asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a White Paper explaining the methods by which his recent estimate of a 3 per cent. annual growth in productive capacity was arrived at.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the account of the method published in the Economic Report on 1966 on 6th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a White Paper on the effect of the first 12 months' working of the Selective Employment Tax.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that Selective Employment Tax was introduced as part of the measures to deal with the economic crisis, he will give an undertaking that this tax will be withdrawn as soon as he judges restrictive measures can be relaxed.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he will not reclassify the building industry as a manufacturing industry for purposes of the Selective Employment Tax.

I see no reason to alter the decision taken when the tax was introduced;

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now seek to amend the Selective Employment Payments Act so that nationalised industries do not receive the refund in respect of those engaged in carrying out electrical contracting work.

No. Arrangements have been made to ensure that there is fair competition with private contractors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of joining the European Economic Community on the outflow of capital for investment in the Community.

Acceptance of E.E.C. obligations would involve some additional outflow of capital to the Community, but not all the movement would be one way. The net effects are uncertain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the percentage of their gross national product taken in direct and indirect taxation, central and local separately, in each of the countries of the European Economic Community, and in the United Kingdom.

The latest information available relates to the year 1965 and is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the numbers employed in central and local government, respectively, in the 12 months to May, 1967; and how many of these have been redeployed from manufacturing industry.

The number of non-industrial civil servants increased by 24,000 in the year ended 31st March, 1967. This figure excludes the Post Office. Recent figures for local government employment are not available, nor can the numbers be stated of civil servants who were formerly in manufacturing industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the continuing difficulties of the motor industry and the threat of acute crisis for it in the autumn, he will relax the restrictions on hire-purchase dealings in motor-cars introduced last July.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 7th June, 1967.—[Vol. 747, c. 1079–84.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that there is a nine-month delay in the minting of some service decorations and what steps are being taken to rectify this situation.

There is no longer a nine-month delay and the Royal Mint expects to have met all outstanding orders by the end of July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes any reduction in Purchase Tax on motor cars in order further to stimulate the economy and whether he will make a statement.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the recent statement made by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade.—[Vol. 747, c. 1079–84].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake an investigation into the incentive and disincentive effects of changing the rates of taxation.

The effects of changes in the rates of taxation are always under investigation. I am of course willing to consider specific proposals for research in this field, if they offer a reasonable prospect of isolating the effects of taxation from other factors governing people's behaviour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has given to Government Departments regarding the employment of registered disabled persons; what is the present percentage of registered disabled persons at present employed by Government Departments; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this figure is increased.

Departments are required to employ at least the percentage of disabled persons prescribed from time to time by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. During 1966 the Civil Service met the present 3 per cent. quota, but Departments have nevertheless been reminded recently of their continuing obligation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average spot rate for the £ against the United States dollar over the eleventh month following the deflationary measures of September, 1957, July, 1961 and July, 1966, respectively.

$2.8042, $2.8123 and $2.7969 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken or intends to liquidate the Treasury dollar portfolio and transfer the proceeds into the reserves.

The dollar portfolio is entirely in liquid form, and is available for transfer to the reserves; but I have no immediate plans for such a transfer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of incorrect taxation assessments have been referred to his Department by Members of Parliament within the last twelve months.

Treasury Ministers receive a substantial number of letters from Members of Parliament seeking explanation of, and commenting on, their constituents' taxation affairs. It would involve unjustifiable expenditure to make a special examination of those received in a particular period to see how many related to incorrect tax assessments and whether the cause in each case lay with the taxpayer or the Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will detail his reasons for transferring the Royal Mint from its present site to a site in Wales and indicate the aspect of its work which will be better served in West Wales than in North-East Scotland.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to my statement and answers to Questions on 25th April, 1967.—[Vol. 745, c. 1330.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in how many forms, questionnaires or other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted.(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires or other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Social Security (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by her Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by her Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by her Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by her Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Health (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions isued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures oulined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public, the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, quesionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public, the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;

asked the Postmaster-General (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Power (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general forms of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and others sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) in how many forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued by his Department to the public the algorithm procedures outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 2 have now been adopted;(2) what further steps are being taken by his Department to convert forms, questionnaires and other sets of instructions issued to the general public to the general form of algorithm outlined in Her Majesty's Treasury's Occasional Paper No. 2.

