asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government has taken to meet the special economic problems of Zambia and Botswana, following the adoption of Resolution S/8601 on Rhodesia by the Security Council of the United Nations.

We recognise the special problems that the situation continues to present for Zambia and other neighbouring African countries, but our own economic difficulties make it impossible for us to provide further contingency support at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the wishes of the people of Hong Kong by visiting the colony in order to underline Her Majesty's Government's support of Hong Kong in combatting subversion.

If a suitable opportunity occurs I should have great pleasure in visiting the Colony. The determination of Her Majesty's Government to support the Hong Kong Government in any measures necessary to maintain peace, order and good government has already been publicly stated on more than one occasion and I am glad to take this opportunity to reiterate those statements.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure reciprocity in Commonwealth policy with regard to the entry of Commonwealth citizens, exercise of the vote by Commonwealth citizens and similar matters.

The entry of Commonwealth citizens, and the privileges they enjoy once admitted, are matters of national sovereignty, and therefore for Commonwealth countries to decide for themselves.

asked the Minister of Power what plans he has to visit undertakings in Scotland under the jurisdiction of his Department in the near future; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering his programme of visits, and hopes to include Scotland in them.

asked the Minister of Power what are the comparative costs of all traditional fossil fuels together with nuclear energy; and what has been the increase since devaluation.

Coal at the pithead and crude oil at the ports average about 4½d. per therm. For oil this includes roughly ½d. because of devaluation and ½d. for temporary cost increases. For comparative costs of generating electricity from nuclear power and alternative fuels, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 12th March to the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter).—[Vol. 760, c. 248.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many sites were approved in the Northern Region as schemes for the clearance of dereliction; what total acreage was involved; what was the amount of Government grant for the period 1963–64; and what are the comparative figures for 1968–69.

Sixteen schemes in the Northern Region were approved during the financial year 1963–64. These covered 288 acres of derelict land and involved a grant commitment of £215,775. In 1967–68, the last full year for which figures are available, 42 schemes were approved covering 964 acres, involving a grant commitment of about £688,000. Figures for the first quarter of the current financial year are eight schemes covering 126 acres with a grant commitment of £148,439.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will announce his policy regarding grants for the reclamation of derelict land in specially defined dereliction areas in the North-West; and if he will make a statement.

Grants to local authorities for the clearance of dereliction are already available at 85 per cent. within and at 50 per cent. outside development areas, and the Department's regional officers are actively discussing future programmes of clearance with the local authorities concerned.My right hon. Friend has no further statement to make at present, but as explained on 21st June by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Economic Affairs, the Report of the North West Planning Council "Strategy II" is being studied by the Government. —[Vol. 766, c.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will announce his policy regarding the making of smoke control areas mandatory upon urban authorities in the North-West Region and his policy regarding other forms of pollution; and if he will make a statement.

Pollution of the environment has been and is being substantially reduced, in spite of the growth of the population and of industry. The Clean Air Bill—at present under consideration in another place—will, if passed, give me power to require a local authority to make smoke control orders. When, and to what extent, this power would be used must depend on, among other things, the economic situation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will announce his policy regarding grants for enabling local authorities in the North-West to improve the general environment in selected areas particularly by teams working systematically through the district; and if he will make a statement.

The White Paper, Old Houses into New Homes, recognises that whole areas and streets cannot be brought up to proper standards unless something can be done for the environment, as well as the houses. The legislation to give effect to the White Paper policy will therefore contain proposals for a coherent set of powers for area improvement and for a specific Exchequer grant to local authorities on approved expenditure for the environmental improvement of an area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the Ordnance Survey Department is not being moved into a development or an intermediate area.

It was decided in 1961 that the whole headquarters staff of the Ordnance Survey should be concentrated in Southampton where most of the staff were already located. By 1964, work on the new building there had already started.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of recent correspondence which has passed between his Department and certain relevant local authorities, he will now refer the recent increases in water rates of the South Cornwall Water Board to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fal-mouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody) on 1st May. The correspondence with the local authorities has produced no information that was not before me when I gave that answer.—[Vol. 763, c. 222.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will make a statement on his policy regarding the siting and development of new cities and towns in the North-West; and if he will make a statement.

