asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many commercial and industrial building projects in Manchester and Salford with an estimated construction cost of £200,000 and upwards he has approved in 1966 and 1967; and whether he will list these individually in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the nature of their proposed usage.

I have been asked to reply.As my right hon. Friend indicated during the debate on the Report stage of the Building Control Bill on 6th July, 1966, the publication of specific details of applications granted (or refused) would involve giving information which had been provided by the applicants in confidence. In general terms, five projects within categories indicated by my hon. Friend were licensed during 1966, at a total value of nearly £1,200,000, and so far in 1967 four further such projects have been licensed, at a total value of £4,400,000. These nine projects consist of five office buildings, three warehouses and one shop.—[Vol. 731, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to introduce the Bill which will give university status to the Royal College of Art.

No such Measure is necessary. A petition by the Royal College of Art for a Royal Charter empowering it to award degrees is at present being considered by the Privy Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers completed their training in the years 1953 to 1963, respectively; how many of these followed courses of preparation for infant teaching; how many of those who followed such courses took up posts as teachers of infants on the completion of their training; and how many of them are at present teaching infants.

The table below gives figures for students successfully completing courses of initial training at colleges of education and such approximate figures as are available in answer to the second part of the Question. The information asked for in the last two parts of the Question is not available.

STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING COURSES OF INITIAL TRAINING IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION
		Men	Women	Women students* trained for infant teaching†
1952–53	…	2,290	8,165	not available
1953–54	…	2,331	8,119	not available
1954–55	…	2,361	8,403	not available
1955–56	…	2,513	8,609	not available
1956–57	…	2,537	8,881	not available
1957–58	…	2,709	9,248	not available
1958–59	…	2,991	9,559	2,636
1959–60	…	3,588	10,092	2,564
1960–61	…	4,160	10,360	2,681
1961–62	…	1,052	2,528	513
1962–63	…	4,254	9,591	2,535
* The number of men students specialising in infant teaching is insignificant.
† Including combined courses of nursery and infant training and of infant and junior training.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how many fully qualified applicants are likely to be unable to gain entrance to university medical schools in October, 1967.

Rough estimates in Appendix A of the Fourth Report of the Universities Central Council on Admissions using different methods of calculation indicated that the number of suitably qualified candidates in the medical group who failed to gain admission to university in autumn 1966 might have been as low as 240 or as high as 3,000. These estimates were based on figures which cannot yet be available for autumn 1967. In these circumstances I consider that no worthwhile estimate can be made of how many fully qualified applicants are likely to be unable to secure admission to medical school this autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what expenditure is required to bring all primary schools in Surrey up to the standards envisaged in the Plowden Report; and what sum is being made available to the Surrey County Council for primary schools under the 1968–69 major building programme.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. The answer to the second part is £677,818.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has substituted a total of 440 new primary school places in the Ash area for the 560 places requested by the Surrey County Council in the 1968–69 major building programme.

I reached the conclusion that on the basis of the Authority's submission the need for extra places could he met by the smaller project. I am, however, now considering revised proposals in the light of later information provided by the Authority about population growth in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he obtained about schemes of loans for students in response to his letter to various organisations in July, 1965.

The letter in question invited views rather than infor- mation, and the replies, which those who sent them are free to make public, covered a wide range of opinions about this and many other matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to make available an adequate supply of specialist teachers in the city of Manchester to meet the problems referred to in the publication, "Immigrants in School", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

The provision of specialist teaching for this purpose in Manchester is a matter for the local education authority; I have been interested to note the account given in the booklet to which my hon. Friend refers of what has already been done in that area.On the steps that have been taken nationally I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 20th April, 1967 to the hon. Member for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair).—[Vol. 745, c. 775–7;

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give special assistance to those areas like Heywood and Crompton which have been seriously affected by the recent floods.

I understand that fortunately only a relatively small number of houses in the Heywood area were flooded, and that these were dried out by the local authority. My right hon. Friend does not think that the effects of the flooding were so serious as to warrant consideration of special Exchequer assistance to supplement local resources.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek powers to control the conditions under which graves, already used for interment, may be opened and re-used, with or without the knowledge and consent of the relatives of the first deceased.

