asked the Postmaster-General how long in advance of the issue of a special postage stamp he decides upon the subject of it.

There is no firm rule about this, but I followed normal practice when I announced the 1967 special stamp programme towards the end of 1966.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in order to avoid the repetition of the situation whereby Edinburgh did not get a stamp celebrating its bicentenary this year, I am firing a warning shot across his bows to remind him that the Commonwealth Games are being held in Edinburgh in 1970?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of unsatisfactory postal deliveries, notably from London, in the Vale of Evesham; and why mail posted in London up to 5 p.m. is not carried on the new 8.15 p.m. fast passenger train from Paddington to Evesham, for distribution from the Evesham head post office, serving a radius of 15 miles, and delivery first post the following morning.

My right hon. Friend fully explained this matter in his letter of 12th May to the hon. Gentleman. As regards the use of the 8.15 p.m. train for mail posted in London up to 5 p.m., we cannot in this interval collect, date stamp, sort and make up into despatches the large number of items posted in the late afternoon and early evening.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that is a terrible answer? What is the use of British Railways inaugurating magnificent new fast, direct services, London-Oxford-Evesham-Worcester-Malvern-Hereford, if the Post Office, another nationalised industry, will not use them for mails posted before 5 p.m. in London for delivery first mail in the morning in Worcestershire?

We have made a detailed examination of this position, spread over a month. We are not treating it lightly. That examination showed that a few mails were liable to suffer delay in transit. By rerouting we have reduced the delay.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to continue the system under which letters and parcels posted for delivery between Grantown-on-Spey and Nethy Bridge, a distance of six miles, have to be transported to Perth and back, a distance of approximately 184 miles.

Yes, Sir, for the reason which I explained in my letter to the hon. Gentleman. If the hon. Gentleman has evidence of any specific cases of delay, I shall be glad to look into them.

Can the hon. Gentleman explain why this journey is really necessary? Can he say whether it is entirely by road or by rail also? If it is by rail, neither of the two places any longer has a railway. If by road, the journey goes through the Drumochter Pass twice, where the road is sometimes closed by snow in the winter.

The hon. Gentleman knows from our correspondence that the number of items posted in Grantown-on-Spey is so small that it is more convenient for us to send them with other mail to Perth and to handle them there with the rest of the mail for Nethy Bridge.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider his decision to discontinue the use of the names Old Hill and Blackheath for postal purposes, before the name of Warley.

My right hon. Friend has written to my hon. Friend to explain the reasons for this decision; but further discussions about the matter are being arranged with the local authority.

I appreciate the reasons intimated to me by my hon. Friend, and I am grateful for that Answer. However, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the names Old Hill and Blackheath are known wherever in the world men study engineering and technological projects? If those names disappear from our letter headings, the export drive may suffer a serious diminution.

I have already said that we are arranging for a meeting with the local authority. Our regional director in Birmingham is making the arrangements.

asked the Postmaster-General why an increasingly large number of letters posted in the London postal district on Friday evenings before the last post and addressed to other parts of the district are not reaching their destinations until the following Monday morning.

I am sorry that, due to heavy traffic and a shortage of staff, a very small percentage of such letters are not delivered until Monday. The position is, however, better than it was, and we are doing all we can to improve it still further.

Does the Minister not agree that it is very important that, in view of the reduction in the number of deliveries in the London area, letters should arrive on a Saturday morning for those who have business to attend to? Is he aware that a letter which his right hon. Friend sent to me recently suffered a similar fate?

Yes. It is only fair to say that millions of letters posted on Friday to places all over the country are delivered first post the next morning. By comparison the number of failures are few but none the less it is regrettable.

Is this not typical of the nationalised industries—less facilities, worse service and increased costs?

asked the Postmaster-General how many complaints he has received from the general public in the county of Midlothian about inadequate facilities in sub-post offices.

Seven during the last 12 months.

Would my hon. Friend not agree that, in view of the complaints about the sub-post offices, action should be taken to create more Crown post offices?