New towns are being developed at Skelmersdale and Runcorn, and I have recently designated an area at Warrington for development under the New Towns Act. I am considering the assessment by consultants of the impact on North-East Lancashire of the proposed new town in Central Lancashire, and the comments of the local authorities and Regional Economic Planning Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will send a circular to local authorities, recommending that those who have already increased their council house rents substantially according to the National Board for Prices and Incomes report, should subject any further increases to the same criteria applying to wages, namely three-and-a-half per cent. per annum.

Council house rents are not precisely comparable with wages but there is a similar need for moderation in present circumstances. If the Prices and Incomes Bill becomes law proposals for increases in council house rents will need my approval and I shall take all the relevant factors into account.In addition, I have asked authorities who have recently imposed large increases to review them and I am now considering proposals for adjustments from a number of authorities, including Sheffield. My object is to avoid unnecessary rent increases and, where increases are unavoidable to phase and moderate them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will refer the proposed increase in Birmingham council house rents to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No. The powers which Housing Ministers would be given under the Prices and Incomes Bill would enable me to give directions to local authorities proposing increases in council house rents. Authorities have meanwhile been asked to co-operate on a voluntary basis. I am at present in touch with Birmingham County Borough Council about contemplated rent increases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will call a meeting of local authorities and the National Coal Board to discuss the tenancy of houses on the Mostar Estate, Manchester, owned by the National Coal Board.

I understand that the Manchester City Council, in whose area the estate lies, are already discussing the future of these houses with the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what arrangements currently exist between his Department, local authorities and the National Coal Board in respect of the National Coal Board estate, Mostar, Manchester.

The Department pay the annual subsidy for these houses to the Manchester City Council. They pass it on to the Coal Industry Housing Association, who lease the houses to the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will announce his policy regarding the making, in the North-West, of grants to cover about three-quarters of the cost of rehabilitating houses, of 30 to 60 years of age, in selected areas, which with improvement can have a considerably longer life; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for increasing the maximum amounts of improvement grants and extending their scope were announced in the White Paper, Old Houses into New Homes. No change was proposed in the 50 per cent. rate of grant, since the Government think it right that owners should retain a substantial interest in the improvement and maintenance of their property. However, the grant limits proposed are more generous than ever before and the proposals have been generally welcomed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in consumer incomes and expenditures in Scotland, and the percentage increase in public sector expenditure in Scotland, respectively, at constant prices, between 1st October, 1964, and the latest available date.

The figures of consumer incomes and expenditure in Scotland are not available. The percentage increase at constant prices in identifiable public expenditure in Scotland from 1964–65 to 1966–67 was about 11 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place projectors, viewers and prerecorded tapes and the parts and accessories thereof used for educational purposes in the same category as cameras and projectors and the parts and accessories suitable for use therewith, that are used in the film industry, which are listed for exemption in the Purchase Tax Notice.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Amendment No. 185 which my right hon. Friend has tabled to the Finance Bill to exempt certain projectors from Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice has been given to Government Departments on the negotiation of productivity agreements.

Government Departments are continually seeking opportunities to increase output per head.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much on present plans public expendi- ture in 1969–70 will fall short of the targets set out in the National Plan.

The National Plan estimate for public expenditure in 1969-70 (excluding debt interest and nationalised industries' capital investment, but including a contingency allowance of £100 million) was £13,295 million at 1965 Survey prices. The Government's present plans for 1969–70 are shown by the estimates in Cmnd. 3515. Adjusting to the 1965 price basis, this gives a comparable total (i.e. excluding S.E.T. additional payments, R.E.P. and investment grants) of £13,352 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now received an application from Philip Morris, the United States tobacco group, for Treasury consent to their bid for Gallagher Limited; and if he will make a statement.

No application has yet been received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of refunding Selective Employment Tax to hotels and similar establishments m the employment exchange area of Aberdeen;(2) what estimate he has made of the cost in a full year of refunding Selective Employment Tax to hotels and similar establishments in the employment exchange areas of Peterhead, Fraser-burgh, Stonehaven, Inverurie, Brechin and Montrose, respectively.

