asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the Dorridge area of Solihull postal deliveries are late and the telephone service inadequate; and whether he will take steps to remedy the deficiencies in these services in the area.

The telephone service in the Dorridge area is generally satisfactory, but if the hon. and learned Gentleman has details of specific failures I will gladly look into them. The late deliveries of mail are due to a shortage of staff in the area. We are doing all we can to remedy this.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will amend the charges for registration of postal packets to bring them into line with the premiums for insuring recorded delivery letters charged by private enterprise firms, details of which have been sent to him.

No. The present charges for registration do not cover the costs of the service which, unlike recorded delivery, provides special security treatment at all stages.

asked the Postmaster-General what estimate he has made of the effect on National Savings of the alterations recently made in the savings services provided by the Post Office, in particular the withdrawal of 6d. savings stamps, the increase in the minimum sums of savings stamps which can be cashed and the increase in the minimum deposit which can be made in the Post Office Savings Bank.

It is as yet too early to estimate the financial effect of these changes. So far, however, the level of sale of savings stamps remains roughly unchanged.

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter sent on 21st March by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, to the Minister of Health was not delivered by his Department until 24th March; why communications from the Ministry of Health sent on 28th March to the Metropolitan Hospital Board in London were not delivered until 30th March; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the letters were in each case delivered on the day after posting and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has written to my hon. Friend explaining this.

asked the Postmaster-General what consideration he has given, in his current study of the problems of communication in emergencies for housebound people and those living alone, to the emergency call scheme put into operation, with the co-operation of the Redbridge Borough Council, by the Barkingside branch of Toc H, details of which are in his possession.

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for sending me this information, which will be most helpful.

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

272 and none, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered the resolution sent to him by the Radio Industries Club of Scotland Congress held at Peebles on 2nd May asking him to ensure that Scotland receives the duplicated services of B.B.C. 1 and I.T.A. 1 as soon as the main region in England; and what reply he has sent.

I have told the Club that it would not be practicable to start the duplicate transmissions on 625-lines of B.B.C. 1 and independent television everywhere at the same time. The intention is that, after the start of the first transmissions planned for about the end of 1969, their extension will follow as quickly as possible, to reach three-quarters of the population of the United Kingdom, including parts of Scotland, by the end of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the draft circular he sent to local authority associations, asking that fees for non-vocational evening classes be increased, together with an analysis of the replies; and whether he will make a statement.

No. It is normal practice to consult the associations in confidence. In this case, after taking account of what they said, my right hon. Friend circulated a short memorandum of guidance, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in which annual building programme will the proposed Agricultural College for Wales be included; and when it is expected that building will begin.

No detailed proposals for this project with a view to its inclusion in a building programme have yet been put to the Department. As the Welsh Joint Education Committee were informed in 1965 my right hon. Friend is prepared, on certain conditions which he specified, to consider the project sympathetically for a place in an early programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is now able to give the membership of the National Council for Educational Technology which he announced recently.

I have already announced that Dr. Brynmor Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull, has agreed to be Chairman. I am glad to say that the following have accepted invitations to become membersSir William Alexander, Chairman, Joint Executive Committee of the National Committee for Audio-Visual Aids in Education and the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids. Professor J. Black, Head of School of Engineering, Bath University of Technology. Dr. E. W. H. Briault, Deputy Education Officer, Inner London Education Authority. Miss J. D. Browne, Principal, Coventry College of Education. Mr. D. C. Butts, Officer for Television, Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow. Mr. C. J. Duncan, Head of Department of Photography, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Mr. W. E. Egner, Headmaster, South Shields Grammar/Technical School for Boys. Mr. J. H. Embling, Headmaster, Oxhey Wood Junior School, Herts. Mr. F. Garner, Chairman, Research Committee of the Central Training Council. Mr. A. Goldie, Rector, Aberdeen Academy. Dr. J. A. Harrison, Director, Educational Foundation for Visual Aids. Mr. D. G. Holroyde, Director of Television Services, The University of Leeds. Mr. G. O. M. Leith, Director, National Centre for Programmed Learning. Mr. W. C. McDowall, Personnel Director, I.C.I. (Nobel Division), Ardeer, Ayrshire. Mr. N. I. MacKenzie, Director, Centre for Academic Services, The University of Sussex. Alderman J. Moore, Member of the Lancashire Education Committee. Mr. J. Newsome, Officer for Visual and Aural Aids, Surrey Local Education Authority. Mr. R. A. Postgate, Controller of Educational Broadcasting, British Broadcasting Corporation. Mr. G. I. Thomas, Headmaster, Glanynant Secondary School, Cardiff. Mr. J. L. M. Trim, Head of Department of Linguistics, University of Cambridge. Mr. B. Webster, Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Plymouth College of Technology. Mr. J. Weltman, Education Officer, Independent Television Authority. Professor H. Wiltshire, Department of Adult Education, University of Nottingham. Professor J. Vaizey, Professor of Economics, Brunel University. Mr. B. Young, Director, The Nuffield Foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks have been made in recent years on employees working on public service vehicles; and if there is any evidence of a decline in the number of assaults since the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board was established in August, 1964.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the large number of assaults made on employees working on public service vehicles in London, he will agree to meet representatives of the London Transport Board and the Transport and General Workers' Union to discuss this matter.

