asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests he has carried out to ascertain the suitability of ·22 ammunition for use in the official cull of seals at Scroby Sands and elsewhere; and if he will consult with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare with a view to using a method of killing less likely to cause wounding and unnecessary suffering to the animals concerned.

Before authorising the Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee's recent cull I consulted the Natural Environment Research Council whose Seals Research Unit advised that, provided high velocity ammunition of the "Hornet" type was used, ·22 rifles were suitable for killing the seals.My officials have discussed with the "Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare the method of killing used in the cull. In the light of this further information is being assembled and will be sent to them as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what type of ammunition was used in the killing of seals in the Wash on Sunday 30th June, 1968; how many seals were killed and wounded, respectively; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid unnecessary suffering to the animals.

There are no powers for regulating the killing of seals (other than grey seals during the breeding season) and I have no details of the numbers of seals killed or wounded, or of the ammunition used, in the Wash on 30th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the total public expenditure on horticultural research is allocated to work on ornamental nursery stock: and how this compares with the relative economic contribution of this section of the horticultural industry.

It is not possible to estimate either total public expenditure in horticultural research or on research into any particular sector of the industry because the extent to which these are supported by fundamental research and by applied research in agriculture and agricultural science generally cannot be quantified. The total value of horticultural output in 1966–67 was estimated at £189½ million including £41½ million for flowers and nursery stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what encouragement he will give to schools, sharing new facilities with surrounding communities, in accordance with the recent proposals by Professor Vaizey and Sir Leslie Martin, details of which are in his possession; and what pioneering schemes in this direction are now in progress.

I am strongly in favour of this approach.A circular issued in 1964 by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and my Department drew to the attention of local authorities the advantages which could be obtained from the joint planning and financing of facilities to serve both the needs of schools and the surrounding communities. Guidance on designing certain types of accommodation for dual use has been given in

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the total number of redundant miners who have to date been retrained at Government training centres in Wales.

15 miners who had been declared redundant have been retrained at Government Training Centres in Wales, all during the last two years. Much larger numbers of men who left the mines in anticipation of redundancy or for other reasons have been retrained at Welsh centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the total amount paid from the inception of the Redundancy Payments Act to date; and what numbers of workers and categories of employment were affected in the most recent quarter.

The total amount paid up to 30th June, 1968 is about £107,000,000. Of this sum £27,000,000 was paid by individual employers and £80,000,000 from the Redundancy Fund. In the quarter ended 30th June, 1968 payments were made to approximately 62,500 workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress she has made with the establishment of industrial training boards for the distributive and the food, drink and tobacco industries.

My right hon. Friend has today laid Orders establishing these two Boards to take effect from 25th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what effect the changes in the Commonwealth immigrants voucher scheme, announced on 26th February, 1968, have had on the waiting lists of applications for vouchers.

The waiting list of applications from employers (Category A) has fallen from 6,621 in February to 2,805 at the 1st June. The list of applications from Commonwealth citizens having special qualifications (Category B) fell from 7,928 to 5,400 in the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the present rate at which applications for vouchers issued to Commonwealth immigrants are being received; and how this compares with the figures for 1966 and 1967.

In the first five months of this year, 2,084 applications for vouchers have been received from employers, a monthly average of 417. The monthly averages for 1966 and 1967 were 1,001 and 575 respectively; 4,294 applications were received from Commonwealth citizens with special qualifications in the first five months of the year, a monthly average of 859. The monthly averages for 1966 and 1967 were 1,026 and 967 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider introducing a revised form of the Disabled Drivers' Badge visible from the rear as well as the front of a car and bearing a suitable symbol such as a wheeled chair, so as to make recognition easier and to discourage other drivers from parking in places where the police allow disabled drivers to park as a concession.

In agreement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport I will refer this question to my Advisory Committee on the Health and Welfare of Handicapped Persons, who are considering the operation of the car badge scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when Parliamentary time permits, he will propose the repeal of the Vagrancy Act, 1824.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his Question on 6th May.—[Vol. 764, c, 25.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many instances local authorities have prosecuted under Section 30 of the Rent Act 1965; on how many occasions such prosecutions were successful; in how many instances was a sentence of imprisonment, and in how many a fine of over £50, imposed; and what is the total number of complaints of harassment received since 8th December, 1965.

