asked the Minister of Power what is the nature of his discussions with the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community; and if he will make a statement.

The Agreement establishing a Council of Association provides for regular exchange of information and consultation on coal and steel matters. The Council recently agreed that discussions on the world steel problems started last year should continue although this is a very wide-ranging and difficult problem.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will in the national interest issue directions to the British Steel Corporation and the publicly-owned steel companies to refrain from fixing common prices to customers for heavy steel products, in view of the judgment of the Restrictive Practices Court that such fixed prices conferred no public benefit.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what is his policy in regard to the appointment of full-time members of the board of the British Steel Corporation who are on the boards of other nationalised industries.

I am prepared to make such appointments where there are special circumstances to justify them.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now review the national fuel plan, in view of the decision to site an aluminium smelter at Invergordon, together with a coal-fired power station.

No. No decisions have yet been taken on either the siting or the choice of fuel for any aluminium smelter. Even if they had, the factors involved would not of themselves warrant review of national fuel policy.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement concerning republication of the White Paper on Fuel Policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to similar Questions earlier today.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what is the price per therm being charged at present to bulk heavy oil users in London and the South-East;(2) what is the average rate of discount per therm granted to bulk heavy oil users in London and the South-East by suppliers on orders in excess of 500 gallons.

The published price of heavy fuel oil (3500 seconds) for minimum bulk loads of 500 gallons delivered in London and the South-East varies according to price zone and is equivalent to either 8·8d. or 9·1d. per therm including tax and temporary surcharge. These prices are subject to rebates and temporary surcharge. These prices are subject to rebates negotiated individually between consumers and competing supplying companies. Rebates given depend on a variety of factors, such as quantity, regularity of supply and quality specification, which together make it difficult to determine a meaningful average.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to ensure that the various employing boards in the nationalised electricity and gas industries act as one employer in relation to their employees in the matter of continuity of employment, the payment of wages, salaries and other forms of remuneration and for superannuation purposes.

No. It is already the duty of the Gas and Electricity Councils under the respective Nationalisation Acts to consult with appropriate organisations with a view to the establishment of machinery for the settlement of terms and conditions of employment. Agreements have been concluded in each industry which provide for negotiation centrally on matters such as those referred to by my hon. Friend, though there are some fields in which flexibility is desirable to meet varying local cicumstances.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the talks taking place between the National Coal Board and the British Steel Corporation on the price paid for coal by the latter.

Apart from the normal day-to-day discussions no special talks are taking place.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total value of exports in respect of oil products over each of the last four years.

£96½ million, £104 million, £111½ million and £115 million.

asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated total increase of costs caused by devaluation on all oil and oil products brought into the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for Cambridge (Mr. Lane) and Honiton (Mr. Emery) earlier today.

asked the Minister of Power what offers the National Coal Board have submitted for the supply of cheap coal to produce electricity from thermal power stations to manufacturers submitting proposals for the smelting of aluminium to the Government; and for what tonnage, over what period of years and at what price.

Discussions between the National Coal Board and prospective customers are confidential commercial matters.

asked the Minister of Power whether he estimates that a nuclear power station at Seaton Carew will be able to generate electricity more cheaply than a coal-fired station using coal at a delivered price at 3½d. a therm.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him today.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what is the percentage increase in the estimated capital and operating costs of Dungeness B nuclear power station between July, 1965 and the present; and when the station is expected to be operating;(2) if he will state the reasons for the increase in the estimated capital and operating costs of Dungeness B nuclear power station between July, 1965, and the present.

The estimated base-load generating cost (including capital charges and operating costs) has increased by about 25 per cent. since July, 1965. The C.E.G.B. advise that the increase is made up as follows:

	Per cent.
Increase in price levels including the effects of devaluation	8
Changes in ground rules i.e. the use of 8 per cent. discount rate (in place of 7½ per cent.) and the use of the same rate for interest during construction (instead of 5½ per cent.)	7
Inclusion of royalty payable to the A.E.A.	3
Other causes	7

The station is expected to begin operating in 1970.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in reviewing his fuel policy, he will take full account of the fact that coal-fired stations require less capital than nuclear stations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. McGuire) on 23rd January. The Fuel Policy White Paper (Cmnd. 3438) shows that capital costs, as well as running costs, are fully considered.—[Vol. 757, c. 77.]

asked the Minister of Power what are the heads of agreement, reached between the Central Electricity Generating Board and those companies or consortia submitting proposals to the Government for the smelting of aluminium for the supply of block quantities of cheap electricity.

