asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what evaluation he has made of the rôle of Portsmouth Dockyard within the future development of the South-East.

As my hon. Friend knows, studies by the Ministry of Defence are in progress on the future of all the naval dockyards, including Portsmouth. Until the results are available it is too soon to make any evaluation of the sort suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the Regional Study for East Anglia will be published.

It is not yet possible to give a precise date for publication, but it is expected to be in the late summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will, in future, publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the Government's replies to proposals published by the various economic planning councils.

No. Little would be gained from this suggestion as advance copies of the Government's replies to the major reports of the Economic Planning Councils are sent to all Members in the region concerned and are also placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what purpose is now served by the preparation in their present form of reports by the regional economic planning councils.

The reports of the Planning Councils are a valuable stage in the evolution of long-term regional economic planning strategies which are required as a framework for major Government investment decisions and the structure plans of local planning authorities as these are prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will announce the names of the additional members still to be appointed to the Economic Planning Council for the West Midlands Region.

My right hon. Friend has appointed the following additional members to the West Midlands Economic Planning Council:Alderman Mrs. W. Easey, J.P., Alderman, Birmingham City Council.Professor I. F. Gibson, Head of Department of Industrial Administration, University of Aston, Birmingham.Professor W. A. C. Stewart, Vice-Chancellor, Keele University.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what percentage of the costs of manufacturing industry was taken up by wages and salary payments, and local and national taxes, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will give the comparable figures for each of the previous five years.

The estimated proportions in 1963 were,

Wages and salaries	…	36·7 per cent.
Taxes	…	2·1 per cent.

They relate to total sales by manufacturers other than to one another as materials for further processing. The figure for taxes includes taxes paid on materials, and local authority rates.Corresponding estimates are not available for other years.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will initiate discussions between the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation and the major car manufacturing firms in Great Britain, with a view to siting a major car plant in south-east Northumberland, in view of the growing importance of this industry in the export field.

No, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that both the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation and manufacturing industry generally are well aware of the importance which the Government attaches to regional policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what restrictions he now proposes to make on the cost and staff of his Department in the light of the fact that he has been relieved of responsibility for incomes policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to his similar Question earlier today.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proportion of the total flow of British resources to the developing countries has been provided by private, as opposed to official, sources in each of the last four years.

46 per cent. in 1964, 52 per cent. in 1965 and 44 per cent. (provisional) in 1966. Information is not yet available to permit a sufficiently accurate statement for 1967.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the total Government aid overseas in each year from 1960 to date; and what was the average amount in the years 1950 to 1959, inclusive.

British Government economic aid was as follows:

					£ million
1960	…	…	…	…	141·2
1961	…	…	…	…	170·0
1962	…	…	…	…	160·9
1963	…	…	…	…	160·1
1964	…	…	…	…	191·2
1965	…	…	…	…	194·8
1966	…	…	…	…	207·2
1967	…	…	…	…	200·8

The annual average during the period 1950–51 to 1959–60 was £69·7 million.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development on what date he expects to publish the White Paper on the Fourth Commonwealth Education Conference which was recently held in Lagos.

The Report is being published as a White Paper today and copies are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Postmaster-General why he refuses to allow the use of passive relays in microwave communications networks where the use of such relays would reduce the required heights of radio masts.

Aerials used on radio relay routes must be highly directional and pick up only signals sent between two stations. Passive reflectors do not have the discrimination possessed by parabolic or horn aerials and are, therefore, not suitable for use where a complex network of microwave routes is contained in a comparatively small area.

asked the Postmaster-General what number of telephone connections were made in Nuneaton and Bedworth in each of the years 1960 to 1967.

New telephones connected in the years ending on 31st March were as follows:

			Nuneaton	Bedworth
1961	…	…	286	148
1962	…	…	296	58
1963	…	…	219	103
1964	…	…	499	274
1965	…	…	570	250
1966	…	…	568	306
1967	…	…	411	452
1968	…	…	497	509

asked the Postmaster-General what are the numbers of those at present on waiting lists for telephone connections in Nuneaton and Bedworth; what were the numbers for the corresponding period of last year; and whether he will make a statement.

