asked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the total cost to date and what is his estimate of the cost, in 1967–68, shown under suitable headings, of all direct and indirect assistance being given to South Vietnam under the Colombo Plan or in

			1964	1965	1966	Provisional 1.1.67–31.3.67	Current Estimates 1967/8
			£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Technical Assistance under Colombo Plan	…	…	9	19	94	46	155
Financial Aid Grants	…	…	8	19	38	14	1
Police Training (British Advisory Mission)	…	…	48	52	52	13	82
			65	90	184	73	238

Vietnam also shared the benefit with Laos, Thailand and Cambodia of experts and equipment for the improvement of navigation on the Mekong provided by Her Majesty's Government between 1964 and 1966; £56,000 of the equipment was specifically destined for Vietnam.British Council expenditure has totalled about £35,000 per anum since 1964, and includes lecturers at the University of Saigon, English language teaching and a large library.As regards the future, a fresh survey of the fields in which further assistance might be furnished is in progress in the light both of recent requests from the Government of South Vietnam and of all other relevant factors.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will offer to staff a teacher training college in South Vietnam as a token of British support for United States policy and as a contribution to British obligations under the Colombo plan and the South East Asia Treaty Organisation.

A proposal for a technical teachers training college in rural crafts in South Vietnam, to be built, equipped and staffed by Britain has been under consideration for some time. A full feasibility survey of this major pro-

The approximate total cost of the bilateral assistance given by Her Majesty's Government to South Vietnam from 1st January, 1964 to 31st March, 1967 was £412,000 and current estimated expenditure for 1967–68 £238,000. The breakdown is as follows:ject, as then conceived, was carried out in March, 1966 by a qualified expert appointed by my Department. But, in the light of practical difficulties revealed both at that time and subsequently, and of other recent priority requests for assistance from the South Vietnamese Government, it was decided that decided that this particular project was not one which should in present circumstances have a high claim on available British aid funds. Nor would it seem practicable to attempt to recruit British staff, except as part of an overall British project; and we have not received any request from the Vietnamese Government that we should do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what were the final capital costs for Hunterston A nuclear power station; and how they compare with the final capital costs for Kincardine coal-fired station.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 21st March, 1967.—[Vol. 743, c. 251.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates the average cost of electricity sent out from Hunterston A nuclear power station would be if the capital costs were depreciated over 25 years instead of 20 years.

In 1966–67 it would have been 0·975d. per unit.

asked the Minister of Transport, what plans she has for a Road Transport Lighting Bill.

I have been asked to reply.It is proposed that the Second Reading of this Bill should be taken as first Order of the Day at the morning sitting on Wednesday, 31st May.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many persons were employed by local government authorities on the latest convenient date, and at the same date 12 months previously.

At June, 1966, the latest date for which information is available, the total number employed in local authorities and police forces in Great Britain was 2,122,600 compared with 2,024,700 at June, 1965.The numbers include not only those employees classified to Local Government Service (Minimum List Heading 906 of the Standard Industrial Classification) but also employees of local authorities classified to other industrial sectors, e.g. construction, transport services, education, etc.

asked the Minister of Labour if he accepts the findings of the court of inquiry into the dispute at the Corby tubeworks of Stewarts and Lloyds Limited; what action he has taken to settle the dispute; and if he will make a statement.

The court of inquiry made a careful analysis of the difficulties which gave rise to the dispute and I trust that their report will provide a basis for a settlement.

asked the Minister of Labour on what date the National Joint Council for the Exhibition Industry is expected to hold its meeting to discuss how far recent proposed income increases are consistent with Her Majesty's Govment's prices and incomes policy.

I understand that a meeting of the National Joint Council for the Exhibition Industry is to be held on 18th May, 1967.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of salary earners who are usually covered by settlement affecting fewer than 200 people; how this figure compares with the estimated total number of salary earners; and what is the corresponding information for wage earners.

There are about 16 million wage earners and 7 million salary earners. About 13½ million manual workers are known to be covered by collective agreements and statutory wage regulation orders and nearly all the settlements arising from these negotiations affect over 200 workers. Corresponding information about salaried workers is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied that the evidence available to him on the movements of incomes of those whose remuneration is concerned in settlement that affect fewer than 200 people is as adequate as that on those concerned in settlements that affect 200 or more; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that my information about the movements of incomes among these workers is adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has concluded his investigations into the position of Mr. Voss Boreta and Mr. Peter Mattioli; and if he will now indicate what action has been taken.

