asked the Postmaster-General what is his revised figure for the provision of new individual telephone installations in the next 12 months; and how this figure compares with his original intention.

The forecast of new telephone installations in 1968–69 is now being considered and will be published early in March in a White Paper on Post Office Prospects for 1968–69.In the White Paper presented last March I estimated that we would provide 840,000 new telephone installations in the current financial year.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many domestic telephone installations there are in the Wellingborough constituency; and how many of these are shared lines;(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that sufficient telephone equipment is available in Wellingborough to meet the increasing demands by both industry and domestic users as a result of overspill from London;(3) how many applicants are waiting for telephone installations in the Wellingborough constituency.

At 31st December, 1967, in the exchange areas mainly serving the constituency of Wellingborough, there were 4,536 residential installations including 1,893 shared lines. 311 applicants were waiting for telephones, and most of these should be given service by May, 1968.We are in constant touch with the Local and County Authorities about their plans for the overspill, and have taken account of these in our arrangements for the provision of additional telephone exchange equipment at Wellingborough.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will ensure that all Post Office vehicles are equipped with reflective safety number plates in the interest of road safety in accordance with the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1967.

No. There is no evidence that this would significantly benefit road safety in the conditions in which most Post-Office vehicles operate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to make a statement about the effect on educational provision of the review of public expenditure now being undertaken.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January.—[Vol. 756, c. 1577–93.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to revise the 1968–69 school building programme, in the light of the current review of Government expenditure.

Yes. The changes were explained in the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 16th January. I shall be sending a circular to local education authorities in the next few days.—[Vol. 756, c. 1577–93.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the report of the Gittins Committee on Primary Education in Wales to be published; if a Welsh version of the report will be published simultaneously with the English version; and on which dates the English and Welsh versions were handed to the printers.

Both the English and Welsh versions of the Report on Primary Education by the Central Advisory Council for Education (Wales) under the chairmanship of Professor C. Gittins will be published on 25th January, 1968.The English version of the report comprising nearly 700 pages was sent to Her Majesty's Stationery Office for printing between 11th and 16th May, 1967 with two small additions on 14th August and 27th September, 1967. The Welsh version was sent to Her Majesty's Stationery Office between 23rd June and 11th August, 1967 with two small additions on 6th October, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science at what level the Arts Council grant for 1968–69 will be fixed.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of recent accidents, he will ban the carrying of paraffin in road tankers capable of carrying petrol and other fuels.

My Department has been exploring the possibility of a voluntary ban of this kind, but for economic reasons not all distributors have so far been willing to adopt it. As soon as present inquiries have been completed, I shall consider whether a statutory ban on mixed loads of petroleum spirit and paraffin would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of television advertising by his Department during the Christmas and New Year period.

Nothing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct all departments under his control to ensure that all vehicles are fitted with reflective safety number plates in the interest of road safety in accordance with the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1967.

Experiments are being made in the use of these plates, but I think that more experience is needed before my right hon. Friend would be justified in having the existing plates on all Home Office vehicles replaced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reviews of public sector spending programmes he has instigated since October 1964.

As explained in the White Paper "Public Expenditure Planning and Control", there is an annual survey of public sector expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue a White Paper on the financial effects Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community will have on the citizens of Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, and on the estimated effects of this application on the unemployment rate and on the employment of those engaged in industries receiving Government subsidy.

No. Detailed analysis of the consequences of membership for particular areas or industries is not practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions Her Majesty's Government are now making about the growth in real resources for each of the next five years when carrying out their current review of Government expenditure.

I believe we can reckon on a growth rate of some 4 per cent. a year for this year and next. The Government is not yet ready to suggest a figure for later years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £1,000 million reduction in consumption and Government expenditure suggested by Her Majesty's Government at the National Economic Development Council meeting of 3rd January, 1968 included the £400 million cuts already announced.