697 are waiting for service at Nuneaton, and 150 at Bedworth. Corresponding figures for 30th April, 1967, were 492 and 211 respectively.At Nuneaton additional exchange equipment has been held up by contractor's delays, but it will be available from July on. We expect to connect 534 lines in July and a further 78 in September.For the remaining 85 people who are waiting at Nuneaton and the 150 at Bed-worth the problem consists mainly of providing cables on new housing estates. 41 people at Bedworth will be given service in July but the speed at which cables can be provided to give service to the remainder will depend on progress with the development of the new estates.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an assurance that the English counties receiving no grant in the Youth Service Building Programme 1968-69 will be given priority when the programme for 1969–70 is under consideration.

Each project will be considered on its merits but regard will be paid to the overall youth provision within the local authority area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce the projects he has approved for the school-building programme 1968–69 for the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

I hope to reach decisions soon on the Borough's revised programme for 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he first received a report from the hon. Member for West Ham, North that a mobile food van registration number 8277 ML, parked outside 17 Woodstock Road, N.7, was using the public highway illegally in that no road fund licence was in being; when it was decided to prosecute the owner; with what results; and why this action was delayed;(2) whether he is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North reported many months ago that vehicles registration numbers 799 HLM, KMK 569C, YPN 738, XOO 436, DNK 743B and others were using the public highway illegally in that no road fund licences were in existence; and why no prosecutions against the owners have taken place to enforce the law.

Although I cannot trace that my hon. Friend has reported these vehicles to the Home Office, I understand that he reported five of the vehicles enumerated to the Greater London Council. It is for them to decide whether to prosecute or not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a new special security wing has been built or fitted out at Dartmoor Prison to accommodate prisoners such as James White and Robert Anderson, recently transferred there; and what special precautions are being taken to ensure that security arrangements are sufficient for the handling of these two men.

Special security precautions are taken in respect of all Category A prisoners, but it is not in the public interest to give details about individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department upon what date he expects to complete his review of those areas of special need where pressures are greatest as a result of immigration.

LATEST CORRECTED FIGURES FOR OFFENCES OF MURDER KNOWN TO THE POLICE, WITH ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF "CAPITAL" AND "NON-CAPITAL" OFFENCES
			"Capital"		"Non-capital"		Total
			Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
1964	…	…	20	13·1	133	86·9	153	100
1967	…	…	49*	28·5	123†	71·5	172†	100
* Includes one offence not yet disposed of by the courts.
† Includes 4 offences not yet disposed of by the courts.
‡ Includes 5 offences not yet disposed of by the courts.

LATEST CORRECTED FIGURES FOR OFFENCES REDUCED TO MANSLAUGHTER BY REASON OF DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY, WITH ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF "CAPITAL" AND "NON-CAPITAL" OFFENCES
			Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
1964	…	…	6	17·1	29	82·9	35	100
1967	…	…	5	8·9	51	91·1	56	100

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities will continue to receive advice from scientific intelligence officers as part of their obligation to maintain emergency planning arrangements.

It should be possible, through training to be given at the Civil Defence Training School at Easingwold and in other ways, to ensure that local authorities can maintain a nucleus of trained scientific intelligence officers. This is now being discussed with the local authority Associations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes increased charges by British Waterways on the River Severn involving lock tolls rising to 7s. 6d. from 3s. 6d. after 1st April, 1968, thus more than doubling the charge; and whether British Waterways obtained his consent for the increased charge of 114 per cent., or 38 times greater than the norm of 3½ per cent. which is Government policy.

My right hon. Friend's predecessor was consulted by the British Waterways Board and it was agreed that general increases in pleasure craft charges were fully justified and not inconsistent with the Government's prices policy.In the particular case of the lock tolls on the River Severn only the individual lockage charges have been increased; the charge for the "season ticket" lock pass has not been altered. The contribution made by pleasure craft in lock tolls on the Severn has been far below the cost of providing these facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will make a statement about the Government's study of the future of the Severnside area as a possible site for Maritime Industrial Development.

As explained to the hon. Member for Bristol, North East (Mr. Dobson) on 3rd April, the areas which the consultants were asked to consider in greater detail include sites on both sides of the Severn estuary. When we have studied their report, we can decide whether to undertake a full economic and technical study of one or more sites.— [Vol. 762, c. 106.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied at the speed of recruitment of personnel for the new Ministry of Transport testing stations; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Good progress has been made.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy on the employment by his Department of independent British engineering surveying and design consultants.

It is our policy to employ independent British engineering consultants so as to make the optimum use of their resources and specialist skills in conjunction with those of the new road construction units and of agent authorities: also to provide a base load of United Kingdom work for firms undertaking highway projects overseas.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a general direction to British Railways to employ British engineering, surveying and design consultants, in view of the importance of this type of work in the United Kingdom to such consultants to enable them to continue and to increase their contribution to the United Kingdom invisible exports.