Mr. Boreta and Mr. Mattioli arrived in this country on 17th April and left on 20th April. I have no reason to suppose that they intend to establish a club here, and no further action on my part is called for at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements are being made for the purchase of breath-testing devices for the police for the purposes of the Road Safety Act, 1967.

An initial contract is about to be signed for the purchase of one million devices. A supplementary estimate for the purpose will be presented to Parliament in due course. In the meantime the necessary funds are being advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are his criteria for defining specially dangerous airguns in the proposed extension of the firearms certificate procedure;(2) whether he will institute an inquiry to consider the extension of the firearms certificate procedure to all airguns;(3) if he will publish the research which led to his conclusion that criminal offences, misdemeanours or accidents are caused in the main by powerful airguns, rather than by the misuse of normal airguns by irresponsible owners;(4) from what date he intends to subject certain categories of specially powerful air-guns to the firearms certificate procedure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to his Question on 5th May.I intend to make subject to the firearms certificate procedure air weapons significantly more powerful than those commonly produced by British manufacturers for the home market. I am not at present able to say what precise levels of power output will be prescribed or when the proposed rules will come into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many schools, of each category, at present use corporal punishment.

I do not collect this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many visits were paid in the last three years to the private school, Cholderton College, Andover, by officials of his Department.

Five, by Her Majesty's Inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to ensure that private schools who have not applied to be deemed efficient are being run properly.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern).— [Vol. 746, c. 266.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what is the number of post-graduate study grants awarded by the Social Science Research Council since its inception, in England and Scotland, respectively, how many have been allocated for the coming academic year, together with a list of the universities in each country which have received grants; and the number of students which have benefited at each of these during the same periods.

386 studentships, of which 19 were for study at Scottish universities and the remainder at universities in England and Wales, and 11 fellowships, of which one was for research at a Scottish university; 535 new studentships and 15 fellowships will be available in 1967–68 but their distribution is not yet complete.A list of the universities at which the 1966–67 awards were held follows. All the studentships finally awarded were taken up:

University	Number of studentships
ENGLAND
Aston	2
Birmingham	7
Bradford	2
Bristol	4
Cambridge	10
Durham	3
East Anglia	2
Essex	28
Exeter	2
Hull	3
Keele	2
Kent	5
Lancaster	4
Leeds	15
Leicester	12
Liverpool	4
London (including the London Business School and the Regent Street Polytechnic)	133
Loughborough	2
Manchester	28
Manchester Business School	1
Newcastle	4
Nottingham	5
Oxford	33
Salford	1
Sheffield	4
Southampton	6
Sussex	19
Warwick	4
York	8
WALES
Aberystwyth	5
Cardiff	5
Swansea	4
SCOTLAND
Aberdeen	1
Edinburgh	15
Glasgow	2
Strathclyde	1

University		Number of fellowships
Exeter	…	1
Glasgow	…	1
Kent	…	1
Leicester	…	1
Manchester	…	1
Cambridge	…	3
London School of Economics	…	2
University College, London	…	1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what is the total number of students in Scottish universities in academic years 1965–66 and 1966–67 studying in faculties, eligible to receive post-graduate study grants from the Social Science Research Council; and what are the comparable figures for England.

The Social Science Research Council does not make awards at the undergraduate level. Students studying in university faculties within the purview of the Social Science Research Council during the academic year 1965–66 numbered:

		Scotland	England and Wales
Undergraduates	…	2,050	7,500
Postgraduates	…	700	3,900
Total	…	2,750	11,400

These figures exclude undergraduates taking combined courses who may have been potentially eligible for Social Science Research Council Awards at the postgraduate level. Comparable details for 1966–67 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to stop the practice of candidates for local government office being supplied temporarily by political organisations with plots of land, to ensure qualification for electoral nomination, under circumstances where this would be normally absent.

Qualification for local government membership is a matter which is within the terms of reference of the Committee on the Management of Local Government under the chairmanship of Sir John Maud, and my right hon. Friend thinks it right to await publication of their report before giving it consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether Stansted is to be the site of the third London airport; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Statement made to the House today by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, how many of the applications to rent officers in the last three months have come from landlords, and how many from tenants; how this compares with the similar period last year; and what are the figures for the whole country and for London, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available. It would also be difficult to compare the two quarters as Part II of the Act was not in operation everywhere in the earlier period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made by the International Civil Aviation Council in its consideration of the Anglo-Spanish dispute about Gibraltar airfield.