Departments are examining the scope for the use of algorithms, but this method of expression has not yet been used for any form issued to the public.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in each £ sterling of Government expenditure in 1967–68 will be military expenditure, and how much will go to housing, health, pensions and education, respectively; and to what extent it is the Government's intention to alter these proportions in the next few years.

As announced in my right hon. Friend's Budget statement, the Government are reconsidering the priorities between the different long-term public expenditure programmes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to redress the present economic imbalance between military requirements and the social services; and if he will give an assurance that no part of the social service programme considered otherwise desirable will be reduced or delayed because of military needs.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.—[Vol. 745, c. 989–92.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available a currency allowance for yachts moored semi-permanently or laid up in non-sterling foreign ports.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentages the maximum pensions for 40 years' pensionable service ended 31st December, 1966, in the grades of postman, clerical officer, executive officer and principal exceed the corresponding pensions, including increases under Pensions (Increase) Acts, for service in these grades ended at 31st December in the years 1946, 1950, 1954 and 1962, respectively.

The percentages are shown in the following table. London rates of pay have been used for figures up to 1954, since these correspond most closely with the outer London rates which were first introduced in 1961.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to public funds of the British delegation to the Council of Europe, Western European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of the gross national product taken up by taxation and local rates, respectively, in

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he expects the cost of living to rise in the next 12 months.

This will depend on the success of the prices and incomes policy and on other factors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the net weekly income of a married man with two children aged 10 and 14 years, and earning, respectively, £10, £12, £15, £20, and £25 a week, and after deduction of Income Tax and Social Security contribution.

Yes.Parliamentarians meetings, respectively, in each of the last five years; and what has been the equivalent annual cost of overseas visits of Select Committees of the House of Commons.

The information is as follows:each of the years 1966, 1961 and 1956, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's written answer to his Question on 18th April, 1967.—[Vol. 745, c. 51–2.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual revenue from the present tax on fuel oil.

It is estimated that in the current financial year the revenue from partly rebateable heavy oil (i.e. all heavy oil dutiable at 2·2d. per gallon) will be £89 million of which about £62 million will be from fuel oil.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what net increase took place in National Savings in the first five months of 1967; and if he will give comparable figures for the first five months of 1966, 1965, 1964 and 1963.

About £78 million, £35·4 million, £129·3 million, £200·3 million and £189·5 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to enable local authorities to borrow a greater proportion of their finance from the Public Works Loan Board as proposed by the recent report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

It will not be possible to increase the rate of access by local authorities to the Public Works Loan Board during the current financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his proposals to create a new agency to provide for the capital requirements of the nationalised industries and local authorities.

I am not yet ready to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent local housing authorities can sell their houses without his sanction and whether he will take steps to require any such authority to refund all the housing subsidies received by them, following the sale of any such property.

Local authorities require my consent under Section 104 of the Housing Act, 1957 to the sale of any house on land required or appropriated for the purposes of Part V of the Act and on which Exchequer subsidy has been paid. This covers the vast majority of council houses and it is under this power that I have continued the general consent to the sale of houses, subject to the conditions set out in Circular No.24/ 67. The number sold over the past three years has averaged 2,748 houses per annum.As regards the second part of the Question, no further subsidy payments are made when houses are sold but I have no power to require the repayment of past subsidies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that his practice of refusing or delaying local authority applications for loan sanction to acquire individual small houses in advance of immediate requirements causes hardship, unless authorities finance purchases from revenue, which increases the rate burden and if he will assure local authorities that loan sanction up to a specified figure will be available in cases where they are satisfied that purchases should not be delayed.