We get few complaints about scale payment sub-post offices as such, and when we do, ways can often be found to meet the point of the complainant. I must also point out that the cost of Crown offices can only be justified in large centres of population.

asked the Postmaster-General why letters addressed to Ower Quay, Corfe Castle, Wareham, are not delivered until ten minutes to ten in the morning.

To reduce costs, the delivery round which takes in Ower Quay has been motorised with the result that we reach some addresses in the area earlier and some later than before. We could not improve the delivery time at Ower Quay without either making the time worse for other people or putting up our costs again.

Does not a 4d. stamp entitle the user to some equality of service? Can the hon. Gentleman explain why Corfe Castle should be subjected to so monstrous an inconvenience when counties and cities get two or three deliveries a day?

This area was being covered by cycle post and we introduced a motor post within the area. Although the motor van is faster than the cycles, which is understandable, it has further to go. [An HON. MEMBER: "Progress!"] This is progress, but the van has further to go. It will be seen that it reaches some points earlier on its route, but there are bound to be other places which will receive their mail later than was the case.

I wish to give notice that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I will seek leave to raise this matter upon the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will include scenes of Scottish historic interest or scenic beauty in his next issue of postage stamps.

No, Sir.

Why not? Does not my hon. Friend realise that British, and particularly Scottish, history is rich in scenes which would be much more educational to the British people than some of the floral stamps which have recently been issued? Will he take this into account in connection with new issues?

Yes, we will take into account my hon. and learned Friend's observations. He will, however, remember that last year we had the Robert Burns stamp and a stamp depicting the Cairngorms, but it must be remembered that if we have new stamps we must have variety in our issues.

If the Postmaster-General's policy is to be one of parochialism in the issue of postage stamps, could we not consider having a postage stamp bearing a pictorial representation of Malvern Priory, in Worcestershire?

One thing which can be said for my right hon. Friend is that this is not a parochial matter. I say this in view of the hon. Member's previous question regarding the tower in his constituency.

We do not want a tower on postage stamps.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now sanction a special issue of postage stamps to mark the Golden Jubilee Stop Accidents Year.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend had a large number of suggestions for the 1967 special stamp programme and inevitably many worthy subjects had to be omitted.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that reply will cause great disappointment to many people, and particularly to the 100,000 who work voluntarily for the cause of accident prevention? Is he seriously saying that wild flowers and free trade have greater priority in his Department than road safety?

My right hon. Friend and I certainly recognise the importance of this work, but we could never hope to mark all such fine activities by the issue of a stamp. Our stamp programme for this year is already a heavy one.

Will my hon. Friend reconsider that reply? I do not say that he could immediately accept these proposals, but perhaps at a later stage he could seriously consider the proposals which have been made, which I believe to be very well worth while.

Every consideration has been given to the proposals which have been submitted to my right hon. Friend, and I am sorry that at this juncture I cannot hold out any further hope.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the sale of unit trusts at post offices.

There is no current proposal for the sale of unit trusts at post offices.

But could the Postmaster-General give the reasons why this has been turned down by his Department? Is it that he is against the sale of commercial units, or is it that he feels that it would interfere with the general collection of National Savings? Would he particularly bear in mind that the banks themselves, who have unit trusts, sell Saving Certificates?

I think that the hon. Gentleman may be confusing this with the proposal recently from the Sub-postmasters' Federation to sell Abbey Bonds, not unit trusts. Why it was turned down was that it would be difficult to know where to draw the line. If we allowed unit trusts to be sold at post offices, it would give them the cachet of reliability and credibility. It would be difficult to know where to draw the line.

Will my right hon. Friend consider setting up a Post Office unit trust, since this form of saving appeals to a great many people? Since the Post Office is now being set up as a trading corporation, here is a way of encouraging saving and increasing the profitability of the Post Office.

On savings matters, I am simply an agent acting for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. My hon. Friend will have to put that Question down to him.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will remove the provision requiring regular telephone subscribers to pay a year's rental in advance on removing to a new address and transferring to a line already in existence at the new address, in those areas in which waiting lists are small, and in all areas when the back-log has been overtaken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, when a telephone subscriber of modest means moves to a new address, the year's rental in advance and the connection charge can be spread over four quarterly payments instead of being payable by a large initial lump sum as at present.

