asked the Postmaster-General, how many telephone exchanges are at present operating subscriber trunk dialling facilities; and how many more he estimates will be operating before the end of this year.

1,790. Over 650 more exchanges should have S.T.D. by the end of 1968.

asked the Postmaster General what is now the number on the waiting list for telephones in the South Down constituency; and how this compares with the last two years.

147 at 31st March, 1968, 14 a year ago and six in March, 1966. We expect to give service to at least 100 people who are waiting this summer.

asked the Postmaster General, whether he will, during the Telephone Fortnight, facilitate visits from Members and right hon. Members to Post Office installations outside their constituencies.

Yes.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will install a coin-operated telephone box in the Wessenden Bank area of Stockport, Cheshire.

Yes, in about three months' time.

asked the Postmaster General, what steps he is taking to improve Telex services, particularly in relation to overseas calls.

Additional equipment for both the inland and overseas telex services has been on order for some time, but unfortunately all contracts are seriously delayed. I am pressing the manufacturers to improve their deliveries.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now amend the Telephone Regulations 1965, Part VIII, Paragraph 40, by limiting the time during which subscribers' deposits may be retained.

No. Local Managers have full discretion to refund deposits when they are satisfied that there is no longer any need to guard against incurring bad debts.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to ascertain the proportion of post office orders, with major plant suppliers, which is manufactured in the Northern Development Area; and how he proposes to secure the increase of that proportion.

Complete exchanges are ordered from the contractors, each consisting of many thousands of parts which are made in different factories, so I am sorry that it would not be practicable to break down the value of the contribution made in particular places. I estimate that 70 per cent. of exchange equipment is produced in factories in Development Areas. It would be wrong for me to urge preference for one Development Area over another.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the reasons for his decision to paint telephone boxes in the United Kingdom yellow; and what is the estimated cost of this work.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what estimate he has made of the extent to which the new yellow paint for Post Office vans and telephone kiosks will last compared with the present red paint; and how quickly he estimates it will fade;(2) what is the estimated cost of repainting with yellow paint red telephone boxes and mail vans throughout the country; and whether the previous paint will be burnt off.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of stripping and painting yellow the telephone boxes; and how many telephone boxes it is planned so to repaint.

No decision has yet been taken. A proposal was made that telephone kiosks and telecommounications vans—not mail vans—should be painted yellow. I am considering this proposal.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received this year about poor television reception in Galloway; and what reply he has sent.

The County Clerk of Wigtown has written to my right hon. Friend about reception of the Scottish programmes in Galloway. He has been referred to previous statements on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General when television viewers in the Newry-Warrenpoint and Rostrevor districts of County Down will be able to receive B.B.C.2 broadcasts.

The extension of B.B.C.2 to Newry-Warrenpoint and Rostrevor must await the development of the network of U.H.F. stations to the point when the remoter parts of the country come within range. I cannot yet say when this will be for these two places.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to improve television reception in Shetland.

I take it that the right hon. Gentleman has in mind the extension of B.B.C.2 and of independent television to the Islands. This depends upon the development of the network of U.H.F. stations now being built by the broadcasting authorities to transmit B.B.C.2 and the 625-line versions of B.B.C.1 and independent television. They cannot yet say when the network will reach the Shetlands.

asked the Postmaster General what methods he will use to co-ordinate the provision of computing facilities to the general public and other nationalised industries by the organisation being established by the Post Office for that purpose.

The only coordinating function that the National Data Processing Service will perform will be the common use of its installations by different customers, and encouragement wherever practicable for them to make maximum use of common programmes.

asked the Postmaster General whether he will make arrangements for the establishing of a post office to serve the Offerton Neighbourhood Unit, Stockport, Cheshire.

Yes. We plan to open a post office in the Unit's shopping centre now under construction.

asked the Postmaster General whether he will raise the amount of compensation payable for parcels that are lost in the post, in view of the increased cost of the parcel post and the time that has elapsed since the rates of compensation were first decided.

No. The registered parcel service is available for higher amounts of compensation.

asked the Postmaster General what progress has been made in the creation of a public corporation for the administration of the postal service; and whether he will state the names of those who will be responsible for policy, control and administration.