The figure which the hon. Gentleman quotes is not a proposed reduction in consumption and Government expenditure but an assessment of the extra annual resources which, following devaluation, we shall have to apply to exports and import saving. The measures which the Government has previously announced, together with those announced yesterday and others which will be taken in due course, are all designed to ensure that over a period we achieve this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the United Kingdom average is theper capitapersonal income in Wales.

The ratio is about 90 per cent. for the three year period 1964–66, on the basis of the Family Expenditure Survey carried out by the Ministry of Labour. This figure is subject to sampling error.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are employed in the collection of Selective Employment Tax and in making the repayments to those entitled to repayment; and what, in the current year, is estimated to be the cost of the administration and the amount received by Her Majesty's Treasury.

About 800. The cost of administration in 1967–68 is estimated to be about £2 million and the net yield about £190 million, i.e. after payment of refunds and premiums.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the separate system of law applicable in Scotland, he will issue a White Paper on the legal aspects of Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community in so far as the application affects Scots law and the rights of Scots citizens flowing therefrom.

No. The White Paper on the Legal and Constitutional Implications of United Kingdom Membership of the European Communities, which was presented to Parliament last May, was prepared in full consultation with the Scottish law officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the recommendations of the South Eastern Regional Council, he will state his plans for regional inquiries designed to stop the trend south of population from northeast Scotland and to develop trade communications between north-east Scotland and Europe on lines at least equal to the communications between south-east England and Europe.

Following the publication of the White Paper on the Scottish Economy 1965–70 (Cmnd. 2864) I commissioned a team from Aberdeen University under Professor Gaskin to make a study of the economic potential of north-east Scotland. The report of the study which will take account of the factors mentioned by my hon. and learned Friend should be ready late this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the proposed new constituency boundaries for the City of Edinburgh, as recommended by the Boundary Commission for Scotland in July, 1967 will be finalised.

The Boundary Commission for Scotland has until August, 1969 to submit a report on the general review of Parliamentary constituencies on which it is at present engaged. Although the Commission has published provisional recommendations for constituencies in Edinburgh, these recommendations are subject to the procedure prescribed in the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Acts, 1949 and 1958, and may be revised at any time before the Commission's report is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the Farquharson-Lang Report on administrative practice of hospital boards in Scotland.

A number of important recommendations in this report deal with the reappraisal of functions of board members and arrangements for delegation to officers, and the review and simplification of the committee structure of hospital boards. These have already been commended to hospital boards and good progress has been made in implementing them. On the remaining recommendations, after considering the comments of the interested bodies, I have communicated my detailed views to hospital boards in a memorandum of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. In it I endorsed a number of recommendations and recognised that they have already been implemented to some extent. For example, boards have taken steps to improve internal communications and relations with Press and public, arrangements have been made for the training of medical administrators; the procedure for handling suggestions and complaints is being considered by a working party which I appointed. I accepted that regional boards should take opportunities which may arise for regrouping boards of management and reducing their membership on the lines recommended in the Report; and I noted that boards already have these matters under review.Three major recommendations are affected by the review of the administrative structure of the health services in Scotland to which I referred in my reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele) on 7th November, 1967. These are: that a post of chief executive should be established at hospital boards; that advice to boards on medical matters should be provided through a nationwide medical advisory service; and that the area of the Westrn Regional Hospital Board should be divided into two regions. These are fundamental changes, which the Farquharson-Lang Commit- tee considered in the context of the hospital service only. In considering any new form of administration, the geographical layout and the management structure would have to be worked out afresh; and I do not propose that these changes in the hospital service (all of which would take a long time to bring fully into effect) should be proceeded with while the administrative structure of the whole National Health Service is being reviewed, since they might be overtaken by further change. All relevant points made in the report will be taken into account in considering the review of structure.The Report also makes recommendations on relationships between the hospital service and the universities. In the light of these recommendations, arrangements for joint consultation have already been reviewed in each region, and I have no doubt that the Royal Commission on Medical Education will also take account of this part of the Report.The Farquharson-Lang Report has become a classic in hospital administration, and the emphasis which it places on streamlining of administrative procedures has already, I know, been the cause of considerable improvement. I am confident that this improvement will be maintained and carried through into any new administrative structure which may emerge from the present inquiry.—[Vol. 753, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what part of the £18 million cut in spending on major roads in 1968–69, and of the £29 million saving in 1969–70, will occur in Scotland; and if he will itemise the roads which will be affected.