It is not possible to give reliable estimates for individual employment exchange areas. The estimated cost in a full year of refunding Selective Employment Tax to hotels and similar establishments in all of these employment exchange areas, would be of the order of £100,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total net yield he anticipates from Scotland from Selective Employment Tax in a full year, taking into account the changes proposed in the Finance Bill, and the manufacturing premiums disbursed; and what total is expected to be paid out in Scotland in the regional employment premium in a full year;(2) what is the total net yield expected from Selective Employment Tax in England and Wales in a full year, taking into account the changes proposed in the Finance Bill; and what is the total expected to be paid out in manufacturing premium and regional employment premium in England and Wales in a full year.

The figures requested are broadly as follows:

	Scotland	England and Wales
	£m.	£m.
Net yield from tax-bearing sector	45	443
Additional selective employment payments to manufacturers	10	15
Regional Employment Premium	40	60

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the cost in a full year of refunding Selective Employment Tax on hotels and similar establishments in the employment exchange areas listed in Schedule 17 to the Finance Bill;(2) What estimate he has made of the cost in a full year of refunding Selective Employment Tax to hotels and similar establishments in those employment areas in Scotland not included in Schedule 17 to the Finance Bill;(3) what estimate he has made of the cost in a full year of refunding Selective Employment Tax on hotels and similar establishments in the employment exchange areas in Scotland listed in Schedule 17 to the Finance Bill.

The estimated cost in a full year of refunding Selective Employment Tax for hotels and similar establishments in all the employment exchange areas listed in Schedule 17 to the Finance Bill is about £1 million, and in Scotland very roughly £300,000: an estimate of cost is not available for all other Scottish Employment Exchange areas.My right hon. Friend has tabled Amendments to Schedule 17 extending the areas in Scotland in which hotels will be eligible for refund. The additional cost will be very roughly £300,000 a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the hardship caused to those people designated as disabled by a local authority and issued with a disabled driver's certificate to fix to a vehicle because they are denied any relief in the cost of a road fund licence, if he will take steps to provide exemption or a lower rate for such persons.

Relief from Vehicle Excise Duty is already given to disabled people who qualify for help with the provision of transport under the National Health Service. I regret that the disabled driver certificate issued by local authorities would not be a suitable basis for Vehicle Excise Duty relief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast his Department has made of the movement in total United Kingdom external sterling liabilities over the period for which balance of payments forecasts have been made for the International Monetary Fund.

I cannot give a forecast of movements in United Kingdom sterling liabilities. These will depend on many external factors, including interest rates and other monetary conditions abroad, the state of confidence, and the overall balance of payments in other countries, particularly in the overseas sterling area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of Elizabeth II sovereigns minted since 14th March, 1968; what proportion of these coins have been exported; and what have been the total proceeds of these sales.

4,703,000 sovereigns have been minted this year to complete a programme agreed some two years ago. They have gone to augment the nation's gold reserve in the Exchange Equalisation Account. It is not the practice to disclose details of the operation of that Account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the comparative yield to the Inland Revenue from tax on the increase in the salary of Mr. Jocelyn Hambro currently under investigation by the Department of Employment and Productivity and from tax on a similar sum if retained in the business of Messrs. Hambro Limited;(2) what estimate he has made of the net value after tax of the salary increase granted to Mr. Jocelyn Hambro currently subject to investigation by the Department of Employment and Productivity.

I cannot discuss an individual's tax affairs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, in view of the changes which have taken place in the pattern of monetary institutions, especially the rapid development of secondary banking and the parallel money markets, with consequences for monetary policy and the management of sterling, he will set up a further Radcliffe Committee on the monetary system.

This is an interesting suggestion which I shall bear in mind.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what representations he has made to the Government of Tanzania following that Government's repudiation of liability for the pensions of overseas civil servants who served the Governments of Tanganyika and Zanzibar before 1st July, 1961.