A Bill will be introduced early next Session to provide for the creation of the new Post Office Corporation, which will be responsible for both telecommunications and postal services. Until the Bill has been enacted it would be wrong for me to speculate on who will be responsible for policy, control and administration.

asked the Postmaster General, if he will now make a statement on senior management responsibilities, structure of organisation, and salary ranges for the new public corporation to be set up to deal with the postal service.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer to a Question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) earlier today. Similar considerations apply.

asked the Postmaster General, to what extent, and by what means, the Post Office as a public corporation will retain its traditional connection with the Crown; what will be the extent of its accountability to Parliament; and which Minister will be responsible.

The White Paper "Reorganisation of the Post Office"(Cmnd. 3233), deals with all these matters. Further elaboration must await the Bill to be introduced next Session.

asked the Postmaster General, what steps has been taken to provide sub-post offices in the Seaburn Dene and Carley Hill Housing Estates, Sunderland.

Both of these housing estates are served by post offices in neighbouring areas and my right hon. Friend would not be justified in opening a new office within either estate.

asked the Postmaster General, what action he is taking to co-ordinate future requirements, between the United Kingdom and European users and others, in the use of time on international communication satellites.

The United Kingdom participates fully in the work of I.N.T.E.L.S.A.T., including its planning activities, and in the deliberations of the interested European bodies.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the relationship of the London Past Office Tower to the regional seat of Government system; how many such towers have been built; and where they are situated.

None. There is only one other tower, in Birmingham, comparable to that in London, although the Post Office has at present 103 much smaller towers up and down the country for its national microwave radio networks.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the public relations of the Post Office and to publicise technical improvements and innovations, particularly in the telephone service.

I am at present studying the public relations organisation of the Post Office, both centrally and in the Regions, to see if any improvements are necessary to meet the needs of the new organisation of the Post Office. Every opportunity has always been taken, and will continue to be, to publicise the very considerable achievements of all the Post Office services.

asked the Postmaster-General when he intends to provide modernised premises for the main post office in Portsmouth.

I aim to provide a new head post office at Portsmouth by about 1974–75.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the cost of the new covers for the 4s. 6d., 6s. and 10s. stamp books.

The additional cost for illustrated covers is estimated at 3 or 4s. per thousand books. We hope to encourage more customers to buy their stamps in books, as this reduces selling costs at our counters.

asked the Postmaster General what provisions he is making to cover the cost of the installation of anti-bandit screens in sub-post offices.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the social problems arising in cities where there are large concentrations of immigrants, and the dangers of social unrest that may consequently arise, if he will take steps to suspend for a period of five years the right of immigrants to bring dependants into this country.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question he asked on 5th March.—[Vol. 760, c. 57.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publicly warn all shipping and air companies that they will be responsible for transporting back to India all Kenyan Asians who arrive in Great Britain from India without the necessary documents to remain here.

Carrying companies are well aware of the obligation that may be imposed upon them if they bring a passenger here and he is found to be inadmissible. The best safeguard, both for the passenger and for the carrying company, is for a visa, entry certificate or employment voucher to be obtained before the journey is begun.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions and advice are given to officers of the Metropolitan police regarding the steps to be taken to inform parents when juveniles are detained upon suspicion of having committed offences.

Standing instructions are that parents should be informed as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why parents are not allowed to communicate in private with their infants detained at Edgware Police Station upon suspicion of having committed offences.

There is no such prohibition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the names of the chairman and other members of the committee to review the law of contempt as it affects comments on, or statements made about, matters referred to a tribunal of inquiry under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921; and what is the reason for the delay.

I am glad to be able to say that Lord Justice Salmon has accepted an invitation to be chairman. My right hon. Friend will announce the names of the other members as soon as he can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many preventive detention offenders at Blundeston Prison had their cases recommended by the local review board to go to the parole board; how many of such cases were referred to the parole board; how many have been granted parole; and what percentage of all preventive detention prisoners at Blundeston has been granted parole.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Reneé Short) on 20th March. He will write to him as soon as he is in a position to do so.—[Vol. 761, c. 118–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to implement Section 57 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, providing for social inquiry reports before sentence, particularly with regard to sentences to detention centres.

As was envisaged by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State in introducing this provision in the Bill—(OFFICIAL REPORT (Commons), 26th April, 1967, col. 1768)—my right hon. Friend intends to give effect to it, at least in the first instance, by way of circulars to the courts, which he will issue as soon as consultations with those concerned have been completed.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Commonwealth Affairs how many countries have recognised the present government of Rhodesia as a de facto Government.

