asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will initiate discussions with the Welsh angling associations with a view to discovering the extent to which fishing centers in Wales have been taken over by outside interests, and the steps which can be taken to remedy the position so as to ensure that complete control over fishing centers in Wales do not pa sc out of control altogether of interests within Wales.

My center hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is at present discussing with the Association of River Authorities and representative fishing bodies how far it would be possible for the authorities to use their existing powers to acquire and manage fisheries in order to make fishing more widely available. I am glad to say that representatives of Welsh angling interests are being invited to take part in these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now make an announcement about the building programme for 1968–69 in respect of secondary projects in Shropshire.

Yes. The Shropshire Local Education Authority were notified on Monday, 5th June, that a three form entry instalment of the next comprehensive secondary school at Dawley has been added to their 1968–69 school building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that, after a three-year course at a college of education, a starting salary for a teacher of £730 is not enough; whether he is aware that 20 per cent. of teachers qualifying do not enter the teaching profession; and what action he proposes to take.

The Management Panel of the Burnham Committee recently made an offer which included a starting salary of £800; following disagreement on the Burnham Committee the teachers' salary claim is now going to arbitration. The hon. Member's figure of 20 per cent. in the second part of his Question is wholly incorrect; the best estimate I can make is about 3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount to be spent in 1967–68 by the Medical Research Council on research into mental illness; and what proportion of the total budget this represents.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay on 6th June, 1967. The total amount which the Medical Research Council expect to spend on research into mental illness and related psychological studies in 1967–68 represents 8.4 per cent. of their total recurrent expenditure for the period.—[Vol. 747, c. 192. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the prevalence of mental ill-health among university students; and if he will make a statement about the work of Dr. C. J. Lucas of University College, London, on this problem.

I have seen a number of reports on this matter, but know of no authoritative statistics. Responsibility for the health of students is shared between the individuals concerned, their families, and the institutions they attend. The universities are taking an increasing interest in the mental health of students through the provision of student health services and in other ways. Dr Lucas and others have undertaken research on this important subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek powers to control the standards of examination for O and A level certificates so as to establish an equal standard by the various boards concerned.

The Schools Council for the Curriculum and Examinations acts on behalf of my center hon. Friend as central co-ordinating authority for secondary school examinations and considers among things the difficult question of establishing comparability of standards between the examinations of the various boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Government will support the development of a European laboratory for molecular biology as a centre of a network of research endeavour.

The question of European co-operation in molecular biology, including the establishment of a European laboratory, is currently under discussion at a series of intergovernmental conferences convened by the Swiss Government. Meanwhile, it is regarded of first priority that molecular biology should become more firmly established in the normal fabric of learning and teaching in European countries. This national development is being assisted by exchange programmes such as that sponsored by the European Molecular Biology Organisation which, by assisting the mobility of scientists, helps to stimulate the development of the best national laboratories in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make an early decision on the request that a medical school should be established in the Stoke-on-Trent Hospital Group and Keele Univeristy.

I shall be considering this matter, in consultation with my center hon. Friend the Minister of Health and the University Grants Committee, as soon as the report of the Royal Commission on Medical Education is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he will make for the development of a European oceanography programme.

A number of international organisations are concerned in oceanography programmes in which we and European countries participate with others and, through our representatives, influence the programmes. Should a purely European need arise steps would be taken to seek the necessary cooperation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when it will be decided what courses are to be available for study at the proposed Welsh College of Agriculture.

Detailed proposals about the courses to be offered by this College can only be made when final decisions have been reached about the establishment of the College and its plans for courses have been considered by the Department. But I understand that, in asking the Cardiganshire Education Authority to establish a College on their behalf, the Welsh Joint Education Committee have given tentative indications about the range of courses which might be offered, as a help in planning accommodation for the College.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a course of study leading to a diploma in forestry will be included in the curriculum of the proposed Welsh Agricultural College.

Detailed plans for this College will not be available until the College is established. I understand, however, that the Welsh Joint Education Committee in considering plans for the establishment of the College have had in mind the inclusion of a course in forestry, as proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture Working Party which reported in 1960. Any decisions on this matter must await further consultations between the Departments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the authorities in technical colleges are responsible for obtaining places for practical training for overseas students in their colleges; and to what extent the responsibility lies with the individual student in this respect.