I have had correspondence with the Board and the Union on this matter and would consider sympathetically a request for a meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has approved the proposed arrangements at the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory for dealing with blood tests for motorists which involve no less than six stages; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that all these six steps will be free from error.

I am satisfied that the arrangements for analysing blood specimens at the Metropolitan Police Laboratory provide adequate safeguards against the possibility of error.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to implement the recommendations made by the British Safety Council at the conclusion of its report on the dangers to road safety presented by mini-cabs, a copy of which has been sent to him;

(2) what action he proposes to take following the publication of the British Safety Council's report, An Investigation into the growth of Mini-Cabs, with particular reference to public safety, a copy of which has been sent to him, other than implementing the recommendations contained in it; and if he will make a statement.

The degree of control which may need to be exercised over private hire cars will be considered in the review of the respective roles of licensed taxis and hire cars in London to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister referred in the Answer he gave on 9th March to a Question by the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Geoffrey Wilson).—[Vol. 742, c. 341. ]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to impose heavier penalties on those who daub political slogans on the property of private householders, local authorities and other public bodies, and to enable those whose property is affected to recover the cost of cleaning from the offenders.

If damage is caused to property, the offender may be liable to prosecution under Section 14 of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, which empowers courts to order reasonable compensation to be paid to the party aggrieved. Defacing buildings may also be an offence under local authority byelaws. The Criminal Justice Bill now before Parliament increases from £5 to £20 both the maximum fine for malicious damage where the amount of damage is £5 or less and the maximum fine which may be prescribed for offences against byelaws made by local authorities.

The question of reparation by offenders is being considered by the Advisory Council on the Penal System, but it is open to persons who are put to expense to take proceedings in the civil courts against those responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, at the cost of foreign exchange, he has agreed to a £200,000 contract being signed with a West German firm for breathalysers; what action he took to obtain a British production of these devices; and whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the various quotations submitted to him, with countries of origin.

A number of breath testing devices have been submitted for my approval under the Road Safety Act, 1967, including one made in this country, but only the article manufactured in West Germany reached a satisfactory standard of reliability. The question of obtaining quotations from other firms does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will call a conference of the parties concerned to discuss the uses to which international aid to India should be put.

The Aid-India Consortium, which meets periodically under the chairmanship of the World Bank, provides ample opportunities for such discussions.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether, when giving aid to Commonwealth territories, he will seek to make arrangements with the receiving Government to allocate the aid to particular projects or areas in the territory concerned.

A large part of the aid we give is for projects agreed with recipient Governments (which in some cases relate to particular areas) or for application to detailed development programmes. Much aid must however be given in non-project form.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what is the criterion by which Her Majesty's Government assess social inadequacies; how many exist; and what special steps he proposes to take to help these people.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Report on a Survey of Homeless Single Persons published last November and to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Park) on 1st May.—[Vol. 746, c. 86.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for the rapid printing and distribution at a reasonable price of the Treaty of Rome in order to give people an opportunity to study its terms.

A translation of the Treaty of Rome has been available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office since 1962 and a revised translation has been put on sale today priced at 16s. 6d.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to safeguard British Consular staff in Macao; what protest he has made to the Portuguese Government regarding their failure to protect the British Consul from hooliganism; and if he will make a statement.