The reductions in planned expenditure will be £2 million in 1968–69 and £3 million in 1969–70, but in both years investment in the road programme will still increase. The schemes to be delayed will be decided in the light of progress made in preparation to the contract-letting stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what part of the £75 million saving in local authority spending on roads in 1968–69 and 1969–70 will occur in Scotland; and if he will itemise the savings county by county.

I am requesting local authorities to save in all £3·8 million in 1968–69 and £4 million in 1969–70 on the maintenance of all their roads and on the improvement of non-principal roads. Each authority will be asked to reduce its expenditure for these purposes by about 15 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the value of capital projects in universities and colleges of further education in Scotland held back during 1968–69 as a result of the review of public expenditure, Command Paper No. 3515.

I understand that the University Grants Committee is at present considering what capital projects in the universities will be held back during 1968–69. No projects in the further education field in Scotland will be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the damage caused by the gale in Scotland on 14th January;(2) what assistance will be given to Glasgow and other local authorities in the areas affected by the gale of 14th January.

The damage caused by the gale, aggravated by continuing heavy rain, has been so severe and widespread that I cannot yet make a reliable estimate of it for the country as a whole. Local authorities are, however, urgently pursuing the task of assessment.My Department has supplied beds, bedding and temporary roofing material from emergency stocks to a number of authorities and has posted liaison staff to the areas most seriously affected, including Glagow.In the visits which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, my noble Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State and I have paid to some of the most affected areas, we have undertaken to deal urgently and sympathetically with local authorities' further requests, as they identify what more assistance they need.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make an approach to President Nasser with a view to effecting the immediate release of the ships trapped in the Bitter Lakes.

The United Arab Republic authorities have announced that they intend to arrange for the release of the ships; and the United Arab Republic official spokesman is reported to have said yesterday that it was hoped that work to release them could begin in approximately ten days.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will seek to raise in the United Nations Security Council as a threat to world peace the extension of the Vietnam war into Laos and Cambodia.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what assessment she has made of the impact of the road haulage charges in the Transport Bill on regional development.

The impact of the charges on different regions will vary according to the relative importance of road transport in each region. The wear and tear charge will increase road transport costs by about 2½ to 3½ per cent. overall. As announced in the House on 20th December, my right hon. Friend is considering whether any steps should be taken to mitigate the effects of the abnormal loads charge on development areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans for protecting Great Britain's overseas trade in view of the diminution of her sovereignty in certain overseas territories.

We shall continue to protect our trade overseas by maintaining diplomatic and commercial relations with overseas countries and by sharing with many of them rights and obligations under international agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals the Government intend to put forward at the 1968 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Since the First United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was held in Geneva in 1964, the permanent organs of the Conference have discussed a very wide range of possible measures to promote the economic welfare of the developing countries. The Second Conference will be concerned to explore the prospects of reaching an international consensus on some of these measures. We very much hope, for example, that the Conference will be successful in paving the way for agreement on the question of granting special tariff treatment on imports of manufactures and semi-manufactures from developing countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the reduction in the expected level of payments of investment grants to industry in Scotland which will result from the decisions announced in Command Paper No. 3515.

I estimate that as the result of the decision to defer further acceleration during 1968–69 in the payment of investment grants industry in Scotland will receive about £10 million less in that year than it would have received had there been further accelera- tion. Even so, I expect the amount paid to industry in Scotland in 1968–69 to be greater than the amount paid in 1967–68.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made regarding the acquisition of land for factory building at Pennywell, Sunderland.