From 8th December, 1965 until 31st March, 1968 there had been 714 summonses for offences under Section 30 of the Rent Act, 1965; 4 offenders were imprisoned and fines were imposed in 408 cases, 60 of which exceeded £50.Most local authorities keep no formal account of the number of complaints of harassment they receive, a number of which prove to be unfounded, but I have no reason to doubt that they pursue with energy and usually with success cases where they have grounds to think that an offence under Section 30(2) of the Act has been committed and there is sufficient proof to justify prosecution.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government since the publication of Housing Statistics No. 8 on 12th March, in how many cases referred to rent tribunals has the rent been increased, decreased, or remained unchanged.

"Housing Statistics No. 8" contained tables showing the comparison between registered rents and previous rents for regulated tenancies from the inception of the rent regulation service up to September, 1967. Tables bringing these figures up to December, 1967, will appear in "Housing Statistics No. 9", which I expect to be published next week.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will announce his decision in the matter of Portland Place and Portland Terrace, Burwash, Sussex, which was the subject of a public inquiry held on 2nd January, 1968.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to issue his decision on the Compulsory Purchase Order affecting these properties by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities have sold, or are preparing to sell, land in their possession; and if he will make a statement on this recent development.

The information is not available, as local authorities have power to dispose of land without ministerial consent except in special circumstances. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would let me have details.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the practice regarding redirection of mail when a person leaves his private residence notifying the postal authorities of his new address, paying for redirection for three-and-a-half-years, when after that time a letter is sent to the former address, from a traceable sender; and whether the communication is returned to sender, kept by the Post Office, or is forwarded on to the known new address.

The usual practice would be to deliver the letter as addressed: then if handed back to the Post Office it would be returned to the sender unless the new address was known, in which case it would be redirected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of imports of light electrical goods from Hong Kong in the last 12 months, to the latest convenient date, as compared with the value for the previous 12 months.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total Government expenditure on the arts and other cultural activities in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Expenditure on the arts and other cultural activities in Scotland for the years 1963–64 to 1967–68 was as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many grants under the Industrial Development Act have been paid, and to how many more are the Government committed in respect of electricity generating plant.

The information is not readily available and to provide it would involve a disproportionate amount of time. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the information relating to new power stations to be used by manufacturing companies given by my right hon. Friend in reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn) on 19th February.— [Vol. 759, c. 29.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what expertise exists among the members of the Roskill Commission of Inquiry concerning horticultural and agricultural matters.

No member of the Commission was chosen specifically for expertise in these fields. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 10th July, the Commission will be free to take advice on such matters from whatever source they choose.—[Vol. 768, c. 79.]

asked the Minister of Technology how many companies in Wales are engaged in the electronics and telecommunications industry; how many people they employ; and how much Government aid has been given to them since 1960.

Some 22 companies are engaged in the electronics and telecommunications industry in Wales and they employ approximately 11,000 people. The information about Government aid will be made available as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will allow disabled drivers, who are issued with yellow badges, the same facilities as regards parking as are granted to drivers of commercial vehicles with C licences.

No special parking facilities are granted specifically to the drivers of vehicles with C licences, but frequently, where waiting restrictions are imposed by local authorities, exemptions are included to permit drivers to stop to enable any person to board or alight or for goods to be loaded or unloaded.In our advice to traffic authorities we have asked them to consider exempting holders of the yellow car badge from the time limits imposed by parking meter and limited waiting orders, but traffic authorities are, of course, free to grant such further concessions as local traffic conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Transport what transpired and what decisions were reached at the meeting held on 3rd July between his officials and those of the West Sussex County Council in regard to the replacement of the Littlehampton swing-bridge over the River Arun.

The County Council officials described the various alternative courses they saw open. The Ministry officials undertook to study these, in particular that recommended by the county council, and to make every effort to let the council have views by the end of August.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the recent fatal accidents, he will reduce the speed limit on Dracaena Avenue, Falmouth, from 40 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour.