The Consul and his staff were withdrawn temporarily to Hong Kong on 25th May to ensure their personal safety. We had previously reminded the Portuguese Government on several occasions of their obligation to protect the Consulate and its staff. Since the Consul's withdrawal, we have again asked the Portuguese to safeguard the consulate premises. They assured us on 25th May that the necessary instructions were being sent to the Governor of Macao. I am sure all Members of the House will wish to join with me in paying tribute to the fortitude with which Mr. Ions and his colleagues have faced the harassment to which they were subjected in Macao.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the repeated rejection by the terrorist organisations in South Arabia of his appeals to them to assist in restoring law and order in Aden, he will now cease to make any further approaches to them.

We shall continue to try to make all political leaders understand that violence is against their interests and the interests of the country. At the same we shall take all necessary action to maintain law and order ourselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether at any time the British authorities in South Arabia have advised the authorities in the State of Lahej or in any other State of the Federation not to bring to trial persons suspected of acts of lawlessness; and on what grounds.

My inquiries do not reveal any case of such advice having been given, or of the British authorities being consulted about such trials.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's future policy in regard to South Arabia.

The House has been told that there will be a full debate on South Arabia in the near future. That will be the time for a statement on policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the instructions to the British security forces in Aden permit them to shoot persons illegally carrying arms or whether they are permitted to shoot only if such persons resist arrest; when were instructions in this regard last amended; and in what respect.

Instructions to British troops in Aden contain orders to fire in self-defence when attacked with arms and explosives; and to fire if that is the only way to arrest persons committing acts of violence, or when they are honestly believed to have done so, and to prevent their escape. The current instructions were issued in January last year and have not since been amended.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now take the initiative at the United Nations to propose an investigation of the evidence that poison gas has been used by the United Arab Republic in the Yemen.

Her Majesty's Government has no diplomatic representation in the Republic of the Yemen and therefore is not in a position to have direct evidence of these allegations. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to take the initiative suggested at the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to actuate the present international organisations whose object is to make and preserve international peace to invite North and South Vietnamese Ministers to a conference to devise means of ending the Vietnam war.

We are of course ready to take any steps which might lead to the ending of the Vietnamese war. However, I have no reason to think that the North Vietnamese or their allies are yet ready to attend a conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the consultations with the Commonwealth Secretariat and with individual Commonwealth countries before he announced increased charges for Press rates on cables to all parts of the Commonwealth.

The relevant inter-Commonwealth organisation—the Commonwealth Telecommunications Board—as long ago as 1954, recommended an increase from the special wartime rate of 1d. a word to 3d. a word, as compared with the pre-war rate of 2¼d. a word. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by a Commonwealth Telecommunications Conference in 1958. More recently, all Commonwealth Governments were consulted through diplomatic channels and were subsequently informed of the British Government's intention to increase the rates and the reasons for so doing. None demurred. No neces- sity for consultations through the Commonwealth Secretariat therefore arose.

The increased rate still involves a large subsidy.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the political effect upon Rhodesia of the present level of sanctions; and if he will make a statement.

Sanctions are making an increasingly effective impact on the Rhodesian economy; but they have not as yet achieved the object of our policy, which is to secure a return to constitutional rule. They will be pressed home until that object is achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how much revenue from taxation has been lost as a result of the withholding of interest payments to holders in Great Britain of Rhodesia Government Stock.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Federal German Government concerning the 62 per cent. increase in German exports to Rhodesia during the first two months of 1967 compared with the first two months of 1966, and with what result;

(2) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Swiss Government concerning the 107 per cent. increase in Swiss imports from Rhodesia during the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966, and with what result;

(3) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 60 per cent. increase in exports from the European Economic Community to South Africa in January 1967 compared with January 1966 resulted from an increase in South African entrepot trade in goods destined for Rhodesia, and with what result;

(4) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 79 per cent. increase in Italian exports to South Africa in January, 1967, compared with January, 1966, resulted from an increase in South African entrepôt trade in goods destined for Rhodesia, and with what result;

(5) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 63 per cent. increase in Japanese trade with South Africa in the first two months of 1967 compared with the corresponding period of 1966 resulted from an increase in South African entrepôt trade in goods to and from Rhodesia, and with what result;

(6) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 35 per cent. increase in West German exports to South Africa in the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966 resulted from an increase in South African entrepôt trade in goods destined for Rhodesia, and with what result;

(7) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Japanese Government regarding the 62 per cent. increase in Japanese exports to Rhodesia in the first two months of this year compared with the first two months of 1966, and with what result;

(8) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the French Government concerning the 222 per cent. increase in French exports to Rhodesia in the first two months of 1967 compared with the first two months of 1966, and with what result;

(9) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Netherlands Government concerning the 24 per cent. increase in Dutch exports to Rhodesia during the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966, and with what result;

(10) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has noted the 46 per cent. increase in other European Free trade Association countries' exports to Rhodesia in the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966; and what representations he has made to other European Free Trade Association Governments about this matter.

