asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that national economic growth is to be at 3 per cent. per annum, why there is not to be an incomes norm of 3 per cent. also.

The 3 per cent. rate of growth figure to which the hon. Member refers is a provisional figure which will be considered in the review of future prospects for growth which the Government is carrying out in conjunction with the National Economic Development Council. During the 12 months beginning on 1st July next, no one can be entitled to a minimum increase in incomes and any proposed increase will need to be justified against the criteria set out in the White Paper (Command 3235).

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what proposals he has, during the period of restrictions on salary increases, for overcoming the anomalous position that firms taking on new staff, being subject to no restriction, can attract staff by higher salaries, with which their existing employers are forbidden to compete.

Employers engaging new staff are expected to exercise the same restraint in determining rates of pay as in the case of existing staff.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will undertake a study of the economic interdependence of firms in the Birmingham conurbation and of the effects on this of the restriction of industrial development certificates.

The Board of Trade is already carrying out a study of West Midlands conurbation firms which have applied for industrial development certificates in recent years. The D.E.A. expects shortly to sponsor research at Birmingham University into other aspects of industrial mobility in the West Midlands.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that persons with local knowledge of Yarmouth are appointed to the East Anglian Planning Council.

As my hon. Friend knows, Council members are appointed as individuals and not as representatives of particular places or interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what assessment he has made of the loss to the City of Edinburgh in investment grants and the suggested regional employment premiums, respectively, as a result of the exclusion of Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello from the development area.

None. What we did do last year was to assess very carefully the strength of the case for including Edinburgh in the Scottish Development Area, but we came to the conclusion that its particular circumstances would not justify this.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on regional development of Great Britain's proposed entry to the European Coal and Steel Community.

The Government are confident they would be able to pursue fully effective regional development policies after membership of the three Communities.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of a transfer in the incidence of taxation from direct to indirect on development of the regions, particularly on those parts of the country where wages are relatively low and prices are relatively high.

A purely theoretical assessment on the lines proposed has not been done. If, however, the hon. Member has the effects on prices of joining the Community in mind, the Prime Minister made clear that it will be the aim of the Government to shield those on the lowest incomes from any short-term adverse effects of increases of food prices.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will allow postal franking machines to be reset at approved sub-offices or alternatively by a travelling representative of the Post Office.

Franking machines can be reset at approved sub-offices. I am sorry that action was delayed in a case a: Norwich about which my hon. Friend wrote to my right hon. Friend earlier this year, but this has now been put right.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has had about the design of the new air letter form; what consultation he has held with business firms about it; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received very few representations. The new form has been designed to meet our international obligations and to be fully suitable for treatment in mechanised sorting offices. Discussions have been held with representatives of the Envelope Makers and Manufacturing Stationers' Association.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the complex pattern of local government in the London area, and the importance of this area being adequately covered by local sound broadcasting, he will extend the deadline to give adequate time for firm proposals for the London area to be made.

I recognise my hon. Friend's interest; but I already postponed by choice of the loction of the last two stations in order to allow more time for discussion between the B.B.C. and various local interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorway for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction, and which were in use, respectively, as at 30th April.

The following lengths of motorway were in use:

• A.48(M)—Port Talbot By-pass—4·4 miles.
• M4—Coldra-Newhouse—11·85 miles.
• M4—Newport By-passs (Tredegar Park—Malpas Road)—3·0 miles.

In addition there is the section of M4 from Newhouse to the Monmouthshire/Gloucestershire boundary, a distance of 0·9 miles, which remains the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.The remainder of the Newport By-pass, between Malpas Road and Coldra, 3·7 miles, was opened to traffic on 5th May. There are no lengths of motorway at any of the other stages mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will cause an annual report of the activities of the Welsh Economic Council and, where appropriate, the reports of that Council to be published.

The advice which the Welsh Economic Council gives to me is confidential, but a summary of its activities is contained in the annual reports on developments and Government action in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will send a circular to educational establishments, including universities, reminding them that they have no authority to make the payment of grants to students, made under the authority of his Department, conditional on the students undergoing particular medical procedures.

No. University authorities may satisfy themselves about the health of a student before allowing him to attend a course, and the payment of grant is related to attendance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that one of the recommendations and certain of the proceedings of the Public Schools Commission have been published in a newspaper; and what steps he is taking to ensure that its report remains confidential until presented to Parliament.

None. My right hon. Friend does not hold the Commission responsible for newspaper speculation about the contents of its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce legislation this year to provide a royalty for authors for the public lending of their books.

The Arts Council has just sent me, with a view to discussions with the Department, a report, prepared by a Working Party of its Literature Panel, which contains proposals on this subject and I am examining it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to compile a list of all private schools not subject to inspection by his Department.