No State has indicated that it recognises the illegal régime in Rhodesia even de facto.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will move to appoint a Select Committee to consider the size of the Government.

No.

asked the Attorney General if he is aware that at 11.40 p.m. on 26th March a record in a British Broadcasting Corporation request programme was dedicated to a Labour election candidate and her supporters; and whether he will institute proceedings under the Representation of the People Acts.

I understand that on 26th March, in a live radio programme broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation, a competitor in a "Mystery Music Game" said that he would like to "dedicate" a record which was to be played on the programme to all supporters of the Labour Party who were going to vote for his mother at the forthcoming local elections.There is no evidence that the B.B.C. were aware that the competitor proposed to make this statement, or that they had any intention of incurring expenses

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Exchange Telegraph Company Limited have increased the subscription to the Financial News Service to £500 with effect from 1st July, 1968; what percentage increase this represents; and if it is consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

We are looking into this.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the strength, recruiting and wastage of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II for each month since the force was created.

The information asked for is available for the period ending 29th February, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the strength, recruiting and wastage of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve III for each month since the force was created.

The information asked for is available for the period ending 29th February, 1968.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will now undertake a review of the tariff structure for gas.

Tariff problems are a subject for continuing study by my Ministry, in conjunction with the gas industry. The National Board for Price and Incomes has said that it intends to deal with the future structure of tariffs in a further report.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement following his talks with trade union leaders on prices and incomes matters.

I would refer the noble Lord to the Answers I have already given to Questions on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister how many nationalised industries are now offering computing facilities on a commercial basis to the general public.

Computing time is made available through the coal, gas and electricity industries. The transport undertakings also offer some small amounts of time.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister will be responsible for the remaining Colonial Territories and Dependencies.

I would refer the noble Member to the Answers I gave to Questions on this subject on 28th March, 9th April and 11th April.—[Vol. 761, c. 332 and 1726; Vol. 762, c. 1077 and 1583.]

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Education and Science at Derby on 18th February, 1968, on the reorganisation of secondary education represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes. My right hon. Friend set out the overwhelmingly strong case for pressing ahead with comprehensive reorganisation.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is now responsible for co-ordination of the social services.

My hon. Friend will know of the specific duties of my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council in relation to the Ministries of Health and Social Security which I announced to the House on the 11th of April. In addition my right hon. Friend will be undertaking the co-ordinating functions which were previously the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary when First Secretary of State.—[Vol 762, c. 1582.]

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the present circumstances, he will now name a new Deputy Prime Minister.

As the House knows, there is no office of deputy Prime Minister as such and the arrangements made by successive Prime Ministers for a senior colleague to deputise for them on the infrequent occasions when this is necessary have varied. No standing arrangements are in force.

asked the Prime Minister what is the function of the Deputy Leader of the House.

To deputise for the Leader of the House in the performance of his duties.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the new responsibilities allocated to the Lord President of the Council, he will be the Minister responsible for implementing the recommendations of the Seebohm Committee.

The Committee has not yet reported and a decision on Ministerial responsibility for implementing any of its recommendations which the Government may feel able to accept must wait until the nature of the Committee's recommendations are known.

asked the Prime Minister what further steps he has taken to facilitate arrangements for negotiations for peace in Vietnam.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 23rd April.—[Vol. 763, c. 8.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent communications between Her Majesty's Government and Mr. Kaunda about Rhodesia.

Communications between Commonwealth Governments are confidential.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish the findings of the interdepartmental inquiry on oceanography and marine science, so as to make known the extent to which decisions affecting the siting of the Natural Environment Research Council research establishments form part of a coherent plan for the development of this aspect of science policy.

If my hon. Friend has in mind the review referred to by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Education and Science in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalzell) on 3rd July last, the results of the review are now being studied by those of my right hon. Friends with Departmental responsibilities in this field. Consideration will be given to what, if anything, can be published when that study has been completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further action he will take to increase the home production of wheat so that the home market will be less susceptible to imports of subsidised wheat from France.