It is not my right hon. Friend's practice to refuse or delay loan sanctions in cases of genuine personal hardship. I should be glad to look at any case the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to give security of tenure to caravan site dwellers in the same way as tenants covered by the Protection from Eviction Act, 1964.

There are important differences between caravans and houses and protection from eviction is only part of the caravanner's problem. My right hon. Friend is examining these matters in the light of the recently published Consumer Council Study, "Living in a Caravan".

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress he has made in his review of policy in relation to improvement grants for older houses; and if he will make a statement.

The review is making good progress and my right hon. Friend has asked Lord Kennet to take the Chair at a conference at New Hall, Cambridge, later this month, that will consider a wide range of issues bearing upon the rehabilitation of older houses and their environment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the context of his jurisdiction under Section 38 of the Water Resources Act 1963, and generally, he will ensure that any licence granted to abstract water from the River Rib near Ware in Hertfordshire should not be for an amount likely to derogate from the amenity or agricultural use of the vicinity.

Parliament has made the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board primarily responsible for the issue of licences for their area, and my right hon. Friend sees no grounds at present for calling in any application relating to the Rib. But I am sure that the Board take account of considerations of the kind referred to by the hon. Member and that his Question will serve to underline the need to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take early action to implement the recommendation of the Maude Committee on the Management of Local Government that the alderman system should be abolished.

I should like to take this opportunity of recording my deep gratitude for this thorough, constructive and imaginative report. The Committee's many recommendations must now be considered by the Government and by local authorities and their associations. Some of the proposals would, of course, require legislation but it is too early to comment on this aspect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to take action on the report by the Committee on the Management of Local Government, particularly with regard to the abolition of the office of aldermen in local authorities.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities as to granting rate relief under Section 7(1) to applicants whose income in a given half-year lies outside eligible limits for relief solely because they receive in that period the whole of their annual income which, if divided between two half-yearly periods, would rank for relief.

When asked my right hon. Friend has advised that the statute seems to require income which accrues annually to be counted as income for the assessment period in which it is received, but that where income accrues steadily throughout the year and is credited annually only for reasons of convenience the authority may properly apportion it between the two assessment periods. But the decision in any particular case is for the local authority, subject to any reference that might be made to the courts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will state the results of the consultation with the interests concerned on the creation of new administration machinery for footpaths and bridleways.

In association with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales my right hon. Friend has appointed a Committee to examine the whole question. The membership and terms of reference are given in the enclosed copy of a reply given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 9th March, 1967.—[Vol. 742, c. 347.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the amount paid in grants to owners of buildings in Northumberland listed as being of historic importance.

Grants totalling £117,346 have been paid under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act, 1953 to the owners of 12 historic buildings in Northumberland.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why the ordinary Hong Kong citizen is only allowed legal aid in capital cases; what other remedies remain in law for a poor Hong Kong citizen; and why defendants cannot elect to be tried by jury in cases in which they are liable to prison terms of up to five years.

Since 1962 legal aid has been available in Hong Kong to persons committed for trial before the Supreme Court in all indictable offences, and to an appellant in a criminal appeal before the Full Court.In January this year legal aid was introduced in a wide range of civil proceedings before the district and higher courts.I am consulting the Governor about the third part of the Question and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the total loss caused to Lonhro by British Government action relating to the oil pipeline.

No. Only the company itself can assess the adverse effects on this part of its business arising out of the Rhodesian regime's illegal declaration of independence. I do not in any case accept the phrase "total loss", since Lonhro's share in the pipeline company presumably remains a valuable asset against the time when Rhodesia returns to constitutional rule.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why the Government will not confirm the payment of compensation to Lonhro on account of total loss of business in respect of the pipeline, over which shareholders have no control.