In the light of the representations I have received from many quarters, including the Post Office Users Council, I have decided that as from tomorrow a year's rental in advance will not be required from customers who take over an existing telephone in situ provided that no work needs to be done on the installation.

I am sorry that I cannot spread the payment of connection charges and rental in advance, as suggested by the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his reply will give great satisfaction to the citizens of Cheadle and to many hon. Members, including me?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am grateful to him for going as far as he has? But could he not extend the principle a little further? Is he aware that a constituent of mine living on a small pension has been asked to pay a lump sum of £25, which she cannot possibly find? Why cannot this be spread over four quarterly payments of £6 5s. each? Is there no heart or flexibility in his Department?

There is a great deal of heart and flexibility in the Department, but this proviso was introduced to restrain consumer demand as part of the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20th July.

asked the Postmaster-General why he proposes to erect on the top of Bredon Hill, Worcestershire, a steel lattice tower, 80 feet high and 24 feet square at the base, which will be unduly prominent in an area of special scenic beauty; and, in view of the public protests for amenity reasons, whether he will seek an alternative site serving equivalent technical requirements without offending scenic and amenity considerations.

The tower is to enable more telephone circuits to be provided between Bristol and Birmingham. Its design is still under consideration. I expect it to be neither massive nor prominent but quite inconspicuous and no threat to the scenery and amenity of the area. I have been unable to find any position other than Bredon Hill that would be so satisfactory both technically and in enabling the tower to be concealed.

We do not want this tower on Bredon Hill. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Bredons and the whole of the area around the Malverns is of special amenity value and landscape beauty, that no person is allowed to build a house in the area, including my constituents? Why should the right hon. Gentleman take unto himself a special position and defile this area of outstanding amenity and beauty?

We shall not defile any area of outstanding beauty. What we are trying to do is to provide the country with an efficient system of telecommunications, which the previous Government never did.

Put it somewhere else.

There is only one other site which is technically possible. It is near Cheltenham and there would be an extra cost of £500,000. I repeat that the design is not yet settled. We are not obliged to get planning permission, but we intend to get planning clearance and, if the local authority asks for a public inquiry, we shall be happy to agree.

Put the rotten tower somewhere else.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans his Department has now made to speed up the supply of telephone equipment; and whether he will make a statement.

This year we plan to spend, on exchange equipment, more than double the amount of two years ago. The supply position is being kept under constant review and I am satisfied that the manufacturers are making great efforts to step up their output to meet our requirements.

Why has the Post Office had to face this crisis in the last two years?

It has had to face this crisis because the capacity of the industry has not been great enough because in the 1950s the forecast of telecommunications demand was inadequate.

Without going into the political comments of the right hon. Gentleman, can I ask him to refer to the number in arrears? Can he say whether there is a penalty clause in the contract?

The number in arrears, now running up to six months late, is 1,030 out of 1,292 contracts, so that it is serious. There is no penalty clause. I was not making a political point. I do not blame anybody for the inadequate forecasting. Forecasting telecommunications demand is extremely complicated. However, we are now planning with a very wide margin for the 1970s, and I hope that whoever is here in the 1970s will not have to answer questions of this sort.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that his Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) indicates the need for State participation in this industry? Will he look at the possibility of establishing factories in the development areas?

There is a later Question on that subject. Perhaps my hon. Friend will await my reply to it.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants for telephones in the Eltham area have been given telephones in the last six months; and how many are still on the waiting list.

As at 30th April, 625 and 317, respectively. Of the latter, 50 were due to be connected this month, but I regret that shortage of exchange equipment will prolong waiting list problems in the area until the autumn of 1968.

I congratulate my hon. Friend on the improvement, which has been noted by some of my constituents. Can the date for ending the waiting list be brought forward?

I regret not. Planning, manufacture and installation necessarily take time, but the measures which have become effective during the last six months have more than halved the waiting list, which is a very good achievement.

asked the Postmaster-General why the Blackburn telephone authorities have failed to list Messrs. Woods Limited of Manchester Road, Bolton, accurately either in the alphabetical or classified directories over the period 1964 to 1967; and if he will offer compensation for the loss of business which this has caused.