I keep a very close watch on the statistics of trade with Southern Africa and I can assure the House that the means whereby sanctions against Rhodesia can be made more effective are constantly under review. The question of any representations to foreign governments, of course, is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now cancel the proposed naval visit to South Africa.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers which I gave yesterday.—[Vol. 747, c. 88–92, c. 3–4. ]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make it a condition of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market that the countries of Eastern Europe be invited to enter on the same terms.

I have been asked to reply.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for a further meeting with President de Gaulle to discuss British entry into the European Economic Community.

I have been asked to reply.

This subject will no doubt arise during the general exchange of views which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is having with President de Gaulle, on 19th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will set a dateline for a decision to be arrived at on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I have been asked to reply.

No, but, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, Her Majesty's Government believe that the interests of all of us in Europe require that we should make speedy progress.

asked the Prime Minister, whether, in view of the official statement of French policy made by General de Gaulle in Paris on Tuesday 16th May, he will, as a means of showing Great Britain's desire to enter the European Economic Community, before the negotiations commence, accept the conditions laid down by France to sever Great Britain's special relations with the United States of America, abandon the use of sterling as a reserve currency, and end the control on the free flow of capital.

I have been asked to reply.

I am not aware that any member of the Six has laid down any conditions which require acceptance before the commencement of negotiations.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will, during the initial stages of the forthcoming negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the Common Market, advise the countries of the European Economic Community that whatever proposals or agreements that are arrived at by Great Britain's negotiations these will only be of a tentative nature, subject to an endorsement by the Parliament of Westminster.

I have been asked to reply.

I have already made it clear that Parliament will be asked to endorse, before their entry into force, any agreements providing for British membership of the Communities.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the official statement of French policy made by General de Gaulle in Paris on Tuesday 16th May, he will withdraw Great Britain's application for entry into the Common Market.

I have been asked to reply.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will refuse the resignation which has been offered to him by Dr. Balogh as economic adviser to the Government until the United Kingdom's entry into the Common Market is assured.

I have been asked to reply.

No. Dr. Balogh has been on leave of absence from Oxford University and is returning to his duties there; but he will continue to undertake work part time for the Government.

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Soviet Prime Minister to continue their previous discussions about the Vietnam war; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

As the House knows, we are in frequent contact with the Soviet Government on a wide range of world problems. I myself returned from discussions in Moscow on 26th May, during which I discussed the Vietnam problem and also invited Mr. Gromyko to visit this country: an invitation that I am glad to say he accepted. My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, has no plans to invite the Soviet Prime Minister to further discussions for the time being.

asked the Prime Minister if he will indicate his plans to ameliorate the financial problems of the lower paid workers in relation to the Government's recent advances in social welfare and its present fiscal policies.

I have been asked to reply.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4th May to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin).—[Vol. 746, c. 736–7.]

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of their increasing intensity and the consequent threat to world peace, he will refer the matter of the disturbances in Hong Kong to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for inquiry and report.

I have been asked to reply.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether his offer of a written guarantee to Lord Thomson that the Monopolies Commission would not oppose his takeover of the Sunday Citizen was made with the knowledge and agreement of the Monopolies Commission; and whether he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

No. The Monopolies and Mergers Act empowers the Board of Trade in certain circumstances to give consent to the transfer of a newspaper without reference to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about the current crisis in the Near East and Great Britain's obligations under the Tripartite Agreement.

I have been asked to reply.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 19th December, 1966, to a Question by the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison)—[Vol. 738, c. 195–6 ]—and to the speeches of myself and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in yesterday's debate.—[Vol. 747. c. 102–14, c. 199–212.]