Colleges are responsible for arranging for the practical training of all students enrolled in college-based sandwich courses.

asked the Secretary of State fot Education and Science whether he has yet received from Plymouth City Council its proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education on the basis of comprehensive schools.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students from Commonwealth countries have returned to their territories on completion of their studies in the field of science and technology; and how many have remained in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

Information is available only in respect of the university sector and the statistics do not always distinguish between Commonwealth and other overseas students.

(1) Total number of students from overseas (Commonwealth and foreign) graduating in the fields covered by the employment returns (i.e., excluding students awarded degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science): 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 First degree n.a. 1,805 1,967 Higher degree n.a. 1,552 1,708

(2) Total included in (1) above who returned to their own countries: 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 First degree 781 876 1,002 Higher degree 826 1,019 1,191

(3) Total included in (2) above who were graduates in pure science or applied science: 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 First degree 372 433 507 Higher degree 508 610 729

NOTE:

The figures for 1965–66 include the former colleges of advanced technology and Heriot Watt College.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools and colleges teach Chinese to A level today; and how many did so in 1962.

I have no detailed information on this subject.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many graduate and how many school-leaver volunteers are now serving overseas; what proportion of these are serving in Commonwealth countries; and what the estimated number of volunteers will be for the year 1967–68.

1,240 and 482 respectively. Of these 996 and 394 are in Commonwealth countries.

The voluntary societies hope to recruit 1,800 volunteers for the 1967–68 programme.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what percentage of national income was represented by the flow of financial resources to developing countries in the last two years for which figures are available; and how the figures are made up.

The following is the information on the basis adopted by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The 1965 figure for private investment represents an upward revision from earlier estimates. Estimates for this item are subject to revision well after the close of the year to which they relate.

£ million 1964 £ million 1965 1. National Income (net national product at factor cost) 26,663 28,332 2. Official aid (net of capital repayments) 175 172 3. 2 as percentage of 1 0.66 0.61 4. Private investment (net of disinvestment) 101 148 5. 4 as percentage of 1 0.38 0.52 6. Net change in amount of private export credits under Government guarantee of over one year's maturity 49 36 7. Total flow of official and private resources (2, 4 and 6) 325 356 8. 7 as percentage of 1 1.22 1.26

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, transport contractors, and local authorities will be allowed to pass on to the general public the 8 per cent. to 15 per cent. increase in electricity charges agreed to by the Government; and whether wage earners will be entitled to claim this as a reason for wage increases without their claims being referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Yes, provided this can be justified against the relevant criteria for price increases. The need to increase prices will depend on how significant an element electricity is in the total costs of the individual enterprise and on the ability of the enterprise to absorb increases in costs through greater efficiency.

As to the second part of the Question, neither general nor specific increases in the cost of living are among the criteria for incomes increases set out in Cmnd. 3235.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give the names of employers' councils and trades unionists whom he interviewed on his recent official visit to the North-East coast.

The purpose of my center lion. Friend's visit to Newcastle on 2nd June was to address a meeting of the Northern Economic Planning Council. Later that day, at the invitation of the Northern Regional Council of the Confederation of British Industry, he attended an informal social gathering of local C.B.I. members.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many applications to increase prices have been made to his Department by manufacturers or retailers since 20th July, 1966; and in how many cases the requested increase was approved.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on 15th December, 1966, to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) in which it was explained that notifications by manufacturers of proposed price increases are made not to my Department but to the Department with special responsibility for the industry concerned.

There has been no request to retailers to notify proposed increases.—[Vol. 738, c. 140. ]

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will bring Table 2.2 of Command Paper No. 2764 up to date by showing for the period 1960–66 the annual percentage increase in output, employment, and output per head for each of the industries and sectors for which figures were given; and if he will show their average annual percentage increase in output, employment, and output per head for the period 1958–66.