I regret that mistakes were made. The alphabetical directory has been corrected. The classified directory will be corrected at the next issue. My right hon. Friend has already offered a rebate of rental.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the offer of compensation of a rebate of six months' rental is totally inadequate in view of a story of incompetence going back nearly three years? Is he further aware that it is hoped that the offer of compensation can be considerably stepped up?

I know the interest which my hon. Friend has taken in this matter. I have gone through all the correspondence and I have to point out that we have done our best to minimise the inconvenience to Messrs. Woods. We have supplied it with change of number cards, stick-on labels for its stationery and we advised directory inquiry centres of the correct number. I cannot agree to go beyond the offer already made.

asked the Postmaster-General if, as a means of cutting increases in telephone charges from telephone boxes in units of 3d. or 6d., he will introduce a telephone token which can be purchased anywhere and of which the price can be varied by small amounts as and when needed.

No, Sir. Adjustment in charges need not affect the coins used. Tokens would have to be specially provided and would need to be unique to telephone coinboxes. The costs would be prohibitive.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman would agree that any future change in phone charges, which one presumes would be upwards and not downwards, would involve the use of two coins and an increase in costs of at least 50 per cent.? Is this what he intends?

No, the price can be varied by varying the time.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has in hand to encourage the Post Office to manufacture more of its own technical equipment.

I have at present no plans to extend the manufacture by the Post Office of its own equipment.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the expansion of the Post Office has been seriously hampered by the inadequacy of private enterprise in responding to the opportunities? Would he not further agree that the Post Office should consider endeavouring to set the pace in this respect?

My hon. Friend may not be aware that the Post Office at present owns four factories and 20 per cent. of the output is devoted to manufacturing our own equipment. We are taking power, if given by Parliament, in the Corporation Bill, which will come before the House next Session, to enable us to manufacture everything that we require.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are considerable fears in the telecommunications industry about possible redundancy, particularly in one firm? Is he satisfied that the staff of the industry as at present constituted is capable of meeting future requirements of the Post Office?

Without commenting on the ability of the industry to meet our requirements, I can point out to the House that we have referred the telecommunications industry to the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation as its first job. We hope to have its report this year.

If the Minister blames the telephone supply industry for delays, why has not the Post Office inserted a penalty clause in the contract?

We do not want to make any greater difficulties. The position is simply that the industry does not have the capacity. As I have said earlier, however, the industry is making great efforts, especially in the development areas, to improve its capacity.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that most people find it more difficult to memorise seven-figure telephone numbers than those with three letters and four numerals, he will undertake to leave all relevant telephone dials with suitable letters of the alphabet against each number, so that subscribers can if they wish translate the new seven-figure numbers into three letters and four numerals as hitherto.

asked the Postmaster-General by what date he expects the transition to all-number dialling in the Greater London area will be completed.

We have no plans for replacing lettered dials on existing telephones. We shall not provide lettered dials on new instruments when the change to all-figure numbering is complete.

All London automatic telephones which previously had the first three letters of the exchange name in capitals will have been given all-figure numbers by September this year.

Is not the present system very unsatisfactory? How many people can remember seven-figure telephone numbers? Is it not possible to think up something simpler for the use of the customer?

We took advice from some highly qualified psychologists about this—

Is that the answer?

—and we found that arbitrary groups of letters are just as difficult to remember as figures. On the other hand, I agree that letters which look like the name of the exchange are much easier to remember. We have, however, no option in the matter. If international dialling has to develop, we must go on to all-figure numbers.

Will the Postmaster-General go as slowly as he can in this direction? Will he bear in mind that in America, which has had years of experience in this connection, there is still grave dissatisfaction with all-figure dialling?

I quite agree, and I regret that it has had to happen, but it must happen. That is the way things are going in the world. We must move with everybody else. We will, however, move very slowly to give people time to adapt themselves to it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Hull telephone system we already have six-figure numbers and that this is working without any complaint whatever?

The problem facing telecommunications people is that no two telephone subscribers in the world must have the same number.