The purchase of an exclusive right of burial is the subject of a contract between the local authority or other proprietor of the cemetery and the purchaser, who is protected to the extent and for the period indicated in the deed of grant (often in perpuity). I should not have thought that any additional control was needed, but I will gladly consider any evidence the hon. Member cares to send me.Where burial in a common grave is arranged, it is implicit in the arrangement that unrelated persons may be buried in the same grave.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the comparative figures for the financial year 1966–67 of the cost to the Exchequer of local authority rented housing and private home ownership.

The information is as follows:

Great Britain	Total amount
	£ million
Exchequer subsidies to local authorities	100·8
Mortgage interest relief to house purchasers	155

asked the Minister of Power which members of the National Steel Corporation were previously employed by privately owned steel companies; what percentage these form of the National Steel Corporation; and whether he will make a statement.

Three out of ten of the members so far appointed to the National Steel Corporation were drawn from steel companies at present in private ownership. They are:

• Part-time Deputy Chairman, Mr. A. J. Peech, (United Steel Companies Ltd.).
• Full-time Member, Lord Layton, (Steel Company of Wales).
• Part-time Member, Ald. S. Harris, (United Steel Companies Ltd.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the revenue from Income Tax and Surtax of treating family allowances as unearned income in 1967–68.

The yield of tax would be increased by about £10 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated total increased cost of Income Tax and Surtax relief for children today compared with 1957; and what is the equivalent figure for the cost of family allowances.

It is estimated that if there had been no tax child allowances the extra tax charged for 1957–58 would have been about £230 million and for 1967–68 would be about £630 million, an increase of about £400 million. The estimated gross costs of family allowances for the whole of the United Kingdom are £128 million for 1957–58 and £160 million for 1967–68, an increase of £32 million.

asked the Minister of Transport upon what Her Majesty's Government base the calculations that the anticipated increase in output of 3 per cent. would increase the national income by £1,000 million.

I have been asked to reply.The calculation is based on the fact that national output (gross domestic product at factor cost) amounted in 1966 to £31,922 million, and that 3 per cent. of this sum is £958 million or £1,000 million rounded.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Ministers who from choice or otherwise use their private cars on Ministerial business in place of cars provided by the State service are entitled to claim a mileage reimbursement; and what rate is paid in such instances.

A Minister who used his private car on ministerial business would be entitled to claim a mileage allowance at the same rate as a civil servant. For a journey of less than 75 miles each way, the rate would be 7¾d. a mile for the first 7,000 official miles in the year and 4d. a mile thereafter. For longer journeys the rate is 3¾d. a mile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the organisations he consulted before deciding to keep Summer Time all the year round; what was the method of consultation; and how he estimated that a majority of public opinion was in favour of the change.

A list of the organisations which were consulted, or volunteered views, is appended. Consultations were carried out by the appropriate Departments, mostly in writing, and the comments on the economic and social aspects were then assessed and compared. The results showed a clear preponderance in favour of the change.

• Agricultural Section of Transport & General Workers Union.
• Agricultural Section of Transport & General Workers Union (Scotland).
• Area Gas Boards (12).
• Association of British Chambers of Commerce.
• Association of County Councils (Scotland).
• Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales.
• Association of Directors of Education in Scotland.
• Association of Education Committees.
• Association of Headmistresses (Scotland).
• Association of Municipal Corporations.
• Association of Principals of Technical Institutions.
• Association of Teachers in Colleges and Departments of Education.
• Association of Technical Institutions.
• Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions.
• British Airports Authority.
• British European Airways.
• British Independent Air Transport Association.
• British Medical Association.
• British National Export Council.
• British Overseas Airways Corporation.
• British Rail.
• British Transport Docks Board.
• British Travel Association.
• British United Airways.
• Central Council of Physical Recreation.
• Central Electricity Generating Board.
• Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
• Confederation of British Industry.
• Consumer Council.
• County Councils Association.
• Convention of Royal Burghs (Scotland).
• District Councils' Association for Scotland.
• Educational Institute of Scotland.
• Federated Quarry Owners of Great Britain.
• Federation of Associations of Civil Engineering Contractors.
• Federation of Specialists and Sub-Contractors.
• Football Association.
• Football Association of Wales.
• Football League.
• Greater London Council.
• Headmasters Association of Scotland.
• Inner London Education Committee.
• Joint Four Secondary School Associations.
• Joint Turf Authorities.
• London Commodity Exchange.
• Multiple Shops Federation.
• National Association of Headteachers.
• National Association of Schoolmasters.
• National Coal Board.
• National Farmers Union.
• National Farmers Union of Scotland.
• National Federation of Building Trade Employers.
• National Federation of Building Trade Operatives.
• National Union of Agricultural Workers.
• National Union of Teachers.
• National Union of Townswomen's Guilds (Scotland).
• Road Research Laboratory.
• Rugby Football League.
• Rural District Councils Association.
• Scottish Council of Physical Recreation.
• Scottish Counties of Cities Association.
• Scottish Football Association.
• Scottish Football League.
• Scottish Landowners Federation.
• Scottish Office of the Confederation of British Industry.
• Scottish Schoolmasters Association.
• Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, Scottish Tourist Board.
• Scottish Trades Union Congress.
• Scottish Women's Rural Institutes.
• Sports Council.
• Trades Union Congress.
• Urban District Councils Association.
• Welsh Joint Education Committee.
• Winter Building Advisory Committee.
• Women's Royal Voluntary Service.
• Women's Royal Voluntary Service (Scotland).