We do not think such a direction necessary or desirable. The Board tell us that they are not using foreign engineering, surveying or design consultants.

asked the Secretary of the State for Employment and Productivity what further measures she now proposes to take to enforce price stability on the products and services of the nationalised industries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of the Government's views on the pricing policy to be followed by the nationalised industries in paragraphs 17–26 of the White Paper on the Nationalised Industries: A Review of Economic and Financial Objectives (Cmnd. 3437). The action that is being taken to encourage efficiency and so to keep down costs is explained in paragraph 32.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will set up a Committee to review the rising prices of the products of the nationalised industries.

No. Increases in prices charged by the public sector are subject to the same criteria as apply to the private sector. All major increases recently made or in prospect by the nationalised industries have been examined by the National Board for Prices and Incomes and the Board found these consistent with the policy for prices set out in Cmnd. 3590.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will commission a special study of the problem of industrial dereliction in areas under consideration by the Hunt Committee.

I think it would be premature to commission any study in advance of the Hunt Committee's Report. This may be expected to show whether such study is necessary and where it may be required.Meanwhile local authorities are being encouraged to put in hand a continuing three-year programme in consultations with the Department's regional offices. Priority to schemes is being given where clearance of dereliction is of special importance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further action he is taking to speed up the clearance of derelict sites in the development areas, and in particular whether he is prepared to widen the scope of grants for this purpose by including in special cases derelict occupied sites.

My right hon. Friend has revised the procedure for submitting and handling grant applications and local authorities are being encouraged to put in hand a continuing three-year programme for discussion with the Department's regional offices. My right hon. Friend regrets that he does not feel able to propose legislation to extend to redevelopment the power to pay grant for clearing derelict land.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance he is giving to secure tenants for the two advance factories in the Eastern Borders Development Area.

Every effort, including advertising in the national Press, is being made by the Board of Trade to find suitable tenants for these two Development Commission factories. Tenants will be eligible to be considered for the wide range of incentives available in development areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the numbers of passengers handled at Aldergrove Civil Airport in County Antrim, travelling to or from countries outside the United Kingdom and those travelling within the United Kingdom, respectively, during the preceding three years; and the estimated numbers in both categories, respectively, which are expected to use Aldergrove Civil Airport in 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

Passenger traffic at Aldergrove in the last three years was:

				(thousands)
Year		International	Domestic	Total*
1965	…	19	842	860
1966	…	23	971	995
1967	…	23	960	983
* Discrepancies between totals and the sum of their constituent items are due to rounding.

The average rate of increase in the last five years has been rather more than 10 per cent. Expansion at about this rate is expected to be resumed after little increase this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the residents of Mears Ashby, Northamptonshire, regarding flying operations and aerobatics at Sywell Aerodrome; and what reply he has sent.

A petition, signed by some of the inhabitants of Mears Ashby, has been received asking for the prohibition of flying operations and aerobatics at Sywell Aerodrome during weekends. In reply it was suggested that the matter should be pursued with the airport owners who are best placed to decide what measures can be taken to minimise the disturbance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now take steps to alter the administrative delineation of the Highlands and Islands in order to conform with geography.

The administrative limits of the Highlands and Islands, which take account not only of geography, but also of economic, social and other factors, have been defined in various statutes, after careful consideration by Parliament. My right hon. Friend will, however, bring forward proposals for adjustment as and when this seems desirable and practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on local authority rent increases in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave on 22nd May to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith), Aberdeen, South (Mr. Dewar) and Dun-fermline Burghs (Mr. Adam Hunter).— [Vol. 765, c. 507–58 and c. 514–516.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average weekly cost to the Government of maintaining a child in care, in a foster home in Scotland, and in a local authority home in Scotland, respectively.

During 1966–67 the average weekly costs to the local authorities in Scotland of maintaining a child in care, in a foster home were £2 13s. 4d. and in a local authority home £12 0s. 8d. The Government's share of the cost of child care is covered in the rate support grant arrangements, under which 63.5 per cent. of all the reckonable expenditure of local authorities is now met by Exchequer grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he is aware of the landing of salmon at a Scottish port by a foreign vessel; what information he has regarding the method by which these salmon were caught; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Danish motor vessel "Faro Bank" landed 1,413 gutted salmon weighing 10,139 lbs. at Stone-haven on 20th May. The catch was sold at prices ranging from 6d. to 6s. 4d. per 1b.; the total sum realised was £1,020, representing an average price of about 2s. per lb.I understand that the salmon were taken in an area to the west of the Lofoten Islands. My Department's local Inspector of Fisheries, who examined the fish and the vessel's gear, was satisfied from the hook marks visible on the fish that the salmon had been caught by long line. Neither the method of catching nor the landing itself involved any infringement of the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has approved plans for the removal of 31 trees beside the A6091 road at Langlee.