In addition to consulting psychologists, will the right hon. Gentleman consider conducting market research amongst consumers, when I think that he would find that there were real difficulties for the average person in remembering a long list of figures?

I quite agree. It is easier to remember a number if the first three letters look like a telephone exchange—ABB for Abbey, for example. If a purely arbitrary selection of letters is made—XYZ, for instance—we are told on expert advice that this is no more easy to remember than three figures.

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscriber trunk dialling callboxes there are in Greater London; and how many were out of order on Friday, 12th May.

About 9,300 and 900, respectively; 750 of the damaged boxes were usable for emergency calls.

While welcoming the fact that there has been some improvement in the figures during the past 12 months, may I ask the Postmaster-General when he expects that the London telephone box service will be really effective?

I cannot say that. We are doing everything we can. We are strengthening the telephone boxes and have introduced a number of secret alarm devices. As a result, the number of boxes out of action in London decreased by one-third last year and by one-quarter throughout the country. This is a social problem, however, and I cannot say when it will completely disappear.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to prevent the use by broadcasting organisations of concealed recording devices, unknown to the person being recorded, in order to obtain information for whatever purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to prevent broadcasting organisations using secret recording devices to obtain information.

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the Chairman and Governors of the B.B.C., and the Chairman and members of the I.T.A., are fully aware of the extreme gravity of using recording devices surreptitiously in order to get material for the broadcasting services for which they are answerable.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that it is widely felt that bugging should be practised if at all only by the police and security forces and not by any journalistic organisation however responsible, careful and illustrious it may be? Will he say a little more precisely what are the rules followed by the B.B.C. and the Independent Television Authority in this matter?

As my hon. Friend knows, the B.B.C. laid down new rules on 8th April arising out of the incident mentioned in the House previously. This is a matter for the B.B.C, but in essence the permission of the top management of the authority concerned has to be obtained before this can be done.

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's first reply as far as it went. However, will he say quite clearly that he thoroughly deplores the use of these devices by the B.B.C?

No. This is a matter for the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. I have seen their rules which they laid down on 8th April and I think that they will deal with the complaints which have been raised.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has to deal with political broadcasting by pirate radio stations, which is at present outside the terms of the Representation of the People Act and the charters of the British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television Authority.

My proposals for dealing with such broadcasting are contained in the Marine Etc., Broadcasting (Offences) Bill, which is intended to silence the pirate radio stations. I believe that this is the most effective way of dealing with the problem.

While we are waiting for the Bill to become effective and bearing in mind the slight possibility that some operators will try to circumvent its provisions, will my right hon. Friend institute or consider instituting discussions among all the political parties so that the spirit as well as the letter of the Representation of the People Act is observed?

To be fair, I do not think that the political parties as such have had anything to do with this. Individual candidates in local elections certainly have had something to do with it and have actually paid for time on some of the stations. I do not think that the party organisations as such have done so. However, I am willing to consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Why should pirate radio stations be denied free speech on political matters?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Section 80 of the Representation of the People Act, which makes it illegal to use radio for the purpose of influencing elections, refers to Parliamentary elections and not in any way to local elections? Will he seek to remedy that defect?

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will address his question to him.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he and the Leader of the House still think that the colossal local government disaster which the Government suffered in the recent elections was due to pirate radio broadcasts?

When the hon. Gentleman talks about a colossal disaster in local government terms, he should think in three-year cycles. Let him wait until the end of the three-year period.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will direct the British Broadcasting Corporation not to broadcast programmes containing blasphemy or blasphemous incidents.

No, Sir. The broadcasting authorities are already under a duty to satisfy themselves that, so far as possible, nothing is included in their programmes which offends against good taste or decency or is likely to be offensive to public feeling. The B.B.C. is, of course subject, like everyone else, to the law of the land in this respect.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the blasphemous dialogue that took place on "The Late Show" on 4th February of this year, which caused so much offence all over the country? Can anything be done to stop a repetition of this disgraceful behaviour?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman felt that this was blasphemous, he could have it tested in the courts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether licences are issued by him for walkie-talkie sets used for private recreational purposes provided they are operated in the right frequency bands and meet minimum standards of performance.