I hope very shortly to be able to enter into negotiations with the County Borough of Sunderland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what notification he had of increases in the insurance premiums for foot-and-mouth disease; and how long it required his Department to assent to such proposed increases under the voluntary system of notification of increases in insurance premiums announced on 27th July, 1967.

None. I do not consider that insurers were under an obligation to notify me of the premium increases to which the hon. Member refers. Under arrangements made with insurers in 1966 my predecessor recognised that the nature of insurance required some flexibility in relating premiums to experience of claims and changes in the nature of risks and the insurers undertook to consult the Board of Trade in advance if they found it necessary to propose any overall increase in rates of premium relating to any separate class of insurance. Livestock insurance is not the subject of any agreement among a number of insurers as to the premiums to be charged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of advance factories have already been established in the development areas of Wales; and how many of these are now in operation.

Since 1959, 24 Board of Trade advance factories have been built in the development areas of Wales; of these nine are at present in operation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet received the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the proposed acquisition by Thomson Newspapers Limited of three local newspapers owned by Crusha and Son Limited.

I received the report on 29th December and it is being published this afternoon. The Commission have concluded that the transfer may not be expected to operate against the public interest. Formal consent to the transaction is being given to Thomson Newspapers Limited today.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received Lord Cromer's Report about export business from capital projects overseas and whether he intends to publish it.

I have received Lord Cromer's Report. which is available today from the Vote Office as a White Paper. It throws valuable light on how Government and industry can jointly approach the special problems of large export projects. I accept and have already acted on Lord Cromer's main recommendation to set up an Overseas Project Group in the Board of Trade. I shall pursue his more detailed recommendations in consultation with other Departments and with industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards proposals for general trade preferences for developing countries in the markets of the developed, which are to be raised at the forthcoming meeting of the United Nations Committee for Trade and Development in Delhi.

I am strongly in favour of such proposals. The O.E.C.D. Ministerial Council meeting on 1st December, 1967, also agreed to support the principle of granting special tariff treatment to imports from developing countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage firms desiring up-to-date export information to acquire telex equipment.

The provision of the Telex Service is the responsibility of H.M. Postmaster-General. The Board of Trade uses telex extensively in communicating up-to-date export information to firms which subscribe to the G.P.O. Telex Service. Export officers regularly draw the attention of non-subscribing firms to the desirability of its use in the conduct of all export business.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those inducements which he has now offered to encourage industries to smelt aluminium in development areas in the United Kingdom.

Apart from the assistance available to firms wishing to undertake manufacture in Development Areas, the Government have indicated their readiness to authorise supply of electricity under the long-term contract arrangements announced on 4th October, 1967, and to consider participation in the financing of smelter projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis he is prepared to join in the financing of the development of aluminium smelting in this country.

The interested aluminium companies were informed that the Government are ready to consider proposals for a Government loan on appropriate terms, or alternatively proposals for Government equity participation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the weather forecast broadcast at 5.55 p.m. on Saturday 13th January did not foretell the rapid thaw with temperatures rising up to 40° Fahrenheit by midnight, particularly in the south-eastern area.

At 5.55 p.m. the Meteorological Office forecast a slow thaw for south-east England and at 10.15 p.m. a rapid thaw. The change occurred because high pressure over central Europe unexpectedly declined, causing warm air to accelerate from the west and hasten the thaw by a few hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the fact that the refit of H.M.S. "Ark Royal" is so far advanced that cancellation would only save about £9,000,000, and of the benefits both for the work of the Royal Navy and the protection of the Commonwealth, he will allow this refit to be completed.

The effects of the earlier phase-out of the carriers on the carrier refit programme are being urgently examined and a decision on H.M.S. "Ark Royal's" refit will be made as soon as possible. I am fully aware of the concern on this subject and of the need for an early decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of mines that have been discovered on the foreshore near Weston-super-Mare during 1967 and 1968. respectively.