The question of the prohibited air zone declared by Spain in the vicinity of Gibraltar was, on our initiative raised in the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation at Montreal on 10th May. The British representative made clear Her Majesty's Government's view that the Spanish declaration infringes the Chicago Convention and should not be put into effect. The Council's consideration of the matter was resumed yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will offer the South Vietnamese Government, in the light of the United Kingdom South-East Asia Treaty Organisation obligations, substantial and positive assistance with the housing and rehabilitation of refugees from North Vietnam and homeless South Vietnamese.

We are already giving South Vietnam considerable civilian aid, especially in the medical field. We have had no request from the South Vietnamese Government for the sort of aid to which the Question refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, why he advised that King Faisal of Saudi Arabia should be invited on a State visit to Great Britain.

In order to further the friendly relations existing between this country and Saudi Arabia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions he has had with King Faisal over the future of the South Arabian Federation.

The discussions between King Faisal and Her Majesty's Government are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in view of the fact that the recognised basic conditions necessary for recognition of a foreign Government do not apply to the new Government in Greece, he will withdraw recognition from that Government until there is a reasonable prospect of permanence.

No. The new Government in Greece meets the criteria by which we accord recognition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what was the total value of exports of British books to the European Economic Community countries in 1965 and 1966; what proportion of these were non-fiction; and what proportion of total British exports of nonfiction books were accounted for by the European Economic Community market.

Much of the trade in books is conducted by post and records of postal trade do not distinguish exports of books. Recorded exports of books from the United Kingdom other than by post to countries of the European Economic Community were as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to encourage exports of British books, especially technical and educational books, to the countries of the European Economic Community.

The full range of Government services to exporters is available to exporters of books to the European Economic Community. For example, a display of British technical books, sponsored by the Book Development Council with the help of the Board of Trade, will be mounted at the International Chemical Engineering Exhibition at Frankfurt during June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy towards Government subsidies for overseas initiative by groups of publishers, such as translation projects or special catalogues.

The Government are willing on certain conditions to help exporters of books, as of other goods, with the cost of taking part in overseas trade fairs, arranging outward and inward trade missions, and undertaking collective market research. Financial assistance towards translation, production and overseas distribution costs of trade directories and buyers' guides conforming to a definite standard is also made available through the British National Export Council to trade associations sponsoring such publications.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what information he has as to the steps taken by other European Free Trade Association countries to comply with the Stockholm Convention on non-discrimination, with particular reference to textiles; and if he will make a statistical comparison between these steps and those taken by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

The obligations imposed by the Stockholm Convention concerning non-discrimination are general and do not relate specifically to textiles. Their nature is such that a statistical comparison of steps taken by Member countries to implement them would not be possible. The relevant Articles of the Convention are, however, kept under review by the E.F.T.A. Council, and I have no reason to think that other Member countries are failing to comply with their obligations affecting textiles or otherwise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what is the annual utilisation of chipboard in Great

NUMBER OF MILLS CLOSED
				Spinner	Waste spinner	Doubler	Weaver	Finisher
1952	…	…	…	3	—	8	20	3
1953	…	…	…	9	—	11	17	3
1954	…	…	…	4	—	9	14	6
1955	…	…	…	22	—	20	59	8
1956	…	…	…	18	—	18	75	11
1957	…	…	…	9	2	14	52	6
1958	…	…	…	16	3	13	80	8
1959	…	…	…	56†	3	23†	96†	11
1960	…	…	…	46†	—	15†(4)*	127†(2)*	9†
1961	…	…	…	3	1	8	10	49†(1)*
1962	…	…	…	13	3	10	29	6
1963	…	…	…	16	6	11	32	12
1964	…	…	…	8	5	6	15	8
1965	…	…	…	12	2	4	14	8
1966	…	…	…	13	4	9	33	11
* Figures in brackets closed during 1960–61 but not under the reorganisation scheme.
† Reorganisation closures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has decided the levels of the quotas of British films to be shown by exhibitors during the year beginning 1st January, 1968.

I have decided to accept the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council and to leave the exhibitors' quotas at 30 per cent. for first feature films and 25 per cent. for supporting programmes for the quota year beginning 1st January, 1968.

United Kingdom production of wood chipboard in 1966 was 162,332 tons. In 1966 imports of wood chipboard were 53,585 tons and of other kinds of particle board, 36,969 tons, so United Kingdom production accounted for 64 per cent. of total supplies. Exports are not separately recorded but are known to be small. Separate figures for Great Britain are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many textile mill closures there have been in each of the years since 1945.