The figures are shown in the table below. Those for agriculture and the service industries are based on pro-

Changes in Output, Employment and Output per head, 1958–1966 and 1960–1966 Average annual percentage changes Changes between 1958 and 1966 Changes between 1960 and 1966 Output Employment Output per head Output Employment Output per head Food, drink and tobacco 2.7 0.5 2.2 2.5 0.3 2.3 of which: Food processing 2.2 0.9 1.3 2.2 0.7 1.5 Chemicals and allied industries 6.4 0.5 5.9 5.1 0.0 5.0 of which: Mineral oil refining 8.0 -1.7 9.9 6.4 -3.0 9.6 Chemicals 6.6 0.8 5.7 5.2 0.4 4.8 Metal manufacture 2.9 0.8 2.1 0.6 0.0 0.6 of which: Iron and steel 2.8 0.6 2.2 0.6 -0.1 0.7 Non-ferrous metals 3.0 1.3 1.6 0.5 0.2 0.4 Mechanical and electrical engineering 5.4 2.4 2.9 5.0 2.1 2.8 of which: Mechanical engineering 4.9 1.9 3.0 4.6 1.7 2.8 Machine tools 3.0 2.4 0.6 3.0 3.4 -0.4 Telegraph, telephone, radio and other electronic apparatus 6.1 5.0 1.0 6.2 4.9 1.2 Other electrical engineering 5.6 1.7 3.8 4.6 0.9 3.8 Shipbuilding and marine engineering -3.7 -4.1 -2.3 -4.2 Vehicles 3.3 -0.3 3.5 1.6 -1.1 2.7 of which: Motor vehicles, cycles, etc. 6.5 3.0 3.4 3.1 1.4 1.7 Metal goods not elsewhere specified 1.7 2.0 -0.3 0.4 1.3 -0.9 Textiles 2.0 -1.5 3.6 1.0 -1.9 3.0 of which: Man-made fibres production 14.6 3.3 11.0 11.5 2.0 9.3 Spinning and weaving ofcotton, flax and man-made fibres and textile finishing -2.1 -4.2 2.3 -3.0 -4.2 1.3 Wool textiles -0.2 -1.5 1.4 -1.8 -2.4 0.6 Hosiery and knitwear 4.8 1.8 2.9 3.9 1.3 2.6 Leather goods and fur -0.1 -0.7 0.6 -0.3 -1.2 0.9 Clothing and footwear 3.1 -0.6 3.7 1.1 -1.2 2.3 of which: Clothing 3.3 -0.6 4.0 1.2 -1.3 2.4 Footwear 2.2 -0.7 3.0 0.4 -1.4 1.9 Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. 5.3 1.0 4.3 4.2 0.5 3.6 of which: Bricks, cement, etc. 5.8 1.5 4.3 4.5 0.7 3.8 Timber, furniture, etc 2.5 0.7 1.7 1.0 0.1 1.0 Paper, printing and publishing 4.7 1.6 3.1 3.2 1.1 2.1 Other manufacturing industries 5.4 2.6 2.7 4.0 1.9 2.1 TOTAL MANUFACTURrNG 3.9 0.8 3.1 2.8 0.2 2.6 Mining and quarrying -1.8 -4.8 3.1 -1.3 -4.5 3.3 of which: Coal mining -3.0 -5.2 2.3 -2.4 -4.9 2.6 Construction 4.2 2.2 2.1 3.7 2.0 1.7 Gas, electricity and water 5.3 1.5 3.8 5.3 2.1 3.2 of which: Electricity 8.0 2.7 5.2 7.4 3.2 4.1 ALL INDUSTRY 3.6 0.6 3.0 2.8 0.3 2.5 Agriculture, forestry and fishing 3.3 -2.6 6.0 2.6 -3.0 5.7 Transport and communications 3.4 -0.6 4.0 2.9 -0.6 3.5 of which: Inland transport 2.1 -1.7 3.8 1.4 -1.7 3.1 Postal and telecommunications services 5.0 2.1 2.9 4.9 2.5 2.3 Distributive trades 2.9 1.3 1.6 2.2 0.9 1.3 Insurance, banking and finance 4.6 3.0 3.5 2.7 Professional and scientific services including health and education 3.2 3.8 3.3 4.0 Miscellaneous services 2.9 1.6 2.5 1.8 Public administration and defence 0.3 -0.2 1.0 0.5 TOTAL ECONOMY* 3.4 0.8 2.6 2.9 0.7 2.2 * Gross domestic product—average of three methods of estimation. *Gross domestic product-average of three methods of estimation.

visional output estimates for 1966. The table should be read in conjunction with the introductory notes to Table 2.2 on page 26 of the National Plan (Cmnd. 2764).