During 1967 six inert ground mines and one inert buoyant mine were discovered and disposed of. To the present date in 1968 twelve inert ground mines have been discovered and similarly disposed of.In addition during 1967 and 1968 thirty-nine depth charges and other projectiles have been dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what calibre bombs have been discovered in Weston-super-Mare Bay and Sand Bay during the years 1967 and 1968;(2) how many bombs have been discovered in the Weston-super-Mare and Sand Bay coastline; how many of these were practice bombs; how many were high explosive and fused; and, in the latter case, what was the date of the fusing of the bombs.

Since 1963 only two bombs have been found in the area in question. Both were found and disposed of in 1967. One was a 100 lb. and the other a 250 lb. bomb. Both were live and high explosive.Owing to their age and condition it was not possible to ascertain when they were fused; but it is highly unlikely that they were dropped after 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give an assurance that it remains his policy not to alter the work load planned for Devonport Dockyard over the next five years; whether he is satisfied that the order book for the Dockyard is full for the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the latest additional cuts in the aircraft carrier fleet will be reflected in the reduced functioning of the naval dockyards, notably that at Portsmouth.

We shall be reviewing the dockyard programme in the light of the measures to reduce defence expenditure announced to the House on 16th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the estimated cost of cancellation by Great Britain of the F111 aircraft ordered at the present date.

The costs of cancelling the F111K are under consideration with the American authorities and firms concerned. It would not be in our interest to anticipate the outcome of these negotiations at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the estimated cost to Her Majesty's Government of cancellation of the order for United States Phantom aircraft.

There are no plans to cancel the order for Phantom aircraft.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement on the proposed Seaton Carew power station.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Power what number of men left the coal mining industry in Wales in each of the years from 1964 to 1967: and how many are expected to leave under the schemes proposed for the rundown of the industry.

The net rundown of men on books in the coal mining industry in Wales in the years mentioned was:

1964	4,904
1965	8,486
1966	5,941
1967	4,787

On the basis of a national annual reduction of 35,000 in mining manpower up to 1970–71 envisaged by the White Paper on Fuel Policy, the annual decline in the coal mining industry in Wales may continue at a rate of about 5,000

asked the Prime Minister what steps he intends to take in 1968 in respect of the application of the United Kingdom to join the Common Market and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the Statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 20th December.—[Vol. 756, c. 1267.]

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the work and support from five European nations for Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community, if he will consult those five and also countries other than the five on measures whereby Great Britain can assist the expansion of the size, shape, power and world appeal of what is at present the European Economic Community.

We are already in consultation with the Five and with other European nations in accordance with the policy described by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his Statement to the House on 20th December.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the results of his recent visit to South Wales.

As my hon. Friend knows, I had hoped to visit Wales during the Christmas Recess, but, unfortunately, pressure of business made it impossible for me to go. I hope, however, to pay my delayed visit as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Glasgow.

I have no present plans for such a visit, but I would remind the hon. Member that I was in Glasgow as recently as last October, and I have of course had personal reports from my right hon. Friend on the visits he, other Ministers and officials have paid to Glasgow and surrounding areas following the disastrous storms of last weekend.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to coordinate reports from Ministers responsible for evaluating information concerning price increases consequent upon devaluation of the £ sterling.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs continues to he responsible for co-ordination of the productivity, prices and incomes policy and this includes co-ordination of arrangements for surveillance of prices.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now discontinue sanctions against Rhodesia and withdraw the Beira patrol.

On the question of sanctions in general, the answer is "No.". On the question of the Beira patrol, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on 8th November by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) and the hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew).—[Vol. 753, c. 1019.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the reasons for the decision not to publish the official records of the abdication of King Edward VIII; and, in view of public interest in the matter, whether he will reconsider the decision.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the withholding of the publication of State papers connected with the abdication of Edward VIII.

The decision in this matter was in accordance with past practice.

asked the Prime Minister what official communications he has had with the Prime Minister of South Africa on the subject of the ban on British arms sales to South Africa.