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now announce the name of the chairman and the membership of the Economic Development Committee for the Motor Manufacturing Industry.

I am glad to say that Sir Hugh Tett has accepted my invitation to serve as Chairman. The formation and membership of this Committee are being announced in the usual way by the Director General of the National Economic Development Office on behalf of the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having on the effects of the closing of the Suez Canal and the embargo on oil exports on the Maltese economy; and if he will make a statement.

We have received certain representations from the Malta High Commissioner in London, which are being studied. The possibility of making a statement will be considered when this study is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the expenditure on roads in the United Kingdom in 1967–68 is to be spent in Wales; and what is the percentage proposed to be spent in 1968–69 and 1969–70.

About 5 per cent. in 1967–68. Expenditure in later years has still to be decided.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the proportion of telephone calls made in the United Kingdom as a whole which are local, trunk, continental and overseas calls, respectively.

For the year ending 31st March, 1967, the proportions were:

		per cent.
Inland Local	…	87·29
Inland Trunk	…	12·59
Continental (European)	…	0·11
Overseas (Extra-European)	…	0·01
		100

asked the Postmaster-General on what principle the subscriber trunk dialling numbers for towns and cities are selected, in view of the fact, for instance, that the numerals 02 serve an area covering Hampshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk and Northern Ireland.

As the answer is rather long, I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the short notice given to employees of the British Indestructo Glass factory at Park Royal, N.W.10, of the proposed closure, he will take special steps to assist the workers who will be made redundant.

Arrangements have already been made to register and interview the workers and we shall do all we can to help them to find other employment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many employees he has been notified will be made redundant by the proposed closure of the British Indestructo Glass Works at Park Royal, N.W.10; and what is being done to ensure that any specialised skills are not lost.

I understand that about 480 workers will become redundant but some may be offered employment by the Triplex Safety Glass Company Limited. We shall do what we can to find suitable jobs for the skilled glass workers but the number of opportunities in their trade is limited in North London.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet reached a decision on the revision of the Factories Act.

Yes. I think the time has come to start upon a comprehensive revision of the safety, health and welfare legislation for which I am responsible. This will involve both the Factories Act, 1961, and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, and may well lead to the amalgamation of the two Acts. Preparatory work has already begun and there will be full consultation with all interested bodies. This will, of course, be a major task and I cannot at the moment say when the new legislation will be ready for introduction.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being carried out into the incidence of mycotoxins in grain fed to livestock in this country and among the principal suppliers to the United Kingdom; and whether he is satisfied that the residues from these poisons in home-produced and imported meat and dairy products do not constitute a danger to health.

Investigational work is proceeding at several centres in this country, and the possibility of widening it is being kept under review. We have no evidence to suggest that there is a danger to human health from grain fed to livestock but if the hon. Member has any information on the subject I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements have been made to continue in operation the Anglo-Irish sugar agreement which comes to an end on 30th June this year.

A revisional agreement was signed today providing for the prolongation of the present agreement, subject to the existing arrangements for review or termination by either party. There is also a technical amendment relating to the method of calculating permissible imports of non-Commonwealth sugar into the Republic of Ireland. I have arranged for a copy of this revisional agreement to be placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to introduce a system of regulating imports to help the British paper trade; and if he will make a statement.