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of new telephone and telephone exchange equipment installed during the past five years, not

1962–63 £m. 1963–64 £m. 1964–65 £m. 1965–66 £m. 1966–67 £m. Subscribers apparatus … … 27.5 34.2 38.1 43.2 45.1 Exchange equipment … … 26.0 34.2 41.0 45.0 60.7

These figures do not include expenditure on the local cable network.

The value of items of non-British manufacture included in the above figures is less than one-half of one per cent. of the total.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, due to long usage and publicity, Scotland Yard's telephone number of Whitehall 1212 has become universally known, and that the new all-digital number is causing difficulties; and whether he will take steps to allocate the all-digital number of 944 1212, corresponding to the old Whitehall 1212 number.

The Metropolitan Police Headquarters had to be connected to a different exchange when it moved from Scotland Yard to Broadway.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to include within the scope of common law conspiracy the use of sound recording devices for the purpose of industrial espionage.

I have no grounds for thinking that new legislation concerning sound recording devices is called for within the sphere of my responsibility.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to consider the introduction of a special

including buildings; and how much of this equipment was of non-British origin.

Capital expenditure on subscribers apparatus and exchange equipment, including the cost of installation, during the past five years was as follows:

television licence at a reduced fee for old age pensioners.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 1st June to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden).—[Vol. 747, c. 245.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the early Easter this year and the resulting waiting of nine weeks for the Spring Bank Holiday which with Selective Employment Tax is more than many hotels can afford for keeping extra staff, he will consider fixing the Spring Bank Holiday six weeks after Easter instead of at the end of May.

No. The Government share the view of the previous Administration that a fixed spring bank holiday could make a worthwhile contribution to the extension of the holiday season.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional employment will be involved when the factories now in course of construction in the Wrexham and the Ceiriog rural district areas have been completed and are in full production.

About 3,000 in the next four years, based on firms' estimates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on his negotiations with the film industry about implementation of the Monopolies Commission's report on the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas.

Yes. As a result of discussions which my Department have had with representatives of all the interested parties, the industry has made proposals for implementation of the Monopolies Commission's report. I have accepted these proposals.

I have received assurances from the Rank Organisation and from the Associated British Picture Corporation that they will extend the practice of flexible booking, that is of giving trial runs to films whose commercial worth is in dispute and of giving partial circuit bookings to films which appeal only to a limited audience. The exhibitors' associations have also agreed to recommend their members to adopt a flexible attitude to the booking of films.

The industry are establishing a Trade Disputes Committee and an Appeal Tribunal to deal with disputes over the allocation of films. Any exhibitor in the industry, including one who proposes to build or open a new cinema, will be able to use this machinery. The Trade Disputes Committee will consist of four distributors and four exhibitors whose decision has to be unanimous. In the event of disagreement, the Appeal Tribunal will adjudicate on the matter. It will have a permanent, independent Chairman appointed by the industry in consultation with me, and he alone will have the center of decision, the industry's representatives acting only as advisers. I believe that this system will work satisfactorily. If it does not, the need for competitive bidding for individual films will be reconsidered.

The Rank Organisation have undertaken to show their documentary film "Look at Life" in their cinemas for not more than 39 weeks each year instead of the present 52. In the remaining 13 weeks they would book other documentary and short films on their merits, for showing on their circuit, subject to normal commercial considerations.

The industry have agreed that no cinema will operate a bar on a 35 mm. film for more than four weeks after starting to show the film. In the case of 70 mm. films, a maximum bar of 16 weeks will apply in an existing situation. As the Commission recommended, distri butors will remain free to determine the length of a run in the light of their assessment of the commercial advantage. The Board of Trade will keep under regular review the arrangements for settling disputes over time and distance bars.