None.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the voluntary acceptance of reduced earnings by certain workers wishing to fortify the national economy, he will reconsider his rejection of a temporary cut in the salaries of Ministers and Members of Parliament.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a supplementary question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) after my Statement on Tuesday last.—[Vol. 756, c. 1598–9.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that the Lord Advocate will have equality of status with the Attorney-General of England in United Kingdom matters and represent the United Kingdom either solely or jointly with the Attorney-General of England at all international conventions affecting the rights or interests of the people of Scotland or the laws of Scotland.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary normally consults the Attorney-General on questions involving public international law; but where the subject involves a Scottish element the Lord Advocate is also consulted. At international legal conferences the composition of the United Kingdom delegation is decided according to the circumstances of each particular case and those persons are selected whose qualification and experience are best suited to the matter in hand.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he had with Mr. Levi Eshkol about the supply of arms and aircraft to the State of Israel.

I was very glad to have had this opportunity of meeting Mr. Eshkol, and I think I can fairly say that my conversation with him was frank and useful to us both. Its content, however, as that of any other discussions I have with foreign statesmen, must remain confidential.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will state the amount and conditions of the latest loan to Tanzania.

No new loan agreements have been signed with Tanzania since the loan of £850,000 agreed in March, 1964. This was a contribution to the cost of building the Nyumba-Ya-Mungu dam. The loan is repayable with interest over twenty-five years, but with a six year grace period.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what consideration he has given to the financing of the proposed Virgin Islands airfield at Beef Island during the period 1968–70.

The cost of the airfield extension, estimated to be £175,000 is likely to be incurred during 1968–69 and will be met from within the development aid allocated to the Virgin Islands for that period.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the result of the study made by the United Nations Development Programme of the recommendations of the Tripartite Economic Survey of the Eastern Caribbean of April, 1966; and if he will make a statement.

The United Nations Development Programme was requested to study the possibility of establishing a Caribbean Development Bank, which was one of the recommendations of the Tripartite Economic Survey of the Eastern Caribbean. A mission appointed by the U.N.D.P. to undertake the study reported at the end of July, 1967, setting out proposals for such a Bank.The mission's report was accepted in principle by the Commonwealth Caribbean Governments at a meeting in October to which Britain, the United States and Canada sent representatives.Detailed discussions about the establishment of the Bank have subsequently been held between the interested Governments, and a meeting of legal experts was held in New York last week to prepare a draft charter for the Bank for consideration by the Governments concerned. This has not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he anticipates receiving the findings of the Feasibility Studies Unit for Humberside will be made available.

It is hoped that the findings of the Unit will be available to the Government in the early part of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs which Government Department is responsible for the voluntary notification procedure of proposed price increases of the goods and services listed by the Department of Economic Affairs on 27th July, 1967.

As the hon. Member will be aware from my reply yesterday, eight additions have been made to the list given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 27th July, 1967. These additions are included in the following list in which the goods and services covered by the early warning arrangements are grouped according to the Government Department to which notification is made.—[Vol. 756, c.629;Vol. 751, c.219–211.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what plans he has to negative and alter the unequal distribution of trade, industry and economic effort and activity in Great Britain and to encourage trade, industry and employment in Great Britain's sparsely populated areas.

It is the aim of the Government's existing regional policies to spread adequate employment opportunities throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what industries he has considered for special Government assistance by way of cheap electric power in development areas to avoid any risk of such industries leaving this country for countries where there is cheap power.

In the announcement of the special electricity contracts on 4th October the Government made clear that they would be prepared to authorise access to those arrangements in cases of this kind where they considered it in the national interest. No such cases have since come forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on what basis he is prepared to join in the financing of industries, other than aluminium smelting, using large quantities of electricity in development areas in this country.

It is open to such industries to seek access to the special electricity contracts where their electricity demand is of the kind to which such contracts apply. Any proposal for Government financial participation in the development of these industries would be considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs which sites in development areas he has considered for joining in the financing of developments using cheap electricity in bulk.