The conditions for the supply of electricity on special terms are set out in the Government Statement of 4th October, 1967. These involve a 100 per cent. capital payment for the tranche of capacity earmarked, payment for the cost of grid connection, and payment of an annual charge to cover such items as fuel and operating costs.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the Government's intention to encourage aluminium smelting, if he will review the cost of electricity available to aluminium smelters in different parts of the world; what price, allowing for capital payments for generating plant, the Generating Board are able to offer large block users of electricity on long term contracts for aluminium smelting; and what subsidy is necessary to make this price competitive with that available in other countries.

Precise information about the cost of electricity to aluminium smelters in other countries is not obtainable. The general basis on which electricity may be supplied to special consumers in the United Kingdom is set out in the Government Statement of 4th October, 1967, but the financial details of individual offers or contracts are commercial matters. The terms negotiated do not, however, involve any subsidy.

Shaw asked the Minister of Power what is his policy with regard to the cheap block tariffs for large users of electricity so that they may purchase supplies at realistic rates and not loaded rates.

Block tariffs are normally available only to domestic consumers and the smaller commercial, industrial and miscellaneous users. For large users, maximum demand tariffs or special agreements are generally considered by Electricity Boards to be more appropriate.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what estimate he has made of the increased cost to the nuclear power programme of the abnormal vehicular loads tax;(2) what estimate he has made of the increased cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board power raising programme through the abnormal vehicular loads tax.

None so far. The Board is considering the effect of these provisions on its costs.

asked the Minister of Power how many pit ponies are at present used in coal mines; what is the average length of stay underground; and at what rate is the phase-out of these animals proceeding.

The National Coal Board at present uses about 2,500. Their average working life is from ten to fifteen years. I am informed by the Board that their use underground will have virtually ceased by 1970.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board not to supply coal to private industry at a rate below that charged to publicly-owned industry.

Industrial Coal contracts are negotiated on a commercial basis between individual enterprises and the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement on distributed and undistributed coal stocks at 1st February, 1968, and the aggregate tonnage entailed.

On 27th January total distributed and undistributed stocks of coal were 15·8 million tons and 265·6 million tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made on the concentration of coal depots since the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if he will list the areas affected.

I am advised by the National Coal Board that since the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes the number of coal concentration points for rail-borne fuel has increased overall by 55.The breakdown is as follows:

N.C.B. Sales Regions	Concentrations
Scottish	+19
Northern	+8
Yorkshire	+9
North Western	+11
North Midlands	+4
Midlands	-8
South Wales and West of England	-1
London and Southern	+13

In the Midlands an increased number of merchants is drawing supplies direct from collieries and in South Wales three small depots have been replaced by two larger ones.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made in research into coal derivatives; and if he will make a statement.

There is continuing research effort by the National Coal Board, the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, the British Coke Research Association and the Coal Tar Research Association. For an account of the progress I would refer my hon. Friend to the published Reports of the four organisations.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions and/or advice he has given regional hospital boards in respect of the dumping of disused medical instruments, medical records, and human remains.

Advice has been given on the prevention of the spread of infection and on the confidentiality of hospital medical records. Hospital authorities are well aware of the requirements in disposing of such items and it is for them to make appropriate arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health how far it is the practice of his Department to authorise the disposal of land belonging to his Department at less than the best price obtainable commercially if he sees fit.

The practice is to sell land at market value. The only exceptions considered are cases in which a change of ownership would produce a direct benefit to the hospital service, and such cases are extremely rare.

asked the Minister of Health if, in the case of the disputed land between his Department and the Tynemouth Corporation, he will give authority for a resale to the council at a price equal to the amount paid to the council under the amortisation arrangement.

No. The ownership of this land is not in dispute so far as I am aware. When surplus hospital land is sold to local authorities it is the practice to do so at the market price as assessed by the District Valuer.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total number of hospital beds available in Wales in 1967; and how this figure compares with the total number available in 1957.