As I mentioned to my hon. Friend in a recent letter, any alteration of the speed limit on this length of road would be, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Cornwall County Council. I understand that the Borough Council intend to apply shortly for a lowering of the 40 m.p.h. limit and if the county council as highway authority then formally seek my right hon. Friend's consent, he will consider their proposal without delay.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now give the year in which permission will be given for the commencement of a by-pass round Saxmundham on the A.12.

The Saxmundham by-pass is still competing with other highway improvement schemes throughout the country for a place in our trunk road preparation pool. When it has secured a place we shall start the preparatory work which will enable us to decide in what year construction should start. I cannot at present forecast when this might be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why there has been an increase in the number of valuers employed in his Department over the period since October, 1964; and what steps he plans to take to reduce the numbers.

There has been a reduction in the number of qualified valuers employed in the Valuation Office since October, 1964.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase or decrease in the number of first class valuers and of senior valuers in his Department during the next two years.

It is too early to give these estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the various categories of valuation in which the 50 first class valuers and 209 senior valuers who have been added to his Department since October, 1964 are expert, and to what tasks they have been assigned.

These valuers, who are experienced in all aspects of the services which the Valuation Office provide, are carrying out the additional work which has arisen at these levels, particularly in valuing for compensation, since October, 1964. They do not repre- sent a net addition to the strength, since the posts have been filled by the promotion from the grades below and it has not been possible to recruit staff to bring these grades up to strength.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the latest figures for Government expenditure as compared with 1964 at 1964 prices for hospitals, current and capital, widows' pensions, the family doctor service, family allowances, unemploy-ployment benefit, supplementary benefits, nursery education, death grants, and maternity grants, respectively; and if he will outline the main factors responsible for the changes in expenditure.

The available information for 1964–65 and 1968–69 is given in the table below:

£ million
	1964–65 outturn (current prices)	1968–69 estimates (1964–65 prices)
Hospitals—current	630	717*
Hospitals—capital	73	107†
Executive Councils (includes the "family doctor" service)	268	316‡ (current prices)
Family allowances	143	298§
Supplementary benefits	223	394||
Other social security benefits	1,596	2,378¶

It is not possible to show expenditure on social security benefits on a constant price basis because of the technical difficulties involved in deflating transfer payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the car mileage allowance was first payable to hon. Members; what payment was then made; what is the latest rate; how this compares with the original figure in real terms, allowing for the general depreciation in the £ sterling and particular rises in motoring costs; and to what extent the increase of 4½ per cent. in prices resulting from devaluation and the increases in indirect taxation will further depreciate its original purchasing value.

No direct comparisons can be made between the original car mileage allowances introduced on 31st May, 1961, and the current flat rate mileage allowance of 4½d. a mile, since the former allowances varied with the type of car, and the current allowance, as recommended by the Lawrence Committee, was related to the cost of first class rail travel.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking the rate at the date when hon. Members' salaries were increased as equalling 100, he will publish figures giving the annual percentage rise and fall in the purchasing value of this salary using the official price index for all goods; and if he will publish similar details using only the increases in postal, telephone, telegram, road and rail charges, petrol, and other items incurred by Members from their Parliamentary salaries.

The annual percentage fall in the purchasing value of Members' salaries, using the official Board of Trade Price Index for all items, is shown in the table below. I regret that to provide the information requested in the second part of the Question would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

		Percentage Fall in Purchasing Value	Approximate Purchasing Value
			£	s.	d.
October, 1964	…	(100·0)	3,250	0	0
October, 1965	…	—4·6 (95·4)	3,100	10	0
October, 1966	…	—3·7(91·9)	2,989	0	0
October, 1967	…	—2·0 (90·1)	2,929	10	0
May, 1968	…	—4·2 (86·4)	2,806	10	0

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost to the Inland Revenue of administering the Pay-As-You-Earn system of Income Tax; and what is the number of staff involved in this work.

The staff employed on the administration of the P.A.Y.E. system have to deal with taxpayers' affairs as a whole, which include liabilities that arise irrespective of the P.A.Y.E. system. It is not, therefore, practicable satisfactorily to segregate the staff and cost attributable to the P.A.Y.E. system.