The only proposal made to the Government for such development relates to aluminium smelting and the Government are considering possible sites suggested by the companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will list those industries, which are users of large blocks of electricity, and which it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to encourage by way of financial assistance and cheap power, to become established in development areas in this country.

The Government are not proceeding on the basis of a list of industries. The Government has taken the initiative in defining the situations in which it would consider authorising access to the special electricity contracts in the national interest, so that a firm or industry which considers that it meets the requirements can put proposals to the Government.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the allocation of further days for Scottish oral Questions.

I am willing to consider any representations made to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to arrange to transfer the head office of the Forestry Commission to Scotland; and if he will give the reasons for the transfer of the Scottish headquarters to England.

More than half of the Headquarters staff of the Forestry Commission have been moved to Basingstoke within the last 18 months, and the Commission should be allowed to settle down. With regard to the second part of the Question, the hon. Lady is presumably referring to the discontinuance of separate Directorates for England, Scotland and Wales, which formed part of the Commission's re-organisation in 1965. One purpose of the re-organisation was to promote closer contact between the headquarters and the local organisation in the field. The Commission continues to maintain in Edinburgh a Senior Officer for Scotland together with headquarter units, to dispose as far as practicable of business arising in Scot-Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to make a statement on the suspected cause of the initial outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Nantmawr confirmed on 25th October, 1967.

Inquiries which are necessarily protracted, are continuing and evidence is still being collected. I am not able to make any further statement at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the inquiry into the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease to report; and if he will make a statement.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the epidemiological survey of the present series of outbreaks. This is still in progress, and I cannot yet say when I shall receive a report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated numbers and percentage of the national dairy herd that have been slaughtered on account of the current foot-and-mouth epidemic.

I estimate that up to the end of last week just over 100,000 dairy cows had been slaughtered because of foot-and-mouth disease. This represents 3¾ per cent. of the dairy herd in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total imports of eggs during the last quarters of 1966 and 1967, respectively.

Imports of shell eggs in the last quarter of 1966 were 193,055 boxes of 360 eggs. Final figures for the last quarter of 1967 are not yet available but are estimated at 225,000 boxes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average importation of meat from the Argentine over the last three years; and whether, in view of the possibility that the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease came from the Argentine, he will stop all imports of meat from that country.

Supplies of carcase meat and offal from the Argentine totalled 134,300 tons in 1965, 150,300 tons in 1966 and 126,500 tons in the first eleven months of 1967. The origin of the present foot-and-mouth epidemic has not yet been established. Imports of meat from many countries including the Argentine are however temporarily suspended.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what percentage of the receipts of farmers in England is represented by subsidies;(2) what percentage of the total receipts of Welsh farmers is represented by subsidies.

The relevant statistics are not compiled in a way which enables me to provide a breakdown of this kind for England and for Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement about his proposals for a rural development board in Wales.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I can now announce the names of those who have been invited to serve on the proposed Board. As already announced Dr. Richard Phillips has agreed to serve as Chairman. We propose to appoint as Deputy Chairman Mr. J. Morgan Jones, C.B., C.B.E., on retirement from the public service. We have invited the following to serve as members:Mervyn L. Bourdillon, Esq., David John Davies, Esq., C.B.E., Bryn Davies, Esq., Major John Dugdale, T.D., D.L., J.P., R. E. Griffith, Esq., O.B.E., Sidney G. Pritchard, Esq., J.P., Thomas Henry Oliver Thomas, Esq., J.P., Stephen Williams, Esq., M.Sc., Charles E. I. Wynne-Finch, Esq.All the above have signified their willingness to serve on the Board subject to Parliamentary approval for its establishment. My right hon. Friend and I will lay the necessary Order for the establishment of a Board after we have held and considered the report of a public local inquiry into the objections which have been made to the Board's area. Details of the inquiry will be announced later.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on council house rents; and what action he will take in those cases in which the Board find the increases in rents excessive.