26,098 on 30th September, 1967; 26,873 on 30th September, 1957.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average period of waiting for persons in Wales requiring hospital treatment during 1967; and what was the corresponding average waiting period in 1957.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health how many non-teaching hospitals have been taken over by teaching hospitals in the last five years.

In this period eight non-teaching hospitals have been designated as parts of teaching hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health how much the running costs of non-teaching hospitals which have been taken over by teaching hospitals have increased in the last five years.

A total of 13 Regional Hospital Board hospitals have been designated as parts of teaching hospitals since the National Health Service began, but comparable figures are available for only 12 of them. The totals for the 12 are as follows:

1961–62	…	…	£3,633,729
1966–67	…	…	£5,696,814

asked the Minister of Health if he will instruct hospital authorities to consult with the appropriate trade union when it is proposed that a non-teaching hospital is to be taken over by a teaching hospital.

Hospital authorities have already been advised of the value and importance of early consultation with staff and their organisations about all proposed reorganisations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that imported foreign vitrified floor tiles were used in the construction of St. Mary's Maternity Hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester, when British made tiles could have been supplied at a comparable price; and whether he will give directions to ensure the use of British materials for hospital construction wherever possible.

The floor tiles, which cover less than 5 per cent. of the total floor area of St. Mary's Maternity Hospital, Manchester, are Swedish imported non-slip carborundum tiles; no equivalent tile of British manufacture was available.In accordance with general Government purchasing policy British materials are used in hospital construction whenever suitable quality is available at competitive prices.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that single technicians as opposed to several technicians employed by dentists are subject to the Selective Employment Tax; and whether he will take steps to remedy this anomaly.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.—[Vol. 758, c. 4.]

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the scheme for medical tests for immigrants in their own countries before leaving for the United Kingdom.

Arrangements have now been completed in thirty Commonwealth countries and dependent territories for the medical examination there of prospective immigrants to this country; arrangements in other countries are in train.

asked the Minister of Health what controls exist for regulating the cost of prescriptions; and in what way are they exercised by his department in respect of the general practitioner.

Factual material is sent to doctors to help them to prescribe efficiently, and each general practitioner is periodically sent comparative analyses of his prescribing, which may be discussed with him by one of my Regional Medical Officers. Remuneration may be withheld where there are continued excessive prescribing costs; but such cases are rare.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the total number of prescriptions dispensed each year from 1962 to date with the total cost in each year; and what is the estimated figure to 1970–71.

The number and cost of prescriptions dispensed by chemists in England and Wales is as follows:

		Number of Prescriptions Millions	Total Cost£ million
1962	…	196·626	86·918
1963	…	205·462	95·934
1964	…	209·375	105·577
1965	…	244·346	126·004
1966	…	261·954	138·369
1967 (estimated)	…	271	146·3

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will give an estimate of the revenue which will accrue in Wales from the proposed imposition of prescription charges;(2) if he will give an estimate of the number of persons in Wales who will be affected by the proposed prescription charges; and what proportion these form of the whole population.

The Welsh component of the estimated saving of£25 million a year in Great Britain is about £1¾million. When the criteria for exemption from the charges have been fully worked out, I should expect upwards of 40 per cent. of the population to be exempt: and of those who pay the charge some will qualify for a refund.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of drugs on the pharmaceutical list and their equivalent proprietary brands together with the respective prices;(2) what proportion of proprietary drugs prescribed during 1967 was the equivalent of drugs on the pharmaceutical list.

The official works of reference contain monographs applicable to both proprietary and non-proprietary preparations. I regret that it is not practicable to identify with certainty those proprietary preparations which have exact unbranded equivalents.

asked the Minister of Health (1) as coronary disease is the main cause of death in this country and elsewhere, if he will establish an experimental cardiac emergency service in Central London based on a teaching hospital that already possesses a cardiac department and an intensive-care ward;(2) if he has considered the experiment, details of which have been sent to him, carried out in Belfast where, prior to the introduction of a mobile intensive-care unit, 102 of 414 patients brought to hospital were dead on arrival, whereas in the 15-month period after the provision of such a unit none of 312 patients died in transit; and if he will introduce a similar experiment.