The Kinematograph Renters' Society have agreed that the hire of any film should not be made conditional upon the acceptance of other films.

The Kinematograph Renters' Society have also undertaken to rescind the three recommendations which the Commission proposed that they should rescind.

The industry's intentions are explained in greater detail in a document which I am placing in the Library of the House. I am satisfied that this settlement should go a long way to improve competitive conditions in the film industry and I welcome the spirit in which the various sections of the industry have collaborated in reaching it.

I shall keep the whole situation under review in order to see that the desired effects are achieved. If it appears after a reasonable interval that they are not, I shall not hesitate to discuss the matter with the industry again and to take such further action as I consider necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has regarding the number of companies whose shares are quoted on a recognised stock exchange in the United Kingdom with one hundred or more but less than two hundred shareholders, two hundred or more but less than three hundred shareholders, three hundred or more but less than four hundred shareholders, and four hundred or more shareholders, respectively.

I regret that it would not be possible without an undue expenditure of time to extract this information from the annual returns of the companies in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give British Overseas Airways Corporation's profit or loss before interest on borrowing taxation, and in earlier years, Government subsidy for each year from 1947–48 to 1960–61, if possible on the same basis as British Overseas Airways Corporation's group profit as shown in the Corporation's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1966, page 49, row 3.

It is not practicable for British Overseas Airways Corporation to provide information in the form requested. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the Arms Salesman has achieved increased sales of arms to the countries of the Middle East since his appointment.

It is not the practice to disclose details of sales of defence equipment to individual countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, how many persons with experience of selling arms are now in the staff of the Arms Salesman; and what qualifications they have for the work of increasing exports of arms to the Arab countries.

The Head of Defence Sales is assisted by the requisite number of experienced staff.

As to the second part of the question, I would refer to the statement by my center hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 6th June. about the shipment of arms to the Middle East.—[Vol. 747, c. 798–807.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give the necessary sanction so that an early start can be made to an indoor swimming pool for Dagenham.

I understand that this scheme is not yet ready to start and that, because of the economic situation, the Council do not propose to begin building before the financial year 1968–69. The necessary sanction will then be considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what indication he has given to local authorities concerning whether he wishes them to exercise generously or otherwise their discretion under the Rating Act, 1966, to grant full rebates to ratepayers who apply for them more than a month after the beginning of the rebate period; and whether he will make a statement.

The statute empowers rating authorities to grant late applicants full rebates wherever they are satisfied that it is reasonable and proper to do so. My center hon. Friend has encouraged rating authorities to interpret this generously, and he hopes that they will continue to do so, especially while the rate rebate scheme is still relatively new.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he is now taking to bring the Egyptian use of gas in the Yemen, as attested by the International Red Cross, before the United Nations.

I have seen the statement by the International Red Cross on its delegates' reports of the use of poison gas in the Yemen. The International Red Cross has asked all the authorities concerned in the Yemen conflict to "take the solemn engagement not to resort in any circumstance whatsoever to the use of asphyxiating gases or any other similar toxic substances". Our efforts at the United Nations are in present circumstances concentrated on contributing to a peaceful settlement of the Arab/Israel conflict, and I do not think that it would serve any useful purpose at this stage if Her Majesty's Government were to seek to bring the Egyptian use of gas in the Yemen before the United Nations.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to arrange a meeting on Vietnam with himself, Chairman Mao Tse-tung and President Johnson.

No. As the House knows, we are engaged in unceasing and strenuous efforts to promote peace in Vietnam. However, I see no prospect at present of convening the meeting which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Prime Minister whether the authorised article by the Foreign Secretary, published in Washington on 15th May, relating to the special relationship between Great Britain and the United States represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I assume that the article referred to by my hon. Friend is the interview which my center hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to Mr. Karl Meyer of the Washington Post on 15th May, 1967 and which was published in full in the international Edition of the New York Herald Tribune—Washington Post of 19th May, and in part in the Washington Post on the same day. I confirm that my center hon. Friend's remarks reflect Government policy on the various issues discussed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the situation in the Middle East.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Statements made this week by both my center hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and myself.—[Vol. 747, c. 629; c. 796; c. 1065.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will tabulate the action taken since October, 1964 by Her Majesty's Government to meet the points made by General de Gaulle in January, 1963 when the United Kingdom was refused entry into the Common Market.