Under the Education Act, 1944, all independent schools are al- ready subject to inspection and registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to ensure that all private schools, not subject to inspection by his Department, are conducted by fit and proper persons.

Under the Education Act, 1944, all independent schools are subject to inspection by my Department and I have powers to take action against schools where I am satisfied that the proprietor is not a proper person to be the proprietor of an independent school.In the light of the remarks made by Mr. Justice Donaldson in a recent case, I have asked my hon. Friend the Minister of State to undertake a departmental inquiry into the circumstances of the case and generally into the adequacy of existing statutory provision relating to proper standards of education and welfare in independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce legislation for the registration and inspection of all private schools.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern).

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether in future publications of his Department designed to attract industry to the development areas in Scotland he will seek to illustrate typical Scottish secondary schools, such as the new Galashiels Academy;(2) whom he consulted before selecting the two Scottish schools illustrated in the booklet, Room to Expand.

The booklet was compiled within the Board of Trade. Any new edition will take account of constructive criticism.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the interest of promoting trade to the River Tyne, he will arrange for his local departmental officer to investigate with northern industrialists the possibility of increasing on a reciprocal basis trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The export services of the Board of Trade and its Regional Officers are available to help local and national export efforts, to the U.S.S.R. and all other markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of grants, and the aggregate amount of such grafts in each category, which have been made or promised under the Local Employment Acts in respect of public houses and other licensed premises, betting shops, bingo halls, and other businesses engaged in the promotion of betting and gambling, and golf courses and other sporting activities.

This information is not readily available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average amount of fees payable on a debtor's petition in bankruptcy with declared assets of less than £500, and the estimated average percentage costs of realisation.

On a petition by a debtor who is not represented by a solicitor the fees total £10. It is estimated that, if a debtor is represented by a solicitor, additional expenses of about £13 will be incurred in an average case with assets up to £300 and additional expenses of about £25 in an average case with assets between £301 and £500.The estimated average percentage of costs of administration in relation to amounts realised in cases with assets up to £500 is about 53 and in all cases about 37. A large proportion of the cases with assets up to £500 consists of cases in which the assets are less than £100.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of official receivers in bankruptcy in England and Wales; and what is the total cost to public funds of the bankruptcy service.

Official receivers in bankruptcy also deal with compulsory liquidations of companies. There are 34 official receivers in England and Wales.The total cost of the service to public funds (i.e., after deduction of fees, etc.), for the year to 31st March, 1966, was about £966,000 (bankruptcy £887,000, companies winding-up £79,000).Further information about bankruptcies and liquidations may be obtained from the Bankruptcy and Companies General Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Library. It is hoped to publish the reports for 1966 shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he is satisfied that the quota arrangements in relation to the import of cotton and man-made fibres and fabrics are not being evaded via Eire, Belgium, Portugal and other countries.

Imports of fibres and fabrics containing less than 50 per cent. of cotton are not restricted. I am satisfied that in the case of cotton fabrics, which are subject to restriction, there is little scope for evasion via third countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the damage to the cotton and man-made fibre industry by the excessive proportion of the annual quotas being exported in a brief period of the year; and whether he will take steps to limit these to a maximum of 30 per cent. of each national quota in any one quarter.

No. In recent months imports under quotas do not appear to have been unduly concentrated in any period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the provisions for import and export licences of cotton and man-made fibre exports provided in Eire, details of which have been sent to him; and to what extent he will seek to introduce this system in the United Kingdom.

I am not certain what detailed information my hon. Friend has in mind, but my understanding is that the Government of the Irish Republic rely, as we do, on quantitative restrictions to limit imports from low-cost countries. In addition, they allow manufacturers to import cloth from any source without payment of duty on condition that they place a certain proportion of their orders with domestic suppliers. We could not do the same without being in breach of our international obligations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement about the case of a laundry company reported by the hon. Member for Oldham, West on 6th December, 1965 and referred to the Attorney-General in 1966, and by him to his Department in the same year and about which action was reported to be imminent on 1st February, 1967.

The inquiries about which I wrote to my hon. Friend are taking longer than was expected but are being pursued as quickly as possible. I will write to my hon. Friend when they are complete.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to revise the boundaries of the development areas.

I have no immediate plans to revise these boundaries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in filling the place on the British European Airways Board which has been made vacant by the resignation of Mr. S. Kenneth Davies, C.B.E., he will appoint a Welsh representative.

The overriding consideration must be that a member should have the personal qualities and experience that will make the greatest contribution to the airline.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to require British European Airways to re-equip with British aircraft.

There has been no change in Government policy since the statement by my right hon. Friend, the then Minister of Aviation, on 2nd August, 1966.—[Vol. 738, c. 855–6.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what British aircraft are under consideration by his Department for the second half of British European Airways re-equipment programme; and if he will list their estimated development costs, passenger capacity and possible date of entry into service.