I have studied the account of the Belfast experiment. The possibility of an experiment in this country, serving a defined area, is being explored.

asked the Minister of Health when he now expects routine screening for cancer of the cervix to be available to all women at risk in England and Wales.

I cannot yet add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 23rd October but I expect to be able to make an announcement very soon.—[Vol. 751. c. 347.]

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has of the undesirability of drugs placed in Category D in the Sainsbury Report; what percentage of these 782 preparations were combination drugs; and what percentage of all prescriptions were for these 782 drugs.

The Committee did not name the drugs in question and I have no evidence other than that published in their report.

asked the Minister of Health what action he has taken to reduce the price of pharmaceutical products to the National Health Service, in accordance with the recommendations of the Sainsbury Committee and other representations made to him.

Where appropriate I am constantly seeking and often securing price reductions under the existing arrangements agreed with the industry. I am now reviewing these arrangements in the light of the recommendations of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Health what estimate he has made of the total cost to local authorities of providing health visitors, home-nursing and other home-help, respectively, under part III of the National Health Service Act 1946, in 1964, 1965 and 1966, and of the amounts which were recovered by local authorities from the persons availing themselves of such help.

The figures for health visiting, home nursing and domestic help are as given below. The National Health Service Act, 1946 does not provide for charges to be made for health visiting or home nursing. Other local health services also benefit the patient in the home, for example, the mental health domiciliary services.

		£ million
		1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
Health Visiting	…	6·2	7·0	7·5
Home Nursing	…	10·6	12·0	12·7
Domestic Help:
Gross Cost	…	15·3	17·2	18·9
Charges	…	1·7	1·8	1·8

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has to introduce vaccination against measles; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have received from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation a recommendation, based on trials conducted by the Medical Research Council, that children up to age 15 who have not had the disease should be protected against measles by vaccination. We shall shortly be consulting the local authority associations and others concerned with a view to the general introduction of this vaccination in the Spring under existing powers. Initially there will be a small additional cost, but the suffering and family distress caused by measles will be reduced, as will the burden that the disease throws on the treatment resources of the National Health Service. We expect the savings eventually to overtake the cost of the vaccination campaign.

asked the Minister of Health if he will estimate the saving in cost to the National Health Service if each medicine had only one name for purposes of medical practice.

I regret that such an estimate cannot be made.

asked the Minister of Health what effect the economy measures will have on local authority building programmes of old people's homes and hostels under Part III of the National Assistance Act, in the county borough of Gateshead.

I cannot say how any local authority's programmes will be affected until I have completed the inquiries of authorities to which I referred in my reply on 31st January to the right hon. Member for Reigate (Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan) and others.—[Vol. 757, c. 360.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will give further information about the confirmation of the Green Belt to the south of Birmingham.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 28th November, 1967.—[Vol. 755, c. 43.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has received the report of Professor Illersic on rate equalisation; and what action he proposes in view of the necessity for any changes to take place by April, 1968.

Yes. I have considered the proposals in the report, which were commended to me by the London Boroughs Association, and I have today written to the Association, the Common Council of the City of London and the Greater London Council giving my decision.The scheme has many valuable features, but had it been possible it would have been preferable had there been more time available for further study between the presentation of the report and the date by which, for reasons of the local authorities' financial timetable, a decision had to be given. As however a substantial majority of the local authorities concerned are in favour of the scheme and as a decision is urgently needed to enable the Greater London Council's precepts for 1968?–69 to be fixed, I have decided that it would not be right for me to impede its introduction. I propose therefore to implement the proposals so that the first instalment of the equalisation scheme and the associated transfer to the Greater London Council of a larger proportion of the needs element of the rate support grant will come into effect for 1968–69.The report has given rise to some misgivings. The first instalment of the Ilersic proposals would not, however, have the severe results which the full proposals would have on the rates in certain boroughs. I shall ask the Association. the Common Council of the City of London and the Greater London Council to co-operate over the coming months in considering whether any modifications should be made or some alternative scheme might be preferable in later years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give details of the cut of£26 million in spending on environmental services in 1968–69 that was announced in Command Paper No. 3515.