The following are the numbers of closures which have taken place since 1952 and include, in some years, a good deal of double counting where mills were engaged on more than one activity. Very little information is available for earlier years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Associated Electrical Industries factory at Nelson will close on 11th June next and that this closure will bring the registered unemployment figures to 4·5 per cent.; and whether he will give urgent consideration to the designation of the area as a development area.

I shall seek to encourage the development of new industry in this area by a liberal use of Industrial Development Certificates and in other ways: but I do not consider that designation as a Development Area is the appropriate method.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many periodicals have increased their prices since 20th June, 1966; and in how many instances he received prior notification of the proposed price change.

The information required to answer the first part of the Question is not available. Since 20th July, 1966, we have received prior notification of proposed increases in the prices of 33 periodicals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has reached a decision on the recent request of the British Overseas Airways Corporation for approval to invest in a fourth Boeing 707–320C freighter aircraft.

Yes. Approval has been given for B.O.A.C. to purchase a fourth freighter for delivery in the autumn of 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he has received the communication from the Northern Economic Marine Council informing him that the conditions regarding co-operation between Newcastle and Teesside airports have been met, and recommending that the grant to Teesside airport of £150,000 should be paid; and what reply he has sent to the Council.

No, but I am expecting such a communication very shortly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received any recommendation from the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration on the number of distinction awards available to hospital consultants, as foreshadowed in their Seventh Report; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. In accordance with normal practice the Review Body have considered the number of awards available by reference to the number of consultants eligible to receive them and have concluded that an increase in the number of awards is justifiable in view of the rise in the total number of consultants, the increase in the standard of skill among consultants generally, and the attraction of more men of high ability to those specialities in which important developments have taken place in recent years.The Government are indebted to the Review Body for their Report and have accepted the advice tendered.The following is the text of the Report:REVIEW BODY ON DOCTORS' AND DENTISTS' REMUNERATIONEIGHTH REPORT

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, to what extent Her Majesty's Government's application to the European Communities will be discussed at the meeting of senior Commonwealth officials on cooperation in planning, Commonwealth assistance and trade promotion; and whether he will make a statement about this meeting and the work of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council in connection with all these matters.

A meeting of senior Commonwealth officials is to be held by invitation of the Kenya Government in Nairobi starting on 24th May. This is in pursuance of a request to the Commonwealth Secretary-General by the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council at its meeting in London in June, 1966. The meeting will discuss planning techniques, regional co-operation in planning and trade promotion, and the suggestions made by the Commonwealth Secretary-General on Commonwealth assistance programmes at the time of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Meeting in 1966. It is not expected that the meeting will discuss Her Majesty's Government's applications to join the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the names of Rhodesians whose passports have been seized giving the date and place in which the seizure occurred.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, whether he is now satisfied that on the latest information available to him that all types of commercial and military aircraft relevant to Gibraltar's commercial and military air transport requirements will be able to continue to land, as hitherto, in safety at Gibraltar Airport irrespective of particular weather conditions without contravening Spain's proposed air space restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter pending the outcome of the proceedings now in progress at the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, what percentage of women and young persons employed in the garment-making industry in Hong Kong is working an eight- hour day; and what percentage is working the legal maximum of 10 hours per day or 60 hours per week.

Comprehensive statistics are not available. Such information as is available indicates that about 4 per cent of women employed in the garment making industry work an eight-hour day, less than 1 per cent. between eight and 10 hours a day and the remainder a 10-hour day.Young persons provide less than 1 per cent. of the total working force in the industry: approximately 15 per cent. of them work an 8-hour day.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, what is the number of court convictions in Hong Kong in each year since 1959 for employing women and young persons in excess of the legal maximum working hours; and what were the average fines imposed in each year.

The information given below relates to convictions for offences involving the employment of women and young persons in prohibited hours; during intervals for a meal or rest; outside authorised periods of employment and on rest days.

