80	0	271	1	29·5
1961	…	80	0	290	8	27·5
1962	…	92	6	306	10	30·1
1963	…	92	6	317	3	29·2
1964	…	109	0	334	11	32·5
1965	…	109	0	362	2	30·1
1966	…	130	0	391	9	33·2
1967	…	130	0	406	1	32·0
* As shown by the Ministry of Labour half-yearly enquiries into the earnings of male manual workers in the manufacturing and some of the principal non-manufacturing industries in October of the preceding year.
† Increased to this amount as from 27th January, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the nationality rules governing entry into the Army; and what restrictions are imposed on the entry of recruits who are born in the United Kingdom of parents of whom one or both are foreign nationals, born in the United Kingdom of parents of whom one or both were foreign born, born abroad of United Kingdom parents, and born abroad of parents of whom one or both were foreign born, respectively.

A candidate and his parents must normally be British subjects or citizens of the Irish Republic by birth, and have been born in a Commonwealth country or the Irish Republic. My right hon. Friend may waive these rules in a particular case at his discretion. My right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio explained the policy in another place on 20th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of occasions recently on which horses being ridden or led by officers or soldiers in London have been endangered or frightened by cars, lorries or other vehicles being driven too fast or too close to them in contravention of section 64 of the Highway Code; and if any riders or horses have been injured.

There have been three incidents this year.Two horses and one rider were injured. I much regret this but do not necessarily accept that the incidents arose from a contravention of the Highway Code.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of troops of each of the armed services based on Singapore and Malaysia prior to confrontation.

Royal Navy and Royal Marines	…	9,000
Army (including 9,700 Gurkhas)	…	25,000
Royal Air Force	…	6,300

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many TSR2 aircraft were under order in November, 1964; and what was the Royal Air Force requirement in November, 1964.

By November, 1964, 9 development hatch and 11 pre-production aircraft had been ordered and authority had been given for work to begin on 30 full production aircraft. As regards the second part of the question, the total number of aircraft needed was then under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made at 1967 prices of the operating cost of one Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft over a 10-year period and a 15-year period, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force on 20th March, 1967.—[Vol. 743, c. 198.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reduction in the number of Phantom fighter-bombers in the order for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, and the consequent effect on total costs and unit costs.

Over 150 Phantoms have already been ordered for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The size of a further order has not yet been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many improvement grants were made to private owner-occupiers in Cardiff in 1964, 1965, and 1966; and what were the total amounts.

The information is not available in this form. Cardiff County Borough Council issued the following grant approvals in respect of owner-occupied dwellings:

1964: 122

1965: 177

1966: 114

Total grants paid by Cardiff County Borough Council in these years were:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses unfit for human habitation there are in Cardiff; how many slum clearance orders were confirmed in 1964, 1965, and 1966; and how many of such houses were actually cleared in 1964, 1965, and 1966.

There are about 2,500 unfit houses in Cardiff. No clearance orders or compulsory purchase orders in respect of unfit houses were confirmed in 1964. In 1965 two such orders were confirmed covering 292 unfit houses. In 1966 three orders were confirmed covering 191 unfit houses. Figures are not available to show how many of the houses included in orders confirmed in 1965 and 1966 were actually cleared in those years, but the following figures show the number of houses included in orders confirmed in those or earlier years and actually cleared in 1964, 1965 and 1966—

1964	1965	1966
31	466	49

In addition a number of houses outside clearance areas were closed or demolished by demolition or closing orders; as follows:

1964	1965	1966
31	27	32

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses in the city of Cardiff were built between the wars, between 1900–14, and before 1900, respectively.