The figure of£26 million applies to Great Britain. The corresponding figure for England only is£23 million.The expected distribution of the cut is as follows:

		£ million
Water and sewerage	…	2
Other public health services	…	1
Parks and recreational facilities	…	5
Town centre redevelopment	…	10
Miscellaneous	…	5
		23

The miscellaneous category includes local government offices and civic buildings, including theatre and concert halls, private street works, retail markets and cemeteries and crematoria.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which are the 20 drill halls in England and Wales for which loan sanction has either been ordered or promised in respect of their acquisition by local authorities for use as sports centres.

The following are the drill halls concerned:

• Bradford Road, Batley.
• Silverwell Street, Bolton.
• Queen's Square, Brighton.
• Artillery Barracks, Burnley.
• Ashgate Road, Chesterfield.
• Mount Road, Chingford.
• Chesterfield Road, Clay Cross.
• Nelson Street, Dalton-in-Furness.
• Rotherham Road, Eckington.
• Hemnall Street, Epping.
• Burt Terrace, Gateshead.
• Old Bedford Road, Luton.
• Springfield Road, Northfleet.
• Shirley Road. Ripley.
• Bolingbroke Street, South Shields.
• Manchester Road, Southport.
• Booth Street, Stoke-on-Trent.
• Flixton Road, Urmston.
• Riverview Road, Wallasey.
• Amwell End, Ware.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken in response to the opinion of the Northern Economic Planning Council to delegate work on the clearance of land and reclamation to his Department's regional offices.

These proposals are under urgent consideration and I will let my right hon. Friend know when a decision has been reached.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the increase in water charges now being levied in the Halesworth, Beccles and Southwold areas; whether these charges have his approval; and what action he plans to take regarding them.

I am aware of the increases. The charges do not require my approval.Statutory water undertakers are expected to have regard to the criteria for price behaviour set out in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy after 30th June, 1967 (Cmnd. 3235).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set up a committee to inquire into hardship caused by planning blight.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my speech on Second Reading of the Town and Country Planning Bill on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will publish his draft new town designation order for the expansion of Ipswich.

My proposals are being published today. The next step will be to hold a public inquiry to hear objections to the draft designation order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the issue of the increase in council house rents in Huddersfield was not referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes along with others.

Because it was not practicable to refer the four hundred or so authorities who increased rents in the past year. The 22 authorities named in the reference are ded to provide the Board with a rane examples of recent rent increases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total cost of the National Building Agency in each year since its inception; and how much revenue was received by the Agency in fees in each of these years.

The figures, on a cash basis, are as follows:

Period		Expenditure	Fees
		£	£
16.3.64–31.3.65	…	173,568	550
1965–66	…	482,395	9,525
1966–67	…	704,110	157,772

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were built in development areas in Great Britain in 1967; and what proportion of these were built by industrialised methods.

Approximately 89,000 dwellings were completed in development areas in Great Britain in 1967, of which about 21 per cent. were built by industrialised methods.The proportion of private dwellings built by industrialised methods is not known but it is very low: the proportion for local authority dwellings completed in the development areas in 1967 was 32 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many council houses were built in priority areas in 1967; and what is the target for public sector housing in the priority areas in 1968.

Priority authorities in England completed nearly 75,200 dwellings in 1967. As they started 86,500 in 1967, I expect a further rise in completions in 1968 but it is too soon to make a forecast.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the shortages of rented accommodation and the number of houses due for slum clearance in the county borough of Gateshead, if he will exclude this authority from anyion in house-building targets.

My right hon. Friend has emphasised that the position of the priority housebuilding authorities (of which Gateshead is one) will be safeguarded. As part of the normal review of forward programmes, he proposes to settle by discussion with the main house-building authorities what it would be practicable for them to build over the next two to three years in the light of the priority to be given to slum clearance, to meeting shortages of rented accommodation in the conurbations, and especially to the priority areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is to be taken to recover sums paid by the Inland Revenue to immigrants arising cut of fraudulent claims for Income Tax relief and to prevent or limit such fraudulent claims in the future.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 757, c.434.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the criteria for deciding which inland revenue district will raise assessments for taxation in any particular case.