No representations have been made to the Government of Tanzania since their Minister of Finance announced in his bugdet speech on 18th June that they would make no budgetary provision for these pensions.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will seek to provide compensation to those British subjects recently deprived of their pensions by the Government of Tanzania; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Arrangements are being made so that they will continue to receive payments without interruption, as explained in my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) and the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) on 20th June.—[Vol. 766, c. 174–6.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what further discussions he has had with the Government of Nigeria regarding possible assistance by Her Majesty's Government towards the rehabilitation of areas that have suffered through the civil war.

As my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary informed the hon. Gentleman on 21st May, I am discussing with the Federal Nigerian Government the establishment of a pediatric unit to care for children who have suffered as a result of the civil war. I am also looking into the possibility of providing bridging and engineering equipment for emergency repairs to vital communications and public services. These items are in addition to our current aid programme to Nigeria which is expected to amount to over £7 million in the current financial year. They are also additional to the gift which the Government are making to the Red Cross for emergency relief work.I hope to send one of my medical advisers to Nigeria in August to determine, in consultation with the Nigerian authorities, where the pediatric unit should be sited and what staff and equipment will be needed. I shall also be consulting with the Nigerian authorities about the engineering equipment.—[Vol. 765, c. 267–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy concerning the future of the Falkland Islands, in the light of the negotiations with the Argentine Government.

I have at present nothing to add to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on 27th March about Her Majesty's Government's policy in the Anglo-Argentine talks about the Falkland Islands. As he told the House on that occasion, these talks are being held on a confidential basis.—[Vol. 761, c. 1458–67.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the progress of the talks on the Falkland Islands with the Government of the Argentine.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply earlier

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREAS COVERED BY NEW MILLS, BUXTON AND GLOSSOP EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
		New Mills		Buxton		Glossop
		Registered unemployed	Percentage rate	Registered unemployed	Percentage rate	Registered unemployed	Percentage rate
13th June, 1960	…	26	0·4	46	0·6	47	0·5
12th June, 1961	…	35	0·5	60	0·8	16	0·2
18th June, 1962	…	79	1·2	83	1·1	124	1·4
10th June, 1963	…	325	5·0	101	1·2	108	1·2
15th June, 1964	…	67	1·0	141	1·8	95	1·1
14th June, 1965	…	52	0·8	86	1·0	54	0·7
13th June, 1966	…	40	0·6	99	1·2	65	0·8
12th June, 1967	…	137	2·1	140	1·7	203	2·4
10th June, 1968	…	61	0·9	135	1·7	179	2·1

The registered unemployed included significant numbers of persons who were temporarily stopped at New Mills in June, 1963 (236) and June, 1967 (86), and at Glossop in June, 1962 (99).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a further statement on the dispute concerning recognition between the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union and the British Steel Corporation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to my hon. Friends the Members for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick), Darlington (Mr. Ted Fletcher) and Birmingham, Ladywood (Mr. Victor Yates).—[Vol. 767, c. 1073].

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will give the figures of unemployment during the months of June over the years 1960 to 1968 for the areas of New Mills, Buxton and Glossop.

Following is the information:what steps he is taking to expel Mr. Schoenman who has not been granted the status of a resident foreign national in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Schoenman was deported on 28th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Hong Kong passport holders are advised by the Hong Kong Government to obtain an entry certificate when visiting the United Kingdom, that no visas are needed for visits to Western Europe excepting West Germany, that Hong Kong citizens have made objections to the United Kingdom's discrimination against them; and if he will relieve them from the necessity to obtain entry certificates.

The hon. Member has been misinformed. Entry certificates are not obligatory; they are made available to Commonwealth citizens on an optional basis to facilitate their admission to this country, and overseas posts in Hong Kong and elsewhere advise intending travellers accordingly. Possession of an entry certificate greatly diminishes the risk that a passenger may be delayed in immigration examination or refused admission on arrival here.

asked the Prime Minister how many former Ministers, senior members of Government Departments, or senior members of public corporations, have joined commercial undertakings with which they have had official dealings within two years after leaving their official posts.

I regret that the information sought about former Ministers and senior members of public corporations is not available. As for senior civil servants, which I take to mean civil servants of Deputy Secretary rank or higher, they are required to seek permission to take up outside appointments within two years of retirement or resignation from the Civil Service. Ten have done so in the past year. I am unable to say how many of these fall into the category described by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the Prime Minister of Canada to visit this country.