Her Majesty's Government do not accept liability to compensate persons who may be adversely affected by any of the lawfully instituted measures taken to bring about a return to constitutional government in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the report of the Gibraltar Elected Representatives proposals for the constitutional future of Gibraltar.

The committee set up by the Elected Members of the Gibraltar Legislative Council to consider possible future constitutional changes in Gibraltar has not yet submitted its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that 700 Gibraltar voters of the ages between 21 and 23 years could not vote because they were not included in the register of electors at the recent by-election; how far the United Kingdom is responsible for this position; and, in view of the fact that the election was won by a majority of 145, whether Her Majesty's Government will reconsider the validity of the election.

Elections to the Gibraltar Legislative Council take place under the locally enacted Gibraltar Elections Ordinance, which provides for the revision of the register at three-yearly intervals and also in certain additional years. The power to vary the times or dates regarding revision of the register of electors rests with the Governor in accordance with the Ordinance. The last revision was made in 1965 and the next is due in 1968. Neither candidate made any representations or protest regarding the register before the election took place on 23rd May.Procedure for questioning the validity of an election is laid down in the Ordinance: it is not for Her Majesty's Government to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what request he has had from the Nigerian Government for British troops to be sent there; and if he will refuse the request unless it is necessary for the protection of British lives.

None, to the first part of the Question. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, what study he has made of the extent to which the 33 per cent. increase in Dutch exports to South Africa in the first quarter of 1967 compared with the corresponding period in 1966 involved an increase in entrepot trade in goods destined for Rhodesia; and with what result.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the Questions by the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 1st June.—[Vol. 747, c. 60–62.]

asked the Minister of Power whether Her Majesty's Government will reverse their repudiation of the guarantee given in respect of 51 per cent. Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares of the English Steel Corporation Limited, namely, that on the return of assets on or before 30th June, 1984 the repayment shall be 20s. plus 10 per cent. thereof; and if he will implement the spirit of this guarantee.

On nationalisation, the company will not be liquidated nor otherwise return its assets and the guarantee does not arise. Fair compensation for the shares vesting in the National Steel Corporation is provided under the Iron and Steel Act.

asked the Minister of Power what powers over the capital investment programme of the nationalised steel industry the National Steel Corporation would be required to surrender to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community on becoming a member.

None, so far as I am aware, although these powers would of course require to be exercised in conformity with the Treaty of Paris.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the fact that envelopes inscribed National Coal Board have been sent to electors in Lewisham containing Labour Party propaganda related to the current Greater London Council Elections, he will issue a general directive to the National Coal Board that they should not intervene in elections on behalf of any party.

The National Coal Board did not intervene in the Greater London Council elections in the way suggested. The Board and the Lewisham Labour Party buy envelopes from the same manufacturer, who mistakenly sent about 100 N.C.B. envelopes in a larger batch to the Lewisham Labour Party, who presumably used them without noticing the mistake.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the importance of the coal and steel industries to the economy, he will consider publishing a separate White Paper on the likely effects on those industries of joining the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Minister of Power when he expects the nuclear power stations at Oldbury and Wylfa will start to generate electricity; and what was the original expected completion date when the projects were announced.

For Oldbury 1967 and 1966, for Wylfa 1969 and 1968.

asked the Minister of Power what annual tonnage of coal it is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government to have produced in 1970.

I regret that I cannot add to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 6th June.—[Vol. 747, c. 175.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of recent representations made to him by certain sections of the motor industry, he will now introduce a seasonal adjustment of hire-purchase regulations affecting motor cars, to counteract the normal seasonal fluctuations affecting the industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement on 7th June.—[Vol. 747, c. 1079–84.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of new jobs estimated for the Blyth constituency during the next 12 months.