Assessments on business profits are normally made in the tax district in which the business is carried on. Most employees' tax affairs are dealt with in the district dealing with the area within which they are employed but there are a number of exceptions to this general rule. A notable exception is that in Scotland a start will be made later this year on the programme for handling employees' affairs at the new Computer Centre at East Kilbride.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will recommend the appointment of a permanent Royal Commission comprising individuals outside Parliament and the Civil Service to undertake a continuous examination of public expenditure and to report at six-monthly intervals.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated total of annual remittances by coloured immigrants from Great Britain to their own countries; and what steps he proposes to take to curb this drain on sterling.

I do not intend to analyse or control overseas payments, on the basis of the race or colour of the United Kingdom residents concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing power of the£ sterling in the United Kingdom on 31st December, 1967; and what was its purchasing power on 31st January, 1968.

An estimate of the change between December, 1967 and January, 1968 in the internal purchasing power of the£ sterling is not yet available.

asked the Chan-of the Exchequer what study he has made of the type of investment up to£50,000 or 50 per cent. of the total investment, whichever is more, the prospective benefit from which to the United Kingdom balance of payments will equal or exceed the total cost of the investment within 18 months and will continue thereafter; and if he will make a statement.

Experience over a long period shows that modest investments in overseas sales organisations and similar projects frequently produce receipts to this country from additional exports exceeding the amount invested within a very short time. Many reports from overseas posts, and from industry, have suggested that more encouragement is needed for investments of this type as part of our export drive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will institute an inquiry into other methods of regulating the economy between Budgets in addition to, or replacement of, existing regulators.

I am constantly reviewing methods of regulating the economy and would be glad to consider specific suggestions from the right hon. Gentleman or anyone else.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contingency plans by Her Majesty's Government were available to be put into effect on devaluation.

Detailed contingency plans were drawn up for carrying through the devaluation operation itself, for securing international support and for certain measures restraining demand to be announced at once. It was always envisaged in these plans that further measures would be needed, the precise extent of which would be based on the development of the economy after devaluation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the qualities of wives are considered before male civil servants are appointed or promoted.

Not at all in the Home Civil Service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of persons employed in the administrative, executive, professional and linked classes of the Civil Service in London and Cardiff, respectively; and what are the total annual salaries earned by them in the two capitals, respectively.

I regret that this information could only be made available at a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that a reduction in the Bank Rate from 6 per cent. to 2 per cent. greatly assisted the recovery from the 1931 economic crisis, if he will now reduce drastically the Bank Rate from 8 per cent. and so encourage faster industrial expansion.

I can say nothing about future changes in Bank Rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of which periods since 15th October, 1964, there has been an officially recommended norm for increases in wages and salaries; what it has been in each case; by how much in each period the actual increase in wages and salaries has exceeded the norm, expressed at an annual rate both in percentage and in money terms; and in respect of each period, what is his estimate of the increase in the standard rate of income tax required to yield an increase in revenue equal to the amount by which the rise in wages and salaries exceeded the norm.

Cmnd. 2639 of April, 1965, laid down a norm of 3 to 3· per cent. as the appropriate figure for the average annual increase in money incomes per head. The norm was nil from July, 1966, to June, 1967 (although in the later period some increases in incomes could be justified in exceptional circumstances and increases deferred from the period of standstill also took effect).Since 1st July, 1967, the policy has been that no one is entitled to a minimum increase and all increases have to be justified in accordance with the criteria of the current White Paper (Cmnd. 3235).Between March, 1965, and June, 1966, the Ministry of Labour monthly index of average earnings increased at an average rate of about 7 per cent. or£650 million per annum more than the norm. Between June, 1966, and June, 1967, the index increased by 2 per cent., corresponding to about£400 million per annum. To raise these gross amounts in income tax in a full year would have required an increase of about 2s. 2d. for 1965–66 and 1 s. 7d. for 1966–67 in the standard rate of income tax which applied to the whole of company profits as well as to personal incomes in 1965–66, but only to personal incomes in 1966–67.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum of interest paid by local authorities on loans from the Public Works Loan Board and other Government Departments in 1967 in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively.