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Postmaster-General in Amsterdam on Monday, 15th May, at the opening of the International Philatelic Exhibition, Amphilex, about the establishment of European aviation, nuclear, electronics, computer and hovercraft industries, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I have been asked to reply.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on Saturday, 13th May, 1967, on the expansion of the economy represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I have been asked to reply.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he estimates that the price of butter will be doubled if Great Britain enters the Common Market; whether he is aware that French and Dutch butter is today widely on sale in Great Britain at prices approximately equivalent to English butter; and what evidence has been submitted to him that French and Dutch butter is dumped here and sold at prices half that in Holland and France.

The market price for butter in the United Kingdom is determined basically by substantial supplies from low-cost producers such as New Zealand; and it is common knowledge that many countries, including France and the Netherlands, pay export subsidies to facilitate sales in the U.K. at competitive prices. It was for this reason that in 1962 butter quota arrangements were introduced, at the request of the major traditional suppliers, in order to protect their interests. Under these arrangements butter is at present obtainable in this country at 300s. per cwt. Under E.E.C. arrangements as they stand at present, wholesale butter prices throughout the Community would be sustained by support buying—at an intervention price, for 1968–69, of 640s. per cwt.—and by a minimum import price of 694s. for imports from third countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to make a decision about the use of cyclamates in food.

My right hon. Friend has not yet completed his consideration of the representations which he has received on the report of the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee, and I cannot at this stage add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) on 28th April.—[Vol. 745, c. 353. ]

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) whether he is aware that, during the period of the wages and salaries standstill, the directors of Empire Stores (Bradford) Limited increased their emoluments from £47,530 in 1965–66 to £49,306 during 1966–67; and what action he has taken, or proposes to take, to prevent such rises in this and similar cases;

(2) whether he is aware that, for the year ending 31st December 1966, the directors of the Penguin Publishing Company Limited paid to themselves in fees and other emoluments £43,527, as compared with £33,968 in the previous year; and, as this is contrary to the Government's wages and salaries standstill, what action he has taken, or intends to take, against those concerned;

(3) whether he is aware that for the year ended 31st December, 1966, the directors of Cambrian Airways Limited received in fees and other remuneration £16,939, as compared with £14,720 in the previous year; and as this was contrary to the Government's standstill on wages, prices and salaries, what action he has taken or intends to take in connection with this matter;

(4) whether he will cause an investigation to be made into all company reports and statements of accounts registered with the Registrar of Companies and/or the Inland Revenue, since July, 1966, to ascertain to what extent company directors have been observing the Government's wages and salaries standstill during the past 12 months;

(5) whether he is aware that, for the year ended December, 1966, the chairman's remuneration and directors' fees and managerial services, including contributions to pensions schemes, for Dorland Advertising Limited rose to £117,660 from the £104,952 paid in the previous year; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent the directors' fees and emoluments of this firm contravened the Government's wage and salary standstill from July, 1966;

(6) what action he has taken or intends to take to examine company reports to ascertain to what extent company directors have been observing the Government's salary and wages standstill; whether he is aware that the latest report of C. J. Lytle (Advertising) Limited shows that the directors' emoluments have increased from £25,349 to £28,263 during the last year; and what action he proposes to take in this instance to enforce the Government's salary standstill;

(7) whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the public companies who have either attempted to, or actually increased the emoluments of their directors, and the number of these increases which his Department have prevented.

I am informed that in none of these was there any increased remuneration paid to the directors contrary to the requirements of the standstill and severe restraint White Papers.

My inquiries show that the increases mentioned in total remuneration to directors arose either from an increase in the number of directors or from increases in the individual remuneration put into effect before the start of the standstill. In these circumstances I do not feel that a general investigation on the lines proposed would serve a useful purpose.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that the National Board for Prices and Incomes has used the services of Booz, Allen and Hamilton International (Great Britain) Limited in the preparation of the report on bank charges; if this is a wholly-owned United Kingdom company; and if he will make a statement.

The National Board for Prices and Incomes employed the firm of Booz, Allen and Hamilton International N.V., a Dutch company with a branch in Great Britain, to examine and report upon certain aspects of the use of clerical staff and general branch organisation in British banks.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware that a full and detailed account of the contents of the National Board for Prices and Incomes' Report on Fire Service Pay was disclosed to newspapers some 48 hours before it was available to the Fire Brigades Union; and what steps he is taking to guarantee protection to trade unions against disclosures, which cause embarrassment, in the future.