On the basis of estimates given by applicants for industrial development certificates, the number of new jobs expected to arise within the next four years in authorised new industrial buildings and in existing buildings taken over by manufacturing industry in the South-East Northumberland Group of Employment Exchanges—Blyth, Bedlington, Seaton Delaval and Ashington is over 3,000. It is not possible to say how many of these will be provided during the next 12 months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the number and area of advance factories built in the Blyth constituency since October, 1964 and the number of jobs they provided.

Two advance factories have been built since October 1964 in the Blyth constituency. The area of these two factories, together with extensions erected to them, is 92,600 sq. ft. I cannot disclose the number of jobs provided as it is our practice not to disclose employment information where there is a risk that individual projects may be identified.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give permission to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the independent television companies to provide television coverage of the draws for the larger Premium Bond prizes.

My right hon. Friend would be very willing to give the broadcasting organisations any help he could if they were interested in presenting the prize draw on television.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers and farm workers were killed while driving agricultural tractors in England and Wales in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date; and how many were seriously injured in the same period.

The numbers of drivers killed or injured by overturning tractors are as shown below. The information about injuries is derived from claims for Industrial Injuries benefit and so does not include employers. The available statistics on other types of tractor accident do not show how many of those killed or injured were driving at the time.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Productivity Agreements will be published.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I have now received the full report by the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the reference made in August 1966 on productivity agreements negotiated at company or industrial level, The report has been published today (Cmnd. 3311).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make an additional allocation of funds for cancer research; and if he will make a statement.

No. I am advised by the Council for Scientific Policy on the apportionment of the Vote for Civil Science among the main areas of scientific research. The detailed allocation of funds is a matter for the judgment of the in dividual Research Councils. As the main Governmental agency responsible for medical research, the Medical Research Council is already supporting an extensive programme of research on cancer and I am confident that it will seek to maintain an appropriate level of expenditure on this, as well as other subjects, in the biomedical field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent there has been a fall in the crime rate; and to what factors this is attributable.

There has been a fall in the early part of 1967 in the figures for recorded crime in the Metropolitan Police District but the total figure for England and Wales has continued to rise, although at a reduced rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement about the mentally ill patient from Claybury Hospital who committed suicide in one of Her Majesty's prisons recently; and if he will explain the procedure to be followed in future when mentally ill patients in hospital are charged with offences and remanded in custody.

This prisoner was accommodated in the prison hospital under close, but not continuous, supervision. I understand that the coroner's jury were invited to consider whether there had been negligence, but did not add any rider to their verdict that the prisoner killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed. I have great sympathy for the prisoner's relatives, and I am considering whether the case discloses any ground for amending the instructions about the precautions to be taken in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consider introducing general legislation to limit the speed of high-powered speedboats and small craft in harbours and upon public inland waterways and lakes;(2) if he will consider introducing general legislation to prohibit the running of speedboats or other high-powered small craft in harbours and upon public inland waterways and lakes by young persons under the age of 16 years.

Under Section 76 of the Public Health Act, 1961 local authorities may make byelaws regulating the speed of pleasure boats so as to prevent danger, obstruction or annoyance to persons bathing in the sea or using the seashore. Under the same section, local authorities may also regulate the use of pleasure boats so as to prevent their navigation in a dangerous manner or without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons. I have no evidence at present that these powers need to be extended to inland waters as a whole or that special restrictions are necessary for young persons under the age of sixteen, but these matters will be kept under review in consultation with other interested Departments.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much aid to India in grants, loans and technical assistance has been pledged by Her Majesty's Government since the £30 million loan was agreed last year.

In 1966–67 new commitments for loan aid to India totalled £32 million and actual distbursements reached over £43 million. At the meeting of the Aid-India Consortium in Paris this April we promised loans of £19 million as an advance instalment of our total pledge for 1967–68.Expenditure on technical assistance to India in 1966 totalled £794,000 and I expect a broadly similar figure to be reached in the current year.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations he has had from British Nuclear Exports on the possible development of a gas-cooled fast reactor: and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to encourage research into a gas-cooled fast reactor.