In 1967 English and Welsh authorities paid£169·9 million to the Public Works Loan Board in respect of interest on their outstanding debt to the Board. Figures for the two countries are not separately compiled. In addition£586,026 was paid by way of interest on loans from the Minister of Transport on advances towards the cost of the Dartford Tunnel and the First Mersey Tunnel.Over the same period, Scottish local authorities paid£24·8 million in respect of interest to the Public Works Loan Board and£632,000 by way of interest on loans from the Secretary of State for Scotland, nearly all of which was in respect of interest on advances towards the cost of the Forth and Tay road bridges.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why overseas aircrews are not allowed to buy articles on sale at duty-free shops in the United Kingdom.

Aircrews on foreign flights do not go abroad in quite the same circumstances as travellers in general.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the Prime Minister of Malta;(2) if he will make a statement about the future of the dockyard in Malta.

My talks with the Malta Prime Minister have been about matters of mutual concern. The main subject discussed was the future of the Malta Dockyard.Although the question of the ownership of the dockyard is primarily a matter for the Malta Government we realise the importance of finding a satisfactory settlement. The two Governments will remain in close touch about this problem.

Giles asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes to enter into a formal defence agreement with the Government of Singapore.

No such proposals are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what was the financial cost to the United Kingdom, in the most recent available period of 12 months, of sanctions against Rhodesia; and what was the value of the consequential loss of trade to the United Kingdom during that period.

I would refer the hon. Member to the figures I gave to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 15th December, 1967. These figures take into account any loss of trade to the United Kingdom.—[Vol. 756, c. 239–40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will move to appoint an all-party committee to visit Rhodesia with a view to ascertaining the feeling of all sections of the community in that country, as to the future constitutional position and in order to try to bring an end to the present unconstitutional position.

No. I do not think this would be helpful at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Zambia about her fuel and power crisis; what answer he has given; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary has received no representations but he has discussed the question of petrol supplies with the Zambian High Commissioner. I understand that the recent difficulties arose from the effect of heavy rains on the supply route from Tanzania and am pleased to note that the Zambian Vice-President stated on 30th January that following improvements to the road petrol supplies were coming in again and that the Zambian Government no longer feared that February would be a bad month.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the result of the joint consideration by his Department, the Ministry of Power, the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Atomic Energy Authority of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on the Nuclear Reactor Programme; and what action will be taken to implement the above recommendations and the alternatives set out on pages lxxx-lxxxii of the Report of the Select Committee.

The Committee's Report is a major element in a series of discussions on the future structure of the nuclear power industry and related matters.Complex issues are involved, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power and I intend to have more discussions with the industry. I hope to be able to make a statement before the Easter Recess.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is aware of the concern among the workers of Short Brothers and Harland concerning the future of the company; what is Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding their holding in the company; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. But the forward work programme is now clear and a financial reconstruction of the Company is being worked out. The company can then look forward to a soundly based future. The Rohr Corporation has expressed an interest in acquiring a holding in Shorts. If a firm proposal materialises, the Government will consider its implications carefully, having regard to the long term interests of the company.

asked the Minister of Technology what percentage of the men now employed at Llanbedr are working on civilian contracts; and to what extent the manpower situation at Llanbedr will be affected by the recent defence cuts.

80 per cent. of the men employed at R.A.E., Llanbedr are working for a private contractor but all the work is for defence purposes. It is too early to assess the precise effect of the defence cuts on the manpower situation at Llanbedr but there are no plans for a substantial rundown.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the value of work done for any convenient dates in 1965, 1966 and 1967, by his Department for the Royal Navy.

The value of deliveries to the Royal Navy of equipment purchased by my Department in the financial years 1964–65 to 1966–67 was as follows:

					£ million
1964–65	…	…	…	…	61
1965–66	…	…	…	…	77
1966–67	…	…	…	…	73

The value of research and development work for the Royal Navy undertaken by my Department is not available as a figure separate from the value of the work done for the other Service Departments.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the cost from 1962 to 1967 of the Naval wing of the National Gas Turbine Establishment; and if he will state what is the value of income to the Naval wing of the National Gas Turbine Establishment from contracts within industry.