The Prime Minister of Canada is always assured of a warm welcome in Britain, but there are at present no plans for a visit by Mr. Trudeau.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the results of using ·22 ammunition in the official cull of adult grey seals on Scroby Sands; and if he will make a statement.

Six common and three grey seals were killed in the cull.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures showing the strength of operational and training aircraft of the Royal Air Force for each year since 1920.

Total aircraft strengths in Royal Air Force flying units as at 31st December for years from 1950 including operational, training, communications and miscellaneous aircraft, are given below. It is not the practice to break these down. Figures for earlier years are not readily available and wartime figures are on a different basis.

1950	4,510
1951	5,507
1952	6,338
1953	5,549
1954	4,968
1955	4,805
1956	4,730
1957	3,385
1958	2,991
1959	2,657
1960	2,505
1961	2,190
1962	2,341
1963	2,263
1964	2,237
1965	2,220
1966	2,119
1967	2,004

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in connection with making available the results of research in chemical and biological warfare at the Porton Down establishment, Wiltshire.

The purpose of the research at Porton is defensive and it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to publish as much of the results as we can. A large proportion is, in fact, published. Some must, however, remain classified in the interests of national security.Classified information is made available to allied Governments with which we have arrangements for mutual co-operation in defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures showing the manned strength of the Royal Air Force and its Reserves each year since 1920.

Following is the information:

MANNED STRENGTH (AT 1ST APRIL)
Year	Royal Air Force (including WRAF and PMRAFNS but excluding locally enlisted personnel and members of Commonwealth Air Forces serving with the RAF	Royal Air Force Reserves (2)
1920	28,708
1921	27,303(1)
1922	29,465
1923	30,083	465(1)
1924	31,427	6,782
1925	32,684	6,927
1926	34,009	7,361
1927	30,037	10,610
1928	30,484	12,851
1929	31,070	13,634
1930	31,989	13,022
1931	32,469	12,645
1932	32,287	11,478
1933	31,202	10,157
1934	30,500	10,676
1935	32,145	11,594
1936	45,804	11,486
1937	56,163	13,378
1938	69,465	16,909
1939	101,199	38,810

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he now expects the Hunt Committee to report.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave on 23rd May to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. Arthur Davidson). —[Vol. 765, c. 856.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what machinery exists within his Department to enable collective bargaining to take place with respect to the salaries and conditions of university teachers.

Collective bargaining in the normal sense is not practicable because, among other things, there exists no body to represent the employers' interest. The previous machinery was agreed by all parties to be unsatisfactory and the Government concluded that the best procedure was for the National Board for Prices and Incomes to be given the responsibility of keeping the remuneration of university teachers under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of all children attending Bootle schools, attend county schools; what percentage attend voluntary schools; and if he will give the numbers of children attending each school in the county borough.

In January, 1967, of all pupils attending maintained primary and secondary schools in Bootle, 46 per cent. were at county schools and 54 per cent. at voluntary schools. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of all these schools, with the number of pupils in each of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been made by his Department to discuss the current salary claim of the Association of University Teachers; how long it has been under discussion; and when he will make a statement.

On 2nd November last my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and my predecessor, acting jointly, instructed the National Board for Prices and Incomes to keep under continuous review the remuneration of the academic staff of universities in Great Britain. It is for the Board to report from time to time as it thinks fit. I understand that the Association of University Teachers has submitted memoranda on salaries to the Board. It is not the function of my Department to discuss salary claims with the Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of handicapped children in primary schools in England and Wales, respectively.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish a list of the schools, primary and secondary, to be built in the administrative county of West Suffolk under his revised 1968–69 school building programme; and for purposes of comparison, a further list of the schools for which approval was requested but not given;(2) what was the cost of the school building programme recommended by West Suffolk Local Education Authority for the year 1968–69; and what is the cost of the revised programme he has now approved;(3) how many places were to be provided in the 1968–69 school building programme recommended by the West Suffolk Local Education Authority, and how many places will be provided in the revised programme he has now approved.