Year			Number of convictions	Average fines in H.K. dollars
1959	…	…	158	156
1960	…	…	1,372	163
1961	…	…	1,310	111
1962	…	…	1,649	84
1963	…	…	1,773	83
1964	…	…	2,176	51
1965	…	…	1,733	75
1966	…	…	885	78

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, which British subjects, including Rhodesians, are now detained or restricted in Zambia, where, and from what date; whether they have all been visited by a representative of the British High Commission, and when; what charges have been brought against them; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Nursten, Lieut.-Colonel Arnott and Mr. Haigh, United Kingdom citizens, and Mr. Swift, a Rhodesian citizen, were detained at Mumbwa on 13th April, 1967; Mrs. Fleming, a United Kingdom citizen, was detained at Lusaka on 6th May, 1967. The first three were visited by a member of our High Commission in Lusaka on 18th April and 5th May; Mr. Swift was visited on 5th May; Mrs. Fleming was visited on 9th May. No charges have been brought against them so far.As regards the last part of this Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) on 2nd May and 10th May.—[Vol. 146. c.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the islands within the British Indian Ocean Territory, the area of each, and population divided into ethnic groups; any natural resources; existing and intended civil and defence installations; and any agreements made with the United States of American or other powers concerning their use.

The British Indian Ocean Territory consists of the Chagos Archipelago, the Farquhar Group, the Aldabra Group and the Island of Desroches. The Chagos Archipelago covers an area from 7° 39' to 4° 41' S. and from 70° 50' to 72° 41' E.; the largest island, Diego Garcia, has a land area of about 11 square miles. The Farquhar Group, the Aldabra Group and the Island of Desroches have land areas of about 1½ square miles, 67½ square miles and 1½ square miles respectively.The population of the islands is at present approximately 1,500. It fluctuates, as it consists mainly of contract labour, and their dependants, from Mauritius and Seychelles employed on the copra estates and in guano extraction and the turtle industry. The populations are of mixed African, European, Chinese and Indian origin.No decisions to build civil or defence installations have been taken.An agreement between the United Kingdom and United States Governments concerning the availability of the Territory for defence purposes was entered into recently; it was published as Cmnd. 3231.

asked the Minister of Power how many units of electricity were generated in 1966 from the 68,100,000 tons of coal used by the Central Electricity Generating Board.

125,000 million. The amount of coal used for electricity generation by the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1966 was 62·6 million tons; 68·1 million tons was the total amount of coal and coke purchased by the Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the Central Electricity Generating Board's invitations to tender for the conversion of two power stations to burn natural gas in summer, he will withhold his approval of the necessary capital expenditure until the Central Electricity Generating Board has consulted him about the conversion.

My consent under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1909 would be needed before any such conversion could be undertaken. It has not been requested, but I am considering the desirability of a small pilot-scale conversion at one station to gain cost and operating experience as a guide to policy.

asked the Minister of Power on what dates he informed certain oil companies of the Government's policy that the price to be paid by the Gas Council for North Sea gas should be in the range of 2d.-2½d. a therm.

My discussions with the oil companies are confidential.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the fact that Spencer Works, Llanwern, is in danger of not being developed to its full capacity by reason of its being sited outside the Welsh Development Area, he will on vesting day give a direction to the National Steel Corporation that all decisions relating to investment in new or expanding plant shall be based primarily on the needs of the steel industry as a whole and not on eligibility for investment grants.

No. The Corporation in making such decisions will already be subject to the duty laid on them by the Iron and Steel Act of promoting the efficient and economical supply of iron and steel products by the nationalised industry.

asked the Minister of Power (1) how many persons will be employed in the London offices of the nationalised steel industry; what will be the annual expenditure for rent and rates; and what square footage will be occupied;(2) how many persons are employed at the London headquarters of the Gas and Electricity Councils; what was the expenditure last year on rent and rates; and what is the expected expenditure for next year in total and per square foot of office space.

The Boards of the nationalised industries have been made aware of the Government's dispersal policy, but the actual numbers of staff and the size and cost of the accommodation required are matters of day-to-day management for the industries.As regards the headquarters of the National Steel Corporation, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Anderson) on 4th April [Vol. 744 c.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether, in view of the success of Ariel 3, he will announce the date of launching a British communications satellite; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Minister of Health, if he is aware of the continuing shortage of National Health Service general practitioners in England and Wales; and whether recent statistics show any improvement.

Yes, but there are already welcome signs of improvement. Whereas over the two years to 1st October, 1966, the number of general practitioners providing full services fell by 402 to 19,844, in the following six months to 1st April, 1967, the number rose by 31.

asked the Minister of Health what information he has as to the incidence of the battered baby syndrome.

The battered baby syndrome denotes deliberate injury to young children. The statistical returns supplied to me do not show this type of injury separately.

asked the Minister of Health what is the standard basic minimum weekly rate of pay of a fully trained and certificated ambulance attendant.