The Board cannot at this stage give a definite time for the completion of its report on this reference. The Government will consider whether further action is required in the light of the Board's report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were completed in Great Britain in 1967.

404,400, of which 203,900 were built in the public sector and 200,400 in the private. This is the highest annual figure ever recorded and the first time more than 400,000 houses have been built in a year. In the United Kingdom total completions reached 415,500.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now able to make a statement about the date of operation of the 100 per cent. mortgage guarantee scheme.

The scheme will be brought into operation from 1st April, 1968 under arrangements made with the co-operation of the Building Societies Association and the British Insurance Association.The scheme will help intending owner-occupiers with modest incomes who cannot find the deposit for a house, although they could afford the repayments on a mortgage (for example, young married couples).They will be enabled to borrow up to 100 per cent. of the valuation or purchase price, whichever is the lower, of the house of their choice, provided they are taking out a mortgage under the Government's option mortgage scheme, and the valuation or purchase price is not more than £5,000.Building societies will not normally lend more than about 80 per cent. of their valuation of a house without collateral security, which often takes the form of an insurance guarantee. The option mortgage guarantee scheme is of this form, but with the Government sharing the risk with the insurance companies. As a result the cost to the borrower of this insurance, which can be added to the loan itself, will be considerably reduced.Under this scheme the building society will be prepared to lend up to 25 per cent. of their valuation of the house over and above the amount they would normally have advanced. If the normal advance would have been 75 per cent., a total loan of 100 per cent. will be available. The borrower must of course be able to meet the repayments on this larger loan.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the annual rental the Manchester Regional Hospital Board will pay for office property in Gateway House, Piccadilly, Manchester, and also the cost of cancelling the renting of previous office accommodation.

£118,500. Gateway House will also provide space for the expansion of the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre and accommodation for a section of the Board's staff now occupying hospital premises. The Board intend to sub-let its existing office accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish figures showing the percentage occupancy of National Health Service general hospital beds, excluding geriatric accommodation and mental hospitals, for each of the various regions, and the London teaching hospitals.

	Percentage Occupancy as at 31stDecember,1966
England and Wales	76·4
Provincial Regions including
Teaching Hospitals:
Newcastle	73·8
Leeds	75·0
Sheffield	76·0
East Anglian	74·9
Oxford	76·9
South Western	76·7
Wales	72·1
Birmingham	75·5
Manchester	76·4
Liverpool	77·0
Wessex	75·0
Metropolitan Regions excluding
Teaching Hospitals:
North West Metropolitan	78·0
North East Metropolitan	76·4
South East Metropolitan	74·6
South West Metropolitan	77·7
London Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Teaching Hospitals	83·7

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of men who have been retrained in Government training centres from the Basildon and Brentwood urban district council areas during the last 12 months; and how many men have taken up new employment as a result of such training during the same period.

19 men have completed training, 16 of whom have been placed in their training trades. My local officers are continuing their efforts to find employment for the other three. 27 men are still in training.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the number of vacancies for school leavers in the area of the London Borough of Lewisham in July, December and April of each year from 1960 to 1967, respectively.

The total numbers of unfilled vacancies for young persons recorded at the two youth employment offices whose areas cover the greater part of the London Borough of Lewisham were as follows:

	April	July	December
1960	336	392	344
1961	262	410	242
1962	170	164	86
1963	75	193	109
1964	215	360	175
1965	256	232	179
1966	252	285	127
1967	150	188	154

Vacancies for school leavers cannot be separately identified.

asked the Minister of Technology what would be the estimated cost of unilateral cancellation by Great Britain of the Concorde project at the present date.

No precise estimates are possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make provision for a study of the manufacturing industries in Wales, other than the steel industry, since the latest available statistics are dated 1958.

The 1963 Census of Production statistics for Wales should be available before the end of this year. The next Census, which will be taken in 1969, will be based on production in 1968. I do not consider that a further study is required.