Yes, Sir. I do issue licences in such circumstances for activities like sailing and climbing, where radio-communication can help to save lives.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that this includes individual recreational activities as well as communal recreational activities?

Broadly speaking, we issue licences to three categories of people: first of all the radio amateurs, who have to pass a test, and secondly business users, taxi proprietors and so on. The definition of "business" has now been extended very liberally to include Outward Bound Schools, walking clubs, mountain rescue teams, and so forth. If an individual could make out a case on these grounds, we would be willing to consider it.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to reorganise the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority; and whether he will make a statement.

The instruments under which the two organisations are constituted run until 1976. I have no present plans to reorganise the B.B.C. and the I.T.A.

While welcoming that assurance, may I ask the Postmaster-General to give a further assurance that, despite the possible implications of his otherwise very interesting speech, there is no intention whatever at any date of reimposing the B.B.C.'s television monopoly?

I would not be prepared to give an undertaking about anything of the kind. I would like to leave whatever Government is in office in 1976 quite free to deal with the problem. What I did in my speech at Edinburgh was to point out the basic problems which lie at the heart of our broadcasting organisation in this country.

While agreeing with my right hon. Friend that reorganisation of the B.B.C. and I.T.A. may not be necessary, could he tell the House whether he is satisfied with their present performance on educational television and with the use of television and the radio networks for industrial training purposes? Can he say what steps he proposes in order to improve them?

Order. This is a question about reorganisation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has now considered the communication sent to him by a constituent of the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames about his Department's action in insisting under threat of legal penalities, on the obtaining of a separate radio licence, in respect of each transistor radio owned by physically disabled children at a residential college for such children; and whether, in view of the hardship likely to ensue, he will withdraw this demand.

I have, of course, every sympathy for these children. I am considering the matter and will make a statement to the House as soon as possible.

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for that Answer. Perhaps he could clear up the problem as to why this demand has suddenly been initiated at this stage?

There has been no change in the law at all. Children owning transistor sets at schools have always been liable to obtain sound receiving licences. What has caused the matter to come to the fore was a recent circular sent out by the Department of Education and Science.

asked the Potmaster-General what new date he proposes for the introduction of colour television, in view of the dispute involving technicians; and if he will make a statement.

None, Sir. The timing of the start of colour television on B.B.C.2 is a matter for the Corporation. I understand that there is now agreement between the Corporation and the staff association concerned about staffing procedures.

In view of the agreement between the staff and Corporation, can my right hon. Friend say at this stage when colour television will be introduced in Scotland and when he intends to cover the main belt of Scotland with this service?

Scotland will get colour on B.B.C.2 at the same time as everybody else. It will be launched on 1st July and the programme will start officially on 2nd December.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for a reduction in the television licence fee for retirement pensioners who are in receipt of National Assistance.

Although I understand the considerations which have prompted this Question, I do not believe that the granting of licence concessions on compassionate grounds is the right way of helping people in special need. Only those with television sets would benefit; and it would be unfair to make a concession to pensioners receiving supplementary benefits while denying it to other people in equal financial need.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider that Answer, because television is of tremendous benefit to these people? Licence fees, like practically everything else, are likely to rise, and it would be a very good way of helping these people.

I agree that it would be a very good way of helping them, but if the hon. Member thinks about it a little, as I am sure he has done, he will realise that there are all kinds of difficulty. As I have said, only pensioners with sets would benefit to the extent of £5 a year, only those with supplementary allowances would benefit, and so on. In addition, the cost would have to be met by the generality of viewers, many of whom would be poorer than the people receiving the concession. There are, therefore, many difficulties.

Will the Postmaster-General be more explicit about the cost being met? Surely, it does not cost any more to transmit a programme because more people are receiving it?

If the income of the B.B.C. is reduced, it has to be made up from some other source.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government have applied for membership of the Common Market, in which radio advertising is allowed, he will now seek to allow radio advertising in this country in order to harmonise United Kingdom and European Economic Community policies.