Apart from the airbus, the British aircraft under consideration are the Trident 3-B, the BAC 2–11 and a modified VC-10. The manufacturers' estimates of the launching costs involved are approximately £17 million, £100 million and £5 million, respectively. Passenger capacity with all tourist class configuration would be 139, 191 and 175 seats and the estimated in-service dates based on information from the manufacturers would be 1971, 1972 and 1970, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware of a proposal to increase bus fares in the Weymouth and Portland areas; and if she will refer the proposal to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Bus fares are controlled by the independent Traffic Commissioners in accordance with their duties under the Road Traffic Act 1960 and the Prices and Incomes Act, 1966. The Western Area Commissioners will shortly consider applications for fares increases from the Western and Southern National bus companies. Local authorities have rights of appeal to my right hon. Friend if they are not satisfied with the Commissioners' decisions. These statutory procedures ensure that the national interest is taken into account and reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes would not be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will defer the withdrawal of passenger services from the Strathmore line, in view of the Government's decision to postpone indefinitely the trunking of the A94.

No. My right hon. Friend gave full consideration—in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland—to the effect on roads, before consenting to the withdrawal of these passenger services.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that basic wages in certain Remploy factories are less than £10 per week; and whether employees in receipt of such wages come into the category of lower paid workers.

Yes. But average male earnings are higher. The particular circumstances of cases are examined on their merits and increases for some Remploy workers have been approved.

asked the Minister of Labour how many work permits were issued to aliens for employment in the catering trade during each of the last four years.

Permits issued for aliens in the hotel and catering industries in the years 1963–1966, including seasonal workers and visitors taking up employment, were 10,740, 13,000, 14,986 and 16,387 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many training courses for the catering trade are run by his Department; how long these are; and approximately what percentage of the vacancies are taken up by those who have been Commonwealth immigrants.

Courses in canteen cooking lasting 12 weeks are provided in a number of Government Training Centres. On 9th May 28 people were under training, of whom three were Commonwealth immigrants.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 566,000 people employed in mining and quarrying in December, 1966 were employed in the coal mining industry.

As shown on page 310 of the April, 1967 issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette, the number of employees in employment in coal mining in December, 1966 was estimated to be 502,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he expects the capital investment in roads in Scotland to be in 1967–68; what will be the Exchequer contribution to this investment; and what were the corresponding figures for 1966–67 and 1963–64.

For 1967–68 the proposed investment is £35·9 million to which the Exchequer will contribute £27 million. The comparable figures for 1966–67 were £31·5 million and £24·8 million and for 1963–64 £21·8 million and £15·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish a White Paper setting out the implications for Scotland in the event of Great Britain joining the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of traffic on the A94 in the County of Kincardine originates outside and has its destination beyond the county;(2) what proportion of traffic on the A94 in the County of Angus originates outside and has its destination beyond the county.

There has so far been no survey of the origin and destination of traffic on A94. This is the kind of information which I expect will be obtained as part of the Tayside Study.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has deferred the trunking of route A94, Stone-haven to Perth; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has decided to postpone indefinitely the trunking of the A94 between Perth and Stonehaven.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen. South (Mr. Dewar).—[Vol. 746, c. 1474.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made a traffic survey of routes A92, Dundee to Stonehaven, and A94, Perth to Stone-haven, since the opening of the Tay Road Bridge; and how this compares with surveys prior to the opening.

Recent information about the volume of traffic on A92 suggests that no significant increase of traffic on this road north-east of Dundee has followed the opening of the Bridge.The latest census of traffic on A94 was that taken in August, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has made to improve road communications between Perth and Stonehaven; and what estimate he has made of the increase of traffic on the A94 road following the completion of the Crossgates-Perth motorway;

The improvement of the A94 road between Perth and Stonehaven is a matter for the county councils of Perth, Angus and Kincardine, as highway authorities. To this end, I have provisionally approved proposals by these authorities estimated to cost £190,000 and requiring grant of £143,000 during the next two years.This route should continue to share the general increase in road traffic expected during the next few years, including some attracted to the Crossgates-Perth motorway when it is completed in the early 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he made of traffic trends before deciding not to proceed with the trunking of the A94 road from Perth to Stonehaven.

The suggestion to trunk A94 from Perth to Stonehaven and the associated suggestion to de-trunk A92 from Dundee to Stonehaven were proposals only. I expect that traffic surveys on both roads which will help me in reaching a final decision will be made as part of the Tayside Study.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work will start on the Perth by-pass; when the road will be completed; and what link is proposed with the A94 road from Perth to Stonehaven.

There will be a good case for starting work on a southern by-pass of Perth by the early 1970s., I have not yet decided what priority should be given to a western by-pass and whether this should link with the A94.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the additional traffic which will be carried on the A94 between Perth and Stonehaven as a result of the withdrawal of passenger services from the Strathmore line.