The weekly rates for qualified ambulance staff are:

		Local authority staff		Hospital staff
		s.	d.	s.	d.
Ambulance Driver	…	286	8	260	4
Ambulance Attendant	…	270	10	246	4

The above rates of pay are those applicable outside London.The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Services (Manual Workers) has agreed to increase the rates by 10s. per week with effect from 4th September, 1967. The National Health Service Ancillary Staffs Whitley Council is considering a recommendation from the National Board for Prices and Incomes that a similar increase should be applied to staff (including hospital ambulance staff) within that Council's purview.Most staff are required to undertake both types of duty and therefore qualify for the drivers' rates.

asked the Minister of Health, how many operations for sterilisation of women have been performed during a recent stated period; how many of these operations were recorded as failures due to the surgical procedure; and, in view of the fact that failure is a well-recognised hazard of sterilisation, if he will take steps to publicise this fact and to advise women of the large number of failures that occur.

There is no recent record of the total number of operations, and none of the number of failures. The risk of failure is well recognised but there is no reason to believe that the number of failures is large, and I see no reason for special publicity.

asked the Minister of Health, why, in view of the fact that the consultant in the case of Mrs. Doughty, of Stratford, E.15, was notified around 21st March of matters complained of by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, and that he was freely available from 16th April, it was not until 3rd May that he sent a report of this case to the hon. Member.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my letter of 5th May. The matter had to be considered by the Hospital Management Committee and the Regional Hospital Board. I am satisfied that there was no unreasonable delay.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average increase in pay and emoluments effective since 1st January, 1965 in relation to the minimum salaries of consultants, fully employed qualified doctors, fully qualified nurses and fully qualified ambulance attendants, respectively.

The minimum salaries of consultants have increased by £290 (10 per cent.) per annum and those of other full-time hospital doctors by amounts varying between £200 and £330 (12 per cent. to 35 per cent.) according to grade.The minimum rate of annual salary for enrolled nurses has increased by £80 (15·5 per cent.) and for staff nurses by £72 (11·7 per cent.). Increases in weekly rates for ambulance attendants have been as follows:

asked the Minister of Health, when he expects to announce the results of his review of pay beds in National Health Service hospitals.

The review was carried out region by region and I expect to begin to announce decisions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, if, in view of Her Majesty's Government's decision to apply for entry into the Common Market, he has revised his estimate of the number of new jobs which will be needed in Wales by 1970.

I have nothing to add at present to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 19th December, 1966.—[Vol. 738, cc. 237–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will offer to equip and staff a military hospital and to provide an ambulance unit in South Vietnam as a positive token of British support for United States policy and as being consistent with British obligations under the South East Asia Treaty Organisation.

As the House already knows, it is the Government's policy to provide civilian aid to South Vietnam, and indeed we already support a civilian paediatric team in Saigon. I have no plans to offer to equip and staff a military hospital or to provide an ambulance unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about changes in the structure of the worldwide Naval Command.

An announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, how many tests of nuclear warheads or their components have been conducted by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Government since 15th October, 1964.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date of training South Vietnamese in jungle warfare in Malaysia; what was the cost in 1966; how many men have completed their courses; and if he will now offer to give such help on a larger scale since United Kingdom military requirements in the area are greatly reduced.

About £150,000, since 1961; £32,500 in 1966–67; 1,238; we have no plans at present to increase their training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many female recruits are included in the 46,277 non-commissioned British recruits into the forces in 1966.

5,812.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many female recruits are included in the 12,007 British recruits between the ages of 15 and 17½ into the forces in 1966.

None. The figure of 12,007 recruits refers to those entering the forces under youth entry and apprentice schemes. There are no such methods of entry into the Women's Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the terms of entry into the forces for female recruits under the age of 18 years.

They are set out in the recruiting pamphlets for each of the Women's Services. I am sending copies to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make Royal Air Force facilities at St. Athan, available for training workers in South Wales.

I have already arranged, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, that some of the fine resources available at the R.A.F. Station at St. Athan should for the time being be used to help in the urgent task of training additional skilled men for industry. The first six-month courses to train a total of 50 civilian men as general fitters, motor transport fitters and welders have just begun.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he is aware that during the annual Antarctic Patrol of H.M.S. "Protector" plankton was eaten by the crew; and if he will make a statement about the dietetic value of this form of food.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a table showing the approximate strength of each of the three Services in Singapore and Malaysia pre-confrontation, at the peak period of confrontation, and the proposed strength after the ending of confrontation.

Approximate strengths of the Services in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei before confrontation, and the peak levels reached during confrontation were as follows. The figures include Gurkhas and locally enlisted uniformed personnel, and ships on sea service in the Far East.