None. I am aware of the difficulties which the paper and board industry is at present experiencing but their solution must be found primarily in the industry's adaptation to changes in its trading conditions. The Government recognises this industry's important contribution to the national economy and welcomes the progress which it is making to rationalise its structure and increase its productivity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated effect of a Channel Tunnel on the volume of air traffic from the London airports; and to what extent this was taken into account in deciding to place a third London airport at Stansted.

It is expected that the short haul cross-channel routes will be affected most by a Channel Tunnel, with substantial losses of traffic on the vehicle ferry services. No vehicle ferry services are operated from London airports. In total a Channel Tunnel may reduce London area traffic slightly and this was taken into account in considering the third London airport.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will monitor the level of aircraft noise in Hampstead, in view of that area being the highest part of London above sea level.

Yes. Hampstead will be included in the comprehensive programme of measurement of aircraft noise levels this summer to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Chelsea (Mr. Worsley) on 14th June.—[Vol. 748, c. 560.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what facilities are available at Hurn Airport after 5 p.m.; for what purposes these facilities are maintained; and under what circumstances they are available to owners of private and chartered aircraft.

At the request of the British Aircraft Corporation air traffic control facilities are provided up to 7 p.m. each week day for the purpose of flight testing of the Corporation's aircraft. This is possible because the staff concerned are already required to be in attendance for the purpose of controlling traffic within the Bournemouth control zone. This does not apply to the other categories of staff required for public transport movements but short extensions of hours are granted wherever this is practicable within the limits of a single watch. Private aircraft do not, normally, require any special facilities and are permitted to use Hurn, like other Board of Trade aerodromes, at any time under the conditions of Chapter 5, Facilitation Section of the Air Pilot.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the future of Hurn Airport.

Negotiations for the purchase of the airport by the County Councils of Hampshire and Dorset and the County Borough Council of Bournemouth are continuing in furtherance of the policy of local ownership and management of airports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when and in what circumstances it was decided to increase the number of runways on the proposed third London airport at Stansted.

The intention for the present as explained at the public inquiry, is that Stansted should have a second runway in addition to that already existing. Should it become necessary, however, the Stansted site could accommodate two more parallel runways.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the largest aircraft that can use Southampton, Eastleigh, Airport; what facilities exist for the extension of the runway; and if he will make a statement comparing the radar, instrument landing, approach and take-off facilities and the potential for development between Southampton and Hurn airports.

The largest aircraft able to use Southampton at a commercial weight is the Vickers Vanguard, but larger aircraft could use this aerodrome with a reduction in all up weight. The runway at Southampton is capable of extension in both a northerly and a southerly direction. Bournemouth (Hurn) has an instrument landing system (I.L.S.) and a precision approach radar (P.A.R.) which is used mainly by the School of Air Traffic Control. A surveillance radar is available for the Bourne-mouth Control Zone and its coverage extends to both Hurn and Southampton. Southampton has a Plessey 424 approach radar. Both Hurn and Southampton have airfield lighting for approach purposes which meet the Board's licensing standards. Both Hurn and Southampton are capable of development.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what equipment has recently been supplied to Southampton Airport; and under which Vote these items will be charged.

None by my Department. In common with other private and municipal aerodromes Southampton Airport has received cash grants of 50 per cent. of the cost of certain items of safety and navigational equipment within specified limits. These items are:

• VHF Radio Telephony Transmitters/Receivers.
• Speech Recorders.
• Modifications to the existing VHF
• Direction Finding Equipment.
• Decca 424 Radar.
• Visual Approach Slope Indicators.
• Small items of Meteorological equipment.
• Fire appliances.

The total grant either paid or promised is £18,779, charged to the Civil Estimates Class IV Vote 11 in 1966–67—Vote 10 in 1967–68 (Civil Aerodromes and Air Navigational Services).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the position of Triplex Safety Glass Company Limited to the Monopolies Commission with regard to the production of toughened glass used in car manufacture in view of the proposed closure of the British Indestructo Glass works at Park Royal N.W.10.

I am studying the position of this company.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she is taking to relieve the total strangulation of traffic to and from the London end of the M1 now caused by work on the Colindeep Lane underpass.