Yes. I have been assured by the Chairman of the National Board for Prices and Incomes that this disclosure has caused him acute embarrassment and that for his part he is taking all possible steps to ensure that the findings of the Board remain confidential until they are published.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he has received the Report by the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Merchant Navy Officers' Pay; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the First Secretary of State and the Minister of Labour have now received the Report which is expected to be published on 2nd June. In the special circumstances of the shipping industry it is essential for the employers to send out revised instructions on rates of pay at least four weeks before 3rd July, the date of implementation already agreed by the parties. My right hon. Friends have therefore thought it right to tell the representatives of the parties concerned of the recommendations prior to the date of official publication.

asked the Minister of Health whether, when appointing members of regional hospital boards, he will make it a condition of appointment that the persons concerned reveal their membership of political parties.

No.

asked the Minister of Health why, in the case of a constituent of the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton, the particulars of which have been forwarded to him, a charge of 11 shillings per bottle is made for a prescription by the local doctor of a product called Polytar; and if he will make a statement.

This product is a hair and scalp cleanser and the National Health Service Act provides for the supply, as part of the general medical services, of proper and sufficient drugs and medicines, but not of shampoos and other toilet preparations.

asked the Minister of Labour what evidence he has of firms giving new titular positions to employees solely to entitle them to an increase of remuneration during the period of severe restraint.

None.

asked the Minister of Labour by what amount the rates and earnings of draughtsmen are estimated to have increased as a result of the recent settlement between the Draughtsmen and Allied Technicians Association and Swan Hunter; and if this figure is consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

This settlement, which provides for an increase of just less than 6 per cent. for draughtsmen employed by Swan Hunter with effect from 1st July, 1967, has not yet been implemented, and is being considered in the light of Government policy for the period following 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that some teachers of technical subjects receive less in remuneration than when receiving training for their qualifications; and if he will therefore review the salary scales of teachers of technical subjects.

This situation seldom arises and then only because a training grant can be substantially supplemented by dependants' allowances, while a salary is not.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the operation of Section 29(l) of the 1962 Education (Scotland) Act, is such that reasonable provision is made for parental wishes in the allocation of children to particular schools; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Allocation to primary schools managed by education authority is generally in accordance with a zoning scheme drawn up by the authority defining the areas to be served by particular schools. Allocation of pupils to secondary schools managed by an education authority is governed by the authority's educational provision and transfer schemes, as approved by me, and the procedure for settling any disputes which may arise between parents and education authorities takes full account of parents' wishes. Disputes are relatively rare, and, as comprehensive reorganisation progresses and transfer tests are abolished, the occasions for such disputes should gradually disappear.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what effect the removal of the surcharge has had upon prices charged by the United Kingdom paper industry; and if he is satisfied that these effects have been fully reflected in price indices published in the Board of Trade Journal.

I cannot accurately distinguish these effects from those of other market factors. The wholesale price indices for particular products shown in Table 3( a ) of the Board of Trade Journal articles show that in January paper and board prices fell slightly, but wallpaper prices increased. I believe that the index numbers provide a valid representation of the underlying price movements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if the price index of home market sales for paper industries currently standing at 120.6 is calculated from list prices or from prices currently charged by paper makers;

(2) if the wholesale price index is calculated on list prices or on the prices actually charged; and if he will make a statement.

In requesting information from firms about prices, the Board emphasise that what are wanted are prices actually charged, net of discounts, rebates, etc.; and I have no reason to doubt that, with very few exceptions, these are what firms supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received the report by the Monopolies Commission on the merger of British Insulated Callender's Cables Limited and Pyrotenax Limited; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I received the Commission's report on 5th May. Its conclusion is that, in the light of certain assurances given by British Insulated Callender's Cables Limited to the Commission, this merger does not operate and may be expected not to operate against the public interest.

I accept this conclusion. I have laid the Commission's report before Parliament and it will be published this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Technology what proposals he has to ensure continuity of work at Harland and Wolff, Belfast, pending the commencement of work on orders placed for 1968–69, in order to ensure that the skilled labour force is not lost during the intervening period.

The responsibility for obtaining orders rests with the firm concerned, but its efforts are assisted by the Government's export credit facilities and the Shipbuilding Industry Bill makes provision for Government guarantees to be given in respect of financing of appropriate home orders placed in United Kingdom yards.

asked the Minister of Technology what assistance the Government is providing for the development of a British electric car.