To encourage the expansion of wheat production the guaranteed price was increased and the standard quantity abolished for the 1968 crop following the last Annual Review. The Government are at present consulting the principal overseas suppliers on proposals to increase the present level of minimum import prices following devaluation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

At the end of February and beginning of March there was a period of three weeks in which no outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurred. Since then there have been 20 outbreaks. All were in that part of the West Midlands which was most heavily infected at the time of the recent epidemic. Of these outbreaks, 12 occurred on farms which had previously had the disease, and eight were on farms not previously infected.It is disappointing but not unexpected that the disease continues to show itself in the infected area. Almost half a million animals had to be slaughtered because they were infected or were in contact with infected animals. The virus multiplies rapidly in host animals and a great weight of infection was left behind in this comparatively small part of the country which is still heavily stocked. This appears to be a resistant strain of the virus and even the most careful disinfection cannot be guaranteed to remove it entirely from every part of the whole area of infection. Everything possible is being done to minimise the risk of fresh outbreaks on restocked farms and to prevent the spread of disease when outbreaks occur.The great need now is to stamp out the virus immediately it appears and before it has an opportunity to multiply itself again. It continues to be of the greatest importance that farmers, particularly those in the infected area, should exercise the greatest care and vigilance and report any suspicious symptoms in their animals with no loss of time. Members of the public should not go on to farm land in the infected area unless it is absolutely necessary and after obtaining the farmer's consent.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will announce the appointment of a chairman of the East Midlands Economic Planning Council to succeed the late Mr. George Dearing, C.B.E.

I am pleased to say that Sir Mark Henig has accepted my invitation to serve as Chairman of the Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the interview the British Chargé d'Affaires in Peking had recently with Mr. Anthony Grey.

The Chargé d'Affaires in Peking was permitted to visit Mr. Grey in his house for 20 minutes on 23rd April. He told Sir Donald that he was in good health. He continues to have the services of his domestic staff although he is confined to one room in his house. He takes exercise twice daily and has been receiving some letters.The worst aspect is Mr. Grey's isolation. He has three guards in his house, none of whom will talk to him in English. He says that he has not been visited by other Chinese officials.We shall, of course, continue our efforts to secure an improvement in Mr. Grey's conditions and his early release. His detention remains indefensible.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the fact that many disabled people eligible for Ministry of Health vehicles find them unsuitable for various reasons and could make use of ordinary motor vehicles or vans, in what circumstances he will arrange for such vehicles or vans to be made available to these disabled people at a reduced price.

I have no powers at present to sell vehicles to disabled persons. Given the necessary powers which the Health Services and Public Health Bill is designed to provide, any extension of the present vehicle services for the disabled will be governed by prevailing economic conditions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any further statement to make about the arrangements for exempting patients from prescription charges.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have been discussing both long-term and interim arrangements with the professions concerned.Agreement has now been reached on the interim arrangements for England and Wales. Discussions are continuing with the Scottish chemists. Patients who are entitled to exemption on age grounds will simply complete a declaration on the back of the prescription form. The chemist will then not levy a charge. Expectant and nursing mothers, persons suffering from the conditions requiring continuous medication referred to in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mr. Victor Yates) on 21st March, and the categories of persons referred to by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security in her reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) and other hon. Members on 8th April, will be provided with exemption certificates. To

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of educational building projects approved, started, completed and under construction in 1967; and how these figures compare with those for the two previous years.

The required information is set out in the table below.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of projects started and completed and of work done in 1967 in the several categories of educational building for which

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is proposing to take to enable landlords to do the necessary repairs on properties subject to rent control, in view of the increasing cost of carrying out repairs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper, Old Houses into New Homes (Cmnd. 3602), which was published on 23rd April.

The required information is set out in the table below.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the revised starting date for the new swimming bath at Beeches Road, Birmingham.

No starting date has been given and, in view of the restrictions on capital expenditure, it is not possible to say when loan sanction will be given for this project.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will announce his decision about the proposal to close the Hastings-Ashford railway line.

I have nothing to add at present to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on 11th April.—[Vol. 762. c. 336.]

asked the Minister of Transport on how many stretches of new trunk road built in each of the last five years continuous white lines are painted; where each stretch is; how long each stretch is; what length of it has a single continuous white line; and what length has a double continuous white line.

This information is not readily available and the cost of obtaining it could not be justified.