Unfortunately, there is no acceptable alternative route that can be signposted between central London and the M1.The Greater London Council, as the agents of my right hon. Friend, have taken appropriate measures in co-operation with the police to facilitate the flow of traffic while these works are being carried out. These measures include strict control of the movement of contractors' vehicles which are banned from entering or leaving the site during peak periods and from making right-hand turns on the trunk road at any time. The police are on call to deal with any emergencies and plant is available on the site to remove broken-down vehicles.The police report that traffic is moving reasonably well and that under normal conditions, peak hour delay is less than 10 minutes with practically no delay outside peak hours. However, the situation is being kept under close watch by all concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what are her Department's plans for the Passingford Bridge on the Abridge-Ongar road, Essex; what representations have been received from the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, the River Roding Amenities Society and other bodies and individuals concerned to preserve this bridge; and whether she will make a statement.

This scheme involves two roads for which the Essex County Council are the highway authority. After consultation with the Divisional Road Engineer, the County Council applied for grant to build a new bridge. The scheme involves straightening A113, diverting the river slightly and replacing the T-junction at the southern end of the bridge by a roundabout.Representations received from the Council for the Preservation of Rural England accept that the bridge needs to be replaced because it constitutes a road hazard and prevents the free flow of the river with resultant flooding at times. They oppose the diversion of the river and the construction of the roundabout.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the increasing number of vehicles using Burnside Crescent, Alperton, Wembley, despite its narrowness and the number of cars parked in it, she will introduce a speed limit of 15 m.p.h.

No. Neither the London Borough of Brent, as highway authority for Burnside Crescent, nor the Metropolitan Police consider that the amount of parking and the width of the road constitute special dangers for which a 15 m.p.h. speed limit would be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate she has made of the effect on traffic congestion of delaying school time-tables by one hour in the winter when Summer Time is kept in operation all the year round.

The effect on traffic congestion of decisions to change school hours (which are taken locally) will vary greatly from place to place and no estimate of the kind suggested has been made.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will publish her White Paper on Road Safety.

I shall be presenting to Parliament a White Paper entitled "Road Safety—A Fresh Approach" on 4th July.

asked the Minister of Transport what approvals have been granted for electrification of railways since 1957; and what is the expenditure involved in each case.

The British Railways Board have received approval in respect of the following electrification schemes:

Scheme	Year of approval	Cost (£m.)
Chelmsford-Colchester	1957	5·90
Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street-Chelmsford-Southend Victoria (conversion from DC to AC)	1958	5·80
Augmentation of outer suburban services: Clacton, Witham, Southend, Victoria	1959	1·80
Euston Main Line*†	1961	163·00
Glasgow Suburban Stage II†	1964	6·10
Bournemouth†	1964	15·20
Isle of Wight	1965	0·50
Lea Valley†	1967	1·25
* Date shown is year approval was given after the scheme had been re-assessed.
† Work on these schemes is still in progress. The cost figure is therefore an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why British troops were recently forbidden to use heavy weapons against terrorists in Aden; why British tanks and armoured vehicles have been withdrawn from Aden while British troops are still engaged there; and what steps he is taking to ensure that British lives are not further endangered by restrictions and delays imposed on British officers and men engaged on counter-terrorist duties.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to similar Questions on 29th June. The armoured vehicles now in Aden are adequate for the support of internal security operation there.—[Vol. 749, c. 128.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will send warships to Malta for repair in order to assist the Malta dry docks which have no work owing to the closure of the Suez Canal.

My right hon. Friend is considering this as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his talks on 29th June with M. Messmer on the question of an Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft.

I hope to be able to make a statement in the House next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Navy Department Symposium will take place on ways in which information on diving techniques, obtained by the Royal Navy, can be made available to British industry involved in the civil development of the sea-bed; and if he will publish a list of industrial firms and Government Departments to whom invitations will be sent.

Detailed arrangements for the symposium (including dates and par- ticipation), are under discussion with the Ministry of Technology. Further information will be made available when plans crystallise.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft he is considering as a Varsity replacement for the Royal Air Force.

It is too early to say.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the estimated cost of supplemental benefits in its first full year, compared with the cost of National Assistance in its last full year.

Taking into account the effect of the proposed increases in social security benefits announced last week, the estimated expenditure on supplementary benefits in 1967–68 is £372 million. The net cost of national assistance and non-contributory pensions in 1965–66 was £246 million.

asked the Minister of Social Security when she expects to implement an increase in family allowances, in view of the fact that the cost of living has risen by over 35 per cent. since they were last raised.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which we have promised to make before the Summer Recess.