No, Sir. There is nothing in the Treaty of Rome of direct relevance to radio advertising nor, in practice, do the countries of the European Economic Community follow a common policy in this respect.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there are already commercial radio stations in France beamed at this country? If we join the Common Market, does he think that his present ban on commercial radio in this country can be sustained?

The hon. Gentleman knows my views on this. I am very anxious to maintain the public service broadcasting principle in this country. However, he will remember the wording of the White Paper.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the Government have let themselves in for something, that gradually they will be forced to accept everything that Rome does, and that radio and television in this country will become commercial? How can that be avoided?

As I have said, there is no common practice on this in the European Community now.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he is giving to Welsh local authorities to deal with oil damage to the coastline.

I have sent recently to all coastal local authorities a technical memorandum on oil clearance. This gives the latest available advice based on experience gained in Cornwall.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether there is still any oil in the "Torrey Canyon"? If there is any, what special instructions and advice has he given to local authorities in the Principality?

The hon. Gentleman must put a Question on that down to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government. I have no authority or executive responsibility for oil in the "Torrey Canyon". Fortunately, no oil from the "Torrey Canyon" has landed on the beaches of Wales. There are small deposits, but not from the "Torrey Canyon", and no official representations have been made from Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the Welsh Plan.

I intend to present a White Paper to Parliament in July. This document will seek to cover all the issues which affect the economic, social and cultural background of life in modern Wales.

I suppose that the right hon. Gentleman will issue this plan on the last day that Parliament sits. In the meantime, could he tell us why it has been so long delayed, and on what percentage growth rate in the economy is the plan based?

The hon. Gentleman must await the plan. The aim has been to make this a thorough and comprehensive study of the Welsh scene and to lay guide lines for the future and, subject to that, to present it at the earliest possible date.

But could the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of my supplementary question, which is on what percentage growth rate is it based?

The hon. Gentleman must wait for the plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement on the prices of school meals.

No, Sir.

Can my hon. Friend say when she will be in a position to make a statement? Will it be a part of a package plan, and can she say whether purely economic considerations are being taken care of, or whether the very important social implications of an increase in the price of school meals will be set as a counter-force to the purely economic arguments?

Answering Questions in the House on 13th April, my right hon. Friend pointed out that there were so many social and economic factors to be borne in mind in reaching a decision on this question that he indicated that there would be no early answer to the question of when school meal prices would be reviewed.

Is my hon. Friend aware that food prices will increase if we enter the European Economic Community? Has her Department had any discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture to establish whether this increase will be reflected in the price of school meals?

My hon. Friend will know that it is not our application to join the European Economic Community but, rather, the Report of the Estimates Committee which has led to a consideration of school meal charges by my right hon. Friend.

Does my hon. Friend recall that the last controversial announcement by her Ministry on the raising of overseas students' fees was made in reply to a Written Question on the eve of the Christmas Recess? Can we have an assurance that that will not be done again?

I shall be happy to give that assurance on behalf of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now appoint a Cabinet Minister to be responsible for the overall co-ordination of the effects of social welfare and fiscal policies, following his further consideration of the problems of the families of lower-paid workers.

I have been asked to reply.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9th February, 1967, to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) and Meriden (Mr. Rowland) and the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis).—[Vol. 740, c. 1821.]

Nevertheless, at a time when we are all agreed that the social services need more money, how can it be either economic or social sense for the Exchequer to be giving the largest housing and educational subsidies in tax rebates to the wealthiest people?

In the earlier Answer to which I referred, my right hon. Friend made it clear that we would be presenting to the House, certainly by the summer, the Government's plans for assistance to families dependent upon lower-paid workers. That will, therefore, fit in with what we are now doing.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that, whatever plans are introduced, the lower-paid workers will not have to wait until next April before they get any of the benefits which the Government propose?