The approximate numbers built were as follows:

Before	1900	…	…	30,000
	1900–14	…	…	2,500
	1919–39	…	…	17.500

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of the total taxation derived from the rent of private dwellings in the fiscal year 1965–66 was derived from rent paid by taxpayers previously treated as owner-occupiers but no longer so defined as a result of their being compelled by change of occupation, employment, duty or for any other reason to live abroad or in some other part of the United Kingdom in rented property;(2) what he estimates would be the total cost to the Exchequer of allowing owner-occupiers no longer in residence to receive free of tax the rent on a single dwelling occupied by them for at least one year before the property was let as a result of their being compelled by a change of occupation, employment, duty or for any other reason to live abroad or in some other part of the United Kingdom in rented property;(3) how many service officers and other ranks are presently paying tax on rent derived from the letting of houses or flats owned or partially owned and previously occupied by them before posting abroad or elsewhere in the United Kingdom in conditions where service housing is not provided;(4) what he estimates would be the total cost to the Exchequer of putting Service men, officers and other ranks, in such a position that they would suffer no tax disadvantage as a result of being compelled by postings on duty, either abroad or elsewhere in the United Kingdom to let a single dwelling occupied by them for at least one year before the posting took place, provided that no service housing is provided.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will state the number of licences to brew beer for sale granted during 1966–67 under Section 125 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, and the estimated revenue therefrom;(2) if he will state the number of licences to manufacture spirits granted during 1966–67 under Section 93 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, and the estimated revenue therefrom;(3) if he will state the number of licences to add solutions to beer granted tinder Section 126 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, and the estimated revenue therefrom;

The following information relates to the Financial Year 1966–67:

	Number of licences	Revenue
		£
Brewers for sale	243	237,991
Distillers	129	58,220
Beer primers	4	263
Tobacco manufactures	77	1,458

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the Economic Planning Council's Report for the South West Region is now complete; and what will be the delay before the Stationery Office complete its printing of the report.

The Report has been completed and has recently gone to the printers. There will be no delay over printing; it is hoped that the Report will be available in late July.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what research he has carried out into the reasons why, in the past, companies in areas of great labour shortage have not moved to development districts where labour was known to be available; and if he will make a statement.

A considerable amount of research has been done and is being done on this subject. There exist several published studies by outside bodies, including one commissioned by the Board of Trade and others which have been done with official help. Also this Department has recently commissioned a major analysis of regional economic development which is being undertaken by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the estimated cost of the new hospital and medical school at Ninewells, Dundee, has increased by 50 per cent. since the original estimates were published.

The figure of £10·2 million first published in the Civil Estimates for 1963–64 was the cost target which had been set in 1961 on the basis of sketch plans, and included fees but not equipment. When the last major tenders had been accepted in March, 1964, the corresponding figure was £11·4 million, reflecting increases in wages and prices of materials, the inclusion of some fixed equipment in the building contract, under-estimation in the earlier figure of some contractual items, offset by savings which had been made in the earlier schedules and plans. The estimate of £15·3 million given in the Civil Estimates for 1967–68, includes in addition £1·6 million for movable equipment, £1·2 million for the effect over the duration of the contract of the increases in prices and wages that have taken place since it was let, £0·65 million for approved additions including a radiotherapy department, and £0·44 million for miscellaneous items such as site supervisory staff, partial reimbursement of selective employment tax, temporary buildings for testing and commissioning purposes, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated public expenditure made by his Department in 1957–58, 1962–63, 1966–67, and 1967–68 on grants to students in full-time further education and at teacher training establishments, respectively.

The figures for Scottish expenditure on grants from public funds to students in full-time university and further education and at teacher-training establishments are as follows:—

	Full-time University and Further Education	Teacher-Training	£ million Total
1957–58 (actual)	2·5	0·6	3·1
1962–63 (actual)	5·5	1·8	7·3
1966–67 (estimate)	9·3	3·2	12·5
1967–68 (estimate)	9·9	3·5	13·4

NOTES:1. The figures are not at constant prices.2. The figures include expenditure on grants given by the Scottish Education Department and by the education authorities. Responsibility for awards for university degree and comparable courses was transferred from the education authorities to the Department in 1961. In respect of 1957–58, therefore, most of the expenditure relates to awards made by education authorities; in respect of the other years, most of the expenditure relates to awards by the Scottish Education Department.3. The figures include expenditure incurred on grants under the Scottish Studentship Scheme (post-graduate study in Arts subjects) and under the Teacher's Special Recruitment Scheme. They exclude awards to Scottish students from Exchequer funds other than the Department's vote (e.g. by the Research Councils).