The Ministry of Technology is discussing with the motor industry how the Government can further assist the industry with research and development into battery electric cars. The main problem to be overcome is the provision of a battery with a much greater energy storage capacity than those presently available. The Department is sponsoring a number of research projects, both in industry and in universities, on advanced battery development and additional work in this field is being carried out by the National Research Development Corporation.

asked the Minister of Transport how many times the Road Safety Advisory Council has met prior to April, 1967; and what is to be the frequency of future meetings.

The Council met on thirteen occasions in the two years prior to April, 1967. There is no set frequency for future meetings but we expect that it will meet three or four times a year.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the members of the Road Safety Advisory Council before the recent change of membership and chairmanship.

Before the appointment of additional members in November, 1966, the composition of the Council was as follows:— Sir Alfred Owen (Chairman). Mr. Wilfrid Andrews. Mr. Norman Capener. The Lord Chesham. Mr. Jim Clark. Mr. Alex Durie Lady Janner. Sir Herbert Manzoni. Mrs. Marie Patterson. Sir Howard Roberts. Sir Alex Samuels. The Lord Willis.

Except for Sir Alex Samuels, all are still serving. Sir Alfred Owen became Vice-Chairman when my hon. Friend the Member for Aberavon joined the Council as Chairman last February.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has studied the information about automatic level-crossing half-barriers which has been sent to her by the hon. Member for Antrim, South; if she will issue a general direction to the British Railways Board to modify this system in the interests of the safety of children; and if she will make a statement.

We have studied the information received from the hon. Member and a full reply will be sent. The automatic half-barrier system of protection has been devised to the Requirements of the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways. Over 150 of these barriers have been installed in recent years and I am happy to say that there have been no accidents to children or adult pedestrians at any of them. We see no need to make any change.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the revenue raised from motor vehicle licences in Scotland in each of the years from 1955–56 to 1965–66.

The figures, net of refunds, are: Year £ million 1955–56 … … … 6.8 1956–57 … … … 7.0 1957–58 … … … 7.7 1958–59 … … … 8.2 1959–60 … … … 8.0 1960–61 … … … 9.2 1961–62 … … … 10.9 1962–63 … … … 11.7 1963–64 … … … 13.0 1964–65 … … … 14.2 1965–66 … … … 19.3

asked the Minister of Transport what information she has about the effect on atmospheric conditions in cities, of the change over from trolleybuses to diesel buses in the field of municipal transport; and if she will make a statement.

Information about atmospheric conditions in cities has for some years been collected by the Air Pollution Unit of the Medical Research Council, and no evidence has been found to suggest that diesel exhaust gases cause danger to public health.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction to British Waterways to cease spraying canalside verges and instead institute a non-chemical method of control when excessive undergrowth makes this necessary.

No. I know that the Board is fully alive to the problems surrounding the use of chemicals to control weed growth and that the Chairman will shortly be writing to the hon. Member about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received from the National Board for Prices and Incomes the report on bank charges and associated matters; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State and I have received the report and welcome it. It provides valuable information not hitherto published on the total profits of the London Clearing banks and the Scottish banks, and on their costs and profit margins. I am studying the important proposals put forward for changing many of the existing practices of the banks in relation to the rates and charges and other matters, and for ending the system of recommended rates for Building Societies, and shall discuss them with those concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much a reduction of sixpence in the standard rate of Income Tax would increase the weekly take-home pay of a person earning the national weekly average for industrial employees of £20 6s. 0d. and a steady 30s. a week overtime, assuming such a person to be a married man with two children aged under 11 years.

By about 13s. a year (i.e., an average of 3d. a week) assuming this was his total income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure the impartiality of nationalised industries' consultative councils, by making them financially independent of their respective Ministries and industries, in order that justice should be seen to be done.

I have no reason to think that the present financial arrangements in any way impair the impartiality of nationalised industries' consultative councils.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, during his negotiations on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market, he will take the necessary steps to protect British interests from the effects of Article 99 of the Treaty of Rome, with special reference to the added value tax and the extension of indirect taxation on such matters as food, fuel, travel and rents, and also to safeguard Great Britain from the cascade type of successive and progressive increases of the added value tax.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8th May. There is no question of our being asked to adopt a cascade tax.—[Vol. 746, c. 1089–91.]