The felling of these trees is part of an urgently needed road improvement scheme which I have approved in principle for grant assistance. The County Council assure me they will see to it that no more trees are removed than need be and, together with Gala-shiels Town Council, are considering the possibility of replacement planting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what further steps have been taken either directly with the Governments in the Middle East or in the United Nations towards establishing a peaceful settlement.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 20th May, the Speial Representative of the Secretary-General in the Middle East, Dr. Jarring, has now secured the agreement of the three principal parties to continue his contracts with them in New York. While these discussions are taking place, I do not think that any separate initiatives in the United Nations or elsewhere would be likely to be helpful to his mission.—[Vol. 765, c. 8–9.]

asked the Prime Minister, if he will initiate further meetings with the leaders of the European Free Trade Association to bring about greater unity in Europe.

My hon. Friend will be aware that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade presided over a meeting of the European Free Trade Association Council in London two weeks ago, when these issues were discussed and the determination of the members to work for the wider integration of Europe was reaffirmed.

asked the Prime-Minister what undertakings were given to King Hussein of Jordan and Mr. Eban the Foreign Minister of Israel, during their recent discussions with him, regarding Her Majesty's Government's policy of seeking a peaceful solution in the Middle East, in view of Colonel Nasser's recent officially announced intention to use force.

The contents of my exchanges with foreign statesmen must remain confidential. The Governments concerned are, however, well aware of Her Majesty's Government's strong support for the aim of achieving a peaceful settlement in the Middle East; and they are also aware of Her Majesty's Government's consequent concern that both sides should refrain from provocative actions, such as might imperil the chances of achieving a settlement.

asked the Prime-Minister what steps he has taken to ensure that Ministers responsible for nationalised industries have informed the industries for which they are respectively responsible of the effect of the European Free Trade Association rules on their purchasing and other policies.

All public purchasing authorities in the United Kingdom have been kept informed of the obligations arising for them under the European Free Trade Area Convention. In 1966 a European Free Trade Area Report was prepared, which set out in detail the requirements arising from Article 14 of the Convention for the purchasing and trading activities of all public authorities in Member States. This was made available to all Departments responsible for the nationalised industries. They in turn informed the industries of the requirements of the Convention and each industry has subsequently notified the Government that its practices are in conformity with the Article.

asked the Prime Minister what consultations he is having with President Johnson over recent economic events relating to the United Kingdom and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

President Johnson and I are in regular touch over a wide range of subjects, including economic ones, but the detail of our exchanges is, of course, confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in education by the British administration in the New Hebrides.

pursuant to his reply, OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st May, Vol. 765, c. 281, supplied the following information:British education in the New Hebrides has traditionally been provided by voluntary agencies (largely by the Presbyterian Mission) but in recent years the British Administration has played an increasing part. Under a plan for the de-

PROGRESS IN EDUCATION—YEARS 1963 AND 1967
1. School Enrolments by Educational Levels:
	Junior Primary
	1963			1967
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
British Administration Schools	—	—	—	229	94	323
Voluntary Agency (Aided) Schools	2,517	1,894	4,411	3,828	3,315	7,143
	Senior Primary
	1963			1967
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
British Administration Schools	—	—	—	20	10	30
Voluntary Agency (Aided) Schools	283	216	499	1,303	700	2,003
	Secondary and Post Primary
	1963			1967
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
British Administration Schools	—	—	—	40	15	55
Voluntary Agency (Aided) Schools	—	—	—	126	27	153
2. Qualified Teachers:
	As at 1963			As at 1967
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Cumulative output from the British Administration Teachers' College's 2-year course	—	—	—	147	18	163

3. Expenditure on Education($A):
	Primary	Secondary	Recurrent Teacher Training	Other Education	Administration	Non-Recurrent	Total
1963	14,350	—	26,203	2,740	13,114	43,640	100,047
1967	41,073	60,658	57,181	2,904	71,251	191,222	424,289

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many British passports have been issued by the British High Commissions in Zambia and Tanzania since the establishment of these two régimes; and to whom.