I understand that the additional traffic which will result from transferring rail passengers from the Strathmore line to the A94 road will be negligible—substantially less than 1 per cent. of the traffic at present carried by this road.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek the advice of the Scottish Law Corn-mission on the reform of the Divorce Law in Scotland.

The Lord Advocate and I recently invited the Scottish Law Commission to review for Scotland the ground covered by the Law Commission in relation to England and Wales in its report "Reform of the Grounds of Divorce—The Field of Choice" and generally to offer advice on any possibilities of reform of this branch of the law. The Scottish Law Commission's report will be published tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how soon he expects to be able to announce the outcome of studies into the future communications pattern for the County of Angus.

The Tayside Study, which among other things will cover the future distribution of population in the region and the consequent communications pattern, will begin shortly, and my hon. Friend, the Minister of State will discuss the Study, including its likely duration, when he meets the Tayside Consultative Group on 16th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will take steps to compile a list of all private schools not subject to inspection by his Department;(2) whether he will take steps to ensure that all private schools, not subject to inspection by his department, are conducted by fit and proper persons.

All private schools are subject to inspection by my Department by virtue of the provisions in Part V of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1962, relating to the registration of independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of a motorway across Angus from the Dundee area to Montrose; and what forecast he has made of the date at which such monies would be available.

The 1965 census of trunk road traffic indicated that traffic on this route, even if it doubles by about 1980, will not be sufficient to justify a motorway for a long time to come, and accordingly no estimate has been necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the cost of the overhaul of guns used to fire royal salutes on the occasion of the Queen's Birthday and other events, and the manpower used in this overhaul.

Annual maintenance is estimated to be about £5,000 including labour. In addition, £21,000 is at present being spent on new breech mechanisms which will then last for about 20 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the evidence concerning the effectiveness of cervical cancer smear tests produced by Professor A. L. Cochrane, details of which have been sent to him; and what conclusions he has reached.

Yes. The evidence concerning the effectiveness of screening for cervical cancer was fully considered by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee before the service was introduced. Their conclusion, with which I agree, was that the evidence for the benefit of cytology, though admittedly incomplete, was sufficiently strong to establish that it would have been wrong to withhold a cytological service until such time as the value of cytology could be finally established. This would have taken a number of years. My Department is supporting research, in which Professor Cochrane is taking part, aimed at establishing the value of cytology yet more firmly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about his proposals for altering the present arrangements for development plans and planning appeals.

Yes. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scot-

BRITISH OFFICIAL AID TO GIBRALTAR 1960–66 (CALENDAR YEARS)
£'000
			1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	Total
Financial Aid
(i) Grants	…	…	183	323	144	2	34	230	388	1,304
(ii) Loans	…	…	—	—	—	—	20	149	210	379
Technical Assistance	…	…	*	3	7	11	12	13	21	67
TOTAL	…	…	183	326	151	13	66	392	619	1,750
* Technical assistance costs included in the 1960 grants figure.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on his recent talks with European Governments on the question of a European airbus.

At the meeting with my French and German colleagues in

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the total amount of grants, loans or other aid given to Gibraltar in each year since 1960.

The information is as follows:Paris on 9th May, it was agreed to ask the companies who have been working together on the European airbus to undertake a rapid joint project definition study of the best aircraft which can be built around two RB.207 engines. A report is to be submitted by 11th July. Officials are to report by the same date on collaborative arrangements between the participating companies. Ministers will meet again in the second half of July.

asked the Minister of Power if he is satisfied with the control the gas boards have at present in regard to the resale of domestic gas supplies; and if he will introduce legislation to make the resale of domestic gas and the installation and control of sub-meters the responsibility of the area gas boards.

Area gas boards fix and publish the maximum prices at which gas may be resold. I have no evidence that these prices are not being observed and see no reason at present for legislation to give the boards additional powers in this field.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss to the Exchequer in direct taxation of British subjects who have acquired a foreign domicile.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of foreign currency or travellers cheques issued for holiday travel and business travel, respectively, in the six months following the effective implementation of restricted allowances last year, and in the corresponding six months of the previous year.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of foreign currency and travellers' cheques issued on holiday travel allowances for Spain and Portugal, respectively, and the corresponding amounts of British currency received from visitors on holiday to the United Kingdom from Spain and Portugal in the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available.

On travel for all purposes in 1966 United Kingdom residents spent about £43 million in Spain and £4 million in Portugal. Spanish residents spent about £3 million in the United Kingdom and Portuguese residents about £1 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now report on the result of spot checks of imported textiles and cloths containing man-made fibres to ascertain to what extent the contents and quality corresponded with the certificates of the exporters.

Customs checks are not disclosing any discrepancies between imported textiles and cloths containing man-made fibres and the corresponding certificates of export.