I have nothing to add to my Statement of 2nd May and my speech in the debate on 8th May.—[Vol. 746, c. 310; c. 1061.]

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the opposition to Great Britain's entry into the Common Market by General de Gaulle, he will request the President to agree to a transitional associate membership for Great Britain for a period of three to four years before full membership.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that during the last few weeks the wholesale price of potatoes has risen by £12 to £15 per ton in West Suffolk; and what steps he is taking, both regionally and nationally, to prevent wide fluctuations in potato prices.

The level of main crop potato prices in any season or at any time depends on the size of the home crop, the quantities currently on offer by growers, and the trade's assessment of current and future supply prospects. Although demand has been met throughout the main crop season now ending, there has been no surplus and prices have accordingly been higher than in the two previous seasons. However, they remained reasonably steady until towards the end of April. Prices normally rise towards the end of the season but severe frosts and the prospect that supplies of home-grown early potatoes would be delayed led early in May to a sharp rise in prices for the remaining supplies of main crop potatoes. The Government acted promptly on 10th May by authorising imports of old potatoes, and this has helped to check the rise in prices. Supplies of new potatoes are now becoming more plentiful.

asked the Attorney-General what plans he has for legislation to implement reports by the Law Commission.

The Commission's recommendations for the abolition of certain obsolete criminal offences and for reform of the law of maintenance and champerty are dealt with by the Criminal Law Bill. The recommendation about proof of criminal intent is the subject of an amendment made in another place to the Criminal Justice Bill. Other recommendations made by the Commission will be dealt with as soon as an opportunity for legislation arises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the profits and dividends of banks have come within the confines of the prices and incomes policy; what evidence he has on this point; and if he will make a statement.

Bank profits and dividends have not so far conflicted with the prices and incomes policy. Some considerations for the future are discussed in the Report on Bank Charges by the National Board for Prices and Incomes which I am studying.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for the latest available year the capital expenditure on projects started during that year and on projects which had been started before it began by the National Coal Board, Electricity Council and Boards, North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, South of Scotland Electricity Board, Gas Council and Boards, British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, British Railways Board, London Transport Board, and Transport Holding Company, respectively.

TABLE II GROSS INCOME (BEFORE DEPRECIATION) AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET ASSETS (AFTER DEPRECIATION) 1960 1961 1962 1965 1964 1965 Manufacturing Distribution, etc 19.8 17.8 16.7 17.5 19.0 18.4 Iron and Steel 21.1 15.8 11.5 10.4 12.9 13.4 National Coal Board† 9.4 10.4 13.7 12.9 12.9 7.5 Gas Council and Boards 8.8 9.1 9.4 9.8 10.5 9.8 Electricity (B.E.A., C.E.A., E.C. and Boards) 10.0 10.5 11.1 11.8 11.4 12.0 South of Scotl and Electricity Board‡ 9.7 9.6 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.6 North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board‡ 5.8 6.7 6.6 5.8 6.3 6.8 British Transport Commission§) 1.3 0.6 0.2 — — — British Railways Board§ — — — -1.1 -0.1 -0.5 London Transport Board§ — — — 7.9 7.2 3.9 British Transport Docks Board§ — — — 8.2 8.0 7.6 British Waterways Board§ — — — — — — Transport Holding Company § — — — 14.8 17.0 16.4 British European Airways 15.2 9.2 11.4 17.4 15.4 15.4 British Overseas Airways Corporation 13.9 6.0 8.6 21.2 27.5 20.8 Post Office 13.0 11.0 10.8 12.4 11.4 12.7 See Notes to Table III.

Provisional out turn figures for expenditure on fixed assets by nationalised industries in 1966–67 are given below. A breakdown of this expenditure into new and existing projects is not readily available and the definition of a project for this purpose gives rise to some difficulties.