Between Zambian independence on 24th October, 1964, and the end of April, when the last return was received, 22,572 United Kingdom passports were issued in Zambia.From the formation of Tanzania by the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on 26th April, 1964, to the end of March, 1968, when the last return was received, 18,566 United Kingdom passports were issued in Tanzania.The passports were issued to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, British subjects and British protected persons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he now estimates would be the cost to the Exchequer in a full year from eliminating the differential between earned and investment income.

About £200 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements for the pension rights of employees of the Forestry Commission, of whatever grade, to be transferable in the event of any such employee leaving the employment of the Forestry Commission.

The staff of the Forestry Commission are not civil servants, but their superannuation terms follow those of the civil service closely, and they have similar opportunities for transferring their pension rights between a wide range of public sector employments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the distinction which he draws between near-contractual obligations, and other forecasts, respectively, in assessing whether or not to approve increases in distributions by public companies.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 20th May. —[Vol. 765. c. 43.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has decided that the 3·66 per cent. increase in the aggregate value of distributions by United Drapery Limited is in accord with the Government's proposed ceiling on dividend increases.

The company issued ordinary shares in respect of an acquisition, thereby increasing the issued capital qualifying for dividend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is in conformity with the Government's proposed ceiling on dividend increases for a company, which is required to limit the increase in its distributions to 3½ per cent., to subscribe the difference between such limited distributions and the distributions it had otherwise intended to make to the funds of the political party of its choice.

The voluntary scheme of dividend restraint is primarily concerned with distributions by companies in respect of equity share capital.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 12·5 per cent. increase in distributions by James Robertson and Sons Limited, the 16·6 per cent· increase in distributions by Stuttaford and Company Limited, the 3·636 per cent. increase by Crosby Spring Interiors Limited, the 42·8 per cent. increase by East Kilbride Dairy Farmers Limited, and the 18·5 per cent. increase by Irish Oil and Cake Mills Limited conform with the Government's proposed dividend ceiling; and if he will publish the actuarial calculations, in each case, on which his conclusions are based; and if he will give an undertaking not to take steps to prevent such distributions.

James Robertson and Sons Limited is a close company. Neither Stuttaford and Company Limited nor Irish Oil and Cake Mills Limited are incorporated in the United Kingdom. The Treasury are making inquiries of Crosby Spring Interiors Limited. East Kilbride Dairy Farmers Limited consulted the Treasury, and agreed not to exceed the total dividends paid two years previously.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the actuarial calculations which led him to decide that the 50 per cent. increase in distributions by Northern Petrol and Bulk Freighters Limited was in conformity with the Government's proposed ceiling on dividend increases.

The company propose to distribute no more to shareholders than three years ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now decided whether the increase in total distributions from reduced profits by Mark Lang Limited, and the 38 per cent. increase in total distributions by Clover, Croft and Slater Limited are in conformity with the Government's proposed ceiling on dividend distributions; and if he will publish, for each, the actuarial calculations on which his decision was based.

Mark Lang Limited consulted the Treasury, and agreed to limit the increase in dividend to 3½ per cent. above the previous year. I understand that Clover, Croft and Slater Limited have recommended a dividend not higher than two years ago, but we are confirming the position with the company.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the maximum number of years which a public company can cite backwards in justifica- tion of a dividend distribution to the satisfaction of the Treasury.

This is a matter for consideration in the light of the full circumstances in each individual case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the mathematical calculation which led him to conclude that the 1932 per cent. distribution per share by Gill and Duffus Limited in 1967 exceeded that company's 1966 distribution of 18·66 per cent. per share by precisely 35 per cent., and not by 3·535 per cent.

The company distributed 18⅔ per cent. in 1966; the calculation is therefore: 18⅔%+(3½% of 18⅔%)=19·32%.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when records of the level of Bank Rate were first kept.

Figures for changes in the level of Bank Rate are available from 1694.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are currently employed in, or by, his Department on the scrutiny of dividend distributions; and what he estimates to be the total annual cost of these persons to public funds.

Three full time and three part time, and about £10,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will summarise the work of his Department on the lines of the example given in the case of the Home Office in paragraph 34 of the Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 4, published by Her Majesty's Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will summarise the work of his Department on the lines of the example given in the case of the Home Office in paragraph 34 of the Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 4, published by Her Majesty's Treasury.