It would not be in the public interest to publish the information requested in the first part of the Question. There were no cash receipts for work done on behalf of industry.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will now refer the price rise in batteries for hearing aids to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to similar Questions yesterday.—[Vol. 758, c. 31–33.]

asked the Minister of Technology what consideration was given to the special problems of deaf old-age pensioners when the increased price of batteries for hearing aids was under review.

The problems of deaf old-age pensioners were considered. On the best available evidence it seems likely that the great majority use the Medresco hearing aid which is supplied free with its batteries through the National Health Service. Nevertheless, as already announced, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and I have decided to refer the question of these increased prices to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for examination, and the reference will be made shortly.—[Vol. 758, c. 31–33.]

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will publish figures for the deliveries, imports and exports of computers for the second and third quarters of 1967, and for subsequent quarters.

Because of the nature of the industry, the figures vary greatly from quarter to quarter and cannot, therefore be taken as an indication of the trend. It had, therefore, been the intention to

DELIVERIES OF ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS INCLUDING FACTORED GOODS
1967
£000
	U.K. Manufactured
	2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter
	Home	Export	Home	Export
Digital Computing Systems*	8,323	4,831	12,918	6,921
	(195)	(195)	(231)	(167)
Analogue and Hybrid Computers†	226	58	182	57
	(32)	(6)	(42)	(8)
Industrial Electronic Control Equipment	810	130	538	74
Data Transmission Equipment	411	160	333	171
Peripheral Equipment for computing systems	3,138	3,460	4,023	2,792
Repair and Maintenance of Customer's equipment	1,576	343	2,306	251
Computer R & D on Customer account
(a) Hardware	86	—	136	—
(b) Software	11	—	29	—
TOTAL OUTPUT	14,581	8,982	20,465	10,266
Goods sold to other U.K. manufacturers further processing	1,026	—	1,570	—

1967
£000
	Factored
	2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter
	Home	Export	Home	Export
Digital Computing Systems*	5,801	246	8,717	320
	(135)	(5)	(122)	(6)
Analogue and Hybrid Computers†	37	—	—	—
	(1)
Industrial Electronic Control Equipment	15	—	—	—
Data Transmission Equipment	224	—	68	—
Peripheral Equipment for computing systems	699	192	754	21
Repair and Maintenance of Customer's equipment	—	—	—	—
Computer R & D on Customer account
(a) Hardware	—	—	—	—
(b) Software	—	—	—	—
TOTAL OUTPUT	6,776	438	9,539	341
Goods sold to other U.K. manufacturers for further processing	863	—	703	—

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, in view of the need for reduction in public expenditure, what consideration he is giving to postponing expenditure from public funds on the preparations for the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon.

The Earl Marshal and I have the need for economy fully in mind. There will in any case be little expenditure in 1968–69, and that in 1969–70 will be subject to close control.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to discuss with the Trades Union Congress leaders the economic situation and the problem of unemployment.

I have had a number of discussions with Trades Union Congress leaders in recent months and shall have further discussions whenever necessary on matters of common concern. The economic situation is, of course, regularly discussed by the National Economic Development Council on which both sides of industry are represented.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the activities of the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Postmaster-General in order to give more publicity to the benefit for owner-occupier leaseholders of the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967.

Responsibility for publicity about these matter rests with the Housing Ministers, and it is for them to seek the assistance of others of my right hon. Friends when they feel this to be helpful and necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the effect of the effect Government proposals on the United Kingdom's relationship with Australia, he will now make an official visit at an early date.

As the House knows, I had an opportunity for a brief discussion with the present Prime Minister of Australia and other Australian Ministers last December. I have no plans for a further visit to announce today but Her Majesty's Government are, of course, in close touch with the Australian Administration on all levels.

asked the Prime Minister how many official visits overseas he has made since October, 1964, on how many occasions he has travelled on such visits by Royal Air Force aircraft; and how often by British civil airline flights.

24, 15 and 9 respectively. The civil flights were all by chartered aircraft.

asked the Prime Minister whether a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference is to be held it 1968.

As the House knows, it is for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers to decide collectively when they shall meet. No such decision has yet been taken.