Nationalised Industries Fixed Investment in the United Kingdom Provisional Outturn 1966.67 £ million 1. Post Office 261.2 2. National Coal Board 86.0 3. Electricity Council 667.0 4. North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board 9.5 5. South of Scotland Electricity Board 47.0 6. Gas Council 208.2 7. B.O.A.C. 10.6 8. B.E.A 16.9 9. British Airports Authority 5.5 10. British Railways Board 107.0 11. London Transport Board 22.1 12. British Transport Docks Board 11.9 13. British Waterways Board 1.4 14. Transport Holding Company 24.5 Total 1,478.8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring Tables II and III of Command Paper No. 1337 up to date; and if he will, for the last convenient year, provide figures giving the value of each of the public corporations net assets after depreciation used in calculating their rates of return.

The following tables give the information required.

TABLE III NET INCOME (AFTER DEPRECIATION) AS A PROPORTION OF NET ASSETS (AFTER DEPRECIATION) 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 Manufacturing, Distribution, &c. 15.7 13.6 12.4 13.2 14.4 13.6 Iron and Steel 16.6 11.5 7.4 6.1 7.9 8.4 National Coal Board‡ 2.3 3.1 5.0 4.1 4.5 0.2 Gas Council and Boards 4.1 4.4 4.7 5.2 6.0 5.3 Electricity (B.E.A., C.E.A., E.C. and Boards) 5.1 5.5 6.0 6.8 6.4 6.9 South of Scotland Electricity Board‡ 4.4 4.9 5.8 5.6 5.0 5.3 North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board‡ 4.3 5.2 5.1 4.2 4.6 5.0 British Transport Commission§ -2.4 -2.9 -3.1 — — — British Railways Board§ — — — -4.8 -4.0 -4.3 London Transport Board§ — — — 4.6 4.2 1.3 British Transport Docks Board§ — — — 5.3 5.2 4.7 British Waterways Board§ — — — -5.8 -5.1 -4.5 Transport Holding Company§ — — — 8.7 10.8 10.0 British European Airways 7.0 -0.5 1.9 8.5 4.7 4.2 British Overseas Airways Corporation 3.5 -24.6 -9.8 6.6 14.1 9.4 Post Office 8.5 6.5 6.2 7.8 6.9 8.1 * The data on which the figures for IRON AND STEEL were originally compiled ceased to be available after 1959.The figures in which table are based on different data and are therefore not directly comparable with those for the earlier years. † In 1963 accounting changed from calendar to financial years. The figures for 1963 have been reduced to represent a twelve-month period. ‡In 1964 accounting changed from calendar to financial years. The figures for 1964 have been reduced to represent a twelve-month period. § These bodies account by calendar year, the remainder by financial year.

NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES AVERAGE NET ASSETS Period £m. National Coal Board … … … … 1965/6 886 Gas Council and Boards … … … … 1965/6 843 Electricity (B.E.A., C.E.A., E.C. and Boards) … … … … 1965/6 3,490 South of Scotland Electricity Board … … … … 1965/6 292 North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board … … … … 1965/6 249 British Railways Board … … … … 1965 1,595 London Transport Board … … … … 1965 197 British Transport Docks Board … … … … 1965 91 British Waterways Board … … … … 1965 13 Transport Holding Company … … … … 1965 168 British European Airways … … … … 1965/6 93 British Overseas Airways Corporation … … … … 1965/6 133 Post Office … … … … 1965/6 1,408

asked the Minister of Health what is his policy with regard to the use of the Welsh language outside and inside hospitals and buildings and vehicles for which his Department is responsible in Wales.

This is a matter which I leave to local discretion.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the varying amounts of money spent by local authorities on com- munity care services, whether he will set up an operational research programme to evaluate in depth those services provided.

I already support a substantial programme of operational research in the health and welfare services.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is made by his Department for community care of the vagrant mentally sick person for whom local authorities refuse to accept financial responsibility.

The provision of services for the mentally disordered in the community is the responsibility of local health authorities. If my hon. Friend has in mind any case in which that responsibility has not been discharged and will let me have details, I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health how many voluntary organisations are actively engaged in supplementing local authority mental health services and what is the total grant they receive from public funds.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what courses are available for members of hospital management committees; and how many attend these annually.