A list is given below of the projects which the West Suffolk Local Education Authority submitted under Circular 6/68 for inclusion in the revised 1968–69 school building programme. Starts in 1968·69 have been authorised for the first four of these six projects.The Authority originally submitted proposals for inclusion in the 1968·69 programme for some 5,900 places at a cost of just over £2·1 million. Details of these proposals were given in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 1st May, 1968.

Project	Cost	Number of Places
	£
Newmarket, Brickfields County Junior Mixed and Infants	106,070	480
Bury St. Edmunds, Westgate, County Primary	70,324	280
Bury St. Edmunds, Nowton, County Primary	70,324	280
Kedington County Primary	56,419	200
Haverhill,Chalkstone,Middle	143,156	420
Bury St. Edmunds, Westley, Middle	143,156	420
[Vol. 763, c. 217–220.]

asked the Minister of Health, in view of decisions made since mid-1966, what is the latest estimate of doctors who will be economically active in 1975.

Decisions since mid-1966 are unlikely to affect significantly the estimate of 68,100 made by the Royal Commission on Medical Education.

asked the Minister of Health what representation he has received from the Disablement Income Group on prescription charges; and if he will now consider extending the scheme of exemptions to cover persons belonging to this group.

The Disablement Income Group was represented, along with a number of other interested organisations, at a meeting last March with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security and myself, about exemptions from prescription charges. They subsequently sent me a written note of their views.I have no proposals at present for extending the categories of patients who are entitled to exemption from prescription charges.

asked the Minister of Health if he will seek to make available special grants to voluntary organisations that cater for mentally handicapped children.

The present Clause 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Bill will enable me to help voluntary bodies active in relation to the health and welfare services: the extent to which this power can be used will depend, among other things, on the availability of resources. Local health authorities already have a power to assist these and other voluntary bodies.

asked the Minister of Health how many alternative sources of supply he has to Mallory Batteries Limited for mercury batteries used in the hospital paging system.

I am not aware of any alternative sources of supply at present.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to provide a separate fee to general practitioners for each case of dependence upon soft drugs reported to the local health authority.

No. These cases are not statutorily notifiable to local health authorities and I do not think it would be right to offer financial inducements for such notification.

asked the Minister of Health how many drug companies were supplying the National Health Service with methedrine or other methyl amphetamines in 1963; and how many there are today.

Ten; six.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available in Carlisle and Cumberland for the treatment of the mentally handicapped children.

There are places at Dovenby Hall Hospital, Cockermouth, and training centres provided by the Cumberland and Carlisle Councils. I understand that a new junior training centre is due to be opened shortly in Carlisle to replace existing temporary premises.

asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate of the additional transport costs involved in supplying the Manchester area with coal in the event of the closure of the Bradford Colliery.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to Question No. 31 today.

asked the Postmaster General what is the average estimated waiting time before a telephone can be provided for a subscriber on the Berkhamsted exchange; and what was the corresponding time in October 1964.

Nearly all applications for telephones are being met within a week. Four people are on the waiting list and additional cables are required before they can be given service. Two will have their telephones by August. The speed at which cables can be provided to give service to the remaining two will depend on builder's progress with the development of a new estate.Records of the waiting period in October, 1964 are no longer available. Since then 1,948 customers have been connected.

asked the Postmaster General if he will make a Ministerial broadcast announcing what arrangements he is making for dealing with delays in delivery of mail.

No. I am sure the public generally recognise that we are doing our best to reduce delays in delivery of mail due to the current nter-ruption of rail services to a minimum.

asked the Postmaster General what is the significance of the letters which appear after the names of certain cities such as Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich and Nottingham in postal addresses; and if, for sorting purposes, they render superfluous any other part of the address.

The groups of letters and numerals are Postcodes. A Postcode is a condensed form of the address which, when copied by a Post Office operator on a keyboard, can be translated into machine language. This can be read by high speed sorting machines which are now undergoing operational trials.The Postcode is in two parts. The first indicates the mechanised centre through which the letter will pass and the second refers to the street or to an address which receives a large volume of mail.When we are introducing Postcodes we do what we can to shorten addresses, and our customers are told of their minimum address to which the code should be added. Postcodes do not, however, replace addresses. This would not be practicable because of errors in copying and poor handwriting.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, how much money his Department spent during each of the last three years for the restoration or preservation of bridges, mills, mines and other items of interest to industrial archeologists.