I have been asked to reply.The "output budgeting" technique described in this Paper, and already applied to defence, shows promise as a means of achieving better use of resources in the civil field also. Studies of the feasibility of applying it to certain major civil programmes are in progress in several Departments, including the Ministry of Transport. I doubt whether it would be rewarding at this stage to prepare as further examples the summaries referred to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the net increase, or decrease, in Government marketable debt outstanding in each of the last 10 years, respectively.

The information requested is as follows:

			Change in holdings of:
			Treasury Bills	British Government Securities
1958	…	…	47	131
1959	…	…	95	—307
1960	…	…	—42	144
1961	…	…	—178	—238
1962	…	…	—269	599
1963	…	…	24	—121
1964	…	…	—375	—114
1965	…	…	—39	222
1966	…	…	—10	230
1967	…	…	514	529

Source: National Income and Expenditure, and Financial Statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the circumstances in which a British publisher was allowed to pay £10,000 without deduction of tax to Gordon Lonsdale in Moscow for his memoirs; and whether he will make a further statement about the administration of the Exchange Control Act in relation to this and similar payments.

I cannot discuss the tax affairs of particular individuals by way of Question and Answer. So far as exchange control is concerned, it is the practice to allow a wide range of commercial and similar payments including payments for publishing rights to be made with the minimum of formality and delay. This payment could, therefore, have been made by any authorised bank under its delegated authority.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what immediate action he proposes to take against any further run on the £ sterling.

The Government are following policies designed to strengthen sterling by achieving a large balance of payments surplus. Meanwhile, massive backing is available to deal with any pressures on the pound.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the increase in the £100 tax allowance for blind persons required to restore the value in real terms of the allowance as recommended by the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Incomes in 1952; and what estimate he has made of the cost in a full financial year of raising the present allowance by that amount.

To restore the value in real terms at April, 1954, of the £100 recommended in paragraph 203 of the Second Report of the Royal Commission, an increase of £47 10s. is needed. The cost of this increase is estimated at £350,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to compensate the employees of blind workshops whose tax liability has increased and whose net income has declined, as a result of recent changes in their pay structure and the decision that sums paid to make wages up to the basic minimum agreed for workers in blind workshops should be taxable.

Under an agreement reached last year employees at workshops for the blind now receive a wage which exceeds the combined wage and augmentation allowance receivable under the old arrangements and is taxable in the ordinary way. Whether tax is due and, if so, how much will depend on the circumstances of particular cases. Blind persons are, of course, entitled to a special personal allowance in the calculation of their liability to tax. There is no reason to suppose that the new wage structure has resulted in any general reduction in take-home pay, and I see no grounds for any compensation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer in a full financial year of the £100 tax allowance for the blind.

£¾ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the total staff at Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment increased from 1,744 in 1960 to 2,089 in 1967.

Mainly transfers of tasks and personnel from other establishments, particularly Bath.

asked the Minister of Power what has been the average increase in the price of gas coke from Gas Board undertakings during the year; and whether such increases have been approved by the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The increases in basis prices that were approved by the National Board for Prices and Incomes and which took effect on 1st May are likely to average about 25s. a ton.

asked the Minister of Health why a married state registered nurse employed in a National Health Service hospital and paying for insurance stamps at the reduced rate available to married women is paid sick pay at a rate which assumes that she is in receipt of sickness benefits when she is not.

Because the Whitley Council have agreed that sick pay and sickness benefit together must not exceed normal pay and it would not be equitable for a nurse paying the reduced rate of National Insurance contribution to receive more sick pay from her employer than one paying the full rate, particularly as the employer's contribution is the same in both cases. A married woman who wishes to avoid a reduction in income while sick may start paying full insurance contributions at any time.

asked the Minister of Technology what cut back has taken place at the Royal Aircraft Establishment on research into hypersonic flight, and why.

In line with the Plowden Committee's recommendation that preference should be accorded to research assisting the more modest types of aircraft and weapons our research into hypersonic flight has, over the past two years, been critically reviewed and progressively reduced. From being a main commitment, it is now at a minimum level consistent with our maintaining an interest in the field as a possible springboard for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware that the Llanfair Caereinion Recreation Association in Montgomeryshire, has been prevented from holding a motor treasure hunt during its Carnival week for the second successive year, as outside motoring organisations are holding a rally during that week in the area; and what he intends to do to remedy the situation.

I understand that this rally may be one which requires authorisation by the Chief Constable of Dyfed rather than by the Royal Automobile Club to whom the Association applied and that the Chief Constable may be able to authorise it provided certain conditions are met. I have asked the R.A.C. to write to the Association and am also writing to the hon. and learned Member on the matter.