			30th September 1962	Confrontation
RN	…	…	9,000	16,000*
Army	…	…	25,000	33,300†
RAF	…	…	6,300	11,000†

NOTES:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of British Income Tax paid through the joint British-Eire tax office to the Government of Eire, and the amount of Eire Income Tax paid to the Exchequer in the most recent period of 12 months convenient for computation.

Amounts transferred through the Conjoint Office from one Revenue to the other relate to persons who are resident both in the United Kingdom and in the Irish Republic for tax purposes and who have asked for their liabilities to be dealt with in this way. The amount transferred to the Irish Revenue on this account in 1966–67 was about £500,000. The amount transferred to the United Kingdom Revenue is not known, because it cannot readily be distinguished from other transfers relating to persons who are resident solely in the Republic and who are not dealt with by the Conjoint Office; it is, however, small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the section of the Mint which is to be built at Llantrisant will produce British coins or foreign coinage.

The first task of the Royal Mint at Llantrisant will be to produce the new decimal coinage. At a later stage the work on foreign coinage at present done by the existing Royal Mint will also be centralised at Llantri sant, which will then have the permanent task of minting both British and foreign coins.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many more public relations officers and Press officers are employed by the Government than in September, 1964; what is the approximate annual cost in salaries; and if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the Departments and grades of all the new positions created and the Departments which they come under.

As the information will take some time to collect, I will publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as it is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of administering the Selective Employment Tax, including paying back premia and refunds, in the first year of operation.

The Selective Employment Tax has been in operation for nine months. The extra cost of administering it in a full year is about £1¼ million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about recent acquisitions of property in lieu of Estate Duty.

The estate of Torridon, Wester Ross, has been offered to Inland Revenue in part satisfaction of Estate Duty payable on the death of the fourth Earl of Lovelace.The offer, which does not include Torridon House and the adjoining woodlands, has been accepted at a cost to the National Land Fund of £22,500, and some 14,100 acres of mountainous country bordering the northern shore of Loch Torridon in an area of outstanding beauty adjoining the Nature Conservancy property of Beinn Eighe is being transferred to the National Trust for Scotland to hold for the use and enjoyment of the public.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the Inland Revenue when dealing with Capital Gains Tax on the sale of investment trust shares by a taxpayer to draw specifically to his attention his entitlement to set off the Capital Gains Tax already paid on his behalf by the company, in all cases where the taxpayer has not included this set off.

It is normal practice, where a material shareholding is disposed of, to seek confirmation that this set-off has been included.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the monthly export trade statistics were distorted in the second half of 1966 as a result of the leave arrangements in the Customs Statistical Office.

There is no foundation at all for this suggestion. Every document received in the Customs Statistical Office within the relevant period is included in the month's figures, summer and winter alike.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give a direction in relation to the collection of arrears of tax limiting the total amount of tax to be deducted from taxable incomes of less than £600 a year to an amount not exceeding 12½ per cent. of the gross weekly sum and so limited that no deduction is made which will reduce the income to less than £500 a year.

I am afraid that I could not adopt the suggestion in my hon. Friend's Question; but it is the normal practice of the Inland Revenue to allow collection of P.A.Y.E. arrears to be spread over a reasonable period, having regard to the circumstances of the particular case. I am looking into the case which my hon. Friend has raised with me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase has taken place to date, since the end of 1947, in the staff of the Chief Inspector of Taxes branch down to, and including, the grade of District Inspector.

There is no grade of District Inspector, but the number of Inspectors (Higher Grade) and above in post increased by 438 between 31st December, 1947, and 1st May, 1967.

asked the Postmaster General why the telephone number at Didmarton 630 of the hon. Member for Stroud has been disconnected for six days; and why when callers inquire they have been informed by the telephone exchange that the number was in order but no reply could be obtained.

The hon. Member's service was interrupted three times between 3rd and 6th May; once when a car hit a telephone pole and brought down the wires, and twice because, despite warnings, contractors damaged a cable at two points while putting in a new gas main. Repairs were made and service restored as rapidly as possible on each occasion. The faults were such that callers would hear ringing tone, indicating that the call had progressed beyond the hon. Member's exchange. Specific tests are necessary to distinguish between a customer's line which is in order, but is not being answered, and one where the bell on his telephone is not ringing, because the line between the exchange and his home has been interrupted, athough the caller hears the ringing tone. These tests would not be initiated unless the caller told his local operator that no reply had been received when one could have confidently been expected.I greatly regret' any inconvenience caused by this unprecedented chapter of accidents.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the combined effect on the Post Office revenue of the increase in the rent of privately-owned telephone boxes, and the increase in rebates received by renters on the money they collect, in the first quarter of 1967.