Courses are provided by such bodies as the King Edward's Hospital Fund, The Nuffield Centre, The Royal Institute of Public Administration and the Royal College of Nurses. Several Regional Hospital Boards also arrange courses for members of Hospital Management Committees in their region. The number of members attending courses annually is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with remand facilities for young persons in the city and county of Kingston-upon-Hull.

No, but the local authority are doing their best to remedy the deficiencies by obtaining sufficient staff to permit the reopening of the girl's remand home.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted for sexual offences against children in North-East Greater London during the last year; what sentences were passed; how many of these offenders have been transferred to compulsory detention in hospital under the Mental Health Act; and how many of them will be at large again in a year's time.

I am obtaining as much of this information as possible and shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to the use of the Welsh language on his Department's buildings in Wales.

The Home Department's offices in Wales carry notices in English only, but consideration is being given to repetition in Welsh.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that Members of Parliament are not allowed ink pads for use with date stamps in their rooms at the Palace of Westminster; what saving is made by this regulation; and whether he will arrange that these items will be provided in future.

The Serjeant at Arms' Stores only provides notepaper and envelopes for Members and not items like ink pads, which are classed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as "office requisites".

If office requisites, of which there is a very wide variety, were to be provided it would entail substantial additional expenditure as well as storage problems.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement about the opening of the Strangers' Gallery during morning sittings.

Yes. In the light of experience of morning sittings, the Services Committee have reviewed the question of the admission of strangers to the Galleries, and on the advice of the Serjeant at Arms they have recommended to Mr. Speaker that there should be a change in the present organisation.

The Committee recommend the opening of the Strangers' Gallery instead of the Special Galleries, which will result in about 100 extra seats for the public.

Advance booking arrangements for Members will be exactly the same as at present in force for morning sittings, except that Strangers' Gallery Orders will be issued instead of Orders for the Special Galleries.

The Serjeant at Arms in the Chair will also have a limited number of Strangers' Gallery Orders for issue to Members during the actual sitting.

This arrangement will mean a slight reduction in the Letter Board service to Members.

Mr. Speaker has accepted these recommendations and the new organisation will come into force on Monday next, 12th June.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will bring up to date the figures on page 417 of HC 254-I, of 1960, showing the division of activity on a man-hour basis in railway locomotive and carriage wagon workshops between new building and repair and maintenance, giving the number employed in each of these types of workshop or other indication of the proportion of the workshop's employees, or of their time devoted to new building and to repair and maintenance for the latest available year and for those years since 1958 for which information is available, and the total number of employees in the workshops to which the figures relate.

The latest available figures (for the week ending 11 th March 1967) for the division of activity (on a man hour basis) in British Railways Workshops are: — Repair and maintenance per cent. New building per cent. Locomotive workshops 94 6 Carriage and wagon workshops 79 21

These relate to a total wages grade staff of 35,594 men, about 30 per cent. of whom are in locomotive workshops and 70 per cent. in carriage and wagon workshops. Further figures cannot be provided without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Minister of Transport what is her policy with regard to the use of the Welsh language on her Department's buildings and publications in Wales.

My center hon. Friend is prepared to consider the further use of the Welsh language on the Department's buildings and in its publications in Wales whenever she is satisfied that this is justified.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the advisory committees which she has appointed.

The advisory committees which I have appointed are: The Advisory Committee on the Control of Motor Rallies. The Regional Passenger Transport Coordinating Committees. Transport Co-ordinating Council for London. Urban Transport Manpower Inquiry Group. The Committee on Motor Insurance as a Factor in Road Safety. Railway Policy Review—Joint Steering Group.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what esimate of road traffic to the proposed new airfield at Stansted has been made by her Department for the year 1972;

(2) what estimate of rail traffic to the proposed new airfield at Stansted has been made by her Department for the year 1972.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given to him on 31st May.—[Vol. 747, c. 11. ]

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state for the Transport Holding Company's road haulage subsidiaries the aggregate tonnage capacity of their powered units, excluding additional trailers, for each year since 1962.

The aggregate tonnage capacity of the powered units, excluding additional trailers, of the Transport Holding Company's road haulage subsidiaries was: 1963 … … … 139,000 1964 … … … 137,000 1965 … … … 169,000 1966 … … … 181,500