The Atomic Energy Authority has a small team at work on possible future gas-cooled reactor systems, including gas-cooled fast reactors.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations he has had from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on the subject of the installation of marine reactors in container ships; and what reply he has sent.

None, but the Institution of Professional Civil Servants has raised the possibility in evidence to the Select Committee on Science and Technology.

asked the Minister of Technology what studies he is making in relation to the installation of marine reactors in container ships; and if he will make a statement.

It appears that container ships will be significantly larger, faster and have a more intensive utilisation than conventional cargo liners. The prospects for the application of nuclear propulsion to this type of ship are being studied.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total staff employed in the regional headquarters offices and the national headquarters office of British Railways; and how many of that total number are employed in the Greater London Area.

11,582, 4,314 and 6,494 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport how many and what type of computers are used by British Railways.

The Railways Board has 28 computers at present. 23 were supplied by International Computers and Tabulators Ltd., 4 by Honeywell Controls Ltd., and 1 by International Business Machines Ltd.

asked the Minister of Transport how many working parties and committees she has to advise her; and if she will list those composed with a non-Civil Service element in them.

So far as working parties and committees with a non-Civil Service element are concerned, I have the following to advise me:

• Transport Advisory Council.
• National Road Safety Advisory Council.
• Advisory Committee on the Landscape Treatment of Trunk Roads.
• Regional Passenger Transport Co-ordinating Committees.
• Transport Co-ordinating Council for London.
• Urban Transport Manpower Inquiry.
• Control of Motor Rallies Advisory Committee.
• Nationalised Transport Advisory Council.
• Central Transport Consultative Committee for Great Britain.
• Transport Users Consultative Committees.
• Railway Policy Review/Joint Steering Group.
• Committee on Motor Insurance as a Factor in Road Safety.
• Joint Ministry of Transport—London Transport Board Review.
• Bridge Design Committee.
• Joint Safety Committee for Mobile Radio.
• Area Traffic Control West London Experiment Management Committee, and sub-Committees.
• Road Construction Liaison Committee, Liaison Group with Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors.
• Joint Working Party on Road Construction Units.
• Working Party on Rural Bus Services.
• Working Party on Braking Regulations.
• Working Group on the One-Man Operation of Buses.
• Working Party on the Revision of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations.
• Research Committees of the Road Research Laboratory.
• Advisory Council on Road Research.
• Working Party on Street Name Plates and House Numbers.
• Working Party on Speed Limit Policy.
• Joint Working Party on the Use of Project Evaluation Research Techniques for Road Programme Management.
• Working Party on Pedestrian Road Safety.
• Winter Maintenance Equipment Development Committee.
• Traffic Signs Technical Working Party.
• Urban Transport Research and Development Group.
• Joint Anglo-French Working Group on Channel Tunnel.
• Channel Tunnel Technical Committees.
• River Thames Passenger Services Committee.
• Working Party on Vehicle Lighting Regulations.

asked the Minister of Transport what report has been made by the committee considering the lighting of stationary objects for the collection of builders' refuse.

We have received no report on this matter, but it is being considered within the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what studies the Welsh Office has made of the question of Government assistance alternative to the regional employment premium and appropriate for the needs of rural areas.

Before the decision in favour of the Regional Employment Premium was taken the Welsh Office participated in the consideration of possible other measures of assistance. It is currently associated with the study of tourism referred to in paragraph 47 of Cmnd. 3310.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects that the results of the 1966 census for Scotland will be published in detail; and when the individual county reports will be available.

The report on Edinburg and the counties of East Lothian, Midlothian, Stirling and West Lothian was published on 24th May; the report on the counties of Clackmannan, Fife and Kinross will be published on 15th June; and the remaining county reports are planned for publication within the next two months. The other census reports will follow the county reports, and it is intended, subject to any unavoidable delays which may arise in processing or printing, that they should all be available before the end of 1968.