I do not think that that arises out of the Question on the Order Paper. If the right hon. Gentleman can arrange for the appropriate Question to be put down, we will see what we can do with it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to arrange an international conference on journeys by men into outer space in order to produce safeguards against the possibility of further disasters in space programmes, and to avoid the economic resources of a planet, with much of its population existing at starvation level or worse, being wastefully expended by competition rather than co-operation in the field of space research.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. Whilst sharing my hon. Friend's concern. I believe that this is a matter which can only be dealt with by the two countries who have a manned space programme.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that it would be a service to humanity if he could convince the Governments of the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. of the need for co-operation in space research? Can he indicate precisely how much money is being expended in the world on this matter?

I do not think that I have the answer to the last part of that Question. As to the first part of it, I agree with the spirit of what my hon. Friend is saying, but one of the problems is the lack of enthusiasm between the countries concerned. One of the sad features of this is that, when the Americans suggested that some of their astronauts should attend the funeral of Komarov, the Russian who died, the suggestion was rejected by the Soviets.

asked the Prime Minister if he will offer to the North Vietnamese Government visas for their representatives to visit Great Britain and to publicly put their view on the Vietnam war on condition that a similar number of British representatives are given equal facilities to put the British point of view publicly to the Vietnamese people.

I have been asked to reply.

The need at the moment is to talk about peace, not about war. If the North Vietnamese Government were willing to accept our representatives for serious talks on ways and means of ending the conflict, or were willing to send their representatives here for this purpose, they would find Her Majesty's Government immediately responsive.

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for that Answer, but, while recognising the difficulties that he has in this problem, may I ask whether he would not agree that the only hope for the peace which he seeks is for both sides to hear the other side's point of view, and will he do whatever he can to see that that comes about?

Frankly, I do not want to become involved in a propaganda exercise here. When the hon. Gentleman talks about both sides hearing the other side's point of view, of course, we are not one of the sides. My concern is to give what help I can either to bring the parties together or to find some other forum in which means of ending or reducing the hostilities or moving on to talks can be found. I am willing to take any steps to do that, but I do not see much point in becoming involved in a propaganda exercise.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that, in so far as we are not supposed to be one of the sides, it would be difficult to send official representatives here, but in so far as we might have some influence, official bodies coming here to explain the view of the Vietnamese and people from this country going to Vietnam, we could make a contribution to ending this disgusting tragedy of a war?

A lot would depend on who went where and what they did when they got there, but, on the serious part of the question, the very fact that we are not one of the sides, and that we share with the Soviet Union responsibility as co-Chairmen, does give us the position to play a rôle in trying to bring this disgraceful war to an end. I want to keep that position. I want to be able to use it at the appropriate moment, and that is why I gave the hon. Gentleman the answer that I did.

asked the Prime Minister how far matters affecting the coal industry in Great Britain will constitute major or minor decisions in relation to negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community.

I have been asked to reply.

I do not, Sir, expect coal to give rise to any major issue in the negotiations but if my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind perhaps he would let my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power know of it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Question was sparked off by the Prime Minister himself making a statement to the House that there would be major and minor decisions? Might I make my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that many miners in this country do not share the Government's enthusiasm for entering the Common Market, and that his Answer today will not allay their fears?

Speaking as a Member with quite a large number of miners in his constituency—indeed, without them I would not be here; they just about equal my majority—my impression is that it depends on how the case is put to them as to what decision they come to. Seriously, however, while there are major, and, as my hon. Friend said, minor questions at issue, our information, both about our own industry and its likely trends, and about the coal industry on the Continent and its likely trends, suggests to us that the coal problem is not one of the major issues.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the heavy social obligations borne by the National Coal Board at the moment may be increased if we go into the Common Market, and does not he agree that it is time the Government took over the full financial cost of these obligations?

I do not think that the latter half of the question arises out of the Question on the Order Paper. As to the first part, the answer is that it will involve some changes in the Board's pricing policies, and some problems about the E.C.S.C. levy, and so on, but we do not think that these raise major difficulties.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a progress report on the British application to join the European Economic Community.

I have been asked to reply.

Her Majesty's Government have no further statement to make to the House at this moment.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is now likely that the negotiations will actually start to enter the Community? If they start, do the Government intend to have some kind of time limit, say by the end of the year? Finally, can my right hon. Friend say whether serious consideration will now be given to the possibility of associate membership for Britain if this is offered to us?