I am sorry that the information is not available and could only be obtained as a result of extensive enquiries. I am writing to the hon Gentleman.

asked the Postmaster-General why he intends to withdraw the telephone Bathgate 3801 of Mr. A. Fairley, 177 Biddochhill, Blackburn, West Lothian.

My right hon. Friend is looking into this matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport, how many accidents have taken place in the last 12 months on road B2016 on the part commonly called Seven Mile Lane; how many of these were at substantially the same place as previous accidents; and what steps she is taking to improve the road safety conditions.

During the 12 months ending 30th April, 15 personal injury accidents were reported in Seven Mile Lane, three of which occurred at substantially the same places as accidents in previous years. Kent County Council, the highway authority for this road, are preparing an improvement scheme which they hope to carry out next year.

asked the Minister of Transport, how many accidents have taken place in the last 12 months on the road A229 between Chatham and Maidstone; how many of these were at substantially the same place as previous accidents; and what steps she is taking to improve the road safety conditions.

During the 12 months ending 30th April, 48 personal injury accidents have been reported on the A229 between Chatham and Maidstone, 31 of which occurred at substantially the same places as accidents in previous years. Most of these were at junctions with other roads. Kent County Council, the highway authority for this road, hope to carry out several improvement schemes in the course of the next year or so.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what estimates she has made of the expenditure to be incurred on motorways feeding directly to the Tilbury container port, in the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively;(2) what estimates she has made of the expenditure to be incurred on feeder roads and other road access developments directly connected with the Tilbury container port in the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

The only programmed road scheme providing direct access to Tilbury docks is the Tilbury Docks Approach Road. Expenditure on this scheme is expected to total rather more than £2 million between 1967–68 and 1969–70, when it should be completed.

asked the Minister of Transport, what is her budgeted expenditure upon those roads already stated by her to be in the preparation pool for Hampshire for the year ending 31st March, 1968.

As was clearly explained in the announcement of 21st February, schemes in the preparation pool will be considered for inclusion in the trunk road works programme for the early 1970's, as and when the preparatory work on them is sufficiently advanced. The sums to be spent on individual schemes during this preparatory period are relatively small and not readily separable.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what further progess has been made in the construction of the M5 between Quinton and Great-Barr; and whether she still estimates that the work will be completed before the end of 1969;(2) when the contract will be let for the construction of the M5 between Oldbury and the A41.

There has been substantial progress with advance works and the main works on two sections are expected to start next month. It now seems unlikely that the contract for the remaining section, between Oldbury and the A41, can be let until late this year and the overall completion date is being reassessed on this basis.

asked the Minister of Transport, if she will now respond to the repeated applications at the Chad Valley Company, Birmingham for the purchase of derelict railway land adjoining their factory in Harborne.

My right hon. Friend has just informed the British Railways Board that she has no objection to the disposal of this land.

asked the Minister of Social Security, what was the percentage of the National Insurance contribution borne by the national Exchequer in August, 1948; and what was the percentage of the contribution, excluding graduated pension contributions, of the basic contribution borne by the Exchequer in August, 1966.

About 27 per cent. in the first accounting period from 5th July, 1948 to 31st March, 1949 and, excluding graduated contributions, an estimated 19 per cent. in the financial year 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Social Security what was the number of applications by widows of war pensioners who died in receipt of a war pension for a war widow's pension in the 12 most recent months available for computation; and what were the numbers granted and refused.

In 1966 some 16,470 war pensioners died (not all of them leaving a widow) and there were about 4,800 claims for war widows' pension and 2,210 awards. The available figures cannot, of course, be related precisely because some of the claims made in 1966 were in respect of deaths occurring prior to that year and some were not decided by the end of the year, while some of the awards in 1966 were in respect of claims made before that year, or were in respect of the deaths of men who were not in receipt of a war disablement pension.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many 100 per cent. industrial disease benefits for byssinosis have been awarded during the most recent period of 12 months convenient for computation.

One 100 per cent. initial assessment for byssinosis was made under the Industrial Injuries Acts in 1966 and 18 assessments at 100 per cent. were made at reassessment boardings.

asked the Minister of Social Security, how many qualified solicitors and barristers were employed by her Department at the most recent convenient date for computation.

At 1st April, 1967 there were 15 solicitors and 33 barristers in the legal department of my Ministry.