The sums spent were as follows:

	£
1965–66	6,125
1966–67	4,127
1967–68	14,570

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will now announce measures to encourage the clearance of pulpwood and chipboard material from forests blown down in the storms of 14th-15th January.

Following recommendations from the Windblow Action Group, I have now authorised the Forestry Commission to pay transport allowances for small sized windblown timber to specified pulpmills and chipboard factories not normally drawing supplies from the windblown area. The Commission will announce details of these allowances in the near future.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many supplementary books had to be altered in the Brighton area to take account of the recent increase in Brighton council house rents.

It is estimated that additional books had to be issued in about 3,500 cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the bid by Philip Morris, the United States tobacco group, for Gallahers Limited; and if he will make a statement.

I am at present considering whether the public interest would require me to refer this proposed merger to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, when the inquiry concerning development grant for a company, details of which were contained in a letter dated 15th May from the hon. Member for Stroud, will be answered.

It has been agreed that the prototype about which the hon. Member wrote will qualify for investment grant and the representatives of the company in question have been advised accordingly. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the problems arising from the offer of personal credit in new and varying forms; and what action he intends to take to deal with such problems.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I recognise that these developments have important implications for those who offer credit and for those who take it, as well as for the Government. We have therefore decided that the time has come to appoint a Committee to make a wide-ranging review of the subject, with the following terms of reference:

(i) to enquire into the present law and practice governing the provision of credit to individuals for financing purchases of goods and services for personal consumption;

(ii) to consider the advantages and disadvantages of existing and possible alternative arrangements for providing such credit, having regard to the interests of consumers, traders and suppliers of credit including depositors;

(iii) to consider in particular whether any amendment of the Moneylenders Acts is desirable; and

(iv) to make recommendations.

I am glad to say that Lord Crowther has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Committee. I shall announce its membership as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the reason for the decrease in United Kingdom exports to South Africa in the first four months of 1968, compared with the corresponding period of 1967, resulting in an adverse balance of trade; and if he will make a statement.

South African imports from the United Kingdom and indeed all sources were exceptionally high in the first four months of 1967 following a relaxation of import controls. The reduction in our exports this year is in line with the reduction in South African imports from all sources.The main reason for the less favourable balance of trade during the four months was unusually large imports into the United Kingdom (both by volume and value) of maize, fruit and vegetables, ores and metal scrap.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will now make a statement on the route of the D-Ring road, in view of the fact that the present uncertainty is causing concern to the residents of Harrow.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received the views of all interested local authorities, including the Greater London Council, on the recently submitted joint authority report concerning the siting of the D-Ring Road; and, in view of the concern among residents in Harrow caused by the Greater London Council's proposed route of March, 1967, whether he will now make a decision or give the date by which a decision will be made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the D ring road proposals so far as they affect the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East.

asked the Minister of Transport when a decision is to be announced determining the route of the proposed London D ring road.

We are considering the views of the local authorities on the alignment of the D ring road in northwest London and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation permitting private householders to have footpath crossings constructed by a contractor of their choosing, provided the work conforms to the local authorities specifications.

I am considering the need to revise the provisions of S.155 of the Highways Act 1959 dealing with the construction of carriage crossings, and I have this point in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the forms which have been translated into Welsh under regulations made by the Registrar General since the Welsh Language Act, 1967 has been in operation.

In addition to the birth register itself, the following 34 forms have been translated into Welsh in connection with bilingual birth registration:

(a) 9 forms of certificate (copies or extracts from the registers issued to the public);

(b) 5 declaration forms (completed by the public to enable birth entries to be registered, re-registered or corrected);

(c) 11 forms of authority (authorising re-registration in varying circumstances);

(d) 3 requisitions (requiring informants to carry out their statutory obligations);

(e) 2 certificates of naming (to enable birth entries to be completed with names);

(f) 4 miscellaneous forms (for internal use).